CHAPTER FIVE:

Volterra, Italy: the Volturi

"The Seattle situation is... getting out of control."

"I am aware of that."

"Then you are aware we will need to make our move soon."

"I am, but first... a very interesting someone has made contact with me."

"Oh?"

"An old acquaintance- you remember Acacius? I believe he goes by Sanguini these days. He had quite a few fascinating things to say about the Magical World."

"Good news, I hope."

"Very good news, my old friend... yes, very good news indeed."

-

-

The sleepover was one night away, and Alice's excitement over the whole deal had tripled since the whole prom thing had been included. With each hour that passed, she seemed to almost bounce in her seat.

"There's still a whole day and night to go, plus this afternoon," I tell her, exasperated by her energy.

"Carlisle will be doing Luna's check-up after school," she says, and I nod, remembering Carlisle's offer.

"And?" I prod, slightly puzzled by this non-sequitur.

"And, we can plan what we're going to do tomorrow tonight!" She says, enthusiastically.

"Won't it be more fun just, you know, winging it?" I suggest and she just glares at me. I roll my eyes, raising my hands in surrender. "Fine, I guess we could figure out some stuff to do."

Seemingly appalled by my blatant lack of enthusiasm, Alice pounces on the weaker targets, fixing her sights on Angela and Katie with a terrifying sort of intensity.

"Sweet Morgana," I sigh, watching as she enthusiastically engages them both. "The world is doomed."

"It's just one night," Edward says, amused.

"Now," I say darkly, "it's one night now. Just wait Edward- a monster has been unleashed, and all we can do now is watch."

"You know I can hear you, right?" Alice says, annoyed.

"Tell me I'm wrong," I challenge her. She gives me her most angelic smile, batting big innocent doe eyes at me, and I almost expect a halo to appear.

"I'm sure I don't know what on earth you're talking about." She says, voice all sweet like honey and sugar.

"Okay," Edward says, as she turns back to continue the excited planning with our other two friends. "Maybe there's a touch of concern warranted in this situation." He admits.

"Yeah. Just a touch." I drawl, giving my vampire a truly inspired look of sarcasm mixed with a good helping of 'you're an idiot' and a touch of humour, before tuning in to the conversation happening before me.

"You do remember we need to write my announcements," Angela says, and Alice waves a hand in complete disregard.

"Oh we'll give them to Edward and Jaz to do- we've got much more important things to spend our night doing."

Angela looks almost like she wants to protest out of good manners, but thinks the better of it. "At least they'll get done." She sighs.

-

When Edward, Alice and I arrive back at my house, Carlisle is gently guiding Luna through a series of movements, while Charlie observes, munching on a pear as he does so. It was quite obvious if you cared to look that Charlie was disappointed he couldn't ask Qiang to come again to look Luna over- he had quite the crush on Angela's aunt, which was beyond amusing to witness.

"I believe you're well enough that you can finally acquiesce to Alice's shopping pleas," Carlisle announces finally and Alice, who's perched on the arm of one of our couches, squeals in delight.

"We can go shopping tomorrow!" She gushes, and Charlie frowns.

"I don't want you girls going to Seattle," he says, and I turn to him, surprised.

"It's not that far away, dad-" I start to say, unsure about the reason for his reluctance, and he shakes his head.

"It's not that, Bells- there's someone killing folks up there. I think there's twenty bodies found so far, and that's on top of all the disappearances." He explains. I pale slightly at the idea of a murderer, or a series of murderers, so close to home.

"Dad, Luna, Katie and I are witches," I remind him, though, "and Alice is a vampire. Plus Rosalie might be coming too. We can handle a murderer." Charlie still looks unsure, and I notice for the first time that Edward, Alice and Carlisle are being suspiciously silent.

Luna decides now is a good time to pipe up. "I suppose we could," she says thoughtfully, "though I've never fought a vampire before."

"Huh?" I ask, confused. I glance back at Edward and his carefully blank expression tells me all I need to know. "Oh Merlin, it's a vampire doing all the killing?" I blanch. This is... well, I'm pretty sure that I'll be steering relatively clear from Seattle.

"What?" Charlie asks, sharply. He's looking straight at Carlisle, eyes hard. "You know for a fact it's a vampire doing this?"

"Yes, we believe so. My family has been keeping a close eye on the situation." Carlisle says, carefully, and Charlie frowns.

"But you ain't doing anything about it." He says, pointedly.

"Er, well, that's not our job," Carlisle says, awkwardly, and Charlie's frown deepens.

"I'd say it's the job of any decent folks," he says, "the Seattle police are chasing a monster they can't catch, you can. All these lives lost..." He trails off, but his meaning, his accusation, is clear.

