Now with Bella here in Volterra, the guard's gifts didn't work on Pica anymore she noticed and she knew Bella was protecting her. It was most noticeable with Renata, she had approached Aro yesterday and if looks could kill as they say! The stare down that Pica had received was illuminating; her husband saw nothing of course. Had she been coming in between Pica and her mate all these years and only with Bella here, it became apparent? Pica had glanced at Bella who inclined her head, stunned she turned to Renata and dismissed her from the room saying,

"You may go, Renata. We don't need your services at this time. In fact with Queen Isabella here, you will no longer be required to guard my mate within the Citadel walls. I suggest you use the time joining Master Caius' re-training programme!"

"Pica?" Aro asked his eyebrows lifted in enquiry,

"She would be better employed elsewhere than standing over us all the time. That woman knows more about your business than is wise. But that's just my opinion" she said back and Aro frowned,

"Yes, I'm sure a change of pace would be good for her. Maybe a place in one of the new units?" Marcus remarked and the two women smiled at him.

"I just passed a murderous looking Renata in the hallway. Did you finally see the light, Aro? Because I don't know how you stood it all these years. If that was my mate she continually deflected, I'd have taken her head years ago!" Caius said nonchalantly, as he sat and Aro was frozen in place,

"What? You knew and said nothing! Why?" Aro blustered loudly,

"Because we didn't know if you'd ordered her to do it, that's why!" Marcus said growling at Aro for trying to pass the blame,

"I would..., God damn it! How long?" Aro demanded, knowing this was all his own fault.

Once a long time ago, he had told Renata to keep Pica away. It was just after Didyme had died and she was not yet confined to the tower. He didn't want her involved in whatever he was doing at the time. It concerned the dire retaliation against the Romanians and resulted in the death of Vladimir's mate. An eye for an eye so to speak. Had he told Renata to stop? No! But dear heavens, that was hundreds of years ago.

Now he began to see what Marcus and Caius had been trying to tell him about the guard. Why they wanted them rotated, but he had insisted everything was fine the way it was, the old fashioned way, his way. He was slowly beginning to see the error of his decision. Never once had he gone back and said stop, expecting her to what? Read his mind!

"You win, rotate the guard and get rid of Renata. Make your changes both of you, I'll agree to them all" Aro said defeated,

He left the room after a fleeing Pica. She knew now he had sanctioned it the first time, even though it was supposed to be only that once. The others looked at each other and shook their heads. Most of Aro's problems were of his own making and he just never stopped to see it before.

"Let's never become like them little one. Always talk to me no matter what, I'd rather we were shouting at each other than having no communication at all" Caius said leaning over to kiss Bella's forehead and both she and Marcus smiled back at him,

"I will Káious, I will. Now when are you going to teach me to fight?" Bella asked out of the blue,

"What, fight, why?" Caius asked warily, he didn't like that idea at all,

"One day I'll come up against someone who can negate my shield. Maybe not soon but one day, so I need to be able to defend myself, to defend Dora if needs be or even you, my mate" she replied full of confidence and both men knew she was right,

"You win, soon okay. Let me get the guards in order and then well train you, Dora and Pica at the same time" he sighed knowing it was the right thing to do.

EIM

"Aro, you don't have any objections to me overseeing the updating of decor in the guards quarters, do you? I know it's mundane, but everyone needs a fresh outlook on life you know. Especially those of us who are going to live for eternity" Bella asked the next day as they all gathered in the throne room,

Of course, Aro had no objections to her doing what he thought of as women's work. He was happy thinking she'd stay out of their business if she was otherwise occupied. So it was with gusto Bella, Pica and Esme descended on the for the moment Elite guard's quarters. Pica was watching Bella with a strange look and a wicked smirk. She knew this was not the desire to decorate pushing Bella and she wondered who was going to receive the wrath of the newest Volturi leader. Most of the guard were out of course doing their respective jobs or the new re-training schedule, which Caius was implementing.

"Single guards first I think," Bella said briskly, as the walked down the corridor,

Seeing several guards up ahead she called out to them to pick the main colour for their rooms. Jane, Alec, Demetri and Felix quickly gave their choices to Bella and Pica hid a snicker behind her hand. Geez, they did everything but lick her boots.

