Chapter 9 – Party
"Alice, she looks beautiful," Chelsea gushed. It was almost time for me to make my entrance with Felix. Alice dressed me in a ball gown wedding dress, with a beaded bodice and appliques along my waist. She curled my hair and pinned them back. The elaborate curls hung down my back. "Here you go," Alice handed me a bouquet of deep red calla lilies. I huffed in protest, "Alice, I'm already married. I don't need a bouquet." She rolled her eyes, "I knew you would say that." She placed the lilies in a vase. In her other hand was a red rose. Before I could say anything, she pinned it into my hair.
Chelsea was already down the hall, telling Felix that I was coming. Esme, Rosalie and Sulpicia, Aro's wife came into the room. Esme gushed, Rosalie smiled and Sulpicia kissed my cheek, "You look beautiful. You're going to take everyone's breath away". The four of them walked in front of me to the main antechamber. My eyes were fixed on the floor. It was still unbelievable that I was in a wedding dress. That I was a married woman.
"Cara mia," I looked to see Felix staring at me. His lips were slightly parted as he looked at me. The others went inside, leaving us alone. He took my hand, "You look exquisite." I smiled, "And you look very handsome." He held me close, kissing me. "So beautiful." He tiled me backwards, leaning into the kiss. Alec found us in our embrace and cleared is throat, "When you're ready." Felix turned his head, "Of course." He took my hand to wrap around his arm. The dark curtains parted to a candlelit room and applause. The room was filled with members of the Guard, past and present. Felix and I were surrounded by faces, only a few of which I recognized. There were more people with golden eyes, five of them. Four women and one man, that stood with the Cullens; The Denali Clan. .
There was another member that I knew by name. His eyes were a blood orange, from his duel diet. My hand clutched at Felix's sleeve. Crimson eyes looked down at me, while mine were locked with Laurent's. Felix followed my gaze and he knew who he was. He guided me away from Laurent's eyes to Aro and Caius, along with their wives. Marcus stood behind them, with his head hanging. I learned that Marcus had lost his wife thousands of years ago and to this day, he still missed her. Music began to fill the room. It was time for mine and Felix's first dance. He pulled me close and whirled us around the dance floor. He held me close, his arm around me as we danced. The song changed and others joined the dance.
The party continued perfectly. Well, there was one flaw; not everyone was happy. Felix claimed me again as I spoke with Alice and Jasper. Edward stood behind them, leaning against the wall. He was half hidden in the dark. Carlisle followed my eyes, sharing my concern. He went over to Edward, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Edward shrugged it off and left the room abruptly. Jasper followed after him. I wanted to follow too, but Felix kept me close. He glanced in the direction where Edward left, then turned back to speak with Santiago. Felix looked at me and smiled. He was clearly undisturbed. Demetri & Alec came over, with two unknown members.
When Felix was distracted enough, I slipped out of the room to find Edward. Though I was mad at him, I didn't want to see him upset. I was a glutton for punishment. From the balcony, I heard him yelling, "He doesn't even love her. He proposed to her because…." His words cut off and Edward looked in the hall, "Bella." He came into the hall, "I'm sorry for yelling. Please, go enjoy the rest of your party." I looked at him, "Edward, what's the matter with you?" Jasper made a face, "It's nothing. Just a heated discussion."
I scoffed, "Now? It couldn't wait. Oh," I paused for a moment, "Don't lie to me. I know why he's mad." Edward stepped closer to me, "You always saw right through me. I just realize how wrong I was for leaving you and now; I can't make up for it." The same charge was between us as we looked at each other, "Edward, what was that you were saying about…?" "Bella?"
Alec found us. He glanced over Edward, then turned to me, "Sorry to interrupt, but Felix is looking for you. You're needed inside." Alec placed his hand on my back and guided me back to the party, "Excuse us." I glanced back at Edward, who was staring after me. Alec and I walked back into the antechamber. The sounds of the party came down the hall. Felix stood by the door, with his arms folded across on his chest, watching the guests dance. He looked down at me and his hard composure melted as he saw me, "Do you always stand so ridge?" I asked jokingly. His expression was menacing before he saw me. I wanted to make him smile, in case he was upset that I had left. His arms wrapped around me, "Old habit."
My feet left the floor as he held me, pressing his lips to mine. His tongue grazed along my parted lips and he groaned with passion. I broke the kiss to whisper against his lips, "Put me down before you start something in the middle of the party." He chuckled low, "Who says I want to put you down?" I laughed as he let me back down on my feet. "Sorry. You left without saying anything." He looked at me, his fingers holding my face. He leaned down to kiss me again, "You look so beautiful tonight."
Felix and I danced again and we spoke to the guests. Esme introduced me to the Denali Clan. When Laurent stood in front of us, Felix pulled me into his side protectively, "So, you helped the Cullens when my wife was being hunted?" I elbowed him in his side. There was no need to bring that up.
