Disclaimer: I, of course, own nothing.

One by one they entered, gazing with awe at the high domed ceiling and royally weaved tapestries, the gilded lighting fixtures and ornate rugs. They should have worn expressions of terror. They should have been trembling or pleading, frantically searching for an exit. Not that it would have helped. Like sheep to the slaughter, they had no idea what awaited them, their attention focused solely on Heidi, their stunning guide.

I envied their fate. It would be quick and final, unlike my own death, which with each passing day brought me deeper and deeper into the pits of this hell. Yes, I'm quite sure when I do leave this earth, hell will be a blessing compared to this half-life I've found myself in. The only comfort I have is knowing that my family is safe and that they'll remain that way as long as I please Aro. Yes, Aro, the power lusting elder standing to my left. His sick smile widened as he watched the tour pile into the room. Yes, a delectable crop Heidi has found us this time. Images of his next victim raced through his mind.

They all sicken me to the core. Living with these brutally vicious vampires only made my loathing for the monster in me more pronounced. I'd been with the Volturi now for over a decade. Hardly any time at all when you have eternity, though the last ten years of my life had seemed like just that…an eternity. Once Aro had discovered my particularly appealing gift, he made it quite clear that I would be joining his guard one way or another. Of course, I refused at first but he unleashed the most skilled of his guard to our little home in Forks. I remember it all so well. The day that ended what life I thought I had and sent me spiraling into this foreign world of hate and lust.

It was a beautifully cloudy day and my family and I were playing a particularly fierce game of baseball when their scent first hit us.

"Alice?" Carlisle breathed, in a hushed tone that only our supercharged senses could catch.

"I didn't…I mean, I couldn't…I've seen nothing, Carlisle, and I still…they must be blocking me somehow," Alice responded breathlessly, obviously frustrated and lost with the disappearance of her gift.

We knew what was coming as we aligned ourselves protectively behind Carlisle. We had expected this for some time. No one refuses the Volturi. I'd begged the family to let me run, to lead the danger away from them, but Alice had blocked me at every turn. My still heart ached as I saw the fear creep into the faces of the only people on this earth I cared for. I knew we had only seconds before…

"Carlisle," a silky voice carried on the wind, "how lovely to see you again."

"Jane." My father managed a curt nod to the quickly approaching vampire. "I see you have brought some friends." And she had. Four highly alert vampires strolled behind her, glaring ominously and eyeing up our fierce stances and barred teeth. I focused hard on the man to the right of Jane, willing his thoughts to enter my own. My face must have showed the effort, because Jane giggled. The laugh lit up her face and she could have been mistaken for an innocent child, if her red eyes had not been dancing so maliciously.

"Don't bother, Eddie," she sneered, eyes boring into my own, "Jonathon here has an incredibly wonderful gift. It seems you and your pretty little pixie won't be telling fortunes or reading minds today."

Her menacing gaze drifted back to Carlisle, "I don't have all day, Carlisle. Give us the boy and everyone can walk away in one piece. Resist, and there will be consequences." She overly emphasized the last word while scanning our faces, smiling like a child used to getting her way.

"No one is leaving with you, Jane."

"Very well, you leave me no choice," Her evil smile never wavered as she slid her glance to the right of Carlisle and immediately her screams pierced my heart. Alice's face was contorted as she twisted on the ground, attempting to escape the maddening torture. Jasper could do nothing but hold her, gasping as her pain became his.

"Jane! Stop this!" Carlisle shouted futilely. I instinctively lunged for Alice's torturer but found myself pummeled to the ground, and through the flashes of fists and kicks I caught sight of my brothers' faces.

"Emmett, Jasper," I gasped, frantic panic setting my mind on fire. I called to them and searched their thoughts but even their minds were silent. The only thoughts I could hear were Alice's frantic pleas for help.

"Fight it!" I pleaded into their vacant stares, "Think of Alice, Jasper, think of your wife!" They were unshaken and as they held me to the ground, I had enough wits about me to realize that Esme, Carlisle and Rosalie were staring at me, their minds hauntingly blank as well.

