Seven

Chapter Seven

“Caius, what is the meaning of this.”

My head snapped up at her words, a deep anger filling my entire body as I looked upon Bella’s quivering form, frightened at Athenodora’s sudden intrusion. What right does she have to interfere?  I thought furiously, I had never in our long lives together have I even attempted to restrict her from her conquests, even as I should.  

“Nous parlerons de cela en privé, ma sœur.”  Knowing this will become a battle of wills between us, I give her a stern look conveying to her my seriousness on this mater.  

“I wish to discuss it now,”  she say with an evil glint to her eye.  “This human reeks of your scent.  Tell me, Caius, have you copulated with her?”

“Vous êtes hors de la ligne, Athenodora!”

“It’s alright Caius, I can send the guard away if you wish, are you embarrassed, mon frère?”  

A long, low growl rises from the depths of my chest as my fist curled into claws.  Rising from my chair I cast a sly look to Bella who looked humiliated and terrified.  This did nothing to quell the anger my body was straining to contain and I am lost in the thought of removing that bitches head when I hear Sulpicia let out a very undignified snort in an attempt to hid her mirth and Aro whispering to my sister,  “C‘est peut-être été un peu trop, ma chère.”  

I might have known better, this was Aro’s idea from the start, but how did Athenodora know of these knew developments so quickly?  Aro never once spoke to her since her arrival and Aro couldn’t have know of this outcome before now?  Aro was a sneaky chien but smart, he knew by not introducing Athenodora as my sister it would ultimately force my hand.  It was that or let the girl think I was married, and that simply wouldn’t do.  

“Why would I be ashamed,”  I told the room, rising to my full height, making sure my head was raised high.  “I have formed a connection with Isabella. Elle est à moi, ma sœur.”  

The blond daughter of Carlisle scoffed, “Yeah, cause we hadn’t noticed.”  

“Rosalie!”  Esme hissed, she out of all the Cullens was the most easily tolerated.  

“Really how interesting.”  My sister replied with a knowing smirk, mocking me for amusement was not something she could do abundantly, so this once I let her be.  Though would have hoped it would have come at a different expense.  Her jockey in front of the brothers and Isabella was not something I would abide for long.  

“Marcus,”  Aro called.  “What do you see.”  His bored face picked up from his daily weeding of the dust motes from his robe and scanned the area with dead eyes.  It was fleeting glance and I very much doubt that Bella could have picked up on it hadn’t Aro brought her attention to it.  In lue of voicing his findings, he held out a thin bony hand and Aro jumped at the change to take it.  

“Hmm.”  He hummed thoughtfully with a smile.  “Come molto interessante. Tale forte legame in un breve lasso di tempo, come molto interessante.”  Aro was speaking to himself, and no other.  He has found himself completely enraptured by my little human, and anything regarding her was his immediate business, even me.

“Thank you, Marcus.”  He sang happily.

“How about for the rest of who don’t speak French or Italian or whatever the hell your speaking. How about telling me what the hell is going on, since it is my head on the spit and not yours!”  If not for the stressful situation I would have laughed and I found it difficult not to, even if it wasn’t appropriate.  There are very few people in this life I have ever come across that could shock Aro.  Never in my existence at his side seen the mans eyes widen so much as they did when my Isabella bit into us.  

The Cullens gasped, and Sulpicia and Athenodora looked on in admiration and reverence.  Bella quickly realizing the magnitude of her words started to tremble slightly as she whispered a quick,  “I’m sorry.”

Aro’s tinkling laughed filled the room, “My dear girl, you have nothing to apologize for.  Forgive me if I scared you with my silence but it is very rare that I am shocked to quite a state such as this.”  

“I can’t believe I said that.”  Bella muttered quietly and the blond and the psychic replied in unison. “Neither could I.”   

The aroma of Isabella’s blush wafted to my nose, a sinuously sweet nectar that I could not wait to partake in.  

“Forgive me, mon agneau. But if you would care to we could speak of this in private.”  She nodded in acceptance, but her ferocity was still written plainly across the soft skin of her brow.  

Aro laughed again.  “Mon, mon frère, une fougueuse un, en effet. Vous allez avoir les mains pleines.”  

“Molto pieno.”  Marcus supplied.  And for the second time this evening I thought I would be picking Aro up off the marble floor near his throne.  I couldn’t help but to chuckle lightly at Aro’s expression, I had never seen him quiet so flustered.  My little human was quite the entertainment around my gloomy brother.

“Well,”  Aro said, clapping his hands together in amusement. “before it can found out that a vampire can or cannot die of a heart attack.  Isabella, let me introduce you to Athenodora,”  he paused and Isabella’s heart rate accelerated.  “Caius’s younger, blood sister.”  

~~*CD*~~

Watching the astoundingly beautiful woman with features so close to Caius’s own I couldn’t help the inadequacies that tugged at me.  When I had first met the Cullens, or Rosalie as I should say, I never thought I would met a more beautiful woman.  Alice in her demure little package was almost more liken to my style of beauty but Rosalie in all her glamour always made me secretly wish that I could half of what she was one day.  But now in the face of two more woman that I could never live up too I felt uneasy under their burgundy colored scrutiny.  

Having that same female accuse you of having sex with her… well whatever he was to her was just the last straw.  This was one of the few times in my life since meeting the supernatural that I was glad I was not endowed with super strength for I would have surly torn her to shreds by now.  
 
My human mind rationalized that there was no way to kill a vampire the in my current condition, but that didn’t stop the mental trickle of a million ways I could persuade Jasper or Emmett to do it for me.  I wanted to rip her throat out, but as soon as the thought hit me I felt guilty.  What if she is his intended or worse, his wife in this situation I would be seen as the harlot not him.  My guilt gave way to anger and then of course to hurt.  Had he just used me to get me here, the gifted woman that Aro wanted for a seat on his guard.  I nearly growled out loud, it should be Caius who’s punished, I wasn’t the one who walked up behind him for random sniffing.   

“Well, before it can found out that a vampire can or cannot die of a heart attack.  Isabella, let me introduce you to Athenodora,”  He paused long and dramatic.  “Caius’s younger, blood sister.”  

