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 moved quickly into Edwards arms as soon as the door was opened. I barely even registered the click of the door closing behind me. I was so happy to be with Edward again and seeing that he was at least physically well. I didn't really care about much else at that moment.
"Are you okay Bella?" Edward asked when we finally pulled apart. The room Edward was in only had one chair in it and a small end table. There wasn't even a window to decorate the boring, plain stone walls.
"I'm fine Edward. Are you? They haven't hurt you, right?" I asked, wanting to hear from him that he was okay since there could be something I couldn't see.
"I'm fine Bella." Edward said with the same charming smile I had fallen in love with. "But I feel like there is something you aren't telling me." Edward added after a moment with a concerned look.
"I'm not sure how to tell you." I told Edward as he directed me to sit down before he moved to stand in front of me.
"You can tell me anything." Edward assured me with a smile. I took a deep breath before I talked.
"The queens say that we have a bond. A bond between me and them." I said with a bit of a scrunched face from confusion as I thought over everything they had told me. "I guess, they're some sort of surrogate mom, or mom's I guess, to me or something." I said before I shook my head at how silly that sounded.
"They are lying to you Bella." Edward said with just a hint of a growl in his voice. "They've been around far too long to have a bond like that. Plus they are the Volturi, they could never feel something like that."
They were too old to feel like that? The ability to have certain feelings had expiration dates? Not that I was necessarily saying that what they were saying they felt was true. But as much as I trusted Edward to never lie to me and to do his best to protect me, this was a stretch. Although, maybe he knew something I didn't about them.
"Why would they tell me that they did?" I asked.
"Because they are so old, they have nothing better to do than mess with other people's lives. It's the only kind of entertainment they can get in their old age." Edward said with a sneer directed at the door where I was sure Didyme was to listening to him talk on the other side. "You need to be careful around them Bella. They aren't good people and whatever they're up to will only hurt us in the long run." Edward warned.
"They don't really seem like the type to pretend to have a maternal bond with someone just to pass the time. Do you know what they're up to, what their plan is?"
I could believe the Volturi weren't good people; the fact that they seemed to have no remorse killing humans for their blood proved it. To me at least. If they did have something planned, there probably wouldn't be much we could do about it. Unless Edward knew ahead of time and Sulpicia found out about it.
"No. I don't know." Edward said with a frown, upset that he didn't.
"But, you know they really are up to something though?" I asked to clarify. He had to have heard something from someone to have his suspicions.
"I know they are Bella." Edward said with conviction. "But they are all very old and it doesn't take much effort for them to hide their thoughts from me. Especially since I can only see active thoughts people have."
I would have to take Edward's word on what he was saying. He knew the Volturi better than I did; even though he had technically never met them before. At least as far as I could tell, he had never met them. I knew that, so far, they hadn't really done anything to me but for all I knew, just like Edward was thinking, they could be planning something. The only way we would know for sure is if Alice had a vision… if they made a decision about something so she could see. Even though I trusted Edward and I knew he would never lie to me, I just couldn't fully believe that they were actually lying to me.
"Well, what should I do until you do figure out what they are planning?" I asked, nervous about what could happen to me. I highly doubted that the Volturi would let Edward out of this room so that he could be with me to protect me from them.
"I wish I could always be with you." Edward said as he kneeled down and then leaned in to lean his forehead against mine. "I wish I hadn't been so foolish when I ran here. I was just so sad at the thought of you being lost; I couldn't take it."
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you like I wanted to." I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"It's okay Bella; you tried and I really appreciate that." Edward said as he pulled me off the chair so that I could kneel with him. "It's my job to protect you and I swear I will. I'll figure something out to get us safely out of here and back home."
"What do you think they'll do to us for me figuring out your secret?" I nervously asked.
It was a question that I hadn't even wanted to think about asking the queens. I knew the punishment and I didn't want them to confirm it. It was like if I didn't say anything, didn't acknowledge it, it wouldn't happen.
"I know what is supposed to happen." Edward grimly said. "But I won't let that happen; I promise."
I really wanted to believe him. I knew that he would do anything to protect me, to keep me alive. But I was worried that there wouldn't be anything he could do; especially while locked away in this room. I wasn't even sure how he was going to get blood, human or animal. Even if Edward waited until the rest of his family came and tried to have all of us escape then, there's no way it would work. Even with all the Cullen's gifts, there was no way they could win in a fight against the Volturi. All the Volturi's gift's aside, their sheer numbers would ensure that they would win in a fight against the Cullen's. I wasn't sure what Edward could do if the Volturi attacked us. Or even just me.
