Author Note : I hope you enjoy this chapter! It does have some violence and a small smut scene. I will put a warning before those if you'd like to skip over them. I hope this chapter isn't too long. Would you guys like me to make them shorter? Let me know!

Disclaimer : I don't own Twilight or its characters.


Chapter 10.

Bella stepped through the doorway, and her breath left her body in a swoosh as she caught a glimpse of Marcus. His back was to her at first, and her eyes traveled from his broad shoulders to his trim hips and long legs, all clad in a dark suit. A black car was behind him with dark tinted windows.

He turned, and the first thing her eyes saw was a bright red rose he held. They traveled up his dark suit jacket, over the white shirt he wore underneath, up to the black bow tie at his neck. Finally, her eyes met his wide violet ones. He was wearing contacts, she realized. His lips were parted slightly as he gazed at her, and his dark hair was slicked back. Bella's body filled with heat as she stared at the handsome vampire before her.

Marcus, for his part, couldn't seem to grasp that he had been staring for too long. That red dress hugged his mate's curves just right. And her hair was up, leaving her delicate neck mostly exposed. He watched as she blushed and tilted her head, a ruby earring brushing the top of her shoulder as she did. Marcus shook his head as he finally realized he'd been gawking.

"Isabella, you look squisita tonight, absolutely exquisite." Marcus translated as he purred as he stepped forward and tool her hand, pressing his lips against it in a kiss. "This is for you." He pressed the rose into her palm.

Bella beamed at Marcus as she lifted the rose to take in its scent. "Thank you, Marcus. You look quite handsome yourself." She noticed the thorns on the rose had been smoothed down, so there wouldn't be a chance of her accidentally poking herself.

Marcus felt his heart fill with joy as he puffed out his chest and preened at her compliment.

"Shall we, Isabella?" He opened up the passenger side door of the car for her to get in.

Bella slid into the seat, thankfully not tumbling on her dress any as she went. That would be so embarrassing. Marcus shut the door behind her and was at the driver's door in a flash, smoothly sliding inside and starting the car, taking off at a normal pace. Bella noticed there was a sunroof open.

Marcus noticed her lean her head back as she gazed out at the night stars. "The stars are bright tonight. If it wasn't so far to our destination, I would have proposed walking."

"And where is our destination, again?" Bella turned her head to him as she inquired.

"Well, I guess I can tell you now. We are going to a play." Marcus laughed with a slight shake of his head.

Bella furrowed her eyebrows. "Why is that funny, though?" She was curious.

"Just the play we're seeing. It's a child's fairy-tale. Unfortunately, it's the only one they are doing all week." Marcus sighed.

"I'm sure it'll be great!" She reassured him. "I've only been to one play before as a child. My mom took me to see Rapunzel." She laughed. "A guy she was interested in was part of the act."

Marcus pulled up to a large theater and parked near the front. The sign out front displayed Hansel and Gretal in large letters. Marcus opened Bella's door. She hadn't even heard him exit the car. She took his hand and stepped out, leaving her rose on the dash.

"We're watching a play about a witchy woman trying to eat children?" She questioned. "Is this like a hint at how the Volturi feed?" She laughed as an image of Aro flitted across her brain with his eccentric attitude, trying to lure children into the castle with cookie crumbs, then shook the morbid thought from her head.

Marcus laughed with her. "Of course not, Isabella. We feed on the scum that walks the earth." He informed her as he walked her towards the front door.

He handed two tickets to the man at the front who held the door open for them both. A second man inside the building began leading them through the theater. They ended up in a box. Bella had never seen a play from a private box before. She took a seat in one of the chairs while Marcus took the other. A small table sat in front of them with a white table cloth and two glasses.

"Can I interest you two in some champagne?" The man asked.

"Yes, we'll have the prestige." Marcus told the man, who quickly nodded and left, only to return a second later with a bottle and ice bucket.

He quickly poured them two glasses, sat the bottle in the ice bucket on the table, and left.

"I've never drunk alcohol before." Bella admitted.

"Well, there may not be many first you can do before your change. Might as well mark this one off the list." The vampire informed her as he handed Bella a glass, leaving the other on the table.

Bella took a sip, and the taste of sweet bubbly grapes entered her mouth along with a sharper aftertaste from the alcohol.

"It's good." She told the vampire who smiled gently at her and placed his arm over the back of her chair.

Bella took a few more sips of her champagne before sitting the nearly empty glass down. The curtain rose up, and the opening scenes for Hansel and Gretal began. Bella quickly realized it was more of an opera as an amazing woman threw long notes out to the crowds. Purple and blue smoke went across the stage, and a dark yet magical forest was the background as the witch went through the trees.

Marcus laughed lightly at Bella's mesmerized face, causing her to glance at him. "What?" She asked and smiled.

"Nothing, nothing." He answered and moved his hand to her cheek to brush some hair framing her face behind her ear. "You're just so beautiful." He purred as he stared intently into her eyes, causing Bella to lose her breath and her lips to part lightly, which Marcus noticed.

The vampire leaned forward slightly towards his mate and watched her eyes glaze over some as she automatically moved closer to him. Their lips touched softly and slowly, almost tentatively. But when Bella's lips tingled and that feeling moved down her body and throughout, she pitched herself at the vampire who caught her upper half in his arms. Marcus pressed his lips harder to Bella's, feeling her lip gloss come off on him. Bella wrapped her fingers in the back of his hair and tugged lightly, making Marcus growl and pull Bella into his lap to sit. He ravished her lips, and Bella could vaguely hear the opera woman singing again, but she couldn't make out any of the words. Bella was consumed by Marcus. Every part of her yearned for her to touch her and hold her tighter. Her body felt warm from the champagne, and it was pulsing.

Bella jerked back with a gasp as a throat cleared, and she saw the man who had poured their champagne blushing as he tried not to look at the pair.

"I just wanted to make sure everything was to your satisfaction tonight, sir, miss." He informed them.

"Everything is great." Marcus growled out at the human frustrated, and Bella panted, lightly catching her breath.

Bella noticed that Marcus's contacts had disintegrated, and his eyes were once again ruby red. The man fumbled slightly and apologized before turning to leave. Bella was hit with a human urge at that moment, though.

"Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of the restroom, please?" She asked as she blushed and stood from her vampire's lap, trying to right her skirt as she did so.

"Of course! It's just this way." The man gestured with his arm for Bella to follow and, with a promise to be back to Marcus soon, Bella left.

Marcus was frustrated and wished he could drink the bubbly champagne on the table. Something to take the edge off. He smoothed out the back of his hair that Bella had grabbed and pulled. His eyes fluttered close as he could still smell her heat. She was making being a gentleman very hard.


Meanwhile, Bella had learned the man's name was Tom, and he had granddaughters around Bella's age. He still blushed as he glanced at her and then left her by the bathroom

She used the extravagant restroom. There was even lotion on the sinks, too, so you could moisture after cleansing your hands. It smelled like peaches. She looked at her flushed face in the mirror. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were bright. She bit her lip as she thought about Marcus, and warmth swept through her body again. She sighed as she smiled into the mirror and left the restroom.

She was roughly grabbed by someone and shoved down the abandoned hallway. Everyone was inside the theater room watching the play.

"Get off me!" She exclaimed and tried pulling away from her captor.

Something sharp pressed into her spine, a knife, and Bella froze.

"Walk!" A male voice ordered quietly. "Or I'll paralyze you right here in this hallway." He threatened her.

Bella cried quietly as she let the man roughly lead her out of a close side exit that was in an alley between the theater and another building. She wondered why Marcus hadn't come to check on her.

Bella was shoved harshly into the wall of the theater. She could hear the loud music from the play even outside. She glanced up, and her breath caught as she saw her kidnapper. He had short blonde hair and blue eyes with an ugly sneer on his face. He reminded her of James.

The man pressed the knife he held against her throat. If Bella made one wrong move, it would most definitely slit her throat.

Start of Some Violence and Smut

"I've been watching you all night." The man pressed his whole body against hers. "You weren't my first target." He admitted. "A fiery redhead was. A real challenge." He laughed. "But then I saw you walk in, so fragile and with that blush." The man pressed his cheek against hers and shoved his hand against her chest, quickly cutting her shawl and leaving her scarred shoulder barred to the world. "I saw you with that trust fund boy. How else could he afford a private box?" The man sneered. "You need a real man to take care of you, sweetheart." He whispered in her ear as he used his leg to kick her feet apart and slammed his lips to her as he tried to pull her skirt up.

Bella struggled and sobbed, biting down on the man's lip hard enough to draw blood. She had a sudden flashback of being cornered in Port Angeles by three men, but she was saved. Had those men continued to hurt girls after that?

"No!" Bella yelled and struggled against him as he reared back with his bloody lip.

"You bitc-!" Before the man could finish the insult, he was ripped off Bella and slammed into the wall across from them.

Marcus suddenly grabbed Bella by her shoulders and jerked her head up to see her face. "Isabella! Are you OK?" He asked frantically as he ran his hands over her body.

Bella couldn't speak yet and nodded silently as she tried to control her sobbing. Anger welled up in her slightly.

"Where were you?" She yelled quietly.

"Knocking out our waiter in our box because he was berating me for trying to take your virtue in a public place and wouldn't let me by!" Marcus exclaimed.

Bella's mouth opened in shock, and her tears slowly turned into laughter at the thought of the old grandfather man berating the centuries-old vampire. Marcus gave her a concerned look as her laughter took on a slightly deranged tone.

"Mia Bella." He murmured. "Are you OK?"

Bella shrugged at him because everything was catching up to her. Her captor groaned as he woke up on the ground where he landed after Marcus flung him. The vampire froze, and his eyes darkened.

"You crazy bitch!" The man murmured. "What did you do to me?" He had not seen Marcus yet, but that soon changed.

Marcus took two long strides towards the man. Picking him up by the collar, he pulled him over towards Bella. He whipped the male around and slammed the fragile human's back into his own hard chest, hearing a few bones snap as he did. Wrapping a hand around the man's throat to silence his cries, he made the human look at Bella.

"Apologize to her now!" Marcus snarled into the man's ear.

"Fuck you!" The man choked out. "I don't say sorry to whores." The scum sneered out.

Marcus reached down and grabbed the man's hand, squeezing and crushing all the bones in it. "She is my woman, and you will not refer to her with those vulgar names." Marcus squeezed the man's wrist next, and Bella heard the bones inside snap. "Now apologize to her!" The vampire ordered.

The human male was sobbing loudly by now. When he didn't apologize immediately, Marcus swapped his free hand to the man's neck and took his other one, running it down the man's arm, crushing the bones as he went.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, sorry!" The man screamed out to Bella.

Bella, for her part, was feeling vindictive. She once again thought of the men in Port Angeles. Edward had saved her and taken her away, leaving them there. Had they ignored other girls when they said no and continued to hurt them? Just like this man did? This man had done this before. He had picked out a redhead before he saw Bella. His uncanny resemblance to James didn't help matters. The men in Port Angeles hadn't been punished to Bella's knowledge. Edward had let them go. But Marcus wasn't Edward.

Bella pursed her lips and then spat in the man's face. "Go to hell!" She angrily told him.

Marcus laughed behind the man at his mate's anger. "Looks like my little mate doesn't accept your apology. That's too bad for you." He snarled at the human male who yelped when Marcus jerked his head to the side and sunk his teeth into his jugular, all while staring into Bella's brown eyes.

Bella should be terrified! She should be disgusted and repulsed at the scene in front of her. She had never actually seen a vampire drain a human fully. Instead, she felt a sick sort of satisfaction as she saw the life leaving the would-be rapist's eyes.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched Marcus's eyes begin to turn bright red as they bore into her own. His predatory gaze should have scared her. She should be worried he may want to drain her once he's done with the man, mate bond be damned. But instead, her body filled with heat at the site of Marcus, of her mate, killing someone for her, protecting her. Her breathing sped up, and she leaned back into the stone wall behind her as Marcus dropped the dead body to the ground and simply stepped over it on his way to her. He didn't even have a drop of blood on him. None of it had been wasted.

He pressed his nose into Bella's neck, his hair falling forward to brush against her cheek, and inhaled deeply before releasing a growl and pressing his body to hers.

"His scent is all over you." Marcus hissed out as he scrapped his hand down the building, crumbling some stone.

