AN: guard ranking
Elite Guard- black cloak - Must powerful, talented, skilled
Gray Guard- gray cloak - Skilled, powerful, but normal
The Reds - Red cloak - newbies, trainees, newborns
"Charles. Inform Felix that we are awaiting the arrival of the informer." I tell one of the evening's door guards to summon Felix. There is no reason to ask him to come through the doors when we can hear each other more than perfectly as we are. Despite our formalism while an informer, criminal, or guest are in the fascinates, we are not cruel and formal with each other. I am actually really good friends with most of the elite guard.
"Of course my lady." I hear his response through the doors, as well as his retreating footsteps. I sigh contentedly as I feel my mate's cool, and gentle hands roam over my shoulders.
"Everything will work itself out darling." He whispered, just loud enough that myself and the brothers could hear. I smiled a small smile and slowly stood, walking around my throne and wrapping my arms tightly around my handsome husband.
"I love you Aro." I told him just as softly, taking his hand and leading him to his throne. He sat and I sat on the arm, lazily crossing my leg, the slit in my dress tumbling over my knee, revealing it and my leg all the way to my tall heels. The throne being so grand, the armrest more than accommodated for me. Aro's hand rested lazily on my hip bone and his ever famous smirk lit his beautiful face. I heard them, long before I saw them, the heels of their dress shoes hitting the floor continuously hit louder, until the large doors were opened and in Felix walked first. His shoulders held up high, and his arms at his side; a bulking site. His face was stoic, blank of any emotions. His dark brown hair would have appeared black if not for his all black suit and strikingly deep black cloak that only the elite guard were honored to wear.
Behind him, the informer strolled tensely into the room, his shoulders tense with stress, face rid of any emotion other than wariness. Behind him Demetri followed a lot less tense, sure in his movements and completely at ease. I'm pretty sure that if he wasn't in such a formal situation, he'd be swinging his arms. Instead they lay comfortably locked behind his back. They all entered, taking in my new position, and bowed lightly as the doors were closed. Demetri and Felix both went to stand at either side of the thrones, Leaving Mr. Peten standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. I could here the rest of the elite guard standing outside the door.
"Greetings again, Mr. Peten." My husband drawled. He nodded nervously.
"It is always a pleasure King Aro. And King Ciaus, King Marcus, Queen Isabella."
"We have considered your claims," my husband dove right into the matter, "we take them very seriously and the matter will be delt with accordingly." Aro assured him stoic.
"We honor your loyalty to our laws, and thank you for your information to the greatest extent Mr. Peten." I added.
"Are there any more matters you would like to discuss with us child?" Marcus asked, his voice board.
"No, I would just like to thank you all for your help." He said, eyes cast down in a show of lower ranking.
"Then you're business here is done. If you are waiting to be excused, you certainly are ; unless you are confused as to where the door is?" Ciaus sneered with obvious disinterest and haughtiness. I wanted so badly to glare and reprimand him for his blatant rudeness. But no sign of indifference could be detected on my face. The one thing we all knew not to do, is to question or berate one and other in front of anyone, not even the guard, who were very near family to us. It was an unspoken golden rule, so I would do so later and as the informer scurried up, hurrying to catch up with Felix who had already stepped out the door to begin to show him the way out. I stayed impeccably motionless until I was sure the informer was well out of hearing range, then let loose a vicious growl.
"Ciaus. You will never learn will you." I stated. I could see him smirk out of the corner of my eye.
"Probably not sister." He said. I growled, thinking of ways to snap that smug look right off his face. I was suddenly lifted off the arm of my mate's throne and plopped in his lap. I felt him leave a breathy little kiss on the inside of my neck and suppressed a shiver of pleasure.
"Pay the buffoon no attention honey." His breath cascading over my skin, most deliciously. I hmmed in content, moving closer to him, snuggling if you will.
"Bafoon." Ciaus tusked. I rolled my eyes my mind wondering to the unavoidable visit we would be making.
