Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who has followed this story so far. Much love to my wonderful followers and reviewers. Y'all rock! All mistakes are my own. I do NOT own the characters, I just play with them... consensually. I'll go away with my weird jokes now. On with the chapter!

Last Time...

"You still have very much to learn about the Volturi. Shall we begin there?"

Isabella nodded, allowing Aro to pull her to the nearest section of bookshelves. By the sheer number of books, she knew this would be an arduous task. With Aro as her guide, however, it was an intriguing one.

Chapter 5

Aro's Study— Afternoon

The rich mahogany desk taking up much of the space on the first floor of Aro's study was now covered with multitudes of volumes, scrolls, and parchments. Each held its own piece of history, that he eagerly explained to Isabella as he stood before her seated form.

Recounting it all appeared to be a well thought out performance of his, each inflection and pause enrapturing as he moved back and forth, an almost languid pacing in front of the desk she now sat at. "Each part of human history has been somehow touched by vampires. In the beginning, immortality instilled fear in the hearts of many. This superiority, biologically based and entirely irreversible, wreaked havoc and destruction across entire continents." His fingers skimmed the map he had unfurled in front of her on the desk.

"Colonization and expansion of many civilizations was a bloody task— one that vampires knew well. The Dacian coven, as a coven that predates our very existence by one thousand years, thrived from such dynamics. They ruled from the horror they bestowed freely on the population of Romania and neighboring lands. By 500 AD, our coven held enough gifted members to overthrow their tyranny."

"Some would say that we are also tyrants, Aro." A soft voice spoke from the doorway, catching Isabella's attention. Aro stiffened slightly at this, before turning to greet the lone vampire.

"Marcus, I was just discussing our history with fair Isabella."

Marcus nodded seriously at this, gliding forward to stand next to his brother as he held Isabella's gaze. "Yes. An important task." He said somewhat dreamily as his eyes averted to the side, seeming to gaze at something else altogether. "I do wonder, what you say to these coven's claims, however. Are we, in fact, tyrants as they may say?"

"Covens such as the Cullens?" Isabella spoke up, her question more factual in nature.

"Precisely, my dear." Marcus smiled at her. "It seems that the mind reader and your relationship is strained with distaste and malice towards us. We musn't allow misinformation if you are here to aid us." His gaze flickered to Aro, unusually lively with something either of the pair could not place.

"Despite our beginnings in battle with the Romanians, we have sought order and peace within the vampire world. Our enemies have only been scorned by their own doing, well aware of the laws we have set to maintain such peace." Aro's gaze darkened. "Such order must be obeyed. If refuted, what lies in its wake defies the very nature of humanity we still cling to. Centuries ago, following Spanish colonization… What we found is something that we, even as monsters as some may say, could not bear to repeat. It is an unfathomable darkness that has spread across many corners of our world. You are familiar with the Spanish Inquisition, yes?"

Isabella winced and responded in the affirmative.

"It is yet another example of what our kind is capable of when left to their selfish greed and bloodlust. Catholicism spread like a murderous plague across North and South America, as you call them now. As you know, some of the civilizations they colonized disappeared altogether, along with millions of lives for their God."

"All of them were vampires?"

Aro paused, looking at her softly. She was clearly disturbed by the information he had given her. "Do you want my honest account, or something more palatable?"

Despite his careful regard of her, Isabella swallowed her emotions as best she could. "Your honesty. Please."

"No, Isabella. They were not all vampires, the Conquistadors. Vampires can catalyze the deepest desires of mortals. Many of them are dark, violent…. Vampirism is only an exaggeration of what humanity already possesses. We are capable of much, but not of anything your ancestors and their peers did not already consider, want, and act upon."

Each tragic account described by Aro began to blur together into a familiar pattern; humans were just as capable of monstrosity, as monsters were capable of humanity. This revelation left her shaken to the core— something that Aro had picked up on, but left unspoken.

Suddenly, a sharp knock came from the door, startling Isabella. This earned a chuckle from the vampires.

"Enter." Aro spoke, looking somewhat annoyed at the interruption.

Jane appeared a moment later, momentarily glancing in Isabella's direction with distaste before turning to Aro and Marcus. "Master Aro, Master Marcus." She bowed, eyes cast to the floor. "Your presence is requested in the throne room."

"Thank you, Jane." He looked to Isabella, his brows furrowing for a moment. "Do fetch Isabella a cloak, we wouldn't want to give her away, now would we?"

