An Endless Night: A Gay Retelling

by FlyingFree95

I would've thought I'd known what darkness was. I would've been so arrogant as to call myself an expert on the matter. But I was wrong. This-this was true darkness, a world plunged in the deepest shadows, the darkest of all abysses. Still, I had to swallow all fear, none of us were out of the woods just yet. In this room were the jaws of death, and they waited, eagerly, for us all.

24. Chapter Twenty-One: Evil

Well, everyone. Here is the big reveal. As mentioned in the original, "warning," that I posted on the first chapter, I'd already planned for Beau finding out who and what he was. I know some people may think it's a, "cop-out," but I hope that others enjoy the change as much as I do. If you like the revelation, how do you think it will impact the story going forward?

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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: EVIL

WE WERE IN A BRIGHTLY LIT, UNREMARKABLE HALLWAY. The walls were off-white, the floor carpeted in industrial gray. Common rectangular fluorescent lights were spaced evenly along the ceiling. It was warmer here, the air was stale and dry, and made my nose wrinkle. This hall seemed very benign after the gloom of the ghoulish stone sewers.

Edward didn't seem to agree with my assessment. His mind focussed on an ordinary wooden door that I did not recognized, but through it, was a room I knew well. A large, circular chamber, carved entirely in marble. Pillars stood tall and proud, carved with intricate details. In his thoughts I saw three men. Two with raven black hair, the other with snow-white. My eyes narrowed as I focused on the black-haired man that stood in the middle. His face as beautiful as all vampires, but colder, more reminiscent of Bela Lugosi's Dracula—he could've served as his inspiration. Edward glowered darkly down the long hallway, toward the slight, black shrouded figure at the end, standing by an elevator.

I focused my eyes on what was ahead of me, staggering by the fact that his mind was never closed to me. I saw everything that ran through his mind. It was never-ending. His mind was as opened to me as if it were loose book. I was not used to hearing someone else's thoughts so congruently. His mind was always running in a million different directions; it was impossible to keep up with every thought. Images of me, analyzing the minds off everyone around us, searching through the furred thoughts of Alice's mind. My head was being to ache.

He pulled me along, and Alice walked on my other side. The heavy door creaked shut behind us, and then there was the thud of a bolt sliding home.

Jane waited by the elevator, one hand holding the doors open for us. Her expression was apathetic.

Once inside the elevator, the four vampires that belonged to the Volturi relaxed further. They threw back their cloaks, letting the hoods fall back over their shoulders. Felix and Demetri were both of a slightly olive complexion—it looked odd combined with their chalky pallor. Felix's black hair was cropped short, but Demetri's waved to his shoulders. The female's hair was a light brown, almost dull. Her face was older than the others', like she'd been changed later on in life. I imagined that there should be wrinkles around her mouth and eyes, but could find none.

Their irises were deep crimson around the edges, darkening until they were black around the pupil. Under the shrouds, their clothes were modern, pale, and nondescript. I stood straight in the corner, cracking the bones in my neck, the fingers on my free hand twitched between open and closed. Adrenaline and malice together made a curious cocktail of bravery, or stupidity.

Edward. His hand still rubbed against my arm. He never took his eyes off Jane.

My stomach sank as I realized the reason. The young girl, who existed in an aura of superiority, had a sadistic talent. I forced my face to remained composed as I examined Edward's thoughts. The girl was able to physical impair anyone, with the most excruciating pain. With one look, she could make her victims crumbled down onto the floor, writhing in agony as they felt as if they were burning. Edward was thinking of the feeling, imagining a human tied to a stake atop a pyre, wailing as the flames licked away at their body. The pain alone would be enough to have mortal or immortal begging for death.

Another flash, this time a memory. I was disturbed by its clarity. I saw a flash of Carlisle's face, horrified and ashamed. The person looking up at him was screaming, the sound sent a shrill down my spine. Their body was thrashing around in a dark room, their thoughts consumed only by the pain as they believed themselves to be set ablaze. Edward's voice cried out in the memory.

Help me, he'd bellowed, his voice barely recognizable. Make it stop.

I wrapped the arm around his waist closer into me as I watched him imagine me in the cold room, thrashing along the stone floor, burning.

The elevator ride was short; we stepped out into what looked like a posh office reception area. I shook my head, focusing myself on maintaining my placid expression, though I knew my beating heart all but gave me away.

The walls were paneled in wood, the floors carpeted in thick, deep green. There were no windows, but large, brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung everywhere as replacements. Pale leather couches were arranged in cozy groupings, and the glossy tables held crystal vases full of vibrantly colored bouquets. The flowers' smell reminded me of a funeral home.

In the middle of the room was a high, polished mahogany counter. I gawked in astonishment at the woman behind it.

She was tall, with dark skin and green eyes. She would have been very pretty in any other company—but not here. Because she was every bit as human as I was. I couldn't comprehend what this human woman was doing here, totally at ease, surrounded by real vampires.

She smiled politely in welcome. "Good afternoon, Jane," she said in a thick accent. There was no surprise in her face as she glanced at Jane's company. Not Edward, his bare chest glinting dimly in the white lights, or even me, disheveled and comparatively hideous.

Jane nodded. "Gianna." She continued toward a set of double doors in the back of the room, and we followed.

As Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gianna, and she giggled. Only Edward had caught what he was thinking. And my stomach churned as the image flashed through my mind.

On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception. The pale boy in the charcoal gray suit could have been Jane's twin. His hair was darker, and his lips were not as full, but he was just as lovely.

He came forward to meet us. He smiled, reaching for her. "Jane."

"Alec," she responded, embracing the boy. They kissed each other's cheeks on both sides. Then he looked at us.

"Sister," he cooed in an impressive tone, "they send you out for one and you come back with two... and a half," he noted, looking at me. "Nicely done."

So they were siblings, even in the traditional sense.

She laughed—the sound sparkled with delight like a baby's cooing. My flesh covered over in goosebumps. "Welcome back, Edward," Alec greeted him. "You seem in a better mood."

Edward was as weary of him as Jane, he studied him, suspiciously.

"Marginally," Edward agreed in a flat voice. I glanced at Edward's hard face, and wondered what this boy could do that would command the same respect as his twin sister.

Alec chuckled, and examined me as I clung to Edward's side. "And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asked, skeptical.

Edward only smiled, his expression contemptuous, his thoughts murderous.

Then he froze.

"Dibs," Felix called casually from behind.

Edward turned, a low snarl building deep in his chest. Felix smiled—his hand was raised, palm up; he curled his fingers twice, inviting Edward forward.

"Back off," I seethed between my teeth, leaning in closer to the hulking vampire.

Edward's internal monoluge groan.

Felix's eyes fell upon me, one side of his mouth curving upward. His thoughts entered my head at the same time as they had Edward's.

Feisty, he appraised. Even more fun.

Alice touched Edward's arm. "Patience," she cautioned him.

They exchanged a long glance. Alice shared with him what she saw unfolding. The three of us would be escorted into the marble chamber, where Aro would be waiting for us. He would greet us, as if we were old friends, exclaiming our names with joy. He would have Felix fetch his brothers. Alice saw them coming in, and the other black-haired man would brisk Aro's hand. Aro would look at me, and then Edward, where he would marvel at us…

Alice was careful about the rest of her thoughts, purposely clouding them as Edward listened. She saw that he would want to argue, but assured him that he only needed to be careful, to not cause anymore of a scene than he already had. That was crucial, for each of us. But I wished she would have elaborated, would not have concealed the thoughts she'd worried about. I needed to know what came next.

Edward took a deep breath and turned back to Alec.

"Aro will be so pleased to see you again," Alec said, as if nothing had passed.

"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane suggested. Edward nodded once.

Alec and Jane, holding hands, led the way down yet another wide, ornate hall—would there ever be an end?

They ignored the doors at the end of the hall—doors entirely sheathed in gold—stopping halfway down the hall and sliding aside a piece of the paneling to expose the same plain wooden door that Edward had though of earlier. It wasn't locked. Alec held it open for Jane.

I wanted to groan when Edward pulled me through to the other side of the door. It was the same ancient stone as the square, the alley, and the sewers. And it was dark and cold again.

The stone antechamber was not large. It opened quickly into a brighter, cavernous room, perfectly round like a huge castle turret...which was probably exactly what it was. It was the same room I had seen before, exactly as cold and desolate. My heart raced as I awaited the cold, maniacal laughter that would echo throughout.

Three stories up, long window slits threw thin rectangles of bright sunlight onto the stone floor below. There were no artificial lights. The only furniture in the room were several massive gold encrusted thrones, with intricate carvings that adorned the legs and arm rests, large crest-like shapes towered above each of them, that were spaced unevenly, flush with the curving stone walls. In the very center of the circle, in a slight depression, was another drain. I wondered if they used it as an exit, like the hole in the street, though a sickening feeling told me otherwise.

The room was not empty. A handful of people were convened in seemingly relaxed conversation. The murmur of low, smooth voices was a gentle hum in the air. As I watched, a pair of pale women in summer dresses paused in a patch of light, and, like prisms, their skin threw the light in rainbow sparkles against the sienna walls.

