Author Note : I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. There is some smut in this chapter! It's mostly towards the end but also a scene in the middle too. If you don't like those parts you'll have to skip it!
Reviews are always welcome! I enjoy hearing your opinions on the chapters.
I've had some rude messages sent to me about this story telling me to stop writing:( If you don't like it, then please don't read it.
Disclaimer : I don't own Twilight or its characters.
Chapter 12.
Bella had been left in the care of Jane and Heidi while the kings had taken Demetri to make a plan to track the hybrid. Marcus was not a willing participant, but Caius had drug him along.
Heidi had quickly opened the box of clothes and spread them out across the bed. Bella sat in a chair at the desk snacking on her sweets, and Jane had pulled a chair out of Marcus's office to sit next to Bella.
"Where's Corin and Chelsea?" Bella asked curiously as she nibbled on some strawberry gelato.
"Oh, Afton and them are scouting for some newborns." Heidi said in a distracted manner as she removed tags from Bella's new clothes. "And Renata, you still haven't met her, but she's taken over secretary duties for a bit."
"What newborns?" The human asked as she sat her sweets down.
Jane answered her this time. "Some of Victoria's newborns. You know that one had let Victoria out before. Well, there are still some stragglers out there."
"Shouldn't Demetri be with them?" Bella was puzzled.
"With Felix, one of our best fighters, out of commission while Gianna changes and the other guards are with the queens, Aro wanted Demetri to stay behind, so he could keep track of everyone. Make sure everyone stays in one piece." Jane murmured.
"Demetri's gift is helpful that way. He can see if a mission has gone badly if someone had flickered away. Or if one of the wives has separated from the guards for some reason. It makes Master Aro feel better to know everyone is ok." Heidi explained. "There's a running joke that he's a control freak at times." She murmured.
Jane hissed at Heidi. "You shouldn't speak of him that way, Heidi."
"He knows all my inner thoughts anyway, Jane." The mahogany-haired vampire rolled her eyes.
"But they'll be ok on the mission? Just those three?" Bella was concerned.
"Of course!" Jane exclaimed. "Afton can sneak up on people with his invisibility. Chelsea can just bond them to her temporarily to where they like her too much to hurt her. And Corin can make them feel content that she's there. Together, they can take out many newborns. Nearly every gift can be used in a defensive way." The blonde vampire explained.
"Everyone is going to be ok, Bella." Heidi reassured her, even though she, herself, was shaken over the hybrid that manipulated them. "Come make sure you like all of these clothes. If you see something you absolutely don't like, then we won't hang it up."
Bella stood and joined Heidi by the bed. An assortment of clothes was laid there, some converse shoes, and those red high heels that she could never pull off. "Everything looks great, Heidi." Bella murmured. "I can help you hang it up if you'd like." She offered.
"Oh no, Bella. It's quite alright. This will keep me busy." Heidi smiled at the human as she took an armload of clothes and sped to the closet.
Bella sighed and sat back down by Jane.
"She's concerned about the hybrid." Jane said quietly.
"It is odd. She said she wanted to stop her father from impregnating humans but then she used her, her mind manipulation gift on you guys." Bella stumbled over her words trying to figure out the right name for Serena's gift. "And then she ran after getting away from you. What could her purpose have been here?" She pondered.
Jane sighed. "We'll figure this out, Bella. Everything will be fine."
Bella sighed as she lost her appetite for the sweets. She had a churning in her gut, as if something bad was going to happen. She hoped she was wrong.
Meanwhile, in the library, the kings sat with Demetri. They looked at every piece of information they had on Joham and the hybrids.
Marcus sighed as he slammed a book down and rubbed his chest. Bella was worried. He could feel it. He didn't want to be in the library, he wanted to be with her. He just knew watching her eat those sweets would be a beautiful sight. He'd seen something on that tray that had sliced strawberries, and oh how he loved to watch her lips wrap around that fruit. A subtle touch to his back had him growling at Aro.
"It's called personal space Aro. If I wanted to share my thoughts, I would have reached for you." He snapped at the raven-haired king.
Aro's eyes widened with sadness. "I'm just concerned, brother. You seem so angry."
Caius snickered. "You mean alive, Aro? I can see how you'd be concerned that he's showing emotions after so many years as a stone sculpture."
Marcus glared at Caius and Demetri turned slightly away from all the kings to continue reading the documents they had. The tracker had no need to be involved with their drama.
"I just wanted to ensure you were ok, Marcus. Truly." Aro quickly cut in before a fight could break out between his brothers.
"I just need to know Isabella is alright." Marcus murmured.
"She's fine and guarded inside the castle. You are just experiencing withdrawals from her. It'll get better after she's changed and marked." Caius informed Marcus quietly, actually giving his brother a helpful piece of advice.
"Yes! And she'll be changed tomorrow morning. She'll be much safer as a vampire!" Aro exclaimed happily.
"Bella's being changed tomorrow?" Demetri asked. This was news to the tracker.
"Yes, she wants to be changed sooner rather than later." Marcus informed the tracker.
Demetri looked thoughtful for a moment and cocked his head in concentration. "Chelsea, Afton, and Corin are returning to Volterra. They're over halfway here. And the queens are returning to the castle. They should be here soon." The tracker informed his kings. "It will be good to have the rest of the guard back by the time we have two newborns."
Caius snorted. "Those newborns will be so wrapped up in their mates, we won't see them for days."
Aro laughed. "I remember when I changed Sulpicia. She couldn't keep her hands off me. Newborns feel everything so strongly."
"It wasn't as bad for Heidi and me. Course, we had already been vampires for a while." Demetri chipped in.
"Same for Dora and I, she wasn't a mindless newborn when I met her either." Caius insulted the mindsets of newborns.
Marcus rolled his eyes. "But you were a mindless newborn at some point. Just like the rest of us."
"No, I woke up just like this. Charming and perfect." Caius smirked.
Aro laughed at Caius. "What an ego you have, brother."
"Must be compensation for something else." Marcus threw the insult out there.
"Oh, I'm not compensating. Just ask Aro, he's walked in enough times." Caius sneered at the raven-haired king.
Aro sighed and rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you? I thought you two were done."
Demetri glanced at Marcus with confused eyes and the king subtly shook his head. The tracker definitely didn't need to know about Aro's accidental peeping tom behavior. Demetri heeded the silent warning Marcus gave and went back to reading.
"The queens have arrived." The tracker murmured.
"How delightful!" Aro exclaimed.
"Why not just ask my mate if I'm compensating." Caius wagged his eyebrows at Marcus, who sighed at his antics.
The library doors opened quickly, Dora and Sulpicia gliding gracefully inside.
"We got the best paints Italy has to offer!" Dora exclaimed as she flung herself into Caius's lap and kissed him.
She pulled back quickly. "You smell strongly of Bella. Did something happen?"
"Yes, I'm curious to know why your whole chest smells like my mate too." Marcus narrowed his eyes at Caius's.
Sulpicia pecked Aro's lips and took a seat next to him.
Caius rolled his eyes. "I found her in the labyrinth having a panic attack. She was thinking about her scars again. I simply showed her mine and how they were similar. And she hugged me." Caius murmured quietly. "I smell like Jane too, but no one cares about that!" He huffed. "She used her gift on me." He looked at Dora with large red eyes.
Dora smiled lovingly at her mate and pressed her lips to his ear as she whispered too low for anyone else to hear. "Ti amo, my kind mate. Well, I bet you hardly felt her gift with how strong you are."
Caius smiled and preened as he pulled Dora to him gently. While he put on a good front, he really did have a kind heart. At least to those he cared for.
"Thank you, Caius. For helping my mate in her time of need." Marcus nodded at Caius.
