Disclaimer: I do not own "Twilight" or its characters.

Chapter 4.

Marcus was at his mate's side within a second, using his supernatural speed. He jerked Jane away from Bella's back, where she had been knelt down. Bella was on her knees in the aisle, half a foot away from Victoria's prone body, screaming at the top of her lungs.

"What happened!?" Marcus barked at Jane as he held her by the back of her cloak.

Alec was beside them in an instant, his protective instincts rearing up over the hold their angry king had on his sister.

"Isabella was headed towards the bathroom but began to hyperventilate! Jane didn't do anything!" Alec informed Marcus.

"I don't understand what happened Master!" Jane exclaimed to Marcus. "She was fine when she left her seat. I was only touching her back trying to comfort her, but she began to scream at my touch." Jane stared worridly at Bella.

A new voice came from behind them. "She's having a panic attack Master." Felix, who had left the cockpit at the commotion, told Marcus. "Being so close to the prisoner probably set it off." He finished with a head nod in Victoria's direction.

Bella had stopped screaming but still knelt, sobbing and gasping for breath, rocking back and forth.

"Try calming her Master. Perhaps she'll respond better to you." Jane suggested.

It had been years since Marcus had a reason to be around humans besides to sate his thirst. Perhaps he should brush up on his human knowledge.

"Isabella." Marcus began gently as he knelt down with his mate on the floor. "Look at me, Cara." He placed his hand on Bella's cheeks, leaning his face close to hers.

(Translation Dear)

Bella's breathing halted for a moment, and then a pitiful whimper escaped her lips. Marcus softly purred as he leaned his forehead to hers, their bond pulsing bright red in his thoughts.

"Open up your eyes, Mia Bella." Marcus urged.

Bella slowly came back to herself, no longer able to smell the rusty scent of blood, or feel the burn from her injuries. Instead, she felt breath blow across her face as a heavenly voice told her to open her eyes. The scent of cinnamon filled her nose, and the hands touching her cheeks left a fiery tingle on her skin as one slid down to the back of her neck, cradling her head. Bella's teary brown eyes met ruby ones.

"It's ok, Mia Bella." Marcus purred to her. "You're safe. You're here with me, and you're safe." He reassured the beautiful brunette he knelt with.

Bella was mesmerized by his eyes. They were filled with so much adoration for her that it made it hard for her to breathe. Her cheeks filled with blood as she became embarrassed. She'd just had a meltdown in front of multiple vampires.

"I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed to Marcus. "I didn't mean to cause a scene!"

Jane stepped forward and knelt down at Bella's side.

"I should be apologizing! I should've thought about your aversion to Victoria, I shouldn't have let you get so close to her alone. It was a very mindless mistake. Will you forgive me, Isabella?" Jane pleaded with the human.

"There's nothing to forgive, Jane, honestly. This isn't my first episode. It isn't your fault." Bella informed Jane while blushing and looking down.

"Perhaps we should move Victoria, would that make you more comfortable, Cara?" Marcus asked Bella.

Bella nodded to Marcus. After her horrifying flashback, even a glance at the redhead had her heart pounding and her skin clammy.

"Where would you like us to put her Master?" Felix asked Marcus.

Alec answered instead. "I say we shove her in one of the two restrooms until we get to Italy!"

Bella giggled quietly at the thought of Victoria being left on the bathroom floor like a piece of used toilet paper. Marcus, seeing his Mate's amusement, agreed with Alec's suggestion.

Felix lumbered over to Victoria, "accidentally," stepping on her hand that still had all of its fingers, crushing it to dust.

"Whoops!" He exclaimed as he slung Victoria over his should and made his way to one of the lavatories.

Bella's giggles echoed throughout the jet, her glee at Victoria's lost limb shining bright on her face.

"Her face is gonna be so priceless when she wakes up missing her hand!" She exclaimed to Jane.

Jane laughed with Bella. "This will actually be a first for myself too. All these years with the Volturi, and none of us ever thought to dispose of some limbs while they were under Alec's gift." Jane told Bella.

Further back in the jet near the restrooms, Marcus spoke to Felix.

"I wouldn't have thought you'd want to amuse my mate after you'd had your hand ripped off. Figured you'd still be a bit miffed." Marcus said.

"You ripped my hand off for touching your mate Master. Yet you hadn't had the chance to do the same to Victoria, who also touched your mate. I thought I'd take the liberty of taking her hand for you, only in a more permanent way Master." Felix explained, bowing his head.

Felix was hoping to get back in Marcus's good graces. He was appalled at himself for disrespecting the new Queen and needed to make it up to them both in some way.

