Author's Note: Sorry for the longer wait on this chapter! The action is getting good, and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I don't own the character's, but I play with them... consensually. All mistakes are my own. Now enjoy the chapter!

Last Time…

"Stop." The figure called to the other, just before the fallen vampire's head was tossed into the flames.

The other looked with question, realization dawning quickly at the glittering pendant. Wait, they had said…. It had been far too long.

"It is time we send a message."

Chapter 9

Aro's Rooms— Early Evening

"What is on your mind, piccola?" Aro murmured, his fingers doing simply sinful things to her… scalp. For someone with long locks of his own, Aro seemed intrigued by hers— always playing with it, pulling it, and now running his fingers through it delectably.

"Everything and nothing it seems…Sometimes I wish you could look into my mind to see the jumbled mess that it is." She sighed.

"Explain it to me, if you wish.. Or we can talk about it no longer." He regarded her seriously, seeing the burdened look in her eyes. "Either way, I will fetch you sustenance first."

Isabella's stomach growled in agreement, making Aro laugh on his way out. He returned a minute later fully dressed in a dark suit with a delicious assortment of cheeses, fruits, some nuts, crackers, and fresh focaccia that smelled of rosemary. She happily began eating in the room that directly adjoined his bedroom— some type of open sitting room or sun room, where half of the room consisted of floor to ceiling wide-paned windows. The view of the Italian countryside in the fading light was astounding— she was sure the green hilltops and stretches of vineyards would be even more impressive in the coming starlight.

Once she was finished with her meal, Aro refilled her goblet with water and presented her with a small bowl. Confused, she saw there were three pills. "Wha-"

"I drank a considerable amount of your blood… not enough to drastically weaken you, yet given the stress that our circumstance presents, I would like to ensure you are well."

She nodded thoughtfully at this, taking the supplements before probing him with her next question. "Is this a normal thing you do?" Isabella looked at him skeptically, a little thrown off that he was so well prepared to take care of her.

Aro looked away from her, his brows becoming furrowed. "No… The last human I laid with later became my wife. A grave mistake."

"You have sought no other company?"

"I have… I feel I must explain this… vampires are much less attached to their feeling with such matters…"

Three bangs sounded at the adjoining bedroom door, nearly shaking it off its hinges. Aro hissed, a look of irritation crossing his features. He ensured the sheet around Isabella was secure before appearing by the door, opening it just fractionally. "What?" He snarled.

This conduct by one of the guard was unheard of, due to the severity of punishment when it happened last… Over two centuries ago, a lower guard was sent to find the icier, blond king due to impending enemies in Volterra. Finding himself and Athendora in a state of undress, the guard member was without his head for some years; he was not burned altogether due to his developing gift.

This knowledge was not lost on Felix. He greeted his master, looking positively mortified. "Master Aro. There is something you must see. It is of grave importance." He spoke quickly, almost too fast for Isabella's human hearing to pick up.

Aro nodded sternly, shooing him with a flick of the wrist. Aro completed his current ensemble with a dark cloak. Crimson fabric lined the edges, which enhanced his crimson, steely gaze. Isabella, however, was unperturbed, and steadfast in her resolve.

"Felix, get me something to wear." She called, untangling her hair with her fingers as she walked to the door. A few cracks had formed from the earlier disruption, scarring the refined quality of the dark wood.

"Where do you think you're going?" Aro said lowly, his visage cool, much unlike the warmer, gentler man she had come to know.

Isabella's jaw clenched reflexively, but she did not look at him; she would not reward his garish shift in mood in the least. "I'm going with you."

A gentler knock indicated Felix's return. Isabella opened it enough to reach her arm out, collecting the items from Felix before shutting it firmly. "Thanks, Felix." A minute later, Isabella pulled a simple black cloak over her red knee-length dress. Aro ghosted past her, his mouth set in a rigid line. "So be it."

If looks could kill, everyone in sight would have fallen with Aro's foul mood. His entire posture was rigid, his being rippling with power and seething contempt. Felix made sure to keep his distance, walking ten feet in front of the pair as a guard of sorts, Isabella realized.

Soon they were traveling at inhuman speed, as vampires often preferred. Where they ended though, was unknown to her. They were indoors, but there was no natural source of light, even in the night. The faded, nearly crumbling stone revealed the castle's true age, as the dungeons did similarly on the evening of her arrival. Down the long halls were swarths of various fabrics and tapestries. Intricate and beautiful, their similar aging made it apparent that this section of the castle was no longer used, if not forgotten altogether… especially with the tell-tale sign of spiderwebs spanning across the ceiling.

"What is this place?" Isabella asked.

"A secure part of the castle. Only few know of its existence and use." Felix answered.

