Chapter Sixteen: Feeding time in Volterra

What I have most feared is now upon us again. Time for feeding. Heidi has returned with her bus load of tourists. She gathers them from far and wide. The poor, and easily lost. Those who are not usually missed. But this is a guard event. Mandatory attendance.

Me, Alice, Jasper, Jane, and Felix who are not eating are going to be made to stay there. Alice is fierce, she is not going to fail, she knows that, but I am a newborn, Jane and Felix have both only fed from animal blood once each, as a novelty to try it, Jane really wants to change, because she wants pretty golden brown eyes like Alice, Felix is only changing because he is desperate to do anything to attract Jane. She still has not let him off the hook. As far as he knows, he is competing with Edward for her affections. How Felix missed the fact that Edward is blindly in love with me I am at a loss to explain!

I am worried, I have been around humans many times since my change, and I can ignore the burning the desire even once Gianna got a paper cut, I was right at the desk. The smell hit me like a truck, my mouth watered with venom, and my eyes turned black, Gianna even hit the panic button at her desk and Demetri came running, but I was already holding my breath and running to my room. But being in a room full of blood, where there was blood, and screaming, and human human human blood? Oh, and did I mention the blood?

Now I can truly appreciate how kind and amazing the Cullens were. Being around humans all that time, and CARLISLE! He works in a hospital! He is a surgeon! He opens up humans, and breathes the whole time like it isn't a problem.

Aro has joked that my restraint reminds him of Carlisle, but I know I am not that strong. I am trying, but I am afraid I will fail today.

I smell them as they come down the hall. I can hear their excited chatter. They are all under the impression that there is some reward, or prize down the hall waiting for them. A few of the guys are remarking how Heidi winked at them, and they think they have a shot..... Boy, if they had any clue, what awaited them. I am tempted to run to them and tell them to flee, to try to distract the guard and cause enough mayhem so maybe some of them will escape. But I know, it will do no good. They will all be hunted down and quickly brought back knowing their fate. This way at least they will be numb from Alex's gift. Alex will cause them to see, feel and hear nothing. They will not feel themselves being bitten, they will be drained and dead before the pain of the venom spreads. I hate this choice, and that I can do nothing to prevent it.

I am angry. I feel Alice's hand grab mine, then Jasper on the other side. Then I watch as Jane, and Felix take Alice and Jaspers hands and each others. Jane says "This is going to be tough, let's be strong for each other? Felix says "Yeah, for each other" Jasper has stopped breathing, and is just staring into Alice's eyes. Alice says "I see us making it, but it is fuzzy we might not make it this time......

The humans arrive and Aro greets them "Welcome to Volterra! Welcome Guests!" And I can see Alex's gift spread out to the humans and rob them of their senses. I wait holding my breath for the attack that does not come.

Aro says "Help yourselves dear ones!" But nobody moves. Caius has stepped down and is ready to grab a human for himself, but even he stops wondering why everyone is waiting. Demetri steps forward. "Aro, Marcus, Caius. We are all not going to feed while they (he pointed at our group) are forced to be present. There is no reason for them to be here while we feed. We are being needlessly cruel to them. They have made a decision for whatever reason to feed on animals only, and it is not right that we should disregard our comrades wishes, and force them to suffer because we chose differently for ourselves.

Aro laughed. "Pay up Caius!" Caius turned to him and growled "If I had broken this ones skin I might have won once they all smelled the blood!" "True, enough, but they said the words almost verbatim I told you they would!"

Aro stepped in front of the assembled guard. "With the addition of Bella, we have gotten something naturally here that we have only had artifically we have a family. You have all banded together. I am so proud of your support of our Vegitarian friends, I will need some help coming up with something appropriate, but welcome input as to what I can do to reward all of your loyalty! Alice, Jasper, Felix, and Jane you may go now, Bella, you will need to see me afterwards. You have no idea how your gift of teamwork, and loyalty has strengthened us, and made us better, happier. I will see you in one hour in my office. Oh, and Bring, your friend Edward with you."

With that dismissal we all ran from the hall. We met up in Alice and Jasper's quarters. Jane said "I am so relieved...... I thought this might have been a bet, Aro and Caius had a similar bet when Carlisle was here before. Caius lost then too. He kept trying to get Carlisle to slip and drink human blood, but when he left he had to give Aro some of the crown Jewels from his private collection as payment!

Alice was next to speak. "I wish you had said something! I could have been looking out for that!"

Jane said "OOPS!" and covered her mouth. We all laughed I called Edward and told him what had happened. He of course was proud of us for staying tough, and he teased me briefly about how I seem to bring love wherever I go. He said "I will see you in a few minutes, I will walk with you to Aro's office, Bye, I love you Bella!" without thinking I said "I love you too!" Alice glared at me, then Felix said "Wait, what was that? I thought Edward liked Jane?!?" Jane said "Why Felix darling, whatever gave you that idea?......." She looked so angelic, Alice Jasper and I began laughing. Jasper spoke first, between chuckles. "Felix, I can feel what you feel every time you look at Jane now. Better to not ask so many questions. Go with it. Jane feels the same way." Felix said "Really?" Alice went into one of her trances "OH YES!!!!" she shouted so loud we all jumped. "Alice what did you see?" "Well, Bella, it seems we are going to be attending a wedding, You are going to be Maid of honor, and I will be Matron of honor!" Jane looked at her "Oh goody a wedding! Who is getting married?"

Alice just smiled in reply. Jane pointed at herself. Alice nodded. Jane pointed at Felix. Alice nodded. Then once the giggling started Jasper and Felix stepped way back. I heard Jasper remark to Felix. "You never stood a chance, welcome to my world......."