Edward:

For the second time within the hour, I launched myself in Aro's direction. This time, three of the citizens appeared before me, their fists catching my stomach. They continued to beat me down until Aro clapped his hands.

"Now, now..." he bared his teeth in a smile. "Play nicely, Edward. This is just a game, after all... I simply decided that if you were so intent on breaking our rules, then we had earned that same right also." He inclined his head at me. "Oh, I do wish I could be down there to watch... What fun."

Alice's growls were growing steadily less contained. She was far more restricted than I was, but even her despair was beginning to shine through. I could feel Bella dying. My cold, still heart was poised to shatter, at which point I would beg Aro for death and pray he would extend some mercy. If not, I'd provoke Caius, and let his temper have its way with my worthless life.

Aro approached me. I didn't dare look at him.

"It doesn't have to be this way..." he said softly, his dark robe swirling around his ancient feet.

"Wait," I said quickly, "What? You...you will call off the hunt?" My gaze reached his, gluttonous for his response.

His papery face looked pained. "Well...Bella Swan does seem to be the only thing binding you to your old life with the Olympic coven," he said with what he must have believed was reason.

Alice snarled behind me. She knew as well as I did that this was not true - we would have never betrayed Carlisle.

"But... as you know, Edward, I am... particularly fond of you." His voice had become breathy with craving for my addition to his family. "I may...make an exception in this case. Join us here in Volterra, dear boy, and I will think about sparing her life."

My throat closed up. I turned and looked at Alice.

Don't, Edward... she said warningly. He will trick you.

Clearing his throat, Aro added, "This offer is extended to your sister also, naturally."

This roughly translated to, Both of you, or not at all.

He wanted Alice just as badly.

While I would never presume that she loved Bella any less than I, that didn't mean I would dream of tearing her away from Jasper.

I...I was almost sure I wouldn't dream of it...

The thought was tempting, though. Let Bella live, while Alice and I stayed here... We'd be together. We'd find a way to escape. Even if only she got out. I would stay here in subservience, content that Bella's cheeks still flushed with colour.

I truly was a selfish monster. There would be no redemption for me; no pain too appropriate.

Alice's eyes were torn. Even her thoughts had frozen. She looked between Aro and me with great on her pretty face.

Edward, I... she thought unsurely, biting her lip. Jasper's face danced miserably in her mind's eye. Then, she straightened up. It's all right. If it saves Bella...then we have to.

She was so beautiful, so selfless. I couldn't stand it. I saw her pain, and it meant so little to me in light of my own. I was a disgrace to the humanity I had once possessed. Disgusted with myself, I forced my feet to move so I stook before her, sliding my arms around her tiny form.

And in her ear, I hissed soft, quick words.

"Run," I said. "I will stay to distract while you leave. Hide with Carlisle as I continue to try and negotiate Bella's life. Hopefully I will be enough. If...if she's still alive and a deal is made, I shall deliver her to you. Take her back to Forks, and tell her to move on. Tell her I'm dead, if you have to. Tell her... Jacob still loves her. Maybe it will help."

Her arms returned my embrace tightly. Her mind squealed objections, but I shook my head against her temple.

"Tell Esme I love her," I went on. "And tell Carlisle I'm sorry."

I'll stay! she promised. Edward, I'll stay with you!

I released her, pushing her away slightly.

Aro, bothered that he couldn't hear our whispers, tapped his foot impatiently on the marble floor. He was trying to study our body language, to see if it was of defeat or defiance. I organised my emotions so I appeared only resigned and miserable. Alice could not get the shock off of her face. But finally, she nodded once at me - and then she was gone.

Outrage lit Aro's face. "Stop her!" he roared, but the citizens had nothing on the Volturi guard, who were otherwise engaged. They could not match Alice's speed, or her ability of evasion. She danced beneath their fingertips with grace, disappearing out the door. Several citizens streaked after her in confusion, but the rest just looked back to Aro guiltily.

Marcus rolled his eyes and snorted something to Caius, who was glaring at me.

Aro's pleasant, mocking demeanour was beginning to wither. I stood tall, my hands behind my back and my feet set evenly apart as I stared back at him.

"What a shame," I commented. "It seems only one of us can stand the thought of having to see you every day for the next millennium, Aro."

Anger flashed across his face, but before he could let it manifest, he forced a smile. "Ah, your good humour will be welcome here," he said in feigned warmness. "Quite the prize, Edward."

"Do we have a deal, then?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

With a harder face than I had remembered seeing before, he stared at me. I heard his thoughts racing through his mind, his disappointment that I'd sent Alice away, but his desperation to collect at least one of us through his whole plan of his. That was something I'd noticed - he'd kept his plan flexible throughout the night, so he wouldn't become too predictable. Now, he seemed content on just keeping me.

"Why, I rather believe we do," he smiled, looking grandly out at the citizens. On cue, they clapped politely. None of them thought of me very favourably, but Aro's opinion of me was all that mattered.

"Then...welcome to the family, my friend!" Aro beamed at me, victory singing through his mind.

He came to kiss me on each cheek, but I pointedly took a step back.

"Bella," I ordered. "No deal is in place until I see she is alive."

Uncertainty flickered across his face. He seemed to quickly forget her supreme importance not only to my mind, but my heart. Having only an intense mateship with his wife, Sulpicia, he didn't understand the human nature of the love I felt for Bella. Vampiric love was all about proximity and vengeance. The love I had for Bella was...moving the world for her to make her smile.

So it stood to reason that I'd move a lot more than the world to keep her alive.

Unfortunately, nothing could have saved my heart from his next thought.

Oh, dear. Perhaps my orders should have been a little less...irreversible.

"...What?" I snarled.

Alice's lack of vision... Bella's future disappearing... surely it hadn't already...

...No.

"Let me just confer with Jane," he said lightly, disappearing through the back entrance with a swirl of regal robes that stank of undeserved royalty.