Chapter Seven

"Marcus's second wife is you. You're Marcus's mate."

The words kept repeating themselves over my mind.

Almost as though there was a glitch or something wrong in my brain, keeping me from thinking anything else.

I didn't pass out nor did I demand for him to repeat himself since it was obvious that the Cullens weren't lying to me. They had made it to where they wouldn't lie to me anymore since I had found out the truth about them being vampires. Them telling me this was the biggest secret they could have kept from me at the current date.

It wasn't too long afterwards that it dawned to me that the reason why the Cullens had first been so nice to me was because I was meant for Marcus Volturi. But things had become even more complicated for the relationship between the Cullens and me when they learnt I had lost Avalyn. Now they were being nice to me because of the loss of the baby. It was a complex of emotions, and I didn't know where the obligating pity came from.

I had been asked to come to the Cullen house not that many days after learning I was the mate of one of the three kings of the vampire world.

The Mourning King, the Veiled King.

The king whom I had been promised to the moment I had taken my first breath. The king who would have a second chance of love, just like I would have the second chance to actually give myself to someone. The king who would take off the veil and finish the anguish of mourning so painfully. I would be able to heal him, and he would be able to heal me.

I had woken up to the sight of Alice sitting on the windowsill of my bedroom, her eyes caught on the scenery around her. The sunlight, pale and barely there, danced across her skin and she had her golden irises caught on something in the distance. She could have been looking at something or not, but I was curious, nonetheless.

What would have caught a vampire's attention long enough for someone else to notice? Did they not even turn to look at something because they were so accustomed to seeing it in the past that there was no point in seeing it now? Would I get to that in the future, that when I would eventually become a vampire, I would be off in my own thoughts instead of staring at something that could easily catch the attention of a human for a while?

"They're coming today. I wanted to come and help get you dressed for today. I have to warn you, you'll end up leaving at the end of the week…you're not coming back, Bella."

I sat there, upon my bed, with the covers of my bed fallen around me. I glanced around the room and knew it had been three years since I had even inhabited the bedroom. I would only last for a year and a half at the latest before I would move once again. Now I was leaving for a reason other than just heading off to college, I was leaving to go and learn to rule the vampiric world and marry a vampire king. I was walking into something completely different, and this was a room that I would walk away from, never to return.

I didn't say anything for a minute, processing things even more. Alice got up off of the windowsill and went to where my closet was before she opened it. I observed her as she ran her attention over all the different clothes that were in front of her.

She was looking at the clothes of an average American middle-class girl, not a girl that was secretly a vampire and had the ability to know how the stock market was going. So, there was no Gucci or Louis Vuitton that was miraculously hidden in the back of the closet, waiting for the day that it would be used. Only normally priced clothes were there.

Instead, Alice pulled out a sand hued turtleneck sweater that was baggy in the sleeves and fell to my midthigh. There were some simple dark washed jeans, along with a pair of high heeled ankle boots that I had randomly bought one day back in Phoenix before I had moved here on a whim. I had just gotten a paycheck and had bought the outfit that Alice was pulling out, so it was almost as though it was destined for this monumental event.

Alice ushered me to change my clothes and doing so quickly, I sat down at the end of the bed and allowed Alice to style my hair. She styled the top parts of my hair into two thick Dutch braids and stuck little golden hair pieces throughout the braids, surprising me as Alice added little things to my hair from the purse, she had brought with her. She put on nude makeup, knowing there was no reason why I had to put too much makeup on. Marcus Volturi wouldn't care about the makeup, so my natural beauty was on display.

Once she was finished with fixing me up, I took a deep breath and went over to the window. My curtains in my bedroom were pulled back, blowing some from the wind that was wisping throughout the town. Not a great day for me to be piggybacking on a vampire, well at least when it came to how much Alice had put into the hairstyle.

Alice hopped out and hit the ground, perfectly, before I gave an awkward chuckle at the flexibility and balance that vampirism gave someone. I was still human, very much so, and the last thing I needed was for me to fall out of the window and break or sprain something. Especially when it came to the fact that I would end up meeting vampire royalty.

