WARNING: This chapter is longer than most and contains violent imagery. The characters aren't mine.

Chapter 21: Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it.

EPOV

"Hey," Bella said nudging me with her hip. "It's going to be okay."

My eyes suddenly popped open at the sound of her voice. I was constantly awed by the fact that she seemed to be able to read my mind better than I could read hers. We had come a long way since our library lunches in Forks. Even though nothing had gone as we'd planned, or rather, as I'd planned, I couldn't help but feel at least mildly happy. I felt guilty acknowledging that emotion given all was happening around us, yet here we were. Together. How could I not be happy? It wasn't perfect, but we were working on it. Some hours were better than others.

Bella's transition had been faster than most; she worried about what that meant. I didn't. It wasn't something we'd never be able to explain. All we could do was guess. Eleazar thought maybe she had more time to prepare, and her body somehow just knew what to do as a result. Carlisle wondered if the additional venom I'd introduced sped her transition. I didn't care so I left the ruminating to them. From my perspective, it was far simpler. This was just meant to be.

She was still a newborn though, and that carried particular challenges. It was a somewhat dangerous time of year for us to be hunting in these woods with a newborn. Her lack of control coupled with added speed and strength would make it difficult for us to contain her should we encounter a human. Stray hikers got lost; expert hikers sought challenges. We could have a thousand no trespassing signs around our land, but plenty of people didn't realize the signs really were for their own good. So far, we'd been lucky enough to avoid any confrontations. She caught the scent of human blood on her third day as a vampire, and it took three of us to stop her from following.

Just as difficult to contend with were her volatile mood swings. Emotions in newborns were difficult to control, so some fluctuations were typical. In her case, I think so many emotions had been coursing through her before the transition that she was struggling to process them. I suppose it's akin to culture shock. You could prepare for what was to come intellectually, but you couldn't really understand it until you were there. It was bound to be overwhelming at first. All of her senses were completely overloaded, and it seemed to hit her at odd times. She got particularly antsy around bed time. She wouldn't acknowledge it, but her mind craved the idea of sleep. I knew from her blog that would be a difficult part for her.

Around that time, anything I said might set her off, one way or the other. One way was a screaming fit wherein she made a valiant attempt to kick my ass. I let her because there were few alternatives, and there was still a part of me that felt certain I deserved it. In those moments, I slowly released my need to protect her; she didn't need it anymore. The other way . . . well, passion came in many forms.

In her calm moments, the idea of sex was difficult for her, mostly because of the lack of privacy. She became acutely aware of how much we knew about others. There was next to no privacy in our house. We knew, for instance, that Kate and Garrett had a burgeoning romance and Tanya was sizing up both Felix and Demetri; I had my money on the latter. But then I had inside information, and I knew she was on his mind a lot. The first time we heard one of the couples in the house getting amorous, Bella got all twisted up and agitated until she finally said, "I can't take it anymore." I'd barely noticed the issue because I was so good at tuning them out. She ran at top speed as far away as was safe without crossing the treaty line; then she turned on her heel and ran straight back at me, tackling me to the ground.

I'd followed nervously, uncertain about her visceral reaction. Her hands in my hair were the first clue.

"Bella, are you sure you want this?" I asked as she pressed her body against me.

"I need this, Edward."

"I know your body needs it now, but will you regret it later?"

"It's inevitable isn't it?"

"Probably," I admitted. "But we don't have to rush it. We have all the time in the world."

"Bullshit, we may only have a week," she challenged.

I reached out and touched her cheek. She let her legs fall to the sides of my hips, straddling me.

"I refuse to believe that. There are plenty of reasons to think . . ."

"Shut up and fuck me, Edward."

Some things never change. I was always unable to say no to a woman in need. Logic told me the timing was wrong, but emotion and physiology made disagreed.

She may have made the request, but she was completely in charge that evening. In those moments, she owned her instincts; she gave herself over. The grinding was fierce, and the first time she climaxed, she bit me. I may always have that silver scar on my chest, but I would wear it as a badge of honor. Bite for bite. I was in her; she was trying to take a little of herself back or give me more of her. I didn't care either way.

