Give in to Us Chapter 3

I turned my head towards the door and saw the two aforementioned queens walk into the room. Sulpicia had a teasing smirk on her face as she walked first into the room. Athenodora walked in with a scowl on her face, reinforcing the idea that I really needed to make sure I stayed away from her. I didn’t want to get close to any of them but I knew if I was forced to spend any amount of time with any of them for any reason, I would do my best to keep clear of Athenodora.

Didyme stood to hug her mates in greeting but when she sat back down, she sat closer to the middle; closer to me. It made me somewhat uncomfortable with her being so close to me. Did she move closer because she was trying to do something to me that would work better if she was closer? I had no idea what the Volturi queens were actually capable of, but being so close to one of them made me nervous. Thankfully the two blonde queens sat down on the same armchair’s they had been sitting in before they left.

“Bella and I were just talking about bonds.” Didyme said once everyone was sitting down. “Apparently the only kind of bond she’s aware of is that of a mating bond.”

“While that is one of the more sacred bonds, there are more than just that one little one.” Sulpicia told me, cutting her mate off from talking.

“I’m sure Didyme already told her that, dear.” Athenodora said, the last word coming out sounding like a warning; but I didn’t know what she would be warning against. Sulpicia only gave her a quick glare that looked more teasing than an actual glare. At least compared to the glare I saw her give Edward, the glare she had now was completely nonthreatening, probably because she was glaring at her mate.

“That I did. I was just about to talk about familial bonds.” Didyme said, apparently non-caring about what Sulpicia had said or the tone Athenodora had just talked in. Perhaps she was used to the two fighting with each other?

“What a wonderful place to start.” Sulpicia said with a wide smile as she clasped her hands together. “Did you know every relationship within a family is the result of a predestined bond? Fathers, sons, siblings and mothers and daughters are all predestined to each other.” Sulpicia said with a pointed looked before allowing Didyme to take over. Athenodora relaxed further into her seat. She seemed content to listen to her mates talk and to just stare at me. It was more than a bit unnerving to have such an ancient and apparently very powerful, if what Alice had to say was anything to go by, vampire staring at me with undivided attention.

“Everyone has bonds, even if they don’t know it.” Didyme said. “As young Alice told you, I have the ability to see those bonds before and after they are formed. I can see how strong the bonds are and how permanent those bonds are. I have the joy of being able to the possibilities a bond has before even the bonded know.”

They were going into a lot more detail than I thought they would with me; at least it was a lot of detail to me, for a subject I thought wouldn’t have anything to do with me. Well, there is the bond Edward and I share but we were already aware of that bond. Plus, why would the Volturi queens care about the fact I was mated to Edward; why would they care enough to have this talk?

“But the bond we’re interested in, the one these two are skirting around,” Athenodora finally spoke up, apparently no longer content with just listening. “Is the familial bond. The bond we share with you.”

I felt my face scrunch in confusion and the blood drain from my face. There was no way I could share anything with them. They were evil, red eyed vampires. They were more likely to kill me than to share anything with me. Edward had made that perfectly clear and then James, Victoria and Laurent had reinforced the fact. I didn’t want to share anything with people that were only going to kill me eventually and the same ones that were currently holding Edward captive.

“What?” I asked in a shocked voice, hoping I had misheard them.

“Well, more eloquently put, we share a familial bond with you. A maternal bond.” Didyme said as she sent a scolding look to Athenodora, one the blonde had rolled her eyes at. If I wasn’t in the situation I was in, I would have laughed at such a human response coming from Athenodora. As it were, I was nowhere near laughing.

“The moment we saw you walk into the throne room, we felt the urge to protect, nurture and care for you as a mother does their child. It is something Didyme has seen we share when reading our bonds but we never put any stock in it as after a millennia or so, we doubted the bond would even come to fruition.” Sulpicia explained in a soft tone to supposedly try and get me to relax, but it definitely wasn’t working.

Why would I want such a bond with these women? I have my own mother who is very much alive. And then of course, there’s Esme. Granted, she did leave me but she’s going to be coming here and then we’ll all somehow leave together. We’ll be a family again like we were before. We have to be because Edward and I will be together once we get past all this Volturi stuff and when we are together again, I’ll be with his family again.

