The Invitation
This story is inspired by the 2022 film "The Invitation".
Plot: Isabella Swan a struggling college student wrestles with a shit hospitality job, poor relationships and not knowing what she wants to do in life. Her father died early and her mother passed away recently. A new DNA company reveals long lost family with ties to rich Italy, hesitant, Bella reluctantly agrees to meet them and her world is forever changed.
Chapter 2: The Ball
The sunlight breaking through the curtains woke Bella up the next day, a brief knock on her door and Heidi entered to take her up. Bella groaned and laid back down pulling a pillow over her face as she enjoyed the warmth of the bed.
"Milady, the Cullen family reunion starts in a half hour," Heidi said, that woke Bella up and she jumped out of bed, or rather, tumbled as she went to jump her leg got caught in the sheets and she and the bed covers all fell to the ground causing Heidi to stifle her laughter.
Bella quickly untangled herself and ran into the bathroom to hop into the shower while Heidi grabbed out a dress for Bella along with other things she would be wearing. A few moments later a quickly showered Bella exited the bathroom in her towel, she awkwardly put her underwear on while Heidi stood waiting to assist.
"I'm perfectly capable of dressing myself," Bella grumbled while Heidi was helping with her hair.
"I'm sure you are Milady, but, it is my job to assist you. Please let me do my job," Heidi said as she curled Bella's hair for her.
Once she was ready Heidi then guided her to the room of the palace where the 'Cullen Family Reunion' sign was and gestured for her to go in. Bella mouthed a 'thank you' before doing so and she was immediately greeted by a room full of… men, strangely enough. Wow, most of the blood Cullen's if not all of them were men!
"Bella! So good to see you, how was your night?" Edward asked, approaching and offering her a glass of wine.
"Sorry I overslept, the bed was really comfortable," Bella replied.
"Here, I have some people for you to meet. These are my brothers, Emmett and Jasper Cullen, their wives are Rosalie and Alice but as you know this reunion is blood family only," Edward introduced her to two men who appeared to be exact opposites.
Emmett Cullen was a large muscled man, his suit seemed to be on the verge of ripping while Jasper Cullen was slim and petite, but held himself with an stood body posture and cleaned up well while the former was more… bearish.
"Bella, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Edward hasn't shut up about you and everything you do, my wife Alice is a painter as well, when she heard you loved to paint she wanted to invite you to her studio to paint with her," Jasper said, reaching down and kissing her hand politely.
"I'd love that, definitely sometime!" Bella replied, before Emmett could speak she was whisked away by Edward to an old man and an elder man who looked a lot like Edward, Jasper and Emmett.
"Bella this is my father Carlisle and our great uncle Lorenzo Cullen," Edward introduced.
"It warms my heart to meet you Bella," Carlisle said giving a nod, Lorenzo smiled brightly and grabbed his glass standing up. He tapped his spoon against his glass causing it to echo and gain everyone's attention.
"It is with great honour that we welcome our cousin Isabella Cullen from America to the family, now I know what you are thinking, all the Cullen's are men…" a pause and a chuckle elicited from everyone in the room.
"But it is pleasant to have fresh blood and hopefully the first of many female Cullen's to grace our family," Lorenzo said and everyone clapped, Bella slightly bowed bashfully as everyone continued to drink, eat and chat.
Bella spent the afternoon connecting with the various Cullen family members, it came to no surprise that Emmett worked as head of security for the Cullen family realtors. Jasper, surprisingly was a American History Professor at Boston University specialising in the civil war period of American history. Carlisle was a surgeon in addition to being on the Board of Directors of the Cullen family business, his wife Esme whom he showed a picture of was an interior designer. Emmett's wife Rosalie was a designer at Gucci, and Alice was an artist whose work Bella actually recognised, she had no idea Jasper was married to THE Mary-Alice Brandon, a famous artist who has been selling out entire galleries in Europe.
If the women that married into the Cullen family were all talented then she could not wait to spend time with them in the future after the wedding, though she was told they would all actually be attending the wedding themselves, just not the family reunion.
A knock-on Bella's door broke her out of her day dreaming, she had been relaxing after the reunion lunch and being asked questions by all of the Cullen men that she needed to wind down. Upon opening the door, Bella was met with the coy smile of Sulpicia Volturi, the hostess who casually raised an arm to lean against the door frame and pushing her sizeable chest forward distracting Bella.
"Sorry for dropping in unannounced, I wanted to apologise again for Felix yesterday. I know it wasn't the most flattering way for us to meet," she said, her voice was husky and commanding despite being soft.
