An Unresolved Past
This story starts off five years after its prelude: 'Life is never what you expect it to be'. Bella is now Caius's mate and they are both very happily bonded. WARNING: This is an adult version of twilight and will have sexual submission and violence (after all; the story revolves around vampires). This is not for the faint of heart; it is very dark and has sexual content. 18+
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters but has nothing to do with this story.
Chapter 15 – Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice*
Bella felt trapped and tried to back away from Aro saying "I think I will go upstairs and unpack"
Aro grabbed her arm steering her towards the doors with a firm grip as he said "Don't leave; I'm sure you have missed him since you joined our coven and I think he would be very happy to see you too".
She hesitated, looking at the doorknob as if it was a viper about to strike and at the same moment she heard the rhythmic beat of a human heart and smelt the blood.
She tried to turn and run but Aro only tightened his grip. He then leaned in towards her and whispered into her ear "It's time that you learned to behave. Now do as I ask; go and meet our guest!"
Aro opened the door and something happened what neither had expected; the person behind it had pushed his way through and ran past them only to be caught by the guards a couple of seconds later.
He tried to free himself from their grasp but was no match for them.
"Let go of me!" Charlie shouted as he struggled against the vampire arms that held him. Bella watched as the guards easily captured him and held him tight but with care. She then realized that Aro had left instructions not to hurt him just to lock him away until their arrival.
Aro looked at him and said "Now Mr Swan, I deeply regret the circumstances you are in but you must be patient! I only wish to have some information".
Charlie was furious and his face was contorted by his emotions as he yelled "I don't have to be anything; who the hell are you?"
Aro chuckled "My name is Aro Scoperto"
Bella recognized him the minute she laid eyes on him and once she was able to recover from her initial shock she shouted to the guards "Don't hurt him! Just give him to me"
Charlie's eyes turned from Aro to her and his eyes speared open as he saw the elegant woman in front of him. His anger was still in full force as he shouted "Who the hell are you?"
Aro looked at her father and replied "Now Charlie; is that any way to greet your daughter?"
He looked at Aro as if he had grown two heads and then he looked back at Bella "No, my Bells is different and she doesn't have red eyes; what kind of callous trick is this?"
Aro ignored his words and said "I will take my leave Isabella and allow you some time to get reacquainted with your father".
Bella said nothing as she tried to catch her equilibrium. When Aro and the guards left the room she took a cautious step in his direction carefully holding her hand out towards he father. "Please come with me Mr. Swan; believe me, escape is futile.
Charlie looked at her extended hand but made no effort to reach it; instead he cautiously walked around her to the room he had just fled with Bella following at a reasonable distance.
Once Charlie had walked in the room he kept a certain amount of space between himself and Bella and she felt his eyes scrutinizing her. Bella slowly paced back and forth trying to avoid his eyes as she kept her distance. She was having difficulty adjusting to the situation but hearing his accelerated heartbeat, realized it was probably even more stressful for her father.
Being careful not to scare him she stopped her pacing at the furthest end of the room then she turned to face him.
Charlie had of course become a little older and his hair had become a white-grey since she had last seen him but even though the past six years had taken their emotional and physical toll, he was still in good shape. It suddenly dawned on her that it was his relationship with Sue that had gotten him through these rough years. She inadvertently smiled to herself softly mumbling "Thanks Sue; without you all those steaks and hamburgers would have gotten to
him by now".
Unhappily Charlie heard her words and upon hearing them his eyes speared open and he thoughtlessly sank on the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes and put his hands in front of his face. After a moment or two of silence he gradually moved his hands downwards and used them to support his chin; opening his eyes he looked up into her face as he slowly grumbled "who the hell are you and how do you know my wife's name? I admit you look a lot like my Bells when she died and yet you look different in a way I can't describe."
Seeing a reflection of herself in fathers eyes made Bella feel miserable; how could she tell him knowing that the truth would either cause his death or a lifelong imprisonment.
She sadly shook her head in denial 'Believe me, you don't want to know who I am and I really don't want to tell you' she thought as she cautiously began to speak "I would like to ask you a few questions if I may".