OoO
oOo
I sighed aloud, staring at the newly refurbished white home. It feels so many memories, bad and good a like.
"You are sure the seer can not see us sister?" Ciaus asked. I turned my head to look at him.
"No brother, she wouldn't be able to get around my shield. If you need any more assurance as to how strong my shields are, just look at where you stand, we talk and breath just yards away from their home and they are none the wiser, if you have forgotten brother that would be due to my sense shield." I replied monotonous yet snark like. He rolled his eyes, most of the time we are together we bicker like true siblings.
"I think it is time we revealed our selves Isabella, wouldn't you agree darling?" Aro smirked. I cut my eyes forward, and moved gracefully out of the tree line, my brothers, Jane, Felix, from the elite guard, Sarah, James, and Elzar from the gray guard (The regular guard, the ones under the elite and above the red guard - who are for lack of a better word, the newbies) all emerged as I took down my shield that shielded us from all the five senses, sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. The vampires inside who without my gift would have been able to hear us from many miles back, only now being alerted to our presence as we stood within feet of their home. We could easily detect the sounds of gasp and heads whipping in or direction from inside as they realized that some how we'd snuck up on them.
"Alice! Do you see anything?!" a shrill voice whispered urgently.
"Nothing Rose." She answered shoked.
"I can't read their minds."
"How rude. They speak as if we can not hear their every word." Ciaus smirked.
"Vultori." They exclaimed. Exactly two seconds later we were faced with the seven Cullen members standing in front of their home.
"Cullens, too long it's been wouldn't you say?" My husband drawled, tightening his grip on my waist. We must have been a sight, I know. I wore black high waisted jeans that began mid - abdomen, with six gold buttons three on each side. Tucked inside was a sheer black top that appeared almost translucent, with gold buttons down the middle. It showed just enough cleavage to be categorized as sexy, yet still professional. I wore black booties with a five inch heal, And clocked with my Vultori cloak; the very dark Burgundy only worn by the four royals. The brothers had on all black suits that probably cost more than a Lamborghini, expensive golden cuff links engraved with the Vultori crest on each of their wrist. The guard was dressed accordingly. It was very comical seeing the perplexed and confused looks on their faces, but my expression remained indifferent. Not that they could see it under my hood.
"I'd have to agree Aro, to what do we owe the honor? And if I may, how did you manage to come within such close proximity of our home without our knowledge? " He responded politely as always. Aro smiled his most famous grin.
"That would be thanks to my beautiful wife here. She's full of surprises old friend. " He smirked, and I resisted the urge to chuckle. Carlisle didn't seem happy that Aro hadn't acknowledged the first half of his question but didn't comment on it.
"Ahhhhh yes, the new Queen we have yet to meet."
Then he looked my way and made a slight bowing gesture. "An honor it is to meet you for the first time."
"In a long time, yes. I wouldn't say first. " I spoke up monotonic.
His face turned even more perplexed.
"I'm sorry, we've met before? Pardon me for my apparent forgetfulness. " He tried to back track.
"It's been a long time Carlisle Cullen, you are forgiven. " I smiled a sly smile.
"Allow me to introduce my wife, Isabella Vultori. " Aro continued. I boringly reached for my hood and uncovered my face. I seriously had to work not to roll my eyes at the sound of their gaps.
"Bella." They all whispered.
"They must be captivated by your beauty my love. " Aro smirked as he pulled me in to whisper in my ear.
"Don't touch her! You've brain washed her! " An annoyingly untamed voice sounded. I didn't even need to look to know who had made the outburst.
I held back a sigh.
"Jane." My voice hadn't had time to register in the Cullens ears properly before Edward Cullen was Withering on the ground screaming.
"Mind who you are talking to." I steeled.
"Please, I think he gets it. " Carlisle begged with his eyes.
"Jane." I repeated, and just like before the effect was immediate. His body slumped and his agony filled screams halted as well.
"What have they done to you love?" He whispered from his place on the ground, right before Emmett I somberly helped him stand.
