Demetri
After the plane lands, I get her settled in the car and explain, "I have to report to Aro little one. He will want all of the right people there when he greets you."
"Why would it matter who was there, I'm only human."
"Bella you aren't just any human. You're gifted, you're mine, and he's gone to a great deal of effort to get you."
"What do you mean I'm yours?"
"You're my mate, young Bella."
"How do you know? Edward was wrong. I know I'm not his. Why do you think I'm yours?" Bella stuttered.
"Your scent Bella. It tells me you're mine. I don't expect you to believe me though after your experiences. Get to know me. I'm not a bad guy."
"Thank you," Bella says, "I'm having a difficult time trusting anyone would want me for me."
"Bella you are a beautiful woman. You're attractive, desirable, and your innocence is incredibly appealing. I'm having difficulty not claiming you now. You have no idea the instincts I am denying."
"Thank you. Do you want me to give you privacy for your phone call?"
"I'll call now and then we'll drive to Volterra." I closed her car door and called Aro.
"Master," I said, I have young Isabella and I am in Florence. We're going to be driving home now. She's my Mate. Please have the halls cleared so I don't have to kill any unmated males."
Aro chuckled. "Mating instincts giving you trouble Demetri?"
"You have no idea. After that idiot abandoned her in the woods and took her family away she's unwilling to take my word that we are mates. It's...distressing Master."
"I do hope she comes around soon dear one. We should change her quickly so she'll feel the mating pull."
I growled. I couldn't stop myself. "I will be the one to change her."
"Of course dear one. Of course. Calm yourself, she'll be safe here."
"Sorry Master."
"Quite understandable Demetri I'll clear the halls and have only necessary personnel in the throne room."
"Very appreciated Aro, ciao."
I got into the driver's seat and headed toward Volterra.
"What is going to happen to me now?" Bella asked me.
I hummed in my throat. "We will arrive, meet with the Masters, and likely you will be changed. They are very eager to meet you. You will probably also see Felix, Jane, and Alec."
She looked out the window and I heard her whisper, "I'm scared."
"I understand but there is no need to be. The Master's won't hurt you and I will protect you from anyone that tries. I know it's difficult but try to trust me."
Bella stared into my eyes for two point three seconds. Whatever she was looking for, she must have found. "Okay," she said and I felt myself begin to relax. Bella watched the scenery with rapt attention. I tried to point to places she might be interested in.
We finally arrived in Volterra. Bella moved slowly, cautiously, looking around her with every step.
"Easy little one. No vampire here is going to so much as touch you. Aro will probably touch your hand but I would actually prefer it if you didn't shake hands with any one. Mating instincts are hard to deny and it would make it easier for me."
"Okay."
I offered her my arm and she took it. I guided her into the castle and through the halls. She paused to look at the artwork and statues. I just let her look. The halls had been cleared as I requested. We finally came to the throne room and I opened the door. She paused, took a deep breath, and walked in.
Aro stood as we entered. "Dear ones, welcome home. Did everything go smoothly?"
We stopped in front of him and everyone was focusing on Bella. She looked at me and I nodded.
"Yes, Master, everything is going smoothly," I told him.
"May I?," He held out his hand to me.
I took his hand and he closed his eyes for a second.
"And you, young Bella? Would you take my hand?" Aro asked. "I can see every thought you've ever had through a touch."
Bella looked at me. I nodded to her and she stepped forward and allowed Aro to take her hand.
Aro stood there for a full minute. "Interesting, I see nothing." Aro finally pronounced.
"Edward couldn't read my mind either."
"And the other Cullen's talents? How did they affect you?" Aro pressed.
"Jasper could influence my feeling and Alice could see my future. I just thought there was something wrong with the way my mind worked."
"Fascinating young one," Aro said as he sat back down on his overlarge throne. "I think it's likely you have a mental shield young one. I'd like for you to be changed tonight, Bella."
"Yes, Master," she said as I was about to argue for her to have more time.
