Disclaimer: Only this fan fiction belongs to me, not the real thing.

A/N: Yes, guys. This is the FINAL CHAPTER. Yeah, I know it's really hard to believe. O_O Thanks to Edward-is-sexier-than-Mike, TwilighterAnonymous89, Kyoki, hoot13, Nightwatcher'sunknowngirl, Emma-girl, Izzabel, november21, -X-X-TEAM-EMMETT-X-X, Live Like We're Dying, and ahaaaa for reviewing all through this story. Also, special thanks goes out to LayanaKysira, who is planning to translate this very story in German! :D

22. THE VOLTURI

I ran, ignoring the betrayal of my body, still weak from James biting me and Edward apparently draining away the lethal venom. My mind was still fuzzy as I staggered through the fading sunlight, branches clawing at my exposed skin and slight rain blowing mercilessly against my face. I could only pray that I was going the right way to get home, because I really had no idea.

I noticed in the cold breeze assaulting my bare arms that my jacket was gone, but my thoughts didn't stay long on the missing article of clothing. I was too busy running for my life at that moment to consider it for more than a few seconds.

Edward. Oh God, Edward. I couldn't steer my thoughts away from him as I raced blindly through the trees. The tortured look that I had seen on his face when we'd parted ways wouldn't go away, remaining crystal clear in my mind's eye. I felt like a piece of me had been torn away, as though my very heart and soul had been ripped from my chest.

It was absurd, since we'd only just met a little while ago, and because I'd been terrified of him for about half of our relationship, but I couldn't stop myself. The thought of never seeing him again made me want to stop where I was and start sobbing, regardless if James and his cronies caught up with me or not.

It didn't feel like I had anything left to live for.

Suddenly, my feet flew out from under me as they came in contact with a misplaced ditch. I stumbled, arms flailing frantically, and rolled jarringly down the small incline. I barely missed landing in a puddle of dirty water, and lay on the muddy ground gasping for air, tears of both fear and despair overflowing from my eyes as I tried to keep breathing. I felt like a jagged hole was slowly growing in my chest, becoming larger and larger...

"Bella?"

I looked up, trying in vain to hold back the gasps of air still trying to burst from my lips, and saw Mike Newton standing just a few feet away. He had been poised to climb into the backseat of an idling car, in which his parents already sat in the front seat, grimfaced. "M…Mike?" I stuttered with surprise, trying to think of a plausible excuse for tumbling out of the trees and apparently landing in his front yard. But nothing really came to mind.

"Michael, we've got to go," Mrs. Newton said grimly through the open window, something that looked suspiciously like fear on her face. I swallowed hard at the expression she wore, unable to understand why I felt such a sense of wrongness in the air.

Mike glanced hurriedly over his shoulder at her, looking panicked. Then, as though making a split-second decision, he hurried over and helped me to my feet. I tried not to wince, so he wouldn't think anything was too suspicious about the current situation. Though it was probably already too late for that. "Come on, Bella. You've go to come with us," he said quickly, turning and leading me towards the car without waiting for my reply.

I climbed inside, then scooted over across the seat so he could get in behind me. As soon as the door had closed, Mr. Newton sped out of the driveway, gravel crunching beneath his tires. Neither he nor his wife saw fit to greet me, and dread slowly began growing inside me.

Just what exactly was going on?

The drive was both silent and awkward, with no one saying anything or even turning on the radio. Even Mike didn't speak, his face pale and sick-looking. Mr. Newton drove until we reached the school parking lot, which was overflowing with cars. It looked like the whole town had turned up for whatever was going on. As soon as he turned off the engine, I hurriedly opened my door and climbed out, glad to be free. My whole body was starting to ache, but my mind was more on the hundreds of people walking slowly past, converging on the center of the parking lot.

"Bella!" Charlie's voice was quiet, and yet it still managed to reach me. Without even pausing to say thanks to Mike or his parents, I turned and ran to him, pushing unprotesting people aside. It was like something from a zombie movie. He threw his arms around me when I finally reached him, kicking the door of his cruiser closed. "Oh, Bella, I've been looking all over for you! I couldn't find you anywhere, and I…I thought–"

"Dad, what's going on?" I whispered, pulling back from him and yet still staying close as we started walking forward with all the other citizens of Forks. "Mike didn't tell me anything, and I'm not really sure what's–"

My heart started thudding almost painfully against the inside of my chest as I saw them, and my legs involuntarily began shaking. Three of them stood front and center, wearing expensive robes of clothing and jewels that glittered in the darkness. One of them had a gaunt face that reminded me of a corpse with rotting flesh. Another had his long hair neatly combed back, a look of pleasure spread across his face. And the last of the trio was blonde and especially pale, terrifyingly crimson eyes flickering across all of us with startling clarity.

Other stood behind them, with the same horrifying red eyes and smug expressions. With them were James, Laurent, and Victoria, standing tall and strong. Laurent was holding the back of a robed figure's neck, and I felt sorry for whoever was hidden in its velvety depths. I somehow knew that whoever was under that robe would be used as an example, a way to strike fear into the hearts of the people of Forks.

