Chapter Fifteen

The ride was silent, only the hum of the machinery filled the small space. A dark cloud of tension surrounded us. I did my best to ignore it, but it was hard. No one told me how Renfields act. I had come to the conclusion they assumed because I grew up around vampires, I knew everything about them. I wanted to ask what I was supposed to do, how I should act, around the vampires, but the ride didn’t take very long. Just as I was about to open my mouth, a chime sounded.

The elevator doors swished open to reveal a wide room with tons of hallways leading off to every direction. They were arched walkways, and a hard-pressed dirt floor. It wasn’t as brightly lit as the previous hallway, but thanks to the light bulbs hanging around, I could see the bones pressed into the floor, the dark shapes of rats scurrying around. I almost didn’t want to step out of the elevator.

Jasper moved first, still leading the way. I knew he wouldn’t wait for me, so I carefully stepped out onto the dirt. My heels sank into the soft floor as I followed Jasper. The ceiling was close to our heads, the walls and columns made from crumbling bricks, and I noticed the dark tunnels on both sides. They were big enough to drive a car through; I couldn’t imagine what a vampire could hide in them.

I was so focused on watching for movement that I crunched several of the bones by accident, my skin crawling with each dry crack. If they were so brittle, they’d been here a while. Were they animal or human? I stayed focused on my feet, trying to avoid stepping on any more, which caused me to bump into Jasper’s back when he abruptly stopped. I looked up to find someone in the hall, blocking our way to the giant door beyond. We were almost out of the catacombs, but we had some vamp to deal with first.

Great, just fucking great.

His hair was a shade darker than Jasper’s, and he wasn’t as tall or muscular. A black eye patch covered his right eye, but the one dark red eye visible held the anger and hatred of two. Oh, this was definitely a problem.

Edward pulled me back by my left arm. I knew it wasn’t accidental. The message was loud and clear, but my fingers kept twitching for my gun anyway.

The vamp closed the distance between him and Jasper. From his walk I could tell he was not a small fish around here. He walked with grace and power, and with a look that said he knew how to use both.

“Well, well, well,” the vampire sneered, “I never thought I’d see the day the great Jasper comes crawling back. And with old flesh comes new blood. Is that your new whore?” He nodded at me. Edward tightened his grip on my arm, nearly bruising flesh.

“Actually, she’s much more important than that,” Jasper answered nonchalantly. “Don’t you recognize her, James?”

In a blink James was in my face. I stepped back, stumbling in the stupid heels, but Edward was there to steady me. James frowned as his eye ran up and down my body, before he made a sound that could never come from a human’s throat. It was an animalistic growl; the deep sound raised goose bumps on my skin.

“Where did you find this thing?” James asked with a snarl. “Aro has been looking for it everywhere.”

Jasper didn’t even turn around, but Edward made me take another step back as James leaned forward. Normally, being so close to a vampire, I’d try to play tough while my heart tried to burst out of my chest, but for some reason I didn’t have to fight to remain still. I wasn’t scared or angry; in fact, I didn’t feel anything. It had to be Jasper playing with my emotions, right? If he could prevent me from shooting something and ruining our plan, then it was almost okay. We couldn’t blow this. I knew that, so why did I still hate the idea that someone could run my emotions?

“She’s mine,” said Jasper. “That’s why Aro couldn’t find her. Now step away from my slave; you’re making her uncomfortable.”

Slave? That proved he was controlling me. If I had an ounce of free will, I’d throw the plan right out the window. I didn’t care what I was supposed to be, I did not want to be called a slave the entire time we were here.

“And what if I don’t want to move?” James challenged, grinning at me.

Jasper finally turned around, and with his sunglasses, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. I was sure it was all an act, but his voice was deadly serious as he replied, “Then I’ll kill you.”

James growled, and I saw him reach for me. Edward’s grip loosened, probably to stop James. My hand instantly went for the gun that should’ve been under my arm; I grasped empty air. My confusion gave Edward the split second he needed. His arm wrapped around my waist, the room spun, and suddenly I was staring at Jasper’s back. He had James pressed against the wall, a hand secure around his throat.

“We’ve had this discussion before,” Jasper told the other vamp. “You don’t touch my property. Ever.”

“And do you remember what I told you then? I won’t hesitate to kill you. You were always a thorn in my side,” James spat.

“It’s not my fault you were too weak to impress Aro.”

“You stole it from me!”

I didn’t see what happened, but suddenly Jasper was flung across the hall and embedded in the wall. Edward swore quietly. Apparently James wasn’t supposed to be this strong. James was coiled to pounce, but the sound of the door opening behind me stopped him. He stood straight, looking a little panicked.

“Gentlemen, you’re being very disrespectful,” a new voice snapped. I turned to the big door behind me to find a small girl standing in the doorway. She looked like a child with her brown hair in pigtails, her long red dress spotless and wrinkle free. It had a high collar that framed her face; I guess she wore it because she thought it made the red of her eyes pop. Or maybe she just wanted to look like a child from a horror movie. I was betting on the latter.

She held the hem of her gown as she stepped off the high platform onto the dirt floor, assessing the situation with a dark look. “Aro sent me to see what was taking so long, because we all know Master likes to stay on schedule,” she explained. “I never expected this worthless creature to be the holdup.”

I felt a breeze and glanced over my shoulder to find Jasper directly behind me, dusting off his coat. It looked like a hard hit, but he was unscathed, of course. I couldn’t forget that vampires were made of stronger things. A smack against some bricks was no problem for them.

“I’m sorry, Jane,” Jasper said. “I wasn’t expecting James to stir up trouble so soon.”

“No reason to apologize; it’s completely our fault. He wasn’t even supposed to be near these corridors.” She focused her evil little eyes on the creature still skulking behind us. “James, where did your mistress tell you to go?”

“It’s none of your business,” he spat.

“Get there and stay there,” she replied. “I’ll take our guests to Master.”

With a sneer, James shuffled down a different hall and seemed to disappear. Did Jasper know where every tunnel led? I almost didn’t want to know how many there were.

The mood seemed to lighten now that James was gone. Edward released me, and I took that as a sign the immediate trouble was over. I wasn’t going to ask if they trusted Jane. I honestly didn’t want to know where their alliance fell. They were supposed to protect me, but these were vampires. They protected each other. I’d have to find some way to make sure Jasper wasn’t too believable in his role. What Edward was doing here, well, I had yet to figure that out.

Jane sighed; it sounded almost tired. “He’s gotten worse since you’ve been gone. You know, you can have him formally executed,” she said sweetly. “You just need to say the word.”

“I don’t think Aro will value my opinion much anymore,” Jasper replied.

“You never know. Master cherished having you behind his throne. He’s very excited you wanted to come back.”

“And what about my mistress?”

Jane turned on her heel and casually threw over her shoulder, “She wants to see you immediately after your meeting. Better hope Master is never done with you; she’s missed her whipping boy.”

I wanted to look at Jasper, ask him what exactly his mistress did to him while he was here. Was it the reason he left? But I knew he wouldn’t tell me, or at least not in front of Jane.

Was it a good or bad thing that we were getting in so easily?

Jasper helped me step onto the platform, and I sighed with relief. Finally on solid ground, and it was much warmer in here than the tunnels. That was a plus.

The room was a massive oval with halls and doors stretching everywhere, the floor a smooth, polished white that reflected the whole scene; it was filled with desks, tables, and large chairs scattered around. The domed ceiling was covered in what looked like a smaller version of the Sistine Chapel’s mural. How could they even have a dome ceiling underground? Vampires were completely illogical, but I had to admit it looked nice.

Jasper pulled me close and slid his arm through mine as we followed Jane. It looked like he was escorting me, but it felt more like he was showing me off. What was my role? Was I supposed to be smug, or afraid?

Vampires and Renfields hurried back and forth, like good little worker bees should. A lot of them at desks had stopped their work as soon as we entered. Some humans didn’t seem to be surprised we were here, but all the vampires were staring. We were officially in the public eye.

I tried to ignore the stares as we passed. Thanks to Jasper’s influence, I wasn’t really worried about what they meant, but I couldn’t help wondering. Most of them were wide eyes, shock. Was it me, or was it “the great” Jasper? Some vamps actually nodded, or maybe bowed a little, so it had to be because of Jasper. What had he done to gain such respect, and how did he keep it?

Before we left the room down a bright hallway, Jane motioned to a human standing off to the side. He was willing to take our coats, so we would be more comfortable. Coat or not, I was not going to be comfortable at any time. I was reluctant to give mine up; the back of the dress showed off most of my back, which meant the tattoo was in view. For some reason, it made me feel more vulnerable. I hesitantly handed it off, and he took all our coats away with a short bow.