"Heidi's room is empty so we'll leave it for now and the new tenant can have it changed later" Bella mused to Esme,

They stopped outside that door but were blocking Corin's door and even Pica could see the fear in the woman's face as she stood silently with the others. Ah, so she's got herself into more bother! Over the many long years, Pica had had issues with Corin. Things had a tendency to disappear and suddenly reappear later when she was about. Whilst under her calming influence Pica had never managed to put definite blame on her but had her suspicions. Especially when things did not reappear, but the woman always had an alibi, someone who was too important to question, like the brothers.

"Well Corin, that's a hell of a lot of debating! Pick a colour and then get on with your work" Pica said in a commanding tone,

After yesterdays debacle she just knew Corin was behaving as badly, if not worse than Renata had. Aro had grovelled and begged her forgiveness once they were both back in their quarters. He tried to explain why he did it that one time, but he refused to shoulder the blame for Renata continuing it, even though he never actually told her to stop. Pica knew that was all the apology he would give, god forbid he might blame himself otherwise.

"Actually Corin, I want you to go to Pisa and pick up the material samples we asked for. Plus the bedding supplies as well" Bella said and Corin just stood staring at her,

"I, pardon? I don't think you appear to realise I'm not a servant. I can't be expected to do such menial tasks" the haughty guard replied, trying to put Bella in her place,

"Do you get paid by the Volturi, Corin?" Bella demanded and Corin nodded,

"Then yes, you are a servant and I gave you an order. Now move!" Bella finished off by saying and a small giggle was heard behind us. Ah Dora, so this is who's been wronged.

"Right ladies, now let's rip this room apart and all jewellery found goes into this box and we will sort it out in the throne room.

Oh, yes! Demetri a moment of your time please" Bella called and he came running,

"My lady," he said bowing low,

"Follow Corin to Pisa. Make sure she returns here to the Citadel, I don't care about how many pieces she's in either!" Bella ordered and he scuttled off to do her bidding.

"You're sure getting the hang of this Queen business," Pica said laughing and Bella smirked,

"It's nice to get back at bullies. They have no idea the damage they can do or maybe they don't care!" She replied as they all set too.

"Esme, these three rooms are Heidi, Renata and Corin's are they not? Since I'm sure none of them will be returning here, I want them knocked together and made into a Senior guard's recreational room" Bella mention after a few minutes thought, touching one of the false walls.

It was obvious that this had once been a large room and instead of barracks had been converted into single rooms for the guards.

"Pica, could you make a list of all the guards and other staff, no matter the position and how long they have served. I would like to dedicate this to them, even if they are lower guard now. But have been here the longest this is open to them and they will become one of the Senior guard.

Caius and I were talking about doing away with the Elite guard, it smacks of well, elitism and we can see where that has gotten three of the guards so far!" Bella asked slightly more hesitantly, no wanting to step on the other woman's toes,

"That's a brilliant idea, Bella. I can't wait to see Jane's face when Antonius and Miranda walk in here. Oh and Theo. Yes, it will be priceless" Pica said gleefully,

"Miranda and Theo, I don't know who they are?" Bella asked relieved that Pica was happy with this new plan.

"She's the official fashion guru and Seamstress or Dressmaker for the Citadel and he mans the furnaces, both for heat and disposal purposes. Technically he's the Caretaker here in Volterra. There are several others in minor and not so minor rolls which they all love thank goodness.

Like Pricilla our Archive Custodian, who maintains the vaults and artefacts. Gaius our Head Gardener, he helped Didyme plant her secret garden, you know. Yes, there are many who deserve the honour you are bestowing on them. I will gladly make a list for you.

They are almost like hotel staff, you rarely see them, but they never stop working. It's just as well because the place would come to a grinding standstill. That's Marguerite the Housekeeper's doing, she runs this place like clockwork. We must organise introductions for you soon" Pica said smiling widely and squeezed Bella's hand in gratitude.

