As the title of the chapter says, a lot of feelings come out in this chapter from Bella, Jessica, Angela, and their lucky vampires. Diana does know their destinies, so what will she do to help them realize them all?
I don't own Twilight.
Enjoy!
Bella's P.O.V.:
"He's your true mate." My eyes widened, did I hear her correctly? Marcus was my true mate? He was the one for me? "Bella?"
"Sorry…it's just…"
"I could see the way you were with him on the dance floor, you two locked eyes together and you looked happy to be with him. I've seen it Bella, you and Marcus are true mates." I felt good about that, but something wasn't right.
"What about Angela and Jessica?" she smirked and moved her eyes towards the two, still dancing with those guards Felix and Demetri. "Those men…?"
"Exactly, but don't tell them just yet they have to realize it for themselves." I nodded, knowing Jess and Ange telling them this too fast would probably put a cramp in their growing relationships. "Now then, go on and have some fun the ball's just getting started."
"Thank you milady." I bowed and made my way back to where I'd left Marcus. He didn't seem to be waiting long, and I could see the other two leaders dancing with their wives. "Did I keep you waiting?"
"Not at all princess." He smiled and held his hand out for mine. I took his and we began to dance again, and then that same feeling came back. "I suppose Lady Diana has told you that we…?" he stopped expecting me to answer.
"She has." He smiled.
"Has she told you of my power?" oh so he did have a special power.
"No I'm afraid not." He chuckled.
"I have the ability to see the bonds between people. I can tell if someone is true to their mate or friends, I can see if someone else has affections for another, and I can tell that of soul mate bonds."
"You could see it from the moment you saw me?" he nodded. "I see…"
"Does it frighten you? To know you're my mate?"
"A little." I couldn't lie, I hadn't really fallen in love with anyone since Edward left. I hadn't even dated since then, but my thoughts halted as Marcus bent down to my ear.
"We don't need to rush anything, I'm sure you would like for us to know each other first." I nodded.
"Lady Diana would like that too." Ok that was a little off way.
"I'm sure." He didn't seem offended. "Princess, would you mind accompanying me to the further end of the room?" I looked to where he was pointing, still in eyeshot of Diana and the guests so…why not?
"Not at all." He led me over and we stood directly in Diana's direction. "So…how long have you been part of the Volturi?"
"Over three thousand years, a little shorter than Diana has been our queen."
"That's a long time." He laughed.
"Time means little to most of us, but it's nothing compared to what you humans feel."
"Like time moving too fast or slow?"
"Exactly, humans are always concerned with time, but us vampires live long and we never change so it doesn't affect us as much." That was true.
"Humans value everything, in their case you only live once." He nodded.
"Time is valuable." Now we were drawling on each other, and the dance was beginning to slow. "Um…maybe we should get back to the ball?"
"Perhaps we should." He took my hand and soon a slow song came on. We danced slowly, and that feeling returned. I had this strong urge to kiss him, to hold and just be with him, but like he said we had plenty of time for that. Marcus was handsome, he was far more beautiful than Edward, and way more mysterious; he was almost too good to be true.
I had this feeling this was all too good to be true, me being related to the possible oldest living vampire in the world, being a princess through vampire ancestry, coming to Rome, Jessica and Angela with me through this all the way, but most of all…possibly falling in love with the noble co-leader of the Volturi.
Now I was wishing someone would pinch me, to make sure this wasn't a dream.
"Lost in thought dear princess?" he whispered to me with his velvety voice.
"I've been lost for a long time." Marcus gave a soft smile, and this one made my heart pound fast in my chest.
"You don't have to worry about being lost ever again, I will be here for you." I felt a hot blush cross my face, and then the music stopped. I glanced at the clock on the wall, and wow, it was almost eleven; where did the time go? I heard some loud clapping and everyone turned to Diana, standing straight with her burgundy eyes staring everyone down.