My breath caught in my throat the further that I strode into the marble chamber. The air was thick with malevolence, I could almost taste it, feel it on my skin. My hands gripped more tightly around Edward's arm as we traipsed towards the center. As I observed, in detail, the cold room that I had seen in my vision, I understood now why Alice and Edward had been so afraid of us coming here. I would've thought I'd known what darkness was. I would've been so arrogant as to call myself an expert on the matter. But I was wrong. This—this was true darkness, a world plunged in the deepest of shadows, the darkest of all abysses. Still, I had to swallow all fear, none of us were out of the woods just yet. In this room were the jaws of death, and they waited eagerly, for us all.

In this room, was evil, in its purest form.

The exquisite faces all turned toward our party as we entered the room. Most of the immortals were dressed in inconspicuous pants and shirts—things that wouldn't stick out at all on the streets below. But the man who spoke first wore one of the long robes. It was pitch-black, and brushed against the floor. For a moment, I thought his long, jet-black hair was the hood of his cloak. Instantly I knew who he was. And my eyes set coldly upon his face. His strange eyes locked on mine. And Edward immediately stiffened. I paused for a moment, the blood chilled in my veins as I watched through Edward's head as Aro inhaled the air around him.

Edward saw my scent coursing through Aro's airways, his reaction was puzzling. It wasn't that he thirsted for it, rather that he was troubled by it. Aro's thoughts vanished in a haze of unclarity, purposely. Edward ran through the possibilities for why Aro had reacted the way he had, why he was concealing his thoughts as he continued to watch me, concluding on the fear that my blood would be too tempting. Edward's body pulled ahead of mine, slightly. Braced to protect.

"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" Aro cried in evident delight. His thoughts suddenly light; gleeful even. His voice was just a soft sighing.

He drifted forward, and the movement flowed with such surreal grace that I nearly gawked as he glided towards the sadistic girl, it took a great deal of force to keep my mouth from hanging open. Even Alice, whose every motion looked like dancing, could not compare.

I was only more astonished as he floated closer and I could see his face. I had not been able to appreciate its uniqueness in the visions I'd seen him in. It was not like the unnaturally attractive faces that surrounded him (for he did not approach us alone; the entire group converged around him, some following, and some walking ahead of him with the alert manner of bodyguards). I couldn't decide if his face was beautiful or not.

I suppose the features were perfect. But he was as different from the vampires beside him as they were from me. His skin was translucently white, like onionskin, and it looked just as delicate—it stood in shocking contrast to the long black hair that framed his face. I felt a strange, horrifying urge to touch his cheek, to see if it was softer than Edward's or Alice's, or if it was powdery, like chalk. His eyes were red, the same as the others around him, but the color was clouded, milky; I wondered if his vision was affected by the haze.

Edward's anxious thoughts sang in the background of my mind as the strange vampire flowed closer towards us, but I pushed them to the back of my mind, barely listening as I watched him.

He glided to Jane, took her face in his papery hands, kissing her lightly on her full lips, and then floated back a step. I couldn't help but cringe as the obscene display of affection. Twisted as she was, she was still just a child.

"Yes, Master." Jane smiled; the expression made her look like an angelic child. "I brought him back alive, just as you wished."

"Ah, Jane." He smiled, too. "You are such a comfort to me."

He turned his misty eyes toward us, and the smile brightened—became ecstatic. Edward's thoughts grew darker, louder, it was more challenging to ignore them.

"And Alice and Beau, too!" he rejoiced, clapping his thin hands together. "My, this is a happy surprise! Wonderful!" I'd already known to expect his informal tone as he spoke, but still felt uneasy as he said my name aloud. His eyes lingered at my face, and the faintest of smiles crossed his lips.

Edward's eyes glanced towards me and then back at him. He positioned himself closer into me. I shuddered when I realized that it was him seeking my comfort. He was just as terrified.

I thought that I would vomit.

He turned to our hulking escort, relaying to him what I already knew he'd ask.. "Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes, Master." Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.

"You see, Edward?" The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond but scolding grandfather. "What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"

Edward briefly thought back to the moment that Aro had denied his request in killing him. My eyes closed as the memory played over.

"Yes, Aro, I am," he agreed, tightening his arm around my waist; he held me as if I were his tether to this world, his only strength.

"I love a happy ending." Aro sighed as he stared at the two of us. "They are so rare." His scarlet eyes gleamed at me. I listened closely as Edward read his thoughts. He was fascinated. Edward saw his amazement at they way we clung together.

Socios Anima, his voice nearly purred.

Soulmates, Edward translated in his head.

Aro's eyes moved wildly between Edward and I. "But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?" He turned to gaze at Alice with curious, misty eyes. "Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."

"Oh, I'm far from infallible." She flashed a dazzling smile. She looked perfectly at ease, except that her hands were balled into tight little fists. She loathed speaking with him. Edward read her mind. She saw the same darkness within him as I already had.

"As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them."

"You are too modest," Aro chided, not seeing her unease, or rather ignoring it all together. "I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!"

Alice flickered a glance at Edward. She saw the answer to her question before she could ask it.

Aro did not miss it.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not."

Aro shook his head; his tone was envious.

"And also exponentially more powerful," Edward added dryly, only for my benefit. He looked at Alice as he swiftly explained; it was a misdirect on his end. Alice already knew the reason, but he wanted to make sure that Aro only thought he was explaining to her, rather than me. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had."

Alice raised her delicate eyebrows, seeing the reason behind Edward's choice. And Edward inclined his head.

Alice, what is going on? What are you hiding?

Alice concealed her reasoning. Focusing on translating a fairytale in a language that I understood to be French into a language that sounded more like gibberish to me.

Aro didn't miss that either.

"But to be able to hear from a distance..." Aro sighed, gesturing toward the two of them, and the exchange that had just taken place.

"That would be so convenient."

Aro looked over our shoulders. All the other heads turned in the same direction, including Jane, Alec, and Demetri, who stood silently beside us.

I was the slowest to turn, even as I followed Edward's train of thought. He grimaced at the arrival of the rest of the party.

Felix was back, and behind him floated two more black-robed men. I knew each of them immediately. They looked, very much like Aro, in that their skin was translucent, tissue paper-thin. The one had nearly the same length black hair, the other with piercing white—that brushed against his shoulders.

The trio from Carlisle's painting was complete, unchanged by the last three hundred years since it was painted. Aro, Caius and Marcus. The nighttime patrons of the arts. Devils in disguised.

"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro crooned. "Beau is alive after all, and Alice is here with him! Isn't that wonderful?"

Neither of the other two looked as if wonderful would be their first choice of words. The dark-haired man, who wore around him a shroud of perpetual grief, seemed only minusculely intrigued as he glanced between Edward and I. Though, when he looked away his face fell; he'd seen too many millennia of Aro's enthusiasm. The other's face was sour under the snowy hair.

Must we entertain this, he thought bitterly as he continued to glide along. Edward was fighting back a snarl.

Their lack of interest did not curb Aro's enjoyment.

"Let us have the story," Aro almost sang in his feathery voice.

The white-haired ancient vampire drifted further away, gliding toward one of the golden thrones. The other, just as Alice had seen, paused beside Aro, and he reached his hand out, at first I thought to take Aro's hand. But he just touched Aro's palm briefly and then dropped his hand to his side. Aro raised one black brow. I wondered how his papery skin did not crumple in the effort.

Soulmates indeed. How precarious.

Edward snorted very quietly, and Alice looked at him, curious.

"Thank you, Marcus," Aro said. "That's quite interesting," Aro announced to his brother as he continued to gaze towards Edward and I. He marveled at us again, his thoughts traipsed towards how Edward and I clung to one another. Edward couldn't help but think back of Aro's talent. He relooked over all the memories he'd seen of me, each memory Edward had unwittingly shared.

His mind moved nearly as fast as Edward's had, so fast that I had a difficult time even catching a glimpses of all the images that past through his head. There were memories that I had never even known of—the first time that Edward had snuck into my room, the meeting between him and his family where he first learned that he was falling in love with me—when he'd learned that he way gay. Countless evenings where I had clung to his body as I slept, holding him to me, unbothered by his icy chill—my face smiling, happy, content. Edward gleamed in each of these memories, smiling so bright that it was blinding.

A crueler memory flashed in Aro's mind, I saw through Edward's. It was a vision that I recognized, but I was confused as to why Edward had seen it.

I was walking towards him, both of my parents guiding me forward—I was dressed in a glorious white and ivory suite, with a light lavender tie, my hair spun into intricate waves that flowed along the back of my head. My smile was radiate, my mocha eyes glazed over in wonder and fascination. An even hazier vision, with a fog that clouded over the image in an impenetrable haze. Aro and Edward tried to peer through the mist, just as Alice had when the unknown future had played over in her head—searching for the answer that was beyond either of them. And while they struggled, astonishingly, bitterly to see, I realized with awed fascination that only I was able to see past smog.

Edward smiling down at a black-haired child, four or five years of age. The child basking in loving glory as he clung to Edward. Edward smiling down, happier than I'd ever seen him, as his topaz eyes stared into the hidden face.

Daddy will be fine, you'll see. He'll be like us, soon…No, he'll still love you all the same…Daddy's fine, you'll be his first thought…No, Papa isn't going to let that happen…our Alexander….

I'd seen that each of those visions only once, for a moment, back when I was laying in my hospital bed after I'd survived James' attack. It had passed through my head so quickly; mixed with the drugs and and fuzzy conversation with my parents, I thought it was only a beautiful mirage constructed by my subconscious. But as I watched the faded memory flash in Aro's mind as Edward gazed into it, I glanced towards Alice.

