The Italian countryside was beautiful as it blurred past the windows of a stolen yellow Porsche. Galinda derived childish delight from the quickly moving vehicle; no mode of transportation moved so fast in Oz. "Don't stick your head out the window!" Alice reminded again. Elphaba leaned over to the blonde's side of the car and rolled her window up.

"Elphie!" Galinda complained.

"Glin we're on a life-and-death rescue mission right now," the green girl pointed out. "This is no time to be acting like a toddler."

"But it's taking ages to get to Volterra," the blonde pouted, "and I'm bored."

"Well be a big girl and suck it up," Elphaba retorted harshly. She softened at the hurt look in her friend's eyes. "I'm sorry," the green girl apologized. "That was uncalled for."

"It's ok Elphie," Galinda responded. "I was being childish."

Up front Alice's face inched towards a grin, though her expression was still strained. "I'll say," she muttered.

/

Three hours later Galinda had fallen asleep. She was stretched across the seat with her head cushioned on Elphaba's lap. "Are we there yet?" Bella asked Alice quietly. It was all she'd said the entire drive.

"Actually yes," the vampire replied, tracing the outline of a fortress-like city on the horizon. Elphaba, squinting against bright sunlight, watched Volterra approach forebodingly.

"So what now?" she asked.

"Now we get into the city and send Bella to the clock tower," Alice explained. "I've got to stay in the car, but you two can help her."

"Maybe you should keep Galinda with you," Elphaba suggested. "She might not be much of a help." In reality the green girl wanted her friend with Alice because it was all too easy to remember the blonde's last run in with a hostile vampire. She'd been in a coma for weeks.

"Galinda won't be any safer with me," the vampire told Elphaba, immediately seeing through her motives. The green girl nodded solemnly.

"Time to wake up Glin," she called, gently shaking the blonde.

"Huh?" Galinda murmured. Her bleary eyes flickered open. "Are we there yet?"

"We're close," Elphaba replied, pulling the petite witch upright.

/

"Go!" Alice shouted, skidding to a stop and pointing towards the clock tower. Noon was coming quickly. As Bella and Galinda stumbled from the vehicle Elphaba spotted a rustic broom lying against an alley wall. Someone had probably been using it to sweep off their front steps. Quickly the green girl muttered a now well practiced levitation spell.

The broom shook itself and coasted to her side. "Get on!" she cried. Bella's eyes were wide as she slid onto the wooden shaft behind Elphaba. Galinda had no such reservations. She could hardly contain her glee at getting to fly again. "Hold on," the green girl advised before kicking off. They rocketed low and fast over the crowds, like some sort of missile. People below waved red scarves excitedly, assuming this spectacle was part of the St. Marcus Day festival.

"There he is!" Galinda shrieked, pointing to a pale figure swathed in shadow. Edward hovered, shirtless, near the edge of an alley.

"Bella you're gonna have to jump," Elphaba informed the human as they drew closer.

"What!"

"There's no time to land properly," the green girl explained. Already Edward was taking steps towards the light. "I'll fly low over him and you hop off." She could feel the pale girl behind her nod and responded by shifting into a dive. They dropped like a stone, air whistling past. "Now!" Elphaba shouted. Bella slipped off the broom as the witch pulled violently up into a loop-de-loop. She and Galinda missed the alley wall by inches.

"That was awesome!" the blonde giggled.

"I was thinking of several other words to describe that," Elphaba replied weakly. "None of them were synonymous with 'awesome'." She gently coasted the broom to a stop behind Bella and Edward. It was due to this location that the two witches were first to notice that they had company. Two cloaked figures stood watching.

It didn't take long for Edward to sense their immortal visitors either. As soon as he realized what was going on the bronze haired vampire whirled around with Bella in his arms. "Greetings gentleman," Edward greeted calmly, ignoring the witches. "I don't think I'll be requiring your services today."

"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?" one of the Volturi guards hissed

"I don't believe that will be necessary," Edward countered. "I haven't broken any rules."

"Felix was merely referring to the proximity of the sun," the other figure explained smoothly. "Let us seek better cover."

"I'll be right behind you," Edward promised. "Girls, why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?"

"No, bring the humans," Felix growled.

"No," the young immortal snarled. His voice was low and menacing.

"We will fight if it becomes necessary," the second shadow purred.

"Let's behave ourselves," chirped a tinkling voice from behind Edward. Everyone turned to see Alice smiling brightly at the obvious conflict. A few moments later the tense standoff was broken by another arrival.

"What's taking so long?" Something about the cool emotionless tone set Elphaba's nerves on edge. A little, blonde girl had joined the fray. She was young, but moved like someone with absolute power. Immediately Edward and Alice slumped in defeat.

"Hello Jane," Felix greeted, totally relaxed now. "Apparently we have more guests than expected." The petite immortal surveyed the green girl thoroughly before briefly examining Galinda. This prompted Elphaba to stand protectively in front of her blonde friend.

"Aro is always pleased to have visitors," Jane shrugged. "Bring them all."