Laurent bowed his head, "I wasn't interested in harming her. I warned the Cullens about James. And Victoria, I haven't heard from her in weeks." I smirked, "Because she's dead." Laurent's head snapped up, "She is?" Felix smiled deceitfully, "Yes. She was creating a newborn army to hunt Bella and the Cullens."
"What?" Edward asked from behind us. His voice made me jump. Edward's eyes darted between me and Felix, until they settled on me. "She wanted revenge against you and her plan was to kill me." "A mate for a mate," Laurent whispered. Irina took Laurent's hand, "You don't have to worry about that anymore." Felix wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my back against his chest, "Irina is right. It's no longer a concern." The way Felix held me, it felt like he was shielding me from an unseen attack. Or, with Edward standing here, it was a showing of possession; that I belonged to him now.
The room was called to order by Aro. He was happy to see an increase in his Guard and happier still to see one of his followers find their mate. "This is the first gift to lovely Isabella." He handed me an ancient box. The box was encrusted with gold and mother-of-pearl, ornamented with a rainbow of gemstones. He opened the lid and held out a breath-taking necklace. The necklace was simple: gold woven into a thick rope of a chain, almost scaled, like a smooth snake that would curl close around the throat. One jewel hung suspended from the rope: a white diamond the size of a golf ball.
Felix clasped it around my neck. The diamond fell just below my neck. Aro had another gift for me, it was another necklace. It was a gold linked chain, holding the Volturi crest. "Isabella, welcome to the Volturi Guard." The room filled with applause again. The music restarted and Alec asked me to dance.
In this dance, partners were interchanged. Next, I danced with Carlisle. He smiled, "Hello, Bella." "Hello, Carlisle." The dance progressed, "Bella, how is he treating you?" I smiled. Carlisle couldn't fight his fathering instincts, "Very well. Felix is very caring." My partner changed to Emmett, "Hey Bell." Emmett whirled me again and again. My partner changed and I was dancing with Edward. He just stared, silently.
We were silent, as his fingers pressed into my dress, holding me close. Being this close to Edward again, dancing with him brought back memories of the prom. This time, he was in a tuxedo and I was in a wedding dress. For a brief moment, the image of a gold band on his third finger entered my mind. We were the ones married and this celebration was for us. No, I couldn't think that way. Edward was my past. My partner changed and Felix claimed me again. He leaned down to kiss me as the dance ended.
Alice insisted on some wedding traditions, including me throwing my bouquet and Felix retrieving my garter. The ladies threw their hands in the air to catch the bouquet. I just a small amount of my strength, but the bouquet still sailed through the air. It bounced from hand to hand, until the bouquet landed in Jane's hands. She was standing to the side with Alec. Her eyes popped, actually looking shocked. The room filled with laughter and applause.
Chelsea and Retana made me sit in a chair as Heidi took Felix's jacket. I wanted to escape, but Alice and Rosalie weren't letting me. Felix lifted my skirt and his hand glided up my calf, moving higher, with a coy smile on his face. My lips pursed, trying to hold in my laughter. His hand was passing my knee and I couldn't stop laughing. My foot pressed into his shoulder and pushed him away, "Stop!"
The kick was involuntary; a natural reaction from being tickled. Not knowing my new strength, Felix slid across the floor. He stood laughing while twirling my garter around his finger. Everyone was laughing, making me feel worse. I tried to leave, but Demetri held my waist, keeping me from leaving. Felix tossed the garter to an unknown Guard member. Emmett was still rumbling with laughter, "All that's missing is Bella turning red." Alice's chirping laughter joined his.
The party began to dwindle and I wanted to get out of my dress. Felix and I danced, his hand tight against my back. "Are you ready to go? According to Alice, we shouldn't close the party." A small smile curved my lips, "Yes, I can't wait to get out of this dress." He leaned closer to me, "You read my mind." His arms swept under my legs, departing for the party.
Felix carried me into our bedchamber, which was pitch black. My eyes could still make out everything in the room. "I had a little surprise arranged." He flipped a switch and something whirred to life. Lights cascaded on the ceiling, showing stars. They danced in a circle on the ceiling. "I just wanted something from India here." Felix kept me in his arms as I looked at the constellations on the ceiling. "This is beautiful." He smiled, his breath blowing on my cheek, "Not as beautiful as you are." I looked at him and he was staring back. For the slightest moment, gold shined in his eyes.
I blinked and it disappeared. A warmth I hadn't seen from eyes in so long; yearning and desire. Felix wanted me and I wanted him. He pulled me closer to kiss me. He lowered me onto my feet, not breaking the kiss. Despite the size of them, Felix's hands deftly unzipped my dress, letting it fall to the floor. Felix got himself out of his jacket and undid the buttons of his shirt. Moving quickly, he hitched one of my legs along his hip as he walked backwards. The bed was changed too. There were gossamer white curtains hanging around the posts. The comforter was all white too. He laid me there, keeping locked in his embrace. This moment was like it was our first time together, as man and wife.
