A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 22-

Bella's POV-

"And this is my mate, Bella," Marcus plastered a smile on his face, a hand on my lower back as he pretended to be happy and in love, anyone knowing him easily able to see through the transparent façade.

"Hi." I awkwardly smiled, playing my part, the creepy vampire with sticky black hair and eerie blood red eyes offering me a half smile in return- one that screamed that the invitation to this party wasn't accepted by choice. "So, Marcus tells me that you live in Egypt, what's that like?"

"What's it like to live in Italy?" he threw my words back at me, taking me by surprise.

"Um, well." I nervously glanced at the stranger in question; I was only trying to make conversation! "I guess…I wouldn't know. Um, I have not left the castle much since meeting Marcus." I apologetically concluded, running a hand through my hair.

"You can count my answer as to be the same." He answered in a monotone, walking away from me, my eyes wide as I stared at his retreating form.

What the hell just happened here?

"Ignore Amun." Marcus sighed, shaking his head to himself. "He thinks and behaves different."

"You could say that again!" I quipped in agreement, turning to look at him. "So, what's his deal? He doesn't seem to like you people much?"

"Much?" Marcus snorted. "He hates us. End of story. Ever since Demetri joined our coven back in the last millennia, Amun has assumed that we are his enemies, out to harm him. Reality being that Demetri willingly joined us as he was being suffocated by Amun's controlling nature and untrusting behavior. Anyhow, Amun wouldn't have been here, had it not been for his coven member, Benjamin. Benjamin is an extremely powerful asset- he can manipulate the natural elements," I listened in awe as Marcus continued speaking, "A few years ago, one of our own had accidently stumbled across Benjamin, reporting his power to Aro. Aro had needless to mention wanted him for our guard, his greed overpowering every other sane thought, but Benjamin had refused, coming up with an offer of sorts. You see, he does not believe in violence and had offered to assist the Volturi whenever required in exchange for his freedom, his only condition being that he wouldn't be the one to kill the other vampire. Moving forward, he has even been the catalyst for a somewhat cordial relationship between the Egyptian coven and us. Had it not been on his insistence, Amun wouldn't have accepted our invitation today."

I nodded my head, thinking over his words. "I hadn't expected so many people…um…vampires to be here today." There were more than a hundred of them in here! "Well, I had expected a small gathering from what Aro had hinted at. This is rather…grand!"

"The Volturi doesn't do anything small." Marcus sighed, shrugging. "And Aro has a penchant for flamboyance."

"Yeah, I got that!" I waved a hand in air. "But how did so many vampires even reach here this soon? He sent out the invites this afternoon!?"

Marcus let out a short laugh, cute not offensive. "We can run faster than a cheetah; it isn't that unbelievable a feat."

"Maybe not!" I stated, still unable to believe that a hundred plus vampires, across the world, would not only accept the invitation but also turn up in Italy within a few hours of the invite being sent.

It was super, super strange!

"So, that's Amun of the Egyptian coven, who you just met," Marcus pointed towards the four vampires huddled together in a distance, a nod of the head being his clue to continue, "That's the Irish coven…and that's Garrett, a nomad who introduced himself to us sometime in the last century. I wouldn't call him a friend, but he is neither an enemy. He chooses his loyalty rather wisely. You already know Carlisle and his family…"

"Marcus." I interrupted him, hesitantly meeting his eyes. "What happens after this? Where do I go from here?"

"I don't understand." He stared at me in question. "I thought you were planning to return with your father…"

I scoffed at that, lowering my voice down to a whisper. "Oh, please! Like I would ever willingly share a roof with that queen of the bitches- Tanya! But that's not what I meant. I am planning to go back home. To my home. But can I really do that? All these vampires, they now know who I am. Am I at any risk? I would rather not become food." I emphasized on my words, this question haunting me since hours now.

Surely leaving this castle would mean freedom, but was I really getting free?

It had been different earlier.

I had been a complete stranger to the supernatural world…

What if some random vampire were to get offended by my knowledge of his or her world? Deciding to rectify the error made by a human being in the knowing?

I would rather not see myself in such a dangerous situation!

Marcus sighed, carefully placing his words together. "I understand your worry, and now that you have mentioned it, it is indeed a worrisome thought. We are no less of enemies. And tracing one human is no hard task. I will…" he paused, shutting his eyes briefly. "I will…you will not be alone henceforth."