"Thank you Edward." I sincerely said, even though I doubted he would be able to come up with anything.
"Of course Bella." Edward said before placing a kiss on my forehead.
I nuzzled my face into his neck and myself to finally yawn from how tired I was. I didn't think it was that late but after my lack of sleep for the last couple months and the emotional turmoil I've faced in the last day, I was more than tired. I was exhausted and I had every right to be.
"You're tired Bella." Edward commented and I was sure he had a smile, probably amused at my very human action. "You should get some sleep."
"I don't want to leave you." I commented. I wasn't sure if I left, if I would be able to come back and Edward still be in the same shape he was in now. I was afraid that one of the guards might hurt him because Edward decided to do something foolish.
Before Edward could respond to my comment, the door was opened quickly and I could hear someone take a couple steps into the room.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Didyme said in a very no nonsense tone.
"No, nothing at all." Edward said through clenched teeth as he stood up and then held his hand out to me to pull me up to my feet. We both knew perfectly well that Didyme had purposefully decided to come in instead of waiting for me to leave.
"I hope you don't mind Bella but I figured you were tired and would want to be shown to your room now." Didyme said with a smile, her tone now light and cheery.
"Um no, that's okay." I responded.
Edward pulled me into another tight hug and gave me a quick kiss. I couldn't help but feel at least a little at home with his affection; now only if I could have that affection at our home not in Italy.
"Goodnight Bella. I hope to see you tomorrow." Edward said once he pulled away barely seconds after our lips had connected.
"Me too." I said with a sad smile. I would make sure to ask if I could visit him as soon as I could tomorrow.
I pulled completely away from Edward and then followed Didyme outside of the room. Felix and Demetri were outside of the door and stood on either side of it after the door was closed.
"We had Jane and Heidi pick your room and make sure that everything that you should need is provided; extra clothes included. If there is something that you need that they missed, just ask them for it. They are your assigned guards while you are here; so anything you need at any time, they will provide it for you."
"Alright, thank you."
I wasn't sure how I felt about being assigned two guards. That probably meant that they thought someone might try to attack me, which I really hoped wouldn't happen. If that did, would these two really protect me? Or would they decide a human wasn't worth the effort?
"I'm afraid that I won't be able to see you all the way to your room. It would seem that I'm required to be elsewhere per request by my mates." Didyme said with an apologetic look but to me, it didn't seem all too sincere.
"That's okay." I quickly said, not at all bothered that a Volturi queen decided not to escort me. Being around them made me nervous but even so, I still couldn't help but feel a bit hurt that she was practically ditching me. "Who's going to show me where to go?" I asked. There was no way I was going to be able to find my way anywhere in the palace if I was left on my own; I needed help.
"We will." Heidi said as she appeared in front of me and Didyme. Next to her was Jane. It was odd seeing the two of them together. Heidi seemed like she would have a really upbeat personality and Jane seemed to be the very epitome of all that is seriousness. I wouldn't have ever pictured them as friends, yet it seemed like they were and it made me want to know them to figure out how their weird connection worked.
"There." Didyme said with a smile as she placed her hands on my shoulders. "I'm sure you're in good hands." She squeezed my shoulders before slowly pulling me into a hug.
I was sure she was only moving as slow as she was so that I had plenty of time to back out of the hug if I wanted to but I didn't. I wanted to tell myself that I didn't back out of the hug because I was so shocked that she was giving me one, but she moved too slowly for that. If I really had to admit it, then I would say that I wanted the hug because for some reason it brought me some sort of comfort. But I wasn't willing to admit that. Not when Edward was down the hall and the rest of the Cullen's were on their way over here. When Didyme pulled away from the thankfully short hug, she gave me a small smile before leaning into to whisper something into my ear.
"Don't let Jane or Heidi bully you into anything. I'm positive they'll do anything you want them to."
With that last piece of advice, Didyme finally completely pulled away from me and walked off towards where she was needed. I wasn't sure why she needed to tell me what she did because I was sure that Jane and Heidi would, at the very least, not do anything to hurt or scare me because of my… connection… with the queens. Her advice seemed a bit unneeded.
