Disclaimer: All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter fourteen

As far as I could tell I hadn't even taken that last step when I felt a small warm body slammed into me, light as a feather. My arms encircled her, knowing she would fall back otherwise. I knew I had to have moved though, because I could smell my Bella, my sweet loving Bella. I must have taken that step and the guards must have extinguished me in the same second. That had to be the explanation.

But I had Bella in my arms and the pain I had once felt when I was away from her was gone. I silently thanked God for giving me some time with her after death. I slowly opened my eyes and looked down at her. My Bella.

She looked as beautiful as ever, her eyes shone, her cheeks were flushed and she was panting like she had run forever to get to me. I had to admit that I was surprised by how painless everything had been.

"Amazing," I murmured absently. "Carlisle was right.

"Edward," my angel rasped, barely above a whisper. "You've got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!"

Why would I move when I had everything I needed right here in my arms? I could sense that she was trying to push against me. Did she not want to be held by me? No, that simply couldn't be. Her eyes were frantic, though, something I hadn't exactly expected to see when opening my eyes to the after life.

Another thing I hadn't expected was her rapid fluttering heart, or her harsh breaths. She seemed so panicked, so rushed, but why?

The my mind went back to the last seconds of my existence on earth. She must have tried to stop me, even from the other side. That must have been it.

"I can't believe how quick it was," I mused aloud now. "I didn't feel a thing, they're very good."

My eyes closed on their own accord as my lips found the top of her head to press a gentle kiss there. "Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath no power yet upon thy beauty," I whispered into her hair. "You smell just exactly the same as always. So maybe this is hell. I don't care. I'll take it."

"I'm not dead," her sweet voice interrupted me. "And neither are you! Please, Edward, we have to move. They can't be far away!"

It couldn't be? Could it? My Bella had perished, I had died too.

"What was that?" I asked, despite my conviction of being in hell or heaven or whatever version of an after life this was.

"We're not dead yet!" I blinked as her words sunk in. Her beating hear,t her panting breath, the sweet delicate perfume of her blood.

"But we have to get out of here before the Volturi.."

I knew she was right, we weren't dead, but we were now both in danger of getting killed very easily. Before she could finish her thought, I pulled her back into the shadows. I placed her with her back against the wall as I stood before her in a protective stance, facing the directions of where I could now distinguish the thoughts of Demitri and Felix.

How could I have been so careless? Again I put her in danger. If I could have, I would have hurt myself, but at that moment all that counted was keeping Bella safe from all harm.

I could feel her shift behind me, undoubtedly trying to peer around me to see who was coming. Demetri caught Bella's scent and he smirked evilly, thinking about how sweet her blood would be, while Felix just looked forward to ridding the earth of my presence. I struggled to keep myself in check before addressing them.

"Greetings, gentlemen," I said as calmly as I could muster. "I don't think I'll be requiring your services today. I would appreciate it very much, however, if you would send my thanks to your masters."

Felix growled low enough so Bella wouldn't hear. "Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?" he asked smoothly, but the warning tone in his voice was not to be mistaken.

"I don't believe that will be necessary. I know your instructions Felix. I haven't broken any rules."

Demetri smirked. "Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun." He kept his voice as smooth as he could, his mind swirling with ways to get Bella away from me. I gritted my teeth against the anger that bubbled up within me. "Let us seek better cover," he added.

I knew they wanted Bella to come with us, but I did not want to even think about it as an option. "I'll be right behind you. Bella," I said, glancing at her over my shoulder," why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?"

Felix hissed in annoyance. "No, bring the girl," he whispered. Aro will be interested in her. She's such a beauty and obviously talented, since she can block you little Edward, he taunted silently.

"I don't think so," I answered both his spoken words as his thoughts.

I crouched a little, ready to defend Bella with everything I had.

Aw, will you look at that. The boy's going to try and defend her while he hardly has any strength left, Demetri smirked.

Bella's bearly spoken 'no', made me realize I would only make things worse if I were to attack them here, with all the people watching. The would kill Bella in a flash and I couldn't let that happen.

"Shh," I tried to reassure her.

"Felix," Demetri warned, "Not here." He faced me again with an attempt to a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "Aro would simply like to speak with you again, if you have decided not to force out hand after all."

I knew this was coming, but I had to try and get Bella out safely. If Aro were to see her, he would want her for his guard and I was not going to let that happen. Bella still deserved a normal life.

"Certainly, but the girl goes free."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," Demetri drawled. "We do have rules to obey."

"Then I'm afraid I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation, Demetri."

Felix was starting to get excited. He looked forward to a fight. If I didn't know any better I'd think he was Emmett's evil brother.

"That's just fine," he purred. Growing more and more excited.

"Aro will be disappointed," Demetri reminded both me and Felix.

"I'm sure he'll survive the letdown," I griped.

Both vampires decided at the same moment that if I didn't come willingly, I had given them the right to kill me right here, right now. They moved closer to the end of the alley. From the way they instinctively moved together, you could easily tell that they have worked together for a long time.

I didn't move, though. I would die before I left Bella unprotected. I listened intently to their plans, but they managed to keep their thoughts reasonably blank. I scanned the area, trying to find a way out when a very familiar mental voice called out to me.

Edward, calm down. Alice urged me.

I heard her jump down from the high walls at the other end of the alley. My head snapped towards her, as did those of Felix and Demetri.

Well, that's not good, Felix thought, hating the evening of our numbers.

"Let's behave ourselves, shall we?" Alice said softly. "There are ladies present.

Edward, I still see Bella as one of us, so please, calm down. We'll get her out of here safely, I'm sure of it.

I wanted to scoff, but knew better than to argue with her at this particular moment. She came up beside me, looking to the world like she was completely at ease in this hostile situation. Of course, seeing what she was thinking, made me realize how well she was playing her part.

The guards, however, straightened out of their hostile stance, extremely unhappy with the evening out of the numbers.

"We're not alone," Alice reminded all of us gently.

Demetri glanced over his shoulder. There was a family watching us. I heard the woman murmur to her husband about getting the carabinieri. She didn't like the way things looked with all of us staring each other down. Her thoughts were a blurry mess, but she was mostly worried about Bella and Alice. She remembered getting cornered in the city not too long ago by a few young boys who wanted to touch her. She barely made it out without getting hurt, but the memory remained and she wanted to protect Alice and Bella

When Demetri caught her eyes, she quickly looked away, her human instinct to flee surging to new heights. Her husband, who had been hesitant, eventually stepped up to one of the police officers nearby and tapped one of them on his shoulder.

Demetri turned back to me, shaking his head. "Please, Edward, let's be reasonable."

"Let's," I agreed. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser."

I knew he didn't mean it like that, but I had to try. He huffed. "At least let us discuss this more privately."

I knew we had gathered an audience, but that was my best chance at getting us out of here, without taking Bella into the mouth of hell, so to speak. But Demetri's mind was determined on getting her to Aro, so he could see if she was truly as gifted as he suspected.

I snapped my teeth together. "No," I growled.

Felix smiled, again hoping to get my engaged in a fight, but then the moment was lost when my worst nightmare walked up to us.

"Enough," Jane's high pitched voice commanded from behind us.

A/N: Well, waht did you think so far? Of course, from here on out you will know what to expect, but I hope I can still give it enough Edward-ness to make it a good read.

Love,

Mo