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Chapter 2

Marcus POV

I was sitting in the throne room with my brothers and silently wallowing in my despair as I had for an uncounted number of centuries. I still mourned the loss of my mate and muddling through the day-to-day routines as the rulers of the vampire society. My brothers tried to pull me out of the despair I suffered but failed as there was nothing I could see that brightened my life. I looked on day to day as my brothers sought comfort and happiness in their mates and they were smiling in happiness. I couldn't bring myself to feel jealousy towards them, but I did indeed envy them.

We watched as the Cullen boy was denied his request to die because he claimed to have lost his mate. Looking at his bonds revealed that he didn't have a true mating bond so we denied him his desire. Sometime later, Jane came in with the Cullen boy and his gifted sibling Alice. There was also a young human girl with them. When my attention was drawn to the girl, our eyes locked and I didn't need my bond sight to know that we were meant to be. I felt an immediate pull towards the girl and she felt it too. The boy was trying my patience with his rough treatment of her and it took all that was in me to suppress the possessive growls that wanted to leave my throat. I was surprised at this young woman and she was strong in her words. It was admirable that she spoke with confidence toward our kind and her tone didn't hold an ounce of fear. She was outspoken and sarcastic, but compassionate and honest. By the time she was finished it was apparent that she would leave and that saddened me, but she swiftly came to a compromise and shortened the time she would be away. I didn't like it, but I knew this was something that she needed to do. I was grateful that Aro sent Felix with her and I awaited her swift return.

Bella POV

Thankfully the plane ride was rather uneventful though I was extremely glad when the plane landed and we were finally on our way to Forks. I walked into my house telling Felix to use the window once I opened it. He stayed out of sight as I walked through the front door and faced my father. I told him that I was leaving and I assured him that I wasn't leaving with Edward and that reassured him only a little. He didn't like it of course, but there wasn't anything he could do considering that I was now 18 and a legal adult. I packed up the things that I needed from my room and loaded them into the rental car that Felix had aquired once we landed in the states. Felix had to do most of the lifting due to my broken arm but he didn't complain. I wanted to go and see the Cullens once more and Felix assured me that Edward wouldn't be a problem but I was still concerned. I did hate the way I treated Edward but it was honestly no more than he deserved. We pulled up to the Cullen house and I was surprised to see that Edward wasn't there but I was also a little relieved. I explained to them the situation and Alice was there to confirm what she saw. I had Carlisle to set my broken arm and cast it for me and I could tell that he was disappointed in his son for ultimately causing all the trouble. Edward didn't return before I left and I said my goodbyes to everyone. I decided that there was no way I could safely go to inform Jake of my decision so I just left that for another day and I thought I would just send him a message or something.

Felix drove us back to the airport and we boarded the plane, heading back to Volterra. The plane ride was a pleasant silence and I welcomed it, only talking with Felix briefly when we arrived in Italy. Demetri met us at the airport and help to load my meager belongings into the car and we drove the short distance to Volterra. Jane escorted me to the throne room while Demetri and Felix carried my belongings to my new room. Aro's eyes narrowed on the cast on my arm as I entered and Marcus growled a little at the sight.

"Bella my dear what happened to your arm?" He gently held out his hands towards my arm.

"It's fine, I had Carlisle cast it to prevent further damage. Edward's grip several days ago resulted in some minor breaks in the bone and this is merely a precaution for now." I said and Aro, Marcus and surprisingly Caius looked murderous. I wanted to change the subject off of this so I asked Aro if things were set up so that my education can continue here.

"Of course, dear one. Everything is ready for you. Now I wondered if you had decided whether to turn and if so, when that may occur?" He asked. That was something that I had been wondering for some time myself and in all honesty I figured that the sooner I did, the more likely I was to be accepted around here and start my new life. I looked over to Marcus and he received my silent message.

"Whatever you desire mi cara." He said almost reverently and I nodded. I had my answer.

"I suppose it makes sense to get the unpleasantness over with first does it not?" I asked and Aro laughed good naturedly.

"Yes I suppose so. Marcus wishes to be the one to change you so I will leave that up to him." Aro said and turned to him. "Brother, perhaps you should take your mate and get things started. We have no plans for a few days so you would not be needed for business." Marcus nodded and escorted me out of the throne room and down a long corridor to the guest room I will be staying in before and during my transformation. It was just as extravagant as the others in the castle and had the same luxurious feel to it. Marcus pulled me over to the bed and although I was a little nervous, remembering vaguely the feeling that James' bite had induced and how painful it was for me at the time, I felt somewhat relaxed in the presence of Marcus.

"I know that you are nervous mi cara but I promise that I will be here when you open your eyes to immortality." He said softly as he held me on his lap and caressed me tenderly. The action sent small shivers of delight through me and he brushed my long chestnut hair from my throat. He inclined his head down to my throat and kissed the pulse point lightly before I felt the sting of his teeth sinking into my flesh. The burning started almost instantaneously and he pulled away after a minute, laying me down onto the large queen bed. The burning was excruciating but I willed myself to be strong and not scream in pain and agony.

