Chapter Fourteen

Bella

I wasn't sure what to expect at this meeting or even how many people would be there but in the event it was just the brothers, their wives, and the inner circle of guards which included, Felix, Jane, Alec, Demetri, Chelsea and Corin. Marcus pointed them out to me when we had sat down but our entrance had stunned everyone. Marcus had called for me smiling as he saw me in his wife's dress and offered me his arm which I took with a trembling hand.

"Don't worry Bella, you will be the belle of the ball."

Ball? Oh God I hoped there wouldn't be any dancing or I would show myself up for sure but then I remembered how Edward had led me around the floor at Prom and relaxed slightly. Anything Edward could do I was sure Marcus could do better. At the doors to the chamber we stopped and he smiled down at me,

"Are you ready to astound them all?"

I nodded but if it had been possible I would have run screaming back to my room and locked myself in. I took a deep breath and he pushed open the doors leading me in like a queen and guiding me to an empty seat at the round table pulling the chair back for me and then taking his place at my side.

As the door opened I had heard voices talking quietly but when I appeared the voices died away and I felt all eyes on me. Aro looked shocked and angry while Caius just smiled a little nastily but the others who hadn't seen me before just looked amazed. Marcus had told me they had never met Didyme so wouldn't be shocked by my face only my being there at all. The two wives who sat beside their husbands stared open mouthed then the elder of the two, Sulpicia managed a smile,

"Well Marcus you certainly have shocked us. Who is this beautiful young woman?"

"Yes please explain Marcus"

Caius wife Athenadora backed her friend.

"This is Isabella and as you can see she is the image of my dear Didyme. As such I have taken her under my protection."

Caius and Aro exchanged a glance and then Aro spoke,

"So you found our surprise brother, she is the mirror image of my dear sister, I was taken aback when I first saw her."

"Well, now we have all been introduced to my Isabella I suppose we should get down to business."

Athenadora and Sulpicia exchanged a look then Sulpicia smiled a little too sweetly,

"I'm not sure its wise to discuss such matters before a newcomer Marcus. Perhaps your guest could wait in her room."

"Isabella isn't a guest Sulpicia, she is my companion and as such she has a place at the table as of right, just as yourself and Athenadora."

They didn't like me being put on the same footing as them but there wasn't a lot they could do about it or so it would seem as Sulpicia sat back with a frown.

"If Bella is to be joining us I assume she will be a full member brother?"

"Yes, Isabella will become a vampire if that's what you mean."

"When brother?"

"As soon as I deem she is ready Aro and not before. Now shall we get down to business?"

I sat back watching and listening as they discussed several matters and understood this was like a government meeting to discuss policies and resolve problems which made it quite entertaining. It seemed they had problems with some of their own people as well as Guardians and even the odd human who strayed into dangerous areas. I learned of one rebel group, the Fraternidad, who were recruiting nomads and other discontented vampires to build up a force in order to challenge the Volturi although they didn't seem to cause that much concern to the people around the table. I tried to put names to faces and gifts to names as Marcus had told me them all together. The blond twins must be Jane and Alec. She could cause the illusion of pain while he could sever the bonds between your senses and the world outside. Demetri, the dark haired guy with the sharp nose was the tracker, Chelsea and Corin were more difficult to work out as they looked similar, one made you content with your lot while the other made you loyal and I hated the thought of either knowing that Chelsea was used to keep Marcus loyal to Aro despite Aro having murdered Marcus wife. These were probably the most dangerous vampires alive and I thought I must ask Marcus if the Fraternidad had any gifted vampires working for them.

By the time the meeting broke up I was thirsty and exhausted from sheer tiredness as well as nerves and Marcus took most of my weight on the way back to his quarters. Inside the fire had been banked up against the night chill and there was a pot of coffee keeping warm and some sandwiches and pastries on a small table ready for me. I sat down grabbing a sandwich greedily as Marcus poured coffee for me and placed it on the table at my side then took the other chair by the fire.

"Thank you for this evening Bella. I am sorry I didn't think of your human needs, you must remind me in future."

I nodded getting up again,

"Actually I would like a few private human moments if you will excuse me"

I remembered which door was the bathroom and spent a few minutes in there not only relieving myself but looking at my face in the mirror and marvelling at the discomfort it had caused in the meeting. There were more than a few guilty expressions when they saw me and I wondered how many were actually responsible for keeping Marcus in his place since his wife died. I wished I could shield him from them and watch as they realised he was no longer under their influence. Maybe I would try once I was a vampire, it would go some way towards paying Marcus back for his kindness in saving my life.

When I went back to the fire Marcus was staring into it with a look of satisfaction on his face and he turned as I rejoined him,

"You have no idea how much I enjoyed that Bella."

"Why did you insist on calling me Isabella to them?"

"The wives are always called by their full names, Sulpicia, Athenadora, and my poor Didyme. So you should be addressed as Isabella unless of course you wish to change your name when you become a vampire."

"Can I do that?"

"You can do anything you like Bella and most of us have changed our names over the centuries as some become too antiquated or foreign to the ear. For example my name was Marcellus which sounds strange to modern ears so I updated it to Marcus. Aro well, what can you do with that?"

"And Caius?"

"Caius would never change his name as the wives kept theirs but Sulpicia is a strange name these days. If she went out into the world she would have to find another."

"Don't the wives go out into the world?"

"Oh no, they are deemed too priceless and vulnerable. They live in an ivory tower."

"And Didyme?"

"No my wife was different, more adventurous, I once read that her name was associated with a deep inner desire for travel and adventure, a need to set their own pace in life without being governed by tradition."

"She sounds a wonderful person."

"She was. But back to you, do you have any ideas?"

"Yes I do as a matter of fact, Anastasia, Star"

His smile broadened,

"Now that will certainly put the cat among the pigeons as they say. You are a wicked person Isabella Swan."

"Well if we are going to let them have it, lets make sure it hurts."

"I think you and I are going to be a formidable team my dear."

ANASTASIA Greek origins, meaning resurrection.