Chapter Seven

Eighteen.

Bella was eighteen now.

Perhaps in another life she would have friends gathered around her, ready to celebrate. Perhaps she would have a nice birthday cake, and she would have streamers and she would blow the birthday candles while blushing. She would have her boyfriend next to her, giving her a warm, teasing smile and asking what she had wished for before she blew out her candles. She'd tell him she'd not tell him because if she said what she had wished for it wouldn't come true.

No.

That wasn't what welcomed her when Bella woke up on September 13th, 2005.

It was raining, harshly. She didn't want to deal with having to go to school, so Charlie had told her it was fine if she didn't want to go to school on her birthday. She was able to sleep in some, even though she was woken from her nice slumber with the loud rain hitting the windows and the roof of the house. She groaned and peered up at the peaked ceiling of her bedroom, cursing the weather of Forks with a fire-like passion.

Charlie had already left for work, but when she turned to get up from her bed, she saw there was a birthday card that was sitting on the nightstand next to her. It was one of those generic birthday cards you'd find at a general store. Still Charlie went out of his way for her and had decided to buy her this card, so she would treasure it. Even with the fact that the inside of it had the generic message and Dad written in Charlie's almost chicken like scratching writing.

She propped it up on the nightstand, before she went downstairs and entered the kitchen. She noticed there was a cupcake with purple frosting (a hint towards her favorite color), with also a birthday candle stuck in the middle of it. She rolled her eyes fondly as she went to the candle and picked up the candle lighter before lighting the birthday candle.

"I wish for true love."

She blew out the candle, not even knowing what she had wished for until a moment later. Her eyes widened when they had opened, those brown eyes peering down at the smoke that came from the top of the once lit birthday candle. Something just compelled her to wish for true love, she was so alone, and she wanted to eventually meet a boy who would love her unconditionally, a boy that wouldn't leave her if she ever lost her memories again.

When lunch time came around, Bella could hear the front door opening downstairs, while she was reading one of her favorite novels. "Bella! Come down, I want to show you something!"

Confused, but intrigued, Bella closed her book and went downstairs, her eyes landing on the group of gifts that were in front of Charlie. There were five presents: one from Jessica, one from Mike, one from Tyler, one from Eric, and one from Angela.

"Oh!"

"They were on the front porch. I'm guessing they came by this morning and dropped their gifts off before heading to school." Charlie smiled down at the presents before he looked back up at his daughter. "You have some nice friends."

Bella blushed before mumbling a thank you, and went into the kitchen to grab lunch, claiming she was going to get something to eat first for lunch before opening the presents. Charlie decided to get something to eat with her, since he usually ate fast food during his lunch break–that was if he even was able to have a lunch break. He might not be a doctor, but he always considered himself on call, even if the town wasn't that big to begin with.

Once she was finished eating her lunch, Bella went over to where the presents were.

Grabbing Angela's gift, she opened it and saw that Angela had quilted her a blanket. It was all in shades of purple and even had Bella's name monogrammed at the bottom of the blanket in cursive purple that was a strong contrast to the other shades of purple. She hugged the blanket in her arms, snuggling in the warmth of the blanket, before she wrapped it around her.

"Wow! I can't believe she made that. Then again, her grandmother, Pastor Weber's mother, was known for quilting before she had passed away. She and the women in the Women's Church Group would make toboggans and onesies for the premature babies being born both here but also in Port Angeles and Seattle," Charlie informed his daughter, Bella easily handed the blanket off to her father–he smiled softly when he saw her name monogrammed at the bottom of the quilt.

The next gift Bella opened was from Jessica. It was a concert ticket for Britney Spears next month in Seattle. Jessica would have the other pair then.

Bella arched one of her eyebrows at it before she handed it to Charlie. He grimaced at the thought of his daughter going to a poppy, loud concert. She wasn't that thrilled about it either, but it would be a good thing to get out of the house for one night and act like any other teenager going to a concert. Bonus points if said parent wasn't too thrilled with the choice of music artist.

