Chapter Text
Volterra, Italy
Tunnels beneath the Castle
Bella
‘God, I wish I had a towel right now so that I could dry off. I am freezing my ass off right now.” I think to myself as I follow Felix, Demitri, and Jane. I was shaking from the cold in the tunnels. It doesn't help that I had to run through the fountain in the square to get to Edward in time to stop him from revealing himself to the humans and keep from killing himself. Now, I am stuck next to Edward, surrounded by the three Volturi guards, as they escort us to the throne room so that we can face the Volturi kings.
‘God Edward, look at what your childish idiocy has gotten us into now. Is it so hard for a hundred-year-old vampire to think before acting? He might as well be ten and not one hundred.’ this is the main thought that is going through my mind right now. I have never wished to be able to hit Edward without seriously injuring myself on his marble hard skin as much as I do at this particular moment.
All I wanted to do was smack some sense into him. If he hadn’t acted so impulsively, he would have realized that I wasn’t dead and that Rose was just stirring up trouble again. I wouldn’t have to come to save his sorry ass and I wouldn’t be stuck on my own in this situation. It was easy to realize when Demitri first showed up in the alley that, I was not going to leave Volterra with my heart still beating. I would be killed for my knowledge of their existence unless I could convince the Kings to change me. Knowing this, I quickly decided to do whatever I had to do to live through this.
‘No doubt, Edward is going to throw a fit about me being changed into a vampire. But I don’t care what he thinks about me anymore. I am not ready to die yet.’ I think with a mental roll of my eyes. ‘ Oh crap! I’m going to have to make sure he doesn’t act like a complete moron and end up getting us both killed while we are speaking with the Kings!’ I realize with dread. I don’t have any idea how I am going to stop Edward from screwing it all up.
I was debating different plans on how to convince the kings to let me be turned when I suddenly noticed that Alice was nowhere to be seen. ‘Why isn’t she here? Surely the guards would have seen her. She must have never followed me when I ran across the palazzo! What the hell! She brings me here to save her moron of a brother and then leaves as soon as things get dangerous! That pixie bitch!’ I quickly realized that she had run away as soon as trouble showed up, and grew furious with her and her selfishness. It was just like when she was still in Forks.
As we continued down the tunnel, I kept my face impassive, even though on the inside I was fuming. I didn’t want anything to mess with my chances of living through this, and acting out because Alice was a backstabbing traitorous bitch, would get me nowhere.
I was getting fed up with walking so slowly, freezing and soaking wet, down a tunnel that could very well be several miles long. I looked at Jane and noticed that she also seemed to be getting frustrated with the slow pace we were moving at as well. With every step she took, she seemed to have to catch herself from moving too fast. Most people wouldn’t notice this, especially because it was all happening in a split second, but I was very observant and my brothers had helped me train it further. With this information and an assumption that the kings aren’t infinitely patient people, I quickly made a decision that should solve two of my current problems. I should act before Edward did something that would make this worse for me.
“May I ask how much longer it is going to take for us to reach the throne room if we continue to walk at this pace?” I asked the guards politely. I knew that I have to be careful and play my cards right if I want to get out of Volterra alive (or undead at least). Edward turns to look at me with a look on his face that says: ‘What in the world are you doing? Are you trying to get us killed?’ I just ignored him and continued to look straight at Jane, making sure to keep my face impassive.
She stopped walking and turned to face us. She had an irritated look on her face “Thanks to you, human, it will take us approximately 1 hour to get out of the tunnel and into the throne room,” she said still glaring murderously at me.
Oh god, an hour is way too long for me to walk in these conditions. How am I supposed to try and talk my way out of this situation if my nose is running and I constantly shivering? I’ll just look pathetic and it definitely won’t help my case. Hopefully, she wants to speed this up as much as I do.
“If that is the case, why doesn’t Edward just carry me? That way ya’ll be able to run at your speed instead of being stuck walking through these tunnels for an hour or more.” I proposed my idea to her even though I knew that she would not agree with my suggestion.
“Not going to happen, human. I'm not going to help you and Edward in an escape attempt,” Jane sneered at me.
