This chapter isn't as long as my most recent chapters but it's still pretty long!

You get to learn a little more of Bella's history here.

Enjoy.

Lights! Camera! …Read!


Memories, memories, memories.

In this world you tried
Not leaving me alone behind
There's no other way
I'll pray to the gods let him stay
The memories ease the pain inside,
Now I know why

Tomorrow will be exactly three months since I left Forks.


All of my memories keep you near.
In silent moments,
Imagine you'd be here.
All of my memories keep you near,
Your silent whispers, silent tears

Now I'm sitting here looking at the very familiar album of my family and my love.

Made me promise I'd try
To find my way back in this life.
I hope there is a way
To give me a sign you're okay.
Reminds me again it's worth it all
So I can go home.

I hope and ache to be with them again, especially with my Edward.

Together in all these memories
I see your smile.
All the memories I hold dear.
Darling, you know I'll love you
Till the end of time.

I flip through each photograph, tracing him in each picture I come across.

All of my memories keep you near.
In silent moments,
Imagine you'd be here.
All of my memories keep you near,
Your silent whispers, silent tears.

I can't keep doing this to myself…It hurts too much to keep thinking about.


All of my memories...

I turned off my Ipod and made my way down to my library. I looked around through each book I had trying to decide which book to start reading again to keep my mind busy. I pulled out a copy of Sense and Sensibility and jumped on my white couch. After only reading a few pages I groaned and threw the book across the room.

I had seen the name 'Edward' on the page. How could I forget that one of the characters names was Edward?

It was so frustrating. Everything reminded me of him. And the worst part about everything was that Aro has yet to mention anything about letting me leave this wretched place. He still hadn't read my thoughts and hadn't decided what to do about Edward…

I'm really starting to grow impatient. I need to know what's going on. I need to get out of here. I need Edward.

I decided right then, I would go to Aro and bring it up myself. I can't just sit here and waste away more precious days that I could be spending with Edward. I'm tired of waiting.

I picked up my phone and dialed.

"Isabella." His cold, eerie voice rang through the phone.

"Felix, can you please set up a meeting for me to speak with Aro and the others."

"For what?" he sneered.

"Personal matters. I need to speak with them, the sooner the better."

"Fine. I'll see what I can do." He hissed and hung up the phone.

I went over to the wall I had thrown the book at and picked the book up off the floor. I noticed I had made quite a hole from the impact of throwing it. I placed it back in the spot where I had taken it out from the library and made my way back up to my room.

I threw myself onto my bed trying to escape my thoughts. Tossing and turning every which way I could, I still couldn't escape them. I tried my hardest to throw myself into unconsciousness, begging for the sleep that will never consume me.

I just wanted those few hours where I was able to get away from everything. Or maybe I just wanted those few hours to vividly imagine myself with him, to dream.

I lost myself in what was the closest possible thing to sleeping. I closed my eyes and cleared my mind as much as I could, trying not to think of anything at all. It only felt like a few minutes but I'm sure I was laying there for hours lost in myself. Suddenly a knock at my door pulled me back into reality.

I stood and began to walk down the stairs. "Come in." I called out.

The door opened and Felix emerged in the doorway with a grim expression on his face.

"Aro will see you now."

I nodded and followed him to the grand hall.

Aro, Marcus, and Caius were in their usual thrones. Alec and Jane stood on either side of Aro. Demetri stood to the far right and Felix walked over to the opposite end. I stood a few yards away facing them all. After a few silent moments Aro stood up and began to glide towards me but stopping half way.

"Isabella, why is it that you request to meet with us?"

"Aro, you know exactly why I'm here. It's been three months now and I would like to go home." I said holding back a growl.

I could tell by his stance and facial expression he was trying to think up of something to keep me here longer.

"Very well. I did say you only had to stay for three months." He paused. "You're free to leave."

"Just like that?" I asked skeptically.

"Of course, my dear. You're not a prisoner." He said with a sly smile. "But,"

There's always a but…

"We still need to discuss your pet human."

"He is not my pet, Aro!" I hissed, narrowing my eyes.

Why would anyone think of a human as a pet? It's disgusting…

Then again, who would think of humans as a means of food…

As I spoke, Jane took a step to move closer to Aro, glaring at me. Aro raised his hand to stop her.

"Jane. It's only Isabella. That won't be necessary." He said coldly.

She grimaced. "Of course, Master." She said as she backed away slowly to her original spot by the throne. She kept her eyes on me the whole time, still glaring.

"Now. Isabella…" he glided closer to me and held out his hand.

I hesitantly reached out to close the distance, dreading what would happen next.

