Marcus POV

I paced the floor of my study, trying to think of a way to get Bella away from Aro. But how? Bella won't even look at me so I can't warn her and Aro won't let anyone but Jane and himself near her. I cursed the day I brought her to Italy. The day I turned her. The day I met her. No. I wouldn't curse the day I met her. I was happy to have met her. I would never in my whole life regret meeting Bella. Meeting my daughter.

How am I going to get Bella to Aleera?

I was pondering on this when I felt Bella's familiar presence, accompanied by Aro's, passing my study. I opened the door and stepped out the door to meet them. Aro smiled at me as if the conversation we had the other day never happened. Bella stayed standing on his side, not making eye contact.

"Hello Marcus. Wonderful day were having. I have a favor to ask of you." Aro said.

A favor? After everything he's been putting me through he wanted to ask me for a favor?

"What?" I asked, trying to hide my disgust for my brother.

"I have some that I need to talk to Caius about and would like to leave Bella in your care. Would you mind if I leave her with you?" Aro asked.

What? He was leaving Bella with me? He would never leave her with me, with the risk that I would turn her back to the way she was. With the risk that I would take her to Aleera. What the hell is this twisted vampire trying to do?

"Yes. I will take her." I said, not making eye contact with him, keeping my eyes on Bella.

"But…" Bella started, looking up at Aro, panicked. I felt a small stab of hurt that she didn't want to be left with me but dismissed it by telling myself that she was just worried about being away from her "care giver" for any period of time.

"It will be okay Bella. Marcus will take good care of you." Aro said, pushing her into my study.

"I will not be long. Please take care of her." Aro said, leaving me alone with Bella.

I closed the door to my study and turned to Bella. She stood in the middle of the room just staring at the wall. She seemed to be at a loss as to what to do next.

"Bella. Let's talk." I said to her calmly. I would use the opportunity to try and talk her into coming to see Aleera.

Bella looked up at me, not saying anything.

"Bella. Would you like to go back Reene? I'm sure that after all these months she must really miss you." I said.

"I can't do that you idiot!" Bella spat. "I can't go back to my mother! I'm a vampire!"

"But what if that can be changed?" I asked her.

"How…?" Bella asked. Her face revealed that she didn't believe me.

"You know about vampires different abilities. Aro taught you about them didn't he?" I asked.

Bella simply nodded, not understanding yet what I was trying to tell her.

"There is a vampire in the Volturi. Her power is more unique than any power there is. Her venom has an opposite effect on vampires who were turned. Like you were." I told her. "We keep her locked up here because if she gets her hands on any one of the vampires that we want to keep she'll turn the human. The only reason she hasn't been killed is because Aro is so curious about her."

"If we can get you to her then maybe I can take you back to Phoenix." I said, hoping she'll take the offer.

"How? Aro and Caius won't let you." Bella said, staring at her feet.

I lifted her face into my hands making her look at me. "I have an idea." I leaned into her and whispered my idea to her.

I drew away from her, still holding her face in my hands. "Got it?" I asked her.

I suddenly heard the sound of my brothers approaching my study. The knob turned and the door opened.

Bella suddenly pulled her face out of my hands. Her hand came up and struck my face with all the force that she could muster.

"Bella!" Aro yelled, this time genuinely shocked.

"This is what I was saying! She is slowly losing control! She must be destroyed!" Caius growled.

"Yes." I hissed. I grabbed Bella's arms, jerking her them behind her. "And I'll be the one to do it."