“I was not trying to escape. I know which law I’m breaking and what the consequences are. I was just trying to speed this up. However, if that is what you believe I was trying to do, why don't one of you carry me? I don't want to keep the kings waiting even longer.” I suggested trying to reason with her. I was fairly confident that she would accept my counteroffer.
As I say this, Jane cocks her head to the side, as if in confusion. “You seem eager to meet your death, human. Why is that?” she asks, curiosity filling her voice.
“I am not eager to die, in fact, I quite dread it. However, I do not believe making the kings wait an hour just because we are walking at a human pace would help keep this situation in my favor. Besides, I am soaking wet and freezing cold because of the water from the fountain that I ran through when I was trying to prevent this situation in the first place. If we run at vampire speed, then I will be able to dry off somewhat and then I can begin to warm up. I do not fancy getting sick with the state my body is in right now,” I stated.
“You don't fear our kind, do you?” she said incredulously.
“Fear? No. However, I do have a healthy respect for what your kind can do. I know that you can easily kill me before I even realized what had happened, but I see no reason to remain in constant fear of something that may or may not happen. It would be the same thing as me being constantly afraid that a random stranger on the street is going to shoot me. While there is a chance that it will happen, there is also a chance that it will not, and dwelling on what could happen would do nothing but ruin my life, something I have no inclination to do.” As I said this, she seemed to be a little shocked at what I was saying.
“You speak with the wisdom of one decades older than yourself. It is a very rare occurrence amongst you humans. Even some of the oldest people of your race cannot think as you do.” she commented.
“I have always been told that I have an old soul.” I said with a small smile and a quiet chuckle.
“Now why don’t we get back to the matter at hand?” Jane stared at me for a few seconds, as if studying me, before speaking again.
“Very well. Felix will carry you as we run. I do not wish to keep the masters waiting any longer. Let us continue,” Jane said, finishing with finality and turning around again.
A split second later I was swept up into the bear of a vampire’s arms. As he picked me up, he seemed to be looking at my face as if expecting shock or something of the sort. When my face remained passive he started to frown. Why are vampires always so disappointed that they can’t shock me with their actions? Shouldn’t it be obvious that I would be used to it after living around vampires for several months?
“Don’t be upset, big guy. I am just not easily shocked after all that I have seen. I have learned to expect the unexpected,” I said. He just continued to frown at me.
Suddenly, we sped along the tunnel. I quickly became cold as all of the air rushed past me, the cold only being made worse by the temperature of the being that was holding me. Thankfully my clothes and hair were also drying as we ran. Jane was still leading the group as Felix, Edward, and I were behind her and Demitri was behind us.
After running for probably what was only about 2 minutes, we seemed to have left the tunnel and entered some kind of reception area that was much better lit. However, I wasn’t sure what it looked like because everything was still a blur to me because of the speed we are going.
About a minute later, we came to a stop in front of a very large set of doors. Felix placed me on the ground and stepped up next to Jane, who was once again facing us.
“Wait here with Felix and Demetri while I let the kings know that you are here,” Jane said before opening one of the massive doors with ease and going into the next room.
As soon as she left, Edward walked up to me, his face a mixture of anger and bewilderment.
“What in the world was that about?! Why couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut?!” he harshly whispered. He had a tight grip on my arm and used it to drag me close to him.
“I don’t have time for your childish tantrums right now, Edward. It is your fault that we are in this situation in the first place. If you hadn’t listened to Rosalie and overreacted, then I wouldn’t have had to come and save your sorry ass. Now shut up and try not to get us killed when we go into that room and meet with the kings,” I said, in no mood for his adolescent mood swings.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Felix and Demetri were snickering at how I just scolded Edward as if he was a child. Edward just stared at me in shock, most likely because of the way I was talking to him. I guess he thought I was just going to stand beside him and look pathetic like I did when we were dating. He is in for a rude awakening because I am nothing like that anymore.
A few seconds later, Jane came back out of the large doors. When she saw how Edward and I were standing and the look on his face, she arched an eyebrow at me before clearing her throat to get our attention.