He quickly checked the bonds to Isabella and saw that, while Aro's continued to grow as a fatherly one, and Sulpicia's was a motherly one. Caius had grown a protective brotherly bond to Isabella, and Dora had been steadily growing a sisterly one to her. His mate, while still human, had nearly the entire Volturi bonded to her in some way. She was truly remarkable.
"But something did happen today." Sulpicia stated. "What was it?" She asked.
Aro quickly filled the two queens in.
"So we will simply drain the hybrid if she returns." Dora's solution was quick and reminded Marcus of why she was Caius's soulmate.
"And if this Joham shows up looking for his missing daughter? With who knows how many children accompanying him?" Sulpicia was the voice of reason.
"It was just a suggestion." Dora huffed and Caius quickly rubbed her shoulders.
"I can't track the hybrid. Our only option is to wait to see what their next move is or send some of us guards to track them by scent." Demetri stated.
"We should wait till Bella is changed. That way she'll be out of harms way, and we won't need all the guards here." Caius suggested.
"By tomorrow morning she'll begin her transition." Marcus murmured. "For now, we should up security around the grounds."
"Demetri, have Santiago, Renata, and Alec do perimeter checks. Corin, Chelsea, and you will relieve them for night duty, the two of them should be back here by then." Aro ordered the tracker, who nodded and quickly left.
"On another note," Dora clapped her hands. "Sulpicia and I have thought of what we want our new painting to be. We want to do a portrait of Bella and you!" The ashy blonde exclaimed happily.
"We thought she might like the memory of her last human night." Sulpicia murmured to Marcus.
"What a splendid idea!" Aro exclaimed as he beamed at his wife. "We've not had a portrait hand painted in the castle for years."
"I'll see if it's something she'd like to do." Marcus stated, but made no guarantees. "It's harder for humans to sit still that long."
"Then do a bed portrait instead." Caius smirked at Marcus.
Dora quickly smacked the blonde king on the chest. "Oh, do behave!"
"Yes, not all of us like having spectators in the bedroom, Caius." Marcus said, as his eyes bounced between Aro and him.
Caius hissed at Marcus and Sulpicia sighed at the scene she was watching.
"Perhaps go ask Bella if she'd like the portrait done, Marcus." The curly-haired queen suggested.
"I think I will!" Marcus said as he stood quickly, in a hurry to leave his brothers and return to his mate.
He rushed to the library door and sped away before his brothers could call him back for anything else.
Bella was listening to Heidi ramble about how she met Demetri and how he left his sire permanently afterward.
"I thought Demetri was already part of the Volturi when you met?" Bella asked as she ate a piece of apple crisp.
"He was volunteering his services to Aro, but he hadn't joined fully yet. His sire, Amun of the Egyptian coven, was very controlling of Demetri. Amun feared Aro would take Demetri for his gift. And when Demetri finally did meet the Volturi, Aro was very interested in him. But Demetri stayed firm in being a part of his sires' coven. He did want to explore the world though, and be somewhat independent, so he volunteered to go on a few missions. On one of those missions, he met me." Heidi smiled softly as her eyes stared off into space. "I already explained some to you about my own coven. Demetri took me to Egypt to meet Amun and his mate Kebi, but his sire did not approve of me. He said I was a Volturi spy set up to steal Demetri away." The mahogany-haired vampire scoffed. "Demetri had had enough of Amun's paranoid and controlling behavior, so he and I joined the Volturi permanently." Heidi finished her story and then turned to her task of putting fresh sheets on the bed for Bella.
"You really don't have to do that, you know." Bella murmured, feeling guilty that the vampire was doing housekeeping tasks for her.
"Oh, I don't mind a bit!" Heidi exclaimed and then paused. "I like to stay busy, so I don't worry." She admitted. "That hybrid...she messed with my memories, with my mind, and it's very concerning." The beautiful vampire said quietly.
"It will be ok, Heidi. You weren't the only one to fall under her tricks. But the kings will come up with a plan." Jane tried to reassure her friend.
Heidi smiled gratefully at the small blonde before standing up straight. "There! All done." She exclaimed. "I think I'll take these dirty linens to the washroom. I will see you both later though." She told the pair before she turned and left.
Bella gazed upon the new sheets that adorned the bed. They were silk and an emerald green. A matching blanket had also been folded across the bottom.
"I did tell you she was concerned. Now you've gotten to see how Heidi releases her anxiety, by organizing our clothes or simple tasks like changing sheets. When she's very anxious, she tries new decorating throughout the castle." Jane murmured.
Bella sighed. "I have this bad feeling." She admitted to her friend. "Like something bad is coming."
"It will be ok, Bella." Jane leaned forward to take her hand. "You'll be a vampire soon and able to protect yourself. Everything will be fine."
Before Bella could continue the conversation,the door clicked open and Marcus entered. His ruby eyes automatically went to her, and he beamed as he glided over to her chair.
"I'll leave you two alone." Jane murmured as she watched the two come together like a magnet was pulling them.
The blonde left the room with a small ache in her heart. Would she ever have that kind of love?
Bella stared into Marcus's eyes as he took Jane's seat. "I missed you, Mia Bella!" He exclaimed dramatically, making her laugh.
"We just saw each other not long ago." She reminded him and then squeaked as she found herself pulled swiftly onto his lap.
"Are you saying you didn't miss me?" He asked as he kissed her collarbone and glanced up at her.
Bella's breath caught as she stared into his darkening eyes. She leaned towards his lips, but the vampire pulled back.
"Ah, you didn't answer me, Isabella." His voice was husky.
Bella smiled at him. "How could I not miss you." She murmured and ran her hand down his shoulders. "How could I not miss your big strong arms, your mesmerizing ruby eyes, and your lips." Bella watched as he leaned towards her. "Of course, I also miss dancing with Aro! I just can't decide which one of you I missed the most." She teased him.
Marcus growled and surged forward to press her to the clean bed. "Perhaps I need to give you a better reason to miss me." He pressed his hips into hers and Bella gasped.
She felt her heart racing in her chest and she leaned forward quickly to claim his lips, pulling him down to her. She nipped his bottom lip and moaned when his hips jerked into her. She pressed against him hard and tried pulling him as close as she could, but he had begun to pull away.
"But then again, I was sent on a mission by the queens, and they wouldn't appreciate me getting distracted." Marcus smirked at her as he leaned back from her and stood up.
Bella laid on the bed, red-faced and panting. She was the most beautiful sight Marcus had ever seen, and he growled lightly in his chest and took a step back, trying to control his instincts.
Bella cleared her throat and tried to ignore her body's reaction to his growl. "What do Dora and Sulpicia want?" She asked as she sat up on the bed and tucked one of her legs under the other.
Marcus sat back in one of the desk chairs, keeping some distance between himself and his mate.
"They arrived back at the castle with some paints and supplies. They would like to paint a portrait of us. Something for you to remember your last day here as a human by." Marcus murmured as he tried to ignore the darkening of his eyes from her scent.
"I've never had my portrait painted." Bella said with a smile.
"Well, the queens are willing." Marcus informed her.
Bella bit her lip as she thought the offer over. "It's odd how everyone felt so threatened by the hybrid, but now the queens want to paint us." She stated.
Marcus laughed. "This isn't the first threat we've had, nor will it be the last. You become desensitized to these things after centuries and learn to continue the days as if they were normal."
Bella furrowed her brows. "I just have this really bad feeling." She admitted. "I don't know what it is."
"Perhaps it's Victoria getting to you. You went from having a panic attack at the sight of her a few days ago, to torturing her last night." Marcus said gently.
"I didn't think I'd be capable of something like what I did to her." She admitted quietly.
"You'd be surprised what people are capable of doing to someone they hold a grudge against." Marcus told her as he leaned forward to grab her hand and gently pull her off the bed onto his lap instead. "But when you're ready, we can get rid of the redhead. And she won't cause you to feel this unease ever again." He murmured as Bella wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him.
