Just a quick apology, I called Darius sister Diana in the last chapter and it should have been Jenny. Jules x

Chapter Forty One

Esme

When we were summoned back to the brothers presence I knew it was the end. I'd died once already, as a human, after losing my precious baby and Carlisle had brought me back and loved me and I had loved him but there would be no way back this time. We were walking to our deaths and there was nothing we could do about it. My only comfort was that my dearest Carlisle would be at my side ready to continue our journey together into the unknown realm of death. He held my hand tightly and comforted me purely with his presence. I had been incredibly lucky that he found me before I died, the years we had spent together with the family he had gathered together for me were the happiest I had ever known, a blessing I had neither deserved nor fully appreciated until now.

"I love you Carlisle. Whatever happens I will never stop loving you. Remember that and maybe we shall meet again very soon."

"We might find the Volturi have changed their minds Esme, don't lose hope yet darling"

I appreciated his attempt to boost my spirits but we both knew that it was unlikely. Aro had to be seen to apply the laws and punishments.

Aro

I saw Carlisle glance around the room, whether he was buoyed up by the lack of witnesses or not I couldn't tell but Esme was quite obviously terrified and I thought back to Marcus words about commuting her sentence too. The problem I could see was Bella's reaction to the news that neither of the people so far accused had been killed. Would she be furious and come back demanding justice or would she see why, if... I looked at Alec who was beaming, this was his big moment, his first official action and I wondered if it grieved him that he didn't have an audience as it would have me in his position. Marcus came in behind the Cullens and took his place by my side.

"I hope you know what you are doing Aro."

He was deeply unhappy and as Alec stepped forward I tensed.

"Carlisle Cullen, you have been found guilty by your peers of breaking the law. You allowed a human to become aware of our existence and live. The punishment for this is death...however your sentence has been commuted by us. You are exiled from the human world to live here in Volterra until such time as we decide to free you."

I saw Esme relax a little although Carlisle was waiting for the boulder to drop, he knew me far too well, or thought he did.

Carlisle

I didn't care for my own safety but I was terrified that having spared me the Volturi would use Esme as a lesson for any others thinking of breaking the law.

"Esme Cullen, you too have been found guilty by your peers of breaking the laws. You allowed a human to learn of our existence and live. The punishment for this crime is death...it has been decided that you should die by our hand this day. Do you have anything to say before sentence is carried out?"

I stepped forward putting myself between the Volturi brothers and Esme.

"Take my life Aro. I am the one responsible, Esme is my mate, she followed my decisions. I am the one who should die not her"

Esme was sobbing dryly behind me and her hand shook uncontrollably.

"No Carlisle, if you die then I go with you."

Aro

I stepped down from the low dais and approached Carlisle motioning for Alec to move aside. He was very unhappy but he moved just the same.

"Old friend, it was with a heavy heart we decided on these sentences but as you will appreciate we cannot allow such crimes to go unpunished, it would make the Volturi appear weak. Having said that Marcus and I have given the matter some consideration and we have decided that in fairness to you both we are willing to wait until the rest of the accused can be located and brought here for judgement"

Alec turned to me, furious at having his big moment snatched from him, but it would remind him who wielded the real power in Volterra. He had some years to go before he could fill Caius position completely.

"For now consider yourselves under house arrest in the building. The library and other facilities are at your disposal as are the courtyards but I would warn you not to attempt to flee or to contact anyone outside Volterra or we will be forced to act on the judgements you have heard passed on you both."

Carlisle

We followed Santiago back to our suite Esme still shaking until the door was closed when she collapsed into my arms distraught.

"Oh Carlisle, what happened? Are we to live here under constant threat of being parted for ever? Or did Aro mean what he said?"

"I think Aro was making a point, or rather two. One that Alec does not hold any real power yet and two that he is inclined to save our lives if he can without losing face. All we can do is live our somewhat curtailed lives and hope that the rest of the family stay out of the Volturi clutches."

"Do you think that's likely?"

"Not really, Aro will send Demetri out to hunt them down and I can't think of anyone who could defeat his tracking skills."

"Oh Carlisle please don't offer your own life again, I couldn't live without you my love. I've been thinking about it and if anything were to happen to you then I would follow."

"If the Volturi take one of us, leaving the other alive then they are breaking their own law and I don't think Aro wants that, it would be rather awkward for him under the circumstances. No, I think he'll do all he can to keep us both alive and he certainly wont want to kill Edward and lose his gift."

She only looked partially convinced but it was the best I could come up with under the circumstances. I didn't want her to know I had been using my gift because against someone as powerful as Aro Volturi it might only be temporary and I wouldn't raise her hopes only to dash them again.

Esme

I knew Carlisle was only trying to help but he felt a terrible burden of guilt as did I. We'd allowed ourselves to be guided blindly by Alice and her little "game" and ruined an innocent life as a result. I didn't think we would ever see Bella again but if by some strange twist of fate we did I could only offer our apologies and that didn't seem nearly enough.. It was too late to put things right for her. Now I thought about it, the whole thing was utterly preposterous. The thought of Bella Swan deceiving Edward with Jasper was crazy. I wondered how much Edward knew of Alice's game, could he possibly have been aware of the truth and agreed to help her? I couldn't see it but then Carlisle always said that was my own weakness, seeing the good in everyone. I hadn't with Bella though and that was the one time I really should have, poor Bella. I just hoped that she could find a way through all the hurt to a happy life in the end.