Chapter 13
As the morning sun slowly rose over the hilltops and ancient brick buildings of Volterra Tuscany, Italy; the air within a local hotel, inside one large specific room, seemed so thick with tension one could cut it with a knife or hardly breathe.
The situation of what could possibly be, loomed over their heads.
Would the Volturi decide to allow Rayne to keep her life and naturally change coming her 18th birthday into a full fledged vampire? Or would they decide to kill her instead? Seeing her gifts as not just an asset, but also, a threat to what they all had accomplished.
That was the big question that niether of them wanted to have an answer too just yet. Would she live or would she die?
As they all began to disband into groups, Rayne felt as if the world was crashing down all around her. Almost as if no matter what they did the Volturi would do anything and everything to make sure that they got what they wanted in the end. Be it either her change and become a member they can use as they please with her amazing gifts, or be it her death.
Glancing over once or twice upon the group, the family, that she's come to love as if they were her own; Rayne immediately felt her eyes begin to well up with tears.
"What's the matter darlin'?" Jasper whispered to Rayne as he could feel the emotions of turmoil begin to overwhelm his young love.
"N-Nothing. I...I''m just a little nervous and...and still a little scared. I just...I hope the Volturi don't kill me should my powers prove to be too threatening to them or to their coven."
"Don't worry Rayne, we won't allow anything to happen to you."
"I know you won't. Just...just be careful around them. Please? I don't want anybody getting hurt to protect me when they shouldn't bother."
"You know that we'll protect you from them no matter what the cost. Even if it takes the Volturi coven coming after us."
"Jasper...I don't want your family to be a threat to the Volturi just because of me."
"We already are...a little bit...due to Edward being with Bella."
"Oh...I didn't know that. Well anyway, I just want you all to be careful. Don't underestimate them. Any of them. Please Jasper...if they want me...let them take me. I couldn't bare it if any of you get hurt because of me. So please...just be careful."
"We will darlin. You can count on that."
After Jasper's final reply, Carlisle then responded to his family that they were going to be taking three seperate cars to from the hotel into the city where they would then park them and walk through the city streets to where the Headquarters of the Volturi was held to meet the Volturi leaders to finally determine Rayne's fate. To live on and allow her to change naturally on her 18th birthday...or to kill her.
Upon seeing the old building where the headquarters lay, Rayne now could feel herself begin to shake with fear and break out into a cold sweat for the reality that she just may die in only minutes was now about to happen.
Soft waves of a calming aura began to slowly wrap around her quivering form.
"Thank you..Jasper."
"You are most welcome darlin. No need to be afraid, we are all here right with you every step of the way."
Hearing his soothing tone of voice call out to her, telling her that she needn't be afraid of what's to come, that they are there for her all the way, helped Rayne calm herself down bit by bit, slowly granting her the strength she needed to stand straight and walk forward inside the old building.
There were quite a few twists to be made, and turns to have, and all too soon; stairs to follow.
Keeping up to pace with Carlisle and the others, Rayne then asked Carlisle a question that had been plagueing her mind since Bella agreed to accompany them here to Italy.
"Umm..Carlisle? I was just curious about something."
Slowly his pace down a little to better accomidate Rayne, Carlisle then waited patiently for her to continue her question after replying to her in-kind.
"Yes Rayne, what is it?"
"Won't the Volturi be pissed to find out that Edward hadn't changed Bella since they last saw her and that her being here with us would be detrimental to her life as well?"
"Yes Rayne. You make a good point. There is no doubt that the Volturi would be angry to discover that Bella is still a human, but, I am quite certain with a good enough given reason, they'll allow her to live."
"Oh...okay. I was just wondering what we should do about that if they don't want her to remain as a human any longer."
"Well, should it ever come to that, we'll just have to wish that luck is on our side and manage to get away from the Volturi long enough to take both you and Bella somewhere safe where they can't find you."
"I see what you're trying say now. Thank you for telling me the truth Carlisle. You really are a good father."
"Thank you. Esme and I do try as best we can."
"You're both doing a great job. Believe me. I can tell."
"Well then, thank you. I really appreciate the compliment."
"Your welcome."