"It's just, we're not the Volturi," Carlisle says, sort of weakly. "We... my family has never involved ourselves in this sort of thing."

"Maybe you should reconsider that policy." Charlie says pointedly, before picking up the remote and turning on a game, obviously ending the conversation. I awkwardly move to my bedroom, Edward, Alice and Luna following me.

Alice, Luna and I sit up on the heavy comforter, Alice perched upright while Luna and I lean against the headboard. Edward stands, not needing to pretend a need to sit, to act human. Everyone in this house knows exactly what he is. Which in some ways makes my life easier, but in others... well, Carlisle's earlier mention of the Volturi has my stomach rolling uneasily, making me nauseous.

I'm reasonably confident that the prideful leaders of the coven aren't taking my blatant disrespect of them lying down. I'm not sure what they actually can do, but I don't like the idea of always watching my back. After all, to ancient beings who have lived for thousands of years, a short human lifespan is the blink of an eye. They can be patient, planning their revenge.

I really don't need another group with delusions of grandeur that aren't exactly all delusions because they happen to actually be kind of powerful after me.

"So it's a vampire up in Seattle. You weren't going to mention that at all?" I ask, in a shorter tone then I intended.

"It wasn't worth worrying you about." Edward told me, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I think I can decide that, Edward." I said, tightly. We held eye contact for a long, tense moment, before he sighed.

"We've been monitoring the situation for a few weeks. All the signs are there- the unlikely disappearances, always in the night, the poorly disposed-of corpses, the lack of other evidence... everything indicates a newborn vampire is loose in Seattle. Bloodthirsty, wild, out of control. Someone brand new, and no one seems to be taking responsibility for the neophyte." He takes a deep, unnecessary breath. "The existence off monsters results in monstrous consequences, Bella. You'd be surprised how often my kind are the source behind the horrors in human news–"

"Merlin's balls, Edward!" I interrupted him, almost incredulous. "Do you honestly think that?" I demanded. "Because believe me when I say that I am painfully aware of just how often our world is behind the horrors in muggle news– false earthquakes to cover up rampaging giants, foggy weather forecasts to cover up the roaming of the dementors who've left Azkaban, terrorist attacks to cover up Death Eaters targeting muggles for sport..." I let my voice trail off but kept my gaze hard as I look Edward firmly in the eye. He sighed in response.

"You're right. I... owe you an apology, it seems." He murmured, a touch rueful but mostly sad as he reached forward to gently grasp one of my hands in both of his. His touch was a welcome shock of cold that I was well-accustomed to by now. "It can be very easy to forget sometimes that the world is bigger then even a vampire could imagine."

"I'll accept your apology," I told him, "if you tell me everything you've all figured out about the newborn." Edward nodded.

"Really not much," he said, with another sigh. "Nothing more then I've already told you. Normally we wouldn't even pay attention to this situation if it wasn't going on so close to home."

I sigh in response to that, burying my head in my free hand. As much as I agreed with Charlie in that I want to get off my arse and do something to stop the newborn from hurting more people, the Cullens were right in that it wasn't their problem– our problem. That sounded cold, but it was the truth. We could try and hunt the newborn down, but Seattle was a large city, with a population of nearly six hundred thousand people. Finding one vampire in that mess? Improbable, even with Alice's visions and Edward's gift helping us. We would leave it to the proper 'authorities' for this sort of thing- the Volturi. Although...

"Why have the Volturi left it so long to act?" I ask, and Alice makes a frustrated noise.

"I have no idea. I haven't even been getting flashes." She says, in aggravation. "As far as I know, they aren't planning on doing anything yet."

"Arseholes." I mutter. Edward gives a low sort of chuckle.

"So," Alice chirps, expression changing from irritated to bright in the blink of an eye, "I know you said we should stick with the continental U.S. this weekend, but you got us to Italy in less then an hour- why not use this amazing gift and go somewhere truly special to buy our prom dresses?" She says, obviously having no compunctions about very obviously changing the topic.

"What are you thinking?" I ask, warily.

"I was thinking fashion capitals of the world!" Alice's eyes are shining, "New York City, Barcelona, Paris, Madrid, Rome, São Paulo, Milan, Los Angeles, Berlin-"

"Are you insane?" I gape. She pouts at me.

"Come on, Bella! You can visit any place in the world within minutes, using Portkeys! We can buy them from that place you bought the one to take us to Florence. It'll be amazing," she wheedles. "Just imagine it- us five girls, a foreign city, it'll be magical!"

