Here we go, the trial begins. Enjoy.
He nodded towards the guards at the door.
"Bring in the accused."
Bella watched in anxious silence as the doors opened and the guards led in the Cullen Coven. She didn't know what she expected to feel upon seeing them but she was surprised to find the main emotion she felt was curiosity. She was curious as to what they were thinking and feeling right now. Were they afraid or hopeful? Somehow they didn't look like prisoners. They were clean, tidy and clearly well fed. They looked around the room with resigned expressions, well all except Alice and Carlisle. Alice looked scared and was lost in visions most of the time, desperately trying to grasp a vision that would help her. Carlisle on seeing so many friendly faces and looked smug. He clearly thought he would be ok.
The smug look faded somewhat when he saw Esme and Bella. His eyes locked on those of his wife and he blanched when he saw her red irises looking back at him. She lifted her chin slightly and proudly turned her head to give him a good view of the bite on her neck. He looked hurt and taken aback but not defeated. He smiled in a way that made Bella think he thought he would get her back. Felix obviously thought that as well because Bella heard him give a low rumbling growl. Esme reached for his hand and kissed him tenderly all the while shaking her head softly.
The whole group of them were tense and anxious not knowing what was to come but anticipating trouble and somewhere along the line stupidity. Garrett, Alistair and Felix had a book going on how long Edward would take before he put his foot in it. Aro shook his head in resigned defeat while Caius laid one thousand euros on fifteen minutes into Edwards questioning. While Sulpicia whispered.
"Double and ten minutes."
From his place in the line-up Emmett looked up at them and chuckled. Even in these dire circumstances he was able to find amusement, he was no different from the bear of a big brother Bella remembered. She smiled fondly at the memory.
Edward however looked to be close to tears.
"Bella dear" Aro spoke instantly silencing the room. "Would you be so kind as to shield Edward so he cannot read any thoughts. I do not want his answers influenced by the thoughts of others."
Bella grinned widely and inclined her head. She pushed her shield out to cover him. The instant he could no longer hear others thoughts he looked up at her. He too blanched when he saw her red eyes and hung his head in defeat. Now she was turned he knew he had no chance of influencing her and would get no help or sympathy from that quarter.
Stepping forward toward the Cullens Aro addressed them.
"Carlisle Cullen you along with members of your coven are here on charges of rebellion and of exposing your nature to humans thereby putting the existence of our world in danger." Aro walked forward. "You will get the chance to defend your actions later. You will be questioned one by one and will not speak until it is your turn is that understood?"
They nodded silently. Aro took hold of Carlisle's hand and concentrated for a moment. He then turned toward the panel and began to tell the assembly what he learned from Carlisle's thoughts.
"From the moment he awoke Carlisle here abhorred his existence but was determined not to give into his nature. He strove to rise above his natural instincts and is proud to claim he has never fed from a human. He worked very hard to overcome the desire to feed on humans to such a degree he was sufficiently controlled enough to practice medicine. He strove to give something back, to use his heightened senses for good. All very noble I am sure you will agree." Aro looked towards Maggie and Charles who nodded agreeing that Aro was telling the truth.
"He came to Volterra with lofty ideals of humans and vampires all existing together in peace and harmony, All vampires feeding from animals. But he was to leave a bitter and dissatisfied man. He had found he was unable to influence others to share his lifestyle and was not given the recognition he felt he deserved so he left." Aro turned to the panel and addressed them directly. "There were other factors influencing his decision to leave and we will touch on those later."
"For many years he nurtured his hatred and dissatisfaction. Telling any and all who he met of the den of evil that is the Volturi and how he was forced to leave because of his radical ideas. He claimed that he was seen as a threat buy we here and that at some point we would silence him. Who knows who long it took for him to believe his lies but he does now, very much." Aro shook his head sadly. He let go of Carlisle's hand and returned to his seat.
"The fear that we of the Volturi would retaliate against him has led him to form some even more radical ideas. He decided to create his own supporters. He would find likeminded vampires and draw them to him. He would find those with powerful gifts to help his cause and he would offer them great rewards for their help. His intention was to use Bella here." Aro turned toward Bella with a wave of his hand. "He was to use her to protect against the gifts of Jane and Alec while Jasper and Emmett did the fighting. He would stand on the side-lines and watch. Once we were destroyed he would force all vampires to adopt the animal diet, killing any and all who refused. Then when our kind was all safely feeding from animal blood he intended to reveal himself to the humans and work with them to improve their existence. Again this might not sound so bad. He wants to help the human race. But that is not quite the way he intended it to be."
Aro looked toward Carlisle who met his gaze with un-disguised arrogance and contempt.