"It's okay, but Felix is a bit of an ass," Bella responded, her heart was pounding against her chest as she avoided looking anywhere but at the woman in front of her.
"He's very set in his way, anything that goes wrong on the grounds he sees as his own fault and failings and takes it very personal. I know it wasn't the best first impression, but perhaps you could allow me the pleasure of a do over?" Sulpicia asked, her posture became unsure and almost nervous.
"I can forgive our first interaction, but I can't forget," Bella started and watched as Sulpicia visibly deflated.
"But… I'd be happy to give you a second impression," Bella said and watched as the woman beamed a bright smile.
"Very well then Bella, I thank you for that chance. I will endeavour to make that impression tonight at the welcome ball," Sulpicia once again raised Bella's hand to her own and gently kissed it, Bella took in a deep breath as she did so and didn't dare to breath before Sulpicia gave her a bright smile as she left.
Once she was sure Sulpicia was far away she let out the breath she was holding and collapsed on the ground. Bella was absolutely sure that Sulpicia was going to cause her to have a heart attack "God damned beautiful Italian woman," Bella mumbled as she fought to control her breathing.
When Bella awoke from her nap it was to the surprise of a beautiful sapphire dress hanging on the edge of her bed with a note hanging from it. When she looked at the note she saw the neat cursive that must belong to Sulpicia 'For you mia bella' signed Sulpicia with an imprint of her ruby red lipstick. She immediately called Angela.
"What's up Baby Bells?" Angela's preppy voice responded moments later.
"She got me a dress Ang! A fucking dress!" she turned on the camera to show Angela the dress who gasped in awe.
"Oh. My. God. That must be so expensive and it looks absolutely beautiful! What did you do to have this woman buy you a dress?"
"She asked me for a do-over of our first meeting, I said yes and she said she would see me tonight to make a good second impression."
"Bells, I'm saying this as your best friend. Don't fuck up this chance! You have an Italian goddess flirting with you! You got this girl!"
"Ang you know I haven't had a single fucking date since the shit with Leah went down, how can I wear this beautiful thing in front of this amazing woman and just be… me," Bella said deflating.
"Have you considered the fact that maybe Sulpicia just wants you to be… you? Now come on, pick yourself up girl. The girl you were before Leah would have relished the chance you have and I can't believe your toxic ex is going to ruin this for you, you can't let her! It's been over a year!"
It took Bella almost a full hour to clean and then dress herself in the beautiful dress and then a further twenty minutes for hair and makeup. Once she was confident enough and Angela had catcalled her on facetime enough that she was able to leave her room and head down to the garden where music was playing.
A dance floor had been set up and an orchestra was playing traditional baroque music, tables were set up with food and waiters and waitresses were serving food and beverages. Bella was positive that each bottle of wine served was double her yearly salary in its worth. She nervously approached the archway which served as the entrance to the party, upon arrive she saw Felix standing next to the archway on the dance floor. "Announcing, Miss Isabella Cullen," his voice echoed across the party and everyone stopped to look at her, she felt in the spotlight.
"You look absolutely gorgeous Bella," Edward said as he approached and offered his arm, she took it gladly.
"Why is everyone like staring at me?" Bella asked.
"Well you are the newest member of the Cullen family, officially, but I'd say you're also gorgeous and why shouldn't they?" Edward smirked.
"Champagne?" a waiter offered.
"Oh, fuck yes," Bella said grabbing a glass and downing it instantly before grabbing a second.
"Announcing, the maids of honour, Athenadora Clockstock and Didyme Billington!" Bella looked over to where women were entering, one was taller and of Scandinavian descent, she looked like a tall warrior kind of woman she's seen in those Viking TV shows while the smaller blonde girl with a bright smile looked to be of English descent of some kind. However, both of them had Bella's jaw dropping onto the ground. They both wore very elegant dresses with Athenadora wearing a form fitting full length black dress with sparkles while Didyme wore a shorter dress which was slightly beige.
"They're like wow," Bella said turning to Edward who had disappeared, she turned back to see Athenadora and Didyme approaching.
"You must be Isabella Cullen, Edward has told us so much about you, I'm Athena and this is Lucy," the taller one said, taking a glass of red wine for herself.
"Don't believe everything Edward says, he tends to over-exaggerate," Bella replied refusing to meet their eyes, if these were the maids of honour and judging by Sulpicia, the bride herself must be beyond ethereal.
"You're American, I thought you'd be… different," Athena said.
"Well… this is what you get, what were your names again?"
"I'm Didyme and this is…" the smaller one started
"Athena," the taller finished.
"You're really pretty," Athena said, her hand grasped Bella's jaw and raised it so that Bella was forced to look into her ruby tinted eyes.
