An Unresolved Past

This story starts off five years after its prelude: 'Life is never what you expect it to be'. Bella is now Caius's mate and they are both very happily bonded. WARNING: This is an adult version of twilight and will have sexual submission and violence (after all; the story revolves around vampires). This is not for the faint of heart; it is very dark and has sexual content. 18+

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters but has nothing to do with this story.

Chapter 27 – The comfortable blindfold is slowly lifted revealing things we did not wish to see*

Marcus found his last discussion with Aro precarious and searched for Bella but since no one had seen her, he dropped by Aro's apartments in the hope of finding her there.

Aro opened the door and when Marcus inquired after her whereabouts he said "I have told her of your wish to go to Alaska. Unhappily it seems to have awakened her fears for your safety so she is upset and wishes some time alone". Realizing that Marcus would not leave without saying goodbye Aro motioned him to come in saying "Knowing your relationship however I fell she would wish to see you before you leave" Aro then stepped aside and with a flowing motion of his arm invited Marcus in saying "please come in and I shall inform her of you presence".

Bella came into the salon accompanied by Aro. Seeing she had resumed her impenetrable expression he quickly understood the necessity for discretion. Smiling he bowed before the couple announcing "I came along to say goodbye".

For a fleeting moment he saw her restlessness but she quickly recovered her composure asking "Will you be gone long?"

Marcus smiled saying "I hope not" Then turning toward Aro he explained "As I told Aro earlier, there are pressing issues I wish to resolve". Sensing her concerns he hastily added "I wish to ask the advice of our old friend, Carlisle in affairs concerning the Egyptian coven".

Unrestrained relief swept through her frame knowing that he had told Aro nothing of his suspicions concerning Caius. To cover any betraying signals her body may have inadvertently given off she moved towards Marcus saying "We will both miss you and hope that your quest will not take long".

Aro came forward snaking one arm around her waist and brushing a lost lock of hair out of her eyes with the other hand he looked up to Marcus saying. "Take care Marcus; we need to stay strong for the sake of the Volturi coven".

Marcus forcefully smiled at the couple and left the room. While walking through the corridors to meet his limousine, he encountered Alec.

"Dear Alec" he said "I am about to leave and wish to speak with you; will you join me in my walk to my limo?"

"I'd be honoured" he said as he joined Marcus. Then strolling beside him Alec's eyes roamed his façade as he inquired "So your mind is made?"

"Yes, it is! This decision is much too delicate and has far stretching consequences if not properly processed. I want peace in the Vampire realm; there has been far too much unrest of late".

Marcus then stopped mid-pace and turned to face the younger king as he said "There is however something I wish to ask".

Alec gave him a puzzled smile as he answered "Please feel free to do so".

Alec saw a cloud of concern pass over his face as Marcus asked "I hope to be back soon but in the meanwhile would you call in on Isabella from time to time and tell her to call me if she is in need of my help with anything?"

"Shouldn't you be saying this to Isabella or Aro?" Alec asked

"I have told her this in the past but I am afraid that she hasn't been honest to me or even herself. As for Aro; he may be so in love as not to see her anxieties of late" he tactfully added allowing him time to process his words.

Laying his hand on Alec's shoulder then continued "It is because of this that I am asking you".

"I will watch over her" he vowed and Marcus nodded his head thankful for his help, a gesture that Alec returned.

While walking to his apartments Alec's mind pondered Marcus's peculiar request and just as he wrapped his hand around the doorknob his mind was confronted with something he had chosen to ignore for a very long time. Isabella had changed these past few years; all rebellion that she had undergone after Caius demise had instantly vanished after she had gone to Greece with Aro. It was then that he started to reassess the bond between Bella and Aro.

When she had taken Aro as mate he had heard her reasoning and yet he felt there was something missing. He knew how extremely devoted she had been to Caius and had secretly envied their bond which was why her bond to Aro, so soon after her loss, had totally astonished him as it had many others.

Alec suddenly realized that Aro seemed to have an abnormal control over her. She had always been outspoken and never frightened by anything Caius had said; at least not after she had accepted the bond. Seeing the concern on Marcus's face reawakened his scepticism.

