Hi everyone! Sorry for the late update. I was having trouble figuring out how to write this chapter. I hope you enjoy it. None of the characters are mine. Enjoy!

Chapter 22

IPOV

Once the fighting was over I released my shield from around everyone. It takes enough energy to keep myself shielded that I didn't want to waste any on the people who were now safe. The vampires that were going to witness for Carlisle started to remove themselves from the positions they had previously held near him.

Not wanting to get caught up in the justice the Volturi were sure to hand out they started to move closer to where I was standing. Subconsciously knowing that I was a haven for their coming struggle. The ones that I have previously saved or helped began to get closer to me without trying. I could feel each extension of my shield on their minds. I wanted to be back with me, but I still didn't think now would be a good time to reveal all my powers. They may know that I wouldn't hurt them, but I still like to be a free person and I want time with my mate.

Alice and Edward were standing the furthest from me trembling with the unknown. I glanced at them but kept my face clear of the disgust that I held, they would know my wrath I just didn't know if that would be before or after the anger the Volturi were throwing their way right now. I was still waiting for the leaders of the vampire world to speak but they seemed to be too stunned.

I decided that since I have already played top shit on poop island I would get this meeting started. They don't know who I am, and I only know the rumors of who they are. Luckily, I only used my shields for this battle or else they would have known my true power.

"My name is Isabella Whitlock. I am from the Whitlock coven; Major Jasper Whitlock is my mate though I just recently found him." I decided to start off small and see how much information they wanted. It was always best to know your enemy's information before they knew yours.

"I was waiting for you my dear, I never would have thought that something would hold you up." Aro started speaking after a few awkward seconds. It seemed the entire guard was uneasy at the power I held though they did not know the true extent of it. "May I shake your hand young one?"

"Aro, I am sorry for missing our agreed upon meeting, but as you can see it was out of my control. My mate is being held by the Southern warlord Maria and I was captured and threatened with his death should I try to escape." I was to the point. As a soldier for so many years I know not to break rank or be disrespectful to someone that is technically a superior, but I need to get to Jasper. Soon.

"Of course, we understand. Do you mind telling us what is going on here?" Aro walked forward to grasp my hand in his. I could feel a tickling sensation on my mental shield like someone was looking for a weakness. This must be Aro's power and now mine. I could read every thought he had ever had. How useful but limited that he had to be touching the person.

I would have to be careful to keep this power to myself. It would be easy to slip into conversation that he had once before. I kept this thought in the forefront of my mind and focused in on what he was saying once again.

"Incredible young Isabella, brothers, I cannot read a single thing from her. I smiled and bowed my head slightly as if I was embarrassed. "Jane dear can you affect this young lady?"

Once again, I felt something against my shield, a stabbing of sorts wishing to cause harm, but I did not feel her true power. Though I have before, she does not remember that one instance. I had wanted to see how good it would be against a warrior. Not very effective I found.

"Amazing, well you would certainly be perfect for our guard, Eleazar was correct in his description of your power. A shield is a very interesting gift and based on the fact my guard were not able to assist in taking out the Romanian army I would wager you are also able to create physical shields." I could see the excitement floating off Aro in waves. I had no choice but to nod my head in affirmation at that I was able to conjure physical shields as well.

As Aro continued his monologue to me I noticed Alice and Edward across the field trying to sneak away. Without alerting any of the other guard or the brothers I wrapped the two in a shield and made it soundproof. I also used a few other powers to be able to torture them a little.

I had met Zafrina from the Amazon coven several years ago and got her power of illusions and now it would come in handy. If anyone were to look at Alice and Edward they would see them standing comfortably in the bubble but unable to leave. What I could see was Jane's power at work. They were withering on the ground screaming in pain and agony. My darker side was very pleased with the image.

As I focused back on Aro I heard him inviting me to join the guard in Italy.

"I must decline sir, now I think you will need to meet one of Carlisle's witnesses to see what has occurred in the last week. I have been restrained in another location for that amount of time." I was trying to hurry the conversation along, but I did not want to seem rude.

As Aro strode over to his dear friend Carlisle. Alice had been searching the future for ways to escape but I had them all covered.

"Garrett can you come here please," in an instance he was at my side with Emmett not far behind him. "I want you two to gather the rest of the pieces from the fight and begin burning them. Rose, since the rest of my team, is indisposed at the moment would be willing to help arrange a jet to leave the nearest airport as soon as we are finished here. I need to go to Texas for a little reunion."

