Reckless didn't seem to cover it that well.

Rash maybe, irresponsible definitely but it wasn't thoughtless. I knew exactly what I was doing and why I was doing it. It made sense to me and I knew if I could see Bella again, it was worth it. Bella was always worth it.

I admit I hadn't believed vampires had souls. It didn't seem possible. We had been forced to stay on Earth, not going to Heaven or Hell. Even your soul was bad or good, you would end up in one or the other. Vampires stayed on Earth so technically, that didn't mean we had one.

I tried to ignore those past thoughts of mine as I ran from Jane. I really did need to see Bella again and I was willing to give up everything – my beliefs included – if it meant I could be with her. Who knew what would happen to us? There was no way of telling if we would survive and if I didn't at least I would have died saving her.

But what if you don't meet up, Edward? What if you go down to Hell for killing all those people? What if you don't meet up because your theory is right and you don't have a soul? You'll just end up dying and never seeing her again.

My conscience was an idiot.

So was I.

My mind was constantly replaying the possibilities of not meeting up with her when I died. I wouldn't know the answer now but I hoped everything would be okay.

I was going to see Victoria. Nervous as I was, I knew it was for the best. If Bella could stay alive it was for the best. She had a room in the southern side of the castle, near the exit I couldn't help but notice. I didn't like it. Not one bit.

Of course, Victoria had to be on best terms with the Volturi. They didn't care who got hurt in the process, they just wanted to be entertained for a little while, or as long as possible. It seemed to be the latter. We had been kept here because Aro and the rest wanted to see how this played out. They had been around for one thousand years each and nothing really amused them, Marcus and Caius were getting it worse because they didn't exactly have Aro's cheery personality to go on.

I paused before knocking. Victoria was defiantly inside her room, that I could be sure of but I had to do this for Bella.

I knocked sharply, twice.

A few seconds late, the door swung open. Victoria's face was immediately one of surprise and then the façade dropped over her face. She was calm and collected. Her thoughts however were not.

"Can I help you, Edward?" What the hell can he want? She's almost dead as it is. I flinched.

"I'd like to speak with you, if that's okay."

"Yes, yes, come in." She moved from the doorway and I stepped inside. The room was painted in a dark blue and Volterra castle was feeling like a hotel more and more each time I entered different rooms.

"Now, what exactly is it I can help you with?" Her voice was irritated, and if her thoughts were anything to go by, she really didn't want me here.

"I want to take Bella's place. I know your plan and it's to kill one of us."

She stood frozen in place for a second. Her thoughts were so jumbled that I couldn't make any sense from them. Then rage took over. "Who told you?!"

"You did."

"No, I didn't you –"

"I can read minds."

She was silent and scowling at me. I stood, staring at her. Waiting.

Slowly her mind slowed down. "And you want to take her place? Well, I'm afraid to say you're a little late. She's being killed as we speak."

"What?" That couldn't be possible,

"I think you heard that. She is being killed. Now."

I ran from the room. Victoria's loud laugh filled the air and I sped up, not wanting to stay another minute with that thing. I had to do it, I had to save her.

You have no idea where you're going. My conscience reminded me.You're running and it's probably noon because you've spent all day looking for that stupid room.

As if to prove its point, the clock tower rung thought out the castle. Twelve times.

See.

I growled silently to myself. I needed to get to Bella but it was true. I had no idea where she was. I needed to get to Carlisle. He would know what to do.

His thoughts were saying he was with Aro. There were only two real places Aro would be; the throne room or his private quarters. No one ever came into them so I was betting on the throne room. I could hear Marcus' thoughts as I walked.

I never knew that there could be a connection this strong? Never in all my years here… But why is Aro being so protective over her? She's nothing special, only her gift is. It doesn't make sense.

I crept up to the side entrance of the hall. It was a door that was hardly ever used and I could see the cobwebs in the corner of the wall. Thankfully, there were no windows in the door so no member of the Volturi could see me. I doubted that Aro would have liked anyone listening in on his conversations, let alone his thoughts.

"…And you say this now?"

"I only thought it relevant now, Aro."

"Marcus, it is completely relevant. You should have told me earlier!"

"I apologize but I can not take back what I haven't said."

Aro sighed, irritated. "Never mind. She is safe for now. Edward can not get to her and I will not let Victoria take her with her gift. Such potential in that. We would be so much stronger than now." His tone changed to one of power.

"We need to make sure Victoria has her way though. She wants one of them dead, and as fun as this all seems, with Isabella's gift we do not know how this will react. If they're relationship is as strong as Marcus says it is, we need to be very careful. She is unstable being away from him and I would dread to think if we attacked him if she were there." Caius commented. So they feared her? The Volturi feared my Bella?

"You are right, Caius. However we can do nothing about it now. Carlisle knows something of their meeting. They too need to know her past. Carlisle?" The three waited for him to begin and I wondered how much of it he would tell. It wouldn't matter too much if they knew everything but could it dissuade Aro? I didn't know how much I'd told Carlisle but I imagined it was a lot. I sank to the floor.

"Isabella Swan moved to Forks, Washington on the 17th of January." Right, maybe more than a lot. "The next day, she saw those in my coven, marvelled at them sitting in the school's lunch hall, like the other humans. When she got to a lesson with Edward, he quickly found out that she was his singer. Determined not to attack her, he survived a whole hour sitting next to her and never attacked once. He went to visit the Denali coven for a week and eventually came back. The day he did, they spoke in class and Edward found himself wondering about her. He could not hear her thoughts which worried him but he also found himself drawn to her, herself, as well as her blood." Aro, Marcus and Caius were silent, listening in shock.

