"Thanks for dinner," Bella said softly.

Her scent overwhelmed his senses, driving him mad with want. It had nothing to do with the blood flowing through her veins; he couldn't imagine what it would do to him to kill her. He had no intention of finding out. Opening the door for her, he led her out into the deserted street. "It was my pleasure."

"Do you still want to have a look at my work?" she asked.

He watched her head for the dimly lit parking lot. He stared, mesmerized by the sway of her hips. "If it's not too late..."

"It's only 11," she said with a shrug. "It won't take that long."

"On the contrary, Bella." His eyes raked over her greedily, desperately. "I've always found that art is an inexhaustible topic."

Unaware of his gaze, she searched for her keys. "My work is very...simple," she finished.

He stepped forward, amused. "You're determined to make light of your pieces."

Pursing her lips, she clutched the key in her hand. "I don't want you to get your hopes up."

He took the key from her clenched fist. "Can I worry about my hopes, please?"

"What are you doing?" she questioned, extending her arm to take the key back from him.

He lets her have it, half-focused on the way her chest brushes against his. Taking control was a habit, but he didn't mind handing her the reigns. In fact, the idea intrigued him. What would it feel like to be powerless in her hands? Would he feel constrained? Would he feel empowered? It's crazy- he's just met her, but he wants her to be his. He wants to be hers. More than anything, he wants to keep her.

"I apologize," he said. "I wasn't thinking."

Laughing, she squeezed past him to open her door. "It's alright. It's something my mom would try to do. She hates my driving."

He cringed as he made his way to the passenger's side. Being compared to her mother wasn't very encouraging. He had hoped to inspire different, more intimate feelings from her.

Patience, he warned himself.

"I am sure your driving is perfectly adequate," he assured her.

"Do you have any kids?" she asked, changing the subject.

The very thought of children made him ill. He wouldn't know what to do with one, if he did, indeed, have one. "No, do you?"

She caught his teasing. Smiling, she shook her head. "No kids. I haven't met the right guy yet."

Happy to hear she didn't have a boyfriend, he smiled gleefully. Any man who kept her from him would pay the price. He didn't play well with others, and he refused to share what was his with anyone else.

The ride was short, and filled with Bella's soft tones. When they turned into Abbey Lane, she said, "Here we are!"

The house was small. When she opened the door for him, he was taken aback by the books cluttering the foyer. "You like to read, yes?"

A delicate pink suffused her cheeks. "I love books. I started my library when I was 7." Moving through the maze, she led him into the living room. "They're a pain to move, though."

He barely heard the last part because his eyes lit upon dozens of paintings. The one leaning against her leather couch caught his attention first. It featured a child in an empty, dark room. The child was looking into a fool-length mirror, and it was pointing a gun at its reflection. The reflection of the child was pointing the gun at its head. It was so astonishingly dark, so terribly desperate.

"You painted this?" he rasped.

Coming to stand beside him, she turned her eyes to the painting in question. "Yes. It's one of my older pieces. I was 13 at the time."

He looked at her, wondering what would have inspired her to paint such a dark piece. "You call that simple?"

Eyes still glued to the painting, she said, "I was a kid who couldn't see beyond her own sense of self. I let my insecurities define me, so to break free from them, I painted this."

Almost afraid to hear her answer, he asked, "And did it work?"

She pushed her hair behind her ears, grinning self-consciously. "I'm here, aren't I?"

Helpless to keep his hands to himself, he reached out to brush her cheek. "Yes. You are."

The way her eyes darted across his face, made the knots in his stomach tighten painfully. He didn't want her to be drawn to him because of what he was. If that was the case, her interest in him wouldn't be real, and he needed it to be real. He couldn't explain why this slip of a girl mattered so much, but she did. She mattered in a way no one else in his life ever had.

"Aro," she whispered. "I-

Suddenly, he smelled cinnamon and spice. He froze, caught off guard, and then he pushed Bella behind him, his stance becoming protective. In the next second, the door was kicked in, Bella screamed, and a blonde-haired girl stepped through the broken wood. "Hello, Aro," she greeted coldly. "I hope I'm not intruding."

