Bella cowered behind Edward and Alice as they were directed towards the large mahogany doors that lead too the throne room. This wasn't good, she knew this wasn't going too go smoothly as the doors were pushed open and the three kings were revealed, surrounded by their coven. All eyes were on them as they entered, a man in the centre of the room was smiling widely at them.
"Ah Edward, so good of you too join us... And young Isabella as well! How I do love happy endings"
Bella felt her skin crawl at the sound of his voice. This must have been Aro, the main leader of the Volturi. His voice was menacing but held a childish ring too it and Bella couldn't help but feel that he was not too be trusted. She watched as he took hold of Edwards hand, reading his thoughts and seeing what had happened outside the clock tower.
"And now you know everything. so get on with it"
Edward's tone was clipped, rude, a stupid move in Bella's opinion. It didn't seem the wisest move too irritate this particular vampire. Aro's smile only seemed too widen at his words, letting his hand go and stepping back slightly
"how wonderful it must be too be able too hear a person's thoughts... but not Isabella's. May I?"
Edward sent a worried glance towards Bella, clearly doubting Aro's intentions before nodding his head and motioning for Bella too give her hand too Aro. She flinched slightly at the feel of the ancient vampire's cold grip on her skin, watching as his face was set in a look of concentration shifting too wonder as he let her hand go gently
"I see nothing... but I wonder, is she immune too other gifts, Jane?"
An outraged roar broke from Edward as he bolted in front of Bella
"Pain"
Bella watched on in horror as Edward crashed too the floor, writhing in agony as his teeth clenched, desperate too hold in the screams that wanted too break loose. The small blonde girl that had escorted them here was simply
smirking, her gaze set on Edward. She began too panic, unable too handle the sight of her beloved in so much pain
"Please! stop, I'll do anything! just stop hurting him!"
Aro's eyes snapped too her as he waved for Jane too stop her power. He had a look of mock thought on his face as he glided closer, revelling in how Bella flinched slightly. This mortal was nothing like his own precious one.
"how interesting, you would do anything too save him, a soul-less monster?"
"you know nothing about his soul"
Her voice was gritted as he looked back towards Jane as the girl, once more, focused her gift towards the human. But nothing happened and Aro couldn't hold in the gleeful laughter that broke from him
"Amazing, young Bella confounds us all... but what to do with you now"
his musings were cut short at the sound of Marcus' voice, apathetic as ever
"you already know what you are going too do, Aro"
"She knows too much... She is a liability"
Caius' voice was little more than a snarl as he glared at Bella. They were both right, of course he already knew what he would do. This foolish mortal had signed her own death warrant by entering the castle, she was a threat too their secret. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, flicking his wrist towards Felix as he returned too his throne.
The giant was only steps away from Bella as Alice's voice piped up, her throat held tight in Demetri's grip too stop her moving towards her human friend.
"Wait! Bella will be one of us. I've seen it"
Aro was about too beckon her forward, interested in what she had seen through her gift, only too be stopped as the sound of a new, soft and sultry voice drifted through the room as the large throne room doors were pushed open. Bella couldn't help but notice how the atmosphere seemed to change, the way that the three kings seemed too sit forward in their seats at the sound of the voice.
"She is telling the truth, Aro. I have also seen it, along with the outcome if you chose too execute the girl"
Bella turned towards the voice, surprise evident on her face as a young woman walked through the doors. She was petite in figure, slender with glorious golden locks cascading against her shoulders, swaying gently with her movements and complementing the unblemished perfection of her pale skin. Bella could liken her eyes too that of the most beautiful sapphires that glistened against the light of the room as she looked into her own eyes. She wore a tight fitting pair of pale skinny jeans with a white silk shirt that fluttered around her small waist. Her feet were adorned with a pair of knee high, small heeled boots that clicked against the marble floor. There was something ethereal about this woman's beauty, her fair features and the uncommon grace of her step, she seemed almost angelic. The mysterious woman came too stand in-front of Bella, eyes flicking over her face as if analysing her very soul.
"you are so young too be in such a situation... such a shame that your decisions later on will cause such trouble for all concerned."
