(18) "You Could Try To Fight Someone You Hated."
Odessa ran into the castle and straight to the throne room. When she arrived, shs spotted Caius; Aro and Marcus's thrones were empty. She inwardly cursed at her luck and impatiently huffed out a breath. She would have to deal with Caius and his false accusations. There was no time to wait to inform someone of the information she received. Behind her, Heidi greeted Caius and told him what she knew after he asked why they barged into the room tactlessly.
"Where is Aro?" Odessa asked. She knew he would be able to understand everything that had happened without questioning anything. Knowing Caius, he would question everything and silently wonder if she was conspiring against the Volturi along with Vera.
"He took Marcus to the wives' tower for a visit. Why do you need to see him?" Caius questioned.
"I have news about the opposition the Volturi is facing right now," Odessa started. "I thought it would be beneficial to have Aro read my mind rather than relay the events so that the events and facts are not skewed. Seeing as he is not here, I do not have that benefit. Do you think he would be inclined to meet me here and cut his visit short?"
"Marcus has been in dire need of a visit to see Corin and the wives," Caius denied, "Whatever you have to tell Aro, you can tell me. He and I are equals, after all."
"How do I know you will not try to condemn everything I say?" Odessa accused him. "You are not exactly my ally."
"You are a part of the Volturi; therefore, I am an ally of yours," Caius scoffed at her accusation. "Just because I dislike you and do not trust you doesn't mean I am your enemy."
"Fine, but I will be speaking with Aro after this." Caius tried to protest, but Odessa cut him off. "It is not because I do not trust you to relay everything without bias - although that certainly is a thought. I do not trust myself to have decoded everything she has said with accuracy. Vera is known for dropping hints when she talks, but I have never been good at recognizing them. It would do us some good if Aro had a look at what she said and shared that information with you and others."
"Very well," Caius spoke. Then, he addressed Heidi and said, "Heidi, leave us. I believe this is a private matter."
"Of course, Master Caius," Heidi bowed before she left the room, leaving only Caius and Odessa in the room. It was weird being the only two people in the throne room. Usually, there were at least seven people in the room at a time - the three leaders, Renata, and three other vampires to help guard in case of a disaster. And while much of the time the room was quiet due to the peaceful nature of Volterra, the silence in the room was palpitating. Odessa was intimidated by Caius's stare and his position. He sat upon his throne, slightly elevated due to the steps leading up to the three thrones. He sat with his legs crossed and the back of his hand leaning against his cheek. A bored yet attentive expression adorned his face.
"Do begin," Caius waved Odessa on. Odessa tensed and automatically straightened her already straight posture.
"Of course," she said. So, she told him everything. She told him how Vera had taken her to a secluded and dark place to talk without prying ears, how Vera had warned Odessa, how she had threatened Odessa with Alec, how Vera had confirmed that there was an inside man - someone who knew things about Odessa, how they were going to attack for days. As Odessa relayed everything that happened with Vera, she couldn't help but be stuck on the fact that someone was feeding Vera information. She knew it couldn't be anyone in the actual Volturi. They were monitored too much to be able to go under the radar for so long.
"Wait repeat what you said," Caius interrupted her thoughts. Odessa looked at him in bewilderment before she tried backtracking to figure out what he wanted repeated.
"No, no, no!" Caius shouted impatiently. "The attack! What did she say about the attack?"
"She said they were making their move sooner than we think, and they will attack for days," Odessa recited.
"That was her exact wording?"
"Just about," Odessa answered confidently.
"We will need to prepare quicker than we thought," Caius mumbled worriedly.
"Does that mean something?" Odessa asked. "Is there some kind of long event coming up that they might use as a distraction to attack?"
"No, you nitwit," Caius insulted her quickly in irritation. "For days, they will attack. Four days."
"They are attacking in four days," Odessa echoed in realization. "How did I miss that?!"
"You said it yourself earlier: You aren't smart enough."
"Did you just call me stupid?"
"In more or less words," Caius smirked. "Now, then. It is important we inform Aro of these recent events. While four days is certainly not enough time for others to construct a plan, I am adept at doing so. Judging by Vera's words, they will be attacking the castle directly."
"How do you know that?"
"She specified that the Volturi would burn. The only way to do so would be to attack us head on. They must have enough people on their side to stage a full-frontal attack. This is worrisome," Caius trailed off as he stood up and left the room. Odessa blinked a few times and looked around the room awkwardly before she left as well. She had no idea what they would do about the attack. How could they execute such a plan when there were so many out of the castle, including the main guard? Would Alec be all right? Would Vera target Alec out of pettiness? Odessa felt stupid in that moment. How could she let Vera go? She should have taken control of her essence and taken her to the castle to be interrogated. While Vera wasn't the only one involved in the uprising, she was a key pawn in their plans and there was no doubt she had valuable information. Odessa shouted in frustration and punched the closest thing to her - the wall. A gaping hole was left where her fist connected, and a pile of broken brick and dust settled on the floor.