Rolling my eyes and hoping luck would be on my side for once, I hopped out of the windowsill and into the awaiting arms of Alice Cullen. The instant change of temperature between our bodies made me shiver some. I wasn't romantically linked to any of the Cullens so I wasn't accustomed to skin-on-skin contact with them.

Alice let me get back down onto my feet and together we went over to where Alice's car was. Getting in, Alice barely waited for me to buckle myself in before she drove out of the nature made driveway of the house and onto the road once again. It was quite obvious that we were on a tight schedule and Alice wanted to get there before the Volturi would.

I saw no reason why I should be playing any music on the radio since I was being driven at an almost borderline uncomfortable and quite illegal speed.

I had been raised to know speed limits (comes with the territory of having a dad that was in law enforcement) and had seen some pretty horrific car wrecks in Phoenix, so I wasn't all that enthusiastic about the whole fast cars and speed racing. Must come with the territory of being vampires, they would probably rather be moving on foot because it would be faster for them. I have to admit I would have done the same thing if I were her.

When we reached the Cullen house, I barely had seen the house before the Cullens came out of the front door and down the front porch. I could tell that they were nervous and there was sadness that was coming from Rosalie and Emmett the closer they came. I knew that there must have been something more about their history with the Volturi, and it seemed as though there wasn't anything that was positive towards the Volturi when it came to Rosalie and Emmett.

I had barely unbuckled my seatbelt when the car door opened. I turned, my eyes landing on Emmett standing next to the car. He held out his hand and I put my hand in his before he pulled me out of the car.

Alice came bounding around the car before she hooked one of her arms around mine and pulled me towards the front porch. We went over to where the front porch swing was before we sat down, where I brought my hands up to brush against my locket. I was hoping that wherever Avalyn was she was giving me some strength.

I could only hope that Marcus would still want to be with me if he was greeted with me pregnant still. I wondered what his face would have been like at the sight of me with my hands brushing against my protruding stomach.

Would he be disappointed, or would he be happy that I had a child we could raise together?

I didn't know if I wanted to know the truth, because I was already struggling with the truth that was happening, I didn't need to think too much about the hypothetical. If I thought about the what-ifs and would-have-been it would have ruined my mental health even more. I was just now feeling a little better, I didn't need to turn towards the worse.

"Are you sure that things are going to be, okay?"

I glanced down at my hands this time once I had pulled my hands away from my locket. I wished I didn't have nervous ticks about me. I wanted to be stronger both on the outside but also on the inside.

The wind was wisping through the trees that were surrounding the meadow.

The tall grass swayed from the wind also and I knew it would have been beautiful to sit down in the meadow before peering up at the clouds that went across the skyline above me (that was if it was one of the rare sunny days that the sky was a stunning shade of blue). I would run my fingers through the grass, and I would allow the sun to beam down upon me, hopeful that my skin would become tanner instead of staying the same paleness I always had.

Alice reached her hand out and placed it on mine (which made me have an uncontrollable shiver due to her natural vampiric skin temperature), before she nodded her head.

"Everything will be fine, Bella. I promise you that you'll end up being happier with Marcus than you ever would be with us. If you're wondering, he wouldn't be upset if you were still pregnant with Avalyn, Marcus would never be like that."

I bit the corner of my mouth, hoping I wouldn't make any blood appear upon the surface of my lips. Any blood that would fall from me or rise to the surface would be a complete nightmare in the company of vampires even if they were animal drinkers and didn't drink humans.

It was only a few minutes later that Alice had that expression flicker across her features that let her know the Volturi were arriving.

In fact, it was only a second later that a formation of black cloaked figures came from the trees to the left of the house in an arrowhead formation. There were four of them, though two of them were the size of preteens and the other two were taller than an average person (vampires were usually taller than humans). Their cloaks were an Haute Couture aesthetic with the perfect golden embroidery, along with rubies that were sewn into the cloaks in the design of roses.

A vampire was in the middle of the formation, protected both in the front and in the back. Just like in the portrait the figure was wearing a mourning obsidian veil that covered his face, resting a few inches above his plump lips.

