TWILIGHT : THE BLOOD INSIDE YOU IS THE BLOOD INSIDE ME

Chapter Thirty-four

This is a fictional story based on the Twilight Series, of which I own neither part nor parcel. Just borrowing the Volturi temporarily. I'm late to this fandom. I do research online since I haven't committed the films to memory, and hardly recall the books. So I'm sorry if canon is upended a little.

Aro's crime is exposed to his coven, so now the Volturi must decide, is he the leader they really need.

Aro/OC, Marcus, Caius, various members of the Guard

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Aro stood facing Charlotte and Marcus, his hands hanging at his side. He doubted they would agree to be read, but he didn't need his tactile telepathy to guess what had happened. "Excellent job, Demetri."

Demetri was about to open his mouth when Charlotte responded first, wanting to protect her friend. "Demetri found us, Aro, but he did not drag us back home. We returned willingly."

"And from where did you return, my dear?" Aro's calm exterior belied the outrage inside.

Neither Marcus nor Charlotte responded to Aro's ridiculously invasive question, but Marcus stared unblinking into his brother's eyes, never letting go his grip on Charlotte's hand.

Aro observed Marcus' hold on Charlotte, more possessive than protective, and the subtle way she leaned back into him, a small smile on her lips. When she glanced at him, the smile dropped, and her eyes were empty, expressionless. There had always been love, desire, admiration, and trust in her eyes before, and only for him. The sense of betrayal within him almost immobilized Aro. He hid his grief behind harsh words. "So this is the loyalty I am to expect from both of you."

Charlotte gripped Marcus' hand more tightly. She wasn't afraid of Aro. She just wanted this confrontation over with.

The Volturi master's eyes were wide, their colour deepening as his anger grew. They darted from Marcus to Charlotte, who looked at Aro for a half minute, before looking away. It wasn't that she was ashamed at anything she had done, but she didn't want to give Aro the chance to use their bond to reach out to her. That she had always found his eyes hypnotically beautiful in the face she found even more so felt like a weakness to her now.

Charlotte heard the veiled accusation, but had expected nothing else. "You dare speak of loyalty, someone who betrayed both his own sister and brother-in-law, and me! If I decide to bind myself to someone who understands the word 'loyalty', that is my choice, Aro."

"Marcus, if you think stealing my mate from me as an act of revenge will make you feel better..."

"It already has, Aro. But I am not stealing her from you. Charlotte gave herself to me freely. Perhaps we were bound from the beginning, but you two had to be together in order to save the covens. Now that that's been done, what does she owe you, a most unworthy mate and leader to the Volturi" He felt Charlotte shift position to partially face him. "My gift shows the bond she has with you loosening, Aro, while mine with her is getting stronger. It cannot be explained nor can it be ignored."

"She swore she loved me, and would for all eternity!" Aro held back from physically attacking his disloyal brother and his unfaithful mate, but it was taking every ounce of his self-control. He felt as if Charlotte had stabbed him with a blade into the very heart she said still lived despite its nature. But he would not show either of them the pain they were causing him. Aro bared his teeth in frustration and left the room, speeding off to his chambers.

Charlotte turned and hugged Marcus, in spite of the many pairs of red eyes watching them. "At least that is over with," she mumbled into Marcus' chest. She looked up at the tall vampire and whispered to him. When he nodded, she sped over to Caius, and approached his throne. "Caius, Marcus and I have been talking, and we've decided since the other covens will not work with us as long as Aro is in charge, and since we feel he is no longer good for the Volturi, he will have to be deposed."

"What are you proposing, Charlotte?" Caius was willing to offer his support to Marcus as head of the Volturi leadership, his faith in Aro irrevocably shaken.

"You and Marcus would continue to rule the Volturi, and as Aro's mate, I will take his place. I will, of course, defer to you and Marcus, since you two have been here longer. Aro will then have to be placed on trial for his crime. Do you concur? If you need time to think about it, just let us know. We may need to make other decisions as well, brother."

Caius didn't care about Aro's standing within the Volturi. Charlotte's suggestion sounded equitable, and very workable in light of the need for change. They had their latest success along with the other covens, but with Aro's secret exposed, that made the Volturi look foolish and corrupt, unless Aro was tried and punished. "I concur, sister. Tell Marcus he has my support."

