I've taken so long to post again that I really won't make a long A/N -I hope you're all still with me! All I have to say is that I'm so grateful for your responses, and I hope you're having a fantastic holiday. I wish the best for you in this upcoming year! Thanks to SunflowerFran for putting the cherry on this chapter. I don't own these characters, but I hope you enjoy what I've done with them!
Part II: Pigeon
Chapter 9
"This is ridiculous," Bella huffs, as she sits on the marble examination table, "I am not ill."
"You're breathing heavily just from getting onto that table," Bree rolls her eyes, "and I'll probably have to lift you off."
"You'll do no such thing," Bella warns, "I won't let you."
"You are brave to think you can win against a woman with super strength," a man chuckles as he enters the room.
Bella takes in the hulk of a man; his impeccable, deep blue skin is pulled taught over his defined muscles. The whiteness of his teeth contrasts with the darkness of his skin, but his bright blue eyes are compliments to his features. He is devastatingly attractive, and Bella can't help but blush under his gaze. However, her reaction is nothing compared to Claire's.
While Bella knows that Claire has met this medic before, it seems that her friend has not yet learned to control her obvious liking for him. Claire's red eyes do not leave the medic's body for even a second, and her mouth seems to be permanently stuck in the form of a small 'o.'
"I'm Quil Ateara," the medic greets Bella, "And the man who will be entering in the next three seconds is my brother, James."
"Must you always announce my entrance?" A red-skinned equivalent to Quil enters, a bright smile on his face despite his annoyed comment. It is almost unbelievable. Quil and James shared the exact same features, to the point that if it weren't for their different skin colors, it would be impossible to tell the two apart.
Bree meets James with an enthusiastic kiss, entwining her body with his as if she hadn't seen him the night before. The sight has Bella looking away in embarrassment, unused to witnessing such blatant displays of affection. She doesn't think she's ever seen a couple kiss the way James and Bree do. The world around them disappears as they engage enthusiastically, James slowly caressing Bree's lower back, and Bree rocking her hips towards his. Bella's face becomes aflame with discomfort.
"I've asked you not to do that near me," Quil nearly shouts, causing to two to break apart. "When you're this close, I can feel what he's feeling!"
"Then you should enjoy it all the more," Bree snips, as she reluctantly pulls away from an unapologetic James.
Wanting to break the obvious discomfort in the room, Claire tries to refocus everyone's attention to the issue at hand, "This is Bella. She's,"
Bella flinches as Quil places a hand against her forehead, his cool touch a calming sensation against her heated skin.
A few days have passed since she performed for the Cullens and personally encountered Edward, and it seems her health has been declining steadily. Each morning she wakes up with a cloudier mind, and is easily exhausted from even the slightest of exertions.
It had taken a lot of convincing on Claire's part, but Bella finally agreed to see the medics. However, she'd never known just how extraordinary the twins' abilities were. As Quil holds his hand to her forehead, his eyes transition to a shade of purple, and he begins mumbling words that sound nonsensical to Bella. It is only as James begins to speak that Bella becomes aware of the extent of their connection. Whatever Quil detects from Bella, James senses and lists accordingly.
"High temperature, low blood sugar, heightened skin sensitivity, dehydration, quickened heart rate," James lists until Quil disconnects his hand from Bella's skin.
"It could possibly be the flu," Quil suggests, "You said you've been feeling uncharacteristically tired?"
"I'm not surprised," Bree rolls her eyes, "Between her practicing, performances, and Mistress Pope, she's overworked."
"It really isn't-," Bella tries to interject.
"She practically makes Bella do a full day's work in half a day," Claire interrupts.
"That could explain your tiredness," James says, "Although, the extent of your poor vitals is peculiar. Regular exhaustion shouldn't affect you this severely."
"What is your gift?" Quil asks.
