My mind perfectly under control, I slowed to a stately walk just before entering the lobby. Edward Cullen was waiting for me, seated like a human in one of the ornate chairs across from Gianna's desk. His shoulders were slumped in defeat, his clothes dirty and rumpled. His eyes were so black it was impossible to tell whether he had already discarded his pretense at humanity. Either way, they looked strangely haunted as he slowly looked up at me. This was not the fresh, idealistic youth I had first met in 1926. It seemed that his creator's unnatural lifestyle had not been kind to him; I had expected as much.

"Demetri," he said, sliding to his feet.

"Edward," I said politely, nodding to him. "It's been a long time."

"Eighty years," he murmured, walking past me into the ornate hallway which led back the way I had come.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, old friend," I assured him, my thoughts sparkling with amity. "Am I to assume you've reconsidered our offer?"

"If you like," he shrugged. "But I need to see your masters immediately."

I paused briefly, continuing my pursuit with slightly less confidence. What that a yes or a no?

"I don't understand."

"It's not necessary that you understand," he said tiredly. "Just take me. There isn't much time."

I slid the hidden panel away, and motioned with my hand for him to enter the stone corridor. He cocked his head, listening to something, and the slightest laugh rasped out of his throat.

"They're not in there," he said aloud, shaking his head in disbelief over something. "They're in the library."

I ground my teeth, feeling stupid. I hadn't even thought to ask Felix when Aro had told him to bring Edward. Maybe I should have let him do his job, after all. My plan to prove my renewed loyalty to my Master wasn't turning out as I had hoped.

"You're doing just fine. Come on."

I pushed open the golden doors, and led him into the library. The Three were seated around a large coffee table, perched in wooden chairs with their cloaks draped over the backs. Caius looked annoyed, as usual; he hated these sorts of charades. It was not standard procedure to interview hopefuls here in the library, but it had been done a few times before; a mark of favor. Edward shook his head slightly, walking right up to the Three without so much as an introduction.

Marcus's face was, as usual, disinterested as he glanced over Edward's haunted face. Edward returned his gaze curiously, but turned his attention to Aro after a moment.

I turned to look at my Master as well, and love flooded my heart. He was clearly overjoyed to see Edward, as I knew he would be. And so benevolent, and so trusting- why, Renata wasn't even here! I ached to go to him, to extend my hand, but I knew that in situations like this he preferred me to wait for his invitation. I turned to Edward and gave the cursory introductions, extending my hand toward each brother in the appropriate order. After I had done so, I turned back to Aro with a slight bow.

"My Masters, may I present Edward Cullen, creation of Carlisle Cullen. He seeks an audience without delay."

"Young Edward!" Aro cried, clasping his hands together in satisfaction. "It gives us the greatest pleasure to have you come here, after so brief a time of deliberation. I have so longed for this day!"

"I know," Edward sighed. Caius huffed in disapproval, and I was taken aback as well. Edward! You are in the presence of the Three! Has Carlisle taught you nothing of etiquette, or of respect?

My hand twitched forward as the awkward silence extended. I should have given Aro my hand immediately, so that he would have seen that all was not as he hoped. Aro glanced from Edward's face down to my hand and nodded slightly. I eagerly moved forward, giving him my thoughts. He frowned at something, and I froze in worry; was he upset at my mental wandering earlier, or at my apparent failure with Edward? Perhaps I should have tried to divine his purpose more clearly before bringing him in here. Aro released my hand.

"You have done nothing wrong, my old friend," he said kindly, and my heart sang. I was forgiven! But his eyes were already back on the applicant; though, he was looking more and more like a supplicant.

Edward seemed to be attempting to rearrange himself into a respectful posture; he wasn't doing a very good job of it. The Americans rarely did. "Forgive me. My… gratitude… is overdue," he said through his teeth. "Your offer was generous, of course." He took a deep breath. "But I have not come today to accept it. I have come to request your assistance with a most important matter."

"Oh?" Caius said, finally looking interested. "What sort of matter?"

Edward's mask of respect slipped; apparently, five seconds of decorum was too much to ask. "Not that sort," he scoffed.

"A matter of the heart," Marcus said slowly, and Edward nodded, his eyes closing in… grief? Oh, for heaven's sake…

Edward spoke louder now, his eyes still closed. "I wish to be ended."