She'd seen them, only not as clearly as I could, even now as I could only view them through the memories that coursed through Edward's mind. The last one, hidden entirely from all three.

My teeth bit down hard on my tongue.

Aro's focused shifted again as he marveled at the emotions that Marcus' touch had bestowed upon him.

Marcus' interest returned for only a moment as he shared with Aro what he had sensed, before returning to a look of boredom. He glided away from Aro to join the one who must be Caius, seated against the wall. Two of the attending vampires followed silently behind him—bodyguards, like I'd thought before. I could see that the two women in the sundresses had gone to stand beside Caius in the same manner. The idea of any vampire needing a guard was faintly ridiculous to me, but maybe the ancient ones were as frail as their skin suggested.

Edward's head continued to swim with the memories he'd shared with Aro. Confused why Aro continued to cloud his thoughts as he thought of me. There was an underlying notion beneath the cloud, a horrified amazement that flickered from within.

Aro was shaking his head. "Amazing,"' he said. "Absolutely amazing."

Alice's expression was frustrated, not understanding the visions that swam through her head. She was trying to see past each moment, I realized as Edward listened. But the possibilities were too loose, too dependent on our actions, and those of the other vampires that entrapped us. She was also frustrated at her lack of understanding, not knowing what had caused Aro's wonder and hesitation.

Edward turned to her and explained again in a swift, low voice. "Marcus sees relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of Beau and I's."

Aro smiled. "So convenient," he repeated to himself. Then he spoke to us. "It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you."

I looked at Marcus's dead face, and I believed that.

"It's just so difficult to understand, even now," Aro mused, watching through the thousands of memories, staring at Edward's arm wrapped around me. It was hard for me to follow Aro's chaotic train of thought. I struggled to keep up. "How can you stand so close to him like that?"

"It used to take a great deal of effort," Edward answered calmly. "But now his blood is nothing but a hum."

"But still—la tua cantante ! What a waste!"

My blood's lure to Edward sang through Aro's mind. Edward chuckled once without humor. "I don't look at it that way, not anymore," Edward spat. "His existence is all that matters. I'd suffer anything for him."

Aro was skeptical. "Even such a very high price."

"There's no cost," Edward sneered. "He's all that matters. No part of me would ever hurt him. I love him. More than anything." His thoughts betrayed no semblance of a lie.

My fingers clutched at his arms as he spoke, gripping him closer to me, retaining the feeling of his skin to memory.

Aro laughed. "If I hadn't smelled him through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong." His brief thought betrayed him. He remembered the precise moment the scene of my blood wafted into him. The cold memory., the notion of trepidation. He didn't want to give up this information, but he was helpless. There was something about my blood that worried him, something that made him remember a time long ago, when he was new to the world of vampirism. A reluctant, awed marvleisation.

He forced his focus to shift back to how my blood had sung to Edward, how the scent had been like a drug to him. "I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift, and yet you..."

"Squander it," Edward finished, his voice sarcastic now. "His life means more to me than my own. He. Is. Everything," Edward seethed between his bared teeth, clinging to me more tightly, my bones cracked against his grip.

Aro laughed again. "Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of him—only he was not so angry."

"My father outshines me in many other ways as well."

"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame."

Aro remembered Carlisle's devotion to his cause, perplexed by his vision of a different way of life.

"Hardly." Edward, threw at Aro, his mind imagining all the ways he'd intended to kill me on that first day, but fought against, sounding impatient. I saw that he was tired of the preliminaries. He waited for the moments to come, peering into Aro's curious mind. Listening desperately at Alice's attempts to see what would come next.

It made me more afraid.

"I am gratified by his success," Aro mused. "Your memories of him are quite a gift for me, though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it... pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path he's chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd scoffed at his plan to find others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, I'm happy to be wrong."

Aro's thoughts did not waver from what he said. He was, indeed, fascinated by Carlisle's success. He'd never imagined that he'd have created a family, made of individuals who struggled, but agreed with his morals and outlook on life. Memories that should not be mine rampaged through my head. Several members of the Cullen family being born into their new life, each accepting Carlisle's unorthodox way of life, embracing him as husband and father, even Jasper…who struggled beyond the rest.

They loved him, beyond the measures that even I was capable of in loving my father and my mother. Aro was bemused by this, amazed and jealous of Carlisle's success.

Edward didn't reply.

"But your restraint!" Aro sighed, as he recalled the ways that my blood called towards Edward like the song of a haunting mermaid. "I did not know such strength was possible. To endure yourself against such a siren's call, not just once but time and time again—if I had not felt it myself, I would not have believed."

Edward gazed back at Aro's admiration with no expression, watching as he relived every moment of Edward's struggle. His face, so impassive, was a Herculean act. Edward was forced to watch ever memory unfold as I was, I knew his face well enough—time had not changed that—to guess at something seething beneath the surface. I fought to keep my breathing even.

"Just remembering how he appeals to you..." Aro chuckled. "It makes me thirsty." Edward tensed.

"Don't be disturbed," Aro reassured him. "I mean him no harm. But I am so curious, about one thing in particular." He eyed me with bright interest. "May I?" he asked eagerly, lifting one hand.

He was hesitant, but wanted to see if I eluded him as I did Edward. Edward was appalled that Aro would as him, before asking my permission, as if Edward was my owner.

"Ask him," Edward suggested in a flat voice.

"Of course, how rude of me!" Aro exclaimed. "Beau," he addressed me directly now. "I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent—so very interesting that such a thing should occur!" The hint of reluctance returned. A notion that Aro already suspect hummed in the back of his head, carefully concealed from reveling its true intention from Edward. "And I was wondering, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try—to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"

My eyes flashed down to Edward's face in hesitation. Despite Aro's overt politeness, I didn't believe I really had a choice. I was horrified at the thought of allowing him to touch me, and yet also perversely intrigued by the chance to feel his strange skin.

Please, please work, Edward thought as he recalled what Alice had told him earlier, about Aro wanting me. Please be able to see..

Edward nodded in encouragement—knowing what I had already suspected, that Aro's request was not an ask—but a demand.

I turned my head back to Aro and raised my hand slowly in front of me. It was trembling.

He glided closer, and I believe he meant his expression to be reassuring, my own thoughts too loud and frantic to focus on what Edward's were. Aro's papery features were too strange, too alien and frightening, to reassure. The look on his face was more confident than his words had been.

Aro reached out, as if to shake my hand, and pressed his insubstantial-looking skin against mine. It was hard, but felt brittle—shale rather than granite—and even colder than I expected.

His filmy eyes smiled up at mine, and it was impossible to look away. They were mesmerizing in an odd, in an unpleasant sort of way.

And then I knew what would happen, as Edward focused on Alice's vision. My breath caught in my throat. Aro's face altered as I watched. The confidence wavered and became first doubt, then incredulity before he calmed it into a friendly mask. Nothing. He saw nothing.

"So very interesting," he said as he released my hand and drifted back.
My eyes flickered to Edward, and, though his face was composed, I did not need to look into his mind to know that he was gravely concerned.

Aro continued to drift with a thoughtful expression. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering between the three of us. Then, abruptly, he shook his head.

"A first," he said to himself, "in a very, very long time." Without thinking an image of a woman, both ancient and timeless, adorned in such fine, sapphire silk, that clung to her like a second over her ivory skin, with deep mahogany hair that fell to her waist in soft waves, flashed into his head. The imagine was gone as soon as it came. So quick that I was not sure if I'd truly seen the image as clearly as it had been. And now, he thought only of me. "I wonder if he is immune to our other talents…" His thoughts turned cold as he turned to gaze at the pale blonde child. "Jane, dear?" His thoughts clear.

"No!" Edward snarled the word. Alice grabbed his arm with a restraining hand. He shook her off. Little Jane smiled up happily at Aro.

"Yes, Master?" she smiled, only awaiting the official order. Alice saw what Aro would ask. The burning memory Edward had remembered before we were brought here rammed into me.

Edward was truly snarling now, the sound ripping and tearing from him, glaring at Aro with baleful eyes. The room had gone still, everyone watching him with amazed disbelief, as if he were committing some embarrassing social faux pas. I saw Felix grin hopefully and move a step forward. Aro glanced at him once, and he froze in place, his grin turning to a sulky expression.

Then he spoke to Jane, I already knew what he would ask. And I braced myself, as best as I could. "I was wondering, my dear one, if Beau is immune to you."

I could barely hear Aro over Edward's furious growls. He let go of me, moving to hide me from their view. Caius ghosted in our direction, with his entourage, to watch.

Jane turned toward us with a beatific smile.

"Don't!" Alice cried as Edward launched himself at the little girl.

"Pain," she said lightly. Before I could react, before anyone could jump between them, before Aro's bodyguards could tense, Edward was on the ground.

No one had touched him, but he was on the stone floor writhing in obvious agony, while I stared in horror. Edward could not think of anything other than the fire that was ravaging his entire body. The invisible flames licked away, gleefully, over each inch of him.

Jane was smiling wider at him now, and I remembered Edward's thoughts from earlier. She was burning him.

Alice was staring down at her brother, her mouth hanging opened from a horrific scream that made so sound. Demetri had appeared out of nowhere, grabbing one of her arms to prevent her from interfering.

