[Chapter Eleven]

It's not surprising when I'm not immediately given an audience with the two queens, Sulpicia and Athenodora, in the beginning of my stay in Volterra.

King Aro is too obsessed with learning as much as he can with my history, despite me only telling him the bare minimum, while King Caius merely ignores me.

It's obvious he wants nothing to do with me until after I'm a vampire, so I'm merely a statement piece he doesn't care about.

Anytime I am not too cooperative when it comes to the kings, I'm brought into the throne room and watch as Jane tortures Demetri in front of me, her wicked smile upon her cherub face. Her brother/mate merely smiles next to her and shows nothing more than a thrilled look at how his sister is letting out her frustrations in failed attempts of torturing me upon my own mate.

Eventually Demetri can only hold off the meeting between me and the two queens until it is dictated for me to have an audience with them. The queens have grown too impatient with me not meeting them yet, and since they are held captive in their tower, it's not like they can find me randomly throughout the castle so they can pull me off to the side and learn more about me.

Sighing in front of the mirror hanging in Demetri and I's bedroom, I smooth down the spaghetti strap dress that has its skirt rest right below my knees. The color is a deep navy blue; it's almost black and a constellation pattern throughout the dress. A pair of navy-blue flats compliment the dress, and my hair is pulled up in an elaborate bun, a few pieces of my hair fall in wisps around my face, giving a more whimsical look.

Demetri sits in his signature chair though his fingers tap against the armrests of the leather chair.

His lips are pressed tight together and it's obvious he wants me to have nothing to do with the rest of the royalty. If he had it his way, he would have me not communicate with them at all, but the multiple times he's been tortured in front of me allows him to know there is only so many times he can protect me from the queens also until he's too tortured, he will be out of it for a few days.

"Are you certain you can't be in the room with me when I meet them?"

I know my voice is softer than normal, quiet. I feel safer here than anywhere else in the castle, and it's my haven. Here I can be myself and I can talk to Demetri about anything that is on my mind. Anywhere else in the castle I have to be careful how I display myself, be careful on how I have to communicate with everyone else.

Demetri shakes his head, before he speaks, "I'm sorry, darling, but I can't be there for you all the time. I'm proud of how you've been here since you've arrived. The queens demanded an audience with you and did not invite me. If it makes you feel better, they are better when it comes to us. Their bitterness is mostly directed towards their husbands."

"Hm, sounds like we might get along. It's too early to tell, but if they are just as bitter about the kings as me then I know there is some solid fountain for us to work on."

"Just don't mention the late queen unless they bring her up. It's a touchy subject, they believe in the rumor that King Aro killed his own sister, King Marcus's mate. The both of them had gotten tired of the lifestyle here and wanted to adventure off on their own. King Aro had become terrified of them leaving, and had murdered the late queen, making sure that King Marcus would be too heartbroken to leave them," Demetri announces.

My hands fall to my side, if King Aro can ruthlessly murder his own sister, then there is nothing he can't do. He would murder Demetri if he weren't needed in the monarchy like he is.

He would have murdered him and kept me, since I would be the one who would have the gift instead of Demetri.

I would be even more of a prisoner here.

"Very well, I will heed your warning. You've not steered me wrong since I've been here."

Relief floods throughout the aura around Demetri, obviously allowing me to know he's glad I'm listening to him. I've been here long enough now to know somewhat the behaviors of the Volturi, and how they are very oil and water to even their own people. They only look out for themselves, and only answer to the kings, anyone else is free game when it comes to torment. I've been on the receiving end of torment; the multiple times of Demetri being tortured by Jane has been imprinted into me enough I know to evaluate the situation before me and then show any type of strong emotion towards the subject. I'm lucky enough lately that I've been showing the proper emotion to the news given to me, even when on the inside I'm screaming the opposite.

Heidi greets me outside of the bedroom, dressed in a similar ensemble as before.

The ever flashy, seductive tightness of her clothes makes sure to remind you how she's truly a siren. One quick show of weakness and she will wrap her arms around your neck before yanking you into the water depths below her, which will become your grave. Her large smile she gives me, fake and leaving a sour aura around me, lets me know she too thinks this is quite ridiculous. She has more important things than to deal with babysitting the human on the way to the queens' tower.

