Marina tried her best to forget about yesterday. She killed. Without thinking. She had released the arrow and watched as it penetrated the vampire's eye, setting his brain on fire. She watched as he burned away to nothing as the smell of burning sugar and death choked the air. She had watched as her friends were nearly killed. The thing that scared her the most was how she would do it again if she had the option. If she knew the vampire was going to attack, she would have not hidden the bow and arrows and killed him the second she smelt trouble. Marina was terrified at how powerful she felt, notching the arrow and staring down her predator as he became prey. She killed a vampire. The weakest, smallest of the Volturi.
She needed to talk to someone. Marina went to find Tiago, but he was sleeping. He had woken up a few times. Everything had been blurry and heavy, his head ringing and pounding. He felt like crying for no reason and his broken ribs felt like he was being strangled as the popped in and out of place. Many were surprised he even lived. A day old new born, in the wild rage of full blown bloodlust, had thrown him against a stone wall that was several feet thick and all he got was a terrible concussion and crushed ribs. Marina let him sleep. Her father had spent all night mothering her and although she had been in shock at first, tears and snot, she wanted to talk about something other than Are you sure you are okay? and I should have been there to protect you and her personal favourite You could have died. Marina was thankful for her father teaching her how to use a bow, but the person who had really saved her was Donovan. If he hadn't showed her how to make the arrows deadly to vampire not a mere half-hour before they were attacked, they really would have died. Marina now knew who she wanted to talk to.
She found him downstairs in the training room. He was doing push-ups, clapping every time. Donovan was nervously working out, keeping his mind busy as he still tried to process that Jane had said Yes to a date with him. He didn't even know what he should do. "Why did you have me kill the vampire?" she asked, trying to make her voice sound confident. He paused jumping up quickly. "I taught you how to make your arrows kill vampires. I am nothing more than a Modern Prometheus. You chose to save your friends by slaying the vampire," he smiled his Cheshire cat smile, "Aro was the one who chose to have you battle him. I just happen to teach you a valuable skill that saved all three of your lives."
"But how did you know Aro was going to attack us?" Marina was growing frustrated. "Good luck and little intuition," he turned around and climbed up the wall, spiderman style, before hooking his legs around a pull-up bar and started doing sit-ups.
Marina took a deep breath, "I am thankful for your help. I am sorry for being so rude. I am just having a hard time processing, that's all." Donovan smiled a warm earnest smile, "I could help you more. Felix and Demetri have been doing an excellent job teaching you all, but I do know a couple more tricks up my sleeve. I remembered the first time I killed a vampire. I never felt so powerful in my life. I was no longer weak and defenseless. I know you felt the same way. I could help you learn how to kill. That is, if you think you can handle killing again?"
It was very tempting. She would have to kill regardless of Donovan's help. It was what the children were created for. To serve Aro and be Guards for the Volturi. It was on the job description and if she had a birth certificate, it would be stamped on it also. She already had blood on her hands. She had killed a vampire who would have killed her family. There would always be vampires who were going to either harm her family or be a danger to innocent beings. She could be a tool for justice.
"What do you have in mind?" was all she said smiling.
Damien woke up disoriented and with a mild migraine. He had no idea what time it was, but felt the initial panic that he was going to be late for class. Nearly falling over a couple times, he threw on the first set of school clothes he could find on his floor and stumbled up stairs. When he burst through the library, he found only Alec curled up by the warm sunny spot near the window reading a book. Many of the Guards joke that Alec had been a library cat in a previous life. Skittish of loud, grabby strangers while spending his days lazily curled up in warm, comfy spots amongst pages and pages of books. "You are finally awake?" he commented, carefully placing his book mark, since he thought doggy-earing the pages was a crime that deserved capital punishment since books were to worshipped not vandalized by laziness. "What time is it?" Damien yawned, confused. No one was to be found. Judging by the placement of the sun through the window, it had to be the late afternoon. "Nearly five. You want anything to eat?" Alec offered, concerned after yesterday. The book he had been reading was a medical journal (sadly from 1938). It talked about nose bleeds and how to judge the severity of them. Since Damien's yesterday was not from either impact or allergies, had been extremely heavy to the point where the blood game out in black gushes, and the many other startling symptoms, Alec was very worried there might have been more damage than what was seen on the surface and there might have been brain trauma.
