Chapter one

It was awkward sitting on the pristine white leather sofa; I felt out of place and petrified of touching anything just in case I made a mess. The whole house was spotless; how seven people actually lived here I had no idea.

"Celestine, it's nice to see you again, how are you faring?" Carlisle's soft melodic voice reaches my ears and I look up to see his timeless angelic face in the doorway.

"Alright I suppose, I would be lying if I said it had been easy," I tell him and his face turns sombre.

"I must apologise for our departure I know it affected Bella a great deal," he says.

"You don't say," my eyes rolled hard. "Good job Alice turned up when she did, I was seriously starting to worry about her," I mutter, and Carlisle smiles empathetically.

"I hope you don't mind eating alone, it was a long journey, so we ate on the way," he apologies. "Don't feel pressured though, Esme prepared food for our guests too but it turns out they have eaten as well, there's far more than necessary."

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry, I'd actually quite like to just go home, was there a reason for your invitation?" I ask.

"Bella wanted you to meet us all properly, she felt you needed to know us better, especially as there are now negative feelings between our families," Carlisle says.

"Not your entire family," I tell him. "Esme is alright."

Carlisle smiles and nods appreciatively, before leading me through to the kitchen where everyone else was gathered. I glared at Edward with as much venom as I could muster, hoping he'd get the very obvious message that he was now in my bad books. He seemed guilty enough to look apologetic which was a start. Bella clung to his side, her face finally relaxed and not looking worn or tired.

Alice was there, the last time we'd spoken it had been tense and confusing she had come out with a lot of strange stuff and wasn't very happy when I challenged her argument to take Bella with her to save Edward from whatever dramatic trouble he'd gotten himself into. Jasper was by her side, he looked pained as usual, his back bolt straight like someone had nailed a pole to his spine and perhaps he looked a little less comfortable than usual. Rosalie and Emmett were close by, surprisingly Rosalie didn't look sour, and her beautiful features could finally be appreciated even though it was hard to overlook her solemn expression.

Carlisle's wife Esme was there also, she looked bitterly upset about something and I could only guess that whatever it was must be quite serious. The first time I met Esme was just after the accident Bella and I had been in at the beginning of term when Tyler had almost crushed us with his van. Bella had come out unscathed thanks to her guardian angel Edward but in my attempt to push Bella out of harm's way I managed to put myself in the way of the back end of the van. It had skidded on the ice and collided with me as it span to the left after hitting the side of Bella's truck. I'd been out cold for hours, one fractured radius, three broken ribs, a cracked skull with a large case of severe concussion and four months of physiotherapy to help repair the damage done to my left leg. I'd stayed in hospital for a few weeks under observation and Esme had visited me with some homemade biscuits as Carlisle was my doctor, she had been very nice and several weeks after had come to our house with a pie and a 'get well soon' card.

Behind the familiar faces stood a group of other people, they looked about as uncomfortable as me standing in the Cullen's kitchen. They were all dressed in smart tailored suits, and they were all grown men, the youngest of the three had short dark blond hair and a stern face, he was slight, but his confident stance told me that he was strong despite his looks. The man standing beside him was larger than Emmett, his shoulders were huge, and his face was hard as rock, his impressive jawline straining while he stared undecided around the room.

The third and final man was perhaps Carlisle's age, a similar height and build but he had long raven black hair that he'd tucked back behind his ears, his skin – if possible – seemed paler than everyone else's in the room which made me feel extremely tanned. His eyes were dark as well, unlike the golden colour all the Cullen's seemed to share this man, along with his two companions had very dark almost pure black eyes. And of course, they were breathtakingly beautiful, not a hair out of place or a spec of fluff on any of their expensive suit jackets – the Cullen's only seemed to associate themselves with the finest life could offer.

Whoever the third man was just looking at him made my mouth go dry, my heart beat faster, and my palms sweat. I clenched my hands self-consciously as if everyone else would know what affect this man had made on me.

"Celestine it's so lovely to see you again," Esme smiles and stands to embrace me in a tentative hug.

"It's nice to see you too," I smile and return her gesture.