"You're down this way." Jane said in a voice that didn't give any emotions away.
"We put you right next to us." Heidi said with a wide grin as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders and started to pull me in the direction Jane had pointed in. "It also happens to be not too far away from your mother's but we didn't have much choice in that. They're being a bit clingy since finding you."
"You make it sound like they're the only ones." Jane muttered just loud enough for me to hear.
I gave Jane a side long look because even though I was sure I knew who she was talking about, I wasn't sure why. But the more I thought about what that reason could be, the more I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to put too much thought into it and then discover something or think of something that I don't like. I was still hopeful, no matter how unlikely it really was, that I was going to be able to leave in a week or so with the Cullen's and I didn't want to even try to get close to any of the Volturi when I was hopefully leaving so soon.
"We're going to be sending out one of the guards later to go get some food for you since we don't normally keep the kitchen that stocked." Heidi said, ignoring Jane's comment. "What kind of food do you like so we can tell the guard what to get?"
"I'll eat anything." I quickly answered. Me making requests of the Volturi? That was unlikely. Although with the bond, I suppose I could. But the queens weren't here right now, so I wasn't about test any limits without them being next to me.
"We'll have to get a little bit of everything then so we make sure we get something you like." Heidi said, nonplussed by my lack of answer.
"You don't need to be concerned with telling us what you want." Jane said in her seriousness voice which made me want to believe her. "Whatever you want, we will get you. But you're not used to that notion. Are you?"
Hearing the question nearly made me stumble as we walked. Her question made me think about if she was actually right or not. Thinking on mine and Edward's relationship, it was hard to think of how often I had made a decision for us. I mean, I always made the decision in the end but the decision I made was always what Edward said was a good idea. I always went with what he said. In my defense, I always thought his ideas were good ones. But it wasn't like Edward was telling me what to do and making the decisions for me. That wasn't the case at all. I was sure of it. I wouldn't have fallen in love with him if he told me what to do all the time. Plus, he was my mate. I was sure being someone's mate meant that they were an equal partnership.
"Of course I am." I said and the words sounded weak even to me. I hated to admit it but I was going to have to think about it when I wasn't surrounded by the very people who were making me rethink everything I thought I knew about my relationship with Edward.
I was thankful that Jane, or Heidi for that matter, didn't say anything for the rest of the walk to my new room. Instead of letting my thoughts question my relationship choices, my thoughts strayed to the fact that I still had Heidi's arm around my shoulders. I could feel the weight of her arm around me, pulling me into her, but it was a comforting weight. I liked that her arm was around me. It was like her arm was a shield, protecting me from everything and anything.
I couldn't help but feel guilty about feeling the way I did about having Heidi's arm around my shoulder. I shouldn't like having her arm around my shoulders when my boyfriend was someone in the same building as I was. I should have tried to move in a way that showed I wanted her arm off of me or even verbally told her that I didn't want her touching me. But I couldn't make myself say that and I was afraid to think of why that was.
I was eventually brought into a room that much bigger than I would have thought I'd be given. There theme was dark yet very elegant and all the decorations and furniture had to have been for an older era. There was a small sitting area that was separated from the actual bedroom by a couch. The bedroom held a large bed that was much larger than I could ever need. The fact that it was a canopy bed only helped to endear me to the room. Off to the side, on opposite sides, were two doors. One door lead to a bathroom and from what little I could see without walking in, it was a very big bathroom. The other door, although it was closed and I couldn't see in to verify, had to be a closet.
"Do you like it?" Heidi asked as she finally let go of my shoulders and literally twirled into the room. The move was something Alice would do. "I know it's a bit on the dark side but Jane did most of the decorating and I only supervised to make sure we had all the right pieces."
"You mean you only pointed your finger in the direction you wanted me to place something while you laid on the couch and watched." Jane said.
It was the most I had ever heard her say. Something told me that she didn't talk much in front of most people and I felt honored that she talked so much in front of me. Her voice was very melodic and I wanted to hear more of it.
"Yes, but didn't I do such a marvelous job of pointing you in the right direction?" Heidi asked with a wide grin. "Now, before Jane completely loses her temper," I could hear Jane growl in response to that statement. But, to me, the growl seemed more playful than serious. "Some night clothes are there and the bathroom is there." Heidi said as she pointed to a dresser and then to the opened door that I knew led to the bathroom.
