𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄:
Time

AFTER PAYING THE GUARD FOR AN ENTRANCE AND CORDELIA'S SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT OF CHARMING THE GUARD. They let Bella go and told her to go to Palazzo Dei Priori, where Alice saw Edward revealing himself. 

"Drop me off here," Alice says to Cordelia, and the brunette woman looks at her questionably, "I had a vision. I'll explain later," Cordelia purses her lips, reluctant to leave her wandering alone on uncharted territory.

Alice sees this as she exits the car leaning by the window, "Bella should have found Edward already. Can you find them, please?" 

"Okay," Alice leaned in, placing a peck on Cordelia's lips, and walked through the crowd. Cordelia continued to drive, parking the car in a shed.

She was suddenly glad she listened to Alice about wearing long sleeves and pants. The sun is at its highest peak. It'll surely expose her sparkling skin easily. 

Wrapping her scarf around her head and wearing her silk gloves, Cordelia walks towards the castle's main entrance.

Yet, she finds them in a dark alleyway, hearing the conversation of Edward and the Volturi guards, Felix and Demetri. 

"Let's behave ourselves, shall we?" Cordelia suggests her voice soothing, illuminating calmness in her tone to prevent a fight. "There are ladies present."

Yet Demetri and Felix both straightened up, their cloaks swirling slightly as a gust of wind funneled through the alley. Felix's face soured. Apparently, they didn't like even numbers.

"Cordelia," Bella says in relief, clutching into Edward for dear life. Cordelia gives her a wink, bringing her scarf to her neck. "This alley reeks of testosterone. Don't you think Felix, Demetri?"

"Ahh. Cordelia finally considered Aro's offer?" Demetri says smugly with a grin playing on his lips. Bella looks at Cordelia, confused.

Edward tilts his head. He has seen this brunette woman before, right, Alice's memories. 

"Sadly. No. I'm quite happy with the freedom I have now," Cordelia answers, and Alice enters the halls, standing beside Cordelia, and reminds them, "We're not alone."

Demetri glances over his shoulder. A few yards into the square, the little family, with the girls in their red dresses, was watching them.

The mother was speaking urgently to her husband, her eyes on 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 shakes his head. "Please, Edward, let's be reasonable," he says.

"Let's," Edward agrees. "And we'll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser." Demetri sighs in frustration. "At least let us discuss this more privately."

Six men in red now joined the family as they watched them with anxious expressions.

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

Felix smiles.

"Enough."

The voice was high and narrow and came from behind them. Cordelia recognized that voice. Jane. Her size is so insignificant that the reaction to her appearance.

Felix and Demetri relaxed immediately, stepping back from their offensive positions to blend again with the shadows of the overhanging walls.

Cordelia's figure went stiff. If Jane is here, they'll surely lose, but if they're in public, they won't risk exposure.

"Jane," Edward sighs in recognition and resignation. Alice folds her arms across her chest. Her expression is aloof.

"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.

Cordelia and Alice are walking behind Jane, with Edward and Bella behind them, the alley angled slightly downward as it narrowed.

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

"It was my mistake, "Alice answers in the same tone. "It was my job to set it right." Cordelia shakes her head in disagreement and wraps an arm around Alice's shoulder, placing a peck on Alice's temple

"What happened?" His voice is polite, as if he were barely interested. 

"It's a long story." Alice's eyes flickered toward Bella and away. "In summary, she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself. Bella's all about extreme sports these days."

A loose curve to the alley was still angled downward, so they didn't see the squared-off dead end coming until they reached the flat, windowless, brick face. 

Alice and Cordelia didn't hesitate, didn't break pace as they strode toward the wall. Then, with effortless grace, they slid down an open hole in the street.

As Edward assures Bella that it's okay, and Alice and Cordelia are on the other side of the wall. "It's alright, Bella," Alice says.

Cordelia then looked around, and it was dim, but not black at the bottom.

The light from the hole above supplied a faint glow, reflecting wetly from the stones under her feet. The light vanished for a second. Then Bella finally crossed. 

The sound of the heavy grate sliding over the drain hole behind them rang with metallic finality.

The dim light from the street was quickly lost in the gloom. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the black space; it sounded very wide.

The path beneath their feet continued to slant downward, taking them deeper into the ground.