Charlie hit his fist on the bed and shouted "No, I have been taken here against my will and no one has told me why, I want some answers!"
Trying to calm him she edged her way towards him as she slowly began to talk "If I can, I will try but there are some things that you are better off not knowing and those things I will not answer. Now, go ahead ask me a question."
Charlie looked sideways and watched her through the slits of his eyes asking "Who are you?"
"My name is Isabella Scoperto" she automatically replied hoping that he would resign himself to her explanation.
Charlie then motioned with his hands as looked around the room asking "Where the hell am I?"
"You are in Greece"
Charlie's eyes speared open while he asked "How the hell did I get here? The last thing I remember was that I was in a small town on the outskirts of Rome".
Bella then tried to calm him down by saying "To tell you the truth I don't think that is as important as WHY were you there?"
Bella knew Charlie never would leave Forks of his own accord. After a moment's hesitation she cautiously said "I hear an American accent, do you come to Europe often?"
Charlie was grave as he replied "Never and let me tell you I hope never to come again. The only reason I came here was to find someone; as soon as I find her I will leave and I hope never to come back here again"
Bella knew he would only become suspicious if she didn't probe further "May I please ask? Who are you looking for?"
Charlie distressed by the situation replied "My daughter, I am looking for my daughter. She died in Italy about six years ago and I got a letter telling me that it wasn't true and that I should go to Rome and find her".
Bella felt her stomach lurch "What? You must be mistaken!"
Charlie sighed and pointing to the envelope on the bed she said "In that letter there were 2 airline tickets and a hotel address".
Bella was alarmed by this news but tried to disguise this for him as she asked "Did you come alone?"
Charlie's voice had lost all hostility as he sighed "Yes! However my wife told someone about it and he followed me".
"Who?" Bella cautiously asked hoping no one else was in danger.
Charlie looked up annoyed by her question "You wouldn't know him".
Her heart racing Bella tried to preserve her composure as she said "I won't but I can ask for some information if I have a name"
Charlie was drained and as he looked up she saw the cynicism in his eyes "How do I know he won't be given the same treatment?
"You have my word!" Then looking at his cynical expression she added "I know under the circumstances it's not much; but I promise you I only wish to help protect him".
After a long moment of hesitation he murmured to himself "I hope I don't regret this" then looking up to her he said "Someone called Jacob Black"
Bella continued her questioning hoping she could mask her distress as her eyes watched her father's behaviour "Do you know where he is now?"
"I don't know; you'll have to ask the characters behind the doors" he said as he pointed his thumb towards the door.
Bella then stood up and said "I must leave you for a moment; I will be back as soon as possible".
She swiftly walked towards the door and from what Charlie could see she was just as unhappy with the situation as he was.
As she opened the door she hesitated and then turning her head she said "Please don't try to leave the room while I am away; I don't want you to give them an excuse to hurt you. They can be vicious and believe me; they have absolutely no conscience. I have something I must do but I will be back as soon as I can".
After leaving the room she searched the mansion for Aro and then catching his voice she followed the sound. Hearing his voice behind the door she rushed in throwing all diplomacy out the window as she blustered "why the hell did you bring my father here?"
The vampire in front of Aro looked up, his eyes full loathing at the way she dared to barge in and then shout towards his master.
Turning toward the guard he said "Thank you for the arrangements, they are satisfactory but at the moment I wish to be alone with my sister in law"
The guard bowed to Aro and then turned to leave the two of them alone.
Aro was furious "You dare to behave like a child in front of the guard; I will not have him or anyone else exposed to such behaviour! It's these kinds of outbursts that I speak of! Seeing your disrespectful and unrestrained emotions will make others think it permissible; I will not have you incite bad behaviour in others".
Bella, not registering his angry words, was uncompromising and her face mirrored her anger as she stood ready to fight.
Aro then changed tactics and observed her with all the condescension of an adult having to deal with an unreasonably naughty child as he said "My dear Isabella, you gave me no choice and I told you there would be consequences for your behaviour".
Bella ignored his words asking "What does he know? Does he know he is in the company of vampires?"
Aro chuckled "No, not officially! Unless you told him"
Bella retorted "No I haven't; now let him go!"
