Evolution
The world seemed to move much faster after that. Once one society stood up and began to change, many soon followed. Most of the New Continent began to rebel against those who had colonized them some three hundred years ago. I admired their spirit, but I couldn't understand it. To me, authority meant safety, protection, assurance. I couldn't really see why anyone would attack those who had provided for them and given them steadiness for so long; still, though I had originally predicted none of those colonies would make it on their own, they managed to survive, and it wasn't long before anyone could see they would surpass their original colonizers.
All this, of course, meant changes in our own system. Humans were braver and stronger now, and less afraid. We no longer felt safe in this changing world; curiously enough we felt more threatened by the new scepticism and carelessness than by the superstitious, paranoid townsfolk. This new race we didn't know how to deal with.
Word was sent around clans to be extra careful. It was impossible to know how far these humans would go in their search for adventure and new experiences, and therefore how dangerous they could turn out to be. The situation left us so intrigued and confused that it called for a stronger, more permanent decision, and the inner circle of power within the Volturi set to work. A council meeting brought us to a tough decision: we would go into hiding for an undefined period of time.
"These humans are new," said Caius. "They are completely different from those we met in our time," he gestured at his brothers and himself, "and even very different from humans our younger ones first met," he turned to Alec, Demetri, to me. "They might not notice the change, but we certainly do. It's almost a new species, and until we figure out exactly how they think we should retreat."
"But why should we?" said Demetri. "These people are losing their faith, their capacity to believe. They wouldn't see us even if we stood right before them, glittering skin and all. They are too modern to see the world around them. They are too blind and stupid."
"Stupidity is even more dangerous, Demetri," said Aro. "It has been proved time and time again that the worst damages are caused by mistakes, confusions, misunderstandings, or sheer foolishness. We need to be smarter than them. Let's retreat safely and watch them destroy each other from afar."
"There is, however, a lot to be considered in this new system" intervened Marcus. "Our whole dynamic will have to change. Yes, Alec?"
"This rule… Does it apply to all clans or just us?"
The Trio looked at each other and Caius answered.
"I think it would be prudent to notify other clans. Tell the most prominent ones and ensure word spreads. People need to be aware of the fact that this is actually a crisis and dangers should not be underestimated."
"That is very good. Demetri, you and Felix are in charge of contacting coven leaders. There are a lot of things to take into account for this. For one, most of our travelling will have to be suspended unless absolutely necessary. Needless to say, law will be more than strict. Tolerance zero. No indiscretion shall be tolerated. Demetri, make sure everyone gets the message."
"There is another matter," said my brother, "which is indispensable and will be threatened by this new lifestyle. How are we going to feed?"
There was a silence in the table. The weight of what he said floated heavy in the air: if we went practically into hiding hunting would be out of the question, and we evidently couldn't just not hunt. Something needed to be done in order to provide food for the entire, rather large household while keeping our work in the utmost discretion.
"There is something… Jane and Alec did it once… perhaps if…"
We all turned to Demetri, Alec and I exchanging looks of strangeness.
"Yes, you did something, for that party when the human girl saw us. You brought all those humans as snacks, and you said you'd kept them stored somewhere."
"Yes," I said slowly. "But what about it? How can that help us?"
"Storage," said Alec. "Mass-hunting and storage. That would allow us to get enough food to sustain us all for a certain amount of time, all in one single hunt. Yet…"
"…how?" I continued my brother's train of thought. "No illnesses now to disguise our massacres under. We cannot blame the loss of a whole village to the plague or some fever anymore."
"There are wars going on."
"But that would only give us an excuse for men."
"Which is good enough. This is a crisis, Jane, and we will probably have to go outside our comfort zone. Life isn't all about fresh toddlers, you know."
I rolled my eyes.
"We still need an effective strategy," intervened Aro, rescuing me. "The basic idea is good: hunting a lot of humans and bringing them here instead of tracking them down. That would save time and ensure privacy. Now, let's think: how can we possibly catch them, lure them, trap them?"
There were some minutes of silence, and then we began discussing several options.
"Refugees. Countries are at war, after all, and people are fleeing. We can pretend to be some sort of organization that takes people to safer places. Then they would come on their own accord, in large groups, and would be easily led here. By the time they realized what this is really about it would be too late."
"What about travellers? They're always eager to explore, and if we offer them tours around this area they would be thrilled. Perhaps we could form these groups and make them believe they will spend all day enjoying the Tuscany. And, of course, a visit to an ancient castle would be included. They wouldn't know the truth until there's not a drop of blood left in them."
"Could we set some sort of place? Business? I mean, something like an orphanage, something that could permanently provide us with food, and where disappearances would never raise suspicions, on the contrary, would almost be expected."
This went on for hours. There could be no room for any failure; one unattended detail would reveal us for what we were. Eventually, we settled for travellers, for in their ignorance of the area, the landscape, they would be easier to catch and lure
"We need someone good looking, someone who people would be attracted to and trust. Someone they'd follow."
"A girl, then. One of our girls would lure them easily. Jane?"
"I'm not the kind people easily trust. My cover wouldn't last."
"In that you're right, sister. You stand out. You're too special," Alec squeezed my hand. "I think that we need someone new. The girls here with us are either already busy with higher tasks, such as Chelsea or Jane, or not exactly ideal for the task. Could we bring someone new? Like hiring?"
