Author Note : I hope everyone enjoys this chapter! I hope it makes up for all the interruptions poor Bella and Marcus had before. Let me know what you think! Sorry for any grammer or spelling mistakes you might catch. This chapter is over 10k words, and I checked it twice, I hope I didn't miss anything!
Disclaimer : I don't own Twilight or its characters.
Chapter 9.
The bright sun shone on Bella's face as Marcus opened up a heavy metal door. They had taken many twist and turns to get here, Bella would be lost on her own.
The clouds quickly covered the sun, though, which dimmed Bella's mood a bit. She stepped out onto a stone pathway on part of the Volturi castle roof and her mouth dropped as everything was alive. Spring came earlier in Italy than in her cold, dreary town.
Greenery and beautiful flowers were growing throughout. Some flowers climbing up lattice walls and up the stone walls of a tower in the middle.
Marcus saw that the stone structure had caught her eye. "That's the tower we supposedly keep the queens locked up in." He informed her.
"I can see why they wouldn't want to leave!" Bella smiled as she ran her finger over a bleeding heart flower that adorned the tower wall.
She walked under a pergola towards the edge of the roof that had roses climbing up it along with many other flowers. It created a shaded area for the small round table adorned with a covered tray and pitcher of lemonade.
"Mia Bella." Marcus pulled out one of the two chairs for her. "I thought you could have lunch up here today." He murmured.
Bella beamed at him as she sat down. "It's beautiful up here." She praised as she stared off the roof at the "backyard" of the castle.
There were flowers everywhere and trees with blooming flowers that created splashes of color everywhere. Creeping phlox flowers adorned the pathways, and Bella could even see a maze of hedges. She could see cypress trees in the middle of the labyrinth but they blocked her view of anything else.
"Is that a bridge?" She asked, surprised.
Marcus went about removing the lid from the tray as he answered. "Yes, we have a small river that goes through the backyard with some fish. Dora thought they were relaxing to watch and Caius cannot deny her anything." Marcus laughed.
Bella's stomach growled as she saw the large muffin on a plate. She could smell it was banana with nuts. A small bowl of grapes and strawberries also sat on the tray. Marcus poured her a glass of lemonade before he sat down.
"I've not had a muffin for a while!" Bella said happily as she took a bite and closed her eyes in pleasure at the taste. "It was hard for...Seth...to get me things like this." She murmured quietly.
"You still care for this, Seth?" Marcus inquired, trying to see what wolves would need to be spared.
Bella sighed. "I do. For his sister, Leah and mom, too. Jared...Jared helped me, too. And I know I can't, I can't, blame them for what happened." Her face scrunched up in sadness.
So Dora was right. There were a few wolves that Bella would probably choose not to exterminate. Marcus pondered if the Cullen's would get the same chance for redemption from his mate.
"And the Cullen's?" He questioned the human as she nibbled on the muffin.
Bella's face clouded over in anger, but after a moment it smoothed out.
"I don't love Edward anymore, if that's what you're getting at." She laughed bitterly and took a sip of lemonade, the perfect combination of sweet and sour.
"I was just curious if you felt any fondness for any of them like you do, young Seth?" Marcus clarified.
Bella popped a grape in her mouth as she thought about the Cullen's. Marcus watched as her pink lips wrapped around the fruit before they engulfed it completely. He shifted slightly in his seat at the sight. All those years by myself must be catching up with me if a human eating a grape could arouse me, he thought as he shook his head.
"Carlisle, let Edward decide a lot of things for the coven and Alice, too. And they left Victoria behind." Bella's heart had a twinge of pain shoot through it that echoed in Marcus's. "I remember Jasper's tortured eyes, though, the night of my birthday party. He looked sick with guilt, and I'm not sure if anyone ever thought about the effect of all their bloodlust on him. I wish I would have had a chance to tell him it was ok, that I forgave him." She murmured. "And Rosalie, it seemed at every turn she made me feel unwelcome. But maybe that's because she knew I didn't belong with Edward? It feels like now she was trying to push me away from the family to protect me." Bella's eyes widened at the realization that the beautiful blonde may have had good intentions with her bad behavior. "Alice would have seen everything that happened, though, and I don't understand how she could leave me to deal with a deranged vampire by myself." Marcus grabbed Bella's hand over the table as her eyes teared up. "I still feel angry at all of them!"
"I mentioned you should make a journal earlier. And I stand by that. Writing these feelings down can help you with any anger you'll have as a newborn. Your emotions can be quite...hard to filter through when you wake up. Being able to read and acknowledge what you feel about some of those who wronged you can stop you from making irrational decisions." Marcus explained to her.
"I don't have anything to write in." Bella said quietly with a blush.
She only had a few meager items that came with her.
"Leave that to me, Cara." Marcus spoke as he rubbed his fingers over her knuckles. "If you're done eating, would you perhaps like to walk through the rest of the gardens?" He asked.
"Sure!" She ate the last strawberry and Marcus saw her tongue dart out to swipe some of the red juice from her pink lips.
He held in a groan as he stood and took her arm in his. Bella was curious as to why he didn't wrap his arm around her waist like before, but then he led her to a different side of the roof and she saw some a stone stairwell leading down to the gardens below. Marcus helped Bella as she carefully stepped down each step. She didn't want her clumsiness to rear its head. A tumble down the stairs in a castle of vampires would be terrible!
Marcus pulled her to his side as soon as their feet touched the green grass below. Bella was amazed at the large flowers that were already in full bloom. A patch of sunflowers was to the right and a mix of wildflowers to the left. Rose bushes were throughout and Bella could hear the sound of water as Marcus led her to the small stone arch bridge. It was smooth under her feet. Bella gasped as she looked over the edge and saw koi fish and even some sea turtles swimming in the water. There were other fish of many colors.
Marcus smiled at Bella as she leaned over the bridge to watch a sea turtle swim underneath them. She moved to the other side of the bridge and watched the turtles continue down the river.
"It seems so calm out here." Bella murmured as she leaned against the side of the bridge and stared out over the Volturi grounds. "How much land does the Volturi own?" She was curious.
Marcus leaned beside her and pointed out towards some trees. "We own many acres of woods and there's even an old church on the property too, with old tunnels that lead to the castle. It's a good escape route should anything detrimental ever happen." He murmured.
"Who's idea was the hedges?" Bella asked with a laugh as she glanced at the walls of greenery at least seven to eight feet tall. She couldn't see the fountain from the ground like she could on the roof.
Marcus smiled. "Jane's actually. She read Alice in Wonderland when it was first written and wanted a labyrinth to walk through. So she begged Aro, who eventually gave in and had one made for her."
