Alice's POV

I've been locked away in this cold dark and musty cellar for five very long very agonizing days. Ever since Aro gave the orders to Felix to send me down here he has not left my side. Over and over again I have been assaulted with different visions. When Bella finally changed everything got much clearer and much more complicated at the same time. Her thoughts changed and decisions kept flipping from one to thing to another. It wasn't until I saw her in Alec's arms that I felt ultimately helpless. What was going on up there? Had we not just traveled thousands of miles to get to Edward and now here she is in the hands of the enemy…and not even in the right one. She should be with Aro. Not that I wanted her to be, but that made it all the more confusing. I had no way to get to her, to help her or to understand her.

And then there was Edward. Visions of him walking up to Aro and snapping his limbs apart…it was all so terrible. Every single one of his decisions ended up with him dead. What was I to do? I sat here every day with my head in my hands wondering exactly how I was going to get out. I needed to go back home. I needed to be with Jasper. I missed him so much and I just knew he was going crazy wondering where I was and if I was okay. I have never gone this long without calling him. Then Esme and Carlisle, even Emmett and Rose – all of them knew what was happening and it would be just a matter of time before they were on their way. They couldn't come. It would turn into a disaster, worse than it already was.

If all of this wasn't bad enough, Aro's mind was twice as horrific. His future was erratic and malicious. I kept seeing Bella's scared face in front of him. She was screaming trying to escape but he wouldn't let her go. It was so horrible.

"Felix, please let me out. I'll do whatever it is that you want just please let me go, I need to get to my brother, we need to leave."

"No." was all he said.

"Felix, I'm begging you."

"No."

I struggled against the bars to no avail. I was trapped. I couldn't bend them I couldn't pull them up from the floor.

"What the hell?"

"There's a spell laced in those bars. Good luck getting out."

Ugh!

"Felix." Said a happy high pitched voice from just below the stairs.

"Edward here has annoyed me to no end wanting to see his sister. Even when I have him on the floor in agony he calls out for her. It's getting on my nerves. Can you allow him some time with her?"

Jane.

"Sure." He said just a little terrified. Edward appeared at my side then, his hands tightening against the bars.

"Alice, are you okay?"

Edward, we need to get out. Bella is in a lot of trouble. I keep seeing her with Aro, and then with Alec. It's not good Edward. How are we going to get out? I'm afraid Jasper will show up. Do you think he will? I can't see what he'll do; I think it's the magic in this place. It's affecting my abilities.

"Don't worry Alice, we'll find a way out. I don't know how, but we will."

You're not listening to me Edward. Bella is in trouble. If you don't get to her soon, she will…

"What do you suppose I do, Alice? I can't keep her from Alec, much less Aro."

What? Are you…are you giving up on her? After we came all the way over here to save you you're just throwing in the towel?

My brother is an idiot.

"Alice. I'm bound."

So am I stupid ass! But I haven't given up!

"I already feel bad enough as it is."

You're going to feel much worse once I get out of this cage. I can't believe you! I thought you loved her. Leave me. Leave me NOW!

He let go of the bars and took a step back. He grabbed at his sides in pain and then dropped to the floor. I heard a high laugh coming from behind him. Jane was playing around with him, and for the first time I wished she wouldn't stop.

Bella's POV

Two days passed by and I hadn't heard from Edward or Alec. For two long drawn out days I stayed in my room reading the pile of books Alec had brought for me. I was by myself alone with my conflicting thoughts. I heard Demetri and Caius speaking the other day of the 'seer' in the cellar and knew that they must be talking about Alice. I wanted to see her so bad it hurt. But then again a lot of things hurt. It hurt that Edward had made no attempt to come t me. I would go to him if I knew where he was. I tried finding him once and was mandated back to my room by Caius. The bastard. Could it be the same for him? Was it just that Jane had him trapped?

I thought a lot about Alec as well. I was scared for him. The feelings I felt, not only were they unnatural but they were just so damn strange, yet I knew what I felt. There was no doubt in my mind. I was dreading the encounter between him and Aro and Marcus. I dreaded even the contact between him and Edward. Surely if Edward was near him he would see what happened.

A knock came at my door and I stood up waiting to see who it was. It was Alec. As soon as he walked in and closed the door I jumped in his arms and held him close. He stiffened at first but only just for a second and then his arms were around me. If I wasn't an indestructible vampire he surely would have cracked a rib or two with the hold he had on me.

"Bella."

"Shut up Alec. Just hold me." And he did. He held me like that for one hour, twelve minutes and forty two seconds before he spoke again.

"I can't stop thinking about you Bella. I'm sorry I haven't come sooner. I'm sorry I told you to leave. I should have been there for you. I know how hard it is and how different things are for you now. I know how scared you are of Aro. Instead of helping you I cowered in a corner leaving you to deal with it on your own and I'm sorry. I shouldn't let your feelings for Edward and the fate you have with Aro ever stop me from being there for you. I'm sorry."

