Disclaimer: The characters names and places in this story to SM. Everything else is my twisted imagination.

A/N: Some of you might notice a somewhat similar theme to Eternally Damned by twiXlite. I have written to her and have asked permission to continue with my story as is. She has given her blessing. This chapter is dedicated to her

Ever since the day I told Felix and in turn every vampire in the castle my story even though it was edited greatly things had started to slowly change in my life.

One of the hardest moments of my stay was two days after my arrival when Aro told me that the human world as well those who live in La Push officially believed I was dead. For a week, I welcomed the darkness back into my life. Shutting out everyone, I didn't even eat and in the end Marcus, who at some point went to medical school, hooked me up to an IV. The first time I ripped it out causing Marcus to growl at me before replacing it with the warning that if I removed it again he would get Jasper to come and sedate me. I hissed at him causing him to laugh but left it alone.

When I did start to eat again it was only once a day and much to Jane's horror it was only soup. The first time we got into a fight about it she tried to use her power on me only to find it didn't work much to Demetri and Felix amusement. So she then took a page out of Marcus's book and threatened to get Jasper involved.

In the two months I had been here I had managed to avoid seeing him, but then again I hadn't left my chambers, so it wasn't that difficult. On the one month anniversary of my 'death' I asked Felix, who had set up camp in my chambers with me, if Jasper was even aware of me being in the castle. Felix promptly explained that Jasper was fully aware I was in the castle and that for now, Jasper believed I wasn't mentally ready to see him.

Especially after my break down the day I heard Edward was in the castle asking for death. How he even became aware of that was not something I was ready to ask. After all, everyone else but Gianna was down in the feeding room, and it wasn't like she was one to get chatty with her employers. The longer I stayed here the more I started to question who or what Jasper actually was. Even Aro seemed scared of him when I asked him about Jasper. If I had known that I would be seeing Jasper exactly two months after my arrival, I wouldn't have allowed the darkness to leave me the way it had.

I woke up in my usual way drenched with sweat and my hand clutching at my chest as I slowly left the nightmare behind. It was the same one night after night ever since I had arrived here. I would find myself in the forest in Forks not being able to move as Edward starts to tear my heart and soul to pieces. Only to stand back to allow Jake to do more as my old high school friends and the pack would stand around laughing at me as they watched me crumble into the darkness.

It was in my nightmares that the darkness still had a hold on me causing me to sleep for only a few hours a night. Most nights I would wake up to Felix or Demetri, who had taken it upon themselves to help me calm down. Tonight, however, I had to deal with it by myself as they were feeding, or so I thought. It wasn't until I was fully awake did I realise that I was not alone as I originally believed. Taking a deep breath I allowed the semi familiar scent to weave its magic. My visitor had a very unique scent to him a mixture of rainforest, fire and roses.

"Why now?" I asked.

I felt rather than saw him move closer to the bed before he spoke.

"I have waited long enough for you to heal, Isabella. If two months weren't enough then I am sorry, but I am sick of waiting for you to stop hiding from me and the rest of the world."

I couldn't help but notice how different his voice sounded. It was almost sinister, yet at the same time it still held a tinge of the southern accent that I had come to love. Without even looking at him, I knew that his once amber eyes were now bright red of those of my new family. I also knew he could feel my emotions playing out from confusion, to lust, and back to confusion as I worked out my thoughts. I felt the bed dip as he came and sat next to me before he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck.

"You have no idea how I enjoy being around you, Isabella. Your emotions were always so pure when we were in Forks, I used to sit under your window when the boy was hunting just allowing your emotions to wrap around me like a warm blanket. Your emotions weren't the only thing that I enjoyed. Your dreams on the nights he was away were so beautiful that I had a hard time staying where I was. For someone as pure as you Isabella your dreams certainly weren't."

He half purred out the last sentence as I blushed at what he was hinting at. On the nights were Edward wasn't with me, I would have dreams that would leave me waking up panting in desire and the leading man was all ways the same. As for his other comment about me still being pure it wasn't through lack of trying. After one particular bonfire Leah had pulled me to, I got a little drunk. Paul and I started to flirt and well one thing led to another, and we landed up back at his place. We had managed to get as far as our underwear before Paul landed on the other side of the room like someone had thrown him there. We gave it a couple of more tries with the same result. In the end, we gave up and just ended up falling asleep while we watched reruns of The Big Bang Theory.