No one had thought it worth to grab me.

I flung myself down beside Edward, who was writhing in excruciating agony. His arms were tensed at his sides, his back arched from off the stone, his legs convoluting slightly, as if the muscle underneath them were sizzling. I placed my hands over his chest, then over his face, failing in my attempts to sooth him. My head snapped over towards the wicked child, my vision clouded over in a red haze, my hate so potent that I could physically taste it.

"Stop!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs, my voice an echoing boom throughout the chamber. But Edward continued the writhe. Jane's smile spread wider over her face, her eyes dark with sadistic glee.

"Stop it," I howled again—glaring at the girl. "Stop it you little, witch!"

"Jane," Aro recalled her in a tranquil voice. She looked up quickly, still smiling with pleasure, her eyes questioning. As soon as Jane looked away, Edward was still.

"Master?"

I felt Edward's chest rise and fall rapidly, almost as though he needed to catch his breath. The burning lingered throughout his mind and body. And while he was still, the memory of the fire continued to consume most of his thoughts, except for when they returned to me.

Not him, please, don't let it work on him.

A swift movement caught my eye, and I tore my horror-stricken face from Edward to follow it.

Aro inclined his head toward me.

Jane turned her malevolent smile in my direction.

Felix sprang towards Edward and I. He hoisted Edward up from off the ground, glaring and hissing at him as Edward struggled to escape. His arms flared towards me, desperate to reach me. Felix snarled against Edward's attempts of escape. He wrapped Edward in each of his gargantuan arms, bracing him tightly against his chest, locking him into place. My eyes found Edward's again. They swam with the same fear and panic that swum in his head.

No, no, please, no.

"This may hurt, just a little," the sinister child chirped blissfully. I turned my attention to her once more, and rose to my feet. My eyes locked on her face; the same red haze from before had returned. The malice I felt towards this child was surreal. As I glared into her cold red-eyes, I braced myself for the pain. My lips curled over my clenched teeth, my body trembling with anticipation and rage.

Jane smiled again, almost amused. Edward's fear was the only thing that I could hear above my racing heart.

Until the shrilling screams filled each inch of the chamber in a blanket of anguish.

The cries were piercing, spine trembling. It was the sound of someone being tormented into madness. The screaming filled my ears, blocked every thought, even my own, as I listened.

It was not my screaming that echoed throughout the marble chamber. It was Jane's.

Her body laid crumbled on the stone floor, writhing viciously, contorting to and fro as her cherubic face twisted in unspeakable pain. Her brother was beside her at once. His arms wrapped around her, trying to comfort her. His face was wild as he scanned the room for the source of her suffering, until finally landing on me. His hissed. And then my eyes looked away from Jane's flailing body to stare at him.

The moment that I was no longer glaring at Jane, was the precise moment that her screaming ceased. She panted in Alec's arms, just as Edward had. Her eyes wheeled around in their sockets, bewildered and horrified.

Edward's voice cried out. "No, Beau!"

"Seize him," a voice call out. Caius had risen to his feet. His arm was hoisted up at his side, a long, stone-white finger, similar to the leg of a large spider, pointed at me.

As I glanced around me, the world slowed to a near standstill. I saw Edward and Alice, each locked in the arms of their captures, still struggling to break free. They each stared at me, terrified and grief-stricken. Felix smiled down as he tightened his hold on Edward, enjoying the sorrow that had crashed down on him. I felt my head spin a fraction of an inch as I caught more flickers of movement shuttling from the corner of my eye. More guards were beginning to approach me, from all sides. My body turned as I watched their every movement. Their steps were still graceful, even as they seemed to drag forward. I watched for a moment, as their gray cloaks billowed around the arms and legs that were underneath. From how the wind flowed through the thick fabric, my mind registered that each of them were approaching faster than they appeared to move.

I looked over my left shoulder. One of the guards that had been positioned next to Caius was charging forward. Over the shadow casted by the raised hood, I could see the pale lips pulled over the guard's sharp, and glistening bared teeth. My right arm raised from where it had laid flat against my side. It flowed over my chest, gently as it would have when submerged in the sea, then flung forward away from me.

I caught the precise moment that the invisible force railed into the body of the approaching vampire. His eyes glanced down towards his chest, as if expecting to find some physical explanation for the impact that his mind had only just registered. As his feet gradually billowed out from beneath him, his expression continued to shift. Perplexed then horrified. His arms and legs continued to rise out in front of him as his chest concaved against the pressure of the force that rocketed into him. His body sailed back to where he had been standing moments before; his dark cloak twirling and slapping against him. Caius' milky-red eyes slowly widened as he watched the events that were transpiring before him. They followed the terjection of the guard as he continued to move further beyond.

The vampire's body halted only once it had lurched into the marble wall that stood behind the massive thrones. I felt the vibrations of the crash before my eyes could begin to register the destruction. The wall cracked and begrudgingly opened as the vampire's body fell deeper into it. Chunks of stone, of all sizes, flung outward, first flying, then rolling as they scattered around our feet. Further fissures jetted up and around the guard his fall finally settled. They jutted higher, soaring just past the small, slitted windows. Small pieces of marble rained down along with plums of dust.

My head turned again as another guard grew close to approaching. It was the female from before. Her dusty hair soared out from her hood like thin wisps of dying wheat. I felt myself snarl at her as my other arm moved in a direction, similar to when I'd slapped Paul. Her awed-terror was just as similar as the other guard's had been as she felt herself moving backwards. As she was hurled further and further away, with her arms spread out on either side, she knocked into another trio of vampires. They crumbled onto the marble floor, scurrying about as they slid in opposite directions.

The female vampire crashed into one of the stone pillars that stood beside the entrance way. The groaning stone rattled as she plowed through the thick structure. The pillar crumbled in on itself. Large pieces of carved cracked and broke away from the base and corinthian capital, falling onto the vampire's body. I felt the vibrations of the destruction dance along my body the rumble toppled all around. Fissures continued to creek and crawl along the stone walls, shaking us from where we stood.

"Alec," a high voice pang. Aro had diverted his attention from me, and towards the other twin, still clinging to his sister. Alec did not wait for further instructions, interpreting the meaning behind Aro's call. He raised his small hand forward, and from his palm sprung a thick black haze.

"Beau," a beautiful voice shot out from somewhere behind me, it's honey sound marred by suffering and fear.

The ebony haze slithered like a serpent towards me, with a consciousness that drew life from its creator. I watched as the black fog spread in a wide ring around my feet, circling me just as a shark would its wounded prey. My eyes fixated on the darkness that entrapped me, gazing down at the strange smoke, thicker, blacker than what should be able to exist. As I stared down there was a part of my mind that struggled to comprehend all that I had done, that rationed that I should fear the fog above all else, but another part that beckoned me to call for it.

Without understanding, I opened my hands as wide as they'd go while my arms were still held at either side. The band of fog broke apart and shot up in two strands of darkness past my hands as they crawled up the length of each arm. They danced and twirled around, still so similar to the movements of a python or anaconda. But I did not feel their power constrict upon my body; they danced as though they awaited an order, a desire to act upon, one of my creation.

While the world around me still moved along sluggishly, I found time to catch the gaze of everyone in the room. The guards stood around me, their mouths hanging open, their red eyes wide in disbelief. Alec and Jane glared at me, almost as if in doing so they would find the answer to kill me. Alec's teeth bit down on his bottom lip as he waited for an unknown resolve to the predicament I had created. Caius was still standing, his face appeared to be disgusted, his nose scrunched as though a rotten smell had suddenly plagued him.

Marcus' eyes were glazed over in wonder, his mouth opened ever so slightly, his hands clutching the arms of the throne he sat in. Aro was grinning, greedily. His hands slowly rose and joined together just over the center of his chest, twisting over one another. His eyes were cold.

I looked at each face of evil as they in turned glared at me. Demetri and Felix still locked Alice and Edward in their constricted embrace, but their faces just as perplexed as the rest of their fellow soldiers.

Alice, her wide eyes seemed nearly as entranced as Marcus' had been. She watched me in awe as my head continued to turn, as the darkness refused to take me.

Edward. I spared a moment more to stare at his face. His was unlike any of the others had been. I saw, one corner of his lips twitch upward into a smug, crooked smile. His head shook infinitesimally as his smile grew. His hands fell from where they'd been clenched onto Felix's arm, and fell limply to his sides. Through his black eyes I saw only marveled devotion and bewitchment.

I tore my gaze away from his, focusing back on Aro. His sickening smile still spread across his horrifying face. The blackness that twirled around my arms flickers, like embers from a fire, to like as I glared up at him. The black fog understood my resolve before I had fully comprehend my next move. They uncoiled back down the length of my arms, swirling into insidiously dark spheres that hovered just above my palms.

With my eyes still glued onto Aro's face, I rose each arm out, like the wings of raven, at each side. With a mere thrust the onyx orbs torpedoed from my palms, breaking into smaller spheres as they broke away and flew towards the faces of everyone, save for Edward, Alice, Marcus, Caius and Aro. I watched from the corner of my eyes as the balls of black fog seeped into the noses of everyone I had intended them for. Jane and Alec were the first to fall limply on top of the other as the darkness raged on within them. Simultaneously, all the other vampire's stumbled, clumsily, as they each fell to their knees. Their eyes were coated entirely in swirling darkness. Their mouths hanged limply open, and their arms swayed as their bodies settled.

