A/N: Well, here's chapter five. You don't get to find out who, or what, is behind the door quite yet- but you do next chapter (which is already written). Please enjoy:

Five. The Truth About Forever

"What the hell was that?" I hissed at Jasper as we managed to find our way out into the gardens of the castle.

"I don't know," replied Jasper, just as shaken as I was.

The screaming hadn't been human, that was obvious, but it had sounded so… so tortured. It still sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a surge of pity for whatever poor creature had made it, even as I felt pure terror at the thought of what Jane and Alec's gifts must be. I was working myself into a real mess when I felt a wave of soothing calm rush over me.

"Thanks, Jazz," I said, collapsing on a stone bench by a fountain.

"No problem," replied Jasper, his voice still shaky.

I looked at him, worried. He could calm me down easily- but who would calm him down?

"I'm fine, Bella," he assured me, feeling the worry. "Just a little shook up. I don't know what they have down there- but whatever it is isn't human or vampire."

"The poor creature," I murmured.

"We don't know what that poor creature is," Jasper reminded me. "For all we know, it could deserve whatever is happening to it."

Something in my face must have worried him, because he placed a hand on either of my shoulders and gave me a shake.

"Promise me you won't go back there, Bella," he ordered. "Don't try and get past that lock."

"Bu-"

"No buts, Bella. Promise me!"

I glared petulantly up at him, but he stared back, determined to make me promise. I gave a resigned sigh and nodded.

"Fine. Whatever."

"What are the two of you doing out here?"

We had been so caught up in our conversation that neither Jasper or I had heard Tiazza's approach. He stared between the two us with raised brows.

"We were exploring when we came across this garden," I gave a sheepish shrug. "We have no clue how to get back to our rooms."

"Hmmm… I can show you the way," she told us. "If you want to go back, that is."

"I think we're good. We'll find our way," Jasper told her quickly. I shot him a glare- he must have felt how close I was to asking her about the locked room.

"Hmmm," she hummed again, glancing between the two of us. "Okay then. If you can't find the way, there should be a couple of guards within easy shouting distance."

"Thank-you, Tiazza," I gave a smile, though I was still bursting with curiosity. I wasn't dumb enough to ask anything with Jasper there.

"No problem," she replied, turning to head down another path in the garden. She paused for a moment, then addressed me without turning around. "And Jasper's right Bella- you shouldn't be curious about that particular room."

Then she was gone, as quickly as she had shown up.

"How much do you think she heard?" I asked, staring down the path she had taken.

"Judging by that cryptic little remark? I'd say just about everything," Jasper frowned in the same direction I was staring.

"What was she feeling?" I asked. Jasper stared at me, his mouth tight.

"I don't think I should tell you that," he admitted.

"C'mon Jazz- I promised, didn't I?" I argued.

"You did," he agreed, then ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Man, I really hope I don't regret this."

He paused after that, and I watched him in silence- anxious to hear whatever he was about to say.

"She felt betrayed," he said. "And she felt pain- emotional pain so powerful it almost physically hurt me."

He frowned in the direction Tiazza had gone once more. I glanced down the path as well, before I looked at him again and asked the question I knew we were both curious about.

"But who betrayed her?"

We waited until we were both in full control of our facilities before we tried to find our way back to our room. I didn't want Edward to find out what we had done courtesy of Jasper's thoughts, and Jasper agreed. Once he was sure he could block his thoughts, we took off. After three wrong turns and a dead end, we finally reached our destination.

"Hello everyone," I sang, entering the room where Edward, Carlisle, Esme sat. "The others aren't back yet?"

"No," Edward replied, pulling me down onto his lap. "You're certainly in a good mood. Did you do anything interesting?"

"Nope," I replied. "We just wandered around and then found a garden."

I hated to lie to Edward- but in this situation it was kind of necessary. Still, I was a terrible liar, and quickly manoeuvred the subject so it was safer.

"What about you?"

"Nothing really- I just spoke with Carlisle and Esme," Edward answered, giving me a quick kiss.

"Then I suppose it would be a waste to ask the two of you what you've been up to?" I asked, grinning impishly at Carlisle and Esme. They merely smiled at me.

"Well, now that you're back- I feel like having you to myself," Edward informed me.

"Oh, real- Edward put me down!"

Edward grinned at me, holding me securely against his chest, bridal style, and swiftly walking to our room.

"I'm serious Edward Anthony Masen Cullen! Put me down right now!"

"Okay," agreed Edward, dropping me unceremoniously on our bed, before joining me there himself. I enjoyed several minutes of Edward giving me a thorough kissing, before he pulled back and spoke. "So- are you going to tell me what has you so wound up and Jasper humming the Price Is Right theme song to himself in his head?"

I was too busy staring at Edward to even bother mentally cursing at Jasper for being so obvious.

"You really are a terrible liar, Bella," he informed me.

"I know," I agreed.

"So- what were you really up to?"

I frowned at him slightly, and shook my head stubbornly.

"I really don't want to tell you."

Edward sighed.

"Bella- it takes trust to be in a relationship. How are we supposed to stay together if you don't trust me?" he asked.

"I do trust you," I replied.

"Yet Jasper could help you with… whatever it was you were doing today, but you can't tell me what it was?" Edward looked at me with hurt in his eyes. I realized that this was really bothering him.

"You'll be angry," I told him rolling onto my back.

"Maybe- but I would like for you to trust me."

I sighed and told him about everything- my curiosity about Tiazza, the locked door, Jane, Alec, and the tortured scream- even Tiazza's cryptic remark in the garden. He stayed silent, staring at me with an unreadable expression, once I had finished.

