Chapter 30

Bella had been a guest at the castle for several days now, and she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Felix had been her gracious host, introducing her to many of the Volturi's members. Among them, Bella felt that she could become good friends with Heidi and Chelsea. However, she couldn't seem to break through Jane's tough exterior despite her best efforts.

During her stay, Bella had also been shown the training room and had a blast training with the guards. And just a day after her arrival, Demetri had returned from a mission, and both he and Felix had offered to show her around some of Italy's famous landmarks.

Bella was once again on her way to the Volturi library, which she considered the most magnificent library she had ever seen. The library had been overseen by Marcus for thousands of years, and he had meticulously saved important works from human and vampire history. Bella was very cautious around certain pieces, refusing to even touch some texts for fear of damaging them.

As Bella browsed the shelves in search of hidden treasures, she stumbled upon Marcus reading in a comfortable chair. Marcus was known for being the most reserved of the Volturi rulers, and Bella had recently learned that sadly this was due to the loss of his wife many centuries ago. Upon noticing Bella, Marcus looked up and greeted her.

"Isabella, it's good to see you again. How has your stay been so far?" Marcus asked, genuinely interested. He found Bella's positivity and zest for life infectious, and being around her was making even him perk up too.

"I'm having a lovely time," Bella replied, her face lighting up. "Everyone has been so nice to me and has gone out of their way to show me around this amazing castle." She meant it - so far, everyone had been great, and she couldn't understand why the Cullens' seemed to have such a negative view of the Volturi.

"I'm glad to hear that," Marcus said, smiling back. "If you ever need help finding something in the library, come find me."

Bella hesitated briefly but then concluded that Marcus appeared receptive and willing to converse with her. She resolved to share her thoughts with him and began,

"Marcus, I was hoping you might be able to assist me with something. I've developed a strong interest in the arts, particularly music and songs. In my studies, I learned that music has not endured as well as written works. With the advent of computers, this problem has been mostly mitigated. However, if we look back just 150 years or so, we find that nearly all music that was once popular during that era has been lost to time. Given that you have lived for countless lifetimes and vampire memories do not fade, I was hoping that perhaps you could sing me a song from your human days. It would be such an honor to hear a song that has literally not been heard in thousands of years." Bella requested with heartfelt sincerity, hoping that she had not inadvertently offended the king in any way.

As Marcus gazed into Isabella's eyes, a smile crept onto his face. He observed a youthful vampire who had an interest in the past and was eager to preserve a piece of it that lay beyond her grasp. Memories of a time long gone flooded his mind, back to ancient Greece when life was vastly different from today. He reminisced about the individuals who would congregate in the marketplaces and sing beautiful songs. One of those tunes was particularly popular at the time and had left an indelible mark on Marcus. Although that song was no longer around, he realized that he could keep it alive in a small way by singing it for Bella. With that thought in mind, Marcus began to sing.

Bella was in disbelief as she listened to Marcus's mesmerizing singing. The song was simply stunning, and its uniqueness added to its specialness. Marcus had an exceptionally beautiful voice that filled the room. As the song came to an end, Bella realized that if she were capable of crying, she would have been in tears.

"Marcus, thank you so much," Bella said with gratitude. "I will never forget this song, and one day I promise to sing it for someone else."

Over the next week, Bella set out to explore some of the most famous landmarks in Italy. With her vampire speed, running through the night made it easy for her to reach her destinations without being noticed. She started her journey by visiting the stunning Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. She was awed by the intricate details of the artworks and the grandeur of the architecture, feeling a sense of reverence as she gazed up at the painted ceilings and marble columns.

The next evening, Heidi suggested that they visit the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa together. When they arrived at the garage, Bella's eyes lit up at the sight of the high-end Italian motorcycles parked there. Heidi noticed her excitement and offered to let her take one for a spin. They both hopped on their bikes and rode through the night, the wind in their hair as they explored the Italian countryside and passed by quaint little towns along the way.

Just as the sun began to rise, they arrived at the leaning tower, its structure casting a long shadow in the morning light. They took a few pictures and marveled at its unique architecture, and then rode back to Volterra, feeling exhilarated by their fun filled ride.

In a few days, Felix and Demetri had invited Bella to visit Rome with them, where they planned to see some of the ancient landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Bella was excited to explore more of Italy's rich history and gladly accepted their invitation.

