Chapter Six: Alice Explains It All

A/N: Ok, lots of story alerts, and I mean lots! But only a few reviews....... I am honored by the story alerts, but the reviews make me happy. So thanks! Edward-Lover-Forever-1901 , 14 , Julman , and .87, and adalis gave me a favorite sotry already! And I am still writing! Wow! I would like to mention everyone, but you don't want to read all that, so from no on, if you wanna get thanked review?

(Bella POV unless otherwise stated for the rest of the story)

"Bella, I am so sorry!" Alice blurted. "Why! This is what I chose for myself! Where do you get off blaming yourself for what I chose!" I was starting to get angry again. I did not see Edward he was probably off somewhere blaming himself too.

"NO! Bella, I love you, all of those things I said about being your friend and you being family, and my sister, everything. I meant it! But I let you down. I did not act like a sister. When I saw you becoming one of us I saw it as a... a... well it is hard to explain let me back up a bit. My visions are sometimes different. I see things based on choices clearly. Like if...... Say you decided to jump down off the bed. I would see that like it was happening, but something further off, say something that was destined to happen, like a moon base. That is almost certainly going to happen, I see it, but a nuclear holocaust could prevent it. Well, that is how I saw you becoming one of us. Long range, not based on something Edward decided, but you choosing it. And I let you down, I was not honest with you, I listened to that stupid brother of mine. I let him get in the way of our honesty, our friendship, that is why I am sorry, not because you made an informed decision. You being one of us, your choice actually makes me happy, I meant it on the plane when I told you it was silly. I would have changed you myself if I was able. I have already thanked Marcus!"

"Oh...." OK, so I did not see that coming. I guess I owe an apology myself. "Well, that kinda changes things.... I guess I just kinda assumed.... Friends?" I meant to just swing my legs to the side and hop off the bed and hold out my hand to shake Alice's hand, but what happened is as I had the thought I was there. I moved so fast it was like a blur. I made everyone jump back into a defensive crouch, well everyone but Alice. She brushed my hand out of the way and hugged me. I hugged her back.

I was so happy. I did not expect her to forgive me so easily. I did not think she would respect my choice like she did. But I knew Edward would be another story, I don't understand why he would care, but when I said yes, he was so adamant that I was choosing wrong. I know he does not love me anymore, but why should he care what I choose?

As Alice and I dropped our arms and Alice stepped back. She looked me up and down. "Bella, you are gorgeous! You have to see yourself! Edward is going to explode when he sees you!" I felt a twinge at the mention of his name. I had hoped that pain, that emotion would have been wiped out by the venom, but now I just felt it more! Fortunately I was distracted by Jane moving a full length mirror in front of me. My hand instantly went to my face. I was looking at myself? It was surreal, I was so pretty now, like Alice, Like Jane, like Rosalie.... Now, I see it, the shape of my mouth, the nose, my hair I see me. But those Eyes! Red scary monster eyes! That was bizzare!

Aro came around from behind the group. "BELLA! You are beautiful, the change really suits you! But you are so calm!" Glancing at Alice "I suppose Alice knew in advance, but we are all surprised. As a newborn you should be frantic right now. But you have the calm demeanor of one who is decades old not minutes. May I touch your hand?"

I turned to Aro and extended my hand and took a graceful step forward, that was going to take some getting used to. I was never ever anything approaching graceful, I used to admire the grace with which Alice moved now I was doing it! As Aro took my hand his brows furrowed for a moment, and he smiled. "Ha! I should have known. Nothing! I cannot see beyond your shield. You are still blocking me. But I forget myself. You must be beside yourself, in spite of your calm. Your thirst must be nearly overwhelming!"

"Well, it is now, that you have brought it up, I wasn't thinking about it before!" I had a brief moment of panic, but I pushed that feeling away. Food...... Blood...... Oh, my god, they drank human blood, was I going to have to kill!?! Aro must have noticed something in my face. "Dearest Bella, you have a decision to make. Money is no object, you need anything, as a member of the guard, your needs will be met regardless of any other consideration. We have virtually unlimited resources. Do you wish to try a diet of animals like the Cullen's do, or perhaps....." "No! Yes please. I would like to stick with animals!" I blurted out.

Marcus came forward. "Bella, Alice will take you she has seen the map, we have underground access to the zoo. There are animal cages behind the main exhibit where we have set aside some animals. You may feed in this area, but I am going to send Demetri and Felix along, to ensure you are as in control as you appear. It would not do at all for you to scent one of the zoologists and kill the zoo staff."

I was horrified. The practical considerations of my choice now hit me like a ton of bricks. I could snap and kill! I made up my mind right then and there. I was never going to become a monster. I was going to find it within myself to be strong. After all I knew self control was possible. Edward had stopped himself when he sucked out James' venom, and I was his La Tua cantina or whatever. If he could I could!

"Yes, thank you! I would not want that either. Lead the way Alice!" "Can I come along?" Jane meekly asked. "I am curious, well.... you know....." "Sure!" I replied. "The more the merrier!" I shook my head, this is just so surreal. Me calmly discussing the diet.

With that Alice took my hand and tugged. But this time it was different. As a human when she would pull me around, to drag me upstairs to play dress up, or whatever, I was being pulled. But now with my reflexed matching her own, I was right with her, and instead of me being pulled behind off balance I moved with her, and followed her as we ran from the room and down the hall towards food. AS we approached the hallway to the tunnel leading toward the zoo, we passed the lobby and the burning in my throat went off the charts! "Gianna!" I gasped. Then held my breath and I took off leading Alice now away from the lobby and towards the zoo. Too late Demetri and Felix moved to put themselves in between me and the human but I was already gone the other direction!

I glanced back over my shoulder to see them give each other a look of surprise, and something else but dismissed it as Alice then resumed taking the lead. "See Bella, I knew you were going to do just fine! You barely flinched toward Gianna, stupid Edward!"

We got to the zoo, and after Demetri and Felix made sure we were not going to be disturbed by any of the staff. Alice took me past several of the cages. "What do you want Bella? There is quite a selection of animals here...."

I really only had one thought, one decision open to me.......