Bella laughed at the thought of Jane giving Aro some big red puppy eyes to get what she wanted.
"Would you like to go through it?" Marcus asked.
Bella beamed up at him and reached out to take his hand, pulling him along. "Of course I do! I've never been through a maze before!" She exclaimed.
Marcus laughed at her excitement and allowed her to drag him with her. Her shoulder brushed against a weeping willow limb, sending the tips swaying as she glanced behind her to smile at Marcus.
As soon as they entered the maze, Bella dropped Marcus's hand to press hers to the wall. "Didn't they always say to follow the walls with your left hand and you'll find your way to the middle?" She questioned.
Marcus laughed. "I've never used that technique, Mia Bella. I could smell my way to the middle with my nose."
"Well, we all don't have super senses yet, mister!" She teased him sassily.
Marcus laughed again. "So your foolproof plan is to make left turns?" He pondered as he followed her through the maze in the completely wrong direction. "Isabella, we're going the wrong-"
Bella huffed flustered as she turned into a dead end for the second time and cut Marcus off "I'll have you know, I read about labyrinths in school before and I recall learning that left hand turns were the way to go!" She exclaimed tired of vampires telling her what she should do. "Besides, I don't see you helping any." She mumbled under her breath.
"Ah, so you're saying you'd rather not have my help, Isabella?" His tongue caressed her name, making her shiver.
"I'm just saying I can do things on my own sometimes!" She hit another dead end and huffed.
At the quietness that suddenly surrounded her, Bella turned and saw the space behind her was empty. Her mouth dropped. Had he...had Marcus...really just left her in this green maze alone?
"Marcus?" she called out hesitantly as she scratched her head, feeling quite puzzled at the vampire's antics.
Hearing only her voice echo back made Bella realize that maybe, just maybe, she should have listened to the vampire on which way to go. She had gotten a bit frustrated when the vampire wouldn't let her do things her own way. Talking about the Cullen's dredged up some ill feelings in Bella. Guilt churned in her stomach.
She made a few hasty turns and called out to the vampire king. "Sorry for being a bit...temperamental...Marcus!"
She had abandoned her left turns and instead made any turns trying to make it out of the maze.
Marcus had been about to make a retort to Bella when he smelled...was someone spying on them? Marcus felt anger course through him and darted away from his mate, intending to only be a moment. He came up on a seemingly empty place near a hedge wall.
Marcus calmly went to walk by as if everything was normal, but flung his hand out and backhanded an invisible body that quickly slammed into the ground. A body flickered into view and a male quickly came to a kneeling position.
"I'm so sorry, Master Marcus!" The male apologized profusely.
He was a shorter male, around five feet and eight inches with dark hair and a bulky build.
"Why are you spying on us, Afton?" Marcus asked the guard.
"I was just walking through the gardens and smelt the slight scent of blood, Master. I recognized it as the scent of your human and became worried. I wanted to check on her, but then became curious when I saw you two." Afton kept his head bowed in submission to his king.
Marcus checked his bonds and saw he had a small protective bond with Bella. Since the two hadn't met yet, it was probably Afton's loyalty to Marcus that caused the bond.
"I promise I wasn't thirsty or anything. Master Aro can read me if you'd like." The guard offered.
"That's quite alright, Afton. Just please leave the labyrinth while Isabella and I are here." He told Afton.
Afton nodded profusely and came to a stand. "Of course, Master." He bowed his head again and turned to leave.
"And Afton!" Marcus called. "Thank you for checking on her safety." Marcus murmured.
Afton nodded at his king with a smile and then was gone.
Marcus heard Bella calling to him and made his way back to her, hearing her apologize to him.
As Bella turned a corner, she felt someone press against her back, her whole body tingling. Lips pressed to her ear, making Bella shiver and her eyes close.
"I thought you didn't want my help?" Marcus teased her, and his cinnamon breath washed over her neck and cheek.
That snapped Bella out of her tingling skin mate induced bliss. She twirled around and frowned up at the vampire.
"Where did you go?" She questioned.
"You seemed frustrated, Cara. I didn't want to make you angry by telling you what to do." Marcus informed her. "I also may have...felt...someone spying nearby. I went to take care of that."
"Spying?" She questioned, feeling unsettled.
"His name is Afton." Marcus told her as he took her arm and began to lead her again. "He is Chelsea's mate."
Bella still felt bad for her rude treatment of Marcus, but now she was very curious about their spy. She needed to apologize, though.
"I'm sorry I was so rude to you." She murmured out as she blushed and glanced down. "I think talking about the Cullen's made me angry. Edward used to belittle me because I'm human. I couldn't do anything right or I wasn't smart enough."
Marcus pulled her to a stop and tilted her chin up so he could see her eyes. "I didn't mean to belittle you, Cara. That wasn't my intention. I had just wanted to help you to the middle of the maze a bit faster so you could rest your feet on a bench that is there." He explained as he stared at a spot where her new shoes had rubbed a spot into the skin, a slight scrape beginning to appear.
"Oh!" Bella said as she looked at her foot. "I didn't realize...I'm sorry." She apologized stepping back as she realizes he'd be able to smell her blood.
"Why are you apologizing, donna sciocca? You silly woman." He translated for her. "It's not your fault. I remember breaking in shoes back in my days as a human. They'd give me awful callouses on my feet!"
Bella laughed. "Does that mean you're a vampire with scaly feet?"
"The change smoothed out all my scales. I'll have you know!" He exclaimed.
Bella laughed again at his teasing, and then her smile dimmed.
"I didn't know if my blood would bother you. That's why I apologized." She murmured sadly.
Marcus put his hand on her cheek. "Absolutely not! None of my instincts tell me to eat you, Isabella. Least not in that way." He raised his brows at Bella suggestively and was rewarded with her blush that traveled below her sweater neck.
Marcus twisted himself around Bella's body, so he stood behind her again. "We're here." He murmured in her ear and gently led her forward through a metal archway.
The middle of the maze opened up and Bella saw a couple of benches sitting on a stone area towards the middle on either side of a fountain. Large cypress trees were around the perimeter, making this a good hideaway. Flowers were also dotted throughout, some climbing up the hedge walls, and Bella could smell honeysuckle float through the air. It was just as beautiful as the rest of the gardens.
"It's so peaceful in here." Bella said as she gazed around.
Marcus led her to a bench where she sat down. Instead of joining her, he kneeled down by her feet and took her covered foot in his hand, gently removing the shoe. Bella blushed and bit her lip as he gently massaged her ankle and ran his finger over the torn skin.
