Forever In Volterra

"Heidi did very well, a little young, but still older than the twins. She's perceptive, intelligent, has a good sense of self preservation, and well mannered. Very pretty too, will be gorgeous once she's turned," I couldn't help but concur with Marcus.

"I completely agree with Marcus. She'll make an excellent immortal," I don't know what it was about the girl, but a part of me wanted to be the one to change her.

"Glad you think so, because even if you hadn't I was going to change her anyway," why would he do that? He normally does what he's doing now and asks our opinions. We'd decided that it would be best after he'd turned the twins.

"What has you so anxious to turn Bella without our consent as well?" Bella must have a special talent for him to say that.

"I can't read her mind; I haven't seen this much potential since Jane and Alec," Marcus and I just look at one another. We hadn't seen Aro this giddy since the twins had been turned.

"Do you believe Bella to have that much potential brother?" I couldn't help but question.

"Yes; I've never seen a human display their powers while still human," yes he sounded just like a little child in a candy store, "If I can't read Bella's mind now, think of all the possibilities once she's changed."

"Do you believe that this ability will block even the Cullen boy?" damn it Marcus, don't get started with that. If that blasted boy breaks into Bella mind she'll be just like a sheep waiting for slaughter, "Or even Jane?" had he not heard, from Jane herself, that her powers did not work on Bella; but of course he has a point, not all powers last after the transformation. Anthenodora had been a slight seer when she'd first been turned, that ability left three decades into her new life.

"I don't believe it will disappear like Anthenodora's seeing abilities did; no this girl will keep her power. A mental shield; can you believe it. Now we won't have to put up with that sniveling son of Carlisle's any longer," I couldn't argue with that. Carlisle's son had a tendency to read everything that went through our heads, and he also had the little psychic pixie watching our every move while they had stayed here last year. If Aro did invite the slimy git here and he tried anything this time he'd die.

"That would be advantageous; little blighter doesn't know how to stay out of things that don't pertain to him," Aro and I had learned the hard way what that meant. God damned son of a bitch had squealed to anyone who would listen how Anthenodora didn't want me but Aro. Every vampire had started to assume that Sulpicia would be replaced by Anthenodora that very night, major damage control had to be done, let's just say it hadn't been pretty and the boy nearly lost his life. It's too bad he hadn't because I know he'll cause us trouble again.

"What if he tries to seduce Bella out of our ranks to join his coven?" I hated asking the question, because for some odd reason it felt so damned wrong asking it. It was similar to what Marcus and Aro described a 'protective' instinct over ones 'mate'; something I really have no experience with. I'd never loved Anthenodora, and was glad she was gone, so the feelings are totally foreign to me.

"I don't believe that they would have compatible Caius, so we need not worry about her leaving or betraying us what so ever," Marcus has grown adept to telling when people are compatible with one another or not; and if the two didn't fit well together that just made changing Bella all the sweeter. That meant one more enemy against the slimy git.

"Good," Aro looks simply over joyed, "now that we know Bella's not going to run off with Cullen we should figure out how to make her stay here," ah yes the dreaded task of figuring out what to say and do to keep our new recruit from leaving once her parents come to pick her up, "I say we just offer to pay for Bella schooling here in Italy and have her hone that eye of hers. I don't want to change her as soon as her parents leave; something tells me she needs some more time to grow into who she is," why in the hell hadn't he thought about that when he found Jane and Alec? Oh wait Aro went trigger happy and turned them without thinking.

"At least you're not going to go all wily nilly and change her without thinking like you did the twins," that was a decision that was still having back lashes; even now Jane has anger issues and uses her gift on anyone who pisses her off.

"Where should we send her then?" probably somewhere in Rome, but then if Bella's only in high school she only need to go to the local school.

"She's only entering what in America is known as her 'Junior' or eleventh grade year. I believe here and in the rest of the world it would translate to grade two," thank God! Wait why in the hell am I getting so excited over the fact that Bella's just a high schooler?

"At least we don't have to worry about her running off while in Rome, Venice, Florence, or Milan," just the thought of Bella trying to run made my blood boil.

"Well now that that's settled I believe I shall go and inform Sulpicia of this, Marcus I would advise you do the same with Didyme because I'm having them choose the girls wardrobe for her," Marcus raised a brow and shared a look with me. Bella seemed to have Aro wrapped around her finger even more than Jane does; "I'll see you two later," with that he was gone.

"Do you believe Bella could really have blocked him out completely or just long enough to appease Aro into believing that she'll be a mental shield once turned?" we don't have access into Aro's mind so there was no real telling with him.

"I've not the damnedest clue. With Aro it could be a number of things, but I, oddly, believe him to be telling the truth. Aro was able to tell the twins would be powerful, so why not believe him now? Besides not many people can claim that they have a stitch of privacy in Aro's constant presence, it'll be a nice change to see him be the one frustrated," having any privacy when Aro was in the same room was damn well impossible. Finally Aro would be on even playing field with us for a change.

"I'm surprised that he didn't ask about the bonds that she has," yes that was odd for Aro. With the way he was acting though it wouldn't matter if the others hated Bella or not; though from the way Heidi was acting that's not likely.

