Love Never Dies
Act XIII: The Beauty Underneath
Bella
I sat back in the plane seat of the Boeing 747. We were about halfway to Italy by now, and it was dark in the cabin. For the past few hours adrenaline had kept me awake, but now I felt it ebbing as tiredness crept back in.
I refused to think about Charlie, or Forks, or Edward.
All my thoughts were centred on the diary stashed in my bag. Alice was busily chatting on her cell to Jasper, so I leant down and pulled it from my bag. There were a few entries I had not read, and I decided to now.
Turning my back to Alice, I opened the crinkled pages to the last entry, dated March 30th, in Volterra.
Perhaps now I could learn what had happened to my ancestor, before I came face-to-face with my dream lover, and hers.
March 30th, Volterra
I write this in secret and in great haste. My love has just left me, with the ultimatum I had feared he would give me. I must join him, forever, or die.
Either way I must relinquish my mortality.
Oh God, such desires run through my breast even now! I do not want to leave him.
Let another help me, let me be torn away! I want so much to be weak, so I never have to leave him.
But I cannot abandon my son.
I hear his voice even now, in my ear, whispering seductively.
"Even in the greatest darkness, past the world I think I knew, even so there is beauty underneath…"
Without conscious decision, the diary slipped from my fingers and I fell asleep, my head falling sideways onto the headrest.
Aro
1885, Volterra
I stood at the foot of the stairs, waiting for my little swan. The ballroom was blazing with light, while behind me couples waltzed to the melodies drifting towards me from the orchestra. But I was blind to all that, for then my little swan appeared at the head of the stairs.
She was breathtaking, totally mesmerising as she descended the stairs.
Her long dark hair was swept up, entirely out of her face, the pale skin radiant in the candlelight. Small pearl droplets hung from her ears, her face obscured partly by the gold crepe of a mask, again dotted with tiny seed pearls. Around her neck hung my gift, my claim upon her. It consisted of a single string of matched pearls, sitting high around Christabelle's neck, but from the central pearl hung an enamel rose. From the bottommost petals hung three more strands of pearls, trailing down her breast.
Her gown was a creation of white silks, tumbling down her body, clinging to her sculpted form. The bodice possessed a single panel, partially embroidered with gold thread, while the gown flirted around her ankles, with no bustle. High gloves concealed the skin of her arms, and she wore no other ornament but the necklace I had given her. She looked exquisite, truly a swan about to take flight.
Her eyes met mine, and I felt my world fall away as I stepped forward to take her hand.
Tonight, I would make her mine, and take her as my mate forever. She knew what I was, our laws demanded it, but most of all I could not live one moment more without knowing she was mine.
For all eternity.
Christabelle
My eyes met Aro's as I descended the stairs, unobtrusively making my entrance. I was still trembling from my performance, more drained and exhilarated than I had been for a long time. I felt as if I poured my very soul into that performance.
Perhaps I had done.
I felt my breath leave me as I placed my hand in Aro's, at the intensity in his crimson eyes, flickering with a fire which might consume me.
I took his hand, as he kissed the covered knuckles, before reversing it and kissing the inside of my wrist. My pulse jumped.
"Thank you, Aro, for the gift, however unnecessary," I breathed, inclining my head as he led me away from the stairs.
"I found it necessary," he replied arrogantly. I wanted to roll my eyes, but now was not such time for that levity. This would be my last night with my love, and I still had to make my escape.
I determined to enjoy the former, and forget about the latter, just for a moment.
"Let us dance," he murmured, and swung me into his arms, hard against his chest. I gasped, crushed against him, as he positioned my hands on his arm and in his own.
The music struck up, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was dark and seductive, and I fought to remain aloof as he revolved us around the floor.
But his very movement was enough to take my breath away.
It was powerful and assured, so very confident, and I was thankful I knew the steps by heart so I need not worry about where I was placing my feet.
Suddenly he spun me out and back, adding in a half-turn so I ended with my back to his torso, his arms around me.
"You look absolutely ravishing, amore mio," he whispered in my ear, as I shivered, my eyelids falling slightly. The mask I wore felt suffocating, almost as if it were trying to strangle me.
"I know what you are," I murmured back, feeling his mouth ghost over the exposed rise of my shoulder and up my neck, as I tilted it to the side, offering it to him.
Without warning, he spun me back to face him, spinning me into another turn. Breathless, I was pushed back into a dip, so hard I almost thought my spine would snap. "What happens now?" I asked, completely at his mercy. I had never felt so physically powerless and vulnerable before in my life, and it intoxicated me more than it scared me.
