"How did you let this happen?"
The Volturi Kings sat atop their thrones, in all their dark, regal splendor. Aro's voice, usually so smooth and composed, was edged with a chilling disappointment.
The guards shifted uneasily. They bowed their heads deeply, unwilling to meet the piercing stares of the Kings. Caius huffed irritably—a potent exhale of blame and frustration.
Isabella's escape was more than an inconvenience. It was a threat. A loose thread that could unravel their careful web of control.
What example are they setting when they themselves have broken the very laws they set in place?
Aro's fingers drummed against the arm of his throne as he addressed Demetri. "It appears we've overestimated you all" he said softly, each word laced with quiet menace. "She was… new, untrained. How, then, did she elude you all?"
"We hadn't expected her to… react in such a way, my Lord." Demetri spoke. "She tore through the guards with a strength we couldn't anticipate."
Felix stepped forward. "She was rabid. No better than an animal."
The young newborn had torn her way through Volterra with a viciousness that contrasted starkly to her almost soft demeanor. They falsely believed her transformation would leave her docile, submissive, and easy to control. They had underestimated her, and now, the consequences were proving costly.
Aro tilted his head, the faintest smile pulling at his lips, though it was devoid of any humor. "Ah, yes. The paradox of the newborn—a creature of unrefined chaos wrapped in the frailty of infancy. But…" His crimson eyes moved from one guardsmen to the next, "this particular creature was my creation, was she not?"
"She was your creation, my Lord." Demitri's jaw tightened. "We were not prepared to face it—she overwhelmed us."
"Ah, but that is the delight of creation, is it not? The unpredictable." Aro stepped forward, his movements as graceful as a feather floating in the air. "And yet, you tell me you were unprepared? My dear Demetri, when has preparation ever been optional?"
Demetri's expression went dark. "We failed to consider the... peculiarities of her transformation. The gifts you have bestowed upon her."
"Her gifts?" Caius leaned forward, his beady eyes squinted unpleasantly. He had been largely uninterested in Aro's toy. She had scarcely made an impression on him, quivering there like a wet ferret. She had smelled fairly pleasanter than the rest but hardly enough to tempt Caius into considering her anything more than a snack.
"She's a shield, a powerful one."
Caius turned to Aro as he returned to his throne, who only nodded in return.
"With all due respect, my Lord, she's dangerous." Felix shifted beside Demetri. "Not just to us, but to the secrecy of our existence. Her rampage left a trail. Humans have preyed witness to her."
Aro's gaze snapped to Felix, his voice low and razor-sharp. "And the fault lies with whom, Felix? Was she not under your watch? Did you not promise me control over her? Perhaps the problem lies not with my creation, but with my instruments."
The throne room was silent, save for the faint echo of Aro's fingers resuming their steady rhythm against the ornate wood.
Caius's gaze darkened. "She is a newborn. This was negligence at best, treason at worst," he hissed, casting accusing glances at the gathered guards.
"With strength beyond her control." Marcus finally stirred, his deep voice muffled slightly by the fingers resting against his lips. "She's a liability now, Aro. Left unchecked, she could be a danger to us all."
"All the more reason to bring her back," Aro said. His gaze drifted off, his smile widening in hidden amusement. He leaned forward, his fingers steepled as he addressed the guards, his voice deceptively gentle. "Isabella is sentimental. In the fleeting moments we shared, she revealed herself as a creature of habit and comfort." He paused, his gaze resting briefly on each guard with an intensity that needed no explanation.
"She will not have strayed far," he concluded, his tone laced with confidence.
She was fast. She knew that. She'd remembered how she ran through the darkened corridors, evading capture, but it hadn't occurred to her until that moment that she was fast. She was vaulting off of rooftops with practiced ease, every movement felt as natural as breathing.
She laughed in exhilaration, her giggles ringing through the stillness of early morning like a note of rebellion.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, a sliver of pale pinks and oranges cutting through the gray. She could at least rely on the fact that by being outside, sparkling incandescently, the guards would not follow her.
As she vaulted over the final rooftop edge, landing effortlessly on a narrow ledge, Bella had found her way back to the hostel. She hung off the roof and clung to the walls, avoiding the human clerk at the check-in desk. She knew his name— knew that she had met him before, but her memories were fragmented, sacrificed in the transformation. She stopped in front of the window of the room she was fairly sure she'd slept in before.
Breaking the window barely required any effort, and the glass shattered into glinting fragments. She stepped through the broken frame into the room, feeling a strange sense of familiarity mixed with an unsettling detachment, struggling to surface.
Bella searched for her suitcase, tearing through the room with a growing sense of urgency. She threw open the closet door—empty. She pulled out the dresser drawers, finding them bare. Even the worn, slightly lumpy bed looked untouched, as though no one had ever slept there. Her clothes, her bags, her laptop—gone. It was as if she'd never been there at all.
Her frustration rose, mingling with the strange, simmering hunger she'd felt since her transformation. She clenched her fists, feeling the surge of unnatural strength ripple through her.
Someone had been here, someone had cleared this room out, wiping away any trace of her existence.
