Pandora
Chapter VIII:
Firework
Edited by YanaTG and updated on 11/05/2020
I've decided to put original version of Pandora (chapter 1-18) on Dropbox (as PDF). Dropbox has two options you can choose from: with reviews replies or without.
Dropbox links are in my TUMBLR ACCOUNT: sunset-wishes-upon-hill
Thank you to those who have read, reviewed and favourited my story:
iidony- Thank you, since Carlisle is Aro's (only) long-time friend, the Volturi will most likely to listen and perhaps extend mercy in regards to Jessica's involvement to the vampire world.
Lilly1315- Yep, Demetri simply views Jessica as some interesting and novel kind of toy who doesn't seemed to hold much distain toward vampires.
Jabulile- Oh wow, thank you! It's really nice of you. I guess you're right about the type of person I am. People around me do comment that I tend to be forgiving and always finding something to be empathetic in every single person I meet, even to those who might not deserve it. Sometimes, it's too much that it does get me hurt and into trouble. Always been since child and I think me choosing psychology just heightened that slightly. BTW, you'll see more of Jessica's inner working in this chapter. Sorry for late updates..
Bigj200016- Hmm, it depends on what you mean by gifted. Gifted as in obvious, supernatural powers? Or something more intangible and subtle like in Esme's case. I still unsure about whether to have her supernaturally gifted or something more. In terms of Bella and Jessica's relationship, there will be some tension due to differing opinions about vampires. I liked Jessica's character in the book and wished Stephanie extended a bit more on other side characters hence I decided to write what if one of these side characters discovered the main character's world!
- Thank you, hope you enjoy this!
HadeCharon93- Sorry for making you wait so long! I'm seriously bad at keeping time. But time just flows too quickly.
Queen Mo-Freakin- Yes, but people tend to behave differently when the situation happens and this is exactly how I'd wanted Jessica reacted. While she may have been adamant that she was willing to die if she were to become a vampire, but human mind and body were made to survive and survival instinct is too primal and deep-seated to overcome it completely and there's some part of her that do want to live and explore so many things world has to over. And I think Jessica would perceive it as unfair if she's killed when she's just starting to live out her life.
Mareesha- I will! Don't worry!
Lilly1315- After 80 years, I've updated…
A/N: I've had an ask on my Tumblr about making the chapters shorter but update frequent because the reader found that once I updated a new chapter they had to go back and re-read the chapter again to remind herself since I rarely update frequently so from now on, I'll put brief description of what had happened in a chapter earlier.
Previously….
Aro discovers Alec's distraction and sends him on a sortie along with Caius. Demetri approaches Jessica, curious by her involvement with Alec and finds her to be an amusing enough of a toy. She soon finds herself in the mercy of the powerful, ancient vampire clan, 'The Volturi', prompting the Cullens' to act quick and fast.
The screen read '10:28' before fading to black. Carlisle's shoulders visibly relaxed and the tightness in his expressions softened with relief. His eyes travelled behind the computer where Esme, Edward, Bella, Alice, Jasper, Emmette and Rosalie stood, and despite their reining of impetuousness, it was palpable on the tip of their fingers and tightness at the corner of their lips.
"Is…she-will she be fine?" Bella mustered the courage to break the chary silent – a comfortable denial to the thought that somehow, someone, in this room had revealed this secret. Which one of you is it? Who did it? Who dragged another innocent human into this treacherous world?
"She will be.." Carlisle didn't want to promise hope only to have Jessica's mangled body erode into other piles of flesh, bones and tendons in the sewage where Volturi discarded their 'foods', "..She will be okay." He added a condoling smile, but he could see it did little than confirm his inadequacy in this matter.
"We should go." Bella declared with conviction, her voice clear and unwavering.
"And why is she in Volterra, out of all places again?" Rosalie spoke up, seemingly irritated at the escalating disquietude in her usually peaceful, fulfilling life. Her glares were accusing, as though Bella and now Jessica had brought further unnecessary burdens on her and her family's shoulders.
"If you don't want to get involved, fine, stay out of it. I'll go on my own if I have to." Bella snapped toward the beautiful blonde vampire and even she seemed to be taken aback by the sudden retaliation and sharpness in her tone.
Emmett gently pulled her toward him, in unspoken gesture to watch her words. Rosalie, although silent, the noticeable purse of her lips and the narrowing of her eyes marked her deepening chagrin.
"I'll go too." Alice added, meeting Bella's eyes with a tender smile, "I needed another time off anyway."
Bella smiled gratefully.
"That's what he wants." Edward spoke up apprehensively, stepping forward to stand by Bella, "He's holding her as bait."