"You are correct, Felix. I should have removed both Victoria's hands already. I didn't want to deal with the headache I'm sure Aro will induce in me if we brought back a limbless lump that used to be Victoria." Marcus sighed. "So while I would love to dismember her now and be done with her, we are going to leave her be until we get to Volturi. But thank you, Felix, for giving Victoria some of her much needed punishment early. " Marcus stated.

"I understand Master Marcus." Felix said. "And of course! No thanks needed! It's my job to defend the new queen from any enemies." He announced bravely, lifting his head high to look at Marcus.

"Perhaps you should go make sure Demetri doesn't need anything in the cockpit." Marcus dismissed him.

Felix nodded at Marcus and headed back towards his post. He stopped beside Jane and Isabella, who were seated again. Jane had escorted Bella to the other restroom while he had spoken to Master Marcus. Bella looked better, Felix could see where she'd splashed her face with water, a few beats of it still in her hair.

"I wanted to apologize to you, Isabella, for my behavior at our first meeting. It won't happen again." Felix apologized.

Bella stared at the large vampire in front of her. Before, it was just his large size that reminded her of Emmet. But now she thinks maybe they're more alike than she knew. Felix seems to have a kind heart. Then again, Emmet abandoned her when they all left. So what does she know about kind hearts.

"It's ok, Felix. I accept your apology." Bella told the large vampire kindly.

Felix beamed at the human before continuing to the cockpit. He relieved Alec, who had taken over his place as copilot while he spoke to Marcus.

"Thanks a lot, dude!" Demetri shoved Felix with one arm. "You know Heidi used to be in a coven with Victoria. She's probably gonna hound me on what happened to her hand now when we return home!" He complained.

"Like it matters anyways! The masters are gonna burn that redhead to a crisp after Aro reads her mind. The trial for her is all just for show." Felix exclaimed.

The two continued to bicker back and forth as they continued their journey home.

Alec walked back to his seat, sitting next to his sister.

"Demetri says we have about 7 hours left of the flight." He informed them.

Bella took that moment to yawn. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had a good night's sleep. Her dreams were always plagued with nightmares. She always feared that she'd wake up with some bloodthirsty vampire above her. Maybe even a bloodthirsty wolf.

"Mia Cara, you should try getting some sleep before we get to Italy. I'm afraid my brother won't let you rest when we get there." Marcus told her. "Especially once Aro finds you repel Jane's gift, he'll want to talk about it for hours." He sighed, rolling his eyes.

Bella giggled at him. "Why would he be so amazed by that, though?"

"Shields are few and far between Isabella. It's a very unique gift, and Aro covets those." Marcus explained.

Bella yawned again, covering her mouth with her hand as she did.

"Jane, find Isabella a blanket from one of the supply rooms." Marcus ordered.

Jane nodded and left, only to come back a few seconds later with a thin blanket and a pillow.

"Sorry there isn't a thicker blanket Bella, this is all we have." Jane said apologetically.

"It's ok, Jane." Bella smiled at her. "I'm sure you aren't used to accommodating humans on this jet normally."

"No, normally only vampires to take them to their trails." Jane said.

Marcus had stood up and moved to a seat that bordered the couch. He didn't think the couch was large enough for her to lay down if he stayed. Bella made herself a bed and snuggled into the blanket, which smelled like lavender laundry soap. She giggled at the thought of these vampires doing laundry. It wasn't but a few seconds later that she was out like a light.

While Bella slept, the vampires in the surrounding seats began discussing mating bonds.

"Master Marcus?" Jane began hesitantly. "I thought vampires only had one mate. And that lady Didyme was yours?"

"Vampires can have multiple mates over the years, Jane. Feelings can change. But a soul mate is a true mating bond. That's what my bond shows to Isabella." Marcus explained. He bowed his head as he went on. "I had a very strong bond with my dear Didyme, but I'm afraid now that in my young age, I mistook it for a soul mate bond. But none the less, many vampires mourn for their mates. Or promise revenge, like Victoria has." Marcus finished.

"Can you see any bond from Isabella forming to us yet Master?" Jane asked curiously.

Marcus tuned into his gift. His bond with Bella hummed, still a vibrant red color. A bond stretched from Bella to Jane, a bright yellow representing friendship. A blue line came from Alec to Bella, signifying a loyalty, not quite a friendship. But Bella and Jane bonded more quickly. What surprised him was the bond Felix had to Bella, also a bright yellow signifying friendship. The large vampire warmed up to Bella quite quickly. A bond has yet to form between Bella and Demetri, but with time, he was sure it would.

"Isabella and you have a strong bond of friendship already, Jane. You seem quite taken with her, considering you tried your gift on her soon after meeting." Marcus told Jane.

"I quite like Isabella, and she accepted my apology already. I feel awful now that I tried to harm her." Jane said sadly.

"I know, Jane. It's alright, I can see now that you just needed time to get to know her. Isabella is quite forgiving." Marcus stated. "Your bond to her Alec signifies loyalty, more like an acquaintance, though."

