Finally! It's the chapter you've all been waiting for! I'm so sorry for the long wait - but I didn't want to rush it! It's going to be a big one so I hope you enjoy it :)

LookAliveSunshine03

Song of the chapter: Unforgettable, Nat King Cole

WARNING: some swearing

Chapter 11:

Goddesses of stone and sunlight

At last, at last the big day was almost here. It was the penultimate morning before the wedding, and according to her own traditions, Anna hadn't seen Aro since the previous evening. The magnitude of what was coming was still falling on her, gradually, like a capricious summer rain. Oh, but how she craved for the heavens to break completely, to rid her of this sticky heat of waiting.

Outside of that, Anna was coping very well. Only Beth noticed her restlessness, casting her little looks every so often, as if asking her if she was alright. Her future with Aro was in sight, palpable, and utterly terrifying in its beauty.

This afternoon had been the first big celebratory feast. It was almost a pre-hen-party warm-up where much blood was consumed, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and giggling from all: the bride, her head bridesmaid and maid of honour – or dishonour as Beth seemed adamant on calling herself (wicked little grin included).

Even Hazel had hung about for a little while – or Lucy, as she was being addressed today.

Well. In truth, Beth did not know what to make of her. Whenever they were in the same room, she found herself watching Hazel with a slightly terrified awe. She was the sort of woman her sixteen year old self would have given her right arm to be, though her other personalities left her reeling.

Serena seemed inspired by a Queen Bee from a teen movie or, so Beth thought: all smiles in person, but probably a real bitch beneath her surface. Celia had wild blonde hair, usually tamed by a headscarf or beanie. She walked with a dance in her step, and she appeared to spend most of her time singing, or humming under breath. In the brief encounters she'd had of her, Beth could only assume she was the sort of person who enjoyed the odd recreational drug.

Could vampires even get high?

Then there was this new character, Lucy, who looked like a tired stereotype of a librarian. She said very little and had a habit of nervously tugging at her auburn pony-tail. When Hazel played this role, any trace of devil-may-care seemed to have been scrubbed clean.

It. Was. Weird.

Then there was the rather bizarre ceremony Beth was about to witness. With the sun setting, Dora was leading them purposefully, down into the very bowels of the castle. Corin was ever dutiful, carefully carrying a goblet of blood. The smell of it was making Beth feel incredibly sick.

Anna clutched a small brown bag to her chest, contained some rose petals, and general objects of nostalgic value. With little to offer, she was sacrificing some of what remained of her satin scarf. It looked as far from a scarf as it possibly could now; it symbolised so much, but Anna wasn't sad to see it go, because part of it was going to be put to good use tomorrow night. Something inside her quivered to think about it.

She had tried to explain to Beth what was about to happen beforehand, but she knew her sister was biting her tongue to hold back her questions. Where are we going? What's with the blood offering?

Beth's interest had been piqued when she learnt they were to visit a real ancient temple. Hell, she had been under the impression that the garage (home to her favourite Lamborghini) made up the castle's basement. That was it. But now they were descending another set of stairs she had never seen before. Like the rest of the castle, they were made from sandstone that had been eroded by time and many footsteps.

I may be the youngest person to ever come down here. It was a rather unsettling thing to think - that, and the stench of char and death that lingered sordidly here. Beth felt horror lick its way down her spine, knowing that thousands – maybe even hundreds of thousands - of bloodless corpses were tucked somewhere close by.

Meanwhile, Dora was twittering away like a foolish little bird, as she brought them to their destination. The air was icy and stale down here, and their feet omitted puffs of sound that cracked like gunfire around them.

The temple itself was magnificent, with the pointed roof like an upside-down open book, supported by thick, strong pillars."How old is this place, Dora?" Beth's voice was hushed with awe.

"Oh, millennia!" Athenodora responded musically. She gave a twirl so her long tourquoise skirts spun around her. "Aro had it built especially for special moments like today. Corin, do you have the matches?"

"Yes, Dora-dear." As always, the lady-in-waiting was beaming from ear to ear, and she seemed to glow with her own inner light. She offered Anna the box. "Would the bride care to light the lanterns?"

Anna seemed to shake herself out of a reverie. "Oh! Yes, she would. Thank you." She smiled bashfully as she took the matches, and lit the lantern in the temple doorway. Beth noticed her fingers were shaking slightly.

