Sorry if some chapters lately have seemed short or disjointed. I have some viewpoints and events coming up in later chapters that I am very excited to write, so its hard to force myself to focus on the chapters at hand. I hope they haven't been disappointing.

Chapter 7: Subjugation

Bella's Point of View

The return trip to Volterra was perhaps the darkest time of my life.

I think, out of my entire new family, it was the worst for me.

Alec plunged all of the others into senselessness, yet I was unaffected. I don't even have words to name my emotions during the brief and futile defense we put up.

Seeing Carlisle held down on the ground was agony. Carlisle had always been such a peaceful, proud man. It made no sense that he would have to be held down against the ground. Why were they treating him like that?

Even worse was Esme. Arms held roughly behind her as her children were taken away from her.

Then Jasper, fighting and yelling for Alice. None of them had any idea what was taking place around them. I had known he was desperately afraid for Alice.

And my Edward…I can't describe what came over me. The second that Alec had him under his spell it was like my entire world had come to an end. I was frozen in place. I wanted to help him but I didn't know what I could do. But seeing him thrash around helplessly and call my name was more than I could take.

Then my head had started to buzz. I was so full of love and rage that I felt like my head would explode. And…it kind of had. That was the only way I can explain it.

One second I was feeling all those raw emotions, and the next it was like I pushed outward, and a hazy white film had exploded from around me and encompassed Edward. I forgot for a moment that I was now a vampire and thought that I was beginning to pass out.

But as the seconds passed I realized that Alec's power had been lifted from Edward. I didn't even stop to think how that could be. But I instinctively knew it had something to do with the hazy fog that connected me with him so I started to concentrate, forcing the connection to hold.

Edward had fought for me. I knew he was giving everything he had to protect me, and for once I did not feel useless. I know had a role to play. I was shielding him, the one whom I loved more than life itself. I was finally doing my part to help him against our relentless enemies.

I was not strong enough to hold it. One of the Volturi trapped me from behind, and it became harder and harder to hold Edward inside my shield. It had faltered, and he had faltered soon after.

I almost couldn't bear to return the look he gave me at that moment. His eyes had melted as they met mine, and then I could see the utter defeat and hopelessness engulf him. I tossed my head back and howled, headless of Chelsea's razor sharp teeth at my neck. Nothing mattered save my Edward, lying in front of me, broken and defeated.

I would have given my entire future existence at that time if he could have been allowed to stand.

Time after Edward's fall had passed for me in a blurry mist of shapes and colors. None of it had mattered.

Edward, Jasper, Alice and I had been taken by the guard. Alice walked with her captors willingly enough. Jasper and Edward had been carried along. I think Jasper tried to fight back, but it was so very difficult for him with all of his senses shut down.

I had allowed myself a brief glimpse back at our once happy Alaskan home before we were out of sight. The guard had let go of Esme and Carlisle, but they would have no hope of reaching us until Alec's power wore off. I did not know what range his power was effective over.

When we were some distance away, I could just hear Esme begin to call Edward's name frantically.

I had paid little enough attention to where we were going, but eventually we ended up at one of Alaska's many tiny airstrips. I was not surprised in the least to see the Volturi had arrived in their own small private jet. We were all loaded on and carefully separated once inside. Alec's spell still held sway over all the rest.

During the entire trip I did not take my eyes off Edward, though every second I did tore little pieces off me away from my body. The Volturi did not speak during the trip. Or perhaps I had just not cared to notice.

When we had landed we were quickly ushered into a military style helicopter. Aro must have wanted us within the castle's walls as soon as possible.

The helicopter touched down on a private helipad right next to the castle. We were ushered straight inside, but once we entered the sickeningly familiar hallway where we had met Gianna, Jasper and Edward were taken through a different door then Alice and I.

The moment I realized that we were to be split up, I made a last, desperate lunge for Edward. My fingers managed to brush his arm. With a sickening lurch of my stomach I realized that he had not even been able to feel my fingers.

