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Chapter 26.
After what seemed like an eternally long haul, the plane touched down in Florence. It wouldn't be long now, so I had to keep my patience levels up as much as possible. The sunshine was brilliant outside of the airport, but I wouldn't walk into it. If I had any chance whatsoever to meet Bella again, then I would do this right. I will not expose myself here.
I waited under the overhang at the entrance for a cab. While I waited, I wondered what they were like. I had seen them in Carlisle's memories and paintings, but I had never met them in person, and I had never been in Volterra.
A cab pulled up, and I got in.
"Volterra, per favore," I said in a hushed voice.
"Volterra?" he replied. "Si tratta di un lungo cammino," he said, looking me up and down.
Yes, I knew it was a long way, and no doubt he was wondering if I could afford the fare. I hadn't changed for weeks, and my clothes were rather tatty, to say the least.
I told him I needed to get there. I threw him all the cash I had. A couple hundred Euros, and a few hundred Dollars. I wouldn't need it anymore.
"Matenere il cambiamento," I told him, and his eyes bugged wide.
"Si, si. Grazie, grazie," he said, amazed that I had told him to keep the change.
He wondered to himself how a scruffy guy like me had acquired so much cash, but his thoughts didn't lead to anywhere too speculative. I blocked him from my mind.
I paid no attention to the beautiful Tuscan landscape as we drove through it. My mind was dwelling on what lay ahead. I did notice the sun was starting to set, and that would make it easier to walk through the city.
I didn't worry about who I would be meeting because, through Carlisle's memories and stories, I would recognise them all. ( unless there had been some new additions since Carlisle.) No doubt The Guard would be my first port of call. I would not be allowed to meet the Elders until I had been scrutinised by them first.
I remembered ( through Carlisle's memories ) the most immediate of the guard. Jane and Alec - They were the offensive of the guard. They were twins, and very old, with millenia of experience behind them. Jane could have you writhing in agony, burning you with her mind. Apparently, she was quite sadistic with her gift. I was sure she would one of those that destroyed me. She wouldn't pass on an opportunity of torture.
Alec was the antidote of Jane. His gift would leave you totally senseless and numb. He could blind you and make you feel no pain. If the Volturi were feeling generous, they would use Alec to numb the wrongdoer, before they struck him down. I wondered, briefly, if they would show me that courtesy. I supposed that would depend on them agreeing to my wish, or if I had to expose us.
Both Jane and Alec were small vampires, but they were the most important of the guard. The Volturi would never go anywhere without them by their side.
Then there was Renata. She was Aro's personal bodyguard. She had a gift that could protect him from physical attacks. She could repel them with her mind. She needed contact for her gift to work, so she was always by his side. She would also protect Caius and Marcus, if needed.
The next two in line were, Demetri and Felix. They were fighters. Strong. Demetri was an average sized vampire, but he also had a gift. He could track anyone, from any distant, with nothing but the tenor of their mind. No matter how far they run, or how well they thought they were hidden, he could find them. He was probably the best tracker in the world.
Felix had no discernable gift as such, but he was extremely strong and powerful. He had centuries of fighting experience, which made him a formidable foe. He could anticipate any move his enemy was making, and he would block them. The Volturi were so amazed by his combat skills, they made him a permanent member of the guard.
If they refused my request, and I had to expose myself, I was sure Felix would be the one to deal my fate.
We were almost at the city, and I asked the driver to stop just before it. I needed a small amount of time to figure out how best to ask them. The walk into the city would provide me with that time. I had to ask them with the respect they were due.
I also had to make sure they knew that my family knew nothing of this. They were not to be implicated and I would make them aware that there were to be no repercutions for my family. They would suffer enough, without inflicting the Volturi on them.
Aro had a gift much like my own, but he had to be in contact with someone before he could read their mind. He couldn't read many minds like me, just that one persons mind that he was in contact with. Unlike me, he could also read every thought and memory that person ever had. I could only read what was passing through the mind at the time. So, if he asked, I would let him into my mind to make him see my family were innocent, and hopefully keep them safe.
Carlisle had been a good friend to them for many years, so I hoped that would be in his favour. They didn't have a close bond, but Carlisle had been in their service for a long time. That had to count for something. Surely they would leave my family in peace because of that.
As I walked through the city, it was still busy. The sun had already set, and it was still bustling. I was confused until I realised what the date might be. It must be the eighteenth. The eve of St. Marcus day. All the streets were being prepared for the festivities the next day.
St. Marcus day was a celebration the city held every year. It was said that a Christian Missionary drove all the vampires from Volterra, fifteen hundred years ago. Father Marcus was his name, and it was actually Marcus of the Volturi. They claimed he was martyred in Romania, but that's untrue, as Marcus never left the city.
So, if they took until the following day to decide on my fate, and if they refused, the festival may turn out to be an advantage. The city would be packed to capacity, so there would be ample witnesses to my exposure.
I hoped they would agree to destroy me, though, as I didn't want to disappoint my family. It would devastate them regardless, but Carlisle was a firm believer in the Volturi rule. Exposure would be another dissatisfaction that I could hopefully avoid, and make my decision a little easier for him to understand.
As I drew nearer to their dwelling place, I could see cloaked figures in the shadows. No doubt they were overseeing the preperations for the festival the next day. I caught the tenor of a few of their minds, and a few low hisses, too.
A stranger of our kind, one thought. Approaching our castle. What could he want?
I walked over, and stood in front of him. His cloak was a light grey colour, so he must have been one of the lesser guards. The closer to the elders the guards were, the darker their cloaks were. None were ever black, though. The elders were the sole bearers of midnight black cloaks.
I looked him squarely in the eyes. "I need to speak with your masters at once," I demanded.
He looked me up and down, and thought, This wretch demands of the Volturi? Pah!
I glowered at him, but he took no notice. He was arrogant in the fact that he belonged in the guard. He thought he was invincible. Well, he wasn't. He would find that out soon enough, if he didn't pass on my request.
"The masters do not grant audiences with strangers," he growled. "Unless they have a prior appointment. And I can see by your attire, that you do not." Disrespectful wretch, he added, mentally.
I sighed. I had no time for this. "Please tell your masters Edward Cullen would appreciate it, if they granted me a pass to speak with them."
My name caught his attention. A Cullen? I have heard the stories of the Cullen that resided here, years ago. Aren't they supposed to be the largest coven? Well, besides ours. Aro may be interested in seeing him. He may even grant me favour, if I relayed the message myself, he thought.
"Wait here," he hissed. "I will pass on your request, and will return with their answer."
He strolled off down an alleyway, and I was left in the plaza. I couldn't hear any thoughts from inside the building, but I didn't think he would be long to return.