Bella woke up to the sound of soft voices and the rustling of fabric. Her lashes fluttered open, revealing Alice and Rosalie standing by her bedside, their faces beaming with excitement.
"Good morning, Bella," Alice greeted brightly. "We have a big day ahead of us!"
Bella blinked sleepily, her gaze drifting to the neatly arranged outfits on the table. Her heart skipped with excitement.
"A girls' day?" she asked, her voice still laced with sleep but already eager.
Rosalie smirked, folding her arms. "Just us."
Bella grinned, instantly sitting up. "We don't do that often!"
Alice giggled. "Exactly why we're doing it now. So, up you go! Time for a bath."
Rosalie had already drawn a warm bath, the water scented with a hint of lavender. The golden-haired vampire helped wash Bella's hair, her usually cool demeanor softening as she gently ran her fingers through the child's dark curls.
"You really do remind me of a little princess," Rosalie murmured.
Bella giggled, kicking her legs slightly in the water. "I think you're the princess, Rose! Your hair is gold, just like Aurora's."
Rosalie smiled, warmth flickering in her usually guarded expression. She wrapped Bella in a plush towel and helped her out of the bath, gently drying her hair before Alice flitted over with an outfit carefully laid out on the table.
It was a yellow petticoat dress with delicate lace trimmings and a soft, furry shawl. Bella's eyes widened in delight as she ran her tiny hands over the fabric.
"It's so fancy," she whispered, looking up at Alice with awe.
Alice beamed. "You love it, don't you?"
Bella nodded eagerly. "I do!"
"Then let's get you dressed, little miss fashionista," Alice said, helping Bella into the outfit.
Once Bella was properly dressed and her hair combed into perfect, bouncing curls, Alice clapped her hands together.
"Now, for the fun part—shopping!"
Bella's mouth dropped open. "Shopping?"
Alice nodded, looking far too pleased with herself. "Mhm! You, me, and Rosalie are going out into the city for a little adventure."
Bella nearly jumped in excitement. "Oh! Can we get pastries too?"
Rosalie chuckled. "Of course. But only after we find you the perfect accessories for your dress."
Bella grinned, feeling like a real princess for the day.
Bella hummed happily as she swung her feet beneath the dining table, nibbling on a warm grilled cheese sandwich. The scent of toasted bread and melted cheese mixed with the faint metallic tang of blood from the small glass beside her—her usual morning meal.
Alice sat nearby, perched elegantly in a chair, watching the little girl with quiet fascination.
For a child raised in the heart of the Volturi, Bella was surprisingly… normal.
She ate her meals without complaint (aside from the occasional scrunched nose at the blood), kicked her feet in contentment, and chattered between bites as if she didn't carry the weight of being the only known hybrid born to a ruler of their kind.
Alice had seen many strange things in her existence, but Isabella was an enigma.
She studied the way Bella's skin softened in the morning light, more human than vampire. A stark contrast to the stories Sulpicia had shared the night before.
The memory surfaced unbidden
Alice had remained behind after Edward and Demetri left.
The castle had been eerily quiet, save for the occasional murmurs of patrolling guards. Without the usual chatter from Edward or the distant hum of her visions, Alice felt… restless.
She had wandered until she found herself in Bella's room, where the Volturi Queen sat gracefully, stroking Bella's curls as the child slept.
Esme was beside her, a comforting presence as always, while Rosalie lingered near the window, her sharp eyes softening whenever they flickered toward Bella.
Alice took a seat across from them, her gaze lingering on the sleeping child before finally turning to Sulpicia.
"I hope you don't mind me asking," she began carefully, "but… we were curious about something."
Sulpicia tilted her head in mild amusement. "Curious about what, dear?"
Alice glanced at Rosalie and Esme, gathering her thoughts.
"Bella. How she came into this world."
Sulpicia's fingers stilled in Bella's hair, her gaze unreadable.
"Ah," she murmured.
Rosalie, always direct, leaned forward slightly. "We've never seen a child like her before."
Esme's voice was softer but no less intent. "And we can see how much she means to you."
Sulpicia exhaled slowly, her crimson eyes thoughtful rather than wary.
"Aro was never one to prioritize anything over power," she said, her tone measured. "For centuries, his focus remained singular—expanding his influence, strengthening the Volturi's reign."
Alice nodded. "That sounds like him."
Sulpicia's lips quirked slightly. "Yes. But then, something changed."
Esme tilted her head. "Changed?"
Sulpicia's gaze drifted to Bella's peaceful face, her voice softer now.
"Or rather… someone changed everything."
Rosalie's attention snapped fully to the queen, intrigue flickering in her golden eyes.