"I need to head to class. Where is everyone? I didn't see them downstairs," Damien hoped he wouldn't get in trouble for missing Demetri's class. "Classes were put on hold for a couple days. You are welcome to go back to bed," Alec smiled trying to reassure his son. Something wasn't right, Alec didn't normal smile like that unless something was wrong. "Where is everyone then?" Damien was worried. Alec's smile dwindled, "Last night Aro let loose a newborn on the other children as a test. Unfortunately Tiago was injured. We thought it would be best to let you both sleep today."
"What about Marina and Olivia?" Damien hoed nothing bad had happened to them. "They are all fine. Olivia is in the Main hall with Chelsea. Marina is outside with Demetri. Tiago woke up a couple hours before you, but decided to go back to bed and is still sleeping," Alec smiled more genuinely. Damien felt relieved and disturbed at the same time. He knew this would happen. He had felt Kyle attack the others, clawing at Olivia, throwing Tiago against the wall. The need for blood and blinding thirst. Of Marina standing small like David fighting off Goliath as she let the arrow fly. If he had been better about warning people, maybe Tiago would not have been hurt. Instead he was incapacitated on his hands and knees on the tile floor of the washrooms, head face in a toilet. But sadly his future had all too soon became their past. There was nothing he could do about it know and the wisest thing was to accept the things he could no longer change.
Relieved that today would be a slow, quiet day, he padded back down stairs to where he changed back into his pajamas and curled up in his sheets which still held the wisps of warmth. He cracked his journal open, determined to stay focused and lucid. He felt awake. Too awake to sleep from the panic of being late. So he tried drawing a picture of the DeLeale's. He wanted to visit them again. Christmas had been fun and he felt more at home with them then here amongst the Volturi. Eliza's warm smiling eyes. Tommy's laughing belly. Enzo's round dimples and messy dark hair. A simple, happy family. It felt nice to do something fully conscious and aware of what he was doing start to finish. He debated on adding himself to the photo but couldn't bring himself to do it. Tearing it from the sketch book, he hung it next to a picture of Jane and Alec he had drawn behind the door to his closet. Technically he was still not allowed to talk to humans and Christmas had proved that he was the only one who even respected humans.
He felt a weird shift in the air. Somehow he knew upstairs the TV room was now empty. This was rare since many of the residents in the Building sought entertainment from the long boring thralls of immortality. Many of the times he had gone in there, other people had control of the one remote and he never had a chance to have an opinion in what was watched. Now was his chance as made only a quick stop to steal a couple cookies Joan had made and a mug of hot chocolate. Creeping in his pajamas, he rushed to grab the remote as he sunk down into one of the sofas. He flipped through Netflix on the XBOX before settling on a show called 'Sherlock'. He had read many of the 'Sherlock Holmes' books and rather enjoyed them. It was a fun game to try and figure out who the murderer was. Half way through Joan came in watching two episodes with him before going up to make herself dinner.
Alec soon came in and curled up on another couch, hiding partially in a blanket that was draped over his head and wrapped around him. He was wearing only a pair or baggy grey sweatpants and an over-sized dark blue hoodie with the sleeved pushed up to his elbows. It wasn't his casual attire, Damien had only ever seen him in his Guard uniform, but rather the jagged deep scars that were sliced into Alec's thin wrists. They were very old, but still alarming since he had never noticed them before. "Have you seen Doctor Who? It's pretty good," he suggested, quickly rolling his sleeves down once he caught Damien staring. The show wasn't half bad. Although nonsensical at times, as opposed to the cold, quirky logic of Sherlock which Damien was familiar with, he rather enjoyed the creativity of it. But Damien also just enjoyed sitting, watching the show quietly with Alec. They hadn't spent much time together, even when he was home. And when they were able to spend time together, they both struggled with communicating verbally with each other. But both felt at home warmly curled up, not being the centre of attention. Although he never told anyone, Alec felt a lot of pressure being a high ranking Guard. He was expected to perform like a machine and was the one people counted on in a fight to have the Volturi win. He was chosen to be the first to create a dhampir purely because he was considered the best. He still struggled grasping the concept that he was a Father. But now he was able to breathe easy watching 'Doctor Who' curled up in a fuzzy blanket. He glanced over at his son who was doing the exact same thing, arms wrapped around his legs, resting his chin on his knees as he intently watched the show. Alec was just happy he was okay after yesterday.
