A/N Alright, I heard your excitement and I'm excited myself. Let's get to it!
Fill Me with Your Poison Chapter 18
Edward waited at the front of the beautifully decorated ballroom, his eyes taking in all the details. There were white flowers of all types decorating the aisle, as well as on the tables that had been set up for after the wedding. Edward wasn't entirely sure there would be a real reception, but he was willing to go with it once they'd dispatched of their problem guests.
He gave Demetri a nod when he saw him take his place in the high-backed white seats directly behind Alec and Jane and right next to Phillip. Garrett moved into place on Jane's left. Garrett and his mate Kate were one of Edward's surprises-back up, should it be necessary.
Irina, Tanya, and Carmen sat beside Kate, their minds awed by the gorgeous scenery but at the same time worried about Eleazar. They had been sure that he'd arrive in time for the wedding. Carmen made plans to approach Aro as soon as the wedding was over. Edward felt a pang of regret for having had to end Eleazar, but there had truly been no choice.
Maggie, Raoul, Siobahn, and Alistair took seats on the other side of the aisle, near an old friend of Edward's. Edward smiled at Stefan, an old friend who was rather excited about this big day, and Edward smiled his way.
You know, if you can't manage Aro on your own, I'd be more than happy to assist.
Edward just cocked an eyebrow at Stefan's cheeky thoughts.
I know, I know, I'm just mop up duty. Sucks that you get all the fun.
Maggie looked around the room, a frown marring her pretty features. Something about this feels wrong. It's real, but there's an undercurrent. I don't understand it.
There was nothing Edward could do to reassure her. Maggie would have to make her choice when the action began.
Amun, Kebi, Zafrina, and her sisters joined the group. Edward was pleased when Stefan motioned Amun to his side. Amun had been a long-time friend of Aro's and was another wild card that needed to be accounted for.
All of his fellow brothers filtered in as well; Eric, Tyler, Mike, Sam, Paul, Colin, and Fred along with the mates of those that had mated filled out the rest of the chairs within the room. Edward hadn't told them what was coming. He didn't think he needed to. Once Chelsea's bonds were broken, he knew where their loyalties were going to lie. He had spent far more time with his brothers than Aro ever had. Fred was a bit of a wild card, but Edward wasn't overly concerned. His allies knew who to look out for and were ready to act to protect him and Bella at any cost.
"Are you ready for this?" Emmett asked, fidgeting with his bow tie.
"More than," Edward assured him, batting his hands out of the way and fixing his tie himself. He'd been waiting for more than a century for both of these moments: the joining of his life with his mate's, and the fracturing of his ties to Aro and the ancient way of thinking. His life was truly beginning today.
Marcus made his way up the aisle, stopping in front of Edward. He was ready to unite the one couple he'd ever found that truly matched him and his mate for passion and love. "I am honored to be a part of this day. Thank you for including me," Marcus told Edward, giving him a slight bow.
Edward wasn't having that, pulling his favorite uncle into a hug. "There was nobody I'd rather have conduct this ceremony than you. I hope you will always support us." It was as close as he could get to revealing what was about to happen.
Marcus assured him that he would and took his place in front of the altar, which was draped with more white flowers and candles. Candles had been Edward's special request.
Aro finished glad-handling all his friends and family, taking his place at Edward's side. "The girls are ready if you are." Renee moved in to stand behind him, having shadowed him throughout the ballroom.
Edward smiled. "I've never been more ready for anything in my life."
Aro clapped his shoulder and then gave Heidi the high sign. The music swelled as the bridal march began to play. Edward found himself cursing the slow speed as each female made her way down the aisle.
Gianna's eyes met his and she smiled brightly. Wait until you see her, Edward. She's beyond gorgeous. And she's ready. For everything.
He acknowledged her reassurance with a smile, which stuck a bit as Sulpicia began her walk down the aisle.
Oh, my little boy! You've never been more handsome! Are you sure about this? I can take you away from here, and we can find someone more suitable to the perfection that is you.
Edward glared at her briefly and shook his head at her thoughts.
Aro couldn't hear her, of course, but she'd talked his ear off about the wedding, and he knew where his mate stood. "She just can't stand that she won't be the number one woman in your life, son. She'll get there."
No, she wouldn't, but that was okay. She wouldn't have the opportunity, and Edward was fine with that.
The music swelled, and his Bella stepped into the doorway. Edward was immediately struck dumb at the sight of her. Never, in all his wildest dreams, had she looked this devastatingly beautiful. She looked like a goddess. She should be lounging on a cloud in Mount Olympus, laughing at the pathetic humans and vampires that roamed the earth because not one of them was worthy to be in her presence. Not even him.
Now, that's just the dumbest thought I've ever heard from your stubborn head. You are more than worthy of being with me. You're everything to me.
