A/N: We're getting closer to the end now xx Alexis

Marcus

Ah, so the time draws nearer, does it? I expected to have to wait a few more years, but Aro is rushing to his doom as I speak. Caius and I have examined that videotape frame by frame and I'm right she's got a very strong gift! Not just a gift but she has a shield, one she is using as a human. That explains so much; Edward's inability to hear her or Alice to see her and now it's physical! It should be much more powerful once she's changed and if I know Eli that will be happening now! As always Aro underestimates everyone, thinking only he can be tactical and strategic, however when it comes to the safety of your mate we all are. If I had known way back then what I know now, I would have known to keep mine safe from her own brother!

Meanwhile, taking Alice under my wing was a complete waste of time, she has only given me information too late to be helpful and now I found out, she can only see things about people she's met before! So her gift is basically useless! Because random things about fashion are irrelevant here in Volterra, plus the very occasional stock market tip doesn't outweigh the amount of money she can spend! This rubbish might have worked on someone as gullible as Carlisle, but it hardly passes muster for the rulers of the vampire world! God alone knows why Aro wanted her; she is no closer to having her finger on the pulse of vampire life than a fairground hack! I fear Ms Brandon has fallen foul of believing her own press and overreached herself this time. We have no use for her cheap tricks here, that's why we have Aro!

"Caius I think we might have to liquidate Alice's finances and then her as well! How are you fairing with Edward?" I ask my brother as we relax in our soundproofed anteroom,

"He at least is being more useful than her! But it's also a very self-hyped-up gift, not really as good as both appear to think. He can't be everywhere at once, unfortunately, but compared to her he is of slightly more value. Aro appears to be ready to try again but thinks he can use the Elite guard and I won't stand for that!" he sneers,

"Ah yes, he presumes too much once again, let's give them the choice this time" I reply pressing a buzzer by my side and Felix enters,

"Felix, we need two things from you, your opinion and your skills!" Caius says getting to the point,

This really is only a formality as Felix is Caius' man through and through, as Demetri is mine. He holds a vast amount of sway with the guard and so his stance will more often than not be theirs.

Peter

Well damn, I didn't expect that. It hardly even took that long for Carlisle to cause his own demise! His new buddies didn't like his high and mighty attitude; they really didn't take kindly to him lookin' down on them either. So he wasn't quite as special as he thought he was and within a short space of time, they relieved him of his life! I'll just text Emmett to get the money before anyone else does, fair's fair! His good ole buddies don't deserve anythin', if anyone deserves his money it's Esme and the others. Looks like Alice will be joinin' him in the great beyond very soon; I'm surprised Eddie hasn't been removed already! That boy is clingin' on by the skin of his teeth. Well, really it's just a matter of time; he'll sink or swim by his own deeds.

Otherwise, things are going good here, Jasper's stepped it up a notch, not pushin' her, but not lettin' her bury her head either. Once he can see her through the illusion he'll change her and if we still can't see her, then Eleazar will have to be asked to break the enchantment. But he'll not want to come here with Bella bein' a newborn. So we will have to go there, I'm hopin' if we offer our services to help with the influx of mercenaries Aro goin' to unleash on him he might forgive us all for keepin' this from him. Yes, she'll be a newborn too, but as this is all her doin' she should be the one to deal with the discomfort! I just hope for Jasper's sake Eleazar understands why Bella kept what she knew from him, cause I'm guessin' she held her tongue more for him than 'Carmen'!

Bella

I feel normal; I don't feel any pain and all my memories seem to be intact. My heart is pounding so this must almost be the end, I have been so lucky to have escaped the pain everyone else has suffered. I take in a deep breath and am captivated by the scent I smell. It's Zar and now I see he smells of sunshine, spices and a hint of citrus I never got before. He smells like this house, this land, Spain he smells like Spain! I don't even realise while I was pondering that my heart had stopped until I heard him say,

"Mi corazón, (My heart) open your eyes for me"

I feel my eyelids flutter open and my vision is full of just him! Wow, he's so handsome, even more than my weak human eyes had seen. I feel myself smiling up at him and feel him sigh in relief. Did he think, was he worried I wouldn't remember him?

"Hey, my mate, my Zar" I whispered as I slowly put my feet down onto the bottom of the tub,

I knew I had to watch my strength and my speed, so I turned. I slightly noticed the water gave me no real resistance now. Once I was facing him I saw several things. I was taller, not by a lot but at least an inch. My body was fuller, more curvy, the touch of the water told me that and my hair was at least six inches longer and so much more luscious. All these things passed through my mind in an instant. I gently raised my hand to his cheek and caressed his skin; he was no longer cool to the touch or was that more the fact that I now was?

