Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to do with the Twilight series. It's all Stephanie Meyer's.

WARNING: It's rated M for a reason people!

A/N: Sorry for any typos or grammar mistakes, I was in a hurry to post the chapter.

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"Welcome my friends," came the silky voice from behind them. The Cullens were standing on the huge wrap-around porch of the beach house. They all whirled around to see Aro standing there, looking extremely out of place in his white knit tunic and Dockers.

"Aro," Carlisle addressed him, putting a restraining hand on Edward's chest who had taken a step forward.

"Where is she? Where is Bella?" Edward asked, nostrils flaring.

"The human? Oh, she's resting comfortably," Aro replied, clasping his hands together and smiling.

"If you harm one hair on her head –" Edward threatened.

"Harm? Why, mercy, no. We mean no harm. We only came to see what we were promised . . . and sadly, it was disappointing to find out the promise had not been honored," Aro said, sighing slightly as if he were bored. "So, we decided to take matters in our own hands."

Edward lunged forward, and it was only the strength of Carlisle, Emmett and Jasper that kept him from attacking the older vampire who only looked at him with a cool expression, a hint of a smile on his thin lips.

Aro's attention went from Edward to Alice, and his face beamed. "Ah, my dear Alice, so wonderful to see you again!" He took a step forward and clasped her tiny hand in his and pulled her wrist to his lips, laying a kiss on the inside. Jasper curled his upper lip, but was still trying to hold Edward in check. Alice smiled slightly, trying hard not to yank her hand away from the vampire's cold, dead lips. She could feel Rosalie's hand at her back. "Hmmmm," Aro smiled. "I see no visions, my pixie."

Alice hesitated, not knowing how much she should tell him. "My powers have become weak," she finally said, deciding not to tell him the truth that she couldn't see things here at La Push. Maybe making him think she wasn't as strong as she was when he first met her, he wouldn't have as much interest in her talent. Aro looked sad and said, "I'm sorry to hear that, my sweet. So very sorry. I was really hoping we could have struck a bargain."

"Bargain? What kind of bargain?" Carlisle asked.

"Why, a bargain for your human . . . but obviously, you have nothing to bargain with," he said, his eyes sliding back to Alice. Esme gasped.

"You piece of shit!" Edward shouted, lunging again. He broke free of the others' grasps and went for Aro's throat. Aro never flinched. Suddenly Edward was on his knees, wracked with the worst pain ever. It was reminiscent of Italy . . . and Jane. He rolled on the porch floor, his arms clasped around his head.

"STOP! STOP IT!" Esme screamed. Aro's lips twitched, and then he waved a hand at some unseen person. Edward lay still then, not moving. Esme and Rosalie went to his side and looked him over. He was unconscious. Esme looked up at Aro and growled, "What did you do to him?"

"Me? Oh, I've done nothing," Aro answered, smoothly. Just then a small figure appeared at his side. Jane. She didn't say anything, only gazed at them steadily. Alice shuddered, remembering last year. How would they escape now?

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Jacob struggled with the chains. They were padlocked. If only he could phase. If only he knew where Bella was and if she was hurt. If only . . . just then the lock clicked, and the door swung open. Victoria stood there and smirked. "Is the mutt still trying to figure out how to get loose without phasing?" He didn't answer, only glared at her and growled deep in his throat. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.

"Yes, you ARE intriguing," Victoria said, sailing into the room as if she walked on the air. She came to stand before him and with one swift move lifted him to his feet. They stared at each other and suddenly Victoria kissed Jacob angrily, biting down on his bottom lip bringing blood. She shook him like he was a rag doll, and he saw her eyes had went from red to black. She licked her lips and muttered, "Not bad . . . for a wolf." Her head ducked toward his, and he knew she was going to suck the life right out of him. Phasing be damned. If he didn't, he and Bella were as good as dead. Suddenly, he felt the tremors going through him, muscles, sinew, bone, twisting . . . changing . . . growing. Victoria realized what was going on and she hissed, still hanging on to the front of his tank top, as if she could stop the change. She went for his throat then, but missed as the chains crunched and fell from the wolf's huge russet body. Jacob's wolf body knocked her to the floor, and he loomed above his prey. However, Jacob did underestimate her as she had warned him earlier. She threw him off her, causing him to crash into the wall behind them. Swiftly, she was to her feet and going for the door. Jacob knew instantly she was not going to fight him, but go straight to her master or whatever crazy person was in charge of this sick sideshow. If she got to her leader, it would cost Bella's life. And he couldn't let that happen. Rearing back on his hind legs, he vaulted himself through the air and sailed over the redhead, landing inside the doorway. He whirled around and growled at her.

"You stupid animal," She hissed. "You REALLY don't know who you're fucking with."

Just then he heard all the voices that he knew he would once he phased. Sam. Quil. Embry. Seth. They all came at him at once. Demanding to know what was going on. Vampires running amok on their land. Treaties broken. And whatdahell was that about a three-way?!?!

Never mind all that! Just get to the beach house at the far north end of the beach! It's a matter of life and death! I can't hold these bloodsuckers back by myself! The Cullens are OFF-LIMITS! DO YOU HEAR ME! THEY ARE NOT THE ENEMY! Any other bloodsucker, take them down. NOT THE CULLENS!!

The rest of the pack knew there was only truth in phasing, and so they knew not to question Jacob. They could hear his desperation, his fear, and his anger.

We're on our way, Sam's mind responded. Jacob then turned his attention back to the redhead vampress standing before him. She growled and hissed, showing her sharp, white teeth; her bottom lip was smudged with his blood where she had bit his lip. She crouched, ready to fight. Jacob's hackles stood on end, and he lowered his head. Bring it bitch.

