Melissa joined them in the kitchen for breakfast.
The cream-coloured walls did little to disguise the pallor of her face. She wore the same green dress from the previous night and Bella wondered if they didn't let her shower or if she chose not to. Her hair was down, descending in tangles and knots to the middle of her back. There was a sticky glow to her skin, reflecting the morning light in a blueish, sickly way. Bella's eyes moved to the large figure behind her and Felix smiled at her, his big hands resting on Melissa's shoulders to push her into the room.
"There, now you get to chat."
He guided her to the free chair by Bella's side and she plopped down, eyes wide and unblinking. She stared into the distance before acknowledging Bella, as if in a trance.
"Hey. Good morning." Bella took a warm plate from the nearest pile on the table and put it in front of her. Melissa finally blinked.
"Morning." She glanced at Felix and then at the empty plate. "Thanks."
There was a movement by Bella's side and she turned to see Pavel standing up from his chair so Felix could occupy it. Sitting down carefully, the vampire leaned back and crossed his legs, one arm bent over the backrest.
"Head directly to the drawing room when you're done here," he instructed. "Eleazar will take a look at the both of you then."
Bella nodded but Melissa didn't move. She stared at him in stunned silence, and the slight crease on her forehead was the only evidence that she had heard him.
From across the table, Bella saw Gianna suspiciously still, her meal only half eaten in front of her. Her pencil skirt and tight blazer were as spotless as always, not a wrinkle or stain in sight, but her hairdo lacked its usual polish, with a few frizzy strands escaping her loose bun. Her makeup skills were no longer enough to cover the stress and exhaustion that marred her features. They hadn't talked after Melissa's arrival and for the first time, Bella ached to speak to the secretary.
Felix's voice reclaimed her attention.
"Everything good in America?"
As her eyes moved to him, it didn't escape her how every human at the table seemed bewildered by the casual interaction.
"Yeah, all good." She poked her scrambled eggs with a fork, recalling the messages she finally read at the break of dawn before heading to the kitchen. "My father is still figuring out international travelling, so I don't think he is visiting yet."
"Hm. That is actually good. Gives you some time."
She knew he meant to ask about the Cullens, but he wasn't peeved by her deflection. Not much unlike Jane, he appeared to be in a better mood than usual and she wondered if it was due to the success of their mission as well.
"My friends are all very upset I missed graduation. Some of them are thinking of visiting too."
Truthfully, only Jessica mentioned visiting her and Bella knew she wouldn't travel across the world just to see her. Like Renée, her friend was thrilled by the idea of travelling to Italy much more than by the prospect of seeing her. She didn't blame them, as a summer trip to Europe was in fact much more interesting than Bella's company could ever be. On the other hand, some of her friends were eager to see her again and she noted that they had asked her to visit them instead. Unfortunately, she knew that possibility was very far in the future if it existed at all.
"That should finally get you out, I hope." Felix's eyes glinted with amusement. "You are yet to venture outside these walls."
She grimaced. "Jane is taking me out one of these days."
"Jane?" He echoed with surprise. "Demetri wanted to take you."
"Well," Bella shrugged, "Jane asked me first."
He laughed. "That should be interesting."
She tried to ignore his sarcasm.
"Is he alright? Demetri, that is."
"Why do you ask?" Felix raised an eyebrow. Bella shrugged, partially to conceal a shiver that ran along her arms when she reminisced their last encounter.
"He was a little… on edge yesterday, I thought."
"Ah," Felix clicked his tongue and smiled again, eyeing her mischievously. "That he is, but worry not. He is working it out. Finish your food," he got up from his chair, "then Gianna will take you both to Eleazar."
Bella acquiesced, watching him walk out of the kitchen, his broad shoulders looking even larger under his dark grey shirt as he passed by the smaller humans sitting at the table. She filled Melissa's plate with bread, eggs and some cheese, uncertain of what she would like to eat, and gave her a yoghurt cup. As if waking up, Melissa blinked.
"Does everyone know?" She eyed the others around them.
As if she heard it, Gianna grabbed her plate and ran to take the chair Felix had just vacated.
"Do they?" Bella asked Gianna as she settled down.
"Yes," Gianna answered impatiently, "we all know, of course. Now, how did you know?" She glared at Melissa, her question almost an accusation. Melissa crossed her arms.
"I didn't. If she hadn't brought me back, I would still not know. I would be home thinking this is all just some human trafficking scheme."
Gianna rolled her eyes. "Like that would be so much better. You would have the police investigating us."