"Since we are your guards, we will be within hearing range if you need anything." Jane said before she gestured to Heidi that she should leave. Jane had stayed in the doorway while Heidi had twirled around the sitting room when she first walked in.
"I thought Bella would want to talk before she turned in for the night." Heidi said with a small pout that couldn't quite hide the smirk she was fighting. "I thought we could stay for a little bit and… talk. You know, get to know each other better since we'll be spending so much time together. You know, since we're her guards and all."
"Something tells me that Bella isn't up for your kind of 'getting to know someone'." Jane said, her voice sounding very sarcastic. Heidi walked towards her, taking it as a clue that it was about to leave. "But if you would like Bella, we could stay and visit and answer any questions you may have that you may not have felt comfortable asking your mothers." Jane offered me.
"Um no, that's okay." I quickly offered but then I thought of something that I actually was curious about. Something that I felt more comfortable asking them than asking the queens at the moment. "Is Edward, or any of the Cullen's, going to be killed?" I asked them worriedly.
They both gave each other a look and I couldn't quite decipher what that look meant. I couldn't tell if I needed to be worried or not. But I was sure since I was dealing with the Volturi and the fact that the Cullen's had actually broken laws, something bad had to happen. Regardless of my 'bonds' with the queens, I didn't think I near enough pull with anyone to save the Cullen's from anything.
"Between you and us, we don't think so." Heidi hesitantly said.
"It really isn't our call as the Cullen's did break the law knowing what the punishment would be." Jane added.
"But that doesn't mean the queens won't come up with some other kind of punishment. After all, if they hadn't broken the laws, chances are very unlikely that you would have ever come to Italy and found them." Heidi said with a smile.
"But we have no way of knowing and we don't want to give you any false hope." Jane said harshly, giving Heidi a warning look. "But we will definitely talk to them to see if there's a way we can sway them to avoid death as a punishment." Jane said once she had moved her attention back to me and saw my disappointment. After her last statement though, I couldn't help but smile at Jane.
"Thank you so much Jane." I genuinely said with a wide smile.
"Even though we aren't a fan of Edward and his law breaking ways, I'm sure both of us will be able to convince the queens." Heidi quickly said.
"You're really that confident?" I confusedly asked. Not ten seconds ago, they seemed unsure the queens would do something aside from killing Edward but now they seemed to think they could persuade the queens what they, or really I wanted to happen.
"Let's just say, you give us a lot of confidence." Heidi said with a smirk that once again made me feel like prey. But not in the normal way vampires should make me feel. This smirk felt much too seductive with my boyfriend still in the same building. I felt my face heat up in a bright blush.
"Oh well, um, goodnight then." I said, stumbling over my words from the look Heidi was still giving me. "Thank you. Again."
"Have a restful night Bella." Jane said a tilt of her head.
"Remember, if you need anything during the night, don't be afraid to ask for us." Heidi said with that same smirk that made me nervous and blush from the pure seductiveness that Heidi was putting into the smirk. "We'll be within hearing range."
Thankfully they left and closed the door behind them right after that. I wasn't sure how much longer I could put up with Heidi's smirks and what I was more than sure were innuendos. The woman practically leaked pure sex. Even Jane's intense look kept me on edge. I was happy to be able to finally relax since I wasn't in their presence anymore.
Within an hour, I was showered and dressed and ready for bed. I wasn't sure what was going to happen to me while I was waiting for the Cullen's to get here but I was at least sure that I would be safe. Contrary to what Edward believed, I just couldn't truly believe that they were tricking me into something. I was more nervous about Charlie. They said they would handle Charlie and I wasn't sure what they meant by that. That was going to be the first thing I figured out tomorrow. I needed to know that my dad was alright and what exactly that had done or said to him.
A/N: I'm very sorry for the long wait for an update. It definitely wasn't intentional. In case any curious minds wanted to know, the reason it took so long for me to update was because I did something to hurt my back. I haven't been able to physically sit down to write for several weeks now and unfortunately my back isn't completely healed yet. That means that I'm not sure when the next update will be and since I received several PM's wondering about this update, I just wanted to let you guys know that I will work on the next chapter as much as I physically can but I really can't say when the next update will be.