Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.

Special thanks to Gredelina1, Augustmoon and Mary-Alice-Brandon-Cullen for pre-reading this. This was beta'd by Maxipoo1024 from Sparkly Red Pen.

~ Chapter Twenty-Three — Preparations ~

Isabella POV

I was pleased to learn the secondary guard were not only assembled but also prepared when I arrived home. No sooner than I arrived, I turned around again and made the journey back to the airport.

As we flew through the skies to Romania, I thought over my parting with Jasper. I had to hide my excitement at the oncoming fight in the face of his fear. He was scared and desperate as he could not fight with me; not because he was thirsting for the action, but because he could not protect me. I had a moment's hesitation in which I considered the possibility of bowing out of the fight and staying with him but duty overcame it. I could not leave others to fight for me; it was not who I was. As we parted, he implored me to be safe and to hurry back to him. I would.

As the plane began to descend, I felt the stirrings of excitement rise up in me. This was going to be positively thrilling. I could see the same excitement in Caius. His expression remained disinterested, but there was a gleam in his eyes that belied his true feelings. This was where we excelled. Aro on the other hand seemed resolutely calm. He did not relish the battle the way we did; his pleasures were to be found in the day to day execution of his power. Marcus had stayed behind in the castle, but I knew well how he would look if he was here: uncomfortable and fearful. He was not one for the action.

We landed at the airport in Satu Mare and hired cars to get us out of the city unobtrusively. Because of the amount of humans close by, we had to wear civilian clothes for most of the journey. The Romanians' lair was located deep within the Carpathian mountains. Only when we got to the deep forest area surrounding the mountains were we able to leave the vehicles behind and to don our cloaks.

I felt the shift in me as I slipped my inky black robe over my shoulders. I was no longer Jasper's Isabella but Isabella of the Volturi. I was a completely different person.

We made our way through the forest swiftly. There was something about travelling at speed with a group that I always enjoyed. I imagined pack animals felt the same way. It was a combination of the power you held as a team and the thrill of being surrounded by possible predators. At any moment we could lose our easy camaraderie and fight. It was Chelsea that bound most of us together, the only exceptions being myself and my brothers. We held genuine affection for one another.

As we got closer to the Romanians' lair, we heard the signs of the newborns' presence. Snarls and growls reached us followed by the sound of colliding bodies. Maria, it seemed, was not controlling them as well as she had been.

We drew to a halt and the guard positioned themselves around us forming the V formation we always used when going into battle. To Aro's mind it was an sign of civility that we did not race into a fight like heathens. Caius and I thought different; it was an intimidation tactic. You would see only one at first, and then as we drew closer the arcs of the V would stretch out showing exactly how many of us there were. It was a magnificent sight when we were all formed.

Aro stood and the centre flanked by Caius and I. Jane was beside me and Alec beside Caius. They were given this place of preference as they would be our greatest weapons in this fight. Alec would incapacitate the newborns for ease of destruction, and Jane would be used to teach – or at least to try to teach – Stefan and Vladimir why they should not plot against us. I would also use her on Maria to teach her a very different lesson. I had promised Jasper I would not kill her; he never said anything about outright torture.

Slowly, we approached the lair. I knew the moment we were heard as the snarls cut off abruptly, leaving momentary silence before they erupted into hisses. This was a moment I loved, when the accused realized we were coming.

We passed through the trees and into the two acre clearing surrounding the Romanians' decrepit castle. It was little more than ruins now. Only a small hall the size of the feeding room was still standing. This was where Stefan and Vladimir sat upon their thrones. They were nowhere in sight, but I knew once they heard our voices they would come. They could not resist.

We came to a halt and the guard fanned out around us and came to stand in a long line of bodies - another intimidation technique we employed.

"Demetri," I whispered. "Which is the shield?"

"On the right of Maria," he answered.

I looked and saw a slight figure standing at Maria's side. Other than the unnaturally enhanced beauty of our kind she was unremarkable looking. I felt for her with my own shield, wanting to know if I could siphon her gift for myself but was unable. There was nothing there for me to touch; it was as if she didn't exist.

The newborns were in fighting crouches, snarling at us. They had evidently been taught the significance of our black cloaks. I wondered what Maria had told them to expect of us to make them prepared to fight. Only Maria and the shield stood proud and tall as they faced us.

"This is quite the gathering of our kind," Aro said loudly.

"It is indeed," a familiar voice replied. Stefan had come from the ruins or the castle; Vladimir was only a step behind him.

"Isabella," he said. "It is always a pleasure to see you."

