A/N: I hope everyone had a chance to re-read the portion of Chapter 12 that I had to add after it was initially posted. Otherwise this chapter may seem a bit confusing. Hope you enjoy!!

Chapter 13

I knew I was panicking, but there was no other way I could warn the Cullen's. I feared that my phone was bugged but without seeing Edward, there was no way I could be sure that he could even hear me. I opened my shield even though I knew I was out of range for him. Maybe it would help me broadcast louder to him. 'Edward, listen to me, don't get off the plane! I don't know how or even much, but Aro knows that someone is coming. I can't explain right now, but it's a trap. Please don't come anywhere near Volterra.'

I prayed that he heard me, and left my room. I walked humanly back to the antechamber. I needed as much time as possible to think and calm my nerves after that dream. I let my mind wander back to it, despite feeling unnerved.

I was sitting on my throne, surrounded by the ruling Volturi, as Aro called us. Gianna was handing robes to Edward, Alice and Jasper, their eyes were blood red. I was dry sobbing when I saw Esme, Carlisle, Emmett and Rose laying on the ground. Their lifeless bodies were being dragged into a fire pit. I had turned back to Aro and was dismayed at that the smile that was spread on his face was also shared by Caius.

I couldn't let that happen to anyone of my family.

All eyes were on me when I entered the antechamber since I was the only one that had left in the first place. Because if Aro found out about my warning to the Cullen's, I thought it best to play dumb. There was no telling what Aro would do to me, as I was convinced that he would see my actions as an act of treason. Keep it cool, keep it cool. I kept chanting to myself.

I could see that was all that I was going to get from him for the moment. I sat in my throne and awaited for Corin to walk through the door, hopefully without the Cullen's. I only needed to wait about five more minutes. Gianna opened the door and a very scared Corin walked through. Alone.

I raised an eyebrow to her and pretended to look back behind her for whoever was supposed to be there, just as everyone else was doing.

"Corin? What do you have to report." I was amazed that Aro was able to turn what should have been a question into a demand.

"Nobody was on the plane. Well, at least none of the Cullen's. I watched the plane deboard, and even boarded the plane myself to double check, they weren't there. There wasn't even a record of any of them on the manifest."

"Demetri!" Aro screamed needlessly. I had to admit I was startled by the urgency in his voice. Demetri stood up from his throne and turned to face Aro. "Did you or did you not tell me that two of the Cullen's were on a plane?"

Demetri bowed his head in reverence to Aro, or maybe shame. "Yes Master." I looked over to him without turning my head.

"Who was it?"

"The blond one and her mate." He looked over to me.

"Rosalie and Emmett." I chimed in.

"Well they mean nothing to me. Afton!"

Afton practically materialized right in front of me. I wondered what his part in this was.

"Afton, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that you confirmed that they were on the plane. Did you not get visual confirmation?" Aro was shouting, if he had been human, I would have worried he was going to pop a blood vessel.

"I did Master. It was as Demetri said." In a spilt second there were several things that took place; I heard Aro snap his fingers and suddenly Afton was being ripped apart. Aro slipped something silvery out of his robe and Afton was on fire.

I couldn't let him do the same to Demetri. Sure he got on my nerves but I didn't believe he deserved the same fate as Afton. "Aro, they were probably going on another honeymoon. Though I can't explain why they weren't on any paperwork. But Rosalie and Emmett take frequent trips away from the family often." I said. I hadn't even realized that I stood up. "I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about them."

"Young Bella, I'm not worried. On the contrary. Now this Rosalie and this Emmett, they wouldn't happen to take this honeymoon to come for you? Now would they?"

I scoffed at the idea. "Rose hated me. She hated that I was human, and hated that I seemed to bring danger to her family. She'd never come for me." I couldn't even help but hear the sadness in my voice. "I wouldn't be surprised if this trip was to celebrate me being gone." I didn't know what to feel. I was happy that no one from my family was caught, happy because I was able to convince Aro that Rosalie wasn't a threat, but I was also sad that what I had told him was the truth.

