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Chapter 5.

Bella gasped in awe at the room on the other side of the large intricate doors. The dome ceiling was very tall with a round skylight in the middle, the stone walls stretching up to meet it had rectangle and squares of marble made into them. There were small windows around the tops of the beautiful walls, letting some natural sunlight cascade into the large room. A light colored marble floor with diamond designs every few feet spanned from the doorway all the way to three rounded stairs, past a round grate in the floor, leading up to three beautiful thrones, two of which were occupied. Behind the thrones was a hallway, apparently a second entrance, with a lower barrel ceiling.

"Jane!" The vampire in the middle throne exclaimed as he stood up to greet the young blonde. "I am so glad to see you have returned!" He said as he reached out to grab her hand, watching her memories. "And I'm delighted to see you back too brother! And with young Bella!" He said happily as he released Jane and turned to them.

His hair was long and black framing his face, a contrast to his translucent pale skin. His eyes a clouded red, almost milky looking. She wondered why.

The vampire left sitting on one of the thrones huffed as he stared at Bella in distate. His blonde hair fell to his chin, framing his pale face, his mouth turned up in a scowl. His eyes were not as cloudy as the black haired king.

"I don't see why we're consorting with a human Aro!" The blonde said looking at Bella in disgust.

Marcus growled and pulled Bella to his side, away from Jane and Aro, wrapping his strong arm around her waist.

"Non parlerai di lei in questo modo, Caio! Lei appartiene a me." Marcus hisses in Italian, his voice angry.

(Translation - You will not speak of her that way, Caius! She belongs to me.)

Aro gasped and clapped his hand together excitedly as he came to Marcus's side in an instant, grabbing his hand to filter through his thoughts. Caius gaped at Marcus, having not see his brother this alive and passionate for centuries. When Marcus had left for this mission, they practically had to force him out of the castle. And here he is back home and hissing at Caius! Caius left his throne, half a second later arriving at Aro's side and hissing at his two brothers in a voice to low for Bella to make out.

Jane took a step closer to Bella, who was slightly disoriented from Aro's and Caius's speed and Caius's obviously dislike of her. She brushed Bella's arm with hers, gaining the humans attention. She smiled at Bella when she met her brown eyes, trying to give her reassurance that everything would be ok. It would be a lot easier for the human after Marcus had discussed the mating bond with her, perhaps then she wouldn't smell so strongly of fear like she did now.

"This is so wonderful brother!" Aro exclaimed in happiness breaking the quietness. "I am so excited for you!" He told Marcus.

"How is this possible?" Caius asked Marcus.

"We will discuss it more later." Marcus hissed sy them both, trying to keep this conversation from Bella for just a little while longer.

"Let's instead talk about how you can repel Jane's gift, Isabella!" Aro drew Bella's name out, rolling over the syllables, as he turned to her. "I am Aro, as you probably heard earlier. Please forgive me for not introducing myself earlier." He apologized. "And this is our brother Caius" Aro waved a hand at Caius.

Caius nodded at Bella, now looking at her with a confused face, some of his distate still present.

"It's nice to meet you." Bella told them both politely.

"Aro would like to see if you are a shield to his gift too Mia Bella." Marcus informed her as she turned to him, seeing his face had a hint of sparkle to it from a ray of sunshine filtering through the windows. He looked mesmerizing, and his lips tilted into a small smile as he noticed her gaze. Marcus lifted his hand, brushing a stray piece of Bella's tangled hair from her face and feeling the warmth radiate from her skin to his palm as she leaned her face into it. They were the only too in their bubble as they gazed into each other's souls, until they weren't.

Caius cleared his throat breaking them out of their moment making Marcus glare at him.

"Aro can see every thought you've had with one touch." Caius informed her.

"But I saw you had informed Jane and Marcus that young Edward Cullens gift did not work on you Isabella." Aro looked at her inquisitively. "I've never heard of that happening, and no one has ever been immune to Jane's gift. I would be delighted to know if you confound my gift as well." Aro held his hand out as an invitation to Bella.

