“If you’re worried about location, let’s just say you’ll be right underneath their noses,” Chris’ tone was a mocking one, and at that moment I hated him more than anything.

“Leave Edward alone!” I snarled in response, and one small section of my brain questioned my sanity.

“I’m afraid we’ve made up our minds on this Isabella,” Chris looked into my eyes full tilt now, “It’s not only me who would like to gain favor,” he said this casually enough, but my already suspicious mind glared over at Felix, who shrugged and winked. “And besides, wouldn’t you like to see your husband again? What’s the harm in that?”

I didn’t answer. They’d just heard my whole independence speech, hadn’t they? They were messing that all up. As much as I wanted to be with Edward, I didn’t want to be with him here. I wanted to at least attempt a self-rescue! I tried to twist my hands free of Chris’ grasp, but to no avail.

“Are we almost there, at least?” I turned my gaze on Felix, who was watching my struggle with a smug look on his face. He needed to explain his part in this soon…

He reclined back against the cushy leather seat and replied, “Ah Bella, you’re awfully impatient for a vampire, aren’t you?”

“I’ve had more practice being human,” I growled, but he remained unabashed.

He closed his eyes now and informed me, his body perfectly still except for his lips, “We should be landing in ten minutes, and then it’s on with a blindfold for you.”

Ten minutes. I figured my last chance to escape before I reached my ‘hiding spot’ would be as soon as we landed, before they got the damn blindfold on.

“Ah Demetri, perhaps we should blindfold her right now,” Chris offered as if he could sense my thoughts. He freed one of his hands by handing both of mine to his left. With his right, he groped in his pocket for a piece of blue cloth, and began to hand it to Felix.

No way was I getting blindfolded. I broke free of Chris’ one arm hold and took a swipe at the cloth, sending it flying. It hit Nathaniel square in the face and sounded more like a slap rather than the dull thump of cloth.

He roared in indignation and I growled menacingly, which caused him to charge in my general direction.

I braced myself for an attack, standing crouched with my arms held in front of me, waiting for the coming thunder, but no such attack came. The thunder did, and it took a second, even with my enhanced senses, for me to see what had happened.

“She is not to be harmed,” Felix hissed, his hands holding the larger Nathaniel in a head lock. Strong the brute may be, but Felix was fast, strong and smart, very catlike even for his size. Felix the cat…

I laughed in spite of myself and everyone turned to stare at me. I was still standing crouched as if I expected someone to lunge at me, and I was laughing. I laughed loudly and heartily, hardly caring what they thought. If they thought I was crazy, let them. Perhaps they’d get rid of me after all.

I was so busy staring back at all the stunned Volturi and laughing that I didn’t notice Chris taking off his sweater behind me until the dark grey fabric was securely tied over my eyes.

“Damn it,” I muttered, and allowed myself to be sat back down by cold, unfriendly hands.

I could never win, could I?