"I'm sorry." Bella gasped out.

"Don't apologize for him, Isabella." He told her roughly. "He's the scum of the earth my kind feed on. If only I'd eaten him sooner, if Heidi had found him, he wouldn't have hurt you." He murmured as he ran a hand down her cheek.

Every time Marcus touched her, her skin tingled. And that moment was no exception. It didn't matter that she had just been attacked. It didn't matter that Marcus had just drained someone. It didn't matter that the body was a few feet away. All that mattered was having more of her skin touch him.

Bella arched into Marcus and finally pried her hands off the wall behind her to wrap around his broad shoulders. Marcus's eyes were onyx again as he inhaled her scent and slammed his lips to hers roughly. Bella moaned out as the taste of cinnamon filled her senses. Marcus ran a hand to the back of her hair and tangled his finger into it, accidentally pulling some pins out and letting most of her long strands fall down.

Marcus was completely entranced at the taste of Bella's lips and the feel of her soft hair. Her lips were tinged with the slight taste of blood from the scum she'd bit. Bella was a fighter. Her body was pressed against every part of his, and she was so warm. He heard her heart beating out of her chest and pulled back to give her some air. But as he inhaled and smelled that disgusting man on his mate again, he growled deep in his chest and pressed his face to her neck again, intending to scent her as his.

Bella gasped for breath and let out a moan as she felt Marcus start to run his lips down her neck before pressing them firmly into her skin over and over. She had never felt this way before. She had never been kissed or held this way. Her body felt like it was on fire. Everything tingled from touching Marcus, and she felt heat pooling in her stomach as she arched into the vampire again when he moved to the other side of her neck and even began kissing her bare shoulders.

She tangled her hands in his hair and pulled his face back to hers so she could claim his lips. She tentatively sucked on his bottom lip, and when he growled lowly in his chest, more of that heat ran through her.

As Marcus inhaled deeply again, she suddenly found herself with one of her legs hooked around his hip. His smooth hand ran up her bare leg as he pushed her dress up. She tugged his hair and licked his bottom lip and then gasped when his hand met the apex of her thighs.

She moaned out as feelings rushed through her that she'd never felt before. She pushed herself against him, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She pressed herself as close as she could get. Marcus kissed and sucked on her neck. Her senses were in overload. And suddenly, a new feeling came over her. As she gasped and moaned out, Marcus claimed her lips to silence her. And her body fell into a bliss she had never known before tonight. Her whole body felt pleasantly warm, and as her leg that was standing on the ground shook and collapsed, Marcus held her body up by pressing her harder into the wall.

Bella was panting for air as Marcus released her lips and removed his hand, smoothly sliding her dress back down. His eyes were still onyx as he stared at her, and her whole body flushed as she watched him take his fingers into his mouth, tasting her essence. She gasped out, and then he was claiming her lips again. He released her lips and ran his hand down her cheek.

End of Violence and Smut

"That was the first time anyone's done that." Bella admitted in a breathy whisper and blushed.

"The first of many times with me, Isabella." Marcus promised against his lips as he claimed them again, making her moan.

Marcus began to let Bella down, but her legs were weak, and she faltered. Marcus swooped her up with an arm under her legs and one under her back. The air flew around them quickly, and before she knew it, they were at the car. Marcus unlocked the car and helped Bella slide inside.

"I'll be back momentarily." He told her as he shut her door and was gone.

Bella took some deep breaths as everything sank in. Marcus killed someone. And then she had her first orgasm next to the body. Ok, everything was ok. Completely normal. There's no reason to blow this out of proportion or panic. No, Bella told herself. I'm not going to have some panic attack. This is ok. She was ok.

She wasn't hurt. She closed her eyes and counted backwards from ten.

The trunk slamming brought her back to earth. Marcus slipped into the driver's side of the car and started it before looking at her.

"Are you ok, amore mio?" He asked, staring at her intently.

"I think everything is catching up with me." Bella told him as she took a deep breath. "There's a body in the trunk." She stated.

"There is some trash in the trunk, yes." Marcus decided that was a good name to refer to the human scum who tried to have his way with Bella.

"And what are you going to do with that...trash?" She asked hesitantly as Marcus pulled out of the parking lot.

Marcus's bright ruby eyes stared into hers. "I'm going to take it back to the castle, where I'll ask one of the guards to incinerate it for me, so it won't ever be traced back to you." He informed her.

"Won't the waiter, Tom, be traced back to you?" She questioned, suddenly nervous.

Marcus froze for a moment. "I may have snarled and growled at the old man before I knocked him out." The vampire admitted. "So he'll either think it was all an odd dream or he'll keep quiet in case the monster who attacked him comes back to finish the job."

"Tom was very sweet on our walk to the restroom." Bella murmured.

"Tom," Marcus stressed the humans name. "was preventing me from getting to you."

"Because he caught you ravishing me." Bella teased the vampire as her face lit up amused.

"The old man would have keeled over if he'd seen us in that alley." Marcus said, lowering his voice and staring at her.

Bella flushed, and that heat ran through her body again. Marcus smirked at her and looked back at the road as the castle came into view. As he drove up by the clock tower, Demetri came out of the shadows on his night guard duty. Felix was not with him.

Marcus rolled down his window. "Where is Felix? He's meant to be on guard duty with you."

Demetri grimaced. "We had an incident with Gianna. He's with her now." The guard took a deep breath. "Why is there a dead human in your trunk?" He asked his king as the stench if death came from the back of the car.

"We had an incident." Marcus threw Demetri's own words back at him.

"Is Gigi ok?" Bella questioned as she leaned towards the driver's side to see Demetri.

Demetri did a double take as he caught a glimpse of Bella's wild hair and rumpled dress, along with the faint scent of the dead human, a ton of arousal and the scent of his king practically bathed around her neck which held a small hickey. The king giving a human a hickey. What was the world coming too?

Marcus hissed quietly at Demetri, who averted his eyes. "The redhead escaped the dungeon and bit Gianna. She's changing as we speak. Victoria was contained afterward."

Bella gasped, and her hands flew to her mouth.

"How did she escape?" Marcus barked as he flung the driver's side door open and then sped to Bella's side to help her out.

