My Own Worst Enemy 6

“You don’t have to do this.”Irina told Bella not for the first time.Bella had tried to explain to her mother that yes she did have to do this.She had to do this so she could finally have some type of closure with the Cullens.Bella was tempted to take the out her mothers and the queens gave her but it would just delay the inevitable.The Cullens had broken the law and now they had the proof they needed to hold them responsible for it.There was no way Edward could claim ignorance anymore.With his gift he would have easily known that Rosalie was Bella’s mate.That mate bond being something Bella didn’t want.If it weren’t for the fact that she wanted to be in the room when the Cullens were questioned and Rosalie needed to be there Bella would have refused to see her.

“I know mom but I want to.”Bella replied.

Irina smiled as brightly as she always did when Bella called her any version of the word mother.”If you are sure.”

“I’m sure.”Bella lied but she wouldn’t tell Irina the truth.If she did Irina would forbid her from being there.

“If you want you can just stay hidden from them.”Tanya offered.Bella was using her shield to keep herself and her three mothers hidden from view.It had been decided that the queens would confront them first and then Bella would revel herself.Tanya wished that Bella had not come but understood that Bella needed to do this.

“Yeah we have more than enough proof for them to be found guilty.”Kate agreed with her mates in not wanting Bella around the Cullens.Her preference was that Bella just avoid Rosalie so that the bond wouldn’t fall in place but for some reason Bella wanted to be there.

Before Bella could say anything a guard entered the room and announced.”Your majesties the Cullens have arrived.”

“Send them in.”Sulpicia said.

Bella breath caught in her throat when she caught sight of Rosalie.She felt the need to rush to the blond, take her in her arms and kiss her senseless.That feeling lasted for a second before Bella remembered all the ways Rosalie had betrayed her.Bella was overwhelmed with anger thinking of all the ways Rosalie ruined her life.Not only was Rosalie horrible to her but she let Bella be in close contact with Edward even knowing Bella was his singer.Then there was the fact that if Rosalie had acknowledged the bond Bella would have been safe from Victoria and had met her mothers sooner.Growling Bella took a step forward ready to attack the girl but was stopped by two arms holding her from behind.

“It will be alright, you will get your justice.”Tanya assured her.She had moved to hold her daughter in place when she heard Bella growl.Tanya wasn’t sure what Bella was going to do but wanted to stop her before she did something she would regret later.

“Cullens welcome to the Voltaire.”Sulpicia greeted.She may have hated Aro but she had to give him some credit.He knew how to hold court and the queens often copied some of his mannerisms and pageantry.

“Thank you your majesties.”Carlisle replied.

Rosalie was on high alert.As soon as she entered the castle she had smelt her mate.The smell was the strongest in the throne room.Rosalie went from one guard to the next making eye contact with each getting frustrated that none were her mate.They all were glaring at her and giving her hostile looks which she did not understand.Rosalie had never done anything to gain attention from the Volturi even when the kings were in charge.It didn't make sense that the guards were targeting her.She would shake it off as paranoia but when she looked at Jane the sadistic vampire was staring right at her looking like she was seconds away from using her gift on Rosalie.Deciding to ignore it for the time being Rosalie focused on what was being said.It might give her a chance to ask about her mate because it was obvious the queens were familiar with them.

“Why can’t I read any of your minds, the guards’ minds or my family’s minds?”Edward asked angrily.When he entered the throne room his gift stopped working.He couldn’t read the minds of anyone including his family.Although he wouldn’t admit it if asked it made him somewhat panicky because he no longer had the ability to have private conversations with his family.That meant that if something happened they wouldn’t be able to plan how to protect themselves.

“Watch your tone boy!”Athenodora growled out.She was already seconds away from killing the whole coven and Edward wasn’t helping to curb that urge.

“My apologies your majesty.Edward has recently been having trouble with his gift.It’s unsettling and he isn’t coping well.”Carlisle shot Edward a look to keep him quiet.The coven leader may have thought the queens brought them there for positive reasons but he wasn’t stupid enough to believe that they would get away with demanding answers.

“Well then the problem Edward should have is with himself not us.”Didyme knew very well why Edward’s gift wasn’t working.Not only did Bella give permanent blocks to the queens and a few of the guards but her shield allowed her to protect others temporarily as well.It was something Bella did when the queens knew a gifted vampire was visiting the castle.Bella’s gift being physical as well protected the queens from physical gifts.Bella’s shield was the main reason the kings were overthrown.

