I know my place
Truthfully Bella had never felt as content as she did right now, cradled in her mothers arms, with her mates sitting on the floor playing a board game that did not interest her in the slightest, though she did think that Irena and Tanya teaming up on Kate in a bid to beat her was slightly unfair, even if Kate was rather cocky about being the board game champ in the room.
The other queens or Irena and Kates mothers were layingazily on the opposite sofa to Bella and Sulpicia, both with different ancient looking books open in their laps. The past few days had been quiet, peaceful even for Bella and her mates. They had spent the majority of their time with the queens as her blondes had not spent any time with their mothers in over a year and Bella was also keen to stick by her new found mothers side. Like with her mates, Sulpicia's presence seemed to relax her completely and reassure Bella that she was safe now.
She had spent the past three days getting to know her girls, their mothers and her mother better. They had shared stories, gone on walks of the castle grounds, read and even gone out for meals together and for Bella it was everything. Having them around her made her feel for the first time in her life that she was no longer alone and their attention made her feel as if she could finally begin to mend the gaping hole that had been left in her heart after her fathers death and Edwards betrayal.
If she wasn't laying or sitting on one or more of the Denali's she was in her mothers arms as the closer it got to the Cullens arrival the more clingy she felt and the vampires around her seemed not to mind in the slightest.
For Sulpicia, she couldn't have been happier - well she could be, when she destroyed the man child that had harmed her daughter but that was well on its way to being dealt with, after all the Cullens would arrive tomorrow. - The time she got to spend with her newly discovered bond child felt unbelievably special and she found herself fit to cry (if she could cry that is) on more than one occasion, overwhelmed with just how content, complete and loved finding her daughter had made her feel. She now without a doubt understood why her mates had gone all soft eyed and gooey hearted when they had met Irena and Kate for the first time and why they went that way every time they saw the Denali girls because she found herself completely and utterly unable to leave Isabella's side for a single second. She was still quite miffed that her girl would not let her wash her hair for her. After all isn't that what mother do?
Sulpicia huffed slightly as she thought about that, she had spent a whole forty minutes arguing with Bella about that. The brunette insisting that she was more than capable of washing her own hair thank you very much and Sulpicia knew that but couldn't work out how Bella couldn't understand it was not Sulpicia thinking she was incapable that drove her need to wash her hair but the instinctual need to show her child just how much she was loved and cared for.
"If it will stop your huffing you can wash my hair tonight" Isabella murmured contently, breaking Sulpicia out if her thoughts. She looked down at her child and smiled softly when she caught sight of Bella's face. The human had her head tucked into Sulpicia's neck, eyes closed and a content smile grazing her lips as she lay curled up in her arms. She cherished the moments her daughter was this calm, she had seen far too many things in her short life and Sulpicia was glad that she could offer her respite from the torment of her past.
"You will?" She asked hopefully, studying the girls face intently. Sleepy chocolate brown eyes blinked up at her and her smile widened in response to the bright smile sent her way by the brunette laying in her arms.
"Of course, honestly its weird but I get you just want to take care of me and as much as that is a little bit of a foreign concept to me I want to let you. I know it's important to you or you wouldn't continue to nag me about it mom" Bella replied, a cheeky smirk appearing on her face as she finished replying.
"Cia? Are you allowing that cheek? Kate would have been across my knee by now for that" Athenadora asked playfully as she winked at her new found niece.
"I'm only human aunt Dora, what do you expect?" Isabella snarked back, sticking her tongue out at Kate's mother as she kept her eye on the game of guess who her mates were playing, causing Sulpicia to laugh happily, amused by the playful personality of Bella's that seemed to be showing itself more and more as the days progressed. Sulpicia took her cheeky tendencies as a sign of progression, of healing for Bella, from her memories the playful girl they were seeing was more like the girl she used to be before Edward and his manipulations and she for one would continue to encourage that progression, no matter how small a step it seemed to others she knew it was a massive one for her child. Her girl had lost an awful lot of herself because of Edward and she would see to it that Bella got that back, no matter what.
"Oh behave Dora, she's playing, you're just worried one day she will be able to out sass you" Sulpicia chided, joining in on the jovial atmosphere of the room.
