21. VEDICT

Aro, Caius, and Marcus are waiting for you, Jane thought. It was impossible to escape the malice in her mind. And I'll be waiting for them to finish. If they don't want the girl, I'll certainly have some fun. We could use a little sport around here.

I clamped my jaw closed. If I hadn't been determined to hold on to Bella I would have already been ripping her apart.

The building itself was non-threatening, but I'd been in here before. I'd seen enough of the Volturi to know that this place was about as safe as a toaster in the bathtub. The institutionally neutral colors of the walls and floor only served for practicality. No point decorating the hallway leading to the storm drain.

Bella appeared to relax a bit, grateful for the warmth that the building offered her. But she had to know the danger her. Even with her innate draw toward danger and yet complete obliviousness to it, she had to see that these vampires were hoping for the opportunity to kill her.

We were herded into the elevator and I listened as the closer we came to our destination, the more relaxed the guard became. It was as though they were being drawn in, relieved to put the human world behind them.

Stupid cloaks, I heard Felix grumble in his mind. They're such an unfortunate necessity. They do give a terrifying effect though. He looked over at Bella who was trying to slip in horrified peeks of her surroundings while simultaneously cringing in the corner. At least she wasn't rushing toward danger head on, though I was sorry for her fear. I continued to absently rub her arm in reassurance and kept my eyes focused on Jane. Alice could handle Felix and Demetri if anything got out of hand, but none of us would hold up long against Jane.

Gianna was waiting for us when we exited the elevator into the reception area. She greeted Jane, the obvious leader of our group, with practiced politeness. Jane acknowledged Gianna dismissively. I was a little surprised by the sight of a human, other than Bella, greeting a group of vampires without fear. The last time I was here I had been too consumed with grief to really notice the girl. She was pretty, but stupid. Blinded by the beauty that surrounded her here. A human amongst vampires. Like Bella.

Perhaps we had a chance.

I suppressed a snarl as Felix winked flirtatiously at Gianna, and the girl giggled in return. How could she know that when he winked he was thinking about what her blood would taste like? I could see the knowledge in his thoughts. Her time with the Volturi was almost up.

I fought against the urge to grab Bella and run when I heard Alec's impatient thoughts coming from the other room. Took her long enough. I had to admit, separately, the twins were formidable. Together they were undefeatable. It took every ounce of determination I had to continue with Bella into the next room. She followed at my side trustingly.

"Jane," Alec said in greeting. His smile was genuine, but no less sinister than his sister's. He extended his arms toward her.

"Alec," Jane replied, embracing him and kissing him on both cheeks in a flashy display of affection.

"They send you out for one and you come back with two…" -he looked down at Bella condescendingly- "and a half. Nice work."

Jane's responding laugh rang far too clear. It was almost menacing. Much like Jane herself.

Alec turned to me.

"Welcome back, Edward," he said. "You seem in a better mood." His voice was mocking.

"Marginally," I agreed. I wouldn't deny it. Bella was alive and by my side.

Alec laughed quietly, eyeing her.

"And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asked. A human? She's decent I suppose, but still…a human. And she smells so sweet. Perhaps he was just sorry he didn't get a taste himself.

I smiled without any humor. Powerful as he was, I couldn't see Alec knowing what I knew with Bella. It was so like these vampires to not understand. As organized as they were, there was a brutality here that would always keep them from love the way that I felt it. The way that my family felt it. In another circumstance I might have pitied him. But that was impossible right now. Let him think what he would, but Bella would go free.

I froze when I heard Felix's thoughts a second before he spoke.

Alec wants her. No way. I saw her first. "Dibs," he called. It was one thing when he was only toying with the desire, but now it looked like he was prepared to fight for the chance to-

I snarled. I wouldn't allow it. If he wanted a fight...

Felix motioned me forward with a smile.

No! I heard Alice behind me. "Patience," she said with a warning touch. I want her safe as much as you do, but two vampires against four of the Volturi guard? A fight is the last thing we need. I stared at her. I wanted to rip Felix apart, but she was right. I couldn't protect Bella against all four of them. Our best bet is to face Aro, Caius, and Marcus. My visions are getting more concrete and if we play this right, we might have a shot. I scanned her visions with her, wondering what had changed to make the future solidify. It was true. There was an image of Aro, smiling at Bella. I could only hope that it wasn't into reaction to ordering her death.

