Two days earlier

- Edward –

Alice's words took a split second to fully register. Then I felt a surge of adrenaline taking hold of my body.

'How?' Was the only thing I managed to choke out.

Alice's look grew troubled. 'I don't know.'

I shifted on my feet, the urge to just take off to Volterra just barely manageable. I tried to stay calm and hear Alice out before bolting, since I'd caused her so much pain by it in the past.

Alice met my eyes, her own caramel coloured, stormy and dark.

'Every time I tried to see your future, Bella's future, you had made the decision to save her but..' she shivered. I grunted. 'I know, it doesn't end well.'

She gave a quick nod of her head, then averted her gaze. 'But just now I…' I grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at me. 'Alice..' I pleaded. 'Just tell me. You know I would give anything…'

Alice pushed away, raising her voice. 'That's just it! I don't see anything, Edward. If you go now, to Volterra, to her, I don't see any future at all!' As I gaped at her, trying to grasp what she was saying, she grabbed her forehead as if to pull the images from her mind by force. 'It's as if you both don't exist anymore.. there's nothing there! No dying, no living, just.. emptiness.'

I reached out to Alice, trying to calm her down. The others would be returning any second now and I didn't want to lose precious time battling Jasper because he thought I was once again torturing Alice with my intentions.

'Alice…' I demanded, 'stay calm. We don't know what this means, but at least you said you didn't see us dying this time right?' Alice flopped on the piano stool and leaned her elbows on her knees. 'No… but what if this is something far worse? Maybe you die anyway but we just never find out? Or you get captured? Then what?'

I found myself pacing back and forth in front of her as she spoke, and made myself stop. I shared my thoughts with her as they came up in my mind. 'Alice, I dislike this as much as you do, but this is the best premonition we've had so far. I am not going to let this chance pass without acting on it.' I picked up my phone from the table nearby and headed toward the staircase, shrugging on my jacket at the same time. For a moment, it hit me that this might be the last time that I would be in our house, with Alice, or in Forks for that matter. I never got to say goodbye to the others. Then I blocked these thoughts from my mind, to focus on the one thing that was important.

Alice was right on my heels, but she didn't speak. It wasn't until we'd reached the garage, where I strode to my car, that she stopped in the doorway and called out my name. In that single word, I heard every emotion coursing through her. Anxiety, dread, love, hope, resolution. 'Edward', I turned around and looked at my sister. Petite and pixie-like as she was, she seemed to vibrate with determination.

'Bring her back.'

..oo00O00oo..

- Bella –

My stomach filled with dread as I took in the situation before my eyes. Cole still had an iron grip on my arm and Edward was cornered by half of the elite Volturi guards I had aided over the past few months. I felt weak, starving for blood and at the same time the drug Eveline had so generously offered me moments before still lingered in my body. I struggled not to sway on my feet, even though I'd gotten rid of the killer heels from before. Not that I could fall down anyway, with the way Cole was pressing me against him. My mind was racing. I had to think of something to help Edward get away, to escape. But, I thought with a pang, he would never be forgiven for this trespassing. It was clear that he would die, and our family with it. Aro had warned us of the consequences, should we ever try to meet again. I forced myself to gather all the strength I had left in me, to prevent myself from breaking down. All was not lost, not just yet.

Edward struggled against the hold the guards had on him, and Cole growled 'Just take him to the elders.' 'No!' I shouted, trying to wrench my arm free. Cole turned me around and brutally shook my shoulders, making my hairpins fall down and my hair cascade around my face. 'You just stay quiet Bella. Don't make matters even worse than they are now' he hissed, and he looked down at me furiously. I gritted my teeth, steeling myself against that look that had me petrified. What was he so angry about?! But I didn't say anything, instead turned back around as the crowd started moving.

As we followed the guards, carrying, half dragging Edward through the hallways in the direction of the main hall, I turned my head towards Cole's, unable to stop myself from asking. 'Why, Cole? I just don't understand.. all this time, was it all a lie?' I spoke quietly, not wanting anyone else around us to hear me. I hated how my voice wasn't as unwavering as I hoped it to be.

Cole, to my surprise, didn't react as furiously as he had before but kept looking straight ahead, his gaze pensive. He didn't respond immediately, but when he did he seemed to have trouble choosing his words. 'It was.' His eyes briefly met mine, just as the pit in my stomach seemed to increase exponentially at his, and Evy's, betrayal. But then he continued speaking.

'I wanted to conquer you. Because that's what I do, Bella, I find creatures like you, collect them.' He exhaled, sounding tired. 'I knew I'd have a hard time with you, because of who you are and..' he waved his free hand in the direction of Edward, 'because of where you come from. That's why I asked Eveline to aid me. She owed me a big favour.' I thought back on the time when Eveline told me her life story. 'So it is true that you saved her?' I asked, guessing that the favour was making Eveline immortal after she'd almost died. Again, Cole glanced at me. 'She told you. Yes, I did.' We were nearing the hall by then, and my skin tingled all over with apprehension. Cole's grip tightened, and he briefly slowed down to look me in the eyes, his own dark and unreadable. 'She was willing to sacrifice everything she had to be with the one she loved.' He traced his forefinger over my jaw, as I stood paralyzed to his touch. 'And so shall I.'

Time seemed to stand still as Cole's words sunk in. Did that mean he loved me? After all this time, starting out with a lie.. but now? I inhaled, unsure how to respond, unsure what he really meant by his statement. He would do anything, to be with me? But he knew now that I would never choose him over Edward. I followed Cole's gaze, again turned furious and deadly, as it lingered on Edwards back. I realized his true intent. And I knew exactly what I would do for the one I loved.

Last chapter might be the last! :D I'm so excited. PM or review please.