Before we start I just want to say thanks to all the amazing people who have reviewed so far! I love hearing from you! It means the world to me to know you guys are enjoying my story! So thanks so much!

I have a rec for you all this week! I have been reading Waking up by RiaMaria, it's a WIP but it is amazing! Definitely worth the time! It's in my favs if you want to head on over and have a look!

I would love it if you guys recommended some stories for me?

Ok so I know the last chapter ended on a bit of a cliffie, so I won't give you an amazingly long authors note this time, just one thing to say, that I forgot in the last chapter!

Twilight, unfortunately, is not mine. My name is Jen, not Stephanie, so as you see, it couldn't possibly be mine...

Or could it???

Nah.

"Bella! My dear it is so good to see you! You look ravishing!"

Aro greeted me with open arms, but I knew enough about him already to know that was how Aro greeted everyone.

I smiled in return and thanked him.

I could see the wheels in his head turning as he tried to decide what to ask me first. He seemed to go with the easiest option.

"Bella my dear, you know how pleased I am that you are here? But I assume that you are not here without reason? Would you care to explain that reason?"

This was it. I knew I only had one chance to prove myself. If I messed this up I would end up as ash on the floor, and not only would I never see my family again, but Edward and Alice and Jasper would be stuck here with these monsters for eternity. I knew I couldn't let that happen.

I had already taken in my surroundings, and I knew that Edward and the rest were not here. At the moment there were only the three leaders of the guard and the two vampires who had escorted me here. I was glad. I knew I would be distracted if my family were watching this.

I moved my gaze to Aro's blood red eyes and faced him down with what I hoped was a calm looking facade.

"Yes Aro, I would like the chance to explain. I came here to ask if you will accept my services for the guard. The Cullen's mean nothing to me without Edward. Where he goes, I will go. I know I can be of service to you, and I am offering you those services in return for having my husband back.

I didn't think it was possible for Aro's smile to get any wider, but it did at that moment as he took in what I was saying.

"Wonderful Bella! Just wonderful! I have to wonder though dear if you know what exactly you are offering? We will not accept anyone at half strength in our guard, and dear I'm afraid your diet leaves much to be desired where strength is concerned."

"Aro, your eye site is as good as mine, you must surely notice the difference in my own eyes, they are no longer the golden colour that marks the Cullen's as different."

I watched as his eyes narrowed at this statement.

"Yes dear I can see the difference in your eyes, but I must admit, I don't understand. Why the sudden change of heart my lovely?"

It hurt to say the words that I knew I would have to spew forth next.

"I followed the Cullen's lifestyle because I love Edward. I would do anything for him. Without him in my life then I will have nothing left to live for. As I already told you, the Cullen family as a whole are not important to me. If I have to change my diet to be with Edward then I am sure somehow I will learn to live with that."

I threw a wry smile his way, while inside my head I was screaming and sobbing. It felt like the worst kind of betrayal to talk about my family this way. I knew I had no choice, but it didn't make the pain in my heart disappear.

"So this is all for Edward? No other reason? You wouldn't by any chance be hoping to steal him away from me would you?"

"Aro if I could, I would offer you my hand so you could hear what was inside my mind. As I know that's not possible I hope you will accept my offer. Please believe me. All I want is my husband back. I will do anything to prove to you that I am telling the truth."

"Ahh dearest Bella, I do not know what to think of you right now. I have one more question before I consult with my brothers on your fate."

I braced myself for whatever was coming next. The gleam in his eyes as they bored into my own made me feel sure I wouldn't like whatever it was that he had to say to me.

"What about the lovely Renesmee?"

Inside my head I gasped. I had known this would come up. This was going to be harder than anything else. But once again I mentally gritted my teeth and gave the most believable answer I could.

"I believe that Carlisle and Esme can raise her better than I could in these circumstances. She has human blood running in her veins, and I'm sorry Aro but I don't trust some of you guard. I don't believe she would be safe here. And so I left her behind. One day maybe she will decide to join us here, but that must be her choice, and she must be fully aware of the consequences if she chooses to do so. For the moment, it is up to her other family to look after her. Edward is my only concern right now. I need to be with my mate."

