The Peace Keeper
Isabella Marie Swan Volturi as avoided a war, united two monarchies, and taken up the official responsibility of a queen, all within a year. Now, as peace becomes an attainable goal and two very powerful vampire covens in her control, Isabella has nearly fulfilled her duty to her vampire community, as well as become as accomplished as her brothers. As she continues to strive for peace, Isabella has Edward striving for her heart. Will she be able to ignore the secrets she keeps for others and open her heart up to her mate?
Prologue
"King Caius Romaus Volturi, King Marcus Athos Volturi, King Aro Deltri Volturi, and Queen Isabella Marie Swan Volturi."
It didn't seem to matter how many times Isabella heard her new title, she could not seem to shake the simple, ridiculous nature of her rule. Lately, she had to deal with more attention than she found comfortable.
"The royal family is all present, let us begin the trial of Talon James, a ten year old vampire charged with the blatant ignorance to two of the most important rules that the vampire world maintains; supernatural exposure and reckless feeding."
"Thank you Jane." Aro said.
"Your Majesty." Jane nodded. "The accused will now present their story. All comments and counter-accusations, save for those of the royal family, will be held until the accused has finished."
Felix and Demetri dragged a limp figure of about thirty human years toward the front and had him stand before the Masters and Mistress Volturi to present his case. As he spoke, he pleaded only to the Kings, not understanding that the only person who had the power to save him as opposed to condemn him was the shadowed Queen who was often overlooked. It was not that she was not stunning, or captivating in any way. It was the way that she chose to present herself, often submerged in shadows, that made her almost invisible.
This transparentness both pleased and secretly frightened Aro. He could go on with business as usual, and yet-he knew that this Queen would speak up if she felt necessary. He found himself consulting her more than anyone, worried about her reaction, more than anyone's-and yet…
He trusted her implicitly.
He was also beginning to see how easily he could learn to rule fairly without her watchful eye. He was beginning to see it her way. His brothers were as well.
He saw the way that more and more vampires approached them with crimes and complaints. One vampire even turned herself in for an accidental exposure, hearing of the strict leniency of the new member of the Volturi.
She had walked out of the palace, alive and respect-filled for the Volturi.
A step in the right direction, in Isabella's mind.
Now, as the witness presented his side of the story (whatever side that was, the evidence against him was extreme) Isabella knew what Aro was going to do. Despite his progress, his view of a situation was still narrowed to that one person's own thoughts on a subject. And if that person felt any guilt, any remorse, he was, by default-guilty.
A view of judgement that Isabella intended to change.
Talon began his story. "I was changed one day in December. I only remember a woman with fiery red hair. I was left alone, with a burning need to have my thirst sated. A series of instructions I assumed were left by the woman who changed me told me what I was…" Isabella knew that Aro was barely listening to his history. Aro just wanted to hear him say-
"And I didn't know there was a woman watching in the shadows while I drained my victim dry." He concluded.
Aro clapped his hands together. "Really? So you are sure you are guilty?"
"W-w-we-e-ll...y-yes." Talon stammered.
"Then I'm sure my fellow rulers feel the same when I say that you have to pay the price of your crimes." He nodded at Jane.
"The majesties have declared the accused, Talon James-" Queen Isabella interrupted.
"Not yet." Aro was more surprised than the person being convicted that his fate was not sealed, when it seemed so obvious to everyone in the room that he was guilty.
Isabella rose from her surprisingly comfortable throne and moved to stand beside Aro who welcomed her up with him. Aro was relieved that Isabella was a Queen. Her ruling by his side made him feel invincible and protected him from any humiliation of having a random vampire hanging around telling him what to do and what not to do. He leaned to met her halfway when it was clear she was going to whisper something in his ear.
Isabella enjoyed the pleasure of surprising Aro by telling him he was wrong in a very impactful way. She simply leaned up to his ear (Aro was about half a foot taller than her) and whispered-
"Perspective." She leaned away and smiled demurely at the vampire King that she had grown surprisingly fond of. Aro nodded, understanding her message. She stepped forward, toward Talon. She had kept the hood to her cloak up (a required piece of Aro's royal costume) so no one could see that she was smirking when she stepped down from the pedestal that Aro put the thrones on. She approached Talon. Keeping her gaze downward so Mr. James could not see her eyes.
She circled him, reading the story on his heart. He had begun to shake in fright, not believing that she could be his salvation-with her dark hood on, she appeared to Talon like the grim reaper. When she stopped in front of him and looked up, removing her hood, he changed his mind.
She was the Angel of Death.
He gasped when his eyes met her ocean blue ones. "Are y-you…?"
"Yes, child, I am a vampire."
"Do I die now?" He said in a hushed, frightened tone.