Aro stopped breathing, his courtly smile frozen on his face. "A… most unusual request, Edward Cullen. For one so young, and with so much to live for…"

"Please," Edward sighed. "I am in great pain. I have nothing at all to live for, not anymore. She-" His voiced hitched in his throat, and if it were possible, his face drained of the little color he had. "Please," he repeated urgently.

Aro leaned back in his chair, drawing the backs of his fingers across his lips as he studied our visitor; I knew that look. He was thirsty, but not for blood; for knowledge. All of us knew how eager he had been to meet this vampire, to hear a mind so like his own. And not only that; touching Edward's hand would give him a glimpse into literally thousands of other minds, perhaps millions. I only hoped Edward would give this gift willingly; his artificial diet had clearly weakened his mind, and he obviously had no clue how his refusal eighty years ago had hurt my Master. Even if he had suffered the ultimate loss, he was still being too dramatic.

Marcus was not so selfish. He set aside his own grief every day to serve the Coven, and the vampire world at large. If Edward hadn't been sired by such a perverse fool, and hadn't spent his short life chasing quadrupeds, maybe he would be better equipped to bear his grief like a man. I had thought I was bringing Aro one of the treasures he most desired; instead, I had brought him a blubbering child. I felt like a fool for bringing him in here! Maybe they would let me end him.

Edward's eyes snapped open, and he nodded to me, looking grateful. He stepped closer, tilting his head back to expose his throat. He sighed peacefully, closing his eyes.

Pathetic. Did he really think I would do something that stupid? Execute one of the most powerful vampires in existence right in front of my Master without permission? "Stop that," I growled under my breath. You're making a fool of yourself, and of me!

Edward sighed in resignation, stepping back into place in front of the Three. He stared at Aro for a moment. "That isn't necessary," he said suddenly.

"Oh, but it is," Aro said, holding out his hand. "This is a most unusual circumstance, as I'm sure you can tell. We couldn't possibly agree to your request without knowing all the details. I can see that you are indeed in great pain, my friend; let me see if we can help you. It may be that we can bring ourselves to grant your request, or to offer you a new kind of peace, in this home that has been waiting for you. But first we must understand."

Edward stared down at Aro's waiting hand, his disgust plain on his face. I ground my teeth together, unable to believe his rudeness. But then he made what was perhaps the first intelligent decision of his life, and slowly inched his hand up to Aro's. Aro waited patiently, kindly; he would not grasp. Only his widening eyes betrayed his excitement. Edward finally laid his hand down, and they both closed their eyes as the transfer began to take place. I watched in wonder as Aro's eyes fluttered at an impossible speed behind his lids; the sight never ceased to amaze me. The transfer took far longer than usual, but I suppose that was to be expected, with all the extra data that Edward had been carrying around for the past century. All at once, Aro's eyes flew open in amazement, and a smile of pure sunshine spread across his face.

"Alice," he breathed. Edward's eyes flew open as well, but in horror, and he tried to jerk his hand away. But Aro was deep in the transfer now, and his fingers were a stone vice around Edward's hand. Finally he sighed in awe and released Edward, who took two full steps back, his eyes on the floor. The whole thing had taken eight seconds; twice as long as any I had ever seen. And from one so young! My Master looked like he had entered heaven itself. He turned to Caius and Marcus.

"Our young friend is indeed in great pain, my brothers," he said. "We must certainly do all we can to help. Let us council."

"I don't have much time," Edward said, once again speaking out of turn.

"Because Carlisle would try to prevent your death?" Aro asked gently.

"Something like that."

"Yes, that is something we must also consider, my brothers. Carlisle Cullen has been a great friend of ours for these past three centuries; we must consider his feelings in the matter, as well. He must care deeply for his creation, wouldn't you agree, Demetri? You've seen them together."

"Yes, Master."

"Let us council," Aro repeated, his voice grand. "Demetri, please escort our poor friend outside, and bring him back in one hour. Three miles, if you please."

Edward stared down at the Three again, his gaze resting the longest on Marcus. His eyes made some silent plea, and then he followed me out of the room.

.

.

.