Cordelia couldn't tell where the light was coming from, but it slowly turned dark gray instead of black.

They're in a low, arched tunnel. Long trails of ebony moisture seeped down the gray stones like they were bleeding ink.

They hurried through the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a grate-the iron bars were rusting but thick as my arm. A small door made of thinner, interlaced bars was standing open.

Cordelia and Alice ducked through and hurried on to a larger, brighter stone room.

The grille slammed shut with a clang, followed by the snap of a lock.

They are in a brightly lit, unremarkable hallway. The walls were off-white, the floor carpeted in industrial gray.

Common rectangular fluorescent lights were spaced evenly along with the ceiling.

After a 3-minute elevator ride, they arrived in a posh office reception area. The walls were paneled 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 colored bouquets. The flowers' smell reminded her of a funeral home.

Briefly meeting Gianna. Alec arrived. "Jane."

"Alec," she responds, embracing the boy. They kissed each other's cheeks on both sides. Then he looked at them. "They send you out for one, and you come back with three...and a half," he noted, looking at Bella. "Nice work."

Jane laughs-the sound sparkled with delight like a baby's cooing.

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

"Marginally," Edward agrees in a flat voice.

Alec then looks at Cordelia with a grin "Cordelia," He greets.

"Alec," Cordelia curtly says with a nod.

"And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asks, looking at Bella skeptically.

After Edward almost loses his calm facade over Bella. Alec and Jane led them toward the three kings' hall.

"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" Aro cries in clear delight. His voice was just a soft sighing. He flitted towards Jane.

Take her face in his papery hands, kissed her lightly on her full lips, and then floated back a step.

"Yes, Master." Jane smiled; the expression made her look like an angelic child. "I brought him back alive, just as you wished."

"Ah, Jane." He smiles, too. "You are such a comfort to me."

He turned his misty eyes toward them, and the smile brightened-became ecstatic.

"And Alice, Cordelia, and Bella, too!" he rejoices, clapping his thin hands together. "This is a happy surprise! Wonderful!"

He turned to their hulking escort. "Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes, Master." Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.

"You see, Edward?" The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond but scolding grandfather.

"What did I tell you? Aren't you glad I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"

"Yes, Aro, I am," he agrees, tightening his arm around Bella's waist. Cordelia looks at Alice, already wanting to leave. It has been a century since she last saw them.

"I love a happy ending." Aro sighs. "They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?" He turned to gaze at Alice with curious, misty eyes.

"Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently, there was some mistake."

"Oh, I'm far from infallible." She flashes a dazzling smile. She looked perfectly at ease, except that her hands were balled into tight little fists.

Cordelia wrapped her hand around them to calm her down. "As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them."

"You're too modest," Aro chides. "I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!"

Alice flickered a glance at Edward. Aro did not miss it.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like 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 I am limited in a way that he is not." Aro shakes his head; his tone was envious.

"And also, exponentially more powerful," Edward adds ironically.

He looks at Alice as he swiftly explains. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head at the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had." 

"But to be able to hear from a distance..." Aro sighed, gesturing toward the two of them and the exchange that had just taken place. "That would be so convenient."

Felix is back, and behind him float two more black-robed men. Both looked very much like Aro. One even had the same flowing black hair.

The other had a shock of snow-white hair-the same shade as his face-that brushed against his shoulders. Their faces had identical, paper-thin skin. 

"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro crooned. "Bella is alive after all, and Alice, even Cordelia, after a century, is here with her! Isn't that wonderful?"

Aro continued to admire Edward's restraint towards Bella's blood. She responded that 'it wasn't without effort.' And Aro tests Bella's dormant ability, and Cordelia knows that Aro knows why Edward cannot read Bella's mind.

He decided to try with Jane's pain manipulation, with Edward throwing himself in front of Bella and facing Jane's painful ability. Bold move, Cordelia thinks to herself. 

With Aro tries to convince Alice and Cordelia, and even Bella to join them. Then with Aro's ultimatum of immortality or death. And the threat of exposure that Caius claims.

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

Edward glares at Caius. "How so?" he demands. He must have known what Caius was thinking, but he seemed determined to make him speak it aloud.

Caius pointed a skeletal finger at Bella. "She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets." His voice was papery thin, just like his skin.

