Thank you to: Mep101, Silverdeaf1977, Hermonine, GawkyTC, Angel897, Markosgirl69, Lelleg, Aquarius Aniray, DarkAngel2581, and PlaidPajamas01 for reviewing! I really appreciate the feedback!

Isabella is a stubborn bitch, haha. I hate her, if you can't tell.

I also can't wait to share the big moment with all of you! I hope it's worth the wait.

Aww, I'm so glad you guys like the relationship between Alice, Jasper and Hekate. It's quickly developing into a different type of bond if anyone is picking up on it? (Not romantic, btw.)

Aquarius Aniray, that's not stalker-ish, haha. I'm sorry my updates can sometimes not be frequent. I try to update as much as I can. I'm so glad you love the story, though!

PlaidPajamas01, I'm so glad you love it! I'll also tell you a 'secret'. The Kings are gonna call Bella(and Edward) out on their shit.

Hekate hid in the forest with Jasper and Alice, listening in to Bella's conversation with Jacob. Alice and Jasper were listening, more like. Hekate was leaning against a tree, daydreaming to pass the time.

That was until the three vampires heard a familiar voice over the phone line, the same moment Alice got a vision.

Jasper held his wife up, feeling the fear seeping from her. "Darlin? What's wrong?"

Alice's vision lasted a few more seconds before she turned to them, her eyes looking unfocused still. She looked panicked, very panicked. "We have to get Bella and leave now, It's Edward. He's such an idiot!" She then ran for the house, mumbling to Hekate to pack Bella a bag.

Hekate looked at Jasper, her jaw hanging down a little. "What the fuck…"

Jasper sighed softly, "It's better to just follow her and ask questions later."

Hekate hummed as she agreed with Jasper, running inside and up the stairs before the humans could see her. Though, she thought Jacob might have caught a glimpse of her. She wrinkled her nose at Bella's smell in her room. It made her throat burn but she ignored it, throwing some outfits in a bag. She slipped into the bathroom and shoved in everything Bella would need as well.

Hekate sighed when she walked downstairs, seeing Bella on the couch with Jacob. Jacob was shaking as he yelled at Alice. Jasper was trying to keep Alice calm while Alice tried to rouse Bella. Bella must have passed out on them when Alice mentioned Edward.

"What did you do to her?"

Alice snapped her fingers in Bella's face, looking worried and impatient. "Bella? Bella! Snap out of it! We have to hurry!"

Jacob growled at Alice, "Stay back."

Hekate dropped Bella's bag and glared down at Jacob, "If you growl at her again I will rip off your tail, puppy."

Jacob glared at her but shut up, feeling like he shouldn't argue with her. Hekate unnerved him more than her attitude.

Bella finally spoke up, sitting up a little. "Alice? What happened?" Even her voice sounded weak.

Alice groaned softly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I have no idea, Bella. He's such an idiot though, he's not thinking!" She pulled out her phone then, quickly dialing Rosalie. "Rose, I need to talk to Carlisle, now! … Fine, as soon as he's back. … No, I'll be on the jet. Look, have you heard anything from Edward?"

Hekate and Jasper both tensed up when they heard what Rosalie told Alice. Rosalie had told Edward Bella was dead, which caused whatever Alice saw in her vision.

Alice's expression got more horrified as Rosalie tried her best to explain why she told Edward. "Why? Why would you do that, Rosalie?!"

"He deserves to know she's dead and I was hoping he'd come back to us now!"

Alice's jaw tightened with anger, glaring off into the distance. "Well you're wrong on both counts, Rosalie, so that's a problem. Bella's fine… I was wrong, it's a long story…. You're wrong about that part too, that's why I'm calling… It's a bit late for that Rose, save your remorse for someone who believes it."

Hekate raised her eyebrows at Jasper, not having seen Alice this mad in a while. Though, Alice was always close with Edward.

Bella then spoke up, looking confused. "Alice… Carlisle is back, though… He called just before…" She trailed off as she watched Alice, everyone knowing what she meant.

Hekate shook her head, "That's wasn't Carlisle on the phone. It was Edward."

Bella turned her dark gaze to Jacob who remained still, surprisingly. "He asked for Charlie and I told him he wasn't here."

Alice narrowed her eyes at him, "That wasn't all. You told him Charlie was at the funeral."

