Chapter Thirty
Bella
I concentrated, wrapping the three of us in a safe cocoon, invisible like Peters chess knights but impenetrable to all the Volturi gifts. Alec and Jane's attempts curled around the cocoon looking for, but failing to find, any point of entry. Felix attempt and rebuff were more noticeable as he attacked Jazz only to find himself stopped about a foot away, unable to make contact. Aro's eyes narrowed in shock as I smiled at him,
"My turn now I think"
Concentrating again I sent Felix flying through the air to crash into the heavy doors and smash them back against the stone walls with an ear-splitting crash. Caius turned and walked quickly to another single door in the chamber wall but I cocooned it and he could only try uselessly to reach the handle.
"I'd hate you to miss my demonstration Caius. After all I don't want to have to repeat it at a later date. Turning my head slightly I forced Alec's gift backwards towards him at the same time doing the exact same with Jane's but shooting it off to the side, straight into Aro's path just before Alec's wrapped both she and him. Aro screamed and fell to the floor then pulled himself to his feet as Jane became a blank looking robot along with her brother.
"See, I wasn't bluffing and I want Peter's hand now please."
There was a swish of cloaks and Alice walked in with Marcus, both of them smiling,
"Well done Bella. I knew you would soon realize what you had. Here"
She threw an object which Peter caught gratefully. As I watched he held the missing hand to the stump and it began to fuse back, as if eager to join the rest of its body.
"Thank you Alice. Marcus I think it's about time you lost your bonds don't you?"
He nodded and I wrapped him in a cocoon too. The change was instantaneous. He lost the sad, melancholy look which had only been dimmed by Alice and suddenly looked taller, stronger, and much younger. With a smile he turned to Alice and hugged her then looked at me,
"Thank you Bella. I will be eternally grateful for this"
"You're welcome Marcus, take care of Alice."
"Oh I will. my Alice."
He picked her up and swung her round and she looked like a doll in his huge arms.
I switched my attention to Aro once more as the rest of the Volturi guard appeared having heard all the noise.
"Which one is Chelsea?"
Jasper pointed to a quiet, nondescript girl at the back of the throng and I beckoned her over.
"Chelsea, apart from Marcus who else do you keep loyal to Aro?"
She looked at him as if for guidance but I touched her shoulder.
"You talk to me now, not Aro."
"Only the wives and a few guard members"
"Ask the wives to join us would you Charlotte"
She nodded and walked to another door disappearing, watched by Aro and Caius.
"Let's see how many you have that are genuinely loyal shall we? It's a shame you didn't just agree to my first request and give back our mates. Now see what you have brought on yourselves."
We waited in silence until Charlotte came back with two beautiful women in company with Corin, the vampire who kept the two remaining wives content with their lot, or had until now. I smiled at them,
"Sulpicia, Athenodora, I'm Bella, The Majors mate. Thank you for joining us. Your husbands have earned my wrath but I'd like to offer you the choice of leaving if you wish, or remain, but as partners ruling the Volturi in your husbands stead."
They looked at Corin so I isolated her from them and their smiles faded as the unrest that had been forced into hiding came to the surface. They looked at Aro with hatred, he had been responsible for their imprisonment with Corin but Athenodora still loved her mate Caius and I wondered what she would choose.
"I 'd like my freedom please Bella. I've been shut up for so long and forced to be content with it. Now I want to see the world, be free to go where I like when I want, the idea of staying here, even free, fills me with dread."
"Then you are free to go Sulpicia. Collect whatever you want and take one of the Volturi cars to Pisa tonight. The jet is there, use it but send it back when you have finished."
She nodded and without a backward glance she was gone. Athenodora gazed after her friend but made no move to follow her then she turned back to me,
"If I begged for my husband's life would it make any difference Bella? He is my mate and I love him"
Caius looked at her with such tenderness I couldn't destroy their bond.
"Very well but I need an undertaking that Caius will never act against me or anyone connected to me. He can stay on the Volturi council but there will be new co leaders alongside him. Will you become one of them?"
