The morning sun poured through the windows of the grand hall, casting warm light on the stone floors. Edward stood near the edge of the room, hands behind his back, his posture rigid. Eight days had passed since he arrived in Volterra, and in those days, the precarious balance he struggled to maintain felt closer to unraveling with every moment.
He watched as Isabella darted through the corridors in her scarlet cloak, a blur of excitement that tugged at something deep within him. His instincts to shield her had grown impossibly stronger, and it didn't help that she favored his presence so openly.
He wasn't blind to the increasing suspicion in Aro's mind, and reading the ancient vampire's thoughts only confirmed Edward's fears. Every interaction, every question he posed about Isabella, seemed to pull another thread of curiosity loose in Aro's carefully measured mind.
Edward had always kept a cool, composed demeanor, the mask of restraint that he wore effortlessly. It was his armor, the shield that protected him from both vulnerability and scrutiny. But since meeting Isabella, cracks had begun to form in that façade. She was, in every sense, the catalyst to his unrest—a child whose presence unraveled a balance he hadn't even realized he'd been maintaining.
It began with something as trivial as a planned stroll through the Volterra markets. Aro, in his infinite self-assurance, had taken to crafting moments of normalcy for Isabella, a mix of tradition and whim. The Feast of St. Marcus was approaching, and Aro wanted a quiet father-daughter outing before the city's vibrance became overwhelming. It was his attempt to connect, a precious thing given the burdens of leadership he carried.
But Isabella, as Edward had quickly learned, had a remarkable gift for getting her way.
"I want Edward to come," she declared with her chin lifted stubbornly, her dark curls framing a face that already wore the beginnings of a pout.
"Darling," Aro began with a patient smile, leaning toward her with the theatrics of a diplomat addressing a council. "This is supposed to be our day. Surely, Edward needs a reprieve from—"
"I want him to come," she interrupted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Please, Daddy?"
Her wide, imploring eyes—the same eyes Edward had come to realize could undo even the most resolute will—fixed on Aro like tiny weapons. And just like that, Edward had been roped into an arrangement he had every desire to be a part of.
The stroll itself had been unremarkable, if not for the tension. Aro's mind betrayed his irritation as he silently fumed about being second choice to Edward in his own daughter's plans. For his part, Edward tried to be unobtrusive, letting them have their moments while keeping close enough to ensure Isabella's safety.
Even now, he could sense Aro's growing suspicions. It was in the sharp glances, the intentional barriers Aro began raising within his mind.
Why does she favor him so? Aro wondered one day, thoughts radiating frustration that Edward couldn't ignore. He is a stranger here, an outsider at best. Surely this bond is far too sudden to be normal…
It had been shortly after that stroll when Edward decided to broach another growing concern. Aro had been surprisingly amenable to the conversation—or so he initially thought.
"I don't think Isabella should be indulging in human food so frequently," Edward said one evening, keeping his voice carefully neutral as they walked together in one of the quieter corridors of the castle.
"Her diet is irregular," he said, his voice calm but firm. "She's consuming human food far more frequently than I expected for someone with her physiology. If she continues to indulge at this rate—"
Aro arched a curious brow, a faint smirk pulling at his lips. "Ah, and here I thought you were vying to become her favorite. Such opinions could tarnish your standing with her, you know."
Edward gave him a measured look. "This isn't about preference. It's about her health."
"She's perfectly healthy," Aro replied lightly, though the fleeting furrow of his brow betrayed a touch of unease.
"and indulge?" Aro added, an amused smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Dear Edward, she's a child. What would you have us do, deprive her of the joy such things bring?"
"This isn't about depriving her," Edward replied evenly. "Her biology might mirror that of a human, but she is not one. A creature like her needs balance, Aro, not indulgence. You cannot afford to think otherwise. It makes her vulnerable—far more so than any child ought to be."
Aro narrowed his crimson eyes at him, fingers steepling on the edge of the long table. The room seemed colder in his silence, though Edward could hear the quiet hum of his thoughts—the questions forming, the irritation growing.
"You take quite an interest in her well-being," Aro murmured, leaning forward slightly. "Not merely as her protector, it seems. Care to elaborate?"