“We understand you don’t feel the bond but you will eventually.” Athenodora said and I felt myself want to argue with her that she couldn’t tell me what I could or couldn’t feel whether it was now or in the future.

“In the meantime though, we would like to get to know you.” Sulpicia said as she inched forward in her seat. She moved her hand as if she was about to reach out for me but changed her mind at the last moment. Her slight action caused both Athenodora and Didyme to slightly chuckle at her action, which caused Sulpicia to look slightly put out.

“As I’m sure you can guess, with her power, Cia is used to getting to know people within seconds. You’re making her work to know you like us normal people normally do.” Athenodora said with a smirk.

“It just means it will mean a lot more when I get to know her than when you get to know her.” Sulpicia said with a challenging smirk.

“Before these two get too far into their games.” Didyme said, cutting off Athenodora from giving Sulpicia her remark. “It should be noted Bella, that these two are quite competitive and I apologize in advance for anything stupid they will do.” I couldn’t stop the smile from forming if I wanted to. Didyme wasn’t even going to try and pretend her two mates wouldn’t do something stupid, she knows it’s just a matter of time. I wonder how many vampires, in or out of the Volturi guard, see this side of the queens. “Do you have any questions about this bond?” Didyme asked, keeping everyone on task.

“No I don’t.” I answered right away, even though it was a lie. The look she gave me told me she knew it was a lie but she was kind enough not to say anything.

I had a lot of questions about a lot of things I was sure the queens knew the answers to. But I wasn’t about to ask most, if any, of them. At the moment I only had one thing on my mind: Edward. I wanted to see him. I wanted to make sure he was safe. I wanted to know what he thought I should do given what the queens just told me. There were a lot of questions I had for him; but mostly I just wanted to see him. I needed to see he was okay. He was my mate. Didyme should be able to see that and because of that bond, they shouldn’t deny me seeing him. Right?

“Well, if ever you have any, we’ll all be there to answer them for you.” Sulpicia said with a kind smile, to which I responded with just a smile.

“In the meantime, you look much too thin young one.” Didyme said in a scolding tone. I admit these past few months, I hadn’t eaten as much as I probably should have; but I hadn’t lost that much weight and the weight I did lose, I didn’t think it was that bad. “It is nearly dinner time, why don’t you have an early dinner?” The dark haired queen suggested as she stood up, meaning it wasn’t a suggestion so much as it was an order.

“Can I see Edward first?” I asked. I was more than okay with eating, I was actually hungry since we hadn’t any time to eat after the plane ride and I was too nervous while on the place, but I had to see Edward. I came all the way to Italy to keep him safe. As far as I knew, he wasn’t safe anymore. I needed to see him for myself to find out either way. From the slight hissing Sulpicia and Athenodora gave, I doubted I was going to be able to see him anytime soon.

“Well, not right now.” Didyme said a bit hesitantly. “Let’s get you something to eat and we can discuss the situation with Edward afterwards. Does that sound okay?” She asked with a bright smile that I thought didn’t match the conversation at all since not being able to see Edward only made me worried not happy.

I sighed but nodded my head anyways. I really didn’t think I had a choice. There wasn’t much I could do if I didn’t want to do something they wanted me to. I mean, I guess I could refuse to eat but I’m not really a fan of hunger strikes… or hunger. I didn’t think starving myself would get me too far with red eyed vampires anyways. I was basically at their mercy. I wasn’t about to do or say something that would make them angry with me and prove why they were the feared Volturi.

“What kind of food do you like?” Sulpicia asked when I stood from my seat.

The three queens escorted me to a dining area and talked the whole time. They asked questions about my likes and dislikes and without being prompted from me, would answer their own questions as well. I wasn’t the best conversationalist at the best of times, I was much too socially awkward like my father, but I had an even greater aversion to talking to them specifically. Why would I want to get to know them when all I wanted was to leave as soon as the Cullen’s got back and we could get everything straightened out? Once they saw I would be turned into a vampire, they would have to let us go. I wasn’t a threat to them and their secret.