Bella freezes, caught unaware by his question, and wondering why he wants to know such a detail? She also has to remind herself, which of her abilities she is using for her new identity, as she can't risk being inconsistent. However, her memory seems to be getting worse as the days wear on. She can't help but think that maybe she is, in reality, getting sick …
"Telekinesis," Claire supplies the answer excitedly, "I once saw her lift a grown man-,"
"How is this relevant? Do you think she has aurimento?" Bree asks.
"Aurimento?" Bella searches their faces to see if their expressions can give her any clue as to what they're speaking about.
"That's what it feels like," Quil says, the confusion plain in his voice.
"What is that?" Thankfully, Claire asks the question that has been waiting on Bella's tongue.
"Oftentimes when one overuses their abilities or uses them for an extended amount of time, they face an overall depletion in their energy. In mild cases it causes exhaustion, but in extreme cases, it can be the cause of coma."
Bella is glad that Quil is no longer touching her because she knows he would have felt the way her pulse quickened at his words. It had been a couple of weeks since she had last been in her natural form, and it had never occurred to her that remaining in this alternate appearance would deplete all of her energy. But there is no place for her to transform without the risk of being exposed. Her own room is out of the question considering that Bree and Claire walk in and out throughout the day, and there is no other private area that Bella can transmute without giving away her identity.
But what will happen to me? Bella begins to worry.
"Do you use your telekinesis while you work?" James directs his question toward Bella, "That could explain everything."
Again, Bella is unsure how to answer.
"It's okay if you do," James assures, "Using your abilities in the Cullen Castle isn't prohibited."
"I would go mad if I couldn't use mine," Bree said, "Most people use theirs daily, it just requires balance."
"Well, I don't," Bella lies, "I must be unused to the work. I'm sorry for all of this fussing over nothing."
"It isn't 'nothing,'" Claire chimes in, "You really do look worse for wear."
Bella sighs and dismounts the table, swaying as her feet touch the ground. Claire steadies her and gives her a pointed look. It doesn't matter. There is no way for Bella to remedy the exhaustion unless she transforms. She promises herself that she will find time to do it, but until then she'll have to manage.
"Will you eat lunch with us today?" Claire asks softly.
Bella shakes her head, "Not today."
"When?" Bree sighs in disappointment, "We hardly see you with the schedule you have."
Bella shrugs, "I'm not thrilled at the idea of sitting in the courtyard and having the royalty chaperone me as I eat."
James frowns, "Surely you know the Cullens aren't like that. They love interacting with the staff –that is the reason for having open lunches in the courtyard."
"Nevertheless, I will not be joining you today," Bella states firmly.
She ignores the looks that Claire and Bree exchange, and heads out of the infirmary. Truthfully, she knows that the Cullens are unfalteringly kind, and while she had barely interacted with Charlotte, her encounters with the King, Queen, and Alec had been pleasant over the past week. The real issue is Edward. Whereas, before, she had avoided the courtyard lunches because of tiredness, she is now actively avoiding the Crown Prince. Her cheeks still warm at the idea of being scolded by him, and she doesn't think her pride can take another hit, not even to endure the momentous occasion that is lunch at Cullen Castle.
Every day at the lunch hour, the court and its servants commune in the north garden near the throne room. The Cullens often attend and take the opportunity to interact with their staff members. Bella has seen the entire affair but once in passing, but she can understand why Bree and Claire would want her to be present. During the hour, the colorful north garden is filled with animated conversations and warm laughter. The barrier between 'royalty' and 'servants' is broken, and the court enjoys the beauty of being in each other's presence. The air is reminiscent of the Forxian camaraderie, and when Bella had witnessed it, she'd felt nostalgia for the nation that had captured her heart. That being said, Bella doesn't feel as if she's truly established her place in the court as yet. She is but a newcomer –a newcomer who had already mouthed off to the crown prince.