"There are a few humans in your charade here, as well," Edward reminds him. Caius's face twisted into a new expression. 

"Yes," he agrees. "But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy her? I think not," he scoffs.

"I wouldn't-" Bella began, still whispering. Caius silenced her with an icy look.

"Nor do you intend to make her one of us," Caius continues. "Therefore, she is a vulnerability. Though it is true, for this, only her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish." Edward bared his teeth.

"That's what I thought," Caius said, with something akin to pleasure. Felix leans forward, eager.

"Unless..." Aro interrupted. He looked unhappy with the way the conversation had gone.

"Unless you do intend to give her immortality?"

Edward pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment before he answered. "And if I do?"

Aro smiled, happy again. "Why, then, you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle."

His expression turned more hesitant. "But I'm afraid you would have to mean it." Aro waves his hand. And Cordelia knew where this conversation his heading. 

Alice's ability.

Cordelia gripped Alice's shoulder and placed her behind her back, this would permanently make her gift known, and Cordelia was scared of the consequences.

Alice might be taken away from her, and she wouldn't know how to cope when she just got her back.

Alice gently removes Cordelia's hand from her shoulder, and she whispers towards her ear, "It'll be alright," Cordelia shakes her head. And Alice places a peck on her cheek, and Cordelia reluctantly lets her go. 

And then Alice stepped away from her, forward toward Aro. They turned to watch her.

Her hand was raised like his. She didn't say anything, and Aro waved off his anxious guard as they moved to block her approach.

Aro met her halfway and took her hand with an eager, greedy sparkle in his eyes. 

He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank.

No one moved. Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand. The seconds passed, and Cordelia grew more and more stressed.

Before, it meant something was wrong-more wrong than it already was. Another agonizing moment passed, and then Aro's voice broke the silence.

"Ha, ha, ha," he laughs, his head still bent forward. He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement. "That was fascinating!"

Alice smiles dryly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." And stands beside Cordelia, interlacing her hands with hers. 

"Edward. Mia figlia will be disappointed in you going to the Volturi without her permission. Do tell her to visit when she comes back from her travels," Aro tells him.

Edward gives him a nod, with the witch twin's crimson red eyes glimmering with excitement at the mention.

After an hour of decision-making, Aro lets them go, warning them only to leave when it's finally dark. 

As they pass through the halls, Cordelia looks at Edward, looking at a blonde woman exiting the castle. Edward furrows his eyebrows, seeing a glimpse of the blonde woman's face.

She seemed familiar. He has seen her before somewhere.  And he shakes his head, dismissing his thoughts. His mind is too focused on Bella, who is alive in his arms once again.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT IN SEATTLE, Edward was instantly bombarded with hugs by his worried mothers, Thalia and Esme. 

"Do not do that to us again, Edward," Thalia says, her voice cracking, her eyelids filled with venom, both of her hands placed on Edward's face, and Edward felt guilty and regret causing his beloved mothers to worry about him, he thought he doesn't deserve their worry.

"So, Edward really did a Romeo at the Volturi. That's cliche," Emmett teasingly says with a grin followed by Jasper's snicker. Carlise gives them a look, and they behave at once.

"I'm sorry," Edward says sincerely.

"You are grounded, for a week," Thalia says, and Edward agrees, already hearing her thoughts that Thalia only wanted to spend time with him after months apart. Alice clears her throat, dragging Cordelia towards her family.

"Family, this is Cordelia, the woman in my vision," Alice enthusiastically says, and Cordelia smiles at them shyly. Esme approaches her first and hugs her, "Welcome to the family."

Then Thalia hugs her and places a peck on her cheek, "I'm so glad to meet you." 

"Me too," Cordelia says. Thalia then looks at Edward and says, "She feels guilty enough, don't make it worse." Edward nods and looks towards the car.

Cordelia followed his gaze and saw a blonde woman. This must be Rosalie. 

After the voting for Bella's humanity. Which Cordelia thought was silly. Alice and Cordelia went for a hunt, diminishing their thirst.

So they are currently in a meadow, with Cordelia hugging Alice from behind.

"I love you," Alice says to Cordelia, and the brunette woman's heart flutters, "I love you more," She responds, placing a kiss on Alice's shoulder blade.

"What happens after this?" Cordelia asks curiously, and Alice hums and speaks. 

"Only time can tell."