FORGOTTEN

Chapter Three


AUTHOR'S NOTE / RECAP:
All-in-all this story will be fairly short, around 10 or 11 chapters total. I've been thinking of doing different POVs for it, but I'm still unsure about that. We left off with Bella letting us know what had happened. It had been seven years since she awoke from the darkness and has now been accepted into the Volturi, though she doesn't like it.

WARNING:
This isn't your average Twilight tale, although, it won't necessarily be considered dark. You should be forewarned that there will be cussing and possible smut. It isn't rated T for nothing.

DISCLAIMER:
I regret to say that I do not own Twilight or the characters from the Twilight saga. Those belong to Stephanie Myer and it is her sandbox that I'm playing in. I mean no disrespect to her and no copyright infringement is intended.


CHAPTER THREE - Appetite

BELLA POV

Even without windows, I could sense that morning had come. The birds were singing happy notes that I could hear through layers of concrete and stone. I had survived another night without my insides falling out. My arms squeezed my mid-section tighter, as if I were subconsciously checking to make sure everything was in place.

Yes, all accounted for.

Even though I hated my breakdowns and despised how week I felt for allowing them to continue, I couldn't help but be saddened as the morning rose. During the night, my vacant eyes would stare into nothingness, but I would see glimpses; flashes of bronze curls and golden eyes that brought a sense of love and longing with them, but they were always chased away with the birds' songs.

It was because of them that I wished I could sleep. If nothing else than to chase the images of my mind into a subconscious state and escape harsh reality for a little while.

I stood on sure, strong legs, but felt as if I should be shaking. My body had never betrayed me before, but I had the faintest memory of clumsy legs giving out from under me when I needed them the most. I changed quietly even though my clothes weren't soiled and we, as vampires, could actually wear them until they fell apart, no sweating and all of that. It just felt good to make a small change, perhaps another human aspect I unknowingly wanted to hold onto.

After everything was put on properly, I made sure my clothes wouldn't be too revealing and give certain parties the wrong message. I swung the thick door open and nearly showed my surprise. On the other side, Felix's massive frame blocked my exit. How had I not heard him… or smelled him? That was disconcerting because it meant I had let my guard slip and that was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.

His excessive height toward over my smaller build and made him seem that much more dangerous, which was ridiculous because he was beyond just being dangerous. Felix had been part of the guard for thousands of years and relied on his superior strength to do so. He wasn't talented with any extra gifts, but he was revered by Aro and relied upon for physical protection when needed.

I instinctively took a step back, putting as much distance between us as I could without it looking like he repelled me.

"Bella. Beautiful, beautiful Bella." He had taken to calling me Bella when I had been officially introduced to the rest of the guard, claiming that it represented my beauty. I actually preferred the shortened version of my name, but when it fell from his lips, it just caused my muscles to clench. My name sounded dirty rolling off his tongue and I always thought he meant it that way.

My posture stiffened automatically and I gave a curt nod. It was my usual greeting to the others who were on the same social tier as me. "Felix, if you'll excuse me." I went to step around him, but his arm darted out, blocking my path.

I hissed lightly and backed away, but shouldn't have been surprised.

"Now, now, beautiful. What's the hurry?" It was a rhetorical question, of course. We both knew he didn't care where I was going; only that he wasn't invited. Before I could answer, though, he continued. "Our master has sent me to fetch his favorite toy."

My lip curled over my teeth, just barely, but it was enough for him to catch. The label he used for me always made my stomach roll and if I were human I would have probably projectile vomited on his shoes.

"I'm sure Aro will understand that I wish to go for a run." I desperately wanted out of my room, but he held fast in his stance. It would have been easy to knock out a wall, but highly frowned upon. Besides, if I did that, I would no longer have the sanctuary that my room offered.

"Bella, you and I both know he doesn't ask twice. I suggest you get your pretty little ass up to the throne room. He actually wants you to attend this morning's meal." He licked his lips at the thought of it.

I, however, nearly dry-heaved. Meal. Just the thought of watching the massive herd of humans that Heidi would bring in, like lambs to the slaughter, made my physically ill. "I'm…" I choked back my gag. "I'm not thirsty." And I wasn't.

Granted, I hadn't had anything to drink in almost four weeks, but it wasn't even close to the longest length of time I'd gone between meals. Unlike my fellow guard members, I despised our food source. It wasn't the blood that bothered me, but, rather, where that blood came from. I never understood why others of my kind were so heartless, so quick to end a human life. It pushed me to go as far between feedings as they would allow. Actually, I'm sure I would end up starving myself if Aro didn't intervene when he noticed my eyes or the change in the behavior.

