Chapter 1

---

"Now, Bella, what are we going to do with you?" Aro queried.

Edward made a defensive motion in my direction, but before I could blink there was a sound like impacting stones and the big burly vampire – Felix? – had grabbed him and was holding him back. I cocked my head, confused.

"Now now, Edward," Aro tutted, "humans are not permitted knowledge of our kind freely. You know we must either kill or change her."

"Can I ask a question?"

Aro beamed at me, now his sole focus. "But of course, dear Bella!"

"You read all of Edward's thoughts?" I murmured lowly, but I knew he could hear. Aro nodded eagerly. "Would he hate me if I became a vampire? I-I mean, I know that's why he left-"

There was an intake a breath.

"Bella, Edward would never-" Alice tried to say.

Aro interrupted, his eyes light. "Dear Bella, I'm afraid you misunderstand. Your Edward did not leave you because he was tired of you, or because of your request for immortality."

"I'm right here!" Edward growled fiercely at the Volturi leader. "I can answer for myself."

"Well?" I demanded, turning to him. "You're making no sense, so why not have someone else explain it to me? You leave, I try to move on, and then, the second you think I die, you try to incite the wrath of violent, human-drinking vampires?"

"Bella, not here," Edward pleaded.

"Because they can't spare five minutes before I decide whether to join them or die?" I felt my jaw clenching before forcing myself to relax.

"You presume you have a choice."

The voice that spoke was soft and deep, like the sound of a orchestral cello solo. I turned to see the dark-haired brother – Marcus, who had previously been silent and vacant – fix his eyes on me. From the look on the guards' faces, they hadn't heard him speak in some time.

"You're right," I affirmed, "I presume you want to either kill me, or collect me the way you wanted to collect Edward, and that I will get a say in it. You are saying you've already decided?"

"I have," Marcus aired easily, turning to his brothers. "Have you not?"

"Marcus, no," Edward growled. "It means nothing. It won't happen."

What was he thinking? I observed the quiet leader of the Volturi. He had no expression on his face except of utter sadness, and yet with his eyes now focused on the here and now he had a great more presence. Like a man wizened beyond years, with all the authourity it brings.

"Brother," Aro greeted happily, extending his hand to the man, who clasped it easily. They shared an intense look. "Fascinating."

"Well, that's not completely rude," I grumbled, earning a sharp look from Caius but a snort from Marcus.

Aro, however, looked mortified at my insinuation. "Oh, dear, is it really? My apologies, Bella, but it seems my brother's ability is useless on you as well."

"And Marcus can…?"

Marcus spoke this time. "I can see bonds, young one. I can see Edward's attachment – rather, obsession – with you," he sounded bitterly unhappy about it, "and Alice's love for you both as siblings. I cannot, however, see your side of it. Not your relationship with them, nor whether you would accept us as a coven should we change you."

"So … you want to change me?" I assessed. "But only if I'm no longer loyal to the Cullens?"

Marcus shook his head, but didn't explain. Instead, he rose from his throne – earning a startled look from Caius – and moved at human pace across the floor. While he didn't glide as cheerily as Aro, they seemed to have had the same lessons in presence and poise. His head remained fixed and his gait strong and refined. Yet his face was very mockery of the strength his stance portrayed.

"Tell me …" Marcus rose, gliding closer, "how did your ties with the Cullens weather the separation?"

I felt uncomfortable. "You're asking me to talk about my feelings? Now?"

Marcus nodded, observing me carefully. "It is relevant. No one will mind a small delay in our meal."

"I…Well…" I stammered, trying to collect my thoughts. "I'm here, aren't I?"

"Indeed," Marcus murmured, looking between her and Edward with a flicker. "Yet, as my brother informs me, Edward left with no uncertainty to his contempt for you after declaring his unfailing, eternal love. How does such betrayal sit in you? Would you still stand by him? What would you be willing to do for him, besides travel half the world?"

"Anyone would have come," I defended myself.

Marcus stepped closer, observing my facial features carefully. "You did not answer me."

He wanted to know how I felt about being betrayed? How I felt about Edward after all that? What I would be willing to do for him?

