Twilight: blood & brimstone

The room was too quiet.

Aro still smiled, but the weight of his stare was suffocating. His fingers hovered just under his chin, steepled together as if he were savoring a private joke.

Bella could feel Edward's ragged breathing behind her, hear the small, sharp gasps that meant he was barely keeping himself restrained. Felix still had a firm grip on his shoulder, keeping him pinned in place, and for the first time, Bella wasn't sure if it was for the Volturi's safety—

Or Edward's own.

Because if Edward truly understood what Aro had seen, what was already happening to her—

Would he still be trying to save her?

Or would he destroy her first?

Aro Pushes Further

"You intrigue me, dear one." Aro's voice was almost affectionate, like a teacher humoring a particularly interesting student. "It is rare to find something that even I do not understand."

Bella forced herself to hold his gaze. "There's nothing to understand. I'm just—"

Aro sighed, cutting her off with a small wave of his hand. "No need for that, Isabella." His crimson gaze darkened. "We both know that isn't true."

Bella clenched her jaw, feeling the weight of his words sink into her skin like cold iron.

Aro knew.

Not everything. Not yet.

But enough.

Enough to be dangerous.

He took a step forward, the soft click of his shoes echoing through the silent hall. "You have changed, child. I wonder… does it hurt?"

Bella flinched.

Because it did.

It wasn't just the nightmares, the whispers curling around her mind like a serpent. It was the ache, the pull toward something dark and ancient, something that had marked her before she even realized it was happening.

Something that was still inside her.

Aro's smile widened just slightly. "Ah."

She had given too much away.

Damn it.

Edward snapped. "Leave her alone."

Aro didn't even look at him. "Why do you fight so hard against the truth, Edward?" His voice was almost pitying. "Is it so unbearable to imagine that she might not be yours anymore?"

Edward's snarl was low and feral. "She is mine."

Bella's stomach twisted.

Because the words sounded wrong.

Because they were wrong.

Aro's gaze flickered between them, his expression far too knowing. "You might want to rethink that, dear boy."

Edward tensed, his entire body vibrating with restrained fury. "She loves me."

Aro laughed.

Not the light, amused chuckle from before.

A deeper, richer sound.

"Oh, I have no doubt she did." Aro tilted his head. "But love, dear Edward, is a fickle thing."

His crimson gaze burned into Bella's.

"Isn't it?"

Bella's breath shook.

Because she couldn't say no.

Not without lying again.

And Aro already knew how badly she lied.

Edward felt it then.

She knew it the moment his grip loosened.

The moment his silence stretched too long.

Because he had always been able to hear everyone's thoughts—except hers.

And for the first time, he realized that meant—

He had never truly known her at all.

The First Crack

"Bella." Edward's voice was hoarse, almost pleading.

She closed her eyes.

Because she couldn't do this here. Not in front of Aro. Not in front of the Volturi, who were drinking in the scene like a performance staged for their amusement.

So she swallowed down the truth, shoved it into the deepest parts of herself, and forced her voice to stay steady.

"We need to leave."

Aro hummed. "I'm afraid that's not entirely up to you."

Edward snarled, stepping closer to her. "You're not keeping her."

Aro raised an amused brow. "Oh? And what if she wants to stay?"

Edward's head snapped toward Bella, eyes wide, shattered.

Bella froze.

Because she hadn't said anything.

But she hadn't denied it either.

Edward's fingers curled into fists. "Tell him he's wrong."

Bella hesitated.

Just for a second.

And that was enough.

Edward felt it.

Aro saw it.

The moment the first crack in everything they had was too big to ignore anymore.

The Weight of a Choice

Bella turned away from Edward's broken expression, fixing Aro with a steady gaze. "If you're not keeping us, then let us go."

Aro studied her for a long moment, then sighed, almost regretful. "As much as I'd love to keep you, my dear, I suppose that would cause quite the stir."

He gestured lazily toward Alec and Felix. "See them out."

Bella exhaled sharply.

It was over.

For now.

But as she turned to leave, Aro called out one last time, voice light and full of something that made her blood run cold.

"Take care, Isabella."

She didn't turn around.

Didn't look at him.

But she felt his grin anyway.

Because he knew something she didn't.

Yet.