A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter, but seeing as I only got one review, I'm not sure.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

The four of us snapped our heads up in direction of the voice. There in the doorway stood Demetri. A vampire whose tracking ability was far greater than James' ever was. I could feel the growl rumbling from Emmett's chest. I looked up at him as he continued to stare at Demetri. I pressed my hand against the side of his face and pulled to make himlook at me. Staring into his eyes; I shook my head.

"No Emmett, that's just what he wants. Remember what Alice said," I whispered. He nodded slowly and even smiled a little.

"No, please, whatever you were going to do, please do it. I would love to have an excuse to execute all of you," Demetri said.

Emmett pushed me behind him and faced the vampire in the doorway. Jasper and Alice moved up to either side of Emmett, effectively making a wall between me, and my date with death. I watched over Alice's shoulders as the four of them began their staring contest. Nobody moved, nobody breathed, and the tension was so thick I almost gaged on it.

It seemed like sometime passed before Demetri broke the silence. "Come now Bella, you know we only want you. Aro has been dying to get his hands on you for quite some time now. We won't harm your little coven; we have other plans that include them."

"You're not gonna...." Emmett started but I cut him off as I pushed my way through the wall of their bodies and turned to face them.

"Emmett, we talked about this. I'll be ok," I said softly. He looked down at mewith pleading eyes, begging me not to go with Demetri. I knew I had to save them from whatever they had planned. I was willing to sell my soul and tell all my secrets, if it would only keep my family alive.

"That's a good girl. Now, hurry along, we don't want to keep Aro waiting any longer," Demetri said from behind me.

I looked over my shoulder at him and glared. "If he's waited this long, he can wait another two minutes." Demetri nodded and stood silently as I said what I hoped wouldn't be my final goodbyes to my family.

After many tears on my part, growls from both Jasper and Emmett, Alice clinging to me as if I would disappear, Demetri grabbed my arm and yanked me from the room. As he shut and locked the door behind us, I could hear Alice yelling, "Bella, I love you, never forget that. I will find a way to get us out of here!" I ran back to the locked door and pressed myself against it. "Alice, don't worry about me, just get yourselves out of here," I said through the door. I could feel Demetri standing behind me, but at that moment I didn't care, there was just one more thing I had to say, then they could kill me six ways till Sunday, and I would die happy. I inhaled deeply, and prepared myself to say the words I hadn't said a loud in 80 years.

"Alice, when you find Edward, tell him I love him. I have always loved him. You were right, from the very beginning. I knew it from the day we met, he is my mate, and I will love him until my last breath. Promise me Alice. Promise me you will tell him," I exhaled. I could hear her sobbing even through the thick door. Her reply came weak, and broken, but I heard an edge to, that I know Demetri wouldn't pick up on, "I promise."

"Alright, I have given you enough time. Let's go," Demetri said pulling me away from the door and leading me down the hallway. His grip was tight around my upper left arm as he dragged me along beside him.

"I said I would go willingly. No need to get hostile with me Demetri," I said ripping my arm from his. He quickly snatched it back, but his grip was less tight than it was before. "That may be true, Bella, but you don't know where to go, so I must lead you."

The rest of our way was in silence, as he steered me through the hallways, and down three flights of steps. When we approached two large wooden doors, he let go of my arm, and knocked twice.

"Enter," a voice called from within.

Demetri grabbed the door knob, twisting it, and pushed the door inwards. He made a sweeping gesture with his hands saying, "After you."

I walked in to the room and stopped as my eyes immediately fell to the center of the room. There sat Aro, a vampire I had only seen once from one of Alice's visions, sitting in a chair much like a throne. Demetri had walked in behind me closing the door.

'Like your so high and mighty. Pfftt, mighty my undead ass,' I thought.

"Welcome Bella. I trust your journey was pleasant," he inquired.

I walked further into the room, sweeping my eyes over every surface, until finally landing back on Aro's face. "Not really, but I can't complain, you'll just kill me slower. Why bother?" I asked sarcastically.

"The exact opposite, actually. We never planned on killing you; we merely plan to observe you," he replied almost sweetly.

"Yeah, meaning you want me to be your lab rat," I said.

"Something like that," Demetri said sweeping by me and moving over to stand on Aro's right side.

