Chapter 33

I slowly came to, my body felt like it was wrapped in a cozy cocoon of comfort. The mattress was so soft and cradled me like a cloud. My groggy senses could feel the gentle brush of my own skin, a reminder that I lay there naked beneath the soft sheets. My eyes, heavy with sleep, protested the intrusion of the bright sunlight streaming in through the balcony door windows. With one eye reluctantly cracking open, I took a bleary look around, my vision unfocused. Demetri was conspicuously absent, and I vaguely recalled him mentioning that he was going to get some work done while I slept. Feeling the persistent tug of weariness, I rolled over onto my stomach and, with a contented sigh, surrendered once more to the embrace of sleep.

I woke up again some time later, feeling much more rested. I rolled onto my back and stretched in bed. Across the room, I spotted my phone on a table and summoned it with my abilities, watching it fly into my outstretched hand. The screen displayed 4:00 PM. If I'd gone to bed around 6:00 AM this morning, that meant I'd enjoyed a really good night, or I guess, day of sleep. Hopefully, this would help me settle into a good sleeping schedule where I'd be up through the night and part of the day. It seemed like the best schedule to keep around vampires, especially if I wanted to see the sites with Demetri. I sat up and sent two texts to my mom and Charlie, assuring them that I was doing fine and loving Italy.

I hopped out of bed and began selecting clothes for the day. I settled on some skinny blue jeans and a yellow blouse. I planned to take a nice relaxing bath, but first I opened the door to my balcony and stepped outside, basking in the warmth of the sun on my skin. It took a moment for my eyes to fully adjust to the sunlight's brightness, but once they did, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the gardens. In the distance, I spotted one of the Koi fountains, and my gaze landed on two sparkling figures seated along its edge. I looked down and realized they could probably see me in all my naked glory if they happened to glance my way. With that in mind, I decided to head back inside and indulge in that much-desired bath.

As I walked into the bathroom, I was struck by how large the tub was. For the past year, I had been forced to take showers, as the tub in Forks was just too tiny to enjoy. However, this one appeared to be large enough to accommodate several people. I quickly started the water, and before long, it had filled up enough for me to get in. The tub was so spacious that I could float effortlessly on the surface with plenty of room to move around; it felt like a miniature pool.

Idly, I thought about asking Demetri if there was an actual pool in the castle. I wouldn't be surprised if there was one, considering the castle seemed to have everything. While relaxing in the warm water, I noticed a pitcher that seemed designed for washing hair. I decided to use my abilities and had it float over to me. Wanting to practice my powers, which I hadn't done much of in the past two days, I dunked the pitcher and then lifted it high into the air over myself. I tipped it, causing water to splash onto my face. It turned out to be quite fun, and it presented a good challenge to keep the pitcher steady as the water hitting me proved to be rather distracting. I repeated the process over and over, thoroughly enjoying myself.

Eventually, I felt fully refreshed. After drying my hair and getting dressed, I decided it was time to go out. While Demetri had said I should contact him when I was ready to start the day, I knew he had been putting off his duties and would likely continue to do so during my stay. Therefore, I figured I could fend for myself for a while and let him catch up on his work. Besides, it wasn't dusk yet, so if we wanted to go outside, we couldn't just yet.

Even though it was dinner time for humans, according to my schedule, it was only time for breakfast. I vaguely recalled the location of the kitchen, as it was near the massive ballroom on the right side of the castle. With that in mind, I made my way out of my room and started walking down the halls.

As I walked, I admired all the paintings and sculptures lining the wide hallways. Some of them must have been painted by vampires, as they depicted epic vampire battles. Along the way, I encountered several vampires I didn't know and greeted them warmly. Most of them returned my smile. They probably found it unusual to see a human walking around unattended.

I descended three stories, thinking I had reached the level with the kitchen. However, as I looked around, nothing appeared familiar. I did hear some noises and voices ahead, so I decided to investigate and perhaps ask for directions.

When I reached the room where the noise emanated, I discovered that its wide doors were open, revealing what appeared to be a large game room. Inside, I noticed several table games, including a pool table. On one side of the room, there was a giant TV with several sofas, presumably for groups to watch television or movies. There were just two vampires in the room, both engrossed in a game of pool, and luck was on my side. It happened to be Alec and his sister, Jane.