Bella inhaled his scent of cinnamon and pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes. Her body buzzed from the contact with him and she automatically relaxed into him as he tightened his arms around her waist.
"I want to get rid of her after the portrait painting. I don't want to ruin my mood before then or upset the queens if I react badly to Victoria." Bella said after a moment.
Marcus pressed a kiss to Bella's lips. "You could never upset the queens, Mia Bella. And they would understand if you were upset." He murmured. "Are you sure you want the portrait done?"
Bella nodded and smiled at him. "I want to remember this day with you for the rest of my life. And if I were to lose my memories, the portrait would remind me."
Marcus smiled at Bella and gently kissed her lips. "Do you really think your body could ever forget me?" He asked as he ran his hand under her shirt and up her back lightly.
Bella gasped as heat trailed his finger and her skin tingled. Her hands clenched on Marcus's shoulder. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him passionately. Marcus pulled back and smirked at her.
"I think I proved my point." He purred and Bella blushed.
"Will it always feel like this? Even after I'm changed?" She asked.
"It will be much more intense after you're turned." He laughed lightly.
"Then how do you control yourself so well?" Bella asked as she looked at Marcus under her lashes.
Marcus brought his hand up to her chin and lifted her face up to see her eyes fully. "If you only knew all the things I wanted to do to you." He said huskily and his eyes darkened as they ran down her form. "But I've been alive a long time. I know how to have self-restraint." He informed her as his eyes met hers again.
Bella blushed at the way he stared at her. Marcus leaned down and was almost close enough to kiss her.
Knock, knock!
The noise of knuckles wrapping on the door broke them apart.
Marcus sighed and rolled his eyes as Dora's voice carried through the door. "Did she say yes, Marcus?"
"I should take you away for your change, at least we'd get alone time then." He muttered and Bella giggled. "She did say yes!" He answered louder.
The door swung open and Dora walked in with Sulpicia behind her. Their mates followed.
"Have you guys picked out what you'd like to wear?" Dora asked happily.
"No, Dora. We've only had a few minutes to ourselves. How could we have decided?" Marcus droned out to the ashy blonde queen.
Bella giggled at his frustration and lightly kissed his cheek.
"You can have all night to yourselves!" Aro exclaimed. "But you need to change for the portrait! It will be the first one done in so many years. This will be so amazing." The raven-haired vampire said excitedly.
"Come on, Bella!" Dora grabbed Bella's hand and pulled her from Marcus's lap, much to his chagrin.
Bella was led to the closet and, Sulpicia quietly followed. Dora began to go through all the clothes Heidi had just hung up. Bella's eyes couldn't keep track of the fast vampire, and she sat down on the chaise lounge.
"Dora, perhaps slow down a bit." Sulpicia suggested to the excited vampire as she too took a seat next to Bella on the lounge and patted her knee gently. "She gets very excited about these things." The curly-haired woman said quietly to Bella.
Dora rolled her eyes. "How can I not be excited? The castle hasn't been this lively in centuries, and we haven't painted for years." She stressed the last word as if to get her point across.
"Do you two have any portraits around?" Bella was curious.
"We have some from long ago. Humans painted ours though." Sulpicia stated. "They're placed around the balcony in the ballroom."
"What about one of these sundresses?" Dora pulled a few dresses down and Bella was automatically self-conscious.
They wouldn't hide her scars. Her hand automatically went to her shoulder where she could feel the claw marks. She shook her head at Dora.
"I'm not sure if I'd look nice in those as a human. Heidi mentioned them for after my change." She murmured.
"Oh, nonsense!" Dora exclaimed. "This one would look lovely with your skin tone and would bring out your brown eyes." She held up a green dress that tied around the neck.
"Oh Dora, this painting is going to be around for centuries to come. I'm sure you can do better than a simple sundress." Caius voice came from behind Bella and made her jump.
"Bella will wear what she wants to wear, Caius." Sulpicia said firmly.
"I was just suggesting something with a bit more...flair." Caius defended himself.
"Anything is fine, really. I'm just not sure about-" Bella stopped talking as she rubbed her scars and looked down.
Caius noticed her behavior and spoke to the queens. "Perhaps, Chelsea has another dress Bella can borrow."
"Oh, that's a great idea! We'll go check!" Dora dragged Sulpicia with her, the latter giving Caius a stern look.
"Where's Marcus?" Bella asked quietly.
"Aro proclaimed his outfit was fine and took him to the throne room where the painting is to be done." Caius informed her.
"Oh." Bella murmured quietly.
"A warrior wears their scars with pride. They don't become timid or spinless. If you were weak, then you wouldn't still be standing in a castle of vampires." He murmured quietly from behind her as he turned her to face her vanity mirror, so she'd have to face herself. "Stop acting weak and be the warrior you really are. Be bold." He told her as the queens returned to her closet.
"Bella! We found a beautiful dress if you'd like to try it. It's brand new. Heidi stocked it in Chelsea's closet, but I guess she didn't like it. What do you think?" Dora asked excitedly as she held a dress up.
Bella noticed Caius slink quietly out the door, and then she turned to Dora.
"Calm down, Dora." Sulpicia told the ashy blonde, exasperated.
The dress Dora held was quite beautiful. It was a pink peach color in silk with a layer of black lace over the top with flower designs. A thick black belt went around the waist that laced up the back. It had black spaghetti straps and the front was higher than the back. The bottom strip of the dress held no lace and instead was a peach-colored strip of silk that ruffled slightly. It looked like an older style of dress, but Bella couldn't be sure. She did know that it was quite beautiful and that it would not hide her scars. But Caius had told her to be a warrior.
"It's perfect." She murmured quietly to Dora.
Dora beamed but then Sulpicia stepped towards Bella. "Are you sure?" The curly-haired queen asked Bella gently.
Bella nodded her head. "Yeah, it will look perfect in the painting."
"Well then you've got to put it on!" Dora said excitedly as she handed the dress to Bella and then ushered Sulpicia out of the closet. "Let us know if you need help!"
The door shut with a soft click and Bella sighed as she felt the silk material in her hands. She ran her fingers over the lace and then set the silk clothing down on the vanity. She quickly undressed and pulled the dress over her head. The silk was soft and smooth across her skin. She couldn't tie the back of the dress where it laced up and bit her lip before calling out.
"Could you help me lace up the back, Sulpicia?" She didn't understand why she called for the curly-haired vampire and not Dora, who was so excited about the dress.
Sulpicia was behind Bella before she could blink, she barely even heard the door open.
The queen smiled at Bella warmly. "Of course, sweetheart." Then Sulpicia was tightening the back of the dress to where it fit Bella's slender form.
The curly-haired queen tied the ribbon in a bow on the back of the dress. The dress left Bella's back, shoulders and collarbone bare besides the spaghetti straps.
Bella twisted slightly in the dress, so she could see how it laid in the back. The bottom swayed when she moved and fell above her knees in the front, slightly cascading a bit lower down the back of her legs.
"You do look beautiful,Bella." Sulpicia complimented her.
Bella blushed and her hand grazed her scars. "Caius told me to be bold. To wear my scars with pride, pretty much." She murmured.
"He's right," Sulpicia stated. "you wear them like they're your medals. Because for you to be standing here, means you won against anyone who put those on your skin. You always treat any scar you have that way." The queen stared into Bella's eyes as she spoke.
Bella's eyes watered slightly as she looked away and back at her reflection. She ran a hand through her tangled hair. It had gotten messy from her day.
"I'm not sure what to do with my hair." She admitted.
"Well," Sulpicia started as she took Bella's hair and held it in different ways. "perhaps a high updo? Or we could just pull the top back?" Sulpicia suggested.
