Bella
A week passed quickly in Volterra. There was so much to do. We worked on my combat training, tried to expand my shield, and I learned the laws through watching court from the shadows. My nights were filled with passion as Demetri introduced me to all the different ways we could make love.
When we were summoned to the courtroom one evening, I was afraid that something was going to take away the overwhelming joy I'd found in my new life. I wouldn't allow it, I decided.
Felix opened the throne room doors for us. There waiting in the center of the room were Alice and Jasper. I only barely managed to contain my excitement and approach the Master's instead of throwing myself on Alice and Jasper.
"Greetings young ones," Aro said.
"Greeting Master." Demetri and I said.
"Feel free to greet your friends, Bella," Master Marcus said.
"Thank you, Master Marcus," I said with a curtsy then launched myself into Alice's arms. It didn't work out the way I planned though because Jasper moved Alice behind him. I ended up wrapped in his embrace instead.
"Sorry, Darlin'," Jasper said, "I wasn't one hundred percent sure you weren't out of control."
"I don't mind hugging you instead," I told Jasper with a laugh. The entire throne room seemed to be chuckling at us.
"I see you have a lot of control," Jasper said. "You're not hugging too tightly. Good job, Bella"
"Everyone has helped me a lot, especially Demetri," I said releasing Jasper. I moved slowly and hugged Alice too.
"I knew you were only coming for a hug, Bella," Alice said with a smirk at her mate. "We thought we'd come to visit and fill you in on the outside world."
I grabbed Alice's hand and led her from the throne room, forgetting to wait to be dismissed.
"Show them to the guest rooms on your floor Bella," Aro called after me. "Dismissed."
Demetri fell into step beside Jasper and I led them to the guest rooms for the most esteemed visitors on the fourth floor. Even Alice seemed pleased by the opulence that surrounded her.
We relaxed on the couches and Jasper started the conversation, "We left the Cullens. We just couldn't stay after all that transpired. In retrospect, we should have left years ago, but I'm glad we didn't. We wouldn't have met you if we'd left sooner. Emmett and Rose also left at least temporarily. They're going on another tour of the world to get their thoughts in order. We stopped and spent some time with my old army buddies, Peter and Charlotte, then we had to come and see how you were adjusting."
"There is so much to learn," I admitted, bouncing in my excitement. Demetri put a hand on my shoulder to curb my movements before she went through the couch. I smiled at him gratefully and moved to his lap. Kissing him quickly before I turned back to Jasper and Alice. "I can control my shield now. I'm watching court to learn the laws, and I'm learning to fight. It's all going well."
"I knew you'd be happier here but I didn't see just how much happier. I'm so glad for you, Bella." Alice admitted.
"You should see her when she gets going," Demetri said indulgently.
"I'm proud of you," Jasper said seriously. "With so much to learn it would be easy to get overwhelmed instead of basking in the experience. My experience with newborns left me unsure what we'd find when we got here."
"I'm loving every moment," I admitted.
"Would you consider helping Bella with her combat training while you are here?" Demetri asked Jasper.
"Oh Jasper, please? Demetri won't fight with me and Santiago has been training me. He's very good, but I remember you are a good teacher," I asked, only barely containing my urge to bounce again.
Jasper went to stand but Demetri held out a hand. "It can wait till tomorrow. I'm sure you'd like to decompress some after your journey."
Jasper relaxed back into his seat and I asked, "What are your travel plans now that you've left the Cullens?"
The conversation lasted through the night and when daylight peeked through the windows I was shocked. I had missed a feeding, so focused on catching up with Alice and Jasper that I ignored the burn in my throat.
"I need to feed," I admitted.
Demetri smiled and me and said, "I wondered how long you'd go before the burn got to be too much."
I pecked Demetri on the lips and said, "Relax and explore if you like. Volterra is an amazing place."
"Yes, please make yourselves at home," Demetri said sincerely. "Is there anything you need to make your stay more comfortable?"
Demetri
After court, the Major came to find us in the training room. Bella sprinted over to him to hug him and he laughed.
"I'm so amazed at the differences between Bella and the other newborns I've known," he admitted.
"Remind me later and I can walk you through her awakening and our approaches to control, strength, and such. I think part of it was her knowledge of what was happening before her change. Part of it is her personality but part may be the way I walked her through her first moments," I offered.
"I'd like that," The Major said.
News of the Major's presence in Volterra had spread like wildfire. I don't know that I'd ever seen this many of the guard eager to spar with each other. Even the elite guard were present. I almost laughed as The Major looked around. "Are your guard expecting a show?" he asked ironically feeling the tenor of the emotions in the room.
