Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters, else I wouldn't be writing fanfiction of it.
Story: After Edward leaves Bella, she's lost. Hanging only by a thread of hope in the form of the Volturi, she heads to Volterra, Italy with her death (and maybe her rebirth) in mind. There, three brothers will start to compete for her heart.
Set AU of New Moon.
Spoilers: For Twilight and some of New Moon, for sure.
Warnings: Smut in the future, language, violence, slightly suicidal thoughts, etc…
Pairings: Aro/Bella, Marcus/Bella, Caius/Bella, Demetri/Athenodora, Felix/Heidi, Charlie/Sulpicia
A/n: I want to thank you all for being so patient. This chapter was really hard to finish. I couldn't seem to be able to figure out how to start a scene or keep writing one, and I definitely started struggling finishing the damn thing. It's finished, but unfortunately a little shorter than the other two. And another reason this story is so hard to write is it's really emotion heavy and all. I have to get myself into that emotional state and into Bella's shoes, and it's really, really exhausting. Sorry I couldn't reply to everyone, but just wow! I love all of your feedback so much!
But...OMG! All the reviews! It's so overwhelming! I WANT TO REPLY TO YOU ALL! I LOVE YOOOOU! Utter fail on my part...
Stairway to Heaven
Chapter Three: Blinded By Faith, I Couldn't Hear
"Rosalie, I'm so glad you don't really hate me," Bella whispered.
The beautiful vampire only offered a small smile.
But it meant a lot to Bella, who eagerly took her marble hand and led the way through the crowd to a café.
Heidi cringed, but shot a look over her shoulder to have Zafrina follow, who reluctantly did so. She'd lost to Jane to be Alice, both wanting to be the pixie vampire simply because she was the closest to Bella after Edward, but Rosalie would have to do. And, to be honest, she was closer to being Rosalie than Alice anyway. Except she wasn't that bitchy.
"Bella, what do you want for a snack?"
Bella scrunched up her eyebrows, "I'm not sure. I can't believe I'm in Italy though! What do you suggest, Rosalie?"
"Get the ginger orange biscotti. You might like it," Heidi suggested.
"Sounds good," Bella hummed appreciatively. "Too bad Alice isn't here. Where is she again?"
Heidi hid her wince. Jane and most of the other guard didn't venture much outside or interacted with humans. They never really had the need. Heidi, as the lure, had no qualms about going into town. As a result, she (as Rosalie) was the only one accompanying Bella around town.
"Alice has to stay inside the castle with Jasper. He…isn't feeling good."
"Oh, that's too bad. I hope he feels better. I wonder what's wrong…"
There was a dispute on who would be Jasper. Alec wanted to be him as he and Jane spent the most time together, but the real Jasper and Alice were married and that required the twins to be able to do less than unsavory things. So it was settled that Demetri would play him as Athenodora took over being Alice when the two needed to kiss and be affectionate with each other, otherwise Alec and Jane played the couple.
Heidi and Bella finished up at the café and then they started making their way back to the castle. Bella looked like the happy and content girl in the photo Heidi had glimpsed. She was happy about that, but it sucked that it had to be because of the Cullens, charade that it was.
They barely entered the castle, the elevator pinging and then opening to let them enter the underground, when Jane ambushed Bella, giving her a hug.
"Bella, there's this cute dress I want to put on you! Come on!" the girl vampire started dragging her away, and Bella threw an exasperated but fond look over her shoulder to Heidi.
And the dresses were, of course, provided by Athenodora and continuing the Lolita trend.
Heidi shook her head and met up with Felix on her way to see Charlie, who paced restlessly in his room.
"Heidi, Felix, what the hell's going on?" the man snapped. "I just saw crazy things two days ago –was it two days ago?! –and I'm really not sure what I saw. And where's Bella?! I want to see my daughter!"
Heidi nodded to Felix, who slipped back and went to find Jane and Bella, while she stayed and sat down on a chair.
"Charlie, I know you haven't gotten answers yet, but we're not quite sure what to do with you. You remember me running here, don't you? Fast, too fast for a human? And you remember hearing Edward's voice coming from Zafrina? And what Marcus had said about biting her and turning her?"
"Yes," Charlie was trembling in slight fear.
"You're like your daughter, Charlie. You know this. You know what we are."
Charlie shivered, "V-vampires?"
"Correct. And you know how we usually feed."
"You drink blood. From people."
"That's right, Charlie," Heidi soothed. "I and everyone else in this castle drinks human blood. The Cullens and several other covens drink from animals."
