Authors Note. In answer to someone mentioning they had seen similar notes that I attach to the end of my story, I too have seen it on many stories done by quite a few authors I liked the idea and didn't see any harm in doing it. Anyway thank you all for the comments they me. Anyway on with the show before Jane comes back and hurts me.
Bella POV
When we arrived in the city it looked very different there was no longer a sea of red cloaks and the streets were clear to drive through. We drove up to a large gate that opened and we drove in inside was a massive courtyard.
"This is the entrance we use when we need to use a car the car park is down there" Jane pointed to a large garage door it was open and I could see it led downwards.
"So no sewers?" I asked and they laughed.
"No Bella I don't see you needing to travel through the sewers again." Felix stated he got out the car and opened my door offering his hand; I took it and got out of the car. Even as just an entrance the courtyard was beautiful the walls were high and around the gate we had entered ivy had grown up around it, framing the gate beautifully. Demetri got out of the driver's side and handed the keys to a human who quickly got into it and pulled it around and drove it down into the underground parking, We walked in a group up a few steps to double wooden doors that were open the air was cool as it was early morning but I knew it would get a lot warmer, nothing I couldn't handle after living in phoenix. Demetri excused himself and I had a feeling he was going to get Victoria situated we all quickly said goodbye to him before continuing. As we entered we were in a long corridor there were three sets of doors two in the middle of the corridor on opposite sides and one at the very end.
"To the right is the human quarters that lead to the main reception area and another courtyard that is for public appearances there is also the kitchens that the human employees use along with caterers when they are needed." Felix explained.
"Is that where I will be staying?" I asked Felix and the others all seemed to shake their heads.
"No Bella you are considered family so your quarters will most likely be near us." He explained before I could say anything he continued to explain the other door. "To the left are the lower guard quarters each guard has their own room and they also share a common room, please Bella do not go in there without someone you know and trust, although it is unlikely you will be attacked some of the lower guard are a lot younger than the rest of us and also some are no here of their own choice." I nodded my head in understanding.
"Any chance I can get a map." That caused them a to all laugh and I took that as a no. We walked through the doors at the end of the corridor into a large seating area to the left were a set of stairs that curved round a corner upwards.
"This is the waiting room the lower guard and humans wait here when they arrive the stairs leads the elite guards mission room its soundproofed and can only be entered by the elite guard it also happens to be where all our CCTV is monitored there is one of the elite guard in there watching at all times." There were two other doors Felix pointed to the larger one "That leads to the main entrance and from there the throne room and public areas" He pointed to the others "That is the back corridor you can pretty much get anywhere bar the human and lower guard quarters via that door that's the one we use while we are open to the public." I nodded in understanding.
"How many are in the guard?" I asked
"Well the guard is made up of three sets and then the brothers and their wives, the lower guard there are roughly ten to fifteen at any one time they can be in a employ for months to years and are also lawbreakers who have been forced to serve a set time they make up basic security they usually are information gathers keeping an eye out for any possible law breaking or exposure risk."
"that's what you meant about some not being here by their own choice" He nodded before continuing.
"Then there are the higher guard there are currently seventeen of them they stationed round the globe with seven of them here in Volterra and then there are the Elite guard along with us and Demetri there is Chelsea and her mate Afton Corin and her mate Santiago, Reneta and Heidi. Although we all have a job to do we all consider each other family and its also why we are the most trusted if you can not find any of us the higher guard can be trusted to a certain extent." I nodded in understanding. "Anyway Aro asked that we bring you to him when we arrived so shall we?" We moved to the smaller of the two doors and I could see why he siad that you could get to anywhere from this corridor there were lots of doors some small some bigger some looked older than others there were steps that led down and up at different places and I knew I would get lost here if I wasn't careful.
"Are we not going to the throne room?" I asked curious.
"No the brothers thought it would be more comfortable to meet you again in a less intimidating environment so we are taking you to their wing." Jane explained I was surprised and didn't know if I should be more intimidated. "Don't worry so much Bella they just want to get a second chance at meeting you without all the acting, doing it in a different place will help" She squeezed my hand to reassure me and I gave her a shy smile. I took deep calming breaths as we drew closer I remembered I had felt safe enough to call them and I hadn't been shown any reason not to trust them since and so managed to slow my heart an tamper my nerves earning smiles from the other three.
