Chapter 10

Author's note: thanks again for all the reviews!

Jacob's POV

My jaw instantly dropped. Yes, I know it will look weird when you are an oversized wolf with fangs, but I couldn't care less. With eyes as wide as saucers, I turned to Cullen, who looked very guilty.

"So that's what they want? To turn me into a slave-cross-fighting machine?" I thought angrily to him, "that's your brilliant idea for helping me? Oh, wait, I forgot. You never wanted to help me."

"Shut up! I wanted to help you!" Cullen now definitely looked guilty, "but there was nothing I can do...and anyway, I'm still..." for once he looked lost for words. Aro snickered. God, how I want to gnaw his legs off-no, it would probably taste disgusting anyway.

"Well, well, Edward. Seems like you are reluctant to tell Jacob the good news," Aro paused before continuing, "Edward had agreed to my request. He had agreed to work for me."

Huh?

"He will also try to lead his sister and-Miss Swan, I believe-to here. I am planning on recruiting Alice Cullen as well," Aro couldn't hide his glee over his magnificent plan. He makes me so sick.

"So, you traitor, " I can't even think straight, "you bloody traitor! Agreeing to work for him? Lead Bella here? Don't you care about what happened to her? Don't you wonder about what they would do to Bella? Oh, wait. I forgot. You never think."

To my absolute horror, I found that tears are leaking from my eyes, drop by drop. Why did all of this happen? Why would Cullen do this? Doesn't he realize that all Aro want is another fresh human for their afternoon tea?

"I can't do anything!" Cullen started to scream, "you don't know what power Aro has! If I don't agree, he'll destroy everything that I cared about! That includes Bella! I'd rather lead her here than let her die!"

"That's the point!" I almost laughed, maybe vampires aren't so smart after all, "Aro'll kill her anyway. Why do you think he had you lead Bella here? Huh?"

Cullen's eyes spat fire. But before he could yell out a retort of any sort, the doors opened again.

And in walked the two people that I least wanted to see right now.

Bella's POV

"EDWARD!" my feet moved of their own accord, I ran over and hugged him close, blinded and finally felt tired. I felt cold arms around me, and guessed everything would be all right.

God, was I wrong.

My eyes met Jacob's, and I gasped in complete and utter horror.

Alice, though, was more calm.

"So, I was right. They are here. Except..." her eyes narrowed, "hmm. Not fighting."

"Fighting for me, to be precise," I laughed, shakily, "like in Romeo and Juliet."

Edward made a sudden movement, as if to protect me from something else, then I saw them.

Five or six-no, they couldn't be people, they are far too pale-vampires stood behind me, all staring with their blood-red eyes that reminded me unnervingly of James, Laurent and Victoria. The tallest one observed me like a wild lion getting ready to pounce. I shrank back.

"Edward?" I whispered, "I have a lot of questions."

"I'm sure you do," the tall one spoke, and chuckled, "but first let me introduce myself. My name is Aro."

"Aro," Edward said tensely, "Bella doesn't need introductions. What she needs is answers," here he became firm, "and you can be the one to tell it to her. Everything."

"Ah, of course, how rude of me," malice glittered in Aro's eyes, he looked like a viper eyeing an especially juicy rat.

"You have all, of course, noticed our new wolf friend," Aro began, "who now serves us."

"WHAT?" I yelled, not caring about interrupting him, "JACOB? WORKING WITH...YOU ARE JOKING."

"Yes, he is joking," Edward growled, "Jacob never actually agreed."

"So you are just going to let him?" I turned to ask Jacob, "why can't you refuse?"

"Please, Bella, dear-let me finish," Aro sounded slightly annoyed, "you see, Jacob does not have to agree-or rather, he cannot refuse. Edward, too, had agreed to join us, in exchange for his family's safety."

My world had turned upside down and back to front. I pushed Edward away, my head spinning. This isn't true, this can't be true.. how can he join the Voltouri-when he so blatantly seemed to hate them? And for me? Does he really want us to have a clean cut? To be separated forever?

"So, that's the deal, isn't it?" Alice spoke, in a quiet voice. But it wasn't the calm voice, it was the clouds-before-the-storm kind of voice, "you are trying to tear everyone apart, aren't you? To let them betray each other?"

"Come now-it is simply an agreement." Aro didn't even budge. He seemed confident. Well, how can he not be? He 's already got Edward and Jacob under his thumb.

"And? What if they do refuse?" I asked, my voice raising a whole octave.

"Then he'll kill you. And Alice. And my whole family, and my other friends...his power is endless," Edward muttered, his voice full of remorse.

"So what?" I am getting angry, this whole thing is just...unnatural, "we refuse," I said, loud and clearly, "Edward is not going to work for you. Neither is Jacob. We are all going back to Forks. Thank you for your great hospitality."

Jacob's POV

That's my girl. I thought with a splash of pride. I always knew that Bella had guts. But my bubble was burst by a needle in the form of Aro.

"Ha, ha, ha," mirthfully, Aro laughed, "so you do want to escape!"

"No, Aro," Bella said through gritted teeth, "we are merely refusing the offer, however generous it may be."

They stared at each other-good vampires, werewolf and human versus creepy vampires-for ten minutes that felt like fifteen years, Alice looked at Edward, and then everything happened at once.

Alice moved first, snarling and leaping through the horde of red-eyed creatures. They scattered, thrown off balance by the sudden movement. Edward scooped Bella up in a flash and ran through-literally through-the wooden doors, leaving a spray of wooden splinters behind him and an Edward-shaped hole. Before I realised what was happening, I rushed after him, running as fast as I possibly can.

But the Voltouri were quick to react. Jane pounced first, and Alice screamed, "Don't look!" before ducking into another split in the drains. The other vampires that I couldn't name started to run after us, and I moved even faster, effectively blocking their path before splitting up with Edward and Bella into another drain, planning on to lead them away from Bella. As I expected, a lot of the bloodsuckers started to come after me, roaring like a bunch of deranged monkeys. Tanya seemed to have disappeared long ago.

Laughing ironically in my head, I ran on. The werewolf-killing-vampire plan had turned completely

upside down.