Chapter Thirty Five.

Emmett

I rang Italy as soon as I could but I was unable to get through to Rose so I had to hope they would pass the message on to her that I was returning. On arriving at Pisa I found two of the guard waiting for me and they escorted me to a car waiting nearby, seating themselves either side of me in the rear seat. So I was a prisoner? I wondered what would happen when I told the Volturi about the way we had been bested by Bella. I had no way to explain my actions without giving away Bella's gift and much as I liked Bella my own life and Rose's came first. When we reached Volterra they escorted me inside but then to my relief I was allowed to see Rose before meeting the brothers. My guards accompanied me but that didn't matter as long as I saw my mate. When I walked in she cried my name and ran into my arms crushing me to her body as if to assure herself I was real.

"I'm here Rosie, don't worry."

I kissed her and hugged her tight for a long time before letting her step back to look at me,

Rose

I was so relieved when I saw Emmett, he was here and alive and that was all I cared about.

"What happened Emmett? Did you find Jazz or Bella?"

I nodded not wanting to say too much with the guards just outside the door.

"I escaped in the end."

"Are the others dead? Felix? Jane?"

He nodded closing his eyes and I could tell he was reliving their deaths then opened them fast as the door creaked open.

"We have to leave now Emmett. Aro is waiting for your report."

I wanted to go with him but they just shook their heads and Emmett kissed me with a reassuring smile

"I'll be back soon Rose."

I watched him go and hoped he could keep that promise.

Emmett

We went to the main audience chamber, not Aro's study which I had expected, this was only used for formal occasions usually. The three brothers sat in their chairs on the dais and I felt my skin crawl, this looked really official. My two guards halted a few feet before the raised dais and I took two more steps then I stopped too.

"So Emmett you finally made your way back to us. I hope you have good news to report."

I took a deep breath then begun to speak, trying to explain things without giving away more than I had to,

"We found evidence of the human, Bella Swan, at the apartment and tracked Darius to Canada. Jasper, The Major, wasn't with them then, just Darius, Peter, and Bella."

"What about Peters mate? Don't tell me he was without her company?"

"Charlotte has joined them now but I don't think she's very happy about it."

"And the guard?"

"Dead."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

"How is that possible unless you betrayed them?"

Caius snapped this question sitting forward in his chair, his knuckles straining against the wooden arms.

"We were beating the two men when Bella appeared and I don't know quite how it happened but both Felix and Jane were struck down, Demetri had already been seriously injured by some traps and was using all his energy to heal. Then Darius took out Felix and Peter killed Jane or at least I think that's how it went, everything was such a muddle."

"Are you trying to tell us that this human girl somehow incapacitated not only Felix but Jane too? Exactly how did she manage that without being ripped to pieces or sent screaming in agony to the ground?"

"I don't know, I couldn't see anything."

"Could that be because you were running away?"

"No."

He smiled coldly as he snapped out the next question.

"Were you in fact making for the safety of cover and you hid then until you received Carlisle's message regarding your mate? As you can see we kept her safe for you."

"No. I heard Carlisle's message through Peter. He wouldn't let me speak then as soon as I got an opportunity I escaped and rang you then came back as quickly as I could."

"Liar, you were either in with the others or you ran. Which is it?"

I shook my head, my jaw set angrily.

"I got away as quickly as I could but I was a prisoner in the meantime."

"A prisoner? Of Peter Whitlock and Darius? Why didn't they kill you?"

This was more dangerous ground but I had no choice but to tell the truth,

"Bella begged them not to kill me. I think she still felt something for me, we were friends."

"Friends? With a human? That's what got you into this mess Emmett Cullen do you not see it? Why didn't you kill her?"

"I couldn't, she had the other two guarding her."

"All the time? They didn't get thirsty? Need to hunt?"

"Yes I guess so but they didn't leave until Jasper turned up so there were always two with us."

"And did you hunt?"

"Yes but supervised."

"Really? And you saw no chance to escape?"

"No, or I would have. I was worried about Rose."

"Perhaps you should be more worried about your own safety. Your mate was safe enough. We don't wage war on mates unless there is no alternative. You gave us some indication where they were but we found no sign of them. Why would that be? Did you give us the wrong area to search? Are you really a spy for The Major?"

I shook my head again, terrified they were going to kill me.

Aro

I knew Caius wanted Emmett Cullen killed for the loss of two of our talented members but I wasn't ready to lose him altogether, especially now I'd lost Felix. With a little training in hunting humans Emmett could be a fair replacement for my best warrior. To that end I had talked my brother round, Emmett would be punished but not destroyed.I could have touched him and learned the truth but that would have spoiled Caius fun and he did so enjoy his spot of mental torture.

"Very well Emmett Cullen. We feel that you should face punishment for your inability to get back to us or send word of the whereabouts of the human and The Major. For now you will be held securely and given a new task."

"Task?"

He sounded scared which was as it should be,

"Yes. We have some newborns who need culling. They were captured when it became necessary to destroy their creator. You will not be working alone but it will be good for you to get some experience in fighting of the more savage variety."

"And Rose?"

"Rose will be safe, never fear Emmett. We will look after her."

"She won't be coming with me then?"

"Oh I don't think we need to subject her to the kind of privations you will find out there. After all she isn't guilty of anything, except being associated with you."

Emmett

So they were separating us, I would have to cope alone in some kind of hell hole inhabited by new borns while she was looked after here.

"Perhaps you would like to pack your things Emmett although I would suggest you travel light. There isn't much comfort in the camp and business goes on twenty-four hours a day. I understand it is exhausting work but I'm sure someone of your physic should cope well enough. Don't let us down this time, we expect great things of a few of these newborns, their sire chose well and we are always looking for new recruits. Oh yes, there might be the opportunity to transform some of your own Emmett, it's quite exhilarating. Now go."

I walked out and my two guards fell back in step with me as I made my way back to our quarters to find Rose already gone.

"Where is she? My mate."

My guards shrugged,

"No idea but you wouldn't want her there with you Emmett. Only the very strongest survive fighting newborns, it happens so rarely. I suggest you hurry before the others come looking for you. They aren't the kind you want to keep waiting."

I picked up a few things and a discarded top of Rose's, I had to have something of hers with me then I looked round for the final time and went out hoping that Rose was indeed safe and comfortable. We went down one of the old stone staircases that wound round on itself into the bowels of the earth then along a damp tunnel leading to the outside some miles from the town. Then I heard it, screams of agony and rage and walked into a scene from Dante's inferno. In the dark I could see forms, some limbless, others with huge areas of flesh missing and all still trying to fight with teeth if there were no more limbs remaining. A huge guard I had never seen before approached as my escort left the way we had come,

"Emmett Cullen? Welcome to hell. These are what is left of the newborns the guard confiscated from Pedro in Argentina. There are a few who might make the goal of Volturi guard. Its our job to make sure only the most ruthless and disciplined survive."