"Afton had smelled your blood." Marcus murmured as he glanced up at her. "He had no intention of feeding on you, but was worried and curious. Everyone in the castle knows what your scent smells like by now. He had come to check on you. He has the gift of mental invisibility. He can make people think he isn't there. Like he's invisible. He used his gift as to not frighten you, but he's been with the Volturi for so long that I could sense him." He informed her.
"Oh. Well, I'm glad he didn't want to eat me. Anytime I've spilled blood before around vampires, it was always terrible." She said quietly as she stared into his eyes.
"I could seal it." He informed her. "But it would be like-" Marcus cut himself off as his eyes automatically went to her covered scars from venom bites.
Bella took a deep breath. She knew in her heart Marcus wouldn't hurt her and she didn't want any vampire in the castle to be tempted by her cut.
"Ok." She breathed out nervously.
She had expected Marcus to lick the mark, that's how Victoria had done it. She watched as he slowly leaned his head down towards her bare ankle. His ruby eyes stared into her brown ones unblinking, making sure he had every ounce of her attention. He lowered his lips to her skin, letting them caress her cut with a gentle kiss, the venom from his inner lip coating and sealing her skin.
All the breath left Bella's lungs and warmth swept through her body at the sight. Marcus's eyes darkened as he smelled the heat from her body. He gently lowered her foot down. The stone was cold against her skin, but Bella didn't care.
Marcus straightened his back out from where he was still kneeled on the ground, his face came to just below hers from his position. He moved a hand up to cradle her warm cheek and Bella's eyes closed as she tilted her head into it. She felt Marcus lean closer and opened her eyes to stare into his ruby ones. His gaze drifted to her lips as his hand moved to the back of her neck.
Bella met him halfway and their mouths collided. She saw stars. Her heart felt like it would beat out of her chest at the feel of Marcus's lips on hers.
Marcus felt like he was in heaven at her warmth. He leaned closer and deepened the kiss with his mate, wrapping his other arm around her lower back to pull her closer. Her luscious lips tasted like the wild strawberries he ate as a human. Marcus could feast on them every day and never grow tired of them.
Bella's legs fell open a bit, and that gave Marcus room to get closer and press his body to her completely. She gasped and tangled her hands in his silky hair as his tongue came out to taste hers, the taste of cinnamon filling her mouth. She felt like she was on fire. Her whole body tingled, and she never wanted to let him go.
But as black spots appeared in her vision, she pulled back and gasped for some much needed air. She cursed her mortality and the need to breathe as she glanced into Marcus's onyx eyes.
Marcus, for his part, was gasping for a few breaths of unneeded air himself as he tried to gain control of his body. Seeing Bella stare at him though with her rosy cheeks and swollen lips, her eyes dark, didn't help matters. He leaned forward again, tangling his hand in her long hair and captured her lips in his with a bruising kiss, nipping her bottom lip and savoring the moan she released into his mouth. He pulled back and placed his forehead against hers as she caught her breath once again, her hands still tangled in his hair where she had pulled it in a delicious way. He slowly released her.
Bella tried to catch her breath and slowly let go of Marcus's hair. She was flushed and out of breath. She ran her own hair through her hair, getting it caught in the bobby pins Dora had used. She laughed lightly and glanced at Marcus. Her laughter must have been contagious because he released a few of his own as he leaned backwards on his knees.
His eyes glanced at her bare foot. "I forgot your shoe!" Marcus said, amused, as he grabbed her barefoot.
"It's ok, prince charming!" Bella giggled out as he went to slide her shoe over her foot.
"But the shoe fits!" The vampire king exclaimed. "Must mean you're the one for me, Isabella." He purred as he took her hand and kissed over her knuckles.
Now that he'd had a taste of her, he simply couldn't stop kissing her.
Bella laughed at his antics, but paused as the clouds finally moved. The sun that she'd only had a glimpse of today came shining brightly down on them. It warmed her skin and instantly made Marcus's light up brilliantly. Marcus slowly lowered his arm until their intertwined hands laid upon her lap.
She couldn't resist the urge to touch his skin and lifted her free hand to run her fingers down his forehead, making him close his eyes, over his angular nose, and down to his full lips that tilted up at the corners in a smile.
Marcus grabbed her hand in his and smiled against it as he kissed each of her fingertips lightly while gazing at her with his ruby gaze. She squeezed his other hand that still held hers on top of her lap as she smiled back at him. She felt something, like a tether, tightening in her chest, her ribs, even her gut, leading to him. It wasn't the first time she felt it. But now it felt like the whole front part of her body was tugging her to him.
"What-?" She cut herself off and pulled her hand away from his to hold to her chest.
Marcus pulled her other hand up to his unbeaten heart. "It's out bond, Isabella." He murmured quietly. "As it strengthens, it pulls us to each other tighter. Showing us the direction the other has gone. So we never lose each other." His other hand brushed some of her hair off her shoulder and then slid up her neck to cradle her cheek. "It is odd that you feel it so strongly as a human, though. Perhaps it's the amount of venom your body has absorbed over time." He pondered as his brows furrowed.
"Doesn't that make me a freak?" Bella joked out but was slightly bitter.
"Of course not!" Marcus exclaimed. "It just means we're discovering something new we didn't know about, amore mio." He murmured.
"You've called me that before." Bella told him, but her voice was curious.
Marcus smiled. "We'll have to give you some Italian lessons." He told her as he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. "It means, my love." He purred to her as she tried out giving his thumb a small kiss.
"Oh." She blushed and smiled at him as he moved his hand to hold hers instead and finally seated himself on the bench next to her.
Bella leaned her head on his shoulder and snuggled herself into his side. The fountain in front of them was a beautiful stone with an intricate design around it. Pretty flowers grew around the bottom. Marcus pressed a kiss to her head, and Bella sighed with contentment.
"I like it out here." She murmured to Marcus as she closed her eyes and listened to the birds flying overhead.
"Then we shall come out here anytime you want." Marcus reassured her.
"That sunset is gorgeous." Bella's eyes gazed at the hues of orange, pinks and purples across the sky.
"It's getting close to your last surprise!" The vampire king told her.
"But you won't tell me what it is?" She asked.
Marcus shook his head with a smile.
"But it requires a gown." She stated.
"You could've worn whatever you wanted. Though many humans in Italy dress up when they go where we're going. A gown just helps you blend in." He murmured, running his fingers over her knuckles.
"They brought me a beautiful gown." She gushed.
"You're what will make that gown beautiful, Mia Bella." Marcus told her and ran his fingers down her cheek, feeling her warm blush heat her face. "Perhaps we should be going back inside to get ready?" He suggested as he stood.
Bella took another look around the beautiful fountain, flowers and trees before she took Marcus's outstretched hand. He quickly wrapped his arm around her, pressing himself to her side as they walked.
