AN: I couldn't leave you hanging with another cliff hanger ;)

So here's the next chapter!

Let's see how the confrontation will turn out. Will Bella make it in time?

Chapter 17

EPOV

There were many of them. More than I had expected.

They broke through the clearing, overwhelming us with their numbers. I swallowed hard. At least this was going to be quick.

We were faced with a mass of dark red capes and hoods. There were at least fifty of them, spread out in a loose semi cicle, with the the trio of brothers slightly in front, and four inner guard flanking them. Felix, Renata and two youngsters which had to be Jane and Alec.

I wasn't sure exactly what their gifts were, we'd only heard about them from Eleazar. Something about mental sensation they could create or take away. It hadn't sounded pleasant.

It seemed we were truly doomed.

Carlisle though still clung to hope that we could resolve this. He stepped forward with his hands raised innocently.

'Aro Volturi, what an honour to welcome you here. To what do we owe this pleasure?' he asked.

Aro snarled. 'Pleasure?' He scoffed scathingly. 'How can you address me so Carlisle Cullen, pretending you have not begone a grave sin?'

'Sin? I assure you I do not know what you mean. My family is living here peacefully among the humans. We blend in without issue.'

'So you claim ignorance about the werewolves that you live alongside of?' he asked.

A shock travelled through the group they had brought with them.

'Word has reached me, Mr Cullen, that not only do you live alongside them peacefully, but you have formed an allegiance with them and you adhere to their wishes.'

Of course that would be the greatest crime to Aro; a vampire following orders from a werewolf. It was the ultimate insult for him, a blow to his ego. He couldn't fathom vampires being subservient to anything or anyone. Interestingly, Bella shot across his mind in that moment as well. Was he planning on overthrowing Bella?

'Your family has broken a sacred law by this allegiance and for it you shall be pushined. You will be sentenced to death for your crimes.'

He raised his hand in the air. Was this really it? just a few minutes of talk and then our lives would be over. I swallowed hard, thinking once more of Bella, and hoping the end would be quick.

Edward someone thought at me.

I jerked in shock. The thought had come from the Volturi ranks.

Edward I'm Jane. Bella knows. She's on her way. You have to stall. I can't help you right now. my brother and I are in danger as well.

I glanced at the hooded figure that was Jane. She was looking intently at me.

He's going to order my brother and me to attack you. Stall him. She ordered me, her eyes narrowing slightly.

'You have no proof of your crimes.' I shouted out, my mind grasping at straws to stall.

Bella was coming. I had to believe that. I had to believe that Jane was indeed on our side. There was no other option. It was death or this. Perhaps it wasn't true and I was just making him more angry and our death more gruesome… but I couldn't believe that. I had to believe Bella was coming. I needed to believe that.

'Proof?' Aro shouted out incredulously.

What are you doing? Carlisle asked in his mind, his eyes cutting towards me.

'There has been reports made to me!' he yelled. 'What more proof do you want? I have actual witnesses.'

'Let's hear them then.' Emmett yelled out, seemingly catching on to what I was doing. How he knew, I wasn't sure. Or he was just enjoying antagonizing the Volturi. It could be either honestly.

Aro bristled.

'We've already given our sentence. Enough of this.' Marcus spoke up. His voice was as ancient as he looked.

'We have a right to a fair trial.' Carlisle argued as well. He figured a last fight would be better than just standing by and getting killed.

'A fair trial?' Marcus spat. 'you lost that right when you colluded with our sworn enemies!'

'So you admit this isn't a fair proceeding then?' Jasper called out.

I hid my grin.

'Of course not.' Aro backtracked quickly. 'The trial already happened in Volterra. We heard the witnesses and concluded that your crimes were great enough to warrant our direct involvement.'

'How can it be a fair trial when we were not given the chance to defend ourselves?' Carlisle asked.

'Defend?' Marcus snarled. 'criminals deserve no defence. You broke the law. You will feel our wrath because of it.'

