Ban Together Chapter 39

Bella’s nerves were on edge. Her entire body felt as if it was on a hair pin trigger to bolt, to do something, to attack. Bella’s muscles kept tensing and untensing in preparation for her to follow what her instincts were telling her to do: to act. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do. She was assuming her instincts wanted her to run to meet the guests who were currently waiting at Gianna’s desk for the queens to be ready.

Sulpicia wanted to make sure everything was fully prepared before the last two Cullen’s made their appearance. She already knew Carlisle and Esme both wouldn’t be leaving the room alive; no matter what they had to say. With all the information they had gathered since Bella walked into their lives, all the trauma caused to both Bella and the two defectors Rosalie and Emmett. Even Didyme, one who was normally for peace and alternative punishments wanted blood for what they did to her mate. In fact, Didyme was participating in Sulpicia’s games and demanded her mate stand at her side when everyone was called in.

Sulpicia was keeping everyone outside the throne room to allow for a dramatic entry from those the two Cullen’s thought wouldn’t be with them. She was already orchestrating a whole play in her head to giver herself as much amusement as possible. They were going to wait for the Cullen’s and the Irish coven to be fully in the room and then two guards from outside would close the doors and keep watch over it. Once the doors closed, it would signify the time for everyone else waiting in the side rooms to come in.

Sulpicia was bursting at the seams with anticipation, she couldn’t wait for everything to play out. She even had Edwards head pulled out that she allowed Rosalie the honor of bringing to her mate. She loved the irony of that idea from the noir queen. Since Rosalie had been turned only to be a consort for Edward, it would be nice to see how Carlisle saw far Rosalie had come from his intended position for Rosalie. Sulpicia was hoping for a lot of drama at the reveal.

Bella’s reveal though, when she walked through the door, that’s what everyone was looking forward to. She was going to be the last one to walk in, just behind Rosalie and Emmett. It was going to be wonderful. Sulpicia was hoping their newborn daughter wouldn’t be able to keep her anger in check from attacking the Cullen’s. Athenodora, after seeing how in control her daughter was, she wasn’t willing to hope Bella would have a newborn moment and attack on site from anger; no matter how much her mate hoped Bella would. If anything, Athenodora was willing to bet both Jane and Kate would do something with their gifts if given the chance.

With a nod of her head, Corin and Felix opened the doors to allow their guests inside the throne room. Everyone who was out of site tensed, waiting for their turn to join the group.

“Dear Carlisle,” Sulpicia greeted, her smile wide and effortless as she opened her arms in welcome, inviting both Carlisle and Esme inside. She wasn’t surprised when they didn’t walk far enough in for the doors to be closed. Thankfully the Irish coven were smart enough to know to keep Maggie behind the couple; if they were to run Maggie may not be a match for both of them but she would be enough to make sure they would be caught. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you last.” She said as she lowered her arms, more than aware he didn’t trust her enough to walk fully into the room.

Carlisle and Esme had done a lot of thinking about how they were going to spin everything. They needed to make sure to keep as close to the truth as possible while also making sure to keep their part a secret. As long as Sulpicia didn’t touch them, which they were hoping to be able to talk themselves out of, they should be able to keep themselves safe. They were more than willing to throw all the blame on Jasper and Alice; with Jasper’s gift it was very easy to believe they had no choice but to do what they had to, especially with his past in the newborn wars. Every chance they got, they talked about what they would say, how much to reveal and what stories to tweak and tell to get their advantage. As far as they knew, Edward had already shown up here and was dead. What they were hoping for was that Sulpicia hadn’t read him. They were sure even if she did, since they kept Edward in the dark a lot thanks to Alice’s warnings, they should still be safe.

“It has been a long time.” Carlisle said, fixing his mask firmly in place of the humble doctor with a modest background. “I wish we could have met again sooner under better circumstances.” He added with a frown.

“Yes, having Edward try to storm our castle was certainly an unpredicted event.” Sulpicia said with a frown, wishing the two would just drop the pretense and let her have her fun already.

“When we found out he was on his way and we could no longer contact anyone else, we knew there had to be something wrong.” Esme said, playing up her motherly concern. She needed to play her part well if she wanted to stay alive; her mate was counting on her for his plan to fully work.

“Has your coven disbanded then?” Athenodora asked. It was widely known that the Volturi didn’t like large covens, mostly because it was harder to keep them in line if they were doing something illegal; not because they were afraid they would try to overthrow their own coven. Because of that, Athenodora had long ago made it a rule to inform them when a coven’s number changes, either by increase or decrease, it needed to be reported. Even though Athenodora didn’t give a shit about the status of the coven, especially since she technically already knew, she was going to let Carlisle and Esme think that’s what she was most upset about.

