Volterra was a small town perched up on a hill built entirely out of sienna stone, tall walls surrounded the outskirts making the town look like something out of a fairy tale. The turrets of the towers outstretched the rest of the city making it look completely picturesque.

Alice began to manoeuvre the car up the steep, winding roads towards the centre of the city. As we moved higher the harder it got for Alice to weave in and out of the gaps as the roads became narrower. We ended up slowing to a crawl.

More and more voices began to fill my head as the streets became more crowded. I had decided to keep my barrier down; to keep an eye on Alice's visions and if I had the slight chance of hearing Edward's thoughts. On the plane to Tuscany, Alice gave Bella a quick overview on the Volturi and their rules and how much they valued their city. She had another vision too, Edward had been refused as the Volturi believed his gift was too marvellous to destroy. Instead Edward was going to make a scene and expose himself in the sunlight at noon. If it came to trying to defend Edward, we would lose.

"Alice," Bella groaned, her eyes trained on the little digital clock on the dashboard.

"It's the only way in," Alice attempted to calm Bella but her strained voice was in no way comforting.

As we got closer to the centre, more and more cars were beginning to park up along the sides and the people were walking the rest of the way. The locals all had splashes of blood red adorned on them and the further we got the more I began to take notice of not only the crimson dressed people but the walls and windows all had deep red decorations too. "Why are they all in red?"

"San Marco's day festival. They're commemorating the expulsion of vampires from the city." I held back the urge to snort. How ironic? "It's the perfect setting. The Volturi will never let him get far enough to reveal himself." Alice continued as Bella pulled on her hair.

"Alice," Bella whispered urgently.

"I know." Alice stated. My hands gripped the leather of my seat, I was sure my fingertips were tearing through the fabric. "Bella, I can't see what the guard here will decide now - if this doesn't work you're going to have to go in alone. You're going to have to run. Just keep asking for the Palazzo dei Priori, and running in the direction that they tell you. Don't get lost."

Bella began to repeat the name over and over again to let it sink in. "Why can't you come with me?"

"The sunlight will take a little longer to manoeuvre around. And if Edward hears my thoughts he'll rush into it." Alice explained.

"Aria?" Bella asked quickly.

"If I left my barrier down he'd hear me too, I could get through the crowds easily but he'd smell me from a mile off. He won't be able to see you coming. He wouldn't believe our thoughts." Her face turned hopeless as she gripped the handle to the car door.

"Edward will be under the clock tower, to the north of the square. There's a narrow alleyway on the right, and he'll be in the shadow there. You have to get his attention before he can move into the sun." Alice continued and Bella nodded hastily.

Suddenly, a man in an official, navy coloured uniform stepped out in front of our car, wanting us to turn around. Alice accelerated around him, and made for the gate. He shouted something at us, motioning for the cars behind to ignore us as another uniformed man approached. He rounded the car and tapped on Alice's window angrily. She rolled the window down halfway, she had positioned the car perfectly so the sun was only on the passenger's side of the car.

"Only tour buses allowed." He said in English though his accent was thick.

"It's a private tour." Alice flashed him a flirty smile and reached into her bag and pulled out a huge roll of money. She poked her own glove covered hand out of the car and pulled the officers hand into the car and handed him the money. His eyes widened considerably as he realised what Alice had just given him.

"Is this a joke?" He asked bewildered.

"Only if you think it's funny." She gave him another dazzling smile. "May we?" She gestured towards the gate. He nodded and stepped away from the window and waved us through the gate.

The streets then became very narrow. It was crowded, and the locals on foot were slowing us down. Alice kept driving in quick spurts and sudden stops, trying to weave through the crowds who didn't take kindly to our passing car. Alice suddenly came to a halt in a shadowy street, the tall beige coloured buildings blocking any stray sunlight. "There," she pointed to an alley way to the right of us. "We're at the southern end of the square. Run straight across, to the right of the clock tower." Bella opened the door then, letting in the air from outside. As I took in the new air my breath caught in my throat... I had never smelt so many vampires before. "They're everywhere." Alice hissed. Bella then froze in place but Alice practically shoved her out of the car. "Forget about them. You have two minutes. Go, Bella, go!" She ordered, getting out of the car herself as I followed.

