20th November 2122

It was cold, but the sun shone brightly. The leaves were constantly falling, littering the ground with red and orange. It was one of those rare days in Forks where there wasn't just a gloomy overcast and heavy rain. Rarer still, considering it was the middle of November. For all the residents, it was a pleasant day.

All the residents except for the Cullens.

"What do you mean she joined the guard?" Jacob demanded.

Edward sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Exactly that, Jacob," he said, his voice dull, his expression weary. "She refused to come back with us."

"Well, you should have dragged her back kicking and screaming then! You should have tried harder to convince her! You should have- have- done something! Anything!"

"We couldn't."

"So you decided to just leave her instead. What kind of person are you?"

Face contorted in rage, Jacob lunged at Edward, who didn't bother to step out of the way, knowing Jacob was well within his right to be angry at him. But Jasper moved to stand between the two, and Emmett rushed to hold Jacob back.

"Look, none of us like the situation," Jasper said. "And you Jacob, have every right to be furious; we're all beating ourselves up about it. But attacking Edward isn't going to solve anything."

"You left her there," Jacob snarled. "What were you thinking?"

"We were thinking we had no choice," Carlisle said. "It was either Edward be killed or Bella join the guard. She made her decision."

"She also made it very clear she wouldn't have it any other way," Rosalie added, grimly.

"Well he should have died then!"

Jasper tilted his head, and said quietly, "You don't mean that."

"Oh, I assure you I do! He's the reason we got into this damned mess in the first place. Why is Bella the one facing the consequences rather than him?"

Carlisle moved forward, placing a hand on Jacob's shoulder that was promptly shrugged off. "Jacob, calm down. I understand your frustration, we all do. But that's not going to get us anywhere right now."

Stepping backwards, Jacob crossed his arms, eyeing Edward coldly. "Well, what are you going to do about this?"

"I don't know what we can do," Carlisle said. "The Volturi are far stronger than us, and there's no compromise we can make."

Edward shook his head. "No. Jacob's right. We have to do something. We cannot leave Bella in the guard. You know what the Volturi are like. Bella doesn't belong there."

"What are we supposed to do, though?" Emmett asked. "This is the Volturi we're talking about. It won't be a peaceful confrontation this time. They have numbers that we don't. They have vampires with gifts that can quickly disarm us."

"It would be possible if all the vampires that were our witnesses before came to help," Alice said.

"But we can't ask them to do that," Carlisle said. "It wouldn't be fair. This time, we know there will be some sort of fight. It's inevitable. This was a mess we dragged them into. To ask them for their help now wouldn't be right."

"So we need a plan," Jasper said. "The Volturi, while powerful, rely heavily on their gifts and numbers. We don't defeat them through force, we defeat them through strategy. Call the Denalis, the Irish coven, anyone you can think of. I will get Peter and Charlotte. As much as I want to keep them all out of this, we can't face the Volturi alone. We need their help, and desperately."


Bella could smell the scent of blood in the air, as the humans stumbled around downstairs. She shook her head and forced herself to stop breathing. The thirst was overpowering, as it had been weeks since she'd last fed. She had thought that over time, as her feeding became rarer and rarer, the amount of blood consumed became less and less, her control would have improved. Instead, it had steadily increased, building up over time. But she refused to succumb to the draw of human blood.

Balling her hands into fists, she buried her head in the pillow, trying to think of anything beside the warm, delicious, satiating liquid that flowed through the veins so easily penetrated, in the creatures so easily overcome…

No. She had to focus on something else. Bella sat up again, eyes darting around the room. It was large and heavily decorated, every wall covered with intricate patterns and designs. Portraits were hung above the bed, a sharing with her part of Volterra's history. Part of her believed Aro was trying to lure her into the trap of greed and luxury.

It wouldn't work. The drawbacks far outweighed any benefits. She hoped Aro realised she would never enjoy being part of the guard, and given a choice, she would be out of there as soon as possible.

Being part of the guard or Edward dying though? There was no choice. She had no option.

A knock on the door. Bella reluctantly called for them to enter, turning her head as the door clicked shut again.

"Hello Bella."

