Chapter 6: Wanted
I was glad to see Felix's eyes had at least lost the blazing glow of red by the time we were back at the castle in Volterra. He was a good sport and feed from two large game while I hunted my fill.
We had entered through the underground tunnels and had just exited the elevator when we ran into Demitri. We were laughing fairly loudly at our own joke when I spotted him. He was as cool and composed as he ever was, turning slightly away from the newest human receptionist toward the sound of laughter, something I was sure he knew nothing about. He gave us (me) a once over, nodded and then turned his attention back to the woman. I looked up at Felix just as he looked down at me, he rolled his eyes which caused us both to start laughing again like a bunch of idiots.
I grabbed onto Felix's arm in an effort to get us out of the room faster, we'd almost made it when Demitri suddenly appeared in front of us.
"Something funny?" he questioned in his controlled voice.
I looked up at Felix again, he knew how uncomfortable around Demitri I was, and all joking aside he always bailed me out when it came to him directly. Of course, I could hold my own, I was excellent at hiding my emotions, but whenever possible I let Felix take over for me.
Felix smirked at me then looked at Demitri with a shrug "It's nothing, just an inside joke about Bella's weird eating habits." he looked at me again, and with his free hand (the one I wasn't clinging to) ruffled my hair like a little kid. "You wouldn't get it."
I smacked him in the arm and fixed my hair, catching Demitri's sight. He didn't look convinced, he just stared down at me with that impassive gaze of his.
After a few uncomfortable seconds he finally spoke "Bella, it's nice to have you back where you belong." With that he nodded to me, looked at Felix, turned and walked away.
Demitri was one that didn't agree with me not living with the guard twenty-four seven, and he never hid the fact that he didn't approve either. He thought that I should always be here with them and didn't understand my need for other things, or more specifically -school.
When it was first decided that I was allowed to leave and live outside of the castle he objected fervently, so much so he had convinced Caius and had Marcus wavering, both who had originally agreed to the idea with very little effort on my part.
After a much-heated debate Jane finally spoke up, taking 'my side' saying that I was right, I wasn't needed the way the rest of them were and I should be allowed to go. I of course knew it was for her own benefit, but I didn't mind if she were helping my case.
Felix agreed with Demitri, but he did it for other reasons; he just wanted me around, but in the end, he knew it was something I really wanted and needed to do so he agreed with Jane. Ultimately it was Aro who changed Caius and Marcus's minds (back), whenever Aro agreed to something or believed in it, they usually followed his lead, trusting his judgment entirely.
The strain between Demitri and I only grew after that, which I was even more grateful for my leave because of it. And each time I come home; he makes sure to say something to me about being 'where I belong'. Ugh.
After Demitri was out of sight I feigned fainting and fell against Felix, which caused him to chuckle as he bent over to scoop me up and fling me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
I started to squirm and bang on his back to let me down when I heard a quiet snicker behind us, I lifted my head to see the human receptionist covering her mouth with a smile. I smiled back at her and held my finger up to my mouth 'shh', I winked at her while quickly and quietly telling Felix to let me down.
He heard her laugh too, so he didn't hesitate when I told him to put me down. Jane would be furious if she knew we were acting so unprofessionally in front of the help, not to mention what Demitri would say.
We quickly left the room once Felix had put me down, not talking, touching or even looking at each other.
We made it a little further down the hall before I finally said to him "I should go see Aro before you get me in real trouble"
"Ha! Please Bella! I don't get you into trouble"
"Oh really?" I asked him sarcastically.
"Yes really, before you showed up there would have been none of this non-sense -super shield." He raised an eyebrow to me, a gesture of challenge. He was exaggerating of course, but I remember my first year or so here, it wasn't as 'laid back' as it appears to be now.
"If you were to leave" He continued, "they'd put my shackles back on! Like in one of those labor camps!" he laughed, but there was an edge to his tone, truth of some degree laced in the words.
We were back to teasing and joking as we rounded the last corner before getting to the meeting room. Demitri was on guard at the door, catching the tail end of our conversation.
"Lucky for you then isn't it – detainee that I have no intentions of leaving!"
"Glad to hear that Bella." Demitri said looking down on me, again catching me in his sight. "Does that mean you'll be staying indefinitely then? Dropping school and the ridiculous idea of a college degree?"
