Revelations
Bella's POV
Panic gripped me when I woke alone the next morning. I wondered where Edward was. Esme and I were leaving for Florida later that night. Alice expected Victoria, Maria and their army to attack at dawn the next day.
I noticed the house was very quiet as I made my way to the living room, and found everyone gathered there. There was lingering anxiety in the air; and we were still a smaller number than Maria and Victoria's army. Edward met me at the bottom of the stairs with a glass of juice and pulled me to sit with him. Everyone looked tense.
"They're here," Edward suddenly announced. "Both young and a mated pair. They came to find us with an intention to help, against the advice of their coven leader."
He turned to look at Carlisle; "They are from the Egyptian coven. I recognize Amun and Kebi in their thoughts."
"Amun and Kebi have added more to their company?" Carlisle seemed surprised by this.
"Is it Benjamin and Tia?"
I asked Edward, only to catch my tongue too late since everyone in the room had heard me. It seemed my tongue filter still required practice.
"Yes, that's their names." Alice answered excitedly.
I thought the action was a little overly done. Maybe she was distracting everyone's attention away from me. Edward suddenly chuckled to himself, then burst into full laughter.
"Hell yeah! Are they funny?" Emmett asked. Edward hid his face behind my back and continued to laugh.
Carlisle and Esme waited at the edge of the tree line behind the Cullen house to meet Benjamin and Tia.
I remembered the book described Benjamin as fun loving and a little reckless. I thought that our group was missing Garrett's presence; as far as fun-loving, hilarious vampires go. Although, the book never described the Denali sisters as such. I was pleasantly surprised by them.
We all watched as the two new vampires appeared from behind the tree line. Tia hid behind Benjamin for the brief seconds they spent introducing themselves. They followed our 'parents' into the house and were introduced to all of us. Benjamin stared at Edward and I with confusion, when we were introduced as mates.
"I'll tell you later" Edward answered his unspoken question. "I heard your thoughts." He explained further.
"That…is…disturbing."
Benjamin replied in a strange accent, stating his dislike that Edward could hear his thoughts.
"Tell me about it." Emmett commented.
Jasper insisted the two new arrivals needed to start training immediately. I was saddened that there was no time to get to know them, but I also understood the need for them to catchup with the others.
I spent the day cleaning and doing the laundry at Charlie's. He was surprised when I told him earlier that Esme was accompanying me to Florida. He joked about the contrast between Esme and Renee as mothers.
I was surprised when Carlisle and Esme came to fetch me from my home two hours earlier than expected.
"What's going on?"
I asked them both as we left my driveway towards the Cullen house.
"Since last night, Alice has had a disturbing repetitive vision. It only became clear an hour ago. We want you to be present when we tell everyone." Carlisle answered.
He drove as fast as Edward. We arrived at their home within minutes. Alice was in a trance when we entered the living room, seated on Jasper's lap. Everyone was anxiously waiting to hear from her or Edward.
"I have seen…Aro has found Maria and those with her." Alice began.
"Where?" Emmett
"Further North-East. Maria planned to pass undetected and meet with Victoria in Canada." She answered as she came to.
"I saw the Volturi would find her a few times earlier. I think Aro was undecided about what he wanted to do when he finally caught her. At first, he was going to send her after our family in return for a pardon. Then he decided to destroy her and those with her. Now, he has decided not to engage her. He is trying hard not to make any decisions to avoid me seeing the outcome." She cocked her head to the side as she always did when in deep thought.
"Then he is not the one who is making the decisions. Please watch Maria, and the other Volturi guards with Aro. He may let them make the decisions, if he suspects that you are watching him." I interrupted.
"What is the Volturi's involvement in this forthcoming battle?" Eleazar asked me.
I was surprised that the family hadn't told them about the Volturi's visit.
"The Volturi visited us here before you arrived. Aro and his guard were searching for Maria when Demetri sensed Carlisle close by. That was the reason I asked that you come later than initially planned. It is the reason Alice sent Zafrina to you in Chicago." Esme answered before I could.
"Was it a random visit?" Eleazar asked.
"Yes it was. Needless to say, it was also not very pleasant. Aro discovered our Bella, a human who knows about us and our world." Carlisle answered.
"And they left her alive?" Tanya asked in astonishment.
"We begged him to forgive us and show mercy, at least until Bella's next birthday. I know he has always been troubled by the age at which he was forced to change Jane and Alec. I hoped that he would understand our position. He agreed, albeit, unhappily." Carlisle answered again, leaving out the details.
"I thought the Volturi made no exceptions to the rules and never showed mercy." Peter
"Carlisle has a history with them. They are great friends. It may have been the reason -" Carmen guessed wrong.
"I'm sorry to inform you that Aro's view of our friendship has changed over the years. He doesn't count me among his friends any longer." My father corrected, shocking the Denalis.
"Why-How?" Kate asked.
"While he was here, he discovered Alice, Jasper and Edward's gifts. He made it clear that he wanted them to join his guard. If unwilling, they would be forced. He threatened our family." Carlisle explained.
"That's wrong. I thought that joining the Volturi guard was by choice, not forced." Benjamin exclaimed.
"We thought so too, until Edward heard his thoughts. Alice saw the different outcomes when he learned more about us too." Esme added.
