Love Never Dies


Act XVIII: Beneath A Moonless Sky

Bella

I heard the roar of the crowds outside, and I felt anticipation rise.

I was in my dressing room, behind the stage, in the open air, canvas walls separating each performer's private dressing area.

Apart from my lit mirror, dressing table and chair, there was nothing else in that stark little white room, open to the night sky. The sun had fallen beneath the horizon hours ago and the dark night fell.

Tonight there was no moon.

If it hadn't been for the stage lights, we would have been in complete darkness.

I felt excitement fill me, as I touched up my makeup, rearranging my hair so it fell over one shoulder.

Ten years had wrought a difference in me. I had grown into myself, and I was no longer so clumsy or grace-deficient.

My nude-coloured gown clung to my figure, the bodice hanging in a Grecian style, while the back gaped open to the small of my spine, the light fabric embroidered with pearls.

It was revealing and beautiful, and yet I felt beautiful. Graceful, light and free.

Apart from some diamond earrings, I wore no other decoration and minimal make-up apart from the smoky eye-shadow, liner and mascara decorating my eyes.

"Signorina Swan?" a familiar voice asked behind me, and I spun in my seat to find Palo, one of the runners, standing at my door with a package in hand. "For you, Signorina Swan."

"Grazi, Palo," I murmured, standing to take it from him, before he backed out of the door.

There was no note, or writing on it to tell me who it came from. Frowning, yet intrigued, I slit it open to find two beautiful rose, one red one white, tied together with golden thread. I smiled, placing them on the side, and sliding out the last thing.

It was a box, thin and lightweight, in a light blue leather. Something jingled in it, as I turned it over.

And dropped it on the dressing table.

Breathing harshly, I fought to calm my racing heart.

I would know that crest anywhere.

It had been ten years since I had last been in Italy. Ten years since I had left behind the man I loved, and still loved.

There was no way I could deny that.

I had gone on with my life, made myself a successful career as a mezzo-soprano, graduating from Juilliard with honours, before going on to do a degree in English Literature, using my talent to fund my university fees.

During my first year of University, my father had passed away from a heart attack, in our house in Forks. After the funeral I had sold up, and moved away permanently.

I had not wanted to remain in a place where so many memories haunted me, not just of the Cullens and my father, but of Jake and Aro as well.

So I had run, leaving behind my old life. I had changed, becoming more confident and independent, although more by necessity than by nature.

Now I was twenty-eight, a mature woman. For much of my life, I had been waiting for the Volturi to find me, perplexed when they did not.

Disappointed when Aro did not come for me.

My heart had yearned for him, and I would wake from such dreams of passionate longing, that I would lie in bed and tremble.

Although as the years passed, so had those dreams, and my heart had slowly gone into a state of dormancy.

I had had my share of lovers, not that any of them meant anything, and I could never allow myself to love them. I had acquired quite the reputation of being an ice queen, and so I had become.

I would not love, if I could not have the man I loved.

The memories of the past ten years rose up, in front of my eyes, as I gazed down at the crest of the Volturi, stamped in gold on the blue box. My fingers trembled, as I stretched out and took it, opening it tentatively.

Inside, nestled on white silk, was an exquisite necklace.

It consisted of white pearls, perfectly matched, and from the central pearl hung a beautifully carved enamel rose, with three strings of pearls dangling from its bottommost petals.

It was a breathtaking necklace, and entirely familiar. It was the necklace Aro had given to Christabelle, all those years ago.

He was here.

Staring at the gleaming pearls, I wrestled with the conundrum I faced. Should I wear it?

Was this a sign, that he had let go of the past, of my ancestress?

Or was it the opposite?

"Bella!" a voice suddenly called from behind me, and I jumped, spinning around. One of the techie, an earpiece dangling from its perch, stood in the doorway. "Five minutes."

"Thank you, Nick," I murmured, as the doors closed. Onstage, I heard the orchestra start up, the crowd growing wild, as I made a snap decision.

Flicking my hair over one shoulder where it had fallen forward again, I clasped the necklace in place, looking at myself in the mirror.

Even to myself I looked beautiful.

With a smile, I turned and left my dressing room.


The atmosphere was electric, as I stepped onstage, and the spotlight focussed on me. The stage had been designed to look like an ocean wave, and I was emerging from its foamy crest in my pearly gown and necklace.

Focussing on my aria, I didn't look for Aro until I stepped forward, and began to sing.

After that, I could not help but feel his eyes on me as the crowd hushed, and the opening chords trembled in the air.

It was like a wave of heat sliding over my skin, and I cursed my susceptibility now.