"What's wrong, Odessa?" Heidi asked as she took in Odessa's bedraggled self. She placed a hand on Odessa's shoulder reassuringly and crouched down so she was eye level with Odessa's slumping form. "Do you need me to get someone for you? Perhaps Santiago?"
"No, no, I am fine," Odessa said as she pulled away from Heidi. She didn't deserve Heidi's kindness, not after she left her side and disobeyed the parameters set out for her. Not only had she missed an opportunity to gain more information by letting Vera leave without a trace, but she had also left Heidi's side and possibly got her in trouble.
Heidi took a step back from Odessa, too, and studied her. She took in her hunched shoulders, closed-off face, and crossed arms. She looked guilty or worried. Heidi sighed and stepped towards Odessa. She placed her hand back on her shoulder and leaned her head forward so she could look into Odessa's eyes.
"You are not at fault for what is happening," Heidi told her knowingly.
"How-?" Odessa asked incredulously.
"I've worn the same look on my face before," Heidi said with a small smile. "No matter what the masters or even Jane says, those of us in the Volturi do make mistakes. Sometimes we perform poorly while completing a mission, and sometimes we second guess ourselves. Take, for example, the whole ordeal with the hybrid child. We were wrong. We assumed she was an immortal child and came with the intent to attack. It was a huge mistake that the Volturi is still paying for. It is okay to feel worry and guilt for something you did or did not do."
"I should have brought her to the castle," Odessa said quietly. "I have this amazing power and I cannot even use it right."
"Gift. You have an amazing gift. Do you think I have always used my gift in every situation I could have?"
"Did you not?"
"No. When I was new to the Volturi, Aro let me take missions outside of the city. During one particular mission, I was supposed to lure the humans away from the area, and I was able to lure away most of them. When I returned to the scene to help Jane and Alec, I spotted one still in the area. A little girl with the cutest dress on. Instead of using my gift, I held a hand out and beckoned her to come to me. She didn't, and she was killed for my mistake."
"Why did you not use your gift?" Odessa spoke up. "Surely, it would have created a different outcome."
"You are correct, it would have," Heidi answered wistfully. "I hadn't thought to do it at the time, but as soon as the girl was being killed for accidentally witnessing the eradication of two unlawful vampires, it came to mind, and I felt immense guilt."
"It must have been hard," Odessa commented.
"It was, and that's why I know how hard your guilt must be hitting you," Heidi concluded.
"I should have brought her here," Odessa repeated. "I should have, and I did not. Do you want to know why I did not, Heidi?"
"If you are willing to share."
"Vera asked me to join her and her cause. She told me I would be spared if I joined them. All I could wonder in that moment was if I came across as desperate wanting to belong as others think I am. I was so angry that I shouted at her and told her that her plans would not succeed," Odessa admitted.
"There's nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it is easy to forget that vampires are as susceptible to emotions as humans are," Heidi said.
"I know that better than most," Odessa snorted. "No, I - it is so hard for me to trust others and feel like I am with them rather than against them. Looking back on my conversation with Vera, I never associated myself with the Volturi. It was always 'they' and never 'we', always 'them; and never 'us'. Even during my conversation with Caius, I referred to me and the Volturi as two separate identities rather than one."
"It takes time to trust others and feel like you belong," Heidi reassured her. "I certainly felt like an outsider when I joined due to the reasons for my joining. Even with my earlier hostility and your unfamiliarity with Afton and Chelsea, you tried to interact with us. You tried to be included, and you wanted to be seen as trustworthy. You are trying, and as long as you try, you can succeed."
"I do not know if I would call it succeeding," Odessa mumbled.
"You have gained the friendship of Santiago and Felix, Chelsea and Afton have no qualms with you and are willing to befriend you, I already know I can trust you and I am sure I want to be your friend, and you have gained the trust and friendship of the two most guarded people within our coven."
"Alec and Jane, I presume?" Odessa asked with a light laugh.
"Yes," Heidi laughed along. "Do you know how long it took for me to get Jane to talk to me as if I wasn't beneath her?"