"Carlisle, I would have never taken your children like that!" Aro was appalled at his friends' thoughts.

"Aro, perhaps I can help from here. I was in the Southern Wars for about 120 years and served under the most horrible woman I have ever met in my life, Maria. She used to do experiments to get a better handle on war in the South. I do not want to go into many details, but one was on the effects of animal blood on vampires. The people working for her deduced that the vampire body did not get the nutrients it needs from drinking animal blood. As such the body will begin to take what it needs from elsewhere in the body. The first organ majorly damaged is the brain. I believe your friend's family is suffering from this." I didn't move from my position nor did I try to turn around. The entire field fears me.

Of course, they have good reason, but I don't want to reveal myself just yet.

"Isa, you are too young to know that. Everyone is coming with us for the time being." Aro was decisive, but he was about to meet his first worthy opposition in a while.

"We will not be going with you Aro."

I waited for his reaction.

"And why would that be?"

"I am needed in the South within the next day. My mate is there being tortured by my sire and I need to be with him. And I have an appointment with a certain Latin woman who needs to learn the consequences of her actions. Rose is getting me a flight so that I may leave as soon as our meeting is complete."

"Who are you?" the blonde one spoke from where Aro was originally standing.

"Caius, nice to formally meet you. I have heard of your exploits with the werewolves and while I do not condone the massacre that nearly took out an entire race, I am impressed by the skills you possess. I am known as the General of the South. However, I go by Isa most of the time."

I felt the tension in the air as I spoke my words.

"You are a myth meant to scare newborn vampires, nothing more." A witness from Carlisle's side of the field shouted at me.

"Alister, you might want to reevaluate that statement. I am very much real, and I will be happy to talk with you about it later."

"General, it is an honor to meet you." My eyes got wide as I heard this from Caius. I looked closely at his thoughts and was surprised by what I saw.

There was a bubble of appreciation and trust that was emitting from the crowd behind me with a healthy dose of fear still intertwined. They have heard stories of my exploits around the globe but have not seen me first hand. Well not that they remember I am sure.

"Now if you will excuse me …"

"Oh, no young one you must stay with us for a little longer. I know your soul is reaching for your mate, but we are not finished here yet." Aro is going to really push my buttons I can tell already. "Brothers let us converse about the happenings of today so that we may pass judgment on the Cullen coven." They began to walk into the woods as the guard kept the watch over the crowd.

The two Romanian vampires at my feet were starting to feel gleeful and looking at each other as if they had a secret. "Excuse me, what the hell do you think you are doing. You are prisoners right now. My prisoners and I would not be so sure you will walk out of here. I learned many things in the South and one is to never let an enemy get the chance to come back for revenge."

At my declaration they started to quiver in fear again. The Volturi had been too lenient on them in the past and the same was true now. I will kill them before I leave. I don't want them coming back for me at some point.

The guard stared at me in apprehension. "So, who here is Demetri?" I began talking to the crowd in front of me.

"That would be me Miss." A big brute of a man raised his hand from the front of the group. He was almost as large as Emmett and had the same light look in his eyes. "Why do you ask?"

"Can you track me?" I told you it is always good to know your enemies and that includes the gifts that your enemies may have at their disposal.

"No Miss I cannot get a good read on your mental signature. I would not be able to find you if I were asked." I may have been using a little of my persuasion gift to get the answer from him, but I can't feel bad about it. I may not want to be found if Aro ever needs me.

"Huh, I had heard of you and always wondered if you would be able to. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity." I left my post by the two prisoners and went to shake his hand.

His power was now mine as well. Sometimes it is great to be me. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He bowed lightly over my hand and kissed the top.

"The pleasure is mine miss." Jasper wouldn't have like the emotions he was throwing off that is all I am going to say about that encounter. I turned away from him and started to introduce myself to others around the group.

I started with the group in the front since they would likely be the most powerful and skilled in the guard. I also followed the power that I got from Eleazar to determine what gifts people had. I tried to not linger on people that I had met before or those that did not have gifts, but I couldn't give myself away.

I met several vampires before the brothers started back across the field and I returned to my previous position. As I returned I noted the pain still emitting from my shield and smirked to myself. I also evaluated the cleanup progress and was pleased to see that the field was free of limbs and torsos. The fire was raging high and purple smoke was billowing out of it, but I think it will be out before I leave. Garrett had come to stand at my right shoulder showing his support and loyalty to me while Emmett watched the dying flames to be sure all the pieces burned completely.

