2. VOLTERRA

Three days after that fateful night Aro and Didyme walked out of the sepulcher. She was changed forever. Blood no longer pulsed through her veins, her heart no longer beat, her eyes no longer wept. She was a vampire.

The sun had set and the sounds of a celebration captured their attention. Didyme was so thirsty. Aro convinced her to stay put near the gate of the cemetery and promised to bring someone to her to quench her thirst. He could not afford to have her lose control in the town. She waited for him for what seemed like an eternity. The burning in her throat raged on. Just as she was about to leave to find her own prey, she heard Aro's laughter mixed with that of a drunken man.

"I'm telling you, she's gorgeous!" Aro spoke sloppily, as if he were drunk too.

"I'll be the judge of that! If she's not a dog I'll let her give me a big kiss!" the drunk shouted. The two came into view and she saw that Aro's companion was a short and stout man. He looked as sloppy as he sounded but the scent that wafted off of him was so sweet and enticing. Didyme had never caused physical harm to anyone in her life before but now the temptation was too much to bear.

"Oh mate, you're right!" the drunk said in wonder when he saw Didyme. "Hey there sweetheart, would you like to give me a kiss?" he giggled.

"Absolutely." Didyme walked over to the man more quickly than she should have and bit into his throat without hesitation. The blood pulsed out from his veins and into her mouth. He cried out in alarm and tried to fight her off but she was much too strong for him, like a parent holding a small child in place. Soon, his struggles became less and less until finally he became very still. The warm nectar quenched her thirst and she drank until there was nothing more. While her thirst had been satiated there was a sudden hollowness in her heart. She couldn't help but feel guilty for ending the man's life. She looked at his pale, lifeless body with sudden waves of remorse.

"Come," Aro commanded. "You're ready to meet my friends." Aro led her by the hand and she followed along numbly. He had a horse and carriage ready and they climbed into the cab. A man sat on the bench out front to direct the horse.

"How can you stand this?" Didyme spoke through gritted teeth as the scent of the driver filled her nose.

"What, love?" Aro asked, worried that she wasn't taking to vampire life.

"The smell. I want your driver very badly," Didyme confessed.

He let out a chuckle. "But you just ate. Try to focus on something else." Once the carriage ride was over they found themselves at a harbor. Aro escorted her onto a small ship.

"Where are we going?" Didyme asked, surprised to find her travels were far from over.

"Italy."

"What's in Italy?" she pressed.

"Volterra," Aro said with a smirk.

When they finally entered Volterra, Didyme observed that there wasn't much to it. "Are there even enough humans to feed around here?"

"Love, you'll come to learn that you don't eat where you sleep, so to speak. There are plenty of nearby villages to choose from." Didyme followed Aro to what looked like an abandoned castle, half of it had been destroyed by who knows what war. The gray stones that made up the building were beautiful. They walked through the rubble of the destroyed half then eventually found a staircase. When they reached the upper level Didyme caught a pleasant scent. More vampires. An attractive woman came out to meet them first. Her long, pale blond hair flowed below her waist and she wore what looked like a wedding gown. Didyme found that peculiar. The woman threw her arms around Aro.

"You've returned!" she exclaimed, and then pressed her lips to his. An awkward moment passed for Didyme. When they stopped, Aro introduced her.

"Didyme, I'd like you to meet Sulpicia, my wife," Aro proudly announced.

"Did you not think to invite us to the wedding?" Didyme asked, half sarcastically.

"And what would you have been? The wedding feast?" Aro teased back.

Another couple entered the room. A handsome male with long white hair, he looked too young to have white hair but it made him almost angelic. He wore a white shirt with ruffles down the front. His mate was even more attractive than Sulpicia with fiery red hair and delicate features. Her figure was slender and full in all the right places. She wore a black skirt and a crimson corset with nothing under it or over it. Didyme was shocked at how much skin she was showing since that was not a common practice where she had grown up. No, the town gossips would have died of heart attacks if they'd seen this woman.

"This is my good friend Caius and his wife Athenodora. Meet my sister, Didyme," Aro spoke.

"Pleased to meet you," Athenodora said as she embraced Didyme and then smiled. "I've longed for another sister." Didyme was flattered that they so willingly accepted her.

"Where is Marcus?" Aro asked Caius.

"He went to feed, he'll be back tonight," Caius said, void of any emotion.

While Caius and Aro went to discuss private matters, the girls gave a tour to Didyme of the good half of the castle. They followed a hallway that led to a huge cavernous room, a perfectly round castle turret. The windows were long slits that allowed slivers of the fading sunlight to spill onto the stone floor. Three wooden thrones were flush with the curved walls. Other seats were available that seemed more plush and comfortable, draped with deep purple and red velvet. An object caught Didyme's eye and she wandered over to the plush seating to pick it up.

"Do you play?" Athenodora asked while Didyme handled the beautiful violin.

Didyme smiled, "I do." She admired the craftsmanship of the instrument; surely it had been created by a true professional.

"Aro plays for me," Sulpicia giggled. "I am his inspiration, his muse." She began to dance around the room even though no music was being played.

"Don't mind her," Athenodora whispered, "she's a little different but we love her."

Didyme wondered why her brother had chosen such a strange mate. She also wondered what kind of a human she had been, perhaps she was known as a lunatic. Sulpicia continued to dance and spin, giggling and whispering to herself the whole time.