The journey out of the maze was quick with Marcus's guidance and he helped her walk up the stone steps carefully to get back to the roof. As they went to step by the tower, a voice spoke out from the window above.
"Ciao!" Dora stuck her ashy blonde hair out the window. "Are you getting ready to change to your dress, Bella?" The queen smiled as she asked.
(Translation - Hello)
"Yes, Dora!" Bella called up. "I made a mess of my hair in the labyrinth." She blushed.
"That's quite alright, I can help you fix it! I'll meet you in your room momentarily!" Dora exclaimed with excitement and ducked her head back inside.
Marcus chuckled. "She's only known you a few days and already adores you. Didn't even say hello to me!" He exclaimed.
Bella smiled up at him and bumped her hip to his. "I'm just better company to keep." She teased him.
"Oh, are you saying I'm bad company for the queens?" He held a hand to his chest in mock hurt.
"Well, you didn't let them dress you up!" She teased him back as she did a twirl for him to show off her sweater dress.
She tripped though and Marcus caught her as she giggled and stared up at him, seeing his cheek glitter as a ray of sun shined upon it.
"And you do look so beautiful, Isabella." He purred as he held her in his strong arms. "Perhaps I should take you dancing! I can show you off." Marcus teased.
"Absolutely not! I can't dance. I can barely walk across a flat surface without falling." She informed him quickly as she turned and pulled him to the door on the roof leading into the castle.
"I think you're being too hard on yourself, Mia Bella." The vampire told her as he held open the door for her and began to lead her through the twist and turns of halls back to the east wing.
"No, I'm not. I'm awful at dancing. My mom signed me up for ballet as a kid and I didn't even last a week. I had so many bruises." Bella admitted. "I remember crying to my mom that I wanted to go home because the other girls laughed at me." She remembered her mother's blue eyes staring at her, her laugh lines around her mouth and her face sprinkled with freckles as she held Bella to her chest at the end of one of her ballet lessons to let her cry her embarrassment out.
"Perhaps I can teach you some dance steps. You'll be more graceful as a vampire. Learning the steps beforehand might help you later." He suggested.
Bella gave a noncommittal hum and shrugged her shoulders as they made it back to the bedroom. Bella let Marcus know she had to use the restroom before she marched into the beautiful bathroom. After she had done her business, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was windswept from her day outside, her cheeks rosy red, and her eyes bright with happiness. Her heart squeezed painfully for a moment. It had been so long since she'd been carefree and happy.
Bella heard a commotion outside and left the bathroom to see an amusing scene. Dora was shoving Marcus out the bedroom door, much to his protest, and Sulpicia flung a black garment bag at him he barely caught.
"Sulpicia!" He exclaimed as he held his bagged suit to his chest.
"Out you go, Marcus!" The curly hair vampire shooed him away.
"We need time to help Bella get ready! And it's a no boys allowed event." Dora teased him.
"Go get ready in mine and Aro's room." Sulpicia said dismissively.
Marcus looked helplessly at Bella as the two queens kicked him out of his own room. His mate was no help as she giggled at his predicament. He grinned at her amusement.
"I'll meet you at the clock tower at eight o'clock!" He exclaimed to Bella before the door shut and he was left in the hallway.
Dora clapped her hands and turned to Bella with a squeal. "You're going to look so gorgeous in that gown you picked out!" She exclaimed.
"I hope I can pull it off." She murmured quietly.
"You'll look beautiful, Bella." Sulpicia gave a gentle smile and placed a hand on Bella's shoulder as she reassured the human.
"Come on, Bella!" Dora grabbed her hand and began pulling her to Bella's closet.
"Perhaps Bella would like to take a bath, Dora, before she dresses." Sulpicia suggested to the excited vampire.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Bella. I'm just excited." Dora was embarrassed.
"It's alright, Dora." The human smiled at the ashy blonde.
"Why don't you go get a hairdryer for Bella, Dora? I didn't see one when we helped her get ready earlier." The curly haired vampire told her sister.
"I'll go get mine! And maybe some perfumes too to try out?" Dora asked Bella.
"Um, sure. That sounds good." Bella replied.
Dora was gone in the blink of an eye.
"Sorry, Bella. Dora gets a bit overzealous at times." Sulpicia murmured to the human as she led her to the bathroom.
She took a fluffy bath towel from the closet and draped it over the bathroom vanity counter. She turned the bath water on and tried adjusting it.
"It's hard for us to adjust water to the right temperature for humans." She admitted to Bella, who came over and made sure the water wasn't too hot.
Sulpicia glanced at the shampoos, conditioners, and multiple soaps. She finally found a few bottles of bubble bath on the bottom shelf.
"Well Bella, it seems Heidi stocked Marcus's bathroom with coconut splurge, tangerine blossoms, and a vanilla bubble bath." The vampire queen laughed at the thought of Marcus soaking in tangerine blossom bubbles.
Bella giggled along with Sulpicia. "I think I'll just go with vanilla for now."
Sulpicia grabbed the bottle and put a generous helping in the bathtub, maybe a bit too much, Bella thought as the bubbles nearly overflowed the rim of the large tub.
"I'll leave you to it, Bella!" Sulpicia told the human. "I'll just go make sure your dress isn't wrinkled or anything. Let me know if you need anything. " She smiled.
"Thank you, Sulpicia." Bella told the curly haired queen.
Within a blink, Sulpicia was gone, and Bella was left alone. She slipped out of her clothes and stepped up the marble steps leading to the tub, letting her body sink into the soothing water as the scent of vanilla beans filled her senses. She sighed out at the amazing feel of the water in her skin as she soaked.
After a while, she grabbed a loofah and scrubbed her skin. As she ran it over her scarred chest, though, she paused. What was she thinking? There was absolutely no way she could wear that dress tonight. She didn't have the figure for it and her scars! Would that cover up really hide them all? There was no way her bony figure would even begin to fill the dress out. And Marcus! Would he finally see how...how ugly and deformed she was?
Her eyes filled with tears as her hand flew to her chest, splashing bubbles everywhere, as her heart squeezed painfully. A choked gasp left her lips, followed by a loud sob. The thought of Marcus abandoning her was too much!
"Bella! Are you ok?" Sulpicia's voice asked as she knocked on the door.
Bella couldn't answer the vampire and continued to gasp for breath. She couldn't breathe.
"Bella!" Sulpicia called louder and when she was met with nothing but the sounds of sobs and Bella's racing heartbeat, she opened the door. "I'm coming in!"
She exclaimed.
Upon seeing the human girl leaning forward in the tub, gasping for breath and crying, Sulpicia rushed to her side.