The way she looked at Bella, face set in a blank gaze whilst her eyes burned intensely with disapproval, made her want too shrink away. She may have looked like an angel, but something told Bella she was anything but such a thing. It felt like an eternity before the woman removed her stare and turned to move closer too the thrones, finger pressed gently too her lip as if in deep contemplation before turning her face slightly too look back over her shoulder with a smirk that made Bella's blood freeze in her veins.
"I would not act so rashly in matters such as this, Aro. your actions now could cause some rather unfortunate consequences... The next year of your life will be rather adventurous, such a shame it will be so painful for you, Miss Swan"
Aro's eyes were glued firmly on the woman, a perplexed look on his face, as she took a few more steps closer to himself and his brothers, his hand outstretched too her
"Felicity, if I may?"
Bella didn't miss the tenderness in his touch as she allowed him too take her hand, the way he seemed too cradle the delicate limb as his eyes glazed over and his mind flicked through the images she showed too him. Both outcomes were rather grotesque in his opinion, both bloody and rather messy, but it seemed clear just which outcome was more preferable. His gaze turned back too Felicity as he reluctantly let go of her hand, a smile gracing his lips that had not seemed too leave since the entrance of the woman. He rose from his throne, forcing his eyes from her face but keeping close too her side as he spoke once more
"Thank you, my sweet Felicity... It appears that you shall be permitted too leave the castle with your lives intact... her information has proven rather enlightening and I would show the proper gratitude too her for saving your lives"
She lifted her delicate hand, waving it lightly as Caius came too join his brother, taking position at her other side as Aro smiled down at the petite woman.
"I would much prefer that they simply leave. I have no use for false words of thanks"
It could never be said that Felicity was an unkind woman or cold hearted in any way, any that knew her well could vouch for this fact. It was simply that she had no tolerance for rule breaking and, by her count, the Cullen's had broken far too many for her liking. The laws created by the three kings clearly stated that any human who had knowledge of the secret must either be turned or killed. If her eyes did not deceive her, Isabella Swan was neither dead nor immortal. For all she cared, the mind reading fool that Bella loved so dearly could use what ever means he wanted too keep his skin warm each night, but he should never have thought that he was above the law, simply because he thought himself superior with his gift and 'humane' choice of diet.
Aro's child like chuckle broke the tense air that surrounded the group from her blunt words
"come now, dearest, such harsh words are unlike you... All three of you may leave, but I would suggest waiting until night fall. I'm sure you understand"
Aro's eyes glistened with amusement as he spoke, watching how Felicity's hands flexed behind her back as Marcus came too join his brothers, standing behind her and placing his hand gently against her shoulder as he spoke.
"Farewell, young ones, thank you for such an interesting visit"
His voice remained measured and well controlled, but Bella could see the twinkle in his eyes as he looked down at the fair haired woman that stood completely protected by the brothers, a new energy about him that seemed present only in the company of Felicity.
"you would do well too remember the gift that our dear one has bestowed upon you. It is a rare thing that she uses her talent too save another from our judgement. I assure you that if the human is not turned within the month, then not even she shall be able to save you. The Volturi do not offer second chances. Your first and only warning is issued now."
Caius' smirk was vicious as he revelled in how Bella flinched away from his threat. As soon as they were able, the Cullen's ran from the room, Bella tucked tightly between them both in a feeble attempt at protection, but Bella couldn't understand it all. Hadn't Edward always told her that Aro liked to collect gifted beings around him. Edward had always told her that her apparent shield ability was something to be worshipped and respected. But Aro had called for her execution so easily until the young women had entered. In contrast to his treatment of Bella, Felicity was treated like the three ancients most revered goddess. The spark of jealousy she felt was irrational but strong, what was so special about this, also very much human, woman. Bella could not make any sense of it all.
"goodbye, dear friends, send Carlisle my regards"
Aro's voice was the final thing the three heard as the throne room doors shut fully. Felicity could not help the exasperated sigh that passed her lips as she stepped away from the three vampires, her mask of indifference dropping as a fond smile came too her lips at his overly cheerful behaviour
"honestly Aro. now, if you will excuse me"
She made to leave, intent on returning too the tasks she had left behind, only too be stopped as an arm shot out and took hold of her fore-arm, spinning her back towards the raven haired vampire and bringing her close too his chest
"oh my, leaving so soon, my sweet?"
