Chapter 7- Arrival
XXX
Bella-
The plane arrived in Italy just as the sun was rising over the Tuscan country side. Multiple shades of red, gold, and pink splayed across the sky, illumining the east in a grand display of color. We landed near the city of Pisa.
I yawned and stood up to grab my carry on bag out of the overhead compartment. I had been much to anxious about the upcoming meeting to sleep during my journey. I retrieved my luggage and walked toward a car rental registration. I had decided to rent a car and drive to Volterra. After signing the proper paperwork, I found myself behind the wheel of a little yellow Porsche. It was a bit extravagant for my personal taste, but it would do. And it would certainly grab some attention.
Some while later, I was driving the winding roads of Tuscany, listening intently to the GPS directions, and occasionally glancing at a map of Italy. I was getting close to Volterra, in the distance I could see a high senna wall situated atop a hill with a narrow roadway leading up to the entrance to the city. I made it to the gateway and drove through without a hitch. It was a little harder to maneuver the car through the narrow streets of the inside, but thankfully I managed.
I wasn't entirely sure where it was that I was going. I was surrounded on all sides by sun baked, brick buildings and a few native people mulling about on the sidewalks, occasionally glancing up to watch me pass them by.
The Porsche had continued to climb the steep incline of the roadway, until it suddenly opened up into a huge plaza. In the middle of the square sat a huge fountain, its bubbling water glittering in the bright sun. Overhead stood a clock tower, built from ancient stone, standing above the city like a silent guardian. The time read 5:30 pm. There were some stands arranged around the edges, where vendors sold their goods...Italian scarves, jewelry, fruit, vegetables, etc.
A number of vehicles were parked on the side of the road, so I chose to do the same. I pulled into a place and stepped out, sucking in a large breath of fresh Italian air. I left my belongings in the car, if I survived my upcoming encounter, I could always retrieve them later.
Now that I had arrived, I wasn't entirely sure where it was that I was supposed to report to. I bit my lip and looked around, hoping to glance something that would give me an indication. There were several crowds of people, tourists I surmised, standing about, snapping photos and taking in the general splendor that is Volterra. But as I watched these people, I took notice of several other statuesque figures, unique from the rest.
They were clothed in long, black cloaks that covered them entirely from head to foot. However, I managed to catch a glimpse of one of their faces, deathly pale in the afternoon light. They stood in the shadows below the old clock tower, immobile and motionless, invisible to the incognizant humans. 'Vampires.' my mind whispered.
As I observed the group, I saw another figure, a woman, about to step out of the double doors under the clock. Like the rest, she was pale and inhumanly beautiful, reminding me very much of Rosalie. She was dressed in a short, red dress that was far from being modest and black stiletto heels, that made me physically cringe at the obnoxious idea of wearing them. Her mahogany hair hung down her back in long waves and a gray cloak, similar in style to those the others wore, was draped around her slender shoulders. She raised a black parasol over her head and opened it as she stepped out the door, no doubt further protecting her skin from the setting sun. The others that I had noticed had disappeared.
The woman strutted a little way down the street and then I heard her bell like voice, "Tours! Tours! Free tours of the Volturi Castle!" she called. The word 'Volturi' naturally caught my attention and I found myself walking toward her. A few tourists were beginning to convene around her and, as I neared, I could hear them excitedly talking amongst themselves, oblivious and distracted. This was my best chance at talking to the guide without being overheard.
I walked up to the vampire and she turned toward me, her violet eyes wide and questioning. I guessed, and was subsequently proven correct, that she thought that I was a tourist, wishing to ask a mundane question.
"Hello, how may I help you? Do you have a question about the tour?" she asked politely.
"I'm here to see Aro." I said, simply.
Her eyes widened in amazement and surprise, "I do not know whom it is that..." she began to deny me.
"I know what you are, I know who the Volturi are, and Aro already knows about me." I explained. "I was supposed to come here."
She glanced quickly toward the group of people, then back to me as she pulled me further off to the side, "Follow along with the tourists, you may wait with the receptionist." she advised me.
"Thank you." I replied, my mind much too preoccupied to really grasp the meaning of her words.
She nodded to me, then turned to the rest, "Alright, is everyone ready to begin?" she called to the tourists, who either mumbled a yes or nodded to affirm their place. "Shall we, ladies and gentlemen?"