"The C-Cullens?"
Heidi nodded, "They're like me as well." So she began telling him about her kind and he was silent, listening with a stoic face. "Now Charlie, my coven is like vampire royalty. We make rules for vampires to live by and we enforce those rules. One of those rules, and the main one, is that no human can know about us. If one were to find out about our kind, their choice is to become one of us or to be turned. Most often than not, we choose for them…and it's usually death."
Charlie frowned, "What does this mean for Bella? She knew about the Cullens."
"Now that is a long story," Heidi murmured before she started recanting everything that happened from the moment Bella stepped into the city. "I know it's hard to accept, but that's the truth. And we don't want to kill her, regardless of the rules. It would…somehow be wrong. Pointless. I can't find the word to say how we're feeling now, but we simply cannot make that decision. Not now and probably not ever. Truthfully, a large part of it has to do with our selfishness. Something about her drew her to us and we wanted to keep her forever, even as she was. And now we're here, for her, and hoping to see her become the girl in the photo you showed me."
Charlie nodded, sighing.
Felix came in, Bella in tow and completely confused. That is, until the confusion was wiped away by joy.
"Dad!" she flung herself at him, Charlie clutching onto her in relief. "Rosalie, Emmett, this is great! Thanks for this surprise!"
Felix and Heidi forced a smile onto their faces, Charlie glancing unsurely at them. Heidi gave him a discreet nod, making note to explain later.
"We'll leave you here with your dad, Bella. We'll see you in a little bit."
The couple trailed away, leaving father and daughter to talk.
Heidi immediately grew a sullen look on her face.
"I have to pretend to be that bitch," she spat out. "Me. I am so much more prettier. Tell me I'm more gorgeous than her, Felix."
A fond smile crossed his face, "Of course you are."
"Say it."
He laughed boisterously, grabbing her around the waist and tugging her closer, nuzzling her neck.
"You are more gorgeous than Rosalie Cullen, Heidi."
The brunette giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, his tall height causing her to lift up from the ground as he straightened up and she kept her hold on him. She leaned her head up, kissing him several times. Felix swung her completely into his arms, then carrying her off bridal style.
Jane silently appeared, rolling her eyes. She silently walked through the halls, to where Felix had dragged Bella off to, and peeked into the room, watching Bella interact with her dad.
"Zafrina, are you there?" she whispered.
The dark-skinned vampire appeared next to her, Jane unfazed by her sudden appearance. She nodded at the Amazon vampire and took an unneeded breath, stepping through the door.
"Bella, do you and your father want to eat out for lunch?"
"Sure, Alice. I'm up for it. Dad?"
Charlie glanced unsurely at the short vampire before nodding.
Jane gave a stiff smile before leading them out, refraining from inhaling and smelling their scent. She led them outside, putting on her hood as they traveled to an expensive restaurant and Jane actually traveling outside of the castle for once. She quickly fed them before offering to take them shopping for casual clothes. Bella looked at her in surprise.
"That's unlike you, Alice. Unless you're going to shove us into designer casual clothes," Bella teased.
Jane inwardly flinched at her mistake, "Of course. Don't be so surprised, Bella."
Bella laughed heartily and Jane beamed, happy to see Bella happy. Charlie was looking at her curiously, but he didn't say anything aloud, playing along.
Once in the stores, Charlie wandered off to the male section as Jane lightly tugged Bella towards the women's.
"So, I was thinking of those cute jeans over there and –"
"Y-you're not Alice, aren't you?" Bella's voice was sad, but resigned.
It was only too late that she noticed Zafrina wasn't there, and Bella had stopped. Jane slowly turned around, looking up timidly –her, timid –and waited for the dark-haired girl to say anything else, unwilling to speak up herself.
Bella only tugged at her hand.
"My name is Bella, sweetheart. What's your name?"
Jane studied the human girl curiously, but answered softly.
"My name is Jane."
Bella swallowed harshly, "I see. Well, Jane. You're not Alice. You don't have to be Alice. I…understand now that everything has been an illusion and I've…been stupidly letting myself be deluded because I can't let go. It's not right and I don't want you to pretend to be someone you're not either. I would like to know you, sweetheart. So let's go shopping together?"
Bella wasn't completely fixed, but she broke free of her illusions. Hers, not just Zafrina's. The illusions were gone and it was too late to go back to them, and Bella realized she only had the future to look forward to. And while it might take awhile for things to be all right, at least there was one saving grace Jane noted. Bella was willing to heal without the Cullens.
"Charlie really is here, right?"