I took a breath, trying to calm myself.

"Aro will be pleased to see you again," Alec said, obviously trying to move things along.

"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane agreed.

I nodded.

They herded us again down another hallway, stopping half way down to pull aside a panel in the wall open the door behind it. Alice nodded her head reassuringly, sensing my panic when I saw where they were bringing us. Why would they want us here, if not to kill us? This room was specifically designed for the more morbid tasks of the vampire world.

Bella seemed to sense this as I led her in. She shivered slightly again and gazed around her with wide eyes, all the while clinging to me. I couldn't blame her for being afraid. If four unfriendly vampires hadn't been enough, she was now faced with almost a dozen. And they were all thirsty.

My eyes locked on Aro first, searching for some hint of what he intended to do with us. But his face was covered in that smiling mask he so often wore. He had even been smiling when I was first admitted the day before. Despite my obvious suffering he had remained eerily friendly, asking about Carlisle and his recent doings. It wasn't until I requested what I had come for that his smile had faded into a polite concern.

But I had seen Aro's thoughts and he had seen mine. We both knew that his friendly demeanor only rested on the surface and that underneath laid a determined ambition for power. I had suspicions that it ran far deeper than he let on.

I listened intently to his thoughts, but at the moment all I could find was delight.

"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" he cried, coming forward to kiss Jane lightly on the lips in a fatherly fashion. The rest of the guard drifted around him, eyeing Alice and me with wary expression. A few noticed Bella with mixtures of amusement and thirst.

Her eyes had grown wider as Aro grew closer. I noted with my own horror that at least some of hers appeared to have given way to curiosity. How typically Bella.

"Yes, Master," Jane responded with a similar smile to Aro's. But Jane's smile revealed more. It was the smile of a child on Christmas day, eager to break all of her new toys. "I brought him back alive, just as you wished."

"Ah, Jane. You are such a comfort to me." He scanned our little group pleasantly. "And Alice and Bella, too! This is a happy surprise! Wonderful!"

Bella froze as he addressed her, no doubt confused by the familiarity from this frightening stranger.

"Felix," Aro continued. "Be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes, Master," Felix said, sulking as he slipped away. If they take the human before I get back… I fought back a growl.

"You see, Edward?" Aro asked, turning to me. His thoughts were triumphant, and a little smug. "What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"

"Yes, Aro, I am," and for a fleeting moment I was absorbed in joy. I pulled Bella closer still.

"I love a happy ending. They are so rare." For a moment I caught a brief glimpse of Marcus in Aro's thoughts. But it wasn't the Marcus I saw before me. Not even the Marcus Carlisle had known. This was a happy Marcus, centuries younger.

Almost immediately the image was gone, as Aro distracted himself, shielding his memories.

"But I want the whole story," he continued. "How did this happen? Alice? Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."

"Oh I'm far from infallible," she responded, and then briefly lashed out at me with her mind. And you should know that! To go and risk your life because of my visions…ridiculous! She clenched her fists and fought the anger welling within her. Anger and guilt. It was with horror that I realized that she was taking responsibility for this entire situation. She was yelling at me so she wouldn't yell at herself. "As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them."

When this was over, we were going to have a talk. Perhaps even before I talked to Bella. This wasn't Alice's fault. How could she have known? Rosalie's lie had set everything into motion. All Alice had done was fly here to save me. Rosalie was the one to blame.

I stopped that thought before it had a chance to fully form. Getting angry at Rosalie was not going to help anything right now. That would come later.

I focused back on Aro. He was looking at Alice curiously, and I didn't know whether to be frightened or relieved. There was a tone of awe in his mind as he flashed through memories of her. My memories. Perhaps this respect he seemed to have gained for Alice could be used to our advantage. Would he being willing to let us go for her sake? I knew enough of Aro to be wary.

"You're too modest," he said. "I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!"

Suddenly the future began to solidify. I watched flashes of future conversations in her mind. Aro's intentions began to make themselves known. They were solidifying as he made a decision.