"The pleasure is all mine," I lied smoothly. This was all part of the routine. We behaved like old friends visiting rather than the mortal enemies we really were.

"And Aro and Caius, too," Stefan added. "I wish we could extend you the same compliment. Unfortunately it would be a lie."

Aro smiled sardonically. "Alas, I too am saddened to be here. I had hoped you would have given up your ideas of revenge after our last encounter. You know you cannot prevail, and yet you continue to try. We have allowed you your liberty. Does that not satisfy you? Why must you flout the laws of our kind by producing an army such as this?"

"They are not our laws," Vladimir spat. "We do not recognize you as our rulers; your laws mean nothing to us. You are merely usurpers of our power, caretakers of the throne. We shall destroy you and then ascend to rule once again."

Caius sneered at them. I was tempted to do the same, but my blank mask remained in place. I would not allow them to see his words had even registered with me, let alone affected me.

"Refute them as you will. They are nonetheless the rules," Aro said. "You have risked the secret and for that you must face judgment. However, it gives me no pleasure to destroy you; I shall offer a bargain of sorts. If you disband this army of yours, we shall allow you to live free once again. Do you accept?"

Stefan spat on the floor. That was answer enough.

"This saddens me," Aro lied. "We must counsel."

Caius and I turned so we were facing Aro and we began the charade of counsel. This was the first time I had been involved in counsel before accused. I did not allow myself to forget the solemnity of the occasion, though I wanted to smile foolishly.

"We all know what we must do," Caius said. "They must be destroyed, Stefan and Vladimir with them. The violation this time was too great."

"Isabella?" Aro prodded.

I had to make my answer fast. The newborns were barely clinging to their restraint. Maria may have trained them well, but faced with so many of us, there was no option but to fight. Even as we watched, their feet twitched as if they were fighting against the urge to charge us. One broke from the group and charged forward.

"Jane."

Needing no more that Aro's word to instruct her, Jane fixed her gaze on the newborn and narrowed her eyes. It dropped to the floor, screaming shrilly as her gift created agonizing pain. No sooner than it had begun it stopped. Jane looked thoroughly confused. She reached out a hand to Aro and he took it immediately.

He concentrated for a moment as he read her thoughts. His eyes widened in shock.

"Alec."

Just as with Jane the call of his name told Alec all he needed to know. He stared out at the mass of newborns and his shimmering mist crept towards them. I watched, waiting for the moment it would freeze them, but it never came. The mist reached a point ten feet in front of Vladimir and Stefan and then stopped as if reaching a wall.

Vladimir and Stefan smiled in unison. Whatever was happening it was no shock to them. Though I was thoroughly confused.

"The shield," Aro muttered.

"We are not undefended this time," Vladimir said with satisfaction. "The witch twins will not be able to defend you. This time we will fight as equals."

I hissed. This complicated matters. I had no doubt we would be victorious if we fought, but it would not be without losses to our side. The secondary guard were expendable, but as I looked along our lined rank I saw faces I cared about. Demetri, Felix, my brothers. I did not want to risk them, but to walk away from a fight went against everything I believed in.

"We have counseled," Aro said loftily. "And it has been decided that you may keep you guard now, but you must ensure they remain unnoticed. We will not hesitate to return should you expose us."

"Great words from a coward," Stefan said in a mocking tone. "You are bested and you know it."

"We are granting you a reprieve," I said loudly. "Do not tempt us."

"Oh, Isabella," Vladimir said. "It pains me to do this to you, but I have no choice… Now!"

His word was a command as one the newborns charged at us.

"Run!" The shout came from Aro, but I ignored it. I was not a coward. I would not leave this fight.

I saw my comrades fleeing from the approaching newborns, and fury burned in my heart. Caius and Aro were already gone. Renata ran with them, attempting to shield Aro despite the speed he was moving at.

They ran away and I ran forward. I met with a newborn head on and tore its head from its body with a triumphant roar.

"Isabella!" Aro's voice called to me, but I ignored it. I wanted to fight.

My easy decapitation of the newborn served to warn some of its fellows from opposing me but not all. A wiry male came at me from the side and I landed a kick in its gut.

Arms wrapped around my chest and I was sure it was over. The strength of a newborn was enough to crush me by force alone. I struggled but the grip around me tightened and I prepared myself for it to be over.

Jasper's face superimposed itself over my vision and I felt a pang of grief for him. I always knew our relationship would doom him; now he would know the pain of losing his mate.

I fixated on his image and prepared for it to be over.

Thanks for reading. If you would like a teaser of the next chapter let me know in a review or a PM.

Simaril x