Chapter 13: Full Disclosure
Our journey home was surprisingly smooth an uneventful. Neither the wolves nor the other vampires followed us.
Half of the guard split off once we reached St. Johns; Aro dispatching them to their previous assignments or something new he directed them to.
The other half had followed us home; doubling the security around the castle for twenty-four-hour protection, just in case anyone had tried to follow.
During the journey I avoided any and all conversation about what had happened in the clearing. There were still too many ears around, and I didn't want them to know anything more than they already did. As it was the gossip would run rampant without fueling the flames.
When we finally reached the castle, without me even having to ask, The Elders and myself went to a private conversation room. They all looked at me expectantly as I paced around wanting for answers but unsure where to begin or what to ask.
Marcus and Caius had found chairs to sit in, while Aro stood patiently. "Bella" he finally said to me after several minutes of silence.
I stopped and turned to look at him, questioning him with my eyes.
"We will tell you anything you wish to know dear."
"Who are they?" I asked him simply.
"Please sit." he said gesturing to the empty chaise behind me.
"They are who they say they are Bella." He told me plainly.
"What does that mean?" I asked him angrily.
"It means" Caius spoke up "That everything you know is this truth; but that the past has found you."
"When you came to us, you were as we have told you; in pain and seeking death." Marcus said to me, leaning forward on his knees while staying seated in his chair. "That truth can't not be changed. What we didn't know was why."
"We do now, however." Aro continued. "My first meeting with Carlisle told me everything about your past that we didn't know. Your association with the Cullen's and apparently the wolves."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" I questioned him.
"Because child, as Caius and Marcus have pointed out; the truth and your pain, cannot be changed. What would have been the point in us telling you anything that would cause you pain? You didn't remember them, and it is what you asked for by coming to us all those years ago, there was no point at the time."
"So, then who are they Aro? How did I know them? How did I know about you to come here? How and why did I know shape-shifters? None of this makes any sense!"
Marcus stood up and came to sit next to me, while Aro took each of my questions and answered them to the best of his knowledge.
"I only know from Carlisle's thoughts, but I will tell you all that I can." He said before continuing.
"When you were human, you moved to a small town in Forks Washington to live with your human father. The Cullen's were living in the same town at the time. For whatever reason, you piqued their interest and caught the eye of Carlisle's son Edward. He befriended you, took you to his home, introduced you to his family. They liked you. They liked you enough to tell you that they were vampires."
"What?" I breathed out.
"You were their pet, Bella." Caius seethed.
"Caius." Aro snapped at him before continuing. "Being human and keeping company with a group of vampires is a dangerous feat, you as it were, were in constant danger. Many times, you had been hurt under their care, stalked and even hunted by other vampires who didn't like the association. You'd nearly been killed on more than one occasion because of the Cullen's affinity towards you."
Aro stood and started to pace the room before continuing. "But, Edward tired of you. He used you and when he had his fill, through you out like yesterday's trash. He ordered his family to do the same and they left you."
"Being human you were more attached to them than they were of you, we believe this is why you remembered enough about what they had told you to come here." Marcus concluded.
"So, I was some sort of pawn in a game?"
"So, it would seem." Caius said.
"And what about the wolves? How do I know them?"
"That, we are still unclear about." Aro said looking at me expectantly. "From Carlisle I know that they were aware of their existence, and we know that you had an acquaintance with one of them because of your father, but beyond that we know as much as you do."
"What about the treaty then? Was the meeting all just a lie so the wolves, could what?"
"Again, we know as much as you do. Regardless, we plan to uphold the treaty. What we agreed on hasn't changed, the initial reason to meet may or may not have been a lie, but the treaty is still in the best interest of us all." Aro told me.
"And the Cullen's? What is to be done about them?" I asked.
"How do you mean?" Marcus asked me, still seated next to me in a gesture of comfort.
"They broke the law; they should be punished." I said, looking only at Caius, if anyone would agree with me, it would be him.
His smile was my answer before he spoke. "Bella is correct, regardless of how long ago it was, they broke the rules."
"Now, now." Aro raised his hands in peace towards the both of us. "Caius, I understand why you would suggest or agree to this, but Bella, dear, this, for you, would be out of revenge."
"Aro, I don't remember them to have feelings of revenge, Remember? I'm simply stating the obvious." That wasn't completely the truth; I had to admit to myself, I was feeling a bit hurt, but the law was the law.
"We will not be punishing them." Aro told us firmly. "Carlisle has been a wonderful ally and friend to the Volturi for many years. If anything, we owe him."
"How's that brother?" Caius asked him.
"Aside from everything else he has done for us; including his most recent aid with the treaty, he has inadvertently given us Bella."
"What?" I questioned him, almost sarcastically.
"If it wasn't for his son's interest and subsequent hurting of you, you never would have come to us. That we can never repay him for. But letting him slide with this one rule breaking would be a start." He told us, very pleased with himself.
Smiling at each other, I moved to give him a hug. What had happened in the clearing had shaken me, but this was my family, this was where I belonged.
(2/11/11)