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St. Marcus Day festival.

The day when Edward decides on provoking the Volturi is occurring during the most coveted celebration. If it weren't for how terrified Mia is over arriving too late, she would curse him out for being too dramatic, but the terrible part is that she also understands him. If she were a vampire and her request to surrender immortality was denied, she would defy all laws in order to acquire what she desires – death.

Imagining Edward dying at their hands terrifies her more than anything. It physically and emotionally destroys her. She's practically clawing her way to the surface for air, but there's no sufficient amount of oxygen that will liberate her from this worry. Seeing him alive is all that matters. For the meantime, she's pushing her anger aside until ensuring he's safe. Afterwards, she will let him go and they can live their separate lives like he intended.

If only Alice could drive faster.

"For a vampire, you sure drive slower than a grandmother," she holds onto the dashboard, closing her eyes to block the sun and prevent it from worsening her headache. All of this worry has only made her condition worsen. Her fever still hasn't lowered and standing has proven harder than before. How she will help Edward? She's unsure of, but she's willing to do anything to save him.

Even if it ends up destroying her much quicker.

"This is the fastest this car can go," Alice glances down at the speedometer and presses on the accelerator much harder.

"At least you didn't invest by renting this," Mia grumbles as she prays to the universe for this ride to end and to arrive at their destination already. As much as she appreciates Alice's eagerness to help her save Edward, being in close proximity to her is extremely hard. In spite of everything, Mia can't just forgive her in an instant and forget everything they put her through. Like she's always said, she's always been good at holding grudges and she won't be losing it anytime soon.

Alice quickly turns to her before looking back at the road, "I figured you wouldn't be opposed to grand theft auto."

"I never was," she blinks sharply, hoping the cloudiness of her vision clears up before arriving. She taps her foot impatiently, soon catching sight of Volterra and giving her the needed relief, but Alice's silence is a bearer of ill fortune. "What are you seeing?"

"He's showing himself to the humans at noon. That's when the sun's at its highest," Alice makes a sharp turn, gasping at the end of her vision that reveals the aftermath if they don't arrive on time.

Mia glances at the clock and her world starts falling apart when realizing they don't have much time left. "Alice, hurry. It's almost happening."

"There's Volterra," Alice looks up at the city before glancing back at her. "We'll make it, Mia. We're almost there."

Past the narrow roads and the pedestrians walking around in red robes, the horn is honked continuously as a way to alert everyone to move out of the way. Many of them glare as they drive past them, shaking their heads in frustration and cursing them out for their impatience.

"They're in red. Of course they are," Mia grips onto her hair before quickly wiping the blood from her nose. She looks down at the clock and senses a panic attack resurfacing. It's nearing noon and they're nowhere near the end. From the looks of it, it seems they won't arrive on time. "For Merlin's sake, why the red?"

"It's for the San Marco's Day festival," Alice explains. "They're commemorating the expulsion of vampires from the city."

"It's the perfect place for this then. The Volturi will kill him before he reveals himself," Mia can't imagine such a thought, but just thinking about it makes her wither and fear for the future. As much as she's angry with him, she still loves him and can't envision a life where he's no longer in it. Him being away, she can live with it, but knowing he's dead, she's not sure if she would be able to handle the pain of losing him. "There's five minutes."

"Mia, just breathe," Alice tries placing a hand on her shoulder for reassurance, but she scurries away the furthest she's able to. "We'll make it."

"Don't tell me to breathe," she snaps, glaring at the time so intensely it might as well be destroyed. "We're running out of time and Edward could die because of me. I don't know what I'd do if I can't save him. God, why does he have to be so impulsive?"

Alice turns the corner into another road, but the honking catches the attention of a few police officers. They move to stand in front of the vehicle, preventing her from going further into the festival.

Not wasting anymore time, Mia springs from her seat and hops off, "Alice? Aren't you coming?"

"Mia, you're the only one he can't see," Alice explains while ignoring the officer knocking on her window. "If I go, he'll read my thoughts. He'll think I'm lying and rush into it."

"Where do I go then?"

"He'll be under the clock tower. Go!" Alice tells her and she slams the door before taking off into a sprint.

