I'm impatient, and so chapter two is up tonight. I'll be going through the rest of the chapters starting tomorrow, working some of the formatting that got messed up in the copy and paste job from the PDF my wonderful Woman had sent me. So, if the last chapter had the occasional blip, that would be why. So, here's CH 2...

Sleep had snuck up on me, I had been so sure that there was no way I would be able to sleep after everything that had happened. In fact the last thing I remembered, before I succumbed to the gentle rocking of the car, was how I felt as though I would never sleep again. Funny how these things work, isn't it?

As I opened my eyes I noticed my mouth felt like it had been stuffed full of those fucking annoying cotton wool things that Dentists are so fond off. The second thing I realized was the fact that my breath probably also smelled of ass…and I was sharing an enclosed space with a (bitchy) vampire, super senses and all. To be honest, the thoughts didn't bother me too much, what in the hell am I supposed to do about it right at this moment anyhow?

Then I tried to move. This was a very, very, bad and pain inducing idea. Without the luxury of a pillow my head had fallen to the side and I had slept for god only knows how long with my neck at an unnatural angle. I actually had to use my hands to move my head to an upright position. What did Rose do in all her sympathetic glory? She fucking laughed. Bitch. What I wouldn't give for a lighter right about now, I bet that blonde hair that she loves so much would go up in a flash.

"Here." Her hand, complete with a bottle of soda appeared in my line of sight. Ooh, ok…forget about the lighter then.

"Thanks," I said as I took the bottle. I unscrewed the top and downed half of the contents before the effervescing bubbles began to burn my throat. I relished the sensation, imagining that it took away at least some of my ass breath. I took a moment to look out of the window, surprised to see that we were driving along a runway, heading towards a large Jet. How long have we been driving? Better yet, how the hell have we bypassed passport control? I knew better than to ask though, after Rose's earlier warning. I figured that I would find out sooner or later. To be honest, I was more interested in getting rid of the kink in my neck that was trying to kill me.

As we pulled up, two figures disembarked and descended the stairs, coming to a stop at the bottom. They were both pale, beautiful and carried themselves with unnatural grace. Ding, ding…more vamps. Yay.

Rose didn't bother speaking to me before exiting the car, nice woman that she is, and took off walking towards the two strange vampires. Taking the initiative, I got out…the groaning of my stiff muscles and snapping of joints kept still for too long, meant that my exit was as far from graceful as one could possibly get. But really, I'm human…this is what happens. So I shrugged it off and walked, hopefully confidently, to my three wards. I was only a few steps further when I noticed that the couple were sporting bright red eyes. Flashes of James and his pleasure at my pain back in the ballet studio flashed through my mind and I was, embarrassingly enough, pretty damn worried.

What the hell is Rose thinking?

Here I am, on a runway with no sign of any one else in the near vicinity, with the one Cullen that despises me and two human drinking vampires. It took Rose's signature eye roll and exaggerated 'come on!' wave of her hand to make me realise that I had stopped stock still.

Anger…annoyance. Yes, much better than fear. Really, can't she just take one second out of her day to think of someone else…or at least how I might react to two examples of the darker side of the vampire race? No…of course not, that would mean that she had a soul. Not for the first time, I wondered how the hell Emmett put up with her? Her pussy must be tighter than a nuns, it's the only thing that I can think of.

So I steeled myself, head held high, shoulders back, and all that crap and continued forward.

The strangers, a man and a woman, and going off his possessive arm around her waist I would be safe to guess that they are mated. He looks startlingly similar to Jasper, only his blonde hair is straighter and shorter…and the red eyes, can't forget the red eyes. She was slightly taller than me, but no less statuesque than Rose. Her hair, also blonde, fell behind her shoulders in long curls. Her hourglass figure reminded me of Marilyn Monroe; all curves and one hell of a rack. I swear you could get lost in there.

Ok Swan, eyes away from the boobs. That's just plain rude.

My eyes flicked back to her face, her smirk hinted that I was busted. His next comment confirmed it.

"Don't worry about it Bella, they hold one hell of an attraction."