That's how it went for several days as we readied ourselves for the impending war, doom, whatever we were calling it at the moment. Angry Bella, Sexy Bella, Quiet Bella. She was driving Jasper crazy, but I loved all her personalities, and I knew eventually, she would settle into her own.

The only thing I lamented was the fact that I still couldn't read her mind. Eleazar identified her gift as a shield, but we didn't know how effective it was. We knew that Alice could see her future, though it was a struggle at times, but none of the rest of us seemed to be able to get through. So when she said everything would be okay, I was surprised to find a calm Bella staring at me.

"You're awfully confident." I hadn't said much that afternoon. We were down to so little time.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far, but I figure it doesn't do me any good to think the other way."

"When did you become an optimist?"

"When you found me," she answered simply.

She stated it as if it were a minor event, but we both knew everything was different. There was a lot we still weren't saying, but it was clear how we both felt.

"You don't have to go, you know," I reminded her.

"Let's not start that again. I realize it won't be easy to have me along, but you're not leaving me here."

"Bella, there are so many humans in Volterra. Even if we make it into the city, I don't know how we can . . ."

"It's not any safer here, and you know it. Besides, we settled this. If things go badly, they'll come for me anyway. I might as well be there in the first round."

"Ah there's the pessimist."

"Yeah well, I'd sure as hell rather be part of the direct hit than experience the fallout."

Her eyes moved to the ground, and she began to pluck pieces of grass out of the ground. After each one, she placed her hand flat on the ground and took a breath. I saw her head nodding ever so slightly.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Trying to teach myself control."

"What?"

"Well, right now, I'm feeling scared, and I've been finding that when I get emotional, I either want to destroy things or well, you know." She didn't look up at me, and I could tell the conversation bothered her. It was a quiet time, not one where she felt brazen. "Anyway, I kind of want to pull that tree over there out of the ground and throw it a mile, but I figure if I can keep myself to one blade of grass at a time, that's a start right?"

"You amaze me," I said, shaking my head.

"Why?"

"I don't think I could have thought that clearly when I was a newborn."

"I don't think your perception of yourself is very accurate. According to Carlisle, you were a fairly thoughtful vampire yourself."

"But not perfect."

"No one is. Clearly, I lose control."

"I kind of like it when that happens," I admitted with a suggestive tone.

Her head snapped toward me, an expression of shock on her face. "Oh my god. Stop, I'm embarrassed enough."

"You are?"

"Of course, it's like I'm an animal. The things that come out of my mouth."

"Bella, you can't think I mind."

"I mind."

"Do you regret anything that's happened?"

"No, it's not that. I just don't know how to deal with my emotions right now. That's really not new. I guess I've always used sex as a way to manage them, but it's even worse now."

"Bella, please don't regret being with me."

I reached out and grabbed the hand that wasn't pulling at grass. She let me take it over to my lap, and I starting rubbing her palm.

"I know that things have been complicated between us," I began. She snorted. I smiled. "But you still feel that don't you?" I had expected our physical connection to change when her body temperature did, but whatever current ran between us had intensified if anything.

"Yes," she whispered. "Of course I do."

"It's not going away, you know."

"I know."

"Neither am I," I assured her.

"I hope not." Her voice was the shakiest I'd heard it since she transitioned.

I draped one arm across her shoulder to bring her closer to me. "I told you how I felt. I love you, Bella. I always have, and I always will. I waited too damn long to say it before, but now I'm going to keep telling you until you believe me."

I noticed her breath stop. "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, just trying to shut out a sense or two so I can calm down."

"That helps?"

"A little." She was quiet for a minute. "Will you show me?"

"What?"

Her words came slowly, and she struggled to find the right words. "You say you love me, and I believe you. I do; it's just that so much has changed, and I wonder if you still want me like you wanted me before."

"I'm confused, Bella. Sometimes, I really wish I could hear inside that head of yours."

"When we're together it's based on my physical need; it's been really good; I'm not complaining. I just wonder if we can still . . ."