Edward couldn't keep the grin off his face as the vision before him walked down the aisle toward him.
You are beautiful beyond words, my Bella. It's a good thing I'm not supposed to talk right now because I don't think I could without babbling unintelligibly.
Her answering smile lit up the room.
I wanted to be beautiful for you. I thought about dressing like a queen but…
A goddess is more powerful. And you are beyond beautiful. You're a vision. Perfection. I can hardly believe you're real and that you're mine, he finished for her.
She reached the end of the aisle, handed her flowers off to Chelsea, and took Edward's hand. In that moment, they were the only two people in the room. The crowd faded away, their thoughts were shut out, and all the planning and plotting was a distant memory. All that mattered was the two of them, their love and desire for one another, and their bond.
Marcus cleared his throat several times before finally giving up and taking each of their arms, giving them a light shake. The audience tittered with laughter when Edward and Bella finally came out of their little bubble.
Edward grinned unrepentantly as he turned to their audience. "Sorry, but can you blame me? Look at her!"
More laughter and nods of appreciation greeted his pronouncement, while Bella shook her head and smiled. "I'm glad you approve. Now will you marry me?"
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles lightly. "I would be delighted."
"Well, then, let's begin," Marcus suggested, biting back a smile. He loved their love and the way it made him feel. He hadn't felt that feeling since his beloved Didyme had passed. Basking in their love nearly made him feel alive again.
"We are gathered here to celebrate the unparalleled love that Edward and Isabella share. The wedding custom is not something that our kind always finds it necessary to partake in. Our mating bond is our wordless vow to love, honor, and cherish one another for eternity." Marcus smiled at the couple before him. "However, there is something to be said about the power of words, the willing taking of vows, before friends and loved ones, letting them share in the beauty of your mating.
"Edward, Isabella, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate your love. Isabella, do you take Edward to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish for eternity and beyond?"
Bella's radiant smile said it all for her, but she answered with a clear, "I do."
"And Edward-"
"I do," he said, making Marcus chuckle.
"Well, I know, but let me say it anyway, okay?" At Edward's sheepish nod, Marcus continued. "Do you take Isabella to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish for eternity and beyond?"
"I do," Edward agreed again.
"Now I'll allow you to say a few words of your own, if you so desire."
Edward's red eyes burned into Bella's. "My life found its meaning when you walked into it. I thought I knew the man I was, the vampire I was, but I was so wrong. Everything I ever wanted and ever needed pales in comparison to what I feel for you. You are my life now."
Bella glowed at his words. "Unlike you, I didn't know what I wanted when I walked through the door of your club. I didn't really know who I was. I just knew what I didn't want. But one look at you, and I suddenly had all the answers. I wanted this life, with you. I am yours. Always."
Edward let out a light growl, wanting nothing more than to tackle his mate to the floor, take her and make her his just as she'd promised.
Soon, she promised, squeezing his hand.
"The rings?" Marcus asked, trying to bring them back to the present.
Edward took the platinum band from Jasper, sliding it on her finger to join the big diamond he'd put there when he proposed. "With this ring, I thee wed," he murmured after Marcus.
Bella took Edward's ring from Chelsea, giving her a smile of thanks. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Marcus put a hand on each of their shoulders. "By the power vested in me, I now declare you husband and wife. Edward, you may kiss your bride."
"Finally," he muttered, making everyone laugh again. He slipped his arms around Bella's waist and pulled her close as she put her arms around his shoulders. Their lips met, and the laughter and cheering died away as they celebrated officially becoming one.
I love you, so much more than I could ever imagine. Thank you for marrying me today.
Bella's lips curved in a smile against his. I love you, Edward. You're everything to me.
Are you ready to do this? If you're not, we can just go on with the reception and-
No. Bella cut off Edward's thoughts. This is the beginning of the rest of our life. We're not going to start it with anything hanging over our heads. We'll do what we have to do and then walk away and never look back, but we're getting it done. You hear me?
Yes, ma'm. His thoughts were amused. You're already ruling me with an iron fist, aren't you?
We rule each other, or we will once Aro is out of the way. Come, husband, and let's finish this.
Husband…I like that, he growled against her lips. Okay, wife, you're up.
They broke their kiss to loud cheers. "Ladies and gentleman, Edward and Isabella Cullen." They joined hands, and Edward held their hands up as everyone clapped, with the exception of Sulpicia, of course.
Bella squeezed his hand once more and then turned to Chelsea, ostensibly to retrieve her flowers.
The girl held them out, a sweet, happy smile on her face. "I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you," Bella said, the smile never leaving her face as she leaned in for a hug. And before anybody could react, she snapped the girl's head completely off her body, tossing it back toward where the candles sat on the altar. They fell over, igniting the cloth and flowers and head behind it.
