"Surely she would be more comfortable on the bed."
"Dora, leave our brother alone when was the last time we saw him so lively?"
"When Romans controlled the known world. I never thought it'd be possible."
Light voices aroused Adley from her comfortable slumber. She kept her eyes closed not wanting to be moved. She was at peace. Around her she could feel a soft blanket cocooning her. Her head was laying on something firm but she couldn't care from the security that encompassed her. All she was currently feeling and sensing was bliss and adoration. She'd never experienced such intensity of the emotions.
"She is quite the remarkable woman. A beautiful little thing."
"Indeed, such softness compared to the lioness we saw in the throne room. She's a gifted young lady. The flames of her passion extinguished for now."
"I cannot wait to get to know her." A bell like laughter rang through the room, followed with another.
"Sisters, you are waking her," a deep timber replied.
The vibrations came from below her head. Adley opened her eyes only slightly.
She was momentarily blinded aura glowed a warm golden colour. It was not threatening. Quite the opposite actually. She sighed smiling wide. Such bright aura... the pure unadulterated happiness and contentment. This soul so lovely the yellow had taken over what should've been a white to grey. It reminded her of sunflowers.
Adley blinked a few times focusing in on who's aura it was. She wriggled her arms free of the tightly swaddled blanket and propped herself upwards. Her hands touched the lapels of a suit jacket. She wasn't laying on a bed at all, but on top of someone. Someone with quite a broad chest. She craned her neck back to meet the dark crimson gaze of a familiar brunette. Locks that were currently held back at the base of his neck.
He gave her a gentle smile. Adley's cheeks warmed. Her teeth caught her bottom lip.
Marcus.
His aura, was absolutely stunning. It haloed him so much it did not take her any effort to see it. What happened to the blue stained grey aura that she'd seen. Had it been a fever dream? The sorrow that had penetrated her large walls. It was gone. A blessing surely, but what change happened so miraculously to fix his soul. So many questions swirled in her mind. Only to be silenced.
"Welcome back," He greeted with a dimpled grin.
"Hi…"
Adley replied out of habit. Her heart stumbled a few beats as he kept his dark crimson gaze locked with hers. Her stomach fluttered the longer they remained staring at each other. She really didn't want to look away from the work of art of a man before her.
"Should we —"
A throat cleared from behind her. Adley jumped slightly. She quickly turned from her position straddling Marcus' legs. He moved quickly as well maneuvering her to sit upon the bed in a more appropriate place beside him. His hands held her steady by both her shoulders. He trailed his cool hands up her bare arms, gooseflesh broke out all over. Her cheeks and chest turned red.
"I believe introductions are in order." Marcus commented. "These are my sister in laws, Athenadora and Sulpicia."
One was a slim woman who had to be almost six foot. Her long blonde hair fell down to her hips but was pulled away from her face. She was older Adley noted with the slim lips and porcelain skin. She was stunning however with her high cheek bones. Red eyes stared back as she grinned. The aura was a soft white filled with contentment and happiness.
The second woman was a fuller figured woman who's long brown hair was loose in waves around her. Her skin a darker complexion but paled due to the fact she was a vampire. She was from the Mediterranean peninsula. She had the same happy glow.
Both wore sun dresses falling to their knees. They shared a smile as they watched her.
"I'm Adley. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
She didn't know whether to offer her hand to them or to stand and bow. Marcus was one of the rulers… these were his sister in laws. Surely that made them Queens in their own right? The closest she recalled being to royalty may have been Buckingham palace in the late nineties when on a school trip…
"We do hope to get to know you better in the coming time." Sulpicia replied.
"Yes, something that will have to wait. I hear our husbands now." Athenadora's head perked up.
"The trial!" Adley gasped. "Please tell me it has not concluded?"
"We took a recess to allow you time." Marcus replied from behind her.
She peered over her shoulder at him nodding slowly. Bella was still safe then. They hadn't made their decision on what was to happen. She exhaled a shaky breath.
"Sisters, will you give us some time to meet you in the counselling chambers? I am sure Adley would like to freshen up."
"Of course."
Adley blinked and the two women were gone from their spots standing at the foot of the California king sized bed. The only give away they were here was the light sound of the door closing beyond a wall. What she could see was a large room before her. A open wood fireplace across the room, surrounded by a sitting area of dark brown Italian leather couches. On the right side of the room the walls had dark burgundy curtains that were shut. She could see the darkness from between them however. The taupe walls were mostly covered in ceiling to floor book shelves full of old tomes.
A lovely room. A lovely host.
She turned herself towards Marcus. His hands fell away from her shoulders. She didn't comment on the drop in her gut. She didn't want him to move away from her. She quite frankly wanted to be curled back up in the blanket again in his arms and never move from the position.