Bella recoiled at Melissa's claim but Gianna was right. Melissa herself had no comeback to the allegation, and Bella reminded herself that she did the best she could in her situation.
"What is this Eleazar like? And what happened yesterday while I was gone?" She whispered to Gianna, aware that the precaution would only keep the humans from eavesdropping. Gianna grunted.
"We were frantically looking for some lapse in Heidi's background check. There was nothing, of course, she never makes a mistake. Then somehow the hypothesis is that I made a mistake." She whispered back, then huffed. "Once Master Aro saw her thoughts he decided to call this Eleazar, but I don't know him. He left long ago, way before I came."
The rest of the staff was beginning to get up and set their empty dishes in the sink. Seeing that Ali was staring at them somewhat impatiently from his seat, Bella finished her eggs.
"Come on, eat a little before we go," she told Melissa. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."
Begrudgingly, Melissa ate some cheese and opened her yoghurt. Gianna handed her a spoon.
"Ok, how do I survive this?" She asked in between spoonfuls, her eyes darting from Gianna to Bella expectantly. Gianna stomped her feet, the sound of her sharp heels against the floor echoing through the kitchen.
"By God, how are we supposed to know that?"
"Well, you're both here and both alive," Melissa retorted as if it was obvious.
Bella shook her head. "It's one hundred per cent up to them. We're lucky."
Gianna stiffened, ready to protest, because of course she wasn't just lucky, she was efficient and smart, and survived there for seven years on her own merit, but ultimately remained silent.
Melissa sighed. She ate her yoghurt with shaking hands, hurriedly as if she was swallowing medicine. Bella watched her with something akin to pity, both apprehensive and anxious to meet the new vampire and know what he would say about the both of them. Gianna started to tap her foot on the floor with undisguised impatience.
As they watched Melissa finish her breakfast, Bella thought of Edward's frustratingly brief message. The way he glossed over the entire fight only worried her further, and she found herself torn between sadness and rage for his reluctance to share the essential details of the confrontation with her. Jacob's e-mails eventually acquired a milder tone, though Bella had the impression it was due to emotional detachment. There was a strange neutrality to his words rather than a friendliness. She felt powerless, trapped away from him and everyone else, stuck with her own struggles within the ancient walls of the castle and slowly growing more and more distant from all of those she had left behind. If she didn't see them again before her transformation she was sure to meet complete strangers when their reunion finally happened. Alice's messages were always longer and more cheerful, though she too refrained from sharing a lot. Was Edward censoring her, perhaps? Bella couldn't imagine him intentionally doing it, but she could picture Alice censoring herself for his sake.
She considered asking Felix about it, though she knew he had no reason to fill her in apart from entertaining himself with her reactions. She could ask Demetri again if he was in a better mood the next time she saw him but she could see no reason for him to answer her either.
On top of it all, no one ever gave her a straightforward answer about ever visiting her in Volterra. "We'll see" and "it's being arranged" were just as good as her father saying he would love to visit instead of saying he would visit her, but she couldn't blame him for anything; it was not his fault that she got herself stranded in Italy. Unlike Edward, he at least called her frequently, always happy to hear her voice.
"Right, let's go," Gianna urged them when Melissa gave up eating. She scrunched her nose at Bella. "Do you ever take this damn jacket off?" Not waiting for an answer, she marched resolutely out of the kitchen, sparing no over-the-shoulder glances to make sure she was followed. Bella jumped to her feet, grabbing a lethargic Melissa by the arm and dragging her along. She faintly took notice of Ali collecting their plates.
Their little group moved forward slowly and quietly like a funeral procession through the carpeted hallways, and the heavy silence shrouding them as they walked to the drawing room was like a tight fist around Bella's neck. Her chest was compressed as if she was about to choke on the tension, Melissa's weight on her arm making her feel like she was the one carrying the body to its grave.
The mystery surrounding this Eleazar character only added to her apprehension. Apart from being a former member of the guard, she had no information about him to outline any sort of expectation about their imminent encounter. She felt heavier and less certain with each step, the only reassurance coming from her own words echoing in her head in place of Edward's:
"I'll meet your standards or die trying."
Her obstinance pushed her forward, as it did when she ventured out to retrieve Melissa in Demetri's company, but she was no Gianna. She didn't presume to truly affect the outcome of the event with her efforts; her human hands were much too light to tug at the strings of Melissa's fate.
