Part IX 'When in Rome…'

Chapter 28

Bella stood in her apartment, looking around at the boxes that littered the living room. She had spent a year in Paris, studying art and living life to the fullest. But now, it was time for her next adventure.

She smiled as she packed each of her art pieces and paintings into many boxes, wrapping them carefully to ensure they would make it back to the states unscathed. She had made so many pieces during her time in Paris, and she couldn't wait to share them with her loved ones back home.

Bella had gifts for all the Cullens and had made special gifts for her parents, which she planned to give in person when she visited them. Each piece of art was unique, reflecting the time she had spent in Europe and the growth she had undergone as an artist. She had already given Emma a large framed charcoal drawing she had made, depicting the two of them having a great time on their trip to Euro Disney. Emma had loved it, and they had promised to stay in touch.

As she finished packing, Bella felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She was ready to leave Paris and go to Italy to meet the Volturi for the first time as a vampire. After her time in Italy, she would be going to Florida and Forks to visit her parents, then finally home to her family and to catch up with her friends from college.

With everything packed up and ready to go, Bella sealed the boxes and called a shipping company who would arrange everything to be sent to the Cullens' house in Colorado. She took one last look around her apartment, feeling satisfied with the year she had spent in the city of lights.

Bella's plane landed in Florence, and she sat by her window admiring the night lights of the Italian landscape. Excited to explore Italy's historic landmarks and artwork, she knew she would appreciate them more after her studies in Paris. She decided to visit the Volturi first, hoping to stay there for a month or so if she felt comfortable enough to do so. She wanted to get to know everyone and explore Italy at a more leisurely pace.

Renting a small car, Bella drove to Volterra, which was only a little over an hour away. She arrived in the early morning and took the time to walk around the plaza before the sun rose. Sitting at the edge of the fountain, she reminisced about the past when she had run through the same fountain to save Edward's life. Reflecting on that day, she realized how close she had come to death. If the Volturi had made a different ruling regarding Edward and Alice's rule-breaking, all their lives could have been forfeited.

Bella's thoughts wandered even further to what her life would have been like if Alice had never gone back to Forks. She imagined a bleak life for herself, finishing college at some university and starting to look for a job. However, she quickly snapped out of those depressing thoughts and reminded herself that she was now living her vampire life to the fullest potential and was happier than she had ever been.

As the sun began to rise, Bella stood up from the fountain and made her way into the Volturi's castle. She felt thankful that she was able to use the front door this time.

Upon entering the Volturi's castle, Bella approached the reception desk and found a beautiful young Italian woman manning it. Grateful that she had learned Italian, Bella spoke to the human receptionist.

"Hi, my name is Bella Cullen. I'm not really sure who I'm supposed to ask for. I guess I'm here to see Aro and the other kings," Bella explained, feeling somewhat foolish.

"One moment, ma'am. Let me see if the court is in session," the receptionist replied, picking up her phone and speaking quickly. Bella waited patiently as she heard someone was coming to meet her.

"Someone will be with you momentarily," the receptionist informed Bella.

"Thank you," Bella replied before browsing the artwork on the walls as she waited. After a couple of minutes, she heard the door open and recognized a loud voice. "Bella! It's great to see you again," Felix exclaimed, his booming voice echoing through the chamber. "I'm glad you finally made it to Italy."

Bella looked up at the towering vampire and grinned. "Hi Felix, it's good to see you too."

Felix motioned for the door, and they walked towards the main court chambers, catching up along the way. "So how have you been? Still with that loser Cullen?" Felix teased.

Bella playfully shoved him before responding. "I'm doing great, thanks. I just spent a year studying abroad at the University of Paris. And actually, Edward and I broke up soon after you guys visited us. So what have you been up to?"

Felix shrugged. "Oh, the usual. Guarding the Volturi, hunting humans, trying to convince Caius to upgrade the technology around here."

Bella arched an eyebrow. "What, no smartphones yet?"

Felix chuckled. "Not yet. Marcus is on board with the idea, but Caius is a bit of a traditionalist. He thinks the old ways are best."

"Well, I remember how much Caius loves the Cullens, so maybe if I have a heart to heart with him, I can persuade him to see the light," Bella joked.

Felix grinned. "Ha! I'd love to see you try. But hey, stranger things have happened."

As they walked along, Bella couldn't help but notice all the beautiful artwork adorning the walls. She observed that some of the pieces were by famous artists and quite old. She wished that they could be displayed somewhere more accessible.