I balked, feeling exceptionally stupid and incredibly guilty for hating a woman I barely knew.  But pulling up my grown up panties, I gave a shy smile and curtsied - or as well as I was able to anyway.  

“It is lovely to meet you, Isabella.  I’m sorry if I frightened you in anyway, but I so rarely get to pick on my brother, that I simply couldn’t help myself.”

But now that the air is clear of my false misgivings, I couldn’t help but blush tomato red at my earlier outburst.  I knew Alice must have sensed it when she giggled, and all my previous thoughts of buying her a new sports car, if I were ever able, went out the window.  I would buy the ungrateful pixie nothing.  So there.

Her face screwed up as her eyes clouded over in the obvious vision, and she frowned.  “That’s not nice, Bella.”  I just shrugged.  Serves her right. Meddler.

“Well, I don’t know about you, Isabella, but I feel it is time to retire for the evening.  So lets get you settled before you turn into a pumpkin or something as equally unattractive.”  Aro said, coming down to meet me once again from his throne.  

The Cullens chuckled whiled I stared at him like a doctor to a patient in a rubber room.  A fleeting question crossed my mind, Do vampires suffer mental deformities?  He seemed intelligent enough the first time I met him.  

His thin paper like hands drew mine to his face where he laid a chaste kiss to each wrist.  “I truly welcome you, Isabella.”  With a beaming smile he left me there, confused and with more questions than before.  

“Come on, Bella.”  Alice said pulling on my arm.  Looking around I noticed that besides her and Rosalie, we were the only ones of the visiting party still standing there.  The others, I guessed went off to their respective rooms.  Caius, after sharing what seemed like a few heated words with his sister, looked to me and smiled.  It was a thing of beauty.  I had seen Caius smirk, frown and growl, but never had I seen him smile and all I could say was he should do it more often.  It brightened his entire face and sent bouts of warmth to my core.  

He made to start in my direction, but Aro stopped him with a clear of his throat.  “Caius,”  he called, waiting for him to turn.  “I do hate to interrupt you, but could I have a word.”  

“Oui, donnez-moi un instant.”  He replied.  

“Molto bene. Sarò nel mio ufficio.”  He said nodding to Caius.  “Goodnight, fair Isabella.”

“Goodnight.”  

Caius turned back to me and I wanted to throw a fit like a child that I couldn’t have my answers straight away, but I schooled myself as he approached.  Moving a misguided hair behind my ear, he bent down and whispered with a delicious tickle.  “We will finish this later, mon Isabella.”  I felt a sharp point tug at my earlobe, before a strangled moan fell from my mouth.  

“Mmmm.”  he purred.  “Délicieux.”  

And then he was gone as well.  

I stood there with a familiar burn flooding my cheeks and an even more familiar ache throbbing in my lower region.  I couldn’t believe I let him do that to me again.  

“Wow.”  Alice sighed and I jumped, totally haven forgotten that she was there.  

“Shit, Alice, you scared the life out of me.”  Too that she just giggled while throwing her arm around me in a sister/friend fashion and leading me down the long stony corridor to our wing of the castle.  

A new sensation tingled through my body as I lay on my plush duvet of gold and brown.  Alice at my side as her pencil scratched ever so delicately along the long, thick paper of her pad.  My guess was that being so caught up in the methodical world of Edward I never really gave the supernatural beings a change to just be people.  I wasn’t sure if Alice had ever really looked this normal to me or if I was just too caught up in a distraction of bronze tussled hair to pay attention, and for that I felt incredibly guilty.  But now mostly free of distraction I was enjoying the time I had to just be Bella, and do something so mundane as spend a girls night with her best friend.  Even if we were staying in a storybook castle filled with bloodsucking vampires.  

At my laugh my little Tinkerbelle friend turned to look at me, a red color pencil hanging from her mouth and a black one behind her ear.  “What’s so funny.”

I shook my head as I laughed harder thinking all the while what a fool I had been.  “I’m sorry, Alice.”  I said between the gulps of air I had taken in to stabilize myself.  “I’m just… sorry.  I haven’t been much of a friend.”  By the time my choked up blabber finally left my mouth a tear was making a hot path down my cheek.  Her cool finger wiped away as she shook her head.

“Don’t be silly, Bella.  You’ve had a lot happen to you since the whirlwind romance between you and Edward and there has to be some allowances made for that.  But,”  she stopped her smirk fully forming into one of those blinding smiles and held a promise of my nightmares to come.  “If you really want to make it up to me.”  


I groaned and even before I could ask her what new terror awaited me, she squealed.  Long and loud and nearly earsplitting.  So much so Rosalie and Emmett flew through my door a moment later, looking for some kind of threat when the only threat to my life was bouncing happily on the bed, clutching her prized creation to her chest, I didn’t even want to know what was on that page.  I would cross that creaky bridge when I got there.  

After assuring them I was fine and that I didn’t need one to three vampires watching me while I slept and possibly spewed incoherent and embarrassing things from my lips the Cullen family disperse from my room.  

With a heavy but contented sigh I happily threw myself back among the abundance of down pillows.  As I lay there finally in the peace and solitude of my room, my mind started to drift to what I would do with this new life I had been granted and how I wanted to start my future.  It was not yet said when or how my change would come about, only that it was inevitable and in the very near future.  Personally I only had a few things to take care of in a responsible fashion before taking my leap into immortality, but those sparse few things were going to be painfully grave work.  

Saying goodbye to my parents was not something I had intended to do for many years to come, preferably when they were so old and decrepit that I would be happy to see them go, but life is not like that, is it.  It sounded cruel even to myself, but parents all over the world had to deal with burying their young before their time and I knew my strong parents would muddle through it.  Honestly, I think Charlie would take it the hardest, not because of our recent connection after all these years, but rather because his mind set is so closely related to mine.  I truly am my father’s daughter and I knew that even with his responsible, do-right outside that my father was a warm pile of goop from within.  

Finally sleepy enough to sleep and having worked through a few things that were greatly bothering me I rolled over and shut the bedside lamp off.  Nestling down in my covers I waited for sleep to grip me but as my eyes started to close my mind jumped to sliver snow hair and wondered where he was.  