"So…are you going to go see Britney Spears?" Charlie probed; confusion still apparent upon his features. He wasn't someone who listened to the radio, unless he had to tune into the police radio and know the latest crimes that were in progress.

"Yeah, it's about time I go and do something fun. I mean, I know I went to Jessica's house for a sleepover some time ago but I want to still try and be friends with her and the others until after graduation. We'll most likely never see each other after we graduate."

It was true.

Bella was not going to go to the high school reunion, whenever that would happen decades from now. She wasn't a sociable creature, and she liked to be on her own. Well not all the time anymore, when she was too alone by herself she would remember what had happened all those months ago where she had been attacked by a freaky vampire and a bunch of wolves came to attack him while she was exploring her ex-boyfriend's house.

She opened Eric's gift next, it was a coupon to one of his favorite restaurants in Port Angeles. She didn't know if she would end up using it. She knew she would be in the same predicament as he was, with how they had apparently met each other and how he was just awkward to begin with. So yeah, a coupon would make sense from Eric.

Tyler got her a video game, but Bella didn't own anything video game related so that was useless. She merely handed it to Charlie, as though to wordlessly let him know he could see if any of the cops at the station had kids who wanted the video game. She wasn't a video game person, and never hinted she liked video games…so this was a pointless gift.

Mike's gift though was some charm bracelet with a bunch of plastic charms around them. Charlie took the charm bracelet before Bella could properly react. "What's this? Mike Newton? Has he been bothering you?"

Bella blushed and shook her head, assuring him this was not the case. He had been sitting next to her in the few classes they had with each other their senior year. "No. Not more than usual. I ignore him, I guess he's hoping that he can still get me to go on a date with him. He broke up with Jessica not that long ago, their relationship didn't even last the whole summer."

"So you don't care what I do with this?" Charlie asked, Bella shrugged her shoulders. "Good one of my friends at work does clay shooting. We can super glue this to one of the clay pigeons."

Bella fondly rolled her eyes and hugged him, "of course, Dad. I'm fine with you destroying the bracelet. Hopefully when he doesn't see me wearing the bracelet to school he'll realize it really is pointless to try and get a date with me."

Heading upstairs, Bella gathered some new lounge clothes and undergarments before going into her bathroom. It was one of those shower tubs, so she would be able to soak in a hot bath. Of course, it wasn't anything which would be really relaxing. Her knees would end up bent a little bit because of how short the tub was. Still, at least she would be able to take a bath.

Once the bath was ready, Bella pulled off her clothes and got into the water, leaning back and allowing the ends of her hair to become soaked in the warmth. She closed her eyes, only to jolt when she was greeted with a beautiful Italian city in the distance–it was a walled-in city, and a gothic castle was on the top of the city, since the town went angled upwards.

Opening her eyes again, Bella frowned as she dismissed it as just fatigue. Her mind was overrun. She couldn't say she was regaining her memories; she just had this intuition in a way. She seemed to know things but she couldn't place the reasoning behind them. She'd have this knowledge in a way, but she didn't have any images to go with them.

Just like when she had seen the smoke in the distance, outside of the Cullen house from when the wolves chased after that vampire. The fire meant the vampire had been caught. They were burning him to get rid of the evidence.

Vampires were known to still be living despite immeasurable odds. Who was to say that the vampire didn't keep living if it was just torched up? Wouldn't it make more sense to rip the vampire up and burn them, so the vampire didn't put itself back together or be found by another vampire who would put them back together? There would just be ash in the end, nothing survivable. Nothing to essentially super glue them back together.

Bella couldn't help but snort. The image of a vampire missing an arm or leg, having to sit down on a log and have another vampire pull out a stick of super glue was quite humorous. The non-torn vampire would have to keep their hand on the arm, when it was reattached to the rest of the vampire, for the whole hour or so it would take for the super glue to heal.