"Oh, Bella!" She grabbed the human's face and turned her head to face her. "Just breath through it, sweetheart. Deep breaths." She murmured and mimicked a human breathing deeply to get the girl to follow her lead. "That's it, it's ok." Sulpicia told Bella as the humans breathing began to calm.
"I'm so sorry." Bella sobbed out.
"Oh, Bella! It's ok. You don't have to apologize." The queen reassured her.
Bella's face flushed, realizing she was naked in front of someone. She sunk further down in her bubbles. Sulpicia noticed and laughed.
"Don't be embarrassed, Bella. I've lived for centuries and was even around during woodstock. I've seen naked women before." She winked at the human, who giggled at her. "Now, would you like to talk about what had you so upset?"
Bella sighed, and her eyes filled with tears again. Sulpicia's heart ached for the poor girl.
"I just don't see how Marcus could ever want me. I'm mean just look at me! I'm like Frankenstein." Belka murmured.
"You are not!" The queen exclaimed. "Bella, we all have scars. Years of wars give those to you. They're just more invisible to the human eye." Sulpicia took Bella's wet hand and placed it over the back of her neck, letting her feel a line that ran there.
"What-?" Bella began to question.
"I was almost beheaded once when I angered the wrong vampire as a newborn. Aro killed them, of course, before they could do more damage. But I have more scars than that. So if you're Frankenstein, then I must be your twin." The queen informed Bella.
Bella shook her head. "But you're beautiful Sulpicia."
"And so are you, Bella." Sulpicia said gently.
Bella sighed and bowed her head down, looking sad.
"Perhaps I could wash your hair, Bella? It may relax you some." The curly haired queen suggested.
Bella thought about it. She hadn't had anyone wash her hair since she was a child. Well, Alice helped her a bit when James broke her leg and it was in a cast.
"Sure, I'd like that. Thank you." She thanked Sulpicia.
"Oh, I forgot to grab you some shampoo." Sulpicia sighed at herself as she stood to rummage through the closet. "There's some matching vanilla shampoo and conditioner. Is that ok?" She called over her shoulder.
"Yeah, that's fine." Bella reassured her.
Sulpicia moved back to the tub and set on the marble ledge so she could reach Bella's wet hair. She put a generous dollop of vanilla shampoo into her hands and ran it through the humans brown strands.
Bella closed her eyes as Sulpicia massaged her head, making her relax and some of her troubles fade away. A small grin lit up her face as a memory resurfaced.
Sulpicia noticed and questioned the human. "What's that grin for Bella?"
Bella sighed as Sulpicia turned the water on to spray out of a handheld sprayer in the bathtub and washed the soap from her hair.
"I remember when I was small, and it was just my mom and me in Phoenix. She used to wash my hair like this in the tub." Bella reminisced.
Sulpicia rubbed some condition into Bella's hair next. "Will you tell me about your mother, Bella?
Bella smiled and took a deep breath as she thought about her crazy, hairbrained mother.
"Her name was Renee, and she was eccentric. She always enjoyed trying new things, whether that be pottery lessons followed by some welding class or salsa dancing. She was more childlike than me. I took care of her a lot and made sure the money she made went towards the bills. I balanced our checkbook by the time I was ten." Bella murmured out. "But for all her faults, she had the biggest heart. I remember crying on her lap when other girls made fun of me in ballet and she just held me. And when the nomad hurt me in Arizona, she dropped everything and came two thousand miles to my hospital. She could recite every state and place we'd ever traveled to. We always bought trip t-shirts, but she couldn't remember where she left her phone charger." She laughed lightly.
"She sounds like she was a lovely woman. And I think she would be very proud of the strong woman you've become." Sulpicia told Bella as she washed the conditioner from her hair.
Bella's eyes teared up at the thought. "But I'm not strong." She whispered out.
Sulpicia grabbed a handheld mirror of the vanity and held it up in front of Bella, making her look at her scars.
"You tangled with our kind, you were bitten. You have the claw marks from shifters and you're still here. Humans die every day from less." Sulpicia looked into Bella's brown eyes as she spoke to her. "You are the strongest human I have ever met."
Sulpicia ran a finger over Bella's shoulder where Embry's claw marks resided. "Never doubt your strength, Bella." The queen told Bella firmly.
A knock on the bathroom door interrupted them. "cara Sulpicia, may I speak with you for a moment?" Aro's voice drifted through the door.
(Translation - dear Sulpicia)
"One moment!" The queen called out. "I'm going to step out Bella, why don't you get dried off?" She suggested.
Bella nodded and watched the queen leave.
A few moments earlier
Marcus was in Aro and Sulpicia's room on the West side of the castle. He had just left the shower when a sharp pain radiated through his chest. It was a small one, but he knew it was from Bella. He had slung a towel around his hips and exited the bathroom. Aro was in his own office when he saw Marcus half naked and rubbing his chest.
"What ails you, brother?" The raven haired man questioned.
"I keep getting small pulses of pain in my chest. It has to be from Isabella." He explained.
"Your mate is fine, brother. She's with Dora and my wife. Perhaps they're just bringing up old memories." Aro tried to calm his brother.
"I think I'll go check!" Marcus said as he headed towards the door.
"Wait just a minute!" Aro exclaimed and sped in front of his brother to block the door. "You're not even dressed Marcus! You'll scare the poor girl to death if you barge in half naked. She could be in the shower for all you know! She'll think we're actually some heinous sex fiends and you've come to collect!" Aro was appalled at the thought.
Marcus, for his part, was appalled at the way Aro's thoughts had turned. "I think Caius is right. Your head had to be damaged when your sire turned you." He murmured to the odd raven haired king.
Aro gasped. "You take that back Marcus!" He poked Marcus in his chest with a frown on his face that soon turned into a huge smile as he squealed and clapped. "You kissed her! Oh, I'm so delighted to see your relationship progressing, brother!" He exclaimed happily.
Marcus groaned as Aro accidentally gained access to all his thoughts. "Please, don't mention this to her, Aro. I don't need her thinking I blab all our private conversations to others." He murmured.
"Of course not, Marcus." Aro looked offended. "I'm a great secret keeper."
"You gossip to Caius like you two are a couple of old biddies. You don't fool me, Aro. I've lived with you for far too long!" Marcus exclaimed and then held his chest as he began to pace.
"Marcus, please quit pacing! You are wearing out spots on my floor!" Aro told his brother as he waved his hands around in a tizzy at seeing his priceless antique rug getting ruined by his brother.
"I have to check on her, Aro! Get out of the way!" Marcus ordered his brother.
