Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or anything associated with the series.
A/N: I don't re-read what I write after I've written it. I just use spell check and then call it done. So there are probably lots of mistakes; I apologize in advance for all of them.
I turned my head towards the door and saw the two aforementioned queens walk into the room. Sulpicia had a teasing smirk on her face as she walked first into the room. Athenodora walked in with a scowl on her face, reinforcing the idea that I really needed to make sure I stayed away from her. I didn't want to get close to any of them but I knew that if I was forced to spend any amount of time with any of them for any reason, I would do my best to keep clear of Athenodora.
Didyme stood to hug her mates in greeting but when she sat back down, she sat closer to the middle; closer to me. I wasn't sure what to think about that but I was going to do my best to ignore since there was no reason I could think of as to why she would want to be closer to me. The two blonde queens sat down on the same armchair's they had been sitting in before they had left.
"Bella and I were just talking about bonds." Didyme said once everyone was sitting down. "Apparently the only kind of bond she's aware of is that of a mating bond."
"There are more than just that little one." Sulpicia told me, cutting her mate off from talking.
"I'm sure Didyme already told her that, dear." Athenodora said, the last word coming out sounding like a warning; but I didn't know what she would be warning against. Sulpicia only gave her a quick glare that looked more teasing than an actual glare.
"That I did. I was just about to talk about familial bonds." Didyme said, apparently non-caring about what Sulpicia had said or the tone Athenodora had just talked in.
"What a wonderful place to start." Sulpicia said with a wide smile as she clasped her hands together. "Did you know that every relationship within a family is the result of a predestined bond? Father, sons, siblings and mother's and daughter's." Sulpicia said with a pointed looked before allowing Didyme to take over. Athenodora relaxed further into her seat. She seemed content to listen to her mates talk and to just stare at me. It was a bit unnerving.
"Everyone has bonds; even if they don't know it." Didyme said. "As young Alice told you, I have the ability to see those bonds before and after they are formed. I can see how strong the bonds are and how permanent those bonds are."
They were going into a lot of detail, at least it was a lot of detail to me, for a subject that I thought wouldn't have anything to do with me. Well, there is the bond Edward and I share but we were already aware of that bond. Plus, why would the Volturi queens care about the fact that I was mated to Edward; at least, why would they care enough to have this talk?
"But the bond we're interested in, the one these two are skirting around," Athenodora finally spoke up, apparently no longer content with just listening. "Is the familial bond. The bond we share with you."
I felt my face scrunch in confusion and the blood drain from my face. There was no way I could share anything with them. They were evil, red eyed vampires. They were more likely to kill me than to share anything with me. Edward had made that perfectly clear and then James, Victoria and Laurent had reinforced that fact. I didn't want to share anything with people that were only going to kill me someday.
"What?" I asked in a shocked voice.
"Well, more eloquently put, we share a familial bond with you. A maternal bond." Didyme said as she sent a scolding look to Athenodora, one the blond had rolled her eyes at. If I wasn't in the situation I was in, I would have laughed at such a human response coming from Athenodora. As it were, I was nowhere near laughing.
"The moment we saw you walk into the throne room, we felt the urge to protect, nurture and care for you as a mother does their child. It is something Didyme has seen when reading our bonds but we never put any stock in it." Sulpicia explained in a soft tone to supposedly try and help me calm down but it wasn't working.
Why would I want such a bond with these women? I have my own mother who is very much alive. And then of course, there's Esme. Granted, she did leave me but she's going to be coming back and then we'll all somehow leave together. We'll be a family again. We have to be because Edward and I will be together once we get past all this Volturi stuff and when we are together again, I'll be with his family again.
"We understand that you don't feel the bond but you will eventually." Athenodora said and I felt myself want to argue with her that she couldn't tell me what I could or couldn't feel whether it was now or in the future.