Six

Chapter Six

I slept peacefully, free from nightmares this time around, waking up fresh and more rejuvenated than I had in a long while.  Stretching like a cat my fist was caught by icy cold fingers and my eyes opened wide.  Timidly craning my neck, I looked behind me and what a sight to behold.  Caius was grinning at me like a cat that ate the entire pet store.

“Did you sleep well, ma petit fille?”

I nodded, astutely.  No hick-ups, stuttered nonsense or blushing.

“Where are we?”  I asked starting to rise.  His arms incased me firmly, his cool nose inhaling another deep pull at my neck.  My body went rigid, still not quite understanding what fascination my scent held with the vampire community and even then no one had been quite so content just to sniff at me before.  From what I understood it was quite painful for vampires to breath in my scent, or maybe that was just the Cullens?  Marble lips placed a single kiss to the flesh of my neck, that was neither chaste nor passionate when I heard several gasps, two within the room and one not.  My eyes shot open and it was only then that I realized that I had closed them at some point in my fit of Caius driven lust.  My cheeks burned anew as Felix and Rosalie stared back at me with widened eyes and mouths agape.

“Yes, Felix?”  Caius called with slight irritation tinting his voice.

It took him a minute, poor guy, to finally close his mouth and shake his head but Rosalie stared on unable to remove her stare from the spectacle that Caius was making of me.  “Abbiamo iniziato la nostra decente.  Le vetture saranno attesa al gancio.”

I knew that Felix spoke very little English but it was beyond frustrating to not understand anything, anyone said.  It was bad enough that everyone surround me were vampires and were able to speak at rapid speeds but when I couldn’t understand what they said when they were speaking normally was just irksome.  I promised myself that when we arrived in Volterra I was going to have Alice go out and buy me several books on learning, Italian and French straight away.

“Anything else, Felix?”  Caius asked as the bulking man continued to stare unabashedly from me to Caius and back again.

“No Mio Signore.”   Felix replied, still looking a little on edge as Caius’s hands splayed possessively around my shoulders.

“Dismissed.”  And Felix, as if his ass was caught on fire buzzed from the room leaving Rosalie to stand there awkwardly a designer dress-bag in hand.  

“Yes, Mrs. Cullen?”  Caius asked, and his voice was not kind.

“May I speak to Bella.”

It seemed to be a stare-down between the two before Caius huffed loud enough for me to hear him and gently pulled out from underneath my pillow.  He smirked at me once before grabbing some papers from the nearby nightstand and telling me point blank that he’d see me later.

Rosalie as it were seemed more than happy to see him go, as I thought back I don’t ever remember Rosalie being so on edge around anyone before.  She took one last fleeting glance through the still ripped doorframe before hanging the dress-bag in a small storage closet and sitting down next to me.

I eyed her warily. 

“Hello, Bella.”  She all but whispered, delicately crossing her legs.  And I couldn’t help but think ‘Will the real Rosalie please stand up’.

“Hi, Rosalie.”

I waited for a moment and still she said nothing.  I was getting more irritated by the second and just as was ready to burst she jumped in head long.

“Look Bella, I know we’ve never got along very well, and you know why.  But I know now that nothing I can do or bitch about that is going to stop you from becoming one of us now.  The decision has been made and I don’t want you to go through the burn thinking I hate you, because I don’t.”

“So what are you’re saying is, you want to date.”  I replied, surprising myself with my own sarcasm.

I heard Emmett laughing from somewhere in the front cabin and others slowly joining him, along with Rosalie.

“You’re kind of a bitch, Bella.  I like that.”  

And that was that. The ice bitch and the mouse made nice. 

Hanging the bed linens across the gaping hole in the door that Caius had created the night before, Rosalie helped me change.  I was kind of shocked at first at her choice outfit, but when she informed me that she, Alice and Esme would all be wearing something similar, I agreed. 

Dresses weren’t really my thing, but it was most due to the fact that I could hardly walk in them.  After a clean set of underclothes was on she unzipped the linen-bag and I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw.  It was simple yet very elegant.  A soft pewter color strapless gown, form fitted to my bust, but flared enough from the empire waist to cover up my matching ballet slippers. 

But what I loved most about it was it took about two seconds for Rosalie to get in on me.  Light makeup and a simple sweeping up-do and I was ready.  Rosalie supplied, when I asked, that she, Alice and Esme would be changing in Volterra.  When I asked the obvious question Alice flitted through the door along with Esme.

“Because are luggage was expressed mailed there yesterday.” 
 
“But then why am I dressed already?”  She just shook her finger at me and flounced away.  Sneaky little pixie, she was up to something.  Esme just shook her head and followed along with her daughter.  

“So,”  Rosalie asked fishing something out of her cave-worthy bag.  “What was all that about earlier?”  

I had an idea of when and what she meant, but I was owning up to anything until she made me.  “Which earlier?” I asked playing dumb.

“Bella, you know damn well what I mean.”

I hung my head.  I wasn’t really ready to discuss this yet.  I for one was just as confused about the whole ’Caius’ thing as she was.  The man was… different and seemed to have a serious issues with personal boundaries.  And as much as I loathed to admit it, I didn’t mind in the slightest. 

“I don’t really know,”  I admitted truthfully.  “He never says much of anything and half the time I can’t understand him when he does.” 

She looked thoughtful for a moment before asking.  “You can’t understand what he’s saying or you don’t know what it means?” 

“Both.”  I blurted out suddenly.  “I don’t even know what I mean.”  I yelled in frustration.  “Sorry, Rose.”

“It’s alright, understandable.”  She said with an ah-ha as she pulled a blue velvet box from the bottom of her endless bag. 

“Carlisle wanted to wait to give this to you until after the wedding, but seeing as that’s not going to happen I think you should have it now.” 

Fingering the velvet box I was almost scared of what could be inside it.  Anything from the Cullens was usually overdone and expensive.  I opened the box a with the hesitancy of a bomb-squad but tears sprung to my eyes as I took in what was nestled in the fine white satin.  A locket, small and silver and absolutely perfect for me, engraved in the top was the Cullen crest. 

“I know you not going to be one of us anymore, not a Cullen, anyway.”  Rosalie stated a little sadly.  “But that doesn’t mean you’re not family.” 