"So what has Aro told you?" Athenodora asked with sincere interest.

"Not much, just that we're vampires and that I will never grow sick or old."

Athenodora nodded and smiled. "So then he hasn't told you about his plan to take over the vampire world?" Didyme's eyes bulged and she shook her head no. "Well, there is another coven that currently rules, the Romanian coven. There are four of them but they have followers who protect them as well, their own personal army. Aro doesn't like the way they rule, well no one does really. They have many rules to follow and if you break them the Romanians will put you to death."

"What kind of rules?" Didyme asked.

"Well, for example, we are not allowed to be out during the day. Even if it is overcast and there is no chance of being revealed to a human. They won't allow it. They have set a limit for vampires to feed no more than once a week, while they glut themselves on as many humans as they please. We all must pay tribute to them. They tax us as if we're part of a human civilization! It's ridiculous."

"But Aro and I were out today, on our way traveling here," Didyme said.

Athenodora smiled, "Yes, that's Aro for you. He won't follow rules unless he believes in them. He is starting a revolution. Your brother can be quite convincing when he wants to be. He's very charismatic; I suppose that is what makes him such an excellent leader. We've all been working in secret trying to recruit other vampires to join our cause. Aro believes that we are almost ready to strike. He keeps searching for vampires with abilities. Can you believe that he dreams of having an army of vampires with special talents? Aro and Marcus are the only ones who have these abilities."

"Abilities?" Didyme asked, confused.

Athenodora was surprised at how little Didyme knew. "Yes, your brother can know every thought that anyone has ever had just by touching their palm. Marcus can read the ties between people." Didyme thought back to the night that Aro had taken her away and had touched her palm; she now knew the reason behind it. "There's going to be a great gathering in a few days time," Athenodora continued. "Aro is going to address everyone, rally them up to be on our side."

"Athena!" Caius shouted from the doorway. He glowered at her. "You and Sulpicia are to accompany me downstairs."

Athenodora looked at Didyme apologetically and left with Sulpicia. Didyme sat in the empty room alone and pondered everything that her new friend had just told her. She was new to this vampire life but the talk of war and overthrowing a ruler did not appeal to her in the least bit. The idea of power and becoming a new ruler held no interest for her.

She let out a sigh and picked up her brother's violin. She began to play the tune she had performed the last time she was with her parents. She was pleased to find that she made no mistakes, it was suddenly easier. The sweet melody floated into the air around her and she played with such passion. The tune ended and she smiled at herself.

"Don't stop," an unfamiliar voice spoke.

She whirled around to find the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He had long dark hair and a strong jaw. His face was soft, yet masculine. There was the tiniest hint of a cleft in his chin. His crimson eyes locked on hers.

"Pardon me, where are my manners?" He walked over to her and put out a hand. "I'm Marcus." She took his hand but he clasped onto hers and lifted her hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss.

"I'm Didyme," she spoke almost breathlessly.

"I know who you are," he smiled at her. "Welcome to Volterra. How do you like it so far?"

"It's lovely," she lied and looked down to hide it. A tendril of hair fell into her face. He reached up and tucked it behind her ear. If she could blush, she would have. "Athenodora told me about the upcoming rally. Caius seemed a bit upset that she told me."

"Don't mind him," he laughed, "Caius doesn't trust anyone. He's just paranoid. If the Romanians ever found out it would be the end of all of us."

The thought of Marcus' life coming to an end saddened Didyme, even though she had only just met him. She liked the way his eyes seemed to sparkle when he laughed and noticed the small dimple that was revealed with his smile. Her self-consciousness got the best of her as she told herself that she was not pretty enough for him. He noticed the sadness touch her eyes.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, with earnest concern.

"No," she lied and looked down again.

"You're a terrible liar. You know that?" he smiled at her again and his brilliance stunned her. "Really, tell me what's on your mind?"

"It's stupid really," she shook her head and bit her lip.

"I'll be the judge of that. Go on, tell me."

She was surprised at how much she wanted to tell Marcus, as if she wanted no secrets between them. "I was just thinking about the way I look. You're all so beautiful, especially Athenodora. I know that I must be awful standing next to any of you."

"Are you serious?" he asked with disbelief. "Have you seen yourself?"

"Of course I've seen myself; we have a mirror at home."

"No, I mean, have you seen yourself since Aro changed you?"

She didn't see why that would matter and shrugged her shoulders, "I suppose not."

The beautiful smile broke across his face again and he pulled her off the plush seat by the hand and guided her out of the turret and into another room. Even though they didn't sleep there was a bed in this room. A billowing canopy hung over it, draping the sides. Across from the bed was a dresser with a large mirror resting upon it. Candles were lit upon the dresser, illuminating the mirror. He walked her over to it and told her to look at herself.

She gasped and thought at first that it must be a window with someone else staring back. Her complexion was smooth and perfect. Her skin was paler and her hair seemed darker. Her body was just as womanly as Athenodora's and possibly more perfect. She raised her hand to her face to make sure the woman in the mirror would do the same.

"See?" Marcus said into her ear, "You're perfect."

Didyme sucked in a breath that she didn't need and smiled at Marcus' reflection.

"Ah sister, there you are. I see you've met Marcus," Aro interrupted their private moment.

She turned away from the mirror to face her brother, "Yes, your friends are teaching me quite a bit in your absence."

Aro smiled, "Forgive me. I am ready for you now, please follow me."