(Wednesday June 13th Late Morning)

Bella was sitting on her desk trying to figure out how to write her letter to Marcus. She wanted to talk to him but she also knew that she would most likely stammer throughout their entire conversation and most likely cave to his suggestions. This felt easier than to talk to him by phone or in person. She always did like to put her thoughts to paper.

Dear Marcus,

I know that it might seem a bit odd that I am writing to you but I wanted to be able to write down all of my thoughts and not become distracted. It also helps that by writing to you there is less of a chance of someone from either side overhearing our conversation. I don't count Aro since he will always know everything I ever do or say with you.

I wanted to be able to tell you some of my concerns in regards to going to Volterra. Don't misinterpret me I do still look forward to going. I just have some issues in being there.

1. Privacy
I feel rather uneasy not having any privacy at all. It is manageable with the pack since they understand what it feels like to have a lack of alone time so they make themselves scarce. It also helps that I am not in a building alone with them and who knows how many of them in there. I don't want to feel like someone is always listening to me when I believe to be alone, especially if I'm taking a shower. I'm sorry but it's weird. If it is at all possible then can I please at least have a mostly all female guard? I don't want to inconvenience you but it would help.

Will my room be soundproof by any chance? I can understand having it connected to your room through a shared sitting room or something similar. I want to spend time with you but I want those times to be private and for our ears only. Again, Aro doesn't count, he will know everything anyways. It would also be nice to be able to talk to my aunts in the privacy of my own room and allow them to play dress up with me. I will only let that happen once and I am mentally preparing myself now for that. (Joking)

2. Meals
PLEASE do not let me be anywhere near the castle when it is time for any of you to eat. I don't think I could be able to handle that. I was able to deal with the Cullen's diet since it was animals and they never suffered. (It also helped that Carlisle made sure that every part of the animal was used so the carcass didn't just rot in the forest for someone to find.)
I am still trying to deal with your diet and I can do it as long as I don't have to hear, see or smell it. Don't even tell me its happening just make an excuse and send me far away please. I don't want to know. If I'm being disrespectful I'm sorry. I just don't have the stomach for the details.

I also have some thoughts on your diet that I would like to talk to you about. Nothing bad I promise, I'm just curious about a few things. I hope we can have an honest discussion about them.

3. Concerns
I feel excited at the thought of going to Volterra and seeing the castle itself and explore your wing. The paintings you have spoken about sound magnificent. Your personal library has captivated me from just hearing about it. The thing is that I feel concerned of being there long. I know you said that I would only be around guards who have control over their appetite but nothing can be accounted for. An accident could still happen. And with me being a danger magnet (it's been proven) I don't want to temp faith. I was thinking maybe we could spend a week in the castle and the rest of the time somewhere on our own with some of the guard. I would love to see the places you and Didyme loved. I want to know more about her. You mentioned she loved to travel. Maybe we could do that while getting to know each other.

I know a week isn't a long time but I would rather give the guard some time to get used to me being there and not thinking of me as food. (Joking) So traveling with you feels like the best option. We could stay in Volterra if you really prefer to just as long as it's somewhere with less than an army of vampires.
I feel like I am asking for too much. I am sorry. I just don't feel that comfortable around so many vampires. It makes me feel so vulnerable and I begin to think of James and Victoria. I hope I am not ruining any plans for us you may have had.

Please be honest with me and tell me how you feel about what I have mentioned. I don't want to make you feel bad in any way. You are important to me and I would hate to push you away by saying or doing something stupid.

This is just difficult for me. I have three worlds. My parents in the 'normal' world. The pack in the 'wolf' world and then the Volturi in the 'vampire' world. Each one involves loved ones and each one is separate and together at the same time. I wish I could be honest with my parents but I know that would not end well. My mom would most likely freak out and try to hide me. My father would most likely have a heart attack when he realizes how many times I have been in grave danger and most likely try to kill you when he finds out about the bond out of fear of you taking me away. Then again he might surprise me and completely embrace it and be happy someone will always be there to look after me when he can't anymore.

Sorry for rambling. Even when I write I can't help but ramble. Well since it is obvious that I am more than likely going to continue doing it so I will simply wait for your reply. I hope you are okay and take my feelings into account.

