So here is the next chapter of the story. Sorry iy has taken me so long to post this. The summer is my very busy time, I'm lucky to be home long enough to do anything more then laundry and sleep. I have started the next chapter, but I cannot say when it will be finished, let alone posted as I try to have the next chapter started before I do...

"Holy Crap, you're Marcus," Isabella gasped out interrupting Demetri. "You're one of the Volturi Leaders." Demetri watched then as Isabella's brain caught up with her mouth. Within seconds she blushed a dark red, her hand shot up to cover her mouth, her heart started to speed, her eyes slammed shut, and she spun around to bury herself in Demetri's chest.

"Apparently, she has been better informed than we originally thought," Marcus said calmly with a small smile.

It was not his intention to frighten the girl anymore than she already was, but at his words she cowered further into Demetri's chest. Demetri had started to chuckle at Isabella's reactions, but as she tried to move to hide behind him the laugh changed into a low growl deep in his chest as his instincts kicked in. Marcus, seeing the change in son, the eyes turning from rubies to solid black and his body stiff and ready to defend, quickly dropped his eyes to his desk, slightly bared his neck and waited.

Demetri watched as his Sire, a Leader of the Volturi, gave off as much submission as he could without giving up his authority. When Demetri was sure that Marcus would not move, or threaten his Mate in anyway, he turned his attention to the frightened girl in front of him. Carefully, Demetri wound his arms around Isabella's waist, pulling her back to his front and flush against his chest, his hands clasped behind her back. Once he had her caught, he lowered his cheek to hers and rubbed his against hers a few times and started to purr softly in her ear. Slowly, even though he was sure Isabella didn't understand why, she started to calm; her breathing evened out, her heart slowed back to normal, and her muscles started to relax.

"Gatiki," Demetri whispered softly as he continued to purr, "do you remember what I told you before?" She nodded against his chest. "Do you think I would bring you somewhere that would cause me to break my word?" Still not moving from her spot she shook her head no. "Think we can try introductions again?" There was a quick shake of the head. "Why not?"

"He must think me a blithering idiot or a threat to the secret," Isabella whispered, not bothering to raise her head from his chest while her hands fisted themselves in his shirt. "At this point, I'm not sure which one is worse."

"Sweetheart," Marcus said softly as he reminded the two that he was still in the room, and even though she tensed up slightly, Marcus continued, "I can assure you that neither are the case."

Marcus slowly raised his eyes from his desk and waited patiently for Isabella to make the next move. He did take this time to observe the girl that brought out his son's baser instincts. From what he could see the girl was beautiful, or at least would be again once she was healthy. But, it was not her appearance that caught Marcus' attention. She was wearing Demetri's cloak. The guard's cloak was a symbol of rank and status, each one different depending on the owner. With her in Demetri's cloak, to the other guards, he was marking her as his.

Demetri stood there silently and watched Isabella, her emotions played across her face as she thought. Taking a deliberate breath she took a half step back, not enough to break Demetri's hold on her, and slowly relaxed her fingers from his shirt. When her hands were back at her side she raised her head and looked at him. He gave her a small smile and a gentle nod. Taking another deep breath Isabella turned around and faced Marcus.

"I apologize," Isabella said with her eyes trained on Demetri's hands that were now clasped in front of her, her own fingers playing along his. "I normally think before speaking, I did not obviously do that now." She lifted her head and peered at the vampire still sitting behind the desk. "I blame stress," she deadpanned.

It was finally this that made Demetri crack. The laugh that he was holding in from her outburst finally let loose; he threw his head back and laughed, hard. But he wasn't the only one. It started slow, first with a twitch of his lips, a snort through his nose; but soon Marcus too was laughing. Isabella stood there giggling along with them.

"There is no reason to apologize," Marcus said with a shake of his head as he stood from his desk and started a slow path toward his son as not to set Demetri's instincts off again, "you did nothing wrong."

"Still," she started to argue.

"Still, nothing," Marcus said interrupting her. "You were right thought," he said trying to get things back on track, "I am Marcus."

"He is also my Sire, or father, if you will," Demetri said with a fond smile.

Isabella started to nervously play with Demetri's fingers more so, "So, what's going to happen to me now?"

"You mean besides sitting by the fire to warm up," Demetri said teasingly.

"Well of course," she said nodding, then stopped as his words seemed to sunk into her brain. "Wait, what?"