"It would cost a fortune, Alice," I point out, before cringing, "Merlin, I can't believe I actually just entertained the thought that your idea of travelling to some other country to shop for prom dresses as a feasible plan for a moment!"

"It could be fun."

I turn to the speaker, not sure whether I should be feeling betrayed or not.

"Luna?"

"Daddy and I went to Switzerland to hunt snorkacks, and Egypt to look for the desert spirits, but I've never actually visited another country to shop," she said, thoughtfully, "it sounds rather exciting, don't you think?"

I moan, letting myself flop backwards on the bed, hands over my eyes. "I'm outnumbered, aren't I?"

"Hopelessly so," Alice informs me, "Angela and Katie both think it's a great idea. Well, they will when I ring up and tell them."

"Fine." I sigh, "I guess our girl's night has just turned into a freaking weekend in another freaking country."

"Angela thinks we should go to Paris and Katie votes Milan," Alice says, her eyes going blank for a moment as she peeks into the future.

"Nothing close to Britain," I tell her, firmly. "And I'd like to at least stay in America- what about New York?"

"Don't be so boring," huffs Alice. "We can avoid being too close to Britain without actually having to stay in the U.S. Let's go to Milan."

"Are you sure being in Italy is a good idea?" I ask, warily.

"It will only be for a night or two," Alice said, "and I'll watch them closely."

"Well... what about money?"

"Bella, darling, I can see the future." Alice says, patiently, like I'm an idiot, "I watch the stock market and earn millions- each year."

"I'm outnumbered, aren't I?"

"Hopelessly so." She assures me.

"Then I guess we're going to Milan."

-

I'd planned on catching up with Jacob on Sunday, but I texted him I couldn't, expecting nothing of it. I'd already packed (well, Alice had already packed for me), the Portkey had been ordered and we would leave straight after school. I'd driven my trusty truck up to school, and had just stepped out when a familiar roar of a motorbike engine shocked my ears, and Jacob peeled into the parking lot like some sort of hooligan.

I was actually impressed by how quickly Edward managed to materialize at my side while having to constrain himself to human speed.

Jacob seemed unperturbed, though he purposefully did not look at Edward, instead keeping his full focus on me. "Hey Bells,"

"Er, hi?" I say, confused.

"What are you doing here?" Edward's eyes looked like black fire as he glared at one of my best friends. Jacob continued ignoring him.

"Want to skip?" he asked loudly, patting the seat behind him.

I took exactly five seconds to think about it. On one hand- I would be missing biology, which was still my absolute worst subject, and finals were coming up way too soon, but on the other hand- I would be missing biology.

Edward wasn't going to like this, I thought guiltily as I turned and kissed him. He seemed surprised by my sudden vigour as I pushed my tongue in his mouth, a move more raunchy then I usually used. Pulling away just as swiftly, I gave him a guilty smile.

"I'll be back by lunch, don't worry- and tell Alice not to panic." I tell him, swinging myself onto the back of the motorcycle. Edward's whole body was frozen, and the look in his eyes was particularly... wild.

"Bella," his voice sounded agonized, and my stomach rolled in on itself.

"I'm sorry," I repeat, "I'll be fine," I add, "I promise." Jacob, apparently having had enough of our exchange, and also (probably appropriately) worried that Edward might just put a hole in one of the tires or something to stop us from leaving, and gunned the engine, roaring out of the parking lot.

I held tightly to his jacket as the wind blew in my face. It took about ten minutes for us to cross the treaty line, and no one stopped us (despite the fact we broke several traffic laws).

"So, what's this about?" I ask, breathless from the journey on the motorbike. Jacob helps me slide off the bike- we're at the beach; ironically the one I first met him at, back before everything.

We sit down together, Jacob leaning against my arm slightly. There are no sounds here besides the hollow roar of the waves that echo from every side of the sheltered harbor, the soft grinding of the stones against each other under the water's movement, and the cry of gulls overhead. It was very peaceful.

"I figured I'd help spring you." Jake says, cheerfully, smiling at me with those warm, dark eyes.

"Spring me?" I ask, confused.

"I got your message- figured that he," the way he spat out the word 'he' left me with little confusion as to who it was exactly he was referring to, "was stopping you from contacting me." I blink.

"Er, not really. I mean, he did say he didn't want me to visit, but let's face it- I could apparate over here whenever I wanted, and there'd be nothing he could do about it."

"Oh." Jacob looks confused. "So why did you say we couldn't meet up on Sunday like we planned?"

"Because I'll be in Milan."

"Say what now?" he blinks.

"Milan, Jake- I'll be in Milan." I repeat, amused. "I'm going there with the girls- we're dress shopping."

"Dress shopping?" his expression pulls into one of great distaste.

