Chapter 15 – Confrontation

Seeing Aro angered me. I caught the ball on the bat and it flew into the forest. I saw Emmett go after it and I ran the bases. Emmett came back and tried to get me out. I ran to home base and slid in before he caught me. "DAMN!" he bellowed. I stood and laughed, "Sorry." My smile fell as I caught Aro's eyes. All the Cullens walked towards them. Edward took my hand and we walked in the center of the line, Carlisle was on my other side. "Hello Aro," Carlisle finally spoke. "Carlisle, my friend. Thank you for taking care of my Isabella." I closed my eyes and exhaled. When I opened my eyes, I looked to my mother. Her face was sad and happy at the same time. She ignored Aro and came towards me. I released Edward's hand and hugged her. "Oh my dear. Please don't ever do this to me again," she said, while cupping my cheek. I simply smiled, "I missed you too." "Sulpicia," Aro called her. She looked back to him, then to me. She tugged my hand, but I shook my head. "Please," I whispered and stepped back next to Edward, who took my hand again. Her face crumpled and walked back to Aro's side. Aro took in her face, "Isabella, you have hurt your mother enough. Stop this now. You got what you wanted; now it is time to return." The anger grew in my chest, "No. I refuse to return to that prison. I refuse to return and be a commodity. I am staying here. I am staying here and remaining free." He glared at me, "Is this what you want? To live among the humans and consuming the blood of animals?" "Yes," I growled.

"I want the choice to choose to live this way. You denied me that. Also, after what I heard you, Caius and Marcus said, I took the that choice out of your hands. There is no way I am going back to Volterra." My mother looked at me, "What did they say that made you leave?" I sighed, "One night I heard them talking about me and the Cullens. They were hoping I would convince Edward to remain in Volterra and join the Guard. Also, they saw how close Alice and I were becoming, so they hoped I would convince her to stay. Literally, Caius said it would be two for one. That Jasper would have stayed if Alice had remained in Volterra." My mother gasped and stepped away from Aro, "What?" She scowled at Caius, "How dare you? All of you. How could you want my daughter to do that? How could you want to take from Carlisle's family?" I used this to my advantage, "Also, Marcus mentioned something about me." "Isabella, enough," Aro interjected. I looked at him, "No, she and everyone should know everything. Marcus felt I should have used my feminine whiles to keep Edward in Volterra. Father even said if Edward had stayed that would have taken care of my wanting for the outside world. Hearing this, how could I stay? Father said he could never let me go; he said I was too important. But let's be honest, the main reason he didn't want me to leave is this."

I walked ahead and gestured to the Cullens, "He was afraid I would join another coven and stand with them. He was afraid that I would be against him. I render his twins useless, so they could not immobilize them. That is it. That is the absolute reason why Aro never wanted to me leave. I was nothing but a weapon to him." Aro glared at me; I have never called him by his name since he claimed me as his daughter. "Isabella, how could you think that? We brought you into our family, took care of you like our child and this is how you repay us." Aro scoffed at me. I let my head fall into hands, "No. I appreciate you doing all this, but that does not give you the right to keep me locked away from the world. That does not give the right to try and use me to take away from another family." I brushed my fingers through my hair when I noticed my mother staring at me. My mother stepped towards me again, "Isabella, give me your hands." I looked back to the Cullens and complied. I gave my mother my hands. She looked at my new ring on my left hand. She looked back at my face, "Isabella, who gave you this?"