Edward and Alice were by my sides the moment that the dark fate had befallen each of their captors. Edward yanked me into the safety of his arms, clinging to me so tightly that it was difficult to breathe. His intoxicating scent flowed into my nose and mouth, and time ceased to slow, returning to how it had been before.

A high, chilling laugh echoed throughout the damaged chamber. Aro's hands slowly clapped together as he descended from his perched throne, gliding closer towards us.

"Young Beaufort," he sang, his voice tinted as thickly with wonder and greed as I'd remembered. I ignored the urge to cling to Edward's arms as he continued his approach. "it is an honor to finally meet you," his voice continued. "The real you."

Edward snarled as he drew closer, his arms outstretched. "No, get away from him," he nearly bellowed in my ear.

Aro simply ignored him. "I had hoped that, Edward was," he trailed off, staring at me, the memory of the ancient woman flashed back into his head as he inhaled my scent. Edward snarled again. This time my hands did reach to clutch his arm, but only to reassure him.

Aro sighed contently. "Misinformed. You are, the rarest among us," he finished as he completed circling the three of us. My eyes followed him wherever he went, glancing only momentarily towards the guards, to ensure they still remained motionless in their stupor. Aro gazed up at me, his strange eyes plastered with a lust that did not desire my body or blood, but rather what I seemingly was.

He chuckled as he smiled, shaking his head. "Truly, until I had seen you in Edward's thoughts, I had thought your kind were extinct."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded as he turned his back towards us, walking closer to his brothers.

He turned. His thoughts were purposely clouded, evading Edward as he searched desperately for clues of his own. Aro sighed, his smile remained as he turned back to face us.

"What do you know of your family, Beau?" he asked simply, his voice conversational.

My eyes narrowed at him. Instantly I knew that he was already aware of my ancestor, Alexander, who had known the Cullens back when they'd first moved to Forks. The man that flashed into Edward's memories was just as tall as I was now. His hair was so dark that it were nearly black. I held back a gasp as I saw pieces of myself in this man. His skin was the same shade of ivory, his eyes the same mocha brown as my mother and mine were now—how my grandfather's had been.

He was laughing with Carlisle as the strolled down a simple street. His voice was heavier than mine, but I heard the same chime ringing in his laugh, so much like a cackle, as I'd always heard in mine.

My eyes refused on Aro, who waited with a pleasant look upon his face.

"Nothing much," I lied successfully through my teeth, ignoring the memory that continued to play out in Edward's head. Aro stared at me, unbelieving.

"Surely, you know some things," he bluffed confidently.

"No," I restated. "My parents were both only children. My father's parents each died while I was still very young. My mother's parents died before I was born."

"And your father's surname is Swan, is that correct?" Aro asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes," I spat.

"And your mother," he asked, his head tilted. "What was her maiden name?"

"Bishop," I responded immediately, without understanding.

Aro's smile grew. His thoughts still purposely deflective.

"Bishop," he repeated in a tone of reverence. He began pacing back and forth from where he was standing, his clasped together over his waist. "How long as your family been in Forks, Beau?"

I felt my brows furrow at the question. "Why?"

"Just…tell me," he nearly begged.

"Awhile," I answered. "I think since its official founding."

Aro nodded his head, his onyx hair shaking in oily waves at the movement. "Let us say, the late eighteen-hundreds," Aro offered.

I shrugged.

"What else do you know of your family, Beau. About the Bishops?"

I felt my shoulders rise and fall at the question. Edward's grip grew tighter around me, his thoughts disturbed by Aro's purposeful concealment.

"Come now, Beau," Aro chided. "Surely you most know something?"

My eyes narrowed even further as I continued to stare at the strange, ancient immortal. Like Edward, I could make no sense of his questioning.

"Anything," Aro urged.

I huffed. My mind traveled back to a third-grade project I'd had, needing to construct a family tree. I'd been ashamed of the five people display on the large poster board with thick, black lines. Only my father's parents, my father, my mother, and myself had been attached. I remembered my father calling my mother, telling her that I'd needed help with schoolwork.

At first, she'd been estaticed to help me, until I'd told her what the project was for. I remembered her voice softening, thick was false forgetfulness.

There's not much to tell, Sweetie, she'd said over the phone. It was just your grandparent and me. My grandparents were gone by the time I was old enough to remember them.

Isn't there anything more, Mama, I'd begged on the other end of the call.

I could remember my mother sighing. My side of the family has lived in Forks for a long time. They came here from…

"New England," I blurted out, remembering. My eyes focusing again on Aro, who looked more pleased. "My mother's family originally settled in New England. In the mid seventeenth-century."

I felt Edward's body shudder, his mind a dark haze.

Aro moved forward again. "The mid seventeenth-century," he repeated. "Where in New England?"

My eyes blinked rapidly as I tried to recall each detail from that call with my mother. I could only remember her reluctance in answering, recalling now how strange it was.

Her only response rang through my head.

"Massachusetts," I whispered.

Aro laughed again. "Yes, Massachusetts…such a strange land, so rich with mysteries and legends, histories nearly as dark as ours," he said, gesturing towards his brothers. Aro began pacing again, but only for theatrical reasons. Edward was able to peek into a few of Aro's hidden thoughts. My face, my great-grandfather's face…the face of that strange woman who repeatedly appeared in his head. All somehow…similar. My breathing became staggered as I watched the dark immortal pace back and fourth, smiling, laughing to himself.

"So your family," he began, "settled in Massachusetts upon their arrival to the New World, and found themselves, near two-hundred years later in the small farming settlement that would become the town you know today?"

Lines formed in creases along the length of my forehead as I pondered the meaning behind Aro's assessment. "I…suppose that's correct," I offered wearily. This did not dwindle Aro's growing excitement.

"Forgive me, Beau—but dependent upon where in the Massachusetts Colony your family first settled in, the journey still would be well over three thousand miles…though treacherous landscapes, encounters with dangerous—even monstrous creatures, not to mention other insidious humans who sought weary travelers as easy targets for thievery and murder."

"And?" I asked. "Haven't you ever heard of the Donner Party? People were willing to risk their lives to travel west, back then. Looking for a chance to begin a new, find their fortune in the gold mines—"

"And an enticing escape for those who were running away," Aro stated with a note of condescendence.

He was back in front of me, his hands still wrung together at the wrist. Edward grew more and more frustrated as Aro concealed his thoughts; his arms around me tightened ever more protectively.

Aro gazed at us, and laughed once. "Amazing, how fate has brought together two creatures, each forged from darkness. How poetic, then, that the love between you two casts a light that blinds all those who look upon it."

"What are you talking about?" Edward demanded with a snarl.

Aro paid him no attention. He continued to stare up at me, mesmerized. "Beau," he called to me, speaking my name with reverence. "Can you tell me what great darkness descended upon Massachusetts during the time that your family first found themselves there?"

I snorted, not arrogantly, but out of confusion. "I'm sorry—but what the hell are you talking about?"

"Humor me," he pleaded, tilting his head towards one side. "What tragedy can you recall? What terrible event still leaves its shadow over the land still, over three-hundred-years later?"

I huffed another snorted laugh. I shook my head, not understanding what any of these questions had to do with me, not comprehending a moments of anything that Aro was saying. His mind focused only on each immediate moment, blank from Edward as he retained his desperate search for answers. My stomach felt like it was knawwing away at itself from within. It burnt from within me as I stared into Aro's milky eyes.

His excitement frightened me more than anything else. Alice's warnings from before played over and over in my head. The total score of his fascination struggled to conceal itself as his bated anticipation grew stronger and stronger. Aro continued to gaze at me, expectingly. My fingers clung to Edward's skin, and I pressed myself further into him.

I opened and closed my mouth several times before I could give an official answer. I was terrified by his implication, and the growing fear that all my answers to what had been happening to me, silenced me as the only answer choked out of my mouth.

"The Salem Witch Trials."

Aro's high, cold laugh pierced throughout both Edward and I. Edward rested his head on top of my shoulder, and I thought I felt him tremble.

"Yes," Aro's voice rang as his laughter dwindled. "The infamous Salem Witch Trials. Hundreds were accused, and nineteen executed for the crime of witchcraft. One man pressed to death, the other eighteen men and women, hanged. It was only after the sensationalized madness ended did the denizens of the Salem Township begin to suspect that they'd all fallen victim to a craze constructed by five young girls.

"Your histories have cleared the names of each of the accused, restoring their innocence, destroying all notions of witchcraft and magic, placing such fancies into their safely constructed worlds of fiction."

Aro began walking away from us. He glided towards the base of the stairs, his brothers' eyes continuously glancing to them and then back to me. They did not protect their minds as guardedly as Aro was. Edward peeked into their heads, following the tangled trails of thoughts as they coursed like a unfathomable current.

The realization of Aro's questioning seemed to dawn at them all at once. Marcus and Caius raised their eyes to glare at my face. Marcus was overcome with awe; his dead face smoothed into an expression of brilliant astonishment, a dim light flickered in his cold eyes.

Caius' assessment was curler. Consternation rattled ever fiber of his being. His eyes grew darker, more menacingly, more decided.

He must die, he thought simply, though Edward and I could each hear the undertone of fear in his thoughts.

