Chapter Text
"He is not here right now, he's out planning a funeral" Jacob snarled and then he slammed the phone back onto the receiver. so hard in fact that the phone and the receiver went crumbling to the floor.
"Jacob who was on the phone?" Bella asked as she came into the kitchen, she noticed the broken phone and got worried. "Jacob who was on the phone?"
"No one important," he snarled again.
Alice rushed into the room, she was a little frantic after just receiving a vision. "Bella, Edward thinks you're dead"
Bella turned her wide eyes toward Alice, then back to Jacob understanding who was on the phone. "why didn't you let me talk to him?"
"he didn't ask for you, he asked for Charlie"
"Bella," Alice interrupted. "He is heading to Volterra, he is gonna ask the Volturi to kill him" she explained.
“Why didn't you let me talk to him?” Bella repeated. “I could have stopped him”
“He deserves to die for what he did to you”
“No he doesn't"
“Bella” Alice interrupted whatever Jacob was gonna growl. “We can save him, we just need to head there like now” Alice said as she rushed around the house with superspeed collecting Bella’s suitcase and some clothes, plus her toiletries. They were gonna be in Volterra for a long time.
“No! She is not going anywhere with you bloodsucker!” Jacob shouted.
“Listen, Jacob, I want to go. You can't stop me and as you said outside this is their territory you can't fight them here” Bella said.
Jacob’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his chest heaving. “I don’t care whose territory it is. I’m not letting you drag her back into his arms”
Alice stopped moving so abruptly it was almost jarring. Her golden eyes snapped to him, sharp and unblinking. “If we don’t go,” she said quietly, “Edward dies”
The room went still.
Bella stepped forward before Jacob could speak again. “You said it yourself," she said, her voice shaking but firm. “He thinks I’m dead. That’s on me—on all of us. And I won’t let him die because of it”
“He chose this,” Jacob growled. “He left you. He broke you”
“And I survived,” Bella shot back. “That doesn’t mean I think he should die over a miscommunication. Yes he did hurt me, and no I am not saving him out of love… at least not for him. I still love his family, and it would destroy at least Carlisle and Esme to lose their eldest son. I am going, you can't stop me but I will keep you updated. Now move out of the way”
Jacob didn’t move.
For a heartbeat it looked like he might actually try to stop her—shoulders squaring, jaw locking, the heat of the change just under his skin, the air around him charged with it. His hands curled into fist.
Bella met his gaze.
Something in her expression, hard, resolved, unyielding cut straight through his fury. This wasn’t the broken girl he’d put back together piece by piece. This was someone who had made a decision and would see it through, no matter who stood in her way.
Jacob’s breath left him in a sharp exhale.
His eyes dropped to the floor. With a stiff, reluctant step, he moved aside.
“Don’t let them take you,” he muttered, voice rough. “Don’t let him do this again”
Bella paused long enough to reach out, brushing her fingers against his arm. “I won’t,” she said quietly. “I promise”
Alice was already at the door, keys in hand, her movements sharp with urgency, her gaze unfocused as if she were watching a dozen futures collapse into one. “Let’s move, we have to go now” and as they rushed out of the house Jacob had the sinking feeling that he would never see Bella Swan alive again.
The road blurred beneath them as Alice drove far faster than any human car should have been able to manage. They’d taken the first flight to Volterra which was not a cheap thing to do and of course Alice had them in first class. They’d “borrowed” a car from the airport and now they were zooming over back roads and staying out of the very clear and bright sky of Volterra.
The city rose up in the distance. It looked like it came straight out of an oil painting. it's edges softened by light, bathed in warm hues of gold and amber. Volterra seemed suspended in time, perched high above the surrounding countryside like a relic the modern world had forgotten to claim.
“It’s so beautiful” Bella mumbled in awe.
Alice didn’t answer. Her golden eyes flicked ahead, sharp and unblinking, scanning every rooftop, every shadow, every movement in the streets below. “Beauty can be a trap,” she murmured.
“A trap in which I have fallen into before” Bella remarked.
Alice gave a quick glance towards her before frowning. “Bella… we never wanted to hurt you. I mean Edward just wanted what was best for you, him being your mate he had more say in that regard”
“He is not my mate. Think about it Alice, would you be able to leave Jasper the way Edward left me?” Bella asked.
“What are you talking about? Edward told us that you said after your birthday that you never wanted to see us again. He ordered us to leave and as your mate we had to listen to him. He told us not to talk to you”
Bella shook her head, frustration and disbelief twisting inside her. Anger rose in her chest like smoke in a chimney. “No. That’s not the whole story. I didn’t tell him to leave me. I didn’t tell anyone to leave me. He left me, in the middle of the woods…”
The memory washed over her like ice cold water.
