DISCLAIMER: SM owns the rights to all the characters in Twilight

Previously: "I'm sorry" I told her as I guided her forward with Alice walking beside us and the two guards following us from behind. She took my hand that was dangling in her shoulders and held it firmly and when she looked up at me, her eyes told me that she trusted me yet again with her life as we made our way towards a castle full of vampires who thirsts for human blood.

"Jane, you've returned!" Aro spoke first the moment that we entered the chamber and all crimson eyes were on us.

The chamber of the Volturi, the ruling coven of our kind, was filled with the same faces that had welcomed me when I first came here alone. There were vampires who came to visit the three leaders, Aro, Cauis and Marcus and wanted to gain their favor, some came to secure safety among the walls of Volterra, and there were those who were merely there to see if they can get a chance to see something interesting. It looks like, they were in luck.

Only Aro was present today and was surrounded by his guards, who were looking at us and assessing any danger that we may pose to their master. Cauis and Marcus were nowhere to be found, or at least too far for me to hear their thoughts.

Aro glided effortlessly towards Jane and kissed her lightly on her lips before walking back and looked at me with a smile on his face.

"Yes, Master and I have brought him back alive, just as you wished." Jane smiled angelically, and she took her place behind Aro along with the other guards who were hovering behind him like bodyguards.

Ahhh Edward. I am relieved to know that you have not tried doing anything rash while you were away. The tone in his mind suggested that he already knew that being rash was exactly what I was doing before his minions came to get us.

"I'm afraid that won't be necessary now" I told him and my arms around Bella's waist tightened to hold her closer. Aro's eyes flickered towards the movement and his smile grew wider and turned ecstatic.

"Alice and Bella! Welcome!" He was clapping his hands together. "Oh! This is just wonderful!"

I saw in the corner of my eye that Bella's eye furrowed. She had been silent throughout the long walk here, but I knew that she was observing her surroundings and all the vampires in front of her.

Why does he sound like we're best buddies? Alice thoughts came to me and I just shrugged my shoulders. They'll find out soon enough.

"Felix… do tell my brothers that we have company. This is a something that they should not miss!"

"Yes master" Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.

"Oh Edward!" Aro's attention was back to me. "I am glad that I did not give you what you wanted. Don't you see? It worked out for you after all!"

"Yes, it did." I had to agree.

"But… how could this happen? You were so sure of her death yourself!" Aro was looking at Bella with interest and Alice with full of longing. She was the talented vampire that he coveted so much, much more than me and my ability to read minds at a distance. He was looking at both of them, waiting for an explanation.

"I am under the impression that Alice would be able to fill in the blanks?" Aro raised his right hand with his palms up in invitation and my sister looked at me questioningly.

What's up with him?

"Aro has a gift that is much stronger than mine" I started to explain "If I can read whatever thoughts is passing through your mind, Aro can read every thought that you have your whole life with just one touch"

"True but to be able to read the thoughts of everyone around you without touching them..." Aro trailed of.

Ahhh such convenience. He added in his mind.

Alice raised an eyebrow. Everything?

I gave a slight nod and saw where Alice's thoughts were heading. Her human memories were gone and if Aro would be able to read everything then he might be able to see what really happened to her before she was turned, but the moment her hands touched his, the only memory that flashed where of those when she woke up as a vampire.

She was looking at me expectantly, but I shook my head slowly and Alice sighed with a disappointed look on her face.

I continued to watch what Aro was seeing, trying not to focus on Alice's intimate moments with Jasper and those other memories that she never wanted us to see. Instead, I paid attention when Aro saw the memory about the mistaken identity.

Alice was on her way to the hospital after having a vision that she needed to be there and when she arrived, her vision of me wanting to die flashed before her. When she got inside, she was surprised to see Bella and Carlisle together and that was when she found out why her vision of me appeared. I saw Bella explaining that she was on her way to the hospital where she found out Carlisle was working when her bag was accidentally switched during the bus ride.

Apparently, the girl with Bella's bag was the one who got caught in the shootout and when the medics where trying to find identification, it was Bella's bag that they were going through. The girl was so close to Bella's appearance that they didn't bother double checking if the picture on the IDs really did match the dead girl and that was why it was her name that I heard on the telephone before ending the call and throwing out the phone in agony. That was when I decided to go to Italy to die.

