Hello all,

Wow I never thought I'd be writing strictly Twilight fanfic again, but here I am and I am pumped! The Twilight renaissance has me firmly in its grasp and I've decided to return to the fandom that brought me into fanfic writing in general. Here's a pairing that I read a lot back then and recently, but never wrote myself, in a POV (first) that I've not written in since my twilight days. It just felt right for this fic, for this fandom, and I hope you'll enjoy!

The tags and such will most likely be updated as we go - I have a rough idea of where this is going, but nothing is concrete and I only have 6 chapters written. I will be updating (after another 1 or 2 chapters are uploaded) weekly, at least to begin with. If I manage to pre-write this story in its entirety, I will most likely post more frequently.

For anyone who is waiting for an update of a crossover of mine, or indeed my Jasper/Bella - I haven't given up on these fics, but they are being particularly stubborn. In particular for the Jasper/Bella, there would be some rewriting involved as I'm unhappy with a few things in that fic beyond the first couple chapters. I am hoping that just getting into the habit of writing more frequently again (which I've not done in years) might help me with my other long-neglected stories. I know it's a lot to ask, but please try to be patient with me.

Just a side note - this is also being published on AO3 :)

I believe that is all I needed to say at least right here, so without further ado - as usual, all the normal disclaimers apply. Obviously I am not Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 1 - Meeting.

Walking through the double doors into the throne room of the Volturi was like a dream. All at once, I felt as though I was floating on clouds above my body as I watched my form be dragged reluctantly forward by Edward, toward the three raised dais in the room upon which sat identical thrones of a dark wood and blood red suede, embroidered with large, proud golden Vs.

I was taken back to that conversation Edward and I had in Carlisle's study the day of my birthday party, when Edward had told me of the plan that only months later he would be putting into action. The appearance of the same three vampires - royalty - in front of me only made the entire situation feel less real as opposed to more as I was greeted with the same faces as those in that painting we had looked at, brushstrokes now flesh.

My eyes gravitated toward the vampire occupying the throne on the left. The tall brunet sat slumped in his throne, vacant eyes staring blankly forward as though not really seeing the two guards that approached ahead of myself, Edward, and Alice. Still, despite his apathetic appearance, something about his pallid face, whether it was the deep brown curls framing it almost down to his shoulders or the deep red of his eyes, stopped me from moving my gaze to the next one for a moment. He looked like a warrior with a long, strong jaw covered with stubble that matched the brown hair on his head, mismatched lips that held more color than one would expect from someone so pale, a dimple drawing the eye to his large chin.

Movement had my eyes flickering to the interested party that sat in the center throne as he straightened up. Inky black hair with a slight wave curled around his ears. His big eyes could have given him the appearance of an innocent puppy were it not for the glint in the deep red hue, though the red seemed brighter for the interest I saw there. They took me in with a greedy expression that one would think would make me exceedingly uncomfortable with the way his lips - neither thin nor overly full - parted, a glimpse of the sharpened edge of his white teeth peeking through. Then his lips were pressed once more together as he stood with a theatrical, wide smile that did not meet his eyes.

"Ah, my Jane. It appears you've brought not only Edward, but Alice and dearest Bella with you upon your return," he said, and I was shocked by the tenor of his voice. Less like the sound of a musical note than Edward's, it seemed to pierce through my flesh and muscle straight to my bones. I shivered, but I didn't think it was from fear. I felt Edward's arm around my waist crush me closer to him with enough force to make me wince.

Edward was already reaching forward as this raven haired figure - Aro, my mind supplied, as I recalled the brief overview that Edward had given me some months ago as to the three leaders of the Volturi - approached. I watched curiously as they touched, the King grasping Edward's hand in both of his almost like he was trapping him in his grasp.

"How fortunate we did not acquiesce to your request, would you not agree, young Edward?" he said in a bright tone that made the words more jovial than their meaning. I had a sneaking suspicion they were meant to be goading.

"Yes, Aro," Edward said stiffly, confirming my theory.I swallowed thickly. I found myself glancing toward Alice on my other side as though for reassurance - reassurance of what, I was not sure - and I saw a small but friendly smile on her face that instantly had my shoulders dropping as I let out a breath. It was as I was going to look back to Aro, not wanting to seem impolite or be seen as disrespectful, that my gaze found the third King at last.

His red eyes pierced through me in a way that made me feel as though I had been struck. He was beautiful. A strong slightly upturned nose, sure eyes, and thick lips that pouted effortlessly enough to make a model weep. He had the pale skin of any vampire - though something about the color or shading gave me the impression that of the three kings he was palest when human - aided by the blunt cut of his golden blond hair and clean shaven jaw - slightly shorter than the brunet's but longer than Aro's and mostly straight. Against the deep mahogany of the throne, he stood out more than his two co-rulers and yet he looked most as though he belonged on it. It was this king which stood out the most. Coupled with the severe expression on his face, he was a most frightening image…

Or, surely, he was supposed to be frightening.