"Hey, um, am I allowed to go in, too?" she asked quietly.

Dora smiled. "If the bride is happy to."

Anna met her sister's eyes. Her expression was amused, but full of gratitude. "As if you have to ask. Come along, maid of dishonour."

"Yay! You got my title right!"

"Take your time, my dears," Dora said as, grinning, Beth came to stand by Anna. Her voice was soft as a breeze in the quiet. "We will wait here for you."

"Thanks," Beth replied. The goblet of blood, matches and sacrificial offerings were passed between them, and then Anna and Beth walked, side by side, inside.

The temple was deceptively small on the outside, with a few cubby-holes for candles or lanterns pushed into the pillars. At the far end, three vast statues stood with bronze basins of oil sat between their feet. It smelt as pungent as furniture polish, and Beth's nose wrinkled – though by the smell of the oil or the blood, Anna didn't know.

She couldn't confidently recognise any of the deities they represented, either, though it was an easy assumption the tallest one in the centre was of Zeus. The woman had to be Aphrodite, standing on the right there with a coy smile carved into her face.

"Who knows who he might be?" she asked Beth, pointing to Zeus' left. She didn't expect her to know the answer, until Beth's best self-depreciative smile flickered white in the dark.

"That's Athena."

"It is? How do you know?"

The smile grew. "Well, she has a shield with Medusa's face on it – see? Those wiggly bits are her hair-serpents. Only the Goddess of Wisdom would tell Perseus to use reflections as a murder weapon." She snorted in rather amused contempt. "The one with Jessica Rabbit's figure is the one you want, I guess. Aphrodite."

"Yes." Athenodora had instructed as such, but - "Beth, I had no idea you were so knowledgeable of Ancient Greek deities."

Beth shrugged, still looking slightly embarrassed. "I loved learning about the Ancient Greeks at school. Plus, Clash of the Titans is one of Mum's favourite films." She cleared her throat. "But this place looks like it was just grown out of the ground, right?"

"I believe that was Aro's intention. He carved it all himself, according to Dora."

"All this? Bloody hell. He never fails to surprise, does he?"

Anna's smile was a bright secret. "No." Crouching down, she gently placed the goblet of blood upon Aphrodite's pedestal and lit the bowl of oil. Its small flame threw strange shadows around the alcove.

As Anna stepped back, placing a hand on her heart, Beth glanced around awkwardly. She dared not say anything in case she ruined it. Whatever it was. Her mother had been Christian, though had left it up to her children to make their own decisions on what they believed. Beth had always respected and admired her for that. She certainly didn't believe in any kind of traditional God now, but she'd always acknowledged that there was probably some higher power…somewhere.

So she watched Anna with interest, trying to guess what was going through her sister's mind. Anna still held onto her beliefs diligently. She looked happy now; serene, actually, almost as close to asleep as she could get, standing at the feet of a Goddess. The oddness of the situation suddenly hit Beth full in the face.

"Wait. Doesn't this feel a bit… blasphemous? Praying to a pagan goddess like this?"

Anna did not answer. Her head was bowed, and after a moment of silence, Beth began to doubt if she'd even heard her. "I'm still praying to Him, Beth," she said eventually. "All these other Gods…I believe these are all different aspects of Him."

Beth liked that nice idea, tucking it away in her mind for another time. "Oh. Do you want this?" She offered the small bag she was still holding, and Anna smiled in thanks. "What are you praying for? Unless…it's not like a birthday wish if you tell me, is it?"

Anna laughed softly. "No, Beth." She opened the bag and slowly began feeding the curled-up petals to the flame, one by one. "I'm praying for…strength."

Beth frowned. "Shouldn't you be praying to Athena, then? Oh. I'm thinking of the wrong sort of strength." Her eyebrows disappeared into her fringe at her sister's sheepish expression. "Well, honestly I'm surprised Aro hasn't been asking for the same." She crowed with laughter as Anna gasped.

"You are dreadful!" Then she laughed, and Beth knew she didn't mind. She probably even agreed.

Since coming back to Volterra, Beth didn't think she'd ever heard her sister laugh so much. The affection and pride she felt for her was an immense thing, almost knocking the air from her lungs.

