"Edward…"

He turned and the corner of my lip turned up slightly, my eyes completing the simple smile. Our eyes met, his widening a bit while his lips parted in surprise. A full grin took over my face. To surprise a vampire like Edward….now that was an accomplishment.

A few moments passed before I stepped forward. My long black dress skimmed my slim body, the soft cotton fabric flowing down to the floor. My bare feet barely peeked out from the fabric, my crimson toenails contrasting against my pale white skin. My arms hung comfortably down at my sides, my fingers loose and relaxed, also adorned with the crimson polish on my fingernails. As I tilted my head to the side, my long black hair fell over my shoulder, gracefully settling against the bare pale skin of my back. My jade eyes never broke with Edward's amber ones. There was no reason to.

"Long time no see," I thought to myself, "it's too bad we've let these circumstances bring us together again."

"I wasn't aware you…were made aware…" he thought back.

I noticed the questioning stare the human girl was giving me. I smiled softly at her and her eyes quickly darted to the floor, her hand nervously pushing her hair back behind her ear. I took another soft step forward, the cold tile comfortable against my cold-by-default skin.

"You must be Bella…" I offered, slowly and politely, "I've heard so much about you…"

She immediately looked toward Edward, apparently unable to keep a long connection with my gaze. I was used to that though. I wasn't surprised as Edward took a protective step forward, one arm out in front of Bella to keep her back.

"I mean no harm, Edward. And, Bella," I spoke aloud, more for the benefit of Bella than anyone else. If she were absent, Edward and I could carry a conversation in our minds.

"Why are you here?" Edward asked, thinking it so only I could hear.

"There is no need to keep this private. Your human may hear. I've nothing to hide."

Bella's eyes narrowed. I wasn't sure if it was because I had called her a human, as if she were a lesser being…or if I brought light to Edward trying to be secretive. I was disappointed that she was also unreadable to me.

"Edward…who…who is this?" she asked, tugging on his sleeve and pulling him back a step. He kept his eyes on mine, but tilted his head back over his shoulder to speak closely to her.

"This is-"

"Please, allow me to introduce myself. I did not mean to be rude. My name, Bella, is Evelyn Graye. An old…family…friend, to put it lightly. To the Cullens."

"Bella, can you please excuse us?" asked Edward, breaking his glare at me to turn to his girlfriend. He held her pale face in his hands, directing her chin up with his thumbs, and staring into her dark brown eyes. "Please give me just a minute to speak with her. I promise everything will be fine."

She looked sad at his request, but utterly entranced by his voice. She nodded after a few moments, and he kissed her softly on her forehead. She backed away from him, keeping faced forward until she exited out of the room. Once out the doorway and into the hall, she gave me one last look, and hurried away down the stairs. I was alone with Edward in his room. He watched the empty doorway for a few moments, to ensure Bella was not coming back. He then turned to me, his face a torn look of resentment, suspicion, and concern.

"You didn't need to put her out of this. She is the reason I'm here. She's quite big in our world now, thanks to you."

He stepped forward, standing less than a foot in front of me in two simple strides. I looked up at him, blinked slowly, and exhaled.

"I smell her on you. Her scent is sweet…"

He snarled under his breath, his top lip raising as he looked down at me.

"Showing up here unannounced is not 'right', Evelyn. We are all on edge enough as it is, we do not need you around to bring more…complications."

With that, he took a step back, ran a hand through his light brown hair, and faced the window. I stuck my bottom lip out and furrowed my eyebrows, crossing my arms at my chest and turning to face him.

"I am not here to complicate things, Edward. You know as well as everyone else I am an asset to your situation. In more ways than one. I'm hurt that you are letting your feelings get in the way of your knowledge."

"Does Carlisle know you are here?" he asked, completely ignoring my previous statement.

"No. I was not asked by anyone in your family. I was ordered here by mine."

With that, he turned quickly, taking my upper arms in his grasp and pinning me against his wall of music forcefully. He growled as the items fell off the shelves around us, baring his teeth. My hands flew to his shoulders, my nails digging in slightly to hold on as he was holding me up to where my feet were at least 12 inches from the ground. My instinct was at the threshold, begging to break out. How I hated to not fight back…

But, I did not. I calmly closed my eyes and opened them again to look down at Edward. We stared at each other for a few moments before he slammed me into the wall again, yelling in frustration, and finally tossing me down onto the wooden floor.