I smiled to Garrett in thanks as I took up my soldier stance.

"We have decided that the Cullen coven will be punished for treason. Alice and Edward are going to be sentenced to the guard for the next 200 years for their little plot against me. Carlisle will be taking up residence in the visitor wing of the castle. I would like to see if he can be rehabilitated or if the effects of animal blood are permanent. I still do not completely trust the theory Isabella presented but I will investigate it more. The witnesses are free to go with the warning that we do not take kindly to rebellion. I am only allowing you to leave based on the memories of Carlisle and the lies I saw in his mind. I also read Maggie from the Irish coven and found that many of you were here to see the Major in battle, however, you have now seen the General and can take that knowledge with you.

"I would like all of you to leave this state within the 24 hours. If you have any troubles, please remember that the Volturi are the rulers and want to help our subjects." Aro smiled in that 'I am the ruler and you will do what I say, or I will have you killed kind of way' and the vampires behind me shifted uncomfortably.

"Aro, respectfully, I would like to advocate for Emmett and Rosalie, they are innocent in this plot against you and were going to leave with me to see you as soon as the time came. They have been helping Garrett look for me the past week. I would also like to kill Alice myself. She has made my life really difficult and has taken my mate from me."

Aro was hesitant to give in to my requests though I phrased them more as demands if I am honest. What can I say I am hungry and tired, and my mate is not with me. "I will let Emmett and Rosalie go because you took care of our problem here today, but Alice is going to be in the guard as I said earlier, and you may not kill her."

"Are we going to have a problem? Because my mate is in the hands of the one woman I should have killed earlier, and she is about to meet my wrath, but if I have to lodge a formal complaint about the crime against me being unable to avenge my mate I will make time."

My tone was bored and tired. I didn't want to have to take that time, but I was pissed at his disregard for my right.

"No General, perhaps we can come to another agreement," Caius was quick to intervene. "Instead, of her death, we would give Alice a punishment she will remember, and you can be there for it if you would like. Afterward, we would like to be able to use her gift for the future. We would also like to offer you the use of our jet to go get your mate and perhaps you would be willing to come to meet with us in Volterra after you have him." Caius was the new spokesperson for this trio and he didn't creep me out as much as Aro so that was good.

"Very well, but I have a few conditions. You are going to take miss Mary Alice there with you to the deepest pit of Volterra there is, and she will be there when I get there. I have a promise to uphold. Next, you are going to look into the effects of animal blood and keep the community updated on the findings. I do not want more people to experience what is happening to this coven right now. Lastly, Esme has done nothing wrong but be ignorant. Please treat her kindly because she is truly the most caring woman I have ever met."

The brothers looked to each other and nodded. I guess after a few millennia together words are not necessary.

"Okay Isa, we will take your terms, but in return, you must take Demetri and Felix with you to the South. We do not want sloppiness and they will ensure that is upheld."

"I don't care who you send. I need Garrett and we will be on our way." I looked at my two prisoners I decided to burn them. Peter's voices popped up informing me that I would be fighting them in a few decades if I gave them to the other two brothers.

"General, they were ours." Caius' patience was up since he was growling at me over this. Already he forgot his place.

"No, they were my prisoners, I kept them there and I decided that I did not want to be privy to fighting them again in a few decades. Honestly, I did you a favor. They might have won that time if we gave them the opportunity I am surprised at you Caius, you never leave the enemy a chance to get even, it may be the last thing you ever do."

I turned and walked away from them. Demetri and Felix falling into step behind me as I strode over to Rosalie and Emmett.

"You two are free to go. Please remember what I said about animal blood it will kill you. If you need somewhere to go where I have implanted an address into your minds should you need it. You can also call me anytime and I will be there to help you."

They both hugged me then went away before anyone could change their minds. Next, I addressed the entire field. "My name is Isa, I have gone by this for years and I wish none of you harm. I am more than willing to help any of you if the need arises but should any of you come to fight me and take on The General, I will defend myself as needed. Now I am going to get my mate. Farewell."

Felix decided now was a good time to lead the way to the jet. Just as well because my patience was running out and I needed my mate back.

Hope you enjoyed the long chapter. Until next time. Enjoy Halloween!