Disclaimer: I will be eternally grateful I do not own Twilight

A/N: Ok, I tried really hard on this chapter. The difference between my first chapter and this one is incredible. I might go back and edit the first two chapters, to make the writing style a little more consistent.

But for now, I hope you enjoy the chapter! I certainly enjoyed writing it!


"No!" Alice screamed bursting through the double doors to the throne room, hoping beyond hope that she got there with enough time to save Edward, only to be met with the sight of his lifeless body slumped on the floor, and his head in Aro's hands.

"Alice! What a lovely surprise to have you join us," he said, calmly.

"You killed him!" Alice cried, outraged. Part of her could hardly believe Aro had really done it. Aro had killed a son, and longest companion of his friend.

"He was exposing us," Aro explained. "Alice, you are well aware there are certain laws put in place to prevent humans discovering us. Edward breached those laws and he paid the price."

"And," Caius added, "Since your coven intentionally left a human with knowledge about the vampire world, you too have violated those laws."

"We have no way of knowing whether or not Edward's young mate really is dead. Alice, your coven, I promise you, will be persecuted if you are unable to give us proof of her death."

Alice stepped towards him, confidently. "I can give you proof. I saw her body."

Pleased, Aro dropped Edward's head, which rolled across the floor slightly. Then he reached out and took Alice's hands, seeing every thought she'd ever had; seeing Bella's dead body.

He stepped back. "Given that the human in question is already dead, your coven may go free. But Alice, I say this to you as a warning, and I trust you will pass the message onto Carlisle. I would hate to have to kill him and his lovely wife. The world has already lost a highly talented vampire today. A great tragedy, it is. Too great for me to possibly want to cause any more. So Alice, if I hear anything of your coven leaving another human with knowledge of our existence without either killing or changing them, I will not hesitate in persecuting and executing you."

"I will pass the message onto Carlisle," Alice said, bowing her head, knowing that no other human would discover their existence by means of the Cullens. They were all mated, with Edward being the odd one out prior to meeting Bella. Now that Edward and Bella were gone, there was no reason to become even remotely attached to a human. Alice wasn't sure if she even wanted to mingle with humans anymore. It would be a painful reminder of Bella, and the friendship they shared.

"Very well. Alice, you may go. We ask that you do not linger in the city."

"Of course, Aro. But what of Edward?"

Aro waved a hand, nonchalantly. "Ah, do not worry over Edward. We shall take care of him. His body shall be burned. If you so desire, I can arrange for the ashes to be given to you…"

Alice felt sick, something she hadn't thought a vampire could feel. This was another cruel way to remind the Cullens of their mistake, and what they lost because of it.

"I do not desire, and I speak for my entire family." The next words killed her to say. "Dispose of them as you wish. Thank you for the warning. I assure you we will heed it with caution."

Turning on her heel, Alice walked out of the room, not taking a backwards look. She couldn't stand the thought of seeing Aro's smug smile. The meeting had gone exactly as was to be expected. However, she was surprised Aro had not even mentioned her joining the Volturi, as he usually did any time their paths crossed, which was rarely. It was no secret that Aro wanted Alice and Edward to be part of his guard. They both declined again and again, but the vampire was persistent. Perhaps, Alice thought, he knew that if there was little chance Alice would join him before, there was no chance now that she would. She would much rather burn in the fiery pits of hell than submit to the Aro, and she could never be loyal to the Volturi.

Feeling defeated, Alice made her way back to where the Cullens were staying in Alaska. She hated being the bearer of bad news, and this news was not only devastating, but it would truly tear apart the family. Leaving Bella had been a struggle for them all, even Rosalie. Learning that Bella and Edward were dead, would destroy them all.

When she pulled up outside the house they were staying at, Jasper opened the door, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing Alice. His wife slowly got out of the car, looking thoroughly distraught. Jasper knew instantly that this meant his brother had not survived.

"Alice," he breathed.

She rushed towards him, sobbing as he protectively encased her with his arms. This action never failed to give her some peace of mind, and reassurance, even in the most difficult of times.

"He's gone, Jasper," she cried. "And Bella." By that point, the entire family had gathered outside, and were listening to Alice with heavy hearts. "He- Aro- killed him. He offered after to- to send the ashes to us."

"I'll kill him," Emmett growled, menacingly.

"Emmett, calm down. You cannot attack Aro. The Volturi will have killed us all before you even know what's happening," Carlisle reasoned.

Alice turned towards the coven leader. "Carlisle, he asked me to pass on a warning. If he hears anything of us leaving another human with knowledge of our existence without turning or killing them, we'll be persecuted and executed."

Carlisle sighed. "It was only to be expected. We did infringe Volturi laws that were put in place for a justified cause." He looked at each of them in turn, his eyes lingering for a couple of seconds before moving on. "I am sure this will not be a problem for any of you. It never was before…" his voice trailed off.

The silence that followed was heavy, like a thick mist that hung in the air. No one seemed capable of breaking it.

"Alice," Esme began, quietly. "When you went to Forks… what happened?"

Alice blinked a couple of times. After the desperation to reach Edward, and then the heartbreak over losing him, what happened at Forks had completely slipped her mind.

"Bella was… dead. This boy, a wolf, actually, carried her to Charlie's house. I got there just before him. And when Edward called," Alice gave Rosalie a pointed look, "The mutt answered and said Charlie was planning a funeral. I don't know if he meant Bella's or someone else's."

"Well, we should go there. Pay our respects. It's the least we can do after what Bella went through," Esme said.

"Are you sure Charlie will be okay with us there, though?" Rosalie asked. "After all, we did abandon her which led to her depression, and ultimately caused her death."

Carlisle shook his head. "We can't know how Charlie will feel about us being there. But we won't know unless we go. We owe this to Bella. She brought happiness back into Edward's life. We have to go."


The funeral had been a simple ceremony. Almost all of Forks had been there to pay their respects to the Chief of Police's only daughter. Charlie had originally been furious to see the Cullens there, but when he realised Edward was not with them( and he did not question that) he warmed up slightly, accepting their condolences.

The entirety of the wolf pack had been there, along with Sue Clearwater, Quit Ateara, Emily Young and Billy Black. Each and every one of them from the reservation had been fuming to see that the Cullens had the nerve to show up at the funeral of the teenager they'd driven to death. Jacob was formulating a plan to confront and attack them, and Sam could not find it in him to stop the treaty being broken. It was inevitable, and there was no point delaying it.

After the funeral, Jacob, flanked by the wolf pack, had stormed over to the Cullens, who had disappeared into the forest, prepared to make their way back to their home in Forks.

"You!" he shouted. "This is your fault! If you hadn't left, if you hadn't become emotionally invested with Bella, if you'd never moved here in the first place, Bella would still be alive! You damned bloodsuckers!"

Rosalie turned to look at him, eyes coal black, furious and blazing; stance ready to attack.

"You disgusting mongrel! Don't you think that if we could have prevented this, we would have? And don't forget, Alice can't see past you and your filthy pack. If you weren't meddling, maybe she could've seen this in time to save Bella."

"Oh, so this is my fault now? I tried to save her! I killed Victoria to avenge her!"

Emmett wrapped his arms around Rosalie, attempting to hold her back, knowing that although he hated to admit it, Jacob had a point.

Then Sam walked forwards. "I view the treaty as null and void, Cullen. Bella was killed because of you, and we cannot overlook that. We must avenge Bella."

Carlisle frowned. "Sam, surely you don't intend on leading your pack in a battle against us?"

"Oh, but that's exactly what we intend, Carlisle."