Title: Intrinsic Fascination

Author: pantheradraconis

Rating: M

Pairing: Bella/Rosalie

Summary: The world is filled with billions of people; a new breath is taken every second. A last breath is taken as well. But the cycle continues, on and on; who would bother noticing when someone doesn't quite fit into this cycle…

"I have learned now that while those who speak about one's miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more."- C S Lewis

"Is there any part of you that honestly believes we can do this?" Bella asked, not making eye contact.

Rosalie didn't answer. The two stood together until the meeting was over. Alec and Jane took Bella back to her room and Afton brought Rosalie back to her coven. Rosalie described the ideas the six of them discussed to her own coven. Jasper seemed hopeful, Carlisle and Esme concerned. Alice asked if she could take the time to speak with Bella, perhaps to find a way for her own gift to be used. Rosalie agreed. Emmett was excited about the big battle to come. Edward held in his fear and tried to agree with Emmett. Rosalie was convinced something would happen that none of them would expect.

On the second day of their arrival at Volterra, the Olympic coven was served breakfast in their rooms and told they would be expected to meet with Aro for a tour of the city. The coven grumbled but had no one to actually argue with as the message was delivered by a kitchen maid. She was also a vampire but held no useful skills beyond her power of perfect flavoring. For a vampire, she was actually a bit of a klutz.

Heidi arrived just before 9 AM and brought the coven through the maze of halls and doorways to the outside doors where Aro, his wife Sulpicia, and his bodyguard Renata stood waiting.

"Welcome, welcome, my dear friends!" Aro called out before introducing his own entourage. Rosalie scowled at Renata but her vision softened when she looked at Sulpicia. The woman was beautiful with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. However, her eyes held a dull red tinge to them that not only showed she had just drunk human blood but also that she was not entirely interested in what they were doing.

"I trust you all slept well," Aro asked but was already turning out the door. "We have so much to see in the city! First, we will explore Palazzo Pretorio square, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and the Pinacoteca. After a fabulous meal at the Ristorante Enoteca Del Duca which has cibo particolarmente squisito [especially exquisite food]. Afterword, we will see the Roman Amphitheater and spend the late afternoon at the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum. The day will be che meraviglia [wonderful].

"And when will we be able to visit with Bella?" Carlisle asked lightly, pretending to be in the same calm mood.

Rosalie noticed Renata flex ever so slightly but made no other motion in response.

"Who is Bella?" Sulpicia asked in a whispy voice reminiscent of a mouse. Rosalie wondered what it was Aro saw in the meek woman but she had learned many years ago that people match up for all sorts of strange reasons. It's all in the relationship and none of her business.

"A new member of our guard," Aro answered just as softly as if speaking with a child.

"What?!" Rosalie heard her own voice shout out before they'd barely made their way into the square. "She is not!"

Aro actually jumped a little at the shout and Renata moved closer to him.

"Well, I meant simply that she was being trained and…" Aro started to backtrack his words. "And it was a simple answer for a more complex situation. Obviously Bella still has a voice and well…"

Rosalie had had enough of Aro's excuses. "I'm done with this and I'm done with the way you are treating our coven." Rosalie's word came out like daggers, each one causing Aro to flinch slightly. "You will take us to Bella now and if she so chooses, we will be leaving today."

"Doesn't that sound nice," Sulpicia said calmly before looking up at the buildings. "There is such beautiful architecture here. You know, I helped design the Torre del Porcellino. I'm quite proud of that accomplishment." She continued to speak on about the different architectural projects she completed before Didyme had passed on but Rosalie couldn't get herself to keep listening. Her voice sounded so sad.

Rosalie turned a 180 and began walking back to the Volturi compound, barely noticing the rest of her family joining her. Aro and Renata collected Sulpicia calmly and followed in quick pursuit.

At the door, Rosalie waited calmly while Aro made his way forward.

"Are you sure you don't want to tour the…" Aro's words were cut off by the glare Rosalie was giving him. There was part of him, in the back of his mind, that knew he was the leader here and needed to stand his ground but another part of him couldn't really remember why he was keeping such a close eye on Bella. She was interesting and he was very excited at the prospect of her joining their guard but the reason why was quickly fading from memory.

As they walked further into the compound, Aro found himself growing increasingly confused and somewhat angry. But again, he couldn't put his finger on why he felt that way. This was Carlisle and his coven. Why would he want to anger them? He quickly shook his head, sent Sulpicia up to her quarters with a rather disagreeable Renata to deliver her, and quickly brought the coven down to the guardrooms.

Aro quickly went to open the door he knew to be Bella's but it was locked. Why was a guard's door locked?

"Well isn't this a funny little thing, let me see if I can just find… Oh, Heidi! Yes, can you help us please?"

Heidi walked up to the group with slow, large strides.

"Aro," She starts in a strained voice. "How can we help you all the way down here?" She says the last few words in a short staccato.

