Again I do not own Twilight or any of the characters within, unfortunately. One can dream right! Sorry this took so long, I had some trouble getting through some parts and work has been crazy busy, left me less time to write. I hope you enjoy, please let me know if you do :) Want to keep you happy guys!
Chapter 4
The rest of the day and evening were uneventful, Bella spent the time adjusting to her room and getting to know Alec. The next morning Bella woke up, showered, got dressed into a knee length black dress, and was on her way to meet with the Kings. Alec and Felix were leading Bella to the Kings study to discuss what would happen with her now. Bella was nervous and had so much she wanted to say, but was unsure how to do it without making the Kings angry. As they reached the door to the study Felix turned and smiled at Bella, "If you need someone to hold your hand in there Bella, I would be more than willing."
Before Bella could reply, a deep growl came from Alec. "I do not think so, Felix. You will keep your hands to yourself." Alec said fiercely, causing Bella to smile a little bit.
Before Alec could reach to open the door it swung open and a smiling Aro stood on the other side. "Well good morning Isabella!" Aro said cheerfully smiling wide. "How was your evening? I trust you were well taken care of." He said looking back and forth between Felix and Alec.
"Hey don't look at me!" Felix said throwing his hands up, "Alec said I couldn't go near Bella and I did not think it was fair. So he threatened me and I stayed away."
Bella looked at Alec shocked and saw him look a bit ashamed. "Well Felix seemed a bit too eager to spend time with Isabella and I did not want her to feel overwhelmed." Alec said defensively, then he followed up his statement speaking vampire quickly, "Plus i wanted time to get to know my mate." He said looking at Aro. Bella was looking between the men confused slightly.
"I had a very nice night. I settled into my bedroom and Alec made sure that I ate. We talked a lot last night, but I am still feeling home sick." Bella said honestly to Aro with sad eyes.
"Well come in my dear and sit and talk with my brothers and I, lets see what we can figure out for you." Aro said stepping aside to let Bella into the room. Marcus and Caius were sitting in large cushioned chairs around a round table. Caius had the most nasty expression on his face and Bella honestly wondered if this vampire ever smiled. Marcus was looking very bored and not interested in this conversation at all. Bella walked over the the chair closest to Marcus and sat down. Of the three Kings, Marcus was the only one that did not make Bella feel uncomfortable. Marcus glanced over at Bella and gave her a small smile and Bella was a bit taken aback, he was kind of handsome looking when he smiled. She found herself genuinely smiling back at him, which made his smile a bit wider.
"How are you today, child?" Marcus found himself asking Bella.
"Um, well, I am alright." Bella answered back, tripping over her words, sounding like an idiot.
"Well I suppose that's a good thing considering the position you have been thrown into." Marcus said softly to Bella.
Caius sat there glaring at Bella clearing not happy with this little conversation. "Can we just get on with this? Take her somewhere and change her or kill her and be done with this.' Caius said dismissively, waving his hand in Bella's direction. A loud snarl sounded through the room, Alec stood crouched looking at Caius clearly pissed at his statement.
"Now now brother, let's do this civilly and talk this out. We know that Isabella will be changed, we just need to figure out when." Aro said to Caius sitting down and folding his hands together.
"Caius you know killing her is not an option, please stop your sniveling." Marcus said to his brother, clearly unimpressed with the outburst. Alec stood from his crouch and leaned against the wall feeling better.
"Well said!" Aro said to Marcus smiling, surprised by Marcus's words. Caius scowled and leaned back in his chair steaming. "Now let us talk dear Isabella. We need to discuss your change." Aro said turning toward Bella.
"Okay, I wanted to talk to you about that. I have a request please." Bella said nervously biting her lip.
"Ah, I see you have thinking a lot on this dear. Let us hear what you propose and we will discuss it." Aro said smiling wide impressed with this human.
Bella blushed deeply and started fidgeting in her seat, her heart sped up, so was so nervous. Alec was at her side in a flash and he placed his hand on her shoulder. Bella shivered from his touch and it wasn't really because his hand was cold, she also felt herself calming down. "Okay, so obviously I want to be changed, I have wanted that for awhile now. It just feels right, I have never felt comfortable in my own skin. There are things I need though before I am changed, please!' Bella said pleading with the King's.
"Well go on girl, just get on with it. We have actual things we need to do today." Caius snapped at Bella.
"Wow cranky." Bella mumbled under hear breath not thinking that Caius would hear her. Caius growled in Bella's direction and she shrank into her seat. Alec answered the growl back with his own to Caius.
"Now now that's enough of that. Alec remember your place. Caius stop being an ass to Bella she has done nothing to you. Well other then be honest." Aro smiled as he finished his statement. Caius and Alec looked mutually scolded but Caius was still visibly angry. "Go on dear finish what you were saying."
Bella took a deep breath and looked around at everyone before continuing what she wanted to say. "I would like to go home…"
"NO!" Bella was cut off by Caius yelling and standing up looking at her with pure anger radiating from him.
"SIT!" Ordered Aro looking at his brother clearly annoyed with his outburst. Caius growled at Aro as he sat back down. "Continue." Aro said looking back at a fearful looking Bella.
"So I was hoping to just go home and get my stuff in order, come up with an excuse for my father. Then I would like to finish my senior year via computer and graduate with my class, please. Then I would be more than happy to be changed and become part of the Volturi." Bella finished off looking at Aro worriedly.
"Are you crazy girl? We can not allow you to leave, you know too much and you might run." Caius roared out.
