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Chapter 18: Ultimatum
I stood before Aro continuing to listen to his pointless rambling. He seemed perfectly content to reminisce about Carlisle, and how baffled he was with my restraint.
I wanted to be far away from here. I wished I was back on a plane, heading to forks.
I wished I could rewind time, back to before Bella' birthday.
Even if we made it out of this, I knew Bella would hold this entire experience with her. The nightmares to come would be ones I wish she never would have to have. I didn't want her here.
I knew even if we got out, Bella had made such an impression on Aro. Immune to my talent, he wanted to see what she would carry with her in the after life. I did not like that fact. And Bella knew, to much. Way to much for his liking.
"Just remembering how she appeals to you it makes me thirsty," Aro said this with a slight chuckle. I found nothing funny about the statement and tensed immediately. Aro sensed my tension.
"Don't be disturbed I mean her no harm. But I am so curious, about one thing in particular." Aro's eyes brightened as his thought came to me. He wanted to know if Bella were immune to him too. "May I?" He asked me raising his hand towards Bella.
"Ask her," I replied in a flat voice. I did not want to say yes for Bella, I knew she would be terrified, but I knew Aro was just curious.
I hoped more than anything that he couldn't. I didn't want to be the only one who was blocked from her mind. It would bother me that Aro could see things that I couldn't.
Jealously it was an evil thing.
"Of course, how rude of me! Bella, I am fascinated that you are the only exception to Edward's impressive talent so very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was wondering, since our talents are so similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try- to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"
Bella looked at me, horrified. She was obviously frightened by Aro's request but it was necessary to please him and allow him to do this. Plus it would settle some of my curiosity as well.
I knew he would not harm her. I was sure of it, or it wouldn't even be an idea. I nodded at Bella.
I had looked into Bella's eyes. The first time since we were here. Since she was here in front of me. First time in six months, and it pained me to no end to see how unhealthy she looked.
She slowly placed her hand in Aro's. With in seconds I could tell that Aro saw the same thing I did. Nothing. Just blank. It took all I had to not show how happy I was about this.
It was also clear that it bothered him to no end that she was immune. It just furthered his interest in her though.
"So very interesting." Aro seemed to be contemplating what he wanted to do next.
The first second it entered his mind, I knew, and I knew I wouldn't allow it.
"A first, I wonder if she is immune to our other talents…..Jane, dear?"
"No!" Jane could not be allowed to torture Bella. Her talent was to inflict pain so torturous that no one should have to endure it.
I could not and would not allow them to even try. I would not sit idly by and have Bella be in pain by the hands of Jane. Over my dead body.
Alice grabbed hold of me in an attempt to control me. The rage building in me was the real monster, and I would allow it to escape. I shook her off angrily.
"Yes, Master?" Jane replied to Aro with a wicked grin grateful to be given the chance to prove herself against the mere human.
I snarled at the horrible thoughts rushing through Jane's head.
I looked up at Aro, full of anger. Did he honestly believe I would allow this to happen. That I would allow Bella to be put through that?
Felix moved forward, hoping to get his chance at me. Aro shot him a look and he stopped.
"I was wondering, my dear one, if Bella is immune to you."
Aro could barely be heard over the furious growls escaping from me. I let go of Bella for the first time since entering the residence. I had to shield her from Jane. I had to protect her, for so long I had not been there when she needed me but I would be there now. Jane turned to Bella and as she did I lunged at her.
I could hear Alice cry "don't" but it was too late. I was on the ground. I cringed against the stone floor making sure no sound escaped me; I would not give any of them that pleasure.
I heard Bella yell out for Jane to stop. Still the brave one amongst the horrible monsters. She even tried to move between Jane and me. Alice stopped her.
Aro called to Jane and now that I was out of the way, he wanted to see if Bella was immune.
As soon as Jane hd looked away from me, the pain had stopped. I was thankful to be rid of it, but I was terrified to see what would happen to Bella.
Jane was smiling devilishly at her. I sprang to my feet, waiting for Bella to collapse with the sudden pain. Start screaming, but nothing happen. I looked at Bella and Jane, I could see the frustration in Jane's head. She was giving Bella full force of her talent and yet nothing happen.
