Chapter Fifty Three
Esme
I'd never seen Bella look so serious but she didn't glance over or make any sign that she was aware I was in the room and to my shame I couldn't find it in my heart to blame her. We had put her through a terrible ordeal and the fact that Alice had manipulated us was no excuse. We had allowed ourselves to be blinded by our daughter and Bella had paid a high price as a result, the loss of her good name and her fathers high regard which must have hurt the most. When the witnesses came back in Carlisle returned to my side and brought with him Edward who looked very uneasy. The spokesman, Antioch, remained standing and spoke directly to Bella, ignoring Aro who was looking furious.
"We have discussed the requests you have made and with more of the facts now available we are inclined to change the verdict on the three accused Cullens."
We hadn't realised Edward had been found guilty in absentia and neither did he by the look of shock that broke on his face.
"Thank you for that. Would you tell the accused of your new findings please."
The spokesman turned to us.
"For their crimes against you and their flagrant disregard for the laws of our world we find Esme and Carlisle Cullen guilty as charged and recommend a sentence of permanent exile in Volterra where their conduct can be monitored. As for Edward Cullen we find him also guilty as charged but recommend that as the individual who introduced you to our world his sentence should reflect that added guilt. We therefore suggest exile in Volterra but with the added proviso that his exile be within the citadel itself and under Corins influence. However if any of them break these terms they will face immediate death."
I almost collapsed with relief at hearing we weren't to die, a life in Volterra wasn't that bad although Edwards sentence was rather harsh but at least he would still have his life.
Bella
I was pleased with the sentences so far but I waited to hear what they had to say with regard to Aro who stood seemingly unconcerned by his peril or perhaps he thought they would refuse to pass sentence on him. Marcus sat watching the proceedings with a kind of bored indifference but now I understood why, he was as much a prisoner here in Volterra as Jenny had been.
"What do you have to say of Aro Volturi?"
The spokesmen and all other heads turned slowly to look at Aro,
"This was a more difficult decision to reach and I think we came to the best compromise that we could Bella."
I held my breath, would his power frighten them in to excusing his actions,
"Before passing any sentence on Aro Volturi there is another matter we would like to deal with first."
I had no idea where they were going with this but I was happy to go along for the moment.
"There is a crime which takes precedence over the one he stands found guilty of. We have considered the death of Didyme Volturi, Aro's sister and Marcus wife. Athenadora has furnished us with an eyewitness account of the crime and we find Aro Volturi guilty of premeditated murder. As this crime pre-dates the other we felt it should be dealt with first and as her husband is here in the room we would like to ask for his thoughts on sentencing."
The problem with this was that as Jasper had told me Marcus was under Chelsea's thrall and could not act against Aro.
"Very well but I think Marcus Volturi should be free to speak unrestrained. Could we ask Chelsea to join us?"
Aro started to protest but I cut across him and the spokesman of the witnesses asked that the guards in the room forced him to sit quietly until Chelsea arrived. The guards looked very uncomfortable and I could see them hoping that Aro would not be freed to take his revenge on them later if they obeyed. But they were saved from acting by Darius, Garrett, Peter, and Jasper, who went to stand by his chair forcing him to be seated while Rose spoke quietly to him, a warning or a threat I couldn't tell, because everyone was talking excitedly while they waited for proceedings to resume. The room had filled up rapidly, the newcomers filled in by those who had been here from the beginning and I wondered if any of the guards were still in place defending the citadel.
When Chelsea arrived the noise ceased like a speaker switched off and she looked around uneasily.
"Chelsea, it is the wish of these witnesses that you remove the block from Marcus Volturi so he can act independently."
She glanced at Aro who shook his head but I called her attention back to me,
"Chelsea, Aro isn't in control any longer, we are, so please do as you have been instructed."
With another look at Aro she nodded unhappily and although there was no visible sign of any difference Marcus stood up and smiled,
"Thank you Bella. I don't need these witnesses to pass sentence on my brother, I did that many years ago although I could never carry out that sentence. Now I am free to do so I would beg the witnesses indulgence."
I looked at the spokesman who glanced at the nodding heads behind him,
"You have it Marcus"
Aro tried to rise, he knew exactly what was coming, but Jasper and Darius held him down by the shoulders as Marcus approached with a broad smile.
"Aro I have waited centuries for this opportunity. This is for my imprisonment."
He wrenched Aro's right arm from its socket and threw it across the room. It was followed by the other and both legs as Aro screamed, still held in place by Darius and Jasper. Then he walked behind Aro and took hold of his brother's head between his hands,
"And this is for my dearest Didyme"
Aro's head came off with a terrible screeching sound and once Marcus had thrown this to join the rest he turned to the witnesses,
"Thank you."
It was a simple thanks but came from the heart. Rose and Charlotte gathered the pieces together and piled them up as Marcus struck a match and threw it on the heap watching with a satisfied smile as his brother became a pile of ashes and purple smoke.
Jasper
Darius and I took our places beside Bella once more and she continued,
"Marcus I think that you should stay on in Volterra as one of the rulers, unless you wish to leave or anyone else has any objections?"
She looked around but no one even looked as if they might object so he nodded a little sadly,
"I have nowhere else to go and no one left to me so I would like to stay on. However, if I stay on the ruling council I would ask that Athenadora be considered for a position here also."
Bella and the witnesses nodded,
"It seems we are all in agreement with that request so yes. Athenadora are you happy to take a position on the ruling body?"
"I am."
She took her place in her late husbands chair beside Marcus and they waited, unsure if Bella had quite finished.
