Chapter 3

BPOV

When I was shoved into the arms of the women, the pulled me to a house, where they shoved me inside, stripped me and put me in a dress similar to the one the statue has on. They then dragged me outside where two men gripped the tops of my arms and pulled me violently down the street and outside of the town a little way.

I look around and I thought I saw a pale face under a black cloak that looked a lot like Jane from the Volturi guard. When I looked back after I had blinked, he or she was gone. But by then we had reached the place we were headed to, and I felt the blood leave my face. On a platform there was a huge stake surrounded by hay and dry wood.

The two men hand me up to a man on the platform and tie me to the stake. I barely hear the crowd cheering.

Then I see the man I guess to be the mayor climb on the platform through my tangled hair. He starts to speak, but me not being Italian, I can't tell what he is saying. He then yanks my hair back from my face, showing the fear on my face to everyone. Tears are streaming thickly down my face by this point. He then opens my mouth and gags me, taking away my ability to speak. I look around, begging people with my eyes for them to help me, but they don't. They look eagerly on. They want me to die.

I look again into the crowd, and saw people I never thought would be here. The Volturi. I see the twins, Felix, Demetri, Heidi, and the vampire Lords; Aro, Caius and Marcus. I lock eyes with Marcus for a few second before looking at the man with the torch. I begin to struggle harder with the rope holding me to the stake. I look back at the Volturi, and lock eyes with the rulers, looking at Marcus longer. I see from the corner of my eye, the man bending down to light the wood, but I hear a voice call out. I look to see that it was Aro that spoke. He and the mayor begin to speak, and Caius jumps in as well, but again, I can't tell what they are saying.

Then the Lords walk through the parted crowd, before Aro jumps onto the platform and unties me. By this time my heart rate and breathing have increased dramatically. Aro then leads me off stage before I am picked up by Marcus.

He walks out of sight of the towns people before running at vampire speed, back towards the castle I presume. When we arrive, I am whisked off to a grand looking bedroom and tucked into a huge bed with and gold and red quilt.

Marcus then speaks, "Sleep dearest, no one will harm you here." while stroking my cheek soothingly. He walks back to the door, while I curl into a ball beneath the thick quilt.

Before Marcus closes the door, I whisper "Thank you.". then I fall into a dreamless sleep.

*The next morning*

I wake up in the morning to feel knuckles stroking my cheek. My eyes flutter open, and look deeply into ruby red ones. I freeze, suddenly overcome by fear.

"It's okay, Piccolo, your safe. No one will harm you." Marcus whisper softly, his breath fanning sweetly over my face. I swallow thickly, my throat dry, causing me to cough a little.

"Are you alright, Piccolo? Would you care for some water?" Marcus asks so softly I barely catch it. I nod a little in reply.

"Okay. Stay here I will fetch you some." he says getting up from his position on the bed.

When he has left, I sit up. I appear to be in a dark bedroom. The room is decorated in soothing gold and reds. There is a balcony to the left behind some French windows. It appears to very late in the evening. How long have I slept? I look down at myself, stunned to see myself still in the white dress I was forced into. The quilt I'm under is a beautifully designed piece. The red and gold weaving through each other on the fabric is very detailed.

Suddenly the bedroom door opens and my head snaps up to find myself looking at Aro and Caius. I shift backwards a bit, the action does not go unnoticed.

"Ah, Isabella. You have finally awoken." Aro coos softly.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. You could of poured water on my face to wake me up. I wouldn't minded." I say roughly, my voice still thick with sleep.

"Ah Isabella, how you humour me. You needed your sleep. With the things that had happened early today, we felt that you needed to sleep before we talked to you." Aro says, chuckling.

"I'm glad I amuse you. And thank you, it was very considerate of you to let me sleep here." I whisper, knowing they would hear me.

Just then, Marcus walks into the room, a tall glass of water in his hand.

"Here you go, Piccolo." he says handing the glass, before going to talk quietly with his brothers. While he does so, I take a long drink of the water, before turning the glass around in my hands. I look up again to find them looking at me. I quickly avert my gaze to picture of a landscape on the wall before me.

"Isabella," I look back towards the trio, knowing it was Aro who had spoken, "would you mind us asking you a few questions?"

"Not at all." I say quietly.

"Wonderful. Now first things first, where are the Cullen's? Are they here with you?" Aro asks while picking up a chair from by the window and placing it in front of the bed before sitting on it. I shift slightly, to face him.

"No, I came alone." I say weakly, knowing what they would ask next.

It startles me when it is Caius who asks the question. "Why are they not here? They are meant to change you!" Caius demands, nearly shouting at the end, making me flinch.

"Calm down brother, you're scaring Isabella. But yes, my dear, how come then Cullen's aren't here with you?" Aro asks politely, after glaring at his brother.

"They left again." I say simply.

"They left! What do you mean they left?!" Caius roars.

"Caius! You will leave this instant!" Marcus hisses, while grabbing Caius by his robes and pulling him out.

"I apologise for my brother, Isabella. He has a very short fuse. Ah Marcus, have you sorted out Caius?" Aro says to me, directing the last part towards Marcus as he comes back into the room.

"Yes Aro. Now Isabella, I am truly sorry but we the answer to his question." Marcus answers sincerely.

"I understand. Few days ago, Edward leads into the woods, much like the last time, and confronted me with his family, telling me I was weak, unwanted, useless, nothing more than a play thing, that I was a human to entertain them with. Then they told me that they wanted nothing to do with me, before they burned everything I ever gave them." I tell them, my voice shaking.

I look back at them, to be surprised with the kind, soft faces that are looking at me. Aro breaking the silence.

"Oh, my poor dear. I feel deeply sorry for you." he says as he walks around the bed, he sits down and takes my hand in his before patting it with his other.

"I don't deserve you pity Aro. I'm not worth it." I say quietly.

"Don't you ever say things like that, Piccolo. You deserve everything that life has to offer." Marcus says, almost cooing.

"Are you not going to kill me? I haven't been turned yet, so I violate your rules." I say, sadness hiding under the softness of my voice.

"No my dear, we will certainly not kill you." My face almost falls at this, "You are now a guest of the Volturi." Aro says happily, but then he continues in a more questioning tone. "But there is one question that I still have."

"Ask away Aro." I say, a small smile playing at my lips.

"Why, my dear, are you in Volterra?" He asks. My face falls this times, my mask of boredom slipping into place as I say:

"I came here to die, Aro."

Italian translations:

Piccolo: Little one