Hekate realized what happened and rubbed her face. "You're both idiots, truly a match made in hell. Edward called to see if it was true or not. Now he thinks Charlie is at his daughter's funeral."

Alice sighed as she leaned against Jasper, "Rosalie told him you killed yourself. She did believe you were, in her defense. They rely on my sight far too much for something that works so imperfectly. But for her to track him down to tell him this! Didn't she realize… or care…?" She then trailed off, sounding more horrified.

Jasper looked at Bella weirdly, "You're not as upset as I thought you would be."

Bella shrugged gently, "It's really rotten timing but it will get straightened out. The next time he calls someone will tell him…. That I'm… not dead?"

Hekate raised an eyebrow at Bella, "Do you think he'd wait around? The poor idiot is in love with you…" She looked over at Alice as Alice's expression got more tortured. "He's going to try and kill himself, right?"

Alice looked to her coven mates, looking terrified. "He's going to Italy."

Bella stood up, crying out loudly, "No! No, no, no! He can't! He can't do that!"

Alice shook her head, "He made up his mind as soon as your friend confirmed that it was too late to save you."

Bella's body was shaking now, "But he… he left! He didn't want me anymore! What difference does it make now? He knew I would sometime!"

Jasper sighed softly, remembering the emotions he felt from Edward before they separated. "I doubt he ever planned to live past your death date, Bella…"

Bella was now seething, "How dare he!" She then elbowed her way around Jacob who was in-between her and Alice, "Oh get out of the way, Jacob!" She then turned to Alice, looking down at her. "What do we do? Can't we call him, can Carlisle?"

Alice shook her head, "That was the first thing I tried. He left his phone in a trash can in Rio, someone answered it…"

Hekate looked at the clock on the wall, thinking about how much time they were wasting. "Alice, we need to leave if we're going to make it."

Bella listened to Hekate before turning back to Alice, "Let's go then, whatever it is that we're doing!"

Alice frowned at her, looking uncertain now, "I don't think I could ask you to…"

Bella shook her head, "I don't care, ask me!"

Alice frowned up at Bella, touching her arm gently. "We may already be too late. I saw him going to the Volturi and asking to die…" She cringed with Bella while Bella began crying. "It all depends on what they choose. I can't see that until they make a decision."

Alice then looked up at Bella again, "They might say no, Aro is fond of Carlisle and wouldn't want to offend him. If they do, Edward has a backup plan. The Volturi are protective of their city. If Edward does something to upset the peace, he thinks they'll act to stop him. He's right, of course. They will stop him." She then leaned back into Jasper who appeared behind her, needing him to comfort her at the moment. "If they agree to grant his favor, we're too late. If they say no and he comes up with a plan to offend them quickly enough, we're too late. If he gives in to his more theatrical tendencies we might have time."

Bella nodded, "Okay, then let's go!"

Alice growled a little now, "Bella, listen to me! Whether we are in time or not, we will be in the heart of a Volturi city. I will be considered his accomplice if he is successful, Jasper and Hekate too. You will be a human who not only knows too much but also smells delicious. They will most likely kill us all."

Hekate cringed a little at the thought, pushing her powers down. "Though, Bella, you won't be killed so much as you will be drained for dinner."

Bella didn't seem to care about her life being in danger, yet again. "I'll go alone if you're afraid."

Hekate saw Alice was about to protest and rolled her eyes. "Alice, just let her come. She might stop Edward easier than we can. She obviously has no sense of self-preservation."

Alice sighed and nodded, glancing at Bella. "We need to leave now then. Hekate already packed you a bag. Write a note to Charlie."

Bella nodded, heading to the kitchen before she realized something, "Charlie!"

Jacob growled slightly, "I'm not going to let anything happen to Charlie. Screw the treaty."

Hekate snorted as she watched Bella smile at Jacob before running to the kitchen. She grabbed Bella's bag and carried it out to the car. "I'll be waiting on everyone." She got in the front seat, starting the car. She carelessly threw Bella's bag in the back, watching the house.

"Your darker side has come out a bit more since seeing Bella again."

Hekate sighed at Jasper, noticing him get in the passenger seat. "She's such a bitch…"

Jasper looked out the window to see Alice and Jacob arguing while waiting on Bella. He knew Alice could handle herself and Hekate was able to kill Jacob from where she was. That's why he could focus fully on his friend. "It's more than that. It's like your transformation helped bring out this other side of you. A side you pushed back out of fear, fear of your powers."

