Chapter 2: Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

AN: I have no clue who originally said the chapter title quote, however I heard it in the Hunchback of Notre Dame the Disney movie.

Xoxox Volterra xoxox

Xoxox General POV xoxox

The guard were gathered in the thrown room in meeting. The Brothers were listening to Felix describe the result of his last mission.

"ARO!" The call didn't come from within the room. It was shouted so loud that they heard the call across the castle. Felix stopped and turned with everyone else to stare at the large double doors. They burst open.

"ARO!" The same voice called again as she strutted across the stone floor. "What the hell is this?" She asked as she threw a small stack of envelopes at him.

"I don't understand what it is you are asking, it is clear that these are envelopes." Aro replied.

"You know damn well what I am asking. Don't try your mind games on me." She stood with he hands crossed over her chest in a stance that allowed for no mistake of her annoyance.

Felix came up behind her, "Doll, just take a deep breath." He said as he place a hand on her shoulder. "You're stressed, why don't you let me help you relive some of that stress?" He leaned in as if he were planning to whisper in her ear next, but he jumped, yelled, and bolted to the back of the room before he got close.

There were flames retreating back into her body after they surfaced to her shoulder so as to get Felix off. "I'm waiting, Aro. What do you think you were doing with these?"

"We are throwing you a birthday party and these are copies of the invitations that we sent out to some of the vamparic community. It is to be a ball, and I assure you all of the guest are the most tame of our community. I beg you, please allow us to have this gathering."

She yelled in frustration. She turned on her heel and began strutting from the room as she yelled back to him, "Fine, just fucking fine. But I am buying my self a gown and it is going to be expensive and you are paying for every cent Mr." The door slammed behind her.

Xoxox Bella's POV xoxox

Oh they are so in for it. They are going to regret the day they decided to force me to wear a dress.

Despite all of my years I know that none of the vampires here or any of the ones that are going to be in attendance have ever seen me in a dress. I hate dresses, they are just annoying and obnoxious. But I am going to make them regret this decision.

They think that I am tempting because of my curse, wait till they see this.

I had already drawn the design that I wanted made for my dress so I drove it over to Venice. In Venice I found my designer. He is who I give all of my sketches to when I am feeling creative. I know he is going to be excited for this one.

Vlad is one of the last vampires that I know of who are unaffected by my curse, however that may have to do with him being gay, I don't know.

I parked my car and walked inside. The woman at the desk looked at me and gave me a sneer. Jealous.

"Hello, I am looking for Vlad."

"Vlad doesn't see anyone with out an appointment, do you have an appointment?" Wow, rude much?

"No, I don't but I promise that if you let him know that Isabella Marie is here he will want to see me." I told her. It was one thing to not like me because of the curse, but it is just plain rude for her to act like this.

"I'm sorry, Vlad is very busy. Maybe you can make an appointment and come then."

"I have a better idea, how about I call him and have him let me in. How about that?" Before waiting for a response I pulled out my cell phone and dialed his number. It was ringing.

"Ello?"

"You forgot the 'h' again." He would know who it is. The receptionist didn't look like she believed me.

"Isabella! How are you? I miss you doll."

"I miss you too. But I am not very good right now because the woman running your reception desk is being overly rude, and I know that I bring the worst out of people but this is ridiculous."

"You are here, I am on my way!"

I heard feet running down the stairs. Not five seconds after hanging up my phone Vlad burst through the double doors behind the desk and wrapped me in a giant hug. "Darling it has been too long."

"Well be happy, because I have good news and I have bad news." He looked confused.

"Okay, good, then bad."

"I have the design for the best dress I have ever drawn in my purse. I need it done in two days for my birthday ball they are insisting on throwing. More good news, if you haven't been invited yet you are now. I will get an invitation sent later." I looked at the shock on his face.

