BELLA'S POV
As soon as the door was closed I looked around and admired the suite. It was elegantly furnished: the room we were in at the moment was the bedroom, big and dominated by a massive king-sized bed and a spacious wardrobe. The parquet was of light wood and the walls were white, but the room had colour thanks to the red silk sheets and the various paintings on the walls. In a corner there were two black leather sofas.
On the wall opposite to the wardrobe there were two doors: one led to a beautiful grey marble bathroom, the other to a small kitchen.
Why vampires would need a kitchen I did not know.
"Seems nice" I whispered, not sure if what Demetri said about the soundproof walls was true.
Rose nodded and placed her enormous Louis Vuitton bag on the bed. Alice said, "No need to whisper, the room is really soundproof."
I nodded and threw myself on the bed, bouncing slightly. The girls joined me. "So," I started, "Care to explain this shit or what?"
They both laughed and sat up. I raised my head and looked at them. Alice went to sit on one of the sofas, while Rose remained seated beside me on the bed. "Well?" I urged.
Alice sighed. "Alright. Here goes nothing. We are going to Volterra" she said.
I blinked. "Thanks, Sherlock. I already knew that" I mocked.
"But you don't know why we are going" Rose said, stroking my hair.
"That's why I'm asking."
"Before I tell you that, let me clarify one fundamental thing. I know it will be difficult to digest, but it's true, believe me" Alice told me, looking at me sternly.
My heart started to beat faster. "What is it?" I breathed. I steeled myself for the bomb she was about to drop.
She took an unnecessary breath. Bomb in 3-2-1… "Edward isn't your mate."
What? Edward isn't my—What?! How?!
"Bells?" Rose called me uncertainly. I realised I had been silent for many minutes.
"Yeah" I said. "You okay?" she asked worriedly.
"He told me I was his mate." My voice was void of emotion.
"He did. But you are not, Bella" Alice said.
"So he lied."
"Not exactly. It's true he isn't your mate, but he mistook the call of your blood for the mating pull" she explained.
I blinked, confused, and Rose smirked before saying, "Where did we lose you?"
"What call? And what mating pull?" I asked.
"The call of your blood. I believe he told you your blood is his favourite kind of drug, or something like that, right?" Rose inquired. I nodded my agreement.
"Well, you are Edward's singer. A singer is someone whose blood is extremely attractive to a certain vampire, so much that you might be the first singer ever to survive an encounter with the vampire your blood calls to" Alice said, "So, Edward resisted your blood. He felt something attracting him to you, and you were attracted to him, as any normal human is. Though, thanks to your strange, silent mind, he couldn't know what you thought of him. Because of his curiosity, he became more and more involved with you and you with him—and us, and eventually you both fell in love, and Edward recognized the 'bond' you two shared."
"But you said—"
"It's not the mating bond" Rose stated firmly.
Every word was demolishing what I knew, but I was thirsty for the truth. Even if I would come out of this in pieces.
Rosalie sighed. "He mistook the pull of your blood for the mating pull. But they are two very different things" she said, squeezing my hand.
"So… we are not mates?"
"No, but you'll still be a vampire and mated" Alice said, smiling for the first time.
I furrowed my brow. "What? How?"
"Now we are with you to find out just that" Rose assure me, "We'll be with you the whole way, sis."
Alice smiled encouragingly, nodding at her words.
"Wait, you mean that my mate lives in Volterra?" I asked, disbelieving.
Alice sighed. "Truthfully, I have no idea. I see you, as a vampire, happy and laughing with a male vampire—not Edward—but I cannot see who."
I was flabbergasted. "Does the family know?"
"We told Emmett and Jasper just before the arrival of the Volturi. In the room, remember?" Rose said.
I nodded, remembering the conversation I had not heard. Then something came to me. "But, wouldn't the other have heard, also?"
"No, our voices were too low. And I told them to busy their minds so that Eddie couldn't hear. He couldn't know of my vision, nor about the letter, in advance, or you would have… died."
My jaw slammed on the floor. "What?!" I shouted. "Dead? He would have killed me?! Bastard!"
"Bells, calm down. I don't know if he would have been the one to kill you. I just saw you dead. And I'd be damned if I let that happen" Alice declared firmly. "Now, though, this possibility is gone. It's no longer possible."
I sighed in relief. "Thank God."
I attempted a smile, but in reality I was still shook. All these revelations tired me out. Rosalie suspected as much, and said "Rest, Bella. We'll be here. I'll go ask the guards how long is the flight and I'll be back" she kissed my head, "In my bag there is a blue pajamas, you can use that."
She slipped out the door quickly. Alice rose and came to help me. In a matter of seconds I was changed in comfy blue shorts and camisole, my hair brushed and silky. Rose came back just as I was covering my body with the sheets.
She smiled, "The flight will take 10 hours. When should we wake you?"
"Wake me up two hours before our arrival, please" I told her, tiredly. It was already past the time when I usually went to bed, and I was really in need of a good sleep.
"Alright. Now sleep, sister. We are with you" she said.
Her words comforted me. As soon as my head touched the pillow sleep claimed me.
I dreamt nothing. Only the starry sky, with many constellations and beautiful nebulae. It gave me a strange sort of peace.
Sometime later I was woken by a voice talking on the phone.
I yawned, and immediately a hand came on my head. Rosalie. "You are one hour early" she joked.
Alice hung up and looked at me apologetically. "Sorry I woke you!" she said.
"Don't worry, I don't mind. More time for you to answer my questions" I smirked and the girls groaned.
"You are an endless source of questions, you know that?" Rose complained.