"Carlisle wanted to rule not only the Vampire world but the human one. He wanted to remove all those he believed to be 'sub-standard' allowing only the best gene's to thrive. He has been working on some very interesting genetic engineering and has perfected several virulent disease strains which will target those with specific genetic characteristics. He felt that proper population controls were the only way of ensuring the planet and its resources survive. He wants to rid the human world of all those unworthy. Had he succeeded the population of the globe would have been reduced to less than ten percent what it is now within a few years."
There were gasps of disbelief from the listening vampires. The claims were shocking to many. Even some of the Cullen clan looked shocked at the lengths he was prepared to go to. Maggie stood and in a clear voice announced.
"Aro speaks the truth."
"By reducing the human gene pool to only those 'up to scratch' Carlisle hoped to be able to produce perfect mates for those vampires who required companionship. By reducing the human population down by ninety percent he hoped to increase the animal population of the planet, thereby providing a wide and varied diet for those vampires who remained. In essence he wanted to nice peaceful world to live in where everyone worshiped him and owed him for their existence."
There were hisses of outrage from the audience who had heard these claims. While the majority of vampires viewed humans as food, no one wanted to see them eradicated, left to a few million, neither did many vampires wish to adopt an animal only diet. It appeared to many that Carlisle had lost his mind or had some kind of god complex in trying to create a world he found perfect.
It was Charles who announced this time that what Aro said was the truth.
There were several discussions going on between the jurors and their covens, but throughout it all Carlisle remained silent, glaring out at his accusers with baleful eyes. He turned his gaze time and again toward Esme, and each time she met his eyes with a dispassionate eye.
When the din had died down Robert stood.
"Why do you feel the need to force vampires to adopt your diet? Was it to ensure the food supply didn't run out?" he asked Carlisle in an even tone.
"Yes mostly." Carlisle answered but Maggie immediately shouted out.
"Lies!"
"You would do well to remember you are on trial Carlisle, we will not tolerate lies in this court." Amun announced effectively silencing the crowd again.
Carlisle hissed angrily but raised his head to stare imperiously at him. He knew if he didn't answer Aro would do so for him. The court would hear his reasons one way or another and he was too proud to hide.
"Vampires who feed on humans are entirely lacking in any form of self-control. They completely lack the discipline they would need to serve me effectively. I will not have my existence polluted with such unrestrained filth." He turned towards Robert and his coven. "You of all people should know the control it takes to adhere to the animal diet and yet you chose to willingly mix with such low beings, have you no pride?"
Robert had to turn away quickly to grab his absolutely furious mate and stop her from ending the trial there and then.
"How dare you stand there and pass self-righteous judgement on us?" Marianne replied with incandescent indignation. "You know nothing about our coven or our choices; do not make the mistake of thinking that because our eyes are golden we are anything like you."
She sat back down and turned towards her coven mates who thanked her for defending them.
Carlisle's speech had served only to prove his complete disregard for others. The rest of his coven was looking at him in sheer disbelief. Jasper particularly looked pained and was clearly starting to project. Bella thought the emotions of the group would be torture for him but if he couldn't keep control of his gift it could get dangerous for all. She glanced at Alistair who nodded slightly then she tried to push her shield over Jasper as well. After a second or two she managed it. As soon as he felt the lessening of emotional tension in the room he looked toward Bella and nodded his thanks.
Ma Ji stood and quietly waited for the din to die down before turning to Carlisle to pose her own question.
"Why do you believe you are capable of 'producing' the perfect mate? A mate is the other half of your soul. They are found, if one is lucky enough."
Carlisle scoffed loudly at her statement causing her eyes to narrow dangerously as did those of her coven, Yin Zhi particularly looked murderous.
"A 'mate' is only a gift if they are obedient and submissive. Such a mate can be created easily. There is no need to debase oneself with 'instinctual' impulses, or accept a companion that is lesser than necessary."
Many eyes turned toward Esme. While the Volturi and Denali covens knew she was not Carlisle's mate, others assumed she was.
"You 'created' your mate?" Ma Ji asked in disbelief.
"Yes" Carlisle raised his chin in defiant pride. "I bound her to me completely so that she had no thought of her own, and no desire but what I gave her." He looked directly at Esme. "She is my mate and you have stolen her. She should be here by my side sharing my trial and fate. She has been a willing part of all of this."
The silence in the throne room was deafening.
Maggie slowly stood.
"He believes that every word he said is the truth."
Marcus then stepped forward.
"Yes he does believe what he said. Yes he did claim Esme as a companion and yes she had been by his side throughout. But she is not his mate. Felix is. She was not there willingly. As Carlisle admitted himself, she had no thought of her own and no desire to do anything but what he told her to do. Of any of us she is the real victim here."
He bowed his head sadly and motioned Esme to stand.
"Do you have any questions my dear?"
She thought hard for a few moments then slowly raised her eyes to those of her husband.
"Why did you turn me? Why not just let me die? I have no special gift, I am no doubt what you would consider 'substandard'"
For a brief second he looked pained but shook his head as though refusing to answer.
