Another update! Keep R&R:)
HermioneandMarcus Your wish has been granted:)
Clarinetgoddess62 Your prediction comes true in this chapter;)
x-Scarlett Feather-x and CityCat Alec is coming not this chapter but the next! Don't worry I know it is an excruciating wait!
I arrive at the study at 6:15, I am fifteen minutes early. I don't want to push my luck; I am already in enough trouble as it is. My fingers hesitate hovering over the golden door knob, I'm not sure if I am supposed to knock or just walk in.
Right when I am about to give a light tap on the wooden door someone clears their throat behind me. I swallow nervously and turn slowly. I keep my eyes down and see men's shiny dress shoes. I raise my head to look at the face about a foot higher than mine. Caius. His face holds his usual look of loathing as he looks me dead in the eye.
"So are you just going to wait out here like a fool? Or are you going to enter the room?" he said smirking at his own remark like he had just said the most astounding criticism ever. My face puckers at his words.
"Actually, I was just about to knock before you so rudely interrupted me," I said. "But now that you're here why don't you open the door for the lady?" I sneer stepping aside and watch as his eyes turn pitch black. Like always I should have kept my mouth shut. He steps so close I can feel my own breath reflecting off his robe. I don't lose eye contact, I won't look down.
A long pause occurs and it makes my heart flutter. He grins when it happens acknowledging that he heard my fear. 'Way to go' I think to myself.
"Of course," he says opening the door and stepping aside motioning me in. I look at him in shock. I won, but did I really? I am not sure. He is playing at something but I can't figure it out.
I'm nervous to walk by him but I really have no choice. I walk slowly over to the entrance scuffing my feet on the way. When I finally feel like I have passed safely I feel a cruel grip in my hair tearing my roots. My head is pulled back and I am now looking up at the Caius I recognize.
"You will always show your superiors respect. Aro might take your juvenile and rude comments, but I will not. He is not here. I will get you to perform how I feel suitable in my own way. Which I am sure you can guess, is not as pleasant," he says in a barely audible voice. He throws me back against the wall opposite of the door and strides in to the room.
My head collided with the hard stone wall causing me to see spots, and my bottom is numb from landing on the tile. I reach my hand up to my head and luckily no blood is present just a large bump.
"Are you coming Skylarinna?" asks Caius so casually as if nothing had just unfolded. Great he is just like Aro, but unbelievably he has a worse temper.
"Of course," I manage to speak and push myself up off the floor. Once when I am in the room I see that he is seated at his mahogany desk reading a book.
"Shut the door and come sit down," he says not taking his eyes off of his book and motioning to a student desk right next to his chair. I look at it and it's not the one from yesterday, in fact that desk is nowhere to be found. Was the encounter yesterday a dream? Certainly not, the inside of my cheek is still cut and I remember everything in the room. I shrug it off and shut the door wishing I was on the other side of it.
I walk daintily over to where the desk is and slide in folding my hands on my lap starring at the patterns of wood on the desk top. Caius finally puts his book down after a few uncomfortable seconds and glances over at me. He gets up out of his chair and walks over to the book shelf on the opposite side of the room, I peek up a few times but don't move an inch other than that. He finds what he was looking for and grabs it off the shelf. Walking back over to where I sit all I hear is his shoes click across the marble flooring. He stops in front of my desk and slams the book down in front of me causing me to flinch.
I look up at him then down at the book. It looks awfully old and impressively boring. He says one word,
"Read."
He returns to his chair and begins reading his book again. I look over to him and see his face shows no emotion at all. Why is he here to 'teach' me if I am going to just read surly I can do that by myself. I think its better not to fight and I unfold my hands and open the front cover exposing the title
'Documentation of Known Vampire History by: Considius Longus "Proud and loyal guard of the Volturi Leaders"'
So I really am going to vampire school…Great. I flip through the book scanning every page quickly. There are no pictures and the text is hand written. I look at the last page the number in the corner indicates that there is seven hundred and forty three pages! I look at Caius with hope that he tells me this is a joke but he simply says,
"You're not reading"
I turn my focus back to the book and sigh I hate reading educational stuff I would prefer to cuddle up with my favorite books located in my room but wretchedly I am stuck with this. I flip to the first page and the book of course is in Aro, Caius, and Marcus's perspective so it starts in the year 1280 B.C. I continue to read and it's actually interesting except for the fact that everything I read makes the Volturi sound like the good guys and everyone else bad. This is particularly shown in the year 500 AD when the Volturi managed to take down the Romanian coven led by Stefan and Vladimir who I know personally and I think of them way better company to keep than my beloved Volturi.