We arrived eventually at a large wooden door with a decorative brass handle Felix opened it and we stepped inside. It was a large sitting room the walls were covered in art and tapestries and told a story of the history alone in this one room there were three doors that were carved beautifully and each sported a letter I didn't need to be told that these doors led to personal accommodation for the brothers, and there was one door that was plain and I wondered where that one led.
"Miss Isabella what a pleasure it is to see you again" I almost jumped when I realised I had missed the five vampires that had been sitting in the room and were now stood.
"Hello..." I paused not sure how to address him and he smiled
"Call us by our names dear." he stated and the others nodded I smiled.
"Well then its good to see all three of you again Aro, Caius, Marcus and thank you for sending help." The woman behind Aro seemed to nudge him and he smiled lovingly at him,
"Your most welcome, Isabella I would like to introduce you to my mate and wife Sulpicia." She stepped forward with him and I took a few steps forward as well. Sulpicia was a beautiful woman with long black hair that reached her elbows her face wouldn't be out of place in one of those old time movies and her smile was soft.
"Hello Sulpicia" She laughed then taking my outstretched hand not a arrogant laugh but soft and slightly relieved like she herself had been nervous over the meeting.
"Please Pica is fine and you prefer Bella correct" I nodded smiling and I saw Aro's eyes light up with love "Well Bella it is wonderful to have you here and I think we are going to get along just swimmingly." I nodded in agreement I felt like I could easily become friends with her maybe even sisters.
"Please Pica stop being selfish I wish to meet young Bella" another female voice came it belonged to the woman who had stood beside Caius they moved forward together until they were in front of me Caius smiled and I was shocked at the warm feeling I got from that smile It was similar to the feeling I used to get as a little girl when Charlie would smile at me when I had done something he thought was good like when I learned to ride my bike without falling off it.
"Bella it's wonderful to have you here and to be able to show you the truth to us." Caius told me I nodded as he continued "And this is my Mate and wife Athenodora."
"Pleased to meet you Bella and call me Athena" She reached out and hugged me and in that moment the flood gates opened and I cried.
Marcus POV
I watched as my brothers introduced their mates watched as the bonds became firm and set in place I knew the tears would come so many bonds made at once would make even a vampire sob, but Bella was human the feeling were going to overwhelm her. Athen and Caius guided her over to the sofa across from me they sat with her between them as Athena comforted her and Caius stood guard his own instincts having been affected like everyone else/
"It's ok Bella let it out" Athena cooed and for a few minutes all that was heard in the room was Bella's soft cries and Athena gently speaking words of comfort. Sooner than I expected Bella sniffled and sat up straighter she flushed pink in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry I don't know what came over me" she said I could see she was torn the part of her that had always been so independent wanted to pull away from Athena and Caius who had placed his hand on her back and was rubbing soothing circles in her back, but another part the part that recognised the bonds she now shared with us felt safe and didn't want to move. Caius sensing this moved away slightly turning so he was still seated on the sofa but was now facing her at an angle Athena kept her arm round her shoulders and I saw Bella relax.
"Thats ok Bella we do, we should explain but first it's wonderful to see you again" she gave me a shy hello and watched as our bond became firm "to the reason you were overwhelmed just now, did the Cullens ever explain how vampire bonds work?" I asked
"not really he explained about mates and how as soon as they see them they know, he told me that's how he knew I was..." she stopped then realising he had lied
"He wasn't lying fully, if both are vampires the connections are instant for mates family ties usually happen when they get to know each other I will explain our bonds in a moment, however with humans and vampire mating the vampire won't recognise their mate in a human until they have reached a certain age usually between eighteen and twenty-one this is because the urge to bite the mate is very strong and it goes against our being to create and immortal child, however they would have very protective feeling over their mate until they reached that age range."
"But you said yourself that me and Edward had a strong bond?" she questioned and I nodded.
"For that I can only apologise at the time we had a visitor who was in the throne room the only reason we could allow you to go free in their mind would be if you were mated to him, Edward believes I mistook your bond to him as the mating bond and that Aro let you go simply because of your gift." she nodded.
"politics" she grumbled which called us all to chuckle and brought a smile to her face, "so I wasn't mated to him truly." I shook my head
"even without recognising the bond I would have been able to see if there was one to be made when you reached maturity. However you do have a vampire mate the bond simply has yet to be recognised" she sat a little straighter then
"Do you know who?" I shook my head once more.
"No I can only see there is a bond to be made." she slumped slightly but she still had a small smile on her face.
"Ok so what about my bonds to all of you."
