Chapter Forty Eight

Bella

I knew Renee had something in mind when she didn't give Alice an ultimatum there and then and I waited expectantly.

"Well it seems Alice is holding out for a free pass against Jaspers revenge. Do you have anything you want to say Jasper?"

"Just that whatever the Volturi decides Alice Cullen is going to pay for what she did to Bella."

"Are you warning us against offering her refuge?"

"No, merely stating the facts. Alice wont stay in Volterra and when she leaves I'll be waiting."

Renee smiled,

"That could make things a little difficult for us but I understand your point of view. Caius, Marcus, do either of you want to say anything, either in response to Alice's offer, or Jaspers response?"

Caius shrugged,

"I think we should give Alice a counter offer. Tell us who the new Carlisle is and in return we wont kill her ourselves."

"Marcus?"

He looked up absently and I saw a smile play on his usually blank face,

"Oh I think you already have a plan Renee, why don't you tell the rest of us"

Renee

I looked at Marcus, he saw far more than most people gave him credit for, and as usual he was right.

"I don't think the Volturi can afford not to get the information Alice Cullen has but I'm not happy about giving her a get out of jail free card in respect of Bella. After all she is my daughter and because of Alice's inaction she, myself and Charlie all had no choice but to become vampires or die. Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone here. I'm willing for the Volturi to offer Alice security as long as she stays here, from Jasper, that's what she's asking for after all. I don't think we should extend that security outside the walls of the town. In return she puts us in contact with Carlisle's successor. I'm sure we can make an arrangement with him, but no changing humans unless there is a very good reason and because they may be gifted doesn't rate as a very good reason. I don't want any more Bella's on the Volturi's hands. Are you in agreement with this so far?"

I looked at Marcus who nodded slowly, then at Caius knowing he would have something to say, he always did.

"It sounds fine to me as far as it goes but I doubt you've finished yet."

"Well I did have a little extra something, just to keep Alice in line."

"Oh?"

"I think she should be warned that if she leaves Volterra the bargain is nullified, in fact we would pass such information straight to Jasper."

"So we get Alice's gift as a bonus. That sounds like a good idea to me. What about the "Would be King of the Vampires"?"

"I think the name of that person has to be part of the deal although I think Alice might hold out for a better deal from us for that information."

"Why isn't Alice sitting with a satisfied smirk on her face having seen the outcome of all this?"

I smiled at Caius,

"Oh I think she's having difficulty with her gift just at present"

His eyes glittered,

"You wouldn't be interfering with her visions would you Renee?"

I didn't answer him just smiled.

Jasper

I wasn't happy, Alice had a way of wriggling free of any constraints put on her and I couldn't see her remaining long in Volterra.

"How do you intend keeping an eye on Alice? You are aware she will find a loophole in your conditions."

"Oh I'm counting on that Jasper. Alice is probably more dangerous to the Volturi than any other vampire, she can't be trusted and her loyalty has just been shown to be questionable"

Renee smiled,

"You know she'll be out of here soon with an assurance that she will stay under the protection of the Volturi from me?"

"Yes. Alice will talk you round, she knows she always can so why would this be any different?"

Caius smiled broadly as he saw the point of all this,

"So Alice stays for a while then talks her way out of her parole thinking she can return to the outside world sure she is safe from The Major?"

"Yes."

"Don't you think she'll see the other danger?"

Caius was asking the questions running through my own mind.

"From Bella? Of course."

He frowned,

"Then how will you come to an agreement she will be happy with?"

"My dear Caius, Alice Cullen will never leave Volterra alive whatever she agrees to and however comfortable she feels with her safeguards"

What did Renee have in mind?

Alice

It wasn't long before I heard voices then Felix opened the door and escorted me back to the meeting chamber. It seemed no one had moved and all had serious faces when I went back in except Jasper and Bella, they looked unhappy and I thought just perhaps I'd pulled it off after all.

"Alice, please be seated"

I nodded at Renee's invitation and sat back between her and Charlotte.

"So have you come to any decision?

"Yes we have. While unhappy that you aren't prepared to hand over your information freely we do understand that you feel you need protection from certain members of this gathering. We are prepared to offer you sanctuary within the town walls for as long as you think you need it."

"No, I want to be able to travel outside Volterra."

"Then we would be unable to guarantee your safety. You are hardly going to travel with the Volturi guard are you?"

"You could ask for an agreement not to harm me."

"We could, would that be acceptable to you Alice?"

I thought about this, it seemed a little too easy but I couldn't see the trap if there was one.

"In return for which we would want the name of your informant and the party interested in staging the so called coup."

Renee

I watched Alice's mind work overtime to pick holes in the offer.

"I get an agreement that Jasper and Bella will leave me alone, even if I leave Volterra?"

I looked at my daughter and her mate questioningly, Bella nodded unhappily and Jasper took even longer to agree but finally we heard a low

"Yes".

Alice brightened then,

"In that case I think I can see my way clear to giving you the information you want."

"Very well, we'll get an agreement written and signed Alice. Then it is for you to decide whether to stay here in Volterra or travel."

Alice still looked nervously at Jasper as I spoke and I didn't blame her. I wasn't at all sure that any agreement would stop him if he decided Alice should pay for Bella's transformation, but Alice wouldn't be going anywhere and she would feel the force of Volturi justice.