A/N: This one's a little shorter because next week will be the last chapter, getting my ducks in a row lol xx Alexis

Charlie

I've got a date! What the hell do I wear? Not my uniform that's for sure, also my plaid shirts are out of the question! I'll go to that store in Port Angeles, they have a men's dept and get a decent shirt and some slacks. What's it they say? Yeah, smart but casual! Okay, I can do this, and I'll take that old fool, Billy, with me. It never hurts to get a second opinion, because I'm seriously out of my depth here! Talking of Billy here he comes and damn he looks pleased with himself. He's going to take the credit for this I'm sure!

"Yeah, yeah laugh it up, old man! You're coming clothes shopping with me for my date" I say smirking at him,

"Damn Charlie, I hate shopping!" he whines while I laugh,

"You think I don't? Come on where did you think Bella got her dislike of shopping? Talking of my kiddo, how's the boy?" I ask not sure I really care,

It might be a terrible thing to say, but him losing his memory is actually a good thing. It also seems nobody is even trying very hard to help him remember. In a way, it would be very cruel to let him remember what he was and lost because of his own belligerence and negativity. Plus the rest have moved on and embraced their futures. Billy always thinks I'm unaware, but I see what's happening around here and have my sources within the tribe. Not who most would think, but one of the wolves themselves. While her mother was trying hard to replace her father with me, Leah confronted it head-on. I became her refuge, her person to vent to and someone who recognised she was more than just the only female wolf. She is the Alpha female wolf and one that should have a voice and a position in their midst.

It was me who suggested she push Rachel to dig into the tribe's histories and shake up the elder's way of thinking. I also insisted Leah read up on real wolves, knowing her fertility was an issue with her. She didn't realise and the elders were no help, that until she imprinted she would not be fertile. Not only that, but none of the other imprints would become pregnant until she did! So instead of marginalising her, they should have been searching for candidates for her. Without Leah imprinting, the future of the pack is doomed! This has given her back her self-esteem and bolstered her self-worth. I can't see her mate being part of this tribe, they are honestly weak-willed and frankly misogynistic, she deserves so much better. Maybe it's time to bring in new blood to the tribe.

"He's doing okay, doesn't seem too bothered about it, for now" Billy replies sadly,

His part in his son's downfall is weighing him down somewhat!

Bella

I find that being a vampire is not quite as hard for me as everyone assumed it would be. I believe, as does Zar that it's because of my shield. We eventually went hunting and Zar found me one of his Lynx, an old female and he explained how he never took any who were young and of breeding age. That he only took the old, the sick or the fatally injured, thus keeping the healthy safe and allowing them to continue their existence here in Spain. In many other countries, local fauna has disappeared or left due to over-hunting, mainly by humans. Spain has the same approach as Scotland does to its deer population, managing them keeps them strong, healthy and basically still wild within their natural habitat. I like that we are helping the natural world and not impacting on the ecosystem.

I find my mind wandering to the problem of 'Carmen';it's beginning to annoy me. I want to tell Zar, but I don't want to cause Jasper pain, it's not fair that I have to carry her lies! I wasn't born when she did this to herself, but it for some unknown and unwanted reason is on my shoulders! Why? It has nothing to do with me and it's not right that their shared past is impacting me and my relationship with him! I can feel the anger bubbling below the surface and I know Zar is confused about what is causing it. I feel myself losing my grip and out of nowhere, I unleash my shield knocking down several trees. I feel so guilty and can't look at him as he tries to hold me and comfort me.

"Isa, querida (darling) what's wrong?" he begs and I just sob,

"I'm what's wrong Eli!" Rings out from a few feet away,

"Carmen? What have you got to do with this? I don't understand!" Zar asks clearly confused,

Well, the illusion hasn't shattered, am I still the only one who sees her? I feel a calming vibe and know Jasper is here too. I also feel great sorrow and him asking me for forgiveness, looks like they see and understand what this lie is doing to me, to us!

"I never wanted to hurt you or Bella, but I still managed to do it. Eli, you must believe me, I didn't understand and I just made it worse! But because Bella is a shield she saw something nobody else ever did. She saw the real me, hidden in plain sight. I made a grave mistake many years ago and lost everything I thought I wanted back then. I am not and never have been Carmen, but you knew that at least you felt it didn't you?" she asks,

"What? You're not Carmen, you look like her! But yes you didn't act quite like her, I felt something had changed in eighteen-seventy-five" he mumbled still rocking me in his arms,

"Carmen was leaving you, she was so happy about it too. I didn't know why, then, but I was so, so very angry for you! We argued, she was convinced you would understand. I, I didn't believe you would. She was packing frantically, as we were shouting loudly at each other.