Eventually, Alec decided to move to sit next to Damien. The younger boy first seemed startled, use to having a bubble of personal space and not being touched by people, but then relaxed as he rested against Alec. This set off Alec's personal space bubble alarm, but he too let down his walls and wrapped his arm around Damien. Both realized that maybe physically touching someone wasn't the worst thing in the world. Damien breathed in Alec's calming scent of fresh rain and chamomile tea, feeling calm and drowsy as Alec relished in the ball of warmth curled into his side. The Building was chilly for a human during the winter due to the lack of body heat from the other inhabitants and the rusty, old gas pipes that barely coughed out warmth. Any day now it seemed like they would give out. The Building laughed at the idea of a fire code and other safety requirements. This idea disturbed Alec.
A small whimper made him jump. Looking down he saw Damien was asleep, but kept clenching and unclenching his fists as his face winced at whatever strange dream he was having. Alec tried to sooth the bad dream, rubbing his back and humming whatever odd tune Jane used to sing to his son when he was a baby. The song always seemed too familiar, like he had heard it before. Foggy images of walking hand and hand with Jane through tall trees as dew brushed their dirty, bare toddler feet. Don't get lost, you two, a woman's voice sang as she pulled her long blonde hair away from her face, bending down with a wicker basket, reaping an assortment of strange plants. He and Jane ran to their normal hiding place. Want to see what the faeries have left us, Jane whispered, excitement in her large eyes. Their mother had told them storied of the faeries who lived in the dark wood. But if you offer them shelter, they will bless you with good luck. And so they would spend their afternoons building faery houses out of twigs and dried grass. Occasionally they would find red bird feathers or silver thimbles. Small presents left for them. These were the memories he had fought to hold on to.
Looking down at his sleeping son, his face was now relaxed. His lips twitching into smile every now and then. His mind in a happier place. Alec pushed up his sleeves, and looked at the old scars bitterly. Most had not been one's had done himself, but rather the priest who claimed to be "saving his soul through sacrifice and reconciliation". Most. His human life had been much different than his vampire life now. No matter how bad things got here, they would never be comparable to the Hell that was his humanity. "Stop it," Damien gasped out, almost begging. Alec looked down, he was still very much deeply asleep as he mumbled in coherently, "We didn't do. Please stop." The same words Alec had begged on hands and knees for years, too weak to defend himself. Damien's eyes screwed closed, trapped in his dream. One that mirrored Alec's memories. Quickly, Alec started scrambling to remember something. The first time he had seen the Grand Library here in the Building. His fresh red, newborn eyes lit up in excitement. Books had been a luxury as well as knowledge. You can read book in here you want, Aro had told him, every word in here is now yours. Damien quickly relaxed, sighing.
"Let's get you off to bed," Alec said to himself as he scooped his son up in his arms. He smiled when he felt him bury his face in Alec's neck, little puff of warm air brushed his skin with each even breath. Alec tried to set him down as gently as he could, unhooking his arms from around his shoulders. Hesitating at first, Alec curled up in the warm bed too. He didn't need to sleep, but he loved the feeling of the heavy blankets and ability to block out the world around him. Or most things at least. He didn't mind Damien hiding his face in his side. Or the feeling of safety the dark room provided. The clashing warmth and pulse of his sleeping son. Looking at him, it was still hard to believe he was this dreaming child's father. I created this, Alec smiled to himself, and although I didn't chose to, I am happy I did.
Jane eagerly felt the days tick by slowly waiting for New Year's Eve. And when it finally came, the girl was a nervous mess. She had never been on a date before. Boys never dared. The few vampires that were close to her age often ran away terrified of the monstrous demon girl who tortured people for a living. Yet Donovan, with all his quirks and flaws, was a moth to her internal flame. She felt like a normal fifteen year old girl around him, butterflies in stomach wondering how a boy like him could love a girl like her. Jane didn't know what to do for the date. Should she wear so much make up no one recognized her? Should she wear more casual clothes than her Guard uniform? Was she even going to wear the right underwear? Sex hadn't even crossed her mind until now. Jane was perfectly satisfied with soft touches and the occasional kisses that made her feel like she was on fire. And in a good way this time. But now that she thought about it, Donovan would be living with her for a while. If not forever. He was maybe her mate. She didn't even know if he was her boyfriend. If Donovan became her mate, sex was inevitable as well as marriage. She suddenly felt very fifteen, wondering how she had gotten herself into this serious of a relationship overnight.
