Title: Isabella Volturi
Author: MarieCarro
Beta: Project Team Beta
Translators: LaMomo (Italian) myworldisblue (Portuguese)
Genre: Supernatural/Drama
Rating: NC-17
Summary: After being left by Edward, I couldn't stand the thought of him controlling me even in his absence. I admit it was an act of defiance, but it was a decision that brought me more happiness than I'd ever thought I'd experience. New Moon AU/Canon
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 9
We arrived in Denali at noon. I stayed in the back the entire time since I didn't want to draw any particular attention to myself.
Before we even reached the house, a tall, strawberry-blonde woman exited. She was very tense, and I could see that she was struggling to keep up a calm front. She didn't want us there.
Her golden eyes hit me hard, but I didn't show any emotions. I couldn't risk her discovering who I was.
"What gives us the pleasure of having the Volturi in our front yard?" the woman asked, failing to keep the displeasure from her tone.
"Don't worry, Tanya. We're only here to talk to the newest addition of your coven," Jane said with an angelic smile.
"Of course," Tanya said without taking her eyes off of us, "Why don't you come inside and I'll get Irina and Laurent. They're out hunting at the moment."
We all accepted the invitation and followed Tanya inside.
The rest of the coven gathered in what looked like a sitting room with an open fireplace. Another blonde female with long hair straight as corn silk stood by the farthest wall; a black-haired woman sat in the lap of a black-haired male, both with an olive complexion. The man, I assumed, had to be Eleazar.
The woman got off her mate's lap when he stood up to greet us. "Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix, what are you doing here?" His body language was relaxed and open, and he was the only one who didn't act hostile toward us. I was sure it was because he used to be one of us, and a part of him would always be loyal.
"Eleazar," Jane greeted the man. "We're here because a member of your coven was acquainted with a criminal in Seattle. A regular follow-up."
"Laurent? Who was he acquainted with?"
"A woman named Victoria. She created an army of newborns and drew too much attention to herself. The humans grew suspicious, and we had to eliminate her."
Eleazar nodded. "I understand that." His gaze fell on me. "Does she have anything to do with this Victoria?" I knew he only acted as if he didn't know who Victoria was. I doubted Laurent hadn't told them about her and James.
I took a step forward so that the Denalis could see me properly. Felix took it upon himself to introduce me. "This is the newest addition to the Volturi guard; Marie."
"Pleasure to meet you, Marie. I'm Eleazar, and this is my mate, Carmen." He gestured toward the black-haired woman. "The one over there is Katarina. Tanya, you've already met, and Irina and Laurent won't be long now." I nodded for each person he introduced but remained quiet.
"She's young," Eleazar stated.
"She is," Felix confirmed.
"And she's already out with you?"
"She's very powerful for her age."
"That I can tell." Eleazar smiled, and the corners of Felix's mouth twitched. I didn't understand. How could Eleazar know that I was powerful? He had never met me, and he certainly didn't know me. He must have seen my confused expression for he turned back to me. "I can sense the formidable gifts of other vampires. I can't sense you, though, so I'm guessing you are a shield."
I dumbly nodded. Why hadn't Felix or even Demetri told me about Eleazar's gift? I thought it was one of those things I needed to know.
Laurent and Irina then entered with Tanya behind them. When Laurent saw me, a flash of recognition lit up his orange eyes—he was clearly still adjusting to the diet of animal blood. It couldn't be easy for him since he'd fed on humans for three hundred years before now. But other than his eyes, he looked exactly as I remembered him in my hazy human memory.
Irina was also a blonde, a silver blonde, with straight hair that reached to her chin. The similarities between the three blonde women were so striking that they could have been biological sisters.
"Irina, Laurent, this is Jane, Alec, Felix, Demetri, and Marie. They're from the Volturi coven," Eleazar said. Laurent frowned when I was introduced as Marie.
Jane turned to Laurent. "Your name is Laurent?"
"Yes."
"Were you acquainted with a woman named Victoria?"
"Yes. I was a member of her coven about a year back." At least he was honest, so I had to give him some credit.
"Could we have a word with you?" It was presented as a question, but he didn't exactly have a choice. He and Irina were about to go outside with us when Jane stopped them. "In private." She eyed Irina, indicating that she was not coming.
Irina put her hand on Laurent's chest. "Whatever you want to say to Laurent, you can say to me as well."
Jane sighed impatiently. "I'm afraid you don't get to make the calls here, little girl. We want to speak to Laurent alone and so we will. Try to stop us, and there will be consequences."
Tanya placed her hand on Irina's shoulder and shook her head at her with infinitesimally. Irina's back slumped, and she nodded for Laurent to go with us.
We walked far away from the house to make sure that they wouldn't hear us. Once we were sure, Jane gestured for me to start and I turned to Laurent.
"Laurent," I greeted him with a nod.
"Bella." So he knew for sure who I was.
"I do not go by Bella anymore."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Marie," he corrected himself.
"No, that was only a cover name for the others. I go by Isabella now."
"I see. And why don't you want my family to know your name?"
"They're too close to the Cullens, and I don't want them to know where I am."
"Why not?" he asked.
"That's not of your concern. All I'm asking is that you don't reveal my identity to your mate or any of the others."
It appeared he contemplated my request for a while, and I challenged him to disobey with one look. "You have my word," he promised.
"Now to the actual reason that we're here." Jane took over and told him the entire story of Victoria, her army, and her motive for creating that army. "What we want to know is if you pose a threat toward Isabella. Because if you do, you pose a threat against the Volturi, and we don't take treason lightly."
