Muahahahahaha! Yes, you all love to hate me right now but I won't keep this from you any longer. But, with Christmas coming up updates may slow down a bit but I will still post as often as possible.

Mega reviews last chapter, even if most were begging for more but all still very appreciated...any body guess what happened next?

Hope you enjoy my little twist.

Xxx

"Then may we meet her? I am told she is with you?" Aro queried, eyes narrowing as he saw only the Denali's known to him. "I requested her attendance, where is she?" Aro bellowed and glared at the Denali's. "This is not acceptable," he roared.

"I am here," Victoria's voice rang out clearly but it took a moment for the assembled vampires to locate her presence, finally seeing her crouching on a carved buttress that was supporting the vaulted roof. Aro's eyes widened in shock and the room was filled with the whispers of the assembled vampires.

"Valkyrie?" Aro seemed disbelieving and kept his eyes trained on the red-head as she gracefully dropped the forty feet from the ceiling to stand before him, as she did several members of the Volturi, including the guard dropped to one knee and the Denali's were shocked by events as they watched the scene unfold.

"Greetings, Father. It has been many years," Victoria stepped forward and was welcomed in Aro's arms.

Father? Bella and Rose were not the only ones her greeting shocked.

"It has been so long, I feared you gone from this life," Aro broke the embrace and held the red-head at arms length to study her. He looked, happy, and not the fake happiness Bella had seen him exhibit on her previous visit. This seemed genuine. "How is my avenging angel, slayer of armies?"

"I am well and I am here," Victoria's reply was typically brusque. "But I insist that you end this charade. I should kill the boy now," Victoria hissed as Edward who was looking stunned at the turn of events.

"And I am extremely surprised he is still alive knowing he has fought you," Aro mused as he turned his attention to Edward. "I never could see you, your power is very similar to Isabella's," he mused, studying the newborn for a moment. "Very interesting."

"Fought? Victoria hissed and recaptured her father's attention. "He is not capable of fighting me. He attacked my mate, unprovoked," she growled, eyes black. "He is only alive because of the friendship that existed between my coven and his," she snarled and Aro nodded, understanding the matter better now.

"So you are the warrior he speaks of?" Victoria shrugged.

"I have not seen a battle for many years now," she answered. "I have opted for a quieter existence."

"Peaceful?" Aro's brows raised. "The general of my armies, leader of my guard, peaceful?"

"The world is a different place now Father, battles are fought by politicians, not warriors," the red-head replied with a bow of her head.

"Indeed." The Volturi leader paused before continuing to speak. "So, you have not been plotting our downfall with your new coven?" He questioned, throwing a disgusted look at Edward as he did so.

Victoria simply laughed, the sound echoing off the chamber's walls.

"No, although I have found my mates," Victoria smiled confidently. "So, as you can imagine a revolt has been the last thing on my mind," she purred, sending a sexy smirk towards Bella and Rose who returned it. Confused as hell but not immune to their mate's 'charm'.

"Indeed, it is a unique bonding and so powerful." Aro looked around the assembled vampires. "I am sorry for calling you here, it seem our time has been wasted by the child. Take him away I will deal with him later," he gestured to Edward who struggled as two burly guards grabbed him and dragged him away.

"Bella!" Edward cried as they took him.

"Silence boy or I will allow Isabella will take your tongue!" Aro roared, silencing Edward as he was pulled from the room, Bella issuing a satisfied growl at the threat. "Leave us," he dismissed the court with a wave of his hand and moments later the room was mostly empty, only a handful of guards, the Denali's and Aro's closest council.

"I offer you a full apology Tanya Denali, had I known it was Valkyrie that had joined your coven I would have had no doubts. We do not always see eye to eye but we hold a mutual respect for each other." He smiled warmly at his daughter.

"He is your maker?" Bella couldn't hold the question in any longer and blurted it out, much to her consternation and Aro's amusement.

"He is, little one," Victoria nodded at her mate.

"Indeed I am," Aro chuckled. "Once I saw her decimate her enemy in battle how could I not? Yes," Aro continued, "with her help her kin succeeded in conquering many lands in heir human bodies, a great achievement for a relatively primitive people." Victoria growled at the insult and Aro raised his hands in apology. "I am sorry, but as you know I am of Greek descent, a land of learning and art. Anything else seems -, heathen to me. We do not all live for war my dear viking princess. But, it was not just her battle skills that impressed me, she also has a keen mind, and beauty" He reached out to caress Victoria's cheek." He really seemed to care about her but Rose growled when he made contact. Her beast reacting before she could stop it despite the volatile situation they were in.

"So it is true then, you have found your -, mates?" Aro's eyes flicked between the three bond-mates.

"Indeed it is Father, I have known Irina for many, many years then chanced a meeting with the young ones whilst in Brazil. They were kind enough to aid me and I decided to visit. It was shortly after that that the boy attacked and triggered the mating bond," Victoria gave a succinct re-cap of events and Aro absorbed this information.

"Chelsea," he called the blonde vampire forward. "I am just curious," he smiled at Victoria who inclined her head, giving the female vampire permission to approach.

"Good day, Chelsea," Kate purred momentarily distracting the blonde, she paused to give Kate a brief nod but her arousal was not lost on the six succubi.

"Isabella, Rosalie?" Victoria held out her hands and they were accepted by her mates. Victoria then extended her hand to Chelsea who took it and focused her power first identifying their bonds and then trying to manipulate them. She growled in frustration when she was unable to do so, whether it was Bella's power or just the nature of the bond she didn't know but her power was useless.

However, it had shown her that Rosalie was the dominant force in the bond and she eyed her with a new respect as both Victoria and Bella were extraordinarily powerful.

