Hello again, gentle readers. I thank you much for your reviews, they are appreciated as always. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Onward.

I had a distinct feeling of waking up. Though it was impossible to wake up seeing as I never actually slept anymore it was still this sensation of finally becoming aware after being asleep for so so long.

Bella had already gotten up to take a shower. I could hear her singing softly as the water poured down. I was content. More than content I was ecstatically happy. The Volturi, where we were, the possible danger in the very near future—none of it mattered to me.

I heard the water stop as Bella climbed out of the shower. She was still singing, as she got dressed. When she came out of the bathroom she was toweling her hair dry. She laughed at me when she saw me.

"Edward, why are you not dressed?" she asked. I shrugged.

"I'm being lazy," I replied. She came and sat on the edge of the bed, her towel in one hand. The other hand came to my face, touching my cheek very gently. Then she leaned closer to me, her face a mere inch from mine. Her eyes stared into mine, searching for something. In the end she gave up her investigation, settling instead for a kiss.

"You need to get up and get dressed. We have things to do today," she told me, getting up and continuing to dry her hair off. I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to do anything. But now instead of not wanting to get up because I was depressed, I didn't want to get up because as long as I was just lying here, watching her, I could lie to myself.

Everything was going to be fine. Nothing was going to happen. We could go home. I could be with my family, with Bella. We would get a happy ending like I wanted us to have.

Oh how I lied to myself.

Aro was likely to be completely irate with last nights display. She had disrespected him, shown off in front of a room full of humans, challenged his dominance and power, and what was worst, she humiliated him.

That little display had been to prove two things. The first was the she was powerful beyond imagination and that if anyone chose to go after her she would not hesitate to remind them why it was a bad idea. The second, as she had explained to me later, was to show Aro that she was very serious about her conditions. She wanted to go home and she wanted me by her side. End of story. There was no discussion.

But it seemed as though she had even more in store for Volterra. She wasn't done yet. Oh my dear Isabella, what in God's name could you have planned for today?

Reluctantly I got out of bed and got dressed. Bella had not bothered to bring a suitcase with her because she knew there were still bags of clothing for her waiting in the drawers of my dresser. I could not bring myself to get rid of them, even if I had thought there would never be anyone to wear them. Having her clothes there, even things she had never put on, was a way of proving to myself she was real. If she was indeed real I had a reason to believe in what I was doing. I was miserable so she could be happy. It was a simple trade, and easy trade.

So as Bella finished putting herself together in the bathroom I slid on the first things I could find. When she emerged a second time she smiled appreciatively.

"Thank you. Now we have to go find Marcus. There are some things that we need to discuss," she said, her hands reaching out and folding over mine. I had tried to tell her last night that we should just go. While we had time we should have just gotten out. I did not feel like irritating Aro anymore than we already had. If we hung around Volterra for much longer we would definitely cause him to get angrier. I tried to avoid that when at all possible.

But even as I suggested that we leave, she was tugging me by the arm into my chambers. She convinced me that perhaps we could afford to stay the night. And maybe into the next day…

I shook off the many memories I had saved up from the night before as I tried to remind myself that I had a question for her.

"What exactly do we need to discuss with Marcus?" I inquired, ignoring the way she tried to distract me with that burning look in her eyes. Not this time, miss Bella.

"Never you mind," she said slowly, realizing her attempt to distract me was failing. I admit it took a lot of concentration to keep from simply coming undone but I somehow managed to keep it together.

"Isabella, last night was enough of a surprise. Please stop playing around like this. If we are going to get out of here alive I need to know what is happening," I told her, trying to sound stern. She sighed but then shrugged.

"Marcus is the only one I trust of the three of them. Aro is obviously furious," she said softly, a gleam of a smile in her eyes, "and Caius is constantly vacillating. Marcus has always been very firm in his opinion of me, ever since I was changed. He wanted me gone then just as he does now. I just want to speak to him and make sure the certain things are understood."

After that she refused to elaborate. What things needed to be understood? She had made her terms pretty clear last night. I could not imagine what else she thought she needed to say. I would have told her not to push her luck if I thought it would help. She was stubborn as all hell, even if I issued such a warning she would take it in stride and continue on. She was on a mission now.