The vampire led us toward the two doors from which she had appeared. She stepped inside and motioning for us to follow her. She led us down a small corridor, filled on both sides with stone statues and expensive looking artwork. What was it that Edward had called the Volturi? Ah, yes, 'Nighttime patrons of the arts.' You could certainly see how that description had originated, there was art in some form everywhere I looked.
Our guide led us through several other passages, much the same as the first, then through a beautiful stone courtyard and garden and onto a set of stairs, up which we ascended. The stairway opened into a brightly lit reception area, where a pretty human woman sat behind a desk, "Buona sera!" she called sweetly, as we stepped into the room.
The vampire stopped to address the crowd for a short moment. Then, as she started to turn around to move through yet another set of doors, she looked directly at me and then at an empty chair in the room. I was confused for a second, uncertain as to why I had to stay behind, but took my cue and stepped away from the group as they walked forward to disappear through the entrance.
"Why did Heidi tell you to stay behind?" asked the receptionist.
"Well, I...I wasn't really on the tour. I'm here to see Aro." I replied, as I timidly sat down.
"Do you know what they are?" she asked, as an abrupt chorus of screams echoed down the hall behind the two doors.
I jumped from my seat and stared unblinkingly toward the door, my heart leaping into my throat, "Yes." I managed to whisper, with a shudder, as I realized what was happening.
The receptionist stood silently for a moment, "I'm sorry, how rude I am! I am Gianna." she said, distracting me from the horrific noise.
"Isabella Swan, but call me Bella." I replied in a monotone, one hand over my speeding heart and the other reaching to shake Gianna's proffered hand.
We were quiet after our introduction to one another and eventually the screams died down into a deathly still silence. I sank back into my chair, shaking, praying to whatever deity that was listening that my fate wouldn't be the same as those people and the countless others that had came before in the previous centuries.
I reminded myself that there had been nothing that I could have done for those people. If I had tried to warn them, that would have brought about their death, as well as my own, much more swiftly. But as was natural for a human, I still felt guilty for being alive...when they had just been mercilessly slaughtered right down the hall. 'You might be joining them soon.' my horrified mind whispered, as I stared owlishly at the floor.
I suddenly heard footsteps, trudging back down the hall, and a second later the doors opened. The vampire I could now identify as Heidi, stepped into the room and turned to me.
"Aro will see you now." she said. "Follow me."
I rose from my seat onto shaky legs and followed close behind, as she walked at a human pace back down the hall, toward another set of elaborately decorated doors. I was still trembling in fear and anxiety and my heart was thudding so loudly that I thought it would beat out of my chest. But I hoped, however vainly, that I wasn't walking to my death...as had the people before me. We arrived at the entrance and she reached for the handles, 'This is it. Time to put on a brave face.' I thought, as she threw them open.
XXX
Aro-
Heidi had returned, leading a fresh batch of humans into our midst. We drank our fill and the guard was cleaning the mess, when the 'fisher' as we jokingly called Heidi, walked toward me.
"Master." she said, as she bowed.
"Yes, Heidi?" I asked, as I once again took my seat upon my throne.
"Master..." she hesitated, a worried wrinkle appearing between her wispy brows. "there is a human woman here. She said that she needs to see you."
Everyone within the room halted in there motions, surprised.
"And where is this human, Heidi?" questioned Caius, interrupting my response.
"She is in the reception room."
"Go and bring her forth." I ordered. "The rest of you, clean this mess!"
I listened as Heidi spoke quietly to the person, with no response, and then I heard two sets of footfalls coming back toward us, along with a racing heartbeat. As they neared the entrance, the overwhelming scent of freesias and roses assaulted my senses. There was only one person upon this earth that the scent belonged to.
Heidi pushed open the doors, but the person remained hidden in her wake as they came forward.
"This is the human, Master." Heidi said, as she walked to her place in the guard and revealing the young woman behind her. She had not changed in the past several months, but she looked much more healthy than when I had last laid eyes upon her. Her dark hair had grown until it was well past her shoulders and her chocolate eyes gazed around the room in amazement before landing on me.
"Hello, Aro." she greeted, the audible tremble in her voice, giving away her brave facade.
