Chapter Forty One

Aro

I wasn't surprised that Edward and Carlisle were kept away from my meeting with Caius and Marcus. We needed to regroup and I had to put the best possible spin on my little trip. When I walked into the audience chamber Caius sat alone reading but he got up to welcome me,

"Aro back at last. I assume you brought the guard back with you?"

"Unfortunately Caius I was ambushed by Major Whitlock and his army of supporters. He's involved with Bella, Edward Cullens ex-wife who turned out not to be dead after all. They killed Felix, Chelsea, and Heidi"

"An army? How could they defeat the likes of Heidi and Chelsea? What about Marcus? How long do you think it will be before he realizes he isn't under her control any longer? You really made a mess of things this time."

"It doesn't matter Caius, I brought back Carlisle and Edward Cullen to join us and if Marcus causes trouble then I'm afraid he will have to go the way of his wife. Sad but unavoidable."

"What about me Aro? Where do I fit in your new improved Volturi? You didn't mention bringing Bella the super gifted vampire with you."

"I already told you she has joined forces with The Major but I did get an undertaking from them that they would stay away from the Volturi."

"It's a shame you weren't able to use Chelsea's gift on her but then you seem to be throwing away all our gifted guards Aro and it took many years to find them. Do you have a new supply? And is there anything else you need to tell me?"

"Such as brother?"

The door opened and Marcus walked in, so he hadn't left after all? Perhaps he had thought better of it after all, at least here he had his books and privacy plus a level of control over our world and who could resist that?

"Marcus, its good to see you again. I was just telling Caius about Bella and The Major."

Marcus smiled and glanced at Caius which concerned me slightly, I put my hand out to shake his but he merely looked at it then smiled at me,

"Oh I don't think I want you rummaging around in my thoughts Aro, not yet. Have you told Caius about the Romanians? I understand from Carlisle that you had a... how should I put it?... Run in with them."

"Yes but I overcame them. They are much too weak and wary to cause any major concern to the Volturi but I would like to know who told them where I was."

Marcus shook his head,

"How could we? You weren't specific in your destination when you left Volterra. You have enemies Aro."

They knew a lot more than I had hoped they would and I was feeling uneasy even with Renata at my back, usually I would have dispensed with her services once in Volterra but I was being cautious and it seemed I had need to be.

The door opened and Alec came back in with Edward and Carlisle and they were greeted by my brothers. I gestured Alec to come to my side,

"I hope the loss of your sister hasn't pained you too much Alec but I'm sure we can give you an opportunity to avenge her death."

Alec didn't answer he just looked at me but then he was never very garrulous.

Marcus

Aro still believed he could find a way out of the hole he had dug himself and it was amusing to see him squirm but Caius was impatient as ever and I was happy for him to act.

"Carlisle, Edward, will you be joining the Volturi?"

Edward nodded and stepped forward eagerly like a child being offered the keys to the sweet shop while Carlisle was more hesitant. He knew what was coming.

"Good, we welcome you both. How about you Alec? Are you staying in the guard?"

Aro looked at Caius,

"Am I missing something Caius?"

"Yes I think you are Aro. I think you missed the part where we decided you had become a liability to the Volturi as well as being a murderer, and of your own sister."

Aro looked around wildly before asking Alec for help but Alec had already made his decision in our favour and merely shook his head then glanced at me. I nodded and Renata seeing what was coming and valuing her own life stepped away from Aro. He ran for the door but Alec's gift caught up with him and he came to a stop, eyes vacant and mouth open, as all his senses shut down. I looked at Caius who shrugged then nodded and watched as I set fire to the still figure of my brother in law,

"Go to hell Aro. This is for Didyme"

Carlisle

So Aro's reign was over and the remaining two brothers were going to work together to rebuild the Volturi. They were aware that the Romanians posed a threat as long as it was thought the Volturi were infighting. Once they realized that Marcus and Caius had destroyed Aro and taken the reins of power for themselves and still had Alec plus Edward with them they would fade back into obscurity.

"Carlisle. We have a task for you, someone needs to tell Stefan and Vladimir that it is business as usual with the Volturi so they can retreat into their castle once more."

I looked at Edward but he was busy taking his place beside Caius, obviously he wasn't concerned about my leaving Volterra, he had something to keep him occupied until my return but he did drive me to the airport in Pisa and wait for my flight to be called,

"You are coming back Carlisle aren't you? I'll miss you while you're away."

He took my hand in his and squeezed it,

"Take care"

The flight back to the states was uneventful and gave me time to think about all that had happened since Bella's "fatal flight". At least now Edward and I were recognised as a couple and had a new life in Volterra. He would be far happier there now, having a position of power and I didn't expect to be away for long. I would contact the Romanians and arrange for our things to be shipped to Italy. I wondered of I would see Esme. I would have liked to say goodbye properly, after all she had been very good to me over the years and I was upset about the way she found out about my real mate, but it was too late to do anything about that now. I hired a car and drove back to Forks having arranged for a shipping agent to pick up the packed boxes the next day.

As I drove up to the house I could see another car parked outside and recognised it as Esmes. So I might be able to talk to her after all. She'd heard my car and came to the top of the steps but when she saw it was me she went back inside closing the door after her. I followed her in calling her name and she stood at the top of the stairs a case in her hand.

"What do you want Carlisle?"

"I wanted to apologise."

"What for exactly? Lying to me all these years? Carrying on an illicit relationship with our "son" behind my back? Letting me find out by overhearing your dirty little secret? Don't bother, I'm not interested in anything you have to say. Now get out of my way, I want to leave."

"There's no need Esme, the house is yours. We, I'm, moving to Volterra. I'll make sure you are well looked after"

"Like you have all these years? The only question I have is why you bothered with me at all? Was I a convenient smokescreen for the wonderful Dr Cullen? No don't bother telling me, I don't care any longer."

She came down the stairs and side-stepped me.

"Where are you going?"

"Why? What does it matter to you where I go?"

"I like to think you won't be alone Esme"

"Oh I won't be alone Carlisle, not while the demons of our life together still haunt me."

"Our life together wasn't that bad Esme. We had good times."

"Yes all built on a lie Carlisle. How you and Edward must have laughed at my naivety."

She opened the front door and walked to her car throwing the case to join two others in the trunk. I followed her taking hold of her arm,

"I don't want us to part like this Esme."

"I don't care what you want any longer Carlisle now let go of me."

She pulled free, got in her car and drove away without a backward glance.