"Are you feeling better?" she asks.

"Oh yes, I'm well over that now," I reassure her, and she returns to her seat with a little more life in her face.

"Would you like a drink Celestine?" Carlisle asks.

"No thank you," I answer simply and wait for another question to be asked…nothing came. We stood in silence for a few long awkward seconds, my breathing sounded thunderous in my ears and I wondered briefly if anyone else could hear it too.

"Let me introduce you to our guests, I'm sure you know our family from school," Carlisle says and the rest of the Cullen's step aside to allow a clearer view of the three strangers at the back of the room.

"Demetri, Felix and Aro," Carlisle says. "Aro is my dearest friend from when I was at school, we studied in England together and visit each other every now and again, Demetri and Felix are his nephews."

Aro was an odd name, I'd never heard it before, it sounded very much like "arrow". "Hi," I say with a pathetic accidental wave of my hand.

"Good evening," Aro says and I almost choke on air at the sound of his voice. Rich and smooth, he pronounced every syllable perfectly, his voice was like song and it made my heart flutter, stunned.

"Aro and his nephews will be staying with us for a while, they were keen to meet you, being Bella's sister we are all curious to see if you are as charismatic as she is," Carlisle says.

I glance over at Bella and see that she was flushed. "I highly doubt I am," I say with a soft smile and eye the small clock above the oven with envy. It was only 18:15, far too early to leave. Maybe I could fake illness?

"What makes you say that?" it was Aro's question and it took me a few seconds to conjure the breath to answer him.

"Years of documented evidence," I laugh lightly and raise my eyes to look at his face. I lowered them instantly and forced myself to breathe. Being surrounded at all sides by models I wouldn't have thought one individual would have affected me so much, but there was something about Aro that made my entire body turn to mush.

No one else seemed to see any humour in my comment and so we abandoned speech and plunged back into silence. Carlisle broke it yet again.

"Are you sure you aren't hungry Celestine, we have plenty of food," he offers.

"No honestly I'm fine…in fact I feel a little ill, maybe I should go home?" I suggest and Carlisle smiles in understanding, was my lie so easily read?

"Of course," he says.

"Bella can Edward drop you home?" I ask knowing that her truck was here so I could drive back.

"Allow me to drive you, I have an errand to run into town," Aro says and steps forward across the room.

"No that isn't necessary, actually I just remembered that Bells, you're grounded so we should go now anyway," I say and edge towards the door keeping my eyes off of Aro.

"Charlie said I had one more night of freedom, it'll be late when I leave so it will be easier for me to drive back then," Bella says and I shot her a glare.

"It will be no trouble at all Celestine," Aro says and this time I have to look at him, he'd worked his way so far across the room he was almost standing next to me. His lips were graced with a smile. I could feel my heart in my throat, my breath caught as I stand completely stunned by something as simple as a smile. I stand there for too long, I can feel more than just his eyes on me, analysing my stupefied reaction.

"Fine," I breathe out finally. "I'll get my coat. Thanks Carlisle, Esme, it was good to see you again…Bella I'll see you at home," I add bitterly, fully intending to lay into her later about betraying me like that, couldn't she tell I was desperate?

Aro joins me at the door, Demetri and Felix watched closely, they acted very strange maybe they had some sort of anxiety problem and couldn't leave Aro alone?

I shrugged on my coat and followed Aro down the driveway to a shiny black Audi parked next to Edward's Volvo, he opened the passenger door like a proper gentleman, and I thanked him softly, my voice not quite returning to normal, his presence seemed to immobilise me. It was practically suffocating when he took the driver's seat next to me, he was so close, and I force myself to keep my eyes straight ahead and not wander over to – not so secretly – ogle him.

"Where do you live?" he asks as the engine purrs to life.

"Just follow the main road, I'll tell you when we're close," I say, and he nods and pulls smoothly away from the house and down the long winding drive.

"I understand that your sister and Edward went through a rough patch in their relationship recently?" he asks.

"Yeah, he left…the dickhead," I mumble quietly.