Marcus POV

I bit into the soft skin of my Bella's throat and released my venom to her. I was surprised after I lay her down that she did not scream out in pain. I cringed as I remembered the burn from my own transformation some 3000 years ago. I looked at the beautiful woman before me and wondered what I did in this life to deserve a second chance at love. Didyme was like an angel in dark times, rescuing me from the cold abyss of this existence. She had given me hope and with her death, despair came in its wake tenfold. I thought that I was now destined to roam this earth for indefinite centuries alone and wallowing in that despair. My brothers were the only thing keeping me on this planet until this beautiful creature came along. I felt the bond create itself before I even saw it with my ability and I was in awe of the sheer power that our new bond possessed. Where Didyme had been my salvation all those centuries ago, Isabella was now my salvation, bringing me back as close to the living as a vampire could ever be.

She didn't scream out even as the end of the transformation drew near and I saw the changes that were taking place in her appearance. Three days the transformation lasted and she didn't make so much as a sound. Such a beautiful creature already, her features changed ever so slightly, making her into a goddess that would rival those of myth. The end of her transformation was near and she still didn't scream. I listened intently as her feeble human heart sped up to an unearthly pace and stopped suddenly. Her eyes opened and the dark chocolate pools were replaced with the bright crimson that all newborns possessed. She breathed a deep, unneeded breath and her eyes were calculating, tasting the air around her and the scents the air contained. I felt the bond that we shared solidify farther as she gazed into my eyes. She stood and surveyed the room immediately aware of her surroundings and tested her reflexes as if she were a youngster learning to walk for the first time. She looked down to her casted arm and tore off the cast. She looked back up to me, still not speaking a word, only basking in the closeness of one another.

"Are you not thirsty mi cara?" I asked her and she nodded slightly but a smile lit her face. I pulled her close to me and kissed her lips tenderly. I felt her response as the bond that united us solidified farther. I regrettably pulled away and led her back to the throne room where the others were already assembled, awaiting Heidi to return with our meal.

Bella POV

I felt so alive, granted my heart was cold and it no longer beat, but I did. I was no longer the clumsy girl that needed a frequent visitor card at the local hospital. Marcus kept his word and was there when I had awakened to immortality. I could feel the pull towards one another getting stronger. We left minutes later and rejoined the others in the throne room. Marcus told me that Heidi would be coming soon with her 'tour' group. Aro looked up as we entered the room and was surprised to see the crimson eyes I possessed.

"Marcus, brother. I must say that I thought she had changed her mind and decided to wait. I didn't even hear a sound uttered from her room." He said in confusion.

"She didn't make a sound brother. I have never seen anyone turn without once crying out in pain, but she did exactly that." Marcus said while still holding me to his side. He reached out towards Aro and my instinct to protect him took over, activating my shield. I shielded Marcus and Aro was perplexed when he took hold of his hand and saw nothing.

"Curious." He stated. "I see nothing dear brother." He looked to me. "Isabella dear are you shielding his thoughts?" He asked and I nodded shyly but removed the shield from him and nodded for Marcus to try again. Marcus repeated the previous action and Aro's eyes widened as he could now see all that was hidden before.

"This is very interesting. Isabella, do you still possess you human memories?" He asked and I thought for a minute, seeing them all clearly as I did when I was human. I nodded. "Could you push your shield away and allow me a glimpse of your human life?" He asked. Carlisle had once told me that our human memories were often diluted after the change and few of our kind remembered our lives before. I was fortunate I guess, or unfortunate depending on the perspective to maintain those memories.

"I shall try of course." I responded and concentrated on my shield, sending it away from my mind and took Aro's hand and I heard a gasp of shock as the memories played for him. He returned my hand to me as the last memory played and I almost laughed at the shocked expression he was wearing.

"You had been through so much in your mortal life my dear. I promise you that you will have no such pain here." Aro said with conviction. I could only nod in response. "I must ask my dear, how are you controlling your thirst so far?" He asked and until that moment I hadn't even thought about it. I was still a little upset at the idea of taking human life, but seeing it as a natural action for our kind.

"In all honesty I haven't felt the need unless of course someone mentions it." And it was true. I now felt the fiery burn in the back of my throat. I tilted my head to the side as I heard Heidi coming through the hallway followed by numerous beating hearts. I felt venom pool in my mouth a little at the thought and waited rather patiently considering my newborn status. Heidi entered the room with about thirty humans following her. Once they were all inside the room and locked in, I could no longer wait. I looked to Aro and Markus and they gave me a nod. I ran to the closest human and drained them in mere seconds. After my thirst was sated, I looked toward the dais where the three Volturi kings were standing with broad smiles, pleased at what they had witnessed.


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