Chapter 25:
As soon as we drive into Volterra (in a car that Jasper stole with the help of Edward distracting the owner), I notice the huge, marvelous fairy tale castle in the center of the city. It can be seen from every aspect. I'd heard a history of the Volturi from Jake when he was obsessing over Bella. At the thought of Jake my heart sinks a little but before I spiral into a miserable sob I push him out of my thoughts and focus on the castle. The sun is setting but Alice, Jasper and Edward can't be seen in the sun so we have to use the daylight entrance to the castle. The streets are about empty except for the marketplace down one of the many roads from the center of town. When we get to the door it swings open and a tiny but flawless girl stands in the dark passageway with a tall, lean flawless man. The man has black hair and he stares at me.
"We've been expecting you." The girl says and glares at Edward, Alice and Jasper. "It is not good to make the Volturi wait."
"We came as soon as we could." Alice explains peacefully. "I'm glad to see Demetri's powers still work on sensing human presence." The male smiles to Alice and then focuses back on me.
"We should be going don't you think?" Edward says. "It would be rude to keep the Volturi waiting any longer for their guest. I'm sure they are eager to meet her." His voice is musical and sweet, I would do anything he told me to. A voice that pure couldn't possibly be evil.
Maybe something is wrong with me. Why can't I be disgusted by vampires like everyone else in the pack? It would make things so much easier. Is it because my mother once loved one, my dad didn't say those words but I knew by the way he avoided it.
"This is the girl?" The male speaks up and the three of them nod. "Jane you should begin leading them." He instructs she looks at him with something I can't quite figure out in her look.
"She is gross shifter Demetri, don't try anything." She warns and walks off.
"I'll walk with the girl in the back. You all follow Jane." The man who is apparently Demetri says to Alice, Edward and Jasper.
They look wary, especially Alice but they end up nodding and follow. Demetri loops my arm in his in a very formal way and begins leading me behind them. I'm petrified about pushing him away, surely he is stronger than me.
"I'm Demetri." He slightly smiles at me. The smile is flawless as if he's been practicing for centuries, like he's stared at the mirror until it looked perfect.
"Pleasure." I say slightly bitter, trying not to fall into old habits.
"Jane can be a little protective," Demetri whispers to me.
"That's cute." I say sarcastically as we continue to walk, he's walking slowly. Is he doing it on purpose? The further away from the Cullens I get the more nervous I get.
"Do you want to tell me your name?" He asks me teasingly.
"Not really." I tell him shortly. "Aren't you supposed to be the quiet, reserved one?" I ask him.
"Someone's done their homework. I only talk when there's a purpose, unlike some people who blabber on and on for no reason at all." He smiles to me. I know exactly what he's talking about with that, I think Bella does that when she's around the pack, she likes to hear herself talk as if she was trying to prove to everyone she had important things to say. "I thought you would have manners and wouldn't be rude Melaine." He smiles with a knowing smile.
"If you had already known my name why would you ask?" I ask him while I try to increase our pace. Being alone with cute vampires who are being cute with me makes me nervous. I don't have my necklace this time to save me.
"It's always nice for the person to introduce themselves." Demetri says sure of himself. "I didn't think humankind had fallen that far under the propriety scale." He stops suddenly and I almost scream when he pulls me close to him. Flashes of the night with Blake flash through my mind. I don't dare to show him that I fear him so I meet his burgundy eyes and don't pull away. "Or is it just the pups that are low on manners?"
"You all look at me with the same degrading look; I'm just some dog to you all." I say to him stepping away from him and pulling my arm away from him. I begin rushing to catch up to the others, there's a light now that's growing bigger and a familiar silhouette in the doorway.
"Melly!" I hear.
"Coming!" I call as I rush but something stops me and grips my wrist tightly. I come to a quick stop and look at Demetri. He holds one wrist in place while he lifts up my other and examines my scar, Carlisle said I'd probably never heal of it. My dad had a theory that the combination of Blake and me didn't mix well and are constantly battling, the wolf is trying to heal from it while the vampire is trying to stand strong.
"You are much more than that." He whispers to me. "You will soon find out." He says.
"Demetri…" Jasper warns him. Alice must have sent him when I didn't come. "Let go of her." Jasper is serious, I didn't think he cared that much for me but his glare is as intimidating as it would be if I were Rose or Esme or someone else he was close to (with the exception of Alice I think if I were Alice he would have ripped Demetri's head off). Demetri lets me go. I turn away from him and start walking to the door. Jasper catches up with me and I think he's using his power to try to soothe me. I look to him and smile and whisper a thank you as we walk into the beautiful castle.