She remembered the whole Cullen family ignoring her following the disaster that was her birthday party.
She remembered Edward coming to her days left and wanting to talk.
She remembered him leading her miles away from her home, miles into the woods.
She remembered him telling her that he didn't love her anymore, that he and the Cullens were leaving… without her.
She remembered him dashing off with that handy superspeed and leaving her, leaving her in the middle of the woods with no knowledge of how to get home.
She remembered being found by Sam, he carried her home hours later, when she was soaked to the bone, tired to the bone and her heart broken in a million pieces.
She remembered spending months in a coma-like state, numb from pain or any other type of emotion.
“Wow,” Alice whispered. Bringing Bella out of the pain of the past. “Bella, I had no idea he did that. He always did know how to work around my visions”
They were pulled out of their conversation by the car entering city limit's. Alice slowed, almost to a crawl, weaving through streets packed with people.
“What's going on?”
“It’s the Festival of the Lanterns… Edward has met with the Volturi, they did not grant his wish for death… he plans to reveal himself in town square at noon. We have to get to him before then” Alice urged as she directed the car through the swell of people.
The crowd surged around them, oblivious to the danger that shadowed the square ahead.
“We can’t drive through that,” Bella said, gripping Alice’s arm as the car slowed to a crawl. “We have to go on foot”
Alice shook her head. “I can't go, he’ll read my mind. He’ll just reveal himself faster so I won't be able to stop him. your mind however is silent to him. He won't see you coming. You have to go alone”
“Alright” Bella said before she pushed open the car door and rushed off disappearing into the sea of people.
She didn't know how long she had until noon. She didn't know what she would say if and or when she would see her ex boyfriend again. She didn't know if she was gonna end this day with a beating heart. She didn't know anything other than she needed to save Edward before he tore the hearts out of his parents because of his death.
Finally after what felt like forever she came across a fountain in front of what looked to be a castle. The castle had it's doors open and in the doorway… there he was! Edward stood in the doorway with his shirt off and his eyes closed.
She tried to rush over but she was stopped by the sea of people. She watched as he took a step towards the square. Towards the sun, out of the shadows.
She couldn't make it through the sea of people. Then a thought came to her. Through the fountain. Through the water, soaking her shoes and plowing into Edward's stone like body, which knocked the wind out of her.
“Edward” she breathed.
“Finally, I can hear her voice. This must be haven” he mumbled as his face grew a peaceful expression.
“No, you idiot. You are not dead and neither am I but we will be if you don't open your eyes and we move”
“Bella?” He said as he finally opened his eyes. “You're here… why are you here… you came here for me…”
“No, I did not come here for you. I came here for Carlisle and Esme, your parents who would be devastated if you were to die. I came for them and only them now would you please step back into the shadows?” She pleaded as she pushed against him but it was like she was pushing against a wall.
He wrapped his arms around her and took a few steps backwards. She released the breath she'd been holding, that is until a deep voice rang out from deeper within the shadows of the castle's entrance hall.
“Well isn't this cute”
“Felix we no longer require your assistance” Edward said without removing his hold on Bella's waste which she did not like at all so she tried grabbing his arms to move but he wouldn't budge.
“Eddie boy, you know that is not how this works. your presence is requested”
Edward growled as he tightened his hold almost to the point where Bella couldn't breathe before he loosened it. “I will accompany you to see the Kings but allow Bella to join in on the festivities”
The vampire named Felix smiled. “Her presence is also requested”
“No” Edward growled again as he turned and put himself between Bella and Felix.
“Come now Eddie don't be stupid” he said as he crouched.
A commotion from outside, from within the festival, pulled their attention. The three of them turned in time to see Alice with an abnormally large sun hat on, pushing her way through the crowd. After a moment she made her way into the castle.
“Come on boys it's not polite to fight in front of women”
“There won't be a fight. All of you are being requested at the Kings behest”
“I’ll go, just let Bella and Alice return to the Festival” the two continued to growl at each other. Bella was just about to argue that she wanted to go with them until a chilling voice called from deeper within the castle.
“Enough” upon hearing that one word uttered from the mysterious person Felix instantly rose from his crouched position and stopped growling. Edward was slower on the rising part but also stopped growling.
“Jane” Felix greeted.
“Let's go,” the person said. Edward looked like he was gonna try and protest again so Bella just walked around him and into the darkness, which seemed like a good idea until she was in the thick of it and couldn't see. Which sucked because not even two seconds later she tripped over her own feet, she closed her eyes and waited for the ground to meet her but two very cold arms wrapped around her waist stopping her descent.
