Chapter Fifty Eight
Bella
Megan was very excited about visiting Volterra. Partly because it meant seeing her grandparents again and partly because it meant she would be meeting others more her own age although I wouldn't exactly call Jane and Alec the kind of people I wanted my daughter mixing with. She thought because they were changed at such an early age they would be more like her but both had been vampires for centuries and were world-weary and cynical. I just hoped she wouldn't be too disappointed.
We flew first class, a gift from Carlisle, and were picked up at the airport by a Mercedes, one of the fleet the Volturi kept for their use complete with heavily tinted windows. Megan was thrilled with everything, the countryside, the architecture and the people, especially as she was fluent in Italian putting both her father and myself to shame.
Our suite was in what had been the wife's' tower and was now suites for visitors and very luxurious. Megan had her own set of rooms next door which thrilled her and saddened me. She was growing up so fast, from a baby to a teenager in just four years. It was hard to believe and even harder for me to come to terms with. Sometimes I regretted those precious months I had lost when she was an infant. Jasper seemed to take it all in his stride and the two were just as close as ever. If anything she was a real daddy's girl.
Within days Megan was as thick as thieves with Jane, her new BF, and growing up even more quickly while Jasper and I spent time with Carlisle and Esme or Sulpicia and the others of the new ruling council.
Only once had Sulpicia spoken about Aro and that was to thank Megan for opening her eyes and forcing her to confront her own culpability.
"If not for Megan I would have continued in my blind ignorance. I was so keen to make Caius pay for his crime when Aro's was even more heinous and destroyed a close friend."
"Marcus does seem much more light-hearted than I remember."
Sulpicia smiled warmly, "Yes, he does Bella. He finally had some closure like Darius. Speaking of who, do you keep in touch? I haven't heard Megan mention his name."
"No, he vanished afterwards and she's heard nothing since."
"Oh well, perhaps it's for the best. It would have been so awkward for everyone concerned if he had stayed around."
I frowned, "She was heartbroken despite all our warnings. I guess having a crush on someone doesn't become less painful just because you aren't entirely human."
Sulpicia stared at me, "Crush? Oh, Bella don't delude yourself. There is something much stronger than a crush going on between Megan and Darius. Surely you must have seen that?"
I stared at her wanting to laugh and tell her how ridiculous her words were but I couldn't. Of course, I had wondered about the connection between Darius and my daughter but I'd refused to think about it in depth. She was my little girl, far too young and immature to be thinking about her long term future, love, marriage and all that. Jasper had broached the subject but I refused to contemplate it. To do so would be to acknowledge that she wouldn't be ours for very much longer.
"I know what you mean but surely if the two of them had meant that much to each other he would have kept in touch?"
"I don't think so. Darius is an honorable man and to hang around a child he knew was going to be more to him in the future would strike him as unacceptable."
It sounded a little like the guardian imprints Jake had told me about. A wolf imprinted on a girl whatever age she might be at the time he first saw her and he would become whatever she needed him to be as she grew up. Whether that be childhood companion, bodyguard or study partner. Sulpicia was right of course, that would have been too weird, seeing Darius as Megan's play friend.
"So, you really think he's still out there waiting?"
"Don't you, Bella?"
I glanced at Jasper who hadn't said a word during this conversation then shrugged.
"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I guess I assumed that after killing Caius he decided to join Sara. I mean isn't that how it goes for vampires? One doesn't outlive the mate."
"Darius outlived Sara for centuries."
I nodded, OK so Sulpicia was right but even so...
"I thought that was because he needed revenge."
"Did you? Well, maybe it was enough at first. Vengeance can be an all-consuming emotion but for centuries? No, I think Darius is that rare breed of man who can feed his existence with rage until it just becomes second nature. He outlived his pain at Sara's loss and now Caius is gone he realizes that something has taken its place. Does it concern you? The thought of your daughter becoming involved with him?"
I had to smile, "No. He's one of the good ones like Jasper here. I guess I just hate the idea of Megan becoming a woman. She had such a short childhood."
"Short but filled with love and learning. Megan learned all she needs to know and has centuries to fill in any gaps. I have spoken to Carlisle in-depth about your daughter. Like you, I was concerned as to what would happen with her accelerated growth but he assured me that she would stop ageing once she reached maturity."
"No one knows for sure though do they? I mean there are so few hybrids and even less knowledge about the few we know about. Megan is an unknown quantity and that scares me."
Jasper took my hand, "She's already slowed considerably. I think we can safely assume Carlisle knows what he's talking about and if God forbid she did continue to age like a human at least we will have had a lifetime with her. Who could ask for more?"
Jasper was right, I wanted Megan to stay with us for eternity but that was stupid. If she stopped ageing or decided to become a full vampire she would still gradually leave to begin a life of her own. Did all parents go through this aching fear of losing their children? It hadn't occurred to me at first but the longer she was in my life the more I yearned for her to stay there, as a child, forever. Selfish I know, but true nevertheless.
