Chapter Forty Seven
Carlisle
Things had begun to settle down now Charlie knew about us and Jasper, and Bella was back, although living here not at Charlie's. It didn't matter much because he was here most of the time too along with our resident wolf, Jake. Somehow Bella had brought all the warring parties together with a common cause, protecting her from the Volturi. I didn't think she would ever be safe from Aro but I hadn't expected him to act in the way he did or quite so quickly.
It started with a letter addressed to me,
My Dear Carlisle,
It is with some sadness that I learn my daughter is seeking refuge from her father in your house. As I'm sure you can appreciate it would be better for all concerned if she were to visit me here in Italy. I assure myself of your help in this matter.
Your good friend Aro.
I took the letter to Esme first and she agreed we would have to tell Jasper and Bella before replying. I thought it might be as well if Jake and Charlie were included too so we convened in the dining room. It turned out everyone wanted to know what was going on so the room was full. Emmett and Rose being the last to enter.
I stood,
"I've asked you all here because I've received a letter from Italy."
There were murmurs and Charlie started to speak when the door opened and two more figures wandered in,
"Sorry we're late. Our invitations obviously got lost in the fucking post."
I smiled,
"I'm sorry Peter but we had no way of contacting you."
"Oh yeah, phone reception in Forks is a real bitch. Still were here now so you can carry on."
He crashed into a chair next to Charlie and turned to him,
"Hi there Charlie, I'm Peter and this is my wife Charlotte."
Charlie just took it in his stride shaking hands with the newcomers.
"As I was saying. I got a letter from Aro asking for Bella to visit him in Volterra"
I turned to explain to Charlie but Peter beat me to it.
"Aro is Bella's biological father and a real vicious little bastard. Lives in Volterra, a walled town in Italy. Go on Carlisle".
I took a deep breath and started again,
"Bella, I have to reply to this letter and the invitation isn't really an invitation..."
"No, more of a royal command Babe" Peter butted in.
Char dug him in the ribs but he ignored her,
"So what are we going to do Major?"
"Peter, we were about to discuss that very thing" I interrupted him.
Peter
I'd had enough of this pussy footing around,
"Carlisle with all due respect you know fuck all about fighting and even less about keeping people safe from fucks like Aro so shut up and let the experts do the thinking."
Char dug me in the ribs again,
"What woman? Will you stop doing that. You know I'm right"
"Yes but its not polite to insult the man in his own house."
"Sorry Carlisle. No offence intended. Now Major, and by the way you're looking a sight better now. You had us worried there for a while."
I sat looking at Jasper who sighed and looked at Peter,
"Sorry Carlisle but he does have a point and I think the first thing we should do is ask Bella what she wants to do"
"Fuck that's a good idea. So Bells you wanna go see the old man?"
She looked over at me with a laugh,
"Not really Peter but I don't really see a way round it. If I don't go, Carlisle gets in trouble with the Volturi as well. I can't hide for ever and I have no intention of running for the rest of my life. In fact I intend spending that very long time with Jasper. If I don't go then you're all in danger, Charlie you included, because not only do you know about the vampires but you're my Dad and Aro would use you to get to me."
Charlie smiled over at her,
"Thanks for that Bella. It's good to know you still see me like that."
"As far as I'm concerned you are my father. Aro was an incidental in our lives."
"So Bells, you're going to Volterra. What do you plan to do when you get there? You know Aro wants to recruit you."
She nodded,
"Yes I know but I'm not interested and I have to find a way of showing him that."
"He's very persuasive" put in Carlisle.
"I know. I know about his tricks from Jasper. What he doesn't know are my little tricks."
"Way to go Bells! Do we get to go with you?" Emmett was keen for a fight as always.
"No Emmett, If I go in mob handed it will start a war. I need to go in alone."
I waited for the explosions which came but not from the one person I expected. He was the only one who didn't react. I watched but no one else seemed to notice so I kept my peace. The Major had a plan up his sleeve so I was happy.
Jasper
I sat and listened as they all argued against Bella going in alone, all except Peter who'd looked at me and nodded. He knew we had a plan and was content to let the others argue among them selves. When the meeting finally broke up it had been decided that we would do nothing until Aro made his next move which wouldn't be long. Bella had sat holding my hand through the meeting and the only other people she looked at were Charlie and Peter. I could feel the love coming off her in waves and it gave me a peace I'd never felt before, a completeness I could only have dreamed of. When the others left Peter came over,
"Thanks for the heads up Bells"
"You're welcome Peter. I trust you more than anyone else, even if you are an irritating pain in the ass."
