Chapter Fifty Two
Charlie
Edward was scared but I knew he was clever and would work out Aro's plan, the guy had been quite open with me when I arrived and he invited me to meet his wife and the other members of the Volturi ruling council. He had the kind of mind I called warped, cunning, but warped, but I guess when you are trying to control a world full of vampires you had to be the most cunning and ruthless of all.
"You see Charlie, I always get what I want in the end, it's just that sometimes you have to be patient. It's often the easiest way, I always find coercion so barbaric and our world is barbaric enough as it is. Of course, you wouldn't know too much about that having missed the most savage part of becoming a vampire. Perhaps one day we can sit down and discuss your transformation, I find it fascinating."
"Sure although I don't see what all the fuss is about, it must happen from time to time surely?"
"Actually no, never before to my knowledge. Still, there will be plenty of time and I am so pleased you decided to accept our invitation. I know you spent some time with the Cullen's but most of the other vampires you have met are not the best specimens to show you what being a vampire is all about."
I thought that was a little impolite but I let it go, I didn't want the Volturi to think I had made some very good friends among those lesser specimens, one in particular.
"I'm glad to see you are keeping Leah clearwater confined, she really is one violent newborn."
All three brothers laughed at this and it was Caius who explained,
"Actually Charlie she's no worse than most newborns. I've arranged for you to see a training session in a few days time. Felix and Santiago are responsible for all newborns who arrive in Volterra."
"Do you have many here?"
"Very few actually. Each vampire is responsible for any newborns he or she creates and it's very difficult work. Few vampires choose to change others, it happens but usually as a result of a vampire recognizing their mate in a human or an accident although they are rare."
"So, what happens if you hear about a newborn without someone to look out for him or her?"
"We send the Volturi guard to exterminate them, Charlie before they become a security risk. It's a little like humans and cockroaches."
I really didn't like Caius Volturi and even if I hadn't been aware of the things he'd done I'd still dislike the little fucker!
"How do you recruit your guards?"
"Why? Do you want to apply Charlie? We'd take you on in a second if you did."
"No thanks, I've done my stint in law enforcement."
"Pity, still, the members of the guard are pretty static, no one ages or gets infirm so most of them have been with us for centuries, like Felix. They are extremely loyal and very skillful. Occasionally guards find a mate and choose to leave Volterra but news soon gets around and we find vampire's arriving to try their luck."
"How do you choose the right person for the job?"
"How do you think? We interview them and if they seem a likely candidate they are invited to a selection day."
"A selection day? You mean they have exercises to do? That kind of thing?"
Caius smiled, a cold condescending smile that never reached his eyes which reminded me of a sharks eyes, totally expressionless.
"In a way. We do have newborns or criminals here from time to time and the applicants are able to display their skills. There would be no point in recruiting someone squeamish to such a role now would there?"
I understood, and I guess that's the way it had to be in such a violent society but it was strange, like the Greek and the Roman Empires the vampire world was a mixture of civilization and savagery.
I found Sulpicia and Athenadora charming and wondered how a woman as intelligent and refined as the latter could bear to be married to a bore like Caius. Darius had told me she knew of his many peccadilloes and turned a blind eye to them or had done until Sara. When Sara committed suicide after being assaulted by Caius, Athenadora had put her foot down. Another mistress or attack on a defenseless female would be unacceptable, she would have him arrested and charged with abandoning his mate and causing her severe suffering and the sentence for that was death. I doubted he had stopped, his kind never did but he was probably much more careful these days. He had to watch his back with both his wife and Darius just waiting for him to put a step wrong in order to pounce.
The citadel itself was amazing, full of artwork of all ages, books from the very first to be printed back to illuminated manuscripts, it was a place of light and music, interesting conversation and clever minds. I could see why it had appealed to Carlisle, I was sure it seduced everyone who visited. I especially liked the artwork and found myself spending a lot of time with Heidi, someone I had first dismissed as too frivolous I guess from the way she appeared but appearances could be deceptive and were in her case. She was fascinating, highly intelligent and extremely knowledgeable. It got to the point where we would arrange to meet just to talk, something I gathered Demetri wasn't too happy about. I did ask her if I were treading on any toes but she told me no.
"Demetri is drawn to me like all men but he's too intense for me. I like to laugh, to run in the long grass and paddle in a stream, all things he finds difficult to understand. I suppose I never lost my love of the countryside, my father was a woodcutter and we lived in the middle of the woods in a little hut, we had very little but we were happy, things were simpler then."
We had a lot in common and when I told her I used to love fishing she offered to take me to a nearby river which was full of fish.
"I should have brought my rod."
She smiled at that and we arranged to meet the following morning. I had to be back by noon to see the newborns train but I was going to enjoy our trip more.
I was right, I did, especially when I found her waiting at the side entrance with a fishing rod over her shoulder.
"I thought maybe you could teach me to fish Charlie, my own catch is a lot easier, I have all the bait I need right here."
She gestured to her chest and legs, as if I wasn't aware, Heidi was very open about her sexuality, something I had found a little embarrassing but it was just Heidi, take her or leave her.
We had a great morning and Heidi was so excited when she caught a fish, only a little one but it meant a lot to her and she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. A kiss that just seems to go on and on and I found myself holding her close.
"Charlie, I…."