Bella wasn't sure if it was the hunger or the frustration, but she felt a primal urge to track down whoever had erased her from this place
And she had an inkling of who'd been through here.
Then, she heard it. Footsteps—many footsteps—quickly approaching, Panic surged within her. She didn't need to even need to contemplate to know it was the guards, and she knew she had only moments to escape.
Without a second thought, Bella bolted. The rooftops blurred beneath her as she raced through the city's early morning shadows, her instincts propelling her forward. She leapt from ledge to ledge, vaulting with a grace she barely understood, hoping her speed would outmatch theirs. But the footsteps only grew louder, closing in like a tightening snare.
She was fast, but they were relentless. A sudden shadow appeared in her path—a tall, imposing figure blocking her escape. She skidded to a stop, chest heaving, her mind racing as she scanned for any possible escape route. Another guard emerged from behind, cutting off her retreat, and within seconds, she was surrounded.
"Isabella," one of the guards said, his tone cold and final. "You're coming with us."
The air was thick with tension as Bella's snarls echoed through the narrow streets. Her crimson eyes burned with fury, but the guards were relentless, closing in tighter with every passing second.
"You've made this harder than it needed to be, Isabella," one of the guards hissed, stepping forward. His words only fueled her anger.
She braced herself, fangs bared, and jumped forward. Her fist collided with one of the guards' chest, the impact sending him hurtling back into the stone wall with a deafening crash. Dust and debris rained down as the wall cracked under the force.
Another guard lunged from her left, but she anticipated his move, pivoting smoothly and delivering a brutal kick to his knee that buckled him instantly. He dropped with a growl of pain, clutching his shattered leg.
More guards converged, their coordinated attack testing even her heightened senses. A sharp pain shot through her arm as one managed to grab hold, but she twisted violently, pulling him off balance. In one savage motion, she spun him into another assailant, the two collapsing in a heap.
A new determination burning within her. She was stronger than she had ever been, faster, more resilient. She would not
One reached for her, but she twisted out of his grasp, before biting the outreached arm, and with a force that would later surprise her, tore it from its socket.
"You're only making this worse for yourself!" a voice barked, but Bella didn't care. Every fiber of her being was consumed with one singular thought: survive .
They swarmed her, but she was faster, slipping past their reach, her fists and feet landing blows with relentless ferocity. She snarled, a fierce, unbridled sound escaping her as she fought, her mind racing.
A guard came at her from the side, attempting to grab her, but she spun, using her elbow to slam him against a chimney before throwing him to the ground a few stories below.
Someone came up from behind her. Her eyes narrowed with grim determination. Bella leapt forward, throwing her weight against him, sending them both crashing onto the cobblestones below.
Above, a pair of guards leapt from the rooftops, aiming to corner her. Bella's head snapped upward, her sharp instincts warning her in time. She leapt high, meeting one mid-air in a collision that sent loud vibrations through the air, like two boulders colliding at full force.
The other landed behind her, reaching out, but she rolled, coming up with a vicious kick that sent him skidding across the ground.
Another guard tried to pin her from behind, but Bella twisted her body, her elbow smashing into his nose with a sickening crunch. She grabbed his arm, spinning him around like a ragdoll and slamming him into the ground. The cobblestones cracked beneath the impact.
But their numbers were overwhelming, and they kept coming.
Finally, a guard landed a blow, his fist striking her side with enough force to send her stumbling. It was the opening they needed. Another latched onto her arm, twisting it back painfully. She roared, thrashing violently, but a second guard locked his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground, immobilizing her with a grip like steel.
"Hold her down!" one shouted as Bella's feral screams filled the morning air. She thrashed, every instinct screaming at her to keep fighting, to tear herself free.
"Let me go!" she shouted, her voice a raw, wild sound. A hand gripped her head and smashed it into the ground.
She felt the rage blaze hotter, her strength surging, but they tightened their hold, dragging her back as she fought, her nails clawing into flesh, her legs kicking in every direction. Someone dug their claws into her calf and broke it in two.
Her strength was monstrous, and even with their combined efforts, it was taking everything they had to keep her subdued. But one by one, more guards closed in, pinning her arms, her legs, until even her wild strength began to wane under their crushing force.
Bella kicked and screamed, attempting to break free, but it was futile.
It was then that someone snapped her neck.
Bella was brought before the Volturi Kings in pieces.
Her decapitated head was cradled gently by a lower member of the guard. Another carried a mangled foot. Her body was carried in by Demetri, jostled over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
Guardsmen flanked the hall on either side, all looking worse for wear. Some limping, some bloodied. The marks of her ferocity were evident on their wary faces.
The grand hall of the Volturi was silent except for the sound of Demetri's boots striking the marble floor as he carried her toward the thrones. He lowered Bella to the ground. Her body hit the cold marble with a soft thud, but she didn't stir.
The entire court of the Volturi watched as the broken creature was laid down before them, their expressions a mix of disdain and curiosity.
Aro looked less than amused.
He stood without speaking and approached the guard carrying her head.
Aro examined the head. His eyes traced over the hills and valleys of her features. When his thumb brushed over her lips—slightly parted, as though poised to snarl—it lingered there.