“He will not bring it up again.”Carlisle promised.

“See that he doesn’t.”Sulpicia said.

“I think we should get to why you have been summoned.”Athenodora wanted to get the boring parts over with so they could move on to the punishments.

“That would be nice as we wanted to speak to you about getting some of the blood replacement.The Denali mentioned that their supplier works with you.We are hoping that you would be willing to set up a meeting for us so that we could work out a deal with them.”Carlisle was confused when all three queens and some of the guards started laughing.

Sulpicia took deep breaths to gain control of her laughter.It was hard but she finally was able to calm down enough to speak.”You thought we brought you here for a friendly visit?”

“Well why else would you want to see us?”Carlisle asked.

“We called you here to be tried for your crimes.”Athenodora told him.

“What crimes have we committed?”Edward didn’t know what the queens were talking about.The Cullens had committed no crimes.

Sulpicia put her hand on Didyme’s arm when her mate growled.”You are being accused of committing two crimes.One facilitating a false mate bond and two revealing the existence of vampires to a human without changing or killing them.”

“We have done no such things.”Carlisle denied.

“Then how do you explain the fact that Edward claimed he was mated to Isabella Swan when in fact it was Rosalie who was the girl’s actual mate?”Athenodora took great pleasure in the looks of panic that crossed most of the coven’s faces.It just proved that many of them were aware of the bond.

“How dare you say Bella wasn’t my mate?!”Edward was outraged that the queens would say such a thing.

“I dare say it because it’s the truth.”Athenodora glared at Rosalie.”Isn’t that right Rosalie?”

Rosalie shifted uncomfortably under the queen’s attention.She didn’t have any way out of this except for admitting the truth and hoping she wouldn’t be punished to badly.”It’s true.”

“You lie!!”Edward screeched.

“You know she isn’t lying Edward.I told you you weren’t Bella’s mate.”Jasper had mentioned it on many occasions that Edward was not mated to Bella.No one would listen to him.Even his own mate refused to get involved.

“Bella was my mate!!You don’t…”Was all Edward could get out before he fell to the floor screaming in pain.

“No stop he didn’t do anything wrong.”Carlisle rushed to Edward’s side trying to help him but there was nothing he could do.

Didyme watched the scene impassively.She was more than happy to have Jane continue until Edward was nothing more than a mindless husk but they needed to be able to question him further to justify his conviction.”Jane dear that’s enough.”

“Sorry your majesty.”The only thing Jane was actually sorry about was that she had to stop using her gift.She hated the Cullens with a passion for what they did to Bella.Bella was the purest soul Jane had ever met and didn’t deserve to be treated the way the Cullens treated her.It made it hard for Jane to not just kill the whole group of them.She knew Alec felt the same way as the twins thought of Bella as their missing triplet.Bella earning the title due to not only saving Jane and Alec from Aro and Chelsea but making it so they were finally able to be with their mates.That made the twins loyal to Bella but it was after spending time with Bella that she earned their love.

“Just try to control yourself.”Didyme was fully expecting more outbursts.Bella had a hand in freeing most of the royal guard and they were more loyal to Bella than they were to the queens.Not that the queen could blame them.

“Back to your crimes.Who out of your coven was aware of the false claim other than Edward, Rosalie, Jasper and Alice?”Sulpicia added Alice because there was no way the seer wouldn’t have known if her mate did.

“I knew.”Emmett admitted.He didn’t think lying in this situation would do him any good.

“I did as well.”Esme said.

“Esme!!”Carlisle couldn’t believe his own mate would lie about such things.

“You knew as well Carlisle.We all did.The only reason we didn’t act to stop it was because Rosalie let it happen.”Esme was thinking the same thing as Emmett.Lying wouldn’t do them any good.

“Which one should we kill first?”Kate asked from her spot hidden with Bella.Hearing that all the Cullens knew of the false bond pissed her off even more than she already was.

“Edward.”Bella said.

“You are allowing us to kill him?”Tanya was beyond surprised to hear that.It was only because of Bella that they hadn’t done it yet.

