Funny story: I just went to the Twilight Saga Wiki, and I really wish I hadn't. Learned some nasty stuff about the Volturi. Turns out that Marcus' perpetual boredom isn't a lovable quirk as I thought it was. It's a very depressing story, actually, and he's a total zombie. I know he's fictional, but I now feel really guilty for making fun of him back in Chapter 3 of "Love and War". And Aro? Forget about it. Nothing endearing about him at all. I'm glad I didn't go there until after I removed the Volturi from the story. Well, moving along. Just thought I'd share that.

Chapter 3: Lock and Key

BELLA CULLEN

"Rosalie is up to something," Edward muttered.

"Don't pry into private business, Edward," Esme said.

"No, this is something bigger than the old standby of 'Rose-Rose-Rose'," Edward said. "She's planning something that will effect the entire family. All of the family."

"What, like a sinister plot or something?" I asked. "Rose wouldn't. Would she?"

Edward concentrated hard on Rose. "Emmett, who's Fallen?"

"Huh?" Emmett said.

Edward read Emmett's mind for a few more seconds. "So she didn't tell Emmett," Edward muttered. "What is she up to?"

"Where did you hear that name?" Rosalie demanded.

"Well, you know the whole controlled-thoughts technique that Alice and Jake are so good at?" Edward said.

"What about it?"

"Yeah, you suck at it. Seriously, what are you planning?"

"I'm not telling."

"Rose..."

"Uh-uh. This is personal."

"Tell me."

"No! About, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at, before, behind..."

Alice threw a ball across the room, and Rosalie missed a beat in her recitation. She looked up at Edward, horrified.

"What in the name of...?" Edward muttered.

"What?" I asked.

"I can read Rosalie's mind normally, but when she thinks about her plans, it's like she's shielded."

Rosalie grinned. "Fallen thinks of everything, doesn't he? Now, if you'll excuse me, I have only eleven hours to finish all of my tasks, so..."

Edward tackled Rosalie and pinned her to the ground. "Tell me what you're up to," he snarled.

"Whoa!" Emmett roared. "What the hell are you doing, dude?"

"Stop!" Alice shrieked. "This is what Fallen wants!"

We all turned to face her. "I don't know what Fallen is," she said apologetically. "But I have a general idea what it wants. I attuned myself to Rosalie's plans, but Rosalie's destiny isn't her own anymore. It's Fallen's."

"That doesn't sound like a good thing," Carlisle said.

"No. For Rosalie's will to return, she needs to fail at her task."

"No!" Rosalie yelled. "I need to succeed! He can make me mortal!"

Emmett gaped. "You want to become mortal? What about us, Rose?"

"To hell with us!" Rose snarled. "When I become mortal, I'll have everything I've been aching for since I was turned!"

"What about me, Aunt Rose?" Nessie said quietly. "I thought you liked me."

"I do, Nessie, but you're not mine," Rosalie said.

"Stop trying to persuade her," Edward said. "She won't be swayed. She wants to be mortal. Alice, what else do you see?"

"If Rosalie succeeds, Fallen's plans will be furthered," Alice said. "I can't... I can't see... I don't know. Chaos. That's all I'm getting. Fallen wants chaos."

"And if Rosalie fails?" Edward asked.

Alice thought. "Fallen will be furious. It'll send signs... then it'll come to Earth."

"How are you seeing this?" Jacob asked. "I thought you could only see humans and vampires."

Alice frowned. "Fallen used to be a person of some kind. I don't know, you guys. Just... keep Rose restrained until her deadline passes. Eleven hours. Emmett? Can we count on you for that?"

Emmett looked down at Rose, who was laboriously panting, "Let me go. You don't know what it's like. He made me human for one second... Bella! Remember breathing? What if you could go back to it, huh?"

I shook nervously. She was putting me on the spot.

"Rose, are you really going to sell out your whole family?" Edward asked.

"You betcha!" Rosalie snarled.

Emmett looked down at Rosalie. "Yeah, I'll keep her under control."