Marcus nodded at her encouragingly as he loosened his arm from around her waist, allowing her to step forward. Caius took a step forward, staring intently as Bella took Aro's cold hand. All was quiet in the throne room as Aro leaned over their intertwined hands, concentrating on his task.

With a laugh of excitement Aro released Bella's hand. "I cannot see anything at all!" He exclaimed as he held his hands to his mouth in awe. "You are truly extraordinary! I can't imagine the possibilities once you're turned!" Aro's eyes were gleeful.

"And just when will she be changed?" Caius questioned. "Having her human in a castle of vampires is a terrible idea!"

"You have a human secretary." Bella spoke up, defending her mortal status the the cantankerous blonde king before her.

"Ah yes, Gianna!" Aro exclaimed. "I will be having words with Felix of his secrecy regarding her. Can you believe he hid his mate status from us, Caius?"

"And one of our lower guards almost drained her yesterday! What a way to protect a mate!" Caius snapped and turned to Bella. "But if you're offering to he someone's dinner..." He left his statement hanging as he stared at Marcus

Marcus growled at him. "Enough! Bella has just now arrived. We will discuss her mortality after she settles in." He firmly stated to Caius, ending the argument.

"Of course! We're being so rude." Aro exclaimed. "Jane, please take Bella to the East wing." He said while staring at Marcus with a meaningful look.

"Yes Master." Jane agreed as she slipped her arm through Bella's to lead her away.

Bella glanced at Marcus though. She had so many unanswered questions she wanted to ask him, and she didn't want to leave him yet.

"It's ok Mia Cara." Marcus told her with a gentle voice. "I need to converse with my brothers on a few topics for a bit, then I'll find you. And I'm sure you'd like to freshen up and have some breakfast. I'll contact Gianna to get you some food." He smiled at her as he released her waist completely letting her leave his side where she'd been tucked.

"Thank you, Marcus." Bella beamed at him as she let Jane lead her away to the hallway behind the thrones.

She glanced back at the mesmerizing vampire king one last time, feeling like a rope was getting pulled tight the farther she got from him. She tripped over her feet, breaking eye contact with Marcus and blushing a brilliant red color. Marcus chuckled at her and he could here her apologizing to Jane as they left through the second exit.

"Explain now!" Caius demanded to Marcus when the human was out of earshot.

"Oh brother! It's absolutely extraordinary, the bond they share already. It's as strong as the one's we share with our mates. A true soulmate bond!" Aro exclaimed.

"But Didyme-"

Marcus interrupted Caius. "I believe I misread my bond to Didyme." He told them as he looked down. "It was still a bond of love though!" He proclaimed.

"I told you centuries ago when you claimed my sister as yours that the bond I saw in your head wasn't the same as the one I shared with Sulpicia, or Dora's to Caius." Aro ranted. "Our bonds pulse in your head like their alive, like they're our own beating hearts intertwined. Yours did not pulse Marcus." Aro finished sadly.

"Yes Aro, I made a mistake long ago! If I hadn't claimed Didyme in my ignorance, she wouldn't have been in the castle that day the Romanians came. Do you not think I feel terrible?" Marcus sounded tortured with guilt, putting his head in his hand as he sat down in his throne, his shoulders slumped down.

"That's enought you two!" Caius shut them both up. "Your mate still needs food and we still need to discuss Victoria. Let's move on from this conversation."

Aro backed down, realizing he was blaming his brother for his sister's death again. The guilt and mourning had almost cause Marcus to take his own life over the years, Caius was right. It wasn't the time to discuss Didyme.

"Felix!" Aro barked out.

The large guard gracefully lumbered into the throne room before his masters.

"Yes, Master Aro?" He asked.

Marcus answered instead, raising his head. "My mate requires sustenance, have Gianna aquire Isabella an array of breakfast foods. I'm not sure what her favorites are yet. They are to be delivered to my room." He ordered Felix as he rubbed his forehead with his hand.

"Yes, Master Marcus." Felix bowed and turned to leave.

"Oh and Felix!" Aro called out to the large vanpires back making him tense. "You are on guard duty tonight, and every night this month, with Demetri, as I'm sure he was well aware of your mate status. Am I correct?" Aro asked, holding his hand out.

Felix stepped to Aro, taking his hand and relinquishing his thoughts to his king.