"Please, Isabella," Marcus said coming to stand in front of the pair, "I can see the blue tinge to your lips and the water still hanging off your shoes." Slowly, giving Demetri time to react, he offered his hand to her; when he didn't Marcus continued, "I would feel better, and I know Demetri would too, if you would come and sit near the fire."

"I don't understand," she said shaking her head, "but please, call me Bella."

"If you wish," Marcus said with a nod as he offered his hand again; this time she readily took it as Demetri released her.

"This is so different than what I thought would happen," Bella said still shaking her head as she let Marcus lead her to one of the chairs. "I thought for sure I would be in a cell or worst, dead or changing."

What she saw true, from everything she had heard from the Cullen's, she never expected to be sitting next to a fire. Carlisle, having lived with the Volturi for sometime, had strong respect for the Leaders; but even he wouldn't want to cross them. Jasper was another to make sure she knew that the Volturi were not vampires that she wanted to cross. Edward, while understanding the need for a higher form of government, thought they were tyrants and pure evil. Bella had heard his opinions so many times that she had started to believe it herself. But now that she was faced with two members, one being a Leader, she wasn't sure what to believe.

"I assure you, Dolca," Marcus said coming to sit in the seat across from the girl as Demetri growled lowly in his chest, "that we are not always how we appear to the public. Now, we are going to table this discussion for now, at least until you get warm."

Bella's head turned to look at Demetri who was now standing next to her chair, "But, you won't keep me in the dark, right? I've had enough of that from others; not that there is much I can do, still though, I won't put up with it."

"You have my word," Demetri said with a short bow. His eyes flicked to Marcus then back to Bella's; somehow he figured that Cullen kept many things from her. Life was hard enough, why make it harder than it needed to be.

Bella scanned his face looking to see if he truly was sincere; when she was satisfied with what she saw, she nodded, "I'll hold you to that."

Marcus, noticing that both were busy with each other, he took the moment to study the couple before him. He had chosen not to use his gift before, allowing his observations to work for him. Without the confirmation of his gift, Marcus could make an estimated guess that with Demetri's reactions, that Isabella was his Mate. And he couldn't be more happy for his son. Even though Marcus missed Didyme with his entire being, he was excited for Demetri; there was nothing better in the world other then a Mate.

Even though Marcus was sure about the connection of the pair, he knew that his brothers would want proof. With them still having eyes for only for each other, Marcus allowed himself draw his gift to the forefront of his mind. Without being obvious he let his eyes cloud over as he turned his attention onto his son. As the bonds that Demetri held came into focus Marcus couldn't keep his pride hidden when he saw the thick, solid brown family bond between him and Demetri; even though they were not bound by blood, they were father and son. The next strongest bond was exactly what Marcus was looking for; shining brightly was the slightly metallic, pearlescent white bond of Mates.

The bond was there, that was for sure; but there was something strange. While the bond was strongly wrapped around Demetri himself but also tangled with each and every other bond he held. The knotted ropes clearly went toward Isabella, but then stopped as if hitting an invisible wall right before her. Marcus had never seen anything like that before. To make things even more strange, he could not see any bonds for Isabella; she had nothing, as if she had never met anyone ever in her life.

Surprised, and a little worried, Marcus turned his gift on himself; just to confirm to him that it was indeed working. The ties to his brothers were strong, as was the one for Demetri, the blue tinged ties of friends still glowed, and the black broken tie to his lost wife was ever present; but there hiding among the others were a newly, ever growing brown tie shooting out reaching for Isabella. But, just as before, it stopped mier feet from the girl.

Confused, Marcus pushed his power slightly away; allowing his vampiric enhanced eyesight to come forward more. As soon as he focused on the girl again Marcus finally saw what was going on. He had thought that the bonds were being stopped, but when he looked closer he saw what was happening; his first thought was farthest from the truth. The bonds weren't stopping, they were going to the girl; it was his gift that was being blocked. He had heard that she was able to block the mind-reader, but to have his gift blocked as well was not something he would have thought was possible.

It was surprise that kept him staring at the girl in front of him even as Demetri tried to tempt her with something warm to drink. It was a sweet moment, to see his son leaning against the chair while making sure his cloak was wrapped around his mate; when he was done to then tuck a errant section of hair back behind her ear. It was then as she turned her head away and started to blush that Marcus saw it; the barrier flickered. Not once, not twice; but three times.