"Hand it over." He held out his hand and I placed the design in his open palm. He opened it and gasped. His eyes traveled between me and the paper. "Isabella this is… this is… I am in awe. This is not a dress this is a work of art. Oh, I am so excited. Let's go do this." He grabbed my hand and dragged me to the double doors. Then he turned, "Jessica, we will discuss this after Miss Marie leaves."

Vlad had been working on the dress for near four hours when he finally asked me the question. "Darling, are you sure about this dress?"

"Why wouldn't I be sure about it?"

"Because you and I both know that you have not shown this much skin since the day you were born. You have to be completely sure of this dress if you plan on wearing it, because if you aren't then the dress wears you and you just model it."

I thought about it, and I was sure. "I am sure. They asked for trouble when they planed this party, and this dress is trouble."

"Do you have a death wish, or something doll?"

"No. Why?"

"Because if this party is as big as you are making it out to be, then there are going to be a lot of vampires there that will want to keep you as their own, and just as many who will want to steal your face and burn the rest. You know how vampires, and mortals for that matter react to you." I laughed. "I'm surprised that the gods haven't stolen you away for themselves yet."

"Oh believe me I wouldn't make it any where near heaven. That I can promise you."

"Have we been naughty?" He didn't know that I was being honest that I would never even get close to heaven.

"Don't I know it?"

xoxox Cullen's xoxox

xoxox General POV xoxox

The seven Cullens stepped off the plane directly onto the runway and were greeted by Felix, Demetri and two black stretch limos.

"Courtesy of the Brothers." Demetri told them when they looked on with confusion.

Alice skipped forward and opened the door to one of the limos. "Great. Okay so we will have the luggage in this one and we will ride in that one." Demetri and Felix looked confused. They had only been informed of five Cullens not seven, and they did not remember meeting the little drill sergeant the last time the Cullens came to Volterra.

Carlisle shook both vampire's hand then explained. "This is Alice and her husband Jasper. They joined our family about five years after our last visit." Jasper took Felix's hand in a strong grip and released only when Felix winced slightly.

The ride to Volterra was rather uneventful. When the limos pulled into the castle garage everyone filed out.

"If you follow those stairs all the way up you will enter the lobby. From there Gianna will show you to your rooms. The Brothers are in a meeting until later. They will be more than happy to greet you when it is finished. We will inform you when that is." With that Demetri and Felix left through a back door that led directly into the castle.

The Cullens were quiet. They reached the lobby and were in awe. The decorations were still being put up but the lobby looked stunning. The "Black and White" theme caused the centuries old castle to transform into the castle of the classic black and white Dracula films. It was magnificent.

Gianna led them to their rooms and informed them that their luggage would be brought up for them. They all stayed in the seating area of Carlisle and Esme's room.

"Does anyone else feel as if they are trying too hard?" Emmett asked.

"I know what you mean. Everyone seems to be either overly stressed or extremely nervous." Jasper added.

"I am still only seeing the dancing, and I am positive that if they were planning anything against us that I would see it."

"Felix and Demetri only seemed to be focused on the reaction of what I can only assume is the guest of honor. But I couldn't get a clear picture or a name from any of the people that we passed."

Carlisle ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I don't believe that the Brothers have any ulterior motives bringing us here. That is not how the Volturi work. If they have something sinister planned they tend to tell everyone they can so as to scare the soon-to-be victim even more."

"Just promise me," Esme began, looking at the floor. "Promise me that you will not do anything to provoke them and that you will do everything you can to make it back home if anything bad happens. Because I don't think I would be able to make it if I lost any of you." She gave a small dry sob. Carlisle wrapped her into his arms. "Just know that I don't care what you do or what they make you do you are still my children and I cant live with out a piece of my heart there."

All of the Cullens were silent. They were thinking about what Esme had said, how they were all their children, and brothers and sisters to each other. That bond would be true no matter what happens. They are family.

AN: Sorry for the Esme break down stuff again. It just seemed to want to be there and who am I too tell it to move?

Thanks for reading. And reviewing would be very nice too!