Thanks for all the reviews.
Enjoy.
It was only a short journey to the airfield so when they were all settled onto the jet Bella ate her food while Garrett regaled them all with tales of his exploits. Felix and Alistair chipped in at various points with contradictions and corrections to his stories. The atmosphere was relaxed and happy. But as they came in to land the faces became serious and stern.
"Game faces on then." Bella muttered more to herself but was rewarded with grins cracking on their faces.
"The girls that live in Denali. Will they fight to defend Edward?" Bella asked Esme.
"I honestly don't know. I would have said yes, they are / were considered family. But I didn't know Eleazar was still working for the Volturi, I know Carlisle didn't either. But the girls must have known, so who can say. Tanya and the girls always gave the impression they hated the Volturi, Caius especially but it could have been an act."
"No it isn't an act as far as I am aware." Marcus commented. "They blame us for the death of their mother. But we had no choice, she had created an immortal child. Caius was the one who dealt her the final blow so he is the one they hate the most."
"What would they do to Eleazar if he has been lying to them and they find out he is a Volturi spy?" Bella asked him.
"I don't know. But they are not stupid so they probably already know, nor have they ever had any thoughts of rebellion as far as we know. Eleazar is not betraying them nor would we ask him to. As far as I have been able to gather the girls find Carlisle tiresome. Hopefully when they understand the situation they will not attempt to intervene. I would like to avoid their deaths if possible. But if the worst come to the worst we will protect our own."
All nodded solemnly. While they would not hesitate to wipe out the entire Denali clan no one wanted death for the sake of it. The drive took roughly an hour, they were all travelling in the same vehicle this time so Bella was able to get to know Felix and Marcus a little better. About a mile from the house Garrett and Alistair got out of the car to circle around the back of the house and make sure Edward didn't escape.
Pulling up outside what appeared at first glance to be a large log cabin Felix exited the car first.
The occupants of the house gathered in front. Four females with golden eyes and a male. Edward was clearly remaining inside for the time being. No one appeared aggressive however when Marcus got out of the car they tensed up.
A dark haired male who could only be Eleazar stepped forward and greeted Marcus.
"Marcus, we did not expect you to attend personally. I was not aware you were in America? Do you have a human with you? I can hear a heartbeat?"
"I am here on a private errand with my friends. Aro asked me to attend to this matter myself as I was close by. The human is none of your concern, she is with her mate and returning to Volterra to be turned." Marcus replied.
The female vampires looked at Marcus and Felix warily but their expressions had changed from concerned to resigned. It was clear to Bella that they had put two and two together and come up with the correct answer.
"Where is Edward?" Marcus asked.
"We want your assurance he will be given a fair hearing." A female with curly strawberry blond hair said.
"You have my word Tanya, so long as he comes peacefully." Marcus nodded to them.
Edward stepped out of the front door. He looked nervous and was clearly trying to read everyone's thoughts. He looked confused at first.
Bella had managed to shield herself and Esme's thoughts from Edward when the car pulled up and from the way they were parked he couldn't see inside the car. Bella knew Felix and Marcus would be masking their thoughts also. They suspected he would try to run if he knew what had happened.
Alistair and Garrett made their way quickly through the house to stand directly behind Edward. Comprehension dawned on his face but was quickly replaced by a mask of terror. He was clearly putting two and two together as well but whether he had grasped the seriousness of the situation was as yet unclear.
Alistair walked down the steps and shook Edwards hand. While Garrett clamped his hand down hard on Edwards shoulder. Alistair didn't let go again making it clear to Edward he was captured. Esme and Bella then stepped out of the car. The Denali clan stared at Esme with disbelief and sorrow her red eyes shone brightly and clearly marked her departure from her previous diet and her escape from Carlisle's clutches as much as his absence. It spoke volumes and told them clearly what had happened. Bella couldn't help but wonder if they had known what Carlisle had been doing to Esme and done nothing to help her.
"Edward how nice to see you again." Alistair said in a sarcastic and scathing tone.
Edward saw in his mind exactly what had happened to his family and what Alistair would do to him given the slightest provocation. He had no chance of escape, he couldn't fight them all and he realised to his dismay that the Denali family would not lift a finger to help him. They were no longer shielding their thoughts. He realised they had known all along what was going on and exactly what they thought of him. Hanging his head in shame and despair he looked every inch the scared boy he was. The realisation that he had been well and truly set up sank in. If he could he would cry. His only hope was that Aro would want his gift.