Jane lightly laughed, "Yes, your father is here. He looked for a long time for you…You are sure then, that you want to try to live…and without the illusions?"
Bella gave her a sorrowed smile, "No, I'm not sure. But I realize it's better than trying to live a lie. And I don't want to go back to being that lifeless girl. Charlie is here, and despite everything he's still here. And for me. And…I've only just met you, but it hurts to know you would be someone else. I don't want you to pretend to be anyone but yourself, and it's wrong of me to want you to be an illusion. I want to live for Charlie's sake, and I want to live to get to know you and the others."
Bella was clearly still broken, but she was forcing herself to move on.
Jane touched her fingers against Bella's cheek gently.
"Don't force it. Move on at your pace."
Bella blinked back tears, "I just don't want to go back to being that lifeless girl again. I'm scared that I will."
"Mia Bella, you have a new family now. You'll see. And you will meet us properly soon," Jane swore, feeling much better having Bella talking to her as herself and not Alice.
And the shopping turned out not to be so bad after all.
After having waved a surprised Zafrina away, Jane enjoyed being by Bella's side as herself. Then they were back in the castle, dropping a tired Charlie off so he could take a nap, and then bringing Bella to her own room.
The brunette stared around the white room with tired eyes, seeing the extravagant chandelier, the white bed underneath it, and the large space around. And the red and white rose petals strewn around that had Bella and Jane's lips tugging into smiles.
"…Alec, Felix, and Demetri had fun with the roses. They took turns shredding them and then pelting each other with them. When they got tired of that, they just started throwing it around like confetti," Jane confessed, drawing loud laughter from Bella.
"I remember this room…and I remember just sitting or laying on that bed. It's all a daze, but there are glimpses of things I remember, some images stronger than others," Bella murmured. "I remembered the first time seeing you and your brother, a beautiful woman usually coming in here with a large man, and C-Caius…and Marcus, though I remember all three brothers from before I, uh, broke," Bella laughed awkwardly.
"Do you want a new room?" Jane questioned.
Bella shook her head, "No…these memories, even while I was broken, I can deal with. It'll help remind me not to fall back into the black void again…"
"I want you to meet Alec," Jane gently grabbed her hand.
And then it was the start of Bella being reintroduced to the Volturi, this time without being a meal ticket. When she met the ones who were already aware of her, their eyes lit up and they were pleased to be able to meet and talk to Bella as themselves.
Heidi gave Bella a huge hug, which her boyfriend ("That no one's supposed know is her boyfriend," Jane whispered into Bella's ear when they were away) echoed. Demetri and Athenodora gave her smaller hugs, with Athenodora casually apologizing about Bella having to walk in on the two of them the last time. Bella had blushed bright red at the reminder, and Athenodora smiled teasingly while Demetri kept a straight face. Bella was sure she wasn't imagining the mischievous glint in his eyes though. Alec joined them on the tour, chattering non-stop about all sorts of stuff, and surprising his sister with how talkative and social he was being.
And then it came to see the leaders, who were surprised to see them. Aro straightened up, smoothing down the front of his dress shirt consciously. Caius ignored them and remained sitting casually on his seat sideways, resting his chin on his hand in boredom and his legs hanging off the armrest. Marcus' usual impassive attitude lifted, and the man seemed to come alive at the sight of Bella, a gentle smile crossing his face.
"So, who's pretending to be Carlisle now?" Caius rolled his eyes.
Aro glared at him, hissing, "It won't work when you're spouting off about pretend. And I'm Carlisle."
"No more pretend," Bella stated softly, and the twins had mysteriously disappeared, to leave her with the Kings.
The brothers' immediately looked at her, a spark of interest finally lighting Caius at the same time as his brothers turned worried.
Bella licked her lips, "I want…I want to accept your offer, but I'm not sure. I want to be part of your family, but I don't want to be left behind like with the Cullens. I want to be here, but I'm not sure if all of you are sincere in keeping me here. I want so much, but I feel like a little child who needs her hand to be held and for her to be led around –because I feel so insecure."
Her voice cracked, but she was human and it still hurts and there was still this gaping hole in her chest –
"Edward."
She gasped and her hands immediately shot up to her chest, clutching at it.
"Edward, Edward, Edward," Caius repeated, almost cruelly.
His brothers stared at him appalled and upset, but he stood up and walked closer to the human girl, steadily repeating the name like it was a curse word. He stopped in front of the shivering girl, who was almost doubled over in pain. He stood stock still, completely straight, even as one hand reached out and took one of hers. Instead of grasping it, he held it up by touching his fingertips to hers, holding it moderately high between them.
