Chapter six - Volturi.

We set off at dawn on the day that they came – for some reason they'd chosen daylight rather than nightfall to come to us, not that we minded. We reached the clearing about half and hour early, which was useful, so I could begin to put my plan into action.

"Please reconsider." Even though Alice had come to terms with my plans, she still wasn't all too happy with them.

"Alice, you know how much Edward needs Bella; and anyway, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to. It'll be fine."

I hoped.

As we saw them swarming towards us, I faded into the shadows. Ok, so it wasn't really needed, but I felt like doing the whole 'spooky-person-comes-out-from-nowhere' thing. They slowed down as they got closer, and then stopped a few metres in front of us.

"I think you know why we are here." Aro had a smirk on his face as he said it, like there was some kind of in-joke to it. No-one else found it funny, though. He looked coolly down the scattered formation the others held. "Not exactly much resistance…"

Then he began to sniff the air. "Hmm? What's that? Is there… a newborn here?

I walked out of the shadows, and he looked surprised.

"Well done for noticing me, but I did think you'd have done it a little quicker than that." I said sarcastically to him. To be honest, I just felt like winding him up.

"Oh, and who might you be?" He said, stretching his hand out. I knew he wanted to read me, but I'd never let that happen.

"I'm Mae, and for your information, I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself."

"Well Mae, as you seem to be the only one talking, do you know why we're here?"

"Yes." He looked at me questioningly for a few seconds before I decided to speak again. "You've come to give us Bella back."

He laughed sharply at that. "I-" I interrupted him before he had a chance to speak again.

"No, really. That was the purpose of your venture. It may not have seemed so to your minds, but that is how this will end up."

"Oh, and how do you know that?"

"Because I'm smart." I waited a few seconds before carrying on, "Now you have a few options for this – option one is the most preferable, and easiest – you give us Bella and leave. Option two – me and Bella swap and than we leave. Option three – We annihilate you, and take Bella, and you all die, though that's not preferable."

"Option four – we…"

"No. There is no option four. You have all the choices you're going to get."

"Jane, she's beginning to bore me." My eyes flicked to Jane as she began to smile at me.

And the Pain-ball shot out.

It looked like a gaseous, multicoloured substance. And it raced towards me at speeds faster than we could run – faster than a bullet. I reached my hands out before me, and caught the ball. The sheer speed of it made me step back a bit. Jane began to look a little confused. I could feel it starting to prickle my hands, but I soon threw it back at her. I smiled an evil smile just before it hit and she fell down screaming. I stored 'the pain' away for later use.

Aro looked a little shocked, and then smiled at me. "My, my, you are interesting."

"Never said I wasn't."

"A reflection shield – I never even thought about it." He muttered to himself. I knew that it wasn't – if I wasn't focused, then it would've hit me, and I knew that my power was so much more than that. He looked back at me, and I could see in his eyes that he wanted me for his coven.

"All you have to do is give us Bella back – simple as."

"You know that won't happen."

"I know that it will." I insisted.

"Oh, and how will you make that happen?"

"Would you like a demonstration?

"Go on then."

"Sorry to the ones that are hurt, but this shouldn't kill anyone – it's only weak."

He looked expectantly up at me, so I created an energy ball. It was weaker than my normal ones – about 50% transparent, but it should be strong enough to prove my point.

I sent it flying through the ranks positioned behind him – it bowled most of them over as it went flying past. After I had shot it around all the ranks, I sent it to the middle, where it exploded, sending any who weren't already down flying into the air – except for Aro and those around him – I let them be. Don't want to upset the boss.

He locked shocked, and then although he put on a brave face, I could tell that he was scared inside. Bella looked scared too, so I set up a mind-link with her as Aro surveyed the damage I'd caused.

Bella, it's Ok – I'll get you out of this.

She looked up from where she was, a look of mixed shock and terror on her face.

Don't worry – I can only get through your shield using Renesmee's skill.

Who are you?

I'm… Mae.

No. Really.

The others will explain. For now, we just need to get you back with them.

She nodded her head, and I broke the connection.

Aro looked up at me again, and surprisingly said, "Well, after seeing that, I think that option two is a good choice."

"What? Are you insane?" Caius yelled out, "We could have the whole lot, and you-"

"Quiet, Caius. I think this will be fine." He reached out his hand to me, and I could see a reddish glow start to appear around it. I quickly mind-messaged Bella,

Shield me.

I focused and saw a purple-grey translucent blanket stretching out to cover me. I copied it, and mind-messaged her again,

Stop it now.

She looked confused, but I felt it fade away, and quickly upped my own shield. I walked towards him, a sincere expression on my face. I made sure my shield fitted my body, and he touched my hand. I saw the red mist try to race up, and, quite literally, bounce off my shield.

"Bella, stop it."

"Stop what?" She looked almost like she didn't know what he was talking about, but she really didn't know what was happening.

"Shielding her."

"She's not." I said. He looked surprised and a little confused.

"Anyway, I thought we were swapping. Me for her. Bella." I said, beckoning her out. She slipped the black cloak off, and as I began to put it, Alice shouted out at Bella,

"Bella! You're still wearing the clothes you left with!"

"Well, these guys don't exactly have any modern clothes", she muttered. I laughed – even though she was scared, she could still be sarcastic.

I turned around to face our coven, "You guys have fun – I'll see you soon." And then I turned around, and we ran to Volterra.