A/N: The previous chapter will be the last with Alice and Michael until their reunion with the Cullen's. I am kind of sad to see this story end because it has been so much fun to write and has encompassed a longer period of time than my other stories. I have grown attached. LOL. Thank you everyone for your support on this story. It will be wrapping up in the next few chapters. For those wondering about the dress… You will find out soon enough. Sorry, but that is all I can say. Happy reading and let me know what you think.
Chapter 44 – Royal Guests
A week after Bella has awoken to her new life, the Cullen coven received news from Alice… The Volturi will be visiting within the week. It wasn't exactly shocking news, but it did make everyone slightly uncomfortable. At least they were only sending members of the guard while the three kings decided to stay in Italy.
Carlisle knew that the visit was to make sure they were in compliance, but he was also more than sure that their guests from Italy were checking up on them. He was relieved that Alice had taken off and he didn't know where she was. Edward was in Alaska, but then would be taking off from there and would not inform anyone of his new location until he was sure that the Volturi were headed back to Italy. It was just safer that way. Although Aro, Caius, and Marcus were like brothers to him at times, he also knew better than to completely trust them. They loved their power and their guard was for all intents and purposes, an extension of them.
When Bella and Jasper heard about the impending visit, they didn't know what to think or feel. They knew that it was coming and they knew that they would have to deal with the Volturi soon or later, but both of them had hoped that it would be later, much much later.
As the day drew closer and closer, Jasper knew that Bella was feeling more agitated. With each day passing, her anxiety would grow. He could understand her feelings, because he was on his guard also, but this visit was bothering Bella more than the others it seemed. As he walked back into their room that night, Jasper saw Bella standing on the balcony looking up at the stars. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck as he did so. "What's wrong sweetheart?" He asked quietly.
"I can remember the visit to Italy. I remember meeting them and the threats and comments. The fear I felt around them and the power that they seemed to hold. I can still see the humans that were being ushered into the room like they were cattle for slaughter, and I thought that I could have been one of them. That could have been me and yet, I am leaving while they are staying. I wanted to rescue them all and I couldn't, I didn't. When I was in the room, I was so afraid of what would happen to me, Alice, and Edward; and I know that if Alice had not spoken up when she did, I would not be standing here right now. I know I had been condemned to die and I was willing to sacrifice myself if that meant that Edward and Alice would live. I didn't like the fact that they were about to kill him when he was defending me," Bella responded softly. She turned around suddenly and wrapped her arms around Jasper and buried her face in his chest. The memories were at the forefront of her mind and had been plaguing her since hearing about the visit.
Grabbing onto her more tightly, Jasper declared, "Nothing will happen to you." He kissed the side of her head and continued, "I will protect you with everything that I am. They will only be here for a very short period of time and then they will leave. When they are gone, we will move forward in our life together. Ok? I wish you never had to witness that and I am sorry for the fear it caused you, but I am here and I will make sure nothing ever happens to you." He was not only trying to reassure her, but himself as well.
Bella's voice was muffled when it replied, "I know Jasper, but the memories bring the fear back to the surface. What if they try to take me away? What if they won't allow us to be together?"
"They already know about us and they know that you are my mate, you belong to me and no one else. They cannot and will not take you away from me. It is one of the only things that they cannot control. We are together now and we will be for the rest of our days."
Nodding, Bella released the breath she had been holding. The slight possessiveness that she heard in Jasper's voice made her smile and she found that she did feel better when she heard it, "Thank you. I love you."
Placing both hands on her face, Jasper lifted her face from his chest so that he could look into her bright red eyes, "We belong together and no one can tear us apart. You are my one true mate and nothing else matters to me. They cannot take you away because you are my mate, and they cannot do anything to us or force us to separate. True mates are destiny. There are not many laws that are absolute in the vampire world, as you know, but no one is allowed to tear apart mates or keep mates separate from each other, this law is one of the strictest. We are together now and we will be together always." He leaned down and kissed her lips before sweeping her up into is arms and carrying her back into their bedroom. Any further talk could wait; right now he needed to prove to her how right they were together.