Hekate looked down at her hands that gripped the steering wheel. "Maybe… I hated myself for a long time after my dad…. I always wore gloves and didn't like physical contact… I guess I had been ignoring a huge part of me."

Jasper gently rubbed her arm, smiling softly at her. "It's alright. You've matured quite a bit since I've known you. I'm proud of you, Hekate."

Hekate smiled brightly at Jasper until Bella ruined the moment. She had just gotten into the backseat when Jacob leaned over the car, looking in at Bella.

"Please, Bella, I'm begging." Every vampire could smell Jacob's tears that hadn't fallen yet.

Bella's voice was shaking as she tried to speak, "Jake, I have to…"

Jake shook his head quickly, "You don't though, you really don't. You could stay here with me, you could stay alive, for me and Charlie."

Hekate sighed softly, looking back at Jacob. "I will start driving even if you don't move, Jacob."

Bella sniffled before she buckled herself in, Alice getting in beside her. Jacob frowned even more, barely able to speak now, "Don't die, Bella. Don't go, don't."

Bella let out a small sob then, reaching over and hugging Jake tightly. She let him brush her hair back before pulling away, "Bye, Jake… Sorry."

Jacob let out a small sob as Bella shut the door, watching as Hekate sped off down the road. He didn't wait long before he ran into the woods, shifting as he did.

{X}

Hekate was so happy the Cullens had a private jet that she could cry. Bella had been so anxious since they left, pestering her and Alice about the time. Hekate would have hurt Bella if she was trapped in a passenger flight with Bella for that long.

Even with all the space she had now it was still hard for Hekate. She was curled up on the couch, trying her best to read a book. Keyword, trying.

Bella was barely sitting still in her seat, always glancing at her phone to see what time it was.

Alice and Jasper were sitting across from each other at a table, talking too quietly for Bella to be able to hear.

"I can't be sure, I keep seeing him do different things. He keeps changing his mind on how… A killing spree through the city, attacking the guard, lifting a car over his head in the main square… Mostly things that would expose them. He knows that's the fastest way to force a reaction."

Jasper frowned at her before glancing at Hekate, "Why don't Hekate and I go after him? You can stay with Bella."

Alice shook her head quickly, "You can't, Jasper. If he sees any of us, what do you think he'll do?"

Jasper sighed softly, "Run or act immediately, drawing the Volturi's attention before we can stop him."

Alice nodded, "Exactly. I think Bella is the only chance, if there is one. We'll need to tell Emmett to prepare Esme and Carlisle… The odds aren't good."

Jasper nodded, reaching over and holding her hands. "We're going to get there in time to save Edward and we'll get out of Volterra alive, all of us."

Alice smiled softly at her husband, kissing his hands. "I'm glad you're here with me… I don't know what I would do without you."

Hekate tore her eyes away and ignored the sounds of their kissing. The tenderness she heard from both of them ate at her a little bit. She wished she had someone like that. She had those two but… She wanted someone who was her own. She then narrowed her eyes when Jasper sat across from her, placing her legs in his lap. "I'm not feeling depressed, Jasper."

Jasper chuckled softly at her irritation, glancing out the window while he rubbed her ankles. "I know, Hekate." He then motioned his head to where Bella and Alice were talking. "I'm not here because you got a little melancholy or lonely."

Hekate huffed softly, forgetting Jasper always kept track of her emotions. "I'm sorry."

Jasper gently patted her leg before he looked at the book she was reading, or trying to read. "It's quite alright, ma'am." He then smiled softly at her, "Do you think you'll be okay when we land? I'm sure we'll be around a lot of humans."

Hekate had been handling her transition very well but hadn't been in very large crowds yet. She wasn't sure how she reacted but she trusted herself and she trusted her friends. "I'll be okay. If not, I can always find a way out, or I have you there to help."

Jasper smiled softly at her, "You'll always have us, Hekate."

Hekate patted his hand until she heard the word Volturi.

"What makes them so much more dangerous than Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, Hekate and you?"

Hekate frowned a little, wondering if her gifts made her as dangerous or more dangerous than some of the Volturi. It didn't seem like her gifts were common with how Alice, Jasper, Peter and Charlotte acted.

