I knew I couldn't set Alec on fire, because then I would catch on fire, so instead I just shoved him away.

We both sprang to our feet and he flashed forward with a speed surmounting even Edward's. He knocked me back into the wall, cracking it, and then bit my forearm.

I gasped as his teeth ripped through the skin and his fiery venom pulsed into my flesh. It hurt.

I pushed him off of me and he growled, about to strike again. I almost freaked out, because I wasn't fast enough to avoid him.

Luckily, his attention was called away. The girl from before was pinned under Emmett and she wailed, "Alec!!"

The boy sprang out of the window and rescued his sister.

I jumped outside and searched desperately for Alice. How could she take care of herself in a battle? She was so little! Not that much bigger then me.

I saw her a hundred feet away, fluidly avoiding every single strike from a huge male. Okay, fine, she was a capable fighter.

Edward's voice rang from somewhere in the fray, "Leo, watch out!"

I glanced to the side and ducked just before Aro bowled into me. He landed gracefully on his feet and locked eyes with me.

His voice was velvety and inviting, "You can stop this, Leo. You can save your family if you agree to come with us."

For a half of a second I wanted to believe him, to trust that he would leave them alone. But I thought better then that. He was a monster! He took me, just a little kid practically, away from his family for no reason.

He sent someone to come and take me away from my new family.

He was here to take me away. To force me into some cult, or whatever the hell the Volturi really is.

I narrowed my eyes and coldly responded, "Or I can stop it this way."

I clawed at every shred of fury in my un-beating heart and directed it towards him, encasing him in such a massive inferno I had to jump out of the way.

The fighting instantly stopped.

Everything seemed to just stop as I watched him die.

He stole my life away, and now I was returning the favor.

Want to know something horrible? A secret between just us?

The terror in his eyes as he died made me shiver with excitement. I really did like it. Knowing that I was the reason a bad man felt horrible in the last seconds of his existence. That because of me the very last thing he'll ever know is the pain of fire.

When I tore my eyes away from huge flame I let them wander around the clearing. All of the cloaks were huddled behind a tall man with a blank face.

My family was in pairs, naturally. Mates were standing with one another. Everyone was silent, except for the two people who actually mattered to me.

Jasper was looking at Alice's arm, which had two of the same bite marks I had just received.

Jasper hissed, "I told you this was going to happen!"

Alice pushed his hand away from her arm and muttered, "It doesn't even hurt, Jasper, calm down."

Well that was a lie, for sure. My own wound was throbbing so painfully it felt like a hot cinder was implanted under my skin. Hers had to have hurt, too.

Jasper growled darkly, "Not that. Didn't I say this whole thing was going to bring nothing but trouble to our family?"

A stab of sorrow hit me so fiercely Jasper flinched before he turned his head to look at me. Alice growled at him, but he completely ignored her.

He didn't want me here! My teacher, my friend, my older brother.

I was just hurting the family. His family.

I lowered my eyes and mumbled, "I'll leave if you want me to."

I didn't want to, but if it would keep the Cullen's safe then I would do it.

Alice was beside me in a second and she hugged me, "You don't have to leave, Leo, just ignore him. He doesn't mean anything by it."

It would hurt me to leave her, but it was going to put her at danger if I stayed.

I pulled away and glanced at Marcus. He seemed to understand.

He asked, "Would you like to talk, Leo?"

I nodded and Carlisle frowned, "Then we'll leave you two alone."

Slowly the Cullen's started to shuffle into the house. Jasper had to physically pull Alice away from my side so I could have some privacy.

The Volturi members backed away and Marcus came to join me.

He looked down at me, "What do you want to know?"