Chapter 37

Bella's POV

As I watch the scenery blur passed, my eyes begin to droop. What could not have been mere minutes – that's what it felt like to me rather – I was awakened by voices I did not recognize. When I finally came to my senses and became aware of my surroundings, I realized that I was being carried, my eyes immediately snapped open, focusing directly on the very amused blood red eyes looking back at me.

I could feel my heart thundering in my ears as I tried desperately to calm my breathing in order to focus. Edward hissed something I was unable to hear and my gaze snapped to him, my brows furrowing before I focused on the red eyed woman that stood next to Edward, smiling beautifully – or what I assumed would seem beautiful to any other human. To me she looked slightly deranged and menacing.

The atmosphere was tense for a few minutes, before Edward nodded slightly and gently began to lower me to my feet. I briefly clung to his shirt before my brain snapped into action and I remembered that he was the enemy. I jerked my hands free from him and let them fall to my side glaring at him, until the woman next to him started cackling – her head was thrown back and the sound reverberated through the empty halls as she continued laughing her ass off.

Edward turned his angry eyes to me briefly, then back to woman

"If you're done, I'd like to introduce you to Isabella – and she's mine" Edward stated, his tone clipped and annoyed.

The woman stopped laughing as she turned to face me, her eyes roaming over my body, from my feet, slowly up until she reached my face. She stepped towards me, never breaking her gaze and reached her hand out grasping my hand in her own

"Pleasure to meet you, Isabella. I am Mistress Maria" She smiled, lifting my hand to her lips and lightly brushing it against my hand. "So warm" she practically moaned. I gasped; trying uselessly to get enough air into my lungs as black spots started to invade my vision.

Edward let out a low growl; and he reached his hand towards my wrist and pulled it out of Maria's grasp, pulling me slightly behind him. I gasped for breath, willing myself to gain some semblance of calm. I cannot fall apart now – that became my mantra whenever I felt myself getting too overwhelmed.

Tanya makes a snorting sound as Edward called me his and eventually stepped up next to Edward, effectively blocking Maria's line of sight to me. She holds out her dainty hand towards Maria in greeting.

"Hi, I'm Tanya" She announces confidently.

"Aah yes" Maria smiled, her gaze lingering on Tanya for a few seconds before she looked at Edward. I could tell she was communicating to him through her mind as he would nod or shake his head at certain intervals. "Please follow me, your arrival has been eagerly anticipated" She laughed softly before walking towards two large wooden doors. Pushing them open she gestured for us to follow before disappearing into the room.

"Shall we?" Edward asked. Though we knew it wasn't so much a request as a demand.

He wound his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side as we walked through the door that Maria has just entered. Tanya fell into step on my other side and I took the opportunity to look around. I might as well see what my final resting place looks like.

We entered a large room, with stone walls that almost looked ancient. The room was brightly lit with paintings hanging on almost every available space and what looked like marble statues near the only two small windows that occupied this room. By the light that was streaming in, I assumed it was daytime then. Edward continued to drag me along like a ragdoll as Tanya happily sauntered beside me, swaying her hips as her gaze stayed fixed on the figures sitting in the corner of the room. They looked to be deep in conversation with Maria, completely ignoring our entrance or my heart beating erratically; it felt as if it was going to jump right out of my chest.

Edward stopped in the center of the vast room, waiting to be acknowledged I presumed. Slowly the three figures turned fixing their gazes on us. I heard Tanya let out a surprised gasp, turning to Edward, I noticed a slight twitch of his lips which transformed to a wide grin as Tanya snapped her surprised eyes at him. She looked terrified and confused, her mouth opened and closed several times, unable to form the words she seemed desperate to utter.

I rolled my eyes at the stupid look on her face. A gaping fucking Vampire! Shocking – NOT!

"Snap out of it and use your damn words" I snap at her.

My voice was slightly hysterical and louder than I'd planned; it bounced off of the walls in this vast room. Tanya finally snapped out of her stupor and trained her mystified look at me, her eyes narrowed into tiny slits and Edward hissed – probably at her thoughts. She was probably thinking of ways to kill my ass.

Get in line bitch I thought to myself, with a small smile playing on my lips.

Yup, I'm losing my damn mind already!

"Edward my son, I am pleased you finally arrived" A male voice spoke from right in front of me.

I had been so focused on Tanya and her senselessness that I didn't even notice the figures from the corner of the room come closer to us. My heart rate doubled, sounding loudly in my own ears as I took in the proximity of the two men and Maria. Edward squeezed my waist for a fraction of a second before letting go and stepping up to the men.

He embraced them briefly, before stepping back and resuming his place with his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. A satisfied smile lighting his face.

I looked at the figures before me. Maria was about Charlotte's height, dark shinny black hair that reached the middle of her back. Pale features, with a slightly olive tone to her skin. Red full pouty lips and big blood red eyes that appeared ominous and crafty. All in all, she was beautiful like most vampires, but spine-chilling at the same time.

The men, though similar in stature had an air of self-confidence that surrounded them. One had short sandy blonde hair, neatly cut, pasty pale complexion with dull red eyes and the other man looked to be a bit older with longer light brown hair neatly tied back, and he had the same pasty complexion and red eyes that was more vibrant. A shiver ran down my spine and the men smirked before looking at Tanya with appraising eyes.