I jumped as I suddenly heard Jasper's voice in my head rather than my ears.

"It's an amazing thing mating. See Isabella, when a vampire male chooses his mate no other male, no matter what species, can be with them in a sexual nature unless there is a direct challenge from a stronger male. The female, Isabella, can be completely unaware that she has been chosen until the male has made himself known or in your case, they try sleeping with someone they shouldn't. The connection between the mated two is still there even if the male in question is in another country or if, for some reason at the moment of mating the male can't fulfil his part. Why do you do truly think Edward couldn't do more with you than kiss?"

The more I thought about it the more I realised what Jasper was saying did explain a lot but also left me with the unanswered question of if Edward wasn't my mate then who was? I stopped my body from shivering as Jasper kissed my temple before speaking again this time out loud.

"I'll answer your question later Isabella as your guard has returned from his dinner. Now, today I want you to leave your chambers. I didn't get them to bring you here just for you to hide away like you did in Forks for all those months. Now Isabella, I will see you later."

I felt another kiss this time on my neck right over my pulse point. I was still in a daze when a knocking sound filled the room causing me to focus on what was happening around me.

"Come in, Dem."

I knew who it was because everyone else just walked in, often on what I used to see as embarrassing moments. Over the last few months however I had learned to just not care. I reached over and turned on the bedside lamp noticing that I was once again for only a brief second alone again. Part of me questioned whether or not my whole conversation with Jasper was actually a figment of my imagination. The look on Dem's face and the small growl that grew as he got closer to me answered my question, also the fact that Jasper's voice entered my head telling me that he was indeed real and reminded me with a firm voice that I was to leave my chambers.

I shook my head and looked up at Dem and couldn't help but let out a little giggle. He was giving me a quick going over probably checking me for nonexistent injuries.

"Miss Isabella, please tell me that you are safe? I can't smell any blood or see any injuries on you but please tell me he didn't cause you any more emotional pain?"

The feral growl that filled my head caused me to jump in fright. Dem took this as a sign that I needed to be hugged. The first time he did this, I stopped breathing or moving thinking he was going to eat me. After a couple of hits and misses we slowly become best friends in our own way. Felix became like an older brother, though he could never take over from Emmett. Felix spent a great deal of his time getting into fights with Dem, who tried to protect me from Felix's childish nature. Dem was also great at stopping Vicki and Jane from trying to drag me out shopping which they tried to do at least twice a week saying how my self in prisonment wasn't healthy for me and that getting out and about would help start the healing process. I hugged him back earning another growl to enter my head as Dem's scent covered my body replacing Jasper's.

"I am fine, Dem. To tell you the truth, I thought it was my imagination before you hinted that it was, in fact, not." I wasn't about to tell him that I could hear Jasper in my head in case he thought I was truly going insane.

"Jasper did suggest that it was about time I left my chambers and actually see my new home since I am going to be here for a while. The more I think about it, I might actually do exactly that. Looking at these walls is starting to drive me slowly insane."

My door was suddenly opened and my room was filled with those I had come to see as family as well as the three brothers who every now and then would stop by to see if I was alright. The look on their faces caused me to laugh, a sound I hadn't heard for a very long time. The smile that crossed Dem's face filled me with pure happiness. Don't get me wrong the darkness was still there, but it was no longer clouding my every thought. It was Jane who brought my attention back to those around me.

"Izzy, are you saying that after two months of isolation you are finally going to leave your chambers and actually see the big wide world?"

"Yes Jane, I said I was going to leave my chambers. That doesn't mean it's a cause to celebrate nor does it mean I am going shopping with Vicki and youJane stuck her tongue out at me in response causing everyone else to laugh along with me. I stopped the moment I felt he slipped into the room. I couldn't spot him but I knew he was here because the atmosphere suddenly changed. To fill the silence and give everyone an excuse to leave, I turned to Dem who was still standing by my bed and asked.