"I think you know, il mio piccolo cigno," Aro replied huskily, pulling me back up, as our bodies collided again and my lips brushed his. We pirouetted again, effortlessly weaving in and around the other couples in a sinful dance, almost erotic, setting my senses aflame.
"So that's it? I find out your secret, and I must die?" I breathed, inhaling shakily when we ended once more with my back to his torso. Aro bent his head to my neck, and I could not resist the insistent caresses he laid on the column, exhaling with a whimper of desire.
"Oh no, my darling. No, I have a far more desirable fate in store for you," he murmured seductively, and I shuddered. "You will spend eternity at my side, my queen and wife."
I felt his lips gently brush my temple, as I breathed in sharply. He wanted me to become like him?
A part of me rejoiced that he loved me enough to want me around forever.
On the other hand, he was a creature of the Devil, and I could not forsake my son.
"Don't I get a say in this?" I breathed, at which Aro laughed sharply, before spinning me around in his arms to face him again.
"I would have thought an eternity with me was preferable to death?" he chuckled, leaning in so our lips brushed. I automatically drew back, aware that we were in full view of society but Aro merely sighed impatiently and drew me back.
"Do not fear, amore mio. The majority of our guests which you serenaded so passionately are like myself, or soon will be. We have nothing to fear," he explained, as I glanced around. True enough, I soon realised why masquerades had fallen out of favour with high society, they were breeding grounds of debauchery and sin as I saw couples freely embracing.
I soon realised I had descended into hell.
A hell I did not wish to escape, as Aro's hand caressed the skin of my neck and down my spine, settling in the small of my waist. I gasped, arching into his hold as his lips met mine-
Bella
"Bella!"
At Alice's whisper, I awoke suddenly, my face still plastered against the head rest.
"What?" I asked groggily, the remnants of my dream still whirling around my head.
"We're landing. I thought you'd like to know," she replied, her eyes slightly blank and cool. Nodding, I shoved Christabelle's diary back into my bag, and settled in for landing as the pilot's voice came over the intercom. One step closer to Edward.
And Aro.
The next thing I knew I was sprinting across a packed square as the clock tower tolled midday, and the sun beat down mercilessly. Edward stood, bare-chested, his clothes tattered and dark circles under his eyes.
I cried out his name but he still didn't hear me. I crashed into him, unable to control my momentum, still shouting his name.
"Heaven," he breathed, and I wanted to roll my eyes.
"No you idiot! Now get back before you get yourself killed!" I yelled in his ear, trying to push him back. "Open your eyes, look at me. I'm not dead!"
Finally he did, and the surprise and relief in those black orbs almost reignited my love for him.
Almost, because then I remembered the months of heartbreak and loneliness.
"Bella," he sighed, pulling me back into the shelter of a cool hallway, the door slamming shut behind us. His arms held me to him crushingly, but I stayed aloof.
"I thought you were dead."
"Well, I'm not. Could you let me go, kinda can't breathe," I replied, the air driven out of my lungs. Edward let me go, and I watched his face.
"Bella, I am so sorry," he whispered, reaching out one hand to my face. I froze. "I should never have left you, I was going to come back. I can't live in a world where you don't exist."
The emotion in those words would've pierced my heart a few months ago, but not now. "Don't, Edward," I said, moving back and into the shadows when I heard footsteps.
"What's wrong, Bella?" he asked, moving towards me when a smooth, cultured voice interrupted us.
"Much as I hate to break up this…charming reunion," the voice began, and as I turned to face the speaker, a wave of déjà vu washed over me.
Demetri…
The tall, slender built vampire stopped when his eyes fell on me, staring at me as if he'd seen a ghost. The other, a hulking giant, watched me bemusedly.
"I won't be needing your services after all, gentlemen," Edward told them, moving in front of me and blocking the vampires' view of me.
They had to be Volturi.
"Aro wants to speak with you again," the larger vampire replied commandingly, and I noticed his gaze flicking between me and Demetri.
"No rules were broken," Edward protested, still protecting me.
"Nonetheless, we should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue," Demetri spoke up, stepping around Edward. I stepped away from my ex-boyfriend, staring the other vampires in the eye, unafraid. "Yes, Aro will be most interested in this development."
"Fine," Edward sighed, already pushing me back towards the doors. "Bella, why don't you go outside and enjoy the rest of the festival?"
"The girl comes with us," the hulk growled, with a hungry gaze at me, which I returned as defiantly as I could.
"Go to hell," Edward snarled quietly, as Demetri sighed. "And Demetri, why the hell are you thinking that about Bella?"
"All will be revealed, I sense. Very soon," Demetri replied cordially, his eyes never leaving mine.
At that point the door behind me smashed inward, revealing the unlikely site of a spike-haired pixie breaking the lock.
Alice.
