Disclaimer:

I own no part of the 'Twilight Universe'. Only the idea to this story. This is strictly for fun.

Author'snote:

Hi to all of you. Here is the next chapter. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Notice:

'Panta Rhei' got nominated at the Non-Canon Awards. Thank you, WhiteWolfeLegend!

It's a huge honor.

IF you find time go to their page; there are lots of good stories nominated. You can vote for any of them, too, or nominate other stories.

Previously:

When the family has convened here, we will hold court. You are invited to witness the dealings. Remember that my mate's security has the highest priority. Due to her human state and her illness, she is absolutely defenseless; a sitting duck. Felix, Renata, when I leave her side to join my brothers and sisters, you both will be responsible for her life and well-being. Should Miss Swan sustain any harm, during my absence, I will hold both of you responsible for it. Is everything clear?"

"Yes, Master," the guards answered as one.

"Leave then!" I barked out.

When everyone had cleared out, I was tense and pacing. Surprisingly, so was Caius.

Chapter 34 (Sulpicia'spov):

I was surprised, when I heard my Aro approach hurriedly. And waited at the door to our chambers to greet him. He entered swiftly and I could instantly tell that something was amiss.

"Sulpicia, my dear, I need to ask a favor of you. Would you go and join the nurse in Isabella's room? Marcus has just left her mere minutes ago, and she was behaving oddly. Now, we are wondering whether something was wrong and she wouldn't tell Marcus. Would you be so kind as to subtly try to find out what had her so upset?" he asked me hurriedly, as soon as he had me safely in his arms.

He kissed me passionately before I could answer. I smiled into the kiss, which soon turned into a giggle. I hadn't seen my husband as dashing as this in a long time. The excitement Isabella had brought with her had changed not only Marcus for the better. She had brought life back to our home. Just a few days ago, after the sparring that Aro had indulged in with Marcus, we had shared hours in bliss. Aro had always been a passionate lover, but we had fallen prey to routine after such a long time together. The variation from our daily monotony that Isabella's arrival had caused was very welcome. I would be grateful for that, too... Just remembering the night spent in bliss had me purring with delight.

Aro pulled away from my lips, gazing heatedly into my eyes. His were getting darker by the minute. "Ah, my love, I shall apologize for the lack of entertainment I have allowed to arise over the past centuries and I promise to make amends for the time lost by doubling my attentions," Aro vowed fervently, then his characteristic smirk settled on his strong features. He leant closer to my ear and rasped, "As for the rest, it's good to know you haven't tired of me yet. But I can return this compliment one to one. I could never tire of you either, my love. You are everything I need." By the end he was kissing down my neck hungrily, sucking on the mark he had left all those years ago. I shivered in pleasure and leant further into him.

"Mmm, carissima, you are my true weakness, my Achilles' heel." He kissed me once more on my lips and I knew there was no time to indulge in our rediscovered zeal. There was something he hadn't told me yet.

"You do know me so well, bellissima." He sighed.

"Yes there is more, but I would like to know your answer to the first part."

"Of course, amore mio, I shall go to see Bella straight- away and see what I can find out. It is disturbing to know that any small thing could harm her and end our new-found happiness. Although I hate to see a new scar on you, I cannot truly blame Marcus. Had I been in his shoes, I would have reacted the exact same way, I think. I am glad you kept a level head, Aro," I told him honestly. I was so proud of him; he had saved our new sister once already, and she didn't even know it. My husband, a true hero, a true king... I mused. He smiled indulgently.

"Careful, tesoro mio, you boost my self-confidence too much." He placed another soft kiss on my lips.

"Don't worry, carissimo, I will personally keep you within healthy bounds," I promised. "It's in my own interest," I added with a wink.

"Hm, yes, I know you will." He let his eyes roam up and down my body appreciatively, then shook his head as if to dispel inappropriate thoughts.

"Very well. The second part is crucial, too. I just received notice that the red headed female is on her way to Volterra. Please stay with Isabella." I nodded my consent.

"Marcus will come back shortly. If I know my brothers as well as I think I do, then he and Caius should be having a heart-to-heart-talk right this moment. You know how important it is in such situations to present a united front," he paused. Instantly pictures of battles past flashed before my eyes. We had won on several occasions only because we had looked out for each other, like a true family. It had been our road to success. Aro held me a little closer and his posture relaxed, a grim smile formed on his lips.

"To be honest, I am looking forward to this encounter. It will be very interesting. Marcus is burning with hate and pent up anger towards this woman. You wouldn't believe half the things he has considered doing to her, if I told you. Caius has most definitely rubbed off oinfluenced him in all these years. With the children of the moon it was all about quick revenge, raging thirst for their blood. Back then he knew nothing would bring his love back, but now, with Isabella being safe, he has all the time in the world, and he is hell bent on drawing it out. He has come to the same conclusion as you and I: the redhead tortured Isabella emotionally and physically, she wanted her to suffer as much as possible. Understandably enough, he wants her to pay her back tenfold."