"In the meantime though, we would like to get to know you." Sulpicia said as she inched forward in her seat. She moved her hand as if she was about to reach out for me but changed her mind at the last moment. Her slight action caused both Athenodora and Didyme to slightly giggle at her action, which caused Sulpicia to look slightly put out.
"As I'm sure you can guess, with her power, Cia is used to getting to know people within seconds. You're making her work to know you like us normal people normally do." Athenodora said with a smirk.
"It just means it will mean a lot more that I got to know her, than when you get to know." Sulpicia said with a challenging smirk.
"Before these two get too far into their games." Didyme said, cutting off Athenodora from giving Sulpicia her remark. "It should be noted Bella, that these two are quite competitive and I apologize in advance for anything stupid they will do." I couldn't stop the smile from forming if I wanted to. Didyme wasn't even going to try and pretend that her two mates wouldn't do something stupid, she knows it's just a matter of time. I wonder how many vampires, in or out of the Volturi guard, see this side of the queens. "Now, do you have any questions about this bond?" Didyme asked, keeping everyone on task.
"No I don't." I answered right away, even though it was a lie. The look she gave me told me she knew it was a lie but she was kind enough not to say anything about it.
I had a lot of questions about a lot of things that I was sure the queens knew the answers to. But I wasn't about to ask most, if any, of them. At the moment, I only had one thing on my mind. Edward. I wanted to see him. I wanted to make sure he was safe. I wanted to know what he thought I should do given what the queens just told me. There were a lot of questions I had for him; but mostly, I just wanted to see him. I needed to see he was okay. He was my mate. Didyme should be able to see that and because of that bond, they shouldn't deny me seeing him. Right?
"Well if ever you have any, we'll all be there to answer them for you." Sulpicia said with a kind smile, to which I responded with just a smile.
"In the meantime though, you look much too thin young one." Didyme said in a scolding tone. I admit that these past few months, I hadn't eaten as much as I probably should have; but I hadn't lost that much weight and the weight I did lose, I didn't think it was that bad. "It is nearly dinner time, why don't you have an early dinner?" The dark haired queen suggested as she stood up, meaning it wasn't a suggestion so much as it was an order.
"Can I see Edward first?" I asked. I was more than okay with eating but I had to see Edward. I came all the way to Italy to keep him safe. As far as I knew, he wasn't safe anymore and I needed to see him for myself to find out either way. But from the slight hissing Sulpicia and Athenodora gave, I doubted I was going to be able to see him anytime soon.
"Well, not right now." Didyme said a bit hesitantly. "Let's get you something to eat and we can discuss the situation with Edward afterwards. Does that sound okay?"
I sighed but nodded my head anyways. I really didn't think I had a choice. There wasn't much I could do if I didn't want to do something they wanted me to. I mean, I guess I could refuse to eat but I'm not really a fan of hunger strikes… or hunger. I didn't think starving myself would get me too far with red eyed vampires anyways. I was basically at their mercy. I wasn't about to do or say something that would make them angry at me.
"What kind of food do you like?" Sulpicia asked when I stood from my seat.
The three queens escorted me to a dining area and talked the whole time. They asked questions about my likes and dislikes and, without being prompted from me, would answer their own questions as well. I wasn't the best conversationalist at the best of times, I was much too social awkward like my father for that, but I had even greater aversion to talking to them. Why would I want to get to know them when I wanted to leave as soon as the Cullen's got back and we could get everything straightened out? Once they see that I will be turned into a vampire, they would have to let us go. I wasn't a threat to them and their secret.
Even while I ate, there had already been a salad waiting for me when we walked into the room, they continued talking. It was all random topics, mostly just anecdotes about how Athenodora could get so upset that not even their main guard could be around her without risk of getting hurt. Didyme apparently has a garden that she remodels every season and tries her best not to repeat any pattern or design she's used in the past. Sulpicia has reportedly gotten so lost in her reading, she had read for a week straight and didn't know how much time had passed until her mates had teased her about people thinking she had disappeared. When I was done eating, Sulpicia called for Felix to take the dishes away for me. It was apparently time to talk.
