Chapter 11:

"Are you sure?" Damon asked Bella.

She nodded confidently, "I know they'd try and help me in any way they can, and they wouldn't ask why. They wouldn't have to know about Elena being human."

Damon nodded. He trusted Bella more than anyone, even more than his own brother, and so he knew she wouldn't involve Elena with the Volturi unless she was certain it was safe. "Okay."

Bella looked over at Elena, "It's up to you. If you want to find her, I'm sure I will be able to. But I won't do anything if you don't want me to."

Elena sighed, "Thank you. I just ... I think I might need to sleep on it. I'm not sure."

Bella nodded, understanding it wouldn't be a snap decision. "That's okay. You know where to find me."

Stefan took Elena home, most likely staying the night with her or at least for a few more hours. Damon poured himself a glass of whiskey, joining Bella on the couch. He could see it on her face – she was going over possible outcomes, thinking of what she would say to Aro if Elena did want her to find Isobel, and how she would go about telling Elena the information.

"You think too much. You're just like Stefan," Damon commented.

"I can't help it." Bella replied.

"I know. But you shouldn't worry. What Elena decides to do isn't your responsibility."

Bella nodded, "I know."

She sighed and Damon smiled slightly, handing her his glass. "It might help."

Bella raised an eyebrow, "Can I even drink it?"

Damon shrugged, "I don't know. Everyone always said your kind couldn't drink or eat, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try."

She took the glass and drank some of the contents, feeling the burn as it slid down her throat. It didn't taste bad. And she didn't feel the urge to throw up. Maybe she could drink as long as she had enough blood in her system, a lot like Damon's kind. She didn't feel like trying food, though.

In the afternoon the next day, Bella drove over to Elena's house – 'borrowing' Damon's car – to find out if there were any recent developments and if she wanted her to find Isobel or not. Elena's aunt and guardian Jenna opened the door and let Bella inside, telling her that Elena would be down in a minute.

"You and Damon seem ... close." Jenna commented as she and Bella stood in the kitchen.

Bella nodded, "He's a good friend," she replied. Jenna raised an eyebrow and Bella realised, with slight embarrassment, what she really meant. "There's nothing going on. We're friends."

"Oh," Jenna replied, clearly not believing what Bella just said, "Well, I just assumed ... You're always together and you live with him ... and he just doesn't look at you like you're only his friend..." Jenna trailed off, seeing by the look on Bella's face that she had no real idea everyone thought she and Damon were together or that he looked at her differently.

Elena decided then to make her entrance, walking down the stairs and finding them both in the kitchen. Bella and Elena said their goodbyes and drove to the Grill, finding a secluded spot to talk and Elena ordering some lunch.

"Have you thought anymore about it?"

Elena nodded, taking a sip of her soda. "I want ... I want to know where she is, just so I know. I'm not sure I'll want to meet her, but I want to know where she is. You can find her without her actually knowing about it, can't you?"

Bella nodded, easing Elena's worries, "Yes, of course. She won't know you're looking for her. I didn't expect you to want to meet her, at least not so soon. I'll call them later, get everything started. It shouldn't take too long."

Elena smiled, a little more relaxed and at ease than she had been earlier in the day. "Thank you, Bella."

Bella sat on the wall outside the Salvatore house, cell phone in hand. The Volturi weren't very up-to-date with technology, but they did have a few phones around the castle. Of course, only privileged people knew the numbers to those phones and it was only considered correct to use those numbers in times of need.

Felix answered and found Aro straight away, handing the cell phone to him. "Hello, Bella. How can I help you?"

"I need you to find someone for me."

"Okay, do you have a name?"

"Isobel Fleming. She was changed a couple of years ago, the other kind of vampire. I don't want her to know anyone is looking for her, I just need to know where she is."

"I understand. I'll have Felix and Demitri straight on it. I'll ring you back personally when we have the details."

"Thank you, Aro."

What do you think? I don't want the Volturi very heavily involved, but I always felt like they were never fully explored in the books or movies. I want to see a good side to them too.