Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they are all of course Stephenie Meyer's own creation. It's been a while since I've really written so please give all the feedback! I kept getting writer's block on my last story so I took a long ass hiatus but I've already written a large portion of this one. Happy reading!
Chapter 1
It's not like I didn't know what I'd gotten myself into; I had a whole trip to the airport, a plane ride, and run through Volterra to figure things out. Yet here I was, staring into the eyes of the boy who'd left me in the woods to wither away without once looking back, and only now it hit me: why the hell am I here?
"Bella" he breathed, reaching for me as his eyes cleared and he'd finally come to realize I was, in fact, here and not some weird mirage or post-death vision.
I flinched as it all came rushing back to me; feeling like I was dying as he walked away, being carried nearly frozen to death to where I sat in a chair that felt like a tomb for months, worrying those who still cared- who still loved me. In coming here I'd probably broken Charlie's heart for the third time since I'd arrived in Forks and all for what? A 'man' forever frozen with the rationality of a teenaged boy who clearly only thought things halfway through. For heaven's sake, he never even considered having Alice check in on me just to make sure I was 100% safe from any vengeful vamps or supernatural threats.
It finally clicked: if Edward was truly my 'mate', then why was he able to leave me alone for so long with no plans of return, and how did he not sense any danger or near-death experiences? Surely Emmett would somehow know if Rose was barely hanging on, or Esme would feel just as empty without Carlisle around after being separated for an extended period of time.
All this clear-headed decision making seemed to filter through my mind at the same time that two things occurred: a couple of cloaked figures emerged at the end of our partially shaded alleyway, and I shrunk back from Edward's hand that had ghosted up to cup my cheek.
Edward's hand snapped back, and he shifted to stand slightly ahead of me, facing the cloaked figures and stiffening slightly as he no doubt read through their thoughts.
I snorted, leaned back, and rolled my eyes. If I was going to die here, it would not be wrapped in his arms, nor would it be cowering behind the boy who'd single handedly triggered my self-sabotaging zombie spiral.
My reaction seemed to catch their attention, and the one on the left removed their hood to reveal ruby eyes, and a child-like porcelain face peering back at me, looking somewhere between amused and intrigued.
"Cullen" the other one snapped, tipping their head back to reveal boyish features staring Edward down with both disdain and…exhaustion? I didn't know vampires could tire but it seemed this guy was just as fed up with Edward as I was.
The first one – a girl – straightened her shoulders once more and continued for him, "the masters would like to meet with you again, so come along, we have people to eat and places to be. Oh and bring Miss Swan with you" the grin that graced her lips was taunting, yet something about it made me keep my mouth shut and do as instructed.
Edward straightened and brought an arm around my shoulders, casting a chastising glance when I tried to shrug out from under it before replying, "Ah, Alec, Jane, we were just on our way out of the city, there is no need for a second meeting, please give our regards to your masters and let them know I will no longer be needing their help after all."
For just a second, part of me felt as though moving towards the porcelain demons was the favourable option, honestly it didn't feel as dreadful as the alternative of hashing things out with Mr. Eternal Virgin. But they did mention snacking on people, and while I was partial to being bitten, I was rather impartial to being drained.
The one I'm going to assume is Alec step forward, "Now now Cullen" he said the name as though the effort alone bored him to death, "you know that is not an acceptable course of action, you must bring your guest back to the castle for a proper meeting before you even think about taking your leave."
When he said 'your' I really hoped he meant both of us if not just me, I mean I wasn't the one who threatened to expose their kind, in fact I was the one who risked everything to keep that very thing from happening. So with that thought, I lifted my chin a little higher and squirmed out from under Edward's stone arm and stepped towards the two Volturi members.
"I for one would like to get on with this meeting, I'm jetlagged, starving – for human food -, I definitely pulled a hamstring running through the city, and I'm getting a little bored myself. Please, lead the way and we will follow you." I finished my sentence with a pointed stare at Edward who glared back and then huffed before nodding to the vampires before us, and I swear the girl – Jane—was fighting a smug smile and stepped forward slightly before speaking again.