I couldn’t help it, I hugged her.  She seemed just as surprised by the gesture as I was and I couldn’t help but beam inside that she had finally opened up to me.  It was somewhat of a weight lifted from my shoulders.  At first I thought she hated me, then I found out that she was just jealous of my humanity, not that that was pretty much gone we could get down to knowing each other the right way.

A wolf whistled from behind me broke the hug and we turned to see Emmett waggling his brows suggestively.  “Damn, do I get to watch.”

“Shut up, Emmett.”  We both said in unison.

He looked a little taken back as he muttered.  “Scary,” before he beamed at us once again. “The captain said you girls gotta sit down now, he’s landing.”  

It wasn’t long before we were taxiing down the runway and Rosalie was flitting about the room, gathering the things we would need and when it was safe I was told that we could unload.  It was sunny when I stepped of the last step but under the cover of the jet hanger all passengers could move freely to load the two stretch limos with our cargo.  As there were ten of us we had to take two vehicles, Rosalie and Emmett decided that they would be riding with me, Demetri and Jane in the second car.  While Carlisle, Esme and Alice would take the first with Caius and Felix.  

It stunned me more confused that Caius wouldn’t be riding in the car with me, and admittedly it hurt a little too.  On the jet last night he almost seemed like he couldn’t be separated from me, but maybe I had read into the whole thing a little too much.  

The car ride was long, but very enjoyable.  The countryside this time of year was nothing like I expected it to be.  Of course the last time I had seen it was with Alice speeding down the road at a hundred and twenty, so this time I opted to sip my complementary wine and enjoy the beautiful Italian countryside.  

Just as soon as the sun was going down on my third day since this madness started, we were pulling into the streets of the familiar city of Volterra.  In my past visit here I hadn’t really had the time to openly enjoy how beautiful it was, but seeing now without rush, it was beautiful and I could see how tourist were easily lured to their doom.  

I was happy to say that this time no dark tunnels were needed and we could walk freely through the front doors, as visiting hours were officially over, though I had to wonder what others in passing would have thought about a group of stunningly beautiful people in strange garb and a thin girl in an evening gown.  Maybe they thought we were having a private party, though that was a stretch.

We were led together as a group to an unfamiliar hallway in the tan castle stones, and each couple or singles such as Alice and I were shown to a bedroom.  I didn’t stay in mine, but left my things at the front door so as I was requested. 

The Peacock Room

Alice’s room was beautiful to which I dutifully nicknamed the “Peacock room” and if mine were anything like I would be more than thrilled.  Where mine was at the end of the long hallway, Alice and Jasper’s - when he arrived - was a few doors up from mine of the left.  Easy enough to remember.  It seemed she had just left me when she returned looking stunning as ever in a short black strapless number and not long after our escort knocked on the door to retrieve us.

As soon as we passed Gianna’s spot at the front desk did butterflies begin to creep their way into my stomach.  I thought the wine I had sipped on since leaving the airport would have steeled me for whatever was too come and it wasn’t until a familiar but icy hand met my lower back did I relax.

“Remember,”  he whispered silkily in my ear.  “No one will harm you, ma beauté.”

My inner monologue started doing kart-wheels in my head, not knowing what to make of anything he said when he spoke like that.  Was this some vampiric trait you inherit; the ability to stun helpless women to death with your voice, or was it just me.  I remember once Edward had told me that it was a vampires greatest hunting tool.  ’Everything about us is used to draw you in.  Our looks, our scent, our voice.’  Yeah, and really didn’t help much when you have no since of self-preservation as I have been told I don’t.

As we waited for Gianna to announce us, Caius leaned down, his mouth just a hairsbreadths from my ear as he whispered, “Vous êtes superbe, pu de Bella,” while dragging a lone cool finger from the shell of my ear to the crest of my shoulder.  “Si douce.”  When I said nothing and my cheeks blazed he chuckled.

Daringly I looked around and let out the deep breath I had been holding when I realized that no one was paying attention or maybe they were just nice enough to pretend, either way I didn’t think I could take Emmett’s joking right now. 

The throne room was much as I remember but I was more than a little anxious to see it bare, all save for the few guard with us Marcus and Aro and two stunningly beautiful women who I had never seen before. 

Sulpicia

One small in stature, like me, dark hair and ruby eyes.  She was flawless and if I had to guess I would say she was Aro’s mate.  The other looked oddly familiar, bone white hair and strong features and I audible gulped as to who’s mate she might be.  Trying to unnoticeably shift from Caius’s direction was easier said than done, for every step I took away from him, he took one step closer. 

“Ah, Carlisle, Benevento amico.”  Aro said rising from his throne to meet Carlisle with a hug.  “We have much to discuss, you and I.”  Aro told him pointedly.

“Yes, Aro, of course.”  Carlisle replied. 

Aro’s deep burgundy eyes scanned the room, looking from one person to the next until his wistful gaze landed on me.  “Caius my brother, it is good to see you home,”  he said with a grand smile.  “and with the beautiful Bella at your side.”  

“It is good to be home, brother.”  Caius replied with a courtly bow. 

Taking my hand and kissing it softly, “Bella, it’s so lovely to see you again, I trust your travel went well?”

“It was fine, thank you.”  

As he held my hand he closed his eyes in deep concentration, when they opened they seemed to sparkly in amusement.  “Still totally silent.”  then turning back to Caius he questioned. “Her aroma is so delicious, you can you stand it Caius?”  He asked holding out his hand in silent permission to see into Caius memories.

“It is with no difficulty for me, Aro.”  He replied placing his hand in Aros with out question.  Aro jumped like he had been shocked the moment he touched him and his smile widened to the point of tearing his paper like skin.  “ll semble que nous avons certaines à discuter ainsi, mon frère.”  He whispered as he let go.  

Athenodora

“Well, now that were all here, let me make introductions.”  He looked back in my direction but was looking directly at Caius, who seemed reluctant but finally followed him to the throne.  If I thought I felt upset having him next to me, it was all the more worse when he left my side.  

“Carlisle, I’m sure you and the lovely Esme remember my mate, Sulpicia.”  

“Of course, Aro.  Sulpicia, lovely as ever.”  She nodded graciously back.

Wow, daddy Cullen, way to amp up the charm.

“And of course, Athenodora.”

At the mention of her name, the woman in question glared daggers in my direction.  “Caius, what is the meaning of this?”

