Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Sometimes a void is heavier than a person leaving."

You wake up one morning and nothing is the same.
He has left you. But it's not about him leaving. It's about... what he left behind.
Himself. A fragmented version of himself. A body shaped in his hands, now in disarray.
I, Bella Swan, don't know who I am anymore.

The first few weeks were like the wind. Cold, sharp.
Charlie's insistence on food, Jessica's artificial speech, the sharp edges of life digging into my wrist.
But of all of that, the thing that hurt the most... was his voice.
The last sentence he left me before he left:

"This is right for you."

Is it right?
Who is right for?

When I went to bed at night, I was covered by a loneliness that would not fit into the walls.
In my dreams, I began to hear not his voice, but his silence.
And then... that silence changed.
A shadow, a whisper, an echo.
At night, I began to see a palace. The walls are stone, the ceilings higher than the sky.

Three silhouettes. Faces I had never seen before, but they were familiar.

They were calling me.

I didn't know it. But I felt it.

In time, this pain ceased to be just his absence.
I realized that I had lost myself.

Did Edward really love me?
Or was he just a ghost in his own perfect fiction?

Every step I took was in a shadow he had drawn.
And for the first time, I dared to step out of that shadow.

I asked myself, "Who am I?"
Someone's lover or the writer of my own destiny?

But fate... sometimes only answers when we dare to ask.

And that night, I looked out the window and whispered,
"Save me from this world."

"If anyone is really listening, help me."

The next morning... I was still the same.
But the sky was different.
And soon there would be a knock at my door.

Chapter Text

Bella's POV

I assumed it was morning. One of those meaningless hours when the light seeps behind the curtain like a gray curtain. I was just leaking through time. I couldn't feel the sunrise or long for the night.

My room was silent. Everything was as it should be; but I no longer wanted anything that "should be." There was a void in my heart that I was afraid to speak its name. Edward.

Even the thought of it made my stomach turn.

I realized how what I thought of as love had consumed me, how it had taken away every decision I made and taught me only to "wait." To be with Edward was to cease to exist. To live for Edward was to give up my own soul.

I didn't want to wait anymore.

I had been having the same dream a lot lately. A black velvet blanket pressing against my chest... Shadows... stone walls... and three figures. They always stood in the same place. The one in the middle was watching me, the other two were silent. Whispers rose from behind me, words in a language I didn't recognize filling my ears. But every time I got close, I woke up.

It happened like that today. But this time when I woke up... the doorbell rang.

It couldn't be my mother. Charlie was never so polite in the morning. Jessica or Angela never came. Jacob... he didn't come anymore either.

When I opened the door, I couldn't believe the person in front of me at first.

"Alice?"

She was as elegant as ever, but her eyes—her eyes were telling of disaster.

"We must prepare," she said simply. "Edward is about to kill himself."

It was as if someone had punched me in the stomach.

I wanted to speak, but she silenced me by putting her fingers to my lips.

"There's no time. I'll tell you the details on the way. Our plane is to Volterra."

Volterra.

The moment she said this, something shivered inside me. It was as if a word from my dream had been spoken and seeped into reality.

Was I still in a dream?

As Alice turned and walked to the car, I scanned the room for a moment. Leaving this place, this life, this pain...

Maybe this journey wasn't to save Edward.

Maybe it was a conscious exile to find myself.

And a voice inside me—a voice I no longer recognized but had no choice but to obey—simply whispered:
"You will eventually face the eyes that are watching you."

When we arrived at the airport, I still hadn’t fully recovered my grip on reality. Alice’s voice was like background music, familiar but indecipherable.

“Edward will appear in St. Mark’s Square,” she said at one point. “The moment the sun is directly overhead. The Volturi rules forbid it… but he wants it.”

“He wants to die…”

The words made the pain suddenly come alive. But there was another voice inside me now—the cold but alluring whisper of my dreams. As if someone were telling me that I would be saved not from his death but from his lies.

The plane took off. I looked out from my window seat. The mountains shrank, the city vanished.

And me?
For the first time, I felt myself moving toward freedom.
Saving Edward was my excuse. I couldn’t even admit my real reason to myself yet. But it wasn’t anger that welled up inside me. It wasn’t fear.

It was curiosity.

I couldn’t help it.

“Where is Volterra?”

He turned his eyes to me.
“A small city in the heart of Italy. But it’s not an insignificant town. Time… flows differently there.”

I frowned.
“And Edward… is there?”

There was a short pause.
“Not yet. But he will. He will show himself… in St. Mark’s Square, on St. Marcus Day.”

I froze for a moment.
“Under the sun?”

He nodded.
“He knows the Volturi cannot ignore this.”

Bella bit her lip, leaning closer to Alice, her voice calm. "Can you tell me about them? The Volturi? Edward said they were the closest thing any of you had to royalty." Alice pursed her lips, tilting her head as she considered Bella's question for a moment. "They value order above all else. To them, everything, every being, has a purpose, whether that purpose is an asset, an obstacle, or a source of sustenance for others. However, one's perception of their value can change in an instant, rapidly shifting depending on their current goals or needs. At the helm of this so-called royal family are three brothers: Aro, Marcus, and Caius.

Marcus, the eldest, has largely retreated into the shadows of their court life. He is often present at meetings to verify the relationships of those brought to them, a vital but minimal role. His special talent allows him to peer into a person's essence, to tease out the intricate web of their connections to others; an invaluable skill in determining loyalties and potential threats within their ranks. Carlisle once said that Marcus looked "barely alive" even by our standards; he seems almost catatonic, haunted by the grief of losing his wife years ago.

Caius, on the other hand, is a force to be reckoned with. His temperament swings unpredictably from aggressive to downright sadistic, making him a responsible powerhouse. Everything in Caius’s world is defined by extremes; there is no gray area, no room for missteps or misunderstandings. Unlike Marcus, who is uniquely gifted, Caius relies solely on his ambition and his sharp tactical mind to exercise power. These traits, combined with his twisted sense of justice, make him extremely dangerous and completely unpredictable. You must be careful, Bella; provoking him could have far more serious consequences than you can possibly imagine.”

Why would I deliberately provoke a capricious, violent vampire, but I have made a note of that.

Bella nodded slightly, her mind racing as she processed Alice’s words. “What about the last one? Aro?” she asked, a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Alice let out a soft breath, a short gasp leaving her lips as she leaned back against the soft headrest of her seat. Her eyes, usually bright and active, seemed clouded with a wariness that colored the air with tension. She glanced at the other passengers carefully, making sure they were not being overheard, before returning her attention to Bella. As he moved closer, his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper mixed with caution.

"Aro is... quite complex, to say the least. After all, he is the joker in their circle. He holds considerable influence as the de facto leader of the three siblings. Like Edward, he also has telepathy, but there is a significant difference in how it works. Aro's abilities are tactile; he can access another's thoughts through direct physical contact. When he touches an individual, he opens the vault of every thought they have, accessing their earliest memories. This is a power he often uses when holding court, making him a fearsome presence. Although they are kings, they are ruthless killers, Bella, do not speak to them or look them in the eye unless necessary.

Something inside me started.

This name… as if it were the nameless owner of my dreams.

When the plane landed, Volterra was hot. Alice sat in the driver’s seat of a rented gray Alfa Romeo. We got in and didn’t talk.

There was only the sound of the road, the vibration of the stone roads, and the things we couldn’t ask each other.

Then Alice’s eyes went away. She gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“What happened?” I said quickly.

Her pupils had dilated slightly, her voice had dropped to a whisper.
“I saw it. The clock tower. The square. The crowd….Edward will also show himself at noon when the sun is at its highest point. There’s no time.”

She stopped the car on the edge of a street.
“Run, Bella. Run! It’s exactly twelve o’clock!”

I opened the door in surprise and jumped. People had gathered for the festival. Children in red cloaks, torches, people carrying the statue of St. Marcus… They were all strangers to me.

But as I passed through them, my heart felt like it had turned into a clock.
Every beat… a countdown.
Every breath… a race against infinity.

When I reached the clock tower, I saw Edward take off his shirt.
His eyes were closed. He would take another step into the light.

“Edward!”

I shouted.
I ran.
Time warped.
The noise of the world stopped.

I reached him.
I grabbed his arm.

He opened his eyes. He looked at me.
His expression was confusion. But there was something else: relief.

He took me in his arms.
But…

But I didn’t belong there anymore.
Those arms… that contact… that kiss on my forehead…

It made me feel nothing.
Like rereading a page from the past: familiar but no longer touching.

And then…

The crowd suddenly fell silent.

I heard heavy footsteps echoing behind us.

Three figures appeared—a pale-faced girl who looked as young as a girl; a quiet, dull-eyed boy beside her; and a muscular, imposing man.

The younger smiled. His smile sent shivers down my spine.

“Master Aro wishes to see you,” he said, his voice high but firm.

I didn’t know their names. But I was certain of one thing: these people… or whatever they were, had not come to play.

Chapter Text

As we moved slowly through the crowd and reached the open square, the air was almost still.

Then…
Steps. Slow, echoing, menacing steps.

Three figures emerged from the shadows. A small girl—pale, with golden hair pulled back in a braid. Beside her, a silent boy a head taller than her. And at the very back, a huge, muscular figure; not a single expression on his face.

The smaller one stepped forward, a bitter smile on his lips.

>“Master Aro wishes to see you,” he said.

His voice was strangely cheerful—as if it were an invitation rather than an order.

Edward stopped in front of me, pulling me behind him. His hand quickly grabbed my wrist—holding it so tightly that for a moment I thought my bones would crack.

>“There’s no need for this, Jane,” Edward said, his voice sharp and defensive. “We were leaving anyway. I’m not going to see Aro. We need to get going.”

The girl’s—I didn’t know if her name was Jane—looked at him without moving.

There was a dangerous spark in her eyes.

> “Do you really think you could disobey him?”

The lightness in her voice had disappeared. It was a warning. Or a threat.

At that moment, a shadow passed over us. Alice glided down the side of a building, her hair flying in the wind.

> “Jane, Alec, Felix,” she said softly but firmly. “We see you. We’re coming.”

She bowed her head. Diplomatic, but not challenging.

Edward was still gripping my wrist. The touch… the hand that had once held me in trust now felt like a foreign, painful vice.

I could feel bruises forming under his fingers.

But the real pain wasn’t in my wrist. It was in the way he still acted as if he owned me.

And in that moment, in that square, for the first time, I thought to myself:

> “She’s holding me not because she loves me, but to control me…”

I didn’t know their names. But the emptiness in their eyes and the dead silence on their faces told me enough. I glanced at Alice, but she remained silent. Edward, however, was determined to keep me behind him.

When Jane’s gaze fell on me, I felt a tiny tingle inside me. This girl was ageless. She looked young, but her eyes… they were the eyes of a being who had lived for thousands of years.

Alec was chilling. His eyes never settled on a single point. It was like silent death.
Felix was different. Almost human, but too strong, too cold.

The restlessness that rose inside me suddenly turned into something more familiar.
This place… this hallway… these steps…
That dream I had forgotten when I woke up…
The sky was always red and these walls around me.

I had seen this room in my dreams.

The throne room.

Vast, echoing, arched. A darkness permeated with marble and history.

The figure in the middle rose from the shadows.
His black robes almost seemed to flow to the floor.
His eyes were bright red, he had a distinctive face, and I thought he looked charismatic and lovely, but his gaze was blindingly clear.

It just… made me shiver.

Edward took a step forward, holding me back.
But when his eyes met hers directly, time slowed down..
"Aro...." Edward said in a harsh, growling tone.

> "Edward..."

The voice was silky and chilling.

"What a joy... to see you again."

Aro raised his hand.
His thin, long fingers reminded me of the dance of death.
Edward stepped forward without turning to me and extended his hand.
Aro took his hand. His eyes narrowed slowly, the corners of his lips turned up.

> “Ah… my lost son. How much darkness you have pressed.”

Edward was still holding my wrist. Hard.
So tight… it almost felt like my bones would crack.
At one point I lowered my gaze to my wrist. His grip was strong enough to bruise.
But I couldn’t object.
Yet.

Aro turned slowly to me.

His gaze took me in from head to toe.
His eyebrows rose slightly.

> “And who is this…?”

He didn’t know me—but he spoke as if he’d known me for years.

Edward tightened his grip on my arm.

> “Bella,” he said, short and clipped.

“And don’t touch her.”

