Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I do not.

Songs That Inspire: Breathe Me – Sia, Grazed Knees – Snow Patrol, Miss You – Blink182, Jesus Christ – Brand New, I Feel So – Box Car Racer

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AlicePOV

I wiped the blood off my mouth; I was crouched over my kill, Jasper only a few feet away when a vision flashed before me:

Aro sitting in an office surrounded by consensus records, tapping his fingers against his temple, deep in concentration. A look of determined resolved set in his ancient features and suddenly everything went black…

What could it mean?

Oh dear God. We're being summoned.

AroPOV

Bella had thrown into a rage when I told her, I had seen her like this a few times in Volterra and I resisted the urge to cower.

"WHY? How could -…" Impatient, she embraced my power and although I could only use it with physical contact, I felt the absence of it, the usual hum of it in my body. She did what I had wished to do aloud the first time I had met her, when I was confronted with Edward's request to end him, desperate not to exist if she did not. She could hear from a distance, like him, and hear it all, like me. I would never get used to the feeling of being so exposed, and influenced by my new feelings of attachment to someone other than my mate, Sulpicia, and the knowledge of how it felt to be vulnerable, I was more hesitant than before to strip people of their deepest, darkest secrets.

"I trusted you!" I was confounded by the delicate and insecure creature in front of me, and for the first time in a long time, I was able to see her as Edward's Bella. I was able to understand the protective impulse he felt towards her, though ludicrous as it now was. I could see the emotions choking her…maybe it was not so ludicrous, maybe what she needed to be protected from was herself. Her eyes flashed as she heard these thoughts and although I was certain Jane was miles away with Heidi, I could now feel the searing pain of her gift as only Bella could use it.

Moments of agony passed and when four of our guards tried to restrain her, she toppled them with me, but they were quickly replaced by five more. When the agony stopped I was grateful, a part of her let them bring her down. This was why she needed us, only we would have the persistence and the resources to distract her long enough for her to muster up whatever reason she had left.

BPOV

Alice was coming. Would she come alone? It was all I could think about as Aro composed himself.

More importantly was when she would come. I could smell Felix in my hair and I was ashamed. I could remember her writhing at my feet in agony in the clearing and the feeling grew. I heard her sobs as her husband tried to rid the earth of me and I could bear it no longer.

Did she hate me? She should. Did he hate me? Would he come with her?

Why did he never come for me?

I told him not to. I asked Aro to make sure he was forbidden from Volterra, that if he should come, he should be asked, without any violence, to please leave. If he did not leave, they could drag him kicking and screaming out of the walls, but they could not be aggressive beyond that.

Secretly I knew that I had expected him to come, that I expected it to one day be necessary for the Volturi guard to forcibly remove him from our city. If it had been the other way around, I knew I would have come.

Doubt say heavy in the bottom of my stomach. Clearly I did not mean as much to him as he had convinced me to believe. I remember his words of promise when he returned to me, months after Jasper had attacked me.

Curiosity and desperation bred my next words, "If any of the other Cullens should feel inclined to join her, they may be allowed entry to the city. Alice should not have to feel alone here."

Yes, of course, it was Alice I was worried about, not my own incessant need to see Edward. Not my nagging hope that he would come with her.

A week had passed and I was strung tight with anxiety, even more so because it had been so long since I truly felt any emotion besides anger or sadness, in all their forms. My body was positively humming with excitement, though I did not know of what kind of excitement it sang with.

At the same time, I was more irritable this week than I had ever been. Jane had always provoked me, terrified that I would come alive, while at the same time allowing her pride and spite to thrive, emboldened as she was by my numb state. But this week, I had brought her to her knees twice, she twitched and jerked and shrieked, but refused to submit, ever defiant. It would kill her one day, I would kill her.

How dare she speak in happy tones about how much she hoped Edward would come, eager to acquaint herself with him like she had before. The first time I smothered the outburst quickly and left, but the second time, Alec, Afton and Santiago had thrown themselves on me. I quickly tossed them away, but the moment I stumbled my focus broke and I came back.

I could never be with the Cullens. I could not hurt even one of them. Men who were not even the target of my contempt came crashing down when they tried to stop me. How ironic that it was for the same reasons that Edward left so many years ago that I was now living in self-exile, condemned to live forever and never touch him again.

