It was quite the bit of surprise when Athenodora and Sulpicia went to check on Bella, only to find Didyme in bed with her. A part of them was jealous, because she had managed to find her way into Bellas bed before any of them could. The most Sulpicia had been able to do was kiss her, Athenodora on the other hand had done neither.

"Is this where our wife has been hiding? I thought you might've been hiding in your library, holed up in a book." Sulpicia mused.

"I guess you thought wrong." She sighed."Come to check on her? Make sure she hasn't been sucked dry?"

"I guess you could say that." Athenodora sat down on the bench piece at the end of the bed.

The queens had great power over their guard, but not so much that they would be able to stop them in time if one of them were to slip and give in to their thirst. The newer ones that is. It was why they made sure that each time Bella so much has stepped foot outside of her room they were always somewhere near by to intervene if something were to occur. Little did Bella know, her room was the heart of where each queen resided. As soon as Sulpicia had sight of Bella from Edwards mind, she had that room revamped so that it became a bedroom. What was once a room for her and her wives to partake in the arts, was now a sleeping chamber for their little human. It was one of the reasons why she has yet to be assigned a permanent guard.

Athenodora was just about speak, when a bolt of lightning struck across the sky, filling the room with booming sound of thunder. Loud enough that it caused Bella to stir from her slumber. Sulpicia and Athenodora looked at each other debating whether they should leave or not, until Bella called out to them.

"Cia? Dora?" She rubbed her eyes in effort to see through the darkness, she sat up from her spot on the bed then moved so a big space was left on the bed. "Did Didyme invite you two to come spend the night also? If so, I wouldn't mind, there's plenty of space on the bed."

They were a bit hesitant at first, but shrugged and made their way to Bellas side of the bed. Athenodora held Bella from behind, and Sulpicia went to Didymes side where she spooned her. Bella blinked a few times before falling back asleep, leaving three content vampires on the bed with her. Athenodora nuzzled her neck into the human, inhaling her scent until she was essentially "drunk" from doing so. She let out a small purr, as she continued to smell her human mate causing her to be suspended in a small moment of peace.

"My, my Didyme the only time we've ever seen our wife this satisfied is when our heads are buried between the crevice of her thighs." Sulpicia mused loudly.

"Or when we have her face buried in the sheet as she begs us for more." Didyme teased.

"Shut up." Athenodora grumbled, burying her face into Bella some more, causing the young girl to moan. They were all shocked at the reaction, even Dora who pulled away, afraid she might've hurt her.

"No, it's alright, she likes what you're doing Dora." Didyme assured her. "Do it again, she likes it."

So Athenodora nuzzled her neck again, planting a kiss at the base of her jaw. She moaned again this time she turned into Athenodora, where her head became tucked under Doras chin. Shocked at this action Athenodora immediately pulled away, Bella rolled over and snuggled back into Didymes side. Athenodora moved back into her spot again, hesitantly however afraid of hurting the girl. Sulpicia chuckled and rolled her eyes at Athenodora. "I guess we know your weakness now". She smirked.

"Shut up." Athenodora grumbled again, hiding her smile in Bellas neck once again.

It didn't take long for them to settle down into a comfortable peace. On the outside they seemed calm and relaxed, resembling a renaissance painting of women lounging around. On the inside however they were ecstatic, elated in fact. They were getting closer and closer everyday to having their little human all to themselves. They could feel the mating bond working in all of them, and it wouldn't take long before Bella would begin to feel its' affects much more then she is now. Although this should've been a reaffirming thought, it only added to their impending stress.

Bella was tied up in all this newborn business a lot more then they had previously assumed. The more information they gathered about this newborn army, the more it became clear. Someone fucked up, and they fucked up hard. A vampire has gone mad trying to avenge the death of her mate, something that the queens assumed should have been avoided if whoever responsible for said death had made sure to kill the mate also. It was one of their laws actually, a law that most view as unfair at first, but soon come to understand it's importance.