Jane continued to lead us through white halls full of busy bees. The length of the halls was almost as bad as the church, maybe longer. Didn’t they have golf carts for the humans? We passed through three large hallways—left, left, and a right, just because I was trying to memorize this huge place already—before Jane stopped us at a dead end. We stood in front of a huge painting, a portrait of three women. The other walls were bare, so it seemed a little out of place.

She tugged on a hidden indent in the frame and the portrait popped open to reveal a tall porthole leading to more white marble. A hidden room behind a painting? Classic. These vampires really were old fashioned. We followed Jane through the short tunnel, into the large room only to be faced with more vampires.

I almost thought it was a trap, until I noticed where we were, and what their role could’ve been. The room was round, and pillars sat against the wall in certain places, with chairs settled in the space between them.

We were surrounded by vampires.

I counted ten chairs, and every one was full. I didn’t include the chair at the front of the room on the dais, because it wasn’t simply a chair, it was a throne. It was made from gold, with rubies and emeralds set along the straight back. It looked uncomfortable, but I guess if you wanted to intimidate someone and show off your wealth, that was the way to do it. The statuesque vampires sitting around were uncomfortable, but obviously witnesses. Witnesses for what, was what I wanted to know.

Jasper stopped us in the middle of the room, facing the throne. The way the lights reflected off the gold made it almost painful to look at, but I didn’t want to stare at any of the vampires. I could already hear them whispering.

Jane stood beside the throne as another vamp entered from a door behind the throne. He was covered from head-to-toe in a black robe, only his white jaw visible. The other vamps knew what was coming; they stood, still silent.

The big vamp said in a booming voice, “Presenting Master Aro, ruler of Volterra and Seattle!”

The vamps bowed. Jasper and Edward fell to one knee while I stayed standing. I didn’t know what to do, but there was no way I was bowing to a vampire. I was actually surprised Jasper didn’t drag me to the ground with him. Maybe he thought I would curtsy? No way. My eyes stayed glued to the stone doorway, and when the shadows moved, I sucked in a breath.

A tall, slim figure came through the door. He dropped his hood to reveal a youthful face surrounded by soft, almost-feminine black curls brushing his shoulders. I’d say he died no younger than thirty-five, but I might’ve been wrong since he had no wrinkles whatsoever. He grinned at his audience and pulled the robe off with a flourish to reveal a Victorian-style black and gold frock coat with matching vest. A bejeweled rapier hung on his hip, and I tried not to gawk at his pants. Leather?

His murky red eyes took in the room with a single sweep, then came back to settle on me. I slowly let my breath out with a quiet sigh. With one look alone, I knew we were all dead. This wasn’t just any vampire; this was exactly what Carlisle had warned me about.

I was staring into the face of time itself.

Aro smiled and slipped off his rapier, setting it beside the throne as he sat down. When he was settled, he addressed the room with a rich voice, “Sit, sit. No need to trouble yourselves.”

The vamps around the room sat back down, but Jasper and Edward stayed on the floor. Aro looked at them for a second longer, then made a motion with his hand; they must’ve seen it because they quickly stood. He smirked.

“What’s this delicious treat?” His eyes were trained on mine, and I quickly looked away. “Ah, how could I not recognize her? The famed vampire hunter, Isabella Swan. Now I understand why you insulted me. No bow, no curtsy in that adorable dress of yours—no sign of deference at all. Is this Car—”

“I apologize for my slave’s lack of respect, Master Aro, please don’t count it against her,” Jasper interrupted. “She’s very new.”

“So I see. And what about you? Remove those awful glasses; let me see your eyes.”

Jasper quickly took off his sunglasses, tucking them in his pocket, and showed the room his new red eyes. Aro gasped with surprise, sitting forward in his chair, as if he couldn’t see from there. Yeah, right.

“What caused this change of events, Jasper? The last time I saw you, you were trailing a little sprite through the halls. Was she the one who stole you from me, led you to Carlisle?”

“Yes, Master Aro, but I quickly learned it was one of my worse decisions.”

“Intriguing. Usually when one runs off to Carlisle, they stay with him and his unorthodox lifestyle. Completely ridiculous, but he is very persuasive.” Aro held out his hand, as if he expected someone to come and take it. “Whatever took place, it was very recent. I can see you’re still new to your old diet. Tell me what happened.”

Jasper crossed the short distance and took Aro’s hand. What had Carlisle said about his power? He read minds through touch. Why would he want to read Jasper’s mind when he could just say what happened? I glanced behind me to Edward, but because of the dark sunglasses, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

Aro released Jasper, and he came back to stand beside me. Aro sat further back on his throne, crossed one leg over the other, and steepled his fingers. “This is perhaps too private to be held in front of an audience,” he said. The vamps around the room muttered something about favoritism. Aro quieted them with a wave of his hand. “I never favor one child over another; we all know this. Now go, all of you. Even you, little Jane. Quickly.”

She looked up at him with pleading eyes, but he quickly shooed her away like a dog. She huffed, but like the obedient pet she was, she followed the line. The vampires filed out of the room, all of them murmuring. I had a feeling we were going to be in trouble during our stay. Just because getting in was easy didn’t mean staying in would be too. I’d make sure to shorten our little field trip by a few days. Jasper could start looking for Charlie tonight, and if he wouldn’t do it, I would. I had a whole bag of ammo to spend.

A loud thud echoed in the room; someone had slammed the painting. That left us all alone together. With the glint in Aro’s eyes, I could tell we had an awful conversation coming. Whatever he had planned for me, he could keep it to himself. I wasn’t looking forward to finding out.

He stood and stepped off the dais, coming to stand in front of me. He was a few heads taller than me, but that was okay, I wasn’t going to meet his eyes. Sometimes vampires could control you with just their eyes; no biting required. He walked a tight circle around me, while I stayed glued to my spot, my head high. When he disappeared from view, I clenched my fists to prevent pulling my gun, but I managed. He made a full circle before he stopped in front of me. He had a strange smile on his face, and it took me a second to realize where I had seen it before.

Carlisle had the same smile. Empty, pleasant; a smile that could mean so many things. I resisted the urge to step back.

“I must admit,” Aro started conversationally, “I wasn’t expecting the talented Isabella Swan to appear before me so quickly. I knew you would come for your father, but I thought I might have a few days to prepare before you came knocking at my door. News travels so fast these days.”

Prepare for what? I wanted to ask, but with the look Jasper gave me, I knew it wasn’t what a Renfield would do. I was in enough trouble for not showing respect, I didn’t have to verbally insult him too. I wanted to, but I didn’t have to. I bit my tongue as Aro continued.

“I wasn’t expecting you to come with backup, and of my own blood, too. Such a sneaky girl. Why are you here with Jasper?”

Before I had the chance to panic, Jasper spoke up for me. “She’s mine. I thought you knew that.”

“Yours?” Aro asked with disbelief. “She certainly doesn’t smell like you.” He leaned close, taking a deep breath. “She smells like cosmetics, oil, gun powder, but underneath it all”—he took another breath—“I only smell strawberries. Not a single trace of your ownership. However, I smell her in you. Have you forgotten how to make a faithful servant?”

“There wasn’t much time; she was trying to kill me,” Jasper answered.

Aro chuckled. His face was neutral as he focused on me, but his eyes were way too excited. The first spurt of fear I had was gone in an instant, thanks to Jasper. “Yes, I saw. You’re very lucky you got her first; I was ready to come after her myself. There’s something very . . . interesting about her. Compelling, almost. Did you think the same of her?”

He looked almost sheepish. “Not exactly. I was just looking for food.”

“Was that what happened? It seems almost too likely your prey happened to be a famed vampire hunter. Yet I could barely make sense of the memory; it was vague, missing details in some parts. I’d love to hear the other side.” Aro held his hand out to me. I stared at the smooth pale skin but didn’t take it. Whatever Jasper showed Aro, it was enough to confuse him.

“Take my hand, Isabella,” Aro encouraged with a smile, almost like he was talking to a toddler. “Let me see inside that young mind.”

I didn’t want to touch him. What if he got inside my head? Could he only read minds, or was there something more to his power? I really didn’t want to find out. It would ruin everything. Jasper might have fooled Aro, but I had no idea what I was doing. If our cover was based off a lie, I didn’t want to mess it up. I crossed my arms under my chest, glaring at the old vamp’s chest.

“I don’t want to,” I said stiffly.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Aro’s mouth twitch twice; his smile fell slightly. “It’s not a matter if you want to or not; I want you to do it. Such defiance is not welcome in my palace.”

“Isabella, take Master Aro’s hand,” Jasper barked.