Yeah, a beetroot has nothing on me right now. I laughed, "Yeah…how the hell do you find your way out of them?"

Brain to mouth filter is officially off. Luckily for me they both laughed, and to my pleasure, Rose just looked really pissed off. My guess is that she thought they would side with her on the love/hate Bella fence.

"Let's get you on the plane Bella; there are refreshments and amenities available to you. We made sure that out little Jet here is fully stocked, wouldn't want you uncomfortable now would we?"

I nodded dumbly…little? Little? What the fuck plane is he looking at?

The inside was all cream and gold and plush and luxury. It was pretty damn impressive really, and a little overwhelming. I have no idea what time it is. Only that it's dark. Whatever, I need a breather. They settled down in the main lounge, a freaking lounge! Honestly, some people have too much money. I was pointed towards the back of the plane, where I could find a bedroom, complete with a double bed that looked so comfortable I don't think I would ever get out of it, and an ensuite bathroom.

Ahh…Heaven.

At that moment there was nothing, absolutely nothing other than me and the huge shower that was purring my name. Towels were already set out on the heated rack, and to my surprise my usual shampoo, conditioner and body wash were out on the counter. Along with hair removal cream (are they trying to tell me something?), moisturiser, toothbrush and paste, and all sorts of skin products.

My shower was wonderful. I stayed under the warm cascade until I started to prune, the drum of the water on my skin was nothing less than divine bliss. I never wanted to leave. The world out of the shower was confusing and daunting. For all of my bravado and dirty thoughts of a certain immortal cowboy, I was terrified. I didn't know where I was, I didn't know why I was there and I really didn't know what the hell I was going to tell my father about all of this. Shit, Charlie! Ok, logically I'm an adult and can take impromptu holidays. Why is it that all of my journeys are born out of panic, confusion and danger?

There is no point worrying over this without all of the information. The one thing that I am sure of is that my life has been irrevocably altered. And, I have been stuck with Bitchalie, the Vampire. Although at least the two red eyes don't seem to be too bad…still don't know their names though.

The towel that I wrapped around my naked form was warm and fluffy and soft and all kinds of yummy comfort. I will so be taking these with me where ever the hell we land. Nice and squeaky clean, hairless and moisturised I feel like a new woman. A new woman that really doesn't want to put her worn, slept in clothes back on.

But what was I thinking? This trip was organised by vampires for god's sake, of course the drawers and wardrobe are filled with clothes. Really, really nice clothes…clothes that, while a little bit tighter than I am used to, are all me. So, skinny jeans and deep green tank top it is. The underwear leaves a little to be desired; apparently they plundered Victoria's Secret. At least it fits.

I took a moment to stare in wonder at my newly acquired cleavage, even going so far as to bounce up and down…who knew my puppies could look so good? My hair is all kinds of glossy and loose, curling slightly at the ends. I will never again go without the magic hair goo that they had provided; honestly that stuff should be mandatory. I wouldn't be admitting that to Alice any time soon though.

I found them exactly where I had left them, their buzzing conversation ceased as I took a seat on one of the free sofas and looked at them expectantly.

"Feel better?" The Jasper look-a-like asked, was it that obvious?

"Most definitely, I feel like a new woman. And thank you to whoever got the goodies, my hair has never looked this good! So, do I get introductions or am I going to have to make up names for you both?" I asked, smiling sweetly.

"Of course, Sugar," the woman spoke, her voice a Texan drawl just like her mate and Jasper. It's obvious they know each other. Why else would they be here? I knew however, that they had never been mentioned to me before. "I'm Charlotte, but you can call me Charley, and this ass sitting next to me is my mate and husband, Peter Whitlock. Jasper's brother."

My eyes widened. "Jasper's brother? As in brother, brother…or coven, family of vampires, brother?"

"We're brothers by both blood and venom." Peter stated, obviously pleased with my reaction. No wonder they looked so alike.

"That is…wow…I noticed the resemblance when I first saw you. Please don't take this the wrong way," and eat me, "but why is it that I didn't know about you?"

