Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, obviously

Chapter Three, Dark Departure

The next day things were worse then before, instead of getting better. Bella was out hunting with Edward, Jacob was watching Nessie for them. When they came home, the house was in chaos. Alice and Jasper were standing by the front door, and the whole rest of the family was surrounding them, all talking over each other. And they all looked rather upset.

"Whats going on?" Bella asked as she came in the door, Edward was concentrating on Carlisle, who was looking back at him, as if trying to explain what was going on without saying it.

Edward looked startled before looking at Alice. "Alice, what are you doing?!" Edward exclaimed, sounding very startled.

There were many bags surrounding Alice and Jasper, Alice looked determined, and Jasper confused. And it didn't take much to piece together what was going on.

"Alice, Jasper, you can't be leaving?" Bella asked, unable to understand how this could possibly be happening....it couldn't, it couldn't be possible. And yet, Bella knew she could not be dreaming. Since she could not sleep.

"We've got too. Listen everyone, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt any of you, but I have to go." Alice explained calmly. Bella was at least comforted that she was not snapping at them as she had the day before.

"Wh-Where will you go?" Bella asked, her voice breaking. She could not imagine the Cullen family without Alice. She didn't understand what was happening. How could this be possible?

Alice hesitated, and Jaspers eyes fell to his feet. "Well...." Alice said softly, "We are...We're going to Italy Bella."

Bella stared at her, her mouth had dropped and her eyes were wide as she stared at Alice. "You can't be! You're going to join that group of....Of disgusting..." Bella found herself lost for words, the anger and hurt that burned inside her could not be described as she stared at her friend, and sister. Bella understood why Jasper was leaving. It was quite obvious he did not approve of what Alice was doing. But Jasper would follow her anywhere.

"I'm sorry Bella." Alice said, and a shadow of her old self crossed across her face, as she hugged Bella, and then the rest of the family. "We'll write, and visit, and everything!" Alice said, she did look a little sad, but she also had that look of determination in her eyes. They turned to go, Jasper following but slowly. When Alice stopped, turned and said. "I love you guys." And then they left. They were gone in a moment, and yet, the family stood there for quite some time. The shock froze the air, and no one said a word.

The first to move was Esme', she covered her mouth with her hand and rushed up the stairs, Carlisle went after her. Emmett kicked the wall, leaving a large, gaping hole in it, and then left. Rosalie stood there a second longer staring at the hole in the wall, before rushing off as well.

Poor Nessie just stood there, tears in her wide eyes, and if Bella hadn't needed to be there for Nessie. She would've fell to pieces herself.

Bella rushed to Nessie, and knelt down beside her. She wrapped her arms around her daughter, picked her up, and went and sat on the couch. Nessie on her lap.

"Momma, why did Aunt Alice leave?" Nessie asked, through tears.

Bella held her tightly, she would have been in tears herself if she could be. "I don't know Nessie. I don't know. But it'll be okay, she'll come back. " Bella whispered gently.

Edward came over then, and sat beside them. He wrapped an arm around Bella, and tucked a strand of hair behind Nessie's ear.

"Does Aunt Alice still love us mommy?" Nessie asked, her voice soft.

"Of course she does. Don't even think that way Nessie." Bella said, but she herself wasn't so sure anymore.

~Volterra, Italy, ~

Aro leaned against the wall of his study. Thinking. He was absolutely sure the plan would succeed, and knew that this very moment it should be being put into action. Not a lot of things could ruin that moment of that feeling of success for Aro, but something did.

There was a loud knock on the door. And Aro, unworried, said. "Come in." Quite calmly.

In walked an angry looking Vampire girl, she was quite beautiful, she had long dark red hair, with golden eyes. She was tall, and slim, and did not look at all happy.

"Aro....." She said, her voice was cold as ice, and her eyes shone with anger. She had a thick Italian accent. But she did not look like she saw Aro often, and she did not want to either.

"Avary." Aro replied, he smiled, as if he did not see the hatred in her eyes. "What would bring you here?"

"Where is Thor?" Avary asked, ignoring his question. She stared at Aro, but the look on her face showed her eagerness to leave.

"Please do sit down Avary, and I will explain the situation." Aro said, motioning to a chair. Avary looked doubtful, but after a moments hesitation took a seat, her golden eyes met Aro's red ones, and she was obviously waiting for an explanation. But Aro did not seem in a hurry to give an answer.

"Aro, where is Thor?" Avary said, her eyes daggers.

Aro did seem intimidated by Avary so he said, his voice still calm. "Thor is on a mission I have assigned to him, if you are worried, it is not a dangerous one. Not for him anyway." Aro said dismissively, as if it didn't matter.

"As if I would be worried about him." Avary spat, "I merely was suspicious of his activity in this sick vampire group of yours."

Aro seemed unfazed by Avary's insults. "Well, my dear, I have told you where you're Thor is. And when he returns here, he will be placed in a position of high honer and authority. If you were to join us Avary, you too will be given much power."

"I would die before I joined you and you're Volturi Aro." Avary said, getting to her feet, as if she was done with the conversation, and she turned to go, but stopped when Aro said something.

"What about Thor, Avary?" Aro asked, a note of amusement in his voice.

Avary did not turn around when she said, in a voice full of cold hatred. "Thor? Thor is dead to me Aro." And she was out the door in a second.

Aro sighed, as if disappointed he had lost a potential Volturi member, but he didn't care very much. And his good mood was immediately returned to him when someone entered the room, holding a small silver phone. "It is for you Aro,it is from Thorton sir." The person said, the look on their face said they'd very much like to know what Thor's mission was.

"Thank you, will you please dismiss me with this call?" Aro asked, taking the phone.

"Of course master." Said the person in reply. Leaving the room.

"Thor, is she coming?" Aro said into the small silver phone, the moment the person left. The voice of Thor on the other end said, smugly. "Yes Master, she, and her mate, Jasper."

Aro laughed, "Good. This is excellent. You know whose next right?"

"Of course, " Thor replied on the other end. "I suspect it will be two at a time then too. Maybe every time."

"Excellent." Aro said, and he hung up the phone, leaning against his desk, with a smug look on his face as well. And he knew, that any time soon, Alice and Jasper Cullen would be joining the Volturi Guard.