The room was silent as we ascended the steps behind the thrones to take our places upon the large stone platform which held them. My hand lay atop Aro's as he guided my steps, his piercing red eyes not leaving my face for a moment, as if he were afraid I might disappear as soon as he had his back turned.

I gave him a fond smile and stroked my thumb along the side of his hand which lay beneath mine in an effort to reassure him.

The tops of many bowed heads greeted us as we stood, Caius' own sleek head trembled with the fierce fury of his forced submittal, fighting the compulsion upon him with every ounce of strength he had. Yet, it wasn't enough to match my own.

I looked at Aro with a single raised brow in question and he followed my gaze, his perfect brow creasing for a moment as he considered Caius, before nodding once.

This was a test, I realised. Caius was sure to be furious and this was Aro's way of showing he trusted me to handle it.

With a breath I felt myself pull my thoughts backward, focussing only upon the blond bowed head before me, and almost immediately he was up, fury etched in every bitter line of his marble face.

I tilted my head at him in question as his eyes swept over me, his fists were clenching rhythmically as he fought to rein in his fury and properly assess the situation. At his silence, I began speaking.

"It is apparent that you have been taking liberties in Aro's absence." With these words, I squeezed his hand gently. "That stops now."

Caius' jaw clenched a moment before he bowed his head once in acknowledgment and ground out his response. "Yes, My Lady."

To say I was amazed didn't even begin to cover the stunned disbelief I felt inside. Apparently, the law regarding the pure Vampyre was absolute, even to a power hungry zealot like Caius. He knew to challenge me would be futile, he was as useless as a baby when confronted with my power and whilst he was hungry to lead, Caius was not stupid. He knew the best way to keep his seat of power was to ally himself with me.

I nodded once before turning back to the many bowed heads before us. For a moment I felt a pang of sadness as I noted the humans were still here, probably apoplectic with fear whilst frozen in place beneath my power. I assessed the room and knew there were matters to deal with, but putting the humans out of their misery was my priority.

I focussed on those who bore the Volturi crest and withdrew my power, upon feeling the compulsion lift I was only momentarily confused as they did not stand. Until I realised they would not without my command.

"You may stand." I intoned softly, my voice melodic as it carried throughout the high ceilinged room with no need for my projection.

They stood and many eyes roamed over Aro and me with disbelief, confusion, and awe.

"Hello." I began, addressing those who were now my family. "I apologise for keeping you under the compulsion for so long, there were matters which needed my attention first."

I mentally applauded them on maintaining straight faces, as if they hadn't all heard Aro and I finally consummating our bond.

"I am aware I interrupted your feed, however, the baseless cruelty you have been allowed to exhibit in my absence ends now." My tone was unyielding steel as my violet eyes met each and every one of their gazes before I focussed on the humans.

'Sleep'

Thirty or so bodies suddenly slumped to the ground like dominos, their heartbeats slowing as they fell into a deep slumber.

"You may feed."

I kept my hand in Aro's as the Volturi fed, Caius joined them though seemed reluctant to expose his back to me. The stiff line of his shoulders made me smirk as I met the gaze of the man who still stood at my side, his hand now warm in mine.

"You are perfection, my love." His lips grazed my ear as he whispered to me, a soft kiss landing on the curve of my jaw before he withdrew.

My eyes held the still kneeling forms of Alice and Jasper, the growls of the latter were becoming ever louder in his frustration and I took a moment to appreciate the strength of my power. At a wave of Aro's hand, the bodies were disposed of and the floor was once again, pristine. At the single inclination of his head, I released my compulsion over the pair.

I watched carefully as Alice raised her golden gaze to my violet, the astonishment was written all over her pixie-like features as Jasper, ever the gentlemen, held his hand out to her as she stood.

"Bella? You're… Alive? I can hear your heart."

I quirked a brow and tilted my head as my eyes swept over them before…a blink and my chest stilled as did my heart within it.

"Not quite," I spoke softly, my brow furrowing as I looked down at the person I once considered a sister to me. "Why, Alice? Why lie?"

She sighed loudly and shook her head, her eyes flicking to Aro who stood at my side, his fingers caressing my wrist lovingly.

"Bella I… It was for Edward… I saw what your decision to be with Aro would do to him. So I-"

"Nearly cost me my life altogether." I interrupted her, my tone even but disappointed. I held no rage within me now, so elated was I to be back at Aro's side. I felt only sadness and disappointment at her betrayal. This time it was me who sighed as I shook my head. "I don't suppose I will ever learn that I cannot trust the Cullen's not to lie to me. Better to place no trust in them at all, I think."

They said nothing, only shared a look between them before I spoke again.

"Why is it you're here?"

"We have a situation… In Forks. It requires the attention of the Volturi. We came to ask Aro for help."

I laughed at this, the tone musically pleasing even to my own ears as Aro's mouth twitched upward in a smile at the sound.

"They want your help, Aro," I whispered to him loudly, in a conspiratorially mocking manner. I then turned back to address them "What is the situation?"

