Heart Past III
Bella woke to an empty room unlike anywhere she had ever been. It only took her a moment to realize she was not alone. Next to her, looking down at her form was Marcus. He didn't look at all like he did when she saw him in the throne room. His face looked younger, happier and radiant. He watched her slowly sit up, taking in her new dark blue night gown that reminded her of the nights sky.
"Where am I?" She looked down at her hands in shock realizing they were darker, her nails were longer. She searched he entire room for some kind of reflective surface before she spotted a woman on the other side of the room. Sliding off the bed, the image copied her every movement. Once at the mirror, she touched her own reflection.
"There you are... I have missed you."
The words were out of her mouth before she realized she said them. After a few moments of slowing her breathing she realized there was really nothing wrong. She was Bella but also the woman in the mirror. She turned back to Marcus on the bed, but he was gone. Everything faded to a bright light.
"Bella. Bella, it's okay. I have you, my love."
Slowly opening her eyes, Bella looked up into the pitch black ones of Edward. Without thinking she stood taking in which room she was in before walking out the door. As if on autopilot, she strode through the Volturi halls, looking over paintings and tracing her fingers along the walls. She encountered many vampires, all of which looked at her briefly, taking in her scent and walked away. Stopping momentarily, she realized that Edward and Alice had not followed her from the room... Strange.
Following a memory, Bella made her way to the oldest part of the castle. She could smell the dust in the air as well as that well travelled scent she couldn't place. Walking down one last corridor she came to a locked door.
"Oh Marcus, you should know better," she felt along the door frame, pulling out a small single key and unlocked the door, replacing the key.
The room was grand, but dusty. The years showed on everything in the room, but it all looked intact. The girl went in to the closet, gently looking over the old clothing that looked surprising good for its age. She found one she really liked and gently placed it on the bed.
"Yes, this will do." Bella took an old scarf and wiped down the mirror so she could partially see herself once more. Her features looked the same, but now she felt so much different. She felt as if she belonged here and always had. Like she had never left.
Her mind wandered to Charlie and what would happen to him now that she had found where she belonged. She also thought of Carlisle, Alice, Esme, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie and how they wouldn't understand how she feels. She knew that she wasn't Didyme anymore, but she still had that instant connection with Marcus, that instant sadness for her brother and sibling feelings for Caius.
Her brother... She had to stop thinking like that. Aro is not her brother, he is a vampire who only finds her a curiosity. He hasn't killed her in this life and if she had her way he never would.
As she dressed in the dark blue gown, the girl thought back to her panic in the throne room. She had to be stronger than that if she wished to live. And where were Alice and Edward? Did she even still love Edward? She thought for a while on that and finally decided. No, she didn't love him. She was fascinated by all things vampire, but love him... No. Not after what he did to her.
After getting the dress on she discovered one flaw in it. She could not tie the dress on her own. She tried several time, but could not do it.
"Alice!" She called her friend even though she knew it would have been better to remain silent.
Alice did find her, but so did Marcus, whose face was livid at the human in his beloved's dress.
"Quit making that face, my love, or else it shall remain that way," she teased him in Italian.
While he stood back in shock at her words, Alice went around him and curtsied, "You called, My Lady Isabella?"
Bella smiled at Alice, turning and moving her hair to show the problem. Alice first gently tied her in the corset, then the gown itself.
"Perfection," she beamed. "But I do think we will need a dress maker to come and make you a new one." She did think Bella was acting a bit strange, but thought it best to help her friend instead of hinder her. Taking Bella's hand, Alice led her to a dressing table, doing her hair. Behind them, Marcus watched silently, not knowing if this girl was indeed his Didyme or only possessed by her in some way. He wants answers, but also wanted as much time with his beloved as he could. That's when he felt it again, the wave of happiness that would only come from his beloved.
"You have been sad too long, Lord Marcus." The human spoke in her normal English, "It's about time we do something about that, yes?" Blushing, Bella looked down at her hands, "Maybe we can both stop being so sad. If you allow me."
The pull to Marcus wanted to drag her out from under Alice's hands working on her hair, but Bella held onto the chair under her with finger and nail to keep herself rooted. She wanted to look good for Marcus, but didn't think to bring anything of her own. In a strange way she thought of this place of her own so didn't see a problem with using these clothes. She really needed to get some clothes while she was here. That is, if they didn't destroy her for acting like this. She was really glad Alice was with her throughout this. It made her feel more secure in who Bella is, not Didyme. The more she thought she should leave to go back to Forks, the more her heart hurt. With her eyes brimming with tears she watched Marcus in the mirror.
"I wish I knew what was happening, dearest Marcus, but I do not. I remember so much from the past... the long ago past, but I'm still Bella as well." She turned from him, looking down, "My dear brother is about to get a shock," she spoke again in Italian, then laughed as only Didyme could.
Marcus watched as Alice finished the human's hair the offered the girl her hand. She had the manners and grace of his beloved, yet... there were subtle differences.
"Shall we go see the boys?" Bella laughed.
