Pre-AN: *Large Sigh* I write a HUGE chapter, for me, and get little response. Your reviews say the same things over and over and over. And I get millions of story alerts/favorites but no reviews from those people. So I will not continue after this chapter until I get 40 reviews. I'm sticking to my guns this time, and I'm deadly serious. No updates until 40 reviews!

Chapter 36

Everyone had finally met up in Egypt. It was definitely a cultural melting pot with Vampires from every region of the Earth. The Canadians, Egyptians, North and South Americans, Eastern European vampires made quite the scene all adding up to a large party of 48. A lot of the vampires weren't vegetarian which made it difficult getting along but, reminded of our common cause of ridding the world of the Volturi or at least of their authority, everything was set right back on track. Jasper was in the front of everyone, posting a map of the Mediterranean area on a wall.

"Okay, Volterra City is located about 30 miles east of Montecatini. The best way for us to enter the city is through the south wall. I believe you said that there was some abandoned catacombs that led directly into the Volturi's castle right?" Jasper questioned one of the Transylvanian vampires.

"Ah yes, it will bring us right to their underground, er, basement."

"We will need as much strength as possible. We have to go hunting, I don't know about the rest of you but I could even go for an animal right now!" Maria laughed and the rest joined in.

"Alright, but at least spread out. With this many vampires, we would be exposed as I'm sure someone would notice a good portion of a town missing. And that would alert the Volturi rather quickly I'd say." Carlisle asked. Everyone agreed and after assigning different areas that would be acceptable as hunting grounds, they quickly dispersed.

"I don't like being so involved in their killing Carlisle." Esme voiced with worry.

"Neither do I, but we already asking enough for them to risk their lives with this. And either way, the humans would notice a difference in the animal population if they did drink animal blood instead.

"Why don't you all go hunt and I'll just stay here. I'll feed on the way there." I suggested. I needed some time alone. Being in a room filled to the brim with ravenous vampiric thoughts was almost worse that being in a room with hormonal teenagers.

"Alright son, we'll be back in a few hours. Take care." Esme spoke. I nodded and watched as my family filed out of the room. Sighing in relief at the lack of mental activity going on, I crash down on the sofa. Closing my eyes I conjure up the image of my love. I just knew that she didn't willingly go with the Volturi, knowing how clever and manipulative Aro is I can only imagine what he held over her head to force her hand.

BPOV

My eyes were now a lovely and enticing shade of red, courtesy to my horrific diet. Of course I couldn't deny the fact that I had enjoyed the taste of it. Because it was a big improvement over animal blood, far richer. But I hated that I enjoyed it. Now I truly was a monster. And since I was, maybe I did belong with the Volturi.

"Isabella? It's time for your training session!" I heard Cauis beckon me from my bedroom. I hadn't bothered to correct my name. It really mattered little, and I preferred hearing my nickname from my family, well my old family.

Climbing down from my bed, I quickly leave my dungeon. Truthfully it was a beautiful room, just as breathtaking as the rest of the castle, but the situation dimmed that reality. Stepping into the training room I see 30 soldiers, only about one fourth of the Volturi army.

"Nice of you to join us Isabella. Now, as soon as you're ready you may begin." Cauis stood back to watch. Over the past two weeks, I have been working on the speed of my shifting. So far I have been able to shift between 10 different vampires in around two minutes.

"Okay, let's go." I shake my nerves out in preparation. The front line of soldiers step forward. Concentrating on every detail of them, I feel my body start to shake slightly. Glancing at a mirror to the left of me, I see my face taking on the appearance of the vampires in front of me at varying points.

"Very good Isabella. Now I want you to try something new. See if you can shift into Anderson but use Kylie's ability of gravitation." Cauis requested, placing his hands on the two vampires shoulders.

"Um, I'll try but I don't think it works like that." Closing my eyes, I shift into Anderson's form briefly before switching to Kylie's. Once I get a good handle on her ability I try to shift back to Anderson's form while still levitating myself. Opening my eyes, I'm met with several gasps and a few claps of admiration. I'm able to maintain this for a few more seconds until I come crashing to my knees panting in exhaustion. A few drops of blood escape from my nose and I wipe it away. Wiping it away, I find I am incapable of standing back up as easily as I should. Cauis runs to my side and helps me up.

"That was very good Isabella. Let's take you for a rest, would you like to feed." Cauis stared at me concerned. I throw my arm around his neck for support, I would not have him carry me.

Once back in my private room, I lay there in pain for the first time in my vampire existence. I'd say life, but this is no way to live. Truth is that my throat is killing me, but if I can limit the murders a little bit then so be it. I shift one last time under the guise of my former human self so I can succumb to sleep.

