The Dark Princess 7

"Hello." Jasper said as soon as he accepted the call coming through his cell phone. It said it was from Alice's phone but that didn't mean it was his mate who was calling. He and the rest of the Cullens minus Edward and Alice were in their Italian home. After Alice had called and told them what Edward was planning on doing as well as Alice's plan to take Bella and stop him, the family had boarded a plane to Italy right away. They hadn't heard anything from Alice or Edward but had been notified that they would be receiving a summons from the Volturi soon. Jasper had been going over worse case scenarios and his anxiety was through the roof. The emotions he felt coming from the rest of the family hadn't helped at all either.

"Jasper?" The relief in Alice's voice was obvious as it came through the line.

"Yes Alice I'm here so is everyone else." Jasper put the phone on speaker and waved everyone over.

"Alice honey are you ok?" Esme asked. After finding out what was happening it was to late for any of them to go and help Alice. The radio silence since Alice had told them she was taking Bella to save Edward had caused the whole family to be overwhelmed with despair. Carlisle had been trying to be the strong one but after they got the summons he was barely able to hold himself together.

"Yes, I'm fine." Alice assured them.

"What happened? Where are you?" Rosalie was beyond concerned for her sister. In her mind Edward was an idiot but Alice didn't deserve to suffer because of him. She was even worried for Bella having gained new found respect for the human who was willing to expose herself to human drinking vampires to save her brother.

"I can't tell you everything but I can promise that I am fine. Queen Athenodora guaranteed I would not be harmed." Alice told them causing surprise to be felt through out the family.

"Queen Athenodora personally promised your safety?" It wasn't that Carlisle didn't believe her it was just that the queen wasn't known for sparing anyone. Minor infractions resulted in harsh punishments when the royal was involved.

"As I said I can't tell you anything but I have no doubt in my mind that I am perfectly safe. As a matter of fact I dare say that I am one of the safest people in the castle right now." Alice said. "I am in a nice room and have been treated like a guest."

"Why can't you tell us what happened?" Rosalie asked.

"I was asked not to. The queen wanted to explain everything once you guys come to the castle." Alice explained.

"Where is Edward?" Carlisle was worried for his first son. He knew that if he had attempted to actually expose himself that the kings would not take it well and Edward would be in danger.

"I don't know were Edward is and I don't particularly care." The group went wide eyed at the hatred in Alice's voice when speaking of her brother.

"What did he do?" Rosalie asked. Alice was very close to Edward so if she was that mad Rosalie knew he must have done something horrible.

"He broke Bella's wrist and shattered the bones in her arm." Alice told them.

Esme put her hand over her mouth in shock. "What?! He would never do that. Bella is his mate. He wouldn't hurt her."

Alice’s growl was audible to everyone in the room. "Bella is not Edward's mate. He's delusional and don't tell me he would never hurt her because I watched it happen."

"That fucker." Rosalie hissed. She had no trouble believing Edward hurt Bella. His controlling nature was one of the reasons Rosalie didn't want the girl around. She didn't hate Bella she worried about her. Edward treated her horribly and Rosalie couldn't stand watching it happen so she kept her distance. She would have to apologize if she got the chance. Maybe she could have done something to prevent this but she was under the illusion that Bella was Edward's mate.

"Rosalie language. You are talking about your brother." Esme scolded.

"No I am talking about an abuser. I believe Alice and that means he is not only an abuser but a manipulator to." Rosalie wasn't going to apologize for attacking Edward. After hearing what Alice said he was no brother of her's any longer.

Carlisle flinched at Rosalie's tone. "What do you mean Bella is not Edward's mate?That's the whole reason he went to the Volturi to begin with. He thought she was dead."

"I really can't tell you any more. I probably shouldn't have told you that Bella wasn't Edward's mate but I am not going to have you believe his lie any longer." Alice said. "I've got to go. I'll see you guys when you come to the castle."

"Alice wait." Esme said stopping Alice from hanging up. "What happened to Bella? You said she was hurt has she seen a doctor?"

"Yes she has seen a doctor. She is being taken to a specialist tomorrow to work out a treatment plan. It seems she will have to have surgery to repair the damage. I have to warn you before you come that the royals are beyond pissed that Bella was hurt. I recommend you not try to defend Edward's actions. Even though if you did try my respect for you would lesson. There is no excuse for what he did. Listen I've got to go. I'll see you when you get here." With that Alice hung up.

"Jesus what has Edward gotten them into?" Emmett asked. He didn't understand anything that was going on. "Edward must have done something really horrible for Alice to have that much hate in her voice talking about him."

"He hurt Bella. I wasn't even there and I'm pissed." Rosalie said.

"What do you think Alice meant when she said the royals are beyond mad that Bella got hurt? Why would they care about a human? I mean yes she has a gift but that doesn't explain why the kings would be involved."Jasper was confused by what was going on but felt better after talking to Alice. Alice wouldn't lie about her safety to him knowing it would cause him distress later. He didn't particularly care about Edward but did feel worried for Bella. He liked his wife's best friend. So if Edward had hurt her in any way Jasper was going to personally dole out a harsh punishment when he saw Edward again.

"I don't get that either. Also Alice saying that Queen Athenodora promised her safety is very odd." Carlisle desperately wanted to know what was going on. The little information they got from Alice only made him worry more. "Do you think Edward is ok?"

"Who gives a fuck if he's ok!" Rosalie exclaimed angrily." You should be worried about Bella. He seriously injured her. Not only that but now she is being held in a castle full of human drinking vampires. She went to Italy to save him and now we find out she isn't even his mate. Fuck him. He lied to and manipulated all of us. That poor human is in this horrible situation because of him."

"Rosalie please calm down. You being upset is not going to help matters." Esme herself was feeling upset but knew they needed to have calm heads when they were in front of the kings.

"If we go to the castle and find out that everything Alice said is true and any of you try to defend him then we are going to have problems." Rosalie stormed out of the room to angry to deal with Esme and Carlisle defending their golden boy. She just knew when they were in front of the kings they weren't going to believe Edward could do anything wrong.

Emmett just gave them a sheepish look and followed his mate. He to wasn't going to put up with anyone defending Edward. Bella was a fun human who never deserved to have to deal with an asshole like Edward. He always felt sorry for her that she was Edward's mate but now finding out she wasn't Emmett was actually happy for Bella. He wasn't happy she got injured but he was happy she wouldn't have to spend eternity with that asshat.

"Carlisle what are we going to do?" Esme was starting to feel a bit of panic. It seemed that whatever happened at the summoning their family would be fractured. She had never heard Alice so angry and there was no way Rosalie was ever going to forgive Edward for the things he did if Alice was telling them the truth. Not that Esme doubted Alice it was just the information was so unbelievable. She couldn't imagine her son hurting Bella. Edward loved Bella. They were mates. Esme was sure of it.

"I don't know. I guess we wait until the Volturi tell us to come. Until then we try to remain calm." Carlisle honestly didn't know what would happen. He didn't think Alice was a liar but there was no way he believed that Edward would not only lie about a mate bond but he would never hurt Bella. His constant restraint against giving into his bloodlust was enough proof for Carlisle to know Edward wasn't capable of causing Bella harm. Alice must have been mistaken. Maybe they did something to her. Carlisle tried to remember if the Volturi had any vampires with a gift that could alter the mind or create illusions. That's probably what happened. He would have to spend the time they had left until they had to leave researching how to reverse the effects of such a gift. It was the only way to save his family and there was nothing that he wouldn't do for his family.