Keeping my smile in place, I opened my mouth and sang.

"Mio amore guarda mi, lo vedrai,

Quel che sei per te. Nel tuo cuor, cerca te,

E nel travarmi non cercare piu."

"Non dirmi non ve vedi il senso,

Non puoi dirmi perche moirire,

Lo sai che vero,

Quello che faro,

Sara per te."

"Cerca nel tuo cuor, E troverai.

Nulla da nascondere, prends mi la vita,

Prendi me,

Ti darei tutto quel che o."

"Non dimri non ne valla pena, non c'e altrol, non voglio di piu,

Lo sai che vero, quello che faro,

Sara per te."

"Non c'e amore, come il tuo,

Tu amore, non avrei mai, non ci vita, se non ci se.

Ovunque. Per sempre."

"Non dimri non ne valla pena, non c'e altrol, non voglio di piu,

Lottreo per te, Mentiro per te,

Vincero per te, Morro oer te."

As I sang, I searched the crowd for any sign of Aro, following that sense which told me he was here, and watching me. I felt pride and that sweet longing fill me again, where I had felt only its lack for ten years, and finally my eyes fell on him, just as I reached the final line of the aria.

He was magnificent, as unchanged by the ten years we'd been separated as I had been changed. He sat in the private section, front row, in his trademark black suit and his long raven hair arranged over his shoulders. I had no eyes for anyone but him.

His own crimson eyes, as bright as I remembered, gazed back into my own with adoration and love undimmed, but I was uncertain if it was because of me, or because of Christabelle.

All I knew was that my heart sped up in my chest, and I felt almost faint under the intensity of his gaze.

Turning my body slightly to him, but not fully away from the crowd, I smiled at him, putting all my love and hope in my last words.

"You know it's true, everything I do, I do it for you…"

And with all my soul, I realised how true that was.


Aro

I heard that final line, and felt my soul soar as she curtseyed deeply, gracefully, while the crowd surged in applause. The concert continued, the applause dying down as the next singer came onstage, and my Isabella left it.

I did not care, all my eyes wanted was her.

"Meet me back at the car," I murmured to Felix sitting beside me, as entranced as I had been, before I stood and left, gliding away into the shadows.

I had seen my gift around her neck, and seen the smile on her face as she had sought me out.

My Isabella, still so intelligent and perceptive.

I felt gripped by a sudden impatience, as I moved through the dark night.

I was blessed that it was so dark, and that the moon did not shine above me, so I could sneak into the backstage area with ease.

Inhaling, I sought out my Isabella's perfumed scent above the others, the stench of sweat and excitement and exhilaration.

Opening my eyes, I followed my nose to where my heart lay.

I found her in her dressing room, sat at her mirror, gazing at something in her hand.

The open back of her dress exposed the long, smooth line of her spine, the alabaster flesh gleaming in the soft light of a lamp in one corner. The harsh light of the mirror threw her reflection into sharp relief, illuminating the graceful contours of her mature, heart-shaped face, the fall of her brunette hair over one shoulder exposing the rush of blood beneath her skin, rising like a siren to tempt me.

Ten years had been kind to her, had taken the raw elements of her face and form, and moulded them to perfection, so she was a goddess where once she had been a fledgling, just about to take wing for the first time.

I spotted my gift around her neck, and felt possessiveness rise. She was mine, now and forever.

I moved forward out of the shadows, and spoke.

"Long time no see, Isabella,"

Bella


At that achingly familiar voice, I gasped and jerked up, standing in a rush of pearly skirts, to find Aro standing behind me, watching me intently as if he wanted to devour me.

In my hand was the roses he had given me, and as I clenched my fist in reaction to seeing him, I felt their thorns prick into my skin.

"Aro," I breathed, unnoticing of the pain, as my eyes drank in the sight of him, so dark and domineering as he stepped towards me. I looked into his eyes and saw there the rising lust, as well as a deep anguish I felt also. Desperate to stave off the oncoming storm, I babbled.

"Thank you for the necklace."

"It belongs to you, by right, Isabella," he drawled, and I couldn't ignore the shivers running down my spine. "What has it been, ten years, since we last saw each other?"

"Around about," I managed to choke out, the pain of the thorns embedded in my palm giving me something else to focus upon.

"What have you been doing with yourself?" he asked, and I was relieved to hear a teasing note slide into his voice. But he didn't stop walking towards me.

"Oh you know. This and that…I went to Juilliard, and the University of Rochester…" I babbled, inwardly screaming at myself to get a grip.