"We had an intruder in the castle, a vampire named Raoul. Aro had to read his memories. He was one of her newborns who had run away. He came to free her. He used all the rooftops to gain entry, but it wouldn't have mattered. He had no scent. He's been disposed of by Felix" Demetri explained quickly.

Marcus growled and wrapped an arm around Bella's waist. "Take that car to the garage and get rid of the body." He ordered Demetri as he went to lead Bella inside.

Bella looked back over her shoulder and waved at Demetri with a kind smile. She still hadn't spoken to him much. Demetri looked puzzled but waved back at her before he got inside the car and drove off to the garage.

Marcus led her through some twists and turns before taking her to a set of new doors. She could hear music playing lightly inside. Marcus opened the doors, and Bella gasped.

The room was beautiful! With gray marble floors that held gold swirls throughout, which led to an elegant V in the middle. Straight above the V was a large glass chandelier that was lit up, casting shadows on the floor. The walls were white with gold crown molding and some lavender in some places. Some candles hung on the walls in places. The ceiling had a beautiful painted mandela murel in lavender and gold circling the chandelier. At the back of the room and up a step were three more thrones. Only these were made from dark wood.

There was a grand staircase on one side of the ballroom. They led up to a catwalk around the top of the room. She could see another exit up at the top of the stairs, too.

Sulpicia sat at a grand piano on one side of the room. The music came from her hands. When she heard them enter, though, she stopped playing and stood. As she turned and caught a glimpse of them, she gasped. Bella's hair was down and messy. And what happened to her cover-up? With all the scents attached to Bella's skin, the queen came forward.

"Are you ok, Bella?" She questioned as she got to the human.

Sulpicia reached up and straightened Bella's hair a bit, removing the remaining bobby pins.

"I'm ok." Bella told her quietly.

"Where is Aro?" Marcus inquired.

"He was supposed to meet me here, but perhaps he got caught up in the dungeon?" Sulpicia's answer was more of a question. "Bella, sweetheart, you look awfully pale. Would you like to have a seat and I can go get you something to drink?" The curly-haired vampire offered while waving her hand at the thrones.

Bella realized how parched her throat was. "A drink sounds great. I can get it myself though if you want?" She didn't want to burden Sulpicia.

The queen laughed. "Nonsense! You just sit and rest. Marcus, you should come along. Perhaps we'll run into my husband on the way." She told Marcus.

Marcus could read between the lines, though, and knew Sulpicia wanted an explanation for Bella's appearance. He glanced at his mate as she walked over and made herself comfortable in the middle throne, Aro's throne.

"I'm going to go with Sulpicia for a moment, Mia Bella. I'll return soon." At Bella's smile and nod, Marcus and Sulpicia were gone, the doors shutting lightly behind them.

Bella sighed now that she was alone and debated taking off her shoes. She could now feel the ache begin in her feet from breaking the flats in. She smoothed out her hair some more, letting it fall down to hide her scars.

"You had better be careful, Isabella! You'll make Marcus jealous getting cozy in my throne instead of his!" Aro exclaimed from the top of the large staircase.

Within a blink of her eye, he sat in the throne next to hers.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Bella blushed. "I didn't realize this one was yours." She told him. "I could move?" She offered and began to stand.

"No, no! Please stay, sit. It's alright." The raven-haired king reassured her.

Bella slowly sat back down and nervously picked at her dress skirt.

"Marcus was looking for you." Bella informed him. "He left with Sulpicia a moment ago to get me a drink and see if they could find you."

"Ah, I did wonder where my brother ran off to and left you here all alone." Aro did a quick glance down Bella and back up. "May I inquire, dear Isabella, what happened on your date tonight?" He asked quietly.

Bella shifted in the throne and swallowed nervously.

"You see, I ran into Demetri, and he had a body with him." Aro continued. "And that man's scent is on you." His words were calm, but his face had darkened some.

"I met him at the theater." Bella began quietly. "He made me go outside. He pointed a knife at me. And he, he was going to hurt me." Her eyes filled with tears, and she clenched her dress. "But Marcus came and killed him."

Aro hissed quietly beside her. "My brother did the right thing killing that useless scum." Aro glanced at her. "I am very sorry, Isabella, that your first night on the town was tainted this way."

"I'm used to it, honestly. It seems stuff goes that way for me a lot. Just bad luck, I guess." She murmured.

Aro reached over slowly and gently pried her fist from her dress, wrapping it around his hand instead. "We don't want you ripping your dress, Isabella." He patted the back of her hand.

"This ballroom is beautiful." Bella changed the subject and complimented the room.

"Ah, yes! We used to throw balls here occasionally. Back before all the rumors about us began. Now, no one comes." He sighed. "You can dance though if you'd like!" He exclaimed as his mood did a one eighty back to happiness.

Bella shook her head profusely. "I can't dance." She informed the vampire.

"Everyone can dance, Isabella!" He exclaimed.

"Not me. I'm too clumsy." She blushed.

"Well, Carlisle used to dance up a storm when he still lived here. Dora and my wife made him teach them some of the more modern dances. Did he or his son never teach you?" Aro was referring to Edward.

"No. I did go to prom with Cullen's, but my leg was in a cast from James. Edward just put me on his feet to dance. I think he was scared I would hurt myself if I tried dancing myself." She murmured.

"Oh! This just will not do!" Aro exclaimed and clapped his hands.

Within a second, he had disappeared and reappeared by the piano. Bella hadn't seen it before, but there was an old record player on a shelf behind the beautiful piano. As Aro took one of the black discs from its cardboard case and placed it on the player, some orchestra music began to play. Bella had never heard it before. As she blinked her eyes, Aro was suddenly in front of her with his hand held out.

"May I have this dance, Isabella?" He asked.

"I don't think-" Bella began to say no, but Aro cut her off.

"If you learn the steps now, they will be easier to remember after the change. Don't you want to dance with my brother one day?" Aro widened his eyes, and Bella realized that he was trying to do puppy eyes at her.

She laughed at the raven-haired vampire's antics and finally took his hand, letting him pull her up. He helped her down the step and immediately twirled her. She tripped, but he caught her and righted her gently.

"I tried to tell you this was a bad idea." Bella blushed.

"Nonsense! Everyone stumbles when they learn to dance!" Aro reassured her. "Put your left foot forward, then step to the side with your right one." He gave Bella step by step instructions as he tried to teach her to waltz.