I don't understand. He wants us? What did you tell him? Alice flashed me a quick look. Aro noticed and smiled slightly.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend to get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not."

I turned back to Alice, hoping to somehow convey to her the danger that only I could see. I'd forgotten that she'd never met Aro before. The last time Carlisle had made contact with the Volturi was years before she and Jasper had joined us. All she knew were stories. She wasn't used to his powers.

I could hear the plan forming in Aro's head. They would be such additions! Us together. Past, present, and future. Nothing would be secret from me.

This was why he brought us back. It had nothing to do with betraying ourselves to humans. It was all about power.

"And also exponentially more powerful," I said, trying to make my words sound both meaningful and insignificant at the same time. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind had ever had."

So that's how he knows everything? And he wants to reach his abilities further with ours?

Thank goodness Alice understood. It was essential that we keep our minds on the same page.

I inclined my head in affirmation to her unspoken question. Aro noticed and understood everything implied in the gesture.

"But to be able to hear from a distance…" he said. "That would be so convenient." Aro seemed to have no interest in hiding his intentions.

Everyone turned expectantly as Felix entered with Caius and Marcus. The mood of the room changed and picked up pace. Before, we had been engaged in a casual banter, more filler than substance. Now that the three Volturi leaders were together, everyone in the room could sense that the real event was about to start.

Decisions were about to be made.

Aro was the only one who didn't seem to register the change, or if he did, he ignored it.

"Marcus, Caius, look!" he said. His voice had a slightly childlike enthusiasm to it. "Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her! Isn't that wonderful?" He turned to me. "Let us have the story."

Caius glared at Bella. He was obviously not pleased with the trouble she had caused.

Marcus looked uninterested. If I had been anyone else in the room I might not have known that he was even paying attention. But as it was, I could hear his mind puzzle over the connections he found between the three of us, most specifically Bella. We were bound more tightly that anything he had seen before. I was tied to her completely. And it wasn't only my love for her, but Alice's as well. He mulled over the question of how two separate vampires could love this one tiny human so completely.

And then on an entirely different level was the relationship that I wish he couldn't see. The relationship of vampire to human. He could see, even now, when my only thought was to keep from losing her, that there was more in me than just love. There was thirst. It wasn't this monster which confused Marcus, but the element of that dangerous relationship next to my love for her. He didn't comprehend how the love and the thirst could reconcile.

As he came to stand beside Aro he touched his palm briefly, asking him all his unspoken questions. I don't understand it, he thought.

I snorted quietly. I couldn't help but find some humor in it. Vampires, supposedly the epitome of our kind, and they were baffled by a human. Of course they wouldn't understand this. The human blood they lived on made it difficult for them to break from their animalistic side, but at the same time, they just didn't have the capacity to understand. They had made choices and in making them they had sacrificed the type of love I had found.

"Amazing," he said as Marcus drifted away to sit by Caius. "Absolutely amazing."

What's funny? Alice thought, looking annoyed. I hate being out of the loop.

"Marcus sees relationships," I explained quietly. "He's surprised by the intensity of ours."

Aro smiled and his thoughts drifted to images of me, him, and Alice, standing together in our dark robes.

"So convenient," he whispered to himself, and then to us: "It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you." He reflected on Marcus's thoughts. "It's just so difficult to understand, even now. How can you stand so close to her like that?" His thoughts drifted to my own memories of that first day in biology as her scent bombarded me and how I had almost killed a class room of children. Even as he spoke I felt the venom flow to my mouth, though the sickening feeling that accompanied our danger was foremost.

"It's not without effort," I said.

"But still- la tua cantante! What a waste!"

He would see it that way, wouldn't he? I chuckled, though there was nothing funny about this. How could I explain this to someone like Aro?

"I look at it more as a price," I reasoned.

Aro didn't believe me. "A very high price."

"Opportunity cost."

Though he laughed, he still didn't seem to believe me. "If I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift, and yet you…"

"Waste it," I finished. His blindness was beginning to annoy now. Even if he couldn't see it, why couldn't he accept that it was possible? For a moment the situation almost seemed…absurd.

Aro laughed again. "Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of him- only he was not so angry."

"Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well."

"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame."