Charlotte smiled at Caius. "And as to his arrest?" On a personal level, this pained Charlotte, but she felt little sympathy. Aro had brought this on himself long ago.

"Unfortunately, I have to agree with your decision, Charlotte. Even I was not aware of Aro's despicable act." Caius turned to the guards. "Jane, Alec and Felix, go to Master Aro's chambers and take him into custody. Place him in a cell until such time he is to appear before us. I want him guarded at all times. His trial will be held within 24 hours." He tilted his head as he peered at Jane and Alec. "Has either of you a problem with this assignment?"

The twins looked at one another, then to the blonde vampire. Jane spoke for both herself and Alec. "No, Master Caius. We understand the import of this decision. It has to be done to protect the Volturi. We are as disappointed in Master Aro as anyone here, for Master Marcus' sake."

"Thank you. Go now, before he has time to escape Volterra."

The twins sped off, while Charlotte stood beside Caius. "You should bring Dora down for the trial, brother. This concerns all of us."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Charlotte walked leisurely down the corridor, her mind a jumble of thoughts. Now that she was home again, she should be feeling better, but she was not.

She had just turned the corner when she nearly ran into Aro, flanked by Felix and Alec, with Jane walking behind them, just in case. The guards gave Charlotte a look of apology. She stepped aside for them to pass, when Aro stopped, facing Charlotte.

"May I speak with you, cara? Alone?"

Felix saw the look of pain on his friend's face. He started to push Aro forward, when he felt her hand on his arm.

"It's all right, Felix. We can go to your office to talk, Aro." Charlotte didn't want to look at Aro. That he had called her 'cara' brought a tightness to her chest.

"I was thinking more of outside in the garden gazebo." He hoped the environment would move Charlotte to remembering the good times when they were in the garden together.

"If you wish," she said coldly. "Felix, it's fine. Will you all stay just inside the door. As soon as we're done, come for him."

Aro held out his hand to Charlotte, but she walked along beside him, her hands stuffed in the pockets of her slacks. "Careful, Aro. You may not like what you see," she warned him.

He lowered his head, his eyes dancing, not paying attention to what was in front of him as they walked to the door leading outside.

Charlotte attempted to put up a wall between her mind and Aro's thoughts. She didn't want her empathy to read his emotions, forcing her to confront any grief or anger he may be feeling and pulling her into that turmoil. If she felt even one iota of sympathy for him, she might cave to the feelings she still had for him.

They left the building through the side door that led to the meticulously manicured garden. Aro waited for Charlotte to sit within the gazebo on one of the marble benches that sat against the structure's low wall. She didn't want Aro to touch her in any way, but he sat close to her, keeping his hands to himself.

The pain Aro felt from her rejection only enforced his need to be forgiven. He looked over at his mate. She was as beautiful as ever. He missed her, utterly and completely. It was as if he were incomplete, and he longed to touch her. "Charlotte..." It was then Aro saw the bracelet on her left wrist. "What is that?"

Feeling no need to be completely honest, yet also feeling no need to hide the truth, Charlotte replied, "It's a gift from Marcus. A memento of our time in London." There, it was out in the open.

Ah, apparently they had run to London together, he thought. So Charlotte was under the protection of Marcus once more. Their relationship had circled around to the way things were when she had first arrived in Volterra. At least she had been safe during their separation. "It's pretty."

She played with the bracelet, a smile appearing on her face. "Marcus, Demetri and I toured the city, visiting local sites and riding the Underground. It was...fun. I'd always wanted to visit England when I was human."

Aro was irate at the disloyalty of his once obedient Guard. Demetri had been complicit in their deceit by not reporting to him as soon as he had found them.

"Marcus has been very kind to me, Aro. That's what makes your crime so disgraceful. Marcus never wanted anything more than to make his mate happy and to do your bidding." She looked up at the sky as a flock of birds flew overhead.

Her smile when playing with the bracelet had not gone unnoticed by Aro. "Charlotte, how can you treat me like this? Have I not given you everything your heart desired, including immortality? Have I not loved you with all my being? Please, there must be some way for me to make amends."