A frightening thought. Adley clasped her hands together looking away from the Adonis before her. This comfort, it's not right. How could she feel so strongly for someone she did not know? She didn't even feel these when she'd been in a relationship with Tyler all those years ago. She wanted to marry him. Yet this longing and lust for a man she did not know… Her brows pulled together.
Cool fingers hooked her chin and moved her vision away from the bed. She locked her sights on Marcus. He trailed his finger from her chin to her forehead where he smoothed out the tension she was causing.
"What distracts you so?" He questioned, breath washing over her.
"I was just thinking…" she trailed off. "It can wait surely, we should not keep your brothers waiting. There is a trial that requires us."
She reluctantly pulled away from him after a few moments. She slid off the bed. He was beside the sitting area when she steadied herself. She shook her head. Enhanced abilities. right. It'd take some getting used to.
He moved to the couch facing away pulling up her familiar black duffel bag. It had obviously been retrieved while she was out cold. He led her over to the far side of the room. Behind the dark wooden door was a much modern bathroom.
"You may shower if you'd like. Towels are in the closet." He offered.
"Thanks."
She entered turning to close the dark wooden door behind her. She took in the long room before her. A large taupe tiled shower and double sink counter with the toilet in the corner. Quite modern. Thank the heavens. Who knows what ancient vampires may have had.
So she did as instructed she stripped down from her wrinkled clothes and grabbed her soaps out of the duffle bag. She turned the waterfall shower on enjoying the cool water soaking he. She scrubbed her head from the tight braid it'd been in for the past day. She then did her body.
Sooner than she wanted to she finished and had redone her hair into two French braids and dried herself off. She was fresh faced without makeup. She flipped the fan on in the room to care for the steam.
She pulled out some undergarments and quickly tossed on her loose Fall out Boy concert shirt from a year or so ago. She had not been thinking when she'd grabbed a few clothes to rush around the world for a suicidal teen vampire. Her cheeks warmed trying her best to look somewhat presentable. She French tucked it into her spare boot cut dark jeans. Thankfully they weren't any of her low rise ones.
Marcus was waiting by the door giving her a once over. He said nothing on the outfit. A blessing she'd have to take. He offered her his arm and guided her out into the hall.
They walked in silence down large modern halls redone but still sported the stone walls and art works of master painters. She was holding his arm as they walked in step. She had to admit even with his foot and a bit taller than she was he had kept pace just fine. It had to be annoying to move at a slower speed than one was accustomed to.
They came to a stop in front of a set of double doors. He pushed them open revealing a meeting room. Multiple chairs were around a circular dark wooden table. Marcus pulled out a closer plush leather one for her before he sat to her right. It was a free chair between Aro and herself.
She scanned the conference room. A few guards were posted behind the table standing at ease. If it wasn't the eyes following her she would have sworn they were statues for how still they were. At the table the three rulers resided to her left. Next to Aro, she saw Sulpicia and Athenadora. The other three chairs were occupied by her companions. Bella to her left, followed by Edward then Alice.
"Adley is awake once more. How are you feeling?" Are questioned from his relaxed position in his chair.
"Better now, thank you Aro." She replied in an even tone.
To her side she could feel the worry pouring out of Bella. She had a bit more strength to push her walls up to ignore the fear. It helped that Marcus had not moved too far from her chair. His hand was upon her right hand under the table.
"I am glad to hear this. You expended yourself beyond what is your normal, am I correct? You are quite powerful, but not experienced with Vampire emotions."
"Yes." She confirmed. "I can confirm most people I interact with my Empathic abilities have been human."
"Her gift Aro, can be discussed at a later time can it not?" Caius drawled.
"Of course, perhaps for the best." Aro agreed clasping his hands together intwining them to lean his chin on them. "What do we do with this."
"They are a liability Aro. The Cullens have exposed our world to not only one human but another." Caius sneered, practically spitting the surname of the coven beside her.
The two wives seemed not to disagree on this fact.
"If I may, to not sound pedantic," Adley voiced, raising her hand. A habit.
The Five rulers turned their attention to her. Aro motioned for her to continue.
"It was not the Cullen clan who exposed me." Adley stated. "It was a vampire named Victoria whom made me aware of vampires."
Caius scowled glaring at her. "It does not negate from the fact you are aware of vampires, whilst still being mortal."
"The crimes though, which you speak do not hold. They cannot be punished for my knowledge. Alice Cullen merely came to know of my existence less than forty eight hours ago. The first thing she did was bring me to Italy. Would that not absolve them of the crime of my knowing of the vampire world?" Adley retorted. "While Bella did explain more to me, I had already known about vampires by this time."
Aro's lips curled up as he looked between his brothers. The Wives let a few whispered words flow as a growl ripped from Caius. It did not last more than a moment.
"She is technically correct. The one who should be tried is this Victoria..." Marcus voiced.
