Another big thank you to Mrs. Edward B Cullen for reviewing yet again.

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EDWARD POV

Burning, slowly burning – the ending, absolute finality; my demise, my death.

This is all I think about.

There is no coherent thought in me. All that consumes me, motivates me even, is death.

It has been three weeks. Three weeks of sorrow and pain and endings.

Telling Charlie was horrible. It was pouring rain, like the sky had opened up and wept; I went with Carlisle to my love's home to tell her father she was dead. Ever since the discovery of her demise, my family had me in a 24-hour watch: they knew I desperately wanted to track Victoria, but more so than that they knew I wanted to go to Volterra to end it all. Carlisle came with me, but Emmett, Jasper, Alice, and Rose were all in the nearby forest waiting for me to bolt. Esme was in pain as well; she hadn't left the house in days.

Charlie knew as soon as he opened the door what our news was. The hatred in his eyes for me was evident – I saw flashes of a broken Bella before I came back, I heard her screams in the middle of the night – I had no idea. Seeing her alive, even in pain, in his memories stirred something in me. I needed to see her body. This wasn't final enough.

Charlie attempted to remain stoic, but his mind was frenzied. I saw flashes of Bella as a baby, a little girl, falling in a ballet costume, laughing, blowing out birthday candles – Charlie's mind even saw things that he'd never see – he imagined Bella in a wedding dress. I was stunned when I saw the image, and I gasped when I was there, imagined too, as lifting Bella's veil and kissing her to be mine for eternity.

My eyes must have held something frightening – Charlie looked at me when I gasped and his eyes softened. I don't know what was said after that; I just kept replaying that image in my mind and chanting:

I was supposed to marry her.

My love's funeral was a couple days after that. I stared at myself in my bathroom mirror. I was wearing a suit. I should've looked like this to wed her. I remember looking at the countertop and seeing her toothbrush – I sunk to my knees then and wept until Alice came and found me.

This wasn't right – I was going to Bella's funeral? I couldn't comprehend it.

After, I "quit" school. Carlisle told the school that I was homeschooling for the rest of my high school education. I refused to try and attempt normalcy; it wasn't possible. This meant that one or two of my siblings would have to stay home as well and "watch" me while Carlisle was away at work. First Jasper and Alice stayed – Alice was silent and Jasper was trying in vain to calm me, send me acceptance. Next Emmett and Rosalie – they just stayed their distance; Emmett occasionally throwing me worried glances. They switched off every-other week.

That was three weeks ago, I thought, as my hand found her ring once again around my neck.

I will never move on, I will never accept her death – vampire love lasts all time. The only release would be death. But my family would never have it. Maybe I could go to the wolves.

"No", Alice whispered from across the room. Jasper looked up at her then at me.

"She's gone – there is no reason for me to live any longer", my voice croaked.

"Edward", Jasper said softly, in a sympathetic tone.

"If you did that, it would destroy Esme", Alice said flatly, "you cannot do that to her – or to us. We need you".

"I'm a hindrance – you all could get on with your lives without me", I whispered – terror creeping into my voice. Without Bella here – I notice that I am exceedingly anxious and I wring my hands and tug on my hair more. I need her.

"Edward", Esme walked into the room with Carlisle, Emmett and Rose behind them, "we need you here", she said.

"I need proof", I said simply.

"That's impossible", Carlisle started, "the odds of finding something concrete to tell us exactly what happened is not going to happen. The best we can do is plan with Sam and the pack to keep hunting Victoria – "

"We have to find her", Emmett said, venom in his voice.

"We will", Carlisle said tensely.

"Edward, please", Rosalie whispered.

I didn't realize I had begun growling at the mention of her name.

"I need proof", I began again, "I want to go to Italy myself".

That started an outburst, "No!", Esme shouted.

'We all know why you'd really go", Rosalie said.

"Hell no, Edward", Emmett.

"Please give it time", Jasper.

"Bella wouldn't want that", Alice – my shoulders slumped forward.

"If we all go together, perhaps Aro may help us find Victoria", Carlisle said quietly.

My head snapped up to look at him. His eyes were sad.

"I don't want to imagine what you are going through, Edward. I never want to", he said, "and if there is some way to rectify this without you taking your life, then I will help".

I wish I could weep, gratefully looking at Carlisle, I heard the rest of family agree. Plans quickly form around me for a trip to Italy; Esme immediately is on the phone with our private jet pilot – we are leaving tonight. As much as I ache, I am appreciative of my family. Hopefully we will have some support and answers by tomorrow night.

I need to avenge Bella's murder, then I can buy my time for some few years– then end my life. There is no possibility of me waiting until the Armageddon to see her again. I'm giving myself five years. Five years to find Victoria, kill her, and then find Bella in heaven.

From across the room, Alice eyed me knowingly.

I ignored her.

BELLA POV

Breathe in, breathe out; sleep; stay in existence – whatever existence I end up with. I live for tomorrow – I am hanging on by a thread to see my love again.

What I would give just to tell him that I love him one more time…

I know, deep down, for however long I've been here, that I am being broken. I know I should resist their words of hate, but I also know that if I do, they will only have more reason to raise their fists higher and strike more often. I have been reduced to a creature of pure reaction and instinct over time. I am on the brink of jumping into an abyss that will hold no immediate escape for me.

I have already made my decision.

I am giving myself over to their doing willingly, and I cannot look back.