Gianna led them to one of the many rooms near the lobby where she spent most of her time. Bella was surprised to notice this was the first time she even thought of them; though, of course, she knew they existed only a few footsteps away from Gianna's desk, she never dared venture into one of them. "Innocuous offices", they called them, but now Felix called one of them the drawing room. It would make sense to use them as such as they were by the entrance at street level, right by the main doors, except Bella knew those doors were never used by anyone who had real business with the Volturi. Her curiosity regarding this new vampire grew, as it seemed obvious Aro wasn't welcoming him into the castle's heart even though he used to live there. She remembered how Carlisle had been received much further inside the building and wondered if Eleazar's desertion was the reason for the difference in treatment.
Soon enough the three humans reached the plain oak doors of the drawing room and watched them unpromptedly open from the inside. Melissa stepped aside, hiding behind Bella, who instinctively fixed her posture as if she could protect the other girl. The doors spun slowly on their hinges, heavy and solemn, gradually revealing the occupants of the room they guarded. Aro was the first one Bella spotted, flanked by his brothers, the black of his hair and clothes too contrasting against his papery skin. Bella was surprised to see Marcus there as he usually abstained from such meetings. Jane stood a few steps behind the trio, wearing her dark grey cloak with a distinction and a pride that was misplaced in such a young face. There was a dark-haired stranger by her side, and the sight of his golden eyes nearly sent Bella into a spiral.
"He's a vegetarian? Does he know the Cullens?"
She was suddenly upset by the lack of warning. It was stupid, of course; why would anyone care how she felt about seeing a golden-eyed vampire in the castle? Her problems were her own; she was alone there. No one would cater to her feelings, as she was constantly trying to remind herself.
At last, Bella's eyes landed on Demetri, towering over them with one hand still on the door handle, and her heart leapt; she wasn't expecting to see him so soon after the scare he gave her, especially not in these circumstances. He was in uniform, his hair down to his shoulders again, but Bella found she could no longer feel the mental distance between them as before. Her heart raced with the realisation. He was way too real standing so close by. She thought she saw the ghost of a smile on his lips, but she blinked and it was gone.
"Thank you, dear ones, for joining us," Aro greeted them amiably, as if they had any choice but to be there. "That is all, Gianna, you may begin your shift now."
Gianna bowed and turned on her heels to leave. As she passed by him again, she met Demetri's eyes and they burnt holes in her face despite how they darkened. The softness was completely gone from his features. Gianna averted her gaze like she could feel the heat, scurrying away with as much dignity as possible.
Bella went into the room, grabbing Melissa's hand from behind her as she walked. She decided to remain silent, unwilling to be scolded by Caius first thing in the morning. Melissa's white-knuckled grip on her hand was only a mild discomfort compared to the weight of the immortals' eyes on them. The doors barely creaked as Demetri pushed them, closing smoothly with a soft thud. Aro extended his arms like he expected a hug, and Bella moved forward to place her free hand on his, dragging Melissa along awkwardly.
With her hand firmly secured between his pale ones, Aro briefly lowered his head. He didn't bother closing his eyes, merely touching her and releasing her almost immediately.
"Nothing," he declared through a tight-lipped smile. His happy tone was a façade, his cheerfulness fabricated. Even his features were not perfectly schooled this time, a hint of annoyance marring them. Bella felt uneasy.
"Sorry," she whispered, knowing it was pointless. Though she was always relieved to be barricaded from his intrusive gift, she wasn't hiding her thoughts on purpose. Aro caught himself, his annoyance vanishing from his face.
"No need to apologise, child. It's not your fault." He gestured for Eleazar to approach them. "Do you have anything to share, my friend?"
Eleazar joined them, calmly walking to Bella. Melissa flinched, her hand twitching against Bella's.
"Hello, Bella," he smiled at her. "I've heard a great deal about you."
"And I heard nothing about you."
"Hey", she said instead, doing her best not to sound as annoyed as she was.
The statement angered her further, a reminder of how everyone around her shared information while leaving her in the dark. She couldn't shake the feeling that this man must have known Carlisle and was almost sure it was the Cullens who told him about her. Did they know he was coming to see her? And if they did, couldn't they have warned her?
She didn't want to think they would keep it from her if they knew, but as much as it pained her to admit, they probably would. Who did tell her about Eleazar was Demetri, as reserved as he was with her. Unconsciously, she turned to him, noticing how his eyes flashed to her like she had called him out loud. He frowned and she imagined she looked as upset as she was. She turned back to Eleazar, seeing he had been speaking and she hadn't been paying attention.