As I gazed at her, I found myself hopelessly lost in the depths of her soulful eyes.
"Is this human an acquaintance of yours, Aro?" Marcus interrupted, pulling me from my blissful thoughts.
"Yes I do, Marcus. This is the human young Victoria was so angry about." I replied, watching Isabella wince at the name.
Victoria had been furious when I had returned without Bella, but she could not override my decision. I had explained to her that taking Bella at that time could have been dangerous to our secret, that she had promised to come to Volterra at a later date, and then we would decide what we would do with her. I, however, had already made my decision. "This...is Isabella." I concluded, as I rose from my throne and walked toward her, she stilled at the action watching me.
"The Cullen pet?" Caius demanded, in his usual, bitter tone.
Anger darkened Isabella's features and she turned a fiery gaze onto Caius, "No, not anymore." she replied.
Caius looked upon her, raising a white brow in annoyance.
"I'm sorry," she began. "I just don't like to be talked about as if I were a mere animal."
Everyone froze for the second time, apart from myself and Isabella. I turned toward Caius, seeing the fury in his eyes at her impertinence, "Calm, brother, I am certain that she meant no disrespect."
Isabella took my cue well, "I apologize, I didn't mean to insult you. I've just had a long day and...I-I'm tired. I tend to get rude when I'm tired." she mumbled her apology. She closed her eyes and I observed as she physically steeled herself before saying, "So, if you're going to kill me, can we just get it over with? I hate waiting."
The others were stunned, no human had ever been so complacent about their death in our presence, Marcus voiced as much, "So placid about your supposed impending doom, most mortals beg for their life when they see us for what we are."
She breathed a sigh, "Well, I know that if you want to kill me, there absolutely nothing I can do to stop you. So what's the point in begging?" she asked.
Marcus abruptly chuckled, "Incredible!" he said.
Isabella looked toward him with a questioning gaze, as if she were wondering about his sanity. "'Supposed impending doom?'" she quoted. "What do you mean? What does he mean?" she asked, first Marcus and then myself.
Marcus opened his lips to reply, but I interrupted before he could breath a syllable, "He meant that it is not our intent to kill you tonight, Isabella." I explained, smelling the adrenaline slowly leaving her blood.
"Oh." she breathed, suddenly swaying on her feet, from a lack of sleep, I surmised. She was about to fall to the floor as I caught her forearm in my grasp to steady her.
"Are you alright, my dear?" I asked her.
She yawned in response, "Sorry, I'm just really sleepy all of a sudden." she explained.
"Demetri, will you please escort Isabella to one of the guest rooms?" I found myself saying.
"But...don't you have to decide what your going to do with me?" asked Isabella.
"The matter can wait until you are better rested, cara mia." I replied. "Go now and sleep."
She nodded, sleepily, and followed Demetri out of the room.
I turned back toward my throne, only to find a look of astonishment upon Caius' face. "Whatever is the matter, brother?"
"That girl withstood Jane's power without so much as a flinch."
I glanced toward Jane, chuckling at her frustration, "Evidently she confounds us all."
"You were correct about her potential." he admitted. "I have never seen someone so gifted, in human form no less, since you discovered the twins."
"What of her lines, Marcus?" I asked, gazing where she had disappeared with Demetri.
"They are rather...interesting, brother. She has several lines that are nearly severed. The lines to her few family and friends remain intact. There is one particular line, a strong one, like that of a mate, leading away from her, the recipient, however, is still hidden from my knowledge. I will not know who it is, until she does."
"That is intriguing." I replied, remembering the hypnotic way that I had felt, when I had looked into her eyes.
"What is intriguing?" asked a voice.
Marcus' face automatically brightened, "Didyme." he said, happiness apparent in his voice.
"Hello, sister." I greeted.
"Brother." she smiled, nodding in my direction.
"We were discussing relationship lines for our guest." explained Marcus to his wife.
"Guest? We have a guest?" she asked, as she seated herself upon his lap.
"Yes, her name is Isabella. She is a human." he told her.
"Wait a moment, 'Isabella?' As in the Isabella that Aro has not stopped talking about for the past six months?" she grinned a wry smile at me.
"Yes, that would be correct, Didyme." I said.