I looked at Alice uneasily as we watched Bella disappear around the corner of the buildings. "Where to?"

"We need to find a place where we can get over the wall in the shadows." Alice explained as we sunk further and further into the dark, cobbled streets. We crept along unnoticed, finding a wall completely submerged in shadows before we leapt twenty feet into the air and gripped onto the peak of the wall. That was when the first bell rang out.

"Do you think she made it?" I asked as we both landed with ease on the other side of the wall. The bells rang again.

"I hope so." Alice said as another clang rang around us.

"Alice, if they find us, what am I going to be?" I asked quickly but quietly as he we hurried through the shadows around the back of the square.

"Be human, they'll be able to hear your heart. If they find out what you are they'll kill you. Your werewolf friends included." I gulped harshly then, there was no way I'd let them know where I came from.

I heard his thoughts then, images of Bella speeding around his mind and then the fear of what the Volturi would do to her. Of course I couldn't hear Bella but there were two new voices surrounding them, their thoughts just consisted of getting the couple back to Aro and the mouthwatering smell of Bella's blood. They had been caught.

I put my hand out in front of Alice then, blocking her path. If I spoke aloud these new vampires would hear me, so instead I spoke to Alice through my new gift. Showing her what was going on through Edward's eyes. She stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do. Through her thoughts she then told me to follow her lead and I did so. Trying my best to seem as human as possible. Maybe they'd think my scent would just be because I had been around Alice, I still had my blue contacts in, though I wasn't sure how long they'd last.

As we made our way out of our hiding place, the three vampires immediately snapped their heads round to look at us, Bella only a second later, but by the look on Edward's face he was appalled at my presence.

"Let's behave ourselves shall we?" Alice announced with a relaxed smile on her face causing all eyes to turn to us. Edward's eyes widened in panic as he looked at me.

"Aria what are you doing here?" He spoke through his mind.

"I came here for you. I couldn't let you die. Bella needed me." I answered him back and a look of guilt spread over his face.

"They won't let you leave." I swallowed harshly at his words, my mouth going dry. If it came to that we'd deal with it.

The two new vampires glared at me harshly, the bright red eyes reminding me of Victoria's, I very rarely ever saw my own. Their cloaks swished in the wind as they tried to work me out, exchanging glances between one another. I kept myself partially behind Alice, wanting to seem weaker than I was and tried to avoid contact. Looking over her shoulder I saw Bella caged against the wall in Edward's arms, she looked terrified.

"Please, Edward, let's be reasonable." One of the Volturi members said. From the close surrounding minds, I learnt that his name was Demetri. He was a little taller than Edward, though with a slight olive complexion despite his chalky pallor. He also had long black hair that reached his shoulders. The other one, named Felix, he was easily the same height as Jake but the bulkiness of him reminded me of Emmett, he dwarfed Demetri beside him.

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

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

Edward's jaw clenched tightly. "No."

Felix smiled menacingly then just as a new voice entered my head, it was childlike but had a matureness to it. She was analysing Bella and I in her head and her hatred for humans.

"Aria, put your barrier back up now." Edward's thoughts said sternly.

"What?"

"Now!" The urgency in his voice told me not to question him a second time and I followed his orders, the voices in my head toning down to one.

"Enough!" The voice's owner became visible then. She was tiny, no bigger than Alice yet her beauty was exquisite. Her cloak billowed around her in the breeze as she stepped between Felix and Demetri. Their stances relaxed considerably and Edward dropped his arms from around Bella, his expression seemed powerless. Why was this tiny girl so significant?

