The time seemed to trickle by in dribs and drabs as she paced across her room, eyes constantly looking out upon the window as she awaited the arrival of Roxanne and her chance to set things right. She could feel panic rising within her heart as the time of her 'wedding' drew closer and closer, if Roxanne didn't arrive soon then Irene Travelli would arrive first to collect her, meaning she would have to cause a scene to get away. That was the last thing Felicity wanted.
What if Roxanne had gotten lost? Maybe her directions hadn't been accurate enough and she was now stuck somewhere else? Leaving Felicity with few options and the faces of her three kings stuck in her mind. She had to get away from here now, try to get in contact with Roxanne once she was at a safe distance.
"Felicity. It's time to go, I trust that you are prepared?"
Her heart froze within her chest at the sound of Irene's withered, bitter voice, The woman entering into the room and meeting Felicity's own gaze with a glacial look of disdain upon her features. The expression that Felicity had come to expect whenever they interacted with each other.
Irene's eyes gave a quick scan of her clean face, taking in the sight of her hair out of its tight bun, glare turning to pure rage as she folded her arms across her chest and took a menacing step closer. Felicity could have laughed at the gesture. Why had she ever thought to fear this woman when she had been raised by the deadliest creatures that graced the planet.
"Why is your make-up removed and your hair free? Do you not realise that you are to marry my son within the next number of hours?"
Her voice was spat with venom as Felicity took a calculated step back towards the window, returning Irene's glacial expression as she allowed her mind to run through the outcomes of her two options. She could either stay and end up in a physical altercation with Irene, a course of action that would only draw more attention from the other members of the Travelli family that awaited their arrival in the living room below.
Or She could be bold and reckless for the first time in her life, lose the heels that slowed her down and take a leap of faith out of the window. It would hurt, that was for sure, but it was only a two story house and if she landed right, manoeuvring her body onto its side and into a roll, she could escape with mere bruising and lacerations.
"I realise full well what this day is Irene, but I have no intention of seeing it through."
"You little..."
Irene made to grab at Felicity's arm, to pull her forcibly away and towards the door but she missed as Felicity kicked out of her heels and made the short dash for the window, pulling it open and moving to perch upon the windowsill.
"Oi! I said wait for me, not start your own mission impossible!"
Felicity could feel the tears of joy and relief swell within her eyes as she heard the boisterous voice of Roxanne calling out to her, the tires of the Bugatti Veyron coming to a screeching halt upon the drive as the red head turned to speak with whoever was sat in the passenger seat of the car before turning back to the blond.
"Just jump! Demetri will catch you!"
She didn't even think as she saw Demetri step out of the car and begin to move towards her, looking up at her as she gave the final push and began the descent towards the ground. But the pain never came as she felt the strong arms of her 'brother' catch her and begin to move back towards the car, the screeching calls of Irene ringing in her ears even as Roxanne started up the engine and, with a perfectly manicured two figure salute towards the old hag, sped away to deliver Felicity back to her true home.
"You'll regret this, you little Harlot! Mark my words, the Travelli family do not let such matters slide so easily"
Felicity stared out of the window as the Tuscan landscape soared passed them, Roxanne holding nothing back as she pressed her foot as low as it would go on the acceleration. She could feel her nerves getting the better of her now that she had made her choice. What would it be like to see her three kings once more, all together again.
She sighed, swiping a weary hand across her face before choosing her words carefully.
"Before we get back... Tell me why they did it, tell me why they thought they had to manipulate my feelings with your gift Roxanne"
Roxanne gave a slight smile as she maintained her gaze on the road ahead. She couldn't find words to describe the relief she had felt when her phone had lit up with Felicity's message, the joy that had flooded her being when the blond had made her decision to return home.
"Love makes us do the strangest things Miss. Jenkins... You came to them at the delicate age of four, mother torn from you by their instincts, and turned their entire world upon its head. Do you think they would have spared just any child like they did you? No, it was because you shared a perfect bond from the moment your eyes met theirs.