Mia has no idea where the clock tower is. She feels like such a fool for being so terrible with directions. It's not like she can ask anyone for help since they all speak Italian and the only language she knows is English. It's time like these when she wishes to have taken language courses instead of focusing on fine arts.

She shoves a few people out of the way, earning disapproving glares and what she guesses are insults in Italian. Any other time, she would have tried defending herself, but the clock is quite literally running against her. Edward needs her and she's not about to turn her back on him now. Not today. Not ever.

When she makes a turn into an alley, everything starts running south. Her head is pounding with such intensity and making her nose bleed again. Everything around her starts spinning and her eyes struggle to focus on what's ahead. The red robes transform into blurry spots, forcing her to come to an abrupt stop and attempt to get her sight to refocus.

"Not now, please. Not now," Mia isn't much of a religious person, but for the first time, she starts praying to whatever holy divine is out there. This curse can't take her before she reaches Edward. If she's dying today, then the last thing she wishes to do is save the man she loves. After the universe's cruelty, the least it could do is grant her more time. At least until Edward is safe and away from the Volturi.

The cobblestones scrape her knees as she collides to the ground. She swallows hard and blinks away the tears, forcing herself to stand up and get it together. Breathing in and out, she wipes the blood on her sleeve and starts running. Her limbs ache with every stride and every shove provided, but it isn't until hearing the cheers becoming louder when she realizes the clock tower getting nearer.

An intense ringing fills her head. It's unlike anything she's ever heard to the point she's tempted to cover her ears. The world around her starts to gradually fade and the path beneath her starts moving as if it were waves. Somewhere along the way, she finds the nearest wall for stability. She blinks sharply and takes a deep breath, refusing to allow her pain to take more from her than it already has.

Her ability to use magic was corrupted, her mind has become fragmented, her sanity is now hanging by a loose thread, and the curse is destroying her slowly. She's not allowing this curse to take her most important person away. Unlike the previous things, she won't survive a life without Edward. She once handed him her heart and despite having broken it, he's still its owner. Regardless of where he is, her soul and his are the same and will forever be linked.

She truly, completely, and irrevocably loves him. For the rest of her short-lived life, she will always call his name. In spite of his hatred, her feelings won't change. It's why she's not surrendering to this curse. She's not permitting it to prevent her from saving him. It doesn't matter if she's furious and resentful for what he did. She will always find a way to protect him. Maybe it's pathetic, but when she loves someone, it's deeply. It's not some puppy love that will fade with time, but one that consumes her and will be everlasting.

Despite the pain destroying her with every movement, she pushes herself to continue. Time is running out and she would rather fall dead than witness seeing him die because she was too late. She courses through various paths and follows the loudest sounds, soon arriving at the location of the clock tower.

Surrounding it, there's probably thousands of people in celebration. A storm of red circulates all around, but she doesn't allow herself to panic. She shoves many out of the way and even curses at some of them when they refuse to move. The edge of the crowd is nearly in her grasp and it isn't until feeling hot marble against her palms when she acquires a moment of respite.

A large fountain stands before her, but the clock tower removes any ounce of relief. The bell rings, indicating noon has arrived and it's a matter of when Edward walks out into the sun. She looks past the small statue and her heart drops when seeing him after all these months.

His hands are finding their way to his shirt's buttons, one that she recognizes as the same one he wore months ago when he ended things. Unlike his usually well kept appearance, the purple under his eyes are more noticeable. His bronze locks are slightly messy, but it's the color of his eyes that reveal the full story. They're a shade as dark as the night and from his weakened appearance, it's obvious he hasn't been taking care of himself. Slowly, he unbuttons his shirt and starts approaching the edge where the sunlight is hitting.

Mia climbs her way into the fountain and runs toward him. Her struggle to remain standing and her headache becoming worse has now become the least of her worries. She needs to reach him. She needs him to see her. The water makes the ground slippery once she steps out, but it's the adrenaline keeping her afloat. She breathes uncontrollably the closer she gets, her eyes glooming with fear once the light reflects onto his crystallized skin.

"Don't!" Mia leaps onto him, preventing the sun from hitting him and revealing his true nature. His cold temperature replenishes her, igniting goosebumps to run down her skin and allowing her a moment of rest.

