AN: This fanfiction takes place in the present day. Edward is human, as are some of the other Cullens.

I hope you will enjoy it!


Two more hours? Seriously, what's two more hours?

The next time mom has a brilliant idea I should consider 'no'.

Surely the endless sight of the swirling blue sea wasn't helping my nausea. I raised my head from the railing to look at the noisy cause of this cruise. Mom was dressed in light summer clothes sprawled in Phil's arms. They were laughing about something that probably wasn't too amusing. At least not now, not for me.

They were currently trying to reach each other's ears while making such racket, that it made a few sunburned heads turn. Some of the other tourists frowned down upon the happy couple, others tried to hide their smiles. I wondered if I could ever have that, that carefree happiness. I knew my irrational mom, she could very well be upset about something later in the day, but what they would be feeling now must be special - not that I could speak out of personal experience. My stomach lurched and I turned my head over the railing again… Odd, I would have thought my stomach would be empty right now.

Two hours, or perhaps a little less now, until we arrive in Volterra. I'd never been to Europe before. This should be interesting. I've read in the brochure that Volterra is a Neolithic settlement and that namely the castle was an Etruscan center with an original civilization. I wiped my brown hair behind my ears. It's better to get a little excited about it, not that the male population on this boat needed to reap excitement from ancient architecture. Our tour guide Heidi has been quite the centre of their interest. I'll give it to them that she is hard to ignore. With her body she could make a fortune as model or giggle her way up the economic ladder. I wondered why she became a tourgide.

'BWHAHAHAHA!'

I switched to the other side of the judgement spectrum and frowned upon my mom. Only for a small moment though, hoping my stomach truly was empty this time, I wobbled my way to leave the deck. I didn't want to be associeated with the puppy love couple who were currently trying to nip eachothers' necks.

However, I wouldn't be Bella if I didn't find some sort of obstacles along my way - the class deck door didn't want to slide open. I pulled at the thing gently first, then as hard as I could. I brought my sallow face closer to examine the intracite door mechanism, gave up, and gave it another yank. I was about to wobble away in search of the railing once more when I noticed someone standing on the other side of the door.

'Oh…' He wasn't sunburned, but tanned. The sunlight created an array of colour on his bronze hair. His green eyes contrasted with it magnificently, and my attention clung onto them. He was terribly handsome. I couldn't imangine how I looked; white like usual, with red splotches due to my effort, and green from the seasickness. Oh god, I hope my mouth is clean. I only now noticed that he was chuckling merrily. I squinted my eyes at him while moving my sleeve across my mouth.

'Do you need help with the door?' he asked in a raised but friendly voice. Even though the sound was muffled I could hear that he had a pleasant voice.

'No, I'm fine.' I half-yelled. 'Thank you.' I turned to move to the other side of the deck. Maybe that door would be open. They shouldn't lock these doors, it's not safe and…

Click.

I turned to see that Mr. Goodlooking had opened it on the other side from where I had been pulling. Great, now I looked like a fool too. I sat down on a deck chair and closed my eyes. If I'd just relax, take deep breaths, my stomach would settle. In less than two hours I'd set foot on solid ground.

'You look a little pale.' I recognised the voice at once, it was more clear than the first time I heard it.

'I am a little pale,' I said. Why was he talking to me? I unconsciously felt for my wallet. It was still secure in the front pocket of my jeans. You never know why handsome guys might talk to you, it wasn't a regular occurance for me. I'd better be carefull.

'Don't worry, I mean you no harm.' the voice said pleasantly. 'Do you want me to go away?'

Damn right he shouldn't mean me harm. My mom always said my face was like an open book. But I wished he wouldn't have caught on to my vibe.

I opened my eyes to see him sitting on the deck chair next to me. He was wearing a white sleeveles T-shirt, an I-shirt I guess, with black jeans. There was a magnetic aura around him to which I didn't object exposure to. What was his question again? I'm such a fool. I just smiled and nodded, that's the polite way to deal with such situations.

'Alright then.' He turned his gaze to the floor. 'I didn't mean to bother you. Enjoy your holiday.' He recovered with a briliant smile, got up and walked away.

I bit my lip. I wish he had stayed. He turned to give me a second smaller smile before he departed through the stupid door on his first try.