Oh shit.

 

 

 

Five

Chapter Five

“Edward.”

My blood pumps like cold knives through my veins at the mention of that name and my body quakes from the force of my tremors as a million thoughts barge through my head at once.  Alice’s face is pinched with worry and a Carlisle and the ever coiffed Esme are looking much worse for wear.  I had never seen them in such a state.  Their hair disheveled and their clothing ruined, they look like the had been through a crusade.  

“What?  What happened?”  I asked panic seeping into my voice as it cracks and breaks with worry.  

Carlisle runs a hand through his matted hair sighing heavily.  “Edward has gone to the pack.”  His tells me lowly but it is Caius deep growl that drown him out.

“What?!”  I exclaim.  What the hell was he thinking?  

Carlisle explained to me that after he had set Jacob’s bones he left to check on Esme and call Alice and Jasper.  When he returned to the reservation he was met at the treaty line, with force.  Sam heading up the pack in human form called the Cullens traitors and that he and his leech family were no longer welcome in Forks.  

“I asked him why this sudden change and all he said was that he received a call from Edward and that they knew about everything.  It was all very vague but as I was greatly outnumbered I thought it best just to leave.”

A chorus of questions called out from several directions of the room but Carlisle simply held a hand out and directed himself back to me.  

“Bella, I have no idea what any of this means.  Would you care to call them and find out what you can?”

“Sure, but is Edward… I mean did he get-”

“No.”  Rosalie answered.  “Emmett just talked to Jasper and Edward is still in there care.”

“Then how?”

“We don’t know, Bella.”  Esme answered.  “It’s beyond any of us as to how he made a phone call with Jasper and Alec right there.”

“Alice?”  

“I’m sorry but Edward hasn’t made the decision to do anything.  It’s like he’s not there anymore.”  She said sadly.

“Does that mean there’s a wolf clo-”  I stopped short as a deafening roar sounded, shaking the glass panes in the room.  

“No,”  Alice answered her forehead creasing with confusion.  “It’s not like that at all, when the…” she stopped short obviously rethinking her words as to not upset a certain vampire again.  “When they are around all our futures go black, this is different, I can see him through Jasper or Alec, but just not what he intends to do.”

I thought about the possibility that Edward had another gift that none of them knew about, but would Aro be able to see it through his memories.  I was fast gaining a headache I didn’t want and to add to the frustration I still had to call the pack.  

Alice handed me her sleek black phone, and whispered.  “It’s alright, Bella.  Jasper won’t let him get away.”  

I nodded and dialed the Black’s with shaky fingers and my breathing picked up when a voice answered after the first ring.  “Black’s residence.”  Shit, it was Sam.

“Hello Sam, it’s Bella.”

“Bella?  Where are you?”  He asked in a gruff, angry voice.  I looked to Alice for some sort of an idea.  Should I tell them where I was?  Should I lie?  She grabbed a slip of paper and quickly wrote what I was to say next.  

“I’m safe.”  I told him.

“Edward has you then?”  Edward?  

“No, I’m with the family, the Cullens.”  It came out so fast it was more like a whoosh of air than actual words.  

“Where are you, Bella?  Where coming to get you.”

My eyes widened in panic.  That was the last thing that needed to happen, if the Volturi found out about them they’d be finished.  

“NO!”  I yelled in panic and Alice came and pried the phone out of my hands, crushing the chic piece of metal and plastic with the force.  

I looked to her with fresh tears starting to spill.  “Bella, you can’t go back to Forks, I don’t know what Edward told Sam to get them to turn against us so suddenly but… you can’t go back Bella.”  

“Why is this happening?”  I was a trembling mess and Alice wrapping me in her cool embrace.  

“I don’t know, Bella, but everything in life happens for a reason.”

“So, what happens now?”  I asked eyeing the room but really only searching out one.  He had his back to me, his long hair pulled up at the nape of his neck, but cascading like a waterfall over his hunched shoulders as he braced himself at the window.  

“We leave.”  He made no move to go and I could see that he was straining with something, his hands were all but claws pressed against the clear window pane, and the way he was positioned it would seem he didn’t want me to see him.  

“Come on Bella.”  Alice said, Rosalie and Esme pulling me along back to my room to gather my things, which weren’t much.  So I concluded that maybe something was happening in the next room that my human eyes weren’t supposed to see.

At the sound of raised voices and the shattering of glass I guessed that I was right.

Esme, Rosalie and Alice seemed un-phased by the goings on as they made their way around the room collecting and bagging anything in the room they thought I would need over the course of the long flight. But I knew better every once in a while I would see one or both of them stop short in what they were doing and then go back to it.  

“What’s going on out there, Alice?”  I asked as the voices continued to get louder but I couldn’t make out what any of them where saying.  

“Caius is not happy with the new developments and thinks he was wrong to let Edward live.”  

“And?”  I deadpanned.

“Carlisle is begging for Edward’s life.  He still things he can be reformed after your change.”  

“I don’t know why,”  Rosalie cut in.  “after what he was planning to do, the bastard deserves to get what’s coming to him.”  

I looked at her like she had grown two heads and as Esme scolded her for her outburst she laughed.  “What?  I always knew there was something wrong with him.”

Alice just shook her head.  “Don’t be upset with Carlisle, he feels that this is all his fault, that he had Edward changed to young.”

“That’s bullshit and you and I know it!”  Rosalie yelled jumping in again and when Esme tried to stop her with a hand to her shoulder, Rosalie shrugged it away.  “No, Esme, I know plenty of people that have suffered fates far worse than that sniveling coward, and they were changed at the same age.  Their not running around playing with their food, and you know what we did to James for the very same thing.  So what right does Carlisle have to beg for his life?”

Admittedly, Rosalie made a very good point.  Edward was doing exactly the same thing as James.  Edward was playing a game, although it was somewhat different, but he was still toying with me, waiting for the moment to strike.  

It took us a little less than fifteen minutes to get to Sea Tac and as we walked the boarding ramp to the Volturi’s personal jet, I felt a sense of Déjà vu course through me.  Here I was running to Italy because of Edward, but this time I wasn’t running to save him, no, this time I was running for my life.

I knew I shouldn’t have been surprised, I mean it seemed that any of the cultivated vampire species seemed to have an addiction to all things costly, but seeing the interior of the jet had my jaw hanging slack.  