Aro clasped his hands and laughed with apparent delight.

"You are right my sweet thing, certain members of my guard would not be able to control their selves around your delectable young daughter. I certainly understand your wish to keep her safe from us. It's very... admirable of you. I wish for you to wait here while I consult with my brothers. We shall be back shortly dear. Make yourself comfortable."

I almost laughed out loud at that comment. How can I make myself comfortable here? I could never be comfortable in this room. The memories it brought back were vague and dreamlike, but I still got the same sense of terror from them as I would had if they had been picture perfect. I used the brief lapse in time after Aro Marcus and Caius had left the room to gaze around me. Everything from the carefully painted and designed marble floor to the sculpted ceiling that rose high above me was perfect. It all absolutely oozed wealth and luxury. The thrones that sat facing the centre of the room were made of pure gold from what I could tell, and the seats of them were of the softest looking red velvet. The walls had drapes hanging on them as decoration rather than being painted, the fabric held the decor for the space. Altogether the look screamed out money and status, but strangely it was lacking in class. It all looked so well put together that it was as if someone had looked through a textbook on colours and schemes. I almost laughed at the thought. I wondered how many years it was since anyone had changed a thing in this big room. It also made me curious on what the rest of the castle could possibly be like.

Felix started whistling behind me, and I turned to stare at him incredulously. He grinned at my response and winked. I growled back at him. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to act like that after hearing my speech about Edward. He couldn't possibly think I was interested could he?

The other vampire who had accompanied me here was still standing silently in the corner of the room. I eyed him warily as I realised he hadn't said a word the whole time I had been in his company.

Felix must have picked up on my discomfort, as he grinned wider and spoke to me.

"Haven't you figured out what's so strange about Aiden yet Bella?"

He chuckled as I looked at him in confusion.

"Dear Bella, your wonderful Edward is not the only one who has a gift of the mind, the difference being that Aiden does not take thoughts out of anyone's head. He puts them into their head. Which can be very distracting if you don't know of his little talent. I'm guessing he can't affect you though. Lucky thing. "

I looked back at Aiden, finally realising why he hadn't spoken. He didn't need to. Everyone else could hear him just fine.

I felt myself frowning. This was an inconvenience of my gift. This talent may have been useful to me too. Now I wouldn't know what he's telling anyone about me and that would be as frustrating as Edwards not being able to read my mind was a relief.

I glanced back towards the thrones, knowing that Aro and his "brothers" had left the room somewhere behind them.

I sighed, wondering how long I was going to have to wait on them returning. I wasn't disappointed. No sooner had the sigh left my mouth than they entered the room.

Marcus looked just as bored as ever, but the looks on Caius and Aro's faces scared me a little. They looked far too enthusiastic about whatever was to come next for my liking.

As Marcus and Caius took their seats in their gold and red thrones once again, Aro came towards me and took my hand.

"I wish I could read your thoughts Bella. It would make all of this so much easier. As it is I'm afraid we shall have to take you up on your offer of showing us a little more proof. We cannot just accept someone with your past on the few sentences you have sprouted out since you arrived here. I have to know that you are sincere in all the things you said."

I knew now was the moment I had been dreading. I was going to be asked to do something atrocious. And I knew without a doubt that I would do it.

"What would you like me to do?"

I threw my hair back as I spoke and looked Aro square in his crimson eyes. I would not flinch from him. He would not make me back down on this issue.

He laughed at my display of bravery. I couldn't help but feel that he knew it for what it was. All that made me was more determined to prove him wrong.

"Well my dear, we decided that if you are serious about joining us, you would like yourself to become acclimatized to our ways as quickly as possible. To do this you will not only have to be capable of drinking human blood, you must also be capable of hunting it. It cannot always be delivered to you sweetling.

That being said, we have decided that we would like you to bring back something tasty for the three of us, plus yourself. Once you have done so we can celebrate your arrival in style.