Against my will, my hand shot up, only to be enveloped by both of Aro’s. What just happened? Jasper said he wouldn’t be able to control me. The worry was quickly chased away as Aro touched me. I concentrated on the feel of his chilly hands, but that was a mistake. The cold was unlike anything I felt before, but it wasn’t just a temperature; it was his power. It crawled up my arm, spread over my chest and up my neck, constricting me, making it hard to breathe. I gasped uselessly. I was drowning in a freezing ocean of his power.

Stupidly, I tried to wrench my hand free. Aro held on, pulling me closer as I struggled, until we were toe-to-toe. One of his hands tipped my chin; he forced me to look up into his eyes. His pupils had disappeared, only to be replaced by bright red flames. They seemed to come closer with every breath I took. The cold wind crept into the back of my skull, like skeletal fingers lightly running over my brain. They were trying to pick at something. I could feel it. Oh god. I could feel it.

I screamed and fought to tear free. Aro released me with a gasp. The swiftness of it made me stumble, but my legs were too weak to hold me up. The heels made me teeter before I fell backwards. Jasper was there to catch me; he set me upright, but I shook off him off as soon as I was stable. I wasn’t sure what happened, but I definitely knew I wasn’t happy with him.

I was light headed and nearly hyperventilating, but I didn’t feel sick. Point for me. I took a deep breath, trying to even my breathing. “What did you do?” I panted, glaring at Aro.

He was rubbing his hand like it hurt. “Absolutely nothing. I hoped to see into your mind, yet you fought me. No, there was simply nothing there. Still, in the end, you pushed me out. How did you do that?”

“You mind fucked me!”

He ignored me and went back to his throne, settling back and pulling the rapier from its sheath. He seemed to be thinking about something as he passed it from hand to hand before he drew little circles in the air with the blade. “I wish I had, but that’s not the case. If I had known this would happen, I would have told Marcus and Caius to wait to return to Italy. I know they would love to meet you.”

“They can—”

“Quiet,” interrupted Jasper.

My mouth snapped shut. I tried to open it again, but it was as if I had no control over my body. I wanted to scream at him. This wasn’t what we had agreed on! We were supposed to be partners.

Aro watched it all with a smile as he sheathed the rapier again. “Your servant seems to have trouble controlling herself, Jasper. Is she always this unruly?”

“She doesn’t understand what an honor this is,” he said sternly, glaring right back at me.

“I’m sure there are others here who could tame her, don’t you agree?”

“Of course, but I’m not willing to trade.” Jasper set his hand on my bare shoulder, but I shrugged him off.

Aro sighed. “You never are. You were perhaps the most selfish we produced; sometimes I wondered where it came from. Now then, tell me the real reason you returned. It’s something more than just a few well-placed memories, correct?”

Jasper bristled, but his face remained calm.

“What are you looking for down here?” Aro asked with a smirk.

“A home,” Jasper answered.

“And what about Edward here?” Aro propped his chin on his hand as he leaned on the chair arm. “So disrespectful, Edward. Remove the glasses; I want to know what you’re hiding.”

Edward stepped closer to the throne. “You’re not going to finish with Jasper?” he asked, surprised.

“I believe he’s already done. I don’t care for his motives; he was one of my best soldiers, a true warrior at heart, and he brought Isabella Swan to me. Whatever he wants, he will get it. But you, I’m not so sure. You have always been a deceitful one, Edward. The glasses, please.”

Edward shrugged and lowered his head, hiding his eyes from the old vampire, but I could see them as he took off the sunglasses. I gasped as the gold irises were revealed. He looked up to Aro, his jaw set stubbornly.

Aro sat upright with shock; it was clear as day on his face. It quickly dissolved into anger. “Those damned golden eyes,” he hissed. “I thought you might have changed your mind, yet here I sit, staring at Carlisle’s vassal. What are you here for? A warning? Threats? If so, I have heard them before, and I’m not impressed.”

“Actually, I’m starting to get tired of Carlisle’s way of life,” Edward replied dismissively. “I came with Jasper after he insisted what a great place you have down here. You treat your puppets like royalty; Carlisle only shoves his beliefs on us.”

Aro gave a disbelieving look all with the elegant lift of an eyebrow. “Carlisle does? I never thought he could be so assertive. Show me my old friend.” He motioned Edward forward, apparently going to read his mind too. What did Aro see when he touched people? There had to be more to it than just hearing thoughts.

Aro held onto Edward longer than he did Jasper; he had closed his eyes, nodding randomly. The silence stretched on for so long, I thought they’d forgotten there was a human in the room. When Aro finally moved, I jumped. He sighed heavily, releasing Edward so he could step back.

“I never realized what a hard master Carlisle could become,” Aro murmured thoughtfully. “Well, no reason to fret about the past. I see you have no ill intentions, so I’m willing to let you stay. However, if you choose to stay permanently, you will have to take a blood oath.”

Edward bowed. “I understand. Thank you, Master Aro.”

“As for rooms, I suppose I can spare a few. There is a chamber currently available, as if like magic, wouldn’t you say?” The old vamp gave me a crazy smile. “Isabella and her master can stay there. Edward, I can—”

“That will be fine,” Edward interrupted.

“So convenient,” Aro sighed wistfully. “Perhaps when you make your final decision, I can convince you to wear the coveted cloak?”

Edward chuckled. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

“Not too long, I hope. You know I am not a patient man.”

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he repeated firmly.

The ancient vampire sighed again and assisted his lanky body up from the chair. He made a very human gesture and ran his hand through his hair.

“Very well. Jane and Alec will escort you to your rooms. Jasper, after your loving mistress is done with you, I want to see you back here. We still have many things to discuss,” he said darkly.

Jasper nodded, turning it into a short bow. “Of course. Thank you, Master Aro, for your hospitality.”

“Oh no, Jasper, thank you. Now, away with all of you. I’m very busy, you know,” Aro laughed.

Jasper bowed again, Edward doing the same, before turning for the exit. I almost didn’t want to give the old vamp my back, but when Jasper grabbed me, I had no choice. The skin between my bare shoulder blades twitched and crawled with the knowledge Aro was watching me; I could feel his gaze burning a hole in my back. Was he watching his special mark walk away?

When we were back in the hall, I dragged my feet against the floor, successfully slowing Jasper down. He looked down at me with tired eyes. I saw the expression on Sam enough times to know what it meant. Whatever I was going to say, he didn’t want to hear it. Still, it wasn’t stopping me. This was a vampire, not Sam; they didn’t get tired.

“What did you do in there?” I hissed. “You said you couldn’t control me.”

“Not now, Bella, please,” Jasper groaned. “We’ll talk later.”

“No, we’ll talk right now. I want to know what the fu—”

“Jasper,” Edward warned quietly.

Jasper kept moving me forward, and I noticed his face changed; the exhaustion was still there, but it was a friendly vibe. I looked to the mouth of the hall to see two small figures. Jane was back, and beside her was someone who could have been her male counterpart. His brunette hair was cut short yet still looked shaggy around his boyish face. He was dressed in complete black, only the red tie gave the suit some relief. Jane still looked like an evil doll; actually, with the expression on her face, she looked more like a murderous doll. Her twin was smiling, completely at ease.

“So nice to see real talent back in this place,” he said. “Welcome back, Jasper.”

“It’s good to be back, Alec,” Jasper replied.

“Come with us. We’ll take you to your rooms,” Jane growled.

They turned in unison before clasping hands. We followed closely behind them as we went back to the main room; even their steps were synchronized. Freaky.

From the main room, we moved down a hallway with doors. I couldn’t help but wonder what was behind them. Empty rooms? Torture chambers? Offices? What did vampires even do down here? I knew exactly what they did in Forks and Port Angeles—they monitored people, made their Renfields and humans sort all kinds of paperwork, and keep watch and write reports on certain families. It had to be the same in Seattle, right? Maybe this was where the plans for world domination happened.

We followed the hall as it curved twice, and then morphed into a spiraling staircase. Instead of going down, the steps led up. I had trouble climbing the steps—not because of the heels, oh no, my feet were numb with pain so I couldn’t feel them anymore—because it seemed they were built for something not human. They were wide and uneven; some of the stone was warped in certain places, as if a huge beast had scaled them numerous times, pressed its weight into the stone. But the vamps had no trouble. Ugh, of course not.

When we reached the top, Alec pulled open the wooden door and ushered us through. Suddenly I was in a completely different world.

The stone turned into smooth black and tan tile, the walls couldn’t even be called that; they were works of art. Murals of naked humans and destruction stretched down the hall until we came out in a large room, almost like a foyer. There was a den in one corner, a crackling fireplace, and tons of cushy seats. There were only two halls here, one to my left and right. I gaped and gasped with every elaborate decoration along the wall.

