Chapter Fifty One

Aro

At last a reaction. Bella didn't seem surprised to see Alice here, just angry. I watched with interest as her face darkened further with rage,

"I don't know how you have the courage to face me after all you've done"

Alice smiled a little timidly,

"I'm sorry Bella, but he is my father too and he asked for my help."

"You can have him."

Alice looked at me and shook her head but I encouraged her with a gesture.

"Perhaps you two would like some time. Come brothers let us leave my daughters alone to talk"

I hoped sense might reign when Alice had spoken to Bella alone, I didn't want an open chasm between myself and my daughter or my two daughters, it might be dangerous.

Bella

I just looked at Alice in disbelief,

"Bella? Look I'm sorry but he is my father, the only family I've ever really had and I wanted to help him"

"Oh you helped him Alice with your deceit and double-crossing, all at the expense of those who loved you and saw you as family."

"Bella there's really no reason for us to be enemies. After all we are sisters."

I wanted to wipe that stupid smile off her pretty little face but I wanted to keep my hands intact so,

"What? We're not sisters. You may accept Aro as your father but he'll never be mine, you bitch. I suppose you had a really good laugh pretending to be my friend while all along you were setting me up"

She just looked hurt sighing deeply and shaking her head,

"I did tell Aro it wouldn't help, my talking to you."

I couldn't take any more so I grabbed her by the designer shirt she was wearing,

"Why did you do it Alice? Put everyone in danger, everyone who helped you, the Cullens, The Whitlocks, even Charlie."

She bit her lip then frowned,

"I never hurt anyone really, just deceived them enough to get what I wanted."

"Alice, I may not be able to hurt you but I'm going to have a really good try if you don't start talking sense. Edward told me he was looking after me when Jasper had to go back to Forks and all because of you. It's all been because of you."

"I'm afraid I was the one you should have been suspicious of all along not Edward, poor idiot. I was working for Aro. It was him who changed me and sent me to be found by The Major and the others so I'd be in a good position when you finally surfaced in Forks."

"Yes, I know. Carlisle told me everything"

" Well then you must understand. He's my only family Bella."

"What about the Cullens? Don't they count as family?"

"No. They were kind enough but they aren't blood Bella"

"Blood? That's good coming from a vampire!"

She glared at me then a smile lit up her face,

"Bella, whatever I did won't change the future you know. Our father thinks he can have us all together here like a happy family under his rule but I know you wont stay and they can't force you to. Aro was relying on me talking to you to change your mind but I knew this conversation would have another consequence. You had to come eventually, he'd have forced you if I didn't intervene. I can tell you that you'll get your happy ever after with Jasper"

"How do you know he can't force me to stay? And why are you telling me anyway?"

" Because I don't like competition Bella and how exactly are they going to stop you Bella? You are a shield, they can't touch you, you can repel them all. I'm telling you because I saw something and as big a bitch as I am I couldn't stand by and watch a good man go down if I could help."

"I'm supposed to believe you are telling me this for Jasper's sake now? And I'm going to believe that? Go on then, tell me how you think I get out of here"

She shrugged,

"Easy, tell them you'll actively disrupt the Volturi if they make you stay. You could you know, you could shield against any of them, send their gifts back at them. Aro won't see the danger but the others will, their only stipulation will be that you never raise a hand against them. You can agree to that although what they could do if you broke your word I'm not sure. It would be next to impossible. Their biggest problem with you is that they have no one to threaten as surety for your good behaviour."

I had to smile inwardly because what she'd said was exactly the same strategy as Jasper and I had worked out a few nights ago, for once the little bitch was actually telling the truth, although she must know about Jasper and I. She must have seen it so why hadn't she told anyone here? Alice had her own agenda, I just didn't know what it was yet.

Aro

We were waiting when Bella and Alice came back and to my horror it was Bella looking triumphant not my dear Alice.

"Aro. I've spoken to Alice and nothing she says makes any difference, I'm leaving but I will give my word I won't break the secret or use my shield in any way to harm the Volturi unless to defend myself."

I was still looking at Alice who shook her head slightly and I knew I'd lost Bella, at least for now. We just didn't have the leverage to prevent her going but I would have her watched, things changed, things always did.

"Very well my dear, although it pains me that you don't want to live here with your family."

Caius was watching Alice too and seemed content that she was right. Marcus however had a scowl on his usually impassive face but when I queried it he looked at Alice and Bella and shook his head.

"I found Bella entertaining. I am sorry you are leaving us Bella" He bowed to her and walked from the room with Caius.

"This is goodbye then Bella. Such a pity, but I shall hold you to your promise."

"You do that Aro, and I'll hold you to yours"

I stopped at that,

"I'm sorry? I don't remember making any promises to you Bella"

"As you fathered me you automatically made a promise not to see any harm come to me. Please remember that Aro before sending anyone else after me, because I shall see any broken pledge from you as permission to break my own"

Marcus

I waited for Bella in the outer corridor, I needed to speak to her alone, Bella may be just what I had waited for all these years. The one who had the ability to stand up to Aro, the only one who had that ability, and ironically he had given her the very weapon that might possibly destroy him. When she came through the door she was accompanied by Alice which was a bonus, it would be easier to persuade Alice to allow me to see Bella off.

"Alice, may I be allowed a short time with Bella before she leaves. I will be sure to accompany her."

"Certainly Marcus. Goodbye Bella"

Alice turned with a knowing smile and went back the way she had come, what she was scheming I had no idea but that she was I was certain. Would she tell Aro that I had met with his daughter?

Bella

So Marcus wanted to speak to me, I wondered if he thought I was a weapon he and Caius could wield against Aro. What they all failed to understand was that none of them could control me. Jasper and I had discussed this endlessly and we both knew I was invulnerable to any threats except those to the ones I love and Charlie was safe with the Quileutes which just left Jazz, and I could and would protect him. Gone was the quiet and nervous Bella Swan, I was now daughter of the Mighty Aro and mate to The God of War, an entirely new person and this Bella would stand for no interference.

"Marcus. What can I do for you?"

"Straight to the point Bella, one of your more endearing qualities to someone like me. I wanted to know what you planned on doing when you left us? I have the strangest feeling that we will be meeting again in the future."

"Only if Aro or the rest of the Volturi decide to meddle in my life again. If not I am content to keep my promise."

He smiled and nodded,

"And you expect Aro to keep his promise to you?"

"I expect nothing Marcus and I will be ready to react to whatever he decides to do. I only ask one thing"

"Oh and what is that?"

"To be left alone with my mate. I have no wish to fight anyone but if we are threatened then I will, and I think with The Major standing at my side we are most formidable."

"You are indeed your father's daughter."

"I'll accept that as a compliment Marcus, now was there something else?"

"Yes. This is rather delicate but I think you already know how Caius and I feel about Aro's actions in creating you and the others."

"He was trying to build an army loyal only to him to take over the Volturi completely. After all he couldn't rely on Chelsea to keep everyone in line for ever, now could he?"

"True. We both think it would be unwise to let Aro become too powerful. Too much power corrupts."

"And?"

"Could I ask you to at least consider standing with us if there ever came a time when it was thought politic to confront Aro?"

"Well that's quite a mouthful. In essence you want to know if we'd fight with you when you take Aro on. It would be something to think about."

That was the best he was going to get from me. I had no idea if the other two brothers were working alone, as puppets of Aro to test my loyalty, or if Marcus were feeling his way alone.