Edward didn't flinch under his scrutiny. "If I am to protect her, I need to understand her vulnerabilities. That includes her physical nature and… her gifts."
It was during one such discussion that Edward had broached another, far more personal subject: Isabella's immunity to gifts.
"She's immune," Edward said bluntly.
Aro paused mid-step, tilting his head with a curious smile. "Yes. A rather fascinating anomaly, isn't it? Why do you bring this up?"
Edward folded his arms. "Because it's not just my gift she's impervious to. I think Jane's, Alec's—will all fail to touch her. Even your own attempts."
The ancient vampire's expression didn't change, but Edward could feel his guarded thoughts swirl—an undercurrent of unease slipping through the cracks in his practiced demeanor.
"You've explored this thoroughly," Edward added. "I've seen the memories."
"And does it bother you?" Aro asked lightly, a faint smirk returning. "That you cannot know her mind?"
"Yes," Edward admitted, though there was no real bitterness in his tone. If anything, it was perplexity—a frustration born not of control but of confusion. "How is it possible for her to block out everything? I've never encountered anything like it."
Aro laughed quietly, though the sound held a trace of tension. "Ah, my dear friend, some answers are simply beyond our reach. Must you pry into everything?"
But Edward hadn't missed the flicker of guilt in his thoughts—the brief memory of asking Alec to test his gift on Isabella. The thought sent a simmering anger coursing through Edward, though he forced himself to remain calm.
"She's a child, Aro," Edward said, his voice dropping to a low warning. "Whatever you intend to uncover, she's not a subject for experimentation."
Aro smiled faintly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Of course not, Edward. My interests in her gifts are purely academic."
Edward knew better than to trust such assurances.
Edward pulled himself back to the present as Gianna approached.
"She's still insisting on going," Gianna said with a helpless sigh. "I've never seen a child this persistent."
He'd seen this stubborn streak in Isabella play out before—how her doe-eyed pleas and unrelenting determination could twist even Aro's rigid will to her liking. Even now, Edward could feel her insistence wafting through the castle like a warm summer wind.
"If she must go," Edward finally said, "then you'll stay with her every second. I'll be in the shadows. Watching. If there's even the faintest sign of danger, you bring her back immediately."
Gianna tilted her head slightly, her expression puzzled. "Won't you come with us?"
Edward's mouth pressed into a thin line. "I can't risk being exposed to the sun among the humans. But she won't be out of my sight. Not for a moment."
The procession wound through the streets of Volterra, red cloaks rippling like rivers of blood in the bright sunlight. Edward perched atop a high rooftop, his sharp eyes fixed on Isabella as she walked hand in hand with Gianna. Even from here, he could see her smile, radiant and full of joy.
For her, this was a rare escape from the constraints of the castle—a chance to immerse herself in the world of humans she could never fully belong to. For Edward, it was a delicate balancing act—a test of his resolve as her protector, as her… mate.
He hated the distance, the separation forced upon him by sunlight. And he hated the festivity of it all—a city that celebrated Marcus's victory over creatures they barely understood, all while another predator stood among them, watching. Protecting.
Edward's fists clenched at his sides as his golden eyes swept over the crowd, searching for anything amiss. Somewhere in this labyrinth of scents and sounds, a threat lingered. He was sure of it.
A spark of movement caught his attention, a figure weaving through the crowd, their movements too deliberate. Edward's jaw tightened. He couldn't act—not yet. Not without revealing himself. But if anyone dared approach Isabella with ill intent, the consequences would be swift.
This, he thought grimly, is why she shouldn't have come. But as his gaze settled on Isabella's laughing face, some of that icy frustration thawed.
How could he ever deny her happiness?
BPOV
The castle's vast halls felt oddly oppressive this morning, the muted atmosphere pressing heavily on Isabella's small shoulders as she flitted from window to window. Below, the city teemed with life, vibrant and red-cloaked figures moving as one toward the heart of Volterra. The Feast of St. Marcus had begun.
The sight filled Bella with a thrill of excitement, a stark contrast to the chill of the ancient walls around her. She turned from the window, her little fists clenching. There was no way she would miss this—not this year, not any year.
Determined, Bella burst into her parents' chamber. Aro sat at his desk, his pale fingers gliding over parchment, while Sulpicia carefully weaved ribbons of silver into her midnight hair.