This is why she finds herself in Charlotte's Garden, a beautiful stretch of vegetation located in the middle of the castle. As if the bountiful gardens and mazes located throughout the castle grounds aren't indication enough of Heidi's love for plant life, the castle has three main gardens placed in the south wing, the center, and the north wing. They differ in sizes, the north garden being the largest as it's right by the throne room and often used to entertain guests. The smallest garden is situated near the servants' quarters as a tranquil place for resting in between work. Lastly, is Charlotte's Garden, placed in the center of the castle and split into two sections. By far, it has the most interesting setup of benches and stone structures that almost don't seem to fit. Bella eases herself onto a bench that lies in an archway facing the east side of the castle. Whereas the front and sides of the Cullen Castle are dressed with lush greenery, the back faces the sea. A small stretch of lawn separates the arches of its back wall and the white sand that begins the beach. She has yet to actually venture into the magnificent landscape herself, but Bella has heard that the pure white sand is incredibly soft, and the water is refreshingly cool.
There are no restrictions as to who can enter which courtyard during the daytime, so Bella sits and eats her apple freely. Her thoughts are inconsequential. Most of her day is already filled with the speculating of the staff around her and trying to pick up clues on Alice's prophecy. So she allows herself, this time, to muse over silly things such as her next hairstyle when she performs or what Lua might be doing to entertain herself. Once she is done with her fruit, Bella leans back against the pillar of the archway. She fully intends to focus on the stunning view before her, but exhaustion gets the best of her. She doesn't know how much time has passed before she is being tapped awake. Mortification fills her as she looks into the amused face of Alec.
"I didn't want to disturb you, but I thought I would inform you that the lunch period has finished," Alec says gently.
Bella hurries to stand, and dips into a curtsey, "Your Highness."
"I prefer Prince Alec when in private," he chuckles, "You may rise."
Bella lifts her head and rises from her curtsey. The movements, coupled with her sudden interruption of sleep cause her to sway unsurely. Alec steadies her by gripping her elbow and preventing her from tipping over. His concern is apparent as he asks,
"Are you all right?"
Bella nods before gently removing herself from his grasp, "I must have stood too quickly. My apologies, Prince Alec."
"You look dreadful," he replies. Almost as if he realizes how blunt his words sound, he bumbles to correct himself, "What I mean is that you look ill. You really are quite a beautiful girl, but you look completely exhausted-,"
Bella's giggle interrupts him, "You did not offend me, Prince Alec. And I thank you for the compliment."
Alec sighs with relief, "Regardless, you really do look sickly. You should return to your quarters and rest. Have you visited the infirmary?"
"I did this morning, Sire," Bella informs him, "And I have been cleared as healthy. I'm fine to work, but I thank you for your concern."
Alec is noticeably displeased, but he says no more on the matter. Instead, he bids Bella a farewell, and heads towards the staircase leading to his room. As he leaves, Bella places a hand on the bench behind her to steady herself and promises that she will not let this sickness get to her. She can't; the lives of the Cullens depend on her.
~pigeon~
The week concludes with Bella curled in her bed, drifting in and out of sleep. For once, she has the night to herself, as once again Claire and Bree have disappeared together. After the seemingly endless days of cleaning and then singing, she doesn't plan to leave her pallet. Lua stays with her, tucked under her arm.
In the early hours of the morning, she finally forces herself to get up and venture to the bathroom. The halls are lit by the glow of the moon, and the only sounds are of her footsteps and the rustling flowers. She relieves herself quickly, not wanting to be out of bed for long in the chilly night air. On her way back, she spots two figures sitting in the south garden, and though Edward's chastisement still rings fresh in her ears, she can't help but sneak behind a pillar and listen in on the conversation between Charlotte's first handmaiden and her personal soldier.
"She is so insolent," Carmen, the handmaid, speaks, "She complains and orders me around all day."
"That is your job," the soldier, Demetri, says, "What did you think being first handmaiden required?"
"Certainly not being the lap dog of the Princess," Carmen huffs, "If she pinches me one more-,"
"Curb your words," Demetri cuts her off sharply, "You are well aware that uttering such trifling words counts as treason."