A low growl rumbled from Edward's chest and purred from his parted lips. Caius removed his eyes from me and towards Edward. I felt one corner of my mouth perk upwards as I watched the ancient vampire push himself further into this throne.

Marcus and Caius each thought of the same ancient woman whom Aro had unwittingly recalled during our tense conversation. I was sure that she had to be a vampire herself, her beauty was just as radiant as all the rest of them where, even more beautiful than Edward's sister, Rosalie. Her lips were full, and stained blood-red. Her skin luminous, a brilliant ivory that was nearly translucent. Her face was enchanting, welcoming and alluring.

Her glorious face was replaced in their memories, by the image of my face.

I couldn't understand why they were exaggerating my features. I hardly recognized myself in their heads. This must be evidence that the strange milky haze that clouded over the red irises did tamper with how they saw the world. I'd seen myself in photos, had seen my reflection every time I looked into the mirror, and not once had I ever seen the young man that they thought was standing before them.

His skin was too faint, too much like the luminous glow of the woman. His hair just as thick, falling along his head and over his eyes like cascading waves of dark chocolate. His face—it was almost unbearable to look at his face. It was without a mortal flaw, a jaw carved from stone, wide, mocha eyes surrounded by thick, black lashes. And though his face was a mask of terror and distrust, it was without question…beautiful. The woman's face returned into the forefront of their thoughts as the compared her to the young man they imagined they saw. Finding only that they were too similar to make for a coincidence.

Edward gently shoved me further than I had been standing, so that with one small shove, I would immediately be behind him. He focused only on the false imagine of me. I was puzzled when I did not see him making the proper corrections. He compared their constructed image to every memory he had of me. He saw me glancing over my shoulder towards him, while sitting in the Forks cafeteria, Jessica whispering the town gossip of the Cullen children into my ear. The boy's face was the very same as the one Marcus and Caius saw. As memories continued to swirl in Edward's head, even the ones I had seen in the square, I realized that the face never faltered, I'd just not been paying attention when watching the first time.

My forehead creased in frustration. How…how could I possible ever had looked the way to him?

"It's impossible," Caius hissed. "He can't be her—"

Aro raised a hand to silence the snow-haired man. "Patience, brother," Aro commanded. "Beau still does not understand. How could he?"

Caius and Edward hiss simultaneously as Aro spun back around, his smile just the same.

"So the witch trials, like all the hundreds and thousands that had come before Salem vanished into mythology. The deaths that were caused were blamed on hysteria, a lack of knowledge in the sciences, the fault of people in power who wielded religion as a weapon similar to a noose or blade. Witches fell into the same category as vampires: nonsense, fantasy, beings of dark imaginations.

"Your modern world would ration that, magic was only but the work of fiction. Authors, actors, playwrights using the word, creating characters that both inspire and strike fear into the hearts of the individuals who devour their works, who long for it all to be true. To this day, there are those who claim to be what they are not, though they do like to commit to the practice."

Aro took several steps forward. Edward pushed me further away again, readying himself to lunge at Aro at the first intention to strike. I gripped his arm in my hands, trying to yank him behind me—worried that if he attempted to attack, he'd die.

Aro watched us in amusement. He sighed heavily as his gaze found its true fixation. "Do you know the first witch that they hanged in Salem, Beau? Don't you know her name?"

Of course I did. The Salem Witch Trials had always been a fascination of mine. A factor caused by my love for the macabre. But that's all it had ever been, a subject of interest.

Aro looked at me expectantly, as if he knew that the answer was already on the tip of my tongue. I swallowed a shrill of panic before opening my mouth.

"Bridget," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Bridget…Bishop."

"Bishop," Aro echoed. Edward froze as the name rang over in his head. I saw his head twist ever-so-slightly to glance at me for a moment, his eyes wide with sudden realization.

No. He cried.

"Bridget Bishop, born to John and Rebecca Playfer, in Norwich, England in sixteen-thirty-two," Aro began, looking past Edward's shoulder at me. "She had a hard life, Bridget. Her first two husbands each dying under mysterious circumstances, leaving her with four children and a soiled name when her step-children from her second marriage accused her of witchcraft—believing that she had caused their father's untimely demise.

"She was exonerated the first time, but fled with her children to the New World, seeking a fresh beginning. She married her last husband, Edward Bishop in sixteen-eighty-seven. All of her children were adults by then, most with families of their own. Except," he said, pausing in anticipation, "her youngest daughter, Christian, whom Edward Bishop adopted, giving her his name."

Aro paused again, looking at Alice, Edward and then back to me. His thoughts were beginning to grow, more readily readable to Edward as he continued with his minor history lesson. There was a meaning behind it, deeper meaning in the image of the woman they saw so much in me.

I could feel a revelation brewing, one that I was horribly unprepared for. I gulped again, swallowing down as much fear as I could manage.

"Bridget had always caused a stir within Salem Village, from her eccentric way of life, her multiple marriages, and even the ways in which she dressed. Whisper began circulating long before Abigail Williams' first afflictions ever even manifested.

"Her trial lasted only eight days. Countless accusations, and once believed indisputable evidence signed her warrant of execution. On the tenth of June, sixteen-ninety-two, Bridget Bishop was the first to swing from the gallows. Her daughter, Christian Bishop, vanished from history not long after."

Aro's cruel smile grew as he observed the terror I felt spreading on my face. He slowly shook his head, tsking with his tongue.

"I'm sure you must be wondering why I know so much of this. Why, I would bother to know the story of Bridget Bishop, who histories have written off as an unfortunate soul caught up in a wave of mass hysteria."

Alice and Edward were frozen, not an inch of them moved. I could feel my chest rising and falling as my breath grew more and more frantic. My mind's full attention was focused on Aro. The faint, distant thoughts that belong to Edward were muffled out as my own thoughts fought to make sense of Aro's story. Working beyond exhaustion to piece together all the strange events that had been taking place—sewing them into a dark, foreboding quilt.

Aro heaved a heavy sigh, shaking his head once more. "You see, Beau. I know of this, because of who Bridget Bishop was. She was no mere mortal, no poor innocent that was guiltless of the crime of which she was accused. Bridget Bishop was indeed, a witch."

A soft gasp rasped from my lips. Edward's head flickered towards my direction, but moved back to Aro before I could catch a glimpse of his eyes. Aro's chilling laughter rang out again; the sound so unsettling, so nearly painful, that I thought my ears would bleed.

"Oh, but that's not even the tip of the preverbal iceberg, Beau. Witches," he said, swaying his body around, walking closer to where Alec and Jane laid, their eyes still glossed over with swirling shadows. "Predate vampires. The first witch was created eons ago, before even I or my brothers human family lineages had even formed. From the first witch, more were born or created. They were not as loathed in the ancient times as they came to be when Christianity's influence began to spread around the world.

"They were once revered, honored, worshiped. Some, very rare witches sought the affection of the mortals that bowed to them, seeking a power only obtained by the love of another. From those unions more witches entered into the world, spreading their line and power down generation after generation."

Aro stopped once he was standing beside Jane and Alec. He lowered his body in fluid, visionless motion. The back of his hand stroked each of the twins' cheeks. "My dear Jane and Alec or from such a line. An old friend had found them as he traversed through Anglo-Saxon England. Upon his arrival here, he was kind enough to show me the children he had seen, who displayed unusual talents…"

His fond look could almost be mistaken as parental affection, if only it weren't for the icy, coveted gleam in his eyes. The meant a great deal to him, but in the same appeal a vintage, luxury car, or expensive pet may mean to human. They were not their own people, with their own identities or lives to lead…they belonged only to Aro.

"I saved them from the flames that ate away at their pyre. They were, horribly burned. Their only chance of survival...was to change, to be born anew."

Aro's head raised slowly. Our eyes met across the room.

"But Bridget Bishop, as her father before her, and his mother and all their generation of before, belonged to another line. The most powerful line—the most ancient."

My heart was thundering in my chest. I could feel the blood rushing through every vein, could nearly hear it swirling from inside my ear. Aro's eyes filled with lustrous greed as he observed my face, while the woman's image appeared in his head. He crossed her memory over my face as he watched me. Analyzing the similarities, confirming every hidden suspicion. Her saw her face in mine, only the clearly distinctive differences caused by the opposite gender mired her image from matching perfectly.

"I had believed that the Bishop line had died along with her daughter. I had sent scouts to verify my worst fear. They never could find her, or encountered any one of her blood."

Aro stood to his feet, gliding over the still bodies of Jane and Alec as he reapproched the three of us. Alice and Edward moved closer together, nearly blocking me from Aro's gaze. Aro did not falter. He moved closer and closer, smiling.

"Oh I do not wish the boy any more," he assured Edward and Alice, stopping only a foot away from us all. "You must understand I am merely confounded by his existence."

A low hiss crackled from Edward's lips.

Aro ignored him, looking over his shoulder. I was sure that my face was frightened now, truly terrified. My mind swam with the hidden meaning behind everything Aro had said, still frivolously working to solve the riddle before I could be told, fight against the desperate parts of my mind that wished to remain ignorant.

"Beau," he called out my voice softly. My eyes did not need to look down at his. They'd not left his face since he'd left Jane and Alec. "You. Are from Bridget's line. A direct descendent on your mother's side. But that's not what truly fascinates me. What I cannot believe, not when I saw you through your Edward's mind, only when your blood first collided through that door behind, could I believe it."