"We've been summoned, Bella," Charlie whispered gravely to me. And even though he didn't say anything else, I knew that this wasn't good. He took my hand, holding me back within the crowd of people, keeping me from getting any closer. I glanced at those around me, and saw Mike standing with his family. He was paler than he had in the car, and a look of horror was painted across his boyish features.

And then the vampire with the look of pleasure on his face spoke, and I felt the tension in the air increase tenfold, the hairs on my arms rising. "We," he said in a deep voice that echoed frighteningly into my very soul, "are the Volturi. I am Aro, and these are Marcus and Caius. We are those who are over the Cullens, whom I'm sure all of you know." He waited for several seconds, as though expecting someone to verbally agree. Needless to say, no one did. "But the Cullens are gone now, and they won't be coming back. They were protecting this town from…what we wished to do with it, but no more."

I glanced around, and saw the confusion dawning on everyone's faces. What he had said about the Cullens protecting Forks obviously hadn't missed their attention.

"It has recently come to our attention that the Cullens have fraternized with a human, telling her the secrets of our…clandestine world." Aro smiled dangerously, lips curling back to reveal white teeth.

Charlie's clammy hand clutched mine even tighter than before, and I knew he was afraid not only for himself, but for me. He obviously suspected that I was involved in what was happening here tonight, probably because of the mud all over my clothes, and I could only pray that no one else noticed.

"This is strictly forbidden, and we, naturally, cannot allow such a terrible mistake to go unpunished," Aro declared. "And so we bring the human traitor before you now, for punishment. She will be executed, to show all of you what happens when you go against our severe Law."

I flinched, muscles tensing as I waited for them to spring at me and viciously drain me of my blood. Edward, I love you, I thought desperately, my only hope being that my death would be quick and virtually painless.

Unexpectedly, James pushed the cloaked figure forward, and it fell at Caius's feet. The blonde vampire smirked haughtily, then leaned down and ripped the black robes away. I felt a surge of shock, eyes widening and mouth dropping open. Angela Weber lay on the ground, tears marking her cheeks and a gag roughly tied around her bloodied lips. She was wearing my missing jacket, and mud stained the bottoms of her jeans, which looked suspiciously like the pair I was wearing. And if that wasn't enough, I could easily see from where I was standing the strange mark on her neck. My hand fluttered of its own accord to my own neck, brushing against the painful scar Edward had left there.

What had the Cullens done?

"This is the traitor with whom the Cullens have been playing with," Marcus grunted out, ghastly face showing no emotion whatsoever. "And we all know that it's wrong to play with our food." He cackled, several other members of the Volturi joining in. I noticed that a slim vampire behind the rest didn't laugh with them, her lips twisting with disgust at their merriment.

"And so, of course, the traitor must die." Aro casually ripped the gag from Angela's mouth, and a sob of despair fell immediately from her lips. Smiling benevolently at her, he hauled her to her feet like a sack of potatoes, carelessly passing her body to Caius. The vampire held her at arm's length, presenting her to Aro once more.

You could have heard a pin drop in that parking lot. Everything had gone horribly silent, leaving the soft pattering of the rain as the only sound. Ice began growing around my heart as I stared with horror at Angela's tearstained face. "N-n-no. Pl-please don't do this," she whimpered pleadingly, quiet voice managing to carry all the way across the eerily silent parking lot.

"I'm really quite sorry. But it's just business, you see." Aro reached out, placing both hands casually around her neck. I could see her choking, and one hand flew to cover my mouth. He violently wrenched his grip to one side, and a look of horror froze upon Angela's face. There was a horrible cracking sound, then she went limp. Both Aro and Caius released her, and she fell into a discarded pile of flesh and clothing on the ground. Blood, black in the darkness, pooled grotesquely around her.

Several people screamed, and I thought I heard the vaguely familiar voice of Mr. Weber sobbing her name. Then a sudden gesture from Marcus silenced them. Tears continued to form in my eyes as I tore my gaze from Angela's body, and I wiped them furiously away when they began to blur my vision.

Aro nonchalantly rubbed his hands against the sides of his robe, exchanging a jolly look with Marcus. "Well, now that this little bit of business is done with, we have just a bit more to finish up with. These are James, Victoria, and Laurent. They will be the new governing hands over Forks, while we return to our own base of operations. Needless to say, they have brought along some…reinforcements to help keep the peace. I'm sure you'll all be very helpful to them, since they're quite new to Washington, and obey everything they order you to do."

I couldn't help the gasp of horror that burst from my lungs, eyes involuntarily flickering towards the said vampires. As though on cue, more living shadows moved swiftly from the trees near the edge of the parking lot. There were at least thirty other vampires present now, apparently the 'reinforcements' that James and his friends had called in.

"We also have a human associate, who will be monitoring the situation here in Forks for us," Aro went on. "Gianna has not yet arrived, but I'm sure all of you will enjoy meeting her. She is quite the lovely human, with exceptional blood."