Two weeks passed from the initial phone call Carlisle received from Alice. The time had come for the visit. Everyone was on guard, but unless the Volturi force did anything first, no one would do anything against them. They were only acting under orders.
Jasper, Bella, Emmett, and Rosalie were returning from a hunt when they approached the house and knew something was happening. All four of them took a deep breath and could smell the new scents in the air coming from at least three vampires that did not belong to their coven. The Volturi had arrived.
The small group approached the house cautiously. They all knew that this was just a quick check to make sure Bella really was a vampire, but that did not mean that Emmett and Jasper did not have the urge to protect their mates. If anything, the feeling to protect grew the closer they got to the front door.
When they got to the front door, Jasper walked in first and was followed by the woman, and Emmett brought up the rear. They could all hear voices coming from the living room, so Emmett and Jasper took the lead. It was pure instinct to keep their mates behind them in order to protect them and to make sure that there was no real danger before they dropped their guard ever so slightly.
The voices that were coming from the living room seemed pleasant enough, but vampires were experts at acting. It was an essential tool in their arsenal so that they could blend in with society without being caught. When they turned the corner, they were able to put faces with the voices. Jane, Alec, and Felix had come as the representatives of the Volturi.
"It appears as if the others have finally arrived," Jane said turning to look at the group standing at the entrance of the living room.
Jasper narrowed his eyes on the small girl sitting on the couch across from Carlisle and Esme. Sending out his feelers, he was able to judge and taste the emotions in the room from everyone. Bella was nervous, but was keeping it under control. Emmett seemed irritated by the visit and so did Rose. Carlisle and Esme, although both still on guard, seemed relieved. Jane seemed bored, and her two companions were both curious. He knew what they were curious about and said, "It is good to see you again Jane." Reaching behind him to grab Bella's hand, he gave it a little squeeze before stepping back and allowing her to come forward. He did not release her hand or move from her side an inch, "You remember Bella, my mate." Jasper was informing the trio of Bella's status in his life.
At the announcement, Jane was able to keep her face completely impassive, Alec's eyes grew ever so slightly as the only indication of his surprise, and Felix raised one eyebrow. Being the leader in their small group, Jane spoke up first, "Aro told me that you were no longer with Edward and that you were now with Jasper."
Clearing her throat, Bella's hand tightened on Jasper's, "Yes, we have been together for a while now and Jasper was the one that changed me. Edward and I broke up shortly after our return from Italy."
"How lovely," Jane said tilting her head to the side studying the woman in front of her. She was curious to know if Bella was still immune to her powers, but was instructed not to try them right now since you never really knew how a newborn could react. There would be plenty of time to test her in the future now that she was going to be around for a long time.
"We congratulate you on your new life," Alec said with a hint of a smile. He knew his sister wanted to test Bella, but he agreed that until she was past the newborn stage, it could potentially be too dangerous.
"Aro, Caius, and Marcus send their regards and an invitation to join them in Volterra for a visit," Felix added looking at the couple, "You are all invited of course."
"Thank you," Bella said quietly. She was still uncomfortable in the presence of these three. Jane could attack with her mind and it put her victim in agony. Felix had almost ripped Edwards head off of his body; and she knew that Alec could deprive a person (or vampire) of their senses. These were three vampires that she did not want to anger.
"Thank you for the invitation, but until Bella is beyond her first year, we will not be taking any trips," Jasper said. He sounded and looked very relaxed, but it was an act. He was a major in the civil war; he knew that you had to be ready to move in a split second and that appearing relaxed not only helped you to move faster, but could lull the enemy into a false sense of security.
"Of course, we do not expect a visit until after she is past her newborn stage," Alec said.
Jane's eyes narrowed on Bella, something was odd. She tilted her head to the other side and asked, "How is it you are as controlled as you are?"
Jasper and Bella knew that this might come up. She was not a normal newborn, but they didn't want to pass this information onto everyone just yet. Jasper spoke for the couple, "I am helping her to stay calm with my gift."
Jane turned her gaze onto Jasper, "Yes, you can control emotions."