But Aro ignored him and approached me.

Slow, theatrical, almost like an artist.
Another step.

And another step.

Then he stopped. He held out his hand.

> “Will you do me the honor, Bella?”

Edward immediately objected.

> “No. You can’t read that. No one can.”

Aro bowed his head slightly.

> “Then… why don’t we try?”

Bella made a decision in her mind.
Enough.
Edward's wrist was still holding her arm, but she moved away from his gaze.
She raised her gaze to Aro. She walked towards him with sure steps and looked at him with a slight smile and admiration on her face, Aro....

> "Of course," she said slowly.

She held out her hand.

Edward made a move as if to pull back, but this time Bella did not back down.
Aro touched Bella's hand with his fingertips.
But... nothing happened.
Her eyes widened.
Her gaze became as if she were looking at a painting.

> "I can't... see anything."

Her voice came out as a whisper.

Then he approached Bella, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

“Mmh…”

He opened his eyes.

“What a… unique scent, mouthwatering and familiar. What a… dangerous mystery.”

He put his hand on Bella’s cheek.

It was a cold, slightly trembling touch.
His gaze seemed to penetrate her skin.

>“Isabella,” he said at last.

He said her name in that strange, high, almost sweet voice of his.

Never had Bella heard her name so wonderfully…

Edward lunged forward.

>“Enough!”

He pulled Bella’s arm, but this time Bella pulled back.
There was a gleam in his eyes. Not anger.

Disgust.

>“Don’t hold me Edward, let me go,” he said.
“I don’t want it anymore.”

The room fell into a cold silence.
Aro raised an eyebrow.
It was as if something he hadn’t expected had happened.

His gaze turned to Bella, then to Edward.

And for the first time, Aro truly smiled.

Aro remained still for a few seconds after Bella’s words, “I don’t want it anymore.”
His fingers were still on her cheek, but his gaze slowly moved away.
Then he turned his head to the throne row, to the two figures sitting on a high platform.
Marcus and Caius.

The thrones…they looked familiar to Bella again.
They were the thrones in the room she had seen in her dream.
Her eyes widened.
The images merged.

Marcus was still.
But his gaze was focused solely on Bella.
As if he were reading her emotions from within.
He was tired but attentive.
He was visibly doing nothing—but Bella sensed that he knew something.

Caius was leaning forward.
His eyes were bright and sinister.
His arms were pressed tightly against the armrests of the throne.

Aro spoke without taking his eyes off them.

> “Brothers… we are faced with a violation of the rules.”

His voice was low, but it echoed.

“A human girl… still one of them. And she has not been turned.”

Caius straightened up immediately.

> “How long have they known?”

He locked eyes with Edward.

“And why is she still alive?”

Edward clenched his teeth.
Alice bowed her head.
Bella found the focus suddenly on her.

Aro continued speaking—this time as if he were defending Bella’s existence.

> “But… this girl is unusual.”

“She does not respond to any abilities. Edward cannot read her. Neither can I.”

“Perhaps… she is a unique gem. Perhaps fate has a greater plan.”

Caius snorted.

> “A rule is a rule.”

“A human is either turned… or killed.”

Edward stepped forward, stepping in front of Bella again.

> “No!”

But this time Aro didn’t even look at him.
His eyes were on Marcus again.

The silence stretched.
Marcus slowly turned his gaze from Bella to Aro.

> “Feelings…” he said simply.

His voice was like an old leaf falling to the ground.

“The bonds are new. But deep. And about to change.”

Bella didn’t quite understand what he meant, but Aro’s eyes lit up.

It was as if Marcus’s comment was a sign to her.

Then he turned back to Caius.

> “What do you say, brother? A violation of the rules, of course… but wouldn’t it be fair… to assess the girl’s potential before giving her a punishment?”

Caius narrowed his eyes at Bella.

There was a long, piercing silence.

> “Then,” he said finally, “let’s not make the decision today. But…”

“If she’s going to be transformed, let it be tied to a date. Otherwise…”

He put his hand under her throat—the gesture and the threat combined.

Edward was now growling.
Alice was still silent, but her eyes were on Bella.
As if she didn’t want to see her… she wanted to read her.

Aro turned slowly to Bella.

> “What do you say, Isabella? Would you like to make those beautiful eyes… ours?”

Bella looked into his eyes from behind Edward.
This man was terrifying.

And yet so impressive.
And for some reason… the red eyes of the man before her had never seemed so familiar to her.

Chapter Text

The interior of the Volturi castle was filled with a coldness that was more intense and overwhelming than its size. Every step echoed on the stone floor, every breath deepening. Bella slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Time did not move in this room at all. Everything was like a kind of dark, forced transition.

The moment Aro made his decision, everyone in the room turned to him. Edward was a silent and lost figure behind him. He watched all this, but did not take a single step. Bella began to step forward, confident in the presence of the person she loved the most, but also with an anger that grew even lonelier inside her.

Caius turned his gaze to her with trembling lips. "Will it be that easy, Aro? After all this time..."
Caius' voice was like a storm growling between his teeth. The threat in his stance was clear.

Aro bowed his head, with a trace of a smile. "These are our affairs, Caius," he said, but his voice was a little scattered. The consequences of Bella's decision echoed throughout the room. This step was big enough to affect all of the Volturi.

Marcus sighed deeply, never taking his eyes off Bella. “She’s made her decision,” he said, but his voice was almost inaudible. There was a kind of weariness in his gaze. The consequences were always harsh, but over time, they all came to be accepted.

When Marcus’s voice carried through the room, everything seemed to freeze for a moment.

Bella turned to look at Edward. That familiar face, the eyes that once made her world spin, were now miles away from her. Yet there it was. Silent. Frozen. Lost.

Bella took a few steps, closing the distance between them, but the wall between them was still there.
—“Why did you keep quiet?” she asked. Her voice was low but full. “Why didn’t you say anything? Not before Aro made his decision, and not now…”

Edward looked away. His lips parted, but the words didn’t come out of his mouth. He only whispered:
—“Because I couldn’t save you.”

Bella shook her head.
—“No. You never wanted to save me. You said you were thinking ‘for my own good’ by not changing me. But in fact, you tried to mold me to your own taste. I chose, Edward. I don’t want to live with your decisions anymore.”

Edward’s eyes narrowed.
—“Because I love you—”

Bella took a firm step back.
— “Love? This isn’t love. This is wanting to possess. If you truly loved me… you would accept me as I am. As someone who wants to change. As someone who believes in the justice of the Volturi. But you only saw yourself in me.”

Edward’s hands were clenched at his sides. His throat felt dry.
— “I… I didn’t want to lose you.”

Bella’s eyes filled with tears, but there were no tears.
— “You’ve already lost me.”

Bella didn't hesitate for a moment. Her mind was filled with a strange clarity, but what was going on in her heart was… another battle. She looked at him more carefully after he said those words.

Edward.

He was still there.
But in reality, he was so far away.
He seemed foreign.
Cold.
Broken.
But most of all… filled with a rage she couldn't even admit to herself.

“You looked me in the eye and rejected me,” Bella said. Her voice was quiet but clear. “You glorified your love and diminished me.”

Edward bowed his head slightly. His hands balled into fists.

“I tried to protect you,” he said. His voice was almost a growl. “To keep you out of this world…”

Bella took a step closer.
“It was your decision. You acted as if it were not my life. As if I had no choice.”

Silence.

Edward took a breath. “I still love you.”

Their eyes met. There was a tremor in Bella’s gaze, but it was not from emotion.

It was clarity.

For the last time.

“You love me,” Bella said. “But not who I am. Who you want me to be.”

Edward’s gaze cracked. He shook his head silently, but there was no answer. When he was finished, Bella pulled back. She bowed slightly.

“I must thank you,” she said in a whisper. “Because before I lost you… I found out who I was.”

The distance between them was no longer physical, but a spiritual chasm. He didn’t turn back. He walked to Aro’s side.

And Edward… remained there.
Behind me.
The air around the throne had changed slightly as I turned and walked toward Aro.
Something had been disturbed.
An invisible balance…
It had been broken.

Aro bowed his head slightly in greeting.
“How nobly you speak, my dear Isabella,” he said.
His voice was as delicate and melodic as ever, but filled with deep attention.
His eyes flickered from Bella to Edward for a moment. A spark appeared behind his eyelids…
He watched with pleasure.
Emotions, moments of decision, breaking points…

Marcus watched Bella, still motionless but with narrowed eyes. His lips moved almost imperceptibly:
“The turning point.”

Caius shifted uneasily in his chair. His high, impatient voice cut through the atmosphere like a knife:
“Is this theater over?”
He turned his gaze to Bella.
"The law was broken. The person was hidden. The punishment is clear."

Bella took two small, tentative steps toward Aro. Then her voice came out in an unexpectedly gentle and controlled tone:

"Master Aro... If I may speak?"

Aro's face lit up with theatrical and polished elegance that always hung there. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he responded with a graceful bow of his head:

"Ah... Isabella, mia cara... Of course. Please, the floor is yours."

Bella's heart beat as if she were still human. She kept her eyes fixed on Aro's face, her voice clear but with an icy sadness hidden beneath it:

"I... I decided months ago that I wanted to be transformed. Not to die—I didn't want to live my life denying your existence. But Edward refused. His family also objected."

The silence in the room grew heavy. Edward's face was pale; Bella didn't even glance at him.

"Actually… I know about you. Edward told me one day about you, the Volturi, and your laws. And on the way here, Alice…"
He took a breath. It took courage to say those words.

"…he told me on the plane that you were a kingdom of vampires, that you had very clear laws, and that although you were kings… you were known as ruthless killers. He said that I was not to speak to you… not to come into contact with you unless necessary."

Aro's lips curled into a faint smile as he heard those words. When his eyes met Bella's again, he spoke with clear conviction and no suppression:

"But I trust your judgment," Bella said, her voice no longer shaking.

"Please, let Volturi justice be done for me. Whatever remains—I will accept with honor."

For a moment, the room seemed to be silent. Aro looked at Bella with a respectful look, his eyes filled with a mixture of pleasure and enchanting attention.

The air in the room thickened at those words.

Aro narrowed his eyes slightly, then leaned his head slightly, stepping closer to Bella.

“How brave, how graceful…”
He reached out a hand slowly, touching Bella’s cheek.
“Now… you’re talking like one of us.”

Caius rolled his eyes.
“If that’s what’s needed, Carlisle and the others should be brought here too,” he said.
Aro bowed his head without looking at her.

“Felix, Demetri. Set off immediately, toward Forks. Escort Dr. Carlisle Cullen and his remaining family here. Do no harm.”

Bella’s eyes widened.

“Are you going to… harm Carlisle?”

Aro shook his head.

“No, no… of course not. But they’re involved now. You’re all links in a chain.”

Edward took action then.

“No,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I’ll take him from here.”

He took a step forward.

Two Volturi guards—Alec and Santiago—both pressed Edward on the shoulders, forcing him to sit on their knees.

Cold but with menacing clarity.

“Stop,” Aro said, his voice soft but firm.

“This is not rebellion, Edward. This is a moment of decision.”

Edward tried to move forward, but two more guards held him back.
Alice’s voice suddenly rose sharply:

“Wait!”
Everyone turned to her.

Time seemed to stop in that moment.

“He will become one of us,” she said.
Her voice was trembling but filled with determination.

“I see.”

Silence.

“Please…let us take him back…I will turn him.”
The plea in her voice…was like a dying prayer mixed with hope.

Aro slowly approached Alice. Alice held her head high and looked into Aro’s eyes. “If you want to see, just hold out your hand, sir,” she said.

Aro took off his red glove and opened his palm toward her.

“Give me your… hand.”

Alice held it out without hesitation.
Aro grasped Alice’s palm with his long, graceful fingers.

She closed her eyes.

That moment felt like an eternity to Bella.
It was as if the entire room held its breath.

Aro finally let go of Alice’s hand.

Before he could say anything, he turned to Marcus and Caius.

Their eyes met.
Quietly.
Then Aro spoke in that familiar theatrical tone:

“The decision has been made.”

Chapter Text

BELLA POV

The gloom beyond the doors seeped into me. The air was filled with an old scent—dust, stone, blood, the echo of history. The sound of my footsteps slowed because my eyes were locked on him.

Aro.....

My eyes widened, I could feel it. As if my pupils were trying to take in more of his silhouette. My lips parted unconsciously. My breath… yes, it was still there. But I had almost forgotten.