It was quicker to drive, even at night. Our peaceful city had a night life made all the more lively by its unique safety; this night was even more lively, what with the festivities tomorrow. I took him to a little outdoor café, thinking it was the sort of human pretense he might appreciate. If the Three denied his request, I doubted he would be able to return to his former life; he was an empty shell as it was. That left him with only one viable option, which of course had been the only one all along. If he was going to be joining us, it was likely his cloak would immediately be darker than mine. I would need to remember my manners.

"Don't bother," he murmured, hardly making the effort to speak. He was drowning deeper into his grief with each minute now; I could practically hear his body drying up as his distress burned away whatever little blood was left from his last hunt. He leaned back in the chair as if he was tired; weary, even. I supposed he was.

"I'm afraid there's not much time before we have to return," I said. "But if you are suffering, I'm sure we could find you someone to drink… or something," I added distastefully.

"I won't need to feed again," he said. And though he didn't speak the last word, it hung in the warm air between us: ever.

"I'm terribly curious, Edward," I said, "Have you still never tasted human blood?"

"Not lately," he replied, and left it at that. Then his eyebrows rose suddenly, and he glanced around the café, the street. He sat up straighter in his chair, and it seemed that some energy returned to him. Some idea was churning in his mind; but whatever it was, Aro would sort it out.

A college-age human girl approached us, her dark curls bouncing as she walked and a neat little black apron tied to her waist. I felt vulnerable suddenly; I wasn't used to this sort of interaction with humans, like Heidi or Chelsea. My cloak was back in the car, folded neatly on the back seat. I ran my hand uncomfortably over my bare throat, feeling exposed… feeling disconnected.

"What will you have?" she asked, her speech flowing like poetry. I preferred the precision of my native Greek, but Italian was a comforting sound, as always; fluid, and yet warm. I inhaled her scent, closing my eyes in satisfaction as she burned my throat; she smelled lovely. But she was forbidden; locals were always forbidden. I wondered, though, if she lived a few miles further out, whether that would qualify her as "local". I slowly lifted my eyes to hers and smiled, my gift inhaling the deeper flavor of her mind. I would be able to find her again, if I was out.

But then I remembered my companion, and his sensitivities. "My apologies," I murmured, before animating my face for the girl.

"Ah, yes! We'll have… oh, what is it you Americans like, Edward? We'll have two cappuccinos."

The girl left, walking backwards as she stared at me. Edward was miserable enough that she didn't give him a second glance. We sat in silence until she returned, setting down our drinks with a flourish. He waited until she was gone to speak.

"Aro doesn't want the responsibility of having given the order to kill me," he said quietly. "He was worrying what Carlisle would think. He was hoping you would take some initiative and do it yourself, while we're out. Then he could blame you, and Carlisle would understand it was sort of an accident... a miscommunication."

I laughed once, shaking my head. "Nice try." I picked up my coffee, warming my hands on the ceramic vessel.

"So, in other words, you're not willing to take the fall for your Master's sake? He must be overestimating your loyalty, then…"

My smile faded with my amusement; this was going too far. "I might have believed you if you had come up with it earlier," I said quietly as our waitress walked by again. She was watching me, and walking by more than she needed to. "But you really are a rotten liar."

A faint smirk pulled at one side of his mouth as he looked down at his coffee; the closest to a smile I had seen yet. "Hmm. I'm used to having more success than that."

I slammed down my cup, leaning back in my chair. "Well, really, Edward, that's because you're used to playing with humans all the time, isn't it? It's a miracle that you even found yourself a mate in the first place!"

His cup shattered in his hand, and the waitress ran back over to us. She blotted the table with a fluffy towel and offered paper ones to Edward, whose shirt was now drenched. He didn't even look up at her.

"Bella was human," he whispered, wincing as her name crossed his lips. His whole body was tensed now, his trembling hand curved as if it was still holding the cup.

Well, this was interesting. I hadn't even considered that particular downside to spending time with humans all day long. He must have killed her himself, one way or the other. No wonder he was so miserable- and no wonder he wasn't out avenging her death. I looked up, waiting for him to deny it.

He didn't.

"That is tragic," I admitted. I was almost beginning to feel sorry for him now. Judging by his lame attempt at tricking me into killing him, and by whatever other idea was glinting in his eyes a moment ago, he must not have much hope for the Three granting his request. I didn't either, based on what Aro had said about Carlisle. Edward Cullen would soon be in a color of cloak that I had been coveting for centuries, and he wasn't even capable of enjoying it. What a waste.