When Aro digs through thoughts and memories it can be quite painful sometimes. As he replays the memories to watch, you watch them as well. It's as if you were actually there reliving each moment again. One of his drawbacks is that he feels and sees everything exactly as if he were living through your moments too.

He grasped my hand in his and pulled me closer towards him.

I gasped as he flickered through my life, fast-forwarding through my mind since the last time he read it.

Demetri and I were running through the fields just outside of Volterra. He picked me up and spun me around then pulled me close to his body. I smiled.

He quickly dipped down and licked blood off my chin.

"You're a bit messy when you drink." He said with a smirk.

I laughed and pulled away.

"Yeah, but at least you're there to clean me up afterwards!" I called over my shoulder to him as I ran to find my next prey.

Aro smirked. He knew about my relationship with Demetri before. He secretly always hoped I would return to him, which would in turn return me to the Volturi.

I walked into Demetri's room and came across him on the bed.

"Demetri…" I said with a small frown.

"I know what you've come to talk to me about…" he started.

I sat next to him, but he made no movement. He laid still and shortly closed his eyes. After a few moments of silence, I crawled up to him and lay my head on his chest.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"You don't have to be sorry. I know how you feel. And as much as I wish I could change the way you feel, I can't. I just want you to be happy. And if you think this would be for the best, then so be it."

I lifted my head to look at his face. He had a sad smile placed over his lips. I rose up and placed my lips on his.

"You'll always have a place in my heart, Isabella. But you're friendship means more to me than anything in my life. I will treasure every moment with you and never regret anything."

I smiled. Demetri always had a thing for words. I could never get my feelings out perfectly the way he could.

"And you will always have a place in my heart, Demetri. I do love you."

"As I do you. But we weren't meant for each other this way. And I accept that."

I placed my head back on his chest. He put his arm over my torso and we lay there for hours.

I felt my stomach turn. I quickly turned to look over at where Demetri stood. He searched deep within my eyes. He soon dropped his gaze to the ground. I knew then that he was remembering that moment too.

I still felt horrible for the misery I put Demetri through when we separated. I knew he still loved me much more than I loved him. I felt horrible for years after that day. But I just couldn't get over the feeling that there was someone else that was meant for me.

Aro continued digging through my memories.

I stayed with a coven of three in Chicago, two females and a male. They stayed true to the 'natural' diet so I didn't want to stay too long with them too long. That among other factors drove me to leave quickly.

"Bella, you know you have to be the sexiest vampire I have ever met. My offer still stands." The male said with venom practically spilling over his lips at every word.

I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away.

He came up behind me and grabbed my upper arm and pulled to turn me around.

"Hey, don't walk away from me." I tried to pull away from his grasp but he held a tighter grip.

"Let go of me!" I growled.

"Oh, I like my women feisty."

"Don't touch me, Alex. You have NO idea what I'm capable of." I hissed.

"You look even sexier when you're pissed." He said as he threw himself upon me, both falling to the floor.

As he lay over me, he held my arms down and licked my face from under my jaw up to my forehead.

I took the opportunity to bite down on his neck taking a big chuck of it off.

He immediately pulled away and crouched down. "You bitch!"

"I told you not to fuck with me." I recalled Jane's power and used it to shock him.

He fell to the floor screaming at the top of his lungs. The noise rang in my ears making me loose focus and allowing him to lift himself off the ground.

"What the hell was that?"

"Like I said, you have no idea what I'm capable of." I absorbed a power I picked up from a rogue a few years back.

I screamed and he once again fumbled to the ground. He laid his hands over his ears while he begged for me to stop.

By then my rage got the best of me and I leaped over to his side and tilted his head to the side.

"You never put your hands like that on a woman." I hissed as I once again sunk my razor teeth to the nape of his neck. Only this time I ripped through, pulling at it with my strength tearing his head from his body. I pulled apart the rest of his limbs and left the pieces on the ground.

I shuddered. That was definitely was a memory of mine I wish I could forget.

Aro was starring into my eyes now and furrowed his brows.

Although that guy was a jerk and a complete sleaze, and deserved much worse, I couldn't help but feel like a monster after what I did to him. It was the first time I truly could not control the monster I usually kept inside.

I never burned the pieces so he didn't die, but I'm sure after he regenerated his body he was still in a hell of a lot of pain…

I shuddered again when I thought of what happened a few months later.

I was in a cave. I was hidden away there in isolation for a little less than four months starving myself, wanting to die. I knew it was a foolish attempt and wouldn't work but it was my way of punishing myself for losing so much control. I was growing weaker and weaker as the days passed without feeding.

"So we meet again, Bella."