I didn't want to be in this woman's skin. She had not only almost broken the most important law, but she had also hurt a member of our family. True, she hadn't known at the time, but that didn't change the fact that she had hurt her, killed her almost.

Aro silently agreed with me. "Yes, I wouldn't want to face Marcus in her stead either. He is curious in that way. Usually people get sloppy when fighting with too much emotion, especially anger or hate, but he seems to draw strength and concentration from these. He truly has been blessed by Mars upon his birth. Even as a human he fought like the god of war himself. To see him fight with emotion was a terrifying but at the same time beautiful thing to watch...," my mate recalled fondly.

"I will go and instruct the guard now. When the female is secured and in the throne room, Marcus and you shall join us. Good luck with Isabella, my love." He kissed me once more and swiftly left our quarters after a whispered, "Stay safe."

Quickly I made the short way over to Marcus and Isabella's rooms. I smiled. She didn't even know it yet. I dimly recalled when I was still human and Aro courted me. If my memory served me right, I was attracted and very partial to him, but it was nothing like when you meet your mate for the first time as a vampire. Even then it is not instantaneous, but you feel drawn to them, are fascinated by them. That sets the basis to become acquainted to each other, to fall irrevocably in love. I wondered how long it would take Isabella to give in to all that.

For Marcus' sake I hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

When I was at the doors leading to their study, I could hear Felix refuse to leave his designated post.

He was such a loyal guard member.

"You can leave for now to join the meeting, Felix, but after the meeting you will return to your post immediately. I will be with Miss Swan for now," I ordered. The female would not arrive so soon, and if Bella had acted funny a little privacy might be appreciated on her part.

I was eager to meet her. She was such a curious thing and I could easily understand Aro's fascination.

"Lady Sulpicia," their greeting was followed by a bow.

"Yes, Milady. I will return to my post promptly."

They vanished quickly and left me alone to meet my future sister, the mystery human that the whole castle was talking about.

I entered the study not bothering to knock. I could hear the nurse and Bella clearly, as well as the swashing of water. The air was saturated with the scent of a lavender soap.

I knocked on the door to the bedroom, and at the same time I called out to her.

"Isabella? It is I, Sulpicia. Can I come in? I wanted to help you."

Her breathing sped up and sounded labored.

"Okay." Her voice cracked with exertion.

I entered quickly with no doubt in my mind that had she not been so stressed, she would have put up a fight.

She sat in her bed, a soft looking jacket covered her front. The nurse was standing to her right, a wash-cloth in hand. Unlike Isabella, she looked slightly scared.

"Ah Bella, it is good to see you up. That soap compliments your natural scent wonderfully." I approached her slowly.

"This is too exhausting for you Bella. You should put the oxygen mask back on,"I told her sternly. She groaned in reply, but the nurse in the background nodded enthusiastically. Obviously this had been a topic before I entered.

"Let me help you, Isabella. I truly don't mind." I stepped to the left side of the bed and climbed on. It was too wide to reach her comfortably from both sides at the same time.

I steadied her back with one hand and thrust the mask into her hands. She looked up at me to argue, but simply scowled and glared at me before she put it on, after she had seen my frosty expression.

She mumbled something under her breath, that even I didn't understand.

We worked in silence and after some coaxing on my part, we could even persuade her to let us wash her upper body and her hair.

When it was time to work on the lower parts she got really stubborn and refused help for that.

When nothing worked, and she had tears streaming down her cheeks, I sent out the nurse to wait for further instruction in the hall.

"Bella, why on earth are you being so difficult now? You know I have seen you clad in less. Dora and I bathed you. I really don't mind the work, either. I told you this before, so what is the problem?"

I was slowly loosing my patience and might have sounded harsher then intended.

She was now crying loudly, gasping. Immediately I felt bad.

"I... I...," she sobbed. "I know. I just, It's... You probably smell it already. It must stink to you," now she hid her face in her hands. I didn't understand at all what the problem was.

"Marcus must have smelled it, too," she whimpered dejectedly.

"Now, Bella, please tell me what is wrong? You do smell unlike yourself, what with the transfusions you were given, but you certainly don't stink. People in the middle ages, those stank, sometimes I didn't even want to touch them, let alone drink from them, absolutely revolting..." I remembered.

A gasp of a laugh escaped her, and what I had just said registered. How she could be amused by something like this was beyond me. What a peculiar reaction. I would ask her later about it.

"I apologize, I veered off topic," I told her. "Now, Isabella, tell me, why you won't let me help you get clean, why it bothers you, or what I ought to smell?" I pressed.

