I should stop promising 'hey the next chapter should be up on Monday or Tuesday' and then it's not at all. I always vastly overestimate myself when I get off of work because I think I have all this energy and when I get off, I am exhausted and want nothing to do with responsibilities or anything at all and that includes editing this.
Aro POV
The chamber buzzed with anticipation, a low hum of shifting feet and murmured whispers, mainly to the anticipation of what was about to come. They all wanted Edward and some of the Cullens dead as soon as they found out about what happened to Isabella. I couldn't blame them for that, considering that Bella has been through a whole ordeal before she even arrived and Edward abandoning her, made everything worse.
It seemed as though many of the guards had fallen for her in their own way. They were determined to help her rediscover her self-worth and find joy in life again. I couldn't blame them for that. Even my wife, Sulpicia, and my sister, Didyme, appeared to have developed a fondness for her. Bella's presence had a way of softening even the hardest hearts around her.
Including my brother.
In all my three thousand years of existence, I had never seen Caius like this. He was patient, caring, and- most surprisingly- mindful of other people's feelings. Granted, that consideration was reserved solely for Bella, but it was still something. And honestly, the absence of slamming doors, shouting matches, and shattered furniture felt nothing short of miraculous.
I didn't miss the way Caius smirked at himself- thinking of something, no less amusing. Whatever it was, it was clear that he didn't bother wanting to indulge me in it. Although, I had no doubt that it was about the Cullens. He wanted nothing to do with them and he had very less enthused about the thought of their presence.
Before I could dwell further on Caius's musings, the heavy doors creaked open. Demetri and Felix strode in, Edward Cullen shackled between them. His head hung low, his shoulders weighed down by resignation. They forced him to kneel before me, his gaze fixed on the floor, unwilling to meet anyone's eyes.
All that remained was Bella. Her heartbeat—a steady, betraying rhythm—grew louder as she approached. Moments later, Jane and Corin escorted her into the chamber. Bella entered with an eerie calm. Her face betrayed no emotion, her gaze skipping over Edward and Caius alike. She carried herself with her heartbeat remaining strong and steady.
At last, everyone was present. It was time for Edward Cullen to face judgment.
"Aro," Marcus's voice drew my attention.
He extended his hand towards my direction. Marcus rarely shared his insights into the bonds of those around him with his gift. I couldn't even really remember the last time Marcus had cared to say something about anything about that until now, making this moment much more intriguing. Eagerly, I clasped his hand and his knowledge about the bonds flooded my mind.
La Tua Cantante. The depth of Edward and Bella's connection was extraordinary, yet their bond was frayed and decaying. Edward's restraint in not killing her was impressive- if inexplicable- but irrelevant now.
His crimes would not go unanswered.
"Bella, will you tell us when you first found out about us?" I began, breaking the silence, making my voice as polite as possible.
Edward kneeled before me, his head bowed towards the floor, not bothering to look at anyone. While Isabella stood only a couple of feet away from him, posed in front of Caius's throne, with Jane and Corin flanking next to her. She stood there calmly, her heartbeat slow. She seemed fine to be here, which was good because I didn't know how'd she react with Edward being right there. There was nothing that betrayed whether or not she was pleased to be here.
I asked sweetly, breaking the silence, "Bella, will you tell us when you first found out about us?"
Bella looked down towards the floor, not bothering to meet mine or anyone else's eyes in the meantime. It made it hard that she wasn't willing to meet anyone's gaze and she kept her voice rather quiet.
"My friend, Jacob Black, who lives on the reservation told me some of their legends a couple of months after I came to Forks. He told me that werewolves-" Bella started.
"Werewolves?" Caius questioned, his voice icy.
Caius immediately tensed after hearing that, and clenched the throne's armrests. I stared at Edward, wondering why he had no recollection of meeting Children of the Moon- and it wasn't like he was able to find through that information. Of course, I couldn't blame my brother for his reaction- after that nearly-fatal encounter when he was almost killed by one- he wanted nothing more than to destroy the Children of the Moon.
"Shapeshifters," Bella clarified rather quickly, "They turn into men at will. It just happens that they just turn into a wolf… The shapeshifters had a natural enemy of the cold ones, vampires. How the Cullens were the same one from what his great grandfather met- from there, it was easy to connect the dots," She explained, biting her bottom lip.
"What do you mean it was easy to connect the dots? Were they being conspicuous about our existence?" I further questioned, eager to know how Isabella connected to Edward, and how she met them. I knew about all of it, but there was nothing more fun than hearing it aloud- by another source.
"In a way," Bella said. "They tried gaslighting me at first. Once, I was almost hit by a van that skidded on ice. Edward, who was across the parking lot, got to me within a second before it crushed my legs. He managed to stop the van and left handprint indents on both of the vehicles. It was obvious to me that there was something to them that they weren't quite human."
"How did you piece everything together from those two events?"
"I researched about vampires," Bella shrugged. "Jacob's hint about the Cullens and the way Edward saved me, there was only one explanation. Everything started to match from what the internet told me, but they were simply my suspicions. It wasn't until Edward saved me from those creeps in Port Angeles that he confirmed my suspicions."
It wasn't hard to piece together what happened after that, even seeing through Edward's memories. They fell in love and had been together for months until that disaster of the night when they played baseball of all things during a thunderstorm and encountered a nomadic tribe- although
"You became entangled with the supernatural world after that. Tell us when you encountered Victoria's nomadic tribe. How did that proceed considering you're still human?"