"Yes, I can," Jasper said simply. With his military experience and his time in the south vampire wars, he could do a lot more than that, but he wasn't about to expound on his resume at this time.
"Interesting, well I guess it is a good thing that she is with you then," Jane replied. She wasn't a fool, she had long ago heard about Major Jasper Whitlock and knew that he could be a force to be reckoned with.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere other than her side," Jasper stated.
"Aro, Caius, and Marcus will be pleased to know that Bella has indeed been changed and that you have both found your true mates," Alec declared.
"Yes, he will. The change suits you Bella," Felix offered a small smile. He thought that she had guts to do what she did in Volterra and again when she decided to align herself permanently with a vampire coven. It worked for her though and in the process, she had found her mate.
"Thank you," Bella said softly.
"Well that is all we needed. We will be taking our leave now. Bella, Jasper, once past the newborn stage, please visit Volterra. Alec, Felix we are done here. I am ready to go home," Jane said standing up, her eyes never leaving Bella and Jasper.
Carlisle stood up when she had and said, "Please send Aro, Caius, and Marcus my regards and let them know that we will be in touch. Thank you for making the trip. You honor us with your visit."
"Indeed, I will let them know what we have found and will give them your regards. Thank you for allowing us to come meet your new addition personally," Jane said and turned to leave.
The four members of the Cullen coven moved out of the way when Jane, Alec, and Felix went to walk out of the house. The trio of Italy was soon gone and the vampires that were left behind, visibly relaxed. The visit was over and everyone in Volterra would soon know that Bella had actually been transformed and was no longer human.
"Is that it?" Bella asked slightly confused. She was thankful that the trio was gone, but she had been prepared for a lot more than just the brief exchange of words that had just happened. She wasn't expecting a battle or anything, but she was definitely thinking that there was going to be more to the visit than the ten short minutes she spent in their presence.
"Awe Bella did you want to take a swing at someone? You can fight me, but I warn you I won't go easy on you this time," Emmett laughed. He was glad that the visit didn't last longer and that they were gone. He had been prepared for more also, but it did not shock him that nothing else happened. Most vampires did not want to mess with a newborn.
Bella scoffed, "You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better Em."
Jasper chuckled and pulled Bella into his arms and said, "That's it Darlin'. They are gone and we do not have to worry about them for right now. As for the visit to Italy, we have time before we need to think about that."
"I guess I was just expecting more than ten minutes of strained conversation," Bella smirked. She was still amused by Emmett's declaration.
Winking down at his fiancé, Jasper said, "You prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It is always good to be on your guard around them, but it is not always bad. Your trip to Italy is not exactly the norm."
Bella chuckled, "Your right. I was just prepared for someone to try something and I was scared that you or someone else would get hurt. My time in Italy left a very negative impression on me."
"I know, and I am not saying that it is all rainbows and unicorns. They can be very dangerous and deadly, so always be on your guard around them, but they do not always seek to tread upon the weaker or to inflict harm," Jasper explained.
Wrapping her arms around Jasper's neck, Bella pulled him down for a kiss. When they broke apart to the sounds of Emmett's whistles and throat clearing, she smirked and said, "I am glad you were by my side. I don't think I could have gotten through it otherwise."
"Never leaving it," Jasper smiled and kissed her nose.
"You know, maybe you two should get a room instead of making out in front of everyone," Emmett teased them.
"We have a room and we are not making out," Bella said as she narrowed her eyes on her friend.
"If you say so," Emmett smirked.
Bella leered at him, "One more word Emmett and I will have to take you out in back and teach you a lesson."
Emmett started moving towards the back door and yelled, "WORD!" He took off running when he heard the growl coming from the small woman beside his brother.
Bella laughed and gave Jasper a quick kiss on the cheek before taking off after Emmett. "You must really be itching to get your ass kicked!" Bella yelled as she exited the house.
Rosalie, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme followed the two friends out into the back yard in time to see Bella catch up with Emmett and toss him to the ground. They all laughed. One thing was for sure, life would be more interesting with Bella around.