Bella bit her lip as she stared at her reflection. Having only the top up would allow her to use the rest of her long hair as a security blanket over her scars. But that would be cowardly, she thought to herself.
She sighed. "Let's put it all up." Her eyes met Sulpicia's in the mirror and the queen's eyes shined brightly at her, holding a proudness that Bella hadn't seen since...since her parents were murdered.
A pain shot through her heart at the thought of them and her eyes filled with wetness as she realized that Sulpicia was treating her as a parent would. Not a sister like she thought she'd be to both the queens.
"Are you ok, Bella?" Sulpicia was worried as she watched Bella's emotions switch quickly.
Bella turned and wrapped her arms around the vampire. Sulpicia's wild curls brushed Bella's bare shoulder as the human leaned into her.
"Thank you for everything, Sulpicia." Bella murmured quietly.
The vampire hugged the human back gently. "Of course, Bella. I know it's only been a few days, but I care for you deeply. If you ever need anything, all you have to do is ask." Sulpicia informed the human. "Now, let's get your hair brushed out." The queen said as she pulled away from Bella, leading her to the vanity seat, and picked up a brush to fix her long strands.
Bella closed her eyes as Sulpicia did her hair. The gentle pulls and twists on her head made her feel relaxed and she sighed out. Sulpicia chuckled quietly from behind her, making Bella open her eyes to see amused ruby ones staring back at her.
"Almost done." Sulpicia said as she pulled another strand up on Bella's head. "There, all finished."
Bella glanced in the mirror. Her hair was in a high bun on her head with a few pieces hanging down to frame her face.
"Thanks." Bella smiled at the queen. "It looks great!"
"We better get to the throne room before Dora gets impatient." The queen spoke and Bella stood up from her vanity seat.
She quickly slipped on her black flats and followed Sulpicia out of the closet and then out of the east wing. She stuck close to the queen as they followed the maze of hallways. Bella still wasn't sure which direction took her to the throne room. She'd be lost on her own. They came upon the throne doors and Sulpicia pushed them open.
Bella immediately saw Aro fretting over Marcus, touching pieces of his hair.
"Oh, brother, it would look so much better slicked back in the painting." Aro stated as he touched Marcus's strands.
Marcus jerked his head back and Caius laughed at the scene. "When you have another portrait of yourself done, then you can slick your own hair back. But stop touching mine, Aro." Marcus said sternly and then his eyes caught sight of Bella and his lips fell open.
The dress Bella wore swayed around her legs when she walked and the black belt around the middle accented her curves. The sweetheart neckline showed off the various scars littering her neck and shoulder. He watched Bella blush and falter for a moment before Caius cleared his throat.
Bella blushed at the way Marcus gazed at her and began to feel self-conscious. She glanced at Caius when he cleared his throat. The blonde king raised his chin up and Bella followed his move. Raising her head confidently, she continued her steps into the throne room. Before she could get to the vampires though, Marcus had appeared in front of her.
One of his hands found its way to her lower back, the other on the back of her neck. He pulled her towards him and slammed his lips to hers quickly. Bella's body lit up with heat as she pressed closer to him, tangling her fingers in his hair.
"Marcus! Your hair!" Aro's voice broke them apart as the raven-haired vampire stared at Marcus's dark locks in dismay.
Marcus rolled his eyes and Bella giggled. Sulpicia quickly made her way to Aro's side. Bella could hear the queen calming Aro down.
"You look absolutely magnifica!" He exclaimed as his eyes dropped down her body.
(Translation - magnificent)
Bella bit her lip as heart went through her body again as his eyes slowly rose to stare into hers. Marcus inhaled and his ruby eyes darkened as he gazed at her. Bella gasped slightly as she pressed closer to him.
"Alright you two!" Dora gently grabbed Bella's arm and led her away from Marcus, who huffed at the ashy blonde.
Caius hissed at Marcus in retaliation at his anger towards Dora. "Control yourself, brother."
"Come Marcus, sit!" Sulpicia called as she patted Marcus's throne arm.
Marcus sped to the throne and quickly took a seat. He reached towards his mate and quickly jerked her into his lap, making Bella squeal and then laugh. Marcus pressed a hand to her upper back as he leaned her back slightly and gently kissed her lips, just a brush of his on hers, really. When Bella tried to deepen it, Marcus would pull away just a little bit to where he was out of reach.
Bella slapped his chest lightly. "You're teasing me."
"Caius told me to control myself." Marcus informed her. "I'm just doing as I'm told."
Bella rolled her eyes with a giggle as she sat up straighter in his lap.
"Turn towards us some, Bella." Dora ordered as the two queens set up their painting supplies. "And wrap your arms around her waist, Marcus. Cross your legs too, Bella."
The pair on the throne adjusted themselves as ordered until finally Sulpicia ordered them not to move so much. Bella sat on one of Marcus's thighs, her crossed legs sat between his and Marcus's arms pulled her waist till she was tight against him. One of his palms laid on her thigh, the other held her hand in her lap.
"Wait!" Aro called out as the queen began to paint.
The raven-haired king quickly ran to the throne, pulling something from his pocket as he got to them.
"I was going to wait till after your change to give this to you, but now is as good a time as any." Aro murmured, and then Bella saw what he held.
Her eyes filled with tears as she glanced at the Volturi crest. She leaned forward so Aro could place it on her neck and clasp it in the back. It was cold against her skin and heavier than she was used to. It laid perfectly on her chest, though.
"Welcome to the Volturi coven, Isabella." Aro grabbed her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it before he gave her a nod and returned to his wife's side.
Bella's fingers ran over the necklace, and she glanced at Marcus, who gave her a gentle smile. "Ti amo." He murmured quietly in her ear, too quiet for the others to catch.
"I still don't know Italian." She teased him.
Marcus laughed and quickly kissed her lips before turning back to the queens. Bella squeezed his hand as she followed his lead.
After only around 15 minutes, Bella had begun to shift around from trying to hold her position for so long. After the third time she squirmed on Marcus's lap, his hands moved to clench around her hips as he held her still. She glanced back at him and saw his onyx eyes stare back at her, then she felt him. She blushed a deep red all the way down her chest as she realized all her moving had aroused him.
A loud cackle broke their look and Bella glanced over just in time to see Dora smack a laughing Caius on the chest with her paintbrush. Paint stuck to the vampire's shirt and splatters flew up over his face. His red eyes grew wide.
"Dora!" The blonde king exclaimed as he tried rubbing the paint off his skin, but it got all over his hands too.
"Stop laughing at them, Caius. They're new mates." Dora hissed at him quietly.
Caius gaped at his mate and had his palms held out, so he wouldn't touch anything else with his wet hands.
"We're almost done." Sulpicia told Bella quietly.
"That fast?" Bella asked.
"Honestly, Bella, with our photographic memory, you didn't even have to stay here. We didn't even paint that pose you're in." Dora admitted with a shrug and Bella gaped at them before laughing.
"We thought it might be nice for you to have the whole experience though, Isabella!" Aro exclaimed as he clapped his hands.
Bella felt Marcus chuckle behind her and turned her head towards him to see his amused eyes glance back at her. "You would've known we didn't have to sit here the whole time." She accused.
"But why wouldn't I want you in my arms and on my lap for an extended amount of time?" He purred back and Bella blushed as she bit her lip.
"We're finished!" Sulpicia exclaimed.
Bella pulled away from Marcus and stood to walk down the few steps to the queens. Marcus followed at her back like a shadow, and she reached behind her to grab his hands. As she turned to walk around the paintings, she caught a glimpse and lost her breath.
