A/N: Well, you finally get to meet what's behind the door. Bella acts a bit immature this chapter, and may be a bit (or a lot) OOC, but it's important to the plot. I also got some one asking how you pronounce Tiazza. It's tea (like the stuff you drink) ah (the sound the doctor makes you make when you open your mouth) zah. So, tea-ah-zah. Weird, I know- but it got in my mind and wouldn't go away. As for her views on the world- Tiazza wasn't always the way she is now. You'll find this out more as the story progresses. She's a intricate person.

Six. Howling At The Moon

We sat silently in that garden for a long time. Tiazza was stubbornly refusing to look at me, glaring coldly at the flowers ahead of us. I watched her closely; part of me hoping that, if I stared hard enough, all her secrets would suddenly be shown to me.

"Stay away from that door, Bella," she said at last. "Forget whatever you heard and put it out of your mind. You'll have a tough enough time making it through your stay here with Aro as interested in you as he is. Don't make it more difficult by playing Nancy Drew."

I wanted to argue, but there was something in Tiazza's eyes that stopped me.

She was actually worried about me.

"I should probably be getting back," I said instead. Tiazza's eyes darted to mine and she nodded.

"I think you're right," she agreed, standing up. I stood as well. "Demetri?"

As we waited for the guard to come back, we both studied each other.

"I think that if we had met under different circumstances, we could have been friends," she told me at last.

"Why can't we be now?" I asked.

"I'm a Volturi, Bella. You don't want me as your friend- and your lover boy would agree."

Demetri arrived, cutting off whatever reply I would have given. I didn't mind terribly- I had no clue how to reply to that. Tiazza was a confusing creature. This meeting had just made me more curious about why she was so… cynical. She hadn't been around long, yet her view of the world was already dark and jaded.

I hoped that I wouldn't end up like that.

"It was nice talking to you, Isabella," Tiazza said, as Demetri motioned for me to follow him.

"You as well," I replied.

Tiazza gave me a smirk as I followed Demetri.

The conversation had done nothing to sate my curiosity and everything to fuel it.

"Are you okay?" Edward demanded, practically pouncing on me once Demetri had escorted me back to our rooms and left.

"I'm fine, Edward," I replied, letting him pull me into his arms and kiss me. "She just wanted to talk."

"What did you talk about?" he asked, inspecting me for injuries.

I sighed and gave his chest a smack, making him stop his inspection to look at me curiously.

"I'm fine," I assured him. "Don't worry so much. As for what we talked about," I thought back to the conversation and frowned slightly. "Nothing really. I didn't realize it then, but we didn't actually talk about much. She asked me how I was turned- and told me the truth about forever."

I shook my head with slight amusement as I thought about her words. Now that I was away from the other vampire, her statement seemed rather silly.

"Oh… and was does Tiazza believe is the truth about forever?" asked Jasper. I nearly jumped- I had forgotten about the rest of the family.

"Apparently it sucks," I replied, giving a wry grin and shaking my head. Apparently we're born, we live and then we should die, but instead vampires get forever- and it sucks."

"That's a rather… interesting view for a vampire so young to have," Carlisle mused. "She's only been a vampire for thirty years… did she give you any hints about why her view was like this?"

I thought back on the conversation. Her demeanour had become darker after my remarks about not being able to control who you loved. Maybe she had been scorned?

Or maybe it had something to do with whatever was behind that door…

"I don't know," I admitted. "I mean, we were talking about how I had been turned," guilt rose in Edward's eyes at the memory. I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, "and then she seemed to go all broody and gave me her philosophy on forever."

"Why did she want to talk to you?" asked Rosalie. "Was there a point to it?"

"Apparently not," I replied, letting Edward lead me to an armchair where I sat on his lap. "She said she wanted to talk to someone closer to her age who didn't share in the Volturi beliefs on humans."

I shrugged helplessly, unable to help much.

"She feeds on humans- how are her views any different?" demanded Emmett.

"It's because she feeds on… eviler humans, isn't it?" asked Alice. "Some of the Volturi don't agree with her hunting habits."

I nodded.

