Demetri POV

I started on the top floor and searched downward. I sent all the guards to the training room that weren't currently working. I would track Edward down one way or another. Any guard with a hood up was ordered to lower it. As I passed my room I stopped for a moment to listen. I heard Alec and Angela discussing the change. Perhaps sneak attacks weren't the worst thing that could happen. No time for fear or worry did have its advantages. Moving on I cleared room by room.

The guards were angry and out of sorts at the disruption in their routines but when they saw the look on my face they stopped questioning my orders and followed them quickly.

Each person was shown a photograph of Edward that Bella had brought with her. When I reached the main level I heard an altercation in the library. Edward ran out the library and right at me. I moved into his way but he jumped out a window. He escaped again. I was so close this time I could catch his scent. That would make tracking him easier. For now, I went to the training room.

"You have all seen a picture of the man I'm searching for. He is wanted dead. There is no need for a trial. The one of you who brings me his head will earn the right to train for Elite status. He is a mind reader. Fly by the seat of your pants to beat him. Any questions?"

When they were all silent he shouted, "Dismissed."

There was more than one way to catch a mind reader and Demetri would be damned before this one escaped him.

He would give them two days before he went hunting again if he didn't get a lock on his mind before then.

I walked confidently back to my rooms and joined my friends. Angela flew at him as he closed the door behind him.

"Be calm my gentle soul," I soothed her. "I am safe. He passed the picture between Madison and Williams.

"Wanted alive?" Williams asked.

"No need," I replied.

"Any luck?" Bella roused from her nap.

"I was as close to him as you are now and he escaped. I have every guard searching."

The ringing of Bella's phone echoed in the silence.

"Hello?" Bella asked. Then she turned to Demetri. "It's Alice, for you."

Bella POV

As I sat waiting for news, I made my decision. I was too weak right now, too vulnerable. It was time to change. I couldn't keep going around soft, tempting, and delicious. It was putting everyone in her new family at risk.

Moments later Alec was explaining the conversation. Edward was heading home, presumably for reinforcements. The family would do nothing to stop him and Carlisle was eager to help his favorite son to reclaim his wayward mate.

After he explained the situation to Angela and me, I announced my decision. "I think it's time to change me while we have the time and the safety."

"And me as well," Angela agreed.

"Are you sure?" Alec asked hesitantly.

Both girls nodded, though Angela looked a little green at the thought.

"Why?" Demetri asked.

As I explained my reasoning I felt myself becoming even more confident in my decision.

Demetri hugged Angela to him tightly. "You don't have to do this yet. Are you sure you're ready?"

"I don't think I'll ever be ready for that much pain but I'm determined. I'm not going to change my mind."

Demetri broke the silence when Angela finished. "Then let us go get permission from the Masters and we'll make you two a little more durable."

Demetri escorted Angela and Alec escorted me down to the meeting room where my first visit here had taken place. It was almost comical how afraid I was to go back to that room, even though I knew nothing would happen to me, I still feared the room.

"You're sure?" Alec verified again.

"I'm more afraid of going into the meeting room again Alec. It's only nerves. I'm confident this is the right thing."

The walk down to the meeting room was long and I found myself slowing my pace a number of times. I straightened my spine and sped up each time I noticed myself doing it. Demetri looked back at me once and raised an eyebrow. I knew he could smell my fear. I only nodded and remained silent.

When the huge double doors came into view Demetri simply walked through. I took a deep breath and Alec and I followed after him.

"My sons," Aro called from his throne. "And my new daughters. Welcome, welcome."

"What brings you here this afternoon?" Caius inquired.

I smiled when I realized I wasn't going to be required to speak right away. Demetri took on the task. "Both Bella and Angela are ready to be changed. We're here to seek your permission to change our mates."

"Already?" Marcus asked.

"Yes Master," I said firmly.

"Yes Master," Angela repeated with an odd look at me.

There were looks and nods that passed between the three and Aro answered, "You have permission to change your mates when you are ready."

"Thank you Masters," Alec said.

"Thank you," replied Demetri.

That was all. There was no more discussion. The decisions were made and would be carried out.

