Visibility Isn't Always What It Seems! Cont

Italy Here We Come

Everything was calming down, the wolves had left us alone and Jake had apparently given up the chase sooner than Edward, mind you I think he might have been under an Alpha command so that would have helped. Peter had turned up at school and frightened the crap out of Mike, making it quite plain whose affections I was receiving and to back off.

Edward also had returned for summer school and soon was raving about his new girlfriend when the sharks started circling in the form of Lauren and Jessica, but it was obvious to a blind man he had changed because of her. Charlie found Peter a much better choice for me than Edward and they were getting on like a house on fire.

I had broached the subject of Italy, saying how lucky Alice and Rose were, how I'd love to get the chance to go, all that culture and not to get me started on the Renaissance era. It was a good ploy as Carlisle got a phone call from Marcus, basically warning him Aro was preparing to have a delegation come and bring us all in, no choice, no summons, but an extraction.

So the next morning Esme approached Charlie and asked if I could join the girls as they had a spare ticket because Carlisle wasn't able to join them, an out of state emergency had come up at a previous hospital he'd worked in and he'd been asked to consult. All I'd need was spending money, everything else was covered. Charlie hummed and hawed but eventually gave in, Peter said he'd take the opportunity to head back to Jasper's place in Montana, check over his cars.

He told Charlie that he rebuilt classic cars as a hobby, then he was going to head to look at a ranch in Chadron, Nebraska that was up for sale at a knockdown price, thought it was time for him to have a decent place of his own. This would explain his absence, Emmett, Jasper and Edward were going to go to Harvard, for Edward's orientation. This was his first choice of college and he accepted now we weren't together anymore.

This way all the Cullens were going to be gone at the same time. Now the logistics began in earnest:-

Private jet check

Flight plan for Pisa check

9 vampires, 1 human check

Shield training complete check

Alice insanely packing check

Rose and Emmett bickering check

Edward and Bree having sex check

Damn, we were ready to go; this would be the furthest I'd ever travelled before. So two days later we were off, this was much better than flying economy and as I was the only human we got the bed, not that we had sex, I was adventurous not an exhibitionist, plus there were enough voyeur's in the family as it was.

Bree was nervous of just about everything and this put a dampener on Edward's sexing her up, everywhere they went. She'd never flown before, never left the State, so it was all new and worrying to her. The flight was about fourteen hours plus and there would be another one and a half hour drive to Volterra. We weren't staying anywhere not giving them a chance to sense us coming. I had everyone under my shield from the minute we took off from Port Angeles and Jasper hoped as long as Demetri wasn't looking for us yet, he wouldn't notice they'd all disappeared.

They doubted he could track me at all, that's nice to know. So it was a very flustered receptionist who received us all in her plush foyer, she asked us to wait till she summoned someone, Jasper shook his head and then put her to sleep using his empathy. Carlisle led us down to the main audience chamber and feeding room, yucky poo!

So it was a very surprised guard, guest covens and three Kings who turned as the doors opened, Carlisle was magnificent, apologising for dropping by unannounced, but we were all in the vicinity vacationing and thought it would be rude not to stop by! How were all his old friends and comrades? Sort of playing up the fact you don't treat good friends badly, the way Aro had intended to treat us, saying it without actually saying it.

I could feel three attacks on my shield, which obviously didn't work and Aro was looking uncomfortable. Jane was one and an unknown to me, pair of females were the other two, I nodded towards them and Carlisle said

"Ah, Bella and Bree let me introduce you both to everyone", he inclined his head to the kings "This is Aro, Marcus and Caius, then over there is the guard you met last month, Jane, Alec, Felix and Demetri, lastly may I introduce Chelsea and Corin" I stepped forward apace,

"Is it normal to attack your guests during introductions? Seems damn rude to me! Is this how it's done in Italy Carlisle?" I ask loudly even though everyone can hear me fine, the guard all hiss and I raise an eyebrow, Marcus is smirking, Caius looks outraged and Aro splutters

"I can assure you, my dear, no one is attacking you!" I turn to Edward,

"He's not quite telling the truth Bella, but he didn't tell the three bitches to attack us!" he states nonchalantly.