Aro hissed "There you go with your demands; you will never learn will you, I must say it is a trait you have in common with your human father. You see Isabella I have noticed you are very headstrong; it was something my brother tolerated but strangely enough Caius was always able to overlook the sharp edges; something I must say, that was totally out of character for him".
He then walked towards his bureau, the tone of his voice harsh and devious as he stated
"Since his death you have become wilful and I think the only way to change this is that you take a new mate".
Bella hissed "No; you cannot ask me! I have done almost everything that you have asked of me".
Aro sarcastically asked "You're not being completely honest, now are you? Every task I have asked of you has been done but often, if not always after loud protest and complaints from you. You do not realize the importance of good behaviour and being queen you must set an example for our followers; we must form a strong front".
Bella arrogantly asked "So who do you suggest? Are you going to give me away so that I no longer embarrass the Royal family? Well, I've got a proposition; why don't you let me go back to Alaska. I can help Demetri look for my mate".
Aro chuckled at her tenacity saying "That's not possible; anyway I have just called Demetri and ordered him to go back to Volterra".
He saw the disbelief cloud her eyes as she said "You can't stop looking; I just know Caius is out there".
Aro then replied "You see, this is just another example of you disobedient conduct; you are telling your king what he can and cannot do. I refuse to accept this behaviour any longer! The longer you stay like this the longer your father will stay as our guest. Now please leave".
Bella's mind was racing; by challenging Aro's power she had inadvertently brought her father into this. She somehow knew he would never give up on her; his love for her had been boundless. She remembered that Caius's spy had told them he would lay flowers on her grave every week and stay at her plot for hours speaking to the stone. At that time even his health had deteriorated until he finally found solace in Sue's company.
He had loved her so much and had suffered the last six years because of it. Now the only children or grandchildren he had to depend on were Sue's. Bella was more than grateful for that and at that moment she realized that it was time for her to pay the price.
Aro discreetly watched her face as she worked on this dilemma slowly said "Please leave Isabella; this conversation is going nowhere and do not wish to listen to your obstinate demands any longer".
Bella sighed in surrender as she said "OK Aro, you win; I'll do anything but on one condition; I want my father taken to the airport and put on the next plane back home".
He eyed her suspiciously as he asked "How can I trust you; as soon as he is safely on the airplane you will not refuse to keep your part of the deal".
Reasoning with him Bella said "Do I have a choice? I know you can pick him up whenever you want".
Aro smiled as he realized he had won this argument "That is true; actually if anyone of importance were to find out that he has been here it would mean his instant death. So you see I am not as harsh as you believe me to be; I will not only give him his life but also his freedom".
"May I ask what you want of me in return?" she tentatively asked.
"I do not blackmail a ward who is under my care" Aro arrogantly answered.
Bella realized that Aro was waiting for her to present him with a more diplomatic question and so she mentally bit back all anger and forced herself to meet his unspoken terms "That is not what I meant; maybe I was too blunt in my question. No, what I actually wished to say was 'how can I return your kindness'?"
Aro swiftly answered "You will take a mate"
"Why Aro?"she asked "Why can't I just stay on my own like Marcus?"
"Believe me Isabella I not only do this for myself and the order in the coven; I also do this for you. I promise to help you find a new equilibrium in your life".
"You?" She whispered and tried to keep a neutral gaze in her eyes as her world plummeted around her. She should have seen this coming all the signs had been there but she had purposely blinded herself from it. To be his mate would force her to submit not only to power but also his many irrational mood changes which often scared her.
Tactfully she tried to talk him out of it saying "You know as well as I that any bond I make will never be the same as a mating bond I had with Caius; this will be unfair to you or anyone else that takes me as his mate".
Smiling he answered "It does not matter to me; you see I have not only fallen for your gift but also for the package in which it is wrapped. Now that package will be at my side for as long as I wish it, warming my bed and obeying my every wish as a good mate should".
All of a sudden she staggered on her feet while processing this information then she desperately added "What will happen when Caius returns?"
"He will not! I do not believe in the impossible en neither should you; unhappily I believe he no longer exists otherwise I would not demand this of you. Now, either you accept my offer or we keep you father indefinitely, maybe take the other human that came with him, do you understand?"