"She is hard to befriend," Odessa agreed. Her body language was much more open and laxer. She still felt guilty for what she had done, but she felt better knowing she didn't have to. Caius said he had a plan, and if the rumors were true, then Caius was a pro at battle plans and war. Besides, the Volturi were powerful and had strength within their numbers. They were the biggest coven in the vampire community and contained the most gifted of the vampire world. If anyone could overcome such strong opposition, it was the Volturi.
"Are you done playing house?" a taunting voice asked. Odessa scoffed and spun around with her hands on her hips.
"Are you done trying to sound like a cool guy, Santiago?" Odessa scoffed playfully. Santiago chuckled and waved her off.
"I am cool," he argued.
"Sure, and Marcus isn't depressed," Heidi said.
"You wound me," Santiago gasped. Then, he grew serious and said, "Caius has informed Aro of what has happened. Aro has sent word to Alec, Jane, Felix, and Demetri. Hopefully, they will return by the end of tomorrow. Aro wants to see your memories, Odessa. Once he cross references them, he and the other masters will discuss a plan in more depth."
"Come to my room afterwards," Heidi said to Odessa. "There won't be much time before all of this to hang out and relax. Better do it now than later."
"Alright," Odessa agreed.
A day later, the four main guards had returned to the castle. Everyone was busy with planning and preparation for the attack ahead. Odessa wanted to spend time with Alec and ask him how everything went. She wanted to make sure he hadn't encountered anyone abnormal or wasn't attacked or hurt on his mission. But there was too much going on at once. She could tell Alec felt the same way by the longing glances he kept sending her way. When she caught him staring at her, she'd smile at him and mouth 'later'. He'd nod and lightly smile before wiping his face of emotion and getting back to the matter.
The last two days passed quickly, and everyone was ready for the oncoming battle. The city had been set on a curfew, something Odessa had no idea could happen. The Volturi had a deep and long relationship with the city officials, so it was easy for them to keep the humans at bay. Few vampire guards were kept throughout the city, and the ones that were stationed outside were low ranking vampires that could signal when the opposers were in sight. On the night of the attack, the castle was quiet and tense. Everyone was in position. Odessa was waiting by the front entrance, ready to face an attack by many due to the nature of her power. Felix was stationed with her in case she needed backup. Alec was positioned at another popular entrance, ready to take away the sense of anyone. Santiago was with him. Jane was stationed with Demetri at the third entrance. The six of them were the front lines - the strongest of them all in the Volturi and ready to hurt anyone in their way. Among the next line of defense was Afton, Chelsea, and Caius - who was eager to fight again after years of being dormant. And in the very center was Aro with Marcus and Renata.
They waited for hours expectantly, but nothing happened. And when the sun came up and still there was no attack, they reconvened in the throne room with confusion. Where was the attack? There was no signal from the outside, no warning of arrival, no yell nor whisper of anything.
It wasn't until a human burst into the room did they figure out what happened. An angry city official strutted into the room and pointed a finger at Aro. Caius narrowed his eyes at the motion and hissed in annoyance.
"Mind your appendage before I rip it from your body," Caius hissed out.
"You have no idea what happened in the city, do you?" the man asked incredulously.
"What is the meaning of this, Alessandro?" Aro asked politely.
"While you were here holed up in your castle, hundreds were slaughtered in the dead of night!" Alessandro yelled. A sob broke through his voice as everyone in the room stared at him in disbelief. "My own parents died because of a fight brought to this city!"
"Are you saying that hundreds of people within this city were killed by the hands of our species?" Aro asked. His teeth grinded together and his hands clasped together tightly.
"Yes," Alessandro cried out. "It's a massacre out there, Aro, and the mayor wants to know what you're going to do about it."
"Do not worry, Alessandro," Aro said. "All of this will be taken care of. Please do tell Lorenzo to keep the city on lockdown. We wouldn't want this to get out, yes?"
Alessandro nodded his head and left the room quickly. As soon as he left, Aro growled loudly and threw his chair at the wall. He ran a hand through his hair, removing the clip keeping his hair back and putting it back in place to calm himself down.
"Demetri, find every scent you can within this city and report to me any familiar scents," Aro started, "Heidi, make sure no one leaves their house, and if they do, escort them back home. Alec, take Jane and investigate the Northern part of the city. Chelsea, take Afton and investigate the Southern part of the city. Odessa, find our lookouts. If any of them are alive, do bring them back to the castle. Santiago, stay with Corin and the wives. It appears our lower members aren't competent enough to succeed in their missions alone. Caius, Marcus, and I will be speaking with the city officials to make sure word does not get out about this mess. If I find out that any of you are slacking, I will dish out the worst punishment imaginable. Do I make myself clear?"
"It appears we have been made a fool," Caius said angrily.
"And that was their first mistake," Aro growled out.