Dora and Sulpicia had painted the moment Bella had first been pulled into Marcus's lap, and he'd leaned her back. She was smiling brightly and her eyes were amused as she stared at Marcus, who beamed back at her, his hand pressed to her upper back. One of her legs was kicked up slightly and bent at the knee, allowing more of her other pale leg and black flat to be shown where her dress came up. They'd captured the moment of happiness just like a camera would.
Bella noticed the details added to the paintings. How the rubies in her new pendant sparkled, how Marcus's eyes were gleaming with...with love. And her scars were still on display. But the girl in the painting, the woman, didn't look deformed or grotesque with the scars. She looked beautiful. Bella ran her finger over a bite mark on her own neck.
"You made me look so beautiful." She murmured quietly.
Marcus wrapped his arms around her as he stepped up to her back. He pressed kisses over her scars up her neck until his lips pressed to her ear.
"You do look beautiful, just like that painting. That is what I see every time I look at you." He said into her ear, his cinnamon scent blowing across her face.
"He's right, Bella. That painting is how we all see you." Caius told her quietly as he looked into her eyes.
Dora leaned into his side, not caring about the paint on him, and pressed her palm to his shirt, over the scars that adorned his chest. She nodded in Bella's direction with a gentle smile.
Bella smiled with trembling lips as her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you all. For everything." She glanced at each of them as she spoke, pressing her hands against Marcus's on her waist.
"Of course, Isabella. We'd do anything for you, dear." Aro murmured to her.
Bella gazed back at the painting and looked it over again.
"We'll leave you two alone for a bit." Sulpicia murmured as she led Aro from the throne room.
Caius and Dora followed them. "I need a shower now, woman." Caius told Dora and waggled his eyebrows. "You'll have to join me. I just don't know if I can remove this paint myself."
Bella laughed at Caius's antics as the door closed behind them. She sighed as she leaned back into Marcus and stared at their portrait.
"Where will it hang?" She asked him.
"Wherever you want it too. We can hang it in the ballroom with some others, so visitors can see your beauty." He ran a hand down her cheek and kissed her neck again, making her gasp. "Or we can put it in our room, so I can gaze upon it whenever the queens steal you away." He teased.
"I think the queens mostly kick you out of the bedroom." Bella laughed.
"Ah, then when it's dry, it shall go to the ballroom!" He exclaimed as he tightened his arms around her.
Bella smiled and glanced up to kiss the underside of his chin. Marcus quickly twirled her around to face him. He pulled her body flush against him and pressed his lips to hers. Marcus ran one hand up to cup the back of her neck and the other held her back to pull her closer.
Bella moaned into his mouth as he nipped her lip and arched into him. Marcus growled and heat ran through her body. Bella gasped as everything around her was suddenly moving faster than she could process. The wind blew around her as Marcus swooped her up in his arms and sped to his throne. Bella giggled as Marcus took his seat hard, making the throne creak. But then she blushed when Marcus situated her on his lap, straddling him.
Mature Content Warning
Marcus smirked at her and his eyes darkened. Bella bit her lip and squirmed on his lap. Marcus growled lowly in his chest and heat rushed through her, gathering in her lower regions. Marcus leaned forward and captured her lips roughly. Bella tangled her fingers in his hair and tugged lightly. A quiet groan left Marcus's lips and Bella tugged again as she ran her tongue across his bottom lip lightly before sucking it gently. Marcus growled and thrust against her, making Bella's head fall back as she moaned. Marcus attacked her neck with his lips, and she gasped for breath at the fire soaring through her body and across her skin.
Marcus was consumed by Bella. Her scent of strawberries and freesia surrounded him. Her heart was pounding and her body was warm as she sat upon his lap. He could feel the heat from between her thighs and groaned against her neck as her hips began to move lightly against him. Marcus claimed her lips with his own.
Bella could barely hear anything over her own heartbeat. Her senses were in overload from Marcus. Her hips began moving without her permission and she moaned when she felt his hardness. Marcus clenched his hands around her hips and pulled her down hard as he grinded himself against her. Bella moaned louder into Marcus's mouth and her breath left her lips in small pants as her head fell back again, and she continued to roll her hips with Marcus's help. Heat welled up in her lower stomach, like a ball getting tighter and tighter before it finally released. Her whole body tingled, and she groaned loudly as her eyes closed, and she fell into bliss.
Bella slumped against Marcus as she came down and panted into his shoulder. She felt him press soft kisses on her shoulder as she slowly released his hair. She could still feel his hardness beneath her and blushed. She leaned back to look at him.
End Mature Content
"You didn't get too-" She cut herself off in embarrassment as she glanced away from him.
Marcus pushed her chin back up with his fingers and looked at her with dark eyes.
"This was about you, Isabella." He ran his thumb over her bottom lip and Bella kissed it lightly. "We have all night anyway." He murmured quietly. "You can help me take care of this in the bedroom then." Marcus thrust against her and Bella gasped and bit her lip as Marcus smirked at her.
"We could go now." Bella said as she bit her lip and looked at him under her lashes.
Marcus groaned at her look and the scent of her heat in the air still. "Unfortunately, Isabella," Her name rolled from his lips huskily. "we have some things to deal with before your change."
"Victoria." She murmured quietly.
Marcus nodded at her.
"How's Gigi? Do you think we could visit her?" Bella asked.
Marcus sighed. "Felix will be running on protective instincts."
"We could try though." Bella said hopefully, with large brown eyes staring into his.
"If he acts violently, then we leave immediately." Marcus couldn't say no to her.
Marcus leaned forward and captured his lips again before burying his face in her neck and placing wet kisses there. Bella moaned but Marcus pulled away and smirked.
"You wanted to see, Gianna." He stated.
Bella blushed and began to remove herself from his lap. She stumbled slightly with weak legs and Marcus steadied her. She ran a hand over her neck and glanced at him.
"It's better for Felix to smell my scent on you." Marcus admitted.
"Why would he think I was a threat?" She was puzzled.
"He wouldn't see you as a threat, but he may see you as a meal. He won't touch you if you're marked with my scent." Marcus murmured as he wrapped an arm around her waist and gently led her from the throne room.
He led her through many twists and turns until they entered a new part of the castle.
"The guards' rooms are this way." Marcus explained as they passed many doors before stopping at one at the end.
Marcus knocked gently and stood slightly in front of Bella. Bella heard whimpers from inside the room and a low growl before the door was flung open. Felix stood there with onyx eyes and a snarl on his lips that slowly disappeared at the sight of his king.
"Master." Felix bowed his head lightly but quickly sped back to the bed when a scream echoed through the room.
Marcus walked slowly forward and Bella saw Gianna over his shoulder. The woman laid on a bed without any blankets. Her skin was paler and her body more filled out. She had a sheen of sweat across her forehead.
"Too hot, burning." The woman murmured and cried as Felix kneeled down by the bed.
The large vampire pressed his hand to her forehead and Gianna calmed down a bit, as if his touch had removed the pain.
"A soulmate can numb some of the pain with their touch." Marcus murmured quietly, but Felix's head jerked up to stare at them.
His dark eyes stared into hers and Bella bit her lip as she stared at Gianna.
"Bella?" Gianna called quietly as her eyes focused on the human in the doorway for a short moment before her back arched, and she clenched her teeth in pain.
Bella automatically stepped forward and Marcus grabbed her arm. She glanced back at him as her eyes filled with tears. Felix hissed at Marcus as Gianna called out to Bella again. Marcus released his mate's arm but followed closely behind her, the bottom of her dress brushed against him as it swayed. Bella sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed Gianna's arm. She noticed Felix inhale deeply as he glanced between Marcus and her. His body relaxed some.
"This is all my fault, Gigi." Bella said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry."
"Not you." Gianna groaned out and then sobbed as pain rushed through her body. "You didn't." The changing woman couldn't finish her sentence.
