When Natalia briefly pictured herself in this scenario, she never envisioned quite so many people. Alice had bribed a guard to let them through then pointed her towards the clock tower she saw Edward at. Natalia had never seen a crowd so dense before. It was as if all of Haafingar crammed into Solitude, it was nuts.

"Edward!" She screamed, knowing it was useless. The crowd was too loud, and she couldn't project further than humanly possible with such an audience.

The clock tolled. There was a break in the throng, space between the sightseers who milled aimlessly around her. Her eyes searched the dark narrow passage to the right of the wide square edifice under the tower. She couldn't see the street level–there were still too many people in the way. The clock tolled again. There was another break in the crowd and Natalia rushed through. Without the crowd to break the wind, it whipped at her face and burned her eyes making it hard to see ahead of her. But she had a good record behind her of saving people, she wasn't going to slack now.

A little family of four stood nearest to the alley's mouth. The two girls wore crimson dresses, with matching ribbons tying their dark hair back. Natalia considered getting bows for her children to match their palace going attire. Perhaps the Radiant Raiment sisters could help. Natalia shook her head to focus. The father wasn't tall. It seemed like she could see something bright in the shadows, just over his shoulder. She hurtled toward them. The clock tolled, and the littlest girl clamped her hands over her ears.

The clock tolled, and Natalia was so close now. She was close enough to hear the girl's high-pitched voice. Her father stared at Natalia in surprise as she barreled past them with little care for the space they occupied. She swerved around the father–he clutched the baby out of her way–and sprinted for the gloomy breach behind them as the clock tolled over her head. She had an idiot to save and little time left to do it.

"Edward, no!" She screamed, her voice lost in the roar of the chime.

She could see him now. And she could see that he could not see her. Edward stood, motionless as a statue, just a few feet from the mouth of the alley. His eyes were closed, with little care to pay attention to his surroundings (or those trying to save his stupid life). His arms were relaxed at his sides, his palms turned forward. His expression was very peaceful, like he was dreaming pleasant things. The marble skin of his chest was bare–there was a small pile of white fabric at his feet. The light reflecting from the pavement of the square gleamed dimly from his skin.

The clock tolled, and he took a large stride toward the light.

"Fus!" She yelled, using every bit of strength she could without raising suspicion into pushing him back as she collided into him. "Edward, look at me!"

His dark eyes opened slowly as the clock tolled again. He looked down at her with quiet surprise.

"Amazing," he said, slightly amused. "Carlisle was right."

"Edward, you've got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!"

The sun was creeping ever closer. Natalia had only managed to stop him from stepping forward, if he didn't move soon the sun would be on him anyway. He seemed bemused. His hand brushed softly against her cheek. He didn't appear to notice that she was trying to force him back. She could have been pushing against the alley walls for all the progress she was making. The clock tolled, but he didn't react.

"I can't believe how quick it was. I didn't feel a thing–they're very good," he mused, closing his eyes again and pressing his lips against her hair. She tried to pull away from him but his grip was unfortunately firm.

"Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty," he murmured, and she recognized the line spoken by Romeo in the tomb. The clock boomed out its final chime "You smell just exactly the same as always," he went on. "So maybe this is hell. I don't care. I'll take it."

"I'm not dead Romeo," She spat out. "And neither are you! But we will be if you don't move!" She struggled in his arms, and his brow furrowed in confusion.

"What was that?" he asked politely.

"We're not dead, not yet! But we have to get out of here before the Volturi–"

Comprehension flickered on his face as she spoke. Before she could finish, he

suddenly yanked her away from the edge of the shadows, spinning her effortlessly so that her back was tight against the brick wall, and his back was to her as he faced away into the alley. His arms spread wide, protectively, in front of her. She peeked under his arm to see two dark shapes detach themselves from the gloom.

"Greetings, gentlemen," Edward's voice was calm and pleasant, on the surface. "I don't think I'll be requiring your services today. I would appreciate it very much, however, if you would send my thanks to your masters."

"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?" a smooth voice whispered menacingly.

"I don't believe that will be necessary." Edward's voice was harder now. "I know

your instructions, Felix. I haven't broken any rules."

"Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun," the other shadow said in a soothing tone. They were both concealed within smoky grey cloaks that reached to the ground and undulated in the wind. "Let us seek better cover."

"I'll be right behind you," Edward said dryly. "Bella, why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?"

"No, bring the girl," the first shadow said, somehow injecting a leer into his whisper.

"I don't think so." The pretence of civility disappeared. Edward's voice was flat and icy. His weight shifted infinitesimally, and she could see that he was preparing to fight.