"Apparently. I didn't really get all that much out of her. Whatever else she is, Tiazza is no idiot. She thought carefully before she said anything."

All she did was make me more curious about her and her connection to that damn door!

"Why ask you to come, though?" asked Emmett, completely confused. "If there wasn't a point to the conversation, why have it?"

I couldn't tell him- but I had a feeling there had been a point to Tiazza's words.

I had just missed it.

"Are you sure you told us everything?"

Edward and I were once more alone in our room. We seemed to be spending a lot of time in there.

"I'm positive," I replied, flopping back onto the bed. Edward joined me a moment later. "Although… She did warn me to stay away from the door again."

"I hope you plan on listening to her," Edward stated, pulling me close to him. "I couldn't stand to lose you."

I didn't reply, I just breathed in the warm, delicious scent that was entirely Edward. I didn't care what Tiazza said- as long as it was spent with Edward, forever would never suck.

"You know," I mused softly, running my hand down his chest and shooting him an impish grin. "I think I could use some comfort now."

"Oh really?" Edward raised his eyebrows and gave me an equally wicked grin, rolling over so that he had me pinned to the bed. "If that's how you feel, then who am I to argue?"

We didn't leave that room again for a while.

"You're amazing Bella," murmured Edward, as we lay tangled in the bed sheets.

"You're pretty amazing," I replied, cuddling closer to him. His hands stroked my back and, for a moment, I felt capable of sleep- he made me that comfortable.

Sadly the moment was broken by a loud knocking at the door.

"C'mon out, lover birds!" sang Emmett. "It's time for food!"

I groaned, burrowing deeper into Edward's arms and trying to ignore the incessant knocking.

"Go away, Emmett!" I shouted ignoring Edward's chuckling. "I'm trying to sleep!"

"You can't sleep, Bella," came Jasper's voice. He must have joined Emmett at the door.

"I can try- now go away."

"You two have exactly ten seconds to get decent before we come in," warned Emmett.

When the two burst the door down, exactly ten seconds later, it was to see Edward sitting on the bed, still chuckling, and me glaring at them darkly as I laced up my boots.

"Wow- if looks could kill," muttered Emmett.

"Her feelings are pretty murderous, too," Jasper told him.

"I hate you," I told them. "Both of you. With every fibre of my being."

"Oh c'mon Bella," Emmett said, sitting on my left and wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "We're not that bad."

"Emmett's right," agreed Jasper sitting on my other side. Edward was still chuckling. "After all- we didn't interrupt you earlier, even though you two were making enough noise to block out the TV. I've never heard Edward's name screamed that loud. You two can really go at it, did you know that?"

Edward had stopped chuckling and leapt at the other vampire, who dodged him and exited the room, laughing loudly.

"You're not going to add anything to that, are you Emmett?" I growled at the larger vampire while Edward glared at him from where he had landed on the floor.

Emmett's gulp was audible.

"I think I hear Rose calling. Uh… hurry up and finish getting your shoes on Bell so we can go eat."

Then he left the room at a speed faster than even Edward could go.

I muttered to myself and shot Edward a glare before finishing tying my boots.

"Why did you glare at me?" he demanded. "If I remember right, it was you who wanted the 'comfort'."

"I didn't hear you arguing," I pointed out. "And… I can't believe Jasper said that!"

I buried my head in my hands in embarrassment.

Edward sat next to me and pulled me into his arms.

"He and Alice have been just as bad. Besides," I looked up to see him grinning wickedly down at me. "I happen to like it when you scream my name."

I refused to talk to him for the rest of the afternoon.

"How the hell did I manage to get this lost," I grumbled darkly, walking down the hall, searching for my rooms. After feeding, I still hadn't been willing to talk to Edward and had decided to explore on my own, refusing the company of any of my siblings. Looking back, I realized it had been a very childish reaction. After years of him being the odd man out, Jasper and Emmett were bound to make fun of Edward now that he actually had a sex life.

Still, I had been grumpy.

"Go away, Jasper. You too Edward," I had growled, wandering down the halls.

"I don't want you running off alone- remember Bella?" Edward had replied.

That had just fuelled my already bad mood.