It was insane.  Plush overstuffed chairs and personal tables for two.  Thick upholstered drapes and even a queen sized bed.  It was crazy to think that vampires, who didn’t need anything except blood loved to live so luxuriously.  Everything in the front cabins were done in a shiny black walnut and gray and white fabrics.  And when Alice brought me to where I would be staying, the queen suit, I nearly fell over.  It was beautiful, everything was.  

It didn’t take long to settle me in with the meager possession I brought with me.  And Alice, bless her heart had Carlisle grab a few more things from my house before he left Forks indefinitely.  I cried a little at the loss of Charlie and it made me feel a little guilty that my father, or my mother would ever gain closure at my disappearance.  

When I asked Carlisle if it would implicate them with the family up and leaving right after I had disappeared, but he just simply replied that I was eighteen and if I wanted to leave there was nothing he could do about it, but I would have to call him at some point to tell him I wasn’t coming back and that they would have to stage my death sometime soon.  All in all I was happy with the outcome, at least I would get to speak with my parents again, even if they were yelling at me.  

We had been in the air close to four hours when I started to tire.  I hadn’t seen Caius since his little outburst before we left the hotel and I wondered if he was even on the same jet as us, but as my eyes closed for the night a niggling in the back of my head told me he was.  

The rain hurled from the sky in sharp, angry drops and the thunder crashed around me in my fear.  

I had to keep running, always running.  
With only the quick flashes of lightening to guide my way I tripped and stumbled through the midnight wood.

I had to keep running, always running.

“Bella…”  The voice would laugh, the tinkling of silver bells.  “Bella…”

Looking over my shoulder, loosing my footing in the thick black mud.

Running, always running.

“Bella…”  The voice called again, malice lacing ever syllable.  “Bella… I’m coming.”

A flash of lightening so close forces me to my knees, scraped and burning with fresh blood.   “Bella, love…”

“Leave me alone.”  I wail as I force myself to my feet.  

I had to keep going, always running.

Another flash of light and eyes that glowed red even through the pitch.  Blood pouring from his mouth like falling from a beautiful fountain.  

“I told you not to run.”  He tells me and I look down and blood seeps through my clothes.  He smirks down at me with lopsided grin, a grin I used to so desire.  

“Edward…”

“Edward no!”  I scream, lurching awake.  

Cool arms surround me and I panic.  I started kicking and screaming, and the bright lights are clouding my vision.  I want comfort.  I want security.

“She’s going to call for him.”  The voice calls again.  

“You need to back up, babe.”  Another voice calls, this one thick and masculine.

“Caius!”  I wail, fighting against an unknown force.  I hear voices trying to comfort me but in my blinding terror I hear only Edward’s voice.  

“Bella it was just a dream.”  The voice tells.  

The sound of splinting wood hammers my now sensitive ears and the sound of a scuffle.  

“Qu‘est-ce quise passé ici?”  I know that voice.  My eyes open of their own accord and I am staring at an unclothed back, white flowing hair trialing to his hips.  His back is broad and strong looking and it is all I can do to figure out what is going on.  

Rosalie and Emmett are at the wall opposite me.  Emmett in front of Rosalie but he made no move to attack or strike out at a threat.  I didn’t know if he was understanding of the situation or scared himself, I know I was.  Alice was trembling next to them, and I had never seen my pixie friend so lost.  

“Elle a farl un cauchemar.”  Alice speaks up but her voice is trembling.  

“CAUCHEMAR?”  He growls.

Alice nodded her eyes crossing to mine quickly before shifting them back to Caius. “A propos de Edward, je pense.”  

From my point of view, still shivering in my blanket I couldn’t tell if he was satisfied by whatever Alice was telling him, and I kicked myself once again for taking Spanish instead of French, although I knew this had something to do with Edward, that much was clear.

“Congés.”

Alice nods again and swiftly moves from the room, Rosalie and Emmett giving me a long stare but following her without word.  

What the hell just happened?

“Are you alright, Isabella.”  His voice is like crushed velvet and I nearly moan when he says my name.  I can’t begin to understand what is happening to me.  I’ve had crushes before and even lusted after men who were not Edward, but this, it was like I was unable to control myself around him.  It was mortifying.

“Y-yes.”  I nod my head dumbly as I stuttered and I wonder briefly if it would have been better just to moan.  

My eyes are still glued to the floor in fear of looking at him and doing something terribly stupid.  But as my luck would have it, icy cold fingers grip lightly at my chin but with enough force to raise it.  

“Look at me.”  he commands and I am powerless to tell him no.  My eyes raise to meet his and I gasp.  In my time with supernatural beings I have seen many pissed off vampires at one point or another, black eyes were a dead give away. Caius pissed off was unlike anything I had ever seen.  His eyes were the deepest red.

“No one will harm you.  I won’t allow it.”  He tells me vehemently and I believe him. It was curious to me that as he spoke I could make out the slim points of… fangs?  I had to be hallucinating.  I was still so tired.  

He motioned for me to sit up and curiously I did, not understand what he was wanting.  But he was a man of few words and to satisfy my curiosity I did as he requested.  I felt the soft plush mattress give way with his solid weight and I was told to lay back.  My head hit a pillow that was elevated from is previous position and looking back my eyes were met with a pale, well muscled chest.  I was laying in Caius lap.  Like I said, hallucinating.

“Caius?”

“Hmm?”  

“What are you doing?”  

“Allez dormir, peu de Bella. We will be landing soon.”  He says in his rich, luxe voice and I wonder what he said that I couldn’t understand.  

“Sleep.”  He tells me in English and I nuzzled down and close my eyes, but I can’t sleep, I had my head in strange vampires lap.

I don’t know what possessed me to agree to go with him in the first place but as Alice explained to me that I had been destined to join them I realized that a life change was not all that bad a concept.  As my mind drifts and my eyes grow heavy I hear a low hum but I’m to sleepy to figure out what he said.

“Qu‘est-tu pour moi, petit être humain.”  

Four

Chapter Four

“I’m human, not stupid?  Now what the hell is going on?  No more games!”
Seeing her like this even in her human shell was divine, she was spirited and vivacious.  I could see now why she had intrigued not only Aro but Marcus as well.  She had to qualities suited to the makings of a stunning immortal, and I couldn’t wait to see the outcome.  

