Chapter Six| the volturi

To be honest there was a tiny part of me that was terrified that this would go wrong.

I would close my eyes, only to open them and learn that the Cullens didn't want me in their lives.

They were letting me down easy, so that I would have the opening to tell them I didn't want to be their friend before they would have the opportunity to tell me they just couldn't be friends with me. Carlisle would stay my doctor and Esme would stay my helper but the teenage vampires would be back to the way they were before.

Without me in their immortality longer than what was needed.

To say the least each day that passed solidified a trust with them. I would spend the weekends with them and Charlie was glad I had decided to become friends with the Cullens. I could tell he wanted me to spend time outside of the Cullens with other teenagers but he knew with my limited disability there could only be so many people in my presence without causing me to become too scared or shut away. So he was glad a good bit at me having friends, even if it were with my helper and doctors' family.

Today though I was sitting in my wheelchair by the piano in the front room of the Cullen house. My eyes were closed and Edward was playing softly, enough for me to smile. I knew that my friendship with Edward wasn't much, but I was glad he allowed me to sit around him when he would be playing his piano. I still wished I would be able to sit on that piano bench next to him and compete against him in a battle of talent.

"I…love…"

I didn't finish what I was wanting to say, but Edward continued playing a moment later as though letting me know that he understood that I loved spending time with him. He was calm and collected and he only sat with me when I gave him permission. There was also the fact that he would play the piano at least for an hour when I would spend time with the family.

The front door opened, revealing Alice coming through the doors with a mission upon her features. She was dressed in one of her numerous ensembles that were glamorous. A dress that molded to her body perfectly and the trail of the skirt barely brushed against the ground. A deep burnt orange, yellow, it reminded me of the falling leaves during autumn. She looked beautiful and she came up to me, her eyes turning towards Edward.

He had already stopped playing the piano, his eyes widening at what she must have just seen. He turned his attention towards me, giving me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry Bella, but it seems we have company that will be visiting us in a few hours. I'm sure that Alice will–"

"Edward, I'm going upstairs to get a dress for Bella. When I come downstairs you better have told her who we are expecting, because she will be here when they come," Alice commanded, in the tone of voice that let him know this was how things were going to be.

Edward clenched his jaw sharply, his eyes flickering off to the side and his hands clenched together to keep from hitting the piano most likely in frustration, which in return would break more than the piano keys. Most likely it would end up destroying the entire piano and it would be a shame. The piano was quite lovely, just as lovely as the faces of the family which owned it.

Edward took a deep, unnecessary breath, before his golden eyes went towards my brown ones. There was conflict that was apparent. In fact everyone had confliction, especially when it came to talking or showing actions towards me they were afraid I wouldn't like.

"Bella in our world there is a group of vampires that keep the three main vampiric laws in use: to never tell a human of vampires, to never show anything that would result in us revealing our vampiric nature to humans, and to never gain attention from humans such as drinking too many humans in one area. It would cause the police to research who the serial killers are, which in return would anger the main leaders of the vampiric world," Edward started as he told me this, enough for me to nod my head.

"The group of vampires formed a monarchy with three kings between 1200 and 1100 B.C. Aro, Caius, and Marcus. Aro acts as the main king, he has the ability to know every thought a person has through one touch. Caius does not have an ability. Marcus can know mate bonds," Edward continued, earning two taps from me to let him know I understood.

"The group is named The Volturi and resides in Volterra, Italy. The kings almost never leave the castle unless they believe that something is important for them to appear. They have many guards that go on missions in order to remind others of the might and strength of the Volturi. Many of the guards are gifted themselves," Edward added.

The sound of the front door opening made me turn my wheelchair in the direction of where Alice was striding into the front room with a dress in her hands. She rolled her eyes at Edward. "I was hoping you would tell her sometime today all of what she needs to know."

"I wouldn't want it just blurted out if I were in her predicament. Imagine having to be bonded with–" Edward stopped, his eyes flickering over towards me with pity. My eyes went towards the two vampire siblings, my heart thundering in my chest.

"I…have a mate?"

Both siblings turned towards me and nodded their heads. It seemed as though I was bonded with someone who was in the company that was coming. It didn't take long for me to realize that it was one of the members of the Volturi. I closed my eyes as I analyzed my thoughts on the matter, along with the emotions.