Aro didn't seem to have a problem with hearing me. "I am sorry you had to go through her pain as well, Carlisle explained how you found it hard to deal with," he continues.

"He said I found it hard?" anger flared inside me and I shook my head. "Carlisle had no right to talk about how I felt, he made his whole family move under the duress of one boy, he as much caused the damage as Edward did."

"An interesting approach," Aro hums in response to my little outburst. "Do you mind me asking what happened when the Cullen's abandoned Forks?" he question sounded so innocent, and my mouth opened before I thoroughly thought out my reply.

"Bella loves Edward," I say. "And not even in a soppy teenager way, she seriously is in love with him, I swear she'd do anything for that boy." I fought the urge to roll my eyes, the anger that had built over the time the Cullen's had been away had ever since been bubbling just under the surface. I could never speak to anyone who understood, dad was too focused on helping Bella, no one at school cared about my sister they just wanted the gossip surrounding her, and my best friends from the reservation had never really been very sociable since Bella and Edward started dating, something that didn't really change even when they had left. "Her whole world shattered, taking our whole family with it, I'm not sure people realise how much of a strain living with someone who's constantly in a catatonic state can really affect you…Anyway none of them were here to witness what happened, I would have much preferred if they hadn't come back," I say and Aro glances sideways at me. "Oh goodness I'm so sorry, Carlisle's your friend…please don't tell him I said that?" I plead.

"Your secret is safe with me," he smiles, and I suck in an audible breath to calm the sudden fluster of my heart.

"Thank you," I sigh.

"As long as you agree to my terms," he adds, and I turn fully to look at him.

"What terms?" I ask cautiously.

"You will allow me to take you to dinner tomorrow night?" he asks.

"I can't," I gasp.

"Why not?" he frowns.

Why couldn't I allow this stranger to take me to dinner? Maybe because he was far too old for Charlie to ever approve of, especially when I lived under his roof. Perhaps it was because he really was a complete stranger, friend of good Dr Cullen or not how was I to know he wasn't a serial killer?

"I have school, I can't go out on a school night," I say and mentally slap myself.

"Friday night then?" he asks more hopeful.

I couldn't agree, this man was gorgeous and at least five years older than me if not more.

"Um sure…" I find myself saying and Aro grins widely causing my heart to flip-flop and flutter all over again.

"Excellent, I'll ring you tomorrow night to confirm a time," he says and take his hands off the wheel and looks at me fully. It took me a while to realise we'd actually finished moving.

"You don't have my number," I say, and his smile grows.

"You and Isabella live in the same house correct?" he asks, and I nod. "Then I have your number."

I took a few moments to allow myself the pleasure of just staring at him under the dim lights from the dashboard, his pale flawless skin, dark eyes and hair, the joyous smile across his lips.

"Ugh, thanks for the ride," I mumble and reach for the door handle, but a cold hand is suddenly over mine.

He was leant across me, his face extremely close to mine so I sat as still as I could afraid he might realise how close he was and move away. He took a few minutes to speak, his face was hard to read, something was being thought over hard but I couldn't tell what it was, whatever was bothering him though seemed to frustrate him. "Celestine, I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you to go out with me on Friday, if you would prefer not to then I understand perfectly, I would take no offence," he says and I nod slowly. He lets go of my hand almost reluctantly and is swiftly sat back upright in his own seat. "Sweet dreams, I hope you feel better in the morning."

I opened the door and stumbled out onto the pavement in front of my house. Aro drove away down the road, and I stood watching the lights of his car until they faded into the distance.

"Celestine?" dads' voice sounded so far away in my ears as I stood staring down an empty road. "Celestine, where's Bella?"

"Enjoying her last night of freedom," I mumble in reply as I yank my eyes away from the dark horizon and make my way inside. Just as my foot stepped into the house I paused and threw my arms around dad.

He was taken aback. Physically jolted at my sudden act, but only a second of shock occurred before he returned the gesture.

"I love you dad," I tell him, smelling the familiar sugar dusted donut powder on his shirt, a tradition he had with Billy Black on Sunday afternoons.

