Chapter 4

BPOV

The back smoke billowed as it passed over the grass at an alarming rate.

"What is that?" I had seen it before, but my part of my mind was still focused on Edward, so I couldn't work out what it was.

My voice had caught everyone's attention and they all turned to look in the same direction.

"Not now!" came Carlisle's voice. "I thought we'd have longer." He was staring at Edward, having a silent conversation no doubt. A deep growl resonated through Edwards's chest and I felt him pull me off of the couch in lightning speed and to the other side of the room, where he pushed me up against a wall, his arms tight around my waist, his shaking chest crushed against mine.

"Rose!" he barked and I saw Rosalie over his shoulder jump to attention before picking up a still sleeping Renesmee and running upstairs. I tried to run after her desperate to stay with my daughter but Edwards hands kept me locked in place.

"No Bella," his voice was soft. "She will be safer upstairs." I finally looked away from the door way that my daughter had disappeared from, and up to him. His eyes were black again. "They're coming for us." His voice broke as the words tumbled from his lips.

Panic rose in me and I griped him tight pulling him into an embrace. He buried his face in my hair and his arms were tighter than ever before. The sight before me was awful, my family were standing around us, ready to fight anybody off who dared to touch either one of us. I didn't want to see this so I pressed my face into Edward shoulder; praying that it was just a dream and that I would wake up sitting on the couch, my husbands head in my lap and my daughter sitting on the floor.

Everything grew still and I felt something swirling around my legs. Maybe it really was a dream and I was waking up, maybe this was just a twisted version of Oz and if I tapped my heels together I would be transported home. I cautiously lifted my head and opened my eyes.

Nothing had changed, but that was the problem. They were all frozen. It was as if time had stopped and I was the only one that it hadn't affected. I looked down to see what the swirling was around my legs was, only to be met with realization. It was the mist. I had seen this mist before; it was on the day we stood against the Volturi. The memory was still clear in my mind as if it had happened a few seconds ago instead of years. The mist came towards us, moving over the fresh snow without even touching it. The anxiety I had felt over if it would penetrate my shield or not. Would every person on our side of the clearing be left frozen? All of their senses cut off by the deadly smoke that Alec could produce, like a master magician or witch.

I had never seen its affect until now.

I turned my head slightly and placed a kiss on Edwards's neck before closing my eyes again and concentrating on throwing my shield across them all.

The contracting of muscles under my hands on Edwards back gave me assurance that it had worked. His face was in front of mine and he looked at me confused and still fearful. I was about to open my mouth and explain what had happened when a sharp intake of breath made mine and Edward's heads whip round to see what our family had seen.

"Hello Carlisle." The voice sent shivers down my spine and I lent closer to Edward.

"Aro," Replied Carlisle as he nodded his head slightly in a polite gesture. His words may have been welcoming but his stance was not. With one hand clasping Esme's tightly he stood with his head held high and feet apart.

"It seems that we are missing a few members of your coven Carlisle. Rosalie and Renesmee I belive," He lifted his hand and I saw that he held in it the drawing that my daughter had been doing before Alice had her vision. I looked at the paper and for the first time saw what she had drawn. If I was human it would of made my eyes water.

There I was, sitting on a couch running my hands through Edward's hair while smiling down at him contently. The soft lines of the pencil made me think of the girl who had drawn it. Like Edward had said; she would be safer away from us.

"She is very talented isn't she," Aro sighed in admiration "I would very much like to see her again." A smile crossed his face, twisting his features to make him look like a "real vampire".

"No!" Edward and I growled at the same time. Aro turned to look at us, the smile never leaving his face, muttering something that sounded like "So in sync" under his breath.

"Very well. After all she isn't the reason for my little visit."

"We know why you're here." Carlisle spoke again trying to gain Aro's attention so that he would take his eyes off of Edward and I who were wrapped around each other against the wall.

"Ah, I gathered that would happen." Alice shivered under his penetrating stare. "But I also gathered that you would not know the reasoning behind it." he paused but no one answered him so he carried on. "You see, I have been thinking recently about mates. How strong their bonds were, could their connection be broken? could their connection be strengthened? How much pain it would cause them to see their mate in pain, unable to touch, unable to help." I kept my eyes on Aro but in the corner of my sight I could see Edward's face twist with the thought of that happening. Each word was like an arrow to my heart.

