I finally wrote another chapter. I'm trying to get this story done quickly, but now I sort of like it again. Because I just got an idea that I sort of like. Which makes this chapter my favourite one yet. But enough of my author's note, here is the story. (With the disclaimer first, of course)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything

EPOV

Time was slowly ticking down. As each day passed, there was the ever emerging thought of the upcoming fight. Two weeks had passed since Aro had told us of our time limit and things kept getting worse. Alice and Jasper's wedding was also preparing, while Emmett struggled to think if he should propose to Rosalie or not. Alice had already seen him marrying Rosalie before we went off to fight so I didn't worry too much about that. Especially when there were more pressing matters at hand.

Bella and I were still very close but I felt her keeping her distance. The problem with Alice's ring was just the beginning of her concerns. She hated the thought of destroying all the newborns who hadn't been given any other options to their lives. Aro was also trying to force her to use our natural source of blood to make her stronger but she argued. Sometimes it seemed like she argued with everyone these days. With Aro about her feeding source; with Alice about her vision with the ring; with James, Laurent, and Victoria about fighting techniques, with Bree and Angela about her new friendships with Rosalie and Alice; and with me. The argument between Bella and I was about her fighting. I didn't want her to get hurt by the newborns so I tried to convince her to run away from the Volturi. Bella didn't want to fight but she also didn't want to leave the five of us to deal with the problem. Her self-sacrificing side certainly wasn't helping me to keep her safe. As time wore on, I found myself constantly in Carlisle's presence, asking him for advice about my problems. Carlisle always seemed to have an answer for me, even if it wasn't what I was looking for.

After yet another argument with Bella I went down to his room for help. When I arrived, Esme was there as well. They both were sitting down and gestured for me to sit as well. I remained standing because I had a tendency to pace if I needed to clear my head.

"Another disagreement, Edward?" Esme asked with a frown.

I nodded, "We don't have much time left and she refuses to change her mind. So I tried being reasonable and making a compromise but that didn't work either. Bella is being too stuborn."

"What was the compromise?" Carlisle asked.

"Since human blood is stronger, I suggested that I would let her go to the first fight only if she used human blood. She still said no."

"Edward, that is hardly a compromise. You know Bella doesn't want to hurt humans and it doesn't affect her strength that much. Perhaps you should try our 'vegetarian' ways as well. It might help you with some of your frustration about this life," Carlisle said.

I stared at him; how did he know that I felt like a monster? That being a vampire, a creature of the night and a monster at heart, wasn't something I was proud of. But I had already lost my soul and living off of animals wasn't going to bring it back. Surely Carlisle could understand that.

"It isn't that simple! If I'm already a member of the eternally damned I don't see why I should care anymore. But I can't loose Bella and I can't let her fight. If she got hurt- I don't know what I would do. She is everything to me. She can't get hurt," my voice was reduced to a quiet whine.

Carlisle replied slowly because he was thinking about his answer, "Do you consider Bella to be eternally damned? Do you think she doesn't have a chance at an afterlife? That just because she was turned into a vampire by Volturi members so that she can help with newborns that are killing humans, she lost her soul?"

His question made me miserable, "Yes." I muttered, childishly.

"Well, I disagree. If she didn't have a soul, do you think she would have developed the concious that stops her from drinking from humans? Probably not. What we are, what we have become, is something that maybe is unexplainable, but aren't humans unexplainable too? Nobody can really say where either species came from and nobody can really say if anybody has a chance at an afterlife. But I believe we do and there isn't anything that says vampires don't have the same chance just because they were changed, mostly against their own will. But if you are really that worried about your soul or death, I suggest you make the most of this life. Do not waste your time before the fight, fighting. Both you and Bella are stubborn but both of you are intelligent enough to come to some sort of an agreement. Perhaps you could try hunting with her, just once, to see her way of life and spend some time together?" he suggested.

I pinched the top of my nose and tried to think but my mind was so messed up at that minute, "Okay, fine. I don't agree with you on most of your points but it wouldn't hurt to go hunting with Bella. Thanks for the advice, Carlisle."

He just nodded and watched me sprint away towards the love of my life. Bella was sitting with Rosalie and they were going through Alice's wardrobe. I didn't see Alice but I heard a loud squealing coming from deep inside her closet so I took it that Alice was there as well.