With a guttural sound coming deep from within each other's body, vampire and beast crashed together with a deathening boom. They rolled, snarling, teeth snapping at each other's throats, across the floor. Jacob felt Victoria's sharp nails digging into his flesh, but he didn't falter. He had to bring her down. He had her on her back, and her head whipped up, her mouth going for his throat, but he was quicker. He sunk his jaws around her shoulder, feeling his razor sharp teeth crunching through her marble shoulder. She screeched in anger more than pain, but couldn't get a proper grip on his underbody to throw him off. She struggled and writhed under his sinewy body. Jacob reared back and then went for her white throat, ripping her head straight from her body. He took the head by the flaming tendrils and bolted from the room, leaving the body twitching alone.

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"The wolf has killed the female," Jane said, the first words she had uttered since she came to stand by Aro.

The Cullens looked intently at Aro, their attention displaced for only an instance from the still unconscious Edward. Aro only grimaced slightly and muttered, "Well, that's too bad. She was a good soldier."

"The other wolves come," Jane continued.

"Well, this is certainly a turn of events. We didn't realize you had such comrades," Aro said, gazing at Carlisle with interest. "I never thought you would ally yourself with such .. . beings."

"We have a treaty," Carlisle spoke.

"A treaty? You always were an odd one, Carlisle," Aro mused, remembering past times. It was true that Carlisle had spent time with the Volturi, and also true that he had tried to persuade them from their way of feeding. When he couldn't convince the ancient vampires of a different path, he had left them to form his own coven . . . a family of non-human blood drinkers.

Just then a moan came from Edward who was propped up against Esme. He was coming around. Rosalie touched his forehead. His eyes flickered and opened, "Bella? Where's Bella?" Rosalie dropped her hand and held back a grimace. Stupid girl. He really did love the idiot.

Edward struggled to his feet. "Where is Bella?!" he shouted at Aro. Jane's eyes flickered to the young, passionate vampire.

"Your love for this . . . human is fascinating," she said. "Why do you love her?"

Edward looked at the childlike vampire. She stared at him, waiting patiently for his answer. He found his voice then; he didn't know if she was controlling him or he, himself, was in control. He began to speak, "I've waited all my life for Bella. I've never known a love such as hers. She has no fear of me. She wants to be like me. To be with me forever, as I am."

Jane tilted her head to one side and asked, "And why does this bother you? Her becoming what we are? What YOU are?"

"Because she has a CHOICE!" Edward shouted, "Her life shouldn't end because of ME! She doesn't know what she's asking!"

"Maybe she does," Jane answered. "I've been studying your human. She's different from the rest. She is worthy. You may think she takes her choice lightly, but you are wrong Edward Cullen. She knows exactly what's at stake. What she will be losing . . . what she will be gaining. It is not your choice to make for her. It is her choice. Hers alone."

Edward stared at Jane with a look of horror. The way she was speaking, it was as if the decision had already been confirmed. Done.

"Aro, where are the others? The guard?" Carlisle asked, breaking the silence that had formed. That was a good question. No Caius. No Alec. None of the others were to be seen. Before an answer could be given, howls rushed over them. The pack. And Jacob. They heard large padded paws rushing through the house, and suddenly the huge russet wolf was standing on the porch. In his mouth hung the head of Victoria, her face skewed into an awful grimace – eyes staring at nothing. Jacob dropped the severed head at Aro's feet and growled low in his throat.

"There's no need for violence," Aro said, taking a step away from the head. Out of the mist came the figures of the other wolves . . . Sam, Quil, Embry, Seth. They all came slinking up to the beach house.

"Tell us where Bella is then," Carlisle said, "and there will be no violence. I can tell you right now, you're no match for these wolves, especially when we are the ones encroaching on their territory."

Aro smiled silkily. Jane stood statuesque by his side. They seemed not to be concerned at all. Aro clasped his hands and gave a chuckle. "What loyalty over a mere human! What unison! I've never seen the like! It almost makes me want to know what it feels like."

Carlisle didn't reply. He had no idea what the older vampire was saying or thinking. Aro was as unpredictable as the wind. "What is it about this girl that makes you so protective, Carlisle?" Aro asked then.

"Edward loves her. We love her. She's our family now; we're bound to protect her," Carlisle answered smoothly, ignoring Rosalie's muttered, "I'm not."

While the vampires went back and forth, Jacob addressed his pack, Keep an eye on the old geezer and the dwarfy vampire. I'm going to look for Bella. She's in the house. I can smell her.

You have a lot of explaining to do, Jake, came Sam's response. Jacob ignored his pack brother and slowly backed his way back into the house. But nothing escaped Aro. He smiled, "Looks like your wolf friend has gone to look for the fair Bella." But neither he nor Jane made a move to stop the wolf. Carlisle didn't understand what was going on in the least, and it seemed Aro wasn't going to amuse them by telling his plans.

Jacob bounded up the stairs. He reached the third floor in seconds. Her scent was overwhelming. He went door to door, giving a sniff before moving to the next. He stopped at the last door on the left. He pushed on the door with his large head and felt the door jamb give way and the door came crashing to the floor. Bella lay on the large canopied bed. She appeared to be sleeping. Her chest rose and fell slowly. Jacob bounded to her side and breathed his wolf breath in her face. She lay perfectly still, and he began to panic. His wolf breath never failed to irritate her. She always told him he needed to brush his teeth. He whined and nudged her shoulder with his muzzle. Nothing. He licked her face. Nothing. Suddenly, he gave a howl of frustration.

Downstairs, on the porch, Edward's head whipped up. "He's found her." He gave Aro a steely look and growled, "I'm going to her, and you're not stopping me."

| Stayed Tuned for Chapter 7! |