She went over to Caius and took his hand,
"See, you never needed to keep me a prisoner Caius. I would never have left you and now we will rule together my love"
"Thank you my dearest wife. I should never have let Aro talk me into keeping you prisoner. I am amazed you forgive me so easily."
They went into a corner holding each other, free of Corin for the first time in many years and I turned to her.
"You might like to leave Volterra too, if you stay I don't want to hear of you using your power on anyone. Is that acceptable to you?"
Corin nodded and left hurriedly and I expected she would be leaving Italy equally as quickly especially as no longer kept loyal by Chelsea. The Volturi were falling apart very quickly. The only two left who I wasn't sure of were Felix and Demetri, they weren't kept loyal by Chelsea or happy by Corin so how would they choose? Alec and Jane I had already decided must go, they were just too dangerous to be allowed to live. As I debated the fate of the other two Felix walked over to Jasper,
"I know Bella is making the decisions of life and death but I am asking you to speak on my behalf. You know what it is like to be a warrior dependant on your strength and cunning and knowing no other way. I have always been valued for my fighting skills but now I would like the chance to live a peaceful life, wander the world and find a mate of my own."
I waited for Jasper to answer him but he turned to me,
"Bella, I need to talk to you before we make any decision"
He was bowing to my decision-making and it gave me a very warm feeling, he trusted me, my mate, but there was something I didn't know that would impact on my decision so we left Felix with the others for now and walked quickly down the corridor until we were out of Felix earshot.
"What's the matter Jasper? I know Felix is Volturi but he's done nothing worse than Caius or Corin so what's the problem?
"Alice told Emmett that Felix was the one who killed his human wife.
"Oh God! Well that changes things, what do we do Jazz? I can't kill him for what he did in the past especially as I've pardoned others."
"If you let him walk you'll cause a rift with Emmett and I don't think you want to do that."
"No, Emmett's my big brother and he's done so much for me. I need to speak to Emmett"
Jazz looked at me a little oddly as I rang Emmett's number but turned away as I spoke to him,
"Emmett"
"Bella? Are you OK? I take it you got Jazz back. The others will be so relieved.
"Emmett I have a really awkward situation here. Jazz has just told me about Felix murdering your human wife. I don't know what to do with him, he's asked to be allowed to leave Volterra and search for a mate.
"And you think he deserves that chance?
"Have you killed humans Emmett?
"You know I have, why?
"Because Felix was just following his vampire nature. He killed her like we kill deer or bears, to feed. Do you want me to destroy him for that?"
There was a length silence while Emmett pondered on my words,
"My gut reaction is to fly there and kill the bastard myself but I guess you don't want me to do that?"
"I don't want to appear less merciful with him than with the others for a private matter. If you want to track him down and get revenge then that is your decision to make"
"So what are you asking me Bella?"
"I'm asking you to understand why I can't kill him for you."
"Did Jazz tell you anything else?"
"No why?"
"Nothing. I guess you've left it down to me so do what you think is best but don't guarantee that I wont go looking for him in the future."
"I'm not going to tell him anything Emmett, that wouldn't be fair to you. Can you forgive me though? I really don't want to lose you brother."
I thought he'd hung up he was so silent then he sighed,
"Yeah little Sis I will, just give me time"
"I will and thank you Emmett"
I looked at Jazz,
"What did he mean about you telling me anything else?"
He shook his head,
"What are you going to tell Felix?"
"That he can go but we'll be watching him."
"Well let's go find him and give him the good news."
Demetri who was still waiting approached after Felix had thanked us and gone to stand alone looking out one of the windows on the courtyard.
"I know no other way to live Bella. I want to stay here in Volterra."
"Can you be trusted?"
His eyes flickered to Jazz before returning to me,
"If I become untrustworthy I am sure the Major will come looking for me, the same as Felix and like him that alone would serve to keep me honest."
I nodded,
"Very well Demetri."
He mumbled his thanks and left unhurriedly.