Almost two weeks had passed since I started my job at the library, and there had been no sign of vampire activity or anything else suspicious like that. Life had been calm, peaceful, and everything I had wished upon myself for my move to Italy. Alec had obviously got bored and found a project or something else vampire-y to do. Good riddance. The library had started to bustle in recent days, filled with students returning last year's books and taking out the next's. Luckily for me, most of the people spoke English, so my job was pretty easy. Every day I got two 20 minute breaks, then an hour at 1pm for my lunch. The library was open 24/7 during term time, to accommodate the panic lazy last minute-ers who had work for school. I had met quite a few foreign students like myself who had left home to start afresh. So far I'd got to know two Americans, three British people and an Australian. There were plenty more but the rest of them had come in bigger groups and didn't speak a lot of English.

With little over a month until the new semester started, it was mid-August and the weather was turning out to be unbearably hot. I didn't think I'd ever been this hot and sticky in all my life. If a Cullen were here I'd be able to wrap my arms around them and cool myself down instantly. Oh the things I would have done for an icy hug. Most of my days had been spent either at work, or by the lake with Ariadne and Ricardo. Occasionally I would hang out with the other foreigners like myself, around town or sightseeing, since my roommates were already familiar with all the sights. I'd grown particularly close to the English people, Tiffany, her Boyfriend Lucas, and their friend Owen. We'd explore the town together and discover cool bars and clubs, which was especially interesting to me since in the States I had to be 21 to go into anywhere like that. Over here, it was perfectly legal for me to enter a club and drink my way to an early grave. Not that I would be doing that.

On yet another sunny afternoon (no other weather was heard of) I was working silently in the library, finding a book about Mexican drug lords for a third year, who insisted that I find it within 5 minutes or she claimed she would write a letter to my manager. After dealing with her, I sat down to open the mail that had arrived at my desk earlier this morning. A thick, ivory coloured envelope with perfect calligraphy inscribed with my name hit the table. I opened it carefully, weary of the content.

Miss Swan,

Your presence is requested before The Three at the Volterra Palace.

Please ensure that you arrive promptly at 18:00 on the 17th of August.

Kind Regards,

Gianna

Oh god. I'd been dreading this. I knew it would happen at some point but I had pushed the thought to the back of my mind. Is that why I hadn't seen Alec in so long? He'd been conspiring against me with his family. I had no idea what to do. Go, stay, either way I was probably going to die. I sent an email out to my family just in case, the meeting was tomorrow and I wouldn't have time to do it then.

Just a reminder that I love and miss you guys always. Bella x

They would be suspicious but I couldn't just die and them not have any good last words from me. I was ready for this. I was not afraid of death. Only of what death may bring. Death being Aro and his minions. It would be a slow and painful death, but at least they would have to use traditional torture methods instead of using their freaky vampire gifts. I was immune.

Perhaps I was overreacting. They could just be curious. They might know better than to start killing off (ex) friends of other powerful vampires. Just as a precaution, I sent out an email to every known address I had for any member of the Cullens.

I understand that these email addresses are probably not in use, but I just thought I'd let you know that I've been summoned by the Volturi tomorrow. Not sure what will happen or if you'll ever see this, but If you do, a little moral support would be helpful. Obviously I know there's nothing any of you can do now as the meeting is soon, but just thought I'd let you know anyway. Bella.

I decided to keep it short and detached, so they didn't think I was begging for their help or anything. I would have to go this one alone. I went home and lay in bed, telling my boss that I wouldn't be in tomorrow. I hadn't even get to start my college course, the only reason I even came to this stupid country. How could I be so ignorant to think they wouldn't want me dead after I split from the Cullens?

The next day, after calling my parents, Angela, Jake and anyone else I could think of, the time came for me to get ready for my summoning. I put on a simple black dress Alice had once bought me. It was silk, classically cut above the knee and something I could be buried in, if my body was ever found. I left the apartment at 16:30, which gave me plenty of time for traffic. I caught a cab from the taxi rank at the other end of the park, and forced myself not to cry for the hour long journey to The Palace.

After minimal traffic, I arrived outside Volturi territory at 17:42, and made my way up the public visitors entrance, where I'd seen Gianna leading those humans last year. I chuckled as I realised my fate had become the same of unlucky tourists. At the huge wooden door, I was greeted by a large man, evidently vampire, who opened the door for me.

"Miss Swan." He gestured. Clearly my arrival had been awaited. I was shown through a maze of dark passages, so many and so dimly lit that I would never be able to run for it, even if I could outrun a vampire. The hallways began to look a little familiar, until we reached the large circle lobby outside "The room of doom" as I'd called it. Sitting at her desk as she had been before, was the human, Gianna.

"Miss Swan, how lovely to see you again. You're a little early, if you wouldn't mind waiting in the seating area to your left." She grinned at me and pointed to a regal looking lounger and table set.

