⁺◟ STARDUST ! ⋆·˚ ❪ ✦♥ ❫
❛ chapter sixteen ❜

⊹₊ ⋆ THE PLANE RIDE TO ITALY DIDN'T TAKE AS long as Melanie assumed it would be, though it didn't make much of a different as every moment felt like it was dragging in. Every minute they took was more time Edward had to provoke the Volturi.

Melanie was currently driving some random women's yellow car at an incredible speed that made the view blurry for Bella, since they left the airport she hadn't been able to figure out what they were driving past. The human gasped, holding on to the door as the car drifted around a corner. "I'm guessing you didn't rent this car?"

"We figured you wouldn't be opposed to grand theft auto," Alice replied from her place in the passenger seat, Melanie had been driving the full time because she was concerned if Alice had a vision and would crash, and then the human really would be dead and all their efforts would be for nothing.

"Not today."

"What do you see, Alice?" Melanie questioned as she saw her wife staring into nothing, this obviously caught Bella's attention.

"They refused him," Alice spoke. "So...?" Bella continued.

"He'll make a scene, show himself to the humans so the Volturi don't have a choice."

"No! When?" Bella gasped.

"He's gonna wait until noon when the sun's at its highest," Alice explained.

"Melanie, you gotta hurry up," Bella spoke in fear.

"If I go any faster the bloody wheels will come off." Melanie snapped, pressing her foot harder on the accelerator.

"That's Volterra," Alice spoke trying to distract both of the girls from there stress, Bella looked to her left to see a beautiful town.

"Stupid humans," Melanie yelled as she continued to press on the horn yelling them to get out of the way, it's common sense, you see a car driving towards you, you move. But clearly, they didn't understand that.

"Why are they all in red?" Bella blurted.

"San Marco's Day festival," Alice replied. "They're commemorating the expulsion of vampires from the city. It's the perfect setting. The Volturi will never let him get far enough to reveal himself."

"We have five minutes."

"Just breathe, Bella." Melanie continued to drive until she was stopped. "You're the only one he can't see coming."

"If we go, he'll read our thoughts. He'll think we're lying. He'll rush into it." Alice uttered.

"Where do I go?"

"He'll be under the clock tower. Go!"

Bella began to run through the millions of people in red as if her life depended on it, but it wasn't her life that did.

She didn't hesitate to push everyone out of the way, she came to a stop at a fountain when she saw the clock strike 12, and the love of her life open the doors under the clock tower.

She ran, straight through the water as she saw him start to unbutton his shirt, he took a step out of the shade, his skin sparking for just a moment before Bella's body smacked into his, shielding him from the sun.

"Heaven," Edward whispered into Bella's hair.

"You have to move. Open your eyes, look at me. I'm alive. You have to move." That's when Edward noticed, he wasn't in heaven, not necessarily.

"You're here." He stated in shock, still not fully believing this was true.

"I'm here," Those words made a smile appear on the vampire's face, a real genuine smile. "You're alive." He grinned.

As the couple continued to talk, a gate clattered next to them, causing the couple to pull apart from there actions, although Edward still kept her close, scared if he let her go she'd disappear from him once again.

"I won't be needing your services after all, gentlemen," Edward spoke to Felix and Demetri, two of the Volturi's guards.

"Aro wants to speak with you again," Felix stated.

"No rules were broke."

"Nonetheless, we should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue." Demetri went on.

"Fine. Bella, don't you go enjoy the rest of the festival." Edward suggested.

"The girl comes with us." Felix insisted.

"No, you can go to hell."

A loud clatter was heard and the large door opened behind them. "Come on, guys. It's a festival. You wouldn't want to make a scene." Alice spoke as she and Melanie made their way inside the castle.

"We wouldn't."

"Enough," Jane spoke, making her way towards the group, her ruby eyes widening slightly once seeing the tall, brunette beauty that she had been in love with ever since 1727.

Two years after Melanie was turned, she had left her sister in an attempt to not hurt her, not knowing that her sister was also turned along with her, she left to find out what she was since she never had a mentor to help her with her hunger.

