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Chapter 18

We came out to a lit up hallway. The walls were white and the carpet was gray. It was warmer and I was grateful. But it seemed Luna didn't agree when I heard her scoff. Edward glowered darkly down the long hallway to a figure standing at the very end of it, next to an elevator. Edward pulled me along. I made sure Luna and Alice were walking behind us.

Jane waited by the elevator. After getting inside the elevator, Demetri and Felix relaxed and threw back their hoods. Both were of a slight olive complexion. Felix's black hair was cropped short while Demetri's was waved to his shoulders. Their irises were a deep crimson darkening until they were black around the pupil. I walked back until my back was touching wall, I dragged Luna with me. I noticed that her eyes were dilated.

The ride was short. We got off into what seemed like a posh office reception area. The first thing I noticed was that there were no windows. There was also a large reception desk with a young lady standing behind the desk. The young lady was tall, dark skinned with green eyes. I noticed that she wasn't vampire but human. I didn't understand what she was doing here.

The receptionist greeted Jane and ignored Edward who was sparkling because of the lights. She ignored me and Luna. Jane just said her name and kept walking. On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception. The pale boy could have been Jane's twin. His hair was darker and his lips were not as full yet he was just as lovely. He smiled and reached for her.

"Jane"

"Alec" she responded. They kissed each other's cheeks on both sides. Then he turned his attention towards us.

"They send you out for one and you come back with two and maybe one" he said looking at me and Luna. "Nice work"

Jane laughed and it sounded like a baby's cooing. Alec greeted Edward but he responded in a flat voice. I glanced at Edward's hard face and wondered how his mood could have been darker before.

Alec chuckled and examined me as I clung to Edward's side. "And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asked, skeptical.

Edward only smiled, his expression contemptuous. Then he froze.

"Dibs" Felix called casually from behind.

Edward turned around to face Felix. But before he could actually do anything Luna opened her mouth. "Yeah, well I got dibs on my foot up your ass"

"I see we got a feisty one" said Alec

Jane stepped in before anything else could be said or done. "Aro will be so pleased to see you again. Let's not keep him waiting"

Edward gave a single nod. Alec and Jane, holding hands, led the way done yet another wide, ornate hall. They stopped halfway down the hall and sliding aside a piece of the paneling to expose a plain wooden door. It wasn't locked. Alec held it open for Jane. I wanted to groan when Edward pulled me through to the other side of the door. It was the same ancient stone as the square, the alley, and the sewers. And it was dark and cold again.

The stone antechamber was not large. It opened quickly into a brighter, cavernous room, perfectly round like a huge castle turret…which was probably exactly what it was. The only furniture in the room were several massive wooden chairs, like thrones, that were spaced unevenly, flush with the curving stone walls. In the very center of the circle, in a slight depression, was another drain. I wondered if they used it as an exit, like the hole in the street.

The room was not empty. There were five persons who were relaxed and in a conversation. Their voices seemed like a gentle hum in the air. The women who were part of the group turned to look at our group. Another was wearing a robe, he dismissed the conversation.

"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" Cried in delight one with jet black hair. He drifted forward and the movement flowed with such surreal grace.

I was only more astonished as he floated closer and I could see his face. I couldn't decide if his face was beautiful or not. His skin was translucently white, like onion skin and it looked delicate. It stood in shocking contrast to his black hair. He glided to Jane, took her face in his papery hands, kissed her lightly on her full lips, and then floated back a step.

"Yes, Master" Jane smiled, she looked like an angelic child. "I brought him back alive, just as you wished"

"Ah, Jane" He smiled, too. "You are such a comfort tome"

He turned to his misty eyes towards us and the smile brightened almost ecstatic. "And Alice and Bella too! What do we have here?" He stared at Luna as he approached

"Stay the fuck away from me" whispered Luna, her face was hidden between her hair

Aro stepped back and looked at Luna strangely. I pulled Luna's hand and moved her a tiny bit behind me. Aro looked up at me and smiled before he turned to Felix. "Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes, Master" Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.

"Edward aren't you glad I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?" asked Aro his attention turned towards Edward

"Yes I am" he agreed

"I love a happing ending. But I want to how it came to this" asked Aro

"A mistake I made that I managed to fix" said Alice

"I've seen some of your more amazing exploits. I've never seen anything like your talent. It's wonderful!" Alice flickered a glance at Edward. Aro didn't miss it. "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly have we? I just feel like I already know you. You see I share a similar talent to your brother's"

Alice turned to Edward still not understanding. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts but he hears much more than I do. I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had"

I wasn't sure if they had forgotten about Luna. I turned to her and her head was facing the floor. Her face still hidden by her hair. I wondered if this was too much for her. Did she have any idea who these people were?