"I love you too my littlest girl," he chuckles gently, and I only hug him harder, relishing in the feel of his familiarity.

~V~

I was restless that night, tossing and turning unable to find a comfortable position because my brain was working too hard. My thoughts were filled with Aro mostly, the odd side thought about his weird nephews, but I couldn't seem to drive the image of his handsome face and beautiful voice from my mind.

Bella was downstairs making breakfast; she'd made me a bowl of cereal and I sat down quietly. "Are you alright Cel? You look a bit distant," she says.

I was distant, Bella had gone from catatonic to normal in a matter of hours and now I was the distant one. "Yeah, I didn't sleep well is all," I say and mush my cereal in with the milk.

"Aro got you home alright then?" she says and stares at me curiously over the top of her orange juice.

"Yes," I say softly, and a silence falls between us. "He has a nice car," I add to break the tension.

"Um yeah I guess he does," she agrees.

"Is Edward driving you in today?" I ask.

"Yep, you can take the truck," she smiles and starts to clear away her finished bowl.

The drive to school was lonely, I had gotten used to ferrying around suicidal Bella as I didn't trust her to drive without putting herself in danger, or me for that matter. With the Cullen's return there was lots of gossip, I tried to avoid every question I could with "I don't know" as everyone seemed to hit a dead end with Bella and try and ask me why Edward and the others had returned.

Edward had attempted to speak to me this morning, but he willingly backed down after I gave him another one of my best glares. I would have to work on them if I was going to continue hating his guts.

I tried to concentrate but again my mind couldn't focus long enough to pay attention. Aro was going to call me some time in the next four days and I was terrified and elated all at the same time, but I couldn't decide if I should be or not.

Aro had to be between twenty-five and thirty, Charlie would never agree to let me go out with him I was certain of it. And what would come from our short encounter, Carlisle said that they were only staying for a set amount of time, I didn't want to be used or left bitterly heartbroken when he suddenly packed up and left. I also wasn't keen on how long his hair was. It sounded silly, nothing was really flawed with him at all, it was like he had been constructed for the pure purpose of aesthetic appeal, but I would prefer it if he maybe tied his hair back, so his face wasn't hidden by its shadow.

In the end I had agreed to go out with him so it would be rude not to stick to my word, if I chickened out nearer to Friday I could pretend to feel ill again, although no one believed that was true last night.

At lunch I declined Alice's polite invitation to sit with them, Mike and Jessica seemed thoroughly shocked when I headed over to them. "So, Cullen is back," Mike says bitterly.

"Obviously," I sigh and pick up a carrot stick, inspecting it but not going as far to eat it.

"When did this happen?" he asks.

"Saturday night, Carlisle decided they prefer Forks or something," I drawl and drop the carrot back into the small plastic clip Tupperware box.

"Well Bella seems happier now," Jessica adds enthusiastically, and I crack a smile.

"Yes, she certainly does."

English flew by after lunch and then I met up with Bella in the changing room for gym. "How's Edward today then?" I ask and she jumps in surprise.

"Celestine, I didn't hear you come in," she says. "Yeah, Edward's fine," she smiles goofily.

"I don't think he's good for you," I say and hang my bag up. "You're far too attracted to him and he's…there's something not right with him."

Bella smiles stiffly. "I don't want to argue with you Cel, but I understand what you mean…and hopefully you will understand what I mean soon." She ends her sentence with a frown.

"Understand what you mean?"

"It's complicated…I heard Aro invited you to dinner?" she quirks her eyebrows and looks at me.

"Hey, don't change this onto me," I warn her I pull on my gym kit.

"Did you say yes?" she asks.

"I didn't really have a choice," I say and bend down to fasten my trainers.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" she asks nervously.

"What, no," I say and jump up. "He…I…he's very persuasive, and I made a deal to keep a comment secret," I shrug.

"What did you say?" she asks.

"If I told you I would have made a pointless deal with him wouldn't I," I smile.

"Have you asked Charlie if you can go?"

"Of course, I haven't," I whisper as I see Lauren eyeing us with her beady little bitchy eyes. "He's like twenty-five; dad would kill me and then probably shoot Aro in the leg for good measure."

