Wow, it's been forever. I'm really really sorry. Maybe if you all reviewed, I'd update quicker.

I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 4

Edward's Hope

BPOV

Time passed slowly in the Volturi's domain. We had "freedom" to wander the halls, or so they said. However, it always seemed that every interesting door was locked. I dedicated my time to observation. I needed to know my enemies in detail. Our protest had been rash and had achieved nothing. We needed to regroup. We need to get out of here. But when we got out of there, I wanted to know everything that I could about how to take them down.

It wasn't difficult to learn about the Volturi. Rumors and gossip fluctuated through the staff about everything, the Volturi included. I had already learned a great deal about them from Carlisle, but he did not have much to say about Edward. I knew that he knew something though. It was incredibly frustrating. Alice was also holding out on me.

Amazingly, Alice actually seemed to be getting along with Edward. She was treating him like a good friend, a brother. It didn't fit. It just didn't make sense. What was I missing here? Carlisle looked at Edward with a special form of sadness. Did they all know something I didn't?

Despite my misgivings and confusion, I found myself drawn to Edward. There was a part of him that seemed kindred to a part of me. Maybe I was imagining things. I had managed to keep myself away from him, to keep myself from getting attached for most of our "visit". It wasn't until the second week of our confinement that things began to change.

We were only able to receive small quantities of blood, obtained from rodents or the occasional bird because the Volturi were disinclined to provide animal for us. The thirst was becoming a physical ache. I could see it in Jasper, Alice, and Carlisle's eyes as well. Jasper especially was having difficulties. I had been turned with a far more powerful ability to resist than he had. He wouldn't be able to last much longer.

So on last night of our second week, things were looking rather dismal. I paced restlessly in the moonlit hallways. I didn't like being in this uncontrolled situation, and the thirst was distracting me. I was beginning to find it hard to function. Usually, I would have been pacing in my chamber at this hour. The Volturi frowned on our prolonged exploration of their home, especially at night. They liked to keep things private. We tried to avoid provoking them unnecessarily. However, I found my room to be too small a distraction. The boredom and thirst threatened to overwhelm me, and I wasn't sure if I could take another trip down memory lane at the moment.

I decided to brave the halls and go for a walk. The whole place was dead silent, or it would have been to the human ear. I, however, wasn't human. I could hear the quiet murmur of a conversation between Alice and Jasper. I could hear the lightest shuffle of papers in Carlisle's room.

As I got farther away from our hall, I could hear the light footsteps of a Volturi servant, a human. I could hear her steady breathing, the quick beat of her pulse. Venom pooled in my mouth. My muscles automatically tensed in preparation. Panic overwhelmed me. I raced down one hall and then another, having no clue where I was going. I only knew that I had to get away from the human woman before I did something I would regret.

When the scent of human blood dissipated and I was able to stop, I took a quick inventory of my surroundings. It looked exactly like everywhere else I'd been in the Volturi's home. Upon closer inspection, there were a few differences. The scent of vampire was stronger than anywhere else, except perhaps in our hall. The furnishings were slightly finer and more carefully picked out.

The most noticeable difference, however, was the sound of music. It flowed from a room at the end of the hall, as steady as the heart beat that I had so dutifully run from. I was powerless to resist. My feet flew down the hall. The piano music instilled itself in my blood. It was beautiful. It was haunting. It was mine. A part of me claimed the song. Somehow I just knew that this song, this lullaby, was meant for me.

I slid into the room, careful not to disturb the pianist. The room was huge and high ceilinged. There were large windows that reached to the roof and heavy curtains that were left open. Nothing else was in the room except a piano, and a pianist. Who was playing such an amazing tune? My mind knew the answer before my eyes. It was Edward. Who else would it be? All of my avoidance had come to naught. I was incapable of turning from him now, and he had to know I was there, although he made no move.

I was drawn to him as if by some magnetic force. The moon cast the room in hues of blue and white. His skin glowed in the pale luminescence. He was exquisite. In that moment, it didn't matter if he was a monster. It didn't matter what crimes he had committed. It didn't matter who I was or he was. It didn't matter what we were. In that moment, nothing mattered except my undeniable need to be close to him.

I practically floated across the huge room. The physical distance seemed short in comparison to the intangible distance that I felt I crossed that night. Something changed, but I didn't know what. I sat next to him on the piano bench. Neither of us said a word. My shoulder brushed his as he played. Our breaths came in sync. The night seemed suspended like a dream.

He didn't speak or look at me. His eyes were closed. I could not take my eyes off of him. His fingers flew over the keys. I had never been so transfixed by a living creature in my life. How could a monster be so beautiful? How could a villain create such a beautiful masterpiece? Was I mistaken? Was my entire view of the situation incorrect? Did it even matter? My questions came to an end as Edward opened his eyes. My breath caught as our gazes met.

EPOV

I was consumed in the music. I had not intended to play her lullaby. I had never wanted to release the song that seemed to write itself, but here I sat. I could see her behind my closed eyes. The lullaby wrapped itself around me, around her.

I felt someone come to sit beside me. Bella. Was this a dream? I could smell her, feel her. My skin tingled here it brushed hers. The music swelled to a crescendo. Did she know that I played for her? If she knew, would she care? She only saw me as a monster. Would it repulse her if she knew? I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes. I was too afraid to dispel the illusion because, for a moment, I was letting myself believe that she saw something other than the monster, that Bella could be mine.

The lullaby came to an end. I forced myself to open my eyes. My gaze was immediately locked with hers, and I was surprised at what I saw. It wasn't that her eyes were gold, that much I had surmised. It was that her gaze held such a depth of emotion. I had never expected it. Was she as affected as I?

Still neither of us spoke. We sat in silence, lost in thought, lost in each other. I could stare at her for an eternity. The draw between us grew with every passing moment. Bella was the only thing in my world. I couldn't escape her pull. We both knew that one of us needed to go, but neither of us moved. Finally, something broke. I don't know what it was or who made the first move, but my lips were on hers. Her lips were soft and warm for a vampire's. Her skin felt fragile as I cupped her face with my hand. For the first time in years, I felt complete.

Bella pushed me back. She looked at me in shock and horror. I felt something inside of me break as a look of self disgust crossed her beautiful face. The spell was broken as she ran away. Who was this creature? Was she an ethereal angel sent to punish me? What a perfect torment. She was the only one who fit my nonexistent soul, but she pushed me away. Was I doomed to forever pine for this exquisite vampire, to watch from the shadows? Was there nothing that I could do? I deserved this torture for my sins, to live eternally alone. All I knew was that I was falling in love with her, and she would only ever see the monster.

Poor Edward. Did you really think it would stay good for long? Bella and Edward have way way way to many issues to deal with still. Don't you want to know who killed Luke? Don't you want to see how Bella responds to this? If you do, you have to review!