With One look
Chapter 18
As we approached the Cullens' territory and pulled up at the house, we were met with none other than Alice and Edward. It was obvious they didn't know I was in the truck when they went off on Peter and Charlotte for being there and for bringing another human blood drinker, referring to Garrett, when the three of them stepped out of the truck first. Of course Peter and Char ignored them and looked at them with a smirk on their faces as I finally stepped out of the truck.
Edward and Alice gasped at seeing me and backtracked, stuttering and trying to show more respect than they felt. "Alice, Edward, just the two I wished to see. Where is Jasper, Alice?" I asked as she looked around, trying to come up with something to keep me from him.
"H...he's not h...here, he went hunting, yeah that's it he's hunting," she said stumbling to find her words. I walked over to her and put out my hand to take hers so I could read her, but she backed away not wanting me to touch her.
"Afraid of something, Alice?" I asked as Edward stepped forward.
"Alright, that's enough. You people came here to disrupt our lives and try to order us around and I won't have it. I know you are Carlisle's true mate, Isabella, but that doesn't give you the right to come here and destroy our happy home."
"Destroy? You mean take away your rule of this coven don't you, Edward? I thought Carlisle was the leader of this coven?" I said and watched as he closed his mouth and stood there stoically, not admitting or disproving what I just asked.
It was then that Rosalie and Emmett stepped out. "Hey Bella. It's good to see you again. Boy, you should have seen Carlisle tear those two a new arse hole for what they did to you and him. They are supposed to be welcoming you, not causing more trouble. Man, you two are asking for it when Carlisle gets home," Emmett said.
Edward and Alice rolled their eyes at Emmett's comment and turned to him. "Emmett, be quiet! Don't you see they are here to cause more trouble that will further tear this family apart? Esme has already left us; are we just going to stand by and allow them to destroy the rest of what is left of our family?" Alice said.
"Looks to me like you and Edward are the ones they are focusing on, Alice. Not any of the rest of us," Rosalie said.
"Go inside, Rose, we'll handle this," Edward said as both of them turned and did what Edward demanded immediately.
"So it's not only Carlisle, but the rest of the coven you're controlling as well," I said as a matter of fact.
"I don't know what you are referring to, Isabella, but I will ask you to leave; you are not wanted here," he said. I laughed and stepped closer to Edward and cocked my head to the side.
"Are you going to let me touch you, Edward? Let me see for myself what's really going on?" I said which caused him to take a step back as Alice had done earlier.
"Seems like they both have something to hide, little darlin'," Peter said to me.
"We're not hiding anything, you all need to leave now!" he ordered and I smiled at him.
"I held out my hand and said. "Stay," as both of them froze on the spot, not able to speak or move a muscle, but I did hear Alice ask Edward what was going on in her mind. Causing me to chuckle. I then heard Jasper walk out. He looked confused as he eyed each one of us before asking.
"Peter, Char, Garrett, Bella, what's going on guys?" He asked as he walked out and stood in front of us looking over at Alice and Edward. Peter and Char stayed quiet. They were still pissed at Jasper for his action from before. Jasper turned back to me. "What did you do, Bella?" he asked with a scowl on his face.
"What the hell, Major. That little pixie and your brother treated Bella like crap when she was here the last time, and all you can say is what did she do to them, what about what they did to her?" Garrett yelled.
"This is none of your business, Garrett, I suggest you keep your mouth shut and mind your words towards me," Jasper growled.
"Bella is my friend so that makes it my business, son. I suggest you watch your tone with her," Garrett said back. Jasper growled and looked at me.
"I mean you no harm, darlin', forgive my tone of voice. I just want to know what's going on?" Jasper said.
"To answer your question, Jasper, I'm keeping them quiet while I figure out what they've been up to." I told him.
He nodded his head and continued. "All you had to do was ask one of us, you didn't have to do this," he said pointing to the two behind him.
"No one would have given me any answers, Jasper. You all are still under their allure," I told him. He laughed and shook his head.
"No, darlin' Carlisle ordered them to take it off of him, but I think when you left he broke out of it himself," Jasper said.
"What about the rest of you?" I asked. He looked at me with a frown.
"I don't know what you're talking about darlin' we were never under their allure," he said.