—

Afternoon— Throne Room

The sight of the fully assembled Volturi guard was an impressive one. To human eyes, you could hardly tell where one vampire ended and the other began amongst a sea of black— other than the piercing red eyes and somber expressions. There must have been close to 60 members filling the circular room; their very presence led Isabella to believe this was of an important nature, compared to the 8 members she was greeted with upon her arrival.

Despite disapproving and perplexed stares, Isabella stood with the elite guard, comprised of Jane, Alec, Demitri, Felix, and a few others whose names she could not quite place. Felix was to her left, Alec to her right, all clad in dark cloaks with the hoods drawn up ominously. Given her unexpected arrival, she was surprised to find that her own cloak fit quite perfectly.

All eyes locked on the large doors as they opened, revealing a group of three vampires. One was clearly the leader, moving forward three feet in front of the other two who flanked him. Just looking at him, Isabella could read his ill intentions. Deadly, red eyes narrowed as the blond leader beheld the kings before him.

"Welcome to Volterra, dear friends." Aro's voice echoed in the chamber, eerily friendly and inviting despite the palpable tension. He descended quickly from the dais, arms outstretched invitingly as he took in the group before him. "Who is the leader of this nomadic coven?" He posed the question, head cocked to the side in apparent interest.

"I am." The blonde man hissed, his jaw tight with the anger that radiated from his form. "We have done nothing to earn your scrutiny."

"Is that so?" Caius bit scathingly, matching the nomad's intensity. "Your pathetic attempts at deceiving us are foolish. The complications you created in North America over the past week have warranted our precious time."

Aro tsked. "Yes… quite a messy clean up too. It was almost unheard of that only three vampires could cause such a disaster, hm? If you truly are as innocent as you say, will you attest to your honor?" Aro extended his palm expectantly.

"Pathetic?" The vampire laughed, earning hisses from the surrounding Volturi guard. "Pathetic are your feeble attempts at saving yourselves. And by whom? A human girl."

"James no!" The fiery red headed vampire cried, anticipating her companion's next move.

There was then a blur of movement of several figures; Isabella's jaw clenched as she prepared for some sort of impact she knew was coming, but alas there was nothing. She looked up to meet the crimson eyes of James; deep cracks marred the features of his face and neck, stemming upwards from the slender fingers that acted as a vice grip around his neck. Isabella realized that it was Felix holding him, with Alec and Demetri securing his arms behind his back.

Two other guards were poised to rip the heads of the other two coven members' heads from their shoulders. Aro glided forward circling the incapacitated vampire, rigid as a cobra prepared to strike on well-knowing prey. "Cauis is correct, you are incredibly foolish. You insult us with your attempts to harm one of our own." His hands came up to rest on the vampire's cheeks, James' eyes bulging in panic. "How interesting." He spoke after a moment, absorbing the nomad's memories before ripping his head off with a piercing, metallic screech.

"Dispose of them." Aro spoke with finality, turning to Isabella with a sigh. Beckoning her forward, he took her gently by the arm and escorted her from the room.

—

While she had expected to go back to Aro's study to resume their work, she was surprised to find herself back in her rooms. What surprised her even more was the care the ancient vampire took with her— in making sure she was soon warm and cozy with a blanket, an oversized chair, and cup of tea in front of a blazing fire. Aro occupied the matching foot stool, her feet in his lap. It was curious to her how natural this seemed.

"He came to kill me, didn't he?" She was not aware of the tears until his cool fingertips brushed them gently from her cheeks. The nature of this intimate moment was not lost on her: it was vulnerable for both.

"Yes." He answered simply, turning his gaze to the fire. "James and his nomadic companions reached an agreement with our elusive enemy some months ago. They killed thirty humans in northern Canada, quite publicly, to garner our attention. Once they were brought here for their trial, he was instructed to kill you by any means necessary, much to his mate's dissatisfaction."

Isabella nodded numbly, soothed by the circular pattern Aro now traced on her ankle. "His thoughts didn't reveal who it was."

Aro nodded in affirmation. "Are you, as you said, 'okay'?" He asked awkwardly in his attempt to mirror the modern language she had used earlier.

He was rewarded with a small laugh. "As best as I can be. Thank you, Aro. Really. But.. uh…you don't need to tend to me, I know you have many important things to do."

"There is nothing more important to me now than ensuring your safety, Isabella. It is clear that whomever threatens us is aware of your presence, and seeks to wipe you out. I will not allow that to happen. I promise you."

Author's Note: Let me know what you think! Next chapter, I will answer questions left in reviews of this and previous chapters— so long as they don't spoil things I have in store. ;)