I didn't know if I held onto any hope of seeing Edward again.

Alec had gone with the other party. I heard a strangled gasp from Alice as her senses flooded back to her and surefooted Alice stumbled.

We were taken into the dark tower room with the grate in the middle. I had never wanted to see this room again.

I immediately recognized Caius and Aro, waiting for us in the middle of the room in front of the grate. Marcus was slouching in one of the high backed chairs, not even acknowledging our presence with a look. Aro's milky white eyes were fairly sparkling as he welcomed us to Volterra.

'I really must apologize for any rough treatment that occurred on your trip. I want you to know that while you live here, you will be treated with the utmost respect and civility. This is to be your home now, and I would hate if we were to start off on the wrong foot.' He smiled gently at us.

I had no response. My mouth gaped wide open. How he could speak to us like that after ripping us from our family, I had no idea. I felt Alice stiffen beside me, but she did not speak either.

Caius scowled, I didn't believe that he shared in Aro's warm feelings towards us. Aro swept forward, his hand outstretched. Alice and I both jumped back.

Aro held his hands up innocently in front of him. 'I would just like to get reacquainted with you, it's seemed like ever such a long time since we last had an opportunity to talk.'

Alice snarled, her eyes flashing dangerously. Aro frowned.

'Now really, Alice, I would have expected a little better manners to come from one such as you. I truly mean you and Bella no harm.'

He took another step toward Alice. She tried to shrink away but Felix and Demetri moved up behind her, blocking any escape.

Aro took her hand in his and she winced as if she had been physically struck. His eyes closed as he absorbed the new information. 'Ah yes. I thought as much.' His eyes opened and he studied Alice closely.

'I am most excited to finally have you as one of us, my dear. I have always believed that you were special beyond any I had ever met before.'

I noticed that Jane scowled jealously at Aro's words. I filed that fact away for future reference.

Aro turned suddenly from Alice to face me. 'And Bella! Beautiful Bella! I see that Edward finally made the right decision and you have become one of us.' He chuckled lightly as he held out his hand for me. 'May I?'

I did not let myself flinch as I stepped forward. I knew my shield was still in place and I had nothing to fear from him. I held my hand out to him. He took it eagerly, and then a disappointed frown flittered across his features. It vanished after a moment.

'I see you are still as closed off as before. How remarkable. And yet, I see from our little Alice here that you were not able to develop any further abilities. That is…' His voice faltered a little. 'Disappointing. I had been so very hopeful…'

His eyes turned greedily on Alice, like a drug addict would look at his next fix. I felt sick. He turned back to smile at me. 'But do not worry Bella, we will find a place for you in our family.'

He motioned for Renata and the rest of his personal bodyguard to follow. 'I am sorry, but I am going to have to excuse myself. Caius and I have to go greet the other two new members of our family. I'll have Maria take you to your new quarters.'

Aro, Caius and their guard swept from the room. Marcus remained behind, his eyes trailed on the ceiling as if he had just discovered a new Michelangelo up there.

With a start I realized a human had entered the room. My throat flared into flame and I shut my eyes. Alice found my hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze.

Olive skinned, impeccably dressed and coifed Maria approached us briskly and offered to show us to our rooms. Alice tugged my hand and we followed her. We knew we had no other choice. If Maria was the new human receptionist I briefly wondered what must have happened to Gianna. I glanced back in the tower room and my eyes found the grate in the middle of the room.

I was pretty sure I could guess what had happened to the Volturi's old secretary. I was startled to realize I felt no sympathy for her. So what if she had ended her life in the dark tower room? It would have been no more than she would have been willing to hand out to others, had she been granted her wish and been invited to join her masters.

We rode down the elevator and came out in an opulently decorated hallway. This must be where all the guard had their own private rooms. Maria led us at a vigorous pace three fourths of the way down the hall before she stopped in front of a dark mahogany door.

