This chapter is rated 'M' for language, death, references to torture, adult themes, and (take a wild guess) dark themes.

Previously: The whole army is destroyed, Maria is taken forcefully, and those remaining are on their way into the castle.

Bella's P.O.V. (2979 words):

"Then I wish I was in Dixie! Hooray! Hooray! In Dixie's Land I'll take my stand, to live and die in Dixie!" ~Dixie Land by Daniel Decatur Emmett

.:!*!:.

It was slow going. The newborns hadn't dug the tunnels to be very tall, so we had to crouch the majority of the way. Not only that, but Maria's struggles were really starting to tick of Jack.

"You can use your gift if you need to. I'd like her to stay in one piece though, if you could manage." I allowed. Jack did it right away. She began to scratch at herself slightly, making it easier for Jack to drag her along. Stefan and Vlad were taking up the rear of our small company with Edward. The three of them were blissfully silent and left me to my thoughts.

My thoughts were depressing, filled with self-loathing, sorrow, and guilt. I used to comfort myself with the thought that I was just doing what I had to do. I was stuck in a war zone, after all. I was kidding myself though. It would have been better to let myself be killed by Vic. So many lives had been sacrificed and lost because of me.

"They would have all been turned and killed anyway." Jack said suddenly from behind me. I raised an eyebrow at him. "I could see the guilt in your eyes. I feel it all the time."

"What do you feel guilty over?" I asked, taking one of Maria's arms to help move her. She had resorted to just sobbing now.

"Maria found me in the process of killing my older brother. That is why she chose me." Jack confessed, shocking me enough to make me stop and turn to look at him.

"W-why?" I stuttered out.

"Why did I kill my brother?" Jack rephrased. "He was a sick bastard that had been molesting me and my younger sister the majority of our lives. I was able to handle his actions against me, but the minute I found out he'd gotten to Kelly too... That was when I kind of lost it."

"What did you do to him exactly?" I wondered, sickened by what I was hearing.

"I cut off his dick, shoved it down his throat, and watched as he choked to death on it." Jack replied, his eyes harder than I'd ever seen them. "It was only when he took his last breath that Maria showed herself. Maria had just finished killing my sister in the other room."

"Of course she had." I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Bitch probably molested and tortured her before feeding too."

"She never even bothered feeding." Jack ground out, gripping Maria tighter. Maria shrieked, trying to get out of our grip to scratch at herself. I gave Jack a look, and he stopped.

"I'm sorry you lost Kelly." I whispered. "You did the right thing though... by killing your brother."

"I know. Deep down I know. That doesn't lessen the guilt though. It wasn't enough to save Kelly in the end anyway." He replied, sighing and forcing out a small smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Sometimes everything isn't even enough." I whispered, smiling back. We finally arrived to the empty room closest to the throne room. I broke through the floor and jumped up. Reaching down, I pulled Maria up by her hair. She cried out in pain.

"Por favor, Isabella!" She pleaded. I spun her around so that her back was against my chest. I covered her mouth with my hand and whispered into her ear.

"Shh... you wouldn't want to upset me now, would you?" Maria whimpered at my words. Jack, Stefan, Vlad, and Edward were all already up when I pushed Maria back at Jack. I motioned for Vlad and Stefan to take point with Edward. "Lead the way, brothers."

"What do you want us to do when we reach the throne room?" Vlad asked, and I smiled.

"You'll let me take the lead again." I replied, trying not to laugh. "You might be okay with dying here, but I'd like to see another sunset."

"Suit yourself." Vlad replied with a laugh, and I actually chuckled. These Romanian bastards were insane. If things were different, I could see myself joining their little coven.

We got to the throne room quickly, and I took the lead again as we burst though the doors. Only the Kings and some guard were present.

"You forgot to take care of one." Caius said, looking at Jack.

"Fuck off. He is not of your concern." I spat at him. I turned to Aro and dropped to a knee. After all I'd done against this man, I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye. "I am relieved you took the deal, Aro. I would also like to formally apologize for all I have done. I didn't know who she was..."

"Please, child." Aro said, suddenly kneeling in front of me. He tilted my head up with his finger to make me look at him. His red eyes held nothing but compassion. "I never even told my brothers of the incident. All is forgiven."

"I almost killed her, Aro!" I gasped out, trying to keep the dry sobs from overtaking me. "I nearly dried and fried your mate! How can you look me in the eyes?"
"You didn't know." Aro whispered. "It was your first assignment in the South. You had to prove yourself to Victoria to survive. Sulpica wasn't supposed to be in the South anyway. I warned her never to go there, even in disguise. It isn't your fault that Victoria was trying to make sure you were in as deep as she was."

"Wait, what are you two talking about?" Caius spoke up, looking back and forth between Aro and myself.

"Boss Swan, why don't you tell them?" Aro said, helping me stand up again. I took a shaky breath to center myself.