"Dem, would you do me the honour of showing me around after I've cleaned up a bit?"

I watched as Dem nodded before I slipped out of my bed weaving in between the vampire statues who were all glaring at Dem in shock to my bathroom. There against the wall hidden under a cloak was Jasper. I shivered as he wrapped his gift around me showing me exactly how strong he really was. While at the same time his voice floated into my head.

"Isabella, I am pleased you are following my advice however, if you ever let another male touch you in any way without my permission again..."

I nodded my head at his unspoken threat. Something told me that I didn't want to know what he was truly capable of. Emmett once told me that Jasper was one bad ass when he was crossed. With his eyes still on me, I slipped into my bathroom before falling on the floor as Jasper turned up the notch on his hold on me. Part of me questioned why he had picked now to torment me now I was finally healing. Or was it the fact that he had entered my life again the reason I was healing after all today was the first time I had laughed in a while.

"Isabella, get ready. I said I would answer your question or now questions later."

He released me from his hold but only enough so I could function again. When I finally made my way back out into my room to find Dem and Jasper in a heated argument. The growling was a big giveaway that it was only a matter of seconds before Jasper might actually carry out his unspoken threat. Instead of physically getting between them, I coughed to gain their attention. They both spun around to glare at me as I waved at them. Jasper hissed something at Dem before gliding towards me. Stopping just a few inches from me, he leant down before breathing his scent over my face and hair before leaning into me so his lips brushed the shell of my ear as he whispered.

"I will be following your movements Isabella and remember what I said earlier anyone touches you without my permission..."

He kissed my ear before he pulled back and with one last growl towards Dem, he glided out of my chambers. Dem hissed at his retreating back before making his way over to my side frowning.

"That man drives me insane, always has done ever since our first meeting. I can't protect you against him, little one. No one can, no matter how much I and the others want to. I wish I could also tell you more, but I must keep his secret for now. Now are you ready to take your first steps into your new home?"

I let the little pieces of information he had given me file away deep within my mind before answering him.

"If I said no I know that I'll be dragged out of the room anyway, so let's get this show on the road shall we?"

Dem laughed as he held out his arm for me to take.

"Isabella, he is being polite you can take it."

Dem must have heard the voice as well because he took my arm and linked it with his own without a care in the world before sweeping us out of the room. As I had never been out of my room before now I didn't notice that my chamber was at the end of a long corridor. Dem took one look at my face and laughed as I took in the long stained glass window that ran down the whole length of the wall. I noticed that the pictures showed the three brothers and Jasper. The latter was holding a sword and looked deadly.

"Since you seem interested, I'll start your tour here. We are currently standing in what is known as the Royal wing. Original I know but none the less. You share this wing with Aro, Marcus, Caius and Jasper. Aro and Caius's wives live the next floor up preferring to have their own rooms. Now connected to this wing is a private garden and library that are at your disposal at all times. At some point the wives would like to meet with you. Aro's wife or Jasper would be the ones to speak to if you wish to know about the actual history of this place. This is their family home after all."

I raised my eyebrow in silent question only for Dem to shake his head before pointing out which door lead to whose chambers. When we walked past Jaspers, Dem yet again let out a small hiss before pulling me past. I felt rather than heard Jasper shadowing us as Dem showed me towards the Guard wing. Once we were in the Guards common room, I got to meet Heidi, who I had learnt from an earlier discussion was Dem's mate. When I had first learnt of this, I was scared that she wouldn't like me and now standing in front of her my fears came back. This changed when she pulled me into a hug causing my shadow to growl at her sudden movement and for Dem and her to suddenly freeze. I rolled my eyes and hugged her back while shoving out calming vibes. Once he realised I was safe my shadow stopped growling. Heidi gave me a light hearted laugh as she stepped back. I was going to apologise before she raised her hand stopping me.

"Don't worry, sugar. I learned a long time ago that men are a pain in the backside of most women but without them around our lives would be boring. Your pain is just a tiny bit over protective at the moment. He knows full well I would never hurt you. Our stories are too similar."

