A/N: Hey all! Thank you for all of the reviews, favorites, and follows. I am beyond grateful that so many of you are giving these story of mine a chance. I hope you enjoy!

~AB~

BPOV

Aro leaves me alone in the library after we come to our agreement, but not without giving me the knowledge of Jane's presence on the other side of the door.

When he is gone, I regain control of myself. I don't understand how I could let him have such a hold over me. Once he begins to speak, I am lost. He is dazzling and I wonder if it is one of the benefits of becoming a vampire, to control the mind of a human with just one gorgeous glance.

The man has a way of unraveling my senses and ensnaring me in his gaze. And while I am not oblivious to the reactions he stirs in me, there is little I can do about it when the moment comes. Does he know how much he affects me? Can he hear my heartbeat pick up when I catch a hint of his scent? Can he see the changes in my demeanor when he is near? But how could he? The man hardly knows me, and I doubt he would like to. Additionally, I know little about the nuances of his kind. In fact, I really know nothing about vampires. Nobody explained anything to me properly, and I am in the dark, no different than before.

But Jane, she can teach me. Maybe.

I am at a loss as to what to ask her. There is too much to know. But I need to know everything, especially if I am to make the right decision regarding my… immortality.

I cannot see her, but I know she is near. I gently place my book on the side table and take a deep breath.

"Jane?" I keep my voice at a normal level, sure that she can hear me regardless of my inability to see her.

The doors to the library open a second later, and the small blonde steps into the room.

"Lady Isabella?"

"Jane," I protest. "Just Isabella, please."

The small blonde nods. "Isabella, is there something I can help you with?"

I stand from my seat, ignoring my cracking joints and aching muscles. I could use a good night's rest. It matters not that I spent my afternoon napping away on the chaise. Nothing but blissful sleep can cure the bone-deep exhaustion brought on by the events of the last few days. The fatigue settles under my eyes, pressing into my cheeks.

"Will you walk with me back to my room?"

"Of course." Jane extends her arm out to me and I link it with my own. Together, we exit the library and make our way down the empty hall. Silence hangs for just a moment before I gain the courage to begin my questioning.

"What is it like? Being a vampire I mean?"

She doesn't say anything at first, seeming to ponder over her words. "It's a long and lonely existence," she starts, not meeting my eyes. "There is no reprieve of sleep or death. Once you are turned, there is no going back to the way you were before. One bite changes the very makeup of your body."

Resentment and desolation ring out with each word Jane speaks. But she only makes me more curious. "A bite. Is that all it takes?"

She nods. "We are venomous creatures, Isabella. When we feed, our venom is used to paralyze our prey. It allows us to feed without causing a disruption that may draw unwanted attention. But that same venom also has the power to turn a human into one of us."

Images of Aro pressing his lips to my throat dance across my mind. I can almost see it, can almost feel his teeth grazing against my skin. At the very thought of him, something tugs at my ribcage, spreading an ache into my chest.

"Does it hurt? The change?"

"Immensely," Jane grins. "But those strong enough to survive three days of fire burning through every single vein, come out stronger in the end. Some even end up with gifts."

"Like the ability to read a person's mind."

"Exactly."

"Do you have a gift, Jane?"

In my periphery, I see her grin shift into a smirk. "Pain. I can make a person feel the pain of the change with my mind."

I snap my head in her direction. "That's… intense."

"Wait until you see it in action."

We are in front of Aro's chambers now. But even though I am too tired to stand for much longer, I am not ready to end this conversation. "I have a few more questions… Would you like to come in with me?"

Jane agrees without hesitation and we head inside. I stumble to the bed and plop down onto the quilt. Shifting so that I am laying on my stomach and facing Jane, I motion for her to sit down in the chair across from me.

"Who are the Volturi to others of your kind? The kings… they seem so… powerful."

Jane sits down, appeasing me, and rests her hands on her lap.

"The Volturi are the rulers of the vampire world," she begins. "Their focus is maintaining the secrecy of our kind. It is best that humans do not know of our existence. It is due to extreme effort from the brothers to which we owe the separation of our two worlds."