"I see you have an eye for art," Felix said with a grin. "You'll love it here. The Volturi have been collecting art for thousands of years. During your stay, I can show you some of the rooms where we keep pieces not currently on display."

Bella's eyes widened. "That sounds amazing, Felix. I would love to see that."

Felix continued, "You might be interested in knowing that I once met Michelangelo. I was passing through the Vatican in the early 1500's, and I met him while he was working on the Sistine Chapel. He seemed like a nice guy."

Bella was in awe. "Oh my god, Felix. That's incredible."

Felix chuckled. "I could see that his artwork was going to be something special. He's lucky it was too, as I was pretty hungry that day, I almost ate him."

Bella couldn't help it and burst out laughing. She loved dark humor.

As they reached the throne room, Felix opened the door and invited Bella in to meet the rulers of the vampire world once again.

As Bella stepped into the throne room, she was momentarily taken aback by the sheer grandeur of the space. The room was vast and spacious, with a high vaulted ceiling that seemed to stretch up into the heavens. The walls were lined with intricate tapestries and paintings, depicting scenes from ancient battles and great acts of heroism. The floor was made of polished marble, which gleamed in the soft glow of the crystal chandeliers that hung overhead.

At the far end of the room stood three imposing thrones, each one carved from the finest ebony wood. The thrones were arranged next to each other, facing outwards towards the rest of the room, and were raised up on a dais, which gave the three kings an even more imposing presence.

Seated upon the thrones were the three rulers of the Volturi, Aro, Marcus, and Caius. The kings were all dressed in black cloaks that flowed elegantly around them, with finely tailored suits visible underneath. Aro, the oldest and most powerful of the three, had a face that was smooth and ageless, and his red eyes sparkled with an otherworldly light. Marcus, by contrast, was much more subdued in his appearance. His face was angular and severe, and his dark eyes were fixed upon some distant point, as if lost in thought. Caius, the most striking of the three, had hair as white as freshly fallen snow, which contrasted starkly against the black fabric of his cloak. His face was gaunt and angular, with deep-set red eyes that glinted like chips of obsidian.

Bella took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, determined to make a better impression this time around. She walked confidently towards the kings, her eyes fixed upon theirs.

"Isabella, my dear, it's wonderful to see you again. You look stunning since your transformation," Aro greeted with his usual joyfulness.

"Thank you, Aro. It's great to see all of you again. I've come hoping to visit and explore more of your beautiful country during my stay," Bella replied.

"Of course, you're always welcome to stay with us for as long as you'd like. We'll make a room ready for you," Aro graciously offered.

"That's very kind of you," Bella expressed, "I'm excited to meet more members of your coven. Apart from the Cullens, I haven't had the opportunity to make many vampire acquaintances since my transformation."

"How is Carlisle and all the other bunny munching pacifists?" Caius sneered, a hint of disdain in his voice.

"Let's try to be kinder in our choice of words, Caius," Aro interjected smoothly, his tone calm and collected.

Bella kept her gaze steady, refusing to show any reaction to Caius's insult. "Carlisle and the Cullens are doing very well, Caius," she replied with a smile. "I'll be sure to pass on your kind regards to Carlisle."

Aro cleared his throat, shifting the focus of the conversation. "So, Isabella," he said, his tone friendly. "Tell us all about your experiences since becoming a vampire."

Bella felt a surge of excitement at the opportunity to share her story. "I have loved every minute since I woke up," she said, her voice enthusiastic. "I was very lucky, and my newborn period was hardly an issue at all. I've loved every aspect of being a vampire. I truly love to train and learn how to protect myself and my family. I've been fortunate to have an excellent teacher, and I've been training constantly up until this last year when I was away from the Cullens overseas in school."

Caius looked at her skeptically, his gaze appraising. "Who taught you to fight?" he asked, his voice gruff.

"Jasper taught me. He taught me everything he knows," Bella replied confidently, sensing his approval.

Aro leaned forward in his seat, his eyes sparkling with interest. "You're welcome to train here while you stay," he said warmly. "All the guards here are trained to be proficient fighters, so you should have no lack of competition."

"That sounds fantastic," Bella said, her eyes lighting up. "I had a great time sparring with Felix and Demetri when they visited before. I look forward to training with others." She looked over at Felix, pointing her finger at him and then herself to indicate that they should fight it out later. She saw Felix nod with a smile.

