9—A Trip to Volterra
Anna-Lynne's POV

I stayed in the truck while she walked to the door of a small house.

"Jake will be back in a few." The man said.

"Okay, I'll be down at the beach." Bella said. The man nodded. I got out and we walked along the beach. We started throwing stones across the water to see who's could go farther.

I won of course. That's when I smelt them. Werewolves, or rather, the Shape-shifters.

Bella went off to greet them but I stayed here and listened. "Hey Jake! How are you?" Bella asked.

"Good." He paused.

I looked over at him for a second, smiled, and waved. He had two others with him. He stared, wide-eyed. The other two did the same.

"Bella what's a vampire doing here?" The named Jake asked.

Bella didn't have a chance to answer before I was there in an instant. "Well hello there Mr. Wolf, I'm Anna-Lynne and F.Y.I., I'm not a vampire." I said ending with a giggle.

Jake looked at Bella, then looked back at me and raised an eyebrow. He looked me up and down. I had my hands on my hips and had my eyebrows raised in amusement.

Jake put his hand on my arm. I laughed a bit as he pulled it away with a curious look on his face.

"A Pixie I presume? Our ally?" Jake said.

"Yes sir." I said with a mock salute.

Jake's two friends smiled at me. "Took long enough Jake? The smell makes it obvious." One of Jake's friends said.

"Shut-up Quil." Jake said.

I giggled.

"Well it's nice to know we have an ally outside of La Push." Jake's other friend said.

"Bella, is this what you meant when you said 'Then you moved to the right place' on Tuesday?" I asked.

"Yes, and you heard that?" I nodded.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Jake asked.

"I think proper introductions are needed." Bella said.

"Oh, right I'm Jacob Black; this is Quil Ateara, and Embry Call."

"I'm Anna-Lynne MacKenzie."

"Nice to meet you."

For the rest of the time at La Push, we did all sorts of activities, some of which Bella had difficulty with. After 7pm came, we said good-bye to Jake, Quil and Embry and headed home.

Bella dropped me off at my house and I walked in.

"Rye! I'm back!" I said. No answer. "Rye?" Silence. I took my coat off and walked in. "Rye?" I said, getting anxious. Still nothing but silence. "Ryderson Mitchell Cullen! Where the hell are you?" I shouted.

Suddenly cold arms wrapped around my waist and cold lips at my throat.

I screamed before I realized it was only Rye. "Oh my God! Don't do that!" I said as my heart-beat slowed.

"Sorry, it was too easy."

I sighed. "I've got to go pack." I said getting free.

I packed the summer stuff Alice had bought me, now knowing the reason why. I packed two tank tops, two pairs of shorts and my sandals.

After that was done, I went to bed.

When I woke up the next morning, I got ready immediately. I put on a blue shirt, black jeans, a red sweater and a silver bracelet.

For the weekend I wouldn't need scarves and I didn't want to pack any bracelets. But, I did pack, for a just in case sequence, my short black dress and gold heels, and my long purple dress and silver heels. Plus the necklace I was wearing, the one given to me by my parents.

I put on a blue jacket and white flats. I went downstairs where Rye had his bag.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Yeah." He said. "So who are these friends of yours anyway? I wasn't aware you knew anyone in Italy."

"You'll find out. It's a surprise."

He groaned. I went out to the car and Rye got in the passenger's side. I drove to the airport. Once we were on the plane I got something to eat. I slept on the plane because I hadn't gotten a good sleep last night.

When I woke up, we were landing in Italy. Rye and I had only book bags so we only needed to rent a car. I drove.

"Do these friends of yours know you're coming?" Rye asked.

"Er...no, although they used to expect me every second year since I was 7, I went when I was 7, then 9, then 11 and 13. I always went with Dad. Then he and Mom died and I missed 15 and 17. I think I'll start coming every year, more than once a year. I've missed my best friend, and pretty much my sister, terribly." I said.

"Oh, okay."

"This is a surprise for her and her...family." I said. Rye nodded. I didn't want him to know where we were going yet so I took the way with no road signs.

Dad always took this way.

We were allowed into the city and I drove to the entrance Dad had taken me through last time.

"Do you know where we are yet?" I asked Rye.

He shook his head no. This was the entrance with the elevator instead of the tunnel I usually had taken with Dad. We walked through the doors and went straight to the elevator. I wiped my cover-up off to reveal my tattoo.

We hit the ground floor. And once we walked out, Rye knew exactly where we were and who we were visiting.

"We're in Volterra? Visiting the Volturi?" He asked incredulously. I nodded.

"Who are you best friends with?"

"Jane, we're both the same physical age now." I said.

"Jane? Wow." I laughed. I walked up to the receptionist.

"Hello. Is Jane in?" I asked.

"Yes, are you expected?" She asked.

"No, this is a surprise visit." I said.

