Chapter Forty Seven

Bella

We waited until Carlisle came down after telling Jamie his bedtime story before beginning our family conference. I sat back and let Jazz start the proceedings.

"Before we discuss Jamie and what is going on with the Volturi I think I should tell anyone who doesn't already know that Esme is dead. I apologise Carlisle for the hurt you are suffering and I wish there had been another way but she left me no choice."

Of course everyone already knew but there was a moment's silence as all eyes turned to Carlisle. He bowed his head but didn't say anything in response. Looking in pain himself Jazz continued,

"There is something you don't know and I, Bella and I, think you should be made aware. Jamie is related to Caius Volturi, we all are."

Char and Peter looked stunned while I could see that Rose knew, Emmett must have told her what he'd seen, which while only a part of the file, told enough.

"Caius has intervened on our behalf to keep Jamie safe from Aro. You know that Alice told him our son was a powerful weapon although she didn't know more than that, or at least she wasn't willing to say more. It will come to a fight eventually because we now know thanks to Peter that Aro is doing his own digging and will find out about our link. When he does he will use all in his power to take control of Jamie and that I wont allow."

"We're with you on that"

Emmett stood up looking dangerous,

"How come Aro hasn't been able to find the same information Caius has?"

"I think Caius has sabotaged the computers in Volterra. According to Edward Aro is going to need a computer expert to undo the damage Caius has caused but when he does the fight will begin"

Jasper

Bella stood up then,

"It's only fair that you know there will be a fight and someone may get killed so if any of you want out we won't say anything but please say now because once I tell you about Jamie you are with us or dead."

I saw the looks passed between our friends, Bella was never overly dramatic so they knew she meant what she said. She waited a few moments before continuing,

"Right. Jamie is a weapon, a very powerful one although he can't harm anyone directly, only influence them."

"Wait a minute, if he can't hurt anyone how come he's so dangerous?"

"Peter what would happen if Emmett punched you?"

"I'd duck"

"Seriously"

"It would hurt, probably knock me over but I'd get up and knock him down in retaliation"

Emmett grinned and pulled a muscle man pose.

"Right. What would happen if his strength were beefed up maybe twice its power?"

"Oh, right. Could be dangerous I guess but who do we know who has a gift that would be dangerous to us if Jamie helped out?"

"Jane Volturi, Alec, just to name two."

That made Peter stop and think.

"OK, So he can turn the freaks into Super Freaks but what would it achieve? They can already immobilize anyone Aro wants stopped."

"Yes, ANYBODY but what about a group like us? Their gifts don't work on big groups unless they are close together, what if their gifts could be spread out over a large area? What if Jamie could influence Aro's enemies and make them friends or less suspicious of him? What then?"

No one spoke as they all visualized the nightmare that would be the outcome of this.

"I hate to rain on your parade Bella but how do you expect to keep Jamie safe from Aro? Even with Caius help it will be a war."

"Then we declare war Peter. No one is going to use my son as a weapon or take him from me."

"How come Alice hasn't told Aro about all this?"

"We don't know but she's having troubles with her visions since she first told Aro about Jamie. Maybe he's defending himself against her unconsciously"

"Or maybe you are Bella"

I turned to Carlisle

"Me? How?"

"Bella I've been watching and listening and I think you are a shield. I also think you are a powerful one despite your reluctance to believe it. If you learned how to use it you could be formidable, maybe even protect the ones you love. Something kept you from the agony of the change and I don't believe it was Jasper alone or even with Jamie's help, I think you protected yourself. If you let us help you perhaps you could shield us from Aro and help Caius oust him. He's too dangerous to you for you to allow him to live. I know you didn't want to hear that but its true. Ask Jasper, sometimes bad things have to be done to protect good people."

We all knew what he was referring to but he was telling us he understood too"

Peter

This was going way too fast for my liking,

"Hey just a sec. Why would we, or Bella more precisely, want to kick Aro out just to replace him with another psycho brother? I know Caius is family and all that but he isn't exactly a peacemaker."

"Peter, I know you don't like or approve of the Volturi but they do have a function in our world. They keep our secret safe just by existing."

"Yeah so you say. Personally I think they do things to suit themselves. A prime example is Aro trying to grab Bella and Jamie. That wasn't for anything as noble as to keep our secret from the humans. That was purely for his own power."

"Yes we all agree Aro is devious but he is also clever and he does keep the peace. He acts as a brake on the more blood thirsty of our kind while allowing the rest of us to go about our business in safety."

"Well we see things differently Carlisle and power corrupts so who's to say Caius wouldn't be just as bad or even worse if he took over? He isn't exactly an angel, he was a warrior himself and he has some scores to settle, scores Aro prevents him from doing just that to. And what about Marcus? Maybe he'd be pissed off to be passed over for a chance at the crown? Do we then kill him for Caius? Where does it end Carlisle? How do we find someone worthwhile in our world to take on the crown of vampire king? Would you like it? Would Emmett? Would Garrett, or Tanya, or a nomad? And who gets to say?"

"Peter has a point, and for a change he has made it quite eloquently."

"Thank you Bella."

"I agree Aro is dangerous to us and we have to get rid of him but I'm not sure we have the right to choose his successor on our own"

"Fuck I didn't mean hold elections. Why does no one see the only solution?"

"Which is Peter?"

"No one would agree to Caius, he's too well despised by most of the vampire world. You'd probably start a civil war. The crown would have to go to the next descendant."

Bad news folks. I'll be away for a week starting tomorrow but if I can post I will, if not I'll give you extra when I get back. Thank you for reading and reviewing. Jules x