No, he would not come with Alice. He had given up on me long ago and he knew the only thing left in this body was evil. He may have only considered the idea before, but after 20 years I was certain he must have convinced himself that it was the truth.

But when would she come to us?

AlicePOV

I was relieved when the invitation came. It was written in Aro's handwriting and requested only myself. A day later another message arrived, again in his writing and it confused me. All it said was that I could bring whoever I wished with me to Volterra. The phrasing was too open to suggest it was a subtle command. I knew Bella had forbid entry to Volterra from any Cullen.

I had to bring Jasper, he had been with me when my first vision happened and he had guessed at its meaning when I came to, gasping, "I can't see". It was easy to convince everyone we were just going to go on an extended hunting trip. I didn't even need to hide my thoughts from Edward.

Edward. Should I tell him? No, not until I knew what it was about. I knew I could go and come back and he may never know I'd gone. He didn't even live with us anymore. Instead he stayed with the Denali's, as he had for 15 years.

He was a shell of his former self and he knew how his emotions affected Jasper. I tried not to be grateful for his departure, I loved him, really I did, but Jasper was suffering with him, even so many years later. Edward had given me a wry smile that did not reach his eyes, he understood my relief and I felt horrible for it.

Esme had been devastated at the way our family seemed to slowly fall apart. We went about our routines, but more often than any of us would care to admit, we found ourselves in a trance of silent contemplation, starring at nothing and speaking to no one for hours at a time. We had never healed from Bella.

Oh, it sounds awful, it sounds horrible, but it's as true as my own existence. She had not scarred us physically, although we could all remember the pain with shuddering clarity, her mark had been much more profound. I blamed myself for not seeing it. Carlisle blamed himself for not knowing to expect it. Jasper blamed himself for his assumption that she would be like everyone else. Esme blamed herself for not protecting her son from heart ache. Rosalie blamed herself from not killing the girl when she had a chance. Emmett blamed himself for not being strong enough to subdue her.

Edward blamed himself for all of it. For coming back to school after he had first met her, for talking to her, for falling in love with her, for claiming her as his bride, for changing her though he knew he should not. He blamed himself for not expecting her to be different, as she had always been, he blamed himself for letting her go, he blamed himself for getting his family caught up in it and he blamed himself for the way his family was ripped apart because of it.

He blamed Bella too.

I thought of him as I took my seat on the plane, hand in hand with Jasper. I knew exactly what he was doing right now without even seeing him in my mind. He was a creature of habit, trusting routine to lull him through time, ever hopeful she would come to him.

At twilight he lay down for the night ahead, he would watch the stars and imagine that somewhere in the world, Bella's eyes were watching with him. In the morning, he would read and lose himself in the pages. In the afternoon he would hunt and lose himself to his instincts. Tanya and Kate called us often, to inquire if this was normal behaviour and worry over what to do about him. He was polite as ever, but absent, and we told the sisters the only thing we knew could be done, leave him be.

BPOV

I was informed immediately of their arrival at the gates. There were two, Alice and an "unfamiliar blonde man", Jasper of course. My heart seemed to deflate, he didn't come. Calm swept over me as I realized it and I was able to sit still in my chambers and I heard their feet pass silently up the stairs outside my door, up to Aro's study. My room was a symbol of my rank, high in one of the towers. I composed myself and was grateful that Jasper was no longer aware of me, though I knew they could both smell me in this tower, I also knew that if he could feel my emotions right now, my door would pulse with my anguish and I would be found.

I cleared my face of all expression and made my way up the tower, not bothering to turn off the harp music I had been listening to.

After all, it was for me that Alice had come.

I pushed through the door behind them and they both turned towards me. Jasper was carefully composed but Alice reeled visibly. Surely she had expected me to be here? No, it's probably my eyes…

I couldn't help myself and I plucked up the cloak of Jasper's power and felt what they felt. Jasper was tense and defensive, always protective of his love. He seemed expectant as well, as though waiting for me to attack. Alice felt like disbelief, hope, love and sadness. I stepped forward and the churning energy in Jasper seemed to swell. I radiated calmness towards them and they both seemed to relax.

