Bella's POV

"So where are we going first?" Peter asked eagerly.

"We aren't going anywhere," I told him, "you're going to wait here."

"What? Why? I thought we were a team."

"You are not a member of the Volturi," I told him. "And I have a couple of things to do in the castle first. You can wait here or you can leave."

"Fine, I'll wait here, but hurry back."

I looked at Peter, was he really serious right now? I wanted to hit him so bad, but I also wanted to just leave him be. His actions were refreshing. He wasn't boring and uptight like the Volturi leaders. He wasn't walking on eggshells like the Volturi guard. Peter was just himself. He didn't hold back and there was almost no filter in between his brain and his mouth. He was a stupid ass, but still there was just something about him, but what was it?

I walked into the castle and went straight for Marcus' office to return the Bringer of Darkness' file.

"Bella, are you off?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah, I'm just going to check on our prisoner first and see if he has any information about the Bringer of Darkness though I suspect he's not going to talk either way."

"That's good idea. We will miss having you around here."

"No need to miss me, I will always be back."

"Ah, yes, you're right. Well until you come back then. Have fun on your travels and don't work too hard."

"Sure, Marcus."

I left his office and headed for the dungeons. I wasn't sure that our prisoner Garrett Garrison knew anything about the Bringer of Darkness, but they ran the same game, so he should have at least heard of him. I walked down the steps and was surprised to find no guard standing at the door, but it wasn't unusual. We were vampires with supernatural hearing, so we could hear if something was up from a mile away. I carried on to the chambers and saw my prisoner sitting where I had left him. He was bound to the wall and his head was cast downwards. I tapped on the bars.

"Wakey, wakey," I said.

The prisoner raised his head.

"Motherfucker," I growled. No wonder there was no guard, the guard was currently locked up where Garrett was supposed to be. How did he escape? Why didn't anyone hear him? This was impossible. Garrett had no power, he couldn't have done this alone, but who? There was only one vampire who could have helped him, Peter. It must be Peter. It was too convenient that he just happens to show up after Garrett's been captured and now Garrett is gone.

"What is going on?" Caius asked as he came barreling down the stairs.

"Garrett escaped."

"But that's impossible."

"I think it's safe to say it's possible. I'm going after him."

"No, no, no, Bella, he is not your assignment, the Bringer of Darkness is."

"Garrett was my prisoner and now he's gone."

"Doesn't matter. The Bringer of Darkness is on top of the list. Get him and then you can track down Garrett again."

"This is not fair."

"I don't make the rules, Isabella, oh wait, I do make the rules."

"This is ridiculous. We should be focusing on a vampire we can catch, not a ghost," I said.

"Bella, I don't understand why you can't catch the Bringer of Darkness, he's just a vampire, there's nothing special about him."

"Look, fine. I will go after him again, but it will be a waste of time."

"Go," Caius said. "I will deal with this."

I left and headed back to Peter. If Peter was smart he would be long gone. I knew he helped Garrett escape, there was no other possibility. I just wished I was going after Garrett again and not the Bringer of Darkness. There was a reason I had never caught the Bringer of Darkness and that's because I didn't want to.

I got to my tree at the back of the castle and Peter was still waiting for me. Was he stupid? He got what he wanted, Garrett was now free, so why was he still here?

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"We're going to America to catch some bad guys," he answered without missing a beat.

"I know you freed Garrett," I said.

"Who?" he asked, confused look on his face.

"Look, Peter, I'm not stupid. I know you did it."

"Who's Garrett? Is he one of these bad vampires?"

I let out a breath and turned from him. I was certain he freed Garret, but he was good at lying. There must be a reason he was still with me and until I figured that out I needed to keep him with me.

"Fine, let's go," I said, turning to head for the airport.

"Who's Garrett?" Peter asked again.

"Just drop it."

"Fine, let's talk about something else then. How were you changed?" Peter asked.

"You can't just ask someone how they were changed," I said. "Where were you raised, the wars?"

"No, I was raised in Montana, my vamp daddy was so nice to me, taught me everything I needed to know."

Why didn't I believe him?

"Your turn?" Peter asked expectantly.

"I ran into a group of vampires, nice vampires. I found out their secret and the Volturi forced them to change me."

"Why would vampires hang around a human and not change them?"

"Peter," I breathed out.

"No, I'm really curious."

I looked up at him and he looked so innocent. He just wanted information. I decided to give it to him. My story wasn't a secret, so I had nothing to hide.

"I went to school with one of them."

"Vampires who go to a human school?"

"Peter, shut your mouth if you want to hear my story."

"Sorry." He really did seem sorry. An enigma, he was definitely an enigma.

"His name was Edward and we became fast friends. I knew something was up with him, but I didn't care what. I would have been left in the dark, but my other friend was a werewolf, natural enemy of the vampire, so it came out and I was told. I was put in many dangerous situations by association. I was even hunted by a sadistic vampire at one stage. Then there was the vampire army…" I trailed off. Victoria and James, I hated them and I hated the fact that I wasn't the one who killed them even more. "Long story short, the Volturi learned of me and they said that I had to be changed. So the moment I graduated high school I was changed."

"Wow, that is so different from any change story I've ever heard."

"Says they vamp who was raised in Missouri." I tried to stump him, but it didn't work.

"It was Montana," Peter said without missing a beat.

I shook my head. Maybe he was turned in Montana.

My phone rang and I pulled it from my pocket.

"Ed, I don't have time for you right now."

"Pfft, when do you ever have time for me?" Edward asked.

"Exactly, bye."

"No, Bella, wait. When do you get here? I've got a surprise for you."

"I don't like surprises, Edward."

"I'm sure you'll like this one."

"Edward, please. Whatever you're planning just stop. I am only leaving Italy now, I can be there in maybe a day, but I'm not sure if I'm coming straight home."

"Please, I will do anything."

Why did he sound so desperate?

"Edward," I breathed out.

"Bella, anything. Anything," he pleaded me.

I looked over at Peter and he just looked amused.

"Fine, we'll be there."

"We? Who's we? Do you have a companion?"

"No, I have cancer, or maybe leprosy is the better term."

"Well I'm sure Carlisle will be happy to hear that you're using these medical diseases in conversation, but I'm not impressed. What are you talking about? Did you find your mate?"

I looked at Peter and he began moving his eyebrows up and down.

"No, Ed, I did not find my mate. He's just a… vampire."

"He's just a vampire?" Edward asked. "Wow, low blow there. I'll let the others know you're bringing a guest."

"Please don't," I said, but I knew it fell on deaf ears.

"This will not be like your eighteenth birthday," Edward said and I cringed.

"Why do you bring these things up?" I asked.

"Because I'm awesome like that," Edward said. "You better get back to your vampire, see you soon."

I disconnected the call. I wanted to crush my phone and throw it away, but I knew that would be no use so I put it back in my pocket.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Peter asked and I growled at him. No, I did not want to talk about it.

And what was this surprise? Sometimes I hated Edward so much, he always knew how to push my buttons in the wrong way, but I guess that's what you get with being best friends.