Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
Summery: Essie Black, uncertainty, vamp-wolf brat, alpha of the new pack, lover of a vampire, gave up her freedom to protect her family. Taken to Volterra with her imprint, the almost three thousand year old vampire Tobias Hannigan, she's now a 'guest' of the Volturi. Now she finds herself in the employ of the people she had always thought of as the bogeyman and using her powers in ways she hoped she'd never have to. She carries on simply because it keeps her family safe along with the two others like her back home in La Push. The wear and tear of years of servitude start to show on Essie, but when trouble threatens back home where will her loyalties lie? Will she return to help, or will she slip too far into darkness…
Ok, so here it is, the sequel to Uncertainty, thank you for reading this and sticking with Essie, I hope you enjoy it :)
This is dedicated to everyone willing to give this story a go
The road trip to Volterra was short, mainly because I slept through most of it with my head resting in Tobias' lap. As soon as we reached the fortified city I was roused from my slumber and it was inside the palace itself that Tobias and I were led to a room where we were told to prepare.
Well quite frankly I couldn't be bothered to dress up none. If Aro wanted the vamp-wolf brat then he'd get her, warts and all.
Tobias fretted slightly, but quite frankly I didn't care. I knew I was a prisoner here but that didn't mean I had to comply. So it was wearing my usual T-shirt and cut-offs and my bronze hair flowing free that I was led to the throne room.
As soon as we entered Aro stood in a fluid motion.
"My son Tobias and the delightful Essie, how good that you could come." He said with a pleasant smile.
"Let's get one thing straight here Aro. I don't bull shit, at least when it counts, so I prefer that others do the same." I cut in.
Aro looked at me in confusion as I felt Tobias' hand tighten on mine in warning.
"In other words, cut the crap and just tell me what you want me to do." I said with a sigh as I wondered too late if I'd gone in a little heavy handed there.
"So feisty." Aro said with a smile.
"Damn straight." I declared. "So what do you want from me?"
"I merely wish to get to know you, unique creature that you are." He crooned.
I eyed him speculatively.
"Well, I guess I should start with what I am. I am a vampire but I am also a Quileute shape shifter. I usually refer to myself as an uncertainty, or in a joking mood I call myself the vamp-wolf brat. That's about it really."
"Oh come now Esther, there is surely more to you than that?" Aro observed.
I bristled slightly when he used my full name.
"Only Renesmee calls me that." I growled.
"I'm sorry?" Aro said, looking a little confused.
"Only Renesmee calls me Esther and that's when I'm in trouble. So am I in trouble?" I demanded.
"Not yet insolent child." Caius cut in.
I snorted.
"I was wondering when you'd pipe in. I bet you just hate me don't you. The being with the sacred venom yet tainted by the curse of the wolf?" I said, adopting a haughty voice for the description.
"So you admit your race is cursed?" Caius said, latching onto my words.
"No. I was just wording it in a way you'd understand. Believe me, I've taken crap all my life for my mixed heritage. I've even nearly been killed because of it, so I can take whatever you have to say."
Caius scowled at me and I noticed that Marcus was looking as blank as I'd heard he looked, but there was tension around the corners of his mouth as if he was stopping himself from laughing.
"I won't be bullied by you Caius. I am here at the request of the Volturi and I will co-operate within reason, but that doesn't mean I have to put with you making nasty remarks about me." I directed to Caius before I turned back to Aro. "But to answer you question your Lordship, I can read minds and I can talk into people's minds. I guess you could say my powers are a mix of Renesmee's and Edward's."
"You can read minds?" Aro mused.
Yes and I can talk into them too. And no, you will not separate me and Tobias, we're more than just mates, he's my imprint. I replied with my mind and I didn't much like the grin that spread across Aro's face.
"Of course my dear. I wouldn't dream of such a thing?" He said sincerely enough and I was surprised to find that he meant it in his mind as well.
"That's cause you need to sleep to dream." I pointed out. "Talking of which, my sleep pattern follows that of your average human and the better sleep I get the better I perform. I need to feed on blood once a week, and by this I mean animal blood, and I need human food everyday. A lot of human food. My Quileute metabolism demands it."
"That's quite a list." Aro observed.
"Look. I've given up everything to come work for you, the least you can do is oblige the few requests I need to keep myself healthy enough to continue."