Even while I ate, there had already been a salad waiting for me when we walked into the room, they continued talking. It was all random topics, mostly just anecdotes about how Athenodora could get so upset that not even their main guard could be around her without risk of getting hurt. Didyme apparently owned a garden that she remodeled every season and tried her best not to repeat any pattern or design she’s used in the past. Sulpicia has reportedly gotten so lost in her reading she had read for a week straight and didn’t know how much time had passed until her mates had teased her about people thinking she had disappeared from missing so many court dates. When I was done eating, Sulpicia called for Felix to take the dishes away for me.

It was apparently, finally, time to talk about Edward.

“How much do you know about why Edward came here?” Sulpicia asked as she put her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her clasped hands.

“He came here because he thought I was dead.” I answered right away, happy I was finally going to get some answers I really wanted.

“Why do you think he would do that?” Didyme asked, confusing me. I thought we had already been through this. Or at least Edward had already explained why he had come here.

“Because he thought he lost me.” I explained slower than I normally spoke in a subconscious effort to make sure they understood what I said.

“So he was told you were dead and he came straight here?” Sulpicia asked.

“Well, not exactly.” I hesitantly answered as I thought about what was actually said when Jacob had answered the phone instead of me.

“What do you mean, ‘not exactly’?” Athenodora said in her normal no-nonsense, demanding tone that was I starting to think was the only tone she talked in to other people outside of her mates.

“Well, Edward had called to speak with Charlie, my dad, and Jacob had said he was busy planning a funeral.” I explained.

“Who’s Jacob?” Didyme asked. “Come on in you two.” She said but keeping her focus on me, only her eyes flickering for just a moment towards the door.

I gave her a confused look and turned towards where Didyme looked and saw Heidi and Jane walk into the room.

“Alice boarded a plane and left for the US.” Heidi said as she and Jane walked in. They both moved to stand behind the queens, who were sitting across from me.

“She confirmed she would be back in a week with the rest of her family.” Jane said.

“Thank you Jane. And Heidi.” Sulpicia said with a nod of her head.

“Now, who’s Jacob?” Athenodora repeated the question when I didn’t answer after the two guards entered the room.

“Um, he’s a good friend of mine.” I answered. I had nearly said best friend, but after how he had acted right before I left… it just didn’t feel right calling him my best friend. Not anymore. But I still considered him my friend. He helped me too much when Edward left me for me not to think he wasn’t at the very least my friend.

“Your friend normally answers your phone?” Athenodora asked and the tone she used made me really question why I wasn’t more upset about Jacob answering my phone. If he hadn’t, Edward never would have left and we wouldn’t be in this situation. But at the same time, I’m not sure I would be back in the Cullen’s life if it wasn’t for this situation.

“Well, no.” I truthfully answered.

“And he didn’t think to verify, or even clarify what he heard with anyone else?” Athenodora asked.

“I um, I don’t know.” I really didn’t like where the conversation was going.

“He didn’t. He received a call from Rosalie saying Alice had left to check on you because you had disappeared from her visions.” Sulpicia said. I hadn’t known that; although I did know Alice couldn’t see me in her visions because of Jacob. We had figured that out before we left for Italy.

“Yet he ran over here and practically begged us to kill him.” Athenodora said.

“But I’m more curious as to why he wouldn’t have already known if you were dead or alive.” Didyme said, participating again in the conversation. “First of all, I’ve never known a mated couple to willingly leave another for an extended period of time, much less a supposed permanent timeframe.” Before I could even get a chance to respond, the queens kept talking.

“I’ve also never known a mated couple to not run to where they last knew their mate was alive if they thought their mate was dead.” Sulpicia said. “If I was told either Didyme or Athenodora were killed, even just injured, I would immediately run to where I knew they should be. I, just as any other vampire, would need to see with my own eyes that either of them were gone. If I didn’t have proof, I simply wouldn’t believe it.”

“But Edward ran to us. He took someone he’s had animosity with since they’ve known each other, word with no proof. That’s not how mates work. It simply doesn’t work for someone to say my mate is dead and for me not to see proof and then for me to immediately go out looking for them if there wasn’t proof.” Athenodora said with a steely look in her eyes that told she wasn’t a fan of talking about her mates being dead.

“I don’t get why you’re telling me this.” I said with a shaky voice. I knew where they were going and I really didn’t want to hear it. I was happy; I didn’t need anyone else but Edward.