We all turn towards her, waiting to hear what she has to say. "The kings are ready for you now," she said before opening both of the large doors.
As we began walking towards the next room I started to mentally prepare myself for whatever would happen once we met the kings, while I thought about the fact that it was very unlikely that I would come back out of that room with my heart pumping blood through my veins.
Volterra, Italy
Volturi Castle
Throne Room
Bella
As we stepped into the hall, I looked around, observing everything that I could. The hall itself was very large and open with thin and tall windows every few feet. There wasn’t much about the room that stood out. It was almost circular and seemed to be made mostly of marble. Despite the lack of windows and decor, the room had a very open feel to it.
There was a dais in front of the farthest wall from the doors that housed the three thrones that belonged to the Volturi’s kings, where the kings were sitting, their eyes seemingly following Edward and I as we entered the room. Around the room stood several vampires that seemed to watch our every move, more guards no doubt, there to do whatever the kings ordered.
Edward and I continued to walk towards the dais until we were in the middle of the room, facing the three kings. They sat in their thrones, continuing to examine us as we stood there. I quickly took the chance to observe the kings myself.
First, I looked at the king that was positioned to the right. He had platinum blonde hair, and what seemed to be a permanent scowl on his face, almost as if he had just tasted a particularly sour candy of some sort. He sat leaning sideways, his head resting on his hand which was propped up on the arm of his throne. He looked aggravated at having to be here and having to deal with what I am sure are considered to be fairly trivial matters to him.
Next, I looked at the king that was sitting in the middle. His hair was as black as the night sky, it looked like it fell all the way down his back, and it was held back from his face by what I am assuming is a clip or tie of some sort. He was leaning forward on his throne, looking at the two of us excitedly and curiously, yet he seemed somewhat stern all at the same time. ‘This must be Aro. I remember Carlisle mentioning his never-ending curiosity and his habit of studying everything and everyone.’ I thought to myself.
Finally, I looked over at the third king on the left of the dais. He had long wavy brown hair that was pulled back into a low ponytail. He was leaning back in his throne, looking at Edward and I with disinterest on his face. I studied his face a little more closely, noticing something hidden in his expression. I could see hidden heartache and grief in his eyes. ‘To think of who he must have lost to feel such sorrow! I wish I could help him in some way.’ I thought as I could feel my heart ache in sympathy. It was unusual nowadays, since Edward left me I only felt emotions properly when I was with my coven.
“Ah, young Edward!” Aro exclaimed. I quickly turned my attention away from the brown-haired king to face Aro.
“I see that you were mistaken and that young Miss Bella is alive and well! How wonderful!” Aro said excitedly.
‘I see Carlisle wasn’t exaggerating when he talked about how excitable Aro can be.’ I thought while trying not to roll my eyes.
Edward gave a reply to Aro in a very flat tone, but I zoned out and didn’t hear what he said.
The stinging in my chest that I thought was sympathy had grown worse. I glanced back at the brown-haired king and noticed that he hadn’t moved except to look at the air between me and Edward.
While I was distracted, Aro and Edward kept speaking, Edward even growled at Aro at some points, but I couldn’t seem to focus on them.
For some strange reason, the pain in my chest was continuing to intensify, making it very difficult for me to focus on anything but the pain and, for some reason, the brown-haired king. All of a sudden Edward grabbed my arm and shook me, forcing me to focus on what he was saying.
“What?” I snapped, glaring at him, my arm starting to ache where he was holding it.
“Were you not paying attention to anything that is happening?!” he exclaimed, obviously frustrated.
“No, I’ve been a bit preoccupied, Edward.” I said with a completely flat tone.
“With what?!” he practically yelled in exasperation.
I raised my eyebrow at how he was acting. This takes his childishness to a whole new level. I thought he was at least smart enough to know how to act in front of the Volturi kings, three people that could essentially kill us and his entire family without even lifting a finger. Fine, if that is the way he wants to speak to me, then I am going to give him a taste of his own medicine.