Carlisle frowned outwardly, but inwardly he was happy that was what the most feared queen was focusing on. All according to plan.

“I had thought everyone was only traveling but since I haven’t been able to get ahold of anyone, I am forced to assume they have left my family.” Carlisle frowned, wrapping an arm around his mate as she made a noise of discomfort, as if she was truly upset hearing the news. “But what I’m most concerned about, is what’s going to happen with Alice and Jasper now that they are on their own.” He said in a grave tone.

“I’m so sorry to hear that; I thought your coven had strong bonds.” Didyme said with a frown, mentally cheering that the family her mate was from was crumbling. Didyme had never met the Cullen’s outside of Carlisle when he had spent a year or so with them but from all the up talking he did on his check-in’s with them, she truly wanted to believe they had strong bonds. She, of course, would have never taken someone’s word over their bonds over the phone; she would only ever believe what she saw with her own gift and nothing else.

“Oh? Last I met them, they seemed so pleasant. What is there to be concerned about?” Sulpicia asked, not allowing either of the couple to respond to Didyme.

Carlisle and Esme shared a practiced concerned look, pretending to be upset about they were about to say. This would be the hard part, they had to be careful with they said to make sure Sulpicia wouldn’t ask to touch them. What they didn’t know was that Sulpicia had no plans to read them; at least not until they were did. She just wanted to hear the excuse they were going to come up with and then she would bring everyone in and watch as Carlisle and Esme realize they lost and were as good as dead.

“It’s about Alice and Jasper, I’m afraid.” Carlisle said with a frown as he and Esme took a couple steps further into the room, more secure in the fact they were going to be able to trick the queens.

“Are they unwell?” Didyme asked in her normal, concerned personality. But honestly, she was hoping they would say they weren’t. Regardless of their answer, she would make sure they weren’t in due time. After all she had heard from her mate, it was now her goal to get revenge for her mate; and since she was queen with a large and very loyal guard, she would get it.

“I’m sure they are, but that isn’t what we are concerned about.” Carlisle said as he did his best to look forlorn and upset about what he was about to say, “We’re more concerned about what they may be doing.” He stopped himself there, hoping to build the suspense and to think through everything he was about to say.

Siobhan and Liam rolled their eyes from next to the Cullen’s. They were sure the Cullen’s hadn’t even realized that even after traveling with them the entire time from their home to Italy, the queens hadn’t said anything to their coven. Siobhan wasn’t even sure if Sulpicia realized she had focused in on the Cullen’s and forgot she technically should have welcomed them as well. But in all honesty, after what Siobhan had heard, she understood the queens forgetfulness; they were probably just trying to coax the Cullen’s further into the room to trap them inside.

Maggie had a wide smile on her face at watching everything happen. They had already decided, as much as Siobhan and Liam would have preferred Maggie to stay out of everything, they realized Maggie’s gift would be very useful in this situation. Maggie was soaking up everything that was being said, deciphering how truthful and how deceitful the Cullen’s words were. Sulpicia was going to have a lot to go through when she reads Maggie once whatever this little show was over. In the meantime, Maggie would just stand behind the Cullne’s with a shit-eating grin, wishing she had, and could eat, a bowl of popcorn as she watched everything play out and no one paid her any mind.

“What are they doing?” Athenodora asked with a very practiced suspicious look. This was taking too long and she was seconds away from ruining her mates fun and just attacking herself and trusting Corin, Felix and Maggie to stop the duo; it wasn’t like the duo had any gifts, they would be an easy catch.

“I wish I didn’t have to tell you this, and I’m sure you may have gotten glimpses from Edward’s memories, but Jasper and Alice, particularly Alice, are quite… inhumane, towards humans.” Carlisle said with a frown and a disappointed look as if he was ashamed of having to say what he did.

“What exactly do you mean?” Sulpicia asked, playing along.

Esme and Carlisle shared a look, already have pre-decided Esme would react with almost sobs to clarify what Carlisle was hinting at.

“They torture humans for fun!” Esme said then started to sob, as if just saying the words hurt her very person. Esme was playing the perfect, distraught ‘mother’ figure of the Cullen’s, whose kids had gone off the deep-end.

Sulpicia had to bite back a smile as they were falling into her trap perfectly. She gave a quick glance towards her mate and gave a quick smirk when the Cullen’s were looking at each other, supposedly trying to comfort each other. Sulpicia was having a lot of fun and as much as Athenodora just wanted things to be over with, she would let her mate have her fun. At least as long as their pacing newborn would allow them to.