Titles, Trials and Tears

"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience."

- George Bernard Shaw

Klaus POV

Finally.

I had missed the feeling of being king; I had missed having people bow and show their respect when I walked in the room; I had missed how they diverted their eyes, rightfully scared that I may snap and kill them.

How right they were.

I was happy to find that the guards were still clever enough to not question me the second I arrived. Instead, they gladly opened the gates and flooded to my side, asking whether I requested anything or required help but I politely declined with the mere shake of my head. I was here with my own private matters to attend to, and I knew that a prominent part to why they asked was so they could report back to their 'kings' – if you could call them that.

I wasn't in the mood to start arguing and I felt more comfortable handling this myself. There wasn't anyone I could trust to help me in regards to the curse that only affected me.

I couldn't think of any flaw to my plan or anything that had gone wrong. Also, having Gloria disappear played a part in shortening my temper, which was why I had given Stefan and Rebekah a feeble excuse. They didn't know that I had travelled to Volterra in search for that I decided would more likely be found in Italy. There had to be something on doppelgängers or the curse itself.

Seeing as I had stocked half the library with my own collectible books and scrolls, I was certain that there would be something I had misinterpreted or overlooked. A lot of the possessions that were in this castle were mine but because I didn't have enough space to fit one thousand years' worth of personal belongings, I decided to trust the 'kings' with them.

I would've made my presence known to them but Demetri – another guard, informed me that they were busy with another one of their 'vampire trials'. Not really in the mood to wait, I decided to simply go up the spiral staircase and into the first library.

I had no time or patience to waste.

This proved to be clear when I had spent half an hour in the library and I had found nothing worth documenting. Having been frustrated and disappointed further, I threw one of the books across the room, creating a thud as it fell to the floor.

My fingers instantly reached up to grip my hair and then push it back – a habit that I had apparently inherited from my father, as mother said. To which I replied, 'which one?'

Shaking away the shadowed thoughts of my past, I frantically searched the room and was about to check the next row but was numbed to a halt when I heard a very familiar voice, scream out in a desperate plea. "No-n-no p-p-pl-please don't!"

It was enough to have me drop the book in my hand and rush down the stairs. I ignored the guards' bewildered stares that followed my steps towards the throne room, yet no one dared to stop me or question me.

"Kill me – not him" the voice cried again and I stopped.

The familiarity of the gentled confirmed my suspicions but at the same time, brought back suppressed memories of a lost childhood.

Even the panic that had raised the octave was the same; sending tremors into the threat of a sob that would soon break from her lips and I was instantly reminded of the brown eyes that brimmed with unshed tears.

Just the reminder had me rushing to push open the doors and frantically scanning the large hall. Again, I ignored everyone else as my eyes were now set on the small framed girl that was turned away from me. It was however, enough to see the long mahogany tresses that rolled down her back in waves. This was sufficient to have the word that I never thought I would say again, breathed through my lips. "Marianna?"

She whipped around, making her scent more enticing as the air shifted. I had expected the freesias scent but was pleasantly surprised with the strawberries and peaches fragrance.

Her eyes were still the same.

Wide and filled with secrets. A dark rich chocolate brown although these ones had golden wisps firing them and also seemed more doe-like and innocent. They lacked the flirtatious gleam or glazed with a mischievous guise that hooded them. Rather, they were now a shade brighter and filled with uncertainty.

She was also paler but her skin still enticed me with how soft it seemed and probably would be. It cream tone had me anxious to taste her. I was them flooded with memories of how smooth her skin was when I had hitched up her skirt or discreetly held her hand when no one was looking.

Nonetheless, it was her.

Having the figment of my haunted imagination now manifest before me, strengthened my voice as I repeated, "Marianna".

Her name now stern and affirmed as I took an assured step towards her, only to stop when she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

Does she not remember me?

How could she not?

"Excuse me?" she chimed in a trembling voice and it was then that I finally saw.

The rapid thrumming of her heartbeat that echoed through the large halls where only vampires stood; the blood that rushed to her cheeks, making her skin flush in a delicious and enticing manner; the sharp gasped breaths that quivering through her full pink parted lips.

Could it be?

I gulped down, forcing away the conflicting emotions that were returning, I finally spoke again, "What is going on here?" I demanded, my question aimed at Aro but my eyes were still trained on the living memory before me.