“I was trying to count how many different ways you have shown how immature you are since I met you. There is a surprisingly high amount of them seeing as you are over a hundred years old. One would think you would know better by now and be able to act more mature than a five-year-old,” I said, keeping one of my eyebrows raised at him. I was daring him to say something back. Edward just stared at me for a few seconds before shaking his head and sighing in frustration.
“Aro wanted to know if his power works on you,” he said. I guess Edward finally gave up on trying to argue with me. ‘Smart man.’ I thought, smirking at Edward.
I was turning towards Aro to answer his question, when the pain in my chest flared up, reminding me of its strange existence. Without realizing it, my face scrunched up in pain, and my hands moved to hold my chest as if I could pull the pain out.
“Isabella? Are you alright?” Aro asked sounding slightly concerned. I took a few deep breaths, trying to get the pain under control. Unfortunately, it wasn’t helping at all. The more I tried to control the pain, the worse it got. Before I knew it, I had fallen to my knees and had almost completely curled into a ball in a feeble attempt to stop the pain.
Volterra
Throne Room
After staring at Bella in shock for a few seconds, Aro hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder, a concerned look on his face.
“Isabella, can you tell me what is wrong?” Aro asked Bella gently.
“Chest...hurts...feels...like...my...heart...is...being...set...on...fire.” Bella said, panting for breath in between each word I managed to gasp out.
“When did the pain start, Isabella?” He asked her.
“Not...long...after...enter...ing...this...room.”
“Is there a history of heart problems in your family?”
“N...o,” Bella gasps out again. It was obvious that it was getting even harder for Bella to breathe and talk.
All of a sudden one of the guards spoke, from somewhere in the large room. “Master, her heart doesn’t sound like it is in any kind of distress outside of the fact that it is beating way too fast. To be honest, if I didn’t know any better, I would think she was suffering from her mate bond being severed. Her situation seems to be exactly like what happens when we accidentally kill one mate before the other, especially if the mates had been together for many years.” the guard said.
“I understand what you are saying, but she is human. How can she be going through something only vampires have experienced before? Unless this has something to do with her shield! If her brain is close enough to a vampire’s in development to have developed her shield to the capacity it is at, then her brain may be also capable of recognizing her mate!” Aro said in wonder, lost in the science of it all for a few seconds.
After thinking about it for a few seconds, Aro’s expression changed from one of wonder to one of confusion.
“What is wrong, master?” Jane asked, her face looking slightly concerned.
“Even if her brain is capable of recognizing her mate, I don’t understand why she is going through the pain of a mate bond being severed. Her mate would have to be nearby because of the pain that happens when one is too far from their mate, and yet no one nearby has been killed that I am aware of, especially someone that she would have met and known for many years.” Aro explained, his face was completely confused and worried. As soon as Aro finished his explanation, Edward finally cracked and started yelling.
“Stop talking about her mate as if we don’t know who he is! I am her mate! I don’t know what you have done to her to cause her pain, but you need to stop it right this second!” Edward demanded, almost stomping his foot at the end of his little rant.
All of a sudden something happened that no one expected. “SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU IMMATURE LITTLE BRAT!” Bella screamed, her voice almost shaking from her anger and agony.
No one had noticed, but she had been following the conversation as best as she could in her situation, not wanting to be left unaware of what was going on. Everyone stared at her in shock as she shouldn’t have been able to hear what they were saying with the speed they were speaking at. Aro was the first one to recover and simply chuckled at Bella while looking at her in a bit of wonder. She had gone back to curling herself into a ball and trying to block out the intense pain that was flowing through her body.
“Maybe you should listen to Isabella, young Edward. Whether you want to realize it or not, you two simply cannot be mates.” Aro said to Edward, turning his head away from Bella to look at him while he said this. Edward just glared at Aro defiantly.
“You are wrong Aro, Bella and I are mates!”