Felix whispered soothing words to his mate and then glanced at Bella. "Victoria did this. It's her fault." He hissed and pressed small kisses to Gianna's face when she whimpered.
Marcus pressed a hand to Bella's shoulder as she cried silent tears. "I'm going to be changed tomorrow. When I wake up, we can do this together." She stated to Gianna as she squeezed the woman's hand. "And Victoria won't ever be a problem again." She promised.
Gianna smiled tightly at Bella. "Thank you." She choked out before her eyes clenched and a small scream left her lips.
"We should go." Marcus told her quietly.
Bella glanced up at him and then at Felix. "Thank you for letting me see her."
Felix nodded at her. "Anything for you, my queen."
Bella got to her feet and let Marcus quickly usher her from the bedroom, the door shutting behind them quietly. Bella's bottom lip wobbled and Marcus took her into his arms.
"It's not your fault. Like Felix said, this is on Victoria and the newborn who tried to save her." He murmured quietly.
Bella sniffled and rubbed her hand over her eyes. "I want to see Victoria."
"Ok, Mia Bella." Marcus took her hand and began leading her through the castle.
When they got to the stairs that led to the dungeon, Marcus paused and glanced back at his mate. Her eyes were still puffy and red. He cupped her cheek and pressed his forehead to hers, feeling as her hands came up and clenched around his arms.
"Are you ready for this?" He asked gently.
Bella took a moment to gather herself. "I want her gone." She said firmly. "I don't want there to be a chance she can ever hurt someone I care about ever again."
Marcus nodded and pressed his lips to hers gently before pulling her down the stairs carefully. When they rounded the corner to the dungeon, Bella noticed that, like Marcus had said, Victoria was in pieces. She also noticed a fire was already going and the dungeon felt warm.
"She's not lucid at all?" She questioned as she noticed the redhead's gaze staring blankly into the walk.
Marcus kept a hand on Bella's lower back as he answered. "Normally, if a vampire is just beheaded or torn apart completely, they are still somewhat lucid. They can hear and blink, but not speak since their vocal cords are severed. But, that last hit you gave her seemed to chip off some pieces of her brain. She was unmoving when she was torn apart besides some twitching. So no, she's not lucid." He explained to her.
Bella nodded and bit her lip. She reached out her hands and picked up Victoria's head. Her face was cracked and broken from the torture session she had endured from Caius and herself. And she already looked dead.
"I can't believe that after everything she did, I'm holding her head now." Bella murmured. "It seems unreal."
"But it's very real. You are in control here now, not her." Marcus said from behind her.
Bella gnawed on her lip as she stared at the head, and then she glanced into the fireplace. She walked slowly over and felt Marcus follow. When she stopped in front of the flames, she sighed and her eyes filled with tears.
"I win, Victoria." She told the dismembered head before she threw it into the orange fire.
The flames sizzled and shot higher, Marcus wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back some. She leaned into him and cried as she watched the red hair sizzle into black strands of ashes. She had done it. She'd gotten her revenge on Victoria. As a human at that.
"Are you ok?" Marcus asked her.
Bella nodded. "It feels like a weight has lifted a little."
Marcus kissed the top of her head. "Would you like me to burn the rest of her?"
Bella nodded again and felt Marcus leave her back. He returned quickly, and she watched him throw Victoria's pale limbs into the flames. He was back to her side quickly.
Bella cleared her throat. "As good as I feel about her being gone," she bit her lip. "I'm still not done." Tears ran down her cheeks. "She wasn't the only one to hurt me. Or my dad. I want to hurt the wolves so badly." She sobbed. "But then again, I just want everything to be over and calm. I want to spend my days with you and not worry about anything. But I can't let them get away with what they did to my dad."
Marcus turned Bella in his arms and hugged her. "Isabella, I promise you that those mutts will be punished. I will help you. So will Caius! You couldn't keep him away from that fight." Bella laughed because she knew Marcus was right. "And we will live in peace, soon." He promised.
Bella bit her lip. "What will Aro do about the Cullen's?"
Marcus sighed. "The Cullen's will have to be punished for their crime of letting a human know about them, with no intention of turning her. And leaving a threat to make a newborn army. But we'll worry about them after you're changed."
Marcus pushed the hair framing her face back and rubbed his thumb over her lip. Bella leaned up and captured his lips, quickly tangling her fingers in his hair. She sighed into his mouth.
"Isn't it almost nighttime, yet?" She teased him.
"You just can't wait to get me into bed, can you?" He laughed.
"Oh, so you don't want me." She murmured quietly.
"I never said that." He growled and pulled her closer to him. "If I was less of a gentleman, I'd take you right here in this dungeon." He said against her lips. "I'd give you so much pleasure in this place where so many others have only felt pain."
Bella bit her lip as heat raced down her body, and then she pressed her lips back to his, arching against him. Marcus walked her backwards and pressed her into the wall next to the fireplace where Victoria's body still sizzled. He placed a hand on each side of her head to box her in as he nibbled on her luscious bottom lip. Bella thrust her hips against him and moaned.
"You make it so hard for me to be good." He told her huskily.
Bella blushed as her body hummed with need. But then a thought hit her that made her feel cold.
"If we," she hesitated and blushed. "before I'm a vampire, I'll bleed if we go all the way. I've never done that." She murmured, embarrassed.
"I know you haven't, Isabella. And your blood won't bother me or anyone else here." He tried to reassure her.
Bella was suddenly nervous about everything. She fiddled with her hands in front of her as she moved her body back from his.
"We'll only do what you want to do." Marcus told her firmly.
"Bella, Marcus!" A voice called down the stairs, it was Sulpicia's. "Aro wanted to hang your picture up, can you show him where?"
Marcus sighed at the interruption. "We're coming!"
He heard the queen walk away and cupped Bella's cheek. "Everything will be ok." He promoted and kissed her lips gently before grabbing her hands to pull her towards the stairs.
The trip to the ballroom was quick and Bella tripped a couple times. Marcus paused and turned to her.
"I'm sorry, Isabella. I'm rushing you." The king suddenly seemed nervous and Bella found it endearing in a way.
She surged forward and kissed him before pulling away. "You're cute when your nervous!" She teased him and laughed as he playfully growled at her and she darted away.
Of course, she didn't make it to the ballroom doors before he swooped her up and spun her around in his arms, causing her to squeal with laughter. "Cute! I am more than cute, Isabella. I am a king! Surely there's something more fitting to call me than cute?" He sat her back on her feet.
"Ok, ok!" She giggled. "You're my strong, handsome, warrior." She ran her hands over his shoulders. "Is that better?" She batted her eyes at him.
He growled and pulled her to him for a kiss. "It's marginally better."
"Ok, you two! Get in here." Dora called from inside the ballroom.
Marcus rolled his eyes and opened the door for Bella. She quickly realized this wasn't just to hang a picture. The room was filled with Jane, Alec, Heidi, Santiago and Demetri, along with the kings and queens. A few guards were missing, still on their mission. Bella noticed a new face near Aro, a woman.
"Ah, Isabella! You have not yet met our other shield." Aro gently pushed the new vampire towards her. "This is Renata. Renata, this is Isabella."
Bella smiled at the woman. "You can just call me, Bella." She held her hand out.
Renata smiled back and took her hand in a gentle shake. "You can call me Ren, if you'd like." The vampire offered. "I look forward to helping you strengthen your shield after your change."
"Yes, Renata will be a great teacher to help us discover your shields capabilities." Aro said happily.
"I look forward to it, Ren." Bella told Renata and tried out her nickname.
"Bella," A voice sang, and then Jane was there pulling her to the stairs. "your portrait is beautiful!" Jane led her carefully up the stairs to the balcony around the ballroom.
Bella noticed other portraits and paused in front of one. It was a woman with straight black hair and elfin features. She reminded her of Aro.
