Chapter 7 is up… :) Thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate it! So, question: Would you like to read some flashbacks? I thought about writing some, especially to introduce Lana and Alex better, maybe to get their story going a bit. So, what do you think? Love, B.

Chapter 7 – Decisions –

"Carlisle, I will not take her there. There's nothing you can do or say that'll change my point of view!" William was angry, very angry. I had no idea, what they were really talking about. When we had joined the others in the 'conference room', as I would have called it, because of the large wooden table, there was already some fight going on. Everyone had looked at me quite strange, but then, the attention had shifted to the two men at the head of the table, who looked fiercely at each other.

"If you don't take her and the Volturi get to know somehow that you kept it a secret from them, everything will get worse. You know that as well as I do!", Carlisle announced. There was no rage in his voice. William didn't answer at first and I thought, that this must have been my opportunity to say something. I cleared my throat; at once, everyone's eyes were on me, "Isn't it kind of my decision to make?", I asked, looking straight at Carlisle. He was the rational one, I was sure that he would explain everything to me, as soon as I had the opportunity to ask what I was curious about. It was strange, feeling like that towards someone I didn't even know.

Throughout the year that I had spent with William's coven, I didn't feel like that towards William or the other females, Mary and Madelyn. Somehow, there was a barrier between us, a barrier that now seemed nearly visible in the air. I saw it in the way they looked at me, the deprecating look in their eyes. I was to blame for something – again. "Lana, you have to know, that there are rules in our world.", Carlisle began, but William interrupted him. "I told her about the rules as soon as I was able to talk some sense into her." I nodded. "That's right. William told me, how we had to remain inconspicuous and all that stuff."

"Alright. So you know, that the Volturi try to make sure that these rules are followed among our kind." "Yes." "So, there's another rule that we have to follow." William gasped contemptuously. "If someone creates a new vampire, this vampire has to be introduced to the Volturi, so that they can make sure, that the newborn is able to stick to the rules."

That was something, William had never told me. What was his problem with it? I just had to go there, say hello and leave again. No big deal, or was it?

"The problem is…", Alex began and I looked at him for the first time since we had arrived in the room. He had his arms folded across his chest, his black hair was falling into his face, nearly covering his eyes from view. His voice was low, dark. But then, he looked up and his eyes met mine. There was some feeling in them, I didn't recognize. Something seemed to be very wrong. "The problem is, that we now know about your – abilities…", he coughed. He didn't like this fact – it was too obvious. "And that they might think that you're a danger somehow. And… As they don't like William that much, they might try to – find something to use against you." He was now staring straight into my eyes. Was there the overprotective look, Edward had talked about?

"What do you mean?", I asked. The room around us seemed to slowly fade to grey, there was only the two of us, I hadn't recognized, how much I had longed for his presence. "The Volturi's duty is very noble, but some of us – like William for example – don't quite buy their nobility. They have some power in our world that nobody else has – and they are intent on keeping that power."

Intent on keeping that power… It seemed, as if I was getting some knowledge of the workings in this world. Which didn't seem to be that different from those in the human world. Nobody, who had power once, wanted to lose it to someone else. It was nothing else with the vampire's as it seemed to be. "So you mean, if I occur to be some 'danger'…", I shook my head. That was ridiculous. I didn't even know what I was doing! "To them, they might try to – deal with the problem?"

There was a hint of pain in his eyes, but he slowly nodded. "Yes."

I didn't take my eyes from his. There were too many questions in my head, too many things I wanted to know, I wanted to have HIM tell me, not Edward, because he looked into his head.

"And THAT is exactly why I won't take her there! Carlisle, they won't get to know she exists, how should they?" I snapped out of the tension that had slowly built up between Alex and me. "You don't know that, William… If they do, every one of us, who kept it from them, might be in danger. Her power is something, even I haven't seen before. We don't quite know, if it really works the way I assume, but if it does – against anyone's mental power – she will be able to control lots of things without even blinking…"

"You're kidding me…", I muttered and slowly backed away. "You DO know, that I'm in the room with you, do you?" They were talking as if I was somewhere far away, as if it was their task to decide, what I had to do. "I think you exaggerate a bit, Carlisle, don't you think?" The two were still only looking at each other. There was something, I had decided, once, Alex had told me what the matter was. "Listen!", I said, louder now, no one looked at me. Had I gone invisible? "William! No one has to take me! I can go on my own!"

At once, they were facing me. "No, you can't." There was this parental tone in his voice again. "I don't need anyone to decide for me, William. If that's what the rule says, I'll obey. There's no point in being rebellious this time, right, Carlisle?", I addressed the head of the Cullen family. His look was unreadable. "Right.", he answered. "Then, that's set.", I announced with one last glance at William.

"It's not your decision, William. Remember that."

I tried to sound cold, emotionless. I had made this decision. Maybe there was a chance to get some answers I wouldn't get here.

I turned and looked at the others, that hadn't said a word. "I'm sorry for the trouble.", I said slowly. "It was nice to meet all of you." The silence didn't go, when I turned my back to them and walked out of the room.

When you have some aim to head to and you know, you have to go alone, your bravery will show or it won't. It's a time, in which you can show what you're made of. That was, what my mother had told me back in the old days. I knew, that I wasn't strong enough to go through this, but somehow, I had to try.

I wasn't bound to them anymore – or had I ever been? The night was comfortingly cold, with a purring wind whispering through the treetops.

"Lana!" There were footsteps behind me. Whoever it was, there was no point in letting him or her trying to talk me out of it. "Wait, please! I have to tell you something!" The female voice was now next to me and as I slowly turned, I looked into the eyes of the woman called Alice. I frowned.

"I saw something.", she said matter-of-factly. "What do you mean?"

"I saw you…", she said, looking into my eyes.