Bella's hand unconsciously drifted to the scar on her arm. "James hunted me. The Cullens tried to protect me, but he tricked me into thinking he had my mother. I went to face him alone. He attacked me and bit me, but Edward stopped the transformation by sucking the venom out. I would have become a vampire, if it wasn't for them saving my life."
A flicker of frustration broke through my facade for a brief second before I smiled once more- as much as I could. Edward's misguided self-righteousness had done a lot more damage than was previously thought, but no less- I'd get there eventually.
"What was the reason behind that?"
Bella shrugged, "He thought of his existence as a soulless monster, and didn't want me to lose my humanity. He thought… It was for the best."
I could tell most of the guards seemed troubled hearing those words. Frowns and creased between their eyes were noticeable, but I paid no attention to them before I asked her a question- I knew everyone, including me was curious about:
"You were with the Cullens and lived your human life blissfully until that fateful night on your birthday when one of their own attacked you and after that, the Cullens left you… Why did they leave you behind?"
Bella let out a shrug before she answered, "They thought it would be safer for me if they stayed away. Edward believed… I'd have a normal life without them."
Turning my attention to Edward, I asked the question everyone was waiting for. "Edward, were you ever planning to give her immortality?"
He gritted his teeth and finally answered , "No."
His words hung in the air, a final condemnation. He had flouted our most sacred law, stringing Bella along with no intention of making her one of us. He had done worse than what was previously believed.
"Can I go now?" Bella asked, interrupting my thought process or what I wanted to say to Edward next.
"Yes, of course, Isabella," I said, my eyes flickering towards her direction once more.
Bella left the room, without saying anything else.
I let out a small sigh, as I knew it was time for the verdict. It was honestly such a waste to ruin a vampire's potential, especially like the useful gift that Edward had. It was such a useful gift that I knew even our enemies would cower at the sight of us if they realized that he had a mind reader in our midst. It was a much better opportunity than outright killing him that I knew many would want. It was the only thing I could think of:
"Join or die, is that it?" Edward hissed.
I nodded, "You broke the law by telling our secrecy to a human and then left her alone, with no plans to turn her into one of us. As a result, we give you the option- we either kill you or you join us."
Edward looked like he was rather pained, looking towards Bella who stood near where the rest of the kings were- with a blank expression on her face. Such a strong, incredible woman- even I had to admit that, already changing my dear brother's behavior even if he did mess up, but love will find us all I suppose.
"I'd rather die," Edward murmured.
Very well, I thought to myself as I looked at one of the nearby guards, poised near one of the entrances who disappeared and reappeared within a few seconds, carrying a single lit torch in their hands. They handed it to me, and I stepped forward with a blank expression on my face as the torched lowered to where Edward kneeled in front of me with a pained expression on his face.
Within seconds, Edward's entire being lit up in flames- and his entire existence was no more. It was such a shame that a gift like that had to go to waste, but no matter. He was gone and I am sure Isabella would be glad that he would no longer be plaguing her with the ghost of his existence.
Felix cleaned up the ashes left of Edward after Demetri extinguished the fire that remained. Most of the guards headed out of the room, and the Cullens stood near the wall, not daring to move with solemn faces written all over their faces. What a shame.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your coven member, Carlisle," I said, approaching him with a blank expression.
Looking at him, a wave of anger and frustration flowed through me but I refused to let it show. My oldest friend had been unwilling to teach his coven members about the rules of our existence and blatantly refused to follow our laws. I just couldn't believe it.
"Thank you, Aro," He murmured, looking towards the spot where his son's ashes once were.
"You're more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you want or join us," I offered with my sincerest smile I could muster with him. He really tested my patience today, but he wasn't going to see that side with me. "That goes for any of you. I understand that somehow you have a connection with her, of course."
"What will become of Bella?" Carlisle asked. "Will she return to Forks or-"
"She'll stay here with us," I interrupted, cutting him off from his question.
He bowed his head deeply in resignation. What he was willing to achieve in that was beyond me. Bella was never going to return to Forks, as a human anymore- even I doubt as a vampire. She was to spend the rest of her life here with us, for eternity.
"I understand."
I smiled briefly at him, before I placed my hand on his shoulder. Memories of what happened yesterday with Rosalie's and Bella's argument led to Caius breaking into the room, and taking charge. I took note of the fact that one of his own coven members called Bella a slut, and accused her of sleeping with one of us. It was really worse than I previously thought. Perhaps, my brother was right- the Cullens were troublemakers and don't respect us. No matter how much I didn't want to believe that, especially not with Carlisle.
"I would suggest, Carlisle, that you get the rest of your coven in check," I murmured, tightening my grip on his shoulder. "If I find that you dare to disregard our rules again, you might find yourself unlucky as we do not offer second chances… And you."
I turned towards the blonde female that I've seen through Carlisle's memories and what happened, "You should count yourself lucky that you're alive. If my brother had his way, he would have killed you on the spot for upsetting his mate. He does not take anything lightly. It was only because of my friendship with Carlisle that saved you. I would do well to remember that. I'd suggest that you change your attitude, or don't say anything else to her for that matter, least of all you'll have a worse fate than your brother did, understood?"