Disclaimer: All thing Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer!

Thanks to everyone reading this story. It encourages me to continue! xparawhorextwerdx, EclipsedbyJacob, VampireAshes, Lady Dragona, Dreaming, Sheeijan...and everyone else!

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Chapter 20 -Loyalty

"Irina? What about Irina?" Tanya asked as she sat on the floor next to Alice, pushing her way in front of Esme. Alice shook her head and held onto Jasper's hand like a lifeline.

Tanya turned to me, "What happened?"

"I think Adele is in trouble. She was frantic on the phone and then got cut off."

"But she's with Irina...You don't think?" Tanya turned to Kate.

"Kate?"

"It's possible. But Max was with them. Alice wouldn't have seen if Max was with them."

I listened to the vampires arguing. Not believing that Irina would betray them. I knew one person who would know for sure what she was thinking. But he wasn't here. I gulped and took another deep breath. There was someone else who was just as intuitive in this room, and that was Jasper.

"How did Irina feel when she saw us?" I asked and Alice muttered something to Jasper. He turned to face me.

"She was irate, confused, sorrowful, she also felt guilty for some reason."

"I tried looking into her future, there was a lot of confusion and indecision there too." Alice added.

"So it's possible that Irina took Adele as revenge? Irina knew I was close to Adele, right?" I was trying to make sense of what had happened.

"If Irina wanted to take someone, she would have taken you. And the vision I had..."

"Yes?" I looked at Alice and she was avoiding eye contact. "For God's sake, Alice! Tell me!"

"The vision showed Irina and Adele being killed."

I stood motionless. I saw Kate and Tanya slumped against each other, their faces twisted in agony. I saw Jasper and Alice staring at me, I saw Carlisle speaking to Eleazar and Carmen. I saw everything, but I wasn't a part of it. Time had frozen for me. The shock was too much for my fragile heart to take, so my mind was blocking me out. But I couldn't keep myself blocked out. If there was anything I could do, I would do it. Adele had given me hope before. I had to do everything I could for her. I'd even save Irina if I could. Despite what she may have done.

My self realisation helped me break through the invisible bubble I was holding myself inside.

"Alice, what exactly happened? Tell me everything. It's not the end yet. We can save them." I felt a single tear slide down my cheek, but it was the only one.

Alice looked into my eyes and a small smile curved her lips. She shook Jasper off her arm and stood up.

"Irina took Adele to the Volturi. Well, they are on their way right now. Without Max. I can't see Max so I don't know if he's alive or dead," she paused and I listened to my heart beating in my throat.

"If Irina takes Adele to the Volturi, they will both die. They are of no use to them, except bait. But they have plenty of bait already. Killing them would mean nothing, it would also get Caius off Aro's case. Caius wants Rosalie dead, but Aro has refused thus far. The best we can do is get to Irina before she gets to the volturi."

I nodded and looked at the other vampires, all ready to do what they had to. To save Irina and Adele, and also edward and Rosalie.

Before we could do anything else, Esme went for the door. I felt the draft when it opened, but I didn't turn around.

"Oh, God, Carlisle!" Esme shouted. Carlisle ran out after her, and I turned around. Carlisle had Max in his arms. There was blood everywhere. Where it was coming from, I didn't know. He was a mess. Adrenaline was pumping through my body, preventing me from passing out. Eleazar and Carmen ran through to the dining room. I heard them clear the table for Max.

"Alice, get my medical bag," Carlisle shouted calmly. This was his forte. I had every faith in Carlisle. He could save Max.

No one told me to go into the living room, or to stay out of the way, so I found myself drifting towards the dining room. I took a step back and hugged myself.

Max was on the table, the blood was cleaned and he had a tear in his arm, like a chunk had been taken out of it. You could see the severed tendons and the hint of bone through the wound. But that wasn't the worst of the injuries.

His leg was bent at a funny angle, I heard Carlisle muttering to Alice and Carmen to find something solid. Jasper came up behind me and dragged me away from the carnage. I didn't realise I was shaking until we were upstairs in Tanya's room.

"W-what are they doing to him?" My voice sounded mortified, maybe I was.

"His leg has been broken at an awkward angle. If it sets like that, he will be crippled. The bone cells are already reknitting so they have to break is leg again, and make sure it sets properly."

The horror must have shown on my face, because Jasper was suddenly trying to calm me down.

"His arm will be fine, they just have to make sure it doesn't get infected. They heal mighty fast...if you remember Jacob?" I did. The injuries he suffered would've killed a human, but he was well within days. It amazed me at how fast he had healed.

I heard a cry and realised it was Max. My breathing sped up and I clutched the mattress of Tanya's bed.

"They can't give him anything for the pain. His metabolism would burn it up too fast for it to work. Carlisle doesn't want to risk giving him enough to work incase it causes an overdose." I nodded but nothing else would work. My brain was no longer connected to my body, and I felt like I was floating. Floating just above the nightmares, just out of reach, until everything went blurry then black.

~*~

I didn't have to be a genius to realise what had just happened. I'd fainted again. All these shocks were causing my mind to shut down, and I knew it wasn't healthy. I had to get a hold of myself. I had to seperate my emotions from the situation, but I couldn't.

"Bella, thank God you're awake," Alice said as she sat down on top of the sheets. I was in Tanya's bed.

"You just collapsed on Jasper. He didn't know what to do. I heard him ask for help and I was here. If things are getting too much, Bella, you need to tell me now. We can protect you as much as possible physically, but emotionally...Jasper is finding it hard to stay around you. You act composed, you act like nothing fazes you, but your emotions tell us otherwise. Don't break apart like this." She kissed the top of my head and walked towards the door. She stopped suddenly.

"Emmett, don't you dare bring her in here!" I watched Alice's face contort in rage.