He couldn't hold in his gasp, even if he tried. The glimpses weren't long, but it was just enough for Marcus to see. He didn't see everything, but he saw enough. What he did see was enough to make his heart soar and ache at the same time. How could someone be so damaged and still be living, let alone functional?

At his sound both Bella and Demetri turned in his direction. "Have you decided on what you wanted to drink? There is a chef on premise for the human employees, and I'm sure that he will make you anything you wish. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate?"

Bella started to shake her head, "I know that human food can smell horrible for you; I don't want to be a bother." She remembered how even though Edward, and especially Emmett, liked to watch her eat, they would still wrinkle their noses at the smell.

"In the younger of our kind it can a slight irritant, but the older we become the more we find that we can handle the smell better. I know that there are certain food smells that remind me of my childhood," Marcus said with soft smile. "So in a way, you would be making my day brighter."

"How could you refuse now," Demetri said giving a quick wink to Marcus as he looked to Bella waiting for her next move. He could tell that she was trying to think of something.

Bella tried to think of another reason to decline, she didn't want to be seen as a burden. There had to be reason that they were keeping her alive, not that she was complaining; and she didn't want them to change her mind because she too much trouble or too needy. She was cold though, and even though the warmth of the fire was helping a hot drink would be nice.

"I think with the way my stomach feels right now hot tea would be nice, thank you," she finally said with a little huff as she sat further back in the chair.

"Then it would be my honor," Demetri said with an over dramatic bow to Bella, "to have someone else get that for you," he finished with a wink. Bella's hand went to her mouth as she giggled at his silliness and Marcus chuckled with her. "Now, if you excuse me, I'll step into the hall and make a phone call."

The mood changed instantaneously. Bella's hand reached out and snagged Demetri's wrist as he turned. "You're not leaving, are you," she asked, her eyes wide with panic, her hand never letting go of his wrist. "It's not that I don't think I'm safe with you," she said turning back to Marcus. "It's just that-"

Demetri fell to his knees as he carefully removed his wrist from Bella's hold. Before she could say anything, he gathered her into his arms, put her head under his chin, and started to purr. It amazed him that even though Bella was unaware of their bond, that her body, and mind, reacted just as a Mate should to his ministrations. His arms held her tight against her as he waited for her to calm.

When Demetri was sure that Bella was calming he softened the intensity of his purr and spoke in between the light vibrations, " Fo̱s Mou, it is alright. I understand that this is all new for you, and that you are scared; but be assured in me and my word. Even out in the hall, I am with you. Even if I were thousands of miles away from you, I would be with you. Now that I have met you, there is nowhere you could hide, or far enough someone could take you, that I could not find you. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Bella nodded against his chest then stopped, "no, not really. I don't understand the connection between-"

"I know you don't, Agapi̱ménos, and I will explain; soon. Until then, I want you to listen to that connection and know that even if you cannot see me, I am always near. Can you do that?"

Bella nodded, "You're only going to be out in the hall, right?"

"Yes," Demetri said kissing her hair then pulling away slightly. Looking into her eyes he said, "I will be just outside the door, the one and only entrance into the room. The only way in will be through me; you will be safe in here with Marcus. You can trust him as you trust me."

"Okay," she said softly quickly wiping the few traitorous tears that had fallen in her panic.

Demetri searched her face making sure that Bella was truly alright with him leaving the room. Seeing that she was as calm as she was going to get, he gave a quick nod before standing. Bending down he kissed her hair one more time and said into her hair, "I will just be out in the hall, if for any reason you need me; say my name and I will be here in an instant. For any reason at all."

Bella gave another nod before pulling her arms away and wrapped them around herself. "I'll be fine. Just be quick?"

"Anything for you," Demetri said with a tight smile then turning and leaving the room.

Marcus watched his new daughter stare after his son, her eyes never leaving the door after it closed after Demetri. Bella's arms wrapped around her stomach as if to hold her together. Marcus was sure that she was unaware that she was evening doing it. Bella didn't move, she didn't try to start a conversation with him, nor did she try to plead for her life like Marcus thought she would; not that she needed to. She just kept her gaze on the door almost willing Demetri to walk back through it.

