Isabella Marie Swan's POV
I was standing outside Volterra and I could see the Volturi's castle. Leaving Jasper had been the hardest thing I've ever had to do and I now understood why it was so hard for him to leave me all of those times. You felt as though you were leaving an important piece of yourself behind. It was as though you were jumping out of a plane and you knew for a fact that you weren't wearing a parachute, death and destruction were imminent. But you've always got to make a choice, no matter how hard it may be.
My mate and my coven are my life and I can't just sit back and wait for Aro to destroy us all. I needed to do something no matter how stupid. I knew Jasper would never agree and that is why I left without telling him. I knew that when I returned, if I returned, that I would be in for a world of hurt. Jasper tries to be sweet with me, I know that, but this will have him infuriated and I just hoped he would be able to calm himself enough to see where I was coming from and further more I just hope that my plan works.
I looked at the castle one last time. It was so obtrusive, although it fit in with the scenery and Italy, it just looked too monstrous. It gave me an ill feeling in my stomach. It was warning me away, but it held what I needed. It held my coven's freedom. I pressed forward. As I passed by a car I caught my reflection and I was happy to see that my eyes were still red, that would help with my story. I entered through the gates and I was surprised that there was no security, though I suspect that they were hiding. I kept my blank face in place, thinking of my mate and how he would go about all this. I was acting exactly as I imagined he would in the same situation.
I headed through the largest opening and turned left. Stumbling around the castle until I finally came across a reception area with a human sitting behind the desk. A human? Why? …Another piece of the Jasper puzzle clicked for me. I looked at this human and all I saw was my old life and I was reminded of just how weak I truly was. It must have been so hard for Jasper to be around me and then when he knew I was his mate he must have been disappointed. Humans just looked weak to us vampires, fragile, our next snack. It made my love for him grow even more. I don't think I would be able to fall for a human, I would just kill them on sight.
"Welcome to Volterra, how can I help you?"
"I am here to see the Volturi."
"Do you have an appointment?" the human asked. What the fuck was this, a fucking medical clinic? Did I have an appointment? I'd show her what my appointment was…
"Now, now, Gianna, be nice to our guests," a vampire spoke and I turned to face him. I kept my back straight, my shoulders squared and my face blank.
"I'm sorry, master Demetri," she bumbled.
Demetri, the tracker. I tried to remember everything my boys had told me about him and I worked out how to manipulate him.
"Who are you and what is your business here?" Demetri asked me.
"I am a shield," I answered truthfully. I knew his gift of tracking worked on following the tenors of vampires' minds, so I knew he would not be able to feel mine because of my shield. I needed the Volturi to trust me fast. I wouldn't have much time before Jasper worked out where I was and what I was up to. He'll come in guns blazing to get me and I was counting on that, but I hoped to find Aro's weakness before then.
"I can feel that," he said with a smile. He was pleased. "Aro and the rest of the leaders would love to meet you. If you wouldn't mind of course."
"Of course not," I answered sweetly. "That is why I am here."
"Good, come."
I followed Demetri through two big doors that just seemed to open without him touching them. The Volturi guards must have been listening to our conversation because there they sat in their obnoxious thrones, ready and waiting at attention.
"Lords, I have a rare gift for you," Demetri said. "A willing shield."
He stepped aside and I stood still. I kept my gaze focused on the one in the center, but looked at all three. They were older than I expected. They looked frail and tired. They didn't seem dangerous, but I had been warned again and again not to underestimate anyone unless given enough proof. I just stood there and waited for them to speak. It was yet another thing I learned from my coven, you never speak or attack first unless it's unavoidable.
"What is your name?" the one in the center asked and I knew that it had to be Aro. The three leaders were supposed to be equal, but everyone knew that Aro was the one in charge.
"Marie Black," I answered. I hated having to use Jacob's last name as my own, but I needed a name that I wouldn't forget and I couldn't go using my own name thanks to the Cullens.
"And why are you here?" the blonde one asked. I turned my head towards him, but only to be polite. Aro was my main focus here.
"I am a mental shield," I answered and I could see Aro's eyes light up in excitement. He wanted me and my gift just like Jasper had warned. This was good news.
"A demonstration?" Aro asked gleefully.
"Of course." I stepped up to him and with all eyes on me I held out my hand.
Aro grabbed it carefully and I stared at his face as he used his gift. It didn't work as expected and I loved seeing his disappointment and excitement.
"It is true," he told his brothers. "Completely remarkable. I cannot see a thing. Blank, nothing there."
Aro eventually let go of my hand and sat back down.
"What are you doing here, child?" Marcus asked me and he seemed the most tired of all of them.
"I wish to have the opportunity to join your guard." This was it, I needed to go all in. "I am only just past my newborn year and my maker was killed a few months ago. I've been all around, but I want purpose. I am aware that I possess a rare gift and I want to put it to use and do some good."
"You're willing to join the guard if there is a position available?" Aro asked and he couldn't hide his happiness. As Jasper would say, he was revealing way too much. "On your own free will?" he asked next and it kind of shocked me. My own free will? Did that mean that there were vampires here who didn't wish to be? "Tell me, can you shield others with your power?"