"She's been asking all day, Alice. I won't let her harm her." Who's been asking? And asking what?

Alice climbed onto the bed next to me, the side of her body pressed against mine. She looked ready to protect me if I needed it. I wondered why, until Emmett walked through the door, followed by Jane.

I wanted to laugh. Emmett was being just as cautious as Alice, yet he must have outweighed her by over 100 pounds. It didn't surprise me though. Jane was dangerous to the vampires because of her talent. I, of course, wasn't afraid because of that. I was afraid because she was a vampire. Okay, that doesn't quite cut it. I was afraid of her because she drank human blood and she had once cornered me in the women's bathroom of an airport.

She glided closer, but stayed about a metre back from the bed. Her expression was awkward. I didn't know what she wanted or why she looked at me like that. Like she was...sorry?

"Hi, Bella." I looked into her burgundy eyes, not sure if she had fed since being here, not sure that I wanted to know.

"Jane..." Emmett said. His voice held a tone of warning.

"I won't touch her!" she snapped. I shook my head and held onto Alice's hand.

"Jane, what do you want?" I asked softly. She smiled, pleased that I was acknowledging her.

"I wanted to say sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, I'm just trying to understand you. It is also common knowedge that you want to be a vampire, and I'm curious as to what sort of vampire you would turn out to be." I watched her move closer in a floating motion. She was now at the foot of the bed. Emmett tensed and was ready to tackle her at any moment.

"Have you fed?" I suddenly blurted. I wanted to take it back, but Jane smiled.

"Yes, I have. Today." Still smiling, she took a step back, further from me. I sat up and patted the bed near my feet. I looked at Alice for a second, her eyes widened. Emmett looked like he was constipated. Jane tilted her head to the side, as though she was asking me if I felt okay.

"You can sit down. I don't think you're here to kill me or anything. Not right now." The bed didn't even move as she gracefully sat, her hands in her lap.

"I want to know everything, Jane. I want to know why you're here...Why are you being so...I'd say nice but it doesn't quite fit. Why are you being so unlike you?" Alice and Emmett were still beside me, both listening and watching intently.

"If I answer your questions, I want you to answer mine," she said. I looked at her golden hair for a moment before replying.

"Of course." I smiled.

"I'll start from the beginning. I don't think we have time to dawdle, so I'll tell you everything in short." I nodded, encouraging her to go on.

"I'm loyal to Aro. He calls me his tutore. It means--"

"You're his protector, his guardian," Alice said, interupting. Jane growled at Alice, but it was more of a warning than a threat. I knew this because Alice didn't do anything and neither did Jane.

"Yes, his protector. He rescued me and my brother, Alec, from witch hunters. In those days, they consisted of members of the church. He was almost too late. We were being burnt alive on the stakes. The Volturi guard killed the witch hunters and Aro rescued both me and Alec. He changed us there and then. Vampire venom works miracles, as you probably know." I nodded.

"How did Aro know you and Alec possessed such power?" I asked

"Isn't it obvious? It was around the time that Eleazar was working for Aro." Ah. It made sense. She continued.

"He saved us, so we are loyal to him. But it isn't that simple. He also has Chelsea. She was already a vampire when we found her. We slaughtered her entire coven, her family and friends. There was no one left but her. Aro gave her the option to join or die. She came grudgingly."

"Why would he kill a mass of vampires for one? Is her power so great?" I asked.

"Chelsea can see the ties in relationships, she knows how strong they are, she can find weak spots in the enemies. Not only that, but she can tighten ties, and weaken them. It works well in battle. Confuses the enemy. But it also works well for Aro and Caius. She strengthens the bond in the Volturi guard. Makes them want to be there. They are drawn to protect and fight for the Volturi because of her. I didn't realise how strong the bond was until I left with you."

"But you're still loyal?" Emmett asked, disgust in his voice.

"I am, but I'm now unsure. I think I'm developing a conscience. Aro didn't save us because he wanted us to live. He saved us because he wanted us for himself. He uses and manipulates to a degree which is on the borderline of being considered selfish and blood thirsty. It confuses not only the vampires in this world, but also his two brothers. It's his advantage over them. It's why he is considered the ruler. He is strategic in what he does, he is the dangerous one."

"I didn't think of it like that," Alice stated. "I thought of the strengthening of the guard, wanting to be powerful, but I didn't see that he was manipulating those within his ranks. If there was no Chelsea, then what would become of the guard? Would they develop a conscience? Or would they stay by Aro?"

"I'm still loyal to Aro. I think most of them would be too, or they'd be killed."

"How can you be loyal to him after everything you've told us?" I was suddenly angry. Didn't Jane realise what she was saying?

"Despite everything he does, he has something inside him which works to keep vampires safe. Without the volturi, what would happen to our kind? We'd be discovered. There would be mutiny. We'd slaughter all the humans in this world until there is nothing but blood and death. Aro and Caius, and even Marcus...they preserve our way of life, they destroy trouble makers, in a way they are preserving human life."

I blinked. I just blinked. The words were moving around inside my head. I understood them, but they seemed insensible. The Volturi preserving human life? It seemed ridiculous, but it was plausible in some way. It was true that the Volturi hid vampire life from humans. They killed humans who knew. They killed trouble makers. What would life be like if the humans knew about the vampires? That was the million dollar question.

"How are we going to get Edward, Rosalie, Irina and Adele out safely? We apparently can't kill him or it would destroy the world, and if we don't kill him, then we die." Emmett seemed lost, Alice was smiling. I was trying to get inside my non-existent bubble.

"We play his game. We play his game and win." I looked at Jane. What was it with vampires and games?

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A/N: REVIEW PLEASE!!!

Dun dun dun...We are getting ever so close now...