Caius leaned forward on his throne, his lip curling in disgust. "She has no respect for our authority. A newborn, thinking herself above the law. She should be dealt with swiftly and without mercy."
Aro dropped his arm. His body shifted faintly, acknowledging Caius.
"Her actions suggest a deep fracture in her loyalty. That is… troubling." Aro's lips twitched. "But fascinating, wouldn't you agree? To see such raw strength, such determination in one so new…"
"She exposed herself to humans," Caius interjected sharply. "Her actions are not fascinating; it is a threat."
Marcus, as always, sat silent and detached, his gaze distant, though his eyes flicked briefly to Bella's form.
Aro waved a dismissive hand at his brother, his focus still on Bella. "Calm yourself, Caius. There is no immediate danger. The humans she encountered will be dealt with, as they always are."
"No, what interests me is the why. " He tilted his head, studying Bella's face like an artist examining a masterpiece. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Bella's temple. The contact was fleeting but enough to send a sardonic smile across his face. "She is magnificent."
"She has broken our most sacred laws. She must be punished." Caius pushed back.
Aro straightened, his smile vanishing as he turned to face his brother. "And punished she shall be, Caius."
"She is nothing but trouble!"
"Trouble, my Lord," Demetri spoke, his voice steady despite the weariness in his eyes, "is an understatement. She tore through us like a force of nature. If not for the sheer numbers, she might have succeeded in her escape."
"She is no extraordinary vampire," Aro continued, his voice measured with quiet contempt. "Her strength and resolve are no greater than any other of her kind. No, what makes her unique—what makes her valuable —is her immunity to the gifts of others. A rare and fascinating trait."
Aro paced across the room at a leisurely pace.
"Chelsea."
A short, brown-haired vampire stepped forward from the fray.
Aro inclined his head towards Bella.
Chelsea nodded and stepped closer, her hand hovering over the newborn's arm as if testing the waters of a turbulent sea. Concentrating, she focused her energy, the room growing eerily still as her gift sought to anchor itself within Bella's psyche. Her expression calm but her sharp eyes betraying a hint of curiosity as they flicked over Bella's unconscious form.
A moment passed. Then another.
Chelsea's expression shifted—what began as calm determination became frustration. She stepped back, shaking her head. "There's… nothing. No connection to forge. Her mind is untouchable."
The murmurs of the court grew louder, but Aro silenced them with a raised hand. "Fascinating," he said softly, his gaze fixed on Bella with renewed interest. "Even Chelsea's threads cannot reach her… Truly, she is a puzzle."
Caius, who had been simmering with impatience, finally erupted. "Enough with this nonsense! She is a danger to us all, Aro, not some experiment for your amusement! If she cannot be controlled, she must be destroyed!"
Aro turned to Caius, his expression serene but his tone carrying a quiet edge. "Patience, brother. Destruction is always an option, but it is so… final. Let us not waste the potential she may yet offer."
His eyes flicked back to Chelsea. "Thank you, my dear. You have confirmed what I suspected. She is indeed immune to even the most delicate of manipulations."
His gaze swept over the court, lingering briefly on his brothers. "Think of the implications," he said, his tone teetering on reverence. "She stands apart from our powers, untouchable by those who would otherwise subdue or manipulate her. It is not strength of body or will that makes her exceptional, but the absence of vulnerability to our most sacred tools."
Caius's face twisted into a scowl, his voice sharp and dismissive. "And what good is that to us if she cannot be controlled? Her immunity is a liability if it makes her unmanageable."
Aro turned to him, his smile faint but laced with condescension. "A liability only if we fail to wield her properly. Her resistance is not a weakness, brother—it is an opportunity. One that must be nurtured, guided."
Marcus finally spoke, his voice quiet but resolute. "And if she cannot be harnessed?"
Aro's smile returned, colder this time. "Then she will be destroyed. But first… we will give her the opportunity to prove herself. Every flame, no matter how wild, can be controlled."
"Wake her," he commanded the guards.
The guards stepped forward and reattached Bella back together. The pieces of flesh combined, melding back together with only a thin silvery scar marking the history of the destruction.
Her gaze landed on Aro, and her lips pulled back in a snarl. "You," she spat, her voice raw and dripping with venom.
Aro clapped his hands together, delighted. "Ah, there she is! Our fiery Isabella. Welcome back, my dear. We have much to discuss."
I'm following Carlisle's hypothesis that Bella, being informed of the turn and given sufficient time to acclimate and get acquainted with vampires, helped her retain her human life and sensibilities better. That mixed a bit with her shield powers. Bella remembers her human life, much better than some, but she's missing fragments. Things in her memory are lost to her, but she remembers Charlie and Renee, sorta. She also acts more like a newborn, unsuppressed thirst and inability to stifle her carelessness, but not completely at the whim of her desires. That in combination with her being immune to most powers, makes her a bit tougher to beat than your average newborn vamp.
I initially had more planned for this chapter, but I had to cut some out as I want their impact to be confined to their own chapter and I felt like this one already had so much going on. The good news is that the next chapter should come sooner because of it.
Let me know your thoughts :)