Chapter 37

It was mid-afternoon when we received our summons to the Great Hall. Because it was specifically addressed to Carlisle, Alice, Edward, and me, I knew it had to be about Felka. Alice said no decision had been reached, but there had been some rather fierce debate between Aro and Caius.

I was little more than a bundle of nerves by the time we neared the massive doors. We were Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, aka me, going before the Great and Powerful Oz. I didn't imagine they had any scruffy little dogs or flying monkeys around to complete the picture.

As the guards opened the doors, I immediately noticed that only Renata, Chelsea, and Felix stood near the Brothers on their thrones. Every time I saw those thrones, I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes… how pretentious could someone be?

"Oh, Caius, Marcus, look! Our guests have arrived," Aro said with his usual flamboyant flair. Caius glared at us while Marcus just continued to look toward the back wall at nothing.

"Please, come in," Aro continued. "My brothers and I have been discussing your proposal and I'm afraid we are at an impasse."

"I see, "Carlisle answered, "and you would like our help somehow?"

"This!" Caius shouted, standing and pointing at us. "This is the result of your new world order, Aro. Your softer, gentler Volturi. Vampires think we need their help and humans are making demands! I was willing to go along with this whole Tribute idea because it was a means to an end, but it has only weakened us in the eyes of both our friends and our enemies. Even our food is insolent with us! What next? Shall we put on aprons and serve tea and crumpets to the humans? Invite the Romanians over for bridge night?"

Oh, clearly this was not going well.

"Caius, let's not air all our dirty laundry in front of the guests," Aro said through a phony smile and decidedly clenched teeth.

"And why not? You're already making a mockery of us. They've obviously seen it for themselves or that human," he pointed at me, "wouldn't have the nerve to approach you as she did."

"Bella is not the problem," Edward snapped. "If you recall, she spoke her mind from the very beginning."

"Yes, and in keeping with that theme," I spoke up, "I asked to meet with Aro not because I thought the Volturi had gone soft, but to help a friend. If I'd thought you had all become a bunch of pansies, I wouldn't have come prepared to offer Alice's assistance."

"Yes, about that," Cauis sneered, per his usual, "Aro seems convinced that Alice can do something for us, but there is no way of knowing if that is the case or not. How do we know if we're getting anything in this arrangement?"

"You are perfectly free keep everything status quo and find out the hard way," Carlisle spoke up. "Then you can wish you'd listened to Alice. Or you can use her advice now and save yourself the trouble."

"Alright, I'll play along for a minute," Caius grinned in a way that sent shivers through my whole body. "Alice, tell us one thing we need to change and why."

He was obviously challenging her, but I knew she was up for it because she'd told us to expect it.

"I can give you a freebie, I suppose," Alice mused, pretending to think about her options. "OK, I've got one for you. Aro reads the tribs every week. This is a good idea, and you should continue doing it, but it doesn't take human impulsiveness into consideration. People might not intend to say anything, but get little alcohol in them, for example, and suddenly they can't shut up. Also, sometimes people can be coerced by money, intimidation, or even torture. You can't plan for that a week in advance."

"Ridiculous! Who is going to 'coerce' someone under our very noses?" Caius sputtered in disbelief.

"I didn't say it would be under your noses," Alice responded haughtily. "The alcohol problem happens here in Volterra, but that's an easy fix. Just implement a two-drink-per-day maximum and very precisely define what is meant by two drinks. If you leave loopholes, humans will find them. It's what they do best.

"The other indirectly involves Felka. And the afore mentioned Romanians. If you let this go, it will not be easily fixed. In fact, if you don't prevent it, you may be facing the downfall of everything you've worked for in the past 3,000 years."

"And…?" Caius demanded.

Alice simply smiled. "And what…?"

"What is this threat, of course!" Caius roared. "And more importantly, how do we prevent it?"

"I already gave you the first one free. The next one is going to cost you."

She sounded like a crack dealer, and in a way, I suppose she was.

"Oh, really," Caius replied in the most sinister tone imaginable. "What's to prevent Aro from taking the information from you?"

"Your own laws!" Carlisle answered fervently. "If you start breaking your own rules when it's convenient to do so, you won't need to concern yourselves with Alice's information… you'll bring about your own undoing!"

"This is not about convenience," Caius spewed. "If what Alice says is true, we're talking about losing our way of life… our very existence may be compromised."