She tried doing her own make-up and only ended up looking like a circus clown. Or worse, a five-dollar hooker. None on her clothes were "In-style". World War I would call her style "vintage". All though Donovan always acted and treated her like she was pretty, and even hot, she still felt very self-conscious about her appearance. She was too thin. Her hair plain. She was a basic, white girl with zero ass. Her body was covered in scars and burn marks. There was a reason she and Alec covered themselves head to toe to neck for the last nine-hundred years or so. The bombing only gave her fresher, uglier scars.
Heidi heard a knock at her door. Jane stood there fidgeting. "I need your help. I have a date and I want to look as pretty as you," Jane mumbled embarrassed. Heidi was the only one she could turn to. Chelsea would say she was helping to do her hair and probably shave her head instead. The wives would make her look like a one-dollar hooker and give her spine tingling sex tips that would make her not want to know how they knew them. Already she was still mad at Aro for not keeping it in his pants.
Heidi only smiled welcoming her in. She and Marina had been working on improving her German. Marina wanted to stay and see. She wasn't as girly and vane as Olivia and the wives, but she was curious how Heidi, her mother figure, used make-up. Heidi's job required she looked so drop dead gorgeous, she could turn a nun lesbian if she needed to. Her power made her the thing that everyone desired. In many definitions sadly.
Jane was instructed to sit on the stool in front of Heidi's vanity. Heidi slowly took out the hair tie holding Jane's hair back as she gently brushed it. Aro had required Jane to keep her hair tied up. It made her seem "less like a child". Now it lay freely on her shoulders and back making her seem several years younger and very vulnerable. "I don't see why you need my help. You are beautiful just the way you are," Heidi complimented, "Make up is nothing more than a mask to conceal the real you."
"What if I don't like the real me?" Jane wavered. "I know Donovan does. He wouldn't follow you halfway around the world if he didn't. And he followed you without a hint of make-up," Heidi tutted as she plugged in a strange device that looked like a stapler. "Well why do you wear make-up then?" Jane scoffed. "Because I too hide the real me, but from humans. As we all must," Heidi sighed. "And from Demetri?" Jane smirked. Heidi's brow furrowed and her mouth twisted. She looked at the small girl sitting on the couch in her room, "Marina, you are not to breathe a word to anyone, especially your father. Understand?" Marina nodded. "This is going to remain a secret to just us three girls," Heidi whispered as she began to straighten Jane's hair, "I do in fact have feelings for Demetri. But I feel as if his are misplaced. He only thinks he is in love with me because of my ability. Everyone falls in love with me, whether I want them to or not. It's very hard since you know they will never love you for you, but rather what you look like on the outside. If I didn't possess this ability, he wouldn't even notice me and probably would be sleeping with anyone in a skirt. I love him, but he doesn't love me. Not really."
Both girls were in awe. Heidi, the strong woman who they very much admired and respected, did not see herself as worthy of love. The most beautiful woman in the world did not see herself as pretty. Marina felt she needed to speak up, "You are wrong. He is constantly talking about you with me. He wants to tell you how he feels, he's just scared you don't feel the same way. He never once mentioned your beauty, if that wasn't obvious enough. He thinks you are compassionate and very intelligent. He admires who you are on the inside, where it really counts. You both just need to give each other a chance."
Heidi was quiet as she straightened Jane's hair. She had forgotten how long it was as it nearly reached her tailbone. Knowing how Jane was accustomed to having it up, she braided it leaving it half up. "We'll see. I am very content with my life. I don't need a man to be happy. As neither do either of you," Heidi said warmly. "But do you want a man?" Jane asked. She didn't even know the answer to her won question. "Possibly," Heidi laughed as she unplugged the hair straightener. Next she helped apply some concealer so Jane did not look as corpse pale, but rather just human standard pale. Heidi carefully contoured Jane's face to make her look a couple years older, while still looking like Jane. Her cheeks blushed with a false warmth and her eyes were now a shocking blue thanks to contacts. They seemed to stand out more with the now black lashed and dark lined almond eyes. Her lips rich with dark red, fuller than ever.
All three could not help but giggle as Jane tried on outfit after outfit. First it was a poufy pink princess dress, then a grey pants suit. Fish net stockings were compared to a black funeral dress. Heidi had her try on something called a "Push-up bra" that worked wonders for her A-cups. Finally they decided on a black pencil skirt with tights that made her look like she had an ass, black knee high boots that made her a couple inches taller, tight red V-neck shirt and a grey designer leather jacket. Heidi respected Jane's desire to cover her scars and burn marks while still making her look gorgeous. Jane looked in the mirror and found a twenty-something succubus who looked like the leader of a bike gang. But all of it was Jane. No longer was she "adorable and cute". Now she was "Hot and even Sexy". "You look amazing! I wish a boy would ask me out on a date," Marina gushed. Jane and Heidi exchanged looks thinking the same thing. It was nearly a no-brainer Marina and Tiago would most likely be mates one day. The only people who didn't seem to see this was Marina and Tiago. "You day will come sooner than you expect," Heidi laughing.
