Chapter 108

Jasper

We watched as the sun came up, ranged in two lines, Bella, Emmett and Rose at the back, Peter, Char and myself out front. There was no mist this morning and we saw the black cloaked figures clearly as they moved silently towards us. There were fifteen of them and we counted off the ones we knew. Aro was flanked by two of his huge guards and shadowed by Renata. The others stood behind silent and watchful as he drifted closer to address us.

"Hey I don't see Alec so Ethan was right about that, and I do see Ruby and Christoph. What do you think he's going to say?"

"No idea but we'll hear soon enough Peter."

Aro

I felt a surge of relief when I saw there were only the six of them. I'd heard a rumour that Gabriel might be joining their numbers but it seemed it had been merely that, a rumour. Looking around I didn't see Ethan yet and that was slightly worrying, he'd said he'd be here when we arrived.

"So Major, you have assembled your small army I see."

"Army Aro? Why would I need an army? I thought we had an agreement?"

"Well things change Major. People change, decisions change, and I'm afraid this time not in your favour. You made me look bad in front of the Volturi Guard and that just cannot be allowed. The Volturi have to be seen to be strong, how else can they uphold the laws? I'm afraid it comes down to this. You and your friends here have become a threat to the order and stability of the Volturi. If I could be reassured that you wouldn't try to usurp us again I could forgive your past transgressions but alas I don't think I can rely on that, now can I?"

The Major stood quite relaxed and listening to me with every sign of interest, which made me uneasy.

"Is this your decision Aro? Or have the other members of the Volturi Brotherhood come to stand beside you?"

I smiled broadly,

"Major. Do you really think I would act unilaterally? Of course my brother and sister are here to see fair play, to see the laws of the Volturi upheld."

"I don't see them Aro"

I looked round in anticipation,

"They will be here Major, have patience. Before they arrive though it might be as well to see if any of your associates would like to renounce you and join me."

I looked along their puny ranks but all met my eye with a fire of defiance,

"Such a pity to lose excellent men and women for a hopeless cause. Still I felt I should give them the chance before it's too late."

I heard movement behind me and turned to see Chelsea and Marcus with their followers making their way to the front.

"See Major, I told you we had a united front."

Jasper

I watched as Chelsea and Marcus stopped a few feet from Aro and to one side. Not exactly allying themselves with him.
"Brother, Sister I'm so glad you could come to see the rebellion put down"
"Rebellion Aro?" Marcus questioned,
"Yes Marcus. The Major and his friends are plotting to remove us from the ruling council and set themselves up in our place."
Peter burst out laughing at this and Aro glared, but it was Chelsea who spoke next,
"Are you plotting a rebellion Major? With such a small band of rebels? I was under the impression that you wanted merely to be left in peace. Isn't that what you told us when we last met?"
I nodded,
"Yes Chelsea that's all we asked for and all we are asking for now. As you say I would hardly start a rebellion against the might of the Volturi with such a small army. I know I'm good but even I don't believe all my own legends"

She grinned at that and looked at Aro,
"Do you have proof of this rebellion Aro?"
"Proof? What more proof do you need? Look at them, ready to fight now."
Peter moved forward slightly at that,
"It may have escaped your notice Aro but you and your band of merry men came marching in to our domain. What did you expect us to do? Throw a fucking party for you?"

Bella

I wasn't sure if antagonizing Aro was helpful or not but Jasper didn't try to rein Peter in so I assumed they knew what they were doing. I hoped so anyway.
Marcus looked from one group to the other,
"He has a point Aro. You do have a large contingent of fighters with you and they are only six. Slightly one sided you might say."

I looked at Aro's face. He was no longer so confident that he had the backing of the others. He noticed my eyes on him and scowled.

"We had to factor Bella's shield in to the equation when we came here brother. Remember how dangerous she can be on her own."

I stepped forward breaking ranks to stand between Jazz and Peter,

"Aro. I haven't threatened you. We haven't done anything to deserve the Volturi force arrayed before us now. What reason do you have for threatening us?"

Marcus looked into my eyes before turning back to Aro,

"Well brother, can you answer Bella's question?"

"I had information that they were planning a coup against us"

I laughed out loud at that,

"A coup? With the six of us? What do you take us for Aro, Supermen? Do you really think we'd attempt a coup with just six people? That's rubbish. Let me tell you why you're here, it's because we made you look an idiot in front of the Volturi. You tried and failed to finish us then, so you thought you'd try again. A good leader would have known he was in the wrong and tried to put things right. Not try again to kill innocent members of his own race. We don't want power or glory, just to be left alone, but if we have to fight in order to get that, we will. Your call Aro."