"So what?" I had hissed, turning on him angrily. "Poor little Bella can't take care of herself? Or is it that you worry I'm about to go find Felix and jump him?"

"Bella, you know that's no-"

"Just go away, Edward! I can take care of myself," I had turned away from his hurt look, not willing to forgive him yet. "Take Jasper with you."

"Bella, you're acting very immature," Jasper had told me.

"No, I'm acting like a seventeen year old. You know, my age?" I had informed him. "If you want to see immature, just look at your behaviour earlier!"

"That's what this is about?" Jasper had demanded incredulously. "It was a joke Bella- get over it."

"Go. Away," I enunciated very carefully in my most dangerous voice.

"No," Edward had replied softly.

"Fine. Then I'll leave."

Even with all Edward's speed, he hadn't been able to keep up with me. One of the perks of being new to the whole vampire thing, I supposed.

And now I was lost. All because I had to act like an immature little brat.

"Wonderful," I muttered, turning down another hall.

This one I recognized.

"Oh joy! Just what I need!" I snapped, seeing the locked door several feet down the hall. I continued walking, hoping to find the gardens if I continued in this direction. As I passed the door, I gave it an angry kick for all the frustration it had caused me.

It swung open.

"Oh… well…" I stared into the dark opening. Stairs, I realized. It lead to a lower part of the castle. It wouldn't exactly be breaking my promise to Jasper. I mean- I hadn't meant to come down this corridor, and I hadn't tried to get past the lock. As for Tiazza- I hadn't promised her anything.

Just a peek, I thought. A peek can't hurt.

Checking both ways down the hall, I stepped through the door, shutting it softly behind me. My eyes adjusted to the dark immediately and I began to walk down the winding steps. The only sound was the soft echoing of my footsteps. It was almost eerie- an unnatural silence.

After what seemed like hours, though it couldn't have been more than five minutes, the steps finally ended and I was facing another door. I reached out and pulled on the handle.

Locked.

I muttered a dark curse, then nearly jumped when I heard something move on the other side.

"Who's there?" asked a gruff voice. It was slightly muffled, as if it were coming from further down another hall behind the door.

"B-bella," I stuttered, too scared to lie or even run.

"Bella?" the voice was filled with confusion. "That's new name," my sharp ears picked up a sniffing sound. "You don't smell like the other Volturi."

"I-I'm not a Volturi," I answered.

"You're not?" the voice became sharp. "Then why are you down here? If they find you, they'll kill you."

"The d-door upstairs was u-unlocked and I-I was curious. Who are you?"

There was a long pause, and I thought whoever the voice belonged to would ignore me.

"Andrew," came the answer at last. "My name is Andrew Walters. If you're not a Volturi, then why are you in Volterra?"

"I'm guest here, of the Lords, with my family."

This was the wrong thing to say- it brought a fierce snarl from Andrew.

"So what? You decided to come see the pathetic werewolf? Going to ask Aro if you can have a turn using his toys on me?" he snarled.

"N-no!" I replied. "Why the hell would you think that?"

"A friend of Aro's has to be just as twisted as he is."

"Carlisle's not twisted- and neither am I!" I remembered Jasper's words about Tiazza, and seeing her come out of the door and suddenly made my own conjecture. "Besides you're one to talk after betraying Tiazza!"

There was a long, confused silence, and I realized the guess had been wrong.

"The only thing I did to Tia was love her," Andrew whispered, and I had to strain my ears to hear him. His voice was broken. "Who told you I betrayed her?"

"No one," I replied. "I'm sorry. My brother- he's an empath, and he said someone had betrayed Tiazza, and I just assumed-"

"It was me," finished Andrew.

"I'm sorry."

There wasn't an answer.

"You shouldn't be here," he told me at last. "You'll get in trouble if you're found here. You should leave."

"Okay," I agreed. "Just- one last question?"

"What?" his voice sounded weary.

"This dungeon- why are you in it?"

I didn't think he would answer at first, and was preparing to leave, when his voice halted me.

"Vampires and werewolves are meant to be enemies… but I fell in love with Tiazza."

I was confused for a moment. Vampires… Werewolves… Tiazza was a vampire. But then that meant-

"You're a werewolf?"