"Once again, you have my word. I don't want to go against you. The last time I saw Victoria was four months back when I had a lapse in my control, and I went back to human blood for a while. She asked me to run to Forks and see if I could find you there, Isabella. I never arrived, though, because just outside of town I was stopped by werewolves, so I turned right back without meeting up with Victoria."
"Did you say werewolves?" Demetri asked harshly.
Laurent nodded and told us a story about a pack of horse-sized wolves that chased him all the way to the Canadian border. They had traveled in a pack of five and were incredibly synchronized.
His entire story was wild, and I didn't really believe it. I had lived in Forks for nine months and the Cullens hadn't ever mentioned any werewolves, but I didn't voice my opinion. What did I know anyway? I didn't even know werewolves existed, but the others' reactions to Laurent's story told me that they very much did.
"You may go back to your coven now, Laurent. Tell them goodbye for us," Jane said.
Laurent nodded and ran back up to the house.
"Do werewolves really exist?" I asked Jane, and she nodded.
"They do, and I would very much like to look more into it, but I don't think we can take them on ourselves. They sound way too skilled to be real Children of the Moon. I think we need to speak to the brothers about this."
"So we're going home?" I asked hopefully.
Felix, Demetri, and Alec laughed at me, and even Jane cracked a tiny smile. "Yes, Isabella, we're going home."
*~IV~*
"I do not think we should concern ourselves with these wolves just yet."
"But Master, we can't let Children of the Moon roam around in Washington State. It's too dangerous for both vampires and humans alike," Jane pleaded with Aro. We had just returned from America and had gathered in the throne room to relay everything to Aro about the mission.
"Jane, dear, I know your knowledge is not as great as mine, but you are missing a point that should be obvious to anyone," Aro said and cupped her face. Jane frowned. "When this Laurent told you about these wolves, he said that it was during the day, did he not?"
We all nodded and Aro continued. "Real Children of the Moon would be human during the day, and they only transform when it is a full moon. These creatures that Laurent met in Forks could not be anything other than Shape-Shifters by the sound of his description. These creatures are just as dependent on secrecy as we are and would never expose us. As for the danger they pose to our kind, we won't take action until it is absolutely necessary. As far as I'm aware, no vampires have been killed in Washington State, aside from Victoria, for decades." Aro let go of Jane's face and turned so that he had his back to us. "You may all go now, except Isabella. I would like to speak to you alone."
All of the others left while I stood firm in my place. I wasn't going to lie and claim I wasn't afraid of what Aro was going to say because I was. Completely terrified, but hopefully it wouldn't be too horrible. I turned my head and watched the others disappear through the double doors.
"Isabella." I whipped my head back front and saw that Aro had turned to face me again. "I am well aware that this was your first mission, and that a few mistakes were to be expected, but I am still very disappointed in you." I felt like a scolded child, and I looked down at the ground. I was so ashamed of my behavior in Seattle, and I hated that I'd disappointed my Master. "But at the same time, I cannot overlook the fact that your instincts helped you find Victoria faster." My head snapped up to see if I had heard it right. Did Aro just compliment me?
Aro smiled at me. "Do not look so shocked, Isabella. It does not suit you." He walked up to me and put his hands on my shoulders. "You have to know that a new guard does not usually advance as quickly as you have. I have pushed you harder than I pushed the others because I see that you have great potential that reaches far beyond the rest of us, and I am so proud to have you in my coven."
Warmth spread through me at his praise. His words meant more to me then he would ever realize.
"On a more dangerous note," he continued. "I have come to care for you in a way a master should not care for his guard. It could complicate things when it is all about business. During your absence, I was worried that I let you go out too early, and I do not want you out on missions unless I am with you."
I frowned, confused. "I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
Aro looked completely serious as he continued. "Isabella, I want you to become the Family's bodyguard. You will have more responsibility than Renata, and therefore, she will have to answer to you from now on. You are going to rank alongside Chelsea, Jane, and Alec, so if anything would ever happen to the Family, the four of you would lead."
I stared at Aro with my mouth agape. "M-master, I-I … I don't know what to say. 'Thank you' doesn't really cover it." I felt strangely breathless.
Aro walked across the room and opened a door that I'd never entered before. He walked through the door and disappeared. I didn't know if I was supposed to stay there and wait for him or if I was supposed to leave. Suddenly, the greatness of the responsibility Aro had put on my shoulders started to weigh me down. How could I possibly become such a high-ranking guard when I was only eight months old? I wasn't sure if I was ready.
Aro did come back, and he held a cloak in his hand that was almost black; the same color as Jane and Alec's. He unclasped my old cloak and put the new one over my shoulders. Once it was fastened, Aro put both of his hands on my cheeks and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes and reveled in the feeling of being so close to my Master.
Aro stepped back and sat down on his throne. He clasped his hands in front of him and tilted his head to the side. "As much as it pains me, I still have to punish you for going against Jane when she was your superior in Seattle. I cannot have the guard think I give you special treatment."
I nodded in understanding. I had expected punishment.
"Your punishment will be to go thirsty until the rest of us feed. You are not allowed to call Heidi to hunt for you, but it is only a week and a half away, so I am pretty sure you will be able to handle it."
I flinched. It would be painful to walk around thirsty, but I wasn't going to disobey my Master, so I swallowed thickly. "I understand completely, Master, and I promise I won't disobey you," I vowed.
"That's good, Isabella. You may go." I bowed and left the room.