She ended up in Italy, Volterra. The Volturi were told about a vampire hunting in their lands, sending Jane, Demetri, Felix and Alec to bring her to them.

When they did, the Volturi were mesmerised by her powers, of course, the first thing Aro did was offer her a place as a guard, but Melanie refused.

They attempted to make her stay, but it was no use, Melanie's powers overpowered Jane's and Alec's. Whenever Jane used her pain illusion on the girl, it somehow didn't work. She definitely wasn't a shield, everyone else's powers worked, as long as they weren't trying to hurt her. Maybe it had something to do with Jane's feelings towards the immortal.

The Volturi knew it was no use, so they let her go, in hopes one day, she would return. But she never did.

"Aro sent me to see what was taking so long," Jane muttered before turning on her heels and walking back the direction she came.

Melanie swung her arm around Alice's shoulder as the group of four followed the guards.

"Don't be scared." Melanie heard Edward tell Bella.

"Are you?"

"No." Edward's reply made Jane scoff and Melanie snicker, causing Alice to glare at her and Jane to smirk. Of course, Alice knew about Jane, she knew everything about Melanie's life, she wasn't jealous. She knew Melanie's love was for her and her only, but it wasn't the right time.

After a short but awkward elevator ride, the arrived at the main part of the castle, where the kings were.

"Sister. Send you out to get one and you bring back three. And a half." Alec, Jane's twin spoke.

"What a happy surprise!" Aro beamed. "Bella is alive after all. Isn't that wonderful? I love a happy ending. And Melanie, you've returned to us after all."

"Yeah, no," Melanie commented, her sassiness was ignored by the kings, all except Caius who smirked in return, Alice and Edward both looked at the king in shock, he has always had a thing for the Denali girl, not in a romantic way of course, but he liked how she carried herself. Although the respect would probably leave if he ever found out her relation to the werewolves.

Aro looks Edward's hand out of Bella's and into his own, causing the human to be confused. "They are so rare. Her blood appeals to you so much. It makes me thirsty. How can you stand to be so close to her?"

"It's not without difficulty." Edward's raspy voice replied.

"Yes, I can see that." Aro laughed.

"Aro can read every thought I've ever had with one touch," Edward explained to Bella. "And now you know everything. So get on with it."

"You are quite a soul reader yourself, Edward. Though... you can't read Bella's thoughts. Fascinating. I would love to see if... you are an exception to my gifts, as well. Would you do me the honour?"

Aro placed his hand out, which Bella hesitatingly took. "Interesting." Aro chuckled darkly. "I see nothing. I wonder if... Let us see if she is immune to all our powers. Shall we, Jane?"

"No!" Edward grunted, flinging himself in front of the human. "Pain," Jane spoke with a smirk, a smirk that only grew once she watched Edward fall to his knees in pain.

"Stop! Don't, please stop. Stop!" Bella shouted, by this time Melanie and Alice were down beside Edward checking him over and Alec was beside Bella holding her in place. "Jane?" Aro spoke causing Jane to stop. "Go ahead, my dear."

"This may hurt just a little," Jane said with a cocky smirk. She concentrated on Bella, but the human was still stood in place, clearly not in any sort of pain, well physically.

Aro laughed manically, clapping his hands. "Remarkable. She confounds us all. Or does she? Melanie, why don't you give it a try, I remember you to be much powerful."

"There's no need Aro, I already know the answer," Melanie replied, he looked at her with confusion, in return, she gave him her hand, he looked into her mind, to find out that Melanie could read the human's mind.

"Amazing, I always knew you were made for excellence, my dear." The king vowed before turning his attention to Bella. "So, what do we do with you now?"

Marcus, the depressed king spoke up. "You already know what you're going to do, Aro."

"She knows too much," Caius spoke. "She's a liability." The blonde continued.

With a sigh, Aro continues. "That's true. Felix."

In a blink of a second Edward had Bella flipped over his shoulder, Alec and Jane both held Melanie back so she didn't get involved and Demetri held Alice.

Edward flew for Felix but was easily flung back, Felix ran to the flying Edward, grabbing him by the throat before he hit the ground, and pushed him down harder causing the side of his skin to crack.

