"I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me." - Cao Cao

As we got closer to the large, black doors, the more nervous I got. Not just for me, but for all of us. There was obviously something wrong and no one was telling me. I hate nothing more than being left in the dark...

"Stay quiet unless you're spoken to." Alice said, keeping her eyes on the doors.

As soon as we got up to them, they opened with a loud creak, and we stepped inside the cold building. Alice let my hand go and wrapped her arm around my waist, holding me protectively as a blonde vampire stepped out of a door down the hallway and walked towards us.

"There you are. Aro sent me to see what was taking so long." She said before looking me up and down, then turning on her heel and going back the way she came. "Follow me."

The two doors behind us closed with a loud thud, which made me jump. Alice tightened her grip on me when I noticed two vampires were the ones that had shut the doors. I tried my best to keep my breathing under control as we did as we were told, following the girl down the hall, as the two vampires followed us. After turning a corner and descending two flights of stairs, we came to an elevator, which opened when the blonde pressed a bottom.

She moved aside, letting the two vampires behind us go in first, then instructed us to go in next. This time I got a good look at both their faces from the bright elevator lights. One was tall and meaty with black hair, halfway covering his right eye. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties, but it was hard to tell with the mean look on his face. The other was much younger looking...maybe in his late twenties, with dirty blonde hair that was combed forward. The only thing the two had in common were the back robes they were wearing, along with the blonde girl.

Finally she stepped in too, standing just in front of Esme as she pressed another button, which closed the doors and started taking us up to another level. It was the most awkward elevator ride of my life, and I could only compare it to when Luke had to do the same with Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi. I leaned more into Alice, hoping her scent would calm me some so I wouldn't be so anxious.

When the bell rung, we had reached our destination, and the doors opened again. Blondie ordered us to follow her again, and we did without a word, passing what looking like a secretaries dress on our way. I kept my mouth shut like Alice told me, even though there were so many things I wanted to ask, but I knew now wasn't the time. We turned a corner and saw Carlisle, Rose, and Emmett sitting, in what looked like a waiting room. They stood when me approached, and came over to engulf us all in a big hug. I was so happy to be reunited with everyone, and I felt just that much safer now.

"Aro will see you now." The blonde girl said, opening a heavy wooden door. "Wait." We all stopped. "Only you three." She pointed to Carlisle, Alice, and I.

He nodded, giving us both a look before leading us into the next room. It was huge, white, mostly made of marble so everything looked very fancy. In the back of the room, straight ahead, say three men in three different chairs, looking royal and whatnot. The one on the far left looked like he was in his late fifties or early sixties. The one in the middle, was younger, maybe late forties. And the last was the youngest, maybe mid-twenties. All had blood red eyes and blank expressions on their faces.

There were others around the room, though staying in the shadows, which bothered me. I couldn't see their faces, but I knew they were watching closely. Blondie came from behind us and joined the other by their thrones, but still standing off to the side, in case she was needed, I guessed. The door closed behind us and there were footsteps, but I didn't dare look.

Alice growled beside me, and held me closer to her as her lip curled upwards enough that I could see her teeth. Finally a figure passed me, and even from the back of his head I could tell who it was...Jasper. Anger immediately shot through my body, and I wanted nothing more than to rip his head off. But instead, I clenched my fist tightly and ground my teeth, trying to control myself from doing something very stupid.

"Why so angry, Bella?" He said before turning around to face us, chuckling as he did so.

"Shut the fuck up." I said, regretting it as soon as it came out of my mouth.

"She's a feisty little human, isn't she?" The man in the middle chair said before standing up. "Carlisle, my old friend. It's too bad we have to meet again under these circumstances." He said sadly. "And you must be Alice, the psychic, yes?"

She nodded, but said nothing in response. Then his eyes met mine, which made me stop breathing for a moment. He didn't look mean, but I was definitely scared of him.

"And who might you be?" He asked, as came and stood a few steps in from of me.

"This is my daughter, Bella." Carlisle said.

"Oh, Carlisle...a human cannot be a vampire's daughter. If anything...more like a pet." He cocked his head and looked me up and down.

"I'm sorry you see it that way, Aro."

Ignoring Carlisle's comment, Aro stepped closer to me, causing Alice to growl again, but it didn't affect him.

"Has anyone ever told you that you smell absolutely delicious?" He asked me.

"Once or twice." I replied sarcastically, thinking of James and Edward.

"Ha ha!" He laughed, clapping his hands together. "You are one interesting human, dear Bella. It's too bad that you known our little secret though..."

Little secret. Try fucking huge secret!

"She's done nothing wrong, Aro. Sure, she knows, but Bella wants to become one of us...so isn't this pointless?" Carlisle interjected.

"You...want to be one of us?" He asked me for clarification.

I nodded.

"Why? Why would you want to become a soulless monster?"

"Not all vampires are monsters." I said, referring to the Cullens. "And I do believe you have all have a soul."

"Hm, it's very sweet, and naïve of you to think that." He paused, rubbing his chin before continuing. "Who did tell you about us, Bella?"

I started to open my mouth to say, but then I thought about it, and I didn't want to get the Cullens into more trouble than they already are.

"Is that really important, Aro? Who cares about who told her, when you should be more worried that she just knows." Jasper intervened.

We all now saw where his loyalties lied...with Edward.

"No, I'm curious." Aro waved Jasper's statement off. "Who told you?"

My mouth went dry, and I couldn't find the words to speak.

"It's okay, Bella." Carlisle said. "My son, Edward told her about our existence."

"Is this true?" Aro asked me.

I nodded.

"Well..." He mused. "That changes things. Jane?"

"Yes, Master?" The blonde responded.

"Go fetch Edward."

Wait, what!