"Oh, come now, Aro!" she admonished. "Can't I at least ask about her?"
"You may ask...but it does not mean that you will receive an answer." I replied.
"Then I will just have to go and see her myself." she said.
"She is resting, Didyme, leave her be." I warned.
"Then I will simply have to wait until she awakens."
"So, we are going to change her then?" Caius asked, his red eyes gleaming. "Or are we going to kill her?"
"My vote is that we change her. I imagine that she would be very interesting as a vampire." said Marcus.
"I agree." I added, on both fronts.
"Then I suppose that it is settled." Caius replied, rising from his throne. "So if you will all excuse me, I believe that I will go and find Dora."
"Very well, brother." I said, as my mind was drifted once again to Isabella.
XXX
Bella-
I was led down a long corridor by the designated vampire who had politely informed me that his name was Demetri. He was a tracker for the guard and he found his lack of being able to get a 'feel' of my mind fascinating.
"I have never met anyone whom I could not track." he explained.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just a freak." I mused sleepily.
He laughed, "You are most certainly not a 'freak', Isabella."
"Thanks." I replied. "And you do know that you can call me Bella, right?"
"Very well, Bella it is." he replied, as we stopped in front of a door. "Here we are." he said, as he opened it.
I stepped inside and gasped. Even in my tired state, I could appreciate the beauty of the room, or suite rather. It was decorated in the renaissance style, with a high vaulted ceiling from which hung a massive, crystal chandelier in the center of the sitting room. There was a large, black marble fireplace situated in the far corner with two lounge chairs placed on either side. Two black couches were arranged in the middle of the room, beneath the light fixture. The walls were a dark gold color, matching the light tan of the carpeting. To the left there was an archway, leading into what I came to find was the bedroom.
The bed was a queen size canopy, with long, sheer golden curtains tied at the four posts. They could be untied and pulled around to envelope the mattress completely. A chaise lounge was arranged by another fireplace and a comfortable looking window seat was built into the windowsill. Another chandelier, smaller in size, hung high above the bed and its brightness could be controlled via a switch by the doorway.
There were two folding doors, that folded back on either side of the archway, that could close the bedroom from the sitting room. The windows were high arches, similar to the doorway, covered in long tan and gold drapes that hung in deep folds down onto the floor. Inside the bedroom there were two other archways, one was a vastly over sized, walk-in closet and another was a huge bathroom, complete with a step shower, a toilet, and a double sink. It felt as though I had just stepped out of reality and into a fairy tale.
My thoughts were jerked from my amazement, when I realized that I didn't have anything to wear to bed. My belongings were still in the Porsche, parked in the plaza. I turned once again to Demetri who waited patiently in the doorway of the sitting room, for me to finish my exploration.
"Um, my luggage is still outside in my car. Could I retrieve it?" I asked, timidly.
"Felix and I will go and retrieve it for you, if you will tell us which car it is." he offered.
"It's a Yellow Porsche 911 Turbo. It's parked on the other side of the plaza and, come to think of it, I should probably get it back to the rental service." I handed him the set of keys.
Demetri grinned, "It will all be taken care of. Is there anything else?"
I thought for a moment, "Can you tell Aro thank you for me? For the room?"
"Of course, I will take my leave." he replied, then he was gone.
A few minutes later, a huge bulk of a vampire arrived with my luggage. He looked very much like a body builder, with rippling muscles, visible even through his clothing. He was extremely tall, with dark hair that clashed with his pale skin. He didn't knock, just pushed the door open and walked casually into the room, his arms full of my suitcases.
"Here you are, Miss Isabella." he stated.
"Thanks." I squeaked, as I stood by the window.
He heard the fear in my voice, grinning a childish grin and, in that moment, he reminded me very much of Emmett Cullen. "I am Felix, by the way." he said, holding out his large hand.
I hesitated, blushing deeply, and then stepped forward, slowly placing my small hand in his. "It's nice to meet you, Felix. You can call me Bella." I said, as his hand engulfed my own in a shake.
"Alright. Well, I should be going..." he said. "Just call either myself or Demetri if you have need of anything else. Aro has assigned to two of us to be your personal guards."
"I will. Thank you." I said, then he disappeared.