Aro looked at me.
Really.
Not like Edward’s eyes—not those dominating, anxious eyes, not knowing what to do. Aro’s were different.

For the first time, I felt “seen.”
Edward’s love was about protecting me; Aro’s was about getting to know me.
And the difference tore my insides apart.

“Isabella,” he said again, this time slower, as if he were kissing my name.

The whole room was silent, but his voice echoed around me.
I wanted to take a step. There was a voice in my ear that would say, “What are you doing?” Edward’s voice, perhaps… but muffled, distant.

I just wanted to leave a mark in his eyes.
For a moment, I wanted to engrave not just in Aro’s mind, but in his heart, not as the person standing next to Edward, but as myself
Isabella Maria Swan.

And as I stood there, only this sentence passed through my mind:
“See me. Really see me. Because I am not chosen… I choose. I choose you…”

Edward was still holding my wrist, but I was no longer the Bella I had been.

I needed neither the obsession that passed for love nor the protection of the Cullen family name.

I pulled my arm free with all my strength.

My wrist ached, but a strange warmth rose inside me.

I turned myself toward Aro.

I knelt down slowly, the stone floor of the hall freezing cold.

I raised my head.

And asked him, and him alone:

“Are you going to turn me?”

Edward practically shouted from behind me:
“What do you think you’re doing?!”

But his sentence was left unfinished.

Aro took a few steps closer.

His red eyes flashed like lightning.
The anger in his voice was like a power from the depths of Volterra:

“Let her speak, Edward!”

“Let her make her choice!”

The atmosphere of the hall changed in an instant.
Even Alec and Jane turned their heads to look at us.
Aro was good at suppressing his anger, but this time, there was something inside him that he could not suppress:

The possibility of losing me.

Silence...

Then only Aro’s voice:

“This choice is sacred, Edward. It cannot be taken by force. Isabella will speak. And I will listen.”

Aro's eyes saw what was in me. Another darkness that recognized the darkness within itself...

But in an instant Edward grabbed my arm in anger.

"I'm going to get you out of here," he said, his voice coming out through his teeth.
His grip on my wrist wasn't momentary. It was hard. Possessive. It hurt.

It... really hurt.

"Let me go Edward Cullen!!!"
My voice echoed off the stone walls of the throne room.
I shook. But more than that, something inside me broke away from Edward at that moment.

This... wasn't love.

This was a cage.

I turned to Edward.
I looked into his eyes.
I saw only fear in this man I once thought of as a shelter.
His fear was more about losing control than losing me.

And with that look...
I looked at Aro.
It was like there was a wounded child inside me crying out, "Help me." And I, who had never asked for help from anyone in my life, who had made it a matter of pride and thought asking for help was a sign of weakness, cleared away all my emotions and looked only at Aro....
He heard the call.

He took no time.
He took only one step.

He raised his white hand gracefully, turned his wrist once—and Edward fell to his knees before our eyes.
The silence echoed like a roar.

Edward fell to the ground with a wheezing breath.
His pride was shattered.
But I... I breathed freely for the first time.

Aro's voice was soft, like a dark melody:
"Let go, Edward. It's time for him to choose."

In that moment, all of Volterra seemed to revolve around me.

I was no longer alone.

And for the first time, I felt truly seen.

Time had stopped.
My knees sank into the stone floor, but the weight inside me was lightening.
For the first time, I had truly spoken on my own behalf.
And now…I waited for an answer.

Aro stood before me like a statue.
His long black cloak had fallen to the ground, and his customary sweet but sinister smile had appeared on his face.
But this time…there was something else in his eyes.
A kind of admiration.
A kind of…acceptance.

He tilted his head slightly.
“What a bold wish,” he said, his voice melodic and smooth.

“And what…pure darkness it carries within it.”

His hands moved slowly.
Time seemed to dissolve between his white fingers.
I looked at him without blinking.

Then he extended his hand toward me.
Slowly, almost as if part of a sacred ritual.
It was as if he were suspended in midair—my heart had stopped.

I raised my hands too.
Sweat trickled through the tiny cracks between my fingernails, but I couldn’t stop shaking.
It was as if my entire destiny was in my fingertips.

And…
My fingers touched his.

A warmth coursed through me—despite his cold hands.
But it wasn’t physical.
It was an ancient, ancient, diagnostic force, a bond that bound us.
It was acceptance.

Aro’s eyes shone.
It was as if he were looking into the depths of my mind.
But whatever he saw satisfied him.

“Let us… set you free,” he said.

Edward moved behind me, but Alec held out his arm to stop him.
Edward was gone now.
No Cullens.
Just me… and Aro.

Chapter Text

Aro turned to Bella after letting go of Alice’s hand.

He spoke with a soft but measured smile:

> “My dear Isabella… our decision is clear. But the transformation… is not today.”

Bella’s eyebrows furrowed. She took a step back, and Edward growled like an animal straining against its chains.

Aro calmly stopped the guards with a wave of his hand, then spoke carefully:

> “We appreciate what you saw, Alice. However, for a person… to voluntarily want to transform… is a rare thing.

And it can be dangerous. Especially when it is done for such emotional reasons…”

Marcus shook his head slightly.

“Devotion… is not pure loyalty yet,” he said in a low voice.

“There is still uncertainty.”

Caius finally spoke.

Coldly:
“Or maybe it is a game. A game played by the Cullens.”

Aro clasped his hands.

> “That’s why… we three… decided to keep him here.
Under observation. His mind, his behavior, his reflexes, his desires… must be known before he can transform.
Before he can belong to us… he must be able to understand us.”

Edward charged forward angrily.

“No! You can’t keep him here! He’s human! This captivity—”

> “No, Edward,” Aro said. His voice was sweet, but there was an iron warning underneath.

“This is… protection. If we’re going to create him with our own hands, we must first… know the validity of our decision.”

Bella was silent during this. Her eyes were fixed on Aro.

> “How long will it take?”

Aro took a step closer.

> “That’s up to you. The more honest you are, the more you open up… the shorter it will be.”
He bowed slightly.
“We won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Bella paused for a moment after listening carefully to Aro’s words. The meaning in his eyes intensified the air around her. Then, with a graceful movement, she turned her head and looked at Renata.

“Renata,” he said, his voice silky but commanding, “please take her to the guest room. I want her to be treated with the best hospitality.”

He glanced at Bella again from the corner of his eye, a soft smile gracing his lips.

“That’s enough for now, my dear Isabella. Of course we will talk… and for a long time. We will have an eternity, right?”

Renata bowed her head respectfully and turned to Bella, slightly extending her hand, beckoning her to accompany him.

Just before Bella could leave the throne room door, Aro took a step forward. He slowly raised his hand, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

“My dear Isabella…” he said, his voice still in that almost melodic tone.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Before Bella could comprehend what was happening, Aro’s graceful fingers reached out to her wrist.
That wrist that Edward had held tightly for hours, that had his fingerprints etched into its bones...

Aro slowly turned her wrist.

The bruise was clear.
A deep, dark stain, a reminder that Bella was still "human" despite everything.

Her eyes darkened briefly—not anger, perhaps more disappointment.

She bowed her head slightly,
and in that moment...she gently placed her lips on the bruised part of her wrist.

It was cold.

It was delicate.
And strangely: Bella felt no pain.

When Aro’s lips left her wrist, the bruise was gone.

The skin had returned to its original color.
As if nothing had happened.

Bella couldn’t believe her eyes.
The pain was gone too.
There was nothing left, just… the short, ragged breath left by Aro’s touch.

“I can’t stand you being harmed,” Aro said, looking into Bella’s eyes.

“Especially when you’re not even ours yet.”

Then he pulled back gracefully and turned to Renata, nodding slightly.

The door opened.

Bella looked at her wrist again.

The skin was smooth.
But the texture of that moment had been etched into her soul.

The heavy doors of the castle’s throne room closed silently behind her.

Bella walked one step behind Renata, her feet pounding on the stone floor.
The silence filled the corridors with a kind of dull restlessness; as if the whole structure whispered something invisible to the eye.

The walls…
They were made of thick, gray stone, high-ceilinged, and damp.
And yet they were cold.
Not just the air, but the feeling.

Like an echo of some ancient, timeless judgment…

Renata turned her head to Bella every now and then, saying nothing but pointing ahead.

She was silent, but she was there.
Even her shadow, floating at shoulder height, whispered to Bella that she was being “watched.”

As Bella walked, she struggled with heavy thoughts like rolling stones in her mind.

> “I really did stay… even though Edward said no… I stayed.
Aro made me promise… but what kind of promise is that?
How many people have taken a pledge behind these walls and turned — and how many have never returned?”

At the end of the corridor, a spiral staircase wound upwards.

His footsteps echoed on the stone steps as he ascended.

There was no noise, but silence rang in his ears. They stopped in front of a dark, heavy door, and Renata flung the double doors open wide.

The room was a haven of Gothic grandeur, reflecting the elegant darkness of the Volturi. The entrance door was made of heavy oak; the intricate patterns carved into it suggested a story sealed in history. The first thing one felt when one stepped inside was the coolness of the stone walls, but this coldness gave the atmosphere of the room a noble solemnity.

The windows that reached to the ceiling were covered with thick burgundy velvet curtains. Even during the day, they barely let in daylight, and the gloom inside created an air of magical mystery. The ceiling was high and arched; it was supported by dark stone arches. On the ceiling, stars painted in pale gold and old Latin inscriptions could be seen.

The large bed in the middle of the room was carved from dark walnut, its headboard decorated with Gothic motifs that twisted like ivy. The bedspread was made of heavy velvet in shades of black and silver, and the pillows were arranged with the splendor of old Italian noble houses.

A large, hand-woven rug was spread across the floor—a striking yet muted shade of wine red, black, and gray. There was a fireplace in the corner, with logs carefully arranged but not yet lit, yet the scent of incense and lavender gave the air a subtle warmth.

In one corner was an old sideboard filled with books, bound in leather and gilded inscriptions. Next to it was a single, velvet-covered armchair and a small reading lamp. It was as if each guest in this room was expected to be alone in the dark, thinking.

A section of the wall was separated by a heavy door that gave the impression of a secret passage—this led to the private bathroom, which was Bella’s alone. The bathroom was tiled with stone and contained a large claw-foot bathtub. The sinks were black marble, the faucets were antique-looking silver-plated. The only light came from dim candle-like lights built into the walls.

Everything was quiet and orderly. This room had the elegant menace of the Volturi, an atmosphere that both fascinated and kept its guests on edge.

Rather than closing the door, Renata turned to Bella. Her face was expressionless, but there was a slight softening in her voice—perhaps the only thing left from the Volturi's customary coldness.

"I will find Heidi," she said gently but briefly.
"She will bring you some food and suitable clothing. You are advised to rest."

Then he paused for a moment, looking into Bella’s eyes.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but he thought better of it.

He just bowed his head and silently closed the door behind him.

It didn’t lock.

But Bella knew that the corridor beyond that door meant observation, not freedom.

Alone in the room, Bella clung to this small detail:

Heidi. Food. Clothing.
How strange it was — she didn’t know if she was hungry or cold or what to wear.

But in the midst of her inner storm, she realized how human these little things, a fork, a piece of cloth, a name… seemed.

She dragged her feet into the room with heavy steps.

She sat down in the armchair by the fireplace.

The walls were silent again, but this time they seemed to be listening.
Every stone weighed her down.

>“What can Heidi bring me?
How long… can I remain human within these walls?”

She put her hand on her heart.
Her heart was still beating.
But how much longer?

Chapter Text

When the last echo of footsteps faded from the vast stone chamber, silence filled the throne room for a few moments. Renata’s steps, slowly leading Bella away, had faded into inaudibility.

Aro took a few steps, clasping his hands in his robes. He turned to Edward, who had not yet taken his seat, his head bowed slightly. Alice stood next to him, her eyes on the floor—he had been tired from the din of his visions for some time now.

“Ah, young Edward,” Aro said, his voice almost tender. “It took you so long to realize how much you had lost.”

Edward’s eyes were still fixed on the door. Something was sinking inside him—anger mixed with despair. “You will not let me take her,” he said in a low voice.

Caius straightened slightly. The contempt on his face was icy in his silver eyes. “Aro’s mercy overshadows you. You should be grateful. If there had been another king, or if your fate had been solely in my hands, you would not even be here, Cullen.”