Bella

I could feel them, their arms around my wast, their face nuzzled into my neck. I had invited three vampires to spend the night with me, and no I wasn't ashamed nor did I regret it. If anything I wanted to do it all over again, actually from what I remembered I even offered for us to stay cuddled up together a little longer when I woke up. However, judging from their expressions, it seems to me that there will be no room for that today.

It should be noted that as soon as I woke up the queens asked that I get ready for the day. I assumed that we would be going out, so I decided to dress in jeans and a sweater seeing that it was rather chilly out that day. It was only to discover that no such thing would be occurring today, instead I was lead to an office that very much reminded me of gothic times. It was very ornate, I mean everything in there practically screamed old and expensive. There were four lounge chairs all arranged in a circle, with a coffee table in the center where a small breakfast awaited is what I came to. Jane the one who had lead me here told me simply to began eating, and the queens would be by soon to join me.

There was small bowl of fruits, with bread and jam. I just finished the bowl of fruits when they came in, having already changed into some more appropriate attire. I think I've gotten so used to seeing them in royal attire that it always shocks me to see them in modern wear. Athenodora had walked in wearing a white blouse and a pair of form fitting navy trousers, the blouse hung loosely on her giving a little show of her cleavage. She had chosen to adorn with a few gold chains and necklaces, along with a few rings. I could've stared at her for days at how beautiful she looked when I saw her. Sulpicia walked in wearing a simple figure hugging gown, Didyme on the other hand opted in for something resembling close to greek attire. All of them looked beautiful in some way, their allure was enough that the bread with the jam spread i had aimed for my mouth hit my cheek instead and hit the floor.

It was embarrassing trying to find something to wipe my mouth with before they noticed, that it is until Sulpicia kissed me in an effort to wipe the jam off herself. It was quick and chaste, but it was still enough to make my cheeks burn pink.

"Hm, didn't taste as good as I thought it would. I wonder how humans like this stuff." Sulpicia took a seat next to me.

I didn't know how to react to what just happened, the queens simply looked at me in amusement before taking their respective places on the lounge chairs.

"T-thank you for the breakfast." I set the rest of my bread down. "Sorry about the mess, though."

"It was our pleasure, and don't worry about it." Didyme crossed her legs."Although we do wish you had finished your breakfast, I don't think you'll have much of an appetite when we tell what we have to tell you."

I felt a pang of fear in my heart at the tone her voice took, from past experience I know nothing good ever happened when someone used that tone. "What do you mean?"

Sulpicia moved forward in her seat and took my hands in hers. "While you were in Washington, did you ever come across any vampires besides the Cullens?"

At first I was confused by what she was asking me, and then it registered. The only vampires I've had the misfortune of coming across was James, and the other two that were with him, I can still remember the events of last spring as if it was just yesterday. James, and the ballet studio, and the recording of me getting the crap beat out of me was all starting to come back to me as if it had happened yesterday. Which is why I only had the strength to whisper out a small "yes" to her question, I could feel the small level of panic beginning to set in. My heart was racing, at the thought of what she would say next. Some would think I was overreacting, but I don't think I can go through another James ordeal again. I can still remember what it was like to be thrown against all those mirrors, to hear that awful crack when he had stepped on my leg. I had never been in so much pain in my life that day, it hurts even worse that I can still remember what happened so clearly.

They were starting to look at me in concern again, Athenodora got up from her spot and picked me up so I was cuddled up in her lap. Next thing I knew we were all on the floor cuddled up against each other. I could tell they were trying to calm me down, sometimes I forget vampires can hear human heartbeats as if it was right in front of them. I didn't mean to react the way I did, but I also wasn't expecting them to react the way they did either.

"Love, are you alright? We don't have to talk now if you don't want." Didyme started to rub my back.

"No its okay, I'm sorry I didn't mean to react that way. If something is happening I would much rather know, I just haven't had the best of luck when it comes to dealing with vampires."

"I'm sorry." Sulpicia kissed my hand."When I read Edwards mind I saw what happened between you and those nomads, and just wanted to make sure you hadn't the misfortune of coming across another vampire aside from them and the Cullens."

