this one is a little short. i'm very sorry for that. it's late, and i'm very tired. next chapter will be a lot longer, i promise.

Heaven help us now
Come crashing down
We'll hear the sound
As you're falling down
Heaven Help Us—My Chemical Romance

"Yeah, about that. . ." Emmett started.

My eyes widened to an impossible level. "Where. Is. Edward." I repeated through gritted teeth. I had not gone through what I had to lose him now . . . if those Volturi hurt him. . .

"We were hoping you could tell us." Jasper admitted, not allowing me to finish my silent threat. "We thought he was right behind you."

I felt myself panicking inside. They didn't know where my husband was. We were in the lair of the most powerful vampires in the world. That was very unsettling.

"And why would that be?" Emilie asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alice sighed. "Edward got a little impatient. Between waiting for Carlisle and Aro, and waiting to see which of my visions was going to come true, and he ran off, to look for you himself. No one, not even Marcus or Caius, could stop him."

"Visions. . . .?" Laurent asked, before I could.

Rosalie frowned. "Alice's was having visions left and right. Some showed you returning home fine. And some . . . some showed a less fortunate outcome."

I grimaced. "Oh,"

"And where is Edward now, Alice?" Emilie demanded.

"Demetri went to fetch him," Caius said, malice dripping from his tone.

Oh, well this was going to be an interesting conversation. Oh yes, we sort of killed your brother. We're very sorry. We didn't have much of a choice. But don't worry, we won't do it again.

Emilie chuckled nervously. "Uhm, well . . . about that. . ."

"He kind of. . ." Laurent began.

". . .he's kind of dead." I finished.

Marcus' jaw dropped. "What do you mean, he's dead?"

"He's kicked the bucket." Emilie clarified. "Nonexistent, pushing up daisies, gone, kaput, ding dong the witch is dead, dead as a doo—"

"I think he gets it," Alice said, interrupting her.

The two brothers, Jane, and all the other vampires about the room looked steaming angry. I half-expected to see smoke come from their ears. If they weren't dead, I was sure their faces would be beet red with rage.

"You killed him?" Jane asked, astonished.

Emilie cleared her throat. "Uhm. . . yes?"

A loud snarl ripped through the room. "How DARE you!?" Caius boomed.

"I have the mind to kill you right now!" Marcus added.

Emilie cringed back, and Laurent stood in front of her to protect her. I jumped in front of him, and he growled quietly and pushed me behind Emilie.

"Now, now, gentlemen," a velvet voice said calmly, entering from a set of doors opposite from the ones we had entered in. "No need to be hasty."

"Edward," I breathed, as he joined us in the center of the room. He looked at me, and took in a sharp intake of air.

"I do not believe that Aro will be pleased that you killed one of us," Caius said, and Edward's head snapped back at him. "In fact, I believe that he might want to find a proper punishment for this one here."

"I believe you should leave that up to him," Emmett growled, protecting his little sister.

Marcus growled. "We shall see what Aro has to say about this."

"Until then," Alice snapped, "I believe you should keep your threats to yourself."

"And I suggest," One male snapped back, "That you keep your thoughts to yourself." As I gazed at him, I realized that he looked as if he could be Jane's twin. In fact, I didn't doubt that, that was exactly who he was.

"Respect the ladies, Alec," Jasper sneered, protectively wrapping his arms around his wife. "She has every right to voice her opinions."

"Enough!" Another male shouted. "Enough of this foolish arguing. The fate of the girl depends upon Aro, who will return momentarily. Until then, I suggest you end this childish bickering."

This male's hair was short, and jet black. His skin also had a slight olive tone to it, which looked unusual with the brittle-looking pallor.

"Thank you, Felix," Esme smiled kindly.

I turned my head, and my eyes met Edward's again. His usual topaz irises were a pitch black, but I could see the deep concern behind them. It took everything inside me to not pounce at him, as he walked slowly over to me.

When he was standing directly in front of me, he cleared his throat. "Hello Bella," he said, seemingly uncomfortable with the situation.