"It was not even a month since Victoria had retrieved me from Forks when she sent me out to scout and bring back someone to interrogate. If I failed, Vic was going to gift me to the Warlord that owned the Dallas territory. He enjoyed raping human woman and keeping them as blood banks, which didn't sound like fun to me, so I was quite determined." I began, resigned to the fact that after hearing my side of the tale, Aro would most likely change his mind about forgiving me. "I had been scouting the outskirts of Huston when I saw her. She looked as if she were looking for something, so I figured she was another scout. I had never taken into account that she could just be lost.

"I walked by her casually, and when she was least expecting it, I tasered her with a thousand times the normal voltage. It actually renders vampires unconscious. I called Riley, and he came and picked her up while I headed back on my motorcycle. We got back and put her in my interrogation room. It didn't take long for her to come to. I asked her who she was working for. She said she didn't know what I was talking about. I had Riley rip off her left foot." I kept my face cold and expressionless as Aro flinched. "Next, I asked her what camp she was spying on. Again, she swore her ignorance. I had Riley remove her right foot. Finally, I asked who I should inform about her death. She burst into tears and told me to call her mate, Aro, in Volterra.

"At first I didn't believe her. I mean, really! What were the chances that one of the Wives just happened to be wandering around in the South? I decided to make sure she was telling the truth by asking her a question I knew not many vampires would know. I began describing the painting that had been done of Carlisle and the three Kings, leaving out Carlisle's name, of course. Once she said it sounded familiar, I asked her who the other vampire in the picture was and what made him different from other vampires. Without pause, she replied Carlisle Cullen and that he was a doctor that drank the blood of animals.

"That was when I knew it had to be Sulpica, and I had Riley reattach her feet right away. After a lot of persuading, punishment from Victoria, and even more persuading, I was able to let Sulpica go. I gave her all my money and had Riley escort her to the airport." I recalled, not able to look at Aro again. "It terrified me that I'd almost killed an innocent and the mate of someone I'd respected. It was then that I knew I'd become a monster. I honestly am so very sorry, Aro."

"A monster would not feel guilt." Aro replied. I looked up, shocked that he still wasn't ready to rip my throat out. When I saw his face, I knew it wasn't without difficulty. The instinct to exact vengeance was plain in is eyes, yet he patted my shoulder and nodded at me in understanding. I had been determined to not show weakness in front of the Volturi, but I felt as if I owed this man more than that. I turned to Jack the Ripper.

"Cover me." I ordered, grabbing Aro's hand and dropping my shield. He went stone still. After a moment, he exhaled as if all the air had been knocked out of him. His head flashed up, and his gaze met my own. I put my shield back up. No one moved for a good five minutes.

"Te tradat eius ad me?" Aro asked in Latin, obviously baffled. I was giving her to him? Of course I was trading Maria! That's what I'd come for.

"What else can I do? I need this, but I can't do it myself." I whispered, swallowing the venom that was building in my mouth from all the stress. "I need revenge against a woman that no longer exists."

"Oh, she still exists." Aro said, face hard. "Whenever you were not looking, Mistress Maria was the same as she was before you. Santiago witnessed it himself."

"What are you saying?" I asked, not sure if I really wanted to know.

"Ask Jack." He replied, his face tight. I turned around slowly.

"What did she do to you?" I asked between my teeth, feeling rage slowly build within me. If she had laid a hand against Jack, my only ally for the past month, she was going to regret it.

"Look, Boss..." Jack deflected. That was when I knew. I rounded on Maria.

"You spineless witch!" I yelled, grabbing her by her collar and yanking her to me. "¿Qué hiciste contra el? What things have you made him suffer?"

"I forced him with me! He gave in so easily. I figured it was because he was used to sexual pressures." I grabbed her neck and tightened my grip. "Por favor, Isabella! Lo siento, mi Reina." She gasped and sobbed, gripping my arms where they held her. I tossed her to the floor, denting the tile.

"Was Benito really defeated, or did he give himself up to spare himself the suffering of another day mated to your manipulative, dirty ass?" I hissed at her, spitting on her head. She howled in agony at my words. I twisted to face Aro again. I noticed Caius in his throne, staring at me with wide eyes. I hadn't felt anger like this since I'd found out that Edward had left me because he'd mated with Alice. The doors to the throne room opened, and I automatically covered everyone on the room with my shield besides Maria as I turned around to face the newcomers.

"Jasper." I whispered the moment I saw him in the doorway. My shield fell from all in the room but myself.

"Isabella." He replied just as softly, watching me with dark eyes. The longer we stood watching one another, the darker his eyes became. I shifted under his powerful gaze. He walked toward me at a completely human pace. Very slowly, he reached up to graze my cheek with his fingertips. "I could have helped you."

I said nothing. I knew he was right, and my failures weighed heavily on my heart.

"Major, matarla. Ella tu golpeó líder." Maria ordered, getting to her feet behind him. I watched as Jasper's eyes glazed over. He placed his hands behind his back, clicked his feet together, and stood up straight and stiff. He turned to face Maria. In a strict, militant fashion, he raised his hand into a solute.

"Yes, ma'am." Jasper replied strongly, and before I could react, Maria was on the floor, cowering in fear. Jasper took slow steps to her and around her, as if examining a purchase. His voice came out cold, quiet, and strong. "After everythin' you've done to me and mine, did you really think I'd exact your orders? Besides, you are my leader no longer."

