My Strength Chapter 31

Bella was well and truly impressed by Didyme’s garden. If there ever was an Eden on Earth, her garden had to be it. Housed in a giant greenhouse that could have very well been more than large enough to be a regular house on its’ own, there was enough fauna and greenery from every corner of the earth for Bella to ogle at. There were species of plants that Bella was sure belonged more in a fiction story than in real life.

Didyme had led them to a secluded corner that was surrounded by dense vegetation. It seemed Didyme was not only a gardener, but also a landscaper. It almost seemed like the very few pieces of furniture there were encompassed by different vines and flowers, almost as if the manmade items were being claimed by mother nature.

Bella knew she would want to spend more time going through and actually enjoying all the different flowers and trees Didyme had on display when she wasn’t pressed for time. She knew she only had so much time before her mates found her again. She wouldn’t even put it past either Athenodora or Caius to intrude on Didyme’s garden sanctuary to bug her some more. She wanted to soak up as much peacefulness as she could before reality came crashing back to bug her again.

“How long did it take you to get all these plants here?” Bella asked, she also wanted to ask how she could have such a variety that she knew had very different ecosystem requirements but she was sure it was only a matter of money and vampire precision that allowed all the different exotic plants to co-exist.

“I’ve been working with all of these flowers for centuries, some even longer.” Didyme answered with a serene smile, thoroughly enjoying someone else appreciating all her hard work. “But, as I’m sure you’re aware, I didn’t necessarily bring you here to talk about my plants.” She said as she eyed Bella as the human looked intently at the different plants within eyesight.

“Yeah, I know.” Bella said with a small sigh, bringing her attention back to Didyme. While she knew the older vampire wanted to talk to her, Bella wasn’t exactly sure what her angle was. She didn’t know if the other queen wanted to push Bella to be turned immediately like her parents wanted her to. Or perhaps the queen wanted to talk about why she was okay with being friends with so many shifters. Bella didn’t know Didyme that well and so she had no idea if the woman had an ulterior motive or what it would even be.

“From what I understand, you do not want to be turned immediately?” Didyme asked casually, making sure to keep her tone even and her face blank. She didn’t want to influence Bella one way or the other. This was her niece after all, she only wanted what her niece wanted and at the moment, Didyme didn’t know what that was. But she sure as hell was going to find out.

Bella had to bite back a groan of annoyance. So, the queen was with her parents; of course she would be. Bella wouldn’t be surprised if one, or both, of her parents put the other queen up to questioning Bella since she was ignoring the blonde duo. Hopefully Didyme wouldn’t be as blinded by her desire as her parents were.

“I don’t know.” Bella truthfully answered. “I know right now I don’t.” That was mostly out of spite she didn’t want to. But truthfully, Bella hadn’t really talked about it to get more information much less even thought of when she wanted to. With everything that had happened since Zafrina had shown up, she hadn’t really had a moment or two to just think about what she wanted.

“Had you ever want to be turned?” Didyme asked, thinking back to when Bella was with the Cullen’s. That should have been on offer for her the second she found out what they were. Had she wanted to be turned then or did she just want to be killed instead of suffering through a three day, literal burning infernal hell.

“I thought I did.” Bella answered right away. But that was such a long time ago, when she thought all she would ever need or want was Edward. She had changed in so many ways since then that it wouldn’t be fair to assume she still thought the same when it came to becoming a vampire.

“Have you talked with Zafrina and Victoria about it?” Didyme asked next. She knew Bella’s mates would definitely want Bella to be turned. But at the same time, they wouldn’t push Bella to do something she didn’t want to do. Talking to her mates would be the best thing to do because her mates wouldn’t mince any words or try to hide anything from Bella to try and sway her one way or the other. They would be blunt and honest with her so the human could make an informed decision. Thankfully, since she was the Volturi Princess, she wouldn’t be killed if she wasn’t turned. But it would definitely be a giant headache for the royals if word got that their own princess was human.

“Not yet.” Bella admitted a bit guiltily. Both women knew what Bella’s issues were and how she was upset with her parents wanting her turned and to so suddenly end her human life. But not once did either woman try to force Bella to talk, they only made sure Bella knew there were with her to support her and do whatever Bella wanted or needed them to do. They hadn’t even forced her to talk beyond her griping about how annoyed she was with her parents. They never once pushed her to do anything.

And she couldn’t be more grateful that they hadn’t. They were being so good on letting Bella work through her emotions, to come to her own conclusions, to figure out everything she needed and wanted to on her own while constantly making sure she knew they were available whenever she needed them. It was beyond touching and Bella couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have both of them be hers.

“I’m sure they would be more than willing to give you any information you want about being turned.” Didyme advised.

“What do you think?” Bella asked, not fully intended to have asked her that but with Didyme being so kind and not telling her that she should have been changed weeks ago, Bella was curious about what she thought about her becoming a vampire or not.

Didyme gave Bella a kind smile, more than expecting that questions. “I want you to be turned of course.” Didyme answered kindly, holding up a hand to stop Bella from making accusations before she could explain. “You are family now. Why would I want to lose a niece I just got when it is fully avoidable? I don’t want to have to see you die.” Didyme answered with a frown, not even liking having to voice it out loud. “But at the same time, I don’t want you to be forced to do anything you don’t want to. If you truly do not want to become a vampire, then I would never force it on you. All I really want, is to make sure you are well informed of all your options and that you know that no matter what you decide, I’ll be on your side.” She said with a kind smile.