The three vampires shared a glance, obviously wondering what they should or shouldn't share. I let out a quick breath, pissed off at their reluctance to share.

"Listen, I'm no child, nor am I stupid. If there is something that I should know then tell me, I've had enough over protective coddling shit to last me a life time. I've been hauled in a car, forced to put up with Rose's disdain, got a crick in my neck that needs the tender care of a chiropractor, and am now sitting in a huge airplane, that has a freaking lounge, bedroom and with an en-suite, I might add. All of this, after I half witnessed a fight that ended with Jasper killing Edward's Volvo by using Edward as the weapon. I deserve to be let in on the big secret."

This time it was Rose that, oh so sweetly, answered. "And you think I'm the vain one? Who says you have the right to know anything? If you were as intelligent as you claim to be then you would not have missed what was right in front of your nose! The last thing that I would do is coddle you; you're a self-proclaimed big girl, look after yourself." The wish for a lighter came back to the forefront of my mind, swiftly followed by an upgrade to a flamethrower. Visions of me going all Ripley on her ass, complete with the grenade launcher strapped to my flamethrower, filled my mind. Maybe a rocket launcher? "Besides, the details of this whole debacle are not ours to tell. You'll have to wait for the others to get here. So be a good girl and sit quietly, children should be seen and not heard."

BITCH. Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch…BITCH, SLAG, WHORE, SHALLOW, DIMWITTED, COW!

Thankfully my brain to mouth filter seems to have reinstated its self, I don't really feel like being dinner right now. Breathe in; breathe out…in….out…in…out. Fuck, I sound like the director of a porn movie.

"Well thank you for those heartfelt words Rose, why don't you go find a mirror to stare in for a few hours. Leave us big thinkers in peace for a while? This must be hurting that pwetty wittle brain of yours, I wouldn't want to tire you out."

Ok, so maybe I do have a death wish…but I figured that if she lost control that I had two other vamps on my side, one of which is Jasper's brother, so I'm guessing that he wouldn't want anything to happen to me; what with Jasper's sudden interest and all.

Rose's condescending, and still infuriatingly beautiful, smile had transformed into a feral snarl. Her eyes had darkened to pitch black and the constant growl she was producing was spine chilling…maybe I could record it and start up my own horror sound effects company? Something to pass the time.

"Rose, out now!" Peter turned all dominant, no trace of the easy going smile that I had gotten used to. Same went for Charley, they were both glaring at Rose. Well, it's obvious who runs this show. Rose looked shocked and then disgusted, her gaze raking over me again before she opened her mouth. Probably to spout off yet more shit. "Don't even think about it Rosalie." Peter, thankfully, cut her off. "Go hunt, now. The others will be here before long and we will need to take off as soon as that hatch closes. And while you're at it, calm the fuck down and thank your lucky stars that Jasper wasn't here for that little show you just spewed out. Go!"

No further protest from Rose and she was out the door, I barely saw her blur.

Feeling a strange mix between empowered and sheepish I turned my eyes back to Peter and Charley. They're eyes remained black, and their faces stormy, for a few more seconds before they both broke into a pair of shit eating grins and dissolved into laughter that bordered on hysterical.

I, being the human that goaded the pissed off and temperamental vampire, was still coming down from the adrenaline high caused by the encounter. I surprise myself sometimes with my lack of a survival instinct. That bitch just begs for a takedown though, there was no way I was gonna sit back and take her shit. Cow.

"Oh Bella, I knew things were gonna get interesting with you joining the fold, but fuck, Emmett is gonna be kissing your feet for weeks after he hears about that!"

Charley managed to get out between her wheezing for breath. Which confused the hell out of me, why the fuck would a vampire wheeze? But then she also had to hold onto Peter so that she wouldn't fall on the floor.

"Er, won't Emmett be mad at me for speaking to Rosalie that way?" I didn't like her, but Emmett sure loved her.

"Pfft, yeah right. Rose has a tendency to run her mouth, thinking she's better than those around her. Most people take her shit because it's easier than listening to the bitch whine. Us, a bunch of bad ass vamps, back down and you, the lowly human, take her shit and threw it right back at her. Smeared it in her face even." He looked contemplative for a second before adding. "I wouldn't recommend doing that without back up though."