When I was still in my comatose state, I would have done anything to have Edward back. I felt I had deserved his leaving because I wasn't beautiful or smart or rich enough for someone like him. But after Jake had revived me … I didn't deserve that kind of brush off, even if he was too good for me. He had decided to be with me, even if it wasn't permanently, and so he should have broken it off amicably and not have left with his entire family like I was some kind of leper. I should have had a chance to move on by seeing him happy without me, a chance to say goodbye to the people who'd practically adopted her … he'd taken away anything that had given her life meaning.

"He took my life without killing me," I admitted, repressing the involuntary tremble trying to make its way into my voice. "If it was just him, it wouldn't have hurt as much … but I … I-I loved him, and loved being a part of a family."

A gasp. Alice and Edward were looking at me with a look of surprise and then pity.

"Bella," Alice murmured, "You have a family. Charlie..."

I shook my head. "I didn't even know him until I was grown up, Alice. I never had a regular family, one where I wasn't the mom, the cook, the counselor, … wh-where we could do something together, or even speak together a-about anything. I never had a real family. And then you guys gave it to me, for a whole year. I should have been grateful for just having it that long, but … you guys never even said goodbye."

"You loved the entire coven, not just Edward," Marcus surmised. "And then, to have him say they were leaving, like every word of love from not only him but his family was a lie … it was like being thrust out of somewhere you'd been told you'd belonged."

I just nodded. The tears were coming, and I couldn't speak for fear of the crackle in my voice. I wished someone would speak, because without the distraction I was focusing on the cresting sadness I felt. As everyone seemed to consider my words, the tears started rolling and going down my cheek as I silently let them leak, not willing to be the loudest thing in the room.

"Does the love remain in your heart?" Marcus murmured aloud. He moved to cup my cheek in his cold, marbled hands and raised my face to look into his. His blackened eyes seemed filled with an old passion.

"I-I don't know," my words were stuttery and nervous. "I know it's silly."

I was blushing. Only Jacob had dared get so close over the past few months, and even then he had to try multiple times before I could let him near and with such intimacy. I was scared he would break me or I him. With a Volturi King, the closeness seemed more inquisitive. It didn't bother her, merely embarrassed her to be under the scrutiny.

"Perhaps I can prompt you in this regard," Marcus allowed, removing his hand from her cheek and approaching Edward. With hardly a blink, Felix had released Edward from his grip and Marcus had ripped off his arm with a terrible scream and a screech.

"NO!" I ran forward, kneeling next to my vampire-ex. "Edward, are you alright?"

He groaned, grabbing the stump where venom oozed.

I rounded on Marcus. "What was that for?!"

"A gift," Marcus expressed impassively, holding out Edward's arm. It was twitching frantically. "You can give it back to him, keep it until later, or burn it."

"Then I choose to give it back!" I hissed.

"Really?" Marcus asked, arching a brow. "He betrayed you. He kept you from your family. Surely a little vengeance would only constitute due justice."

"Bella's not like that!" Alice interjected forcefully, her eyes blazing. "She would never hurt anyone!"

"Ah, so it's nature and not the bond between you prompting the decision?" Marcus inquired, completely emotionless despite holding a twitching limb. "Do you wish to return it for him, or because of your sense of morality?"

I stood and grabbed at Edward's arm, fixing him with a glare when he wouldn't release it. "I'd like my gift," I said through gritted teeth.

"Once you tell me about your bond," Marcus persisted. "Do you still love this young vampire?"

"It doesn't matter!" My free arm was flung into the air passionately. "He doesn't love me, so I was moving on! I was trying to be happy!"

"Did you succeed?" Marcus interrupted my angry rant with his calm question.

"Excuse me?"

Marcus pulled on the arm we both held, drawing me closer. There was an intensity there, a quiet desperation. "Did you move on?"

My self-righteous stance died. I slumped, my eyes no longer meeting his. "No."

There was a moment of tension, and the arm in my hand lost its support and dropped to the ground, slipping from my grip as it did. I scrambled to catch it, but needed to pick it up off the floor. Marcus was giving me a resigned look.

"Very well, you may return it to him," Marcus waved his hand at the crippled and incapacitated Edward. "Brothers."