'This will be your room. Aro had assumed you two would prefer to share, though different arrangements can always be made if you would like your own rooms.'

Alice cut her off with a cold glare. 'This will be perfectly fine.' She opened the door and pulled me behind her.

Maria called after us. 'There is a call button beside the door if you would require…' Alice cut her off by slamming the door.

I gaped at the room, astonished. It looked like what I had always imagined Marie Antoinette's bedroom had been like. There were two sumptuous four postered beds with curtains. Why the Volturi had beds, I didn't know. It must just be for show. The walls were covered in rich tapestries and dark paintings. They looked centuries old.

Alice had sunk down onto one of the beds, and I quickly went to her and put my arms around her shoulders.

'Oh Bella.' Alice hid her face in my shoulder. 'Jasper is in darkness and pain. I can't see him ever leaving. I can't find a future where any of us are free.'

I stroked Alice's hair softly to calm her. I did not feel any more hope than she did, but I felt in that moment that I would have to keep hope for all of us.

'Alice we have to be strong. You know the future can change in an instant. Nothing is set in stone.' I hugged her tightly to me, as she used to hug and comfort me when I had been human.

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and desperate. 'If only I could see Jasper…but I can't even find a future where we are together.'

I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm for the both of us. I was casting around looking for something to say but at that moment we were interrupted by a knock at the door.

I called out for whoever was at the door to come in. 'You probably would have just come in anyway.' I mumbled under my breath before the door opened.

I groaned. It was perhaps the last vampire I wanted to see. Felix sauntered into the room. 'Hello girls, pretty nice place you have here.'

Alice and I just glowered at him.

He scowled. 'That's not very welcoming. I was just coming to see if you two needed anything.' He turned his face at me and winked slyly. 'And I do mean anything Bella, you just let me know and I am your man.'

'Not interested.' I snapped.

He shrugged. 'That's what you say now. But these cold Volterra nights can get pretty dark and lonely by yourself.'

I growled low in my throat, Alice tensing beside me. 'I am not alone. Edward is my husband.'

He threw his head back and laughed loudly. 'You married Edward? How very sweet. But has no one told you yet? I'm so sorry to be the bearer of bad news.' He paused for dramatic effect.

He didn't look sorry at all. I swallowed roughly, suddenly nervous. Was he going to tell us what happened to Edward and Jasper?

'Aro and Caius just got back from having a little chat with your boyfriends. It looks like your not going to be seeing too much of your pretty boy from here on out.' He took a step closer to me, completely ignoring Alice who was now snarling warningly deep in her throat.

'Wouldn't you like to be with a real man anyway, honey? I can show you things that he would never have been capable of.' I stared at Felix in shock and disgust, Alice leaned forward a little toward him, ready to spring.

'I can take you places you've only dreamed of.' He licked his lips and took another step closer to me, a wicked glint in his eye.

Suddenly our door flung open again. A short, lanky vampire with shoulder length dirty blonde hair and narrowed scarlet eyes took quick stock of the situation. A wide smile blossomed on his face. He spoke in a thick, singsong Irish accent.

'Terribly sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing what was going on here as I passed by. It didn't sound like it was about to end well so I came in to see if anyone needed any help.' At his last words his gaze flickered to me and Alice.

Alice glowered at him and spoke coldly. 'We know how to defend ourselves, thank you. We were just about to kick this one' her head inclined toward Felix, who had frozen in his tracks 'out.'

Felix smiled, his eyes never leaving me. 'I was just leaving anyway.' He turned to go, then threw a glance back at me. 'Remember my offer Bella, my door is always open to you. Just shout my name if you want me.'

He winked again and left, shooting a tight smirk at the intervener as he left.

Our would be rescuer held his hand out to Alice. 'Names Corin. Nice to meet you.'

She glared and kept her hands stiffly at her sides. Without missing a beat he held his hand out to me. I mirrored Alice's reaction.

