Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Bella POV

"What did you call me down here for?" I asked, somewhat peeved. If they had called me down here only to scold me for not feeding…

"Manners, Miss Swan. Manners." He was smiling, but his tone was stringent. He would not take mouth from members of his castle. Especially ones beneath him.

"I apologize, master." I muttered, and then clenched my teeth. I mustn't speak out against him again. It would only make my existence more unbearable. I had always wondered if being a vampire was enjoyable outside of the city of Volterra; away from the looming presence of Aro and his Guard.

"I did not call you here to discuss your feeding habits – or lack thereof. I have a…proposition for you."

I looked from the spot on the concrete ground I had been concentrating on to Aro's primitive face. His eyes were alive with delight and he clapped his hands together once. He moved from his chair, making his way towards me.

Two members of his Guard, Alex and Renata, moved with him as though someone may attack him. He ignored them, standing before me in a few seconds. Slow, for vampire time.

"As you know, in order to fully take on the responsibility of Volturi royalty, you occasionally must interact with the humans of the city. You, however, are not…immune to human blood. Due to this significant detail, we are sending you to live with good friends of ours. The Cullen's. They will house you and gradually incorporate you into the human lifestyle. You see, Isabella, Carlisle Cullen and his family live amongst the humans as though they themselves were mortal!" His tone was excited, as though he had great respect for his 'friends'.

I stared at him in awe as he spoke of the things I would learn and the places I would go.

Not only would I be getting out of this city and going back to America – the country I had lived in before being changed – but I would also be around vampires who seemingly blended themselves in with the human population.

But it was only for a year. A year was like nothing in vampire time. Because we never died, a year was like a second on a clock. Then I would have to come back to Volterra where I would serve as Volturi royalty. Perhaps it would be better to not go to America at all. I would never want to come back.

"Your bags have been packed. Carlisle will arrive within a few hours so that you will be on the plane throughout the night. Of course, you will be placed in first class where no humans have been allowed to reside." Of course they could make something like that happen. They must have a vampire working for the airline. Hell, the Volturi probably owned the airline.

"Now go, Isabella. My brothers and I have many plans to discuss and tickets to purchase."

My legs moved on their own accord, my mind still shocked into torpor.

Had I not, just hours ago expressed my desire to leave this hell hole?

As I walked through the halls back towards my room, the realization that I was free came to me. I was free. I no longer had to stay inside a castle. I could hunt on my own; not have humans sent to me in an extremely degrading manner.

I could go out in the sun without Aro scolding me for the thought.

I was free!

I practically skipped back into my room, going straight to the window that I had taken solace in for the past year and a half. A large smile was plastered on my face as I yanked open the window, breathing in the fresh air. My room was clouded in shadow, so there was no fear of the sun hitting my skin, creating a spectacle out of me.

In a matter of hours, I would have the ability to allow the sun to warm my cold skin.

I spent the next matter of hours in my room, contemplating all the things that I would be able to do. A feeling of happiness was slowly ebbing its way to the surface of my body. A feeling that had been completely absent since my change.

The only thing keeping it from bubbling over was the impending notion that I would one day return to this wicked and malevolent castle. Possibly not being allowed to leave the castle at all. Yes, I would be able to interact with humans, but in all the times that I had been in Volterra, I had never once seen Aro or his brothers leave the castle, let alone go anywhere near a window.

Whenever there was trouble somewhere beyond the city walls, the Guard was sent out to either bring said fiend to the castle, or to be taken care of right then and there.

The closest Aro, Marcus, and Caius got to sun and fresh air was the main room where they resided. The ceiling was split and cracked in places that allowed small, dim streams of light to travel through. It was barely strong enough to warm the skin, let alone send it into shimmering sparkles.

I had always been told by Aro of the great things vampires could do. Of our immeasurable speed and strength. Our attraction to humans; the feel of our cold skin compared to their heated ones.

I had never been able to try out any of these things. Never had I run to the great extents my new body could take me. Never had I broken a tree without trying. I had never been around humans, except for when I was draining them, and their skin turns cold pretty quickly. I wanted to feel extreme heat compared to my cold fingers.

I wanted all of that. And now, I had my chance to get it. Even if for only a year.

After what seemed like days, Demetri came to fetch me, telling me that Carlisle had arrived to gather me and my dead heart fluttered in my chest at the reality of the situation. Everything I had been contemplating over for the afternoon was finally close enough to touch.

