Chapter 1 – Wants

I sat at my window looking at the Italian countryside. I grew tired as watching the humans walk around Volterra. I wanted so much to join them, but my father never wants me to leave the tower. I loved my father, but I truly believe kept me because of my ability. I have been with him for more than sixty years. There was a knock on my chamber door. "Come in." It was my mother, Sulpicia. "Darling, your father says Heidi will be returning soon. We have to gather in the main chamber." I rose and walked with my mother to the chamber. Everyone was gathered there; my father and his brothers, my aunt Athenodora and the entire Guard. I smiled to Demetri, Alec and Felix. I saw Jane standing with my father.

She hoped my father would revere her as he did me, but I was his prize. "Isabella, my darling daughter," my father, Aro said to me. My mother and I walked to him and kissed us both. "Hello Jane," I eyed her as she watched my father greet us. Jane and I did not get along. It annoyed her to no end that I was the only one her powers did not effect. When my father decided to keep me the day I was brought to this chamber by Heidi. Marcus and Caius came over to us, "How much longer will Heidi be?" Caius asked. He was always inpatient when Heidi was bringing in a group. As always, Marcus had an indifferent look on his face. He sat in one of the make-shift thrones that were in the chamber.

Jane went to the chamber door to let in our dinner guests. "This is so interesting. How old is this place?" I heard a tourist say. "Welcome. Welcome, my friends to Volterra." My father began his role of greeter. Heidi rounded up the usually fifty tourists. Alec incapacitated the humans with his gift and we feed. Once the human were drained, Demetri and Felix pushed the corpse down the drain pipe in the middle off the chamber. After I drained my last human, I went to my room. I sat at my window and gazed out to the plains. I was tired of this life. I literally thought of myself as a princess from the human fairy tales. Locked away in a tower, hidden from the world and its evils. I was a princess in our world, for my father was considered the king. But in my case, I would not be rescued from my imprisonment.

I used to watch the humans in the Volterra square and I used to pity them. Their time was so short and could be shortened still by an untimely incident. But that was when I was very young to this life. Now that I have grown, I envied the humans. They were free to come and go. Through their time was short, they had a freedom. A freedom I craved; that I yearned for. I have had this discussion with my father before. He did not want to me leave the tower, because he said the human world was not safe for one as young as me. He has told me about vampires even more experienced as I meet their ends. I would sit at my window all night and all day. I heard someone coming towards my door. "Enter," I called to my visitor before they knocked. It was Heidi. I was always happy to see Heidi. She would tell me about how she lured in the humans. There were endless times I wished I could go with her.

"Isabella." I looked at her, "You know I don't like being called that, Heidi." She laughed, "Aro does not like me calling you by you other name." I smiled, "Heidi, please." She smiled, "Bella." We laughed, "Aro wants to see you in his chamber." I scoffed, "What have I done now?" "Nothing. He's just worried about you." I shook my head, "He knows what's wrong. Hell, who doesn't? I find this little family meeting annoying. They're always the same." Heidi stood up, "Well, let's just get it over with." Heidi and I walked to my parent's chamber. I knocked and she turned away. "Come in, dear one."