"Ah, so you have no control over your coven! Doesn't really bode well for the rest of the vampire world when their leader has no real authority!" Caius jumps to his feet,

"How dare you speak to us this way? You will show respect to your betters!" he thunders,

"Oh I'm showing the same level of respect to you as you have to us, that's Nada! Zip! Zilch! None!" I answer coldly.

The leaders of the visiting covens are looking confused, annoyed and rather dissatisfied,

"What's the meaning of this Aro? Why are your guard attacking and failing abysmally might I add, Carlisle's coven?" one speaks up and nods to Carlisle.

Aro is livid and trying to hide it, Marcus now has his hand across his mouth to stop everyone seeing the smile that's there.

"Let's cut out the crap shall we, you were about to send your guard to acquire me! Yes?" I say, Aro immediately denies it, at the same time Edward confirms it from all three kings' minds.

"I am a mated human! But still, you thought you could just take me, why? I believe and correct me if I'm wrong; I believe that's against your own laws?" Gasps were heard from all the visitors, Aro was shaking with rage now,

"You are human! You could change your mind! It is not a permanent mating until you're a vampire!"

"What a load of Bollocks and you know it! Master Marcus? I'm I or I'm I not, Captain Peter Whitlock's mate?" I said facing Marcus now,

He nodded as more murmurs circled the room at the mention of my mate's name. Edward confirmed it was one of the strongest links Marcus had ever seen. I caught Aro's glance at Alec and I spun back around,

"Alec, did your sister tell you what it felt like to have her gift turned on her? What would happen if it was you? Could you awaken yourself if you were in a trance H'mm?" He dropped his hands to his side, saying nothing and not willing to take the chance.

Aro just threw caution to the wind and ordered his guard to attack. I flipped my shield over the visiting covens and started to push out my shield pinning the guard to the walls on three sides, leaving the three kings free for the moment.

"Stop this now Aro or I will crush them all!" he slumped down in his throne and nodded,

I could feel all attacks but one had ceased, Chelsea was still trying to penetrate my shield, to break our bonds and tie us to Aro. Much as I abhorred the fact I needed to set an example or they would never leave us alone. I lifted her from behind me and placed her on her knees in front of the kings, this caused a flurry of gasps and hisses alike.

"Some people can't take no for an answer, so I'm truly sorry but I can't have her continually trying to break our bonds apart, just so you can add me to your collection, Aro, this is all your doing, your greed has lost Chelsea her life!" With that, I compressed my shield and she disintegrated before his eyes and he looked terrified.

I held out my hand for Peter's lighter and dropped it once lit onto the dust; it flared purple and then died. All around the chamber vampires were shaking their heads and looking angrily at Aro, they were now free of Chelsea's control, as was Marcus who stood behind Aro looking like the devil incarnate.

He just growled Aro's name before ripping his head off his shoulders. Caius to looked angrily at Aro's body and it was he that lit him up in flames. The other coven leaders were shaking my hand and thanking me for protecting them and I was numb, I'd just killed someone, I Isabella Swan had killed a vampire. I felt sick and was starting to shake, in shock I think, Carlisle saw Peter grab me as I swayed on my feet and rushed over as I slipped into blackness.

V

New Regime! New Start!

I was just floating back to the surface and could hear Peter's worried voice,

"What's wrong with her Carlisle?" I was on a soft and I might add very comfortable bed, Carlisle was checking my pulse when he replied

"She's fine Peter, she just fainted! I think it was just too much for her to handle! Not her shield, but what she'd done! She's young and was never meant to do this. How many eighteen-year-olds do you know, could take on the Volturi and win and while they're still human?" Peter let out the breath he was holding and relaxed still holding me close,

"I want one of these mattress's baby! It's so comfy" I mumbled to him.