"Would you like to die now?" She asked, still looking him directly in the eye. No one in the room dare interrupt this
"No, Your Majesty." He replied.
"Well!" She exclaimed. "Then I don't suppose you shall die today, sweetheart."
"W-what?"
"What?"
"May I, Aro?" He smiled, for show to hide his surprise. "From my careful analysis of his history of vampirism, it is clear to me that he was not cared for properly by his sire. His sire left him resourceless and informationless."
Do you expect a pity party for the bloke? Felix thought. Isabella smile in a way that made everyone feel as though she knew exactly what they were thinking.
Aro exclaimed. "The sire left a note explaining things. Vampires should not be excused of crimes due to abandonment issues."
Isabella nodded. "And a newborn can not be held accountable for the damage done in the name of curiousity." Aro tilted his head mockingly.
"Listen, I'm not saying that Talon didn't know what he was doing. I'm saying that he didn't understand why he was doing it and how to do it in a less messy fashion. From his general description I can pinpoint several vampiresses who are likely to have bitten and left, as per their usual style. But the description is very vague, so no one shall be brought to trial over it. No, Aro, I think you are missing the part where the bystander who witnessed his feeding just magically fell unconscious, without Mr. James having touched her."
"What are you trying to say, Isabella?" Aro asked.
"Your Majesty, Queen." Talon addressed her, looking quite like a deer caught in headlights. "I swear that I didn't touch her."
"I believe you. What I don't believe is that she just fainted." Everyone was still quite sceptical. "Trust me Aro when I say that you want to keep this one." She walked back up toward her throne.
"The Volturi guard does not take criminals." Caius said sharply.
"Really?" Isabella questioned. "Then how did you get in?" Everyone let out nervous chuckles. She continued. "He did not understand how this works, he is young-fair enough. All I'm saying is that he could really use some guidance from the world's largest collection of talented vampires to help train him as he get to know his power-"
"Power?"
"What power?" Aro no longer wanted him dead. He wanted to see him in a crested cloak.
"The psycho-suggestive one."
"He did not mention that he was gifted."
"HE did not know…" Talon was confused, but Isabella just smirked at the lot of them.
"Right now he could only mildly influence an absent minded human, but with training he could probably convince entire armies as they are charging into battle that they are going the wrong way."
Aro smiled. "Well then. We have concluded after deliberation that he is not guilty of the severest of the crimes that he has committed, but will serve time training to maintain his powers and control for as long as necessary then to serve the guard as penance for crimes committed that will then be alleviated within the following decade."
Vampire community service. It's a thing.
Jane declared loudly. "The Royals have declared Talon James not guilty. He will train and then join the guard in exchange for his wrongdoings and these wrongdoings shall be forgiven. Long live the Kings!"
"Long live the Queen, and may the Kings prosper." That was the proper response.
"Court adjourned."
Aro approached Isabella after.
"Did you really only save that man's life because he is too powerful to waste, or are you a genuinely nice person?"
Isabella thought for a moment, and then shrugged. The two enjoyed the peace of the now empty throne room.
"Is it harder to be loved or to fall in love?" Isabella's question momentarily stunned Aro. Why would she ask him a question like that…? He analyzed what he knew of Isabella and found it to be a matter of her heart-a heart that was more apathetic than any middle class first world country family with a television.
"Being loved."
"Why do you say that?"
"Everyone falls in love. Fewer people stay in love. It's different falling in love because a person may fall in love with a number of things about the person, or fall in love with the person as a whole. Being loved is different. It means commitment and sacrifice and splitting yourself in half so that that person can get to know you and you can get to know them intimately. Acceptance is a hard thing to those who are not accepted."
Aro smiled his cheshire grim at Isabella and bid her farewell.
Splitting yourself in half? Feels like it, metaphorically speaking. Not much scared the age old Queen, but those few words…
Commitment.
Sacrifice.
...acceptance.
The Queen who had always loved freely was now lost in the matters of the heart.
The Queen returned to her room and removed her crown. She felt foolish for liking the weight it bears when it is perched on her head. Feather light to her vampire head but the pressure of it helped her concentrate.
She was dizzy with emotions and her head struggled to calm the tidal wave of feelings rising up within her. She tried to push them down.
Then she heard music.
Beautiful, euphoric music crafted by familiar fingers.
And she felt at peace, if only for the moment.
AN: Alrighty, folks! Thus marks the start to my first sequel story, The Peace Keeper.
This one will mostly revolve around Isabella's queenship and her blossoming relationship with Edward. I hope you enjoy and you stick along for the journey.
This will be about the same length as TSK, and will take as long of not longer to complete than that one did. Thank you for starting the sequel, and have a wonderful new year.
InkCrow