"You can't blame them, Major. You are a legend. Shall we give them what they are here for? Will you spar with me Major, before you assist Bella?"
A gasp echoed in the room and the Major laughed. "I couldn't deny so many excited vampires. No limb removal, no gifts, teeth at the throat for a win?"
"Deal," I agreed. The Major removed his shirt and shoes and I did the same. The guard circled the training room with a good twenty vampires entering the room, leaving whatever they had been doing to look busy.
There were gasps at Jasper's scars once his shirt was on the floor but it didn't seem to bother him. We circled each other watching for holes in each other's guard for a while. Then the Major smiled a wicked smile and lunged. I went high when he went low and the spar was on. He moved as quickly as I did, something I didn't think I'd ever said about an opponent before. Most of my wins were relatively easy. This was not going to be easy but I wasn't going to lose...not even to the famed Major.
He blocked all my punches and kicks so I went with a more varied approach. We each found ourselves flying through the air but neither could get the upper hand.
We went on like this for about two hours before Felix shouted into the room, "There had better be guards back on the Northwest and South sides of the castle before I think to look again."
I laughed and that gave the Major the opening he needed. He got a good grip on my arm. I slipped his hold at the last second though and we continued to spar. After about another hour Felix interrupted again. "How about you call it a draw, Boss? I need our guard at their stations and focusing on their tasks."
I stepped back and the Major did the same. We shook hands. "Draw, this time," I said. "Next time we'll use gifts."
"That'll be fun." the Major admitted.
I turned and focused on the crowd lining the walls and raised an eyebrow. Most of them looked down in submission and left the room, getting back to work.
Bella ran over and checked me for injuries. When she saw that I had none, she turned to the Major and said, "Jasper you must teach me to fight like that."
From there, Bella showed even more dedication to her combat training and that was saying something. I watched as the Major sparred with her, correcting her balance or her grip gently then going back over what they'd learned to make sure Bella took the corrections to heart. Alice watched on indulgently and I guess I did too.
While they were going over throws I asked, "How did you meet the Major?"
"It took a lot of work on my part. I knew where he was for decades but he would have killed me by accident and then killed himself in grief had I approached too soon. It was the nineteen fifties. I waited in the diner he was going to use to come in out of the rain. Our eyes met, I asked him why he'd kept me waiting so long, and it's been magic ever since. We went to the Cullens together to learn a new way to live. I know you don't understand it but the animal diet dulled some of Jasper's more violent instincts, let him assimilate into the family, and gave him time to recover from the trauma the wars left him with."
"Alice has been my savior in every way. She taught me how to live when one more day seemed too much to bear." The Major said as Bella put her arms around me. "The war left me with, I suppose it would be called PTSD these days. It was a challenge for me to allow the family to touch me at all at first. It was like I couldn't imagine touches meant in friendship or love and not violence. I never want to return to a life of violence. Though I do admit I enjoy coaching in combat tactics."
"When you get bored of the nomad lifestyle and want to settle down, consider coming here more permanently Major. We could always use someone with your skills." Demetri offered.
"We'll consider it," Alice laughed. "But I don't see it happening anytime soon. Speaking of the nomad way of life, we've been here three weeks. We should go on our way soon."
Bella's smile turned into a pout and we all noticed. The Major embraced her and said, "Don't worry Darlin', we'll come back to visit no matter where we land. I think next time I may bring Peter and Charlotte along. They'd get a kick out of it."
Bella's pout turned back into a smile in an instant. "One more day working with Bella and we'll hit the road again Alice. I have a few more tips that I can't leave her without."
The next day passed and it came time to say goodbye to Alice and Jasper. This was the saddest I'd seen Bella since she woke up. She was smiling still but I could tell that it was hard for her to see them go.
She hugged them each one last time and said, "I'd better see you again before my newborn year is up or I'll have Demetri track you."
"Don't worry, Bella. You won't have to hunt us down. In fact, I see that Aro is planning to throw a party for the day your newborn year ends. We'll be here for it." Alice reassured her.
"Next spar is with gifts," The Major told me. "Get to practicing." and they were gone. Bella held onto me tightly and cried into my shoulder. For the first time since she woke a vampire, I picked her up gently in my arms and walked through the castle. I was worried her friends leaving would bring her down, turning her attitude into a more normal one for newborns.
I tried to show her in every touch that night just how much I loved her. We ended up making love for three days, only leaving our rooms for Bella to feed.