He lowered his hand after a few moments and smiled sadly at us.

'Well, I suppose I already know you two. Alice and Bella, right?' We held our stony silence.

His cheery smile finally wavered and he looked away from us, suddenly very interested in one of the tapestries. 'I know your story. Everyone around here does, really. I am not going to say I agree with Aro in forcing you to join us. But theres really nothing that can be done about it. You may as well try to make the best out of your situation.'

As we continued to glare quietly at him, he shifted from foot to foot, obviously beginning to grow nervous.

'We're not all of us as bad as Felix. He's just sexually repressed.' He laughed at his own joke. 'Most of the girls around here are taken, and Heidi keeps refusing him. She prefers Demetri.'

Suddenly I was not able to hold onto my cool demeanor any longer as he kept prattling on. 'Stop. Just stop.' My eyes flashed with anger and my body shook noticeably.

'We don't want to get to know any of you. We don't want to fit in. We were brought here against our will. As far as I am concerned, we are prisoners.' My upper lip pulled back in a silent snarl. At that moment I wished that all the movies and books had been true and vampires really did have fangs. I wanted to look as threatening and non-friendly as I could.

'We can protect ourselves. So please, just leave us alone.'

Corin's smile wavered and then it strengthened, though his eyes had become sad. 'Regardless, let me know if you two need anything, or if anyone bothers you.'

He strolled from the room, whistling a cheery tune under his breath and pulled the door shut behind him.

Alice and I turned toward each other. Her eyes became indescribably miserable and I realized she must have been searching for Jasper in the future again. Her face crumpled and I hugged her to me.

I was surprised when Heidi stopped by my room a few days after the practicing incident. She told me to meet with everyone in the tower room because we had a job. The Volturi guard had gone on several 'jobs' after Alice and I had been forced to join them, but we had yet to be sent along.

I frowned as I made my way to the tower. Aro couldn't possibly believe that I was beginning to finally accept my new life. It made me incredibly nervous that I was being sent out with them because I had no idea what it meant for me.

I stopped in front of the wide tower door and took a deep breath to compose myself. I had always been resolved to never show weakness in front of Aro or Caius.

After I had settled myself I pulled lightly on the door and stepped inside. Aro looked up and held his arms out. 'Ah good, dear Bella is here so we can begin.'

I risked a glance at Alice, who, as usual, was next to his side as if she were chained there. She looked dull and lifeless, just a faint shadow of her former bright self. I had to squeeze my eyes shut tightly to calm myself. Felix strode over and stood close to me. I sighed.

Caius stepped forward to address the guard. 'Aro has become privy to some startling new information. In just a few short days two of our kind will make themselves known to humans. Which, as you all know, is the one small thing that we ask the vampire population never do.' He grinned evilly. 'So we will step in, naturally, on behalf of all our kind and keep our secret.'

'But they haven't done anything.' I was shocked to realize that I had spoken. Caius scowled and glared at me. 'They haven't done anything yet, Bella, but they will.'

I took a step forward. I had to try as hard as I could to control my voice. 'Aro knows how Alice's visions work. A couple days are a long time. They could change their minds in a heartbeat. You can never be completely sure that one of her visions will come to pass.'

Caius spoke harshly. 'The safety and secrecy of our world can not be left to what ifs or possibilities. We have the tools know to catch the rule breakers before the act. We will not wait.' He turned away from me dismissively.

I seethed quietly but kept silent. If I was going to be included on this particular job then I wasn't going to say anything further to jeopardize my chances at going. If I were there, on the spot, maybe I could do something to help the doomed vampires.

Caius gestured to a few of the guard. 'Jane will be in charge of this mission, and she will be taking Demetri, Felix, Corin and Bella. I expect to be notified as soon as the problem is taken care of.' He turned and returned to his throne, ending the conversation.

All of the named vampires turned to leave immediately, I followed behind but was stopped by Jane. 'Aro asked me to remind you what a terrible, needless shame it would be if you did not return with the others from the job. None of us want to see poor Edward hurt.'

