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Song for this chapter: Stricken by Disturbed

Planting the Seed

I was able to go to the festival, but not the way I had imagined. "I'm sorry Will," I spoke softly into the mouth piece of my phone as I started towards the exit of the palace with Felix and Dimitri flanking my sides. They were silent as I continued my conversation. "You'll just have to go with Gwen. My dad needs me to take care of some things."

"It's the festival though, babe." William pleaded over the phone.

I sighed, glaring at the wall. I handed the phone to Felix to hold as Dimitri put on a red cloak that would look more authentic out in the crowds. Under it was a pair of black pinstripe pants, a red camisole, and a matching black blazer that showed off my curves and cleavage. "I know it is. Family comes first though," I argued when Felix put on the speaker phone.

"What's more important than me? God! You're dad is such a dick!"

The two guards stiffened, and I glared at the phone. "This is important, more than yourself. Of course you wouldn't understand. So stop being selfish." There was silence for a while, and the phone lit up. He had hung up on me! I wore a calm façade, even though on the inside I was completely livid. "The fountain, correct?" I questioned the guard. They nodded, probably going to tell Aro what had just happened when I left. They always kept him in the loop about things like this.

I was about to go out the door, pausing. "Jane said I'd have to deal with one person." Dimitri and Felix looked at me in confusion. "Why is it I'm also doing this on Edward?"

"The Masters want to know how good you are as a human. Nothing more," explained Dimitri before both of them disappeared from my sight. I had mentally prepared for a human mind, not a fucking vampires. Pardon my language.

Raising the hood of my cloak, I started outside towards the festivities. People in red cloaks were all around, sing and dancing with complete joy in their eyes. I kept my head down, bumping into so few people. It was hard being as stealthy as a vampire, but I was stealthier than most humans. Most humans couldn't hear me enter a room, vampires on the other hand. They were a totally different story. If I were to sneak out, I'd have to plan it as flawless as possible. Someone always ended up finding out though. They hard part was bribing the person to not tell.

The fountain was slowly coming into view. Aro had given me the information that I needed for both targets. I just had to plant it firmly in their heads for everything to go as planned. That was either going to be the easiest or hardest part. "Excuse me," I said as I bumped into someone. A blonde haired teen said her apologies as well, and walked off with her hand in another man's. "Lovely couple," I said softly. How I wished William and I were like that.

I stood next to the fountain, scanning everywhere until I spotted Edward standing in the dark. I looked over at the huge clock on one of the towers. It was fifteen minute until twelve. The great thing about being a human in the Volturi, you were kind of like their daylight guard. I could go out and do some daily missions like spying and such and not be caught.

Casually I walked over to Edward, letting the coolness from the shadows come over me. I lowered my hood, leaning against the wall opposite of him. He just stared at me, confusion written all over his face. I had the song "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga in my head so he couldn't read my actual thoughts, and I saw anger in his eyes. I just smiled softly. "How are you Edward?"

"Why are you here?" he questioned back.

"As a witness you could say." I had expected that question. "So your death can come quicker. Isn't that what you want? A quick death?"

He said nothing, but I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was staring at me intently.

"I understand how you feel," she said softly to him. He looked up at me, more confusion. "You loved Bella with all your heart. Losing her must almost be maddening. No wonder you'd go to such a rash decision." Outrage was evident in his gaze. I had to stop myself from smirking. "Did you not think of your family before you came here? Carlisle? His mate? How do you think they would feel if they find out that their son asked for death, a suicide?"

"I can't live without her."

I waved him off with a dismissive gesture, turning to him fully. "You can. You're just too…oh what's the word…lazy to do so. You're one of those souls that take the easy way out." I examined my nails as I heard him punch the wall behind him. "Take Marcus for example," I continued without being fazed. I had been around vampires all my life so I was used to things like punching walls and such. "He lost his mate long ago, but he is still living. He's surviving and this was a woman he has loved since he was a human."

"I'm not lazy, and I'm not like Marcus," Edward hissed.

I finally looked up at him, meeting his darkened gaze. "Of course not. You're the most un-lazy vampire known on this entire earth," I remarked sarcastically. "I must have mistaken you for somebody else."

"And why are you with the Volturi? You're a human," he accused me.

I blinked, surprised to say the least. "Good work Edward, you're smarter than I was lead to believe." Bitchy, I know, but it distracted him didn't it? "Yes I am a human," I confessed before he could interrupt. I still had that song in my head so he really couldn't read my thoughts. "The reason that the Volturi are keeping me alive is because I have potential as a vampire. Something that you have as well, but always decline whenever there is an offer. Why is that?"

"I don't live their lifestyle and have a coven of my own that I belong to."