I called her some terrible things, such awful names and she spun around to yell back at me and fell over one of her own trunks! I watched in horror as she toppled forwards into the open fire we had burning there. I couldn't save her; I tried, believe me, I tried!

She just burst into flames and all I was left with was a scrap of her cloak and burnt hands! I stared at the fire for more than an hour before he arrived, a crazed vampire! I still didn't know what was going on, I was so young and naive. So convinced that she was doing you wrong!

He pawed at the ashes and I tried to get him to come away from the flames. His clothes were already catching alight and all he did was moan her name over and over! I saw his hair catch alight and knew he was going to die too, I was terrified. I just hit him with the shovel that we used to put out the flames at night.

He just lay there and burst into flames with a sigh and her name on his lips!" she explained in a sobbing, halting voice,

"TERESA!" Zar exclaimed and they all watched as she turned into the blonde I had seen at the Cullens, I knew by the expressions of who I assumed were Peter and Charlotte, that they could now see her too.

"¡Dios mío! ¿Carmen está muerta? ¡Encontró a su compañero y murió por eso! Pobre Carmen, fue tan amable y gentil. (My god! Carmen is dead? She found her mate and died because of it! Poor Carmen she was so kind and gentle.)" Zar sadly announced,

Jasper gathered the woman we now know as Teresa into his arms, but she shook her head and continued to speak.

"I went to my mother to have her heal my hands and I wrongly thought I had to fix this for you! I asked her to make me look like Carmen and I would take her place. But she warned me it could all blow up in my face, but I refused to listen. So I became Carmen and you, well you knew in your heart I was not! Then I found out what you and she had agreed on, but it was too late for me to go back, too late for Carmen and her mate as well. I should have told you then, but I would have aged greatly and I admit I was too vain to do it!" Teresa explained to Zar,

"What has this to do with Isabella? Her anger and fear?" Zar asked shortly, still holding me,

"She knew it wasn't Carmen, but not who she really was right away before you were together. Then after meetin' Carmen, Bella found out if you spoke her name she would die, because up until three days ago she too was human, under her mother's illusion! So now she had a secret from you, but it didn't hurt because she was still human.

Then came the added burden of Teresa bein' my mate, someone Bella saw as a brother! But from the moment you changed her, it would have started to play on her mind and would become painful. Goin' by the look of those trees it came out as anger towards us, for makin' her lie to you! It was never my intention, but it's what happened and I'm sorry for that" Jasper told him and I sighed,

"I'm sorry Zar, so sorry" I murmured into his chest,

"No, Isa this is not your fault. Never has it been your fault mi ángel (my angel)" Zar replies warmly and I relax,

"Teresa on the other hand, I might find much harder to forgive! This was no simple little lie, I trusted you! I trusted you implicitly and it was all nothing but a lie! The one thing you more than anyone else knew I hated and yet you were the biggest, the worst liar in my life!" Zar spat angrily,

"Well, Carmen lied to you too! She only left Volterra because Caius wouldn't make her his Queen! He ordered her to get out and never come back!" Teresa snarked back,

Purposely, she was trying to hurt my Zar, and sounding suspiciously like Edward in that moment. I had her by the throat before anyone could move and they couldn't get at us inside my shield.

"Bella please! I'll take her away; you won't ever have to see us again! I'm so sorry, after all, you've done for her, for us and she tries to defend herself by hurting your mate!" Jasper said sadly,

And even in here we could both feel his disappointment, Teresa sagged in my grip, she had missed her mark and hurt Jasper instead.

"Isa, she's not worth it and I don't care about her or what Carmen did! They mean nothing to me now, only you do. I care about you and you alone" Zar said coming up behind me and stroking my shield,

"Major go! Char and I will stay to help if Aro decides to attack. The guard has refused, but there are others who'll do it for money!" Peter says and we both turn to look at him,

"Will this never end?" I say as Jasper and Teresa disappear into the night,

Marcus

"Felix? Have you sorted out that liquidation matter for me?" I asked him as if it was of no importance,

"Yes, Master Marcus. I just await your word on the final matter" he said,

Alice looked up from her magazine and at first was confused, before showing her fear. She for once appears to be having a real vision, well it's too late I'm afraid. I simply nod and before she can run or do whatever she thought could save her, Felix relieved her of her head. Ah, peace, she had wittered on endlessly at me today. Alice never realised she was no longer in a small, weakish coven, only the Major saved them from annihilation. Because here within the Volturi, you deliver what you say you could or you are removed! Not everyone dies, of course, some just leave due to embarrassment, and some are thrown out or are helped to leave like Eleazar was. I only wish we, Didyme and I had been given that chance, the chance to go, to escape.