Alice sighed softly at Bella, raising an eyebrow. "I was surprised you recognized the name, that you understood immediately what I meant when I said he was going to Italy. I thought I would have to explain. How much did Edward tell you?"

Bella played with a string on her sleeve, "He just said they were an old, powerful family. They were like royalty. You didn't antagonize them unless you wanted to… die."

Alice nodded softly, "You have to understand… We Cullens are unique in more ways than you know. It's… abnormal for so many of us to live together in peace. It's the same for Tanya's family in the north. Carlisle speculates that abstaining makes it easier for us to be civilized, to form bonds based on love rather than survival or convenience. Of course, others still do form romantic bonds and find mates. However, when they become bloodthirsty, it makes it harder to focus on much else… Anyways, James' coven was large by most standards. You saw how easily Laurent left them. Vampires usually travel alone or in pairs. Carlisle's family is the biggest in existence, as far as I know, with the one exception. The Volturi."

Alice noticed Hekate and Jasper listening, smiling softly at Hekate. She always found them fascinating for some reason, even when Alice and Jasper had to teach her the rules they imposed on vampires.

"There were three of them originally: Aro, Caius and Marcus."

Bella frowned a little, remembering them. "I've seen them, in the picture in Carlisle's study."

Alice nodded softly, "Two females joined them over time and the five of them make up the royal family. I'm not sure but I suspect their age is what gives them the ability to live peacefully together. They are well over three thousand years old. Maybe it's their gifts that give them extra tolerance, except Caius. Aro and Marcus are talented like Hekate, Jasper and I. Maybe it's just their love of power that binds them together, which is most likely the case for Caius. Royalty is an apt description."

Bella frowned, noticing something, "You only mentioned five."

Hekate shook her head, "That's just the head of the Volturi."

Jasper frowned a little, "The Volturi have many members in the coven, including a substantial number making up the guard.

Bella raised her eyebrows, feeling a little more intimidated now. "That sounds… serious."

Hekate rolled her eyes, "Quite serious, as they exist to eliminate threats to the Volturi and the secrecy of vampirism." She smirked a little when Bella gulped.

Alice narrowed her eyes at Hekate before continuing. "There were nine members of the guard that were permanent, the last time we heard. Other are more, transitionary it seems. Many of them are gifted as well, with formidable gifts. Gifts that make what I can do look like a parlor trick. They're more up to par with Hekate's gifts. The Volturi chose them for their abilities, physical or otherwise."

Jasper frowned a little when he noticed they were almost to the airport. "They don't get into too many confrontations. No one would dare mess with them. The Volturi stay in Volterra, only leaving if duty calls."

Bella turned around to face him and Hekate, tilting her head. "Duty?"

Hekate glanced down at her book, laying it on her lap. "The Volturi are considered royalty because they rule over vampire kind. They enforce the rules or punish the vampires, or humans, who break those rules. They don't let anyone get away with breaking a single rule."

Bella's eyes got so wide it looked like they would pop out of her head. "There are rules?"

Hekate huffed, "Did you honestly think you could just be turned at random and do whatever you wanted as a supernatural being?" She turned to Bella and narrowed her eyes. "A newborn can wipe out a city on their own. Which is why vampires need to be kept in check." Bella looked paler than normal to Hekate, making her feel much better.

Alice chuckled softly as Bella mumbled about no one mentioning the rules. "The rules aren't that complicated, Bella. There's only one core restriction. If you think about it, you can probably figure it out for yourself."

Bella looked like she was actually trying but gave up, "Nope. I have no idea."

Hekate mumbled to herself, rolling her eyes, "Shocker there."

Alice sighed, rubbing her temples. She felt like Hekate's mother with how much she was sassing Bella. "Hekate, please." She then glanced at Bella, "All vampires have to keep our existence a secret."

Bella looked embarrassed, "Oh…"

Alice nodded, "It makes sense and most of us don't need policing. But, after a few centuries, sometimes one of us gets bored. Or crazy. I don't know. The Volturi will step in before it can compromise them, or the rest of us."

Bella bit at her lip anxiously before she realized that was a bad idea when surrounded by vampires. "So, Edward…"

Hekate looked out the window, rolling her eyes again. "Is using that law to force the Volturi into killing him. Which is what we've been talking about since Alice's vision. Come on, Bella."

