Yep... still need help on my other stories.. hope you enjoy the next chappy! :)
The eighteen hundreds dragged to the present, everything seemed bland, every little activity seemed like a repeat of yesterday's yesterday. It seemed that with the vampire world expanding so was the rate of newborns. It was a pain traveling around the world to bring them back to Italy only to have them be killed there. I once considered leaving but what would happen after that? The inhabitants of the Volturi thought it strange of my diet, what would the world think?
One thing was for sure, I would be on my own.
I was currently stationed in the alley way that lead to the Volturi entrance, a job that required two since Alec was standing four feet away from me examining his nails. I was technically older than him, a couple hundred years older, but he was about an inch taller than me. We both wore the new uniform of the guard, tight black suit underneath a thick, hooded, cloak. This allowed us to go into the sunlight without glittering.
Pointless. We never had to go out in the sunlight because Aro always sent the second rates to do that job.
I had my arms crossed, head resting against the brick wall that had began to erode in the short time it was built. The air was about the same as it had been when I first was introduced to this place but now I was accustomed to it. Doves flew regularly across the clear, maroon, sky, their elegant wings gliding through the treacherous winds with little effort. The clock tour was plain in sight, standing proudly above all other buildings around it. It was nearing evening, the sun drowning past the land creating a mixture of colors in the air.
"An hour" Alec announced shifting his position against the wall, his cloak bunching up at his left side revealing his skin to the light, glittering diamonds reflecting. It was something I could never understand. The sight was outstanding, brilliant.. But we weren't. We shouldn't be awarded these gifts when all we do is hide it away from humans. A waste. He shook his head to get some of his hair out of his eyes, blood red eyes staring endlessly into his own thoughts.
I did a recount on what I looked like at this moment. Hair in a tight ribbon to keep the hair out of my face. I was considered the smallest member of the guard even though I was the oldest vampire, the wisest, though they didn't really care for it at all. What would happen if I had been just a tad bit older before bitten?
"Did you hear about the new doctor in town?" a woman's voice giggled through the air, the source coming from around the corner, her heart beat loud and clear making my mouth water. I quickly gulped down the venom and held my breath. I still wasn't completely numb to the smell of human blood, it still brought hunger to my body. I glanced at Alec to see him leaning forward with a waiting grin on his face, hunger reflecting in his eyes. "he's quite a handsome man, don't you think?".
I shook my head and faced away from the noises as they got closer, flicking my hood over my head to cover my identity.
"But his skin looks so… so white and pale, perfection gone overboard" another female voice whispered back catching my attention, and this time it was Alec who looked at me for conformation of the information. I nodded and we both stood at the edge of the building, waiting to hear more.
"He has night shifts all year round" the first giggled, "I think I just might pay him a visit and have that perfect body against mine".
"You are full of yourself, Janet" the second sighed shaking her head, "besides, his hands are freezing cold and it seems like he never sleeps with those circles under his eyes".
I looked at Alec and he nodded, flicking up his own hood. I took a deep breath, ignored the burning in my throat, and stalked forward with Alec at my side. Our human chatters stopped dead in their tracks and gawked at us as I heard Alec growl under his breath.
"Take care of them, I'll see to the one in the hospital" I muttered pushing my pace faster as Alec grinned and turned to face the humans. I didn't look back from the dreary nigh in front of me as I saw white mist start to form before screams were short lived as Alec took his meal. I held my breath so I wouldn't be persuaded to join him.
It took some time before I came upon the hospital which rang with little life since there wasn't many patients, either the Volturi had them for dinner or it wasn't the year for flu's. I stopped at the entrance, staring inside. There was a human male at the front desk, scribbling down some things on a piece of paper, his eye brows scrunched up. Frustrated. I pulled my hood as far down as it could go before walking inside, catching the mans attention.
"How may I help you… young miss?" the man asked putting down the inked pen, and smiled at me, "shouldn't you be in bed by now? Scary things come out at dark".
"I'm actually looking for my father" I answered as sweetly and innocently as I could, rocking back and forth on my heels, "he's new in town and my Mum wanted me to send him a message".
"Ah, Dr. Cullen didn't mention having a wife and child" the man muttered under his breath before shaking his head and grinning at me, "I'll go fetch him for-"
"If I may, I can find him myself" I giggled, "he isn't hard to find".
"Sure, just don't get in any one's way, you hear?" I nodded to his question, pleased, before he swore under his breath, "you can't miss that man, scary as hell..".
I ignored him and skipped to the doors, dropping the façade as soon as I closed them. Many heart beats were beating at once, making it hard for me to concentrate. I lifted my nose into the air and took a deep breath, sorting through all the smells of humans, dry, old, blood, metal and wood until a sweet scent came to me. The trail was straight forward to the left into a room where I went immediately, ignoring the questioning glances that were thrown at me.
Once I got to his door I gently knocked.