Leaving Demetri behind, I barely have the chance to give him a look to see him still lounging in his chair before Heidi's long claw-like red fingernails that were freshly done not too long ago, touch the door and shut it behind her. I flinch from the loud, resounding click of the door shutting, obviously she's not into me having a proper goodbye to my mate. It only reminds me how I'm around vampires and how I can understand why people have an actual reason to be afraid of them. I am obviously not one of those people, but then again that might be because I'm meant to be a vampire one day.

Heidi's steps are long strides, her golden hair is tied up in a half bun, the other half of her hair falls down her back. There are ruby hairpins that are spread throughout the intricate hairstyle, the gleaming stones allowing me to know they are real. They are the same color as her eyes and the same color as her nails, her eyes…and yeah. Red happens to be what Heidi has clung to lately; I haven't seen her not wear something red. Every day there's multiple things she's wearing that are red, and not just one thing. There's more than just the red in her eyes. She brings the color to life, reminding everyone of all the different types of meanings behind the color.

"Come now. Walk faster, make your stride larger."

A part of me wants to snip out how I'm walking quite normal, but even I know that's not true.

I've always walked slowly, and it's even more present when the other person walking with me happens to be a vampire. I'm not gifted in the department of speed. Everything I've ever done is slow, it took me forever to even say my first word and then of course walking…to say the least, I've been someone who is almost always the last person to finish something.

Eventually we reach an intricate silver door with too many different details to the door I can't just pick up on one. All I know is it reminds me of nature and if Rapunzel had been raised in a luxurious tower with a luxurious silver tower door. A prison.

Heidi opens the door with a just as detailed silver key that she had hid on her person and motions for me to go forward. Stepping through to the tall and spiral stone staircase I've barely taken in that it's a lot of stairs for me to walk before the silver door behind me shuts. A clicking of the lock setting itself back in place also allows me to know Heidi had locked me in here and I'm now at the mercy of the two remaining queens of the Volturi.

Images of my loved ones withering on the ground from Jane's power is the only thing that keeps me from turning around and banging on the door, demanding for Heidi to open the door. I know I need to do this; I need to not only have them meet me because it's etiquette but also in the possibility they will be on my side. If the rumors are true and the kings did kill the late queen, then we both have solid ground to work on together. The death of King Aro and King Caius would lead to good things…depending on the queens who would step up after them.

My feet are sore, and my knees are aching by the time I reach the top of the tower, having to lean against the side of the staircase so I can cool down the heat radiating from my skin upon the cool surface of the brick stones. I smooth down my dress and hope I don't smell strongly of sweat and curse how accident prone I always have been, otherwise I would have been able to head up the staircase without feeling as though I had fought through one of the world wars.

"You can come in. The door is unlocked, I had expected Heidi to take you up the stairs but then again Heidi isn't one who is known for her niceties."

The voice on the other end doesn't immediately make me want to turn on my heels and rush down the stairs, which in return would make me snap my neck and die, so I reach my hand out and grab the silver handle to push it forward. I don't have to push too hard, even though I do push a little harder than I should and almost stumble over my own feet.

The first thing I see is purple velvet, a lot of purple velvet.

Purple velvet drapes that hang from the ceilings in different angles, in swooping manners, reminding me of those circus aerial silks the performers would intertwine themselves in. The windows are mostly covered though there happens to be a little bit of a sliver here and there to let in natural lighting. The flooring is of a deep, deep purple while the walls are some antique flower print wallpapers which has already gotten on with age and I can barely tell what flowers they are. Two large lounge chairs are in the middle of the round room, and upon one of them there is a couple–two women with their arms wrapped around each other in a loving, intimate manner. They have found comfort in each other, within this prison of theirs, amongst the purple velvet they have become lovers.

They are Queen Sulpicia and Queen Athenodora, wives of King Aro and King Caius. Still mourning the loss of their sister wife, Didyme, due to the fact every inch of the two women in front of me is covered in mourning garb. One queen wears pure black fabric while the other wears pure silver, one looks as if she represents the light of the full moon and the other represents the light of the new moon. Opposites in how they convey each other yet work together naturally.

Without having a need to bow down unless I would receive punishment, I curtsy willingly to the women in front of me. They stay twined together, almost as if they are afraid the other one will be yanked away from them before they are gone forever. Their own companion, the only other person who can share in their grief for their sister wife would be gone. The one who wouldn't have murdered them just for wanting freedom, no they are each other's haven.