Alice had already silently shared with me exactly how it happened when we were on our way here but there was an uneasiness about it when it was Aro that was plucking the memories out of her.

As soon as they broke the touch, the memories stopped and Aro was looking at her enviously.

"As you can see, my brother has a tendency of making decisions without thinking it through" I knew that comment was aimed at me for running off to Italy when I learned about the death. I realized my decision has caused Bella to be in danger, yet again. This was all my fault. This has always been my fault. I wanted her to be safe but that was not what's happening now.

"I can see that and I'm just glad I don't have that trait! But…" His eyes fell on Bella with full of curiosity. I stiffened with all thoughts of self-loathing gone and replaced by irritation.

"Isabella" He enunciated each syllable slowly. "You knew what you were facing by coming here?"

"Yes" Bella didn't even hesitate and Aro made a show of looking astonished.

"And yet you still decided to get him… such bravery… such loyalty…such love!" He clapped his hands in glee just as Felix came back with Marcus and Cauis.

"What an epic love story in the making! Don't you just love happy reunions! Look brothers! Bella is alive after all and Alice is here too!"

This situation is getting ridiculous. I thought we were already done with this. Cauis was irritated and Marcus looked bored as they both walked towards the chairs behind Aro, but not before Marcus placed a hand briefly to Aro's palms and for a split second I saw what he was sharing to him and I couldn't help but snort softly. Alice looked confused.

"Amazing! Thank you, Marcus that was quite interesting indeed"

What's he talking about Edward?! Alice thought in frustration.

"Marcus can see relationship and he was surprised with the intensity of ours" I said in a low voice although everyone in the room was still able to hear and Aro was looking at me again with envy.

"So convenient…and yes… you know it takes a great deal to surprise Marcus like that, believe me" My gaze travelled to Marcus' blank expression and I saw his gaze fixed on Bella and in his mind, I saw the thread that bound Bella to me was so strong that he thought it would be impossible to have that kind of strong bond with a human.

If she survives this, don't ever let her go. His thought showed an emotion that I never thought he still had before it was gone and immediately replaced by his usual emptiness. Our silent exchange was so brief that no one in the room noticed, not even Aro.

"However, it's so difficult for me to understand…" Aro continued and stared at Bella like a puzzle that he couldn't solve.

"La Tua Cantante… If I hadn't smelled her in your memories, I wouldn't believe the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. How could you be so close…"

"What does that mean?" Alice asked curiously and Aro happily explained.

"My dear Alice, it is what we call… a siren call. One human whose blood appeals to a vampire, a hundred times more than any other human. No one could ever resist it… or so we thought…" He turned to my direction with such wonder in his eyes.

"It's not without effort." I said calmly.

"Yes… but the scent, to endure that siren call over and over again… Carlisle would be proud"

I did not reply and Aro sighed.

"Such restraint. Just remembering how her scent appeals to you… makes me thirsty"

He moved closer and Bella straightened her posture but her grip in my hand tightened and my body tensed as a low hiss escaped from my mouth. The other guards were instantly glaring at me and I could hear their intent to kill if I try to make any move.

Careful Edward. Alice warned.

"Do not worry. I mean her no harm. It's just that… she is quite exceptional, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is" I tried to keep my voice even while his mind was picking up my memories of me not being able to read Bella's mind.

I wonder if I could test if she would be immune to my gift as well.

"You should ask her not me"

"Why yes, yes of course… Isabella… would you do me the honor of finding out if you are an exception to my gift as you are to Edwards'?" Aro asked and he raised his open palm in front of him giving an impression that he was not taking "no" for an answer.

Bella turned her head towards me and I knew she could see the worry etched in my face. She squeezed my hand in reassurance and took one step towards Aro's outstretched hand without letting go of my hand on her waist. She raised her free hand and Aro grasped it right away with a look of excitement that turned into confusion, then disappointment and into delight in a matter of seconds before letting her go.

Everyone in the room was curious if it worked or not.

"Such an exceptional one! A first indeed" Aro slowly glided back towards his seat at the other end of the chamber together with his brothers, with the guards positioning themselves behind them.

"I wonder… if her immunity extends to other abilities as well? Jane?"