A few minutes passed again in relative silence, until Felix stopped at at a random section of the hall. He pulled two tapestries back, revealing a heavy door with intricate metal pieces, that were nearly floral in their design and interconnected by small divots in the metal.

With a blur of movement, two metallic thunks sounded before Aro pushed open the door, and Felix escorted Isabella inside quickly and shut the door silently The other occupants of the medium sized room included Marcus, Caius, Athendora, Felix, Jane, Alec, Chelsea, Renata, and Demitri.

Athendora gave a small wave, though her expression was pinched, much like Caius's gaze on a regular basis. Marcus looked bored, though a flicker of amusement crossed his features as Isabella entered the room. Demitri was pacing by a lone table, centered within the simply furnished room. A slumped burlap sack sat at the center of the table. Aro extended his hand in Demitri's direction, and was quickly met with the elite guard member.

"What happened?" Isabella questioned from her position behind Aro. Demitri looked to his master, who nodded once.

"Our security was breached by an unknown entity." Explained Demitri. "Whoever it was left this." He gestured with his free hand to the table. "We have not detected any material hazardous to us."

"Let us see it then." Aro spoke, nodding towards the bag while releasing his hold on Demitri's palm.

The seconds it took to unfurl the drawstrings of the sack stretched on agonizingly. Demitri stiffened as he gripped the object, pulling it upwards into full view.

Hisses filled the room as the disembodied head of a vampire was presented. Demitri's fingers held it by tendrils of perfectly curled brunette hair. Her pristine, pale face was marred by deep cracks, resembling a smashed mirror. Still, she remained beautiful in her true death. The vampire's mouth fell open, a Volturi pendant and chain clattering to the ground a moment later.

"Anne was on a security sweep of Eastern Europe. She was due to return tomorrow." Came Demitri's strained voice once more.

"Whoever has moved against us will regret it." Came a venomous snarl from Jane.

Caius spoke next. "I like the sound of that."

"Still, the question remains… how did they enter Volterra undetected?" Marcus mused.

"I could not sense anyone coming against my shield…" Came Renata's voice.

"They also proved to be un-trackable… their scent eludes me… something no immortal has succeeded in in my lifetime." Demitri spoke, eyes tightening with vehemence.

Footsteps were the only sound in the small chamber, as Aro circled the room thoughtfully, hands folded and poised at his chin. This continous movement amidst the silence and environment of dim light only served to exacerbate Isabella's sinking feeling. It was dread… easily identifiable and deeply compelling her to sense the stirrings of panic. "The sole being who has accomplished this in our time, has been you." Aro's eerily melodic voice echoed in her ears, his breath brushing the nape of her neck as he towered over her cloaked form from his position behind her.

"Aro, your speculations of an enemy are undeserved." Said Marcus, looking somewhat exasperated. "I am sure that Chelsea may also attest to her loyalty."

"Yes, Master. My ability would only echo the loyalty already present. None have strayed from it within the Volturi." Chelsea spoke softly, eyes downcast.

Aro walked around Isabella thoughtfully until his faced her. "Well, it appears our coven is at a loss. What say you?"

"Give it to me." She gestured towards Demitri, who met her gaze with pure confusion. "Her head." Isabella explained. This surely wasn't helping with Felix's assumptions that she was certifiably insane.

Aro quirked an eyebrow at her— the first neutral expression she received since the were interuppted by Felix some time ago. She would give him a piece of her mind later, but for now—

Isabella turned the vampire's head over in her hands, examining the jagged edge of the base of her skull. Running her fingers against the granite skin, her eyes widened at its undiscovered, sinister nature. "Call your allies. Call them now." All eyes were on her now. "Look at her, all of you… There's no venom. She was drained of it completely."

Cullen Manor— Early Morning

"Incoming call in three… two… one…"

Carlisle's cellphone sounded from upstairs. A book closed, followed by a friendly greeting of "Dr. Carlisle Cullen."

"Carlisle, old friend." Came Aro's musical voice from the other line. "It appears I'm in need of your coven's presence in Volterra."

"Aro. It's been a long time… I trust Isabella is well."

"She is, rest assured. She will be able to discuss the details."

"Carlisle!" Came his adoptive daughter's voice through the phone.

"Isabella." Carlisle smiled.

"We need you here immediately. There's no time to waste or explain fully until you're here and secure with us. The Volturi private jet will be arriving with 5 of the lower guards in four hours. Ensure that Jasper is ready, I will be waking from my change 26 hours after you arrive in Volterra."

Carlisle winced as the cracking of wood sounded throughout the house, as Edward left the house quickly through the back door. He was never happy regarding the prospect of Isabella's change… now especially at the Volturi's hands.

"Understood." Carlisle spoke. "We will see you soon, Isabella."

The line disconnected.

Author's Note: So what did you think? Is there trouble in paradise? Why the sudden decision to have Isabella changed? All will be revealed soon... ;)