I quickly turned around to see a deep crimson eyed Alex just a few feet behind me.

He threw me to the ground and held me down with his arm over my throat.

I didn't have the strength to pull him away and my thoughts were no where near coherent. I couldn't even control my power in my state of weakness.

"Not so strong now, are you?" he laughed.

He forced his lips upon me and I barely had the strength to turn my face. He laughed again as he started to strip away my clothing.

I mentally cursed myself for letting myself get so vulnerable. As much as I hated myself those last four months I couldn't help but think that I should have killed him when I had the chance.

As he was about to take what he so desperately wanted to have from me, he was thrown in the opposite direction with a solid blow to the head. I scrambled to pull myself away from the fight.

The two female vampires from his coven were tearing him to pieces. This time he wasn't so lucky. They lit a fire and burned him to ashes.

Afterwards one of the females brought me a deer that she snapped the neck of. I drank from it greedily. It gave me enough strength to allow me to hunt for myself. I drank nearly 11 bucks that day.

I guess he did get what he deserved in the end…

The two female vampire's names were Kathy and Lisset. They told me about how they really didn't like Alex to begin with and they couldn't believe that he would try such a thing. We became pretty good friends.

After about 8 months of staying with them, I decided to leave and try what I originally moved to the U.S. to do. I needed to make a drastic change in my lifestyle. I wanted to live among humans. They really didn't want me to leave them but understood my reasons for wanting to go. Lisset was actually the friend who gave me my Audi.

Aro pulled at my next memory: my first day at Forks High.

I spotted the most beautiful human boy I had ever seen looking at me from the other end of the parking lot.

His bronze hair longer than most boys but still short moving with his muscular, yet still lean, body as he walked gracefully across the lot.

I laid eyes upon his shining emerald green eyes.

All of a sudden his scent hit me. The sweetest smell I had ever smelled, like honey and roses.

I craved it. I needed it. It was so overpowering. The venom in my mouth quickly produced.

Salivating, I tried to think clearly.

He walked his way in front of me and that's when it started.

He smelled delicious. I was afraid I couldn't stop myself.

I planned on how to lure him away to drink from him. I was now standing right behind him about to attack.

"No…" He whispered.

As I came to realization of what was happening, I dashed away towards the forest.

Aro stiffened.

I could feel the venom in my mouth pool as the moment replayed in my mind. The scent was very potent as if he were still right in front of me. I swallowed down the excess sweet venom in my mouth.

I looked up at Aro and saw he was doing the same. I wondered if the scent was just as strong for him as it was for me.

"Mary Alice…" I gasped.

I turned to see Alice staring back at me confused.

"What did you call me?"

"Mary Alice, Don't you remember me? ….. Do you not remember your human life?"

"No." she said "I don't remember anything before I was changed."

"I have much to explain then. Oh my, Mary Alice, I've missed you so much!"

I then embraced her in a hug.

All of a sudden an image began to play in my mind.

Alice and I were in a mall with many shopping bags in our hands walking to and from different stores with the biggest smiles on our faces. We were laughing at some human girl with too much make up on. "Oh Bella, I'm so glad you decided to come to Forks!"

"Hah, looks like we'll be good friends, Bella. I can see the future, it's my gift." She said light heartedly

Aro seemed amused by this memory. He had a smirk playing on his mouth and a glint in his eyes. That could never be good.

I was sitting on the white leather couch. Alice and Jasper on the loveseat. Carlisle and Esme sitting opposite of us.

It was my first meeting with them where I told them about my power, about Alice and my history, and explained what happened with Edward earlier that day.

As the door opened, at full force the smell of his blood hit me in the face making me want to pounce on him.

The door opened fully and Edward walked through it.

The venom was oozing in my mouth. Barely five seconds had passed and I could hardly keep myself together.

"Ugh…I can't do this! I'm sorry!" I said before running out of the house and stopping about a mile away.

And so began our secret mind reading conversations…

I looked up at Aro once more and I could see a wide grin across his face and the similar glint in his eyes. I was confused by his reaction.

I walked over towards the Cullen house. I climbed a tree and jumped in through a window. His scent hit me hard right before I held my breath. I sat in his couch for hours until he called for me while dreaming. I walked towards him and then held his hand until morning.

The memory shifted into another.

Edward was asleep with his head on my shoulder. I leaned in about to kiss him and pulled away. He suddenly shifts and ends up with his head in my lap. I watched him intently for hours.

Again I could see that the memory of his scent was getting to Aro again.

He rushed through my memories of my birthday party and Demetri's visit. He stopped suddenly. I winced remembering the smell.

