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The invitation was elegant, if simple.
Swirling gold lettering sat neatly on white cardstock.
No doubt Alice’s handiwork.
Edward Antony Masen Cullen and Madison Bailey King
Of course his name was first on the invitation.
Bella glanced up at Aro. He watched her warily, unsure of what her reaction would be.
“He’s getting married?” Bella signed to him, her hands moving quickly and silently in the air to express her shock.
It said it right there on the paper, but Bella wanted to make sure she was reading it right.
“Yes,” Aro said.
Bella offered back the invitation.
“Bella, he’s marrying a human.”
Bella growled at that, signing “what?” as angrily as possible.
Aro nodded. “A human, eighteen. Venice, as you can tell. I want you and Heidi to go and make sure the girl is turned right after the wedding as Carlisle promised.”
“You want me-”
“Bella,” Aro said, his voice was a bit softer, but still firm as ever.
Bella knew very well the reputation Aro had in the vampire world. Even just the mere mention of his name sent fear rolling down the backs of vampires who had walked this Earth for a millenia. He was terrifying, menacing, the bogeyman hiding under the bogeyman’s bed. But when it came to Bella, he was soft. Softer then most at least.
“You will be the hardest on the Cullens, I know you will do what must be done,” Aro said. “And you know as well as I that they will discover you eventually. You would prefer that on your own terms, yes?”
“And if I say no?”
“This is not a request,” Aro said sharply. “This is an order.”
Bella bristled at that, but did not argue. It was not her place.
“I am sending Heidi with you,” Aro said. “You leave tomorrow. Dismissed.”
Bella bowed deeply before turning to go.
Heidi was at her desk, on her laptop, designing some sort of advert. She was dressed in more casual clothes today, her cloak slung on the back of the chair. Her brown hair was loose, and her two golden hoops were hanging from her ears as always.
“Hello liebling,” she said, not even looking up as Bella hoisted herself up on the desk. Bella offered her the invitation, which Heidi took.
“Ah,” she said after a quick glance to it’s contents. “I see Aro told you.”
“You knew?” Bella signed.
“Only an hour or two before you,” Heidi said. “I thought it best for Aro to speak to you.”
“I don’t want to go,” Bella signed, her movements once again sharp to express her anger. “I don’t like this idea at all.”
“I know, Bella, believe me, I know,” Heidi said softly. “But someone has to go, yes?”
“Why us?”
“You know why,” Heidi said, she averted her eyes. Something she often did when she said something she knew Bella wouldn’t want to hear. “I think it will be good.”
“Are you serious?” Bella signed.
“You will see them again, it is better to get it over with and do it on your terms,” Heidi said. “Then you will not be so worried the next time you see them.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Then what is this, hmm?” Heidi asked, turning back towards her partner with a raised eyebrow.
Bella paused, contemplating what she wanted to say before signing slowly. “I don’t want their pity. I do not want to shoulder their guilt. I don’t want to explain-” she motioned to her throat.
“You owe no one an explanation Bella,” Heidi said, offering her hand. Bella took it gently, lacing her hands with Heidi. “And I will be by your side the entire time.”
Bella leaned forward. Heidi placed her forehead gently against hers.
“I love you,” Heidi said quietly.
Bella squeezed Heidi’s hand three times in response.
Venice was beautiful… much to Bella’s dismay. She found her anger at Aro washing away in the canals of the city. It wasn’t often that Bella and Heidi got to spend time together outside of Volterra in a manner that did not center around work. These days though, Bella spent far more of her time working with Demetri then she might like. Aro had stated that she and Heidi had a bad habit of “distracting” one another… whatever that meant.
Bella felt Heidi reach for her hand, returning Bella to the present.
Heidi and Bella had dropped their bags off at the hotel and began wandering around the city. It was lucky that it was cloudy outside, perfect weather for them to walk around outside.
“If only we had more time,” Heidi said with a sigh, “I wanted to visit a museum this time. See what exhibits have been updated.”
“We can,” Bella signed. “We still have a few hours.”
“But then I only get to see half,” Heidi said. Her voice turned flirtatious. “And you know how I hate to leave a job half done.”
Bella rolled her eyes at that.
“Oh come on, that was a good one!’