Now that made me laugh. Fuck no! I'm not suicidal in fact my new life's mission is to make sure that I'm never in the same room as Rose without at least one other vampire.

"Yeah, I'll take that under advisement. Now, is someone gonna fill me in on what's going on? It's been something of a confusing day and I would love to be able to make some sense of it."

"The others will be here soon, so you'll have to wait for them to arrive before you get the juicy stuff."

"What, so I just sit all pretty and quiet and wait for the others to get here?" If there is one thing I hate it's being kept in the dark about things, it frustrates the hell out of me.

"I know this must be very frightening for you, Bella. But, I assure you that you are safe with us, Jasper was not far behind you and Rose, he just had something to sort out but he will be here soon," Charley spoke up, smiling at me reassuringly.

"Oh, I'm not frightened. My experience with human drinking vampires is that they usually just try to, you know, drink me." I shrugged, thinking back to James and the ballet studio. "Well maybe a little torture and ridicule beforehand. You two have done the opposite, and you're Jasper's brother. I may not know him very well, but I don't think he means me any harm." Peter scoffed at that comment and rolled his eyes. "What?"

"Sorry, it was just your comment about not thinking Jasper means any harm. Bella, believe me when I tell you that if there is one person in this world that you never have to worry about hurting you, it would be Jasper."

I tried to ignore the way my chest clenched and vibrated at the thought of Jasper doing…well anything to me.

"Yeah, about that? Rose said something to me on the way over here. She said that Edward took me from Jasper. But I don't understand? Jasper and I have barely had a conversation. The only time I have ever been alone with him was for 5 minutes when I was being hidden from James. I have never been with Jasper for anyone to take me away from him. Not to mention the fact that he is married to Alice, my best friend."

I looked from Peter to Charley and back again, Charley seemed like she wanted to tell me. In fact, she seemed down right frustrated and pissed off about something that I just said, but Peter was steadfast in his decision to wait.

"There are certain things that you need to be set right on, and believe me you will get the truth. There is much more to this than true mates, you have been kept in the dark about everything, little one," Peter said, his voice solemn.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, looking out of the window at the tarmac and hangars in the distance. "So, who are we waiting for?"

Both Peter and Charley seemed pleased with the change of subject. "Carlisle,

Esme, Emmett, and Jasper are all on their way. Eleazar and Carmen of the Alaskan Coven and their daughter Kate will meet us once we land."

I nodded in recognition; Edward had spoken about their cousins that live in Denali, Alaska.

"Wait…no Alice? What is she going to be doing?"

Charley growled, causing me to jump and I'll admit, I may have squeaked a little too. Peter was suddenly on his knees in front of his wife, his hands cupping her face. "Charley, baby, calm down. I know how you feel about her but Bella has no idea, and you're scaring her." Her eyes lightened from black to crimson and she nodded, but the pissed off look remained on her face. Peter sat back down turning his attention to me. "Alice is a subject better left alone for now, suffice it to say that toxic imp bitch is no longer welcome among us, nor is Edward. Jasper and Alice's marriage was nothing but a sham..."

Charley cut him off, almost shouting. "A big pile of stinking horse shit, is what it was, Peter. I told him time and again, that little skinny cunt has had him..."

Peter returned the favour. "Charley! I know, I know honey, I know what she did." Colour me thoroughly confused.

"Now Bella, how about I rustle up some grub for you and something to drink? I can hear your stomach grumbling for food, hell soon you will too, if you don't feed it." Peter's grin was genuine, if not a little strained, and I knew that he was trying to save Charley any added stress so I smiled at him.

"Sure, food sounds good, Peter. But I can sort myself out, just point me in the right direction and I'll put something together." I wanted to give him some time alone with his wife.

"Now what kind of host would I be, if I were to let you see to yourself? Set that sweet ass of yours down and do whatever it is that women do while I busy myself in the kitchen." He turned slightly and then reconsidered his words. "Which of course is a very manly pastime in itself." And with that he disappeared into what I assume was the galley.

