Chapter 13: "Arrangements"

Disclaimer: The proprietary elements of Breaking Dawn, including its original treatment and all of the characters, belong solely to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Bella's POV

He drifted forward to greet me, like an apparition shrouded in a dark cloak. The long, jet-black hair framing his face was a stark contrast to the translucently white, onion-like skin stretched across his cheek bones. His crimson red eyes were clouded and milky, and I wondered, as I had before, if his vision might be affected by the haze.

"Ah, Bella!" Aro smiled, clapping his thin hands together. "You've come at last!"

Then, turning to Alec, who was following close behind, he said, "Be a dear and invite my brothers to join us. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes, Master." Alec nodded and disappeared.

"You see, Bella?" Aro asked delightedly, his misty eyes examining me from head to toe like a proud grandfather. "This was worth waiting for, was it not? I've been so terribly curious to see how you'd turn out! Of course, I've had glimpses from your daughter's young mind—such a precious child!—but, seeing you for myself has exceeded my wildest expectations. You are exquisite, my dear!"

"Thank you," I managed, struggling for composure at the thought of Aro being close enough to touch Elizabeth.

He noted my unease. "Ah, do not fear. Elizabeth is safe and well. And, please, I do hope you'll forgive our rudeness. My brethren had serious doubts of your new husband's willingness to accept a more cordial invitation to visit; we all so wanted the opportunity of meeting your usual daughter. What an amazing thing that this should occur in Carlisle's family! An immortal child again in our midst!"

"Her immortality has not yet been determined," I said through my teeth, sensing the gravity of the situation. Carlisle had once explained the Volturi's attitude toward the 'immortal children' they'd studied around the world; Caius had decided the young ones were incapable of protecting 'our' secret, and so they'd been summarily destroyed.

Aro cocked his head to one side. "Not immortal? Just as Alice suggested, then." His milky eyes glinted with curiosity. "Let me have the story from your own lips, dear one!"

I felt a low growl building in my chest—this was none of his business. But I had to stay focused. "Elizabeth was conceived while I was human," I began with vehement determination. "She is only half vampire."

"So very fascinating to me," Aro almost sang in his feathery voice. "Please go on."

I took a deep breath. "As I'm sure Alice has explained, we're just beginning to understand Elizabeth's capabilities. She's developing quite rapidly—not at all 'frozen' in her progress as the immortal children you viewed to be such a threat."

"Ah, but they were a threat. Such careless destruction…"

Aro looked over my shoulder. Alec was back and behind him floated two more black-robed men, Aro's "brethren." Both looked very much like Aro, one even had the same flowing black hair. The other had a shock of snow-white hair—the same shade as his face—that brushed against his shoulders; their faces had identical, paper-thin skin. I recognized them at once, though we'd not been formally introduced the last time; the trio from Carlisle's painting was complete, unchanged by the last three hundred years since it was painted.

"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro crooned. "Bella has come to see us after all! Isn't that wonderful?"

Neither of the two looked as if wonderful would be their first choice of words. The dark-haired man, Marcus, seemed utterly bored, like he'd seen too many millennia of Aro's enthusiasm. Caius' face was sour under the snowy hair.

Their lack of interest did not curb Aro's enjoyment.

Caius drifted away, gliding toward a wooden throne in the rear of Aro's private chambers. Marcus paused beside Aro and reached his hand out, touching Aro's palm briefly, then dropped his hand to his side. Aro raised one black brow.

"Thank you, Marcus," Aro said. "That's quite interesting."

Marcus was letting Aro know his thoughts, but he, himself, didn't look interested. He glided away from Aro to join Caius.

Aro was shaking his head. "Amazing," he said. "Absolutely amazing."

I looked at him inquisitively, but held my tongue with considerable effort. No mistakes.

"It's just so difficult to understand, even now," Aro mused, staring at me. "Edward's restraint—that this child was even conceived. I remember the call of your blood when you were human—so very strong! I've never felt anything like it myself."

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. "You realize, then, that my change took place after our daughter's birth?"

"Yes. Most interesting," Aro answered, then turned to Caius.

"Brother, have you changed your mind on the matter?"

"No." His voice, though no more than a whisper, was flat.

"Caius, surely you see the potential," Aro chided him affectionately. "There is much to be learned from the child. And consider Bella's unknown potential—the opportunity to explore her talents! Can you imagine the possibilities?"

Caius looked away with a caustic expression. Marcus appeared utterly bored.

"The law claims the child," Caius hissed, breaking the silence.

"How so?" I demanded.

Caius shot me an icy look. "She is half-human. The child will eventually expose our secrets." His voice was papery thin, just like his skin.

"She's a Cullen. She'll do no such thing," I hissed defensively.

Caius spoke with eager haste. "The child is an unknown quantity. There is no reason to allow such a risk to exist. It must be destroyed, along with all who protect it." He smiled in expectation.

I fought back a shriek of defiance to answer his cruel smirk.

Marcus lifted his uncaring eyes, seeming to look through us as he spoke for the first time. "I see no immediate danger. The child is safe enough for now. We can always re-evaluate later." His voice was fainter than his brothers' feathery sighs.

"Later may prove too late!" Caius rebuked assertively.

"It seems I must make the deciding vote," Aro mused to himself.

"Then consider this," I inserted with boldness, afraid that if Aro sided with Caius, as apparently he had when Elizabeth was taken from us, it might be impossible to reverse the decision. I couldn't allow that to happen, not if I could ensure the proper outcome by acting now. "If you will grant Elizabeth's freedom and allow her to remain with the Cullens—with Edward—without any further interference, I will remain in Volterra."

Aro hesitated for a moment, stunned. There was no reaction from Marcus; Caius made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat.

"Nothing would please me more, dearest Bella," Aro finally replied, raising his eyebrows. "But I'm afraid you must mean it."

"If you will agree to my terms and let my family leave at once, you have my word."

"Done!" Aro nearly shrieked with delight, clapping his hands together once more. "Alec, please inform all of our guests that they are invited to depart in peace."

I lowered my head and breathed a sigh of enormous relief, mitigated with great sadness. Then my head snapped up. "Wait! Can I see her? Please. Let me say goodbye to my daughter. To Alice, Jasper, and Emmett."

Aro exchanged an uneasy glance with Alec. "Certainly, my dear," Aro said after a long pause. "Let us see what can be arranged."