Bella just shot her a look.
“You know you love me,” Heidi teased, leaning in to kiss Bella on the cheek.
Bella’s expression softened at that. “Of course,” she signed. “Now and forever.”
“Now and forever,” Heidi repeated. “You’re never getting rid of me.”
“A girl can dream,” Bella signed, a smirk on her face.
Heidi elbowed Bella, causing the brunette to giggle. “Just for that I’m throwing you in the canal.”
The cafe they were meeting at was… quaint.
Heidi had already prepped Bella, explaining that in her communication with Carlisle she had been told it would just be him, Esme, Edward, and the girl. Simple, small, less overwhelming for everyone involved.
Didn’t mean Bella didn’t want to turn tail and run straight in the other direction.
Heidi seemed to know this, judging by the steady grip she had on Bella’s hand.
“You are not leaving me alone with them,” She muttered as they paused outside the restaurant doors. “I will kill them all and the restaurant patrons Bella. I’m serious.”
That made Bella smile a little.
“You think I’m joking.”
Bella shook her head.
“Good,” Heidi sighed, running a hand through her hair. Even now, years after seeing her for the first time, Bella couldn’t help the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. “How do I look.”
Bella removed her hand so she could sign properly. “You look beautiful, as always.”
“Thank you liebling,” Heidi said. “I will take charge, yes? You will let me know if you wish me to translate?”
Bella nodded.
“Wonderful,” Heidi said, looping their hands back together. “Let’s try to leave here with no casualties, yes?”
“Reservation for Cullen?” Heidi asked in impeccable Italian. The host nodded, and motioned for them to follow him. No doubt the human had picked it out as a meeting place considering the vampires couldn’t consume anything from it. The host led them through the cafe, and Bella couldn’t help but catch several delicious scents from the humans nearby. Seems the men Heidi and her had hunted down the previous day hadn’t been filling enough.
The waiter led them outside to a patio, and at a round table meant for six, sat the Cullens.
Well, half of them. Esme, Carlisle and Edward sat there, looking the same as when Bella had last seen them back in 2006.
Esme was the first to notice Bella. She froze. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Perhaps in her mind, she had. After all, as far as Esme Cullen was aware, Bella Swan had died a long time ago. Or maybe they had never returned to Forks. That had never crossed Bella’s mind. Perhaps they really didn’t know about the two empty graves that sat in the Forks Cemetery. In that case, Esme probably thought Bella had been aging peacefully in Washington. Bella should be… what, 35? 36 now? She was definitely not expecting the 20 something vampire that stood in front of them now.
Especially accompanied by red eyes and a Volturi pendent.
Carlisle was the next to notice her. Confused by his wife’s reaction he glanced up and locked eyes with Bella. His emotions immediately began to play out on his face. Surprise. Confusion. And then thoughtfulness. Bella could quite literally see the gears inside the man’s head begin to turn.
That was Carlisle Cullen. Calculating, always calculating.
Even if Carlisle would never admit it, that’s what made Aro and Carlisle so alike.
Aro told Bella once that he and Carlisle had managed to have debates for days at a time when Carlisle stayed at the Volturi. They would argue to the point of Sulpicia having to step in and remind them to feed. They discussed everything, and anything. Philosophy, morals, literature, arts, nothing was off the table for them.
“I miss it sometimes,” Aro had admitted when reminiscing on Carlisle’s time in Volterra. “We were good friends, I miss the man he was.”
“Isn’t he still that man? Since vampires don’t change?” Bella had responded.
Aro glanced over at her. “We’re still people Isabella, we change and grow, but only if we allow ourselves too.”
Bella turned her attention to Edward, who still hadn’t noticed her yet. He was trying (and failing) to comfort his fiance. The poor lamb was trembling. No doubt scared of the big bad Volturi.
It was almost frightening how much she looked like Bella. If Bella hadn’t seen her parents killed in front of her, she might have had to call them up to ask if there was something they had forgotten to tell her about. She wondered if the other Cullens had noticed. Certainly Rosalie had. Bella could almost hear the Blonde’s cutting insults now about it. She had hair similar to Bella’s and doe-shaped brown eyes. There was an innocence about her. Like a rabbit caught in a trap as she stared at Bella in horror.