"My queens, I am sorry for the delay of my–"

"All is fine, Bella. We know Demetri, and we know of his reasons for your late introduction to us. It does not worry, nor anger us," the queen who had welcomed me says, she is the one who is wearing the silver garment. The one wearing the black garment doesn't move, but I know I can feel her crimson eyes on me, wanting to see if she will find some fault in me. Something which will let her know her husband had made me come up to spy on them.

"Thank you for understanding. I cannot say the same when it comes to anyone else," I remark, earning a soft noise in confirmation from the black garment queen. I wonder if she is Queen Sulpicia or if she's Queen Athenodora.

"You also must be wondering why we are dressed the way we are. We don't like showing ourselves to anyone but each other and our husbands. I hope you can understand," the silver garment queen says, earning a nod from me. I have no right to judge them, and I know I probably would do the same thing as them.

"May I ask which of you is Queen Sulpicia and which one of you is Queen Athenodora?" I inquire, while in the background I can hear the sound of the fireplace to the left side of the circular room sending out little pops of burnt wood. It's old, and most likely had been built when the tower was built, grand and intimidating in a way.

"I am Queen Sulpicia, the wife of King Aro. Next to me is Queen Athenodora, wife of King Caius," the silver garment queen informs me. She sits up straighter and I note how her voice becomes sour whenever she mentions their husbands.

"We wanted to meet you not only to be introduced to you but also for another reason," Queen Athenodora states, while she moves some. She reaches one of her hands out and takes the hand of the woman next to them, the both of them squeezing each other's hand to let the other one know they are there for them.

Again, I am reminded of forbidden lovers, women who had their husbands betray them, so they found solstice in each other. Only the other woman would understand the pain they had gone through, the betrayal of having their third queen being murdered ruthlessly by her own brother. I know I would have been in the same spot as them, especially with how the both of them lean against each other as though they are the mates of each other instead of others.

I don't say anything but merely incline my head forward in acknowledgement of what they expect of me. I know there's not going to be anything free for me.

Everyone wants something from me so it's not surprising the queens want something from me too.

I have a feeling I will agree with what they have to ask of me, since it most likely has to do with taking care of their husbands. There's no warmth or love there anymore for their husbands, and I hope they are planning on murdering them.

"There is a vampire named Mele that we have learnt of from Demetri. She has the ability of taking powers away from others and giving the powers to someone else. So far Demetri has been able to keep the kings from knowing about the existence of Mele. We are thankful for this, it is obvious he shows more loyalty towards us," Queen Sulpicia tells me. It's enough I perk up enough with interest gleaming through my brown irises.

"How has she been able to avoid the detection of your husbands? I am certain they would have made sure to collect her or have her killed in order for their guards and King Aro to keep their gifts," I question, as my mind goes to how King Aro would do anything to make sure he would be able to keep his ability instead of having it taken from him.

"She has been able to avoid detection due to the fact she stays in caves and other sorts of places in villages where superstitious people try to warn tourists not to go to. Of course the tourists want nothing more than to prove either the existence of her or for them to prove she's not real. Demetri found her when he was searching for a vampire not too far from one of the villages. He had been more than excited when he met her and was glad when she did not take his power from him."

A small part of me wonders if Demetri had learnt of Mele's existence after he had met me or if he had learnt of her existence before he had met me.

It doesn't matter, nor do I stay on the matter any longer.

Demetri has his own rights not to tell me things that do not directly concern me or to keep me from overthinking the subject. It would be hypocritical of me to not understand why he would want to protect me when there are things I wouldn't want to discuss with him unless I would feel the need to tell him after all.

"What do you want me to do when it comes to Mele?"

"We want you to sneak her into the castle. We plan on eventually using her to rise against our husbands in order to avenge our Didyme. You will be turned not too long in the future, knowing how impatient our people are, and after training you when it comes to your ability, we will be able to create a rebellion that will work. Our so-called mates will be able to be killed and we will be able to be together, not only through ruling our people but also through matrimony," Queen Athenodora says, which in return lets me know I was correct in thinking they were lovers.

Without hesitation I agree, there is this unwavering pride within me at the thought of them putting trust into me.

Even if it happens to be because King Aro won't be able to read my mind it's enough for me to know I can be trusted when it comes to this. I could have agreed with them only to run towards the kings and tell them of the rebellion their wives would have against them. Yet it's obvious they can tell from how I present myself I am not someone to lay down and submit (also I am certain they will be able to know about my distaste through gossip).