She turned away again. "Felix," she acknowledged.

"You can't stay up here forever, you know? It's been weeks since you fed, and while I've heard you have incredible control over your bloodlust, it's only going to be so long before your resolve snaps."

"Let me feed from animals then," Bella replied with gritted teeth. "You let Carlisle do that when he was here."

Felix hesitated. "This is different. You know we can't do that. Aro is well aware you will simply try to escape the second we allow you out of these walls."

"Then one of you come with me. Make sure I don't run off. It's that simple of a solution."

Sighing, he shook his head. "Come on, Bella. Why do you deny yourself this? We're vampires. We are predators. Thirsting for blood is part of our nature. Drinking from humans is what we've always done, and will continue to always do. You aren't human anymore. It's time you accepted that."

"I am not a murderer."

"No, you're a vampire. And feeding from humans is what a vampire does."

Shaking her head, Bella hardened her resolve. Felix stared at her, expression unreadable, and she glared back. Finally, he turned away.

"You'll have to talk to Aro," he said. "Come with me."

Bella didn't move an inch. "I'm not going anywhere until I can discuss this with Aro."

Felix sighed. The newcomer was proving to be far more difficult than he had anticipated. Despite his mild frustration though, he couldn't help but admire her determination and stubbornness.

"Fine then. I'll ask for him to come up and see you."


Carlisle rubbed his forehead, squeezing his eyes tightly shut, then opening them after a few seconds. He glanced sideways to where Esme was anxiously watching him, lightly drumming her fingers on the table.

"Siobhan, please," Carlisle wheedled. "You know what the Volturi are like, and you know Bella. I understand your anger towards Edward, but know that Bella had no part in that. She's innocent and she needs our help…" He frowned, one hand balling into a fist. "Make no mistake, I am fully aware of the trouble this has all caused you, and caused so many, but…"

His voice trailed off, and he sighed. "Okay then. I respect your decision. Goodbye Siobhan. I hope you and your coven stay safe." The call ended, and he placed his phone face down on the table, leaning back in his chair with a huff.

"Another refusal?" Esme asked.

He nodded. "I understand their reluctance," he said. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it. It doesn't make this any easier, either."

Esme took a few steps towards him, one hand gripping his, the other resting gently on his shoulder. "It'll be okay. We will get our Bella back. The Denalis, Amazons and Jasper's friends have agreed to help."

"But we lost the Irish and Egyptian coven," Carlisle countered. "Do you really think it'll be enough?"

"The wolves have also agreed to help," Esme reminded him. That makes three covens, plus the wolf pack. It'll be enough. We'll make sure it's enough."


"Good evening, Bella."

She looked up into the smiling face of Aro, and nodded curtly.

"Felix informs me of your adamant decision not to feed from humans." He tilted his head. "Unfortunately, I do not think we'd yet be able to allow you out of these walls, whether alone or not. I'm sure, however, that we could manage for some of the local wildlife to be brought here for you to feed from."

Bella's eyes brightened slightly, but she still regarded Aro with suspicion, certain this change of heart did not come without a price.

"If you'd like to follow me, Felix has been kind enough to bring in some deer."

Hesitantly, Bella stood up and followed Aro down to the main feeding chamber. As he stood by the door, one hand against it, ready to push it open, Bella allowed herself to breathe in a small gulp of air, her resolve cracking slightly. The scent of blood was overwhelming, taking over her thoughts. The door pushed open.

Thirstily, she raked her eyes across the hall, searching for the deer. Her gaze lingered on two humans cowering in the corner, amongst the mangled corpses of their kind. There were no deer in sight, but that thought never registered properly; it couldn't, in the blurry haze on bloodlust.

Perhaps if she hadn't taken that first, cautious breath, Bella wouldn't have been at the human's side in a flash, picking up the shaking person in her arms and raising their neck to her mouth. Their scent filled her nostrils, and she closed her eyes, lips hovering a fraction of an inch above the smooth flesh, so easily torn and pierced. She could hear the blood pumping through the veins, almost smell the terror.

A delicious combination, one that she had denied herself for so long.

One that she no longer had the strength to deny herself.