Author's Note: So I added an OC into the mix, and surprise surprise, he's not European. Steph wants you to believe that there are no Chinese vampires, but I don't buy it. About 20% of the world is Chinese so there has to be at least one. I've fallen in love with this character, and hopefully you will too.
I've had more free time on my hands recently. We just had a nor'easter here, and now that my power is back, I've been writing non-stop. As always, reviews and PMs put a huge, dorky smile on my face. Even the small ones have an effect, so if you just write "Heidi is a bitch" or "cool beans," I'm more than happy to accept it.
Chapter 10: First Meal
Bella's POV
I sat back against the headboard, reflecting on my past with Edward when the door suddenly swung open, and three stern faces trickled into the bedroom. Heidi's heels clacked against the marble flooring. A thin, black garment bag hung over her arm, and she set it down by my feet on the mattress. A cherry eyed Asian man, roughly 5'10" and devilishly handsome, lagged behind her. He flaunted chino pants, and a navy blazer over his dress shirt, an unusual choice of clothing considering the demure atmosphere.
More eye-catching was the human that followed him. The woman could not have been more than thirty years old. Her mahogany hair was pulled back into a youthful, high bun and gaudy fingernails fidgeted at her chest. The scent of her pumping blood was delectable and triggered a slight burn in my throat, but I got the feeling that Heidi didn't want me to sink my teeth into her just yet.
"Bionca," Heidi gestured to the jittery woman, "le presento Bella."
"It might help to hold your breathe," the man warmly advised me. "Bionca is going to take some quick measurements. It'll be over before you know it." He approached the side of my bed, and offered a gentleman's hand while fighting his carnal excitement at my naked body. His peach lips pleasantly curved as he effortfully shifted his attention away from my chest.
Heidi scoffed, "I'd do it myself, but Aro won't 'settle for less' as if this woman has more expertise than someone who has been dolling herself up for centuries."
"Aro is very particular in terms of how you should dress here, Bella. Bionca owns a high-end shop on the outskirts of Volterra that caters to women with your...assets. Aro wanted her to get a good look at you instead of blindly picking your wardrobe," he prodded, passive aggressively speaking to Heidi through me. "You won't have to lounge around in a spandex dress anymore."
The courteous man turned my shoulders towards Bionca and left me in the middle of the room. She plucked measuring ribbon out of her back pocket and directed me to spread my arms, allowing her tape to wrap around my trim waist. I was suddenly hyper-aware of two euphoric scents: blood and sex. Bianca's heart rhythmically sang as she bent her knees in front of me. I welcomed her aroma, glanced down her, and marveled at my pudgy breasts and thighs, still glossy from Felix's loads.
"Easy there, Shen. Try thinking about your brother," Heidi berated, driving my head back to reality. The man indignantly groaned, fists clenched at his side, but he bounced back with a sigh and ingenuine smile.
Pointing out Felix's remnants, Heidi continued, "You'll have a chance to wash that off after you speak to Caius. He wants to properly assess your progress while you're still functioning. Your appetite should return soon so time isn't on our side."
Noticeably anxious, Bianco distanced herself from my torso and jotted into a notepad close-at-hand — 38-24-36, 38F. Heidi peered over her shoulder, turning a bitter shade of green as she digested the data.
"With a ratio like that you'll be stuck in robes and towels," Heidi spitefully belittled.
"Don't let her get to you. She'll be gone soon enough," Shen breathed. I tilted my head in curiosity.
"Shen here is my newly-assigned assistant," Heidi clarified, catching on to my confusion. "I'm not just your babysitter, you know? Tonight I'll be handing out pamphlets to our meals, in that time, your problems are Shen's problems. Try not to get too much blood stains on your new clothes."
Shen rolled his eyes, "You're already handling Bionca quite well." Truthfully, her scent was tantalizing but not unbearable. The burning thirst paled in comparison to the pain of Caius teasing my body in the throne room.
"Does she know?" I faintly mumbled while Bianca knelt to size up my shapely thighs, her knees trembling.
"Whispering isn't necessary. She can't understand you. We haven't explicitly told her anything, but she can take a hint," Heidi snarled, her strawberry lips viciously curled up . "She'll be yours soon since Aro insists that it's too dangerous for you to feed with the rest of us." I salivated, fantasizing about biting into the nap of her neck with a rubious stream flooding down my jaw.
"She's….mine? I'll get to taste her?" I slurred, mouth pooling with venom and eyes fixating on Bianca's veiny wrists as her ribbon wrapped around my thigh.
Shen shuddered, "Let's not get too excited."
"You don't have to infect her mind too. It's only natural that she wants slice Briana's neck open," Heidi derided with her hands pantomiming Bianca's death. A line appeared between Shen's brows, and he drew his lower lip between his teeth in sheer disgust.