"I haven't spoken to her as much as Jane, Master. Though I do think it will be quite entertaining to have her around the castle. She already has began plotting with Jane to torture Victoria." Alec chuckled.

"She's going to be a handful after she's turned, I already see it." Marcus laughed.

Seeing Marcus laugh was refreshing for the twins, Marcus had been a shell of himself for so long. They were truly happy he was getting a second chance at love.

"When will she be turned Master Marcus?" Jane inquired.

"I suppose that's up to her, Jane." Marcus answered. "I do want to make sure her mind is strong enough for the change. There's been cases of vampires losing all their memories before they wake up."

Bella chose that moment to whimper in her sleep. Her hands clutched her blanket tightly as she gasped in her sleep, kicking her foot out as if she were trying to run.

"No, no, no." She muttered as silent tears ran down her cheeks.

Marcus immediately moved to her side, kneeling down and putting his hand to her cheek, shushing her. She quieted down, his presence chasing her nightmares away. When he lifted his hand from her cheek, Bella tensed up again.

"Perhaps you should sit with her Master." Alec suggested.

While Marcus had wanted her to be comfortable on the couch, it did not seem that her sleep would be peaceful if he left. Marcus gently lifted Bella's head and sat down on the couch. A few more adjustments and Bella's head now rested against her pillow in his lap. She immediately curled closer to him as he began to run his hand through her hair, falling into a deeper sleep. The twins were quiet after that, not wanting to wake up their Kings mate or disrupt her sleep anymore.

"Mia Bella, it's time to wake up." A farway away voice could be heard in Bella's dream.

It was a beautiful voice, giving her cold chills on her skin. She could hear her name get murmured again, along with her hair being moved from her face. Bella groaned as she woke up, stretching slightly. As her eyes slowly opened and met Ruby ones, Bella beamed up at Marcus. Then reality sunk in, and Bella blushed as she realized she was lying on his lap. She climbed off him completely flustered, noticing the jet was no longer in the air.

"I'm sorry, Isabella." Marcus murmured to her. "You began to have a nightmare. Sitting with you was the only way you'd calm down." He explained.

"Oh." Bella said. "I don't remember the nightmare from last night. They normally wake me up. Thank you for keeping them away, Marcus."

"Of course, Mia Bella!" Marcus exclaimed. "I'll keep your nightmares away every night if you want."

Bella blushed and teased Marcus. "Be careful, I might hold you to that!"

Marcus chuckled. Bella noticed Jane and Alec missing and looked at Marcus questioning.

"They're outside speaking to Santiago. He's here with a car to drive us to Volterra. It'll be about a 30-minute drive. They also had to situate Victoria in a second car that another guard, Afton, brought. He has already taken her back to the castle." Marcus explained.

Bella acknowledged his words and excused herself to use the bathroom before they left for their drive. After she had freshened up, she met Marcus at the door to descend the jet.

As Bellas feet touched Italian ground, she looked up at the car meant to take them to her new home. A large black suv awaited them with very dark tinted windows. She saw they were at a private airstrip and couldn't see any other humans around.

Bella noticed a new vampire, who must be Santiago, waiting for them. Santiago was large, though not as big as Felix, had dark colored skin and black dreadlocks put up in a hair tie. Bella couldn't see the full length of his hair. He stared at Bella with inquisitive eyes.

"Santiago, this is Isabella, Lei è mia." Marcus said. "And this is Santiago, Mia Bella." He introduced them.

(Translation She is mine)

Bella wasn't sure what Marcus said in Italian. She reminded herself to ask him later. Santiago stared at Bella, surprised now and with some shock, but was still polite.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Isabella." He nodded towards her.

Bella returned his sentiment with a smile, thought she found it odd he called her Lady Isabella.

"Well," Santiago clapped his hands together. "Shall we get going?" He asked as he turned towards the car.

Marcus led Bella to the backseat, where she noticed only Jane sat. Alec was in the front seat.

"Felix and Demetri rode back with Afton." Jane informed them both as Bella climbed in next to her to take the middle seat.

Marcus got in next to her. She could feel his leg pressed up against her own and blushed slightly as she glanced up at him to see him smiling back at her. Santiago started the car and took off down a winding road through the Italy countryside.

"It's so beautiful here!" Bella admired the scenery.

"Wait till you see the gardens at the castle, Lady Isabella. They're the most beautiful ones in all of Volterra!" Santiago told her.

"I can't wait to see them!" Bella exclaimed.

"I'll show them to you first chance we get Mia Bella." Marcus said to her.

Bella beamed up at him, making Marcus feel breathless.

"Look, Bella!" Jane pulled Bella's attention from Marcus. "It's our castle. It's home." Jane informed her.

