Disclaimer: I don't own most of these characters; they are the sole property of Steph Meyer.

A/N: Here's a fairly short post. I'll have another up by Sunday, but Carlisle kept talking in my head and I wanted to get his words down before I forgot them. Keep in mind that I'm a non-confrontational person. I avoid them at all costs, so if this didn't play out how you expected tell me and I'll tweak it a bit. Thanks for reading and reviewing! Enjoy.

Chapter 37 Confrontations

I entered the main throne room with Alyria still clutching my hand and Demetri practically climbing out of his skin with excitement about the prospect of seeing Leah. I shut down all of my emotions again because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to contain my anger towards Carlisle and I shielded my butt off so I wasn't feeling euphoric over the prospect of seeing Leah. Demetri's anticipation was very infectious and I didn't want to feel all warm and fuzzy over my least favorite wolf.

All eyes turned towards us, but I barely took notice of anyone but Edward. He had on black pants and a sapphire blue button-down shirt with a few buttons left open so I caught a glimpse of his chest. Where everyone one else wore pleasant masks to hide their thoughts, Edward's feelings were evident in his eyes. Time had not calmed him any. It probably didn't help that Demetri had entered by my side, though we weren't touching in any way. Leah would have freaked out if we were. He stared through me, not really meeting my gaze, but as though he could see the decorative paintings that hung on the wall behind me.

Aro climbed down from the dais saying as he walked, "Ah, your Edward has finally joined our cause and brought reinforcement." He made a show of embracing me and planting two kisses on my cheek. He shot a glance back at the Cullens trying to gauge their reaction to our obviously close relationship. He leaned in and whispered so softly that I doubt even Alyria, still holding my hand, had heard, "I know this is difficult for you…being around your old family, anything I can do to make it more bearable, you have but to ask and I will see it done." He pulled back slightly and searched my eyes before continuing, "We desperately need their help in this battle, so if you could simply play nicely with them for now, there will be time later to settle old scores."

I nodded and allowed him to take my elbow and guide me and Alyria to the steps near the throne. "I will let you all catch up while I steal Carlisle away," Aro's voice rang out happily.

"Please allow me one moment with Bella before we continue our conversation, Aro," Carlisle requested, his eyes taking in my dark form. Once again I was dressed in black; pencil skirt, heels, with a grey and black striped button-down shirt that looked poured onto my body. It was getting to the point where I didn't like colors anymore.

Aro's eyes flicked back and forth between us and then he smiled indulgently. "But of course. You may use the room across the hall." He motioned to the door near the back of the room and took his seat back on his throne beside Marcus who was staring intently between me and Edward. With my shields in place I doubted that he was able to read our relationship, but apparently he trying very hard to do so, so I lowered my shields and allowed him to taste the strength of my love for Edward. Why? Because it would have seemed like I was trying to hide something if I hadn't allowed him that peek into my life. And I wanted him to sense the change...With the anger brewing between me and Edward and so much time apart, I suspected that our connection wouldn't feel as strong as it had the first time he gauged us.

Carlisle whispered to Esme before holding his hand out to me. I gave him mine, though I so did not want to and let him escort me to the private room. I caught a flash of…something in Edward's eyes. Concern maybe? But the anger was still there as well. That was plain enough for all to see and it pleased both Aro and Marcus to no end.

I chose a stiff chair instead of the couch that way there would be plenty of space between us and waited for Carlisle to say his piece. Apparently he was thinking along the same lines because a minute passed with him shooting glances around the room while I stared at him and neither of us spoke.

"You look well, Bella. Volterra seems to agree with you," he finally supplied though it felt forced as though he felt obligated to be cordial when what he really wanted to do was reprimand me.

I frowned slightly, but replied, "Thanks, Aro has really gone out of his way to make this place feel like home."

He nodded. "Edward tells me that your eyes were tuning golden, but they are as red as the day you were transformed, have you adopted their diet as well?" The accusation in his tone could not be missed, but I ignored it all the same.

"No."

He looked exasperated with my short answer for a second before he schooled his features into his fatherly doctor look, but I cared not. I wanted to be angry with him, wanted to hate him, but seeing him sitting right in front of me with his kind features made it hard. He had as much reason to be angry with me as I had with him, but he didn't look furious or betrayed, just concerned and curious. But I'd seen his frustration with me a moment ago; I knew that he wasn't feeling particularly kind or concerned about me right now. It was all a performance by a highly skilled actor.

"Alice had a vision of you remaining here after the battle," he finally admitted. "Is that your intention?"

I wasn't terribly surprised since I had been considering it, but I hadn't realized I'd been so close to a decision. "Did she happen to see if Edward was with me or not?"

"He was not." Carlisle finally admitted. "What has transpired between you two to cause such a rift? He has been livid. He talks to no one…just sulks."

I didn't want to dissect my relationship right now. I wanted to deal with the fact that he'd put me in this situation at all. "I know about Santiago." Oddly, I hadn't seen him since we returned from the assignment. I wondered what that meant? "I know that you lied about my true purpose here." I kept my tone light and my face blank. Since I had my emotions under lock and key, it was easy enough. What an odd way to argue. To say what's bothering you, but not to be bothered. It was quite refreshing.