"You will never have her, child," Aro interrupted softly, his tone honeyed but sharp. "But you have broken the law, you disregard our will. What you do from now on is a fragile and feeble shield against the currents of fate."

Marcus, who had been silent until now, leaned forward slightly, his gaze heavy and thoughtful. "Your impudence knows no bounds." His voice was as sharp as glass. "You have abandoned her. No promise of return, no assurance of transforming her into your world. Unchanged. Unprotected. A burden to us all."

The change was shocking—this was not the numb, distant Marcus they all knew, but a figure suddenly filled with anger, vitality, and a raw intensity that stopped even Caius.

“Enough,” Aro said, his voice sharp as a dagger. Then he nodded slightly. “Take him to the dungeon. Disobedience is tolerated only among humans. Here… we rule with order.”

“And Alice?” Marcus asked, raising his voice for the first time.

Aro bowed his head. “Her visions may still be valuable. But… we will see. She will remain with Edward. Her loyalty must be tested as well.”

Aro addressed the guards around him and said, "Take her away, lock him up until the head of the Cullen coven, Carlisle, and the others arrive, he will be dealt with later." Alice obeyed without making a sound, and the throne room was empty.

There was silence in the throne room for a while. Edward’s screams and Alice’s unresisting surrender were buried deep within the walls. The marble columns rose silently around the three kings, and even those magnificent stone walls seemed to be trying to process what had just happened.

Aro sat down slowly on his throne. He interlocked his delicate fingers. His gaze was on the floor, but his mind was still wandering to the bruise on Isabella’s wrist and the determination in her eyes.

Caius was the first to speak.

— “Keeping them here is a risk in itself. They broke the law not because of the people, but because of their own arrogance. Punishment must be carried out without delay.”

Aro raised his head. His eyes were still calm, but a vortex of thoughts could be felt rising beneath them.

— “Alice… saw an interesting future. She offered a solution of her own. But Isabella is now someone beyond their solutions.”

Marcus rose from his seat, his voice echoing as always with slow but inner certainty:

— "Aro…"

His eyes were not looking at her, but as if they were looking at the emptiness surrounding the room.

- "When I was talking to her… I felt a connection."

Aro turned his head and looked at Marcus. There was a truth in his eyes that he could not avoid.

— "What kind of connection?" he asked quietly, as if he already knew the answer.

Marcus' voice was clearer this time:

— "Deep. Complex. Still forming… but clear. Between you… not an attraction. Like a conscious interweaving of fate. The vibration rose when he first touched her. It was more than a connection… an unidentifiable echo. It was something I had not seen in a long time. The connection I saw was the bond of a mate, Aro, that human girl is your mate."

Caius huffed angrily through his nose.

— "Nonsense. A bond between a mortal and a vampire?"

Marcus turned his gaze to him.

— "Not every bond starts with immortality, Caius. But some… lead to immortality. Stop being so judgmental."

Aro lowered his eyes.

He thought of Isabella's eyes, her voice unwavering but her heart speaking. At that moment… the moment she touched him… it was as if that girl who could not read any mind had opened the curtain of his mind.

— "I will not decide yet," Aro finally said.

— "We must observe her. We must truly understand her choice. It is not a matter of who she is… it is who she chooses to be."

Marcus nodded his head slightly.

— "And her choice will be a flame that burns away old bonds."

Caius was still angry, but he did not object. He cared about the rules, yes. But he was not blind to Marcus' intuition or Aro's instinct.

Aro closed his eyes.

— "Prepare, my brothers. Isabella will be observed. The transformation… if that is her destiny… we will decide. When the time comes."

Chapter Text

BELLA POV

The stone walls of the room were silent. The twilight, with the dim light seeping through the thick curtains, gave the space a somber nobility. Bella sat in a thin-backed chair close to the window, her eyes wandering over the dark wall decorations of the room. Her thoughts were tired, more so than her body. Aro’s words kept circling in her mind, thinking of the bruise Edward had left on her wrist disappearing with a single gentle kiss from Aro.

Just then, the heavy door creaked open.

Heidi entered—in an unimaginably beautiful, dazzling grace. In her hand she carried a carefully arranged, silver-plated tray. In her other arm, a bundle of clothes wrapped in velvety fabric.

“I hope I’m not late,” she said, her melodic voice blending softly into the silence of the room. Bella turned from her seat by the window and looked at him blankly, bewildered but cautious.

Heidi set the tray down on the small carved table. The steam was still rising—a creamy vegetable soup, with a few thin slices of breadcrumbs and plain steamed vegetables on a delicate porcelain plate. Food that would not weigh down the stomach but would give warmth.

“Human guests are rarely served,” Heidi said, an almost pert smile on her lips. “But you seem to have earned Aro’s special attention.”

Then she spread the clothes in her other arm across the end of the bed. The fabrics were soft and delicate—too luxurious for one night, but fit for a Volturi castle. A dark burgundy dress with lace details, a black velvet robe, and plain underwear. The colors held a melancholy that complemented Bella’s current inner turmoil.

Bella watched Heidi as she came toward her. Heidi was a vision. Tall and statuesque, her beauty dazzling yet otherworldly, like a goddess descended into the mortal realm. Her eyes, a hypnotic ruby hue, seemed to see right through Bella, and her smile was equal parts disarming and mysterious. She approached Bella’s chair and said, “Come on, my love. You need to eat,” Heidi said, wrapping her arm around Bella’s.

Bella rose from her chair and sat at the table where the food was served. She began to eat, but her eyes suddenly welled up with tears and she began to sob.

“Are you okay?” Heidi asked, her voice softer now, her concern real.

"I don't know," Bella admitted, the words spilling out of her mouth before she could stop them. "I don't know anything right now. This... this is too much."

"I understand...." Heidi said. Go ahead and eat, don't cool down. Then take a hot shower. You've had enough for one day. Rest, Bella. You'll need it. See you tomorrow, Miss Swan." With a wink, she left the room, leaving Bella to her thoughts.

When Bella listened to herself, she realized she was hungry and ate the entire meal. Then she got up and looked at the clothes Heidi had left for her, picked out something to wear to bed, and went to the bathroom. She prepared a very warm, relaxing bathtub for herself and stayed under the water for a while.

After settling into bed, Bella thought about the day's events for a while. She thought about the throne room, she thought about Alice and Edward's actions, she thought about the kings.... Bella's focus suddenly shifted to Aro, she thought about him. His long ebony hair, his high cheekbones, his otherworldly skin framed his face... His fiery, lively eyes, as if drawn by a magnet, caught Bella's attention and shone with uncontrollable excitement.

The relentless pain in Bella's heart began to fade as she continued to think about Aro, with his long hair and those bright eyes looking at her. Yet, a strange, almost imperceptible change soon took hold, and a tingling sensation began to form in her chest. The strange electric sensation that had created a sensation of warmth that had spread down her cheeks and into her belly. The strange energy seemed to send a fire and a wave of distraction between her legs. Instinctively, she touched herself, hoping to quell the uncomfortable stirrings that had momentarily consumed her. The whole experience was fleeting, lasting only a few seconds before the wetness and mysteriously charged energy between her legs faded away and retreated into silence.

She thought back for a moment to the time when Edward and Aro had stood opposite each other. Bella noticed other differences between Aro and Edward. His skin was not merely translucent; it had a delicate, paper-thin, waxy texture that caught the light oddly, contrasting with Edward’s smooth, marbled skin. She couldn’t help but wonder if this difference was a result of age, for Edward was relatively young by vampire standards, while Aro seemed to carry the weight of centuries in his being, an ancient, ancient, otherworldly weight.

Fatigue overtook his racing mind—the bed was too soft, too big. For a long time he stared at the shadows moving across the ceiling before sleep overtook him. His eyelids grew heavy, and finally, he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

In her dream, she was in the middle of a dim, gray hall. The moonlight filtered through the thin fabrics hanging from the ceiling, creating pale patterns on the stone floor. The room was familiar… It was like a throne room, but it wasn’t. Everything was softer, quieter, yet secretly more threatening.

At that moment, a shadow appeared behind her.

— “Isabella.”

The voice was a whisper, but it stabbed into her heart like a call. Even before Bella turned, she knew who was there.

Aro approached her with delicate, graceful steps. His clothes were black, not of the dream; the red jewels on his collar shone like blood. But his face… his face was not the Aro she was used to. Not cold, but lonely. Not dull, but focused. The one looking at Bella was not a king, but a man who wanted to know her.

— “Why are you calling me?” Bella asked, her voice fragile and cracked.

Aro smiled, but there was pain in that smile.

— “I didn’t call. You came. Even in your dreams, you come to me… don’t pretend you don’t know about it.”

Bella didn’t pull away. Her eyes were fixed on Aro’s, and she was breathless for a moment.

— “I just… have unanswered questions,” she whispered. “Why are you looking at me like that? Why does your voice… echo inside me?”

Aro bowed his head. His eyes seemed to close for a moment.

— “Because even in silence, I can hear you.”

He took another step. The distance between them had almost completely closed. He lifted his fingertips to Bella’s cheek, but he didn’t touch her.

— “This connection… Marcus saw her. But I feel her.”

Bella’s heart began to beat wildly. This had to be a dream. It was too intimate, too frightening, and too… attractive to be real.

— “What did you do to me?”

Aro smiled with a wound hidden on his lips.

— “I didn’t do anything to you. But you do something to me… with every breath.”

At that moment, the hall trembled. The dream was broken. Aro’s image began to dissolve, became blurry. Bella wanted to take a step, but her feet seemed stuck to the stones.

— “Don’t go!”

Aro’s voice returned like an echo:

— “I haven’t left yet. But should I stay for you, Isabella?”

"Aro, don't go!!!" Isabella woke up to her own screams.

When her eyes opened, it wasn’t morning. It was still night. But she was covered in sweat. Her heart felt like it was going to burst through her chest. The room was silent. It was real. And the dream… was still coursing through her veins.

Chapter Text

Bella was startled by a coldness that was running down her neck towards morning, between sleep and wakefulness. The stone walls of the room had drawn in the cold throughout the night. The thick curtains were still closed, the darkness inside as if it had never dispersed. But the storm inside her… did not subside despite the daylight.

She slowly got up from her bed. Her hair was disheveled, her lips dry. Her heartbeat was still as intense as in a dream. Aro’s voice continued to echo in her ears:

> “Even in the silence, I hear you… You are doing something to me, with every breath.”

“My God,” Bella whispered, holding her forehead in her hands. “This was just a dream.”

But it wasn’t. It was as if that voice… was still in the room.

At that moment, the door opened without knocking. Renata entered. Then Heidi, who had been walking silently, appeared with clothes and a silver tray in her hand.

Renata spoke in a gentle but measured tone:

— “Good morning, Isabella. I hope you have had some rest after yesterday.”

Bella did not answer immediately. She glanced at Renata’s face, then at Heidi. She looked at what the girl had brought in her hands: food, hot tea, an elegant black lace dress.

— “Is this… what happens every morning?” Bella said quietly.

Renata smiled slightly.

— “No. But you are the only thing on the Volturi’s agenda right now.”

Heidi winked as she put the tray on the table.

Bella reacted involuntarily to these words. Something settled in her stomach. The voice she had heard in her dream was now intertwined with the man’s real decision. A girl who had seen him in her dream was now questioning her decision.

Renata noticed Bella’s state.

— “Don’t worry. You’re safe here. For now. The kings want to test your shielding power. You won’t be taken to Aro’s room today. You’ll be allowed to wander around some parts of the castle, but with someone.”

Bella couldn’t stop the echo of that voice that was still playing in her mind as she reached for the clothes. She reached for her wrist; there was no bruise. Was it real? Had Aro really kissed her? Or was there some real part of what she thought was a dream?

She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment. There were dark circles under her eyes. But inside her… something stirred. Was it fear, curiosity? Or… some kind of connection?

Heidi bowed her head slightly as she opened the door:

— “You can go out with Renata when you’re ready.”

Bella whispered as she grabbed the clothes:

> “Who am I becoming?”

Renata had come to pick her up, her eyes always attentive but measured.

“Please come with me. King Marcus and King Caius have asked Alec and Jane to meet you,” Renata said.

Bella bowed her head slightly, but she couldn’t suppress the tension rising inside her. Her short meal with Heidi… She hadn’t tasted anything on her plate. It was as if the shape of their tongues, the anatomy of their mouths were different.

