Chapter 11: Ghost of our past

As soon as the words left his mouth, the princess was pulled away from Edward and the guards surrounded him.

The kings and Queens were by her side immediately. All of them squatted in protective positions, growls echoing off the ballroom walls.

Aro was the first to recover.

"Everuone stand down. I am sure this is a simple miscommunication. We can discuss this later. Let the festivities continue!" Aro exclaimed. His joy-filled voice pushed everyone else to relax.

However, Carsile saw beyond the mask. Aro was very pissed off.

Once everyone went back to normal, he addressed him.

"I ask that you keep that boy away from the princess. We will be discussing this tonight. Now if you excuse us, we have other people to see."

With that said his old friend walked away.

…

Isabella was very confused by what had transpired around her. her parents were leading her away from the Cullens when a booming voice called out.

"WHERE IS MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER!?"

Isabella whipped around to see Alistair. He wore a black suit with a blood-red tie. The Volturi crest, sewn unto his jacket.

"Papa Alistair!" she squealed as she threw herself into his arms.

He had gone on another long mission and it kept him away from home.

He engulfed her in a big hug, picking her off the ground and swinging her around.

"Oh, my sweet girl. Look at you! My beautiful princess!" he gushed as he held her face in his hands.

"hey, you being a little too sappy Alistair." An annoyed voice stated.

Isabella looked past Alistar and smiled.

"Uncle James! Aunt Victoria!"

"come on over here lil bit!" James greeted her. "I swear you are bigger every time we see you. look at those legs! You could be a model if you wanted to."

Victoria slapped his shoulder, as she reached for a hug.

"don't do that to her James. She's beautiful and doesn't need to be a model." Victoria scolded.

"Happy birthday my favorite niece!"

Isabella laughed.

"Aunt Victoria, I am your only niece."

"princess! Care to dance?" a man asked.

Isabella recognized him as Benjamin from the Egyptian coven.

"um, of course.. excuse me," she told her family.

She followed Benjamin onto the dance floor, as the music began.

He took her hand gently and wrapped an arm around her waist.

This was just the beginning of the many dances, Princess Isabella would have.

…..

"James?!" a voice called out " I knew I heard your voice."

James turned to see Alice Cullen twirling towards him.

"Well, if it isn't tiny Alice. How are you? That cowboy taking care of you?"

"I am doing good as always and yes James, he's an awesome husband. If you don't mind me asking, I noticed you seemed very…comfortable with the princess. Are you two close?"

James laughed at the tiny girl. She wasn't the first vampire he had ever created but she sure was a special one.

"you know for someone who can see the future, you are blind." He joked.

Alice sneered at him and said, "Well when it comes to the princess I can't see a thing."

James chuckled.

"that doesn't surprise me. anyway, she may be our people's princess but she's my niece."

"what? how ?" Alice asked.

"your family will be here for a few more days. You'll find out soon."

With that said James gave Alice a small squeeze and walked away.

….

After dancing with multiple men and chatting with all the other covens, Isabella needed a break.

She was quick to grab a glass of wine and slipped out to the gardens.

She needed some air.

Finally being introduced to the other people in her world was a bit much.

Not to mention the creepy guy who was staring at her as if she hung the moon.

She felt herself shiver when he said the words il mio cantante. My singer.

But what the heck did that mean anyway?

It didn't matter anyway and didn't matter how many men Isabella danced with.

No man would have her heart.

It was already taken.

…

Lighting flashed as a young man awoke from his sleep.

He was drenched in sweat.

And yellow eyes glowed in the darkness.

"Izzy." He groaned.

Every night, since he met Isabella, her brown eyes would haunt his dreams.

They had been young but he and wolf recognized.

She was the one, their mate.

Now he just had to figure out how he would live without her.

…

"daydreaming about lover boy again?"

Isabella turned to see Victoria. In her hand was a plate with a slice of cake and in the other was a mug of hot tea.

"ooo that looks great. Thank you so much." She told her aunt as she took the cake and tea.

"Don't avoid my question Isa… are you daydreaming about lover boy again?"

Isabella sighed.

"ever since the day we met…. I can't get him off my mind. You remember him don't you."

Victoria snorted and put an arm around her shoulder.