"V-V–"

"Yes, Bella. In the Volturi. I am certain that Edward told you the Volturi work as a monarchy. One of the kings happens to be your mate," Alice slowly informed me, enough for me to blink some at what she was saying. Fear gripped me at what she said a moment later, in fear they had learnt about me and were coming to destroy the Cullens.

"No. It's not, they aren't here because of you. If that's what you're thinking, they're here because they are old friends of Carlisle's. He stayed with them at the beginning of the eighteenth century for two decades. As for who it is that you are mated to–"

"I will answer that for her. Then I will let Alice take you to change into your dress and get ready for their arrival," Carlisle spoke, enough for Alice and Edward to bow their heads to show they understood before they disappeared.

Carlisle came over and asked permission to take me to his office. I tapped her fingers two times, and he pushed me through the front room, down the hallway and to his office.

As he entered, I turned my head, my eyes landing on a portrait that was hanging up, which I hadn't seen the first time I had come here. He must have taken it down when I had first come here because he didn't want to freak me out by it.

He pushed me towards the portrait and my breath was taken away at the detailing. Although it was framed in the gaudy, God awful frame that would only be used in museums nowadays, the portrait itself made up for the gaudiness that came from the frame.

The portrait was set within a white and gold accented ballroom, all marble and the finest material in the world. The golden crown molding, the marble pillars, the scones upon the wallpapered walls underneath the balcony all reminded me of a fairytale setting.

There were people in renaissance gowns and suits, holding wine glasses that hopefully were full of red wine instead of blood (I think I was safe on that guess, there weren't any red eyed vampires in the crowd, as far as I could tell). The chandelier had many diamonds upon the wrought iron arms of the golden chandelier. It was more than breathtaking, it was a disaster in the making if it loosened over time and fell on an unsuspecting person.

It was the three people that were standing on the balcony that caught my attention the most. Three vampires in their twenties with regal clothing, clothes that were suited for kings. Crimson red, the color of blood, robes with golden embroidery lining it in dips and curves. Their muscles were on display, proving that they could hold their own. All three of them had those vibrant crimson eyes and pale skin that was borderline skeleton white.

The vampire in the middle reminded me of Keanu Reeves with long dark hair that fell to his shoulders. Thick eyebrows, deep set crimson eyes and the right kind of plumpness to his lips. There were even little white splotches in his crimson eyes. Perhaps he was blind? Or was it because he was over a thousand years old and time had worn him thin throughout the millennium he had been a vampire?

"Aro," Carlisle merely stated as he looked at the vampire I was peering at. He sighed and continued, "he's very…eccentric. His obsession is to collect as many vampires as possible that have gifts, such as my sons' and my daughter's gifts. I believe the only reason why he would not take them is because he is a good friend of mine and he knows how important family is to me."

My eyes went to the vampire to the right, where he also had long hair that barely brushed against his shoulders. He had a mourning veil upon his face, one that was short and fell a few inches above his lips. I could still see his crimson eyes behind the veil, I could still notice the pain and anguish that was apparent for all to see.

"Marcus. He is the one with the ability to see the bond between mates. His own mate, the late queen Didyme, died over a millennium ago. He wants nothing more than to be with her again but Aro will not allow him to be welcomed with Didyme once again. He also happens to be the older brother of Didyme, so it is worse for Marcus to look at someone who resembles his mate and even is a family member of hers."

My heart became tight at the thought of being in the same position as Marcus. I didn't like to think of how every day was another day of hell for the vampire king. He was without his wife, without his queen, for over a thousand years. I could not imagine being in his place.

The last vampire that was standing upon the balcony made my heart race fast enough in my chest I thought that it would bruise its way through the skin and bone. He was so beautiful I could cry, he reminded me of an elven king from a realm far away from here. He stood with the most confidence with his back straight and his hands clasped together behind his back. Long, pure milk white hair spilled down his back and was twined together by jewels, some jeweled chains while others were embedded in braided parts.

"T-That one. M-My mate."

Carlisle sighed and nodded his head, wordlessly agreeing with me for a minute that the last vampire, the white haired vampire, ended up being my mate. He finally said something a moment later, the vampire's name.

"Caius."

The latin definition of Caius was "rejoice".

It was kind of amusing to be honest, since he didn't seem as though he was the rejoicing type. He looked stern, cold, very king-like. I wondered what he would look like when he would smile, if his eyes crinkled around the corners. What he looked like when he would be laughing, all the stress and worry lines taken away.