As Rayne's small conversation with Carlisle slowly came to an end, so did their journey to the entrance where they would soon meet the three infamous Volturi leaders.
Cautiously following behind Carlisle, Edward, Bella, and Alice, with Jasper at her side and Rosalie and Emmett taking up the rear, Rayne couldn't help but feel as if she was in some weird secret agent movie.
Edward chuckled outloud a little and answered Bella's question with a slight smile on his face when she asked him what was so funny.
"Rayne seems to think that this situation, with us being all around her and Jasper at her side, she feels like she's in a secret agent type of movie."
"Rayne! Really! This is a serious situation we're walking into. We can't have any distractions from this point. Trust me, I should know." was Bella's reply to Edward's somewhat laughable answer.
"Okay...sorry guys. The thought just popped into my head." Rayne responded back to Bella her face flushing embarrassment then glee as felt Jasper grasp her hand in his and give it a small squeeze to show her that he didn't mind her thinking that about him and the situation they were indeed about to walk into.
Giving him a smile back in gratitude Rayne then continued on following her new family until they came to a stop at two very large and wide wooden double doors.
As the doors slowly opened under the light pressure of Carlisle's hands, Rayne could began to feel hundreds of butterfly's in her stomach telling her that now was not a good time to be too far away from Jasper or any member of his family.
It was telling her that these vampires were the tough shit.
And they did not like to play games.
Grasping Jasper's hand within her own, she immediately began tightening her grip upon his as a tendrel of fear slowly coursed through her veins.
Before she could gain any reassurance from her new family, Rayne was abruptly put to silence by the voice of one of the three vampires sitting in a large, ancient, Victorian throne chair.
It was the middle one, with the dark hair, pale face, and fierce red eyes that spoke out in slight surprise, but also, a bit of anger.
"Carlisle, how nice to see you and your family once again. I hope you have been well. Bella Swan...tell me Carlisle, why is she still human? Edward and Alice both promised me that she would be made a vampire shortly after our last meeting. And what's this...you've adopted another human. Why is she still alive? Why hasn't this human been turned?"
"That is the matter of which we have been summoned for...is it not? Bella will become a vampire, I promise you that. But, it is my son Edward who shall turn her. She will be turned the night of their wedding. They are engaged and are going to marry within the next three to five months."
"I see...very well then. I'll look forward to seeing you again Isabella Swan. Perhaps when we meet, we'll finally have a clue as to what your vampire power will be. Hmmm?"
"I suppose we will." was Bella's reluctant reply to his unquestioned tone of voice.
"Now, Carlisle, do tell me what it is you and your family are thinking about bringing in another human into our world? What makes this one so special to you?"
"She is apart of my family because her own...they were abusive and it caught the attention of my son Jasper."
"Jasper. Ahhh, yes, Jasper Hale. This human enticed you did she?"
"Yes sir." was all Jasper replied back to his question as the leader zoned in on him and the frightened Rayne at his side.
"Tell me Jasper, what is this human to you? What is it about her that caught your attention so quickly? Was it her scent? Her blood? Just what enticed this human to turn you away from your own kind and take her into our world?"
"Everything."
"Everything. Really? Well then, miss, please come forward. I wish to read your mind. Would you allow me the pleasure of doing so?"
Glancing over at Carlisle and seeing him nod that it was okay, Rayne then cautiously left Jasper's side to stand infront of one of the leaders.
"You need not be afraid of me. My name is Aro. What is yours?"
"Rayne."
"Your last name child?"
"Dracul. Why?"
"Dracul? Dracul? As in...the namesake of our vampire Lord Vlad Dracul the Third?"
"Yes...again...why?"
"Tell me child, who was your father?"
"Mircea Dracul, named after one of Vlad's older half brothers."
"Your...mother?"
"Amara Bun. She was named from Princess Cneajna, whom was Vlad's father's second wife and supposedly, Vlad's mother. Apparently she had a younger brother no one ever really knew about until some years later when he married and had a child."
"I see, that is interesting. Now, may I have your hand child? I must have contact with the one whose mind I wish to read inorder to read it."
"I guess. Go ahead."
Allowing him to grasp her hand in his own two icy cold ones, Aro bowed his head for a moment before lifting it up with surprise and shock and curiousity shining within his blood red eyes.