Before I could answer, Edward stepped forward, "I did. I love her. Bella and I are getting married." Edward took my hand in his, "Sulpicia, Bella wants to stay. She has a choice and I will not allow anyone to take it away from her." My mother stared at him, "You love her? You love my daughter?" Edward nodded, "More than anything. No matter where Bella goes, I will be with her." I looked up at him, then back to my mother. She did not speak. I heard Aro gasp and he came forward with Caius and Marcus. Aro took my hand and appraised my ring. "Carlisle, how could you allow this? She is my daughter." Carlisle stepped forward, "She may be your daughter, but she is not a child. They truly love each and I would not deny my son what he wants. And what he wants is to be with Bella. And, truly, Bella wants to stay with Edward." Caius glared at me, "Because of you, Isabella, Chelsea, Afton and Heidi is going to be punished." I gasped, "No. They did nothing wrong. Why punish them?" Aro scowled, "They were to watch you and make sure you remained in Volterra." I shook my head. This is what I was waiting for. I looked to Edward and took my hand from his, "If anyone must be punished, it should be me. Punish me and leave it at that." I heard Alice and Esme gasp and Edward growl. I saw Jane step forward, "Master, she confessed to disobeying you. She must be punished."

My old habit kicked back in, "Jane, even if he does punish me, it does not mean that you will take my place." Jane glared at me and released her power. I saw Edward fall to the ground, writhing in pain. I ran to his side and covered him in my shield. He sighed and cupped my cheek, "Thank you," he said in a weak voice. I glared at Jane and growled, "Don't you ever do that again." She smiled at me, "You betrayed us. You should be punished." Aro spoke up, "Jane, leave them be. That is not for you to decide." Jane bowed and stepped back. I held Edward's arms as he stood. I saw Aro looking at us; there was something in his eyes. "Please, Father, if you must punish or make an example of anyone, let it be me. However, I will say this, I love you. I love the fact that you took me as your daughter, but you cannot make me return to Volterra. I love Edward and I'm staying with him. If you truly loved me, you would understand. Please," my voice broke, "I love him and I want to stay. I do not belong in Volterra anymore. That is not my home." I looked back to Edward, "He is. You could try and take me back, but I will just leave again. I refuse to be apart from Edward." Aro stared at me, taking in my words. My shield was still up and Jane was attacking Edward again. I growled and bounded into the air. I landed in front of Jane and bared my teeth, "Leave him alone! He's done nothing. Attack him again and I will kill you." Jane glared at me, "Master, she does not care about us. Leave her here with them." I growled at her and Felix stepped forward. I glared at him, "Are you going to fight me?" Felix stepped towards me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward and Jasper step forward. Felix towered over me and I stared up into his eyes. He smiled slightly, "I could never hurt you." I bounded back to Edward's side, "Don't," I whispered to him. He looked down at me and sighed.

We looked back to Aro, Caius and Marcus. Marcus was studying us, "Your bond is strong. In fact, this is the strongest bond among them. Aro, Edward will not be without Isabella." Aro sighed, "Isabella..." I closed my eyes and held Edward's hand. "We will decide on what to do?" I looked to him, "Alright." This was it. They will have to kill me before I returned to Volterra. Edward caressed my cheek and I looked at him. We circled our arms around each other, "No matter what they say, they will not separate me from you," I whispered. Edward pressed his lips to mine. He and I walked back to the Cullens and I looked back to Alice, she was hugging Jasper. "Don't worry. You'll still be my sister." I smiled, "You've been my sister since I was in Volterra." I wanted to cry and Alice smiled, "And don't say you're sorry. We're not. We're happy you came to us." Edward didn't release me as I hugged Alice and Esme. Edward put his lips to my ear, "I will always be with you. I love you." I looked at him, "I love you too."

I saw my mother looking towards me again. I did not bother to hide my pain. She shook her head slightly, "Aro…." He looked to her, "Yes dear?" She stepped towards us, "She stays. Isabella is staying with the Cullens." My eyes widened. Aro looked from my mother to me, "Sulpicia, she is our….." She raised her hand, "Aro, she is our daughter, not our prisoner. She was not happy in Volterra and we saw that. Here, she is. I see a different wo…," she stammered over the word, "a different woman. She is happier here. That is because of Edward and the Cullens. They have made her happier than we did. I want her happy." My mother looked towards Edward and me, "Besides, she is getting married. More so, we pushed her to this. Isabella has shown us that she is determined to live her life and that she refuses to go back. What kind of parents would we be if we forced her? As much as I want her home, she belongs here." My aunt Athenodora stepped forward, "She is right. Isabella should stay. However, she must make a promise." She looked at me. "What is it?" I asked. My aunt sighed, "She has to visit," a small smile came cross her face. I nodded, "Of course."

