They were met at the airport by two vampires in hooded robes. They spoke in soft words to Sanguini before turning and heading toward to the exit. Sanguini gestured for them to follow and with no other options Harry and Blaine followed them. They were lead to a black SUV which took them through the curving streets and down into an underground garage. From there it was up two flights of stairs into a large antechamber where the Volturi were waiting.
There were three men waiting to meet them. Harry looked at them with curiosity while Blaise bowed respectfully as did Sanguini. The men stood in a sort of battle formation one in front with the others flanking him. It was to this man that Harry gave his attention he had wide red eyes that reminded Harry of Voldemort. Just as he had with Voldemort Harry met his eyes. The vampire smiled.
"Ah yes Harry Potter. I would never expect one such as you to bow I am Aro, this is Marcus and Caius together over the last thousand years we have built the empire you see before you. We have created laws that all our kind must abide to bring order to an otherwise chaotic species." Aro told him smiling widely. Harry inclined his head.
"I'm glad to meet you Aro, Sanguini has explained to me the important work that you do I very much hope that we'll be able to learn from each other." Harry responded garnering a smile from the other man.
"This makes us equals young Harry for I am eager to learn what I can of the magical world of which I have seen only the briefest glimpses. Come let us shake hands like equals." Aro asked holding out his palm and Harry frowned at him.
"Do equals try to trick each other? I have heard of your gift Aro and had every intention of letting you look into my mind so you can see I have no desire other than those I have told you but please lets be honest about it." Aro did not seem the least bit abashed by Harry's telling off instead he laughed.
"Forgive me young Potter! I'm afraid I have underestimated you a mistake I know many have made before. Very well I will be honest, I wish very much to use my gift to look into your mind so I may better understand your motives." Harry held out his hand and allowed Aro to touch him. He felt nothing but from the way Aro's eyes widened he knew the vampire must have.
Aro looked into Harry Potter's mind and was overwhelmed by it. Consumed by it, Harry Potter was unlike any being Aro had ever crossed paths with before. He held no disdain for vampires as a species only suspicion and caution because he knew they fed on human blood. And such reverence for life! It was the most powerful instinct the boy carried. Not even Carlisle had held such a respect for life. Aro knew at once the boy would never consent to being a vampire if he had to harm another's to sustain it.
"Everything alright?" Harry asked and Aro realized with a jolt that he'd been standing considering for several minutes not even bothering to blink or pretend to breathe to keep up the illusion of humanity.
"Oh yes, I am quite well forgive me you have the most extraordinary mind." Aro told him wide eyed. The boy blushed and shifted, causing Aro to remember how shy and unwilling the boy was to be called special. Aro smiled at him. " It is forever the burden of the ordinary to wish to be special and for the very special to wish to be ordinary."
Harry gave him an odd confused look but nodded. Aro clapped his hands together.
"I imagine you children must be tired. Here I will have you shown to your suite and we'll catch up more tomorrow." Aro watched as Harry and his travelling companion left the room but his thoughts were miles away. He needed to convince Harry to become a vampire if not willingly then by force but Aro was not keen to have the entire wizarding world out to destroy him so it would have to be a willing change or something completely disconnected from him. Aro turned thoughtfully to Caius beside him.
"Tell me, does the Olympic Coven still reside in Washington or have they moved on?" Caius smiled and nodded.
"They have remained there so that their newest member can remain close to her mortal family," Caius told him before Marcus burst out furiously.
"You can not be thinking of challenging them again? Their power is too great! If we face them a second time and fail-"
"Silence!" Aro snapped stung at the reminder of their meeting with the Cullen's two years before. Caius came over and placed a quelling hand on Marcus's shoulder.
"Be calm dear friend, I do not believe Aro wishes to challenge the Coven. I suspect this has less to do with them and more to do with the extraordinary mind of Mr. Potter. Tell me what did you see?" Caius asked eagerly. Aro smiled.
"I saw many things dear brother, his mind is truly beautiful but he is too good too pure to choose an eternity feeding on human beings." Aro told him and Caius nodded.
"You are hoping he can be swayed once he realizes there are other options?" Marcus clarified and Aro shrugged.
"Perhaps and if not well, accidents happen and if some such accident befell our young hero he may be more inclined to accept his fate."
Seth was headed to his first day of his new job and he was so happy about it he was practically dancing. He'd been accepted into an apprenticeship with the town's electrician Jeremy Johnson. He'd completed all his testing to certify and if he worked hard he'd have his license soon enough. He'd been working all summer to get to this point and was overjoyed the book work portion was finally at an end.
He was a bit nervous about the timing though. He knew that Alice's vision was set to go blurry in just over a week. Seth didn't want to miss out if there was going to be a big battle against evil's unknown. He couldn't let that worry him too much until whatever was supposed to happen actually did. After all it could be harmless like Alice thought and Seth couldn't keeping living off his mom's charity. Since their dad died she had to practically kill herself working two jobs just to make ends meat. Seth hated that he added to her burden.
Seth wished it was like the old days where being a wolf meant the whole tribe pitched in to ensure their fighters had everything they needed. As it was Seth was forced to patrol late into the night and still had to find and maintain a job. Not that he minded exactly. He found the electrical coursework fascinating and was eager to get in there and start work. The shop was located in Forks and a little bell chimed as he walked in. Jeremy was already there and working on something with a screwdriver when Seth stepped in.
"Oh good right on time," he exclaimed when he spotted him. "I was just waiting for you. Grab your tool belt we've got to head straight out to Mrs. Summers to fix up her wiring. Apparently a mouse chewed through one of her outlet connectors and the whole house has lost power."
Seth smiled and grabbed his belt smiling happily. Finally something interesting!
Author's notes: Sorry about the delay guys but you all made me feel so much better. I won't go into what happened but with your encouragement I've decided to carry on!
I hope you like this chapter. I was offline all yesterday and couldn't do much on it.
Please review!