"The name, is familiar... Victoria, is that not the name of the woman whose mate you killed?" Aro questioned looking to Edward and Alice.
Alice nodded. "Victoria, yes she escaped us before we could deal with her."
"A whole other ordeal that is to be discussed." Caius snarled. "Your coven has yet to dispose of a hostile vampire whom has let it slip of our existence."
"Victoria is from what I've gathered from the Cullen siblings minds has a gift of evasion." Aro added.
"The trial then is what do we do about the Cullens exposing us to Isabella Swan, and what is to be done of Adley." Caius put forth.
"We will make her a vampire." Edward swore. "Bella will be made a vampire once she graduates. We've discussed it."
"Your word is hardly worth a grain of salt." Caius tossed back. "There is still Justice that is to be served for such crime."
"Carlisle has never crossed our coven before. It is a first offence if the promise is secured in the future —"
"It is. I've seen it." Alice held her hand out for Aro.
He blurred to her side taking her hand. He dazed out for a few seconds. His grin expanding, utterly amazed. "Such a gift to see what has yet to occur. It is indeed the more focused future paths for Isabella."
"She should be changed immediately if the Cullen's do plan to change her. Do so now then take her once the newborn year is over." Caius retorted.
"It would solve much issues." Sulpicia agreed.
"Indeed, it is her future, why wait?" Athenadora spoke up.
"She cannot just disappear." Adley blurted. "Forgive me, but her father is a Chief of Police. If Bella were to disappear, it would set off a chain of events. I was her cover for this whole trip. The FBI are already involved with State Marshalls in Washington to discuss the influx of missing people and deaths. There is not only a deranged vampire with a killed mate on the loose after Bella, she has proven not to care who she kills or does to get a hold of her. Charlie would rest at nothing to find Bella, and he is far from stupid not to track it back to the supernatural. Plus it would break his heart to have Bella disappear. He's suffered enough."
"How do you know this vampire is willing to kill?" Caius queried.
"She killed me." Adley shrugged.
The room fell silent.
Moments passed while she looked to each face in the room. Disbelief echoed on each one. Only Bella was gripping her chair already aware of her condition.
"I do believe I miss heard you." Aro broke the silence. "She tried to kill you?"
"No she was successful. It's how she exposed vampires to me. I was out at first beach when she attacked me. Drained me right dry of my blood. Not the recommended way to come back from. The burning sensation as blood returns to the veins." She shuddered. "Up there with being impaled."
"You have been impaled?" Marcus repeated the words with no belief to what she was saying.
Aro stood coming around to stand in front of her. "Would you mind? So I can explain it better to the rest in the room."
"Of course."
She took his hand. She gasped. A small tug in the middle of her head. The vision of the room disappeared. Flashes of memories poured from her. Her life moments. Every single one of them.
She watched the first few from childhood whoosh by her line of vision. The many of recitals, competitions. The training with her aunt many times. Her day to day.
Her first love and first kiss. The first heart break. Her wild side from high school. The many times she snuck off to have fun.
The memories slowed down when the fateful day of September trickled by. The exploration with her best friend. The tower falling around them. Debris flying in the smoke. The screams. The darkness.
Flashing forward the memories sped quickly to come to her degree and her fateful day of meeting Bella Swan. The many attempts to save her.
The day she was attacked. The pain.
Aro dropped her hand.
A few hurried words were explained in gusts of wind around the room. She pursed her lips as he took his seat again. Every one looked to her with many questions and confusion swirling around them.
"That settles the decision on what is to be done with Adley." Caius spoke up. "She is already immortal it seems."
"Odd as it is, yes it seems so." Aro agreed.
"What of Ms. Swan and the Cullens?" Adley asked. "We have to return to the states shortly to avoid questions of our disappearances."
"We will give her a year." Aro breathed, with a wave of his hand. "This will give you time to deal with Isabella's human life, enough to prepare her to become immortal. Brothers?"
"Agreed the Cullens may take her back." Sulpicia nodded.
"We will check in on the progress in one year." Caius vowed. "A breaking of this chance will have consequences. One hundred years of service to the Volturi."
"A merciful offer." Athenadora affirmed.
"Then it is settled the three may leave." Marcus finalized.
"Three?" Bella croaked.
"Yes," Aro raised his brow.
"What of Adley?"
"I thought that was clear? She is to remain here." He deadpanned.
Adley's heart slammed in her chest. There was a pain in it as she shook her head. "I cannot stay."
A deep growl roared out from her side.
"You will remain in Volterra." Marcus rumbled.
Adley turned. His golden aura pulsed, not red as she expected. The green anxiety and fear swirled around him. He took deep breaths nostrils flaring as he tried to control the shaking that had taken root in him. She did not understand his fear of her leaving. Her own stomach churned and squeezed at the idea of leaving.
