Bella

I started working with Demetri instead of Santiago the next morning. It was time to learn to fight, to defend myself, and to kill. Edward had technically not broken any rules so Demetri couldn't order the Volturi to destroy him. That wouldn't have given me satisfaction anyway. I wanted revenge. It wasn't a loss of control. Edward had murdered my father.

Demetri guided me in various disciplines of martial arts at first, not sparring but getting me used to the movement. We worked on precision and speed. We also worked on denying my newborn instincts.

It was instinct for a newborn to charge head first. Demetri taught me moves that came from the sides and the back. There was so much to learn. When those lessons were over Renata taught me how to work with my shield after court every day. I learned to shape it and manipulate it. I learned to set it free and hold it in. I learned to confine someone in it. Finally, I learned to raise it so I could be touched by other's gifts. Edward seemed to only believe something when he heard it in someone's mind. Now I could make him hear what I thought of him.

I had to do this. It wasn't optional. Edward had to die.

I got to the point where I was working too hard though. I'd been going constantly for a few weeks. Demetri insisted I take a full day off. He was afraid that my hatred was going to become an obsession. I thought it already had.

On our day off Demetri took me to the recreation room. I was surprised that all the elite guards were there. Demetri got us both a glass of wine and we proceeded to watch movies and get tipsy together. After the last movie, 300, we all sat and talked and it was great. Demetri had known just what I needed to relax.

After everyone left we went back to our apartment and made love nice and slow and intense for the first time in a week. He kept me busy all night.

We were interrupted in the morning by a knock on the door.

Felix was there. "Alice called again. Edward is coming to take Bella back. He'll be here tonight."

I got angry but nothing was broken. I could choose not to expand my shield now. I could choose to have some control. After Demetri released me we went down to the feeding room. I fed perhaps a little more forcefully than I should have. There was a little more violence involved.

The guard was instructed to let Edward pass. They were to guide him to the training room where I would be waiting. Demetri was letting me lead on this one but he would be present along with the Elite guard in the shadows of the training room, just in case things didn't go as I planned.

Finally, everything was set. I was waiting seemingly alone in the center of the room.

When Edward arrived he rushed toward me. I took a step back. "Come with me love, I'll take you back to the family."

I raised my shield and Edward could finally hear my thoughts. He looked like he'd been slapped. I wished he had. I focused on what I thought of him.

Edward only said, "No, it's not true. You love me, Bella."

I surrounded him with my shield. He couldn't hear me anymore, he tried to run but it was too late.

"I've told you I don't love you, Edward, but you didn't believe me. You don't seem to listen unless you can hear it in someone's thoughts. Well, now you've heard my thoughts, Edward. I don't love you. I despise you. I told you I didn't want to get married, Edward. You didn't believe me. You pressured me, even held my change hostage after the Volturi had declared it had to happen. After you knew that I wanted it. You thought you could get by with forcing me to marry you. You wouldn't have changed me anyway. I told you I wanted to make my own decisions. You tried to stop me from being friends with Jake, with Jasper. You controlled everything from my food intake to my clothing. I told you I wanted to be a Volturi. Yet, here you are acting like going back to the family is something I want. You don't hear me, Edward. You don't see who I really am and I'm no longer the human girl who had to accept it. On top of all that, what do you don't get your way? You murder my father. So here's where we are now. If you can convince me there is one valid reason for your continued existence I'll let you go back to your family. If you can't, I collapse my shield and you turn into a pile of dust to be swept away and put into the incinerator. So, Edward, I hope you're listening this time. It's potentially the most important question of your likely short life. Why should I let you live?"

"You love me," Edward said. "You won't kill me."

"No. I love my mate, Demetri. I hate you." I clarified. Edward looked nervous.

"My family would miss me," Edward said.

"Somewhat valid. Let's talk to Carlisle and see what he has to say." I said. I got out my new phone and dialed the new number Felix had tracked down for me.