They had time to kill before sundown and Jane dreaded waiting in her room alone. Or worse she would be sitting there awkwardly as he got ready. Heidi noticed how Marina seemed to be eyeing her make up. "Want to try some?" Heidi mused. Marina almost felt like she was being offered drugs. She had seen how make up and fashion obsessed Olivia was and she didn't want to be like her. But a little wouldn't hurt. Heidi promised to help her wash it off afterward. It tickled as her lids were painted and eyelashes pushed against. It was hard sitting still as Heidi teased her hair into neat corkscrews. Her cheeks itches with blush. But in the end her eyes glowed an unearthly sapphire and lips a soft pink. She looked like a pre-teen, almost as pretty as Olivia. Heidi was careful to make her seem more on the lines of cute and innocent. It felt inappropriate to sexualize a small child.
Marina soon went to find Tiago who was rolling around outside. He was feeling much better and was desperate to play outside after being cooped up for so long. He kicked the futebol against the Building wall alone. But once he saw his best friend, he missed the ball as it bounced away. Tiago was stunned. Marina stood there, blushing in her white stockings and robins blue tea dress. But she looked different somehow. It was enough to make him pause and stand there in awe. He wanted to tell her how pretty she looked, but the words escaped him as he awkwardly opened and closed his mouth. "H-Hi," she stuttered. He looked rather cute with is messy dark brown hair, his joyful amber eyes, his bronze skin. "Do you like it? I wanted to know your opinion since you are my best friend and all," Marina mumbled out. Tiago was too confused to speak. Why did the phrase 'best friend' make him feel like his just re-broke his ribs? "Yeah, wow. Just wow," he managed to get out. He smiled to himself as Marina blushed deeper. "I also wanted to ask if you wanted to watch the fireworks with me tonight? I heard they have a show at midnight and there is a great view from the north tower balcony," she hated how warm her cheeks felt. She was just asking her best friend if he wanted to hang out with her. Why was she so dang nervous? "Sure I would love to. Is it okay with our dads if we stay up past our normal curfew?" Tiago grinned like an idiot. "I think so. He told me about the lookout spot and said I could stay up. I don't see why he would have a problem with you watching them with me," Marina laughed trying to break the tension.
Donovan had never felt nervous around a girl before. He was use to charming girls with a wicked smile and a cheap pick up like only to end up hooking up in a bathroom somewhere to be soon forgotten. Now he debated taking a second shower, checking to make sure he hadn't missed a spot shaving, that his hair was the right balance of looking effortless and styled perfectly, that he had in fact put on deodorant, and that his breath smelled nice. He felt like an awkward teenager. When he asked Alec for date ideas he only shrugged saying he didn't know what type of dates his sister liked. At least it was helpful that he had been given nicer clothes as part of his new Guard uniform. After changing several times, he decided on a nice pair of dark grey pair of slacks and a black button down with a red silk waist coat. Around his crisp collar was his new Volturi Guard pendant.
The fresh cut on his thumb still throbbed, even though it had healed two days ago. By the pricking of my thumb, a voice purred in the back of his mind.
He heard a knock on the door and Alec announce it was him. Donovan had a feeling this talk was coming. Alec looked around Jane's room awkwardly, not making eye contact, "I just wanted to say-"
"That if I hurt Jane in any way you'll try to kick my ass again?" Donovan laughed without humor.
"No. What I want to say is good luck. You are the first person she has ever fallen in love with and she, as well as I, have very little experience when it comes to love. I may not trust you yet in every definition, but I do trust you when it comes to her and I trust you to not force her to do things she may not feel ready for yet. Many people forget we are frozen at fifteen and that it is hard for the both of us sometimes in situations where we are forced to act more mature than we are mentally and emotionally trapped as. You were the one who saved us from the bomb and helped us catch the real threat. You have never put her in danger ever and I trust you will continue to do so. I also know it is not my job to say what my sister can and cannot do. It is her decision to choose who she loves and how she loves them," Alec still refrained from eye contact as he continued as the words seemed to spill out of him, "I also want to thank you for everything you have done for this coven in the couple days you have been here. Although some of us have been critical, your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Especially the other night when you helped Marina. I know how much Damien looks up to you, even more so than he looks up to me. I hope you continue, through all your humble quirks, to be a good role model for him and for the other children. If I can be honest, I have no idea what I am doing as a father. I already lost one kid and I really do not want to lose the second."