"The young Edward revealed himself to the human girl"

It was then that my eyes flickered up to the insignificant little boy standing next to her. I then noticed the protective arm he had wrapped around her, foolishly thinking that was enough to stake his claim. "What's your verdict?" I asked lowly, still staring at the wide-eyed girl while possibilities now formed in my thoughts.

"Kill her?" Caius suggested in his usual lazy and unperturbed tone.

"NO!" the boy screamed, his grip tightening around M- the girl and this made her wince which made me curl my hand into a fist.

Still, trying to remain calm and composed, I straightened up from my bowed posture and slowly tore my eyes away from her so I could address Aro. "I could make her to forget" I offered but only because I knew it would benefit my own ideas. Aro probably knew this and this was why he nervously smiled when replying, "Our gifts don't seem to work on the girl so I doubt-" his explanation was silenced with the glare that I sent him.

I then pivoted back to the girl and stalked towards her, angry that she was frightened by my presence; angry that everything I had paused back was slowly unravelling when our gazes remained locked; angry because I already knew my decision and knew the consequences of it but still didn't care.

She was the answer to all of my problems and seeing as she was only being guarded by Cold Ones, I could easily take her. None of them would be crazy enough to fight against my word – including the silly little boy pulling her.

When he tried to back her up with him, I whipped out and took her hand in mine – gently.

Her fragile wrist, nimble between my fingers that I sadistically smiled at how easy it would be. Though, I knew I would never do anything to harm her, especially when she looked up at me with an inquisitive stare instead of fearful eyes. "What are you going to do?" she murmured all too calmly, not knowing she was facing the true Grim Reaper himself.

I don't answer her but instead stared into her eyes, ready to begin erasing her thoughts but was interrupted by Aro's insane chattering, "Edward reads minds but he can't read hers. I can't see her thoughts either"

"What about Jane?" I played along to amuse them and keep them in the dark, over what I already knew.

"Her gifts do not work on her" he marvelled, clearly excited at the possibility of a new addition to his collection. Though, this wonder was one-sided as a feral growl resounded from across the room.

Jane.

She was vile and despicable in her useless attempts to seduce me into asking her to join me. Nonetheless, I did appreciate her gifts. They were the only things that made me envy their kind but apart from that, I hated them. Now, I hated them further knowing that Mar- the girl had been within inches of them – even dated one.

I grimaced at the thought but then focused at the matters at hand. "Look at me Ma-" I paused and then quickly corrected my blunder. "Girl"

"Bella" she whispered to reprimand me.

I smirked at her brazen attitude - brave even and only emphasised her naïve innocence. She did not know the danger that she was in but then again, she had been dancing with vampires. Danger was probably a second nature to her now.

Before I could hold the girl, I paused at Aros' words. "Edward, you do realise that if he succeeds, you will have to leave the girl"

"As long as she goes free" he quaked a dry sob and I rolled my eyes.

Not able to help it anymore, my fingers brushed through her thick locks and when the softness grazed at my skin, I delved my fingers deeper into them, pulling her closer and making her gasp. I then slipped my palm to the heated nape of her neck and tilted her head up. Our eyes met once again and I ignored the hum in the atmosphere by concentrating on the task. "You're going to forget about vampires" I began confidently. "You will leave here and continue with your normal HUMAN life. Vampires do not exist for you" I finalised.

She released a shaky breath and I waited patiently, watching as she blinked profusely. It seemed like it had worked but then she parted her lips and then frowned as she looked down and then back up to ask, "Why?"

She was only more confused with the several gasps that filled the air and how Aro had sighed, "Amazing"

I was the only one that was not surprised because her resilience only confirmed everything that I had already guessed. It only made me want her more.

Aro's steps approached from behind me and I reluctantly released the girl as I heard him, "See how she is already gifted. A human that possesses great potential. This is why I thought it would benefit us to keep her here and make her a guard. Of course I would have to turn-"

"No", I growled and help up a finger to stop him.

Everyone people in the room shouted, "No?" .

However, some voices in disbelief; some in anger; some enquiring and one filled with hope.

I turned back to the girl and saw the gleaming hope, buried under her trepidation and confusion. This only grew more prominent when I made my way back to her and lowly exclaimed, "The girl is mine"

I no longer needed to use the library or look through anymore books.

"What?"

Again, this was the shared thought that was voiced by everyone in the room. Several voices in anger, few disbelieving and one simply scared.

"She comes with me" I repeated, hating that I had to.