I felt nauseous, and swayed slightly on my feet. Charlie quickly put one arm around my shoulder, allegedly assuming that I felt faint. But I did, though probably for different reasons that he thought. If only the Cullens hadn't left. They never would have let this happen!

"But," Aro continued, exchanging a meaningful glance with James, "it is imperative that this town retains a vague air of normalcy. No one outside of Forks must suspect our presence. None of you will be allowed to leave this place, though you will be allowed outside communication." He paused significantly, glancing out over all of us. A collective shudder ran through the humans. "But remember, all communication features will be monitored, and anyone who is given the merest hint of what is happening will be exterminated."

It hit me at then, and the breath whooshed from my lungs. I could never leave Forks. I was going to be trapped there for as long as I lived, though it wasn't really looking like I would have that much of a lifespan at the moment. I would never see Renée or Phil again, never see anything of the world past these horribly green trees and landscape. Tears burned the backs of my eyelids, but I forced them back. I couldn't afford to show weakness right now.

"And other than this, your lives will continue as usual. Now that you know everything, you many return to your homes for the evenings," Aro added indulgently. "No one will hunt you tonight, but bear in mind for your own safety that the rules about fog and darkness will still apply." He smiled wolfishly. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintances. And remember that we shall all be watching."

This was an obvious dismissal, and Aro was apparently done speaking. All the humans hurriedly began to disperse, glancing fearfully at the gathered vampires as they rushed away into the night. It was obvious that they didn't trust the Volturi not to break their promise and allow the bloodsuckers to feast. I alone stood unmoving, Charlie at my side, and watched Aro and his assembled coven begin to move away. They didn't simply walk, but somehow glided. They were ghostly, otherworldly, and made my exposed arms break out in goosebumps.

My gaze fell on Angela's broken body, lying mangled on the asphalt. No one paused to take care of her, or even close her wide and staring eyes. No one cared about anything except getting away and saving themselves. My heart clenched, and I bit down hard on my lip. That could have been me abandoned on the ground like that. But because of the Cullens, I was saved.

I then noticed the crowd of dark-skinned boys standing off to one side. None other than Jacob Black was among them, looking grim. He was staring right at me, unblinking. Something in his mysterious gaze drew me, and I couldn't help swallowing hard as we stared into each other's eyes.

Then unexpectedly Jacob looked away from me, turning to one of the other Quileutes who stood with him. He didn't look back as the entire group of them bounded lightly away into the trees.

"Come on, Isabella," Charlie muttered urgently into my ear, his harsh whisper breaking me from my trance. I allowed him to pull me towards his cruiser, so we could safely return to our house, to barricade the doors and windows. Like everyone else in town, we probably wouldn't sleep tonight. Or hardly at all for the rest of our miserable lives.

I couldn't believe this was happening.

Catching a glimpse of movement from the corner of my eye, I foolishly paused in opening the passenger side door of Charlie's cruiser. James hovered at the edge of the parking lot, watching the humans scurry back to relative safety. Something glinted in his eyes as he stared right at me, and a cold smirk slowly curved his lips.

He knew.

Shuddering violently, I practically threw myself into the cruiser, slamming the door behind me. Charlie had already started the engine, and we sped without speaking from the parking lot. Neither of us bothered to buckle in, because it didn't matter if we were in a wreck. The vampires could kill us much easier, if the Volturi went back on their word. And I didn't doubt that they could, at anypossible moment. Though James and his cronies worried me even more than they did.

Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against the seat. I was beginning to feel numb, head pounding with the horrors I had witnessed tonight. I could still see the look on Angela's face as she was murdered, and hear the shrill screams of those watching. It was a living nightmare.

"Bella, I'm so sorry." Charlie's shaking voice drew me from my dark reverie, and I turned wearily to look at him, not speaking. "I shouldn't have let Renée send you here. Then you'd…still be safe." His voice broke, and he didn't, or couldn't, continue.

I only nodded briefly, not even trying to tell him the real truth. If he hadn't let Renée send me to Forks, then none of this would have ever happened. Edward and I wouldn't have fallen in love, and James wouldn't have told the Volturi that the Cullens were spilling their precious secrets to me. And…everything would still be alright here in Forks.

On the horizon, the sun was starting to come up, sending beautiful rays of pink and gold splashing across the black sky. And yet I couldn't bring myself to concentrate on the beauty of the scene. It wasn't enough to chase the Volturi and the fact that all of this was my fault from my dazed brain.

Oh Edward, I murmured silently, closing my eyes again. All of this was worth it, just to meet you. So please don't leave me like this.

I imagined that I heard his velvety voice answering me, saying that he and his family would be back to save me, to save the town. And so I opened my eyes again, already feeling comforted, and stared out the windshield as we rushed towards home.

Alright, guys. I can't believe it's over! –sniffles- Please review, and be sure to mention whether you want a sequel or not. I've already started writing one, so I sure hope so. lol Watch for New Moon Rising, which will continue directly after the ending of this story. :) And once again, thanks for sticking with the story all this time! :D