Demetri

Bella was mid-change and Jasper was here. I could hear him fighting with the guard. I wondered grimly how many of them were going to need to be put back together. I walked out into the hallway and as luck would have it Jane was passing by.

"Jane," I commanded, "Go escort Major Whitlock and his coven to my room."

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yes, and make sure you collect Bella's journal and bring it back with you."

"Very well," Jane said and went to do as ordered. Within thirty seconds the Major was standing in front of me, and Jane was running behind bringing the journal. He was ready to fight me to get to Bella whose screams could be heard from the hallway. I just stepped out of the way. Jasper was at her side in a blink and Peter Whitlock was standing guard at the foot of the bed, Charlotte Whitlock was standing over Jasper.

Jasper took her hands, there was a surge of power, and Bella's screams quieted to soft moans. Jasper was clenching his jaw but not releasing his grip on his mate.

Peter was the one who explained, "He's taking little darlin's pain into himself so she doesn't have to feel it."

As if it were any other day Char snagged Bella's journal, sat down beside the head of the bed, and started reading aloud. Peter was ready to fight me if I approached, but I didn't. These were honorable folk and there was no need for a skirmish. I stood there and listened to what Bella had been through with the Cullens and then the Whitlocks for the first time. Something broke inside me. My loyalty to the Volturi was not gone but my loyalty to Aro was.

When I thought about it I knew what had happened. Chelsea had created a false bond with Aro and seeing what he was planning for the young one and hearing all she'd gone through and seeing what she'd gone through with me had broken it. I had a score to settle.

"I'm going to leave you all here in the protection of my rooms. I'll set Felix at the door to guard you so you won't be interrupted."

Peter nodded and then his eyes went unfocused for a second and he smiled at me with genuine warmth. "You're doing the right thing," he assured me.

"Thank you. I'll be busy until the little one's change is finished. I'll be back with her first meal"

"She'll refuse to eat if it isn't a criminal," Peter coached.

"I'll see to it. I'll have enough collected for all of you to feed."

Jasper gritted out, his voice filled with pain, "Thank you,"

I saw to stationing Felix outside my door and went down to see my new destiny.

Peter

I watched over Jasper as he took little darlin's pain. Char read Bella's journal. I kept an eye on Jasper and another eye on the door. I didn't think anything was going to happen but I didn't think Bella was going to be taken either. I can be wrong.

It was lucky I rented a plane and found a pilot to fly us here. Jasper was entirely too tense to have been on a public plane without his Bella. I had been on guard the entire time, ready to try to restrain him.

It got even worse when the bond sharpened proving Bella was in the midst of the change. I'm surprised we made it here. If it wasn't his only way to Bella he would have taken the plane apart mid-air trying to get to her.

When Char finished her third time through Bella's journal she got up and got her iPod out of her purse. She turned the music on and it seemed to calm all of us down.

On the last day of Bella's change, something happened. Jasper projected panic in the room.

"I can't feel her!" He exclaimed. He gripped her hands more firmly, then he got all the way in the bed and held her close to him.

"Jasper, Jasper!" I tried to soothe. He was panicked.

"It's her shield, Jasper. It's just strengthening to its full potential. Look at her Jasper. She's not in pain. You can relax now Jasper, she's strong enough to protect herself from the burn."

Char started reading Bella's journal again. The time for her change was coming to a close.

Bella

I could feel Jasper's arms around her but couldn't feel the burn anymore. It was like there was a great weight on her body and mind and she couldn't move. This wasn't the way the burn was supposed to be. Then she heard Peter. "It's her shield, Jasper. It's just strengthening to its full potential..."

I decided that now that Jasper was here and I wasn't in danger anymore I could rest. I took a deep breath and smelled the most amazing scent. It was sun and man, sand and wind. I tried to get closer to that scent. Jasper growled as I tried to move closer and pulled me tight in his arms. I let myself be surrounded by that scent. I was safe. I fell into the last doze I would ever experience.