They didn't understand that bond for a long time, it's pattern changing and moulding for many years as you grew and learned about the world around you. Until you began to mature into a young woman and they realised the truth of their own love for you.
They waited for you to open your own heart to the reality of it all, for you to admit love in return. but you never did, your mind refusing to believe that you could feel such things for the three men that had raised you. So they chose the only option they believed was left to them. Enlisting my gift to manipulate and awaken the feelings that had always been there, hidden deep within.
But the question is: do you see the truth now?"
Felicity simply smiled softly, the first time Roxanne had ever seen a genuine smile grace the blonds lips as she rested her head back against the back of her seat, gaze scanning the inside of the car before returning her eyes back to the scenery outside, a strange glint within those sapphire orbs that bordered closer to amusement than Roxanne was accustomed to seeing within the fair haired woman's features .
"I see it. I won't pretend that I am not still hurt by their actions, I only ever asked that my heart remain free of manipulation and allowed to realise its own desires. But I do understand now... I have one final question Miss. Valerious. Does Caius know that you have 'Borrowed' his favourite car?"
The colour drained from Roxanne's face as she sent a quick glance towards Demetri, the vampire shuddering at the thought of returning to the castle and facing the wrath of Caius before turning to speak for both himself and Roxanne.
"Erm. Yeah, about that... Do you think you could smooth things over for us with master Caius when we get back to the castle? Roxanne told me that she was coming to get you and I couldn't just let her go alone encase anything went wrong... And in the hurry we forgot to mention to master Caius that we were using his car"
Laughter broke passed Felicity's lips as she wiped a few amused tears from her eyes. She had forgotten what it felt like to feel this happy around others. She had missed her brothers and sister in the Volturi guard, had missed their foolish behaviour and, although she still held some hurt within her heart for the woman's deeds, she had missed working with Roxanne and enjoying a glass of wine with her in the evening.
"I shall see what I can do, but I promise no miracles"
"That's good enough for me. Demetri hold onto your fangs, Felicity hold onto your wedding garter because we're pushing it to the max. If I'm going to die for this, I want to get it done quickly"
The engine roared as Roxanne slammed her foot down further onto the acceleration, the momentum pressing Felicity back into her seat as the sight of Volterra began to manifest upon the horizon. Possibly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Felicity could feel her bare feet itching to jump free of the car as they pulled into the underground parking of the castle and Roxanne turned the engine off, turning to face the blond with a look of sincerity upon her face.
"Ok, run to that throne room like your life depends on it and set things right now. I and Demetri are going to hide for a few hours until we think it's safe to let master Caius see us again. Good luck"
She needed no further prompting as she opened the car door, hitched her wedding dress up to her knees and began to run like she had never thought herself capable of before. She couldn't feel the cold ground beneath her feet as they pounded across tarmac until she reach the cold marble of the entrance hall, the eyes of the human staff turning to face her with shock as whispers rose amongst them.
'It's her, she's come back'
'What for? Hasn't she caused us enough trouble by inciting the masters wrath'
'No, she's come back to fix it, I just know it'
Felicity didn't stop to give them answer, simply continued to run as her lungs began to sting with the exertion and her legs began to feel sore with the effort that she placed into them. She couldn't stop now, she could see the throne room door looming before her like a holy grail as the sound of voices began to echo from within, her hands resting upon the handle as she took a moment to gather her composure and simply listen to the voices of the men she loved and had missed so much.
"I am going to skin that little bitch!"
