Starstruck 8

“I can’t believe that we are in the fucking dungeon.”Emmett muttered from his cell across the aisle from Rosalie’s. Rosalie couldn’t believe it either. What was supposed to be a trip to Italy to claim her mate turned into Edward plotting treason and incriminating the rest of the family for exposing the existence to vampires to a human and not changing or killing them. It was obvious the queens knew all about Edward’s mate and had been willing to overlook it but Edward just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Rosalie didn’t know what Edward was trying to achieve by challenging the queens over Bella staying human. The boy had always thought he was better than everyone. It was just Rosalie didn’t think he would have actually believed that he had any chance of going against the queens.

“Edward what were you thinking?”Lena asked.

“I was thinking that the queens are breaking a very important law and someone has to hold them accountable for it.”Edward said.

“A crime you yourself were committing and implicated the rest of us in.”Jasper was pissed they were in this situation.

“It’s Rosalie’s mate that is to blame for us being here.”Edward knew that he was right for speaking against the queens.

“What does Bella have to do with any of this?”Alice couldn’t think of anything that Bella did to get them arrested.

“If the queens had changed her or killed her they wouldn’t be breaking the law and I wouldn’t have had to call them out on it.”Edward told them.

“You seem to forget that like Jasper said you were breaking the same law. A law the queens were overlooking that you forced their hand about.”Rosalie wasn’t surprised that Edward was passing the blame. He never took responsibility for his own actions.

“Mates don’t fall under that law.”Edward knew that being mated to a human gave them an exemption to the law.

“If that were true then Bella wouldn’t fall under that law because she is Rosalie’s mate.”Alice pointed out.

“Bella should have been taken care of years ago. It doesn’t matter if she is mated to Rosalie. The queens broke the law.”Edward wasn’t going to excuse the queens over a technicality.

“Someone’s coming.”Carlisle said.

Lena flinched when she heard the numerous growls coming from the group of people walking towards the dungeons.”They sound upset.”

“Pissed is more like it.”Emmett said.

“Maybe we will find out what’s going to happen to us.”Before anyone could reply the doors to the dungeon opened and two angry faced guard members entered the room with Victoria and Bella following them with two more guards behind them. Rosalie smiled at the sight of her mate.”Bella.”

Victoria sneered at Rosalie.”Don’t speak to her.”

“Vic we talked about this. I need to speak to Rosalie to find out what is going on.”Bella knew that Victoria was angry but she wanted to know what happened that led to the Cullens being put in the dungeon.

“I will ask the questions then.”Victoria was not happy that the queens were allowing Bella to be near the Cullens let alone speak to them. If it was up to her she would have just killed the entire coven and been done with it.

Bella sighed.”I should have brought Heidi with me.”

“You honestly think I would let you come here without me?”Victoria only let Bella out of her sight if she was with the queens. Even then she stayed close enough to hear her yell for help. She didn’t even go hunting anymore and lived off blood bags so she didn’t have to be away from Bella.

“Of course not but I would appreciate if you would allow me to run the investigation like my mothers wanted me to.”It had taken a lot of promises and bribery but Bella had convinced her mothers that she should be the one to find out what was going on with the Cullens.

“You are not to go close to their cells.”Victoria said.

Bella leaned to the side so she was able to see the Cullens from her spot surrounded by the guards and Victoria.”Why did you guys expose a human to vampires over two years ago and not change or kill her?”

“How did you know how long Debby knew?”Alice asked.

“The Volturi have eyes everywhere. You can’t hide anything from them. We even know about the wolf shifters you have had a treaty with for over a century.”Seeing all the shocked faces Bella shrugged.”The queens wouldn’t be good rulers if they didn’t know what their subjects were up to.”

“If they knew why didn’t they act?”Carlisle didn’t understand why the queens didn’t take of the problem if they knew about it.

“They don’t care about shifters unless they are trying to reveal their existence to humans.”Bella was cut off by Emmett before she could continue.

“Everyone knows that they kill shifters because they remind them of children of the moon.”Emmett had heard the stories. The Volturi hunted shifters to the point they all went into hiding.

Bella laughed.”Who told you that?”

“We heard it from many other vampires.”Lena told her.

“While it’s true that the Volturi hunt children of the moon they leave shifters alone. They have alliances with many shifters. The only time the queens interfere with a shifter is when they do something to reveal themselves to humans as it is imperative that the supernatural world stay hidden.”Bella explained.

“Seriously?”Alice wasn’t sure if she believed that.