"Masters, let introduce you to Isabella" Edward gestured to me, planting a light kiss on my temple and I grimaced and tried to moved away causing him embrace my waist a bit harder before loosening his grip.

"And who might you be?" The sandy blonde asked Tanya

Edward answered albeit reluctantly before Tanya could get the words out. She still appeared to be dumb-struck, like her brain stopped functioning.

"This is Tanya, my …" he struggle for a second before settling on "my companion"

That snapped out of her stupid phase as she directed a glare at Edward, then looked at the men and gave a curt nod. Her lips were set in a firm line as she struggled with whatever was going through that brain of hers. Edward on the other hand seemed to be enjoying her turmoil and his smile turned into a smug grin whenever he looked at her.

"It is a pleasure to meet you ladies. I am sure you would like to freshen up after your long journey. We will convene again in a few hours." The blonde responded his accent coming in thickly, and his eyes never straying from mine. He waved us away towards the doors we entered through and Edward gave a small nod, and then let go of my waist, turned and grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the doors with Tanya following behind us seeming lost.

The doors shut with an audible bang that made me jump and Tanya snorted behind me, muttering under the breath. Now, she has a voice? Edward walked down a dimly lit hallway, passing several doors, dragging me along until we came to the second last door; he opened it and pulled me inside. Tanya slowly entered, closing the door softly behind her.

The room was decorated in dark blue shade, heavy curtains hung over the only window in the room, shutting out the light from outside. The carpet looked incredibly soft and inviting, matching the curtains. In the center of the room was a huge four poster bed, lots of pillows adorning it in matching blue with white on the edges.

Tanya's brain finally kicked into gear and she zipped in front of Edward, her hands firmly planted on her hips as she glared at the teenager. Edward let my hand drop and moved me away from Tanya and towards the bed. Tanya caught the movement and rolled her eyes with a shake of her head.

"What the hell are you doing here with them, Edward? You know if the Volturi gets wind of this they will slaughter all of us. Does Carlisle know? What have you gotten us involved in? What is going on here? I demand to know" Tanya hissed, her hands pointing to the room we just exited, where Maria and company was. She was firing question after question to an uninterested Edward who looked bored and annoyed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It does not concern you" Edward growled, his eyes almost black as he stared at Tanya who looked defiant. I took a seat on the soft bed, getting ready to watch the show. Man I wish I had popcorn or something.

I have officially lost it! Yay me!

"Yes it does. It's my life you're playing with. The Volturi will not take kindly to your association with the Romanians. I am leaving and you better hope the Volturi doesn't get wind of your betrayal" She screeched at him, losing her composure and stamping her heeled toed shoes on the carpet. She wasn't getting the reaction she wanted from Edward and it was pissing her off. She grabbed his arms trying to get a reaction out of him and she succeeded, although not the way she'd hoped, I imagined.

If I had more sense, this conversation should have concerned me, but I was physically and emotionally exhausted to even try to make sense of what the problem with Edwards Masters were. I knew of Maria through Jaspers history, I knew she was a sadistic, vile monster that made his existence hell and I would do anything to spare him from coming back here. I had no idea what the big mystery was surrounding the two males, though Tanya seemed terrified of them or what their presence here meant. Well since I was a goner anyway, it wouldn't really matter who did it I suppose.

Edward reached for her throat and pulled her close to him, I could tell he was applying pressure as she struggled and gasped for unneeded breath. His eyes were now completely black as he spoke in an intensely calm voice, full of terror.

"I could end your miserable existence now if you keep persisting to pester me with your inane questions and threats. You will show some respect to the rightful rulers and not utter the name Volturi within these halls if you value your existence and that of your family. Are we clear?"

Tanya let out a chocked sob – get it? Because Edward was choking her – Fuck, what's wrong with me? – don't answer that. Back to our feature presentation. Okay, that was the last one. She gave a nod mouthing yes to him

Edward dropped her and she landed on her ass on the carpet – graceful vampire, my ass – she sobbed tearlessly with her head in her hands, Edward looked down at her with distain and shook his head and stalked out of the room.

I sat and watched Tanya being all theatrical for a bit, not knowing what I was expected to do. So I just sat on the bed and let my mind wander, hoping, and praying for a miracle that either ends my life or Edwards. I much rather it be Edwards, though it has to be by my hand.

A girl can only dream!

It seemed like hours later that the door to the room opened and Edward walked through, much calmer. Tanya had since crawled into ball still sobbing like someone killed her puppy and I was still sitting on the bed staring off into space, dreaming of dismembering Edward. Good Times

Edward placed a bag on the bed beside me, he opened it and pulled out what looked to be woman's clothing and laid them neatly on the bed. He came to stand at my side completely ignoring the wails of the drama queen on the floor at my feet.

"Bella, love, why don't you go freshen up. The bathroom is through that door. I have arranged for food as I'm sure you must be staving by now" he stroked my face gently, from my temple to my jaw line. "Once you're done that you can relax before your audience with the Masters" he smiled and walked back out of the room, the door banging shut behind him.

At his exit, Tanya wailed louder, screaming his name over and over and over. I got up from my comfortable perch, grabbed the clothes and walked slowly towards the door that Edward pointed out as the bathroom. I could definitely use a shower. Hopefully little miss drama queen has stopped her damn howling by the time I'm done.