That was when the idea came to her, like a furtively whispered word and, for a second, Beth balked from it. Disrespectful. This is Anna's moment, not mine.

But this wedding marked a shift in their bond. It had been lurking in the back of Beth's mind for a long time, and now here was the proof. She could feel it, like the air before a storm. They were changed, both of them; they were pulling away from one another, to pursue different paths.

Except, for the first time, Beth felt no panic, no fear about it. She waited for it to strike and steal her breath, but she was left with only a strange kind of peace as she moved to drop her notebook into the fire.

"Beth!" Anna's cry was a shocked exhale. Her arm was a blur to save it – until Beth gently stopped her.

"It's okay. Don't."

Anna's eyes were huge, uncomprehending. "But all your work! Why did you -?"

Beth shrugged. "I don't need it anymore."

"But - are you sure? All your research on the Cullens -?"

"I don't need it. It's too late now, anyway." Beth was admiring the flames' quick work, and in an instant of flash-bulb clarity, Anna watched her adolescent awkwardness slipping away. It revealed a calm maturity; coupled with her easy smile, Anna wondered what Demetri would have made of it, as she listened to Beth speak. "All that stuff I wrote? Too many secrets to carry around. I'll just buy another one and start afresh," she insisted.

Nodding, Anna closed her mouth to swallow. "Alright. But it would have been good of you to tell me beforehand."

"I know. I'm sorry, but it felt like the right time." Then Beth hunched her shoulders, and she was the teenager again. "You won't tell Dora, will you?"

"Of course not." Anna took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "What happens in the temple stays in the temple, yes?" Anna smiled as Beth chuckled.

"Well said, my Lady."

They watched the little fire consume their offerings. They were thinking the same thing at that moment, although they didn't know it, about how their conjoined path had taken its horrific turn in a similar fashion. It was comforting then, that they were able to face the flames today without those same feelings of dismay or grief.

"They would be proud of us, wouldn't they?" Beth said softly. "You, especially."

Anna smiled. "Yes… I'm sure they would."

She eventually thanked Aphrodite by pouring the blood onto the remains. With all flames extinguished, they left, feeling lighter and rejuvenated as they walked back with Dora and Corin to Anna's chamber. With six hours to go before the wedding, it had been time for the bride's cleansing ritual.

After Corin had fetched enough water in a vase from the garden stream, Anna was undressed by Dora (who had ignored her protestations, claiming they "were all girls here"). Stepping into the water, Anna had discovered it was surprisingly soft and quite warm, reaching as far as her collar-bone. It was also scented with different oils and flower petals, making the whole experience all the more relaxing.

As Corin helped her wash her hair, gently massaging her scalp (which had felt wonderful), she asked. "Where's my maid of honour?"

"Here, darling!" Came an excited voice. "And I bring belated Christmas presents."

Cracking open an eye, Anna had seen Beth had found an excellent website on her travels, selling personalised items of clothing. This happened to include bathrobes, which she had taken full advantage of. Pale lilac and gloriously soft, there was one for each of them, with their names and titles stitched on in flawless, black calligraphy. Beth was indeed the 'maid of dishonour' in hers.

An hour had passed since then, and the bride was now having her hair done by her head-bridesmaid. With gentle clucking about the sheer mass of curls she was dealing with, Dora was proving to be a marvellous hair-dresser.

"Oh, he likes my hair loose," Anna insisted when it looked like she wanted to pull it up.

"He also enjoys playing with it, my dear. Who are we to deprive him of that?" Dora laughed. "Tonight is a special night, perhaps the most special night of your life. Make it last, Anna. Enjoy it. You remember all the things I taught you?"

"Yes. Of course." Anna glanced at Beth in her reflection, embarrassed to be talking about such things in front of her. She was swishing her skirt along to the playlist she had created for the occasion, like an excitable girl playing dress-up, circling the mirrors that had replaced the mannequins.

"I can't believe this is finally happening," Anna whispered. "Oh, what do you suppose he's doing right now? Do you think he's ready yet?"

Here Beth looked over at her. She gave a small chuckle. "Babe, he's been ready since last year." She came over to kneel down carefully beside her. "Before that, even. Not long to wait now." She then glanced at Dora for confirmation, who nodded.

