I looked into Aro's eyes and he stared right back – analysing everything about me in his stare.
He was well dressed and he looked like any of us but just a little more...powerful. It was really the only way to describe him; we all looked rather normal compared to his unusually paler, chalky skin. His eyes were bright red, just a little below mine. Though mine had darkened significantly from being a newborn, they were still the brightest I had ever seen.
"Why are you here?" He asked, getting up but never breaking eye contact. His movements were swift and agile, like an elegant dance. I was guessing that the years of walking and dancing had merged together into an attractive, alluring strut.
He was staring at me so intently that I realized that it was a kind of test pretty quickly, more of a blink first and you're weak attitude. I'm not weak.
I stared back coldly, letting him know the game was on, and I thought I saw him nod slightly to me but I couldn't be sure. "I have presented a talent that I cannot control and I fear harming my parents."
He took that information well considering that no one of the Volturi loved anyone as such. It was a lonely life as Eleazar had always told me, and from the painting in the lobby-like place – he wasn't exaggerating. It still sent chills to my spine to think of his face, and I was a vampire.
"So you think we can help you?" He asked, taking a step closer. It was a movement planned to intimidate me, but I was having none of it.
"That is what a very reliable source told me, surely this is going to help me the most, protect those who I love and that it will give me power over myself, no?" I said stepping closer to him; he raised an eyebrow at my boldness.
He then smiled, "You have no fear."
I didn't smile, "I've learned. Fear makes you weak, and if you're weak – you're nothing. Not to anyone, ever." I snapped, remembering my past, to be honest I was lucky I didn't start snarling at the memories in my head of that last day...
The depth of the conversation was making me feel a little uncomfortable but it seemed to be weighing in my favour so I continued with it. Though I wasn't going to let Aro analyse me any more than needed to get me a spot in this place.
"I like you Isabella you speak what you think, and so far it's truth." He smiled. "And I have heard such things about you. They are no word of a lie, your beauty is...breathtaking." He took another step closer and grabbed my hand. His look was distant and optimistic for a few moments before it turned to frustration. "It seems they were indeed all true; such a shame." He sighed, turning away from me and dropping my hand.
"You can't read my mind." I stated, grinning.
Most people in the room must have thought that Aro had read my mind and seen everything that had happened, but I knew better. Eleazar had already explained everything about the Volturi and their talents – and mine. It seemed he was right about Aro.
He turned and grinned back at me, "It would seem so. Tell me, are you consciously doing that?" He asked.
"No, even if I wanted to – I cannot lift my shield at any time other than when I lose control." I said, cutting myself off when I got to my control. It was edgy and I knew that he'd picked up on it.
"What do you mean by losing control my dear?" He asked intrigued. I planted my feet further apart so that I could defend myself in case someone felt like it. Hearing someone's weakness could set any of them off, they held no allegiance to me and so I had to watch my own back.
"My emotions get the better of me and unleash a shield of phenomenal power, it is impossible to control without assistance." I blurted out, not wanting their reaction to be bad. I remembered back to the control it had over me on that night. I felt that being truthful about the whole thing was best.
"Surely you must have some control?" He scoffed. I gave him a look that would reassure him of my point.
"It's had happened once, it physically hurt me too much to rein it in – an empath had to calm me in order for me to relax my shield enough to absorb it again. At which time I could stand no longer stand and had to be carried inside." I admitted a little sheepishly.
It was silent for a few moments before Caius spoke up, "You said that it hurt physically...is it truly that powerful?" He asked; sitting up from his chair.
It shocked me that Caius was speaking to me, I'd always been told – by the guests that stayed behind to help me, Eleazar and Jasper...everyone, that Caius was an evil being that was surely murder his own mother if it would bring him just an inch more power.
And here he was...speaking to me, addressing me as though I were Jane or Alec...
"Yes, I had tears down my face from the effort." I said, looking into his eyes like Aro's, but he seemed to have tougher measures and looked away, stroking his temple.
Murmuring surrounded me; I felt as though I had put my foot in my mouth – after looking round, I knew I had. They all looked at me as though I were either insane, or a Goddess.
"Vampires cannot cry my dear..." Caius said, looking over to me and shifting uncomfortably. He looked over his shoulder and looked like he was trying to be above me for some reason – did he think I was after his throne?
"I did." I stated, looking towards a gaping Aro.
I was a little shell-shocked to see him grinning like the cat that ate the canary. He straightened out his suit and walked over towards me, putting an arm around my shoulders. "Now child, this may be a little sudden but I realize that yes, you need help and yes, we are the best people for the task." I wondered where he was going with this, a minute ago he doubted his ability to look after me and now he was what? Offering me the spot? "So, if you would, could we have a demonstration of your talent – so we know what we're dealing with." He smiled. You would bloody want that wouldn't you? The one thing that could harm someone...
