Hope you all had a good Christmas!

I didn't post any chapters yesterday; not many people seemed to get to reading the one I posted Christmas Eve Day.

But anyways, here's today's chapters; I know you've all been waiting for it!

And most of you were right in your assumptions when Laurent said he wanted to go to Italy.

Previously: Laurent changed Bella into a vampire, and then they escaped to travel the world together, starting in Volterra, Italy. Then Laurent introduced Bella to his friend Eleazer, who informed her that they had to talk about something....

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Part 1: Bella's POV

Something about this, this whole setting— Laurent's overt happiness and the way he was so excited to introduce me, it just didn't feel right. The way that man, Eleazer, looked at me, it didn't feel right either. I began to get a knot in my stomach, although I didn't know why. Laurent was a good man, and his friends must be good too. He wouldn't let anything happen to me; to us.

I tensed my body, and continued down what seemed to be a very, very long hallway. Then again, maybe it only seemed that way because I was not anticipating what was awaiting me at the end; whatever it was.

I entered the large, stone room at last, and Laurent and Eleazer were both staring at me with excited smiles plastered on their faces. I stared at them, confused, as Eleazer gestured for us to both take a seat.

"Well, Bella, I'm so happy to have you here! Laurent has been telling me so much about you over the last week. It seems that you are a very talented young vampire, am I correct?" He stared at me excitedly, grinning widely. I couldn't seem to find my voice to speak; words escaped me at that moment.

"Yes, Laurent, she is quite surprising!" Laurent encouraged eagerly. I was still confused by their words, and why this man was so interested in me.

"How about you run through your whole meeting with Bella up until now so I know there will be no confusion between the three of us." He smiled kindly, beckoning Laurent to tell his story.

"You remember when I phoned you after I caught her scent in the forest four days ago? Well, the Cullens had mentioned that her mind was unreachable, and the Denalis explained in more detail that their mind reader, Edward Cullen, could not penetrate her mind; it was as if it were blocked." He knows that Edward can't read my mind? And why did he phone this man, Eleazer, to tell him that? Didn't Laurent ask me if I was in the forest that night; it sounded as if he didn't know. Why would he lie about that?

"When I caught her scent in the forest and heard her calling Edward's name, I had no idea who it was. Then the name, and her scent, registered in my mind. I realized she was the Cullen Clan's family pet.

I didn't know what to think at first. I was confused as to why she was there, although I assumed her vampire coven must be nearby. Peculiarly enough, I never caught their scent. I thought about why she could be here over and over again, and I could think of no reason. Then I realized that the fact she was all alone was all that really mattered.

I planned to change her, and then see how strong her abilities would be. I did know that her coven, her boyfriend Edward specifically, was thoroughly opposed to her becoming a vampire. I knew if I changed her, I had to be positive they did not care whatsoever about her; I didn't want a fight breaking out." My insides were ripping apart. It was true; all true. I was the family pet, and now Edward and his whole family do not care whatsoever about me. I know that, I know that. I've been trying to force myself to process this information through all the months he has been gone. It just hurts so much to have others recognize this fact too. Edward, why did you ever pretend to love me? Was it always lies? Why did you bother with me? How could you hurt me so badly?

"Then, lucky me, she found where I lived and informed me that her whole vampire family left her and that she was all alone, wishing desperately to become a vampire.

I do admit though, Eleazer, that while she was convincing me to change her I seriously thought about the benefits there would be to keep her for myself and have her join my coven. Her abilities would certainly be helpful. I also thought about what else she was offering me: she was so desperate to become a vampire that she would give me anything, do absolutely anything for me. I must say, some of her offers were rather appealing." Yes, well he did accept my offer...didn't he? Or did he? Why are we here, who is this man, and why are they talking about me as though I'm a horse for sale?

"I was still very undecided on whether to keep her or not. I bit her in my indecisiveness; however I soon realized that I didn't need her to join my coven. We're just a small group of four; we don't need any talented vampires with us. I also have three beautiful vampires living there with me...." He doesn't want me in his coven?! Then why would he change me? If he really didn't care for my weak offers, then why would he still change me? Could he possibly just be overly kind? I don't think so. There's something eerie about this place, and something strange is going on with this man. He doesn't seem like a friend of Laurent's...but what else could he be?

"At that point you already knew about her since I had contacted you the night after I saw her in the forest. I informed my clan: Tanya, Katie, and Irina about her, and they were very supportive of bringing her to you; we are very patriotic to the whole guard, and appreciate all you do." Who is this guard he is talking about? And Laurent had told me that his clan had no idea about me and were not to know. Why would he bother lying about that? And most importantly, why did Laurent call this man about me?

I continued to listen intently, and for some reason that I didn't know, a reason that had nothing to do with the cold, a chill ran down my spine.