Edward loved me. He went to Italy because he didn’t want to live a life that didn’t involve me. We were mates, of course he wouldn’t want to live when I was dead; or… when he thought I was dead. What Jacob said, it was more than understandable Edward had misunderstood. Especially after what Rosalie told him. If anything, what they were telling me only re-affirmed Edward and I were mates. It was what made sense to me and our connection.

“I think you do.” Sulpicia said with a sad smile. “You just don’t want to face it.” The sad look she gave me was so close to a pitying look and it really upset me. This conversation was supposed to be about what was going to happen to Edward, not what he had already done. I already all of that and there was nothing he had done in his past I couldn’t forgive.

“I can see the bond you and Edward have.” Didyme said. “It was strong, that much is clear. But then it was destroyed on your end and I can guarantee it will never be as strong as it was once. The bond you two shared was definitely love. The problem though is the love you both felt were on different levels. It wasn’t equal. The only way a relationship can work, especially with vampires, is if that love is on an equal platform. That’s what a mating bond is: equal and intense love for each other.”

“Different levels? Love is love.” I said, really not liking how the conversation was going. But I couldn’t argue what they were saying and that was what annoyed me the most.

“You both loved each other dear. No one will ever dispute that.” Sulpicia said in her still sad, almost pitying tone. “But he was never your mate. You are his singer. A singer can never be mated to the vampire the blood sings to. The relationship only ends in the humans premature death.”

“Edward didn’t kill me though.” I desperately said. “Because we are mates.” I stressed to them, which caused Heidi and Jane to hiss but I ignored them since I was more concerned with defending my relationship with Edward. I wasn’t sure why I felt I needed to defend myself and my actions so strongly to these women. There was a part of me that couldn’t ignore them and what they were saying, I wanted them to understand and accept Edward and I were really meant for each other regardless of what they were saying.

“No, that’s not entirely right.” Athenodora said, making me more agitated from her bluntness in calling me out. “You do love each other, that much is true. But he only pursued a relationship because of your blood. He knew he wouldn’t be allowed to kill you and drain you of blood, so he wanted to surround himself with your bloods’ scent. It was the next best thing. The fact he can’t read your thoughts only fed to his delusions. Feelings were only added later after he had started courting you… or dating, as this generation calls it.”

“That’s not true.” I said as I felt my eyes start to water. I really didn’t want to believe them but I couldn’t help it. There was no reason for them to lie to me. They would gain nothing from lying to me. Even if they just wanted to amuse themselves with ruining a strangers relationship. They were the Volturi. They wouldn’t waste the time or effort interacting with a human just for their amusement. So that made me wonder, why would they put in all this effort to tell me about Edward, which I still didn’t fully believe was the truth, when I was just some random human to them? Unless, this had something to do with that bond they said they had with me. But then why would they hurt me by telling me the man I loved didn’t really love me back?

“He isn’t your mate, nor are you his.” Didyme said in a soft and soothing voice. “I’m sure he has a lot of maturing to do before he will find his mate.”

“I don’t believe you.” I said as I fought back tears. I didn’t want to believe what they were telling me but after all they have said, I couldn’t help but agree with a lot of what they have said and pointed out. I really needed to talk to Edward.

“We are sorry to hurt you like this.” Sulpicia said with genuine guilt in her voice. “But we couldn’t not tell you. It wouldn’t be fair.” What wasn’t fair was that they were telling me all of this and I couldn’t confirm anything with Edward.

“I want to see him.” I demanded, ignoring the slight waver in my tone.

“I’m not entirely sure that’s a good idea.” Athenodora said as she relaxed further into her seat. “I’m afraid if you go and talk with him, he may fill your head with more lies.”

“He has never lied to me.” I nearly yelled at her. Her pursed lips caused me to take in several deep breaths before I talked again. I wasn’t normally one to get so upset and yell but given the circumstances, it was understandable. They were basically tearing my world apart, I should be allowed to be upset. “I want to talk with him. Please.” I said, the closest to begging I’ve ever been.

The three queens looked at each other and I was sure they were having a conversation I couldn’t hear. Didyme briefly glanced at both Jane and Heidi and then back to her mates before I was given an answer.

“I will take you little one.” Didyme said as she stood from her seat. “But I warn you, Edward hasn’t been very corporative while in custody.”