Donovan was stunned at Alec's short speech. He had never heard him speak for that long uninterrupted. What also shock him was the last part. He didn't know Alec had another kid, or that the child had died for that matter. For all he teased Alec for being small and other things, he was realizing that Alec had a lot more to him than what he had always perceived. This was the first time Donovan got a glimpse into a sliver of vulnerability in Alec. Of humanity. It scared Donovan because it made him feel a wave of regret and hesitancy inside himself. He almost wanted to tell Alec that the bomb in New York had been his. The guilt was crushing him as he saw the genuine humility in Alec as he thanked him for saving them. It made his throat feel tight and head dizzy and very, very scared. Donovan realized he that maybe he might just be in love with Jane, as twisted as it sounded. He was lying to both of them about so many things, both wonderful and wicked. He wasn't the role model Alec wanted to Damien. Donovan wasn't the hero. Donovan wouldn't be the hero.
When it was safely dark outside, Donovan met Jane at the front entrance holding a wicker basket with contents Jane was unable to see. The fallen angel before him left him unable to speak. Jane had always been beautiful in his eyes and now he couldn't think straight. She walked up, like a baby fawn, and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I can't believe we are basically matching! Ready to go?" she asked, hooking her arm in his.
They walked out into the crisp winter air. Many other couples were enjoying the festive evening. Christmas decorations hung like ghost of jollier times while the air of new beginnings whispered in the air. Promises and resolutions of change and becoming better people. Both of them had changed. When Jane had first met Donovan, he had been a surly drunk hiding out in an abandoned apartment after the death of the only person he ever cared about. When Donovan first met Jane, she had been a girl who had complete faith in her creator and never defied orders. Now he was in classy attire, strolling with the girl he loved in an Italian Plaza. Now she was strong willed and several chains on her mental restraints broken as she had her first real taste of independence and freedom as a young woman. And both felt love and more importantly worthy of love.
They debated going to one of the fanciest bistros in the city, but decided against it. "Too much garlic," Jane cringed. "You are kidding right? I know garlic doesn't actually hurt vampires," Donovan chuckled. "No, but the smell can be very over powering and vomit-inducing in authentic Italian cuisine," Jane stated flatly. "How about you give me a tour of the city. I am willing to bet there is a lot of great history here," Donovan suggested, amazed by all the statues and gothic architecture of the many churches and tan brick buildings.
Jane explained how the centre fountain had been a gift from the city-state of Athens. How it was rumored that St. Marcus had chased all the vampires away from the town and was hailed the patron saint of Volterra. The many ancient buildings and all their significance. They both gave up counting how many alcoves and churches there were. The Catholic influence was more than obvious. "I have never been a fan of churches," Jane confessed. "Oh, do en-LIGHT-en me. I am BURNING to know why," Donovan teased as she swatted his arm. It was not funny to her. It wasn't just them being falsely accused of witchcraft, which she didn't believe existed, it was the years and years of abuse she and her brother faced after their mother disappeared one night and they were forced to be wards of the local priest. The many nights they went hungry because "They did not deserve food since they were Satan's children". The times he would feel her thighs and chest saying "You already probably fuck the devil, you filthy whore. Bet you weren't even born a virgin." When his wife caught him attempting to rape her when she was only ten, he claimed that Jane had been the one to force herself on him and that she had used some dark magic to seduce him. Soon the town scorned her and treated her with less dignity than a prostitute. The times she had found Alec unconscious from "The good father teaching the hell-bound sinner and purging his soul through suffering here on earth as penance." The penance was a leather belt or worse a knife. The towns people laughed and joked that Alec self-harmed with all the many clean cut scars and slices on his arms, saying he wasn't man enough to just kill himself already. They never knew that the man who led them all to heaven was the one who made their life Hell in the truest form. For as bad as things got with the Volturi and Aro, nothing could be worse than their lives as humans.
"Both Alec and I have yet to step inside a church since the night we were put on trial," Jane said through gritted teeth. "A vampire scared of Churches?" Donovan laughed slightly scared at the new fire burning in her eyes, "And who gets sick smelling garlic. Maybe Hollywood wasn't too far off."