I took ten seconds to recite the opening scene of Rome and Juliet in my head, distracting myself from the overwhelming desire to rip Jane's arms from her body.

'Tell Aro he has nothing to worry about, I have no intention of abandoning Edward, as he well knows.' I whirled on my heel and quickly followed the others out. I did not trust myself to remain in the same room with Jane for another second.

We took the private jet. Apparently the future break in secrecy would come in some small town in Russia. I had never heard of it.

I was pleased when Demetri, Felix and Jane all rode in the cockpit. Corin was nowhere near as offensive to me as the other guard members, and he had kept his distance after our initial meeting.

That pleasure quickly evaporated as he came to sit next to me shortly after takeoff. I sighed at him. 'Corin, this whole plane is empty, would you mind picking another seat?'

'Sure thing.' He smiled brightly at me and moved to the seat directly in front of mine, then swiveled back to stare at me.

'That's not exactly what I meant…' I turned and stared out the window.

He ignored my actions and went right on talking. 'I was wondering if you would tell me the story behind your eyes.'

I frowned and kept looking out the window. 'You've been my escort on hunting trips before, you know the golden color comes from drinking the blood of animals only, not people.'

'Yes, I did know that.' His voice never wavered from its sickening cheeriness. 'I was wondering more about the why.'

I finally looked back at him, and spoke very slowly as if he was not the sharpest tool in the shed. 'You were not born a vampire, were you?'

He grinned, clearly taking no offense at my tone. 'Nope.'

I continued in the slow voice. 'Then you were once human.'

He nodded again. 'A long time ago.'

'Tell me. When you were human, would you have appreciated being a vampire's late night snack? Or maybe you're parents, or you're children? Do unto others Corin.' I made a face. 'I can no more feed on a human than I could have when I was still human. Vampires don't need human blood to survive. It's horrific to end their lives like that.'

Corin listened patiently through my speech and then shook his head slowly.

'You had a much different experience with humanity than I did.'

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. His smile was still in place, but his eyes had taken on a distant look.

He caught me looking and grinned. 'We have a long ride ahead of us Bella, would you like to hear my tale?'

I resigned myself to having to listen to Corin talk for the entire trip, so I nodded. At least this way I could probably tune him out and not have to answer very often. I allowed myself a tight smile. He was kind of like the vampire version of Jessica.

'I lived in Ireland. In the year that was later labeled 82 AD Rome sent a small force into Ireland to help an exiled king, Tuathal, regain his throne. Agricola was the Roman general who had taken over most of Britain, so he naturally commanded the small incursion into Ireland.'

I was surprised to find that I was actually listening to his story, all traces of resentment gone as curiosity overcame me.

The ever present cheeriness bled out of his voice as he spoke. It was slowly replaced with a sharp bitterness.

'Agricola was not a kind man. An effective man, there was no doubt about that. But definitely not a kind man. After his mission was over and they had placed the Roman's choice for king on the throne, he headed back to Britain. Agricola was unsure at the time if he would be ordered to take Ireland in the future, so he decided to leave behind a reminder of Roman might that he hoped the people of Ireland would not easily forget.'

He paused, and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was reliving a far distant time. 'I lived in a small coastal town with my family. I was a fisherman of small means, but I had a good life, a happy life. I had a wife and four young boys. My family was my entire world. I would have done anything for them. I don't remember much of that first life now, but I do remember the end.'

His lip curled up at the side and he snarled softly. I wasn't even sure he was aware that he had snarled. 'We had no warning of Agricola's approach. His auxiliary marched on the town at first light. I had just gone down to my boat to prepare for the coming days' work. My two oldest boys were with me. By the time we saw the smoke and heard the screams it was already too late.'

