Before you began reading I would like to say there will be lemons, but not for awhile.

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Chapter 1 - The Sacrifice

Bella felt like her heart was being crushed inside her chest. Just watching Felix grab Edward by the jaw and prepare to rip his head off was more than she could stand.

"No, please, please…no!" she cried.

The Volturi gazed at her with cold red eyes.

Aro held up both his hands, stalling the execution and glanced over at her.

"Kill me," Bella cried, taking a step forward. "Kill me…not him."

Aro cocked his head, his hands dropping to his sides and he looked at her in wonder. He then approached her, taking several slow steps in her direction. "How extraordinary. You would give up your life for someone like us…a vampire…a soulless monster?"

"Get away from her," Edward hissed, fighting against Felix's grasp.

Bella stiffened and glared at Aro. "You don't know a thing about his soul."

Aro just smiled. "How romantic, but as they say, love is blind."

"My love is not blind," she argued.

Imperiously, Aro moved closer, invading her space, his fingers almost fluttering around her. "So do you really mean it?"

"Mean what?" she stammered, her courage now slowly disappearing.

"That you will give up your life for Edward."

Bella didn't hesitate. "Yes, kill me and let him go." She meant it too. However, she also felt like the floor was collapsing beneath her. Unable to look Aro in the eye, she stared down at her hands.

Aro reached out and lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "But my dear, I don't want to kill you," he said, his voice no longer soft. "I want you in my coven."

"Your coven?" Nervously, she looked over at Alice, who shook her head.

"Don't do it, Bella," Edward cried until Felix knock him sideways.

Aro stood deathly still, waiting for her answer.

Bella started to tremble. What was he asking her to do? Join the Volturi? "You promise to let him go."

"Yes, I will today," Aro said smoothly. "But I cannot promise that will always be the case. If he breaks the law again, I will have no choice but to carry out his punishment."

Aro was so close now, Bella could actually smell him. His scent was so odd, like fresh cut marble, lavender, and linen. And he was so beautiful with his porcelain skin and silky dark hair. His hands were fine-looking with elegantly long fingers that tapered at the end.

"I don't know," she said, glancing over at Edward, his face a mask of rage. She had never loved anyone like she loved him. There was no way she could watch them rip off his head. Would it be so terrible, she wondered?

She had always wanted to be a vampire. Maybe after she served Aro, he would let her go.

"All right I'll do it."

"Wonderful." Aro smiled and raised his hands, bringing them together. "You don't know how happy this makes me."

"No, I won't let you do this-" Edward hollered, but he was quickly silenced by Felix.

Aro had already dismissed him, changing positions, turning Bella so her back was to Edward. "First, I want you to pledge your undying loyalty and service."

Bella nodded, but she was nonplussed. What exactly was she supposed to say?

Aro motioned to the floor. "Kneel," he commanded.

With trembling hands, Bella fell to her knees. Too scared to look at Aro, she stared at his shiny black boots.

However, Aro had no intention of her looking away. Reaching down, he lifted her chin. "Look at me."

Bella obeyed.

"Repeat after me: I Isabella Swan, do hereby pledge that I will do my best to protect, serve and obey the Volturi Coven. To make my dwelling Volterra, Italy. To travel far and wide to render this service in any capacity they request and to live by this oath."

Bella almost choked on the words, but she repeated the pledge. She then kissed Aro's gold ruby ring when he held out his hand to her.

Behind her, she could hear Edward struggling. Her mind was spinning. Her body stiff.

What have I done?

Aro, smiled, clearly pleased and waved his hand. "You may rise."

Slowly, Bella pushed herself off the floor.

"I am now your master," he instructed. "You will call me, Signore."

"Yes, Signore."

"Very good. You're a quick learner, my dear. I like that." He turned to Jane. "Take Signorina Swan to the Rose room. I will be in shortly."

"Yes, Master." Jane glared at her, almost sneering as she motioned Bella to follow her.

Bella did as she was told, but before she closed the door, she glanced back at Edward.

He was furious, still fighting Felix, but then he looked at her and stopped. You shouldn't have done it, his eyes told her. It was almost as if he was disgusted with her.

"Take young Edward and Alice to Pisa," Aro told Felix and Demetri, wiping his hands. "And make sure they get on the plane. As for you, young Edward. " He pointed his finger. "I think you're a menace. I don't want to see you back in my court, do you understand. After all, we don't want to make Bella's sacrifice to be in vain now, do we?"

Edward growled in anger.

Bella shook her head and turned away, tears filling her eyes. She hadn't wanted this, not really. She had expected to die, but now she felt like throwing up. What had she condemned herself to? This was not the sacrifice she thought she would be making.

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