Jasper smirked a little before glancing at the human. "They especially won't let Edward break a rule in their city. They city they've secretly held control over for three thousand years, since the time of the Etruscans. They're very protective of their city and don't allow hunting within the walls. It's probably the safest city in the world, from vampire attack at the very least."

Bella frowned at Jasper, ignoring Hekate's hateful remarks again. "They don't leave though. How do they eat?"

Alice nodded softly, grimacing a little. "They don't leave. They bring in their food from the outside, from quite far away sometimes. It gives their guard something to do when they're not out annihilating mavericks. Or protecting Volterra from exposure."

Bella sighed as she finished Alice's sentence, "From situations like this one, like Edward."

Hekate looked at Bella, looking uninterested. "I don't know if they're quite used to a angsty teenage vampire killing himself because his blood singer died. Especially after said emo vamp left the girl to die."

Bella glared at Hekate, getting to her feet. "He is not-"

Hekate glared back at Bella, getting to her feet as well. She was just beginning to make Bella's fingers go numb when Jasper pulled her back on the couch. "I really don't like her."

Jasper rubbed her arm, looking at Bella. "It's quite late Bella, you should get some rest."

Hekate ignored Alice talking to Bella while getting her a blanket and pillow. "Finally, some silence."

Jasper chuckled, patting her leg, handing her book to her. Hekate curled up against Jasper while she began reading, trying focus on the story and not Bella.

{X}

Hekate glanced over when Alice suddenly gasped loudly. Her eyes were glowing in the faint light from the cabin. "Alice?"

Bella sat up quickly from the seats, "Alice? What's wrong?"

Jasper flashed to his wife's side, rubbing her hands. "Darlin'?"

Alice smiled brightly at everyone, "Nothing's wrong. It's right. They're deliberating but they've decided to tell him no."

Bella frowned softly, speaking groggily with sleep. "The Volturi?"

Alice nodded, "Or course, Bella, keep up. I can see what they're going to say."

Jasper gently urged her, "Which is?"

Alice gently kissed his hand, "They're interested in him. They think his talent could be useful. They're going to offer him a place with them."

Jasper seemed really interested then, "Oh really?"

Alice nodded, "I can't see his response yet but I'll bet it's colorful." She then grinned again. "This is the first good news, the first break. They're intrigued. They truly don't want to destroy him. 'Wasteful' is the word Aro will use. That may be enough to force Edward to get creative. The longer he spends on his plans, the better for us."

Hekate turned out the rest of the conversation, humming as she thought about how the Volturi confrontation would be for Edward. She wished she could be there to watch just to see Edward face the elder vampires.

{X}

Bella woke up to the blinds being snapped shut on all the windows, all the vampires moving around. She groaned as he rubbed her face, "What's happening, Alice?"

Alice snapped the last one shut, turning to Bella. "They've told him no." Her enthusiasm was gone now, something Hekate and Jasper had noticed not long before. She hadn't said anything until now, though.

Bella clenched her pants in her hands, "What's he going to do?"

Alice frowned as she remembered her visions. "It was chaotic at first. I was only getting flickers, he was changing plans so quickly." She sighed, remembering the worst ones. "There was a bad hour…" She was whispering now, looking tortured which led to Jasper holding her tightly. "He'd decided to go hunting." She looked up at Bella, knowing she realized what she meant. "In the city. It got very close. He changed his mind at the last minute."

Bella frowned, looking down at the carpet, "He wouldn't want to disappoint Carlisle."

Alice sighed softly, leaning into her husband, "Probably…"

Bella sat up straight, brushing her hair back. "Will there be enough time?"

Alice thought about it. "I think so. We've gained a lot of time. If he sticks to his latest decision, at least."

Hekate raised an eyebrow. "What now?" She had heard Alice mumble about some of his plans, wondering which way Edward settled on. She didn't like Edward at all but it was hitting her a little hard now… She had killed herself and now Edward was trying to as well… It was bringing back bad memories for herself and the others too she was sure.

"He's just going to walk out into the sun."

Bella noticed the faint light hitting the windows, feeling panicked. "How could we possibly make it in time?"