The only reason I could think he was being less than a gentleman was because he was being hurt. They had to be doing something to him and he was only trying to get away. Or perhaps he was trying to get to me so he could protect me. He always wanted to protect me and it would make sense for his need to protect me to be even stronger now than ever before. Whatever the reason, I was sure he would calm down the moment he saw me. He always said I had that effect on him.

“Thank you.” I said with such relief I could physically feel the tension leaking from my body.

“Don’t thank her yet dear; I’m not entirely sure you’ll like the outcome of this visit.” Athenodora warned and I couldn’t help but glare at her. There could never be anything wrong with visiting Edward when he needed me. The single raised eyebrow and slight smirk Athenodora wore, told me my glare wasn’t that affective. But I’m sure she had to understand what she said wasn’t appreciated, no matter how ineffective my glare was.

Instead of responding to her remark, I chose to ignore her. If my glare only received a smirk in return, I’m sure if I said anything against what she said it would be ignored. Plus, she was one of the queens of Volturi and I was only human. I know what they told me about our supposed bond but I wasn’t willing to risk getting them mad at me and then hurting me. Or worse, killing me.

I opted to stand and look at Didyme who was going to lead me to where I wanted to go. She, so far, seemed the nicest of the three queens and if I had to be alone with one, I was glad it was her.

“Jane, Heidi, please find and prepare a room for Bella to stay in.” Sulpicia ordered as Didyme tilted her head in a silent order to follow her out of the room. “I’m sure she’ll be ready to go to sleep for the evening after her talk with Edward.”

I wasn’t so sure about that but I was already following Didyme out the door and I really didn’t want to argue with one of the queens. I got what I really wanted: I was going to see Edward. I didn’t want to risk them changing their minds. So I kept quiet.

Didyme, thankfully, didn’t say anything as she led me through her home. We had taken so many turns there was no way I could even pretend to find my way back to either the room I was just in or the throne room. Because of that, I knew Didyme would stay near while I visited with Edward so she could lead me to wherever it was I was supposed to go next. That would mean Edward would have to be careful with what he says so he wouldn’t get in any further trouble. But then again, Sulpicia knew every thought he had from earlier, so perhaps anything he said now wouldn’t change anything.

Eventually we stopped at a room that was several floors below the one we had been in. It wasn’t the dungeons, but there was an air of abandonment in the hall. I’m sure the vampires didn’t really care about that though and I was just thankful Edward wasn’t chained up somewhere in a dark and dreary dungeon being beaten.

“I’ll wait out here and you can go inside and talk with him.” Didyme said. “Just so you know, the door is not soundproof, so I will hear everything said. If I feel he’s putting you in danger, I will go inside and deal with him appropriately.”

I was getting very tired and annoyed with everyone thinking Edward was going to hurt me. Didn’t they understand Edward would never hurt me because he loved me so much? I was going to be very happy when, after Edward doesn’t hurt a single hair on me and we are allowed to leave for Forks to go home, they were all proved wrong. I was looking forward to proving Sulpicia and especially Athenodora wrong and shoving that fact in their faces. In my head. I wasn’t nearly brave enough or stupid enough to do something like that to their faces. But since Sulpicia couldn’t read my thoughts, I would take great joy in proving them wrong in my head.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine, but thank you.” I responded only out of politeness. She only said that because she was concerned for my safety. No matter how unnecessary it was, it was still a nice gesture and I did appreciate it; on some level.

I reached for the door handle and was glad when I found it unlocked. I hesitated a moment, confused as to why it would be unlocked when there wasn’t a guard posted. But then again, there probably was and they had left when they heard me and Didyme approaching and they knew Edward wouldn’t try anything.

Shacking off the brief hesitation I had at the lack of a guard I had expected, I opened the door and smiled wide when I saw Edward smiling back at me as he stood from his seat and started moving towards me with his arms wide open. I couldn’t help but run into his arms. Being reunited with him again had to be a sign things were going to start getting better. They had to because I was sure there had to be a limited number of things that could go wrong in a set timeframe and we had to have reached that limit by now. But I was with Edward now and I didn’t have to worry about that. Edward would make sure everything turned out okay, he would protect me like he always did and in a week we would be going home as a happily reunited couple.