"Well, then I suppose you should start dealing," Edward said with a satisfied grin. "Unless, of course, you still want to handle this without Alice's assistance."

"Brother," Aro broke in, "may I remind you that Alice has allowed me to touch her hand in the past, and based on that, I believe her gift to not only be genuine, but also beneficial to us. It's no secret that I've wanted her to join the Guard more than any other gifted vampire I've met. Would you actually deprive the Volturi of her gift simply to keep one human here?"

"But you heard her. This Felka is somehow involved with the Romanians," Caius bellowed. "And you want to let her go? If she is a traitor, she should be killed immediately!"

I could feel my panic rise. This was NOT where the conversation was supposed to go. I glanced to Edward for reassurance, but saw nothing in his expression that would alleviate my fear.

Alice seemed to have the situation well in hand, however. "Oh, Caius," she kidded, "always with the jumping to conclusions. I said Felka was indirectly involved. The Romanians will be behind it, but she isn't working with them. In fact, allowing Felka to return to Poland is one step to subverting your enemies."

Caius sat down, clearly pondering Alice's words. I could almost see the battle raging inside of him.

I decided to be as bold with Caius as I had been with Aro. "Caius, I'm sure you realize the Volturi wouldn't be letting Felka go, per se. She would just be working for you in a different capacity. From what I've seen, most of the tribs here are reasonably content with the arrangements you've made, especially once they genuinely understand the alternative. But Felka hasn't accepted this life in Volterra, and based on my conversations with her, I don't know that she ever will. If she opts for death, how will that affect the others? Will they also start seeing this life as a fate worse than death?

"On the other hand, if you send her back to finish school and she can work as your lawyer, she will be much more effective at serving your purposes. You don't need her here – you have plenty of humans for your… needs. I know allowing her to live outside Volterra is very unusual, but I am a perfect example of a human who knows, but has never shared the secret with anyone. I know you don't like the arrangement Aro made with me, but you have to admit, it hasn't negatively affected the Volturi."

"Not until today," Caius grumbled.

"Marcus, would you like to share your thoughts?" Edward asked abruptly.

Marcus slowly shifted his focus to our group. "Obviously you already know my thoughts."

"Yes, I do, but they were quite interesting and might be of help in the discussion," Edward explained.

"Fine," Marcus said with a long, tired exhale, "Caius, for God's sake let the girl go. She's doing us more harm than good. She hasn't been able to move outside the castle and she walks around here like a zombie. People are starting to wonder. If she can be of use to us, fine. If not, we need to rid ourselves of her bad attitude, one way or another."

I gave Edward 'the look' – the one that says 'are you trying to hurt or help?' He gave my hand a slight squeeze. I hoped he knew what he was doing.

"Like I said before, we should just kill her," Caius interjected happily. "Finally someone is seeing reason."

"You can do that, but the long-term consequences will be dire," Alice quietly warned.

"Without knowing what you're talking about, it's impossible for me to know whether or not that is the case," Caius reasoned. "However, I can predict the consequences of allowing a human to dictate her fate to us."

"She is NOT dictating her fate!" I almost growled in frustration. "She doesn't even know we're meeting on her behalf! Alice Cullen is standing here offering you knowledge of the future. She hasn't told any of us what is going to happen, but I know Alice and she's right. Bad things are coming your way if you don't listen to her."

"And yet you offer no proof of these claims," Caius spat.

Then I started to actually get angry. "You know what, Caius? Never mind. Consider the offer rescinded. I'm tired of trying to convince you to save yourself. There is no way to prove the future and you know it! If you're THAT obtuse and paranoid, nobody can help you anyway. Not IF, but WHEN your world comes crashing down around you, I hope you remember that it could have been avoided. Come on, guys."

I pulled Edward's hand and thankfully he followed me, as did Alice and Carlisle. My grand exit would have been for naught if they had just stood there while I tried to shove their immovable granite bodies toward the door.

I'll admit it. I had visions of grandeur that Caius was going to call out to me, realizing the error of his ways and beg me to reconsider. That didn't happen.

"Bella, wait…" I heard from behind me, but it was a female voice, and not Alice's. Of course I had to turn to see who was addressing me. Renata had stepped forward. Gasps resonated off the cold stone walls.

She turned to Caius and Aro, dropping down to one knee and bowing before them. "Masters, you gave me the honor of membership in your guard, but with that honor comes responsibility. I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't tell you that, after hearing all the testimony today, I believe you are about to make the wrong decision. Allowing Alice to walk out of here could very well lead to the ruin of the Volturi, or at least to its harm. I cannot, in good conscience, stand idly by and let that happen."