At that, Bella scampers off to her room and tries to forget what she's heard. She isn't disillusioned to think that no one speaks ill of the royalty, but she hadn't known that anyone would do it so flippantly. She feels discomforted for having been a part of the exchange, the unkind words about the princess replaying in her mind. Hoping that sleep will erase the encounter from her consciousness, Bella climbs back into her pallet and closes her eyes.
~pigeon~
The next day, Bella is called to the practice room to prepare for another night of entertaining the royal family and their guest. Her state of weakness is becoming more and more apparent to her, as daily tasks become cumbersome. She is able to practice for a couple of hours before she is forced to rest.
"Are you not well, Sola Bella?" the flutist asks.
Bella shakes her head, "Merely tired -,"
A knock at the door interrupts her, and shortly after, Carmen appears. Bella bristles at the sight of her, remembering the sour exchange she'd heard early that morning. While Carmen could very well be a decent person, Bella doesn't know if she wants to associate herself with such a reckless woman. Seriously, who would dare speak ill of the royal family in open quarters?
"Her Highness, Princess Charlotte, has requested to sit in on your practice," Carmen announces, "Are you willing?"
It is a question, but Bella knows that she has no choice in the matter, "Of course."
Charlotte enters slowly, taking in the room around her. Bella guesses that she'd never been in the practice rooms before, or probably had never even crossed over into the servants' quarters. She wonders how often the royalty stop by to see the affairs of their staff. Bella would ask Charlotte, but she's heard many things about the temper of the young royal, and she doesn't want to learn if the rumors are true.
"Carry on," Charlotte says, her voice carrying a tone of boredom, but her eyes showing otherwise.
A sense of dread fills Bella. It would be just her luck that the day she is pitifully weak is the day that Charlotte would choose to sit in on her practice. She musters the strength to stand, and signals the flutist to begin. As the notes drift through the air, Bella moves her body lithely, her fluid movements translating to even the tips of her fingers. She allows the music to fill her and guide her actions, overwhelming her to the point that she almost forgets there are others in the room. The conclusion of the song leaves her breathless … and unable to stand.
"Sola Bella!" the flutist rushes over to the collapsed girl.
Fortunately, Bella hadn't become unconscious. Her legs had simply decided to give up on her. She lets out a nervous laugh as she takes the hand of the flutist, ignoring the penetrating stare of Charlotte.
"Your Highness, I apologize," Bella says.
Charlotte raises a brow, "Apologizing for fainting is absurd. Are you ill?"
"No, Your Highness," Bella denies, "I believe I am just tired."
"You must rest before tonight's performance," Charlotte says.
"I appreciate your concern, but that is not necessary, Your Highness," Bella answers.
"I insist," Charlotte's tone rings with finality, "In fact, I'll walk you to your chambers."
Carmen looks just as surprised as Bella, but knows better than to object. Charlotte keeps a slow enough pace so that Bella walks beside her, and every now and then, glances at her from the side of her mint-green eyes. Nervousness prickles atop Bella's skin in the form of perspiration –she wonders why the Princess has taken a sudden interest in her.
"Do you practice often?" Charlotte suddenly asks.
"Pardon me, Your Highness?" Bella's voice cracks with unease.
"Do you practice your dances often?" Charlotte asks again, apparently annoyed at having to repeat herself.
"Yes, Your Highness," Bella answers.
Charlotte says nothing more for the remainder of their walk. Bella can't help but notice a few things about the girl beside her. Though she is only fifteen years old, she walks with the demeanor of a woman and speaks in the same manner. Her features betray her youth, yet her soul says otherwise. Overall, the most disheartening thing that Bella could feel from the younger girl was discontentment. As they reached Bella's door, the sound of Charlotte's hard voice startled Bella.
"I would like to learn to dance," Charlotte says, "Teach me."
"My Lady, you do not have time during the week-,"
"Are you telling me what to do?" Charlotte silences Carmen immediately.
