Felix

We arrived at the plane in short order. We had stopped at the McDonalds in Port Angeles and got her food. She ate it on the way to the plane seemingly deep in thought. I didn't interrupt. I pulled the car over and opened her door, escorting her onto the plane. I went and got her suitcase and loaded it as well. Then I joined her on the plane.

I pulled out my phone and called Demetri. He gave me permission to call Aro and inform him of my mating and Bella's request.

I dialed.

"Hello Felix, how can I help you."

"I called you to inform you that the girl the Cullens brought into the family is my mate Master."

"Truly?" Aro asked, "That is wonderful, congratulations, Felix."

"She would beg for the Cullen's lives, Master. They have become her family."

"And you? How do you feel about Edward surviving the encounter?"

"I want to gift this to my mate, Master. She does not ask for no punishment, after all, only their lives."

"Hold Felix, we will council."

I met Bella's tear-filled gaze and lowered my head to kiss her on the forehead.

I held on to the phone and tried to listen in. They discussed it for some minutes. I took it as a good sign that it took time for them to discuss the issue. When Aro came back on the line he said, "As a mating gift Felix, we will spare their lives, but they will be punished for their past and present offenses."

"Thank you, Master," I said and put my phone away.

"Bella," I started, "They will still be punished but they will survive," I told her cautiously. She was in my arms before I finished the thought. Her arms wrapped around me and she squeezed me with her weaker human strength. I resisted the urge to kiss her and brushed her hair behind her ear.

Eventually, Bella yawned. I directed her back to the bed in the back of the plane. She got her suitcase Alice had provided her and changed into some pajamas that appeared to be midnight blue silk and were very sexy in an innocent way. She got under the covers and I heard her toss and turn for a few minutes before she fell asleep.

I didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to be in the next room while my young mate slept. First, because she was so attractive without even trying. Second, because I learned that she talked in her sleep and she called out for Edward in her dreams. I knew it was only to be expected that she would be tied to him but it was harder than expected. My instincts were in overdrive and it was hard not to join her in bed and claim her. I knew all these problems would work themselves out in time.

When Bella woke we were about an hour from landing. I recommended that she dress and prepare for the day. I was pleased when she asked me what she should wear. I helped her pick a deep blue dress and matching shoes. The dress would serve her well in Volterra. She french braided her reddish-brown hair and when she was ready she could have fit in with the guard had she been a vampire.

I worried that she would ultimately be upset when she realized the punishments the Cullens were likely to face. I expected they might serve time in the lower guard. It was likely they might also serve time in the jail where vampires like Jane would see that they were punished in such a way that they would be unlikely to ever repeat their past and current error. Bella was not their first human by any means, but I'd bet cash that they won't make that mistake again.

There was so much I needed to prepare Bella for but she was obviously nervous right now and I still hadn't prepared her to meet the Masters.

"Bella," I started, "You should expect to tell the Masters about your relationship with the Cullen coven including how you found out they were vampires. They will ask and you must tell the absolute truth."

"There are three Masters. Master Aro can read every thought you've ever had. Master Marcus can read your relationships. Master Caius is ungifted but he is the most blood-thirsty of the kings. As my mate, you will not be punished but you will have to testify."

"When seeing the Masters it is important when you can to dress appropriately, and you are. They would like you to address them as Master Marcus, Master Aro, or Master Caius. And you must be one hundred percent honest, because either at the beginning or the end of the interview Aro will likely read your mind. It is common to give reports that way. He will likely read my mind as well and all the Cullens' hands when they are in front of them. Aro rarely trusts things he doesn't confirm through touch."

"Edward couldn't read my mind, do you think Aro will be able to?" Bella asked.

"It is possible he will not be able to, but most likely his gift will work. I've never seen anyone it doesn't work on. It even works on Renata his personal shield. There will be other guards in the room when you speak with the Masters. They each have bodyguards, and some of the guards are stationed at various points in the room, for various reasons."

"Are you going to be able to handle that?"

"Will you be near me Felix?"

"Yes, little mate, I will be beside or behind you."

"Then I can do it."

The confidence in her voice brought a big smile to my face. I'm going to try to get them to let me keep you human until after the Cullens arrive and are punished. I'll give the reason that they may want your verbal testimony at the hearing and they won't want you to forget. That is part of the reason. The other reason is I don't want you to have to deal with such an emotionally charged scene as a newborn vampire.

"Thank you for looking out for me the best you can Felix. Can I ask where I will be staying?"

"If you have no objections I would like it if you move in with me from the start. It will give us time to get to know each other more naturally and as you know, Vampires don't need their beds. I'll give you all the privacy you require little one."

"Do you think Master Marcus would be willing to talk with me soon?" She asked. I'm getting the subtle impression that she has not been given knowledge this freely before. Perhaps the Cullens tried too hard to shield her from real information on the vampire world.