"Aro never planned for a child," Sulpicia admitted. "Neither did I. But when I found out about his plan… it didn't feel like a curse. It felt like a gift."
Alice studied her, sensing the weight behind those words.
"And Aro?" she asked.
Sulpicia chuckled, her fingers lightly brushing against Bella's cheek.
"Let's just say… Isabella managed to do something no one else in history ever could."
Rosalie raised a delicate brow. "And what's that?"
Sulpicia's voice carried a knowing amusement.
"She made Aro truly care about something more than power."
The room fell into a contemplative silence.
Alice had seen rulers crumble under the weight of their own ambition, had witnessed powerful beings fall. But this? A child altering the very foundation of the Volturi?
This was new.
Alice leaned back slightly, absorbing the revelation.
"So she changed everything," she murmured.
Sulpicia smiled. "Completely."
They all looked at Bella then—small, delicate, and utterly unaware that she had shifted the course of history itself.
⸻
Alice blinked as the memory faded, her gaze refocusing on Bella, who was now finishing the last bite of her grilled cheese.
The child pushed her empty plate forward with satisfaction, wiping her fingers on a napkin before reaching for her glass of blood with only slight reluctance.
Alice smirked. Some things never changed.
The doors to the room opened then, and Sulpicia entered, her graceful presence filling the space. Esme followed close behind.
Bella's face lit up instantly.
"Mommy!"
Sulpicia crossed the room, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her daughter's head. "Good morning, my love."
Esme smiled warmly before turning to Alice and Rosalie. "I see our little lady is all dressed up."
Alice smirked. "She's going to have a proper girls' day."
Sulpicia studied Bella's beaming face before turning back to the women in the room.
"Enjoy yourselves," she said softly. "And make sure she gets plenty of sweets."
Bella gasped. "Really?"
Rosalie rolled her eyes fondly. "We'll consider it."
Alice grabbed Bella's hand, leading her toward the door.
"Come on, Bella. We have a whole day ahead of us!"
Bella giggled, skipping alongside her as her adventure began.
The streets of Tuscany were bathed in golden light, the sun filtering through the gaps between the centuries-old buildings, casting soft shadows on the cobblestone pathways. The shopping district was lively, full of human chatter, the scent of fresh pastries wafting from nearby cafés, and the crisp notes of designer perfumes lingering in the air.
Bella walked between Alice and Rosalie, her tiny hands clutching their fingers as they led her toward an elegant boutique nestled between high-end storefronts.
From the moment they stepped inside, Alice had taken control.
Each rack was carefully combed through, dresses lifted, accessories matched, and in no time, Bella was ushered toward the fitting room, her arms full of soft silks and delicate lace.
Rosalie, though more reserved, wasn't immune to Bella's enthusiasm. She helped her try on a pastel pink dress, fastening the tiny pearl buttons while Bella twirled to admire herself in the mirror.
Alice, meanwhile, had taken it upon herself to model every piece she deemed worthy, spinning dramatically in a sleek black dress before nudging Rosalie to try something more daring.
It had been an hour of giggles and playful debates before Bella, seated on a velvet ottoman, suddenly tilted her head in thought.
Then, she asked the most unexpected question.
"So," Bella mused, kicking her feet slightly, "you and Emmett are married. And Alice and Jasper are married."
Alice exchanged an amused glance with Rosalie, already sensing where this was going.
Bella's expression turned contemplative. "Are all vampires married?"
Alice grinned. "Not all of them."
Bella frowned slightly. "My uncles aren't. Well… Uncle Marcus tells me lots of stories about Aunt Didyme. It's so bad she died."
There was a flicker of sadness in Rosalie's eyes, a rare moment of understanding between them. "Yes," she murmured. "He loved her very much."
Bella nodded solemnly, then brightened almost immediately. "The guards aren't married yet, though."
Alice suppressed a laugh, already knowing exactly where this was going.
Bella continued, completely unaware of the weight behind her words. "Same with Edward."
Rosalie snorted as Alice grinned knowingly.
Bella tilted her head again, her little brows furrowing. "Why isn't Edward married?"
Alice gave Rosalie a teasing look before answering, half-jokingly, "Maybe he's just waiting for the right person."
Bella considered this carefully, her small fingers smoothing out the hem of her dress.
Then, with complete sincerity, she looked at Alice and said, "Then I hope she's really nice."
Alice nearly choked on her laughter.
Oh, Bella had no idea.
She might not be able to see her in her visions, but Alice knew exactly who Edward's endgame was.
Just a light chapter before I dive into any action or drama. Please leave a review and consider following or favoriting this story—it means a lot. Thank you!