Disclaimer: Only the new storyline in mine, the rest is Stephenie Meyers.
Previous chapter:
Demetri - DPOV
Aro growls and intercepts Edward before anyone has a chance to react. He looks livid. I don't think I've ever seen Aro this mad, not even at the Romanians. Felix takes a few steps back as Aro lifts Edward by his neck and growls loudly: "You're even stupider than I thought, child. Do you think you can come into our home and threaten us? No one threatens the Volturi and lives. We're going to take great pleasure in teaching you some manners. Captain, would you like the honor?"
Demetri - DPOV
Would I like it? I fucking love the idea of teaching Edward Cullen some manners. I'm going to make sure that he understands who Bella's heart belongs too and I know exactly how I'm going to accomplish that. There won't be a sliver of doubt left in his head the moment I separate it from his body. I turn to Aro and say: "I would, Master."
Aro drops Edward on the floor, and I signal Felix to hold him down. Aro's hand brushes against mine, and if I wasn't looking straight at him, I wouldn't have noticed the small raise of his brows. I wonder which one of my thoughts made him react that way. He walks back to his throne and says: "Please continue, Captain."
I move to stand in front of Edward Cullen and stare at him for a few seconds. I laugh out loud when Edward snarls: "What are you waiting for? Fight me! Tell your lapdog to let me go so that I can end you!"
"You believe that you can beat me, the Captain of the Volturi guard, in a fight? Dream on, boy. You're even more delusional than I thought. I'm not going to fight you yet. I'm going to show you that your accusations are false first, but rest assured I'll fight you before this day is over. The best man will win and that will be me because I already hold Bella's heart, and that will never change. Felix, hold him down. Jane, get Chelsea in here. It's time for a little experiment."
I ignore the questioning look on the faces of my coven members and focus solely on Bella. She gives me a loving smile, and I can see the love and devotion for me in her eyes. I know she can see the exact same thing in mine. Everyone stands in silence until Jane reenters the throne room, followed by Chelsea. I give her a reassuring smile as she looks at me and says: "Chelsea, I need your assistance in this matter. You see, Edward here believes that the bond between me and Bella was placed there by you." I hold out my hand as Chelsea opens her mouth to react with a shocked expression on her face. "You don't have to defend yourself, Chelsea. We know you didn't do it. Edward, however, thinks that you can forge a mating bond between two vampires, and we're going to show him you can't."
I turn to Edward and say: "You can read Chelsea's thoughts, can't you?" He nods angrily and says: "Her thoughts don't prove a thing." I snicker and say: "Oh, I know, but her actions will. Chelsea, please bind Edward to you with your gift." I can almost feel the anticipation rising in the room as Chelsea looks at Edward and works her gift on him. She then turns to me and says: "He's bond to me, Captain."
"Wonderful, Chelsea. Now, Edward, please tell me how you feel toward Chelsea now. Is she the center of your universe? Does everyone fade in her presence? Would you bring her the moon if she asked you to? Do you love her so much that you would give your own life to save hers?"
Bella – BPOV
I look at my husband as he questions Edward about his feelings for Chelsea. I already know what Edward's answer will be. Chelsea explained the effects of her gift when we started talking after training a few weeks ago. There's no love involved, it's just a sense of loyalty, but it will never measure up to the all-consuming kind of love that exists between true mates. I smile as I realize that Demetri's describing his love for me. God, I will never love someone as much as I love him.
Demetri - DPOV
I can't stop the smug look from forming on my face as Edward grinds his teeth while refusing to answer my question. Chelsea walks up to Edward and says: "Answer the question, Edward. I need you to cooperate with my Captain."
Edward nods and says: "I would follow Chelsea to the ends of the earth to help her, but out of loyalty, not out of love. If I have to compare the feeling, I will say it's similar to my bond with my family members, but that doesn't prove a damn thing. You keep telling me that Bella loves you, but I know that she could never love a man like you."
I smirk as I shake my head at the boy in front of me. "I knew you were going to say something stupid like that. We're not done yet. You have now felt how it is to be under Chelsea's gift. You can now compare that feeling to any other feeling that is sent your way, and after that, we'll talk about Bella's love for me again." I turn around and look straight at Jasper as I say: "Major, would you mind helping me with this part?" I smile as I notice the twinkles in his eyes as he moves to stand beside me and says: "I love the way you think, Demetri."
I laugh as Edward mumbles 'traitor' at Jasper, who takes a deliberate step toward him and hisses: "Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black. You betrayed your family, Edward. You stabbed a knife in our backs, just because your pubescent mind couldn't come to terms with the fact that Bella truly loves Demetri. I didn't betray anyone. I see how happy Bella is, and I feel her love for her mate and her new family. She belongs here. You failed to grow up and see that too. You made your own bed. Don't try and put the blame on me."