He had the grace to look embarrassed and dropped his gaze to his hands clasped together on his jean clad lap. "I'm sorry about that, Bella, but we needed you to acquire these powers and we felt that Virat would follow you and give us a reprieve. It was next to impossible to think or plan anything while he was filling us with his negative emotions."

"You could have just told me the truth. It's not like you gave me a choice about going, what harm would it have done to be honest with me?"

He shrugged slightly and untangled his tense hands. Perhaps he was angry after all. I was trying to read his face and was missing out on the tension running through the rest of his body. Or it could just be embarrassment from being caught lying. "In hind sight that was obviously the right course to follow, but Bella, Virat had us all acting out of character. You should know that better than any."

"Why? Because I killed Tyler?" I stood abruptly my shields blown away, my emotions assaulting me as my rage engulfed me. I could have slapped that gorgeous face and thought nothing of it in that moment. In fact, it took everything in me not to physically attack him. Like I needed Tyler thrown in my face? I would never forget. He knew that, he was just trying to deflect his guilt on to me and I was not in the mood to accept it. And right on the heels of that thought- Aro would never hold that mistake against me. "You're right. Virat fucked with me…" He flinched at my vulgar language. "With all of us, I'll grant you that. I'll even excuse the whole scheme of yours to get me here, but what I cannot excuse is that when I had proof that the Volturi were innocent you chose to ignore that information. The only reason you are here right now aiding Aro is because I forced your hand by telling him about the Romanians," I ranted. I realized that I was inches from him and that he was now standing instead of sitting and looking about as angry as I felt.

"Oh, you mean that lie that you concocted to keep your true intentions secret. Mustn't allow Aro know that you have been betraying him from the moment you set foot here," he snapped back. "How do you think he'd feel towards you if he knew that you'd been lying to him for a month? Do you think he would regard you so highly? I hear that you are practically his queen now!"

Queen? Hmmm, I hadn't heard that particular rumor. I wondered who'd been whispering in their ears? Perhaps Seline? It certainly sounded like a very Seline like thing. I grinned and suddenly was attacked by a fit of laughter completely surprising him. When I could speak again I said, "We really are quite alike and we're both angry at the other for doing the exact same things." I shook my head and backed up a few steps. "I'm sorry that I went against your express orders and told Aro a version of the truth, but I still feel that it was the right thing to do."

"I'm sorry too, Bella. More than you'll ever know." He looked away for a moment and I could have sworn he was blinking away tears, except he could not cry. What on earth had that meant? He continued after a short pause. "I imagine the right thing to do would be to tell Aro the whole truth, don't you think?"

I shrugged. "Hey, knock yourself out. You want to tell him how the Cullens plotted his demise, feel free. I wasn't only saving my own ass with my lie."

He took his seat again and I followed suit. He gave me a considering look. "Tell me why your eyes are scarlet?"

"Because I transformed a boy three days ago."

"A boy? You agreed to transform someone? How did you manage it? Did you kill him?" He asked leaning forward in his seat, his eyes boring into mine as though he could watch the scene play out for him in my eyes.

"Not a boy, really. He's in his early twenties, and no, I didn't kill him. The transformation was a success. I actually have learned much in my time here, Carlisle. Some of that was more than just power, it was control. I owe Aro much. If I'd spent some time here after my transformation, I doubt that Virat would have ever been able to influence me to such a degree that I would have lost control and killed a friend."

"You speak very highly of Aro. Alice's vision has a good chance in coming true, then?" He asked. "You are giving up on Edward?"

I rubbed my forehead as I debated my response. Staying in Volturi really did appeal to me. I did not have to hide. I could still drink animal blood…but a life without Edward? I wasn't sure that I could do that. And Alice's vision had not included him. Had it included Christian? Dare I ask my father-in-law such a thing? Nope, I just wasn't that brazen and besides, I could search my own damn future if I wanted all the details.

I sighed. "I have no idea what will happen with Edward. He's furious with me right now, but I think that he can forgive me anything," I murmured.

He smiled. "I agree. Edward will not give you up, no matter how very angry you make him." He stood. "I must discuss some things with Aro now. Is everything settled between us?"

I bit my lip. Settled? Not exactly. I no longer trusted him and had no desire to live with him, but most of the anger had passed. I shrugged slightly. "You never answered my question earlier. Why were you so hell bent on attacking the Volturi when you knew they were innocent?"

"Does it truly matter now? We are on Aro's side. The rest is irrelevant."

I nodded. He was not going to reveal his reasons, though if I'd wanted to I could have just invaded his thoughts and plucked them out, but there was enough tension between us as it was. I did not want to make it worse.

He turned back to me. "I'm afraid that Esme is slightly put out with you. She seems to think that Edward can do no wrong and that the only reason he is behaving so…poorly, is because you provoked him."

I raised my eyebrows, but didn't really care if she thought I was the daughter of Satan. I no longer cared about her approval or Carlisle's for that matter. I could feel it already-the split between me and the Cullens. I could give them up…maybe not Alice, but the rest…yeah, I could give them up.