*Edward's POV

  To Emmett's displeasure, outrunning the three was easy for me. Covering my tracks in water too. And stealing a random car so Alice couldn't see it in advance, was a child's py. The more bothersome part was preventing her from seeing my true destination. She was focused on Beth so I also had to make sure to not think that I wanted to take her with me or come back for her.

  Alice must have seen me taking a pne to various pces around the world and going sightseeing. What she wouldn't know was that all of them had something in common. Every one of these pnes was making a stop in Italy. I never made a decision to stay there and so it became a blind spot for her. Years of experimenting with her visions paid off. Not that I ever imagined I'd need it because I'd have to hide myself from her.

  For some reason, Alice was sure that Beth should be with Carlisle. But that was wrong. She was mine and if they wanted to keep her from me, thanks to Carlisle's own memories, I knew the perfect people to help me with getting her back. I didn't need Rosalie's bickering or Alice's constant meddling into everything and spoiling surprises. Nor did I need Carlisle's patronizing. Emmett could be fun but wouldn't go against Carlisle and neither would Jasper, as long as Alice wanted to stay with him.

  In Volterra I easily found the "fisher" Heidi and joined her little group of foreigners who were under the impression that she was taking them only on an excursion around the ancient town. I made sure to stay in the back and to not stand out but she soon noticed me. "Who the hell is this guy? Maybe I should call Felix." She thought with a slight frown. I slowly shook my head and motioned for her to stay quiet about me for the time being.

  Her eyes narrowed as she watched me. "Can you read my mind or something?" When I smiled and nodded my head, she frowned but continued with the tourists as if nothing had happened. "If you touch the masters' food, you're dead." She warned me. We were about to enter the underground castle below a clock tower. It may have been a few days already but the taste of Beth's delicious blood was still fresh in my mind and none of these snacks for Volturi leaders smelled particurly appetizing to me right now.

  We walked through a bunch of long, dimly lit halls after passing a reception where we were greeted by a human woman who wanted to become a vampire. As we were approaching a huge door to what Heidi called a throne room in her mind, I saw her motion towards me with her head, bringing the attention of a guy standing by the door to me. He was maybe a little bigger than Emmett and stretching his arm in front of me, he stopped me from following the group any further. So this is Felix, huh?

  "It's fine, I can wait for them to finish their meal. Nonetheless, I do want to speak with Aro." I told them before Heidi closed the door behind the humans. I could hear the thoughts of those behind the door and I knew that Heidi would tell Aro about my ability. According to Carlisle, Aro loved to gather unique talents and powerful vampires. He was able to read every thought of a person he touched, but I was quite certain he'd find my ability to read minds around me, without any contact whatsoever, useful. If anything, it might at least interest him enough for him to meet me, which was all I needed.

  And so he did. It didn't take long before all of the screams along with the st heartbeat quieted down and a blond girl in a dark robe opened the door. "You are expected. Come." I knew this girl from Carlisle's memories as well. It was Jane. One of the 'evil twins'. She was powerful, arrogant and cruel. At least Carlisle considered her to be so. Hearing her think of me as another 'lowlife bothering her masters' while she watched me with disdain, he was certainly right about her arrogance.

  "Welcome!" Greeted me Aro, a little theatrically spreading his arms as if showing off his empire. "Who may you be and what brings you to us?" From the moment Heidi told him about my talent, he was wondering who I am and how he could make me join them.

  "My name is Edward and the rest..." I offered him my hand. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

  "How interesting!" He ughed and took my hand. "Interesting indeed!" He thought, ecstatic. "Your sire is our old friend Carlisle." He commented. I saw that he was intrigued by Alice's ability as well but knew she would refuse him. Aro was now aware of what I wanted from him and knew that I wouldn't answer his invitation unless he helped me, therefore he didn't really ask yet.

