I promised an update, didn't I? I'm PRETTY late so I apologize (again) but I am alive (if anyone was wondering)...
Thank you, as always, for your patience. I know my updating schedule is highly irregular and new chapters are very far apart but real life rarely leaves me with any free time to spare.
I'm grateful for any suggestions, ideas, criticism or anything else really you want to get off your chest.
Now please enjoy.
On a side note: This is not proofread so I'm sorry about any mistakes you will probably find.
~Jane's POV~
Isabella, we are destined to spend eternity with each other. She will freak out if I tell her that.
There doesn't seem to be a good way to break this gently to her either. I sigh and put a strand of hair back behind my ear.
Isabella is still reducing the distance between us inch by inch. Her delicious scent envelops my whole body and there is nothing left in the room but her. Still, I shouldn't pursue anything with the brunette until she is informed about everything and can make a final decision regarding her future, our future.
I try to take a deep breath to calm myself and fight the nearly overwhelming urge to – finally – claim Isabella as my own.
My mate's delicious scent immediately fills my nose making me softly purr involuntarily. Isabella is now even closer; her nose almost touching mine. It would be so easy to close the remaining inches between us…
"You are my mate, Isabella!" I almost spit the words in her face. Why am I not able to be calm around her?
The human's movements suddenly stop. Where there were smiles and giggles just moments ago, there is only silence now. Her eyes have widened almost comically and she just stares at me. Unsure of what to do, my eyes remain locked with her intense gaze as I anxiously await her reaction to my confession.
Seconds stretch to minutes and then hours, centuries even; at least that's how Isabella's continued muteness starts to feel.
Finally she opens her mouth again, obviously still searching for the right words. Several long moments pass.
"Are you- are you serious?"
That answer was not one I expected. Repulsion, yes; fear, absolutely; but certainly not a need for clarification. Angry at her but mostly myself for not breaching the subject in a more gentle matter I step away from her and put my arms around my stomach.
"Of course, I am serious, Isabella. I would not joke about a matter as grave as this."
I see it coming then; of course, I do. Her reaction surprises me nonetheless.
A soft pair of lips presses against mine and with that a deep sense of calmness washes over me. There is no place left for anger or any other negative emotion. It's just her. Her smell, her lips, her whole body and soul.
I don't know how long we stay like this; lost to the world but more importantly lost in each other but Isabella's need to breath eventually forces us apart.
"So…" The brunette takes my hand and grins. "What does this whole 'mate'-thing mean exactly?" A sudden laugh escapes my lips and I can't do anything but to smile back, squeezing her hand softly.
"Whatever am I going to do with you, Isabella?" Another sweet kiss is pressed to my cheek.
"Love me forever?"
"…That I can do."
~Bella's POV~
A knock on the door interrupts the peaceful silence. Disappointed I slowly untangle myself from Jane's embrace.
Beside me the blonde lets out an irritated huff and makes her way to the door. It seems we're both not keen on ending our moment together.
Passing the old wooden bookshelves on my way to the library door – because, of course, being separated from my Jane for any prolonged time is simply not acceptable – I can hear two voices arguing.
"What is it?" – "Woah, what's gotten you in such a bad mood, Jane?"
Demetri.
I'm still torn between being annoyed about the interruption and happy to see the tall vampire again when I step forward to greet him.
"Bella!" He bows dramatically. I can't help but to giggle at his silly antics. "What a lovely surprise. I would have never guessed, I'd see you here!"
Jane lets out an exasperated sigh, clearly annoyed by his antics.
"My, you look quite disheveled. I hope dear Jane here didn't cause you any trouble. You know, if you ever get tired of her mood swings…"
The blonde vampire growls at that – clearly irritated – and steps next to me, wrapping her arm around my waist.
"What do you want, Demetri?" His red eyes twinkle in amusement, seemingly not affected by Jane's growing anger at all.
"I see you've reached a new … stage in your relationship apparently. I'm so happy for you Jane. Maybe you'll stop being such a…" I quickly step in before things have a chance to escalate even further.
"Why don't you tell us what you're here for, Demetri. Not that I'm not happy to see you. How's everything going? Any missions or something?"
For good measure I also press a bit further into Jane's side, her hold on me reflexively tightening while her body relaxes.
"Ah yes, of course. Pardon my wandering thoughts. We – well Heidi really – has prepared human food for you. If you're hungry, now would be a good time to eat."
- Time Skip -
Dinner (or breakfast really since it's actually bright early in the morning) is a fairly pleasant event. Jane and Demetri both accompany me even though my mate seems less than pleased by the dark skinned vampires continued presence.
Heidi – a fairly tall vampire with mahogany colored hair and one of the prettiest smiles I've ever seen – also joins us and introduces herself as the provisioner of Volturi castle, followed by a lengthy monologue on how she managed to organize food for 'our little human'.Though I really try to stay focused my eyes sooner or later always find their way back to Jane. Eyes locked we share small smiles and little touches all throughout dinner and after when we're summoned to the throne room again.
