A/N:
This is a long ass author's note but oh well. First off sorry this took so long. Life has been acting up and getting in the way. So I totally saw Eclipse with my Beta and LOVED it. There were some things that were off but overall I thought they did a really good job. The fight scene was epic!
Thank you to everyone who has sent me all the awesome reviews. You guys literally make my day when you write them. You give me the inspiration to keep writing and are the best readers.
The new banner is thanks to mkystich. Check out her stories Cherry Valley, Frozen in Time, Closer, and White Christmas.
Standing in front of the grand doors of the throne room the two vampires and one human looked at each other with hesitant eyes. None of them knew what lay beyond but all knew that whatever it was would not be good and would change them all. Heidi tried to give Bella a reassuring smile but it came out more as a grimace. She took a hold of the door handles and with a sigh of defeat she pushed the doors open.
"Heidi. How nice of you to finally join us. I see that you have brought slave with you."
Aro spoke with an eerie calm and sense of politeness. It was all a game Aro played when guests were present. He wanted to be seen as a ruthless tyrant yet still in possession of civility.
"Yes Master I have brought her as requested."
Aro turned his attention back to his quests and resumed his conversation. Bella observed that they seemed rather pleased and kept glancing at her. She moved herself ever so slightly so as to put both Felix and Heidi in front of her yet allowing her to watch the scene before her. They were speaking in a foreign language. It was familiar. Bella recognized it as Romanian. The Masters had decreed that she was to learn the language along with others but decided against it later on. Bella suspected it was so that they could communicate without her knowing what was going on. Not that she ever know what was happening to her anyway. She was always a go with the flow kind girl but this took it to a whole new level.
"SLAVE!"
Aro's sudden outburst brought Bella out of her thoughts and back to the present.
"I TOLD YOU TO COME HERE!"
Bella quickly ran past Felix and Heidi and across the room to the waiting Master. Kneeling before Aro she hung her head and fixed her eyes upon the intricate tiles of the marble floor.
"Slave I would like you to meet the brothers of Vladimir and Stefan from Romania. They have traveled all the way here just to see you. Now greet them."
Bella crawled in her knees head still bent until she reached the first set of shoes. They were black leather shoes that screamed expensive. Bella hunched over her body to grovel further before the owner of the shoes. Unfortunately she leaned too far forward too quickly and fell forward causing her head to come into contact with the tops of the fine Italian leather shoes. Once her head made contact the shoes suddenly moved throwing her off balance causing her forehead to collide with the floor. The shoe suddenly reappeared and made contact with the side of her head. Bella's head snapped to the side and her whole body slide across the floor until it was stopped by a second set of shoes. These shoes were different. They too were black but where much simpler and…common. They were a pair of everyday black Doc Martens. Bella tried to move away but couldn't find the strength to lift her head. Creases appeared in the shoes as the feet inside them twisted and lift to allow their owner to squat down next to her body. A cool hand across her cheek and in coordination with the other lifted Bella's now throbbing head. Bella looked up to see a pair of red eyes. She had expected them to be menacing, but they held no malice. They looked at her with pity and sadness.
"I swear to the Gods that if she wasn't such a good fuck I would have drained her long ago."
Aro's harsh voice echoed through the room followed by the sound of echoing laughter.
"So Vladimir does she meet you expectations?"
Without looking away the owner of the plain shoes and sad eyes spoke to Aro.
"She has so many fucking scars. Did she get in a fight with a hedge trimmer?"
"Yes well she was a wild one. She needed to be broken."
It was a lie. Aro, Caius, and Marcus just liked to feed off her body and watch as a knife would slide through her delicate skin. But they didn't want to appear to be too barbaric so what was a little white lie. Plus it made her more sellable as a broken fighter.
"I see. Well she is just as you said."
"Very good then…what do you think Stefan?"
"She is for my brother but I will say that she will pay for her indiscretion with my shoes. That little bitch scuffed them up."
"She has trained with the Mistress so I assure that she is fully ready for whatever you wish."
"The Mistress you say. Well then she is even better."
Aro proceeded to tell Stefan just exactly how well trained and in what aspects. This however was unheard by Bella as she stared into the sad eyes. They held so much promise. Would he save her? A hush whisper met her delicate ears.
"I am here to take you away."
Was she hallucinating?
"What do you mean? I belong to the Masters."
"No. You belong to me now. Marcus has a tendency to brag about his slaves and once I heard of you I had to take you from him. I know how they treat slaves here."
"What do you want with me?"
"I am taking you back to Romania with me and my brother. You will live out the remainder of your life with me. You will live how you were meant to live."
Bella could feel the tears as they rained down her face. Was this real? He was taking her away. Her nightmare was over. For the first time in a year a smile broke across Bella's face. The sad eyes returned her smile with one even bigger. It didn't reach his sad eyes but that was ok. Bella knew she was going to be ok. Vladimir lifted her from the cold floor and held her fragile body against his. She clung to him with all the strength she had in body. There was no way she was letting go. Bella felt Vladimir shift his body and she looked to see what he was reacting to. Standing not two feet from them was Stefan.
