Chapter 40
I'd rather die a thousand deaths

I looked at my parents, then at Alice. They looked away and so I turned back to Aro.

"What's the trade?" I asked.

"Well, you see, it could be any number of things. I, on the other hand, was thinking that you come to us, you have such a great deal of power as a young vampire."

"What do you mean, come to you?"

"I mean, you come live with us, join us."

I looked over at my father.

"Absolutely not, there must be something else." He said in a deep voice.

"A life for a life." Aro said quietly.

"What will happen…if I don't trade with you? What will you do to her?" I asked.

Aro turned to Jane.

"Jane, my dear, would you be so kind as to go get Miss Rosaline?"

"Yes master." Jane bolted from the group and into the forest; returning in a matter of seconds.

"Thank you dear, now please, set her next to Renesmee." Aro instructed.

Jane walked over to me; Rosaline asleep in her arms. She set laid her down next to me and returned to Aro.

"Go ahead, show them what shall happen." Aro instructed.

Jane looked at Rosaline.

"Pain." She murmured.

I looked at Rosaline. Her body started shaking and her eyes flew open. Then she let out the most blood curdling scream I had ever heard. It was worse than when she was transformed. She shook and withered in pain, screaming and grunting.

"Stop, stop please!" I screamed.

She wouldn't stop.

"Jane! Please, I'll trade! I'll trade, I will!" I screamed again.

"Jane." Aro cooed.

Jane looked away from Rosaline.

"Master."

Rosaline's body stopped shaking, but her breathing was heavy. I knelt at her side and stroked her face.

"It's alright." I whispered. "I'm going to make it go away."

She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. I stood back up and faced Aro.

"What do you want?" I asked again.

"A life for a life."

"Anything but that, please, tell me what I can do."

"Please, Aro, you don't understand." Carlisle spoke up.

Aro looked over at him, his sadistic, red, eyes widening.

"What is it I don't understand, Carlisle?"

"She's just like Renesmee."

"How so?"

"She's not fully immortal, you see."

"Enlighten me, Carlisle."

Carlisle walked over to Rosaline and knelt down.

"You see, she breaths, and her heart beats as well. She also has running blood."

Aro walked over to Rosaline and looked at her.

"Indeed she does." He murmured. He then stood up. "None the less, she's a liability. Alec, go ahead."

Alec walked forward and picked up Renesmee.

"Wait, no, what are you doing?" I stopped him.

"We're taking care of this problem, once and for all." Marcus stated.

"No, please!" I screamed. They ignored me and began walking away. I tried to run after them but Alice grabbed my arm.

"Aro." Carlisle called out.

Aro hesitated, and then turned around.

"Can we have a compromise?" Carlisle asked.

"What did you have in mind, Carlisle?"

"We were able to keep Renesmee, why can't we keep Rosaline?"

"You already have one liability in your coven; our world cannot afford another one." Aro answered.

"What if her intentions are to keep this life a secret?" I asked.

"I would have to be sure of that." He answered.

He walked over to Rosaline, she was waking up now. He knelt down and took her hand and read her mind. He closed his eyes and suddenly stood up.

"Fascinating, this one, she will be great." He breathed.

We stood there and stared at Aro, who was still staring at Rosaline. His eyes went to mine.

"Her power, it is strong, she will be great. Perhaps we can work out a deal…"

"What is it?" I asked.

"She must come live with us, for 1 year." Aro answered.

"No, she has to stay here with us. She needs me." I argued.

"Very well then, I have another proposition." He stated.

"Go on."

"She can stay with your family, as long as she does not bite a human."

"Okay, easy enough."

"That's not all."

"What's the rest?"

"She is not allowed to tell, or fall in love with a human."

I looked at my father, then at Carlisle.

"This is your choice, Renesmee. We cannot make it for you." Carlisle whispered.

I nodded and turned back to Aro; I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders.

"Deal." I stated.

"Very well, take the child."

I walked over to Rosaline and picked her up. I held her as close as possible. Aro continued to stare at her with such fascination. His eyes went back to Carlisle's.

"Let us not have to return for these circumstances, Carlisle; otherwise the consequences won't be so kind." Aro stated.

"I assure you that we will keep young Rosaline in line throughout her life." Carlisle assured.

"Let us go now in peace, our yearly visits will seize now."

Antoine looked over at me with pleading eyes. I wanted to look away, but his golden eyes were all too piercing.

"Please." He muttered quietly.

I looked away this time.

"Let us go now." Aro instructed. He turned away from us, the others quickly followed him, that was, everyone except Antoine. Antoine stood next to me still.

Aro turned to look at Antoine.

"My son, come to me now." Aro instructed.

Antoine looked at me, then his father.

"No, father, I will not. I cannot leave Renesmee. I love her too much to give her up."

"How dare you betray your father? Your mother had specific wishes for you."

"I will not fulfill those wishes for they are not my own."

"That is not your choice."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

Antoine looked over at me. "It's nothing." He whispered.

"Oh no Antoine, by all means tell her your mother's wishes. After all that's what she would want." Aro urged.

"What are your mother's wishes?" I urged.

"That I never get involved with a Cullen, and if I do…"

"What happens if you do?"

"I have to kill the one I am involved with…otherwise…"

"Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise I will be forced."

I looked at him and backed away. My father took my arm and pulled me into him, holding me tightly.

"So now you know everything about us." Aro stated.

"Antoine who is your mother?" my father asked stiffly.

"That's not important." Antoine whispered.

"Who is your mother?" my father asked with anger in his voice.

"Victoria." He murmured.

Nobody said anything.

"You have to understand though—"

"No, we won't understand anything, Antoine. Leave now with your father." My mother said.

"No, understand that I would rather die a thousand deaths before I kill your daughter."

"Antoine, this is done, let us go now!" Aro commanded.

Antoine turned back around and looked at his father.

"I am staying." He said firmly.

Aro looked athim with those sadistic eyes again.

"Fine, but just know that you have shamed yourself." he hissed.

With that, the Volturi began to leave the forest.