Chapter Fifty Four

Carlisle

The room had gone very quiet as everyone waited to see what else Bella wanted but I thought I knew at least one person she hadn't finished with and when she asked for Jane Volturi to come and stand before the witnesses I knew I'd been right. Jane walked over arrogantly and stood there looking from one face to another and every face she gazed on went a little paler and looked troubled.

"Jane Volturi, you are accused of suggesting an outlawed method of torture for The Major. How do you plead?"

"I did what Caius wanted, I made your precious Major suffer so yes I did."

The witnesses looked at Bella and every one had the same expression, guilty.

"How do you find?"

The spokesman didn't need to discuss this with the others, Jane was universally hated and feared here in Volterra for her cruelty which she revelled in.

"Guilty as charged"

Bella didn't wait for anyone else to offer, she pounced before the echo of guilty had faded and Jane too became a smoking pile of ashes. She may have tried out her gift on Bella but if so it had no discernible effect and I waited for Alec to react but he just sat waiting, presumably for his turn to taste justice Bella style.

"Do you have a problem with the justice thus far handed out?"

He looked at Bella and shook his head, probably aware that if he had protested me might well join her!

Bella

The witnesses were dismissed at this point with my thanks and drifted away with the guards talking excitedly about the things they had witnessed. I walked over to where Marcus and Athenadora were talking quietly together,

"Thank you Bella for giving me the opportunity to avenge my beloved Didyme and stay on the ruling body here in Volterra."

"You are welcome Marcus but I need to speak to you about a couple of things. The sentences carried out on the Cullens will stand yes?"

"Yes they will"

"And Alec?"

They looked at the nervous boy and nodded,

"I think he may change a bit now he is out from the shadow of his sister, Alec himself is quite an intelligent boy."

"OK. I think that's about all."

"We will send you updates on the Cullens."

I shrugged,

"As long as they stay here I really don't care Marcus. I just want to leave here happy in the knowledge that they are kept under your watchful eye."

I turned to rejoin Jasper who was talking to Emmett and Rose only to find Esme and Carlisle waiting for me.

"Bella could we have just a few minutes of your time?"

"If you must."

Jasper glanced over anxiously but I smiled and he nodded turning back to his conversation while the three of us went over to a window seat.

"Well?"

"We want to apologise for Alice's behaviour and our own gullibility in believing everything she said."

"It's a little late for that and it's not me you should be apologising to. What about Jasper? Have you apologised for accepting her accusations about him?"

They didn't answer and I got up,

"I thought not. Just be thankful I'm not a really vindictive person or I would kill you Carlisle for what you did to me. You know I hardly speak to my parents because they believed you. Which isn't entirely your fault I guess."

"Yes it is. With Charlie anyway. I have a gift of my own and I used it on your father but I did it not because I believed you had been unfaithful to Edward but because Alice said it would keep you safe from the Volturi. My gift is one of persuasion and I used it to influence Charlie to believe my accusations."

I shrugged,

"It makes no difference now and I really don't care. I have to go now."

I walked away from them only to be caught by Edward,

"You have to talk to Marcus and Athenadora and relax my sentence. I can't stay here for the rest of my life, like a prisoner. Its cruel."

"Really? And abandoning me because you thought I was sleeping with your brother and not even asking either of us about it wasn't? Get out of my way Edward and thank your lucky stars you got away with your life."

As I turned to walk round him he grasped my arm and swung me back,

"It was Alice's doing, not mine."

Before I could react Darius was on him and the two fought savagely as the rest of us watched. I expected Darius to be handicapped by his leg and Edwards gift but it didn't seem to be helping Edward much. Jasper came to my side,

"Why isn't Edward anticipating Darius moves?"

"Very simple, Darius isn't thinking about his moves, he's fighting on instinct and you can't read that in a man's thoughts."

By the time Darius stepped away leaving Edward a battered heap on the floor he was sporting two nasty bite wounds and a ripped shirt but he was beaming.

"I've been wanting to do that for a long, long, time"

Athenadora stopped us as we were about to leave,

"We do still have a problem, Aro's mate Sulpicia."

"You think she'll be looking for revenge?"

"Well, she loved her husband although I can't understand why, so yes unless that is..."

She hesitated,

"What?"

"Well she knew her husband murdered his sister to keep Marcus here so it would be poetic justice if she were forced to stay here under the same terms used on poor Marcus."

"You mean under Chelsea's control?"

"Yes and Marcus agrees. Neither of us wants any more killing Bella. The Volturi will be acting as it should have done all these years, fairly and living by the laws of our kind."

"Very well, I don't see any problem with that but if she escapes..."

"We will tell you immediately."

Edward

I couldn't believe that Bella would really leave me here in Volterra without any freedom at all, then stand and watch as one of her ruffian friends almost killed me. I looked at her imploringly but she just turned her back and walked out with the others. As soon as they were gone Carlisle came over and helped me up, checking all my injures were healing properly then turned to Esme,

"I think that was totally uncalled for."

We turned as we heard Athenadora's voice, she had appeared at Carlisle's side and tapped his arm,

"Carlisle much as I hated and despised my husband he was right in one respect"

"Oh, and what was that?"

"You are a fool, especially where Edward is concerned. I think he was very lucky to get off so lightly. If I had been Bella I would have killed him and probably you too."

She turned then and beckoned for Felix and Santiago to join us.

"Escort Edward to his new quarters in the tower please and make sure he speaks to no one on his way there."

"Athenadora surely he can be spared that at least until he has healed. Allow us to take him with us. I will vouch for him"

"You will? But who will vouch for you Carlisle? Don't forget you to are a prisoner here, not an esteemed guest. I suggest you return to your own quarters with your mate before I forget myself and order your death. Trust me, nothing would give me greater pleasure, you are an idiot and always will be and idiots irritate the life out of me"

Marcus had been watching the exchange and now he joined us.

"Is there a problem?"

"Carlisle wants to look after Edward."

"Really?"

I thought he at least would understand,

"Carlisle, in your opinion is Edward in any physical danger from his injuries?"

"Well no but..."

"Then stand aside or I will be forced to consider that you are trying to help him escape his sentence and I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of the penalty for that do I?"

It was hopeless, we had no friends left in Volterra and I understood my life now would be led within the confines of Volterra, the only other choice was death.