"Uh… th-thanks," Bella stammered, the gay panic starting to settle in.
"S-so are you two…" Bella squeaked out awkward.
"You're so fortunate that your cousin plucked you out of thin air, to us," Athena purred.
"Waiter!" Bella said, downing her second glass of champagne before she unceremoniously downed another one and grabbed a fourth, she was starting to feel warm and very much relaxed now. Athena and Didyme looked at Bella with interest and… hunger?
"Introducing! The lady of Volterra Castle, Lady Sulpicia Volturi!" Felix announced, Bella's heart stopped as Sulpicia appeared, her hair was done up in a gorgeous way with a string of jewels holding it together, the form fitting black dress had feathers adoring the lace and accentuating all of her curves. Her skin was flawless and Bella was drawn to the ruby red lips of hers and the dark eyes.
Bella froze as Sulpicia walked straight towards her, her hands shook as Sulpicia's gentle hands freed the champagne glass from her own setting it on a nearby table before she pulled Bella by the hands and onto the middle of the dance floor.
"W-what are you doing?" Bella said.
"It's customary that I open the dancing," she replied turning to Bella and placing her hands on Bella's hip while holding the other taking up the male role in a waltz.
"I don't know any dances, and wouldn't you prefer to dance with a guy?" Bella said quietly, the laughter that came out of Sulpicia's mouth was like music to her ears.
"You should know by now that I'm not one for men, mia bella, now follow my lead," Sulpicia instructed as the music started to play.
Sulpicia expertly led Bella around the dance floor when other couples started to join, Bella saw Jasper dancing with a petite pixie-like woman while Emmett was dancing with a bleached blonde woman, guessing they were Alice and Rosalie. Though she was surprised to see that Edward didn't have a partner to dance with at all not that he looked like he minded.
After her dance with Sulpicia she thought that would be the end of her formal dancing, however, she was very wrong. Once Sulpicia was done Athenadora took her place dancing with Bella which surprised her.
"Couldn't let her have all the fun, you are a gorgeous specimen," Athena purred again leaning down and placing a gentle playful nip on Bella's ear causing her to shudder.
What the hell was going on? First Sulpicia and now Athenadora, Bella swore she was in lesbian heaven. This was further reinforced when Didyme followed up, it was a bit more awkward as Didyme was a head smaller than Bella was yet she still led the two of them in a wonderful dance.
"I've always wanted to go to New York," Didyme said while they danced.
"Well, I have to hand it to you Edward. A female Cullen, and she is gorgeous. There I was thinking you were all washed up," Athena said lazily sipping a cup of red wine.
"Sticks and stones Athena, but we have once again provided what our families promised," Edward replied casually.
They watched as Didyme was talking animatedly with Bella while leading them on the dance floor, Bella seeming to enjoy humouring Didyme's curiosity and almost naïve innocence, or so she appeared.
"I see you are enjoying yourself," Sulpicia said approaching Athenadora and Edward, her own glass of red wine in hand.
"Very much so… I see you want to talk, I'll take my leave," Edward downed his glass of champagne then quickly left leaving Sulpicia with Athenadora.
"I see you are up to your usual antics Athena," Sulpicia commented, leaning back against the table.
"Can you blame me? Bella is perhaps the most… ethereal Cullen I've ever seen. And she is innately attracted to us, all of us," Athena gestured towards Bella and Didyme who were smiling and laughing together on the dance floor.
"I can't blame you, but be gentle for the moment. There will be time for more…exhilarating things to come. Oh, and Athena, I mean it. Be nice," Sulpicia warned, leaning over and giving Athena a chaste kiss while Bella's back was towards them.
"As you command, Mistress," Athena replied after Sulpicia broke the kiss.
Sulpicia then downed her glass of wine and stalked onto the dance floor once again, upon seeing her approach Didyme paused the dancing and gracefully handed Bella back to Sulpicia before going and joining Athenadora off to the side.
"Are you enjoying yourself, mia bella?" Sulpicia asked, once again leading Bella around on the dance floor.
"Very much so, I don't I've ever been to such a fancy event… as a guest," Bella clarified, blushing heavily.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to them," Sulpicia promised before stopping them.
"It's getting a bit crowded, do you want to get out of here?" she asked, Bella looked around and it was indeed quite crowded.
"Shouldn't you be sticking around as the hostess?"
"I don't need all these… sycophants around me, come," Sulpicia didn't even wait for an answer before leading Bella off the dance floor and through the garden where they passed many sculptures and other forms of artwork. For Bella, this has been one of the best nights of her life.