I heard footsteps on the stairs, and was not surprised to look in the doorway and see Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, and precious Bella. Carlisle stepped into the room and put a calming hand on Edward's shoulder, causing Edward to shake his head and step back to stand beside Bella. Emmett and Rosalie stepped further into the room, with Esme holding Bella with a loving arm around her shoulder.

I sighed. I read their thoughts immediately and rolled my eyes. Only one voice of reason in the bunch, and that of course came from Carlisle. I sat on the floor, leaning back on my elbows and my knees bent, my dress now pulled up to show my pale calves. I pushed myself up so I was resting on my hands and twisted my feet around behind me. I stood up, brushing my dress and straightening it back down to cover my legs fully.

"Evelyn, what a pleasant surprise," Carlisle stated, emphasizing the word 'pleasant' just a tad too much. "We were not aware of your visit, otherwise we would have been more…prepared…"

"Time was not available for information to be shared, I'm afraid." Facing the majority of the Cullen clan, I suddenly felt on guard.

"Still, it would have been appreciated to have some warning. If not in advance, perhaps entering through the front door and not through a side window. I'm sure you can understand our precautions."

I nodded, my chin tilted forward. I loved Carlisle dearly, and he had a way of talking sense, even when it is the last thing you wanted to hear. Many vampires could disagree with his way of living, but no one could disrespect him. I closed my eyes, slowly bowing forward.

"My apologies to you and your family, Carlisle. I did not mean to intrude. But when one is sent on a mission….it is not something you take lightly. Something I'm sure you can understand."

He nodded and looked back at Edward, who was now holding Bella tightly. The poor thing looked more lost than ever, more confused than she had before.

"I wanted to explain, in front of Bella, what my purpose was. Edward decided it was best for her to leave. I have no secrets. I am merely an open book. Edward," I changed my direction from Carlisle to Edward, meeting eyes once again, "…you can attest to that. Read my mind. You see all of my thoughts. I mean no harm. I am an open book."

He glared at me, with the rest of the people in the room watching for his next move. His eyes softened ever so slightly, as if accepting what I said as truth. Instead of finding peace, he looked to have found even more discomfort.

"You say you mean no harm. You think nothing of ill will toward anyone here. Yet you say your 'family' has sent you here. What good comes from your 'family', Evelyn?" he asked, trying to catch me in a web of some sort.

Before I can say a word, Bella pulls back only inches from Edward. She peeks out from behind Emmett's large shoulder so she is looking at me. She moves her eyes from mine to Carlisle's, then back to mine.

"Who is your family? I'm not following, is it another coven?" she asks, more to the room than to any one particular person.

I smile. My eyes deepen, both in feeling and in color. I am calm. I am proud. I am confident.

"Bella, you've met my family," I said, licking my lips before lifting my head up slightly. She looked around, unsure, not understanding. I step forward, both Edward and Carlisle tensing. I pay them no attention, my deep green eyes now locked on Bella's. I smile softly, to comfort her.

"My family is a powerful one. My family is the Volturi."

-----

The atmosphere was anything but relaxing as the Cullen coven, including the human girl Bella, were seated around the living room. Edward unsurprisingly sat next to Bella, with Esme on her other side. Carlisle sat in a single chair, with Emmett and Rosalie standing across the room. I stood directly across from them, noticing how their feet were parted shoulder width…as if they were preparing themselves in case they needed to move quickly. I laughed quietly under my breath. I read their thoughts, I knew what they expected. Apparently bad blood runs deep.

Carlisle had his legs parted, with his elbows resting on his knees and his hand folded under his chin. He wore beige slacks and a white button up dress shirt, a cashmere vest bringing life to his outfit with its soft green color. His eyes darted up to me.

"Please, Evelyn, explain what you are here for."

I kept his stare before moving my eyes to the reason I was here. Bella looked at me, and looked at Edward right after. She seemed to depend on his guidance for everything. Silly.

"May I say something before I explain?" I asked, asking Bella's permission.

She nodded nervously.

"Bella, you are a fascinating case. Never before has there been a human who has captured a vampire's….soul…such as you have with dear Edward. And with that, there have not been many vampires who choose to live this lifestyle…to constantly suppress your hunger and settle for an animal's blood…some people can't even fathom it….others fail when they try…"

With this last statement, Carlisle nods his head down once, closing his eyes momentarily.

"To combine the two oddities is simply…amazing. Now, I know you have met the Volturi. I know if you had not seen the things you had seen, you would have heard of them sooner or later. The Volturi…a prestigious family who loves to uphold tradition at no cost. To you, no doubt, it may be a group of ruthless murderers…monsters. But first, Bella, let me stress this point. The Volturi are not the exception. Every vampire out in the world is like them. The vampires here, in this room, are the rarity."