Bella's mouth has dropped open in shock, but she closes it before Charlotte can take notice. She finds herself nodding in response, as she is too stunned to speak.
"Very well, I will join you as of next week."
She leaves before Bella is able to reply, but Bella still makes sure to curtsey to show her respect. Once Charlotte has disappeared, and Bella is in the privacy of her own room, she releases a shaky breath.
Why would Princess Charlotte request to be taught by me?
Bella crawls into her bed as she tries to reason out this strange occurrence. Lua sits in the corner of the window and watches Bella, chirping every now and then to remind her owner of her presence. All the while, Bella rants to herself, hoping to gain clarity by voicing her thoughts.
"I don't know, Lua," Bella sighs, "This is peculiar. The Princess has excelled learning and execution as her ability –she doesn't truly need a teacher for anything. All she needs to do is see it done once, and then she can perfect it within a few tries. She doesn't need me."
She sighs and digresses, knowing that, while her companion is wonderfully loyal, Lua can't provide her with any insight. She decides to write a letter to Alice, hoping that the one she'll receive in response will bring clarification. Luckily, the palace uses transporters to deliver mail, so if she leaves her letter in the mail basin tonight, she can get her reply in a few days time.
Dear Alice,
My time here at the palace seems to be passing quickly. I've been here for a couple of weeks, and I feel useless. I know absolutely nothing more about the Cullens or the palace now than when I first arrived here. In fact, I'm possibly more confused. If you have any advice -,
The sound of the door opening alerts Bella to someone entering. She quickly tucks her letter and pen into a drawer and begins to braid her hair as a cover. Claire and Bree soon round the corner, speaking in hushed tones. Before they take note of Bella's presence, she catches the end of their conversation.
Isse ono ere troperi periolo … They are becoming too dangerous.
For a moment, Bella second-guesses herself, unsure of her translating abilities given her weakness in speaking Cullenian. But by the looks of surprise, followed by wariness, which cross the faces of Claire and Bree, she knows she's heard correctly. However, the two of them quickly act as if nothing out of the ordinary was said. They engage Bella in light conversation, distracting her with trivial questions.
It doesn't work.
Bella cannot shake the feeling that she doesn't know her supposed friends as well as she thought she did. Feeling greatly unsettled, she decides to rest her mind. She goes to sleep with Lua beside her, and her back turned to Bree and Claire.
She awakens alone in the room, drenched in a cold sweat, and her body throbbing with pain. Despite this, she manages to get up and pull on her performing outfit. Slowly, but surely, she covers the insignia on her lower back, and then enhances her features using the rest of the makeup. Instead of creating an elaborate style like she had the first time she performed, she settles for bringing her hair into a high ponytail. She is moments from finishing when Claire reenters their room.
"Are you sure you are able to perform tonight?" Claire asks.
Bella tries to appear unaffected by her presence, but in truth, she is now wary of the girl. "Why do you ask?"
"You look really ill, Bella," she notes, "I'm sure the Cullens would understand if you needed to rest."
Bella shakes her head vehemently, "I will perform. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't stay I looked horrible at every turn."
Claire nods sheepishly, "Very well. I brought you this."
In her hands, Claire holds a headband of burnt-orange flowers that match the color of Bella's dress perfectly. With a slight feeling of guilt at having snapped at Claire, Bella accepts. She offers a small smile in return, hoping that it can serve as an apology. Nevertheless, a nagging feeling that something is off with Claire persists even after her friend has gone.
An hour later, Bella is standing at the perimeter of the throne room, waiting to be summoned to perform. Underneath her crown of flowers, her forehead is slick with sweat, and she can't seem to stand for long without her eyes drifting shut. Truthfully, she doesn't know how she's going to perform in this state but prays that she'll succeed.
The announcer calls her forward, and she makes her way to the center of the room. Much like the time before, the royal family sits at an elevated table, with the King at the head, and his guest of honor sitting to his right. It is Sir Carlisle once again, and Bella knows better this time than to stare at him. When the music begins, she launches into her dance.