Marcus gently cleared his throat not wanting to spook the girl anymore than she already was. When Bella whipped her wide eyes back in his direction he tried to bring her into a conversation and to reassure her that he meant her no harm. "Now Bella-"

"I'm sorry, Marcus, Sir. I didn't mean to insinuate that you would harm me. I just-"

Marcus' hands shot out in front of him to stop her. "I completely understand Bella," he said softly. "A lot of things have happened to you today, and in the last few months, and I can almost guarantee you that there will be more; so you have every reason to be on edge."

"Can you tell me what is going on? Why everything feels so...strange?"

"I can tell you some things," Marcus replied, "but some things are better explained by others."

"Will you tell me what you know? What you can," Bella pleaded.

Marcus rested his elbows on the armrests of his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him as he thought. This could go both ways; she wanted answers, and so did Marcus. Demetri would want information too, but if Marcus could get Bella talking then not only could Demetri listen discreetly, but then not have to bring up an uncomfortable subject with his Mate. The downfall would be if Marcus upset Bella too much and Demetri acted on his Mate being upset.

"I will make you a bargain," Marcus started calmly as he peered over his fingers as the young girl across from him, "I tell you what I can but-"

Bella interrupted him. "How can I make a bargain with you? You hold all the cards, have all the power."

Marcus cocked an eyebrow but made no other movement. "You will find how little power I own soon enough. What I was talking about was sharing information about yourself. You see, we only know what Mister Cullen knew; and, I have to say, I am intrigued and want to know more about you. Maybe see your side of what has happened."

"There is nothing special-"

"Still, I would like to know," Marcus spoke softly, cutting her off before she could put herself down any more. Somewhere this young girl had lost any self-worth she had for herself. If Marcus was a betting man, he would put everything had on it being from the actions of Mister Cullen; the bonds that he say earlier helped his bet. His son would have a long fight on his hands fixing his Mate, but the mating instincts would help, as would the family.

"What would you like to know," Bella asked shifting in her seat, almost instinctively adjusting her body to be nearer the door and Demetri on the other side.

"You moved in with your father after your mother remarried," Marcus questioned choosing to start with something light and easy.

Bella nodded as she spoke, her eyes moving back to watch the door, "She wanted to travel with Phil when he went away, and she couldn't with me there. At least that was the reason I gave my dad; though I think he suspected there might be another reason."

"And that was?"

Bella then shrugged with little care, "I was in the way. With Phil around my mother no longer needed me to take care of her; Phil could do it. Plus, having a teenager in the house was cramping her sex life."

Marcus just sat there. He could not believe that this sweet, caring, big-hearted girl was sitting there talking how inconsequential she was in her mother's life. Marcus rapidly shifted through the information that Aro had gotten from the boy. Bella explaining how she took care of her mother. Learning to cook at a young age. Learning to pay pills and balance accounts. Getting a small job after school to help. Keeping her mother from doing anything really stupid. Bella went from being the parent to her parent, to immaterial and insignificant; nothing more than a casual observer in her mother's life. Marcus started to back off his bet on the Cullen boy being the sole reason for Bella's low self-worth. Edward may have played off of the insecurity, but it was clear that it had started before they met.

"And your father? He treats you well," asked Marcus calmly. He was trying to make heads or tails of the few bond lines that he had seen in the little glimpse that he got earlier. There was a parental line; while clearly there, it was thin and strained. It made Marcus wonder to which parent the line lead too, but in listening to Bella he was sure now that it lead to the father and not the mother.

"Why would you ask that," Bella said quickly, her eyes snapping to him. Marcus made no move to respond, when he didn't Bella furrowed her brow for a moment and gave a sigh. "Yeah, he was surprised when I called and asked him if I could come, but he has been pretty good about it." As she spoke, and thought, her gaze lingered anywhere but at Marcus, it made him think he was afraid of what he might think of her. "I mean, who wouldn't be a little fearful of having a teenager come live with them? I have been pretty easy to live with, well until recently anyway. Charlie has lived alone for so long it is hard to get him out of his routines, so I just fit myself around them. Making sure that the house is picked up and that there is a warm meal for when he gets home, or before he goes in. It is almost like living alone when living with Charlie," she said with a little shrug. "It is nothing like living with mom.

"I haven't given him much reason to worry, again until recently. I'm going to be in so much trouble when I," her eyes flicked to Marcus then to the door and away again, "if I get to go home. It's funny," Bella gave a wistful smile, "I kinda look forward to it."