I couldn't help the little giggle at her words about all men being pains as every male in the room glared at her. I didn't realise that I was in trouble until I was suddenly behind Jasper, Dem and Heidi while Felix had pinned down another females arms. The rest of the guards stood back and watched as she fought against his hold as she hissed at me.

"You're nothing but a pet to my masters. When they work out that you are nothing special, I will enjoy eating you."

The feral growl that left Jasper's chest caused everyone to step back as I watched Felix let her go and step back just moments before she went up in flames. I didn't realise how much her words had affected me or the fact that she had suddenly been killed without anyone touching her until Jane slapped me across the face earning her a growl from Jasper.

"It worked didn't it? Isabella, listen to me what that bitch Retta just said wasn't true. You are in no way shape or form a pet. I can't explain exactly what you are because . . . well I just can't but trust me, you are not a pet."

I was suddenly spun around so I was looking at Heidi ignoring what was taking place behind me.

"Sweetheart, Jane is correct when she called Retta a bitch. She thought just because of her power she was better off than everyone else. Though Aro is going to be a little upset over her death, but it wouldn't last long."

I nodded my head at Heidi too worried to actually speak. I had learned in the first months after he left that when I got overly emotional the darkness had this habit of reaching out and affecting my speech. Leah once told me that it would scare the living daylights out of her when it happened, and she was a werewolf.

I hadn't noticed that at some point we had moved from the Guards common room to what looked like the long gallery from 'Pride and Prejudice'. Looking around I also noticed that Jasper and Dem were no longer with us. Heidi turned back to me and noticed I was looking around.

"The boys are speaking to Aro about Retta. Jasper knows we are capable of looking after you. As for where we are now this is the public art gallery. This room tells the history of vampires from the Ancient One, the father of our kind, to the here and now."

As Heidi was speaking my eyes were drawn to the other side of the room to a painting. Ignoring the girls, I walked closer so I could see it better. The closer I got I noticed that it ran the whole length of the wall however that wasn't what caught my attention. Standing there wearing very little clothing was Jasper. Without warning my hand reached out to touch it before a voice caused me to jump back.

"Even as a picture he has the power to entrap people."

I looked to my side to see a young women with reddish brown hair pulled back into a French braid who was dressed like a naughty school girl I once saw in one of Paul's porn magazines he had left laying about.

"He does indeed command one's attention. From the small amount of time I've spent with him, he does seem powerful. How rude of me, my name is Isabella resident human and hermit."

She laughed as she took my hand in hers and lightly squeezed it.

"Sulpicia, though most people call me Sally. I am Aro's wife and the great niece of the man in the painting. Castle Volturi is my home and has been in my family since the dawn of time."

The blood suddenly drained from my face as she finished talking. She didn't look like a Queen, but then again, she was a vampire. The fact she was also related to none other than Jasper caused me to want to faint. I would have to if she didn't catch me before I fell over.

"Breathe Isabella, why don't we go and sit down? I think my uncle would be unhappy if I let you hurt yourself."

I nodded my head before I allowed her to pull me to a sofa that had been placed against the wall underneath the painting. I raised my eyebrow at her as she laid me down so my head was in her lap.

"Every few months we open this part of the castle for humans to come and see. Of course we don't tell them the truth about what they see. To make life easier for them, we've placed seating for them around the room. Would you be more relaxed if I changed?"

Instead of waiting for my answer, I watched as her clothing changed into a long black dress that looked like a second skin while her hair collided so it made a crown on top of her head.

"Now this is much better. My gift allows me to blend in with the environment around me. I had just come back from some time with a couple in America. They are old friends with my uncle actually and are planning on visiting soon."

I was slowly starting to question my sanity when Jasper wandered into the room looking pissed off. Before I could blink Sally shot up and wrapped her arms around him while I tried to stop myself from falling on the floor from her sudden movement.

Thinking I would give them time to talk, I slowly stood up and started to walk towards one of the exits before I hit what felt like a brick wall. A pair of stone arms wrapped around my waist stopping me yet again from meeting the floor before pulling me into a hard chest.

"Isabella, we need to have a little talk."