"Oh dear Bella, you're here to help answer some questions for me," Aro said standing up.

"Oh yeah? And what might those questions be?" I asked crossing my arms in front of me.

"Well, you see Bella, the night we sent Jane to retrieve you from your coven, something rather odd happened." he replied walking toward me.

I cocked an eyebrow at him and waiting for him to continue. He stopped in front of me, but turned and started pacing back and forth.

"When she returned, she remembered nothing of her visit. When I mentioned your name to her, she kept repeating that she had no idea who you were. So I took the liberty to search through her mind. And do you know what I found, dear Bella?" he asked pausing in front of me.

"Umm...I'll try door number one, and say, no."

"Nothing. I found nothing. Not single memory. Almost as if that entire day had been wiped from her memory, and every thought that revolved around you as well."

'Hmmm, interesting. But did this dill-hole actually think I had something to do with this? Yep, by the look he's giving me now, that answer is yes," I thought.

"And you think that has something to do with me?" I asked.

"Well, you or someone in your coven," Demetri answered. Aro looked over his shoulder and stared at Demetri. After Demetri nodded, Aro returned his gaze to my face.

"I highly doubt it was one of the other vampires in your life. It's a rarity to gain more than one ability after ones' change. But, I think you might be the exception to that rule Bella," he stated.

"How so?" I asked.

"Because I sent someone there after Jane returned. They were sent there to research, and find out what happened. When they returned, they had some pretty interesting information for me. "

"And that would be?" I asked dumbly.

"An entire building reduced to nothing but rubble. The building was located in the exact city block that Demetri said you would be located in," he replied.

I flicked my gaze between both vampires, shrugged my shoulders, and asked, "So?"

"And what about your restraints Bella? How did you and your coven manage to remove them? I assure you, no vampire has ever been able to break that rope."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said calmly.

"Don't play dumb Bella, it doesn't suit you. But to answer your first question, you know very well, that no lone vampire can do the type of damage that Demetri has described to me. Sure they could knock a few holes in some buildings, but not flatten them," he said matter-of-factly.

"Look, if you have a point, I suggest you get to it. I'm getting bored," I said feigning a yawn.

Suddenly my neck snapped to my left, and a throbbing sensation burst across my right cheek, and at the corner of my mouth. I licked the inside of my lip, and tasted blood. I hadn't even seen Aro pull his hand back, nor had I seen it when he slapped me across the face, but I sure as hell felt it. I moved my head back to stare at him, rubbing my cheek.

"I have tolerated your attitude long enough!" he yelled.

I spat the excess blood that had pooled in my mouth at his feet, and wiped my mouth off with the back of my hand.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," I said through clinched teeth.

"Your shield might be able to protect you from mental attacks my dear Bella, but not physical ones. I assure you, what we have planned for you will be all physical," he said, and with a snap of his fingers a door opened in the rear of the room, and two rather large vampires stepped through. Even though, I had never seen them before, they seemed oddly familiar.

"Felix, Caius, say hello to Bella, again," Aro said.

'Oh, that's right. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb were the ones that attacked before.'

Felix and Caius moved to either side of Aro, and stood there as if awaiting further instructions.

"Take Bella here to the torture room, and get her situated. I will be along shortly with Jane and Alec," he said. The vampires nodded at this, and moved toward me, each grabbing an arm, and slightly lifting me off the ground.

"No need to get rough boys; I told Demetri I would go along willingly, and I don't plan to resist now," I said.

"Oh, but you will if you knew what we were going to do to you," Demetri countered, and nodded at Caius.

Another familiar sharp pain hit my neck, and I immediately began to go limp in their arms. I pulled my head up the best I could and asked, "What is this shit?"

Aro walked up to me and lifted my chin with his finger. "The humans have become very useful to us in the past thirty years. They have created such wonderful toys for us to play with, and you my dear Bella, will see soon enough," he said kissing my forehead. I couldn't even cringe away, though I wanted to very badly. No memory came to me the moment his lips touched my skin, only darkness as I breathed, "Edward."

Then.....nothing.

"Bella," a velvety voice called.

'I remember this feeling, and that voice. Mmmm, Edward.'

"Yes Bella, love. Open your eyes," he called again.