"Oh! I'm so sorry I stepped on your foot." Bella apologized.

"I couldn't feel your human foot even if you stomped!" Aro exclaimed with a laugh.

His laugh was contagious, and Bella found herself letting a few out, followed by a squeal as Aro twirled her too fast, and she nearly faceplanted.

"Aro!" She exclaimed.

"Oh, don't fret, Isabella! I had you the whole time." He reassured her.

"You can call me Bella, you know?" She informed him.

"Ah, but I'd rather call you by your true name. The one your parents gave you." He told her quietly.

Bella smiled a bit wobbly at him and then cackled as he spun her quickly like a ballerina.

Marcus and Sulpicia watched the pair from up above on the catwalk. Sulpicia had a cold bottle of water in her hand. She had learned the story of Bella and Marcus's night and was glad the human was safely back in the castle.

"It will be hard to have Bella here when Gianna wakes up." Sulpicia murmured to Marcus.

"I know. Bella had planned to be changed with Gianna so they could wake up together. She thought it'd be nice to have a newborn comrade to go through the struggles with." The king informed her.

Sulpicia smiled as Aro twirled Bella too fast and caught her before she fell. "Bella has a very kind heart, Marcus. But she does need to make decisions for herself, not based on what might help other people." The queen didn't like the thought of Bella changing into a vampire too early just to help Gianna's thirst by not being human.

"I think Bella wants to be changed." Marcus murmured. "She doesn't seem to have an aversion to it."

"Ask her when." Sulpicia told him firmly as she shoved the water bottle in his hand and began her trek down the staircase.

Marcus watched her approach her husband and Bella. He stared at the bonds between them. Aro's bond was surprising. He felt fatherly towards Bella. Jane and Alec were the only other two with that bond to the raven-haired king. Sulpicia's continued to grow stronger as a motherly bond. Marcus smiled as Bella glanced up at him after Sulpicia waved her arm this way. He began his trek down the stairs and made it to them in no time at all. He handed Bella the water bottle, which she opened and drank quickly from.

"Aro decided to teach Bella the waltz so she'd catch on easier after her change." Sulpicia informed him with a meaningful look as she grabbed Aro's hand to give her memories to him.

"Yes! And she was doing quite marvelous too! But I think I may go find Caius now. Perhaps you can take over her lessons, brother?" Aro suggested.

"I'd be delighted too!" Marcus smiled at Bella, who blushed.

"I will see you tomorrow, dear Bella!" Sulpicia said as she began leading Aro away.

Bella waved at the pair before turning her head to Marcus. "So, dancing. I think Aro lied, I was doing awful!" She laughed.

"You looked elegant." Marcus murmured as she finished the bottle of water.

Marcus could hear Sulpicia and Aro in the hallway murmuring. "Didyme would have adored her." The queen murmured. Marcus could hear Aro sigh as he muttered his agreement to her. Marcus hoped Aro could begin to forgive him for Didyme's passing.

Marcus glanced back at Bella and held out his hand. Bella placed the bottle inside, and he pitched it in a perfect arc to land in a small trash can by the record player.

"Smooth." Bella noted before she squeaked as Marcus grabbed her quickly and spun her around the floor.

Bella laughed as Marcus would spin her quickly and then pull her back to him so he could peck her lips lightly every time she stumbled. "You're not supposed to reward me when I fall!" She exclaimed as he pecked her lips again.

Marcus laughed with her. "Perhaps I just can't keep my hands off you." He admitted as he gazed into her eyes and pulled her close enough they touched.

Bella laid her head on his shoulder and looked up at him as they moved into a slow dance.

"And you said you couldn't dance." Marcus murmured with another quick kiss to her full pink lips.

"Maybe I never had the right teacher. Aro was very informative." She teased him.

"Oh, picking my brother over me!" Marcus held a hand to his heart, pretending to be wounded.

Bella laughed and pressed her lips to his this time. As she pulled back and gazed into his eyes, she realized they looked slightly troubled.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Marcus sighed and pulled her close again until she laid her head on his shoulder. "Gianna will wake up as a newborn in three days' time. And I worry for your safety. But I will not change you until you're ready." He informed her.

Bella was quiet as she pondered his words. She wasn't scared of changing into a vampire. She was worried she might forget him, though. That scared her. And she had some other things she wanted to do as a human first. Could she fit all that in just three days?

"You talked about me forgetting things during the change. What if I forget you? I don't have a journal yet to even write about you." She told him sadly.

"You can never forget me. Maybe a few memories, but you'll see me as a vampire. You'll feel me and your instincts will know exactly who I am to you. And I will have you a journal by tomorrow." He promised her.

"And I have a few things to do as a human before I change." Bella blushed as she gazed at him.

"And what are those things you'd like to do?" Marcus was curious.

"Well," Bella began. "I'd like to try more champagne and maybe wine. It will be the very last time I have the chance. I didn't get to finish my champagne tonight. I want to try the best desserts Italy has to offer. I used to enjoy baking and would like some sweets before I can't have them anymore." She hesitated, and Marcus noticed.

"What else, Mia Bella?" He murmured and cradled her cheek in his hand.

Bella blushed, and it went all the way down her neck to her chest. Marcus's eyes followed it but snapped up to Bella's brown ones at her next words.

"I want you to touch me again." She murmured. "Like you did tonight." She ducked her head, hiding her face.

Marcus groaned quietly, causing his mate to glance up at him. "I would love nothing more than to touch you, Isabella." He said huskily as he tangled his fingers into her long hair and pulled her head back slightly. "I'll touch you anytime you want me to." He purred as he held his lips over hers.

Bella quickly pressed her lips to his and gasped as Marcus leaned her back more, pulling her leg over his hip as he dipped her. She felt him smile against her lips as he leaned her back up and let her leg drop.

"You have not had any dinner tonight." He stated.

"No, I don't feel very hungry, though." She murmured quietly.

"Perhaps something light then?" He suggested and at her hesitant face offered. "I'll even find you some champagne to go with it."

Bella laughed. "Ok, let's go."

Marcus smiled at her and took her hand before leading her from the ballroom. He took her down a few twisty hallways before pushing open a door that let into a kitchen.