"At last someone who appreciates my real talents."
He slapped me on the back,
"So you and Bells eh? I hope well be getting an invitation"
Char prodded him in the ribs,
"You do that again woman and I'm gonna ring the battered husband hotline. My ribs are black."
"Peter, could you try not to alienate everyone you meet"
"I can try but I wont succeed, never did manage that"
Carlisle
The next step was a phone call from Italy,
Esme answered and brought it to me with shaking hands,
"Aro"
I nodded,
"Hello my friend, It's good to hear your voice.
"Carlisle, I was beginning to think you were avoiding me"
"And why would I do that to a friend?"
"I understand you have my daughter staying with you."
"You mean Bella Swan I presume. I think its been rather a shock to her as it has to all of us. I never knew you had any children of your own."
"Ah well, strange times Carlisle call for strange measures. I hope you passed on my invitation to her"
"Yes indeed. I understand she is quite eager to meet you in fact"
"Oh really? Good. When can I expect her? I'll send our plane to collect her."
"There's no need for that. She and her friends are already en route to Italy. Bella has never been out of the country before so we thought she should be accompanied on her trip."
"How thoughtful of you Carlisle. When can we expect her in Volterra?"
"I think she was planning on sightseeing for a few days then she will contact you and perhaps you could arrange transport for her to Volterra and then back home."
"Oh course my friend. That is if she wishes to leave. She may decide to stay with her father."
"That is entirely her choice of course Aro. I know you will show her every courtesy during her visit."
Bella
I was accompanied by Peter and Charlotte as well as Jasper with Emmett, Rose, and Jake following on behind separate from us. Charlie was safe on the Reservation so I didn't need to worry about him. We didn't have a plan as such. I would go in alone but if I didn't contact Jasper within 48 hours he would come in after me. The others were contingency if we had to make a run for it when we left. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would be getting out. Since acknowledging my love for Jasper and my part Vampire breeding I felt strong enough to take on an army if necessary and he trusted me to keep safe for him. We had promised ourselves a holiday after this was over, just the two of us away from everyone in a secluded spot and neither of us were going to miss that.
We spent a couple of days in Pisa first and of course I had to climb the leaning tower of Pisa while Peter acted tour guide and almost got us thrown out with his alternative guide to Pisa! Then we walked to the Piazza de Miracoli which was crawling with tourists and too crowded for me although we laughed at the stall holders trying to sell Peter some underpants printed with Michelangelo's David's more private parts. As he twisted his fluent Italian and got the stall holder tied in knots I laughed until I couldn't breath. After that it was time for business and we drove to Volterra on the evening of the third day. Charlotte sat up front with Peter while Jasper and I cuddled in the back. Just being close to him was enough to give me shudders of delight and I could only imagine what being alone with him in the privacy of our own home would bring.
The others arranged a hotel room while Jasper and I walked to the Balze Cliffs to see the sunrise, the view of the cliffs and the abbey in the distance was worth the wait but my eyes were taken by another scene entirely. I turned to speak to Jasper as the suns rays caught his profile and I halted unable to continue, his skin sparkled like the facets of a diamond, it was so beautiful. I reached out with my hand and touched his cheek, it felt smooth but as I took my fingers away it sparkled once more.
"You are so beautiful" I breathed as he turned to me and his whole face sparkled like a rainbow of gems.
He smiled,
"Not so beautiful as you Bella"
He kissed me until I was breathless before we left reluctantly to meet the others and prepare for my grand entrance to the Volturi Stronghold.
It was decided I would put them on the back foot by appearing in their human reception area and ask for my father by name. It would be a small victory to startle them but one I intended enjoying to the full. Our last night together before the meeting I spent in Jasper's arms talking about our future, the cabin we would build, the places we would visit, even possibly the wedding we would have, if only to please Charlie. What wouldn't please him so much was our plan for me to become a full vampire so I could spend eternity with my mate. Besides if the Volturi ever found out about Charlie he might have to consider his own life as a vampire or die. Not the way anyone should make the decision but no one ever said life was fair.