"Wait, wait! I will go check on young Isabella. You just get ready for your date!" Aro told his brother as he headed for the door.
"You will report back to me, Aro?" Marcus questioned, still worried.
"Of course I will!" Aro waved Marcus off as he left the bedroom and headed to the East wing.
As Aro passed the South wing, though, he heard a girlish giggle followed by Caius's growl. If Dora was with Caius in their south wing, then where was his wife? They were both meant to be helping Bella. Why was Dora in her own chambers instead?
Aro hurried his pace, getting slightly worried. Perhaps Marcus wasn't being an over-worrier. What if something had happened to Isabella? Marcus wouldn't survive it this time. Aro skidded into the East wing, his shoulder nearly clipping Marcus's bedroom doorway in his haste. He calmed as he heard Bella's heartbeat from the bathroom and his wife, his sweet Sulpicia, coaxing Bella to believe in her strength.
Aro knocked on the door and asked for a moment with Sulpicia. When his wife came out of the bathroom and closed the door, he could smell the scent of vanilla bubble bath on her and her blouse was wet in some places. But she looked absolutely beautiful to him.
"What did you nee-" Aro cut Sulpicia off with a passionate kiss, his hands tangling in her curly hair as he accessed her thoughts, most wondering what had gotten into him.
He pulled back from the kiss and beamed at her. "What's gotten into me is that I have the sweetest mate in the world, amore mio." Aro murmured to her. "I'm sure Marcus will be happy to know you're developing a great bond with Isabella and that you comforted her, even brought her out of one of her panic fits by yourself. He's back in our chambers wearing a hole in the floor." He informed his mate.
"Ah, he must have felt her pain. She was telling me about her mother, Renee." Sulpicia told him.
"I suspected as much, but that didn't calm Marcus. I have to report back to him she's in perfect condition so he doesn't have a, a, a spaz attack or whatever the humans call it these days." Aro rolled his eyes as he tried to find the right words.
Sulpicia giggled at her mate's antics and kissed his cheek. "You better get back to him, then. And send Dora back! She was just supposed to be getting a hairdryer and some perfume." She hugged.
"Of course, my love." Aro told her as he went to step away, but paused. "What jewelry will young Isabella be wearing tonight?"
Sulpicia gasped. "Oh, no! How could we forget that?" She asked herself.
"Don't fret dear! I believe we have the perfect set in our crown jewels collection that will match the dress in your thoughts. I will send them back with Dora." Aro reassured her.
Sulpicia thanked him with a light kiss to his lips, and then he was gone. Aro stopped by the South wing to collect Dora, only having one teeny altercation doing that task, then heading to the basement vault. After collecting some priceless jewels and sending them with Dora, who hadn't stopped glaring at him the whole trip, he ran back to his room and came face to face with Marcus, who was clothed and ready.
Aro held up his hand as Marcus went to speak. "Isabella is fine." He informed his brother. "She was speaking to my wife about her mother and got upset. Nothing to worry about." Aro hesitated and his brother noticed.
"What aren't you telling me?" Marcus asked.
Aro sighed. "Young Isabella had the start of a panic attack, but Sulpicia calmed her quickly!" He rushed the words out.
"Oh no, what happened?" Marcus ran his hand through his hair as he paced.
Aro cringed at his poor rug getting abused by his brother's feet. "Come, brother, have a seat in my office!" He ushered Marcus to his wooden office floor instead.
After they had taken a seat, Aro glanced at Marcus and informed him. "Oh Marcus, your hair's a mess! You'll have to redo it for Isabella."
"Aro!" Marcus barked out. "I don't care about my hair." He growled.
"Isabella will! Just saying." Aro held his hands up in defense. "But she was self conscious over her scars again. My wife comforted her though and was trying to boost her confidence some when I got there." He explained.
Marcus sighed. "I don't know how to make her see her beauty." He was frustrated.
"Well, Sulpicia showed Isabella one of her own scars so she would know she wasn't alone." Aro shrugged.
Caius burst into Aro's office, raging. "I cannot believe you, Aro! Interrupting Dora and I! How many times do you have to see me naked until you learn to knock?" The blonde king yelled.
Marcus blanched at Caius' words.
"I thought you two were done!" Aro exclaimed. "I was in a hurry! You two take too long."
Caius's eyes widened. "Too long? Well, I'm sorry we all can't be a one pump chump like yourself." He insulted Aro.
Aro stood up from his chair. "I am not a one pump chump!" He yelled, outraged.
"That's not what I've heard." Caius said to the raven haired king.
Aro giggled. "Oh Caius, have you been listening in? Why, I didn't know you swung my way." He batted his eyes at Caius as he laughed and retook his seat.
Caius huffed in disgust and rolled his eyes. "If I did swing that way, you certainly wouldn't be my first choice!"
"Oh, oh! And just who would be? Please, do tell." Aro crossed his legs and sat his chin in his hand as he stared at the blonde king.
Marcus's head had been whipping back and forth between them, but he decided he had had enough of this conversation.
"We were talking about Isabella!" He said loudly to capture his brother's attention.
"What about your mate?" Caius asked as he took a seat next to Marcus.
"Aro said she began to have a panic attack over her scars, but Sulpicia calmed her. I don't know how to help her get over them." Marcus murmured.
"Well, that's easy!" Caius exclaimed. "You completely ravish her body until there isn't a doubt in her mind that you find her beautiful."
"Oh brother, you should have seen the kiss they shared I picked up from his thoughts." Aro informed Caius.
Caius sat up at that information. "You are starting early, Marcus! Who'd have thought you'd have it in you after sitting still for centuries like some, some gargoyle whose only intention is to guard the throne room." He teased and insulted Marcus at the same time.
Aro giggled from across the desk. Marcus sighed and rubbed his forehead. How did he put up with these two?
"Perhaps show her some of your own scars, Marcus. Like Sulpicia did." Aro suggested.
"Yes, why don't you just strip down and bare yourself to her?" Caius rolled his eyes at Aro's suggestion.
"You know what?" Marcus exclaimed. "I'll just figure it out myself." He began to leave the bedroom.
"Oh, do fix your hair, brother! It looks like a rat's nest. How will you impress Isabella that way?" Caius asked him.
Marcus huffed and rolled his eyes as he re-entered Aro's bathroom and slammed the door shut.
"Why does he listen to your advice about his hair and not mine?" Marcus could vaguely hear Aro murmur to Caius.
Back with Bella
Bella had left the bathroom and Sulpicia informed her that Marcus had just sent Aro to check on her. "Nothing out of the ordinary." The curly haired queen said.
She then got Bella some lotion from the bathroom closet so she could moisturize her skin. It was lavender scented instead of vanilla.