"I'm surprised you guys have a kitchen." Bella said, amused.

"Aro likes to keep up with the times, and we do often hire human secretaries." Marcus informed her. "You can look around to see if you find anything you'd like. I'm afraid I'm lacking the skills to make human food." He admitted.

Bella smiled at him and bumped his hip as she walked by, making him laugh. She pulled open the fridge door and saw quite a few groceries. She decided to just make a sandwich and ended up with a ham, lettuce, and cheese one.

"I don't see any champagne, mister." She teased Marcus as she sat at the table.

"We probably have some in the basement. I'll be back in a moment." Marcus was gone in the blink of an eye.

Bella ate her sandwich slowly, still without much appetite. She had begun to realize in the ballroom that her feelings for Marcus were growing. As he twirled her around, and she thought about what he had done for her, her heart would warm. She was terrified of him like a normal human would be. She did know that she felt more strongly for him than she ever did Edward. She claimed that she had loved Edward, but those feelings paled in comparison to what she felt for Marcus. Did that mean she loved him? After only a few days?

The kitchen door swung open, interrupting her thoughts. Only it wasn't her vampire mate entering. Instead, Jane stood there with Heidi and another vampire.

"Hello, Bella!" Jane skipped into the kitchen. "This is Chelsea." She introduced the new vampire and then took a seat next to Bella.

The woman was a little shorter than Bella, with light brown hair and an hourglass figure.

"Hello, Lady Isabella. It's lovely to meet you." The vampire said as she stood beside Heidi but slowly made her way to take a seat across from Jane.

"It's nice to meet you too, Chelsea! Please call me Bella. I've heard about you a bit. I think your mate, Afton, was in the gardens earlier? Thank you for the clothes, by the way. When I first got here." Bella remembered Jane had borrowed some of Chelsea's clothes for her.

"Oh, no problem, Bella!" Chelsea tried out the name. "I didn't mind a bit. We get so many clothes from Heidi's shopping trips anyway." Chelsea winked at her. "You know, my name used to be Charmion when I was human, but I changed it to be more modern." She informed the human."And yes, Afton is my mate. He explained he was worried about you earlier after he smelled your blood, but Marcus explained you were fine."

"Your blood?" Jane asked worridly.

"Just from a spot my shoe rubbed onto my ankle. But yeah, I've always liked being called Bella instead of Isabella. Though my full name is growing on me." She blushed.

"You mean growing on you from a certain king." Heidi teased. "A king who has sent us to deliver this wine to you!" She brought a bottle of red wine from behind her back.

"Master Marcus got pulled away by Felix to discuss Gianna. And we volunteered to deliver the goods." Chelsea informed Bella.

Heidi pulled a wine glass from the cabinet and quickly poured Bella a glass. She slid it across the table and took a seat in front of Bella. Bella sipped on the wine. It was sweet with an almost woodsy aftertaste. She decided that she liked it more than the champagne.

"I like it." She told the three vampires.

"I remember having wine in my time as a human. Though it wasn't often." Heidi reminisced.

"I remember having a few glasses myself." Chelsea laughed.

Bella continued to sip her wine as she listened to the women around her talk.

"I never got to try any." Jane sighed.

"You were only fifteen when you were changed, Jane." Heidi murmured at the sad vampire.

"Yeah, I guess I'll just have to live vicariously through you, Bella." Jane teased the human who laughed.

Chelsea grabbed the wine bottle and quickly filled up Bella's near empty glass. "You're drinking for all four of us tonight Bella, you better make it good."

Heidi laughed as Bella held up her glass. "I'd like to say cheers too all of my new friends here in Volterra then." The human quickly downed the wine.

Jane giggled at Bella's antics, and she refilled the human's glass this time. Bella was feeling tipsy now, and her body fuzzy.

"Soooo, Bella," Heidi drawled out. "how'd you get that hickey on your neck?"

Bella blushed bright red and ducked her head while Jane hissed at Heidi. "She doesn't have to say if she doesn't want to." The small blonde glared at Heidi.

"No, it's ok, Jane." Bella patted Jane's hand and turned towards Heidi. "Marcus gave it to me after he killed my human kidnapper who dragged me out of the Hansel and Gretal play." She said nonchantly, then leaned towards Jane. "I do really like this wine." She drank the rest of her glass.

Heidi gasped, and Jane blanched at Bella's explanation. Chelsea refilled Bella's glass, realizing that perhaps the human had a good reason for wanting that wine tonight.

"But you're ok, right, Bella?" Chelsea asked as she saw her fellow guard filled with anger.

"Yes," Bella blushed and sipped some more wine. "Marcus came to save me." She hiccups. "And I really, really like him." She laid her head on Jane's shoulder.

"Master Marcus really likes you too, Bella." Heidi informed her.

"More like loves." Chelsea muttered as she caught a glimpse of Bella's bonds in her inebriated state, but Bella's shield quickly blocked her again.

Heidi hushed Chelsea, but it was too late. "Did you say loves?" Bella's eyes were wide.

Heidi tried to do damage control. "Vampires feel very strongly for their mates." She told Bella.

"Yes, I can sense a very strong bond between Marcus and you. Or I could until your shield strengthened." Chelsea said.

"Your gift worked?" Bella gasped. "Does that mean your gift will work now?" She murmured to Jane.

"I will never use my gift on you to find out." Jane was adamant.

"You never used your gift on Victoria for me." Bella reminded her as she finished her glass of wine that Heidi quickly refilled.

Jane laughed. "No, I guess I didn't."

Bella leaned forward, suddenly excited. "Oooohhhh! That's what we should do. Let's go use your gift on her, Jane." Bella slid off her chair and stumbled as the alcohol hit her. Heidi steadied her quickly.

"I don't believe that's a good idea." The mahogany-haired woman murmured.

"That would definitely anger Master Marcus." Chelsea said.

"But she got out tonight, right? And hurt Gianna. So shouldn't she be punished, Jane?" She widened her eyes at Jane as she stared at the small vampire. "Pleeeaase Jane?"

Jane was at a crossroads. She didn't want to anger her masters, but Victoria did almost kill Gianna tonight. And she had told Bella she would let her see her gift in action on Victoria.

"Perhaps just for a few moments." Jane gave in.

