Everyone was one edge that day. Two nights before, Gaston had received a phone call from the vampire royal family, the Volturi. Apparently, they were being threatened by this gifted Indian coven, threatened enough to send their three most powerful offensive weapons into hiding. I had not yet had the opportunity to meet any of the Volturi, being only ten years old. I was relatively new but still had the self-control that my family had taught me.
Apparently, before any of us were created, Gaston had met an English vampire, Carlisle Cullen. Carlisle had opened Gaston's eyes to what his life as a vampire could be, and the value of human life. Gaston explained it philosophically, just like everything else. He decided that vampires were put on earth to learn the value of life, for you can only truly recognize the importance of something when it is taken from you.
We were all nervous because no one in our world ever truly trusted the Volturi. There was always a chance of being falsely accused of some trivial crime by the bloodthirsty Caius; or being torn from your family by Marcus and Chelsea; or worse, being charmed by Aro, the avaricious leader.
I was left home alone, Marie had a busy day's work ahead of her at her bridal parlor, and Chantal and Francois were attending Pantheon-Sorbonne University in Paris. Gaston himself, the breadwinner, was a private Psychiatrist to the wealthy residents of Paris and neighboring towns and cities. I admired my family; they tried so hard to keep an ambiance of humanity about them.
The phone rang again and I was across the room in a second. I waited another ring, a practiced habit so that it seemed as though I had moved close to a human pace. I picked it up mid-ring and answered, spinning around to look out on the pond in the garden.
"Hello, Coutant residence." I watched the flowers blow gently in the light breeze.
"Victoire, Marie wants to know if you're helping out at the store later." Said the familiar voice of my adopted brother, Francois.
"Yeah, why?" I asked, twirling the cord in my stone fingers.
"Because she wants to make sure someone will be at the house today when...they arrive." He replied with an edge to his usually mellow voice.
"Gaston said he would be home early, just in case." I said, trying to keep my voice even.
"Whatever you say. So I'll see you later then." I could hear his characteristic shrug over the phone.
"Bye." The conversation had lasted all of one minute, but still managed to allow fear to creep into the atmosphere. What was worse than the fear we felt for the vampire civilization was not knowing what was going to come next for our family. We didn't know how long these Volturi members would be here, we didn't know what to expect of their general behavior, and most importantly we didn't when they would arrive.
I didn't have any danger vibes coming from this impending visit. It was sort of my gift, self-preservation. If these Volturi brought with them any danger, I would have my enhanced instincts telling me so. If they wanted a chase, part two of my gift would be helpful: tracking evasion. I'm untraceable; I can leave no scent and no footprints should I choose not to. Any mind tracking could easily take me down but it's not as though I'm leaving an obvious trail to follow.
I wandered aimlessly through the house, poking my head into any room that wasn't perfectly clean and tidied up. I sighed when I came across Chantal and Francois' room. Chantal's gift, telekinesis, didn't help with her messy personality. She could summon any inanimate object, but there was little chance that she'd leave it where she'd found it. Francois didn't care how messy she was, all he wanted was for her to be happy.
True love was disgusting sometimes. You would give up all your independence, all your possessions for that one person who may not even feel the same way. Chantal had it easy; she could have any male creature in the world in all her blonde, nineteen year old, beautiful perfection. I sighed as I passed by the family portrait. They could almost pass for a biological family, if you excluded me. They all had the same blonde hair, and were all mature and adult looking. I was the only dark haired and by far the youngest looking.
I had been changed when I was but fourteen years old. Marie and Gaston had been strolling in the streets of Paris by the river when they had found me, washed up on the side of the Seine, barely allowing air to enter my lungs. My human stepmother, Danielle Benoit (now Dupont) had pushed me in from the ledge of a bridge and walked away, as if I was of no consequence. I had been the only thing keeping her from marriage with my father, Vincent Dupont, so she had killed me. Or, at least, she had tried very hard to. Marie and Gaston had found me and bitten me; I became a Coutant, end of story.
I wish I had been older, at least old enough to drive a car legally and to go to college and to see the world. My stepmother had gotten her wish, she and my father had married two years after my "death" and they had two sons now, Blaise who was seven and Lucas who was four. I had made it my business to keep track on what would have been my family.
But everything was done and there was no going back. Marie and Gaston were better parents than anyone could ask for, but there is still the ever present "What if…?"
I walked outside, barefoot, to the garden. I stared at my reflection in the crystal clear pond. I was beautiful, but then again, all vampires were. My wavy, dark brown hair was loose about my shoulders; my white skin was unblemished and unmarked under the cloudy sky, and my horribly beautiful dark golden eyes stared back at me. I looked older than fourteen, or maybe just more mature, sixteen at best. The grass beneath by toes was like green silk stroking my feet. My strapless white sundress was cut at the knee and was a complimenting contrast to my dark hair. My golden locket from my human father hung about my neck…
I examined my eyes, a little on the dark side. Turning on my heel, I strode back to the house and checked the clock. The day had passed quicker than usual. I had three hours before I actually had to be at Marie's store, but a quick excursion in the city of lights couldn't hurt. I was up the stairs in a flash. My room was on the second floor, down the hall, to the left. It was spacious and had all the necessities for your average vampire: a computer, books, stereo, desk, sectional couch, etc…but no bed. No sleep, no bed, more space. I decided to add a blue cardigan to my bare shoulders, a belt to my slender waist, brown gladiator sandals for my feet, and golden hoped earrings. I French braided my hair, grabbed my purse.
I ran swiftly down the stairs and out the door. I started running, mostly in the trees near the road. It felt good to run, to feel the full force of my power, to feel the wind in my hair. I arrived in Paris in five minutes, being my own mode of public transportation, without a hair out of place.
I walked to the bridge where Danielle had tried to murder me at a steady human pace. I laid my hand on the ledge of the bridge and suddenly felt her hand on my shoulder.
"Victoire, you know I love your father very much." I heard her voice inside my head and suddenly it was 8:03 pm precisely on May 23rd, 2001. I felt the wind in my hair and saw the couple nearby stride away, holding hands. We were alone on the bridge.
"I know you love his money, but do you really love him?" I challenged, my haughty personality clouding my better judgment. I flipped my hair and looked back into her grey eyes, which flashed with hatred momentarily.
"Why do you always feel the need to contradict me?" She demanded, her hand uncomfortably tighter on my shoulder.
"Because I am sick and tired of you using my father for money and God knows what else. Nice diamond necklace by the way, did my dad give it to you after you…" I was scowling at the river now.
"Please, Victoire, please just stop being in the way. I have suggested a lovely boarding school to your father…"
"Right so you can have my room for your offspring? Well let me tell you that I will always be here, looking after my father and making sure he isn't persuaded to do anything I know he'll regret. In fact, I'm sure he's already regretting those nights you spent at our house." She slapped me, hard across my face. I felt the blood rush to my cheek and I raised my hand to my cheek. I heard her whisper, "Bitch," harshly
"Enough that is enough out of you. I will marry your father whether you like it or not." She snapped, picking up where we had left off before dinner. Danger signals were starting to go off in my head, but I ignored them, ready for a fight.
"He hasn't proposed yet nor will he ever. Not today, not tomorrow, not over my dead body." I turned on her, drawing myself up to my full height. Her strawberry blonde hair was gently curled at her shoulders and her eyes were like knives.
"We'll see, won't we?" She said, and with that she pushed me over the edge. My head hit the side hard and I blacked out for a second. I came to just before I hit the water. I was like ice on my skin, I had never been a skilled swimmer and the current was strong. The last thing I saw before my head slipped beneath the waves was Danielle's emotionless face watching me struggle.