"Kate, go for it" Isabella suddenly called out, smirking when all three of her mates snapped their gazes to her. Irena and Tanya looked incredulously at her while Kate seemed smug.
"Which one?" Kate asked cheerfully, beaming at her brunette helping her.
"The one you keep eyeing" Bella replied, smiling sweetly at the glares adorning her other two girls faces, knowing that they were only jesting their upset.
"If she wins Bella, you'll be in trouble" Tanya warned her, narrowing her eyes at the brunette when Bella's only response was a small shrug and an unconcerned smile which only increased in its width as Irena growled half heartedly in her direction.
"Mother would you like to wash my hair now?" Isabella asked, a hopeful gleam in her eye, knowing g full well Kate was indeed about to win and she would rather not be here to recieve any sort of punishment for helping her from Irena and Tanya as a result.
"Gladly little one" Sulpicia beamed, amused by the girls tactics. Not in the least bit hurt that her child was only asking this now to escape the Denali girls. She knew her daughter did want to spend time with her, letting her care for her regardless of whether or not it was a good way to escape the rath if her mates. She wasted no time in securing her arms around her child and under her legs before standing up.and carrying Bella out of the room, both mother and daughter mire than content to ignore the protests of those they were leaving behind.
----
Standing beside her mothers chair in the throne room the very next day Isabella couldnt help the nervousness that thrumbed through her body. She was scared of what was about to happen. They had recieved words a few moments ago that the Cullens had arrived in Volterra, meaning it would only take them five minutes to arrive here in the castle throne room, which meant she had mere minutes before she came face to face with the man who had caused her so much torment, and she had no idea how things were going to play out.
She could see her mates, her mother and her mates mothers standing either side of her. They had been positioned in a set way to ensure that the Cullens would think twice about approaching them. Irena and Kate stood in the same position as Bella did at their mothers sides with Tanya standing beside the empty throne to Bella's right where Tanya's future mother was to sit. Many did not know but the queens, thanks to Didymes gift knew they had a fourth mate that they had not met yet and as the three current queens each had a bond child within the Denali girls they believed that in finding their missing mate they would also find Tanya's bond mother. Sulpicia had grinned excitedly when she explained that information to Bella, making sure to point out that the maternal bond they shared was extremely rare within the Vampire world so for there to be three maternal bonds within the same coven, the children all being mates was unheard of and therefore would create a piece of history. Didyme had confirmed by reading Tanya's bonds that she did infact have a bond mother somewhere and it was only a mater of time before they found her.
Isabella couldn't help but think it amazing and found herself hoping that it was sooner rather than later because she wanted Tanya to experience the feelings of unconditional love and safety she felt when Sulpicia was around, feelings which she was sure Irena and Kate felt whenever they were around their mothers.
"They're here little one" Sulpicia murmured quietly, warning Bella of Edwards imminent arrival. Knowing that her daughter would appreciate the warning and although it wouldn't prevent the panic she knew her daughter was about to fly into the warning may at least soften the terror her child would feel. She kept her senses open but her eyes trained on her girl, she had warned her daughters mates that even if Bella became upset they were to stay in their arranged places, if she needed comforting Sulpicia would do it because she knew that what was about to occur would no doubt pull out her possessive instincts, a combination of her recently discovered bond with Isabella, her child's abuser and vampires that were not her mates or her child's mates sure to have her functioning on instinct more than usual. She knew as did her mates, her child and the other Denali girls that if her instincts were provoked no one would be safe to approach Bella other than herself so it was best eliminating the chance that they would attempt to approach her.
Bella offered her a stiff nod and a weary smile in response and Sulpicia had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at how entirely selfless her daughter was to attempt to reassure Sulpicia even though she was the one who needed the reassurance most.
As the heavy set wooden doors opened slowly Bella watched intently, breath held unconsciously as Jane and Alec (the Queens most feared guards) entered followed by the entirety of the Cullen clan. Carlisle led the procession, with Esme tucked under his arm. Both wore tense expressions on their faces that only seemed to become more so as their gazes swept over the Queens and their princesses, sharp breaths were drawn when their eyes finally settled on Bella, standing by Sulpicia's side.