"Well brother she seems to have taken to you."
"Yes Stefan she has. Is it all settled them?"
"Yes. All we need is you final approval."
Vladimir looked down upon the saddened girl he was holding and smiled. Everything was in place.
"Vladimir I do believe that she is everything I have promised and more."
Aro was slightly panicked that the brother were going to back out of their deal. The Volturi needed Budapest. It was strategic in the battle against the Children.
"Perhaps a trial run would help you make the deal final."
Aro knew the addicting power Bella had. Once Vladimir got a taste he wouldn't be able to resist.
Vladimir and Stefan both looked down at Bella and smiled.
"I couldn't agree more Aro. I am in the need of a good fuck anyway."
With those words Bella was suddenly pulled away Vladimir and was being held by Stefan. Confusion took over her mind as she tried to get back to Vladimir. He was her savior. She had to stay with him.
"Well brother it seems that she wants you. The little whore just can't get enough of you. Would you like to do the honors?"
Stefan's words cut through the air as he let Bella go. Bella stumbled forward coming to a stop between the two brothers. What did he mean "do the honors?" What was going on? Vladimir was suddenly in front on her his hands gripping her upper arms tightly.
"Now, now little one; you are mine now. I need to make sure the goods are…well good. I only take the highest quality into my service."
Realization was evident upon Bella's face as Vladimir shoved her to the floor. Bella looked up at Heidi and Felix and saw the desperation upon their faces. They were trying to get to her but were being held back. It was over. This was the end. There was no coming back. With a final glance the two people who had been her refuge she closed her eyes and let the darkness take over.
Heidi knew they had lost her. She was gone and there was not getting her back. She and Felix were forced to watch as Vladimir pounced in her like she was his prey. He took her there on the floor of the throne room with little regard to the audience watching. It more than likely spurred him on. Vladimir was a bit of a show off. Once done he stood over Bella's unconscious body and shook hands with Aro. The deal was done. Bella was his. Stefan waved over a pair of young women who quickly picked up Bella's depleted body and carried it from the room.
Heidi and Felix were taken out of the throne room as Aro and the Brothers finished their business. Caius followed them out and continued with them down the corridors until they reached a small concrete room.
"You two have severely disappointed me. I knew you had become attached to the slave but I did not realize it had gotten out of hand. You are two valuable to destroy thus you will be punished. I will ensure that you will NEVER betray me or the Volturi EVER again. 30 seconds in the chamber. Choose either together or separate."
Felix looked at Heidi and saw the terror in her eyes. She had never been in the chamber before. She wouldn't make it alone. The chamber was a circular concrete room that was air tight with no means of escape except through a small door that was locked. Once inside the room acted like a giant oven. Reaching extreme heat the made you feel like you were on fire. It was effective punishment.
"Together."
"That is your decision. Put them in for 60 seconds."
"NO YOU SAID 30!"
"30 each Felix and for your little outburst I believe an extra 10 are in order."
Heidi and Felix were shoved into the room together and the door was sealed. Heidi was in hysterics.
"Heidi, just remember that it's not real. You will not really be on fire. It will just feel like it. You will be fine. Its only 70 seconds. You can do it. We can do it together; you and me."
The room began to warm rapidly. They had to keep their wits about them. It wasn't real. Felix kept chanting his mantra out loud to Heidi when he felt the sudden extreme heat and suddenly the small space was occupied by unearthly screams.
Heidi began to come too when she noticed Felix next to her. She reached out and took his hand in hers. He looked at her and gave a weak smile. He was afraid he would have lost her.
"I hate to spoil your special moment but we don't have much time."
The two suddenly snapped up their heads and came face to face with a young girl neither had ever seen before. Felix jumped into a crouch and pulled Heidi behind him.
"Who are you? I have never seen you around before."
"Oh Felix; you have seen me many a time around this castle. You just weren't looking right."
"What do you mean?"
"You were the one who brought me here after all. A poor lost soul to keep another lost soul company."
"Stop with the run around! Who are you?"
"I am your hope."
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU!"
"You know me as Binx."
"What the fuck are you talking about? Binx is a cat."
"Not a cat. I am a shape shifter. Much like my friends back in Washington."
"Again I ask what the fuck are you talking about who are you?"
My name is Angela. I was a friend of Bella's. I am here to help Demitri rescue Bella and bring down the Volturi."
"Flaw in your plan there kitty, Demitri's dead. The stupid bastard went and got himself killed."
"Really Felix, I would have thought you of all people would have more faith in me."
The words came from the corner of the room where a man appeared from the shadows. He pulled back the hood of his long black cloak to reveal his face.
"Demitri…."