"All that is left is the dress, and you are ready."

Anna clenched her fists together in her lap. In the mirror, she could see the dress hanging expectantly beneath its cover, on the door of the wardrobe. "Yes, I am."

"Lord Aro." Celia's voice was a sleepy Irish drawl. In a last attempt to find something to do, Aro had come here to see her. After stepping inside to let him in, she smiled at him with half-lidded eyes. "I wasn't expecting you here. Not getting cold feet, I hope?"

He chuckled. "I trust you are still agreeable to singing at the ceremony, dear Celia?"

Her head nodded slowly. "That I am. The maid of honour very kindly suggested some songs. Ah, but they're appropriate, don't you fret none," she smiled when Aro looked a little alarmed. "Her taste is music is…old-fashioned for one so young." She shifted in her stance. "Would you like to see the set-list?"

"Please."

It consisted of twenty songs, some classical pieces that Aro recognised, but most of which were from the 1960s and onwards. They made him smile, impressed by Beth's ever-perceptive nature towards his bride.

"Anna will be delighted to hear them. Thank you, Celia."

They had no idea that, at that moment, a certain dishonourable maid was slipping downstairs to see how things were progressing outside. She paused on the first step, grinned at their conversation topic, and scurried away.

Outside, the morning was cool and crisp with the promise of spring. Fearing a potential encounter similar to that of Marilyn Monroe, Beth was glad the breeze could not touch her under her glamour.

She found the garden as a hive of activity. Despite their speed, she observed the Guard members for a time, watching them tie gold ribbons and flower garlands to every available tree.

At Anna's insistence, the Guard all wore different shades of blue. Beth saw Jane looping ribbons in the freshly-painted bridge fences. She looked disarmingly sweet in a frilled, tourquoise dress and matching ballet shoes.

Marcus was a dark pillar stood upon the bridge, staring out like he was somewhere else entirely. Demetri was there too, sitting on the ground, threading – of all things! – a daisy-chain circlet for someone to wear. He looked quite relaxed, long fingers manipulating the delicate stems with surprising gentleness. Passing the completed chain to a laughing Chelsea, he grinned.

Having never seen him do such a thing, Beth was quite agog, before her phone chose to make a noise. Of course it was Anna asking her to come back, but the loud chime made Beth panic as Demetri's head jerked up at the sound. He raised an eyebrow, but Beth didn't see it, naturally. She was already gone.

Anna's transformation was complete. That was how it felt to her, and it thrilled and frightened her equally. Her face was to be covered by a thin veil, much to her chagrin; it was only to be removed once Beth had given her away.

She had tried the blasted thing out already. It had reminded her of looking through a net curtain, the kind her mother probably would have had at the window in the drawing-room.

Besides that, Anna wasn't sure what to make of herself. It certainly didn't reassure her that the other women appeared to have suddenly lost the ability to speak.

"How…is it?" She had to lift her skirts to turn slowly around. "Do I look okay?" She directed these questions at Beth, who had just returned, grinning, from the garden. She was far less likely to sugar-coat a disaster, if there was one.

"Okay? Please, you've never looked less than amazing," she snorted.

"You look magnificent," Corin breathed.

"The perfect Queen," Dora gasped out. Her linked hands were tucked beneath her chin like a child. She looked about ready to cry with happiness. "Dearest Anna, is it was time?"

Anna took a breath. She had been a mess of prickling nerves all evening; what was settling over her now was a blissful wave of calm. What had she even been worried about?

She met Beth's eyes, and smiled. "It is time."

The journey to the garden was far slower than she would have liked. Were it not for the delicate material of their dresses, she would have run there. They found the castle empty. Corin and Dora walked behind them, talking in hushed, excitable whispers. Who knew how long it had been since they had left their room?

Beth was babbling. "This is it, eh? You're getting married. Fuck. I can't quite believe it myself – not that I didn't think you'd go through with it. Oh my God, that's the ultimate TV soap cliché, don't you think?"

"It should be the bride who is nervous, Beth," Anna remarked with a smile, startling her and causing her chiffon to wobble alarmingly.

"I ain't nervous. It's just…I've just realised that this might be the last time we do this."

Anna frowned, unsure by what that meant. "Do what, exactly?"

