Danger

Edward stepped forward, more relaxed, his hand on his phone. He paused in concentration. I breathed relief, so, he wasn't going to hurt me. How could I have ever thought that? My room was dark, one lamp throwing shadows all over the place. Edward's phone continued to ring.

"Edward, what-" he cut me off. "Shh…I'm reading a mind."

"Oh," I whispered, pursing my lips.

"Bella, you should go clean off your cut."

I hobbled off to the bathroom, throwing my foot into the sink watching red streaks cover the white porcelain. I reached over, and the door swung closed. Edward immediately began talking. I could hardly hear him; hardly making sense of what he was saying. He voice sounded defensive though. Nervous, I turned on the tap, drowning out the sound of what ever was going on. My fate? I shuttered, shaking too much to open the band-aid that I was holding. The blood made my head whirl. I turned off the tap, dried my foot, and listened to Edward. He was whisper-yelling, making me uneasy. He stopped talking suddenly, slamming his phone down on something. I assumed it was my nightstand, and I assumed that it now had a cell-phone shaped imprint. I emerged from the bathroom, Edward composed himself. He looked tortured.

He was keeping something from me. Something big. The look on his face sent nausea through me, and I sat on the corner of my bed. Angst slithered through me, my heart sharp under my ribs.

"Edward, what the heck is going on!?" I cried, contorting my face.

"Bella, sit down," he pulled me to his lap, his icy hands colder than usual.

I turned to face him, his face unsure, red…scared. "Edward," my voice waivering, "Edward, who called," I tried again.

He took a shallow breath, his eyed firmly locked to mine, his arms around me securely. Eyebrows nit together, lips in a frown, his opened his mouth.

"The Volturi."

The Visit, the plan

A noise came from my lips and tears dripped from my eyes like acid rain. He stood up, cradling me as I trembled.

"What will we do?" I sobbed, my chest heaving.

"We're going to my house, the Volturi are waiting," he gulped, his eyes pained.

I trembled and he cradled me in his arms, jumped from my window, and took off running. The, er, ride there was terrible. I shook uncontrollably in his arms, attempting to breathe. His doorsteps looked worried for me as Edward floated up them. He shoved the door open, whispering, "I'll always protect you, Bella," lightly in my ear. I trusted him more than I though. He laid my feet on the ground, and I looked into the face of a frightening and familiar face. Jane. Relief rolled over me as I realized it was just her. I sighed, knowing I could handle this visit. Kind of.

"Bella, Edward," Jane motioned for us to step closer. We did.

The Cullens looked calm, they were used to stressful situations. Jane held Alice's phone in one hand. Jane opened her mouth again, "Bella, I see you are still human," she glared, straight to the point.

I gasped, "Yes, I am." I edged toward the couch, looking for any surface that I could sit on. I was faint. As usual.

"The Volturi are being patient with you. You had instructions to be a vampire before we visited again. And here we are!" She sneered, her eyes black. I felt sick.

"Your only other choice was to be dead!" She emphasized the word dead, and I lowered myself into the sitting position on the arm of the couch before I collapsed. Edward, grabbed my hand and looked furiously at Carlisle.

"Jane, you can trust that she will not tell our secret and she will be vampire in due time. But for now, can't we put everything on hold? You can trust us to do the right thing," Carlisle said, convincingly. Esme, Alice, Rosalie, Emmet and Jasper didn't say anything. They knew it could be used against them.

Jane creased her forehead, "Aro has sent me with a specific task. It's vampire or death, Bella."

I thought to myself, but, which is which? "Vampire." I stated, simply. Edward looked uneasy, but less tense. Jane paced toward me, my jaw dropped, my head spinning. I had no idea what to expect. I looked at Edward. He was clearly trying to read her mind, think of her descisions, but suddenly he fell to his knees, gripping his head in agony.

Esme spoke up, "Jane, Stop that!" Jane stopped, Edward breathing erratically. I remembered about Jane's power to inflict pain on anyone. Anyone but me. Edward stood up, his eyes black like night, and he stood between Jane and I. His eyes said everything for him. He didn't have to say a word for Jane to know that he meant business. Nobody messed with his Isabella Swan.

His arms were ice. Cold and hard as they warped to clasp me to his chest. His feet were flying under him and we were running.