'Can't...too heavy. Want to stay and hear your voice,' I thought.

"You can't Bella, you have to open your eyes."

'I didn't say that out loud. Can you hear me?'

"Yes Bella," he said.

"Edward!" I gasped sitting up quickly.

'Ugh, that hurt. Note to self, don't do that again,' I thought.

I tried to grab my head at the sudden pain, but my arms wouldn't move. I blinked several times, trying to move my heavy lids, and eventually got them to open fully, but my vision was somewhat clouded.

"What did they give me?" I asked, my voice was very hoarse.

"A drug similar to Valium actually," a voice replied.

'That voice sounds familiar too,' I thought.

"Huh?" I asked whipping my head in the direction of the voice, and there stood Jane.

"Well, essentially, it is Valium, but it's been manufactured specifically for vampires. My name is Jane," she said.

"I know," I said trying to move my arms.

"Yeah, Aro told me about that. I still don't remember exactly, but oh well. And you can stop trying to get out of your restraints, you can't break them," she said with a smirk on her face.

'Wanna bet?' I thought.

I gave up and sat back against the chair I was sitting in. The cloudy haze had finally cleared my vision and I looked around the room to notice it resembled a doctor's office. There were many tables and counters, all with medical supplies strewn across the tops. I looked down at my arms and found the exact same rope that had already been tied around my hands once tonight tied around them again. When I looked up, Jane was walking around the room setting out trays, bunches of gauze, cutting tools, and various sizes of needles.

"What is this stuff made out of?" I asked.

Jane finished setting down a tray full or scalpels. She looked at me blankly and said, "Out of vampire skin."

"What?"

The door swung open and in stepped Aro and another vampire. "What did you think we did with bad little vampires Bella?" Aro asked closing the door behind them. I shrugged my shoulders as they walked toward me, stopping a few feet away. Gesturing to the vampire beside him, Aro said, "This is Alec. He will be helping Jane and I in our observation today."

"Pleasure to meet you Bella," Alec said.

"Pleasure?" I snorted.

"Now, now Bella. I thought you said you would cooperate?" Aro asked.

"I did, but I never said I was going to actually be nice and tell what I don't know," I lied.

"Oh? We have ways of making you talk," Aro said nodding at Jane.

Jane came forward with a scapel, and positioned it at my left forearm. I looked at her and then at the scalpel and laughed. "You honestly think that little blade is going to cut through my skin?" Jane stared at me as she ran blade slowly across my arm. White hot heat flared under my skin as the blade bit into my skin. I hissed, suddenly realizing that this blade was in fact cutting through my granite skin. I inhaled deeply through the pain and held my breath.

'Shit, that hurts!' my mind screamed. I looked down at my arm and saw the blood welling up through the wound. I gasped as Jane repeated the same process on my other arm.

"Fuck!" I yelled. I began panting as the pain began to lick its way up my arm, before it stopped at the bend of my elbow and pulsed. My blood was running in a steady stream from both wounds and I could hear to drip onto the floor.

"How....is...this..possible?" I panted. The blood seemed to flow more as a wave a fear washed over me, but it was not my fear. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the feeling; Jasper was close by, though I wasn't sure how close. Alice must have been seeing this happen and was giving him a play by play of sorts, and he must have been afraid that they might not reach me in time.

'How the hell had they gotten out of that room?'

"Simple. I told you the humans have been helpful to us. They have created a way for us to channel our mental abilities into physical ones," Aro said grabbing some gauze and patting the wounds on my arms. I kept my eyes closed and clinched my teeth together willing myself still. A new pain burst across my arms with such a force it that my eyes snapped open. My head fell back and I screamed long and ragged and raspy as the air burned in my lungs with every breath I took. This pain was different from that of Jane's scalpel biting into my skin. It felt like my skin was being peeled away from my arms. My muscles, tendons, and ligaments all being burned at the same time, yet I knew my skin still covered my arms. I wasn't sure why I was feeling this, only that I wanted it to stop. But I knew that I had to endure this pain to keep my family alive.

I felt a hand at the back of my head pulling it back up. I blinked up at Aro several times as he stared down at me with a shocked expression across his face.