"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow in question.

"What I meant is," he instantly clarified, "I will assign a bodyguard for you. Whoever you are comfortable with. Wherever you go, he will follow, for the rest of your life."

"Let me guess, a bodyguard of the vampire variety?" I skeptically questioned.

"Of course." He shrugged in obviousness.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. So much for walking away unscathed from the supernatural world!

"Look," I gulped. "I need to think about this. I am not completely on board with having someone trail me for the rest of my life, as is expected. But at the same time, I am aware that I am out of choices here. Just…can I give you my answer at the end of tonight?"

I needed time to think about this.

It wasn't an easy decision to make.

On one hand I was agreeing to compromise on my privacy, or it was my safety at risk. Neither of which I was willing to sacrifice on.

"Of course." He nodded his head in response.

I offered him a half smile; his attention diverted as he stared at something in the distance.

"Who invited them here?" he spat the words out, unfamiliar disdain evident on his face. "I specifically mentioned to Aro that they not be invited. I can't believe he went against me!"

The two people in question seemed out of place as they walked in through the grand doors of the throne room, awkwardly awaiting a welcome.

"Um, Marcus, who are they?" I enquired, nervously looking up at him.

"The Romanians." Marcus rudely scowled. "The murderers of my Didyme. Why would Aro invite them? I can't believe this! He knows how I feel about this!"

"Oh." I gulped, my eyes downwards as I thought of what to say in such a situation, nothing coming to mind.

"I need to talk to Aro." Marcus stated, hastily walking away, leaving me there behind, alone surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

I let out a sigh, deciding to put up my brave face, as I walked around the room, smiling at those who smiled back, and quickly walking past those who seemed terrifying and unfriendly.

"Hello, I am Stefan." A short vampire with dark brown hair and creepily pale skin introduced himself, coming to a stop in front of me. "And this is my brother, Vladimir. It is a pleasure to meet you."

I smiled back at the two, aware that these were the infamous Romanian coven that Marcus had been referring to, slightly confused and wary by their insistence to talk to me in Marcus's absence.

"We have been long acquaintances with Marcus and the rest of the brothers." Vladimir spoke, his smile wide and eerie. "Your presence is nothing less than a miracle for our world."

I offered him a half smile, having nothing to comment on that. He seemed…okay. Both the brothers did. In fact, they seemed in awe of the three brothers. I couldn't get a single hint of deceit from either of their faces.

Were they pretending to be good, or was Marcus the one in the dark here?

"Thank you. Um, well, enjoy the party, I guess." I waved a hand in air, ignoring the fact that human blood was freely flowing through the massive fountain built in the center of the room, the guests of the Volturi relishing in it as they roamed all around it like flies to light.

Yuck!

How was I this comfortable with blood being drank, I would never know!

It probably had something to do with Didyme's soul, but either way, I couldn't be anymore glad for that fact.

Imagine the embarrassment I would have to face were I to faint at the first sight of blood!

"Oh, Bella," I looked up, an eyebrow raised as I waited for Stefan to continue speaking. "Can we talk to you in private? Please."

I should have declined.

It was the obvious answer.

But their eyes…they weren't evil.

Could I trust them?

"Okay." I reluctantly agreed, following them through the narrow corridors heading out of the throne room, my eyes turning back every few seconds as I contemplated over whether this was a mistake or not. "What did you want to talk to me about?" I finally stopped walking, awaiting their answer.

"The thing is…" Stefan began to speak. "We are not the enemy. We don't know who killed Didyme but…it was not us. We have nothing to do with this. Yes, we had attacked the brothers…but since the destruction of our coven, we are aware that we are safer being allies than enemies. If only Marcus would understand this. We want to be friends."

"Hold on." I put a hand up in confusion. "Why tell me this? Why not tell Marcus directly?"

"Because he won't listen to us!" Vladmir spat the words out. "We have tried, but he just won't give us the chance to talk. Aro understands. That is why he has called us here today."

I gave out a sigh, shutting my eyes in annoyance. "Look, I am not Marcus's secretary. Your efforts are going in vain here. I don't have a say in who he listens to, so you are better off talking to him directly. If that was all, gentlemen, please excuse me."

Saying so, I turned my back on them, walking back towards the throne room, making probably the biggest mistake of my life so far, as the next thing I know, a thick cloth was covering my eyes, my screams wasted as I was dragged through the narrow corridors of the castle.