"Jane." Edward sighed, his head bowing slightly in defeat. I glanced at the side of Alice's face and she was expressionless.

"Follow me." She instructed before turning and heading back towards the darkness at the end of the alley.

Felix gestured for us to go first, smirking. Alice done so immediately, grabbing my hand in her gloved one as we followed Jane into the shadows. Edward and Bella followed suit, her loud footsteps like thunder compared to the rest of ours. I tried to make myself sound a little noisier to seem more human.

"Well, Alice," Edward said conversationally as we walked. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here. Though I can see you made some stupid decisions in your travel companions." I felt his eyes on my back as I bit my tongue to stop myself from making a comment. I'd only reveal myself.

"It was my mistake." Alice addressed. "It was my job to set it right."

"What happened?" He sounded polite but he was most likely burning with rage inside due to the fact Alice had returned to Forks and involved us.

"Well she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself. I didn't see her being pulled out of the water." Alice eyed me then and Edward would no doubt see me explaining this and Alice's anger at not seeing the wolves.

Edward hummed curiously.

The alley way was coming to a dead end and Jane, who was a few paces ahead of Alice and I, stepped effortlessly into a hole in the ground, fully submerged in the blackness below. Alice followed suit, releasing my hand as she walked towards the hole before stepping through it, disappearing as well. It was my turn next, I sunk down to the floor and sat on the edge of the drain and then slipped in. Alice was waiting below and caught me with ease. Even if it was life or death, I hated feeling this weak when I was just as strong as the guards leading us.

From above Edward then began to explain to Bella that Alice would catch her. She landed in Alice's arms with a light thud before the other three followed and the drain grate was closed concealing us completely in darkness. We were completely silent except for the light stumble and scuff from Bella as she struggled, I held onto Alice to continue our façade.

Light then began streaming in from the end of the tunnel showing another huge grate taking up the whole space from wall to wall. A small door out of the iron arms was already open waiting for us and we were hurried through before Felix closed it behind us. The new room was made of stone similar to the beige ones that made up most of the city. This room was small until we came to another door, this time wooden which opened up into an even brighter hallway. The floor was now carpeted in a steely grey, dulling Bella's clumsy steps as we walked to an elevator that Jane was holding open for us.

As I walked past Jane she looked at me up and down, confusion on her face as she still couldn't understand me. This worried me, they knew something was different about me.

We exited the lift into what looked like a posh, office reception area adorned in paintings, flowers and plush couches along the sides of the rooms. My eyes widened when I caught a tanned, green eyed woman sat behind a desk to the side of the room. "Good afternoon, Jane." She smiled politely at our arrival. Why would they keep a human?

"Gianna." Jane nodded, not even turning her head to look at her as she continued to lead our group. Two more huge brown doors stood in our way and once they were opened we were met with a boy that could have been Jane's twin, sans the lighter hair she had.

"Jane." He smiled brightly, reaching for her. They kissed each other's cheeks in greeting before he turned to us.

"They send you out for one and you come back with..." He faded out for a moment, looking between Bella and I. "There's an extra." He looked at Jane and her face gave nothing away, she was obviously stumped by the extra human. "Welcome back, Edward. You seem in a better mood."

"Marginally." Edward agreed flatly. Alec chuckled and then turned to Bella.

"So I'm assuming this one is the cause of all the trouble?" Edward only smiled falsely at Alec's words before he froze suddenly.

"Dibs." Felix called casually from behind eliciting a low snarl from Edward as he pulled Bella closer, Felix then beckoned Edward forward inviting him to fight. Alice stepped forward then.

"Patience." She placed her hand on his arm.

"Aro will be pleased to see you again." Alec broke the tension that settled between Felix and Edward. "He'd also like an explanation for this one, she wasn't mentioned before." My heart started beating faster as he looked me up and down then, a smirk on his face.

"Let's not keep him waiting." Jane spoke softly and Edward nodded. 