Emmett stepped forward and brought his arms across his chest while standing directly in Heidi's way. The tall vampire grinned and with a swish of her hand, move the muscle-toned boy to the side. He growled lightly but was unable to move his legs.

"We?" Aro asked shaking his head. "Is there someone else here? Where is the key to this room?"

"Did you need some help?" A small vampire with sharp features and dark, round eyes appeared next to Heidi. It was obvious she was a guard given she wore the same robes as Heidi, but she didn't hold herself in any professional way as most of the guard did. Instead, the girl seemed to make herself look smaller and almost unnoticeable despite the fact she was standing right in front of them.

"Who? Oh, yes, Corin. What are you doing down here?" Aro said, his voice no longer in any rush but instead languid. "We were just coming down to visit with Bella, might you have a key?"

"I'm sorry, I don't carry any keys on me. Why don't we go back upstairs? Weren't you going on a tour today?"

"That does sound nice, yes. I would quite enjoy that." Aro turned slowly and gestured for the rest to follow. "Won't you all come along? It does sound like it would be a nice way to spend the day."

One by one, the Olympic coven seemed to agree with Corin's words and in a sloth-like procession, they began following Aro away from the door.

Carlisle, who had met Corin once or twice before, shook his head and blinked his eyes several times before reaching out for Rosalie. He managed to whisper out the words, "Not right."

Rosalie blinked at his words and shook her head, she didn't understand. The idea of a tour sounded just pleasant enough and they had plenty of time, they were vampires after all. Why didn't he want to go on the tour? Weren't they already on the tour? Why did they come down here? Bella, they came for Bella. Did she want to go on the tour?

Turning back toward the door, Rosalie knocked several times. Suddenly her feet were jostled from underneath her and she felt Heidi's undeniable power pulling her away and upstairs. Did Heidi not want Bella to come? But she was a part of their coven, they should all be together. Rosalie felt her feet fight against Heidi, who growled. That wasn't right, why would she growl?

"I just want to grab Bella first, for the tour," Rosalie said while staring at Heidi's closed mouth. The older vampire was visibly sweating from exertion.

Heidi snapped at Rosalie and shouted, "She will not be coming!" Her body shook and was no longer capable of controlling so many people's movements, especially as they began spreading out. It was Carlisle who first broke stride, followed by Jasper and Aro. The rest were held still and simply watched in contentment as the others moved back to Rosalie.

"What's wrong, Rosalie?" Jasper asked, his voice was rough and confused but also soft. He drew his eyebrows together and frowned. He didn't feel right.

"Something's not right," Carlisle repeated from his earlier statement, shaking his head vigorously.

Heidi's nostrils flared as she growled and grabbed Rosalie's arm, thrusting her away from the door forcefully.

"Ow!" Rosalie called out at the same time the door behind her broke open.

In a flurry of movement, Heidi found herself on the ground being choked by a rabid Bella who growled and chomped at her like a feral dog.

"You will not touch her!" She screamed.

The explosion of noise and movement caused the rest of the coven to snap out of their confusion and break from both Heidi and Corin's powers. For her part, Corin disappeared into the background, excusing herself as quietly as a mouse.

"Bella!" Aro's voice shouted out like that a tyrant king. "You will release her at this moment!"

Bella turned and hissed at Aro but in the action, she saw Rosalie's wide eyes. Was that fear? Or was she solely overwhelmed? Think Bella! The immediate danger is gone, what must be done? Be logical, not emotional. Bella released her grip from around Heidi's throat. She moved to get off the vampire but quickly punched her hard across the jaw, before standing up and moving to Rosalie's side. She looked over the tall blonde but saw no marks of damages. Satisfied, she reached out and held Rosalie's side while looking blankly at Aro.

"What is going on?!" Aro shouted out in a high pitched voice reminiscent of a schoolgirl. "Has the whole world gone mad? Attacking my coven! Fighting against their basic requests! My coven demanding exact action from yours.! Who is in control here?!" Sweat fell around his temples and his hair matted to his face. His cheeks grew red with heat and his eyes stayed wide in absolute bafflement.

"I do believe we can answer that." Marcus stepped into the hallway with a very angry looking Caius behind him. In his arms was a struggling Renata. "But first, I advise we lock up these two?" He eyed the knocked out Heidi on the floor.

Emmett twirled around noticing Corin's absence but no one knew where she had gone.

"No point looking for the evil witch." Caius spit out. "Anyone that finds her would just be convinced they didn't need to do anything."

"How? How long?" Aro asked, spinning around in confusion. His eyes grew wild with fear and exasperation. "How long would you have let this go on?" He asked, truly hurt.

"As if we let this happen!" Caius growled but Marcus held out his hand.

"Come, we will talk. Carlisle? Would you have your boys collect Heidi and follow us to the dungeon?"

Carlisle nodded and Edward and Emmett collected up Heidi, Emmett soon pulled her into his arms and cradled her like dead weight.

