Plot Summary: After New Moon. Bella receives a message from Aro, explaining that the only way the Volturi will leave the Cullens in peace is if she agrees to join them. Fearing for Edward's safety, Bella reluctantly agrees and heads to Volterra to become a Volturi and a vampire. Now, years later, she sits as one of the Volturi's top vampires, seeking nothing in life but a means to destroy the memories of her past that haunt her. But what happens when a deadly encounter brings her face to face with her former almost-family?

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Dear readers,

Let me begin by saying that this is simply a train of thought I had and decided to turn it into a fanfic. If you're against the idea of a story that takes place in the middle of Stephenie Meyer's books and takes things in a completely different direction, don't bother reading my story. I am a huge fan of the Twilight series and do not intend to do it any disservice by writing this fic.

If you're still interested in reading this new twist, please enjoy! Also, there are a few details concerning the state of vampirism that Stephenie Meyer didn't really address, so I'm taking the liberty of interpreting them in a manner benefitting my fic. If there are any fallacies concerning something Stephenie did address, please let me know and rest assured I didn't aim to change anything mentioned before New Moon.

Thanks for reading,

Rusty Myers

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~Prologue~

Alice ran towards the city, moving effortlessly over the soft grass, unhindered by the moonless night. Her mind was racing with her own worried thoughts mingled with constant visions that had plagued her for the past hour.

She stopped for a brief second, perching on a boulder and staring at the brightly lit city before her. A soft breeze ruffled her short, spiky hair. An unexpected scent filled her nose, causing her brow to furrow.

In that instant her visions became clouded and unreadable.

The scent was distinctly familiar. But…there was something different about it, something new. It had lost the potency it once carried, become dull. And…there was something else, another scent surrounding it, corroding it. She wrinkled her nose instinctively against the burning it caused.

"Carlisle," she called softly, knowing he would hear her cry a mile away.

~Chapter One~

I stretched out my legs and settled myself into the corner of the couch, reaching behind me to grab the book on the table. I listened intently for any sound of him. He should have been back by now, but I wasn't too worried.

I settled deeper into the couch, making sure to be as comfortable as possible. I hadn't had a chance to relax and spend time on myself in a while now. Aro had been in search of new additions to his harem, a task which always involved me.

As luck would have it, I hadn't even made it to the tenth page before there was a knock at the door. I hadn't noticed them before; I'd been too focused on my reading. But sure enough, I picked up the scent of two vampires outside my door. They weren't from the Volturi and I didn't recognize them, but something about the scent seemed familiar.

A second after the knock I was standing before the door, my hand hesitating on the doorknob. I suppose if they were unfriendly, they would have let themselves in by now. Vampires with an agenda were always so impatient. Either way, I was in no mood for a fight, especially one in my own house.

I opened the door.

Instinctively, I gasped. All the long repressed memories of my human life came flooding through my mind like a hurricane.

"Bella," she said simply.

"Alice."

Her face was calm, showing no sign of surprise, though I know she did not expect to find me here. Her companion's face was much less pleasant. I could guess she was rather infuriated to be standing here in front of my door.

"Bella," she said again. "We need your help."

Her companion scoffed. "We don't need anything. He needs your help."

"Rosalie," Alice chided. "Stop it."

I looked around to see who it was Rosalie had been referring to, but there was no one there. It was just the two of them and the dark, empty night.

"Look, I'm not thrilled about asking you for help, but we have no other choice."

"What's going on?" I questioned, angered by her usual blunt rudeness.

"It's Edward," Alice said simply.

I felt something surface deep inside me. It had been so long since I'd heard or even thought about that name. I wasn't sure what I felt when she said that, but it was there now. That gnawing feeling I used to get right after I left.

As if she was waiting for me to process that, Alice began again. "We were vacationing in Lucca. Wednesday, Edward, Emmett, and Carlisle went out hunting. They ran into Victoria."

"What? But-"

Alice interrupted me before I could get my thoughts out. "I don't have time to explain everything. We've been running from them for two days now. Jasper and Esme may have managed to throw them off our trail, but it won't last for long and some of us got pretty beat up in the fight."

"Oh, just get to the point already!" Rosalie cried. "We need a place to rest while we decide what to do!"

I glanced at Alice, who was watching me intently. Though her face was calm, I could see the desperation buried in her eyes. Even Rosalie's face had more to its expression than her hatred for me.

"Of course," I said finally. "You can stay here as long as you need."

"Rosalie-"

But she was gone before Alice could finish, presumably to inform Carlisle. I stepped aside, allowing Alice room to come inside, closing the door behind her. I went back to the couch and resumed my previous position in the corner.

Alice examined the large, high-ceilinged living room silently, moving into the dining room and then the kitchen. She came back into the living room just as the door was opened.

Carlisle came in first, sporting a few unpleasant looking bite marks and scratches along his arms and a tattered shirt. Esme was right behind him. She paused at the doorway, seeming a bit uncertain to come in. Rosalie nudged her inside and followed her with Emmett close behind her, also bearing a scratch of two.

Jasper was the last one to come inside, supporting Edward with one arm. It was shocking, seeing a vampire unable to walk without support. And not just any vampire. Edward, one of the strongest and smartest and certainly the fastest. Edward, who would have ripped James to pieces for my sake. Edward, who—No!

I shook my head, trying to clear the memories from my mind, succeeding for the time being. Alice was at Edward's side, leading him over to the couch. I leapt up from my seat and moved around to the other side of the couch.

All this time no one said a word. Emmett sat in one of the big armchairs, Rosalie perching on the arm. Carlisle sat down on the duvet, Esme standing at his side. Alice sat on one end of the couch, Edward slouched on the other. Jasper stood behind the couch, close to Alice.

I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't entirely pleased with the idea of the entire Cullen family being in my living room, though I'm sure I could name a few people who would be even more displeased. I just hoped this whole thing could go completely unnoticed.