"Bait?" Bella waggled her brows, confounded by his statement, "What do you mean?"
Edward shared a look with Carlisle before hesitantly imparting a horrifying admission that pulled her to the ground and drained the colour from her already pale skin.
"To make us come to him." He eyed Alice then Bella, "And waiting for a reason to kill her."
Volturi sparsely killed humans that were not carefully selected and brought in for their food – even their secretaries, who tip toed on the precarious tightrope all in forlorn hope to be chosen, had to go through stringent criteria process to be picked for the job. It was more rare for them to kill humans in Volterra, whether they were a resident or a tourist, without thoroughly thought and discussed reasons.
But Aro willed himself to be above many things.
Even his own laws.
An insecure piece of knowledge only few living vampires knew. Most that had were long disposed.
Aro elegantly wiped the speck of blood dotted on the corner of his lip with the silvery silk handkerchief he kept in his breast pocket. The small, soft feathery material slipped and landed on top of a nameless young woman's stomach as the lower guards worked to gather all the bodies into the centre in one clean pile where they were disposed down the grate and acid was poured. It reacted harshly with the biological materials, bubbling and sizzling as flesh melted and emitting acrid fumes
"Demetri," He called upon, "How far are Caius and the others?"
"Not too far, master," The tracker answered, "They are currently crossing Venezuela into Guyana and should arrive within five days without unexpected delay."
Aro nodded in approval and said as praise, "You have done well." He had wanted the human girl delivered to him swiftly and Demetri had done so delightfully.
Demetri slightly bowed his head in receiving.
"What are you planning to do with the human, Master?" He approached curiously.
Imparting a cryptic smile to his cherished tracker, Aro replied didactically, "We just simply wait."
She was startled awake. The flimsy hoodie and jeans she wore did little to protect her from the cold, hollow air of the room and it dried up her nose and throat when she breathed it in. She swore she could see her breath vapour when she exhaled. Blinking, Jessica straightened up in alarm, frowning at the unfamiliar, expensive-looking king sized bed as a question, 'Where the am I?' ran through her mind, followed by flashes of Demetri, Aro, other vampires then…
The scream of those people.
Jessica buried her head in her knees and shut her ears in futile effort to drag those screams out of her head. Stopstopstop. I couldn't do anything. I didn't do anything. I left them to die. Yet her more logical, calculating side sharply and cruelly encountered, What else could you have done, Jessica? You, a pathetic piece of skin and bones against vampires? You would have been one of them. Food. You don't actually want to die do you?
Her mind could be so..vile. Grounding. She needed that. Something to make sense of. Something instinctual; out of her control so that the guilt won't devour her.
A heavy, solid icy object touched her shoulder, pulling her away from her noisy, chaotic thoughts. A hand. Instinctively, she slapped it away in fright. She never liked the cold. Didn't have good experiences with what the sensation brought anyway. When Jessica turned to see its owner, torn between feeling repulsed or fascinated by the impossibly bright ruby colors staring down at her with the interest of a predator gazing down at its prey, pondering whether to play with it first or go for the throat.
"I apologize for startling you." He gently said, bringing his arm down to his side as if to convey her he meant no harm. But for how long will those arms still?
"What do you want?"
"For now, you alive." He tersely revealed, "You can be assured of master's promise that no harm will come to you as long as you return the courtesy."
With all his charming smiles and cogent words, the doubt in her mind has not dissipated even the slightly. After all, there didn't seem much to keeping her alive than there was to her dead.
Narrowing her eyes, she decided to probe further, "How confident is your master in keeping his words?"
"Do not question my master's words." He admonished in a warning growl than words. Jessica flinched and for a moment, underneath those cordial, beguiling façade laid a ferocious, loyal beast ready to defend its master. A moment of silent stretched between them and Jessica wordlessly studied the shifting happening within him. He visibly relaxed and his usual friendly, charming countenance resurfaced. A rather fascinating observation as he veered from his true, vampiric self to almost something, somewhat human. His hand reached into the inner breast pocket, holding out a necklace toward her as some sort of peace offering.
"A token of his words." The dangling V-pendant hypnotically swayed in her eyes, "A warning to others that you are not to be harmed."
"So my life literally hangs on this pedant." Jessica commented, refraining from sounding condescending from his previous response to what he deemed scurrilous attack on his master's integrity.
"You shall find out soon that one should not underestimate the Volturi." He said quite coldly, "We do not give second chances. You and Ms. Swan were very privileged to be offered one."