His large hand reached out and touched the bags that I knew he saw under my blackened eyes, darkening my face and causing it to look sunken in. I assumed he meant for his touch to be gentle, but it just caused imaginary goose bumps to break across my porcelain skin. "That's not what it looks like to me." He trailed his finger down my cheek until he reached my chin, then he dropped his hand back to his side. "You're eyes are black, beautiful, and even though they're sexy, I still follow Master's orders above all else." His tone slowly changed over the course of his sentence. "Let's go." The order was barked out in a commanding tone.

I kept myself from jumping and gave another curt nod. It was useless to argue with him because he was right. Aro never asked twice and, to keep himself from getting into trouble, he would throw me over his shoulder and toss me into the room at Aro's feet. In my weekend state, I wouldn't stand a chance. I wouldn't even be able to run away.

Some vampire I was.

I internally scoffed at myself and followed Felix down the winding hallways. We took our time and I wasn't sure if I should be grateful for prolonging what I had to do or mad that it caused me to think that much more about it. We eventually reached the throne room and my eyes quickly went to the edges where small drains lined the room. Easy clean up, Aro had said.

"Felix, Isabella!" Our presence was noticed and Aro greeted us easily, not at all disturbed by what was going to happen. Nobody was, except for me. A few others were lazily placed about the area, but there weren't many in attendance. I could only assume Heidi hadn't found a large enough group.

Before we could answer, the double doors to the entrance swung open in a lavish gesture. "Ladies and gentleman, this is the Display Chamber. The royals would take their seat on the thrones and watch as the masters of their dungeons would take their prisoners to the height of their torture." Heidi's bell-like voice rose an octave, causing the group of hearts that followed her to accelerate. That was her plan, I was sure. The more frightened their victims were, the sweeter the blood tasted.

The story she cooked up and told was always different and always a lie because Aro and the others had lived here for thousands of years. This was their throne room and it served a second purpose; feeding chamber.

The small collection of humans paused with their faux tour guide in the center of the room. It was as if their eyes had just noticed the rest of us randomly standing around. Who could blame them? We were all so still, I'm sure we could have passed for statues, blended in with the gruesome décor and extravagant stonework.

"Hello, hello! Welcome to Volterra!" Aro clapped his hands once, very loudly, and stood from his throne. The hearts hammered louder, sounding like a humming bird's wings. "My name is Aro and I would like to thank you all for your sacrifice."

His words were false. The master of the Volturi didn't care for human life one way or the other. He didn't even care if vampires lived. Only that he was in control, royalty.

The words finally registered with the tour group and a young girl, no older than twenty, screamed at the top of her lungs. Her horror was contagious and, soon, the entire group was frantic. That was when they struck. My fellow guards, even Aro, pounced towards them in quick, swift movements. Everyone grabbed their prey and pulled them off to protect their kill. If you watched it with fresh eyes, and perhaps a different meal, it would look graceful, beautiful. However, I couldn't see pass the gruesome murders that were being committed.

The thick smell of copper and iron hit my nose and I could taste it in the air. My throat was instantly on fire, scorched to nothing but ashes. It had been so long and my resolve was week. The smell was too much, but I tried my best to root myself in place.

Warm fingers wrapped themselves around my upper arm and tugged against it. My stone body didn't budge, but the person wasn't deterred. I stopped my breath to keep anything more from tempting me, and turned to come face to face with the same young girl who started the mass panic in her small group.

Her eyes were streaked with running mascara and her nose leaked from where she had been sobbing and screaming at the same time. "Help! Help me, please!" The words came out in a scratchy whine and I could tell my eyes softened at her. I truly wished to help her, but I knew there was nothing I could do. Cruel fate had taken her down the path to this hellish room and she would never leave here alive.

I pulled her fingers away from my arm, shook my head minutely, and pushed her back. If I opened my mouth to speak, I was sure the delicious smell of the others' prey would pierce my already thin resolve.

I was so thirsty.

She threw herself at me again and scratched, pointlessly, at my arm, trying to gain my attention. I wouldn't have noticed the contact had I not already been paying attention to her.

I didn't want to be the one to take her life.

Instinctively, I knew when Felix approached. The girl's eyes grew wide with the massive body behind me, but he circled around and nudged her in my direction. It strangely reminded me of a cat pushing his catch towards his starving friend. But we weren't cats and we weren't friends.

But I was starving.

I bit into my lip as the girl clutched to me, seeing me as less of a threat than the man behind her. She was right to think so, but, truth be told, she wasn't safe anywhere because I could feel my resolve weakening. Felix knew it, too. Perhaps he could see it in my eyes.

"Come on, beautiful. Eat. I know you're thirsty."

Just the word made the fire in my throat soar to new heights. Damn-it! I was famished beyond anything I had ever felt. The last time I had gone this long, longer, actually, I hadn't been tempted. I had holed myself away and pretended I had died. It helped, but Aro had sent Felix to retrieve me, like he normally did.

I growled under my breath, using up the last of my oxygen. My senses were deprived and I felt extremely vulnerable. The girl continued to claw at me, trying to burrow her body into my chest, to hide from the monsters that were steps away from her. Her nails were bloody with the resistance my skin gave her and just the sight of it caused me to lose the last thread I was holding onto.

