*Annabell’s POV

    Now I understood why they didn’t want me to know. They were worried, what I’d do upon learning the truth about what happened to my kind. I understood, but they shouldn’t have kept it from me. Mom and Chris didn’t tell me anything either. Well, I was still just a kid at the time, so that was understandable. I assumed that since our kind is so tempting to vampires, we were just unfortunate and went pretty much extinct as their prey. Would they ever tell me though? Was what mom did only a result of Chris being killed or she’d try to keep me from Jasper as well? I frowned. It didn’t matter now.

    I guess Jasper and Peter anticipated what I’d want to do now. And they were right. I wanted to go to Volterra and kill Aro. At least to avenge those he killed if there truly were no survivors to save. I could tell that Carlisle omitted a lot of details and since I couldn’t do anything about even that little what he did tell me, I didn’t ask. I did and didn’t want to know at the same time.

    I knew that these two will not let me out of their sight for a while. But it was alright. I was going nowhere. For now. I need to train a bunch before attempting to challenge a centuries old vampire who has another two by his side and a whole army of experienced killers around them. There was also no question about whether I would face them alone. Jasper nor Peter would let me do that. Even if I managed to slip away again to try, they would follow. I’ve learned my lesson and no way I’ll risk losing either.

    On the way home, Jasper stayed in the backseat with me, holding my hand. When we arrived and got out of the car I went and hugged Peter. Jasper stood quietly behind me. “I know, Peter. You can already tell, right? So don’t worry anymore. But…” I poked him in the chest with my finger. “Stop keeping things from me. Or I’ll think of something nice to permanently mark your ass with, like a horse on the market.”

    He laughed, embracing me tightly. “Alright, alright. I don’t think Char would appreciate that. Are you sure you’re ok? Because there always seems to be something to worry about when it comes to you, Annie.” He said then, more seriously.

    I turned to face Jasper and found his hand again. “I will be.” I replied quietly. I needed to talk with my mate and I was gathering courage to do it. Remembering a little habit we used to have with Peter when I was a kid I smiled and turned to him again. “Peter, do you remember our good luck charm? I… think I need one, please?”

    Peter chuckled. “Of course I do, baby girl.” He replied and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Whatever you need it for, good luck.” I felt Jasper tense when Peter leaned to me but he didn’t do nor say anything. “See ya.” Still chuckling, Peter got back in the car and left while Jasper pulled me in his arms, lightly rubbing his cheek against mine. He continued down over my jaw until he buried his face into my hair resting on my shoulder and inhaling deeply.

    “Jay?” I tried softly, running my fingers through his hair, hoping he’d find it calming. Then I remembered why he was worried. Turning my head, I placed a kiss into his hair that tickled my face now and whispered. “I’m not going, my love. Don’t worry anymore.”

*Jasper’s POV

    I knew she was still angry with us but that was currently the smallest of my concerns. I needed to feel her warmth. Pulling her in my arms I was breathing her pure sweet scent in, while lightly rubbing my own on her skin. “Jay?” She asked, a little confused. I was enjoying the touch of her fingers as she played with my hair and didn’t want to have the conversation that was very much unavoidable now.

    We just stood like that for a moment, when she turned to kiss my head. “I’m not going, my love. Don’t worry anymore.” Whispered Annabell and my head shot up in surprise. I studied her face, looking for anything that would tell me if she meant what I thought she did. Smiling, she reached up to place her hand on my cheek. “I understand why you tried to keep Carlisle’s story from me but I won’t go to Italy just to get us all killed.” I wanted to say something but she moved her hand and pressed her finger to my mouth. “I know you would follow me, just as Peter would too. I am aware that I have a long way to go before I’m anything but their snack and you two would just try to protect me.” She continued.

    “You are nobody’s snack.” I grunted against her finger and she grinned at me, resting her hand on my chest like she had the other one. “So what was that good luck charm for?” When I asked, Annabell’s smile wavered as she became nervous.

    “I’m a little surprised you didn’t attack Peter for it.” She obviously forced a laugh, trying to avoid answering my question.

    I honestly surprised myself, when I managed to not even growl at Peter as he kissed her. “Trust me, I wanted to.” I admitted. “If I couldn’t feel the love between you two that is like between a parent and their child, I would.” Annabell grew suddenly tense and I felt as she shivered. “Let’s go inside.” I caressed her cheek.

*

    I made sure she ate before anything and then we settled in the leather armchair in her room. “What’s been on your mind, angel?”