She rolled her eyes at him as she detached herself away from his hold, ignoring the frown on his lips at the loss of contact as Caius came too stand in front of her, a mischievous smirk gracing his lips as he traced his finger along her jaw line
"we see so little of you now that you work for the coven, perhaps we would prefer too keep you here for a while longer"
His devilish words sent a shiver across her skin as she batted his hand away and folded her arms over her chest. The two brothers were getting a little too playful and, if Felicity desired too get anything productive done that day, she would need too make a hasty exit now before it got out of hand.
"that is all good and well, Caius, but until Gianna can learn too do her work with some level of competence, you shall find that my time is dedicated too correcting all her mistakes and completing the work that she fails too do herself"
She made too glide past him as he chuckled at her words
"then perhaps I should eat her, if her failings are stopping us from seeing you more often"
"that is a little extreme, even for you Caius. I assure you that I can take care of the matter myself"
With that said, she finally managed too exit the room, shutting the doors firmly behind her as the brothers simply looked towards where she had been. Aro's smirk turned into a full smile, hands clasped together happily as he and Caius returned too their thrones
"Such a delightful woman our dear one has become"
As Felicity entered the main lobby, she could see the two Cullen's and the girl sitting too the left. Still flanking the girl defensively, she just sighed in irritation and continued towards where Gianna sat, quite clearly making sweetheart eyes at the young Cullen boy. She was annoyed enough as it was without having to deal with this imbecile of a woman on top of it all
"and this is why you're slacking on your duties? in stead of making the puppy eyes at a man with absolutely no interest in you, how's about you do your work rather than leaving it for me to deal with"
Gianna squeaked in fear at the harsh, but very true, words. she seemed to be trying and failing too form a sentence but was cut short by the last person Felicity wanted to hear speak, Edward Cullen
"you should not speak to her in such a fashion... manners cost nothi"
Felicity's fierce gaze flew too him as she cut him off as quickly as he had done to Gianna
"I do not believe I asked your opinion on my mannerisms, Mr. Cullen. Keep your thoughts out of matters that have little too do with you"
the boy seemed dumbstruck as Felicity turned back once more as if he were not even there. Gianna was trembling in her seat as the stern expression was once again focused on her
"If this work is not finished by the ending of your shift, then there will be consequences. And check through it before you hand it in too me, I grow tired of correcting your mistakes"
her tone was sharp as she spun on her heels to walk away, she had enough to do today without others making it worse
"wait!"
Ah yes, Isabella Swan. Felicity didn't bother to turn too the girl, simply folding her arms across her chest and letting out a long sigh of frustration. She had enough too do without this whining girl slowing her down further.
"and what is on your mind, Miss Swan? make it quick, I am a busy woman"
the timid girl seemed to falter for a split second before finding her voice
"why are you so brutal?"
the dislike that Bella portrayed through her voice for Felicity could not be missed, but she found that she could honestly not have cared much less.
"You think me brutal? That I am harsh for my honesty? oh Miss Swan, you are in for a rude awakening once your naive mind enters the real world. There are far worse than I in this world"
Her fingers were barely on the door handle as Bella's voice rang out once more
"who are you?"
Felicity turned her face slightly. That blank look was on her face once more as she spoke, a glint in her eyes that made Bella want too cower away from her once more
"you need not know who I am. I do not believe we shall have any further dealings with each other... But I wish you luck in your future, you will need it"
"how do you know what my future holds, how do you know anything about me?"
Felicity did not halt her exit any longer as she turned the handle and made too leave the room, replying too the question without even a glance back
"I know more than you would ever wish me too"
Hope you liked the chapter guys, from here on there won't be any more time skips and we'll start too see how Felicity's relationship with each of the brothers has changed now that she's an adult. Let me know what you think and I hope you continue too enjoy the story, thanks guys! :)