Chapter 9

After the talking and the progress we had made at lunchtime, my class with Jasper was awesome. We spent the lesson discussing ideas on our next pranks and the success rates on the previous ones. Every time the teacher would call us out for talking and ask us to answer a question we would answer perfectly each time only angering him more.

We have Saturday detention as a result.

"you know Isabella I don't think I've ever gotten a Saturday detention before I met you, you certainly liven up my life on a daily. For that I thank you"

"Ncaw, you're welcome Jay-Jay, I'm glad that we are friends"

"It was totally worth it though,"

We laughed about it all the way to my next class with Rose.

"hello Bella, I would like for us to get to know each other. If you would like to of course because I totally understand if you don't. I mean I've been a... "

I had to stop this mindless rambling but it was just so adorable, I just wanted to kiss her so much at that moment.

" it's alright Rosalie we can start over if you would like because I would like that too," I said shyly

We started talking a bit in between our work. I learnt that she loves fixing cars and her BMW is her favourite car in her collection that she had rebuilt or refurbished herself. She loves watching the stars when she feels stressed and that's light pink is her favourite colour. 'odd I know right she doesn't seem like the type to like pink' but who am I to judge.

By the time the day was over I had gotten to see Jane in a class full of humans, she was still uncomfortable being around them for extended periods of time but she was making progress. She had yet to talk to any of them, teachers included but I'm glad she doesn't look terrified anymore. Rose and I had some time together but I can't wait until we can spend time just the two of us in the near future. Jane and I walked hand in hand to my car, Alec was walking slightly behind us on my left, where we waited for the rest of the Olympic coven so we could drive to their manor.

Jasper was the first to reach us

"Isabella, Jane Alec. I hope you had a good day today, and it's good to have you here Jane and Alec. I'm sure we will form a solid friendship"

"seriously Jay, laying it on a bit thick aren't you? "

" I have no idea what you're talking about Bella, I was simply being cordial to your cousins"

"if you say so Jay, but I really don't believe you and that smirk says a lot"

Alice and Emmett joined us next. We waited a few moments and when I looked up I saw Rosalie walking down the steps 'strutting but whatever' she looked beautiful it's like the light was designed for her to utilize. The wind blew her hair as she walked towards us. Hips moving side to side with every step in her heels. She caught me staring and she gave me a shy smile in return

"Belly-bear you got a bit of drool right there" Emmett teased.

I wiped my face and they all laughed I was just about to tell him where to get off when I heard Jane giggle beside me. She was making a lot of progress in regards to her interactions with the Cullens. She doesn't trust easily and she is not a people person, well a vampires vampire.

We got in our respective cars and drove off to the Cullen Manor. Jane and Alec are in my mustang. Jasper and Alice with Emmett in his Jeep. Rosalie and Edward in her cherry red BMW. When we arrived at the Cullen's, I got out of the car and raced to the house

"honey! I'm home," I shouted from the door

"just in time, I made you a snack"

I kissed Esme on the cheek and went straight into the kitchen as though I owned the place.

"How was your day dear?"

"it was great but it would be better if you agreed to marry me, Esme. Seriously you should consider it. I'll be 18 in a year, give and take a couple of months."

She laughed at my statement and said

"I am considering it but I still love Carlisle," she said with a dreamy voice.

"ah yes the good doctor, will I get to meet him tonight? "

" yes dear, he is the coven leader after all"

"cool, I got to size-up my competition"

I got up and did a few stretches to her amusement. Esme giggled as I continued my theatrics. I helped her clean up in the kitchen and went to the living room.

I walked into the living room to find the Cullen's on one side and the twins on the other. Confused as to where to sit I decided to sit on the floor between the divided groups. Jasper joined me a few moments later with a chessboard and we begin our first round of chess for the night. Three games later, I won two. Jasper insisted that I let him win but sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war. Jane and Alex sat on one side talking among themselves in their native tongue. Emmett and Alice played a few video games and Rosalie was reading a magazine, cars. Carlisle walked through the front door and greeted Esme with a kiss. 'they make a cute couple honestly'.

