The Dark Princess 14

“Hey Bella.” Alice greeted the princess after entering the store they had planned to meet at with Rosalie and both of their guards. Alice figured from now on they would be assigned personal bodyguards unless they complained or Bella asked the queen to not have them. She didn’t mind though. It made Jasper feel safer with her leaving the castle without him. Alice figured that it was not only because they were members of the royal guard but the fact that Bella would be there that he wasn’t worried about them hanging around the queens. The two mated couples had felt a lot more relaxed when they returned from hunting and were told they were allowed to go anywhere in the castle that wasn’t off limits. Although the guards never told them specifically from what they could tell the guards were there to not only protect them but to inform the occupants of the castle they were respected guest of the royals. Rosalie had to hit Emmett upside the head to get him to stop laughing when the guards called him sir.

“Hey Alice.” Bella quickly moved from her mother’s side and gave Alice a one armed hug.She then surprised Rosalie by hugging her as well. “Hi Rosalie.”

“Hello Bella. Thanks for inviting us.” Rosalie made sure to be extra careful with Bella’s arm as she returned the unsuspected hug. Bella and her had never hugged before and Rosalie was surprised that Bella trusted her enough to put herself in such a vulnerable position. If Rosalie wanted to she could have hurt the human badly but Bella had faith she wouldn’t and that faith in her touched Rosalie deeply.

“No thank you for coming. I invited you for ulterior motives. I know my mom and my aunts are going to go overboard so I thought Alice could set them on the right path as you kept me company while they went crazy.” Bella said.

Rosalie laughed at the appalled look the queens were giving Bella. “I don’t mind Bella. I’ve been wanting to spend some time with you anyway.”

“We are not going to go crazy.” Athenodora said defensively. “You need clothing and human things so we are here to get you that. It hurts that you think my caring for you makes me crazy.”

“Oh no mom, that’s not what I meant. It’s a saying in English. It means that you are going to go overboard. I don’t think you are actually crazy.” Bella snuggled into her mother's arms and nuzzled her head onto her shoulder.

Athenodora’s hurt feelings were soothed as soon as she smelt Bella’s scent. “I’m sorry my darling, I may speak English but I am not that familiar with all the phrasings.”

“I’ll have to learn Italian then so we never have this kind of misunderstanding again.” Bella didn’t want to hurt her mother even by accident.

“She’s so cute.” Sulpicia gushed as she watched her sister holding the human.

“It is very considerate of her to want to learn Italian for you Dora.” Didyme said.

“My Isabella is the most wonderful child a mother could ask for.” Athenodora proudly proclaimed.

“Mom you’re embarrassing me.” Bella complained.

Athenodora kissed Bella on the forehead and released her from her arms. “Never be embarrassed of being complimented my dear.”

“Yes ma’am.” Bella replied keeping her head down so that no-one would see her blush.

Rosalie smiled at the touching scene. Watching Bella interact with Athenodora gave Rosalie a whole new insight of how a real mother interacted with their child. Rosalie amended that thought. How a real mother should act with their child. Esme had always claimed Bella as her own but they acted like strangers when compared to how Bella acted with the queen. Deciding to help Bella out Rosalie changed the subject. “What are we looking to buy here?”

“Well Bella needs some clothes. We all would prefer her to have much more sophisticated clothing than sports wear but with her arm she is limited to what she can and cannot put on and take off.” Athenodora explained.

“We can work with that.” Alice said excitedly already moving to the racks of clothing.

“Make sure you get something warm. The castle can get kind of cold.” Bella said.

“The castle is too cold for you?” Athenodora asked. Of all the things she thought Bella needed why didn’t she ask if Bella was comfortable temperature wise.

Bella knew she had to word this right because if she didn’t her mother would have industrial heaters installed in ever room in the castle. “It’s not too cold for me mom. I just like to have the option to have something to snuggle up in and get comfortable. Like a wearable blanket.”

“I see what you mean. We should order a few heaters for the castle though. The seasons are changing and not all the rooms have heating.” She knew her and Caius’ didn’t. Pulling out her phone she texted her mate. He could take care of that while they were shopping. Although he didn’t admit it out loud Athenodora knew her mate wanted to come with them to buy things for their daughter. It was part of the bond that made them want to provide everything their child needed. Even if that was hygiene products and underwear. So by telling him about the heater it would sooth the part of his vampire that felt he was letting Bella down by not being with them. She would have to talk to Bella later about having her father buy some things for her. Maybe they could do some online shopping. Bella seemed to understand vampire behavior so Athenodora didn’t doubt that Bella would indulge Caius if it would make him feel better.