I strolled through the hallways at a walking speed that would make humans uncomfortable, and came upon the door once more.

I realized that I hadn't even thought to check that my luggage was in the room, but I couldn't care less at the moment. All I wanted was to leave this city…this country. This continent.

I opened the door, not even bothering to knock, and stole into the room.

"Ah, Isabella! This here is Carlisle Cullen!"

I looked to the man standing in front of Aro, who was looking back at me. He was attractive, that was for sure. His honey golden hair was neatly combed back on his head, his face kind and wise. He couldn't have been older than thirty.

The thing that caught me off guard, however, was his eye color. Unlike the red and burgundy colors I was used to, his were a hazel color. The color was mesmerizing and I was glad that the man spoke before my looking could turn into a rude stare.

"Hello, Isabella." His voice was soft and kind, the smile on his lips showing off an air of courtesy. I smiled back shyly and muttered a greeting similar to his.

"And this," Aro waved his hand towards a man standing beside Carlisle whom I had not noticed before, "is Edward."

As I looked over at Edward, my body froze. How I hadn't noticed him before was beyond me, but he looked like a Greek God. A Greek God angel who didn't look right in such a dreary castle.

The first thing I noticed on him was his eyes. They were the same peculiar shade as Carlisle's, except Edward's were brighter. Perhaps they only seemed that way because of the fantastic array of dark lashes that framed them. I looked away from his eyes quickly, feeling the beginnings of a blush sneaking up on my skin. Of course, I couldn't blush, but it was still an awful, embarrassed feeling.

Next, my gaze was brought to his jaw, squared and smooth in its pale loveliness. His nose seemed to be sculpted my Michael Angelo himself. It was perfectly straight and aristocratic in its stature.

His hair caught my attention next. It was bronze in color, almost the color of a penny with brown mixed in. It sat in extreme disorder atop his head, and I wondered briefly if he had been laying on a bed before arriving in Volterra.

Of course he was lying on a bed. Probably with his wife, because a man that looks like that is definitely not single.

I frowned at the direction my thoughts had taken, and looked back at his compelling eyes. I was taken aback at the fury that lay beneath them. It was as though he hated me. I looked away from him in confusion to the ground.

"Ah, you must be trying to read her mind, dear Edward?" Aro laughed then, a horrible sound.

"Good luck, my boy. She has a shield, and I have not been able to break through it yet."

"Yes, I have noticed." Edward muttered; his tone laced with frustration. His voice was velvety and my body involuntarily stopped breathing in order to hear the sound again.

"Edward can read minds, Isabella. Perhaps he can help you with your shield. There must be a way of removing it, yes?" he looked towards Carlisle as if he would know the answer. He was watching me with interest, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes, I am sure that there must be a way for her to remove it. Possibly…stretch it?" Aro clapped happily at Carlisle's words and I jumped, looking at him.

"Brilliant! If you don't mind, I would love for you to help her with her ability. A strong shield would definitely come in handy for us." I ignored his request to Carlisle. I was trying to put out of my mind the fact that I would eventually have to come back to the Volturi.

"Yes, I think that can be arranged."

"Great! We will be down to Washington to check on her progress within two months. Isabella, listen and learn from the Cullen's." I nodded, and Aro stole back to his chair, excusing us.

I could feel Edward's eyes on me and I turned towards him. His gaze was more of a glare as he watched me and I feared that he was angry that I was coming back with him, to live with his family. Did he think that I was bringing them into danger? I would try my hardest not to.

"Are you ready, Isabella?" I turned from Edward, and nodded to Carlisle, a smile growing on my face.

"Your bags are in our car. Is there anyone you'd like to say goodbye to?" I shook my head, a small laugh coming from my chest. It was humorous almost, his assumption that I had friends here.

"They don't like me much here." I provided for an answer. Carlisle smiled, shaking his head and led the way out of the castle, into the night air where a dark blue car was silently purring on the side of the road.

I slid into the back, Carlisle in the passenger side and Edward driving.

I gazed out the window as we drove to the airport, excitement building within my chest alongside a sliver of fear. Although I detested it, the castle was the only place I had been to after being changed.

It was like an unwanted home.

Sighing, I watched the buildings rush past my heavily tinted window, and with one last thought, we were out of the Vampire City.

Goodbye, Volterra.

Second chapter! I guess it's not that much longer than the first, lol. Oh well! Thank you for reading and to those who reviewed!