Alice shook her head, "He's being dramatic. He wants the biggest audience possible. He's chosen the main plaza, under the clock tower. The walls are high there. He'll wait there until the sun is exactly overhead."

Bella relaxed a little. "So, we have until noon."

Alice nodded, "If we're lucky. If he sticks with this decision."

Hekate turned when the co-pilot called out to them over the speakers, "We'll be arriving very shortly. Please return to your seats and buckle up."

Making it through security was easy enough, especially since Jasper had his, Alice's and Hekate's passports with him. Bella had her own, thankfully. Jasper and Hekate left Bella with Alice while they got the car Jasper reserved on the way to the airport.

The car they chose made Bella's jaw drop when Hekate drove up to the curb edge, peering at Bella over her sunglasses. The car was a black Porsche with turbo written in cursive across the back. It was a sedan so it could fit all four of them, though. Hekate had a scarf around her hair and a light plaid jacket on. She also had leather gloves on. Her skin was all hidden from the sun that beat down on them.

Jasper was in a leather jacket, black shirt and jeans. He had leather gloves on as well. He got out and held open the door for Alice and Bella. "Ladies."

Bella quickly got inside while Alice scooted over for her. "Thank you." She then looked up at Hekate, "Did you steal this car?"

Hekate chuckled softly, "No. Jasper reserved it while on the way to the Washington airport."

Bella made an 'oh' sound that wasn't heard because Hekate revved the engine loudly, heading out of the airport and toward Volterra. She then turned to Alice, feeling anxious. "How far is it from Florence to Volterra?"

Alice glanced at the speedometer as Hekate floored it, "Hmm. Not that long with how fast we're driving."

Bella gulped when she realized Hekate was zooming around the traffic on the road, flying as she did. "What if we get stopped by the police or a roadblock?"

Alice tapped her temple, "Trust me. I can avoid the police and Hekate is going too fast to be stopped by a roadblock."

Hekate pressed the car to its limits as she zoomed through the Tuscan landscape. She was able to enjoy the views as she drove though, something she was thankful for. The landscape was truly beautiful. It was very different from New York but she preferred the open land and green everywhere.

It almost felt like coming home even though she had never left the United States in her life, as a human or vampire.

"Do you see anything more?"

Alice mumbled, looking through her visions. "There's something going on. Some kind of festival. The streets are full of people and red flags. What's the date today?"

Jasper glanced back at his wife, realizing what was going on. "It's the nineteenth, darlin."

Hekate chuckled, "It's Saint Marcus Day. This just got a lot more difficult."

Bella frowned, "What's that mean?"

Alice sighed, "The city holds a celebration every year. As the legend goes, a Christian missionary, Father Marcus, Marcus of the Volturi in fact, drove all the vampires from Volterra fifteen hundred years ago. The story claims he was martyred in Romania, still trying to drive away the vampire scourge. Of course, that's nonsense. He's never left the city. But that's where some of the superstitions about things like crosses and garlic come from. Father Marcus used them so successfully. Vampires don't trouble Volterra so they must work."

Jasper chuckled softly, "It's become more of a celebration of the city, a recognition of the police force. Volterra is an amazingly safe city, which they think is the police's work."

Hekate frowned in the rear-view mirror as she glanced at Bella. "This means the Volturi might go after Edward quicker than before. They won't stand for anything on a day like this."

Bella nodded, looking a bit more terrified but more determined. Hekate had to give the human some credit, she had guts.

"He's still planning on noon?"

"Yes. He's decided to wait, they're waiting for him."

Bella nodded, "Tell me what I have to do."

Alice shook her head, "You don't have to do anything. He just has to see you before he moves into the light. He has to see you before he sees any of us."

Bella frowned, "How are we going to work that?"

Hekate glanced back at Bella, "I'm going to get as close to the center of town as possible."

Alice nodded, "When she stops, you run in the direction I tell you, okay?"

Bella nodded softly. "Okay."

Alice smirked a little, "Try not to trip. We don't have time for a concussion today."

Hekate laughed when Bella groaned, everyone knowing how true the statement was. Her attention was then drawn to the city they were rapidly approaching. It was on the hill in front of them, the wall surrounding the entire city. It looked magnificent even with the flood of people heading into the city. "Volterra…" While her voice showed how amazed she was, Alice's voice sounded flat and cold when she whispered the town's name.