"You assured me all precautions were taken." Aro said pointedly. Hours had passed and it was nearly midnight in the Cullen house and yet the conversation once again circled back to the events from earlier.

I stood, too aware of everything around me to sit. I watched as Carlisle and Aro went between addressing one another to sneaking what they thought were subtle glances at me as if to make sure I was under control. But of course, the vampire on the other side of the room, Jasper, was doing his best to assist in that. Carlisle had explained Jasper's gift to me once we came downstairs and Jasper made it clear he was going to try to keep me calmed down. I was unsure if it was out of kindness to me or concern for everyone else, but I didn't mind either way.

I felt another wave of calm hit me as I became irritated with the conversation happening once again.

About me.

But not with me.

I looked to Jasper knowing he was responsible for my sudden feeling of indifference toward the matter. It was like stepping over a line where once even my toe was over, a new wave of influence came crashing down. Instead I looked around the room, the new details since my transformation still posing a shock.

The curtains in the living room were drawn as if to pretend it was normal we were all still awake…and would stay that way I finally understood why everything in the home was so light. White walls, tan furniture, lightly colored wood floors. Being awake constantly very much contrasted with the knowledge of the hours of the evening.

"We made sure for safe hunting away from any family and friends that we knew of." Carlisle reasoned, looking to Jasper who nodded in agreement.

"And this is why she cannot stay here." Aro reasoned "I have never seen such a thing, Carlisle. Her mind cannot handle another incident such as this one."

"Annabelle." Carlisle finally looked to me, speaking much more carefully. "Have you been able to place how you knew him?"

I shook my head. This was the dozenth time someone had asked me that. And each time I didn't have an answer. Even when they found out his name and asked me directly. But I knew him, that much was certain. His name was familiar. It sounded like one I heard a million times. Seeing him on the trail, I remembered how much he absolutely hated the thorn bushes that grew around here. How angry he always got when they somehow managed to work their way through his pant leg. And normally he was a pretty calm guy.

"No." I answered calmly "But I knew him I swear." I insisted. I felt like everyone thought I was crazy.

"We believe you, my darling." Aro assured me, making me take a deep breath. "Please, breath easy, loved one. It was one human. I know you feel awful and for that I am immensely sorry, however, you will see many humans live and die in your existence."

Part of that was unsettling. How long would it take for death to become normal? It seemed like Aro found it to be almost…comforting. Insignificant, predictable, and sure.

Something about it was…repetitive. Annoying almost. He knew I hated that kind of talk. The whole sentence was disappointing. It was infuriating. It always had been. It was so sad. So unsettling.

And like that, the room began to spin. My head was flooded just like it had before on the trail. Colors and thoughts swirling together in my eyesight, nothing in the room feeling real. Including the very ground where I stood. I heard Aro's voice…but it was far away. And it was furious. Murderous even. I couldn't make out what he was saying.

"Annabelle?" A confused but urgent Aro's voice could be heard far more clearly through the muffled yells.

"Edward!" Carlisle called as I was being lowered to sit onto what felt like a couch, Aro's hands holding mine.

Finally, it faded to a stop. Like sliding from one room into another with socks on wooden floors.

The room looked different. Darker and more aged. Not ragged, but not nearly as refined.

"For this?" Aro hissed from my right making me turn my head.

When had he changed? I must have passed out. Could vampires do that?

He was back in a suit. Perfectly pressed, tailored for his figure perfectly. And he was on fire with anger. "For some stuffy house in Britain?! To treat humans? Carlisle, do not fool yourself. They will live a few years longer, fall ill again, and die anyway. You have not changed their fate! You just prolong the inevitable." Even though he was terrifyingly enraged, there was a comfort to seeing him. I tried to hold back asking him what had happened to me seeing as he was clearly in the middle of an argument.

I turned my head seeing Carlisle, who looked positively disturbed. "They deserve to live as long as they possibly can, my friend. Even you cannot be so cold."

"Deserve?" Aro asked, almost taken aback with shock. "And what have they done to deserve it? Their birth? By such logic, dear Carlisle, even your precious beasts which you feed upon deserve to live on. Then what of you?"

"I am talking about saving humans from sickness, Aro, I have never damned you for surviving how you see fit."

"Not damned, but most certainly condemned. Do not be so bold as to think I am ignorant of that."

"They are living beings. With lives, and emotions, and thoughts, and a god-"

"They are humans! Who live as long as it takes for you to finish a singular project. With emotions so new to them they cannot understand them before they perish from their own age. As for gods, even you must admit to know they will gawk at whatever they do not understand which is most of what there is in this world."

"I did not ask for your permission nor your approval, Aro. I must move on and you must continue without me." Carlisle said finally before Aro moved quickly, almost instantly, appearing only a few inches from Carlisle's face.

"Do not misunderstand. If I were Caius, you would be burning in a matter of seconds." He hissed, his nose flinching in anger.

"I shall not take your mercy for granted." Carlisle answered calmly before Aro spun around and took off, out of the room with a great crack as wood from the slammed door flew back into the room.

"Wait!" I yelled. How could he? How could he yell so harshly at Carlisle? Threaten him? How could he leave me here? Was his temper so poor I ceased to matter as soon as he was tested? Was this all brought on by what Aro had said about humans? We weren't anywhere near Britain.

My confusion threw me through a whirlwind, throwing me off my balance again until everything changed. Instead of the dark room we were just in, the white room I remember belonging to the Cullens was blinding and crouched in front of me was Aro, still holding both of my hands in his.

He was exactly how he had been before I passed out, hair down, casually dressed…for him…his face kind and his eyes wider than I had ever seen them.

He stayed silent and so I quickly flashed by gaze over to Carlisle who was staring at a disturbed looking Edward, clearly trying to get a read as to what he was seeing in my mind.

How they all stayed so perfectly still was beyond me. Like three perfect statues. I supposed that was something you could do when time was no longer an issue.

"Aro?" I finally found my voice, returning my attention to the man in front of me. "What's wrong?"

There was a longer pause than I would have liked before he answered, but finally, he did. His voice almost breathlessly amazed, his face beaming.

"Absolutely nothing, my love. You are tremendously astonishing."