"Have you been here before?"

"Yes, four times before this. I haven't been here in almost five years though."

"Okay."

"Oh by the way, tell her that 'Lynnie' is here, okay?"

"Of course." She turned to the intercom. "Miss Jane?"

"Yes Gianna?" Came Jane's voice, but it sounded exasperated, like she was tired or annoyed.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but, there's a girl here to see you. She goes by the name Lynnie?"

There was a lot of scrambling on the other end. "Gianna! Tell her I'll be there in a minute!"

"Okay Miss Jane."

Gianna turned to me.

"Jane will be here in a minute."

And just as she said, the doors burst open and Jane had her arms around me and she knocked us both over.

"Lynnie! Oh my gosh it really is you!" Jane said and looked down on me.

I smiled when I saw she still wore the flower that I gave in her hair.

"Why haven't you visited in five years? I was so disappointed when you didn't come when you were 15." Jane said.

We both got off the ground.

"You didn't hear? I guess no one did except the Pixies." I said.

"Hear what? What happened?"

"Jasynne and Corinne were murdered by the Pixents who invaded our home. Right in front of me too." I said choking on the last words.

"You poor thing! How'd you get away?" Jane asked.

I gestured to Rye. "Rye has been my guardian or protector since I was 7. When I was 14, he got me away from the Pixents and has been with me ever since." I said.

"Well thank-you Rye, for keeping my sister safe."

"Oh, right. Rye, this is Jane Volturi, Jane, this is Ryderson Cullen." I said.

"Is he a part of the Cullen coven?"

"No, well sort of, he's Carlisle's biological nephew." I said.

"You've met the Cullen's? How?" Jane asked.

"Where do you think I'm living now?"

She gasped. "You moved all the way from Paris to Forks? Wow I'm impressed."

"I know, it took a day for me to realize they were vampires. I didn't really notice them till my second day." I said.

"Oh, well it's nice that you've met them."

"Yeah."

"So how long are you here for?"

"Well, I had today off of school and Monday, I'm going home Monday night, so three days."

"Wow." She sighed. "You're so grown-up. I'm sure Aro, Marcus and Caius would love to see you know. Last time Aro and Marcus saw you, you weren't my height, you were about 5 inches shorter, and much younger looking. Come on, let's go."

I thought about previous visits and realized I'd never met Caius; he's never been here whenever I came.

"Is Caius actually here?" I asked Jane.

"Yeah, he's here...you've never met Caius. I just realized that. He's always gone when you're here, oh this is perfect! He's always wanted to meet you." Jane said.

"Hey, could I change first?" I asked.

"Of course! The only change we've made to your room is the bed."

"Okay, come on Rye." I said grabbing his arm. Jane led us down to the familiar hallway to my old room. She had been right, the only thing different was the bed.

"Okay, I'll be right out."

I closed the door and got out my black dress and gold heels. I quickly changed and put my hair half up and half down. I opened the door.

"Oh Lynnie! That looks really good on you." Jane said.

"Thanks."

"You know, it's good you brought a dress, we're having a birthday ball for Alec and I."

"Huh? When's your birthday?"

"October 5th. You usually miss it because you usually come on the 8th." Jane said.

"Happy birthday! That's for all the ones I've missed!" I said hugging her. "You know, your birthday is only four days after mine?"

"Really? That's awesome, same with you bringing that dress."

"Actually, I've got another in purple with me."

"Nice, I love purple. And purple looks good on you." Jane said.

"You think so?" I asked.

"Yes." She tilted her head. "Is it a long dress?"

"Yes, why?"

"Good, I'm wearing a long dress too."

"Okay."

We reached the familiar cavernous room. "Aro, Marcus, Caius. We have a visitor." Jane said cheerfully.

"Who my dear?" Aro asked. I came into the room beside Jane with a smile.

"Me." I said.

Aro and Marcus's eyes widened. "Anna-Lynne my dear, is that you?" Aro asked.

"Yes it is Aro. It's a pleasure to meet again."

Aro stood and came forward. He came and gave me a hug "We have not seen each other in a while. We are grateful you are here once again." He said. He pulled back. "You've grown into a beautiful young woman my dear."

I blushed. "Thank-you Aro."

He looked at Rye. "And who is this?"

"This is Ryderson Cullen, Carlisle Cullen's biological nephew." I said.

"Carlisle has a nephew? Well, well, what a surprise. It is nice to meet you too Ryderson."

"You too Aro." Rye said.

Aro shook Rye's hand. "So how long have you been with our dear Anna-Lynne?"

"Since she was 7." Rye said.

"He is my protector. Ever since Jasynne and Corinne..." I hesitated. "...passed on to the next life."

There were many gasps.

"What happened?" Aro asked.

I took his hand and allowed him to only see what took place four year ago. He was surprised that he could read me, but even more surprised by the death of my parents.