His eyes twirled to look at Edward. "It's why I've been keeping my thoughts from you, Edward. Not out of insidious intentions, but because you needed to discover the truth, as well. It explains so now, doesn't it. Why he draws Death to him, why his blood and presence sing out towards all that would seek him harm, why your touch, though freezing, never bothered him…Why he first appealed to you, even before you'd smelt him, why he was so equipped to join your family, join your word. Why his mother and forefather were the same…they are all Bishops.

"And though Beau is the strongest, born on the thirteenth day of fall, in the nineteen-ninety-ninth year, as the moon and Mars began their conjunction and closest meeting, the Bishop traces have existed in each of them."

Aro's voice was growing louder the more enthralled in his explanation he got, his body more animated than I had seen. "The Bishops' power exists to this day, because it is the strongest. The Bishop line comes directly from the first witch, Circe, the daughter of the Titan Helios and Hecate, goddess of—"

"Witchcraft," said aloud, recalling my sixth-grade study of the ancient Greeks and their mythology.

Aro's smiling was beaming.

"Yes," he confirmed. "You, Beau, are not only the direct descendent of Bridget Bishop, but to the great and terrifying, Circe herself."

I could barely hear Aro's voice of the rushing sound of blood in my ear. As the parts of my mind continued to battle they war that would be lost against the parts that already solved the riddle, cried out the word in dark victory.

Witch.

That. Was. Impossible. I was not…not… I couldn't even think the the word again. Witches weren't real, not in the sense that Aro spoke of them. There were people who practiced witchcraft, but in a more spiritual, grounded method. They couldn't read peoples minds, or see glimpses into the future. They did not throw people through stone pillars with a flick of their wrists. They didn't stand their own against vampires time and time again.

Aro's explanation could not be the truth. He was mistaken, seeing into things that he wanted to see, but surely confused…

Right?

My mother would've told me. Wouldn't she? If she knew? Unless…she was just as unaware as I had been. That thought chilled me to my bone.

"I doubt even Carlisle suspected," Aro continued. "Witches have been hunted now, for many thousands of years. Generational lines destroyed in a nefarious plague of fire and stone. Carlisle may have suspected that Beau and his family were...sensitive. But he would not have ever thought to suspect that Beau was anything more than mortal, certainly not a witch.

"But, now we can confirm. Circe lives on in him. I believe," Aro's voice broke me from my own spell. I blinked my eyes once before staring back at him. "That Beau has inherited many talents that Circe possessed. One more powerful than any of this other gifts."

Aro's hands were pressed together against his lips. His head fell ever-so-slightly, almost bowing in respect.

"Beau, has the ability to absorb the talents that are used against him. Taking them as his own."

"Common Thief," Caius hissed.

Edward snarled at the insult. His body lowered into a more crouched stance.

"Edward," I warned, pulling on his shoulder as I looked over at Caius. He was standing once again, his terrifying, vampiric face glared at me.

"Caius," Aro whispered, turning his head over his shoulder as his arm spread down slightly from his side.

Caius turned his fearful expression away from me and towards his brother. He snarled, spittles of venom sprung from between his teeth. He threw his cloak behind him as he sat back into his throne.

Aro returned his undivided attention, once more, to me. "So what do we do with you now?" Aro sighed.

Edward and Alice's stance grew more taunt. With the dramatic revelation past, this was the part they'd been waiting for. I sighed heavily through my nostrils, trembling as I assumed a similar position. My fingers danced along each hand. The dark shadows that clouded the other vampire's eyes, flickered outward. They swayed in the air, in attention.

Aro looked around as they continued to dance, looking concurred for the first time.

"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind?" Aro asked Edward, hopefully. He knew Edward's answer would dictate my own. "Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little company." Edward hesitated.

Edward gasped out a laugh. His chin jutted out in defiance, "No," he mocked whispered. "I'd rather not."

Aro's face fell just a little. He turned his head toward Alice.

"Alice?" Aro asked, still hopeful. "Would you perhaps be interested in joining with us?"

Alice's head shook once. "No, thank you," she whispered, more terrified now than he'd been.

"And you, Beau?" Aro raised his eyebrows. "Your addition would be of the greatest honor," he finished, crossing his legs and bending his back as he bowed. Caius hissed louder.

"Never," he snarled.

A low growl thundered in Edward's throat.

"Caius, surely you see the potential," Aro chided him affectionately. "We've been looking for the Bishop bloodline for hundreds of years now. Surely you can understand the appeal, to finally have one of them join us? The power that we would obtain?"

Caius looked away with a caustic expression.

Edward's hand pushed me further away.

Aro waited.

"No," I declared. "I'd rather not," I mimicked Edward exactly.

Aro sighed. "That's unfortunate. Such a waste."

Edward hissed. "Join or die, is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws."

Though I had know that he'd been furious the entire time, I still was not expecting his tone to sounded irate, but there was something deliberate about his delivery—as if he'd chosen his words with great care.

"Of course not." Aro blinked, astonished. "We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you."

"Aro," Caius hissed. "The law claims them."

Edward glared at Caius. "How so?" he demanded. Caius thought of the one law that must always be unbreakable, the only punishment befitting the breaking of that law, was death.

Caius pointed a skeletal finger at me. "He knows too much. You have exposed our secrets." His voice, I realized, was papery thin, just like his skin.

"There are a few humans in on your charade here, as well," Edward reminded him, and I thought of the pretty receptionist below.

Caius's face twisted into a new expression. The smile of a devil.

"Yes," he agreed. "But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If he betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy him? Your precious Socios Anima, I think not," he scoffed.

"I would never tell anymore," I vowed darkly, daring myself constantly as I glared back at him the same way he did me.

"Nor do you no longer intend to make him one of us," Caius continued. "Therefore, he is a vulnerability. And though you two," he said, throwing his eyes between Edward and Alice, "have given more than just reason with your recent decisions, it is true, for this, only his life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish."

Edward bared his teeth.

"That's what I thought," Caius said, with something akin to pleasure.

The shadows flicker to life again, increasing in size.

"Beau's own secret is nearly as precious as ours is to us," Marcus spoke for the first time, his voice hollow and raspy. "Exposing us, exposes him. And miraculous as he is, he is far more vulnerable than us."

Edward's chest rumbled. Caius turned to him, pleased, "Of course," he said delightedly, recalling upon experience and evidence from the past. "Witches tend to meet sticky ends," he hissed.

Edward's body moved a fraction of a step.

"Unless…" Aro interrupted. He looked unhappy with the way the conversation had gone. "Unless you do intend to give him immortality? Edward, the boy has far too much potential. As human he is nearly equal to us, but as one of us…" the lustful look returned. "Even if it takes a millennial to convince him…I cannot lose that possibility."

Edward pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment before he answered.

"And if I do?"

Aro begrudging smiled, faking happiness again. "Why, then you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle." His expression turned more hesitant. "But I'm afraid you would have to mean it."

Edward's head turned over his shoulder to look up at me. His dark eyes were see through again. His mind was back to being my main focus, the anxious notions were forced to take the furtherest seat, as I watched our memories sing through his head.

The face in these borrowed moments was still difficult to recognize. I had never seen me that way, and I couldn't understand how or why I did appear so to Edward and the others.

Edward's comforting touch gripped around my hand, holding me, as if I were the very last thing that existed in this universe and beyond.

An image, so vivd that I was sure that it was a vision that Alice had seen, either before or after her and I officially met. My skin was clearly lighter, snow white all over. My hair darker, impossibly thicker, framing my head and face in perfect, cascading dark waves.

My eyes. So bright, nearly glowing red. My arms were wrapped around Alice, we were laughing, at what was not clear. My red eyes snapped up from where I was sitting, meeting Edward's.

Had he scene the overwhelming devotion, admiration in my eyes as I saw now? Did he see how they blanked of all thought as I gazed onto him. Had he found the deepest of seas that roared with nothing but love?

The image vanished, and through Edward's eyes I was staring at my strange face.

I focused on Edward's eyes. Ignoring the image that I was seeing.

His eyes looked as if he were crying. His face bundled up in misery. Without meaning to, I saw deeper into that misery than I should have.

It was not the anguish of turning me into what he was, of having to be, throughout eternity, with me, but the exact opposite. He could no longer image a world where I did not exist. He appreciated the deadly grief that had consumed him when he'd believed me dead, better now than he'd ever imagined possible. He knew what just over twenty-four hours without my existent felt like.

The misery that was on his face was not caused by my becoming a vampire, but what it would mean if I didn't.

"Yes," Edward vowed with a breaking breath. "Yes. I intend to. I can't lose him. Not again."

If he still wants…only, if he chooses…

My breath caught in my throat before I could speak.

"But we do not have any guaran—"

"Beau will be like us," Alice announced, more stern than before, cutting Caius off.

We all looked at her. She glanced up at Edward and I, assuring Edward with her thoughts that Aro would not attack. He couldn't.

Edward nodded his head as Alice stepped away from us, forward toward Aro. We turned to watch her. Her hand was raised like his.

She didn't say anything, and Aro waved off his white-haired brother as he rose from his chair.

Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes. He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank. I heard Edward's body relax.

