Twilight: blood & brimstone

Volterra: Aro's Warning

Edward stood frozen in place, his golden eyes burning with barely contained fury.

Aro's words echoed in his mind:

A storm that has only just begun to awaken.

Jasper shifted beside him, his instincts screaming at him to move—to run. But Edward wasn't ready to leave. Not yet.

Not without answers.

"What do you mean by that?" Edward's voice was low, strained.

Aro's smile never faltered, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. "Ah, Edward, always so impatient." He leaned forward slightly. "Is it not obvious? Your Bella is no longer the fragile human you once knew. She has become… something else."

Edward clenched his jaw. "That doesn't answer my question."

Aro chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Oh, my dear boy. You're still thinking in terms of what she was. A girl. A human. A mortal thing caught between your world and ours." His eyes darkened. "But Bella is no longer caught. She has chosen her path."

Alice's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "You're saying she wanted this?"

Aro's smile widened. "Oh, indeed." He tapped his fingers against his chin. "She did not fight it. Did not resist. In fact, I believe she has embraced it."

Edward's hands trembled.

No.

Bella wouldn't—

She couldn't—

Could she?

Carlisle stepped forward then, his voice steady despite the unease in his expression. "Aro, if you know anything else, tell us."

Aro exhaled, as if weighing his options. "She has severed ties to this world, Carlisle. Even to you. Even to him." His gaze flickered to Edward. "She has made herself into something even I cannot reach."

Edward's throat tightened. "Where is she?"

Aro regarded him carefully, then finally, he sighed. "She left you a message."

The room went still.

"What message?" Edward's voice was barely a whisper.

Aro's lips curled into something between amusement and intrigue. "You should ask her yourself."

Then, without warning, the doors to the throne room swung open.

A single figure stepped inside.

A woman. Cloaked in black, her presence a void in the room.

And in her hand—

A letter.

The Letter

The woman did not speak. She merely approached and extended the envelope to Edward.

He hesitated, then took it.

His fingers trembled slightly as he tore it open.

The letter was written in Bella's handwriting. But something about it felt… wrong.

Like it was hers and yet wasn't.

He read:

Edward,

You always did love chasing ghosts.

But I am no ghost.

You want answers? Find me.

Come alone.

Or don't come at all.

B.

A heavy silence filled the room as Edward lowered the letter.

Alice frowned. "It's a trap."

Jasper nodded. "A damn obvious one."

Edward's grip tightened around the paper. It didn't matter.

Trap or not—

He was going.

The Demon's Playground

Somewhere far from Volterra, Bella stood on the edge of a ruined city, the wind stirring her darkened hair.

She knew he would come.

She wanted him to.

The demon stood beside her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You could end this now, you know."

Bella smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"

The demon laughed. "You're enjoying this."

Bella tilted her head, considering. "Maybe."

But deep down, she knew.

This wasn't about games.

It wasn't even about Edward.

This was about choice.

For the first time in her existence, she was choosing.

And she would never let anyone take that away again.

Not Edward.

Not the Cullens.

Not anyone.

She turned to the darkness beyond.

"Let's begin."