I thought about it for a few moments, I'd probably hurt someone and that wouldn't be accepted well by anyone here, "Do you have an empath?" I asked, looking around all of the vampires surrounding us.
I looked back to Aro and his smile was a little smaller but still there.
"We have a very powerful shield Isabella, you will not hurt any of us." He reassured me, though that helped a little I couldn't help thinking about that day before, there were shields there too. Look what happened there.
"We need to see the full extent of your shield and like you said, you were too weak to even walk after a few minutes – once you're too tired you will collapse and we'll care for you until you're strong enough again." He reassured me. Though it made me feel better; I couldn't help but dread being so vulnerable in front of them.
But I'm no coward. "Alright, I'll do it." I sighed, moving away from Aro to the centre of the room.
I stepped away from them and braced myself, I nodded towards Aro and his brothers before closing my eyes and letting all of the things that angered me overtake my system.
Though I had a lot of things to get me angry it was hard to find things that would get me angry enough.
When I could think I thought of how Edward had left me, how he'd made me catatonic for months – Jacob was there but then he left me as well. The feeling of abandonment crashed over me once again, though it wasn't like once before. Now it was pure hate and anger. That was enough to get my skin crawling with the shield, but I needed something more, something dangerously enraging.
It hurt to use Edward like this, to use Jacob like this. Though they both left me high and dry – I still loved both of them. Now I had forever to hate them, could I?
That's when I thought of what I was, how much I hated having to live forever. Even if the Cullen's never found out who I was – I'd have to see them every few months because of Eleazar and Carmen.
But then if they figured out who I was then I'd either have no family...or I'd separate life-long friends for eternity. I'd wreck everything. I'd be the reason for someone else to be abandoned. I'd be Edward and Jacob.
That did it, my self-hatred entered my system and almost knocked me down with the force of the emotion. My shield was ready.
I snarled audibly as the first shield left my body, it didn't hurt, in fact; letting it go was such a relief I wanted to cry right then and there – it was like I was free of all of my negative emotions, all but one – I was left with just rage.
"Look at that." Someone said, sounding completely awed.
I looked up into the pulsing orb above me; it seemed pretty in control for a while. I practiced expanding and contracting it a few times. "Incredible." I muttered.
And it truly was, I could control something so powerful and it only took a little effort physically, emotionally it was a low-blow but it was amazing...well, I say that...until the pain started.
I cried out, this pain was unbelievable – it crushed my joy about accomplishing the first thin blue shield and dominated everything into rage and anger.
For the first time I realized that the pain wasn't physical; it was like adrenaline for vampires; heightening everything. My sense of smell improved, my eyesight was even sharper and my hearing was unbelievably more acute.
This sight allowed me to see through my shields to Aro's face – it was amazed, in awe and more than a little shook up. My hearing could help me pick up what people were saying.
"I thought Eleazar had lost his touch, he knows a powerful vampire when he sees one." Someone said, chuckling half-way through.
"Oh my God, this girl can kick ass!" Another shouted.
"Is this safe?" A third asked. She was the most down-to-earth out of all of them. I was dangerous, I was deadly...and they had no idea what could start happening.
The second red layer became fully visible to people after a few seconds, once again pushing people from the blue inner circle; people only started screaming when the red left the blue boundaries.
Some people's faces were twisted in pain, others in what seemed like emotional pains – much like my own. Did that happen before?
Aro's eyes lit up with delight at the sight of the few vampires screaming in agony. Did he enjoy this? Torturing people was a fun game to him? A vampire out of control was a reason for celebration?
I wasn't enjoying this one little bit – it might physically be torturing the vampires around me but it seemed to take its toll on my emotional state, more like torture for me. But it wasn't like this at all...I wanted to fell powerful, and have for so long – why should a few agonized screams stop you?
No, I wasn't that person. I wanted to be strong, powerful and feared but I wouldn't be unless I kept myself as I was, I needed to be in control of myself before my power.
This had gone on long enough, "Make it stop!" I screamed. I was louder than everyone else; people were silent apart from the whimpering of the few on the layer; their faces not quite hiding their torture.
I closed my eyes, not willing to look at them anymore, I was doing that to them, because I was a sick being that enjoyed it...
Then everything went cold, dark and empty. Simply everything went silent. There was no wind, no sun, no heat, and no life. Everything was silent.
I opened my eyes to see what was making everyone silent but all I could see was people's shocked faces, staring into my eyes. It scared me to think that maybe it was me that had made everything dead, made it all cold and dark; could I do something like that? Was I too scary for even the Volturi?
Unlike before there was no muttering, no murmurs of approval or even disapproval...it was silent and dead. Just like Eleazar's face in the painting, just like Renee's eyes when she died. It was like the whole room was stunned into silence, shocked to death.
"Oh my God..." Aro whispered, I didn't even think he consciously said it, it was a muttered curse, not as enthusiastic as before – it was as though he had found something he'd feared for years, thousands of years. But what did that have to do with me? Or more importantly...my eyes?