Chapter Forty Four

Emmett

When orders came for me to make my way back to Volterra I was relieved, anything was better than this hell hole although the number of newborns was so few and they were now so disciplined that a few guard could control them. I wondered if I would see Rose again and how she would greet me when she saw the evidence of my shame in my eyes. I'd looked in the mirror this morning and the shame was almost a physical pain. The only time I'd had red eyes before was when I encountered humans whose blood sang to me, this was different, I had been unable to control my desire for human blood even though the provocation had been so great it really wasn't my fault. I was told to report to Caius and that gave me shivers too, I didn't trust him, he was the most bloodthirsty of the three brothers and I knew he would like nothing better than to torture me for failing in the attempt to capture Bella.

I was told to enter when I knocked on his door and found him seated at his desk alone. He looked up and nodded to the chair opposite,

"Sit down Emmett. I have a proposition to put to you."

I didn't like the sound of that either but I kept silent, it was the best thing to do when you were in his presence.

Caius

I'd volunteered to give Emmett his choice because I knew which way he would jump, Emmett was at heart a coward and a weak one at that. He hadn't stood up against his old friends but he hadn't given in to them either. I got the impression that all Emmett Cullen wanted was a quiet life with his mate. He'd never had to suffer before coming here and he'd found it very hard going with the newborns according to his commander, not even being able to resist the lure of human blood although he had been a vegetarian for so long.

What his mate saw in him was beyond me but that they were mates wasn't in question. Even with Corins help Rosalie had still been in pain away from her mate.

"We would like you to join the elite guard Emmett, you will be given a suite of rooms and be reunited with Rosalie. It means being sent away on missions from time to time but I'm sure you could cope with that after hearing of your behaviour with the newborns."

"Rosalie comes back?"

"Of course, she is after all your mate."

"No more newborn training?"

"No, that is for the weaker of our guards, a way of hardening them up you could say."

I waited as he debated my offer although we both knew he had no choice in the matter.

"Very well I accept. Can I see Rose now?"

He sounded like a small child calling for its mother!

"Of course, I'll have her sent back to your old suite and tomorrow we can find you new quarters away from disturbing influences."

For that read Carlisle.

Rose

I hated Corins company because I knew what she was doing to me but without her I couldn't have coped with the pain of being separated from Emmett. Esme seemed happy enough as did the wives but then they knew nothing different and saw their mates regularly while I had been separated from mine for far too long. Watching Esme and Marcus I could see the deep respect they held each other in and I knew Carlisle had been relegated to the past. They were now one and to see the joy on both faces when they were together only caused my pain to increase as I envied them. When a guard came to escort me from the tower I was scared, was this going to be bad news? Had something happened to Emmett? If it had I didn't think I could cope, I would die too.

We went along endless corridors until we reached Aro's study and the guard knocked waiting for a reply before opening the door and standing aside for me. Aro stood, a beaming smile on his reptilian face.

"Rosalie, so good to see you again. We have good news for you. Emmett is back in Volterra and you will be joining him soon but I thought you and I should talk first."

The only important thing he said was that I would be reunited with my Emmett soon, the rest I just ignored.

"Rosalie, we have concerns regarding your mate, he is shall we say a little weak willed and we are counting on you to guide him along the right path. He has been offered and accepted a place in the guard based here in Volterra. I hope you will back him if it becomes necessary."

"He is unharmed?"

"Of course dear Rosalie, we don't harm our guards, even those who prove a little less than completely trustworthy. It saddened us that he wavered when in the company of his late friends."

"Late? You mean they are dead?"

"As good as my dear. Now I'm sure you are eager to see him so run along, he should be in your suite by now and please remember my request, be vigilant."

I almost ran from Aro's study and did sprint along the corridors only stopping when I reached our door. I stretched out my hand to turn the door knob then hesitated, was this just a game of Aro's or would Emmett really be there when I opened the door? Before I could complete the thought it was wrenched open and I fell into Emmett's arms relieved that we were together once more. He hugged me tight whispering my name and I heard him breathe deeply, taking in my scent. It seemed hours before I could tear myself free of his embrace to look at him and then I saw the eyes.

"Oh Emmett, what did they do to you?"

I caressed his cheek and he relaxed a little

"I'm sorry Rosie, I tried really hard but they made me transform some captives and once I tasted their blood I couldn't stop myself."

I pulled him close again and stroked his hair shushing him like a mother soothes her baby,

"You're safe that's all that matters to me. Forget about the past and just think about us. I thought I might never see you again Emmett. I missed you so much."

Emmett

I was so scared at Rose's reaction to my shame but she brushed it aside as if it didn't matter at all and once in her arms the horror of my time with the newborns faded somewhat.

"You know something Rosie, I don't know how Jazz coped all those years without truly becoming the monster he thought he was. I treated him badly, Bella too, and I don't know how I'm ever going to make it up to them but I'm going to try."

I understood his feelings but for now I needed him close, I wanted him to make love to me, for us to become one again and I pulled him over to the bedroom door.

"Come on, there will be time to talk later."

He swept me off my feet and hugged me close as he opened the bedroom door and carried me in.