Chapter 14 – In Love with Two
Back in Volterra, the damage from the fight was easy to see. The humans were afraid to come out of their homes. From the car, I saw the damage that was don't to the building. Police were surveying the scene. They spoke to each other, speculating what happened here. The town was quieter than usual during the day. The fountain in front of the building was cracked and some of the cobblestones in the ground were missing.
Some officers were inside, speaking with a number of Guard members. In the main chamber, Aro was standing in front of two men in long capes. Felix released my hand, leaving me to stand with Alec and Jane. The men looked at me and sneered. There eyes were a vivid crimson. I half expected them to be a faded red like Aro, Caius and Marcus. "Another addition. You abuse your power." Aro's eyes were angry, on the edge of menacing.
The Cullens filed into the room, along with other members. Esme was clutching at Carlisle's arm, shaken up from all the damage. Jasper kept Alice one step behind him, ready to defend her if necessary. "Carlisle Cullen?" one of the Romanians half yelled in his heavily accented English, "Your old friend, have he and his family joined you too?"
Edward looked at me and I minutely shook my head. He was ready to stand by my side in defense. Aro took a step off his platform, "I have been nothing but generous to you. I've let you keep your lives for all these centuries. I could've found you and have you killed. And you do this. You attack my home. You try to destroy my beloved ones. This is a serious betrayal."
Aro clasped his hands together and sighed, "If only you wanted to join us, rather than destroy us." Aro blinked once, "Felix." Felix moved to approach the two men. His face was determined as he destroyed them. My eyes looked away as the carnage continued. I looked up in time to see one trying to escape Felix's grip. His body was broken, but he still tried to escape. He ran towards me and my hand caught his throat. He tried to slap at me, but my other hand caught his before he could make contact. Felix's eyes narrowed when he saw the other man in my hold.
He stalked over to us and pulled him apart. The snapping and breaking was almost sickening. I watched this time as the traitor's body was broken apart. Jane and Alec stood silent as the flames licked at all the limbs of the traitors. The center of the room fell open, taking the broken parts with it. Alec turned toward me with a smirk on his face, "You do have it in you." This actually made me smile.
Aro dismissed everyone, as he went to sit on his throne. His wife stood by his side, hoping to comfort him. Everyone dispersed, some talking about the fights. Santiago approached us. "Felix, may I speak to you for a moment?" Felix nodded, then he looked at me. He raised the back of my hand to his lips, "I'll be right there."
In the bedchamber, Felix had a surprise for me. There were bouquets of flowers all over the room. Roses, lilies, peonies and hydrangeas. The floral scent filled the room from the different arrangements. I was mostly taken with the peonies. I haven't seen them in years. They were Gran's favorites. She always gave me one when I went to visit. The memory made me cry. I missed my human family.
Next to one of the vases, there was also a black satin box. The door open as my fingers slid across the velvet smooth cover. Felix's hand took mine, "I made it just in time." He opened the satin box to show a blue sapphire and diamond bracelet. With the bracelet, there was a matching necklace. My hands flew up to my mouth from the sparkling gems. Felix set the box down, "The bracelet is a belated wedding present." He clasped it around my right wrist.
He took up the box with the necklace, "This is for your birthday." My eyes shot up, "My birthday? That's not for another few months." He smiled, "Oh I know. There are more to come." I sighed, "You don't have to do that." Felix hugged my waist, "Bella, you and I are married. My wife," his hand held my chin, "And as my wife, it is your place to accept gifts from me. Everything I own is yours." He kissed me, "And every time I give you something, I want you to accept it."
He kissed me again, not letting me answer. He kissed along my cheek and neck. My eyes closed and I fought back the sob building inside of me. I was a terrible person. Felix said he loves me and I betrayed him. I couldn't be with Edward, not like that, ever again.
In the days after the Venice trip, Felix and I spent almost every moment together. Not just in our chambers. Driving through the country, swimming in the sea and simply talking all night in the courtyard. This Felix showed me that he wasn't just interested in sex. He was interested in what I had to say and think. One night, I sat the window looking at the trees dance in the wind. The look of nature was so peaceful. Music began to play behind the closed window. Without thinking, my hand opened it and a familiar song came into the room. It was my lullaby. Edward was calling me.
The wind flowed into the room, blowing against the satin dress I was wearing. The song increased in volume as it continued. The temptation to go to him was growing, but I couldn't, especially not in the tower. My hair blew off my shoulder as I leaned out the window. "Bella, please?" his whispered words reached me.