Alice and Jasper entered next and she could tell by the subtle tick of the blonde man's jaw that he was already feeling a tad overwhelmed with all the emotions he must be feeling throughout the room and by Alice's guilty expression as she quickly cast her eyes on Bella before looking down at the floor again, she was the main culprit for Jaspers discomfort. Bella could only assume that Alice had seen her decision to talk to her mates and subsequent conversation about what had happened between her and Edward.
Rosalie and Emmet were next, the blonde 'ice queen' looked rather bored as usual but Isabella could tell she was weary by the way her gaze quickly flicked about the room as if to determine the danger they were facing. Emmet, the ever loving oath of a man looked a curious mix of his usual playful self and slight apprehension but Bella felt herself melt fractionally when his eyes lit up in excitement when he met her gaze. The familiarity of his presence allowed her to release the breath she had been holding, granting her a moment of relief from her own anxiety before she felt her body freeze, ice cold heat flooding her body in fear when her eyes caught sight of none other than Edward as he scowled angrily up at her as he followed his family into the room.
Sulpicia continued to watch Isabella as she took in the arrival of the Cullen clan, she was quite proud of how well she seemed to hold herself together, even as her body trembled in fear. The girls head did not fall once and she did not outwardly show her terror. If it wasn't for the slight trembling that Sulpicia could sense in the girls to tight muscles and the rapid pulse of the girls heart the queen would have said she was actually calm in appearance. However Sulpicia knew better, even if she couldn't hear her heart or see the trembling, she could feel the fear running through their bond and had to suppress a growl when the fear spiked as Edward Cullen walked in, scowling at her daughter.
She was enraged, how dare this poor excuse of a man, let alone a vampire, think he could look at her child that way? She did not like the cruel possessive glint in the black abiss of his eyes and she certainly did not like the tense set of his shoulders and clenching of his fists. He looked like he was seconds away from a temper tantrum and Sulpicia was not at all willing to risk her daughter getting caught in the cross fire. The Blonde queen rose quickly, swiftly stepping infront of her daughter, shielding her from those malicious eyes. She reached a hand back to Isabella, offering her an anchor if she needed something to ground her and the way the little brunette immediately grabbed on to the offered hand tightly (far too tight that Sulpicia worried Bella would hurt herself) the blonde knew she had done the right thing as she felt the slight comfort run through the girl at the lifeline Sulpicia had given her.
A low growl turned her attention from the soon to be dead boy towards the Cullen Matriarch, Esme Cullen, usually such a gentle soul, Sulpicia mused before she inwardly grinned upon noticing the glare directed towards the hand she had clasped in the humans. So jealousy then. This woman felt she had a claim to Isabella? It was laughable. If she were the girls mother like the Cullen Matriarch supposed herself to be then there is no way she was oblivious to the girls suffering, the bond would have alerted her to Bella's pain when it began but as of yet she still did not know that her golden boy had so gratuitously stepped out of line. Sulpicia would have fun both putting the woman in her place and taking apart her illusions of her first turned sons perfection.
In response to the growl Sulpicia felt her possessive instincts flare a tad and pulled the human too her firmly, yet gently. Tucking her daughter under her arm as she smirked at the Cullen mother in challenge. Silently daring her to even think about trying to lay claim.
She felt her smirk turn into an approving smile as her girl automatically relaxed against her, inhaling her mothers scent deeply and allowing Sulpicia to place her chin on top of the girls head as the blonde queen deliberately released a small dose of her pheromones at Isabella. She found it very fortunate that Bella was so attuned to Vampire instinct and was so excepting of all that being bonded in anyway to a vampire required of her. The submission, the trust, the conplete faith she gave to her mates and her mother was endearing and calmed Sulpicia, her actions reassuring the queen of their bond. She had her daughter and nothing would take her away.