"My Isabella are you alright? You scared the life out of me angel and considerin' I'm already dead that's some feat!" I giggled a little hysterically and snuggled in closer to him

"I killed her Peter! Knowing you can and doing it are way different aren't they?" I sobbed into his chest.

"Yes, angel, but the fact you feel remorse is what sets you apart from others who've killed for no reason! You did a hard thing and you did it without being cruel or vengeful! She went very quickly, probably never feeling a thing!" he placated me; I knew he was right, but it really didn't make me feel better.

"Do you think I could have a moment guys? Oh, and could you ask Rose to join me?" I asked. They both looked a little confused but nodded and Peter kissed the top of my head, telling me he would be close by if I needed him. I quickly spent a penny and was washing my face when I heard the door open,

"Hi Rose, I'll be right out" I called; she was sat on the bed when I returned and looked at me curiously.

"I wondered! I wanted to know! Oh hells teeth, does it get better Rose? Getting revenge at the cost of someone else's life, will I ever feel normal again?" I quizzed her.

"Ah, yes and no! It's hard to equate the act, with the reason for it! But you did the right thing; she would never have relented on his behalf! Revenge is not always sweet; it left a bitter unfulfilled taste in my mouth! I thought that it would help to heal me, but it didn't! Emmett did" she told me seriously.

"You did it to save us all, that's a noble thing, but it won't make you feel like you again, the old Bella is gone, the new one is strong and brave and can take action if she needs to!" she explained. "But most of all, remember you don't have to always be invincible when you feel weak let Peter take the strain, he's your mate it's his job and his privilege to help you and to take care of you, okay?" she said hugging me before standing up,

"I'll send him in before he wears a hole in the stone corridor out there!" she alleged with a smile in her voice. "He loves you beyond reason, you know that?"

I nod with tears in my eyes. Peter rushed back in and gathered me to him, rocking me gently.

"I'm here angel! I've got you, you don't have to be brave for me!" he whispered and I just disintegrated into a snivelling, bubbling wreck.

He murmured loving platitudes, as I rambled aimlessly trying to come to terms with what I'd done. We eventually both quietened and I nodded off to sleep. I woke with a knock at the door and the scared receptionist from before had brought me some food. I just realised how hungry I was and dived right in clearing my plate in record time. There was a note on the tray and I pointed to it,

"It's addressed to you angel!" he informed me; I nodded and lifted it up leaning back against his chest so we could both read it at the same time.

Dear Isabella,

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart if I had one. I am Sulpicia; I was Aro's wife but not his mate. I have been trapped here in Volterra for more than 1000 years. Aro never loved or wanted me, his paranoia made him kill his own human mate, he could not believe, she wanted nothing from him, but his love. She did give him something, though, twin girls, Chelsea and Corin. So he had her put to death as a witch, only then realising what he'd done to himself as well as her, but she was free and he trapped like Marcus in endless pain.

He married me to have someone to control and keep but found he could not be a husband to me, for which I'm grateful. But like all the other's he would not release me. I was lucky I guess, he in his infinite stupidity locked me up with my mate, Anthenodora.

Caius knows we are mates and it was the one thing he could give us, as he too was not free to leave. Chelsea has kept us all bound for so long and Corin, who I expect is now dead also, made us content in our imprisonment. The sheer cruelty of these acts is indefensible. Many went mad, others took their lives over the years, all for the greed of one paranoid, insane man and his daughters. So again I thank you for my freedom.

Yours with the deepest gratitude

Sulpicia

Wow, how sad, how cruel he was and those poor souls who gave up the fight, such a waste. I was beginning to see I had not only saved us but many more besides. I actually gained some comfort from this.

"What now Peter? Who will rule and properly this time I hope? Marcus or Caius?" I asked. He shrugged his shoulders and said,

"Not sure yet angel, that all needs hashed out, I'm not sure if Marcus wants to carry on!" The next knock at the door was a summons to the throne room, our presence was requested.

