Once Edward was gone, it took a long time for Bella to calm down. Emmett, true to his promise, held Bella softly, rubbing her back, stroking her hair, letting her cry on his chest as Rosalie glared at the two of them, silently fuming at the couple on the red sofa in the living room close to the front door.

Alice sat right beside Bella, ready to give information as soon as she could see it. Nothing yet.

"Why don't I take you to bed ?" Emmett said softly, getting a REALLY huge reaction from Rosalie's unforgiving eyes.

"I meant- to bed – to sleep!" Emmett explained loudly, looking at Rosalie, "Alone, in Edward's bed upstairs."

"No I want to be near the door when they come back." Bella sniffed, wiping her sore red eyes, laying her head on Emmett's rock hard denim leg, staring the glass door down firmly.

Esme was standing at the window near the front door, staring out into the blackness as if that would make her husband and son appear any moment now. She had been very quiet, too, hardly saying a word. Bella suspected she had been crying earlier as well. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one freaking out over this. Everyone else seemed so damn calm.

"Anything yet, Alice?" Bella asked, seeing the clock on the wall at exactly 11pm. She knew it was probably too soon to ask, Edward's trial was supposed to begin at 11pm, but it was killing her, this waiting. She pictured Edward in handcuffs, being shoved around the courtroom of the Volturi. It made her feel better that Carlisle was with him, but she had no idea what was going through Edward's mind right now. He needed her and she couldn't be there with him. What if Alice told her that they decided to kill Edward? She could do absolutely nothing about it.

"Not yet." Alice frowned, hating this as much as Bella was. She looked at Jasper, glad he was nearby to calm Bella down. She had nearly fainted when Edward left and it was a horrible thing to see her new almost-sister going through such pain.

Then the guilt washed over her again. She was truly the one who had twisted James' head off, tossing it into the flames, not Edward. True, Edward did WANT to kill James for harming Bella, but Carlisle had stopped him, knowing once Edward crossed that line back into his once dark ways, there would be a difficult road to get him back as he was now – kind, gentle, caring, sweet.

Edward had not always been that way in the past. But now, Edward was facing the charges, even though he didn't technically destroy James himself, but to him, it was his burden, gladly accepting it because it was done to save and protect Bella. She was his soul mate, and Edward didn't even think of letting someone else stand in his place as the accused. He was the best brother and friend Alice could have asked for. But if anything happened to Edward, she would never forgive herself.

A few minutes passed in total silence, then something flashed in Alice's mind. The vision of Edward in the complete blackness, a coffin lid slammed down over his face as silver chains rattled around it, sealing him inside as he screamed Bella's name. Alice couldn't help but gasp at the horror in Edward's face.

"What?" Bella sprang up, staring Alice down; the whole room sitting up at attention and looking at her as she shivered.

"No, wait." Alice frowned in confusion – that vision started to melt away. Thank GOD. That was almost a decision but then it was cast aside. Blurry visions were swirling around in her brain…someone trying to confirm a sentence.

She could see it clearer now, Victoria smiling. BITCH. Alice shoved her loathing of her aside to take in the picture forming. She could hear Edward's voice in the distance, shouting, "WAIT!" Carlisle was trying to grab Edward but his hands were pushed away by his son – something was terribly wrong. Edward was panicking. She hardly ever saw Edward in a panic before, not since they lost Bella that day in Phoenix.

"This is mine?" Victoria's voice echoed, sounding giddy and cruel as she looked at Edward, now in silver cuffs behind his back. He glared at her murderously, struggling in vein as she touched his body, grabbing his hair.

"Oh my God." Alice finally got the entire sentence, hearing the judge's words.

"ALICE!" Bella cried, screaming, "Is he alright?! What happened?! Are they going to kill him?!"

"Okay, first, no, he's not going to be killed." Alice turned to Bella, holding her shoulders, squarely looking into her tender terrified eyes.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief for the first time in 2 hours, Esme even held her stomach as she came closer to the sofa.

"Did they let him go?" Bella asked in desperate hope.

"No." Alice frowned, telling it to Bella straight, "They gave him to Victoria. They are making Edward take James' place, since they think he took James away from her."