"Don't whine, Aro. It's unbecoming. You are not the injured party here. And I don't even hear you apologizing," she said, annoyed at his 'poor me' attitude. He felt no remorse at all, it seemed, yet he wanted to be forgiven and their lives return to normal as if he had done nothing wrong.

He held out his hands, imploring Charlotte to listen to him. "I am very sorry, cara.

She stood, glaring down at her mate. "I am not the one to whom you owe an apology, Aro."

Desperate, he reached out to her hand, trying to pull her closer to him. In that instant, he saw an image of her with Marcus, both naked and kissing passionately while lying on a bed. He abruptly let go of her hand, the scene unbearable for him. She had warned him he would not like what he saw.

"And now you know, Aro. Marcus and I are together, as perhaps it should have been from the beginning." She saw him clench his hands into fists. This talk was over with. She called out, "Felix!"

The tall guard flashed to her side, glaring down at the Volturi master. He would not let him hurt his friend if that was his aim.

Instead, Aro quietly stood, imploring her with his eyes to forgive him, before leaving the garden with Felix.

Charlotte wondered what the hell was she going to do now, but she knew the answer to that question. She would do what she had to do, try her mate for the murder of his sister and fellow vampire, then decide with Marcus and Caius on his punishment.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Marcus found Charlotte in the gazebo, her eyes wet with tears. She came out of her revery when she heard him approaching. Sitting beside her, he placed his hand over one of hers that was fisted due to some sort of stress. He gently rubbed her fingers to loosen the fist. "Relax, love. Tell me what's wrong.""

"It's Aro. I ran into him in a corridor, being escorted to his cell by Felix, Alec and Jane. He asked to speak with me. I tried to feel nothing for him, but when I looked into his eyes, they were pleading with me, something I have never seen in his eyes before." She opened her hand and pulled his into her lap. She played with Marcus' fingers while avoiding his eyes.

"Well, what did he say to you, Charlotte?" Marcus sincerely hoped Aro wasn't trying to manipulate her, or he would have to pound on him a little before his trial.

"He apologized, but I told him I wasn't the one he needed to apologize to." She looked up at Marcus, unsure how he would feel on hearing she had spoken with Aro, alone.

"Charlotte, do you miss him?"

"I don't know, Marcus. When I first met him, he really scared me. Later, he would piss me off whenever we were together Eventually I fell in love with him. I thought we'd be together forever, literally. Now, I'm just so angry with him. So far, all I've heard from him is 'woe is me' explanations. He needs to explain to you, and then say he's sorry. And that's just to start."

Marcus picked up her hand and kissed the top. He knew this was difficult for her. She wouldn't be babbling if she felt fine. For a vampire to lose their mate was difficult enough. To decide to leave them was harder.

"He didn't always agree with me nor I with him, but we never let it come between us." Charlotte let go of Marcus' hand and stood, walking back and forth within the confines of the gazebo. "I sent him away, Marcus. I turned my back on him, and let Felix take him away to his cell. His cell!"

Marcus rose and stood behind Charlotte, placing his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. He nuzzled the back of her neck, asking, "Do you think you could ever manage to forgive him, Charlotte? My dear, I may never be able to forgive Aro for what he did, but you still have the opportunity..."

She turned around abruptly and faced Marcus, her arms slipping around his neck. "To what, abandon you? Marcus, I love you. I've already given myself to you. I don't know if I could trust Aro again, even if I did manage to forgive him." She looked up into his eyes, her hand on his cheek. "You don't want to be with me anymore?" Was Marcus sacrificing their relationship, when most likely, Aro would be executed? "Are you sending me back to him?"

Marcus gave her a light kiss on her lips. He didn't want to lose her. He only wanted to be sure that staying with him was her choice. He was willing to give her up to Aro if that was what made her happy. On the other hand, Aro could end up executed as his punishment. The thought made him regret instantly giving her up. She belonged to him alone. He hugged her tightly, murmuring endearments in her ear. "Shhh..it will be all right, Charlotte."

Charlotte clenched her right hand within his jacket. "Don't send me away, Marcus." She felt tears well up in her eyes. "Damn! All I do is cry anymore. I feel cursed." She angrily wiped the tears off her face.

"Some look at being a vampire as a curse," Marcus said, his arms comfortably around Charlotte.

