Yes, it's here, the triquel to 'Don't Go Into The Woods Alone'! and 'It's Better To Avoid The Woods Completely'! Take that as advice, by the way. Reading is completely necessary or this will make no sense. Trust me!

I have had to make some of the Volturi's powers up. And they may seem out of character. There are two of them I wanted to make Bella feel more comfortable, but we saw little enough of the Volturi to use their characters to our advantage. Grin. And I love Alec; he's wicked. So is Felix.

I don't own Twilight or New Moon. I do, however, own Don't Go Into The Woods Alone, and It's Better To Avoid The Woods Completely, so go me! I own something! And the Volturi aren't mine, either. I kinda killed everyone that was mine, though…oops…

Chapter 1

Stepping off the plane, I tugged on the bottom of my dress, suddenly wishing I hadn't worn such a short one. Aro noticed my unease, eyes flickering towards me, and frowned. "If you wish to change, please do so quickly, Isabella." I nodded, walking into the first bathroom I could find in the terminal.

Changing into the spare clothes Alice had packed for me, I found a pair of black trousers. Sliding them on, they settled low on my hips, hugging my body tightly. Slipping off my dress, I slid on a black tank top, with a black rose imprinted on the front. Leaving on the same shoes, I stepped out of the cubicle, glowering at my reflection.

Perfection faced me, golden eyes glaring back at me, a stunning face famed by straight brown locks, layered by my own hand. Still perfect. I stared at my necklace, bloodstone on a black pendent, given to me by Renee so long ago, and tugged my shirt down to cover the strip of bared skin just showing above my trousers.

Tracing my ring briefly, I ran a hand through my hair, parted to a side, wiping the smudged make-up from my face. Inhaling, I left the bathroom, bag at my side, to find Felix and Demetri had gotten all my bags.

A woman stood with them, though, she was too perfect to be considered real. She smiled radiantly at Demetri, before her gaze snapped to meet mine. Her eyes were violet, obviously the result of contact lenses. Her hair was long, glossy, a mahogany brown, the same shade as mine. Absolutely beautiful, same level of beauty as Rosalie, except they didn't resemble each other in the slightest.

Stepping forward, I glanced at Aro. He nodded at the beautiful vampire in front of me, and she smiled at me, her eyes almost sparkling. "Hello, Isabella, and welcome…to Volterra." Holding a hand out, she waited expectantly as I stretched forward a shaking hand. "I'm Heidi."

It wasn't hard to return the smile; she reminded me of Rosalie. "I prefer Bella, actually." I corrected her softly, and she nodded, gaze flickering to Aro. Understanding, I let go of her hand, glancing at the ground. "But, tragically, not all people like to call me Bella."

Heidi sent a pointed look to Aro, and he nodded. "Bella it is, then, if it'll make you feel more at home." She smiled at me triumphantly, and started to lead us out of the airport to a shiny black car.

I slid in beside Demetri and Heidi, while Felix drove, and Aro sat beside him in the passenger seat. Staring out the window, I watched the ancient city pass me by with unease, my stomach flipping over inside. I had never been overseas before…and now I was moving away.

It was strange how nice they were being, how Heidi instantly accepted me…Demetri had told me the others were nice. Then again, maybe the others weren't. Felix certainly had taken a disliking to me. Aro seemed to be attempting to make it all easier for me, while Demetri was very easy going. Unlike Felix.

The car eventually stopped, and we stepped out of the car. The boys, minus Aro, grabbed my bags, while I stared in awe at the Volturi castle. My new home. I must have stopped breathing, because Heidi laughed; the sound was like tingling musical notes. "It's a good thing you're not human. Or you'd have passed out by now." Her gentle tease woke me from my trance, and I nodded.

Trailing behind her into the lobby, I marvelled at the surroundings. Modern, amazing, until we reached a set of doors. Then the castle became like a castle, stone floors, everything you'd expect from a castle of the Middle Ages.

I stepped into a room, followed by the vampires I'd travelled with, and froze. There stood the strangest variety of vampires I had ever seen, and yet, they were all breathtaking. In different ways. I looked at Aro with a raised eyebrow, silently asking for an explanation.

Aro cleared his throat. "Bella, I'd like you to meet my family." He began to point them out in turn. "This is Jane, she can cause any vampire to writhe in pain with a single glare." I looked at her, wondering if it would work on me. She was very petite, smaller than me, with pale brown hair trimmed short. It was her face that convinced me she was female, with wide eyes, full lips, and a penetrating crimson gaze.