"Heaven," Edward runs a hand through her hair and smiles when catching a whiff of her scent. A mixture of lilies and delicate perfume. He's reached paradise's gates and his angel has come to greet him. After months of agony, the sweet hereafter has arrived and he can finally be with the woman that owns his heart.

"We have to move!" Mia pleads and cups his face, an attempt at getting him to look at her and realize she's alive. "Open your eyes and look at me! I'm here! I'm alive, but you need to get out of the sunlight!"

Edward listens to the sound of her velvety voice and opens his eyes. He expects to see her angelic smile and adoring eyes, but he's only met by a worried Mia and instead of heaven's gates behind them, Volterra is still present. He's not dead. He's alive and so is she, "Mia."

Simultaneously, both rush back inside under the clock tower and close the door. She breathes in relief and allows herself to look at him. The hollows of his eyes are empty and full of anguish. His hold is slightly weaker, indicating his strength has faded and has left him on the same boat as her. She releases her hold on him, closing her eyes and permitting herself a moment of respite.

"You're here," Edward smiles, their foreheads resting against the other. "You're alive."

Despite the love coursing through her veins, the anger and resentment she's kept hidden resurfaces. Everything he told her, his beliefs, insults, his lack of love, they return to her as if it just happened yesterday. She shoves herself away from him, her eyes darkening and expression hardening. Now that he's safe and knows she's alive, she can leave him like he did with her.

He approaches her, but she quickly moves back, "Don't get near me. I only came so you would know I was alive and didn't have to feel guilty anymore. It doesn't change anything between us, so we can go our separate ways like intended."

"I wasn't acting out of guilt," he assures her and takes one step closer. "I just don't want to live in a world where you don't exist."

Mia glares up at him, her disdain and disbelief combining into a blaze. "You betrayed my trust by using my greatest fear against me. Without trust, there's nothing, so anything that you say, I no longer believe it."

"I lied. I had to lie," he tries explaining, continuing to attempt reaching out for her with no success.

"Yeah, sure," Mia forces herself to look at him despite wanting to avoid those eyes that always made her melt. She won't allow him to believe he has a chance to return to the way everything was before he left. What he said, the way he said it, makes her doubt everything he's saying. He said it so effortlessly that she can't imagine his supposed lies not being the truth. "I refuse to believe that everything you said was a lie. You said it so believably that it doesn't make sense for it not to be true, so excuse me for not taking your word. I guess I finally learned from my mistake."

Edward knows he deserves her resentment. He went too far by using her greatest fear as a weapon against her knowing how much it would destroy her. It doesn't matter if he believed it had been right back then, because it never was. What he did was wrong and there will never come a day when he is able to forgive himself. He can only hope she does one day. "Mia, you're everything to me. What I said is far from the truth and I'm so sorry for everything. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you and get you to forgive me."

"I will never forgive you," Mia expresses, her dark glare burning into his with such intensity. She turns toward the door to head back to the car and go home, knowing there's nothing left for her here. Edward knows she's alive and she managed to save him before it was too late. Staying in this town is the last thing she wants and just like he wanted, they will never cross paths again.

Edward reaches for her hand, but she harshly rips it from his hold. He suddenly notices the hollows of her cheekbones and the purple under her eyes. There's a cut on her forehead and bruises on her arms and neck. Her face has grown pale and it's noticeable how much she's struggling to remain standing.

Mia recognizes that look in an instant. He's going to pry into her life like he always did, thinking he has a right to involve himself when it's not his business in the first place. She averts her gaze to the door ahead, but it's harder to reach the exit with how weaker she's become. Holding onto the wall is the only thing keeping her afloat and she despises how much her weakened state is being placed on display for him to know.

As expected, he gently holds her upright and as much as she tries shoving him off, her exhaustion, pain, and the intense fever starts taking a toll on her. She blinks sharply to try and regain focus of her sight, but black dots start covering her vision, preventing her from fighting back and giving him what he deserves.

"Mia, you're burning up-"

She cuts him off through a sharp glare, "I'm fine."

