Chapter 3

Yesterday had passed almost agonisingly slow as Bella anticipated the arrival of the Cullens to Volterra. Despite her typical ability to keep her mind at ease the news of the Cullen's had shaken her, brought up thoughts and feelings she had long supressed. She couldn't help but think, to imagine the Cullen's faces when they saw her in the place they would least expect. Imagine how she would relish in their shock. She could almost feel the anticipation tingle under her skin, dancing along her finger tips; a sly smile fell on her lips. If her heart could still beat she could imagine it pulsing in anticipation.

They were here. In the building. Aro had already instructed her to step outside so that she could make more of an entrance. Aro himself had been buzzing with elation to show off to Carlisle, an excitement that grew with each passing day as her ball drew nearer.

The waiting was torture but she could do it, despite the desire to let off some steam with her powers as the anticipation within her grew more. She had been waiting 20 years for this moment. She could wait a few minutes more.

"Ah Carlisle."

Finally.

Aro greeted him, his voice unnaturally high, "It's been so long old friend."

"Yes it has. It's good to see you Aro."

Carlisle…

There was silence following for a few seconds.

"Let me introduce you to the rest of my family. My wonderful wife Esme. My daughters Rosalie and Alice. And my sons Emmett, Jasper and Edward." Bella couldn't help but notice no mention of a name alongside Edward's…no mate. Good, she thought. Not for herself she noted quickly, that idea was ludicrous, she had long moved on from her old life, but for whomever he was sure to move on to next. She deserved to leave with her heart still intact.

Bella wondered if Carlisle knew the possible vulnerability being here brought upon his family. With Alice and Edward in the room she could practically feel Aro gazing over each of them present looking for talent even behind the solid wall. He was predictable. Of course non of them would be eager to join, and there wasn't enough blood in the world that would tide over Bella into working in the same place as her ex. They drank from animals and the Volturi practically slaughtered new arrivals each week, their two philosophies hardly aligned, but that wouldn't stop Aro if he was feeling desperate enough.

"Aro, it was a surprise to hear from you. Even more so as to hear about the particular occasion why." I suppose it would be quite a shock to be invited to a party in one of the most reclusive buildings on a whim to introduce a new guard member, the first in years.

"Well Carlisle, time often means so little to us as I'm sure you know quite well but it had been quite some time since we last spoke. And since then you've acquired a family I haven't had the pleasure to meet." The word even sounded foreign coming from his lips, "And of course I also wanted you to meet my newest guard member. She's quite extraordinary." His voice chimed with childlike excitement. "Isabella."

With her cue she moved from behind the wall. The first time Edward had dragged her along to meet his family she was nothing more than a blushing human girl desperate for their approval. Now, she was in the position of power, and crumbling to her knees submissively was the last thing she would ever do. Now, the roles had been switched. It was their turn.

The room went deadly silent as she took pleasure from the shocked expressions on their faces. The only sound coming from the echo of her heels as she walked across the floor.

Looking up she found Edward's eyes had not left her face.

Edward could think of a hundred places he would rather be than in here surrounded by the Volturi. Anywhere where he didn't have to force a benevolent smile on his face in front of Aro to keep up appearances for all of their sakes. He was exhausted.

"Ah, Carlisle, It's been so long old friend." Edward fought back the desire to roll his eyes at the vampires fake enthusiasm. Cringing as he watched Aro's eyes pivot between each of them, his eyes practically gleaming as he silently probed for talent. He wasn't silent about his objectives either. Searching through people's minds was a second nature after a century as was using his gifts to keep an eye out for his family. Though if he was being honest with himself his interest was only half hearted, his minds focus was elsewhere and his energy drained.

"…Isabella…"

The too familiar name caught his attention. Anguish tore through his chest as he was assaulted with memories he couldn't stop. He wanted- needed to lie down. Everything hurt.

The sharp click of footsteps echoed alongside his constant swarm of pain, at first he didn't even notice the new arrival until he was staring down at a pair of black heels and the creamy legs that belonged to them. His eyes travelled up, an ankle length black dress that just skimmed against the floor with slits at both sides allowing view of her legs matched with a cape that floated behind her, her- Bella. Bella?

His body seized frozen as he caught sight of her face. The all too familiar face. He had spent hours studying her as she slept admiring the beauty of the woman who had chosen to love him, it wasn't a face he could forget. Only it was no longer the same. 20 years had passed, of course he wasn't foolish enough to believe she still looked like the teenager he had left behind; he had expected her to have aged beautifully into a woman…a wife, now someone else's to admire the beauty of, the thought alone tore a hole through his chest as he was forced to imagine Bella happy with someone other than himself, but this- she-

She hadn't aged a day.

Every aspect, every detail of the face he would recognise anywhere was still the same only now more defined. But her eyes-

Red.

It wasn't just their changed colour, the eyes that had once held the entirety of warmth that looked at him with so much love he felt selfish keeping her to himself held no trace of familiarity but an eerily cold glare.

Meeting his eyes with hers, the frigid glare brought his dazed state back to reality, his body burned with shock.

She was a Vampire.

Edward felt lost, had his heart been beating it would surely have been in his throat. He searched her face for something, any kind of recognition to bring back the sight of the girl he fell hopelessly in love with but her face remained unmoving. It was as if she didn't remember him at all.

As the shock burned through his body it was soon replaced with frustration. He had left! He had left her behind to keep this very thing from happening! To give her a chance at a long and happy human life.

Everything he had done was left redundant. Two decades of all consuming loneliness and for what? WHAT HAD BEEN THE POINT?

She- who? Who had changed her? Had she been alone? Was she scared? The mere thought of his Bella suffering alone who knows where experiencing the same excruciating pain he knew all too well only to wake up alone and frightened. Confused and overwhelmed at the all the changes her body had been forced through.

Did she think about him as it happened? Did she ever think or him as he did her?

Alice's mouth fell open agape. The woman drowned in black was beautiful without a doubt.

She was also Bella.

Oh my god.

The entire room turned silent as the recognition drowned over them all one by one going unnoticed by Aro. Alice's mind raced with thoughts; at first her chest had leaped with happiness upon seeing her best friend only for that to come crashing down at the realisation that they were still standing in the midst of the Vultori. Bella Swan worked with the guard. She was the guard member they were here to celebrate.

She couldn't understand how it could be possible. How could Bella who was nothing but warm and caring and whom had one of the biggest compassionate hearts she had ever met turn to this? She quickly turned to look at Edward who's entire face had crumpled. She could only imagine how he was feeling; she had never agreed with her brothers reasoning of leaving behind Bella, maybe more for her own selfish reasons than ever wanting to truly listen to his, but he had spent more than 2 decades tormented under the impression that at least his suffering was worth something if Bella was living a safe happy life.

It had meant nothing.

Why hadn't she seen this? If only then maybe she could have stopped it before it even had a chance of starting. Did Bella even understand how deep in she was? Or was Aro simply manipulating a naïve new born into doing his work?

With the question burning in her mind she forced her eyes back onto Bella hoping to find something. Anything. But in return all she was met with was empty eyes and a chilling smirk painted on blood red lips…

"Cullens." She finally greeted, smiling to show off her perfectly white teeth, her voice thick and alluring, "It's wonderful to finally meet you."