I realized that I loved this determined Bella. The hard playful smirk on her face, the look in her eyes that made you want to simply give in and submit to her every desire…it was wonderfully shocking. She had always seemed sure of herself as a human, never cowering or trembling in fear even when faced with monsters. But now…the parts of her personality that had made her strong were amplified, brought even farther to the surface of her being.

As we walked hand in hand down to the main level of the castle I fell in love with her over and over again with each new smile or soft word spoken. I was glad she could not hear the thoughts I was having. I would have been embarrassed for her to know enamored I was with her all over again. I felt like idiotic. I felt happy. I felt scared out of my mind about what was coming next. But mostly, I felt grateful. My dearest wish, my greatest love in the entire world was here with me now. And she loved me and I loved her. It was all I could ever ask for.

She paused outside Marcus' chambers and gave a polite knock. When we were invited in he did not look the least bit surprised to see us.

Bella let go of my hand and went to Marcus, giving him a customary greeting of a kiss on each cheek. It was polite and sweet and completely something Bella would do. Marcus looked a little surprised but he settled down as he realized she was not in a destructive mood. In fact, she was wildly happy as I was.

"Well, Bella I see you accomplished your task," Marcus observed. Bella grinned in triumph and joy.

"Most of it. I have one last favor to ask of you, Marcus."

His thoughts raced. What else could she want from him? He had helped me get in to help get her out months ago; he had helped her get in this time…

"Wait, he helped you get into Volterra?" I asked her. Why had neither of them told me of this? Why had I not heard it in his thoughts?

"Yes. Bella contacted me the day before yesterday. She was here and she was coming to get you, with or without my help. I thought perhaps it would do better to get her into Volterra on a night full of distractions that have her bring it to the ground," Marcus explained. I had not seen him in the past few days, thus my not hearing it made sense.

I nodded and looked back at Bella who was eyeing me with gentle innocence. Her eyes were growing darker now. I did not know how long it had been since she last fed, but apparently it was long enough. If we were leaving via any sort of public transportation she would need to hunt before we left.

"So what is it that you need from me now?" he asked her. Though he knew what she was capable and was more afraid of it than he would ever admit, he adored her. He thought she was pretty, and amusing and she always managed to surprise him. He was not used to being surprised. He told himself her quirks and spunk (as Carlisle would have put it) was what he admired about her most. But it was really the zest she carried with her, the vivacity, the life. She may have been dead but everything about her seemed to be alive. She was vibrant in a way some humans were not, let alone vampires. It was hard to believe she was truly dead. If I had not been able to tell she had no heartbeat I would have sworn she was simply a very pale human.

"I need you word that once we are gone no one will come looking for us," she said. Marcus simply stared. He could not promise her such things. He would do his best. He could certainly try to keep them from going after us, but there were some things he simply could not control. The will of his brothers—Aro in particular—was not a force he could be in command of.

"I will certainly make an effort that no one should be sent―"

"No. I need your word, your promise they will leave us in peace," she stated. She was not begging, she would not do such a thing of anyone, even the Volturi, but in her voice was a desperate entreaty.

"Bella, if Aro sends someone after you he does not need my approval. If he were to ask my opinion of course I would suggest to him that he leave you alone. I would surely do my best to persuade him against it, but his will is his own."

Marcus spoke these words without masking what was driving them—remorse. He realized now how precious she was. She was something like a child to him, a daughter of sorts that was only looking for protection. It was his fault she was the present circumstance. He felt as though it was his burden to keep her safe as I did, but this was because he felt a sort of love for her like a father would.

"I guess I cannot ask any more of you then. Thank you, for all you have done," she whispered. Her hand left mine and she went to him again. She gave him a hug. The word goodbye hung so heavily in the air she did not need to say it and neither did he. But as we walked out of his chambers she smiled at him over her shoulder.

I am sad to see her go but…it is for the best. Take care of her, Edward.

His thoughts reached me and I smiled to myself. He even sounded like a father. Only I was not taking his daughter out for dinner and a movie. I was taking her away for eternity.