'Oh no, that can't be good,' I thought. And as soon as I recognized that expression, I closed my eyes again and tried to slow down my breathing. In willing myself to still I must have shut down and the look across Aro's face must have meant he had seen the change in my eye color. Feeling my strength returning slowly, I opened my eyes again and Aro flinched backing away. My head stayed upright as I continued to stare at him taking deep and even breaths.

"Your eyes," he whispered.

"What about them?" I asked. My voice was raspy from the screaming. I swallowed several times to clear my throat.

"They were brown," Aro said looking suddenly confused.

"No they weren't, you must have been seeing things," I lied.

"I only see what I need to see, and your eyes were brown," he said.

"I assure youthey weren't. You know my coven is unique, and that our eyes change color with our emotions. My eyes turn brown when I experience extreme pain," I lied again willing him to believe me.

'Please, please, please believe me,' I begged in my head.

"Very well," Aro said turning around to face Alec.

'Sucker,' I thought, but didn't let my small victory show in my eyes.

I remained calm as Aro began to whisper to Alec, and I noticed that Jane had joined the conversation as well. I couldn't hear what they were saying, I was too busy trying to keep myself under control.

The door suddenly burst open and Felix walked in. He walked quickly to the three vampires and began speaking low in rushed, harsh tones.

"WHAT?" Aro yelled.

"I'm sorry Aro, there was some type of explosion," Felix said.

"I don't care how it happened, just find them," Aro said sharply turning his attention back to me. I blinked at him, showing my confusion.

"It's seems your friends have managed to escape, but no worries. We will find them, and when we do, they will be executed on sight," he said.

'Fat chance,' I thought. We had been evading them for a long time now. I knew my family could get away, but I also knew that they would try to save me, even if it cost them their life.

"Jane, Felix, you will come with me. Alec, you will stay here and keep Bella company," Aro said turning on his heal and walking out of the room. Jane and Felix both glared at me and turned to quickly leave. Alec walked up to the door, and closed it softly.

"So, what should we do now?" I asked. Alec turned around and stared, an evil look spread across his face. Alec walked toward me when a knock came at the door. He huffed in annoyance and turned around.

"What?" he yelled grabbing the door knob. As soon as he opened the door, he flew back and crashed into the wall behind me. I looked from where I could see Alec's crumpled form to the door, and there stood the one person I knew I could count on.

Emmett. He stood there in the doorway with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.

"About time," I said.

He rushed to my side grabbing a hold of my right hand and ripping the rope away from my left wrist. I winced slightly from the force of it, and that's when Emmett looked down and saw all the blood.

"Fuck Bella, what happened?" he asked gently pulling the rope off of my right wrist.

"The humans found a way to channel their mental attacks into physical ones. And let me tell you, it hurt like a bitch," I said as he grabbed a roll of gauze off the table and wrapped both of my arms up. I looked back at Alec, and saw him begin to stir.

"Emmett, we need to get out of here, before he comes to. Where are the others?" I asked looking back at him.

"They found a way out two floors down; they are waiting for us there," he said slowly lifting me out of the chair. "Can you walk?" he asked.

"With you holding my hand, I could fly," I joked. Emmett grinned at me and we took off out of the room.

We flew down the hallways in a flash. I actually thought at one time we were flying, cause we had never really ran a long distance together when we were linked liked this. It was an amazing adrenaline rush. With Emmett at my side, I knew we would be able to take on any enemy and we would walk away every time.

We rushed down the stairs and halted in front of a door, still hand in hand. "Just through here, " Emmett said pushing open the door and walking through. My breath caught in my throat at what I saw in front of us as we cleared the door frame. Aro, Felix, and Demetri stood in a line with Alice and Jasper kneeling in front of them. Both of them had their arms tied behind their backs and Jane stood just behind them holding knives to both of their throats. Their eyes were wide and guilt washed over me, but it wasn't only mine, it was Jasper's as well. I had no idea why he felt guilty, but I knew why I did. This was exactly why I had gone willingly, I didn't want to put them in this kind of danger.

Emmett growled next to me, and started to walk toward them, but stopped when Aro spoke.

"One more move, and I will have Jane kill them."

I tugged on Emmett's hand and drew him back to my side. Aro stepped forward and said, "It seems you have been a very naughty little girl Bella, hiding such a secret from me. Tsk Tsk!" he said.