They led us through two more rooms before the last one opened up onto a huge round room that seemed to extended at least three floors up, leading me to assume it was one of the towers I saw as we entered the city. The only furniture it held were three large wooden thrones positioned against the wall on the far side of the room. A handful of people stood in the room, no doubt waiting for us, the light streaming in from the windows above bounced off their skin cascading rainbow sparkles against the stone wall. As the sun hit us the further we walked in my skin returned to it's slightly golden glow.

All heads turned to us and one individual dressed in long black robes spoke first. "Jane dear one, you've returned!" His long black hair framed his extremely pale face, it was nothing compared to the other vampires around me, he looked delicately translucent. He moved swiftly over to Jane, took her face in his hands and kissed her fully on the lips.

"Yes Master." She smiled. "I brought him back alive, just as you wished."

"Ah, Jane." He smiled. "You are such a comfort to me." He turned his cloudy red eyes towards us and his smile became ecstatic. "And Alice and Bella too!" He clapped his hands together. "This is a happy surprise! Wonderful." The others seemed to know about Bella but not Alice. "However, I do not know you my dear." He smiled menacingly when he looked into my eyes. "Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes Master." Felix complied and left the way we came in.

"You see, Edward?" Aro said, smiling at Edward. "What did I tell you, aren't you glad I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"

"Yes, Aro, I am." He agreed, holding Bella closer to him.

"I love a happy ending." Aro sighed wistfully. "They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? And why didn't I learn of the blue eyed beauty? Alice?" My stomach churned as his eyes cast down to me before turning to Alice. "Your brother seems to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."

"Oh, I'm far from infallible." She smiled at him confidently. "As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them." She continued and then his eyes flickered to me again.

"You're too modest." Aro chided. "I've seen some of your amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!" In Alice and I's confusion we looked at Edward, he would have been the only one who could have explained Alice's gift. "I'm sorry, we haven't been properly introduced at all, have we? It's just that I feel I know you already, and I tend to get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only am I limited in a way that he is not." Aro shook his head with jealousy.

"And also exponentially more powerful." Edward said flatly. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had." Yet, he didn't see me. Edward kept me hidden. Or he wasn't looking for me.

"But to be able to hear from a distance..." Aro sighed. "That would be so convenient."

Aro's head then peeked over our shoulders as the sound of soft footsteps approached. We all turned our heads in the same moment, I caught Aro's eyes watching me with mystery as my head span. I wasn't being human enough.

Felix had returned with the other two Volturi leaders, similar to Aro with the same papery skin, one with the same black hair and the other with icy white hair, almost the same as his skin tone. They looked extraordinarily the same as the painting that hung in Carlisle's office back home. "Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro beamed. "Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her and they brought a friend." I could tell that his inability to see me was beginning to get the better of him.

Neither of the new faces looked bothered with our presence, bored and uninterested seemed like good words to describe them. Without a second glance, Caius drifted away to his throne wheres as Marcus stayed for a moment, briefly touching Aro's hand before following Caius. Aro raised an eyebrow inquisitively. Edward snorted then and us three girls all looked up at him curiously.

"Thank you, Marcus." Aro said. "That's truly interesting." I then realised he was showing Aro his thoughts.

"Marcus can see relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of ours."

Aro smiled. "So convenient." He said again. "It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you. It's just difficult to understand, even now. How can you stand to be so close to her?"

"It's not without difficulty." Edward said monotonously. My attention was taken away from them momentarily as my eyes began to become irritated. A persistent itching began as I felt the venom encasing my eyes beginning to melt through the plastic of my contacts. They'd soon see the blood red seeping through. I innocently reached for Alice's hand, transferring my fear that I would soon be revealed. Her hand gripped mine in panic.

"Yes, I can see that." Aro finished smiling up at him. "I'd say you've even bested Carlisle's efforts for self control."

"Hardly." Edward was growing impatient, I didn't like the way his eyes would occasionally flicker down to me and then Aro's would follow. If only I could remove my barrier, there must have been a reason he told me to put it back up.