Love Bella

Folding the long page carefully, Bella placed it inside a thick envelope and sealed the flap using a sponge with water. The glue always tasted icky to her. She grabbed the solid forest green wax bar and with a lighter she melted down a few drops to form a quarter sized circle on the adjoining ends on the envelope. She took her brand new Seal Stamper with the letter "S" for her last name. She found the old school set in Port Angeles when she was with Jacob and thought it would be the perfect way to send Marcus and the rest of her new family letters. They would appreciate the effort more than likely.

It was an impulse buy but she didn't regret it. It felt nice to put in the effort to write to him. Hopefully the rest of her new 'family' would like it. She had a feeling that they would most likely send her a new seal for her to use. She noticed that they took to wearing their coat of arms with pride.

Once the seal was done she was faced with the task as to how to send it to him. She had no idea how she would send it since she was sure that just by looking at the seal she could tell that it would not survive the automated mail system to make it intact. She knew the glue on the envelope would hold but the wax looked like it could crack. She decided to test her theory by making another one on a spare folded piece of paper. Sure enough after a few minutes after it dried she bent it slightly and the seal cracked. It would not survive being sorted by machines and a ride on the sack of the mail man. She should have sprung for the 'supple wax' the sales clerk recommended. Then again she had no idea what he meant at the time of it being 'bendable' but now she got it.

Bella hated to ask Alec for a favor but she had an inkling that he wouldn't mind. She hated doing it though. She had a feeling that Alec wanted to do things for her, whether it was out of boredom or if it was because of whom she was she had no clue. However, asking him to play delivery boy just felt wrong. She felt like she was taking advantage of him. It didn't help that he looked so young with an innocent angelic face even though she knew he and the rest of the guards were ruthless.

Sighing Bella grabbed her phone and searched for Alec's number. Marcus had added several new contact numbers for her including the rest of the kings and queens in Volterra numbers along with the numbers for the guards with him. He wanted to get her her own phone but she refused saying she could barely keep track of one let alone try to remember both.

Alec I have something for Marcus but I can't sent it to him through the normal mail since it contains delicate information and I can't manage a trip to the house today. I was hoping if you could take it to him since I know you won't let anyone other than him see it. If it isn't too much of a bother could you come and get it please?

Before she could lose her courage she hit send. She instantly regretted sending it.
His reply was back within the first minute.

It would be my pleasure Princess. Just tell me when and where to meet you to pick up the package and I will ensure it arrives to Master Marcus personally.

Well at least he didn't seem upset at having to do such a menial task. Bella replied the time and place to meet her and to make sure no one sees him. Alec replied that he would do as told and be waiting at their predestined location for her.

Bella chose to meet him at the farthest supermarket in Forks to keep far away from La push as possible. She was still going to tell Jake about it to make sure the pack knew that one of them was coming. She wasn't sure how he was going to take that bit of news but once she explains what she wrote she was sure he would accept it. It was his advice too.

(Early afternoon)

Bella pulled up to the store and was exiting her truck when she saw him. He was wearing jeans with black trainers and a red polo under a black sweater. He looked so normal that it threw her off a bit. Bella grabbed her bag and locked her truck behind her as she walked towards him.

"Hello Alec." Bella murmured knowing full well he could hear her. It also helped her test out how well they could hear her since she would end up in a castle full of them.

Alec discretely bowed his head to her since she was too far to hear him speak. Once she was close enough he smiled at her dazzling her with how innocent he looked.

"Good afternoon Miss Swan." Alec said with another discrete bow of his head while using her preferred way of being addressed.

"Good afternoon to you as well. Sorry to have made you come all this way for a simple letter." Bella automatically apologized. She hated to think she was taking advantage of him.

"Do not worry yourself Miss Swan. I was rather bored back at the house since I am still waiting on the photographs to be developed of your graduation." Alec replied. He was ecstatic. The rest of the guard was jealous when he received a message from her. They all wanted to make her happy for their king. Despite what anyone thought, the Volturi were loyal to their coven as if it were a family. They were not close as the Cullen's since they believed in having the hierarchy well established but they were still close.

"How is that possible? It's been two days since my graduation and photos only take about an hour to develop." Bella asked curiously. The guard worked fast. There was no way it would be taking this long.

Alec gave her a small smile further making him look like a young boy. "Those small photos are done as I am sure the electronic copies I sent to Volterra will have been printed almost within the hour they received them but the photos Master Marcus had commissioned are not done yet."

"Commissioned?" Bella asked with slight trepidation.