"Just as I presumed!" Aro exclaimed while squeezing the large vampires hand. "Why would you keep such vital information from us?" He interrogated Felix throwing his hand away. "Do you realize your mate was almost drained while your were gone? We had no idea that we needed to protect her! You'll die without her Felix!" Aro ranted waving his arms around.

"I'm sorry, Master Aro!" Felix bowed before him. "I was worried you would order me to change her sooner. And she still wants to say goodbye to her human family, tell them she's moving away or something of the sort before her change so they aren't suspicious." He explained to his king.

"It's a bad idea to have two human mates in the castle Aro." Caius murmured.

"Isabella's mind may not be strong enough yet to survive the change with her memories, and she has some scars with others venoms. I don't know the extent of them, I'm not sure how they'll react in the change ." Marcus admitted to his brothers somberly.

"It would be tremendously helpful if we knew just what exactly happened to her Marcus." Caius stated.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea at this time. It will upset her greatly to speak about those things." Marcus murmured.

"You can't coddle her!" Caius barked. "She'll never heal that way."

"He's right Caius." Aro butted in. "Isabella had a few episodes since Marcus met her. Possibly PTSD episodes, I think the humans call it."

"She's had a horrible flashback on the plane Master Caius, after getting to close to Victoria body. She began wailing out loud." Felix informed the blonde king.

"You still need to read Victoria's mind." Marcus stated.

"Yes, I plan to go to the dungeon soon to see what I can dig up out of her mind." The raven haired kind replied. "You have a month Felix to change your mate. I won't risk losing you if she becomes someone's meal. That's plenty of time for her to say goodbye to her family. Especially when her nights won't be taken up with you, since you'll be busy guarding the castle. Now go fetch Gianna and take Isabella some food." Aro ordered and dismissed Felix.

The large vampire heeded the order, leaving the throne room to find Gianna.

Caius pursed his lips then pondered "Perhaps Corin could influence Isabella, making her feel content enough to speak about her injuries. That is, if Corin can affect her through her shield."

Marcus began to shake his head, not wanting to manipulate his mate that way.

"It may be the only way Marcus. Unless you can come up with a better plan?" Aro questioned.

"I will speak to Isabella." Marcus decided. "It's only her first day here, she just needs some time." He said as he stood up and rubbed his chest. "I've been away from her to long. And you need to see to Victoria. Her mind probably has most the answers you seek."

That reminded Aro of something he'd seen in the thoughts of all the vampires who'd return today.

"Oh yes! Victoria, the amputee!" Aro exclaimed clapping his hands and staring at Marcus expectantly. "Why in earth did you let Felix crush her hand? And you, you stomped her finger to dust! We are supposed to be a fair and just court, how can we be when the vampire we have on trial soon, is a amputee now?" Aro ranted.

Caius broke out in a mad cackle! Marcus groaned in annoyance. He just wanted to see Isabella again.

"What can I say Aro, the redheaded hag deserved it!" Marcus shrugged with a grin while stopping backwards towards the second exit.

"Oh this is priceless!" Caius exclaimed standing up and gaining Aro's attention enough for Marcus to sprint away. "I'm definitely going to the dungeon with you now. Maybe I'll finally get to torture someone. It's been years brother!" He exclaimed as he walked with Aro towards the dungeon.

Jane had led Bella through a maze of twist and turns before taking her up a spiral staircase. The room they entered was large and magnificent!

The ceiling was a groin vault design, with all sorts of intricate designs on the crown molding. The walls were painted a dark grey blue that had large windows that came to a point at the top. Part of the top section was stained glass with a lighter blue coloring, making it look like water was dancing across the dark wooden floor boards from the sun.

On one wall there was a large king size bed with a soft looking blanket draped across it and matching sheets. It didn't look like it'd been touched in some time. The headboard was an a beautiful dark wood with a design that reminded Bella of some sort of tree. It was elegant but simple too. There was a nightstand on each side with candles that had yet to be burnt sitting atop them. A large desk set farther into the room, a leather chair it's companion. There were a few doors on the opposite wall, but with the doors closed Bella didn't know what they led too.