"I know," I agree with him, pulling a disgusted face of my own. "It's going to be terrible. Alice will be unstoppable."

"Milan? Italy, Milan?" Jacob repeats, more to himself then me. "Wow."

"I wouldn't have agreed if Luna hadn't wanted to do it," I tell him, moodily.

"Well, that's a pretty good excuse for bailing on me." He decides, shaking his head in disbelief. "Milan."

"Hardy-ha ha." I grumble. "So, what's the plan?"

"Plan?"

"Well, I assume you had some sort of idea what we were going to do after you kidnapped me," I tell him, amused. He looks sheepish.

"I didn't really think that far ahead. Just figured that the school would be the best place to grab you- he can't stop me in front of so many witnesses."

"He is going to be mad." I mutter.

"Who cares," scoffs Jacob.

"I care," I tell him, firmly, "but let's not talk about that now, Jake. What do you want to do?"

"Well, we could always ride our bikes. Just like old times." He flashes me a smile. I can't help but smile back. The sun breaks through the clouds suddenly, a surprise I hadn't been expecting, and I had to narrow my eyes against the glare off the water. Everything changed colour- the waves turned from gray to blue, the trees from dull olive to brilliant jade, and the rainbow-hued pebbles glittered like jewels.

"Well if that's not a sign we should race around like hooligans on motorbikes, then I don't know what is." I tell him. Jacob laughs and smiles at me, the warm, familiar smile I'd missed so much.

"I've really missed you Jake," I tell him, impulsively.

"Yeah. Me too." His eyes are happy, free from bitterness.

-

I sneak back in to school, knowing that my stealth was pretty much useless, but still nervous about Edward's reaction. I figured if the first place he saw me was in class, then he was likely to calm down, seeing that I was in one piece and all.

Of course, that all when to shit when I snuck into the girl's bathroom, only to see him standing there, against the wall across from me, his face hard and his posture tense.

Of course he was there.

He glared at me wordlessly, and I cringed, waiting for the torrent, but it didn't come. He just continued to glare, possibly too angry to speak.

"Hi," I finally said. His face could have been carved from stone. I counted to a hundred in my head, but there was no change. "Er... so, I'm still alive," I began. A growl rumbled low in his chest, but his expression didn't change.

"And you're in a girl's bathroom." Still silence.

"No harm done," I insist with a shrug. Edward finally moved. His eyes closed, and he pinched the bridge of his nose between the fingers of his right hand.

"Bella," he whispered. "Do you have any idea how close I came to crossing the line today? To breaking the treaty and coming after you? Do you know what that would have meant?"

I gasped and his eyes opened. They were as cold and hard as night. "You can't!" I growled at him. I worked to modulate the volume of my voice so that any of my passing classmates wouldn't hear, but I wanted to shout the words. "Edward, they'd use any excuse for a fight. They'd love that. You can't ever break the rules!"

"Maybe they aren't the only ones who would enjoy a fight."

"Don't you start," I snapped. "You made the treaty - you stick to it."

"If he'd hurt you -"

"Enough!" I cut him off. "There's nothing to worry about. Jacob isn't dangerous."

"Bella." He rolled his eyes. "You aren't exactly the best judge of what is or isn't dangerous."

"I know I don't have to worry about Jake. And neither do you." He ground his teeth together. His hands were balled up in fists at his sides. He was still standing against the wall, and I hated the space between us.

I took a deep breath, and crossed the room. He didn't move when I wrapped my arms around him. Next to the warmth of the last of the afternoon sun streaming through the window, his skin felt especially icy. He seemed like ice, too, frozen the way he was.

"I'm sorry I made you anxious," I muttered. He sighed, and relaxed a little. His arms wound around my waist.

"Anxious is a bit of an understatement," he murmured. "It was a very long morning."

"I really am sorry, but Jacob is my friend, Edward. I want you to know something - when it comes to all this enemies nonsense, I'm out. I am a neutral country. I am Switzerland. I refuse to be affected by territorial disputes between mythical creatures when I've got enough going on with the whole dispute in the Wizarding World. Jacob is family. You are the love of my life. I don't care who's a shape-shifter and who's a vampire. If Angela turns out to be a selkie, and Katie a kitsune and Luna a bloody crumple-horned snorkack, they can join the party, too."

He stared at me silently through narrowed eyes.

"Switzerland," I repeated again for emphasis. He frowned at me, and then sighed. "Bella...," he began, but he paused, and his nose wrinkled in disgust.

"What now?"

"Well . . . don't be offended, but you might want to shower before your shopping trip. You smell like a dog," he told me. And then he smiled crookedly, so I knew the fight was over. For now.