And now she would face the most dangerous twins in the vampire world.

“Isabella,” she said, her voice soft but clear. “Today, I would like you to meet our special guests. Alec and Jane, the brightest stars of our legends… I desire you to meet their power.”

Bella didn’t speak. She simply turned her gaze to Jane. When their eyes met, what came through her was not fear but… intense recognition.

Jane smiled slightly, but it wasn’t affection, but a peaceful anticipation before victory.

“Shall we try?” Jane said after Aro’s approving look.

Bella just nodded. There was a strange stirring inside her, starting in her stomach and climbing up her spine. But at the same time, she felt something else. Something deep inside—like a field, an invisible membrane protecting her body.

Jane stared at Bella.

Silence.

Then… nothing happened.

Jane’s eyebrows furrowed.

Alec stepped forward. “My turn.”

He brought his fingertips together and closed his eyes. He was summoning that dark mist. A palpable heaviness settled over the room—even Marcus looked up. But Bella… she felt nothing.

No lack of air. No emptying of her mind. Just her own breath.

Alec opened his eyes.

“It’s not going away,” he said.

Jane clenched her teeth. “Impossible.”

“What did you do?” Jane whispered, her breath thick with anger. “How…?”

Bella shrugged. “I don’t know either.”

Aro smiled slightly. There was a slowly glowing light in his eyes. Not with admiration, perhaps, but… with a love that was beginning to recognize.

“What an extraordinary talent,” he said softly. “Defense… an absolute instinct. The loyalty of a soul to its own essence…”

Bella did not look away. “Did I surprise you, or did I disappoint you?”

Aro's lips barely curved into a smile. "On the contrary. Because I don't think you should trust me."

Bella took a step forward. Her eyes were no longer just eyes, they were a direct mirror of her soul. “Then why do I see you in my dreams, Aro?” Bella asked. “Even before I came here… before I learned who you were. I saw this throne room, your figure behind the thick fog, I heard your voice, you were calling me. I felt your ancient and ancient power, I was drawn to you, I saw you every night. When I was brought here for Edward because of Alice, this castle felt very familiar to me. When I entered the throne room and saw you, I knew that you were the owner of my foggy dreams. After seeing you, after learning who you were, my dreams became even clearer and clearer. And every night… Should I be afraid of you, Aro? Are you really sure?”

There was a deep silence in the room. Marcus’ eyes were focused only on Bella. No one could say anything out of fear. Caius’ face was like marble, expressionless. Aro’s eyes were wide and he could only see Bella. Aro’s eyes slowly moved from Bella’s to her lips, then to the floor. He wasn't breathing. But he was thinking... maybe even feeling.

Aro didn't answer. He closed his eyes.

>"Renata," he said softly, his voice echoing. "Take Isabella to her room."

Chapter Text

ARO POV

Aro was alone in his room in the highest tower of Volterra Castle, in a hall covered with heavy curtains. The wind brushed against the stone walls, echoing with a groan that could only be heard in the ancient heart of Volterra.

An ethereal restlessness remained. Even the walls that had learned to speak in silence over the centuries could not swallow the encounter that had just taken place.

Aro stopped a few steps in front of his throne. The black robe that wrapped around his body seemed to think with him; it was motionless. He knitted his fingers between his hands and lowered his gaze to the pale stone floor.

He could still hear Bella's voice.

"You are the owner of my dreams in the mists. I see you every night, hear your voice. I am drawn to you. Are you sure I should be afraid of you, Aro?"

At first glance, it might have sounded like a simple challenge, but it wasn't. There was no empty meaning in that word. There was a consciousness. An intuition.

He had heard it. He had truly heard it. Every word had penetrated into him. Not just the words themselves, but the determination behind them… That fire. That human warmth standing unwavering in the midst of vampire glory.

He took a step.

Then another.

He turned his back on his throne for a moment, his hands hanging down on the sides of his robes as he walked slowly to the window. He looked out the high arched window set into the thick stone walls—night had not yet fallen, but the air was gray. Cold and gray. Like before the rain began...

But dreams were his business. To walk through the layers of the human mind, to extract truth from memory. What was he doing in her dream? And why did it seem... so familiar?

He closed his eyes.

He felt the bruise on Bella's wrist on his lips. The ache he felt was not just the echo of the pain on his body. The violence Edward had repressed so brutally had triggered another anger within him. The weight of crushing someone who belonged to him...

> "I didn't expect this much," he whispered to himself.
"Without touching my mind... it screamed that it was mine."

BELLA POV

Bella’s head was still pounding when she returned to the drawing room. Alec’s dark, all-consuming emptiness… Jane’s thin, burning anger… But none of it had reached her. She had felt no jolt, no pain gripping her wrist. There was an instinctive shield far deeper than her body; it had been born with her, unwillingly but just in time.

Renata took a step back as the door closed silently. “Heidi will bring food and some clothes in a moment,” she said. “Try to rest.”

Bella nodded, but her insides were eating her. The silence in the throne room… Caius’s contemptuous stare… Marcus’s sadness, knowing everything but saying nothing… And Aro…

While Bella was lost in her thoughts, the door opened and Heidi walked in with a tray and a full bag.

“Heidi,” Bella said in a tired voice.

The woman turned and smiled at her slightly. “A test of strength?”
Bella nodded. “Yes. I guess I did well…because I wasn’t impressed.”
“You weren’t impressed?” Heidi’s eyes widened. “Neither Jane nor Alec’s strength—none?”

Bella nodded. “None.”
Heidi actually smiled this time. “Aro will love to hear this.”

As Bella picked up the fork, she realized that her hand was shaking. The tension was still inside her. But neither Alec’s cold fog nor Jane’s torture—none of them had reached her. And it had triggered something inside her.

“I’m different, aren’t I?”
Heidi looked into her eyes. She didn’t answer. But now Bella knew the answer too.

Bella was finishing her meal when Renata walked in. She turned directly to Bella and said, "Jane and Alec are here. They want to meet you."

As soon as Renata finished her sentence, the door opened and Jane and Alec walked in.

We wanted to meet you," Jane said with a cold smile.

"You already recognized me. Hours ago," Bella said. There was a slight thorn in her voice.
Alec raised his eyebrows. "You're fine. You're keeping your cool. Aren't you impressed?"
Bella shook her head. "No. Your power... can't reach me."

Jane took a step forward. Her eyes glowed red. "Shall we try again?"
Bella didn't back down. "Try."

The twins stood facing each other in the middle of the room. Jane focused. She tried to penetrate Bella’s mind. The pain, the panic, the screams… nothing came. Just a void. A wall.

Alec released the fog at the same time. But Bella felt nothing. Everything… was like it was outside. Like a shell around her, like invisible armor.

Jane’s face distorted.
Alec narrowed his eyes at Bella. “This… is extraordinary.”

Renata and Heidi focused on Bella with shocked eyes. This was indeed the future queen…

While this was happening in the Volturi castle, Demeter and Felix were making their way through the woods of Forks. They had come to take the Cullens.

The Cullen mansion at the edge of the forest was quiet. It appeared abandoned, but Felix and Demetri knew how to track it down from centuries of experience. The house wasn't empty, just quiet. Inside, the hall, decorated in the vampire's unique order, was still a living memory.

Felix walked slowly inside, smelling the scent. "Jasper... Esme... Rosalie... Emmett. They're all here."

Demetri narrowed his eyes. "And Carlisle. I knew they'd be here."

After a moment of silence, Rosalie appeared at the top of the stairs. Her eyes sparked with anger. Jasper and Emmett followed shortly after. Carlisle emerged last, his hands clasped behind him, a look of deep concern and exhaustion on his face.

Carlisle broke the silence:

"What happened to Edward and Alice?"

Demetri stepped forward. "They are alive. They are in custody of the Volturi. The Volturi Court will convene. The entire Cullen family is invited."

Felix smiled slightly. "The invitation is kindly made. But you know how it is to be resisted."

Emmett rushed forward in anger, but Jasper held him back. Carlisle was still calm. We will come to the Volturi with you in peace.

Demetri nodded.

Rosalie reluctantly turned her head. "And Bella?"

A spark lit up in Felix's eyes and he smiled widely.

"Bella is with the Volturi. Aro's special guest."

Rosalie shivered for a moment. Jasper turned to Carlisle. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Carlisle whispered in a way only he could understand:
"This could mean the world is changing its balance."

Chapter Text

Bella found herself not among the stone walls of Volterra, but in the middle of an endless hall as she stepped through the darkness. There was no ceiling; when she looked up, a black sky woven with stars seemed to lean over the hall. The floor was not stone, but black velvet. Silence settled over her like a reality not of a dream.

She took a step.

A whisper echoed in her chest… familiar, velvety, and chilling:
"Isabella..."
She did not hear the voice—she felt it. It crawled up from the edge of her heart, from the base of her throat.

Aro appeared behind a mirror. A huge mirror with a silver frame; but his face was real. His pale fingers reached out from inside the mirror, as if to touch it. Bella took a step, then another. Her breath caught. She raised her hands to the mirror.

The mirror melted when their fingertips touched.

Aro emerged from the mirror.

His eyes were fixed like jewels shining in the dark, his voice like a spell:

"Wherever you go, you are inside me now."

Bella could not speak, but her heart beat the sentence:
"I cannot escape you, nor do I want to..."

Aro leaned toward her, his voice echoing next to her neck—not like a warm breath, but like an oath:
"You are part of our darkness now."

Bella bowed her head. Her knees felt weak. Aro held her. He placed his fingers on her chin, locked his gaze with hers.

"You chose me. But you do not yet know… how irreversible it is."

And then he kissed her.

But the kiss was not just on her lips, it spread through her mind, through her veins, to her very marrow. She did not want to wake up. Never.

Once she had felt safe walking in the sun.

Now, she was not afraid of the steps in the shadows.

The only thing she was afraid of was that… the voice inside her was no longer a whisper.

“Aro…”
The name that passed through her echoed in her mind like a dagger.
As if someone had revealed a secret buried deep in her heart, Bella didn’t know what to do.

Her heart fluttered in her chest when she thought of that name, and a shiver spread to her fingertips.

It wasn’t fear.
It was… an unexpected longing.

Her breathing changed around him.

When their eyes met, the world went silent.

But Aro remained cold.

Cold because he was ancient.
Cold because he hadn’t been able to forget what he had lost for thousands of years.

And this coldness burned Bella.

“Being with him… isn’t safe. But being without him isn’t like breathing anymore.”

For the first time, she was honest with herself.
It was something she couldn't compare to the devotion she felt for Edward.

It wasn't an attraction...
It was a dark song of destiny that accompanied the voice of her soul.

And it was... Aro.

Bella opened her eyes as the dream burned in her chest like an ache. When she sat up in bed, the night was still going on—the thick stone walls of Volterra had forgotten the time outside. The room was silent, but inside… inside, it was like the apocalypse.

It was as if there was no blanket over her heart.

Aro’s voice echoed not in her ears but in her veins.
“You chose me. But you don’t know yet… how irreversible it is.”

Bella felt like she would fall apart if she stayed in that bed for a moment longer.

She stood up.

The hem of her nightgown touched the floor, but she didn’t even feel the coldness of the ground beneath her feet. It was as if her desire was walking more than her body. This longing rising from within her was like nothing else—not curiosity, not admiration. It was a pure, dark call.

She had to find him. Aro.

But she didn’t know where Aro’s room was. The palace of Volterra was still a labyrinth. When she stepped into the corridor, darkness was like a blanket closing in on her. But even though his eyes could not see, his instincts chose a direction. His steps were silent, but his mind screamed.

When he turned a corner, he encountered a guard in a black cloak. Their eyes met.

Before he could say anything, Bella's lips said,
"I need to see him."

There was no pleading in his voice—there was a decision. Like a necessity that had been swept out of the night. The guard looked intently at Bella’s face. Then he bowed his head slightly and began to walk. Bella followed him silently.

They passed stone walls and heavy wooden doors. They descended a spiral staircase. Finally, they stopped in front of a dark red door. The guard did not knock. He only touched the knob once.

The door opened a crack.
When her trembling fingers touched the door, she realized… this was her decision. Not forced.

By instinct. By heart. By darkness.

Bella slipped inside. In the dim light, she saw Aro sitting in an armchair. He was reading a book on his lap. Without putting down the book in his hand, she turned her head to him.

