Chapter Seventy Two

Peter

Bella was on edge and I knew she wanted desperately to do something but was being held back by this business with the Volturi so I was relieved when the invitation arrived a couple of days later. Interestingly it had been signed by Caius and Marcus and not by Aro which pointed to a reversal in the power structure.

"Great another trip to Italy. I'm beginning to like garlic!"

"Peter, who said you were invited?"

"Oh come on Char, I've behaved myself, can I come? Eh can I come? Pretty please, pretty please with bells on?"

Bella walked downstairs at this point,

"You can come Peter, but best behaviour"

"Yeah I get to go"

She laughed and I picked her up in my excitement and twirled her around. She looked a little apprehensive but Jazz just sighed,

"Put the pretty dolly down Peter".

I did so with a huff of disappointment,

"You spoil all my fun Major."

Bella

We flew back to Italy and I had a good feeling about the visit, the power had shifted and my dear father was no longer the one holding the reins. I didn't trust the other two brothers either but they knew what I was capable of which made them cautious. We were met at the airport by a gleaming car complete with chauffeur and I threw a warning glance at Peter who mimed zipping his lips but still managed to wrangle a front seat with the driver. Jasper, Charlotte, and I sat together in the back not talking just looking out the heavily tinted windows. We had nothing to say, all the talking was over, it was down to Marcus and Caius now and I was content to sit in Jasper's embrace, feeling his all encompassing love for me.

The car finally pulled up outside the Clock Tower and the chauffeur opened the doors for us. He had a strained look on his face and I guessed Peter had given him a hard time on the drive here but the look on my friends face was so angelic when he joined us that I just shook my head at him and he grinned. Waiting in the reception area were Jane and Felix but their attitude was markedly different this time. Jane was almost pleasant although you could see it grated with her. Felix meanwhile was busy eyeing up the guys and I could see he would love to get into it with them but again orders had been given and he just watched as we made our way along the corridors to the Audience Chamber. The doors were already open to welcome us in and seated in two of the three wooden chairs behind a long heavy wooden table were Caius and Marcus. The third empty chair, mute testament to the fall of my father from grace.

Marcus stood and bowed a little woodenly as if he were stiff then spoke,

"Bella, how good of you to accept our invitation and your friends, please be seated."

He gestured to chairs ranged the other side of the table. I sat along with Charlotte but the guys stood behind us, alert for trouble.

"I can assure you that we mean no harm"

Caius tried to reassure them but Jasper just folded his arms and stared back, Peter mirroring him behind Charlotte's chair.

"Very well. We received your message the other day and please believe me when I tell you how surprised we were to find out that Aro and Carlisle were working together. As you can see he is no longer with us, treachery is not to be tolerated even in the highest of positions."

"Where is he?" I asked briskly.

"He is, sadly, no longer in Volterra."

"I'll ask again. Where is he?"

"He could no longer be trusted and as such we had no choice but to terminate him."

"So he's dead?"

"Alas yes."

"So what was it you wanted to discuss Caius?"

"We understand that the business with your father has rather soured relations between yourselves and the Volturi and we would like to put that situation right if we can"

"How do you propose doing that Caius?"

"We thought you might be interested in taking your father's place on the governing body here. You are a good tactician and a formidable talent."

"Thank you for the offer Caius but I don't think so. I would however like to suggest someone for the post."

"Oh really? Who?"

He was curious and Marcus leaned forward too,

"Alice Cullen."

The room went silent at that, even Peter looked stunned.

"Alice Cullen? Your sister? But didn't she work with Aro"

"Yes. She was a loyal daughter to him. Would there be a problem with that?"

"I'm sure she would be only too happy to take the position but isn't she an enemy of yours?"

"Not really. Alice would be a very good member of the Volturi governing body. She would keep you all honest if nothing else. After all who could develop a plan like Aro's without her seeing?"

I saw the look of understanding in Marcus eyes, he knew I was right, Alice was the only one who could do that and she would guard her power closely.

"Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?" I asked them with a smile.

They looked at each other and shook their heads,

"Good then I would like to say a few things to you. Would it be possible to ask Alice to join us?"

"I'm afraid she left soon after you sent your message."

I smiled,

"Oh I think Alice saw her future."

We all turned as the doors opened and a smiling Alice skipped in,

"Bella, Jazz, Peter, Char. So nice to see you again. Thank you Bella, I don't deserve this but I will take it with the greatest of pleasure."

She walked round the table to take Aro's chair and sat back,

"Please carry on Bella"

Alice

Bella had outmanoeuvred us all, she was indeed our fathers daughter. I would be her guarantee of safety from the Volturi. There was nothing they could plan without my knowing about it. I would keep them all honest and she knew that. I listened to her next words with interest,

"I have a couple of small problems that I would like the Volturi help with."

"Of Course Bella if we can" Marcus bowed his head again,

"Maria. She has been a thorn in my side and I'd like you to pull it."

Alice's eyes narrowed for a second and she looked at the others,

"Bella, Maria is a stabilizing influence in the South. Without her there would be another outbreak like the Southern Vampire Wars."

"I don't ask that you destroy her. Just rein her in and make sure she knows that me and mine are off-limits."

"That seems a simple enough thing" Caius agreed,

"Thank you, because I would hate to have to deal with her myself, but I will if circumstances dictate."

They nodded,

"And your other problem?"

"Well its more a question of information really. I want to know the names of all Aro's children and I want them left alone, if there are any others still alive. I think there is at least one, am I right?"

Jasper squeezed my shoulder but Peter looked dumbfounded,

"We missed one?"

I looked at him and nodded,

"Yes, because like Alice, that one never left the protection of the Volturi, but unlike Alice they never knew their roots."