Once Marcus boarded the plane Demetri took him aside saying "I have been watching the movement of the Olympus and Denali covens this past week as you asked me and shortly after I called Carlisle for a meeting I felt them disperse; the Olympus coven have gone to another part of America but there is still one in the Seattle area".

This didn't surprise him; actually nothing would at the moment and he replied "They must be hiding something from us. Could it be Caius?"

"I don't know; however there is one that might know".

Marcus looked directly into his eyes asking "Who?"

"Edward Cullen; he is still positioned at Seattle in that place called Forks" Demetri respectfully answered.

"But why?" Marcus asked curiosity causing him to frown.

"Isn't that the place where he first met Lady Isabella?" Demetri asked.

After a moment of thought Marcus's eyes lit up and he said "Her father!"

"What do you mean?" Demetri asked.

"Nothing special but I think I know why; change course we will be going to Seattle and we have to make haste otherwise we may lose him as well".

Demetri promptly left for the cockpit and Marcus took a seat across from the Cullens in the luxurious sitting area. Not accustomed to Marcus's company both Alice and Jazz were very quiet. Realizing their hesitance to speak Marcus asked Alice "I have always asked myself why you and your mate came to be part of the Volturi?"

With a sigh of relief she spontaneously explained "We were asked by Aro to join".

"But Aro has asked many times and you have always declined saying you would never leave the Cullens" Marcus replied.

Both Jasper and Alice looked at one another; puzzled by Marcus's statement. It was at that moment that Marcus realized that the truth behind their decision would not be simple to expose.

"Have you spoken to the Cullens since your decision; I am sure they would have told you" he probed.

"Aro thought it wise that we break the bonds" Jasper innocently explained.

Marcus now realized that he no longer had the luxury of being indifferent towards the situation. It had been an extravagance that had cost many their freedom; if allowed to continue it could destroy the laws the Volturi coven had carefully built through the centuries.

He needed to discuss this with someone and now that Demetri was out of Aro's reach he could fill him in on the events he had unearthed.

Marcus then asked Jasper "Have you had any flight experience with this airplane?"

"Yes and I must say it is an incredible piece of equipment; the smoothness in which it handles is fantastic…"

Marcus waved his hand to stop his dialogue and quickly added "Before you go any further Mr. Hale I wish to ask you if you could use your talents to relieve Demetri from his duties".

Jasper lit up at the thought of taking over the wheel. Looking at his mate, he squeezed her hand then with a light bow of his head he stood up. Alice looked at Marcus as she whispered "May I accompany him?"

Marcus smiled at the enthusiastic pair and replied "By all means my dear but be swift in sending Demetri to me for I wish to discuss something with him".

As soon as Demetri sat next to him Marcus filled him in on his conversation with Isabella and concluded his statement saying "She was in their apartments and in Aro's company when I went to say goodbye. Her expression held the same impassiveness that has become her trademark since her loss of Caius so I realized I had to be cautious for her sake. On my way down here I met Alec and asked him to watch over her".

"Is that wise? After all Alec is extremely loyal to Aro" Demetri cautiously inquired.

"I have seen general affection in his eyes towards Isabella; after all he has been training her for years and I need someone to look out for her. As long as she is under Aro's thumb she will never be herself; I realize that now. He seems possessed by his desire to mould her to his personal requirements. Aro is very precious to me; after all, his sister was my mate but I cannot however stand by and let him destroy all freedom of choice".

Bewildered by his words Demetri asked "What do you mean?"

"Jasper Hale and his mate" he said nodding his head towards the cockpit.

"What of them?"

"It seems they do not feel or even remember having felt any loyalty towards the Cullens".

When Demetri's face showed his disbelief, Marcus explained the mind boggling conversation he had just been part of.

It was then that Demetri's eyes lit up and he said "I do remember, just after we lost Caius and I went to search for him that Edward Cullen was questioning me about them. I found it very strange at the time that he did not contact them himself".

"Now we know how Aro has been able to get their assistance but I still don't know how he was able to erase their minds. It seems that Aro has been able to weave an intricate web of deception".

* Marjorie Rensen