Felix made his way towards Bella while he still could buy Edward was already healed and was pushing the giant vampire away from the fragile human. The duo began to fight so fast that all that was seen was red from Edward's robe and the black from Felix's clothes.

Felix grabbed Edward by the throat, smashing him into the stone stairs below the kings, he pushed him onto his knees ready to rip his head off, until Bella started to plead.

"Please! No. No, please, please!" The human cried out causing Aro to put his hands out telling Felix to stop for a moment. "Kill me, kill me. Not him."

"How extraordinary. You would give up your life... for someone like us? A vampire. A soulless monster."

"Just get away from her." Melanie looked over at her brother who was being held back by his neck.

"You don't know a thing about a soul." Bella gritted out with clenched teeth.

"Forse, nel vostro l'uno o altro." Aro whispered. "This is sadness. If only it were your intention to give her immortality."

Aro made his way over to Bella hissing when Alice stopped him. "Wait! Bella will be one of us. I've seen it. Melanie or I'll change her ourselves." Aro placed his hand out causing Demitri to let go of her throat.

Aro searched her thoughts, finding a vision of Edward and Bella running through the woods, once Bella hit the sunlight her skin sparkle.

"Mesmerising, to see what you have seen before it has happened." He told Melanie's wife before making his way over to Bella. "Your gifts will make for an intriguing immortal. Isabella." A smile made his way across his face, but not a sincere one, a wicked one. "Go now. Make your preparations."

Felix let go of Edward with a push before Marcus spoke up. "Let us be done with this. Heidi will arrive at any moment. Thank you.. for your visit."

"We will return the favour. I would adore that you follow through on your promise soon. We do not offer second chances." Caius spoke.

Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's waist, Melanie made her way over to Alice until seeing Demetri, she still wasn't happy with his holding her wife in such a manner, and her anger got the best of her. She punched him in the face with such force that it cracked his cheek, he was about to fly for her until Aro put his hand up shaking his head.

"Melanie, we hope to see you soon," Aro spoke with a smile before the doors shut behind them.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

The family had returned to Fork's after they returned from the Volturi, Bella was over with Edward as everyone was placed in the living room, waiting for whatever it was Bella wanted to talk about.

Although Melanie already knew what it was, and she knew her answer.

"You all know what I want. And I know how much I'm asking for. The only thing that I can think of for it to be fair is to just vote." Bella stutterer.

"You don't know what you're talking about." Edward muttered.

"Shut up." Bella snapped, Alice and Melanie both smiled, proud that the girl was sticking up for herself, Melanie still wasn't all there will the liking Bella party, but she's started liking her more, if it wasn't for Bella, her best friend would probably be dead.

"Alice."

"I already consider you my sister. Yes," Alice stated going up and hugging the human.

"You have my vote too." Melanie spoke causing Bella's eyes to widen slightly, she wasn't expecting a yes if she was honest.

"You saved my best friend. And I couldn't live without him." She caught Edward gaze, sending him an apologetic smile. "And I know, if it was me in your position, I would want it too."

"Thank you." Bella spoke.

"I vote yes." Jasper voiced. "It would be nice to not want to kill you all the time."

"You have mine too. Like Alice said, I already see you apart of this family." Caroline said with a smile as she gave Bella a hug before returning to Jasper's side.

"I'm sorry." Rosalie chimed in. "I'm really sorry to both of you for how I've acted. And I'm really grateful that you were brave enough to go and save my brother. But this isn't a life I would have chosen for myself. And I wish that there had been someone to vote no for me. So, no."

Melanie understood why Rosalie said no, she hated being a vampire, even more than Edward did, the only thing that made It the smallest part better, was Emmett.

"I vote hell, yeah." Emmett cheered as he spun the human around with a laugh. "And we can pick a fight with these Volturi some other way."

All that was left now was Carlisle and Esme. "I already consider you part of the family. Yes." Esme began.

"Why are you doing this to me? You know what this means." Edward spoke as Carlisle made his way forward.

"You've chosen not to live without her, which leaves me no choice. I won't lose my son."

We all knew that that meant, it meant yes. Which left Edward in a place, he never wanted to be in.