'Benvenuto al Palazzo dei Priori!' our all legs and breasts tourist guide announced. The square was lined with old buildings and a beautiful clock tower. Heidi walked around with a sun umbrella that allowed us to locate her along the mildly populated Pallazo. Somehow she managed to skilfully remain in its shade at all times. No one could deny the woman's beauty, but her purple contacts and her vain attitude with the umbrella were a little overdone if you asked me.

'This is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta' Heidi pointed at the church. 'It was enlarged in the 13th century after an earthquake when…'

So much for being interested in architecture. The only thing I was aware of, was the handsome young man I'd met on the deck earlier today. The second thing I focussed on was staying upright and not falling on my face. He was talking to a heavily built guy who I assumed to be his friend. His forehead seemed to be fixed in a quizzical brow while the larger guy jabbed his shoulder in a friendly manner.

Heidi's beautiful lips pulled in a wide somewhat unsettling smile but showed no teeth. 'We are about to start my favourite part of the tour.'

'Seriously Edward,' I heard the burly guy speak. 'Lighten up a bit. I didn't save up three months to look at that face for seven days.' He pulled his big jaw into a pout. Prior Mr. Handsome - now redefined as 'Edward'- laughed.

'I'm sorry Emmet. I just feel that something is not completely right, that's all.'

Heidi led us through a large mahogany door into a beautiful white marble parlour. There were chandeliers on the ceiling, casting a sparkling glow around the room. Soft violin music played in the background.

'Hey, I know this one,' my mom told Phil. 'It's Beethoven.'

'Vivaldi,' Edward's soft textured voice corrected in a whisper. I sighed, if he could stir these feelings in me by whispering someone else's name, what would happen if he said mine? I had to stop this obsessive behaviour. Seriously Bella.

Our tour group passed a large classic fountain and turned a corner to a fantastic spiralling staircase, coated - like everything else in this castle - with white marble. Then, we entered a different hall with a desk at the end and soft couches cosily distributed around the place. The hall was empty except for an average looking girl behind the desk and another two extraordinary beautiful men on one of the couches. Both were blond, one looked late twenties the other twenty. I wondered if they were shooting a movie in the castle for they looked too perfect to be real. I noticed that the older had ochre coloured eyes, the other red. I wondered what type of movie it would be. It was odd indeed.

'I don't know what's bothering you Edward.' Edward's burly friend spoke. 'I feel great. Fantastic actually. You know, the last time I felt this good was right after Samantha and I rented that hotel room and we had the most crazy sort of-'

'Be quiet. If you need to elaborate again you can do so later.' Edward's frown was still in place. I wondered what was bothering him. Emmet was right, I too, felt great. This place had a joyous atmosphere.

We now passed the middle of the hallway, and were close to the two extraordinary blonds on the couch. I was on the outer side of our group and could pick up on some of their heated conversation.

'You don't have to do this.' The older troubled one whispered. 'There is another way.'

The young one looked up at us, his expression was morose. 'They will die happily, it's more than most humans could wish for.'

What were they talking about? Something in my mind gnawed at me that I should be scared. Nonetheless, I felt too happy to actually be scared.

'Let me help you,' the older pleaded.

'I don't need your help or your worries, with emphasis on the latter. It's bothersome.'

'Jasper please, we could co-exist with humans, all I ask is-'

'Carlisle,' Jasper turned to glare at him. 'Leave… me… alone.'

For a split second I felt overwhelmingly scared and worried. It only lasted that split second, then my happiness made me smile once more.

'Emmet, listen to me!' Edward had whispered, but he might as well have shouted for its intensity.

'You go, I'm not leaving.' Emmet rumbled back at him. Edward's face looked strained with irrational desperation. To my surprise he ran from Emmet directly towards… me.

'What's your name?' he asked hurriedly.

'I'm Isabella,' I said slightly flabbergasted but nonetheless happy.

'Isabella,' he took my hand, his was a little moist and warm. 'Will you trust me?' His intense green eyes pierced me to the core. Normally I would have been shy, backed away, or fallen on my face due to some mysterious reason. But his gaze demanded my focus.

'I think I will,' I mumbled. He turned while still holding my hand, and started running towards the door we came from. Edward was fast and was even pulling my weight it seemed. His bronze hair danced behind him.

'Hey you two! The tour is not over yet!' Heidi called immediately. 'The best part is waiting in the following room.'