Marcus laughed, knowing now his beloved was once again on his arm. The strings he saw between them were solid gold and thick. This girl may be human and part Didyme, but she was also his mate. His mate. If he could have cried he would have.
The throne room had many vampires in it and every one of them turned when Marcus entered with the human on his arm, both of them beaming with happiness. Alice slowly made her way in behind them.
In a ritual much older than even the building, Marcus released Bella, making his way to his throne. Bella smirked, bowing to the brothers before joining Marcus beside his throne.
Aro gasped when he watched her, his face full of wonder and fear. Her reaction earlier screamed that she had full memories of what he did to Didyme. He knew there would be hell to pay and soon and he saw the scornful look on Bella's face as she stood between him and Marcus.
"Lord Aro," she leaned close so only he could hear, "I forgive you for what you once did, but you must forgive yourself." Bella still looked mad, but resigned that this had to be done to keep her family together. "I won't have my family torn apart by something that happened several millennia ago."
Aro jerked away from Bella as if she were on fire. The two looked at each other deeply for a few moments before she returned to Marcus' side.
Still a bit shaken, Aro stood and addressed the two men in front of him. "Carlisle, Eleazar, welcome to Volturra. I'm sure you know everyone here. Isabella, please come forward."
Bella looked toward Aro and took his outstretched hand carefully. She didn't trust Aro, but hoped that he knew what he was doing.
"Well?" Aro asked impatiently to Eleazar as the other vampire stared openly at Bella.
"Amazing... simply amazing." Eleazar whispered stepping forward slightly to get a better look at Bella. Not only could he see her powers in his head, but with his eyes as well. That was definitely a first for him from a human. She would be powerful indeed.
"She is a shield." Eleazar turned his head slightly to the side as if trying to see something else about her. "She's blocking me, I cannot see more."
"I'm sorry," Bella spoke quietly in her regular manner, "I didn't mean to. I could try to let you in if I knew how."
Edward joined Carlisle silently, his face focused only on Aro.
"Well then," Aro sighed, looking from Bella to Eleazar, "Dimitri can help you focus your gift if you wish to know exactly what you can do, Isabella. I am also sure that Carlisle knows of others as well who can help you focus your power. I ask this of you now... do you wish to stay here with the Volturi and join us or do you wish to return home?"
The whole room gasped in shock from what he was suggesting. Not only was a lord of the Volturi asking something of a human, but he offered to release her as a human. Even Carlisle looked shocked at his words, but after looking at Marcus' intense stare at Bella and even Caius who looked as mellow as ever he understood there was so much more going on here than what Alice had told him.
Bella couldn't believe his words, looking to all the faces in the room, "What would happen if I was away from my mate?"
Edward growled at her words, then shut up instantly at Marcus's hiss.
"As a human, nothing would happen to you, but knowing you exist and being away from you will be very hard on Marcus. For him it would cause physical pain."
"No!" Bella ran back up the stairs to Marcus's site, taking his hand. She looked into his eyes, "Will you go with me to say goodbye to my parents? I'd say goodbye to the rest of the Cullens, but they know where I am. And I hope Alice, and maybe her mate Jasper might join me here."
"Bella, you have no idea what you're asking," Alice protested.
Bella sighed deeply, "Please, Alice, I can't be here without some part of home."
Alice paused for a moment, searching her visions, trying to find something that fit, then looked to Aro. "Lord Aro, may I stay here for Bella and bring my mate Jasper here as well."
Aro looked shocked at even the suggestion, he had wanted the seer ever since he had heard of her.
Before he could answer though, Marcus answered for him, "Do you agree to become Bella's personal guard? To protect her always and be at her side in times of need."
Alice fell to her knees, "I do."
Marcus smiled as Alice came to sit on the steps in front of Bella, "Come now, Aro, she will need her own guard and who better than her best friends." He grinned, taking in the lines now forming from Bella to everyone in the throne room.
Aro turned back to Carlisle, his face once again hopeful. "And Edward, will you stay as well?"
Edward's face fell slightly as he answered, "Thank you, Lord Aro, but no. I must return home to be with Carlisle."
Aro sighed once more, feeling the talented vampire slip through his fingers, but laughed at the prospect of being able to try again. "Go then, my friends, and be well. The night is fading so you must depart immediately. I'm sure young Bella will be around to see you soon so you may say a proper goodbye."
Bella raised her hand to Edward, Eleazar and Carlisle, whispering quietly, "Bye."
Marcus listened to the group until they were out of the castle, calling the receptionist in, "Gianna!"
After only a moment, Gianna stepped in, a bit panicked since she had never heard Lord Marcus's voice at full volume.
"You are to take Isabella shopping in town. You may go into Florence as well. Find her a tailor to make her several copies of this gown."
Gianna nodded, bowing to Marcus.
"Beloved Isabella, please go with Gianna. Alice, go with her."
"Yes, Master." Alice bowed her head, taking Bella's hand carefully, "Come, Mistress, let's go shopping."
Marcus laughed lightly as Alice pulled Bella down the stairs and out the door, "You don't have to call me Mistress, Alice, I'm still just me."
Alice commented carefully, "No Bella, you will never be just you again."