"Looks like Heidi decided against vanilla lotion." Sulpicia said as she handed the bottle to Bella.
"It's ok." The human murmured, slightly drained from her panic attack in the tub.
Sulpicia sighed at Bella, wishing she could have helped her more. "Would you like me to have someone bring you something to drink, Bella? Perhaps a slight "pick me up" like coffee or even tea?" Sulpicia figured if Aro could try modern language, she should try it too.
Bella smiled at Sulpicia. "Some coffee sounds great."
Sulpicia nodded. "I'll be back in just a moment." She was gone within a blink of Bella's eyes.
Bella rubbed the lotion everywhere and inhaled the scent calming scent of lavender. She felt refreshed from her bath and hoped the coffee would take care of her tiredness.
Sulpicia stepped back into the room with a fuming Dora behind her.
"No, I think we do need to speak about this now! Your mate barged in again, and saw Caius! Are you not at all concerned?" Dora exclaimed.
Bella was wide eyed as she stared at the ashy haired queen.
"Perhaps if you lock your door, he wouldn't barge in." Sulpicia shrugged as she waved her hand around.
Dora gaped at her. "We are all adults here. He should learn to knock."
"Take this up with him, Dora! I have other things to do then to talk about Caius' naked rear end." Sulpicia rolled her eyes.
Bella's giggle broke them out of their bickering match and they looked to see the human covering her mouth with her hand.
Sulpicia's eyes lit up. "It is quite amusing, isn't it, Bella?"
"Sulpicia!" Dora whined at her sister.
"Oh, hush!" Sulpicia said. "Is that the jewelry Aro picked out?" She asked, staring at the wooden box in Dora's hands. She also had a bag slung over her shoulder.
"Yes, it is." The ashy blonde answered.
"Jewelry?" Bella was puzzled.
"Oh, yes! Aro picked out the perfect jewelry for your dress. We seemed to have forgotten all about that." Dora said, embarrassed.
Sulpicia opened the box, and Bella gasped. Inside the box laid a collar necklace encrusted with many rubies, diamonds encircling each red jewel, making a brilliant contrast. Matching earrings with three rubies hanging down in a straight line also encircled with diamonds sat below the gorgeous necklace.
"I can't wear this!" Bella exclaimed.
"But you'll look gorgeous in these, Bella!" Dora told her.
"These must be worth a fortune! I cannot wear them. What if I break them or, or lose them?" Bella shook her head as she stared at the jewels.
"Bella!" Sulpicia laughed. "You will be fine." She said reassuringly. "And if something were to happen to them, well, Aro hand picked them Bella. He knows all the risk of anyone wearing them."
"I don't know." Bella murmured.
"Perhaps get ready with everything else and think about them?" Dora suggested.
Bella nodded. "Sounds good." She was glad when Sulpicia shut the wooden box.
A knock on the door sounded before a blonde head popped in. "Hi, Bella!" Jane exclaimed as she walked in with a cup of steaming coffee. "My queens." She bowed her head to Dora and Sulpicia. "I brought your coffee! I hope you don't mind, but I swapped it up a bit and did a french vanilla latte. Gianna raved about them." Jane looked nervous.
"Thank you, Jane! It smells great." Bella smiled at the small vampire, who beamed at Bella's words and handed her the cup.
"Jane." Sulpicia called. "Can you please be back here a little before eight? Bella needs an escort to meet Marcus at the clock tower by eight." She informed the guard.
"Of course! I'll be back in a bit, Bella." Jane said and then was gone.
It was six-thirty now. So they had an hour and a half.
"Ok!" Dora exclaimed. "Let's do your hair!" She happily led Bella back to her closet and sat her at the vanity.
Dora sat down the bag she had and pulled out a hair dryer, plugging it in, and beginning to dry Bella's long strands. Bella noticed Sulpicia had busied herself hanging up all the clothes Bella had gone through earlier until she found her sweater dress. She had some clothes until Heidi's shipment came in. She took a sip of the coffee Jane had brought her. It really was good!
"Ok, Bella." Dora shut the hair dryer off. "I was thinking maybe an updo? With some curls hanging down to frame your face. Would that be ok? Or would you prefer something else?" The queen gave her the option to choose.
"That sounds good, an updo." Bella shrugged. She was never good at this stuff.
Dora smiled at her and brushed through her hair. She pulled pieces up and braided some of them as they joined the bun Dora was making. By the time Dora was finished, Bella's hair was in a lower side bun with curls falling to frame her face. The queen had managed to tame Bella's long mane, and it looked great.
Sulpicia held up her dress behind her and looked at her in the mirror. "Are you ready to put this on?" At Bella's hesitant look, Sulpicia tried to reassure her. "You're going to look so beautiful, Bella."
"Oh, come on, you guys!" Dora exclaimed. "Bella, you could wear a paper sack dress on this date and Marcus still wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of you. He probably won't be able to stop kissing you." She teased.
Bella blushed as she thought back to the kiss they already shared.
"What's that blush for, Bella?" Sulpicia asked her with a grin.
Bella blushed deeper all the way down her neck.
"You two did kiss!" Dora realized and squealed. "What was it like? When did it happen?"
"Let the girl breathe, Dora!" Sulpicia laughed. "Maybe Bella wants to keep those details to herself." She told her sister.
Bella gave Sulpicia a thankful look.
"Oh, ok." Dora sighed then brightened up. "Let's see you in the dress!"
Sulpicia held the dress out to Bella as she stood from her vanity seat. "I can zip you up if you'd like, after you put it on?" The queen offered.
"Sure." Bella smiled. "Thanks."
Sulpicia and Dora stepped out of the closet to give Bella some privacy. Bella took another sip of her vanilla latte before taking her robe off. She sighed at the sight of her body in the vanity mirror. Gently taking the red evening gown off the hanger, she slid into it.
The material was soft against her skin, and the hem fell almost to the floor. It was slightly shorter in the front, and Bella was glad. She didn't feel like tripping over her dress tonight. She zipped it up as far as she could, but her arm just didn't bend that way.
"Sulpicia!" She called out.
The vampire queen was by her side in a flash. She finished zipping the red dress up and then moved in front of Bella to smooth the skirt some. A gasp from the doorway caught their attention.
"You look gorgeous!" Dora smiled at Bella.
"You really do, Bella." Sulpicia seconded Dora's opinion.
"Come out here and see in the big mirrors!" Dora gestured to the hallway outside the closet doors.
"Put your shoes on first, sweetheart." Sulpicia murmured to Bella.