Aro smiled. "Very good young one. Demetri change her tonight sometimes you have a few hours to show her around first if she likes. After that, except for an emergency, you are relieved of duty for the next year to care for your newborn mate. Felix has graciously agreed to fill in for you to give you the time you'll need. Come see us in three days young ones."
"Thank you, Master." I agreed.
"Masters," Bella said.
We walked out of the throne room and I led her to the elevator and up to my rooms.
Bella
I was nervous and scared and strangely attracted to Demetri. We wandered through corridors and I studied our way there. Eventually, he opened the door to his apartment. It was done in various shades of blue. It was beautiful. I walked in and Demetri sat down on the couch patting the seat beside him.
I sat nervously.
"Calm down little one," he said. "I just wanted to find out if there is anything you'd like to do before you're changed."
"Can we go out for dinner maybe walk around outside some?"
"Sure, where would you like to go for dinner?"
"Someplace Italian. I've never been to Italy and I won't be eating after tonight. I'd like to eat genuine Italian food."
"I know just the place. Are you ready to go?" Demetri asked me.
"I am. Can you tell me about the change Demetri, I'm afraid the Cullens never discussed it. I only know it hurts. A nomad bit me and Edward sucked the venom out."
"We can talk about it through dinner. Let's get out of here."
"So where will I be staying?" I asked as we walked through the door." Demetri put his hand on the small of my back and led me through the halls and passageways. There were vampires in the halls now and it made me tense. Demetri seemed aware of everything happening around us as we walked and that helped me calm back down some.
"You'll be staying with me, Bella," Demetri informed me. "Mates stay together and if you find you don't want to after you're changed we'll discuss it okay?"
"Alright. Are these vampires staring at me too much?"
Demetri looked around and growled deeply. Suddenly all the vampires were ignoring us and I relaxed a lot more. It was nice that they didn't want to mess with him.
"Are they all scared of you?" I asked him.
"I'm the head of the guard Bella. I can make their lives exceedingly unhappy."
"Wow, head of the guard. That must be a lot of responsibility." I wondered.
"It is but it's worth it." He assured me.
We exited the castle and walked around, we went down the lane a ways and we stopped in front of an upscale restaurant.
We walked in and we were greeted by a friendly-looking waitress that eyed Demetri appreciatively. I put my hand back on his arm as we were escorted to our table. I heard him chuckle. I glared at him but he was smiling down at me.
We sat and were informed that our waitress would be right with us. We sat in companionable silence for a minute while our waitress walked over to us. She brought us glasses of water and menus and left us to peruse them.
"What would you like Bella?" Demetri asked me.
"I'd like lasagna," I said smiling.
"Would you like to try wine with your dinner little one?"
"I'm too young."
"They won't say anything here Demetri assured me. Try some. I think you'll like it."
"Alright, I think I'll join you for a glass or two"
The waitress was back then and he gave our order, ordering a bottle of wine, not just glasses for each of us and I admired him through my lashes.
After the waitress left he started. His voice low, but carrying clearly to me. "The change is the single most painful experience of your life as a human or vampire. It feels as though you are burning. When I change you I'll bite your neck your wrists, your inner thighs, and your ankles.
He stopped his explanations for uncorking and tasting the wine. He nodded to the waitress who poured our glasses and she left.
He began again. "The change should take about three days but I'll do everything I can for you to make sure it is as short as possible. I'll be there with you, guarding and protecting you the whole time. Who do you want to remember when you wake up? It helps if you're reminded of your memories while you change. I won't lie to you, human memories fade and you will eventually lose them but you can keep them longer this way. Unless you don't want to remember your human life, some people choose that too, the few that have the choice to make."
"I want to remember my Mom, Renee, My Dad, Charlie, I want to remember not to trust the Cullens, and I want to remember Jacob Black and the wolves."
"What wolves?"
"Jacob Black is a Shapeshifter. So is Sam, Quil, Embry, Jarrod, Paul, and Seth. They saved my life when Laurent came to kill me on Victoria's orders. I need to remember that Victoria is trying to kill me. She's a vampire so she may follow me here." I tried to explain.