    Annabell kept silently playing with a button on her shirt for a while. “I think I know who was in my room that night.” She finally said. Her voice quiet. “You are certain it wasn’t Edward nor that Alice, right?”

    “You mean the night we spent at our house? Yes. I’m sure that I’ve never met the person the scent in your room belonged to and I did meet both of them, prior to that night.” Recalling the scent of a stranger and male nonetheless, on her pillow, my jaw tightened.

    “I think it was the red eyed man I saw in Michaela’s memories.” Her voice was quiet but it held certainty.

    “Why do you think so? According to what Peter told me, all of the vampires that attacked lady Michaela were dealt with by Major.” Confused, I thought out loud. “You said that he’s the one that killed her. I can’t imagine Major leaving him alive. I wouldn’t.”

    “I didn’t understand it at the time but when I was lying in the hospital, I relived her last moments. He set a trap for her.” Annabell squeezed my hand in hers. I knew how lady Michaela was lured out alone and I pressed Annabell closer to me in reassurance. “When she finally reached her limit, fighting them, that man bit her but I’m not sure he truly wanted to kill her... Anyway, his presence disappeared in the distance before Major got to her and ended the rest of them. He survived!” She exclaimed, absolutely sure about the fact.

    “So the Volturi really are behind attacks on all of her descendants.” I concluded but Annabell shook her head.

    “No. That can’t be right. The Volturi have an army of loyal vampires, don’t they? So why would they need to use Cullens to get me? While I wasn’t even aware of my power…” She curled up on my lap, clutching my hand as if to make sure I was really there. Sending her my love, I wondered about what she said, confused. “Today when I fought with Emmett, it was like I was there again. I was her. That man came after her completely alone a few days before he brought the army. I had a feeling he didn’t want to kill but capture her.” She shivered and I carefully stood up with her in my arms.

    Resting down on her bed, not letting go of her, I pulled Annabell’s warm blanket over us and made sure she’s comfortable. “What do you mean, Ann?” I inquired further, wondering why she was so sure.

    “I can remember it clearly now. She was…” Annabell trailed off for a moment and I saw her eyes glisten with tears. “She was pregnant when he came out of nowhere. Barely days from giving birth. He mocked her for her state and expected to win easily and if Major wasn’t near, he would. That Major left and he returned just a few days later wasn't a coincidence!”

    Her body slightly trembled with rage, sadness and fear as if it was her, facing off a horde of vampires while protecting her baby. “Shhh… I’m here angel, you’re safe.” I whispered, embracing her tightly. I couldn’t imagine what that Major went through when he lost his mate and I was dead set on never finding out.

    “That man… he was the only one who knew about the baby. And he was the only one looking around, searching for it when he came back with reinforcements…” Annabell finished and I finally understood. It made sense. If it were truly the Volturi after Annabell, there would be more of them and they would already make a move.

    But if it’s only one man… I kept caressing Annabell’s hair, thinking about what she told me. It didn’t take long before her breathing deepened and heartbeat slowed down signaling that she fell asleep.

    Well, not just one man. He was apparently working with Edward and Alice. But Edward seemed too intent on getting her blood to be helping with kidnapping. And Alice clearly wanted nothing more than to see Annabell dead. It didn’t make sense for the three to be working together. None of it made sense. Except for that there was someone still after her. And I have no idea who nor where he’s hiding.

    Pushing troubled thoughts aside, I focused on the fact that Annabell was safe in my arms for the moment as I heard a thunder in the distance. There was another storm coming and I couldn't help but wonder if it was bringing more destruction or it would just clear the air.

*Few miles away from Annabell’s house

    “Dude, you’re lucky it’s gonna rain tonight.” Female voice surprised a predator on his way to his prey.

    Growling, he spun around to slam her petite form into a tree but she anticipated it and evaded his grip efficiently. “How about you thank me for not letting you commit a suicide?” She asked while nonchalantly looking over her recently painted, bright red nails.

     “Really?” He asked, suspicious. “Why would I believe that you want to help me?”

    “Honestly, I’d much rather see her dead…” She admitted, earning another growl from him. “But I can’t see either of us getting what we want if we’re each on our own. So I thought that even if she doesn’t die right away, I don’t care as long as she’s out of the picture.”

    “If you pull something again, you die first.” He warned her.

    “Sure, but let’s talk somewhere else so the rain can do its thing and wash our traces away.”