Taking a page out of Edward's book, I sheepishly asked, "Are you vegetarian?"
"The hell is that supposed to mean?" Shen's expression soften, careful not to inflict his anger on me.
Bionca stood up, scribbled some minor details into the notepad and patiently lingered around the vampires. Itching to move on, Heidi acknowledged her stark presence, "Ha finito con Bella? Perfetto." She uncomfortably nodded and presented her notepad to us. With belligerent authority, Heidi commanded, "Shen, escort Bianca back to her shop. Stay with her at all times and keep her silent."
"I know the drill," he sneered. His legs straightened, and he shot towards the door, taking one sympathetic last look at me before fleeing. "Andiamo, Bianca."
With just Heidi and I remaining, the snarky blonde strutted to the bed and unzipped the garment bag, unveiling an elegant, silk robe, black flats, and frilly intimates. She tossed the panties to me and lifted the wine colored robe by its hanger, a rather pristine choice of attire compared to the former elastic, black mini-dress. The strings of the panties sensually dug into my round hips. Heidi slipped the robe over my shoulders and tied a tight bow in the front, suffocating my rib cage to her twisted satisfaction.
"I didn't expect you to pick out something so...modest," I chirped, picking and prodding at the sleek silk. The robe almost reached my knees and only had a slight V-neck.
"I promise that this meeting with Caius will be a lot more formal than your last one," she mockingly chuckled. "He would rather have you more covered so as not to distract him." She kicked over the ebony flats, and her heels paved the way out of the room.
Leading to the throne room, she maintained a three foot distance between us, taking bigger strides if I got too close. There was no unnecessary conversation. We swept through three sets of hallways, each one boasting the same ornate carpeting, lustrous floorboards, and strange doors. Each one was shut and had ash panels and simple, gold knobs.
"So...what's inside all those rooms?" I timidly asked, letting my curiosity get the best of me as we continued down the final corridor.
"Did you think Felix was the only one with a suite to himself?"
"Will I get one too?"
She gnashed her teeth, "Ask Aro yourself," and with that, she pushed open the entryway to the throne room. Aro and Caius stood in front of the grandiose steps, heads painstakingly turned to me. Marcus inattentively watched Heidi and I step into their chamber from the comfort of his seat.
"My, what an improvement," Caius called as he rushed to my side. "She's been tamed." Aro preceded him, reaching out in pursuit of Heidi's hand. She cooperated, gracefully placing her hand over his, and the corner of his mouth turned up in awe. Caius showed no interest in her head and picked at mine instead.
"You're due for an evaluation," he beguiled, eyes sparking with infatuation. "Your kind is fascinating to us. I need you to speak about your human life. Can you recall the transformation?"
I hesitated, "I spent most of life living with my mom but moved in with my dad a little over a year ago. I met Edward and his family in Forks. Alice was one of my best friends and I thought of Carlisle and Esme like they were own parents. There's a lot of trivial memories of spending time with the Cullens. Edward asked me to marry him, and eventually I agreed. Then he killed me in the chasm as his family watched from the side. I don't remember anything in between then and waking up next to Heidi."
Aro shifted away from Heidi with a jolt. He marveled, "She's grounded, yet completely disconnected." The two exchanged enthusiastic glances.
"Just as I anticipated. Care to test her indifference further?" Caius prompted Aro with a plastered smile on his face.
"In a moment, first allow me to try again," Aro intoned, and leaned in closer to me, his eyes narrowed and bore down my shoulder. His prying hand skimmed down my forearm and latched onto my palm, caress and stroking, desperate to get a reading. We both knew that he was only setting himself up for disappointment.
Disregarding Aro's antics, Caius continued with his agenda, "Bella, what more can you say about Edward Cullen?"
"I know I loved him," I lifelessly answered.
"And now?"
"I don't know how I feel. I know what it was like to love him but I can't find it in me do it again. When will that come back...the feeling?"
"Patience. You do not want that to come back, not until your appetite dies down. It's a defense mechanism. Emotions are burdensome for your kind. Guilt, shame, and remorse impede the feeding process," Caius arrogantly cautioned.
"I don't understand. Won't I still have to feed after my emotions return?"
"Correct," he affirmed, "but your appetite is at its peak now. The cravings are unpredictable and drive you to behave in a way that would distress a rational mind. Your emotions will gradually return as your appetite fades away."
Aro prodded, "You met Shen. His pitifully guilty conscience makes him resist his thirst. He denies himself adequate feeding, leaving him weak and despondent. If only he had your luck. Your body will not let you defy your nature, and we will provide you all the nourishment it demands." His fingers delicately brushed over my collarbone. Sanguine eyes looking into me as he soothed my cheek.
