Chapter Thirty One

Felix

The argument in Aro's chambers was quite amusing but I was about to put the cat among the pigeons because Bella and the others had sent Aro a message. I knocked on the door and waited as the voices stilled,

"Come"

Walking in I handed Aro a letter and backed away to stand by the door, I wanted to see his face when he opened it. There was sure to be a reaction because I couldn't see her and The Major taking this laying down.

He opened it slowly and shook out the letter inside,

"A letter from Bella, how timely"

He stood and read it and even his usually inscrutable face showed surprise and a little annoyance.

"Well don't keep us waiting, what does she say?"

He handed the letter to Caius who scanned it quickly before passing it on to Marcus,

"Just as we feared, they are coming to see us and from the tone of the letter they aren't at all happy. Well it seems we have a situation on our hands Aro."

Caius turned to me,

"You know The Major Felix?"

"Mainly by reputation although we have met. Never in a fight I must add"

"What do you think his reaction will be?"

"I think the more apt question is what is Bella's reaction. She is his mate and if she is upset he will help her"

"Do you think she, they, have a chance against the Guard?"

"If it were him alone I would say no, not against Jane or Alec or even Chelsea but...with Bella's help"

"What about you Felix? Would he stand a chance against you?"

I turned to Aro,

"No, because I wouldn't fight him."

"What?"

"I wouldn't fight him, not over this. If the Brothers were in agreement then yes but I'm not putting my life on the line for a single member of the Volturi."

Caius looked over at me and smiled,

"Well said Felix. I wonder if any of the others feel the same way Aro?"

"That is immaterial now Brother. They are coming and we have to stand together or fall as a Brotherhood"

"What you mean is that we are to be forced to stand by you even though we know you are wrong"

He smile at Marcus and nodded curtly,

"Well I for one am getting a little tired of your games. If we cannot trust each other then we are doomed and you keep proving yourself untrustworthy Brother."

Aro

This hadn't gone the way I had hoped but I would have their support because they couldn't afford to allow the Volturi to look weak.

"Felix, would you be so kind as to ask our guest to join us"

I watched as he left, he would need a close watch after his statement earlier, a shame because I'd always found him so trustworthy up to now. While we waited for Bella's Mother to join us there was an awkward silence, Marcus stood looking at the letter but no longer reading it, while Caius scowled at the room in general. Oh, if only I could rid myself of these two it would be so much easier. As it was I had to watch everything I said or did and wait for the criticism that always came from one or the other. Admittedly by taking Bella's Mother and bringing her here I had made us a target for The Whitlocks I didn't think Bella would risk her Mothers safety by attacking us. I thought she might try a little diplomacy first, the letter seemed to indicate this so I relaxed a little.

Renee

Time passed slowly in this gilded cage and although there were books and a music centre I thought yoga might be better for me, keep me calmer, so I dredged my memory for the yoga classes I'd attended when Bella was at ballet. The memory of Bella sidetracked me. My little girl was all grown up now but where was she? Something told me that Charlie knew more than he was willing to admit, she wasn't dead I knew that as only a mother could. I didn't even think she was in danger, I had the strangest feeling that if I just waited I would get the answer to my questions and possibly even see her again soon. My mother had always said I was slightly psychic, born with the caul over my face which supposedly meant I could sense things outside the normal world. As I was musing on this the door opened slowly and a man stepped in. I use the word with caution because he was the biggest guy I'd ever seen with muscles that almost burst through his clothes. His face was set but I thought there was something a little whimsical in it, as if he were a boy caught in a giant's body, I wasn't scared by his size so much as by his eyes. They were the same vivid red as I remembered from the store although it was a different person, a man not a boy.

"Aro would like to speak to you"

His voice was deep and strangely moving.

"Who is Aro and where am I?"

Felix

This woman was different indeed, not frightened or intimidated by my size, she looked me over and I felt like she had X-ray vision, as if she were peering into my very soul. When I spoke she simply asked her questions and I was at a loss how to reply, I looked into her eyes and felt I was being drawn in like a whirlpool draws the swimmer into its center. She looked away and I felt myself pulled back to reality.

"Aro is one of the leaders of this community, here in Volterra."

"And where exactly is Volterra? My guess would be Italy or Greece although you don't look either Italian or Greek."

Her voice cause a shiver down my spine, was she some kind of witch?

"Italy."

I was unable to form a sentence and as she smiled at me my whole body seemed to warm, a sensation I had never felt before.

"Tell me about yourself, your name, where you come from"

"Why?"

"Because I'm interested."

"My name is Felix and I'm one of the Volturi Guard."

"And what exactly is the Volturi Felix?"

"I'm not sure it's for me to explain that to you. Aro will explain everything when we get to him."

She hopped off the window seat and took my arm, surprising me further,

"Well lets not keep this Aro waiting then"

Aro

I waited impatiently, what was taking Felix so long? I tapped my feet watched by Caius until the door opened and the woman Renee came in accompanied by a slightly bemused looking Felix. She removed her hand from his arm and smiled at him,

"Thank you Felix"

Then turned to look at us, her eyes moving from one to the other and seeing more than I thought possible. Then she walked over to stand before me,

"I take it you are Aro, perhaps you could tell me what I'm doing here."

I smiled and took her hand in mine, she flinched slightly at my icy touch but didn't pull away. Her thoughts were cloudy, jumbled, and I wondered if she had the kernel of Bella's gift in her.

"I take it you aren't just shaking hands with me and I doubt it's a form of sex so what exactly are you hoping to do?"

I looked at her slightly shocked and dropped her hand,

"Allow me to introduce you, I am Aro as you guessed and these are my Brothers Caius and Marcus."

The other two nodded their heads to her but neither spoke.

"Well now we've been introduce perhaps you could tell me why I'm here? I don't suppose its a social visit and my guess would be you have something to do with Bella's disappearance."

I'm on the road for three weeks from tomorrow so posting will be erratic but I will still be writing and please review if you can. Jules x