Departure

"So he changed you. May I?"

Aro was eager to know all of what had happened. He walked to her and slowly raised his hand to her face. He touched her hair as if learning the texture. His eyes constantly roamed over her face. Anna realized Aro didn't feel cold to her anymore. She kept still with her eyes steadily on his. It seemed like the three Volturi were in shock above all else.

"May I have your hand Anna?" Anna placed her hand on his palm. "Hmm…nothing, absolutely amazing." Aro stated.

Anna kept all emotion from her face. It would not be wise to enjoy Aro's disappointment openly. He could no longer read her thoughts.

"How I wish I had seen it Anna. He refused to change anyone since we've had him here. Can you tell me about it?" Aro asked eagerly.

"It was painful Master Aro, so much pain." Anna knew not to share the truth about her change with Aro. 'Some things were better learnt in death' as her master had said.

"As is ours" Aro concluded with thoughts of his own change in mind.

"Aro, does he plan to make more like her?" Caius interrupted Aro's moment.

"I do not know. Does he Anna?" He turned the question to her.

"I don't know. Charlotte gifted me to him. He honored the gesture by changing me."

"I see." Aro was not happy to hear that.

"Well Anna, this means you will be staying with us too then. There is so much to learn from your new form. I understand that your females can breed while ours cannot. I would like to see you turn another." Aro stated while lost in thought at the possibilities.

"This must not be allowed Aro. He did not get permission to change her. It is a sign of disrespect. We should kill her too before our world turns on its axis. The others know nothing of their existence." Caius was angry and out for blood.

Anna did not flinch at the threat on her life. She understood that all of them, no matter how old they are, were like children to her. Children who were more in touch with the world around them that always left their parents one step behind. 'like with computers' she thought. She had expected the reaction she received. The shock, confusion, anger and even Caius' tantrum.

"Brother there are only two. They are no threat to us. Imagine all that we could learn." Caius huffed with irritation. Marcus stood in the corner quietly.

"Will I ever be free to leave this place Master Aro?" Anna asked knowing the answer.

"I don't see how that is possible. You were created without proper consent and can never go home with what you are now. You do not know anything of vampire. It would be irresponsible to leave you to your own devices. Keeping you here will keep you protected young Anna."

Edward walked into the library at that moment. Two guards stumbled in behind him. He looked more handsome and alive than Anna remembered. There was fire in his eyes. He exuded an aura of power around him.

"Master –"

"We apologize Master but he –" They out of balance guards tried to explain his interruption but Aro waved them out quickly.

"What is the meaning of this interruption" Caius addressed Edward

"I am here for her. I have overstayed my welcome and it's time I left. Annabel comes with me. I will teach her all she needs to know to survive and protect her." Edward was calm and authoritative.

"What? You decided to leave? You are captive here." Caius fumed

"Was!" Edward snarled. "I have stayed half a millennia longer than I should have." This fact stopped Caius' rant.

"Where will you go? How will you survive without guards or dogs? We have killed them all. There are none like you alive. Who will you call on?" Aro fired questions as he tried to find reason to keep them two in Volterra.

"I have my freedom Aro. I do not need much to survive." Edward answered calmly.

He turned to face Marcus who was staring at him intensely. Aro did not miss the look. He hurried to touch Marcus' hand and started. He stared between Edward and Anna. Marcus could discern the bonds between beings. Edward and Anna were strongly bonded as some mated pairs of their kind. Aro's curiosity burned. He wanted to keep them at Volterra and study them.

"Dear friend you may leave if you wish but Anna must stay. Grant her the opportunity to learn and mature under our protection. We have much to offer her here" Aro tried again.

"Anna can survive very well on her own." Edward opened the sides of his coat to take out his swords. "A gift from her to me. These were retrieved from your library. Aren't there guards at the door at all times?"

Aro grinded his teeth. He was angry. 'How could she have done that? A powerless newborn! And how is it that I know nothing of it?'

"I was very impressed with her when she brought me these. I'd like the rest of my possessions returned. She is very efficient. Your guards were not harmed. Dare I say they never saw her get in and out of this room." Edward ignored the daggers Aro sent his way.

"I'm ready to leave Aro. Release her to me." He stood three inches taller than Aro with their eyes locked.

"And if I don't? She stole from my library. That is a punishable crime." Aro reached for any reason to win. He had decided he wanted Anna in his guard.

"She returned what is rightfully mine. I will leave her behind if you insist to keep her. Heed my warning, she will wreck havoc. You know our females are stronger. It will be impossible to keep her existence secret to the world."

"I will follow where you go Master Edward." Anna spoke up with conviction. Her words were submissive to Edward yet threatening to the others.

"The girl will stay." It was Caius who affirmed. "You may leave." He left the room.

"Let them both go Aro. This can only end badly." Marcus left the room with those words.

"Anna will stay my friend." Aro decided. Anna turned her face slightly to look at Edward, nodded and left the room.

"As you wish," Edward left Aro with Anna in the study. He showed her where he'd be waiting for her. She was to join him in an hour.

Aro was anxious. He had no way to know Anna's thoughts but he was determined to keep her in any way possible. Anna smiled her most innocent and left to go pack her things.

She only took her most treasured belongings. The guard outside her door tried to stop her from leaving. She made them fight each other with another attempt at hypnosis which was successful. She attacked all on her path in the same manner as she made way to the outside. Behind her was a trail of vicious vampire fights.

Edward smiled when she came into view. "You are quite crafty when you need to be my Annabel."

She smiled back. It was the first time he exerted his claim on her like that.

"You did promise a wreck of havoc. I was doing as you wish." She laughed.

"Aro has now learnt of your absence and six deaths of his guard. He is not happy." Edward's head was tilted to the side. He was listening to the thoughts inside the castle a short distance away.

They ran in the direction of the ocean. Edward knew they'd be hunted. Anna simply enjoyed exploring her new body. They stopped to steal a waterproof bag for their belongings and leaped into the ocean waters for a long swim.