What was it like, losing your mate? Was it even possible that our kind could love a mortal like that? Was the death of this human girl really the life-ending blow that it would have been, had she been the right species? Edward's tragedy was the direct result of his foolish choice, but that made him no less pitiful. If only he had listened to me, all those years ago! I looked over at him, remembering that he could hear me right now, versus the way my Master heard. For what it's worth, Edward, I'm sorry things turned out this way for you. Really, I am. Though if you recall, I tried to tell you that Carlisle's path was the wrong one.

He nodded, still looking down at nothing.

I only hope that you can find some measure of peace here with us, if the Three decide not to end you. You will find Aro a generous and kind Master. I admit I was disdainful of your filial loyalty to Carlisle, but you may be surprised to learn how… I stopped, frowning at his suddenly peaceful expression.

"You are staying, aren't you?" I demanded aloud.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Good. I'm glad you're finally seeing things clearly, now that you've reached the end result of your stupidity. I just hope that when we return to the castle, you can muster the energy to show a little more respect for your betters.

I supposed it would fall to me to mentor him, now that Eleazar was gone. The gifted tended to stick together, with the notable exception of Chelsea and I. I would be generous, though. I felt somewhat responsible, having been the one sent to recruit him in the first place. I would make sure he was exposed to Chelsea's whatever-it-was, and perhaps some arrangements could be made for some time with Corin, as well. And I would complete his combat training myself, if Aro would permit it; Edward had been through enough, without being subjected to endless days and nights of Felix's bad jokes and hard knocks. I supposed he would spend more and more time at Aro's side, as time went on; I would try not to be jealous.

"That's very decent of you," Edward muttered. "Can we go now?"

"Soon," I said, checking my watch. I glanced around the café, ensuring that the humans were otherwise occupied as I flicked the contents of my cup across the pavement. "So, who's Alice?"

A growl finally rumbled to life from somewhere deep inside his frozen body; it seemed he still had someone to protect, after all. Well, he had certainly done a fine job of it so far. Really, what did he think would happen when he came before Aro? My Master had only been waiting eighty years to touch his hand!

"Well? Alice? There's no point in being shy now."

He shook his head and did one of those peculiar semi-laughs of his, glancing out at the street again. It appeared I would have to wait and find out the gossip the usual way. "Fine," I said, standing and tossing some cash onto the table. "Let's go."

"Enjoy the festival tomorrow!" our waitress called. I turned around and favored her with a promising smile, making her drop her tray. My cup shattered as it hit the pavement, its shards joining the ones under Edward's chair.

I drove around for another twenty minutes, careful to keep at least three miles away from the minds deciding Edward's fate. About halfway through the drive, my charge suddenly stirred to life again. "What festival?" he asked, peering out the window with abrupt interest. He seemed to just be noticing the decorations littering the streetlamps and storefronts.

"St. Marcus."

He seemed moderately interested, and so I kept talking. I described, briefly, the ironic history surrounding the holiday. My description ended abruptly as we pulled into the small garage attached to the lobby; Edward would probably disapprove of the fact that Heidi's buffet tomorrow was in fact timed to coincide with height of the human frivolities, around noon; our own little way of celebrating. Plus, having a boisterous crowd out in the square was always a bonus. Not that the screams of our prey had ever drawn attention, but it was still a comfort to have that extra layer of noise... but I should probably think about it later.

In any case, Edward didn't appear to be listening anymore. He got out of the car mechanically, his focus on the minds inside. I reached into the back seat and shook my cloak back out, sighing in relief as its familiar weight settled over my back, and across my throat. I felt right again.

Instead of using the covered walkway, I led Edward to the front door, breathing in a last whiff of the night air. It was odd; earlier today I had been buzzing with impatience to get outside the castle, to feel free. But now that I had spent an hour so far away from my Master, all I wanted was to return to him. I wasn't sure whether to hope that he would give Edward the kindness of agreeing to the execution, or whether he would choose to comfort him with a new home, a new life. It would be a longer process, but rewarding in the end, once Edward came to realize how fortunate he was. In either case, I hoped that he would have the presence of mind to at least attempt to feel some gratitude. Because in either case, Aro was taking on a great responsibility; in one, for Edward's death, in the other, for his life. Carlisle Cullen was officially out the picture, and good riddance.