Okay so I lied…THIS Chapter has what you've all been asking for since day one… enjoy.

Chapter 21

The light spilled in behind the figure shot into my eyes, causing me to close to my eyes; I imagined a terrible, bloodthirsty Hawk coming to kill us in some creative and painful way. But I felt small, familiar hands cupping my face.

Edward was uncharacteristically quiet, and when I saw who it was, I knew why.

Alice stood before me, with an apologetic look in her face, with light of relief and care in her eyes. How did she get here? I questioned her with my eyes, unable to get the words out.

"I'm sorry for not believing you before." She hugged me, a hug filled with so much sorrow and loyalty, my middle was being crushed by her tiny arms. I was still in too much shock to do anything but let her hug me.

"How did you escape?" I sputtered, lost in my own confusion. Her eyes grew solemn.

She dropped my gaze guiltily, fumbling with my chains with a key in hand.

I turned my eyes to Edward, and his eyes were glued to her, like he was concentrating on something very intensely. Like she was a math problem, needing to be solved. He continued studying her; their eyes met. Her gaze was nervous, as if she knew precisely what he was looking for, what she was trying to hide.

"Lucinda," He said softly, still investigating her. How did he—? "You're Lucinda's daughter aren't you? The one she tried to keep a secret." He asked so quietly, it came out as if he were talking to himself.

"Yes." She replied strongly. "Got a problem with that, pretty boy?" She spat.

My eyes darted between the two of them. How in the world did Edward know Lucinda? The gears clicked together in my head, and suddenly, it all made sense.

Lucinda was an agent for the women side.

Why Lucinda would sometimes bring Alice over to spend the night as a 'surprise', why Lucinda would send Alice to play with me when she saw a Hawk nearby, why she insisted to some people we were sisters, suddenly became clear to me. I thought she was kidding, and trying to express how ridiculously close we were. No, she was keeping Alice's existence as her daughter a secret. But, why?

Alice still kept her eyes deliberately away from mine, and for a good reason.

"How come I'm just finding this out—are you part of the Volturi too?" My head spun; I was finding out everything around wasn't as it seemed. Was nothing sacred?

"Not me," She bit back defensively. "My mother; she didn't want me involved in something as dangerous and binding." Oh, that made sense. By the look in Edward's eye, I could tell he approved, and that Lucinda was right.

Still, all things considered, I couldn't fight the sting of betrayal that shot up my spine.

"I'm sorry, Bellarella; can you forgive me for not telling you?" I broke down inside at the sound of my old, childhood nickname. It brought back memories, of a simpler, less complicated time. I felt the passive flash of embarrassment for having Edward heard that.

"Sure." I rolled my eyes at her unnecessary remorse.

Suddenly—beautifully, magnificently— the chains binding my hands to the unforgiving wall released my limbs. My feet hit the floor, and I staggered under my own weight; before I had time to steady myself, Alice's strong as steel arms were around my torso, squeezing the life out of me.

I hadn't known what I had expected from her, if I ever saw her again, but it was along the lines of resentment and disappointment— the vibe I'd been receiving quite abundantly lately.

She reached up to unlock Edward's chains, but not before throwing a questioning glance my way, silently asking me if it was okay to let him go. I nodded, then he fell to the ground.

"So how exactly did you escape?" I asked Alice.

"My mother snuck in and unlocked me. She told me to get as far away as possible as fast as my legs could carry me." She replied casually, as if her orders were clearly arbitrary. Same old Alice.

"You didn't listen." I knew it wasn't a question, but I had to confirm it. She answered me with a sly, crooked grin as she helped pull the shackles off Edward's arms.

"Come on." She said quickly, walking in front of us, leading us out.

I started to follow obediently, but Edward's hand locked around my wrist, and I was twisted around.

My eyes were wide with surprise, as a strange feeling passed through me, shock, but in a warm and fuzzy way.

Our eyes connected for an endless moment, and Alice, our surroundings, everything, was forgotten. As insignificant as dust motes in the sunlight. His hand moved from my wrist to clasp my hand— I thought I felt him take my other one too, but I couldn't remember, really, I was so caught up in the moment.

I only registered that we were getting closer; no longer at arms' length, we were inches apart. I vaguely recalled my feet shuffling closer, but that was blurry in my memory as well. It felt like a floating sensation.

Suddenly, he pressed his lips to mine.

Kisses were only things I'd only just started to discover could be an expression of love, through literature. That thought never occurred to me before in my life. Kisses were usually light and on the cheeks, as a greeting to others. Never anything like this. This had its own greatness to it, its own caliber; it made me angry they dare call those pathetic pecks exchanged between acquaintances 'kisses'. These two things were completely different.

I'd only distantly imagined what a kiss would be like, but when I tried to think about what to do, I always got confused. It seemed to me that it would be awkward. I had no idea to how to move my lips, and that they would move so naturally. So I gave up on that mission before it had a chance to live.