Clearing her mind once again, Bella made sure to take deep breaths before she closed her eyes, only to find herself looking at that Italian city so far away. She didn't wake up from this, instead she allowed herself to be softly dragged to the city. There were plenty of people wandering through the city, it was a beautiful Italian afternoon, the sky was starting to become blood red and orange–streaking across the skyline.

"Bella!"

Opening her eyes, Bella had a spike of irritation burst throughout her. She felt as though she was supposed to be in that Italian city, it almost tasted like freedom and home. So strong it was, it was almost borderline terrifying. She had never felt at home anywhere in her life before, but now…here in this vision or dream or whatever the hell she was seeing, it was as though everything was clicking together and soon she would be where she was meant to be.

Getting out of the tub, Bella dried off her hair and her body before she got dressed and opened the bathroom door. Charlie was giving her a sheepish grin; he must have been needing to use the bathroom. She left the bathroom behind her, as Charlie went in and shut the door behind him. She left him as the door clicked, locking in place, and went downstairs to where the laundry washer and dryer were. The laundry needed to be done anyway.

For the rest of her birthday Bella moved around and focused on her attention on little things to do. She knew she should focus on things, that way when she would go to sleep, she would be able to have her entire attention focused on what it was her subconscious was telling her. Maybe it would lead her to where she should go next? A place that would help her restore her memories, and not just little hints of the past?

Charlie ordered from The Lodge for dinner, ordering Bella's favorites. She actually had more than one meal she ended up liking at the restaurant for the time she had been here. She never stayed in Forks long enough in the past to form a proper opinion of the restaurant since she would only go to the restaurant a handful of times. Now she was accustomed to eating there more than a handful of times. The place had a lot more decent food than she expected.

Bella never was more excited to fall asleep before in her life. Sure sometimes when she was little she would act like she was asleep so one of her parents would scoop her up and put her into her bed. She'd not have to worry about getting up and walking to the bed. And by one of her parents, she meant Charlie. Renee would have her stay on the couch or wherever she would be lying, which in return made Bella get up in the end and head to her bedroom by herself.

When it was considered an appropriate time to go to sleep, Bella went into her bedroom and shut her door behind her, as though letting Charlie know she wished not to be disturbed. She usually kept her bedroom door open but tonight it was different. Tonight, was almost private, for only her and not for anyone else to witness.

Maybe, in a way she was having a vision of her true love? Vampires and werewolves-but-not-really-werewolves were real. Who was to say that this was not her birthday wish coming true? This could be a hint for where she needed to go.

Taking a deep breath, Bella closed her eyes and let herself drift away.

Bella was in the city, entering through the arched walled entrance of the city, since the city was walled away. The city was built on a rising cliff, so all the buildings around her were in different shapes and heights. They were all from millennia ago, revealing the buildings and cobble pathways were thousands of years old. The people were modernly dressed, so this was the present time. There were very few cars that were parked on either side of the road.

No one seemed to be noticing her, and when they walked they walked right through her. She was here but she wasn't here at the same time. The clock tower in the distance was still ticking, allowing her to know that this was odd. Could she really be astral projecting right now? All because of a birthday candle wish?

She almost seemed as though she knew where she was going. Even if she would glance over at the businesses that were on either side of her, or the houses. It was all so real, so stunning, so different from Forks or even Phoenix. This did have some modernization, but it was mostly original architecture. It was absolutely refreshing in Bella's mind. She could see herself living in a place like this, rich with history.

When she came up to the castle, she noticed how there was a plaque on the rocky barrier wall which said: 1343, Volterra Castle. Also known as 'Rocca Vecchia' (Old Fortress)

A castle, huh? Of course she would be heading towards the only castle in the town. Her life could not be simple. She always had something dramatic happening…

Going through the front entrance of the castle grounds, Bella stepped forward–pausing when she saw two figures in the shadows. She frowned and stepped forward, neither figure seemed as though they could sense her. As she came across them, she first noted how they were wearing Haute Couture cloaks–the best black silk with true golden stitching against them–vines with roses and thorns.