"A week later, Isabella was almost crushed before his very eyes. The road was icy that day and a van came speeding around, sliding on the ice and almost killing her. Edward had a split second decision to make and he chose to save her. Her blood spilled on the pavement would no doubt force him to attack her. She saw him in a crowd, far, far away from her and demanded an answer from him about how he got over to her so fast. She wanted an answer, never got one but also never told anyone that he used inhuman speed. They both ignored each other for a month. She was asked to a dance by three boys at the school. She refused each time and said she was going to be in Seattle that weekend. Edward spent the night watching her sleep and soon found out he was in love with her."

"What? That's outrageous! His singer! He could have attacked her then and there. No one would ever have known!" Caius proclaimed.

"It may be but it is true. They become closer and closer and Isabella finds out that he is a vampire one night in Port Angeles. She had already guessed however, thanks to some old family friends that evoked the treaty we live by in Forks. She did not run from him, like he thought she would. She wanted to know more." I was amazed. He knew almost as much as I did…

"Soon after, Victoria, her mate James and another vampire named Laurent came passing through Forks. James was a tracker and she was forced to flee back to Phoenix where she originally came from. In the end she was almost killed by James and we were forced to attack and kill him. Afterwards, it was relatively quiet until her birthday. Alice had organized a small party at our home for her. She got a paper cut on one of the presents and Jasper tried to attack her, only being knocked away by Edward. I treated her and she was fine, Edward however was not. He was brooding over how this was not the life she should have and the next day he told us we were leaving and it was for the best." I winced at the next part.

"Edward told Alice not to look for her future but she would get it anyway. Isabella was in a horrible state, obviously not over Edward and it didn't look like she would be. Edward was in much the same situation, lifeless and not himself at all. She jumped from the cliffs and Alice saw. She told Edward and without thinking, he was on the nearest plane to get her. He got to the hospital and she didn't recognise him. Amnesia from the fall. He went to England, thinking we didn't want him. Something however made him come back and see if she was okay. She had been taken by Victoria and he came to us. Alice saw where Victoria was taking her and you invited us here. I think that's everything up till now."

Everyone – even Aro who already knew the story – was silenced in awe.

"That would probably explain the relationship then." Marcus mumbled.

"I had no idea…" Caius trailed off.

I stood from my corner. I needed to get to her now. The Volturi had been silenced because of our love for each other. I had too.

Stepping outside, the sun had almost gone down. It was past the buildings so I had no worry of sparkling, but I realised how long I had been sitting there, eavesdropping. I still had no idea where she was. Pacing trying to get to the square, I saw Demetri.

Unfortunately, he saw me as well.

"Edward Cullen, what a pleasant surprise. Aren't you meant to be locked away at the moment or is that your mate?"

I growled.

"No matter, Aro won't let Victoria kill her, she's needed too much here. You'll die." He smiled. "Oh, I got the best piece of information today. Aro says I can have Isabella when you're gone. That lovely, long brown hair, delicious body –"

I snarled this time.

"Touchy, touchy Edward. I can't have her yet. You're still here, though, thinking about it, maybe we can skip a few stages and I can kill you here."

He lunged at me and I dodged him. I lunged at him and he dodged this time. We glared at each other, fuming over the idea of the other having Bella. The very idea of another man even touching her was infuriating. How dare they even think it?!

"Demetri…" I scowled at him.

"Edward…" He replied pleasantly.

"If you even –"

"If I what? Speak to her? Touch her? You'll kill me right? You can't kill me if you're dead. She'll be mine!"

"She'll never be yours!" I roared.

"She will, I can guarantee it."

"I'll get her. Where is she?" I didn't really need to ask, but it was the only thing that would get his thoughts thinking about it.

"Stop the stalling, there's really no need. You won't be able to get to her."

"I have to disagree. I can see where she is through your mind." He cursed under his breath.

"Well, then, I'll just have to stop you." Demetri's pure red eyes stared back at me as a grin breaks out onto his face. I realised I hadn't hunted in over a month. I was weak. But I had to.

For Bella.

I snapped my jaw shut as I attacked him. I was right, he was strong. A lot stronger than I expected. Before I knew it I was on the floor, my back digging into something hard.

Demetri stood over me, holding a lit match delicately in between his thumb and index finger. In that small fire I could see my death before my eyes. My only thoughts were for Bella and how I'd failed her. Demetri would be with her when he had no right to be. I had failed her so many times now and I was thinking about her so hard my mind must have made me hear her call out.

It was tragically beautiful. Her voice was full of pain but it seemed to fit.

It was all I could think of as Demetri dropped the match.


A/N: Despite what you think, the next chapterwill not be called 'Here In Your Arms' so calm down.
Today and yesterday was eventful. More PM threats from Ningyo Cullen about how if I don't update soon, Misu Deki, Ningyo's friend will come and bite me... So all in all, I feel loved...
I've added Demetri to the 'BURN THEM!!!!!!' pile so y'know, he is a bad guy. Exactly. I'm glad you see my point. I was also woken up at 8:00 so I could finish this chapter for you guys. It may have taken nearly all day (it's now 16:46) but it normally they're up around 11 or 12 at night. -shrugs-

The next chapter is the Big Fight!
A good old favourite of mine, this one. Used before but who cares:

If you're happy and you know it click review!

Emma

PS: Again, have not proof read...