Chapter 1

EPV:

"Ah… Edward is back, how wonderful!" thought Aro. I was standing in front of the numerous Vulturi guard. Today is the day I hope to fulfill my dream, today is the day I hope to die. Aro looked at me speculatively, remembering what he had thought yesterday, is she that important, Edward, is her safety enough to die for? I had said nothing, but the response in my head was something along the lines of;Yes, of course.I had only been away for two days and yet it felt like an eternity to me, and my death was the best and only way to keep her safe from me. The words I had said in the forest, though excruciatingly painful for me, should keep her safe. Her pain ,if she had any from my leaving, would fade in time just like any other human's limited feelings would. Mine never would. But, you see, Aro wouldn't take me seriously, so I had to show him my thoughts to convince him of my truthfulness.

All of a sudden Aro's papery thin voice brought me back to the damp and dark room inside the castle turret.

"Edward, I nor any of my fellows will grant you your request" , he said ecstatically in a sing-song voice. "But", he was nearly bouncing now, "we would be delighted if…" My enraged roar of NO!! broke his carefully arranged monolog. He wanted me, who am I kidding, he wanted my talent for his collection, his menagerie of gifted pets that he could be control with the flick of a finger. I turned and ran for the door at top speed. As soon as my foot touched the floor for the second step a shooting pain raced up my spine. I collapsed to the floor, and even though the pain was intense I did not cry out. Besides, the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony of leaving Bella. Now it became unbearable because I could not go back, for Chelsea had started to work on my ties of loyalty. Within seconds I was loyal only to Aro, loyalty to family, friends, my lo…how strange, I still loved them all the same, I just couldn't do anything about it.

"Now, Edward what will you do?" asked Aro expectantly. "Anything you tell me to, Master," I said in a dead, lifeless voice. "Good, Felix show him to his quarters," Aro said triumphantly. As I followed him I realized that either me, Chelsea, or Aro will have to die before I can even start to think about living freely. I seriously hope one of us dies soon.

***

LPV:

I was running with Chris along the coast in late spring. To this day I'm not quite sure why, maybe it was destiny. I would certainly like to think that. I was already it a sour mood, so when Chris stopped suddenly, I just sighed impatiently and sat down, not even bothering to see why she stopped.

Even tiny Crystal, usually springy, energetic, honest, and optimistic, had been subdued since Maza, our aunt was killed in the biggest battle if the century. On top of that her little brother, who she had raised since he was sixteen months, hadn't made contact in three years. He was one of the resistance so, like us, he could have been captured or killed without anyone knowing, and seven years was the period before there were considered killed or captured. The shape-shifter war was in its twenty-second century and many where tired but we weren't giving up yet.

I heard Chris hit the water, and at the time I didn't know why and I didn't really care, so I continued to stare at the smooth rock in front of me thinking of the war and all its troubles. Out of the blue I hear: "For Pete's sake Lydia, help me over here." I look over at Chris to see why she needs help. Our little 2 foot 4 Crystal is trying to haul a almost-dead 5 foot 4 brunette up the beach without hurting her, hurting her more I should say. I picked up the young lady wondering what we could possibly do for the girl, she was beyond the point of hope for medicine. Chris looked up at me "Maybe we could…" I cut her of with a shake of my head. Since we are born shape-shifters our venom just kills, or at least that is the theory.

"Lyd even if all it does is kill her it will just end her suffering that much sooner" she plead with me. I looked down at the girl, she didn't have very long to live. I looked my best friend in her silver eyes and nodded once, just once. Crystal nodded back and hesitantly leaned in towards her neck.