Chapter 4 – Last Chance

There he was, out of the blue, in front of me for no apparent reason. Edward. I realized now that my memories hadn't done him justice as he walked towards me with a look of disapproval on his beautiful face. "Bella, what were you thinking?" His voice sounded like music for my ears as he got even closer to where I was, crossing the open space between him and the bed. I rubbed my eyes with my hands and looked back up, yes, he was still there, still getting closer every second. "How could you agree to this?" He sat down on the bed next to me, still keeping eye contact with me as he waited for an answer.

"I… He… Aro, Aro gave me a choice." My voice was weak from sleep and a bit shaky from having him so close once more. I tried to look away from his golden eyes but I couldn't. I was trapped within his gaze until he turned his head and got up from my bed, starting to walk towards the bathroom but turning to face me yet again before he got there.

"Don't do this Bella… Please, for me? You promised to keep out of harms way."

I found myself unable to answer him, as if my month was held shut with some kind of superglue. I watched in horror as a dark cloak stepped out of the dark of the bathroom, right behind Edward. Why didn't he move? Could he not sense the dark figure that was now closing up behind him? I tried to scream but nothing came out, watched frozen with horror as the cloaked figure stopped behind him and took the hood down. Aro. I tried to scream again as he quickly grabbed Edward and leaned in towards his neck, his red eyes glowed with fury.

I woke up screaming, seconds later the door opened and Aro rushed inside.

"What's the matter?" Aro looked as upset as I felt at the moment, not a hint of the fury in his eyes that I had just witnessed in my dream a few seconds ago.

"Nothing… I had a nightmare, that's all." The tears streaming down my face did nothing to reassure him that I was okay as he leaned forward to stroke my hair, "You are safe here child. Nothing is ever going to hurt you again." I nodded and put my forehead to my knees, holding my arms around my legs to keep myself together. "I'm fine, really…" I looked up at him to see if he needed more persuasion or if I had managed to sound authentic enough.

"If you say so." He gave me a small smile, "Get yourself together and have some breakfast, there are fresh clothes in the wardrobe. I'll be in the common room when you're done." Not bothering to wait for a response he floated out the door and closed it behind him.

I took my time in the shower, having the hot water pounding away at my back really did help ease the tension. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift. He had looked so real. More so than he ever had in any other fantasy of mine. What did it mean? Did he know I was here? Had Alice seen that much? How could she not have seen Charlie's accident? Why hadn't she called and warned us? Did she not care anymore, just like him? I turned off the water and shook my head in an attempt to get the thoughts of them out of it. I wrapped a nice fluffy purple towel around me and went out to the wardrobes, opening the one furthest to the right first only to find evening gowns. Shaking my head once again, this time for the absurdity of the items inside I closed the door and tried the one next to it, relaxing as I saw the jeans and t-shirts that were pedantic sorted by colors and style.

After finding everything I needed, and shaking my head oncemore at some of the more questionable underwear found in the dresser, I quickly ate some freshly cut fruit and headed out to find the common room, thinking I had a vague idea of where it was.

I was disappointed to find out they had moved the room, or, more likely, that I simply couldn't remember where it was. I wandered around the halls aimlessly till I started to hear voices coming from a room further down the hallway. I recognized Aro's voice at once and took of jogging towards the open door.

"There you are, how did you like the clothes?" Aro had a slight smile on his face as he eyed me up and down a few times, apparently satisfied with my choice, dark jeans and a green t-shirt.

"They are very nice, thank you." I fired of what I hoped was a warm smile and nodded back at Demetri and Alec who returned to their pinball game.

"Oh, I'm glad you like them. I had Demetri here put them in your wardrobe last night." I stared at Aro doubtfully, had he really sent someone into my room when I was asleep? He couldn't! Could he?

"You were in my room while I slept?" I turned to Demetri with raised eyebrows.

"Eh… Yeah, but only to give you your clothes. You had already fallen asleep so I simply put them in you wardrobes." If he could have turned red my guess is that he would have. The look in his eyes let me know that he hadn't expected that I would ever find out. I decided to let it go as Aro was already holding his hand out towards a man the size of Emmett with a redheaded woman next to him, "This is Felix and Renata, they are also a part of my personal guard with Demetri, Jane and Alec."

Still not knowing what to say to all the new people I meet I gave them a smile and a nod, silently kicking myself for not being more social. It appeared like they were all playing pinball, guessing it's one of those games where it doesn't matter as much what kind of power you have, the ball will still go wherever it want to.

"So, Isabella, do you have any preference as to when and where you want to get turned?" Aro's voice knocked me out of my thoughts and into the real world with so much force that I actually felt a bit faint. "Um, no, I haven't... It's up to you I guess." Aro quickly closed his eyes for a few seconds and then looked back at me, "This is a very nice town, and I think you would like the opportunity to see it once before you are turned. We cannot thrust you around our people when you are a newborn, and there must be no human deaths caused by vampires in Volterra, except for inside this castle of course." He chuckled at this statement and then nodded to himself, "Yes, that's how it's going to be done."

Demetri walked over to me and turned to Aro, "Is it acceptable if I show her the town? I haven't been out there in ages."

"Of course Demetri, but I think I'll tag along as well, as will Renata." The redhead turned around with a frighten look on her face but didn't say anything to object. I gave Aro a curios look, wondering why he wanted her to come when she obviously didn't want to.

"She is my personal shield. I prefer not to be out in the open too much without her." He answered my unspoken question.

The town was truly beautiful and we were all treated like royalty walking around it. At one point I stopped and stared at a necklace for two seconds tops, and the next thing I knew the store manager had brought it outside and put it around my neck. The day continued pretty much the same way but I was careful not to look at anything expensive for too long again after finding out the necklace was mine from now on. It was a cloudy day but still fairly warm and I soon found myself with an ice cream cone in my hand without any idea as to who had given it to me. I noticed Renata had her hand somewhere on Aro the whole time; no one approached them unlike me and Demetri who constantly were pointed in direction of every store imaginable by their owners. I was glad Demetri was with me, he turned most of them down, a thing I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to do without feeling like I was the devil. They all looked so sad when he declined.

As the day came closer to its end and we were once again inside the safety of the castle Aro turned to me and with a determent look on his face, "I hope you have not changed your mind about this Isabella?"

"No." I felt quite at home here, not in the same sense as I did at Charlie's place, but still… This was pretty good and probably as good as it was going to get. Death isn't so appealing when you have another way out.

"Good."

Laying down on my bed I could feel the tears burning behind my eyelids and my heart was starting to race. Aro sat beside me with calm written all over his face as he carefully tucked the blanket around me. "It's going to be fine Isabella, we'll be right here when you come around." Staying true to my recent acquired habit I merely nodded and tried to keep the tears from falling down my face as he leaned down and tilted my head to the side, his eyes eager as he touched his lips to my throat before opening his mouth and biting down on my neck.

So, I've noticed my chapters are on the shorter side, but it does keep me updating a lot more often than if they were long. What do you prefer?
Thanks your your reviws guys! :D They made my day.

To Slam2k: I too am looking forward to a little less defensless Bella. She wont be able to inflict pain on others by herself, but she will get her payback for Janes attempts,(*mouahaha* (eh, yeah. that was an evil laugh.. huph). )
it's already planed and ready. I'm glad you asked for it though.

Your reviews is what makes this fun for me, so please do continue writing them. :)