"I have no doubt that Bella could discern his true character too; although, I don't quite know how she knows the things she knows." Eleazar lead with a guess.
Edward had told me he had been watching and listening to me carefully, while trying to determine my gift. His statement let me know that he was still unsuccessful. I decided it was best to leave him guessing and address his suspicion in the positive.
"Yes, I did. I'm glad Edward and Alice could see through him as well. I would hate to have been wrong."
"You should have let us come, Esme. What if you needed us?" Tanya asked.
"Our family and yours are the biggest covens the Volturi knows of, besides themselves. The difference between them and us, is that we stay together by choice. We form deeper bonds because of our lifestyle. It would have unsettled them to discover thirteen golden-eyed vampires and a human under one roof. We delayed your arrival to keep your family safely away from Aro's reach."
I answered Tanya even though her question was directed at Esme. It didn't matter that I was still human.
"Why?" Tanya asked more aggressively. I ignored her tone of voice.
"I know enough of your history to know that a confrontation between your family and the Volturi would not end well. The same applies to my family, which is why Alice and Jasper stayed away during their visit." I replied and watched as understanding dawned on her.
"If you knew all of that, why did you stay to meet them Bella? Did you not realize the danger you put yourself in?" Carmen scolded.
"It was better that I was not hidden. Aro read Carlisle. He knew everything about our lives within seconds. It would have been more dangerous for the family, if Alice, Jasper, Edward and I were hidden from Aro." I explained.
"But that means Aro also knows your preparations for his visit, and your plans." Charlotte stated in confusion, questioning the logic of our plan to keep things from Aro.
"Nope, he doesn't know anything about our preparations for his visit. We planned without Carlisle. Aro only read his mind; Bella's idea." Emmett cleared her confusion.
"Cleverly played!" Benjamin commented, flashing me a smile and a wink.
"Bella, Why would Aro step back to let his guard make decisions on his behalf. What doesn't he want Alice to see?" Peter asked.
"I suspect he doesn't want Alice to see when he decides not to destroy Maria but send her after our family." I answered.
"Do you have a basis for your answer Bella?" Tanya asked. It was a challenge.
"His guard was not pleased that he left us without punishment. He must know they will act to correct the situation when given the opportunity." Edward stopped me from speaking, and answered her question.
"Does it matter? Maria was coming here to attack us anyway." Emmett
"Maria is decided on finding Victoria, and attacking our family. I cannot see the details of her plans clearly. My guess is that she is waiting to discuss this with Victoria-" Alice stopped abruptly.
Her eyes glazed over as she started searching the future. We all waited on baited breath for her to come back to us. She was in a trance for a long time. When she finally snapped out of it; she locked eyes with Edward. They both smiled.
"What?" Emmett asked them impatiently.
"Since Maria and her companions were a larger number, the Volturi were forced to fight when they were attacked. They destroyed eight of her army before she called the others off. Alec's gift held the rest motionless while Jane negotiated an ultimatum with Maria. The detail is simple; if she attacks and destroys at least three of our family, her life will be spared and she will receive pardon." Edward announced.
"Why are you two smiling?" Rosalie asked.
"Maria let me into her plans when she decided to accept the Volturi's offer. Bella was right; she was offered a royal pardon. For this, she must succeed in destroying us. Her orders are to spare the ones with the gifts Aro wants for last. She was not pleased to hear that she may not destroy me.
We now know there are four with Victoria and twenty-eight with her. She is upset with the Volturi interference. They also killed some of her army. She plans to run South immediately after she has killed us." Alice explained.
"I guess we should be thankful to Aro for reducing their number." Kate stated in an ungrateful tone.
"Jane has just decided to kill two more for looking at her wrong." Alice announced again after another vision.
"Do you think the Volturi will interfere in the fight?" Jasper asked, looking between Alice and me.
He had been in quiet contemplation since I arrived.
"Aro is intentionally indecisive at the moment. The others have not decided to fight alongside Maria ?" Alice looked to me.
"I don't know Jasper. Aro may want to control the fight, to make sure those with the gifts he wants are not destroyed. If he decides to do that, it means he will be close; as will Alec and Jane."
I added the last bit for my family since I would not be there to protect them. There was a great possibility that Aro would decide to stay close since his guard did the same in the books. They made their appearance immediately after my family fought the newborn army.
Jasper nodded, as if he had been thinking the same thing.
"I am sorry, but I find this hard to believe. I served and stayed with the Volturi many years. Aro could not have changed as much as you say in the last few hundred years." Eleazar countered.
"My friend," Eleazar addressed Carlisle. "I respect your reasons for seeing Aro as a threat to your family. I just have trouble believing he would partner with Maria, for the reasons Bella has put forward."
I understood his position; it was the same as Carlisle's before Aro's visit. Tanya nodded in agreement beside him.
"I am not surprised. The Volturi have brought us much pain." Irina commented bitterly, against her sister's nod.
"Eleazar" I called and paused.
I was not sure how to convince him that I was telling the truth. I could see the doubt in all our guest's faces. My family's expressions held a certain expectation. They had no doubt I could explain Aro's true character to Eleazar. As I closed my eyes to force myself to focus, I remembered something important form the books.
Afterall, vampires were set in their way; never changing.