One of the figures was tall, very tall, with bluish-white skin. He was a giant compared to her, his eyes went in her direction, and she almost stumbled onto the ground behind her, as her brown eyes caught on those crimson ones.

A vampire. Of course. She had been astral projected from her bedroom all the way to Volterra, Italy. And it just so happened that vampires lived in Volterra.

The other vampire arched his eyebrow, as he turned and looked at Bella too. He resembled an old Greek warrior, lean and muscular with black curls that cascaded against his shoulder blades. His crimson eyes were brilliant, but just like the other vampire, they didn't make Bella feel anything more than weariness and curiosity.

Bella noted how the longer haired vampire went towards what looked like a manhole that was not too far from them. In fact, they seemed to be guarding very near it. The vampire opened the manhole and jumped into the dark abyss. Bella rushed forward and hopped in after him, not even thinking when she began to scream in fear. (Luckily, none of the people could see or hear her, vampires included)

She followed after the vampire, where the vampire opened a door at the end of the tunnel. She entered after him, confused when she saw a lobby. A beautiful lobby that had just like the outside, had modernization in it (a beautiful black marble receptionist desk with the words Volterra Castle written across the front of the desk in single, block golden letters).

A woman was sitting behind the desk, and Bella noticed how the woman looked as though she could have come out of an Italian Vogue photoshoot. She was human, and she was dressed in only the finest clothes. Her name tag was pinned to her black dress: Gianna.

"Buona Serata, Gianna."

"Buona Serata, Sir Demetri."

Ah, so that was his name. Demetri.

Bella studied him for a moment, deciding that he really did look like a Demetri. He was also a flirt, since he started to lightly tease her. She giggled and picked up a sheet of paper, before the phone sitting next to her computer started ringing. She picked up the phone and listened to who was calling her.

She nodded her head before she hung up.

"The Kings are expecting you. You are needed for a mission."

Demetri merely nodded his head, bid goodbye to Gianna, before he spun on his heels and went to two iron casted doors that reminded Bella of the Notre Dame Cathedral doors. The detail of the original doors was so beautiful and stunning the Parisians thought the blacksmith, Biscornet, had sold his soul to the Devil to create the doors.

It seemed as though the 'Volturi Kings' decided they would have a copy of the doors made, though when she came up to the doors, she swore they were from the same time period. Could these be the original doors of Notre Dame Cathedral? And they had someone make copies so they could have the original doors? Both blessed and cursed, these doors would be.

The doors opened, without Demetri having to touch them. There were two vampires that were on the other side, they wore simple obsidian cloaks then. Perhaps those that were of the highest rank in this vampire guard court, and court in general, were allowed the high-class robes.

Bella's eyes went up, her eyes landing on three figures sitting on white marble thrones. Just like the embroidered stitching on Demetri's cloak–the thrones had marble roses with thorny vines sculptured into the thrones. The three figures wore white cloaks, instead of Demetri's black one. They had the same golden stitching, the same theme–roses, thorns, and stems.

Bella couldn't see their faces, there was something blocking her from seeing their faces. The one on the far left turned their head and seemed to be looking directly at her. Without thinking, Bella probed, "you can see me? Can you see me?"

The vampire reached one of his pale hands out to the vampire in the middle, the vampire in the middle was ranting about the honor Demetri would always keep for the Volturi. It almost seemed rehearsed, as though he was known for saying the same speeches over again with too much enthusiasm.

"What is this, Marcus?" the vampire asked, their ethereal voice reminding Bella once again how all the vampire voices were perfect. The vampire stayed still, as though they had become one with the throne, and they became one sculpture.

Then, a joyous laugh.

"Oh! What wonderful news! Oh how I find such kindness in your gift, such purity! The only question is, which one of ours is connected to this mysterious human?"

