Author's Note: Things are moving slowly, I know, but I am trying to fill you guys in on what happened after Edward left Bella. This chapter is still short. Sorry. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews I got for the previous chapter! I also posted a new poll option, so if you haven't already voted, head over to my profile and vote! I only have sixteen votes, and I really appreciate your input. And here we go……! Also, make sure to read the sneak peak at Volterra of Secrecy below.

Chapter 8: Unwilling

My brown eyes snapped up to Aro's red ones, hateful words rising in my throat. Derek grasped my arms painfully and held me still as I was brought before the entire Volturi Guard. Cauis, the white-haired brother, glared at me without blinking, the mist that seemed to have formed over his irises gleaming silver in the sunlight. Marcus, however, seemed completely unaware that I was even standing in the room, his features bored and relaxed, his brow arching slightly.

"Let me go!" I spat, doing my best to resist Derek's strength as he restrained me.

He growled quietly in my ear. "Quiet."

Aro glided down to greet us, a smug smile framing his lips. "Isabella! Good morning. I trust you slept well?"

I stared him straight in the eyes. "It was an unpleasant night."

He laughed loudly, his eyes glassy. "She is a feisty one, is she not?" His question seemed directed at a small girl with doll-like features and a nasty smirk on her face.

"Oh, yes," she said sarcastically, "absolutely precious."

Aro appeared deaf to her disapproving tone as he waved her off with his papery hand. "She will train beside you, Jane. I will not have it any other way."

The girl – Jane- glowered in his direction but remained silent, and I could see that no matter how highly she was respected, she would always fall below Aro and his two brothers. She was his, he owned her as completely as if she were the black robes he wore. I felt a slight twinge of pity as I glanced at her nervously.

"Well, brothers?" Aro raised a dark eyebrow at Cauis and Macus, his eyes gleaming.

Cauis stepped forward and scrutinized me from a closer range, the corners of his mouth turning down. "I still don't see the appeal," he whispered harshly.

Aro frowned at his brother and brushed my cheek with his fingertips. "She will be the perfect addition. We will be impenetrable, unbeatable. She is the jewel we need to complete our crown!" He stopped abruptly, as if he could have gone on for hours about what an amazing piece of property I was going to make.

Marcus remained silent, but his gaze fell upon me, and his expression shifted slightly. I was not able to read the emotion behind it as he walked towards Aro and grabbed his hand. Aro then rolled his eyes like a teenager and scoffed lightly. "No matter, brother, no matter. She will be fine. Won't you, Bella?"

"Bite me," I snapped, struggling in Derek's unbreakable grasp. I was going to have bruises.

Aro smiled. "Alright….Now, Bella, after you're bitten, Derek will move you to your room. He will stay with you in the room, if that's all right."

"It's not," I spat.

He ignored me. "If you need anything, Isabella, feel free to ask him. I will check on you regularly. And after that you must begin your training immediately – as soon as you quench your thirst."

A new kind of panic swelled in my chest. When I had been with Edward, when he loved me as much I still loved him, I had wanted more than anything to be changed into a vampire, to be with him for all eternity. And I knew without a doubt that I would never take a human life. I would follow the Cullens' example and only feed on the blood of animals. But I wasn't stupid; I knew Aro was in control of the situation completely. And if he wanted to, he could force me to become a monster.

Rosalie P.O.V.

I sighed and leaned into Emmett's chest as he gently rubbed his hands over my shoulders. "Bella and Edward are such idiots," I complained, closing my eyes briefly as he kissed my jaw.

He laughed slightly. "I know Edward's an idiot. What'd Bella do?"

Frowning, I turned to face him. "Em, if something awful happened to me when you were gone, would you want to know about it? Even if you couldn't do anything about it?"

He brushed his fingers up and down my forearm subconsciously as he thought about it. "Yes. Absolutely. Why, did something happen to Bella?" He stiffened, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Emmett," I whispered.

He looked extremely worried as he wrapped his arms around me. I hated feeling helpless more than anything else in the world, and right then, even in the comfort of Emmett's embrace, I felt powerless.

_

A/N: Still soooo short. But I really want to get this up, so no complaining! I hope to post another chapter soon to make up for the awful length of this chapter.

SNEAK PEAK AT UPCOMING STORY, VOLTERRA OF SECRECY

Sacrifice is a painful concept. And though hard to believe, necessary in all that we accomplish in a lifetime. This for that. Death for life. It is a constant. And in my world, nothing will stop the vicious cycle from taking someone you love. Loss is imminent and regret is sure. No one can understand what might drive someone to this place of hurt except for the three of us. You see, there is but one thing that drew me here, and that is power.

Marcus

I had, perhaps, stared at the same ceiling for weeks. It could have been months, I was unsure. The fact remained, however, that as a vampire, minutes seemed to melt together, and then hours, until time was unimportant, simply something that existed, threatening to humans yet nothing to us. Jagged cracks split the yellowed plaster, and I was slightly bothered by the imperfection. Heidi was away, and until her return, Felix would be anxious. Ah, an anxious Felix was such a wonder to witness. It was laughable really; Felix's size providing one with the illusion that he feared no one, when that was so far from the truth. Though it was possible that losing Heidi was the only catastrophe he was concerned about, he still brooded most adolescently.

"Sir."

My head turned in the direction of the quiet, awed voice. "Yes, Gloria?" She was new, her blood enchanting. Aro had wanted to turn her, however, Caius convinced him otherwise. I could not help but to understand his point of view. Gloria was a perfect candidate for blood-harvesting, as gruesome as it may sound. And, of course, we had recruited her quite willingly. Though it may be shocking, most humans were so intrigued by the idea of joining us, they wore the robes by their own choice. We had our number of forced members, obviously.

"Aro is requesting your presence in the main hall, sir," Gloria said quickly, her pulse rising. It became clear on her very first day that she harbored a deep attraction to me, something I found unnerving.

I nodded, my expression unchanged. "Very well."

_

As I glided under the stone arch, I raised a tentative eyebrow at the sight before me. Aro sat in a throne-like chair while Caius looked on jealously. It wasn't exactly a secret that Cauis wished to be sitting in the ivory chair. It was where I wished to sit as well. For now, though, it was obvious that Aro had gained the right to be called 'master'. Even if it bothered me.

"There, there, my brother," Aro sang. "You know the rules." Yes, yes we did. And though we appeared to be amiable towards each other, this was just a carefully perfected act.

There is also a copy of this in Chapter 9 of SLML. Tell me what you think!

Rose