"That's my sister, Didyme." The raven-haired king spoke up from beside Bella, making her jump.
Bella noticed Marcus was speaking to Caius down below the balcony.
"She's very beautiful." Bella murmured.
"Yes, she was taken much too soon from us." Aro said sadly.
Without thinking, Bella reached her hand over and laid it on Aro's arm in a comforting gesture. Aro smiled at her and placed his hand over hers.
"I'm very glad you're here, Isabella." He told her. "Now come, we have some clear spaces over here. Alec is going to hang the painting wherever you pick out." Aro led her further across the balcony.
There were paintings of the kings and queens together and even some portraits of the guards. She saw some paintings of vampires she didn't know. And then she saw him.
"Carlisle had a painting similar to that in his study." She murmured as she studied Carlisle Cullen's features as he stood with the kings.
"Ah, yes! We have a few paintings of him around." Aro informed her. "Now, pick a place!"
Bella pointed at an empty space next to a portrait of Demetri and Heidi. "What about there?" She asked.
"It looks like a great spot." Marcus answered, as he was suddenly behind her.
"Splendid!" Aro exclaimed. "Alec, right here!" He called down to the vampire who picked up the painting and sped quickly up the stairs.
Bella leaned into Marcus and watched as Alec put their painting on the wall. "It really is a beautiful portrait." Alec complimented it. "They really captured you in it, Bella."
Bella beamed at Alec. "Thank you."
Alec quickly went back down the stairs to join Demetri and Santiago. Bella noticed Aro had disappeared and was standing next to Sulpicia on the ballroom floor.
"They'd like to give you their well-wishes before your change." Marcus murmured in her ear.
She glanced up at him and nodded. She let him guide her back downstairs and up to Jane. The blonde vampire quickly hugged her.
"I'm so excited to meet you again as a vampire in a few days. I'm going to show you what the gardens really look like in our eyes when you wake up." Jane told her.
"I bet all the flowers are even more beautiful." Bella smiled at the blonde.
Heidi quickly swooped in for a hug. "You look beautiful today, Bella. You should have let me buy you more dresses."
Bella laughed. "Well, we'll have centuries for you to pick some out."
Demetri stood next to Heidi. "I wish you luck during your change, Miss Bella. I'll see you when you're reborn." He pressed a gentle kiss on her hand and nodded his head at her.
"Thank you, Demetri." She smiled at him and his reference to the tree of life, to being reborn.
"Lady Isabella!" Santiago called as he walked up. "We meet again." He smiled and kissed her hand like Demetri had. "It's an honor to have you with us."
"It's nice to see you again, Santiago. And thank you." Bella told him happily.
"It's been a pleasure having you here as a human. I can't wait to see the headache you give Master Marcus as a vampire." Alec teased and Bella laughed.
Bella was wrapped in a hug suddenly. "Oh, Bella! I've enjoyed our time together immensely. I'm glad we found you and that I get to call you my sister." Dora told her with venom tears that would never fall.
Bella's eyes filled with tears of her own. "I'm glad I've gotten to meet you too, Dora. I've never had a sister before."
Caius wrapped an arm around Bella and stepped away from the group. He leaned down close to her ear.
"You're almost there, Bella. You've grown these past few days. From a scared meek human to someone who has great potential as a vampire. As a queen. I'm glad you're here, little sister." He murmured quietly and kissed her temple.
Bella hugged the blonde king and then Sulpicia was pulling her away into a hug of her own. "The change will be painful, but you're so strong. You can make it through this, just like you have everything else. I'll be waiting to see you after you awaken." Sulpicia told her and then leaned close. "And don't be nervous about anything with Marcus. He would never hurt you." The curly-haired queen murmured quietly into her ear.
Bella nodded and smiled a tearful smile at the woman who was slowly becoming a mother figure to her. "Thank you."
Sulpicia nodded and then Aro was there. "Welcome to the Volturi, Isabella." He said as he wrapped a black velvet robe around her shoulders.
It was a robe like theirs, a deep back. Bella noticed a pocket on the inside that had an elegant red B sewn into it. It really was her own robe.
"Thank you, Aro. Thank you all." She said tearfully. "For accepting me so easily."
"We already love you, Bella. It's like you've been here for years." Jane told her.
"You're one of us." Renata murmured quietly.
Bella grabbed Marcus's hand and glanced up at him with a smile. She squeezed his hand.
"Isabella and I will be departing now. We don't want to be disturbed." He said firmly.
A chorus of "of course" filled the ballroom.
"I'll see you guys in three days." Bella said nervously, with a smile.
"We'll be waiting!" Aro said, beaming.
Marcus led Bella from the ballroom into the hallway. He walked slowly this time, giving her time to think. She sighed as she glanced at him, and he stared back with a gentle smile. She tucked herself into his side as they made it back to their room. When they were inside, Bella felt nervous and rubbed her arms.
Marcus noticed. "Perhaps we could sit by the fire in my office for a bit." He suggested.
Bella nodded and started to follow him inside but saw her journal on the desk where she'd left it.
"Did you finish writing everything you wanted to?" Marcus asked as he noticed her stop.
"Maybe." She bit her lip.
Marcus grabbed her journal and placed it in her hands. "You write, I'll start the fire." He stated as he led her to a couch in his office.
Bella sat down, kicking her flats off her feet to get comfortable, and opened her journal up. She had left off talking about the wolves. That's what had started the panic attack Caius had walked up on. She bit her lip and glanced at Marcus as he knelt down and rearranged some wood before lighting a match. As if feeling her eyes, he glanced up and his lips turned up in a gentle smile, his eyes shining with happiness. Bella smiled back and grabbed her pen to begin writing a paragraph for herself to read over after she was changed.
I'm writing this journal in case I forget the important things in life after my change. And some very important things to remember is that I've found a family in Volterra. While Sulpicia could never replace my mother, she can be that figure for me in my new life. And Aro, he's so eccentric. But he wanted to teach me dancing. It was a way for them to bond. Just like when Charlie took her fishing.
And Dora is like a beam of sunshine, always so excited to be around me. She has already called me her sister, and so did her mate. The rough blonde vampire king who'd sneered at me before now sees me as a little sister. Caius is teaching me to be strong.
The guards, they've accepted me so quickly. Jane and Heidi are my closest friends. Alone with Chelsea and Corin. I want to become closer to the rest of the guards after my change.
Marcus is everything I could ever want in a man. I can feel it in my heart that he is truly mine. My soulmate. Never forget that. He's gentle and kind to me, but will and has killed for me. He's protected me. And I-
Bella paused her writing and glanced at Marcus as he stood from the fireplace and kicked off his shoes.
I love him.
Bella shut her journal with a snapping noise as she stood up at her realization and stared at Marcus. The vampire stared back at her as Bella bit her lip and slowly began walking towards him. He let her come to him until she reached up to cup his cheek, drawing his lips down to hers.
Mature Content Warning
Bella's body filled with warmth as she touched him, her heart felt so full of love for him. She tangled her hands in his hair and tugged, making him growl. She found herself being twirled around until Marcus was seated on the couch with her straddling his lap again, like in his throne. Heat rushed through her at that memory as her hips moved against him, and she sucked on his bottom lip.
Marcus groaned and tried tangling his hands in her long strands, but they were in that bun. He growled as he couldn't get the pins out and Bella giggled. She reached up to help him and Marcus stared mesmerized as her long locks fell around her. He pushed her new robe off her shoulders and threw it on the couch across from them. She was so beautiful sitting astride him, her face flushed as she smiled at him. Marcus wrapped his hands in her hair and slammed his mouth to hers. He sucked on her lip until he could practically taste her blood under the surface before releasing her mouth. Her lip was swollen and her eyes glazed as he pulled her head back and began kissing her neck.
