Lost Family
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: Hey everyone, I am going back through and rewriting this story I decided that it could be better so I am try to do that. I do not own Twilight or it Characters, I do however own the plot for this story and the character Matthew. I hope you like this chapter please read and review. Also I am now co-writing this with a friend. We hope you like it.
After saving the young girl just hours after my change Matthew and myself kept our promise to the girl and stayed in the London area for about a year before we began to travel to other parts of Europe. For the first few years we stayed close to London but by 1709 we decided to expand our travels and ended up in France during what happened to be the coldest winter in 500 years. After 6 years in France our travels led us to Spain where I learned the language quite quickly and felt at a loss when we departed in 1720.
Deciding to see what Romania had to offer us we had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting the Romanian duo Vladimir and Stefan. At their insistence we stayed for a while and learned all about Romania and its culture. A decade into our stay we had to bid farewell to the two as it was clear that our ways of life were not the same; while they fed from humans we were content to live off the animals, we were also content with who was in charge of keeping our kind in check whereas it was clear that Vladimir and Stefan wanted to overthrow the Italian coven. When they voiced this to us and requested we join them in their attempt to take over the Volturi we parted ways giving them no indication as to where we were heading next. Anywhere was better than Romania at this point.
We went back to our nomadic ways meeting and saving many people from the tragic fate of being bitten. Upon our arrival in Italy we were greeted by a young girl with red eyes and a sinister smile.
"Follow me please," blondie spoke; even with the dark and evil look she sounded like a child angel.
Matthew nodded and greeted the child, "I see that you received our request for an audience with the kings then?"
"We did, come." the blond child replied as she continued to walk down the path to a dark tunnel which I was to assume would lead us to the Volturi.
Not one for being around so many vampires I could feel my skin crawling. Even when it was just myself, Matthew and the Romanian duo I was at a constant bout of uneasiness. Although, part of that may have been due to their lack of self control when feeding or their talk of overthrowing the Volturi.
We walked for a good 15 minutes before reaching a set of solid oak doors, the doors opened and we silently followed the young girl into a spacious chamber. Upon entry I did a thorough scan of the room checking for danger points and entry and exit ways should we need them. Finally my amber eyes fell upon the three kings that Matthew had told me about. The same three that had apparently overthrown the Romanian duo centuries before.
The middle king stepped down from his perch and approached the two of us. "Ah Isabella, bellezza del cielo. Benvenuti a Volterra." He spoke in fluent italian as he held his hand out for me to take. Almost as if I was on autopilot I took the aforementioned appendage in greeting.
Almost as if trying to read my I watched as the king's facial expression changed from a simple welcome to one of shock and utter disbelief.
"What is this? A shield of sorts?" the dark haired king spoke while my hand was still in his grasp.
Trying to contain the feeling of tension rising around myself I gently pulled my arm back and placed it at my side. I tried my best to hold back my smirk as I explained.
"I must apologize, yes, I am a shield of both mental and physical assaults against my person and those I care about." I spoke rather contritely as I hadn't meant to offend anyone.
Before I could do or say anything else another rushed to the side of the stunned king. The blond king, the one who wore a bored expression but also looked as if he was the one you didn't want to cross.
"A shield you say? Interesting...I don't believe my brother has ever stumbled across one of those before." His voice droned as he stared into my eyes almost as if he expected me to argue or something.
"Well, what can I say? We shields don't tend to broadcast our abilities, people tend to want to use us as weapons. Ya know?" I spoke with sarcasm.
"How dare you take that tone with me?"
"How dare I? I come with information and you wish to talk about me, to me as if I am just a thing." I replied with an edge in my voice.
Matthew's hand touched my shoulder and he shook his head, while the third and final king had come down to join the group. Something was off with this one, he looked at me as if he felt something for me or knew of me somehow. He also looked a bit like some of the old drawings that I had found in my mother's trunk before I was turned. This one grazed the first one's hand his face also holding the blank expression.
"Brother, please. This is not why they have come to us."
"Ah, yes; the information on our dear friends Vladimir and Stefan. What news do you bring us of them?"
"My dear, perhaps introductions are in order first?" A fair haired beauty approached from behind.
The king chuckled but agreed, "my dear Isabella, I am Aro, these are my brothers Caius and Marcus.
"I apologize for my outburst but I am a person not something to be possessed and used at will for anyone." I informed the kings.
