*** Hello everyone! This is it! Its finally here! We are going to find out what exactly Lily is! I hope you all have enjoyed the journey it took to get to this moment. I only ask that nobody comment what she is without a spoiler warning! ***
11 hours and 36 minutes.
11 fucking hours and 36 minutes according to google maps.
Not including the drive from Forks to Seattle.
Then getting through security.
Sarah demanded coffee from Starbucks, forcing the family to nearly miss the plane.
How Carlisle, Jasper, Sarah, John, and Lily managed to make it to Italy in one-piece amazed Lily to her core.
John and Sarah had invited Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper over for dinner the next night to discuss what the family should do moving forward.
Carlisle immediately offered himself as an escort.
Jasper was exceptionally quiet, but his eyes were black with emotion. The Major was out, Lily could feel it. He just hadn't spoken yet.
John and Sarah appreciated his offer but stated that they weren't looking for a chaperone for their daughter or a ticket. They needed a guide to speak with Aro Volturi.
Carlisle's jaw dropped momentarily before he composed himself.
The conversation eventually progressed to the five of them going to Italy and Esme would stay home with the rest of the kids. The Cullens were extremely worried for their human compatriots. Aro had specifically stated not to bring them, yet Sarah and John could not be convinced to stay behind.
Lily was both thrilled to have them there with her and scared that it would make things worse.
John had simply said to let him, and Sarah handle it.
Sarah had booked their hotel for half the week. Her hope was that hey would handle this business within the first night so that the family could relax and enjoy the rest of their time away from home.
It was ridiculously hopeful, but that was just the type of person Sarah was.
John just hoped that they all made it home safely.
He also was trying his hardest not to be the overprotective father regarding Jasper being there. Carlisle had booked a room at the same hotel as them, but John wasn't blind or born yesterday. He knew Jasper had been sneaking into his daughter's room. He was human, not stupid.
His daughter was still a teenage girl and for however old Jasper was, he was still a male.
Sarah had promised John that she had spent a great deal of timing talking to Lily about boys and her relationship, girls, and everything else she could think of. She just tried to remind John that they had been in love most of their lives together. Some people just get lucky early on.
The alternative wasn't worth imagining if she could help it.
They landed reasonably late in the afternoon. Carlisle and Jasper took particular care to cover their skin, despite the cloudy weather which Sarah found odd.
They weren't 100% sure what the Cullen's were, but they had their suspicions. Ultimately, whether someone transforms, ages, dies, lives forever, or howls at the moon she didn't care. She just wanted answers for her daughter.
They ate a quiet dinner in the hotel room, with Carlisle and Jasper going over the plan once more in the privacy of the hotel.
Jasper was holding Lily as she sat on his lap eating her fettuccine alfredo and water. He hadn't let her out of his sight or hands reach since they left Forks except for her to take care of her bodily needs.
He wasn't trying to be overbearing, he just found he couldn't focus if she wasn't near him
He had to know she was safe.
He had to make sure she was okay.
He wouldn't allow any harm to come to her. Ever.
"John, Sarah, I really wish you would stay at the hotel. Please, don't tempt the Volturi," Carlisle pleaded once more, hoping to change their minds in the final stretch of their journey.
Sarah had enough. "Carlisle, John and I will be going. That's the end of that. End of discussion. We don't know who the Volturi are, or even what you all are. We know that our daughter is special and this secret society you are part of may have information that can help her get the answers she needs."
She sighed before continuing, grabbing John's hand with her own. "We know its dangerous. We understand that there is a real possibility of us not being allowed to leave or quite possibly live. But Lily is our daughter, and nothing will keep us from supporting her any way we can."
"The Volturi won't see it that way Sarah," Carlisle begged once more in his calm but worried voice. "Lily reaching out is already a huge risk because she isn't a member of this. . . club. But her two very normal adoptive parents? You both have no real reason to be involved in any of this. They are very black and white when it comes to rules."
John snorted "Carlisle, you have adopted children all around you. For one instance do you see any situation where you would let them face anything without your support?"
Carlisle was quiet for several moments. "Once, and it resulted in the near destruction of my family. I am trying to avoid that from possibly happening again if things don't go well later tonight." He looked down at his hands that were clasped together on his lap before catching the other two adult's eyes. "Lily is very much a part of my family, and with that includes you both. I know with everything going on that we haven't had much spare time to formally get to know each other well, but I don't want to see anything happen to my family that thankfully keeps growing."
A moment passed as jasper hugged Lily tighter to him, trying to comfort her. John squeezed Sarah's hand. Carlisle continued after the moment passed.