Demetri

Aro was sitting on his throne when I walked into the throne room.

"Demetri, why aren't you with young Bella during her transformation?" He asked with a grin.

"Her mate showed up and took over the duty," I said.

"Bring him here to me and take your place beside her Demetri," Aro instructed.

"No," I said.

"No?" Aro asked.

"I challenge you for leadership on the Volturi council. Do you yield?"

Aro lunged at me and we began to circle each other. Aro lunged at me, reaching for my neck. He seemed determined to end this quickly. I decided I would go for a quick end as well.

I jumped over Aro's head and almost had Aro in a lethal hold. Aro turned it around on me and I barely escaped with my neck. They circled each other, Demetri moved and Aro lost an arm. His screams rang through the room.

Aro lunged again and again trying to find his way through my defenses. I had not left a gap in my guard. I moved for him, trying to get his hand, but I ended up tearing off a finger.

"You've become too power hungry Aro, I can't allow you to live," I declared.

"You don't know what is necessary to rule. You don't know what decisions you have to make to keep power over the vampire world. You'll never rule," Aro sneered.

I purposefully left a gap in my guard and Aro fell for it. I removed his other arm. With a quick move, I bit through his neck and took his head.

When Aro was safely in pieces Demetri heard Marcus say, "Heads up."

He readied himself for an attack but only saw Marcus's lighter flying through the air. He caught it and dropped it on Aro's remains.

As the fire flared Demetri went and took the central throne. Marcus smiled warmly, surprising Demetri.

"You broke my false bond to Aro when you killed him. I've been fighting it for centuries." Marcus explained.

Caius said, "We need an assembly. Collect everyone not on duty, Santiago."

"Heidi, I need you to collect enough criminals for Bella's first feeding and to feed the Whitlock coven. Go now. She'll be waking soon."

"Yes, Master Demetri," Heidi said.

That was going to take some time to get used to however he knew he'd made the right decision.

When the guard were all assembled, barring those on duty, Demetri spoke.

"As you can see there are changes being made. Aro is no longer in control. We are a true triumvirate now. Felix will be your Commander after he finishes a small task for me. My child is going to be waking within the next few hours. I expect you all to treat her with respect. She has been mistreated by us and I will not tolerate her being upset. Chelsea,"

"Yes, Master Demetri,"

"You are no longer to manufacture bonds unless all three of us agree,"

"Yes, Master,"

Marcus stood and smiled out at the gathering. "The false bonds that were holding my opinions back have been done away with. Friends and family, we will no longer be coming between mates. Mates are sacred. If you are sent to pick up a vampire, you bring their mate with them. This is the first day of a more just Volturi."

Caius stood and looked at every face in the crowd. "I expect many changes in the coming days. If any of you wish to leave, you may do so now. If you stay I expect one hundred percent loyalty without us having to instill it in you through Chelsea. That will only be used as a punishment from now on. This is a new day my friends and I hope that you will all choose to stay to see it."

The guard looked back and forth between each other and then Jane knelt. Alec followed suit. One at a time every member of the guard took to a knee and showed their fealty to the Volturi.

Carlisle

He wasn't sure Edward was making the right decision using Aro to try to reclaim Bella. Bella had made her feelings for Edward and the family quite plain and he wouldn't be surprised if Bella would be happy to see them on a pyre. At least they had his friendship with Aro to fall back on. They wouldn't be punished for their indiscretions.

His oldest companion had been acting strangely. He was acting like an addict who was coming off his high. Perhaps it was a mistake to allow him to sip from his singer.

Esme was furious with me, not for allowing Edward to drink from Bella but for losing her Rose and Emmett. She loved her children. She still thought the family could reclaim Jasper and Bella but Carlisle doubted Jasper would ever return and Bella would only return if forced.

He doubted Bella would last long if she was returned to them. Edward would drain her in short order. She was never truly going to be Esme's daughter.