Marcus griped from his throne behind, "And her other need?"
"Heidi, would you be so kind?" Aro roused, raising one eyelid.
"My pleasure. Shen will be returning tonight with Bella's meal and an assortment of suitable clothes," Heidi assured, her demeanor far more agreeable.
"Isn't that wonderful!" Aro belted out, exaggerating his enthusiasm to amuse Marcus. "Heidi has already taken care of our dear Bella. I foresee a great, sisterly bond forming." He side-eyed Heidi. "And Bella, imagine the effect she will have on the morale of the guard, a sweet woman's touch to relieve their tensions."
Caius advanced toward Heidi, "Was she difficult around the human?"
I answered for her, "Bianca's scent was tempting but not intolerable. Though, my throat did feel awfully dry around her."
"Bella's self control may be better than Shen's. She barely flinched, despite how uncomfortably close Bianca positioned herself with the measuring ribbon," Heidi casually reported.
Aro's jaw clenched, "Conclusion?"
"38-24-36."
"My…," he enthused, dilated pupils looking me up and down. "I do look forward to the new wardrobe. Such a fine lady deserves better than this robe. My apologies for not doing your body the beautiful justice it deserves." He swayed, entertained by his own indirect jab at Heidi's taste.
Credulously watching his brother, Caius slightly nodded his head, "Aro, don't let your voyeuristic gratification take up too much time. Bella is adjusting well. If all is said and done here, I say we send them out now. Heidi owes us a meal." He crept back to his throne until I interjected.
"One last question," I stammered. Caius's eyes widened, taken aback by my outburst. Aro leaned forward with his palms out, encouraging me to go on. "I noticed that all of the guard members have personal suites. Is there one prepared for me too?"
"Mi dispiace, your coming took as all by surprise, and we're currently at capacity," Aro apologized in an embellished tone. "For now, feel free to use Shen's space, I'm sure he won't mind the extra company, piccolina."
"Heidi," Caius sorely grimaced, "Dinner will be expecting you soon." The room dropped to a dead silence only to be revived by the clicks of leather heels on concrete. She seized my shoulders from behind and steered me out the double doors.
"C'mon, let's get you washed up. I could smell Felix's fluids on you the whole time we were in there," she cringed, taking large strides to distance herself again.
"Shen really won't mind? It seems like a huge invasion of privacy."
"He barely uses it own suite. That human-hugger is always in and out of Volterra. He's so damn fickle, yet Aro fawns over him because of his gift. Just despicable." Her svelte arms crossed at her chest. "It's obvious that you're just a pawn. Aro must think that your body will motivate Shen to stay. You saw how he behaved when you nakedly posed for Bianca."
"Or maybe he offered Shen's room because it's barely used," I countered.
Her feminine hips dramatically swayed, "I highly doubt that."
We ended up in the same hallway that she fetched me from. Heidi led me past Felix's room and swung the last door open, no key necessary. Shen's suite was substantially larger with plenty of walking room and closet space. Two velvet couches and an espresso coffee table convened near the entrance. My legs gravitated toward the king-sized bed against the back wall, and both hands grazed its creamy, eggshell bedspread.
Heidi walked directly to the full bathroom adjacent to me, "You wouldn't think of him as the type to stock up on soap," gesturing toward the impressive array of products arranged on the shower shelf. "Have the decency to clean yourself off before trying on the new clothes, Bella. You'll be left alone here for a bit while I take care of business in the courtyard."
"But then where should I meet Shen?" I fretted.
With royal posture, she made her grand exit, "Jane should be in the main hall. I'll have her send him up here."
The door slammed unnaturally hard behind her. Fingers combed through my silky long hair as I briskly walked to the shower and got the water running. My interest turned to the full body mirror, begging me to disrobe before it and see my whole self for the first time. I gasped with one hand running down the reflection in disbelief. Everything was beautiful: light bouncing off my jet-black hair, porcelain skin, buxom hourglass figure, and perky breasts with coin sized, peach nipples.
I stepped into the shower, lathered myself in soap, and rinsed Felix's sex off of me but could not wash away the impure thoughts. The aching returned, starting in my chest like before and traveled down between my thighs. Mimicking his touch, my hands rubbed my thighs and reached up to my moist pussy. My index finger found its way inside of me and softly toyed with my clitoris. I closed my eyes, imagining he was next to me again, and my hips hungrily imitated his rhythm, but it was no use. The aching pain intensified, devouring my nipples, thighs, and every intimate inch in between.
With the water shut off, I slipped the robe back on, not bothering to close it, and darted towards the front door, hoping that Felix was in his room. Much to my surprise, the door began to open before I could reach it.
In walked Bianca. "It's time," an obscure, masculine voice spoke from behind her.