As we walked Bella wanted to make one last stop before we left Volterra. I realized it had become a sort of unspoken agreement as we meandered that this was it. This was the last time I would see I the inside of the castle ever again, if I had my say. And of course if Bella had hers, which we all knew she would.

We paused in front of one last room. It was Demitri's quarters.

"Did he help you too?" I asked suspiciously. She shook her head.

"I remember you saying he was the only one you actually could stand to have around you while you were here. And yesterday when I got here I found him first. He told me how miserable you had been. He had been concerned you were going to…get yourself killed. He is a good friend. I know I have said it before. I think he deserves a goodbye," she explained. I nodded. He was a good friend. I had not ever thought of him in such a way, but now that Bella mentioned it I realized he was. He had been the only one I trusted to help me with Bella when I thought I would have killed her without someone to control me. He delivered her message to me when he knew it could have put him in danger. He tried to get me out of my depression after Bella was gone, but was not obnoxious or overly pushy.

"Yes, I think you are right," I said as we knocked on his door as well. He answered; calling for us to come in. he looked at us with interest and got up from where he was sitting with a book.

"Hello, Demitri. We just wanted to say goodbye. Edward and I are leaving shortly, after we are done here actually," Bella said with a small genuine smile. She was happy to be going, happy that I was coming with her, just happy in general. I could relate.

"Well it has been very interesting with you here, Bella. Edward, I hope you enjoy the rest of your life," he said.

"You as well, Demitri. I hope that should our paths cross again it will be under less…stressful circumstances," I replied. We clasped hands and then Bella gave him an enthused hug before we turned to leave.

"Oh and Edward?"

Before we were out the door Demitri called me back. I turned to him and he grinned childishly.

"Bella really interferes with my tracking abilities, as I am sure you can understand. If you happen to be touching her a lot it would be very hard to find either of you," he said quietly. I got the hint. If the Volturi were going to try and hunt us down they would send Demitri after us, after all finding people was his talent. And even though she could not find Bella, as she was blind to her based on her immunity she could still find me. But her neutrality would extend to me as long as we were in physical contact.

"Well Bella, I think we can be in almost constant physical contact for the next few months, just to be safe," I whispered after thanking Demitri and leaving his chambers. She giggled. It was a young sound. A childlike sound full of innocence and just a hint of naivety. I loved that even as tough as she was, as bold and fearless as her personality was, she still retained some of that. It hardly ever occurred to me that she was only eighteen. She had been eighteen the summer I met her, and now it was months later. Winter had fallen. I had missed her birthday in the months she had been away. She was so young, no matter how old she might act. But things like age no longer mattered. Nineteen was a number so insignificant to us it barely registered. The only reason we would remember was because it was Bella's birthday. I would have to make Alice giver her a late birthday party so I could celebrate with her when we got home. Home. I was going back today. How unexpectedly wonderful.

I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts of the next step, of the next phase of my life that I only pulled myself out of reverie when Bella tensed beside me. I quickly looked up.

"You should have left last night," Jane snapped. She, Alec and Felix were standing in the way, blocking the hall. They did not want to be here. They were only doing it because Aro had told them to be here, to keep us from leaving. As angry as Aro was he wanted Bella now more than ever. She was so useful, so talented he simply could not bear to have her leave and take along one of the others as well.

"Get out of the way," I said, a low growl escaping my throat. She smiled wickedly, but her face also betrayed her fear. And in a split second her fear was not merely of Bella, it was of her master. Aro. Why did things always get so complicated?

"Jane is right, Edward. It would have been pertinent to escape last night before I had collected my thoughts enough to know what to do with the two of you," Aro said from behind me. This was very quickly escalating into a situation I did not want to have to handle.

His mind was as closed to me as it was going to get. He was trying very hard to keep me out, to make sure I did not know his plans before he spoke them aloud. I could see Bella struggling to hear his thoughts as I was and even in the moment while I was nervous I could appreciate how adorable her frustrated, contorted face was.