“Dora what do you think about these shorts?” Didyme asked as she held up a pair of purple shorts.

“Bella would have to have help shaving her legs if you buy her shorts.” Alice told them.

“Should we just wax her so she doesn’t need to worry about cutting herself?” Sulpicia asked.

Bella groaned and put her face in her good hand. “Oh god.”

“It will be alright Bella.” Rosalie chuckled. “They are just trying to do what is best for you.”

“I know.” Bella did know. They all meant well and she was probably the first human they ever had to care for.

For some reason Rosalie had the urge to wrap her arm around Bella. Deciding not to fight it she carefully pulled Bella into a side hug. She smiled when Bella willingly snuggled into her side. “Just think you only have to deal with all this for eternity.”

“Thanks for the reminder Rosalie.” Bella groaned again and buried her face into Rosalie’s shoulder.

Rosalie just laughed harder at her friend’s predicament. She didn’t know why but ever since finding out Edward wasn’t Bella’s mate and that Bella had vouched for them Rosalie felt the need to get to know Bella better. Seeing Bella in the castle, Rosalie felt like Bella was finally able to be the person she was always supposed to be. It made her happy that the weak willed girl who Edward controlled was gone because Rosalie had worried about that Bella’s future. It was ironic to Rosalie that she felt that Bella would be less safe with Edward than she would be with Jane, Athenodora and Caius. The three most feared vampires in existence. Not that anyone who observed the queen looking through clothing with the biggest smile Rosalie had ever seen on her face would think that the woman would be capable of the horrible things she was rumored to have done.

“Hey mom can Rosalie and I go across the street and get some gelato?” Bella had been eying the shop through the window ever since they got to the store.

“Should you be having sugar this late at night?” Athenodora was sure she read somewhere that humans shouldn’t eat sugar before bed.

Bella sighed. “I’m not a small child. I can eat dessert before bed it won’t keep me up all night.”

“I’ll allow it tonight but will be asking the nutritionist we are meeting tomorrow if that’s the truth.” Athenodora warned. She didn’t think Bella would lie to her but the girl also may not know about proper nutrition due to her horrible upbringing.

“Of course we are meeting a nutritionist.” Bella grumbled.

“Take your guards and make sure you stay where I can see you.” Athenodora reached into her pocket. “And here’s some money to pay for your treat.”

Bella took the money and stood on her tiptoes to give the Queen a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks mom.”

“You’re welcome sweetheart.” Athenodora’s heart melted as she watched her daughter practically drag Rosalie out of the store in her hurry to get to the gelato shop.

“She’s so cute.” Didyme gushed. She just couldn’t get over how well Bella was fitting in with the family. An outsider would never believe that Bella had only been with them for two days.

“I agree. She has certainly taken to her bonds quite easily.” Sulpicia had expected Bella to be more reserved around them seeing as they were vampires but that wasn’t the case at all. It was like she had lived in the castle her whole life.

“That’s because she has always wanted to have a family.” Alice told them. She didn’t think the queens would mind her speaking freely if it was to tell them about Bella. After not getting reprimanded she continued. “When I first saw Bella she was horribly underweight and shied away from everyone.”

“She is still underweight.” Athenodora was going to bring that up to the nutritionist as well.

“Let her speak. Bella will be back soon.” Sulpicia scolded.

“It was as I got to know Bella better that I learned that her mother was horrible to her. She would never talk about being abused but it was more than obvious. I know for a fact that Bella has scars on her back that look like she was whipped with something.” Alice took a step back as the three queens began to growl. She didn’t think they would hurt her but she wanted to be safe just in case.

“That was why she refused to let us help her put on her shirt. Even when we knew she was in pain. We all thought it was her being shy.” Realization dawned on Athenodora as she replayed Bella at the doctor’s office and the hospital. Bella refused to let anyone see her upper body completely uncovered.

“The only reason I know about them is I had a vision of walking in on her changing and her trying to explain them away. I don’t think she knows that I know about them.” Alice had felt guilty after receiving that vision because it felt like she forced Bella to tell her something she didn’t want anyone to know about.

“And you said the father never tried to get custody of her?” Didyme asked. Athenodora had told all of the royals what Alice had said about Bella’s human family.