Edward's eyes flick to the rest of his family, and his face falls. He lets out a strangled cry as he stares at Carlisle. "You're disowning me? You're choosing Bella and a Volturi over your son? Why? They're not family, Carlisle."
Carlisle shakes his head and says: "Edward, you conspired with our mortal enemy to kill a member of our ruling coven. You tried to ruin the eternal happiness of the woman we consider family. Bella is as much my daughter as Alice and Rose. Your selfish actions set a chain of events into motion that changed all of our lives forever. We love Bella, and we only want what's best for her, and that's a life with her true mate here in Volterra. We stand by her and Demetri. I wish that you would have handled this whole situation differently, but I'm not saving your ass this time, Edward. As Jasper said, you create this situation all by yourself. It's time you face the consequences."
Edward stares at the rest of his former family for a minute and shakes his head in disbelief as he starts to struggle against Felix's hold. He turns back to me and growls: "You're going to burn in hell for this. You ruined my life. You took everything from me. I'm going to end you."
"Patience, Edward, you will get your chance to fight me, but we need to settle something first. You know how it feels to be bound by Chelsea's gift and keep claiming that Bella's love for me is just like it, that she could never love a monster like me, that her feelings are fabricated. We're going to prove you wrong. Your incapability to read her thoughts feeds your disillusion, but you can't argue with feelings. Major, I want you to project Bella's emotions onto Edward when I ask you too."
Jasper looks at Bella with a soft smile on his face and says: "With pleasure, Captain."
Bella – BPOV
I look at my brilliant mate as he lays out the rest of his plan to Edward, and I feel my love for him grow. I still can't figure out what I ever did to deserve him, but I'm so grateful he's mine. He's perfect in every way, and I love him more than I ever thought I could love someone. The only one that seems to doubt that is Edward Cullen, but my husband has found the perfect way to get him into the loop.
I smile as Demetri walks toward me and pulls me close. Jasper moves to stand next to Edward, who is still being restrained by Felix, and puts a hand on his shoulder, before saying: "Ready when you are, Captain."
Demetri nods at Jasper, before cupping my cheek with his hand, and I close my eyes for a brief moment as I lean into his touch. "Just feel, amore mio. Ti amo tanto, mia moglie." * I open my eyes and stare into the eyes of the man who holds my heart, now and forevermore. I smile as he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, and I stand on my tiptoes to kiss him softly. I let all my love for him flow through me as I say: "There are no words to describe how much I love you, Demi. You're everything to me."
He gives me a sexy smile and leans in to kiss me again, before turning to Jasper and saying: "You're up, Major." Jasper nods, and we watch as Edward's eyes glaze over as the projection hits him. Jasper pulls his hand back after a few seconds and leans down to hiss in Edward's ear: "You don't deserve to feel a love so pure and true for longer than the few seconds I gave you. Just admit that you were wrong and save what little dignity you have left."
Edward whimpers as Jasper moves away from him and looks at me with a heart-broken look on his face. He raises his hand, as to reach for me, and says: "But I love you, Bella…"
I shake my head as Demetri lets out a low growl, and I say: "That may be so, Edward, but that doesn't give you the right to try and ruin my life. I told you loud and clear that I do not love you anymore, and you refused to hear it. You went on a self-proclaimed crusade to rescue me from an evil that doesn't exist, and you conspired to have my true mate killed. You were grasping at straws the whole time, but now you know, Edward, no one has ever loved anyone as much as I love Demetri."
Edward's shoulders fall, and he lets out a sob as I step into the arms of my Demi. Demetri kisses the top of my head, before turning to Edward and says: "Do you have anything to say, Edward?" Edward growls lowly. "She loved me liked that once. Those feelings can't be gone." Demetri shrugs his shoulders and says: "Let's check, shall we? Tesoro, can you please show Edward what you feel for him."
I nod my head in agreement and let all the hate that I feel for Edward Cullen flow through me. His love for me had already cost me so much. I think of all the pain and misery he caused me when he left me alone in the woods. I think of the pain I caused Charlie and Renee and how they had paid the ultimate price in the end. I think of the moment when the wolf entered the clearing, and I thought I was going to lose my Demi. All those memories fuel the hatred that is building up inside me.
I give Jasper a nod and smirk as I see his eyes widen before he starts projecting my feelings onto Edward. I stand tall as Edward falls to the ground with his arms wrapped around his chest and cries out in agony while he begs Jasper to stop.