"This is Master Marcus's room." Jane informed Bella. "It will be safer for you to stay in here, as none of the lower guards dare to enter it. The bedding is still new. Heidi, another guard you'll meet soon, likes to redecorate every few years. Marcus is the only king that never minded." The blonde vampire finished.

"Marcus doesn't care if I'm in here?" Bella questioned Jane.

"No!" Jane laughed. "In fact, I think he prefers it."

Before Bella could question the young vampire further, Jane led Bella to the first door and opened it.

"This is the bathroom, though it's never been used I don't belive. Aro did have the castle renovated slightly over the years to look more modern though and to avoid suspicion from any building departments. We wouldn't want the castle to be condemned would we? I think its hilarious in a way that the kings still have to conform to such laws." Jane explained to Bella.

Bella stared at the large bathroom. The floor was beautiful brick, the walls a mix between dark blue pain and dark wood. The bathtub was a large deep oval, big enough to be a hotub, and had a couple dark marbel steps leading up to it. A marble ledge surrounded the tub, and a stained glass window with blues, oranges and red sat behind it. It reminded Bella of a sunset. There was a large walk in shower in the corner of the room sporting dual shower heads. The toilet sat against the opposite wall, a double sink and large mirror next to it. A dark wood door led to a small closet with shelves lined with fluffy towels and an assortment of soaps, shampoos and conditioners.

"Vampires still like the luxury of hot showers or baths. Being as cold as we are, the heat feels amazing to our skin." Jane informed Bella.

"This is a very nice bathroom. I think the whole upstairs of my old house in Forks would fit in here." Bella admitted as she looked around at the extravagant room.

"What happened to your old home Bella?" Jane asked her. "Marcus said he found you on the Cullen's property." She said hesitantly.

Bella had began to trust Jane, she felt a deep friendship for her and felt comfortable to open up to her.

"A group of werewolves burned it down." Bella said with a deadpan face.

A crash came from outside the bathroom. As Jane rushed to see what it was, Bella was slower. When she got to the bedroom, she saw that Felix and Jane were cleaning up a pitcher of orange juice from the wood floor with a kitchen towel, shards of glass sparkling up from the orange substance. Gianna was situating a large tray of food on the desk. It held an assortment of eggs, bacon, pancakes and fresh fruit along with a cup of hot steaming coffee, Bella could smell the aroma from her spot by the bathroom door.

"I'm so sorry Isabella! I spilled your orange juice everywhere. I'll have to get you another pitcher." Felix told her.

"It's ok." She told the large vampire awkwardly as he was still knelt in the floor. "Coffee is enough."

Felix smiled at her, relieved. He didn't need another tongue lashing from his masters for upsetting the new future queen.

"I don't understand what happened Felix, you just shatter the pitcher in your hands!" Gianna exclaimed.

Jane and Felix exchanged a glance.

"It was nothing Gigi, I just misjudged my grip." He told his human made while glancing from her to Bella to make it known to drop the subject.

Gianna picked up on his vibes and sighed.

"Isabella, Marcus asked us to bring you breakfast if you'd like to eat. It's already getting late in the morning. You have to be starving after your long travels!" Gianna stated.

"Thank you so much Gianna, Felix." Bella told them both as she walked over to the desk and sat awkwardly in Marcus's desk chair.

She nibbled a piece of bacon. "It's very good!" She told Felix as he watched her. He sighed as if relieved she wasn't opposed to the food they brought.

"What is going on here?" A voice asked from the doorway.

Felix jumped up along with Jane, who held the towel with glass shards wrapped inside.

Marcus didn't understand the scene he came upon with two of their guards hunkered in the flood.

"Felix broke a pitcher is all Master Marcus." Jane informed him.

"Broke a pitcher?" Marcus was puzzled. "You're how many centuries old? You shouldn't be fumbling your strength like a newborn." He berated the large guard.

"I was surprised Master Marcus." Felix bowed his head.

Jane saw the questioning look on her kings face and spoke too low for Bella to hear. "Bella said her home was burned by werewolves, Master."

Marcus inhaled sharply. Werewolves were practical instinct after Caius went on a hunt for them centuries ago. His brother had a run in with one and nearly lost his life, he's had a grudge for them since.