'Enough of this. You entered into a treaty with children of the moon. You have been caught. Nothing you say will excuse this.' Caius argued.

'Not even the fact that they are not children of the moon?' Carlisle argued nonetheless.

'They are. Our witness saw it.' Aro yelled back.

'Your witness probably never fathomed the possibility of something else.' I argued.

'It matters not. You entered an unlawful treaty, you have broken our laws. You will pay for this with your lives!' Aro raised his arm again to give the command when suddenly a voice shot out.

'I don't recall instating that law.'

And as I blinked, Bella suddenly appeared between my family and the Volturi.

'Bella.' I choked out in relief. She'd made it. She was here. She was actually here!

Aro's eyes widened almost comically as he took her in. His mouth gaped open in shock and his eyes were nearly bulging out of his head. His mind was scrambling what to do. he knew he had gone against her direct order to be here.

I couldn't hide the grin this time.

Bella didn't give him time to recover or start making excuses. 'You disappoint me, Aro. Was I not clear in my order to hold off? I ordered you to leave this coven alone. Who do you tink you are that you can disobey me?'

Her tone dropped and for the first time she let her power show. The Bella I had come to know was nowhere to be found. Instead here stood Isabella the first. A fierce and deadly leader that took no disrespect. She oozed power that couldn't be denied and Aro knew it as well. He seemed to shrink away from her. The sky started darkening above us and the wind was blowing rapidly through the clearing. There was no doubt in my mind that it was Bella's doing. She was asserting her power, leaving all of us with no doubt that she could annihilate us all if she wanted to. Without breaking a sweat at that.

I could only stare at her in wonder as everyone else cowered in fear.

'Answer me Aro.' She commanded, her voice thundering through the clearing. Everyone flinched.

'I.. I wouldn't dare Milady.' Aro stuttered. 'It's just that word reached us of their unholy alliance and we couldn't let that go without punishment.'

'Yes, the alliance with the Quileute wolves. Are you going to kill me too then Aro? Because I've had an alliance with them for longer than you have been alive.'

His mouth dropped open in shock.

Then three wolves sprang from the bushes and joined Bella's side. They growled and snarled with their hackles raised as they pawed at the ground.

Bella knows the wolves? Emmett pretty much shouted in my head.

What the hell? Jasper was equally shocked it seemed.

I still can't see anything Alice told me, trying to flip through the future, but coming up blank every time.

Marcus snarled viciously at the appearance of the wolves but Bella responded in kind. Only her growl seemed to reverberate into our very bones, showing very clearly who the real predator here was.

'You dare raise your voice at me Marcus Volturi?' She snarled.

That backed him down. His eyes were still trained on the wolves though, but he stepped back again.

Bella stepped forward, stalking the trio of brothers, herding them together. 'There has never been a law that prohibits alliances between supernaturals.' She told them. 'Giving out a death sentence for something that isn't even a law is rather ridiculous don't you think?'

Aro shrank back from the force of anger in her voice.

'But we've made it clear….' Aro tried to interject. His voice small and his demeanour hesitant, like he didn't want to argue with her.

Bella didn't even have to speak to get him to shut up again. She just looked at him.

Then she sighed. 'You've been given too much power, Aro. I really can't blame anyone but myself. I have let this go on too long.'

'I beg your forgiveness milady.' He quickly sank down to his kness.

Within a fraction of a second she was in front of him. He shrank back, falling back on his ass.

I had to stifle my laugh.

'You dare to beg me for forgiveness after everything you've done?'

'I have done nothing but try to live up to your wishes.' He pleaded with her.

Bella hissed, a feral sound that cut through the clearing and made everyone shiver. 'My wishes?' she reached over and grabbed Aro's collar hoisting him up as if he weighed nothing at all. 'You dare to tell me that collecting your gifted vampires were my wishes? Your greed for power? Your complete disregard for humanity?'

His eyes widened in fear.

Caius and Marcus both took a step back, trying to put some distanc ebetween themselves and the very angry Bella.