Really, could Aro see nothing? His assumptions were ridiculous. In what way did I have more self-control than Carlisle? I wished he would get to the point already, instead of wasting time with this nonsense.

"Hardly."

"I am gratified by his success. Your memories of him are quite a gift for me, though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it…pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path he's chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd scoffed at his plan to find others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, I'm happy to be wrong."

If I said anything I might regret it so I kept my mouth shut. He was rambling now, taking forever to get to his point. I knew where he was going with this and it made me nervous. He envied me my abilities.

"But your restraint! I did not know such strength was possible. To inure yourself against such a siren call, no just once but again and again- if I had not felt it myself, I would not have believed. Just remembering how she appeals to you…it makes me thirsty."

I was immediately on guard. I could feel Bella's breath speed beside me. She was terrified.

"Don't be disturbed," Aro said, as much for her benefit as for mine. "I mean her no harm." I didn't believe that for a second. "But I am so curious, about one thing in particular." Her mind, he asked me with his own. Is it really silent to you? I suppose she would probably keep me out as well. "May I?"

"Ask her," I replied stonily. Not that her consent would matter to him. He was determined to hear her thoughts, doubting that she could really hold him out. His power had never been challenged in all of the centuries he'd lived through.

"Of course, how rude of me! Bella," he turned to her with a kind expression. "I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent- so very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was wondering, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try- to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"

Bella looked up at me questioningly. She looked about ready to pass out in fear. I started to worry, knowing her tendency toward faintness. I nodded. We didn't have much of a choice.

I listened as Alice scanned for any possible danger. She didn't foresee anything, and Aro's thoughts seemed innocent enough. Even intrigued. I probably should have been glad, but his interest felt wrong. There had to be more here.

Bella shook as she raised one hand up, forcing Aro to come to her, and clutched me tightly with the other. I briefly wondered if she would be able to stand on her own.

Aro came forward confidently and grabbed her hand with his own. Aro opened his mind, listening for her thoughts. I listened intently, admittedly a little curious to see if her thoughts might finally be known to me. I was both disappointed and relieved when all I heard was Aro's frustrated silence.

He held on a little longer than necessary, cataloging his thoughts. Shock, insecurity, awe, and finally anger as he hid behind a polite, friendly smile.

"So very interesting." His voice had a slight note of bitterness as he stepped away.

It felt good to see him put in his place. It was a mystery to me what made him think that he was an exception to the rule, but I obviously put more faith in Bella than he did. She was more powerful than he thought. Foiled by one of the humans that he saw as so far below him.

His bitterness should have warned me. I saw his thoughts, just a second before he spoke them. They were surprisingly petty.

"A first," he said. "I wonder if she is immune to our other talents…. Jane, dear?"

"No!" I snarled. No, no, no. Jane would not get near her. I would kill her before she even knew I was coming. I felt Alice grab my arm to hold me back, and I shook myself loose. They would not experiment with Bella. Not like this.

Jane's thoughts were ecstatic at the prospect. "Yes, Master?"

Snarls ripped through me as I glared furiously at Aro. The entire guard was on edge, poised for a fight which seemed inevitable now. Felix exulted and moved forward in preparation. Aro gave him a warning glance and turned to Jane.

"I was wondering, my dear one," he said lightly as though nothing had changed. "If Bella is immune to you."

I moved in front of Bella protectively, trying to keep her out of the way. The best I could hope for was to give her a chance to run. My control was slipping away by the second. Any moment I was going to lose it.

Jane smiled innocently at me.

"Don't!" Alice cried. I watched myself through her eyes as I lunged at Jane.

The pain hit almost instantly. I lost all sense of where I was. My muscles clamped down and I twisted and writhed, not quite sure which direction was the floor. I hadn't felt physical pain like this in a century. I compared it to the burn of my transformation. Every piece of me was on fire, saturated through to the bone. And no matter what I did, nothing would ease it. I struggled to find myself again but I couldn't feel anything outside of the burning. And worse was the inability to do anything. I had left Bella in danger and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I bit down on my tongue to keep from shouting out. I had to be strong, for Bella. Somewhere far away I could hear her screaming. I wanted to reach out and hold her and make her feel safe, but it was taking all of my effort to keep from screaming out in pain.