"Oh, so that's why when Edward ordered Rosalie and Emmett back into the house they both immediately followed his orders? Does that sound like they aren't still under a spell?" I asked. He looked at me and frowned once again and looked over at his wife and brother and then back to me.
"Can you unfreeze their mouths without unfreezing the rest of them. so I can at least talk to them?" he asked. I nodded my head.
"I could, but it's not a good idea, especially for you," I told him.
"And why is that?" he asked in confusion.
"Because not only are you under their allure, but I think you are also under Chelsea's gift," I told him. He looked at me with a furrowed brow and shook his head.
"I have never met Chelsea so how is that even possible?
"I believe that Alice used her allure on you and when Chelsea appeared she bonded you to Alice," I told him.
He laughed. "That's crazy, Bella. I think I'd remember if something like that happened," he told me.
"Then let me see for myself. If I'm wrong I'll apologize and leave here and never come back," I told him.
"You can't do that, Isabella, you're Carlisle's true mate. You both would die from the pain that would cause," he said, "and how do you expect to prove that you're right?"
"By touching you, Jasper, then I'll see what happened. I'll even let you see what happened so you'll know I'm not lying," I told him. It was then we heard a screaming moan, only louder, for Alice couldn't open her mouth to let it out. "I don't think she wants me to touch you, Jasper. Do you think she's afraid we might see something?" I asked sarcastically.
He sighed and moved closer to me. "Let's get this over with, darlin'," he said as I placed my hands on each of his shoulders and closed my eyes letting Jasper's memories flow through me. I also opened my mind so Jasper could see what I was seeing. I shifted through most of Jasper's memories until I came to ones I wanted to see.
I was proven right as I saw Jasper in the forest. He stopped and put his hand to his head giving his head a shake as if shaking off dizziness. He then stood up straight and stared out into space as Alice appeared with a smile on her face. Chelsea appeared moments later and stood in front of Jasper smiling as the first part of her bonding ritual had worked and she was reveling in her work. Before doing anything else she turned to look at Alice and spoke. "You promise on your life that once Carlisle and Isabella are joined as one you will send them to the Volturi? Aro wants Isabella back and if that means taking Carlisle as well then so be it," she said.
Alice smiled. "Yes, I swear, by then Edward and I will lead our coven, this way Carlisle will be out of our way, leaving us to rule over the others," Alice said. Chelsea nodded and turned her head back to Jasper and placed her hand on Jasper's forehead and spoke.
"You are bonded to the soon to be Alice Cullen from now until forever. You will do as she asks and protect her coven. You will go from here and find her in a small town called Springfield just a few miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She will be at a little diner there. You will agree to accompany her to the Cullen coven and there the both of you will remain," she said as I saw a spark of light go through Chelsea's hand and enter Jasper's head. She then nodded to Alice and both of them disappeared. When they were gone I saw Jasper shake his head once again as if shaking off a fogginess they had left there. He then rubbed his chest and took off towards his unaware, ordered destination.
I removed my hands from Jasper's shoulders and slowly opened my eyes, as did Jasper who had a haunted look upon his face. He turned and looked at Alice. "How could you do this to me?" he asked and looked almost like he could cry. Alice closed her eyes and when she opened them again the glare she gave me would have melted metal if possible. I ignored her as Jasper turned back to me. "Can you break the bond that Chelsea has placed on me?" he asked.
I nodded and the mumbled screams began again. Alice was mad as hell, she didn't want me to take the bond off Jasper, he was her safe haven, someone to protect her coven once Carlisle and I had left to rejoin the Volturi. Little did she know I wouldn't be going back to the Volturi, I didn't care how much Aro wanted me back.
Carlisle must have showed up while I was reading Jasper. He didn't show himself though, he stayed hidden in the woods watching the proceedings as they played out, but I could feel his presence close by.
I laid my hand on Jasper's head and broke the bond Alice had Chelsea place there. Once it was done he smiled and thanked me and asked if I'd release Alice. I looked at him in shock, not knowing what he intended to do.