"Amazing. I can't seem to read your mind at all. Can Edward read your mind my dear?"
"Yes. When I allow him too. Otherwise, he just gains a headache trying to do so without my permission."
"Marvelous! Simply marvelous. Tell me child...your father...his name sounds vaguely familiar. Have I met him or your mother or yourself before?"
"Just my father. I was a child about six years old when you came and visited him personally. I remember you. You talked with my father about wanting him to accept some kind of role. A throne or something of importance that he legally inherited upon becoming a vampire when he turned at 18."
"I find myself remembering that you were not there."
"I was. My father used his gift to shield me from your spies. To hide my scent from you until you reached home. And even then, you would've been too far away to detect me."
"I did not know your father had that gift."
"He did. He had many others you wouldn't have known about."
"Yes...I suppose he would have. Now...was your mother made a vampire after your birth?"
"No."
"No? Then how were you born? Through a surrogate?"
"No. My mother birthed me while she was a vampire. That was one of her inherited gifts. To have children long after becoming a vampire herself."
"Amazing. Simply amazing. I can't even begin to describe the level of astonishment that I am beginning to feel from all this information I am being granted."
"Whatever. It's not like its that big of a deal. I've had to live with this stuff all my life. Well...until I was ten years old when my parents were killed."
"Killed? How?"
"Hell if I know. They died in a mysterious tragic way. The police thought that they had been decapitated, mutilated, and then set on fire or something. I never found out the truth behind their deaths, so, why even bother now. If they were alive, they would've returned to get me back from my guardian before he turned into an asshole. But they didn't. They're dead. So what?"
"I'm sorry for the loss of your parents. I knew both of them well."
"Thanks. Now what?"
"Now, I wish to know how you were born and if that gift had been granted to you as well. Among any possible others that your parents have left for you."
"As far as I know, my mother had the gift to have children long after becoming a vampire as I've said before. She got it from my grandmother. Who was also a vampire before her untimely death. Now, to answer your question, yes. I do have that gift as well. Carlisle and his family are aware of my other abilities and have been made previe to my family inheritance when I reach 18."
"Family inheritance?"
"Yeah..at least, that's what I call it. Ask them. Can I go back to Jasper now? No offense, but you kinda give me the creeps. I don't know you all that well like I do them and you are a bit...different."
"Of course. You may return to Mr. Hale's side. But answer me this question first. What is your full name?"
"Rayne-Iris Belunia Dracul. Rayne and Iris make up my first name. I just prefer to be called by one or the other."
"I see. Well then, you may return now. It was truly a pleasure to get to know you Ms. Dracul."
"You as well, I suppose, Aro."
Walking back to the Cullen family Rayne couldn't help but think that Aro seemed a little too interested in her family than he appeared to be on the outside. And that, was something that she didn't like. Not one little bit.
As she made her way back to Jasper's side, she immediately turned back towards Aro when he called out her name.
"Yes?"
"One more thing my dear. What does your blood taste like to Mr. Hale?"
"How the hell should I know? He never tasted it."
"Really? Well then, might I have a taste? To see if you truly come from the family that what we have been waiting centuries for to claim what rightfully belongs to them?"
"What? Why?"
"To ease my curiousity."
"I...I...don't know. Carlisle?"
"Just a drop should be enough. Only a drop Aro. Understand?"
"Yes Carlisle, only a drop will be enough. Now...please?"
"Rayne, I am going to take a bit of your blood and give it to Aro to taste alright?"
"Okay, but not a whole lot! Jasper's been working really hard on holding himself back from attacking people much better than in the beginning. So, be carefull not to spill too much. He can take a couple of drops now, but any more, then we might have a problem."
"I understand. He's obviously been doing a fine job on his own after all with you there to help him huh?"
"Yes sir. I've been helping him bit by bit during the days at school and at nights out on my balcony."
"As long as he's not attacking you or anyone else, I'd like for you to continue working with him and slowly increasing the amount of blood as time passes."
"Okay, I'll do that."
"Now, I'm going to be making a small cut on your hand. Ready?"
"Yeah, just do it quickly so that I can suck it away."
"Alright. Here I go."