"You should know Carlisle that I am a very thorough and practical man."

"You are no man." Carlisle spit at him, but the monster himself ignored him and carried on.

"It seemed to me that the best way to explore this fascinating subject, would be to do a few...lets say experiments."

"NO!" At this point , to my horror, Carlisle raced forward ready to attack, but then two Volturi guards appeared, their long, dark cloaks hanging gracefully around them like shadows. They gripped him by the arms to stop him from reaching their master. Carlisle thrashed around like a wild animal. None of the Cullens dared to move, they couldn't risk Carlisle getting hurt.

Aro leaned into him until there faces were almost touching, the animalistic behaviour did not phase him and he continued talking.

"Then I thought to myself, which mated pair would be best for this experiment. As your coven is the most interesting family that I had ever come across I thought of you instantly. Each pair in your little family crossed my mind until finally I realized that there could only ever be one couple that could fit the role.

I first came across your son Edward when he claimed that he had lost his mate. I was very surprised when I found out that this girl whom he loved was in fact, a human and his singer at that." His ruby eyes drifted their way over to my husband who was desperately trying to shield me from his sight with his body. Edward glared at him, his dark eyes murderous, hearing his deranged thoughts no doubt.

"I was intrigued by their connection, he was willing to die for her. Imagine the joy I felt when he walked into the room accompanied by the young girl. I was not the only one surprised. As you all know Marcus can read bonds between people, the intensity between Isabella and Edward was...surreal. In all of Marcus's years he had never come across anything like it."

His fasciation with our relationship was disturbing and the talk of what happened in Italy made me even more uncomfortable, I didn't like thinking of Edwards close call.

"We are not coming with you Aro." Edwards voice rang out, the contrast with his and Aros voice was like black ink on white paper. Aro unexpectedly smiled again.

"You are so predictable young Edward, you forget that Marcus also read the bonds between you and your family the second time we met. Especially between you and your daughter."

"Don't you dare touch her!" I shouted at him.

"Predictable," he murmured to himself. "Jane?"

That one syllable long name frightened me to my core and my head spun in the direction of the sound of light footsteps coming down the stairs. Of course Jane would be here, Alec must be here somewhere, and if Alec was here his twin sister would be close behind. My breathing stopped when she appeared at the foot of the stairs. Edward and I let out a loud snarl when we saw who she was holding. As soon as she heard our voices Renesmees innocent face peeked out of her hair, her eyes were wide with fear and they whizzed around the room increasing in size when she saw Carlisle being held back by the two vampires in cloaks. Then her eyes rested on me.

"Momma!" she called "Daddy! Daddy help me!"

I needed to get to my little girl. She needed me. Without thinking I ran forwards. Another guard appeared, and then another they pulled at my arms trying to grab me and hold me back like they did with Carlisle. I fought back, swiping at them whenever I got the chance. In the back of my mind I had noticed that I was not the only one who had ran forwards. Emmet was throwing guards out of the way with bear like swings trying to get to Rosalie who was standing behind Jane, being held back by Demitri. Edward was fighting with two more, desperate to get to his daughter but also taking out any hooded figures that got too close to me. Alice, Jasper, Esme and Carlisle (who had somehow maneged to get free) had formed a circle, all standing back to back defending each other form anyone who attacked. Aro watched on with another smile on is face.

A shrill scream distracted me and I turned to see my daughter, who was writhing in Janes arms. The figures that had been dodging my swipes took the chance and grabbed my arms twisting them behind my back while I stood in horror.

Jane was using her gift on Renesmee.

"STOP YOU MONSTER!" I screamed at her trying to shake off the vice grips on my arms.

But Jane didn't stop she was enjoying watching me beg her. I saw red and my shield was thrown over the frail girl in her arms as a protective blanket.

Once the evil vampire realized what I had done her hand crept up towards Renesmees neck.

"I can still crush her." She threatened, a glimmer in her blood red eyes.

"LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER!" came a shout, but this time it was not me. I turned my head just in time to see Felix slam Edward against the wall, holding him by his neck. Plaster fell from the wall creating a cloud of dust around them.