"The Volturi aren't the bad guys, although some of my children feel differently. They are essentially the law-and-order keepers of my society. Every society inevitably ends up with some sort of justice system and those who enforce it, whether large scale or small. The Volturi are ours. There are three Kings who are brothers. Aro, Marcus, and Caius. I spent some of my time with them, and they truly are brilliant people. But they cannot afford to be seen as weak. I fear that if they let you both in, they won't be able to let you leave."
John and Sarah knew that was a possibility. They weren't quite sure what that would entail, but they knew it was a possibility.
Just as they knew if they hadn't come, the decision would have likely still been the same for them.
They believed that they would get through this one way or another as a family, just as they had the rest of the past events.
The Cullens left to return to their rooms and freshen up while Lily and her parents did the same.
Esme had helped Sarah and Lily pick out outfits to wear, while Carlisle had helped John. It wasn't to say they didn't know how to dress. But when it comes to meeting with an unknown group of people and an undisclosed location involving supernatural beings, the dress code was a bit harder to navigate.
John ended up wearing a dark 3-piece grey suit with a light blue neckerchief, and a silver watch his father had given him when he graduated high school.
Sarah was wearing a matching light blue colored pantsuit with heels, her hair done up in curls.
Lily was wearing a simple but elegant gray evening dress with her curls down, and flats.
The variance in their outfits was purposeful. By showing Lily as small, young, but clearly something a little otherworldly they only increase the vibe she was trying to project. Sarah and John dressing in something like what Carlisle, Jasper, and the rest of the Volturi members would help them to look like they belonged, even if their heartbeats gave them away.
Carlisle led the way to the rental car he had ordered, a sensible black four door sedan. His children loved their sports cars, but he preferred oldies or more sensible cars.
The drive to the Volturi castle and subsequent underground parking garage was quiet, and the tension was thick in the air.
They were allowed into the garage and were met with two guards immediately after Carlisle pulled the car into a spot.
"Carlisle, it has been too long," a tall, thin, darkhaired man said with a Russian twinge in his voice. "I see you brought extras," he continued, frowning. "The Masters will not be pleased."
Carlisle shook the guards' hands before introducing everyone to the two guards. "Dimitri, Chelsea, this is Lily, Jasper's mate. Jasper, my son whom you're familiar with. These lovely couple is Lily's parents, Sarah and John Wilson.
The guards, Dimitri and Chelsea, did not look impressed nor did they reach out to shake the hands of the humans that had been brought along. Instead, they turned their red eyes on to the two humans and inspected them before smirking.
Chelsea, who was smaller, blonde, but no less vicious or strong shrugged and smiled at the humans while addressing Carlisle. "At least your family is keeping us busy."
Lily shuddered, feeling the threat that statement very much was.
The two guards led the group through several different hallways and corridors before eventually taking an elevator down several floors. Once they left the elevator, they were greeted by a friendly human looking girl at the front desk. Lily was shocked to see another human but had been told that the castle employs several of them with varying amounts of knowledge about the supernatural world. The caveat was that they would either end up dinner or eventually turned as the cost of their jobs.
"You're right on time!" she said brightly. "I'll buzz you in."
With that the giant rounded wooden doors opened on their own, and the main room was revealed.
The floor was polished marble while the walls, which had large support beams of marble holding up the ceiling and providing decoration. The walls were polished stone.
And at the end of the hall were three thrones, all equal in size and decoration. Sitting in each of the thrones were three incredibly pale but regal looking gentlemen.
In the center a man who looked to be frozen in his 20s stood up, arms stretched out in welcome and a plastered smile on his face. "Carlisle! My dear friend! A pleasure to see you home once more!" the man said, his voice echoing in the room.
Carlisle stepped forward towards the man, his arm reaching forward to meet the man. "Aro, It truly has been." The shook hands like old friends before anything else was said.
Lily thought it was weird, having them hold hands in silence, until she remembered an important fact.
If that was indeed Aro Volturi, then he was a tactile telepath.
The elaborate greeting was just an overly polite way to read his friends every thought.
Lily started to shake from nerves. Jasper was standing slightly on front of her, protecting her from the biggest threats in the room as best he could.
He was doing everything in his power to keep the room calm and peaceful.
He could pick up on Lily's nerves.
Sarah's bravery.
John's determination.
And the sickening feeling of fear that was threatening to engulf them entirely.
He hoped his gift worked on everyone, but he wasn't sure if the Volturi had acquired anyone that could shield his gift from them yet.
