Ahhh, I know it's been too long since I uploaded a chapter! I'm sorry! I've had a mad summer - as it is, I'm off to a camp tomorrow so this feels good to finally get uploaded. It is quite a short one, but packed full of emotion between Anna and Beth *excited noises*

Enjoy!

LookAliveSunshine03

Chapter 21:

Beyond Volterra

"I could have killed her – I would have, if it weren't for them."

"But you didn't, Beth," Anna said calmly.

"Obviously."

Besides Anna, Demetri, and Beth, the Hall was now empty. Aro had just left to wait for Anna upstairs, at her reluctant insistence.

Beth's topaz eyes flicked up to find Demetri looking at her. Rather than avert her gaze, they rested upon his bitten chin, like a physical touch. "And I still want to," she said bluntly, looking down. "Hurt her, I mean."

"I know you do," Anna placated, sitting beside her. She tucked a strand of hair behind Beth's ear like a mother would. "Julia might have been the last connection to Darius –"

"I doubt it. He was always two steps ahead of us."

"Perhaps not anymore."

"And how do you know that?" Beth's voice abruptly shook – from laughter or sadness, it was hard to say. "A couple of days ago we didn't even know Julia and Darius were aware of each other! And then there was a month where we had no idea what he was doing. And – and what about the immortal in Prague?"

"I don't know," Anna admitted.

"Really? You're sure about that?"

Demetri was as riled as a kicked cat. "Beth!"

"Thank you, Demetri," Anna said coolly. "You may go now."

"But –! Yes, my Lady." He bowed stiffly.

As he turned to leave, Anna stared Beth down. "Why would I lie to you, Beth?"

"To protect me from something ominous; it's all you've ever done," she answered. Her face was slack with tiredness.

"Something which you chose to ignore today," Anna stated quietly.

Beth didn't answer. She watched Demetri go. "I hate it in here," she mumbled.

"Then let's go outside."

Dora's soft singing was sweet and distant in her tower. Alec and Jane whispered about the day's events, and the stench of death was just a little too close for comfort.

Beth wavered. She could hear Michael crying below them.

"Come on," Anna whispered, anticipating Beth's reaction. She yearned to comfort her sister, but something hard and furious stopped her.

The dying afternoon hailed them with the garden's gentle fragrance; it was a relief from the stale air inside. Sighing, Beth took her seat at the bench.

Here I was married, Anna thought with secret pleasure.

Beth was muttering, tugging fretfully on her braid. "Prague. I've always wanted to go there. Why did it have to be Prague?"

"Did… Eleazor ever tell you of his travels?"

Beth made a face. "Er, no – honestly, I don't see him very much."

"Before you left for Forks, Aro told me about him," Anna declared. "I believe your friend knows of the rumour of the vampire living in Prague. You'll have to ask him."

Beth raised an eyebrow. "Well, what does the rumour say?"

"That anyone who meets him is never heard from again."

"Oh." Her shoulders slumped at the cliché. "I dread to think what Julia meant by being 'set free' by him."

"I don't want you getting any ideas."

Beth was aghast. "If you're talking about –"

"How can I trust you to be responsible after today?" Anna cried abruptly. "I thought you were better than that, Beth."

"Obviously I'm not!" The bitterness in her sister's voice seemed to surprise her. "Twice now I've almost been killed, because they think I am the easiest to get to. To get at you! They think I am weak, all of them. Maybe even you."

"You are not weak," Anna whispered. "But if you are worried for your safety, I can ask Demetri to –"

"No. No, no." Beth scowled, shaking her head. "I just…want to be left alone. I want to be safe. I want to be happy."

The forest would be damp and musical with the spring rain, the cries and calls of the animals, as she ran to catch up with her friends. Beth felt…something desperate surge inside her.

"I can't be here," she said softly.

Anna heard the tremor in her voice. She didn't need to look to know her eyes were gazing out to somewhere far beyond Volterra.

The words wrapped around her in a vice, squeezing like a viper. "Then you should go. I won't stop you." Anna paused. "The furthest you are from that woman, the better."

That strange surge of emotion burst out of Beth in a sob. "You mean Hazel?"

"You saw her face before she left."

Beth visibly baulked. "Please…don't remind me." Her hands bunched into a messy ball in her lap, fingers tracing Nessie's henna pattern. She stared at Anna with large eyes. "I'm – I'm so, so sorry I ruined your honeymoon."

"Oh, Beth." Anna's gaze softened. "Thank you for saying so… but it doesn't take back what you did."

"I know! I just –"

Anna touched her sister's hand, stilling her roving fingers. "I want you to see the world as much as you do, but…" – she swallowed, pulling away – "I won't be able to help if you get into trouble again."

"You don't need to worry about that," Beth said. "Maybe I'll even do something useful with my life." She gave a smile that broke Anna's heart.

They sat in silence again, though the atmosphere felt heavy, ready as a ripe orange about to fall.

It was Anna who spoke first. "Your potential was very strong. Your glamour…"

Beth gave a weary huff. "Invisible glamours aren't that uncommon, that's what Eleazor told me." She suddenly looked like she was bracing herself for something large and painful. "Did – did the Volturi feature in the vision at all?"

"I thought you didn't want to know about your future?"

Beth gave a shrug, attempting a grunt of indifference…except she could still feel the paper beneath her hand, currently burning a hole in Anna's pocket.

"They were a part of your future…though only a part," Anna murmured.

Opening her mouth, Beth looked at her sister out of the corner of her eye – and was bewildered by what she saw.

Had Anna always looked so tall? Her hair was pulled partially away by a strong, silver grip that looked oddly familiar.

Anna had always been powerful, but the woman sitting beside Beth was now, finally, comfortable in that knowledge.

As a Volturi Queen.

As a woman.

Beth envied her a little for that.

"So, uh, would you do me a favour?" She stared at her chipped nail polish in disdain. "Read my letter."

Anna blinked. "Now?" She touched her pocket.

"No. After I'm gone." Brushing her trousers down, Beth gave a mighty sniff. "But, before I go, can I…have a hug?"

"Antoine saw this happen," Anna said as they held each other. It felt like the right thing to say while her heart fought to stay together.

"Maybe that's a good thing. I was never going to stay, was I?" Beth gave a hiccupping chuckle and Anna gasped as if she had been punched in the stomach.

"But you'll – you'll always be welcome here."

"Hey. Don't do that." Beth pulled away. "Don't be sad. She snorted.

"Then when will I see you again? What if I – will I ever - ?"

"Of course you will. Don't be silly. I'm not dying." But it was obvious Beth was struggling with her composure, too. "Not tomorrow, not a week from now, but you will see me again."

"I hope so." Anna held her once and let her go. "Do you have enough money?"

"Just about. Back to Forks."

"And what then?"

"Look for a job, I guess."

"The Cullens will help you, won't they?"

Beth nodded. She knew Jasper had his connections but, so far, the details were only intriguing hearsay to her ears.

Still, Anna looked reassured. "You mean to leave soon?"

"Yes. As soon as possible, actually. Don't worry about me, though. I'll be fine."

They hugged goodbye, and Beth walked away with her promise to text Anna hanging in the air.

The feathery breeze blew. A solitary black bird darted through the darkening window of sky stretching between the castle and the garden's edge.

"Haven't you learnt yet, Beth?" Anna whispered sadly. "I will always worry about you."

It feels like a satisfying goodbye, right? Now Beth has to get ready to leave...it won't be easy...