I focused my eyes on Alice and if it had been Jasper's meagre control over his power, the calm energy would not have been enough, he would have snapped. As it was they seemed dazed. I hesitated and I realized just how much I had missed them. My longing began to swell out towards them but I reined it in, they would not long for me if they did not wish to. I stepped closer to Alice still, mesmerised by her and the amber eyes that haunted me from a different face from the one in my memory. I returned Jasper's power to him, knowing I was immune. My face did not betray the unsettled feelings that drove me closer still to Alice. Jasper hesitated at her side and I saw her hand squeeze his reassuringly.

Before I could even register what I was doing my hands were on her shoulders, slipping up her neck and into her hair black pixie's hair. I couldn't believe that she was real, the best friend who featured in my dreams of a perfect family, the sister I had always wanted. Feeling very instinctual I leaned forward and closed my eyes, I could feel her cheek sliding under mine; my nose millimetres from her ear, breathing her in. I was startled all over again by the fact that this was, indeed, Alice. My face still carefully blank I leaned away and opened my eyes, holding hers with my gaze and my hands slid back down to her shoulders before I let her go. They all looked stunned by the strange gesture and I was reminded of when Edward had tasted one of my tears.

And then something registered with me, my senses more heightened than any other. The scent from the last time Edward had been close to Alice corresponded with the smell of the Denali Coven. Anger, my constant companion. Abruptly the draw I felt for all things powerful went wild and all of them felt what I felt, heightened as it was. Alice's vision became my own and I saw a bloodbath unfold in this tiny office, each of us infected with my rage, the thoughts Aro could not hear rang in my ears, humming energy, the buzz of Jane's power, the numb thrumming of Alec, I was overwhelmed with it all and my anger was momentarily forgotten. Everyone became visibly calmer.

"Forgive me." I murmured, "Let's get on with it, shall we? But first there are a few things I must know-", Jasper and Alice shared a look, "Do not fret. They should be simple enough. I would like to know what became of my parents and of Jacob?"

Alice was still tense and her eyes took in my figure before she spoke, slowly, hesitantly, as if to an unknown stranger, "Jacob imprinted and he's happy now. Charlie married a new waitress at the diner he loves, and Renee is happy. Phil has been very successful. And as for Ed-"

I couldn't help but snarl, "Enough." I walked around the office and stood against the wall behind Aro's desk and motioned for them to sit, "I imagine you must have a great many questions. Aro will be more than happy to answer them." Aro took his seat at the desk and explained what he could.

Alice and Jasper nervously took their seats and starred across the desk at us. I again resisted Alice's power and waited for them to sort through their thoughts.

"I guess," Alice began, "I would like to know why I didn't see this?"

"But Alice, you did see it!" Confusion settled in her features as she looked at Aro.

"…But her eyes?"

"Yes, strange are they not? Well, I suppose if you never have to consume any blood, eyes may return to what they are naturally. Do not be startled, yes, it is true. Bella does not require blood to stay alive. I know she certainly did enjoy it during those weeks with you –"I grimace, unable to forget my victims, "but she spent her first two years with us battling her demons and under her own control she has discovered she does not need it."

Jasper spoke up, voicing what he and his wife were both thinking, "What does that mean?"

Aro was smug, eager to share his theory, "The vampire population has been on the rise, it is believed the human race will eventually become extinct if we predators are not kept in check, but it would seem it is not our kind of vampire that will take over but Bella's kind, the kind who do not depend on humanity.

So far there has been none like Bella. But she was unique even as a human and more unique still as a "singer", one who was destined for death, should it be a death of humanity or one delivered by us, unable as we normally are to resist.

Evolution has been impeded by the secrets of blood. I believe that any "singer" who should be turned would be like Bella. Although considering not all "singers" has talents even as a human, she is still a marvel of her own kind.

But thus far, there has never been a "singer" who has avoided execution, never a "singer" who existed as a vampire. That is why it is illegal now for a singer to be turned; only a Cullen would have thwarted plans of blood. I always told Carlisle it was unnatural, and now you've jump started evolution. Edward was supposed to kill her, but having you, Alice with him, he was able to avoid it. Bella is an abomination!" Aro emphasized his words by slamming his palm down onto the desk, Jasper and Alice became tense and I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for my reaction. I remained detached and emotionless. I knew what they were thinking. Was I not angry to hear myself spoken of in such a manner? I had heard Aro think this many times before and again I was faced with the reality of my situation. Aro may think of me as a daughter, but in a medieval sense, I was the family that threatened his right to power and he would remove me if he could.