Her breathing sped up and she blushed, tears gathered in her eyes anew, but I held her gaze.

"I have, they, the nurse and the doctor, they must have, I mean..." the tears spilled, and ran hotly down her hallow cheeks.

Then she sagged under the pressure and her whole posture screamed defeat.

"I have a catheter. I didn't even realize it until before, when I moved around. To you it must stink like hell," she suddenly turned away from me and burrowed her face in her pillow, while sobs shook her frail body.

I leaned over and gathered her in my arms. Her scent was bearable, but I was grateful that it was diluted.

"Bella, oh Bella. Hush, my dear. I know. I knew about it before you told me, and not because of any leaking scent, I promise. I was present in the room at the time they catheterized you. Don't be ashamed of it, dear Bella. It is simply one more thing meant to help you. You hardly have the strength to make the way to the toilet time after time and you would have to go a lot, as you are still connected to the infusions. Don't worry though, Marcus knows, but doesn't mind it in the least. He will approve of anything that holds the smallest promise to make you feel better," I tried to sooth her.

Luckily it seemed to help.

Slowly she turned in my grasp to look at me.

"Really? And you don't smell it?" she asked still sniveling. The tears had slowed.

"Yes, Marcus and Aro know. They were waiting in the study while the doctor and his niece worked on you. And no, we don't pick up on any objectionable odor. Your faint, exquisite scent covers everything; even the sharp, burning scent of the disinfectants," I reassured her.

She let herself fall into my hold again. She was burning hot.

"Good, now I'll swiftly clean you up, and then we'll have the nurse come back and change your sheets and give you more fever reducers. You're burning up again," I suggested.

She nodded groggily in reply and pressed her head into my shoulder.

"We'll have someone lift you up, while the nurse changes the sheets. Marcus will do, I think."

That would be perfect. I loved to see the both of them together so close. They made a handsome couple. And Marcus' eyes sparkled every time she smiled at him, spoke to him, or just looked at him with her soft doe eyes. I hadn't seen him so lively, or smiling so much in well over a thousand years.

To my surprise she didn't argue.

Carefully I laid her back down and began to wash her. After a few moments I was finished and Bella was half asleep. I had dressed her in a matching set shorts and a loose fitting shirt.

With utmost care I placed the oxygen mask back on her face. When she had pulled it off again I didn't know.

During the finishing touches Marcus had re-entered the study and had questioned the nurse.

When all was as good as it could be, I walked to the door and let them know we were done. Marcus was in the bedroom so quick it could hardly pass as human, but the nurse simply smiled sympathetically, when she spotted him from the doorway, standing at Isabella's side.

"Amalia, I wish for you to change the sheets. Marcus, if you would hold Bella up, while she works?" Amalia smiled shyly and went to retrieve new sheets. Marcus stepped closer to the bed, to where Bella still lay in my cold embrace. Her eyes were barely open.

"Of course, Cia. Bella, my dear, I'll pick you up. I won't let you fall. You can sleep," He told us softly.

Carefully he lifted her out of my arms she mumbled unintelligible things. The blanket was left discarded on the bed. He sat down on the chair next to the bed and placed Isabella on his lap. She nestled closer to him. Her head came to rest on his chest, her forehead was pressed against the column of his throat. Her right hand reached up slightly and found purchase in the form of his shirt.

She moaned, probably relishing the cold he offered. Marcus held her tighter in response, cradled her small form in his muscled arms. Her long dark hair cascaded over his left elbow. He closed his eyes in contentment and sighed. At the time the nurse had returned and began to work, I was sitting in a chair next to them.

Slowly, fighting with himself most likely, Marcus leaned down and placed a tender kiss on the crown of her head.

"Could you find out what has had her so upset, Cia?" he asked after a few moments.

"Yes, yes, Marcus. It is nothing too bad. She was simply embarrassed because she had realized she had been catheterized. She thought it would give off an offending smell, and didn't want you, or anyone else to know.

We sorted it out. She knows she needs it, although she wasn't happy about it. She was simply too exhausted to argue her side, I think," I explained.

My brother smiled sadly down at her and shook his head indulgently.

"The bed is all made, sir. You can place her back in. If there is nothing else to do right now, I would go and get my uncle," the nurse piped up.

A sharp nod let her know it was okay to leave.

"How did the meeting go, Marcus? Are you and Caius on speaking terms again? Were there any changes to the plan?" I fired of my questions as soon as the door clicked shut.

The plan was still standing, and Marcus along with me and Gianna would stay here in the room with Bella, while guards would be placed in the study and before the balcony.

Now all we had to do was wait for the wretched woman to come.

End note:

Thanks for reading! Reviews are very welcome!