I felt the usual tears wanting to flow, but I held them back. I didn’t want to cause him pain in addition to disappointing him. For some reason it was easier than I was used to.

I hugged him until his body felt more at ease, and said, “I’d better go and get the chicken.”

He looked at me smiled and nodded. It was my attempt at distracting him from worrying about me, but I was also beginning to feel ravenous.

     As we turned to walk back into the kitchen, I began to think over the last year. I had thought by now our life would have merited a little order. Everything Edward and I had faced together; James, the war with Victoria and the Volturi, not to mentions Tanya and Irina’s attack. It all should have counted for something I thought.

My mind switched gears to Volturi. I didn’t like thinking of the Volturi; they were a constant worry in my mind. They were already a threat to our family. Now, with Jane trying to take over, it was worse. I recalled the iconic paintings of the three masters hanging in Carlisle’s study, and wondered how it was possible they could lose control. Their faces drifted through my mind. Marcus, distant, and obscure; who barely seemed conscious of the world around him. Caius; angry, bitter, and unforgiving of any deviation from their rules. And finally Aro. Aro was possibly the most frightening of the three. His manner was so refined, and engaging, and yet I felt an underlying evil about him that was only rivaled by Jane. Suddenly I felt dizzy and wobbly on my feet. Edward realizing supported me under the arms. “Bella?” he said, but his voice faded out to a low hiss and was gone. As I looked at the kitchen door ahead of me, it began to fade…no…to change. The kitchen door changed to a stone wall, dark and ancient. All of a sudden, I felt a jolt, pushing me forward. I was falling and then without warning I came to an abrupt stop!

I was alone in a tunnel, sinister and familiar. I could tell it was dark, and yet I could see. It was damp, and decay hung in the air. I was moving forward, walking. I was nervous, frightened, I felt out of control. I wasn’t used to the feeling; I didn’t like it! As I walked, I looked back and forth, as though searching for something, or someone. I knew I had to find them, and yet, I was afraid to find them. Then strangely enough, I began to talk to myself.