"Well familiar bonds work different, some can take time and require work to maintain these are bonds of friendship the there are those that take time but are for eternity those are that of family but family bonds can be made instantly as well which is what happened to you moments ago, you see when you arrived to save the Cullen boy you showed us a strength and character we had thought had long since died in the human world. You awed us in your selflessness and bravery your compassion and ability to see past the surface, this created the bonds but they were not formed and had yet to become solid when we sent aid to you and add that to the things you were informed about it solidified those bonds as they became reciprocated. They are currently all basic bonds of family and as we get to know one another the bonds will change some may become brother and sister aunts and uncles or mother and fathers." I didn't tell her that she had already formed a mother/daughter bond with Athena but going by the look in her eye I had a feeling she already knew.
"Wow that is a lot to take in" We all chuckled and she took in a deep breath before releasing it. "is there somewhere I could go lie down I feeling a little tired." Aro nodded and Jane looked worried
"She's been tired a lot." she stated quickly
"through here." Aro stated as he led to the door that was the one suite in this wing not occupied Bella looked shocked but followed and I heard her awe filled gasp when she entered and head as Aro showed her round.
"Aro I can't stay here its bigger than my childhood home." She explained Aro chuckled
"I insist Bella after all you are now a Princess of the Voltori where else should a princess stay." We all laughed and Aro came back out we heard Bella mutter about crazy ass vampires as he entered the room. Obviously tiredness got the better of her as we soon heard the tell tale signs of a sleeping human. Jane huffed entered and sounded like she moved Bella from what I assumed to be the sofa and into the bedroom. Jane reappeared a pointed look at Aro she wanted answers.
"It's her shield dearest Jane, After being informed of young Mary-Alice's betrayal her shield expanded to protect her from being seen" he explained.
"Is that not dangerous."
"No we will need to make sure she eats more it will burn energy I've already sent out our chef and told him what Bella will need he has assured us a health well balanced meal plan that will also giver her the energy she needs."
"But..." Aro raised his hand we could all hear Jane's worry.
"I assure you that should it become dangerous we will simply turn her but I am hoping that her mate will become known before that as it would be better all round for Bella if her mate were to turn her." He explained and Jane relaxed
"any idea who her mate is?" Felix asked.
"No but our seer assure us that he will come for her before her nineteenth birthday." Caius stated. Mary-Alice believed she is the only one with her gift that is simply not true being a seer is quite common when it comes to gifts in fact even with all the detail she gets in her visions hers is still felt to be the weaker kind as it is decision based and there for easily manipulated and changed. Our seer Herbert was one of the higher guard he lives in Germany most of the time as that was his birth place. He has visions but unlike Miss Cullen they are of what will come to pass it means he doesn't always get very detailed visions and sometimes he gets snippets that he has to put together but he has yet to be wrong.
Demetri entered a few minutes later and greeted us.
"The red head Victoria is in the dungeons standard protocol has been maintained" He told us formally before his stance relaxed "wanted to burn the bitch" he muttered as he walked over to Felix who was leaning against the wall Jane and Alec were sat with Pica chatting about Bella and it sounded like a shopping trip was being planned. We all quietly did our own thing as we awaited Bella to awaken only to rush into the suite when a heart wrenching scream tore from her throat. Caius burst in the room growling at the unseen threat as Bella continued to writhe on the bed trapped in a nightmare. Athena moved forward and sat on the bed taking Bella's hand,
"Bella wake up it's just a bad dream" she said softly but firmly she repeated herself twice when Bella shot awake tears streaming down her face she looked around panicked but seemed to calm all bar Athena and Jane retreated into the suites sitting room. "it's ok Bella you're safe" Athena murmured as we left going by the looks of everyone faces there were going to be a few very sorry people for messing with Bella I almost felt sorry for them, almost.
Authors Note, I hope you all liked this, and hope the way I explained about vampires not recognising their human mate was ok, I just couldn't think of a reason that Jasper wouldn't recognise her for any other reason so I hope this is a suitable next chapter will be Jasper reaching Boston, I have no idea how long this story will be I know where I want it to go how I get there may change. So I also decided that although Aro and Marcus will have a fatherly bond with Bella Caius will be her dad she will go to him first I chose him because I have some scenes planned out with Jasper and Caius and felt the dynamic would be good.
Lily: shh I'm hiding from Jasper he wanted to be in this chapter.
Jasper: Lily where are you...
Lily: Sm owns everything I simply play see you next time
runs and hides