I shook my head no, if I did have such a misfortune most likely I wouldn't have survived it. The first time was out of pure luck, even a coven of seven people came close to losing me to just one nomad.

The queens looked at each other, as if they were hesitant to share the next peace of information with me. Athenodora tightened her hold around me where as the other two moved closer, with Didyme grabbing hold of my hands.

"Bella, we have word that a newborn army is forming in Seattle, Washington. We believe the mate of the vampire who was after you for your blood is behind it all. We wanted to tell you this, because soon we will be preparing to go to Washington in the hopes that we can quell this army and keep vampires from being exposed-"

"You mean like newborn vampires?" I didn't mean to interrupt Didyme, but fear begin to settle in again. What did she mean that a newborn army was forming in Washington, let alone what even was a newborn army.

"Yes, we didn't believe it either, but after sending a guard to Washington it only confirmed our suspicions." Didyme explained. "We're counting at the very least 25 newborns, and we have a feeling that number may have grown since we last heard."

"From what I saw in Edwards mind, it seems Victoria, the mate of the vampire that attacked you was not happy to hear what happened to her mate. From what I can tell it seems this army is part of her plan to get to you." Sulpicia said with a look of sincerity.

I felt achey, actually I felt...awful. There was this awful feeling at the pit of my stomach that made my breakfast wanting to make its way back up. I didn't know if it was guilt, or fear, or whatever it was it made me extremely uneasy.

Forks was about to come close to a mass massacre all because of a pissed off vampire coming after me. I was Victorias sole target, yet at the same time so was Forks. It reminded me of all the times the Cullens would tell me I was a magnet for trouble, I thought they had just been teasing me, but in actuality they were right. However this time I wasn't the only one in the line of fie, the whole town of Forks and anybody else I cared about was now just as much a target. I was about to be the cause of death for thousand of people. It was a thought that weighted heavy on my mind, one that I knew was bound to keep me up later tonight. I felt sick all of a sudden, like the sudden rush of anxiety was enough to churn my stomach content.

"S-s-shes building an entire army just to get to me?" I swallowed hard, in order to keep that rising lump in my throat down.

"Do not fret my love, I assure they'll only be able to dream of laying a hand on you and nothing more." Sulpicia squeezed my hands.

"Yes, you are our mate we will die before allowing anyone to hurt you." Didyme said.

"How do you know for sure something won't happen? What if something happens to my dad? my friends?" The tears streaming down my cheeks now.

"I promise you dear, no one you care about will get hurt." Athenodora wiped my cheek. "We promise."

I had lunch in the queens office, and there they explained to me what would be happening in the next few days. They were waiting on more information on what was going on with army, apparently they were set to be in Forks by next weekend. Leaving the queens only a week to prepare for what was to come, and on top of that there was the matter of me. I was their top priority, every plan they made was centered around my protection. Which made me ask myself the question of why even bring to me Forks in the first place, why not have me stay in Italy where it would be safest.

Apparently I was the bait, and in the way Sulpicia said it, it seems like she was highly displeased with that. As she explained it, if Victoria knew I wasn't even in North America, she would attempt to go across country to try and come get me. And with that many newborns -most specifically newborns with no control over their thirst what so ever- there was bound to be a massacre spanning the entirety of the US. It was going to be bad enough having to clean up the mess in Washington, so imagine the clean up job if this was to get this out of hand. According to Athenodora if this was up to her she would've just gone to Forks right now and just lit the whole thing on fire, Didyme was quick to shut the idea down.

By evening I was bored out of my mind having already read through an entire book, so the queens had a guard come and show me to the library where I spent the rest of the day doing nothing but reading. I was coming close to calling out for the guard when a certain book caught my interest, it was on mating bonds. Actually a whole shelf was dedicated to the one book, I realized it was the same one but in different languages. Some languages being ones that I did not recognize. Curiosity got the better of me and I found in english and begin to read.

And it was the best decision I had ever made.

The book went into depth about everything there could be to know about vampire mating, especially when it began to break down mating between vampires and humans. So much was put into perspective that I felt enlightened about my own feelings, and it also helped me to understand why I had been feeling the way I was.