Bella's jaw dropped. It truly was a castle, a very large one. A beautiful clock tower stood out front, and Bella could see many stories of the beautiful stone that made up the building. As Santiago circled around the building, a garage door opened automatically. Their car cruised inside at a decline, surprising Bella. An underground garage, she realized. The tunnel they were in opened up to a large room filled up with different cars. Some looked very expensive and some very old, clearly antiques.

"Wow." Bella mouthed the word.

Marcus chuckled at her reaction. "These cars belong to different members of the Volturi. Everyone has different tastes." He informed her.

"They're all very nice looking." She said in return.

Marcus slid out of the suv after Santiago had parked, holding his hand out to help Bella maneuver from the middle seat. After he'd shut the door behind him, he kept her hand and led her around the back of the suv where Jane met them. Santiago was hanging up the keys in a box on the opposite wall while Alec talked to him. They climbed a few steps and entered a rounded doorway. They were in a darker hallway, and Bella had trouble seeing. She squeezed Marcus's hand tighter as she let him navigate her.

"Sorry, Mia Bella." Marcus said. "The castle hasn't been updated in some time. We have no need for new lights with our eyesight." He informed her.

Bella hummed in acknowledgment. "Just don't let me fall." She told him.

"Never!" He exclaimed.

The pair followed behind Jane through a few more twist and turns until they came upon an elevator. Bella laughed at the bad elevator music.

"Aro finds amusement in torturing the ears of any humans that visit with this awful music." Marcus told her.

After going up, the elevator opened to a mahogany secretary desk where a beautiful woman sat. She had long black hair and olive skin. Bella couldn't see the color of her eyes since they were closed as Felix absolutely ravaged her lips while she sat on his lap.

Jane gasped beside Bella, and Felix jerked his head up, standing quickly and deposited the secretary back in her seat. Her foot clipped the phone on her way down, knocking it on the floor. The computer keyboard and mouse followed with a crash, the wires getting tangled. Bella giggled at the look on Felix's face, like a schoolboy in trouble. He would be blushing if he could, Bella thought. Felix glanced at Bella and winked after hearing her giggle. Bella glanced up at Matcus to see him rubbing his forehead with his eyes closed.

"You wanted to keep your bond a secret since you have yet to change her, and yet you make out like a teenage boy right out in the open!" Marcus barked at Felix.

"It's been days since I've seen her Master, I just got excited." Felix said while bowing his head. "Isabella, this is Gianna, my mate!" Felix said proudly a second later. "Gianna, this is Isabella. Isabella appartiene a Marcus." Felix finished in Italian, giving a sly grin to Gianna, who smiled and waved at Bella. Bella returned her wave.

(Translation : Isabella belongs to Marcus)

"You're mates!" Jane exclaimed at the pair. She didn't pick up on any signs before they left Volterra on their mission.

Marcus groaned. "I hope you're ready for Aro to know because I can't keep that very fresh memory from him when he reads my thoughts."

"I understand Master Marcus." Felix said while glancing at the woman. "Do you think Master Aro will approve of our bond?" He asked worridly.

The woman frowned in worry back at Felix.

"I'll talk to him." Marcus reassured the pair as he grabbed Bella's hand once again and began to lead her away. "Clean up that mess." Marcus ordered, pointing to the items that had fallen on the floor.

"Of course!" Gianna replied as she bent down to lock up the mess of wires and keyboard. Felix helped her.

"Master Marcus!" Jane exclaimed. "How long have you known about them?" She asked.

"Since Gianna joined us two months ago. She isn't ready to be turned just yet. She has familial bonds to tie up outside the castle." Marcus explained as they came upon two very large doors.

The doors had an intricate design carved into them, Bella had never seen doors like them before.

"Are you ready to meet my brothers, Mia Bella?" Marcus asked the beauty beside him.

Butterflies swam in Bella's stomach. She was extremely nervous. She had been led to beloved the Volturi were a bloodthirsty evil group before, but they were proving her wrong. Bella raised her head bravely, squeezing Marcus's hand as she glanced into his ruby eyes.

"I'm ready." She informed him. Because Bella was ready. She was ready to start her new life and get her fresh start. She was ready to meet her new family.

Author Note : I'm going to begin to put the Italian translations I've used before at the bottom in this note. If it's the first time I use a new translation in later chapters, I'll add it under the sentence the first time.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I do have a question about the length of my chapters. This one is over 3000 words. Would you prefer me to write shorter chapters? Or do you prefer the longer ones?

Also, I hope the speed of the story is ok?

Anyways, leave me a review and let me know :) Thanks!

Translations

*Mia Bella - My Beauty

*Isabella appartiene a Marcus - Isabella belongs to Marcus

*Lei è mia - She is mine

*Cara - Dear