"Who do they normally report too? I had wondered if we needed a liaison, between them and the council. Chelsea would be perfect for the job, what do you think?" Bella enquired as they lifted things and poked about in drawers and cupboards,

"Usually Marcus, he's the most approachable even though it isn't his job. Technically it's ours, but I have been out of commission for years. But now you're here, between us we can whip this place into shape. It's the guard's that are the problem, not the other staff!" Pica said with a sigh,

Everyone swung around at Esme's gasp. Behind a loose panel in the side of Corin's bureau was a chest filled to the brim with jewels, so full it could not close. On the very top sat the bracelet Dora had described to them and Esme had drawn. Pica moved forward,

"What the hell! That's mine and that was Didyme's. That thieving little bitch! Shit, that hair slide is Jane's, I've only seen that girl cry once and that was when this went missing. It was the first piece of jewellery she ever owned, Alec bought it for her. Dear God, there is something here belonging to just about every woman who ever worked in the Citadel" Pica said in a stunned voice,

"Even me apparently my ladies, when on earth did she have time to steal this?" Esme murmured, looking down on a brooch Carlisle bought her for their first anniversary,

"Alright, let's take our haul to the throne room and meet up with the brothers. Then we'll call Demetri to bring her home" Bella said lifting the chest and leading the way through the corridors,

"Come along Dora, she can't get away with this and you are part of the leading house of Volturi," Pica said taking the young girls arm and Esme darted ahead to open the door for Bella.

EIM

"Ladies, what has you all looking like thunder?" Marcus enquired as Bella deposited the chest on the floor,

"Guard, could you bring us a long table please?" Bella asked the nearest person to her,

"These I believe have been missing for a time-span of about two weeks to several hundred years!" Bella said indicating the chest,

Marcus saw Didyme's pendant and moved forward, his hand over his chest as if in pain. Aro rose to aid his brother and saw a ring of Pica's which had been lost for centuries. Caius moved to Dora's side and saw her bracelet.

"Dora, was that my mother's?" he asked with a little awe in his voice,

"Nai, she gave it to me as a dóro gámou. But I wanted to give it to Qu..., to Bella. I was looking at it and Corin saw me, I never let anyone see it before and then it was gone! To éklepse!" Dora replied angrily,

"This was all in her quarters?" Marcus asked as the table was brought in and all the women nodded,

"Where is she now?" Aro demanded,

"Pisa, but Demetri is following her on my instructions" Bella explained as she pulled out her cell and called the guard. Aro raised an eyebrow,

"I had Caius give me everyone's number, you never know when you might need assistance," she told him smiling and he saw her ruse from this morning for what it was.

"My lady?" Demetri replied as he answered his own cell and she smirked, they also had her number it seems,

"Bring her back, please. Oh and Demetri she is your, prisoner, from this moment on!" Bella said clearly and he let out a small puff of air before replying,

"As you decree my lady. We are on our way"

While they awaited the return of Demetri and his prisoner, all the jewels were laid out on the table and then place in the order of their loss. Vampire minds made short work of this, everyone but Bella and Esme contributed some knowledge of the time and the owner. Marcus most of all, proving he had his finger on the pulse of Volterra. There were several pieces no one recognised but were sure they had never seen Corin wearing them either. Had she stolen from guests of the Volturi over the years too?

"Maybe Pricilla can shed some light on them" Bella wondered aloud and Marcus nodded,

"Yes, she might know something, at least give us a date on the pieces and some insight into the style, etc. I'll send for her"

It took a few minutes before a very eccentric looking vampire appeared and seemed stunned to be in the presence of the ruling house. She bobbed a curtsey to Bella after being introduced and Bella couldn't help but feel the woman was so wrapped up in her job she hardly knew she was a vampire. But when her eyes fell on the jewellery everything changed, she became efficient and businesslike. She recognised half of the unknown pieces as belonging to foreign visitors that had been here to visit many years ago, at least five hundred. It was a grand ball she said, with covens from around the world in attendance.

That left three pieces, with no owner at present. It would be down to Aro to find out who the owners were. This was the most tedious part of his gift, sifting through lies and subterfuge to get at the facts. It was better to read an honest person than a liar; with nothing to hide an honest person gave Aro insight into their lives. A liar, a criminal or a spy, had layers of half-truths, fallacies and downright fiction in their minds. As said before very tedious and time-consuming. Everyone was waiting; silence was all around until they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Everyone took their seats and Dora stood behind Bella, Esme and Pricilla waited to one side.