"Major Jasper Whitlock! What an honor to finally meet you in the flesh!" Aro continued, releasing his friend's hand and moving towards Jasper. He didn't offer his hand, not did Aro offer to give his.
"I hope you forgive me, but there are some things I would rather not have in my mind."
"No offence taken Sir," Jasper said politely.
"The other three here I do not recognize. I can only assume you my darling must be Lilliana Rose. Is that so?" Aro asked excitedly.
"Yes, and these are my parents John and Sarah Wilson," Lily announced.
Aro frowned slightly at the introduction of her parents. "I distinctly recall instructing you not to bring them."
"I have the letter here, Sir, where you actually wrote that you would not suggest bringing them to this city," Lily replied, taking a steadying breath to stay calm. She reached into her side satchel which contained the letter in question as well as other copies of documents and a note pad. Pulling out the letter, she passed it to Aro from behind Jasper.
Aro Took the letter but disregarded it and held onto her hand momentarily.
Lily sighed, feeling a headache starting to form in her mind.
Aro laughed gleefully before clasping her small hand with his other hand as well. "My dear, it is an absolute pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Aro released her hand before moving back toward his thrown, talking as he went.
"Unfortunately, we have some legal matters to discuss before we can move forward. You have knowingly brought two humans into the heart of Volterra. Two, defenseless humans. Carlisle, have I not been incredibly lenient for you and yours?" Aro sounded angry towards the end of his speech.
"You, one of my oldest friends, have allowed your family to run wild. Your eldest son has fallen in love with a human, left and managed to convince you all to forget the rules, and intended never to turn or remove her. Then, while he was suicidal over the miscommunication, we instead chose mercy, hoping that he would come to his senses. Then, Isabella Swan showed up with one of your daughters without an invitation to my home. We graciously gave her the time requested for her to be turned, and yet there is an army of newborn in your territory, and she is still somehow still human? Now, there is another child of yours getting tangled up in humans!" Aro threw himself onto his thrown in exasperation.
"You, Carlisle, seem to have been abusing our friendship."
"My friend, I promise you no ill will, or thought was intended. My eldest son has. . . seem to have finally come to his senses. The date is set for her turning. I have their wedding invitation here to personally deliver it to you, my kings." Carlisle stated, pressing the inner pocket of his suit.
"All elaborate pretty turns of words Carlisle. Even now you cannot deny the additional humans brought into my home. Ones that were specifically hinted that they were not welcome."
John cleared his throat, getting the attention of everyone in the chamber.
"I apologize for my wife and I's intrusion into your home sir. However, this is our daughter. What parents would we be to allow her to travel across the planet into a dangerous unknown alone?"
"Ah, but you see Mr. Wilson she was not alone. She has her mate and his father. She was very well protected. She doesn't need you," the blonde-haired king who appeared to be in his early 20's as well to Aro's right stated, almost bored with the conversation.
Aro frowned at his brother. "Caius, don't be rude to our guests."
"Brother, I am simply stating the obvious. She doesn't need the blood bags. She clearly only ended up in their laps by some sick cosmic joke."
"Caius," the final brother said. He looked to be in his early 30's, with dark hair and dark red eyes. "I can see their bonds. They have a familial bond no different than any other parent child combination. It is pure and true."
Caius pouted before leaning his cheek on his hand against his throne's armrest. "Fine. but my point still stands. She wasn't unattended."
"Marcus is right Caius," Aro interrupted. "But you are as well." Aro turned back toward the humans. "She wasn't unattended. Yet, despite knowing the risks and consequences of being involved you came anyway. Why?"
"She's our daughter. We will support her always." John said simply. "I don't care who you are if being honest with you. I think it takes an awful lot of audacity to tell a child that she shouldn't inform her parents she's running off to another continent to meet with God knows who or what you all are."
Hissing came from the surrounding guards, but Aro held his hand up to them quitting them down. "I'm sure he means no disrespect loved ones."
John snorted, causing Sarah to smack his arm. He didn't relent though.
"I truly don't care. What matters to me is that you may have answers my daughter deserves to know. You're her best bet now finding out as much as she can about herself. So whatever test you need to do to prove we are on her side, and will do whatever we can to help her, lets do it already."
Aro raised his eyebrow before turning towards Lily.
"My dear, are you sure you wish for them to be involved? You realize you are condemning them to their fate."
"What fate would that be," Sarah interjected, stepping forward. "That is for us to decide, not the responsibility of a teenager."
Aro made a lop sides smile at the woman. "Well, that all depends on what you and your husband already know combined with whether or not you will be let in on the secret."