I went back to Bella's side. Pleased that Jane had finally met her match. She was not capable of hurting her.
Alice released Bella to me, and once again she was safe in my arms. Where I would protect her for the rest of her life If I was able. If she would allow me.
Aro began to laugh. Startling me. It was not the reaction I had expected.
"Ha, ha, ha, this is wonderful!" It was strange to me how Aro was so easily amused.
Jane hissed in frustration at Aro's amusement.
"Don't be put out, dear one, she confounds us all." Aro placed a light hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
Jane curled her lip as she glared at me. I had made yet another enemy in Volterra, luckily I was not as concerned about their like of me as much I as with Aro, Marcus and Caius.
"Ha, ha, ha," Aro laugh in sheer amusement at the situation. "You're very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. I asked Jane to do that to me once just out of curiosity." Aro shook his head at the memory of the pain Jane had caused him.
When he spoke again however his tone had changed and the topic was serious.
"So what do we do with you now?" It was a simple question with hopefully a simple answer. My breath caught when he said it. I could only hope against all odds that he would release us. Alice and I both stiffened at this.
Bella began to tremble in my arms. I couldn't tighten my hold on her with out crushing her, and I couldn't say anything to comfort her. There was nothing I could to do comfort her.
Our fate was to be decided by monsters. I just hoped with all hope that this would not be the end. There had to be more to me and Bella. If not me, then just Bella. She had barely lived.
Aro was being careful with his thoughts, careful not to give anything away, let anything slip.
My mind was full of panic, what was to come? Death? Would we be let go? Asked never to return?
"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind?" Aro asked me hopefully and I contemplated if my answer would save Bella's life.
Saying yes, would mean I would have to leave Bella, and I couldn't bear to do that again.
I spoke my words carefully, "I'd….rather…..not." Aro was disappointed but not surprised by my response.
"Alice? Would you perhaps be interested in joining us?"
"No, thank you." Alice replied so much quicker than I did.
She seemed so sure of herself. I tried to read her thoughts, but nothing was clear.
The next question caught us all off guard.
"And you, Bella?" I hissed at Aro.
How could he ask such a question? He could not keep my Bella.
I looked to Bella, to see her reaction, she looked slightly confused. It was times like these that I wish I could read what she was thinking.
Caius broke through the silence.
"What?" He was not happy with Aro's willingness to invite the human to become one the most elite vampires that existed.
"Caius, surely you see the potential. I haven't seen a prospective talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?" Aro was so certain Bella would be one of us. I still couldn't make myself see Bella as one of us, cold and hard with no soul. I noticed Jane was not pleased with being compared to Bella. As far as Jane was concerned she was the apple of Aro's eye, the vampire he needed beside him. The thought of being replaced by such a simple human was not pleasing her at all.
I couldn't allow it, I couldn't see it. I was still unsure whether her life, or her soul was more important.
"No, thank you." Bella replied in a whisper. I was so proud of her this was the second time in one night she had stood up the most powerful vampires in the world. After everything I had put her through she had come here to save me and she was so brave. I was having trouble remembering why I left or more importantly how I thought I could exist without her.
Aro sighed heavily at Bella's response, "That's unfortunate. Such a waste."
The anger had returned in full force, "Join or die, is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws." I chose my words carefully. I knew what the laws said and they didn't have any reason to destroy us. I needed to play this right if I wanted to get us out of this.
"Of course not, we were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you." Aro was surprised by my remark. His thoughts did not betray him, he was speaking the truth.
"Aro the law claims them." Caius was not pleased by what was transpiring. He was not nearly has amused by us as Aro was.
"How so?" I asked? Already knowing the reason behind it, but needing the rest to hear it.
"She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets." Caius was so predictable he said what I needed him to.
"There are a few humans in on your charade here, as well." I hoped I could use this to my benefit to save Bella.
Caius' replied with a weird look. "Yes, but when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy her? I think not."
"I wouldn't…." Bella began to speak out against Caius, to defend herself but he silenced with a menacing look.
"Nor do you intend to make her one of us," Caius continued. "Therefore, she is a vulnerability. Though it is true, for this, only her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish."
I bared my teeth at Caius. He knew I would not leave Bella here to be destroyed. He wanted me destroyed as well.