"I've never been in here before, Caius thinks me too delicate for matters of state" Dora murmured to Bella,

Caius glanced up, he hadn't realised how confined they had kept Dora for all these years. He knew she didn't like to be in men's company alone, but he should have at least let her see the whole Citadel. He felt guilty once more for failing her.

"I wasn't ready before Kái, but I am now. Bella makes me feel safe in her presence" Dora said as the doors opened to admit Demetri dragging a struggling Corin,

EIM

"Summon the whole guard Felix! Pricilla, ask Marguerite to assemble the household staff as well please" Aro said clearly so all could hear him and any guards in the room came fully to attention,

"Well Corin, you hung yourself with the last item you stole. The others though valuable and important were trinkets to most, not all, but most. Dora's bracelet was not, it is a family heirloom and therefore more likely to be missed. Is there any woman in Volterra you didn't steal from except Queen Isabella?" Aro demanded,

"I don't know what you're talking about Master Aro. I've been framed by her, she doesn't like me!" Corin screeched and Marcus laughed loudly,

"You stupid girl, how could she steal things from before she was born?" Caius yelled at her,

"It must have been Dora then, she was always jealous of us!" she ranted grasping at straws,

"What us? There has never been an us! There would never under any circumstances, be an us! You are a guard here and nothing more" Caius stated with deadly intent, he was beyond fed up with Corin's antics over the years.

A sobbing Corin fell to the floor and begged, pleaded and declared her love for Caius as the other guards and staff filed in. Jane upon seeing her hair-slide turned her gift on Corin and Aro smirked. Bella was incensed, telling her to stop at once but was ignored by the over-inflated guard. Bella used her shield to push Jane back and still, she refused to stop. Marcus was about to shout at her, bur Caius stopped him with a hand on his arm. Bella was on her feet now and disgusted with the insolent guard. She wrapped her shield around Jane and once she was shocking herself and not Corin she stopped, she too was now on the ground.

"How dare you take council matters into your own hands? We are dealing with Corin; we decided what punishments are meted out! You have once again overstepped your place here in Volterra Jane!" Marcus' voice boomed out making even Aro jump,

"You will be dealt with later Jane until then you are to be confined to your quarters after this hearing!" Caius ordered and once again Aro realised he should have stopped her not enjoyed the show.

"Bring her forward Demetri, I will read her to ascertain who those last few items belong too!" Aro said, thinking how he had never actually read her before, he was too lax with the less important guards, assuming them nor bright or clever enough to cause the Volturi harm,

"Ah, they are her own, not by right but by default. She stole them from her own family, her grandmother, mother and sister. So with the passage of time, they are hers now" Aro stated and some of the guards hissed at this,

"Now what to do with you! Your crimes do not warrant the death penalty, even if some would wish it upon you. So, therefore, you will be released from your position in Volterra and banished from Italy. In the past, you would have been branded a thief. Do not mistake this for leniency, Corin. Demetri will be monitoring you and if we hear of you again, for the good of vampire kind we will terminate you! Now pack your things and get out of our sight" Marcus told her, before turning his back on her and leaving the room with Didyme's pendant.

Guards, you will escort her to the border and make sure she leaves Italy!" Pica declared loudly as she too took back her possession and indicating everyone else should do so,

A guard was sent off with Corin's things and to oversee her packing. The household staff were all introduced to Bella and she arranged meetings with them all for later in the week. Alec had stood as far from his sister as possible, not wanting to be caught up in her self-inflicted drama. He was young in physical years and easily swayed by the older guards in the past, only time had helped him learn. They found it amusing to get him into situations he could not handle, he found it embarrassing. As he scanned the room he saw Dora for the first time up close and he smiled at her.

She hesitantly returned the smile and looked down confused and a little scared. Bella was watching the two and nodded to herself. Dora didn't need a man in her life for obvious reasons, but a friend who was a boy; well that was something completely different. Bella knew from Caius that the twins were barely fourteen and for their time that was not seen as young. But some like Alec were not as mature as others and he too could probably do with a friend besides his sister. Jane was far too volatile for the quiet boy, yes Bella decided she would slowly introduce the two and hope they could help each other through this long life.

Nai (Ναί) (Greek) meaning Yes

dóro gámou (δώρο γάμου) (Greek) meaning wedding gift

To éklepse (Το έκλεψε) (Greek) meaning She stole it