Bella nodded.”When he pursued me he knew he was breaking the law.He might not of initially,even though that would be impossible with his gift, but his family told him.He is guilty and must be punished like everyone else.It doesn’t matter who my mate is to him.”

“Yes!!”Kate cheered.She was finally going to get to kill Edward.

“What do you think about the others?”Irina asked.

“I think it depends on whether they actually tried to stop Edward.I mean they could have at least told me the truth but they didn’t.That makes them all look pretty guilty.That means they should be punished in some way as well.”Bella didn’t really care how the others were punished as long as Edward was killed.

“I guess we will have to wait and see then.”Tanya said the four of them turning their attention back to the proceedings.

“Carlisle are you still claiming you didn’t know or are going to admit you were completely complicit in Edward’s crime?”Sulpicia asked.

“Edward has committed no crime.He is mated to Bella.Rosalie is only saying this due to her hatred and jealousy towards Edward.”Carlisle firmly believed that Edward and Bella were mates.Rosalie was just trying to get Edward in trouble as revenge for him turning her down after she was turned.

“I’m jealous of Edward?!”Rosalie had never heard anything as absurd as that.

“You’ve always been jealous of me.Ever since I refused her advances.”Edward said.

“You refused my advances?”Rosalie laughed.”Don’t you mean I refused your advances?Or are you not willing to admit the time you tried to force yourself on me the first time you took me hunting?”

“Is that true?”Esme asked.

“I told Carlisle right after if happened.He said he would talk to Edward.”Rosalie told her.

“It was merely a misunderstanding.”Carlisle had known that Rosalie had set the whole thing up to get Edward in trouble.

“If that really happened then why were you willing to let your very vulnerable human mate be alone with Edward.The man you said attacked you?”Athenodora asked Rosalie.

Rosalie lowered her head in shame.”I have no excuse for my behavior towards Bella.”

“All this proof of you treating your mate badly and yet you demand that the Denali give you the identity of the one they know?Do think it is reasonable for you to want to force another vampire to complete the mate bond after finding out the history of how you treat your mates?”Didyme asked.

Rosalie’s head shot up hearing that.“You know my mate’s identity as well?”

“We do but you didn’t answer my question.Do you think it’s reasonable to willingly step into a mate bond with someone like you who has a history of disregarding their mate and treating them horribly?”Didyme asked again.

“I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.”Rosalie would do anything to keep her mate this time.

Bella couldn’t hold back her anger at that answer.Revealing herself and her mothers she asked Rosalie.”Is that because I’m no longer human?!”

“Bella!!”Edward moved as soon as he saw the girl.His only thought to take her in his arms and never let her go.Before he was able to do that he bounced off an invisible barrier and was flung into a wall.

“Edward!!”Carlisle yelled as he rushed to his son.Edward’s body was covered in cracks and he was missing an arm and a foot.The only sign of life was his groaning.

“Bella!!!”Rosalie couldn’t believe her eyes.Bella was alive.Following her instincts she rushed to Bella but much slower than Edward.Before she made it more than three steps her path was blocked not only by the Denali and the three queens but by many of the guard members as well.

“Stay back.”Kate growled as she crouched in front of the group.

“But Bella’s my mate?”Rosalie didn’t understand why she was being denied access to Bella.

“A mate you couldn’t care less about as was proven in the way you let me being around Edward knowing I was his singer, or how you went out of your way to bully me.Those were small things compared to the fact that you left me unprotected against Victoria.”Bella spat out.

Rosalie flinched with each new accusation Bella listed.”I know I was horrible to you but I wanted you to have a normal human life and not be stuck losing everything once you were a vampire.”

“You expected me to have a normal human life when you allowed me to date Edward!!”Bella laughed humorlessly.”He tried to kill me numerous times and each time you did nothing to stop him.Even at my birthday party you didn’t come to my aide when the rest of your coven tried to attack me.It was Emmett and Carlisle who stood between me and death.You stood back and then slinked away not even checking if I was alright.”

“Bella I can’t begin to tell you how much I regret…”Rosalie began but was cut off by Bella.

“No it’s me who is full of regrets.My biggest being that I can’t kill you for all the damage you have done to my life.”Bella told her.

“Bella you don’t mean that.”Rosalie couldn’t believe that her mate would say something like that.