Megan
I liked it here in Volterra, there were so many people to talk to and some youngsters like me. I know mom thought I was expecting them to be normal teenagers but I understood how long they had lived in bodies that still remained frozen as teenagers but underneath they weren't much different to me. Jane and I had fun making up nicknames for some of the senior Volturi according to their nature. There was Heidi hooker heaven, Demetri the sniffer dog, Marcus the black crow because of his forbidding appearance although he was actually very nice, Santiago Crusher, Chelsea Heartbreaker.
We both liked the same kind of books and music and for the first time, I had a real friend.
Alec was a little more complicated. He didn't like to be seen as a kid so acted formal and stuffy at first but slowly he let his guard down and eventually the three of us were inseparable.
What they didn't know of course was that each I met gave me their gift too. Mom and dad had been very strict about keeping my own gift a secret. I guessed they didn't want me seen as a freak for a long time but eventually I understood it was more serious than that. I learned about the Romanians and how if they could capture me they could force me to help them regain the throne of our world. Of course, they couldn't really force me with threats against myself. They couldn't get close unless I wanted them to but by threatening people I loved. Not everyone had a special shield. As dad had told me, "With great power comes great responsibility, remember that." I thought he was really cool to be quoting Spiderman's Uncle but when I told him this he rolled his eyes and told me to look it up. Well, how was I supposed to know it was attributable to various historical figures! I guess I still had a lot to learn.
I finally met my Aunt Alice while we were here. I knew she was in Volterra and I was nervous about coming face to face with her but as it turned out I needn't have. The physician in the citadel had been working with her and the voices had stopped. I was surprised to discover that mental instability wasn't all that rare in vampires. I guess when you think about it the idea of eternity stretching out before you with no need to rest and nothing to work towards could cause depression.
Alice was actually very sweet and I could see why dad had been attracted to her in the first place although I preferred my own mom. She was more down to earth and adult. Alice was more like another kid more interested in fashion and movies than finding a purpose in life. Uncle Garrett came to see her a couple of times but he hated Volterra and she didn't seem to miss him much so I guess it was inevitable that he would get married again and Alice had signed the divorce papers readily enough.
We planned on staying a couple of weeks but I was having such a great time that I prevailed on them to extend it to six weeks. One reason was that Jane told me there was going to be a grand ball to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the Volturi. Now I ask you, what girl would risk missing a ball?
The only disappointment was that Jane already had an escort, a young guard called Cosmo. He was cute and I understood why she'd agreed to go with him but it left me alone. Dad said he would go with me but that meant either leaving mom out or me turning up on my dad's arm and I didn't fancy either of those possibilities.
I was reading in the courtyard stopping every few minutes to listen to the fountain when I heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Alec.
"Megan, I've been looking for you."
"Sorry, it was such a nice day I thought I'd take advantage of the sun."
Looking at the way his skin shimmered in the sunlight it struck me that he was actually quite good looking.
"What did you want me for?"
He shrugged and perched on the edge of the fountain base looking a little uncomfortable. An alien expression for him.
"I was just wondering if you had a date for the ball?"
I shook my head, "No. I don't think I'll go. It won't be much fun on my own."
He suddenly looked happier and I frowned as he spoke up.
"That's great…" seeing my expression he hurried on, "Sorry I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I meant it's good that you don't have anyone because I wanted to ask if you'd go with me?"
"You? Oh. Yes, why not. I'd love to."
I felt a strange excitement as he smiled back at me.
What was it? Could it be I was falling for Alec Volturi?
We sat talking for an hour. My book forgotten on the ground beside me and only when he had to go did I get up and make my way back to my room having to return for the book I had forgotten when I was halfway back.
I told mom about Alec's invitation and she was glad for me, maybe because she and dad could now go as a couple without feeling guilty but when dad found out he wasn't best pleased. According to him, I could do much better for myself but who? And where?
"I agreed to go with him."
"Are you sure? I wouldn't have thought Alec was your type."
"Type? I don't have a type. Besides he invited me, no one else did. Heartbreaker offered me a choice of dresses so I have to go try some on."
"Who?"
"Heartbreaker. I mean Chelsea."
I almost skipped out of the room singing "You will go to the ball, Cinders."
I distinctly heard dad groan as I did so. Still, he'd get used to Alec if this turned out to be something bigger than just a dance date.
I had never seen so many dresses in one place, not even a department store! Jane had come with me and three of us had a great time trying them on. I'd never worn such elegance and felt like a real princess. I finally decided on a silver floor-length dress encrusted with diamante flowers and we were able to find sandals to match in the huge stores. It seemed that even vampires liked to be seen in the best and once worn clothes were put into the stores for others to borrow. What a great idea, access to loads of expensive clothing without having to go out and buy it.
Jane offered to do my hair for me and I agreed before realizing that mom was going to be put out, she always did my hair. I would tell her that I didn't want to hurt Jane's feelings, she would accept that excuse and it gave Jane and I more time to gossip.
Now it was only a few hours before the dance and I was whiling away the time in the archives. I'd put my tracer program on once more in a futile attempt to find Darius. What would it be like to be going to the ball with him as my escort? I closed my eyes and tried to imagine it. The very thought gave me shudders but it was stupid. He was gone, not coming back, and not going to contact me ever again. I stopped thinking about it before it ruined the mood for the evening. I intended to enjoy the ball and make memories with Alec.