"Seeing him in your memories pleased me greatly. I miss my dear friend." He mused with a wide smile. "But your restraint!" Aro sighed. He'd love to know that I don't even drink blood. Or perhaps, maybe he wouldn't. "I did not know such strength was possible. Just remembering how she appeals to you... it makes me thirsty." Edward then tensed considerably. "Don't be disturbed, I mean her no harm." He reassured. "But I am so curious, about one thing in particular." He then eyed Bella with interest. "May I?"

"Ask her," Edward said grimly.

"Of course, how rude of me! Bella, I would love to see if you are an exception to my gifts as well." He held his hand out for Bella. "Would you do me the honour?" She looked up at Edward in fear and with his encouraging nod Bella stepped forward, Aro grabbing her hand hungrily as I refrained from stepping forward with her.

"Interesting." Aro muttered, his eyes searching Bella's face. "Hmm. I see nothing." He stepped away from her, his back turning to us. "I wonder if... Let us see if she's immune to all our powers. Shall we Jane?"

Jane turned to Bella, a smirk on her face as she eyed her. "No!" Edward snarled. Alice grabbed his arm with a restraining hand but he shook her off.

"Yes Master?" Jane asked excitedly. Edward was snarling ever so more now, glaring at Aro with hate filled eyes. The room became still, everyone in shock at his length to protect a human. Felix stepped forward then, grinning. One look from Aro set him back in his place.

"I was wondering dear one, if Bella is immune to you?" Edward grabbed Bella and hurled her behind him. Caius moved from his chair then, coming closer to get a better view. Jane then turned to us, smiling widely.

"Don't!" Alice cried as Edward lunged for Jane. Edward stopped immediately, his face contorting in pain as his body began to shake. Groans escaping his body as his legs gave way. Without even thinking I raced forward, Alice also moved to restrain a screaming Bella, and caught Edward's head before it smashed against the marble floor.

"Stop!" Bella yelled as Edward's pain filled eyes looked at me in anger. "Stop! Please! Stop! Stop! Just stop hurting him! Please! Please!" Bella begged as I held Edward's writhing body. I didn't dare look up, my speed had already given me away.

"Jane?" Aro spoke, curiosity in his voice. A large gasp escaped Edward as his body relaxed instantly.

"Well, isn't this a surprise." He clapped his hands together excitedly. "I could have sworn you were human-" He paused when I looked up at him his face contorting with confusion. "Blue and red? My, my Edward, how did you keep this one hidden from me?" My contacts must have dissolved. His eyes blazed at Edward before looking at me greedily. "I sense a heart beat."

"Impossible." The icy haired vampire spat. My hands shook fiercely as I stood up in front of them.

"Do you mind explaining dear?" Aro was calm in expression yet his voice shook with agitation. "Here I thought the Cullens had exposed our secret to yet another human but this is quite a shock." He tried to maintain his enthusiastic facade but his mask was slipping.

I was torn, how do I tell the truth without actually telling the truth. "I'm not a full vampire." Alice and Bella watched in horror.

Aro's expression faltered to become one of anger as he reached forward and wrenched my hand towards him, staring at me hungrily trying to find information. His face became blank as he looked between Bella and I. "They are the same."

"We're cousins." I said quickly and he became excited again, a sly smile spreading across his icy face.

"Jane, go ahead my dear." From behind I was shoved towards Bella as I grasped her in my arms. Edward shot up from the floor in panic, but then he looked quickly from Jane and then back to us and relaxed. This was the very reasoning for him telling me to use my barrier. Aro then started to laugh. "This is remarkable!" Jane hissed in frustration, leaning forward like she was preparing to spring. "Don't be put out dear one." Aro said in a comorting tone. "They confound us all." Jane's upper lip curled back over her teeth as she glared at us, without her power she was nothing. Aro began to laugh again. "You're very brave Edward, to endure in silence. I asked Jane to do that to me once, out of curiosity." Edward glared at him, disgusted.

