I was all but scooped out of the car by Carlisle and immediately into a dark stone corridor, not even seeing my surroundings between the car and the hallway.
"I am sorry, but I'm going to keep you close. Just in case." He said keeping himself directly by my side.
I nodded, the cold air giving me goosebumps. Our shoes made clunking noise as we walked along the stone, especially Aro's. It felt like we had walked several city blocks before we started walking past people.
I looked over my shoulder where there were people moving all about, almost all of them beautiful as could be, others looking around as if they were tourists. Those who were clearly vampires, bowing their heads with respect to Aro who led the way, one of the twins on either side.
I continued to look around, completely breath taken with all those who surrounded us. That was until an icy hand was on the back of my neck.
"Look forward." Carlisle said, slightly more harsh than he had spoken to me before.
I listened, looking only ahead at the back of the heads of Bella and Edward who were following Jane, her brother, and Aro. Behind, the other two were murmuring to one another with occasional amused breaths.
That was until we came to a stop in front of a dark, heavy, intimidatingly tall, set of French doors.
"Welcome back to the court, Carlisle." Aro said, humored as the two taller escorts moved forward, simultaneously opening the doors to a stunning room made of marble and stone.
Carlisle gave a much kinder smile than the slightly sarcastic comment deserved.
"Thank you, Aro. I've been meaning to visit anyway." He countered, mimicking the darker man's tone.
With a smirk, Aro went into the room followed by the twins and the others. Carlisle put a supportive hand on my back, escorting me into the hall, Edward and Bella stepping in before us.
The room was completely stunning and my breath was caught in my chest. It was spacious, large enough to fit a good hundred or more people and yet only about fifteen stood casually looking almost bored watching as Jane and the rest of us entered, a few turning to the other to comment.
"Carlisle!" Aro's voice called and my attention immediately was called to my right, to the head of the room where three men stood, on a platform, large thrones behind them.
"And Edward and young Isabella and Annabelle, of course." Aro gestured to each of us in turn, the other men watching, but their eyes fixated on me. I was the only one they hadn't met...and the only human.
I couldn't look away from Aro. He looked so different, his simple outfit suddenly replaced with elegant robes and his presence even more terrifying.
He didn't look angry like he had at the house, but rather, pleasant as if he were excited about plans with friends. I did however realize that somewhere under his eyes was a calculated fire.
"Hello, Caius, a pleasure to see you again. And hello, Marcus I hope I find you well." Carlisle said politely addressing the other two men who stood next to the dark man. I immediately recognized them as the men in the painting.
"Hello, Carlisle." The seemingly older one answered first, his voice raspy and deep, a kind look on his face.
"Yes, hello Carlisle, here again for trouble caused by your clan. I was hoping not to have an issue for at least another century." The blonde one chimed, his voice regal and his diction perfect.
His face was hard and looked as if he saw a bug in front of him.
"Yes, it is rather unfortunate. Trust me, my friend, I would have liked to avoid the situation as well." Carlisle said peacefully.
"And yet you didn't." The other fired back causing Aro to raise a hand.
"Now, Caius, that is no way to talk to our dear friend. And most certainly there is much to discuss. Though, Carlisle, it does seem this could have easily been avoided."
That's when I saw Bella move forward. I had never seen her look so...mature. She suddenly seemed older and more confident as she looked at the three men with a raised chin..
"Aro, Marcus, Caius, I know I hold little weight on your decisions but I want to ask you please to spare Annabelle. It was my lack of control that got her tangled in all of this. She didn't go snooping or do anything that could have led her here on her own."
It was odd hearing her talk. She hadn't the entire trip. My heart hurt hearing her speak. She looked confident but Bella was never one for sticking out or speaking up and now she stood in front of three vampires that I've come to understand are strict and held her life in their hands. Edward's face looked a strange mix of angry and concerned as the three men stood there in silence.
Aro looked amused while the one name Marcus looked thoughtful and Caius, impatient.
I couldn't help but notice that every few seconds Aro's gaze shifted on me. Just slightly as if watching my reactions.
"Her choice or not, we cannot allow for her to be walking around with knowledge of our kind." Caius finally spoke up "And you, Carlisle, have once again endangered us all." He said harsher even.
It was hard to believe they had been friends at one point, the way that he was speaking to him.
"Caius, please, you know Bella is young. Mistakes happen, even here in Volterra. I know for a fact several of your younger guard members have slipped up on occasion." Carlisle argued, much kinder than his blonde friend.
He had moved forward to speak but shifting so that he was in front of me.
"Carlisle, why do you move to protect this human? Is she another one you intend on turning? Does she have some gift you are hoping to acquire? Aro, this is ridiculous." Caius snapped "Why have we not dealt with this human?"
A gift to acquire? A gift like Edwards? Obviously I didn't anything like that to make me interesting or worth keeping around. And why did Caius think that? As far as I could tell Carlisle was just a family man not some collector of super vampires.
It was in mid thought that I jumped, not because of my concern but because a loud chortle hit my ears. My eyes darted about looking for who had laughed, and finally landed on the source, the last person I had expected.
Over Carlisle's shoulder, I could just manage to see Marcus. He was beside himself with laughter earning looks from his brothers: irritation from Caius and curiosity from Aro.
I looked to Edward who I'm sure knew what Marcus was laughing at. Edward looked dazed, annoyed, and concerned all at once and his gaze moved to me with, his eyes narrowed.
"Whatever is it, Marcus?" Aro asked curiously, looking to his brother with surprise and elated curiosity. "Oh, Aro, I wish you well. But I cannot help but laugh when your life becomes complicated."