I stepped back, it had been stupid of me to react in the way I had, she was the most beautiful, funny, and interesting woman I had ever met, what would she want with a stupid old guy like me?
I turned away and picked up the rod to give myself something to do and to hide my embarrassment but she tugged on my arm, forcing me to turn around and look at her once more.
"Charlie, I am so sorry if I embarrassed you. I guess my feelings just got the better of me there for a moment. I mean….. I know you like me but why would you want to get involved with a woman like me?"
I looked at her stunned by her words that echoed my own thoughts exactly except in reverse.
I couldn't help it, I burst into laughter and she frowned,
"I fail to see how you can find this situation funny Charlie."
She turned away and I realized I had hurt her feelings so before she could march off distressed I had to act or lose her.
"Heidi, please let me explain."
She shook her head and began to walk back in the direction of the town so I ran after her taking her arm and turning her back into my embrace.
"I was laughing because I'd just been thinking the same thing about myself. I mean, you're young and beautiful, talented and very intelligent. What on earth would you see in an old man like me?"
Her eyes opened wide as she took in my words and then she smiled pressing her cheek against mine,
"Oh, Charlie, if you only knew how much I longed for someone different, someone more worldly and relaxed. Being with you is like a breath of fresh air, I feel different, I feel more like a woman and not like a sex object or just another member of the Volturi."
Needless to say, we were late getting back to the citadel and the training had already begun when I joined Caius and the others in the underground arena. He merely scowled but I saw Marcus study me intently, was it so obvious what I'd been doing and what would the brothers say when they discovered Heidi and I were together? As Leah appeared I tried to concentrate but visions of the beautiful woman I had been with only a short while ago kept popping into my head.
Leah was the most violent and ruthless of all the newborns and had to be physically restrained from killing her combat partner. I remembered the innocent young girl she had once been before bitterness and revenge turned her into a warped and violent woman and now a ferocious vampire with only one thing on her mind, death.
"Has she spoken at all about her past or what happened to her?"
Felix who had just joined us shook his head,
"It's early days yet, I doubt she remembers much, that usually comes later as the rage burns off. For now, she's as dangerous to us as to any guardian or human. What do you plan for her once she does remember what she once was?"
Felix looked over to Aro to answer that one.
"Oh, I think eventually we'll have to allow her to leave. Once she understands the terrible things she's done her only desire will be to kill herself."
"Or those who turned her? I don't want her going after my daughter."
"Of course not Charlie although I am sure The Major could be relied on to keep Bella safe. I was thinking more of giving her to her people. Let Johnny H see what happens when his people get above themselves. I very much doubt he will allow her to live and most certainly won't be allowing her to roam free, she's too much of a danger to his own people now. But there will be time to decide when she calms. For now, it's quite interesting to see that even an innocent young girl can become a savage, and I don't mean since she transformed. She was already the savage before that, her attempt to burn Bella alive proves that.
Suddenly there was a commotion in the arena, Leah had somehow broken free of her handlers and was racing across the area towards us. I could see she was staring straight at me but still stepped forward ready to face her if she wasn't restrained. She reached our little group and picked up Caius who was closest to her throwing him at Felix, both men going down in a tangled heap of arms and legs. Once she had a clear path she smiled and threw herself at me. We struggled but she was phenomenally strong and savage and keeping her snapping teeth from my throat was enough of a job on its own. I felt a sharp tearing pain in my shoulder and cried out as she ripped my arm from its socket and hurled it at Felix who was closing in once more. He caught it but the time it took gave her the opening she had been waiting for. She caught my cheek with her nails ripping it away and ran to the brazier that burned in the chamber throwing it in before heaving the whole thing into the air and throwing it directly at me. Burning coals rained down catching clothing alight wherever it landed and for a few seconds there was panic but then Felix caught her and with three other guards carried her screaming back to her quarters while the rest of us quietened down checking for smouldering clothing and moving into the center of the arena away from the burning coals that lay scattered everywhere in the seating area.
I felt a gentle hand on my face as a soft cloth was pressed to my cheek and looked into Heidi's beautiful face.
"Oh Charlie, are you OK? I was just coming in when I saw what happened, I wasn't quick enough to stop her."
I tried to reassure her that I was fine when in fact I wasn't, Caius recovered my arm and brought it over and Heidi held it in place as it fused back in place which was pretty excruciating itself. The worst thing was my face, I'd lost most of one cheek which was now ashes and I wasn't that pretty to start with. I thought that would be it between Heidi and myself, it was one thing me being older but badly disfigured too? It was asking way too much of the staggeringly beautiful woman and I turned away from her unsure where to go or what to do.
As I made my way slowly back to my quarters my face on fire as the venom did its best to heal the gaping wound I heard quick footsteps behind me and suddenly she was there at my side and took my arm not saying a word until we were safely in my room. Then she took the cloth from me and pulled it away looking intently at the wound.
"You'll live Charlie and at least I won't have to fight the younger girls off for a while."
I looked at her uncomprehendingly and she laughed,
"Did you really think that would make me change my mind about you, Charlie Swan? You really must have a low opinion of me, or is it of women in general?."
Dropping the venom soaked cloth to the floor she put her hands very carefully on my face and kissed the injured cheek then my lips and I knew she was a woman in a million and just how lucky I was to have found her.