She trailed off, but I understood then. I began to stroke her hair slowly, and I kissed the top of her head. I sat up a little straighter and pulled her into my lap, forcing her to look me in the eye. I rested a hand at the base of her neck and the other on her cheek, letting my thumb drag over her lips.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. "Like that?" I asked.

"Yes," she practically moaned.

My lips were back to hers, still gentle, still slow, but my tongue nudged her lips apart, and she opened her mouth to take me in. In time, our pace increased as we touched each other. Like our first day back in our meadow, she reached for the button of my jeans, but this time, instead of fumbling, she had the zipper down in the blink of an eye. When she tried to yank the fabric down, we heard the sound of denim ripping.

"Oops," she giggled. That sound was the best thing I'd heard in years; it took me back, but moved me forward at the same time.

I helped her wriggle out of her clothes and she mine in kind. We'd been out there in the middle of nowhere several times already. We'd joined our bodies just as intimately, but this was different, and we both knew it. This wasn't about me filling her need or her proving something to herself. This wasn't about me helping someone, or either of us wanting to satisfy our curiosity. We moved past all the things that wouldn't have worked in a relationship and found ourselves someplace much better.

She threw her head back and laughed when I entered her, caught up in feelings that went beyond satisfaction to pure joy. I felt her shaking a couple of times. I noticed when her breathing stopped. She was doing what she could to hold on to her control, not to devolve into the base desire. She did the thing with her head nodding again, and I realized she was mentally counting to five each time she did it. A time out of sorts. She used it to help her pace the rhythm of our lovemaking, and it worked. She stayed in control, until neither of could anymore, until it was natural to let go and we did that together, relieving the pressure, releasing the pleasure.

She exhaled with a moan as I slipped out of her. She tightened her grip on my neck, but I still shifted to the side, leaning on my elbow.

"That was different," she said.

"Yes," I agreed. "Different good?"

"Very good," she answered quietly. I kissed her lips and laced a hand with one of hers. "You know, there were times when I hated you."

She looked at me anxiously, worried about my reaction.

"I would hope so. I'd be worried about you if you hadn't. Besides, I seem to recall a certain day when you pushed me away. That kind of gave it away."

"I'm sorry."

"I thought we were done with this," I said.

"I made a lot of very bad decisions, and I just want you to know I would do things differently if I could."

"Me too."

She shook her head quickly, and her hand clenched in mine. She was stronger, and it hurt.

"Please just know that no matter what happens, things are different now, and I want you to trust me."

"Bella, of course I trust you. What are you talking about?"

She drew a breath and blew it out slowly. "Nothing, I'm just being silly."

I put my mouth close to her ear. "I love you."

Her eye lids fluttered. "I love you too. Never forget that."

XXX

We'd been over the plans ad nauseum. Volterra was an old city, and to the outside eye, it would appear to remain as antiquated as all the other European walled cities. Our eyes were better, and our inside information invaluable. We were well aware that a combination of technology and superhuman skill made it nearly impossible to penetrate the city unnoticed. Further, there were human and vampire spies everywhere in Italy, all of Europe really. Going over the maps and details, we grew weary of our plan.

"If the point was to surprise them, this seems like a pretty flawed plan to me," Rosalie had asserted.

It was one of those times when no one disagreed with her, but we also didn't rush to alter our course. Secretly I wondered if the home court advantage would have been better, but I knew that it really was six of one half a dozen of the other.

We all kept looking to Alice for any clues. Her pained response and hands thrown in the air was all the answer we needed. "There are just too many last minute decisions and too many people making them. It all keeps shifting. All I can tell you is they are still preparing to leave Italy. They're planning to come here. The rest is fuzzy."

"You're still seeing a battle though?" Carlisle questioned.

Alice nodded. "I just don't know who wins."

Garrett mumbled, but of course everyone heard him. "There's rarely a clear winner and loser in war."

Enthusiasm was tough to muster; going there made it feel less like we were the ones being attacked, less like we were passive players in the game. By going to Italy, we would have to act as aggressors, or they would have the upper hand.