Maybe so, but stories still spread throughout the towns of nightwalking murderous beasts who stalk your friends and family in order to feed on their lifeblood. It is common to find someone in the town square who believes that these creatures exist; that they are not a fairy tale. These believers often travel from town to town spreading tales of their encounters or legends they've heard of the creatures on their journeys. It isn't just vampires they speak of though. Werewolves, giants, fairies; I've heard stories of them all. What a fool I was not to take them seriously before.

"How do they maintain such a massive secret? How do they keep people from seeing the truth - from believing the words of those who slip through the cracks?"

Jane's eyes flash with amusement. "You are quite the curious kitten, aren't you?"

"I know of no other way, dear Jane," I laugh.

Knowledge, after all, is power. And maybe Jane's answers will grant me the upper hand over Aro. I've made a deal with him, yes, but I will not live like this forever. I cannot spend the rest of my days like a dog at his feet.

I am disgusted with myself for agreeing to that particular clause. There really wasn't much of a choice. No, he offered the one thing I would give anything for; my father's financial freedom and protection. The debt is gone and he will be cared for. There isn't much I would not do in return for that.

I will follow through with my end of the bargain as I am true to my word. And as much as this man irks me, I do not wish to betray him. My heart aches at the thought; the physical burn is nearly too much to bear. What has he done to me?

"Are you alright, Isabella?" Jane's twinkling voice breaks me from my thoughts. Upon returning to reality, I notice the genuine concern on her face.

"I'm fine, Jane."

She glares at me. It doesn't surprise me; I'm a terrible liar.

"Really, I'm okay. Just a little lost in thought." I take a deep breath and exhale through the pain before snuggling deeper into the quilt. I press my nose against the fabric, and breathe in again, this time filling my lungs with him. The pain dulls to a small ache, and I exhale in relief.

"Can I ask you a few more questions?"

"You really should get some rest. It's been a long couple days for you. Master Aro will be displeased if you fall ill."

"I really couldn't care less about how he feels." I grumble.

My annoyance must be palpable because Jane leans back into her chair with a huff and nods for me to continue.

"What is a mate?"

Jane's eyes widen, and I can tell that the question caught her off guard.

"I really shouldn't be the one to discuss this with you."

"Why not?"

She doesn't answer me. This only fuels the fire of curiosity.

"Can you at least explain the concept to me?"

"Alright." Jane rubs her hand against her forehead. Do vampires get headaches?

"A vampire's mate is like what humans call their soulmate. Split in half at the dawn of time, everyone walks around as half of a whole until they find their missing piece. And for vampires, finding their mate is nearly crucial to surviving this life. A mate is the one person in the world meant for the vampire, the only one that can calm the beast inside their soul… or agitate it beyond redemption."

Jane does not explain further. But I am far from satisfied.

"How do you know if you've found them?"

"I am unaware of the exact details, but I know that it is instantaneous. Each half of the soul pulls at the other, begging to become one again. And once they find each other, there is no way to break the bond. It takes great effort to even resist such a pull since avoidance or distance in the bond causes physical pain. And in extreme cases, rejection of the bond has been known to cause insanity."

And then I realize, there is no hope. Jane just confirmed fears I did not know I possessed.

The pain and tugging in my chest, the inability to function in Aro's presence, the feelings I know I shouldn't have that spark every time I see his face. The connection that formed the moment we met. Aro's words in the throne room after he took Marcus' hand. The pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly now.

Aro Volturi is my mate. While there is likely nothing I can do about it, I found my upper hand. I am no longer in the dark about the truth of our… connection.

The exhaustion creeps back in, and my eyelids begin to droop. "Thank you, Jane. I think I should sleep now."

Jane's soft smile soothes my racing mind, and she quickly excuses herself from the rooms, wishing me a good night on her way out.

And seconds later, I succumb to the welcoming arms of sleep, the quilt still pressed against my nose.

In the comforting embrace of unconsciousness, I dream of Aro Volturi.