"Carlisle," I said when he answered. "This is Bella. I know how you love your family meetings so we're going to have one now. Why don't you gather the others? I'm sitting here with Edward and I've explained my feelings about him to him again. To no one's surprise, he seems to be living in his own little world and doesn't believe me. I've asked Edward to come up with one valid reason I shouldn't kill him. Personally, I'm of the mind that emotionally he's an immortal child who can't learn and needs to be put down. So Carlisle, since Edward can't come up with anything why don't you tell me one valid reason that I shouldn't kill him."

"Esme and I would miss him," Carlisle said immediately.

"Yes, I imagine you will, but then I miss my father and you allowed Edward to murder him," I said.

"His ability is useful," Carlisle said uncomfortably.

"His ability makes him an overconfident, pompous ass. That isn't a valid reason. You do realize this is all your fault, don't you? Your neglect led to this. You don't control your coven Carlisle. You haven't controlled Edward since I've met him. You let him overreact, sending a tracker after me. You let an emotionally immature boy leave me instead of listening to Jasper. You left me with two psychotic vampires after me. You let Edward do a grand gesture in Italy, revealing my existence to the Volturi and guaranteeing my change. Then you let that son hold my change hostage until I would agree to marry him. You paid no attention to the fact that I had changed when you arrived back in Forks after I went all the way to Italy to rescue him. And on top of all that, when things didn't go his way you let your overconfident spoiled schoolboy of a son murder my father. So, my question Carlisle, is who is the leader in your 'family' because it sure isn't you."

"I agree," I heard Emmett say.

"I agree," I heard Rose say.

"I agree," I heard Jasper say.

"I agree," I heard Alice say.

"Since this is a true family meeting can any of you think of a reason to spare Edward that I'll care about cause I can kill him in an instant," I said.

Silence filled the line except for a sob I assumed was from Esme.

"I was never the girl that Edward saw and I'm done tolerating his unacceptable behavior. Say goodbye to Edward." I said.

Edward said, "Please Bella..." and screamed as I collapsed my shield.

"Edward is gone, Carlisle and if you come after me in retaliation I'll kill you too no matter how much I loved you. I am Volturi and I know how to protect myself." I said as I disconnected the line.

Demetri was at my side the instant the phone disconnected. I was in his embrace. It was over. Edward was dead and I wasn't hiding it. I was relieved. Carlisle knew what would happen if he came after me. I am a Volturi, not a child and I would learn to be my mate's equal in every area of our lives.

Soon the training room was back as it was every day for our training. We went as one to the recreation room. None of the Volturi were shocked by my behavior. There were no lectures or guilt trips. I was not a Cullen and I never would be. I did love them. I especially missed Alice and Jasper. Chelsea turned on the music and soon we were all dancing to Chelsea's party mix of music. Demetri taught me to dance as he taught me to fight. I loved it. We danced together all night until the new day dawned.

When everyone went to their duties Demetri and I went to our apartment. He had two boxes on the floor. I recognized Alice's writing on the boxes. She had sent me something.

"Alice sent you some mementos of your father. I thought it was a good time to show you. I'll hold things for you so they don't get damaged."

We searched through family photo albums. I told Demetri stories from the pictures. He pulled out my father's plaid shirts. They smelled of him. I had almost forgotten my father's scent. Next was his badge. When everything was safely stored back away Demetri held me.

"Thank you, Demetri. Having my father's things means so much to me." I said as I curled around him.

"We'll have to thank Alice when we next see her. She's the one who sent them. I merely kept them safe." Demetri admitted.

"We've had such a long day, my Bella. Are you alright?" Demetri asked.

"I did what I had to do. He wouldn't have stopped until someone stopped him and Carlisle was never going to do it. I am Isabella Volturi; mate and equal of Demetri Volturi and that fact makes me very happy." I assured him.

We spent the evening and night reconnecting after my obsession with killing Edward. We made love on every surface in the apartment. It was wonderful. It was thrilling. I needed my mate and he needed me.