But some strange, miraculous way, my lips had taken over the wheel so I wouldn't have to think about it. Apparently, his did too. Our lips were together, in a wonderful dance, I'd never thought I had the capacity to do. They were soft against my own, and warm.

And I was passively pleased that I felt no gooiness, like I felt due to the sticky residue of my mother's friend's lipstick. I would always have to rub my cheek violently to get the lip mark off after one of their deadly pecks. But the lipstick was strong, and I would always end up having one big red cheek, with a faint shadow of the kiss, while the other was normal.

My lips were on fire, electricity coursed through me, like I was holding onto a bolt of lightning. My body echoed a yearning so deep and so powerful, it shocked me; it was so primal, so savage-like. I felt like if I didn't get closer to him, I would explode; and since he was reacting the same way I was, it felt like he would too, which only fed my fire. My lips were hungry for him, wanting to taste him. I would have been content to stay in that moment forever.

"Ew," I heard Alice's high pitched, voice call from the doorway, "You two have excellent timing, you know that? Maybe this could take place at a time when, oh I don't know, our lives aren't at stake. Yeah, let's wait for that." She said with a sarcastic sting; I could practically her eyes rolling in her skull.

When I pulled away, I looked guiltily over my shoulder at her. She gave me a 'what are you doing?' look, as if this was the very last thing she would expect me to do at a time like this. And she was probably right.

Edward and I exchanged sheepish looks; he was clearly not used to Alice's wrath, whilst I was still afraid of it. Yet underneath that, absolute glee radiated from him.

We followed her to the lit doorway. When we rounded the corner, I saw Jasper and Emmett leaning against the wall, looking alertly in all directions, ready to run at the drop of a pin.

"Oh yay, she's back." Jasper snarked. I was about to feel hurt, because I thought he had been talking about me, when I saw his eyes were fixated on Alice. Uh oh. He'd found a new chew toy. I feared for her for a fraction of a second, but then I remembered: she's Alice.

"Well everyone's following me, so we can easily leave you alone to die, if that's what you want." She finished with an innocent smile at Jasper. Her voice carried an equal amount of venom as he had; I had anticipated a quick, witty, hurtful remark back from him.

But what happened was astonishing; he lowered his head, glowering, and grew quiet—something I'd never thought any human would ever see.

My jaw dropped, and I saw Edward's drop too in my peripheral vision. We both stared in awe at Alice's intimidating glare she was beating Jasper down with.

Somehow, she wasn't afraid of him, like I was. Wasn't hurt by him, like I so easily was. Didn't see him as a bully, like I did. He was merely a bug to her; like all people like him were to her. I should have known— should have suspected her feelings wouldn't be so easily hurt.

"So," Edward broke the silence. "What's the plan?" Everyone's eyes shifted to Alice. It took her a few seconds to register everyone was looking to her for answers. Her eyebrow cocked and looked suspiciously and unknowingly at our gazes.

"Oh," She realized, and then grimaced. "Hm…" She pressed her finger to her chin, thinking. "We run like hell, and hope we get out with all our limbs." Everyone let out a collective groan.

"How long did it take you to think of that genius plan?" Jasper spat, refusing to be taken down so effortlessly. A sneer broke out across her face, and without turning, she threw his comment right back at him.

"About as much time as it took you to stop bawling." She took a sagging posture and pressed her hands to her face and started to sniffle. "Oh why am I here? I didn't do anything, I'm a good boy! Poor me!" She rolled her eyes and she finished her imitation.

Edward and I both had to cover our mouths to keep from giggling a little. Jasper was beat red, but was silent in defeat and frustration. You could tell he was looking for an angle to argue from, but she had left him none, just like the little demon usually did.

"You cried?" Edward chuckled, obviously trying to focus on the humor for a few seconds, ignoring the impending doom we were to face; Jasper's angry face grew into an expression of absolute loathing.

Emmett even chuckled quietly to himself throughout all this. I threw my arm around Emmett's shoulder and gave him a quick hug/squeeze.

Edward took his hand in mine again, and held me by his side.

The laughter stopped, and his brothers stared at us, at how casually we touched. Jasper was staring at us as if we announced that we weren't human; Emmett was different, he had a warmer look to him (but he was still as confused as Jasper).

Alice rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest as if this news was so old, it was ancient; but I could still see a bit of discomfort in her eyes by the unfamiliarity of the situation. She was watching something only heard of in old legends unfold, as if it were unreal. I couldn't blame her, it felt unreal myself.

"Actually," Alice started again; bringing the attention away from us to more important matters. Like, perhaps, ours very lives. "The plan is more elaborate than that. If the Lord of Pessimism over here wouldn't have spewed his toxic negativity, you all would have known that." She openly pointed at Jasper; he fumed even more by her actions.

"We weren't in there for very long, were we?" She asked Edward, ignoring Jasper as if he were a whining child.

"No, it only felt like one or two hours."

"The Volturi's headquarters is large, isn't it?" She questioned again; I sighed, not seeing where she was leading us on this road of pointless questions.