The less attention we could draw the better, and it would be impossible not to notice the sixteen of us rushing Volterra. The plan was to scatter, to come from multiple places, different directions. We had the means to contact each other, but otherwise, the small groups were unaware of each other's flight routes. We figured as long as we had a rendezvous time and place, the less we knew, the better, just in case something went terribly wrong.

Jacob and Seth wanted to come along, if for no other reason than to have a chance to actually "kick vampire ass."

"Ugh," both Rosalie and Leah had groaned simultaneously. I stifled a grin at yet another parallel between them. Thankfully, neither of them noticed.

In the end, Carlisle convinced them to stay behind and to begin work on rebuilding their relationship with the larger pack. Sam and the others had been sniffing around, but they hadn't been stupid enough to instigate any trouble. I had a hard time being mad at any of them, since they were keeping a very watchful eye over Charlie Swan. Bella and I hadn't talked much about her parents. She figured it wasn't worth faking her death until she knew whether she was really dead or not. In other words, wait until after Italy. If and when we made it back, then we'd figure out a plan. She almost called her mom once, but in the end, she decided it was best to have a clean break. If she dragged it out more, it might hurt worse for both of them. She was grateful that she hadn't forgotten herself in the transition, but she lamented the things she didn't want to remember.

Felix, Demetri, Bella, and I would travel together on the Volturi plane still waiting for us in the hanger outside of Seattle. I didn't want to have to fly the plane, because I wanted to be able to concentrate on Bella. We certainly couldn't have a human pilot in such close proximity. Only three of us could fly: Emmett, Garrett and I.

Rosalie refused to be separated from Emmett, which I understood. From the outside in, people might wonder what Emmett and Rosalie had in common, but it was obvious if you spent any time around them. You would not find two people more loyal, to each other yes, but to their family too.

So that left Garrett who grudgingly agreed to do it; I didn't miss the look of concern Kate shot him when he stepped up to the plate.

Because ours was the only private plane, we had the most direct route which meant we left later than everyone else. The staggered goodbyes dragged out through the day. I couldn't say any particular one was more difficult than another, and in the end, what would it prove if I could value one over another. Suffice to say, we all knew the risks. Carlisle shook my hand knowingly. He placed his free hand on my shoulder and squeezed, communicating everything I needed to know. Esme hugged me and told me she loved me. Alice slapped my cheek playfully and said it would all be fine. Jasper merely nodded toward me; his thoughts were on Alice, as I would have expected. Emmett whacked me on the back and told me it was all worth it. So few would ever know what a fucking sap that man was for a good love story.

Rosalie didn't say goodbye. I didn't see her at all the day we left. I heard her, of course. She was worried. She wasn't the mind reader or the fortune teller among us, but her mood was heavy. She spent her time resolving herself to life never being the same after this trip. I didn't it take it personally that she left without acknowledgement. For her, a goodbye would have made it all the more possible that we wouldn't see each other in fifteen hours. She embraced denial like a dear old friend.

The mood on our plane was surprisingly light. Garrett made random intercom announcements we would have heard if he'd whispered them, but it was enough to get even Felix to chuckle a few times.

It was the first time Bella and Demetri had really faced each other. I knew his inner torment. Probably the most surprising thing to him was the way he felt. Guilt was an emotion he hadn't remembered. There had been no reason for it. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have given it a passing thought, might have even fought harder to complete the drain, but the circumstances surrounding Bella were so complicated. He'd expected retaliation or punishment of some sort. He'd been prepared to be cast out or potentially even destroyed. It's what the Volturi would have done.

So, in the days since, he'd reverted inside himself, staying out of the way.

He shocked us all three hours into the trip.

"Bella?" he began. She looked up at him and nodded. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

I gave a sideways glance to Felix who raised an eyebrow, confused by how demure Demetri seemed. They'd known each other a long time, and Demetri's bravado was infamous.

Bella shook her head, smiling. "You don't need to be."

"It wasn't what you wanted," he responded. "I took away your choice."

"No you didn't," she said adamantly. "I still had a choice. You heard Edward ask me."

He looked away, and I heard him arguing silently with her.