Bella didn't know what to do, this Marcus had a gift. She was connected to someone. So that meant that 'King Marcus' must have a gift of connections between people. Could he have seen her then, because she was connected to one of the guards?

"Please tell me, what are you called? I know you are from Volterra, I can see this. But I need to know who you are."

Marcus's face did not reveal itself magically. Instead he said, "you my dear child, are indeed in Volterra, Italy. As for our name, we are the Volturi. I am Marcus. I can see the relations between each other. You, my dear, are the mate of one of our guards. This is all I can tell you. I have something I will give you, something that will let you in this throne room once more without issues. When you wake it will be in your hands. Close your eyes, and you will be home."

Marcus had a soft aesthetic to him, there was a tinge of sadness that was throughout him, that seemed to seep out with the softness, but he was only wanting good intentions. She knew the one next to Marcus was full of mania. She didn't know his name but she knew in time she would learn his name along with the name of the one who was on the other end of the thrones.

Waking up, Bella peered up at her peaked ceiling but glanced down when she felt something in her hands. She looked down at what was in her hands, her eyes widening at the beautiful amulet necklace. The chain was pure silver, with large silver roses that were molded together before the chain continued to a beautiful ruby stone with a silver circle molded around it.

It was so beautiful, Bella automatically couldn't help but thank Marcus when she would meet him eventually. She loved it, it was perfect for her and she couldn't wait until she would wear it.

She got up from her bed and went to her jewelry box and opened it. Inside it were necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings she had inherited from both of her deceased grandmothers.

They were all antique and cost a good bit of money, since they were family heirlooms from about a century before both of her grandmothers inherited them. So it was perfect for Bella to add the Volturi necklace into the jewelry box. Who knew how old it was?

Heading downstairs, Bella was welcomed with the same scene as always. An empty house, since Charlie had already gone to work. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of cereal before she ate it, not really caring about eating a granola bar. She was in the mood for something different, and she just so happened to decide to eat some frosted flakes.

Going upstairs, Bella dressed in a random sweatshirt, light washed jeans and one of her pairs of white tennis shoes. She went upstairs and brushed her teeth, pulled her hair up in a high bun, and grabbed a light green scarf to put around her neck since it would be a bit colder and windier than usual. She also grabbed her backpack and went downstairs, grabbing her car keys from the bowl sitting on the decorative table which also had the answering machine on it.

Jessica ended up thrilled when she learnt that Bella had said she would go to see Britney Spears with her. Jessica informed her since they were near the same weight and figure, she would have Bella wear one of her Britney Spears t-shirts so they could show their support for the pop singer. Bella didn't tell her she wouldn't wear it, since she did want to experience a little bit of normalcy for the time being.

Learning you were the destined mate for one of the kings' guards kind of meant you were destined for anything but normalcy. Still, it sounded a lot better to Bella than wandering around life in complete emptiness. She would know she was meant for something much more. She wasn't the mate of Edward, but she was mated to someone.

She knew once she would graduate high school, she would travel to Volterra so she could see who this mate of hers was. She could only hope he would accept her.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I saw this thing where people think the Volturi should wear Haute Couture cloaks. So, I made it where only the higher status Volturi guards wear them. Remember the ages I make the kings: Marcus is 19 (cannon age), Caius is in his mid 20's and Aro is 40. I hope you have enjoyed the fanfiction so far. Alec won't appear until Chapter 15.

ALL MY FANFICTIONS ARE SLOW-BURN. MEANING IT TAKES A WHILE BEFORE THE LOVE INTERESTS APPEAR, EXCEPT FOR THE LOVE INTERESTS BEING A CULLEN/HALE.

as always: Twilight doesn't belong to me. If it did Edward wouldn't be with Bella, and Renesemee would NOT have happened. Or the whole imprinting thing.

-Emmy

edited: 3/29/2022