Chapter One

Welcome to Volterra, Dearest Bella

"Bella," He said harshly. "I don't want you." My heart sank into my stomach, and a wave of nausea hit me.

"You don't. . . You don't want me?" I whispered. My chest felt constricted- like I couldn't breathe.

"Yes. I don't want you. Don't bother following me. You won't find us." Us? What did he mean by us?

"Y- you mean. . . Everyone? Alice, Esme? Emmett?" He nodded his head. "Carlisle, Jasper, and Rosalie?" He nodded again. Tears spilled out of my eyes. "No, Edward. They love me. They wouldn't do that."

He shook his head. "They already left. I should leave now too." I closed my eyes, hoping that this was some sick joke, that when I opened my eyes, they would all come out laughing and we'd just go home. But when I opened my eyes, he was gone.

The pain in my chest grew larger, and I sank to my knee's in pain. There was a pounding in my head as tears slid through my eyes. "Please, no," I gasped through the pain. Then I fell into darkness.

Sam found me after that. I was pretty messed up. I would barely eat, wouldn't speak unless spoken too. I wouldn't go out. I just stayed in my room at all costs. I avoided everyone.

Which was why I decided I to go to the Volturi. Not for death. I wanted to join them- I would show Edward that I was fine without him, which I really wasn't. What I really wanted to do was die, but that would be what Edward wanted. He left me to die- which I was hell bent on not doing.

"Would all passengers please fasten their seat belts. Get ready for landing at Volterra International Airlines." I pulled the ear buds of my iPod out of my ears and put it into my only bag- my small book bag. I decided that I would start all over. I could get more clothes at Volterra. I could start a new life.

The plane hit the runway once, then successfully landed the second time. I sighed and got up from my first class seat. I had collected all my money for this trip. If I was going to go out- why not go out with a bang?

I slung my book bag over my shoulder, and exited the plane. The airport was huge, and it took me a while to navigate through it. When I got through security and everything, I got out of the airport and called a cab.

"Volterra Castle, please" I said to the cabbie. He gave me a weird look through the rear view mirror.

"Are you sure, Ma'am?" He asked.

"Yes," I replied. I put my ear buds back into my ears so he wouldn't talk to me anymore. I had a feeling that it would be a long trip, anyway. My forehead rested against the cool window of the cab. It might have been a good ninety-five degree's outside, but the cab owner had the A/C going on high. I pulled my self deeper into my hoodie, and dozed off.

"Miss," The cabbie said, waking me from my restless sleep. "We've arrived." I sighed and pulled out my wallet.

"How much?"

"Seventy dollars," He replied. I thanked him for his services, paid him, then got out of the cab. Volterra castle was beautiful to say the least. The Gothic architecture made the building look kind of forbidding. As if saying that if you entered, there was no way you would get out. Chills crawled up my back, but I entered anyway.

There was a young receptionist at the desk. She couldn't be any older than twenty years old. She had soft blond curls, baby blue eyes, and flawless skin.

"Hello," she said in an Italian accent. "I'm Gianna. May I help you?" She stepped out from behind her desk and walked towards me.

I smiled at her. "I'm Isabella Swan. I need to speak with Aro." I replied. She nodded once, grabbed her headset, and made a quick call.

"Is Aro free at the moment?" She asked. "Okay, he has a visitor. Isabella Swan. Should I send her up now? Okay, thanks." She set the headset back down on the desk, and started walking. She motioned for me to follow. "Right this way, Isabella."

She led me through a dozen dark hallways, and two elevators before she finally came to a wide hallway that led to gigantic double doors.

"Alright, Isabella," Gianna smiled at me. "Knock before entering, and when you enter, you must bow." I smiled back at her and headed toward the doors. I held my breath. The only thing I could hear was the clicking of Gianna's heels as she walked away. I knocked three slow times.

"Come in," A very formal voice said. I pushed the doors lightly and they swung open. I was met with five pairs of eyes. I bowed slightly, and kept my head down to hide my blush.

"Isabella," One of the men said. He had papery skin that looked so fragile. I knew, though, that it wasn't as fragile as it seemed. He ruby red eyes were welcoming, and he had a dark gray robe on. "Hello."

"Hello, Aro," I said, keeping my voice strong. "I was here to request something from you." Aro got off of his throne and glided toward me. He gently clasped my hand. His welcoming face had turned to one of delight and astonishment.

"I cannot read your thoughts, Isabella," He said with a small smile. "What is your request?"

"Well, I wanted to join your guard. And please, my name is Bella." Aro's smile grew larger. A smile that would rival one of the Cheshire Cat.

"Oh, of course we can call you Bella. And about you being one of the guard, well, we would be delighted for you to join. When you like to be changed?" Aro asked. I smiled a genuine smile- one that I have smiled in a long time.

"One month, please" I said.

"Of course. Welcome to Volterra, dearest Bella. Alec, show Bella her room." A young man stepped from behind Aro, and held his hand out to me.

"I'm Alec," He said as I shook his hand. He had messy dark brown hair, and a fringe that went over one of his eyes. His ruby red eyes were kind, and he held a friendly smile on his face.

"I'm Bella, as you probably know," I replied as he let go of my hand.

"Your room is this way," He said and began to head down the long hallway. We walked for a while in a comfortable silence. He stopped abruptly at a door with room number 913. A smile spread on my face and a giggle- a freaking giggle -escaped my lips.

"What's so funny, Bella?" Alec asked, clearly amused.

"My birthday is September thirteenth, or, nine thirteen. That's my room number." Alec laughed then handed me my room key.

"My room number is 915, please come if you have any questions, comments, or concerns," He said with a laugh. He then turned on his heel and left. I sighed, unlocked my door, and walked into the huge room. Pressed against the left wall was a king sized bed with red and gold sheets. On both sides of the bed were nightstands. One nightstand had a red lamp with an alarm clock, while the other was bare. On the right wall was a huge flat screen T.V. with an entertainment center. This wall also had two doors- one was a closet, and the other was a bathroom.

"I think I love this room," I said as I set my bag on my bed and began to unpack. I placed a picture frame that had a picture of Charlie and I. I smiled sadly at the picture. I was going to miss him. I grabbed all of my bathroom items and organized them in the huge bathroom. Then I hung up the few clothes I did bring in the closet.

"Should it be sad that I finished in all of thirty minutes?" I said to myself.

"Yes, yes it should be," A feminine voice said from the door. I turned to see a girl leaning in the doorway. I immediately recognized her from the throne room. She had her blonde hair twisted up into a bun at the nape of her neck, and she had changed out of her black robe into a black dress that flowed out from the waist, paired with grey ballet flats.

"What?" I asked slightly confused. The girl rolled her eyes. She couldn't be any older than seventeen.

"I'm Jane," she said coming into my room. "I'm Alec's twin. You really should have a larger wardrobe."

I sat down on my bed. "That's all I brought. I wanted to start over." I looked up at Jane to see that she had a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Want to know what I like to do when I want to start over?" She said. I nodded. "I just simply change my image."

So that was chapter one. I hope you like it! Please review! And I do intend for the chapters to get longer, I just needed to write this to start it out!
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