This is my first Twilight story that I am actually posting - I have several bits and pieces of different ideas all over the place though I have not really been able to get them going. This story's premise is that Bella was born in 1903; her mother was Italian and her father American. In 1919 they were living in Italy, not far from Volterra, when Bella was taken with others to be food for the Volturi. I had a great deal of trouble coming up with this first chapter. I hope that it turned out alright.
Disclaimer: Twilight and all concepts and characters therein are the property of Stephanie Meyer. No profit is being made from the production of this story; it is solely for the purpose of entertainment. No copyright infringement is intended.
Taking Life
Aro
Felix and Demetri were grasping the arms of the vampire before my brothers and I. He was quaking with fear. As well he should be. His little spree of turning vampires had garnered a disturbing amount of attention; coming a hairsbreadth from revealing our existence to the entire human race. Biting a human and then leaving them to their transformation and newborn devices just because he was bored…Shameful really, considering how many of his newborns we had to destroy over the last few months. The only surviving two of the nearly 50 stood off to the side looking on coldly as the execution was carried out against their sire. Given some time and training they might actually prove useful as guards.
As I descended the steps to stand before the condemned man Felix and Demetri forced him to his knees. He was staring up at me in horror, realizing that it was really about to happen. I placed my hands on either side of his head slowly increasing the strength of my pull, allowing his terror to rise further and further. I finally ripped his head free from his neck; a second later Felix and Demetri had ripped out his arms. I relaxed my grip and allowed the head to fall to the marble floor. I turned and ascended the stairs to sit on my throne while they cleaned up the mess.
I turned my attention to the pair off to the side. "You are both welcome to stay and join us if you choose."
The compactly built male paused for a moment, thinking, before nodding. "Yes, thank you."
I smiled. "Wonderful!" I turned my attention to the tall, graceful female. "And you my dear?"
She was still for several moments before shaking her head. "No. I appreciate the offer, but no…thank you." She pressed her lips together in thought before saying, "I would like to leave now."
I raised my eyebrows. "If you think you can control your newborn nature." I had noticed that she was more restrained than her companion.
She nodded. "I was changed nearly a year ago."
I nodded. "Very well then."
She turned and swept through the doors.
I sighed. She could have been an interesting addition. My attention was quickly diverted, however, as I heard a familiar and welcome sound. The hunters had returned. A smile stretched across my face. "Excellent timing!"
A large group of humans was herded through the doors, which immediately slammed closed behind them.
Less than a heartbeat later we were upon them. The screams rang out as they tried to fight us off; increasing the excitement and enjoyment.
I quickly drained the man in my arms, relishing in his terrorized thoughts. I dropped him once I had finished the last drop of blood before turning to look for another. A girl of perhaps 16, with long brown curls was pounding her fists futilely against Felix, screaming at him to let go of the little boy in his arms. I was beside her in an instant spinning her around to face me. I heard her gasp of horror as I swooped my head down to bite her neck.
I froze.
I pulled back, looking down at my hands grasping her upper arms, bare from the short sleeved dress she was wearing.
Nothing.
My eyes shot up to hers. They were squeezed tightly shut, her jaw clenched.
Millennia I had lived and never had this happened. Never, when I touched another had I been met with silence. Fascinating.
The others had finished feeding – all the other humans were now lying dead on the floor – the only heartbeat left in the room coming from the girl in my hands. They all looked on inquisitively.
She slowly cracked her eyes to peek at what was happening before slowly blinking them open. Her jaw relaxed and stared at me in confusion.
"Jane," I called as I released the girl, stepping back.
"Yes, master?" She came forward.
"Be a dear and try on this young lady." I gestured to the girl, who looked over at Jane in confusion, not a clue as to what was to happen.
Jane's lips curled into a slow smile. "This may hurt a bit," she purred to the girl.
The girl's eyes widened in fear, but she clenched her jaw and visibly braced herself for whatever was to come.
Seconds ticked by.
Jane's smile slowly slipped into a frown; then a scowl.
I laughed, clapping my hands together; startling both into looking at me; I continued to stare at the girl. "Remarkable! Truly remarkable." I slowly approached the girl, who began to brace herself again. "What is your name, child?"
She waited several of her heartbeats before finally answering. "Isabella Swan."
A smile curled my lips. "Isabella." I leaned forward toward her ear, hand under her chin, foiling her attempt to cringe away. "I think your little talent shall make for an interesting immortal, Isabella," I purred her name into her ear.
Before she had time to finish gasping at my words I was at her throat, biting down. Her blood was unusually sweet and I was almost tempted to not stop but the thought of what she would likely become was too strong and I withdrew. She was already writhing in my arms from the burning pain of the venom. I turned and handed her to Felix and Demetri. "Place her in an empty room to wait out the change."
"Yes, master," they intoned before turning and following my orders.
"I am curious to see how you will turn out, Isabella," I murmured to myself.
~*~
As with every change I had seen she was screaming and thrashing as the venom coursed through her, burning her mortality away. However, unlike other changes, after the first day she went silent and still; she lay rigidly unmoving on the bed, jaw clenched, as if she was attempting to hold back her screams; as if she were trying to defy the pain.