Marcus moved in a blur towards the throne room, a sudden swiftness earning yet another look from the many occupants in the room. With a touch of his hand, Aro seemed equal parts disturbed and intrigued.

"Guards, take Edward and Alice to another setting while he recovers," Aro ordered them firmly. "And fetch Edward something to drink corresponding to his diet, as I'm certain having his singer nearby has tormented him. Do not allow them to leave. Bella will remain here. Renata? Santiago? Stay with her. My brothers and I must confer in private regarding this."

All three brothers seemed to leave with a synchronized swish of their robes before disappearing behind the band of two large doors.

Alice had taken the arm from my and was trying to get it to fuse even mildly against Edward's skin. Neither spoke to me as they were led out of the room, which suited me. The tears I'd been shedding and hiding for a month since I'd let Jacob in were now streaming unconscionably down my face.

So instead of just standing around or talking to the guard, I simply went to the place on the great stone floor right in front of the raised dais, and sat down in front of the vampire king thrones. It felt kind of childish, sitting in front of there like I was in an elementary school assembly, but I wanted to be childish right now. I wanted to sit there, waiting for their verdict, alone.

No such luck. A female vampire, black-haired and fixed with classic Roman features, approached me and joined me on the ground. She sat like a lady, though, with both legs out to the side as opposed to cross-legged. Her cold hand fixed itself in place in front of me.

"Renata," she introduced.

I shook it, but remained silent.

She seemed confused. "Are you afraid?"

Damn my tears. "No, I'm not afraid."

She looked on me thoughtfully. "You know, I believe you. But are you unafraid because you're sure Aro will change you, or because you just don't care what happens now?"

"Both." I shrugged. "Apparently, I have a gift and Aro will want it. But I also never cared about being eaten when I was with Edward, so why would I now?"

"You're kind of suicidal, kiddo," Renata told her with a grudging empathy. "Right, but suicidal."

"What do you do in the guard?" I asked, trying to divert her train of thought.

Luckily, Renata grinned at the switch. "I'm Aro's personal guard. You'll probably join me in my duties when they change you, if you're able to resist gifts like Jane's. It'd be nice to have another person to switch off with."

"What's your gift?"

Renata extended her hands with a mischievous grin and I saw the male vampire, Santiago, get thrown up against a wall, yelling, 'Hey!' She laughed at the vampire's face.

"I can push opponents away," Renata explained. "It's all physical shielding though, and Felix can do nearly as much with his brute strength. To be able to keep gifts from reaching Aro, that would be amazing!"

She was a genuinely content woman, and I found I liked her energy.

"I thought you should know," Renata said leaning forward, "Marcus never speaks, and most especially during judgements. This is the first time he's intervened in a while."

"Do you know why?" I asked, more confused by the black-haired vampire. "I mean, I know why he's quiet – Edward told me about his mate – but do you know why he's so into this?"

"He only ever intervenes when there's a mated pair involved," Renata said lowly. "We think it's because it reminds him of Didyme."

I blinked away tears. Did that mean Edward and her were mates? Like she had thought? Just like Esme and Carlisle? "Can you explain mates to me? No one ever really ... you know … told me."

Renata did explain. Turned out that vampires and werewolves were more similar than I knew, because becoming mated to a vampire was very similar to the way Jake had explained imprinting. Scent and then eye contact were the ways to determine one's mate, but unlike the Quileutes, love was not guaranteed. It was a primal mating, about status and passion rather than love. It actually made me feel better to know that the love would come naturally later, if at all.

"So, are Edward and I actually mates?" I asked, looking over to the door Edward left.

Renata snorted. "Did he tell you that?"

I thought back, trying to pick up on specific language. It occurred to me that the only time mates had been mentioned had been with the family, not with Edward and I. So I shook my head.

"Good, because it's only between vampires," Renata told me. "I've heard that Marcus can tell if humans would be mates when they change, but I think that's just speculation. He's kind of mysterious, you know? But vampires mate with each other, not humans."

My holey edges were shrinking, and anger became my next feeling. He had known about mates, had seen how happy his siblings had been, and had known he was only biding his time until his mate showed up. He had used her.

"I was never his forever," I sighed, this time knowing it to be true.

Renata looked torn between being comforting or realistic. "You could be once you've changed, if he's not already mated."

