Two days earlier

- Edward –

The notes of Bella's lullaby resonated through the empty living room. Though I never meant it so at the time, it felt like now the song was so appropriate: sweet, innocent sounds, that could blend in with your mood. It could be a song of love, tender and happy.. content. But there was always this sad note, a touch of melancholy, like I had known then, what would be coming for us now.

I straightened from the wall I was leaning on when the last notes died out. Renesmee peeked over the grand piano's wing, trying to monitor my mood, no doubt. I forged a smile, like I had done a gazillion times by now. I had evidently mastered it, she beamed back at me. As I reached the piano, I tapped her nose playfully.

'Great job, I'm very impressed.'

Renesmee grinned shyly. 'I have a lot of time to practise.. and a good tutor.' My heart constricted. Such a sweet girl. It was true that with Bella gone, Renesmee and I had grown so much closer. And our sessions at the piano were therapeutic for both of us.

Right as I was going to answer her that we were going to get our own piano installed in our cottage, a murky dog scent filled my nostrils. Right as Jacob bounded up the stairs.

He barely slowed down as he reached the piano, which had me at the ready to knock him aside, when he twisted and lifted Renesmee right of the stool and up in his arms. She giggled, but quickly remembered who was standing right in front of them and she started to squirm in his arms. 'Jake…. ' embarrassed glances shot my way.. 'let me down!' Jacob raised his eyebrow at me. Mind if I take my girl out for a drink? We could use some distraction, haven't seen her in ages. I rolled his eyes at him, then nodded. As Jacob shot out the door, my daughter screaming and playfully pounding his back, I shook my head at myself.. kids. But it was true. Jacob had been patrolling together with the pack for the past couple of weeks, looking for signs of the Volturi. Several people in the reserve had turned over the past months, the tension was high with a potential war on our doorstep. I didn't care much for that. There was just one I cared about in all this.

..oo00O00oo..

- Bella –

We both twisted as we heard the voice of Cole from the corner of the room. Edward shifted, pushing him behind me as he crouched, ready for the attack. With my hands on his back, I could feel his chest resonating as he snarled at Cole. 'Stay back. I'm here to get my wife and you are not getting in the way again.'

Cole didn't stop, but came confidently walking towards us. As he came nearer, a thousand thoughts ran through my mind. How could I ever be so blind as to fall for him? Because I had, I knew that now. Just moments ago I had given myself to him, and who knows what would've happened if Edward hadn't come here today. But how? Because looking at him now, while standing behind Edward, there was no doubt about it that I loved only him, there were no feelings whatsoever. Not any longer.

I shivered and sucked in my breath as Cole stopped a few steps away. We didn't need light to see how menacing Cole looked right now. He had a goal and he was not going to stray from it. I locked eyes with him and an evil grin spread across his face. Edward pushed me back further and shouted: 'Stop this now! I can see what you're thinking but it is never going to be so, she's mine!' Cole barely shot Edward a glance before turning back to look at me.

'Are you so sure, Edward? Because just moments ago I was enjoying your wife's tender lips on my own, her body pressed against mine, her hands in my hair..' Edward stiffened as Cole spoke, no doubt seeing and hearing exactly what Cole had while we were back at the party. I choked, trying to fill my lungs with air and interrupt him before he got any further.

'Cole, just.. answer me! What happened to me? I just don't understand how I could ever..'

'Kiss me?' Cole's face turned ice cold and menacing. 'Love me?' I felt Edward straining his muscles, ready to attack. I clung to his arm. We were never going to get out of here. In minutes, the room had filled up with Volturi guards, all poised to strike at Cole's first demand. And judging by the sounds outside, more were waiting there, together with onlookers from the party, no doubt. This could only end one way, and it wasn't the fairy tale ending. But I could keep Edward from getting ripped apart right now.

I shook my head furiously. 'I didn't love you, Cole. How could I ever? After what you've done to me, to us!' Cole shook his index finger at me as if to scold me. 'Tut tut, Bella. You were getting there, I know you were.' And as he said this, deep down I felt the truth hit me. I was falling in love before. I was so close.. I trembled but didn't speak. Edward turned his head around briefly, trying to judge my reaction to all this. His eyes narrowed when he saw the look on my face. But he said nothing.