It stopped as suddenly as it had started. I lay on the floor trying to pull back the pieces of myself. There was no trace of the feeling left anywhere except my memories, but that alone was enough to make me want to cringe. But I lay, unable to move, on the stone floor and began to gather my wits as quickly as I could.

As Alice reassured Bella, I could hear Jane's mind as she shifted her focus and began to project pain at Bella.

I sprung to my feet immediately and turned in horror, terrified of what I would see. She was so fragile that I couldn't imagine pain like that not leaving a permanent mark on her. I would never forgive myself.

Our eyes met, and I was relieved, so relieved, to see that Bella's face looked sick with worry and nothing else. She stared at me intently, searching, like she was trying to find answers in my face. She was completely unaware that she should have been screaming in pain. Her only worry was me.

I looked at Jane quickly to be sure that she was, indeed, exerting the force that she appeared to be in her mind. I was thrilled to see her face now locked in anger. Her thoughts fumed. I nearly laughed in relief. Bella was immune. She would never have to know the feeling that had just left me incapacitated on the floor.

I looked back at Bella. She seemed to finally be catching on to what was happening. Her eyes opened wide and she stared at Jane in fear before cringing back, not immediately understanding the situation. It took a moment or two for her terror to change into bewilderment.

I sped to her side and took her from Alice's arms to mine.

Aro seemed pleased.

"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed in delight. "This is wonderful!"

It was such a different reaction than the one I was expecting. He had had so much suppressed anger when Bella had evaded his own gift. Now he was excited that she had evaded another? I searched his thoughts. He was awed by her in the same way that he had been awed by Alice. But before I had a chance to examine closer his focus shifted to Jane who was glaring at Bella as though she hoped her eyes could do what her talent could not.

"Don't be put out, dear one," he said. "She confounds us all." He turned to me with another laugh. "You're very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. I asked Jane to do that to me once- just out of curiosity." He shook his head. He was sickening, the way he used that pain with such abandon. "So what do we do with you now?"

I felt Alice stiffen beside me. We both scanned the future, searching for a way out of the sickening 'either-or' that was about to be presented.

"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind? Your talent would be and excellent addition to our little company." He sounded hopeful, if a little resigned. I can be patient, he thought.

I phrased my words carefully. "I'd…rather…not." That seemed to sound mild enough, considering.

"Alice?" Aro sounded a little more eager now. He'd already had a refusal from me the day before, but with Alice there was a world of opportunity.

"No, thank you," she said.

He didn't seem too hurt by her refusal. I was surprised when he turned to Bella next.

"And you, Bella?"

I hissed, angry at myself as well as Aro. How could I have missed this? His interest in her mind was all a power play. He was testing her powers. This was the thought that had been hovering on the periphery, just managing to escape me. This was as much about Bella as anyone else.

She stared in shock.

I heard several angry thoughts all at once. Nearly half the guard, particularly Felix and Jane, seemed opposed to the idea of the human joining. The other half stared indifferently.

Caius spoke on behalf of the resentful ones in the room.

"What?" he asked in shock.

"Caius, surely you see the potential." Aro looked at him as one might look at a stubborn child. "I haven't seen a prospective talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?"

I wasn't the only one seething over the way he said 'one of us.' Jane appeared to be just as angry.

I began to growl. This may turn into a fight after all. The only chance of survival was to back Aro into a corner with his own rules, and even then…. It was getting difficult to think as the fury struggled to take over.

For the first time since before we had arrived I hear Bella speak up, quiet and trembling as her voice was.

"No, thank you," she said, obviously struggling to even get the words out. Her bravery gave me my own strength, and the angry fog cleared a bit. Enough for something in me to start piecing together the plan that had already been forming in my mind. It was a last ditch effort, no doubt, but we didn't have much of a choice.

"That's unfortunate," Aro said, sounding truly disappointed this time. His mind was regretful. I would have to act fast.

"Join or die, is that it?" I spat at him. "I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws."

"Of course not," Aro said with a surprised innocence that I didn't quite believe. "We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you."

His mind made an attempt to corroborate his story that only partially succeeded. And whatever doubt I found in his mind was only further supported by the frustration in Caius's.