I giggled, "Yeah, yeah. Now give me a human moment and I'll be back" I said, and went to fetch my bag. I grabbed it and went in the bathroom. The immaculate marble was so clean that it reflected my image. After I finished my business I went back in the bedroom and found a fresh fruit salad awaiting me.
"Thought you might want to eat something" Alice winked. I thanked her and quickly devoured my food.
Before one of them could further distract me from my questions, I spoke up. "So, who will tell the family about me and Edward?" I asked.
"So… it's fine for you?" Rose asked hesitantly.
I simply shrugged. "Yeah. I think I already knew, anyway. After all, he left me. Mates cannot do that. And I was starting to move one before the whole Volterra situation. So yeah, it's fine. I would still like to be a part of the family, if you would have me" I quickly added.
Both women smiled brightly, "Absolutely! You are our sister, regardless of who you make out with" Rose grinned.
I snorted, "God, Rose. Here I thought you were being serious for a moment."
Her only response was a wider grin.
"So? Does the family know?" I pressed. Alice nodded, "Jazz and Emmett already knew before our departure. I instructed Jasper to take Edward hunting after you left, and Emmett was to tell Esme and Carlisle. He did while you were sleeping. I was talking with Carlisle when you woke up."
"And Edward?" I asked, half afraid of what the answer could possibly be.
"Edward will be told in six hour, when he will come back from the hunting trip. The family will handle him. He won't bother us, I hope" Rose said.
I nodded. "On to the next question then. So, what is the plan? What will we do in Volterra?" I asked.
"Aro organized several balls" Alice replied, and I groaned in horror.
"What?! And why is 'ball' plural?" I asked disbelieving. Oh God, no.
Rose burst out laughing, "Because we'll stay in Volterra for about five weeks, and participate in five different balls."
"Oh God. Oh shit, no" I groaned.
Alice smirked evilly. "Be happy, the look for the first ball is already decided and ready" she said, wiggling her delicate eyebrows.
I lifted mine in response and she laughed. "Winter ball" she simply said, and I realised.
"The dresses we were wearing at home!" I gasped, and they both nodded.
"It was kind of planned. I did not know that we would have used them during a ball in Volterra, but I knew the dresses would have been useful" Alice explained.
"You two are impossible" I grumbled.
They both nodded in playful agreement.
"Any more questions?" Rose inquired.
"No, I wouldn't want to discover any more shit" I mumbled in return. Alice stuck out her tongue. She then clapped her hands. "Very well. Now that Bella has finished with her endless questions, we can start preparing ourselves. I packed in my bag the outfits for the encounter with the Kings. Shall we prepare?"
"If we really must" me and Rosalie replied at the same time, and giggled. Alice glared at us, but then took out the clothes. They were all black.
"For me, a long dress with a halter neckline, and black Louboutin stilettos. For Rosalie, a black Chanel jumpsuit with see-through details, and leather ankle-length boots. For Bella, a black sleeveless bodysuit, skin-tight black high-waist pants, a black floor-length, long-sleeved cardigan and over-the-knee black Prada boots" as she spoke, she took out every piece.
I gaped at her. "Did you steal the bag from Mary Poppins or what?"
She laughed. "And you still haven't seen the accessories!"
At that, both me and Rosalie rolled our eyes.
"Let's get changed! We have two hours!" Rose then said.
Normally I could have donned those clothes in half an hour, but they insisted on accessories and fixing my hair. I completely refused any form of make-up, tho.
"Well, whatever" Alice sighed, when I refused for the seventh time, "You don't need it."
"If I don't need it why do you insist on it!" I accused, and she simply shrugged.
Sometime later, I was dressed impeccably—I even tried walking in heels and found myself mildly comfortable in those shoes—and my hair were perfectly brushed and they draped over my back, reaching my waist. Rose's hair were braided and Alice's had a messy look that suited her pixie-like form. In solidarity, they hadn't put on make-up either.
"Now, the accessories!" Alice clapped her hands excitedly.
From where I don't know, but she pulled out three pairs of Dolce&Gabbana sunglasses, each of them with a black frame and mirrored, and handed to me and Rosalie ours. She had chosen for herself a pair with golden lenses, for Rose silver lenses and for me black lenses. Then she handed Rosalie a silk scarf—obviously black—that she draped over the generous neckline to cover her bare skin. She also handed her a black velvet hat.
"Why do I have to wear this, too? I don't sparkle!" I complained, when she handed me a black sun hat. She had chosen for herself a black crochet hat.
"Because we look hot as hell dressed like this!" Rose laughed and Alice joined.
"We look good, I get it, but—" I started, but Alice interrupted me. "Yes! We look good, no buts! That's what matters!" she lightly smacked my cheek.
I grumbled something unintelligible and went to sit on the bed while Rose put back in the bag our previous outfits. Before I could touch the mattress, though, a knock resonated in the room and Felix's voice called through the door. "Ladies, Demetri will land in a few minutes. Get comfortable. We have arranged for a limo that will get us to Volterra. Please remember that here is day, so mind your clothes. We will wait for you in the limo. Demetri and I will be seated in the front. You'll be divided from us, so if you need to speak privately you can, since everything is soundproof. Enjoy the landing" he said, after Alice had opened the door barely a millimetre.
"Did he see our clothes?" Rosalie asked worriedly when Alice had closed the door again.
She shook her head, and Rose sighed in relief. "Oh God, are you kidding me? We're not here to dress to impress, girls" I admonished.
"We are here to find your mate, but also to dress to impress!" Alice said, before sticking out her tongue.
A minute later, we felt the jet land.
Here we are Italy!
A/N Thanks! My story hit 2210 views! Please, if you feel like it, review!