Edward Cullen openly growled, pale fists clenching in evident anger. As he struggled for composure I glanced at Bella who stared between us worriedly. "It's alright Bella. I'm just deliberately pissing him off." She frowned, and I sighed. "Bells, go upstairs please."

Bella looked up at Edward and watched as he nodded, and lightly pushed her towards the stairs. I mentally shook my head, it was like she couldnt bear to be parted from him. Where had the independent, self sacrificing, and clumsy Bella gone? I knew the answer but sometimes, her actions just beg the question. Standing, I walked past Edward and into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl and the cereal. I didn't hear him follow but I knew he did. What can I say, live with a large group of vamps for a year or more and you learn a few things.

"Answer the question."

I continued about my intended buisiness, grabbing the milk, and a spoon. Once my bowl was filled I sat down at the table, and dug in. Edward was standing, amber eyes locked in a cold glare. "Ya know, if you keep that up your face will freeze like that." i said, amiably. Kicking the chair across frm me out i waited until he growled, and sat in the chair.

"As I'm certian you know by now, "Because you can't keep your mind where it's supposed to be, "I recieved an award of sorts to study abroad, for an undesignated period of time. I chose to go to Italy, and from Verona I ended up travelling to Voltera, where I chose to stay- It was there that I met the Volturi. Just to put this in perspective, I had met and been livving with the Volturi for about a month, when Bella first moved here."

I'd apparently said something he'd not expected, because Edward's eyes were wide, his lips slightly parted in what must've been surprise.

"You know what, why am I even telling you this?" I closed my eyes, and let myself travel back.


I walked through the elegant streets, noting the wonderful arcitecture and the elegance of the city. The woman in front of me- she was suppose to be finding me a school that I wanted to study at- chattered away in Italian, motioning to the various cafes and shops. She stopped, and I looked at where she was gazeing. A woman, dressed in a very modern outfit stood next to a sign that advertized tours of the oldest parts of the city in various languages. Already, a number of tourists had gathered, looking eager. My guide walked over, and I followed. She and the woman talked in low Italian about something, and before I knew it we were off. The woman, lead us through the streets telling everyone of the history of the city, and showed off it's beauties. Through her words, I began to notice more of the poeple, their way of livving, and the true beauty of the city itself. It was at that point that I fell in love.

We entered an old cathederal and she lead us into a great hall, where according to her a reenactment was being done. Before we had entered the large chamber, I had noted the various things that made this different from the other places in the city. Something about the woman's tone, tipped me off that this might've been slightly more than a regular reenactment. The door closed behind us, and while others looked around I looked at the poeple who were spread out along the other side of the chamber. Various hues of color welcomed my eyes, garbs of both renaissence and modern. However, as beautiful as the cothing was, it was the poeple wearing them that caught my attetion. Despite various skin tones they were all remarkably pale, and impossibly beautiful, perfection in it's definiton. Black suddenly surround the group and I was pressed back against the door as shouts, and yells of terror tore the air. A sureal feeling swarmed over me, they were vampires, and as I watched them feed off the tourists who had had no idea what they were getting into I realized I was going to die. Something kicked in then, and as a tall, heavily muscled vampire stalked over to me, dark red eye glimmering, I felt my body slide into a defensive posture.

The vampire paused and let out an amused laugh, before he ran at me. Cold hands wrapped around my body, and I tucked myself in ward, letting his body fly over mine. He hadn't expect resistance, and as he landed on his feet barely a yard from me he growled. "Wait."

The voice was full of authority ,and the vampire suddenly knelt down. at some point I had become the seul remaining human. A man dressed in red walked- well glided is more like it- foreward, stopping a foot from me. His eyes were bright red, and he looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. He held out a pale hand, and murmured softly, "Take it."

I felt my body straighten and slowly I reached out and touched the outstreached hand. It was strong, cold, and hard. Unforgivving as marble, though the skin itself appeared almost translucant in color. My heart pounded in my ears, and the addrenaline pounded through my viens, I didn't want to die. I wanted to study and become successful, get married, and have kids. I had come here for adventure and had found my death.

The vampire looked at me, his red eyed gaze boring into my soul, as though he were searching for something, and suddenly he laughed and released my hand. "My name is Aro. welcome to the Voltera, Marianne."

Mentally I skipped over the next few weeks, and then began to replay other things, important in my mind.

My room, with it's king sized bed and rennaissence furtinture and feel. An exact replica of Juliet's room, Aro had told me. I had laughed and thanked him, even though I thought that Juliet was a weak, over dramatic, and un independant character.

The single photo that I always carried with me, of all of my favorite vampires, those who had become my true family.

Dinners with the family I stayed with for a short time before I decided to live with the Volurti.

Felix and Demetri teaching me to fight against all things, human and supernatural.

It had been a month, when finally Jane held my hand and truely smiled at me.

Classes at the local school, and then more advanced class after.

Lessons from Aro about vampire abilities, and vampire ways.

Alec teaching me the piano, and violin.

Pats on the head from Marcus.

Scowls from Casius.

'Sneaking out' at night.

My sixteenth birthday.

The sunsets.

And then I showed him my reason for comming here, the letters from Charlie about how Bella had a boyfriend, and how he left her. Some included pictures of her face, deadpanned, and broken looking. Later, how Jacob helped her get better. And then the email saying she'd disapppeared.

Bella walked past me, the dark rings under her eyes, and the nearly dead expression on her face as she, and two other vampires were escourted into the chamber by Felix, Demetri, and Jane.

Bella sobbing on the male vampire with amber eyes, as he held her loosly.


"You wanted to know why I'm here? That's why." I said glaring at Edward.