"Seriously, Demetri, I've known for a very long time there were only two ways this could end. I thought I wanted the other, or rather, I didn't want either, but I preferred the other. You just forced the issue, and I discovered when push came to shove, I wasn't ready to give up the fight just yet."

I let my hand drift toward hers. She felt the motion, and grabbed hold.

The rest of the ride alternated between quiet calm, nervous laughter and final strategy notes. When the plane landed, I had a moment when it hit me. I could hear Rosalie's voice in my head. I could feel the weight of a future I didn't want to envision. It was going to be different. Looking around the plane, I wondered who would leave Italy at the end of the day.

I'd been abroad countless times in my life. The first time I went to Europe I was in awe of the architecture and the tangible history around me. Maybe it was why I was drawn more to the East Coast. I was a piece of living history; I was an anomaly. Somehow I fit in this mesh of old and new. This time though, when I stepped off the plane, I wanted nothing more than to get right back on and head back to the nubile cities of Washington State. A place that had come to feel more like home than I ever expected.

We only had forty minutes to get to the rendezvous location. We were close enough to run; the plan had been established not knowing if there would be a car at the hanger. Felix said usually there was one just in case, but if they had any suspicion, they might remove it.

There was no car.

"What do you think it means?" I asked Felix.

"Maybe nothing," he answered. "It happens on occasion."

"Do you think it's a coincidence?" I turned to Demetri.

He shrugged. "What difference does it make?"

It was a good question. We were here. We didn't have much choice at this point. We had to meet the others. Cell phones were for emergency only at this point as a precaution.

I tried to look reassuringly at Bella, but she was looking around her, distracted. When her eyes met mine, she smiled weakly.

There was no time to waste or to second guess. We selected the route we hoped would be the least populated.

We weren't the first to the meeting spot. Carlisle, Esme, Eleazar, Carmen, and Kate were waiting. In relief, Garrett made his way to stand by Kate. They said nothing; they didn't even look at each other. They just stood so close they were almost touching, finding comfort in the proximity..

We waited. Time did not fly. No one said a word. Vampires would hear our breathing, would smell our presence; if they were here, then our voices would merely give away our exact location and intention. Ten minutes past the rendezvous time, Carlisle and Eleazar glanced at each other. We had a decision. Push on. Or fall back.

Five of us were missing. It was too many. We pulled out cell phones but there were no messages, no texts. It was not a good sign, and we knew it. Everyone had landed when they were supposed to; that much had already been communicated. Carlisle sent one text on his phone to Emmett. We waited five more minutes. No response came.

We didn't run to the city; we weren't far, and we weren't in a hurry to get there.

I was worried about Alice not showing up, and it was going through Carlisle's mind too. Either they had been detained or she had seen something that caused her not to show up. Perhaps, she'd been able to warn the others. On the other hand, we had to believe she would have alerted us somehow if that had happened.

I listened for any signs that they knew we were coming. Nothing was amiss. We had no reason to doubt a thing, until I heard her thoughts.

"They were going to meet us just west of here. They're going to hear us soon."

It was followed by his. "If that asshole looks at her like that one more time, I'm going to kill him."

"Rose," I said in a panic. They were on the move. And just like that, they were in earshot of everyone else.

"You son of a bitch, let me go!" Rosalie exclaimed. The voice moved quickly; just as suddenly as manifested itself, it had disappeared.

"Oh my god," Esme exclaimed. "Where is she?"

"The city," I answered. "They've been taking into the city."

That's when we knew. The logical choice would be to fall back, but the only viable option was onward.

There was one main entry point, which was guarded by humans and cameras.

The original plan had been from meeting point; we would split again, as there were two secret entrances into the city, one underground and one hidden passage. We intended to enter from both sides while Felix took out the surveillance camera system. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it wasn't the worst either.

Now, we had nothing.

"They know we're here," I said, stating the obvious.

"What should we do?" Esme asked Carlisle.

"I don't think we should split anymore," he answered.

Bella said nothing. She wrung her hands nervously.

"So, underground or secret passageway?" I posed the question to Demetri and Felix expressly.

"Under"

"Passage"

They answered simultaneously. For a few minutes, they quietly debated the merits of both.