She glanced at the other Cullens curiously to see their reactions and felt vindicated in the fearful glances they continously flitted between Bella, Sulpicia and the mates behind the blonde. Her placing the princesses beside the thrones had made it perfectly clear to this 'family' that the Denali's, Bella included were far elevated in station from the Cullens as their princesses and would be respected as such. The Queens beside them reinforcing the message, if a move was made against the Denali's the Volturi would side with them leaving no hope for the would be attackers survival. She happily noted that her mates and her daughters mates had thus far found no need to involve themselves in Sulpicia's silent assertion of possession and control of the situation.
"Queen Sulpicia, it is wonderful to see you again, however I must ask why you have called us here, we have not had need to come in centuries and the presence of the Denali's and Our Isabella is rather confusing" Carlisle Cullens diplomatic voice grates in Sulpicia's ears and she turns a playful smirk on him at his blatant attempt to lay claim on the girl and question the Volturis reasoning.
"Carlisle, it has i deed been a... while" she purs, barely containing the anticipation in her eyes. "Although I had hoped to reunite with better circumstances however upon recently meeting my bond child Isabella here a few.... issues have come to light that we would very much like your clarification on" she replied sweetly, innocently. Deliberately keeping her tone light and casual as if she did not have the intense desire to burn every Cullen in the room for ever allowing harm to come to her child.
"Enough playing Sulpicia, they are hear for a reason" Athenadora chided sternly. Her voice bored in its appearance but those that knew the taller blonde queen could identify the dark desire of destruction laced in her words. Sulpicia could hear the meaning loud and clear, Dora was just as eager as her to destroy the Cullen boy.
"As you wish love" she pouted back, turning to wink at her mate. "You are here Carlisle Cullen, Coven Leader of the Cullen Clan to answer for crimes against a volturi princess. We take note that you were unaware of her position as she was also unaware at the time but the matter stands and we must get the truth and justice swiftly. Edward Cullen you are charged with the Physical, Sexual and Emotional abuse of Princess Isabella Swan Volturi, the rest of you face charges of willfully allowing a human to know our secret then abandoning said human without first disposing of said human or turning her" she declared, allowing her voice to drop drastically, malicious anger running through each word as she smirked, watching the horror crash over the Cullens as they realised the danger they were truly in. The Cullen woman looked devastated and Sulpicia felt a twinge of sympathy when her gaze landed on a distraught Rosalie. She remembered the blondes story. Knew she had been raped brutally then left in a cold dark alley to due before she had been found by the Cullen Patriarch and turned. The sudden tense of Isabella's muscles told Sulpicia that her daughter too was also thinking her thoughts about the blonde.
"Please mom" she whispered as she turned her head up a little to look in Sulpicia's eye and the queen had to swallow painfully at the anguish she saw in her girls eyes. Feeling what she felt was one thing but to visibly see the girls torment was torturous for Sulpicia and she clutch her girl a little tighter in response.
"She needs to come to me" Isabella's words bounced in her mind and she knew her daughter was right. Rosalie Hale may be an ice bitch but the one thing that tore her apart was the knowledge that any woman or girl had been subjected to such horrors as Isabella had and at the hands of Rosalie's own brother? She couldn't imagine just how ghastly that would hurt. Yet she was reluctant to agree. What if Rosalie tried to take the girl away, what if the girl decided that she simply missed the cullens too much and now they were here she would rejoin them.
Bella could see the indecision on her mothers face and knew instinctively why she was so hesitant, after all they had just met each other and short of her chaining herself willingly to Sulpicia she knew her mother had no reason to believe that Isabella simply couldn't change her mind about who she stood with. Taking initiative she brought her mothers hand to her face, pressing her cheek against the open palm of the queens left hand. She felt the warm caress of her mothers probing automatically as the Queen tried to gain entrance to her mind and Bella concentrated on the soothing, safe scent of the woman holding her so tightly, on the feeling of safety and contentment the woman offered her, allowing her to lower her shield to let her mother peer into her mind.
"I know my place" she said in her head as she replayed the many moments she had experienced with her mother, allowing Sulpicia to witness the love and adoration, the safety and completeness she always felt around her girls and her mother. Making it clear to the blonde that she had nothing to worry about. She merely wanted to comfort Rosalie, someone she cared about. She had no idea where the assertiveness had sprung from but she had always been the protective type, seeing anyone she cared for suffer had always brought out her more protective side and Rosalie (though their relationship was rocky to begin with) was no different. It pained Bella to see the usually stoic woman suffer so and she wanted to comfort her.
