Accomidations

Arriving in Volturi was done with much less fanfare than I expected. We landed in a small private airport a few miles away from what I could only describe as a castle. Then we ran, at top vampire speed to a back entrance. Once we were inside the other guard members made their excuses and left to their own devices. They did not like me.

Aro, however, still had my arm and was leading me through a dark tunnel. He was humming contentedly and after I pushed into his thoughts I could see he was thinking of all the things he could accomplish with me on his side. I was getting better about entering his subconscious. He barely noticed this time. This made me wonder if it was possible to enter with no detection.

Finally, we entered a large cavernous room. There was a dais taking up half the room and upon it three thrones sat.

The other 2 leaders went to their seats immediately, sitting and looking bored. But Aro stayed with me smiley at me widely.

"What do you think, Isabella? Does our home please you?"

I looked around and had to admit that the vaulted dome ceiling was impressive, but deeper inspection showed sings of their brutality.

A small decline in the floor centering around a grate. The floor was stained a unusual dark brown color. No rugs or tapestries or pictures were present. All signs that pointed to brutal murders that made me shudder.

Aro noticed my revulsion and tsked at me.

"Come now, Isabella. It is not so bad as that." I just continued looking around at the evidence of horror. He tried taking another tack. "Let's show you where you'll be staying. We want you and your son to be comfortable." He started leading me away from the death stained room through another dark tunnel. Soon we were climbing a long spiral staircase. It seemed to be leading up one of the many towers. After a long flight we stopped before a beautifully carved door. The wood was dark as the night and carved with a boarder of flowers. I immediately fell in love.

As he opened the door I could see that the room was similarly furnished with old carved furniture and deep rich colors.

"If the furnishings are not to your liking, we can change it. We want to be accommodating to our newest family members." He offered.

"It's perfect."

"I thought it would suit you. The whole floor is yours. That door," he pointed to one of the many doors in the room. "Leads to your sleeping quarters. This one leads to Ian's" he pointed at the next door. "And this one is your bathing quarters. And lastly, your closet and dressing area." He smiled at me and handed me a small black card. "This is linked to the Volturi account. Please purchase whatever you need."

I slowly started exploring the room. Everything was old and beautiful and hand made. Entering Ian's room, I saw that his was the same. A beautiful canopy bed was set in the center of the room and knowing that he was tired, I laid him down for the night.

When I came back out I saw that Aro was still there waiting for me. He was sitting at a large desk and he motioned for me to take the seat next to him.

"Isabella, I am so glad you like your rooms. This is the tower for the elite guards and you have been given the honor of a floor only one below the wives. There are many jealous guards because of you." He wink at me.

I just waited for him to end the pleasantries. I was tired of his games.

He shifted uncomfortably and tried to smile through his unease.

"Isabella, I wanted to discuss your position in our family." I nodded. This is what I was waiting for. "I want to offer you the highest position of the guard. The personal guard of the three and a leadership among the elite." He waited for my response. I did not offer any. "Well, I guess it's settled then. We will need to start your training right away."

"Training?" I finally answered.

He sighed in relief. "Yes. We want you to be the best you can be, and since our time is unlimited, our best can be much more than you could have ever accomplished as a human. We will want to start you in training for combat, our guards are trained in almost every form of fighting. We will also begin your formal training in your gift. I can already tell you are perfecting it. I almost didn't notice as you entered my mind back in the throne room. We want to make sure you have discovered every possible aspect of your gift. Then there will be the language training. Our guards need to be able to blend with local communities and speak the language while on missions. You will need to do so also. Then there will be opportunities to study any branch of education you desire. We have so much to teach you." He looked so happy that I was joining them. But it was just another home for me, a place to stay. Protection for my child.

"Okay when do we start."

"We want to give you time to settle in. After your first feeding should be time enough."

"What?"

"Isabella, I do understand your sentiments for the human race, but I will expect you to partake in our diet and leave your old, quaint, habits behind. We cannot have you in less than perfect condition."

"No!" I protested. "I can't. I will not."

"We have no room for disobedience among our guard. If we cannot come to an agreement on this we will have to ask you to leave. But you will have to leave without the child. He is too dangerous to be out in the human world." He looked at me, slightly amused. He was wondering how I would handle this, what I would choose.

NO! I growled at him. Immediately taking a defensive position. You cannot have my son. And I will not take part in that slaughter.

"And I cannot have you partaking of animals." he replied cooly. "We are at a standstill."

I could make you let me. I proceeded carefully. This was a very dangerous path.

"Ah, yes. But you will have to force this decision on every single person in this tower because we all are of the same opinion. Is that how you want to live your life here. Constantly forcing you will upon others?" He stared me down daring me to do it.

"This does not need to be a fight. We can compromise. I saw from your memories that the Cullen's had you on a slightly more proper diet while you were pregnant with the child. They provided it in bags." His lips lifted in disgust. "As far as I can tell, it is still human blood and should provide you with the necessary nutrients. We can accommodate a hospital to provide you with the bags."

"Accommodate?"

"We would buy one of course."