He grasped her hand, sighing, "There is only so long Aro can play the I Saved Your Life card, you know. Someday you won't owe him anymore, like you have for the last nine-hundred years. One day both you and Alec are going to need to live your own lives." Jane knew he was sadly right.
The night was still young and Donovan had other plans. He still wanted to keep it casual, since it was only a first date after all. It was only a half hour run to Venice and he had planned to take her on a Gondola ride. He purposely asked for a captain who did not know English so they would be free to discuss anything they felt like without endangering any secrets of any sort. To his surprise, Jane had never been on a Gondola in her centuries of living in Italy. Yes, she had been on missions in Venice and possibly killed many people here, but it was rare that the Guards ever were able to fully enjoy the cities they traveled to. Now she sat in an ornate Gondola, her lover's arm wrapped around her as the floated down the Grand Canal. Donovan had even more tricks up his sleeve.
In the wicker basket was a green glass bottles holding what seemed to be red wine. Pulling two glasses out, he offered her the opened bottle. She was confused until he opened it and she smelled blood. B positive to be exact which made Jane smile at the play on words. He must have filled it with blood from the kitchen fridge. "I know you said no food, since you don't eat. But a bottle of 'wine' seems appropriate for touring Italy," Donovan shrugged, filling her glass. Jane was in awe with how romantic this evening was turning out to be. And from Donovan.
It seemed like as soon as she thought she pinned him down and understood him, he changed into something else entirely. Even as the floated down the canal, his turquoise eyes seemed to switch between grey, blue, and green. Three identities in one. First he was just some wandering, damaged soul living in New York, then a soft hearted gentleman who quoted classics to her and discussed architecture while riding a Gondola, then he was this completely other Thing she couldn't grasp but felt so familiar with. The thing that wondered her about Donovan was how familiar she did feel with him. Like she didn't have to explain herself because he had felt the same way before or at least the same viewpoint. Everything about her, he seemed to know without asking. He seemed to know her more than she knew herself. He was too perfect for her.
"My favourite way to make the constant stream of immortal eternity bearable and worth living is to be a tourist in my own city. Or for you your own country. You may think you know the one place you have lived your whole life, but sometimes you just need to step back and see it from the outside. Gives you a new appreciation and perspective," Donovan said wistfully, admiring all the history passing them by. All the while he was sneaking pecks to the top of her head, kissing her ears and pulling her closer. No boy had ever done this much for her and she was beyond smitten. He kept asking questions about her, wanting to know more about her family, and showing her a flattering amount of attention and carefulness.
"I am still made at Aro for sleeping around," Jane huffed, "I know what it feels like to be abandoned by a parent and it is terrible. Although Hadley did try to kill us, I see his point."
"A rich white man in power cheating on his wife. That's a first," Donovan laughed lightly. Jane laughed too realizing that for all Aro disregarded humans, he too was just as bad as them. "I still don't understand why they kept the wives all these years. If Aro has cheated on Sulpicia as Hadley said hinted numerous times, why still have her? Same with Caius since all him and Athenodora do is bitch about each other. They do nothing but waste the coven's money. Which is completely unfair since the Guards never get paid. We just get 'a place to live'. I am pretty sure the only reason the wives are still even with us is that they love our masters' wallets. That and Corin," Jane crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
"Corin?" Donovan had heard the name but he had yet to know who she was.
"Yeah, her power is that she basically drugs you. You feel extreme happiness and content with anything happening, but as soon as you are cut off you feel beyond depressed. When Didyme was killed, Aro hired her to help Marcus cope. But he refused her power and now she just basically watches the wives and makes sure them don't leave as well as keep Chelsea from turning against Aro. Aro says she doesn't use her power on us, but he says the same thing about Chelsea. Recently I don't trust that."
"Well its Aro's fault he's being a dick and has been a dick. Now he's reaping what he sows," Donovan pointed out.
"Exactly!" Jane was so happy he got what she was saying.
At the end of their tour, Donovan and Jane raced back to Volterra. They didn't want to miss the fireworks show. Jane knew the perfect spot. Making sure no humans saw them, they scaled the clock tower in the centre of the plaza. They had never been so giddy in their lives as the raced up the brisk walls. Below them a blind musician played a simple song as Donovan spun her around in his arms.