There are a few key points though Bella dear. You must remember that we do not allow hunting within the city. Please leave the boundaries to hunt. We also need you to keep our secret intact. If you do not, there will be dire consequences for everyone involved, as I'm sure you remember. Also we do not enjoy food from the bottom of the chain, please do not bring us some homeless piece of trash or something equally as unappetizing.

Lastly, we do not enjoy cold food Bella. The meals must arrive to us alive. That way we can enjoy their blood fresh and warm, the way we were meant to taste it.

If you agree then we shall expect to see you back here within 24 hours. This time tomorrow we will toast to our new addition with the sweetest nectar available to us. And if you are not back by then?

We will have to assume that you offer to join us was part of a plan of revenge.

And Bella my darling?

I would not take well to that thought. We would have to pay a visit to your family to find out the details. And I am sure no one wants a repeat of the last scene like that do they?"

I gulped as the screaming in my head intensified. I had to find a human and bring it back alive? Not just one, but 4 of them? I had to herd them back here like cattle, and then join in ending their lives in a painful and terrifying way?

I couldn't do it. I couldn't put anyone through that torture. Was I really as selfish to do this to someone's family? What if I picked someone's "Edward"? How many lives was I willing to destroy? I wasn't sure I liked the answers to the questions I had been asking myself. Behind the screaming in my brain I could hear a voice whispering that I was willing to do anything to save my Edward. And I knew that voice was telling the truth.

I lifted my head from where it had sunk onto my chest and looked Aro straight in his eyes.

"Of course. I will be back in one day."

I made sure I kept my voice as strong as I could while I said this. I knew I could not show any weakness or they would be sure to spot it for exactly what it was.

I turned on my heels and made to walk towards the doors at the other end of the chamber. I caught Felix eyes as I did so and he grinned and gave me a thumbs up. I noticed Aiden watching me curiously, as if he expected me to explode at any second.

Just as I reached the doors I heard Caius calling out to me. I paused and listened without turning round. Knowing if I did I wouldn't be able to control myself when I saw the grin that was surely on his face at the moment.

"Bella? We like them young."

I pulled the doors open as fast as I could and blurred my way out and down the hallway. Once I was safely ensconced in the elevator I paused and leant my head back against the wall. I took a deep breath and was thankful once again that I couldn't cry in this new body. I knew I couldn't afford the luxury of a break down like that at the moment. Instead I let my frustrations at the situation boil up through anger and took it out on the poor metal walls surrounding me. My head slammed into the silver sheet behind it as my fist connected with one on the opposite side. I left the elevator as the doors opened and the only thing left behind was two very large dents adorning the once unmarked material.

I walked through the tunnels in a daze and exited from the trap door with a nimble jump straight up and out. I wasn't sure of the other entrance and in my haste I hadn't stopped to ask. This one was as good as any. The night had fallen while I was in the torture chamber below my feet so I was able to make my way to my car fairly quickly. It was only as I slid inside and shut the door that I let my head take in the reality of what I was about to do.

I had 24 hours to find 4 people I was willing to let die for my own selfish needs. I wanted to call Carlisle but I couldn't be sure that Aro hadn't sent someone to follow me. And I knew it was too big a risk to take.

I started the engine and let the car glide out of the cities immediate area before pulling to a stop once again and pulling the map out of the glove compartment. I had to decide where I was going to go... hunting.

I looked for a city nearby that I could drive to and back fairly quickly. I wanted to have plenty of time to find... something to eat.

One immediately caught my eye. Certaldo. It looked like I could make the drive in an hour or so. It sounded perfect. I stuck the map back in the glove compartment and started the car again. I steeled myself for what I knew lay ahead and took off into the night. I had a job to do.

Ok so I am sorry if there are any mistakes in this, I'm still on the lookout for a beta, unfortunately! If anyone could help me out that would be great! I'd love to hear from you!

I am sorry for leaving it here, but the next chapter is going to be a long one, so I decided to cut this one off. Plus I thought it would be nice to get this chapter up ASAP!

So guys... can I please have some reviews? Pretty please? I have over 2,000 hits on this story now, but not even 30 reviews :( that makes me sad :(

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Bye for now!

Jen x