Chapter 10

As usual, none of these characters are mine; they belong to Stephenie Meyer, L. J. Smith and Charlaine Harris.

This chapter has a cameo of Ian MacPhie from Kerrelyn Sparks's Love at Stake series. More vamps may show up from that series, but I doubt it. Ian is a (if I remember correctly) 500 year old vampire stuck in the body of a 15 old. The vamps from that series can teleport. Obviously if you know the Love at Stake series this is before All I Want For Christmas Is A Vampire.

BPOV

Why did she have to bring them into this? It didn't have to come to a fight. After all these years you'd think that Aro would give up on me and put constantly put me through this.

"Why are you doing this, Victoria?" I asked her coldly.

"I have been ordered to convince you to join the Volturri and I plan on using every means at my disposal," she growled low, her eyes watching us carefully.

"Quinn, Alcide, you don't have to do this. I don't want to hurt you."

I'm so sorry babe, but if I don't they'll kill my mother. Quinn was thinking.

I have to, Bells, its business, nothing personal. Alcide answered my silent question.

That comment had me growling louder, placing myself in front of Edward.

"I told Aro no!" I growled hatefully.

"You have no choice, Isebeau. He wants you alive and he won't stop until he gets you."

That's when Alcide and Quinn jumped at us, knocking me and Stefan down. Victoria sped in and grabbed Edward before I could stop her.

"Edward!" I screamed, throwing Quinn into a column, breaking it in half and chasing Victoria with Stefan just behind me.

Edward, are you okay? I sent to him.

I can't get free of her, I

The thought was cut off. We chased her down for hundreds of mines before her trail disappeared over the water just as it was getting dark. On the water's edge I looked down and saw my necklace, bobbing in the waves. I reached down, putting it back around my neck.

"Where will she take him?" Stefan asked me after scouting the area.

"Only one place she can go. Italy."

We raced back to the museum and got there just as the busses were loading. I told the teacher that Edward had Damon come and get him, he wasn't feeling too well. The last thing I wanted was a search party going out and looking for Edward when the reveal was still on for tonight. I was dreading what was to come, but I really did not have a choice. I know Aro would wait for me to get there and it was my duty to protect the bar tonight. I'd have to miss the football game, but I'm sure Stefan would be right by my side. As soon as we got home, I changed into some torn blue jeans and a black shirt with heels. I couldn't work tonight, but I wanted to look as nonthreatening as possible. Stefan had also changed into a tan dress shirt and slacks. He always did look good in that combination. After giving Damon back his ring, we all headed to Merlotte's.

"Ready for the big night, Bella?" Sam asked as we came in, taking one of the tables near the door.

"Not really, but we have to."

One of my closest friends, Ian MacPhie, was standing by the bar taking an absent drink from a bottle when he looked up and nodded, then went back to his bottle. He was in his usual kilt and sweater with his claymore across his back. The way he was standing he looked more like a statue than someone who was real. When the door opened, Jacob came in with Taylor, the two were laughing and soaking wet from the rain outside. I nearly gagged at the smell of wet dog.

Jacob turned to me and laughed, "You ready Bells? This should be fun."

I growled, "I'll do what I need to, Jake." I made a gagging noise, "You really reek."

He just laughed and leaned against the other end of the bar from Ian. The two simply glared at each other. Sookie was waiting tables as usual with Bill sitting at his usual booth watching her like a hawk. Tonight was Friday night and was guaranteed to be packed. A few people asked why I wasn't working tonight and told them it was my day off. We both sat with untouched burgers in front of us, every now and then I'd bite a fry to try and calm myself. Most of the looks I got were double takes since I was dressed much older than I should have been and the way I carried myself I looked it.

"Hey Bella. I thought you were off tonight." Alice turned from where she was sitting next to Jasper. She stood up and walked over to our table, looking over for a moment at the gentleman in the kilt. "Have you seen Edward?" She looked over to Damon, "the school said he went with you."

Damon answered, "He went on a short trip, but he'll be back soon."

Alice rolled her eyes and turned to Bella, "Bella? You know I saw what happened. Where is he now?"

I lowered my voice to a barely a whisper, "We'll get him back, Alice. I promise you."

"This won't end well, Bella. You know what's going to have to happen, don't you."

I looked around, knowing the other vampires in the room were listening to this whole conversation, "I'm going to try everything I can to avoid that. I don't think I can do that."

Alice squeezed my shoulder and went back to her table. On the TV behind the bar a news report interrupted the show. Sam turned, turning up the television up then turned back to lean on the bar, one eye on Ian, the other on our table.

"We now bring you a special report. Tonight the world will change as it learns that thing around us aren't always what they seem. Tonight the world will learn of the existence of vampires."

The scene went back to the news anchor in one chair and Pam sitting in the other chair, looking very much like holly house wife. Her suit was a pale pink and looked cute as a button. Her fangs were down and she grinned playfully at the camera.