Finally, I opened my arms to her and she took it as an invitation, a welcomed sanctuary to the blood bath surrounding her. I sighed and steadied myself, doing my best to keep my eyes off of Felix's gloating smirk. "Shh…" I hushed her, trying to calm down her frantic sobs. "I know."

I rubbed her back as she calmed down and moved her hair away from her face. She truly was a beautiful girl, the roundness left over from childhood still subtly there. Her sobs had all but vanished and her shaking body had stilled. I kissed her forehead gingerly and whispered, just loud enough for her human hearing to pick up, "I'm so, so sorry." Before her mind could think about the meaning for my words, I jerked her head quickly to the right. The bone snapped easily and her body instantly sagged in my arms.

Without letting my mind think about my actions, I opened my mouth and bit into the silky flesh of her neck. My teeth cut through skin and tissue like butter until I hit the warm liquid gold I sought. Her blood slid down my throat, beating back the fire and soothing the burn. All too quickly, my source had run dry. I gently laid her body to the concrete floor and stepped back, needlessly wiping my mouth. I was spotless, aside from the few mascara stains from her tear-streaked face that stained my shirt.

Felix and I hadn't moved from our spots as the others came through to clean the room. I had been frozen in place, staring at the girl at my feet while Felix watched me. He always did that. Whenever I finished a kill, he would keep his eyes on me, watching for something in my demeanor to change. Maybe he thought I would finally snap? Who knew?

Eventually, the room was once again spotless and nearly empty of all vampires as well. The only ones who were left were Felix and me, along with Aro, Jane, her twin brother, Alec, and Demetri. The others were normally who Aro sent when he had to deal with an issue outside of the city. They were a few of his most trusted and loyal guards.

I assumed they were preparing to talk about another mission. With a quick shift of my weight, I pivoted on my heel, ready to leave. My mind was filled with the horror on my victim's face and I truly needed an escape from my own body. I imagined running through the surrounding area, carefree and open, letting the wind whip my hair around my face. I truly was one of my favorite things, only surpassed by spending time in a small clearing I found a few miles away. There was a craving in my chest to be alone, in my clearing, surrounded by tall grass and wildflowers. The flashes of gold eyes were the most intense there and I swore I could even smell a strong, yet vaguely familiar scent of honey when I was alone with my thoughts.

I had to be crazy.

Before I could take my leave, Aro grabbed my attention. "Isabella, would you join us?" Once again, his question wasn't truly a question, so I turned to face the others. Jane seemed annoyed at her master's request while Felix seemed ecstatic. The other two were as indifferent as their facial expressions allowed.

Without waiting for me to agree, he continued, but spoke to the small group. "Young ones, we are having a problem with a rogue vampire and his mate. They're feeding habits have gotten out of control and they risk exposure for us all. I need you to go and explain our laws. If they are innocent, make sure they understand leave them in peace with a warning. If they are not, end them and be done with it."

I shivered at his words, but no one seemed to noticed. They were all captured, caught up in the excitement that this new adventure would offer. "I'm sending Isabella with you for protection. We believe the male has an extra gift and, until we are sure what it entails, we need to be cautious. If they admit their mistake and plead guilty, offer them positions within our ranks and bring them home for us all to meet."

He had finished his commands and I watched as the others fell in line with a quick nod. "Yes, Master." Their voices came out in a hum and sounded as if they were a solid unit. I nodded as well, following their lead, and answered with my own "Yes, Aro."

As the others prepared their cloaks, ready to leave at a moment's notice, Aro's fingers brushed my upper arm. "My dear, Isabella, I am sending you because you are needed for the safety of the others. I trust you will return to me and in one piece?"

I heard the subtle threat behind his words. This was not meant as a sight-seeing mission. I was to do as I was told and return when I was told. There would be no questioning the others and the entire matter would be handled swiftly. Or else. The 'or else' part was always the worst, because I had been on the other side of it before and had vivid memories of missing fingers and toes to help.

With a quick nod, I answered with my normal response. "Of course, Aro." I sent him a small smile and pulled another of the dark gray cloaks from the wall. The fabric swung around my body and sat heavily against my small shoulders, shrouding me in shadows.

Tonight, I would leave Volterra for the first time in seven years.


AUTHOR'S END NOTE:
Alright, another chapter down. I know it was more of just catching up on how Bella is handling things in Volterra and with the guard, but we did get to meet Felix. Their relationship is a strange one. He is crude with her and longs to be with her, but is also sweet at certain points, like how he worries that she hasn't fed. Yes, strange indeed. But, more importantly, Aro is sending his main guards on a mission to handle a possibly gifted vampire and his mate. How will Bella react and what will happen outside the castle's walls? Be sure to comment and review, let me know what you think. Enjoy!