Aro stood up from his throne and looked down at all of us. "You each have qualities that allow your services to be needed in the ranks. Perhaps next time you won't be so lucky." Renata followed Aro down the stairs and out of the great room. Marcus and Caius soon retired as well, along with the rest of the guard, leaving me and Demetri.

'Let me ask you something Demetri, did Aro ask you to track them, or did you just volunteer?'

"Bella, I'm sorry. But what did you want me to do? You even expected a visit from them."

"You didn't answer the question." I snarled.

"I went to Aro." He barely even finished speaking when I sprung on top of him. I bit into his shoulder and backed away. I saw him twitching with the pain. Good.

"Stay away from them, Demetri. I'm warning you."

"Why protect them? Your precious Cullen's? They left you remember? They didn't want you. He didn't want you. But I do. I want you Bella."

I backed away even further from him. "And killing them is your answer to getting me?" Demetri had cut away at every string that was barely holding me together. His words reminded me of that fateful day in the woods, alone with Edward. Old emotions that I had pushed back were rushing to the front and I didn't know how much more I would last.

"Killing? Who said anything about killing them?" Demetri looked at me confused.

I shook my head. I couldn't believe I made the mistake of revealing something that was in my dream. "I just assumed. Forget it. Just stay away from them Demetri. I mean it." I ran at vampire speed back to my room. I laid out on the couch and grabbed a book off of the shelf and opened it to any random page.

'Edward. It's me Bella. You won't be able to communicate back to me, so you can only listen. Thank you for warning Rosalie and Emmett. Return back to Forks and I'll find a way to contact you.'

I had just finished "talking" to Edward when I heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

Aro walked in, pleased to see me on the couch reading by the moonlight. I assumed Renata was outside. "My dear, I hope I didn't startle you with my words earlier. I did not wish them to be directed at you." He held out his hand reaching for mine. I made sure my shield was in place before giving him my hand in return.

"Of course not, Aro. You want excellence and that was not what you received from Afton or Demetri." I said as he helped me to my feet. I closed my book as if I was no longer interested in what I was previously reading. Of course only I knew I really wasn't.

"Hmmm, so perceptive you are. I confess I also came to make sure that you were alright from the last time we spoke as well. I'm afraid I was a little bit cross with you in regards to the Cullen's."

"I'm fine, Aro. I just wish I could keep my distance away from them. I should think that if you are tipped off, accurately this time, that they are visiting, I would take my leave. I wouldn't want to seem irrational in front of your guests."

"Oh but Bella. You are a princess. And a Volturian guard, why should you run? It is they who should be running from you."

"They hurt me, Aro."

"So hurt them back." He insisted.

"No. I became your princess to protect them. I will not, nor will any one of the Volturi harm them."

"So be it." He said, suddenly bored with the conversation.

"Actually Aro." He paused when he reached the door. "I was wondering, if you're still insisting that the Cullen's show up, and I know they will, eventually. Would it be possible that I left? Not permanently, just until they take their leave. I've never travelled before, in fact when you brought me here, it was the first time I'd been out of the country."

Aro looked at me and squinted his eyes. "And where would go?"

"I don't know. Africa, Australia, or the Amazon. I'd always wanted to visit Paraguay." I had to restrain myself from laughing at Paraguay. For some reason it was the first region I could think of that didn't begin with the letter A.

"And when would you leave?"

"Tonight. There's no telling when they'll arrive. They know I'm here, it's only a matter of time."

"And in the meantime, if there are any rulings that will need to be made?" I was starting to get frustrated with the inquiry, but I couldn't let it show.

"Well actually I was thinking. Right now you currently have six vampires ruling. It would probably be best to have an odd number to ensure fairness. Removing me while I'm gone will allow that fairness."