"Once the transformation was complete, I continued to play along and act as though I was happy taking what she offered me; happy to get out on our own to explore the world, and really enjoy life. I couldn't have there being a possibility of her running away from me, what with her newborn strength and untamed abilities, if she knew my plans." What is he hiding? Why would it make me run away. Why am I here?

Edward, Edward please. Please, come back to me. Save me one last time. I'm sorry for doing this; I should not have become a vampire against your will. I'm sorry, so sorry Edward. Please, please just take me out of here. Tell me it's going to be okay. I can't stand not being with you. I can't stand anything without you.

"On our trip here, I thought I had given myself away when she asked me why I wasn't bringing anything, but then she easily overlooked it when I said I didn't need anything. The real reason being, I was going to be going home soon enough." He's leaving soon? And I should have pressed him on why he wasn't bringing bags for himself! I wanted to be polite, not rude. What is he doing with me here??!

"She wanted to take a boat, or swim, but I knew both ways would take too long, and I had to get to Volterra fast." Why did he have to get to Volterra so fast for? What does he want to do here?

"Well anyways, Bella, this is Eleazer, here. He offers large rewards for those who find humans who have advanced abilities. As soon as I realized it was you in the forest, and once I decided that your offer was compelling, but not compelling enough, I decided that I would give Eleazer a call." He said, talking directly to me this time. What is he talking about rewards, advanced abilities, and this man Eleazer? Nothing makes sense.

I paused then, to look at Eleazer more carefully, wondering what it was about him that made Laurent want to change me. Why he was acting as though he was betraying me right now; not that he seemed upset by the fact.

"Bella, your abilities are very advanced and unique for a vampire. Eleazer here is a "recruiter" for the Volturi, which is the vampire Government. I have called Eleazer a few times to inform him about you, and after learning about your shield, he was more than eager to come meet with us. He even supplied his jet and cars for us to use. Which, thank you very much for that Eleazer." Laurent smiled warmly at Eleazer, although it seemed fake; as though he really could care less about Laurent, but was more interested in this reward.

I looked at Eleazer then, carefully. I was shocked about the knowledge I had just heard; although I really don't know how I could actually believe that Laurent was interested in what I had to offer.

As I looked closely at Eleazer, I realized he had a have a dark blue glow outlining his figure. My shield seemed to edge towards it, as though it wanted to ensnare the bluish glow. I let my 'force field' pull out and wrap around him. Although the shield was still around me, it was like an outer edge of the skin pulled out around him. My shield appeared to look like a net reaching towards Eleazer, and I saw that as it separated from my own shield it turned a reddish color.

As soon as my shield wrapped around Eleazer, new knowledge suddenly came into my head.

"You can sense what abilities different people have?" I asked him. It seemed that, as soon as my shield wrapped around him, I just knew that that's what he does.

"Why...yes, that is what I do...how...how do you know that?" He questioned. And, to tell you the truth, I had no idea.

I sat there, silent, and couldn't hold Eleazer's stare. I didn't have an answer as to how I knew what he does. Should I tell him my shield stretched out and enwrapped his blue glow, which caused my scarlet 'net' to mix with his sapphire 'haze'. As the translucent cloud turned mauve, I suddenly knew what his ability was. As if he would understand that. So, I simply said nothing.

"Bella..." He prompted.

"Sir, I don't understand exactly how I knew. This is all very confusing to me. It seemed my abilities seemed to tell me what you do." I informed him, hoping not to go into specifics. No such luck.

"Can you please explain that further; what exactly, or how exactly, did you ability tell you that? I thought you were a shield?"

I didn't want to explain, but it seemed I had to. "It was my shield. It's like a second skin around me, and apparently Laurent has already told you that we assume it can block mental abilities, as well as protect my body from physical attacks. Well, as I focused more closely upon what you look like, I noticed there was a bluish haze surrounding your figure, as though it was a glowing outline. I didn't understand what it was, but assumed that it must either just be you, or I didn't realize that vampires had that before.

That's when my shield started pulling towards it. It was as if it wanted to get closer to you, to enwrap the blue glow within its skin. I know it doesn't make much sense, sir, but that's what happened.

Then I...I let my shield go towards you. It was as though an outer layer of my shield reached out towards you in a mist-like net form. As it separated from my transparent shield, it turned a scarlet color. While it enwrapped your blue mist, it turned a purple color. It was at that moment that I knew what your ability was."

I stuttered a few times, knowing how farfetched my story sounded. They must think I'm crazy. People don't just have mists around them, and people don't have shields that stick to you like skin and also want to eagerly enwrap people in it's layer. Maybe they'll label me crazy and burn me here.

Maybe it wouldn't matter if they do. Edward doesn't love me anyways, and he's the only important thing left in my existence.

Before I could think any further, Eleazer broke my thoughts. They had been staring at me stunned, with their mouths ajar in their aghast state. I help my breath, as my human instincts were still very clear to me. I sat stiff, staring at them both, waiting for them to rebuke me and tell me I was crazy.