"Not me, Marcus. I chose this existence. So please don't give me up. I want to be with you." She hated thinking that Aro might be executed and said so.

"You would never order that, Charlotte."

"I'm only one judge. There are you and Caius. You could outvote me if I refused to see him executed. " She tilted her head when she looked up at him. "Well?"

Marcus could not honestly answer her question.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Marcus and Charlotte entered the audience hall, hand-in-hand. They were talking intimately, as if they'd been together from the beginning. When Aro saw them, he closed his eyes against the cozy scene. That Charlotte didn't seem to care how much she was hurting him astounded Aro. Why did she hate him so? It had to be Marcus' influence. His brother had lost all interest in his existence after Didyme's death, and Aro felt regret for that. He had truly mourned for his sister, but they would never believe his grief had been real. When Marcus had saved Charlotte's life, his mood had changed, slowly at first. Eventually, Aro rejoiced that Marcus was accepting the role Charlotte had given him as her uncle.

On watching Charlotte take her seat on the throne where Caius once sat, Aro's first thought was how beautiful she looked. She appeared suitably regal, having chosen to wear her black dress with the crystals sown into the neckline. It will serve as her mourning gown once I've been destroyed, he thought ruefully.

With the three Volturi leaders seated, Aro was brought to the center of the audience hall. Every member of the coven was present, standing along the wall, eyes rapt on the proceedings.

Caius opened the trial, speaking first. "Aro, you are being placed on trial for the murder of your sister Didyme, and for being responsible for the reprehensible treatment of your brother-in-law Marcus by her murder. Have you anything to say in your defense?"

Aro looked around the room, his eyes settling on Jane and Alec. Neither twin's face held any expression. They had been like his children, and even they were turning against him. He looked up at the dais, glancing at Marcus and Caius, seeing no sympathy there. When he focused on Charlotte, he thought he saw something in her eyes. Was it compassion or something more? Was her empathy forcing her to feel his pain and regret?

"I have always done what was best for the Volturi. I know that didn't put me in the best light, but what concern was that to me as long as we were strong. I did what I had to do. Didyme and Marcus were planning to leave us. I gave them my blessing, but the more I thought about the loss of Marcus, I had to make a decision. If she were...gone..." He found he couldn't use the word 'dead'. "...if she were gone, Marcus would stay with us. I had Chelsea see to that."

Marcus listened to Aro, his anger flaring again. He gripped the arm of his chair, the wood unable to stand up to the pressure. It splintered beneath his hand.

"Why couldn't you have just spoken with them about staying? But murdering your own sister!" Charlotte looked away from Aro. "I'm sorry. I should have not have interrupted. Continue."

"I regret what her loss, the loss of your mate, did to you, brother." Aro could relate now that he had lost his mate, but no one would care about that. "With all three of us leading the Volturi, we stayed strong. With all of us together, we were able to stave off the attack of my former mate. We would never have been able to do that had we been weak."

Marcus spoke next. "Our chief witness has conveniently been destroyed by the defendant himself, so we have no eyewitness accounts of what happened. Would you care to explain the circumstances of...of the Lady Didyme's death?"

Aro didn't relish having to dredge up the memories of...no, he could not do it. "Don't ask that of me, Marcus. I don't wish to hurt you further with the entire truth."

Charlotte would not allow Aro to hide behind his lie. "Tell us, how did Didyme perish, Aro?"

He looked up at her, then at each master in turn. "During the battle against the other coven we were fighting, I asked her to come with me for her own safety. I said Marcus insisted I protect her. She...trusted me since I was her brother. Once we were away from the fray, I...decapitated her."

The room erupted in angry murmurs from the guard. The Volturi had been known to execute vampire criminals, but to kill their own...weren't they more civilized than that.

Caius wanted to hear more. "Continue, Aro," he ordered sternly.

"I burned her body and blended her ashes with the earth where she died. I couldn't do anything for awhile, realizing what I had done, but knowing I couldn't take it back. She was gone without even knowing what I had done." He looked up at Marcus. "I didn't want her to suffer fear or pain, brother."