There was no heartbeat in there but I heard some shuffling around and feet gently walking to the door before the knob started to turn and open. Before he had a chance to glance at me I forced him to move back while I stepped in and slammed the door shut.
"I presume you are the Dr. Cullen?" I asked looking up at him under the hood. He stood wearing a doctor's uniform, very blond, natural, hair, tall figure, and… gold eyes?
But my eyes were gold, and Aro said I was…
"Who might you be?" Dr. Cullen asked his stance getting rigged after her breathed in my scent, "I want no harm, I come here to help".
"And I come here to escort you safely to your destination" I answered quickly, swallowing my shock and regaining my composure of a Volturi guard, "I advise you to come easily".
He looked me up and down, his eye brow raising at my short appearance but he nodded calmly, "I only ask where it is you are taking me and why".
"The center of the Volturi where you will meet my master" I answered politely and turned, opening the door and looking back at him, "are you still going to come willingly?".
The doctor paused, thinking about his choice, "I will be able to discuss issues, not just become tonight's kill?".
"You will be able to talk, yes" I answered, avoiding his second question.
He paused then nodded. I walked through the door and into the hallway once more where I stopped and stared at the awaiting Alec. His lips were tented red and hood pulled down low like mine, though I knew that under that his eyes were glowing red with satisfactory.
"No fight?" Alec chuckled crossing his arms. I shook my head lightly. "Shame, I was looking forward to a hassle, Felix would have enjoyed it also".
"Shifts are ending, we need to report in" I answered walking past him making him laugh dryly before walking beside me with the doctor following slug like behind us. His questioning aura seemed to seep into me, as I too had unanswered questions in my head.
Was he an animal drinker like me? Why was he posing as a doctor when at any second his control could snap and reveal himself to the humans? How old was he? Was he an animal drinker longer than me? Did he know others of our kind?
"How was your meal?" I asked to Alec as we exited the hospital into the pitch black streets, following the path we had memorized for years on end. The doctor disapproved of my question, out of the corner of my eye I saw him slide his hands in his coat pockets and stare up at the stares, a silent pray I didn't recognize leaving his lips.
"Delicious" Alec answered running his tongue over his teeth, "filled me to my brim, you should have joined me". The doctor's jaw constricted.
"Maybe another day" I replied curtly turning the corner to the alley that we were last at to see Felix and Demetri waiting for us, a grin playing on their faces, no hood to hide their glowing red eyes.
"We were beginning to fret over the both of you, Jane was getting into a fuss" Demetri snickered his eyes flashing to the doctor dangerously, "I assume this is what stalled you both?".
"Unfortunately" Alec answered for me sliding off his hood, red eyes dancing, "though I'm sure Belle is thrilled with the finding, aren't you, Belle?" his eyes flashed to me.
I refrained from rolling my eyes as I pulled off my hood and walked by the trio of jumbling idiots. I heard the hesitant footing of the doctor before he pushed off past them and was on my heels in the next second. I kept my eyes forward as I turned to the left into the old dweller where I stepped down the slum steps that lead down to the lobby.
"Good afternoon, my lady" the human female attendant, AKA desert, greeted with a bright smile.
I heard the doctor gasp in shock and about to ask the lady a question when I called, "it wouldn't be wise to speak to her, doctor".
"Just Carlisle, please" the doctor, Carlisle, mumbled picking up his pace so that he was now walking by me, "you are… Belle.." he stopped completely to stare at me and I stopped, spinning to meet his gaze, silently questioning him. "your eyes".
"I know of my own eyes and yours, if you will, my master does not have the patience of a priest" I answered quickly and spun back around into the marble hallway were the wooden doors awaited to be pushed open. I stopped and waited for him to come beside me before I grabbed the handles and pushed them open, apparently the guards that were stationed here left for a different job.
Marcus, Aro, and Caius sat in their usual chairs, same postures and all. Jane stood beside them, a scowl disappearing as soon as her attention was diverted to us, a grin replacing it at her newest victim. The room was darker with the darker setting, but small torches were set up to provide the little light we needed.
"What have we gotten here, Belle?" Aro chuckled standing up and eyeing Carlisle, his eyes immediately zoning in on his gold eyes, "interesting". He stepped down from the platform, steps painstakingly slow for this type of situation. Marcus shook his head, hating Aro's dramatic nature while Caius quirked an eyebrow at it.
Once he was in the short distance between me he motioned for me to step aside, I did and retreated to Jane's side where I folded my hands behind my back and straightened up.
"Who might you be, my civilized friend?" Aro asked circling Carlisle, taking in every detail that he could think of, "why, for all these years I thought my loyal servant was the only golden eyed".
"I was, too, surprised" Carlisle answered politely, a good move on his part, "my name is Carlisle Cullen".
"Carlisle" Aro tried on his lips before grinning, "it's a pleasure Carlisle, we haven't had visitors to Italy in quite a couple of years".
"Italy was in need of a doctor" Carlisle answered.