  "As you see, the decision lies with you." I told him. He understood that if my pn worked, I'd join them but could not speak of it any more than this and make the decision at the moment because it would be revealed to the rest of the coven and the pn would ultimately fail.

  "Hmmm... consider me very interested in meeting the reason for your actions, Edward." Said Aro, smiling as he stepped away and joined the other two leaders, sitting on his throne. "Alec, Felix? You two will accompany Edward here and help him capture a certain newborn vampire. No harm should come to her, if possible. That's why I'm sending you, my dear Alec." He added, seeing that Jane was ready to protest. "Then return here with both of them." He ordered.

  Jane's twin Alec was a dark haired boy. I was gd Aro listened to my suggestion I made in my thoughts to use him for transporting Beth since she was a fresh newborn and wouldn't be able to control herself around humans as well as it would secure that she will not get hurt when she won't be able to fight. I was also gd he didn't send his sister as well. I needed to make Beth see that I was the right one for her and Jane would not help me there. Beth must have been confused after she woke up and who knows what nonsense they told her by now. Jane and her gift would only make matters worse.

  *

  Alec was happy to be chosen by Aro and would tease Jane about it. She was angry that she had to stay behind. Felix seemed quite indifferent. He was apparently used to being sent out to fulfill simir tasks often. Most of them were to execute said vampire, though. Aro's request to not harm the newborn they were to retrieve, confused him.

  About nine and half an hour ter we were by the Forks hospital in a car Felix stole on the way here so we could cover our tracks on the way back. "If she's not to get hurt, we have to avoid a fight. There's a patient in a coma after a car crash here. I need one of you to do something to him so his condition becomes critical. I don't care if it's fatal but whatever you do, he can't die fast." I told them.

  For things to go smoothly I had to get Carlisle out of the house and I knew he wouldn't bring her to the hospital. Others were at school at this time so he was the only obstacle left. "I like your way of thinking." Alec grinned at me and went to get it done. He appeared to be a very young boy but he was more of a sadist than anyone I've met. Even Felix wasn't as pleased with the idea. He preferred to end things quickly.

  It didn't take long before Alec returned and we left the car by the road a few miles from Carlisle's house. We continued on foot and watched the house for a while from a safe distance to make sure Beth was alone. I went closer, listening for any thoughts around. There was nothing. Only the two behind me. We could see Beth walk out of the house with a book.

  I barely caught a glimpse of her when she ran away after waking up. Now I could once again appreciate her dainty form dressed in tight bck jeans, white top revealing her shoulder and crowned by the crimson veil of her hair. I wasn't the only one enjoying the view though. While Alec already worked his magic, uninterested, and his mist slowly crept towards unsuspecting Beth who made herself comfortable with her book on the patio, Felix thought that it might be fun to get to know her.

  I shot him a warning look but he mischievously smiled at me, narrowing his eyes, challenging me. Then I heard Beth gasp. As I turned to look at her to see if she noticed us, Felix ran past me. Beth was fine, she didn't notice the attack until it was too te for her to do anything about it. Alec had her under his control and she was deprived of all of her senses, now helplessly lying in Felix's arms.

  "Give her here!" I growled.

  "Finders keepers." Felix smirked at me and took off to the car with Alec in tow. I had no choice but to follow. Aro ordered them to bring us both back so Felix wouldn't really do anything until then.

  We couldn't keep Beth completely immobilized while getting on a pne so Alec returned her touch and hearing to her. We made a stop before we got to the airport because once she'd get her touch back, she was nearly certain to attempt to run away. Even though she still couldn't see or talk, nor smell anything, Beth tried to fight when I told her to stay calm, because we would be around people soon.

  She didn't listen. She tried even harder. I expected her to break free any moment but even though she was obviously slightly stronger than him, Felix moved as if he could anticipate her movements and managed to grab her wrists, pulling her hands behind her back as he pressed her to himself, making me growl. "I like your fire, little one." He told her with a smirk and Beth stopped moving. "We can continue once we arrive but like he said, now we need to keep a low profile so be good for a while if you don't want to die."

