CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
James was a sadistic and cruel vampire who was very strong and powerful. Qualities I admired immensely in a mate. He may have been stronger than me physically but mentally I was far superior. We were a good team. I fell back into my torturing ways with ease. How delightful to have found a companion who shared my tastes in killing victims! Despite James insisting we leave for Volterra the night we met, six months have passed and we are still here in Seattle. We became caught up in each other most easily. James adored me and I found him to be good company. I didn't love him but I was attracted to his devious personality and his strength. He was beautiful and luminous as all vampires are but his physical attributes were not to my taste, he was far too blonde and rugged. I loved my men dark, broody and mysterious. Like Aro.
You would think I would be clamouring with anticipation and curiosity over Aro's claim he wanted to see me. I was obviously desperate to see him, but I was wary and afraid too. James and I had spent the first night we met talking intently about our existences and experiences. He told me how Aro had hand-picked him for his tracking abilities which he had already honed to perfection when human. He said Aro was desperate to find me but he didn't say why. I confessed to James the history I shared with my maker and I told him of the deep love we once shared. I asked him if he had been to the Volturi headquarters, but James told me Aro had always came to him. He was Aro's new pet, his new toy, a fantastic acquisition to add to his prized guard. James knew nothing of Sulpicia or Athenodora, he had been dispatched to search for me quite quickly after being turned into a vampire by Aro. We shared the same maker, we shared a bloodline, but there was no intense passion between us like there was between a maker and fledgling. Aro and I had had it in abundance, Etienne and I shared a fraction of it, although more on my side than his. With James there was no rush of emotion or lust. He made me feel safe though and I treasured that after years and years of being alone.
James would like there to be sexual relations between us, but so far I have declined. Often he becomes so determined that I have to fight him off, our encounters becoming quite violent at times. His unwanted affections make me run and I successfully evade him for awhile, but he always finds me. We have such games of hide and seek! I am a master evader and he is a master tracker! Perfect! I was too cautious to fall into another soul and heart destroying relationship. Lust and desire only caused harm, I should avoid it completely! I let James kiss me sometimes, mainly as a reward for catching me or for satisfying my demands when we took a victim. James loved to run his large hands coarsely up and down my slim figure, sometimes daring to touch the exposed bare skin of my shoulder or back. I sometimes enjoyed his cool lips on mine, he was rough and insensitive which was fine with me. I didn't want tenderness. It reminded me of Aro and I didn't like to dredge up those long forgotten forbidden memories of the hours and days we spent completely entranced with each other. Long nights in my lover's arms, intoxicated on his scent and taste, our kisses cool but feverish, our bodies crying out with unbridled passion as we came together as one in glorious abandonment. No, those thoughts must stay hidden!
Etienne sometimes ran through my mind, but because he had used mind control on me the thoughts were diluted and hazy. I knew I had loved him but I didn't dwell on our time together much. James protected me, he looked after me and he was loyal. That was all I needed for now. I persuaded him that we should wait before he brought me to Aro. He was so devoted to me that he agreed instantly. He wasn't that intelligent, but he knew if he had any chance of winning me he must please me first. I didn't think I would ever give in to his desire for me, but it made things interesting. I had a companion, we shared the same blood lusts and we played fun games together. I was happy, yes I really was quite happy. Even with the thought of seeing Aro again looming over me, I managed to just enjoy the moments I shared with James for now. All these thoughts went through my mind as I sat before my vanity table, pinning up my long red hair. I was waiting for James to return so we could hunt for a victim together. I had set up a torture room in my home specifically for our use. James was no Etienne, there was no thread of goodness running through his black heart! So like me! The exquisite thrill and excitement I obtained from torturing and killing my prey replaced any other desires I may have had. I hear James now, flying through the door of my home and bounding up the wooden staircase swiftly.
He murmurs appreciation and growls low in his throat when he sees me with my hair piled high on my head. His red eyes are lustfully staring at the smooth white marble skin of my exposed neck and cleavage. Oh such power I wield over this young one!
"Victoria, I should like very much to sink my teeth into your hard flesh," he growled with pent-up desire.
I laughed daintily as I beckoned for him to come closer.
"You will not dare to suggest such an outrageous thing to me James!" I snarl, my red eyes dark and dangerous. "But you may give me a chaste kiss, if you like," I add coquettishly.
He is by my side in a split second, his cool lips upon me in a flash. He roughly moulds his mouth to mine with greedy hunger. "I want you Victoria, won't you yield yourself to me, beautiful one?" he begs of me, as his lips slide down my cheek to my neck.
I pull away sharply and he sighs in frustration, "One day I will just take you Victoria, I have the strength and the power to overwhelm you! I could make you moan with pleasure, if you give me the chance! I will banish thoughts of your first love from your mind, my most desirable friend!" he boasts dramatically.