“Not only are they on good terms with shifters I personally got a mountain lion shifter a job as a stunt double for Moon Boy in the Star Light franchise.”Bella had gotten the man the job after he expressed his regret of never being able to be an actor for fear of the public catching on he wasn’t human. Bella had suggested being a stunt double to which her friend jumped at the chance to do. He was now the main stunt double for Moon Boy and had been involved in all the Start Light projects after the character was introduced in the third movie.

“You got a shifter a job in your movie?”Rosalie was surprised that the queens let Bella be around shifters let alone Bella getting one a job in the movie industry.

“I have gotten many shifters and vampires jobs in the entertainment industry. As a matter of fact Chelsea was the one who came up with the idea and wrote the screenplay for the Assassin’s Edge trilogy.”Bella signing on to star in the films was a huge selling point for the studio to make the film.

“A royal guard member wrote the Assassin’s edge movie?”Alice thought that was the most unbelievable thing they had been told since coming to Italy so far.

“Did you say trilogy?”Rosalie asked at the same time.

“It was always supposed to be a trilogy. The studio only bought the rights for one movie because it was written by an unknown and weren’t sure it would make any money. After it did so well they bought the rights for the remaining two. We are set to start filming the third movie when I finish with the next Star Light project.”Bella was very proud of the success of the Assassin’s Edge franchise as it gave Chelsea the courage to share her art with other people. Something that she was reluctant to do. The only reason Bella knew that she wrote was because the pair were rather close and Chelsea had shown her some of her work.

Rosalie perked up hearing about another Star Light project.”What is the Star Light project you are working on?”

“It’s a movie based on her arch nemesis Black Void’s origin story and how they became enemies.”Bella had pushed for the movie to be made as she felt the actress who played the character didn’t get enough recognition for her work.

“That sounds awesome.”Emmett loved a good villain movie.

“Let’s get back to why we are here.”Victoria not only wanted to be done with the Cullens as soon as possible she didn’t want them knowing anything about Bella’s personal life. Even if it was just the movies she was making.

“Of course. Now let’s get back to the reason you didn’t change or kill the human you revealed the existence of vampires to.”Bella said.

“We were waiting until she was older to change her.”Carlisle told her.

Bella shook her head sadly.”You disappoint me Carlisle.”

“What do you mean?”Carlisle didn’t understand why Bella would be disappointed with him.

“I defended you when my mothers wanted to pass judgment based on the obvious proof of your crime. I told them that you were a honorable man who would have had a good reason for what you did. Now you prove me wrong by lying to me.”Bella had expected to be lied to but hadn’t thought it would be Carlisle who would be the one who did it.

“I’m not lying to you.”Carlisle was insulted that Bella would accuse him of lying.

“Do you think I am some naive, easily to manipulate child who would believe anything she was told?”Bella asked.

“Of course not.”Carlisle didn’t think that at all.

“Then you just don’t respect me.”Bella said.

“I do respect you.”Carlisle may not know Bella but he respected her place with the Volturi.

Bella turned her attention to Victoria.“Vic would you lie to someone you respected?”

“Not only would I never lie I would kill anyone who lied to you.”Victoria hoped that since Carlisle was being dishonest Bella would let Victoria and the queens punish the Cullens to the full extent of the law.

“Do you want to die Carlisle?”Bella asked the coven leader.

“No I don’t.”Carlisle really didn’t know where Bella was going with these questions.

“Then due to my connection with Rosalie I will give you one more chance to tell the truth. If you don’t then I will wash my hands of you. So I will ask you again. Why did you not change or kill the human you introduced to the existence of vampires?”Bella held up a hand to stop Carlisle from speaking.”Think carefully before you answer because the fate of your coven will depend on what you say.”

“I was telling the truth. We were waiting for Debby to be older before we changed her.”Carlisle flinched when Victoria and the guards growled at him.

“You dare lie to Bella after she offered you mercy!!”Victoria would have gone after the man but held back because she didn’t want to leave Bella defenseless.

“I’m not lying!!”Carlisle didn’t understand why they kept accusing him of lying when he had been nothing but truthful.

Bella put a hand on Victoria’s shoulder to calm her down.”You will get your chance once I am done speaking to them.”

“I am going to take my time removing every part of your flesh I can before I reassemble you and start all over again.”Victoria threatened Carlisle.

“I didn’t do anything wrong!!”Carlisle told her.

Bella ignored Carlisle and turned her attention to Edward.”Edward what was the plan for changing the human?”

“As Debby is my mate I refuse to let her soul be lost and her to be turned into a monster. That being the case she will stay human.”Edward wasn’t going to let Debby become a vampire.

