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"I thought we were supposed to be inconspicuous?" I turned to Jasper. He was standing beside a black sports car that he conjured up out of nowhere while I was in the airport bathroom. He leaned against the hood of it and smiled at me. "Because this is exactly the opposite of what you wanted to accomplish," I informed him.

"I like fast cars." He shrugged and opened the passenger side door for me.

"Yeah well, you and Emmett have that in common," I muttered. He chuckled before smirking at me.

"Emmett prefers rough and fast, while I prefer smooth and fast." His eyes twinkled cheekily and I blushed. "The cars Clary, we're still talking about the cars." He teased as he caught sight of my reddened face.

"I know but I forgot just how blunt you guys could be sometimes." I rolled my eyes and sat inside the car. He closed the door before jogging to the other side and climbing in. He watched me carefully as I strapped myself in before jamming the key into the ignition and speeding down the road. "Yeah, totally not inconspicuous," I mumbled as I held onto the dashboard. He chuckled but only drove faster.

As we drove the roads became narrower but Jasper didn't have any trouble navigating his way through the city. He swerved around the occasional person and drifted through every corner, it was safe to say that Jasper was a crazier driver than Emmett. The clock on the dashboard blinked its red numbers at me and I fought the urge to yell at it. It was now three o'clock in Volterra and each second that passed was another second closer to Emmett's impending doom. The road seemed to end and we were met with a crowd of people wearing red cloaks.

"It's their holiday," Jasper said. I wasn't too concerned or curious so I didn't push for more information. He parked the car and he slid on a hoodie, a baseball cap, and sunglasses before exiting the car. He came over to my side of the car and grabbed my hand. He pulled me along the road and we pushed through the large crowds. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear music being played and the sound grew louder as we seemed to get closer to it. Jasper and I stood in the center of a courtyard and I glanced around at the people surrounding me.

They paid no mind to me as I observed their faces and garments. I met the eyes of a little girl who smiled and waved at me. I returned the sentiment before Jasper whisked me away. I looked up at the grand building he was guiding me towards and gaped at it. It had an ancient feel to it but it roughly resembled a castle. He pushed aside a heavy iron gate and dragged me into a darkened passageway. Jasper rid himself of his hoodie and cap and handed me the sunglasses. I tucked them into my sweater pocket before following after him once again.

We reached a set of heavy wooden doors and before he could open them, he turned to me. "Emmett will be in the same room as the guards and everyone else. I'm going to distract the secretary and you are going to save him. I don't care how you do it but try. At the first sign of danger, run. Don't look back, just move." I nodded and he pushed the doors open. I was expecting a grand foyer but instead, it lead us to a room where a single drain entrance was placed in the ground. He walked towards it and moved it out of place before jumping through the hole in the floor. I carefully approached it and when I glanced down, I saw Jasper staring up at me expectantly. "Jump. I'll catch you." I was wary but I inhaled sharply before plummeting down the hole and landing in Jasper's arms.

He set me back on my feet and placed his hand on the small of my back. It was too dark for me to see but I trusted Jasper to guide me. The floor was uneven and if Jasper hadn't been holding on to me, I would've fallen numerous times. We finally approached a door. Jasper snapped the lock and pushed it open. I had to shield my eyes from the light that we were exposed to. Once my eyes were accustomed to it, I removed my hand and gaped at the remarkable hallway we now stood in. The door shut behind us with a loud clang and it echoed throughout the hallway. I felt Jasper tense up beside me but it didn't slow his pace. Instead, it quickened it.

He walked us to a lone elevator and hastily pushed the only button resting beside it. The doors slid open and before I could gawk at how amazing the interior looked, he pushed me inside, and then we were moving upwards. The ride was short, but it felt like hours. When we stepped out, we walked into a large reception area where expensive furniture decorated the space. In the middle of the large room, a tall woman with deep brown hair smiled brightly at us from behind a counter. Before either of us could move further she spoke to us.

"Aro has been waiting for your arrival." She didn't approach us instead she pointed down a long hallway to a set of large ornate doors. Jasper nodded tensely and we reluctantly headed down the hallway. Just before we reached the doors, Jasper turned to me and said, "Remember what I told you." I nodded and together we pushed the doors open.

The room was larger and grander than the other rooms I've seen. The ceiling was high, with no light peeking in. But it wasn't the decor that captured my attention. No, it was the high stage with several steps leading to it that did. On the stage sat three thrones, the one in the middle significantly taller than the others. Sitting in these marvelous thrones were three men. The one in the middle had long dark hair and a proud smirk on his face. The one to his left had long hair as well but a lighter shade of brown. His eyes were sullen and his expression made him seem bored and sad. The final man had an angry expression on his face and his bleached blonde hair seemed to add to his rough exterior. Gathered around the room were several vampires dressed in red cloaks and they all seemed to stare hatefully at our intrusion.