“This is your chamber,” Alec explained, making a sweeping motion with his arm to take in the whole room. “Master wanted you to feel comfortable and have only the best. He also wanted you to know that if you need anything, he’s just downstairs.”

My body ran cold. Aro stayed in a room below ours? That meant he would show up often. Okay, so many this room wasn’t all that great.

Without another word, the twins left. I went back down the painted hallway to check the door; it had a lock, but it wouldn’t do much good. Either way, I flicked the lock. It would calm my nerves a little; at least humans couldn’t come in.

I passed the main room to explore the right hallway and found a single door at the end. I peered into the room. With the light from the hallway, I could see an expansive bedroom complete with en-suite bathroom and an orgy-sized bed with attached canopy. My duffel bag sat on the chaise at the foot of the bed. Was this all mine? Where would Jasper stay? I sat on the bed and immediately sank. Wow, now this is what I call a bed!

Despite the entire situation, at least the stay wouldn’t suck.

Edward appeared in the doorway, blocking the light from the hallway, as he came in. He took a good look around in the dark. “Very . . . aristocratic,” he said. “It’s amazing what they can do, being so far underground.”

“Do I even want to know how deep we are?” I asked, laying back.

“No,” he replied with a smile in his voice, “but I can tell you how deep we are in vampires.”

“Very funny. Hey, where are you and Jasper staying? And where did Jasper disappear to?”

“He went to his mistress, Maria. I have the room at the other end, but Jasper will rarely have any free time. Because he brought you, Aro already wants him back behind the throne. Between Aro and Maria, Jasper will be very busy.”

“So he won’t have time to look for Charlie.” Great. That meant I’d have to do it all myself. Where would I even begin to look? Everything here was super-sized.

“I never said that,” Edward replied softly. “He’ll probably make plenty of stops at the dungeon; there will be time to look for your father.”

I sat up, peering over the footboard. “You really think they have him in the dungeon?”

He shrugged as he stepped outside the room, returning with a suitcase. “Alice packed for you, and yes, there are many more where this came from. For now, let’s not worry about Jasper or Charlie. Let’s just get out of these clothes and relax. We have plenty of time.”

“You’ll help look too, right?” I asked. “Aro won’t have you on lock down because of your eyes, will he?”

“Don’t worry about me, Bella,” Edward answered. “I know exactly what makes Aro tick; I have a feeling he won’t be a problem to any of us.” He set the suitcase down and flicked on the overhead light, an electric hum coming to life. “I’m going to change. Just try not to over think anything, Bella. Whatever happens, it’ll work out. Nothing to worry about.” He closed the door behind him.

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. I couldn’t worry too much about Charlie; he might not be able to take on a whole coven, but he could take care of himself. He had to still be alive. And I couldn’t worry over Jasper being able to control me. I hated it, I was afraid of it, but if he did it to keep me on everyone’s good side . . . that made it kind of okay.

If I worried too much, it would make it impossible to do my job. As soon as I changed, I was getting answers from Edward. For now, my plan was to get out of the dress, and the stupid fucking boots. I was never wearing heels ever again. That was my plan—no vampires involved. Yeah, definitely sounded like a great idea.

Chapter Fourteen

I must’ve fallen asleep sometime during the ride. I knew I shouldn’t sleep in a car full of vampires, but I was running low on energy. Jasper had taken way more blood than I realized. I needed the sleep, and the vamps must’ve thought so too. They only bothered me once. I almost complained when Alice shook me awake, but then I realized it was for a good reason. I had to eat to restore my strength. Edward had pulled into some fast food joint’s drive-thru; I gave a mumbled order, ate, and quickly went back to sleep. I had to admit, the warmth in the car was peaceful. The next time I woke up, I was leaning against Alice, who had an arm around my shoulder.

I sat upright, Alice’s arm easily slipping away, and glanced at the clock before turning my attention to the window. Streetlights whirred by, houses silent in the dark night surrounded by trees. Of course, always trees. Nothing that would tell me where we were. I rubbed my eyes furiously, trying to wake myself up.

“Where are we?” I grumbled.

“We’re passing through Edmonds now,” Alice answered. “We’re about thirty minutes away. You can go back to sleep.”

I shook my head. “No, I’ll stay awake.” It wasn’t that I didn’t trust them; I mean, I still didn’t completely trust them, but they had yet to hurt me.

My neck hurt like something fierce, and my nerves made it impossible to fall back asleep. Before I woke up, I’d had some kind of freaky dream. I knew it scared me, but I couldn’t remember why, or what it was about, just that it was scary. Even with the heater and my thick coat, I was shivering. It was probably another anxiety dream. Yeah, like I needed more of those. It was bad enough I was plagued with doubt.

What if this plan didn’t work? What if it only got me killed? Sure, I’d said I didn’t care if I died, but I’m only human! Of course I’d be scared of that possibility. I was only eighteen. I had a lot to live for, if I could ever get my life back. No, I would get my life back. I had to kill Aro. Not just to save Charlie, or to return my life to normal, but for everyone else too. I had to save everyone who was stuck in this nightmare. Somewhere at the back of mind, I knew it was a cliché. That I felt the whole world depended on me was a huge exaggeration, but I didn’t care. This was important.

I spent the rest of the ride imagining my first encounter with Aro as I watched the scenery flash by. I could see him being a wizened old man hiding behind a bunch of bulky bodyguards. Yeah, an easy kill. Perfect. Then again, thinking about it, maybe I should’ve asked what Aro was like before we left. Alice described him as insane, greedy. Maybe a physical description would have helped my final decision.

A hand touched my shoulder, and I jumped, pulling away from the light tap. I turned to find Alice’s surprised face illuminated by the Mercedes’ overhead lights. I didn’t even realize the car had stopped. If I was this jumpy around three vamps, what would I be like when I was in the heart of the nest?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” said Alice, “but you can get out now. We’re here.”

I popped the door open with a sigh. The cold air quickly made its way inside, killing off the warmth that had packed the car. I was about to tell her she didn’t scare me, just kind of spooked me, but then I caught sight of the house.

It seemed like a modern home, but knowing the Cullen family, there was more to it. It was extravagant, to say the least. With a three-car garage and giant windows everywhere, yeah, it was definitely different compared to Forks. Edward and Jasper had already disappeared inside, lights flaring to life behind the windows, so I followed Alice up the steps with my bag.

I stood in the foyer, gaping and staring like an idiot. It was even bigger than their Portland home, but that was probably because the home was further in the woods here. In Portland, they had neighbors. Alice beckoned me into the house with a friendly smile, after telling me to kick off my shoes. I could see why after rounding the corner; the carpet was a bright, spotless white. I followed her with the promise of a quick tour of the downstairs.

Alice told me to set my bag in the living room, but I vehemently refused. My weaponry wasn’t leaving my sight if I could help it. I was officially on my own now; I didn’t have Sam to watch my back, or Jake to make sure I was constantly defended from everything except his over-protectiveness. She rolled her eyes before showing me around.

The house was decorated almost exactly like the one in Portland, except this one had more space to fill. Art hung on the white walls, windows were literally everywhere, and there was a sparkling white Baldwin grand piano in its own room. As I was shown around, I couldn’t help but notice how clean everything was. If they moved so often, why would they bother to keep so many houses, and why was this one spotless?

When we came to the steps leading to the second floor, Alice pulled me along. The white hallway seemed to go on forever, but I wasn’t allowed to enjoy the sight of classic paintings and charred pages of literature framed on the walls. Alice continued to drag me down the hall and only let go of me when we entered the last room on the right. Apparently, from the looks of it, it was the master bedroom. She pushed me through a different door on the opposite wall, flicking on the lights behind me. I was standing in an immaculate bathroom, complete with marble countertops and a Jacuzzi on a raised dais. Gee, why was I not surprised?

“Help yourself to whatever you want, just make sure you get extra clean, and trust me, shave your legs,” Alice said. She pointed to a cabinet under one of the sinks. “You can find everything you need in there. I’ll have clothes for you when you’re done.”

She shut the door and I was alone in the huge room. I wasted no time. I turned on the water to let it warm up then set the bag near the sink and searched the drawer Alice indicated. I found exactly what she promised. Everything I’d need. A disposable razor, girlie-smelling shaving cream, deodorant, and every thing strawberry. Strawberry shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Why always strawberry? Was it Alice’s favorite scent? Maybe she thought I’d like it.

This whole situation was uncomfortable to begin with, but now I had to give up my guns. I couldn’t take them into the shower with me, but I didn’t want to leave them lying where the Cullen’s could steal them. I checked the door; it had a lock. Sure, it wouldn’t do much, but if I was lucky, they would respect the tiny lock. I stood in the white room, bargaining with my conscious. I’d hang up the big guns and sword, but keep my pistol near the shower. The toilet was close enough that I could set it there within reach and it wouldn’t get wet.