"I cannot." Tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I am expected back in Forks Tuesday morning for my classes. While I am not mortal I can't just up and leave. It'll raise too many questions than answers. The FBI are like I said investigating the coast all the way into Seattle. They would be able to track me back to Volterra. It wasn't like we came without a paper trail. Be logical Marcus. If I stay the threat of the vampire world being exposed is major."
"How long have the FBI been investigating these cases?" Aro questioned.
"I don't know the full details, classified and what not. Charlie has told me about it at least since the beginning of February. A guess at least since the end of 2005. They've got a year worth of missing people, the MO is all over the place. Victims as young as four and old as eighty five. It doesn't make sense." She answered trailing off.
The missing people and dead, were random. It didn't make sense to her why it was all over. Some sort of pattern would usually be found. There was none to be seen.
"Well then, it seems that we have some work to do." Aro replied. "A few connections we will need to reach out to. Marcus, I know it has been some time —"
"I will take a team to proceed to the states." He replied with a firm nod.
Adley sat at the foot of his California king size bed. Her feet dangled below her not even brushing the two suit cases that were opened on the floor waiting to be filled.
Marcus came out of the closet holding a few suits, all black. She scrunched her nose up.
"The weather in Washington this time of year, it requires warmer clothes, correct?" He asked.
"Yes." She hesitated. "Are you planning on attending the theatre or black tie events?"
He looked up from the suits. His brows furrowed. "I wear these daily…"
"This won't do." She slipped off the edge of the bed walking straight to his closet. He followed behind her.
The thing was the size of the second bedroom of her home. He had rows and rows of suits and many different eras of clothes. She stared wide eyed. The place put a men's department store to shame. He had many accessories on display from many Rolex watches to expensive rings and pendants. There was a hanging rack of shoes, she spotted a few red bottomed dress shoes.
"What is wrong with the way I dress?" He truly did not get it.
Adley gestured to herself versus him. "While a man in a suit definitely welcome. This is not the outfit of blue collar America. You have Rolex watches here worth more than some homes for some in Forks. "
"You like the suits?" He hummed.
Adley opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. He was teasing her. She licked her lips and closed her mouth.
She hurried to his lower drawers in front of her. She fell to her knees opening the first one. There a few ties were folded along with pocket squares. She moved to the bottom drawer. If she was correct he'd have it organized by parts of the body surely. There she found a bunch of dress pants of various states of material and logos. She was surprised to see jeans. Levi specifically.
"These are more fitting." She picked up a few pairs of jeans and various shades of dress pants.
She placed them nicely in the suitcase before returning to look for shirts. She found dress shirts and grabbed a variety of long sleeve in various shades as well. She found a rhythm of putting outfits together while Marcus seemed to fill the other suitcase with a few suits and less conspicuous outfits. The last thing she knew he'd need undershirts and most likely underwear.
She hesitated in her step.
His underwear. Boxers or briefs?
He's a large man, his hands that had held her a few times today she noted were double in size of hers. Surely if her math was correct he'd be proportionate… she shook her head.
No absolutely not. She didn't even know the man. Highly inappropriate. Thinking of not only his underwear but what was in it? No. No. No. It was a disrespectful to him.
Okay not that he'd ever know, he's not the mind reader. She argued with herself. he'd never know. Yeah, but Aro was if he ever decided to take hold of her hand ever again. She pinched the bridge of her nose, taking deep breaths to calm her pounding heart.
"Alright Adley?"
Speak of the devil and he'll show himself. She turned to him not meeting his gaze.
"Perfect as a peach." She cleared her throat. "Uhm… I'm sure you're good to get your under clothes. Maybe a few sweaters to wear over and a coat or two. Vampires I'm not sure if they are impacted by the weather but to avoid suspicious people... Charlie is quite observant."
"This Chief Swan, you are close to him?" He commented.
She stopped her steps and tilted her head, watching small inklings of a sickly acid green. Jealousy.
He was jealous of Charlie? Whatever for…
"Chief Swan and I have become good friends. I teach his daughter and we are neighbours. He is also a decade younger than my Appa." Adley snickered. "Our relationship is purely a friendship."
"You are an adult, I was merely curious." He dismissed flashing to the closet once more most likely grabbing the last required things.
"It is a waste of air to lie to an Empath. You're jealous." She chuckled covering her mouth as he shut the suitcases doing them up.
"I was not." He replied haughtily. He passed her opening the door. In a blur of motion the suitcases were gone along with her duffel bag.
"Yes, and my last name isn't Choi." She laughed. "If it is any condolences I am not in a relationship currently."
He glanced over his shoulder to her. While he did not voice his opinion, she did not need him to. This satisfied him. She followed him out to go meet up with the others who were most likely waiting on them. There was nearly a day in the air ahead of them. She would get to the bottom of the reason for his sudden changes.