"He didn't even want to know," I lamented. "He kept refusing to change me, every time I asked. If that's how he'd know if I was his mate, wouldn't it have been worth it?"

Renata nodded. "It's the goal of every vampire to find a mate. The idea of spending eternity alone … I met Santiago two hundred years into my life, and when I met him all the years of useless wandering stopped haunting me. If he had thought you could be the one to take away that loneliness and wandering, I cannot imagine why he didn't turn you."

That made me pause.

"He did a number on you, didn't he?" Santiago whistled, now joining in the conversation. "I mean, he should have left your human ass alone, but to string you along like that all just sounds just plain cold-hearted. I mean, you aren't even scared to die, are you?"

"No," I admitted.

He shook his head. "Wow."

The doors to the throne room opened again. Renata jumped to her feet and, with Santiago, moved to stand by the wall. The three brothers walked through, looking like they all had come to an agreeable consensus. Aro in particular was bouncing with anticipation.

"Bella!" Aro greeted. Then, upon seeing my seated position, he looked on me with confusion. "Dear one, why are you on the floor?"

I shrugged. "I felt like it."

A blur of movement and then Marcus was on the bottom step of the dais, directly in front of me. His face reminded her of a psychologist, non-judgmental but analytical.

"If you sit like that, I will join you, topolino."

I didn't want to force a king to be humbled to my level. I shrank under his gaze, staring at the floor. "Please don't."

"Then come," Marcus extended a hand, offering to lift me up. "You clearly need some modicum of comfort, and our motives will be served just as well in the red room."

I accepted his hand up and let him fold my own under his arm as he escorted me away. Aro and Cauis dismiss the guards before following Marcus and I from the room, and I was walked by the three Volturi kings to some deeper part of the castle. I stayed silent, unsure of what I was allowed to say before the decision was announced. Down two staircases, through darkened corridors with no sunlight, I was taken to a windowless chamber with a large steel table with a limb clamp on each corner. The outer rim of the room was a collection of seats, to watch whoever was bound to the table.

My heart sputtered and raced in my chest, and I was sure each king could hear it.

"You're going to change me."

My eyes fixed on Marcus' face, which was as impassive as ever.

"In moments," he affirmed. "However, we must have a conversation."

He lifted me effortlessly onto the metal table and I sat there, looking at the three kings.

"Ah, Bella," Aro looked on me happily. "You are going to be quite a great asset to our coven."

"Thank you," I murmured.

"Not so fast, Aro," Caius growled. His glaring eye was on me. "Isabella, being changed here in Volterra comes with conditions that the Cullens wouldn't understand. You are going to be confined to the castle for the first year of your change, and your first fifty years belong to us. You are ours."

"Fifty years?" I gaped. "I can't leave for fifty years?"

"You will not wish to," Marcus promised, his voice comforting. "You will be free to travel when you don't have guard duties and work … you will not be bored, topolina."

I bit my lip. "If I want to leave after that-"

"We will not force you to stay," Marcus comforted her. "However, I believe we will do everything we can to keep you."

Their darkened eyes observed my reaction.

I took a few deep breaths. "Any other conditions?"

"No," Aro affirmed. "However, dear Bella, we must ask who knows of your trip to see us before your change."

My eyes went wide. "You're not going after my friends."

Caius' eyes narrowed. "So there are those who know."

"No!" I yelled, jumping off the table. "Eek!"

The jump didn't land and I toppled gracelessly. Marcus' arms caught me, and Aro chortled loudly at us. "Oh, dear Bella, I wondered if your clumsiness would make a final appearance."

"Don't kill them," I pleaded with him. "I left my father a note telling him I was leaving, but I didn't tell him where. He doesn't know about vampires, I never told him."

"Then what has you so concerned?" Aro asked.

I bit my lip. "I may need to call a friend when I wake up, to say goodbye."

"Does he know about us?" Caius demanded.

"I-I, er, well, I never said anything-"

"So yes," Caius growled. He was irate. "Who?"

"They're not human," I tried to defend myself.

"Not human?!" Caius roared.

"Brother, calm yourself," Aro placated kindly. "Bella, are you referring to the boy in dear Alice's memories? The wolf?"