So hand in hand we walked back to the chamber to find out what had been decided. This really was a momentous thing, a change within of the ruling body after so long, some would not be happy, others yes, vampires don't really like change I've noticed. But no matter what else is decided, it was all being done with free will! The Throne room was packed to capacity when we got there; every vampire that lived in Volterra was now in attendance, this was important to them all.

Marcus stood and told the congregation that thanks to me they were now all free of Chelsea's influence, so the choice was simple to stay or leave.

"If you stay, it will be different from before, you would have much more freedom, not always expected to be on duty as before, downtime is going to be introduced, Volterra will be becoming a business enterprise" he announced,

"You also do not need to live in the castle if you would prefer not to!" "Everyone will now get to try out other positions, what used to be the lower level guard is no more, you can now move to the elite or main guards if you're good enough or take on what used to be upper guard jobs! Elite guards can also do other things, like in both the records or library archives or the treasure houses. Some can move into the new ambassadorial roles that will be initiated" Caius said, taking over from Marcus in the explanations.

"We will also be excepting temporary staff from the other covens, thus helping weaker covens by training their fighters for them. Encouragement of business Ideas will now be put in place, from inside and outside of Volterra! There is going to be a total restructuring of our archaic way of life!" this was Sulpicia's part in the proceedings.

"But by far the biggest change is to be the cessation of the death tours, as we the Volturi have in the past called the feeding from tourists. It is beginning to draw attention to us from outside in this digital age. So everyone will now hunt for themselves, still out with Volterra city limits. We suggest that you adopt the nomads of America's approach and prey on the less than savoury elements of society out there and there are many!" Marcus once again took up the mantle of the speech.

"All of you who wish to leave will be funded in setting yourselves up in business on your return home and some will be asked to be ambassadors and funded accordingly! The overall rule will be done by Caius and Marcus, but the latter in a more advisory role and Sulpicia and I have been asked to join them making us a counsel!" this was told to the crowd by Anthenodora.

"Lastly, for now, all in-house decisions will be put to the vote from now on and worldwide laws and statutes will be hashed out with the help of the Elder vampires of the world and us the Volturi ruling body, but we will take all and any, information and advice into account, there will be no more one person decisions or laws passed by the Volturi from this day onward!" Caius' closing statement was met with rapturous applause and cheering.

Spending a penny (Brit slang):- Polite Phrase meaning - To Urinate

Stems back to when public toilets cost 1d (penny) (pre-decimal) to use.

Changes, Celebrations & Exes!

The rest of the day became one very large celebration; the largest group was out in the courtyard where the previous regimes cloaks were being burnt, the ones who wished to leave did so not by slinking away but shaking hands and extending invitations for future visits to old friends and comrades. To think that only three people held this many imprisoned, it showed how misuse of power could devastate a world, for a very long time. We were all getting ready now to leave; we were going to visit Pisa, Florence, Venice and Rome before the journey home. So I saw many beautiful cities for the first time with my mate by my side and spent the spectacular warm evenings, our bodies entwined passionately and lovingly. This would be something I would never want to forget.

"When you change me, Peter, remind me of all of this, please!" I whispered into his chest on our last evening in Rome.

"I will angel, every moment since I met you is stored up here," he tapped the side of his head, "waiting to remind you if you lose a single thing about us!" I could not answer for the lump in my throat so I leant in and kissed him with every bit of love, passion and devotion I could find.

On the outside, Peter looked like a rough, tough no-nonsense vampire, but inside he was soft, warm and sensitive, a romantic spark had survived the horrors of Maria's camp, just waiting within for his mate to arrive, so it could burst forth and shower me with love.

"Now, get all dressed up my Isabella, this is our last night in Italy and I want to take you out, wine you, dine you and dance with you!" he said staring passionately into my eyes.