His crimson eyes were large, stunning, ostentatious and so deep behind the black veil. He wore a white cloak instead of black like the guards, with the embroidery made from pure gold and the roses were formed in topazes instead of crimson. There were even white gloves that were covering his hands, the black mourning veil a stark contrast to the white robes.

His figure was muscular, just muscular enough that made me flustered, for I could tell that he would be able to fight for me without any issues. He wouldn't have any problems with fighting for me.

He had multiple rings that were upon his fingers, gold and silver with rare jewels that might be even a thousand years old considering the fact how long he and his 'brothers' had been kings. They were in multiple sizes and shapes. They were as hypnotizing as the rest of him, commanding attention but not too much.

I noted in the corner of my eye that Carlisle and Esme were moving so that they were standing next to me as though they were my parents. I appreciated how they stood near me but not too close to me so I would feel suffocated. I did send a nervous look at Carlisle, which in return made Esme usher him to go forward to stand next to me. He came forward and placed his hand onto my mid back, patting them against my back to as though to let me know I was okay.

Eventually the guards stopped in front of the Cullens and me. They fanned out, as they did so my eyes couldn't help but land on the two preteens that were a part of the guards protecting one of the kings. They were twins, from what I could see though their faces were mostly hidden away from the beautiful hoods of their cloaks. Their crimson irises were large, so expressive, and deep that it was kind of unsettling.

"Marcus, it is good to see you, brother."

Marcus dipped his head down in greeting, and respect, before his eyes flickered towards me. They widened as though the realization had really sunk in that the human girl (yes me) was his mate. He must have thought that he was thinking I was the mate of Edward, since he had been the only one that wasn't mated before. Not the whole getting a second chance by God or the universe or no one at all (depending on your beliefs) when it came to love.

"Carlisle."

I gasped as that delicious voice hit her, so soft and caressing, as though he was caramel dipped with chocolate.

A center that would be even more worthwhile to get to, and a surface to him that was taunting me.

He had yet to show his own face to me, but I could tell that it was going to be worthwhile. I would have my heart stolen before I would see it, but it would be completely lost to the depths of the sea when I would see it.

"I want to introduce to you our new friend, Bella Swan," Carlisle said, as he motioned his head towards me. I couldn't help but blush when he said this. I had never blushed like this when I was with Avalyn's father those months.

"A pleasure to meet you, Bella. I am Marcus Volturi. I am certain that the others have informed you that I am a king, but I would rather you call me Marcus," Marcus explained, before I noticed him reach his hand out as though he was going to let his fingers brush against my hand–even though it would have been just glove on skin contact.

I nervously gained courage and reached out so I could put my hand upon his. I desired to touch him, even if it was through gloves and not through skin. A desirable shiver rushed through my body at the contact, and it only got worse when Marcus took my hand in a proper gentlemanly manner. He brought it up to his lips. He kissed my hand, and I was welcomed with an ice coldness, as though his lips were made of icicles.

"I am certain that my brother has also informed you of Gifts that vampires can receive during transformation. I can see the mating bonds between people and thought for a moment I had been wrong, thinking that you were bonded towards Edward–"

The veiled head turned towards Edward, where Edward just inclined his head towards him to let him know he wasn't insulted with the idea of being bonded with me.

I didn't show any insult either towards me being bonded to Edward. I, I didn't really feel anything romantic towards him, but he had said he couldn't read my mind so at least I would be allowed privacy when it came to that. Other than that, there wasn't really anything I had an opinion towards when it came to him. I had to admit that he was probably a noisy bastard even if he claimed that he wasn't.

"As it turns out, I was corrected in that assumption…Bella, you are my mate."

"Alice just told me a few days ago."

Marcus turned his head towards the said psychic, where she awkwardly waved her hand to let him know that she was pleased to be acknowledged.

The veil kept most of his features showing any true emotion, but it was obvious he was kind of put out on how I already knew he was my mate. He turned his attention away from her and instead came forward to me. He reached his hand out and pressed his hand against my cheekbone, running his fingers against the soft cheek in such a gentle manner. He was checking to make sure that I really was in front of him.