She knew, despite her naïve cognizance of the politic and ways in vampires world, that his statement should not be doubted. As he has said, she was very lucky. Perhaps more than she actually deserved. Her life was no special thing to them yet it was her connection to Bella and to an extent, the Cullens' who had very little reasons to do so, went out of their ways, to beg for the sparing of some insignificant girl from a boring, dingy little town no one even heard of.
"Are you not going to take it?" Demetri asked, slightly pushing the necklace toward her.
She eyed it wearily, "What do I do with it? Wear it? Keep it on me?"
"You simply need to keep it on your person." He said, smirking, "I suggest you do so where it's visible. We don't want one of the guards to think you're a food that slipped away and try to finish the job."
She took it with slightly hurry, as if she wanted to live through this and not, as she had said in the past, die to avoid the inevitable. It was done with such spontaneous reflex that her past assertion seemed doubtful.
I want to live..after all. Jessica pondered, teetering on the edge of bitterness. Even with the knowledge that death was sure, however it may be, somewhere inside her still wanted to live.
The pendant was heavy in her palm, the gold chain intertwined between her fingers. But she did not put them on her neck. Unworthy. Ignoble. Instead, she pocketed it into her jeans.
"So I'll be staying here."
"Yes."
Keeping an eye on me. She noted.
"Then may I get my bags from the B&B?" She said, "I'd need my clothes and stuff."
"Of course, I shall accompany you."
Demetri led her out of her small, although so much bigger than the room she was renting and suspected the room she was given was the smallest than other rooms there were. Having Demetri as a guide meant she was able to familiarize herself with the layout of, what she later found out much to her surprise, Fortezza Medicea (also known as Medici Fortress), what is used to be a prison now abandoned, on the outskirt of the town built at the highest point of the hill that overlooked the whole area. He had explained that there was a secret passage that led from the castle to the Fortezza Medicea where vampires resided and lived. The castle was where they conducted business, trials and judgments.
Jessica timed it took them less than twenty minutes to arrive at the garden entrance.
"People are gonna stare, you know." She said.
"Hence why I shall be there first." He revealed, before disappearing in almost like static light.
She was alone. Jessica thought, then blinked and started walking toward the direction of her B&B. The thought of 'what if' and the hope that she could escape using this given opportunity was something she didn't even thought to entertain. She was pretty sure that was what he was expecting. For that impulsive 'this is the chance' and unravel the hard works Dr. Cullen had invested into preserve her life. Like a pig walking into the slaughterhouse on its own accord, Jessica scoffed. One must not let such seed be planted. She mustn't give them any reasons that would as so much her life was much expendable than it already was.
The cold pendant pressed into her thigh from inside the jean's pocket, reminding Demetri's words: "You can be assured of master's word that no harm will come to you as long as you return the courtesy."
It was not a courtesy to 'rudely' run away after they've been so 'inviting and accommodating' to a 'guest'. Jessica took a moment out of her deep musing to greet the familiar locals and even partake in a brief, trivial conversation about how each other's days has been and what they had been up to over the weekend. She was surprise by how calm and unperturbed she seemed to be externally, even managing to let out a grin and laugh over some quips she forgotten soon after saying. To others, nothing seemed amiss. Yet after all, Jessica was too aware of the sharpness of the necklace pulsating against her skin.
It took her twenty minutes to arrive at her B&B, two minutes to climb the stairs to her room and a minute to unlock and close the door behind her as she looked up at the dark clad figure studying the room with an unimpressed expression. Jessica licked up the melting gelato away from the bottom of the cone.
"Took you quite a while." He noted, his back turned and focused at the framed picture on the small nightstand next to her bed. A picture of her mum, dad, Albus Dumbledog, the Labrador and her looking like Miss Trunchbull who did every drug in the world. She never liked taking pictures but in life, as much as you can do things you like, you got to do what you don't always like. And tucked in the corner in was a much smaller size were the ones with her friends which she much liked. Her in the centre while being cheeks squashed by Angela and Bella, grinning widely at the camera.
Disconcerted by his opine, she began to pack her belongings. "I stopped by to chat and get some gelato."
He turned, dropping his gaze to the cone of gelato in her hand as she took a bite from the top. The tracker grinned, amused, "You like sweet things."
"Mmhmm, if I could only eat desserts without my health being at risk, I would. I have a bad tendency to like things that aren't good for me." She nodded, taking the draped clothes from the chairs and dropping them into the bag messily before heading toward the ones hung up in the closet.
"You didn't run away."
She paused only for a second and continued her loading.
"Humans aren't that stupid you know." She retorted as if offended by his underrating of her intelligence.
"You don't know humans too well then." He countered, resting against the window pane, glancing over his shoulder to the walking humans beneath.