Natalia briefly considered just lighting them all up and being done with this. However she had no way of knowing how many more guards these 'masters' of theirs had standing by. Besides, she had spent too much effort trying to save Edward to kill him now.

"Felix," the second, more reasonable shadow cautioned. "Not here." He turned to Edward

"Aro would simply like to speak with you again, if you have decided not to force

our hand after all."

"Certainly," Edward agreed. '"But the girl goes free."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," the polite shadow said regretfully. "We do have

rules to obey."

"Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation, Demetri."

"That's just fine," Felix purred. Her eyes were adjusting to the darkness of the alleyway, and she could see that Felix was very big, tall and thick through the shoulders. His size reminded her of Gorr.

Natalia was frustrated by this whole ordeal and not having her senses at their peak only amplified that. She began to scowl before remembering that to these vampires she was meant to be a meek human. Natalia toyed with the idea of revealing herself truly a little more as the standoff continued.

"Aro will be disappointed," Demetri sighed.

"I'm sure he'll survive the letdown," Edward replied.

Felix and Demetri stole closer toward the mouth of the alley, spreading out slightly so they could come at Edward from two sides. They meant to force him deeper into the alley, to avoid a scene. No reflected light found access to their skin; they were safe inside their cloaks.

Edward didn't move an inch. Abruptly, Edward's head whipped around, toward the darkness of the winding alley, and Demetri and Felix did the same, in response to some sound or movement too subtle for her senses much to her annoyance.

"Let's behave ourselves, shall we?" a lilting voice suggested. "There are ladies

present."

Alice tripped lightly to Edward's side, her stance casual. There was no hint of any underlying tension. Her little arms swung like a child's. Yet Demetri and Felix both straightened up, their cloaks swirling slightly as a gust of wind funnelled through the alley. Felix's face soured. Apparently, they didn't like even numbers.

"We're not alone," she reminded them.

Demetri glanced over his shoulder. A few yards into the square, the little family, with the girls in their red dresses, watching them. The mother was speaking urgently to her husband, her eyes on the five of them. She looked away when Demetri met her gaze. The man walked a few steps farther into the plaza, and tapped one of the red-blazered men on the shoulder.

Demetri shook his head. "Please, Edward, let's be reasonable," he said.

"Let's," Edward agreed. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser."

Demetri sighed in frustration. "At least let us discuss this more privately."

Six men in red now joined the family as they watched us with anxious

expressions. Edward's teeth came together audibly. "No."

Felix smiled.

"Enough."

The voice was high, reedy, and came from behind them.

Natalia peeked under Edward's other arm to see a small, dark shape coming toward them. By the way the edges billowed, she knew it would be another one of them. Who else?

Felix and Demetri relaxed immediately, stepping back from their offensive

positions to blend again with the shadows of the overhanging walls. Edward dropped his arms and relaxed his position as well–but in defeat.

"Jane," he sighed in recognition and resignation.

Alice folded her arms across her chest, her expression impassive. Natalia wondered about what gift Jane had that everyone treated her with such immediate deference.

"Follow me," Jane spoke again, her childish voice a monotone. She turned her back on them and drifted silently into the dark.

Felix gestured for them to go first, smirking. Alice walked after the little Jane at once. Edward wrapped his arm around Natalia's waist and pulled her along beside him. She struggled against him slightly, finding the whole situation horrendously uncomfortable. The alley angled slightly downward as it narrowed.

"Well, Alice," Edward said conversationally as they walked. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."

"It was my mistake," Alice answered in the same tone. "It was my job to set it right."

"What happened?" His voice was polite, as if he were barely interested. Natalia gathered this was due to the listening ears behind them.

"It's a long story." Alice's eyes flickered toward Natalia and away. "In summary, Victoria found herself otherwise occupied when she hit the water."

"Hm," Edward said curtly, and the casual tone of his voice was gone.

There was a loose curve to the alley, still slanting downward, so Natalia didn't see the squared-off dead end coming until they reached the flat, windowless, brick face. The little one called Jane was nowhere to be seen. Alice didn't hesitate, didn't break pace as she strode toward the wall. Then, with easy grace, she slid down an open hole in the street. It looked like a drain, sunk into the lowest point of the paving. She hadn't noticed it until Alice disappeared, but the grate was halfway pushed aside. The hole was small, and black.

"It's all right, Bella," Edward said in a low voice. "Alice will catch you."

Natalia held back a snort at Edward's assumption as she crouched down. She hopped in and into Alice's arms gracefully. She was going to have bruises; Alice's arms were very hard. Alice stood her upright. If her lack of hesitation or clumsiness surprised her she didn't show it.