Alice shook her head. “I met Charlie a few times face to face and he was a good person when it came to everything except for Bella. I think in some way he resents Bella because his ex wife chose her over him. The guy has never remarried and from the little bit of investigation I did it seems he hadn’t dated anyone since his divorce either.”

“Do you think he is going to report her missing?” That was something Athenodora was worried about. Even though it seemed like neither of Bella’s parents wanted her they still had legal custody of her. At least until she turned 18.

“I don’t think he will. I think the only thing he will be upset with is that with Bella gone he won’t have her to do all the housework. She was a free live in servant. He never saw her as his daughter.” Alice was positive Charlie would only try to get Bella back if Bella’s mother Rene wanted her back.

“I want to slowly torture both of her parents to death.” Athenodora growled.

“The rest of us will help you.” Didyme volunteered.

“I still find to remarkable that the girl is so open to having a relationship with not only Jane but the rest of us as well. Humans usually don’t feel comfortable around vampires especially ones they aren’t bonded too.” Sulpicia said.

“Bella has always wanted to feel loved. We have had many late night discussions of what we wanted our futures to be like.She never really had a a set plan on what she wanted to do but she said she wanted to be a vampire so she could find her true mate and know that she had someone out there who loved her unconditionally.” Alice realized something important. “Now that I’m thinking about it she never mentioned Edward when we talked about her true mate. I never thought anything of it as I figured that was who she was talking about but with all that has happened it was quite obvious Bella never considered Edward to be her true mate.”

“She told us that the only reason she actually came to Italy to save Edward was she didn’t want you lose your brother. If it wasn’t you asking she wouldn’t have come at all.” Athenodora told Alice.

Alice had a feeling that was why Bella finally gave in. “I had to literally beg her to come with me. The thing that had her finally agreeing was me saying that the rest of our coven would probably be implicated if Edward succeeded.”

“You’re not wrong.” Sulpicia had no doubt that the entire Cullen coven would have been punished if Edward had actually pulled off his stunt.

“If I’m not out of line may I ask what happened to Carlisle and Esme?” No one had brought up the mated pair to them and Alice felt comfortable enough to ask the queens.

“Of course, we didn’t even think to tell you with everything that was going on.” They had been so wrapped up in Bella that Athenodora didn’t even give a second thought to the three idiots in the dungeons. “Carlisle refused to believe that Bella was not Edward’s mate and claimed that we were trying to keep him away from his mate.”

“He is so stupid.” Alice knew that was going to happen.

“Yes well his stupidity boiled over when he also refused to believe that myself and Caius share a child bond with Bella. Even when Marcus confirmed it he continued to spout nonsense about us breaking up his family. We have guards monitoring their conversations while they are guests in the dungeons but I haven’t inquired about what they have said.” Athenodora wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what was being said because she knew whatever it was that it would piss her off.

Alice felt saddened by the fact that Carlisle refused to believe the truth. What surprised her though was the feeling of betrayal that came with it. Alice herself had told them about the false mate bond. She had also told them that Edward hurt Bella. Hearing that Carlisle chose to believe in the false mate bond just proved how little he cared for anyone other than Edward. Alice also realized how lucky she, Jasper , Rosalie and Emmett were. If it wasn’t for Bella then Carlisle would have signed their death warrant. It wouldn’t matter if they went against Carlisle they would have been implicated in facilitating a false mate claim. The royals could easily convict them on the words of their coven leader.

“Worry not young Alice what he does, does not influence the way you will be treated. My daughter made sure of that.” Athenodora hoped it would not only make Alice feel better but remind her that the only reason that only three of her coven mates were being held responsible was because of her daughter. Especially Rosalie, if it wasn’t for Bella the blond would have been killed immediately for the way she treated Bella. Bella of course didn’t tell them Aro had pulled it from both Edward and Alice and brought it up to them when discussing punishments.

“I know that Bella is the reason for our safety and I will spend the rest of eternity proving to her that she put her faith in the right person.” Alice knew Bella would never realize that she was the reason for the pardon the four of them were given but that just added to the charm that her best friend had. If it were any other person or vampire that saved someone’s life they would brag and boast to everyone they knew. Not Bella though. All she wanted was for those she cared about to be happy. That was why she put herself in the position to be a human in a castle full of human drinking vampires. Looking out the window and catching the sight of Bella talking animately with Rosalie Alice thanked fate for what she was sure wouldn’t be the last time for bringing Bella into her life.