Was I a little harsh on Alice, maybe but I hate seers! They lie, they tell you their interpretation of the facts and sometimes, no most times they are wrong! A seer warned Aro we were leaving and she died by my hand for her troubles and so has every seer that bastard has ever brought here to Volterra! I only know of one with the real gift of sight. Who, is he, Captain Peter Whitlock, and as far as I'm aware he uses it sparingly and for good towards his sire and his fellow vampires. Maybe it's because he's a soldier first and refuses to see it as a gift, but sees it more as a curse!

Peter

Dear God, this was a cluster-fuck of epic proportions! Car..., Teresa couldn't just take the beatin' for all her lies. No, she had to be spiteful and rub it in Eleazar's face that she wasn't the first woman to use him. Who gives a shit what the real Carmen did. She's dead, she can't defend herself and we only have Teresa's word, which is mud at the moment. She sure as shit better knock that crap on the head, because we don't lie to each other in this coven! The Major better get her to toe the line before someone else does, she ain't a Denali now and she ain't no innocent seventeen-year-old either! Now to convince Eleazar that we at least mean them no harm.

"Aro's sendin' some mercenaries this way in a day or so. He's lickin' his wounds at the moment, his brothers slapped him into place for once" I say and he nods,

"Follow us back to the house Peter and we'll sort this chaos out!" Eleazar told us,

We fell in level with them, I know enough about newborns not to spook them by runnin' behind them. Also, placin' Char next to her and not me keeps Eleazar sweet. It's all about strategy and knowledge, somethin' the Cullens knew nothin' about. Within a few minutes they were chattin' away all friendly like and I was pleased, Char don't have many women friends and I'm guessin' Teresa is at the bottom of her list in the meantime after that little display. Plus it is good to have friends in different places, for a change of scenery. If only Conrad had a mate that would make visits to him more fun for Char, but if she cultivates a friendship with Bella that would be good for them both. Of course, it's good for Eleazar and me too, you can never have too many allies in this world.

"Querida, (Darling) Peter and I will go into town and pick up the supplies. Will you be fine with Charlotte? Maybe she could help you with some online shopping for durable clothes. Hunting takes its toll during the first year" Eleazar says to Bella and she nods,

Char looks so damn happy, I can see this bein' someplace we come often while Bella and Eleazar are here.

"Sure thing suga', plenty of jeans, tanks and button-downs are all you'll need" Char adds smilin'.

"Oh thank god, I don't do fancy and a sure as hell don't do slutty!" Bella says and we all burst out laughin',

Edward

I really don't know if I'm safe here in Volterra, but it's got to be better than out there as a nomad. Carlisle is gone and now so too is Alice. She really didn't think it through, her gift was a decision-based one and only worked on vampires or humans she knew. If she'd been upfront about it maybe they would have cut her some slack. But instead of meeting everyone, she hid in Master Marcus' quarters acting like the lady of the manor! I know she thought they would revere her, but I had heard about Master Marcus' dislike of seers, so she was on a hiding to nothing from the moment she arrived! So far even though I know I'm tied here in Volterra at least it's to Master Caius and not Master Aro. He at least is fair and just, if he was going to kill me it would be face to face and not from the back.

"Master Caius? Master Aro has shut himself in his office and as you know it's soundproofed! I will keep an ear out but for now, even I can't hear him!" I said with my head down and eyes averted,

He's a scary vampire, funnily enough, he reminds me of Jasper. With the same animalistic walk and sense of power under their skin, it looks like I might have been lucky back then or more likely not important enough for him to destroy! Wow, look at me thinking rationally and like a grown-up, wonders will never cease! If nothing else being here has shown me just how unimportant in the grand scheme of things I really am! But I'm listening and it will keep me alive, maybe long enough to find my place here amongst the Volturi. Who'd have thought leaving the Cullens would turn out to be what was best for not only them but me too!