It was dim, but not black at the bottom. The light from the hole above provided a

faint glow, reflecting wetly from the stones under their feet. The light vanished for

a second, and then Edward was a faint, white radiance beside her. He put his arm

around her, holding her close to his side, and began to tow her swiftly forward. Natalia put both hands on his side and pushed until he conceded her her personal space. He stayed behind her as a block between her and the guards behind them. The sound of the heavy grate sliding over the drain hole behind them rang loudly. For once Natalia was glad her senses were dulled in this body.

The path before them felt much like the sewers of Skyrim. Dank and dark with no hint of letting up. It reminded Natalia briefly of the unlit passages within the sewers of Riften. It was an almost unbearably long time before the end of the tunnel graced them. At the end was a larger, brighter stone room. The grille that separated the hall and the room slammed shut with a clang behind them, followed by the snap of a lock. On the other side of the long room was a low, heavy wooden door. It was very thick and stood open. They stepped through the door, Edward tensed, his jaw clenched tight.

They were in a brightly lit, unremarkable hallway. It was warmer here, for which Natalia was grateful. This human body really did just suck overall. Edward glowered darkly down the long hallway, toward the slight, black shrouded figure at the end, standing by an elevator. He pulled Natalia along, and Alice walked on her other side. The heavy door creaked shut behind them, and then there was the thud of a bolt sliding home.

Jane waited by the elevator, one hand holding the doors open for them. Her expression was apathetic. Once inside the elevator, the three vampires that belonged to the Volturi relaxed further. They threw back their cloaks, letting the hoods fall back on their shoulders. Felix and Demetri were both of a slightly olive complexion–it looked odd combined with their chalky pallor. Felix's black hair was cropped short, but Demetri's waved to his shoulders. Their irises were deep crimson around the edges, darkening until they were black around the pupil. Under the shrouds, their clothes were modern, pale, and nondescript. Edward never took his eyes off Jane.

The elevator ride was short; they stepped out into what looked like a posh office reception area. The walls were panelled in wood, the floors carpeted in thick, deep green. There were no windows, but large, brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung everywhere as replacements. Pale leather couches were arranged in cozy groupings, and the glossy tables held crystal vases full of vibrantly coloured bouquets. In the middle of the room was a high, polished mahogany counter. The woman behind it was tall, with dark skin and green eyes. It struck Natalia that she was every bit as human as Bella was. For a group so similar to the Volkihar clan she expected a vampire at every corner - including reception - as Harkon had at his castle.

The human receptionist smiled politely in welcome. "Good afternoon, Jane," she said.

There was no surprise in her face as she glanced at Jane's company. Not Edward, his bare chest glinting dimly in the white lights, or even Natalia, dishevelled and comparatively human.

Jane nodded. "Gianna." She continued toward a set of double doors in the back

of the room, and they followed.

As Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gianna, and she giggled. On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception. The pale boy in the pearl grey suit could have been Jane's twin. His hair was darker, and there were minor facial differences, but they both looked equally soft and childlike - untouched by time and the harrows of life. He came forward to meet the group. He smiled, reaching for her.

"Jane."

"Alec," she responded, embracing the boy. They kissed each other's cheeks on

both sides.

Then he looked at the group. "They send you out for one and you come back with two… and a half," he noted, looking at Natalia . "Nice work."

She laughed–the sound sparkled with delight like a baby's cooing.

"Welcome back, Edward," Alec greeted him. "You seem in a better mood."

"Marginally," Edward agreed in a flat voice. Natalia glanced at Edward's hard face and almost snorted at the sarcasm, almost.

Alec chuckled, and examined Natalia. "And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asked, sceptical.

Edward only smiled, his expression contemptuous. Then he froze.

"Dibs," Felix called casually from behind.

Edward turned, a low snarl building deep in his chest. Felix smiled–his hand was raised, palm up; he curled his fingers twice, inviting Edward forward.

Alice touched Edward's arm. "Patience," she cautioned him.

They exchanged a long glance, and Natalia wished she could hear what Alice was telling him. She figured that it was something to do with not attacking Felix, because Edward took a deep breath and turned back to Alec.

"Aro will be so pleased to see you again," Alec said, as if nothing had passed.

"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane suggested.

Edward nodded once. Alec and Jane, holding hands, led the way down yet another wide, ornate hall– would there ever be an end? They ignored the doors at the end of the hall–doors entirely sheathed in gold–stopping halfway down the hall and sliding aside a piece of the panelling to expose a plain wooden door. It wasn't locked. Alec held it open for Jane. Natalia wanted to groan when Edward pulled her through to the other side of the door. It was the same ancient stone as the square, the alley, and the sewers. And it was dark and cold again.

While this is a very self serving stream of consciousness type story reviews are still very much appreciated!