Jasper

Bella was good and I saw admiration in Chelsea's eyes at the way she'd stood up to Aro. I thought at that moment that Aro had lost in her eyes and in those of Marcus. He stared a few seconds longer at Bella before turning to me,

"And you Major?"

"I stand beside my mate. We want to be left alone and I'll fight to the death to protect our right to that"

"See..See he wants to fight Marcus" Aro screamed close to losing his suave exterior.

"No Aro he was merely stating a fact, not declaring war." Marcus pointed out.

"Major, do you have the power to fight Aro and his supporters?"

"I believe so"

"With just these five companions?"

"No six actually"

Ethan said this quite casually as he sauntered to my side

"Sorry I'm late Major, just finished breakfast. Hope I'm in time for the fight."

Aro's eyes bulged and his fists clenched in anger and frustration.

"Ethan. You were supposed to be fighting for me" he snapped

"Yes but I hate seeing the good lose and evil win. You misrepresented these good people to me, they aren't rebels at all. Do you still want to kill them all Aro?"

Chelsea's head snapped up at that,

"Kill them all? Was that your plan Aro?"

"They threaten our existence, our power, they must be destroyed."

"No Aro. They threaten you personally not the Volturi or why wouldn't they have accepted a place on the Volturi themselves? I don't think they are power-hungry. Are you Major?"

The last comment was directed at me,

"No. I want nothing to do with power or the Volturi."

"He lies" Aro snapped and everyone went deathly silent.

Marcus

That was the worst thing Aro could have accuse The Major of and I looked over to where he stood hands on hips and smiling dangerously,

"Marcus, Chelsea, I demand satisfaction."

Aro's eyes opened wide and he looked to me for support, a way out,

"Well Aro. You have insulted The Major and he has demanded satisfaction. I believe he has the right to do so"

"I'm not fighting him. He's a warrior."

"He's a man and you insulted him. He has the right to fight for his honour. Of course he could let it go but I don't think he will, do you?"

Aro looked round wildly, he was no longer a fighter, it had been too many years since he stood against another without the backing of Felix, Jane and the other members of the Volturi.

"I refuse to fight or apologise."

Chelsea came up beside me,

"I don't think he can refuse can he Marcus?"

"Not to my knowledge. I'm afraid you have no choice Aro. The Major demands satisfaction and its his right."

Jasper

Aro had fallen into the trap I set with his eyes wide open but unseeing. He was mine at last and I smiled as I looked at his panic-stricken look. His supporters were drifting away or joining Marcus and Chelsea and when he turned there was no one behind him. Instead those still here had formed a circle around us, Marcus at the top and Chelsea at the bottom. Peter stood to the left and Bella to the right, Aro had nowhere to go. He looked at me and crouched into a defensive pose. I stood straight and taunted him,

"Not quite so brave now Aro. Standing in a circle with me. Do you think you can beat The Major? It doesn't look as if your supporters do."

He looked around and I moved, too fast for him. He fell to the ground and I sprang back, the hood of his cloak in one hand.

"Too slow Aro. Much too slow"

He crouched again and again I moved much too fast for him, this time ripping the cloak from his back and leaving him in his black suit. He hissed and attacked but he was too slow and clumsy and I danced back with his jacket which I threw into the circle of watchers. Within seconds I had him naked in the centre of the circle, a figure of ridicule.

"Not so big a man when faced with others and no shield are you Aro? You were a good leader once but as always, power corrupts. You have become corrupt and you were dragging the Volturi down with you. No longer though, not any more."

I sprang at him and as I flipped over his head I grasped his head and wrenched. It detached with a terrible ripping sound and I landed in front of Chelsea offering her the head like a trophy. She looked at it and smiled,

"I think the honour belongs to Marcus Major."

I walked over to Marcus who took the head eagerly, looking into the still moving eyes.

"I have waited centuries for this moment Aro. You killed my wife and made me your puppet. Now I intend to right the wrongs you have done."

Before anyone realized his intention he pulled a lighter out and flicked it, putting the flame to Aro's head and clutching it tightly to his chest.

Bella

I watched in horror as Marcus became a pillar of flame holding Aro's head tightly to him, on his face a look of satisfaction. He was going to be reunited with his beloved wife and take to her the burned head of her murderer. His had been true love, the kind of love that Jasper and I shared, a love that lived on through all eternity, and that nothing could diminish or break.

THE END.

I hope you enjoyed the end of this story. Many thanks for all the reviews. Hopefully you will enjoy my other stories too. Jules x