"Now, back to you, my dear." The way he was so fascinated with me was scaring me. Edward placed a hand on my shoulder and at first I thought he was comforting me but by the way he tapped his finger I could tell he wanted to speak to me. "Why aren't you a full vampire? These things must be investigated." Aro demanded softly. He didn't like being clueless, he was the first vampire I had ever seen fidget.

I lowered my barrier quickly hoping Edward had the answer and before anyone else could use their gifts on me.

"Children of the moon." He said as I watched images of werewolves that you only picture in horror stories filled his mind. A good cover up I suppose.

"I am of werewolf decent." I spoke clearly and a loud murmur filled the room as everyone began to talk.

"Kill her!"

"She must die!"

"Children of the moon were destroyed!"

"Silence!" Aro's voice echoed around the room. "Continue, my dear."

"My parents aren't children of the moon and neither are their own parents. Passed down from my great grandpa are the genes of a werewolf. I have never seen a werewolf and I do not change into one myself." I looked around to see everyone listening intently to complete and utter bullshit. "The only reason I am not a full vampire is because the remaining powers of the children of the moon remain in my blood."

"It's impossible." The blonde spoke up again. "Children of the moon were destroyed." He seemed to be the most frightened and the advantage of having my barrier down allowed me to see why. He was nearly killed by one many years ago and this led to a war resulting in near extinction.

"I didn't know it was possible either. The only difference between you and I is that I still have human qualities. But I'm just as fast and just as strong and I drink blood too." Lies all complete and utter lies and they were believing it all. Aro looked like he was going to combust with excitement.

"Caius," Aro began addressing the blonde. "She is of no harm to us, she is one of us and all of you bare witness to this." He said towards the rest of the room. "So what do we do with the both of you now?" He asked snidely.

"You already know what you are going to do Aro." Marcus spoke for the first time since his arrival, the whole situation uninteresting to him.

"The human knows too much." Caius added as Bella gripped onto me. "She's a liability."

"Hmm." Aro sighed sadly. "That's true. This is a sadness." He looked sorrowful. "I don't suppose there's any chance you've changed your mind?" He asked Edward hopefully. "Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little company." He was hoping Edward would leave the Cullens for the Volturi. To use him as a weapon.

"I'd rather not." He spoke firmly.

"Alice? Would you perhaps be interested in joining us." He wanted her the most, he lusted after her gifts and what they could bring him.

"No, thank you." Alice said.

"You, our half immortal?" He grinned childishly. "Your capabilities would be quiet useful." His information on me was limited and I wasn't going to share anymore.

"I'll decline." His eyes pierced into mine, he didn't think this was the end.

"And you Bella?" Aro raised his eyebrows at the human that stood behind me, trembling.

"What?" Caius spat angrily from his throne.

"Caius, surely you see the potential?" Aro pondered. "I haven't seen talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec, can you imagine the possibilities if they joined us?"

Jane's eyes flared at the comparison. She could come forward if she wanted and then we'd see who was most superior without her talent to help her.

Edward grumbled beside us before Bella spoke. "No, thank you." Her voice was weak and quiet.

Aro sighed heavily yet again. "That's unfortunate. Such a waste."

Edward hissed. "Join or die is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws." I choked on my breath when I saw what this room was really for, what the drain in the centre of the room's purpose was.

"Of course not." Aro was taken back by Edward's outburst. "We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you." They were preparing to feed...

"Aro," Caius hissed. "The law claims them."

Edward glared as Caius. "How so?" He asked but of course Edward already knew his answer, and so did I, he just wanted him to say it out loud.

Caius reached out and pointed a bleak, white finger at Bella. "She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets."

"There are a few humans in your charade here, as well." Edward retorted back.

