Chapter Twenty Two

Jasper

"I'm going to confront Aro. He gave me a promise I would be free to find my mate and you are that mate. I want safety for our friends and ourselves in exchange for not showing him just how powerful my gift really is"

I squeezed her hand,

"He doesn't like threats."

"Neither do I and snatching our friends qualifies as one in my books."

"What about Caius?"

"What's he going to do Jazz? They have Jane but she does nothing to me and I can protect you so in theory we could take out the entire Volturi just as Caius fears."

I was so proud of my mate, she was a true warrior and with her at my side I feared no man, or woman. I thought Aro might just have met his match in the one gift he couldn't control.

Jasper

We drove to Volterra in a couple of rental cars and while we were hoping to see the end of Aro's government, I wasn't sure that was Bella's objective, she wanted peace and security for us and our friends. Aro's position in Volterra was a secondary concern although I thought we might be better off as a race with Caius in charge, he was less impetuous and avaricious and he had a better relationship with Marcus who was the cool-headed of the three, the most logical and thoughtful but we would have to see. As we drove through the walls into the town it was obvious that the humans knew something was wrong because the streets were almost deserted, most of the cafés and bars closed up and not even the usual cats and dogs roamed the streets. We parked in the main square and gathered together approaching the clock tower in a close knit group. I pushed the doors open to be greeted by a young human female quite obviously intimidated by our group.

"We'd like to see Aro"

"I see, who shall I say is here?"

"Major and Bella Whitlock and friends."

She picked up the phone and buzzed through explaining in hushed tones and I wondered at the consternation going on behind those huge oak doors.

Bella

I didn't wait for someone to usher us into Aro's presence, I knew perfectly well where his lair was so I pushed open the doors ignoring the girls complaints and we marched down the corridor our footfalls loud in the silence as we made no attempt to keep quiet. I knew our companions were keeping an eye out at any side openings onto the main corridor and our rear and we soon reached the audience chamber pushing aside the guard standing there and went in to see the three brothers just taking their places on the small raised dais where their three "thrones" sat. Aro looked startled at our entrance while Caius was watchful and Marcus as always seemed bored with the whole affair.

"Bella you are back and with your mate, how wonderful. I was wondering how long it would take you to find your other half. Major, its been a long time"

"I don't appreciate threats Aro"

He looked shocked at my blunt approach.

"Threats my dear? I was merely thinking how wonderful it is to have you home again"

"And our friends?"

He looked at the figures ranged to the back and sides of us,

"I'm not sure I know all of them but visitors are always welcome here as you know. To have The Major here in Volterra is an honour and a pleasure."

"We aren't here to stay."

"Really? Then why are you here? And with your "friends"?"

"I think you know why. You kidnapped the Whitlocks to persuade me to come back. Well it wont work Aro. I'm here for an assurance, that's all."

Marcus was paying very close attention and I didn't think he knew about the kidnap, not that he would necessarily have been against it but he was angry at having secrets withheld from him.

Aro

This was slightly awkward as I hadn't cleared my actions with the others not expecting Bella to turn up to confront me, let alone with a group of fighters at her back.

"The Whitlocks? Where are they Bella?"

She turned to Marcus and smiled,

"I suggest you ask your brother as he arranged it."

Marcus turned to me and I saw from the corner of my eye Caius watching The Major carefully. They had a history although he had never talked about it to me.

"Aro?"

"I thought Bella needed a little incentive to ensure she returned, especially as it seems she was rather reticent about her gift."

"You mean you snatched her friends to force her back to Volterra?"

I sighed,

"Yes Marcus you could put it like that I suppose."

"I don't think there's any other way of putting it Aro and I don't like threats or pressure forcing me to do something."

"Bella, the Volturi needs you. A powerful gift like yours could be at the mercy of disaffected elements in our world who would seek to use you to overthrow the government here."

"Aro sometimes you amaze me with your ability to delude not only yourself but others too. My gift means that no one, rebel or Volturi, could persuade me to do anything I chose not to do. Now I'd like to speak frankly about why I am here."

"Frank? That would be refreshing in here Bella"

I smiled at Marcus sarcasm, he was right of course, the truth very rarely entered these hallowed grounds without being twisted and covered by lies.

Jasper

I was happy for Bella to deal with the subject but I did just motion to where Alec had slid silently into the room and she nodded to acknowledge she'd understood. Aro flickered a glance to his golden boy and he fixed his eyes on our small group but Bella smiled at him and shook a finger as if scolding a small and naughty child.

"Aro call your boy off or I'll show you just how powerful I am"

I could see him weigh up the odds but before he could make a decision Caius motioned with an imperious hand and Alec bowed his head and took a few steps back,

"I don't think attacking Bella before she can even lay out her problem will be very helpful Aro."

Aro scowled at Caius and looked back at Bella,

"Please go on."

"You are threatening my friends and companions hoping to force me to come back to live in Volterra and work for the Volturi again. It wont work, I have no wish to work for you or the guard any longer. I just want to be left in peace with Jasper my mate. I also want my two friends released from their captivity and their future safety guaranteed along with everyone here."

Bella

I waited wondering how far Aro would push his claim on me. Caius and Marcus stepped back from their chairs to talk quietly and I knew they were comparing notes, what they already knew or suspected. Aro watched them and waited until they resumed their seats before speaking,

"Bella I'm not sure that threats to the Volturi are acceptable. It is tantamount to treason which carries the ultimate penalty."

"I've already told you Aro, don't threaten me."

"Ah Aro, just where are Bella's friends?"

He waved a hand dismissively at Caius question,

"Safe and well. Hostage to Bella coming back here."

"Not going to happen Aro"

Marcus lips twisted in a ghost of a smile and Caius seemed to be enjoying Aro's discomfort with the present predicament as they waited for his response to my last words.