"The world is not ready for her kind, which is why the blood still condemns them. Until they are not targeted by nature to be singers, they must always die. Until the riddle of their sweet scent is faded, they will always die.

So we have a plan, to ensure our survival. No more new vampires are to be created, no more competition and we must find a way to stop the humans from destroying themselves, foolish things that they are. That is why we need Alice, so Bella may extend her your farther into the future so we can see if our plan will work, to see the effect of our decision."

Finally I stepped forward and addressed Alice, "May I?"

Alice nodded.

I embraced the aura of her vision and searched far into the future. No, his plan would only serve to delay evolution. The extinction of the human race, of earth itself, was inevitable. Even if they could stop the Earth from dying, the mortal critters that were featured on their menu would destroy themselves. Nonetheless I smiled reassuringly at Aro, no need to alarm him, and the plan was still useful, at least as a delay.

"I will make a suggestion." Alice was going to love this, "The years of uncertainty and the risk of occasional starvation may be diminished if the vampire race would decrease their intake of human blood. The Volturi spoil themselves with daily buffets and even those who consume a rational amount may benefit in the future by substituting some meals with animals."

Aro was outraged but he, like everyone else, cowered from the idea engaging me. He knew his earlier statement was risky enough, true though it was.

"This meeting is adjourned. Thank you both for coming to meet with us. Give our best to your family." On the outside, I was dismissive, on the inside it tore me up, "your family", it was not ours and I risked a great deal of uncertainty indeed if I pursued the option. I returned Alice's gift but not before I saw that this conversation was far from over.

I excused myself and slipped out the door and to my room where I waited for the onslaught.

AlicePOV

It takes a lot to shock me. Even as a vampire, I am unusually well acquainted with the unbelievable. And that is exactly what Bella is, unbelievable. I knew I seemed uncharacteristically solemn and unresponsive during our conversation but she was just so different!

I don't know what I expected to find here. I miss my best friend so much, but the cold brunette I just met was a far cry from her. She wasn't the odd mix of shy and friendly, she wasn't slyly playful; she wasn't even a fashion disaster! Okay, okay, the black dress was a bit simple for my taste, but it was obviously a quality piece and she looked gorgeous in it. Which reminds me, my Bella was not graceful, and she did not glide around on stilettos.

Instead this Bella was like...scary. She walked in, looking strangely a lot like the person I love, but also blaringly alien. I wasn't at all surprised to know that she was not quite vampire. I couldn't help but wonder if this is what we must look like to humans. Confident, cold, aloof and exuding a vibe that that our sixth, or, in my case, seventh sense reacted to, something inside of us that was drawn to her while another part of us screamed for us to run. She was more different still from the erratic mess of a newborn we last saw her as.

Nonetheless, I was disappointed and hurt by the way she dismissed us afterwards, but I knew where to find her.

Jasper growled warningly when I told him, "Alice."

"Please Jasper, I just have to talk to her, you can wait for me downstairs. Please, I'll be okay." Well, that was a bit of a stretch, I had no idea if I would be okay, but I definitely was not okay with letting her brush us aside like that. We were her family! My brother loves her! I love her! I missed her, doesn't she miss me? She must, why else would she have reached out for me like that?

I pushed the door open to what I found was her room, a few steps down from Aro's office. I walked into the strangely circular bedroom and saw that Bella was perched on her bed, waiting for me. How strange this room was, lavish but shaped oddly like a doughnut, I realized that the staircase went through the middle of it. It was much bigger than Aro's dusty office, surprisingly so. The room was scarcely decorated, instead relying on the ancient charm of the stone, hardwood furniture draped in white and strangely modern windows. I took this all in during the quarter of a second, my eyes still on Bella.

"Yes Alice?"

"I have a few more questions."

She inclined her head and stood up from the bed, "Of course."

I stalled and went over to her closet to investigate, "Is it always this exciting around here? At first, I thought we would all kill each other up there." My God, everything in this closet is black!