He stared, unseeing, out the window of the plane. 'I should have taken my two sons in my boat and fled the shore. I would have been able to hide in the small chain of islands offshore, I knew them well. But I did not. I raced back to my home, my sons following closely behind. It was futile. My wife and my other sons were already dead. I saw their blood soaked bodies lying on the ground in front of our home.'

He became silent for a long time. I didn't push him to speak, I patiently waited for him to continue. I knew this story was not going to have a happy ending, nor could it be an easy one to tell.

'The soldiers were upon us before I could even pick up a weapon. They slaughtered my two sons in front of my eyes as they held me back. They were saving me to join the small group of surviving men who would become their symbolic warning to Ireland. I was nailed to a cross along with the others. The soldiers slashed a hole in my side and then hoisted my cross straight up into the air.'

'The Roman soldiers marched away, leaving us to die a slow, excruciating death.'

He was silent again, I was beginning to think his tale was done when he finally whispered. 'I was on the cross for two days and nights. The cries of the others had become silenced one by one. I don't know how I held on for as long as I did. I must have lost most of my blood and I was severely dehydrated. I was sure I was hallucinating when I felt myself being lowered from the cross. Then the burning began.'

He shook his head slowly as if awakening. 'There had been a vampire traveling through. He had been drawn to our town by the scent of all that blood. Apparently I was the only survivor and he took pity on me while admiring the strength that I must possess for having lived so long beyond anyone else.'

'He left shortly after I awoke but before he explained what he had done to me. I was enraged at the scent of all the spilled blood around me and I gorged myself. I do not know if my thirst drew me back to my family. I did not take time to look at the bodies I drank from.'

His eyes suddenly met mine, their intensity making me want to turn away.

'So no Bella, I am afraid I am going to have to disagree with you on that point. The only horrific thing about humans is that they are, by their very nature, vile and heartless beings. They were put on this earth as our food source, nothing more.'

He let his gaze drop and his cheery smile slowly returned. 'I'm sorry to have answered you with such a long tale. I remember you saying something about wanting to be left alone.' He grinned at me one more time then retreated to the back of the plane.

I shuddered. It was hard to imagine such terrible things as Corin had described. I had to admit to myself, if any vampire had a reason to hate humans, it was surely him.

Several hours later the plane descended. Corin had the door opened for me with a smile and I disembarked with the others into a blizzard. If I had still been human I wouldn't have been able to see a foot in front of my face. As it was, the thickly swirling snow and howling winds lessened visibility a lot. There was a low building in the distance that was halfway buried in snow.

I almost smiled when I stepped onto the snow and did not sink in. I was allowing myself to remember back to the first real snow I had experienced as a vampire in Alaska. I had been delighted to discover that we did not sink into the snow but walked lightly overtop it.

Demetri pointed us in the direction of a far off village. We could just make out the glow of its lights in the thickly swirling snow. We all headed there at a light run.

I began to feel nervous again, wondering if there was anything I could do to stop what was about to happen.

We stopped when we reached the first building of the small village and Jane turned expectantly to Corin. 'Can you find them?'

My curiosity became piqued again as I wondered if Corin had a special ability.

He turned his body from one extreme edge of the village to the other. He stopped and pointed. 'They are together in the house farthest northwest.'

The Volturi guard moved slowly through the village, all but invisible in their trailing grey cloaks. I had left mine in a heap on the floor of the plane.

I lingered behind the others to talk in a quiet whisper to Corin. 'Do you have a special ability for locating people?'

He laughed softly. 'I guess you can call it that. I probably come the closest of any of our kind to fulfilling the characteristics of a fictional vampire.'

I raised my eyebrow, wondering what he meant.

'When I became a vampire I realized that I had a sort of echolocation. I can determine the location of items, or people, by reflecting sound waves around me. Just like a bat.'

Something occurred to me and I frowned, confused. 'But how could you find the vampires specifically out of all the other people in the village?'

He flashed me another grin. 'Vampire bodies are not like human bodies. We are made of tougher stuff.' He knocked on his chest. 'The sound waves bounce differently off a vampire than they would a human.'