Aro looked over his shoulders as did every one else. I was the slowest to turn. Felix was back and behind him floated two more black-robed men. Both looked very much like Aro. The trio from Carlisle's painting was complete, unchanged by the last three hundred years since it was painted.

"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro crooned. "Bella is alive after all! Alice is here with her and they brought a friend! Isn't that wonderful?"

Neither of them looked as ecstatic as Aro. The dark haired man seemed utterly bored, like he'd seen too many millennia of Aro's enthusiasm. The other's face was sour under the snowy hair. The lack of interest did not curb Aro's enjoyment.

"Let us have the story" Aro almost sang

The white haired ancient drifted away, gliding towards one of the wooden thrones. The other paused beside Aro, and he reached his hand out. Aro touched his palm, he raised one black brow. I heard Edward snort very quietly and Alice looked at him, curious.

"Thank you Marcus" Aro said. "That's quite interesting"

Marcus was letting Aro know his thoughts. Though he didn't look as interested as Aro was. Marcus glided away from Aro to join the one who must be Caius, seated against the wall. Their bodyguards followed him.

"Marcus sees relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of ours"

"It's amazing" stated Aro "How can you stand so close to her?"

"It's not without effort" Edward answered calmly

"But still-la tua cantante! What a waste!"

"Edward chuckled once without humor. "I took at it more as a price"

Aro smiled. He was quiet for some time before he turned to Edward. "I am so curious, about one thing in particular" He eyed me with bright interest. "May I?" he asked eagerly, lifting one hand.

"Ask her" Edward suggested in a flat voice

"Of course how rude of me!" Aro exclaimed. "Bella" he addressed me directly now. "I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent. Since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try-to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"

I turned to look up at Edward in terror. Even after Aro's politeness, I didn't believe I had a choice. Edward encouraged me. After taking a deep breath I raised my shaking hand but it was tucked back down. I looked back, Luna was shaking her head.

"Don't Marie" said Luna

"Luna its okay" said Alice reaching for the hand that was stopping mine

"Don't touch me!" hissed Luna glaring at Alice

I used my other hand and let Aro touch it. He took his time and backed away a few seconds later. He did not seem pleased with his test. I turned to Luna who looked angry. I was worried now, Luna was actually feeling something.

"I wondered if she's immune to our other talents…Jane, dear?"

"No!" Edward snarled the word. Alice grabbed his arm with a restraining hand. He shook her off.

Little Jane smiled up happily at Aro "Yes, Master?"

"I was wondering, my dear one, if Bella is immune to you"

Edward was truly snarling. He was glaring at Aro as the sound ripped from him. Every one was watching him with amazed disbelief as if he was committing some embarrassing social faux pas. I saw Felix grin hopefully and moved a step forward. Aro glanced once and he froze on his spot. Before any one could see it coming Edward launched at Jane.

Yet seconds after he launched himself he was on the ground. No one had touched him but he was on the floor writhing in pain and I stared in horror. Jane was smiling at him, then it made sense. Jane was causing this to Edward, she was causing him pain and Edward wanted to stop her before she could do it to me.

"Please stop!" I shrieked trying to get in between Jane and Edward but Luna grabbed me.

"Jane" Aro called her. Edward lay unmoving on the floor. Aro inclined his head towards me. Jane turned her smile in my direction.

I didn't meet her gaze. I was trying to get free from Luna's gaze, even if it meant hurting her. Alice took my hand and I turned to look at her.

"He's okay Bella" as she said this Edward stood up. His eyes met mine and they were horror struck. At first I thought the horror was fro what he had just suffered but then he looked quickly at Jane, and back to me-and his face relaxed yet confused.

I looked at Jane and she was no longer smiling. She was glaring at me and at Luna. I shrank back waiting for the pain. Luna let go of me and she glared at Jane. Yet neither Luna or I were in pain like Edward was in.

Aro laughed. He was impressed at the fact that I was okay but I knew that Luna was going to be questioned. Jane was pissed off, she hissed in frustration and stopped once Aro placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't be put down dear one, she confounds us all" said Aro before he turned to look at me and then fixed his attention on Luna

"So what do we do with you?" asked Aro looking at Luna

No one saw this coming. Luna launched herself forward. "I will kill you!!!!"

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