"Impresionante (awesome), you, my love are spectacular!" I say watching his grin widen as I stepped into his embrace,

Was he worried I wouldn't remember him, that I would lose my memory of him? How could I, he's my everything now, my world. I settled into his arms with a satisfied purr and felt his tighten around me.

Eleazar

I don't know why I was worried but I was of course. I was looking at the worst scenario and letting it eat me away as she changed. I was now so relieved, that all I could do was hold her tightly, while I revelled and relished holding her in my arms.

"Isa, sweetheart are you thirsty?" I quiz after a few minutes,

"Ah, I have a small tickle in the back of my throat! Is that the thirst?" she asks and I am surprised at how little she feels it,

"Yes, that is it. Let's get dressed and I'll take you hunting. With luck we may find you an Iberian Lynx on your first outing" I say lifting her bodily out of our tub and entering the bedroom,

As we entered she was nuzzling into my neck and deeply breathing in my scent. Before I could set her down, I felt her teeth sinking into my throat and I moaned loudly. Then my inner instinct took over and I could do nothing to stop myself from ravaging her body and biting her myself. It was wild and passionate; we did not even reach the bed. I took her against the wall and she was slamming herself down on me with wild abandon. This was unlike any other time because now I didn't for the first time need to hold back. We were panting, growling and very vocal; thank God that the staff were not still there. I don't know how we would have explained the noises of what sounded like two wild animals away! When we slowly calmed down, I nuzzled and licked her mating mark to make sure it was sealed and would smell of me.

Caius

One by one over the course of the day we, Marcus and I interviewed each of the Elite guard. Explaining what was about to happen and how they and not Aro would be expected to pay the ultimate price. That he would expect them to break one of our most precious laws in his name, but if anything went wrong he would deny any knowledge of it and leave them to die in his stead! Could they in good conscience kill Eleazar for Aro to have his mate?

"You know him, have worked with him and know he left because of Master Aro's underhand ways!" Marcus said to each of them,

We also told them we assumed she, Isabella would now be a vampire and her gift, yes gift would neutralize many of their own! That Demetri had confirmed this by saying,

"I can still see Eli, but nobody close to him. Not since Jores was there and then faded from my head! This is a sure sign he is dead, the fade-out was unmistakable."

Oh, he also saw the demise of Carlisle Cullen, but none of us were interested in that! Once we had spoken to each, I suggested they got together and make a decision about where they stand. But to know we would back their choices to demure, against Aro! But if any agreed to do this for him, they would never be able to return here to Volterra and would be killed on sight by us for breaking this most sacred of laws! I know I loaded that to make them refuse, but I really shouldn't have had to! Even I who am not a fan of Eli would never stoop this low!

Charlie

Damn Billy! He's pushing me to talk to Tiffany; yeah I know I need to get on with it! I just like to take my time that's all. I know he's right and yeah I need to bite the bullet and sad as it is, this would tell Sue I'm not interested in being more than friends! So I suppose today's the day I declare myself, I fully admit I'm truly scared. It's been so long since I've had to do this and it doesn't seem to get any easier with age!

"Morning Charlie, have a seat I'll be right over," Tiffany says as I enter and I feel my heart flutter,

"Thanks, take your time I'm in no rush!" I reply, letting her know I'll be here a while,

"Ah, the Chief needing to get some work done is he!" she asked laughing, I just nodded,

I watched her moving around the cafe, she moved with grace and ease, her hips swinging as she walked and I was mesmerised. Bits of me I thought long since dead were twitching with her every move, I'm not trying to objectify her, but that woman has my heart pumping and my brain is in quite a flurry! Yes, I'm in love after all these years and it's so damned scary!

"Coffee Chief and how about a bit of my apple pie? I made them fresh this morning, can I tempt you?" she asks and I blinked up at her,

"Everything you do tempts me, Tiffany!" I blurted out flushing bright red and she giggled while blushing herself,

"Oh! I thought..., Sue said..., sorry!" she stuttered,

"Tiffany, I have no feelings except friendship towards Sue, please believe me! The only woman I've felt any interest in lately is you! That's why I'm here today, to man up as Billy says and ask you out. Also yes I'd love some of your pie!" I say raising an eyebrow and she laughs and slaps my arm,

"Chief Swan, you're terrible! But yes, yes I'd love to go out with you very much, Charlie" she says quietly,

"Thank God! Saturday, would you like to see a movie? We could have dinner afterwards, Bella said that little Italian place is good" I say smiling so hard,

"Thank you, that would be lovely and next time I'll cook for you if you like?" she says gaining more confidence,