First surprise, then a familiar tremor passed through her eyes.

“Isabella?”

> “Isabella… Did I disturb your sleep again?”
There was a subtle play in his voice as always. But in his gaze… an uneasiness.

Bella took a few steps, seemingly out of breath.

> “I’m just… trying to figure something out.”

“What?”
“When I’m away from you, I can’t feel myself. It’s like… I don’t have blood in my veins. It’s like I’m disconnected from the world.”

Aro put the book down.

He didn’t get up. But he didn’t lower his gaze.

Bella’s voice cracked.

> “I thought I was wrong to get close to you. To try to understand you… To give myself over to you.”

“And?”
“Then I realized… every second I tried to get away from you, I became more and more you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

> “I can’t escape you anymore, Aro. And I don’t want to. This isn’t weakness. This isn’t surrender.”
“What is it?”
“This… acceptance.”
“Who accepts what, Isabella?”
“My own. That I belong to you. Not just physically — but spiritually. My heart. Whatever is in my future, it is built with you. It is no other way.”

Aro stood up at that moment. He approached. It was as if he were walking on her words.
He stood in front of Bella, looking into her eyes.
But he did not touch her.
He simply whispered:

> “Everything has changed now, Isabella.”

And at that moment, Bella saw her own reflection in his eyes for the first time.

She wasn't afraid.
She wasn't shaking.
She felt like she belonged.

And at that moment, irreversibly...
She realized that she couldn't live without Aro.

Bella:
"Do you really want me, Aro?"

Aro's voice trailed off.
Aro:
"Wanting cara mia... is an inadequate word."

Bella (whispering):
"Then why haven't you touched me yet?"

Aro's hands trembled. He moved closer. His fingertips brushed Bella's cheek gently. It was such a touch... it contained centuries of longing, hunger, fear, and desire.

And then...

Bella suddenly leaned forward and kissed Aro.
It was a hard, uncontrolled, burning kiss. She didn't resist. Aro stopped at first... then surrendered completely.

On the edge of eternity, someone left the light. The other embraced the shadow.

Tonight... was the night of their transformation.

Chapter Text

Aro grabbed Bella’s hand and pulled her to the chair she had been sitting in a moment ago.
He reached out and wiped away the tears on her face. Their faces were only inches apart. His cold fingers brushed a lock of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

Bella couldn’t help but lean in, her breathing becoming ragged, all she wanted right now was to get lost in the man’s lips, but Aro flinched before his lips could touch hers.

Do you want to… kiss me, Isabella? Why?" Her voice was a soft whisper.

"Because not kissing you right now is unbearable torture, Aro..." Bella breathed, carefully cradling Aro's face in her warm hands and pressing her lips firmly to his. His taste was indescribable, delicious. And his scent... His scent was seductive, earthy, musky, yet sweet as vanilla, soft as sandalwood, intoxicating as patchouli. Bella moaned softly as he slowly caressed her cold, silky lips with his own, letting his hands slide down her neck and tangle his fingers in her gorgeous hair.

Aro's hands slowly slide over Bella's exposed forearms and hands, then down to her neck and cheeks, while soft breaths of cold breath ghost over Bella's mouth, as if searching for a gap in her mental shield. She lowers her hands and makes a frustrated sound. "Tell me what you want... Tell me you want this.... Tell me Isabella..."

Bella breathes fervently, her name a prayer on her trembling lips. "Aro... I want to be with you tonight and forever. I want to belong to you. I want you to claim me. Take me to bed Aro, make me yours... I want you..."

Aro wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap, kissing her passionately as he cupped the back of her neck with his other hand. Bella melted against him, opening her mouth eagerly as she felt his tongue tease her lips. She moaned softly as he licked and explored her insides hungrily, tasting her.

"Your hands... they're so beautiful, Aro. I... I want to feel them all over my body... Please touch me..."

."Aro..."

"Is that what you want from me?"

"I want it now..." Bella breathes without thinking.

Aro freezes, staring at her with wide eyes. "Really?"

"Please, Aro..." Bella shivers, gasping for breath.

"What do you want, Isabella?"

"Your hands are on my naked body.

You, on me, on me, inside me..." Bella continues,

"Don't just stop, please..." she moans, then tangles her hand in Aro's soft hair, pulling him even closer.

Aro's lips are on her in the blink of an eye. Bella kisses him breathlessly, emotionlessly, until her lips are swollen and sore. Bella clings to him, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around him. She shifts her position on top of him, taking Bella's breath away when she feels his hardness press against her hips.

Bella doesn't hesitate, unbuttoning the buttons with trembling hands, leaning down to kiss every inch of exposed, light skin, her lips sliding down his toned, smooth chest. Aro takes off his shirt and takes Bella's head in his hands before pulling it off, leaning in to kiss her. Bella returns the kiss hungrily, running her hands up her sides, down her chest and shoulders, and down her slender, strong arms, feeling the defined muscles beneath her silky skin.

Bella pulls back and pulls off her nightgown in one swift motion, surrendering herself to Aro. Aro places his delicate hands on her shoulders, letting them disappear over her arms and stomach. Bella's breath hitches when he cups her breasts, and his trembling hands reach up to unbutton her pants.

Aro rests his forehead on hers as he mimics her movement, carefully pulling Bella's body.

He slides off the bed and lets his own pants fall to the floor.

Bella's mouth opens at the expanse of his flawless skin, her eyes roaming over his shapely legs and strong thighs. Aro's cock is long, curvy, and as graceful as the rest of his body.

He slides back down on top of her, pressing himself completely against her. Bella lets out a shuddering moan at the exquisite sensation of his cool, smooth skin against her overheated body. Aro wraps his arms tightly around her and captures her lips. Bella runs her fingers through his beautiful hair as they are kissed senselessly, melting into the intimate embrace. Her bottom lip is caught between Aro's wicked teeth, and she lets out a low growl that creates a pool of warmth in her belly.

"Please..." Bella murmurs, eagerly spreading her legs.

Aro adjusts his position, carefully sinking into her willing body as he pulls back to look into her eyes.

Ahhhh yes Aro, my only mine... You, mine...
Mate.... My soulmate.

Bella moans shakily, trying not to wince at the slight pain as she feels him enter her and stretch her.

“You’re so beautiful, Bella.”

Aro sounds out of breath. His crimson eyes burn with ecstasy as he looks at her, his blood-red lips parted, his ebony hair cascading over her shoulders like strong dark silk.

“You’re so wonderfully warm…” Aro thrusts into her gently, making her gasp and clutch at his shoulders. “You feel like fire,” he rasps, before leaning down to kiss her neck, his teeth digging into her soft, supple skin.

“Aro…” Bella croaks, wrapping her legs around his hips when he starts to move inside her. He leisurely rolls his hips into her, starting with shallow thrusts and increasing their force as Bella’s mouth drops open and she cries out her pleasure. She would like to tell him how good it feels, but every time he hits her sweet spot all coherent thoughts vanish from her mind. Aro’s strong arms are firmly wrapped around her, his lips and tongue and teeth on her shoulder. Bella feels alive.

She squeaks in surprise as Aro rolls them around so that she is on top of him, and thrusts up into her, his hands on her hips encouraging her to move. Bella presses herself down against Aro, moaning as she feels him even deeper than before. She starts to roll her hips, clenching tightly around him as he rocks into her, relishing the feeling of him grinding against her slick walls, pressing into all the right places. Her moans turn delirious as every slide feels sugary sweet, and Aro increases his pace. Bella grips his shoulders as the pleasure grows more intense with every perfect thrust. All of her nerve endings are gradually being lit on fire, rendering her speechless, making her feel full and loved and wonderful.

She cries out as the pleasure crests and explodes in her, burning her from inside out. Aro wraps his arms around her and holds her as she quivers above him, his hips never stopping their sinful motions, taking her through her powerful orgasm. Bella feels as if she's going to pass out, almost screaming out her ecstasy when the maddening waves just won't stop. Distantly, she hears Aro whispering to her but her hazy mind won't register the words.

She collapses against him as she slowly regains her senses, taking deep breaths to stop her heart from jumping out of her chest.

Aro kisses her forehead. “Rest, now.”

He withdraws himself from her heat and pulls the blanket over both of them, hugging her close. Bella presses her face into the crook of his neck before she drifts into oblivion, feeling, for the first time in a long while, completely at peace.

MARCUS POV

The Volturi tower was as silent in the mornings as it was at night. The sun could never fully penetrate between these stone walls; the darkness always prevailed. But that morning… something was different in the shadows on the stones.

Marcus walked along the corridor with heavy steps. His long robes swept the floor. Unlike his centuries of dullness, this morning his eyes were open. There was a faint stirring of curiosity in their depths. A pull. A vibration.

Because bonds speak.
And this morning… someone was crying out.

Marcus (inner voice):

> “A bond… is born. But this… is no ordinary bond. No. This is the crackling of fate.”

He headed for Aro’s private room. The door was half a finger’s width open. It was something that was never done. Aro was always careful. It was always closed. But now?

Marcus slipped in.

Inside… Aro and Bella.

They were in the same room. Silently. Side by side. Aro was sitting, holding Bella’s hand in his. They weren’t speaking. But everything… was in their eyes. On their faces. On their skin.

Beyond the living room where they were sitting was a door that hadn’t been fully closed, left half open, and the messy bed he saw and the smell he smelled were the biggest proof that they had had a hot night.

Marcus stopped.
He just watched for a while.
His eyes narrowed slightly, then opened.

Marcus (internally):

> “This bond… is mutual. Balance. Honesty. Depth. Sacrifice… And potential… a destructive passion. In the name of the gods, Aro… What have you done?”

Aro slowly raised his head and looked at Marcus.

There was no regret in his gaze.
Just silence.
Acceptance.
Truth.

Bella turned too. She met Marcus’s eyes. There was no shame in her eyes. No fear.
There was only clarity.
The serenity of self-knowledge.

Marcus approached silently. One step. Then another.

Marcus (very quietly):
“You made me feel… for the first time in years.”

Aro stood up. He did not let go of Bella’s hand.

Aro:
“I will not hide it. Because tonight… was the first honest night of my life.”

Marcus:
“Your bond… is like nothing I have ever seen. Not childish, not ordinary desire like Edward and Bella’s. It is… written in blood. A destiny sealed in silence.”

Bella (sincerely):
“Will you stop us?”

Marcus:
“No.”

Silence.

Marcus:
“You shattered a bond that chained me to solitude for years. And if that bond… means the end of the Volturi… I will not cast the first stone.”

Aro (thoughtfully):
“Caius will oppose it.”

Marcus (in a low but firm tone):
“Caius is alone now. I… am making a choice for the first time. And tonight I saw in you… a new face of the old world.”

Marcus bowed his head.

Marcus:
“Do not betray each other. For if this bond is broken… the world will shake.”

And then he silently walked away.

The door to the room closed softly behind him. But it was not just his footsteps that echoed off the wall.

There was no secret anymore.
And the Volturi… had heard it now.

Chapter Text

Bella returned to her room after talking to Marcus about her night in front of Aro.

Her breakfast had already been set out on a silver tray by the bed: freshly baked muffins, fig jam, aromatic herbal tea. Heidi had carried out her duties as always, quietly and gracefully. She sat down and began to eat quickly.

But the silence that day was different.

She was finishing her breakfast. Just then, the door opened slowly.

Renata walked in; her eyes were on Bella, but her stance was neutral.

“Isabella,” she said in a soft but distant tone.

“There has been an emergency. Demetri and Felix returned last night. The Cullens are here.”

Bella's heart faltered for a moment.

There was no panic or joy in his eyes. Only emptiness.

Edward... Alice... Carlisle...

"When is the trial?" she asked, her voice shaky but clear.

"This morning. Aro wants to make his decision quickly."

Renata paused for a moment, then added carefully,

"You are expected to be there as well. Aro personally requested it."

Bella's throat went dry.

It dawned on her.

She no longer belonged anywhere.

Not to Forks...

Not to the Cullens...

She was moving toward only one thing:

Aro. And his world.

She rose slowly from the breakfast table. She took a quick, hot shower. She began to dress. She selected her black velvet dress, pinned the Volturi seal brooch to her collar, and put on the Volturi seal necklace Aro had given her the night they had been together.

She looked into his eyes as she examined herself in the mirror.

“Today,” she said to herself, “an era will end.”

And then she turned to the door.

Renata bowed her head silently.