He tried to pull away but Alistair kept a firm grip on him and leaning in whispered into Edwards ear.
"I owe you boy for your treatment of my mate." Alistair was gratified by the fear he saw magnify in Edwards eyes if he could Alistair was sure Edward would be peeing his pants, As it was he was shaking so much he would need help to walk. "You are coming with us and it can be in one piece or several, you choose but push me even a little and I will choose. Believe me boy you don't want that."
"Esme?" Edward pleaded as he followed Alistair toward the car.
"Oh no Edward, don't speak to me. Not if you want to live." With that she turned her back on him. Bella could see she was struggling for control. Felix wrapped an arm around her shoulders to calm her.
Tanya stepped forward again as Edward was pushed into the car and wedged between Alistair and Garrett.
"Esme you look better since last we met. Do I dare to hope you have finally found your true mate?"
"Yes, I believe you know Felix." Esme answered in a quiet voice.
"I do not know him personally but Eleazar speaks highly of him. I hope you will be very happy together. You deserve happiness at last." She made no move to approach Esme who was eyeing her warily. They had clearly known of her situation and done nothing to intervene. Even though Esme could understand the reasons for doing nothing and even accept them, she still found it hurtful that so many could stand aside and not help. She didn't bother to answer Tanya but allowed Felix to usher her into the car.
Tanya and the others looked hurt but accepting. They would have to try and regain her trust and affection. It occurred to Bella that they may not have much of a chance as the real Esme was starting to show through and she was a very different woman to the one they had known.
"There will be a formal trial. You are expected to attend and will be required to give evidence." Marcus said with an air of authority with left no room for argument.
"We will Marcus." Eleazar answered. Then turning to his family said. "We will make plans at once."
Marcus helped Bella into the car, well away from Edward and got in to drive back to the airfield. The atmosphere in the vehicle was oppressive and sad. All were locked in their own thoughts.
For Bella it was hard for her to untangle the jumbled mess her thoughts were in. On the one hand she could understand each and every reason for the Denali coven to stay out of Esme's situation but on the other she found such inaction cruel and callus. Perhaps she was thinking too much like a human. Trying to put herself in Esme's shoes she knew that she would not be quite so accepting, and wondered what would happen as time moved on and Esme began to take more control over her thoughts and actions. Bella suspected that there would be fireworks when she finally did snap.
Edward was quiet as well. He was reading in the thoughts of the others just what they wanted to do to him so he wasn't going to give them the excuse. He had been shocked and horrified to read Esme's thoughts on both himself and Carlisle. Hatred seemed to mild a term for what she seemed to be feeling. Edward began to suspect he may not survive the long flight ahead.
His shock at seeing her red eyes had quickly given way to horror on reading her thoughts about Clara. How could he not have known Carlisle had had a mate, a real one? Marcus's thoughts were on that female as well. He seemed disgusted that Carlisle had rejected her. To Edward it was not surprising that Carlisle had rejected her, he knew that if he ever found himself in a similar situation he would do the same. It did however raise questions in Edward's mind as he began to wonder how he had not known, how everyone was so easily able to get around his gift. The Denali's had done it as well, he had never suspected their true feelings. He began to wonder if he was really as powerful as he had always thought, if people could fool him so clearly. His despondency was palpable as they pushed him into a seat on the plane. He wanted to beg and plead but couldn't. He just had to pray Aro still wanted him.
"Don't worry Eddie," Garrett said as the plane took off for the long tedious journey to Volterra. "You might get lucky and they will have Alec put you out before we burn you."
As Bella laughed along with the rest the knowledge sank in to Edward that he was doomed.
Bella curled up in Alistair's lap on the plane and closed her eyes. She wasn't tired per se but more drained. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now and didn't really want to look at them either. Her mind was filled with thoughts and doubts, fears and torments. This was most likely her last plane ride as a human and the thought both scared and thrilled her. She began to wonder what she would be like as a vampire. Would she still be herself? She hoped so. Bella liked who she was and didn't want to lose herself. She certainly didn't want to turn into some self-important arse hole like Edward. Would Alistair still want her? Would she still want him? Would she remember her friends, her family? While she didn't particularly like her mother Bella didn't want to forget her either. She wanted to remember Edward and the Cullens as well. Not the beings she had recently been re-acquainted with but the ones she remembered from Forks. The loving, gorgeous, attentive boyfriend that had been her first and only other love. She wanted to remember the glamourous family that deemed her worthy to be a part of. Even knowing now that it was all fake didn't mean she wanted the memories of happiness to fade.
