ARO POV

"This situation calls for drastic measures" I say to my brothers, clasping my hands behind my back.

I can't wait to go back to my mate, my Sulpicia, but first we must discuss this matter. A lower guard just came back from a trip in the South with some ominous news. Maria was forming an army, apparently to take control of all southern America.

"It does, brother. We must end that she-devil once and for all" my dear brother Caius hisses. He's such a bilious creature.

"I agree. I think we might need to call in our promise, brothers" Marcus says, briefly remerging from his grief. Since hi mate died, he has been like this, but he is still a good ruler.

I light up immediately at that, my enthusiasm spiking. "Yes! Dear Marcus, you are absolutely right! I would simply love to see young, beautiful Isabella again, and I'm quite sure Major Whitlock will be a great help!"

"What does that human have to do with this?" Caius snarls.

"Oh, dear brother. Calm yourself. Isabella is not like every other human, she is quite special. I think that you could even like her, if you gave her a chance" I say, and see my brother's eyes sharpen.

"That will never happen."

"I'm afraid it will, Caius. I think that it would do you good to accompany our guards in the South. You are a great general, I'm certain the guards will benefit from your guidance" I nod, gesturing with my hands while I speak.

He starts to complain, but a nod from Marcus in my direction shuts him up. He has been outvoted.

I waltz outside our commune office and into my private one. By the sounds I hear, my brothers do the same. I sit on the decade-old leather chair I have near the fireplace and order my guard Renata to fetch me some paper, ink and a quill.

A few seconds later she is back, offering me the requested objects with a bow. I grab them and begin printing my letter.

My old friend,

I hope this letter finds you and your family in happiness and joy. The Volturi stand tall and proud.

I write to you to call in a promise your children and beautiful Isabella made when we saw them last. I hope you are aware of what I am writing about.

Unfortunately, I cannot divulge any detail about this mission we need two of your family members for, but I hope that you'll trust me and my brothers with their wellbeing in the name of our friendship. Every necessary detail and strategy will be discussed with the two we chose here in Volterra. A private jet will arrive in a week to collect them and their belongings. Do not bother with packing clothes, as we will provide them with anything they will need.

I assume that by now you'll be wondering who the ones we chose are. I will reveal their names in a moment.

My brothers and myself, along with our guard, will be most delighted to host Major Jasper Whitlock and Miss Isabella Marie Swan for as long as will be required.

Thank you, my friend.

Your old friend,

Aro Volturi

I fold the paper and place it into an envelope that I seal with wax and mark with the Royal Emblem of Volterra.

I call Renata again and have her call a lower guard. As soon as she comes back with the other guard, I have him deliver the letter to Carlisle as soon as possible.

I can't wait to have those two in my home. I must start to prepare the castle for their arrival!

BELLA POV

"What the fuck!" Emmett swears, and Esme immediately chastises him for his language.

"Emmett!"

"Sorry, Mom. But this is crazy! Why do they want Bella?! I can understand why they would want Jazzman, I mean with his reputation and all that it's pretty obvious, but why Bella? She's just human! No offence Bellsy" he says to me apologetically. I nod my understanding even though something he said I don't understand.

"What about Jasper's reputation?" I ask, curious.

Every eye turns to Jasper. He smirk and beckons me forward with a finger. I go to him and follow him as he walks upstairs. We take a left and go into his private study. He told me a few weeks ago that it was soundproof.

Is his story so bad that we should go into a soundproofed room?

He turns to me as we enter the book-filled space. There are a leather couch and a recliner in a corner and he points toward them. "Sit, please" he says, and there is no trace of a smirk on his face anymore. I do, and he sits in front of me. He wastes no time in starting his story, and he withholds no detail from me. he lays everything bare. Every battle, every scar, every life he has taken, he tells me about it. He hides nothing.

I admire him for that. But I admire him even more when he is finished.

I jump up and throw myself into his arms, settling on his lap, my eyes watering. "You are so strong, Jazz. To have faced all of that and still be here, as loving and tender as you are… you truly are the strongest person I know" I muffle into his chest. A second later I feel his arms around my middle. He hugs me fiercely, not as strongly as Emmett but still enough to let me know what he feels. He buries his head in my hair and whispers, "Thank you, Bella. I was afraid I might have scared you." At that I snort, "Who the hell did you think I am, Jazz? A pussy? I have one, but I'm not one. I won't run away from you. Never."

He laughs at my poor joke and releases me. His eyes sparkle with delight as he kisses affectionately my cheek. Then he smirks once again. Man, I love that fucking smirk. "So, shall we go and start packing?" he says.

I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms over my chest "And who, pray tell, said that we were going to pack anything?" I say jokingly.

His smirk grows and he quickly sweeps me in his arms, carrying me downstairs kicking and laughing and screaming at him to let me go.

As he sets me down, I see that everyone is smiling. Alice is bouncing on her feet and as soon as my feet touch the ground she starts speaking so fast I can barely understand, "So, the Volturi will arrive in six days and seventeen hours. We have time for an E.S.S., an Emergency Shopping Session. But don't worry, Rose and I will take care of that, you just worry about toiletries. We got this" she squeals.

Oh, fuck. Now I'm scared.