"of course I do. I was watching you two from day one. Sneaky little love birds. Hey… this might sound weird. But..what if you wrote a letter to him? Even if he never sees it, it would be nice to get your feelings out in the open right?"

"you know I never thought about it like that. I think that would help a lot. Hey, Aunt Vicky can I ask you a question."

"shoot girlfriend."

" what does il mio cantante mean?"

Victoria's eyes went wide, as she picked up Isabella leaving the plate behind her, and took her deeper into the gardens.

With dark and angry eyes Victoria pushed her against a tree and whispered.

"Who told you about that? Did someone say that to you?"

"y-yes, ed-edward Cullen. He- he kissed my wrist and said il mio cantante, I've been searching for you.."

Victoria cussed.

"darn those Bambi killers. Look, Isabella. You do everything in your power to stay away from Edward. And if you can't stay away from him, you resist his charms. Being his cantante means you're his singer. It means your blood attracts him, it sings to him. And it can go two ways. He can either become possessive and controlling or he will just flat-out kill you because he can't resist your blood. Most of our kind go with the latter. I need you to write that letter as soon as you can."

….

The party lasted for a full 72 hours, with Isabella sleeping for a few hours when she could and then remerging.

The kings, the queens, and their new princess sat on their thrones as King Aro stood.

"everyone, this has been a pleasant time! we thank you for your presence and your wonderful gifts! Please return home safely and come visit us anytime."

With a simple wave of his hand, their guest was gone in a blink of an eye.

Isabella collapsed in her chair.

"oh my gosh, I thought they would never leave…"

Chuckles sounded around her.

"That's the life of a monarch sweetheart," Caius told her as he held out a hand.

She took it and he guided her down the dais.

The rest of the family followed as they walked at a human pace.

"and the life of a monarch never stops. So, go dress in some comfortable clothing and meet us in the library."

Isabella sighed as her family stopped at her door.

"But Papa Caius-"

"is that a complaint I am hearing out of your mouth young lady? Do monarchs complain?"

Isabella straightened up as her father talked to her.

"no sir. I am not complaining and no monarchs do not complain."

"good girl, now go change and we will see you in the library."

With that said Isabella went into her room and closed the door.

Another sigh escaped her lips.

As she got older her family became tougher on her. they wanted her to be fit to rule. No one would be able to walk over her. She had to be tough, yet pretty, and yet have the tongue of a snake. And being human was no excuse.

She was to be changed on her nineteenth birthday. Two more years of training before she would truly wear the crown.

A knock sounded on her door making her jump.

She opened it, smiling when her aunt sauntered into the room.

"thought you could use some help taking off that 1800's corset."

"oh yes, please! I hate these things. I still can't believe Mama Sculpia doesn't like bras! And to make it worse mama athena doesn't wear one. Cause her boobs are just so naturally perky.." Isabella mimicked.

Victoria laughed as she helped her out of the corset.

"how about one of those undershirts with the flaps that support your boobs?" Victoria asked.

"yes please, I can wear it under my 'indoor' dress," Isabella told her in annoyance.

While her family had embraced technology and the different fashion trends, they did stick to certain rules.

Women wore dresses and skirts, not pants. And every outfit was supported by a corset.

Isabella didn't complain because most of the outfits were comfortable. It was just another thing she had to put up with.

"so did you write that letter?" her aunt asked.

"yes mam, it's in my desk drawer in my office. Why?"

"no reason. Now you run along and I'll see you a little later ok."

"Alright, Aunt Vicky."

As soon as Isabella left the room, Victoria sprang into action. She sped towards her niece's office and snuck in.

The letter was exactly where she said it would be. But there was more than one. There were about four of them.

With gloved hands, she was quick to put the letters in an envelope and seal it.

Then she put the envelope in a giant Ziploc bag. That way, the only scent of vampires would be on the outside.

With urgency, Victoria snuck out the window and disappeared.

…..

Isabella took a deep breath, calming herself before she walked into the library.

A fire had been started for her benefit and everyone was sitting around it.

It seemed their six guests were staying for a while.

"There you are darling. Come join us. we were just getting ready to tell the Cullens how you came into our lives." Mama Sculpia announced as she stood to take her daughter's hand.