"Aro, stop toying with them," Caius complained. "You aren't a cat, and they aren't mice."
"Exactly brother, otherwise our dear friends would have most likely eaten them already" Aro joked, smiling over at Carlisle. "They will be your responsibility one way or another my friend. You realize that."
"They are my responsibility Sir." Jasper interjected. Aro turned his head in curiosity at the quiet man's interruption. But Jasper continued.
"They are my mate's parents, making them mine. We have kept them as distant from the situation as feasibly possible. But, in Forks it has been unreasonably difficult to maintain a sense of normality."
"How so, Major?" Caius questioned, leaning forward.
Lily remembered that Caius had been the most militant of the kings. He didn't have a power like his brothers. Instead, he was simply brutal and vicious.
She found it somewhat comforting to have Caius interested in Jasper verses one of the other kings. She didn't know much about Marcus other than he had lost his mate and could see bonds. He was also the most withdrawn, nearly a shell of a person, because of his torn mating bond.
"Victoria, mate of James, and coven member to Laurent, were traveling across the western coastline of the United States. James took sport in hunting Isabella Swan. Edward eventually ended the male but did not realize Victoria was his mate.
Victoria raised a newborn army in response, resulting in the added attention on our kind in the area. We again handled that situation.
Finally, Lily showing up to Forks was honestly the biggest blessin' in my life, living and undead." Jasper's southern accent started to leak through. "Ideally Forks, Washington should settle down now. The family is getting ready to move on to another state, as our time there is nearly up. That should end the suspicion once our departure from the area happens."
"And yet what of her parents?"
"That is, as always, your decision my kings. However, it would mean everything to me and my family that you lean on the side of understanding than ruthlessness. Don't punish them for the mistakes of others."
Lily couldn't believe what Jasper was saying. She knew her parents risked being turned into vampires, she wasn't stupid. She hadn't realized that the Volturi would still be upset about Bella and take that out on her and her parents.
The fact that Jasper was calling them out on that fact both pleased her and scared her. She was thrilled he was helping stand up for her and her parents, but worried about the ramifications of it within his own family.
"Excuse me," John interrupted once more. "You have a skill that involved mind reading, right? Well do your thing and make your decision. My daughter has been through enough stress and emotional turmoil." John started walking forward as bravely as he could manage. When he got to Aro he held up his hand, as if he were reaching to shake Aro's hand.
Aro stared at John's hand before looking at him directly in the eyes. Aro stood from his thrown and shook John's hand.
Nobody said a word.
The room seemed to grow in the absence of sound.
Aro sighed before holding his hand out to Sarah. "If you would humor me my dear. I promise, it won't hurt."
Sarah turned toward John, checking him over before looking over at Jasper. Her eyes telling him to protect her daughter at all costs. He nodded at her silent request. She took a steadying breath before walking up to stand next to her husband.
Aro took her hand gently in his much larger hands, engulfing it with their size. He closed his eyes as he read through her every memory, every thought she had ever had.
He eventually released her hand from one of his before he leant forward and kissed the top of her hand gently. "Thank you my dear. You and your family are safe, I assure you."
"Brother, we aren't all privy to your brain! Explain your reasoning!" Caius demanded, sounding frustrated.
John and Sarah walked back towards their daughter, their shoes clicking against the polished floor.
Aro was talking too quickly and quietly for any of the humans to hear, but the vampires in the room did.
Sarah hugged Lily closely to her before John joined in, but he never took his eyes off the kings.
He didn't trust them, but that didn't matter.
If they delivered on their end of the deal, he would keep his no matter the cost.
"As Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have proved beyond any reasonable doubt, they are trustworthy. I do believe we need to be keeping a better eye on our neighbors in the world though. They've both been exposed to far more than vampires in their short lives. But that's a separate issue dear one." Aro began. He sat in his thrown once more before signaling for everyone to come closer. Lily, John, Sarah, Carlisle, and Jasper all moved forward in a diamond fashion. Carlisle was in the lead, jasper was in the rear, Lily was in the center, and her parents were on either side of her, essentially encapsulating her.
She felt loved, protected, and most important secure in her choice to come after all.
Even if she was terrified.
"Now, dearest darling Lily, why don't you step forward and have a seat. You as well Mrs. Wilson, how terribly rude of me. Especially with you in heels on this floor!" Aro insisted. In the blink of an eye, two cushioned ornate seats appeared for the women to sit in, the men standing behind them.
"Now, down to business. Upon meeting you my dear, I have to say that my brother and I's suspicions have been confirmed." Aro began, sounding very much like the talented storyteller he was.