"Who are we kidding?" Garrett interrupted. He too had been exceptionally quiet.

We all turned to look at him. "They knew we're coming. Why not the front gate?"

Demetri shrugged. We began making our way there. A half mile later, I heard another voice, one I would be able to pick from anywhere.

"Edward, we're all here. Stay away," the voice chanted over and over again.

"Alice is there too," I whispered. "And everyone else."

"Why can't we hear them yet?" Kate asked.

"Soundproofing," Felix indicated. "It doesn't work entirely on us, but we have to be pretty close to hear."

"She's warning us to stay away," I announced.

"Irina and Tanya are in there?" Kate asked no one in particular.

"I believe so," I responded.

"So, what's really changed?" Garrett said. "We lost surprise, but our strategy was never to assume they wouldn't surround us at some point. Our position was based on the fact that we think we can faction them in a confrontation right?"

"Yes," Carmen said. "I think that's right."

"Well, then, I say we keep on with that plan." Kate reached over and grabbed his hand. He nodded toward her.

No one said anything about the subject that was dancing through all their minds.

How had they been caught? It was too convenient. Too easy. Almost too obvious in a way. Looking around at who hadn't been taken in, I couldn't believe it was coincidence. I was afraid to consider what it meant, but I was more afraid to ignore the fact that there might be someone here I shouldn't have trusted.

Alice continued her chant. I could see her sitting trying to find a vision that would lead her out.

Suddenly, Jasper spoke. "If you're there, man, this isn't good. They destroyed Irina. For nothing. Just because she admitted she came here with you. She's gone. Tanya's a mess."

He said all of this very quickly. I wrestled with indecision.

Carlisle saw the anguish on my face. "What is it, son?"

"It's bad," I reluctantly began. "It's Irina. She's gone."

"Gone?" Kate asked.

"Killed."

Her eyes flew open, and Garrett pulled her close, trying to keep her voice low. "I don't know much," I said to Carlisle. It's all Jasper said. They're both telling us to leave."

"What about Rosalie and Emmett?" Esme questioned. "What are they saying?"

"They're pretty much focused on the situation, not on talking to me or acknowledging each other."

"Kate," Carmen said softly. "What do you want to do?"

"We have to get Tanya," she said into Garrett's shirt.

I found less beauty in Volterra on my second visit. The night lights were the same. The fountain hadn't changed. I'd been nervous before as I'd sought Bella, but now half my family was here and our good friends, and ultimately I was to blame. Even if it turned out that someone sold us out, this was still my doing from the get go. I doubted I'd ever forgive myself for that fact that Irina had given up her life.

We were surrounded almost instantly by members of the guard. It was a gentle force in a way. They didn't say anything; they didn't point guns or grab arms. There was no need; we were all headed for the same place anyway.

One by one, we dropped down underground. As we snaked our way through the tunnels below Volterra, I was never more grateful for my gift. First, I appreciated that I was not Jasper; I would have gone crazy if I could actually feel the emotions; the thoughts around me were bad enough.

The other thing that became clear was that we'd been right about one thing. Some of the guard were no longer loyal.

On the way to the large receiving room, we passed four guard members; seven had met us outside. Only two gave themselves away entirely by their anger toward Aro and Caius in particular. A few others drew my attention in a different way. One male was running through Plato's Republic in his head.

We filed in and waited. I noticed Jane and Alec stood off to the side, huddled together, almost gleeful in their expression. We could never let them out of our sights.

"Well, Edward, how nice of you to join us," Aro clapped as he walked into the chamber from the other side. "And our old friends are here. Welcome back Carlisle and Eleazar." Aro walked toward Carlisle and clasped his shoulders. "It's been too long."

Carlisle nodded. "I wish the circumstances were better."

"As do I. I am rather disappointed that you've come to usurp my power. I never took you for the type."

"Aro, dispense with the pleasantries. This group is guilty of treason, are they not? Let's cut to the chase."

"Oh don't be so impatient, Caius. We get so little entertainment around here. This could be fun."

Marcus sat stoically in the throne like chair he'd occupied the last time I was here. A slight scowl plastered on his face, but his mind was blank.