I laughed lightly, pictures of Peter in a novelty apron, one of those with a half-naked woman on the front flashed through my mind. I turned back to find Charley watching me, she looked as though she was trying to figure me out. I'm used to vamps looking at me like I'm some anomaly, so I figured I may as well get this shit over with.

"Ask me anything, Charley, I won't be offended."

Sheepishly, she laughed at being called out. "I'm sorry Bella, it's just that I saw your initial reaction to our eyes and you still walked towards us." She shook her head slightly confused, "You say that you're not scared, which I know is the truth because your bio rhythms are all relaxed. It astounds me, Jasper has spoken of your trust in our kind before, but I never really believed it until now."

I shrugged. "I have been told that I have no sense of self preservation, I also seem to be a walking talking danger trap. So it seems fitting that my life is now with vampires. To be honest, I have always felt as if I were waiting for something. Meeting Edward and the rest of the Cullen's gave me what I had been missing, well mostly." I frowned as I thought back on how I felt with Edward, so perfect at the time but now it seemed wrong somehow.

"What is it?"

"Sorry, was just thinking about the last few months. Meeting Edward, everything has always been so perfect. Too perfect. But what you and Peter were saying before, I don't understand what's going on with Jasper and Alice. They always seemed so…perfect too. Looking back on it though…," I trailed off lost in thought again.

Perfect seemed to be the running theme. Too perfect, he was always there, always with the right thing to say; the perfect thing. Ever since meeting the Cullen's my time had not been my own, I was either busy being dazzled by Edward or made-up by Alice. Edward always did things to make me feel special, but if there was ever anything that I didn't like or was pissed at he would simply put me in a daze and smile when he got his own way. The only times that I felt truly relaxed were the off times that I was able to cook with Esme or talk with Carlisle, and I only truly laughed with Emmett. Where the fuck had my brain been for the past few months?

"Bella? Looking back on what, sweetie?" Charley coaxed me softly.

A tear spilled from my eye and I wiped at it frantically, hating the need for it. "Alice's visions, they're subjective right?" Charley nodded slightly. "But they don't just come to her; she's able to search the future too?" Again Charley simply nodded and waited for me to continue. "So, it's feasible then that she is able to sort through possible futures, dependant on any decisions she or others might make?" another nod. "No wonder everything seemed so perfect. Edward always said the right thing, or turned up at the right time. Yet with James, he was almost too late." I shook my head slightly, thoughts running through my head at a mile a minute. "How the hell was I able to get away from Jasper and Alice? She would have seen the decision as soon as I made it. Sure the bathroom escape was last minute but I had been thinking of ways to get away from them as soon as the phone call from James ended."

I laughed, it was humourless, dry. Did she know? Did Alice know about the phone call? My plan to go to James? Oh god! The bite and Edward sucking the venom out. They knew, they both knew, he already knew that he would be able to do it. But why? Why go through all of that?

What the FUCK is going on?

"Bella, honey? Talk to me sweetie, please?" Charley whispered. I glanced up and into her red eyes that were shimmering slightly and I wondered what it would be like to be unable to shed a tear.

"It was a lie wasn't it? All lies. Peter's comments and the Alice bashing, I don't know the details…but Edward and I, it always seemed forced somehow. And whenever I would start to question it something would happen. Alice would swoop in, or Edward would kiss me. Dazzle me. Save me from a psychotic vampire. He put restrictions on me, boundaries. Alice, she was always trying to change me, tell me what I should wear to make me look better, to make Edward like me more."

In a blink, Charley was next to me and pulled me into an embrace. That was all it took for the traitorous flood gates to open, tears ran but I didn't sob I wouldn't, I couldn't. I was angry, frustrated, I hate feeling frustrated. It makes me feel weak and useless and stupid.

"Shh, Honeybee, listen to me. You will get all your answers, and you won't like what we all have to tell you, but it will be worth it. We've all been deceived, but what matters now is that the lies are over."