"I…I understand that. I know the Cullens are rare because they don't kill humans," Bella murmured. She seemed captivated. Strong in her own right, and I could feel the emotion falling off of her.

"Correct. And I am aware that you have…crossed paths…with the 'normal' type of vampires. This was no doubt terrifying for you to endure."

She nodded with her eyes narrowed. Both she and Edward sensed the difference in my tone of voice.

"To be honest with you all…the Volturi asked me to come down and just...observe. From what they have seen in all encounters merely sparks their interest in your well being. You, a human, so fascinatingly intertwined with our realm, romantically involved with one of our own. Do you realize, Bella, what pain you cause Edward?"

With this, she looked at him swiftly. His eyes stuck on me, glaring. He muttered a profanity in his head, and I shrugged my shoulders. Bella's face was overtaken by grief.

"To be around you…as much as he is. To touch you and to hold you, as much as he does. To smell you…your shampoo, your skin, and most importantly, your blood…and not be able to take it for his own? He is…torturing himself, for you, Bella. His love is overwhelming."

Edward's eyes graze down to his dark shoes. Bella looks as if she is on the verge of tears as she looks at him, then back up at me.

"But I love him too! It hurts me knowing that I hurt him! I love him just as much as he loves me, if not more! That is why I've decided to become…one of…you. I want to be with him forever, and I don't want anyone to get hurt anymore," she cried.

I tilted my head, my face showing the sympathy that I felt. I shook my head at her.

"No, Bella. Perhaps you do not understand. Humans are capable of emotions and feelings, and especially love. I do not doubt your love for him. No one can. For what you've endured to stand by his side…your love is anything but invisible.

"But…vampires are on a higher realm. We move quicker, we smell better, we sense things you couldn't even fathom. Our world is an ultimate high. Everything is extended, everything is heightened, and everything…is deepened."

"She gets it. You can stop now," Edward interrupted.

"No, I don't think I can," I icily replied, irritated.

I directed my eyes back to Bella, who managed to shove another emotion into her already emotional face. This time, it was insignificance.

"Love is not merely love. Love is…air. Infatuation. Obsession. Need. Want. Love is…blood, to us. While Edward has not tasted your blood…he has tasted your love…and it nourishes him. His life has no end, Bella. For us, it is not a matter of dying, but rather sustaining. And you, sweet girl, sustain him."

She bit her lip, watching him the whole time I spoke. Halfway through, Edward raised his head and looked back at her and their eyes met. Even after I stopped talking, they held their connection. I could almost see waves off of them, it was so strong.

"Evelyn, I highly doubt they sent you here to just 'observe' Bella," Esme interjected, breaking the moment between Edward and Bella.

I turned my back to them and looked out the huge plate glass window showcasing the tall, beautiful trees that constructed their back yard. The morning had brought fog, not something new to Forks, but as the day grew on some sun peeked out. Right now, a large cloud blocked the light from coming into the room, but once it blew on its path, the sunlight would flood through the glass. I slid my right hand up my left arm, starting at my wrist and stopping right above my elbow. I looked down at my ivory skin, and inhaled. I loved feeling the warmth of the sun. Being outside was so much more peaceful than underground back home.

"You are smart for that doubt, Esme. With every simple mission, there is always fine print," I explained, still looking out the window, "and the fine print is always much more complex. And I apologize, but I cannot explain further. All you need to know, now, is that I am harmless."

With that, I turned back to face them, with a genuine smile on my face. A moment later, the sun peeked out from behind the cloud, and overtook the room. All of the faces I looked at began to shimmer, all except one. It truly was beautiful. My eyes lazily moved from one person to the next, taking in the sight. My lips slowly curled into a smirk when I saw that all of their eyes were directed toward me. I looked at Edward and the look he was giving me…it could kill some. I moved my gaze over to Bella. Her eyes were wide, but not as wide as her mouth. She looked at me as if I were from a different planet.

I laughed out loud and lifted my hands up at my sides. The straps to my dress fell elegantly off my shoulders, exposing my décolletage and my slender arms.

"She's not a vampire…?" she asked, not taking her eyes off of me.

I raised an eyebrow, my smirk still in full effect. This was my favorite reaction.

"I am, Bella. I am a vampire. Just one of the most dangerous kinds."

Everyone around me, minus the human, still glimmered in the sunlight. My skin, rather, stayed as natural as could be. No diamonds, no gleam, nothing special. I looked just like Bella. Just like a human.