For Bella, it was like everything stood still in that moment. She could physically see the bonds that Chelsea had formed snapping right in front of her. Every part of her wanted to turn to her mother, to see if she was free, but she had no time to do so. The shock that she'd caused with her actions was already dissipating, and it wouldn't be long before somebody acted.
She quickly took hold of the tattered bonds that floated in the air away from Chelsea's headless body, directing them to her husband. She wanted every bit of manufactured loyalty to be sent Edward's way, making those who might turn against him hesitate.
Edward watched his mate dispatch of Chelsea with ease, as if she'd been killing vampires all her life instead of this being her first time. He didn't have much time to admire her, though, quickly grabbing hold of Aro. Renee didn't react, which told him that whatever bonds Chelsea had used to make her loyal to Aro had indeed been broken.
"What do you think you're doing?" his former captor demanded.
"What I've wanted to do for a century. Making you pay for all the lives you've ended." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jasper ending James as Emmett took out Caius. The fire at the altar grew bigger as body parts flew in that direction.
"It is because of me that you have all you have today." Aro was desperate. His guards weren't moving to help him, and Jane and Alec had just gone down behind Edward's back. Stefan had grabbed Amun and wrenched his neck from his body, and Sulpicia, his beloved Sulpicia, was facing down Edward's bride.
How? he wondered.
Edward wanted him to know. "My Bella is more talented than you can even begin to imagine. She's got all of our powers. She broke Chelsea's bonds and made everyone loyal to me, even your guards. We toyed with using Alec's gift and just putting everybody to sleep, but that seemed like a lot less fun than this."
As Aro's thoughts turned to marveling Bella's gift, they were abruptly cut off when his son ended his life. He wasn't going to allow Aro any time to celebrate Bella's abilities. Edward tossed him onto the fire and turned to find his mate with his would-be mother pinned against the wall.
"Edward! You can't let her do this to me! I'm your mother!"
"No," he hissed, glad that he could finally drop the charade. "My mother was Esme Cullen. You killed her when you took me away from her. I have never loved you. I will never love you. And it only seems fitting that the woman who I actually love be the one to end you."
"It's my pleasure," Bella said, cutting off Sulpicia's outraged shrieks with one turn of her wrist.
As Sulpicia's body joined the growing conflagration, Edward grabbed his bride, pulling her away from the fire.
They turned and watched as Garrett took down Vladamir, another of Aro's oldest friends. All of their allies were standing, while the rest stood and watched, transfixed by what was before them.
Demetri walked over to them, Phillip in tow. He wasn't even trying to fight, quickly seeing the futility of such an act. Jasper joined them with a dazed-looking Renee at his side.
"Mom?" Bella asked softly, causing Phillip to jerk and stare at her in shock. Renee just looked at her blankly.
"What? She's your mother?"
"That's right," Bella growled at him. "You took her away from me almost a decade ago. You never stopped to think about her family that she left behind, did you?"
He shook his head. "I didn't know…"
"Yes, you did. You knew she wasn't really your mate. You wanted her and you took her, ignoring the fact that she didn't want you."
Edward stepped back and let his Bella take the lead. This was her moment.
"I know I said I'd kill him, but it seemed more apt for you to do it," Demetri told her with a gallant smile. "Consider it my wedding gift to you."
"Cheap ass," Edward told him, making him laugh.
"Now, that's really not necessary. Edward, I recognize you as the new leader of the Volturi. Bella, I apologize for any pain I've caused your family. It was never my intention to hurt you. Renee captured me with her beauty, and she was so special-"
Bella ignored his blathering, knowing he was only futility trying to spare himself. He'd taken Renee because she'd rejected him, plain and simple. When he saw that she had a gift, he'd decided to bring her to Volterra so he could be special like his brothers were. It had all been ambition and a desire to fit in. She saw it all in his head.
Bella stared at Renee, begging her to remember. She sent her the images she had earlier, when she'd still be bound by Chelsea. Young Bella helping her cook in the kitchen, picking flowers with her in the meadow near their home, and even herself as a miniature bride when she was about five, her flower girl dress poofy and white.
Slowly, some of the blankness died out of Renee's face. Each image she saw seemed to bring her back to life. "Bella?" she whispered, reaching a hand out toward her daughter. "My Bella?"
Bella sobbed out a yes. "Mom, do you remember now?" She twined their fingers together.
"I don't…you're my daughter. All this time…how long?" She was still confused, but she was getting there.
"Nine years ago. Phillip wanted you, and Chelsea bound you to him. They changed you and took you away from me and Dad. I never knew what happened to you until I met Edward and he looked into it for me."