"I surmised as much, from your breathtaking performance. We sent a hunting party to Forks, five years ago only to find not just the Cullens gone, but you as well," he continued, and the teasing note left his voice, as I shuddered.

"I'd just finished at Juilliard when my father died. I sold up and left, I-I just couldn't stay there any longer," I breathed, tears rising at the memory of Charlie's death.

Aro's hand stretched up, and moulded itself around my cheek, and I nestled into it.

"I see the past ten years have been as difficult for you, as they have been for I," he murmured, and my breath hitched. I tried to move away, but Aro caught me, bringing me back. There was still a foot between us, but soon it would disappear.

"You have no idea," I gasped, when I felt his fingers trace down my bare arm, to the hand which held the roses. He held it up, gently, removed the roses as I gasped in pain.

"You have hurt yourself," he murmured, looking down at the tiny pinpricks bleeding on my palm. "You should be more careful."

I was about to answer back with a scathing reply-something about managing to look after myself for ten years without him-when he pressed his lips to my bleeding palm, kissing away the blood. I felt a slight tingling as I gasped, warmth blossoming from the spot where he kissed me, and spreading along my arm, to my heart.

As I glanced up into Aro's eyes, and felt my breathing hitch, as his somnolent gaze bewitched me, my head tilting up as if by instinct, as his lips lowered to mine. Our lips were just brushing, when some semblance of sense awoke, and I managed to breathe out.

"This is insane," I whispered, as his hand rose to my jaw, cradling it.

"Then let me be insane, forever, with you," he breathed, and I shivered, my eyes closing.

The kiss we had shared ten years ago had been nothing to this. It had never been as hungry, as full of longing, as loving and urgent as this moment was.

No-one, nothing could compare to this ever. I kissed him with all my soul, gliding my hands into his hair, pulling myself flush against him, as his arms slid around my waist, possessively drawing me against him.

The feel of his cold hands on the naked skin of my back made me shiver, as I drew away, dizzy from lack of oxygen.

Aro's breathing was no better than mine, considering he didn't need to breathe, as he only pulled me closer.

"I have waited ten years for that," he growled, and the pure seduction in his tone almost made my knees buckle.

"Aro, I-" I begun, trying to move back but he wouldn't let me.

"I know. I…hurt you, all those years ago but now…I am ready to embrace the future," he assured me, and while every part of me yearned to believe him, I would not.

"Don't promise me anything," I breathed, pleadingly, as I pushed back. He let me go, and I moved away, turning my back to him lest the anguish in his eyes get the better of me, and I would ruin everything.

"You don't trust me," he stated, and I nodded. "Where are you going, tonight?"

Taken aback by his question, I spun back, frowningly. "We go to Volterra actually. The final performance is there, in a week's time."

Aro nodded, before a small smile spread over his face.

"Going to the lion's den, then," he muttered, and I smiled.

"I would've worked it out. You didn't seem to know where to find me, when I was emblazoned on every classical magazine from here to Australia," I replied archly, as Aro's eyebrows rose. "How did you find me?"

"Caius. I surmise he saw your image on the cover of one of your magazines, and brought it to me. You were lucky to go unnoticed by us for so long." Aro replied, as I rolled my eyes.

"Undoubtedly," I replied. Aro approached me again, but this time I did not move back as he took my hand.

"Tomorrow morning. I'll pick you up from your hotel. I have something I wish to show you," he murmured, and I found I could not say no.

"Alright. I'll be waiting," I breathed, as he raised my hand to his mouth.

"Until then, my love," he replied, inclining his head. I had expected another kiss, so I was surprised when I took my hand away that he did not. But, emboldened by the desire in his eyes, I stepped forward and kissed him.

He let me kiss him at first, before he retook control in a kiss which thrilled me to my toes. I sank against him, moaning in ecstasy as he masterfully plundered my mouth before abruptly pulling away.

I opened my eyes, and he had gone, the only signs of his presence the necklace around my neck, the small white marks on my palm, my ruffled hair and reddened lips.

I touched them, wonderingly, breathing heavily.

What had I just put myself in for?


More soon!

If you want to know, I imagine Bella's voice to sound like Katherine Jenkins', a welsh mezzo-soprano. Go on Youtube, and you'll see what I mean, she's amazing. The aria was the Italian version of Everything I Do, I Do It For You, the Bryan Adams' song.

I prefer a mezzo-soprano to a soprano sometimes, just because I think their voices are richer and nicer to listen to. Sopranos are great, and what they can do with their voices is incredible, but overall I do sometimes prefer a mezzo-soprano.

Next Chapter up soon! :)