Chapter Forty Nine

Bella

OK, so I saw how things were going,

"I would just like to point out that I have broken no laws. I haven't told the humans about you and I am not a human anyway. With you as my father I am only half human. Would you like to punish that half perhaps?"

"You don't like threats I take it?"

"No Aro. I react very badly to them. Especially when I am totally innocent of any charges you may try to bring against me. The only thing I have ever done is to look after Renee, the woman you abused and abandoned but who loved me never the less and kept me safe as long as she could."

"Yes, she did, didn't she? A remarkable woman your mother, most unusual. I was sorry to hear of her passing"

"I don't think so Aro. I think you were happy because it brought me out of hiding. Still now we've got the pleasantries out of the way perhaps you could tell me what it is you want"

He seemed annoyed that I was rushing him along but I wanted to get to the punchline so I knew what and how I would be fighting. In a way I was looking forward to it, after all I wasn't the helpless little thing he expected and I had a future to fight for.

Aro

I would have liked to have chatted for longer but my daughter was impatient. Perhaps she was even eager to find out her place in this world.

"I understand that you know the how and why of your birth"

She nodded and turned her head as there was a tap on the door. Gianna came in with a tray of food for Bella and a steaming cup of coffee. Putting it down on the table she turned to leave,

"Thank you Gianna"

She turned to look at my daughter,

"You are welcome"

Then she left closing the door quietly.

Bella picked up the cup and sniffed the contents before taking a sip.

"I hope it is to your liking?"

She looked at me and nodded

"Yes thank you. It's very good in fact."

"Good. Now as I was saying you know why you were created."

"I was born Aro not created. I'm still half human remember. I know you were trying to create a cadre of Super Vampires in order to rule the world."

That stopped me dead as Caius grunted and Marcus looked more attentively.

"No my dear. Just gifted vampires who could help us in our work of keeping our world safe."

"Oh really? But a group of gifted vampires loyal to yourself never the less."

"We are all working for the same goal Bella my dear, my brothers and I"

This wasn't going as smoothly as I'd hoped, she had her mothers stubborn streak and outspoken ways. Caius and Marcus had been livid when they found out what I had been doing and it had taken a lot to placate them. Now she was undermining it.

"Bella please. We are all friends here. Lets be amicable shall we?"

Bella

So, he'd been caught out and got his fingers burned, that was an interesting little fact that could be useful to me as a weapon.

"I don't see how demanding that I leave my world for yours is very friendly"

"No perhaps not but it was necessary, as you didn't seem eager to make your own way here and you had been influenced by what we could call a rebel element."

"They didn't influence me, they tried to keep me safe."

"Not very successfully it would seem"

"True but at least they tried. It's difficult to keep someone safe when they wont do as you ask."

"In that case its your own fault you are here. No one else to share the blame"

I nodded and smiled,

"Only myself to blame or thank. I owe allegiance to no one, not even you."

I'd thrown the gauntlet down now and I waited again.

Caius

I hadn't expected to like this daughter of Aro's but she was a fighter and clever with it. This encounter was turning out to be very entertaining and I couldn't see what she was going to say next. I looked across to Marcus and was shocked to see a shadow of a smile play on his face as he regarded her.

"Aro, perhaps Bella would like to rest before continuing this conversation. We must remember she is human and therefore gets tired."

Bella looked at me surprised but smiled a thank you while Aro glared at me but couldn't really argue when Bella yawned widely.

"Thank you Caius, I am very tired."

Aro called on Jane to show Bella to her room and as soon as the door closed on them he turned furious,

"Why did you interrupt Caius?"

"She was tired. I think after a sleep she may see things in a different light. What are your intentions anyway? If you are going to kill her then just get on with it, if you intend changing her get on with that but stop playing games with her. As your daughter she deserves better. You couldn't see anything when you touched her could you?"

Aro shook his head "No she is definitely a shield of some strength"

I turned to Marcus,

"Did you feel any bonds within her? To her late mother? To her father?"

My other brother shook his head,

"No nothing. Whether she was blocking me or whether she has no allegiances I couldn't say. She is unusual for a human. She isn't afraid which means she is either very brave or very stupid and I don't think she's lacking in brains. It will be interesting to continue the conversation when she wakes up"

For Marcus to be interested in anything was a miracle.

Bella

Jane glided fast down the corridor leaving me behind but I just took my time, she'd only have to come back for me. Sure enough she reappeared scowling,

"Come on Isabella, hurry up"

"Shove it up your ass Janie."

She was livid but there was nothing she could do but grit her teeth and carry on.

My room was actually a suite of rooms, very luxurious but still a cell as I heard the key turn in the lock. Gianna had obviously been in here too as there were fresh flowers and a huge bowl of fresh fruit on a table in one corner. Another table held a coffee machine which was already charged and filing the room with its rich aroma.

I wandered through to the bathroom which was equipped with huge white fluffy towels and a selection of bath and shower cremes, shampoos, perfumes, in fact anything you could wish for. The bedroom had a huge bed with richly coloured throws on it and a neatly folded pale blue dressing gown. Curious I opened the drawers, in them were clothes, all my size and all beautifully folded with perfumed sheets between them. I had to smile because although very expensive the clothes were the kind I might have chosen myself so it wasn't someone like Alice who had shopped for me. Thinking of Alice led to thoughts of Jasper and that hurt so I tried to think of our future. I pulled myself together taking a shower before climbing in to the bed. It was soft and comfortable and I fell asleep despite my nerves. My dreams were full of Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte and I woke up with a headache and in a really bad mood.