Heidi & Bella - Part 2 (Encounter)

It has been frustrating, to say the least, the torture Heidi has gone through the past year. Aro was informed of Heidi's finding and he had allowed her to excuse herself and frequently travel the world to find her mate. But it has been disappointing so far. The only deduction she is able to make so far is that her mate is not a vampire.

She walks the castle ground with a hollow in her chest.

And out of the blue, her senses are on high alert, picking up the fresh scent of her mate. Horrified, remembering today is Volturi's feeding day, she rushes inside, breaking protocols. In their defence, the guards are not expecting her return today and even more puzzled to see her dashing through the doors, they don't bother to try and stop her. Few do try to warn her that an important proceeding is happening inside but it only makes her pick up her pace. From the inside, she can hear the Kings' words.

"She knows too much. She's a liability," Caius said.

Aro's shoulders drop, "That's true."

With regret, Aro summons the executioner, "Felix."

Consequences be damned! She needs to protect her mate so Heidi bursts through the door, breaking it down.

Her eyes scan the room. Her eyebrows furrow to see two members of the Olympic coven there, being restrained by the guards. Heads turn her way and that's when it transpires. Heidi locks eyes with a terrified human girl and everything else around them disappears.

Bella has a puzzled look, being under duress of her ex-boyfriend about to get murdered right in front of her, while experiencing fluctuations of emotions swirling inside her as she looks onto Heidi's unfamiliar red eyes.

And Heidi's timing couldn't be more impeccable. Edward may be fast but she knows Felix's every move. Before Felix could approach the girl and before Edward could react, Heidi is already standing tall before the human, gently pushing Bella behind her.

"Touch her and your life shall be forfeited," she hissed.

This raised so many eyebrows in the room.

Alice has a vision and while everyone is distracted, she leaps and stops Edward from trying to lunge at Heidi, "Stop, she's trying to protect her!"

Edward hears Heidi's thoughts chanting 'Protect mate. Kill others. Save her'. He refuses to accept it. Bella is his and his alone.

Heidi's still glaring at Felix but offers her hand to Aro for confirmation, "You may want to see this first, Aro."

Aro orders Felix to stand down and he holds Heidi's hand. What he sees makes him smile in delight, "Oh, dear." He turns around to alarm the others. "I'm afraid we aren't allowed to harm dear old Bella."

Aro wishes to continue explaining but Heidi shakes her head and begs him in whispers only vampires could hear.

"That changes it," Marcus suddenly spoke, his usually hollowed eyes dilated.

Alec and Jane seem a tad disappointed no punishment will be carried out today but both are intrigued by this change of event. Nevertheless, they now hold important information that could still inflict emotional pain on one Edward Culle; they taunt him in their mind.

"She's Heidi's mate."

"She'll remain here in Volturi."

"And there's nothing you could do about it."

"No!" Edward refuses to accept it. Bella was meant to be his! She's the only person whose mind he couldn't read. Minutes ago they were both willing to sacrifice themselves to save each other. That is a testament of true love!

With a great conviction, Edwards knows it's a joke. Heidi the fisher, the baiter, who lures innocent humans to the hearts of Volterra only to be devoured and torn apart by the Volturi Kings and guards. She has no heart, not an ounce of compassion. She so does not deserve the pure-hearted Bella. He knows for a fact Bella won't accept Heidi and her sinful lifestyle. Heidi the killer will never change!

Edward snaps, somehow managing to break free from the guard's hold and aim for Heidi's neck. He will die before he allows the seductress to ruin Bella's life. Felix sees it coming, makes a beeline towards Edward and slams him against the concrete wall, leaving a big dent.

Bella, worried for Edward's safety, tries to run to him in a desperate effort to protect him, and to also escape this very perplexing moment, but wordlessly, Heidi manages to hold her in place and gazes softly into her doe eyes. Her eyebrows are raised and drawn together, creating a slight furrow in the forehead. Her velvety eyes are wide and imploring, with a mixture of sadness and hopefulness that grounds Bella from moving.

Heidi doesn't know what transpired here today, or the history between her mate and Edward Cullen, but it's obvious to any vampire that both of them have strong feelings for one another. To Bella, she's nothing more than a stranger, and a Volturi guard with red eyes at that. It is impossible for her to compete with Edward, however misleading or foolish it may be. But she can not deny it. Taking the next step without accounting for Bella's emotions and history with Edward would doom their relationship before it could even begin.

"I promise you, no harm shall come to him, if he complies," Heidi assured her.

Bella's scared eyes dart from red ones to golden, before returning to glance at the vampire before her. It does freak her out a little at how close this red-eyed vampire is standing to her and yet there isn't a look of pain or thirst on her face. Ever since she stepped into the lion's den, she could sense danger lurking from every corner, almost as if Death had been standing in the dark, eagerly waiting for her arrival. But somehow Bella senses none from Heidi.

Edward of course tries to retaliate but Felix's strength overpowers him and his face is pressed harder against the stone wall, creating cracks that could last all eternity.

"His body will heal from any injury but if you interfere, yours won't. So please, trust me on this," Heidi begged.

Bella's eyes then leap to Alice, waiting for her confirmation.

"She's right, Bella. You can trust her," Alice assured.

Despite Alice's betrayal at abandoning her, Bella knows Alice wouldn't lie about this. So Bella grimly nods and Heidi takes it as a cue and turns to Aro, "No harm shall come undone to her and the Cullen coven. We are in agreement, Aro?"

He claps his hand like a happy child, "Yes, that can be arranged. But Edward is to remain at the dungeon, for the human's own safety."

With a nod, Felix and Alec escort Edward to the dungeon while Jane is tasked to lead Bella and Alice to the guest room.

Jane flashes Heidi a smirk before escorting the guests out, congratulating her on finally finding her mate. Heidi restrains a chuckle, knowing how happy the sadist Jane is with this new info. That witch had always found Edward Cullen to be taxing and now she has new methods to torture the righteous lad.

Heidi requests a private audience with the Kings but takes the chance to get in a word with her mate before Jane leads them away.

"We will need to talk. I'll come find you once my meeting is over."

Without hinting a smile, Alec merely dropped an inside joke as he walked past her, "Fix the damn door, or I'll fix it for you."

As they are escorted away from the room, each footstep away becomes heavier for Bella and she couldn't help but chance another glance Heidi's way. Not one to miss everything that is her mate, Heidi's shoulders remain poised with confidence. She sends a naughty wink the human's way, assuring her the only way she knows how. The act catches Bella by surprise, tainting her cheeks pink. It allows for a successful distraction, albeit it being temporary.

If Heidi still had a beating heart, it would have leapt at the gorgeous sight of her blushing mate. At last, summer finally begins, she thinks.