"Tonight has been wonderful, and I thank you all for coming to welcome your princess and ladies. Unfortunately it has gotten late for the ladies, and since they are still human they must retire for the evening. You are all welcome to stay for the night, but if you must leave then allow my guards to escort you out. Goodnight everyone." They bowed and I saw Joseph come my way.
"Princess." He bowed and I turned to Marcus.
"Thank you for a lovely evening Marcus." He smiled that beautiful smile.
"You're quite welcome your highness." He bowed and walked back to his brothers, but I think I saw a faint look of hopefulness in his eyes. I looked back before following Joseph to the hall, and saw Clarinda and Deidre escorting Jess and Ange, both blushing and swamped.
"Bella!" they spotted me.
"I saw you two dancing with those men, was it fun?" they sighed heavily, now that proved they had a good night.
"It was amazing. Felix is so sweet." Jessica.
"And Demetri is such a gentleman, it's almost like we're in a fairytale story." Angela's eyes were sparkling with love, she looked like she could pass out from the force. "But what about your man Princess Isabella?" we walked to our rooms.
"Thank you Joseph, Clarinda, Deidre." They bowed.
'Yes thank you."
"You're very welcome ladies." They bowed and left to the other end of the hall. As soon as I got my door opened Angela and Jessica practically pushed their way inside before closing the door behind them.
"Guys we should change."
"Nuh uh, spill first." Jessica kicked off her shoes.
"Tell us about your date." I blushed. "Ah! Just like we thought!"
"Guys, let's change first then I'll tell you." They scrambled through the closet and I slowly removed my jewels, placing them back inside their boxes, took off my shoes, and carefully took off my dress hanging it up on the door then slipped into my shorts and tank top. I let my hair down and it felt so much better being out of those ties and curls, all I had to do was brush it out and wipe off the makeup.
As soon as I was done the girls came back and plopped down on the bed, both eager to hear what I had to say. They looked normal now, out of that formal décor and happy, like me.
"So tell us already! What's that man like? What's his name what coven's he with, tell us!"
"Jess calm down Bella's gonna tell us anyway."
"Thanks Angela, and to put things short his name is Marcus and he's with the Volturi." Their eyes widened.
"Isn't he one of the leaders?" Jessica.
"Yep."
"Is he your true mate?" Angela.
"In a way…yes." They squealed.
"Oh Bella that's great!"
"Yeah you don't need to worry about Dickward anymore." I laughed, Jessica called Edward that ever since he'd left. "So what's he like?" I had flashbacks of the dance coming back, the feelings and everything.
"He's…he's better than any guy I've ever met." They leaned in. "He's smart, funny, gorgeous of course, and he understands me…I don't know exactly how but he does."
"Does he have a special power?" Angela.
"He can see bonds between people, like he can tell if you're meant to be with someone forever, or he can see if you're loyal to another coven."
"Wow." Both of them stared in awe.
"I know, but what about your guys? What're they like?"
"Well…Demetri's kind of a ladies' man, but out of all the women I caught looking at him he never took his eyes off me."
"Guess he likes you more." Obvious wasn't it?
"He's really sweet though, I mean not only is he fairytale prince handsome, but he's really smart." We turned to Jessica. "So what's Felix like?"
"To be honest, we didn't do much talking just more dancing. But from what we did talk about he's really into me, and I'm into him." Of course, Jessica was more the girl who stares down the man she wants and magically urges him to come to her, and it looks like Felix was the one.
"Well you have time to know him."
"How do you know?"
"I think Diana said that the Volturi will be staying a while. So we have time to know all of them if we want."
"Awesome." They giggled, and I let out a yawn. "Oh don't do that!"
"Sorry, just really tired." Angela yawned.
"Me too…and look it's almost midnight." She pointed at the clock on the bedside table. "We'd better get to bed."
"Yeah, night Bella." we hugged and they left my room. I cut off the lights and snuggled under the covers, knowing tomorrow Diana would have me appear with the Volturi. At least I'd be able to see Marcus, maybe we'd even get to know each other a little better.