"I told you before, I don't know what you're talking about," I lied again. I heard Alice and Jasper hiss as I saw Jane press the blade firmly against their necks.

"And I told you not to play dumb," Aro retorted.

I stared blankly back at Aro. "It seems you have yet another special ability. I knew something was off when I saw your eyes change color. I know the color of fear, and brown isn't it," he said.

"I'm sorry Bella, I didn't have a choice," Jasper whispered.

"No, he didn't have a choice, but Alice did," Aro said walking over to Alice and running his finger down her cheek. She visibly stiffened at his touch, but didn't move away.

"It seems the same problem I had encountered with Jane, has also presented itself with Alice as well," Aro said turning back to me.

"What are you talking about?" Emmett asked.

"Jane's memory of that night was erased," I answered.

"Exactly, as was Alice's but not to the same extent. Alice's gap in her memory was found in her past. It isn't recent," Aro said.

"What do you mean?" Emmett asked.

"I found the memory gap taking place nearly 80 years ago," Aro said nonchalantly.

"80 years ago?" I asked.

"Yes, though it is an odd time for a gap to be found. I am not quite sure what to make of it myself. I only want to know who was able to do this?" Aro asked.

"I am," a voice said from behind me and Emmett. I saw Alice and Jasper's eyes widen at the voice, and every other vampire in front of us stiffened.

Emmett and I looked at each other, then slowly looked back over our shoulders at the voice. My breath hitched instantly, and I almost didn't believe what I was seeing. At first I could only see small details about the person that stood behind me. A chiseled jawline, full soft pouting lips, a flash of bronze came across my vision, and then, I saw his eyes.

Green.

Those green eyes locked with mine, as the scent hit me and my knees buckled. Arms quickly encircled my waist and held me up. My arms hung loosely at my sides, but I could still feel Emmett's large hand in mine, as my head hung back. An arm slowly traced its way up my spine setting my nerves on fire as it came to rest on the back of my head. The hand gently pulled my head back up and I blinked several times at the person holding me. Still not believing my eyes, I removed my hand from Emmett's and raised it to touch the face in front of me. Electricity shot up through my fingers as I traced the skin below them. The world around me seemed to disappear, and all that remained was me, and the face I was now touching.

'Such soft skin. I remember this face,' I thought.

"Edward?" I whispered.

"I remember yours too, Bella," he replied moving his hand from the back of my neck to cup my cheek. He smiled at me, and it was that same crooked smile I had fallen in love with all those years ago. I felt him move closer to my face, his breath still smelled as sweet as it washed over me. I closed my eyes suddenly drowning in Edward's presence, when Emmett cleared his throat.

My attention shifted to Emmett and he nodded his head to his left, silently telling me that we still had other business to attend to. I looked back at Edward and smiled as I straightened my legs to stand on my own. His arms never left my waist, as I turned back around to face the other vampires in the room with my back pressed firmly against Edward's chest. My right hand came up to rest on his arms, as my left own reached out to Emmett. Emmett smiled at me grasping my hand in his, turning his attention back to the others.

"Ah, Edward, the prodigal son returns," Aro said.

"I have," Edward said resting his chin on my right shoulder.

'God, how I've missed this,' I thought. I could feel Edward smile against my shoulder, and placed a light kiss upon it.

"And are you going to tell me how you of all people were able to do this?" Aro asked.

"I have my ways," Edward replied.

"Well now, Bella. Now that all the players have arrived, the fun can truly begin," Aro said.

I stiffened slightly in Edward's arms and he gently squeezed my waist.

"You have something I want Bella, and I will have it. Either you give it to me, or your precious little coven and your mate will die, your choice," Aro said.

"That isn't giving me a choice, Aro. You'll kill them whether I go with you or not," I replied.

"Perhaps. Jane."

Jane drew the blade slowly across Alice's neck and I heard her scream as the onslaught of pain wrecked havoc across her skin. Blood welled up slowly, but did not gush out. I started to pull out of Edward's arms, but he tightened his grip around me, and Emmett held fast on my hand. I watched as Alice slumped forward, hunching her shoulders, and whimpered through the pain.