"What?" Bella looked evil for a second, scaring Alice a little.

"They can't just GIVE Edward to her, like a fucking puppy!", Bella continued, outraged, "He's a person, not a thing!"

"For how long, Alice?" Esme thought to ask.

Alice winced, taking a look at her mother. "Twenty years."

"WHAT?!" everyone in the room shouted.

"He's very upset." Alice went on, seeing Edward's reactions now, "He was begging for the other punishment they almost gave him. 10 years in a coffin. That would truly kill him. The thirst would've driven him mad. Carlisle did a great job speaking for Edward, they decided to give him the kinder sentence."

"Kinder?" Bella asked, hardly able to speak clearly.

"The judge took pity on Edward, being so young, learning to live by Carlisle's ways. They think he needs to learn how to live like a true vampire. They want Victoria to teach him. The judge thought that was better for Edward."

"That is insane!" Bella stood up, trying to think of what to do now, "We have to go there and get him and bring him home!"

"Carlisle is booking a flight to Italy to speak to Aro." Alice informed, seeing that decision made now, "He will not leave there until he finds a way to save Edward. We just have to wait and let him handle this."

"No!" Bella looked around her. All their faces were sad but dormant, as if that was that. No one was hatching a plan to stop this.

"What is this?!" Bella shouted at them, "You're all just giving up?! Edward wouldn't do that to any of YOU!"

"Bella" Rosalie spoke up now, looking aggravated, "This is the Volturi. You don't just change their sentences because you don't like them. What if they did change their minds and sentence Edward to death instead? Would that make you happier?"

"That's a stupid question!" Bella shouted back, trembling now.

"Bella." Esme put her hands around Bella softly, "Let Carlisle try talking to Aro. They are good friends. That is the best chance Edward has to come home to us. If you anger them unnecessarily, it could cost Edward more. Listen, he is alive, he's not hurting. Right now he's probably just in a car with Victoria, driving to wherever she is living right now. He is very strong and he can hold on for a little while. Believe me."

"Edward's not hurting right now?" Bella scoffed, "If you really believe that, then you don't know Edward at all. Who knows what she will do to him?! I don't want her NEAR Edward, let alone OWNING him!! No, I can't just sit here while this happens, I have to go there!"

"Go where?!" Emmett spoke now, standing in front of her, "Listen, Bella, the last thing I told Edward was that I promised to take care of you, just as he would. You're staying here with us, where you're safe. That's what Edward would do. I owe him a safe Bella, at least, after he took the fall for what we did to James. And if I have to lock you in Edward's room, I will."

Bella looked sick, weak. Jasper was doing his best with his powers to keep Bella as calm and quiet as possible.

Alice licked her lips and said, "We don't even know where she is going with him yet. Let's just wait until I can see what Carlisle can do with Aro first. Please? If there's no other way for him to get out, I swear we will all go and get him. Okay?"

"You're going to break Edward out of his sentence from the Volturi?" Rosalie raised a brow, knowing how stupid this idea was, "We'd all be killed, including Edward!"

Bella started to cry, shivering as if ice cold. Emmett wrapped his strong big arms around her protectively and whispered, "Please, let me take care of you Bella. Edward told me to. He would want you to sleep. We will figure things out, I swear to you. I would never let Edward go down like that. I promise."

She whimpered, hugging Emmett back, glad to hear those words from one of them, finally.

"I want Edward." She cried like a small child wanting her favorite doll. She kept seeing his face, smelling his scent, hearing his voice.

It made her feel nauseous to think of Edward being with Victoria, against his will. She would want him, Bella knew, she would try to make Edward do unspeakable things. Most of all, she would try to seduce him. Bella wanted to vomit.

What if, in time, Edward came to like her? She was very beautiful and a vampire, like himself. She would teach him to feed off humans. He had told her that animal blood left him unsatisfied all the time. Once he was back to drinking human blood, he would not be able to stop. He would enjoy it too much to give it up again. He had told her that himself. Soon, he would see all humans as nothing except food, her included. What if this sentence brought them together and he liked Victoria more? What if he came to love her? There were surely vile nightmares waiting for her in bed upstairs but she felt herself going with Emmett and Alice as they walked her to Edward's room.