"And what will you give me in return?" Aro asked.
"I will be at your beck and call when nature permits me. I will be your mind reader, rooting out the guilty without ever needing to lay a hand on them. In special cases I can offer my wolf self, although you will have to appease her with the freedom to run at least once a week if you want her to stay in shape."
"Can you show us this wolf before we come to a decision?" Aro prompted.
"What? Right now in here? Are you fricking crazy? This is a fairly small place full of vampires I don't really know and have that tang of carnivore about them. Do you really want to run the gauntlet?"
"No." Aro replied. "Although you will show me your wolf side. Perhaps in the arena later."
"Perhaps."
"And how about you Tobias, my prodigal son. You are yet to say a word." Aro said in an almost doting voice.
"I have no polite comments at this juncture so I thought it wise to hold my tongue." Tobias said in a voice devoid of emotion or warmth.
"Ever the joker." Aro mused. "There is plenty of time for us to catch up my son. I expect you wish to get your charming bride settled in at present. We will not stand in the way of this. Jane will show you to your permanent quarters."
"You are most gracious Master." Tobias said with a bow, although his voice belayed the sentiment. "Come my love, you must rest." Tobias added as he held his hand out to me.
I looked between Aro and Tobias for a moment as I contemplated my love's behaviour before I took his hand and we followed Jane from the throne room.
Jane led us through the corridors of Volterra in a huff. It was clear that she didn't much care for this errand and even though I didn't think she'd actually use her gift on us at present I threw my shield around Tobias' mind as well just in case.
She led us into a big room with an oversized bed in one corner of the room. There was also a work area set up with an old fashioned desk but a very modern looking computer system set up on top of it. There were bookshelves filled with books and an entertainment centre in another corner.
"This is where you will stay when we have no need of you." Jane said flatly. "The bathroom is through there."
"So I have to stay in this room unless I'm summoned?" I asked.
"No. But I wouldn't recommend you walk around just yet. I hear a certain Wolf Hunter is out for your blood." Jane said with almost a smile.
"I thought there was no fighting in the corridors of Volterra." Tobias said softly. "Or have such rules been abandoned for barbarity?"
"The rules still stand." Jane assured us. "But accidents do sometimes happen."
"I'll bear that in mind." I said.
"Of course." Jane said. "Now if you'll excuse me I have more important things to attend to."
Jane left us alone.
"Do you think…" I began, but Tobias placed his fingers to my lips as he gazed into my eyes.
It is not safe for us to talk freely within these walls. If there is anything you wish to say that you do not want the Volturi to know then you must use mind speak. He thought toward me urgently.
Really? You think they'd listen in on us?
I've no doubt about it, especially with modern bugging technology that is available. If Aro is not bugging us then Caius most certainly will be. We must be careful of what we speak aloud.
But if they're listening in don't you think they'll get suspicious if we're not saying anything? I pointed out.
Then think of something mundane to speak aloud while we carry on the conversation in our minds.
I'll try.
I whistled and looked around the room for good measure.
"Will you look at this room? It's got to be bigger than my whole house back home." I declared while I thought, Aro couldn't wait to get rid of me could he?
"I believe my room was of similar size to this." Tobias observed while he thought, I think Aro is unsure of what to do with you now he has you. He needs time to think now that he knows your capabilities and he needs time to discuss what is to become of us without us in the room.
"No way! If anything it was half the size of this." Do you think I went a little over the top?
"Perhaps you are right Miss Esther." Maybe a little. Tobias said with a smile. I don't think anybody has ever spoken that way to Caius before. If I die tomorrow I will die happy having witnessed the look of indignation on his face as you told him you would not be bullied by him. As much as it may have put our lives in danger, I am proud of you.
"You know I am Fang Boy." Thanks.
"As always my dearest." He replied and kissed me, "Now I advise sleep. The flight was long and you must be exhausted." And Aro is not one to observe the hour when it comes to summoning his subjects and obedience.
"Sure, sure." I replied. "I'll jus go get changed."
After I changed into some pyjamas and freshened up a little I returned to the room to find Tobias already in the bed. I climbed in with him and curled around him. I found it hard to sleep at first, which was not surprising considering where I was, but Tobias began to run his fingers through my hair and sing softly to me. With the reassurance of his presence I dropped into a dreamless sleep.
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