Bella was happy to be in the company of other vampires and making new friends. Every night seemed like a new adventure, and she felt grateful to be able to experience Italy's rich culture and history.

Bella was back in the training room, having a great time sparring with all the Volturi. She had not lost a match yet and fought to a draw most of the time with Felix. Demitri was also quite good, and Bella had fun sparring with him after he returned from a mission a day after Bella had arrived. She had just defeated Heidi once again when Chelsea spoke up, "You're good, Bella. I'll give you that. But I bet you could not beat Heidi and me together against you."

Bella looked at the two and had no doubt in her mind that she would win easily against both of them. She would not say it aloud, but she did not think much of them as fighters. Their skills lay in other areas, and they were not the muscle of the Volturi. Bella smiled inwardly, having a devious idea. She decided to put her acting skills to the test.

"I don't know," she hesitated in her speech. "I've never fought two against one. I think I would win, but why would I bet? It's unfair."

Heidi wanted in on this as she was tired of losing to Bella. "How about this? We fight, Chelsea and me against you, and the winners choose what the loser eats for their next meal. If you think about it, it's a win-win for you since you would not have to drink that crap you call food."

Bella thought to herself, 'well, that was easy.' She thought she would have to play down her skills a lot more to get them to make such a risky wager. She already knew what they would be eating, and this was going to be hilarious.

Chelsea, seeing Bella's apparent discomfort, decided to taunt her in hopes that Bella would not want to seem like a chicken in front of all the guard. "It's okay, Bella if you're scared. You don't have to take the bet."

"I'm not afraid of anything. I'll take that bet," she said slowly, still playing it up that she was unsure of the outcome.

The other combatants in the training room had all heard the bet and went to sit on the seats to watch, hoping for an epic showdown. Felix, who had been watching the conversation, knew that Bella was just playing with Heidi and Chelsea and gave her a conspiratorial wink, intimating well played.

After they all shook hands, Heidi positioned herself on one side of Bella, while Chelsea on the other. Bella now gave a wicked smile at them both and said confidently, "Let's do this!"

Heidi was quick to attack, but Bella saw it coming from a mile away. She dodged and countered with a swift punch to Heidi's gut. Chelsea came in from behind, but Bella flipped backwards and kicked her in the face.

The fight was extremely entertaining to watch for the spectating vampires, but in reality, it only lasted a few minutes. Bella had to admit, she was having fun. She was impressed with Heidi and Chelsea's tenacity, but she was still in control of the fight.

Heidi and Chelsea tried to coordinate their attacks, but Bella was too quick for them. She dodged and weaved through their punches and kicks, all while landing her own attacks.

Finally, Bella saw her opening. She lunged at Heidi and had her teeth at her neck. At the same time, she jumped up and wrapped her legs around a charging Chelsea's head and squeezed tightly. Chelsea was at her mercy, and Bella could have easily decapitated her with her legs if she wanted to.

"Looks like I win," Bella said, grinning from ear to ear. Heidi and Chelsea acknowledged their defeat, still trying to catch their bearings. They had underestimated Bella's combat skills, and they paid the price for it.

Hearing the clapping and cheers from the watching crowd, Bella released them both. "Now as to the bet. Don't worry I know the perfect spot. Let's go." She said with a mischievous grin.

Bella led Heidi and Chelsea out of the castle, through the city and into the forest. The moon was full, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding trees. The sound of their footsteps and rustling leaves was the only noise in the otherwise silent night. They moved at vampire speed, darting through the forest with ease, and soon they were miles away from the castle.

Bella led them to a fence, and beyond it was a sprawling farm. They could hear the lowing of cows in the distance, and a sense of dread settled over Chelsea and Heidi. Bella's smile didn't waver, though, as she turned to face them.

"I came across this place on one of my hunts. I think it will be just perfect for you two," she said, her voice teasing.

"What is this place?" asked Heidi, her voice trembling with fear.

Before Bella could answer, the sound of the cows grew louder and louder until it was unmistakable. Heidi's eyes widened in horror as she realized what was about to happen.

"You've got to be kidding, right?" Chelsea's voice was hopeful, but the look on Bella's face told them everything they needed to know. This was their fate.

"Come on, guys," Bella said with a smile. "It will be over quickly."