"Come along then, if you'd like I can carry you, though I won't promise it will be a smooth or comfortable journey. It will however give your weak human legs a break." She pronounced the k in break a little too sharply for my liking but at this point I didn't really care. Ignoring Edward's noise of disapproval and Alec's warning growl to his attempt at intervening I took Jane's hand and tried not to wince as my breath whooshed out of my lungs when she slung me over her shoulder.
Well, I guess I'll be meeting vampire royalty ass first I thought I as I dangled and swayed while Jane whizzed through the side streets of Volterra. Our surroundings blurred but I could tell when we'd changed locations as I could smell a musky-ness that comes with museums, basements, and castles.
Jane stopped abruptly and set me down on the floor, and without thinking I grasped onto her shoulders for a second while I regained control over my body and let the wave of vertigo ebb from my jolty limbs. Remembering my surroundings, I snapped my hands back and looked sheepishly at the small vampire who shrugged slightly and then disappeared, only to materialize to the left of three large thrones that now captured my full attention.
Standing up straight I forced myself to look into the ruby red eyes of all three leaders, finding amusement, intrigue, and annoyance in their expressions. The intrigued one in the middle clapped his chalky looking hands together once and with a Cheshire cat smile started to speak.
"Well, young Edward, it would appear your mate is alive after all, how sweet." The way he said it sounded more sour if you'd ask me, but I decided to keep my mouth shut for now and see how things panned out. I saw Alice standing off to the side near the doors we must have come in through. Some help she was, where was her foresight like 10 minutes ago before Jane and Alec showed up?
"Aro" Edward began, "yes, my mate, Bella, found me in my time of need. I would also like to thank you for denying me my earlier request as it would have caused her great pain that would inevitably have driven her to the same fate".
I processed his words and then frowned, I sure as shit was not keeping my mouth shut over this.
"The same fate? Are you kidding me? You left me! I was almost somebody else's snack at least once and where were you!? I almost froze to death in the woods and where were you!? I jumped off a cliff and presumably died and you CALLED! You didn't even think to come and check for yourself or go to my funeral? This is not - no I would not have killed myself over finding out that you were dumb enough not to double check your sources, something most people learn in high school, and you've completed that, what, thirty times?"
By the end of my rant I was huffing and glaring at the boy beside me who I'd once thought was my reason for breathing, but now for the life of me couldn't fathom how in over one hundred years of existing could act so carelessly. Then in my own carelessness I remembered once again where I was and snapped back to attention, shoulders stiffening as I looked back towards the thrones.
The one in the middle – Aro – was grinning with clasped hands, the annoyed one from before was smirking slightly, and the amused one just looked, well, amused.
"Well" Aro began once more, was well his go-to sentence starter, "it appears there is more going on here than we'd initially expected, and perhaps much more to discuss. Young Bella, if you will step forward so I may read you" he stretched out one pale hand towards me, and I started towards it until Edwards stone hand wrapped around my upper arm like a vice.
"Edward" I snapped looking up at him, "are you still not thinking things through? There's three of us and probably hundreds of them, in what world would denying their leader be a reasonable choice?" I pressed with a raised brow, looking back at Alice as well who stiffly nodded back.
As if reading her thoughts, Edward's grip vanished and he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to appear intimidating. I heard a slight chuckle to my left and assumed the other members were going to have a field day over Cullen's sad attempt at intimidating their multi-millennia year old masters.
Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention back to the chalky white hand, still outstretched as though it was part of a museum hall of statues, and strode towards it, allowing him to grasp my warm hand in his frigid one. His eyes fell closed, a slight crease forming on his stone brow, before they snapped back open, ruby orbs shining with excitement and interest.