"Who do you see, a white-haired man who is uncaringly chanting a name, or a boy with gold eyes that promises sweet lies?" he asked softly.
Bella slowly looked up, her face still pained, staring teary at his face.
"A-a white-haired man…"
Caius nodded, "He's not here, girl. It's just a name."
Bella took a deep breath, "J-just a n-name."
"Good. Now you've been to the library before, tell me what you like to read," Caius continued nonchalantly, taking her arm and looping it through his as he led them more inside the library.
Aro and Marcus looked at each other before standing up and following after the two.
Days passed as Bella got to know the Volturi, who admittedly had strange habits and were at times cruel or at least brutal, if not merciless. But never with her. And they never let her in the throne room during feeding time. They also never let her out of the castle without an escort, and if it weren't for her knowing that they just wanted to make sure she could come back and that she was safe and fine, she would've thought she was a prisoner. But she knew better by then.
Jane hung around her a lot, and Alec almost as much when he wasn't busy with missions. Charlie was let out more and the two of them hung around each other, especially during feeding time –when the both of them weren't allowed to be in the room for their own health.
Caius, Athenodora, and Demetri were in an odd relationship. Caius was married to Athenodora, but didn't care about or love her. Athenodora and Demetri were lovers, and Caius permitted it so long as it was hidden and out of sight. The two didn't bother with divorce or any actual work to separate, as it was too much work and too many people to involve.
It was all of this and more that had Bella feeling more and more at home with the Volturi.
And strangest and best yet, she spent the most time with the Kings, who never failed to either keep her surprised or entertained in some way. But it was the one wife who eluded her, though she heard about what Sulpicia had done for her, that she wanted to talk to so she could thank properly.
But the fair-haired vampire was never in sight.
And then one day, she entered a room in one of the quieter halls that Jane had said faced the garden, wanting to be alone for a little while. Instead, there was the vampire she had been looking for, calmly sitting on a chair by the window, looking out and observing the garden in the bare room. Bella hesitated, and then decided she wouldn't intrude and started to back out.
"Come here, child."
Bella did so, surprised that the vampire had wanted her there. She crept closer, uncertain as to what Sulpicia could want from her. It was even more of a surprise when the vampire gently took her wrists and guided her to the floor, allowing her to rest her head on her lap.
"You don't have to be strong with me, Bella. Cry, if you must. Here with me, you can stop pretending it still doesn't hurt."
Bella was shocked that the woman had known that, especially since she hadn't seen Sulpicia near her at all since Zafrina was sent home and everyone had met her as themselves. And she was so shocked, she had already started crying silently, feeling Sulpicia soothingly brush her hand through Bella's hair.
She had the thought that the Esme she had thought she'd seen was probably Sulpicia.
Later, having drifted around the halls in a daze, she was caught off guard when she saw Demetri training. She watched in interest at his movements, wondering what he was practicing.
"Is that a type of martial arts?"
Demetri answered without stopping, making her roll her eyes at vampires in general. Yeah, yeah, he already knew she was there and was already splitting his attention for her…
"I'm performing the katas for tae kwon do."
"Oh, I see," Bella hmmed, still watching. "Do all the guards know it, or something like it?"
"Somewhat. Most of us learn something to pass the time. Living forever kind of creates the need to fill in our lives with something to do, before we go mad with boredom," he winked at her and she smiled in amusement.
"What else do you do?" Bella asked in curiosity.
"Well…and if you tell anyone this, I'll come after you," he mock-threatened, "but I like to garden. I have my own personal garden on one of the many hidden rooftops on the castle, away from the easy view of the humans in the town. I'll take you there, if you'd like."
"I would love that," she beamed. "Thank you, Demetri."
"Would you like to learn?" he asked.
"Learn?" she blinked.
"Something. Martial arts, gardening, whatever you like. Surely the Volturi will provide you with anything you wish."
"Um…that's nice of you all…but would you just teach me martial arts and gardening for now? I'm not sure of anything I'd like to learn and think I'll just…go with what comes in life, I suppose," she nodded her head surely, content with her thinking.
Demetri laughed, oddly unlike himself.
"You're like an adorable little sister, you know that?"
She pouted, "I'm not little."
"Compared to me and most of everyone here? Yeah, you are."
"Stop teasing me!"
"The only ones not taller than you are Jane and Alec, and physically they're 13 or something like that. Poor you."
