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End of Chapter 37

Felix growled behind us..and at that point I was past the point of putting up with him. I turned and glared at him, putting as much challenge in it as I could.

"Ah, Felix. Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience." Aro said, calming the big guy.

I blinked and saw Heidi coming in with a group of people that thought they were on a sight seeing trip. She was leading them through the entire complex right now and when they got down here....the people would become a meal for the Volturi. We could not have Bella inside this room when that happened ou Edward and I wouldn't be able to protect her from them. I snapped my eyes opened and looked over to see Edward watching me closely.

"Hmm." Edward said, panic in his tone. "In that case, perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than later."

"Yes, that's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if toi don't mind."

"Of course." Edward agreed.

"And here," Aro a dit as he motioned to Felix to come closer. Felix of course moved over as fast as he could..such a good lap dog. Aro pulled the long gray manteau off the tall man, pulling from his shoulders and tossed it at Edward. "Take this. You're a little conspicuous."

Edward grabbed the manteau and slipped it on, leaving the capuche, hotte down.

"It Suits – Avocats sur Mesure you." Aro sighed.

"Thank you, Aro. We'll wait below." Edward a dit as he chuckled at the idea of how much Aro liked the look of Edward in the robe.

"Goodbye, young friends." Aro said, looking over to the direction of voices that were now getting louder.

"We need to go NOW." I thought to Edward.

Chapter 38

"Let's go." Edward a dit plus for Bella than me.

Demetri came over and gestured that we were to follow him, that he was to lead us out of the room. We took off as fast as we could, but as soon as we got to the landing suivant to the door everyone heard voices.

I glared at Edward, fear shaking my entire body. "Not fast enough." I a dit quietly.

Bella looked up at me, trying to figure out what I was talking about, but at the same time the voices came from the other side of the door. Loud enough for everyone, even Bella's human ears to hear.

"Well this is unusual." A man's voice a dit loudly.

"Edward, we need to move." I thought at him.

"So medieval." A woman's voice called, amazement obvious in her tone.

The doors burst open and a large crowd stared entering. I shook my head as I noticed some of the faces in the crowd, wishing this wasn't how their lives ended.

Demetri motioned with his hand for all of us to déplacer against the wall. A low growl echoing out of my throat, I didn't want to déplacer against the wall...we needed to get out of here before everyone began feeding.

"Welcome guests! Welcome to Volterra!" Aro called, his tone the same as when we first entered the room.

About forty people had now entered the room, some looking around as if they were taking a tour. A few of them raised their cameras and snapped a few pictures of the room, ou the 'people' who occupied the room.

There was a group of people who looked confused about how and why they got there. There was two women who were walking around, speaking Vietnamese asking questions..but no one understood what they were saying.

What they were saying was something along the line of: 'Help us, we shouldn't be here.' ou 'Please, death is dear. We are afraid, we need to leave. Please help us.'

I closed my eyes, wishing I could erase everything from my mind. I looked at Edward who lowered his head and nodded in agreement with me. He reached around Bella and pulled her close against his body, so that she wouldn't see anything else.

"But she will hear." I thought.

He nodded quickly and began moving in between people, ignoring when someone tried to grab his arm to beg for help. I smiled down at a few and shook my head, avoiding any gazes if possible.

We made it out of the large room and into a hallway that was light with torches, they caused everything to be bathed in a light golden color.

In this hallway was a woman, her beauty seconde only to Rosalie. It made me feel like I was the biggest tomboy, like I would never be beautiful with her in the room. She was dressed to montrer off her curves, her legs wrapped in tights that were the darkest shade of black. She wore a very short miniskirt with a chemise that was high collared but so tight that it looked like it was painted on her. The difference between her and Rose was that this woman had dark hair that had a red tint to it, and eyes that were a light violet. Obviously she wore these to go out and find their dinner, not wanting to montrer her true eye color.

This was all a hit against my ego, I felt very inadequate. I knew that no one would ever want ou see me with someone like her standing near.

"Welcome home, Heidi." Demetri said.

"I think that Jazz would disagree." Edward thought.

I smiled at Edward, shaking my head slightly. He was right, Jazz loved me for who and what I am. Nothing would change that, and that made me focus again and remember that we needed to be going.

"Nice fishing." Demetri said, as he looked back at the room.

"Thanks." She a dit as she smiled. "Aren't toi coming?"

"In a minute. Save a few for me."

Edward started walking, ignoring everything else. He towed Bella behind him, ignoring how Heidi stopped at the door way and turned to watch Bella. I felt the most terrible urge to jump at her and kill her now, but Edward called my name..making me focus.

I turned and ran after him and Bella, catching up and taking my place on the other side of her. We walked down the hall until we came into a bright reception area.

We had passed through this room on our way in, it still looked too much like a hotel lobby, bright and welcoming...out of place.

"Do not leave until dark." Demetri said, a threat in his tone.

Edward nodded and watched as Demetri ran back down the hallway.

I closed my eyes, hoping I could figure out what was going to happen. I saw them feeding, then the elders would have a discussion regarding us, and if we were really going to be able to leave. It seemed like at this time it was split, the decision would be up to Aro..

I opened my eyes and saw that the receptionist Gianna staring at all of us. I glared at her, and she dropped her head, instantly returning to typing ou whatever she was doing before we left.

"Are toi alright?" Edward whispered to Bella.

I looked over and saw Bella shaking, her entire body shaking so hard it looked like she would collapse. I knew that all of her bravery and determination were now wearing off, she was going into hysterics. A small sound was escaping her lips, it was like a whimper...but the sound was coming from deep in her chest.

"You'd better make her sit before she falls...she's falling to pieces." I a dit to Edward

"Shhh, Bella, Shhhh." Edward a dit as he dragged her non-moving body to a canapé that was just far away from Gianna.

I went and sat on the far side of the couch, knowing that Bella would end up in the middle of us. "I think she's having hysterics. Maybe toi should slap her." I suggested...wishing I could take back the last part as I watched Edwards face drop.

"It's all right, you're safe, it's all right." Edward a dit over and over as he pulled Bella into his lap. He wrapped the manteau around her, protecting her from his body.

Bella sobbed uncontrollably, her entire body moving with each sob. "All those people." She cried.

"I know." Edward whispered.

"It's so horrible."

"That's one word for it." I thought to Edward, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.

"Yeah, why don't toi look and see what our outlook is..or look for Jasper." He thought.

I nodded at him and relaxed on the couch, putting my head back. I saw that they were done feeding, and the three were talking about our future. I saw that we would be allowed to leave, with conditions that they were still discussing.

I blinked and focused on Jasper. I knew at he must be beside himself with fear, he didn't know what was going on, he didn't know if I would be coming accueil to him. I felt horrible. I had to talk to him and soon, to tell him how much I l’amour him, to feel his arms around me.

I blew out a breath, making myself focus on the room I was in again. My cœur, coeur was broken, I felt like I would cry if I could. I was so glad that we had gotten out, but what would be the price?