"What is it hen? You're very quiet. Not still stewing over earlier are you?" Alistair asked quietly.
Bella opened her eyes. She noticed the others had moved to the other end of the plane to give them the illusion of privacy. She knew however that they could hear every word.
"No I'm not thinking about that. Just what I will be like after I become like you. Will I still be myself? Will I still remember the things and people that are important to me?" She whispered after a moment.
"Oh Iseabail. Of course you will be yourself. You will change a little but not in any way that matters." He reassured her with a relieved sigh. He really didn't want to re-hash their argument this morning with Edward so close. "Our personalities don't change fundamentally, some character traits become more enhanced, for example Garrett was a joker as a human so now he is a pain in the arse. I was short tempered, now even more so. You will probably be fairly short tempered yourself." He added with a kiss to her cheek.
"Cheeky bugger." Bella countered with a nudge of her elbow to his ribs. "What about my memories? Will I lose them?"
Marcus looked at them for a moment before moving toward them.
"If I may Alistair I believe I can offer more re-assurance at this point." He asked before taking a seat opposite the couple.
"We don't lose our memories during the change my dear." He said to Bella looking her straight in the eye. "Some become more cloudy and muted but if you want to remember you can. You may need to concentrate a little at first, as you would when human, but the memories are not lost and once recalled then they remain with you. The only vampires I know of that have lost memories are those who had suffered a head injury before the transformation. As with all head injuries memory can be effected. Alice is the only vampire I have heard of who has no apparent memories of her human life.
Eleazar and Carlisle speculated once that it was because she was in an insane asylum as a human and probably underwent electrotherapy or even a lobotomy."
"Edward said newborns are vicious, mindless creatures who care only for blood. Will I be that way at first?" She asked the next of her nagging queries. Might as well get all the answers she could while there was a captive audience. Bella knew in her heart that all her questions would be answered, not brushed aside, no matter where they were.
The question in it's self brought on a round of laughter from the assembled Volturi. Edward looked affronted by this.
"Again no my dear." Marcus answered calmly. "While new born vampires are often confused at first this is because the change was a shock and they are adjusting to their new bodies. You will be much less so as you have been mentally preparing yourself for some time. We have found that those who know what is happening before the change are much more controlled and 'stable' than those who have no notice."
He turned and shook his head at Edward.
"Carlisle knew this of course. I agree that in most cases there is little or no time to prepare the person for the transformation, but talking to them and explaining everything during the change helps immeasurably." He paused again to gather his thoughts before continuing. "New born vampires are used in armies because they are stronger and faster than older vampires. In the wars they were frequently kept vicious by keeping them thirsty and using pain to control them. I know of very few creatures that react well to prolonged torture. However if dealt with calmly and patiently most newborns are able to remain as in control as anyone."
"Instincts are strong within us and for the first few years they can overcome our rational thoughts making us seem wild and unpredictable but an experienced vampire can usually foresee problems and head them off." He smiled at Bella warmly and took her hand in his. "Have no fear my dear. You will be surrounded by support, by those who care for you and will help you at every turn. The greatest help will be Alistair and he will not leave your side I am sure."
"You'll be fine Bella don't worry." Garrett piped up from his seat near Edward. "I for one am looking forward to you being one of us. It'll be one hell of a ride."
Bella's laughing response was cut short by Edward choosing that moment to add his opinion by snorting quite loudly.
"Got something to add there Eddie?" Felix asked.
Bella looked around at the vampires. All of them with the exception of Esme were rolling their eyes in dismay that the boy had taken leave of his senses completely. Esme's eyes were pointed heavenward and closed almost as though she were praying for strength.
"It's just that none of you have turned many vampires, one each in fact apart from Garrett who hasn't turned anyone. So why are you so sure she won't be crazy. After all she is clearly not sane now judging by the way she is draped all over that monster. She will have no self-control at all just like everyone else. She will be frightened and intimidated by the 'surrounding' support and probably run away, which will no doubt lead her to become a monster herself by killing a human. The Bella I know would be destroyed if that happened, she would drown in guilt and self-recriminations. It would be better she died than that occur. You all have no idea what she needs, you will corrupt her and defile her just as you have Es.."
His speech was abruptly cut off by Esme removing his head from his shoulders in one swift lethal movement that had all the men looking at her with stunned faces and questioning raised eyebrows.
Bella however had the biggest grin on her face. Which fell abruptly.
"Damn I can't light him up till we land. How long is that going to be? Exactly?"