Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters. She and the filmmakers have made a fascinating and beautiful trilogy. I wish to borrow her background and add a plot twist of my own.

Chapter 9 – The point of no return

Bella's POV

After Caius spoke I was silent, struggling to gain my self-control. It took up so much energy that everything else was blocked out.

I heard the polite conversation between Aro and Carlisle from a distance but felt the claiming hand of Caius defying me to say anything.

How could I be so stupid! This was why Caius demanded me to succumb to his advances and why I wasn't allowed to shower. Maybe vampires found this normal but I felt dirty and whorish knowing that everyone could smell Caius on my body. I would do anything to be allowed to go back to my room.

All of a sudden I noticed that the conversation had stopped and felt every eye fall on me. "Please master," I begged "may I retire to my chambers?"

Caius nodded his consent and in my rush to leave I stood up too fast felling all the blood rush to my feet. I felt light-headed and although I tried to hold on to my chair my vision became black and I gratefully lost consciousness.

When I woke I was in my room with all three vampires surrounding me. My automatic reaction to this took over and I pulled myself away from them screaming in a fit of panic which I couldn't escape.

Caius of course knew how to handle the situation as he gave me a slap in my face shouting "Isabella control yourself". The shock of the slap helped as I automatically closed my mouth and shut up.

Aro looked at me and carefully said "Maybe it is prudent to let Carlisle examine her, after all he is a human doctor"

I looked at Caius and pleaded with my eyes to allow this and he angrily nodded his head in agreement.

While leaving the room he turned and growled to Carlisle saying "You will not alarm her more than necessary, do you understand?"

To tell you the truth I doubt anyone could frighten me more than Caius.

Carlisle's POV

When Caius and Aro left the room I felt the tension leave Bella

She then scurried over to me and leaned her body towards mine taking me in a bear hug as she silently whimpered.

I was so sad, seeing her body and soul being torn apart. How could we have ever thought to bring her in our family? This was our doing. I know she wanted to be part of our life but she wasn't aware of the magnitude of her choice. We were! I must say that none of us had ever thought that this would be the consequences of our actions otherwise we would have moved before Edward and Bella became involved with each other.

I smoothed her hair and cooed in her ear trying desperately to calm her down.

"I didn't know Carlisle, I just didn't know" she whispered and then she swiftly pulled herself away and blushed as she looked into my eyes.

"I'm so embarrassed; I didn't realize that I smelled of Caius though I should have known. That was why he didn't want me to shower. Please don't tell Edward!"

"At the moment I can't worry about him." I said "I am more worried about you. I have always thought of you as my daughter and although any relationship between you and Edward is now impossible I still feel the same way."

She then hugged me and whispered in my ear "Thank you"

After she relaxed I examined her and while doing so I gave her the letter that Esme had smuggled to me.

She read the lines and her face began to relax. I knew that the letter contained well-meant encouragement which could only help her.

When I finished my examination she pulled me towards her asking "How are my parents"

I could lie to her but I knew that she would catch on so I told her the truth.

After that question she asked the second question on her mind "Has Victoria been taken care of?"

I told her that we were still working on that one.

"You must help me" she pleaded "Jacob and the tribe have been keeping Victoria at bay but she won't stop. You know that the lives of my father, mother and even the Quileute tribe will never be safe while she's at large"

I looked down on her wondering how she could be so selfless at such a moment and then said "I Promise we will help the Quileute tribe to destroy her. It is the least we can do for you."

She sighed and answered "I trust you; I know you will do your best to help"

After making this statement a pregnant pause filled the room and feeling her hesitation to discuss her bond with Caius I decided to take things in my hands by saying "You know you may ask me anything Bella"

At this I saw her tears quietly trickle down her face and flow down between her cleavage. With great difficulty she whispered "Is it true that you can't help me get away from here?"

"Yes" I sadly answered "The situation is now beyond any chance of diplomacy. Not only has fate chosen you but with your physical bond to Caius, no one can help"

"I can't live like this Carlisle, if it was up to me I think I would try to take my life but even that possibility has been taken away from me".

"Bella, listen to me," I said as I shook her body "You can't say things like that! You're tougher than you think. When I first met you I didn't even realize it; I only saw a sympathetic human, a balm for Edward's tortured soul. Now that I have gotten to know you, I realized how special you are among your sort. What happened with James and Victoria would have destroyed many a human but you were able to adjust to your circumstances and find a way to fight back. All this only proves how strong you are; don't ever think of giving up!"

I knew that, although Caius wasn't in the room, he was listening into our conversation ready to step in at any moment. I was proud of Bella and I wanted him to know how precious she was.

When she finally fell asleep I left her room and faced Caius.

Caius's POV

While listening to the conversation between Isabella a Carlisle I realized that the fool was very attached to this human. He had grown soft; the habit of drinking animal blood must have taken its toll.

I did however realize that I didn't know everything about my mate. I wanted answers and I wanted them as soon as possible.

"Carlisle I wish to speak to you" I said steering him towards my library.

"Of course" he answered but I felt his hesitation

I gave him my worst scowl as I asked "Who are the Quileute tribe and what do they know about us?"

I felt him hesitate as he slowly replied "They are an Indian tribe near Forks. Normally we have nothing to do with each other but when we came to live in Forks some of their people began to shape shift. We realized later that they were affected by our presence; the more vampires come to the area the more of them change. They have been helping to protect Bella and her family from rogue vampires"

I then enquired "Now who are Victoria and James and what do they have to do with Isabella?"

Carlisle quickly explained "James and Victoria were the rouge vampires that wanted to kill Bella.

"Were?" he asked "Does that mean that they no longer exist?"

"No, Victoria still lives but James has been destroyed. You see, when he met us in a field he instantly saw the attachment that Edward had for Bella and it became a game for him to terminate it. He wanted to destroy her and almost succeeded when she offered herself up in an attempt to save her mother. We destroyed him, not part of my family's code, but we had no choice. Now his mate Victoria is out for revenge, she believes that since Edward killed her mate she has the right to kill his".

I just looked at him and remembered the day she tried to help the Cullen boy. I had to admire Isabella's loyalty and bravery but this little human seemed to be a walking time bomb. I just hoped I had done the right thing by binding her to me.

"Carlisle" I said "Now that you know Isabella cannot leave my side I wish you to return to that hovel Forks, I will be sending Demetri over a week or so, he will help you destroy Victoria."