All Bella could summon up for the girl was pity. Not disgust, not disappointment, pity, heavy and sad.
Bella pulled Heidi’s chair out for her, earning her a smile from her mate.
“Thank you love,” Heidi said, sitting down gracefully.
Edward finally glanced up, and unlike his parents, couldn’t contain his surprise. “Bella?”
Bella nodded politely in greeting.
“No greeting for an old friend Edward?” Heidi purred, summoning the seductive succubi character she usually did around outsiders. “How disappointing.”
“Heidi,” Edward responded coldly.
Heidi stuck out her lip in a pout but said nothing more. Silence fell over the table. Bella and Heidi sat comfortably in it. Well aware all of the power at the table was in their hands.
“You said that Aro ordered our appearance?” Carlisle asked.
“He did,” Heidi said. She tilted her head. “Surely Carlisle, you cannot be so foolish as to not know why.”
“Madison. Her humanity,” Carlisle said. “Please inform Aro that we have every intention of turning Madison.”
“Like you intended on turning Bella?” Heidi’s voice had turned serious. She still had that smirk on her face, but her eyes had gone cold. Madison sat up a little straighter at that, confused as she glanced between Bella and Carlisle. Bella felt a small siren go off in her head. No… surely not… surely they had not kept it all a secret…
“That was different,” Carlisle said, obviously flustered. “You see-”
“I did not come here to hear you give me some vague excuses that help you continue your sad immortal existence in peace,” Heidi said, leaning back in her chair. “I will be frank with you Carlisle. The Olympic coven, as I’m sure you’re well aware, is on very thin ice with the Volturi these days. The incident in Forks has cast you in a very negative light. There are crimes that many in Volterra believe you should have to answer for but you have not been charged with. This whole situation,” Heidi motioned to Edward and Madison. “Is the last straw in Caius’ book. She must be turned before noon the day after the wedding. If not by a Cullen, then either Bella or I will have to do it.”
“What happened in Forks?” Madison asked in a low tone.
Bella felt a chill roll through her. Ah, so they hadn’t told Madison about her. Why would they? It wouldn’t benefit them any.
Maybe Bella had naively hoped they'd at least have the decency to explain his past.
“Yes, Edward, what did happen in Forks?” Heidi asked.
Edward shot a glare towards Heidi before turning to Madison. “We can discuss it later.”
Madison looked like she wanted to say something, but remained silent.
Bella glanced toward Heidi.
Heidi simply shrugged in a silent. “it’s your decision.”
Bella glanced towards the girl. At the very least… she should know who she was getting involved with.
Bella sighed, rolling up her sleeves, causing Esme to gasp. Silver crescent moons decorated Bella’s arm. Even all these years later, Bella couldn’t help but stifle nausea at the very sight.
“Woah,” Madison said in a low voice. She met Bella’s eyes.
Bella glanced towards Heidi.
“Will you translate for me?” Bella asked, signing below the table in a subtle manner.
Heidi’s whole face softened. “Of course.”
Bella began to sign, ignoring the confusion coming from the Cullens.
“I’m what happened in Forks,” Heidi said. “The Cullens exposed themselves to me and in turn exposed me to other vampires. They then left me unprotected, at the mercy of a vengeful vampire. This resulted in the suspicious deaths of all my friends and family. I was then tortured for two years.” Bella admired the way that Heidi’s voice didn’t shake as she translated, though she knew her mate was upset on her behalf. “Victoria’s favorite form of torture was she liked to bite me, remove the venom, and repeat the cycle. She found my agony…” Heidi’s translation paused as Bella paused her signing. Bella tilted her head considering her choice of words before settling on “amusing. Soon, I built a tolerance up to the venom. It usually takes two to three days to turn a vampire. By the time the Volturi found me and disposed of Victoria, it took an entire week for the venom to sink in.”
Bella paused her hands. She could feel them trembling as she lowered them. Heidi immediately grabbed them under the table to offer her support.
“That is what happened in Forks, Madison,” Heidi said, turning back to the girl who was staring in absolute horror at Bella. “The Cullens broke our biggest rule and endangered many people at the same time.”
Silence fell over the table.
“Bella, you have to know…” Carlisle said, his voice breaking. “If we had known.”