"Yeah, you're right, do you want to be my partner?" Bella asks and I roll my eyes.

"Why not I feel like I need to do some exercise," I stretch up and tug her out of the changing room.

We were continuing with badminton and Bella took a safe stance at the back of the court and I covered everything else. Surprisingly I managed to win all four games which earned me and Bella a small plastic trophy and a one dollar off fruit in the canteen.

Edward was waiting for Bella outside, leaning casually against the wall with an effortless smile. He moved with such grace I was shocked all over again, I'd forgotten how weirdly elegant he was.

"Hello Celestine," Edward smiles.

"Bella I'll see you at home," I say and ignore Edward.

"I think she's giving me the silent treatment," I overhear Edward say to Bella.

Damn straight, I grumble internally and head to Bella's truck, I followed Edward's Volvo out of the carpark, but he quickly lost me, the boy drove like a maniac.

When I got home Bella and Edward were already there, sat at the kitchen table. I grabbed a drink and then went upstairs taking the phone with me. It was a painful waiting game, knowing that he would call at some point, I could change my mind and tell him I didn't want to go, Edward was already positive I didn't like him so what would be the harm in the rest of the Cullen's knowing I didn't like them, they probably already knew too.

I did some homework and then did some reading, Edward left, and Bella called me down for dinner when dad came home.

"Celestine, I had a visitor today," he says as he hangs up his gun belt and chucks his keys on the side. Dad very rarely used my full name; it was reserved for punishments and formal events. He had never been a fan of it since mum had settled on something extravagant to go alongside Isabella.

"A visit from who?" I ask nervously, trying to stop myself from chewing on my lip.

"A man," he says and my mouth dries. "He asked me for permission to take you to dinner Friday night."

"Oh yeah, I was going to ask you myself about that," I mumble.

"He's old," he frowns. "But he made a good case; you have to be back by eleven though."

I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my lips. "Thanks dad," I grin and hug him taking him by surprise for a few seconds.

"No worries Ce," he says and hugs me back.

Dinner was lovely; all three of us back together again, Bella to her normal self and dad surprisingly happy considering he'd just agreed to let me out alone with an older man. I ate quickly, keen to run back upstairs and wait by the phone again.

I showered first, a quick one I didn't bother to condition my hair and rapidly brushed my teeth and changed into my pyjamas before scrambling up the short ladder to my room. Charlie had had the roof adapted to make room for me and Bella to both have rooms, when we'd been younger we'd shared a room but I was very grateful dad had gotten another room built, I couldn't imagine how awkward it would be when Edward snuck in to see Bella and I was there too.

The clock seemed to be moving far too fast, every minute that went by I got more and more annoyed, why hadn't he phoned yet?

Just as I was about to give up and crawl into bed the phone rang. I launched myself across my bed and answered immediately.

"Hello?" I ask and I'm met with a joyful laugh. Hearing his voice again reassured me that I hadn't just imagined it.

"You answered very quickly, eager are we?" he asks and I fall back onto my bed with a sigh.

"You asked my dad?" I say avoiding his question.

"I could tell you were concerned, having your father's approval made me confident I would get your approval too," he says.

"Confident much?" I smile.

"Incredibly," he purrs and I'm stunned for words. "Does four o'clock work for you? It's a little early but Seattle is a little bit of a drive away."

"You're taking me to Seattle?"

"Don't expect me to take you to a restaurant in Forks," he says.

"What's wrong with food in Forks?" I challenge.

"I am a man who prides myself on perfection, so I am taking you to a restaurant worthy of you," he answers and I'm lost for words.

Prides himself on perfection? I stared up at the ceiling my eyes wide. I couldn't quite believe his words, if he was telling the truth why on earth was he taking me to dinner?

"Celestine?" Aro's voice rang down the phone. "Celestine?"

"Sorry, I was just…you've confused me," I tell him.

"How?" he asks.

"Pride yourself on perfection? I am far from perfect so why are you bothering to take me to dinner?"