According to the book, human vampire mating was not very common, seeing as the vampire could never go too long without wanting to suck them dry. Yet it's one of the most highly sought after types of matings, many having describing being with a human as euphoric. Which in all honesty did not leave me with the best of feelings. There was more in there but the most intriguing one being about how vampires could be possessive especially when threatened or their senses are much more sensitive then usual.

It could explain why the queens were acting like they were before this, when I was in their office with them. They seemed to be ever so slightly always somehow someway in close proximity to me. One minute I would be on the floor sitting in Sulpicias leg as she ran her fingers through my hair, which don't get me wrong was the best feeling in the world. Another I was sitting on the couch snuggled against Didyme watching the news with her. And the next my head was on Athenodoras lap, as I napped on her. It wasn't just them either, it was me also. If they hadn't moved towards me I would move towards them, and if I didn't I would get this weird tugging sensation in my chest, like something was pulling at me to be closer to them.

There was the guard too, when summoned he never entered the room, not once. He simply stood in the hallway and waited to be told what to do from his spot outside, like he was afraid to step foot in the room. He also stood far away from me when leading me to the library. He was close enough that if something happened he would be there to intervene, but never close enough that someone could probably assume he just happened to be walking along side me along the halls.

There was more I could've read but it was already dark out and I was getting tired, and the last thing I needed to have happen is someone discover me reading a book about mating. I however thought it would make for some good reading tomorrow if for whatever reason I got the chance to do so. So I took it with me back to my room, the guard who was to lead me back to my rooms gave smirked at me when he saw the book in my hands. I had a feeling this would be bound to set off quite the series of rumors amongst the guards in the Volturi.

That was the least of my worries that night, don't know how they got in or for what reason. I had just finished my nightly toiletries and was about to head to bed, when I was met with a vampire waiting for me at the edge of my bed. At first glance I thought it may have been Victoria due to her wild curls and the dark lighting, but upon closer look it had to be a women who seemed to have been changed in her early twenties. She had a tear drop face with full lips to match, and just like other vampire exquisitely beautiful. She wasted no time in rushing towards me, her features morphed into that of panic and fear. The closer she got I realized her eyes were pitch black, sign of a hungry vampire, and immediately I began to back away from her. I debated whether to scream out for the queens, or a guard even. In my haste I backed into the wall accidentally knocking a painting off the wall, and from the looks of it, that had to be one expensive painting.

She grabbed onto my arm roughly, squeezing them so tight I knew there would be bruise there the next day.

"Please, you must listen to me." She begged in a nordic accent. "You must not return to the Americas! It it not safe, you must not go! The army is nothing but a distraction for what is truly to come. Please, tell the queens, they must know of this, please!"

I'm not sure what she said next because she had grabbed onto my arm so tightly I let out a blood curling scream, the woman startled, disappeared into the shadows. Leaving me on the floor next to the broken painting cradling my brutally bruised arm. The bruise was eggplant purple in the form of a handprint, for a minute I thought she may have broken a bone. However from experience knew this was not the case. I was trying hard not to cry, but I guess my scream was enough to get the attention of the queens. Because in moments Sulpicia was in front of me, holding my arm. Her nostrils flared as she began to take in whatever smell there was in the room.

"What happened?." She helped me up from the floor and to the bed.

"I-i-i don't know, another vampire was-"

"Another vampire was here?" This Athenodora appeared, with Didyme right behind her.

They rushed towards me as soon as they saw me on the bed cradling my arm to my chest. Didyme closed here eyes and sniff the air, and when she opened them I could see nothing, but pure anger. Had I not been in pain, I would've been aroused, in all honesty they were a kinda attractive when they were angry. I remember reading about this in the book. Whoever that vampire was they saw as a threat to me, and rightfully so because currently I now sported a gruesome bruise in the shaped of a hand. I pray that whatever vampire was here she was quick to get out of Volterra. I didn't know much about the queens, but from the little I did know I knew they would not be reasonable in whatever punishment they thought of for this vampire.