Though I really try to stay focused my eyes sooner or later always find their way back to Jane. Eyes locked we share small smiles and little touches all throughout dinner and after when we're summoned to the throne room again.
"Ah, Bella. We have awaited your return eagerly."
Jane takes a short bow next to me. Standing in front of the vampire kings I feel as awkward and misplaced as I did yesterday when I first met them.
"Hi. Nice to see you again as well, I guess."Aro musters me for a short time before his red eyes find Jane and he beckons her to move towards him. Reluctantly the blonde moves from her place by my side and approaches him letting my hand she tightly clutched up to this point go after another gentle squeeze.v
A few uncomfortable – at least for me – seconds later the vampire king releases Jane's hand and turns towards me, eyes twinkling in silent amusement.
"I see. It seems we have all made some noteworthy decisions today, dear Bella."
Aro takes a moment to let his gaze wander across the room, seemingly scanning the faces of every other vampire, guards as well as the other leaders of the Volturi clan.
Then he takes a deep – probably unnecessary – breath and continues with what I fear will be a uselessly long speech.
"My dear friends, no, rather my dear family, yesterday we were graced by the presence of this lovely human being", he points at me shortly and carries on. "We dared not to hope but she is in fact our Jane's long and anxiously awaited mate."
I feel myself starting to blush and grow fidgety, every present vampire's gaze lasting heavily on my body. Trying to avoid all the stares I nearly miss Jane reappearing on my side and taking my hand softy squeezing it. My focus is immediately drawn to her addicting presence.
A tiny smirk makes its way on her face as she notices my staring. I want to feel at least a bit embarrassed but I can't seem to care about being caught studying her angelic features … again.
"… and it very much seems like this absolutely delightful human has taken a liking to our fiercest of guards as well and has accepted her as a partner and especially a mate."
I try to concentrate, I really do but Jane's fingers playing with mine occasionally running up and down my arm are just too distracting. What could that old man have to say anyway?
"… that's why it is of no wonder that my dear friends, Marcus and Caius, and I have decided to not prolong matters any further. Dear Bella, please step forward. We will begin with the changing ceremony right now."
My head whips up in Aro's direction. "Wait, what?" Great, me, can you sound any dumber?
The vampire's smile turns indulgent. "How else would you spend eternity with your sweetheart? The danger this world poses to you humans cannot take away Jane's happiness, don't you think?" His smile fades for a second but returns even brighter "and I for one can simply not contain myself thinking about what gifts you might possess, my dear."
Ah, there we go. Of course, the blonde's happiness isn't the only thing he's concerned about. But it's not like that's a surprise.
Though I can't help but agree that even the thought of spending another minute apart from Jane doesn't sound very appealing, let alone me dying and leaving her behind.
Before I can voice my agreement Jane decides to speak up after giving me another supportive hand squeeze. "Master, I understand, that Isabella needs to be turned in order for us to properly bonded and for her to accept me fully as her mate" What is THAT supposed to mean now?
"...but the fact remains that we have only known each other for a very short period of time. I wouldn't want to put her on the spot, so to speak, or force her to do something she is not entirely comfortable with" She pointedly looks straight ahead while saying that, never once making eye contact.
I can't decide if that's ridiculously sweet (by Jane's standards anyway) or just plain stupid. How would she get the idea I'm not comfortable with her. I practically threw myself at her earlier.
Before I can assure my mate that I would very much like to be turned and start our new life together the massive door behind us flies open banging loudly on the wall. That probably left a dent behind.
In the next moment I'm between Jane and the door shielded from whatever might appear. I can feel more than I can sense her low growling at what she sees.
A look behind me confirms that every other guard has taken a place in a protective circle around Aro, Marcus, Caius and their significant others.
I can't ignore the fear coursing through my body at the thought of something or someone attacking Jane, maybe even hurting her but a tiny part of me is actually a bit relieved that I wouldn't have to bare my feelings in room full of strangers, lethal vampires on top of that – especially since I don't really have any reason to trust most of them yet.
"Bella!" My breath hitches. I know that voice. "Edward?"
I look over Jane's small frame to see not only the bronze haired vampire but the rest of the Cullen family as well.
Jane stiffens in front of me. Shit. I wanted to keep my relationship with the Cullens a secret. Maybe I can still…
"Isabella, you might want to explain your correlation with the Cullen family." The blonde's voice didn't leave much room for arguments. She doesn't give up her protective position in front of me though and doesn't turn to look back at me.
Yet again before I can open my mouth to answer Edward starts talking again: "Bella, we came to take you home. It's time you leave this place. There's nothing her for you."
My gaze wanders over the rest of the family. Alice's eyes lock with mine. I can see her reluctance but she gives me an almost pleading look begging me to agree with her brother.
The other guards start to move closer towards my friends obviously readying themselves for an attack, Jane starts to growl menacingly again crouching into a fighting stance.
Before things can escalate any further I move next to my mate and respond: "I…"