"You don't know me well then." She shrugged, "You're always gonna get idiots in every species."
A small chuckle left his mouth, "You're right."
There wasn't much to pack other than her clothing, three pairs of shoes and hygiene products in the bathroom. She was retrieving her toothbrush, few towels she brought from home and bath products when Demetri noticed something next to the pictures.
"Alec gave you this?" She heard from the bathroom.
Exiting with all her stuff, she looked at the object he was examining in his hand to realize what he was asking about.
"Oh..I borrowed it." She revealed, "As soon as I'm done, I plan on giving it back."
He raised a brow with a side glance, "You can read Latin?" His tone was that of genuine curiosity, holding some sort of elation as if he was excited to find someone in the modern world to speak the dead language.
Although she didn't want to disappoint, she told him the truth, "No. I know few words and phrases but that's about it."
"Religious?"
"Agnostic." She said, and then added, "Although my parents believe in God, they don't really go to church or practise. Um, Alec let me borrow the Bible because my philosophy teacher always makes this impossible bets that if one of us brings a rare, non-existent texts to him, he promised that he would give us all A's for an exam. And we really need that A because his classes are tough, I mean tougher than waiting a year for the season finale of Game of Thrones. Like, Plato and Socrates didn't die for this bullshit. I'm blabbering now so I'm gonna stop." Finishing her fast melting gelato seemed to be a good way of stopping her talk.
"Thus he gave you this?"
"Borrowed." She corrected.
"Knowing Alec, he would have insisted you keep it."
"Yeah, but that books like cost more than my life you know. Like this is the type of book that will have my death labelled as assassination. I'm not gonna die because of a book that costs a fortune and people might try to kill me to get it." Jessica reasoned, no matter how exaggerated or crazy it sounded, "How about you, are you religious?"
"Used to be." He revealed as he handed her the Bible, "As human, I was born into religion and as a vampire, I was curious about the others and spent few centuries studying them all."
Jessica stared at him in awe, "Really? Like all of them? Every single ones in the world? That sounds really interesting; well which one did you liked the most?"
"Buddhism and Zoroastrianism, to name a few." He said, "The religions are all so similar, I came to find. Like a completed puzzle scattered into pieces all over the world."
It was a fascinating implication he had made, Jessica thought, the religions in the world shared much similarity almost like a cousin of a religion of a religion. Who knows, maybe there never was a separate religion but simply one, big, whole religion separated into pieces of puzzle.
Then she turned her attention to his previous comment, Jessica was familiar with the first one but not with the latter one, "What's Zoroastrianism? I never heard of that."
"It's known as Mazdayasna by the natives. It used to be a dominant religion of Iran and adjoining regions but when Islamic invaders occupied Iran, they introduced Islam and it faded away into obscurity. Those who had fled from Iran to escape persecution after the fall of the Sassanid Empire took shelter in India and now it's known as Parsis there." He explained earnestly then added fondly, "Despite the lack of followings and hardship, they are persisting to keep the religion alive and I was fortunate to stay with them for a decade and learn their ways."
"What's their principle?"
"The basic is Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta, 'Good thoughts, good words, good deeds'. They believed happiness transpired for those who do righteous deeds while those choosing evil had themselves to blame for their damnation. I found it interesting how their God do not take upon himself the sins of his followers rather they must take responsible and face the retribution of their acts, among other things." He smiled nostalgically.
"And what made you, you know, becomes atheist?"
"What is the point of trying to find out which one is right when one will live for eternity?"
"Well," If he put it that way, "You don't necessary have to be religious as a means to an end. Most people do for spiritual reasons, and there's a comfort in knowing that you aren't alone and someone's watching over you and understands you more than anyone and some sort of reasons why your life is as it is, no matter how bad or good it gets."
"What I have come to conclusion after all these centuries is that they are all meaningless." He said, "Do not get me wrong, I am not forcing my belief on anyone; they are merely practising a faith they decided to believe in of their own free will. Whether it may be for spiritual or consoling matter, they believe in God because they want to. It is not easy to live in such a corrupt world; there is no certainty and nothing to hope for. People are lost, so they reach out. God didn't create humans. Humans created God."
Jessica took a moment for his words to sink in, it was obvious that he took the time to come to the conclusion he had come to, and there wasn't much to say when that said person took the time to study and practise each and every one of religions there is, and she wondered whether it was same for all the vampires, did they all think believing in higher power was useless and meaningless? She also wondered how much of an influence being a vampire and living for so long had on the formation of his justification.
