BPOV

I was terrified, but feeling badass the way Alice had me dressed. She said that first impressions were important, but really she loved the excuse to play Bella Barbie.

She dressed me in combat boots, designer dark wash jeans, a dark blue silk top and at her insistence, one of Edward's vintage leather motorcycle jackets. She said that it would make me appear more confident and serious, but as a bonus Edward would love it.

When we arrived, I took a deep breath to try to calm myself, checked my phone one last time and headed into the castle. Alice would call Emmett if she saw he needed to leave me behind for his safety. He didn't want to, but he reluctantly agreed for Rosalie.

I wasn't sure if it was working or exactly where they were keeping Edward in the castle, but I threw out my shield and started thinking what I needed Edward to hear on a loop.

EPOV

I was standing in my cell, admiring one of the lovely pictures Bella had sent me and wondering if her change went well when I started going crazy, or so I thought. I was thinking of Bella so intensely that it were as if I was hearing her voice in my head. I knew it was impossible. But what she was telling me didn't make any sense at all.

Edward, I'm here. I love you. Please trust me. I am going to say some things that you won't like to Aro and I need you to know that I have our best interests at heart. I know what I'm doing. Please trust me and hopefully we can both go home in a few hours.

She was repeating the thought with all of her concentration. A vampire's mind could process dozens of things at a time, yet the majority of her focus was on making sure I heard this. I also saw my face in her mind the time she last saw me. She was drawing strength from the pain of that memory.

Bella was barely aware that she was walking down a dark hallway. She was really here!

I was overjoyed at the closeness, yet completely terrified and even a little mad. How could she risk her safety coming here alone and unprotected? Why did my family let her?

How could I hear her voice in my head all of a sudden? I had so many questions, but I owed it to Bella to trust her as she asked. I gathered up her letters and pictures and put them in my pockets just in case she succeeded.

Although I was angry, my heart was full of joy. I hadn't realized it would be possible to fall in love with Bella any more but I had. She was so brave and self-sacrificing.

I made a vow right then that if we got out of this, I would spend an eternity thanking her for being mine.

BPOV

I reached their chamber and had to replace my shield back around me where it belonged. I hoped that Edward got the message and that this would go well.

With a deep breath, I opened the door and walked to meet my fate.

"Bella! What a pleasant surprise! Look brothers!" Aro exclaimed, rising to greet me.

"Hello Aro." I said, giving the others the best smile I could muster and a nod in their direction.

"To what do we owe this pleasure?" he asked with an excited grin.

"I wanted to let you all know that Carlisle changed me and that I was able to disappear with no suspicion or questions from the humans at all. They simply think I've moved away for college and will lose contact with them."

"Magnificent! Forgive me, but you seem to be only a few weeks old. How is it that you travelled here without a massacre?" Alice told me he would be curious.

"I have exceptional self-control. Even Carlisle agrees. I also have developed a gift that I would like to show you. May I?" I asked, walking towards Aro slowly and holding out my hand. This is it. Don't screw this up Bella. For Edward.

Aro eagerly leaped forward and took my hand in his. I had to be very careful to not pull back my shield entirely, but to push a few memories and thoughts through for him to see. Alice had helped me pick them.

I showed Aro waking up as a vampire and stopping myself mid-attack on Carlisle, how Alice realized I was a shield, how Kate got me to use it to protect Jasper. I also showed him some random memories from high school, dinners with Charlie, the entire flight here including Emmett's jokes and some other pointless chatter to make him believe he was seeing everything. I included Jacob telling me the Quileute legends so that he could not doubt Edward's story.

When I got to some of my memories of Edward, such as listening to music in his room, or him taking me to dinner that night in Port Angeles, it strengthened my resolve to do everything I could to save him, but also brought unshed tears to my eyes, missing him. I knew that Aro saw that as well. I also let Aro see that I had considered joining his guard, giving him a more positive mindset for the rest of today's visit.

Aro had a huge smile on his face when he dropped my hand and took a small step back. "Fascinating! Well done, Bella! So that's why we couldn't use our powers on you before. May I ask for another demonstration?"

"I am happy to demonstrate as much as you would like, but first, may I please see Edward? I need to know that he's alright. It would mean so much to me." I tried my best to look pleasant and happy to be in Volterra.

"Of course." Aro snapped his fingers and a member of the guard appeared beside me, bowing slightly at Aro. "Go fetch Edward Cullen and bring him here. Don't hurt him."

He turned to face me again with a huge smile, "How is my dear friend Carlisle?"