"Now we're being questioned by our own Guard?" Caius erupted. "Will there be no end to this madness?"

Aro looked curiously at his trusted protector who reportedly rarely spoke. I couldn't tell if he was angry or merely confused.

Renata continued. "I know I could be exiled or even killed for speaking out in this manner, and yet I must. At least I would die with honor, knowing I served my masters to the best of my ability, even if it cost me everything."

"You have no standing here," Caius hissed. "Return to your place while you still can."

Renata looked him directly in the eye. "I cannot, my master. My duty is to protect the Volturi from all manner of threat, even if it comes from within. If what Alice Cullen says is true, ignoring her information will weaken or even destroy the Volturi. I am bound to speak out against any such action, even though it pains me to oppose you."

"I'll show you pain!" Caius yelled, grabbing his pyre and flicking it to life.

"Stop!" Aro shouted as he moved to stand in front of Renata. "You've gone too far, Caius. Renata is merely fulfilling her obligation to us, and you would burn her for it? I cannot and will not allow it! Besides, I believe she is correct. We have new testimony to consider, my brothers, so we shall reconvene at once."

Caius scowled, but stood to join hands with Aro and Marcus.

**-…-**

I don't know how much time passed, but I was getting tired of standing. I went to lean against the wall when I suddenly remembered something. "Amanda said there were rats in the walls. Is that true?" I whispered to Edward. Not that whispering mattered, but the room was so quiet I couldn't bring myself to speak out loud.

"Actually, yes, there are," Edward whispered back.

I made a face and jumped away. Edward chuckled. "They're IN the walls, Bella. They're not on this side of the wall. They can't get you."

"I don't care. It's creepy," I pouted.

"Come here," Edward said, putting his back against the wall and sliding down into a squat. He was now the world's most perfect chair. I had done these squats in gym and it only took about 12 seconds before my legs were shaking uncontrollably, but he could sit like that for days with no trouble at all. I really did have the coolest fiancé ever…

"I've never seen them convene this long," Carlisle whispered. I was glad I wasn't the only one who was keeping their voice low. "I hope that's a good sign."

I nodded, leaning my head against Edward. My stomach growled, which was the only indication of just how long we'd been in this room. I pointed to an invisible watch on my wrist. "7:18," he told me, "and we need to get you fed. And come to think of it, don't you need to use the bathroom?"

"Well, now that you mention it, yes. Desperately!" I'd been so preoccupied, I hadn't even noticed until he said something, but now it was the only thing on my mind.

"This could be a while. Let's take care of you."

We walked to the double doors, Edward whispering to the guard, who looked at me with a shocked expression and opened the door rather quickly. I really didn't want to know what Edward had said to make him react that way. I was just glad to get out of the Great Hall.

Once outside, Edward picked me up and ran me to our room. Generally, I would be opposed to such action, but under the circumstances, it was a good thing. Once I took care of 'business,' I came out to find Esme and Jasper had joined Edward.

"Yes, everything is OK for the moment. The Brothers are talking amongst themselves," I heard him say as I entered the room.

"Bella, darling, you must be famished!" Esme exclaimed. "We had Felka leave your dinner, but I'm afraid it's stone cold."

"Cold, schmold. I'm getting used to cold food around here. I'll take it!" I enthused. I also hadn't realized how hungry I was. Under the domed lid was a really beautiful pizza for one, and a really wilted-looking salad. "Good thing I like cold pizza," I said as I took a rather large bite.

While I ate, Edward debriefed the others. Rose, Emmett, Fred, and Amanda had come in for the update, too. It was strange, hearing my words through Edward's mouth. Had I really said those things? I knew his memory was perfect, so I must have. I just didn't remember sounding so eloquent, although it might have simply been that all words sounded better in his velvety, dulcet tones.

"Are you ready to go back?" Edward asked when I was finished. "I don't want to rush you, but they're waiting for us."

"Yes, let's get this over with, one way or another," I echoed Marcus' early statement. Of course, the one way I DIDN'T want to get this over with was Felka's immediate execution because I'd meddled in her life. That thought gave me an entirely new case of indigestion.

**-…-**

"Can you hear what they've decided?" I asked anxiously as we approached the Great Hall again.