The castle is as if it popped out of a dark, vampire fantasy movie or novel. Anything the unlived would want for eternity is in the castle. It has a dark, sensual, seductive appeal to it and I remember what I learned from Carlisle when I'd asked about them during recovery after seeing him in a picture with them, the Volturi have wives but that doesn't mean they are faithful for eternity. He said they are very much like the kings I've learned about throughout history. Everything I know about the Volturi is summed up in this place.
We are lead into what appears to be a throne room. Something tells me this is where people beg for their lives from the ones who hold it in their hands. Edward must have heard Demetri's thoughts from when we were in the passageway because he hasn't left my side since Jasper joined back with Alice and now he has taken my hand.
Three men walk into the room and sit in the thrones which are in a line. The center one is more elaborate and slightly bigger. The man who sits in the center chair has long black hair and almost translucent skin. Beside him are a blonde and another black haired man. The center one must be Aro, the other two Marcus and Caius. I believe Carlisle had said Caius was the blonde.
"Welcome!" Aro announces powerfully. Edward squeezes my hand reassuringly. Aro stands and walks over to me. "My dear, you poor thing. Of course you never asked for Blake to pick you. I'm sure you never asked for this." I don't know how to respond so I don't. He is trying too hard to be nice. "I hope our friends have spoken kindly of us. The last times we've had encounters it was not so pleasant." Aro looks to Alice, Jasper and Edward.
"Of course they spoke kindly of all of you." I force a smile onto my face. I know I need to help out the Cullens in whatever way I could. "I believe every one of your kind admire all of you."
"And of your kind? What of them?" Aro asks amused by me.
I smile sweetly to him. "My kind is hardly aware of who you all are. That must mean you do your job well. I've been told you've cleaned up quite a bit of messes and you've done it so securely."
"And of your kind who do know of us?" He asks enjoying every minute of this.
I think about the right thing to say this time carefully. This could go very badly or very well. Power is very important to them as well as pride. "Those who know of you fear you sir. We fear your power, we fear your strength. We envy the influence you hold over your people. We would never wish to anger the Volturi sir."
Aro moves close to me. Edward squeezes my hand tighter but I don't move my eye contact from Aro's milky red eyes.
"And you do you fear me?" He whispers excitedly obviously power hungry.
"Of course." I say back.
Aro chuckles a little and claps. "She is excellent. Do you not think so Marcus and Caius?" He turns to his fellow leaders.
"She is certainly flattering." Marcus says practically apathetically. "The Cullens wish to protect her. She has touched them all." He says.
"Caius?" Aro asks expectantly.
"She is a werewolf." Caius says almost as if the fact disgusts him. I don't think it is the correct time to correct him. Somehow even though I came here to give a testimony, I feel as if my life is in their hands.
"She is quite pleasant." Aro smiles to me. "I think she'd do quite well."
"That wasn't the plan." Edward interjects and squeezes my hand. "She only came for a testimony."
"A testimony we do not need." Aro says calmly. My body goes frigid. I came here for no reason at all; they don't even need a testimony.
"Please, Aro." Edward practically begs, I wonder what he is talking about, I wish they would stop having a secret conversation. It only makes me more nervous, I can feel Jasper calming me down again, he can't completely calm me however, I'm far too nervous.
Aro turns to Caius. "Do you think you could handle it? It will certainly be more convenient."
Caius thinks deeply. "As long as she is controlled, it would certainly be more convenient, I will however still prefer… better company on occasion."
"Of course." Aro nods. He turns back to me.
"Aro, stop, don't." Edward says. I hear a laugh from behind me and see Demetri eyeing me.
"Stop begging Edward," Aro says, "It didn't suit you before and it still doesn't." Aro focuses on me again without turning his focus. He walks toward me and takes my hand, I try to pull it away but he's strong, stronger than Blake and Demetri. He smiles and there's evil behind his smile. He continues to hold my hand. I look to Edward confused.
"When Aro touches someone he can read every thought they've ever had." Edward says. I try to pull away again but I fail.
Moments later Aro stops coming from my memories and let's go of my hand.
"Welcome to the Volturi, Melaine." Aro says.
A/N: I haven't done one of these in what seems like forever. You all are so lovely. Thanks for the alerts, favorites and especially the reviews, feedback is always motivating. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I'm working on the next one so hopefully the update won't be long. Have a wonderful day or night depending on when you are reading this.