Our food came so we both quieted. When my wine glass emptied he filled it again.
"Why don't I talk to the Masters and see if I can have Victoria brought in for judgment?"
"You can do that?" I asked, surprised.
He chuckled lightly and I blushed.
"Yes Bella I can do that." he declared. "Your blush is lovely."
"Thank you, Demetri."
My dinner was delicious. It was the best lasagna I'd ever had. The wine was tasty too. It was red wine. Demetri seemed to be enjoying his as well. When I was finished Demetri asked if I'd like dessert. I wanted to have something chocolate so I said yes. He got me a dessert menu from the waitress when she came by. I got a piece of chocolate cake even though I was almost full.
I saw Demetri filling our wine glasses again and almost said something but I just stayed quiet. Demetri asked me about my family, the wolves, and more about Victoria. He seemed genuinely interested in everything that had to do with me and he kept me talking easily.
I devoured my chocolate cake when it arrived. It was the best I ever tasted. A little voice in the back of my mind told me it would be the last I ever tasted but I didn't pay any attention to it.
We walked back to the castle hand in hand. Demetri started asking me about what my plans had been for after I graduated high school. I admitted to him I hadn't really wanted to go to college and told him all about mine and Edward's plan to change me and have a place in the north for me to get used to being a vampire. Even after Edward had left I realized I'd been waiting for him to return. I didn't tell Demetri this. I thought it might hurt him since he thought I was his mate. I didn't want to hurt Demetri.
Any girl would be lucky to be his mate. I hoped he was right but I just couldn't trust it yet.
We arrived back to the castle and he guided me up to his room but we walked past his rooms and to the end of the corridor. We walked into a room that had several vampires in it and I stopped in the doorway. Demetri soothed me by saying. "Bella these are my friends. I thought you might like to meet them so you'll know them after your change."
I took a deep breath and smiled at the strange vampires. They all smiled back.
"The big guy in the back is Felix Bella."
Felix was behind a bar pouring himself what I thought was whiskey. "Hi, Bella. Welcome to our band of misfits."
"Hi Felix. Sorry if I'm a little nervous."
"No worries Bella," a younger boy said.
"Bella that is Alec," Demetri told me.
"Hi, Alec."
Demetri led me over to the couch and sat beside me.
"Your usual Dem?" Felix asked.
"Yeah, pour Bella one too."
Felix came out with two glasses of wine. I looked at Demetri and asked, "Are you trying to get me drunk?"
"Just calm my Bella," Demetri told me. "This is a stressful day for you."
"Good idea Dem," A young girl said. I looked at her and she smiled.
"I'm Jane, Bella."
"Hi, Jane it's nice to meet you."
"This is Reneta," Demetri pointed to a dark-haired girl in her late teens or early twenties.
"Hi, Renita."
"This is Chelsea." Jane introduced.
"Hi, Chelsea. So what do you all do for fun around here?"
"Fight," Felix said with a booming laugh.
"Poker nights," Alec said.
"Shopping," Reneta and Chelsea said together. I laughed.
"Movie nights," Jane said.
"The library," Alec added.
"You have a library?" I asked Alec."
"Sure," Jane added, "There are the archives too if you really like books."
"Wow," I said.
Felix chuckled. "You might like the gardens."
"Going dancing," Chelsea said.
"Runs," Alec added.
"You'll have plenty to do here," Jane assured me. I've been here for four hundred years and I still find things to do on my off-hours.
"We'll take care of you," Demetri assured me.
"Sure," Jane said. "We'll help you with everything until you can do it for yourself.
"So tell me about yourselves,"
I relaxed on the sofa for the first time and I saw Demetri relax in turn.
Demetri filled our wine glasses and then told me about all his responsibilities being the head of the guard. I was in awe of him. He had so many things he was in charge of. Everyone here relied on him to do their jobs and basically to live.
Jane and Alec told me about living in the time of the witch trials and how Aro saved them. They went on to talk about living in the Volturi.
Demetri interrupted and said we had to go. I thanked them all and we left and went back to our rooms.