He laughs again and I swallow deeply, maybe I would have to cancel on him or else I'd keel over if he laughed in front of me in person, his laughter down the phone was driving me crazy.

"I will tell you now and then I will reiterate my point on Friday as well. Celestine you are a very beautiful young girl and I am so honoured to take you to dinner and spoil you the way you deserve to be spoilt," he says.

"I think you might need glasses," I mumble.

"I can assure you my eyesight is high resolution," he says. "We can argue about this for hours, but it won't change my opinion on how beautiful I think you are."

"I'm not trying to sound rude…but we've only just met," I say slowly.

I hear his sigh before he replies, "I know, and it seems silly to me as well, I never thought I would be affected in such a way," he breathes deeply again. "But I am pleasantly surprised."

"I'm glad," I whisper.

"I'm glad you are glad as well, it would have made me feel terribly embarrassed if you'd said you were disgusted," he says.

"I don't think anyone could be disgusted by you."

"You would be surprised," he chuckles.

"You laugh a lot," I point out.

"You make me laugh," he says.

"Are you laughing at me?" I feign hurt to gage his response.

"No of course not, what you say and how you say it, it humours me."

"You have an odd sense of humour," I frown.

He chuckles once more which makes me smile. "Indeed, I do."

"Can I ask what you do for a living? Or shall we leave that kind of conversation for Friday?"

"So, I assume you are agreeing to let me take you out on Friday?" he asks.

"You assume correctly," I smirk.

"Excellent!" I could tell he was smiling again, the tone of his voice lifted joyously when he smiled. "What do you think I do for a living?"

I quickly conjure a picture of him in my mind – it wasn't hard – his face was etched into my memory for life. "You seem quite serious, rich obviously as everything needs to be perfect so it pays well, you have your hair long so you must be self-employed or be near the top of a company or something to the likes of that…"

"My hair dictates my job?" he asks.

"No, not necessarily, I'm being stereotypical," I explain.

"Alright, continue," he says.

"Your nephews…they're quite intimidating and were dressed almost as fancy as you…a family organisation, rich, powerful, I've got it," I tell him.

"What is your conclusion?"

"The Mafia," I say and he pauses, he doesn't laugh. "Crap you aren't really part of the mafia are you?" I ask after ten seconds of complete silence.

"Yes but you can't tell anyone, just our little secret," he says and I hear the light-heartedness in his voice and I sigh in relief.

"I'll keep your secret as long as you agree to my terms," I repeat his words from last night.

"And what terms would they be?" he asks.

"To let me have at least one glass of wine on Friday," I bite my lip. Older than me or not I wasn't sure he'd be supportive of getting me drunk.

"In my country, eighteen is the legal limit," he says.

"I'm not eighteen," I smirk but then my stomach tightens at my own words, I wasn't eighteen I was younger and thinking of Aro made me feel so young, young and immature and definitely not someone who was perfect.

As if he can sense my concern he speaks. "You're allowed to have a drink with a meal if you are with a responsible adult," he says but even that makes me feel like the age gap between us is huge, if Aro is the adult then I am the child.

"Are you from Europe? You look slightly European." My voice was slightly pitchy as I change the subject, desperate to distract my thoughts.

"Italy," he says.

"You're so lucky, I've always wanted to go to Europe, and Italy is such a pretty place," I smile.

"You keep my occupation secret and I'll take you there some day," he says, and I suddenly feel like I've jumped into things a bit quickly.

"Ugh, sure, let's get Friday out the way first though, I might change my mind about you, I'm not into organised crime so we might not click," I say.

"They do say opposites attract," he chuckles.

"They aren't always right," I add.

"The voice of reason…I must go now, I'm sorry to cut our conversation short," he says sadly.

"Oh," I breathe and sit up defeated, I wanted to listen to him talk all night and all tomorrow morning too. "That's okay…I'll see you Friday, four o'clock."

"I'll be there at three fifty-nine," he chuckles.

"Bye then," I say.

"Good night Celestine, sweet dreams," he says.

"Night," I whisper and the phone is silent for a few long seconds before he replies.

"Buonanotte amore mia," he says and then the line disconnects.