With a sigh, I stripped, hanging my rig carefully on the hooks in the door and stepped into the warm shower, closing the frosted glass door. My stiff muscles melted under the onslaught, and my next sigh was much more pleasurable. I stared at the pink line on my wrist, the temporary mark of Jasper’s bite, and knew I couldn’t enjoy the shower very long; we didn’t have time.

I quickly shaved, praying I wouldn’t nick myself, and showered, feeling like a completely different person by the end. When was the last time I shaved my legs? Being chased by vampires, I never had time, or much of a reason. It almost scared me to wonder why Alice insisted I shave. It had bad news written all over it, but I wouldn’t be intimidated. I had to relax, slip back behind the wall I’d had up before this whole mess started.

It all started with Seth’s death. It left a huge crack in my hard exterior, and having a vampire care for me made that crack larger. Charlie was the one who made me see the trembling wall. He’d been worried about me, and I had a feeling he knew I was fighting my emotions. Every bad thought I’d had, I ignored it and hid behind the wall. I never even dealt with Seth’s or Tyler’s death. I pushed it away and promised revenge for them; that wasn’t my way of dealing with grief, I kept ignoring it on purpose. Then Charlie was captured, and all those terrible things I hid from—even the smallest thought—tore down the wall. Now that I thought about it, I shouldn’t have been so surprised I’d lashed out at Eric, or even Jake. I had it coming.

But I was okay now. That wall was slowly going back in place. I couldn’t look mentally unstable in front of the creator of the vampiric race, now could I? I had to be a cold, unfeeling killing machine . . . even if my skin crawled with the thought of being surrounded by dead bodies.

I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel from the open closet. I pulled it tight around me and carried my pistol as I checked the room. The door was still locked. That was a good sign. The Striker and FAMAS still hung on the door while my clothes were scattered on the floor where I left them. Everything was just as I’d left it, but that also meant no new clothes had been delivered.

I waited to hear a knock on the door, but there was only the sound of distant piano keys.

“Alice?” I called, knowing she would hear me wherever she was in the house. No answer. I opened the door, poking my head into the room. “Alice?”

“Coming!” her voice answered from the hallway. She entered the room with a large dark bag in her hands; it looked like it could hold a body. “Oh good, you’re done. That was a lot faster than I thought it would take. Hang on just a sec.” She set the bag on the bed and went to the bureau, pulling something from a drawer before coming to the bathroom door. She held out a strapless bra and panty set. “Put these on, and wrap the towel around your hair. You’re dripping.”

I reached an arm through the crack to grab the underwear, and couldn’t help asking, “Why is it strapless?”

Alice gave me an innocent look with her big, golden eyes. “You don’t trust me?”

I glared at her, and she rolled her eyes. Yeah, she should’ve seen that one coming.

“Honestly, Bella, it won’t bite you. Look, its frontsies—fun!” She gave me a teasing smile then shoved my head back so she could close the door, effectively ignoring my question. “Now get dressed and get out here.”

“I’d get dressed if you actually gave me clothes to wear,” I muttered. I received no answer, so I guess she was pretending not to hear me.

I held the bra at arms length. It was black, simple, and for that I could overlook it being strapless. The matching panties weren’t extreme, either. I tore the tags off after checking the sizes. They should fit perfectly, but why would I expect anything else? So far I hated her power, just because it freaked me out. I slipped into the panties but struggled with the bra. How the hell did front snapped bras work? Was this what a guy felt like when faced with a bra? After much struggling and grunting, I finally had it snapped and situated. I looked up to the mirror to see how it looked and balked at what I saw. Cleavage. I had cleavage! What was Alice planning?

I wrapped the towel back around my body before opening the door. Alice sat at the foot of the bed, waiting with a smile.

“Bella, Bella, Bella.” She shook her head in time with my name. “We’re both girls here. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before. Put the towel around your hair or else you’ll ruin your outfit.”

“What exactly are you trying to make me wear?” I asked.

“I’ll show you after you wrap your hair.”

“I’m not comfortable—”

“So you have bigger boobs than I do. Who cares? You should embrace them; I’d kill for your C’s. I just don’t want your damp hair ruining the material. It’s silk, and everyone knows that water absolutely ruins silk. I haven’t decided on what to do with your hair yet, so I don’t want it dried. But you can get dressed now, so it’s out of the way.”

I was being stupid, I knew that. We didn’t have time to argue, but I felt more vulnerable half-naked. I sighed and obediently wrapped my hair in the towel, crossing my arms over my chest when I finished. Alice bounded off the bed, satisfied that I did as she asked.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I took a few liberties,” she said. “I ordered some clothes for you online and had them shipped here. You should have enough outfits while you’re down there.”

“You bought me clothes?” I asked uncomfortably.

She shuffled her feet and tugged at the ends of her spiky black hair, almost like she was embarrassed. “I know, I know. It’s weird. I don’t usually do stuff like this, but you didn’t complain about the clothes in Portland. I thought you wouldn’t mind.”

I didn’t like her spending money on me or guessing I’d be okay with her dressing me. Then again, I wasn’t convinced it was a guess.

“I do mind,” I mumbled.

“Bella, you’re half-naked in a house full of vampires, smelling particularly delicious, might I add. Let’s not forget that we have less than an hour before the sun comes up. There’s no time for pouting, or arguments.” She lost the nerves and flashed a grin, rubbing her hands together as she went to the bag. “Would you like to see what you’re wearing this fine, chilly morning?”

I hugged myself tighter. “Just give me a T-shirt and jeans.”

She scoffed, unzipping the bag. “You have a great body, Bella. You can hide in your boy clothes later. So tell me, how gorgeous is this?”

She pulled out a sheet of fabric and turned, holding it up so I could get a good look at it. My eyes went wide. It was a dress! Not just any dress, but a short, sleeveless dress. My neck and shoulders would be exposed, and it would probably barely reach my knees. The only thing I thought was gorgeous about it was the deep bluish-green color. I was not a dress-type of girl. The last time I wore a one was when Renee still dressed me. Translation: when I was a kid.

“No way!” I yelled. “You are not getting me into that thing.”

It wasn’t gaudy; in fact, it was very simple and kind of elegant-looking. I just didn’t want to wear it to meet a bunch of evil vamps. Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. I just didn’t want to wear it in Seattle’s cold. Alice seemed to forget that November in Washington meant freezing cold.

“Please, Bella!” Alice whined. “This is demure yet sexy, and it draws attention to your neck.”

“I’ll freeze in that thing! I want a turtleneck,” I said with a glare.

“Sorry, but no turtleneck sweaters here,” she replied, not at all apologetic. “What’s wrong with the dress?”

“Besides the obvious? If I wore that thing, I’d look like food! I’m not wearing it.”

“You’re supposed to look like food. You’re going as Jasper’s Renfield; they are another way for a vampire to feed, you know. You want them to underestimate you. What better says ‘harmless’ than a girl in a short dress?” I opened my mouth for a snappy reply, but she quickly cut me off with a dangerous look. “You are going to meet the ancients; you have to be presentable, not dressed like what they’d call a street rat. It won’t kill you to wear a dress for two hours. It’s common courtesy to show up in front of the ancients in nice clothes. It’s kind of like meeting a king. You don’t dress like a slob. Besides, they’ll be dressed in the finest clothes of their time.”

What’s that, a loincloth? I wanted to make the stupid joke, but I wasn’t that comfortable, and we weren’t friends. I’d save it for when I saw Jessica. It would be the perfect way to close the awkward gap between us.

“The clock is ticking,” Alice reminded me.

Fine, I’d play their game. I sighed and hung my head. “How long do I have to wear it?”

“At least two hours, but it will be warm in the tunnels. I know, doesn’t seem right since their so deep underground, but I guess they put in a heating system for the humans. Oh, but there’s a catch.”

I threw my arms up. “There’s always a catch with vampires!” I said, exasperated.

She smiled. “So you saw this coming, good. While you might be Jasper’s protection, the guards won’t let you near Aro with the firepower you carry. You’ll have to store the shotgun, sword, and assault rifle in your bag; they’ll fit.”

“Deal’s off. I’m not going anywhere near them without a gun.”

“But I have good news. Sheesh, let me finish.” She fished something else out of the bag and tossed it my way. I caught it and held up the straps; I recognized it immediately as a thigh holster. “I spoke to Embry while you were busy with Jasper. He said this would perfectly conceal your pistol, a magazine, and two knives under the dress. With the way the material will flare around your knees, I agreed.”

“Why do I have to hide my pistol?” I asked. I didn’t argue about putting it on, though. Alice must’ve told him Embry I’d be in a dress, because it had the waist strap already attached. I immediately slid the band up my right leg, but didn’t holster my gun, and buckled the waist strap around me like a belt.