" of course you were." Isabella said in disdain. "it's not the best story mama, I am sure they don't want to hear it."

"ah, but daughter you forget none of us have had a good entrance into this life. Hearing your human story will be no different. It won't harm anyone, we promise." Papa Marcus told her as he scooted closer to her.

"uh, can I ask a question?" Emmett asked as he raised his hand.

Isabella laughed.

"um, Emmett we're not in school you don't have to raise your hand." She told him.

"Right sorry. Anyway, for the past three days, I have heard you refer to everyone by a different name and I just have to ask what your relationship is. I mean how are you connected to them? And why?"

"Why?" she questioned in confusion

"he means why would you a simple human want to be around blood-drinking vampires? You do know they eat humans right? And yet here you sit wearing your fancy jewelry and acting like you could ever be our queen. How can you sit here while humans like you are suffering?" Rosalie hissed.

Isabella laughed.

"Well, since you think you know so much Rosalie Hale, let me tell you something. imagine a six-year-old little girl. She doesn't have a care In the world. She is loved by her parents and has a good life. And then everything is suddenly torn from her, the day three nomad vampires, decided to make her family their target. This little girl was forced to watch as the nomads drank and tore into her parents. Hearing their screams until their life was gone. And they turned on her. they drank from her and tore her arm clean off. And when they became bored they left her there to die or be found by another nomad. And yet it was the same race of people that found her and took her in and adopted her as their own. So don't you dare sit there and act like I don't know what suffering is? The men and women you call the Volturi, the ones your kind like to backstab and talk bad about. Yet when you need their help they become your saviors. I call them family. Your kings and Queens are my parents. And I'll be darn if you sit here and look down at your nose at us. you and your coven can leave if you're going to have that kind of attitude because I for one won't take that kind of disrespect."

The room was silent as Princess Isabella stared at Rosalie, something akin to a growl emitting from her chest.

However, it was Caius's hand clap and Aro's laughter that broke the tension.

Caius stood and kissed his daughter on the forehead.

"my daughter you continue to amaze us. That right there is what makes a true queen. So proud of you precious."

Aro gently pushed him out of the way, as he leaned down to press his forehead to Isabella's.

"fabulous my darling, absolutely fabulous." He complimented.

Isabella laughed as she gently headbutted her father.

"personal space papa. Any other human would pass out."

Marcus chuckled and said, "But you, my dear are no ordinary human."

"as you can see, your princess is our daughter," Aro explained to the Cullens. "the seven of us are her parents. Her mothers, and her fathers. We are unified in what we do and how we raise her. One of us might be In charge of a certain aspect of her life but at the end of the day, we are all in agreement about what is best for her."

"seven?" Carsile questioned

"ah yes, one of us is missing. Your old friend Alistar remember him? He's been with us so long, he was the one who found Isabella. He and James. Alistair has become one of her fathers also."

"but doesn't that bring confusion?" Esme asked.

"Doesn't having seven children who are also mates confuse you?" didyme questioned.

"I suppose to someone outside the family, it would be confusing but it works for us," Esme explained.

"and the same sentiment goes for our daughter. She may have seven parents but we communicate and we all have firm rules and boundaries that we don't break. And if one of us disagrees, we talk about it first. We don't have secrets and we don't hide things from each other. Everything is out in the open." Didyme explained.

"and princess this doesn't confuse you?" Esme asked her.

Isabella shrugged.

"My family has always been on the same page. If Papa Aro said something to me, everyone else agreed. The same goes for everyone else. And if they disagreed they handled it amongst themselves. I was never confused about who to listen to or who was in charge because they worked together."

"so whose your favorite?" Emmett asked playfully.

Isabella laughed and said "I'm beginning to like you, Emmett. And I don't have a favorite. My parents fit every aspect of my life. For example, Papa Marcus can reason with me a little more, while Papa Caius is a strict disciplinarian. The belt is never too far away."

"belt?" Alice asked in shock.

"we'd be fools not to whoop our child. the same way you discipline a newborn. In our case, we've only had to whoop her twice." Caius stated as a matter of fact.

Isabella chuckled.

"yeah, I couldn't sit for days. That was the last time I tried to sneak out."

