Bruises
Bella was still sleeping soundly six hours later when the Denali's pulled up their drive, Kate stopping the car as close to their porch as possible so that they could get their human inside as quickly as possible.
"Irena come lift her out, Kate go ahead and get a change of clothes and the hed ready in our room" Tanya said, speaking so low that only other vampires would hear what she had said.
Without comment Kate disappeared into the house and Irena opened the back door so she could lean in and scoop Bella into her arms. Taking a hold of her and moving towards their home, Tanya following silently behind.
When they reached the room Irena laid Bella down gently on the bed and all three immortals began the slow task of stripping their mate down to change her into more comfortable sleep wear. As her skin was revealed to them they couldn't help but gasp in outrage as the spotted the many bruises and cuts that lined their mates torso and legs, including her upper thighs and hips. The bruises looked suspiciously like finger marks and the sight made the vampires feel nauseous with the reality of Bella's situation before they had arrived.
"He did this" growled Kate furiously as she gently traced a longer looking cut on the brunettes body.
"This is what she meant" Spat Irena as she stood and moved away from the bed. Not quite trusting herself to remain in control of her beast.
"You're right, she reeks of him" Tanya said calmly as she breathed heavily through her mouth to keep herself in control. Noticing just how close Irena was to losing it Tanya quickly turned to Kate.
"Get Isabella dressed, she will freak if she wakes up half naked. Irena follow me" she commanded, taking on her role as coven leader to help navigate the situation.
"Go love, I've got her, I'll keep her safe " Kate whispered to Irena, reassuringly as she began to dress the human in an oversized t-shirt and jogging bottoms before tucking her under the covers to keep her warm.
Irena nodded quickly before spinning and taking off out if the room, Tanya following closely, knowing that her mate needed to get the anger out if her system before they could go back and deal with the situation with Bella.
~~~~
Several hours later, Irena and Tanya came back into their home to find Kate and Isabella sitting together watching a Disney movie in their living room. Bella was cuddled into Kates side with a blanket wrapped around her securely to ward of any chill present in the air.
"Well this is a surprise" Chimed Tanya as she and Irena approached the sofa, both planting a kiss on Kate and then Bella's foreheads in greeting. To their surprise Bella did not show any signs of discomfort at the open display of effection from the ancient women, merely relaxing back into Kate and drawing her legs up and over Tanya and Irena's lap when they sat down.
All three vampires were content for the moment to simply let Bella settle with them and adjust before they would get the answers out of her they needed. Irena and Tanya had discussed the multiple options they had in dealing with Edward but ultimately decided to leave it up to Isabella.
However Bella had other ideas than just simply relaxing as she tensed slightly and lent further back into Kate for support. All three vampires had caught the action and glanced at Bella curiously. The brunette looking a little uncomfortable but determined as she met the gazes of Irena and Tanya infront of her.
"What is it little one?" Tanya asked gently as she reached over to stroke a warm cheek.
"I realise that since I've been changed then you've all probably seen the bruises" she said hesitantly. Surprised but not cross with the direction the afternoon was heading in Kate decided to approach with caution.
"If you're about to tell us whats been going on please know that we are probably going to get upset, we might growl or shout or pace but I promise little love you are in no danger and our anger will never be directed at you okay?" She warned gently as she tilted Bella's chin to ensure she was listening to what she was being told.
Bella nodded shyly before continuing. "I understand, im used to vampire hossy fits" she said with humour before sobering again.
"The marks on me are all from Edward. I'm not sure why it started but it's been happening since the Cullens came back to forks when I had to go to Italy to save Edward from his own stupidity. He was furious when he found out I had been hanging out with the wolfs on the reservation and he pinned me to my bed and began lashing out in his anger at me. From that day on it got steadily worse. I had to dress, act and speak a certain way. I couldnt go out with friends and was banned from the reservation unless I absolutely had to go with my father. He started of just hitting me, bruising my ribs mainly, then he began using his nails to slice into my skin, drinking from me and I had no way of fighting him off. Two days before the wedding he took it further again and forced.. he forced...." Bella trailed of, openly crying in frustration as she relived the horrors she had faced at the hands of Edward Cullen. She couldn't bring herself to finish the statement as her tears fell openly down her face.
