A/N: You guys are the best reviewers in the world. It is so awesome to write and have such immediate and positive feedback. Thank you so much! And thanks to SM for the inspiration and ideas.
CHAPTER FOUR: VISITORS
Jane came for her around 11 p.m. Her small size and calm face made it easy to underestimate her abilities. Bella had never experienced them herself, but she had seen the effects on Jane's victims. It was horrific, and Bella had seen some pretty terrible things.
"Aro would like for you to come now. Carlisle and his family will be here soon." Jane smiled at Bella, but it looked more like a grimace. Bella wondered if Jane even remembered anything at all of her humanity. She had been so young when she was made, too young if you asked Bella. But according to Aro, his hand had been forced. It was save Jane and her brother Alec or lose them (and their powers, of course) forever - they would have been burned as witches if Aro hadn't stepped in.
She got up to follow Jane, leaving the relative peace of the library and the book she had been reading - wizards and muggles. The book was meant for children, but Bella still enjoyed the fantasy. The irony wasn't lost on her.
Gathering her cloak closely around her and pulling the hood up over her head, she again found herself in the narrow hallways leading to Aro's private chambers. Jane said nothing as she left Bella at the door and disappeared around a dark corner. Bella knew that no matter where she was going now, she would be around later when the Cullens arrived. Aro didn't take chances. He kept his weapons close even when friends were calling.
"Ah, Bella, are you ready for our guests tonight? I have a feeling you are really going to enjoy meeting them. I know how you love learning about others of our kind." Aro appeared in the doorway before her, reaching to take her arm. She accepted, much more calm now after her shower. A smile touched her lips as she looked up at him.
"Oh, yes Father," she said, again using her affectionate term for him, reminding him she hadn't forgotten their little talk. "The afternoon and evening were slow to pass. I've been looking forward to it since you told me about the visit. You know I get my curiosity from you." The compliments flowed from her lips like she actually meant them. She and Aro kept pace with each other, moving soundlessly through the maze of hallways to the Ready Room where they met guests, or victims, whatever the case may be. Sometimes they were one and the same.
"Good, child. I am glad to hear it. I would like for you to protect us as only you can, of course. I know I told you they have some very talented ones among them, and I am not completely sure of the strength of their abilities." They came to the large, circular stone room and entered. They were the first ones there, Marcus and Caius had yet to arrive.
Bella nodded, not answering out loud. Aro took his place in one of the large, ornately carved chairs placed against the wall, in a circle to match the architecture of the room. Pools of moonlight filtered in through the windows in the high walls and Bella, moving into the light, noticed the floor had been freshly scrubbed. "Was there a tour today?" she asked.
"Last night," Aro answered, looking straight at her. "Heidi did well, organizing a nighttime tour for those interested in the haunted history of the castle." If his eyes weren't so cloudy, she would've sworn they were sparkling in their dead sockets.
"Well, now I know why I wasn't invited." She said. Just then, Marcus entered the room with barely a whisper. He took his place in the large chair a few feet to the left of Aro. He nodded at him, then at her, but didn't say a word.
"I know you prefer to hunt your prey, little one. It's an indulgence I don't mind you having as long as you remember –"
"The rules, I know," she interrupted, finishing for him, but not harshly. She would not let him upset her again today.
"Ah, reminding our wayward daughter of the rules once again, I see?" Caius was in his designated seat at Aro's right before she turned around. He had his usual entourage of female vampires with him. Aro and Caius kept their wives somewhere far away from Volterra most of the time, Bella knew it was keep them out of the way of their other pursuits. Only Didyme, Marcus's wife, had ever tried to interfere with their harmonious little coven. And she ended up in Aro's office, a pile of ashes in a trophy setting, Aro's own little sister. Bella stole a sideways glance at Marcus, stone still and silent. He didn't know because the very few who knew the truth didn't dare tell him. The consequences were unthinkable. Would Marcus kill the person who told? Or just go for Aro and bring down the entire Volturi? Apparently no one wanted to find out.