Somehow, standing in this room, the only thing that frightened me was the tight grip Edward had round my waist. Where once it had made me feel wanted and secure, now it felt threatening and restrictive. Just glancing at his stony face made my heart palpitate for all the wrong reasons.

It was then that Aro's gaze fell upon me. Something in his eyes changed, perhaps becoming more genuine, and this time his eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled at me, his pretty lips shaping his smile in a decidedly non-threatening way. Despite this, I felt Edward's torso vibrate against me and though I could not hear it myself I could have sworn he was growling.

"And here we have Bella," Aro practically purred, reaching for my hand. I saw the way his eyes widened ever so slightly - and was that mirth or delight I saw? - as he grasped my hand. "Ah! How intriguing! You confound us all…"

"She will be powerful," were the first words I heard coming from the blond - Caius, I remembered was his name.

"Certainly," Aro replied as an afterthought, distracted even as his eyes found Edward as he broke his silence.

"She will not be turned," he snarled, black sunken eyes frightening enough to make me take a step away - or try to. His gaze snapped to me as his arm tightened around me and my breath hitched.

"Then she will die," came Caius's severe response.

"No!"

"You cannot have it both ways, child," the third king rasped from his throne. "You know our laws well, your creator made sure of it. The girl either joins us in immortality, or her life is forfeit." Aro looking over his shoulder at the brunet gave me a view of this king as he stood to a formidable height, easily towering over both Aro and Edward, and he came forth. My interest was piqued as I watched the way the backs of his fingers brushed past Aro's as he came to a stop in front of us.

There was a flicker of something in Aro's eyes that was gone too soon for me to decipher but, whatever it was, Edward caught it in the king's thoughts and I couldn't help the whine of pain that left me at the way his grasp tightened punishingly.

"Edward," I heard Alice urge in a half-gasping tone. My heart lurched at the warning and panic, whatever decision of his she had seen nipped in the bud as she stepped forward. "Your majesties, please, ignore my brother. Bella will be changed; I've seen it myself since Edward met her. It never once changed, even after he left her. If necessary, I swear on my mate's life I will change her myself."

"How… noble," Caius intoned with a sneer in his tone, though his eyes remained on Edward. He seemed more tense as he, too, stood from his throne and descended the stairs to join his co-rulers - brothers, I remembered Edward saying with some disguised distaste… but something about the word felt wrong with the way Aro seemed to relax as he was flanked by his two partners. "Perhaps it would be best for the girl to stay here in Volterra if we cannot trust that Carlisle's son will follow through."

"I can't," I whispered without meaning to and I almost flinched when three sets of blood red eyes flitted to me in unison. "I-My father… he's law enforcement, he'll look for me. Please."

Far from scorn or disdain or even lack of concern, again in unison the three sets of eyes softened to various degrees.

"How old are you?" the tall brunet built like a warrior asked.

"Eighteen, sir," I replied, seeing the twitching of Aro's lips, perhaps at my title of respect bestowed upon the king. It was certainly more than I had seen from Edward.

"If, by your nineteen birthday, you are not a vampire, you must bring yourself to us. You will be presented with the choice of death or transformation once more."

Six months, I thought absently, the thought not truly resonating with me. I had six months left.

For the first time, I found myself cursing Edward for the position I found myself in now. Whilst I had wanted to be a vampire since shortly after discovering what Edward was, it was always with the intent of staying with him. Now, he had abandoned me and the months we'd been separated had not been kind to either of us, but even though Edward had clung to me since thinking he had been reunited with me in death, there was a lack of security to our relationship. I hadn't given myself the chance to think about it, had ignored Alice's pleas for me to understand Edward had left for my own good rather than for the truth of his words. And now, I didn't know what I wanted.

Did immortality hold the same appeal if I wasn't to be with Edward?

I glanced at Alice, as though to ask silently if she still saw me as a vampire though the question did not have the courage to meet my lips. Still, when she met my gaze, she nodded with another warm smile that filled me with more confidence and silenced the anxiety coursing through my mind and body.

Taking a deep breath and squaring my shoulders, I met Aro's puppylike eyes once more. "I will," I swore quietly. The smile he gave in return was beautiful.

"Belissima," he said as his hands were brought together under his chin. "Then it is set! You are free to go!"

I saw the distaste in the twist of Caius's lips and something more in the tightening of the third king's eyes, but Aro's false expression was impervious to the slightest slip. Yet somehow I knew it was false.

Until…

"We will meet again, my dear," he intoned as his red eyes met mine once more. The nonchalance in his eyes fell to reveal the promise of his words that elicited a shiver through my body and a dipping of his chin was the last thing I saw before Edward was pulling me away with him.

I could feel the anxiety that had been building and building ever since Alice told me of Edward's plans to die dissipating… so why did a new tension constrict my heart the further I got from Volterra?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one will be up soon. As I said, I want to upload the first 2 or 3 sooner before settling into a weekly updating system. I have recently moved to the UK, so timings will be different than you might be used to from me (if you remember my old posting times, I bloody well don't). As of yet, I do not plan to have a strict timing schedule and when I decide on the day, I'll let you know.

See you next time ;)

ncbexie25