'Your brothers tried to control you, but they failed.' She turned to them. 'blinded by pride, hubris and grief.'

'I only wished to protect the vampire race.' Aro pleaded.

'Even now you dare lie to me?' Bella snarled, getting in his face.

Aro cowered, squeezing his eyes shut, genuine fear in his thoughts. 'I wouldn't!'

'Your lies have been tolerated too long, Aro. You are unworthy of the power I have bestowed upon you.'

Aro paled at her words and started desperately clawing at her skin, trying to loosen her grip. I balled my fists, ready to get involved when suddenly I found myself pushed to the floor on my knees. A hand gripped my hair and another was underneath my chin.

I had been so focussed on Bella, I had not been paying attention to my surroundings. Neither had the rest of my family.

Marcus had noticed and taken advantage of our distraction. He'd seen the beginnings of a mate bond between Bella and myself. And he'd seen an opportunity, a bargaining chip. Just like Bella had feared.

I groaned. They were going to use me against her.

'Let my brother go.' Marcus snarled, yanking at my hair painfully. But I refused to make a sound. 'Or I kill your mate.'

Bella turned towards us slowly, her grip remaining steady on Aro's neck. Her gaze was cold and for a second I didn't even recognize her.

Play along. Her voice came into my mind and I struggled to keep my face from showing my relief.

'Why would I care about him?' she asked.

My family bristled on my behalf.

Marcus seemed a bit taken aback by it, which was Bella's goal it seemed. 'He's your mate.'

'Has your gift been declining in your apathy Marcus?' Bella taunted him. 'You of all people should know the difference between a realized mate bond and a potential mate bond.'

'I know what I see.' Marcus hissed, though his thoughts were slightly rattled.

'Stop this foolery, Marcus. Your fate has been sealed along with your brothers.'

I had to give it to Marcus, he didn't back down. 'Let my brother go, or I kill him.' His hand tightened around my neck. He wasn't playing around it seemed.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you.' Bella's voice was ice cold. Her fury was palpable in the air around us as the wind whipped furiously at our hair and clothes.

Do you trust me? Bella's voice entered my mind again.

I gave a minute nod of my head. Nothing that would alert Marcus, but enough to let Bella know I'd heard her and was nodding in response to her question.

She didn't say anything else. Instead with one quick nod, she turned her head back to Aro, grabbed his head in her hands, brought her mouth to his neck and bit down.

His agonized screams tore through the clearing and for a moment confusion reigned. The Volturi guard didn't know what to do and shifted anxiously around us. The wolves were snarling and growling and my family was screaming, thinking that surely my life was forfeit now as well.

I braced myself as well for Marcus's retribution. Though I trusted Bella would step in before he could kill me.

But as Aro's screams cut off with a metallic screech as Bella beheaded him, Marcus stood motionless behind me.

Step away from him, Edward Her voice spoke in my mind again.

Carefully and slowly I broke free of Marcus's grip and stood up. I slowly turned around to look at Marcus. He stood still as a statue, staring blankly ahead. His eyes were vacant. It was eerie. What was happening to him?

My family didn't hesitate though, they quickly grabbed hold of me and yanked me into their midst. Enclosing me in a protective circle, a few feet away from Marcus' still form. Though they were shaken and confused about what was goin on, they didn't hesitate to protect me. They knew I was a possible target from now on. Marcus had revealed the bond between Bella and I. If they wanted to hurt Bella now, they would come for me. We all knew it. So Carlisle and Emmett covered my flanks, Jasper stood in front of me, and Rose, Esme and Alice brought up the rear.

Bella was staring at Marcus with a little smile on her face. 'Alec.' Bella said. And immediately Marcus gasped and stumbled.

His eyes looked around for a moment, seeing the changed scene before him. His eyes landed on me in the protective circle and he let out a furious snarl, then his eyes landed on Bella, and Aro's beheaded corpse at her feet and he let out an agonizing cry.