"I'm afraid the bond is unalterable, Master," Chelsea stepped back and bowed to her leader.

"Interesting, but not that it mattered anyway," he mused. "But, you are our guests, we have prepared rooms for you. Valkyrie, I did not have the heart to close down your quarters until your demise had been irrevocably proven."

"Thank you Father." Victoria inclined her head graciously at his words.

"We will talk later," Aro gestured toward one of the still kneeling guard who jumped to attention.

"Follow me please, Mistress," he spoke, his voice gravelly and opened the large door for the Denali's to pass through.

"Thank you, Damon," Victoria greeted the warrior.

"It is good to see you," she smiled and nodded as he crashed his hand to his breastplate in a salute, one which Victoria returned. He led them through the hallways lined with portraits, stopping by a set of double doors. "We have accommodated your coven in the rooms adjacent to your suite," he pushed the doors open and revealed a large room filled with bookcases and various forms of seating.

"Thank you Damon, maybe I will visit you later?" She queried, wanting to catch up with her old friend.

"That would be a pleasure, if that would be acceptable to your mates?" He wisely deferred to Bella and Rose on the matter, not wanting to be the one to anger the valkyrie's mates for who knew what consequences that would bring down.

"We are not her keepers, she may visit whom she chooses", Rose replied, pleased at the show of respect for her and Bella but knowing it was unnecessary, this wasn't some vapid human relationship where adultery may be an issue.

"I will find you when I am done here, Damon," the guard nodded and backed out of the room, closing the main door behind him.

"So, Aro's your maker, huh? Bella squeaked as she stepped forward to tuck herself under Victoria's chin, the ancient resting hands on the newborn's hips but her eyes on the golden ones of her other mate. The red-head shrugged.

"Technically, yes. He has always favoured me and my warriors." She explained, pulling Bella down onto her lap as she sat on a large couch, Rose automatically snuggling up next to her mates, relishing the contact after a stressful day.

"That was a neat trick you pulled today," Tanya joined the conversation, overly relieved that a potential crisis had been averted by their newest member. "So that's why you're always appearing out of nowhere?

"Yes, it's a useful skill, especially for a warrior," she shrugged. "I am only seen when I want to be but there is nothing supernatural about it, only a true manipulation of my abilities." Irina was gazing around the room, the revelations regarding her friend's history had astounded her. Yes, they had talked during their meetings but this had never been mentioned, only that Victoria was able to use her ability to evade capture.

As the nomad finished her eyes tracked to the great broadsword hung above the fireplace, along with her shield, her armour was arranged on a stand by the side of the hearth.

The Denali's caught the look and saw the items they had previously missed, A fine sword, larger and heavier than a human woman should have been able to carry and the armour intricately detailed in gold and silver, a phoenix crest upon the breastplate, mirroring that on the shield, it was truly a work of art.

"That's yours?" Bella marvelled. Rose was also impressed and more than a little turned on that this beautiful creature, her mate, was so powerful but had submitted to her so completely.

"Yes, I have many more in storage but that is my favourite," Victoria replied as she inhaled the brunette's unique scent.

Rose had listened intently to her mate's story, it was fascinating and she had many questions but most of those could wait.

"Why did you leave?" She asked as she placed a soft kiss on Victoria's cheek.

"The world began to change, I prefer the quiet to the bustle and politicking that goes on here," the nomad explained as she idly slid her hand under Bella's shirt and caressed the soft skin on the newborn's back

"Damon, was he one of your original warriors?" Kate asked the question that had been on her mind and Victoria nodded.

"Yes, there were thirty of us originally, only five remain, time has claimed many but there are others I have fought alongside over the years that have earned my respect, and friendship," she confirmed with a smile.

"Why haven't I heard of you before? I lived among the Volturi for many years," Eleazar spoke up for the first time, extremely curious about his coven-mate's history.

"I can outfight any vampire in existence one on one, my skills were impressive as a human but were enhanced by my change." All the vampires in the room were shocked by her confession. That demonstrated enormous power. "As for your other question, there were times when I was required to disappear and many rumours of my death have been started to suit various goals. I have been mostly absent from here for the past six hundred years so it is unlikely we would have crossed paths, when I return it is only to visit with Aro or deposit items in my chambers which he kindly keeps available to me. But, I have not returned here for at least three hundred years, that he is aware," Victoria smirked and all present now saw how possible that would be given her skill set. Eleazar nodded, satisfied by her answer. "It serves Aro's needs to have his enemies believe me dead. But Edward seems to have ruined that for him." Both Bella and Rose growled at the mention of his name.

"Shh, Do not worry," Victoria reassured both of her mates. "But I think you need to brace yourselves for the likelihood that this punishment will be severe, death even."

"And if Aro requests you carry this out?" Tanya asked.

"Then I will do as asked, the boy's actions could have had severe consequences for us all, even if they were based on untruths." Tanya nodded, satisfied by her coven-mate's answer, it seemed drastic measures were now required to ensure the safety of her coven. In truth, she was pleased to have such a powerful addition and one who had such strong links to the Volturi, it cemented their position as untouchable and she would do anything to keep it that way.

"Come, let's rest," Victoria stood and walked towards a door to the left of the fireplace, "there are several rooms here. Choose any you wish," she gestured to the various doors set in the wall of the large room. Rose and Bella following their mate into her chosen room, the newborn entering last and closing the massive, intricately carved door behind her.

Xxxx

Next on Crimson Bonds

"So, are the rumours true, are you the best warrior the world has known?" A lithe brunette female questioned. "The tales are tall but you don't seem -, much." The insult wasn't even veiled and both Bella and Rose growled, both starting forward towards her.

"You do not speak to my mate that way," Rose snarled, stepping right into the vampire's personal space.