It's a lively routine, one that has her spinning, prancing, even cartwheeling at times. She begins to lose energy by the end of the song, but doesn't let her movements falter. Finally, the last notes ring, and she's grateful for stillness. Well, relative stillness; in her mind, the world is swaying around her. With blurred vision she looks to the royals, desperately hoping they've been pleased. She notices that all of them, except for Charlotte and Edward, have smiles on their faces. Charlotte, as always, looks ridiculously bored, and Edward … oddly enough, Edward is nowhere to be found.
"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!" Felix praises.
She shakily lowers herself into a curtsey, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"I believe I'd like to see another," Alec speaks.
Dread fills Bella at the thought of beginning another song. She had only just been able to complete the previous one, and she's not entirely sure how long she can remain upright. She prays that the Cullens will dismiss her quickly so she can lie down.
"Do you have another one you can share with us, Sola Bella," Alec asks her.
Bella is about to speak when, unexpectedly, Charlotte interrupts her, "I wish to eat in silence."
Alec casts Charlotte a confused glance, "Pardon me? You, who gushed about Sola Bella's last performance?"
"I said, I wish to eat in silence," Charlotte repeats, forcefully enunciating each of her words.
The room becomes silent. The court is definitely accustomed to Charlotte's demanding attitude, but very rarely does she use it so publicly against her brothers. However, being the light-spirited person that Alec is, he merely rolls his eyes at her.
"Very well, Charlotte," Alec sighs as he waves at Bella dismissively, "I suppose I'll have to wait. Thank you for your performance, dear entertainer."
"You've done well," Queen Heidi agrees before informing her, "You are dismissed, Sola Bella."
After curtseying, Bella quickly escapes the throne room. She only makes it a few feet into an empty hallway when she begins to stumble. On weak legs, she moves toward a pillar so that she can put her weight against it. Why is the room spinning, she thinks desperately. Her head is full, her skin is slick, and no, no, no, a steady stream of blood begins to come from her nose. She quickly brings a hand to her face and tries to catch the drops before they fall. Her clumsy steps are rushed, as she distances herself from the throne room. Unfortunately, she doesn't make it very far.
Bella groans as she smacks into a hard body, a scenario she's becoming much too acquainted with. She doesn't need to look up to know who it is. In an attempt to hide her face, she unsteadily dips into a curtsey but keeps one hand at her mouth.
"Your Highness," she murmurs from behind her hand.
"Must I always find you in peculiar circumstances?" Edward asks, already sounding bored with their encounter.
"I apologize, Your Highness," Bella replies quickly, hoping that he will be on his way. She can feel the blood beginning to slip down her forearm.
"On the contrary, I'm beginning to expect it –are you bleeding?" Edward notices, his disinterested tone changing to one of worry.
"No, Sire," she denies, even with the evidence trickling across her skin.
Then, Edward does the last thing Bella expects him to do. He grabs her by her other arm and begins to pull her behind him. They wind through the halls together, taking a circuit that is unfamiliar to Bella. It is only when they reach large, gold-encrusted doors that Bella pulls back.
"I cannot enter there, Your Highness," she refuses.
"In the time that I've known you, you have accused me of spying, lied to me, and denied my wishes," Edward says, his voice threatening, "Do you forget who I am, Sola Bella?"
Knowing that he is right, she doesn't resist when he pulls her into his room, past the curious gazes of the guards who stand watch at his door. The moment he lets go of her arm and disappears into another room, she stays frozen in the middle of his bedchamber, careful not to touch anything. Part of her cannot register that she is in Prince Edward's quarters, and part of her doesn't wantto. How has she made such a mess of everything?
"Do not make me come after you, Sola Bella," Edward calls from the other room.
She scurries to the place he had disappeared to and realizes that it is a bathroom. She marvels at the sheer expanse of it –her quarters could easily fit in this room alone. Even in her time of living in Volturia she hadn't been exposed to this kind of luxurious living. Bella feels as if she'll sully anything she touches.