“Not only do I mean it but I am very close to leaving this room and looking the other way while my mothers dole out whatever punishment they see fit for what you have done.”Bella said.

“Please let me Bella.I promise I won’t cause any permanent damage.”Irina would love the chance to beat on Rosalie.

“Who are your mothers?”Esme asked in confusion not being able to hold the question in.

“Myself and my mates are her mothers.”Tanya proclaimed proudly.

“And Bella is our adopted daughter and the Volturi princess.”Didyme proclaimed just as proudly.

“That can’t be.I claimed her first.”Esme always thought of Bella as her daughter.That didn’t change now that Bella was a vampire.

Irina rushed to Esme, grabbed her by the throat and slammed her to the floor.”It was because of that claim we weren’t able to bond with our daughter until we helped heal the damage you had done.”

“Oh no you don’t.”Kate said as she intercepted Carlisle from coming to Esme’s aide.She zapped the man on her highest setting taking great pleasure in the way he thrashed and pleaded for her to stop.

“Let’s get on with this trial as I’m sure Bella has better things to do than be in the presence of these scumbags.”Athenodora was even more excited to begin the punishments because it seemed like Bella was willing to let them have some fun.

“Bella come stand with us.”Sulpicia wanted Bella close not only in case there were anymore attempts to get close to her but her presence soothed the queen and Sulpicia knew it soothed her mates as well.

“Of course.”Bella followed the queens taking her place standing in between Sulpicia’s and Didyme’s thrones with Tanya by her side.Irina still had a hold on Esme and Kate was restraining Carlisle.

“Now then.Where were we?”Sulpicia said taking control of the room once again.”Rosalie was explaining why Bella would ever willingly want to be mated to her.As we have already dealt with that and who knew of the false bond let’s get to the second crime you are being accused of.Why did you leave a human with the knowledge of vampires without changing or killing them?”

“Your majesty as Bella is Edward’s mate he was the one to make the decision.”Carlisle immediately fell to his knees as large jolts of electricity flowed through his body.

“Ok that’s enough out of you.”Kate said.She hit him with a few extra shocks before stopping.

“So it was Edward who decided that you leave Bella behind?”Didyme asked.

“Edward had grown concerned with how safe Bella was around us so he decided that we needed to leave.We took a vote and everyone voted to leave.”Alice told her.This whole situation wasn’t turning out like Alice had thought it would and that made the seer uncomfortable.She usually had a vision of things like this but the queens had been a blank spot when she looked.

“The whole coven agreed to leave Bella behind?”Sulpicia wanted to make sure because if it was true then none of them would be spared from punishment.

“Yes, your majesty.”Jasper admitted reluctantly.He was very afraid for himself and his mate.No matter how they tried to defend themselves the Cullens were guilty of both crimes they were charged with.That meant they were going to be punished and Jasper doubted that Bella would speak on their behalf to get them let off easy.

“Well that’s easy enough.Cullens you have been found guilty of both your crimes.”Didyme declared happily.

“Now for your punishments.”Athenodora had to stop herself from rubbing her hands together in glee.

“Bella what do you believe should be done with Edward?”Sulpicia asked.The queens had decided that Bella be in charge of the punishments because she was the one who was wronged.

“Edward should be sentenced to death.”Bella said causing gasps and shouts of disbelief to come from the Cullens.Kate was the only one who cheered but the guards and the queens looked like they were seconds away from joining her.

“You can’t kill my son!!”Carlisle screamed.

“Edward has committed a crime.A crime he was fully aware that he was committing.You as coven leader should have put a stop to it but you didn’t.If anyone is responsible for his death it is you.”Bella told him.

“Well said Bella.”Didyme was very proud of the way Bella had justified her reasoning for Edward’s death.She focused on the facts and made it so no one could say she was being unreasonable.It was just more proof to Didyme that the girl was the perfect person to be Volturi princess.

“But your majesty Edward is young he didn’t know any better.”Carlisle said.

“The problem with that is if what you are saying is true you should have told him.That means that Edward would be found innocent and you would be found guilty and you would be sentenced to death.So what’s it going to be?You or Edward?”Athenodora smirked at the look of despair that crossed Carlisle’s face.He knew that he wasn’t going to win this argument.