Without a second thought, I threw my arms around his neck, and buried my face in his shoulder. His arms snaked around my waist, and held me tightly, as I incoherently apologized a thousand times over.

"It's okay Bella. . ." he cooed. "I'm here, it's over now."

"No!" I moaned, "It's not okay. I was such a hypocrite. How could I have possibly doubted you? I should have known something was up. I shouldn't have run off like that. I should have let you explain! I was an idiot, please forgive me."

I sounded absolutely pathetic, and I knew it. The words coming out of my mouth sounded like something someone would say in a terribly written soap opera. But I didn't care, I kept babbling on like an idiot. I felt like a complete imbecile. After what we had gone through, after I had yelled at him for doubting me, how could I have possibly ever thought that he ever could love anyone but me? How could I have the audacity to distrust him?

"Bella," he said, pulling away a little, and pressing his index finger to my lips to shush me. "I understand. But Bella, you had no choice but to believe the illusion. That's part of Tanya's power."

"Huh?" I said dumbly. It sounded even stupider with his finger against my lips, turning the word into a pitiful grumble.

"Her power is to make you believe that your worst fear is unfolding before your eyes," he explained. "Not for you to just see it, but that you actually are convinced that the illusion is the truth."

I blinked, and he dropped his hand from my lips. "So wait," I said, "I didn't even get to use my better judgment?"

He shook his head. "If her power was just to create illusions, it wouldn't be so helpful." He explained. "With things like denial, trust, and love, people need a little push to believe that the façade is the truth. Her power gives that push."

"Oh," I said, blinking a few more times to clear my head.

Edward looked like he might have wanted to say something more, but a loud boom erupted from the other side of the area. Our heads snapped to the noise, and we saw Aro and Carlisle re-entering the room.

Edward stepped forward, right next to Laurent, and pulled me behind him. Carlisle took a respectable place beside Esme, and Aro took his seat in the middle throne, in-between Marcus and Caius.

"It has come to my attention," Aro began, "that a member of our coven has been killed, at the hands of one of the vampires before me."

Emilie tensed beside me, and I wondered how he could have possibly found out already. I assumed that Alice had seen something about Demetri's long awaited demise, and shared the information with Carlisle, and no one else. Or maybe he had inconspicuously touched one of his brother's shoulders, and seen the memory. Which one, I couldn't be sure.

"However," he continued. "After a long conversation with my old friend Carlisle, I have made a few important decisions."

I gulped. This was it.

"Carlisle has convinced me that Isabella, despite the lack of power we have over her, will not make an attempt to damage us in any way." He said. "We've decided to let her return home with her family." I took in a deep breath of relief, and I noticed Edward loosen a bit in front of me. "However, we will be keeping a close watch on her, making sure that she keeps to this word."

Edward nodded. "Thank you, Aro."

"And Carlisle also has explained the situation of Demetri's death," Aro went on, ignoring Edward. "Apparently, Alice had seen this in a vision, which she explained vividly to him. It seems as if Demetri's demise was simply an act of self-defense. In a world of survival of the fittest, we can't punish Emilie for doing what she absolutely had to. Out of respect for Carlisle, we cannot take her in, just as we can't take Bella, either."

Emilie relaxed next to me as well.

"Thank you, sir," Emilie said, peeking out from behind Laurent.

"Aro!" Caius exclaimed. "Aro, you must not be thinking clearly. How can you simply let them go, just because of one man's word?"

"Carlisle is a good friend of ours, Caius," Aro replied, calmly, and happily as usual. "If he says that he will keep Isabella and Emilie in check, I trust that he will."

The objections from the other Volturi members were loud and angry. However, they were silenced by Aro simply lifting up his hand.

"It is raining outside currently," he added. "I suggest you don't waste any time finding your way to an airport."

And trust me, we didn't waste one second.

ah, more rushing. i'm terribly sorry if this was another disappointment. however, this was the only way for them to escape, without Emilie having to blow everyone up. XDD

and just a little heads up: happily ever after has not arrived yet. that's a ways away, guys.