Bella's POV

I run downhill through the dense forest of trees. The branches hit my face, but there's no pain. The sun bears down on me, but I don't feel its warmth. I haven't had to hunt for my food before now. I don't even know how to go about it. Do I just run for the animal, and hope it lets me drain it dry?

Probably not.

Using my superior sense of smell, I scan the area. I get a whiff of something off to the east about 5 miles away. It's a bigger animal. Probably a deer. I head that way, my mind filled with thoughts of Jasper.

Something's wrong. He's not acting like himself. Saying that Aro has been gracious? He's been controlling, cunning, and manipulative. I don't know what Aro said to Jasper earlier, but whatever it was, it changed him. He's behaving as if he's...loyal to the Volturi. At any rate, he's starting to trust Aro, and that's dangerous.

The snap of a twig half a mile off brings me back to reality. It's not an animal, or a human. The wind whistles, the sound sharp in my sensitive ears. Blonde hair, red eyes flood my vision. She flashes to stand before me, a blank expression masking her face.

"Jane, I didn't know you abstained from humans as well," I say, smiling sweetly.

Her expression doesn't change. "Funny."

"Are you here to watch me? Make sure I don't fly the coop?"

"Something like that."

"And here I thought Aro gave us his permission to leave."

"Yes."

Frustrated, I run. In a couple of minutes I make it to the group of deer. I hide behind a bush, and I wait. Jane is several paces behind me. I feel her eyes on me as I sink to a crouch, getting ready to lunge for the unfortunate animal closest to me. I stay still, I don't make a sound. Leaning forward, I prepare myself to make my first kill.

The entire process is much easier than I thought it would be. Pinning it down, I circle one hand around its neck, and I sink my teeth into it. In seconds it's nothing but an empty carcass.

I turn my head to look at Jane. Her nose is scrunched up in disgust, and I assume it's because of the blood coating the lower half of my face. "I'm going to find another one, then I'll be ready to head back," I tell her, wiping my face clean with the edge of my sleeve.

I roll my eyes at her persistent silence. Not having the patience to deal with her any longer, I make my way towards the smell of animal blood several miles out.

"Bella."

Surprised, I twist back in her direction. "Jane?"

"Aro didn't send me."

How can she go so long without showing any kind of emotion? Her stiff posture and dead eyes give me the chills. "So why are you here then?" I ask.

She watches me, and I get the distinct impression she's sizing me up. "I shouldn't be doing this," she murmurs to herself, turning halfway in the opposite direction.

Curious, I wait and observe her uncharacteristic show of hesitation and uncertainty. I briefly entertain the idea of this being some sort of elaborate trick to get back at me for last night, but I reject it the longer I watch her. "What shouldn't you do?" I venture, daring to close the distance separating us.

Her gaze flashes back to me. Seeming to come to some kind of decision, she draws herself up to her full height. Her defiant eyes bore into my confused ones. "You're being played," she says, amused, as if this all some hilarious joke.

What? "What?"

"There's something you should know about the Volturi," she says, suddenly serious. "We know how to get what we want, when we want. And Aro, Caius, and Marcus want you and Jasper."

"I'm aware of what Aro and his partners in crime want. What I don't get is why you're telling me this?"

"I don't want you to join the coven," she replies. Her voice, her eyes, her posture, everything about her, speaks of hate. I don't think I've ever had anyone loathe me the way she seems to.

I stare at her closely. "You're betraying your coven because you dislike me?"

Nostrils flaring, she clenches her tiny hands into fists by her sides. "I am trying to help you, you insolent, ungrateful brat."

Right. "Sorry if I don't fall to your feet in thanks," I say sarcastically.

Stifling a scream, she grabs a tree to her right, pulls it up by the roots, and throws it at me. I have a millisecond to raise my hand out and freeze it in mid-air. I hold it up above our heads. "Aren't you too old for temper tantrums?"

"I apologize," she says, gathering her bearings. "You infuriate me. I would kill you if you didn't have your power protecting you."

I laugh at her ability to apologize, then speak of killing me practically in the same breath. "You followed me to warn me of your leaders," I state. "So far you haven't told me anything I don't know."

Glaring, she pulls her robe closer to her small frame. "Yes, but you do not know how they are succeeding in keeping you here."

My thoughts are a jumbled mess. There's Maria ready to wage war, there's Jasper becoming someone I hardly know, there's the Volturi working their magic turning us into their willing puppets. "Then tell me."

I set the tree down gently beside us, not wanting to make a loud, unidentifiable noise. There's no reason to alarm the city.

"Marcus has the ability to understand relationships between people. He saw that you and Jasper were close as soon you entered the room. It helps them know how to manipulate their prey. When Aro saw that you were immune to our powers, he knew that you could be persuaded to cooperate if he hurt you through Jasper."

"Why tell us we could leave after making such a big deal out of it when we first arrived?" I ask.

"People are more susceptible to persuasion if they are given a choice."

"It's a big gamble, isn't it? What if Jasper was adamant on leaving? What if I was?"

She smiles, the cruel twist of her lips condescending. "It is not a gamble at all if you have the upper hand."

"And how does Aro have the upper hand? How could he make Jasper want to stay while looking like the good guy?" I snap.

"A member of our guard, Chelsea, is able to strengthen bonds. She used her power to strengthen Jasper's bond with the Volturi." Her smile turns wicked. "It was almost too simple really."

Of course this vampire's gift wouldn't work on me, but it would on Jasper. "Can the bond be broken?"

Her darkened eyes crinkle at the edges. "It depends. If your bond with Jasper is strong enough, you might be able to break it."

"And if it isn't?"

"Then you will have a choice to make. Is Jasper worth belonging to the Volturi, or is he no more than a passing acquaintance you can leave behind?"

She makes as if to go herself. "Either way, it would be in your best interest to bide your time and wait till they come to a decision about Maria."

"You care about my welfare now?"

Light laughter, similar to a child's, floats in the wind. "No, but I want you to be smart. If Aro finds out what I have done, I will be punished severely."

"You must really hate me if you're willing to risk your life to get me to leave."

"Tell no one of our conversation," she commands, ignoring my previous statement. She doesn't stick around to hear my reply. In a flash, she's gone.

Thinking over everything she told me, I slowly sink to the ground. The Volturi are definitely powerful. More powerful than I had previously thought. But does it really matter? I could leave. Right now. I could run, escape Italy, and hide somewhere. Maria wouldn't be looking for me, her vendetta against the Volturi is too great. Anyway, I could go to the other side of the world, hide, wait for things to settle down. Maybe in a couple of years I could return to Forks even.

You promised, Bella. You told Jasper you were going to stay. He's not himself now. If you abandon him, your word means nothing.

He wouldn't leave me behind. I know this. I also know I can't go without him. It wouldn't be right, and he deserves more from me. I can't just run away. No matter how badly I wish I could.

Sighing, I get up, and follow the deer trail. I need to hurry and get back to Jasper.

A/N - Hi! I love that everyone is enjoying the story. Most of you guessed who was messing with Jasper's head. Now you guys know you were right. :)

Lol, Jasper and Bella are going to be getting closer soon. It's been going slow, I know. Just know that both of them are going to realize their feelings for each other very soon (though I believe Jasper already knows what he feels). ;)