I was furious and indignant when Aro had suggested that I accompany the guard in their retrieval of the human, Isabella.  What care had I in their new project, it was only when Aro told me of vile notions he had heard in the boys thoughts and that of the psychic’s visions that I found myself on our private jet bound for the America’s.  As much as I hated the human race I was never much inclined to play with my food.  

The girl had risked life and limb to see Edward Cullen safe, she had faced myself and my two brothers and begged us to kill her all in hopes that the Cullen boy would be spared.  And his idea of payment for that debt made my long since dead insides crawl.  I wanted the Cullen dead and if I had my way, he would be.

My thoughts shifted quickly as the Fae-like creature gave her explanations to Isabella to the moment I had seen her, Isabella, out in that field.  Shaken with grief and fear as Jane threatened to end the life of the young newborn.  



Hearing the Cullens in the distance was somewhat enjoyable, they were a perplexing coven… no their were not a coven.  But they were interesting to Aro and completely infuriating to me.  To have come out unscathed after their grave misdeed- telling a human of our existence and allowing them to live was an offense punishable only by death.  However, due to Aro kinship with Carlisle they were spared their lives if they complied with our wishes in changing the human girl.  

I knew that Aro coveted her as his own, why would he not, she was greatly gifted even as a human.  But what had forced me on this expedition puzzled me.  I found myself agreeing to come without a moments hesitation and before I realized what I was doing.  

“The Volturi doesn’t grant second chances.  Keep that in mind.  Caius would be interested to know that she’s still human.”  Jane informed them, truthfully glancing over her shoulder in my direction.  “Wouldn’t you.”

I chuckled at her antics.  ‘Well, well, Edward. I see you haven’t eaten your human yet, whatever are you waiting for?’  I asked his through his mind connection to mine.

He crouched down low in front of her as if he could protect his kill from me.  ‘If I wanted her boy, I would take her.  Do you really think you could stop me?’

“Edward,”  Carlisle asked low.  “What is it?”  

“Caius.”  He snarled and caused me to laugh.

Stepping out from under my cover of thick spruce and moss I showed myself and the little humans heart was racing with anticipation.  Mmmm, delicious.  When she came into view I sucked in an unneeded breath, she was absolute stunning.  I had seen her in Volterra but for some reason my perfect memory seemed to be lacking.  

Her eyes widened at the sight of me as I stopped in front of Carlisle and she let out a small laugh.  Many of the Olympic Coven turned to her briefly, surly questioning her insane outburst, and I admit I was quiet curious myself.  

Lowering the hood of my cloak and I saw the lovely Isabella’s eyes widen further, it was somewhat expected as many who see me in close proximity for the first time are shocked by my appearance, but she was not looking upon me with disgust, no it was dark bouts of lust that swirled in her rich chocolate eyes.  I noticed her inching forward, unbeknownst to herself and my eyes darkened.  She was not afraid of me.

I heard Edward Cullens growls long before his arm shot out to retrieve his pet from approaching me further.  I knew the Cullen boy hated the Volturi and especially me, he saw me as competition or so my brothers tell me.  

“Edward please.”  The beautiful blond one I hadn’t met yet, she reminded me so much of my sister.  “You’re going to get us all killed.”  

‘She’s right, Edward.  Learn your place or you will be joining the others in the fire today.’  I thought to him with a glare, my happier mood all but vanished in the presence of this selfish, spoiled brat.

“You should listen to your sister.”  Jane informed him, knowing I was moments away from losing what patience I was currently fighting to keep.

I watched the delicate creature in Edward’s grasp, she was as fragile as sugar spun glass and here he was gripping her so tightly her hand was changing color from the lack of oxygen her human body required.

“Edward, son you need to let go of Bella.”  Carlisle told him softly, it was as if he didn’t want to spook him and looking again at the young vampire I could see why.  His eyes were the color of the blackest pitch; he was thirsty and it seemed his little human pet was on the menu.  Edward’s only response to my thoughts were to tighten his hold of his prey and growl.  

“Edward,”  the human cried.  “please let me go, you’re hurting me.”  She was struggling to break free of his hold but I could see the defeat in her eyes, she knew she wouldn’t be able to free herself.  And in that moment, something shifted, powerful and profound.  I was angry, nearly boiling over with it.  I didn’t have a clear understanding of why this human in pain bothered me so greatly but as my instincts grew protective, I acted, I am for nothing else, a man of instincts.

“Release her.”  Or I will lop off your head.  I finished silently.  Looking into his eyes he struggled to keep the real him in check, he wanted nothing more than to throw my beauty to the ground, fuck her and drain her.  ‘That will not be happening Edward, she will return to Volterra with me.’  

“I will not allow you to corrupt her with your filth.”  The boy spat and I saw Jane inch forward, she would have taken any excuse to burn him.  “She would never go with you willing and…”  he trailed off lowering his voice to where only we could hear him.  “if she did I would kill her in her next breath.”

“Edward!”  Carlisle gasped.  “You don’t mean that.”  I forcible held the immature eye-roll.  Of course I knew he meant it, in fact it would seem that he was merely looking for the right time to execute his plan.  

“Of course I do.”  He replied with venom streaking down his chin.  “I would kill her before you could move.”   He made sure that none but us could hear those final words and for that I was somewhat glad, she didn’t need to hear how little she really meant to him, not yet, at least.

“Is that what you think boy?”  I asked him smugly.  “I don’t think you could do it before I removed that arrogant head from your body.  Let’s test it, shall we?”  

“Edward, please!”  Isabella begged again, and began pulling against him in earnest.  

“Carlisle,”  I warned.  “If he doesn’t release her I will have it removed, permanently.”  

“Jasper, please.”  Carlisle asked politely and I scoffed.

The bite ridden southern vampire I remembered seemed nothing more these days than a docile house cat, the Major Whitlock of old would have take out this string of newborns single handedly, then again the Jasper Whitlock of old wouldn’t be feasting on animal blood.  He had gone soft and it showed when he went for the pin and not the kill.  Huh.  It disgusted me in its wastefulness.