A rustle at the door caught her attention and allowed her to ignore Caius's comment. She moved quickly to take her place, standing, at Aro's left, between him and Marcus. Jane had entered and taken her place at Aro's right, stuffed behind the myriad that was Caius's little female fan club. Bella knew this infuriated Jane to no end and found herself laughing quietly. Jane threw her a dirty look.
They were now ready for their guests, and right on cue Carlisle was led into the room by Heidi, always the tour guide. Bella recognized him from the picture Aro kept in his office. One by one, his family followed him in, quietly taking everything in around them. Although the floor was clean and all evidence of last night's feast removed, Bella was sure they knew exactly what went on in here. She shielded Marcus, Caius, Aro and the rest of the group as requested while Heidi presented the Cullens.
Curiously, Bella looked them over as a group. Golden eyes? It was by far one of the strangest things she had ever seen in another vampire. But yet, somehow very beautiful. Like the golden light that sparkled in the air right at sundown in late afternoon. Did they, too, turn black when they were thirsty? She wondered, then realized the difference in eye color was probably from their diet. Ugh, animal blood, that's right.
Carlisle was the most striking, with his blond hair and perfectly formed features. Handsome, she thought. Very handsome. Next, his little mate, Esme, with a bright, pretty smile and long, dark hair, her topaz eyes filling with sentiment when her husband spoke. When Heidi stepped away from Carlisle, he proceeded to introduce the rest of his family with pride in his voice. He loves his family, she let the thought sink in for a moment. She had never heard of a coven that existed together out of love. The coincidence was disconcerting – she was just wishing for such a thing a few short hours ago, and here it was, right in front of her.
"You know my wife, and I am proud for you to meet the rest of my family: Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Alice and Edward." Carlisle's lilting voice broke her reverie. He called Rosalie his daughter, Jasper and Edward his sons, with Alice being Jasper's mate and Emmett Rosalie's.
Hmmmm. Only the last one's not mated, she looked at each of them while Aro rose and moved closer to Carlisle to exchange pleasantries. Caius joined them, but Marcus didn't move. Rosalie's beauty was breathtaking. With her long blonde locks and red pouty lips she was far prettier then any of the women Caius chose to acquaint himself with. Her mate, Emmett, was huge, with dark curly hair and a friendly smile. He seemed at ease even in this place of slaughter and trickery. Jasper was a little smaller, also blond, but not with bright colors found in Rosalie's hair. He also seemed very calm. Smaller still by a wide margin was his tiny wife, Alice. Pixie-like in her stance, her short black hair stuck out from all angles of her head in some way Bella had never seen before, but knew was intentionally done. Alice's look was searching, and Bella could tell she was taking as much information as she could from the situation and turning it over in her brain. She gave her props for that. Always a good idea to be on the lookout here.
And then there was Edward, who stood slightly apart from the couples with an almost frustrated expression on his face, his reddish-brown hair in that "just out of bed look" she'd read was so popular right now. His stance was much more tense then the rest of them, and where Alice looked thoughtful, he looked like he was studying for a serious test of some sort. A slight shake of the head toward Carlisle alerted her to some form of silent communication and then it dawned on her that Edward was trying to do something to them and was being thwarted by her shield. Before she could stop herself a laugh escaped her, snapping his golden eyes to her ruby ones, and in that instant, he knew that whatever was blocking him had something to do with her. The glare he gave her was ice cold. She smiled sweetly in return, pulling the hood from her head so they could get a better look at each other. Something electric passed between them, but Aro spoke before she could put a finger on it.
"My friends, you are welcome in Volterra as long as you like, please make yourselves at home. We have prepared quarters for you in the castle and you may come and go as you please during your stay. Since you do not hunt humans, we won't concern ourselves with the request to not hunt inside the city gates. Bella?" She was immediately at his side.
"My daughter, Isabella, will take you to your rooms." The word daughter sounded so different coming from Aro's lips then from Carlisle's she knew the Cullens had to realize it did not mean the same thing. She bowed to them, intentionally not meeting Edward's stoney gaze.
"Please, follow me, and welcome to Volterra," She led them away from the Ready Room and into the depths of the castle.