I was completely wrong in my thinking.

"You....your...your shield did that? Does this? I mean it....it...it can sense other's abilities? Or, what exactly does it do? What do you sense when your shield engulfs Laurent's blue mist?" Eleazer asked me, still stunned, stuttering. It was very rare that I saw vampires shocked, or stuttering, for that matter.

"I...I...yes, it did this, I mean, that's what I think. And Laurent doesn't have a blue mist." I told them both, wondering where this was going.

"What do you mean Laurent doesn't have a blue mist?" Eleazer asked me, confused. He seemed to have recovered from his shocked state.

"He just doesn't." I said, quickly looking down. Should Laurent have a blue must, too? Do all vampires see this blue mists, and does the fact that I don't see Laurent's mean there's something wrong with me?

"Oh, my, well this is certainly interesting..." Eleazer continued, speculating.

"Does he have a blue mist to you?" I questioned him, hoping it was also a no, too.

"Well, not exactly a blue mist. It's as though my brain pulls brainwaves from him, telling me what his ability is. This is the same for him as for everyone I meet, even humans. Except you." He continued, staring at me speculatively. I really did have something wrong in my head.

"Why, do you think, does the blue mist only envelop you, and not Laurent?" I questioned, hoping he would have the answer.

"I don't know. Do other vampires have this blue mist, or only myself?"

"You and Laurent are the only vampires I've seen since becoming a vampire." I informed him.

"Our pilot was a vampire." Laurent informed me, finally bringing himself back into the conversation.

"Oh. Well, he didn't have a blue mist either." I told them both.

"Hmm. Well, that leaves many possibilities...." Laurent started, then broke off into his own thoughts.

"What are these possibilities?" I queried.

"Well, you could only see a blue mist on me because I can sense other's abilities, and perhaps you only see a blue mist around people with that certain ability. However, this is very unlikely, because I do not know of any others with the same ability as me.

It could be that because I was trying to learn your ability, I was trying to penetrate your mind shield, which caused the blue mist to appear. Thus, your shield broke off in red to defend yourself, blending your shield with my power, cancelling mine out.

The second possibility seems much more likely, although I don't understand why your shield would have the need to enwrap me when it already seems to be holding up a sturdy physical and mental shield around you.

Well, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough once you interview with the Volturi exactly what it is you do." Eleazer finished his speculations, still smiling.

There's that word again, I thought. What does this "vampire government" do? I remember something Edward had told me the day of my last birthday, the worst birthday of my life, while we were watching Romeo and Juliet. He said that he couldn't live without me, and if something ever happened to me, he would go the Volturi to die. Not that he loves me anymore anyways. But why would the Volturi

I remember what I thought of the Volturi that day. They sounded scary. And now I'm going to these people? To the Volturi? And this man, Eleazer, part of the Volturi himself, wants me to come interview for them. Why? What am I being interviewed for? I decided to ask.

"What are the Volturi interviewing me for?" I asked, rather quietly. I didn't know much about them, if they were good or bad, friendly or scary, or what they wanted with me; but they still put imaginary goose bumps on my cold, granite arms.

"The Volturi's guard is full of talented vampires with special abilities. When we think we have found someone with an especially interesting talent, we take them to the Volturi to train their ability, and within a week they decide whether or not the person has the ability needed to help the Volturi lead the vampires. We are actually just about to go meet them now. Laurent, you are free to go. We have a small reward bag waiting for you, you will be handed it on your way out; and if we do decide to recruit Bella, we will be sending you a much larger sum." Eleazer smiled at Laurent, seeming eager for him to go. Laurent smiled back, just as eager to leave.

What a stupid, two-timing, back stabbing vampire. I should never have trusted him; I should never trust anyone.

But then again, what does it matter if he did sell me out? I did offer him literally anything if he only just changed me. And he did. I should really be grateful.

Once I get my answers and give the Cullens their final goodbye, I'll have nowhere to go anyways. I may as well go to this Volturi; hopefully I will be good enough. I know I was never good enough for Edward, but just imagine what he'll think if I'm good enough to be chosen to join the Vampire Government.

Luck really is on my side this time...so long as they let me take a break sometime to track down the Cullens.

Eleazer took my hand and helped me off the chair, then escorted me down the long hallway, to the people who would determine how I would spend my eternity.

Happy Boxing Day! :)

I hope you liked this chapter; I'll be posting more asap, as per usual. However, the more comments I get the more inclined I am to update faster and write longer chapters.....

Besides, reviewing makes me happy...don't you want to make me happy?? Haha. Love you all. And, please review. If you want me to reply, tell me, and I will. Ask any questions you have, and if they dont give away any of the future story line, I'll tell you. Any input: good, bad, pros, cons, etc...just tell me. I'd love to know! So yeah, that's about it. Just press the review button below!! =]