But despite all the commotion, it was the tall brown-haired boy from my nightmares that had my heart racing. Out of fear, out of longing, out of love. Emmett Cullen stood beside the man in the middle and atop his shoulders was a black cloak, one I knew he felt he wanted to wear.

"Emmett," I whispered his name. His head snapped up and he faced me. His eyes held disbelief but they softened as he stared.

"Clary." He said my name louder than I said his. He tried to move towards me but the man in the middle stopped him.

"Oh, so this is the wonderful Clarissa I've heard all about." He stood up from his chair and zoomed over to me. "My, you look even better up close." He held out his hand and I glanced at Jasper, who nodded, before giving him mine. He smiled gleefully and held it tightly. His face turned blank and I faintly remember the gift that Jasper told me this man possessed. "How remarkable. Your blood seems to dissatisfy every vampire you've come across except Emmett. How peculiar." He glanced around before turning back to meet my eye. "I wonder..." Before I knew what was happening, his fingernail pricked me, and a drop of blood formed on my palm.

Jasper growled and he yanked me away from the man and placed me behind him. Jasper's body was tense but as I glanced around I realized he didn't need to be. Every pair of eyes were turned to me but none of them had moved from their spots.

"And the strangeness continues." The middle man muttered. "Well, it seems that your blood doesn't appeal to us either. Tell me Clarissa, do have any clue as to why?" I shook my head. "Fair enough." He turned away from me and made his way back to his seat. "So Clarissa the reason you are here is to save this boy, correct?" I nodded. "Well, this boy appears to believe that he doesn't deserve saving or your love."

"He does," I stated. I applauded myself for not stuttering.

"Do you love him?"

"I do." I sighed. "I always will." The man eyed me carefully before smiling once again.

"Then I've made my decision." He turned to Emmett before continuing. "My answer is no." Emmett's eyes widened and he smiled after a moment. "Now wait outside, I wish to speak to Clarissa alone." I expected Emmett to fight, but he hadn't. Instead, he nodded curtly and walked over to me. He placed a chaste kiss on my forehead and exited the room, Jasper and the guards in tow. Soon I was left alone with the three men who had the power to kill me at any second.

"I've forgotten my manners. I'm Aro, King of Volterra." Aro smiled at me. His smile unnerved me but I tried not to react. "My dear, you and your sister are much alike. You came to another country to save the boy you love. But yet, you two are different. I'm not sure if you're aware but your sister's mind is the first that I cannot read. Yours, I read with no issue. But your blood has piqued my interest. Now, what is so different about it?" He scanned me from head to toe. "Are you ill?"

"I have a problem with my kidneys," I told him.

"That can't just be the only thing though." He shook his head. "Your blood reminds me of someone, someone I encountered long before you were born. Their blood was similar to yours, with a dissatisfying smell and a repulsive taste. They made a powerful vampire but a weak human." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Tell me, Clarissa, do you want to become one of us, a vampire?"

"After I finish school," I confessed.

"Wise choice. You may go now, but know that we will be keeping an eye on you." I nodded slowly and turned to open the door. "But grant us a favor Clarissa."

"What is it?" I asked him.

"Give forgiveness to those who deserve it. It'd be a shame to waste your remaining years as a human in such a bitter state." I took in his words before nodding and leaving the room. I walked down the long hallway until I reached the large reception area. Jasper stood alone, with no sign of Emmett anywhere.

"He left already. He didn't think you'd want to see him." I felt my heart ache and I wanted to cry.

"Can we go home now?" I asked Jasper quietly.

"Yeah, let's go home." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we quietly walked into the elevator.

The one person I came to save, had left me once again.

The reception that awaited me at the airport in Seattle surprised me. All of the Cullen, plus my sister, stood there smiling at us. Alice tackled me in a hug before turning to Jasper. I was spilled into a hug after a hug from everyone, including my sister. I glanced around for him and I smiled when I finally saw him. He stood by himself away from everyone. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his jeans and he stared blankly at me. Shrugging my sister's arms away from me, I walk toward him before finally breaking out into a run. I crashed into him and his arms wrapped around me tightly. I buried my head into his shoulder and cried.

"I don't forgive you but I'm happy you're not dead or a heartless vampire," I whispered. He pulled my head away from his neck and stared at me. His lips curved upwards and he brought me back into his chest for another hug.

"I'm sorry."

"I know." I smiled back. I still wasn't that ready to forgive him but I knew in time that I would be. It'd take time but I knew he'd wait, he'd always wait.