"Actually, no. The Brothers are trying to block me. Caius is reciting ancient law, Aro is recalling someone's memories, and Marcus… well, Marcus is just staring at nothing again."

"What's the use of having a mind-reading-vampire-fiancé if others can block him out so easily?" I teased.

He rolled his eyes at me as the guards opened the doors. The Brothers were seated in their audacious thrones, Renata was behind Aro again, looking no worse for the wear, and Alice and Carlisle were exactly where we'd left them – standing near the back wall. As we entered, Aro called us all to the front of the room.

"As you know," Aro began, "we've deliberated on this topic for quite some time. We have reached a consensus, but there is a condition attached."

"And that would be…?" Carlisle asked suspiciously.

"We have decided to allow Felka to return to Poland, assuming she agrees to our terms regarding maintaining our anonymity, her work schedule, etc. Insignificant details, really. The condition is that we must know how the Romanians are involved." Then Aro addressed Alice directly. "If you explain it to us and we do not see the value of your foresight, we will rescind the offer."

"That's hardly fair," I blurted without thinking. "You could get the information you need and just say you don't think it's valuable."

"My dear Bella, you have a mind-reader and a prognosticator in your midst," Aro reminded me. "Even if you don't trust us at our word, do you think so little of their abilities?"

He had a point. I looked to Edward, then Alice, and finally to Carlisle. They all nodded in agreement to the condition, so once again I had to trust them.

"Alright…" I acquiesced with a sigh.

"Alice, it would appear you have the floor, and our undivided attention," Aro stated.

"Where to start…" Alice pondered aloud. "This is a rather long story, but considering how much is at stake, I'm going to give you the details."

"The Polish girl's life is at stake," Caius clarified condescendingly.

"The 'Polish girl,'" Alice said making quote marks in the air, "has a name. FELKA's life is not the only thing on the line, as you will see once you stop interrupting me."

I thought steam was going to shoot from Caius' ears, but one shy, coy smile from Alice seemed to settle him down, like he understood for once that she was only teasing. He didn't look happy about it, however.

"OK," she began again. "So I'm sure you're aware that the Romanians have been watching your operations for… well… ever, and of course they're behind the investigations into missing persons in and around Volterra. They've been leaking information to one Paul West, British reporter extraordinaire. You've been watching him for some time, too."

"I knew he had to be associated with our enemies somehow," Caius remarked bitterly.

"Actually, he's not. He's been getting anonymous tips. After his cousin went missing in Italy last summer, and he couldn't track her down, he wrote an article about his experience. Suddenly he started getting leads about other missing persons. The Romanians were hoping to use him to expose you."

"Nonsense!" Caius hissed. "Even the Romanians aren't THAT stupid! They know to expose us would be to expose themselves. Your story lacks credibility already!"

"I didn't say they wanted to expose you as vampires," Alice chided, "but rather as murderers. The tips Mr. West will receive prove to him that you are a cult that performs human sacrifice, and when his story comes out, it will cause chaos, which the Romanians will exploit to show other vampires that your superior attitudes have made you careless and indiscrete. They will declare you no longer fit to rule our kind."

Alice stopped to let that information settle for a minute. Even I knew their plan could work and I could see the same thought on the faces in front of me.

"Now for some good news. In the past six months or so, your new Tribute program put an end to the fresh leads, so without new, suspicious disappearances, the reporter was ready to give up, figuring he was on the wrong track. The Romanians have been frantically trying to figure out how you're hiding your victims. They know you're getting blood from somewhere, but they don't know anything about Amanda or the clinic or any of the changes you've made. But then Felka disappeared."

"People disappear every day. How would the Romanians connect one insignificant Polish girl's disappearance to us?" Aro asked.

"Interesting how small the world is sometimes, isn't it?" Alice answered. "You see, the Romanians were responsible for killing Felka's family. Except they got spooked before they were finished and left Felka's brother, Idzi, to turn. A few days later, the Romanians came back to 'help him get revenge on the Italian vampires who slaughtered his family.'

"Idzi got through his newborn year under their tutelage and then went to find his sister, planning for her to turn so they could seek 'justice' together. Felka was freaked out, of course, so she started researching vampires, and you know how that part ended. When Idzi returned for her a few days later, she was gone and her trail led straight to you. He went back to the Romanians, who now had another fresh 'victim' to report."

"How did they know he would tell Felka, and that we would end up taking her?" Aro asked in disbelief.