Bella took a seat and slid the sparkly black flats on her feet, the strappy ankle straps wrapping around her legs. As Bella stood up, she saw the dress was short enough in the front to catch peeks of her shiny shoes. Sulpicia picked up the cover up but waited to hand it to Bella.
"You should take a look first at the dress without it, Bella." She smiled gently at the human.
Bella sighed and rubbed the cloth of her skirt between her fingers nervously as she turned and made her way to the mirrored hallway. As she stepped out of the doorway and turned, she gaped aloud.
The red dress fit her perfectly and the contrast of the bright color on her skin worked for her. She always wore blue before, why hasn't she worn red? Her hair was in a pretty updo, with a few dainty braids throughout and pretty curls framing her pale face.
Looking at her face led to looking at her shoulder and the claw marks. The bites that littered her shoulder and lower neck. Her face scrunched up as she stared. Sulpicia placed a supportive hand on Bella's shoulder. Her hand was cold on Bella's skin, nothing like Marcus's.
Dora broke the silence with a click as she opened up the wooden jewelry box Bella hadn't realized she'd went to get. Seeing Bella's hesitant look, Dora quickly took out the earrings.
"These really would look great with your hair tonight, Bella!" She claimed.
Bella sighed and decided, why not? They'd already gotten her in the dress. Maybe the jewelry wouldn't be so bad.
"Ok." Bella nodded and took the earrings from Dora's outstretched hands.
She placed the beautiful rubies and diamonds from each if her ears. They were heavier than the earrings she was used to. She turned her head and watched them swing. They were pretty.
She watched Dora hold the necklace up with a hopeful look. Bella gave in. She felt beautiful, and the jewelry was helping, so why not see what the necklace looked like? She nodded at Dora, who happily draped the necklace around Bella's neck and clipped it in the back. It was definitely heavy! But not terrible. It laid across her collarbone just right and contrasted brilliantly with her pale skin.
"You look beautiful, Bella." Sulpicia told her quietly.
Bella smiled at the curly haired queen and did a small twirl in front of the mirror. The queens giggled at her antics. But then Bella's smile faded as she caught the claw marks going farther down her back.
Sulpicia, realizing Bella wasn't ready to give up some sort of security blanket yet over her scars, draped the cover up over her back and gently closed it on her neck.
"Maybe I shouldn't wear the necklace." Bella murmured as she saw it was slightly covered up by the sparkly sheer black cover up that draped over her shoulders.
"You're wearing it, Bella. You can still see it just fine." Dora reassured her. "I did bring some perfumes. Oh, and some light makeup!" The ashy blonde exclaimed as she pulled the human back to the vanity.
Bella blanched at the thought of makeup.
Sulpicia noticed. "Maybe just some lip gloss?" She suggested.
Dora noticed the look on Bella's face. "You can use whatever you'd like, Bella." She handed Bella a small makeup bag.
Bella pulled out some light pink lip gloss and decided to try some. It made her lips feel moisturized, and they looked shiny. She debated on mascara but decided against it. She didn't need to accidentally smudge it and end up looking like she had black eyes.
"There's some perfume too." Dora told her. "Only a few bottles, though. One's snowflakes and cashmere, another is something festive called pumpkin holiday spirit, and the last one is strawberry shortcake."
Even Sulpicia looked puzzled at the names. "How have they made a scent for a snowflake?"
"I got these from Heidi's room, I'm not sure." Dora laughed.
Bella picked the one that seemed most normal. "I think strawberry shortcake." Her shampoo back home used to always be strawberry scented.
Dora gave Bella the bottle so she could spritz herself with it.
"Oh, that does smell good!" Sulpicia exclaimed.
"Smells almost mouthwatering." Dora agreed.
Bella laughed at the queens. Here they were talking about a mouthwatering perfume that she'd just put on. Did that make her even more mouthwatering to vampires now?
"Well, I think you're all ready to go!" Dora said excitedly.
"Jane is outside in the hallway waiting to escort you." Sulpicia informed her.
It was seven-fifty already. She didn't have long. She took a deep breath as she looked at herself in the vanity mirror.
"Ok, I'm ready." She said nervously as she nodded her head.
"Hace a great time, Bella!" Dora exclaimed.
Sulpicia laid a hand on Bella's covered shoulder as she led her to the bedroom door. "It's all going to go well, Bella. Try not to be nervous. Marcus is meant for you. He accepts all of you." She murmured to the human.
Bella smiled gratefully at Sulpicia as she placed her hand over the top of the vampires. "Thank you." She quietly told the curly haired queen.
Sulpicia nodded her head as she opened the door. Jane stood before them, ready to lead her new queen to the king.
"Thank you both for all your help!" She said to both queens before she turned to smile at Jane. "I'm ready to go." Bella murmured to the small blonde.
Jane smiled at Bella and moved to let Bella leave the doorway. They began their journey down the hallway together.
"You look so pretty, Bella!" Jane exclaimed as she looked at Bella's perfect updo and the beautiful dress she wore.
"I think it's just the dress." Bella laughed and smoothed her hand over the skirt.
"No, Bella. It's definitely you. And your hair looks great!" Jane informed her.
Jane ran a hand over her own smoothed back tight bun with a frown on her face. Bella caught the action.
"I could try to help you with a new hairstyle tomorrow if you'd like?" She offered to the vampire. "I'm not as great at all this as Dora, though." Bella waved her hand at her own hair.
"You would do that?" Jane asked with hopefully eyes.
"Of course!" Bella exclaimed. "Maybe tomorrow after breakfast sometime?" Bella suggested.
"That sounds great!" Jane exclaimed happily.
Bella smiled at the vampire's enthusiasm and hoped her meager hairstyling skills didn't upset the vampire.
"Well, here we are!" Jane said as they came to a singular door. "That leads right out under the clock tower. I can hear Master Marcus pacing out there, waiting for you." Jane giggled.
Bella laughed lightly with her, but then her stomach filled with nerves and her hand clenched her dress skirt. Jane reached over and gently took the human's shaky hand in her own.
"It's going to be ok, Bella." She said reassuringly to the human. "You had fun with Marcus on your date earlier, right? What's the difference between then and now?" Jane asked.
Bella waved her hand up and down her dress. "This is what's different."
"Oh, Marcus is going to love that dress, Bella! He will not be able to take his eyes off of you." Jane smiled at her friend.
Bella smiled at the small blonde before nodding her head. "Ok, ok. I can do this." She nodded her head and took a few steps towards the door. "Thank you for bringing me, Jane." She threw over her shoulder."
"No problem, Bella!" Jane said and then was gone, leaving Bella alone to face the door.
With another deep breath to calm her nerves, Bella stepped forward.
Translations
donna sciocca - silly woman
amore mio - my love
Ciao - Hello