Bella couldn't see who had saved her but for some reason she felt safe in this person's arms.
“Let's go,” the person repeated. They pulled their arms from around Bella, leaving her wishing for that safe feeling to return as the person walked away.
“Bella” Edward's voice carried through the darkness. He came to her side wrapping his arms around her but Bella shrugged them off. Or tried to, she didn't want him touching her. “It's alright love, I'll protect you” he said as he urged her forward.
She didn't want him touching her but knew that if she tried to walk down the dark halls by herself then she would fall… a lot. So she said nothing as she was led down halls, down stairs, down even more halls until they came upon an open elevator which had the only source of light. Jane had stopped next to it, waited for the others to walk in before she stepped in. Bella finally got a good look at her and that feeling returned along with the want to protect this young looking vampire. Two different emotions coming from and directed at the same person, oh how Bella wished Jasper was there to help her decipher it.
When the ding of the elevator went off indicating that they'd come to their floor they all filed out. This part of the castle seemed to have electricity, if the lights on the walls were anything to go by.
“Hello, welcome to Volterra” a receptionist said with a cheery smile as they walked past.
Everything looked ancient. The floor, the walls, the ceiling. They continued to walk down the hall until they came upon a huge door, a door that also looked ancient. It was carved from solid white marble, towering nearly fifteen feet high. Etched into it's surface were three figures. All three figures' features were as clear as day, impossibly detailed despite being carved from marble. All three were dressed in black besides their faces.
One figure stood in the center with the other either side of him and behind. The one in the center had a creepy smile on his face, an excited look in his eyes and hair as dark as night.
To the left of him stood a man that looked to be bored, his smile was relaxed but didn't meet his eyes… The pain in his eyes was plain as day even in the marble. His chestnut hair hung low around his face.
On the other side stood another man, this man had blonde hair that looked greasy. His smirk was subtle, but it felt deliberate, measured like he was always calculating, always three steps ahead. His eyes, sharp and cold.
“Those are the three Kings of the Volturi” Felix supplied. Bella opened her mouth to ask a ton of questions but before she could utter a single word the marble doors opened.
The throne room was enormous. Sunlight poured down from a decorated circular window on the ceiling. The floors, walls, and ceilings were mostly marble. The Volturi Kings sat on a raised dais at the far end of the room, giving them a dominant view over anyone who enters.
Bella, Alice and Edward were ushered into the room.
“Ah! Dear Jane we send you out for one vampire and you come back with two… and a human” the center king said. He looked just the marble version of him on the door.
“Master Aro I have something to tell you” Jane muttered as she came to a stop at the bottom of the dais.
“If you think it is of importance then very well” Aro said as he put his hand out and Jane walked up the two steps to take it. Bella was confused.
“King Aro has the gift of seeing every single thought you’ve ever had, he just has to be touching you in some form” Alice explained her unasked question in a whispered tone.
Edward growled at the thoughts he was hearing coming from Jane. “NO!” he yelled.
“Well this is an interesting development… Alec, would you humor me and look into the humans eyes please?” Aro asked as he gently dropped Jane's hand.
“Of course master” a vampire stepped forward from the side of the room. The edges were lined with vampires, vampires Bella hadn't noticed until now. What with them being dressed in black.
Bella turned to Alec, and once again that strange feeling took hold of her. A sense of safety settled over her, paired with an unexpected, almost primal urge to protect him.
“Master” Alec spoke without taking his eyes away from Bella.
“It seems to have happened to Alec as well,” Aro smiled. “We shall call in your mothers to inform them of this development” Aro turned to one of the vampires standing to the side and nodded, that vampire flashed out of the room.
Against Bella’s better judgment she asked one of the questions that were running through her mind. “What is going on?”
“Oh do not worry child, everything will be explained shortly. But while we wait for the queens we must talk about the other issue at hand” Aro paused to look at Edward who unnoticed by Bella had moved to her side and wrapped his arm around her. “You planned to reveal yourself to humans, after we had denied your request for death. You planned to push our hand over the fact that you thought young Bella here was dead”
Edward stiffened. “I believed Bella was dead,” he said, his voice tight. “I thought I’d lost her. My existence without her was… meaningless”
“Help me understand. You had already lost her when you abandoned her. Don't try to deny that fact, I saw all of it in your head. You revealed yourself to a human, made the human fall in love with you and then left said human behind when you convinced your coven to leave without the intent of ever changing her into a vampire” Aro retold the thoughts he saw in Edward's head.