"Phil…took me?" She shook her head. "I remember…the store. I was at the store. He talked to me. Asked me out. I said no." She glared over at him. "I said no."
"I know, Mom. He didn't listen."
"All this time. So much time. You stole it!" she yelled, leaping on Phillip and knocking him to the floor. They all stood and watched as he shouted her new name over, begging her not to end him. "My name is Renee, not Renata, you kidnapping asshole." There was more grinding as she wrenched him apart.
"That seems more fitting than any of us doing it," Demetri decided.
Bella helped her mother to her feet, intending to carry Phillip's body to the fire, but Renee threw her arms around her. "Bella, you're all grown up, and I missed it. I'm so sorry! You're so beautiful!"
"It wasn't your fault," Bella murmured, holding her mother tight. "I blamed you for a long time, but you couldn't help it."
"Where's your father? He should be here." Renee looked around, as if expected Charlie to materialize.
"Dad doesn't, um…" Bella looked to Edward for help.
"Charlie knows what you became, but not why. When Bella made the same choice as he thinks you did, he more or less disowned her." Edward's tight tone showed his disdain for Charlie Swan.
Renee let out a growl as she clutched her daughter to her. "How dare he? He should love you no matter what you are. You're such a beautiful, grown-up woman. Oh, baby. I missed it all." Renee sobbed tearlessly against her shoulder.
"It's okay, Mom. We have forever," Bella reassured her.
"We do, don't we? Bella…" She stepped back, staring at her daughter. "You are so gorgeous. I can't believe my baby is all grown up and married. And somehow I got to be here, even if I wasn't really."
"I was glad you were here. I couldn't look at you for fear I was going to give everything away, but I wanted you to see me marry Edward."
"I'm so happy I did. You should have had both parents here."
"The one that cared was here. She just needed to be reminded a little," Bella assured her with a soft smile.
"Um, I hate to interrupt the family reunion, but maybe you should say something to the remaining guests, Edward." Marcus stood next to them, looking somehow even paler than he had earlier.
Edward touched his arm. "I'm sorry that we had to keep it from you. I didn't know how you'd feel about what we had planned."
"You thought you might have to kill me," Marcus supplied. "I understand, even though I would always choose you over Aro."
"I thought you might." Edward gave him a grateful hug before turning to the remaining guests. "I'm sorry that you all had to see that. I know it wasn't easy, but it was necessary in order to free us all from Aro's control and to get Bella's mother back."
He held out a hand to his bride, and she stepped next to him. "My Bella has you all bound to me in this moment, but I'm going to ask her to remove any unnatural bonds. I have my free will again, and I want you to have yours. What you do with it is your choice."
Bella acquiesced to his wishes, letting all the manufactured bonds go. Only the real ones remained, and she was pleased to see that most were with him anyway. Only one seemed to be an issue.
"Where is my Eleazar?" Carmen yelled, running toward them. Before she got there, though, she was repelled all the way back into the wall.
"Nice," Edward murmured to Bella.
"It wasn't me," she replied, smiling at her mother. Edward, too, smiled in thanks. Bella could see the bonds between her and her mother, and her mother and Edward, strengthening.
"I'm sorry, Carmen, but Eleazar threatened to tell Aro about Bella's gifts. It couldn't be allowed. His loyalty to Aro was unbreakable."
"No! I'll kill you. I'll kill you all, so help me…" But she was dead before she finished the sentence, Marcus standing over her.
"I will always stand with you," he told Edward.
"As I will you," Edward told him before turning to the others again. He and Bella had made their decision the night before. "I don't seek to rule you. I have everything I can possibly want. I hereby nominate Marcus to be our leader, to work with the humans to keep our existence peaceful and beneficial."
"I second that," Demetri chimed in, echoed quickly by Jasper, Emmett, Bella, and all the others.
"I don't know what to say," Marcus told them. "I'll do you proud."
"I have no doubt of that," Edward assured him. "Now, I'd like to take my bride and get out of here. I've had enough of this place for a century or two."
Marcus laughed. "I can understand that, but don't be a stranger." He shook his head when he saw Edward hesitate, studying the fire and the weary faces all around them. "Go. I'm in charge now, right? I'll handle things."
"Shall we, Mrs. Cullen?" he asked, smiling at his gorgeous wife.
"We shall, Mr. Cullen."
It wasn't going to be a normal honeymoon by any means, with the bride's mother and the groom's brothers in tow, but they wanted normalcy and home. They'd take their honeymoon when the time was right. For now, they were united and victorious. That was what truly mattered.
Epilogue posting tomorrow, should wrap up any remaining questions, or most of them! See you then and thank you for taking this ride with me. The love you have for this story pleases me greatly. It's different from my others and I'm happy so many of you came along for the ride! See you tomorrow!