It seemed as if two against one called the ruling because the argument seemed to stop there.
However, with what Marcus had seen, things had become more difficult and so in some turn of events we were spending the night.
I sat in the lavish bedroom picking nervously at my fingernails as Bella sat next to me, a hand on my back, and Edward watching from across the room.
It was huge, practically a royal suit with a California King sized bed, pillars at all four corners holding up a canopy. The colors were different than I had expected; they were cool colors with small red pieces that popped from the various black greys and whites.
"What's Carlisle talking about with them?" I asked finally, speaking up for the first time in what seemed like forever.
"More than likely the issue of you being bonded with Aro." Edward said factually.
"It's probably confusing for them just like it is for you. Carlisle is good friends with them and cares about you. It's good he's talking with them." Bella said comfortingly.
"Okay." I nodded and looked at Edward "Are they too far away for you to know what's going on in there?" He nodded.
"But I can make some guesses." He said coldly getting a sharp look from Bella.
"Edward isn't a fan of them." Bella explained "And I'll admit neither am I, but if you're bonded to Aro, he won't let anything bad happen to you."
That's when a new voice came out of nowhere making me jump. I must have been the only one surprised though because Bella and Edward were already looking in the direction of the speaker.
She was small, both in height and stature. Her brown hair was straight and reached her collar bones and her eyes were red just like the others.
"In fact, he's insisting you be treated like a goddess and Carlisle is trying to reign him in." She said sweetly as if she were describing a romance novel "My name is Clara. Master Aro has sent me to see what I can get you to eat."
I paused. I hadn't really thought of food and frankly, I wasn't really hungry. My stomach was doing flips and my brain was too busy.
"Um..." was all I managed to say before she let out a small sigh.
"I told Master Aro you'd be far too occupied to eat but he wasn't having it. I'm afraid he forgets what it's like to be human. I'll get you something simple; maybe some soup." She suggested and I nodded. I couldn't imagine even stomaching that but at least it wasn't something heavy.
She had been back far quicker than I expected, holding a a tray of water and chicken and rice soup, setting it down with a nod, and leaving again. The smell made me realize how hungry I actually was and I was grateful for it as I ate.
"What do you think is going to happen?" I asked, setting down the empty bowl and picking up the glass of water.
"Well Aro immediately started imagining life with you here." Edward mused "But of course, Carlisle is going to try to slow him down. Like Clara said, he forgets what it's like to be human so he isn't going to get how much this all is for you to take in."
I nodded. I was very much overwhelmed. Just yesterday I had learned of a reality in which vampires existed and now I was in Italy being told one was my soulmate.
"But if Marcus sees it, then it means you really are soulmates so you will want him too. Being human doesn't make you Immune to it. I was drawn to Edward the minute I saw him. Kinda how you were when Aro showed up in the library." She smirked knowingly at me and I blushed again.
That's when the door opened, Carlisle stepping into the room.
It was odd to me how quickly Carlisle had become a father figure. My own father was more of a friend, being absent most of the time after my parents divorce and only bonding with me over simple matters. Yet Carlisle had treated me as if he had raised me since the moment he saw me on the pavement of the parking lot. Part of me was sad to think when the crisis was over he'd go back to being a stranger.
"Hello, Annabelle. How are you feeling?" He asked but then chuckled after looking at me "About as well as I expected. We've come to a conclusion that hopefully makes you comfortable." He announced and we all looked at him. "No action will be taken in regards to what happened at school; Caius isn't too pleased about that one." He chuckled "Marcus is very certain about what he's seen, and Annabelle if that is the case, I think you should spend time with Aro." He said seriously, his kind golden eyes locking with mine "But your lives are very different and I don't believe you should be arranged so that your fate is set. Plus you have your life to live as you'd like it and despite what Aro thinks, you should live your human life as long as you'd like and however you'd like. So we will go back to Connersville tomorrow and Aro will visit periodically, hoping you'd be willing to go on a few dates with him. And on long breaks if you'd like, Annabelle, I will escort you here."
I looked at Bella who smiled. She seemed genuinely supportive which was one of my favorite parts about her. Edward on the other hand didn't look pleased in the slightest.
"In addition, Aro would like to see you this evening at some point. I made sure it was nothing formal. He just wants to go for a walk."
I furrowed my brow and he laughed.
"Trust me, what he had planned was far too much. He is very much the romantic and after your interaction in my office, he is absolutely taken with you."
"Your office?" I asked trying to remember any positive interaction. "All he did was take my hand for a while...and he somehow knew I had guessed about you guys. Does he have a gift too?"
I asked and Carlisle looked slightly guilty.
"Yes he does; and I'm sorry for not having told you earlier but I didn't want you to be afraid. Aro is very powerful for many reasons and one of them is he has a very extraordinary gift. With one touch, Aro can see and hear every experience, idea, and thought you've ever had." I froze. "So when he took your hand in my office, Aro learned everything about you there is to know. He felt a pull to you then. That is why he wanted his brothers around rather than deal with everything there. He panicked; rather uncharacteristic for him really. What Marcus saw only confirmed what he already knew."
Something in me broke. Frustration, fear, concern, confusion, and just about everything else bubbled in my chest. This wasn't fair. Not that I had ever been one for thinking the world was fair, but this was ridiculous.
"You're kidding." I said flatly. "So this guy knows everything about me? Absolutely everything?"
That bothered me.
"And what? I know a total of four things about him? One of them being that he isn't even human?" I scoffed to myself "This is all insane. You know, yesterday was the first day I even heard about any of this and now I'm Italy, with my friends who are apparently undead blood drinkers and their dad who isn't even their dad and being told that some king vampire is in love with me and I'll love him one day too?"
Tears we're sitting in the bottom of my eyes out of frustration and I stared at Carlisle for an answer. But instead, the large black door opened and none other than Aro entered.
His presence was captivating and I was suddenly very self aware...especially of what I had just said. He was no longer in robes but instead a black suit with a white shirt and red tie. He had more wardrobe changes than a musician during a concert.
"I'm sure that is a great deal to take in, Annabelle. And I am sorry you are presented with so much difficult information so quickly." He really did look sorry. He looked like I had just told him a terribly sad story and he couldn't help but be upset by it.
"It's fine." I said, trying to restore my cool, wiping my eyes quickly with my sleeve.
"And while you are indeed correct that I have seen your every thought, I am still very captivated by you. I am sure our dear friend, Carlisle told you of the...plans...he talked me into for the evening. I was coming up to arrange a time. Though if you are overwhelmed, I can leave you in peace. No matter how much I'd love to talk with you, your comfort matters more."
I didn't know what I hated more, being thrown into everything or talked to so gently.
"I'm fine. Maybe an hour?" I asked making his face shift completely from somber to elated.
"Most certainly! I will retrieve you in an hour or I suppose Carlisle can escort you down, as he has some business to discuss with my brothers during our visit. How exciting." He breathed the last part making Carlisle laugh quietly.
"I will bring her down in an hour. I promise she'll get there safely." Aro was reluctant but moved his feet.
"Until then, darling Annabelle." He said with a gentlemanly bow and left.