"Edward is here?" Carlisle asked, taking the words right out of my mouth.

"Oh, yes. I thought you'd know, since he's your...son in all. He joined the Volturi Guard a few months back. His gift has been very helpful..."

We all were silent, taking in the shocking news. Jasper just looked angry now, and Aro had an unreadable expression on his face as he waited. Less than a minute went by, and a door to the left of us opened, revealing Edward, dressing in a black robe like the others, and red eyes to match. He looked surprised to see us all, but mostly Alice and I together. And judging by his expression and the way he looked at the way she was holding me, he didn't like it one bit.

"What is going on, Master?" He asked, trying to sound oblivious.

"Edward, were you the one to tell young Bella about the existence of our kind?" Aro asked bluntly.

Edward's eyes shifted from Aro's to Jasper's, to the floor, then back again.

"Your silence is not reassuring. I thought you knew the laws that keep the vampire world in order?"

"I do, Master."

"Then clearly you disregarded those laws."

"But she's my mate, Master. I told her because we were dating, and she wanted to be turned eventually."

Oh, hell no.

"If she is your mate, then why are you here with us, instead of with her?" Aro asked.

"I'm not his mate. And he didn't want me to turn." I said firmly. "He left me behind over six months ago."

"You just...left a human...with the knowledge of our kind? This is not looking good for you, dear Edward."

"She is my mate. I was going to go back to her eventually." Edward replied.

"I. Am. Not. Your. Mate." I said through gritted teeth.

He shot me a dirty look before Aro put his hands up, trying to stop our argument.

"Bella is right, Edward. If she were your mate, you would not have left her."

"I left to protect her..." He tried again.

"No, you didn't." My voice rose. "You know full well why you left, and so do I. You're nothing but a liar and manipulator."

I had no idea where all my courage was coming from, but I liked it. Standing up for myself felt good. And finally talking back to Edward felt great.

"To get the truth..." Aro held out his hand. "May I?"

Edward hesitated, not really wanting to take his hand, for some reason I didn't know of yet. Giving up, Edward raised his hand and placed it in Aro's, who sandwiched it between both of his and closed his eyes. We all watched, but I'm sure I was the only one that was out of the loop with what was going on, again, like usual.

"Hm...interesting." He glanced at Alice and I. "I can tell you that you and Bella definitely aren't mates, but you already know that. Why must you keep lying to me, Edward? After all, I have been nothing but honest and kind to you. I thought you were better than to pull something so conniving...and to your own family, too? And Jasper...how could you do that, to your wife, nonetheless! We aren't finished." He warned.

Aro let Edward's hand drop, and he made his way over to me again, leaving Edward with a furious expression on his face.

"If you aren't here for Edward, darling...why are you here?" He asked.

"I...um...well...do you want the long story, or the short story?"

I just want the truth, dear. May I?" He held out his hand to me. "I can know every thought you've ever had, with one touch...it won't hurt you." He promised.

I looked to Alice to see if it was actually safe, and she nodded, pushing me forward a little, then letting me go as I stepped up to Aro. He smiled and gently took my hand in between his eagerly, taking a deep breath before closing his eyes. We stood there for a few seconds, then opened his eyes again, furrowing his brow in confusion.

"Interesting." He said again. "I see nothing..."

"Um...is that bad?" I asked.

"Not bad...just different. It's never happened to me before." He stated. "Edward can't read your mind...and neither can I."

He stood there stoking his chin for a few moments, as if not knowing what to do now.

"I have an idea...let's see if she is immune to all our powers!"

Alice growled in response and I stepped back and let her arm wrap around my waist again.

"Jane?" He nodded to her.

She nodded back to him, and looked at me with a smirk on her face. "This may hurt a little." She warned.

Aw, crap.

If she had to warn me, then it must hurt. I gritted my teeth and prepared for the worst, as she lowered her head slightly and concentrated on...whatever she was going to do. A few seconds when by and she hardened her face more, her eyebrows coming together in frustration.

"Fascinating!" Aro said loudly, breaking Jane's concentration.

"Alec, you next." He ordered, still looking at me, intrigued.

"Yes, Master." A brown-haired boy said, coming out of the shadows.

He looked no older that fifteen, and I couldn't help but be creeped out by his red eyes. I felt sorry for him...just a boy and killing humans for meals. I pushed that thought to the side and waited for...something. Like Jane, he lowered his head and looked at me with a focused expression...but again, nothing happened.

"Oh, Bella...you are one of a kind." Aro said coming closer to me again, this time, gently stroking my face with his cold hand.

"But I didn't do anything..." I said, confused.

"You don't understand. No vampire, and certainly no human that I have come across, has ever been able to...shield themselves from our powers. And here you are, not even trying..."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Edward roll his eyes, then looked down at the ground like he was bored. I just wanted to smack that look of his face.

"Well, since I can't read your thoughts..." He said, moving over to Alice. "Maybe I take a look at yours, dear Alice?"

More that willing, she took his hand, which made him smile. Edward raised his eyes from the ground, and they shot over to Jasper, worried. I smiled to myself...knowing he would probably be more disgusted with Edward and Jasper after this, now that he's going to get Alice's point of view of this whole mess. I'm hoping this will get them what they deserve. Aro closed his eyes, and stayed quiet for a few minutes leaving the rest of us waiting, the tension in the room building.

"Hm." He opened his eyes and smiled sadly at Alice. "I'm so sorry for everything that's happened to you, little Alice."

Releasing her hand, he stepped back again.

"I'm fine now." She replied.

"Yes, I see that. So, does...she know?" He asked with a playful smile.

She who, and know what? I thought.

"No, not yet."

"Oh. Well then, I won't spoil it for you." He turned back around, facing both of the guys now. "I think I understand now..."