"Hey, Alec," I greeted as I walked up to them. Alec, who had been preparing to take a shot, paused and flashed a welcoming smile.

"Hi, Bella," he said, straightening up. It seemed like he was about to introduce his sister, but I beat him to it. I went over to Jane and stuck out my hand.

"Hi, we haven't been formally introduced yet. It's nice to meet you, Jane." I watched as Jane regarded my hand as if no one had ever willingly offered to shake her hand before. Finally, she slowly grasped mine, shaking it lightly.

"Nice to meet you, Bella," she said. Her voice was high-pitched. Despite being twins, she appeared a bit younger than Alec. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun. I thought she should let it down and let it flow freely. Jane was attractive, like all vampires, but with a little attention to her clothes and hair, she could be a real knockout.

"We missed you last night at the club. Did Alec show you the pictures of Felix eating his hamburger? It was quite a sight," I said, watching as a small smile crept onto her lips.

"Yes, he did show me, including the video he took. I wish I could have seen that," she replied.

"Well, maybe we can all go again before I have to head back home. I had a blast," I said, smiling. "I didn't mean to interrupt your game. I was just looking for the kitchen but haven't memorized where it is yet. Any hints?"

"You go down the hall to the stairway and go down two more stories. Then it's three doors on your right," Alec said.

"Thanks," I said, ready to leave for some food due to my growing hunger. But then, a thought struck me. I halted and turned my attention to Jane. "Hey, Jane, I was wondering if you could humor me for a second. I've heard a lot about your power from many vampires, and I was curious if you could try it on me. I doubt it will work since nothing has so far, but I'm always up for tests and experiments. Go ahead, blast me hard, and let's see what happens. I'm sure you've been eager to give it a go since Aro declared that powers didn't work on me the other day," I added with a smile.

She smiled a little sinisterly at me and nodded. I watched as she narrowed her eyes, looking intently at me. I didn't feel anything. It was evident that she was giving it her all, but whatever immunity I possessed held strong.

"Good try, Jane," I said, grinning. "I'm sure if it was anyone else, they would have pissed themselves, which is saying something if they were a vampire. Well, I'm off to get some food. We should all hang out sometime. Later."

"Later," Jane and Alec said simultaneously. I saw Jane give me a little smile, which I returned as I left. I thought it must be nice for her to find someone who is not afraid of her and her power. Alec's directions were perfect, of course, and I was able to whip up a satisfying breakfast. After eating, I decided to take another look at the library, as it truly was spectacular.

After cleaning up in the kitchen, I retraced my steps, climbing several flights of stairs. I remembered that the library was situated in the central area of the castle on the sixth floor, right in front of the main grand staircases. Upon reaching the correct floor, I began to walk down the wide halls toward the library. However, I encountered an unusual scene. One of the doors was open, and a wheelbarrow stood in front of it. As I approached, I observed a man emerging from the room, bearing what appeared to be a man slung over his shoulder. He unceremoniously deposited the heavy-looking man into the wheelbarrow, resulting in a resounding thud. Oh yeah, he's dead! The man's head dangled over the edge, giving it an eerie appearance as if he were gazing at me from an upside-down perspective. His lifeless eyes remained open in a state of shock, and his mouth hung agape. I couldn't help but think, "Bet he never imagined it would end like this."

I had never seen a dead body before, and I didn't know what to do. I decided to walk slowly towards the macabre scene in front of me to get a better look. When I got about six feet away, I was able to take in everything much more clearly. The lifeless body belonged to a young man. He couldn't have been more than a couple of years older than me. He seemed to be dressed in better-than-average clothing. The man came out of the room again and casually tossed what must have been the dead man's shoes and socks onto the body. It was then that I noticed his feet, which were hanging over the other side of the wheelbarrow, were barefoot.

I looked at the man, who was clearly doing clean-up duties in the castle, and saw that he was human as well. He stared at me for a few seconds, looking rather surprised. I couldn't help but say, "Nice day, isn't it?" with a feeble attempt at a smile, feeling a bit uneasy. He didn't respond other than nodding to me as he lifted up the wheelbarrow and started moving slowly down the hall, probably to dispose of the body somehow. I watched him go, trying to wrap my head around what I had just witnessed.