As the conversation continued, Marcus interjected, "So, Isabella, you have continued your education?"

Bella nodded eagerly. "Oh yes. As soon as my newborn year was over, I enrolled in the University of Denver. I decided I wanted a different educational experience from what I had before, which I found quite boring. So, I really took a shine to the arts - acting, plays, literature, really anything where I could participate. This past year, I studied at the University of Paris, where I learned about the arts such as painting, sculpture, art history, and drawing. I've noticed all the artwork you have on my way to see you. It is quite impressive."

"Thank you, Isabella," Aro said, beaming. "We've always prided ourselves on being patrons of the arts. I can tell you some other time about some of the famous artists I have met."

"That sounds amazing," Bella said, her excitement growing. "I would really enjoy that."

As the conversation continued, she conversed with the kings for a while longer, sharing stories and experiences. They displayed a keen interest in how she had adapted to her new life as a vampire, expressing their happiness that she was so well-adjusted. As she prepared to bid them farewell and retire to her room, Aro rose from his seat and addressed her.

"Please forgive me, dear Isabella, but I am incredibly curious, as you know," Aro began. "You were the first person my power ever failed on. Now that you're a vampire, I was wondering if I could try again." A hopeful expression shone on Aro's face as he asked for her consent.

"Of course, you can give it a try, Aro," Bella said, beaming with confidence. Through her conversations with the kings, she had come to realize that they were not the monsters Edward had portrayed them to be. As she felt Aro take her hand, Bella couldn't resist enacting a playful trick on him. Her mastery of her mental shield meant that she could easily hold back her memories while simultaneously sending a message for Aro to hear. With a mischievous glint in her eye, Bella quickly formulated what she wanted to convey.

Aro POV

As Aro walked towards Isabella, he was overjoyed that she had asked to stay for an extended visit. He marveled at how well-rounded she was as a vampire, accomplishing so much in such a short time. From the start, Aro knew that Isabella would possess exceptional abilities if she became a vampire. For a human no less to thwart a 3000 year old powerfully gifted vampire such as himself was beyond extraordinary. As he took her hand, Aro felt himself relax, eager to see if Isabella's memories would flood his mind as they had for every person he had ever touched. After a moment's pause, he heard...

"Oh my goodness, gracious! He just can't find out, no, no, no! Why on earth did I expose vampires to the entire world? Oh, silly me, what was I thinking? And to make matters worse, I went and blabbed to all those reporters about the Volturi and their home in Volterra, and even shared how to put an end to our immortal lives! What will Aro think? Oh my, oh my, whatever shall I do?" Aro looked up quickly at Bella but she was smiling. The words continued on. "Hold on just a moment, Aro. Did you honestly think that would work? My oh my, you must remember, I am quite the confounding one. Shame on you!" Bella started to giggle.

Aro let go, now realizing he had been duped. "Well played, Isabella. Well played indeed. I'll have to remember that about you," he said, acknowledging her playful joke. "I see now that I was right and you truly are quite powerful. Any chance you would be willing to share with us what you are capable of?"

Bella gave him a coy smile. "I'm sorry, Aro, but I would like to keep some mystery intact." After a brief pause, she continued, "However, how about this? Before I leave, I promise to show you something amazing. Would that make you happy?"

Aro's eyes lit up at the thought. "That sounds simply marvelous, Isabella. You enjoy your stay with us, and if you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask. Good day for now."

After Bella and Felix left the throne room, Aro turned to his fellow kings with a smile. "It's refreshing to see a vampire who is a positive influence on our race," he said, his tone pleased. "I wish there were more like her."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "Yes, it seems like so many vampires nowadays are only focused on satisfying their thirst for blood. Not many try to make something of themselves like Isabella plans to."

Caius grunted in response. "So far, she has surprised me. I don't feel the need to rip her head off like I do with most of the Cullens," he said, which was a true testament to how much he had grown to like Isabella. "I'm glad to hear she got rid of that emo asshole. He was not worthy of a woman like her."

Marcus chimed in, "They did love each other when she was human, Caius. I saw their bond, but it was not one of mates. I'm sure when Isabella became a vampire, whatever romantic attraction she had for him died with her human form."

Aro nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps we will be lucky enough for Isabella to find someone here who catches her fancy. I wouldn't mind if she extended her stay," he mused, a glint in his eye.