“And if Carlisle and the others objected to her staying human?”Bella asked.

“Their objections mean nothing as I get the final say. If they have a problem with that then they will be kicked out of the coven.”Edward wouldn’t put up with anyone going against him.

Bella turned her attention to Rosalie.”Rosalie you wouldn’t lie to me would you?”

“I would never lie to you.”Rosalie would always be truthful to Bella even if it incriminated herself and her family.

“Did you know that Edward didn’t plan to change the human?”Bella asked.

Rosalie nodded.”It had been a topic that was brought up regularly and caused many arguments between the family.”

“And what was the final decision?”Bella already knew the answer but needed to hear it said out loud.

Rosalie avoided looking at the rest of her family not wanting to see the pleading faces she knew would greet her.”Carlisle told us that because Debby was Edward’s mate that he had the final decision on if she would be turned.”

“That means they all die.”Victoria was extremely pleased with Rosalie’s answer. Now she would get to eliminate the entire Cullen coven.

“Who in your family objected to not changing the human?”Bella knew that Victoria and her mothers were set on killing the coven but Bella was going to try to prevent that from happening as it would upset Rosalie and as Rosalie was Bella’s mate she didn’t want to upset her.

“I was against telling her anything but Edward didn’t listen. Then when she learned the truth myself, Emmett, Lena, Jasper and Alice all wanted her changed so we didn’t get in trouble for breaking the law.”Rosalie had been sad that the Debby’s life had been forfeited but wasn’t willing to be published for Edward’s stupidity.

“What about Carlisle and Esme?”Bella asked.

This time Rosalie did look at her family members sighing in relief when she saw only understanding in the eyes of Jasper, Alice, and Emmett. Lena was giving her a reassuring smile that Rosalie took as support. Carlisle and Esme however were looking at her with the pleading expression she had expected originally. Edward just looked bored.”As I said Carlisle gave Edward his full support in whatever decision he made and Esme was overjoyed to have a human in the family so that she could finally have the child she always wanted. She was even planning for grandchildren in the future.”

“That’s not true.”Esme wasn’t trying to replace her lost child with Debby.

“Yes is it.”Lena wasn’t going to let Esme lie about her intentions. Plus it would smart to speak up and show that they weren’t going to lie to Bella like Carlisle did. Especially because it seemed as if Bella and the rest of the Volturi already knew everything.

“No it is not!”Carlisle wasn’t going to let one of his children implicate their mother in a crime she didn’t commit.

“You were just as happy about the idea of raising a human child.”Jasper was of the same thought as Lena. It was better to align himself with Rosalie because Bella already knew the truth. That and it would only help his and Alice’s case if they could prove they didn’t agree with Carlisle, Esme and Edward.

“Enough!”Victoria yelled stopping the argument.”Bella is there anything else you want to ask?”

“Yes actually. I have another question for Carlisle. Why did you allow Edward to make a false mate claim with his singer?”Bella asked.

“My claim is not false!”Edward told her.

“How many times have you tried to kill the girl?”Bella knew all about Edward escaping to Alaska to get control off his blood lust.

“I never tried to kill my mate.”Edward had only protected Debby.

“Rosalie how many times has Edward had to be restrained or removed from a situation because of his hunger for the human’s blood?”Bella asked her mate.

Rosalie thought about the many instances she saw of such a situation.”More than I can count.”

“I have only had to put distance between myself and my mate because of my instincts demanding to turn her and me not wanting it to happen.”Edward told her.

“As you are the only one who can relate to such circumstances, Rosalie do you feel the overwhelming need to change me?”Bella hoped that hearing Rosalie’s answer would prove to the Cullens Edward’s claim was false.

“Even the idea of harming you in any way deliberately or accidentally makes me sick to my stomach and if I actually did hurt you I would kill myself because I wouldn’t be able to live with the overwhelming guilt and remorse of my actions.”Rosalie wasn’t lying. She wouldn’t hesitate to walk into a fire if she harmed Bella.

“Your instincts aren’t demanding you change me?”Bella asked.

“My instincts are demanding that I keep you safe. Biting you wouldn’t be a safe thing to do because so many things could go wrong.”Rosalie wanted Bella to be a vampire she just didn’t want to put Bella through the process of becoming one.

“So if I was locked in your cell with you right now how would you act?”Bella was quick to reassure Victoria when she heard the vampire growling.”That isn’t going to happen of course it was just a hypothetical question.”

“I would do everything in my power to free you and if that was impossible I would make sure that you were as comfortable as possible and that I met all of your needs.”Rosalie told her.