"See?" I groaned. "You're mad."

I rolled around so that my back was to him, and closed my eyes, as if to ward off the lecture I was soon to receive.

It never came.

"I'm not mad at you Bella. It kind of hurts that you'd think I would be. I noticed Tiazza's unusual behaviour- and I'll admit, I'm curious about it. Even as they spoke about that him, both she and Aro kept their thoughts blank to that topic. You're allowed to be curious- I just hope that you won't go back to that door. And it hurts that you trust me so little- have so little faith in me- as to think that I would disapprove of your curiosity."

I turned around to face Edward's back. He sat on the edge of the bed, his back towards me. I didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry," I said at last. "I'm new to this whole relationship thing… I don't want to do anything to mess it up."

As I sat there, I realized for the first time just how big of an age gap there was between us. Edward had over one hundred years of experience and knowledge- I didn't even have eighteen.

He sighed and moved so that he was lying down, face towards me, once more.

"I know Bella- I'm new to this too," he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. "We'll muddle through it together, though. All couples argue, and so will we. Just… trust me, okay? Trust that, even if I'm mad, I won't leave you."

"You already left me once," I reminded him softly, my voice choked. "What's stopping you from doing it again? I'm not used to one person having so much control over me."

"The stupidest mistake I ever made was leaving you, Bella," Edward murmured, pulling me tight against his chest. "And I will never do it again."

"I don't know why you put up with me," I whispered into his shirt. "After all- I'm all naïve and not very good at the emotions thing- and you… you're… you."

Edward laughed softly at me.

"Silly Bella," he murmured. "You are perfect, and the emotions thing will come with time. I've had over one hundred years to learn how to open up to people. You have forever, and I'll be there to help you the entire time."

Edward and I lay there for a long time in each others arms, taking comfort in the other's presence. We had a long ways to go, I realized. And a lot of hurdles to overcome- but together we would do it.

After all, Edward was right- we had forever to learn to be together.

Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett had returned by the time Edward and I exited the room. My first order of business was to elbow Jasper hard in the stomach and say mockingly: "The Price Is Right?" He had grinned at me sheepishly and shrugged, causing me to roll my eyes and walk away from him with disgust.

Alice and Rose were showing me their purchases in Alice's room when Carlisle knocked on the door.

"Is something wrong?" Alice asked, seeing his troubled look.

"Not really, no. It's just… Demetri's here. Apparently Tiazza wants to talk with you, Bella. Apparently she told Demetri that she wishes to get to know you better."

I frowned, then shrugged my shoulders.

"I had better go," I told them. "She may not be one of the leaders, but she is Aro's protégé- I doubt many say 'no' to her anymore than they do the Lords."

I followed Carlisle into the sitting room where Demetri waited.

"Maybe I should come with you," Edward said immediately upon my entrance.

"Lady Tiazza wishes to speak with her alone," Demetri replied. He gave me a small smile. "She won't hurt you- Tia is not known for being cruel or volatile."

"I'll be fine," I told Edward.

He looked like he might argue more, but Carlisle gave his head a small shake.

And so it was that I followed Demetri down a number of halls until we came once more to the garden where Jasper and I had encountered Tiazza earlier that day. Said vampire was leaning against one of the fountain edges, waiting for me with an enigmatic expression.

"Hello, Isabella," she greeted. "You can go now Demetri. I'll let you know when it's time to take her back."

Demetri bowed and retreated, leaving me and Tiazza alone in the garden. I waited for her to speak, but she didn't seem in any real hurry to begin.

"Is there a particular reason you wanted to see me?" I asked at last.

"No, not really," she replied. "It gets rather lonely around here. Most of the other vampires my age or younger thrive under the tutorage of Aro, Marcus and Caius. They don't agree with my feeding habits," she shrugged. "I felt like speaking to someone who may understand a bit better."

"Your feeding habits?" I was incredulous. "But you feed on humans, don't you?"

"Yes- but I go out and hunt murderers and rapists, remember? I don't believe in the Volturi way of treating humans as livestock."

"I can see why you would target the people you do… but I can't believe that makes it right."

"It doesn't," Tia replied immediately. "Like your boyfriend said earlier- I have no right to play God. Still, I'm a Volturi- we don't feed on animals. At least doing what I do makes me feel a little less guilty."

I sat on the fountain she was leaning against.

"What's behind that locked door?" I asked bluntly.

"You don't enjoy subtly, to you?" she asked dryly. "And it's better you avoid that place, Bella. If Aro or one of the other two discovered you around there…"

She let the sentence trail off, but I didn't care.

I got the point.

"Jane and Alec were torturing whoever, or whatever, was in there."

"Most likely," she tried to keep her voice unconcerned, but I could see the pain in her eyes. "Can we please change the subject?"

"Okay. We can do that- what do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"How about how you were turned? What happened?"

"Apparently my blood sang to Edward. He lost it and turned me," I replied, shrugging. Tiazza sat next to me and eyed me curiously.

"Yet you're obviously involved with him. Why?"

I grinned at her.

"You can't control who you love, Tiazza. Love is insanity."

"You're telling me," she muttered. "Do you regret being turned?"

"I regret that I can't see my mom anymore, and that I never got to know my dad better- but I can't truly regret it. After all, I get to spend forever with Edward now."

Tiazza laughed- a dark, cynical laugh- and a shadow crossed her face.

"That's a pretty philosophy- but do you want to know the truth about forever?"

"What?" I asked, curious as to what could cause her to become so jaded.

"It sucks. You're born, you live, and then you should die. But we're already dead- so instead we get forever. And it sucks."

I didn't have an answer for that.