In the two weeks we had been gone Esme had begun to gut the Volturi Castle. I was sure that it would be redone in neutrals as fast as she could sell the obnoxious statuary. It felt good to see Athendora's prized possessions on auction at Christie's. She, Alice and Rosalie had set to cleansing the place of reminders as soon as they'd reached it.

Demitri and Eleazar had taken temporary command of my army. I walked back into the castle with my husband's arm across my shoulders. I had forgotten about my night with Demitri. I looked on in horror as he leveled his eyes at Edward and smirked. Edward stiffened and then looked sad.

"Demitri!" I yelled.

"Yes my ranking equal?" he replied as he sidled over to me.

"Equal?" I asked.

"Of course," he answered. "I was instrumental in your coup. It is only fair that my efforts net me some considerable gains."

Gina interrupted this strange conversation with a bear hug that nearly toppled me.

"I missed you," she breathed.

"I missed you more," I said.

I felt a jab to my ribs from my new ranking equal.

"Your manners suck," he said. "How about an introduction?"

"Gena this is Demitri," I said. "Demitri this is Gina Cullen."

"It's nice to meet you Demitri," Gina said.

"The pleasure is all mine Miss," he said with more politeness than I thought him capable.

The cranky look on Edward's face told me that Demitri's motives may not be entirely pure. I sighed and made a mental note to warn Gina. But he didn't deserve that. He, like me, deserved a chance to remake himself without the Volturi. We would start afresh.

"Care to help us save the world from evil?" I said to him wrapping my arm around Edward.

"Well that is going to be an adjustment," he said. "I'm so used to being the evil in the world."

"We're free Demitri," I said smiling at him for the first time.

"Thank God for that," He said.

Dimitri held out his hand to me and I shook it warmly. Then, to my surprise, he held out his hand to Edward.

"Your wife is a classy lady," he said. "I hope you know what you've got."

"Thank you," said Edward. "And I do."

Edward shook the offered hand and I saw that the grip was barely more than necessary. I was proud of him for that.

"Care for a tour of the Castle Miss Gina?" said Demitri.

"I'd love one," she said.

"Behave yourself," I warned him.

"Who me?" he said, his eyes wide in mock surprise.

"Edward," Alice called. "Come tell us what to do with this music room."

"Go ahead," I said, squeezing his hand. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Ah hell Bells," a warm voice said.

Jacob was standing out on the moonlit balcony. I passed through the French doors to join him.

"It is finished," he said. "You don't need me anymore."

"What?" I was confused.

"They let me stay for a purpose Bells," he said. "They saw your fate and knew you would need help."

"They?" I asked.

He wiggled his fingers at me in a gesture for magic.

"It's a wolf thing," he said.

"So even after all these years the wolves of La Push are still trying to save the world from me," I said.

"Partly," he said. "And they were trying to save you from the world."

"Thank them for me Jake," I said.

"I will," he said. "I think I'm going to be seeing them soon."

I was horrified. "You're leaving me?" I asked, tears choking my voice.

"I'm going to miss you Bella," he said, smiling down at me. "You did good kiddo."

"I hope you find peace Jake," I said.

"I will Bella," he said. "I hear someone put in a word for me with the man upstairs.

Jake winked at me and wrapped his warm arms around me. For a second he was real. His flesh and blood body surrounded me and his peaceful forest smells filled my head.

"Goodbye Bells," He said.

I looked up into his face as he slowly faded away. His smile never wavered. I don't know what he did to me but there was no sadness as I watched him go. I felt the simple completeness of his act. He deserved to be free. He had sacrificed his life and part of his death for me. Now he would be free. I saw him running with Sam in a beautiful forest.

"Peace be with you," I whispered.