CHAPTER 1: DEATH BECOMES THEM: JANE & ALEC
1550's-VOLTURI STRONGHOLD
"It will NOT end with the same disastrous results, they are not like the Immortal Children"
"You shall do as you will Aro. When has my opinion or interference EVER stopped you?" Marcus states the obvious truth but makes it sound lighthearted so as not to upset Aro, his Brother & fellow Volturi leader.
Chuckling Aro put his hand on Marcus's shoulder and squeezes it gently, a friendly not angry gesture. He understood Marcus's meaning and realizes no harm was meant by his words.
"Now, now Marcus, this is time for celebration. For our guard is almost complete. I have never seen such a talent in humans manifest itself so young"
Sighing Marcus looks at Aro "They are rather young Aro..It just concerns me. Will we be able to control their newborn emotions & strength? Will they be capable of learning and serving us with no issues?"
"As with other out of control newborns they will be put down should they prove to be unruly. A pity should they need to be put to death. I will be rather let down"
*BEGINNING OF SHARED VISION*
Marcus reaches over and touches his brothers arm lightly, suddenly he is overwhelmed by many different scenes of the two human twin siblings-soon to be vampires in front of him- Aro & his guard going into their small town in the states, listening to the proceedings inside of the Church/Court House condemning the two young twins/siblings to death by fire, rescuing the twins, happily feasting on the well fed townsfolk, their fear made their blood richer, sweeter, like a fine wine.
Aro rarely goes on these fishing expeditions but he had a personal interest in these two young human siblings after he was made aware of their unique talents and he witnessed first hand what they were capable of, especially when they were together.
~2 MONTHS EARLIER~
Aro is in the woods following the siblings, he has been here for 3 days and already he has no doubt these are the final guards for the Volturi. Certainly lesser guards will come along in the future but these two were special. They will be the Elite of the Elite of the Vampire Royalty. A spot many a vampire has begged for, lost their immortal and human (in some very rare cases) lives for.
Aro watches and waits...
"Jane will you leave it alone please! It is almost dead just let it be!" Alec begs Jane as he has so many times before to stop hurting animals she comes across. This time it's a squirrel. Nothing escapes Jane when she wants to "play"..
"Alec, it is almost dead I am certainly doing no more harm to it" "Watch me Alec, look, I am doing it again!" happily Jane points at the squirrel that is trying to limp away and die in peace. Alec blinks fast & furious to prevent tears from falling, he loves Jane, she is all he has and he knows she is cruel at times but he blames their life not her for that cruelty that manifests itself in the form of hurting weaker beings, anger, temper tantrums, etc..
"Alec!" Jane screams for his attention. He turns and looks at her. "Please watch me do it again" he just nods and waits for the squirrels torture to begin and end.
Jane stares hard at the poor creature, squinting her eyes, grimacing, pursing her small mouth and suddenly the squirrel flops on it's back, lets out an ungodly noise and convulses. Alec cannot take it any longer, he gets so upset, he feels the pain of this small creature. He can't physically stop her but he can help the creature..He too begins to stare at the squirrel and focus's hard on it & he feels the squirrels torture subside. He is relieved. Now the poor little creature can die in peace as it was trying to do before Jane happened along.
Jane looks at Alec, frustrated. "Alec why can't you let me be? It's only a squirrel that was hurt to begin with".
"No need to make it worse Jane. Please Janie.. it's not nice" She just stares at him, angry, and then suddenly smiles "Come on silly lets go to the Olson's Shop, I am suddenly craving some penny candies, I hope they have lemon again! I ADORE lemon suckers Alec." Alec shakes his head and grabs her outstretched hand and skips away..
Aro is overwhelmed, excited. These talents are brand new,unpredictable. They are raw and unpolished but under his tutelage they will be a force to be reckoned with. He knows these are the final members of his elite guard. He mustn't let them slip away...*END OF VISION*
A sudden screech breaks Aro and Marcus out of their dream like state. Marcus is still not convinced. He is worried this young female child, Jane, will be more troublesome than her brother- the boy child, Alec. He has great potential even though his sisters "talent" is worth more to Aro.
Clapping his hands "Absolutely wonderful-look Marcus, Guard! Grab Caius from his study right away!"
Marcus looks at the twin siblings writhing in discomfort on their large shared bed and he can hear the change coming to it's end. In even their burning, fiery slumber like state they reach out to comfort the other, they are instinctively doing it-for no human can reasonably act or speak during the change. That sparks interest in Marcus for he rarely see's human's so attached. Siblings, mates or otherwise. He searches for a sexual attachment and thankfully see's none. It's a familial one, a deep spiritual bond. Someone once said Twins, boy and a girl, were often lovers in a past life being punished in this life by being made siblings with no obvious chance of a sexual/romantic relationship. He see's a strong, deep bond between these two. One that the change will only strengthen. From what he saw he is a little scared of what this new life will bring to the table as far as these two are concerned. Especially Jane.
Caius walks in, looking bored "Yes- Aro, what is it?" "What is it? Caius? Are you blind? They are almost awake! Do you not want to be here to see them awaken?"
"Aro they are newborns. I have seen this transformation hundreds of times. They awaken, look like scared whipped pups, then grab their throats, complain of a thirst, etc. etc." Aro looks at Caius and suddenly grabs his throat and slams him against the wall and says in an angry but soft and deadly voice "Caius, these are not our normal run of the mill newborns that are disposable garbage, did you not witness their powers? Combined and apart? They are completing our guard, now is not the time for your feigned indifference Brother"
Caius hisses at Aro and begins to get into a defensive stance until Marcus speaks- "Aro" he says in a placating, warning voice one uses for a child misbehaving "I believe we have company" he nods his head towards a now awakened Jane and Alec both with their backs against the wall, touching arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder, holding hands, staring in shock at the scene before them.
Aro's face lights up with..joy. "Dear ones! Jane and Alec you're awake! Lovely..Marcus, Caius, please meet Jane and her twin brother Alec"
Marcus and Caius both nod at the children who are staring at the 3 leaders as if they were not believing what they were seeing.
"I understand this is all very confusing to you. I understand you may not know what to say or what to do" they looked at one another then nodded yes at Aro, satisfied with the response he continued "I will explain all of these new changes in due time but first let's get you fed" He begins to walk out of the large bedchamber and looks back at the twins who seem unable to do anything but stare. "Come now Jane and Alec we haven't all day, well, actually we have all of eternity but let's not ponder on THAT now". Laughing at his clever joke. "I am rather hungry myself. Let's go see what Heidi brought back for us. Shall we?" He holds his hand out to Jane much as a Father would that was helping his little daughter across a dangerous road. She looks at his hand, then smiles the most lovely smile one has ever seen from Jane and takes his hand and then uses her other to grab Alec's hand "Come on Alec, I am here with you, We will be OK. I am hungry, aren't you?"
With that Alec grabs Jane's hand and says "OK Janie. I trust you" .
Aro's smile nearly cracked his face while Marcus and Caius were for once speechless at what has transpired in front of them.
Caius speaks first "This shall prove to be an interesting time for us Marcus, wouldn't you agree?"
"I honestly don't know..Caius, Have you ever seen Aro act in such a manner? Good or bad these Twins will bring many changes to the Volturi. I just hope Aro does not regret his decision"..
Marcus and Caius both begin walking towards the room now filling with human screams and the distinct laughter of a delighted newborn, almost full of fresh human blood- Jane is the giddy, happy newborn. Marcus shakes his head and opens the door for he too is hungry now.