Edward met Aro’s gaze without flinching. “I thought I was protecting her and I will spend the rest of her life trying to make up for my mistake. Do not blame Bella”
“Still now he has no plan to turn the girl” the blonde haired king growled from his throne. “Why are we entertaining this child?”
“Clam yourself dear brother. You do not want to make the queens mad by insulting one of their children” Aro urged. “Edward Cullen, do you plan on turning Bella Swan into a vampire?” Bella barely heard the question over the way Aro had phrased that sentence. One of their children. She didn’t know who this child was supposed to be but she had the sinking feeling that whatever the answer was, it mattered far more than Edward’s response.
Edward growled as if the mere thought of it disgusted him. “No”
The blonde leaned forward, pale lips curling. “Then we have a problem. You boy” he sneered, “Have broken our laws and have no Intention of rectifying that”
Aro tilted his head, studying Edward with open fascination. “How curious,” he murmured. “You love her desperately, yet you deny her eternity. Such a contradiction” His eyes slid to Bella. “Tell me, child—does this arrangement satisfy you?”
Bella felt every eye in the room turn toward her. Vampires—dozens of them—watching, weighing, deciding whether she was worth keeping alive.
“No,” she said, her voice steady despite the hammering of her heart. “It doesn’t”
Edward turned sharply. “Bella—”
She stepped forward, slipping out from under his arm. The distance was small, but it felt enormous. “You don’t get to answer for me,” she said quietly, not looking at him. “Not anymore”
Aro’s smile widened, delighted. “Ah. Independence. How refreshing. You see, Edward, the human speaks with remarkable clarity for someone so fragile.” His eyes flicked back to Bella. “Tell me more, child. What is it you want?”
“I want the truth,” she said. “I want choices that are actually mine. Not decisions made for me because someone thinks they know what’s best”
Edward’s face had gone rigid, his golden eyes pained. “Bella, love you dont understand I thought I was protecting you”
“I understand that fact, what I can't understand is telling me you love me then discarding me like last week's news. That is beyond cruel Edward Mason Cullen. You broke me, you made a decision for me, for my life. I will not let anyone do that to me ever again” Bella paused as she turned back to the Kings. “If it will solve any problems and prevent any death then I will be changed. Just not by him”
Edward stared at her as if she’d struck him. “Bella no,” he breathed, horror and anguish twisting together. “You don’t mean that”
“Edward let her go, she is not your mate” Alice urged, speaking up for the first time after coming out of the millions of visions she’d been watching.
“She is,” he argued.
“No she isn't, king Marcus” Alice nodded towards the third king. “He can attest to the fact that yes she has a mate but that it is not your title”
Everyone in the room turned to look at king Marcus. “I see,” he started slowly. “I see many strings tied to this human, many of all kinds. Those of family, friends, and most Importantly those of her mates. Yes, I said mates because I do not see just one string nor two, this human has three mates but Miss Cullen is right, none of them are connected to Edward Cullen”
“NO! You are wrong!” Edward shouted as he grabbed Bella’s arm. So hard that she knew that it would bruise.
Jane stepped forward, her expression calm, almost serene. She said one word that brought him to his knees and made him release his grip on Bella. “Pain”
The moment it left her lips, Edward’s body shuddered violently. He fell to his knees, teeth clenched, a strangled roar escaping him.
After a moment Aro’s voice rang out above the low whining that was coming from Edward. His lips curved with amusement. “Release him, Jane”
The moment Jane stepped back, Edward lunged forward—but Bella’s voice rang out before he could get near. “STOP!”
It startled him so much it froze him in his tracks, it gave Bella enough time to walk around him. She came to a stop between him and Jane, having that feeling of needing to protect her, even from Edward.
“Bella?”
“You will not touch her” she ordered.
The marble doors opening pulled everyone's attention.
Three figures stepped through the doorway, moving with a grace that seemed almost liquid, their presence commanding immediate attention. The queens of the Volturi.
The center one was the tallest of the three. She stood with her back straight, posture elegant and composed, radiating a quiet, protective energy that Bella felt deep in her bones. It was the kind of presence that made her want to step closer, to curl into the woman’s embrace and feel safe there. She was slender, almost delicate in build, her pale skin seeming to glow softly beneath the light. Dark hair framed an ethereal face of fine, fragile features, calm and unreadable. She wore traditional black robes that covered her completely.
To the left of her stood a woman a little shorter than the first. She carried herself with an effortless grace, her slender frame relaxed rather than rigid. There was a magnet effect to her presence, easing the tension in the room without a single word spoken. Her pale features were delicate, almost serene, and though her expression was calm, there was a sense of quiet joy beneath it, something subtle but unmistakable. She wore the same dark ceremonial robes as the others. Bella also wanted to step into this woman's warmth and never leave.