I stretched out my gift just like Peter had shown me and placed it around Caius.
"Touch his hand and see," I said, pointing to Caius.
Caius faltered. "You promised you wouldn't use your gift on us, Aro," he said firmly.
"But it is a test," Aro said as he dismissed his brother and reached out and touched him. Caius' face lost color immediately. "Nothing, I see nothing," Aro said and Caius snatched his hand back. "We would be able to use this gift. Marie would be able to shield us all from every mental invasion. I wonder if her power would have worked against…"
Aro trailed off and I could tell that he was talking about Jane. He seemed upset about her death.
"Aro, we should discuss this," Marcus, the voice of reason, said.
"Hush," Aro waved him off. I knew Aro was the boss, these two were just there for their… not good looks. "Marie, such a beautiful name. Tell me, your eyes are red, but what is your diet?"
"Humans."
"And you have no trouble with killing them?"
"No."
"Good, this is good." Aro clapped his hands together excitedly. He really needed to work harder at hiding his emotions.
"Demetri will show you to your room and I invite you to come back at feeding time for a free and delicious snack."
"Thank you," I said, dropping my head.
Demetri appeared from the side and escorted me out.
"A mental shield," I heard Aro say. "Oh this is so exciting."
I shook my head. He would soon learn. I would find all of his weaknesses and tear him down. He will suffer for hunting my mate. When I am done with him all he will be is a souvenir, his head on a pike… I would kill him one day, if he was lucky.
Demetri showed me to my room and it was completely bare.
"Aro didn't give me any instructions," he spoke and I turned to face him, "but they like all guards to stay inside the grounds unless otherwise specified, but of course you're allowed to leave at any time."
But was I really allowed to leave? How Demetri said it made me feel as though I wasn't.
"I am fine here," I said. "What time is feeding and where is it?"
"When the clock strikes five," he said. "You will hear the bells. Meet me outside the throne room and I will escort you."
I nodded my head and he left me be.
As the door closed behind me the weight of everything I was doing and what I had left behind came crashing down on top of me. The pain in my chest was unbearable and I collapsed, bringing my knees to my chest. I shouldn't have left my mate, but this was the only way. I couldn't even talk to him as I was sure someone was spying on me. I allowed myself to grieve for one minute before I pushed it all aside and stood up. I closed my eyes and opened up my ears. It began right now. I needed to find out everything about Aro and how the Volturi worked. They didn't know I was undercover and they never would.
I picked up so much information whilst waiting for feeding time and when the bell rang five times I knew it was time to go. Feeding, it still filled me with so much disgust. It was not the killing that worried me, it was the blood, it just didn't taste good, but I needed to put on a good show. I knew it would be hard, but it's what I have to do to blend in, to remain anonymous. The only person who knew who I was is Felix, but as Aro never reacted to me I was confident that upon hearing about the death of the twins he went into a rage and either killed Felix or had him locked up somewhere. I doubt Aro even thought to read his mind, not wanting to see the twins' deaths. He would find out the truth soon, but hopefully not yet.
I left my room and headed to meet Demetri. He was outside the door flirting with Gianna. I stood behind him, but he took no notice of me. I cleared my throat and he turned around chuckling at me.
"I think I like you, Marie," he said. "Come on then, let's go. It has already begun."
He took me to the killing room and it was filled with both humans and vampires and there was blood everywhere. The smell affected me instantly and I stopped breathing. It smelled so foul. I focused on my mate and tried to draw strength from him. I tried to act like him and it seemed to work.
"Dig in," Demetri whispered to me. "You have an audience."
I took Demetri for his word and didn't look up at the leaders. I just needed to put on a good show. I grabbed one of the remaining humans by the neck. I turned my back to the leaders and sunk my teeth into the girl's shoulder. Her blood filled my mouth and it was so warm and thick that I wanted to gag. My hair made a curtain around my face, but that didn't matter as any vampire who was looking at me would clearly see me, so my face stayed blank. I just did as Jasper said and I took it slow, allowing my body to absorb the blood before it filled my stomach. I didn't not need to spit blood everywhere.
When she was dry and I didn't feel as though I was going to hurl, I pushed her lifeless body away from me and grabbed another human, a teenage boy. I repeated the same process and the disgust was still there, but if I took it slow then it was bearable because the moment the blood was absorbed and not just sitting in my stomach I felt better.
As the boy's blood ran dry I pushed him away and basked in the feeling of being full for the first time. It was a freeing feeling to know that I wasn't hungry and to know that I had done what I was supposed to do. I licked my lips, it still tasted horrible, but maybe with time I could deal. I had just successfully drunk blood, but I knew I only did it because I had to.
My high didn't last long as with this new development I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I wanted to tell my mate and our boys. I knew that they would be so proud of me. It kind of felt like I was cheating doing it here without them. I should be with my boys, but everyone has to make sacrifices in life and I reminded myself that I would be back with them soon, and when I was done with the Volturi no one would tear us apart.
