Author's Note: I do not own Twilight or New Moon. That's just my fantasy.

I've noted some people are very concerned that my story might be drawing to a close. Don't worry, there is still lots more story to come. I won't leave you hanging.

I'd like to know what you all think of the official Freesia Juliet title image. You can find the link on my fanfiction homepage under "Freesia Juliet Pictures."

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And now, on to the good stuff…

Freesia Juliet

Part Two: The Queen

Chapter Twelve: Me

(Bella's Point of View)

There was a new pain; I hadn't thought there could be a pain more intense than the all-consuming flames. But there it was, and suddenly I was tearing apart. I actually heard my heart beat out of control, and my body plunged into blissful numbness.

Too early, I noted with despair as my spirit was ripped from my body. It was cool and painless.

For a minute or two, I hovered lackadaisically outside of my dead body, noting passively that my heart had given out before the venom could reach it.

I wonder if I'm dead.

I wonder if I can go back.

I wonder if I can stay like this forever.

There was a buzzing sound in my ears. It formed an urgent hum, and then shaped itself into a voice.

"Bella, you need to come back." The dream-world collapsed on itself, crushing my chest with painful blows. The light came back, and I shied away from it, but still the voice pushed me forward, and the tightness overwhelmed me. "Bella, you need to come back."

I mutated back into a solid as my body swallowed my soul. "Edward," I moaned as the fiery pain came back and my body gave a nauseating lurch.

"I was afraid we'd lost you, Isabella," scolded Marcus gently. My heart was unwilling to play the part, and it gave another shutter. The world sank and spun.

"Hang in there, Bella," pleaded Edward's heavenly voice.

"I'm still here," I promised with a croak, practically oblivious to the soothing hands of Octavia and the gentle words of Marcus.

The venom finally hit my heart.

I think it might have exploded.

Suddenly the pain pulled away, as if it had never been there. I found my feet and hauled my sagging body upright. I gave my arms a slight jerk, and the handcuffs snapped off my wrists.

My body was drenched in sweat, and there was sticky wetness in my hair where I had slammed my head against the wall until old scars ripped and bled.

I felt for the slash gingerly. There wasn't one. It had already healed.

I was exhausted, and then confused. I was sure that vampires never felt physical fatigue; after all, they didn't sleep. "How do you feel, Isabella?" asked Marcus with a welcoming smile.

"I could use a bath,' I admitted ruefully. He laughed.

"Octavia, will you escort Isabella back to her chambers and help her freshen up?"

As I lounged in the steaming hot water, which was quickly cooling from the icy influence of my body, I had time to muse over my transformation. I hadn't dared to look in the mirror yet, but I allowed myself to admire the distorted reflection off the tap. I'm still the same old Bella, I reminded myself.

Except for the fact that my curves had changed. Most noticeably, I had curves. I hadn't helped but notice that.

The scars on my knees were gone. They had been from learning to ride a bike under Renee's rather poor supervision. She aught to have known I had no balance.

I could feel that the scar on my forehead was gone. This made me think of my beautiful motorcycle, tucked into the garage at Charlie's. Then I thought of Jacob, and what had once been my heart sighed with disappointment. The whole 'mortal enemies' thing will probably keep me from ever speaking to him again. Where am I going to find a new best friend? I thought idly.

The exhaustion was beginning to catch up on me. I closed my eyes and let my head sink under the water. There was no fear there, only intense calmness.

The next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes under water which was no longer mounded with foamy bubbles. I pulled up, surprised, and saw that the candles that lit the room had long since burned out.

I dried off and flung my bathrobe back on. Flying out of the bathroom, I shouted, "Octavia!"

She was instantly at my side, her face in an innocent smile. "Do you need my help, Signora Cullen?"

"Yes, I think," I said with bewilderment. "I fell asleep."

Octavia nodded. "I felt it would be a shame to wake you, so I left you there."

I was dumbfounded. "Octavia, vampires don't sleep."

"Yes, normal vampires don't sleep. But you aren't a normal vampire, Signora Cullen," she said, as if she was trying to explain something to a three year old.

Compared to her age, she probably thought I was a three year old. Especially since she was so intent on dressing me. I slipped into a knee-length, strapless blue dress as she blow-dried my hair straight. A million questions danced on my tongue, but I withheld them, knowing that the Volturi would be more willing to answer me.

I forced myself in front of a mirror and stared intently at the stranger staring back at me.

My cheekbones were higher, and my eyes deeper set beneath pale purple shadows. My eyes were a frightening shade of crimson. There was absolutely no color in my face except for the thick black eyelashes and jutting, narrow black eyebrows.

My hair was… surprising. It was super glossy, and was darker than it had been, almost black. But the most surprising thing was a streak of silver that ran down my long bangs on the left side of my face. I touched it with curiosity, and asked, "Where did this come from."

Octavia frowned. "We can't really explain it, signora. It just appeared when your heart stopped. Perhaps the stress was a bit too much."

I smiled, touching the white perfection of my face, noting that every blemish had vanished. "A bit too much, Octavia? I was dead for five minutes!"

"You look… absolutely stunning, Isabella," said Caius with a knowing smile.

"If there were any doubts before, there aren't any now," added Marcus.

Aro looked offended. "You doubted me, brothers? I told you she would be the next one, and she certainly is. You can feel it radiate off her skin!"

"I'm the next what?" I said with confusion, my red eyes flitting from person to person.

"You're the next Volturi Queen, my dear," said Caius, as though it was obvious. "Oh, my Jane will be so disappointed. They only show up once every few centuries, you know, and she really hoped that she might eventually manifest the signs."

I backed away, horrified. "No, no, no. I'm not one of you. I'm not any kind of queen," I protested, wondering if I could outrun them. And the whole Volturi Guard. I decided not.

"Of course you are, Isabella," said Marcus. "We could tell from the moment we met you last March. But your falling asleep… only confirmed it."

"You know?" I said, mildly aghast.

"All queens of Volterra have the ability to sleep, Isabella," explained Olivia, piping up for the first time. "In fact, they have to sleep every four days; else they will lose their gifts."

"It's one of the few downsides of being a vampire queen," sighed Aro, taking my hand and leading me from the rest. "But there are many upsides. For one thing, you will have two gifts- one unique to you alone, and one that all queens have."

"What is the gift all queens have?" I asked in spite of myself.

"They have the ability to have children, Isabella. With some conditions, of course," prattled on Aro, unaware that he had shocked me speechless.

I can have children.

Edward and I can actually have a family.

Oh my God.

Aro took a key from his jacket pocket and unlocked a set of heavy double doors. "Welcome to your destiny, Isabella Cullen."

"What is this place?"