"Well…me talking absolute bollocks, while you laugh. Stuff like that. As normal as we can get. Once you're married…" Beth smirked, thinking of a certain telepath and his wife. "Well, let's say you won't have much time outside of that bedroom of yours. At least not for a couple of years."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I'll forget you," Anna replied, after a small, involuntary giggle. "Although you will undoubtedly be touring the globe and breaking hearts in that time."

"Ha! I'm not sure about the latter. The globe-trotting sounds right up my street, though."

"I wouldn't expect anything else from you." Anna squeezed her arm warmly. "Beth?"

"Yeah, dear?"

"You look lovely with your hair out of your eyes."

"Fuck off," Beth laughed, ignoring Corin's shocked gasp. "This day is about you, remember? Compared to you, I am nothing but a pile of dog-shit."

"Are you criticising my work, Beth dear?" Dora teased genially as they passed through the back entrance to the garden. "Oh, wait! The veil. Anna, don't forget your veil…"

With her running back to their room, Anna and Beth exchanged a look. "Heaven forbid I do," she said with a smile, and Beth crowed with laughter.

Somewhere along the way to the bridge, Renata had tucked a large white rose into Aro's lapel pocket. Its rich smell made him feel a little dizzy – or was that just the anticipation?

A day without Anna had been the longest of tortures. He was the musical note waiting to be played, the wine waiting to be tasted, and the sound of women laughing upstairs – his bride, laughing – had persistently struck him with an excruciating ecstasy all night.

Now the reward was in sight. The tuxedo was on, his hair was immaculate, and his vows were burning a hole in his breast pocket. He was only half-aware of the murmuring of his Guard, of Celia finishing warming up in her corner. The pond was a rippling blanket beneath the bridge, which creaked quietly under him.

On a whim, he took a tell-tale taste of the air. Corin and Dora's were familiar to him, lilac and citrus; they would arrive first, but he was soon gifted with Anna's approaching scent – then there was Beth, she of cinnamon and summer apples, which Demetri found so appealing.

The world turned faster almost. Aro saw him spring to attention as Celia began Anna's song. He heard Renata give an excited gasp, and the ceremony began.

He barely spared Dora and Corin a glance, though they sashayed forth like petals on the breeze, beaming and lovely in pale blue togas. Aro felt Marcus stiffen as Corin's influence began its instinctive work, easing their bearings and bringing foolish smiles to every face in the garden.

Then Anna came into view, and…Aro forgot all else. Despite her face being hidden by a diaphanous veil, even the sun cowered behind a cloud, so humbled was she by his Queen, so utterly eclipsed by her brilliance. How had he never seen it before? Anna was the sun, the moon, and every star in the heavens, swathed in white laced in silver from head to feet, revealing just the right amount of cleavage.

The sigh that trickled from his lips fell in a hushed groan.

"Un angelo è venuto."

"May I run now?" Anna whispered. She almost meant it as a jest, but Beth began to walk faster, chuckling.

"He scrubs up well, doesn't he? Hm, I don't think I've ever seen him in anything but black before."

"No…I haven't either."

Whoever had made the suit were exceptionally talented, that much was obvious. It emphasised every bit of him, every taut muscle, and it would have rendered Anna breathless in that aspect alone, except the colour of it made her feel quite thirsty.

She was aware the Guard watched her with something like quiet reverence. The veil tickled her face, as irritating as a fly, and she longed to remove it. She needed him to see her.

"Just five more steps; almost there," Beth said softly, as in tune to her moods as always. "Three, two…"

Their feet thumped against the bridge's planks, and she was there, and his smile was barely contained and effervescent. She only just heard Marcus asking, wearily, if Beth was ready and willing to relinquish her to Aro, and she could tell Beth was clearly trying not to laugh.

"Yes. I am – now, for God's sake, take that veil off her face!"

Many laughed at that. "With utmost pleasure," Aro answered. His hands lifted the offending material gently but quickly, and the Guard murmured their approval.

To see him with unclouded eyes… it was like falling, falling before realising she had a perfectly good set of wings to make her soar.

"Ah. There you are," Aro purred. His eyes crinkled beneath the weight of his smile, and Anna took his hands and felt and thought, because she could not speak.

I love you. I love you. I love you.