I followed after Alec as we exited the room and went down a hallway that I'd never traveled before. It ended in stairs that traveled into the bowels of the city.

"You take sub-level two, I'll go to three," Demetri told Alec and I looked at him questioningly.

At this point it didn't really matter though. I had made a decision. I was ready. I would trust Alec to take care of me through the next three days and the year after that.

We headed ever downward and I wondered how far down we would be required to go. It was a little spooky. We parted ways and Demetri and Angela continued another level down. I watched them go with Alec. Then we lit an oil lantern and followed the hallway until Alec stopped and opened a door for me. I took a deep breath and went in.

Alec kissed me gently. "Remember I love you and I'll be here the entire time."

My voice was a little shaky, "I trust you, Alec. I love you too."

He set the lantern on a table. Coming back to me he kissed me again then kissed my pulse point before he sunk his teeth deep into my neck. I could feel him sucking out the blood. All of a sudden I was cold and a moment after that my legs gave way. Next came fire, and I fell into the flames.

Alec POV

Her blood was ambrosia. It was the sweetest blood I'd ever tasted, and that was saying something. I kept my focus and filled her with my venom. After that I bit both wrists and both ankles. I didn't want her to burn a moment longer than necessary. It would be a long three days for her.

She was past noticing the extra bites but I would always do right by my mate. I took her hands in one of mine and began to talk. I promised her it would be over soon. I told her how much I love her over and over. I told her to remember her parents. I reminded her of each of the Cullens. I knew she wanted to remember them. When she screamed I apologized. I reminded her that this was necessary for her to stay with me for an eternity.

She seemed to quiet at the end of the first day. I didn't know whether her voice had given out or she had just learned that it was pointless to scream. Perhaps she was keeping herself quiet so that she could hear my words.

I took a chance that it was the third reason and talked to her about everything I could think of starting with how I felt when I first saw her and moving forward in history until I got to how proud I was of her today.

I repeated our history over and over. Were I human my voice would have given out. I reminded her of everyone she wanted to remember and began our history again. And again. And again.

It was the beginning of the third day that everything went strange. A blue ball surrounded us. I couldn't get to the door. But she lay completely silent. She looked like she was sleeping, but from her heartbeat, she was obviously still changing.

I would have called for help but no one would approach a man who was with his changing mate. It wasn't safe. That was why Demetri had gone to a completely different floor to change Angela. I could still hear Angela screaming. Sounds echoed in the sub-levels and they were abandoned except for me, Bella, Demetri, and Angela.

Instead of calling for help that wouldn't come he continued to talk. Starting out when he was almost burned at the stake and continuing up to today. Even if she was sleeping he would continue to speak.

Halfway through the third day, her heart sped. It was almost over. He was relieved that he got enough venom in her system to speed the change. Five minutes later he backed up nearly to the wall. It was as far as the bubble that surrounded them would allow. She inhaled.

When she charged at him, teeth bared, he was ready. He captured her hands in one of his and put the other arm across her chest. "You would be upset later if you took my head, my love."

"Alec?" she asked going still.

"Yes my love." He said calmly. There really was a trick to handling newborns. The calmer you stayed the calmer they allowed themselves to become.

"So are you going to be a good girl if I let you go?"

"Yes, Alec," she said meekly.

Releasing her, He urged himself to stay relaxed. "Are you ready to eat, my Bella?"

"Follow me," he instructed.

Five minutes later found her covered in the blood of her first meal. It was the same with all newborns. The mess they made was horrendous and only the bathroom down here made it possible not to have to clean bloody footprints on the floor.

"Good first try," He encouraged her when she was finished. Come this way and we will get you cleaned up.

"I did okay?" She asked.

"You did very well." He confirmed.

Taking her hand he guided her down the hallway and into the bath. He found some sweats in her size in the closet and ran the water as hot as it would go.

"Isn't that going to be too hot?" she asked.

"Trust me it will feel wonderful."

When the tub was full she jumped in eagerly. He laughed with her as she came up spluttering. Apparently she had inhaled a little water in her haste.

"Look," she cried. "I did get boobs." They laughed together and played in the water, Bella pulling him in with her so his clothes were drenched.

When she was finally clean and the were both redressed, they returned to their room.