Even with Alice's assurance that it would work, Jasper's plan was too simple for my liking. He attributed the idea to me. Although a letter would be hardly enough proof for the Volturi that my transformation had taken place, an image would be a different matter.

Especially with my eyes sporting a raging newborn shade of red.

It was the only part of the plan that I truly didn't like.

And the most important one.

It would show that I wasn't yet in control, that I couldn't be trusted, that the risk for discovery was far too great for us to even contemplate transatlantic travel. How could Aro object? To not draw attention to our kind was the most important rule. He was the one that had set it.

Renesmee had been left in Charlie's care after he'd been told of our plan. He'd shared my skepticism, but "it can't hurt to try?" Plus he wasn't too fussed since this plan would mean that he would spend a day and night with his granddaughter. Charlie was a very doting grandfather. It made me sad to realize that he'd probably been just as affectionate with myself as a baby, before Renee had left with me.

I looked at the blood bag as if it were my enemy as Edward poured all of it in one of Esme's crystal glasses.

Though I was terrified that having my first taste of human blood as a vampire would open an appetite I would never be able to control, I was excited, almost ecstatic at the thought of finally having what I truly craved.

I brought the glass to my lips almost with reverence. I hoped that from the outside it looked like I was simply apprehensive. It was another time when I was glad that my thoughts were beyond the reach of Edwards power.

The blood touched my lips.

Though my memory of how I used to eat and drink as a human was fading faster than I would've expected, the blood was a cool glass of water on a scorching summer day, a hot cup of tea with honey for a sore throat, chicken noodle soup for a cold, Edward's home cooking after a long day at school, the ice cream that I would share with my mother after a pool day, the sun warmed peaches from the farmer's market. It was a memory of comforting things lost long ago and the promise of exciting new ones to come. It was Edward's light kisses on my forehead and the ones we shared in our most intimate moments. It was falling asleep after exhaustion and waking refreshed.

It was something that I had been missing all my life. It was me.

It was a far more dangerous venom, clouding my mind and drowning all the emotion in my heart.

It was ecstasy and its absence was hell.

I let out a strong hiss, ready to pounce for more.

It was unfair to give me a taste of paradise before locking me out.

Emmett's arms wrapped around me. With the little presence of mind I had left, I did not fight him and kept taking long deep breaths, reminding myself of who I was and grabbing at Jasper's influence to drag myself out of the vampire and back into myself. It took me much longer than I would've expected. And it made me tired. It was the first time I'd truly missed sleep. The ability to rest my mind and escape all the fears I lived with.

It didn't take any time at all for my eyes to go back to their newborn fire.

While I was in the make-up chair Alice said "you know nothing about staging an evocative image, Bella. Get back to me, when you have a few art degrees," when I observed that make-up was pretty much a useless endeavor on my perfect face.

"What does this have to do with anything?"

She huffed and concentrated on her work. From the other side of the room Emmett gave me as encouragement two thumbs up.

When Alice had finished, my face had gained an ethereal quality like a silent film actress. She accentuated my paleness by temporarily darkening my hair, adding to its length and styling so that it was a cascade of luscious dark waves. It contrasted prettily with the silk and tulle forest green dress she made me wear. It had thin straps and a wide neckline perfect for showcasing Aro's gift. It felt like his cold hand was the one wrapped around my throat. I could've done with a little less symbolism.

Beside my wedding and engagement rings, the necklace was the only other piece of jewelry I was wearing.

One of the walls had been temporarily painted a deep burgundy and repurposed as a background for the picture. The smell of wall paint was pungent enough to occasionally distract me from the blood craving. A very old, very delicate, and very intricate persian rug was placed on the floor. It was part of Esme's collection of precious and rare house decor. It had been almost a century old when Carlisle had received it as a gift after the Siege of Yorktown. He'd saved the life of a french commander. He had then gifted it to Esme. On top of it sat a seventeenth century walnut Italian armchair. I'd once asked Edward how big Esme's collection was and he said that she had built seven large warehouses to store and care for the items. In comparison Alice had just two for her collection of vintage apparel. Meanwhile he and Jasper shared one for all their precious items, "including the cars," he added as if it were a testament to his sensibility and frugality.

On the wall with thick ornate gold frames, pictures of the Cullen family had been hung: a picture of Carlisle taken in the middle of the nineteenth century; an image of Carlisle and Esme on their wedding day, just the two of them and Edward; one where my husband and his father stood in front of a Christmas tree, a picture of Rosalie and Emmett on their (first) wedding day; Alice, Edward and Emmett in Las Vegas in the early 60's. Jasper and Emmett with their arms around each other's necks, one of them wearing a red leather pair of bell-bottoms, Emmett's face was lit with a bright smile, while Jasper's was far more strained. There were also pictures from my highschool graduation and wedding day. I noticed that there were none of me as a vampire.

I sat in the chair and Carlisle stood behind me. His right hand was placed on my shoulder, both as a reassurance and as a means of making me stay put, My whole body was arched as if I was just about to run away, my hands were gripping the armrests, my back was leaning away from the chair and my face had a haunted expression. My red eyes were striking. They were the first thing one noticed before moving to the rest. As another touch to my vampiric nature, sunlight shone on the fingers of my right hand.

It didn't take as long as I would have expected for Alice to get the image. I just had to keep my body in whatever position she desired and look distraught and hungry. "We don't want Aro to think you or us are having any good time while you are a newborn," Alice said. Carlisle seemed to be momentarily saddened by her remark.

Carlisle had been dressed in a long dark green velvet coat, with incredible intricate and delicate gold embroidery, underneath it he wore a pale ivory satin waistcoat just as intricately embroidered. In terms of jewelry, besides his wedding ring he wore a signet ring on his left hand. It looked to be very old, though when I asked, Carlisle said "I have received it a very long time ago."

On a stand behind us, a vase with red and white poppies had been placed beside a book that had been left open and a candelabra.

When all was said and done Carlisle retreated to his office to write the announcement that would accompany the image and returned one hour later with a cream envelope closed and stamped with the same sigil of the signet ring.

In the meantime Alice had printed and framed the picture. On the bottom of the frame, written in black ink in a cursive font, was written: "Doctor Carlisle Cullen and his daughter-in- law, Isabella Marie Cullen" and the current year.

The following day the package containing the picture and the letter would be sent. Alice said it would arrive in less than five days to Voltera. She saw that it would satisfy Aro for the present. The threat he posed had been postponed.

When Charlie and Renesmee returned, my father said that it was a pretty picture, "despite the eyes."

"The same eyes you're going to have," Emmet yelled. Charlie shivered.

"How was she?"

He smiled at the sleeping baby in Edward's arms. "Just a doll. Bloodthirsty one. Wouldn't any formula, not even for my sake."

"Charlie, would you like something to eat?" Esme asked.

"I could eat. What do you have?" He asked taking off his coat.

"Formula," Emmet yelled yet again.

"Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and salad," she smiled.

"I guess a little bit wouldn't hurt."

With Alice's assurance and the reply we had received from Aro three weeks before Christmas, I began to relax and prepare for my daughter's first Holiday. Everyone went overboard in decorating not only the Christmas tree, but the whole house. The first time Charlie saw the fruit of our labor, I could tell that he was horrified by its magnitude. Luckily a football match and well placed batch of cookies distracted him enough.

Things were shaping up for a quiet time, until some unexpected visitors arrived.