"Aro," Caius hissed. "The law claims them."

"How so?" I challenged. We had done nothing. Aro, Caius, and Marcus all knew this. He could accuse us of law breaking all he wanted but he needed proof to support it, and there wasn't any. Were they willing to lie to get what they wanted? With the entire guard to witness? If I was going to succeed into trapping them with their words, my own abilities were not much of a help. This was one conversation that would have to be spoken aloud.

"She knows too much." He pointed at Bella while continuing to glare at me. "You have exposed our secrets."

"There are a few humans in on you charade here, as well," I pointed out.

I listened intently as Caius decided to switch tactics. He smiled, knowing that I couldn't refute what was to come.

"Yes," he said with a leer. "But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy her? I think not."

"I wouldn't-" Bella began to say, but one look from Caius and she broke off and clutched at me, frightened. How dare she interrupt, he thought. I scowled.

He continued as though she hadn't spoken. "Nor do you intend to make her one of us. Therefore, she is a vulnerability." His smile widened, taking on an aspect of Aro's casual tone. "Though it is true, for this, only her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish."

I bared my teeth in response. Obviously, I wasn't about to leave without her. He had seen me yesterday. He knew as well as I did that life without Bella was not an option.

"That's what I thought," Caius said.

"Unless…," Aro added, attempting to diffuse the hostility. He did not want Bella dead. It was unfortunate, but he appeared to be my strongest ally at this point. "Unless you do intend to give her immortality?"

"And if I do?"

Aro liked this idea. "Why, then you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle. But I'm afraid you would have to mean it." He held out his hand.

He'd never change her. It's to much to ask of him, Caius thought gladly. The stupid boy seems to like her human for some reason.

I stared at Bella intently, imagining her as a vampire. Her chocolate brown eyes replaced by fierce red ones and her skin, even paler than it was now, without its rosy blush. The sound of her racing heart beat loudly in my ear, deafening me. I tried to make myself believe that I wanted it, that I meant it. Could I really do that to her? Another act of unspeakable selfishness on my part to keep her alive, so to speak?

I would have died before I let them touch her, but part of me knew that I didn't stand a chance. No matter what I did, they could, and would, kill her. My options were limited. Let her die, or make her a vampire. This was not the 'either-or' I had expected. I hadn't prepared myself for this.

Bella stared back at me anxiously.

"Mean it," she begged me. "Please."

She sounded so scared and looked like she might fall apart any moment. She didn't want to die. Not like this. She deserved to live until she was old. Then, one day, she would fade away peacefully in her sleep. But today she would live.

I focused and let myself give in to the selfishness that I had kept locked away for so long. The side of me that wanted only her, in every way. I let myself picture her with me, forever. I saw myself kissing her without restraint, in a way that I had never allowed myself before. I imagined her beside me and we ran through the forest together, equal. I would no longer have to struggle against my burning thirst when I held her. I would hold her to me forever.

I wanted all this so badly. Could I be selfish, for her?

Alice, silent throughout, now moved forward toward Aro. Allow me, she thought. You have enough to worry about. Besides, even if you're not willing to change her, I am.

Aro moved toward her and took her hand eagerly. He bowed his head, and I listened intently to his mind.

It was a strange feeling, hearing everything Alice had ever thought. It moved so quickly that most of it wasn't actual reflection in the moment. It was more of a general knowledge, as though they were my own memories. All of a sudden, I simply remembered. I remembered meeting Jasper in the dinner, and then later Carlisle and his family at his home. I remembered bounding down the stairs to meet Bella for the first time, and I could remember leaving her without a goodbye. Possibly the worst moment was when I remembered returning, unedited. There was so much pain Alice had hidden from me, in everyone. I had left everything behind me in shambles.

Now was not the time for this. I would have forever to hate myself for what I had done. I didn't allow myself to dwell and instead shifted to other, less painful memories.

The strangest thing was that for most of these events there were two sets of memories. One of the actual event and then another as a vision of the event. And for every vision there were other visions that had never come to be.

I had so many memories that I didn't know what to do with them. Some thoughts were even duplicates of my own memory as I had listened to her thoughts at the time.