Aro walked closer to us. His hand came close to me as though he intended to read me but I recoiled. I did not want him coming into my mind now. There were certain thoughts and memories I did not wish to share. Things such as what it was like to make love to Bella. Those thoughts and memories were mine alone. They did not belong in anyone else's head. She was my mate and those were private things I did not want to share. Things I should not have to share. It made me physically ill to think of Aro seeing her like that, knowing every sensation and image and thought that had crossed my mind. I almost retched.

"Why so reluctant to share your thoughts, Edward?" he asked.

"I cannot say I am interested in that sort of invasion at the moment," I replied, my voice like ice. Aro chuckled.

"Well don't worry, there will plenty of time to explore those thoughts later on. For now though…"

He looked to Bella. She was calm, her features still serene, her eyes soft and gentle yet. It was only the pressure with which she was squeezing my hand that I knew she was nervous.

"Bella, you did not honestly think you would get away with something such as the little show you put on last night, did you? Tsk tsk my dear, you should know better by now," he chided.

At that moment his thoughts did slip through. The force of them was strong, suggesting that in fact they had not slipped but instead been forced out with suddenness. Bella gasped in horror. There I was, writhing in screaming agony. Jane was standing over me, her eyes fixed as though she was simply staring at me. And Bella was being held back, forced to watch this torture. He knew he could not hurt her physically with Jane's power, but he could hurt me. Seeing that would tear her apart, rip her to shreds. I only knew because that is what I would have felt if I were forced to watch someone harm her.

A furious growl erupted in the air, emanating from Bella's chest. It was a typical response from a vampire when someone threatened their mate. One did not simply go around showing a vampire exactly how you planned on torturing their mate ad expect them not to be angry. Judging from the sudden rigidity of Bella's body and the growl she had emitted, she was closer to murderous rage than simple anger.

We had turned our backs on Felix, Alec and Jane. I realized they had become closer to us, stepping in our direction while we both fixed on Aro's thoughts. It was only because of this mistake what happened next was able to occur.

Bella must have realized the same thing as I did because her motions were fluid and sure. She turned behind her to see how close the others were. Then with one swift motion her hand wrapped around Jane's arm and she yanked her forward roughly. Her other hand was still wrapped tightly in mine. I saw her swallow hard and then her brow furrowed in concentration.

The room was suddenly filled with shrieks of pain. It was of Bella's doing I realized. She had grabbed Jane to use her gift to inflict the same pain on the others as Aro had shown her moments before being used on me. Twisting on the floor in agony the others tried their best not to call out. Jane was shrieking as she watched her brother and her beloved master tangled in pain. She begged Bella to stop, having absolutely no control over Bella's use of her power as I had no control over her using mine.

Bella held out a moment later and then let go of Jane, severing her connection to the gift she had tapped into. I could feel her shaking still, only this time I was not sure it was rage she was shaking from.

She dropped my hand as she knelt before Aro on the floor. Jane had gone to Alec, helping him up off the floor. She was internally cursing her gift for the first time in all the years I had known her. She had never regretted it before this moment. It was no fun when it was being used against her.

Aro looked at Bella, fury rolling from his thoughts and facial expression.

"We are going now. I respect what you do here, Aro. I realize that sometimes your work is necessary. You will leave Edward, his family and I alone. You will not send for us. You will not hunt us down. We will be far away from here very shortly. I will never see or hear from you again," she murmured to him, her face composed once again. He did not respond other than in his mind, which was still shaking from pain and anger.

How dare she! She is nothing! NOTHING! She demands things of me? I am Volturi, I am a GOD compared to her! What makes her think she can presume to tell me anything?

His mind raged on and on this way as she stared at him. She was not waiting for a response. She was simply continuing to look at him to make sure he fully understood her.

"We are going now," she repeated, rising to her feet. Her hand was in mine a moment later as she began to walk away from the scene she had just created. I was in shock she had actually intentionally inflicted pain upon someone else. She had gone past intimidation or simple physical warnings. She actually tortured someone. As we ran from the castle, escaping the grounds under the murky gray sky I hoped that the feeling of power, the rush supremacy over others through that dark means was not appealing to her. I did not want her to like feeling so dominant.

But as soon as we had run through the walls of Volterra and were finally outside the city she stopped.