“Because modern weaponry makes the guards a little uncomfortable,” Alice said, “and as Jasper’s Renfield, you shouldn’t technically need a gun.”

“You know, I’m starting to think maybe I should have been more informed about Renfield’s before I agreed to this.” I knew that Renfields were a vampire’s attack dog and go-to human, but the way Alice spoke about it, it made me think there was more to it. I was pretty well educated about vampires, but they hid a lot of information about themselves, sometimes even putting out false myths to make them seem weaker to us humans.

She shrugged. “It’s nothing important, really. Back in the day, when the church was hunting evil, vampires needed a way to defend themselves. They found a way to bind humans to them for protection. It never lasted very long. The mentality of the Renfields was worn down quickly, and it made the church able to find them easier.

“After years of Renfields being burned at the stake for witchcraft, it was hard for a vampire to hold onto a human. Humans heard stories, they knew what would happen if they were caught, and they would kill themselves after the vampire caught them. One vampire started to make deals with humans. If they would protect him, he promised them eternal life. He gave them power, and eventually turned them when they pleased him. Renfields are just another way to quickly build a stable powerbase. So yeah, that’s where the whole Renfield thing comes from.”

I had no idea. I thought Renfield’s were kept for appearances—the more Renfield’s you had, the stronger you were, or more important in their society—but I guess they actually helped their master besides running errands on sunny days. Wait, wait, what was that? “What do you mean by power?” I asked quietly.

“There are rumors that when a vampire bites a human, if they give the human their blood, it will give the human their master’s ability, if he has one,” she explained. “Of course, the human will be stronger, faster—kind of like a real vampire, except without heightened senses or immortality.”

“I thought that’s how vampires were made; an exchange of blood.”

“It’s something like that. How about you get dressed?” She held the dress out toward me. “We’ll continue this discussion over your hair.”

I took the dress from her hands without argument and unzipped it, stepping into the silky fabric. I still didn’t completely understand why I had to look nice. I wanted to know more about how vampires were made and the humans bound to them, but Alice firmly refused to continue until I was dressed. I had to agree. I was starting to get cold.

I pulled the dress up, and Alice zipped me in. She turned me toward the mirror attached to the large armoire. I stared for a minute, but I could never tell what women looked for when they examined themselves in the mirror. I watched Renee do it all the time; she would turn to one side, then the other, tilting her head and batting her eyes. Living with Charlie, there was nothing like that. It was more like wearing whatever was clean and comfortable. But I had to applaud Alice; she got me in a dress. Renee would flip if she ever found out.

“It looks . . . good,” I said, feeling a little awkward.

“Good?” Alice asked with wide eyes. “You look great! And I think I decided what to do with your hair. Up, definitely up. Keep the neck bare. You don’t accessorize anyway, right?”

“Only with guns.”

“Of course. Must be nice to be that simple,” she said flippantly.

I thought about it, and she was right. I answered with a small smile. “Yeah, it’s really nice.” But then again, she was talking about accessorizing with weapons.

“Alright, come with me, and I’ll fix your hair.”

“And tell me more about vampires,” I added, grabbing my pistol. I still didn’t want to put it in the holster yet. Clinging to the familiar feel of it was the only thing that was keeping me sane.

“If you really want to know,” she replied uneasily.

I nodded and followed her into the bathroom. Alice pulled out a stool from under the counter and had me sit down while she set up the countertop. She produced a hairdryer and bottles from the deep drawers while I cradled my pistol in my lap. She tugged the towel from around my head, catching the wet strands before they could touch the silk dress.

“So what else do you want to know?” she asked as she pulled her slim fingers through my hair. “I thought you knew pretty much everything about vampires.”

“I thought so too, but I never knew what kind of role I’m playing. I thought Renfields were for show and running errands, not powering their master’s. What about bloodwhores? Are they really just blood bags and fuck buddies to vampires?”

Alice frowned and picked up a brush, running the soft bristles over my tangled hair. “I wouldn’t say ‘fuck buddies.’ I’ve never heard of a vampire successfully make love to a human, but I guess it’s possible.”

“I know it’s possible. My friend lost her virginity to a vampire instead of her childhood sweetheart.” I still remember the day Jess told me, a huge smile on her face. That was the day our friendship was cut; I only hung out with her because it made Charlie happy. It was a way to get information.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said softly. “The vampires surrounding Seattle are pigs. Aro gives them too much slack where he should tighten the reigns. I’ll be glad when they’re gone.”

“Is your master in this mix?”

Her hand stilled, and she turned her gaze to my hair so I couldn’t see her eyes in the reflection. She was quiet for a long moment, and then finally shook her head, continuing her brushing. “No, or at least I don’t think so,” she answered. “I don’t know who made me, but maybe its better this way. I see Carlisle as my creator and father; he’s my counselor and guidance. That’s what really matters to me. I remember the first day I met him. He was shocked that I just appeared in his life, but he still welcomed me with a warm smile and a hug. He was like no one I’d ever met. He’s a great man, Bella. And you know he’s never had human blood, and he’s definitely not in with the criminals who ruled your life.”

“I’m starting to see that, but I still don’t like it.”

“What, that you might become friends with a vampire?” Alice laughed. “That’s hilarious! You’re friends with a pack of wolves! What are a few vampires compared to that?”

Thanks to the bra, I had to cross my arms under my chest, but it didn’t stop my pouting. I wanted to tell her, Werewolves never killed my friends and took over my life, but I kept my mouth closed. She was only making a joke.

So what if I was uncomfortable around vampires? It was to be expected. But the Cullen’s were really putting their necks on the line for me. And for what? Just to get rid of the creator of the race? Carlisle knew what kind of massacre that would cause; I had a feeling he wouldn’t want something like that on his conscious. It was Vampire Mythology 101: kill the foundation of the bloodline, the rest of them go with it. He had assured me over the phone he wouldn’t be affected by it, but there were hundreds of newborns and elders alike that could die.

I quickly changed subjects, unwilling to answer Alice’s question. “Tell me how vampires are created. It’s through blood, right?”

“Yep, and from what Carlisle has described to me, it doesn’t sound all that fun.” She grimaced and continued, “I always thought it took a single bite, but he said the disease lives in our blood, not our saliva. So when the vampire bites a human, and when the human is almost completely drained, the vampire has the human drink their blood. It symbolizes the total control the vampire will have; the human can’t live without their blood. Understand?”

“Okay, say a vampire doesn’t bite a human, but still makes the human drink his blood. What would happen?”

“Good question, although I think it would still have the same effect.” She set the brush aside and pushed my hair forward, ordering me to hold onto it while she grabbed a bottle from the counter. “Maybe the virus would travel quicker through the bloodstream, but I think it would hurt worse.”

I looked up at her. “It hurts?”

She shrugged and took control my hair again, rubbing some kind of product through it. “I don’t remember myself, but I saw a few turnings in my lifetime,” she said. “The human body dies while the virus takes control. Who knows how it actually works, though. Someday I’d like to figure it out. What keeps us alive? It’s a question that’s plagued Carlisle since the day he was turned.”

Alice picked up the hairdryer, drowning out our conversation. She mussed my hair with her free hand, working diligently to dry it, before bringing in the brush to smooth it straight. I patiently sat on the stool and let her work; she really seemed to know what she was doing. With all the free time on her hands, I wondered if she ever attended beauty school. I already knew she could bake, so what was a bit of hair and makeup to her small hands?

When my hair was dry, Alice picked up a different bottle, squirting some of the product in her hand before rubbing it through my hair. I stayed passive under her hands. Whatever she wanted to do was fine with me, as long as I got out of here soon. I had vampires to kill.

I watched as Alice produced four sticks from a drawer—two long and two short—and proceed to twist my hair. They resembled chopsticks. What would Alice do with them? She hummed a tune to match the piano downstairs as she worked. It had picked up volume since I first heard it coming out of the shower.

“Who plays?” I asked.

“Edward,” answered Alice with a smile, pinning a stick to the left side of my head, keeping the hair in place. “He’s had lessons ever since he was human. I think his mom pressured him into it, but he insists he wanted to learn. Isn’t he amazing?”

I listened to the song wafting through the open doors. It was a sweet melody, yet he was playing it a little too harsh, almost like he wanted us to hear, but the song wasn’t meant to be played so loud. I shrugged. “It’s not bad. How long has he been playing?”

She giggled. “It’s not my place to tell you his age, silly Bella. He’s played like this long before you were born, and every day he practices to improve his art. It’s really something. Esme loves to listen to Edward play; she always says she could sit and watch him forever.”