Bella gave me a grim smile, "Unfortunately, when I feel anger so strongly-"she put up her hand to stop me from asking why she felt that way, "I lose control of my resistance and absorb all the powers pressing down on me and with Jasper there, I unthinkingly projected my feelings on to you. But no, normally I can control myself."

So much for light conversation, that question just opened a giant can of worms.

"Resist? You don't consciously take it?" We never even gave her a chance! We condemned her for being a modified version of a newborn and let her go!

"No, I am constantly resisting, I hate taking other's powers and I try to avoid it. Well, except with Jane."

I laughed at Bella's chagrined grimace, as much because I loathed Jane as because it seemed so very like my Bella. But at the same time, I remember my most recent experience of Jane's power in Bella's hands and wondered at the information Bella just revealed to me.

"Shouldn't we have all been obliterated in the clearing then?" The convergence of power that day was astounding, surely if she had let go completely, all those powers together would have taken a chunk out of Seattle, along with us and every other thing within a ten mile radius.

"Maybe, but the part of me that hated what I was doing resisted as best I could. I've become much more in control of myself since, my shield has helped to block off that part of my mind, but it's a dangerous balance and it took me a long time to withstand that part of my nature even somewhat. If there is a power around me, I can take it, refuse it, and give it back. Can you understand? I control it now, it doesn't control me. And it did control me, we think the power was so much, and my kind is not yet developed enough to take it on, that I just became overwhelmed. I let the power become its own demonic entity. I am unstable. I know what you want. I can't come with you Alice, I'm sorry."

I sighed, resigned, "Can I at least sit with you here for a moment? I have missed you so much Bella!" Bella softened at my words and I knew she still cared. Without thinking I reached my hand out and pet her hair gently, as if she could still break. She looked like she could. She did not react to my touch and I quickly withdrew my hand.

It seemed strange to sit here with this person who had been my best friend and, was still, my sister-in-law. She had spent twenty years away from us while my brother seemed to disintegrate before our eyes. I could see that while she was less passive than my beloved brother, she had suffered the neglect of twenty years, she was reserved, distant. She was alone.

And then I wondered at the idea that one day, everyone she knew might starve to death while she lives on. Would she still be alone?

And if human is what we both used to be, how would their population sustain themselves? Surely they could not create a new one without a previous source of life…

"I'm sorry to interrupt you Alice, but I saw this conversation, and I cannot wait for it. Yes, Alice, my reproductive system continues, but I think only one of my 'species' can impregnate me. Now ask me Alice, ask me if I have tested this theory."

How could she test it? There were no others like her! Were there? Or did she just know that no one else could? Oh no! No she couldn't! She wouldn't! She would never do that to Edward!

"Bella, have you had sex with someone else?"

"Yes."

My palm was flying across her face before the word even left her mouth.

BPOV

I knew she would slap me. I also knew I deserved it. And Jesus was that a hit, if I were any normal vampire, I have no doubt the impact of that strike would've sent my head off my body and flying into one of the walls. As it was, all I felt was a mild sting. I wondered how her hand felt now.

"Alice, stop." She was flying towards the door in a whirlwind of fury, but there was still more I needed to say to her, "Do you want to know the real reason why I stay here?"

She turned on me with a vengeance and was on her toes in my face screaming at me in an instant, "Don't you dare fucking tell me it's because of some guard! What happened to you Bella? Do you even realize that Edward is still here on this earth? Do you even care?"

I struggled to keep my voice steady, "Yes, Alice. I do know he is still here, on this earth. No, I have not fallen in love with someone else." I could see Alice gearing up to give me more lashings and I quickly stopped her, "Alice, I have heard the litany of your insults for this conversation already and I know I have it coming, but Jasper is anxiously waiting for you. So, will you listen?"

She calmed herself, a bit more willingly, I think, than she would with someone else. No matter how angry, there was an undercurrent of fear in Alice, like her instincts were telling her not to provoke me, to run away. I am the ultimate predator now and I hate myself for it.

"Good. There are two reasons Alice: one which is both obvious and public knowledge, and the other, which is complicated and more important than the first. The first is that only the Volturi is large enough to attempt to contain me, because, believe me, I have my moments where I need to be subdued. Any smaller coven could be destroyed in one of my fits. I cannot leave here without risking others and I certainly do not want to risk you or your family. Do you want to know the other reason?"