"They didn't. It was pure dumb luck for them. Did you know 'Felka' means 'lucky' in Polish?" Alice added.

"No, I didn't, but she hasn't been very lucky for us," Aro replied.

"Your luck is about to change," Alice chirruped. "If you let Felka go, she won't be a missing person anymore. Once home, she can tell the reporter all about how his cousin and the other missing people actually tragically died from porphyria. We'll have to dummy up some documentation, but I'm sure we can do that. Anyway, the important part is that these people were heroes because the research from their cases allowed Felka to survive, or some other such nonsense that will make the humans feel all warm and fuzzy inside"

"So, you're saying Mr. West will give up meddling in our affairs after he interviews Felka," Aro concluded.

"Yes, he will have no reason to afterward. But it's so much better than that!" Alice exclaimed, bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands. She was so adorable, even Marcus smirked a little. "Felka's story will legitimize your operations here in ways you couldn't possibly do on your own. Idzi and his sister will be reunited, and once he knows the Romanians were behind everything the whole time, he's going to be quite outraged."

"How will he find out?" Caius asked.

"Ummm… she'll tell him?" Alice deadpanned.

Caius had the civility to look somewhat embarrassed, at least.

"Idzi may become an important ally to you, if you treat him with respect. He has a strong sense of honor and loyalty."

"If the Romanians find out Idzi's sister is alive, won't they try to kill her before she can talk to anyone?" Aro asked.

"Well, yes, of course, but that's why you're not sending her to Poland alone," Alice chuckled like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I was glad she seemed to be having such a good time with this, because I wasn't. "Felix, Jasper and I will go with her."

"I will?" Felix murmured. "Why me?"

"Because, silly!" Alice laughed. "The Romanians aren't going to attack the largest member of the Volturi Guard! They're sneaky, but not stupid. Something like that would give you reason for retaliation and they know it."

"How long will you be there?" I asked Alice.

"Not long. Don't worry - I'll be back in plenty of time to get everything ready for your wedding."

"Are you sure? I don't know how to do any of that stuff. I'd be lost without you! And people are going to come, Alice. The guest list is already over 100! What will I do if you aren't there?" Now I was panicking in earnest.

"Bella, don't you think we should talk about this later?" Alice whisper-hissed at me.

"Oh. Yes… I suppose you're right," I stuttered, looking around the room and wondering exactly when I'd become Bridezilla.

"Yes, later would be better," Aro agreed snippily. "Is there anything else we need to know, Alice?"

"Actually, yes," Alice answered. "You need to send two escorts with the tribs when they travel."

"But Amanda said not to… that they needed 'down time' as she called it," Aro asserted.

"You don't TELL them you're following them!" Alice admonished with a significant eye roll. "In fact, they should never know anyone is with them. Amanda's right – they do need to think they're getting away from it all - but circumstances will change very soon and they won't be safe. The Romanians will do almost anything to know what's really going on here in your so-called clinic, including kidnapping and torturing your humans, but they won't risk a run-in with the Volturi Guard."

Aro smirked at Caius. "You see? We are still appropriately feared."

"I think my blood-slave-warehouse idea is looking better all the time," Caius grumbled.

"If history has taught us anything, it's that humans don't do well in captivity," Carlisle interjected. "Humans without hope have nothing to lose. Eventually, even fear of death won't be enough to make them comply."

"We can always get more. There's no shortage of humans," Caius reasoned.

"That may be true, but the faster you go through them, the more attention you bring to yourselves," Alice chimed in. "Haven't you been listening to me at all? The whole point of the program is to keep yourselves and your food source anonymous. Besides, you've already been dead for more than 3,000 years. I don't think being nice to a handful of humans is going to kill you."

Caius sneered. "You overestimate my tolerance."

"Probably," Alice laughed again.

"Are you sure you won't join the Guard, my dear little Alice?" Aro cooed, trying to win her over.

"Yes, I'm sure," she answered with a sweet smile.

"So, does that mean we've met your condition?" I asked.

Aro looked at both Caius and Marcus. "We will have an answer for you in the morning. Bring Felka with you when you return."

**-…-**

A/N: Morning? Why do they have to wait until morning? That's ridiculous.

Oh… wait… that's my fault, isn't it.

Well, I couldn't just have them make an announcement without Felka there, and it was getting really late. She was probably in bed already. Besides, the Volturi may just have a few more things up their sleeves to discuss… (cue the ominous music)

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