Chapter Thirty One

Bella

I was very tired and thirsty but there were still outstanding issues.

"Bella, leave the rest to us, you look exhausted."

I squeezed Jasper's hand in thanks but I needed to finish it myself.

"Thanks but I think I should finish what I started. Aro, I can't trust you or your two chief mischief makers to behave so you have to go."

I concentrated and threw my bubble as fast as possible at the ceiling above him and it fell with a deafening crash of stone. That in itself wouldn't have been enough to destroy Aro but I had sensed that above it was an open fire and the burning logs falling among the rubble caught his crushed body alight and it soon burned away. Peter looked on in approval,

"I'm impressed Bella. When you kick ass you do it with style."

I turned to Jasper,

"Would you and Peter solve our other problem, I've had enough of death and killing and I'm too tired to keep my shield up much longer."

I touched my throat which was now burning so fiercely I couldn't ignore it for long.

Jane and Alec never attempted to run, just stood there holding hands and outwardly looking like two youngsters waiting for a lift and Jazz and Peter made it quick. The purple smoke soon cleared and he took my hand,

"Come Bella, you need to hunt darlin' Peter and Charlotte will keep an eye on things for a few hours."

I nodded my thanks and left with him happy just to be in his company once more. Seeing him with my heightened senses I saw just how badly he was scarred by his early life but he was just as beautiful as ever to me and I longed to be in his arms again, in bed making love, but my thirst was now overriding everything and I felt my rage building, I needed to quench my thirst quickly before I started on the townspeople. Jazz led me down several long gloomy corridors which led outside Volterra and once in the fresh air I breathed deeply. I could smell blood and ran on ahead without thinking, coming upon a small heard of deer grazing, without conscious thought I attacked taking down three in quick succession and drinking greedily. At last my thirst was quenched and I could think clearly once more.

Jasper

I wished I had been with Bella when she woke up but I vowed never to leave her side again, she was more beautiful than I could imagine and she looked at me as if I were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, coming over to kiss me greedily, her hands scrabbling at my clothes in her haste to touch me. We sank to the ground in a tangled heap of discarded clothing and limbs both hungry for the others touch, to make up for lost time and it was hours before our hunger for each other was sated. Then we lay under the stars lost in our own world where only she and I lived. It was reluctantly that we parted and dressed with many pauses for more kisses and caresses and made our way back through the same corridors to the audience chamber. It had been cleaned and the ceiling repaired. It was empty but a table had been set up with chairs arranged at both sides and one at the head.

"I think the new Volturi council is getting ready to assemble."

"Already?"

"It would be too dangerous to leave a vacuum for long. There are others who desperately want control, the Romanians for a start."

"Would they be so bad?"

"Not bad but they become complacent and they were never very good at policing our world. If rogue vampires are allowed to act freely our secret would soon be out in the open and that would mean the end for us. The humans may not be able to kill us easily but they have the numbers and eventually one would realize how effective fire is. It would be like the witch burnings of history and not only vampires would be targeted but anyone seen as anything but normal."

She nodded,

"So the council needs to meet immediately?"

"Yes, Caius, Athenodora, Demetri, is there anyone else you would like to invite?"

"Me?"

"Yes, until they decide on the council your word carries much force. You ousted Aro so its for you to replace him"

"Not me. I have no intention of staying here."

We heard footsteps and turning saw Alice and Marcus walk back in. Alice dragged him over to us looking radiantly happy at last.

"Bella, Marcus and I have been talking and he feels that leaving Volterra might be too much for him at the moment so we wondered if you would allow us to stay on for a while?"

"Why are you asking me Alice?"

"Well we weren't sure you would want us here with a new ruling committee."

I saw Bella make a swift decision.

"I think you should stay here, on the ruling council, after all who knows Caius better. Your job will be to keep an eye on him. If he starts his old tricks you can warn me."

Marcus smiled although it was obvious it was an unfamiliar expression for him.

"Thank you Bella, and for freeing me from Aro's slavery."

"Just repay me by being a good and fair ruler for our world."

He nodded and held out a huge hand. Bella took it and shook it briefly then hugged Alice.

"Thank you Alice. I know you had your own agenda but you gave me Jasper and I could never repay you for that."

We heard voices from a side chamber and went through to see Char, Caius, and Athenodora sitting in corner talking quietly while Peter and Demetri sat at a table hunched over examining something closely. I smiled and waited for Bella's reaction

Bella

I walked over to see that Demetri and Peter were examining a chess board. This should be interesting especially if Peter were playing to his rules, cheating against Demetri. As I looked I saw Peter make the winning move and Demetri sat back tipping his king in defeat and nodding,

"Well Peter I didn't really expect to win against you. Your skill is legendary."

I looked on in amazement,

"Pardon? Skill? Did he use his bishops ax or invisible knight?"

Demetri looked confused but Peter just smiled.

"Ignore her Demetri she's a bit confused. I was trying to teach her chess while she was still a human but she couldn't quite get the hang of it. Kept telling me the rooks didn't look like birds and the knights were invisible, a bit touched in the head I think."

I glared at him mouth open at his words and Demetri looked up at me,

"If Peter teaches you its an honor. He's been a chess Grand Master for decades."

Then the penny dropped, I'd been set up!

"Peter you and I are going to have words later."

"OK tell you what, I'll give you one to start with, Gotcha!"