"Well, just as it was when I read Edward's mind earlier, it seems I also cannot read young Bella. Jane, would you be so kind as to further test our guest's resistance" he said with a slight French flair. Which was weird coming from an Italian.
A lot of hissing filled the air as the words left his lips, I spun towards Jane who was staring at me with a slight frown on her face, which deepened slightly before smoothing out into shock and maybe even a little bit of relief?
Frowning, I turned back to Aro as he started to clap, "marvelous" he stated looking at Jane then back at me, "Bella, you would make an excellent addition to our guard should the option interest you" he said.
Suddenly Edward and Alice were both flanking me, which was rather awkward considering how close I was still standing to Aro. Another vampire, a small girl with black hair appeared out of nowhere and sent both Edward and Alice back a few feet, causing the annoyed vampire to clap once.
"Yes Aro," he began in a smooth voice that gave me a slight chill, like a draft from a cracked window, "I believe Miss Bella could make an excellent addition to our personal guard should she be so willing."
Now when he said it, it didn't sound as welcoming an invitation as Aro's statement, more like a join or die kind of vibe.
"Aro" Alice began, "Bella's father is a chief of police, he is already searching for her as we speak, it would be best if she were to return to America with her mate, at least to tie up any loose ends before changing".
Okay, she did have a point, Charlie deserved to know I love him and all that jazz, and it would be nice to sneak in enough time to graduate high school before committing to the whole half dead half alive craving human blood thing.
"Masters" I began, and all three seemed to be pleased with how I addressed them, "I do agree with Alice, I would like the chance to return home, finish my education, and say goodbye to my loved ones. If you allow me this curtesy, I will consider becoming not only a vampire, but a part of the Volturi coven."
"Bella, love, please, don't be hasty, I know we have much to discuss but we wouldn't be happy living a life pledged to protect the vampire world leaders. Let's go home and discuss our options together, the family has missed you dearly and we will make sure you spend plenty of time with Charlie before you graduate. Then we will see about changing you" he finished sternly, as though he outranked the world leaders on the decision of my mortality.
"Edward" I sighed, speaking up before any other objections could be made, "are you really that dumb?" Everyone froze and a few brows were raised, but I continued, "Do you really think you can just decide to not change me when the entire ruling coven has already implied that I must change or presumably be killed? Do you want me to be killed? Seriously?" with my hands on my hips I glared up at him, about to continue before I was interrupted.
"If I may" the voice of the third leader wavered slightly as though he hadn't spoken in years. All eyes snapped to him and a few even widened. "I have the gift of seeing connections and bonds between vampires and humans alike. I can confirm that young Mr. Cullen does not appear to have a strong enough bond with you for it to be considered that of a mate. Perhaps this information will aid you in your future decisions." He then sat back and clasped his hands together, seemingly done speaking for the foreseeable future.
"Thank you…" I started, unsure of how to address the quiet ruler.
"Marcus" he finished.
"Marcus. Thank you for your insight, it's equally unsurprising as it is helpful seeing as there is now way my supposed soulmate would care so little about my well-being" I huffed, causing his lip to twich in what could've been an almost smirk.
Aro cut in once more, "Very well, Miss Swan, how about a deal then? We give you time to return to your home in America, tie up any loose ends, finish school – even though that's a rather trivial request -, and once all is done you return to Volterra to be changed."
I began to nod and opened my mouth to respond when he held his hand up first and continued on, "however, we will be sending a couple members from our guard to watch over you as a…precaution of sorts to ensure you continue to follow our rules and of course hold up your end of this deal. Do you accept?"
Without thinking I stuck my hand out for a shake, which Aro grinned at broadly before grasping gently, "I accept the terms of your deal."
"Excellent" he paused to touch both of his brothers, no doubt hearing their thoughts, "Demetri, Jane, and Felix" he continued, "you will accompany Miss Swan and the Cullens back to America to watch over her. For now I will withhold judgement on the Cullen clan for their law breaks until young Bella has been changed. That is all, have a nice trip."