I raise my eyebrows at him quizzically, "Do not presume to know me James. I am complex and demanding, I am unyielding and uncompromising! I do not wish to enter into a relationship like that with you. I still crave my maker, that is a truth which will never abate. I enjoy your company, I enjoy our games and I do enjoy our short intimate moments. But there will never be anything more between us and you need to understand that!" I stated passionately.
James smiled at me and placed my hand on his strong hard chest, where his still heart lay. "Ah Victoria, I will never give up trying to win your affections! I hope when we make it to Volterra that you will change your mind. I really hope Aro doesn't love you any more. Then maybe you will consider becoming mine!" he exclaimed.
I wondered again why Aro had sent James to find me, just what was so important? He'd had centuries to find me but he decided now was the time? I didn't understand. I kept putting my visit to Volterra off, but I knew I would go with James sooner or later. The pull was too strong, my mind was too curious and I have already confessed that I still love Aro. My love for him would never change. Seasons could come and go but my heart, body and soul would remain his, as always. As I mentioned, James was a pleasant distraction from my boring existence. I was very fond of him, but I would never ever fall in love with him.
Another few years tumbled past so speedily, the 20th century arrived and I finally decided it was time to face Aro. Times had changed so dramatically since our last meeting. Had we also changed? I knew I had, Athenodora had seen to that. I was both terrified and elated at the thought of returning to Italy and my maker. My curiosity was at bursting point and I reckoned I had made Aro wait long enough. James and I had been together for thirty years now, the year was 1920. A World War had already shook this Earth to its foundations, but none of those human concerns bothered my mate and I. James took my delicate small pale hands in his large ones as he gazed deep into my scarlet eyes.
"Victoria, finally we leave for Volterra and I am feeling rather melancholy and lost, my sweetest," he remarked sadly.
I was also consumed by emotions. Trepidation and anxiety. Excitement and longing. My stomach clenched with nerves when I thought of seeing Aro's face again. I stroked James's pale cheek with my index finger, "Do not be sad, James. I won't leave you, we will still be together. I need to know why Aro wants me to return. Don't leave me though, I couldn't bear it! Oh James, I'm frightened and I need you!" I wailed, leaving all pretence of bravado behind.
James stroked my red hair away from my face as he spoke quietly and gently to me.
"I won't let you come to any harm Victoria, no matter what happens!" he exclaimed.
Oh but I felt so adored and loved right now! It clouded my sensibilities as I reached out for James. He enfolded me in his strong arms, his lips in my hair as he groaned my name.
"Oh Victoria! I love how you are strong and fearless but underneath you are a lost little girl! It is a very desirable combination!" he whispered in my ear.I clung to him willingly, letting his body comfort me.
His lips made their way to mine, meeting in a sweet forlorn kiss. Maybe I should have stopped him in his tracks like I always did but I needed to be close to him tonight. As his lips moved against mine more boldly I responded with equal fervour. Oh it was good to be desired! I had suppressed my longing for it far too long. I loved to be wanted! It was part of who I was. James had me in a vice-like grip as his mouth claimed mine completely. Vampire kisses were something else entirely, dazzling and enticing. A vampire was so hard to resist, I swooned slightly as I became intoxicated with his passion for me. His hands delved deep into my unruly red curls as he devoured me intensely. I let myself be swept away on a tide of lustful feelings.
"How I want you Victoria!" he moaned against my mouth as his tongue made intricate patterns on mine.
Electricity sang through my veins as I gave myself up to his desire. But oh how evil I was! All the time his lips and hands were on me I thought of Aro and how truly delicious our lovemaking had been. It was enough to break the connection between James and I as I pushed him away red eyes were full of pain, anger and unspent passions. I was breaking his heart. I knew how that felt. Still, it must be done. He and I would fight over his need to possess me many times again, but I knew we would not leave each other. He was my security blanket and we needed each other like we needed blood. We couldn't be parted now, at least I hoped not.
"I am sorry James, I cannot do this, not whilst I have images of another in my head constantly. We must leave for Volterra tonight, in fact we must go now! I need to know why Aro wants me back there. We will have to pretend you only just found me, it might be safer that way! I do not want any harm to come to you my dearest James!" I exclaimed as I looked deep into his eyes with sincerity and affection.
Soon we were on a boat again, although there were now ships of the air available, I did not trust them! I preferred the long sea journey, there was plenty of time to think and compose myself and there were plenty of victims to feed upon. James and I mostly travelled together in silence. We were both too wrapped up in our own thoughts for idle chit chat. I let him hold me and kiss me sometimes as I easily became overwhelmed with fear the closer we got to Volterra. I didn't know what to expect when we arrived there. It had been three hundred and seventy years since I had last set eyes on my maker. What would happen when we laid eyes on each other again?
I both completely dreaded and wholly desired the answer.