Marcus looked down at me, his eyes finally showing emotion. It was concern. "Werewolves?"

"Shapeshifters," Aro dismissed the concern.

"Yes, it's him," I admitted. "Please, if I don't return he'll come to Italy to find me. He needs to hear from me."

Aro gave me a sweet smile. "Dear Bella, we have no intention of denying you that privilege. Just be aware that when you call, if you fail to assure him there is no reason to stir up trouble we will be forced to stop him."

The dark look in Aro's eyes mixed with Caius' murderous expression convinced me that they were serious. I nodded vigorously.

"Excellent!" Aro clapped. "Well, Bella, are you ready?"

I tried to climb back onto the table. When I nearly faceplanted into the steel, Marcus' arms wrapped around me and lifted me into position. I smiled awkwardly at the man.

Marcus was the one who fastened me to the table. He ran from one side to another, tenderly moving each limb into place and in a shackle. When he finished, I shimmied to test the restraints and found Marcus' eyes fixed on my moving form. "Sorry."

"If it would be acceptable to you, topolina," Marcus aired, locking eyes with mine, "may I have the pleasure of turning you?"

The intensity of the look left me speechless. I nodded.

"Brother, you cannot keep her for yourself!" Aro exclaimed. "We have not had such an opportunity to change a member of the guard since our dear Chelsea, and then it was simply you and I. Think of what might happen if all three of us were to bite her!"

"Three?" I squeaked. The idea of having three vampires sucking her blood made her worry. After James had nearly killed her, and Edward had nearly drained her, the idea of having three vampires who hungered from her blood coming so close to killing her was a little nerve-wracking. I realized, for the first time, that they could very well kill me.

Marcus seemed to stiffen. "Brother, you frighten the girl."

"Apologies, Bella," Aro quickly reassured her. "Of course, Marcus should be the first. However, if you'd consent, Caius and I would give you a quick bite."

"Consent?" Caius scoffed. "She should be honoured."

"Brother," Marcus growled. Lips buzzed in a communication too quick to understand.

I bit my lip, stressed at the choice that the brothers seemed to be arguing over.

"We need to do this soon, or our guests may try to interfere," Aro pointed out to the others before turning to me. "Bella, dear one, would you allow all of us to bite you?"

"You won't, er, kill me?" I asked bluntly.

Caius growled, earning a responding one from Marcus. "We have been alive for thousands of years. We have self-control."

I nodded at him and then looked at Marcus, his eyes fixed on me. He seemed the safest of all the brothers, a calm influence on the other two. And he seemed protective of me.

"You'll bite me first?" I asked. "Make sure they don't kill me?"

Marcus brushed the mess of my hair out of my face, nearly tenderly, revealing my neck to his gaze. "I will protect you."

With a deep breath, I nodded. "Then let's do this."

Marcus had no more words of comfort for me, but I didn't need it. Not when his arms braced on either side of my head, offering the privacy of being behind his body and away from his brothers' critical gaze. He was protecting her, even before the bite. I knew he could see my gratitude for the act in my eyes, and it was the first time I saw a small smile lift the corners of his lips.

With that small smile, Marcus bent low and drew his cold nose down the column of my neck, making my heart stutter and breath falter. I could have sworn I felt Marcus kiss my neck before I felt the razor-sharp bite.

The sting hit before the shock. I could feel a light sucking at my neck, and the wound smarted and made me flinch. I was surprised to hear the moan of pleasure coming from Marcus as he fed from me, rocking me through. But when he did that, it seemed to have released him from my blood and he removed himself. When I looked into his intense, newly crimson eyes, the pain started.

Fire started at my neck, traveling and taking over everything. I begged, desperately. I wanted it to stop, but I knew exactly what it was. I'd felt the burning before.

Two additional flames were added to my body, roasting me alive. Both of my ankles had been bitten by the other Volturi kings, and the pain took over. I tried to relieve the pain by moving, but I was chained to the table.

Think about something else, I pleaded my brain. Anything but the pain.

I tried to think about Edward, but nothing. I tried to replace the pain with some meditative techniques Charlie tried to teach me while she was in my comatose state, but nothing. Finally, with my desperation, my brain shut down and I passed out.