Oh, my! A date, our first real date! I bolted out of bed and headed for the bathroom, I was making the most of this, before the return to normality at home. Well as normal as it gets for a human girl mated to a vampire, I laugh to myself. Luckily I had bought a long strapless sheath dress yesterday; I just fell in love with its classic lines and simplicity. But nothing prepared me for the site of Peter in a tux, he was just so sexy and hot, I was speechless and majorly turned on. He laughed and said,

"Stop that angel or we'll never get out of here!" So I just stuck my tongue out at him and shrugged my shoulders. We went to a beautiful open-air restaurant, they had a sitting down to an expensive slap up meal area and a buffet area, we picked that as it would be less noticeable, he was not actually eating.

I had champagne with my food and it was nice, but not really me. The waiter held up his hand saying

"Un momento per favore!" When he returned he had a pitcher of fresh orange juice which he poured into the champagne, now that was better, refreshing and sweet.

"Grazie," I said and he smiled warmly, this made Peter growl and I slapped his arm

"Down Captain, he's just being friendly" I murmured. Just then he stiffens and a voice floated up from the terrace,

"What's this Petey, slummin' it with the humans? Word on the grapevine was you had got a mate, thought that was a load of old bull!" said a small beautiful blonde but sluttily dressed vampire.

I turned fully towards her and she gave me the once over and obviously found me lacking by the tutting sound she was making, not to be outdone I placed a hand on my hip, tilted my head and said

"Well, shit baby! I'm glad you're taste in women has improved!" as I smoothed down the side of my dress.

She growled and launched at me attempting to get into my face but hit my shield and was now sitting on her ass on the sidewalk looking stupid.

"You must, unfortunately, be Charlotte?" I said looking down at her, a male vampire stepped forward then with his hands up, saying

"I don't want any trouble, Captain Whitlock!" Peter shrugged and answered.

"No problem Ramon, Isabella is dealing with this fine by herself! But a word to the wise, if she's your mate my condolences, if not, dump her before she bleeds you dry and steals all your stuff!" he looked confused and then horrified.

"That was your money and stuff, Oh shit! I replace it and find all your things and return them to you as soon as I can" he was rambling and if he'd been human he'd have wet himself by now.

Peter and I had slowly been walking towards them and away from the humans during the conversation.

"No! She will! Every cent, every item and in the exact same condition it was in when she stole it!" I ordered, she laughed saying

"Who's going to make me? You? A stupid pathetic human!" I lifted her into the air, dangling about two feet above the walkway.

"I would say that was an unequivocal yes! Wouldn't you my mate?" I cooed at Peter, taking his arm with one of mine and stroking my fingertips of the other down his chest and he unashamedly started to purr at me.

Charlotte was livid and started to shout and curse so I just thickened the shield and we could hear nothing. The male gave us their address, telling us some of Peter's stuff was there and he just waved at Charlotte

"She ain't my mate, thank god," he said and then he was gone.

"Shall we baby, then we can go dancing like you suggested!" I motioned,

We sauntered along to the address Ramon had given us with Charlotte bobbing up and down ahead of us. I just kept smiling and winking at her and every time she spat, growled or looked like she was swearing at me I slammed her into something, thinning the shield just as contact was made. Peter phoned Jasper asking him to collect his retrieved stuff, which he and Alice did immediately. Everyone else appeared too and they decided to join us for an evening of dancing and fun once the items were back at our hotel.

Charlotte was livid and I told her she had exactly the same amount of time to return the rest, as she had had to sell or spend it. She was starting to argue when Alice handed her a camera, unknown to me she had filmed me using my shield in Volterra, knowing she'd need it to show Charlotte later. This shut her up right away and she agreed it would all be returned a.s.a.p.

The rest of the evening was fun, we danced and laughed and had a wonderful time, wandering back to the hotel as dawn was breaking in the sky over Rome. This had all been a life-altering visit to Italy and I would never be that young naive Bella Swan who moved to Forks, but I would be the strong, resilient Bella who could cope with all that life threw at her.

Un momento per favore (Italian) - One moment Please

Grazie (Italian) - Thank you