"Go tell Aro of this information in the dungeon." Marcus ordered them. "Leave Isabella and I alone.

Both vampires agreed and ushered Gianna out of the bedroom.

"Is everything ok?" His beautiful mate asked as she ate a red strawberry.

He could see her teeth bite into the bright flesh, hear the crunch it made as she bit through it and see some of the juices left on her full pink lips. She made eating a piece of fruit look arousing.

"Yes Mia Bella." Macus purred as he stared in her eyes and walked over to the desk, sitting on the edge making her blush. "I just wanted to speak to you alone. Has Jane gave you the whole tour yet of your new room?" He asked.

Bella took a sip of her coffee before she answered. "She showed me the bathroom but I'm not sure what the other doors lead too."

Marcus pointed to one of the doors. "That is the closet. Well, it's two closets in one." He said as he led her over.

He opened the door, and Bella saw a hallway of mirrors. She also saw a doorway to the left and right.

"This is my closet." Marcus pointed to the right. "And this will be yours." He said opening up the left door. Bella stepped inside and a dark blue room greeted her with a white marble floor. She saw rows upon rows of empty closet rods one one wall, another wall had crip clean white shelves for shoes, the third wall had a built in white armoire that seemed to be made for jewelry, the outter doors had intricate designs caved into the wood. There were spots on the inside of the doors to hang necklaces and the top drawer which was slightly open had ring slots. Next to that was a white antique desk, a beautiful mirror behind it with intricate designs caved into the wood, and a deep blue velvet bench in front of it with white legs, apparently a makeup table of sorts. A velvet matching chaise lounge sat in the middle of the room.

Bella felt Marcus step up behind her, his muscular chest pressing into her back slightly as he leaned down closer to her ear to murmur. "Heidi is the one all into fashion, she'll help you shop soon for some things."

Bella found it hard to concentrate with him touching her. Her body felt like it was on fire just from the slight contact they had. Her heart felt full and yearned for him to hold her. She didn't understand these feelings. She didn't understand the rope she could feel pulling her towards him. And she didn't understand what the Italian words meant that he kept telling people, he was keeping secrets and Bella had had enough!

She spun around still close to him and stared up at him. She squared her shoulders and held her head high.

"I demand to know what's going on! Why do I feel like there's a rope pulling in my chest when I'm away from you? What's all the secrets you're keeping everytime you speak in Italian? Why was I kept alive when you had Victoria?" Bella interrogated Marcus as she lightly tried to push him, Marcus let her and they ended up back in the hallway separating the closets. "You didn't need me here if Aro can just see all her thoughts. And why are we sharing a room?" She demanded to know, slightly breathless.

Marcus's ruby eyes dimmed a bit darker as he stepped up closer to her, making her turn so he could press her against the mirror on the wall. He put both hands on either side of her head and leaned down a bit. The cold mirror bit into her back as she stared into his onyx eyes. Marcus's presence surrounded her completely, her skin tangled from being so close to him. She could see the reflection of his back in the mirror beind him, his strong shoulders down to his trim waist and long legs. She could see herself, her face flushed and hair wild where she didn't have a proper brush on the jet.

"Mia Bella," Marcus purred out as he stepped a bit closer pressing against her body a bit, Bella resisted the urge to arch into him as she gave a slight whimper. "There is one answer to all your questions. The reason you even survived our first meeting in Forks, why I took the hand of one of my own guards for you," Marcus ran one hand down her arm to lace his fingers with hers. "why you're in my room and why I've spoken in my native tongue as to not frighten you with the truth. To not have you pull away from me." Marcus ran his other hand down her forehead, over her nose and ran his finger across her pink lips, the same lips he watched eat that strawberry so sinfully.

Bella's eyes were heavily hooded as she stared at the mesmerizing man in front of her, she squeeze his fingers with hers as he leaned down, she couldn't help herself as she pressed closer to him. His breath fell across her lips as he told her, "You are mine, Isabella."

*

Translation - Non parlerai di lei in questo modo, Caio! Lei appartiene a me

You will not speak of her that way, Caius! She belongs to me