I couldn't tear my attention away from the painting until Alice came into the office and grabbed my wheelchair before leading me into the guest bathroom a little further down the hallway. She opened it and pushed me in before she shut the door behind her. I barely paid her attention as my mind kept traveling towards Caius.

Alice helped me out of my clothes and into the deep emerald green silk dress that could be put on over my head, without having the need to unzip or button up and down the sides or back of the dress. It was a simple V-neckline with long sleeves and a skirt that fell a few inches above my knees. My legs with no true muscle to them would be shown but then again I would still be in my wheelchair so it would be obvious that there was something a lot more messed up with me.

She led my wheelchair out of the guest bathroom and into the front room of the house. The other Cullens were all dressed in formal wear, I was certain that if it weren't the Volturi that were visiting they would be dressed in more casual clothes. Only this wasn't a casual setting, this would be when they would be in the presence of the Volturi once again. It also happened that they would be in the presence of a human girl in a wheelchair.

Leading my wheelchair over near the piano again, Alice stopped me where I was before, then she turned her attention to Edward.

"Edward, play the piano. It will help calm her nerves."

Edward fought the urge to roll his eyes, I could tell from far away from him, but he knew that there were more important things to worry about. He didn't need to care about his sister bossing him around. He needed to make sure I would be calmed down enough for when the Volturi members would come through the woods and onto the property.

"They'll be here in five minutes."

Carlisle stepped forward and moved so that he was next to me, with Esme next to him. She came up to me, in one of her white dresses that made her look as though she were an angel. She crouched down in front of me and reached her hand out, putting it onto my hand to let me know that she was here for me. She would make sure to keep me away from the Volturi if she needed to. (Looking back I didn't think that she knew about one of the kings being my mate)

"We'll be right here with you the whole time, Bella. You don't have to worry about anything," Carlisle informed me, his eyes darker and more serious than I had ever seen before. I nodded my head as well as I could to let him know I appreciated it.

Those five minutes it took waiting for the Volturi to arrive would always be imprinted into my mind as the longest five minutes of my life. The only sounds were the piano and my heart beating.

I was certain the vampires around me were more focused on the sound of my heart instead of the lovely ballad that Edward was playing. A ballad he must have composed himself, it had to have been one of the ballads he made for Esme or Alice or Rosalie. Perhaps it was a ballad that was made for his biological birth mother, Mrs. Masen.

The first thing I noticed were obsidian robed people swiftly moving from the woods that surrounded the house. Two of the robed figures were the size of children, which surprised me. It also made me saddened as I wondered how old those two figures were. I should have thought that there were children that had been changed into vampires but those two walked with their black leather gloved hands clasped together in a sibling, platonic manner.

"Alec and Jane. They were 12 when they were turned into vampires by Aro after they were burnt on the stake for being thought of as witches back in 800 A.D. Alec has the ability to numb and take away all a person's senses and Jane can make you feel excruciating pain even though it's only in your head."

I turned my head, seeing that it was Alice that had said this.

There was a sadness that came dripping through her though it wasn't much.

Obviously, the twins were not the best vampires in the world but to be a preteen and thrown onto a pyre to be burnt as a witch did things. Whatever kindness and innocence that was once there was gone, it deteriorated, just like anything else that had been upon the pyre with them.

There were two men that were on the other side of the children, one of the robed men was tall and thick. He had the same kind of body build that Emmett had, and I knew I wouldn't want to go toe-to-toe with the Volturi guard.

Emmett grumbled his name, almost as though he could hear my thoughts, "Felix. I'd love to duel him but we aren't allowed to even talk to each other. Just give each other nods. Even though we know I would beat his–"

Rosalie gave a clearing of her throat sound, sending him a look. He pouted and folded his arms against his chest, enough for Rosalie to roll her eyes before she let her eyes land on mine. There was conflict in those golden irises of hers, before she tore her attention away from me and focused her attention on the four robed guards making their way across the grass to the house.

"The last member of the guard that was chosen to come here is Demetri. He was a Greek warrior and is a major flirt. He's an excellent tracker that can know wherever you are because every person has a trail. He doesn't have to actually meet you, he can meet someone who knows you, and then he will know the trail that you have. There's not one person he hasn't been able to find."

Edward stopped playing the piano by now, and made his way so that he was in front of me. My eyes widened and I reached my hand out to grab him by the wrist. It wasn't that much of a grab, since I didn't have the strength to hold onto it, but it was enough for Edward to bring his hand up to pinch the bridge between his nose. His eyes were closed, his perfect features became crinkled for a moment, making him more human.