  Beth nodded and he released her. To my surprise, she truly stayed just standing there. I stepped to her to guide her back to the car. "It's ok, let's-" The moment I put my arm around her shoulder as I spoke, Beth took a little wider stance and swung her fist at me. Used to being able to hear the thoughts of my opponents I did not expect it and after her small fist painfully connected with my chin, I nded a few meters away from her. "Beth. It's me, Edward."

  I tried to calm her down, walking to her but she reached out in front of herself and once she found Felix who stood there ughing at me, she grabbed onto his arm and hid behind him. What the fuck?! "See?" He mocked me as he ughed. "Girl knows better." "Leave her alone and get in the car." Felix said with a victorious smirk on his face and he wouldn't let go of her for the rest of the way.

  The fact she'd move away whenever I tried to touch her, but stayed calm while Felix led her through the airport by her waist, was making me incredibly furious. Especially hearing how amusing he found my anger and that he was thoroughly enjoying it.

  *

  Another nine hours. I've had enough of flying for the next few decades. It was already sunset when we reached Volterra. When we left the airport after nding in Italy, Felix had Alec take all senses from Beth once more. He carried her the entire way while making fun of me for getting my ass kicked by a small girl. She certainly looked small compared to the guy. It didn't change the fact that she was about a day old and stronger than either of us, though.

  Alec notified her of our arrival so Jane was the first one to greet us upon entering the clock tower. She was envious of her brother for getting to travel alone but also curious about the newborn he was ordered to fetch. "Brother? Aro is waiting. " She spoke up and he released Beth from his control.

  "Where am I?" Beth asked while cautiously looking around.

  "In good hands." Felix replied with a smirk.

  Growling, I took a step towards them to take her from him but an excruciating pain hit me and I fell to the ground. "I said that Aro is waiting." Repeated Jane in a low voice after the pain disappeared and then she turned around, marching down the hall towards the elevator to the underground castle.

  "Put me down...please." Beth said in a quiet voice and watched Jane walk ahead.

  Felix complied with her request but left an arm around her to keep her close on the opposite side of him from me. "If you don't want to feel like being burned alive, I suggest you refrain from doing anything stupid, girl." He warned her as we followed after Jane.

  "Unless it's going to st more than two days, I think I'll manage." Beth replied. Her voice ft as she looked at me. Her comment impressed Felix but gave an evil idea to Jane. "I won't do anything stupid if you'll keep him away from me." She motioned to me. Was it so bad? Did I take too long to get her out of there? It was bad enough I wasn't by her side when she awakened but it seemed she was also already aware that I was the one who turned her.

  It took about a decade before Rosalie came around and stopped despising Carlisle for not letting her die. It also helped that she got her revenge on her financé and his friends. I wondered what could help me with Beth. There was a certain vampire among Volturi guards that could be of use to me there. I just needed Aro to agree.

  Alec wasn't interested nor Jane cared about the conversation as long as we kept moving, but Felix was fairly amused by Beth's dismissive behaviour towards me and it was pissing me off. "I'm sorry Beth that I wasn't there when you woke up. The others kept getting in my way. I don't know what they told you but it's all lies. You're my mate. Everything's going to be alright now."

  She only frowned, looking pointedly ahead and ignored me. "She's his mate?" Wondered Felix. It surprised him. He looked from me to her and thought about the mated pairs he had a chance to encounter. Beth's behaviour was confusing him. "Bullshit." He concluded, making me growl again. "Beth is mine." I warned him.

  Felix turned to me with some comeback but a low growl came from Beth. "Stop calling me that!"

  Grinning, he grabbed her hand balled in fist. "As much as I'd enjoy watching you beat his ass, it has to wait. We're here." We just reached the throne room.

  "You're the only one lying." Beth uttered looking straight at me as she pulled her hand out of Felix's and walked through the door.