"How much do you know about why Edward came here?" Sulpicia asked as she put her elbows on the table, and rested her chin on her clasped hands.
"He came here because he thought I was dead." I answered right away, happy that I was going to get some answers that I really wanted.
"Why do you think he would do that?" Didyme asked, confusing me. I thought we had already been through this. Or, at least, Edward had already explained why he had come here.
"Because he thought he had lost me." I explained slower than I normally speak, I guess in a subconscious effort to make sure they understood what I had said.
"So, he was told you were dead and he came straight here?" Sulpicia asked.
"Well, not exactly." I hesitantly said as I thought about what was actually said when Jacob had answered the phone instead of me.
"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" Athenodora said in her normal no-nonsense tone.
"Well, Edward had called to speak with Charlie, my dad, and Jacob had said that he was busy planning a funeral." I explained.
"Who's Jacob?" Didyme asked. "Come on in you two."
I gave her a confused look and turned towards where Didyme had been looking and saw Heidi and Jane walk into the room.
"Alice boarded a plane and left for the US." Heidi said as she and Jane walked in. They both moved to stand behind the queens, who were sitting across from me.
"She confirmed that she would be back within a week with the rest of her family." Jane said.
"Thank you Jane. And Heidi." Sulpicia said with a nod of her head.
"Now, who's Jacob?" Athenodora repeated the question when I didn't answer after the two guards had entered the room.
"Um, he's a good friend of mine." I answered. I had nearly said best friend, but after how he had acted right before I had left… it just didn't feel right calling him my best friend. Not anymore. But I still considered him my friend; he helped me too much when Edward had left for me not to think he wasn't my friend.
"Your friend normally answers your phone?" Athenodora asked and the tone she used made me really question why I wasn't more upset about Jacob answering my phone. If he hadn't, Edward never would have left and we wouldn't be in this situation. But, at the same time, I'm not sure I would be back in the Cullen's life if it wasn't for this situation.
"Well, no." I truthfully answered.
"And he didn't think to verify what he heard with anyone else?" Athenodora asked.
"I um, I don't know." I really wasn't liking where this conversation was going.
"He didn't. He had received a call from Rosalie saying that Alice had left to check on you because you had disappeared from her visions." Sulpicia said. I hadn't known that; although I did know that Alice couldn't see me in her visions because of Jacob. We had figured that out before we left for Italy.
"Yet he ran over here and practically begged us to kill him." Athenodora said.
"But I'm more curious as to why he wouldn't have already known if you were dead or alive." Didyme said, participating again in the conversation. "First of all, I've never known a mated couple to willingly leave another for a supposed permanent basis." Before I could even get a chance to respond, the queens kept talking.
"I've also never known a mated couple to run to where they last knew their mate was alive if they think their mate was dead." Sulpicia said. "If I was told that either Didyme or Athenodora were killed, even just injured, I would immediately run to where I knew they should be. I, just as any other vampire, would need to see with my own eyes that either of them were gone. If I didn't have proof, I simply wouldn't believe it."
"But Edward ran to us. He took someone he's had animosity with since they've known each other, word with no proof. That's not how mates work. It simply doesn't work for someone to say my mate is dead and for me not to see a body."
"I don't get why you're telling me this." I said with a shaky voice.
Edward loved me. He came to Italy because he didn't want to live a life that didn't involve me. We were mates, of course he wouldn't want to live when I was dead; or… when he thought I was dead. What Jacob said, it was more than understandable that Edward had misunderstood; especially after what Rosalie had told him. If anything, what they were telling me only re-affirmed that Edward and I were mates. It was made sense.
"I think you do." Sulpicia said with a sad smile. "You just don't want to face it." The sad look she gave me was so close to a pitying look and it really upset me. This conversation was supposed to be about what was going to happen to Edward, not what he had already done. I already all of that and there was nothing he had done in his past that I couldn't forgive him.