"I needed to know if my theory was correct." He answered slowly, a cruel smile crossing his face. "If it didn't work you were no great loss, as you said you are not gifted or particularly exceptional. I couldn't risk losing a gifted vampire. The only downside was that you were bound to me. You did however prove to be an acceptable companion though, obedient and submissive, so it worked out alright. I would never have anticipated the common whore you have allowed yourself to become."
There were answering growls from many members of the guard with Felix, Alistair, Marcus and Garrett loudest of all.
Carlisle looked smug, he had deliberately tried to hurt Esme, the Esme he had known would have crumbled at his words and while part of her did want to break down and sob, she would never give him the satisfaction of knowing that. Her face remained impassive but then she turned and smiled softly at Felix.
"Was Clara gifted?" She asked Carlisle gently. "Why did you deem her unworthy of you?"
Carlisle visibly blanched at Esme's casual mention of Clara. The pain stabbed through him suddenly causing him to gasp. Esme's barb had hit home.
"Clara was ruled by her instincts and emotions." He answered in a whisper. "I could never allow myself to be weakened by having a mate. She would have been my Achilles Heel and there was no room for that in my plans."
"What happened to her?" Ma Ji asked in a voice of barely restrained fury.
"She killed herself." Aro said quietly while holding his wife's hand tightly. The pain in his voice evident to all.
As Maggie and Charles both declared that this was all true a blood curdling snarl erupted from Yin Zhi. She had clearly reached her decision as to Carlisle's fate.
"Carlisle do you have anything you wish to say at this time?" Caius questioned.
"I do not recognise the validity of this court. I can only be tried by my peers and you are not my equals in any way. You are mindless fools with no comprehension of the freedom I offer. If you condemn me you doom yourselves to mediocrity for eternity."
The silence in the room was broken by Garrett's not so quiet whisper to Bella.
"Damn you said he'd say that." As he handed her a few bank notes.
Quiet chuckles filled the room while Carlisle looked on furious, his moment gone, again he was treated with ridicule and contempt. Would these fools never realise his worth?
Aro stood again and walked toward Edward. The boy in question looked terrified as he tried unsuccessfully to emulate Carlisle's arrogant nonchalance.
"Edward here obviously knew about Carlisle's plan. He worshiped and adored his maker in an almost fanatical way. He was determined to emulate him in every way." Aro dropped Edwards hand and walked back to his seat.
"Edward knew of Carlisle's earlier experiments on Esme, but when Carlisle turned her and took her to his bed Edward found himself jealous, not in a sexual way but in so far as he didn't want to share Carlisle's attention. In a fit of pique he 'ran away'. When he returned later he was treated very much as the prodigal returning and began to see himself as something of the power behind the throne. Carlisle doted on him because of his gift and Esme followed suit. Edward always saw himself as a prince among vampires. He wholeheartedly agreed with Carlisle's assumption's that they were so much better than the rest of us. He had always known his role was to ensnare a powerful gift for the benefit of the coven. When Bella was discovered he moved in and endeavoured to bind her to him."
Smiling at Bella happily Aro continued.
"Thankfully he made many errors that enabled her to escape his hold and which have led to this trial today."
After the validators declared that Aro was telling the truth Siobhan stood to ask her question.
"Did you know the full extent of Carlisle's plans and did you agree with them?"
Edward shook his head refusing to answer.
Siobhan stepped forward and spoke again, her tone forceful and demanding.
"You either answer yourself or Aro answers for you, but we WILL get the answers we want."
"Yes I knew" he whispered in a surprisingly calm voice "and yes I agreed. I have a powerful gift and deserve recognition. Carlisle would have put me where I was destined to be"
He glanced up at Siobhan with a look of un-disguised contempt.
"It hardly matters what you think of me or my actions. My gift is important and Aro will not let me be destroyed. I will not dignify you all with further answers."
"Fuck," Alistair said louder than he intended as he handed Esme some money. Sulpicia and Caius grumbled loudly as well. "That was only five minutes."
"Does anyone have any further questions for the fool.. I mean accused?" Aro asked cheerily. "You will answer Edward or I will ask Jane to make you."
"What would you have done had your mate showed themselves to you?" Ma Ji wondered as Edward turned to look at her. He was silent for a few seconds and Jane stepped forward. Seeing her move he bowed his head.
"I would have turned them away as Carlisle did. I have no place in my life for such hindrances. I will not be ruled by my feelings."
Growls filled the air again and Aro turned and winked at Bella. Smiling she lifted the shield from around Edward. He gasped and quailed at the onslaught of thoughts. With pleading eyes he looked toward Aro and stared in horror at what he read in his mind.
"No you need me, I am too valuable to kill!" he screamed.
"I do not need you, you are not too valuable, and sadly the decision is not mine alone or you would already be ash." Aro snarled viciously.
"True" quipped Maggie cheerfully.