Marcus' eyes were black with fury. In the moment, he only wanted to destroy Aro, but the rage he felt would go away. He felt it was Charlotte who would give him peace. He loved her. He always had, and now she was his. Didyme, I love you and always will, but I have a chance for happiness, he thought, almost like a prayer to her. For now, her murderer had to be dealt with. "We will take a break to discuss this crime, and reconvene in one hour. This court is dismissed for that time."

The guards all left the hall, with Felix, Alec and Jane removing Aro to his cell.

The audience hall was finally quiet. The three masters sat unmoving, deep within their own thoughts, until Caius spoke up. "Aro is guilty, we know this. He didn't deny the charge."

Charlotte held out her hand to Marcus who grasped it. "I can't order his death. I just can't."

Caius pondered the issue, hearing Charlotte was still attached to Aro. "And if we exile him, banish from from Italy, would that be acceptable to you, sister?"

"Where would he go? It's been so long since you've all been anywhere but Italy?"

"All right, we banish him, on pain of death, from Volterra. If he is ever found within the city walls, he dies." Caius spoke simply and to the point, as was his way.

"It is agreed then. Aro is to be banished from the city," Marcus said.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Marcus stood, facing Didyme's murderer. "Aro, it has been decided by this court you are hereby banished from Volterra for the entirety of your existence. If you are ever found within the city walls, you will be apprehended and destroyed. Do you understand our judgement?"

"Banished from Volterra?" His widened eyes darted around the room, moving from person to person.

Caius faced Aro. "That is the one mercy you have been granted by this tribunal. We will not force you from the country that has been your home for so long. But Volterra will be off limits to you for the rest of your existence. Stay far away from here, for as you know, we do not offer second chances."

Aro gazed at Charlotte, whose eyes showed no emotion. There was no apparent sympathy or love for him expressed in those eyes. He had seen her talking with Marcus, her voice animated, her hand touching his chest. The affection between them was palpable. So she had turned to Marcus in her abandonment of him. His grief and sorrow at the loss manifested itself as an actual pain in his chest. He looked up at her and whispered her name, hoping she might look at him with some caring, even pity. Aro was not to be granted such a boon from his mate.

He left the audience hall, escorted by his guards as usual. It was finally over. The crime that he had kept hidden for centuries was out in the open, and his punishment meted out. Death might have been better, but Aro decided he believed in second chances. He just had to come up with something.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Charlotte felt so drained from the trial, she didn't feel like doing anything. She had left Marcus to his own grief, hoping he would find closure from the mystery of Didyme's death. She went to the chambers she had shared with Aro. Much of his clothing was gone, but so much was left to be stored away or packed to be sent to him later.

She sat on the bed and dialed Carlisle on her phone. When the familiar sound of his soothing voice answered, Charlotte rushed to tell Carlisle about the trial.

"I know, Charlotte. Alice told us what she saw. I am sorry."

"Carlisle, what about the other covens. With Aro deposed, will they work with us again?"

"I think so. But don't do anything for awhile, Charlie. We'll all be here when the dust settles. I know this has been difficult for you and everyone else. I'll keep in touch, if you want. Oh, and Alice sends you her love. She misses having fun with you. Shopping, I believe she said."

Charlotte heard the humour in his voice. "Tell Alice we will shop together again, soon."

"Of course, but now that you're a Volturi master, you probably won't have a lot of free time."

She smiled. "For Alice, I'll make time. Thanks, Carlisle. I now see why Aro cherished your friendship and counsel. I'll talk with you later. Good bye." She disconnected the call, letting the phone fall at her side. At least the alliance would be safe. But now what?

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

So he was to be banished from Volterra, but allowed to live. Life without his mate was not life. It would be intolerable. And his power had been taken from him. What was he supposed to do now? He was no better than a nomad, with no home, no family." He looked back at the back gate of the castle where Felix, Demetri, and Santiago stood guard. He had plenty of money, so that was not going to be a problem. But where would he go now.

Aro glanced at the clock tower of the castle for the last time, before getting into the car called to take him to the Pisa airport. He had an idea. There was only one person Aro felt would listen to him. Once he had reached the airport, he bought a first class ticket to Seattle, Washington, in America.

A/N : So Aro is no longer a leader of the Volturi, having been banished from Volterra. What will he do now, and can he ever regain what he has lost? How would that happen when he has no support from anyone he knows. Unless he finds someone to support him.