A hand on my knee let me know that Peter had come back, a sandwich on the table sat with a glass of soda. I lifted my head and it made me feel better when I saw the worry and love that shone in Peter's eyes. He was Jasper's brother, by both blood and venom, he didn't know me but he already cared. I already felt right with both him and Charley. I just needed to know the truth.

"Little one, I'm sorry that this has happened. I can't tell you how sorry I am that I never knew what was going on, god knows I don't understand why this was never opened to me, but I promise that I will make it up to you."

"I don't understand, Peter, I don't even know what the fuck has happened. All I know is that it wasn't real, but I don't know why! Why would you blame yourself, Peter? Why should you have known when it seems that I wasn't the only one kept in the dark?"

Peter stared at me for a few seconds, a frown marring his features, so like Jasper. Charley broke the silence. "That, at least, is something that you can explain to the poor girl, Peter."

His eyes flickered to Charley before settling on mine again. "I have something of a gift. The best way of describing it would be that I have an acute sense of intuition and logic. Sometimes I just know shit, sometimes things come together in my mind to reveal the truth. Mostly I know what is to come, or at the very least, what to do about any given situation. I am also what is known as a Silent. It means that the knowledge that I own is mine to reveal, my mind cannot be read and my future cannot be seen. Which is why I know that Alice will not know where we are or where we are going. Ironically enough, even though my gift shed no light on the shit storm that Alice and Edward have created, it did end up being the key to finding out what has been going on."

"Peter, NO! How can you blame yourself for this? Just because you didn't know something doesn't make it your fault! If that is your logic, then we are all at fault. Hell, I was in the thick of it and I didn't know, actually I still don't know."

Peter smiled at me, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Stop that shit right the fuck now Peter Whitlock! Don't try to be condescending to me. You are in no way to blame for this, now buck the fuck up and get out of the way. I want to eat my sandwich!" Then I showed him what a smile should look like.

He laughed and he and Charley flitted back to their original positions and I literally ripped into what I found to be a ham, cheese, and crisp club sandwich. "How the hell did you know this is my favourite? It even has pesto on the middle slice!"

"Well at least I know something."

The plane started it's taxi down the runway as the rest of our party arrived halfway through my meal; Carlisle and Esme both came straight over to me, Esme fussing and Carlisle seeing if I was ok. Emmett almost made me regurgitate my dinner when he spun me round, and Jasper had to step in. No harm done, I was laughing and my sandwich was still where it should be. It's all good.

Then it was Jasper standing in front of me, a soft smile on his face. He seemed reluctant to come any closer, and I was suddenly all shy and pathetic. It took me catching Peter's eye roll from behind Jasper to get my ass in gear. I closed the distance and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest and breathing deeply. I had never been this close to him before, never taken in his scent so completely. Never felt this right, how the hell had I missed this?

I didn't want to let go, and when his arms encircled me I was in Heaven. Corny as all hell, but I couldn't really give a flying shit. I felt his lips as he kissed the top of my head and held me tighter. I was home, and apparently now a very sappy girlie girl.

"Come on now you two, I know that this is a long time coming but Bella still doesn't actually know what the fuck..."

"Peter, there are ladies present," Esme admonished.

I smiled into Jasper's chest, still not willing to move. I don't know if he sensed this or not, but he took no time in sitting down and settling me in his lap. It was all a little overwhelming, but being this close to him helped me deal. Is this moving too fast? Probably. Do I care? Not in the slightest, I'm sitting on his lap not saving a horse.

"Sorry Esme, Bella…I will try to keep my bad language to a minimum," Peter answered and was interrupted again.

"Hey! What am I? Invisible?" Rose whined from behind Emmett. Fuck, I'd forgotten about her.

"No Rose, I am fully aware that you are there." He hurried on when it looked like she was about to open her pie hole again. "Anyway, like I was saying. Bella doesn't know the details; she has figured out that Edward and Alice have been lying to her." He looked directly at Jasper before carrying on. "She knows that your and Alice's marriage was a sham, and that her and Edward's relationship was all a lie. She is, understandably, confused and frustrated. And by the way, you really weren't exaggerating when you spoke about her being ok with all things weird." He looked at me then, now curled up in Jasper's lap. "She's been a trooper, and really isn't scared of speaking her mind." He shot a look at Rose as he said this; I did an internal 'go me!' dance.