“No, you are not! Stop and think about it for a minute. Mates cannot hurt each other and they cannot go far from each other without feeling debilitating pain. Not only have you hurt her multiple times, but you broke up with her and ran to Africa to sulk! Not to mention how you refused to allow her to change when she was bitten by that vampire, James. If she was your mate, you would have just let her change instead of risking her life further by sucking the venom out!” Aro declared impatiently, making it painfully obvious how Edward could not have been Bella’s mate. He was getting tired of how Edward refused to see the situation as it is.
“That isn’t true, I just wanted her to be happy!” Edward exclaimed.
“If you don’t believe me then we can have Marcus check her bonds and see if she holds a true mate bond with you. If she does then you are free to go as long as you change her into a vampire. If she does not hold a true mate bond to you, then you both will be held fully accountable for your actions.” Aro declared with finality.
“That is fine, we will be walking out of here before you know it because I know that we are true mates.” Edward declared with a smug look on his face.
Aro just raised an eyebrow in skepticism at Edwards’s attitude before turning towards Marcus in askance. Marcus nodded his head automatically, even though he was not fully aware of what Aro had just asked him to do, due to the other thoughts running through his head.
Aro then turned to look at Alec. “Alec, would you please cut off all of Edwards's senses until I tell you to release him? I have a feeling that he is not going to react well to the results of this inquiry, and do not want to have to deal with him throwing a…what is the phrase?... Ah yes, a temper tantrum.”
“Yes, master Aro.” Alec said without hesitation before quickly focusing on Edward and blocking all of his senses before he could react to what Aro had just said. As soon as this happened, Aro turned towards Marcus.
“Marcus, brother?” Aro said to rouse Marcus from the fog he seemed to be in. Marcus did stir and looked around before turning towards Aro with a blank expression on his face, hiding his shock at what he was seeing.
“Yes, Aro?” He asked in a bored tone of voice.
“Would you please look at Isabella’s bonds and tell us who her true mate is, and see if you can tell why she is in such pain?” Aro said, gesturing towards Bella, who was still curled on the floor the same way she was a few seconds ago when they began to speak at vampire speed.
“As you wish, Aro.” Marcus said in a monotone, clearly trying to continue to look indifferent towards what was going on. Marcus’s eyes glazed as he used his bond sight to look at Bella’s bonds. After a minute or so, his expression went from impassive to complete shock. Aro saw this and was instantly curious.
“Brother, what is it that you see?” he asked impatiently. Marcus didn’t respond. Instead, he remained motionless for several minutes before his face once again changed. This time his expression went from shock to awe, hope, and love.
“Brother?” Aro asked again, hoping that what Marcus was seeing would not only set Edward straight but also show a way to get rid of the pain that Bella was in.
Aro walked towards Marcus, touching his hand and seeing what Marcus was seeing in his bond sight. Aro’s face showed a lot of joy when he realized what Marcus was seeing, Marcus left his bond sight with a gentle smile on his face, just staring at Bella.
“Well, brothers, what has Marcus seen?” Caius finally had enough of their silence and wanted to know what was going on.
“Edward is not her true mate.” Aro said with a smile on his face.
“Well then, why is she on the floor in pain? Does it have to do with her true mate, and do you know what it is?” Caius asked impatiently.
“We know who her true mate is, and I have a theory as to why she is in such pain.” Aro said.
Marcus’s head snapped to Aro as he spoke, wanting to know what had caused her such pain.
“Well?” Caius said when Aro didn’t immediately explain, still being as impatient as ever.
“My theory as to why she is in such pain is that her true mate’s heart was closed and unable to accept her bond in any way. When she saw her true mate, her soul went to bond with him, but because his heart was closed, her bond was not able to connect with him, and her body is responding as if her mate had died and the bond was severed.” Aro explained.
As Aro said this, Marcus’s face turned to horror.
“Oh no, what have I done?” Marcus whispered almost inaudibly to the vampires, looking like he wanted to cry.
“Marcus, what are you talking about? You haven’t done anything to the human girl. Aro, tell us who her true mate with the closed heart is so that we can rectify this situation.” Caius asked, becoming more irritated and confused by his concern for the human girl and the situation as the seconds went by.
“Her true mate is our dear brother, Marcus.” Aro said, a smile still on his face.