As the group moved down to the dungeons and Marcus and Caius explained the details of Heidi, Corin and Renata's actions, especially recently as the Olympic coven arrived, Rosalie and Bella followed at the back. They were mostly silent, only their fingers moving slowly along their enclasped hands any sign of acknowledgment of one another.

Rosalie wanted to thank Bella but wasn't sure how to form the words. Instead, she remained quiet. Bella wanted to excuse her actions, knowing they had been over the top. She could have simply dismissed Heidi's own power. She was growing more powerful herself and was more than able, especially with the strain Heidi was putting on herself. Instead, she had felt an overwhelming need to destroy Heidi, who had put her hands on Rosalie. Bella shook her head, she needed to gain control over her own emotions when it came to Rosalie. She was like a burst of light that blinded her of common sense and action. At the same time, it was a light that attempted to pull her out from her dark depression. The depression that was the only thing holding back her ever-growing need to leave and find her master.

Once they arrived at the dungeon and Caius made sure to throw both Renata and Heidi into separate, and very sealed off, cells, Rosalie and Bella separated themselves from the rest of the group. In a light undertone of a voice, Rosalie could hear Marcus explaining the slow overtaking of Renata, Heidi, and Corin to Aro, who was overtly ashamed of his own actions.

Bella pulled Rosalie into a small alcove down a short hall. Her actions were purposeful as though she knew these walls like her own home. She then stared up into Rosalie's eyes and smiled.

Rosalie smiled back and very slowly, as if reaching out to touch a china doll, brushed some of Bella's hair back from her face. She wanted so desperately to move in and kiss the girl but held herself back. She didn't want the hurt of being turned away.

Watching carefully, Rosalie noted the way Bella looked at her. Her face remained blank, her features calm and soft, but her eyes were stern, watchful, alert. And then, a light? Was there a light flashed in her eyes?

Bella pulled back and blinked several times. In seconds, their private alcove was joined by four other bodies. Felix, Afton, Alec, and Jane all appeared, the same strange looks on their faces, looks of fear.

"What happened?" Afton tried to ask at the same time Felix demanded, "What did you do?"

Bella reached her hand up and halted the questions, she didn't once turn away from Rosalie. Instead, her eyes grew bright and fierce and strangely alluring. Bella grabbed Rosalie's shirt and pulled her into a sharp, painful kiss. Just barely Rosalie thought she heard Jane make a sound of disgust but her own thoughts were quickly overwhelmed by the true touch of Bella, her Bella.

Too soon, the two were pulled apart by the urging comments of Carlisle and Edward. Rosalie turned to growl at them but stopped when she saw the look of fear and concern on their own faces.

"Tanya called me," Carlisle said in a grave voice. "The pack has been attacked."

Rosalie stared at her adoptive father. She moved her eyes to Edward and stared blankly at him.

Bella's voice creaked through, a raspy voice with a heaviness like it hadn't spoken in a long time. "Is, are…" Her voice fell for a short moment before she asked, "Is my family alright?"

Edward answered, understand the words unspoken. "Jake has taken over the pack, we don't know the full list of everyone injured but Sam, Sam didn't make it. Charlie is with the others at the central lodge."

Feeling Bella lean into her, Rosalie said, "When do we leave?" Carlisle nodded and immediately started making plans.

Felix and Afton took a small step forward and Carlisle noted their group was to be included as well as anyone else they wish to bring. The whirlwind of plans took over and in an hour's time, the Olympic coven and Volturi guard was on its way back to Washington.

A/N: Short chapters, multiple updates, I'm trying guys! I really am trying! I hope this small nudge into some more action is enough to hold you off until the next chapter.

[Chipmunk_izzy] Shoving grapes in your mouth is definitely a well-deserved accomplishment!

[Horseshoefijzer] Vampire Bella has been a wild ride to write. I have her under that deep depression based around Alec's power but I also have her desperately trying to find her connection with Rosalie as well as wanting to go back to Laurent. I'm glad it's working out well enough! And I have no doubts Rosalie will be something important in the next chapter!

[JenDamn] I might bring a little more detail on why Caius and Marcus weren't as fully affected as Aro in the next chapter or so but not sure how much detail I'll spend on it. Rest assured, Aro was definitely the female trio's (as per Laurent's demands) main focus. Afton! So I looked up the Volturi guard and Afton is very much a side note but he is a shield. I took what little info was put in there and ran wild with it, just like you said you liked! But thanks for the idea of adding in Sulpicia for this chapter!

[MaxximumRide666] You are forgiven! Welcome to the ride, please keeps your hands and legs waving frantically while providing ever more strokes to my ego, I do not mind one bit! I wish more people liked Edward, he is seriously a great character. And not enough people give Meyer credit for how much he grew as a character in the last two books. Just saying!

How many of you like traveling? Do you travel for the food or for the tourist stuff? Museums and art galleries or forts and castles? Shopping and people watching?