"That's what I thought." Caius showed pleasure at reasoning out why we were to be destroyed. Felix was also very pleased.
"Unless…." Aro interrupted. He was very unhappy with the events that had transpired. He was struggling with finding us a way out. An ultimatum came to his mind. One that I did not like at all. "Unless you do intend to give her immortality?"
I hesitated. I didn't know if I was ready to take Bella's soul and more importantly I didn't know if she still wanted to be a vampire. Did she still want to spend forever with me after everything that happened? And if she did, could I do that to her? Damn her to this kind of life? "And if I do?"
Aro smiled at my response. He could get us out of this, find a way out for Bella. If we agreed to the ultimatum.
"Why, then you would free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle. But I am afraid you would have to mean it."
Aro was not a fool. He knew I would say anything to get us out of Volterra. He needed proof. Proof that I was not lying, he had saw my indecision the first time he touched me to changing Bella. The arguments we had.
He raised his hand in front of me to read my mind.
Caius was not pleased about letting us go but he was pleased that Aro had thought through the possibility of deception. I stared deep into Bella's eyes. How could I decide for her? She stared back at me pleading with her eyes.
"Mean it, please." Bella pleaded with me. It tortured me to have her ask this of me. How could she want me to take her soul? I know we had this argument so many times but this time was different. I couldn't let Aro touch me he would see my indecision again and that would lead him to believe he couldn't let us go. There had to be a way around this. I had to think fast. What could I do or say to make him believe me even though I didn't believe it?
Just then Alice stepped forward. Her hand was raised toward Aro. She didn't say anything and Aro quickly called off his guards to allow Alice to touch his hand.
I could hear Alice's thoughts, she would show Aro one of the many visions she had of Bella. Stone cold and one of us. With our family, forever.
It worked. He would believe her, he had to, because he wanted to, he wanted to see Bella cold and immortal. He wanted to see what talent she would have. He was fascinated with her from the beginning. Curiosity consumed him on the matter.
"Ha, ha, ha," Aro's laughter echoed off the walls. "That was fascinating!" He was delighted with what Alice had shown him.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"To see things you've seen, especially the ones that haven't happened yet."
"But that will."
"Aro," Caius was not happy with where things were going, he wanted us destroyed.
"Dear Caius , don't fret think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household….. Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!"
Alice had done a good job of convincing Aro of the events that would occur in the future. Aro had obviously forgotten that not everything Alice saw was true either that or he didn't care.
"Then we are free to go now?" I asked keeping my voice from showing any emotion.
"Yes, yes," Aro said enthusiastically. "But please visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling."
"And we will visit you as well," Caius added with a promising glare. "To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay to long. We do not offer second chances."
I nodded in understanding. I clenched my jaw, trying to refrain myself from speaking.
Felix was upset, he wanted a pre dinner snack.
"Ah, Felix, Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience."
"Hmm, in that case, perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than later." Heidi's return meant that the Volturi would be feeding soon and I wanted Bella no where near them when that occurred.
"Yes that's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you don't mind."
"Of course." I agreed. I needed Bella out of this room as long as that happened everything else would work out. Once this threat had passed I realized I had to think about how Bella would take all of this.
" And here," Aro added calling Felix forward. He removed Felix's cloak and tossed it to me. I had honestly forgotten that I wasn't wearing s shirt until then, with everything going on clothing was the least of my worries. Felix was livid that Aro would give me his cloak. The cloak was a sign of the Volturi and meant that you were a part of the inner circle. Aro had handed me Felix's like it was nothing. Aro sighed at the sight of me in the cloak. "It suits you." At that Felix cursed me even more than before, feeling slightly insecure in his place with Aro. It amused me at how easily Felix was bothered by something so stupid. So trivial as a cloak. I smiled slightly at his discomfort. Rather amusing.
"Thank you, Aro. We'll wait below."
"Let's go." I said urgently. Bella knew about us and our eating habits, she knew there was a difference. But I still did not want her around that. I did not want her exposed to the cruel truth of it. Knowing and seeing are two completely different things.
I kept Bella by my side and pulled her swiftly down the hallway. Alice was close on her other side hoping that we would be out of the hallway before Heidi arrived with dinner.
"Not fast enough," Alice mumbled.
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