Bella felt a few tears attempting to fall from her eyes. What Didyme said was exactly what she wanted to hear from someone other than her mates since she knew her mates would always want what she wanted. It was so nice to hear.

Bella opened her mouth to respond, to thank Didyme for saying what she did and perhaps even admit that she really did want to be changed she was just being a jerk about it because of what Caius and Athenodora had done. But instead of her voice breaking the peaceful moment, it was another’s.

“Hiding away our human to keep her all to yourself dear?” A sultry voice said.

Bella turned and saw Sulpicia literally stalk her way towards where she and Didyme were sitting. It was like the woman was a feline incarnate and the entire world was her runway to show off her spectacular grace for everyone to admire. She was definitely not lacking confidence.

“I’ve told you at least a million times Cia to not come in here unless I invite you.” Didyme scolded. It was a losing battle she had been having with the blonde woman ever since she started her private garden. If it wasn’t for the fact that Sulpica really didn’t come there very often and when she did she never touched one of her precious plants, Didyme would have put her foot down about the vixen queen invading her private space. As it were, she barely tolerated it and always scolded her when she did welcome herself inside her space.

Sulpicia pouted at her sister, entirely not sorry about walking in her sister’s garden but more than willing to put up a front to continue their little game. “But I wanted to spend some time with my new niece as well and I can’t very well do that if you hog her all to herself.”

Bella’s eyes widen at the queens’ words. She had thought Didyme had only called her niece to tease her but hearing Sulpicia say the same thing, had Bella really been accepted so easily into the Volturi family? She had been accepted into the Cullen family just as easily but it seemed so different with the Volturi claiming her. There was an undercurrent of passiveness that the Cullen’s didn’t have. It was like Bella, in her very soul, knew she was their family and they were only voicing what her soul was telling her.

“Then try asking her instead of trying to steal her away from someone else.” Diydyme said with a hint of a growl. All she had wanted to do was spend some time with her niece, get to know her, let her vent some of her frustrations and then let Bella know Didyme was on her side no matter. She wanted to secure her title as best aunt and she couldn’t very well do that if Sulpicia was trying to take the spotlight.

Sulpicia wanted to rile Didyme’s feathers even more but unfortunately, she was here on a mission. And as much fun as it was to annoy her fellow rulers, she was never one to completely shirk duties.

“I’m actually here to fetch Bella by request of her mates.” Sulpicia said before turning her attention towards her niece, “Since they know not to come here without permission,”

“Of which you don’t either.” Didyme quickly added.

“And since don’t care if I do or not.” Sulpicia added, sending a quick smirk to her noir queen, “They asked if I would be so kind as to fetch you. They seemed concerned about your mental state and wanted to make sure you were okay.” She added the last part with sincerity. She knew very well her niece was upset with her parents; hell, the whole castle did. And while Sulpicia didn’t know Bella very well, she didn’t like seeing her niece distressed. She was hoping this whole petty who will turn Bella and when business will be put to rest sooner rather than later so Sulpicia wouldn’t have continue listening to her own mate making bets about what was going to happen in when. She really needed to work on her husband’s need to know everything and then gamble on it. “Do you want to go to your mate’s now or should I tell them you are enjoying your time with Didyme and she can return you later?” Sulpicia asked Bella, giving her niece options because she wasn’t about to force the child to do anything she didn’t want to.

“I think,” Bella hesitated, almost saying she wanted to stay with Didyme and talk some more. But her desire to talk and be with her mates won out even more. She wanted to hear what they had to say and then to finally decide what she wanted. Then she would talk with her parents and get everything settled. “I think I’ll go with you, I want to talk to them.” Bella said with a smile then turned towards Didyme and gave the noir woman a grateful smile, “Thankyou so much for spending time with me and telling me what you did. It means so much to me.”

“That’s what I’m here for dear, whenever you need me to tell you again, I will more than happy to help.” Didyme said, mentally cheering that it was her not Sulpicia that came to Bella’s rescue. Hopefully that secured her spot as the favored instead of Sulpicia, it was about damn time that woman didn’t win something.

Sulpicia guided Bella through the garden, more than a little familiar with it’s layout, leaving Didyme behind to enjoy her own fruits of labor. “What did she tell you?” Sulpicia asked, her need to know everything not nearly as bad as her husbands but still existent.

“Nothing really.” Bella answered with a small smile, just happy to belong and happy to have a plan to resolve everything. She was completely unaware of the ‘torture’ she was putting Sulpicia through by not sharing.

“But what did she say, perhaps I can provide some insight as well?” Sulpicia offered, hoping her husband couldn’t hear her practically begging for information. Although, in this case, he wouldn’t be much better since his gift wouldn’t work on Bella either.

“She just helped clear things up.” Bella answered, her smile growing as she saw her mates waiting for her.

Sulpicia stopped walking, more than sure that since Bella had her mates in sight she would be fine. As soon as she saw Bella passing out hugs, she turned on her heel. She was going back to Didyme and making the noir woman tell her what she said. She could be just as helpful as she was to Bella; if only she knew what she needed to be helpful towards.