'Sorry, we'll be right back.' Edward hollered at the woman and kept up the pace. I was right behind him, happy to be running together. He lowered his volume. 'Isabella, I think they want to harm us. If they manage to stop us, try to keep running until you're outside.' He looked back over his shoulder. 'Promise me you won't stop running.'

While the distance between us and the group increased, I felt my happiness sip away like honey in a sieve. 'Ok,' I panted. 'I promise.'

Who was this strange boy?

What about mom?

I turned my head to see her and Phil almost at the 'best part' of the tour. I wanted to turn back for them when Edward stopped moving abruptly. The younger of the two blonds, Jasper, was standing in front of Edward.

I knew I had to be afraid. I knew I had to yell for my mom to follow us. I knew Edward wanted me to keep running. But I was soaked in such lethargy, that I found myself unable to do much.

'Come now. Let's go back,' Jasper said.

The older blond, Carlisle showed up next to him. I could have sworn they were on the other side of the room just seconds ago.

Edward looked the two over intently. He turned to Carlisle. 'Help us, please. I know you can.'

Carlisle took a step back in shock.

Edward took me by the waste protectively, I felt immediately more alert being this close to him. 'Help us.' Edward asked again. It wasn't exactly pleading, nor forceful, yet full of emotion.

'I…' Carlisle's focus seemed to dart around the room. 'I'm not sure I can,' Carlisle replied.

'I know you can. Something is about to happen. But you can save us.' Edward pressed.

There was a play of emotions on Carlisle's face. 'It won't go unnoticed, both of you missing.' Carlisle deliberated.

Edward looked defeated, but his features were as hard as stone. 'At least save her.' He pushed me in Carlisle's direction. 'I'll stay with my friend as long as I can.' Edward said forcefully.

Carlisle turned to Jasper. Who returned a heated glare and the words. 'I'm not with you, nor against you Carlisle. But you know this will be your demise.' Jasper looked at us. 'The boy is interesting I admit, but neither are worth it.'

Suddenly I was smacked into concrete. At least, that would have been a rational explanation for what I felt. Once I opened my eyes I found myself slung over one of Carlisle's right shoulder, Edward was on the other. Edward's face was completely bewildered as I expected mine to be. We were travelling so fast that I could hardly distinguish one chandelier from the other. But, instead of a bumpy 'ride', it was smooth, as was Carlisle's breathing.

Then as fast as the ride had started, it was over. It was dark, cold, and damp around us. Carlisle took another few steps to put Edward next to me. The sound of his steps echoed in the distance. There was a lone lamp, which allowed us to see the foot of the tunnel, where we were seated. The happiness and lethargy I felt before was gone completely and replaced by confusion and fear. Questions popped too rapidly into my mind for me to evaluate possible answers; what was happening to my mother and Phil right now? What was Edward so afraid of? How did Carlisle run so fast? How come he is so strong?

'I'm Carlisle, what is your name?' the super human asked Edward. There seemed to be some sort of bond between the two, something I couldn't explain.

'I'm Edward, this is Isabella,' he said in voice that betrayed his uncertainty and shock.

'Edward, you asked me for help,' Carlisle spoke and knelt down at our feet. 'But the only help I can offer you might not be what you seek. You have a good-natured face. Something that…' He rubbed his hand through his hair. 'You know I mean well?'

Edward nodded slowly. 'Yes, I do.'

Carlisle studied the floor and darkly spoke, 'I will show you what I am. I will do to Isabella the only thing that would prevent you two from dying in this situation. I will give you the choice. You will have to decide if you want to follow in her footsteps, or if you want me to end you both. I'm afraid there is no other way. There is little time to explain further.'

Carlisle turned to me. 'Are you ready Isabella?' His facial expression was not right as he approached me. It scared me to death.

'I have no idea what you are talking about!' I almost yelled.

'Such pretty brown eyes…' he whispered. 'There simply is no other way…'

He held my head and shoulder and pushed them slightly apart, all the while moving closer to me. When his cold lips touched my neck it sent a shiver through my body. I felt something sting, or cut; it was such a smooth move that I wasn't sure. I felt myself grow weaker in his arms. This couldn't be happening.

'Edward…' I breathed. Why didn't he try to stop Carlisle? What was he doing to me? A fire captured my neck and ruptured all over my body, inside as well as out. The pain became exponential as the seconds ticked by. I tried to find the fire in confusion, should I roll on the floor to put it out? But the tunnel remained dark. I saw no fire, yet the pain was unbearable.

The pain was unbearable.