There was nothing worse than being used by people for their own personal reasons; it's part of the reason I come off as cold and sometimes bitter towards people I help because they had allowed themselves to be used...just like my father had.
"Child, what information is it you bring us?" A dark haired beauty spoke approaching king Marcus. I assumed she was his mate, something in me screamed for me to trust her but be wary of the Volturi itself.
Matthew decided at this point I needed to stop talking for a little bit and instead he began to tell of our journey and time with the Romanians which set Caius off on a tangit thinking we were spies for Stefan and Vladimir. Matthew explained how they insisted we travel with them for awhile but when they suggested the four of us start an army and attack the Volturi we parted ways. He informed the Volturi of our nomadic ways and how we just wanted peace to accept what we have become and try to save many from this fate. He told of our disgust at the thought of creating an army to attack the Volturi and of our immediate departure from the duo of Romanians. He told how he had requested this audience with the kings to inform them of what was to come so they were prepared.
The kings and their mates listened with great interest at how we were not only unable to be persuaded to help the two in their plans for take over but our self control at having not created any of our kind but saving others from this fate. Aro informed Matthew and myself we were welcome to stay in Volterra for as long as we wanted and we would always be welcome back. We were shown to rooms in the north wing of the castle which is apparently Marcus and Didmye's wing and left to our own devices. Matthew chose to take the time to go out for a hunt as the sun was setting while I remained in my room.
I found myself staring out into the fading sun wondering about my father. Had he chosen to stay home that night and listen to instead of following grandfather's orders to do what he hated most would things be different? Would he have been changed into this immortal creature? Would I have?
"The sun set is beautiful, yes?" Didyme's silk voice flowed from the doorway to my room.
I sighed, "yes, it is. I used to enjoy the sun on my face as a child and always begged my father to let me watch the sunset. Unfortunately those moments were few and far between."
"Why is that young one?"
"My grandfather; he was an avid vampire hunter and so we had to stay inside quite a bit. It became worse when my father took over for him as he got older and sick frequently."
"Is that why you choose to help those who are attacked by others rather than leave their lives up to fate?"
Again I sighed softly, "you could say that I suppose. I save people because I didn't ask for this. Honestly, who would? Living forever, never being able to feel the warmth of the sun, the taste of human food, children? Why would anyone give all that up for a life of darkness and loneliness?"
"I suppose we just adapt the best we can my child. Look at it all this way; how many people that you saved do you think would still be alive had you not been changed into a vampire?"
Pausing to think for a moment I knew Didyme was right; if I hadn't been changed then so many people would be lost. I smiled at the queen and admitted she was correct and that I was just bitter because many of our kind just don't seem to care about the effects this life may have on others.
After our first night in the palace we began to slowly work on defenses for the inevitable battle with the Romanians. I was quick the make my shield cover those I was loyal to; especially Didyme and Marcus. I felt they were family in some way but I wasn't sure. Unfortunately Caius and I got into another disagreement over whether or not Athenodora should be trained in battle should any of the opposing side get past everyone else and she need to defend herself.
"My mate will not be taught. She won't need to learn because nothing will make it past me to her." Caius argued.
I growled low in my throat to get the point across that this wasn't up for debate, "Aro and Marcus are letting their wives learn. What is it going to hurt honestly? Afraid she'll leave you if she knows she can fight back against what's outside these walls?"
I knew I was treading on thin ice but I needed to get him to attack so I could make my point. We bantered for a few more minutes before he lunged at me and allowed me to show him exactly why his mate needed to know how to fight. I could see out of the corner of my eye that Matthew was keeping everyone else back while Athenodora stood across the room from where Caius and I were attacking.
He swept his leg out to knock me down but I effortlessly lept over it while avoiding the fist that came towards my head thereafter. He went to kick out at my stomach and instead I used the momentum and his shoulders to leap over him and reach Athenodora. With my arm around her neck Caius had no choice but to admit defeat and that I was correct.
After training for the day when everyone was left to their own thing again I found myself wondering about Caius and Athenodora and how they would have been had life given them the chance to be parents. I don't know what caused this thought to cross my mind other than I can't stand how Caius is always so strict and by the book yet Athenodora wants to be active in this coming war with the Romanians. I can see how their parenting styles would greatly differ but a little girl with Caius' hair and Athenodora's facial structure running around the palace waving a little sceptre would be adorable and also hilarious. Sadly this thought will never be.