"Sit," Edward motions to the lip of the tub. She does as he asks, not wanting to disobey him any further for the night.
"I really appreciate this, Your Highness," Bella begins, "But you needn't take care of me. You are the Prince, and I am merely-,"
A warm, damp cloth stops her words as it is pressed to her lips. Edward places one of his hands at the back of her head to steady himself, the flowers of her crown bunching beneath his firm touch. His other hand wipes the blood from her mouth and chin. She doesn't take his hand away for two reasons. Firstly, she's not entirely sure of how in control she is of her powers and knows that she will be executed if she damages a single hair on the head of the Crown Prince. Secondly, and most peculiarly, she doesn't want to remove his hand. The warmth emanating from his fingers is delicious, and a feeling that Bella has never experienced from a man. She knows that he is just cleaning up her face, but there is something so gentle in the gesture that she can't bring herself to stop it.
"Sola Bella," Edward speaks softly. "I'm going to say two things to you that you must never question of me again, are we clear?"
Bella nods, unable to speak as he wipes under her chin.
"Firstly, I do not need you to remind me that I am a Prince. That is insulting to say the very least," he says firmly. "Secondly, do you understand what Ni ronero means?"
She shakes her head in response.
"It means 'on my honor,'" Edward replies, "Which means that, on my honor, I will do everything to serve, lead, love, and fight for my people. You are not merely anything. You are my people, and I am your people. Ni ronero."
He finishes cleaning and leans back to take in the view of her face. Her forehead shines with a light sheen, and her skin is uncharacteristically pale, a testament to her weak condition. Bella grows uncomfortable with his inspection and gently moves back from him.
The movement seems to snap him out of his trance.
"You're sick," He says.
It's not a question.
She sighs, careful about her choice of words, "It's just a cold, Your Highness."
He raises a brow, "If this is a cold, I would hate to see what a fever looks like on you. Let me accompany you back to your room so you can rest."
Bella remains silent as they make the slow trek back to her quarters. The reality of the situation strikes her; the Crown Prince had taken her into his room and tended to her. That would be absolutely unheard of in Volturia. After all, the mantra of that land is Viccna, meaning, I will conquer. No one of royalty would dare lower themselves to tend to a servant. Once again, Bella is filled with conviction to protect the Cullens. It would be a shame for such a family to be rid from the world. But how can she do this if she is so ill?
"I think I will send the medic for you …," Edward says as they reach her door. Her unsteady sway as she reaches for the handle is what motivates him to say this.
"Please, don't," she rushes, before adding at the end, "Your Highness."
"Prince Edward, when we are in private," he tells her.
Bella's cheeks finally gain some color as she thinks of spending more time privately with Edward. She knows he doesn't mean it in that way, but she can't help the way it sounded.
"Prince Edward," she says softly, liking the way his name feels on her lips, "I thank you greatly for your help. I truly feel much better. You needn't send for the medic."
He is skeptical, but he nods anyway, "Very well. But you will not be working tomorrow."
Again, there is no room for argument. Bella simply nods, not wanting to cause any trouble. Nevertheless, dread fills her, as she knows that Mistress Pope will later punish her in the form of bruises.
Edward hesitates for only a moment more before leaving without a parting word. Following his departure, Bella is finally able to release a breath of relief. On shaky legs, she slips into her room and immediately crawls onto her pallet. She falls asleep to the feel of Lua's feathers and the memory of Edward's touch.
~pigeon~
The next day, Bella knows she shouldn't get out of bed. Everything in her body is screaming for her to remain there, but she can't. The conversation she'd heard between Claire and Bree in the middle of the night motivates her to rise.
"I don't want to do it," Claire whines, "It's painful!"
"If you are truly dedicated to the cause, then you will endure it," Bree snaps, "Now stop whining before you wake Bella."
"I don't know why we're so secretive around her," Claire says, "I was on the trip with her here. Her being a sunchild did not stop her from protecting me. That's hardly radical behavior."