"Yes Miss Swan. He is having some made larger and out of specialty paper with custom framing for his wing in the castle. I believe he is proud to display any photos of you." He replied. He also knew of the paintings he was having commissioned by artists throughout Europe to replicate her childhood photos with a few changes to the background to make them look like the portraits in his wing. He wasn't going to tell her that though. He did not have a death wish since telling her would ruin the surprise.

"Oh." Was all she could say. She was flattered but she still didn't like having photos of herself on display. Snapping back to why she asked him there she quickly went into her bag and pulled out the letter for Marcus. "Make sure to tell him that it's for his eyes only please."

Alec carefully grabbed the letter and was surprised to find that it had a wax seal on it. He could already see a few cracks around the edges of the seal and gently tucked it into an inner pocket of his jacket for safe keeping. He would have to be careful on how he ran back to the house with it.

"I will Miss Swan." He said with a tilt of his head. "Is that all?" He asked.

"Just tell him to take his time in replying. I have an army to cook for today so I won't be paying much attention to my phone for the rest of the day." Bella said with a smile. She decided to cook for the station again today.

"I will Miss Swan. Good day, please stay safe." Alec said as he bowed his head for the last time.

"I will." She said as a good bye and watched him walk away.

Marcus waited anxiously for Alec to return from his meeting with Bella. He knew she had something for him and couldn't wait to have it. He was a bit disappointed she hadn't called for him but he figured that there was a reason she asked for Alec.

A few minutes later Marcus could hear the distinct sound of a vampire rushing towards the house. A moment later Alec was entering the house making his way directly to him.

Marcus took the letter from Alec and was surprised to see a wax seal on it with her last names letter on it. He would have a special seal commissioned for her. It may not be safe for her to use the Volturi seal but her families' coat of arms would do just fine.
Marcus made a move to open the letter when Alec held his hand up to stop him. Marcus raised his eyebrow in annoyance.

Alec looked wary.
"The Princess said that it was for your eyes only Master." He hastily said afraid of his Masters temper.

"Is that all?" Marcus asked wanting to know if there was anything else so he could open up her letter in private and reply as soon as possible.

"She said for you to take your time in replying since she would be cooking for an army and be away from her phone today." Alec said.

Marcus frowned. He felt like she was trying to avoid him.
"Very well." With that Marcus left to his room to read her letter.

(Time skip)

Marcus was sitting back on his chair and in deep thought on the contents of the letter. He had already taken her privacy into account and made her room soundproof with a waiting room connecting her main door to her bedroom to avoid any faux pas. He hadn't thought of adding a door to his rooms as well. He would have one added immediately. (Good thing he picked the bedroom next to his to be redone.)

He liked the idea of giving her an all female guard. He was sure his brothers would try to introduce any eligible males to her but he didn't want her to feel pressured. He would have to have a stern talk with his brothers when he returned home.
Nevertheless, he would take all of her thoughts into consideration. Besides, any last minute changes can be dealt with rather quickly by them.

The second concern of hers was one that was always going to be a problem in his mind but one that could be easily fixed. He had begun to think of this when planning on her going to Volterra with him. It would be obvious that when Bella found out (he wouldn't lie to her and ruin their bond) that children were also on the tours Heidi engineered there was going to be a fight. He never cared if they killed children before but now that he had Bella to think about it would soon become a problem he would have addressed. Besides, children have less blood than a full grown adult.

The only thing that puzzled him was what kind of questions she could have about their diet. A part of him wanted her to be more open about the idea of drinking from humans but another part was wary of the reactions to the truth. Whatever questions she had he would deal with them as best he could.

The last part of her letter was something he expected and surprised him at the same time. He did like the idea of having her to himself and causing their bond to solidify even more. The problem would be where they would go. Marcus knew Aro hated when he was far from the castle and was asking him to return already. His brother never liked them leaving the safety of their castle let alone their city.

Maybe he could move himself and Bella into another property in Volterra. It would still be safe for them and the only meaningful difference would be that she wouldn't be surrounded by vampires completely.

With that idea in mind Marcus went to work. He began to draw up plans for a home for the two of them within the city limits made with her and vampires in mind. He made sure the two structures would be connected with underground tunnels for an easy and fast escape. It would be a good idea to have an escape route anyway.

Finally finished with this chapter. It took me a while longer than I thought but it's finally here. Let me know what you all think.