Hearing this Bella realized she didn't have much of a choice; if it were only her life she would never accept the proposition. She would prefer they locked her up and threw away the key but Aro had somehow found her Achilles heel.
She gradually comprehended that it had always been Aro's intention to have her; after all, why isolate her all this time? Frustrated at being manipulated by Aro and not knowing how to get out of this arrangement she just wanted to get as far away as possible from him and quickly said "As king you seem to be able to do whatever you want; you seem to hold all the cards. I must go now; my father will become very anxious and I want him ready to leave as soon as possible".
She turned and was about to leave when Aro retorted "Your answer now!"
Reluctantly and determined not to make visual contact she whispered "I accept"
"Excellent!" he said letting a seductive smile slowly form on his lips as he relished his new found control.
Bella walked forward her only objective to leave the room and Aro's presence as soon as possible. After her first steps she heard Aro order "Stop".
She heard his footsteps advancing and tried to keep her wits about her. As soon as he stood behind her he seized her shoulders and gradually pulled her towards his chest and she braced herself for what was to come. After just a moment his hands leisurely travelled down her arms as he leaned in to inhale her scent muttering "Molto buono, la mia bella uccello canoro"*. Then leaning forward he whispered into her ear "My lovely Isabella there is one more thing that you need to know"
She turned her head to look at him and saw the smug expression on his face as the tip of his tong trailed his lips. She felt his hands slowly wander from her waist to her bosom and a cold foreboding filled her as he tightened his hold and whispered "You are always so inquisitive don't you want to know what I have to say?"
Aro turned her around allowing her see the predator's gleam in his eyes as he absorbed the curves of her body. A pleasure filled smile twisted his face into something that bordered on sinister; his appearance that of a hunter who was about to steer his prey into their cage. Aro had always been someone to avoid at the best of times and seeing this sent shivers up her spine.
After a moment of fearful hesitation she softly asked "What else can I do for you?"
He raised his eyebrow and said "I thought you would never ask".
He then whispered "I need proof of your acceptance" and with an almost evil smile he took Bella's face in both of his long fingered hands then slowly moved his thumb caressing her lower lip. He looked at her eyes he removed his thumb and pressed his lips against Bella's slightly parted ones; soft and gentle at first, then deepening into something on the verge of savage desperation as Aro demanded entrance. His hands moved to cup her head, threading his fingers in her hair as he forced her to submit. When Bella reluctantly gave him passage he delved his tongue deep into Bella's mouth, tasting her very essence.
His kiss deepened as he claimed ownership; his hands supporting his claim as they gradually moved down her body each movement sensual and caressing. She heard him moan and his passion grew as he backed her up against his desk. Then between the moans his warm breath caressed Bella's sensitive skin as he whispered in her ear "by your own words, you are now mine and will be bound to me through eternity"
Bella allowed his touch but could not reciprocate to his actions which frustrated him to no end. Aggravated by her lack of response he pushed her away from him and when she stumbled he grabbed her arm with one hand to balance her and then his other quickly seized and held her chin in a vice-like grip. He slowly subdued his anger and looking down at her he whispered seductively "Tutto a suo tempo"**.
Abruptly taking a couple of steps away from her he smiled darkly, whispering in a low seductive voice "Once you are finished with your father you will come to my bedroom and you had better overcome your shyness; I have no use for that in my bed. Your willingness towards me will determine if I let him go or not; so it would do you good to realize that.
Then letting out a sigh he waved his hand giving her permission to leave. Softly closing the door behind her she left Aro's company feeling visibly shaken.
Deciding she would take one problem at a time she abruptly turned and began walking back to her father's room.
Bella's fighting spirit was broken knowing that she had given herself, body and soul to Aro and that she could never get away from him without endangering her mortal family.
* "Molto buono, la mia bella uccello canoro" means "Very good, my beautiful songbird"
** "Tutto a suo tempo" means "All in good time"
(Please excuse any faults in my Italian. It is one of the beautiful languages I haven't been able to learn; what can I say, languages, like Italian and French are too difficult for me)
Love is not a feeling of happiness. Love is a willingness to sacrifice – Michael Novak