I closed the sitting room door and gathered my luggage, taking it into the bedroom. I opened the closet and carefully placed everything inside. I would unpack later, when the situation seemed less surreal and I was less tired. I dressed for bed and found myself curled beneath the silken sheets, falling into a dreamless slumber.
XXX
The next morning, I awoke to find a pair of scarlet eyes staring down at me. "Ahh!" I shrieked, unceremoniously falling out of bed.
"Oh, my apologies, I suppose that startled you." said a voice.
I blinked rapidly, trying to focus the person into view. When I managed to do so, I found that it was a female version of Aro. She had the same midnight, black hair and the same facial features, only far more feminine and pretty.
"Um...Hi." I said, untangling myself from the covers and standing up from the floor.
"Hello, I am Didyme." she said, happily.
"Uh, I'm Bella." I said, slowly, unsure of what to make of the vampire before me.
"Yes, I know...Aro has not spoken of much else for the past several months. It is nice to finally make your acquaintance." she said.
"Are you two related? You and Aro, I mean." I couldn't help but ask, they looked too much alike not to be biologically related.
"I am his biological sister, he changed me when I reached adulthood." she answered.
"Oh." was my intellectual reply.
"Alright, sister, I would very much appreciate it if you refrained from talking off Isabella's ears." said a voice from the bedroom doorway.
We both turned to find Aro, standing in his usual black attire.
"Oh, brother, I am certain that Bella and I will be great friends." Didyme replied.
Aro simply grinned and then turned to me, "Good morning, Isabella. I trust that you slept well?"
"Yes. Thank you for allowing me to use this suite, it's very beautiful."
"'Use it?' My dear, it belongs to you." he stated, as if it were obvious.
"You mean...you're not going to kill me then?" I asked, slowly.
"No, Caius, Marcus, and I have decided that we will change you instead."
Didyme looked between the two of us with a small smile on her lips. "If you will excuse me, I think I hear Marcus calling me." she said.
"Of course, sister." Aro said, distractedly, still staring at me.
"Yeah, it was nice to meet you." I called, turning my own eyes in her direction. She smiled and then left, leaving me alone with Aro.
When I turned back toward him, I found that he was still watching me, with an intensity in his gaze.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, blushing.
"No, not at all, Isabella." he replied, breaking from his haze.
"There you go with the whole 'Isabella' thing again. I believe I told you to call me Bella."
"I prefer Isabella," he said. "it is much more suiting for you."
I blushed yet again, "So, when are you going to change me?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
"When would you prefer to be changed?"
The question caught me off guard, "You're giving me another choice?" I asked, surprised.
"Yes. So long as you intend to become one of us, there is no issue with your level of awareness."
I honestly hadn't thought about it since Edward had left me. When I had been with him, I had hoped to be transformed some time around my 18th birthday. But now that I wasn't with the Cullen's, I surprisingly no longer felt the need to rush into things. "I would like to be changed sometime within the next year." I replied. "Just allow me to get used to my surroundings and everything, then I'll ask to be changed."
"Very well." he replied, with a nod.
My stomach chose that very moment to loudly growl, making me aware of the fact that I hadn't yet eaten breakfast. Aro chuckled at the sound and offered me his arm in a similar fashion of a gentleman from one of my favorite classic novels. "Come," he said. "I will guide you to the kitchens. You need your nourishment."
"Okay, just allow me to shower and dress first." I replied, walking toward the closet.
"Very well, I shall await your return in the sitting room." he informed me, turning and walking gracefully out the doors, sliding them closed behind him.
XXX
Re-edited 2/4/13
Thanks to Cat, for pointing out the geography mistake at the first of this chapter. I went back and fixed it. =)
So that was chapter 7, I hope that it didn't disappoint. And as you may have realized, Didyme (Aro's sister and Marcus' mate) is alive in this fic. I think that she might play a role similar to Alice in the actual series-you know 'Bella's best friend'...Not sure yet. But anyway, onto the thank yous-
THANK YOU- Alimor The Crazy Bitch, kouga's older woman, XxPink-PrincessxX, Isarma, I-love-reading-the-cullens, heathermea, vamp gyrl, Kassandra203, and reddog25770, for your wonderful reviews of last chapter...I hope you all enjoyed this one...more to come soon!