Jane stepped forward, offering me a mysterious look before holding out her hand. Expecting her grip to be very frail, I took her hand gently, but was shocked to find her grip was strong. She sighed, stepping back without speaking to me, and I frowned.

"This is Jane's brother, Alec…though I don't know if I can describe his power accurately." I looked at the boy standing beside Jane. He was nearly identical to her, but his hair was darker, and his lips weren't as full.

He smiled at me, and I found myself not at all nervous of him, as I had been with his sister. Offering my hand, he took it, shaking it slightly. "I don't know if I can describe my own power correctly, but…I hear you're like me, in a way. Your power has no limits." He smiled. "To put it incredibly simply, what I want, I can have. It's a gift…and a burden. I still haven't completely tamed it, so I don't suggest you attempt to control it yet, either."

I nodded, wetting my lips. "You all know my power, then?" Alec nodded, and I stepped back, biting my bottom lip softly. Inhaling, I fought for the right words. "And…you're not at all…disturbed that I use the powers of other vampires?" Aro shook his head.

"Let's discuss that later; there will be rules. Bella, you already know Heidi…she is like Rosalie, in effect. She can use her appearance to draw people to her. Felix and Demetri are strong, like Emmett." Felix's gaze darkened at the mention of my bear-like older brother, and I winced. "And these are my brothers, Marcus, and Caius." Aro didn't add their powers, though I waited for an explanation.

Caius had the same skin as Aro, almost translucent. His hair reached his shoulders in tresses of white, shockingly the same shade as his skin. He blinked at me. "You are Isabella Swan, the one Aro informed us about." I nodded, unable to tear my gaze from his. "You have an aversion to our natural food source, also. No matter, it will soon fade." I frowned as he continued. "My power is persuasion, I can persuade anyone to do anything. Including throw themselves off a bridge. Another power I recommend you don't attempt." I nodded, shocked when he held out a hand. I shook his anyway, surprised by the texture of his coarse skin.

I turned to the male vampire who must be Marcus. He looked startlingly like Aro, with the same black hair, contrast to his pale skin. He nodded at me, his red eyes following my every movement, as I held a shaking hand out. He took it, and in that moment, I used Aro's power. I saw everything Marcus had gone through, what he used to be until he had lost his mate, and how he saw relationships. Letting go, I gasped.

Marcus eyes snapped to meet Aro's, and I stepped back, bumping into Demetri. Murmuring an apology, I glanced around, my gaze flickering to each vampire in turn. If Alec was the reason the Volturi were so powerful, and I could use his power…what did that mean for me?

A knock on the door made me turn, and my eyes widened. A human stood there, exceptionally pretty for a human, with dark skin, and green eyes. She smiled at me, and looked at Aro, as if waiting for instructions. Aro seemed taken aback at first, but then remembered what she was there for, and nodded.

"Isabella, if you'll come with me, I'll show you to your room…" I went to pick up my suitcases, but Heidi grabbed one, and Demetri grabbed the other. Following the human, I couldn't help but smell her blood. Shaking my head, I used Carlisle's power, and resisted. She finally stopped, turning to face me as she held out a key. "Here you go. If there are any problems, please don't hesitate to contact me. My name is Gianna, and I'll be the one to reach if you have any queries, or problems." She sounded like an air hostess, but I nodded politely.

Opening the door, I audibly gasped. The room was exactly like the one I had at the Cullens. I didn't know how Aro had organized it, but the décor was exactly identical. From the couch and cushions, to the closet and mirrors, and the computer. The stereo stood beside my closet, as it had at home, and the shelf near the stereo, with the few books I adored to read.

I turned as Heidi and Demetri came in, and was embarrassed that my voice caught as I spoke. "I…I don't know…thank you, to whoever did this, please…tell them I love it…as close to home as I can be." That wasn't entirely true, but it sounded better than what I wanted to say. That I wanted home, not a model of it.

Demetri nodded. "I'll make sure Aro knows." He turned and left, while Heidi lingered near the door. I took in her clothes. Black tights, under a brown dress, extremely flattering. Her hair was brushed free, curling gently where it fell. Alice would approve.

She hesitated. "Bella, if there's anything…call for it. I know how hard it is at first…but it'll get easier. Trust me. You'll feel at home enough to start provoking Felix soon enough." She smiled, and left.

Turning, I opened my suitcases, finding the photos I had hung up in my old room. Raising an eyebrow, I hung the large one above the couch, and sat the smaller one on the desk, beside the computer.

A phone was sitting on the desk, too. Along with a brief note. Call them whenever you like, the cost doesn't matter. I didn't know who had written it, only that I would certainly take that person up on the offer.