“Esme, that’s Carlisle’s wife?” I asked. Esme and I had never really spoken before. There was one time while I was staying with them that we had a short conversation, but otherwise she was quiet.

“The one and only for eternity!” she giggled. She pinned the second long stick on the opposite side of my head. The shorter sticks were just for decoration. After she stuck them in, she set a hand mirror in front of my face and made me turn around see what she had done. I thought I’d have some complicated chignon, but Alice went for simple once again. There was a neat bun on both sides of my head, the sticks holding them firmly together.

I turned back around and stared at myself in the mirror, amazed with what I saw. I looked . . . “Pretty,” I murmured.

“You have a natural beauty to you, and that’s why you’re not getting much makeup,” Alice replied, oh so happy I was okay with her handiwork.

I shook my head, surprised my hair stayed in place. “That’s where I draw the line. I am not wearing makeup. It would run and make a mess all over my face.”

Alice stepped around me and opened another drawer, pulling out a small clear tube. “Lip gloss?” she asked, clearly testing the waters.

“Gloss is fine,” I relented.

A smile on her elfin face, she held up another tube. “Mascara?”

“No. Lip gloss.”

“Eye shadow?”

“Lip gloss, Alice.”

I stopped her before she could pull anything else out. “No time for arguments, remember? We’ve been here way too long; we’ll never make it before the sun starts shining.”

Alice pouted briefly, but she gave in with a nod of her head. With my consent, she ran the wet brush over my lips, and suddenly my lips weren’t just pink, but vibrant and sparkly. I knew if I had given in to the rest of the makeover, I’d look so girlish I’d call this whole thing off. Or at least, I’d try.

I was uncomfortable with being girly. I always thought dresses and make-up never suited me, but somehow Alice made them look superb. Maybe being a little girly wasn’t too bad. And I only had to wear the dress for two hours; I could do that. Compared to what I’d be doing underground, wearing a dress was easy.

Alice took me back into the bedroom. She pulled a shoebox out from underneath the bed and cracked it open with a devious smile. When I saw what was inside the box, I had to fight to keep from yelling at her. They were heels! Not just normal heels, or even stilettos, but boots! Peep-toe ankle boots.

“Alice,” I started quietly, trying to control the anger in my voice, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but it’s freezing outside.”

Alice grinned. “I know,” she chirped.

Her easy answer lost me the grip on my anger. “Then why are you dressing me up in a fucking mini dress with those death traps!” I screeched.

There was a knock on the open door. I turned to find Jasper leaning against the frame, his blond hair slicked back, wearing a tuxedo. My anger seemed to fade away, and I knew it was because of him; I didn’t say anything. He looked just as uncomfortable as me, and suddenly I didn’t feel so ridiculous. If he could put up with the stupid dress code, I guess I could too. Couldn’t let a vampire best me, right?

“Everything okay in here?” he asked with a calm, quiet voice. “We need to go soon, you know that, right Alice?”

She didn’t even turn around, just grinned at me. “I know, Jasper. Well, Bella, no time for arguments.”

I snatched the booties from the box and sat on the bed with a frustrated sigh. “How high are these things?” I asked, defeated.

“Four inches,” Alice answered.

“Are you kidding? I’ve never worn anything that high!”

She laughed. “It’s not that high, Bella. Four inches is a cakewalk compared to the eight inches I had originally picked out. Then I saw you break your leg on the church steps. Eight inches was a bad idea, but you can handle these.”

Eight inches? Yeah, suddenly four didn’t seem so intimidating. I slid my bare feet into the black shoes and zipped them up. I wished for tights or something to wear with this outfit, but I didn’t want to risk anything with the thigh holster. Most women could wear any kind of stockings with a thigh band, but I was not most women. I’d find a way to rip either the tights or band somehow.

I stood on wobbly legs, and Alice helped me balance. The design made it feel like I was standing on my tip-toes. I did not like this one bit. I took a tentative step with Alice’s help, then another, and two more before pulling out of her grasp. She hovered by while I adjusted to these monsters on my feet. I didn’t do too badly for my first time in high heels.

I went to the door, trying not to stumble, where Jasper was still waiting. The heel caught in the carpet, and I tumbled toward him. He caught my arm before I could fall face first into the hall, but as soon as I was upright, I shrugged him off. Now that Alice was done primping me, I had my own preparations to make. I told Jasper to wait as I cautiously made my way back to the bathroom, where my bag still sat on the floor.

I grabbed the rig from behind the door and quickly unloaded the Striker. I had remembered I never loaded the incendiary shells, and I wanted to fix that quickly. I switched out the shells then had to dig around to find the knives Embry had packed; everything inside the bag was black, so it all melted together, but I finally found the knives in their sheaths. Because the thigh band had built-in sheaths, I didn’t have to worry about stabbing myself. I hiked the skirt of the dress and slid the two knives into the band—hearing the click told me they were secure— and then reached for my pistol. I set the gun in its temporary holster along my leg. Carefully, I shoved the FAMAS, Striker, and sword inside the duffel bag, zipping it closed. Huh, Alice was right. They fit.

I was afraid to try and lift the bag in my heels, and Alice knew it. She offered to carry it downstairs for me. Which would be worse? Having a vampire touch my equipment or falling over in front of two vampires? I let her carry the bag while I tried not to cling to Jasper’s arm going down the stairs. He was patient, taking them one step at a time. When we reached the first floor, I heaved a sigh of relief. Maybe I’d get the hang of walking in these things quickly.

Edward waited by the door, jingling the car keys in his hand, sunglasses on his face. What was he hiding behind there? Were they his new eyes? Did he kill someone? And apparently he felt he didn’t have to dress up much, because his auburn hair was still a mess, and compared to Jasper’s tux, he looked almost homely. Edward wore a simple gray vest with a white Oxford shirt and black slacks. Seriously, I was in a dress and four inch heels for this. Couldn’t he have tried harder?

He snatched my bag from Alice, slinging it over his shoulder. “The car has all your luggage already,” he said, sounding somewhat grumpy. “We need to go.”

“You don’t think I know that?” I hissed. “You try walking in these things.”

His head made a bobbing motion, and I realized he was looking me up and down, stopping on the little boots. He opened his mouth to say something, but Alice was quicker.

“Try to remember that the shoes are suede, so if you get blood on them, it won’t wash out,” she said.

“Fine with me, because I’m throwing them out with the dress after we’re done with the meet and greet, or tea time, or whatever it is vampires do,” I said.

Alice grinned and tapped her temple. “I thought you might say that, so I thought ahead.”

“More clothes?” I groaned. “Why couldn’t you give me guns? I’d love a flamethrower.”

Her face grew serious, the grin quickly slipping away. “Strength isn’t going to help you now, Bella. You’re entering a game of wits and politics. You have to follow Jasper’s lead.”

I glanced up at the stoic blond. “He’s really in charge? I thought we were partners.”

“Officially, Jasper is in charge, and Edward is second-in-command. You have to listen to them while you’re down there, so try not to argue with them too much, okay? They can look after themselves, but they have to protect you as well. If you fight them every step of the way, it will make their jobs harder.” She grinned as she said this.

I sighed, eyes catching sight of the hall clock. My feet were already killing me, and I’d barely walked in these shoes. “Can we just get going? It’s already six o’clock.”

Alice stood on her toes as Jasper bent down, giving him a sweet kiss. She didn’t seem nervous at all that he might not come back. She bounced over to Edward to give him the same chaste kiss. She looked at me, and I shook my head, wobbling past them. My coat was still hanging in the closet, and I’d definitely need it in this getup.

“Be careful down there, Bella. I’m worried for you,” Alice said sincerely. If the psychic was worried, what did that mean for me? Shit. “Watch your back when you’re alone. Aro might try for you around every corner. Remember what I said about him, if he can’t have you—”

“No one else can,” I finished darkly. He could keep dreaming. The only way Aro was getting me was if I took him to Hell with me.

The sky was a gloomy indigo by the time we were in Seattle. The sun was still hidden behind the clouds, but with the help of the church’s lights, I saw it long before we ever got to it. The high pillars of stone in between all the modern buildings were a big hint. When we maneuvered through the early morning traffic, finally pulling into the back parking lot, I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of it. It was beautiful, but I knew what lay underneath, and that made it intimidating. This was where the big bad vamps stayed. I could kill Aro, or he could kill me. This was it.

I grabbed my bag beside me and was about to open the car door when Jasper stopped me, a hand on my arm. I shrugged off his hand and turned back around to see his face set with grim determination.

“We have to use the front entrance,” Jasper said quietly. “You can’t carry the bag with you. All eyes will be on us; they’re expecting us.”

“I need the ammo,” I replied, biting my lip with nerves. I only had one extra clip with me. Even with the clip, I had twenty shots. Definitely not enough to help me.

