.
Chapter 24
The Volturi
I awoke when I realized I was being laid on something soft.
Where was I?
"Bella, are you awake?"
That was Edward. He sounded very sad and also worried.
In seconds, I was in the same mood as he was, except that I was also terrified - terrified of what would happen now.
"Stay calm, my angel. I promise ... no, I swear to you that everything will be all right!"
He seemed to want to convince not only me but also himself with these words.
As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw that I was in Edward's room, lying on his bed - in Edward's arms.
Jasper sat on the edge of the bed with a worried expression on his face, looking down at the floor.
Then everything came back to me all too clearly, which is why I had fainted.
Charlie, Dad, what happened to him? Where was he? What did the Volturi do to him?
"Bella, please calm down! We're going to sort this all out. Charlie is on his way here. We've let him know!", Jasper spoke out and the calmness in his voice transferred to me, dampening my rising panic. "I think I'll go down to the others ...," Jasper continued, standing up. "Charlie will need to be calmed down when he gets here, after all. If anything is wrong, you call me, Edward."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room.
Edward and I sat silently like that for a few minutes, but then all of a sudden he let go of me!
I looked at him in confusion.
I didn't want him to let go of me!
"My angel, I want to hold you too, but you're shivering so! Are you cold? Lie down under my blanket."
I was still confused.
I was shaking?
I looked down at myself.
He was right!
Suddenly I stopped shaking and looked at Edward with wide eyes.
"I'm just scared ...", I whispered with lowered eyes.
I was immediately back in his arms.
"Don't be, my angel. We'll all take care of you, don't worry!"
There was a knock at the door and Jasper entered again.
"Charlie is here. We explained everything to him! Would you come down? The Volturi are waiting!" he said, now not so calm.
I began to tremble again.
"Jasper!" said Edward, looking at him.
He understood immediately and my fear was alleviated somewhat - at least I was no longer trembling.
Edward held me tightly by his side as we entered the living room. I saw that everyone had gathered in the garden.
As Jasper held the door to the terrace open for Edward and me, I began to shake again.
Like Victoria, the Volturi had red eyes and memories flashed through my mind that I only wanted to forget. It was only thanks to Edward that I was still standing. Jasper did his best, but he didn't quite manage to help me.
We joined the others - Edward with me and Charlie in the middle.
They would protect us, there was no doubt about that. I didn't need to read their minds for that, you could just see it in their faces. I didn't want that; I didn't want any of this family to be hurt because of me. That was not allowed to happen.
Edward pressed me a little tighter against him. He gestured for me to listen.
Then one of the vampires with red eyes took a step forward.
He had a long robe on, black hair and his skin looked like paper.
I think the look he gave me was supposed to be reassuring. But I did not feel that way!
"That's Aro!" whispered Edward in my ear.
He held me from behind with both arms wrapped around me, his chin resting on my head again after these whispered words.
Edward remained calm in this situation. If there was danger, he would not stand behind me like that, but in front of me and protect me. By not doing this, he calmed me down immensely.
Then Aro began to speak.
"My dear Cullen family, as I said earlier, these two people will now see how a vampire who breaks the rules is punished," he said calmly.
He raised a hand and pointed to Jonath, who now stepped forward.
I wanted to intervene, wanted to tell Aro that he had saved me from death, that he had saved me from going crazy, that I would have told everyone around me about vampires if it hadn't been for him.
I looked around at the Cullens for help and my eyes fell on Alice.
Her gaze was slightly glazed and when it cleared, she looked at me in amazement. I noticed Edward stiffening behind me. Alice looked at Edward - they seemed to be talking silently, if only for a few seconds.
"Aro, might my mate have something to say about that?" then Edward spoke up!
I looked at Edward, startled.
I was supposed to get a chance to explain myself, to defend Jo! What had Alice seen? Would I be able to save Jo?
"Yes," Edward whispered in my ear.
Okay.
I gathered all my courage, I also got support from Jasper - as I found out.
Then I looked at Aro and began to speak.
"Why must Jonath die for what he has done? He told me what he is - yes, but only because his mate attacked me, and my friend and I escaped. If he hadn't told me what he was, I would have convinced everyone around me of my story, and many more people would know about you. "
Aro looked at me in amazement.
"Isabella. I can't really picture all of this. Would you mind showing me what you were thinking?" he spoke and took a step towards me.
Edward remained calm, as if I had nothing to fear.
I knew he would see through the lie as soon as he touched me. What was I supposed to do?
I looked questioningly at Edward, but he silently intimated to me to just do it.
I was desperate. If I touched Aro, it would be Jo's death sentence. What was I supposed to do?
I collected myself shortly and then took a step forward. Edward was still holding me.
I did not want to show Aro the truth. He just had to believe this lie!
I held out my hand to Aro and he grasped it resolutely.
And then the images ran in front of me.