" good because we could have lost you," Caius said with a serious tone.

"yes, papa for the sixty-third time."

"anything could have happened to you Isabella. you know that around our kind, your life is fragile.." Marcus stated softly as he took her hand.

" papa I know. None of you have to worry so much. Now, can we please not do this? It is my birthday. So! Mr. Cullen, what do you do for a living?" Isabella asked as she turned her attention to their guest.

Of course, he took the bait and began to tell her the story of his life.

Once he was done, Isabella leaned forward, her heart pounding in her chest.

"did…did you say you were from the state of Washington?"

"yes. Yes, I did. Why?"

"Isabella, are you feeling well?" Aro asked as he stood and went to her side.

Isabella's palms were sweaty and she was paler than normal.

"Dr. Cullen. What city do you live in?" Isabella whispered.

"forks. Forks Washington. Princess, can you tell me why this is important? Your heart rate is high, and you are sweating."

Isabella didn't answer as a flashback hit her.

Flashback:

"Uncle Billy! Uncle Billy! My daddy is going to be the chief of forks!" Isabella cheered as a pair of strong brown arms picked her up.

A man with bright brown eyes and long black hair came into view as he smiled at her.

"no way that's awesome bells! Charlie's going to be a chief huh!"

"she's been the chief of police man! Stop playing games!"

It was her father. he was behind her smiling.

When Isabella turned brown eyes just like hers looked back.

End flashback

Instead of the image of brown eyes, golden eyes were now in her line of sight.

It was Edward.

He was gently touching her knee, a look of concern on his face.

"I can't hear your thoughts. You spaced out for a full five minutes."

"get away from her." Papa Caius growled.

Isabella ignored both of them, as she searched for Dr. Cullen. He was standing next to her his hand checking her pulse.

On the other side of her was Mama Athena, she was holding a glass of water.

Her fathers were hovering over her.

"dr. Cullen." She called. Her voice sounded broken.

He immediately crouched low so they were eye to eye.

"yes, sweetheart?"

"did you ever know a man named Charles Swan? Everyone called him Charlie he was the chief of police in Forks."

Recognition flashed in Carlisle's eyes. With gentle hands, he cupped her face. his golden eyes welling with venom tears.

"Oh, My dear Isabella Marie Swan…. It all makes sense now. Yes, honey, I knew your biological father. he was a great man and he would be so proud of the young woman you have become. And I don't know if this helps or not but I delivered you, you know."

Isabella's eyes widened.

"no way."

Carlisle smiled as he used his thumb to wipe her tears.

"yes, believe it or not. Your parents had just moved into town and their car had gotten stuck halfway to the hospital. I was leaving my shift when I bypassed them. I stopped of course, and your mother was crowning. Ten minutes later, I held you in my arms. your parents loved you so much, darling."

Isabella sobbed.

…

Ten weeks later, found Victoria looking down at the tall man from a tree.

I just need him to be alone for a few minutes. Why is that too much to ask. she thought

Well, he sure has grown. I mean if I wasn't married and he did not stink so much, I'd jump his bones for sure. Look at that hair, that beard, and those chiseled muscles. And If I see him naked again, I'm gonna have to take some pictures. My poor niece won't know what to do with that tree trunk between his legs. Besides, this man is no joke. He truly is an alpha. He leads his people with an iron fist. His attitude could rival Caius. And yet there's a gentleness about him.

It was three am when Victoria's opportunity came.

They were deep in the forest of Canada, just past the border.

Victoria made sure to drop hints of her niece's scent that weren't tainted with vampires to lure him out.

Of course, he took the bait.

"well it's about time," she said as she dropped down from the trees.

But what Victoria didn't expect was for the man to move with lightning speed and grab her by the throat.

Yellow eyes glowed in the darkness.

"Where is izzy." He growled.

Victoria squeezed his arm as she felt the cracks form along her neck.

He loosed his hand just enough for her to speak.

"Well, it's been a few years. Listen Izzy doesn't know I came here. But I came here to find you. she misses you and she wrote letters. I have them for you."

He immediately dropped her but his body taunt as if it were ready to strike.

Just like a cobra.

"show me," he demanded.