Throne room:
Diana's P.O.V.:
After the girls left I let out a long sigh, I was glad this night had gone so well and that all three girls had met their mates. I couldn't be happier for them, but sadly my happiness for them would have to wait.
Now that the Egyptians had left, it was just myself, my guards, and the Volturi. There was another reason I hosted this ball.
"Thank you for coming tonight Aro, it's nice to see friends once in a while." I walked down from my throne to him and his brothers.
"It's our pleasure milady, this was an enjoyable evening for all of us."
"I'm glad, and I'm also glad my Bella has finally met her true mate." I looked at Marcus.
"I'm happy you called us here, it's been so long since…" he trailed off.
"Of course, but this ball wasn't the only reason I called you here." Caius stepped forward.
"You know which coven broke the law?" I nodded.
"This doesn't just concern them though, it also concerns a certain redheaded vampire you may have met centuries ago." Aro chuckled.
"I'm afraid you'll have to refresh our memories my queen, it's been a long time since any of us have met other covens."
"She was originally in Hilda's coven, the same as your baiter girl Heidi there." I pointed at the mahogany haired woman, and her eyes widened.
"Is it…Victoria?" the woman asked timidly.
"She's become a problem in the last two years for Bella. Granted Bella hasn't seen her but only after I had Bella brought here did I find out she's been snooping around Forks."
"Now I remember, besides Heidi Victoria was the only one we let escape from Hilda's coven." Aro glanced at Marcus and Caius.
"She's after Bella?" Marcus looked at me with worried eyes. "Does she know she's here?"
"I don't know, but I have sent one of my guards to watch her. Laurent, and he will report once he finds her."
"How has she become a problem to Bella?"
"She wants revenge against the Cullens for killing her mate, James." Aro's eyes widened.
"The Cullens, Carlisle's coven?" I nodded. "This is most unusual, Carlisle knows the law and yet Bella is still human?"
"It was Edward Cullen who kept putting off changing Bella, and after he left her alone I gave her a year until she graduated from high school, then had her brought here."
"The Cullens must pay for this." Caius growled lowly.
"They will, but for now I want Victoria dealt with. Once Laurent sends word I would like your assistance in capturing Victoria and bringing her here to me." Aro smiled and bowed.
"That would be delightful; we will do everything to protect our princess." Aro was a dear old friend, and even better when he knew not to cross me.
"Excellent, and don't worry about the Cullens they will be dealt with as well." I had a special plan for the Cullens in mind, but it could wait until after the girls became vampires.
"Lady Diana." Marcus. "How long was Bella human with the Cullens?"
"Two years dear Marcus." His eyes darkened. "You are Bella's true mate, the Cullen boy has no ties to her at all."
"That reminds me, that Alice Cullen, can't she see visions of others at certain times?" Aro.
"She can, but she cannot see Bella or the girls as long as they're here. If you remember my guard Galen has the power to block certain abilities, and that includes Alice Cullen's sight. He can make her see visions of Bella being happy, but nothing else."
"So they should be unaware of your existence?" I nodded. "Wise decision milady."
"Thank you Aro."
"One more question milady, when are you planning to change the girls?" Caius of course asked some important questions.
"By the end of the month, maybe sooner." I didn't intend for Bella to stay human long, I did have to follow my own laws. "Do you all give me your word you will protect my Bella and her friends, from any danger or evil that may befall them?" the leaders, and their guards bent down their knees, and bowed their heads to me.
"We solemnly swear to protect the princess and her ladies, from all that may stand against them."
"Rise then." They did so. "I will entrust you all to this responsibility, and mark my words if anyone shall break this vow, the consequences will be dire. Understood?"
"Yes Lady Diana."
"Good." This was going to turn out better than I had hoped.
Hope you liked it, next one brings out more time with the girls and their mates. Marcus and Bella will get to know each other better, and then a little plan for Victoria.
R&R
Later!