"I think I would like to move in with you right away. I'm a little nervous about being among a large number of vampires that I don't know at all. I'd feel safer in your apartment than I would in one of my own. Kind of like I have a guard, does that make sense?"

"I promise I will make your protection my top priority Bella."

"Thank you, Felix, that makes me feel less nervous."

"Always tell me what you need little one, I'll do my best to make sure you have it."

"Master Marcus is usually available to talk in the archives after court every day. I could request an appointment with him if you would like."

"Please, I would like to understand mating and how I can be confident that you are my mate. I wish if Edward wasn't my mate that I would have ended things sooner. I have a feeling that he may cause problems for us if he can. I'll make sure that everything is in my suitcase and then sit down for landing." Bella said.

When the plane came in to land Bella was sitting beside Felix, her hand in his larger one.

Bella

I was starting to get comfortable with Felix. I believed him when he told me he was my mate. His reaction had been too visceral and Demetri had treated Felix like something had happened.

"Could you check on what is happening with my disappearance when we land?" I asked.

"Of course little one. It is difficult that your father is a cop."

"He's the Chief of Police in Forks. That's why I left everything but one photo I wanted one picture to remember my Mother and Charlie.

"Why do you always call your father by his name?"

"Because I only moved up here with him last year. I haven't even lived with him for a full year yet. I was raised by my mother and she never called him my dad, she always called him Charlie. I know he really likes to be called dad though. When I talk to him I call him dad."

We came in for the landing and my stomach tried to stay where it had been. As we landed I squeezed Felix's hand with my nerves. He smiled widely.

We taxied directly into the hanger for the plane and I waited patiently as the plane stopped, Felix fetched my suitcase and lowered the stairs.

Felix offered his arm to escort me down the stairs and to another black SUV. I got in and buckled my seat belt while Felix threw my case in the back.

He came back up and got into the driver's seat. We were off to Volterra in moments.

"I don't know anything about changing into a vampire except that it starts from a bite and it burns. Can you tell me what I should expect?"

"It does start from a bite, and it does burn but if you want your transition to be as short as possible you get venom in as many places as possible. I'll be the one changing you and I'll bite your sweet neck, your wrists, your inner thighs, and your ankles. The change takes about three days and it's worse than the worst pain you can imagine. I'm sorry little one but I won't lie to you and I want you to be able to prepare mentally for the ordeal. I will stay with you the entire time. You won't be on your own for a minute."

"And when you wake up, you're normal? Like you are now?"

"When you first wake up from the change you're called a newborn. You'll have to get used to moving in your new body, your new strength, and your senses. There are probably a thousand things I'll need to teach you in the first year that you'll need to learn. Your moods will flash from normal to ready to fight and back again in seconds. We've all been there and we'll all help you. You don't need to worry, the elite guard will all be there for you to walk you through it every step of the way. Do you have any questions about talking with the Masters right now? We've only got an hour before we will be back in Volterra."

"Nothing that I can think of. Is there anything you have not told me about that you can imagine might happen?"

"I think I've prepared you for every possible situation. Why don't I tell you about the other vampires you will meet while we travel.

"You've met Demetri however briefly. He's the captain of the guard and our best tracker. Until he's back I will have to do the job for him. He spends a lot of time in the archives and playing video games or poker.

Alec is one of the elite guards. He can take your senses away. When he uses his gift people aren't able to hear, see, speak, or feel their extremities. He'll be back with the Cullens as well. He is usually with his sister in the library or dragged along on her shopping trips. He also likes video games and playing poker with the guys.

Jane is one of the elite guards and she is able to cause pain. I think you'll like her. Hopefully, the two of you will become friends in time. Jane likes our library, shopping, movie classics, and relaxing with all of us in the recreation room. I'll make sure you meet her today.

Renata is an elite guard but her primary job is as Aro's personal shield. She is almost always in touching distance of Aro. She likes to spend time in the gardens and can occasionally be seen in the recreation room watching movies.

Chelsea is an elite guard and she can loosen or tighten the bonds between people. Everything but the bond between mates is at risk. She keeps our bonds tight between the elite guards, helping us to work together more easily. She also breaks ties between covens who are trying to fight us so that the guilty can be punished without us having to kill the innocent. She likes to shop, watch movies, and hang out in the gardens.

Then there is me. I never lost my newborn strength. I help Demetri keep track of everyone on the guard. I'm an elite guard. If you hear people talking about the enforcer, they mean me. I am often the one that carries out the kings' judgments. I like the library, the gardens, occasionally the archives, video games, and an occasional poker night with the guys. And now I'll probably be with Alec when you and Jane drag me on shopping trips."

"I don't like shopping," Bella said. "Please don't make me go."

"I'm sure we can do online ordering or something You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," Felix said with a smile. "That's Volterra over there on the hill. We're almost home Bella. It's going to be okay."

"I'm not as nervous as I expected to be. You'll be with me and it sounds like there are a lot of people to meet. I think I'm a little bit excited. Not about talking to the Masters, but after that".