I glanced out at the festivities, seeing a girl with long brown hair search the crowd and looking straight at us. The clock struck twelve, the bells ringing throughout the palace. I glanced over at Edward who was taking off his shirt, and saw her running towards us with a shocked expression on her face. "And what if Bella was alive?" I inquired softly. My eyes roamed his body, but I kept my hormones in check. "Would you join the Volturi if she decided to join?"

"In a heartbeat," he whispered.

I smiled. "Perfect," I said while shoving him out into the sunlight. He stumbled, surprise that I would do that, and his skin sparkled. I walked off just as Bella shoved him back into the shade.

Once I was inside, I passed up my two favorite guards and smiled. "Easier than I thought," I grinned as they passed and I disappeared into the open elevator. Now it was just time for me to tell my fathers. All that was left was Bella, and then I'd be able to deal with my own issues.

The doors opened for me, my gaze meeting Jane's red eyes. I jumped, not thinking anyone would be on the other side. "Sorry Lianna," she apologized. We exchanged places, me outside in the hall and she in the elevator. I pushed the button for her, making my way towards the throne room after the door shut.

The guards to the room opened the door for me as I approached them, and I walked up to my three fathers. I bowed in respect as the door shut and it was me, them, and two other guards near the doors. Scratch that. Alec was in the shadows to my right. He smirked at me, most likely awaiting his sister.

"I presume that everything went as we wanted to?" grinned Aro at my expression.

I nodded. "I got the confession out of him. The only way that he is ever going to join the guard is if Bella joins."

"Bella is dead though," hissed Caius softly.

"Not likely," I smirked towards my father before the door opened behind me. Wow, right on cue! Not going to lie, that was pretty cool. I looked over my shoulder, seeing Edward, Bella (from the description that Aro had given me), and another one. She looked like a pixie, and stared at me in confusion. I walked out of the way and stood off to the side near Marcus' throne. He looked down at me with a sad smile, and I smiled back before gazing back at the trio.

"We send you for one and you come back with two…and a half," joked Alec. I hid my smile, watching as Bella's eyes focused on me. I raised an eyebrow, and she looked away quickly.

"Ah Bella!" exclaimed Aro as he stood up and walked towards them. I never got how he could be so happy. "Good to see you are alive. And Alice!" He laughed pleasantly. "It's almost like a family reunion." He took Edward's hand, reading his mind. I could only see Edward's expression, and he glanced in my direction with almost hate. He needed a push so I gave it to him. No harm done. If he wanted a death, I could sure help him to get it.

"I…I wonder," pondered Aro. I gazed over at Marcus who was looking between Edward an Bella with a pleasant smile. "It seems that you cannot read her thoughts, and…la tua cantante. Oh my what a special woman you are." I felt a pang of jealously in me, but brushed it aside. Emotions were almost meaningless if you asked me, and I hated them with a passion. "Bella," he extended his hand out to her. "May I? I just want to see if I cannot read you like Edward can't." She seemed hesitant, and I watched silently as she let him take her hand. He laughed, clapping his hands together as he did when I was a child. "What a remarkable little…quirk." He looked over at Jane, and I let a smile spread across my features. I was such a sadistic little girl, but not as bad as Jane. "I wonder if all our gift will have no affect on you. Jane…"

Jane grinned, turning to stare at Bella. "This may hurt a little."

Edward jumped in front of her, his mind taking the blow. He tensed up, Bella's scream piercing the air as the pain was driven into Edward's form. I had only experience that pain once, out of curiosity. It hurt like a bitch.

"No please!" begged Bella. "You're hurting him! Stop! Please!" Alec had to restrain her.

"Jane," said Aro quietly.

"Master," she responded as she ended the pain.

Aro, from what I could see, was staring at Bella, and blurred came to my vision. All the sudden Alice was pinned against Dimitri as Edward made his move towards Aro and Felix came into the equation. They started fighting faster than any vampires I had seen. Felix seemed to be winning though. He rammed him into a bench, breaking the precious stone. I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist and I was hulled against a wall as Edward was slammed into the spot that I had been standing in only moments before. Jane was the only that had gotten me out of the way and relaxed her grip on me as Edward was pulled into an upright position and his neck was within the hold of Felix's hands.

"No! No! Please!" Bella begged. She did some crazy hand movements that I thought were a bit odd, and Aro stopped Felix. Why didn't he just let him go on with it? "Kill me instead!" pleaded Bella.

"You would take the place of a soulless being?" Aro looked between the two.

"He'll have to die sooner or later Bella," I interjected. She stared at me, speechless.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"You'll have to die too," I said in a mere whisper. I knew she heard it though, the room echoed.