She smiled gently at her mother, raising her shield once more as her mother pulled away slightly and nodded her consent. Her eyes now more determined, feeling sufficiently reassured by her girls actions.
"Rosalie, you may come to Isabella but she stays where she is" the blonde stated, placing a possessive hand on her daughters lower back. Her daughter may have reassured her and she may trust her girl but that did not mean she was willing to allow her outwith touching distance. She would not allow her daughter to cross the room with Edwards eyes still burning holes in the humans head with his glare.
She nodded at the grateful smile Rosalie sent to her as she walked at a fast human pace to Isabella, automatically wrapping the girl in her arms.
"Hands on her shoulders Rosalie" Kate hissed, jealousy lacing her tone. She may agree that Isabella had a right to comfort the blonde ice queen but that did not mean the woman could hold onto Kates unclaimed mate so intimately, right infront of her. Without a word Rosalie moved her hands from Isabella's back to rest then on the brunettes shoulders gently.
"I'm so sorry Bella" she whispered brokenly into the brunettes ear as she held her close and Bella knew she was blaming herself for not seeing the signs. It was such a Rosalie thing to do. The blonde truly did take the worlds faults on her shoulders far too much but the truth was Isabella knew no one could have known, Edward had not given her the choice to let anyone know.
"Hush Rosalie, its not your fault." Isabella murmured gently, allowing Rosalie to continue to hold her while she took comfort from holding Bella close. It was a little awkward for her if she were honest. As much as she cared for Rosalie and knew rosalie cared for her, they had never been close exactly, infact this was the first time the blonde had actually hugged her.
She hadn't noticed though how the rest of the Cullens had been strangely quiet. As if they had been struck numb by the revelation that Edward had acted so horrifically.
Sulpicia too had the same thought as she studied them. The Cullens looked truly horrified. Emmet, Jasper and Even Esme stood glaring at Edward, while Carlisle kept looking between Bella and Edward as if unsure who to side with. His rapist golden boy or the human girl who stood before them comforting a vampire who had ultimately been cold hearted to her throught the last two years.
"Have you nothing to say for yourself boy" hissed Sulpicia when she caught sight of the murderous glare on his face. A glare that had intensified, his narrow eyes zeroed in on the human beside her and she knew he was losing control. Her prediction was confirmed when those eyes snapped to focus on her and he growled dangerously. His eyes flashing in anger.
"I do not feel the need to say anything. Any that would believe a human harlot is just as beneath me as Isabella is with all these poisonous lies. I have never hurt her, would never dream of hurting my mate. Merely disciplining her for her gross behaviours of late as is my right as her mate" he hissed sadisticly as he stepped forward. The low dangerous hisses that came from the Denali's was something that Sulpicia found entirely justified as this pitiful man tried to lay claim again on her daughter.
"I would stop talking Edward, you are treading a very thin line" Tanya warned.
"I should have finished you off when we last met. If I had known the truth then I would have" Kate immediately followed Tanya's warning with her own growled threat.
"We have also warned you about trying to lay claim on what is OURS" Irena snarled, her voice bringing Rosalie out of her own hysterics as she collected herself and left Bella's side with a gentle squeeze, returning to her own mate. Isabella automatically stepped back into her mothers arms. Settling herself against the blonde queen. The anxiety and fear returning in spades now that she had successfully calmed Rosalie. She was glad for the security her mothers arms offered her.
Sulpicia motioned to Felix and Dimitri subtly and automatically they moved, restraining Edward, hands pulled behind his back, knees forced to the ground, Felix gripping his neck painfully, ensuring that if the aggressive man tried to fight he would only succeeded in decapitation himself.
"Now I am going to read you each in turn to determine the truth of the matter. If anyone had any knowledge of Edwards actions, I assure you we will not hesitate to enact justice swiftly" Sulpicia warned as she moved Bella into Athenadora's lap, silently trusting her blonde mate, her warrior to keep her girl safe through what was to come.