Ch. 14

By the next day every one in my family had returned. We were all sitting around the living room catching up with the new arrivals. Malachi was introducing himself to the Vladimir and Stefan, who had just arrived a few minutes before. "Bella..." Jasper started. I turned to face him, "You OK?" I nodded and looked around the room seeing everyone that I had known for about a decade and a half since I changed. Vladimir, Stefan, Kate, Tanya, Siobhan, Zafrina, Eleazar, Carmen, Aaron, and my pack family; Jacob, Quil, Embry, Jared, Sam, Collin, Brady, Leah, and Seth. They all came to help stop the Volturi from killing me... they were risking their own lives for mine and it upset me. "Bella?" Jasper said again as the people I cared about the most turned to see what I would say. I just shook my head 'no' and walked up to what was Edward and I's room.

Wandering around our room I started to think about everything that we had shared. We had been together for so long and then as fast as I had fallen in love with him, things changed. I plopped down on the couch and picked up the scrapbook that I had made of my life when I was still human, and the first picture in it was one of Edward. "How could you do this to me Edward?" I whispered to myself. "I don't understand why you would go to the Volturi and risk your family's lives just to get back at me for leaving you.." I said to the picture of a smiling Edward.

"Hey sister." Alice said walking into the room.

"Hi Alice." I said as I closed the book.

"Jasper sent me to check on you." she said. "He's worried about you..."

"Yea, I'm sorry I let my emotions freak out like that."

"No one blames you Bella. We are all feeling the same way, he was just surprised that it took you this long to let yours go." Alice said sitting down next to me. "We don't know why Edward did this but we can't change that he did, and it's not your fault."

"It is my fault Alice." I stood up and faced her, "He wouldn't have done this if I hadn't of left him! My family is down there waiting for a battle that we will most likely loose to keep me safe! Sometimes I wish I had listened to Jacob about leaving Edward when I was still human!" I screamed feeling like I needed to cry but knew that it wouldn't come.

"Bella, listen to me. You know that the people downstairs are all here to support you because they love you and because the Volturi are stepping out of line. We will fight our best and I have a feeling that we will win the battle." she said trying to calm me.

I shook my head, backed away from her and jumped out of the window. As soon as I hit the ground I took off running at full speed toward the woods. "Bella!" I heard Jacob and Malachi yell from the house, I shook my head and ran faster threw the woods. I some how ended up at our field... the one where Edward first showed me how he sparkled in the sun light, as I sat down on the damp grass I thought about what Alice had said and how running off like I did was proabably worrying everyone. After a few minutes of thinking I got up and ran back to the house, to be welcomed by Jasper who was sitting on the porch.

"Bella?" he said with caution in his voice.

"I'm OK now Jasper." I replied trying to smile.

Jasper reached out for me and hugged me, "I know you are putting on a front for everyone Bella. And for right now that's OK... you will see that everything will work out. After all we have an excellent shield."

I laughed and hugged him back, "You always know how to make me calm and to make me smile. Come on... let's get back inside before I give everyone in there a nervous break down."

"Welcome back Bella." everyone said as we walked back into the house.

I smiled at everyone and then sat down on the couch in between Jacob, who was in wolf form and Malachi. "So what's the plan Alice?"

"Well, from what I saw in my last vision we have about a week until Jane, Demetri, Alec, and Edward arrive."

Jacob whined a question and everyone looked at me for a translation. "He's wondering why Aro isn't coming." I replied.

"Aro doesn't seem to think that this is worth leaving Italy for..." Alice said. "That's why he is sending his most dangerous minions, for lack of a better term." she gave a small laugh.

Emmett laughed and started to bounce in his seat, "Well then this should be both fun and easy. I mean we've got what... 25 people to fight and they only have 4 including Edward?"

"Emmett..." Jasper cautioned.

"No he's right Jasper." Alice said, as everyone stared at her like she had lost her mind. She laughed at everyone's facial expressions and said, "Hear me out guys. No matter what they can do, ability wise, we have 2 abilities that are good offenses. We have Bella and Siobhan ." Jacob snarled, "Oh you know what I'm talking about Jake so don't act surprised. Bella is a shield.. she can block the attacks, keep Edward out of our minds, and protect us all from harm. Siobhan can just make sure that she pictures the out come as us being successful."