"I heard about that Darlin', it seems you're coming out of your shell," Jasper whispered into my ear, I tried really hard to concentrate on his words and not the feeling of his cool breath that ghosted across my ear.

I didn't trust my voice, nor was I able to actually think of words at that moment, let alone put them together to form anything intelligible. So I stayed quiet and simply smiled and snuggled. I like snuggling.

Emmett, not one to keep quiet, jumped in. "Oh yeah, our Bella has a talent for going with the flow. She's not always as quiet as she seems either, at least not around me. That girl has one hell of a mouth on her when she's beating my ass on the Wii."

I almost spat I laughed so hard, "Yeah Emmett, that would be because you don't shut up when you win, so excuse me for my slight outburst when I kick your ass at baseball!"

"Slight outburst? You laughed so hard when you saw my face that I had to run you to the pisser," he guffawed.

"Emmett! Language!" Dear old mom. Emmett mumbled a sorry and shut up. Thankfully.

Esme glared at Emmett for a few more seconds, making sure he stayed quiet while the rest of us snickered at his expense. Happy that he was properly chastised she turned back to me. "So, why don't you let us know what you have figured out and we can fill in any blanks or answer any questions?"

I smiled appreciatively and more than ready with questions for them. "Ok, so Alice and Edward have been manipulating me and situations for their own means?"

Everyone nodded, suddenly looking grim.

"Not just you either Bella, they have been lying to all of us," Carlisle murmured.

"Ok, so they arranged everything for me to fall for Edward, and Jasper and Alice's marriage is a load of rubbish? I guess my biggest question would be, why?"

I didn't like the looks that I was faced with; Rose was looking disinterested but slightly smug, Esme looked like she would be crying if she could, Carlisle was worried. Peter and Charley seemed, apprehensive.

So basically, I'm not going to like what I'm about to hear then? Yay.

"Their masters want you Bella, for your power and your potential," Peter spoke quietly; he had the rapt attention of everyone in the room. "Edward's inability to hear your thoughts is much more than a fluke. You are a shield, a mental shield to be exact and to some, a very valuable commodity."

I gulped, commodity. I did not like that term, not one bit.

"Commodity? Way to make me sound like a business transaction there, Peter." I attempted a laugh; it came out more like a strangled groan.

"Sorry Bella, it's nothing personal I assure you. That is simply the best way to describe how you are seen by the less civilised of our kind. They want you because of your usefulness, the power and protection that you would bring their coven."

"Alice and Edward are a part of another coven?"

Peter nodded slowly; his eyes flitted to Carlisle before he continued. "I did some digging into Alice's past, the past the she always claimed not to remember. Mary Alice Brandon was admitted into an asylum at the age of 17. She was the youngest daughter of a very prominent family, who were unsuccessful at keeping her out of the papers. It was reported that she was dragged away after becoming hysterical during church and screaming about a fire and children burning. One week after she was admitted there was a fire, at the local orphanage. I contacted Jenks; he got a hold of the records from the asylum. They're as detailed as you can probably imagine from that time. She was subjected to electric shock therapy, but what is most interesting is the name of her doctor. Stefan Gabor, he started working there a week after the Orphanage fire hit the papers."

Going off the sharp in-takes of breath, shocked faces, and cussing that was sounding out around me; this news meant a lot more to the rest than it did to me.

"For those of us that don't get the significance, namely me, is there an explanation coming?" I asked.

Carlisle spoke up "Stephen is one of the two leaders of a coven in Romania; they were powerful up until a few hundred years ago. Their numbers were decimated when they went up against the Volturi."

Edward had mentioned the Volturi in passing, something about Vampire royalty. I knew that Alice had been in an asylum when she was changed; from everything that James had told me before his torture started. "So he's dead then? That's what James said."

Carlisle shook his head. "No, he is definitely not dead. He and his brother, Vladimir are still holed up in a castle in Romania. I can only assume that Alice has been under their direction the whole time?" he said to himself. "No wonder she always insisted on her and Edward never touching Aro."