Lily felt she would get emotional whiplash if she stayed in his presence too long but was too intrigued to interrupt.
"Before I begin, I must inform you that from this moment onward, your parents will be let in on yet another supernatural species secret. We take our own secrets incredibly serious, as well as the secrets of our distant family members and other. . ." Aro paused at that, looking for the right term. After a moment, he seemed to have found it. "Categories of beings. Humans are incredibly destructive. They have little regard for this planet we all share, even though their actions have just as much an impact as everyone else's. We don't intend to be cruel, but too many have paid for this secret with their lives. We owe it to them to continue to honor their sacrifice."
Aro paused again, looking at his brothers before turning back to Lily. "What you are, my dear, is something called a Daeva." Aro let that information sink in for a moment. "Do you. . . know anything about them?"
Lily shook her head. "Not really. I know only what I was able to google, but there wasn't much there."
Aro nodded. He raised his hand in the air before motioning to someone to the side. They returned with a few books and two scrolls. Aro had them placed on a table next to him.
"We don't interact much with them, as they are incredibly solitary by nature. There are some enclaves throughout the continent, but to be honest we neither know where they are or have access to them."
He continued. "There are three main elements for Daevas. First, there is Air. they focus on the storms, breezes, etcetera. The second is water. That is self-explanatory. The third is your element, Earth. Each one has a special skill that the other two elements can't accomplish. Air can fly, but while earth and water elements have wings, they cannot truly fly with them. Earth can heal and do unsurmountable damage or growth depending on how they use their skills. Water elements can breathe underwater as easily as if they were on land.
There are only ever female Daevas. They seek out strong male subjects to breed with. Males are often abandoned as they have no use for them, Female children are always cherished. The fact that you were orphaned and abandoned is truly a mystery my dear." Aro frowned after he finished his last statement. "They don't abandon their female children or family members. The fact that you were says one of two things. Either you were stolen from your family, or that they were killed in order to obtain you. I am sorry for your loss and subsequent suffering." Aro truly sounded sincere.
"Thank you. . ." Lily said quietly, looking down at her hands. She had taken out her notepad to write the information down that she was given but found that her hands wouldn't work. They were shaking too much to be of much use. Jasper leaned across her, took her notebook, and started to write down the information for her. "I've got you Doll." He whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek.
She nodded gratefully before looking back up at Aro.
"Should I continue my dear?" He asked, genuinely wanting her to be alright before he continued.
"Yes, I apologize for getting emotional."
"It's quite alright dear. I cannot begin to understand what you may be going through. I can barely read your thoughts, so my usual methods of comforting are of no use here."
"You can't read my mind?" Lily asked, shocked.
"Not well or clearly. I suspect Edward may have a similar issue. I have run into three of your kind in my several thousand years traveling this Earth. Each one was the same regarding me being able to hear them."
"Unfortunately, they have both passed on. Your kind don't normally die, but it can happen if you are injured severely enough or simply wish it to happen."
"What?" Sarah asked, shocked.
"Daevas can cease to live once they get tired enough walking this Earth. Eternity is a burden as much as a gift Mrs. Wilson. Some of us grow tired of the journey and simply seek to rest."
Aro turned back to face Lily. "I have a contact that you can reach out to. They may not be interested, so I cannot guarantee their response. I can only hope that their love of their children will help them see that you are simply one of their lost ones. I truly hope it provides some comfort for you my dear." He reached out to hold her hand.
"I cannot tell you what a calming relief your presence brings with the silence. It truly is a gift to have met you, Liliana Rose.
"Please, call me Lily. Thank you so much for the information and your time."
"Of course, dearest Lily. I have some additional books and scrolls for you to bring with you. Do not worry, they are copies of the original so you may keep them. I only request that should we desire a bridge between the Daevas and Vampires that you would be willing to help close the gap, if you would be so kind?"
Lily knew it was the price of the information, and it was a price she would gladly pay.
"Now!" Aro said, standing up from his thrown. "I do believe it is time for our supper. While we would love to host, I fear for your parent safety. Please, enjoy your time in Volterra. Please, do not linger. It is unsafe to stray from the inner city at night. I would hate for an accident to occur."
Carlisle thanked Aro once more before bowing to the kings. Jasper did as well as John. Sarah and Lily curtsied as best they could from the practice Esme had given them, but there was only so much a few hours' worth of practice could accomplish.
The family was escorted by the same guards to their rental car before they were left alone.
The drive back to the hotel was quiet but quick.
They had done it.
They found out what Lily was.
More importantly, they had all survived the encounter.