Bella moaned and rocked her hips as Marcus sucked on her neck, his teeth nipping her. One hand pressed to her lower back and the other moved up her dress to slide against the skin of her thigh.
"Touch me, please." She moaned loudly as he ravished her neck.
Marcus groaned and suddenly Bella was twirled around again until she was the one seated on the couch with Marcus kneeling before her. She released his hair to grab his shoulders instead.
"You want me to touch you?" He kissed her thighs and Bella's hips jerked towards him without her permission.
"Yes." She hissed out.
"Or taste you?" He murmured against her thigh huskily. "Can I taste you again, Isabella?"
Bella gasped as she stared into his onyx eyes and nodded her head. "Please." She begged as her body felt like it was burning and she needed more.
Marcus's lips curled up devishly as he slowly ran his hands up her thighs until he met her hips. He leaned forward and stared into his eyes as he pressed a gentle kiss to her panties. Bella moaned and Marcus slid the garment down slowly. She bit her lip as he smirked at her and leaned closer to her heat.
Her head fell back, and she moaned as his tongue finally touched her. His mouth feasted on her, his lips sucking just right and his tongue was long. But then he was pulling away and Bella groaned as she raised her head to stare at him.
"I could break it now." He murmured as he touched her lightly with his fingers and stared into her eyes. "It might make it less painful later." Marcus said as his eyebrows dropped in worry.
"The blood?" Bella was hesitant.
Marcus smirked at her. "I'd never drain you, Bella. Besides, this blood smells different. Do you really think all those young Italian maidens would've survived if their monthly flow smelt as good as the blood from the vein." He teased.
Bella blushed deeply and then moaned as his finger went inside her. "Though I couldn't describe the taste to you. Vampires don't often bed humans." He murmured.
Bella didn't know where the morbid thought came from. Maybe she was a bit twisted after all she'd been through. Or maybe she just wanted to share something with Marcus that no one else would ever have.
"Do you want to taste it?" Bella asked hesitantly as she glanced down in embarrassment.
She quickly raised her head and moaned as he pushed his fingers into her roughly. "Don't ever be embarrassed with me." He growled out as he lowered his mouth back to her and used his fingers at the same time.
Bella moaned and moved her hands to claw at the couch cushions as her legs fell open further. She thrust her hips forward against him and then gasped as he added another finger. There was a pinch of pain and some burning before his lips were sucking again just right and her head fell back as warmth bloomed from her body and she fell over the edge. She twitched against him and gasped as she came back to earth. She raised his head in time to see him lift two bloody fingers to his lips. He stared into her eyes as he took them into his mouth and then pulled them out.
"You're delicious. And all mine." He purred and Bella moaned as he lowered his mouth back down to her again, lapping up all of her essence and innocence.
She twisted her hands in his hair as she pulled closer, chasing that bliss again. Marcus growled against her, and she thrust her hips forward. He kept a low, steady growl against her until her body tensed, and she moaned out her release again. Her head fell back as she gasped and panted, her body slowly melting into the couch.
Marcus leaned up from between her legs and pulled her up against his chest. He ran his fingers down her cheek as he lowered his lips to hers. She could taste herself on his tongue as it darted out to touch hers and she leaned into him. He ran his hands across her bare back and her skin tingled.
She whimpered when he removed his hands and squirmed, trying to get his hands back on her skin. He chuckled and she opened her eyes.
"I need you to touch me." She murmured as she ran her hand down the back of his pale neck.
Marcus's eyes closed at the trail of fire it felt behind, and he slammed his lips to hers, jerking her hips to his, so she sat more on him then the couch. She moaned against his lips and suddenly they were flying. The room moved quickly until Bella's back hit the soft bed gently with Marcus cradled between her thighs.The green silk sheets were smooth against her skin.
She bit her lip as he leaned back on his knees and slowly began to unbutton his shirt. She couldn't help herself and leaned forward to grab both sides of his shirt and pulled. Pops filled the rooms as the buttons popped in all directions and Bella shoved it off his shoulders. Marcus chucked at her but then groaned as she pressed her lips to his chest, kissing everywhere she could reach, and rubbing her hands down his sides.
Marcus pushed her back and smirked before grabbing the bottom of her dress. "You look so beautiful in this dress, I'll have to tell Heidi to buy you many of them." He stated before he ripped it up the middle and left her exposed to him. The dress hadn't allowed a bra today.
Marcus quickly leaned down to kiss her, pressing his bare chest to hers. Bella moaned as her skin tingled and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling closer. She arched her back up to him and rolled her hips against his hardness, still covered by his pants.
"Please, please, please." She begged against his lips and she moved her hand down and tried undoing his pants.
Her body yearned for his in a way she had never known. Marcus quickly helped her unbutton and pull them down, then she was touching him. Marcus moaned as he thrust against her hand. Bella whimpered and kissed him, her hips moving in small thrust as she tried to find contact.
"It will hurt." He warned her as he groaned against her when she squeezed him.
"I need you." She murmured.
Marcus quickly moved her hand, pressing it to his back as he fell forward into her, letting her hips cradle him.
"Are you sure?" He asked her against her lips.
Bella nodded and thrust against him moaning. Marcus groaned as he pressed forward slowly. He clenched his eyes shut as her warmth engulfed him and pressed his forehead to hers. Bella whimpered beneath him and he kissed her. He stopped to let her adjust and Bella panted as she stared up at him.
Marcus began moving and Bella moaned as she tangled her fingers in his hair and pressed her lips against his. When she needed air, she pulled back and he could hear her small moans in his ear.
"Ti amo." He groaned huskily.
And suddenly, Bella understood. She could feel him in her heart, feel the love he had for her. And understood what he'd been telling her.
She pressed her lips to his ear. "I love you, too."
Marcus growled against her and slammed his lips to hers as he took up a slow, hard pace, firmly pressing into her with every thrust. Bella's head fell back as warmth spread through her and a new type of pleasure coursed through her body as she fell into bliss. Marcus groaned and slowed his pace as she tightened and fluttered around him. Her hands clung to him as she came back down, and her breathing began to slow.
"Tell me again." He murmured as he moved his hips in a lazy rhythm against her.
Bella smiled at him, her cheeks flushed and her forehead wet with sweat. "I love you, Marcus." She murmured as she stared into his eyes. "Ti amo." She mimicked what he'd told her before. "And you're mine." She thrust her hips into him and he groaned. She would never give him up.
Marcus pressed his forehead to her. "I love you, Isabella." He pressed his lips to hers. "I'm yours. And you're mine." He said against her lips. "Tell me." He ordered.
Bella moaned as he thrust harder. "I'm yours."
"Again." He growled out as he began a fast, almost punishing pace.
Bella's hands clawed at his back. "I'm yours, I'm yours." She panted out over and over as pleasure began to course through her.
Marcus growled as he pushed her hands above her head and held them there. "Mine." His words were growled in her ear, his voice deep and husky.
Bella's head flew back as her lower back arched off the bed into him as pleasure coursed through her, her whole body hummed with it. Her skin tingled and her mind felt fuzzy. Marcus groaned above her and with another hard thrust, he fell over the edge, sinking his teeth into her neck as bliss coursed through him. The feel of his teeth caused Bella's body to clench up and spasm against him again as she moaned and squeezed his hands with hers above her head.
She panted as a warmth began to course through her neck. Marcus pulled back and stared down at her, releasing her hands. He ran a hand down her cheek. Bella whimpered as the flames in her neck got hotter and began to slowly spread.
"Ti amo." He murmured as he ran his finger over her lip and cupped her cheek.
Bella's scream was blood-curdling as it escaped her throat while she watched Marcus, her soul mate, have his head removed from his body.
Translations
Ti amo - I love you
magnifica - magnifica
Mia Bella - my beauty