"I suppose…" he trailed off, eyes going from Bella to Aro with uncertainty. "Would you touch her again? Perhaps…"
Aro nodded, extending his hand to her. She quickly complied, and they stood there for a few seconds, hand in hand, as Eleazar studied her. The vegetarian shook his head and gestured to Jane.
"Maybe her?"
Bella took a deep breath as the coldness of Aro's skin left hers. Jane stared at Aro expectantly, like a newly trained puppy eagerly awaiting its first command. Bella readied herself, though she didn't expect Jane's power to work this time if Aro's didn't.
"Yes, perhaps," Aro agreed and nodded to Jane. "Go on, my dear."
Jane focused on Bella, her usual sadistic smile absent from her face. The room fell quiet, and Bella could hear more than she could feel her own pulse, rapid and strong against the skin of her neck. Jane's eyes bore into hers until Eleazar spoke again, his voice grave with contemplation.
"Yes… I think -"
He was cut off by Melissa's shrill scream as she fell to the ground, pulling Bella with her. She stumbled, trying to keep her balance until she collapsed on top of the other girl. Melissa released her, writhing and yelling, and Bella pushed herself off of her. Kneeling by her side, she looked at Jane in confusion, seeing her plump lips stretching into a serene smile.
"Enough, Jane."
At Aro's words, Melissa's body stilled. Her screams ceased and she remained on the floor, her hair covering her face as her ragged breaths filled the room.
Bella hesitantly touched her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
She didn't answer, trying to recollect herself. After steadying her breath, she pulled herself up and sat on the floor.
"Yeah."
Aro clicked his tongue.
"Not yet, Jane."
"Pardon, Master."
She didn't seem sorry at all. From his spot, Caius chuckled.
Eleazar's golden eyes travelled from one vampire to another, at last finding Bella again. He murmured something and formed a tight circle with the three rulers, whispering too quickly for human ears to catch. Bella took this moment to look at Demetri again, searching his face for any trace of reassurance, but he was the stoic image of a soldier. Her head was racing with all the possibilities of what was being discussed and Melissa's fate took a backseat in her mind. During their whispered debate, she feared for her own life. What if Eleazar said her gift would never be useful to the kings? She didn't think Aro's so-called friendship with Carlisle would be enough for them to keep her in their home for seven years, not if she never proved to be useful in any way. Even if it was, they might end up never turning her. The prospect of ageing beyond Edward's eternal seventeen years was grim, but to return to Forks seven years in the future still human was even worse. She knew Edward would postpone her transformation as much as possible, even never doing it if he could avoid it. She imagined the ancient vampires suddenly remembering she existed after a hundred years and arriving at Carlisle's home to find she had passed from old age.
She stood up, pulling Melissa to her feet.
"Time to toughen up."
The four vampires conferencing started to speak louder and more slowly then. Bella couldn't understand them even so, because they switched from English to an unfamiliar language. By her side, Melissa started to shake and back away towards the doors, but they were blocked by Demetri. Eleazar rendered his verdict.
"Omnilingualism."
Caius huffed with disdain. Aro was more discreet with his disappointment, but it was still written on his face.
"Well," he said, "as it happens…"
He turned his milky gaze to Bella, a spark of excitement bringing him back to life.
"But Isabella?" He asked Eleazar, who nodded.
"As you suspected."
Bella's frustration grew, threatening to explode in an angry fit. What did he suspect? Would they not tell her what type of power she had?
Would no one tell her anything, ever?
As if he could read her mind without touch, Aro sighed.
"How rude of us!" He shook his head in self-reprimand. "Allow Eleazar to explain it to you, Isabella."
She bit her tongue to keep herself from correcting him and watched Eleazar. He walked over to her, ignoring how Melissa got even closer to the doors as he approached them.
"It seems to me that you are a shield, Bella. A very strong one, to work against immortals while you're still human. It is a defensive power, especially useful if you could extend it to others."
She frowned. It didn't sound like much, but Caius seized her with a hungry glint in his eyes and Aro was back to his cheerful self. She bit her lip.
"Well… could I?"
Eleazar smiled. "Once you're immortal, with time and practice, yes, I do believe so."
That sealed the discussion, and the vampires prepared themselves to scatter away. Demetri left his post by the doors, brushing against Melissa as he reached for Bella. It was remarkably quick, the vampire's movements synchronised as if choreographed, and before Bella could process what happened she had been separated from Melissa and guided out of the room. Demetri took her by the hand, his hold on her much stronger than the feather-like touch on the small of her back she had gotten used to. She didn't have time to feel any sort of way about their interlocked fingers before she was taken away. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Melissa's fearful eyes for the last time.