"I guess it couldn't hurt to think positive..." Siobhan said winking at me.

"So what's the plan?" Seth and Quil asked at the same time.

"Well, we should probably come up with a few battle plans. Different tactics and fighting styles." Jasper said.

"Let's get started!" Emmett said practically jumping through the floor with excitement causing everyone to laugh as we followed him outside to have our first practice.

The following week passed by slowly... well it felt slow for me. I threw myself into controlling my shield while allowing other's to attack from the inside and it not being affected. The day that Alice saw the Volturi showing up, everyone was nervous. We all had hunted together, vegitarian style, which was entertaining for us to watch our human blood drinker friends try and do, and we waited in the clearing... it was the same clearing that when I was human Victoria tried to kill me. We were all standing there when Alice cussed, it was then that we saw how her eyes were and Jasper was asking, "What did you see Alice?"

"I was wrong... Aro is coming!" she said. "Edward must have blocked my visions so that I couldn't see that Aro was coming..." she shook her head.

"It's OK Alice, we still have them out numbered." Jasper said calming her.

"How much time?" Malachi asked.

"About 5 minutes..." Alice said shaking her head.

"Jacob..." I said in a low voice. He nodded and then ran into the forest to phase wolf, as all the others were.

In the last few moments everyone was hugging and kissing their mate just in case we weren't successful. I could hear them all around me, saying "I love you" and kissing. "Bella, you know that I love you right?" Malachi asked.

Aaron growled facing to the north of us, "Here they come."

I turned and kissed Malachi and said, "I love you forever." He kissed me back and then took his position, which was in front of me. I felt Jacob and Quil on either side of me backing up Malachi and I turned to see Embry right behind me. Jacob looked at me with questioning eyes, "I'm OK Jake. You just keep then off of yourself. He rolled his eyes, "Yes, I know I'm being stupid. Some things will never change." He barked a laugh as did Quil and Embry.

The first one we saw was Jane, she had a smirk on her face that pissed me off. I threw my shield out to surround me and everyone else. Next was Alec, he wasn't even out of the woods yet and he was already trying to cut off our senses, Demetri was next when he saw us all he looked concerned. Edward walked threw the trees next, he looked straight at me and smiled and nodded to Jacob; who growled and started to move. Lastly Aro walked into the clearing.

"Jake.." I said and shook my head 'no' when he looked at me. He hung his head and shuddered with anticipation.

"Well, Carlile it looks as if one of your family members has been a bad girl." Jane said.

"I don't know what you mean Jane?" Carlile replied.

"The werewolves!" Jane screamed as she pointed to the pack.

"Aro, has known about our alliance with them for over a decade and a half now. So, I don't understand why you are here." He said.

"That is bull!" she yelled.

"Now Jane, calm yourself. I did know about their alliance with the shape-shifters." Aro said to her, then turning to Carlile. "Hello old friend."

"Hello Aro." Carlile responded. "If you knew about our alliance why have you come? It's not a social visit because you brought u best fighters and my son with you."

"Edward came to us and said that the shape-shifters were getting out of control and that Bella wouldn't allow you to dispose of them." Aro replied, "But I can see that he was mistaken. Hello Bella, it's nice to see you again."

"Yes Aro, it is... we have to stop seeing each other under this type of situation." I replied.

He nodded, "That is true. Would you mind talking to me?"

I looked at Carlile who nodded, "Yes." I placed my hand on Malachi's sholder and he stepped out of my way. I turned and whispered to him, "I love you." then to Jacob I said, "keep yourself here." Then I walked over to where Aro was standing. "What did you want to talk about?"

"What is really going on here?" he asked in an extremely low voice that no one else could hear. I lowered my voice to match his and told him the entire story. "So we are here because of Edward's jealousy?"

"That is what we all believe." I replied in my normal voice.

"Hmmm..." Aro thought. "I must speak with Edward..." he said finaly. I nodded and headed back to Malachi.

Malachi reached for me when I got close enough to him, "No one move." I said so that my family could hear me. "What's going on Bella?" Esme asked once I was back in position.

"I told Aro the real reason why he was brought here... he didn't seem to happy." I replied.

"Why did you tell us not to move?" Malachi asked me.

"Because, I think they are planning something... I think they are going to attack anyway." I said in a whisper.