The witch girl spoke again. "If I were you I would stop moving." her hand was tight around Renesmees neck, wet with the tears that were running down my daughter red face as she whimpered quietly. Aro moved so that he was standing next to Jane, Alec appeared on her other side.

"Now," Aro spoke calmly."I don't usually like killing other fellow vampires, especially not fascinating hybrids like young Renesmee here," His translucent hand moved to caress her still wet cheek, she cringed away and Edward growled. " But, I am willing to go to that extent if you make this difficult. Edward, Isabella what do you say?"

"Aro, we are not coming with you." I said it slowly while glaring at him.

"Oh but you see," he chuckled "You have no choice." his eyes moved to Renesmee again. I stopped struggling against my captors. I knew we were defeated. I would rather that Edward and I never see her again than watch Aro take her life, her hopes and her future. I loved her too much.

Aro understood my change of stance. "There we go, now it looks to me like your coven are going to try and stop us from leaving with you. We wouldn't want that now would we? They might get hurt."

"No." I whispered, my eyes facing the floor in defeat.

"So say your goodbyes to them now." He nodded to the guards holding me and to Felix who still had Edward pressed against the wall.

We were side by side as soon as they had let go of us. He looked down at me, hs face displaying pain but understanding. He would do anything for Renesmee too. I felt his hand intertwine with mine and then we turned to face our family.

"You can't leave," Alice choked out, "I know what they will do to you, we might never see you again."

"We'll look after Renesmee for you." Rosalie said.

"We'll tell her every day about how amazing the two of you are, how much you love her, she won't forget you." Esme added.

Emmet spoke out "I'm gonna miss the two of you so much, more than I ever let on."

"So am I," Jasper said softly "I wish that I could go back and do it all over again, if I knew it was going to...end like this I might of put more effort into my relationships with both of you."

Carlisle went next. "The two of you brought so much warmth and light into our lives and home, we will never be the same without you.".

"A world with no more sun." Mumbled Rosalie.

"Like you said Bella ;a never ending night." Alice was the last one to speak.

There was so much that I wanted to say, I wanted to explain to each and everyone of them why I loved then so much. But I couldn't find the words. Instead I hoped that the emotions shone through my eyes as it did with theirs.

"Will I ever see you again?" Jane must have put Renesmee down, she stood in front of us, her shirt and face stained with tears. I bent down and picked her up in my arms holding her closer than ever before. Edward stood behind me, arms wrapped around my waist, looking over my shoulder at her.

"We don't know sweetheart," he said gently as he used one finger to wipe away her tears, "But one thing that we do know is that whatever happens we will always love you."

"Please remember that darling," I said to her "We will always be in your heart."

She lifted her tiny hands and placed one on my cheek and the other on her farthers.

She ran backwards through all of her memories of us, starting from our current position to our faces when Edward pulled her out into a bright light. Each little scene she played out came with feelings of intense love. When she was finished she pulled her hand back as fresh tears sprung in her eyes.

"Forever?" she asked.

"Yes, sweetheart. Forever." I answered.

I lent down gently to place a single kiss on the top of her head, lingering there slightly, never wanting to let her go. Then I watched sadly as my husband did the same whispering one last time to her.

"I love you."

I remember placing her in Rosalie's arms before Aro turned to me.

"Now Isabella, please remove your shield from your coven so Alec can make sure they don't come after us while we leave."

I nodded distantly at him and before I knew it we were being lead out of the door by Felix, my hand tightly grasping Edwards. I turned and looked through the glass at them. They stood like statues as the black mist swirled between them, it filled the room until I could no longer see a thing.

Edward and I stood facing each other and his words came back to me.

"I resented both the night and day. The night because I felt like I would never escape it, and the sun because I knew that I would never be able to enjoy its warmth."

I knew that we would never be able to enjoy the warmth that came with our family again. And I also knew that we would never escape the darkness that was to come.

I don't like the whole pleading for reviews thing, but if you do want me to continue this reviews will honestly help. I need a lot of motivation to stay on a project, especially a long term one like this. So I'm encouraging you to do something crazy like post a review on every chapter or something.