Marina and Tiago kept giggling as they snuck out to the north tower balcony. Marina said no one was coming, but they still were nervous they would get caught. She was feeling especially nervous tonight for many reasons, both involving Tiago and other recent developments in her life. Recently she had felt very nervous around Tiago, but she wasn't scared of him. She was scared she would do something stupid in front of him. Tiago was scared he would do something to upset her and make her not like him anymore. The counted down when it was a minute to midnight. They could smell the gunpowder and explosives. Ready for the brilliant lights. They had only seen them on television, but never in real life. "Cinque. Quattro. Tre. Due. Uno," the townspeople cheered. They sky illuminated with flashing lights. They had never seen something so wondrous before. Tiago nearly had a heart attack when he saw Marina lean in as she pecked his lips lightly. "Happy New Year, Tiago," she blushed before running off. Tiago watched her in a daze. She kissed him?
When Jane heard the towns people count down, she was filled with excitement. She loved fireworks. It was fire that was sculpted into something beautiful. Given Donovan's wicked Cheshire cat grin, he too loved fireworks. As soon as it hit zero, she felt him pull her close to her and pull her into such a passionate kiss her head spun as her knees turned to jelly. She felt like a fire work, both burning a beautiful. He had one hand chastely on her hip and another woven into her hair. Her hands soon laced themselves behind his neck as she felt him pick her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist when she felt him press her against a wall of the interior of the clock tower. His hands moved to her small things, pulling her closer as his breathing became erratic. His heart was nearly singing it was beating so fast. They just needed more. More of Jane. More of Donovan. More.
Jane's breath caught as he lightly kissed and nipped her neck, finding a small sensitive spot on her collar bone that made her mew like a small kitten. Her hands found his waist coat buttons as she scrambled to get it off. She had never felt the aroused in her life. Jane pulled him into another passionate, open mouth kiss as her tongue fought to conquer every inch of his warm mouth. She laughed when she made him moan into her mouth as he pressed more into her, making her feel how aroused he was. Maybe she wasn't as inexperienced as she thought.
Donovan was in heaven. His eyes were glasses over in lust and overwhelming pleasure as he felt Jane nearly rip his shirt in half. She lightly kissed his chest, rubbing her hands against his toned abdomen. He was one fire and loving every second of it. Without thinking, he ripped her jacket off, getting more access to her shoulders as he nipped and sucked at the sensitive area. A piece of ice punched his heart when he saw all the scars and burn marks from both her burning on the stake and the bombing in New York. He kissed them, hoping to soothe them and replace the damage he had caused. The way she tried to hide her moans and sighs was too much for him to handle. The way she shivered when he slipped his hands under her shirt caressing her small breasts, rubbing her hip bones with his thumbs, kissing her stomach of her disarrayed shirt. It was too much.
"Donovan. Stop," Jane suddenly said panicked, "We need to stop." It threw him off guard and took a couple seconds to sink in. She threw him his shirt as she quickly grabbed her jacket and yelled, "Someone set the clock tower is on fire. We need to get out NOW!" The walls shimmered with waves of fire. His first reaction was to put it out, after all he most likely had lost control and started the fire. But Jane was with him and he couldn't use magic in front of her.
They both jumped from the clock tower as they heard screams from the towns people bellow. To them, luckily, a stray firework must have hit the old clock tower. It was still intact and they would have the handyman fix it.
Once they were safe, they broke down into nervous giggled before kissing again. "That was insane," Jane swooned weaving her hand through Donovan's. It was one of the best nights of her life, even though all the hick ups and the clock tower combusting. Sad their date was now over, they entered through the front door. It was unlocked and strangely enough no one was at the front door. They heard voices yelling somewhere in the Building. Something was wrong.
Following the commotion, they found everyone standing around a semi-circle facing a wall. "Who could have done this?" Chelsea asked. "Is that blood?" Felix asked, "Demetri, can you tell whose it is?" Demetri shook his head, "No. It's a couple days old and at least two people. Whoever did this mixed it with rubbing alcohol so I couldn't track the scent."
Alec ran towards her, Damien in tow, "Thank God you two are alright." He hugged her close. Something was definitely wrong. Jane was too short to see what was so special about what was on the wall or what was resting at people feet. Making her way through the crowd, she pushed her way to the front. Jane froze. On the ground lay a small body covered in a white sheet. Jane peeled off the cloak to reveal Renata. Her limbs had been torn off and burned at the ends so they could never heal. The decapitated head was frozen mid-scream. The eyes had pentagrams burned into them as they stared into Hell. On the wall, in dripping fresh blood, a very simple message was written:
"SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES"