The Dark Princess 20

“After you finish eating the royal tailor is going to come measure you for your robes.” Athenodora told Bella as she was eating breakfast in their sitting room. Although she didn’t cook it herself the queen had supervised and made sure that not only were the ingredients healthy but that the food was safe for Bella to eat. She didn’t personally know the chef they had hired and didn’t trust the man when it came to preparing Bella’s food. It was one of the reasons that Athenodora wanted to have the kitchenette installed in their rooms. Then there would be little chance of someone tampering with Bella’s food.

“Why do I need robes?” Bella asked.

“Because you are the Volturi princess and you need clothing to reflect your status.” Cauis said.

Noticing Bella’s confusion Athenodora explained. “I’m sure you noticed that when you were in the throne room everyone was dressed in different colored robes.”

“Yes the kings were wearing black and the rest were wearing red.” Bella hadn’t really thought about why they dressed like that as she had had more important issues to focus on at the time.

“The black robes are for the kings and the red are for the guard. The queens wear black as well but only for formal engagements. As the Volturi princess we need to decide on what color for you to wear.” Athenodora wanted her daughter to stand out and having her wear black wouldn’t show her off enough.

“When will I have to wear robes?” Bella asked.

“Do you not want to?” Cauis wanted his daughter to have robes but wouldn’t force her to.

“I do,it just might be hard to maneuver with my arm.” Bella said.

“That’s another thing we need to discuss. The surgeon we picked out is going to be coming to the castle this afternoon to look you over and tell us how he plans to treat you.” Initially the doctor wanted them to meet him at the hospital but both Athenodora and Cauis didn’t want to risk Bella’s safety by taking her out of the castle.

“I hope he can do something soon. It would be nice to be able to use my arm again.” And not be in so much pain Bella added in her head. She would not say it out loud though because she knew it would only distress her parents knowing she was suffering.

“It will also be nice because once it’s healed we can finally turn you.” Cauis was looking forward to Bella being a vampire for many reasons the most important that she wouldn’t be as fragile and they wouldn’t have to worry about her mortality as much.

“Who is going to change me?” Bella wondered who was going to be the one who turned her. She didn’t know if Jane or her parents would take priority.

“Is there someone in particular you want to do it?” Athenodora asked. She hoped that Bella wanted her to be the one to have the honor but would support whatever decision Bella made.

“Can more than one vampire do it?” Bella asked.

“Yes, if they all bit you at the same time and injected you with their venom then they can all turn you.” Cauis explained.

“Then can you guys and Jane be the ones to change me?” Bella liked the idea of both her parents and her mate being the ones who were responsible for her new life.

Athenodora smiled brightly at the idea. Not only would her venom be flowing through Bella’s body but her mate’s as well. She knew that he would have went along with Bella’s wishes if she didn’t pick him but would have been horribly depressed being left out. Looking over at his equally as bright smile she knew he was as happy as she was about Bella’s choice. “That would be perfectly fine with us and I’m sure Jane will be fine with it as well.”

“Thank you. Have you heard from Jane yet?” Bella was feeling anxious with not being around Jane. Even though they spent time apart at the castle Jane still checked in every few hours or took the time to join her for most of her meals. Bella didn’t like not only not seeing her but not speaking to her as well.

“She hasn’t checked in yet.” Noticing the concerned look on Bella’s face Cauis quickly added. “But that is how things usually go. She only checks in if there is a problem or if the job is done. Her not checking in isn’t something to worry about."

Seeing her daughter’s worry Athenodora offered. “How about I send her a message from my phone asking her to call you?”

“Can you please?” Bella wanted to hear Jane’s voice.

“Of course sweetheart.” Athenodora said.

“I was wondering if I could see the Cullens later today?” Bella wanted to see her friends and spend some time with them. She hadn’t seen Emmett and Jasper other than when they first got to the castle and wanted to spend some time with them and Alice and Rosalie. Bella wanted to know what their plans were now that they no longer were attached to Carlisle.

“You want to see Edward?” Cauis asked appalled at the idea.

Bella shook her head. “Why would I want to see Edward? No I want to see Alice and those guys.”

“Oh ok.” Cauis was relieved his daughter didn’t want to see the mind reader. He had been afraid for a second that she was going to forgive the boy and he and the others wouldn’t get a chance to punish him. “Sorry I had forgotten they were at the castle.”

“Speaking of your friends. We wanted to know what you wanted to do with them? Would you like them to stay here at the castle or would you prefer they leave?” Athenodora hoped Bella wanted them to stay so she not only had friends around her but so she wouldn’t want to go visit them. Outside the castle wasn’t safe for Bella to be until at least she was turned. Then they could reevaluate where Bella was allowed to go.

“If it was ok with you guys and they wanted to then I wouldn’t mind if they stayed at the castle. It would be nice to have some people I know around.” Bella said.

“Then I will send them an official invitation to stay as well as arrange for them to have their own rooms.” Athenodora was already planning on where to put the Cullens and figured that as close to the royal wing as possible was the right choice. That way if something happened and Bella was with them she could easily make it back to her parents’ rooms quickly.

“Thank you mom.” Bella was happy her friends would have the option to stay. She hoped they did because even though she hadn’t missed Edward when they left she did miss Alice, Jasper, Emmett and even Rosalie.

“It’s no problem.” Athenodora loved it when Bella called her any version of the word mother. Even though she knew Bella cared for them and thought of them as her parents it was nice to have a verbal reminder. Athenodora especially liked it when Bella called her that in front of others because it showed her claim to the girl.

“Still you didn’t have to do it.” Bella was still getting used to having people care about her happiness so it still surprised her that someone would do something just because it would make her happy.

Athenodora stood up and walked over to Bella and gave her a hug followed by a kiss on the cheek. “We would do anything for you. We love you.”

“I love you guys to.” Bella told her.

Cauis sighed happily hearing those words. He usually wasn’t that emotional but ever since Bella came into their lives he found himself happier and dare he say sappy. It almost made him cry the first time Bella said she loved them. Even though he was irritated Aro had interrupted the moment he was relieved that no one saw his almost breakdown. “And that means the world to us.”

“Now finish eating your breakfast and don’t forget to take your vitamins and your pain medication. You will need it today if the doctor is going to be touching your arm.” Athenodora smiled as she sat down watching Bella take the pills she gave her. It was nice being able to look after her daughter and have Bella be so receptive. She was going to have to remember that all they were doing that day was to make Bella feel better because the queen had a feeling that the day was going to try her patience. Not only was she going to have the royal tailor touching Bella but she was sure the doctor was going to inflict pain on Bella. She knew it was necessary to see how bad Bella’s injury was but it wasn’t something Athenodora was looking forward to. She just hoped that the doctor was smart enough to be extra careful because it wasn’t Athenodora that he would have to worry about. When it came to his daughter Cauis was a force of nature as he proved when they had the original appointment and the follow up where he almost killed a nurse who accidentally bumped into Bella while they were walking down the hallway to the exam room. Deciding to make sure there were a couple guards in the room Athenodora turned her attention back to Bella. Her daughter seemed happy at the moment and Athenodora wanted to bask in that happiness for the time being. They could worry about the rest as it came.