Chapter 51 - Rosalie's POV

After another few moments of Aro staring at us he continued. "Well, I'm certain you have catching up to do we won't keep you." He inclined his head to us and Suplicia rejoined us and led us out of the room. The vampires around us returned to their conversations that had been interrupted by our introduction to the council. We took the elevator again for a few floors then several sets of stairs led to a long corridor. Toward the end of the hall a door was guarded by a couple large vampires that took the opertunity to leer at me. Emmett being Emmett placed his had around my waist and ushered me into the room Carlisle and Esme had disappeared into.

Jasper joined us from an adjoining room after the guard had closed the apartment door. He looked truly awful. I had seen Jasper try to test his resolve, not hunting for several weeks but it had never been this bad. His eyes were truly black a tint of maroon around the edge. He looked exhausted his eyes trailing toward the floor, his arms hanging limp by his sides. Esme rushed forward and pulled him into a deep hug. I could see him waver in her arms Alice would be shocked to see him like this.

"Jasper is she awake?" Carlisle asked in a low tone. "No, she's asleep again, I opened up the IV drip like you told me to, she was feeling more pain. She wanted to wait to see everyone but I thought it was for the best." "Quite right, Edward and Alice should be back within the hour according to Aro." Carlisle said and Jasper's stress lightened slightly.

Emmett had left my side went over and grabbed Jasper around the shoulder. "Come on man, lets get you something to eat." He nodded to me and I turned to the door. "No… I should stay, Bella might need me" Jasper said dryly even his voice sounded tired. "Jasper, please let us do this for you, Esme and I can keep Bella calm and Carlisle will be right here for any medication she needs. Emmett and you should go, you can get back before Alice and Edward do."

Emmett grabbed Jasper around the shoulder again, "Come on man, do you want Alice seeing you like this? You look like hell man" Esme raised her voice in disproval "Emmett…" "No, he's right Esme, I just don't want to leave her." Jasper was obviously feeling guilty. "Okay Jas, we're going" Emmett had positioned himself behind Jasper and was pushing him toward the door. "Carlisle" Jasper said. "Yes, yes, I'll call if anything changes." Emmett and Jasper disappeared out the door leaving myself, Esme and Carlisle with Bella.

Carlisle and Esme were speaking quietly in the corner furthest from Bella's room. I walked toward her door listening for any signs of her being awake and heard a low moan and the sound of her tossing and turning on the bed. I looked to Carlisle and he nodded. I slowly turned the doorknob and smelled the scent of the morphine tinged scent of Bella. I looked back at Carlisle he and Esme remained in the main room as I walked into Bella's. Bella, my new sister needed comfort, she would never expect it to come from me. I sat in a chair by the head of the bed and held Bella's hand.

Her skin was cold and clammy her hair pasted to her skin in places she looked very, very sick. I never though of myself as having anything in common with Bella, but today she felt like my sister. I took a cool cloth from a bowl near the bed and gently whipped it against her forehead. She tossed gently under her covers. I suddenly felt very protective of Bella, I could kill Felix for doing this to her. I will make Felix hurt for hurting her.

I started to gently humm a song I remembered from my childhood to calm Bella as we both sat in the dark and waited for our mate's return.