"You will address me as everyone else does. I am Queen Isabella to you, not love. And you're question is so absurd and comical, I'll do you a favor and not acknowledge you said anything. " I replied calmly, and before he could respond I quickly turned my head to Ciaus. His bright red eyes met my own and I knew my brother had received my message. 'Let's get this on a move.'
"If you would keep your coven members in line Carlisle, I'd like to proceed, this isn't just a friendly visit, as you know. Or I would hope you were smart enough to gather as much." Ciaus said, in true Ciaus fashion. I couldn't contain my smirk this go round. Ciaus returned my gesture with one of his own. Carlisle only nodded. I resisted rolling my eyes yet again. God forbid anyone dare to knock his golden child off his pedestal.
"We are here in regards to your... 'pest problems'." Aro began.
"Pest problem? " Carlisle asked looking genuinely confused.
"Yes I suppose you're right. It's more of a rodent situation. " My husband cackled. I saw all of the Cullens stiffen once it had sunk in. Still they played stupid.
"I'm sorry, wha-." Carlisle began but I cut him off.
"Spare yourself the risk of punishment for lying Carlisle. You are a very intelligent vampire, you must know that the Vultori would know everything I know once I joined their ranks. The Shifters are no secret to us." I scoffed.
"I apologize, but you must understand that we stay loyal to the treaty we have with them." He stated.
"Funny how you speak of loyalty old friend, considering you were so quick to over look the loyalty you swore you had to the crest. " Marcus spoke.
"Right you are Brother." My husband nodded.
"The wolves are not the creatures of the moon, they are shifters. I have not been disloyal. " Carlisle pushed.
"Then why were you about to lie about it?" I asked feigning curiosity. At my question he had no answer. I hmmed.
"Why have you come now? How long has Bell- the Queen been with you?" Alice asked.
"Are you afraid to address me seer? Ask of me as if I am not right in front of you. I don't see this going well for you lot so far. " I sneered. Alice looked taken aback.
"I apologize. " She mumbled.
"My personal life is of no concern to you all, so moving on to the reason behind our visit again. We are here to handle business with the wolves. If our meeting goes as planned, Forks and LaPush Washington will be Vampire Red Zoned. You know what this implies and the implications of your staying here are, seeing as we would be allies with these creatures, if they wish for you to leave you will do so." I stated. Their eyes were all wide.
"And if your meeting does not go as planned?" Rosalie spoke up for the first time.
"Then you won't have to worry about the wolves altogether. " Aro smirked. Esme gasped.
"You'd just eliminate them all because they don't agree?! That's absurd and cruel!" Rosalie snarled stepping forward, shaking off Emmett as he tried to hold her back. "Surely you wouldn't agree to such an inhumane carnage Bella! " She finished. Many of the guards growled at the disrespect. Jane went to step forward, but I held my hand up stopping her pursuit. The Cullens expressions all turned hopeful as they stupidly believed I had stopped Jane because I saw light. I moved a few steps forward until I was almost all the way in front of Rosalie and I stared into her eyes for a moment. Before smirking.
"I've agreed to much worst 'inhumane' decrees. It's a good thing we aren't and never will be human, right, Rosie." I added the name on haughtily to coequal the name she had called me. I knew her views on human life and her longing to be human again. And I knew I'd get the reaction I wanted from her.
She snarled and lunged her body forward. Just as I had wanted. I easily grabbed onto her wrist and pulled and twisted her body so the ground took her impact instead of me. Her face went sprawling into the dirt. I placed my foot in between her shoulder blades, pushing her body further into the ground, my grip on her arm still firm.
"Attacking a Vultori royal," I tskd. "Bad move Hale." I said as I saw the biggest Cullen come barreling toward me. As I stared into the eyes of Emmett Cullen, filled with nothing but hate and protectiveness all I could do was smirk.
This was gonna be fun.
Please review guys! How was it? How do you think the meeting with the wolves will go? Any questions?