"Thanks." I had so many things I wanted to scream at this ignorant woman, but I kept it polite. I didn't want to speed up the process. My brain needed time to rationalise and calm down. I sat for 20 minutes until the double door opened with a thundering noise, followed by the light footsteps of Felix, despite his massive stature.

"Gianna send her in, you're 2 minutes late for heaven's sake!" He barked his order at her, which I obviously heard so jumped up to be lead to my death. A scared looking Gianna watched me tentatively as I followed Felix into the room. What awaited me was exactly as I remember it. Aro in the middle on a giant throne with Marcus and Caius on either side, surrounded by the rest of their clan and guard.

"Ahhh Bella." Aro's creepy sigh hummed throughout the room. " You're looking beautiful as ever my dear. Come, take a seat." He grinned and pointed at a small chair directly in front of his own throne. I walked cautiously up to the podium, eyes boring into me from throughout the room. Alec's stare was particularly intense. With good reason, after the run ins we'd had. Jane was looking positively frustrated as she knew her power was useless against me, although it didn't stop her from trying. I took my seat gingerly, which indicated to the rest of the clan to take theirs also.

"Now you must be wondering what brings you here today, Bella. Well it isn't rocket science is it?" Aro giggled and his eyes glistening with joy, he clearly had run out of things to fill his days with, so I was clearly welcomed. I kept silent and hoped it would be over soon.

"Do you mind?" He gestured towards my hands, he would try and read me again.

"Do I have any real choice?" I challenged. He chuckled.

"No I suppose not but I doubt that would make a difference, you'd question it anyway wouldn't you my dear? Ah, nothing, once again. Very curious." He put my hand down and looked curiously into my eyes, as if that would help him get a reading on me.

"Can we just get this over with? I don't want to be played with like the rest of your food, I've done nothing wrong to deserve this." I was growingly angry.

"Ooh, feisty aren't you. No, don't get angsty my love, you may not be dead within the hour, unless you so choose. I wanted to make you an offer. I know your beloved Cullen clan has left you, and what silly fools they are. For I believe you could be a great asset to any vampire coven. It is this reason, I wish for you to join us." I was stunned. I knew they were always eager for gifted vampires to join them, but I wasn't even a vampire. Yet. I looked over at Alec who's burgundy eyes flickered around the room, looking nervous. He looked at me and almost said sorry with his expression. I remember he had been saying something about how he had no emotional affiliation with any of these people, and he was only here to stay alive. I saw now that he was a lot more human than I gave him credit for. He was a survivor.

"Aro, please just let me go. As a human. I won't be of any use to you."

"Well then let us kill her, Aro. You heard the girl, she has little self faith and is a threat to us alive." Caius chimed in with his pennyworth.

"Silence!" Aro commanded of the now whispering coven. "Bella will join us, tonight. Bella, I simply cannot let you go from here as a human. You will be made a vampire tonight, and then you can choose whether or not you stay with us. Although obviously I strongly recommend you choose sides wisely. We can discuss logistics at a later date. Felix, take her into the guest bedroom in the lower basement. It is soundproof." Obviously they needed somewhere I wouldn't be able to be heard from. Edward told me the pain was excrutiating. I started panicking and my fight or flight instinct kicked in.

"Don't even try it Bella, I can smell your fear and adrenaline from here." Marcus warned me. Felix took me by the arm and started to lead me toward the looming doorframe.

"Wait, Aro, let me do it." Alec piped up with his request. Jane glared at him and whispered something to him.

"Jane, I need the practice." He looked at me and strode off the podium towards me. He released Felix's grip on my arm and took me for himself. Without another word he was allowed to lead me to this 'guest bedroom' which I pictured more as a dungeon or a prison cell. We walked in silence until we reached another regal doorframe. Inside, I was greeted by exactly what Aro had said: A guestroom. It was red and gold, painted with flowers and animals and everything else possible. It reminded me of the library I once worked at. The huge bed lay centre to the room, four posters draped with red velvet hangings.

"Bella, lay down." I was almost a hundred percent convinced he was going to rape me right there and then, but since I was about to become a vampire there was every chance I would be consenting, just to see what it felt like before I 'died'. But he just lay me down and moved his hands across my body. I closed my eyes and braced myself, until I felt his bite on my neck. It was excruciatingly painful, but was soon dulled by a cold and dark sensation running throughout my body. My vision went black and blurry for a few minutes. This wasn't how Edward described it. I could feel absolutely nothing across my body except emptiness.

"Alec? What is going on? I feel nothing. Did you do it right? Oh god I don't want to die."

"Bella calm down. This is why I wanted to be the one to change you. I figured that after I bit you, your body would be vulnerable enough to give in to my talent. I've used my gift to numb your pain and make you almost senseless." Memories of Edward describing Alec's talent ran through my mind, along with a lot of other emotions. Was this an act of kindness? Or a cruel joke. My vision started to come back to me and I saw Alec's face above mine, waiting.

"You shouldn't be able to feel any pain. Can you?"

"No." Another sensation traced throughout, one I could only describe as the feeling of change. I felt exhausted and I involuntarily shut my eyes.