I entered my parent's chamber; the grandest one in the tower. Truly, a king and queen's chamber. My mother was sitting in the sunlight that was coming through the window. She turned and smiled at me. She gestured for me to come to her. I went to her and she hugged me. My father watched us sit in the sunlight. "Isabella, what is the matter?" he asked concerned. I shook my head, "Must we go through this again. Father, it is the same thing that troubles me and you know what it is." He shook his head, "Isabella, please." I laughed, "Father, you asked." "Isabella, do not taunt your father. You know what he has said on the matter and that it is." I looked to my mother, "Fine, I understand that. But it does not mean I have to be happy about. I still have a mind of my own, Mother. I can dream and hope, can't I?" My father sighed, "Isabella, what is it about the outside world that calls you?" "It calls me because I have never seen it. Since I was born to this life, all I have known is this tower." I stood up, "Father, may I ask you something?" He looked at me, "Of course." "Since you created me, have I not been faithful to you and mother?" He nodded, "Yes." "I appreciate you saving me and deciding to keep me. You intended me to join the Guard, but I became a daughter to you. Have I, in any way, offended you?" My father came over to me and placed his hands on my shoulders, "Of course not. You have been a wonderful daughter to us." I sighed, "You let your other followers go when they want, but why do you deny me that choice?" He looked to my mother and went to sit with her, "Because they are followers, but you are our daughter." Right now, I wished for nothing more than to be my father's follower instead of his daughter. "Isabella, between myself, Caius and Marcus, we created our guards, but when we found you, you confounded me in such a way, it would have been a waste to kill you." My mother sighed heavily, "And when I saw you, you were so child like. Isabella, you are still young to this life. What you are facing is a phase and it will pass. Right now, you must work through it, but it will pass." I looked up at my parents and sighed, "Fine." I did not want to continue this argument, there was nothing for it.

I excused myself and went to my room. I laid in my bed and remembered the day I came to Volterra. I was on vacation with my human parents, Rene and Charlie Swan. I was Isabella Marie Swan. My parents were from Washington in the United States. I was seventeen years old and on vacation with them. We were traveling before I left for college in New York. We were some of the gullible humans wrangled in. My mother was fascinated with ancient architecture and that fascination caused their doom. As we entered the chamber, my mother was enthralled. My father, Charlie and I were somewhat more aware that something was not right. We noticed how everyone in the room wore robes and their hoods were up. Suddenly my father, mother and everyone else in the group were screaming. They scream as if they were in pain.

It all happened so fast. I smelled blood and heard bodies falling to the ground. My mother's corpse landed on me and I fell to the ground. I remained there as everyone else fell. I saw my father be thrown across the room. I whimpered and someone heard me. "That one is still alive." I looked up to see Caius pointing at me. "Jane, Alec, immobilize her. Let us be merciful." I saw the twins look at me. The girl was smiling at me. Suddenly, her smile fell into a scowl. "It isn't working. She should be writhing in pain." I remember Aro, Marcus and Caius standing over me. I began crying, I knew I was about to die. They looked at each other and Aro smiled at me. He knelt down to me, "Hello, dear. What is your name?" he asked me in a careful voice. My breathing was erratic, "Is… Isabella." I tried to control my sobs, but I looked down to my mother's body. Aro followed my gaze, "Was she your mother?" I nodded. "I am sorry, but she is at peace now." I looked up Aro's beautiful face, I wanted to hurt him. He had no right to speak about my mother.

Caius sighed, "Aro, finish this." Aro looked back at him, then to me. He offered me his hand, but I was hesitant to take it. "It is alright," he practically crooned to me. I took his hand and felt how hard and cold it was. Aro was smiling brightly, "Fascinating." "What?" Caius asked. "I cannot see anything from this one. That has never happened before. Eleazar?" I saw another man drift to us, "What do you see about her?" The one called Eleazar gave his hand to Aro. Aro took it and sighed, "A shield? Are you sure?" Eleazar nodded, "A powerful one. Even, Jane cannot affect this one. She will be a strong asset." Aro looked back at me, "Isabella?" I answered, trying to delay my death, "Yes?" I answered in a shaky voice. "Would you like to join us? Would you like to live and become more powerful than you ever dreamed of?" I nodded; was he offering me a chance to live. I would accept, as long as I wouldn't die. Aro leaned closer to me, his hand on my neck. He pulled me closer and I felt his teeth, which felt like serrated knives cut into my skin. The pain was beyond any I've ever felt in my life.

I writhed on the floor. Everything else was hazy, but I remembered Aro stepping away from me. "Her blood was enchanting. So sweet and floral. I could have consumed the rest easily, but you are right, Eleazar. She will be a wonderful addition." Two days later, I woks up to this life. The life of the Volturi Princess.