The most important image was a vision that had been replayed in my mind again and again. It was the image of Bella, vampire red eyes and a cold beauty to her, with her arm around Alice's waist. The vision that had haunted me for over a year, and that I had tried so desperately to change. And now, more than even, it was a certainty. Infallible.

Aro began to laugh. "That was fascinating!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," she replied.

"To see the things you've seen- especially the ones that haven't happened yet!"

"But that will," she reaffirmed.

"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."

Aro seemed to be the only one of the Volturi who- with the exception of Marcus who didn't seem to care if we lived, died, or decided to stage a coup- felt this way, but that was enough. Like reaching the light at the end of a dark tunnel, I could finally see the future start to solidify and place us away from here.

"Aro," Caius complained, sounding a little like a whiney child.

"Dear Caius," Aro replied. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy young Alice will bring to our little household…Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!"

Bella was sinking into my side more and more. I didn't know how much longer she might last before she gave way to terror and exhaustion. Now that our fates had been decided, I was eager to leave. We could work out the vampire transformation business later. Right now, the most important thing was taking care of Bella and getting her home.

"Then are we free to go now?" I asked, trying to move things along.

"Yes, yes. But please visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling!"

"And we will visit you as well," Caius added, his threat clear. "To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would no delay too long. We do not offer second chances." I will kill her next time, he thought.

I nodded curtly.

In his mind, Felix was whining about his thirst, disappointed that he wouldn't be allowed a taste of Bella. He groaned out loud.

"Ah, Felix," Aro said. "Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience."

"Hmm," I mumbled, worried now. Bella couldn't be anywhere near that. It was a side of our world that I never wanted her to see, and I could see through the thirsty images in several of the guard's minds that the Volturi were particularly brutal when they fed. I didn't know how she would react if she found out what type of room she had actually been brought to. "In that case, perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than later."

"Yes," Aro agreed. "That's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you don't mind."

"Of course," I said.

"And here." Aro gestured for Felix to come forward. He took the robe from Felix's shoulders and tossed it to me. "Take this. You're a little conspicuous."

It was an awkward thing to wear, but I put it on anyways. The protection it provided might make it a little easier for Bella when I held her. She hadn't stopped shaking the entire time we'd been in this room.

Aro's thoughts were wistful as he looked at me in the cloak.

"It suits you," he said.

I was laughing quietly when I heard the elevator doors open. I immediately stopped. The large crowd of beating hearts was making the mind of every vampire in the room scream out in thirst. It was time to leave.

"Thank you, Aro," I said quickly. "We'll wait below."

"Goodbye, young friends," Aro said in farewell.

I was tempted to pick Bella up and make a run for it, but that would not only startle the crowd of humans as we passed and further annoy the Volturi, but it would also give Bella an unnecessary scare, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid. So the best I could do was to hurry her along myself.

"Let's go," I said impatiently.

Demetri motioned for us to follow him, and I dragged Bella toward the door.

"Not fast enough," Alice said as she followed. I saw the vision of a large group of humans and Bella's shocked face. I tried to move faster still, but they had already begun to come through the small door, and we were going to have to wait until they had all passed through. We were forced to move back to give them room to enter and face their deaths. It wasn't long before they would begin to hunt, and we needed to be gone before that happened.

Bella was looking around with wide eyes. I acted just a moment to late. Realization dawned on her face as I pulled it into my chest to shield her from the sight of all these humans, rounded up like farm animals.

I found a break in the flow of people and pulled her through the door.

I would have continued at a run, but Demetri stopped in the hallway to talk to the newly arrived member of the guard.

"Welcome home, Heidi," he said. She smiled back, not really paying attention. She was thirsty too, and eager to get inside. And also vaguely curious by my presence here with Bella.

"Demetri," she replied with a nod.

"Nice fishing," Demetri complimented.

I could feel Bella's shaking worsen in my arms the longer we waited. I know he didn't care, but we needed to leave.

"Thanks," said Heidi. "Aren't you coming?"

"In a minute. Save a few for me."

She nodded, and continued through the doorway after the last of the humans.

I tried to get Bella out of earshot before they started to hunt, but I wasn't quick enough. The screams followed us down the hallway as we scrambled through the door into the reception room.