"Why's that?"

"It means he cares," she said turning to look at Marcus full on. The look of sadness tore at his soul. Is this why she latched on to the Cullens so strongly? That she was so desperate for a family, one that she could be taken care of instead of the other way around, that she jumped at the first one that she saw?

There were two questions that Marcus desperately what to know the answers to. But even if he wanted to know the answers, he didn't want to know. He didn't want to have her answer them. Didn't want to see the pain she went through to do so. And just by her actions today, Marcus knew he was not going to like the answers either way. The brothers, and the few high ranking guard members, knew how the boy 'broke up' with Bella. The Brothers knew the things that he told her, there would be no reason to ask her to repeat them. Aro had seen everything from the boy's head, and Caius and Marcus being pretty creative, were able to draw a good mental picture themselves.

What Marcus wanted to know was what happened after. It was clear with eyes to see, that Bella was not well. Was it because of something that happened after the boy left? Was she sick? Was it something that could be cured with medical help? Or would she have to be turned to be healthy? It would be better for the bond if Bella could stay human and let things come at their own time. Not saying the change would be a bad option, but it wouldn't be the first one that Marcus would choose.

The other thing that he wanted to was why had Bella come to save the boy? If, after everything he had said, everything that happened, she believed him, way was she here? It was apparent that she was informed about, at least, some of their laws and the Volturi; so what had she planned to do? Was she here because she still cared for the boy? Or was it out of a sense of something else? Loyalty to the Cullens? Was she here under duress?

The choice was which one to ask first? Marcus was sure that both were going to be hard questions to answer. And while his new daughter has been very forthcoming, eventually things will become too much. There was a good chance that Bella would shut down, or go into hysterics; either way Demetri was going to react. How was another question.

With a sigh Marcus steeled himself and asked, "What happened after Mister Cullen left?"

Bella turned with a sigh toward the fire, "You know, I seriously thought that would be your first question. Can you do one thing for me though?"

"I can try," Marcus answered simply.

"I don't want to have to repeat this over and over, can you promise that I won't have to?"

Marcas has happy that it would be something so simple. "Of course. I will make sure that those in the know will he informed; as long as I have your permission?"

"You have it. Telling it once is going to be hard enough."

"Then it will be done. Though can I make a suggestion?" Bella nodded. "You would be surprised how much healing can be done by letting others hold your sorrow for a while."

Bella's gaze again found the closed door of the room and lingered there for few moments before she turned again to Marcus and nodded. She slowly toed out of her shoes, then pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs. "You are aware that he left me in the woods?"

Marcus nodded slowly, "You don't need to relive that figlia. Aro read him when he first arrived, we know what he said and what his intentions were."

"So did he know anything about after," Bella asked while she laid her head on her knees. "He doesn't know that I tried to follow after him? That I got lost and found close to hyperthermia by," she paused there, "by two men from the-"

"Sweetheart, we know of the shifters," Marcus interrupting her.

"You do?" He nodded, Bella gave a small sigh. "Well, then I was found by two members of the pack who brought me home. Physically, I was fine, but mentally not so much. You have to understand," Bella turned to face Marcus again, but never raised her head from her knees, "as first, yes I was mourning for the loss of Edward. He was my first real boyfriend. But the more I truly thought about it, I realized how bad he was for me.

"Then it was for the loss of, what I had come to feel as, my second family. I already told you that my childhood wasn't the norm. So to find two people that were the perfect example of parents in Carlisle and Esme, was my dream come true. To find the best brother bear in Emmett, the greatest sister in Alice, even if she did force me to shop, and my stoic protector in Jasper, even the Bitchy older sister in Rosalie; was an extra blessing. It didn't matter to me that they weren't exactly human, they were my family.

"They all left. Left me with nothing, like I was nothing." Bella's hand shot up and wiped the tears that had started to fall. "Marcus, am I not good enough to be loved?"

Before Marcus could answer he heard a ruckus out in the hall. He expected to see Demetri come storming back into the room, after all his Mate was in distress. Even with their bond in the infancy, Demetri should be able to feel an echo of Bella's emotions. Thankfully Bella was still so wrapped in her memory that she missed the crashing, of what Marcus assumed was the antique table in the hall, and that Demetri stayed in the hall after all that Marcus did not have to recapture Bella's attention.