It's been probably over four hours I have read over two hundred pages and I think I might be going crazy when Caius finally speaks,
"We are done here. Marcus wants you in the courtyard in an approximate thirty minutes. I will call someone to escort you. Take the book back to your chambers I expect it to be read by next week and you to be ready for an examination."
He stands up out of his chair and walks over to the door and is about to leave when he turns back around.
"Be in this room at seven tomorrow morning. You will have your first session with Alec," Caius says showing an evil look in his eyes. He exits the room and secures the door with a click.
Alec. Aro said that I would be taking fighting lessons from him. I didn't get the chance to ask him why but I assume it's preparation to be ready when they decide to send me on missions which is ridicules because I haven't even agreed to join.
A single pound is produced by the door and I look over curiously to see the same mystery boy from this morning enter the room.
"I am here to escort you to Master Marcus," he says with no emotion just like earlier. What is with this guy?
"Alright. But can I run to my room real fast I am supposed to take this book there," I say holding up the old book smiling.
"I suppose," he replies and turns assuming I will follow him, and I do.
We walk in silence all the way to the familiar door and he holds the door open for me. I walk in and I jump as he shuts the door leaving me alone. That's weird. I said I was just going to drop the book off, why did he shut the door? I walk over and place the book on a window seat and creep back to the door. I gently place my hand on the handle and turn it slowly.
I open the door and the strange man is standing patiently by the opposed wall.
"Finished?" He says looking at me with the same blank expression. I nod and shut the door behind me. He begins to walk and I follow closely. After a few minutes I finally break the silence.
"What's your name?" I ask looking up to see if he will respond.
"Sergio."
He was so blunt when he said it.
"I have never heard that name before," I say trying to make conversation. It sort of worked.
"I haven't heard of a Skylarinna either," he says with still not the slightest bit of feeling.
"Well, it's not exactly a known name. My mother came up with it, she got it from Skylar which is my nick-name and I am also called Sk…"
"We are here," he said interrupting me.
I hadn't even realized that we had gone outside. I now stood in front of a black iron gate leading to an extravagant garden.
"Follow the path you will find Master Marcus," Sergio said and then sped off out of sight. I cant get over how weird he is.
I turn around and place my hand on the cool shiny handle and pull the gate open and begin to follow the cement tile pathway. The clouds are covering the sun and I am getting chilly I should have brought a coat.
The path keeps winding like a maze but I don't mind. I enjoy being outside and there is so many things to look at whether it be the beautiful flowers or the various statues and fountains. I finally find myself in a large courtyard. It's safe to say this is my favorite part of the garden. The flowers are arranged gorgeously, the statues well picked, and my favorite there is a large swing placed under a weeping willow tree surrounded by a pond with a wooden bridge leading to the island. I'm astonished at the beauty when I hear a voice speak.
"Bella non è vero?"
I turn suddenly to see Marcus sitting on a marble bench located next to where I entered, explaining why I hadn't noticed him.
"Excuse me?" I question. I swear he just spoke a different language. He gets up and comes towards me. Every step he takes towards me I take one back.
"Non ti preoccupare bambino. Non condivido le stesse qualità come i miei fratelli, io non ti fanno male. I won't hurt you," he says holding his hands out as if to calm me. I just stare at him wide eyed.
Somehow his gestures just put me more on edge. He stops moving towards me and tilts his head in curiosity. My hands are tightened in little fists and are shaking uncontrollably. He is one of the leaders I don't believe him.
"La mia, la mia, la mia. Come hanno danneggiato un fiore giovane bella," he says with a look of sadness and regret but I am still convinced it's just an act of kindness and he doesn't mean it, especially because I have no idea what he is saying!
"What are you saying? I don't speak Italian!" I nearly scream. I'm furious. It's as if he is mocking me and I have no way of defending myself.
"You will learn in time, I am here to teach you," he says ignoring my outburst. I look at him in disbelief I just showed disrespect to a "superior" and I am not being punished? Not that I enjoy pain, I am happy my big mouth didn't get me a beating but I am surly confused.