Heidi hissed at Jane. "It's a bad idea."

Chelsea sighed. "If we're being honest, Master won't be able to stay angry at Bella for long." She shrugged. "I unfortunately won't be joining you. I need to get back to Afton." She quickly vacated the kitchen and possible train wreck that was about to happen.

"Seeeee, Heidi. It will all be fiiiine." Bella's words were slurred as she leaned her chin on the vampire's chest and stared up at her as she swayed.

Heidi sighed. "I'm going to go check on Gianna." She gently pushed Bella into Jane's arms and followed Chelsea's footsteps out of the kitchen.

"Jaaaane." Bella drawled out. "Can we go to the dungeon? Please, please." She begged.

"Oh, ok!" Jane exclaimed. "But you can't walk there in your state. I'll have to carry you."

Bella quickly grabbed her bottle of wine and wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck, and tried pulling her drunk body up into the vampire's arms. Jane laughed at her antics and swooped her up bridal style before running down the twisty halls.

Alec was in the library when he saw his sister run by carrying the human and furrowed his brows. They looked quite a site. Jane was shorter than Bella, so it looked odd for her to carry the human. Alec shook his head and went back to his book. He so did not want to know what they were up to.

Bella and Jane made it to the dungeon in no time at all. "Wait a minute, Bella." Jane cocked her head and listener to ensure no one but Victoria was in there. "Ok." She pulled Bella along into the dungeon doors and down some damp stone steps.

As they rounded the corner, Bella saw Victoria sitting in a cell. She looked rough.

"How are you liking the Volturi accommodations, Vicky?" Bella sneered as she came up to put her hands on the bars to steady her fuzzy body, the wine bottle dangling from her fingers raked gently across the bars.

The redhead glared at her from her spot. Her feet were strapped to the floor, and her one good hand was suspended from the ceiling holding her up. Her other arm hung by her side with a stumped end where Felix crushed her hand. She didn't speak to Bella.

"Cat got your tongue?" Bella asked as she took a drink of alcohol straight from the bottle.

"Caius ripped it out." Jane informed her.

Bella cackled as she leaned back from the bars and then came forward again, tilting her head as she said. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

Jane came to stand next to Bella as the human faltered in her footing. Bella laid her head on Jane's shoulder.

"Jane's going to use her gift in you now." Bella informed the redhead, whose eyes filled with venom tears as she shook her head profusely. "Jane." Bella glanced into the blonde's red eyes.

Jane nodded at Bella and then glared at Victoria. The redhead's body arched, and her head fell back as she let out a distorted yell with no syllables. She couldn't get words out with no tongue. Her body thrashed around, and her arm was the only thing holding her up as her legs collapsed. Bella grabbed Jane's hand and squeezed, breaking the blonde's concentration.

"Thank you for doing this, Jane." She murmured as Victoria gasped for unneeded breath in the background.

"Of course, Bella." Jane gave the human a gentle smile as she squeezed her hand back.

"Again?" Bella asked.

Jane smiled wickedly now as she glared back at Victoria, making her body arch again as her body flopped around and yells fell from her lips. Bella laughed and bounced on the balls of her feet at Victoria's pain. Some part of her felt bloodthirsty and wanted Victoria's pain to continue all night.

"Oh, come on, Jane! If you're going to torture her, at least do it the right way." A voice said coldly from behind them, making Bella jump and almost fall if Jane hadn't caught her.

Caius stood behind them with a cruel smirk as he walked over to a wooden cabinet and opened the doors. "At least use some tools on her." He sneered cruely at the redhead.

Bella's mouth dropped. There were many tools in the cabinet. They looked to be steel, maybe? There were sharp stakes and some clubs with spikes. And what looked like some branding tools.

"But that won't hurt your kinds skin?" Bella was confused.

She had been led to believe only another vampires' strength or wolves could hurt the cold ones.

"Not if you use fire!" Caius smirked as he grabbed a box of matches and a jar of clear liquid.

He went to a fireplace on the other wall, dripping some of the liquid over some wood and then lit a match to drop over it. It burst into cracking flames immediately. The clear liquid was vampire venom, Bella realized. It was extremely flammable.

Jane glanced at Victoria. "You're not going to like this." She informed the redhead with a cruel giggle.

Caius grabbed one of the long sharp stakes and held it in the flames. Victoria looked panicked and was trying to get away from them as she watched the blonde king.

"Open the cell, Jane." Caius ordered.

Jane took a key off a nearby wall and flung open the squeaky cell door.

Start of Torture/Violence

"See, fire can penetrate our skin, and when we have a strong tool, that means that tool can also hurt us." The blonde vampire explained as he stood and walked by Bella into the cell.

Bella pressed her face to the bars and eagerly watched as Caius stopped in front of Victoria. He plunged the stake forward into the redhead's chest and then pulled it down, making a long cut into the stone skin. Victoria yelled and tried to wriggle away.

Bella's heart rate increased. She began having some flashbacks. Victoria sinking her teeth into her neck. Cutting her human flesh with her nails. Tasting her blood. Bella felt more sober and steady as she marched over to the cabinet, sitting her wine bottle down and pulled out a branding device with a large V on it.

"What about this one? Can you use it next?" She asked Caius eagerly.

The blonde kind beamed at the humans' cruel idea. "I think we're going to get along just fine." He told her as he held the branding tools in the flames.

When it was hot enough, he removed it and turned to Bella. He placed his hand on her back and gently led her to Victoria.

"Why don't you try?" He suggested as he placed the tool in her hand and stood behind her firmly.

Victoria growled at Bella and then gasped and convulsed as Jane unleashed her gift again. "Don't growl at her, you filth! She's your new queen." The blonde girl informed her.

Victoria released silent sobs as Jane stopped. Bella was reminded of her own sobbing as Victoria drained her blood from her body and sealed the wounds with her disgusting venom. And Charlie. Her dad. Bella's heart ached as she thought of him.

Her hand tightened on the tool, and she shoved it forward into Victoria's shoulder. The redhead's skin sizzled slightly as the hot steel touched it.

Once Bella began, she couldn't stop. She removed the tool and slammed it in Victoria's shoulder again, right below the last mark. Victoria's skin had cooled the tool by then, and Jane handed Caius a hot replacement tool.