"Bella," he gently reached over and ran his fingers lightly along her arm, "there is nothing wrong with you, you did nothing to deserve to be treated the way you were. I promise you, that we will get to the bottom of what happened; and due justice will be given to those that hurt you. It will never happen again, do you understand?" Bella nodded slowly. "Good," he said leaning back into his chair, "now, do you feel up to finishing your tale?"

"Might as well," Bella said with a little shrug. "There is no point in not." Taking a deep breath, Bella started again.

"Of course it took me a few months to realize it was all of the Cullens, not just Edward, that I missed. In that time, I basically became part of the walking dead. I didn't eat much, couldn't sleep without nightmares, didn't care about anything; I just went to school then home. It was only a few weeks ago that I started spending time with an old friend from the reservation, I just recently found out that he was part of the shifter pack. I know he wants more than friendship, but he will always be my adopted brother. It's not what he wants to hear of course, but my heart was lost with Edward and I am not sure it can be found again."

"Nothing is a lost cause, Bella," Marcus said bringing her focus back on him. "You need to open yourself up for the possibility of love. You'll be surprised how close you really are to finding what you thought you lost."

"And give someone false hope? What if I can't be put back together? I won't hurt an innocent person like that," she said with a shake of her head.

"Oh sweet figlia of mine," Marcus said sadly at the heartbroken look on Bella's face. Slowly, as to not frighten her, Marcus lowered himself to his knees in front of Bella and took her hands into his. "I know things look bleak for you, that you feel alone in the world, and you have no reason to believe me, but you are not alone. The moment Demetri put his cloak around you, the world became much bigger for you."

"I don't understand, I haven't understood anything really since Alice came back to Forks to get me," Bella said with shake of her head. "WIth her cryptic messages about seeing things wrong and needing to fix things, Demetri's promise to keep me safe, and now you treating me so kindly. Was that really a sewer drain I dropped through or was it a rabbit hole?"

Marcus chuckled as her inference of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. "I assure you la mia amica del cuore," he said wiping the tear tracks from Bella's cheeks, "that this is no dream and there won't be a white rabbit running out somewhere."

Bella smiled slightly though she still sniffed a little, "No Red Queens, or Mad Hatters either?"

He grimaced slightly, but the smile still peaked through. "Well, Sulpicia does love to wear red, and Aro does lean toward the strange side sometimes. Does that count," Marcus asked as he moved back into his chair. Bella's hand shot up and covered her mouth as she giggled. "That giggle is a beautiful sound," Marcus said with a smile happy to see that Bella was starting to come out of her darkness.

"May I ask another question," he asked very wary that this could lead Bella back into the poor mood.

"Of course you can," Bella said with a nod. "Who am I to tell you no?"

"You'll do just that, if at any time I become too invasive, or it gets too personal and hard to answer. I grant you that I want information, but not at the expensive of you. Everything can wait a time," Marcus said sternly. "Understand?"

Bella nodded rapidly, "Yes sir."

"Do you still want to answer my question?"

"I guess," Bella said with a shrug.

Marcus gave a heavy sigh, but he needed to know or he wouldn't ask. "If Mr Cullen hurt you so badly, why did you come with his sister?"

"Because Alice asked me," Bella answered simply.

"It wasn't because you care for the boy?"

Bella stared into the fire. The room was silent but for the sound of the wood crackling in the fireplace and Bella's breathing and heartbeat. It seemed the entire world was waiting with baited breath for Bella's answer. Marcus was just going to prompt her again when at last she spoke.

"I don't," she started softly eyes still on the flames, "at least not in the way he may think me too. He hurt me when he left, it almost killed me. There is no going back from that. Maybe in the future I may find a way to sit in the same room with him and not picture plucking every hair from his body one by one then breaking every bone in his body, wait for them to heal and then do it again."

"Then why come at all?"

"Just because I want Edward in pain does not mean I want him dead," Bella said finally turning back to Marcus. "I couldn't do that to the rest of the Cullens. If Edward dies then Carlisle and Esme lose their son, and the others lose their brother. I could not have that on my conscious," she ended with a shake of her head.

"What would you lose if you were unsuccessful? You knew there was a chance you would be too late, or that you would be caught by the guard?"

Bella shrugged. "I have been running on borrowed time for a while. Even with Alice's promises of success, I knew there was a possibility that something would happen. I figured this way my death would be quick and rather painless."

And that was when all hell broke lose.