Chapter 125

Jasper

Bella was quiet on the flight to Italy a mixture of excitement and nerves swirling around in her head. I had explained she had nothing to worry about,

"We did what the Volturi wanted, you became a vampire and they gave you several extensions so Aro isn't going to be upset with you."

"So why do they want to see me? Is it usual for newborn vampires to be invited to Volterra?"

"Yes and no, its unusual but I think the brothers are curious to meet my mate. I don't suppose we will be there long, they are on our side. They even allowed the girls to stay human and with the Cullens until, they are old enough to change and Skye has a gift they might want to call on at times. Add to that Kat being Felix's mate and you can see how you intrigue them."

"You won't leave me will you? Not even in Volterra?"

"Not until you are comfortable I promise. You may get an invitation to visit the wives though and I won't be included in that, in general men aren't welcome in the wives tower."

"Tower? They're prisoners?"

"Not exactly. When the Volturi first took control of our world from the Romanians it was an extremely volatile situation and attempts were made on the lives of the Volturi wives so a tower was built with security in mind and they have lived there ever since. That is not to say the wives never leave it, they have the use of the courtyards and ever whim is satisfied."

"But don't they ever get bored? Want to travel?"

"No, Corin who lives with them uses her gift to keep them contented and as I say they can have anything they want, visitors too."

"It still sounds miserable, birds in a gilded cage are still prisoners."

"Well maybe you'll get the chance to find out for yourself darlin'."

Bella

I couldn't help thinking about the wives hidden away in a tower and kept artificially happy but when we landed I pushed such thoughts to the back of my mind. I'd never traveled abroad before and I didn't want to miss a single moment. There was a car waiting at the airport complete with liveried chauffeur who opened the doors for us without speaking and then pulled slowly out into the traffic. The windows were tinted so no one could look in but we could see out and I was fascinated by the teeming crowd of humans walking about in the bright afternoon sun. As we drove out of the city everything began to change, the people were more scarce and cars began to give way to bikes and donkeys, the women tended to be older and dressed more somberly while the men were wrinkled and dressed shabbily driving carts or working in fields. We had been driving about an hour along mostly straight roads when suddenly they gave way to winding narrower roads and started to climb.

"Look!"

I glanced where Jasper pointed and saw in the distance a walled town on the side of the mountain,

"Is that Volterra?"

"Yes, it was built with defence in mind before the Volturi took it over."

"But there are humans living there?"

"Of course and they know nothing of the true nature of their neighbors."

"So what do they think the Volturi are?"

"A wealthy foundation that pays well for its privacy. The town is well maintained, clean and safe. There is no crime in Volterra."

"So they don't allow hunting inside the walls?"

"Or for twenty miles all around it, they value their safety and are very generous, they even set up a scholarship so the brightest children can attend the most prestigious universities, its an honor to live in Volterra."

"I can see two towers, one is the church I guess but what's the other? The wives tower?"

"Actually the church doesn't have a tower as such, just a belfry, the taller of the two is the clock tower, the entrance to the Volturi citadel and the other is the wives tower."

The car passed through the thick stone walls of the town where the roads became even narrower but whenever we encountered any humans they always moved aside for us. Soon we broke out into a huge square with a beautiful fountain as its centerpiece. I could see the clock tower now and it was beautiful even knowing it hid a nest of vampires but I couldn't break away from the sight of the second, wives, tower, it too was beautiful with stained glass windows. The car pulled up at the steps to the clock tower and the driver hopped out and opened the doors for us again but instead of leading us up to the doors he got back in and drove back the way he had come. We were sheltered in the shadow of the tower or our skin would be glistening in the suns last rays as dusk began to fall. Jasper took my hand and led me up the steps where the door was opened suddenly by a young girl with long blonde hair. By far the youngest vampire I had ever seen. She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes and I felt she was eyeing us up.

"Major, Mrs Whitlock, Aro is eager to see you, please follow me."

She led us through another pair of doors leading off what looked like a flourishing businesses foyer and down richly carpeted halls hung with an assortment of art from around the world and different periods of history. When she finally stopped outside two huge richly carved oak doors I was almost overwhelmed by the opulence and then she pushed one of the doors open then stepped back,

"Please enter."

Inside the décor changed dramatically, this was some kind of audience chamber sparsely furnished, the most striking items were three intricately carved chairs raised up slightly on a carpeted dais. Sitting in the chairs were three males who were far older than any other vampires I had met, they didn't look that old at first sight but getting closer it was possible to see that their skin was almost white and translucent, their eyes crimson but aged, as if they had seen the complete history of the world and found it tiring.

All three men stood up as we approached and inclined their heads in a gesture of welcome then the outer two sat back down, only the center one remaining erect. He stepped forward off the dais and stepped over to us his hand outstretched in welcome,

"Bella Whitlock, there were times I really didn't think I would ever see you here. I understand you suffered quite an ordeal, its good to see you looking so well."

I knew his touch meant he could read every thought I'd ever had but I had no secrets so I took his hand unsure what to expect. As it turned out I felt nothing but his hand clasping mine as he bowed over our hands for a few seconds and then released mine,

"So, we have not only you but your father amongst us now, how wonderful. Do you have any plans Bella?"

Yeah, not to stay here too long was my first impulse of a reply but I bit it back and nodded instead,

"Jasper and I have plans for a home of our own, one where our friends can visit but I do want to thank you for being so gracious as to allow Skye and Kat to stay with the Cullens, it was the right decision, they are both very happy."

"Yes so I hear and it appears Kat is mated to Felix, a rather strange turn up for the books wouldn't you say? I understand we shall be meeting her soon when Felix returns. Perhaps she and Felix will move to Volterra permanently one day. Well my dear it has been an honor, I have an invitation for you from Sulpicia and Athenadora, they are eager to speak with you and I know you wouldn't be so hard hearted as to refuse them that."