“You knew enough,” Heidi said sharply. “You broke the law Carlisle. It is only through Aro’s grace that I do not-”
Bella squeezed Heidi’s hand.
Heidi let out a breath, closing her eyes. “I digress.”
Bella began to sign again.
“You have to change her immediately after the wedding, that’s final,” Heidi said, translating it. “We will assist you in faking her death, but there is no other option. What’s done is done. Learn from your mistakes or we will be forced to act.”
The waiter decided to approach the table at this point, causing Heidi to glare at him.
“Um, is t-there anything I can help you with?” He asked in Italian.
“No, thank you,” Edward said.
“We should get going,” Heidi said, standing up. “We have said what we came here to say. Noon. The day after the wedding. Or nothing will give me more pleasure then to see your golden eyes ripped from your skulls and tossed into the flames.”
She offered Bella her hand to help her stand.
“Aro sends his warmest congratulations,” Heidi said. “We will see you at the wedding.”
And with that the two turned and walked away, leaving the Cullens in silence.
That night Bella and Heidi sat in the hotel room Aro had gotten for them.
Heidi had the tv on and was raptly watching whatever Italian show was on. Bella had her head in Heidi’s lap. Bella was reading a book she had been meaning to read for awhile at this point. Heidi’s hand combed through Bella’s hair, allowing the vampire to relax.
Bella placed down the book which earned her Heidi’s attention.
“Weird to think that could have been me,” Bella signed.
“But it isn’t.”
Bella nodded slightly, lost in her own thoughts. She could’ve gotten married to Edward. She could have had a tense stand-off with the Volturi. Could she have though? The more she thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed. She would have had to snap at some point, right? At some point she would have had to realize how controlling he was and leave him. At some point she would find her self-worth in Forks just like she did in Volterra. That had to be accurate. She glanced up to see Heidi staring down at her, brow furrowed.
“Heidi?” She signed. Heidi’s name was one of her favorite signs to do. She made the letter h with her right hand before doing the first part of the sign for fisherman which looked like Bella mimicking pulling back on a fishing rod. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you want it to be?”
“What?” Bella instantly signed in shock, sitting up. She moved so she was sitting across from the vampire.
Heidi’s voice was void of all emotion, robotic almost, as she asked.“Would you rather it be you then Madison?”
“What are you talking about?” Bella asked. “Of course not,” she leaned over, grabbing the remote control. She turned, turning the tv off. “Why would you say that?”
“It’s a valid question!” Heidi said, getting defensive.
“I have been dreading this trip for weeks,” Bella signed, her passion making her signs slightly sloppy but still understandable. “I have said a thousand times how I hate the Cullens with a burning passion.”
“You talk about missing being human. Of missing that time in your life.”
Bella shook her head violently, indicating her disagreement.
“I miss my family. My friends. My humanity. But not him. Never him,” Bella signed. How could Heidi think anything different? “Heidi, I married you,” Bella signed, her earnestness obvious on her face “I love you, not Edward. You” She emphasized that word as hard as possible. “are my loyal, headstrong, sometimes a bit too stubborn partner. Not him.”
Heidi nodded, seemingly unsure still.
“Now and forever,” Bella signed. “I love you.”
“I know-”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” Heidi muttered, leaning and kissing Bella.
“I’m sorry if I ever make you feel like I don’t,” Bella signed slowly, her movements smaller then the large passionate gestures she signed moments before.
“There is never a moment you let me feel unloved,” Heidi whispered, her voice emotional. “I’m sorry. I just…” She sighed. “I’m still getting used to being your first choice I guess.”
“And you always will be,” Bella signed. “Now and forever.”
“Now and forever,” Heidi repeated.“Thank you for being patient with me.”
“I understand, believe me, This trip has been exhausting already,” Bella signed, rolling her eyes. “And vampires aren’t supposed to get tired.”
“They aren’t supposed to get headaches, but I was getting one at lunch.”
“Want to skip the actual wedding?” Bella signed hopefully.
“Please,” Heidi begged.
“Then we’ll do that,” Bella signed readjusting herself to her original position with her head in Heidi’s lap.
“Do you think they’ll actually change her?” Heidi asked.
“We can only hope,” Bella signed. “If only for her sake.”