Disclaimer : I do not own Twilight! Or any of it's characters, the only original one in this story is Thorton Thanks.
Chapter One, Visioning Volturi
There was a vampire facing a large window looking out on Volterra, "You know what must be done? Everything is clear?" Said the Vampire, there was a note of triumph in his voice, like he had just won some kind of a game.
"Yes sir," Said another Vampire, who was kneeling on the ground before him.
The one facing the window, could not be seen, because of the lighting around him, his back was in shadows. If an artist had been there, he would have wanted to paint the scene before him.
A shadowed figure looking out at the bright Italian sunset, the other vampire, a tall dirty blond, with pale skin and red eyes, was kneeling behind him, with a look of awe on his face, as it appeared on the surface, but if you had really concentrated on his eyes, you would have seen the greed and the power he possessed. He was dressed in a black cloak, that had gold lining on it. Though it was simple it seemed to make him look even more powerful, despite the fact that he was kneeling before another. His lips were parted in a look of awe, but every once in a while, a cocky smile would spread across his face. Though he hid it, even though the Vampire was not looking at him.
"Fantastic." The shadowy figure at the window replied, and if you had seen it, you would have seen a look of pure triumph on his pale face, and in his glowing red eyes. "Do you need to be in Forks to do it, or can you do it from here?" Said the Vampire at the window, who turned around. It was Aro.
"Yes, I will have to have at least seen them all once. But after that I can return to be of more assistance to you." Said the other Vampire, a voice filled with awe, and a hunger for power.
"Excellent." Said Aro, reaching out his hand and helping the other vampire to his feet. "Welcome to Volterra, Thorton."
The Vampire, whose name was Thorton. "You are now one of us. Once this plan is complete, and successful, because it will be. You will be raised to a position of the highest honer and power. Now you are dismissed, please leave for Washington immediately." The confidence in Aro's voice as he said this, held no doubt whatsoever. There is no way this will not succeed, he thought, a large smiling replacing the serious look on his face.
Thorton turned to go, but was stopped when Aro said, "Do not forget Thor, that Edward Cullen can here your thoughts, you must turn his mind from you're own the moment you see him, or their will be trouble."
"Sì il Padrone." said Thorton in Italian, eyes glinting a bright red color. 'Yes Master....' He repeated in English, the nasty grin on his face widening, revealing a face of complete and utter confidence.
Thorton exited the room, walking down a long hallway, full of other members of the Volturi Gaurd, and yet all of them seemed to stop to gaze at them as he passed. He gave off a certain importance, a certain power, that caused anyone who saw him to stare at him, or turn their heads down in respect.
His cloak billowed behind him as the grin on his handsome, evil face grew as he saw the looks on all of the passersby faces. He did not ask them why they stared, because he knew.
In that moment, his eyes shined a more evil, more menacing red then they had before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bella sat on a couch, in the living room of the Cullen household, stroking Nessie's hair as the rest of the family, sat talking.
The conversation was light-hearted and casual, it was a beautiful spring day, and it seemed as if the world were just as it should be.
The light shone through the large windows, casting sparkles on Bella's skin, and the skin of the rest of the family, the air of happiness in the peaceful room didn't last long however.
Alice froze and her eyes were wide open for a moment, after a few very tense moments in the living room, Alice snapped out of it but did not relax, there was a look on her face that was a mixture of fear, and confusion. Her hands gripped the side of the couch. Jasper put a hand gently on her shoulder and said softly. "What is it Alice?"
"Someones coming...." She said, closing her eyes as she tried to recall every detail of her vision. "I can't see his face, he wears a cloak.....He's coming from the Volturi, and he wants something, but I don't know what...." Alice said, her voice soft, and a little frightened. "He's new, he hasn't been with the Volturi long....But why is he coming here? We've been staying out of their way!" Alice said, the frustration at not understanding the vision evident in her voice.
Bella's grip tightened around Nessie, and Edward's tightened around Bella, everyone in the room was suddenly tense, but Carlisle then spoke up. "We have no reason to fear, he could just be coming to speak with us. We've been able to work things out peacefully with the Volturi in the past, and we can do it now as well."
"Yeah, but some of them wanted to rip us to shreds!" Emmett said, he looked like he was ready to fight the Volturi no matter if they were coming to harm them or not. "Wouldn't mind ripping them to shreds myself." He added, sounding like he meant it.
"No. We can't fight the Volturi, we wouldn't stand a chance." Carlisle said, and everyone in the rooms countenance fell. They all knew it was true, without help they could not face the Volturi, but just because they knew it was true didn't mean they wanted to hear it.
In the end they decided they would go about their days as normal, and wait for whatever was to come, but Bella and Edward made sure to keep a close eye on Nessie, never letting her out of their sight. For fear that something might happen to her if they turned their heads away for even a second.
It was dusk when something finally happened, and the house of Vampires seemed to freeze when it did, there was a knock on the door, and they all rushed to surround it, waiting for something though they did not know what to expect.
They opened the door, and their stood a cloaked figure, you couldn't see anything under his hood. But after only a moment of standing there, he lowered the hood of his cloak, and someone looked more menacing then before, there was something fighteneing about the grin on his face, and the red shine in his eyes. There was also a pale, long, rigged scar on his cheek. "Hello Cullen Family." He said, as if attempting to impress them with charm, "I hope my visit has not caused you any alarm, for I mean to bring none." He said, and as he said this, he looked directly at Edward, his smile widening.
Nessie was standing beside Bella, and Bella protectivly pushed her gently behind her. As if to protect her from the Vampire before them.
"What brings you here?" Carlisle asked, his voice was cordial, but held a sort of warning in it as well, as if daring him to cause trouble.
"I am merely passing through, and decided to stop in for a visit." He said, his gaze traveling to Alice on the word 'deciding'. "I assure you all that I mean no harm, I am merely passing through Washington on my way to another destination. You are Carlisle are you not?" He asked, looking back at Carlisle now.
"Yes. And this is my wife Esme', and our family, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Edward, Bella, and their daughter, Nessie." Carlisle said, but did not extend an invitation to come inside.
"I am Thorton, it is a pleasure to finally meet you all, so many stories I have heard. Un piacere veramente." he said, meaning "A pleasure indeed." But he did not translate.
Thorton did not stay long before he left, but it was a relief when he did, no one would say so. But they all wanted him gone, though even when he left tension hung in the air. All of them we're wondering why he had 'passed through' Washington. But they didn't want to ask him, because the more they asked, the longer he stayed. And they all wanted him gone.
It took a lot of time for everyone to calm back down, but eventually the whole incounter was forgotten. It didn't seem at all important, so no on was very worried about it, after they'd been given time to calm down, but it was still a little nerve-wracking to have a member of the Volturi 'pop in for a visit.'