Debriefing Continues

"I did listen to Aro's thoughts while he scanned each one of the heads, but I don't want to talk about it, unless anyone has specific questions," Edward informs the group. He shudders. "James was an absolute nightmare. He made Freddy Krueger look like a saint. I don't want to relive his memories ever again, if I can avoid it. Unfortunately, most of the heads came from people he had trained to be sadistic like him, monsters who tortured humans and other vampires for fun, who enjoyed beating and raping human women and children before drinking from them.

It was severely traumatic to see the things they'd done, and I tried to compartmentalize their memories, barely looking at them and not experiencing them for myself. It was a waste of time too, as there was nothing useful to be gleaned from their memories. Nothing we didn't already know. Even Aro was disgusted and very thankful that the Whitlocks had stopped them.

The other vampires were all victims of James's abuse. They had gifts. Some had been brainwashed through severe torture into being loyal to him, with the mindset of young children or even animals, unable to think for themselves at all. Others had been kept in pieces, buried underground, for so long they were simply ticking time bombs, ready to mindlessly attack anything and everything. All of them were so broken by the things that had been done to them that they weren't stable enough to be kept alive and had to be destroyed. It was awful."

"What about Alice?" Rose inquires.

Edward sighs, "Alice went crazy in the mental asylum. I don't think she was crazy before she was sent there by her father to keep her from reporting that he had killed her mother in order to be free to marry someone else. However, the things they did to her there, the abuse she suffered at the hands of the doctors and orderlies, the shock treatments, ice baths, mind numbing medications, and other 'cures' she was given, as well as being locked in a small padded cell alone, half-starved, and never seeing the light of day slowly drove her insane, with only her visions to keep her company.

Max was slowly helping her to recover after he started working there, shielding her from the abuse and the treatments as much as possible and helping her differentiate between reality and the visions in her mind. If he'd had more time, she probably would've made it back to sanity, but time ran out before she got there. She and James were planning to turn on the Romanians after the Volturi was defeated and kill them too, so the two of them could rule over the vampire race together. She didn't know Marcus was working with the Romanians though, so she didn't have the answers Aro was seeking either.

The worst of it was seeing how she really felt about us, those of us who had considered her family. I suppose she loved us in her own way, but it was like the love for a pet or a favorite toy. She saw us as put on this earth to serve, protect, and entertain her. She had no remorse for the way she treated us, for manipulating us. She considered herself a queen and felt she had the right to use us and anyone else for her own purposes."

"I'm glad I ended her then," Rose growls.

Esme buries her face in Carlisle's chest. His eyes are pained as he wraps his arms around her, holding her close.

"Would you mind continuing from after Alice was burned then, son?" Carlisle asks gently. "I think we'd all like to know what Marcus was thinking."

Edward winces, but nods and continues.

EPOV

"Carlisle!" Aro called. Damn it! I refuse to simply slink back to Volterra and wait for the traitor to start all over again with nothing to show for my troubles than the deaths of a bunch of idiots I could've had destroyed nearly a century ago!

"Yes, my dear friend?" Carlisle responds. I don't think this is going to go over well for my family. He's going to want to take Edward with him to constantly monitor the thoughts of those in Volterra to try to catch whomever was working with the Romanians. "It is a pleasure to see you again, despite the circumstances of our meeting."

He offers his hand to Aro, who takes it greedily, sorting through all of Carlisle's memories since he left Volterra. I find the ones of him treating my parents and me for the flu fascinating. He'd shared bits and pieces of them with me in the past, but not to the level of depth Aro saw. I got to see the entire mental argument Carlisle had with himself in deciding to change me. I also saw how much it had truly hurt him when I went off on my own.

There were so many things Carlisle had kept to himself over the years. I was able to see better than ever how much my gift didn't show. There was so much more to Carlisle's decision making process and his concerns about my wellbeing than I'd ever known. Plus, there were so many private conversations with each of my siblings dealing with many different issues. I realized once and for all how little my gift showed of what really went on in a person's mind beneath the surface.

Aro was fascinated by Carlisle's memories of the shifters. He was curious to know more and amazed by the friendship that developed between Carlisle and Ephraim. It went even deeper than I had known, something that was starting to no longer surprise me.

Aro was just delving into Carlisle's memories of our most recent move to Forks, when we all heard the sound of ripping metal. I flung out my gift quickly to determine the source of the threat, worried for my mate, despite feeling her standing right beside me.

Why can't I feel her bonds? No! Why isn't anyone protecting me? How dare she? Who . . . Aro will rip her to pieces and . . . Fuck! This hurts! FUCK SHIT DAMN! OWWWW!. . . . Oh, shit! . . . . What the hell is that? Ew, dog slobber! Gross! What the fuck? Did that wolf just turn into a naked man? Is that a . . . oh fuck! Where the fuck did he get a fucking lighter? Noooo! . . . . .

I saw through her eyes that it was Bella ripping off her head and wondered why she would do such a thing. Was she trying to get us all killed? She just attacked one of the Volturi guard for no apparent reason! Did she think Aro would just laugh it off as a newborn mistake? Or was Chelsea in on it? Was Chelsea the double agent?

As soon as Aro realized what had happened, he screamed, "Noooo!" Not Chelsea! Anyone but her! This could ruin everything! I've got to get her back together immediately!

Carlisle is startled, but contemplative. Chelsea? Was she the double agent? She's one of the only people who could've been.

Jasper is shocked and afraid. He clearly wasn't informed of Bella's plan. Bella! What have you done?! Why?! How will I protect you? Aro is going to want your ashes!

I'm thankful for Peter's gift, as it gives us both some insight. Chelsea has been creating false bonds of loyalty to Aro, for you, Char, and Jasper, for the majority of the Guard, for the brothers, and even for the audience here. She's been secretly binding all the gifted vampires present to Aro, at his behest. She wishes she could rule in his place, binding all the vampires to herself instead, but because she can't, she rules through him. He gives her whatever she wants in exchange for the use of her gift, which is the only thing keeping him strong and in control. Through her gift, she has made you, your mate, and the Major, as well as many others, slaves to the Volturi, unable to choose whether to serve or not. Bella has just set all of you, as well as the brothers and the Guard free to think and decide for themselves.

I'm startled and thankful for Bella's quick action, knowing she has set my mate and me free as well. I can't help wondering how she knew, though I had no idea what the results of that one action would be, the far reaching consequences.

Max was approving. This was the only way to stop her. The only weaknesses to her gift are the inability to break mating bonds and the inability to bond anyone to herself or her mate.

Renata, whose mind has been placidly full of Aro this entire time, suddenly jumped away from him. What the hell? This bastard had been using me as his puppet for centuries! Never again! I'm out of here!

She dashed away as fast as she could go, her only thought to put as much distance between herself and the Volturi as possible. I could hear the wolves see her and begin to give chase, only to forget about her and start running in the opposite direction, stopping and shaking their heads in confusion after a few yards.

No! My shield! Aro grabbed for her, only to turn around and take a few steps in the another direction. Fucking shield! I'll never get her back without Chlesea!

He looked around, noticing the facial expressions of the Guard, many of whom were looking around them in anger and confusion. Oh, no! Not the Guard too! I've got to get Chelsea back now!

It was finally starting to dawn on me how shaky Aro's hold on everything was. I was horrified by Renata's revelation of being used against her will, considering how complacent her thoughts had been as she moved and stood with Aro the entire time she'd been here today. That could've been me! How many of the Guard were duped like her, forced into a bond of loyalty without their knowledge or consent, their will subverted, turned into mindless servants and puppets willing to die for a man they didn't even like? Remembering Carlisle's thoughts, I realized with horror that it would have been me.

Aro was about to issue orders to Jane and Alec to take down Bella before she could do any more damage, then find Chelsea's head and restore it to her body immediately, but as he opened his mouth to speak, Marcus appeared and slapped him.

Finally I can avenge my mate! Marcus accused, "I hereby accuse you of murdering my mate Didyme, your own flesh and blood sister, in cold blood. The law demands your life as forfeit for your crime! You will now fight me to the death without assistance from anyone."

Shit! How did he know? Nobody saw! Aro whimpered, "No, how did you . . . . No, it wasn't me! You have it all wrong!"

"Lie!" Maggie of the Irish Coven yells. "He's lying!"

The thoughts from everyone were overwhelming.

Aro killed Marcus's mate?

Aro murdered his own sister?

Why?

If he would do that to his own flesh and blood, what wouldn't he do?

How can we trust someone who'd do something like that?

What else has he done?

What else has he been hiding all these years?

Lying, murdering, power hungry bastard!

Aro must die!

I saw the encounter in Marcus's memory as he explained, "There was a nomad who came to Volterra nearly two centuries ago who had the gift of seeing the past. She showed me what really happened to my mate. Max had showed Caius and me how to work around your gift and hide certain things to keep the balance of power equal between the three kings.

Unfortunately, there was no way to work around Chelsea's gift that kept me from being able to attack you or leave you, not even allowing me to end my own existence. Her only weakness was that she could not create false bonds to herself, only between others. She had to rely on you to keep her safe and provide for her every whim, which you gladly did in return for her services.

She wasn't expecting to encounter a mental shield though, someone who would be unaffected by her gift who would know what she could do and realize the danger she represented. Thanks to Major Whitlock's new mate, we are all free to make our own choices, our loyalties are our own again, and you will now face justice for the crimes you've committed while believing yourself invincible and above the law."

I realized Marcus was the double agent. He had approached the Romanians, though never in person, giving them information and hoping to take down Aro, even if he couldn't do it himself, thanks to Chelsea's false bond of loyalty. He worked around the bond as much as he could, never able to attack Aro directly, but subtly undermining him whenever possible.

I can't believe Aro killed Didyme. Not even I am that ruthless. Caius thought. Everything is falling apart. Look at the Guard. I thought they were honored to serve the Volturi, but I can see that was all a lie. How many of them were only with us because of that witch's false bonds? Too many.

Marcus froze, a victim of Alec's gift, unable to see, hear, or move, though his thoughts continued. Alec, that little shit! How dare he interfere! Suddenly all of Marcus's senses were restored just in time to dodge Aro's attack.

All hell broke loose then, and I stopped trying to monitor everyone's thoughts. I was worried about keeping my mate safe from the fighting. Seeing the way Athenadora took out several of our friends in her crazed attacks, I was glad Vicki and I had retreated behind the crowd. I wasn't taking any chances on losing her, especially after seeing how much it affected Marcus and the Romanians to outlive their mates.

Some of the former Guard who ran got away, but most of them were taken out by the wolves in the woods. Corin was able to escape, as she used her gift to render the wolves content to let her go.

Finally the fighting stopped, and all that remained are those seated here today.

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"Any questions?" Edward asks, looking around the room.

xxxxxxx

AN: So, any questions?