"I think we should invite our other friends back in, don't you Marcus? So many friends at once, it's like a party."

I didn't know where he was going with this, but knowing Aro, it couldn't be good.

From two sides of the room, doors opened, the others came in. Everyone tried very hard not to overreact to the situation. There was a mixture of defeat and confusion in the air. This wasn't far from where we'd hoped to be. Was there still a chance? They looked to me for signs. I scratched my head. I moved a toe a different direction, all attempts to give away our potential allies.

I kept my arm around Bella.

"So, I don't know where to begin; there are just too many surprises tonight. First of all, I should offer my condolences to you, Kate. I am sorry to inform you that your sister was sentenced to death, and has already faced her punishment. I understand from Tanya that you were quite close."

Kate closed her eyes for a moment letting the reality hit her. When she opened them again, her gaze had been infused with anger for the man in front of her. He was responsible for the loss of her mother and now her sister. Yet she remained strong and said nothing, but Garrett sneered, hurling dangerous thoughts at Aro.

"What crime did she commit? Carlisle asked calmly.

"Treason," Caius interjected. "Just like the rest of you."

One Volturi female hissed bullshit in her head. I tilted my head toward her while looking at Garrett to indicate her allegiance.

"I do dislike being the bearer of bad news, when there are such things to celebrate here." He turned his attention to Bella whose eyes were fixed on the wall in front of her.

"I finally get to meet the lovely Bella."

Caius snorted. I felt a palpable change in energy. I was sure everyone must have, but Jasper cringed at the response. Bella remained motionless.

He leaned in to kiss her cheek. "You please me very much. I have waited a long time to see such a group in front of me. The talent is unsurpassed. I didn't think you could pull it off, Bella."

"What the fuck?" Rosalie asked pointedly. Bella dropped my hand. Her expression was pained. In one fleeting instant something snapped, and her voice rang out. "Trust me." Then it was gone as quickly as it came.

I glanced around the room and it hit me. There was only one mind I couldn't read. Only one person who could have given us away without my knowing. And she was staring back at Aro. I thought back. Bella suggested Italy. She reinforced the idea. The talk about trust. What had she been telling me?

"Demetri, I might have been able to forgive you many transgressions, but changing Bella is not one of them. You know how I desired to be her sire."

He waved a hand, and I knew what was coming a moment before it came. Caius reveled in this task. He always kept his little fire starter at the ready. He reached out with this little silver incendiary, and the flames engulfed what was left of Demetri after his guard tore him to pieces.

And then he was gone. Like Irina was gone. Nothing but cinder remained. Gasps, shouts, and anger followed. I couldn't process all the thoughts; I was finding it hard to keep track of the situation. My attention was focused entirely on Bella.

Several voices hit me at once.

"Don't jump to conclusions; stay in control," Carlisle urged.

"He knew what he was getting into," Felix reminded himself.

"Trust Bella," a new voice encouraged. "I promise this is not as it seems."

Marcus sat motionless, not giving away anything.

"Patience, Edward," he added.

Seemingly realizing Bella's potential involvement, Rosalie struggled to break free of the two guards holding her. "You bitch. I'll fucking kill you myself."

Bella was shaking again. I saw her using her thumb on her pant leg to keep a rhythm. To keep control.

"Now, now Rosalie. Calm down," Aro insisted. "You and I both know that you have secrets too. Perhaps, your dislike of Bella stems from one of your own?"

Rosalie's eyes went wide as she looked at Aro, then to me, then to Emmett, and finally back at Aro.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh Rosalie, I'm afraid I do. I've been curious though. Did you really never tell your mate? Did you not think he had a right to know?"

"What's he talking about Rose?" Emmett asked. He began moving toward Rosalie.

"It's not a big deal," she insisted.

"No?" Aro questioned. "The fact that your brother was once your lover is not a big deal?"

The first attack came from Emmett. Rosalie went for Bella. After that, I couldn't say who was where or what was happening.