"I won't let her get away, I promise," he said as he walked over to her and stood beside her, as did Char being there for backup. At the same time he called Emmett. Emmett walked out and up to Jasper. "Stand next to Edward and don't let him take off," Jasper told him. When Emmett walked over to stand next to Edward I placed a hand on his head and released him from his allure. He stumbled a bit but regained control of himself and grabbed Edward's arm, waiting for me to release Alice and Edward. With a wave of my hand they were free from their icy prison. Edward didn't say anything, but Alice was ranting at Jasper for letting me break their bond, trying to tell him even though Chelsea had placed the bond there it still made them mates. Jasper only shook his head not believing how Alice's mind worked. "It was a false bond, Alice. One I didn't want with you. A bond with someone you love is a special bond, and the one you had Chelsea place on me wasn't real."
"But I do love you, Jasper," Alice whimpered.
"No you don't, if you did you wouldn't have done what you've done to me, Alice. You wanted someone to protect this coven once you and Aro had forced Carlisle and Bella back to the Volturi. Leaving you and Edward as the new leaders of this coven. I've got news for you, Mary Alice. It's not going to happen," Jasper told her. She screamed and pounced toward Jasper who had her on the ground and unconscious from his gift in seconds.
Edward tried to get out of Emmett's hold and it looked like he was winning or Emmett was tiring, I'm not sure which. Peter and Garrett, seeing this, took up their place to help Emmett, but Jasper saw this and gave Edward a dose of what he gave Alice as both of them were sprawled out on the ground as the others watched over them.
It was then that I felt Carlisle walk up from behind me and wrap his arms around my waist pulling me close to his chest as he whispered an apology for what had happened the day before. He told me he loved me and I could feel the tingles of his closeness run completely through my body. I turned and kissed him there in front of everyone, wrapping my hand around his neck and into his hair. What I felt for Caius was nothing compared to what I felt now for Carlisle. I pulled away staring into his golden eyes. "I love you, so very much," I told him as I kissed him again.
"How could you do this, Carlisle? She's nothing like us, and she's ruined everything we've built up for this family," Edward complained groggily as Emmett jerked him up to his feet once the lethargy started to wear off. He tried to move forward to talk to Carlisle, but Emmett and Peter jerked him back with little effort.
"No, Edward, It wasn't Isabella who did that, It was you and Alice who did that all on your own," Carlisle told him.
"Yes, it was. Edward and Alice are guilty. It's against our laws to keep mates away from one another for your own gain, for which you both are guilty. It's also against the our laws to use allure on our fellow vampires, of which you both are also guilty of," Aro said as he walked out with his guards closely following him from their hiding place in the woods.
"What brings you out here my old friend?" Carlisle asked as he released me and pushed me behind him. I knew this was a vampire thing and had experienced it before while with Caius, but I thought it was totally ridiculous considering my gifts.
"I think I've already explained that, Carlisle. I'm here to collect Alice and Edward for their crimes. Please don't try to defend them, Carlisle. I knew what had taken place long before I read Chelsea. You should know I know all that goes on in my kingdom," Aro said. I rolled my eyes knowing he had his spies watching the Cullens long before I visited them, due to the size of their coven.
While Carlisle and Aro spoke I looked over and noticed Rosalie had joined us. I could see Alice whispering something to Rose while Jasper and Char were paying attention to the Volturi. I waved my hand to stifle Alice's speech and called Rose over to join me. Once she was in front of me I placed my hand on Rose's forehead to erased any damage Alice had done. I knew I was successful when Rose's eyes cleared and she gave me a smile.
My attention was drawn back to Aro and Carlisle when I heard Aro say that we had to join him as well.
"What are you talking about, Aro? I'm not going anywhere," I told him as I stepped out from behind Carlisle.
"It is time for your return, Isabella, and with Carlisle being your true mate, for which I am ecstatically happy, I see no reason for him to deny coming with you," he said pointedly.
"Aro we've been through this and my answer is no different than it has ever been. I spent my time with the Volturi and I am done. I wish to stay here with my mate and his family," I told him.
"Isabella, I never forced you to stay with us before, because I knew how hard it was for you to be around Caius and his new mate, but now that you've got your own you can come back...where you belong," he said as an afterthought. I sighed, shaking my head.
"You never forced me stay, Aro?" I asked. I knew he couldn't make me stay if I didn't want to, and so did he, and I was sure the only reason he hadn't tried to get me to come back before now was because of Caius. I bet you real money that Caius doesn't know he's here now, I thought.