"So intriguing" Aro mused with a chuckle, "I myself find it hard to hold back against the hunger that eats away at me with humans all around.. How do you do it, my friend?"
"Years of practice" Carlisle replied his eyes flickering to Marcus and Caius before going to me, silently questioning his freedom.
"Are you immune against it?" Aro asked distracting him.
"I find it difficult at times, but I have my ways of distracting my hunger" Carlisle stated raising his shoulders before dropping them.
"Interesting" Aro concluded, "we have been at a loss of house guests, would you give us the honor of joining us?".
Jane and me exchanged a surprised glance. Aro never invited another vampire unless he personally knew the vampire, all he did was ask of their devotion to Volturi and went on with his dead life. What was he up to?
"I would be honored" Carlisle said offering a smile but before Aro could continue he cut in, "I just need to gather my things at the hospital and tell them I won't be in the rest of the night".
"Of course" Aro agreed, he glanced at me, "Belle would love to escort you there, wouldn't you, Belle?"
I refrained a sigh and bowed slightly to him, "it would be my pleasure, master". I straightened again and looked at Carlisle to see if he was ready to take his leave. He gave me a genuine smile and held out his hand to Aro making everyone in the room freeze.
Aro hadn't been using his power for years since his judgment was almost completely correct, but would he deny it when the vampire was offering it to him.
Aro grinned.
No, he wouldn't.
"Scurry back, now" Aro chuckled placing his hand in Carlisle's and his eyes zoned out for a bit, his bright red eyes glowing faintly. Carlisle looked just as intrigued at what was happening to Aro and patiently waited until his mind dragged back to us and he blinked, "yes, interesting indeed".
"What-" Carlisle was about to speak up but Aro shooed him off, giving me a glance before I nodded and lead Carlisle out of the main building back to the lonely streets. We walked in silence most of the way, I had pushed my hood back over my face to avoid stares and now the unnatural resemblance I had with the doctor.
"Belle?" Carlisle spoke up, stopping in front of the hospital, his eyes trapping me, "may I ask you a question?".
I cautiously looked at him, expecting him to finally ask about Aro's strange scene a few minutes ago.
My assumption was correct. "What exactly was.."
"Aro" I told my master's name.
"What exactly was Aro doing?" Carlisle asked his eyebrows scrunching down, confused at not being able to find a logical answer, "I know of other's who carry special abilities but.."
"Special" I tried, not finding the word fitting for any 'gift' given to a vampire that was an unfair advantage over everyone else, "I suppose you could call his talent special" I rolled my shoulders, "skin contact allows him to read someone's thoughts, allowing him to both hear and see what the owner is thinking that very second".
Carlisle went rigid for a second, seemingly back tracking to see if he had thought anything inappropriate before his shoulders slouched down with a sigh, "interesting".
I stared at him, "yes" I agreed eyeing his doctor uniform, "there are many interesting things to take notice of tonight".
He cocked an eyebrow before returning inside of the building with me waiting outside, starring into the distance. Why did this man make me feel like.. Like I was under superior compare to him? Could he be older than me?
I mentally shook my head, I was 'born' right around the time the Volturi guard was created in the early 900 B.C… I would have ran into him in that long span of time, I would have remembered him.
Ugh, I am getting too old for this century, would committing suicide be possible?
I looked up as I heard the doors to the hospital open up again to see Carlisle with a bag clutched in his hand, he gave me a warm smile that made something in my stomach turn pleasantly. What was it? He walked up next to me.
"I am ready whenever you are, Belle" Carlisle informed me his towering frame seemingly not as intimidating as Felix's is. I nodded slightly and asked in a small voice if he wanted me to carry his luggage. "I'm quite alright, but that is very polite of you to ask".
I simply raised my shoulders and dropped them as I started walking back to the one home I had come to know for all my life that I can remember.
"Your parents must have been a great influence on you, Carlisle" I told him to keep up conversation that made the tingling feeling in my stomach stay stationary, it felt good, something I hadn't felt in my lifetime.
Carlisle gave me a dry life, almost amused, before saying, "You could say that…. Do you believe in God, Belle?".
"I believe in many things, and God…" I stopped to get the right words through to me, "I believe there is an afterlife for our kind, though others will get the higher end of the bargain at the end".
"What is that supposed to mean?" Carlisle asked.
"I have no clue, Dr. Cullen" I muttered, and I didn't, it was like that line had been told to me before and it just came out with the flow of the moment.. Something I couldn't remember hearing.
"Just one of those moments?" Carlisle asked, reassuring me that I wasn't going crazy with blurting out sentences that sounded like nonsense.
"One of those moments" I agreed with a smile that came before I could control it, and the tingly sensation in my stomach mellowed down into a warm sensation, if that was possible for a vampire.
Carlisle chuckled warmly and squeezed my shoulder affectionately, and for the first time in a long time, I felt acceptance.
I had come to trust Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I felt leveled with him and that was the start of our friendship that thrived even when he made his leave for a different country two years later…