Chapter 2: AN INTERESTING COLLECTION
As he walked down the streets of Volterra, Italy he wondered why he had agreed to come to this place at all. Perhaps it was fear that motivated his footsteps and kept his eyes open for others of his kind. Perhaps it was excitement at perhaps getting to discuss his beliefs with someone who might not laugh at him. All the others of his kind he had seen, from the strange nomads wondering the countryside, to the odd Irish coven, had scoffed at his beliefs and afterwards had just steered clear of him entirely. Msybe these royals would see his point.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something he took as what he was looking for. It was a figure, hardly an outline against the dark night, wearing a black cloak with the front of the hood fixed on his head. He took a step towards the mysterious figure, and it responded by walking over to him, easily clearing the distance in seconds. "Cullen?" The figure asked with a velvety baritone.
"Yes," he answered, "Are you with the Volturi?" The figure nodded and gestured to follow him. He led through the dark streets of the city keeping at a swift pace, he led them past many biuldings and Carlisle wondered when they were going to stop. The man stopped in front of a small building, it was made of stone much like the rest of the city. He took out a small key and inserted it into the keyhole in a small wooden door. He opened it and waved his arm to let Carlisle enter first.
Carlisle stepped in, through the door was a hallway dimly lit by torches hanging on the walls, they cast an odd glow over the walls making it look somewhat like a crypt. The cloaked figure lead them down the hallway and through two doors until they arrived in a large open area. Cast in stone like the majority of this city and its bouldings the chamber was well lit and, other than the two new arrivals, completely vacant.
Carlisle was so busy gazing he nearly jumped when from the opposite wall a door burst open and three figures emerged. They seemed to float over the ground the were wearing floor length black cloaks. The person at the head of the small group had shoulder-blade length black hair, he was smiling at Carlisle. The one slightly behind him and to his left had the same black hair only a bit shorter, but his expression was odd as if it had never experienced joy and would never be content with life. The third figure had slightly longer white hair and a stern expression written across his features.
"Thank you for delivering our guest Demetri." The one in front spoke with a voice higher than Carlisle's own. The figure next to Carlisle nodded and walked out of the room. "You must be Carlisle. Carlisle Cullen. It's a pleasure to meet you." He extended his hand and Carlisle shook it but when he tried to pull away the man kept a firm grip staring intenly at Carlisle's face. Carlisle widened his eyes in surprise at this, What was this man doing?
"Ah," said the man finally releasing Carlisle's hand, "so it's true. You abstain from human blood. Why do you do this?" His tone sounded merely curious so Carlisle decided it was best to answer no matter how wird the handshake had been. "I wont kill people. They have done nothing to me. They are innocent." He realized that his answer may have insulted his fellow vampires because judging by their gleaming red eyes they drank human blood. The man however seemed meerly thoughtful as he gazed at Carlisle as if he were gauging his answer.
"Well Carlisle, you are surtently the oddity of our world. I don't believe I have ever met another vampire like you." The man fell silent and once again gazed into Carlisle's eyes, as if he were looking for a different answer one he liked better. "I am Aro," he said after a long moment, "these are my brothers, Marcus," he said gesturing to the dark haired one, "And Caius." The two gave him a nod and Carlisle suddenly felt out of place here, like a tree in an open field.
"You are a curious case Carlisle Cullen. You are welcome to stay here if you wish, I would very much like to learn about your dining habits more in depth." Aro spoke again.
"I would like that. Thank you." Carlisle answered slightly taken aback by the offer.
"Good," he said, "Jane will show you your room." As he spoke a small vampire came into the room. She came up to Carlisle's stomach and hard dark ginger hair that flowed to her waist, she to wore a cloak. As she led Carlisle down the hall an odd feeling swept over him, a somewhat dark and ominous feeling, like whatever was going on here he was better off not involved in. However, he had already accepted Aro's offer and it would be rude to leave now. So as he stepped into his nw room he shook off his dark feelings and tried to make himself feel comfortable against the strange new surroundings.