"I'm the Quileute Pack Alpha, Jacob Black. Do you plan on staying permanently here now? You're scent in town is very strong."

"Yes, I moved here a little over two months ago. I have an apartment in town."

"Are you familiar with the treaty we have with the Cullen's?" He asked.

"Yes. And I agree to stay within the treaty's boundaries. There will be no problems from me."

"Good. I would feel more comfortable if we made it official. I will send my second in command with the treaty here tomorrow for you to read and sign it."

Aro looked amused yet confused. "Werewolves…how interesting…"

He then briefly looked over the memory of when I signed the treaty to see what the treaty entails.

I could feel his grasp loosen on my hand. He was about to stop looking in my memories but I held his hand tighter and forced a few memories for him to see and feel my love for the Cullens.

I showed him my final day with them and the conversation I had with Carlisle and Esme when they invited me to join their family.

The last image I left him with was the vision Alice had of Edward and I.

An old man with bright green eyes lying in a hospital bed with me by his side holding his hand. As he took he final breath I cradled his wrinkled body close to mine and whispered in his ear. "I love you, Edward. I will never forget you, my love."

I let go of his hand and took a step back.

Many emotions were running through me at the same time.

Having to relive my worst and best moments of my life were tearing my mind and my heart apart.

I looked at Aro trying to see his reaction to everything he just saw.

He was silent yet deep in thought.

I focused on reading his mind.

The human can read minds? And her sister can see the future? They will make beautiful additions to the guard…

I gasped.

How did I not think about that?

I should have known he'd want Alice and Edward on the guard because of their gifts…

"No…" I breathed.

Aro jolted his head up in my direction.

Reading my mind, I see…

"How convenient. To be able to read a thought from a distance! How exhilarating!"

Yes, a nice addition indeed.

"Exquisite gifts your human and sister have. Do tell them I would love to have them on the guard." He said with a hopeful smile.

"I'm quite sure they will decline." I paused as I heard Caius growl in the distance. "But I will send them your invitation none the less…" I quickly added.

He nodded.

"Isabella. Are you sure you won't change him?"

"He wishes to stay human. So no, I will not change him." I said quietly.

"Such a waste." Aro frowned.

"Aro, you've seen my sister's vision and you know how I feel. I will stay by his side at all times."

"Which brings me to my next question…his scent. Isabella, this Edward is La Tue Cantante. How can you resist such a powerful calling of blood? I know you have resisted humans for years but this…his delectable scent. I've never smelled such a strong pull. How can you control yourself from his blood?"

I smiled. "I love him, Aro. It overpowers any call his blood has for me. I could never bear living with myself if I caused any harm to him."

Aro grimaced. "So peculiar, your love for this human, Isabella. I don't see how that is possible." He sighed. "Such a waste." He repeated as he shook his head.

Aro walked towards Caius and Marcus. They whispered inaudibly discussing on what should be done. I tried to read their thoughts but they had them hidden fairly well.

After a few moments Aro turned to face me.

"Isabella, do you agree to take full responsibility for him and his actions? This includes making sure he does not reveal or risk our secret. You know you will be condemned to have the same fate as he if he fails to keep the secret."

"Aro, you have my word. There is no threat to the secret when it comes to Edward."

He sighed again. "Are you sure this is worth it? You know he will die eventually…"

"I'm positive." I said. Although I knew he was definitely worth it, I hated the thought as it crept in.

Aro is right, he will die. Will I be able to handle it?

"Very well. You have our word that we will not harm the human. He will stay alive as long as we see that he can keep our existence a secret. But I would like for you to bring him to Volterra soon. I would like to personally ask him and Alice myself if they would like to join the guard."

Damn it, already backing me into another corner!

I sighed. "I will let them know. But can their visit be put off until after Edward's graduation? I don't want him to have to make such a big trip in the middle of the year to interrupt his studies."

In reality, I just wanted as much time as I could get to figure out a way so that he doesn't have to come here.

"That sounds reasonable."

I smiled.

"Aro, I wish to leave as soon as possible."

He frowned. "Was it really such a pain to visit your old friends, Isabella?"

"No, I enjoyed the company of old friends. But I'm extremely happy to be going home now." I said with a large grin.

"I can see that." He laughed. "Well, I'll make arrangements to get you back home as soon as possible."

I nodded and practically flew to my room and started to pack.

Home!

Finally.


So how'd you like the chapter? =D

I hope it wasn't too boring! I had to write a little bit of summary with the past memories but I'm hoping you thought the new memories of her passed were good.

I'm sorry if that certain memory was a bit extreme though... I just wanted to add another traumatic experience in Bella's life.

Please review! Let me know what you think!!

-Jan