Staring at the seven vampires in front of me, I swallowed loudly. Carlisle said that it would be okay. Alice says that they'd protect me. Jasper just tries his best to calm us down, although not even he could do that now. Esme was going out of her way to make sure I wasn't scared—although we both know very well that I'm going to be until this is all over—if it ever is. Even Rosalie looks afraid for me. Emmett is mad. Really mad. But of course, all of their anger, frustration, and forlorn has doubled for Edward.

His eyebrows were pulled together tightly, and his lips made a hard line. Nothing me, or anyone else could say would make him relax. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that he doesn't necessarily have a reason to relax.

No, Bella, don't say that. It will be fine. I have seven strong vampires and a few werewolves protecting me. Unwillingly another tear came down my face, and I saw it drop on the grass below me.

Volturi was mad. Really mad. And as much as I'd like to say otherwise, there's no point in hiding. No point in running. No point in wondering what your future will hold.

Though that negativity is just what Esme, Alice and Jasper keep discouraging. But . . . it's not negativity at all. Its factual information.

And quicker than anything I've ever seen in my life—and trust me, I've seen pretty fast things—a figure in a black cloak arrived beside the Cullens standing in front of me.

They all flinched, but the one in black just stood there.

"The Cullens. How I've missed you." A low and steady voice came from under the cloak.

Edward ran over so he was standing beside me.

"We were going to, but you have to know . . ." Carlisle started, his voice weaker than I think I've ever heard it.

"Silence!" The man roared, so loud that after there was a slight ringing in my ears. "You revealed our secret! That human . . ." he looked to me, ". . . we could handle . . . but only because you swore that she would become one of us! And now a whole city knows? How? Why? You've disgraced me. You owe me."

"Please!" Esme pleaded. "We didn't mean for it to get out. This was all a mistake!"

Carlisle put his hand in front of Esme so she wouldn't get on her hands and knees to beg. "We have been conducting damage control before you arrived. This is all going to be tamed. Just give us a chance to . . ."

"A chance to what? My Carlisle, the only way to unconvince these humans that there are vampires among their presence would be to kill them all together! And you can't change them all, for we can't handle that many newborns at one time. We definitely have a dilemma. But possibly I could fix things. Though I would only be willing if I got something in return."

Nobody hesitated. "Anything!" Alice called out desperately.

The man walked up close to me, and I instinctively backed up. "Her." He said.

All of our eyes widened, and my heart sped up to an unhealthy rate.

Edward stepped in front of me. "Not a chance!" He hissed.

But even Edward's strength couldn't save me. In a millisecond—or perhaps sooner than that, I felt something hit me hard, and I flew forwards. Yelling and screaming sounded from behind me, although we didn't slow down.

The wind hit me hard, and it felt like I was gone. Like the rest of my body couldn't catch up with me.

We stopped quickly, and my neck jerked forward. I heard a crack and then a piercing scream in which I later realized was mine. Everything was still blurry from the wind making my eyes water, and all I saw was black.

I was still in the arms of a member of the Volturi, and I was being clutched so tightly that all I could do was blink to focus my vision.

As I did, two new figures appeared, dressed in the same cloak as the one carrying me's in.

"My Marcus, forceful? I thought we would make this peaceful. We don't want confrontation."

"Aro, they don't know where we are."

"But they can find us. We shall not underestimate their abilities. But I suppose that for now, we can deal."

"But wait," the other man in cloak started. "What about that one member they have? She see's future. Possibly our location if we move."

"Cairo," the one, who I now believe to be Aro, began. "You make an impeccable point. We shall stay."

"No!" I screamed, though I wouldn't be surprised if all that came out was the sound of a single breath.

Squirming in who is think is Marcus's arms, I looked at all of them closely.

"What'd you say?" Aro appeared two inches from my face.

I swallowed, and although I mind was so scrambled up, I could barley breath; I found the words to speak to him. "I thought Volturi was . . . g-good." I could tell that it was a very quiet whisper.

There was a laugh coming from Cairo. "My Isabella, you couldn't be more wrong. You really couldn't."

Now all I could think of doing was screaming. They just laughed at my attempt, but I didn't give up, and I continued screaming so hard, I wouldn't be surprised if my face turned red.

And with the pain in my neck catching up to me, it helped my scream get louder. It even hurt my ears. I just hoped that it somehow affected them, or would give away my position.

And as my screaming became louder and more high-pitched, tears became relentlessly spewing from my eyes. With that, I started slashing around in Marcus's arms hoping someone would stop them.