"No!" exclaimed Alice. All of us turned to stare at the other vampire. "She'll become one of us," Alice said to Aro. "You won't have to kill her. I've seen it happen. I'll change her myself if I must." She approached my father, taking off her red gloves and giving her hand to him. He read whatever was in her mind.

He laughed again. "Excellent!" He walked towards Bella, sniffing her. "Go now, Isabella," he said softly before withdrawing. "Felix, Dimitri," he gestured to the two guards. He then turned to me, smiling. "Why don't you escort them out as well, my dear? Then you may go to the festival."

"Mind you, Cullen," said Caius. "We will be checking up on you. There are no second chances." He then turned to me, in a lighter voice. "Have fun, Lianna."

I bowed. "Thank you Master," I murmured before following the group out the door. I walked next to the pixie one, Alice. She glanced at me, almost worriedly. I looked over at her, but said nothing. Felix nudged me in the ribs and I looked up at him. He made a kissy face and I wanted to punch him. "I'll surprise him, Felix."

"Of course you will," laughed the vampire as Heidi passed with a group of people that was going to be their dinner. "One way or the other."

"Har Har," I drawled as the screams of many came to my ears. Luckily we were in the front hallway so the screams were muted by the shutting of the doors. I turned to leave, stopping. I had almost forgotten. "We all know that Alice can't change you without killing you Bella," I smiled at her with my hand on the door. "Edward on the other hand," I sighed shaking my head. "Never mind. Your boyfriend was a coward for running away and he'll be just as much of a coward by not changing you," I laughed at the shock expression on all of their faces. Dimitri and Felix smirked, leaving the hallway to go feed. "Just remember, the guard will welcome any potential human. We'll give you more than what you little mind reader can give you any day." I could see Bella's mind working as she took in what I said. I handed her a card that I took out of my pocket. "Give us a call and we're a plane ride away. Good evening Cullen's. We'll all see you soon." I left with that, my work done.

{---Dark Harvest---}

After hours of searching, I finally found my boyfriend, just not how I thought I would. He has his arms all over Gwen, and they were awfully close for just being friends. William was a tall teenager, tanned, and had brown eyes that I just seemed to get lost in. He had is muscular arms all over Gwen, a blonde girl with blue eyes and an equal tan. Earlier in the day flashed in my head. It was Gwen who was holding the boys hand. I remember because her hair was styled the same way, and she was wearing the same red cloak. All I got a glimpse of was her hair and outfit since my hood was up. The exact same outfit, exact same hairstyle. I felt my heart slowly shatter into pieces, and dried up the tears that were threatening to spill.

I slowly backed away, taking out my phone and dialing his number. I watched as he seemed to groan and take out the phone. He took his hands away from Gwen and answered.

"Hey babe!"

"Hello honey," I said with a false laugh. How could he act like he was doing nothing at all? "I got off early so I was wondering if maybe we could meet by the fountain?" I started my way there as I talked, keeping my hood up.

"Sure!" he exclaimed with a little too much happiness. "Gwen and I will be there in a few."

"Perfect," I glared as I sat near the fountain.

I didn't take long for them to actually get over there, and I smiled at them as they approached. William took me in his arms, kissing me softly. I looked over at Gwen who seemed to have a glint of jealously in her eyes. "I'm so glad your dad let you off early. Now we can go to see the fireworks together!" I wanted to yell, to scream. Maybe I was overreacting? No. I wasn't. That was not how someone treated their girlfriend when they thought she wasn't looking.

I withdrew from him, keeping our hands linked, pretending everything was okay.. "Exactly what I was thinking."

As Will led me to the center where they would be setting off the firework, I glanced at Gwen who stood next to me. Her arms were crossed, lips in a pout, and eyes staring straight ahead. I couldn't wait until I was a vampire. She would be my first meal.

{---Dark Harvest---}

Bella laid in my arms as the rest of the family was told the tale of what had happened at the palace. All of them were stunned silent. There was so much going on, and now this had to strike up! Not to mention we have Victoria and a pack of mutts after us! Now we have the Volturi and this new girl, Lianna. How dare she call me a coward! I wasn't one. I just did what I had to do so that my one and only love would be protected.

"Carlisle what does this mean?" asked Esme in worry. She, along with the other women, were in their mate's arms.

I glanced over at Alice who gulped. I already knew what she was going to say. "I had a vision…" she said softly. "Of that girl." That intrigued everyone. "She's a major threat to us, especially you Edward."

"How?"

"I've been getting visions of her killing you or…" she seemed confused and so was I. "Her killing a little girl. I don't know who she is, but you and Bella were grieving. All of us were."

"That doesn't make sense," whispered Bella.

Indeed, it didn't at all.

Second update in one day! Woohoo!

-Cami