The three of them hopped over the fence, and the cows became agitated, sensing something was off. Heidi and Chelsea slowly advanced on the cows not believing they had to do this when Bella spoke up.

"Hang on guys. I never said you would have to drink from a cow. I would never do that to you. You guys are my friends," Bella said, giving them a reassuring smile.

Heidi and Chelsea heaved a collective sigh of relief, grateful that they had dodged a bullet. As Bella led them further into the farm, they were curious about where they were going.

Finally, Bella stopped in front of the large pig sty, which was filled with many large sleeping dirty swine. The smell emanating from the sty was putrid, and the mud inside was ankle-deep, making it an uninviting sight. Bella walked over to the pen, a giant grin on her face, and gestured towards it.

"Here you go guys. Let me know how it tastes. I've never tried pigs blood. Who knows, you might like it," Bella said with a huge smile. "Why don't you go first, Chelsea, since it was your idea to bet?"

Chelsea felt her heart sink. She slowly climbed over the fence and landed with a loud splat in the mud. The swine groaned and stirred in their sleep, but Chelsea was too focused on the task at hand. She approached the nearest swine, trying not to look at its dirty skin, and bent down to drink.

As the thick, warm blood entered her mouth, Chelsea felt her stomach churn. The taste was unbearable, and she had to force herself to keep drinking to finish the job. She felt Bella's camera flash, and she knew she was captured in her moment of humiliation. When she was done, she quickly hopped out of the pen, covered in mud.

"Oh my god. That was the worst thing I've ever tasted," Chelsea groaned, her face twisted in disgust. She looked at the smiling Bella and knew that one day, she would have her revenge. "Okay, your turn, Heidi. No way am I doing that and you not having to as well."

Heidi reluctantly approached the pig pen, feeling a wave of nausea hit her as she took in the overwhelming stench of the mud and feces. She couldn't believe she was about to do this, but she had no choice. After she climbed over the fence and hopped down, her foot slipped on the slick mud, causing her to fall back with a loud squelch. The mud and filth now coated her clothes, her skin and her hair, and she couldn't help but groan in disgust as she struggled to stand up.

In the midst of her humiliation, she could hear Bella and Chelsea laughing and she felt the bright flash and realized that Bella was taking pictures of her disgrace. She couldn't help but acknowledge that Bella really knew how to make someone pay when they lost a bet.

Feeling utterly humiliated, Heidi made her way to one of the giant, smelly pigs. The closer she got, the worse the smell became, and she had to fight the urge to retch. She hesitated for a moment, then finally leaned in and bit into the pig's neck.

With her mouth latched on, she could feel the slimy texture of the pig's skin and the taste of its warm blood on her tongue. The taste was even worse than she had imagined, and she had to fight to keep the bile from rising in her throat. As she continued to drink, she felt the flashes of Bella's camera going off, immortalizing her moment of shame.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and pulled away, her face twisted in disgust. She stood up, feeling the weight of the mud and filth on her body, and looked at Bella with an evil glint in her eye. "You might have won this time, Bella, but don't worry. We will get ours some time in the future," she said, trying to muster some bravado. She had to believe that one day they would have their revenge.

"Oh, I'm sure you guys will. One day you'll get your revenge, and I'll have to do something equally as horrible," Bella said happily. "But until that day, at least we'll have all these nice pictures to remember this fine night," Bella said, laughing.

As Bella put away her camera, Heidi looked at Chelsea and motioned towards Bella. Chelsea nodded, smiling in agreement. Heidi complimented Bella on a job well done, while Chelsea stealthily crept up from behind. Suddenly, Chelsea sprang up and wrapped her arms tightly around Bella, causing her to let out a startled shriek.

Before Bella could do anything, Heidi swooped in from the other side and gave her a big hug, smearing mud and filth all over her clothes. As they both hugged Bella tightly, they wiggled and moved around, making sure that she got just as dirty as they were.

Bella was laughing uncontrollably, and her once-clean clothes were now covered in mud and filth. "Okay, you got me," she said, still chuckling. "I guess I can help you guys get rid of the evidence now. It would probably be bad to leave drained pigs with holes in their necks around."

As they cleaned up the area and left the farm, the three friends knew that they had all gotten their just deserts. The stench of the pigpen would stay with them for many days to come, but they couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that they had all shared in the embarrassment together.