"Yes…"He replied, clearly thinking the same thing as I.

"Large enough that the outer rims of Hawks guarding the perimeter wouldn't have been alerted about what happened with the wedding being crashed and ruined thing, yet?" His face, which had been grim, lit up with joy, as mine did. Her plan had become clear.

"Yes! If we can make it, we can just get through and escape." He exclaimed; you could hear everyone exhale collectively. Finally, some kind of plan! "If we can move, being undetected, we could all but walk through the Hawks protecting the perimeter. We would then need to head southwest, cutting through the forest and some lakes for water; I have some friends in a village about a week's walk from here, and then…" He started muttering unintelligibly, forgetting our existence, and plotting our carefully every step of our journey.

"He means after we get out of the headquarters, we run like chickens with our heads cut off." I summed up his mumbling and strategizing to everyone; I felt it needed to be dumbed down a bit for everyone.

"Oh." Emmett sighed in comprehension. I gave him a small smile in return.

"So Edward," Jasper spoke up. "Where do we go from here? How are we supposed to go undetected?"

Edward's lips turned up in an eloquent grin. "We have a friend on the inside. He's scheduled to guard our cell." He said the last part in my direction.

"Who?" I asked; I hadn't known that any else in the Volturi could be trusted.

A dark shadow appeared on the wall opposite of the corner up ahead; I held back a gasp, and looked up at Edward. We were caught, it was over.

My eyes expressed that terror, but Edward's didn't; the smile stayed planted on his lips. He looked down at my terrified appearance, and rubbed my shoulder soothingly.

A Hawk rounded the corner, but not just any Hawk. The memory was blurry, but it was the one I saw Edward with in the forest when I first found out of his membership in the Volturi. He was dangerous in stature, his hair was brown and fell in front of his eyes; I noticed his eyes were hazel as he caught the sight of us. Run, my instincts ordered me, but Edward held me firmly in place.

However, instead of attacking, calling for backup, or anything, his cold stance melted, and a smile reached his eyes.

"Hello Peter," Edward greeted, sighing; "Didn't think you'd come." Everyone thawed out instantly at the recognition Edward had for this man.

"I see you didn't need my breaking out services today." He said with a joking light twinkled in his eye. I wanted to groan; all that worry for nothing. Even if Lucinda wasn't a member, we would have been broken out. Well, that a nice little slice of irony.

"Wait." I turned to Edward. "You knew we were going to be broken out all along?"

"Before you go calling me a liar again, I wasn't completely sure he would have been able to. They were sort of suspicious of our camaraderie. Plus I didn't want to get your hopes up then have us die." He had said this whole thing so calmly; it made me almost forget he was talking about our death.

"Oh." I nodded.

"You know Edward," Peter started. "Aro was going to let you out, regardless." His eyes bored into Edward's. Edward's face grew dismal.

"I figured so." Edward said grimly.

"What?" I asked, phrasing the question that was in everyone else's mind. Peter turned to us.

"Typically, it takes weeks, even months for a member to choose a wife. Searching for the best genetics, and the Volturi usually let's them take their time. The Core can stand for quite awhile without all its members." Peter said, more to Edward than anyone. "What still confuses me is the deadline they set."

A deadline? Why would they set a deadline?

"Yes, they set a very strict deadline, so I didn't have time to think. They wanted us wed as soon as possible." Edward murmured, deep in thought. This conversation confused everyone.

"They had just set the deadline, a week ago. Royce has been dead for five years. They weren't in any rush then, but now they are." Peter mused.

"So usually, a future member can take his time and choose his wife." I restated. With Aro, Marcus, and Caius as the heads of the Volturi, it seemed hard to imagine that they would be so desperate for anyone else. "But for some reason, they shortened that time frame. Why?"

"Maybe it was to get Edward in his position quicker." Peter offered, conversing with me now.

"What is his position, exactly?" I asked.

"His position is supposed to be in charge of the military and combat division."

"Why would they want him there so badly? What's changed?" I asked, suspiciously. The thought of the Volturi being desperate for anything was frightening.

Everyone's eyes met, and we all exchanged a worried glance.

"We don't know." Peter said gloomily, and then came back with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. "But we're not sticking around long enough to find out. Follow my lead."

The next chapter is the crescendo! Then after that… the Epilogue.

Review for the rest of the teaser:

"Look out!" Jasper yelled. My head snapped up to see Aro pointing a small gun at me. Aro wasn't alright though; he was on the ground, writhing in pain, blood gushing from his stomach. I stared at the gun, flabbergasted; I remembered Edward said something about them being very deadly. But I had no time to move before I heard an earsplitting bang.

Shrieking, I cringed, waiting for the horrible pain that had been the source of all that howling before. But, there was so pain, no agony. But what I heard was even worse than my wildest imaginations could have conjured up.

Jasper's cry of pain, reverberated off the walls of the room. I looked up just in time to see him crumble to the floor right in front of me, in the path of the gun.