"Bu-"

I spun back around and glared at Aro, wondering how he had the audacity to question me. My angered movements had him stepping back and his brothers straightening up on their seats but still in the right state of mind to remain seated.

"I said, the girl is mine" this time, I repeated the words in a slower voice.

"No!"

This time, the refusal came from behind me and I sighed tiredly when turning to look at the young Cold one. He was young – too young and too easy to kill.

"I have a thousand years on you boy"

"You won't take her" he persisted but with a slight stammer when hesitantly moving to stand in front of the girl.

I also took a step but so I could close in on him. "And you're going to stop me?" I laughed, happy to be able to after the last few days. When he didn't back down, I chuckled under my breath but grew serious when looking at him again. My fangs now bared and my pupils dilated. It was time for him to see a real vampire. "Try and stop me and I will make sure you, your little clan and everyone in this room will pay for your idiocy" I vowed and then leaned in a little so I could add, "That is not a threat, that is a promise"

He was about to step down.

I could tell.

Sadly, I didn't get to have the satisfaction because the girl had stepped in between us and was now pushing the boy back away from me. "I will go with you" she murmured and I felt my fangs retract with her compliance. "Just…leave all of them alone and I will go with you" she promised.

"Well played love" I congratulated with a smile.

"Bella". Both the boy and another small female Cold One I now noticed, protested.

I looked back at the girl and was undoubtedly impressed by her courage, especially after witnessing the true primal form of a real creature of the night. Instead of having other bargain her life, she had chosen to yield and I had also noticed how she emphasised for me to leave 'all' of them alone. Not just her…boyfriend but everyone in the room.

Different to Marianna but I liked that.

Ignoring the stray thought, I reached around to grab the girl but paused, giving the boy one more chance to fight for the girl he 'supposedly' loved but he didn't.

Rather, it was the girl who broke for me and rushed back to the boy. She stopped a foot apart from him and simply stared, a stray tear rolled down her cheek as she continued to gaze up at him, her breaths heaved as the seconds passed. "You hurt me" she unexpectedly said and now captured all of our attentions. "You left and you hurt me" she whispered coldly. The venomous tone making the boy flinch. "I only came to save you because I didn't want you feeling guilty"

It was now the boy's turn to speak. He stopped forwards and took hold of her hand, placing it on his chest. "Everything I said was lie" he croaked, close to tears. Again. "If you're going to believe something – believe that I love you. Always have and always will"

It was all very sickening.

"Well it's a little too late isn't it?" she pulled away from him in somewhat disgust.

I felt proud of her at that moment.

"You said it would be like you never existed…" she stared out the window with a faraway look but then starred back at him. "…for a few days, it was" her voice growing firm.

I was getting tired of this but I couldn't find it in me to tear her away from her last few moments with those she claimed to love.

"I love you Bella" he pleaded and was able to read her beginning protest so he silenced her with a kiss. His hands frantically holding her to him as he tried to beg for her forgiveness through the kiss.

Again…very sickening.

She whimpered out a muffled plea and began to fight him off. She pushed him away with an angry growl, tears now helplessly falling and I felt uncomfortable.

Never could deal with a crying girl.

Finally, she jutted out her chin, walked away from him and stumbled towards the short cold one. "Dont keep Charlie waiting too long. Tell him something - anything but don't wtoo loo long" she pleaded.

The girl nodded and this appeased the human. However, when the cold one made a move to hug her, the human girl stepped away from her and shook her head. The tears still in her eyes as she sauntered back to my side. Her eyes now cast downwards as she fell deep in thought so I grabbed her arm once again. I then, looked at the sea of faces in the room, I stopped at the boy, the corner of my lips tugging up into a cruel smirk. "The. Girl. Is. Mine" I recalled and found that I liked how that sounded.

It seemed that I was the only one because the human girl had ripped her arm away from me. The movement caught my attention and I snapped my eyes down to her, only to find her features now hardened and frustrated creases form on her forehead. "I am not a possession - I am not anybody's" she barked at me fiercely and then leaned in closer so that she could whisper for my ears only. "I am most certainly not yours" she finalised and then began to walk towards the exit, somehow trusting that I would follow.

She had fire...

Just like Marianna.

A/N: Yes I know – I am a crazed and obsessive fanfictioner. I started dabbling and just hand to share this with you. Was I right to?

Have a good week But you may hear from him sooner. :D