Dialling the familiar number, I stopped breathing as someone picked up. "Cullen residence, Carlisle speaking." I wanted to cry as I head his voice, wondering what time it was there, but made myself speak.

"Hey Carlisle, it's Bella. I, uh, not to be rude…you know you mean a lot to me, but…" I didn't know how to ask for him to pass the phone to Edward without offending him. I needn't have worried.

Carlisle laughed. "Don't worry, Bella. He's worse than you are, hand held out, glaring at me. Good luck, Bella, and one day I wont give him the phone, so I can hear all about life there. Take care." I heard the phone being passed, and then his voice.

"Bella?" It was enough to make me break into sobs, just hearing his velvet voice. I heard a sharp intake of breath, and then the concern edging his voice. "Bella, love, what's wrong? What have they done? I swear to God, I'll…"

I ceased my sobbing, interrupting him. "No, Edward, it's okay. They've been so nice to me, Heidi and Demetri especially. I mean, well Felix and Jane don't particularly like me much, and I think Alec wants to be friends…I just miss you…God, I do, I miss you. And it hasn't even been a full day yet. How pathetic is that?" I managed a laugh, and pictured him, holding the phone to his ear, anguish written on his perfect face.

He sighed. "If that's pathetic in your opinion, then I'm guilty as charged." He paused, obviously hearing something, and laughed softly. "Emmett asked if you want him to come over there and do what he does best to Felix. Though, his language was a bit more colourful."

I laughed, holding the phone tighter, feeling like a little schoolgirl with a crush. "Tell him thanks, but I got it. I can use his strength, remember?" Edward relayed the message, and I heard a roar of laughter from Emmett. Smiling, I told Edward about my room, and went into more depth about my welcome. Three hours later, I realized how long it had been. "Uh, Edward, I don't want to…but I have to go." I quickly gave him my number, dreading another goodbye.

"Be safe, Bella. I love you." His voice was strained with desperation, and I wet my lips, trying to prevent sobs. "I'll miss you."

Laughing, I nodded, forgetting he couldn't see it. "I love you too. Tell your family I'm sorry I couldn't talk to them, but I guess I just wanted you at the moment. Bye Edward. I love you." And then I hung up.

Looking up, I heard a knock on the door. Alec stood there, hesitant. "I would have come by sooner, but, uh, I noticed you were busy." I smiled, telling him to come in. He sat down on the couch, almost awkwardly. "You've settled in, then."

"Yeah…what do I do? To pass time, I mean. There's got to be something." I raised my eyebrows as Alec laughed. "I'll go mad, and a psychotic vampire with my powers isn't exactly the best mix."

He grinned. "Usually it depends on what kind of a mood Aro is in. Often a good one. Believe it or not, when we don't hunt, we do something ordinary. Last weekend we watched movies." I stared at him in disbelief, and he nodded. "Aro made you one of us, not a guard, so you don't have responsibilities. Sometimes we're sent out to make sure a vampire is following the rules, but that's usually only me, Jane, Felix, and Demetri. The other members of the guard make sure our home is safe. I can only guess you'll be assisting us, with your power."

I smiled. "Like, a Secret Agent?" He frowned at me in amusement, and I held a hand out. "Agent Scully at your services." He still looked confused. "Oh come on, you've never watched 'The X-Files'? Emmett would consider that blasphemy."

Alec shook his head. "You might have to teach me." He looked up, suddenly alert. "Speaking of, I'll return later, Aro needs me. Until then, Heidi is always looking for someone to talk to. She and Jane don't get along. Only Felix and myself get along with my sister." Waving, he left the room.

Watching him go, my happiness at talking to Edward began to fade. This was my life; I had chosen this for myself. No, I couldn't take this out on anyone but myself. They were all so nice to me, so welcoming…I wouldn't be ungrateful to those I'd have to spend eternity with.

And if I behaved myself, Aro might let me go back to Forks for a while, if only to visit Edward for a day…what a day that would be.

Thank you so much to all those who've come this far with me. Any comments, helpful or just encouraging, are very eagerly welcomed. I'll try to get the next update sooner, writer's block was my excuse this time.

It has happened! Both wrecking hotel rooms (previously in the pretend world) and myself have a joint profile, under the name of "psychiatrist's worst nightmare". Also, we are writing a joint story, called "Dying Is Your Latest Fashion". Bound to be morbid, but wicked, seriously. I've done the preface, she's checking it over, and it'll be up soon.

Please review, for our beloved Edward Cullen, who is amazingly perfect, and thankfully, back for good! Though, Bella is apart from him…

Just A Little Bit Dramatic