"Are you sure, Bella? I can stay in here and protect you while the others go out and have a conversation with the guards and our honorable guest," Edward commented, making sure to add a sarcastic tone to the mention of Caius without saying his name.

"I-I'm sure. C-C–"

My mouth became cotton mouthed as another figure glided behind the four guards. Tall, thin but muscular, the figure had on crimson masculine robes with black leather gloves. He reached his hands up and pulled his hood back, revealing Caius Volturi in all his elven-like glory, jewels both chained together along with separate still decorated his white hair. He pulled his hair out and spread it over his hood and upon his back.

"Caius…"

I had whispered this, not knowing that I would have the said vampire king hear my voice all those miles away and snap his head in the direction of where the front doors of the house were. His crimson irises darkened and he whispered, "Ciccio."

Oh.

He called me a pet name without even seeing me, without even knowing that I was in a wheelchair. He was calling me honey, sugar, mate. It was full of affection, well it was more full of desire. He had a determination which let others know now he knew I was not far away from him there was no way he would not be leaving without me. I could only hope that this was true desire and not something that was just there because I had said his name.

"You know Italian?"

I turned my head towards Emmett, finding that of course the big thunderhead would automatically be more intrigued with the fact I knew what Caius had said without asking them what he said. I looked back down at my hands, which fell upon my lap and answered them truthfully, "exchange…student…last year."

Everyone nodded their heads to let me know they understood.

It was the only thing they could do before knocking came upon the front door.

I didn't have time to focus my attention away from the vampires around me to the front door, before Edward grabbed the back of my wheelchair and pushed me in the direction of Carlisle's office. He pushed me in and shut the doors behind him, making sure he would be able to guard me away from the Volturi king.

"Edward! You…you…can't be."

I couldn't continue, emotions were spreading throughout me at the fact that Edward was hiding me away from the leading monarch coven of the vampiric world. He was hiding me away from those that could possibly hurt me, judge me, just by giving me one look all because of the fact that I was in a wheelchair.

I was also too tired to say anything, instead I sighed and pushed my wheelchair away from where the doors were and to the sun shielded windows that looked out to the meadow that the house was built on along with the woods in the distance. There was a soft breeze that was blowing throughout the meadow and I knew it would have been wonderful to be within that meadow, lying down on a blanket and just embracing the weather.

The front door of the house opened and then other ethereal voices were brought into the situation. I tapped my toes against the foot rests, the sunlight that did come through and into the room sent off little glints from the metal foot rests.

My hands were intertwined together, thankful I hadn't felt the intense need to start biting and pulling at my fingernails. I could have possibly cut myself and caused mayhem in the house, especially since it would be in the presence of Edward along with the Volturi. My blood could be the thing that could have me killed. The Volturi drank only human blood! I was a human…so yeah…

"Caius, please, calm down. There's a reason why we didn't want you to meet Bella automatically. Esme can go and get her and bring her in here."

I patiently waited as high heels clicked in the direction of where the hallway was, and then down the said hallway to the office door. Hushed conversation between mother and son allowed Edward to know he had been rash and was lucky of Carlisle's history with the Volturi. I tried not to pay attention to them, but it was the only thing I could hear, and then the doors opened.

Esme came into the office and came forward. She reached me and crouched down, so she was at level with me. She brought her hand up and pressed it against my cheekbone. She didn't have to say anything for me to nod my head. It was time for me to meet Caius Volturi.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: update 3 of 3. I hope that you enjoyed all the updates. I will not be posting any of the first chapters of my other fanfictions until late next week. Due to my genetic disorder, Tuberous Sclerosis, I have to go to the hospital about a handful of hours away. I am getting my brain/abdomen M.R.I done so they can check on my noncancerous tumors. I am also getting lab work done. I am getting a lung test done, so they can check on my lungs to see how they are. It is common for my rare disease to cause noncancerous tumors in the lungs in people once they turn 30. I am almost 26 in a few weeks, so I wanted to check and see how everything is. Then I will be meeting with my kidney doctor to check on the tumors in my kidneys. It will all be done on one day, the day after tomorrow.

So, I will see you guys late next week or the week after with the first chapters for my new fanfictions.

-Emmy

as always: Twilight doesn't belong to me