“You wouldn’t try and drink my blood?”Bella asked.

”Absolutely not and if anyone else tried I wouldn’t hesitate to kill them. As a matter of fact I would kill anyone who touched you without your consent.”Rosalie would make it a painful death at that.

Bella saw Jasper was looking very guilty.”Why didn’t your gift identify the false claim?”

“Edward’s emotions were extremely sporadic when it involved Debby. I think that because of that and the fact that he never felt anything but self loathing and anger before he met the girl made me misinterpret his true feelings.”Jasper usually just blocked Edward’s feelings out because they were so overwhelming.

“Now does anyone still think that Edward was really mated to the human?”Bella asked the group.

“Just because Rosalie doesn’t feel as strongly for you as I do for my mate doesn’t make my claim false.”Edward figured it was because Rosalie was so broken and weak that she felt so little for Bella.

“No what Bella said makes sense and is something we all questioned in the beginning of your relationship. Especially when you had to flee to Alaska. Hell we have had to step in numerous times because of the many different visions Alice has had of you killing Debby.”It was a running joke between Lena ands her other siblings that Debby needed a bigger bedroom to fit their personal items because they spent so much time there protecting the human.

“Yeah I even lost my right arm one time trying to keep you away from her.”Emmett had been lucky that Rosalie had come to help when she did or he would have lost more than that.

“If I was able to sleep I would have constant nightmares of all the things I have seen you do to her.”The only way Alice actually coped with seeing the visions was Jasper using his gift to calm her down.

“With all that evidence how do you justify Edward’s mate claim Carlisle?”Bella asked the coven leader.

Carlisle tried to come up with a defense but it was hard as everything that was said proved Edward wrong. He just couldn’t imagine Edward lying about something so important.”I can’t.”

“Carlisle!!”Edward couldn’t believe his sire wasn’t standing up for him.

“I’m sorry Edward but I can’t honestly find anything to support your claim.”Carlisle flinched when Edward growled.

“You traitor!!”Edward glared at each of his family members.”You are all traitors pitifully lying to save yourselves.”

Bella spoke before the Cullens began arguing again.”I think that I have all the information I need to help my mothers make an informed decision on your guilt.”

“What’s going to happen to us?”Rosalie asked.

“I don’t know. I would say that I would put in a good word for you but I doubt after what you have all revealed that it would help you in any way.”Bella was going to try and save Rosalie from punishment. The others however were on their own as they had all willingly broke the law and did nothing to rectify the situation.

“I understand.”Rosalie wished Bella could do something but knew that their future was in the queen’s hands.

“That being said I’ll try and visit you again Rosalie as I know being apart is uncomfortable for you.”Bella knew that Victoria and the queens wouldn’t like it however Rosalie was a newly mated vampire and being away from Bella wasn’t healthy.

“We’ll see about that.”Victoria was going to do all she could to prevent Bella from visiting Rosalie in the future. She just had to convince the queens it was a bad idea as well.

Bella rolled her eyes at Victoria.”I promise I will make them let me before I leave the castle at least.”

“Thank you Bella.”Rosalie was happy that Bella was still concerned about her even though she was in trouble with the queens.

“It’s no problem.”It really wasn’t as Bella did want want to see Rosalie again.

Victoria grabbed Bella’s hand and led her toward the door.”Let’s go Bella.”

“See you later.”Bella called over her shoulder as she hurried after Victoria trying to keep up with the vampire. Getting one last look at Rosalie Bella tried to give her her most reassuring smile but knew by the sad smile Rosalie had on her face that it most likely was a grimace. Bella had no clue how she was going to navigate this situation. No matter what she did or said Bella couldn’t justify the Cullen’s actions. They had broken the law and didn’t even try to hide it. The Volturi hadn’t acted on it because they were busy with other things and it wasn’t a priority. That and everyone thought that Edward would eventually kill the girl and that would take care of the problem. Now the entire coven was in the dungeon having admitting their guilt and Bella had no way to save them. Even Rosalie being her mate wasn’t going to sway the queens to let her go free. Rosalie was going to have to be punished in some way. Bella just hoped that punishment didn’t include a long imprisonment because she was going to be very busy for the next year and wouldn’t be able to make regular visits to the castle to see the blond vampire. Sighing Bella leaned her body into Victoria and happy let the red head wrap her arm around Bella. She ignored her sister’s concerned looks and happily snuggled into Victoria’s side taking comfort in knowing that no matter what happened Victoria would be there to help her get through anything that life threw at her.