A smile crept on Aro's face assured me that I was going to get my way. "And you questioned why I made you a part of the ruling body. Shall you join us for dinner, Heidi will be back soon." I looked at him questionably, "Oh no, I know you're still dieting. Just wondering if you'd be there at least."

"No sorry Aro. The idea makes me a little uneasy."

"Very well. Say good-bye before you leave."

"I will. And I'll check in from time to time, to see if the matter is resolved." I walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Walking back to the center of the room, I could still feel his eyes on me so I made my way to the couch and pretended to read my book again.

I closed my eyes when I heard the door shut.

Was I really doing this? I was after all disobeying an indirect order of Aro's. Yes. I told Aro that I would join him in Volterra if only to protect the Cullen's. Had I not had my dream, I would have failed at my internal promise to keep them safe.

I walked over to the safe that I kept hidden in my room, and took out a fake i.d. and some of the money I squirreled away. Aro gave us a monthly spending allowance like we were his children. I rarely spent any of mine and I was eternally grateful that I had something to use with using his cards.

I timed my entrance to the antechamber just right as everyone was finishing their dinner. I was surprised when Jane ran up too give me a hug goodbye. "I'll be leaving now. I will see you all very soon."

"No baggage darling?"

"No, I'll buy what I need. For the most part I just want to be a nomad of the world." Aro nodded his head and I took my leave. I waved goodbye to Gianna as I walked past her desk, and after running out of the tunnels I entered the streets of Volterra and made my exit.

I wanted to avoid any planes since I suspected that Aro had a way of looking for passengers who bought tickets. I knew this had to be off the grid, so I kept running. I ran against the sun, into the night, heading west.

After a few hours of running, I came to a beach near Lagos in Portugal, and jumped off of a cliff. As soon as I was airborne, I wished I had taken a moment to access whether or not there were any humans in the area that would have seen me jump. I decided to remain cautious and remained underwater.

It was a bit uncomfortable swimming underwater for so long without breathing. Not that I needed to breathe, it was just something I wasn't used to. I silently chuckled in my head as I saw the ocean life keeping their distance from me. My thirst was starting to become unbearable and I decided to try my luck at hunting sea life, and I soon came across a Blue Whale. The whale was massive, but it hadn't detected me, so I swam close to one of its fins and bit into the body. I knew there was no way I was going to drain the creature so I only took a few pulls at the blood that flowed into my mouth. I was shocked at how rich the blood tasted, better than any animal that I had feasted on before. When I was done, I let the venom seal the wound of the animal, and petted his belly before I continued my swim.

I found an empty strip of land and took my time surveying the area. I could tell I was in America but I couldn't tell where. I hurried out of the water and ran as fast as I could inland to dry off my clothes. I ran past a sign that said "Thanks for visiting the Lone Star State!" Texas. Great I still had a long way to go before I got to Forks.

I was glad I was still ahead of the sunrise, starting my trip off in Texas in the sun would have sucked. Granted I'd just be a blur, but I didn't want to take the chance that someone would notice me glittering in the sunlight. That would only help tip the Volturi off with what my plan was. But I didn't even know what that was.

I couldn't think of that right now, I could only focus on Edward. I had to save Edward.

New Mexico.

Utah.

Nevada.

Oregon. Stop!!

I halted at the border of Oregon and Washington. All of a sudden it seemed that as soon as I crossed over to the state I used to call home, I was an enemy of the Volturi. Aro would have no idea, I hoped, which would buy me some time. I took a moment to think about this, and still, all I could think about was making sure they were safe. I continued running, careful of staying deep in the woods as I drew closer and closer to Forks. I was getting nervous with each step that brought me to them. Do vampires hyperventilate?

I slowed down when I realized I was in the clearing that brought me so much pain last year. Memories of James and Victoria started to flood my mind, but I pushed them aside. Within minutes, I could see the frame of a white house set back in the woods. I was now convinced vampires could hyperventilate.

I walked up the steps that led to the front door, and before I could knock, the door rushed open.

"Bella!"