"Oh, hi Bella," I heard from the door, and I turned my head to see Chelsea standing there in what looked to be a silk bathrobe.

My eyes widened as I took her in. "Um... hey, Chelsea," I stammered, glancing back in the direction where the wheelbarrow man had just disappeared around a corner. Then, I turned my attention back to Chelsea. "Do I even want to know what's been going on here?"

Chelsea smiled at me. "Do you want to hear the sordid tale? It's full of sex, lies, and weirdly enough, video games."

Well, I couldn't pass up a good story, and that wheelbarrow disposal was pretty fucked up. I'd be kicking myself later if I didn't hear the full story. "Sure, give me the nitty-gritty."

"Well, come on in." Chelsea said, sticking her head out and glancing both ways down the hall, "It wouldn't be proper for me to be out here in my bathrobe. What if someone walks by and sees me?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, no offense, but you don't strike me as the shy wallflower." Chelsea smirked, holding the door wide open for me, and I walked into her suite. It was similar to Demetri's but a tad smaller, with a definite feminine touch in the furniture and decor. I sat down on one of her plush sofas. "Just know I plan to walk out on my own two feet. We'll have no need for Mr. Wheelbarrow man."

"Don't worry, Bella. After last night, I already see you as one of us," Chelsea said with a friendly smile as she settled onto the other sofa, tucking her legs beneath her. "I have a feeling we'll become very good friends. Now, listen to this one."

As Chelsea prepared to share her story, she reminded me a little of Jessica Stanley, as it was clear that she loved to gossip. I smiled, imagining Jessica in place of Chelsea telling me a similar tale about a date she had with, maybe, Mike Newton, but she went on to describe how she ended the date by brutally murdering him. I almost laughed as I imagined Jessica's reason for offing poor Mike. He had only lasted one minute in bed, and she just had to kill him purely on principle. I returned my focus to Chelsea as she was right about to start in.

"So last night at the club, while you and Demetri were dancing, I decided to go down to the bar to see if I could find my own dance partner. That's where I met Mario. At least, that was the name he gave me last night. I just took a look in his wallet as I was redressing him, and I shit you not, his real name was Luigi." Even I had a good laugh at that one.

"Anyway, getting back to the story. Mario," she used air quotes with her fingers, "and I got to talking. He was quite the smooth talker, and I would have been happy to dance with him. But then, the asshole slipped two ecstasy tablets into my bottle of blood when he thought I wasn't paying attention. Well, that sealed his fate in my book. However, I decided to play along for a bit as I did want to hit the dance floor. He was an exceptional dancer, very handsy, and after a while, I found myself getting rather… eager. So, I put on an act, pretending the drugs had taken effect, and I let him drive me back to the castle so he could have his wicked ways with me."

I couldn't help but interrupt, "Please tell me, when he saw you lived in a castle, that you told him to call you Princess Peach."

Chelsea let out a giggle. "I wish I could say yes, but at the time, I didn't know the whole Mario / Luigi ruse. Anyway, Mario must have believed it was his lucky night, and honestly, he wasn't entirely wrong. I mean, look at me." She playfully pouted her lips and struck a faux modeling pose with her hands on her hips. Her eyes conveyed an innocent yet irresistibly sexy look. "He really did have one hell of a night, though, as I let him screw me every which way he and I could think up. But as they say, all good things must end, and Mario's luck ran out about an hour ago. At least he died with a smile on his face, a fate most vampire meals can only dream of."

I took in her story with wide eyes. "Well, damn. That's one hell of a story. He looked so normal. I never would have pegged him as that type of guy."

"I've met a lot of assholes in my long life, and the truly bad ones often hide behind the most charming facades."

I took in Chelsea's words and agreed with her sentiment. I then wondered how things worked around here so I asked, "What do you guys do with the bodies?"

"Well, it depends on the situation. If it was someone who would not be missed or wouldn't lead back to us, we'd probably just throw them in the incinerator. But with that guy, I'll ask one of our clean-up crew to stage a car accident, as his car is still here and he was seen leaving with me."