"Enough!" Aro roared standing and facing Caius. "We will discuss this rationally Brother. Stop being an ass." Aro squared off against Caius clearly done with his theatrics. Caius sat down without a word staring daggers at Aro. "Now Isabella let us discuss this idea of yours." He said turning to look at Bella. "I am concerned about some of the things you are suggesting." he said with a slight frown. "Going home might pose a danger to you and a risk for us. We can't let you do that alone. Also what do you expect to tell your father about this?" he said sitting down thinking about how this would work. He didn't want to necessarily deny her request, but it held risks and he can't have that.
"I don't have to go alone, you can send someone with me. I am not sure maybe a foreign exchange thing. That I'm unsure on to be honest." Bella said frowning. "Well actually to be honest I am 18 so I could just tell Charlie I am moving here because an opportunity arose. I will just keep in touch with him for now so he doesn't worry and he knows that I am doing okay with school and stuff." she finished off with a smile looking around at everyone.
"Isabella he can not know about who we are." Aro said seriously. "Also when you become a vampire you won't be able to see him or talk to him anymore." he said a bit more softly, realizing this might be difficult for her.
"I realize that, I just was hoping to make this as easy for Charlie as possible. I would like him to attend my graduation, will you allow him to be im my life until then, please?" Bella asked Aro, pleading with him with her eyes.
Aro turned and looked at Marcus, Marcus reached out his hand to touch Aro's hand. Aro then turned back to Bella without a glance at Caius, "Alright my dear, we can work with this. Make sure though you also can prepare yourself for when you have to cut ties." Aro said to hear leaning forward and gently touching her hand.
Bella looked at his hand and then at him, trying not to jerk her hand away but she knew it twitched. "I will." she said to him a bit surprised.
"Alright then, let's make plans to get this done." Aro said taking his hand back and leaning back in his chair. "Marcus why don't you make the call to Forks High and get Isabella all set to finish her classes via computer. Alec you should get Isabella set up with what she needs to accomplish her schooling and such. Also please make arrangements for Demetri, Felix, Jane, and you to take Isabella home to get her belongings." Aro said setting everything in motion for Bella.
"I am going to go call my dad." Bella said standing up a bit excitedly. "Thank you for this, you have changed my opinion. Edward was so wrong." she said smiling and looking at everyone.
"You are most welcome, and the Cullens choose to see what they want to see." Marcus said standing up. "Go make your phone call, I will accompany you to your room, while Alec tends to what he needs to. His task is a little bit more important, time wise." he turned looking at Alec, "Go ahead, I will make sure Isabella is alright."
Alec came over and gave Bella a kiss on the cheek, "I will see you soon." he said before disappearing out the door.
Marcus guided Bella out the door and toward her room, "You think things through, but you don't think about just yourself. You care deeply for those around you, I see your ties to people and they are strong. You are unique Isabella and it is a pleasure to be able to meet someone as caring as you. You remind me a lot of myself and my dear Didyme, I miss her terribly." Marcus said conversing with Bella on her way to her room.
"What happened sir? If you don't mind me asking." Bella said softly and sadly, she could hear and see the hurt Marcus felt.
"Didyme was murdered for ideas and her compassionate nature, it lead her to become a target because she wished to make changes." Marcus said a bit cryptically.
"I am really sorry sir, do you think that spirits of people can be reborn? Maybe someday you will find her again in the form of a new person." Bella said hopefully.
"Well my dear, I am not sure if it is possible. It is a nice thought, but I do not hold out to much hope that it will happen. Also you can call me Marcus, not sir, I would prefer that more." Marcus said as they neared her room.
"Alright I will call you Marcus if you call me Bella." Bella said with a smile as they stopped in front of her door.
"Alright Bella, I am in agreement then. Go call your father dear and someone will come to let you know the plans for your trip home. I will go call your school and get everything set up for you. Do not worry too much, I can be quite persuasive, I just know it will all work out." Marcus said opening the door for Bella.
"Thank you Marcus for everything, I will see you soon." Bella said as she walked into her room. Marcus closed the door saying "Your welcome." as Bella made her way to her bed. She picked up her cell phone off the side table looking at all the missed calls on texts. She sighed before picking Charlie's number and hitting call, she waited as it rang a few times.
"Bella, is that you! Where are you? What's going on?" Charlie's frantic voice came through the phone.
"Dad it's okay, calm down. I am in Italy right now, an emergency came up and the Cullen's needed my help. It is all worked out, but the most wonderful opportunity came up dad!" Bella said trying to calm Charlie down and trying to sound excited.
"When are you coming home? I can not believe you left to help that family after what they did to you! Bella what were you thinking?" Charlie yelled at Bella.
"Dad please calm down. Everything is going to be fine, I promise. I am going to come home soon, but not to stay. I have been given the most amazing opportunity here in Italy, I am going to finish school and graduate with my class dont worry, but I will be her in Italy to do it." Bella said trying to make Charlie see how important this was to her. Her voice was a bit shaky and she hoped he didn't catch it.
"Bella I don't like this, come home. Let's talk about this." Charlie said a bit calmer, but still clearly upset.
"Alright, I am coming home, but I am bringing some friends with me. I will let you know as soon as I do about when I will be coming home, okay dad." Bella said matter of factly, she wanted him to understand how serious she was.
"Bella I don't understand, this is ridiculous." Charlie said angrily.
"Dad I will call you when I know, just know I am safe and happy and I will talk to you soon." Bella half lied to Charlie just to get him off the phone, then the hung up. Bella put her phone down again and just stared at it. Tears began to flow down her cheeks and onto her lap, a sob broke from her mouth, as her hand came up to her mouth she broke down. She curled up on her bed and cried, she cried for her life, she cried for lost family, she cried for losing Edward, she cried for everything. She wanted to be strong, to be brave, but she just couldn't hold it all together. She would make it through this, but it wouldn't be easy, she could put a face on but deep down she was hurting.