We Wait

XxXx

Bella was tense when they stepped off the plane, her hand gripping Jaspers so tightly that had he been human it would have been crushed beyond recognition. They moved at a swift yet human pace to the baggage claim where they came face to face with exactly what was making Bella so tense. Leaning casually against the wall opposite them was Demitri of the Volturi's guard.

"So glad you could make it." Demitri said casually as he pushed himself off of the wall.

"As if I had a choice in the matter. The summons was pretty clear: 'Report to Volturra the first week of June or we will destroy everyone you love.' Not exactly the type of invite you refuse." Bell scoffed with a roll of her eyes.

"No, I suppose it's not." Demitri agreed, his red eyes glinting as a lazy smirt tugged at his lips.

"I assume the others will be talking care of our luggage for us." Bella replied dryly as the Cullen's noticed the other vampires surrounding them.

"Yes. The brothers are very anxious to see you. They have heard much of you and cannot wait to put a face to the legend." With that said Demitri made a show of coming over to greet them for the humans benefit, wrapping Bella in a hug much to Jaspers distaste.

Bella returned the hug whispering something to him too quietly for anyone else to hear. She received a short not in response as he pulled away from her.

"Now if you will follow me we will be on our way."

XXX

The brothers were waiting for them when they made it to Voletrra. Aro moving swiftly forward to take Carlisle's hand.

"Welcome dear ones to our home! We are so glad you could come." He said airily as his brothers looked on blankly.

"Well with an invitation like the one you sent I just couldn't refuse." Bella said with a fake smile in a sickly sweet voice.

"Ah yes, I'm sure you are wondering why it is you are here! It has come to our attention that upon departing from the illegal wars in Mexico you took up resident with a human as well as going to a human school where you have then used supernatural abilities in front of your classmates and in one instance in front of a group of men on the street." Aro said gravely, a sad look on his face.

"You have got to be kidding," Bella scoffed rolling her eyes. "The human I've been living with is my biological father that would have spent years sticking his nose where it didn't belong if I hadn't gone to live with him and show him that I was alive. As for using my abilities in front of my classmates they just think I'm really athletic, and the men you're talking about were about to gang rape a girl. All did in front of them was break a few bones, which isn't outside the realm of possibility, not to mention it was dark so they couldn't see me clearly."

"And your involvement in the illegal wars?" Caius cut in before Aro could say anything further.

"I was kidnapped and forced to participate. I left as soon as I understood that it was not in fact the norm. As far as I can tell with the drop in deaths and disappearances in that area you owe me, considering I took out the biggest army and let everyone think you took care of it. I doubt you'll have to worry about petty turf wars in the south again." Bella said calmly, her eyes hard as they stared unblinkingly into Caius'.

"I wonder, may I?" Aro asked holding his hand out to Bella, pulling her attention away from his brother.

"It won't work but be my guest." Bella agreed holding her hand out to him, confident that he couldn't get through her shield.

Aro eagerly gripped her hand, ready to prove her wrong. Only to pull away in disappointment a moment later. "Of course I knew it was possible after hearing of Edwards inability to read you but I had hoped. I wonder if the same would hold true for Jane's gift."

"Nothing has ever gotten past my shield when it's been up."

"I wonder, how far does your shield extend? Would it cover your companions as well?"

"I do not believe that it would be wise to implicate such a test brother." Marcus' voice was quiet but it carried easily through the chamber.

"Why is that brother?" Aro asked not removing his eyes from Bella.

"Her bonds with them are strong, especially the one she holds with the Major. They are true soul mates and to even attempt harm on him or the ones he holds dear would cause retaliation."

"They are a threat to us all then." Aro said turning to his brothers then for support.

"Not if my mate an dhis family are not harmed. However that does include the entire family, keep in mind."

"She turned against you and you would demand her safety?" Caius asked with a raised eyebrow at the girl.

"Until the day they no longer see her as a sister or daughter I will protect her. It is after all what true family does. is it not Aro?" Bell said, her eyes cold as she said the final part.

"Of course, Demitri will release her into your custody. You are of course welcome to stay with us…"

"No. We will conttinue our trip as planned before returning home." Bella said harshly, her voice brooking no room for argument.

"Of course, Demitri?"

"Right this way," Demitri said coolly, his amusement shining in his eyes.

He led them quickly away from the room they had been in to a reception area where he left them to retrieve Alice. The two of them returning a moment later, confusion clearly written on Alice's face.

"Why…" She started to ask.

"I'll explain it all later. For no we need to go. Until next time Demitri." Bella said calmly, nodding to the tracker before turning to leave.

They exited quickly not looking back and not slowing until they were well out of the city. Once Bella was certain they were alone she stopped and turned to them to explain.

"Bella what's going on? Not that I'm complaining but why did we need to leave so quickly?" rosalie asked in confusion.

"There was somebody there influencing Alice so she would act against me. I couldn't tell who exactly it was so I needed to get us away before they noticed my shield as blocking her."

Why would somebody do that? How long has it been going on for?" Esme asked worry clouding her amber eyes.

"Since just after we me. I didn't notice the shift in energy around her until today though. Whoever was doing it didn't follow her all the way to the Volturi and the distance put a strain on their power. I haven't spent much time around her so it was easy to miss but thtere was a distinct difference in her aura today than the last time I was near her."

"But why could you sense the difference when we couldn't? We're supposed to be her family!" Edward growled in frustration.

"I would assume that the one responsible knows how to evade Alice's sight so she wouldn't see what was happening and it wasn't something Alice knew about so you couldn't read it from her. Whereas sensing the aura's of others is part of my shield. It's how I found that Webber girl the night that I fed and this whole sit fit started. I could sense the rancor coming off thosse ment that had her cornered long before I could smell their blood." Bell a explained calmly noting the curiosity lighting both Jasper and Carlisle's eyes.

"That is by far the coolest thing I have ever heard in my life." Emmett said grinning widely at the smaller vampire.

"But what do we do now that you're blocking Alice? They'll notice eventually won't they?" Jasper asked, the question sounding more like a statement of fact than anything.

"Yes they are bound to noice sooner or later. For now all we can do is be on guard and wait for further information." Bella said heaving an unnecessary sigh.

"We wait?" Emmett asked in disbelief.

"Yes. We wait." Bella confirmed with a sharp nod.

XxXx

A/N: So I know that I'm a complete failure at life and that this took way longer than it should have but I hope you like it. I really am trying to get this story finished for you guys. All of you that have stuck with me this far are completely amazing and I am so thankful for you. Please let me know what you think all of your reviews make my heart soar as well as giving me inspiration and motivating me to write. I also love seeing what you guys think will happen next and seeing if they match up with my vision for the story.