"I can see the bond you and Edward have." Didyme said. "It was strong, that is clear. But then it destroyed and I can guarantee it will never be as strong as it was once. "The bond that you shared was love. The problem though, is that love you both felt were on different levels. It wasn't equal. The only a relationship can work, especially with vampires, is if that love is on an equal platform. That's what a mating bond is, equal and intense love."
"Different levels? Love is love." I said, really not liking how this conversation was going.
"You both loved each other dear, no one will even dispute that." Sulpicia said in her still sad, almost pitying tone. "But he was never your mate. You are his singer. A singer can never be mated to the vampire the blood sings to. The relationship only ends in death."
"Edward didn't kill me though." I desperately said. "Because we are mates." I stressed to them, which caused Heidi and Jane to hiss but I ignored them since I was more concerned with defending my relationship with Edward. I wasn't sure why I felt I needed to defend myself so strongly to these women, but there was a part of me that I couldn't ignore that wanted them to understand and accept that Edward and I were really meant for each other.
"No, that's not entirely right." Athenodora said, making me more agitated from her bluntness. "You do love each other, that much is true. But he only pursued a relationship because of your blood. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to kill you and drain you of blood, so he wanted to surround himself with your bloods scent. It was the next best thing. Feelings were only added later after he had started courting you… or dating, as this generation calls it."
"That's not true." I said as I felt my eyes start to water. I really didn't want to believe them but I couldn't help it. There was no reason for them to lie to me. They would gain nothing from lying to me. Even if they just wanted to amuse themselves with ruining someone's relationship, they were the Volturi, they wouldn't waste the time or effort interacting with a human just for amusement. So that made me wonder, why would they put in all this effort to tell me about Edward, which I still didn't fully believe was the truth, when I was just some random human to them? Unless, this had something to do with that bond they said they had with me. But then why would they hurt me by telling me the man I loved didn't really love me back?
"He isn't your mate, nor are you his." Didyme said in a soft and soothing voice. "I'm sure he has a lot of maturing to do before he will find his mate."
"I don't believe you." I said as I fought back tears. I didn't want to believe what they were telling me but I couldn't help but think that what they're saying might hold at least a little truth. I really needed to talk to Edward.
"We are sorry to hurt you like this." Sulpicia said with genuine guilt in her voice. "But we couldn't not tell you. It wouldn't be fair." What wasn't fair was that they were telling me all of this and I couldn't confirm anything with Edward.
"I want to see him."
"I'm not entirely sure that's a good idea." Athenodora said as she relaxed further into her seat. "I'm afraid if you go and talk with him, he may fill your head with more lies."
"He has never lied to me." I nearly yelled at her. Her pursed lips caused me to take in several deep breaths before I talked again. I wasn't normally one to get so upset and yell but given the circumstances, it was understandable. They were basically tearing my world apart, I should be allowed to be upset. "I want to talk with him. Please." I said, the closest to begging I've ever been.
The three queens looked at each other and I was sure that they were having a conversation that I couldn't heart. Didyme briefly glanced at both Jane and Heidi and then back to her mates before I was given an answer.
"I will take you little one." Didyme said as she stood from her seat. "But I warn you, Edward hasn't been very corporative while in custody."
The only reason I could think he was being less than a gentleman was because he was being hurt. They had to be doing something to him and he was only trying to get away. That was understandable. Or, perhaps, he was trying to get to me so that he could protect me. He always wanted to protect me and it would make sense for his need to protect me to be even stronger now than before. Whatever the reason, I was sure that he would calm down the moment he saw me. He always said I had that effect on him.
"Thank you." I said with such relief that I could feel the tension leaking from my body.