There is no better way to describe what happened next than the very simple phrase all hell broke loose. When Emmett rushed me, it somehow served as an invitation to everyone else. Like the first couple to join the dance floor, the others fell in behind us; the sound of vampires crashing into each other, grappling with each other was deafening. Between the speed at which we moved and the lack of clarity about whose side anyone was one and the very effective way Aro had just created division in my family, the physical and emotional chaos was astounding.

Screams came intermittently, usually accompanied by Jane's laughter. Emmett continued to come at me; I was faster, but when he hit, he hit harder. At one point, I dodged him to catch sight of a confused Jane with her focus on Bella.

"It's not working," she thought. Stunned by the event, she didn't see Felix come at her from behind. Garrett hit her from the side. Alec had been distracted, attempting to keep Jasper from affecting anyone. He heard Jane's cry for help, and went to her aid. Somehow the room sensed opportunity. Like vultures they flocked. I couldn't see what was happening in the middle. I only heard pleas for help from Jane and Alec. Pleas which were never answered. The witch twins were not well liked. I noticed Chelsea and Felix in the mix, but I didn't have time to make anyone else out. Those who went after Jane and Alec didn't have fancy little tool like Caius or Aro; a simple match did the trick. Two actually.

I barely had time to recover before Emmett barreled into me again. He pounded my face one more time before someone pulled him from me, and I heard Carlisle tell him to get a grip; that I could be dealt with later. Emmett was angry, rightfully so. He flung obscenities at me and told me he hated me. Rosalie released her hold on Bella and came for him, sensing she needed to calm him down. She began trying to explain as fighting went on around him.

Emmett shook her off, ignoring her pleas appeal to reason. He was keyed up, high on the sting of betrayal. He wasn't thinking. I had a female guard around my neck, and I was trying to figure out an exit strategy when he did the unthinkable.

He ran full force toward Aro, smashing him into the concrete wall. If it hadn't been built to withstand outside attacks, undoubtedly it would have crumbled. The Volturi loyal guards reacted instantly. They were a half a step ahead of us. Even I wasn't fast enough.

The scream that filled the room stopped everything. Rose collapsed into a lifeless heap, staring at the spot Emmett had just been. She shook her head and kept saying "No," over and over again. Aro sat next to the ashes, his body repairing itself from Emmett's attack. We were all stunned, overwhelmed. I didn't want to hear the others; I didn't look for them. It would mean it actually happened, and I was ready to face that reality.

Despite his own pain, Jasper mustered something to calm us all. Felix, understanding her better than anyone in that moment, had Rosalie in his arms whispering something to her. I could have listened, but I didn't want to. I just wanted to understand what happened.

Bella was in the middle of the room clearly shaken, looking at Marcus, who motioned for her to come closer. The guards who'd destroyed Emmett had been pulled away and replaced by two who were waiting for instructions.

"That wasn't supposed to happen," Bella said quietly. She glanced over at me, anguish evident in her expression. She turned back to Marcus, and with a shaky voice asked, "Why did this happen?"

"I'm so sorry, dear. I didn't want this either," He answered.

"Marcus, what in the world is going on?" Caius demanded suddenly realizing he was surrounded.

Aro remained dazed, his thought confused and erratic. Sensing a power shift, Caius fondled his weapon protectively.

Marcus turned to face Caius because stating matter of factly, "Brother, it's time for a change."

E/N: I understand you may be mad at me, and you may need a minute to process this chapter. If you know my beloved hmonster4, you know that I broke her heart with this chapter (If you need an Emmett fix now, please check out Divinity and Redemption). My hope is that when the dust settles the foreshadowing that this was always going to be a complicated and difficult climax have been evident. If you survived, I would appreciate if you hit the review button and tell me what you thought.

There has been loss, which was always in the plan, and they will feel the impact, but this is also a turning point. One more chapter is coming later this week.

I wanted to add one other note since it came up from a couple of people in the blogs. My decision to go in reverse order on them was not to mess with anyone's minds. I did it for multiple reasons, but primarily no matter what I did there were going to be competing timelines. This was way Edward read them/encountered them, so it helped create the bridge to POV. I just wanted to clarify that so you don't think I was trying to be evil.