Aro watched, in fascination, as he peered into the future Alice so clearly saw. Edward and I were in our meadow. Overhead us, the sun's rays danced peacefully through the thin clouds. The sun's light glittered over each of our skins. Tiny prisms of rainbow, silver and ruby danced along the blades of grass and wildflowers beneath us.

My skin…appeared softer, like silk, whiter than the whitest of death. My hair blew through the breeze as I yanked Edward deeper into my lap. He nuzzled his head deeper into my neck, my jaw resting atop is tasseled bronze-hair. We looked out, into the vast field, clinging to one another, as our eyes drifted further and further away.

The strange fog appeared over the horizon of the vision, creeping into the furtherest part, creating a thick cloud that I knew Aro. Edward and even Alice, could not see through.

My vision, was still unimpaired as theirs were. There was a boy across from where we sat. His thick, black hair, stuck out above his head in styled spikes. His skin was strange, darker than mine's or Edward's, but lighter than I'd thought it should be.

He bounced a soccer ball, skillfully, on each knee. Laughing at his success.

My arms wrapped tighter around Edward, my lips pressing against the side of his face, as we happily watched…

No one moved. Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand, watching the vision fade into fact.

Another agonizing moment passed, and then Aro's voice broke the silence.

"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed, his head still bent forward. He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement. "That was fascinating!"

Alice smiled dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened yet!" He shook his head in wonder.

"But that will," she reminded him, voice calm.

"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."

Caius looked bitterly disappointed "Aro," Caius complained. Aro turned, exhasberated with his brother.

"Yes?" he asked boringly.

Caius seethed. "The boy is a danger to us," he spat, throwing his arms out around them. "He cannot be allowed to leave."

Edward snarled, the sound has petrifying as a lion's. Caius hissed in retaliation.

"Do try to stop him, Brother," Aro spoke over the vicious sounds. "The boy has rendered us useless. Even as a human, he foils even the most strongest of our guard."

"Which makes him a liability. He could wage war on—"

"I want nothing to do with you," I seethed, glaring up at the white-haired ancient. He, Marcus and Aro each turned to me.

My arms were raised out over my chest. My fingers dancing more wildly over my hands. "Let us leave," I demanded. "Edward will make good on his promise," I vowed, hearing the short victory in Edward's head be crushed by a pessimistic thought that I was only lying , so I could save us.

The three ancients still watched me. "Edward will make good on his promise," I repeated, "and I will become one of you. I will stay away, and you will never hear from me again. I will disappear, like my family has done."

Caius opened his mouth to argue.

"Dear Caius," Aro smiled. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the great descendent of Circe joined with us. There would be no greater treasure. We do not get him today. But we gain the possibility for tomorrow."

Edward was repulsed by the thought. "Then we are free to go now?" he asked in an even voice.

"Once the boy restores our guard."

I froze, absolutely unsure of how I could do that. Would the dark trance be vanquished once I was many miles away? Would it be gone the moment I fully lowered my hands, and relaxed my tensed body?

What would happen once the guard were free? Knew what to expect?

Were Aro's words only for show?

Edward was thinking nearly in the same train of thought as I did, only faster, Alice, too.

Alice saw me leaving the chamber, setting my intention that the guard would awake once we were safely out of harms way. The ancients, nor the guard, would attack us.

We were free.

We were heading home.

"I will," I called back to Caius. "Once we area guaranteed sanctuary. Are assured that you, nor your pets attack us."

"How dare you," Caius spat. "Who are you to give orders—"

"Look around you," I blurted out, "I've got your guard under my spell. So, it looks like I'm the one calling the shots around here."

Caius seethed at me, his eyes nearly burning a hole into my chest.

"He's right, Brother," Aro agreed. His head turned over his shoulder. "I will miss you if you choose to attack. Beau is far more capable of destroying you, himself. Circe's descendants exceed out power."

While Aro's thoughts raged through Edward's mine, I forced myself to focus only on Aro.

His words stung him, as he spoke them. They eagerly slapped in his face that for now, I was untouchable. He was dismayed that he hadn't been able to convince me to join his cause, thought he already anticipated that the likelihood was nonexistent.

We were free, not because Aro respected or revered me, not because he was mesmerized, already, by what I could do. It was none of that. We would be free to leave Voulteera, only because, for now, he feared me.

"Yes, yes," Aro said pleasantly, forcing his facade of positivity to return. "Beau will release the rest of our family, once he and his companions are away from us. I do ask, that you wait in the lobby, until nightfall. Even with the coverage of the storm, we cannot risk exposure."

Aro moved, hastily forward towards us, only inches away. Alice had seen this, and shared it with Edward the moment he'd ended his latest sentence. He was desperate, willing, despite knowing it was futile, to gain our entrance into his city once more. "Please visit us soon. It's been absolutely enthralling!"

"And we will visit you as well," Caius promised, his eyes suddenly half-closed like the heavy-lidded gaze of a lizard. "To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances."

Edward's jaw clenched tight, but he nodded once.

"Oh, but wait," Aro cried out. His hands moved just under his neck, unfastening the cloak that shrouded him. "Here," he said, moving towards Edward. Aro through the black cloak over Edward's shoulders. The thick fabric whacking my face in the process. Aro's hands worked swiftly as he refastened the cloak to Edward's neck. "You're a tad conspicuous, my friend."

Aro took three steps away from his, and his held against his lips again, as he stared on in pity. "It suits you," he sighed.

Caius took one last, baleful glance our way, before settling, fully, in his throne.

Marcus took one last, longing looked between Edward and I, his face falling again in disbelief.

Aro nodded once towards Edward.

You may go. You can expect to see us soon…

Edward snarled as he began backing away, pushing me as we went.

My eyes were intent on each vampire that I could see. I counted them, making sure that there were no missing, waiting for us to back into a trap. As the figures diminished in size the further we drew back towards the antechamber, my intentions became more clear. The small, black flamers flickered to attention, before swirling in the air.

Once we were each behind the door, with enough distance to give us warning, would my dark mist vanish and free those who were still ensnared.

I felt a smooth, sheer, hard, chilled surface hit my back.

The door.

My hand fumbled around the smooth wood, until my fingers brushed against the cooler, rougher texture of the iron handle.

I gripped it tightly in my hand, and shoved my body weight against the door. The thick piece of wood creaked open, a brush of warm air flowed along my back. I threw myself further back into the hallway, dragging Edward with the hand that had remained clutched underneath his cloaked shoulder, along with me.

"Please return, young friends," Aro's voice called out to us.

Alice slammed the door closed, and I heard the distant clutter of confusion and rage cried out through it. It softened as soon as it came.

Edward, Alice and I each stumbled into the tiled hallway, my back crashing against the curved edge of a desk..

The security gasped as her cup off coffee titled to and fro.

"Whoa," Gianna whispered softly as she reached for the cup. I stared at her, very much in shock.

It was then that I first heard the babble of voices—loud, rough voices—coming from the antechamber.

"Well this is unusual," a man's coarse voice boomed.

"So medieval," an unpleasantly shrill, female voice gushed back.

A large crowd was coming through the little door, filling the smaller stone chamber. Edward motioned for us to make room. We pressed back against the weak to let them pass.

The couple in front, Americans from the sound of them, glanced around themselves with appraising eyes.

"Welcome, guests! Welcome to Volterra!" I could hear Aro sing from the big turret room.

The rest of them, maybe forty or more, filed in after the couple. Some studied the setting like tourists. A few even snapped pictures. Others looked confused, as if the story that had led them to this room was not making sense anymore. I noticed one small, dark woman in particular. Around her neck was a rosary, and she gripped the cross tightly in one hand. She walked more slowly than the others, touching someone now and then and asking a question in an unfamiliar language. No one seemed to understand her, and her voice grew more panicked.

Edward pulled my body into his, crushing me into his chest, but it was too late. I already understood.

As soon as the smallest break appeared, Edward pushed me quickly toward the door. I could feel the horrified expression on my face, and the tears beginning to pool in my eyes.

The ornate golden hallway was quiet, empty except for one gorgeous, statuesque woman. She stared at us curiously, me in particular.

"Welcome home, Heidi," Gianna greeted her from behind her desk.

Heidi smiled absently. She reminded me of Rosalie…Circe, though they looked nothing alike—it was just that her beauty, too, was exceptional, unforgettable. I couldn't seem to look away.

She was dressed to emphasize that beauty. Her amazingly long legs, darkened with tights, were exposed by the shortest of miniskirts. Her top was long-sleeved and high-necked, but extremely close-fitting, and constructed of red vinyl. Her long mahogany hair was lustrous, and her eyes were the strangest shade of violet—a color that might result from blue-tinted contacts over red irises.

"Gianna," she responded in a silky voice, her eyes flickering between my face and Edward's gray cloak.

"Nicely done," Gianna complimented her, not even attempting to hide her obvious over-friendliness.

As Heidi continued to strut towards us, I suddenly understood the attention-grabbing outfit she wore... she was not only the fisherman, but also the bait.

"Thanks." She flashed a stunning smile. "Are they ready?"

"Yes. Lunch will be served any minute now," Gianna encouraged, her voice beaming.

Bile rose in my throat.

Heidi nodded and ducked through the door with one last curious look at me.

Edward set a pace that had me running to keep up. But we still couldn't get through the ornate door at the end of the hallway before the screaming started.