"Come on, guys. It's a festival. We wouldn't want to make a scene," she drawled pointedly, now the door was open again. Demetri sighed, while the other's face hardened perceptibly.
"No we wouldn't," he agreed, taking a threatening step forward when another voice, angelic and familiar, echoed across the hall.
"Enough!" Jane called imperiously, and the form of a young girl with blonde hair appeared, clad in a black cloak and dress, little white socks and demure shoes painting the image of an innocent schoolgirl.
Except for the eyes, and the sadistic smile.
"Jane," Edward inclined his head respectfully, and I sensed even he was afraid.
"Aro sent me to see what was taking so long," Jane flicked glances at the other two Volturi, before her eyes fell on me, and she gasped. "How can this be?"
"I know," Demetri murmured, as I frowned. What was going on?
"We need to take her to Aro, now." Jane replied, already turning and leading the way. A second later, she turned back to me, and held out her hand invitingly. "You know the way, I think."
Straightening my spine, I stepped forward, ahead of Edward and Alice.
Strangely I did know the way, almost as if by some memory, long-forgotten and only now recalled.
Jane led us into a medieval part of the city, lit by torches in brackets.
"Go ahead," she motioned to me, and I did so, guided by some sixth sense. Not even my balance encumbered me now.
"Are you scared," Edward asked me, reaching my side. I barely spared him a glance when I answered.
"No."
The Volturi led us to a lift, opening out of the stone wall, revealing a blank grey interior, modern and dull. Opera played out of some of the speakers, and I vaguely recognised some.
We were crowded together, and I felt uncomfortable feeling Jane's, Demetri', the hulk's and Edward's gazes on me, as if trying to pierce my skin.
"Who are you?" Jane suddenly demanded, and I felt my mouth dry.
"Isabella Swan," I replied simply, not taking my eyes off the lift doors.
The doors opened at last, and Jane led the way now, walking us past an Italian secretary who stood to greet us.
I stared at her, before turning to find Demetri walking beside me.
"Does she…?" I began. He nodded, seemingly knowing my question. "Then she wants to be…?"
"And so she will be," he replied, staring ahead as we came to a large set of double doors, inlaid with gold gilding on the cornices and sides.
"Or dessert," Jane put in cheerfully, as she opened the doors.
My heartbeat sped up, as I realised I was one step closer to Aro.
One step closer to finding out about my ancestor's past, and how she died.
One step away from the man who haunted my dreams.
Jane opened the doors.
"Sister, they send out to get one, and you bring back two. And a half, what a clever girl," yet another familiar voice called across the cavernous hall as we filed in, Jane walking confidently across towards the young boy waiting for her.
Alec…
I shivered, as my eyes turned towards the three vampires sitting in thrones before us.
Marcus, Caius, Aro…I felt Edward's confused gaze on me as I realised I'd said his name aloud.
Jane moved away, and I saw him clearly for the first time.
He was magnificent. Long raven hair fell over muscular, sculpted shoulders, clothed in black which hugged his perfect frame. His face was young and yet old at the same time, infinitely seductive and yet not conventionally handsome. Red eyes filled with strength and power watched us come closer, as I checked for the hundredth time that the bag containing the diary, letters and photos was still on my back.
"What a happy surprise!" Aro began standing up, and then he suddenly faltered.
He had seen me.
I felt myself grow dizzy, as my feet took me forward of my own accord towards him, as he reached out with one hand towards me. Such an expression of yearning crossed his face, and I felt the same rise on mine.
"How is this possible?" I dimly heard Caius mutter, his eyes on us as Aro walked towards me and I towards him. Silence fell, the air rippling with tension and lightning.
"What is going on!" Edward demanded loudly, but Caius spoke up sharply.
"Silence, boy!"
I barely took it in, was barely aware of our danger as I walked towards the Volturi leader, the man who had haunted my dreams.
"I've waited…125 years," Aro breathed, and I saw such pain in his eyes, that all of my being ached to comfort him. My limbs felt like jelly, as I staggered forward ungracefully.
"I know you," I whispered, as he reached me. His hand touched my cheek, cold and stone-like, yet strong and potent.
Just like the rest of him.
I had to fight the urge not to nestle into his hand as it cupped my cheek.
"How is this possible?" he breathed, as a strange roaring erupted in my ears. "I cannot be so blessed."
"Aro…" I breathed, feeling faint as I fought to breathe. Darkness began to creep in at the edges of my consciousness and I struggled not to faint.
"Christabelle…" he replied, and I felt realisation hit me.
"No," I breathed, swaying now. "I am not Christabelle."
Blackness took me and I was barely aware of Aro's arms coming around as I fell towards the marble floor.
More soon, promise! :)