Jane. Jane. Jane. "Jane."

"Surprised to see me?"

Bella tried to maneuver around him. He wasn't looking at her, but he could practically taste her fear in the air. Despite that, she ground out, "Get out of my house."

Jane's laugh was hollow, bitter. "How sweet. Your pet thinks she has a say in what's about to happen."

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Marcus wants you to come home. He said it was time."

Panic started to cloud his mind. "And he sent you to do it."

Her grin turned predatorial. She was enjoying this. It was smart of Marcus to send Jane, really. Jane was more powerful than he was. Her gift gave her the upper hand. He knew how to fight, but that didn't matter- he was helpless in the face of her power. "It's time for all of us to be together again," she replied. "You cannot run from your destiny, Aro. It's pointless to try."

Bella was silent behind him, and he wanted to look back, he wanted to check on her, but he didn't want Jane to focus on her any more than she already had. "Why now?" he stalled. "Why come now?"

"Alice saw the girl."

"You're not going to touch her," he snarled, showing his teeth threateningly.

Jane accepted the challenge. Red eyes roamed over Bella's partially hidden form. With a tiny, vindictive smile, she tilted her head to the side. Several moments passed before anything happened. Bella's shocked cry echoed in his head, drowning out all sense and reason. He rushed towards Jane, prepared to crush her, but his vision went dark, and all he could feel was an electrifying pain. It traveled from his head all the way down to his toes, rendering him completely helpless. He grit his teeth, determined to keep quiet.

"You know better than to attack me, Aro," Jane murmured.

Bella's screams increased in volume. Each hoarse cry sent an extra jolt of pain through Aro's body. He didn't beg; he was too proud for that, but for her he would. "I'll come," he said desperately. "Leave her alone. I'll come."

The pain receded slowly. When he was able to think again, he jumped to his feet, spun around to help Bella, and flinched back when he saw the state she was in. Sweat beaded her forehead. Her eyes were closed, and her heart was racing. She looked exhausted and terrified at the same time. He moved to help her, but she shied away from him. Her hands shook as she pushed herself up. When she was on her feet again, she refused to look at him.

"You're both coming," Jane stated. She didn't look any happier about it than he was.

"No!" Bella interjected.

She tried to make a beeline for the stairs, but Jane flashed to stand in front of her, caging her in. He ran to Bella's side, glaring down at the adolescent vampire. "She's not coming, Jane."

"Marcus' orders, not mine. Either she comes willingly, or I'm going to have to persuade her."

"You mean torture me," Bella spit out.

"If that's what it takes," Jane replied, unconcerned.

"Bella," he tried to reason. "There's no other-"

The girl's eyes spit fire. "What are you?"

"Bella-"

"What are you?!" Her panting breaths shook her small body.

"You haven't told her." Jane's laugh was malicious.

He looked at Bella, silently begging for her forgiveness. "I'm a vampire."

Mouth gaping, she stared at him, uncomprehendingly. "A vampire."

"You've heard of them, I assume."

She shook her head. "Vampires don't exist."

"Oh, but they do, pet," Jane said.

"Please," Bella whispered. "Please, just go. I won't tell anyone-"

"Marcus wants to see you, pet. You're coming."

Aro took in the way Bella shut down. He couldn't tell what she was thinking; her face was a blank mask.

"You're going to have to carry her," Jane instructed. "Marcus is expecting us."

Hate consumed every fiber of his soul. He shook with the need to smash and destroy. Marcus had him on a leash and he was shortening the length. He had no control over what was happening. All he could do was try and keep Bella safe, so he stepped up to her and tried to take her in his arms. She didn't let him get far. As soon as his arm wrapped around her shoulder, she jerked away from him, fear flashing across her face.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Bella," he promised quietly.

"You're a monster," she replied just as quietly.

Not saying a word, he made to pick her up again. This time, she cooperated. The feel of her in his arms kept his chaotic thoughts from overwhelming him. He ignored the hurt her words ignited in his chest, instead following Jane out into the street. It was going to be a long night.