"I know, honey." Emmett soothed gently in her right ear, "He will be home soon. Just know that. He would never be anywhere away from you for very long."

Before Bella knew it, she was standing in the doorway of Edward's bedroom. Memories of him danced all over the empty room. She could picture him laying on the bed, sitting on the sofa reading, at his desk writing in his journal, even him flying out the window like a hot Peter Pan. Her legs felt numb and she almost fell down, but Emmett scooped her up into his arms and laid her gently in the bed, covering her with the blankets.

"You haven't slept for a week." Emmett informed quietly, "Please try. If we do need to help Edward, you need to be at full strength. Okay, Bella?"

"I'm going to have nightmares." She stated as if it was a sure fact. Emmett thought about laying next to her like Edward would, but then the thought of Rosalie made him tremble inside.

"I'll stay with you, Bella."Alice offered, knowing Emmett would be punished for this kind thought later. Besides, she also knew it would have killed Edward to know that Emmett had laid next to Bella while she slept. That was his place alone. Bella would have only wanted Edward anyway.

"Thanks Alice." Bella smiled weakly, trying to lay her head down on the pillow, crying instantly.

"Bella?" Alice started to get comfy laying at Bella's side, looking down over her.

"I can smell Edward." Bella said in a shaky little voice, hugging the pillow and inhaling it deeply.

"Good." Alice smiled softly, stroking her hair like a protective pixie, "Let that make you strong. Edward is close by as long as you love him."

She turned off the lights, humming a slow melody that Bella never heard before. Trembling a bit, she wondered where Edward was right now and what was happening to him. Goodnight Edward, she said silently in her heart, stifling more tears that were dieing to cry into Edward's pillow. Please don't be afraid, Edward, she said to him inside her head, I will do anything I have to do to bring you home.

Victoria swallowed again, feeling warmer inside now as her little boy stopped struggling. She smoothed his dark silk hair over his face as his eyes looked up at her in blank emptiness; his mouth open.

"All done already?" a white hand stroked her long red curls from above. His voice sounded loving towards her, but familiar.

She smiled up at the man standing above her, her full lips wet with fresh blood.

"He was too good." Victoria licked her lips to get one last taste, looking down at the teenager's face; his skin tan against his white pearly teeth.

"I'm glad you enjoyed him." The male voice sounded as if he were smiling, "His name was Eric-something…"

"Was he one of the boys who wouldn't play with you in school?" she joked, stroking his cheek as he laid there dead.

"Yea." The male responded, sounding a little bitter, "But he wasn't as bad as others. He wore a mask of fake kindness when he saw me. I'd have preferred him to be more honest and tell me to fuck off."

"When are you going to eat yours?" Victoria turned, seeing the young girl on the forest ground, her wrists tied with rope under her body as she struggled, silver duct tape tightly over her mouth, a bit wet from the tears running down Angela's little face. Her dark hair fell over half of it, hiding some of her terror as she looked up at the dark figure standing over her.

"Now." He decided, tilting his head as he looked down at his caught prey, coming down on one knee as Angela's breathing sped up, watching the standoffish classmate she once adored coming closer down to her. Muffled by the tape over her mouth, her small little whimperings made the vampire smile down at her in amusement.

"I like to drink when they're scared." The male voice informed with a dull tone, "It tastes better and it's hotter."

Her throat was so vulnerably exposed and her hands useless behind her as he took her shoulders into the palms of his icy hands, bringing her neck up to his hungry mouth.

She was trying to scream NO over and over through the duct tape and he could make out her message, but instead he grinned and cooed sweetly, "Aww, Angela, I thought you liked me."

Giving out a little cry, she stared back at a wicked looking Edward Cullen, trying to take it all in. Edward was a vampire, no wonder they all stayed away from the other kids in school. He was going to kill her now and there was not a damn thing she could do about it.

"Don't worry." Edward placed a small kiss on her forehead to calm her a bit, "I'll be quick."

The next thing she felt was his wet tongue on her neck, coldness, and his teeth took one expert bite as she screamed out loud.

See next chapter soon!

WinndSinger