"Dr Cullen its an honour to meet you, really it's an honour to meet the man that is in possession of Esme's heart"

He turned to me with a quizzical look and shook my hand cautiously

"it is an honour to meet you too, I have heard a lot about you from my children"

After the pleasantries were over we gathered around the living room area, we sat down and I started talking. First I addressed Carlisle who had spent time with the Volturi

"Carlisle do you know the meaning of the pendants that the guard and royal family wear?"

"Of course, bronze is for the lower guard, silver for the elite and gold for the royal family. Each royal family has a stone in the pendant to represent their heirs. The twins have a Ruby stone as they are heir to Aro, if Marcus had a childe it would be an emerald stone in the golden 'V' pendant. I am not sure what Cauis' colour is I'm afraid"

I took out the pendant that has hung around my neck since I was old enough to understand the meaning of it. I gold 'V'-shaped pendant with sapphire on the right side of the 'V'.

"The heir to my father's throne, Caius Volturi, has a sapphire stone."

I heard gasps from each of the coven members but I did not expect Edward's next words

"She's one of them we should kill them all while we have the advantage, she's a mere human and we have the twins outnumbered."

As soon as he finished his sentence he jumped up as soon as he did, he was down on the floor under the influence of Alec's gift. Losing all your senses can be disturbing. Worse than feeling like you're being burnt alive. It disorients you and completely shatters your hold on reality. It allows for your mind to conjure all sorts of scenarios and without the anchor, to reality, you lose yourself in the nightmare that is your own imagination.

"please don't kill him. " cried Esme from Carlisle's arms.

" Alex give him back his ability to hear" I commanded them as my father would. Rosalie may be my mate and the rest my friends, excluding Eddy boy, but this was an us against them situation and I knew that if they attack they would go for the weakest first and that would be me. Well, that is how I would do it anyway.

"I didn't come here to be attacked, an attack on me is a direct attack on the Volturi. I came here to experience human life and to make new friends. I am Isabella Marie Volturi, heir to Caius Volturi, mate to Rosalie Hale. I will not hesitate to reduce this coven to ash should you choose to attack me. "

I didn't want it to end up like this I don't want to lose my new friends. I had to protect myself and the twins. If pushed I would kill them all sparing Rosalie.

"we don't want a fight Isabella but you have to understand that we are wary. We want you to feel safe and part of the family. Edward was out of line and his thoughts and opinions do not correlate with the rest of the coven."

"I do understand Carlisle. I don't want to lose my new friends and the progress Rosalie and I have made. This is why I chose to tell you. If I am forced I will not hesitate"

"then why do you have Jane and Alec as bodyguards Belly-bear. Don't you trust that we love and won't hurt you in any way?"

"I do trust you Emmy-bear, but don't forget rule number one of being a vampire. 'any human that has the knowledge of vampires must either be turned or killed' Jane and Alec are here just as a precaution. My father's idea, as human bodyguards would not be effective against a coven of vampires and the wolves are too far to be of much protection" I said

"the wolves? As in the Quileute pack? " asked Carlisle

" yes sir, we understand that you have a treaty with them, uncle Aro was disappointed when you didn't tell him Carlisle but it was sorted out a while ago. They are under Volturi jurisdiction now. They report to us. Your treaty with them still stands of course. Just know that we have the ability to void it if necessary."

I know it sounds like the Volturi are all power-hungry but if the supernatural goes unchecked and not under strict regulations anything is possible. The Southern Newborn Wars are one of the events and also the uncontrolled behaviour of the Children of the Moon.

"but that's not why I am here today. I am here to tell my story on how I ended up with the Volturi."

As soon as I finished that sentence a knock on the door disturbed us. I turned to Jane for verification of who it was and the look on her pale face told me she knew who exactly was behind the door. Any mention of the Denali coven ends up with the same emotional response.

"Tanya, Kate and Irina, welcome. But we weren't aware you were coming," said Carlisle confused.