"Now Edward," Alice's screams turned to whimpers as Jane focused her attention on me, "It's very simple. No more games. Come with me or we kill them all."

It was over. I knew they had won. More importantly, she knew they had won.

"Get them off me. I'll come with you willingly," I felt Emmett's arms release me as he and Jasper took a step back.

I took one last look at their blank faces, "Just promise me my family will be safe."

"You have Aro's word, as long as you do not betray us. They're easily found Edward, covens that live such domesticated lives always are. Don't step out of line, or they will pay the price." I nodded, resigned to my fate. But as I followed them off the field, I heard footsteps behind me. Confused, I paused, and turned. Horror struck me as my sister pranced mindlessly behind me, a shell of her old self.

"Jane! NO! you said…"

"Silly Eddie, I said there would be consequences. Alice will be very happy with you in Volterra. Aro is especially interested in her gift." She fixed my sister an intense glare. I didn't need Jasper's powers to feel the jealousy radiating off of her.

Aro's deep voice awoke me from my reveries. I looked to Alice, stationed on Aro's other hand. She fixed her gaze on my own with her usual honey golden but desolate eyes. There was a time when I thought nothing could take away her spark, but the past ten years had taken its toll. I knew her depression had nothing to do with our work here and everything to do with her separation from Jasper. Her mind concentrated on him every spare moment and the anguish in her thoughts was threatening to destroy her. As it is, her visions have diminished to mere flashes, often not helpful, just worrisome. I see Aro's disappointment in us. He had thought, with us by his side, he'd be unstoppable. Past, present, future. But our depression affected our abilities and with every passing day, we grew weaker.

"Welcome, welcome…" Aro was droning on again as I saw Alice's eyes cloud. Through her mind I saw a flash of myself, raging with lust, tearing across the room, destroying anything, anyone in my path. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought it was just a memory of myself in my 'rebellious years'. But I did know better and Alice's eyes were frantically searching my own for some sign of understanding. I had none. What would possess me…

And then it hit me like a slap in the face, the most gut wrenchingly beautiful scent with just a hint of freesia. The beast inside me roared and flew forward. All control was lost. I wanted it. There was nothing but me and whatever was producing that unbelievably amazing scent. It called to me. No, it sang to me, the rhythm of the heart beat propelling me forward. It was the most tempting music I'd ever heard, I had to follow it, I had to do whatever it took to get to it. I flashed across the hall, startling everyone; I was not one to join in their antics. My body located the source of the divine aroma, and I flew towards my frightened prey, my hands outstretched, teeth barred, eyes black as the night. She slammed into the wall behind her with an incredible amount of force, and her pleading eyes looked dazed as I turned her chin up to get to her neck. My chest pressed her closer to the wall, and her sharp quick breaths only sent a shudder of eagerness through me. I did it all without thinking. It had taken me mere seconds to reach her across the hall. My tensed body was in complete control though my mind protested. A snarl came from my chest as the beast roared in anticipation of the absolute ecstasy that her blood was sure to bring. The blood flowing in this small, terrified girl was all mine. This small…terrified... NO! I can't do this. Dammit Edward! Think of Carlisle, think of Esme! My fist pounded the wall beside the girl's beautiful brown hair. Crumbling, the dust covered us both. All I could do was tremble, my razor sharp teeth so close to her neck, my lips brushing against the tantalizingly pale skin. I have to have it. No, fight it. I can't. Please. God. Please don't let me do this.

"Please…"

What? Through my hazy vision, I realized the hall was silent save for the innocent voice trembling near my ear, begging me to spare her life.

Edward, don't do this. That was Alice. You'll hate yourself if you do. I was regaining control. The girl's voice had reached the human in me. How long had I been struggling against her? I sank to my knees in front of the girl, trembling all over my worthless body. I bent my head to rest against her stomach, my hands twisting into her cotton shirt, a clearly more intimate position than the situation called for. My eyes were pressed shut, fighting the intoxication. Her blood still called me, still demanding that I take it. My shame, however, forced me to remain motionless.

"How very curious…"