Chapter One

If I didn't become a vampire soon, the Volturi would kill me. - NM - Pg. 562

Twilight had set. Pink and orange lined the sky, the sun bidding a good night. A good night it was not.

Three days had past since Bella's arrival back in Forks from Volterra. She woke to flawless beauty next to her. Edward brushed a strand of her hair from her cheek, his sun-like eyes warm on her.

It had gone well, she drew out questions hoping that he would stay longer. She was sure that he would leave. And she was right.

"Nothing has changed," he told her seriously. "I can't change you, Bella. I don't want you to become what I am. Ask anything else of me, but don't ask me to end your life."

Her body shook, despite the steel resolution she had put up. "That's it then..."

"Bella..."

"You... You should..." She closed her eyes, and braced herself for what she had to say next. "Leave."

Silence. Her fingers clawed at her pillow, hoping to feel something that could tell her if he decided to stay. When she opened her eyes, however, she saw that he wasn't there, as if nothing had ever happened, like it was a fantastic and cruelly tempting dream.

Bella thought if she was beautiful and strong, Edward would want her, but there was no changing his mind. Alice had promised to change her, declaring that the whole situation had gotten ridiculously out of control, but if he didn't want her, what was eternity without him? She'd rather be human and die alone than live forever pining after a man that wanted nothing to do with her.

That night, she cried alone. Tears soaking her pillow. Right before she fell asleep, sparks flew behind her lids, her head throbbing, and darkness descended over her, the pain fading into nothingness. She dreamt of blood-red eyes and pale skin, a crinkly hand, like an aged paper was offered, one of the Volturi. The leader, Aro.

In the corner of her room at Forks, Renee, her mother, rocked her. Back and forth, back and forth, the smooth motion like that of a gentle sea lulled her to sleep. Her mother hummed, and begun singing in a Mezzo-soprano tone.

"Bellaby, and goodnight, with sweet moonlight. May your dreams, be of solace. I tuck you in and kiss your head. Close your eyes, may your sleep be blessed, and wake to the bright dawn."

It was immediate. Once all of the incoherent ramblings of Bella's mind became a tad more organized. She knew that she wasn't in her bed, the mattress beneath her was softer, silky and smelled of roses. Hers smelled of plain soap.

From her temples there was a fault line, pounding in her ears. One small motion, and her head would split open. Morbidly she wondered if it would cause a huge mess.

She opened her eyes, the high-arched ceiling pulling into dizzying focus. The fault line spread, and she grimaced against the bile that rose in the back of her throat.

"You're awake," a smooth voice noted, crimson eyes meeting hers.

She froze. Only one creature had those kind of eyes. The blood-filled iris' of a diet of humans like her. Before she could catch her breath, the eyes disappeared from her view.

At the end of the king-size bed was a boy no older than fifteen. Pale, light brown hair sweeping over his brows, and those red eyes. He was unnaturally beautiful, but though she recognized him, even in her muddled state, she could not remember his name. He was part of the Volturi. A guard. He stood like one, his back straight, his hands clasped behind, his chin forward. He wore a long gray cloak, a trademark of the vampire royalty.

In a flash he was gone, appearing at her side. In his open palm were two small white pills, and in his other a glass of water.

She was in Volterra, Italy, in an underground palace, with noble blood-drinking vampires. Drugs was the least of her worries. If they wanted her dead, they would have no problem killing her. In one gulp, she took the pills, washing them down.

"My apologies, Miss Swan. My sister, Jane doesn't know her own strength. In her defense, she rarely uses it. Aro was afraid that she sent you into a coma. He'll be relieved that you are awake and well."

Jane. She remembered her clearly. A young, pretty, and twisted girl that caused the disabling pain. The last time she was there in Volterra that girl sent Edward withering on the floor. The mere memory continued to carry a lot of pain, remembering how she watched helpless in Alice's constricting and protective arms. She was certain that he was dying that day.

"Where's Edward?"

He set the glass on the ornate nightstand. "He is safe, as is the rest of the Cullens and your family."

"What do you want with me?"

The boy looked amused. "I thought it would have been obvious."

She felt the little color she had drain from her face. "You want to kill me."

"That is partially true. For some of us it's completely true."

"Do what you want, but don't hurt them."

"We wouldn't touch your family, unless they give us no choice. Edward is quite attached to you, but nonetheless, Aro is giving his best effort to avoid a war with his old friend."

"Don't -"

"All we want is you. I guarantee that they will stop trying to penetrate these walls after tomorrow."

"That's when you'll..." She gulped.

"It will be your third day here, and it will be of no consequence. You'll be dead."

Bella pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Why didn't you bite me when I was in my... Sleep?"