"hello Carlisle, Edward called us a few days ago and told us you might need help taking care of some vampires that seemed to be a threat to your coven. He failed to mention that the vampires he was talking about are the Volturi " Tanya Denali sneered, coven leader to the Denali coven, in Denali Alaska.

She did not like the Volturi one bit. After the trial and execution of her maker and blood great aunt, Sasha, they have stayed as far as possible from the Volturi staying on the right side of the law and always making sure the Volturi doesn't have any reason to call them in. Interestingly enough they took Eleazar and his mate into their coven, as he served the Volturi for a few hundred years.

"My apologies Tanya but Edward acted on his own. We had no idea he called you. Please come in and we can talk."

They stepped into the house and soon as they walked into our vision, Jasper collapsed with a cry.

"Ah. The pain I feel is so intense, Jane, Tanya why do you feel this way? " he said through gritted teeth

Alice was first to reach him followed by Esme. Everyone turned to Tanya and Jane for an explanation the level of pain that Jasper was feeling was equivalent to losing a mate. To our knowledge, neither of them had met their mate before.

" Jane is my mate, but after she helped convict and kill Sasha I refused to mate with her. It's been over a thousand years since I last saw her" Tanya addressed us, angry and with no remorse.

"Irina and I have been waiting for our mates for thousands of years. Not only did you know who it was but you blamed her for something she didn't even do. I know you loved Sasha but so did we Tanya. But to reject the gift of being mated and to sleep with multiple people for hundreds of years after knowing who your mate is. The pain she must have been put through because of your behaviour. You don't deserve to be the coven leader. A true leader would have more sense than to abandon their mate because she was enforcing a rule that Sasha clearly broke." Kate ranted and I could see a few sparks on her hands.

She was so angry that her gift was reacting. she made an attempt to grab Tanya in an order to brutally electrocute her, but Jane was faster she slammed into Kate and wrestled her into submission, a full-nelson before she could even move an inch. Kate may be older than Jane but Jane was more experienced faster and smaller than Kate. Jane also had years of field-fighting experience over Kate.

Alec and Rosalie had moved me to the furthest corner of the room. Crouched down teeth bared. Ready for any attack, Alec had released Edward from his gift but the length of time he had been under had left Edward incapacitated for the time being.

"Stop! " I shouted.

" I heir to Caius Volturi call for order, Jane, release her," she growled at me in response. Rosalie responded to her with an even louder growl. Before things got out of hand I layer a hand on Rosalie and she calmed down and pulled me into a tight embrace. I sank into her arms but right now was not the time. I pulled away from her and walked to where Jane was seconds from ripping Kate's arms off, Rosalie and Alec mimicking my every move.

"Jane. " she looked at me fury burning deep in her charcoal eyes and lips pulled back into a snarl.

" Jane listen to my voice. Let go of her. She's Tanya's sister if you kill her Tanya will never forgive you" it was low but I had to appeal to the beast that was on the surface.

"Hurt mate" she growled and snarled into Kate's face.

"Yes but you have to let her go or else you will hurt your mate even more" I pleaded with her.

"Me, hurt mate?" She asked

from her point of view, she was protecting her mate, even though her mate had rejected her for this long she still cared about Tanya.

"yes Jane, now let go of her OK."

She threw Kate to the ground and straightened up and walked back to my right side.

"OK now let us sit down and talk. It is going to be a long night" I Said.

Everyone found a seat. Me on Rosalie's lap. Alec to my left and Jane to my right. Emmett placed himself on the floor by my feet. We were on the right side of the living room. Jasper, with Alice next to him, stood with his back to the wall and in such a way that he could see everyone and every exit in the room. Kate, Irina, Esme and Carlisle were seated perpendicularly to me and mine. Tanya was seated faced towards us looking at Jane with utter contempt and betrayal burning in her eyes. Jane looked down at her hands unable to look at Tanya, eyes glistening with tears that would never fall.

The tension was so thick that Jasper was struggling with the warring emotions in the room. Edward was still lying on the floor. A drooling mess.