She startled slightly at the three deep growls released around her and whipped her head up to see Tanya and Irena watching her intently, their eyes back with anger. Yet she could still clearly see their love and concern for her in their eyes.
She reached forward hesitantly towards Irena, instinctively sensing that this was the right thing to do. Irena caught her intention and reached out to pull the brunette onto her lap, forcing the human to straddle her knees as she burried herself into the neck of her human mate, inhaling deeply to calm her anger and heartbreak over the ordeal her young mate had endured.
Bella wrapped her arms around Irena almost protectively. Willingly holding the furious vampire against her body. She glanced around at Kate and Tanya, seeing that they were fairing no better than Irena, she worried herself as she tried to come up with a way to help reassure them.
"It's alright little one just stay as you are. Kate and I have a lot more control over our anger than Irena, you're helping her by being there so just stay as you are. Do you think you can continue?" Tanya said tenderly as she rested a hand against Bella's back. Taking comfort in the warmth she felt under her hand.
"He took it a step further that night by forcing himself on me" Bella grit out tearfully as she felt the vampire underneath her tense again.
"He said he may as well as in two days id be his to do as he wished with anyway and as my father was no longer alive to protect me I had no choice but to behave" she whispered so quietly that if she wasn't in a room surrounded by supernatural beings she was certain they wouldn't have heard.
"You're not his" Irena hissed as she pressed herself tightly against Bella, gently mouthing her pulse point in a display of possessiveness, she sucked the skin between her teeth only letting go when she felt her human tense above her, sensing that the move wasn't a welcome one right now.
Sensing Bella's slight panick at their mates actions Kate reached out gently. Adding her hand to Bella's back beside Tanya's.
"Its alright, she wouldn't ever bite you without consent Isabella, she's merely scent marking you to calm her beast. You see, you smell like the cullens. We can smell him all over your skin but we can't smell ourselves and vampires are naturally very possessive creatures. You are our mate and do to our beasts you should not be smelling like any other vampire as strongly as you do right now and after you've told us what he did it has seriously provoked our instincts. Irena, Tanya and Myself can only apologise in advance because we are going to be quite clingy and possessive with you for the next while but I promise none of us will do anything to you without explicit permission from you, do you understand that?" Kate explained as she began rubbing soothing circles on the brunettes warm back.
Bella nodded and allowed herself to relax again as she tilted her neck slightly to allow Irena more access hoping to soothe her mate with the action. The deep purr that resounded from Irena let Bella know she had achieved her goal.
Kate and Tanya chuckled at Bella's triumphant grin at Irena's display of approval.
"You learn quick" Tanya chuckled.
"It was more instinct than anything" Bella replied as she rested her cheek against the side of Irena's face.
"Instinct?" Quiried Kate as she settled herself against the back of the sofa, hand still possessively on Bella's back.
"Mhm, its hard to explain but its why I decided just to tell you all straight of what happened. I think its the bond I feel. Like subconsciously my body and mind realise I'm yours because I feel safe with you three. Content and protected. I feel wanted and loved and I've felt that with you three from the moment our eyes connected. As I woke up this morning I decided that I need to trust that instinct, at first I wanted to fight it, I was terrified you all would be another Edward but you've done nothing but make me feel safe. I didn't want to deny the chance of being happy for once. I've already lost everything. I couldnt risk losing you three as well" she whispered as she closed her eyes amd enjoyed the feeling of Irena pressed against her.
"That makes a lot of sense, I did wonder about your reactions yesterday. I seen how quickly you relaxed into Kate and Irena and then how quickly you relaxed into me at your fathers and in the car. Although I've never heard of a human feeling the bond so quick before" Tanya wondered out loud.
"Maybe I felt it so quickly because I've been exposed to vampire pheromones for the past two years, my senses and instincts may be a little more in tune with yours because of it?" Bella asked contemplatively.
"Thats only logical" Kate responded. "I'd test your response to my pheromones but with us all being a little wound up i think its best we hunt and calm down first" she said playfully and smirked when she saw Bella's curiosity.
"You are aware how vampire pheromones work aren't you?" Tanya asked, hopeful that the Cullens had at least explained this to her.
"Yeah, they're used to soothe a human. Rosalie and Esme have helped me fall asleep a few times after a nightmare" Bella replied, the curiosity growing in her eyes.