'You!' he exclaimed, making a move towards Bella. He was on the ground, writihing in agony in the same second.

'Have you met my progenies?' Bella asked with a smile on her face. 'Jane and Alec. Their gifts are quite incredible. And I have trained them myself. You thought you could bring them into your guard and use them as weapons. You're all fools. I would never have allowed you to corrupt them.'

Marcus stopped writhing. Caius seemed frozen to the spot.

'Marcus, though you do not deserve an explanation, I will give you one anyway. These wolves are not Children of the moon. These are shifters. Spiritual protectors. They just happen to take a wolf form. They are sentient and can shift at will. If you had checked your prejudice you would have seen the differences and you would have questioned the so called witnesses.'

'I know what they are.' Marcus hissed. 'I know what children of the moon look like.'

'Enough.' She snapped.

'Marcus and Caius, your faith is the same as that of your brother. You've all betrayed me and do not deserve the power and responsibility I've given you.'

'You will never be able to kill us both.' Caius snarled at her, taking a step towards her. 'Our guard will never stand for it!'

Bella cocked a brow at him. Then she turned to face the crowd gathered around us, who by now were looking very uncomfortable. 'Most of you know me. Some of you know of me. I am Isabella the First. I have come to pass judgement on the Volturi brothers, as is my responsibility.' She addressed the crowd. 'Your masters have been given their power by me, but have abused it. Their greed has blinded them to the real purpose I had given them their power. For their hubris and greed, they will pay the ultimate price. Who dares to claim I am not right in my judgement?'

It remained silent. The thoughts of the crowd were mostly scared. They simply didn't want to die. No one had true loyalty to the Volturi brothers. They had mostly been blackmailed into joining and then bound with Corin's power. Now that Aro was gone, Corin herself had broken her enchantment and most vampires were no longer feeling the loyalty that had driven them here.

'You have a choice.' Bella continued as she looked around the hooded figures. 'I will give you the chance today to stand with your masters and challenge me. If you chose not to, I will consider the matter closed and you will not seek misguided revenge for your former masters. You will renounce your fealty and I will let you go in peace. If you do not wish to stand with your masters, I will free you now, but If you ever seek out revenge I will not show mercy for anyone involved.'

The crowd seemed to collectively shudder at the threat in her voice. Silence hung thickly in the air for a moment before the vampires all started dropping to their knees and bowing their heads to Bella.

Bella nodded and before I could blink, both Caius and Marcus lay in pieces at her feet. She flicked open a lighter and dropped it on the scattered remains of the Volturi brothers.

She stepped back as the fire quickly leapt into the air, catching quickly on the husks of Aro, Marcus and Caius.

'Jane, Alec.' She called out as the fire burned on.

Jane and Alec stepped forward and she bowed her head close to them for a moment. They seemed to be conferring about something, but I heard nothing from all three. Bella must be protecting them with her shield. I wondered how that worked. I had clearly heard Jane a moment ago.

After a moment they stepped back. 'Jane, Alec. Take the guard home.' she ordered them in a firm voice. 'For any guard wishing to remain in Volterra, you are welcome to stay. The brothers are gone, but I will appoint new rulers soon. You may remain in Volterra as it has become your home. but do not try to assume the mantle of the Volturi for yourselves. I warn you here and now, I will not allow it.' Her voice was scary again and everyone gave a quick nod.

I doubted many would remain. Most had covens they would return to. Perhaps some who had no others would stay, or perhaps they would strike out on their own. One thing was clear though, everyone was willing to wait around to see who the new rulers would be.

We'd never seen a change of power. The Volturi had been installed a few thousand years ago. Most of the vampires here simply hadn't known a different way of life. There were very few who had known the Romanian rule and were still around.

Bella nodded to Jane and Alec and both set off the way they had come, signalling for the other cloaked figures to follow after them. And as soon as they had come, they were gone again. Leaving the wolves, us and Bella standing alone with the smoking charred remains of the Volturi brothers.