sorry for the week long wait for an update! hehe that sorta kinda rhymed. i got pretty busy. my sis is taking her wedding WAAAAAAYY to seriously. ik weddings are supposed to be serious but she is on a whole different level. i swear she's going crazy. she started bawling becuz the bridesmaids dresses werent strapless and they have very thin straps. it was so stupid. i wont be able to update for a few days cuz i have to mow tonight, get my eyebrows waxed, go to my sis's graduation, etc. so here's the next chapter. i'll have one more after this. put me on author alert so you can read my next story when i get it up ^_^

btw

Yo estoy escribiendo pero tengo mucho hambre.

im pretty good at spanish. first person to guess what i said in spanish gets a preview of the first chapter of my next story ^_^

Before we even had a chance to attack each other, a commanding yell approached our ears as we stopped dead in our tracks.

"Enough!"

The force behind the tone was so threatening that even I got chills sparking down my spine. Spade and I both looked up to find the vampire who haulted the fight. We both refused to turn our backs on each other, but I looked around as every person was frozen in the battle, also looking around. Walking towards the center of it all was Aro.

"Enough!" he repeated.

Every single member of the guard bowed their heads in respect for him. I, on the other hand, did not. Aro scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on me. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand as he motioned me forward. Very reluctant, I forced my feet to move. But very slowly. All eyes were on me, watching my every move and emotion that flickered across my face. The faces of the Volturi only held triumph while the faces of my family held anxiety and concern.

Aro had a soft smile on his face that actually looked genuine but it didn't touch his eyes. They were hard and cold. I wasn't sure which one I could trust. His black hair was slicked back and had one of the tacky floor-length robes on. Only instead of the tradional black that everyone else had on, his was more of a sapphire navy blue and looked more like velvet then silk.

"Alice!" He greeted me when I approached and took my hand in his, no doubt running through my mind. No emotion crossed his face as he dug into my thoughts, still grasping my hand.

"Aro." I said formally and monotone.

"My my Alice. It's been a little while since we have spoken hasn't it?" He asked politely like we were two friends catching up.

"Yes it has. What brings you down here? And why aren't your brothers here with you?" I tried to ask as politely as I could. My voice ended up strained as my fake nice was evident.

"My brothers find these types of encounters boring and childish. I agree with him, but someone had to come down here to take control of this mess. I do apologise on the behalf of my guard. When I give them an order, they obey to the furthest extent of that order."

I blinked several times, not saying a word. My hard expression told him that I was not going to accept his apology.

"But as I was roaming through your thoughts, I couldn't help but noticing something." Aro continued. "We really messed up things for you, I understand that, but you have to realize that we know whats best and we act on it. Your devotion to your family and to your love is way too strong to be stored inside a tiny person like you so I would like to unleash it. When you were about to fight with my son, Spade, you wanted to kill him to save yourself. It's selfish, Alice. I do not handle selfishness well."

Every word he said stung, but some of them giving me a glimmer of a spark of hope.

"Therefore I have decided to let you win your freedom will fight with Spade. You kill him, you are free to live and do whatever you wish. But if he kills you, we will forcibly take the other members of your family with extraordinary gifts. Are you willing to agree?"

My eyebrows shot up. I was right. One of us was going to die.

"May I discuss?" I asked.

He nodded his head and I ran to wear my family was now crowding. Someone must have helped Jasper over there, cause he was waiting there for me. I threw my arms around him and crushed him to my body, never wanting to let go.

"So, what should we do? I can't put any of you in jeopardy, but I'm willing to risk myself." I stated.

"Please Alice. Don't risk your life! I can't take that chance. I never want to lose you." said Jasper in a raspy voice. The venom in his system was overpowering.

"It seems like that is the only way for us to be free of this mess." I said.

"Do it, Alice. You are our only hope for a complete family again." replied Edward, knowing full well that he was one of the people Aro wanted.

I looked around at the others. "Are you guys sure?"

Esme bent down and embraced me. "Honey, I know you can do it." She smiled warmly.

Everyone nodded and muttered words of encouragement as I stood up and gave them individually one last hug.

"I love you guys." A smiled appeared on my face as I said those words. I knew I could win.

I gradually walked back over to Aro where he waited patiently.

"I will fight. And I will win!" I stated with determination in my voice.

Aro nodded. "I must warn you that Spade is one of my very best fighters. I wish the both of you good luck and goodbye to whoever dies."

He practicly didn't care that he was about to lose someone. I turned to face Spade who hadn't moved from his spot the entire time. He smirked as he sprinted forward and clashed into me.

one more chapter to go! please review!