“It isn’t Edward who is claiming a false mate bond it’s Rosalie.”Carlisle truly believed that Edward and Bella were mates and he didn’t understand why Bella was claiming otherwise.

“I’m not Edward’s mate you idiot.Unfortunately I am Rosalie’s.Not that being mated to Edward would any better.”Bella hated the fact that she wasn’t mated to someone cool like Jane or Alec.The twins were amazing people and their mates were very lucky.

“Both of the options are pretty dismal.”Kate added.

“Anyway Carlisle please answer the question.”Sulpicia had to put a stop to Kate and Bella’s banter because the two would go on a tangent and nothing would get done. “Who is responsible for the crime?You or Edward?”

“Neither of us.”Carlisle told her.

“I guess that means we kill both of you.”Athenodora was more than happy with that result.

“No you can’t kill my mate.”Esme choked out in the little bit of breath she was getting around the hold Irina still had on her neck.

“He refuses to take blame for a crime he was found guilty of.Someone has to die who do you think it should be?”Didyme asked.

“Kill Edward.”Esme didn’t want see her son die but would prefer him over her own mate.

“Esme no!!”Carlisle screeched.Once again he slumped to the floor when bolts of electricity flowed through his body.

“Very well.Edward is to be killed.Bella what do you want done with the rest of them?”Sulpicia hoped that Bella would allow them to kill them but knew that Bella wouldn’t be that harsh.

Bella looked each of the remaining Cullens in the eye taking the measure of each one.What she found left her feeling embarrassed of how she acted after they had left her.She couldn’t understand why she let this bunch of cowards impact so much of her life.” Although they were implicit with facilitating the bond it is obvious that Edward and Carlisle are the main perpetrators because of that Emmett, Alice and Jasper should be sentenced to ten years imprisonment.For leaving a human alive with the knowledge of vampires without turning or killing them the added punishment will be regular visits from any of the royal guard, the queens and the Denali who would like to show their displeasure of the trio’s action in whatever way they see fit.”

“Brilliant!!”Athenodora was very pleased with Bella’s decision.It wouldn’t be as satisfying as killing them but it would be nice to be able to beat on them whenever she wanted.

“Bella don’t do this!!”Alice pleaded.

Bella laughed.”I didn’t do anything Alice.You did this to yourself.”

“Alice be quiet.”Jasper hissed.He wasn’t happy about being punished but knew they were getting off easy.They all should have been killed for what they did.A decade in prison was nothing for a vampire.Yes they were likely going to be beaten but if it saved their lives he would take it.

“But Jasper.”Alice began only to be cut off.

“You’ve done enough Alice.”Jasper snapped.He ignored his wife’s hurt expression.”Thank you for showing us such mercy Bella.”

“What do you want done with Carlisle and Esme?”Didyme was looking forward to hearing what Bella had in store for the couple.

“Carlisle was just as responsible for the false bond as Edward.Esme was not.She is simply a weak willed woman who couldn’t have an original thought if you paid her for it.”Bella said.

“Very true sweetheart.”Irina more than agreed with Bella.Esme was a blind follower who gave all women a bad name.

“Esme doesn’t deserve death.However Carlisle does.Even with my hatred of the pair I am not so cruel to kill her mate and leave her alive because of that I have decided for the crime of facilitating the false mate bond that they be sentenced to a century of imprisonment with the same punishment as the other three for the crime of leaving a human with the knowledge.Regular visits from the royal guard, the queens and the Denali to show their displeasure.”Bella smiled at the shocked looks she was receiving from all the Cullens except Edward who was still not moving from the results of his introduction to Bella’s shield.

“Bella no!Please I have loved you like my own.Please don’t do this.”Esme pleaded.

”You loved me?!”Bella scoffed at the very idea.”If that were true you wouldn’t have made me believe that you were the mother I always wanted and then once I finally felt safe abandoned me.That’s not love.Love is my mothers tracking down and killing Victoria and the newborn army she had begun creating to exact her revenge against all of you by torturing and killing me.They didn’t even hesitate to risk their own lives to make sure I was safe.You couldn’t even stick around to say goodbye let alone protect me.No the only thing you love is the idea of the perfect family and when I was no longer a part of your vision you threw me out like yesterday’s garbage.”

“That’s not true.They forced me to go with them.I didn’t want to leave you behind.”Esme told her.