Before Edward can argue, the door opening makes them turn in its direction. Heading to them are two vampires with glowing red eyes and he quickly places her behind him to protect her. "I won't be needing your services after all, gentlemen."

"Aro wants to speak with you again," a vampire with broad shoulders and dark brown hair informs him.

"No rules were broken," Edward tries to defend, but it's rendered useless once the other vampire speaks up.

"Nonetheless, we should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue," the vampire with blond hair and a prideful stance dictates.

"Fine," Edward forcefully agrees, already knowing arguing won't do him any good. "Mia, why don't you go and enjoy the rest of the festival?"

"The girl comes with us," the brunette vampire stares at her so intensely that she nearly considers he's dreaming of savoring her blood.

Edward immediately denies without a second thought, "No. You can go to hell."

The lock to the clock tower opens and in comes Alice covered with a headscarf and wearing sunglasses. "Come on, guys. It's a festival," she purposely leaves the door open for everyone to see, smirking at them with satisfaction. "You wouldn't want to make a scene."

"We wouldn't," the larger vampire agrees once understanding the approach she's created.

"Enough," a young girl with bright red eyes and blonde hair joins the scene. She lowers the hood of her black cloak and glares at the three so intensely.

Edward curses to himself, knowing her involvement is only linked to the most severe cases. "Jane," he greets, continuing to shield Mia just in case of any sudden attacks.

"Aro sent me to see what was taking so long," Jane glares at her two counterparts before taking off in the direction she had come from.

Mia should be afraid of being surrounded by countless vampires, especially in the defenseless condition she's in, but it's something she expected and was prepared to face. Is she worried about herself? No. Is she worried about Edward and Alice? Absolutely. Regardless of what happens behind those doors, she can only hope no harm comes to them as she's uncertain of what she'd do.

Edward places his arm around her, but she shoves his arm off rather too aggressively. She manages to regain the little strength she has left and walks ahead of them, refusing to see their faces or deal with their attempts at a conversation.

"Just do as she says," Alice warns her about Jane, worried about the extent of her powers.

Edward is handed a robe as they follow Jane down a stairwell. It's significantly darker and the surroundings have taken more of a tavern-like feeling. He makes sure to keep an eye on Mia and notices how much she's straining herself walking down the steps. He stretches his arm to her, hoping she decides on accepting his help just this one time, but as expected, she refuses it.

"Don't be scared," he simply tells her as a way to break the silence between them, but she surprises him when she scoffs lightly.

"I'm not, but something is telling me that you are," Mia pulls the sleeves of her jumper even lower as the temperature has dropped drastically. Despite her fever remaining intact, the cold isn't making her feel any better. If anything, it's making her feel worse and like she's being covered by a winter's graze.

"I'm not," Edward tells her as a way to try and reassure her that everything will be alright. Even if she's pretending not to be afraid, he knows she's at least worried about what may happen during their stay.

Jane gives a small scoff at his response, soon stopping once arriving at an elevator. To prevent any escape attempts, she along with the other blond vampire stand guard from both sides. Their bloodthirsty eyes stare at them so heavily that they might as well have turned to stone.

Mia hesitantly gets into the elevator and hopes her nose doesn't start bleeding right then and there. One small drop and it's game over. With how packed they are, she doubts any of them would have the strength to resist, seeing as vampires are the least uncontrollable species.

Opera music plays through the speakers. Fitting, she considers. She's always found opera music as antiquated and considering how old the Volturi are, their selection fits them like a glove. While the music can be beautiful for some, she struggles in finding the beauty of it, especially in circumstances like this. It's extremely uncomfortable being this close to vampires and even more when sensing Edward's eyes on her.

When the elevator doors open, Mia is more than relieved and eagerly walks out. A woman sitting in the main desk greets them in Italian and she's surprised at seeing her eyes a natural color that is only reserved for a human. She wonders why the woman would willingly choose to work in a place like this or maybe she's hoping the Volturi will change her. Either way, neither of those options are ideal. Like she's learned, vampires can't be trusted, so believing this coven will keep her around longer is absurd to even think about.

Jane leads them to a room with two large doors with a medieval architectural style. When the doors open, Mia's breath becomes caught in her throat as she's now afraid about what's about to happen.