"No. It doesn't mean that at all Demitri." I finally had to respond to him. "Will the elders see me now?" I continued so he couldn't respond to me about the topic of my schooling.
"Of course, they've been expecting you." He knew what I had done, you could see it in his eyes, but he was too professional to go back to a dropped topic when business had been presented to him.
He led us the rest of the way and into the large room where the leaders were waiting. As soon as the door began to open, I instinctively pushed out my shield, wrapping up Felix first and then including Demitri, immediately glad I did when we were fully in the room.
"Hello Jane, so nice to see you again." I turned to look in her direction. As soon as she was able to fix her eyes on me, she instantly began emitting her power, trying to catch me off guard. When that didn't work, she quickly moved onto Felix, knowing that would get a rise out of me.
I turned back to Demitri when I saw the beginnings of frustration appear on her face, he was looking at me when I turned around "And you can thank me later." I said to him, watching his reaction as my words sank in. Realizing she'd turned on him he looked away to face her, understanding and relief evident in his features.
"Bella dear! How wonderful to see you" Aro said blithely, holding out his arms to me.
"Father" I adorned as we embraced.
Aro preferred the one's he sired to call him something more affectionate when in private, only wanting for formalities when on duty.
"I'm so glad to have you home with us dear one" He pulled back just enough to kiss the top of my head. "Let me see what you've been up to since I saw you last." With that we pulled back to smile at each other.
He gently took my offered hand into both of his, I pulled my shield back just enough to let him read me without exposing Felix or Demitri.
I'd been gone for just under three months since my last visit, so it wasn't but a few moments later he released my hand with another approving smile. "Ah Bella, you make me proud. I see you've completed your Bachelor's degree in Philosophy. Are you planning on accepting the T.A. position after next year?"
"I haven't decided yet" I said to him taking back my hand and moving toward the others. "It might be difficult at times with the sun. And of course, my duties here."
I walked over to where Marcus was still seated "Bella" he said to me affectionately, rising from his throne. "It's so nice to you, I trust you have been well since our last visit?"
"Yes Uncle, thank you." I said to him as we released from our hug.
I was the only one who called Marcus something other than his name or master. It was not something that was asked, but since the first time I addressed him as Uncle, he's never objected to it. Instead, seeming as though he enjoys it, or even appreciates it. After losing Didyme I was told he withdrew from everyone, barely taking an interest in his own life, much less everyone else.
Because of his loss and sadness, I've always felt connected to him, a kind of kindred spirit of sorts, I'd always felt close to him because of it, I applied it to family terms and decided Uncle fit him best, and so Uncle he's always been to me.
Caius on the other hand was nothing but Caius. Closer to my own age than Aro or Marcus he never held the same reverie for me as the other two had, I'm sure if asked he would say the same of me. He's never treated me any differently than the rest of the guard, but never worse either. He was very steady in his position, very little gray area with him, if any at all. Always polite, but not warm.
"Hello Caius." I said turning to face him with a smile.
"It's nice to have you here with us once again Isabella." He greeted me in his usual evenness.
"Thank you, I'm glad to be home."
I went back over to stand next to Felix and Demitri, the room, after my greetings with the elders, silently shifted, formality taking friendly's place as we began into business.
"Now that we are all here Aro," Caius addressed the room "we should proceed with the requisitive search to put this matter to rest once and for all."
"Yes" Aro agreed with him as he began wondering the room. He did this sometimes when he was gathering his thoughts, weighing what and how to say what was on his mind.
"As most of you know, we've been watching a situation for a while now" He began and then stopped in front of me as he made a pass around the room. "Bella dear, this will all be news to you." he told me before continuing.
"We've been getting increasing reports of an uprising within our race, a group who intend to strike against us. Today however we received information from a more reliable source than any in the past."
A low but involuntary hiss escaped the lips of some members of the guard, the thought of anyone striking against us for simply protecting them was contemptuous. We didn't appreciate our duty, which we all took very seriously, being thwarted and undermined.
"We've been watching the situation, but only from a distance." Caius continued "Our informants have given us all the information they have and they are no longer a reliable source for further investigation into the matter."
"A few nomadic members of our race have also reported notice of this group as well, but they too, are an unreliable source." Aro added.
"It is time we set out ourselves to learn of this group of miscreants, they must be dealt with swiftly and decidedly, an uproar like this could undermine our entire society, expose us in dangers ways." Caius informed us.
