I sat there in that throne room waiting for about an hour until Felix appeared in the doorway.

"Everyone's here, Miss."

"Send them in." I instructed.

Felix pulled the door aside and everyone came flooding into the room. A few other guards filled the corners of the room around the crowd and me.

Everyone kneeled down Infront of me and bowed.

"Good morning your, Majesty."

"You all may rise. I have something to tell you. Where's Aro?" I asked.

"He will be here in a moment." A guard responded.

"Well, we are going to have to start without him. I assembled you all here to tell you that I am leaving volterra." I explained.

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Silence!" I command. Everyone quieted down "I will be coming back but not after a few years. I need to be away from you all, to gather myself and explore the rest of the world that I didn't know existed. While I am gone, I am placing Alec in charge."

The murmurs continued. I sighed.

"Everyone silence!" I yelled.

The ground shook and everyone instantly quieted down again. I sighed and the ground stood still.

"If anyone has anything you need or want, you have to take it up to him. He will be reporting things that happens from here to me occasionally so I have some form of contact. Aro will be second in charge."

"Yes ma'am." Everyone muttered.

"If any of you disrespect any of them, you will have severe consequences. Understand?" I promised.

"Yes ma'am." They repeated.

"I will be taking at least two guards and Jane with me. No questions about it. You all are dismissed." I sat back down.

Everyone cleared the room, followed by murmurs and hushed voices. I ignored them. I've done my part.

"Felix, I want you to find Aro and tell him what I told everyone else. If he needs me for anything, I'll be in my room." I stood up from my throne.

Felix bowed at me and we both left the throne room.

I entered my huge room that was on the other side of the castle's top floor. It was the first biggest room apposed to the ball room, the throne room, and a few other rooms. I walked In to see Jane and Alec packing things up at every corner.

They looked up as I came in and bowed.

"I told you. You don't have to do that to me." I reminded them.

"Even though you tell us not to, your still royalty, it's recommended that we respect you like that." Alec smiled and continued to pack.

"Plus, we actually got most of your stuff packed. You can definitely leave tomorrow. If not, earlier." Jane promised.

"Good. Mind if I help?" I suggested.

"No, Bella. You don't do anything. We have everything under control. You can sit on the bed if you want." Alec said.

I did. I watched them move around the room. Going to every corner, every closet and drawer. Gathering every cloak, dress, robe. Everything. I couldn't sit there, doing nothing. It made me restless. I sat up and went over to the mirror on the dresser.

I had a lot of jewelry and accessories and everything that I have wanted to have as a queen. The only thing that I wore a lot around the castle was my red gem necklace and red gem bracelet. It was also given to me when I became Queen. I was told that both of them hold my gifts and that they both just look really beautiful.

I took them both from the hook and wrapped them around my neck and wrists. They both glowed dark red. I didn't really like jewelry but these were the only ones I liked and wore.

I turned and walked out of the room, leaving Alec and Jane to continue whenever they were doing. I walked to the lake out in the back of the castle. The entire place, the castle and volterra, is surrounded by guards so of course there were at least two guards standing there and watching my every move like I would do anything stupid or any kind of shit.

Just ignore them, Bella. I sat down on the grass and crossed my legs. I closed my eyes and became as still as stone. I listened to the the air around me and I listened to the whispers in the wind. I felt the grasses sway quietly and smoothly around me as if to a rhythm.

I felt the hot sun on my skin and hair. I cleared my mind and focused on just those things around me. Think of nothing...think of nothing...clear your mind...

I always meditate at this lake because it calms me and purifies me. After a few minutes, I opened my eyes and look at the water. I watched it sway back and forth. I saw the ripples expand from the middle to the ends of the body. I leaned towards the water and looked at my reflection.

I saw a pale faced girl with reddened eyes like my necklace and bracelets. The reflection had a face of stone. She showed no signs of emotion. The wind blew at her light red and brown hair so it fanned around her back and face. I then saw how I looked to others and I realized that I liked it. I looked like how I imagined myself to look. To me, I looked like a queen. A person who would not let anyone tell her what to do and someone who no one would dare mess with.

The reflection of me smiled and disappeared. I was alone.