"I know you are powerful, Isabella, but you wouldn't harm me...I am your king, your leader. So you will do as I say and join me with, Carlisle, Alice and Edward," he said.
I laughed. "If you try to force me, Aro, I will stop you in any way I see fit, and as for Carlisle, Alice and Edward, they aren't returning with you either," I told him.
"Edward and Alice have broken the law, Isabella, and they will be punished for their crimes," Aro said in a serious voice. I stood there staring at him trying to think of a way around this. I knew they had broken the law and thought there was only one way to appease our king. I grabbed Carlisle's hand so I could talk to him through our minds before I suggested what I had in mind to Aro.
"Carlisle, Aro is right of course. Edward and Alice have indeed broken the law and he has every right to take them for doing so. This is something Aro has longed for since he learned of their gifts." I saw Carlisle's brow furrow with my words, but he knew I was right. "I have an idea how to get around this, but I will only suggest it if you agree. It's entirely up to you," I said.
"Can you hear me if I talk to you through my mind?" he asked and waited for my reply.
"Yes, I can hear you," I saw him smile and look down at me.
"Okay my love, what's your idea?" he asked.
"We can become Regents for the America's. Aro had always wanted you to join them and this way we can keep our family together and be part of the Volturi as well in a sense, but still live and work together here," I told him. He furrowed his brow and again. He looked over at Edward and Alice and thought for a few seconds, before sighing. He then looked back at me and answered.
"I guess it's acceptable, if you agree of course," he said. I smiled and nodded my head.
I looked over at Aro who was watching us closely. It always amused him to see me use my gifts. "I have a proposition for you, Aro," I told him. His eyebrows shot up into his hairline as he sighed and rolled his hands in a gesture for me to continue.
"Okay, Isabella. This should be interesting, please continue," he said.
"You want me to still be a part of the Voturi, right?" I asked.
He sighed and nodded his head. "You will always be part of the Voturi, Isabella, even if I have to make you return," he said confidently.
I rolled my eyes and noticed some of the guard trying to hide their chuckles. They too knew Aro was fighting a losing battle. "What if Carlisle and I became the Regents for the America's, we could watch out for trouble here and make his coven members our guard so to speak. You have to admit that the brothers have a hard time watching over so many vampires that travel over here," I told him.
I saw the wheels turning in his head. I knew they were having trouble with watching the Americas. It was too far for them to travel and dangerous for the kings or even their wives being open for attacks. Plus, having the guard fly over to check on problems left their own coven with less protection. So my idea was a better one. After waiting a long couple of minutes, Aro finally answered.
"I will talk it over with my brothers, but I see no problem with it. But Edward and Alice will still come with me," he said. I shook my head.
"No, Aro. We will need them here if they are going to be a part of our guard," I told him. He sighed, knowing I was right. If he took them it would only leave us with Rose, Emmett and Jasper. Although Jasper is feared all over the world, that still only leaves us three guard members. Of course I was hoping Peter, Char and Garrett would join us, as well as the Denali coven, but I wasn't going to tell Aro that.
"Very well, Isabella, but those two have to be punished for their betrayal," he ordered.
"They will be Aro, and once we've work out all the details we will contact you to set up a meeting for your approval."
"Very well, Isabella. But I warn you...do not make me wait too long, or you will all be serving in my guard," he said. I just looked at him, not saying a word, knowing if I said anything it would be taken as a promise and Aro with his shrewd mind would find some way of bringing all of us to Volterra, or so he would think. He couldn't do anything to me or my family, and deep down he knew it, but I'll still let him think he has all the power, I thought.
"We will speak to you soon, Aro," I said. He nodded and said his farewells and took off at vampire speed disappearing with his guard following close behind him.
"You are a genius, my love. I would have never thought of something like that," Carlisle said as he pulled me tightly to his chest smiling down at me. "Now our only problem for the present is how to punish Alice and Edward," Carlisle said as all in attendance turned to look at our resident troublemakers.
A/N: Did you like my little surprise? lol. Next up the Epilogue, we'll see how all this turns out and a little piece of Aro's point of view which led up to them being there, and Bella will get to talk to Caius...thanks for reading, huggs.