"Don't thank her yet dear; I'm not entirely sure you'll like the outcome of this visit." Athenodora warned and I couldn't help but glare at her. There could never be anything wrong with visiting Edward when he needed me. The single raised eyebrow and slight smirk Athenodora wore, told me that my glare wasn't that affective. But I'm sure she had to understand that what she said wasn't appreciated.
Instead of responding to her remark, I chose to ignore her. If my glare only received a smirk in return, I'm sure if I said anything against what she said, it would be ignored. Plus, she was one of the queens of Volturi and I was only human. I know what they told me about our supposed bond but I wasn't willing to risk getting them mad at me and then hurting me. Or worse, killing me.
I opted to stand and look at Didyme who was going to lead me to where I wanted to go. She, so far, seemed the nicest of the three queens and if I had to be alone with one, I was glad it was her.
"Jane, Heidi, please find and prepare a room for Bella to stay in." Sulpicia ordered as Didyme tilted her head in a silent order to follow her out of the room. "I'm sure she'll be ready to go to sleep for the evening after her talk with Edward."
I wasn't so sure about that but I was already following Didyme out the door and I really didn't want to argue with one of the queens. I got what I really wanted: I was going to see Edward. I didn't want to risk them changing their minds. So I kept quiet.
Didyme, thankfully, didn't say anything as she led me through her home. We had taken so many turns that I was sure I couldn't even pretend to find my way back to either the room I was just in or the throne room. Because of that, I knew that Didyme would stay near while I visited with Edward so that she could lead me to wherever it was I was supposed to go next. That would mean that Edward would have to be careful with what he says so that he wouldn't get in any further trouble. But then again, Sulpicia knew every thought he had from earlier, so perhaps anything he said now wouldn't change anything.
Eventually we stopped at a room that was several floors below the one we had been in. It wasn't the dungeons, but there was an air of abandonment in the hall. I'm sure the vampires didn't really care about that though; and I was just thankful that Edward wasn't chained up somewhere in a dark and dreary dungeon getting beaten somehow.
"I'll wait out here and you can go inside and talk with him." Didyme said. "Just so you know, the door is not soundproof, so I will hear everything said. If I feel he's putting you in danger, I will go inside and deal with him appropriately."
I was getting very tired and annoyed with everyone thinking that Edward was going to hurt. Didn't they understand that Edward would never hurt me because he loved me so much? I was going to be very happy when, after Edward didn't hurt a single hair on me and we were leaving for Forks to go home, they were all proved wrong. I was actually really looking forward to proving Sulpicia and especially Athenodora wrong and shoving that fact in their faces. In my head. I wasn't nearly brave enough or stupid enough to do something like that to their faces. But since Sulpicia couldn't read my thoughts, I would take great joy in proving them wrong in my head.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, but thank you." She only said that because she was concerned for my safety. No matter how unnecessary it was, it was still a nice gesture and I did appreciate it; on some level.
I reached for the door handle and was glad when I found it unlocked. I hesitated a moment, confused as to why it would be unlocked when there wasn't a guard posted. But then again, there probably was and they had left when they heard me and Didyme approaching and they knew Edward wouldn't try anything.
Shacking off the brief hesitation I had at the lack of a guard that I had expected, I opened the door and smiled wide when I saw Edward smiling back at me as he stood from his seat and started moving towards me with his arms wide open. I couldn't help but run into his arms. Being reunited with him, again, had to be a sign that things were going to start getting better. They had to because I was sure there were only a limited number of things that could happen that could be worse. But I was Edward now and I didn't have to worry about that. Edward would make sure everything turned out okay, he would protect me like he always did and in a week we would be going home as a happily reunited couple.
A/N: Just so you guys know, mostly so I can try to avoid unnecessarily annoying people, I'm going to try and make this story a slow burn. I'm not very happy that my last two stories are much shorter than 100k words. It really annoys me; so I'm going to try and stop that pattern with this story. To do that… I'm just going to say that Edward seems to have a gift for trying to ruin other people's happiness; whether on purpose or not.