"I am Marcus and I would prefer you call me…"
"Master or Sir I get it," I say cutting him off looking away annoyed.
"Actually, I was going to say. I am Marcus and I would prefer you call me such," he said looking at me. "But you are right. Around my brothers and other guard members I suggest you call me master but I will not enforce it, I just advise it," he told me with a look of pity.
"Well, shall we get started," he said. He didn't smile but I feel like he doesn't have the ability to, like there is too much sorrow in his life. So I smile.
"Yes, I'm ready."
He comes up to me and holds out his hand and I take it, he is much gentler than everyone else I have met here. His touch is still uncomfortable to me even though it is filled with well being. Not to mention his hand is freezing. I shiver.
He leads me to a round wooden table and pulls out a chair for me. He takes off his cloak and drapes it over my shoulders. I flinch and make a face of discomfort.
"It cold out today, we cant let you get sick," he says.
"Thank you," I say quietly but I know he still hears me. He then takes the seat next to mine and folds his hands on the table top.
"Ho detto loro che se la tratti bene lei darà in cambio il rispetto," Marcus said gazing off into space.
"So are you going to teach me Italian or are you just going to speak it?" I questioned, wondering if he knew the definition of teach.
"Sì. Yes, of course my dear girl I intend to teach you. I am merely talking to myself," he replied with his very own look of dread along with amusement.
"Let's start simple shall we?" he questioned and I nodded in response "Start by saying, il mio nome è Marcus."
"il mio nome è Marcus," I repeat slowly struggling a bit. He gives off a look of amusement.
"No mio cara. You just said your name was Marcus. You would say, il mio nome è Skylarinna"
I giggle at my stupidity and then repeat,
"Il mio nome è Skylarinna."
"Molto buono. Very Good," Marcus says.
We keep up the lesson for about two hours but it doesn't feel as such. I like Marcus's company he reminds me of my father. He is very gentle but has his moments of strictness. He may not show happiness but I feel as though he is. The lesson is also the most fun I have had since I arrived here. I only get frustrated once and that was when he tried to teach me how to say goodbye.
"Arrivederci," I say.
"You're not rolling the r Skylarinna. Its Ar-r-rivedrci," Marcus tells me trilling the r extra long.
"Arrivederci," I try to roll it but I end up sounding like I am stuttering.
"r-r-r-r," Marcus trills.
"d-d-d," I try yet again. "I can't do it!"
"Yes you can. Just relax you will get it soon," he says not even bothered.
"No I won't," I reply angrily.
"Yes you will. For now just say addio."
"Addio," I say with a little frustration.
We had continued the lesson after that but I was having trouble paying attention after my r incident.
"Credo che dovrebbe essere finito per oggi. I believe we should be finished for today but I shall see you later. My brothers want you in the throne room tonight at 6:00," He says standing up. I slip out of my chair and stand next to him. He must be able to tell that I am not pleased, he changes the subject.
"Voglio che pratica. I want you to practice," he states looking me in the eye.
"I will. Prometto," I pronounce trying to out my new vocabulary.
"Bensì," he replies looking pleased.
"Grazie signore," I say smiling and remove his cloak handing it back to him. He takes it and I turn around to leave.
"Skylarinna."
I turn back around and look at him.
"Il mio nome è Marcus," he says looking away from my confused expression.
"Of course. Addio Marcus," I say and then leave the way that I came.
"Buon giorno angelo delicato. Buona fortuna."
I don't know what he said by I could tell it was sad.
Like I have said before my translations are horrible because I simply use Google translator:/ I wish I could speak Italian though!
"Bella non è vero" – Beautiful is it not
"non ti preoccupare bambino. Non condivido le stesse qualità come i miei fratelli, io non ti fanno male." -don't worry child. I don't share the same qualities as my brothers I won't hurt you.
"La mia, la mia, la mia. Come hanno danneggiato un fiore giovane bella." - My, my, my. How they have damaged such a young pretty flower.
"Ho detto loro che se la tratti bene lei darà in cambio il rispetto"- I told them if you treat her properly she will give respect in return
"Prometto" –Promise
"Bensi"- Very well
"Grazie signore," – thank you sir
"Buon giorno angelo delicato. Buona fortuna."- Good day delicate angel. Good luck.