Chapter Twenty Three
Aro
This wasn't going quite as I had envisaged, Bella had become more authoritative and stronger since she bonded with The Major, something else I hadn't banked on when I sent Alec and Felix to snatch the Whitlocks and force her back to Italy.
"I'm sorry you feel that way Bella. I had hoped that our kindness to you when you arrived might mean something to you, a debt of gratitude perhaps."
"I paid that debt over the past few years Aro so lets not go down that road. I have no wish to see the Volturi lose one of its leaders but if you force my hand I will act."
"Are you threatening me personally?"
"Did you arrange the kidnap?"
"I suggested it might be a way to get you to listen to our offer"
"Oh, it was an offer from the three of you?"
Caius shook his head while Marcus just looked at Aro with disdain.
"It would appear that your brothers disagree and it certainly didn't seem that they knew what I was referring to when I got here. Its immaterial anyway, I have a counter offer for you to consider."
"I'd be interested to hear that Bella"
Marcus craned his neck forward eagerly,
"The Volturi guarantee the safety of me and my friends and I will answer any call made by the three brothers jointly to safeguard our world from outside dangers."
"That sounds a very clever and well thought out offer."
"Thank you Caius. It just ensures that I'm not called on by one brother to act against another."
Bella
I was still watching Jane from the corner of my eye, I didn't trust her any further than I could spit, then I heard screams of agony and Jazz and Garrett went down writhing in pain. I didn't even stop to think I just threw my shield between them and sent her gift back to her but by angling the shield I also funnelled it to Aro himself. As Jane cried out and dropped the pain ceased but it was enough to knock Aro to his knees as well. The other two brothers looked at me warily but I just smiled and shook my head slowly from side to side. We all waited for Aro to regain his feet and smooth his clothes then I spoke,
"That was just a taste of what I can do but I'm happy to give you a full-blown demonstration if you feel you'd like one"
Caius stood up swiftly,
"I think you've made you point admirably Bella. I'm sure Aro will agree that your offer is a generous one, keeping our world safe is the main concern of all of us here."
I looked at Aro then at Jane before I answered,
"I'm pleased to hear it Caius. It's always better to be on the same team. Now I'd like my friends the Whitlocks released into the care of Rose and Emmett Cullen."
Aro's eyes narrowed,
"You have some of Carlisle's children with you?"
"No they are still in the States where you are holding Peter and Charlotte."
"Does Edward know about this?"
I shrugged, I had no idea, nor did I care.
"Jane dear would you ask Edward to join us"
Jasper
Edward Cullen, just what we needed! I moved closer to Bella and took her hand in mine while the others stayed on alert. No one trusted Aro not to try something. As the door opened and Edward strode in I smiled and he looked at Bella and our clasped hands and ground his teeth in frustration. Bella grinned at him and held up our joined hands,
"Edward I'm sure you'll be pleased to see I found my mate at last."
"Mate? Him? You must be mad"
"Possibly but I'm happy."
"Edward I know you had a prior claim on Bella so I thought you might want to speak to Major Whitlock."
I stepped forward slightly still holding Bella's hand.
"Yes go on Edward. I'd be fascinated to hear what you have to say."
His jaw clenched and he swallowed nervously but he didn't say anything.
"So you are happy with Bella's choice of mate?"
Caius sighed theatrically,
"Aro stop trying to cause a problem. Edward Cullen is a coward and an idiot to boot. You value his gift, that's the only reason we tolerate him here."
Bella's laughter hung in the air and for just a second I saw Edward tense before thinking better of it and relaxing back down.
"Smart move Edward. Not only are they bonded but he would rip your head off in an instant even without Bella's intervention"
Edward glared at Marcus but it was water off a ducks back to the tall morose Volturi brother,
"Caius, Aro, I weary of this. Give Bella what she asks for and let's get back to our studies."
Caius stood agreeing and the two waited impatiently for Aro to act.
"Very well but keep your side of the bargain Bella."
"Oh I will Aro, just make sure you do too. As soon as I know our friends are free we'll be leaving Volterra. Until then I think we'll walk in the courtyard."
Bella
I led the others past Edward without looking at him and out into the central courtyard where we sat in the sunshine listening to the fountain play.
"You think its over Major?"
It was the first time anyone from our party had spoken since we went in to confront the Volturi and of course it was Garrett who seemed to be their spokesman,
Jazz glanced at me with a questioning look and I shrugged,
"He's welcome to try something but I'll be less lenient this time."
As we watched a group of guards came out of the doors to the east and west of the courtyard and stood menacingly, watching us intently. I hadn't expected Aro to give up trying but I didn't expect Alec again and almost missed it as our friends became silent and still once more before the shield wrapped around them. I looked up and saw Aro watching from the upper window to the north, my old room in fact. I was through playing games so once Alec stopped, aware that his gift no longer had any effect I motioned for our group to move away from the central fountain and I focused on it building up the power of my shield before throwing it out as fast as I could. The marble fountain exploded noisily and shards of the stone shot across the courtyard like deadly missiles smashing windows and embedding in at least two of the Volturi guard who cursed pulling the shards from their flesh and throwing them down before advancing. The space turned into a battle ground, each of our group choosing an opponent and going into hand to hand combat. I watched for reinforcements as our group ripped through the black cloaked figures like a giant blender. Eventually the fighting stopped with the Volturi guards in pieces on the water-logged stones and our group tending to mainly minor wounds that were healing as I watched. Now I was truly angry and when I saw Jasper holding a flap of flesh to his shoulder as it fused back I exploded. My shield flew out in all directions as our friends dropped at my command. The walls of the rooms surrounding the courtyard shattered filling the rooms with dust and stone while the very foundations rocked and a black cloaked figure fell from the shattered room to hit the flagstones noisily. Before Aro could get to his feet I was there above him and I concentrated lifting his body into the air before slamming it against the ground once more and repeated it over and over.
"Bella please."
I looked up to see Caius holding a cloaked figure in his arms and I halted waiting to hear his words but ready to raze the whole place to the ground. He walked forward and I saw the figure was a woman with a terrible wound to her temple which was healing slowly as we watched.
"I promise you Aro will free your friends and that he will no longer pursue you. Please leave now"
I nodded and turned stretching my hand to take Jaspers then I hesitated and turned back to him.
"If I have to come again Caius, Volterra will cease to exist."
He nodded and watched as we walked through the broken rock and stone and into the corridor leading to the main square.