-Chapter II-

Author's Notes

Thank you for the feedback, it really means a lot! I will respond to every one of your reviews after I finish writing this chapter.

I remember reading somewhere that Bella is literally one of the most powerful Vampires in existence due to her ability to block all mental attacks, which most other gifts use. I also remember hearing that Jane is not that good a fighter because she relies almost exclusively on her ability. Both of these will feature in this story, probably in later chapters.

Onwards!

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I ignored the death struggles of the woman below me as I drained her, with absolutely no regard for the life I was ripping away. I had looked forward to this almost as much as vengeance on the Cullens; the chance to live like any one of my kind should. To embrace who I was and what I was, to recognize myself as superior, rather than playing Human and denying my true nature.

I hoped Alice would see this. I hoped she would tell Carlisle. My one regret with the battle in the clearing was that I hadn't had time to see the Cullens reactions to my 'betrayal.' Hardly my fault though, I thought. They cut and run. They left their 'allies' to be slaughtered while they fled. Won't do them any good, if Edward wasn't lying about Demetri's tracking abilities.

I dropped the husk of the random Italian I had chosen to the flagstones. I quickly upended her purse, pocketing her phone, wallet, and wristwatch while kicking the rest of her possessions haphazardly across the alley. With any luck, Florence's PD would assume this to be a mugging gone wrong. I glanced down, proud of my work. This wasn't my first kill - with no more Quileute tribe to stop me, I had 'overindulged' a bit in Forks after Aro's affirmation - but somehow it felt special.

Ducking out of the alleyway, I exited the city and ran at speed to my ultimate destination - Volterra. As I approached the Palazzo dei Priori, I was able to take in the whole city in a new light. No longer shackled by the Cullens or mortality, everything seemed right with the world.

Not knowing how else to go about it, I simply decided to retrace the steps I had taken on my previous visit here. Quickly locating the alleyway where I had been forced to save Edward, I jumped down the sewer grate and hit the ground running. A short elevator ride later, I was standing in front of the obligatory Human secretary - who, I noticed, looked nothing like Gianna. She glanced up at me expectantly.

'Bella Swan to see the Volturi.'

She picked up the phone, spoke a few words in Italian, received a response in the same language, and smiled at me.

'You can go right in. I believe they're just finishing lunch. If you hurry there might be someone left for you.'

'That's all right, thanks. I just ate and I'm full.' As I walked past her I winked at her in a manner very reminiscent of Felix on my last trip to Italy. And just like Gianna, she giggled and blushed.

Shaking my head at her naivety, I continued down the hall, pushed open the large doors to the throne room, and was greeted by the most wonderful sight a vengeful newborn could see.

Alice and Jasper, being restrained by Alec and Felix, staring at me in horror.

I let out a joyful squeal and bounced happily up to the three thrones. Bowing before the rulers, I prayed to whatever gods there were that Aro would be good on his word. The dark-haired ancient spoke up.

'Consider this the first gift of many I am able to offer you, Bella. Me and my brothers will take our leave now. Demetri will instruct you on the particulars.'

The three rulers glided out of the room. I made sure to remain in a respectful position and keep my eyes downcast until they had left.

As soon as they had, though, I practically ran up to Demetri, who chuckled and shook his head.

'Someone's a bit… eager. Here, take this.' He said as he pressed an engraved metal cylinder into my hand. I briefly recognized it as something similar to the design of device Cauis had used to execute Irina.

After briefly instructing me on which switch to flip, Demetri smiled at me and whispered, 'Knock 'em dead Bella.'

I laughed, told him not to worry, and turned to face Alice and Jasper. Without much hesitation, I strode up to Alice and gripped the sides of her head in my hands.

She looked up at me, spat a mouthful of venom in my eye, and hissed, 'Traitor!'

I laughed, and started to pull. As I heard fissures start to circle her neckline, I murmured, 'You do realize you have no one but yourself to blame for this? You do know that?'

'I know that I used to have a best friend named Bella. Someone who I would dress up, who I would watch scary movies with, someone who I would fight to protect. And I know that that Bella is dead now.'

I grinned. 'Oh, Alice. I thought you would have understood by now. She never existed in the first place.'

With that, I twisted my hands to the right, and with an exquisite screeching sound, the second of the Cullens was undone by my hands.

I raised my hand, preparing to jet flame into the remains of the pixie, but a shout of warning from Felix distracted me. I turned around to see Jasper kick his own severed lower arm out of his way and begin to charge toward me.

Time seemed to slow down. I was no match for Jasper in a hand-to-hand fight; he would dispatch me immediately if I did not take action. I did the one thing I could think of, and raised the carved cylinder. I depressed a latch, and Jasper was engulfed in a sheet of flame.

His hair instantly alit, and his hands flew to his scalp, trying to beat out the blaze. But I wasn't going to give him the opportunity. I stepped toward him as he fell to his knees, a cruel smile on my face, and continued to pour elemental agony into his rapidly blackening form. When there was nothing left but ashes, I turned, without ceasing the flow of fire from my hand, and torched the remains of Alice Cullen.

When I was finally satisfied, I opened a small jewelry case I had been carrying on my person for the last few days, and pulled out the Cullen Crest Carlisle had given me. With a snarl of rage, I threw it to the ground and crushed it under the heel of my boot, then kicked the splintered wood over to the scorch mark on the floor where the latest two Cullens had experienced the end of their pathetic lives. I turned to Felix.

'Are you alright?'

'Yes, I'm Sor-'

'You may be, but I'm not. I didn't know we even could burn before we had been de-limbed, and you've given me a wonderful idea on how to take care of Edward.'

Felix grinned and nodded, while Demetri clapped me on the shoulder and chuckled, 'You sure are a piece of work, Bella, and I think you'll fit right in. Now you should head upstairs; I believe the Masters have some rather exiting news for you.'

I thanked him, thanked them both, and zipped up to the upper levels of the Castle. Coming to a large wooden door engraved with the Volturi crest, I rapped twice on it and was greeted with a cheerful, 'Come in!'

I pushed open the doors, head bowed. Aro, Cauis, and Marcus were sitting in three ornate wooden chairs behind a massive dreadnought of a desk, and they all rose to greet me before gesturing me to a chair.

I sat as they did, and Aro spoke.

'Bella, you may be under the delusion that you do not deserve what you will now receive, but trust me, you do. Because of you, the Volturi now have no significant enemies left to challenge us, and without your reversal of loyalties, I have determined upon reflection that the Volturi would have suffered greater losses in our inevitable showdown with the disillusioned of our world.'

I simply nodded, not sure where he was going but beginning to feel anticipation build inside me.

'Mele, come in.' Aro said.

In walked a small, nondescript Vampire with light brown hair and a golden V pendant. Clearly a member of the Elite Guard, but one I did not recognize. Aro spoke up again.

'This is Mele, our most heavily guarded secret. She has the ability of Power Transferal. In other words, she can absorb another Vampire's gift and, although she can't use that requestioned gift, she can give it to someone else who she comes into physical contact with. She has all of the Volturi Guard's abilities 'catalogued' if you will, and, on extremely rare occasions, we will reward extreme loyalty with the addition of a gift. Bella, what ability would you like to add to your shield?'

My response was immediate. 'Jane's.'

Aro nodded his head. I could tell his expectations had been fulfilled. 'Mele, if you would.'

Mele glided over to me and took my hand in both of hers. I felt a feeling not unlike a static shock, and could feel my mind swell with new power. New possibilities.

As Mele withdrew her hands, Aro chimed in.

'Now, Bella, we have some rather exciting news to share with you about Renata!'