Edward's POV

Jasper turned slowly to the side, facing away from the ever-watching eyes of Felix. He sauntered further down the window that acted as the north wall of Edward's room. Had Edward not known the truth behind Jasper's change in stance, he might have thought his brother was simply trying to get a better view of the river. Edward turned and leaned his back against the window, scanning the room, hoping that Felix would assume he was assessing the damage.

"It looks as though you are going to have to rebuild your collection…" Felix's expression was one of a child who had just taken another's dessert at lunch, "if you survive long enough."

Jasper turned and crossed his arms. He fleetingly glanced at Edward, who continued to eye the floor and it's debris.

"Clearly." Edward couldn't help but reply with a tone of sarcasm. His lips curled into a sideways smirk at the guard member's obvious attempt to bait his emotions.

Jasper slowly made his way closer to Edward, picking up a random discarded CD here and there, as though he too was trying to see if anything was salvageable. When he finally made his way to his brother's side again, Jasper raised his eyebrows minutely as though to say 'Well, it's now or never'.

The two turned to face Felix, who simply grinned and unfolded his arms. "Please. Give me a reason."

The hiss that escaped Jasper was terrifying. The aggravation, worry, and sheer pain of not knowing where his mate was came rushing out in one split second. Edward could see that Jasper's fingers were twitching, literally itching to fight. He bent his knees slightly readying his body to attack. Felix had crouched as well, more than ready for a second round with the one Aro favored so much. The tension in the room was electric, if felt as though the windows would literally burst, unable to hold it all in.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened and Aro entered the room, "Honestly, enough. Must we act with such an absence of civilization?"

At this Felix straightened and placed both his hands behind his back. Edward and Jasper also rectified their stances; their tiny chance of escape seemed to have evaded them for the moment. Edward noticed that Jane had also entered the room, obviously for Aro's protection. He wondered if Felix ever felt inadequate, if Aro's trust in a small girl over his abilities ever annoyed him. He certainly hoped so.

"Edward, Jasper, we have much to discuss. My only hope is that the two of you will be cooperative. Do not make this more difficult than it has to be." Aro's majestic tone had changed somewhat. There was still no anger or malice present, instead it had more of a businessman's tone: indifferent, trying to check things off the To Do list.

"I confess myself perplexed, Edward. You were given an opportunity, such an opportunity. Why did you not take advantage of it?" Edward could tell by the expression on Aro's face that he was genuinely confused at the Cullens' defiance, his defiance.

Edward simply stared at Aro, refusing to give the leader any information willingly that would pertain to Bella.

"I must understand this," Aro's hand was now in front of him, asking for Edward's "If you would be so kind."

Edward knew the request was simply a formality, and that Aro would get his way regardless. Thus, he raised his hand in concession and placed it in Aro's. Edward felt the familiar rush, much like the floor falling out from beneath you, as Aro quickly learned of everything that has happened to Edward since their last encounter in Volterra. He knew that the Volturi leader wass now privy to his original intent to disobey the guard's order to change Bella, of the compromise between him and Bella that he will change her if she will marry him. He hated sharing these intimate moments with anyone, much less Aro.

The leader's hand separated from his and Edward watched as Aro's slightly glazed eyes returned to their previous clarity.

"Has she agreed to marriage?"

Jasper's head quickly whipped in Edward direction, his eyebrows furrowed in surprised question. This was definitely not the way Edward had intended for the members of his family to learn about his proposal.

"She hasn't given me an answer."

"You intended to change her, had she agreed?" Aro's face looked quite compassionate, but Edward was wary of the past tense being used in his phrasing.

"Yes." Edward was extremely grateful that he had finally come to terms with the compromise, and had actually set his mind to fulfill his end of the bargain. Had he not, Aro would have seen, and things would be even worse than they were now.

"Edward, I recognize that your intent was pure. You must understand, however, that your timeline greatly surpasses the time you were allotted to handle the situation."

Edward did not like the ominous tone Aro was using. Jasper too, was on edge at his brother's side. Aro's eyes glanced between the two and Edward would have given almost anything to be able to hear what the poker-faced leader was thinking. Finally his glance fell on Edward again and lingered for a short minute.

Aro sighed, "Where is Bella, Edward?"

"I don't know."

Aro's eyes narrowed at Edward's defiance. He continued in the same eerily pleasant voice, "She will stand before us, with or without your assistance. Without will only cause you both more suffering."

The flash of anger in Aro's eyes surprised Edward. He hoped with all his being that that ignorant dog was at least capable enough to keep Bella away, safely hidden from the Volturi.

"I truly do no know where Bella is, Aro. You would have seen it, had I known." Edward was certain that this truth could very well be the only thing keeping his love safe.

"Very well. Thankfully, we have other methods with which we can flush out our little escapee. She'll not evade us much longer."

Picturing just exactly what 'methods' Aro planned to use to find Bella sent Edward into a mental panic.

It took everything in his being to attempt to control his voice when he asked, "Methods?"

Aro's smile, Edward was sure, was very close to one a serial killer wears as they are fulfilling their compulsion, "She is a young human. Surely she does not live alone."

CHARLIE! Edward's head was spinning. In all the commotion he'd forgotten to tell the mongrel to protect Bella's father. He glanced at Jasper, who's face was completely serene, but his eyes flashed with concern, showing that his thoughts were going in the same direction.

Sam will protect Charlie. Edward thought. He must have assumed that whatever was after us, Bella, would follow her scent straight to her house. Sam is a smart leader, as much as he hated to give the pack any compliments, he will protect any human in danger from a vampire. Edward needed to be convinced of this fact, but his error was nagging at the back of his mind.

"Aro, please. Do not condemn innocent people for my mistake!" he begged.

"I truly wish there was another way, Edward. Your family has left us with limited options." Aro turned to exit the room.

"Any human brought into this receives a death sentence. Please, I'm begging you!" Edward was desperate. How could he have been so stupid to forget to cover Charlie's protection? If Bella's father was harmed because of his folly, and Bella had to deal with that pain, he would spend an eternity punishing himself.

"We will do what is necessary to rectify the situation." Aro replied n his cool, collected voice.

And with that, he and Jane exited the room.

Edward turned to Jasper, searching for a glimmer of hope from his brother. Jasper's eyes were gazing at the floor slightly in front of where his feet were planted. His expression was calculating, that of a soldier attempting to plan three moves ahead of the enemy. When it came to strategy, to the affairs of war, Jasper's mind was a force to be reckoned with! Finally, after what felt like an eternity Jasper's eyes rose quickly and met Edwards with a glare. Had he not known that Jasper would give his own life for any member of their family, Edward would have been terrified.