"Thats right however Mates pheromones are slightly different. While they will relax you, they will also excite the human mate sexually and you become desperate for your vampire or vampires physically. Its theorised that its an inbuilt defence to ensure a vampire who has found their mate can get their mate to go with them willingly. It has saved quite a lot of human mates over the years from dangerous situations" Tanya explained factually as she too relaxed against the sofa on the other side of Bella from Kate.
"Okayy... makes sense I suppose" Bella deadpanned as she let herself be moved into a more relaxed position as Irena finally relaxed back into the sofa beside her mates.
"The only thing we need to discuss now Isabella is what we must do with Edward" Tanya started hesitantly as Bella automatically tensed at the mention of his name.
Irena let out a soft purr as she nuzzled Bella's neck to soothe her. Happy when the action had the desired effect.
"Please don't stress over it Bella. As it stands we cannot let his actions against you go unpunished so we have to options. The first is we call the Cullens here and confront them or we all travel to Italy to see the Queens about a legal trial. We would prefer the second option as the first leaves room for the Cullens to attack in response and we don't want you in any danger but we will leave that decision to you" Tanya explained. Seeming every bit the coven leader she was.
"The queens?" Bella questioned. "I didn't see them when we met with the kings" she continued curiously.
"You've met the kings?" Irena asked, moving her head back slightly to make eye contact with her human.
"Edward thought I had died so ran to the volturi asking for Death. Alice had come back to Forks after receiving a vision of me cliff diving. She saw me enter the water but didn't see me be pulled out by one of the wolfs. Rosalie had phoned Edward to explain why Alice had come to check on me as he was furious they had gone against his wishes. He phoned my dads and Jacob had explained Charlie was arranging a funeral. If Edward had stayed on the phone he would have heard Jacob explain that the clearwaters father had died who was a good friend of my fathers but he didn't. When Alice saw the vision of Edward going to the volturi we travelled their as fast as we could. Aro warned Edward before we left that I must be changed and soon or we would all be punished" Bella clarified as she watched anger flash through Irena's eyes again.
"He's such an idiot" Irena hissed before burying herself back into Bella's neck. Now more than certain how to deal with an angry Irena, Bella merely shifted slightly and tilted her neck back slightly in response.
"The queens aren't often brought in to court. But they will be with this. Sulpicia, Didyme and Athenadora deal with the more sensitive crimes, especially crimes against woman and children" Kate explained.
"And based on what you've just told us they will be infuriated with not only the Cullens but their husbands for letting you go off with them. Marcus should have seen you weren't Edwards mate, he should have seen that you had three mate bonds. Its his gift after all" Tanya muttered angrily.
"What will happen to me if they see i am still human?" Bella questioned warily.
"Nothing, once the kings and queens know the truth they will grant you a pardon and release you into our care, The queens will likely order a stay on your change until you've had a chance to fully deal with the trauma he put you through and the kings wouldn't dare go against their queens wishes" Irena said quietly continuing to nuzzle into Bella's neck.
"Why?" Bella asked.
"The queens are the eldest vampires alive which means they are the most powerful. The volturi guard are also loyal to them and only serve the Kings at the queens insistence. If they went against the queens they would simply be killed for their treason. Sulpicia has already warned Aro he is on his last warning for his greed and need for power. They aren't mates so it wouldn't affect thenqueens in the slightest if they had to kill the kings." Tanya explained with a smirk.
"Sulpicia and I are good friends, Kate has a maternal bond with Athenadora and Irena has a maternal bond with Didyme. The bonds aren't common knowledge as the queens know if anyone wanting to oppose the volturi got wind of who we are to the queens we would become targets." She continued.
"So effectively I'd be meeting your parents" Bella asked playfully as she attempted to lighten the mood.
"I suppose that is accurate" Irena said playfully as she planted a kiss on Bella's cheek.
"And going to them would mean the cullens have no ground to attack?" Asked the brunette as she wieghed both options.
On one hand she wasn't keen to see any of the kings again because they all gave her the creeps but she wouldn't mind meeting her mates family.
On the other hand Bella wanted to see Esme, Alice and Rosalie. She missed them but really did not want her mates in any sort of danger. Especially not for her.
"Thats correct. The volturi judgement is final and the cullens cannot seek retaliation for their actions" Kate said.
"Okay" Bella said having made her decision. "We go to Volterra"