EPOV

All the hunting had been done and we were seconds from embarking. We had to run through at least 4 countries, the shortest way being through Israel, Turkey and Bulgaria. Running full speed, we got there after about four hours. I have to say the way Jasper instructed us to move in was pure genius. Standing at the gate of the Volturi castle we, the Cullens and Denalis, were going to go in demanding that they hand over Bella. The objective was to bring as much attention upon ourselves as possible and instigate a fight. And then with the Volturi preoccupied with us, our allied vampires would swoop in from the basement or catacombs. Kind of an ambush of sorts.

Carlisle stood at the gates and knocked. Moments passed before a ruby eyed vampire greeted us. I could tell he wasn't suspecting anything.

"Yes?"

"We are here to see Aro. He's an old friend of mine and we have a bit of business to settle." Carlisle spoke steady and sure. The gate guard nodded and moved aside to let us through. Walking in, we all committed every detail to memory. The hallway that we came through opened up to an octangular room with doors on each of its sides. Veering to the left, we are guided through a door and yet another hallway.

Eventually we come to a stop at what looks like a throne room. The guard pulls on a rope hanging in the middle of the room and Marcus, Aro and Cauis files out of a back room with their personal guards stopping in front of them.

"Carlisle! I heard you were coming to see us. To what do we owe this untimely pleasure?" Aro asked, bathing in false politeness.

"I believe you know full well why we are here Aro, and we won't leave until Bella is by our side."

"Isabella, oh yes, well I'm sorry but she will be residing with us. In fact, she has successfully filled the position of being Cauis' personal guard." Aro continued on. "Now, what else can I help you with? You are welcome to stay a few days if you'd like."

"We will be taking back Bella and leaving. Don't make it harder than it has to be Aro, it wouldn't be wise for any of you." I threatened, ready to be done with this.

"Harder? Enlighten me my dear Edward. Why wouldn't it be wise?" Marcus laughed standing up. Kate, without warning, shot an electric current across the room, effectively striking Jane and sending her sprawling in pain on the floor.

"I believe that would be on reason why it would be anything but wise." I smirked. Eleazer could sense that Alec was trying to use his ability. "Jasper, I think we could all stand to feel a bit, uplifted."

Jasper caught on and managed to interrupt Alec's attempt at numbing us all. Aro's eyes widened in alarm and outrage.

"How dare you think you can walk in here and upstage the Volturi! GUARDS!" Aro beckoned and almost immediately the Volturi army appeared in front of us. "Dispose of them immediately!"

The command was ordered, and without further hesitation everyone leaped to attack. Before joining the rest of us, Carlisle conspicuously presses a button on his cell. A vampire lunges at me and I easily dismember him.

BPOV

Sleeping proved to be of no use even when I shifted as a human. I have to do something. I can't just lay here and die, there must be a way out. Changing back to the vampire that I am naturally, I feel a bout of pain wash over me. I smell a human in the adjacent room and as much as I do abhor the idea it was a necessary evil. Standing up, I run into the next room and snatch the human from his rest.

"Is it time?" He asks, obviously expecting this. I simply nod before ending his life. Brushing myself off I find myself still thirsty and pained. Quickly leaving the room, I go to the grotesquely labeled 'feeding room.' Usually Alec will numb thing, a small personal request from me but he was nowhere to be found. Apparently some visitors were causing a good deal of chaos. I'd be pleased if they somehow managed to burn this whole place to ashes. Opening the door elicited a good deal of screams.

"Look, screaming won't save you. It will only serve to agitate me further and as much as I'd like to help you all out, its not like I could just walk you all out of here." I tell them in an attempt to detach myself from the mayhem I'm forced to cause. But, no one ever said survival would be handed to anyone. Choosing an older gentleman, he must have been in his mi-50s, I quickly bit and drain him. Crouching over his now lifeless body, I only look up when I hear my nickname falling out of the lips of an angel.

"Bella?" his voice and eyes are filled with shock, momentary disgust but then relief, somehow.

((AN: 4 pages and 1,818 words! I'm serious…if I don't get at least 40 reviews I will COMPLETELY and TOTALLY abandon this story. I'm deadly serious. I got a million story alerts for chapter 35 but only 2/3 reviews. That's ridiculous. Especially seeing as how it was my longest chapter. The future of this story lays in your hands. And I'm not talking about 40 reviews similar to this: "I like your story, update soon!" I mean some quality reviews with some quality thoughts and criticisms. Not too much to ask.

40 reviews!))