I gasped as his raw emotions.. disappointment.. hurting.. were portrayed clearly in his eyes. I shook my head. Seeing him now, being with him, I felt the hurt again from when I'd just arrived at Volterra. All the pain, the agony of having to be away from my family for forever. How could I forget? How could I just fall into the arms of the man who was responsible for everything? It just wasn't normal.. it was unnatural. I pushed Edward aside as this thought hit me and flew at Cole. Edward could barely pull me back before I flung myself at him.

'You! It was you! It wasn't me, I felt there was something off all along. You did something to me, didn't you?

Cole raised his eyebrows at me. 'Clever girl. But not clever enough.' He waved to someone to his right, and some of the guards stepped aside. 'You see, Bella', Cole continued, on a tone like he was patiently explaining to a child why there is no such thing as ghosts, 'it wasn't me this time. You know very well what my gift is, I feel power. I find people.' He crossed his arms in front of him and looked down at me, completely ignoring Edward.

'I just thought that it would be more fun for me.. and you..' I glanced sideways and saw Eveline walk up next to Cole, 'if you could just forget about your past and start anew with me. See it as an insurance policy. You love me, you don't leave. And I get to make use of your powers forever.' I watched, horrified, as Evy placed her arm around Cole's and looked at us with a serene expression.

'Eveline?'

..oo00O00oo..

- Edward –

Right after Renesmee and Jacob disappeared into the woods, I turned around as I heard Alice's soft footfalls behind me. My mastered fake smile left my face as soon as I met her eyes. Inwardly I cringed. Seemed like over the past few months I was only causing her pain.

'What?' I asked, trying to read her better. Her expression was a mixture of crazed, panicked and elated at the same time, like she just heard about a new supersale at her favorite designer's boutique.

Alice hesitated.. hesitated. That was something you didn't see every day. I raised my eyebrows at her, trying to spur her on.

'.. uhm.. Gosh Edward, I don't know how to put this..'

'What?' I asked more forcefully. Was it possibly…?

Alice took a deep breath and blurted: 'I think there's a chance to save her.'

..oo00O00oo..

- Bella –

Eveline gazed at me and Edward like she didn't have a care in the world. I looked at my only friends.. or so I thought they were.. in this hellhole, realizing they had both betrayed me.

'Oh Bells, don't look at me like that.' Eveline sighed, tilting her head. 'It really was a win-win situation. You got to get over your grief for losing..' she waved her hand at Edward like he meant nothing.. 'that, while I got to enjoy myself in the process.'

Edward growled, trying to push past me. I held him back, trying to collect myself and demand an explanation for all this. 'How?' I whispered, hating that my voice wavered.

'Oh darling, it was easy enough. We simply combined Cole's easy charm', at which Cole winked at me.. 'with my powers of persuasion.'

I let that sink in for a second. 'You.. persuaded me?' Eveline inclined her head. 'It took me long enough, normally I have vampires drooling for my clients in mere days. I guess my profession as a concubine in my mortal life really suited my.. skills.'

She shrugged. 'But, I guessed your famous shield was getting in the way. Hence Cole and I decided we should take that down, as well.'

I frowned. 'Take down my shield?'

Eveline giggled, and playfully bit down on her thumb, exposing her fangs. 'Yes of course, we are all weakened by one thing, aren't we?' She pursed her lips, mulling over a sudden thought. 'Besides love, of course.'

I gasped as I understood exactly what she meant. 'Blood.' And everything made sense to me now. Eveline handing me a single vial of blood every week or so, sometimes skipping a week because she couldn't get out of the lair to get more. She kept me weak on purpose. And susceptible to her every move.

Edward shifted on his feet. 'I'm done talking. Your plan failed. So let us go.' Cole gestured to his right, still standing nonchalantly. Several guards moved forward, crowding us in from all sides. 'Oh the unshakable power of true love', he mocked. 'You don't really believe a poor excuse for a rescue attempt would be the end of this?'

In a flash, he pulled me away from Edward, his fingers biting cruelly into my arm. Edward at the same time, was grabbed by the guards surrounding us. Still holding me, Cole brought his face inches away from Edward's.

'The only thing to end tonight', he growled, 'is you.'

Review please! As always: a small effort for you, a big gesture to me.