"Edward I can't...I need to stop," she muttered. Obviously she could not be tired so I stopped immediately and turned to her wondering what she needed to stop for. It was only when I looked into her eyes that I saw.

I felt her body shudder violently against mine as she placed herself inside my embrace. Her whole body rolled as she made a heaving sound. Her body was reacting to being so disgusted by trying to throw up. The only problem was she didn't need to throw up. Her body—though trying to react as it thought it should—would no longer perform such an action.

"I can't get their screams out of my head," she whispered when she could breathe again.

"Bella―"

"I can't…I can't forget the faces they made. It just…oh it makes me sick. I know I cant get sick but I feel so nauseous. I was just so angry. And I…oh Edward what have I done?" she asked. She was begging for an answer. She needed my reassurance that she was not evil. She was not a monster, a disgustingly horrible thing that was doomed to be terrible and loathsome for all eternity. I had felt much the same on many occasions. At that time however, the only one to reassure me was Carlisle.

I drew away from her gently and took her face in my hands. Her eyes were cold and sad, terribly afraid of what she was. She closed them as I kissed her forehead. I kissed each eyelid as well, trying to comfort her.

"Bella, I know you think you are wretched at the moment―"

"I am wretched."

"But you must understand you did not do anything most would have done long ago. You were reacting in defense of your mate, plain and simple. You did not do it for enjoyment. You did not do it because you took pleasure in their pain; you did it because you knew no other way to handle the situation we were in. Please…please look at me," I said to her. Her eyes, after opening, had averted mine, trying to hide. At my request they met mine reluctantly.

"You are not wretched. You could never be wretched. You are kind and loving and giving. You did what you did for me, because you did not want them to hurt me. If anyone to blame here it is―"

"Don't say it Edward Cullen! I swear if you try and assume blame for this I will hit you!" she said sternly. I quickly closed my mouth, biting off the end of the sentence I was about to say. She continued to stare in my eyes, slowly relaxing until they were soft again. They lost the hard edge of fear and sadness, instead taking warmth into them. She sighed.

"How is it you know how to quell my worst fears?" she asked.

"I don't know. But we should get going. I don't want to be here any longer than necessary," I said, casting a glance to the castle that was visible over the walls of Volterra. A simple wall would not keep Aro's wrath from us if he knew we were still here. Distance would keep us safe. Or so I prayed.

Without another prompting Bella and I resumed our running until we were almost three miles outside the city walls. I took her into the forest to hunt. She was going to need it. I had just fed the day before because of the Gala so I was not thirsty in the least.

While she hunted I called the Italian airlines and booked a flight for us into London International Airport. We would be back in England by tomorrow morning. After I secured our travel arrangements I called home. Alice picked up, sounding not the least bit surprised to hear when I said we were coming home.

"Oh I can't wait to have you both back! She told you I was planning a coming home party right?" she asked enthusiastically.

"Yes, unfortunately she did. It really isn't necessary," I told her. But as she went on to tell me, it most certainly was necessary. Apparently to Alice, if you leave her for a few decades you were obligated to sit through a party she planned for you and smile like you were enjoying yourself. The words "on pain of death" were uttered at least one. I agreed that I would not be a pain about the party. By the time I hung up the phone Bella was still not back. I had no idea why she was taking so long. I had stopped when I smelled a herd of deer so she could have a quick, easy meal.

"Bella?" I called. No answer. I took off running in the direction she had left in, searching the air for her scent. I found it eventually and followed the path it took me on. But I still could not find her.

My mind automatically kicked into panic. What if someone had gotten to her while she was hunting? What if Aro sent someone after us and found Bella all alone? What was wrong with me? I should have gone after her. I should have followed her. I should have been able to keep her safe for once.

My eyes caught a quick flash of movement to my left. I froze, keeping perfectly still. A vampire can move close to silently, the movements they make only audible to another vampire. Someone was there, watching me, waiting. I tensed my whole body, searching for some thoughts, searching for a mind. But there was nothing. Someone was trying very hard to keep me out—and succeeding.

And then with a growl a form launched itself at me, tackling me the ground.