My footfalls echoed on the marble floor on the way to the throne room. I was nervous. What if the Masters didn't agree with me? What if they refused me permission to fetch her? What if...
The doors were opened by a guard. I didn't have to wait. My position here guaranteed me entry.
Aro and Caius looked toward me when I entered. The guard stood a little bit straighter having their supervisor in the room. I almost smiled. Marcus didn't look up, lost in memories of his mate and lost love.
"It's been a year Masters and our informants say she is about to marry the boy." I said. "I must retrieve her my lords. I will not lose my mate to the Cullens brainwashing."
Marcus looked over, pulled from his musings. "It has already been a year?" he asked.
I nodded. Marcus looked away again.
"Fetch her," Aro decided.
I nodded, turned on my heel, and exited the room.
"Demetri," Caius called when I was just through the doors. "Bring the boy back with you. This is Edward's third 'mate' this decade. I will not allow it to continue."
"I will ask Felix and Alec to accompany me. They can assist me with the Cullens."
The doors to the throne room closed, and the guard said, "Safe travels, Master Demetri."
I ran to the recreation room, where Felix could usually be found when he wasn't on duty. "Felix," I said from the door, "Pack for a short trip to forks. I am going to claim Isabella and you are to fetch the Cullens with Alec's help."
"You got it, boss," Felix said. "Where is he anyway?"
I took out my phone and dialed Alec's number. When he answered I directed him to pack and prepare to leave. I also called our chef to prepare food for Isabella and the pilot to prepare the plane before I went to pack. A few changes of clothes should be sufficient for this outing, but I included the choker I had purchased for Bella and an extra cloak for her to wear upon our return.
In short order, we were ready for takeoff and everything was set up for my mate's comfort.
The trip to Forks was uninteresting but my nerves increased when we landed in Seattle. Would she accept me or despise me when I called off her wedding?
Bella
I found myself at a wine tasting, to choose a wine for the wedding reception. I had no taste for wine or receptions but Alice was insistent that we go to Seattle and choose 'the perfect wine for the occasion.'
My mind was wandering when I looked out the window and thought I saw members of the Volturi walking up the street. I looked back at Alice, realized what I had seen, and focused on the window but if they were ever there they were gone.
After the wine was chosen and the obligatory shopping trip was over Bella insisted on going home not to the Cullen house.
When Alice dropped her at home she seemed off somehow. Her smile seemed forced for lack of a better description. I took my bags up to my bedroom and collapsed on my bed. Alice sometimes forgot that I was human. I didn't have her energy and doubted I would even when I was a vampire.
I was dreading this wedding but it was Edward's and my compromise. I would marry him and he would change me. Carlisle refused when I asked him to change me instead, insisting that it was Edward's place to change me not his. I think he just wanted his son to have a wife. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to be with Edward, but weddings were unnecessary occasions to flout one's wealth and throw a party, no more.
A knock at the door drew me from my thoughts. I walked carefully down the stairs and opened the door to find Demetri, Felix, and Alec waiting outside my door.
"This isn't going to be good," I thought.
"This is a surprise, please come in. We can't have the neighbors seeing you." Bella said.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I'm afraid we've come to return you to Volterra and see that you are changed," Demetri said.
"I tried to get them to change me before this but Edward insisted on the wedding first," I explained. "I wanted to be changed so many times."
"We know it isn't your fault little one," Felix said. "No one thinks you are unwilling."
"I guess I should pack my things then. May I ask a favor?" Bella asked.
"We will do whatever we can for you, what do you need?" Demetri asked.
"Please stage my death so my father doesn't search for me forever," I said simply. "I can't think of an excuse he would buy, but if my car were discovered in the ocean, maybe he would believe I wrecked and was swept out to sea."
"I will see to it little one," Felix said. "Boss, permission to set the stage before we go collect the boy."
"You're taking Edward to Volterra too?" I interrupted.
Demetri nodded and I said, "If Edward is gone my father will never believe me dead."
Demetri seemed to think for a while. "Bella and I will wait on the plane in Seattle. That way her father will have time to inform the Cullens of her death before Edward leaves. See to it that he behaves convincingly."
I collected pictures of my mother and father as well as pictures of the Cullen family. I also packed my scrapbook. I went upstairs and collected a change of clothing and my mother's locket.
When I returned downstairs Demetri and Felix stood where I had left them. Alec was sitting in Charlie's recliner.
"I packed what little I could. I guess I'm ready to go." I handed my phone and truck keys to Felix.
"Are you ready?" Demetri asked.
I stiffened my spine and took a deep breath. "I am. I just wish I could tell my father goodbye."
Demetri took my bag and guided me out to the waiting car. He opened the doors for me and made sure I fastened my seat belt before he got in the driver's side and made our way toward Seattle.
Felix
I drove Bella's truck to a cliff on the way to LaPush and pushed it in. The doors opened to allow water in. I waited for the truck to be seen then headed to the Cullens with Alec.
When Alec and I knocked on the Cullen's door, Alice answered. "I didn't tell them you were coming," she said.
"Call a coven meeting," Felix requested.
Alice nodded seriously. She pulled out her phone and dialed Carlisle at the hospital.
By the time Carlisle arrived the rest of the family was gathered. Edward looked annoyed because we were employing blocking tactics to block his gift.
"Aro requires Edward to accompany us to Volterra. Isabella will be going as well. We have faked her death and will leave directly after her father comes to inform Edward, so you should pack quickly Edward."
"Why does Aro want to see him?" Carlisle asked.
"Perhaps it's that he revealed what we are to a human. Maybe it was that he's had three mates in the last decade. It could also be that he informed the girl where to find your ruling body." Alec said.
"Likely it's all three," Felix said with a smirk. "I'm to warn you, Carlisle, that we will not tolerate another violation of the law by your coven."
"I understand Felix," Carlisle said seriously. "May I accompany Edward to his audience with Aro?"
"No, Carlisle," Esme said.
"I suppose so, we will be leaving directly after her father informs Edward of her death so I recommend you pack now," Felix said.
"I told you this would happen, Carlisle. This is all your fault," Rosalie sneered.
"Rose," Esme tried.
"No, I'm not tolerating this anymore. If you continue to indulge the brat Emmett and I are leaving."
The room silenced. Edward quietly rose and walked like an old man up to the second floor. Carlisle went to his suite on the first floor.
Edward opened a window on the second floor.
"You don't want me tracking you Edward," Felix boomed from the ground floor.
The window shut again.
It was five hours later that there was another knock at the door. Alec and I made ourselves scarce while Carlisle came and answered the door.
There was a distraught man at the door. "Carlisle I need to speak with Edward."
Edward came down the stairs slowly. The family gathered around the man. Esme offered the man coffee or cake. He rejected both.
As he slowly and haltingly explained that Bella's car had been found and her body swept out to the ocean, Edward did a good job of pretending to be distraught. I waited patiently for the man to leave.
His last words were, "I'll find her body, Edward. I'll give her a proper burial. I'm afraid that's all we have now."
When he had left and the car had reached the highway Edward and Carlisle fetched a suitcase each and Carlisle led the way to a Mercedes in the driveway.
Alice watched as we left, she shook her head as if she couldn't see the future, or just didn't want to see what was to come. Personally, I was excited to see what would come of the boy.