This chapter will explain what happened in the last chapter, and start discussing Isabella's transformation, which is coming semi soon. I am planning on chapter 13 or earlier.

The chapter however is not as good as I would have liked, though I have to at least post something.

Please be patient when waiting for new uploads. my schedule is once every one or two days, and that is enough. dont want to exhaust the plot bunnies ;-)

Hope you enjoy none the less!

Aro's POV

I stay with Isabella, worried out of my mind as a fever runs rampant in her body, and she refuses to gain consciousness. Nightmares plague her, making her sleep yet more restless.

In her sleep she speaks of the Cullens, of being left in the woods, of wild and cold waters, and of her experience of being hunted by James. If he was still alive I would have torn him to shreds many times over for this. Nobody may harm my mate.

Vague images of her dreams drift through the edge of my awareness, which shocks me at first. My gift is working on her…but how? Was she really in such a state that her shield could not even protect her mind, which it protects first and foremost? Luckily it stops again soon, telling me she is recovering at least a little bit. Yet still I worry.

The sight of her, pale against the white sheets makes my heart ache. I come to realize that I could never live without her again. I can not bare to lose her, not after living a damned life alone on this earth for so long.

My sisters, brothers and Isabella's wolves take turns visiting to check up on her, though I do not allow them to get close. It is already stressful enough to hold her through her dark dreams while she struggles and pleads. And as well, I do not want them to see her weak, because she would not have wanted it.

Only my own stubbornness is to blame to the fact that I wait a good five hours to admit that she needs help I can not give her. Well into the night I call for a doctor to examine my frail mate.

The guard manages to find and convince a renowned doctor from Volterra to come. I keep my distance while he looks at her, not wanting him to figure out I am not human.

He listens to her heartbeat, takes her temperature and checks her pupils. "You said this started while she was exercising?"

I nod and step closer, placing my cool hand on her forehead. She sighs, resting slightly easier. "Yes, she was overworking herself badly without my knowledge and hurting herself."

The doctor turs and shakes his head. "Do not blame yourself. She is an adult, even though she is your wife. "

I decide not to correct him. He puts his stethoscope away. "It is a very strange case…her symptoms are similar to poisoning. Do you know anything she could have come in contact with that may have been harmful? Does she own snakes? Has she been in nature, close to unknown plants?"

I shake my head. "Not at all. She has mostly been inside for the last few days.." I frown, realizing something. The symptoms remind me of something else…the fever, the twitching…it reminds me of the early stages of vampire transformation.

"Could an older injury play into it? She was bitten by a...snake, about eleven months ago. The venom was removed, but…could some have laid dormant? "

The doctor muses over it as he packs away the rest of his supplies. "In theory it could be possible, if the venom got deep into one of her bones, though it seems very unlikely. If that is the case however, there is not much we can do except let her body get rid of it. She should be strong enough to do it"

I nod. "Thank you for agreeing to come look at her. I will have payment arranged so you can be compensated well. "

He thanks me and leaves, getting guided out by a guard. I get back into the bed and pull my mate into my arms. She presses herself against my cool skin.

"I wish I could help you, my love…" I mumble as I gently grab her wrist and trace the scar James left on her. Could some of his venom really still be inside of her?

Some more hours later, after the sun has risen her fever is thankfully going down, and her eyes occasionally flicker open, though she does not respond to me. I gently coax her to drink some sips of water, after which she falls asleep again.

After an hour or two I decide to try to at least do something useful. I gently undress her and fill a bowl with warm water. I use a sponge to gently clean the sweat off her.

Just as I finish dressing her again her eyes flutter open, and her brows crinkle as she stares at me.

"A-Aro? Is that you?" She asks hoarsely, her breath short. Immediately I take her in my arms and gently help her drink some cool water.

"I am here my love. I am so, so sorry…" She places her shaking hand on my face. "Don't be, please…/just tell me what happened…"

I give a short explanation of how she trained, and led herself to collapse, followed by the illness. She blinks dazedly.

"I—I remember none of that…how could I have been so stupid? I let them see me weak…"

I kiss her gently. "None of them think you are weak, my love. They were impressed with how long you managed to keep it up at all, and how clever you became at evading them."

She blushes and hides her face in my chest. I run my hands through her hair.

Isabella's pov:

I feel like absolute crap. My head is pounding, my skin is hot and itchy, and im sick to mu stomach. How could I have let it get this far? Why did I not know my limits?

Aro speaks softly. "Isabella…I have some theories about what happened today, and I believe it is important that you know them. Are you well enough, or do you wish to sleep more first?"

I roll over, so my back rests against his chest, and I am a little bit more comfortable. His cool skin feels good on my fevered one. He wraps his arms around me, as if he heard the thought.

"Please tell me…"

He grabs my hand and kisses it. My eye falls on James's scar, which is an angry red.

"Firstly…Jane used her power on your shield to try and weaken it, correct?"

I nod, wondering what she has to do with anything. Aro sighs. "I believe part of her power may have come through, without either of you being unaware. I have seen what her power can do when used for a long time, and some of your symptoms were similar, including the muscle spasms."

I tense and shake my head. "Impossible! She would never hurt me!" He caresses me gently. I relax again.

"Im not saying she did it purposefully, my love…" I sigh, not wanting to think of it.

"What is your other theory?" I look up at him. He looks troubled.

"It plays into the previous theory…What if, when you were attacked by James, not all the venom got removed? What if some lingered, and got activated to repair you when the pain and exhaustion became too much?"

I stay silent, the information just too much to handle. His venom, still inside me? Just the idea makes me want to claw my skin off. I shiver.

"I don't…I don't want him to be my sire!" Aro coos soothingly. I whimper.

"It is okay my love, we will change you very soon, and all will be well…Only a few days, when you are recovered. I will change you, and make it as painless as possible."

I relax a little and sigh. Soon, even though I try to resist I am lured into the lull of sleep again, to rest more easy then I had before.