"We were together for so long." Maria whimpered. "You wouldn't really do this!"

"Down with the eagle, and up with the cross." Jasper drawled, quoting an old, Confederate, war song called 'The Battlecry of Freedom'. Maria began to beg and scream at the top of her lungs, but Jasper never even faltered as he methodically ripped her to pieces. Without a word, he pulled out his lighter and set her parts aflame.

"Now that's what I call shouting the battle cry of freedom." A voice said from the door, causing all those watching the smoking of Maria's body to look his way. "Char and I are ready to go when you and the lady are, Major." Peter tipped his hat at me with a grin.

"There are other matters to attend to first, Peter." Aro said, not completely able to hide his humor.

"Of course, Aro. Don't let the wife and I get in your way." Peter replied, his grin never faltering. "We'll just stand by."

"Boss Swan, you have promised to never step foot in Italy after you leave it, you have dismantled the South, and you have agreed to watch over it and be sure that the Newborn Wars never begin again." Aro stated, speaking the deal I made with him aloud to finalize it. "I hereby swear to take Vladimir and Stefan into custody for their trial at a later date, to offer Jack the Ripper one of the highest positions in the Volturi guard as well as complete acquittal of his crimes, and to release the Whitlocks without harm or accusations. Do you accept these terms?"

Just as I was opening my mouth to accept, Jasper spoke.

"As my mate, Isabella is considered a Whitlock, so she is included in this deal, yes?" Jasper asked. I was about to say that it wasn't necessary when Aro nodded. I stood, shocked.

"Of course she is a Whitlock." Aro replied. "She's been one of the Whitlock coven by law since you called your life substitute for hers."

"How in hell are you alive?" I gasped, clinging to Jasper's arm. I knew the law should have claimed him since he was the male mate.

"Riley had dominance." Jasper explained, astounding me further. "He beat me in a Southern spar, and he called his life substitute for mine when the time came."

"My Riley wasn't even very fond of you." I whispered with a smile, sniffling back non-existent tears.

"He didn't do it for me." Jasper replied, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Everythin' he ever did was for you."

"I know." I said, hiding my face in Jasper's chest, unable to bring myself to fight the dry sobs.

"I hate to interrupt, but do you accept the terms of the deal, Boss Swan?" Caius spoke up from his throne, watching me with what I would almost consider respect.

"I accept." I replied, smiling at the Kings.

"Well, off you go then." Aro said, smiling back. "If you ever need anything, Swan, you just let me know."

"Thank you." I said sincerely.

"Bella?" I heard Edward ask, speaking up for the first time since we'd entered the tunnels.

"Yes?" I wondered.

"Have a good existence." He whispered, completely serious as he swayed from weakness.

"You too." I replied, and I knew we'd come to an understanding. All was forgiven, but nothing forgotten.

"Hold on tight to him, Swan." Vlad spoke up, a huge smile on his face as he looked at me and Jasper. I smiled back and nodded once.

"We'll see you on the other side, when forever ends." Stefan said as farewell. I actually laughed.

"When forever ends." I agreed with a smirk. "Tell your girls I say hi."

"Will do, Swan." Stefan replied, his eyes brighter at the mention of his mate. It was then that I knew I was doing right by them.

"Jack the Ripper, what do you say about being a General in the Volturi guard?" Aro asked, making Jack jump. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked to where he'd been staring and saw Jane still watching him with hopeful, starstruck eyes. Jack glanced at her again before looking at Aro.

"I'd be honored." Jack accepted, causing a slight smile to stretch my lips. His gaze suddenly shot to me, and he pursed his lips. He straightened a bit and turned back to Aro. "Will I be able to take time to visit Boss Swan every once in a while?"

"Absolutely." Aro replied, moving his gaze to rest on me. "My plan was to make you the General in charge of missions in the Americas. If any are in the South, you and Boss Swan may even have to coordinate."

"Thank you, sir," Jack said to Aro, nodding at me once before walking over to Jane. The two of them didn't even say a word. Jack winked, and and Jane giggled before reaching for his hand.

"I wish you all the happiness in the world, Jack." I said too quietly for anyone but Jasper, right next to me, to hear. Without further delay, Jasper took my hand and lead the Whitlocks out of the throne room. We left the castle at nightfall and boarded a plane to London. We were on our way back to the South.

There was one more loose end to tie up.

A.N.: Oh my God! There are only four more chapters! This next chapter is proving harder to write for me. There is so much that has to happen just right. I thought it would only be fair if I warned you guys now. I might not be updating for two weeks so that I can be sure that I get it up to my standards. On that note...
UPDATE NEWS: Next (for sure) update will be on April 8th. I'll try to get it sooner, but don't get your hopes up.
STORY NEWS: You guys are so fan-fucking-tastic! We've hit over 100 reviews! There have been way over 1,000 hits to this story, and I couldn't be more excited. Thank you guys to much! Bella/Jasper readers are the best! =D