"You can never be too sure," Bree warns, "Unless she approaches us, I will not be the one to expose us."
After hearing that, Bella knew that she had to spend as much time as possible around Bree and Claire. There is something that they know that they aren't telling her, and for all Bella knows, it could shed light on the attack planned against the Cullens. The only issue is that the only possible times to see Bree and Claire are in the evening and during the courtyard lunch. Knowing she can't delay her mission any longer, Bella manages to get out of her pallet.
One look in the mirror confirms that Bella looks exactly how she feels. She didn't think it was possible to look worse than she had the day before, but she does. Her skin looks nearly translucent, her lips are gray, and her eyes are beginning to blacken around the edges.
That just isn't acceptable.
She focuses on righting the intrusion of her natural eye color and slowly returns her irises to orange. As she finishes, a stabbing pain originates in the pit of her stomach. She doubles over immediately, and the world seems to fade at the edges of her vision.
"No, no, I can do this," she whimpers.
Meanwhile, Lua has caught on to her owner's distress. She squawks loudly, the chirps sounding increasingly anxious. Bella reaches out a hand to silence the bird, but she merely pecks at her owner's fingers in response. Even Lua knows that Bella is being absurd.
So that she doesn't look positively ghastly upon entering the courtyard, Bella uses makeup in an attempt to put some color on her face. The end result is better than her original form, but still quite pathetic. That's okay, she reasons, I just need to make it through lunch.
Bella makes her way to the courtyard where most of the staff is congregated. They all eat and converse merrily, taking advantage of the slightly warmer than usual day. Unfortunately for Bella, the higher temperature does nothing to help her raging temperature. Despite this, she manages to reach the table where Quil, James, Bree, and Claire are gathered.
"Bella!" the surprise is clear in Claire's voice, "I'm so glad to see you here."
"Yes, this is a nice change," Bree adds.
Quil and James don't greet her in the same happy manner. With one look at their faces, Bella can tell they can feel every sickening sensation running through her. She wonders to what extent they can sense her illness, or if they can just objectively identify each ague. From then on, she avoids their gazes, only looking at Bree and Claire when they speak. She also looks around the courtyard and takes in the other members of the court. It takes a few seconds, but she soon spots the royals relaxing under the shade of a large tree.
She is about to look away when Edward turns in her direction and makes eye contact. It's almost imperceptible, but he gives her a small smile. She returns it just as timidly.
"Is that Edward you're smiling at so fondly?" Bree gasps as she takes hold of Bella's hand to draw her attention.
The next events unfold quickly but seem to pass unbearably slow in Bella's perspective. The moment that Bree touches Bella's hand, Bella yanks it back in surprise. But the brief contact and Bella's instability is enough to surge Bella's powers. Unable to handle the sudden influx of energy in her weakened state, a rebound mechanism occurs, flooding Bella with a pain so intense that she cries out, much like she had earlier in the day, she doubles over in agony.
The pain is so intense; too intense. Bella cannot endure the pain and simultaneously keep her powers under control. She can already feel the black beginning to bleed into her eyes.
I can't … this can't happen, Bella thinks as she sinks to her knees.
Her last thought as she succumbs to unconsciousness is that she has failed the Cullens.
Terminology
Aurimento –an illness caused from overexertion/overuse of one's abilities. In mild cases, those with aurimento experience fatigue, slight memory loss, and fever-like symptoms. In extreme cases, sufferers can fall into a deep coma. There are no known medicines to combat aurimento, but refraining from using your abilities would help you to regain energy. [Cullenian, Volturian, Forxian]
Isse ono ere troperi periolo –They are becoming too dangerous [Cullenian]
Ni ronero –Literally translated, it means 'on my honor.' Its implications are basically a promise to treat fellow beings as equals. [banner of Cullenia]
Viccna –I will conquer; domination, power, and victory. [banner of Volturia]
"And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been." -Rainer Maria Rilke
~CH