"Yes. But when they are no longer useful they are disposed of. That is not your plan for this one. What if she betrays us? I don't think you're willing to destroy her." He smirked evilly. Bella began to protest but Caius' stoney glare silenced her. "Nor do you intend to make her one of us. Therefore she is a vulnerability. Though it is true, for this, her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish." Edward bared his teeth. "That's what I thought." He finished cockily leading for Felix to take a step closer to us again.

"Unless," Aro broke in, against the way the conversation had turned. "Unless you do intend to give her immortality." He just wanted another guard with a special gift. He wanted all of us.

Edward hesitated. "If I do?"

Aro smilied, the childish grin back on his face. "Well then you would be free to go home, and of course send my regards to dear Carlisle." He paused for a moment. "Though, I'm afraid you would have to mean it."

Aro then held his hand out for Edward to take, his fingers flexing. He was hesitating again.

"Mean it," Bella whispered. "Please."

He still did nothing but then Alice stepped forward. Her hand raised similar to his before he took it. I couldn't help but watch as she showed him her vision of Bella as a vampire, running freely through the woods with Edward, the light bouncing of her icy skin and her eyes liquid topaz.

They were quiet for a long time.

Suddenly Aro's shrill laughter shot through the air. "Mesmerising. Absolutely fascinating."

Alice smiled dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"To see what you have seen before it has happened." He was completely amazed.

"That will happen." Alice said reassuringly and his eyes grew wild in excitement.

"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem."

"Aro," Caius complained, ultimately disappointed.

"Dear Caius," Aro smiled. "Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They may not join us today but there's always hope for the future. I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!"

"Then we are free to go?" Edward asked with slight relief.

"Yes, yes," Aro said happily. "But please visit us again. I've had the best time."

"And we will visit you as well. Keep in mind that we do not give second chances." Caius warned. We all nodded at once.

"Your gifts will make for an intriguing immortal, Isabella." Aro said ecstaically. "Much like your friend here..." He said addressing me, trailing off wanting to know my name.

"Aria." I spoke softly and his eyes washed over in excitement of a new idea. 

"Aria." He repeated smirking before his gaze went back to Bella. "Go now. Make your preparations."

"Let us be done with this." Marcus spoke up. "Heidi will arrive at any moment." He continued standing from his seat. "Thank you, for you visit."

"Oh, please wait below till after dark, if you don't mind." Aro added and Edward nodded agreeing with his request.

"What of the half immortal?" Alec spoke up from beside Jane.

I hid my shaking hands as Aro looked at me in thought. My heart was pounding in my ears as I looked up to Edward, his thoughts from earlier saying they won't let me leave.

"She'll be fine. She is one of us after all. Why would she reveal herself only to be treated like an outcast?" Aro smirked as I looked down at the floor thinking about how the pack had treated me before. "You may go now. Goodbye, my young friends." Aro said motioning towards the door, Alice pushing the small of my back guiding me towards the door quickly following behind Edward and Bella.

"Aria?" He called my name and I looked over my shoulder. "We hope to see you again soon." He smiled before the doors shut concealing them from us.

New voices began to enter my mind as I looked ahead at the large crowd entering the reception area from two large doors we didn't go through before. "Well this is unusual." A man's deep voice boomed, it kind of reminded me of Sam.

"So medieval." A woman agreed with him.

They were then led, by Heidi I presume, into the room we had just exited. "Welcome, guests! Welcome to Volterra!" I could hear Aro from the big turret room.

Thoughts questioning the red eyes that surrounded them began to fill my mind. There was small, older lady walking a lot slower than the rest of the group. She was becoming more and more panicked as she gripped the cross that was hanging from her neck. She was ushered through nonetheless and then Alice grabbed my hand, pulling me down the hall and away from the crowds. We began jogging almost as Edward led the way, Bella struggling to keep up with his long strides. But we still couldn't get through the little door at the end as the screaming started and the thoughts of fear and never seeing their loved ones again drowned my mind before the only thing I could do was turn it all off.