Chelsea's appearance then became a little uneasy, which was quite unlike her fun demeanor when telling her story. "I do want us to be friends, Bella. I hope the dead guy didn't freak you out too much." I took in her words but didn't think this incident would affect my opinion of her. I knew everyone here was a killer, and this was just part of the life I had signed up for.

"Well, I'll admit it was a little jarring to see at first, but I'll get used to it. Was Mario or Luigi any good in the sack at least?" I asked with a smile.

Chelsea's smile returned, clearly thinking about her encounter. "You know, he was particularly good," she said with a playful glint in her bright ruby eyes. "He even helped me break in my new sex swing, which I recently installed." My eyes widened a little. Sex swing? I couldn't help but wonder what that was or looked like. I'd have to ask Demetri later. Chelsea continued, "It's a shame really. If he hadn't planned to drug and probably rape me, we might've had the same night, but he most likely would have left on his own accord."

I nodded along. "Well, thanks for the story. It certainly was an eye-opener. Don't worry about freaking me out. I'm cool. Let's be sure to hang out later this week. I think Demetri and I are going to start seeing the sights later tonight."

"Sounds good. Have fun with Demetri," she said, smirking. "You know, while I was with Mario, I couldn't help but overhear what you two were up to last night. You sure do have a good set of lungs on you, Bella."

At one time, I would have blushed profusely from hearing such a provocative remark, but that time had passed. I leaned in with a playful smirk. "Oh, I thought my exuberance was pretty tame last night. I was pretty tired and still a little jet-lagged. Hopefully tonight, we'll stumble upon the perfect spot to weave in some more fun between our sightseeing." With a wink, I stood up. "Later, Chelsea."

"See ya." Chelsea replied as I strolled past her, opening her door and heading off towards the library once more.

As I started down the hall again, I contemplated everything that had just transpired. It was certainly an interesting encounter and conversation. Too bad I couldn't share it with any humans who would appreciate it as the 'what the fuck' moment that it was. I carried on, thankfully spotting the library with ease.

As I walked in, I took in its ambiance, which still amazed me. While perusing the shelves, I chanced upon an intriguing section reserved exclusively for books authored by vampires.

I began scanning through the titles. Amongst many ancient books written in other languages, a few newer-looking titles caught my eye. One, in particular, grabbed my full attention: a hardcover book titled "Southern Valor" by J. Whitlock. How interesting, I thought. Jasper wrote a book about the Civil War. I pulled it out and settled down to delve into its pages. As I read through several sections, it became clear that he had done a thorough job. Jasper had often complained that they taught inaccurate history at Forks High. This book must have been his way of sharing his experiences with the world. After examining it closely, I turned to the first page to find out when he had published it and noticed an inscription.

Marcus,

I present this book to you as a historical account of the Civil War, seen through the eyes of a Confederate officer. It is my hope that this perspective may provide you and others with insights into that turbulent period of America'shistory.

Enclosed, you will also find a copy of the one photograph I have of myself from my human years. I didn't publish it in the book for obvious reasons.

Yours truly,

Major Jasper Whitlock

I took out the laminated copy of an old photo and saw a stiff-looking man in a soldier's uniform. As I studied the face, I recognized it was Jasper, but he was human. It was so strange to see the vampire I knew back when he was human. He looked the same yet slightly different. This picture would most likely have been all that remained of Jasper if he had not been turned. He probably would have died in the war, or afterward, returned to his family farm, and hopefully lived a long life. Even though his vampire life had been hard and unhappy for a very long time, I'm glad it all turned out as it did; otherwise, I would never have known him, and more importantly, Alice would not have found him almost a century later.

I put the photo back in the book and placed it on the shelf where I had found it. I thought it was probably a good time to text Demetri, but as I was pulling out my phone, I heard, "Good day, Bella. How have you been enjoying your stay?"

I looked up, and there was Marcus sitting on a comfortable-looking sofa with several books in front of him.

"Hello, Marcus. I didn't see you there. I've been having a great time so far. The castle is amazing. This library, in particular, is the most incredible one I have ever seen. I can't wait to read some of these books in the future. "Many are in languages I don't know... yet," I said with a smile, emphasizing the last word.