Her pout intensified, which only made him laugh harder. She couldn't help but crack a smile as well, and start laughing along with him.
It really wasn't so bad there…
Athenodora watched curiously, wheels turning in her head and plans already being made, broken down, and then revised. A brilliant scheme was already in the works, and she wore a triumphant and happy smile as she watched the scene, ready to tackle her lover and drag him into her plan –willing or not.
This…this was the key. And it was going to be Athenodora who turned it and brought heaven down to its knees and on earth, resurrecting a stairway that would make hell into paradise, a divine comedy leap from Greek tragedy to a fairytale, and a fall from grace become a rise in conquest.
What better way to achieve everlasting rapture, than to rise from Hell and seek Eden?
"Athenodora, I'm not quite sure this is a good idea," Demetri winced.
The female vampire scoffed, "I know what I'm doing, Demetri. And I'm not going to change my mind."
"You know I'm willing to do anything for you," Demetri looked haunted. "But I don't think this is going to work. Really, what good will it do?"
Frustrated that he couldn't see her vision, Athenodora stood up abruptly and stalked towards him.
"She's so used to that scrawny boy of a vampire that she needs to broaden her views, expand her choices, add to her experience."
Demetri blanched, "I get that. But you're asking me to help with that. Athenodora, love, Bella is like a little sister to me. It's going to be more than odd having to flirt and be intimate in any way with her."
"You're the only person I can trust with this," Athenodora sighed in aggravation. "I want to bring Bella to life, put passion in her. Show her how to really live life. And I want to properly introduce Bella to womanhood. Lord knows how that boy treated her, or taught her about anything on pleasure."
"Athenodora, you want me to teach her about sex," he pointed out with a wince.
"Actually, we'll get to teaching later. Romance her a little, tease her a bit. Make her feel wanted and desirable, like a woman should. Slowly ease into an intimacy that will completely and utterly distract her from any mere mention of that idiot vampire."
"A distraction, you say?" Demetri's eyes lit up, and she saw he was finally caving in.
Edward Cullen had become a sore spot for all of them.
"Yes. A distraction," her smugness was easily heard.
He took her wrist and planted soft lingering kisses on it.
"Oh, to replace memories of Edward Cullen would be such a pleasure," he purred.
"Better yet, a complete erasure of his presence," she breathed out, lips curling upwards satisfactorily. "It won't be that hard, won't it, love? Bella is beautiful, and so kind and sweet. Taint her in a way Edward was never willing to."
"It would be my delight."
She laughed lightly, "I knew it would. She should be in her room by now, Demetri. You'll know exactly how to approach her."
He stood up smoothly and laid a final kiss on her lips.
"Heaven is just a reach away," she sighed. "Show her paradise, my love."
"As you wish it, and as she wills it," he murmured, bowing reverently before leaving.
So he walked to her room, seeing her calmly sitting on her bed and rereading Romeo and Juliet, a title he had come to despise after knowing her association of it to Edward, but plastered a smile on his face and began quoting.
"'One fairer than my love? The all seeing sun ne'er saw her match since first the world begun,'" he murmured, striding into the room.
She was caught off guard, but recovered quickly, sending him a tired smile.
"For never was there a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo," she answered back sadly.
He inwardly scoffed, "Not his most best work, but probably his most well-known. I like A Midsummer's Night. 'But earthlier happy is the rose distilled than that which withering on the virgin thorn grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.'"
He saw the interested look on her face, despite the blush at the words, and smiled softly, watching as she sat up straighter and had all her concentration on him.
"I know that work, but I've never read it or know much about it," she admitted. "And I looked for more Shakespeare in the library, but couldn't find that one."
Demetri's smile turned sly.
"Then perhaps I shall have to start from the beginning and tell it to you myself."
Her eyes brightened, "Oh, you have it memorized?"
"But of course. Vampires have perfect memory, remember? I like to memorize my favorite books for me to recite whenever I wish."
"Like Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury?" she asked excitedly.
"Exactly," he approved. He sat himself on the bed incredibly close to her, and though she stiffened up in confusion, he could see her brush it off. So he took it to another step, and casually put his arm around her and leaned them both back against the headboard. He began narrating the play, and though she was stiff at first she began to relax at the sound of his voice and as she listened to him intently. Soon enough, she was leaning against him comfortably, all of her attention on him as he told her the play and switching voices as fit for each character.
Started 1/23/10 –Completed 4/7/10
A/n: So, I have a lot of ideas, especially after having gone to the Twilight Convention in SF…I just need to find a way to write them out. So please be patient!