Alice nodded eagerly and I hesitate, unsure how to explain myself on this point - this point that wouldn't really be an issue if I had let my demon take over, if I forgot my love for him.

"Alice, four years after I left, was Edward's hand torn off?"

At first, I almost smiled at the perplexed look on her face, but at the same time, her expression was enough to confirm it. I tried to cover the anguish I felt, it was horrible to be proven right.

AlicePOV

I rushed to give her an explanation, "Yes, but it was quickly restored. Did you see that happen? My God, even I didn't foresee that Jasper would come across a human mid-hunt! We are always so careful with his activities; I thought the forest was clear. If Edward hadn't been there to stop him…" I shuddered at the idea of Jasper's remorse.

"No, Alice, I didn't see it! I felt it." What? "Thankfully I was alone when my hand seemed to detach itself from my body of its own accord. I still screamed bloody murder, and try though I did, it only restored moments later, I imagine at the same time Edward's did. It would seem, with my species that one literally cannot live without the other. My true love is the key to my destruction." Impossible! "The Volturi would kill him just to be rid of me. If they knew this…" Bella huffed in frustration, "I should destroy them all just for the possibility of their duplicity, but I spent two years silencing the murderer within me and I will not have it reawaken for them. The world needs them; they are the most capable and, more importantly, most willing authority. I need to keep an eye on them and I need to make sure that I never see Edward here."

"Alice," Bella breathed my name like a plea, "I just, I needed you to know the truth, because you're the best friend I've ever had. I'm so sorry to have disappointed you, I'm disappointed in myself. But I do love you and I miss you and..." Edward. She couldn't say it, but it was there between us, unspoken.

I thought about this, and while I might not ever understand how she could have given her body to another, I would give her the benefit of the doubt, because she is my sister.

Bella interrupted my musings, "Now, do you remember Afton?"

I did remember him; he was a one of the Volturi guard. I narrowed my eyes at her and wondered if she was going to share all the gory details.

"His gift involves the memory, very handy for the sake of all our secrecy among humans. I am able to manipulate it and use it on our…your…kind. For the safety of this secret though, I have to use his gift on you, so Aro may never look into your mind and see it. It will be locked away."

No! "Bella, I have to keep this memory of you! It's been killing me all these years, wondering why you've never come back to us! Please!"

"I'm sorry Alice, it's too dangerous. But do not worry, while Afton's gift works to remove the memory, the feelings from it remain. You will feel satisfied by this trip. When Edward is putting himself at risk, you will feel how important it is that he remains intact." Bella's voice became fierce, "Because if what happened sixteen years ago happens at court, the Volturi will be curious to know how I seem to have just fallen apart and they will investigate!"

"But with Afton here, can't you just erase their memory of it?"

Bella laughed but it was without humour, "I told you Alice, the Volturi are cunning. They'll worry at that black spot in their minds. As will you, but the irritation you would feel about not knowing won't be there if you agree to let me erase it."

I thought about it and on some level, I wanted to forget about this. I didn't want to know that history was repeating itself as it had after her 18th birthday, but on Bella's part, I'd rather be comforted by ignorance. I also dearly wanted to forget that my darling sister is an adulterer and that I would always have to worry about letting Edward hear my thoughts on this, and think about it I would. It would break his heart more than it was already broken.

I hugged Bella to me quickly, holding tight for a moment, noticing her different smell, before I released her, "Okay."

BPOV

Alice came to a second later, "Bella? What –what just happened? I was just standing at your closet and…I missed something."

Her eyes were glazed and disoriented.

"I don't know. You seemed to just pass out. Maybe you had an overwhelming vision. Let me get you an escort to bring you down to Jasper. You'll be okay in a minute." I called for Demetri and asked him to kindly return Mr. Cullen's wife to him. Demetri smirked and gave me a knowing look; he was often with Afton during his missions.

As she made for the door, I said the only words I had left for her, "Alice."

She turned toward me slowly, wary. My face betrayed a moment of anguish.

"Your brother will return to you in four months and 21 days."

"And my sister? When will she return to me?"

"Goodbye, Alice."

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