Bpov

I couldn't tell where the light was coming from, but it slowly turned dark grey instead of black. We were in a low arched tunnel. Long trails of ebony moisture seeped down the grey stones, like they were bleeding ink.

We hurried through the tunnel, or it felt like hurrying to me. My slow progress irritated someone -i guessed Felix- and I heard him heave a sigh from now and then.

At the end of the tunnel was a grate - the iron bar were rusting, but thick as my arm. A small door made of interlaced bars was standing open. We all ducked through and hurried on to a larger, brighter stone room. The grille slammed shut with a clang, followed by by the snap of a lock. I was too afraid to look behind me.

On the other side of the long room was a low, heavy wooden door. You could see it was very thick as it too stood open.

We stepped through the door, and I glanced around me in surprise, relaxing automatically. Beside me, Edward tensed, his jaw clenched tight.

~*~

We were in a brightly lit, unremarkable hallway. The walls were off white, the floor carpeted in industrial grey. Common rectangular fluorescent lights were spaced evenly along the ceiling. It was warmer here, for which I was grateful. This hall seemed very benign after the gloom of the ghoulish stone sewers.

The others didn't seem to agree with my assessment. They glowered darkly down the long hallway, toward the black shrouded figure at the end, standing by an elevator. Edward pulled me along, Alice and Jasper at my other side. The heavy door creaked shut behind us, and then there was a thud of a bolt sliding home.

Jane waited by the elevator, one hand holding the doors open for us. Her expression was apathetic. Once inside the elevator, All the guards relaxed further as they threw back their cloaks, letting the hoods fall back on their shoulders. Under the shrouds, their clothes were modern, which made Alice smile slightly but they were also pale and nondescript. I cowered in the corner, cringing against Edward as Felix caught my eye. His hand still rubbed against my arm. He never took his eyes off Jane.

The elevator ride was short; we stepped out into what looked like a posh office reception area. The walls were paneled in wood, the floors carpeted in thick, deep green. There were no windows, but large brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung everywhere as replacements. Pale leather couches were arranged in cozy groupings, and the glossy tables held crystal vases full of vibrantly coloured bouquets.

In the middle of the room was a high mahogany counter. I gawked at the women behind it. She was tall, with dark skin and green eyes. Human. I couldn't comprehend what she was doing here, working here, working for them ! She was totally at ease, surrounded by vampires that could turn and kill her in an instant.

" Buenas tardes, Jane" she said. There was no surprise in her eyes as she caught a glance at the company Jane had.

Jane nodded. "Gianna" she continued toward a set of double doors in the back of the room, and we followed. As Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gianna, and she giggled. URGH!!

On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception. 3 very pale men were stood in front of a thrown each that looked century's old. The first had long dark brown hair, that slid gracioulsly down his back and over his shoulders. Aro. The second had shoulder length brown hair that seemed to curl all around. Marcus. The third, like the other two had long hair that went past his shoulders but his hair was white blonde.

"Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix" Aro greeted them. "You have returned" I looked around noticing Heidi was no longer with us. Aro kissed Jane on both cheeks as she did him. Then he looked at us.

"Carlisle, how nice to see you again" Aro exclaimed. "If only it were under better circumstances" He shook his head softly with a sly smile etched onto his face. He eyed us all before his stare was left on me. "And this is the source of the trouble?" He asked, skeptical. The others only smiled, Sarcastically.

"Dibs," Felix called casually from behind us. Edward turned, a low snarl building deep in his chest. Felix smiled -his hands raised, palms up; he curled his fingers twice, inviting Edward forward.

Alice touched Edward's arm. "Patience Edward, Stay Calm" she cautioned him. They exchanged a long glance, and I wish I could hear what she was telling him. I figured it was something to do with not attacking Felix, Edward took a deep breath and turned back to Aro.

"Felix, we are not here to fight our company" Aro said, his voice barley above a whisper to humans.

"I'm sorry we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? I feel like I know you already from when I visited the Denali coven and I learnt about you. You see I share some of Edward's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not" Aro shook his head; envious as he spoke to me.

"And also exponentially more powerful," Edward added dryly as he explained Aro's power to me. "Aro hears every thought you have ever had by a single touch, whereas I only hear what goes through someone's head as they think it" Edward said, He turned his head toward Alice and she raised one of her delicate eyebrows, and Edward inclined his head.

Aro didn't miss that.

"But to be able to hear from a distance. . ." Aro sighed, gesturing toward the two of them, and the exchange that had just taken place. "That would be so convenient"

Marcus and Caius looked uninterested. Marcus' looked like he'd soon many millenia of Aro's enthusiasm. The others face was sour under the snowy hair. Their lack of interset did not curb Aro's enjoyment.

"Let us have the story" Aro almost sang in his feathery voice.

The white haired ancient vampire drifted forward toward him and reached his hand out, at first I thought to shake his hand. But he just touched Aro's palm for a brief second before dropping it to his side. Aro raised one black brow. I wandered how his papery skin did not crumple in the effort.

Edward snorted very quietly, and the others including myself stared at him curious.

"Thank you Caius" Aro said. "That is quite interesting"

I realized a second late that Caius was letting Aro know his thoughts. Caius didn't look interested as he glided back to his seat.

Alice's face was scrunched up in frustration, still looking at Edward as were the others. Edward turned to her and explained in a swift, low voice. "Caius see's relationships and is by the intensity of Mine and Bella's"

"Well, if were all done chatting, I would like an explanation!" Aro said, his voice no longer in its calm demeanour. "Carlisle how could you?!" He accused. Dad moved forwards slightly, his teeth baring a little.

"Aro, if you just listened for a second you would hear her heart beating and the blood flowing through her veins" He stated. Aro paused for a second and listened. Everyone was quiet and I noticed that the guard were also shocked by what they could hear pounding in my chest.

"Carlisle?" Aro said.

"She is mine and Esme's biological daughter, Esme gave birth to Bella while she was still human"

Minutes passed, slowly as no one spoke. It was scaring me a little and making me anxious. I felt a wave of calm come over me and I felt extremily at ease. I smiled thankfully at Jasper.

"Are there any others like her?" Aro asked. Dad shook his head.

"We do not know we have had no chance to go and research"

Aro looked thoughtful for a second.

"She's a liability Aro, She could expose us. She looks more human than we do she wouldn't be risking herself as much as she would be us" I heard Marcus say. His voice was croaky and he spoke in a whisper.

"That's true" Aro said, quietly.

"Aro, if you only gave us some time to research all of this, then we could find out information about how she will grow and if she will need blood and how powerful she may be" Dad said, his voice was desperate. Pleading with him to let us go. Aro looked doubtful for a second before he came to his conclusion.