Without thinking tears began to rise within my eyes, my brown irises shimmering from the sunlight that came through the clouds and hit me. I gave him an awkward smile, one that wasn't beautiful, but I wasn't aiming towards having the most beautiful smile among vampires. I instead brought my own hand up and placed it on his gloved one.

"I'm here. I'm here."

I had barely said this before arms wrapped around me and held me close to him. My eyes blinked back some of the tears. I stayed still as Marcus held me, if I knew vampires could cry (which so far, I had yet to see a vampire cry), he would be crying. He sniffled as he held me and brought one of his hands up to run his fingers through my hair.

In a matter of seconds, the Dutch braids that Alice had done with such loving precision were ripped free and he ran his fingers through my hair. He scooped me up from the snowy ground and lightly twirled me in his arms. Everything was silent around us, no one was able to truly react to what was happening in front of them.

He sat me down onto the ground slowly before he let me go. I slowly moved away from him, noting how he had slowly loosened his hand in mine. I could tell he didn't want me to go away from him, but I needed to think clearly, and I knew he would want to think clearly also. The atmosphere between us when we touched was a little too overwhelming.

"Would you like to come inside, Marcus?"

Esme had been the one who had asked this, with the perfect hostess voice. She had her hands clasped together in front of her and she was giving a small smile towards the human teenager and the vampire king that was over a thousand years old but looked as though he could be in college. There was no other look that came across her features other than contentment.

Marcus turned his attention away from the girl that was in front of him, a girl who would show him love. Sure, he loved Didyme more than anyone could imagine but the connection he had with this girl was almost if not the equal amount of passion.

He could tell that he would be happy with this Bella, and he knew that things were different this time. He would make sure that she would never be killed like his first wife. It was a promise he made to whoever was listening. It was a vow, and he would never break another vow or promise for the rest of his life, whether it be before the world ended or after.

I motioned for Marcus to follow me, and together we went into the house behind the Cullens. The wind came and played with my hair, which was now down. My hair was a chocolate wave down my back, with some tangles due to the fact that my hair had been in braids after all.

I knew Alice would be a little aggravated at how her hard work had been destroyed in seconds, but she probably saw it when she had done the hair, and she wanted there to be a dramatic flair for the meeting between the vampire king and her friend. If I didn't seem to hold fond and loving, sisterly love towards Alice I would have strangled the girl for having the audacity of doing this knowingly, but since I did Alice was off the hook.

Entering the house everyone went towards the living room section of the front room instead of the dining room. Partly because they could tell everyone would be not in the mood to be sitting at the dining table and another being it was obvious that Marcus was going to be sitting next to me, and he didn't want to be farther away from me than he had to be.

I sat down on one of the couches and Marcus sat down next to me. The Cullens came and went to the places they wanted to stand and sit at before we would start a conversation. I took a deep breath before I turned and looked at him, wondering how he would react if I told him about how I had someone before him and would have had a child.

Alice shot me a warm smile, deciding she would be the one who would speak.

"Marcus, Bella has something she wants to tell you."

"First of all, I suggest that you come back at the end of the week to take Bella back to Volterra with you, because the transition will be better for her instead of her leaving today. Secondly, she already knows about the late queen, and she has no problem with you having a wife before her."

There was conflict that was apparent upon Marcus at the fact that he wasn't the one who had told me about Queen Didyme. At least I had known about the queen and hadn't shown any disappointment in me being the second mate of him instead of the first.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention towards the veiled vampire king next to me. His crimson irises were patient as he waited for me to tell him what I needed to tell him. I slowly but surely told him about my ex-lover and then about Avalyn, the entire time I had made sure I was focusing on him though my fingers went up and brushed against the locket. He let his eyes flicker down to my locket before looking back at me.

When I was finished with telling him about my ex-lover and Avalyn, I was greeted with Marcus wrapping his arms around me. We just let each other feel each other's presence, company. Neither of us knew how to truly process the fact we were having a second chance at love, but we did know we would make sure to love deeper than before.

UPDATE: 1 OF 3.

as always: Twilight doesn't belong to me.

-Emmy