"Edward has confirmed your story Bella." Aro spoke, "But I'm afraid I can't allow you to still keep alliance with the shape-shifters."

"They aren't causing any harm Aro." Carlile said.

"Well, either they die or Bella does." Edward said for Aro having read his mind.

"Son, you don't want her dead." Carlile tried to reason with him.

"It's not my choice Carlile... Aro wants this." Edward said looking at me.

"Edward..." I whispered and looked down at Jacob.

"Edward speaks the truth..." Aro said. "The shape-shifters aren't a problem yet but they will soon turn on you and expose you for who you are. So we are going to get rid of them here and now, and we will get rid of anyone who stands in our way." he finished looking at me.

"Sam... get the pack out of here." I said trying to keep myself collected enough not to cry. Sam shook his head and moved closer to us. "Please Sam." he shook his head again.

"Will the shape-shifters come peacefully?" Aro asked sternly.

I looked at Sam again and he shook his head. Then I looked to Jacob who did the same thing, I took a shuddered and unnecessary breath and said, "No. Both pack leaders have said no."

"Then we fight." Aro said. That must have been a cue because at once I saw Rose crumple to the ground and I saw Jane smirking.

In all the confusion and arguing I had forgotten to put my shield back up. I flared it out after about 2 seconds of Rose being on the ground. She stood back up with help from Emmett, "I'm sorry Rose."

"It's OK Bella." Rose said now standing on her own.

"Why aren't you on the ground?!" Jane asked in shock.

"We have a secret weapon." Malachi said. Demetri ran at full speed at Emmett who knocked him down and started beating up on him. I looked at Alec who was trying to turn Esme and Carlile against each other. Aro just stood there and enjoying the fight between Emmett and Demetri. I heard Embry move away from me and then I saw him attach Aro from behind, bitting him and knocking him to the ground. I sent my shield to him and that's when I saw Edward on the ground writhering in pain.

"Bella!" he screamed.

"Edward!" I ran to him letting my shield down as I ran. When I got to him I crouched down, "What the hell were you thinking?!" I shrieked at him, with a combination of hatred and concern in my voice.

He doubled over in pain again, "I know that you hate me now Bella. I am sorry about this." he said in between gasps.

"I don't hate you Edward. I'm just very disappointed in you, just like I'm sure your mother is. Are you coming back to the family if we live through this?" I asked.

"If I can.." He said and then passed out from the pain.

"Seth!" I screamed. I heard Seth running even before I finished screaming his name. I picked up Edward and placed him on Seth's back. "Take him back to the house and stay with him until we get back." he whined. "We will be back Seth. Now just do it!" I shrieked and then took off after Jane. Jacob saw what I was doing and ran to get my side barking an order to Quil that I couldn't understand, when I reached Jane she was enjoying shocking everyone of my family members. I froze for a second still hidden from her view thinking if this is really what I wanted to do, and then I heard Malachi finally scream, my head whipped around to see why he was screaming and he had Alec and Jane on him using their abilities at the same time. So not only was he being shocked but Alec was making him feel like him and I weren't together anymore. That was the last straw for me, I looked at Jake and nodded and then pounced on Jane and Jack pounced on Alec. Jane toppled to the ground our of surprise and before she could scream or anything I snapped her head clean off her shoulders. Jacob barked in excitement, I turned to look at him and he was carrying Alec's body. "Where's the head Jake?" He turned his head to the side and I saw Quil in human form starting a fire, and throwing Jane's body on it. "Way to go Quil!" as I tossed him her head.

"Thanks Bells!" He called back extremely proud of himself.

"Here's another one Quil..." Emmett said as he and Rose walked closer with pieces of Demetri.

"Who got a hold of him, Emmett? You or Rose?" I asked.

"I did." he said back. "Why?"

"Oh just looks like a girl killed him... the way that his ligiments are neatly torn.." I said laughing.

Emmett growled, "Shut up Bella."

"What ever you say big brother..." I said as I walked past him. I was looking for Carlile and Esme and I found them with their own fire going which was burning Aro's body. "Carlile?"

"We are free of the Volturi Bella..." was all he said.

I hugged him, "Thank you for being on my side... I really am sorry that you had to do this to your eldest friend."

"He had it coming... now come on, we need to get back to the house and see how Edward is doing... I'm sure Seth is freaking out as well." he said hugging back.