The boy stiffened, his shoulders to his ears. "Aro does not wish a promising guard to be damaged. He is taking every caution necessary."

A guard. Aro expected her to be one of them. He was intrigued when they met, asking her to stay, but she declined. She wanted nothing to do with the horror of making humans dinner.

"I won't be a guard."

"Aro saw everything in Edward's mind. You are a clumsy human. Here, you'll be well-protected. We'll offer you what they are refusing."

"Carlisle promised that he'd turn me when I graduated high school."

"Caius is not patient, he wants you dead, and Aro wants you alive - in a manner of speaking. This is the compromise."

It was not a compromise on her part. They wanted her and the powers that would somehow be useful for them. Edward said before that he was a collector of special abilities. He wanted her from the time that he met her and learned they couldn't touch her mind. He asked her to stay and she had refused.

"You'll have to kill me again, because I won't stay here," she told him defiantly.

He was un-fazed. "Miss Swan, do you have not one cell of self-preservation?"

She smiled, thinking back when Edward questioned that himself. "I won't kill humans."

Raising his chin, he assessed her carefully. "You are an odd one, but very well. Aro will grant you that. I'm sure."

"What?"

"You're a girl who holds much power here. Whatever you desire - your freedom aside - he'll grant you that, I'm sure."

She tested that theory. "I want to see Edward."

"Not until you are a vampire."

"You're going to kill me either way."

"But this way your Edward cannot prevent it. Not that he'd stand a chance. Regardless of their attempts at saving your human life, Aro strives for peace."

"Tell the innocent people."

He smiled endearingly at her. "I suspect you would like to clean up. Perhaps you would like food as well? It will be delivered soon." He pointed to a door across the room. "You may clean yourself in there."

Did she stink? Bella sat up, noting the pajamas that she had worn to bed at home. The over-sized sweatshirt of Forks High School, the familiar hole in the seam of the shoulder. There was her boxers, blue and white stripped. It wasn't the most flattering articles of clothing that she could have adorned for a trip to Italy in front of ancients. It would have been embarrassing if she wasn't infuriated with being kidnapped - not to mention fearful.

She moved her feet to the floor, but having slept too long, she was unsteady on her feet. That was an understatement considering that she couldn't feel her feet. A numbness had spread through them so complete she couldn't feel the sleepy tingle.

Before she could fall, the boy caught her, holding her up by her shoulders. Despite the frightening color of his eyes, they were kind, a softness around the edges that she thought would be impossible. The red should have been a warning to her, to stay away, but strangely enough, she felt safe. She couldn't pinpoint why, he wanted her dead like the rest of his coven.

"How do you not fear me?"

"How have you not killed me yet," she countered.

"Do you know my special power, Miss Swan? I can cut off every one of your senses leaving you helpless. It's because of that ability that I'm the single vampire you'll meet that cannot feel thirst. I feed because I must retain strength. None of my kills have been gluttonous. Your blood - as sweet as I hear it is, does nothing for me."

Curiously she wondered if he was stronger than Carlisle in regards to resisting. Alec was immune by nature while Carlisle had to work centuries. It made sense to her, that Alec would be the single unique vampire that had no desire for her blood.

There was one thing that she didn't understand. "Then why not hunt animals? Why people?"
Like she was lit on fire, he released her, taking a full step back. "Human blood gives us marginally more strength. Being a guard takes every strength you have and can obtain."

She was disappointed, but let it go. She was not going to become a meal that day, not at all by him, and most importantly, the Cullens were safe. While the beautiful boy could be lying, she had to believe he wasn't. She couldn't bear contemplating anything happening to them, it was too painful. Sweet Esme, bubbly Alice, strong Emmett, and... Edward.

Suddenly, her stomach growled stealing her attention away. She blushed; he smiled without humor.

"That's a sound of hunger, am I correct?"

She nodded.

"Thought so. My human skills are menial at best. The food will arrive soon. I trust you need no aid to attend to your toiletry needs?"

She blushed once more. He wasn't thinking of attending to her personally, was he? "No, thank you."

"That's fortunate. I don't trust you to anyone else, and it's not proper for me to aid a lady there."

"You could trust me to Alice Cullen."

"Aro appointed me your guard, Miss Swan. Not her. One of my duties is to make certain you stay put." He turned, and stalked to the door. He paused to inform her. "Speak my name and I will come. My name is Alec. And, Miss Swan? Welcome to Volterra."

The door snapped shut, and she fell back on her bed.

Bella was alone. Hungry, tired, scared and utterly alone. But for the first time, everyone she loved was safe from her presence.

She only hoped the Cullens stopped trying to rescue her before Aro decided to kill them.