“So your so called children were lying when they claimed it was a unanimous vote to leave Bella?”Sulpicia asked.

“We weren’t lying.Esme voted to go.”Jasper was quick to stop anyone from siding with Esme.If they did then it would likely extend their punishment and he didn’t want that.

“Well if they weren’t lying that means Esme was.What you do think of that Bella?”Athenodora asked.

“I think the woman is pitiful and their sentence should be increased by another 50 years because of her blatant attempts at trying to manipulate me by bringing up our previous relationship.”Bella said.

“I agree.”Didyme would take any opportunity to have more chances to dole out beatings to Esme.The extra fifty years would give her more time to come up with ideas for how to make it as painful as possible.

Although afraid to ask Rosalie knew she had to.”What about me?”

“You.I can’t stand to even look at you let alone be in the same room as you.”Bella wished she had taken her mothers and the queens up on the offer to not seal the mate bond with Rosalie.She couldn’t undo it though.She thought of a punishment that would be the most comfortable for her.”For you I want you thrown in the dungeon with the rest of them until I get to the point I can look at you without feeling the need to throw up.”

“Bella please.I’m sorry.If I could take it back I would.”Rosalie not only didn’t want to be put in a cell for an unknown amount of time but she wanted to finally be with her mate after thinking Bella was dead.

“If I could take back the decision I made to let the mate bond fall into place I would but neither of those things are ever going to happen.”Bella dismissed the Cullens and turned her attention to the queens.”I’m done here.”

“We will come see you after we deal with the formalities.”Sulpicia told her.

“I’ll be in the training room.”Bella needed to work through her anger and the best way to do that would to be fighting some guards.

“We will be there as soon as these idiots are in the dungeon.”Tanya would like to go with Bella but the sisters needed to stay with the queens to show a united front to the Cullens.

“Now that you have upset Bella I think it’s time for you to be escorted to your new homes.”Athenodora motioned to the guards.The queen was unsurprised when most of them raced to be the one to bring the Cullens to the dungeons.

“Please what about Edward?!”Carlisle asked.

“Not that he is your concern any longer but Edward will be treated for his injuries, given blood and once he is recovered he will be executed.”Sulpicia was only waiting because she knew that the queens and the Denali would appreciate the chance to torture Edward before he died and it would be no fun if the boy was half dead already.

“No you can’t, please kill me not him.”Carlisle would rather die than live without Edward.

“Don’t worry I’m sure you’ll get many chances in the next century and a half to push us to the point that we will want to kill you.”Athenodora just hoped that Carlisle annoyed Bella enough to have her give them permission to do it.

Didyme sighed as she watched them being dragged out of the room shouting non sense the entire time.”Thank god that’s over.”

“Unfortunately for Bella it is only beginning.”Irina said.

“I’m surprised with her choice of punishment for Rosalie.”Sulpicia had expected Bella to be more merciful with her mate no matter how angry she was.

“I’m happy with it.”Tanya was more than pleased that Bella didn’t let Rosalie off the hook.

Athenodora stood from her throne.”I’m going to go watch her beat on the guards.”

“Me too.She is really pissed so it’s sure to be quite the show.”Kate loved watching Bella fight.The girl was very talented and when she incorporated her shield with her fighting abilities it created chaos.

“I want to be there when she finally lets go of her anger.”Irina knew that Bella was going to be emotional once she got over the adrenaline of having to face the Cullens.

“The rest of us will come as well.”Didyme said.Following the group out of the door Didyme hoped that Bella wouldn’t kill to many guard members.It was a hassle trying to find people qualified enough to be a member of the guard.All the training they went through to be able to go out on missions sometimes took years.Not that the queen would complain about it.If Bella needed to kill a few vampires to feel better than the queen would gladly let her.Hell if Bella wanted to burn down the castle the queen would allow that as well.Anything that Bella wanted she would get because not only did her mothers love to spoil her but the queens did to.Bella of course didn’t ask for anything outrageous and the only real complaint she had was that they did to much for her.Didyme was of the opposite view.She felt that Bella didn’t let them spoil her enough.It didn’t matter though.What mattered was that the Cullens had been convicted of their crimes and the queen would finally get the chance to take out her anger on Esme.If she wasn’t so worried about Bella Didyme would have smiled.