"Yes, I'd like that too! Now I'm going to do something I've wanted to do for a very long time" I say standing up,

Wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her into me firmly, I bend my head and gently kiss her in front of everyone in the cafe. They all cheer and shout, stomping their feet and pounding the tables which brings more people to the cafe to see what's happening. She grabs the back of my neck and reciprocates fully and we see nothing, hear nothing but each other at that moment. I knew it would spread like wildfire around the reservation and Sue would hear about it too. I wasn't trying to be cruel, but she refused to accept I wasn't interested in her. I was so hyped up and once our lips parted, I dropped back into my chair and felt on top of the world. Everyone who left the cafe slapped me on the back, telling me how lucky I was and I believed them. I knew we would a hill to climb with Sue, but together we will and can survive it.

Esme

So Carlisle is dead, it's not unexpected that's for sure. I feel nothing, not even sadness for him, he reaped what he sowed, and not everyone was prepared to pander to his every whim! What a pathetic epitaph to his life, that nobody cares, nobody will mourn his passing! But we will breathe a little more freely and be less inclined to worry about him dragging us down or into any conflict of his own making.

Aro

Everything has been getting away from me lately and I can't seem to grasp why! It all started I'm sure with the Cullens. I should have just killed those two when they first came here, but no I wanted more I wanted that girl. If I had eradicated them and sent the nearest guard or ex-guard to collect her I still would not have gotten her because Eleazar was the closest! My god that girl has luck firmly on her side at all times, how on earth did Jores fail. I know he's dead, Demetri hasn't come out and said it to me, but he filled in one of those damned reports Marcus insists on! When they are no longer in his head for over a twenty-four-hour period he marks them as suspected dead! There is one way of finding out, of course! But I think that's best left to someone else.

"Felix call the guard together, I have a job for you all," I say and see out the corner of my eye Caius is sneering at me,

Do they know what I'm planning? How? Of course, Edward! Maybe Alice too but I've heard Marcus decrying her gift as flawed and severely confined. How did I not see that in her head, oh I did and ignored it as something we could remedy later? I knew Edward's gift was small, but that he could keep tabs on the guard for me, instead, he appears to be keeping tabs on me for Caius! I really wish I'd killed them, but I must regain control.

"I want you the Elite guard, to retrieve Isabella Swan for us! She was knowingly told about vampires by Edward Cullen and therefore her life is forfeit. She escaped his family and has been taken under the wing of Eleazar Denali, but is still human. This is a total breach of our laws and both must be punished!" I said,

I was just getting into my stride when Marcus began to slow clap as I spoke. Then Caius joined in and they drowned out what I was saying.

"What is the meaning of this disrespect? How dare you do this to me?" I blustered,

But they did not stop and the Elite all looked at me in disgust. Do they know she's his mate, Chelsea was meant to wipe all knowledge of that from Edward's mind, well bury it at least! Make it so that he could remember little of what happened in his time with the Cullens. Why are they all defying me, what's one mate compared to me owning a shield. Because I know she will be a great one and I need to be in ownership of her before her change. She'll forget all about him during the burn and I will be her one and only true master!

"The games up Aro, the guard will not do what you want. We have given them the choice and they all refused to steal Eli's mate from him for you and of course, kill him too!" Marcus stated coldly,

I know he knows I killed his mate; she was useless and tried to destroy all I'd worked for! She would leave me, her brother for him! Then she meant to take him away too, that I could not allow!

"She's a mere human, there is no proof she is his mate!" I spit back at him loudly,

A recording of Eleazar's voice rings out,

"Why Jores? Why would you try to take my mate?" he demanded,

"I'm sorry Eli, but I was ordered to! It was a direct order from Master Aro himself" Jores whined,

"What did he offer you that could assuage your conscience? What was worth breaking our first law for?" Eleazar shouted,

"A place in the Elite guard. He said I would become one of the Elite if I brought her to him in Volterra!" Jores simpered,

"Well, instead of that you earned a place in hell!" Eleazar sneered,

The unmistakable sound of a head being torn off and the body being ripped apart filled the throne room.

"I think that is conclusive evidence, don't you agree Aro? Eleazar in his own words confirms that she is indeed his mate. There is video footage if you want; Isabella taped it as Eli killed the fool!" Caius sneered now and Marcus nodded,

I was flabbergasted; in all the years I've known him I had never heard Eleazar lose his temper. Yet this human has him not only do that but kill to save her, what power she would have and it should be mine, not his! Why is it they all get things so easily and I have to beg, borrow, steal and kill for what I want?

"Try moving against her again Aro and it will be you who dies next, we will never sanction the death of a mate for you!" Marcus growls at me,

I know he will one day be the one to kill me.