My heart wretched, being pulled into two directions. Do I betray my husband again or do I stay? Being torn between my past and my present had to be the worse thing I've ever endured. Another sound reached my ears, approaching footsteps. Hands held my hips, "What are you doing?" Felix pulled me back into the room as I was leaning halfway out of the window.
I smiled at him, "Sorry. I love classical music." Felix left the window open, letting the music continue to enter the room, "Well, we shouldn't waste it." He held my hand and we began to waltz to my lullaby. Felix had no idea that this song was written for me. I never told him about it and I wasn't going to. The song changed to a somber composition, expressing Edward's sadness. Felix stopped our dance and leaned his forehead to mine, "I love you." I brushed my head against his, "I love you." The song cut off abruptly. Felix looked out the window, then looked at me questioningly. I shrugged, pretending not to know who was playing.
The days that came and went in a blur. Nothing changed. If I didn't have so much room in my mind, I would have gone crazy. Days became weeks and weeks changed into months. Months of interchanging. Being with Felix in one moment, then with Edward in the next. After having a training session with Alec and almost winning, my hair was matted with the crushed dust on the stone. "I could help you wash it out," Felix suggestively kissed my neck. I slapped his shoulder, "No, we did that this morning. Now go. Demetri and Jane are waiting for you."
He chuckled and kissed me, "I love you." I smiled and pushed him away, playfully, "I love you too. Now get out of here." The water ran from the shower and steam began to fill the room. Hot water hit my skin and the debris washed out of my hair. The length of my hair reached passed my back. Someone came into the bathroom and stood in the shower behind me. Pale arms wrapped around me, "I thought he would never leave." Edward kissed along my neck. His hands held me close, making me face him. "You shouldn't be in here," I whispered, afraid of someone hearing us.
He smirked, "You said that last week and last night." Edward was very confident in our relationship. It didn't phase him that I was married. Hands brushed along my chest, cupping them in his palms. Our lips were against each other's under the hot water. I tried to keep from moaning and so did he. My greatest fear was what the others would do to us if they found out. It took some control not to damage anything.
Edward and I sat on the bathroom floor, not speaking. He held me against his chest and kissed my forehead. His fingers drew patterns in my skin. This whole time, he wasn't breathing. I finally stood up and left the bathroom. "Bella," I looked back. His voice was barely above a whisper. Hanging from his fingers was a pearl necklace, "I made this for you. The pearls are from the sea."
The smooth white surface of the pearls had a sheen of a rainbow. The center pearl was largest, leading to smaller rounded ones. He clasped it around my neck and my fingers felt the silky smooth beads, "They're beautiful, but I can't keep them." Our naked bodies stood together as I looked up at him, "If he finds them…." Edward put his finger to my lips, "Alice made it for you as a birthday gift."
Alice knew of our affair. She didn't speak of it to anyone, not even us. She only knew because of her visions. She saw our decisions to be together and kept our secret from everyone. She wasn't mad, but she was scared too. If Aro held her hand, he would see everything. Edward kissed my forehead and my lips, "I love you. I miss you." "I love you too." When can we see each other again?" I looked down, then back into his eyes, "Soon, I promise." He took up his clothes, was dressed and out of the window in a flash.
I was so selfish. I should tell Edward to leave, but I couldn't. I should just tell him I didn't want to see him again. How could he be happy sharing me with another man? But he said he would rather share me, than not have me at all. In a sense, I understood. I couldn't bear to see Edward with another woman. It would break my heart. But why should it? I'm married! He's told me he's never seen other woman. The only other women he saw were his mother and sisters. Then I came along and all he saw was me.
For Felix, it wasn't exactly the same way. He loved Helena but lost her to his cousin, Edward. My arms wrapped around my torso, trying to keep my lungs intact, though I didn't need them. I sat on the floor, the water still running hot, making billows of steam fill the room. I needed to get out of the room. The sun was still high but that wasn't a major concern. The new secretary, Tara had one of the Ferraris bought around for me. Its black windows repelled the sunlight from getting into the car. "Grazie, Tara. Vi prego di dire Felix che MI sarà di nuovo più tardi." (Thanks, Tara. Please tell Felix that I will be back later.) In the car, headed north, just driving.
The countryside sped pass my windows, but I needed something else. Something more. I wanted to get away from Italy. From the tower and my infidelity.