Aro and Caius stared at their wives. "She belongs in Volterra," Caius stated. "No, Caius. I am her mother and I say she belongs where she wants to belong. You do not dictate where is belongs," my mother declared. Athenodora held Caius's arm and shook her head, "Let her go. All of you," she looked to Aro, Caius and Marcus. Aro closed his eyes and looked at me. I was holding Edward and Alice's hands. "Isabella, this is your decision?" Aro finally asked. "Yes. This is what I want," I looked at Edward and Alice. His eyes fell on Edward, "Edward, please come forward." He kissed my hand and stepped towards them. Alice squeezed my hand. "Yes, Aro?" Edward asked. Edward raised his hand and Aro took it. Aro closed his eyes and took in all the memories. He saw everything; every kiss, every hug, every memory of my time with Edward. He saw Edward's longing for me and his happiness when I arrived. He saw our interactions at school and time together with the Cullens. Alice squeezed my hand, "He's decided," she whispered. She did not tell me his decision. I waited. Aro released Edward's hand, "You do love her and she you." He looked to me, "Dear, come forward."

This was the decision. I stepped away from Alice and stood at Edward's side. Aro stared at the both of us, "Isabella, I cannot convince you to return to Volterra?" I shook my head. He sighed and closed his eyes. After opening them, he pointed at Edward, "Because of him?" I nodded. "Edward, then would you consider joining our Guard?" I huffed and looked away. "No, thank you, Aro. I do not want to leave my family." "And you will not leave Isabella?" Edward held his head up, "No. She is my life." I felt Edward's eyes on me, "Aro, I love her and I do not wish to see her return. But if you make her, I will go with her, but I will not join the Guard." I spoke up, "Father, do not think that will get me to go back. I will not. I will not subject Edward to living there." Aro smiled, "I see that. I've decided. Isabella, as your father and creator, I release you. I will not make you return." I fought a smile, "Really? You will not make me?" He shook his head, "Your mother is right. You were not happy in Volterra, but I tried to keep you there. Isabella, I was wrong. We all were and I hope you can forgive us." I bit my lip and stepped forward. Aro stepped forward and embraced me. "Thank you, Father." He kissed my forehead, "Do not thank me. Thank Edward. I saw the way he feels about you," he looked away from me, "Edward, you swear to take care of her?" I looked back and saw him smiling, "I swear Aro, I will."

He released me, "Let us leave then. Isabella, you must keep your promise and come back for visits." I smiled, "I promise, Father. But you must return soon." I smiled, "Why is that?" I stepped away and took Edward's hand, "For our wedding. It's this summer. I want you there." He nodded, "We will be there." My mother and aunt came towards me and we hugged, "Edward, you must take care of her," my aunt informed him. "I will," he vowed. Aro walked over to Carlisle, "She is your daughter now. She is special and you must remember that." Carlisle shook his hand, "I know she is. Do not worry, Aro. She will be well taken care of," they looked to Edward, "You do not have to worry about that." Caius and Marcus did not speak. They floated back to the Guard and waited for my parents and aunt. My father came over to me, "Addio, mia figlia. Ti amo." (Goodbye, my daughter. I love you.) I sighed, "Anch'io ti amo, Padre." (I love you too, Father) With that, my parents and aunt went back to their Guard. Jane glared at me. I just smile and waved, flittering my fingers. She turned and stalked away. Alec, Felix and Demetri smiled at me, Felix winked at me. I watched as they left, leaving me to my life.