I nodded. 'That sounds…useful.'

We had arrived at the house that Corin had identified. The door was opened for us and two vampires stood waiting. There was a man and a woman, they were both petite with short, dark hair. They smiled and welcomed us inside.

I blanched at the thought of anyone welcoming the Volturi guard into their home, but composed myself. I needed to wait and see how things developed.

The happy vampire couple motioned to some simple wooden chairs and asked us what brought so many of our kind to their small village.

I took a deep, steadying breath. Here we go.

No one took the offered chairs. Jane stepped forward. 'We are representatives of the Volturi.'

The man glanced at all of us warily, he must have recognized the meaning behind that word and he was quickly becoming nervous.

Jane continued. 'You will, in one day's time, reveal our secret world to a human.'

The woman gasped and clutched her mate's arm. His eyes narrowed.

'The penalty for breaking our most sacred rule is death.'

The woman rushed forward and fell to her knees in front of Jane. 'No, we haven't told anyone.' She begged in broken English. 'Please, we have done nothing wrong.'

Jane looked down disdainfully at the woman, like one might look at a pesky fly.

'No, you have not yet, but you will.'

Her mate rushed forward and put his hands on her shoulders. 'Sophie knows nothing of this. It was I that was going to tell.' He spoke tremblingly, intimidated by all the grey cloaks surrounding him.

'It's my…father. He is dying. He thinks I was killed many years ago, that I froze when I was caught in a blizzard. He is all alone now, and I was going to reveal myself to him so that he would not have to die alone. It would make him so very happy to know that I lived on...' His words trailed off as he looked at the faces around him, searching for hope or a friendly face.

It was almost too much for me to handle. I felt like everything was spinning. I was thinking of my own father, of Charlie. What if he was dying, all alone? Would I not run to him as well?

I stepped forward and the man quickly glanced at me, hope brimming in his eyes. 'Jane, Aro had it all wrong. There can be no harm in him telling his father. His father would be dead soon anyway. No one will know our secret. It's ok.'

Felix hissed at me and Jane scowled. 'The old man could tell others before his death, we can't risk it.' Jane held up her hand, and I knew if she dropped it the rest of the guard would carry out the execution.

'No! This isn't right!' I placed myself in between the Russian vampire couple and the Volturi. The short woman gripped my arm tightly, she was clearly terrified.

'Bella, get out of the way.' Demetri snarled and grabbed for my other arm. I growled and crouched, prepared to defend the couple, readying myself to cover the Russians with my shield.

What happened next was a blur.

Jane dropped the man to the floor with a smile as he screamed in pain. Corin lurched forward and tackled me to the ground while Felix and Demetri leaped over me to get at the couple.

Corin was dragging me from the small house as the sickening, metal wrenching sounds began. I struggled furiously against him.

He threw me down face first in the snow and held me down, furiously whispering close to my ear. 'Bella get control of yourself. If you would have fought to defend them Jane would have loved nothing more than to have ordered your death on the spot. You may not bother to look around you but the rest of us can see it plain as day. Jane hates you and Alice, she thinks that Aro's favor will lie with you two and he will not value her and Alec as highly.'

I stopped struggling, barely hearing his words as my mind was filled with images of Charlie.

'Much better. Do you promise to behave yourself if I let you up?' I nodded numbly and he let me go. I stood slowly.

Corin's tone softened and he put a hand on my shoulder. 'There was nothing you could have done. Once Aro hands out a death sentence, no one can change that.' I shrugged angrily out from under his hand. He smiled sadly at me, but we were interrupted by the remainder of the guard leaving the house.

Felix and Demetri began to casually set fire to the house as Jane left, heading for the plane without a glance at me.

I spent the entire return trip sitting by myself in silence. I couldn't get the man's words out of my head. I knew I would have done the same thing. I would never let Charlie die, alone and forgotten.