Bella
The day of the confrontation had arrived. I was dressed in a black dress and my hair was put in a ponytail to show off my mating marks. My stomach was filled with butterflies and I felt like it was my life on trial today. I sighed as I slipped into ballet flats.
Demetri held my hand as we walked down to the throne room. I was afraid this was going to turn into a fight and I wasn't skilled enough at combat yet.
We walked in and I noticed just how many vampires were on guard in the room today. We were prepared for a fight. Every one of the Volturi was on guard throughout the castle today. Some were prepared to escort the mob into the castle. The queens were in the tower under heavy guard in the tower. Other mates were under heavy guard in the training room.
"Come up here Isabella," Aro called to me. I approached the throne with my Demetri beside me.
"Master?" I asked.
"Relax child. I know you lost the Cullens as your family many months ago. I wanted you to have this," Aro passed me a jewelry box. I passed it to Demetri who opened it for me. "To prove to you that you are part of the Volturi now. We are our own type of family here and I hope that you can see me as a father figure someday. This shows that not only are you part of our family and your rank within the elite guard. It also shows that the head of the guard, your Demetri is your mate."
"Thank you...Father" I answered. The smile Aro gave me was blinding. "Demetri, will you put it on for me?"
"Of course my love," Demetri told me. He clasped the necklace behind my neck and kissed me quickly.
"We also wanted you to have this," Marcus said and handed me a black cloak. "It shows your status on the elite guard and all the others will be wearing them."
"Thank you, Master Marcus."
"You are very welcome young one."
"Now take your position in front of the thrones. I am sorry that you are on such...display today." Aro said.
"It's not your fault. It's the Cullens," I assured him.
I took my place in front of the thrones and Demetri took his place beside me. Jasper was on my other side. I reached out a hand for his and Demetri gripped my hand back firmly.
Everyone fell still and silent. It was hard to wait. I wanted to take action. I wanted to fight. I wanted to shield my Demetri. I wanted to take Demetri and run. Anything but this endless waiting. I settled for thinking back through all my time with Demetri, ever since the first moment.
When the sun set there were sounds of rustling through the castle. I dropped Demetri's hand, turned and shielded Aro, Caius, and Marcus as well as creating one for myself. This would be my only job, to hold these shields during the confrontation. Everyone else would fight.
An army of vampires filed through the doors. I wanted to take Demetri's hand again but I couldn't. I was shielded.
Aro stood behind me. "Welcome friends. Welcome to Volterra. Do come in and we can get this unpleasantness out of the way. Dear Charles, McKenna, Dear Maggie, welcome. Cullens, Garret, dear one how did you get involved in this. Peter, Charlotte, welcome."
The ones named Peter and Charlotte bowed at Aro and came to take their places on Jasper's flank.
"So many of you here. I hope your hunting has been inconspicuous around our dear city. We don't allow hunting within the walls you know. Janet, Thomas, welcome, Irina, Tanya, I see Eleazar isn't with you. Well, I think it's best we just get to the truth of this unpleasantness.
"Maggie, dear one, might you judge the truth for us all?"
"That is why I'm here, Aro," Maggie said.
"Very well. Would you come up here with us?"
Maggie walked up on the dais behind Jasper where all could see her.
"Very good. Now I have heard gossip but I do not no for sure what we are accused of doing."
"You separated my son from his mate. You Jailed my son. You are keeping Bella from our family."
"False," Maggie's voice rang out and all of Carlisle's supporters seemed to take a step away from the Cullens.
"Ah, Carlisle. I should have punished your crimes years ago. You are now guilty of treason you know. We'll get to that later. Shall we start at the beginning? Bella, Who is your Mate?" Aro Asked.
"Demetri."
"Truth." Maggie's voice rang out.
"Brother Marcus, will you confirm Bella's mate?"
"It is Demetri."
"Truth," Maggie said thoughtfully.
"Are you here of your old free will?" Aro asked me.
"Yes, Father," I replied
"Truth," Maggie declared.
"When were you parted from the Cullens?"
"Over a year ago when Edward left me in the woods after telling me I wasn't good enough for him, he didn't want me, and I would forget him."
"Truth," Maggie said sounding confused.
"He never snuck back for a secret visit in that whole year and more?" Aro prodded.
"No, I was broken by their leaving, catatonic for four months, but none of them came back."
"Truth, Carlisle what were you thinking?" Maggie asked. "You left a human with knowledge of our world?"
"So now we come to my true crime," Aro said. "The Volturi don't give second chances. But I once gave my friend Carlisle a second chance. Now he thinks he is above the law."