The walls of the palace were cold and silent as they walked down the corridor—but a storm was brewing inside Bella.

The largest hall in the heart of Volterra was dark and silent, like a temple. Shadows rolled slowly across the high-ceilinged room, and the dim light from between the ancient stone columns fell on the great Volturi seal embedded in the floor.

Aro, Marcus, and Caius had taken their places on their raised stone thrones.

Aro had that familiar polite smile on his face — but his eyes showed the anger seething inside him like a volcano.

Caius had a grimace, one hand clenched on the armrest of the throne.

Marcus, on the other hand, was silently looking for Bella out of the corner of his eye, following the traces of the invisible bonds.

Demetri opened the large door to the hall.

Felix led Edward in chains, followed by Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie.

Alice was at the very back — her hands were free, but her gaze was unusually dull.

Just then, the doors to the throne room opened. Bella entered with great pomp. She was wearing an elegant velvet dress, the Volturin necklace Aro had given her himself. She was the epitome of youth and elegance.

As soon as Bella entered, she headed toward the throne of the kings. She greeted them all.

Aro stood up.

His eyes went straight to Bella.

Edward was kneeling, chained. He hadn't raised his head yet. His gaze was fixed on the ground, all the memories he had once shared with Bella were spinning in pieces before his eyes.

The day he first saw her in that school cafeteria...

The echo of that moment was still in his ears:

> "I will never let that man possess her. She was mine! She was mine from the moment I saw her in the cafeteria in Forks. Her blood was singing to me, driving me to lengths I never thought possible. I knew we were destined for each other. We were meant to be. No human had ever fascinated me like this before. Her pure, human soul. I could feed her, protect her, and be by her side when the time came, when her soul passed into the heavenly realm at a ripe age. But Aro would destroy her. He would kill her only for pleasure and greed, and Edward refused to let that happen."

But he didn't know that now that song was just a lament from the past.

Aro had approached Bella. He stood beside her, his head bowed, and spoke to her in a low voice.

His voice was his usual velvety tone, but there was something hidden inside it like a knife.

“Isabella, my love,... dolce ragazza... This court has been convened to consider the violations of the law committed by the immortals under your tutelage.

The innocent will be protected.

But the punishment for treason... is always clear.”

Bella locked eyes with Edward. Her heart was pounding—not with fear.

With a determination.

Edward raised his eyes slowly.

And then he saw.

Bella’s eyes were searching for Aro.

With a look that belonged to him.

Not one that wanted to be protected—but one that wanted to share, a look of commitment.

> “Bella… No,” Edward whispered. “Don’t do this.”

Felix pulled on the chains once more, forcing her to her knees.

Carlisle stepped forward to speak.

“Aro, it was never our intention—”

Caius leaned forward, his voice hissing like poison:

“Your intention was never to accept the Volturi’s law. You hid for years. You played your own games. You broke the Volturi’s rules.
And now, the Volturi not only forgive you, they expect you to serve.”

Alice took a step forward. Her voice was thin as broken glass:

“I… I agree with you, what I see now will serve the Volturi.”

Aro’s gaze turned to Bella.
There was a hidden pride on his face—and something burning inside him.

It was the weight of Bella’s decision.

“This was our tesoro’s decision. We are merely maintaining order.”

Aro sighed.

“Oh, my dear Carlisle… my heart can hardly bear it. But power without control breeds destruction. You are no longer free, but you will not be destroyed either. This is for the sake of our beloved Isabella.”

Bella turned to Aro, it was clear that she wanted to speak. Aro gave her permission with his gaze, encouraging her to speak.

Bella began to speak.
Her voice was calm but firm.

“I am Isabella Maria Swan, and I did not make this decision lightly. But I refused to live in a lie.

My so-called family kept me from my truth for years. They misled me, manipulated me, and eventually abandoned me…
They made their choice.
And so did I.”

Bella took a step toward Aro.

Slowly, thoughtfully… but determinedly.
Aro took her hand. When his fingers touched Bella's wrist, a shiver ran through both of their bodies. There seemed to be an invisible bond between them, as if the entire room could feel that bond.

Bella bowed her head.
Then she stared at Edward.

> “I chose, Edward. There is no one to save me now. Because I… I don’t want to be saved.”

Edward’s eyes widened. He tried to break free from his chains. The desperation, anger, and mad passion in his voice was ready to explode.

> “Aro is a monster! You don’t know what he is—”

Bella interrupted.
There was a terrifying clarity in his voice:

> “You may have it that way. But I see him for what he is. The truth. And he never deceived me. Aro never hid his true nature with me, never feigned innocence or virtue in his dealings with humans and vampires. He never denied what he was, like you did. Yes, Edward, I know, Aro is a monster, and he wears that title with pride. And I am so happy and proud to be with him, to be his mate.”

Aro listened to Bella’s words about him with a thin, mocking smile on his face, but inside he was in turmoil.

Aro approached Bella’s face slowly.
He touched her cheek with his fingers.
Bella closed her eyes for a moment.
And then…
He turned to Aro.
And kissed her.

The silence was like a scream.
Even Marcus raised his head.
Caius gritted his teeth.
Edward shook his chains and shouted:

> “No!”

But Bella was listening to music she could not hear anymore.
Her blood was singing for Aro now.

Caius rose from his seat, his voice echoing through the hall:

> “The Cullen coven is now dissolved.
Edward Cullen is guilty of disobedience to the Volturi, disregarding the rules, and attempting to turn Isabella Swan against her will.
Punishment: not death, but dishonor.
From now on, the Cullen coven will remain at the Volturi’s command. Chained. Silent. In the shadows.”

Carlisle and the others:
To be recruited for the Volturi.
In the shadow archives, in silent laboratories, on unseen missions…
Now only their names will remain.

When the trial was over, Bella turned her eyes to Aro.
Their gazes met.

And in that moment, of all things…
It was the beginning of power, love, and destruction.

Chapter Text

Bella sat in the great armchair by the window of a high-ceilinged room in the Volturi palace. She was thoughtful. She was dressed in a fine black satin nightgown, her hair down her back, and her eyes had a cool clarity. Outside, the moonlight cut like a knife through the stone streets of Volterra, and for perhaps the first time ever, Bella felt still inside. But this was not stillness—this was the beginning of domination.

The door behind her opened. She could feel Aro's footsteps as he silently entered, even if she couldn't hear them. She could now feel his presence on her skin and soul.

Bella didn't turn around.

Bella:

> "Edward's eyes still thought he could save me. How pathetic. Especially the fact that he thought he could take me away from you with what he said about you. How pathetic."

Aro (softly but sincere):

> "People get stuck in the past. But you... you burned your past, Isabella."

Aro's eyes stared into space for a moment, his red eyes piercing the void. "That boy was too stupid to realize what he had - he didn't want you to die, nor did he want to keep you with him forever. I'm not that stupid," he told Bella.

Bella smiled. It was a cold smile, but a smile that shone with victory.

She slowly turned. Their eyes met. There was not only admiration but also respect in Aro's eyes.

Bella:

> "Today, their masks fell off. I realized that what they called fear was actually freedom. No one underestimated me next to you. No one tried to suppress my power. You reconciled me with myself, Aro. That day in that throne room, you just looked and saw me. You looked at me in such a way, Aro... Deep, timeless, burning. It was as if you read all the expressions on my face, all the cracks in my eyes, and all the things they left in my soul in an instant."

Bella slowly got up from her seat, stood in front of Aro, extended her hand to him, pulled him to the seat she had just sat in, sat Aro down, and sat on Aro's lap.

Bella:

> “I am not their Bella anymore. I was left in Forks. Their Bella died the day they left me in those woods. You are the one who found me here. You told me where I belonged. But I chose you, Aro. That choice was mine. It is not your power that keeps me here. It is my will. “I am Isabella, your Isabella...”

Aro:

> “And no one can lose you again. I promise, Isabella. I will never lose you.”

Bella’s eyes were on him.
They were focused on Aro.

Time seemed to have stopped; her ears were ringing, her heart echoing in her chest. But it was not fear.
It was awakening.

The distance between them had disappeared. There was no passion in their eyes, only possession. They were no longer looking at each other. They saw themselves in each other.

Bella:

> “Transform me. I don’t want to be just an immortal. I want to be your queen. I don’t want to sit next to you as just a poor mortal. I want an eternity with you, Aro…”

Aro kissed her hand. His eyes never left hers.

Aro:
“Isabella,” he said with a soft darkness.

“Do you want to belong to me?”

Bella’s eyes filled with tears.
But those tears were not from fear, but from the comfort of belonging.

“Yes,” Bella said in a whisper.

“I want.”

Bella kissed him with great hunger and passion. It wasn’t a thank you, it was a seal, an oath…

Bella got up from Aro’s lap and stood right in front of him. She pulled down the straps of her thin nightgown and stood naked in front of Aro. I want to make love to you as a human for the last time, Aro, take me and own me right now, Bella said and Aro got up, hugged her and took her to bed....

Bella grabbed Aro's shirt with her trembling hands. Her heart was beating faster than she had ever felt in her human body. "I belong to you... Completely."

As Aro's hands roamed Bella's body, each touch was like an oath: "Mine. She is completely mine now. And let the whole world watch."

The dance of two dark souls began that night. Passionate, complicated and apocalyptic. Fears gave way to passion; Bella was stepping into a new world, abandoning her own humanity in Aro's arms.

The nights in the Volturi castle were long and calm beyond human time. The only thing that echoed behind the thick stone walls was the weight of the past. Bella, after a few hours of conversation in her roomwit Heidi, wearing a simple but elegant dress that Heidi had brought, wanted to walk a little. Just as she was about to exit the door, she suddenly turned to Heidi and asked.

“Heidi,” Bella said suddenly, changing the subject. “Are there any history books here? The history of the vampires… the early years of the Volturi, things like that.”

Heidi nodded immediately. “Yes. Marcus even has a private archive, maybe…”

“Do you want to talk to Marcus?” Heidi asked.

Bella said, without taking her eyes off Heidi, “Maybe what he has to say will be more accurate.”

Renata had accompanied her, of course, but she was silent as always.

As she passed through the large door of the hall, a figure caught her attention: a man in black robes blending into the shadows, staring motionlessly at the window. Bella noticed both the dignity and the pain in his stance at the same time. It was Marcus.

Renata slowed down.

“Will you excuse me?” Bella whispered, her eyes looking at Aro as if she were weighing whether she had received his approval, but she decided to wait behind him, her head slightly bowed.

Bella approached with slow steps.

“How is your night going?” she asked, her voice timid but sincere.

Marcus continued to look at the window.

“I haven’t had anyone ask me like this in a long time.”

When he turned his eyes to her, Bella saw a century of sorrow in her eyes. “What are your nights like, Isabella?”

“I don’t know,” Bella said sincerely. “Sometimes I’m awake but it’s like I’m dreaming… and sometimes I don’t want to wake up because even the dreams feel more real.”

Marcus’ lips moved slightly. Bella wanted to think he was smiling, but it was an expression of pain.

“Dreams are sometimes the echo of reality… sometimes the harbingers of the future.”

Bella bowed her head. “I… used to fear that everything would turn upside down here, but I’m not anymore. But talking to you right now is strangely comforting.”

Marcus examined her carefully.

“There’s a balance in you,” he said. “A balance that’s been lost but stubbornly persists. And that… will be your greatest strength.”

Then, her voice became even quieter, almost a whisper:

“And now I understand why he chose you.”

Bella raised her eyes, and asked softly, “Aro?”

Marcus bowed his head.

“No. Fate.”

There was silence for a while. Bella’s heart was beating rapidly, but not from fear. There was a strange comfort in feeling understood among these cold stones.

Marcus turned away, and as he walked away with heavy steps, he left behind only one sentence:

“If you want… I can tell you our history. Maybe it will help you accept some things more easily.”

The first thing that went through Bella’s mind when she was alone was that for the first time in this stone castle, she wanted to ‘thank’ someone. And maybe… She wanted to adopt this castle as her home and stay here.

Chapter Text

Bella woke with a start at the sound of the door creaking, her heart pounding in her chest like the echo of a war drum. She saw that it was Marcus who opened the door. Marcus exuded a strange seriousness that was both somber and commanding. His long, dark robes trailed behind him, their dark garnet embroidery catching the dim light of the torches. His face was pale, lined with centuries of grief, but his dark eyes held an intensity that pierced Bella’s soul.