"This is Pam, who is one of many vampires in the area. Tell me, Pam, why have you decided now was the time to 'come out of the coffin'."

"It's easy. With the invention of new synthetic blood, our race is no longer a threat to humans or animals. Most of us cannot go out into the light and for centuries we have lives side by side with you. There is no longer any need for us to be in the shadows."

"That is true."

Pam looked at the camera, "Now, as agreed, ladies and gentlemen."

With a sigh, Stefan, Damon and I stood and walked over to under the television and presented ourselves, red faced and fanged to everyone in the room. Bill only retracted his fangs from his seat as did Ian from behind the bar.

"Right now all over the globe there are vampires in bars, stores and anywhere public that this is broadcasted are revealing themselves. I only pray the reaction to this is as calm as your reaction to me."

The bar was silent as our faces changed back to normal. Sookie came around the bar and hugged me quietly, then stood next to me. Everyone just stared.

Jacob was the one who broke up the quiet, "This is so cool, Bells! You're a vampire, how awesome!" He took me in a huge wolf hug that nearly knocked me down.

Several people laughed at his enthusiasm as Damon and Stefan took back their seats.

"Sam?" I turned after Jacob let me go and asked him.

"Get to work Bella. No need to change, we've got a busy night." He told me.

Putting on an apron and washing my hands I got to work taking orders. Most people hesitated when they ordered, but they did order. As orders were handed out, people began to stare and less and less. As I read the thoughts around the room, may people thought it was a joke, even with the proof right in front of them. A few people were wondering how old I was, but stopped before they asked because of the old saying 'it's not polite to ask a woman her age'. Most people were in shock, but still saw me as good 'ol Bella. The captain of the cheerleading squad and the number one pick for prom queen. I loved small towns; the people were so not judgmental most of the time. As things wound down, Damon and Stefan helped with the cleanup. Ian walked up to me and bowed.

"I'm glad things went so well here, lass. Looks like I was not needed after all," his accent reminded me some of the old places I loved to visit. "Be sure to keep in touch; Angus and Roman have been asking after ya." In a lower voice he added, "If you need any help, donna hesitate to call us," he handed her a business card.

"Please don't tell them where I am, Ian. You can tell them I'm okay, but not where. I promise to visit soon though. Thank you for coming down here to guard the bar."

"Not a problem. As I said, if you need anything," he looked at me pointedly, knowing that something was indeed wrong.

He turned and vanished right before my eyes. With a sign I finished up cleaning the chairs before heading over to talk to Sam.

"Sam, I'll be gone for a while. I need to go to Italy. Would you please take care of the mail while I'm gone? If everything goes well I'll find a way to make it up to you."

"Sure thing, Bells. Now you be careful and come back in one piece."

"I'll try my best, Sam."

The next morning the three of us boarded a private plane to Italy.

EPOV

It was dark and cold. There were thoughts all around me, but nothing I could clearly understand. There were too many of them.

"Hello?" I called around me, unable to see anything.

"Bring him," a rough voice said as someone grabbed me by the arms and pulled me through a door and into a brightly lit room.

The walls were marble and very old. All around me were people in cloaks with fast moving minds that I could not understand yet. As we walked I concentrated on the person in front of me, trying to hear clearly what they were thinking. I caught the name Aro and something about a trap. I wasn't really paying attention to where we were going except for when it got so cold my teeth were chattering to the sudden blasts of heat and sunlight. We stopped in front of a pair of delicately decorated bronze doors. I was handed off to a small girl in a black cloak with her blond hair pulled back. Her eyes were deep red. She opened the door, pushing me in and followed behind me.

The room was huge and circular with columns and benches against the walls. On one side of the room there were steps leading up to three huge thrones. The first one has a very bored looking black hair vampire, leaning his head on his hand. The last was someone that looked similar to Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter. In the middle though was a man with black hair that was slicked back, but he wore a black modern suit.

"Jane! Thank you for bring me Edward. What an unusual human this is. How on earth did you do it, my boy? You succeeded where I have been trying for centuries. You gained my dear Isabella's loyalty."

That's when he took my hand and my whole body jolted as memories began to replay in my head from birth to the museum. Aro stood absolutely still while Jane held me in place.

"Ah yes. Love." He spit out the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "And a surprise, I see. What a gifted human we have here. I will admit that it is nice to finally know where my dear Isabella came from. That little tidbit she has been withholding from me since we met. Her powers are too powerful and too unique to be wasted on pretending to be human; especially when it really does not matter anymore. The vampires are out and now the world knows of our existence. You, my boy will be my bait for young Isabella. Now that I have seen your memories I am sure she will come." He motion with his hands at the steps below the middle chair. "Sit. We shall wait for your love to come find you. I'm sure it will be soon."

Sorry that this chapter was so short, but I wanted to get this out before I lost it again. Again, please don't forget the green button!