The Trio considered that for a moment. "There is one," said Marcus finally, "who might be willing to do this job, and she meets our requirements. It would only be a matter of visiting her and asking."
Caius's eyes lit up. "Heidi?"
"Yes, her. I think she meets our profile, and it wouldn't take too much to convince her. I could go and talk to her."
"Marcus, don't you bother with such trivial matters. We'll send somebody to get her."
"Oh, but she knows me, Aro, and that would help. Besides, her creator is a friend of mine."
"Well then, so be it. I'm sure she will join us. Let's hope for the best."
Obviously, Heidi agreed gladly and Marcus came back with her. She was exactly suited for our purposes and after a pilot attempt and much polishing of the system we managed to get a functional structure, where she played bait and hunter and brought home small groups of people, large enough to feed us but discreet enough that they wouldn't draw too much attention. Over the years this was even more perfected.
"Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary!"
As it happens, all of a sudden Alec and I found ourselves celebrating our 300th anniversary with the Volturi. We had been transformed in 1516, and now, as the world dawned on 1816 I wasn't quite able to recall when so much time had gone by. I felt strangely young, full of life, and I had never felt the passing of the years.
All in all, I had led a happy life. Those who had hurt or angered me had invariably paid for their offense, I was well-known, respected, or feared among everybody else. I had my brother, who was the light of my life, the one person who knew me inside out, with my secrets, my sorrows, my shames, my fears, my prides and my joys, and who I knew just as well. There was that other thing, of course, that I had never been able to quite solve or get over, but I tried to ignore it as I did the recap of these centuries in the Volturi household. We had reached the highest ranks, Alec and I, we held the utmost power and controlled a great part of the inner politics of this organization.
In celebration of this anniversary the Trio broke their own laws as to the new discretion and retreat (which had already lasted five years) and threw a grand ball, much like the one where the whole disaster with Mariette had taken place. Mariette. How long had it been since Mariette, a hundred years? Eighty? I had no idea, at least it had been long enough for me to find no feelings about her inside my heart, if I had such a thing. I had buried her and forgotten her.
On to the ball. Oh, it was a huge thing, elegant, graceful, with taste and style. Some special guests were there, friends of Aro who had been loyal and pretty much peaceful during the years I'd known them. Friends of mine there were none, for I was never too interested in cultivating such relationships, I had my brother and that was enough for me. Plus, we had quite a reputation as dark creatures; the fact that some called us "the witch twins" behind our backs was not unknown to us. But we didn't invite those, and the ball was one of the most enjoyable experiences of those decades.
Our protection agreement had turned out quite successful. With Heidi's help and Demetri's supervision there soon had been a coordinated plan to attract, catch, bring, kill, and dispose of endless bodies, a handful at a time. After our thirst was quenched we burned them in a big pile, in which we threw wood, paper, and herbs to mask the unmistakable smell of human flesh burning. I was never present in the act itself, for it reminded me of another time, another fire, another little girl burning. However, I had to accept it was a brilliant system. It was that which allowed us to enjoy the feast that night.
Aro kissed me on the lips and hugged me.
"Well done, little one. I'm so proud of you." He looked at Alec and pulled him into our hug. After Aro, both Marcus and Caius, and other members of the guard congratulated us. It seemed that they were genuinely pleased with us, with our work, with who we were. That filled me with immense pride, for I wanted nothing but their approval and to know I had it was wonderful. More than anything, I wanted his approval. His support. And I had it. And my life was complete.
Alec offered me his arm and we went to one of the balconies of the castle. I saw in his eyes that he was just as content as I was, and our shared joy doubled.
"When did all these years go by? " he asked, sighing. "I feel like it was just yesterday when we arrived here. And yet, it's been three hundred years. I mean… who would have thought? The strangers, the outsiders, the drunkard's kids with the ever sick mother, the witches, the nobodies. And look at us!"
"Look at us indeed. We're survivors, Alec. We defied everything and everyone, we defied Life itself and look where we are now, how far we've got."
"It's all been for the best. I do regret some things, but I think that if we had another chance we would still do them the same way." He sighed. "We have clear goals, we know what we want and how to get it. And Jane," he turned to face me and held my hand, "I want you to know that I'm very proud of you. I was proud when you were a little girl and you pretty much supported our whole family, when you cooked, cleaned, cared after our mother. I was proud when you fought the bastards who accused and imprisoned us. I was so proud when you designed and executed our revenge. And I'm so proud to see you now, so beautiful, so strong, valued among our kind. I'm honoured to be your brother."
I hugged him, tight, tight, tight, the way we liked to hug . I felt the soft velvet of his cloak against my cheek, and the even softer touch of his hair. Our arms were around each other, together the same way we'd been born, the way we were always meant to be. And I told him I loved him, I told him I was just as proud of him. I wouldn't have done anything, anything at all if it hadn't been for him, if I hadn't had him by my side. He was my support and my comfort, my joy and my light, the one person I knew I could rely on no matter what. We had shared a womb, there was a special connection between us that could never break.
"And you always helped with the house duties," I reminded him. "You were a wonderful cook."
He laughed. Finally, we broke our embrace so that we could look at each other properly. Then he offered me his arm again and we returned to the hall, where we danced for the rest of the night.
