Chapter Twelve:

They walked towards us with such an air of pride and confidence, I was surprised that we didn't keel over.

I looked at the family of vampires that crowded me – Carlisle's face was calm and relaxed, as well as oddly confident. Alice's eyes were unfocused, and I presumed she was trying to get a few visions as extra precautions. Jasper's jaw was locked, and he had a protective arm around Alice's waist. Emmett was casual and comfortable, one arm slung loosely over Rosalie's shoulder. Rosalie's face was close to a smirk, as though she was thinking 'Ha, I look better than Renata and Jane.' Edward's face was impassive, though I could see a tiny fire in his eyes.

I was a bundle of nerves; I didn't know how to act with a pile of ancient vampires walking towards me!

I gulped, and trained my eyes at the portion of the Volturi that had decided to pay us a visit.

They reached us half a minute later, and stood out in a line in front of us.

"Carlisle, dear friend, we meet again!" Aro said, chuckling, and then he 'noticed' me. "I do not believe I know this young lady, Carlisle."
"This is Bella." Carlisle was short with the introductions.

I smiled half-heartedly.

"Bella, lovely to meet you!" Aro said warmly.

He was one optimistic and enthusiastic vampire.

"We know why you're here, Aro," Carlisle said bluntly, completely over the nice guy innuendo.

Aro's smile faltered.

"Then you know we have to change the girl, Carlisle," Caius said.

I flinched involuntarily.

"Do you not see the scene behind us, then, Caius?" Carlisle said, slightly rudely. It seemed he would go to any lengths to protect me. "It is Bella's staged death. We planned to change her tomorrow."

Caius' expression did not change.

I moved my eyes to Jane, and noticed she was staring at me intently, almost frowning, with a look of concentration on her face.

"Very well then!" Aro said, turning around, "We'll be off then."
I nearly laughed.

"Wait," Jane said. "Bella, do you feel any pain at the moment?"
I frowned, puzzled, and said, "No?" I answered as if questioning if I was meant to be feeling pain.

I saw a flicker of fury go through Jane's eyes.

"Are you attacking her, Jane?" Alec asked.
"Yes," Jane replied shortly. "And she isn't feeling a thing."

Aro studied me. "That's interesting. Say, Bella, would you be interested in joining us?"
Wow, way to be subtle about it.

"No, she will not." Carlisle's voice was firm.

"Very well," Aro murmured. "And I suppose neither Edward, Alice, or yourself, Carlisle, would be interested?"

"No thank you," Alice said in a cheery voice.

"Thanks for the offer, again, but I'd really rather not," Edward said.

"Likewise," Carlisle affirmed.

"Very well, very well," Aro murmured again. "I guess we really will be off then."

And with those words they turned around and ran off, gone before I could even blink.

"Well, at least I know it's not only me who can't seem to penetrate your mind," Edward said, breaking the silence.

"What was Jane trying to do to me?" I asked, kind of self conscious.

"Jane's gift is to give the illusion of pain," Jasper replied, finally unlocking his jaw.

"Well I'm glad I didn't feel it then," I muttered.

"Don't worry love, I won't let anyone hurt you," Carlisle said quietly.

A/N: And theres chapter twelve for you!

JUST KIDDING. Haha. I couldn't make it THAT short.

Anyways, onto the story.

When I woke the next morning in Carlisle's bed, the TV was on, and Carlisle was laying down next to me, watching it.

My 'death' was already all over the news.

"With the death of seventeen year old Isabella Swan looming over the town of Forks, it has become a gloomy place," the news reporter said. "Forensics confirmed the car crash was between midnight and dawn, and say that the crash was caused by slippery wheels and an oil leak, causing an explosion."

A video from Forks High School then came up, with Mike Newton staring somewhere to the left of the screen. He had tears in his eyes.

"Bella really was a great girl, and I think everyone is going to miss her," he said.

Jessica Stanley was then next on the screen, though she wasn't crying.

"Bella was the brains of the year, and I can't believe she's gone," Jessica said, wiping a non-existent tear out of her eye.

Angela came up next, and she was trying to hold back sobs.

"I – I," she couldn't even complete a sentence.

I was touched, and I soon found myself trying to hold back sobs.

Then Charlie came onto screen, tears leaking down his face.

"I'm gonna miss my girl," was all he said, before he covered his face up and walked away.

Carlisle wrapped his arms around me, and I cried harder then I'd ever cried before, right into his chest.

After five minutes I hiccupped and withdrew my face.

"I want to be a vampire now," I found myself saying. "I want this emotional pain to be replaced with actual pain. And I want it now."

---

An hour later found me on the lounge room couch, in my oldest, most comfiest clothes (Not that it mattered).

Alice was kneeling down beside my legs, and Carlisle was besides my head, stroking my hair.

Edward, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett were all on the other side of the room, keeping a look out, really.

"Are you ready?" Carlisle whispered.

"I'm ready," I confirmed, taking Alice's hand.

Carlisle slowly lowered his mouth to my neck, kissing it softly.

"I love you," He whispered, before he latched onto my neck.

---

Pain. It was all that existed at this very moment. Red hot fire, that starting in my neck, before coursing its way achingly slowly through my system.

Nothing else existed – not the air around me. Not the smells filling my nostrils. Not the couch I laid on.

Just pain.

And hell, did it hurt.

A/N: Okay, now this really is the end of the chapter.

Hope you liked it.

We're nearing the end of the story now! Usually I'm sad at the end of stories, but actually, I can't wait lol. It means I won't have to worry about giving you demanding reviewers chapters.

But still, please review =]

YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'RE GETTING THIS CHAPTER RIGHT NOW. I'm off school, sick. That's why you're getting it haha.

OMG! SO SCARY! My voice isn't working properly! I tried to sneeze, and you know when you sneeze bigly a lot of people go ACHOO! I normally go ACHOO and it wouldn't come out!