Demetri - DPOV
I smirk as Edward Cullen falls to the ground in pain and begs for mercy. Jasper raises his brow questioningly, and I purr softly as my Bella shakes her head 'no'. God, she looks like Athena, the Greek goddess of War right now. I truly am the luckiest man on the face of this planet. I can't wait to end Edward's miserable existence and take my wife home. I place a kiss on Bella's hair and say: "I believe he gets the message, tesoro."
"Are you sure, Demi? He didn't get it before."
I laugh out loud as I turn her around to kiss her passionately. She sighs contently sigh as we wait for Edward to recuperate from the onslaught of emotions, my arms still tightly wrapped around her waist. Aro gives her a loving smile as he stands up from his throne and says: "Edward Cullen, you have been found guilty of treason. You conspired with our mortal enemy to end the life of Demetri Volturi. You're a direct threat to my daughter's happiness, and because of that, you will be executed. It seems to be the wish of my captain to let you fight him. Don't get your hopes up though; no one has ever bested my Captain. He will end you."
I give Aro a small nod, before placing a kiss on Bella's head and walk to the center of the throne room. Felix lets go of Edward and moves to stand next to my Bella. I give her a quick smile as emotions of love and fate flow throw me. I turn to look at Jasper and nod appreciatively. His gift would be such a nice addition to our guard. Maybe he would consider staying a while to be close to Bella. I need to ask him later. I refocus on the boy standing in front of me as Aro claps his hands and says: "Make us proud, Captain."
I start to circle Edward and smirk as he lunges for me like a newborn. You would think that living with the Major for all those years, resulted in some sort of fighting skills, but that's not the case. He never fought someone without using his gift before, and it shows in his every move. I dodge his next attack easily and notice the smug looks on the faces of my coven members. They know that I'm playing with him, and I decide to taunt him a little more.
"Is that all you got, Edward? No wonder Bella loves me so much. A strong woman like her needs a strong man to stand by her side, not a wimp like you."
"Shut up, you monster. I love her enough for both of us, and I would have made her happy. You ruined everything, you defiled her. I might not leave this wretched place alive, but you're going down with me."
I smile as I see Bella face-palming herself at Edward's words and say: "Ah yes, I am the bane of your existence. I single-handedly ruined your life. Now tell me, Edward, can you handle an eternity in hell while knowing that Bella hates you even more than she does now? Because if you were to kill me, which I highly doubt you're capable of, that is what will happen. I even bet that Bella will be the one to tear you apart and send you there. So, come on, give me your best shot. May the best man win."
Bella – BPOV
I will never get tired of looking at my Demetri as he fights. His stance is confident and graceful, while the ruthlessness and determination are visible in every movement he makes. It makes me want to jump him and have my way with him. I let out a soft purr and fight the urge to rub my thighs together for some much-needed friction. My husband needs to finish this charade of a fight right now and take me home.
Edward's fighting skills on the other hand are clumsy and barely non-existing. His attacks are uncontrolled and erratic. Demetri is toying with him, and Edward doesn't even realize it. Felix lets out a booming laugh as Edward goes flying into the wall and says: "Put him out of his misery, Captain. It's painful to watch, to be honest."
Edward growls loudly as he charges at Demetri. The growl is cut off as Demetri jumps into the air while grabbing Edward's head and tearing it from his body. He then throws the head to Felix and says: "You're right, Felix. It was getting rather boring." I rush into his arms and squeal as he spins me around, before kissing me passionately. He pulls back after a few seconds and brushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear as he says: "He will never hurt you again, tesoro. I love you so much."
He then turns to Felix and says: "Take Edward's head and body to the incinerator and dispose of him. Justice has been done." Aro nods in agreement and I watch as Felix carries the man that caused me so much pain out of my life forever. I can't find it in myself to mourn him one bit. I watch as the doors of the throne room close behind Felix.
I lean back into Demetri's embrace as Aro turns toward Jane and says: "Jane, please show Carlisle and his family to their rooms. We will reconvene here in a few days to discuss the fact that they exposed our existence to a human and left her behind, alive. Let me say this, Carlisle, your love for Bella works in your favor."
He turns to me as the Cullens leave to room with Jane and says: "The Major was right in his assessment back in Phoenix, my daughter. You will always be worth it. You bring us so much joy; an existence without you would be torture. Now, I realize that you and Demetri want to go home, but I need you to wait for Eleazar. You have a wonderful gift, Bella, and we need to find out how it works. It's very unpractical that I can't read the thoughts of the head of my guard anymore."
* Ti amo tanto, mia moglie = I love you so much, my wife
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