"However," Aro took over again "They must be given the benefit of the doubt, our information must be pure and untainted, under our laws they must be allowed to defend themselves against false accusation." He said, turning to face the guard members.
When a scouting party was sent out it always included Demitri, Felix, Jane, Alec and myself, he was pointedly speaking to us now.
"We need accurate information in order to ensue lawful dealings with this group. We trust that you will be very thorough in your analysis, reporting back to us before any action is to be taken." Aro instructed before turning to go sit next to his brothers.
"Demitri you will need to inform Felix and Isabella of your course of action since they were not here when your strategy was decided on." Caius informed us "Afton and Chelsea will also be accompanying you on this assignment. Although we don't anticipate trouble or expect you to defend yourselves, we are preparing for every possibility of advantage to you, because of the unusual nature of these reports."
It isn't often that Afton joins our party, but his power can be of great use when in the right situation. He is a magnifier, but only when physically in contact with another who is actively using their gift, he then amplifies their emission exceedingly.
During a field test of our powers Afton was able to increase my shield expansion by double, which is very impressive considering alone I've been measured to emit just over a half mile in distance. Demitri was able to increase his sense of tracking, the distance is which he is able to pick up the sense didn't increase but strength of it did. Alec's ability increased in speed, taking only half the time it normally does to reach his targets.
No one was willing to test out Jane's ability with Afton's increase, so we can only assume her results are just as impressive as all the others.
I'm not sure of the reasoning for including Chelsea on the mission, she's never been on any other assignment before. I don't fully understand her ability, all I know is that she strengthens our bonds with one another, so I suppose that in theory she could be useful during an assignment like this one or even during a confrontation with an enemy, keeping use united and focused is never a bad thing when in the field.
"You will leave at Twilight." Caius concluded.
As silently as business began, it ceased just as quietly.
Everyone splits off, moving to finish previous discussion, while others began engaging in new ones.
Sulpicia and Athenodora came to me as soon as the meeting was over, the wives of Aro and Caius.
Sulpicia, although her mate preferred me to call him father when in private, was Aunt Sulpicia. In the beginning I had approached her more formally calling her Lady Sulpicia, but she quickly squashed that title, informing me 'Sulpicia will do', but she was more than just her name to me. Like Marcus, she reminded me of family, so with her permission I began addressing her as Aunt.
Athenodora was sister, like Caius she was very close to my human age, but unlike him she was very friendly and warm. She truly was like a sister, we talked almost as frequently as Felix and I do and when I'm home I spend equal amounts of time with both of them.
"Bella!" They both crooned as they approached me, each taking their turn for a hug.
"Oh, it's so good to have you home with us again" Sulpicia thrilled.
"Thank you, Aunt, I'm so glad to see you." I smiled at her, giving her another hug. During my last visit I didn't get to spend much time with her, so I was truly happy to see her this time around.
"And you sister, why didn't you tell me you were coming! I would have meet you straight away!" Athenodora teased "Made you change out of these hideous clothes!" her and Sulpicia giggled at my attire.
And with that they were off, we talked about my schooling, what they have been doing since my last visit, what I will be doing when I return from my business trip, insisting that a shopping trip is on the schedule before I return to school.
We had been talking for quite some time when I finally noticed Felix impatiently waiting by the door. When I eventually made eye contact with him, he gave me 'the look' I couldn't help but chuckle at him, he really looked pitiful.
"We better let you visit with the others." Sulpicia tittered after seeing the look on Felix's face.
"Yes, we'll have plenty of time when you get back" Athenodora added "you'd better hurry, before he explodes." She added quietly, as if he wouldn't hear her jab towards him.
"I guess, it must be something important by the way he's acting." I teased. I could almost hear him rolling his eyes.
"Bye dear." Sulpicia said excusing herself and rejoining Aro.
"Take your cell, call me when you get bored." Athenodora winked to me as she was leaving "I have secrets to tell you" she added in a whisper.
I already knew that whatever they were, I didn't want to know.
"It's about time!" Felix hollered exasperatedly as I approached him.
"Oh stop! Now let's go before you make a scene." I grabbed him by the arm and began dragging him out the door.
We almost made it, a few more steps and we would have been home free...
"Bella."
I internally groaned, slowly letting out my sigh before turning around "Yes Demitri?"
"I need to talk to you."
(12/16/10)