"Good morning Isabella," he said, his voice smooth and soft, carrying the weight of what was not said.

Bella swallowed, instinctively rising to her feet. "Good morning, Marcus."

He looked at her for a moment, his head slightly tilted, as if he were hearing a melody only he could understand. Then he gestured toward the door. "Did I wake you? Get ready and come with me. I thought it was time to give you a little break from your confinement. I think you might appreciate a visit to our library."

The word "library" stirred something inside Bella—a mixture of curiosity and relief. She had seen nothing beyond her room, Aro's private quarters, and the cold, echoing corridors leading to the throne room of the Kings.

"Really?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Marcus smiled slightly. "Yes. An extensive collection, accumulated over thousands of years. Perhaps it could offer some solace, or at least a distraction."

And later in the day....

It was one of the quiet hours of the Keep. The stone walls let in only a few narrow windows, and the light that filtered in danced on the dusty spines of the books. The great table at the heart of the library was filled with old parchments and bound volumes in ancient languages.

When Bella entered, Marcus was already there. His gray hair spilled over his black velvet robes, showing the marks of his age and weight. The open book in front of him held Latin texts in gold leaf.

“You came in time,” Marcus said, his voice echoing as always—as if his words were still echoing from centuries past.

Bella bowed her head. “You promised…you would teach me your history.”

“And I will teach you,” Marcus said with a gentle but distant smile. “Because you are no longer just a guest. You are now part of this story.”

Bella sat at the edge of the large table. The scent of the parchment seemed to breathe with the echoing time between the stone walls.

Her eyes fell on a drawing of a gargoyle—a creature with a wolf’s head and large claws. “What is this?” she asked, touching the edge of the page with her finger.

Marcus looked at the drawing. “Children of the Moon. Descendants of Lupus. Shapeshifters. They are called werewolves by the people, but their truth is more complicated than that.”

Bella looked up. Her eyes had turned serious. “I… know them.”

Marcus turned his head to her with interest.

"In La Push, the Quileute tribe. They shapeshift. They turn into real wolves. They called you vampires 'cold ones,' and they referred to the Cullens. There was a line between them. The Cullen family can't go beyond a certain point in Forks. The Cullens are not to enter our lands, they are not to feed on humans or turn them here, and we are not to interfere with them, we are not to reveal what they are. That was their agreement. Verbal, but binding. And... Edward sent me to them when I first told him I suspected him. He said, ask them what we are, Bella. When Jacob Black, the son of the tribal leader, told me about this agreement, I realized how important it was."

But they’re not really werewolves, or Children of the Moon, as you call them, are they?” Bella asked.

“Not Children of the Moon,” Marcus explained, his tone almost tolerant as he savored her curiosity. “They are shapeshifters, a unique species tied to tribal lineage rather than the lunar cycle. Their transformations come from a magic spell, a gift—or a curse, depending on your perspective—to protect their people from threats like vampires.”

Marcus closed his eyes as if taking in Bella’s words. “Telling us this is a sign of trust.”

Bella spoke without looking away. “I didn’t hide it. I won’t.”

Marcus glanced at the carved book cover on the table. “This information is precious to Caius. To him, the Children of the Moon are a deviation, a threat. To deliver the information to the right people is to take a step toward becoming queen.”

“I am still human,” Bella said with a touch of bitterness. “I am not anything yet.”

Marcus tilted his head. “Yet.”

There was silence between them. It was as if even the walls were listening to the possibilities behind that single word.

Marcus remained silent. His eyes seemed to pass over Bella, weighing the invisible bonds.

Marcus tilted his head, a gesture of acceptance.

“Their existence… falls within Caius’ domain. The Children of the Moon have always intrigued him. If you wish, I will pass this information on to him. For transparency in such matters is the foundation of the Volturi.”

Bella nodded after a brief hesitation. “As you wish.”

Marcus looked into Bella’s eyes. “Aro’s choosing you was only the beginning of destiny. But beyond loving him, you must also understand this world. In order to walk your own path, you must first know us. Caius is the sword of the law. I see the bonds. Aro… he is the will itself. But you… you do not yet know who you are, do you?”

Bella was silent for a moment. “I do not know. But I am ready to learn.”

Marcus closed the parchment. He straightened his silver-clasped robes.

“Then we will continue to learn. History is not limited to us. History is writing about you, Isabella Volturi.”

Marcus then continued.

“Long ago, before the Volturi ruled, there were clans. Ancient bloodlines, vampires who thought they were gods among mortals. They drank from humans not just for hunger but for power. They believed blood carried memory, souls, and magic. Over time, their bodies evolved. They could walk in the daylight, they could blend with mortals. The more they drank, the more human they became until a balance was achieved. Controlled hunger, carefully chosen victims. They built cities in the shadow.

“But another group broke away, led by a vampire named Varya. She preached purity. She said that feeding on animals made them less beastly. She gathered followers and retreated to the mountains. They thrived for a while, but their bodies deteriorated. Weaker reflexes. Slower healing. Their skin grew brittle. They could not change, they could not evolve. When the Drought Wars came—when the ancient cities burned—they could not defend themselves.” Marcus’s voice was flat. “Varya died begging for the blood she had spent her life rejecting.”

Bella listened to Marcus with genuine curiosity and interest.

Then she suddenly turned and asked. "So... what about the Cullens?"

Marcus stopped and looked at Bella, as if to say, "What do you mean?" Bella asked Marcus.

"They're animal drinkers, aren't they?" Bella asked Marcus.

"They're strict about this diet. Carlisle... taught them to stay away. He believed it was right. Carlisle always had delusions of sainthood. But he's wrong. It's not a virtue. It's slow starvation disguised as discipline.

Look Marcus, I know they did bad things to me. I hate them, especially Edward and Alice. Even that arrogant, self-important Rosalie. Emmet, Jasper, even Esme... I have good reason to hate them all. But Carlisle... He wouldn't be a bad person just because he wanted it, would he? That wouldn't make him a bad person, Bella thought to herself.

"No, but it means they are constantly fighting what they are. And this war? It breaks most of us,” said Marcus and continued his speech…

"There's some truth to that. Vampires who only drink animal blood - 'vegetarians' - don't have bodies that adapt in the same way. Human bodies metabolize differently. The blood becomes part of you. It binds to your cells, changes your scent, your complexion. It helps you pass better. Animal blood may keep us from going savage, but it doesn't sustain us in the same way. We don't get warmth. We don't get stamina. Our skin stays hard and very pale. The glow? It's light reflected off crystallized flesh. Human drinkers have no such problem."

Marcus added. Think about it Bella, why is Edward not as powerful as Felix or Demeter when he was a young vampire. He could have knocked him out in that throne room if he wanted to, but he didn't, he couldn't. Why did the bronze-haired boy have to push himself harder, fight harder, when our warriors moved with effortless ease? "They survive, yes. They adapt. But they do so with less and less presence. They are not what they could be." He tapped his finger on the table. "Even those who have lived for centuries on this diet will never be what they could be."And have you ever thought about the differences in our appearance? What do you think causes these differences???

Bella was silent, her eyes wide.

“I think… that lack is about full acceptance. Edward has not fully embraced his own nature, his own power. His own darkness, his own reality… But I choose to belong to this world, to accept my power. Maybe that was his greatest weakness; he ran away from the things he was afraid of. I don’t want to run away.”

“So tell me Isabella, how did you discover that Edward and the others were vampires, please…” Marcus said.

Bella shrugged and said, "They weren't really that careful. They were all whiter than the rest of the school, I used to sit and watch them before I even met him. The others had some respect for Edward, I could tell by their actions. I never saw them eat. They didn't come to school on sunny days. That started my suspicions at first. But one day, I went to Port Angelas with my girlfriends. I got lost and got into trouble. I was cornered by a group of thugs, and out of nowhere I saw Edward appear. He was moving really fast, beating up the guys, and I guess he was hunting. I knew what had happened there. The high speed, the extra strength, the pale skin, the way they didn't eat, the way they were avoiding the sun. It all came to me at once. When he grabbed my arm and pulled me into his car, I figured it out."

Marcus bowed his head slowly, his eyes drifting off into the distance as he processed what Bella had told him. The expression on his face cracked with the shadow of a memory from long ago. Then his lips moved, his voice soft but echoing, as if whispering from above a tombstone:

“Eyes that don’t want to see often live in the midst of the truth, but they can’t grasp it, Isabella. You… you noticed. Because your instincts were clear as well as your mind. And your heart was searching for its own path. You thought Edward had saved you, but that night the true form of destiny found you.”

He was silent for a moment, then turned his eyes to Bella.

“You can’t escape what’s been shaped for you. You only accept it, sooner or later. You were chosen… but maybe the point was that you realized it and chose it with your own voice.”

Marcus bowed his head, a shadow of a smile appearing on his lips. "Rest, Isabella, that's enough for today," he said. "Tomorrow will bring new challenges, but you are not alone."

As she stepped out of the library doors, the cold air of the stone corridors sent a slight shiver across Bella's skin. She slowed her pace as the lessons of the day echoed in her mind. The newfound rules, the complex balance of the covens, and the shadow of the Volturi's harsh discipline still lingered over her.

When she reached her room and opened the door, she was greeted by a warm light and a familiar scent. Heidi was sitting on the couch, smiling gently.

"The day is over, Isabella. I wanted to keep you company," she said, her voice soft and reassuring.

Bella opened the door fully and stepped inside, her expression tired but determined.

“Thank you Heidi. What I learned today was just as hard,” she said, and slowly sat down on the couch.

Heidi bowed her head slightly, looking at me with understanding. “This is only the beginning, Isabella. But remember, you are not alone in this palace. We are here to protect and support you.”

Heidi,” Bella said, her voice soft but full of curiosity, “I feel like you have so much to tell me about the Volturi. The kings, the balance… Who is who, what do they represent? Especially Caius and Marcus… How do you see them?”

Heidi nodded slowly and sat down on the thin wooden couch inside the room. Her fingers played with the hem of her satin skirt, her voice flowing in an almost magical rhythm:

“Three kings… the pillars of Volterra. Ancient wills that rule the night and justice. Each one is the body and soul of something different.”

She raised her eyes and met Bella’s.

“Marcus,” she said first. “He sees the bonds. Love, betrayal, loyalty… his eyes see them all. But behind his eyes is a heart that has been rotted by Didyme’s death. The world to him is a broken mirror. He is silent because every word brings back old echoes. But he is the closest he can come to understanding you, Bella. He knows the language of pain.”

Bella swallowed. The deep, indescribable loneliness she had seen in Marcus’ eyes returned to her mind.

“Caius,” Heidi said, her voice sharpening slightly. “He is the child of denial and revenge. He is the bearer of law written in blood. The symbol of authority. The walking embodiment of discipline and fear. He once attacked a family of werewolves, and nearly killed them. Since that day, he has kept his hatred cold, but carries it like fire in his heart. He may seem indifferent to you for now. But be careful. To gain his approval is to gain the key to a kingdom.”

Bella remained silent. Her eyes dropped. Heidi’s tone had sent a shiver down Bella’s spine without her noticing.

“And Aro…” Heidi’s voice was softer now, more personal. There was a mixture of admiration and fear in her eyes. "He... is prophecy incarnate. He is reason, will, and passion. He reads minds, but he also affects hearts. He may have heard you before he saw you. I don't know how he felt when he read your thoughts... but it's the first time I've seen him get this close to someone."

"So Caius scares, Marcus sees, and Aro rules?" Bella said.

Heidi bowed her head slightly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"A nice summary," she said softly. "But it's incomplete."

She stood up and approached Bella.

"Caius scares, yes... but only the weak. Those who show loyalty find peace in his justice."

"Marcus sees... but not just the bonds. The broken strings. And that can be the heaviest burden of all."

"Aro rules... yes. But sometimes to rule is to put the ones you love the farthest away. To not burn them."

Bella's throat tightened. Aro's voice, his touch, had been in her eyes all night.

Heidi continued. "For him, love is not a feeling, but a force field. It possesses. It holds. But it also shapes you. If you are to walk in his shadow, you must create your own light. Or you will be lost to Aro's will."

Bella murmured softly. “I don’t want to get lost… but not being with him is something I can no longer think about.”

Heidi smiled. This time with bitter wisdom. “Then stay balanced, Isabella Volturi. Because even love is a strategy here. You are a balance here. You can be the balance of all three, Isabella…”