"Be calm Caius, I am sure Miss Valerious will have a good explanation once we have located both she and your precious Bugatti veyron"
"That is not good enough Aro! I demand her head for this act of theft and defiance! Is it not enough that I am forced to see her face each day and know what was lost with her presence in this coven"
Felicity felt a small frown form on her lips briefly at Caius' words, hearing the pain in his voice at his final comment, feeling the wave of despair that it brought from all three within the room. She knew they were talking about her, and she wished that she could have turned back the clock to save them all the agony that they now felt. But she couldn't, couldn't take back the stupidity of their own actions that had brought all this about. She steeled her resolve to push open the giant doors, her telekinesis aiding her where her physical strength failed, at the empty sound of Marcus' own voice
"She serves to remind us all of our own foolishness... You are not the only one to feel the pain of loss Caius"
"Then I hope that I can remedy that pain, and sooth the vicious temper that you possess Caius"
Time seemed to freeze as the three turned to face towards the door, their eyes filled with shock as they registered the presence of their beloved as she stood within the doorway, hands clutching at the fabric of her wedding dress as tears fell from the eyes that shone with love meant only for them.
"Mia Cara... You returned?"
Aro was by her side in the blink of an eye as his hand moved to trace his fingers along her delicate jaw line, touch gentle as if scared to break whatever illusion had brought her back to he and his brothers. Felicity smiled through her tears as she placed her own hand against his and pressed her cheek against it, basking in the comfort that the small gesture provided for them both.
"I could not go through with the wedding. It felt wrong and... I suppose I realised that I could never be happy with a man I would never love... Not when I knew that my heart belonged, and always had belonged, to three vampire kings"
She laughed through her tears as Caius flashed to her side also, arms wrapping around her waist and lifting her into an embrace as he spun both their bodies, his own joy shining from him like a beacon and destroying the anger he had felt moments before. How could he feel anger when their little treasure had returned to them.
"That's not to say that everything will return to what it once was... What we once had has been lost and replaced with this, I understand now and I return your love with all my heart and soul, nothing would make me happier than being the mate of each of you... But what you did cannot be forgotten. You broke my trust with your use of Miss. Valerious' power and that is something that we shall need to rebuild"
Her eyes trailed then up to Marcus as he remained upon his throne, eyes filled with wonder as he simply chose to watch her, mind not quite believing she was real and with them once more. It was all too good for the vampire to truly accept. She smiled, a gestured filled with warmth and love that had his hands gripping the arms of his chair with enough force to splinter the wood, and began to move towards him. She placed her hand gently over his own before drawing it up towards her cheeks, cradling it against her warm cheek as she had done with Aro, before speaking softly.
"I am real Marcus. Speak to me, what do you see with your gift?"
"I see your soul reaching out to our own beings, three thick ribbons of gold fluttering with life and dancing to the sound of your heart. They are still frayed in some places, with the trust you have lost in our actions, but they are strong and shall repair the remaining damage if given time"
She nodded with her agreement, eyes flicking down across her own attire before straightening herself once more and regaining her composure to resume the position she had thought lost to her forever.
"Then time is what we shall give it. But for now, I believe that I need to change out of this monstrosity of a wedding dress and speak with Miss. Valerious. I am assuming that it is she who took over my responsibilities after my departure? I would like to be updated on all goings on before I return to my position... Also, you may want to rethink your desire to behead Miss. Valerious. It is thanks to her that Ii was able to return so swiftly"
With that, she moved to leave, placing a gently kiss on each of their cheeks before vanishing to resume the position that had always been hers and to get her head around the new role that she had acquired. She knew nothing about true love or how to behave now that she was the official mate of three, very different, vampires.
The brothers watched as she left them, feeling the warmth of their mating bond pulsing within their beings, growing stronger as it grew accustomed to its new status of acceptance. It would take time before they could truly complete the bond, but such carnal matters would wait until Felicity felt herself ready. For now, they had all that they had ever wanted: The heart of their beloved Felicity.
I am so sorry this chaper took so long to post up, writers block is a total bitch at times :( I hope you all enjoyed the latest update and will let me know what you all thought of it.
I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed and followed/favourited in the last few chapters and I assure you all that this story is not quite close to being over yet, I still have a lot planned for the characters so hopefully you'll all continue to show your support as it progresses.
Thank you everyone!
Thecrimsondagger :)