Chapter Eighty One

Aro

Bella was an exquisite creature as a vampire, beautiful and extremely dangerous, but very controlled for a newborn which intrigued me. Caius had been livid when I told him I had sent Felix for her,

"Why Aro? We already discussed this. She's a liability".

"No, but she might conceivably be an asset Caius dear brother. If her shield is as strong as I sense it might be then she could be very valuable to us."

"So you'll use Chelsea to make her loyal?"

"Hardly, do you think she won't protect herself from anything we can threaten her with? No my brother, but she has a friend with her and one I think she would do much to protect."

"Charlotte? But she's Captain Whitlocks mate. Do you not think we'll be playing with fire threatening the Majors mate and his?"

"What can they do? We hold the upper hand, Bella! I'll give them a choice of course. They can stay too and work for us or they can die."

"What if they choose to fight Aro?"

"Fight who brother? Can they fight us all? I hardly think they're stupid enough to try."

"I don't think stupidity comes into it Aro. The Major will do anything he has to in order to get his mate back or die in trying."

"Then let him. You worry too much Caius."

"Yes I worry about my continued health as should you."

"If it will make you happier I'll have Jane and Alec here when we meet them."

"I'd rather have the whole guard here."

Bella

We had been tricked into this, my Dad's death was merely a diversion which enabled the Volturi guard to capture us. I could have got away from them but they had Charlotte and the price for her life was my acquiescence. We knew where we were going but we traveled separately, each with a guard. I think they were concerned I might try to escape with her using my shield but I didn't even know if it would have covered her too. So far I'd only protected myself and Jasper and we thought that might be because he was my mate. I needed to try to stretch it to encompass my friends too but I didn't know how. During the flight I tried to feel it around me. Jazz had told me to try to visualize it so I concentrated hard, trying to see it as a bubble or at least feel it. After a while I felt a tingling around me and in my mind I saw something like a soap-bubble of rainbow hue. I tried to push it away from me to cover someone else but it was so hard and required so much concentration that it must have shown on my face because Jane spoke to me,

"Bella, what are you doing? You look quite strange"

"Trying to get away from you" I mumbled eyes still closed.

"Very funny. It will be interesting to see if your sense of humor is still in play when we get to Volterra."

Aro

I couldn't help my excitement when Heidi came in to tell me they had landed. Marcus had been silent up to this point so I was surprised when he spoke,

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Do you really need another weapon in your arsenal? Especially one that comes at such a cost?"

"Cost brother? I'm not paying for it."

"I'm not so sure about that Aro. Caius may be right about the warriors or he may not, but if Bella is such a powerful shield then it could be turned against us."

"Not with her friend's life at stake"

"Would you protect a friend rather than yourself Aro?"

That stopped me for a few seconds,

"We know she was willing to sacrifice herself to save her mate."

"But Charlotte Whitlock isn't her mate, and if The Major turns up, no, make that WHEN the Major turns up I think she would do anything to protect him. Even to the extent of killing us. And what do we have that can stop her?"

I hadn't really thought about that. As a vampire would Bella's only real loyalty be to her mate? It would be true to form. We cared little for others in our world, would she?

"But she came rather than risk her friend's life."

"True but her mate wasn't here then."

Bella

By the time we arrived in Volterra I was almost sure I could project my shield although how far and to what effect I had no idea. I was taken to a room in one of those endless bloody stone corridors and locked in. As a newborn I possibly had the strength to break down the thick oaken door but I decided to wait and see what happened. I was here for a purpose and Charlie had died to make sure I came. Someone was responsible and that someone would pay dearly for Charlie's death. I knew Charlotte would be held somewhere away from me as surety for my good behavior and I would try to protect her if I could, IF! With my vampire hearing I could tell there were lots of people moving around this city within a city but no one was coming close to my room, not yet. I stood looking through the slit window down on the same sun drenched courtyard I'd seen last time but it was different, now I felt no fear, just rage. Jasper and I deserved our life together and someone here was trying to prevent that, I would see they paid for that privilege, I was my makers mate. The Major now had a new partner, one as cold and ruthless as he when circumstances called for it.

Aro

I received word that The Major and The Captain were on their way here so I thought it better to speak to Bella before he arrived. She might be more amenable if she knew he would soon be within the walls of My city. I sent Jane to collect her, not because she could do any damage to Bella but just to make her feel better. Bella's lack of reaction to Jane's powers really annoyed her. It was amusing to see my little Jane brought down a peg or two, she was usually so haughty. When they got back it was obvious that Bella had been baiting her which was interesting as it showed her state of mind, she wasn't afraid being here.

Bella

Jane had arrived, with her nose in the air, to escort me to the audience chamber and I knew she thought herself too high and mighty for such errands,

"So Jane, demoted I see"

She went thin-lipped but kept silent,

"It must really irritate you to find someone you can't drop with a single glance. Then again if I remember correctly you only got my mate to his knees. You must be weakening with age."

Her teeth clenched but still she remained silent.

"Do you think your silence bothers me? I have much more important things to think of so you be a good little girl and conduct me to the important people around here."

She was about to react when we reached the huge doors and I stepped forward elbowing her out of the way and letting myself in.