"Daddy! Mommy!" Bella's voice rang out, urgent with anticipation. "The Feast started! We have to go now!"
Aro lifted his head slowly, his crimson gaze settling on her with a mix of affection and sternness. "Ah, my little flower," he said, voice soft but firm. "I'm afraid we cannot attend this year. It isn't safe."
Bella's golden-brown eyes widened, and her lips formed an immediate pout. "But why? Gianna can take me. She always does."
"This year is different," Aro replied, the warmth in his voice fading into authority. "The threats against our family are not idle ones, Isabella. Your safety must come first."
Bella stomped her foot, her resolve tightening. "I'll cry," she warned, lifting her chin defiantly. "And you won't like it!"
"Isabella." Aro's voice deepened, an edge of warning threading through the syllables.
Sulpicia gave a soft laugh, her sharp features softening. "Dearest," she said gently, leaning toward Aro with a playful smile, "perhaps we should consider it. She's been waiting all year for this."
Aro let out a long, exasperated sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're spoiling her."
"She gets it from you," Sulpicia teased lightly.
Aro's eyes flashed. "I am many things, wife, but indulgent is not one of them." His gaze fell back to Bella, who now looked on the verge of tears, her lower lip quivering. He sighed again, muttering something unintelligible under his breath before leveling his full attention on her. "Fine. Gianna will take you, but there will be no wandering. You will stay by her side at all times."
Bella's face broke into a radiant grin, and she raced toward him, wrapping her small arms around his neck. "Thank you, Daddy! I promise I'll be good!" She kissed his cheek before bounding out of the room to prepare.
In her room, Bella danced in front of the mirror as Gianna tied the delicate strings of her crimson cloak. The fabric flowed around her, swishing with each twirl.
"You look beautiful," Gianna said, smoothing a lock of Bella's hair before tucking it beneath the hood.
"I look just like one of them," Bella said proudly. "No one will even know I'm special."
The soft moment was interrupted by Edward's arrival. His towering presence filled the doorway, and Bella felt the lightness in the air shift. He didn't look happy.
"You shouldn't go," Edward said without preamble, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as they fell on her.
Bella turned to him with a frown, her excitement dimming. "Why not? Everyone else gets to go. Gianna will take me, just like always."
"It's dangerous," Edward replied, his tone firm but calm. "The Feast is crowded. Anything could happen."
"You're not my daddy," Bella shot back, her tiny hands resting on her hips.
Edward's expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of something darker in his gaze—concern, frustration, or both. "Your father's concerns are valid," he said. "You shouldn't take them lightly."
Bella puffed out her chest. "You're just mad because you can't come outside. You'd sparkle, and then everyone would know!"
Edward's lips twitched, and for a moment Bella thought she saw a shadow of a smile. "My reasons don't matter. You're too stubborn to listen, anyway."
"I'm going." Bella's tone was final. She turned back to Gianna, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the door.
"Bella…" Edward's voice softened, but she ignored it, not willing to let him ruin her moment.
"Goodbye, Edward!" she called over her shoulder, stretching his name out dramatically as she skipped down the hall.
The streets of Volterra were everything Bella had hoped for. The air was thick with the scent of flowers and spices, the cobblestones shining beneath the sun. She smiled as people in bright red cloaks passed, their laughter and chatter blending with the distant sound of bells.
She held tightly to Gianna's hand, though her feet ached to run ahead, to dive into the river of humanity. "Look, Gianna!" she exclaimed, pointing at the procession. "There are so many of them this year!"
Gianna smiled down at her. "I see. Stay close to me, alright?"
Bella nodded obediently, though her gaze remained on the dazzling scene in front of her.
High above in the castle, she imagined Edward watching from the shadows, his stern face as unmovable as always. "He just doesn't like fun," she muttered under her breath, though she felt a pang of guilt at the thought.
But she brushed it aside quickly. The Feast of St. Marcus was hers, and not even Edward Cullen could take it away.
For those confused, Bella has brown eyes, hybrids retain the gene of their parents. I must've written crimson as most volturi members have crimson eyes.
Is Aro indulgent? I honestly can't say. He says one thing and then does the complete opposite!
Hope you enjoyed this one. Please leave your reviews as always.