A/N: Did you look it up? Told ya! We are all literally made of stars. How cool is that? =) Gotta love science. 3

Bella POV

Demetri and I delayed our return to Volterra for a few days. It was crucial that we practiced partial shielding—I had to master shiel––ding some of his mind without obscuring it entirely. He couldn't refuse his hand when Aro asked, and if Aro were to see Dem's memories of our visit to Anu, all hell would break loose. Demetri would be in mortal peril, and I would not have it.

"Isabella," he said, huffing for the hundredth time, "I'll be fine."

"Shut up and focus," I snapped with the customary growl that followed his protests. "We have enough problems as it is. We don't need you in hot water with Aro on top of everything else."

He rolled his eyes at me but said nothing.

For hours on end, we practiced. Since we couldn't test whether his mind was being partially shielded, we trained physically, which should give me the muscle memory to do it mentally. When I enveloped someone within my shield, it was like throwing a blanket over them—it sought to wrap itself around the target completely. Keeping parts uncovered while shielding the rest took a lot of concentration, and I needed to be able to do it at the drop of a hat.

After three days, Demetri declared he was done and would brook no refusal to a hunting trip. The plane still awaited us at the airbase, having been ready to depart within twenty-four hours as he had ordered. Dem placed a call and had the pilot take the plane back to Volterra and not wait for us. On our way to Italy, he found and tracked the leaders of a human trafficking ring in southwest Russia. It was a buffet table of evil, a feast of human garbage. After we drained the eight unfit-to-live devils, we released fifteen underage girls from the container in which they were kept awaiting shipping to various destinations to meet their buyers.

Our eyes ruby red again, we continued our trek to Volterra. Instead of flying, we chose to run back. It would give us more time away from that putrid dungeon, and I was more than glad for it.

Demetri still teased me for my 'soft heart,' as I refused to drink from innocents any longer. I didn't feel entirely guilt-free for draining the wicked, but if I could save fifteen young girls from being sold as sex slaves and prostitutes, I could shoulder the guilt of slaying their captors.

We arrived in Volterra shortly before dawn, and Alec met us as soon as we came to the long hallway that led to the throne room. He stood immobile by the entrance, hands clasped in front of him. It seemed as though he had been stationed there days ago.

"Aro wishes to see you both at once," he said without preamble.

"Hello to you too," Demetri muttered as we walked past Alec, who still stood unmoving, only his deadened eyes following us.

A scant few seconds later, we entered the throne room, lowering our hoods.

Aro stood and walked towards us. Dem and I halted before him with our heads bowed slightly. Good, obedient little hounds.

"My dear children," Aro cooed. "Welcome back."

Before he could suppress it, Aro gasped softly, his eyes narrowing and darting between my face and Demetri's. It took me a moment to realize what had startled him—my skin. No longer a chalky pallor, my countenance now radiated a faint crimson tinge. No longer cold, my body emitted heat like a human's.

I didn't dare glance at the others present in the throne room; I feared I'd be unable to remain in control in the face of their likely similar alarmed reactions.

Aro reached for Demetri's hand, clasping it between both of his. I had been expecting this and had Demetri's thoughts shielded since before we entered the room.

Whatever he saw in Dem's memories provided no answers; his face relaxed from its fear of an immediate threat, but he still squinted in suspicion. I sighed internally with relief for succeeding in shielding Demetri's mind partially so that some of his memories were obscured if he decided to bury them under the shield's cover.

Aro released Demetri's hand and turned to embrace me. I suppressed a shudder and tried not to cringe in disgust.

"Isabella, my sweet one. I have missed you so." His saccharine tone gave me a toothache. Aro 's voice dribbled even more false affection than usual—always a harbinger of doom.

I couldn't say I returned the sentiment. If I never laid eyes on this pile of toxic waste again, it wouldn't be long enough.

"Aro," was all I said in greeting with a small nod.

"I trust all went well? Sebastian delivered his report and spoke highly of your diligence in capturing the rogue member of their coven, Demetri. I am well pleased." Aro smiled at Dem like a carnival con man. Something was not quite right.

"Yes, master," Demetri said, bowing his head and clasping his hands behind his back. He was well practiced in the art of pleasing Aro—act as subservient and obsequious as you possibly can.

I'd had enough of this charade. "I shall retire for the day. I wish to spend some time in my chambers alone, if it is agreeable to you," I said to Aro, only pretending to need his permission.

"Of course, Isabella, of course." He waved a benevolent hand towards the door, indicating I was free to go. I needed no further encouragement.

I dashed from that dungeon towards my rooms, swiftly closing the door behind me once I was ensconced in my sitting room. The events of the past few days had been running through my brain on a loop, and as I ran through the throne room meeting over and over in my head, the more my panic grew. Aro knew Demetri and I were up to something; he'd noticed the changes in me. How could he not?

I paced back and forth, my tempo increasing in tandem with my fear. It felt as though I might actually hyperventilate when I spotted the scarf Edward got me on our last days in Alaska before I was forced to leave him for good, and all else was obliterated from my mind, leaving only aching thoughts of him behind.

Memories of Edward and my family helped me find my center. I did it all for them, to get back to them. To hold them again.

Focus, Isabella. Remember the goal and what you can do now.

It would take some getting used to, these enhanced abilities, their extent still unknown even to me. I would need to plumb their depths before I could form a strategy on how to best employ them.

There was much to ponder, learn, and decide, but one thing was certain—whatever my course of action, it would have to happen soon.