My love looked up from the clothes and smiled at me despite the argument we had, had before I went to Carlisle. She stood up and kissed me lightly and I wondered how a soul-less monster such as myself had managed to have the love of an angel. Bella was just so perfect.

"I love you," she whispered quietly against my lips.

I ran my fingers through her beautiful hair, "I love you too. I'm so sorry about earlier."

She shook her head, "Don't be sorry. I know you were just doing what you thought was best. But can try and forget about that?"

I smiled, "Sure. I was just thinking... maybe we could go hunting together? You could show me how you hunt and we could have some time together."

Bella pulled back and watched my expression with curious eyes. If only I could read her mind, "What? I mean, are you sure? You don't have to."

"I'm sure." I pulled her close once more and kissed her forehead.

"Thank you. You won't regret it- it'll be fun. Come on," she put an arm around my waist and tried to pull me out of the room. I didn't let her.

"I'll do the running. Climb on my back." I gently pulled her onto my back and grabbed her hands to wrap them around my neck.

"Edward-"

"If we are going hunting your way, we get there my way. Deal?" I smiled to myself.

"Fine." she grumbled. I chuckled.

"Hold on tight, my Bella." And then I was running far away from the suffocating Volturi castle to the nearest forest. I didn't smell much wildlife so I kept going until nearly half an hour had past of my fastest running and she forced me to stop.

"This is good." Bella told me. Then she showed me how she did her hunting. We found several deer but I wasn't really hungry and the 'flavour' would definitely take getting used to. My main concern was spending time with Bella, which I finally got. After hunting we went off running around the forest while we talked. She brought up the subject of Alice's vision which made me think of our own earlier argument. I just brought it up when we both heard far-off voices discussing something. Both of us got curious. We headed towards the voices and saw James and Victoria talking. Bella tried to get closer but I put an arm around her waist.

Bella said, "You stay here, Edward. Can you read their minds from here?" I nodded, "Okay, well, thats your power. And my power lets me get closer." With a wink, she turned invisible and then I was alone. I concentrated on listening to the two vampires in front of me.

"James," Victoria hissed, "Everything is not going according to plan. The Volturi have commanded their respect and they will find out. I say we escape as quickly as possible." Her mind was screaming the same thing: They are going to kill us. The Volturi are more powerful then we know. And the six... the six are a danger, too.

Whatever they were talking about had James take a different view, "Stop worrying, Victoria. I know what I am doing. There isn't a match for me yet. Besides, 'the six', as they are known, are well within my plans. You forget that they no longer listen to the Volturi, they get training from us. When it comes down to it, I have no doubt that they will be more eager to help with our plans then our enemy's. Besides, they all want to get their loved ones out of the fight and the only way to do that is to join us. And its not like we need them all. I should think Edward and Isabella would suffice; they are the most powerful. Edward is already trying to get his little girlfriend out of the fight and if it meant he would have to join us to save her, so be it. Of course Isabella would do whatever we told her for his sake." And if it all comes down to it, we can trick them all into thinking we kidnapped their soulmates so that they fight for us. Soulmates behave like humans, after all. So self-sacrificing for their love. James thought.

Victoria was still unsure, "Alright then. But if anyone finds out about anything before they should, then we kill them and get out of here, okay? And I mean it, James. Even Laurent agrees that is it getting rather risky."

James wasn't fazed, "We always knew it was risky. But would you rather remain a slave to the will of the Volturi for eternity? I say it is about time that somebody destroys the Volturi." And then I can control the vampire world. His evil thoughts continued.

"Of course I want them defeated," Victoria stated, "I'm just pointing out the risks. Sometimes it is better to pull out of your plans and try again later when you have a better oppertunity. But forget I said anything. I believe you know what is best, my love."

I was slightly confused about their conversation but I took it that James had inacted some plot to destroy the Volturi and put himself in their place. I hardly cared about that part because I didn't care for the Volturi, but I did care that he planned to use my friends, and my Bella, as his tools. James and Victoria had to be stopped; but first I had to find out their complete plan. And get Bella back by my side, of course.

Now I have lots of ideas, so chapter will probably be posted faster. Plus I have so much time and nothing to do so I might as well write. R&R

p.s. I have been wondering forever, what does OOC or something like that mean? So many people use it but I am so confused.

-addict.to.reading