"I believe that the only guard member that will have problems with Bella will be Jane. She's always had Aro wrapped around her figure, I believe that that will change in a short while," yes I do believe that Jane will be spitting mad, "So what are Bella's connections anyway Marcus?"

"I already know Aro will dote on her like any elder brother would a sister," Aro always wanted another sister; don't get me wrong Aro loved Dydime, but they argued like cats and dogs fought. Aro having another sister, that could possibly calm his nerves, would be a good thing.

"What of us?" this was the part I was scared of; what did I mean to her.

"I hold the same bond as Aro, but unlike Aro I've never had siblings," oh yes I remember. Marcus had been the only child born to his family, even after his father had remarried when his mother had died in childbirth, "So naturally she'll be spoilt beyond belief," I figured as much. Marcus had always been jealous of Aro and me because we'd had them. I had a set of elder twin sisters, while Aro had had Dydime.

"Yes I can see you doing that. You never had a sister, or younger brother, to fawn and protect over, so naturally you're going to have tendencies that dictate this," I may have been the younger sibling, but I was still the male heir, I'd always felt it my duty to spoil my sisters in some form or fashion.

"That I've come to realize from the way Aro treats Dydime every now and then," those two may fight like cats and dogs, but Aro does like to spoil her on occasion.

"Now Marcus what is her connection with me?" I'm nervous about, why I cared so much I still couldn't figure out why.

"Your connection Caius was the one that surprised me the least," how in the hell can he say that? Did he expect me to like her or something?

"How do you mean Marcus?" he normally didn't expect anything when it came to the connections that a presented to him, unless it was that damned American mind reader.

"I didn't look into the lines when we first entered the room; I wished to gage her first, get a feel for her personality to see if she'd get on with the rest of the coven. It's as I told Aro, she'll make an excellent addition to the coven. Once I opened started looking though I noticed her lines, and she doesn't have many deep ones. The one she shares with her mother goes in the polar opposite; it's like she's the mother and the mother is the daughter," wonder how far down hill her parents lives are gonna go once she's out of them? "The step- father has a deep appreciation for Bella and views her as friend, one that could probably never be replaced easily. Bella's connection to her father isn't strong, not like it should be anyway, but it's deep enough that she should keep in touch every now and then."

"You're saying that when she's turned the only bond that might make the transformation is that of the step- father?" he just nods his head.

"Unfortunately, all the others are only deep enough for her to care while in their presence, but once gone Bella isn't likely to put everything on hold just to see them," that was good. It meant that we wouldn't have to worry about loose ends when she 'died' while she was in transition, "Then I expanded things a bit to Heidi and Aro, those of us whom had already made contact with Bella," Marcus usually didn't take his time when it came to reading the relationships someone had with others, Bella must really be something, "As I said Aro views Bella as a sister, one he could possibly spoil more than Dydime," that could turn out poorly for Bella, Dydime is exceedingly possessive over Aro, even if they do fight excessively, "Heidi sees another girl whom she could speak with about female things; as we all know Jane's not sociable, period," no, no that little demon was not, "Heidi also believes that she can help Bella become more confident with who she is," Heidi always has been good at drawing people out of their shells. Bella would get a good influence out of Heidi.

"You said you see the same thing that Aro does, you see a sister that you could possibly spoil," I'm slightly irritated though because he's yet to answer my question yet, "Marcus why aren't you surprised with your readings between Bella and I, and what is it?" I want to know so badly. I prayed she at the very least liked me.

"You my dear friend were the least shocking because I believe you two to fit well together," wait did he just say someone meshed well with me? I Caius Volturi have what Aro and Marcus have? "She's calm, smart, warm, witty, charming, has a talent that may protect you from Aro, seems well mannered, open minded, and beautiful, once turned she'll look even more radiant than the Cullen's younger daughter Rosealie; she's quite a stunning creature to behold if you remember," yes I remember the blond chit. I didn't like her when she came here for Marcus and Dydime's wedding anniversary, barely over seventy years of age and she believed herself to be better than the rest of us, just like her snot nosed elder brother. The whole family was like that so no point in repeating it about just one or two of them, "You have many of the same qualities Caius, you're just hot tempered, while as I said she's a calming personality," yes I could see how that made sense as to why Bella and I would get along the best between the four of us, but why was that so? "Before you go ape shit on me, the reason why I say this is because of the connection you share. I've not seen a connection blossom that fast since Aro and Sulpicia met two thousand years ago and it took them three weeks to like even acknowledge that the other existed," I remember that Aro and Picia had hated each other, "Bella is your Sulpicia Caius, only unlike Aro, you're going to fall fast and hard. This girl will have a strong pull over you Caius, how much of a pull is up to you."

"Wait," he turns around with his eyebrows raised, "Are you saying she's my mate?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," he starts to whistle as he goes toward the door. Just before exiting the room he turns toward me, "Caius I'll hide this from Aro for as long as possible, when you tell him is your choice, tell him too soon and he might try something stupid."

"Thank you Marcus," with that he leaves and I start to head toward my study.