On the other side stood another woman, this woman had blonde hair that when caught by the light it looked golden. She was the tallest of the three but she didn't need her height to dominate the room, her gaze did that for her. When her gaze swept over Bella, Bella had the undeniable urge to shrink back. Step away from this woman but not out of fear, out of respect. This woman also had another effect on Bella, she made believe that while protected by this woman she would never be harmed.
The three of them looked like the female counterparts of the Kings, maybe that was the point.
The center one spoke. “Now now children”
Her voice was soft, almost gentle, yet it carried effortlessly across the vast throne room. It wasn’t loud, wasn’t sharp—yet it cut through the tension like a blade through silk. Edward froze instantly. Jane lowered her gaze. Even Aro’s delighted smile softened, reverent.
The other woman spoke. “It seems our children have grown in numbers” she commented as she made eye contact with Bella.
Was she addressing Bella as her child?
Why would she be doing that?
Why did she want to be around the three queens?
Why did she have these weird feelings for Jane and Alec?
Why did she feel safe around the five of them even when they had red eyes?
The queen on the left smiled. “It is alright little one. You are safe here, no one will hurt you” she said gently as she slowly walked closer to Bella.
“I… I have so many questions”
“All of which will be answered but at the moment we have a more pressing matter to address” the queen gave one last smile to Bella before she turned to glare at Edward. “You my boy are very stupid”
“I don't know what you're talking about and I would like to take my mate and go home. You have no law here, she is my mate and we will be heading home” he tried to pass the queen in order to grab a hold of Bella but with a loud growl from the tall queen he froze.
“Marcus has already clarified that you hold no mate bond with her and yet you still cling to your lies” the tall queen growled, her features darkening. “Yet another law he so willingly breaks” she adds with a scuff.
“She is my mate!”
Before anyone could speak Alice spoke yet again. “Edward, watch your tone in front of the queens” she addressed him before turning to the queens. “Your Majesties, you need to explain to Bella what is happening and what connection you hold with her. The sooner you explain, the stronger your bond will be” she gave each one of them a smile before looking at Bella. “You will be very happy here. I've seen it”
“You've seen this?” Aro interruptus. “May I see?” He asks as he raises his, like he'd done Jane.
“Of course, your Majesties”
The room fell into silence as Aro closed his eyes and watched Alice's visions.
“How marvelous, my dear Alice you have seen quite a bit haven't you?”
“No! She is mine!” Edward shouted upon seeing the visions. “You can't take her away from me!”
“Edward, stop!” Bella shouts, still standing between him and Jane. “I don't belong to anyone, especially not you. I am not your mate, this I know for sure because if I was your mate you would not have left me in the middle of the woods with your parting words being that you never loved me” various growls met her words but she continued. “I came here today to save you from yourself. I came here today to protect your family, people who I care very much about. I came here today because I wouldn't be able to live with myself over a miscommunication” she took a deep breath and looked Edward right in the eyes.
“I did not come here for you!”
Edward looked like she'd just kicked his puppy. A look of pure sadness. Before he could try and change her mind, Alice gasped, pulling everyone's attention.
“Oh no” she whispered.
“What is it?” Aro ordered.
“Victoria, she’s creating a newborn army to hunt down and kill Bella”
“She stands no chance against the might of the Volturi” the tall queen growled. The queen that stood next to Bella smiled.
“Calm down Athenodora, we will protect our daughter”
“Daughter?” Bella asked, her confusion rose even higher.
“You are our daughter” Athenodora said flatly, but there was something under that hard exterior. Bella could see it, yes Athenodora looked angry or powerful but there was something under that, a gentleness that only peered it's head when she was looking at the other queens, Jane, Alec and now apparently Bella.
Daughter?
“What are you talking about?” Bella couldn't stop herself from asking.
The one closest to her laid a gentle hand on her arm. “It’s a bond you hold with me, my name is Didyme” she pointed her other hand at her own chest. “Athenodora” she nodded towards Athenodora. “And Sulpicia” she nodded to the last queen. “We hold a maternal bond with you, in every way but blood we are your mothers” she explained.
“I’ve had two people hold that title, both left me in some way” She took a steadying breath. “But what scares me more is that some part of me already believes you” Her eyes softened as they moved to Jane and Alec. “I feel tied to all of you. I don’t know why but I know it’s real”
“A lot has happened today, Felix, would you please take Edward and Alice to the cells. We will deal with them later, for now we must get to know our daughter” Sulpicia ordered.