"Aro?"

"What do you know of the Volturi, Bella?" Carlisle asked instead of answering me outright.

I shrugged. "Not much, Edward mentioned them once…he referred to them as royalty. He didn't sound like he liked them, called the leaders pompous and self-important."

Carlisle's eyes darkened, the whites swallowed by black; something that I had never seen before. It was disturbing; his usually calm demeanour was replaced with outrage, his face twisted with anger and for the first time I was shown the monster inside Carlisle. Terrified doesn't cover what I felt.

With a yelp I found myself unceremoniously dumped on the sofa, a growling Jasper crouched in front of me. Even in my distressed state I managed to appreciate the view Jasper's position gave me of his ass.

"Calm down Carlisle, you're scaring the shit out of Bella," Jasper spoke quietly, calmly. "We need to hear the rest of the information; your wrath can wait until he is standing in front of you."

Not being one to sit back and wait, I peeped shyly around Jasper's back. Carlisle was standing; his eyes still dark but the white now showed. Esme was at his shoulder with a supportive hand around his elbow. Everyone was focused on Jasper and Carlisle; whom never broke eye contact until Carlisle's eyes returned to their usual gold.

"Carlisle, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." I was feeling responsible for breaking Carlisle's usually impeccably calm façade.

The next thing I knew I was back in Jasper's lap with a contrite looking Carlisle kneeling in front of me. "Alright, enough with the throwing me round like a rag doll! I can't keep up with all this vampire speed," I grumbled, brushing my hair out of my face.

Carlisle smiled, chuckling while Jasper uttered a quick apology. "Bella, I am truly sorry for my behaviour. To hear what Edward said to you…," his voice trailed off into a growl, he looked heartbroken. I hated Edward in that moment for making Carlisle feel that way. "He was right about the Volturi being thought of as royalty; the ranks of the guard are generally thought of as aristocracy. The Volturi is led by four Elders, or kings if you're going with the royalty theory. Aro is one of them; he is a powerful Soul Reader. Through touch he is able to read every thought, memory, or musing that has passed through your head."

"That's why Alice refused to touch him?" I asked quietly.

Carlisle nodded in agreement. "It also explains why she then insisted that Edward not be touched either; she cited privacy and the danger of the wrong people knowing the future as her reasons. Aro agreed to her terms, he was simply happy to have a seer and an empath join our ranks." Yeah, I haven't missed the 'we' and 'our' instead of 'the'. "Marcus, another Elder, is also gifted; he can see connections between people and the nature and depth of the relationships. They founded the Volturi, myself and my brother Caius joined their numbers two hundred years ago. Together we make up the four Elders of the Volturi."

Yeah, I think my eyebrows were in my hair. Carlisle is royalty and he's kneeling in front of me.

I jumped up, to my horror causing Carlisle to jump out of my way. Completely flustered I tried to come up with something to say, which apparently meant that I simply spewed out nonsense.

"Carlisle! I'm so sorry, I didn't know…I…can I even call you Carlisle? Do you have a title? You have a brother? Do you have a gift? King…really?" Yeah, maybe I should learn to wait and think before I speak.

Everyone was laughing away at my flustered antics, thankfully that included Carlisle. He enveloped me in a hug that was only just on the right side of 'too tight to breath'. "Oh my daughter, what would I do without you?" He pushed me back slightly and held my face in his frigid hands. "I have a title, but I could never have you refer to me as 'My Lord'. If you insist on something more formal then it would make my existence if you were to call me, Father."

I giggled; part in relief for not offending him, mostly through embarrassment at his obvious affection and the tears that were escaping my eyes. "Really?" I squeaked.

He sat me back down on the sofa, this time taking a seat beside Jasper and I. "Yes, although I understand if it makes you uncomfortable to do so."

"Oh no! No, calling you my Lord would be uncomfortable," I laughed. "Somehow calling you father seems right." Which makes no sense to me; I had enough trouble calling my actual father, father. Speaking of!

"My Dad! What the hell am I supposed to say to him?"

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