"Edward hasn't come for me." A felt a growl rumble in his chest and he ran his fingers through my hair.

"I'll kill him." I was confused. Why would he say that?

"Um, what?" I stepped out from his embrace and faced him.

"Bella, Jane and Marcus have been gone for two days to deal with some issues in Brazil. Edward has been free to roam the castle this whole time. You're telling me that he hasn't come here once this whole time?"

What? What was he implying? Edward chose not to see me?

"He…he's avoiding me?" I said trying to keep the hurt out of my voice and failing miserably.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. Look, I'm here. I'm here now and I'm not going to leave your side again, okay? You won't be able to get rid of me, not even for a second. I promise."

I tried to smile but I know it didn't reach my eyes.

"Alec, um…can you give me just a moment?"

"Yeah, sure. Do you want me to leave?"

"Uh…no…you can…just stay right there."

I left him by the door and slowly walked over to my nightstand. I picked up the picture frame and threw it at the wall shattering it into a million pieces.

"You son of a bitch!" I yelled at the air in front of me. Edward left me here by myself when he knew I was only a three day old vampire. He made no attempts to comfort me but leaves me in the hands of barbarians? The enemy is taking better care of me.

"Bella, is your moment over?" I dropped to my knees and nodded my head. His arms were around me in an instant and he turned me to face him. He kissed my cheek, my forehead and then my lips gently and sweetly.

"Maybe, I don't know, maybe he's trying to figure a way out." He said in an obvious attempt to try and sooth the blow even though it was plain he didn't believe that ridiculousness either.

"I don't want to talk about him."

He was quiet for a moment before he said, "Okay."

"Bella. I have something I need to tell you and I want you to answer me honestly."

I looked into his crimson eyes with the long lashes and nodded my head.

"If I told you that I was leaving this place, would you come with me? If I told you that I wanted nothing more than to just live my life with you at my side, wherever that may be, what would you say?"

"Alec…"

"Yes or no Bella."

"But Demitri…"

"He's a tracker and a damn good one I know but that's not what I asked you. If all of that wasn't an issue, would you say yes?"

I leaned out of his arms and stood running my fingers through my hair as I paced the room. This was crazy. Edward was acting strange but that didn't mean I didn't love him. But he left you to be on your own Bella, he said that he loved you, but don't actions speak louder than words? Is he really giving up on me?

I stopped and looked at Alec. For all his faults and his evilness, there was a heart there, a tender one at that.

"Alec I'll admit that I'm more than attracted to you. I'll even admit that I love you. I don't know how that's even possible, but I know it to be true…but I don't like who you are or your lifestyle. You kill people, Alec. I don't want to be a murderer; I don't want to be a monster. I don't want to be around anyone who is either. I'm sorry, but no. The answer is no."

He rushed over to me and kissed me again. It was hard to keep saying no when he kissed me like this. I wrapped my arms around his next but he pulled them off and took a step back.

"What if I told you I would change?"

"You've been a malicious vampire for a thousand years. You're sister is a maniac and your bosses are freaks."

"Bella, I'm a fool for you. I would do absolutely anything for you. That scares me to death. I don't like it and I foolishly try to deny it to myself but realize that I'm hopeless when I see your face. I want to get you out of here, but I want you to consider being with me."

"What about Alice and Edward?"

"Them too. I…I don't want this life anymore. I'm jealous of what the Cullen's have and I want it too. I want you."

"I want you too." The words slipped out of my mouth without my consent. Once they were said I knew they were true. "But it's not meant to be."

"What's not meant to be?" Aro's voice drifted in from the doorway. Both of us snapped our heads in his direction. I panicked. All Aro would need to do is touch Alec to find out everything.

"She was just telling me how much Edward is upsetting her." I looked at him and he moved his head just a miniscule amount telling me to play along.

"He hasn't come to see me in two days." I whined bringing on the cheese.

"My poor, poor Isabella." His accent made my name sound so dirty, or maybe it was the way he said it. Gross.

I walked over to him and took his hand and it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

"I'm bored, can we go somewhere else?" I asked with a twinkle in my voice.

"Isabella, you can go wherever you'd like, granted Alec is at your side."

"Must I be?" whined Alec.

"Alec, you will do as I say, I will not tell you again."

"Yes, master."

"Now, come here and show me everything that has happened in the last week you've spent with my lovely mate."

Oh shit. Alec couldn't say no. He threw me a covert glance and my still heart raced in fear. Aro could not know. It couldn't happen.

I saw everything as if in slow motion. Alec reached out his hand and closed his eyes as Aro ghosted over to him. His hand came down upon Alec's. I closed my eyes and hopped that he wouldn't see. I heard Aro gasp and my eyes flew open at the same time Alec's did. Aro whirled to look at me.

"What have you two done?"

I swallowed back a lump in my throat. This was a really bad situation to be in.