The blonde king swapped the new tool into Bella's hand but kept a grip over hers. "Let me help." He murmured quietly.

Caius used his strength and helped Bella shove the new brand a good two inches into Victoria's other shoulder, making the vampire yell as it made a gaping hole.

Bella's adrenaline was running high as she yelled. "How does that feel, Vicky!? It isn't nice being on the receiving end, is it!?" Bella laughed as Caius helped her impale Victoria's stomach next.

When that tool cooled, Jane had a new one ready. This one was some sort of club with spikes in it that shined red with heat. Bella, with Caius's help, swung the spiky bat at Victoria's side.

"That's for killing my friends." Bella yelled after the first hit.

As they reared back again and flung the bat around, it connected with the redheads' hips.

"That's for my m-mom!" Bella stuttered slightly as she thought of her poor mother's dismembered head.

The spikey bat was cooling now, but Bella flung it one more time. Caius put more strength into it as Bella aimed for Victoria's face.

"That's for my dad!" Bella screamed at Victoria as the spikes connected with the vampire's cheek.

Pale shards of skin shattered off the redhead's face, leaving parts of her teeth exposed. Half of one of her red eyebrows was gone, and a piece of her ear had been chipped away, too. Victoria twitched as if the hit had done something to her brain, too. She had stopped yelling in pain.

End of Violence/Torture

From somewhere behind her, she could hear Jane's cackle. It sounded distorted and demented. Bella was panting lightly as her eyes filled with tears. Caius gently took the tool from her hand and let her tired arm fall to her side.

As he put the tools away, he grabbed the almost empty wine bottle and returned it to his brother's mate. She almost choked on the sip she took as a voice joined them.

"What is going on here!?" Marcus demanded to know as he stared at the three in the dungeon.

Well, three and a half if you count Victoria. His mate was standing there in her red dress with her hair falling in a mess of tangles to her waist. Her skin had a sheen of sweat from exertion and probably the hot fire. Her eyes were glazed over, and her face was flushed as she lowered the wine bottle from her lips and beamed at him. She was absolutely gorgeous.

"Marcus!" She exclaimed happily and lumbered heavy-footed his way.

Marcus steadied her before she could fall, and she threw her arms around his neck as she slammed her lips to his, stepping up on his feet, so she didn't have to stretch so far. He could feel the wine bottle in her hand hit his hard back and was surprised it hadn't broken. His mate's lips were hot and sweet tasting against his, and he could feel every inch of her pressed against him. A throat-clearing broke Marcus away from his woman.

"We are still here, you two!" Caius informed them loudly.

Marcus saw Caius roll his eyes at them as Jane stared at the ceiling, trying not to invade their privacy. Bella pulled away from him with a giggle, and Marcus brushed her cheek with his fingers before glancing at Victoria's shattered body.

"Caius was showing me how to hurt Icky Vicky." Bella murmured with a hiccup as she swayed her body in front of him from her spot, still standing on his shoes.

"She did quite marvelous at it, too." Caius smirked.

"She may just be my new protégé." He said fondly.

"And if Victoria had gotten out and hurt her?" Marcus asked as he glared at Caius with a hard look.

"I would have dropped her in pain before she could, Master." Jane bowed her head.

"Hey, mister!" Bella yanked on his hair to get his attention, making him stare wide-eyed at her as Caius cackled. "You can't be mean to my friiiends!" She slurred the word out. "I wanted to be here anyway."

"You're absolutely sloshed." Marcus murmured as he stared at her amused.

"Shouldn't she be able to exact a little revenge, brother?" Caius inquired.

"Yeah! Vicky hurt me, and I w-wanted to hurt her back!" Bella hiccuped out. "You killed that m-man for hurting me." She murmured and pressed up against him. "But not her? Why not her?" She murmured, and Marcus could feel her warm breath float over his lips.

"I wanted you to be able to decide her punishment." Marcus admitted.

"And what if I wanted her dead? Right now." Bella asked as she drank another sip of wine.

"Then I'll tear her apart and burn her in that fireplace. Is that what you want?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah, we've burned many vampires in there." Caius laughed.

"What if I want to keep her here for years to torture, to make her scream?" Bella asked quietly as she drank the rest of the wine.

The human flung her arms back around Marcus and pressed herself against him as she let the bottle drop from her hand to shatter behind Marcus. She tangled her hands in his hair.

"Would you let me keep her?" Bella asked against Marcus's lips.

She vaguely heard Caius chuckle in a cruel manner and Jane's footsteps over to the cell.

"You hear that. She wants to make you scream for years." The blonde girl sneered at the redhead who was still twitching and obviously not ok.

Marcus reached over and took the liquid that Caius had used to start the fire. He flung it towards Victoria, and as the clear liquid touched her skin, the vampire came back to life screaming as her skin sizzled. The injures she had smoothed over a bit, looking more like scar tissue. Like Bella's scars. So it was vampire venom as she had suspected.

"You mean to scream like that?" Marcus pulled Bella tighter to him as he smirked at her.

Bella threw her head back and laughed. Her voice echoed and overpowered Victoria, who had begun to whimper.

"Yes, just like that." She whispered against Marcus's lips.

She vaguely heard Caius shutting the tool cabinet. And Jane was shuffling broken glass around. But she was in her own world with Marcus. Her body felt heavy and warm. And everywhere, she pressed up against Marcus tingled.

"I'll give you anything you want." Marcus promised as he kissed her roughly.

Bella moaned into his mouth, uncaring of the two vampires still in the room with him. But as she thought over his actions, Chelsea's words came to mind. She pulled back and panted for breath. Her body felt hard to move, and she was so, so tired. She looked into Marcus's darkened eyes and ran her hands through his hair, starting from his bangs. She leaned her head back and bit her lip as she smiled at him.

"Chelsea thinks you love me." She slurred out.

She heard Caius hiss through his teeth and Jane trying to do damage control that poor Chelsea was not interfering with a mating bond. But then Bella knew no more as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she went limp, barely feeling strong arms catch and pick her up.


I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! It took a while to get it posted, this app kept taking all my paragraphs away so it was all one big blob of words.

I'm also not sure about writing smut scenes. If I do write them, then they'll be similar to what I wrote in this chapter. Nothing too graphic.