"I must ask though, will you plan on taking care of…them?"

I don't speak their names, nor do I feel the need to say them.

The flashes of the torture Jane had put Demetri through, the torture they had put Renee through when we had met them…it's enough I am certain I could look into a forest and set it ablaze.

No one will get away with hurting those who I care about.

If they do not take care of the twins I am certain that I will do so since they will not be able to do anything about it.

"I see you mean his children. I do not call them mine, nor have I ever called them mine…"

Queen Sulpicia takes a deep breath when she mentions the twins, and without hesitation her lover reaches out and puts one of her hands against the covered face of her lover. Queen Sulpicia nuzzles her face into the hand before she pulls away.

"He came to me with them, their innocent aura about them was not there when they looked at me. They held this possessive towards him which is sickening. They are the children of a cult leader, not the children of a loving father."

The comparison is on point.

I don't have time to say anything before the queens stiffen, pulling away from each other with reluctance but allowing me to know they cannot show any of their true feelings outside of their solitude with each other. I'm certain they show their adoration towards each other in front of me partly because I cannot relay the images to their husbands but also because they know I would understand they would put their love towards those who truly matter.

The silver door opens and I turn around, surprised when I see it is Demetri that is standing in the entrance of the tower instead of Heidi or someone else.

His eyes take in the queens and he bows his head while putting one of his fists against his chest to show his true loyalty towards them. He didn't do this when it came to the kings, merely bowing his head to them. He rises from his position when they assure him he can stand, and then turns his attention towards me. I gave him a nod to let him know everything went well.

"Thank you my queens for giving Bella an audience. I am sure you had an important conversation," Demetri announces, hinting towards letting both me and the queens know the real reason why he had been hesitant towards the whole having me meet them in the beginning.

"Of course, Demetri. She was nothing more than a thrill to meet. I am certain we will get along with her quite well," Queen Sulpicia assures him, her voice soft and almost motherly despite the fact I know both queens are in their twenties and he is in the same age bracket as them.

Hinted towards our dismissal I got up from my spot in the chair which was provided for me and headed out of the tower with Demetri standing next to me, one of his hands out and pressed against my mid-back. I can't help but lean against him, which makes him almost stop at how the display of affection from me is public. Anyone could walk past us and see us progressing in our relationship with each other, before running towards the kings and informing them how things are going their way.

"I would inquire of your affection towards me but I am pleased with the progression. I care about you quite immensely," Demetri whispers, his eyes flickering towards one of the windows that shine in some clouded sunlight. I am certain if it were possible he would be blushing, but instead his deep brown and slightly pallid skin is devoid of any rushing blood.

"I care about "quite immensely" too," I can't help but tease him, it's not a confession towards love for one another. I don't know who will say they love each other first but it's one step closer to saying it nonetheless.

We are only a few corridors away from Demetri and I's bedroom when we turn the corner and notice the twins are conversing with each other quietly. They are in the lineaments, only their crimson eyes are the most prominent thing about them. There is anger that is radiating from Jane and Alec reaches out to put his hand onto her shoulder before his head snaps in my direction. He reminds me of Damien from The Omen and as he glares at me my blood runs cold.

"Enough, Alec. I do not appreciate your glaring at my mate," Demetri lectures and for a moment, a split moment I expect Jane to turn and send Demetri onto the ground in withering agony for daring to speak to her brother/mate in such a manner.

Instead Jane straightens her shoulders and turns to look at both of us.

Her eyes scan both me and Demetri, a flash of aggravation coming from her just like one would expect from a child like her. It still makes me both amused but terrified at the same time. Amusement towards how she can't send the power towards me but also terrified at how she can send that power towards people I care about.

"Come, Alec. They aren't worth our time. Father wishes to have an audience with us," Jane merely says, her eyes turning towards Alec instead of staying on either me or Demetri any longer. I press my lips tightly against each other and fight the urge to roll my eyes.

As Alec and Jane turn the corner on the opposite side of the corridor towards the throne room most likely I can't help but let a smirk rise at how utterly doomed they are. All I have to do is make sure to smuggle Mele in and then the preparations can be on their way.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: 4 chapters left in the story.

as always: Twilight doesn't belong to me

-it'semmynotemma