"It's ok Bella, it wasn't a deep cut, just one deep enough to cause pain," Aro said smiling.

"Edward, let me go," I pleaded.

"No love, this is just what he wants," he whispered.

"I know that. I won't let you guys die, not for me," I said.

"Still selfless," he chuckled.

"And stubborn as ever," Emmett added.

I looked at Emmett and he was looking at our linked hands. He looked back up to my face and that all too familiar devious grin spread across his face. That same smile appeared upon my face and I nodded at him.

"Decide Bella, before my patience runs out," Aro snapped.

"Do you gamble Aro?" Emmett asked still looking at me.

"I have been known to place a bet every now and then. Why do you ask?" Aro asked.

"Let's make a bet," Emmett said looking at Aro.

Aro cocked an eyebrow and said, "I'm listening."

"I bet you, that I can beat your strongest vampire in a simple arm wrestling match," Emmett said.

Aro threw back his head and laughed, and the other vampires joined in as well.

"What do you want if you win?" Aro asked still laughing.

"The five of us walk out of here alive, and unharmed, " Emmett said.

"What do I get if you don't win?" Aro asked calming down slightly.

"Me," I said.

"Deal!" Aro said.

Edward tightened his grip around my waist. I let go of Emmett's hand so I could turn around in his arms.

"Don't do this Bella. We can find another way," Edward pleaded. I cupped his cheeks with my hands and looked at him.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," I said softly. His hands moved up and held mine against his cheeks as he leaned his forehead against mine.

"I lost you once, I can't loose you again. I know it was my own fault before; I walked away. But I have been searching for you for six decades, now that I have found you, I'm not letting you go," he whispered.

I pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes. "We can deal with your bullshit reasons later. Right now, we have do deal with this, " I said.

He stared back me and nodded, releasing his hold on my hands.

I moved away from Edward and turned back to Aro.

"Let's do this," I said.

Five minutes later, there now sat a table and two chairs in the center of the room. Everyone had moved to the outer walls. Felix and Demetri were now holding onto Jasper and Alice as Jane stood in front of them with knives tightly gripped in each of her hands. She was positioned to strike at a moments notice. Caius had arrived and was now sitting across the table from Emmett. Edward and I stood behind Emmett as Aro stood behind Caius. I was smiling smugly at Aro as I knew we could easily win this.

"Bella, don't think for one second that I don't know what you are attempting to do. If you so much as move a millimeter in towards Emmett, Alice and Jasper will be killed,. I know what the two of you are capable of, and I will not tolerate cheating. Move back against the wall," Aro said.

"You as well," Edward said.

"Fair enough," and with that, Aro moved away from Caius and pressed himself against the back wall.

Edward and I moved as well until I felt the stone wall at my back. Emmett placed his right arm upon the table and bent it at the elbow. Caius mirrored Emmett with his own right arm. They grasped each others hands and twisted them around a few times before settling into a nice tight grip.

"We're ready Aro," Caius said staring at Emmett.

"Good, then you may begin," Aro said.

From where I stood, I could see Emmett's bicep bulge with effort at the same time as Caius'. Neither ones arm moved for several minutes.

I felt Edward stiffen next to me and I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. I saw him lean toward me and press his lips against my ear. I am sure that to everyone else it looked like he was just kissing my ear, but I felt his breath against it as he breathed out. "Alec is standing just outside of this room. Aro is going to use him to blind Emmett, if you are going to do something, you need to do it quick," he whispered, his lips not even moving against the shell of my ear.

I heard Alice gasp and Emmett's arm bent two inched back.

'Oh, god, let me be fast enough,' I thought. I heard Emmett grunt with effort as I saw an evil smile spread across Aro's face. Emmett's arm bent back another two inches, but quickly pushed Caius' arm back and regained the two inches.

"Enough of this, finish it Caius," Aro barked.

I heard Emmett grunt again, and watched his arm starting to bend back moving closer to the top of the table.

"Noooo," I yelled lunging forward.

A thunderous sound erupted from the center of the room as a pile of dust exploded into the air clouding my vision.

A/N: Ah, and Edward FINALLY appears! Can you guess who won? Review and the next chapter will be up sooner than you think. Hope you guys are still enjoying this!! I am!!