“They’ll come get it and put it in our room.”

“What room? Who?”

“The guards,” he answered. He continued before I could take a breath to protest. “What were you and Alice talking about? No time for arguments? Now let’s go, and try not to make eye contact.” He opened his door, cold air rushing up my skirt, as he slipped on his sunglasses, exiting the car. Edward followed his lead without a word.

I reluctantly left the bag in the backseat and pulled myself out of the car. They didn’t even wait for me, and I was in heels! I wouldn’t have complained if they wanted to touch me now; my feet were killing me. I wanted someone to carry me. I clomped after them, shivering in my itty bitty dress, the coat doing nothing to protect me from the early morning frost. I told Alice a dress was a bad idea. I never saw anyone wear a dress in winter. Should’ve told her off.

I looked up from my feet to yell at the vamps for leaving me behind, but my breath caught in my throat. Eyes were everywhere. And they were looking at me.

To make the eerie silence in Seattle even worse, every face I passed on the sidewalk seemed to be staring. At first I thought it was the dress drawing attention to me, then I noticed the secretive smiles, and then I spotted the red eyes. The vamps in Seattle weren’t like Jasper or Edward; they didn’t hide behind sunglasses. I immediately stared down at my feet, pulled the coat tighter around me, and hurried towards the giant stone steps. They all knew we were here.

Jasper and Edward climbed the front steps while I struggled in the evil heels. Bunch of gentlemen they were; they couldn’t even save a damsel in distress. Then again, maybe they thought I didn’t want the help.

Edward held the door as he and Jasper waited at the top. When I finally made it up, my feet utterly aching, we entered the cathedral.

I stumbled just inside the door; it wasn’t my clumsiness, but the sight of the interior. It was huge. There was no vestibule, so we were greeted by the tall ceiling and a sea of chairs. I took it all in with wide eyes. I never knew a building could be so beautiful. The many stained glass windows were already casting colors around the wide room. I followed the vamps down the walkway, approaching a fountain in the very middle of the room. Behind it were more chairs, and on the very back wall, hundreds of polished golden organ pipes shone through the spaces in the walls. It gave the illusion that the pipes were built into the walls.

We didn’t go towards the organ; Jasper led us off to the right side, taking us through a door into a dim hall. We passed humans who kept their eyes glued to the marble floor. I had a feeling they worked here and knew exactly why we here. You couldn’t have vampires come out of the woodwork and not know their master lived below you, right?

We walked down two more long hallways before Jasper took us through a large wooden door. He and Edward didn’t even pause, just went through it. I stood in the doorframe, looking down into the room. I was faced with stone steps, the room dark and chilly. “Do you even know where you’re going?” I asked, watching as Jasper’s blond hair disappeared down the steps.

“It’s been a while,” his voice echoed, “but yes, I know exactly where I’m going.”

“It seems like this door should be locked.”

“It usually is. I told you; they know we’re coming.” His voice took on a teasing tone as he asked, “Would you like to join us down here?”

I glanced back down the empty hall, wondering how far I’d make it before they caught me. In these heels? Not far. Damn it. I sighed and reached for the wall inside the room, my hand met with cold, scratchy stone. I stepped down carefully, thankful for the light from the door above me. Slowly, I descended into the darkness.

After the twentieth step, the door closed behind me. I yelped with fear. I couldn’t see the next step, and I had no idea where those stupid vampires went. My night vision was pretty good if I had a small bit of light, but there was none of that here. It was black as oil. If I closed my eyes, it would make no difference.

My free hand was caught by something cold. I screamed, taking my hand off the wall to grab my gun, but the heels threw me off balance. I fell forward, into something scratchy. I tried to shove out of its grasp, but two icy hands held onto my arms.

“Calm down, Bella, it’s me!” the voice said.

I stopped squirming almost immediately, my heart beating against my chest so hard I was sure Edward could feel it against his. Pushing against his rough jacket, I stepped back and he let me go, chuckling all the while. I stopped gasping long enough to tell him, “You should have said something before you grabbed me.”

“I scared you?” he asked happily.

“Just be lucky you don’t sleep or I’d kill you then,” I growled.

He laughed and a light shone on his face, the sunglasses still covering his eyes. He was holding a small flashlight. I really hated him. He could’ve lit up the stairs for me.

“Relax Bella, I was just having a bit of fun,” he teased.

“I hate you, I really do. That wasn’t funny, and it definitely wasn’t fun.”

“Let’s keep moving,” Jasper’s voice barked from somewhere in the darkness.

Edward turned, shining the light in front of him. I followed closely. The uneven cobblestone was hard to walk on, and if I fell, I’d at least have someone to grab.

I tried to take in my surroundings, but I couldn’t see much outside of the light. I’d guessed we were in a cellar. There were racks of wine, but no coffins. Wasn’t this where all the vampires stayed? I thought they would’ve been lower. And what happened to that electricity and heat the Cullens’ told me about?

“It seems stupid for a vampire to hide underneath a church,” I said, unable to stand the silence any more. “It’s too public.”

“Not exactly,” answered Edward. “This is just the main entrance to Aro’s lair; we’re using it to show respect. We could have entered from any of the tunnels. The cathedral might be a public location, but the real entrance is inaccessible to anyone who isn’t a vampire.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s a long way down.” We turned the corner, and up ahead I could see a dark red light, Jasper standing underneath it. The flashlight went off when we finally caught up to him.

“This is the real entrance,” Jasper explained, motioning to something beyond the arch we stood under. “It’s just a short walk after the jump, and then we’re officially cut off from the outside world.”

I stepped past him to see what he was talking about. In the middle of the small room was a wide stone well. I bent over it, staring down into more darkness. Even with the red light I couldn’t see anything. Great.

“I’m not going down there,” I said. “There has to be another way.”

Jasper shook his head. “You already agreed to do this, Bella. You can’t back out now.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “How am I even getting down there?”

“It’s a drop only the undead can survive, so I’ll hold you, or Edward can.”

After what Edward did on the steps, and the fact that he had some weird attraction to me, I wasn’t letting him hold me. I smoothed the back of my dress, the skirt barely as long as the coat. “I’m not comfortable with this.”

“None of us are, but it’s something we’ll work through. Edward can go first, to show you there’s nothing to fear.”

Edward came to the well and stepped up on the thin lip. He didn’t even pause, just fell into the dark depths. I leaned over the well again, waiting to hear a splash or a crack or something that would show he was down there. Nothing happened.

Jasper stood by my side, leaning over with me and called down, “Are you clear?”

“Come on down!” Edward’s voice echoed off the walls.

Jasper straightened up and looked at me, a small smile on his lips. “Let’s go.” His hand was suddenly around my wrist, pulling me to him. I struggled, digging my heels into the floor, but that didn’t slow him down. When I was close enough, he wrapped an arm around my legs, knocking me over, but caught my back with his other arm. I was suddenly cradled to his chest, trying not to scream my head off.

“You could’ve asked!” I complained, still kicking in his arms.

He stepped onto the lip. “If you don’t stop squirming, I might drop you.” That stopped any movement I might’ve made next.

I looked down to find the pit of darkness at his feet. I swallowed hard and turned my gaze to his face. “There is a floor down there, right?” I asked with my shaking voice.

“Why? Are you scared?” he asked with a grin.

“I’m going to the heart of a coven with only two vampires I don’t know to keep me from getting killed, and one of those vampires is about to fall down a well with me in his arms!”

He seemed to consider it for a moment. “Good point,” and with that said, he stepped into the well.

I felt the air rush by me, taking my ability to scream with it; it ruffled my dress, tugged my hair. It felt like we fell forever. When I felt the impact jar Jasper’s body, I jerked. He held me closer, but he didn’t stumble. He let me down before standing up, and I scrambled to get my footing. After that drop, my legs were shaking like leaves in the wind. Edward was there to hold me steady. He held onto my elbow with a strong hand, and waited while I found my equilibrium. My skin crawled, but I didn’t shake him off. I clung to his arm and fought to control my breathing. It gave me the chance to look around.

We were standing in a dark corridor, but up ahead there was a bright light beyond an arched doorway, showing off smooth white stone. I swore if I had to walk much farther, I’d take off the boots, no matter how dirty the floor was. Jasper dusted off his coat and took the lead again while I let Edward go, following after him.

We passed under the arch, the hallway before us ending with an elevator. Seriously? Edward didn’t seem surprised; his face was empty as he kept pace with Jasper. Wasn’t this his first time down here too?

Jasper pushed the button, and the scratched metal doors opened immediately. We all stepped in. There was only one button inside; it would take us lower, closer to the vampires. The doors closed, and we were on our way to vampiric central station.