"Truth," Maggie said with almost a sob in her voice.
The crowd had formed a ring around the Cullen family by this time. No one was standing with them.
"Now Ladies and Gentlemen. The Cullens are guilty of treason, of forming an army, of which you all are a part to go against the Volturi. They are guilty of revealing yourself to countless mortals that I haven't punished them for before."
"I am sorry Aro," Maggie said. "I've never been on the wrong side before."
I am going to repeat my mistake and give all but the Cullens their one and only second chance by letting all who want to leave here go now. Do not hunt within an hour of the city today friends and remember to keep the secret."
The exodus from the room was like a flood.
"Demetri, did you make connections with all of them?"
"Yes, Master."
"Now to the issue of the Cullens," Caius spoke up with a smirk. I looked at him and he nodded at me. I smiled.
"Cullen family, you are hereby sentenced to death for your crimes against Isabella Swan and the Volturi," Aro said. "Demetri, Felix."
Jasper and Emmett hung their heads and didn't watch their family's destruction.
I watched as Demetri and Felix beheaded the Cullens. Alice tried to escape but Peter held her tightly. Tossing her to Felix when he'd finished his current task.
Demetri stopped Felix from setting the pile alight. "They harmed you the most my love. Do you want to do the honors?"
I surrounded the pile of parts with a shield and obliterated them. "Thank you, my love."
Just as we were all starting to relax, Corrin ran in. "Edward escaped. The dungeon is empty."
"Find him, my son." Aro directed Demetri.
Demetri closed his eyes for a moment and rocked back on his heels. "I can't track him. His signal is gone."
"Try to track him by another method." Aro encouraged and Demetri ran out of the room.
"Jasper, Felix, one of you guard Bella at all times until Demetri returns," Aro said. Dismissed young ones.
"Jane, would you help me clean up after I feed?"
We began to head toward the feeding room and Felix joined us.
"Need a bite?" Jane asked Felix.
"Aro commands Bella has a guard till Demetri returns. Jasper is affected by emotions so it makes sense that I join you at feeding time." Felix explained. "But if Bella can handle it I could use a bite too."
"Thank you, Felix."
"No problem little bit."
Felix laughs as I lunge for the man. He would have never seen me if Felix would have stayed quiet. I'm gonna thump Felix when I finish feeding.
After my meal is dead I stalk Felix. He just smiles at me and watches me come. I lunge but Felix isn't there anymore. I lunge again. He's gone. He got away this time but he won't next. He's still laughing loudly when I go into the showers.
I get clean as quickly as I can. I can't wait till I can do this for myself. I accidentally rip the pants in my rush to get my leg in and we had to do it again. I'm impatient and I find myself rubbing my chest. Oh, it's the mating pull.
I take a few deep breaths and slow down. Demetri will return soon and it will all be alright.
Finally dressed, Jane and I exit the showers. Felix is there waiting.
"Let's go watch a movie?" I suggest.
"Sure, any idea what?" Felix asks, falling into step with me.
"No, but we'll find something." And I punch him in the side. "Next time don't scare my meal. I don't like it when they're scared."
"Touchy little thing aren't ya." Felix laughed.
It took a little while to get settled into the rec room and I kept watching the door. I knew he wasn't going to walk in right now but I couldn't help hoping.
"I'm gonna get me a whiskey. Do you want wine, Bella?" Felix asked.
I nodded and he got out my cup, pouring the wine first. We put on an old Star Trek movie and I tried to watch it. Jasper and Felix kept looking at me. About halfway through the movie, they both stood.
"You ain't doin so well are ya little Darlin?" Jasper drawled
I just shook my head. "I need him here," I admitted.
"Time to learn to fight," Felix said with a grin.
I got up. The movie wasn't helping so might as well try this.
Jasper came with me to the training room. He sure liked to work. "Now," he said, "We'll teach you to fight right."
Jasper crouched and lunged at me.
I had never before been afraid since I became an immortal, but seeing Jasper flying at me I felt true fear. I punched and kicked and dodged and punched. I moved faster than I thought possible but it still wasn't fast enough.
He had me by the throat and I couldn't move.
"He'll kill you if he walks in on you handling her like that," Felix noted from the door.
"Yup, figured as much," Jasper laughs.
Felix chuckled too.
We started to spar and I didn't expect it to end any time soon.
It was morning before I insisted. "I'm thirsty," up to now that was the end of the sparring session.
"Not good enough Darlin," Jasper insisted. "Ya gotta hit me."
Training continued.