I made sure to be there in the room on the third day. It was several hours of waiting but eventually her heart began pounding harder and faster; then finally gave one last beat and went silent.
All was still for a moment.
Her eyes fluttered open; she stared up at the ceiling of the room. She took several breaths, not moving otherwise. She finally seemed to sense my presence and turned her head. She was off the bed in an instant and crouching on the other side, hissing at me.
"Good evening, Isabella."
She pressed herself harder back against the wall; when she heard a cracking sound she jumped away, turning to look where she had just been. Several cracks radiated like a spider's web from where she had pressed herself. She stared at it for several moments.
"You are now substantially stronger that you were, Isabella. Strong even for our kind for now, though that will likely fade in a year," I told her genially.
She spun around to look at me. "What have you done to me?" she breathed.
She was actually surprisingly calm, controlled and rational for a newborn. Perhaps something to do with her gift?
"You are one of us now." I gestured to myself.
She was trembling; she shook her head.
"Why deny it, my dear? It changes nothing." I watched her calmly as she fought with what I could already see she knew but did not want to acknowledge as truth.
She was once again leaning her back against the wall as she slowly sank down to sit with her knees pulled to her chest.
"Vampire." The word was spoken so softly that, even with my superior hearing, I almost did not catch it.
"That is correct, Isabella." I smiled at her.
"Why?" She looked up at me. "Why did you do this to me?"
"Because you have a gift, Isabella, and it would be such a waste to destroy one such as you."
She dropped her forehead to her knees.
I stood. "Come, Isabella."
She looked up, staring at me for several moments before standing and following me. I lead her back to the main chamber. The moment she stepped through the doors behind me she jerked to a stop, her eyes glued to the man in being held by Felix and Demetri in the center of the room.
I turned to her. "Your first meal, Isabella."
She continued to stare at the whimpering man, her jaw clenching and unclenching. Finally she looked up at me, her eyes flashing. "No." She turned and headed back to her room; she slammed the door behind her.
I was impressed by her control; I had never known a newborn to be able to resist such an offering. I sighed. "So stubborn." Oh well, it was only a matter of time.
~*~
Two days later I stood in her doorway, Demetri was restraining another human male in front of me; Isabella was sitting in the far corner with her legs pulled to her chest and her forehead resting on her knees.
"Isabella," I asked, "Won't you try it?"
She lifted her head, her red eyes still held defiance, but her will had begun to weaken. "No," she ground out between her clenched teeth; then she lowered her head again.
I sighed and gestured for the human to be taken away. I glanced once more at the young woman before closing the door behind me.
~*~
It had been nearly a week; I could not help but marvel at her restraint, but it was becoming rather a nuisance.
"Isabella, do be sensible. You must feed regardless."
She kept her eyes on the floor in front of her; refusing to look at the human male Felix was once again holding for her. Her jaw was clenched against what must have been unbearable thirst.
Felix snarled. "This is ridiculous." He released one of his hands and drew his index fingernail along the skin of the human's neck, leaving a long red line behind and unleashing the intoxicating scent.
Isabella's eyes shot up, black as ebony. She was on him in less than a second, drawing greedily from his veins.
Felix stepped back smugly satisfied.
She was so absorbed in feeding that it took several dry pulls for her to realize that she had drained the man dry. She released his body and sat back sighing in contentment.
But that look only lasted a moment before she was staring at the man in near horror.
"Now, Isabella. No need to feel ashamed," I told her soothingly. She looked up at me, her bright red eyes wide. "This is life. When you were human did you feel bad about the animals that were killed for you meal?"
She continued to stare up at me wordlessly, though the horror began to fade from her face.
"You must accept that in order to live you must drink blood."
Her expression had become blank, but she nodded. "I understand." She sat on the floor for a moment longer before standing and leaving the room.
~*~
Once she began feeding Isabella easily slipped into the position I had for her in the guard. She was obedient, doing exactly as she was told without a fuss. Her shield was quickly proving to be even more a boon than I had predicted it would be. However the blank look that had overtaken her expression after feeding the first time had remained since. She existed but little else. I was disappointed that she felt no zest for our life, like the rest of us did, but since she was doing well in her position I was satisfied to leave well enough alone. Perhaps given time she would find joy in our way of life…
~*~
AN: I was not sure if I would be able to write this chapter. I had no idea how to even start it. The next chapter is the one that came to me first – that inspired the whole story actually – I had it all written out already and had started writing the following chapter. I was just going to start the story with what is now chapter 2, but it did not feel right; it felt like I was depriving the readers, the characters and myself the back story. I wanted so badly to write it and it was there in my head, but I just had no idea how to get it down on paper, so to speak. I had been going through it in my mind from Bella's POV trying to work it out…Then Aro spoke up, and it came to me in a flash. I knew how this chapter had to go. I needed Aro's voice; his point of view and from there it just flowed. I am actually surprisingly happy with how it turned out; I was not sure I could write from his POV; I hope I did him justice