I walk alone through the dark, vacant airport parking lot towards the small, silver car. Everett wanted to come, as did all the Cullens, but I told them I could handle this, whatever it is, alone. Secretly, I was dying for the back-up of my new coven. But I wasn't about to let anyone think I am so weak I can't handle a bit of a family emergency.
Cruising down the roads towards Volterra, tons of different scenarios about what is to come whiz through my mind. What is my reunion with my family going to be like? Will it be filled with tight embraces and heart-to-heart talks? Or, after all these years apart, is everyone going to be stiff and awkward around me? Will everything ever be the same again, or have I alienated everyone?
I take the familiar secret passage way through the ally and am soon walking through dark chambers until I end up in the bright white room filled with the scent of human. The secretary, an Italian woman with a name plate that identifies her as Nicole, looks at me with surprise and confusion.
"Welcome to the Volturi Castle. May I help you?" She asks in Italian, I can see her finger edging towards the concealed button by the pencil holder that will set off an alarm in the throne room and I will soon be surrounded by the entire guard.
"No no! Ryan Volturi!" I blurt out. She immediately draws her finger back.
"Oh, yes. They told me to tell you to go right through." She smiles brightly.
"What happened to Gianna?" I ask. Gianna was the person I went to with all my questions about the mortal world and she was kind of like that babysitter that you really like but who knows just how to push your buttons. Has she become a vampire? I can't wait to see her!
"Gianna? Oh you mean the old secretary.. She faced a fate that I am hoping to avoid." Nicole's smile slips a little. I stumble in my stride towards the door. Gianna, my beloved childhood friend, was murdered by my own family in my absence?
I don't turn around for fear that Nicole will see the tears welling up in my eyes. I head into the next set of maze-like chambers, wiping the tears away. Good thing I wore water-proof make-up.
At long last, I burst through the heavy, intricately carved iron doors leading into the throne room. My eyes fall upon Aro, Marcus, and Caius, sitting in their thrones, surrounded by a cluster of black-cloaked figures with their heads down.
"Ryan!" Aro gasps, in front of me in a flash, moving faster than I've ever seen him.
"Grandpa!" I hug him fiercely. He pulls back and examines me, smiling.
"Oh, you have gotten more lovely with the years." He sighs.
"Thanks, Grandpa. Its good to be home." I tell him, scooting around him to see if I can recognize any of the forms in the back. A small, petite figure breaks away, dashing up to me as Aro moves away. Wintry hands push back the black cloak hood to reveal the face of my former best friend. My Jane.
"Ryan." Her voice trembles. She grabs me and hugs me so tight I'm sure my bones are going to break.
"I missed you, Jane." I whisper, running my hand over her silky black hair.
"Why have you been gone so long?" She asks and I can hear the tears in her voice.
"I've been busy." I put on the cool act for fear Alec might be watching, listening. Jane knows my exact train of thought through the mind-reading power all best friends possess.
"He isn't here right now, you know. Left this morning. He'll be back tomorrow night." Jane's voice is so low none of the others have a chance of hearing it. I nod in acknowledgement. I am then yanked from Jane's arms and folded into the familiar ones of my father.
"Ryan." His voice is filled with pain.
"Daddy." I inhale his minty scent, my arms constricting around him.
"You came back." He seems like he can't even believe I'm standing here.
"Felix called. Where is Mom?" I am confused. It seems like she would have been the first one to come greet me. Dad makes a noise that sounds like he is being strangled. I jerk back to look at him. His face is the epitome of torture.
"Dad? What is wrong? What's going on?" I ask as dread begins to eat me from the inside out. "Where is Mom? Dad? Anyone!" I turn towards the ominous black cloaks. "Someone tell me where my Mom is! Where is she?" I scream at them. My Dad turns me back towards him, staring at me with nearly black eyes.
"Ryan, sweetheart, there was an accident. Your mom, Alec, Afton, and I were taking care of some business a few towns away.. Alec had them all wrapped up, we were about to move in, when one appeared out of nowhere. A teleporter. She grabbed your Mom before we could stop her.. I'm so sorry." He practically falls on me. We both sink to the ground as sobs begin to rip through me. I can't hold back the tears this time. They pour freely down my hot cheeks.
My mother is dead. She is gone. Never coming back. Her last request from me was to come home soon. I didn't even bother sending her a postcard from anywhere. I neglected the woman who gave life to me. The person who cared for me most in this world, who would have defended me with her own life. I was so excited about seeing her. Now I'll never get the chance.