If they change me, it may lead to me finding Edward again. It is pure torture living here – my only break from the horror are the often sick hallucinations of my love's voice from Demetri – even though they are hateful words, the tenor of his voice is so perfectly mimicked; it still makes my heart pound – and not from fear.

I know I have been here for a little while. I haven't left this room since they put me in here. Sometimes it feels too small and terrible when Jane and Demetri are having their fun with me – other times it's much too big and open, leaving me feeling small, insignificant. My days have consisted of the same routine: I wake up fro minutes of sleep every so often, Demetri shoves a china plate at me with bits of fruit or bread, and I always get a visit from him and Jane – Jane, who takes swipes at me while Demetri uses Edward's voice and image to tell me I'm worthless. Aro will come by before they kill me, he tells them to stop and then always says that I'm almost ready.

I am far beyond ready. I am ready to die – I'm tired of the delay. Aro knows this and uses it against me.

I am of the thought that the quicker I'm changed, the sooner I can find Edward.

Oh my Edward. Where are you? What are you doing? Is Charlie ok? Do you know what happened to me? My body, my soul absolutely ache to touch him, to have him touch me. My heart pounds when I think of our last night together – his purring in my ear, his cold and loving touch, his breath on my lips, whispering he was throwing his boundaries out the door.

I was supposed to marry him.

Tears streak down my face – I don't react. My tears make regular appearances.

My door creaks open then.

"Crying so soon pet?" Demetri snickers from Aro's remark. I don't move from my spot on the ground. Jane is standing near Demetri, grinning at me wickedly.

"How long have I been here?" I whisper.

"Three weeks and 2 days", Aro says calmly.

My heart lurches, "What happened to me? What does my family think?"

Aro smirks when I say 'family', "You are dead to the world, Isabella". When I say nothing he continues, "Victoria came to us". My head snaps up at this.

"When?"

"Very shortly after you left with little Alice and your Edward", he smiles for a moment, "you see – she showed me her involvement with you, the destruction of her mate by Edward. She was so… venomous. Her hatred for you was overwhelming. She asked us to help get rid of you", he beamed at me. "I now had a problem. I had just told you that as long as you were changed, I wouldn't harm you; but such hatred she had for you! I had to see how far she would take her revenge. Marcus and Caius wanted nothing to do with it, so in front of them I told her no. After she left us, I sent Demetri, Jane, Marco and Lucinda to follow her", Aro motioned towards the evil two standing just inside my room. "They followed her straight to you and immediately reported back to me that you had not been changed! It was perfect timing really – with Marco's power, we were virtually unstoppable; Lucinda as well – she can block any power from functioning normally. We took you and your Cullen's are none the wiser".

I was confused, "what happened to Victoria? What do the Cullen's think happen to me? What makes you think they won't come here?"

"Questions, questions!" Aro laughed, "I had Victoria killed in Forks. Afterwards, Lucinda blocked your family from knowing our presence and Demetri lured Esme out of the house and we took you. It was very easy. They drove to the cliffs – near the dogs – and shredded your clothing and smeared your blood on the ground leading to the cliffs, all the way down to the rocks. Quite a messy demise if it had happened. They made sure to plant one of Victoria's belongings covered in her scent on the scene. They have to assume Victoria killed you".

I couldn't breathe.

"Carlisle came here shortly after", my heart stopped, "he informed me about your 'disappearance'. I put on a wonderful act for my brothers – they were shocked by the news. Carlisle left soon after".

My blood ran cold, "why are you telling me all of this?"

Aro laughed, "my dear – you belong to me now! My brothers know nothing of your presence. As for telling you your fate and why you're here – you will not remember after today".

I felt my brow crease, "why?"

"You're dying today, my lovely".

"Most vampires remember their lives after the change", I offered.

"You won't. Why do you think I've allowed Jane and Demetri to play with you? A severely weakened body won't retain memories through the change. I've made sure you won't."

My heart broke. My brain was trying to catch up with everything I was just told. Edward thinks I'm dead. I'm going to be changed today. I won't remember anything.

How will I remember Edward?

"When?" I whispered, tears dropping off of my chin.

Aro's eyes are suddenly tense, "Now".

I am impulsively scared – I didn't expect that.

Aro turns to Demetri and Jane in doorway, "Remember to block your thoughts when our visitors arrive".

I hear this and wonder…. Thoughts?, "what visitors?"

Aro ignores my question, "the sooner the better my pet, time is wasting away".

I started to breathe hard as he swiftly approached me, "timing?"

"Wait…", I start.

Aro is quick.

He is on top of me, holding my arms down and using his head to push mine to the side, exposing my neck. He hisses, his eyes sparkling and teeth gleaming; I hear multiple footsteps echoing off of the tunnel walls, nearing y chamber. My eyes are trained on my open door; Aro bends closer, inhaling.

I feel his teeth sink deeply into my neck slowly.

I feel pain and he moans; I can feel blood running down my body; Aro is not drinking – I can feel ice seep into my neck, it's not as forceful as I imagined.

Then I feel the fire.

I clutch at my neck as Aro stands and wipes his mouth on my bed blankets. I try hard not to give him the satisfaction of my screams. My eyes are still on the doorway – Demetri and Jane stand there smiling.

The blackness of the doorway is interrupted by Marco and Lucinda – their eyes are wild.

I feel like I'm underwater; I can't breathe or move anymore; my body is about to panic.

I blurrily see Lucinda run to Aro saying, "They are here! They have come demanding to know what happened to her!"

I know – Cliffy. I will post tomorrow so no worries.

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