Marcus returned a small smile. "Yes, this library has been a passion of mine for many millennia. You will be able to find a little about everything here regarding both vampire and human history." He looked at me and continued, "Please sit down for a moment. I must say it was refreshing to meet you the other day. It is quite rare to cause such a commotion in our members. You certainly turned some heads with your performance in the throne room. I was also pleased to see such a nice bond between you and Demetri."

"What do you mean? Do you mean with an extra vampire ability? I'm sorry, but I don't know much about you. What did you see?" I looked at him with interest.

"Yes, I can see different sorts of bonds in both humans and vampires. It is like an aura coming off of everyone that I can perceive in my mind. With Demetri, I saw one of much affection for you." Hearing this, I couldn't help but blush. I had been getting a pretty good inkling of what he was referring to my entire time here, but it felt really good hearing it from another. He continued, "It is clear visually that you feel the same, although in my bond sight, if you will, you are a complete void. I see nothing coming or going from you. It is quite unusual, as I had never seen anything like it before. Luckily, I also have eyes which could fill in the missing gap of information," Marcus said, smiling.

"Yes, you're right. I care for Demetri as well," I said, matching his smile.

"We do hope you will join us once you become a vampire. After your introduction, Caius demanded a private meeting with Aro and myself, really just to vent. Aro assured him that all was well. If I may ask, when do you foresee yourself going through the change?"

"I would like to join you as well. So far I'm loving it here. I would like to go through the change right after college. I'll be 23 by then, and I think that's a fine age to be for whatever career paths I decide to follow once I become immortal. I've been making a long list in my head, and there is just so much I'd like to accomplish. I'll be sure to add several books to your collection here one day."

Marcus smiled at me. "That all sounds perfect. I'll eagerly await that day."

As I was talking with Marcus, a thought occurred to me. I was probably talking to one of the most well-learned men in history. I could ask him anything about the past, and he would probably know the answer. I looked at the library he had created, and it brought up a memory I read of what was described in the history books as one of the greatest libraries. I figured it would be interesting to ask him about it.

"Marcus, I was wondering. Did you ever visit the Library of Alexandria?"

Marcus smiled, "Yes, many times actually. It really was a marvel for its day. It was such a tragedy when I heard what befell it. After I heard, I actually sent a team there to investigate and recover whatever information they could. They brought back many works that would have been discarded, and we transcribed many pieces so we would have a record of them, preserving them for history. Most of the knowledge from that library is still here in one form or another."

"That's good to know. I never like it when I hear things are lost forever. I look forward to reading much of the information once I become a vampire." I smiled and was about ready to make my exit as I did want to let Demetri know I was up.

Marcus continued, "Actually, it was Demetri that led the team to the ruins of the library. I'm sure he will have some interesting stories about it and that time as well."

"Thanks. I'll be sure to ask him about it." I stood up. "Well, it's been very nice chatting with you. I was about to contact Demetri. Hopefully, he'll be able to show me some of Italy tonight."

"Yes, it's been good talking with you, Bella. You are welcome to visit us any time." I smiled at him and nodded goodbye. As I stepped out of the library, I took out my phone and sent Demetri a quick text that I was outside the library. In less than a minute, there was a whoosh in front of me, and there he stood.

"Hey, you," I said, beaming, giving him a hug.

"I hope you slept well?" he said, returning my hug and lifting me up, allowing us to share a proper kiss. After he put me down, we started walking hand in hand, with no real direction yet.

"I sure did. I think I've caught up on sleep, so I won't be tired anymore. The bed was very comfy, although I did miss not snuggling next to you." My admission earned me a big smile.

"I'll be sure to correct that in the future. Now, this is your big overseas vacation. Where would you like to go, and I will make it happen?"

I pondered where I'd like to go first and settled on Rome. "How about Rome? We could visit the Colosseum. I'd love to see how it compares to the training center here. There are so many famous sights to see, I couldn't name them all, but I'm sure you know the best places and the ideal order to visit them. Once it gets light out, I bet there are museums or other spots you're aware of. You guys probably know all the secrets for navigating during the day." I flashed him a smirk.

"We certainly do. Rome sounds perfect. And speaking of the Colosseum, I should say your 'chariot' awaits. I remember when chariots were actually used, you know." I chuckled, and we strolled off together toward the garage.

Let me know your thoughts.