"Victoria." The name before would have sent icy dread piecing through me. Now it only amused me as I waited expectantly for them to continue. "Aro killed her and massacred her newborn army. But it would seem that her lieutenant was left behind and has continued her task in an effort to avenge her."

"In Forks?" I laughed again, this time the mouths of the Volturi surrounding us also raised to mirror my smile. "He's a little off, geographically. If killing me is his motive."

"It's not only about you!" Jasper interrupted, his southern drawl deepening with his frustration. "Word spread of your death and Riley believes it, but Victoria's revenge was taken from her and so now he is set on sowing her wrath upon the whole town to avenge her. He doesn't care about keeping our secret, he only cares about killing everyone in his path and using his newborns to do it. They're violent and uncontrollable, even the wolves have suffered at their hand!"

"Who?" I asked, an image of Jacob flashing before my eyes as I turned to Aro with my question, knowing the wolves worked for him.

"Does it matter?!" Jasper again, his eyes were black and I momentarily acknowledged how difficult it must have been for him to be forced to kneel in a room bathed in human blood but unable to move. I quirked an eyebrow at his tone and raised my hand to stall Felix as he stepped towards him, growling in warning as Jasper continued to rant. "Does it matter to you which one of them it was? Or you're only interested if it's someone important to you? So long as the people you love are safe, nobody else matters is that it?"

"Does it remind you of anyone, I wonder?" I directed by looking between them pointedly. "Don't be a hypocrite Jasper, it's boring."

I turned away to face Aro, my eyes connecting with his own as I made my intentions plain. His brow furrowed and he pursed his lips like he might disagree, before sighing his response.

"Very well, if you must."

I stepped backward now, behind Aro to let him continue the discussion.

"We will board a flight to Seattle at dusk, any who wish to accompany us may do so."

Immediately the inner Volturi guard stepped forward and a beat later the entire guard moved forward and bowed their heads.

"Master." Echoed around the room, they spoke in unison and their revered tone struck me for a moment as I turned back to them, my eyes passing over them all before landing once more on Alice and Jasper.

She looked as though she might try to say something more to me, but I turned before she had the chance and took Aro's hand as he led me to his own throne, seating me with a single hot look

"Archos will not be far away from this confrontation, I imagine?" His smooth and deep tone washed over me and I let it flow through me like liquid gold as I closed my eyes for a moment to appreciate it. "He too believed Isabella to be dead, though it will not take long for the news to reach him."

"No one has seen him since you got Bella back." It was Alice's voice "I have been watching his decisions and he isn't involved, at least not directly."

"Hmm, forgive me if I do not take you at your word, young Alice." His tone was hypnotising as he held out a single pale hand. I knew the strength of that grip and watched carefully as Alice stood and placed her much smaller hand in his. I knew Aro had long been enthralled with Alice and her power and had wanted it for himself before he had even known of my existence.

I examined the tendril of jealousy I felt curl in my stomach as Alice swayed momentarily toward Aro.

I knew why, his scent was even more bewitching now that I had unlocked my immortality, combined with his natural magnetism you would have to be made of stone not to be drawn to him.

But then the contact was cut as Aro swiftly withdrew his hands to clasp them before his chin as he turned on his heel and locked his eyes to my own, watching me over his hands as he looked from me to Marcus and Caius.

"Ordinarily, my dears…" Aro began, his tone was considering as he addressed the Volturi before him again. "Ordinarily I would be concerned to place you all in such proximity to Archos."

"His power is such that before now I would not have risked you in such a fruitless endeavour. But that was before Isabella's awakening."

The pride in his voice made me sit a little straighter as I admired the strong line of his shoulder whilst all other eyes were on me.

"Quite simply, she outshines him in every conceivable way. With her at our helm, the only possible outcome is our victory. You have all been witness to the magnificent power of her gift, therefore I know with utmost certainty that this will be a very quick trip indeed."

A low murmur of agreement buzzed around the room and hundreds of confidence filled eyes fell upon me. The weight of them settled upon my shoulders and they all looked at me with a reverence and fear borne from witnessing my power. Everyone in the room knew that I could control them in any way I wished and they both feared and admired it, it was a peculiar feeling.

"Alice and Jasper are welcome to travel with us, however, I sense they have already made other plans and wish to leave almost immediately." Aro turned to the pair in question for confirmation of this.

"We will need to warn our family. It will be especially difficult for Edward to see Bella with…" Alice trailed off as if realising what she was about to say. Aro, however, had no such shame in finishing her sentence for her.

"It will be especially difficult for Edward to see Isabella with… her mate? I cannot imagine why Alice, considering that she is indeed my mate and not, in fact, Edwards. As he led her to believe?" It appeared I wasn't the only one capable of jealousy and satisfaction filled me as I witnessed this powerful vampire feel such an emotion over me. "No, you will not leave early to pre-warn dear Edward. We shall arrive together in Seattle and travel to Forks to greet the rest of the Cullen clan."