-Chapter 10-

Bella's POV

The rest of the care ride was fill with silence, despite the coughs I let out. I have a feeling I was coming down with the cold or maybe I was just imagining it all, I don't know. We entered the city of New York shortly after that little discussion I had with Edward. Edward was emotionless and sullen after that, afraid that if he says something, he might upset me. I couldn't imagine how he could because I know that everything bad that happened to me was all my fault. I did, after all, start this corruption.

I sighed as I looked at the busy streets of New York. Everything was so bright and colourful. There was a lot of horn honking and angry drivers with pretty cars and expensive customs. The people scowering the streets were all dressed very well, despite the few homeless people roaming the streets begging for money. I smiled slightly as I saw a homeless man ask for money then put the change in the parking meter before it expired. Some people are just so kind and the bad just seems to attract to them like a moth to a flame.

I decided to break the silence. "Where do your old demon friends live?" I asked.

"In a mansion somewhere here." He replied simply.

"How many are there?" I murmured.

"Two. Both are male, Aro and Felix." Edward nodded.

"Oh." Was all I came up with.

"Look, it's over there." He pointed to a huge mansion.

They had a black fancy pointed fence made of metal as gates. There were those high hedges conturing the perimeter of the house. It had a light, airy feeling to it. Windows plastered every wall of the house and there was a balcony at the back if you look carefully enough. It was very modernized and grand. I had no other way of describing it.

Edward pulled up towards the gates and nodded absentminded. Three seconds later, the two black gates opened up by themselves and I was not doubting that Edward used his abilities to do so. He drove up to the driveway and parked his car there. We both got out.

"This way." Edward smiled. I followed him to the front door.

Before we could knock, the door swung open and a very handsome looking man was in the doorway. He had blonde hair, red eyes that matched Edwards, pale skin and a welcoming smile. But something about him was a little off. Maybe it was the demonic era.

"Edward!" The man standing in the doorway greeted eagerly.

"Aro." Edward grinned widely.

"So nice to see you again." The man I now know was named Aro nodded his head once. He then looked at me curiously and furrowed his brows. "And I see you have brought a guest."

Edward shot him a deranged look but the man seemed to understand who I was and gestured for us to enter his home. His house was really beautiful. It was fully furnished - something I wasn't expecting from a retired demon. It had high ceilings, a huge television, several sofas and a fluffy carpet in the middle of the foor. The fire place was on and I was beginning to wonder if he was human instead.

I looked over my shoulder and Edward was talking to Aro.

"Bella?" Edward glanced over at me, Aro did the same.

"Yeah?" I asked, kind of intimidated by the stranger.

"This is Aro." He said, gesturing to the stranger.

I smiled curtly, not knowing what to say.

"Whom must you be?" Aro smiled. His smile was devilish and scary, like a murderer after killing his target or a Cheshire cat.

"Isabella Swan." I whispered.

"Don't be afraid, Ms. Swan." Aro walked slowly and gracefully towards me. "You know what I am. And I know who you are."

I looked at Edward who was sternly watching over me.

"Alright." I murmured.

"Alright." He mimicked.

"Bella." Edward held out and open arm out towards me and I walked towards him. He wrapped his arm around me protectively...and I kind of liked it, too.

"Fascinating." A voice in a far corner of the room muttered.

A man of the same height as Edward, maybe 6'1", came towards us. He had dark coloured hair and the same red eyes as Aro and Edward did. He was dressed all in black. He had a sullen, cold look on his face - that is until he looked into my eyes.

"Oh! A guest." He then smiled cruelly. Was Edward the only demon who's smile didn't look frightening? "I don't believe I have ever met you before."

"You haven't." Edward replied for me, his arm tightening around my waist.

"Oh? Are you two," The stranger cleared his throat. "a couple?"

"No." Edward replied, hesitantly.

"Good." Aro and the stranger sneered. "Because relationships between the soul and the demon is forbidden."

"I know that." I looked up at Edward and frowned at him. He knew about that?

Aro and the stranger came forth and looked between Edward and I. They didn't look happy whatsoever.

"This, I presume, will cause a problem." The stranger growled.

"A problem?" I whispered, mostly to Edward.

"You are developping strange feelings for him. That is not allowed. Not here, not in this house, not on Earth not in heaven and most certainly not in Hell." Aro replied ferociously.

"I'm not." I growled through clenched teeth.

"Liar."