The human visibly winced when the Cullen was removed from her person, and nearly collapsed with the blood rush I was sure she felt.  It was verified that he had in fact broken her arm and it only further confirmed that he was indeed not her mate, no mated vampire could ever hurt their intended, human or not.  Sulpicia was no more than a girl when Aro came across her in her human state, and given his age and hers he was made to wait.  Never in that time had any harm come to her, not by his hand or the hand of any other.  This girl already barred the mark of another against the soft flesh of her wrist and it was a burden on my soul to see it there.  

I caught sight of her stare as her eyes burned a hot path up my body, and when her eyes met mine they were nearly black.  Inhaling deeply, I scented the air and it hit me like a tidal wave, the tangy sweetness of her arousal, it was thick and I could tell this pure little human was very wanton.  I held back a groan of pleasure as her cheeks heated up with the scarlet blush of her neediness and my trousers strained by the heaviness of my engorged manhood.  

I had made up my mind in that instant, this little human was coming with me. I didn’t know what purpose she would serve but I knew I would not be leaving the America’s without her and it had nothing to do with my brother edict.  

“NO!”  The young Cullen screamed thrashing against the lone boot that held him in place.  “She not going anywhere with you.”   

Inwardly I laughed in amusement as I noticed once again that my little brunette had once again started forward, she seemed drawn to me.  She came without fear it would seem and for some reason it pleased me greatly.

“Shut you mouth, you foolish boy.  I’m am tiring of this game you are trying to play.  I came here for a reason, do you really think I’d give up because you refuse to give up your pet?”  

I had to argue with Carlisle over the situation, he stupidly believed that the boy still held love for the girl he would so easily end to be kept from another man.  It was only after the clairvoyant one confirmed all that I had said did Carlisle hold his head in shame.  After Isabella had heard everything did I smell the saltiness of the air, her tears.  She would shed tears for that bastard and I wouldn’t have it, I would kill him for this infraction.

“It’s not true,”  He wailed.  “Don’t listen to her, Bella.  I love you.”  

‘You stupid, pompous, foolish-’

“Shut the fuck up, Edward.”  Jasper told him, effectively ending my ranting thought, kicking him swiftly with he free boot for good measure.”


I don’t know what had possessed me to let the new one go free, other than I could find myself being responsible for causing the little human more pain.  I’ve heard of few vampires who had gone insane with age and was starting to wonder if I, myself wasn’t defective as well.  For me to act this way was not only strange but admittedly terrifying.  Inwardly I was pulling at my hair and once again cursing my brothers for ever suggesting that I make this journey.  At first I thought they only needed my the hammer for my kind of justice but as the trip has played out I wonder if they were up to something else entirely.  Intrigued as they are, I wouldn’t put it past them.    

“So, I’m just to drop everything and run off to Volterra?”  Bella asked with more venom lacing her voice than of any vampire I had ever encountered.  

“It would please me greatly, Ma dame Isabella.”  I found myself speaking before I could stop myself.  Her cheeks flushed crimson and once again I found myself having to discreetly adjust my painful erection, though as the small dark haired one laughed I realized I was not as discreet as I would have liked.

“O-of course.”  She said breathlessly and headed back off to her bedroom.

I did not see her again until the following evening, as she and the psychic had spent most of the day at the hotel spa, she came back nearly glowing despite the ugly purple plaster on her arm.  Alice as I have been told more than once to call her whisked her off just as quickly.

I was nearing midnight and the others of the Cullen coven needed to hunt before the lengthy flight to Italy.  Jane and Demetri were guarding the door and I took the opportunity to sort through some of the strange happenings I seemed to be finding myself in as of late.  

She entered through her bedroom door and I could tell by the state of her dress she thought herself to be alone.  She was exquisite, her hair hung in lose long waves of umber, gold, and cherry.  She wore a dressing gown of thin sheer silver and it almost clung to her near naked body like a second skin, I could see the way her pert nipples reacted to the cool air of night and the light strip of dark curls that lined her sex.  

A deep resonating growl escaped my throat and her head whipped to the side, seeking out the origin of the noise.  It took her only a moment to spot me sitting in the nearby chair.  

“I’m sorry,”  she gasped wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to hide her blushing body from my sight.  “I thought I was the only one in here.”  

“It’s quite alright, Isabella.”  I told her huskily, rising from my spot and slowly encroaching on hers.  Inhaling the air around her I found myself growling again in contentment, her scent was as fragrant as any perfumes from my boyhood.  She stood still as a deer caught in the headlight, and I was afraid that any moment she might flee from me.  

I circled her once like a wolf would its pray right before the strike.  “Isabella?”  I called, lifting a lock of her mahogany hair from her shoulder and bringing to my nose, it was the most heavenly smell and I wanted to drown myself in it and then parade around for all others to enjoy.  But if I were to be honest with myself, I felt quiet possessive over it, I would most likely kill another man with that scent upon their skin.  “Je tiens ¢a vous faire goûter.”  I growled.  

She gasped taking a step further in my direction, just a step further and I could be saturated in her warmth.  ’Mon diue.’  I cursed quietly as she gripped at my shoulders, her head scolding me through the thin fabric of my waistcoat.  I could feel the venom pooling into my mouth as I imagined her glistening crimson nectar flowing into my mouth as I pumped full of my cold dead seed.  I pulled away abruptly hearing the commotion from down the hall.  It was the Cullens and Carlisle was with them.

Bella seemed to be in a daze as I pulled away from her, taking up my original seat, not wanting the others to know what had transpired between us, at least not until I figured it out for myself.  

The psychic wore a deep frown of displeasure when she entered through the door, her siblings and falsified parental unit following close behind.  

“We need to leave.”  She said as she rushed through the room, stopping in her tracks as she took in Isabella’s disheveled state.  Bella’s face was red as I had ever seen it, and I found myself thinking that I would miss it when she was one of us.  

Bella stripping from her daze, looked around her eyes furrowing before mutter, “Stupid sexy vampires,” under her breath.  Alice turned to me, her eyebrow cocked with a cheeky smile on her face, and it only led me to believe that she had seen exactly what had happened.  The nod of her head confirmed it.

“What seemed to be the problem?”  I asked in all haste, I wanted to be rid of the Cullens sooner rather than later.  

“Edward.”