"Well, you think it's meaningless. I think it still means something." She shrugged, zipping the suitcase close. "If vampires exist, why not God?"
Demetri smiled in acknowledgement, "Touché."
Before she could do so, he had already swiped up the bag in his hand and opened up the door.
"I can carry that." Jessica said, flustered.
"It is alright, allow me." Demetri shook his head and with a curiously Old World elegance that suited him, gestured his arm toward the door for her to go through first.
Jessica was glad she decided to sort out her check-outs and pay in advance before going up her room to pack. She wasn't sure what the lady at the desk will be thinking (or react) as she'll probably be occupied by his blood ruby eyes. Maybe she'll think it's a cosplay. Or just quirky taste in contact lenses. When they made it downstairs, the lady at the desk was gone, probably off to make a cup of coffee or small snack, and they were able to walk out of the building, barely bothered. It was evening outside and she watched as the sun slowly faded from the sight in the pink crepuscule of a beautiful late summer day.
"What made you choose philosophy?" He suddenly asked, breaking their silent walk.
"There's no truth in philosophy." She expressed, "And nothing misleads people like the truth."
He seemed amused by her reasoning, although he didn't delve deeper but rather seemed to understand the gist of it. She suddenly stopped then glanced at the wall gate, recalling the secret harboring woman that lived beyond the tall fort. Demetri followed her gaze then back to her.
"I'm not thinking about running away." Jessica told him, fully knowing the brewing suspicion, "Not after what Dr. Cullen did for me."
"What is on your mind then?"
"Just..something." She trailed off, "Do you think I can leave the castle on my own? I'm not gonna run away."
"You're our guest; not hostage." He stated, "You're free to explore the town."
As warm and indulging he sound, she didn't miss his carefully chosen words; freedom is granted as long as she stayed within the wall and venture not too far from Volterra. She wasn't a guest, she was a hostage. A hostage bounded by chain long enough to construct an illusion of freedom and contentment.
"..Thank you."
She was given her food, delivered by the secretary to 'her' room on a silver metal tray. Delicious, mouth-watering smell emitted under the aluminium plate cover, her empty stomach growling in cry for food.
"Hello, Jessica, I'm Gianna." The beautiful Italian secretary greeted with a slight Italian accent, "If there's any questions or anything you need, don't hesitate to come to me. We humans need to stick together yes?"
Jessica wasn't sure whether to feel disturbed or eased by the presence of another human among coven of vampires. She was here as a hostage. What was Gianna here for?
"Um..nice to meet you…" She let out awkwardly after a minute of quiet, "Do you think I can use a phone?"
"Sure!" She smiled, "But you must be hungry, finish your food first and I'll come and get you in an hour."
Jessica nodded and closed the door.
The food given to her was probably lot better than she had whilst she had been here. The appetizer was an Italian delicacy, Bottarga, a salted; cure fish roe served with olive oil, accompanied by crostini. The main was beautifully medium rare cooked bistecca fiorentina and cream gelato with white truffles in chilled silver cup to prevent melting.
She was able to finish them before Gianna came to get her and by the time the knock was heard, Jessica was ready to go.
"Finish?"
Jessica nodded and the two headed toward her desk. Gianna handed her the phone and excused herself to spare her the privacy. Jessica dialled her home phone number, taking time to assure her parents that she was doing fine and everything was well and unfortunately, her phone had broken.
"Are you calling from the hotel phone?"
"Yes, mum, I am." Jessica forced out in clear tone. "Um, mum…" It took all her energy to cover her faltering voice, trembling with chocking emotions.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" It came out too high and too hoarse, "Um, mum, I just want to tell you and dad that I love you."
"I love you too…is..something wrong?"
"No, no," She bit her lip in strive to keep her voice even, "Um, if you get my grade report, please remember I said 'I love you'."
"Well I kind of guessed you didn't do well the moment you decide drop everything and go on a world trip. I mean if that doesn't say mid-life crisis, I don't know what that is."
"Mum, Mike and Sully never graduated Monsters U and they worked their way up from the mail room all the way to the scare floor."
"Are you really comparing real life to Monsters University? Seriously?"
"At least, I'm alive and healthy; I think that's what we, as people, should prioritize."
"You know this is your life. Do what you want, okay, don't worry about anything else and just live. Just enough not to get arrested or make a front page.."
A small smile formed on Jessica's lips, gaze softened, "Thanks mum. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Uh, mum, can I ask for Bella's number – I need to talk to her and I don't know her number." Jessica jotted down the number, thanked her, muttered another 'I love you' and hung up. She sighed, mind brushed with guilt and regret. She should have kept her mouth nice and shut; played the usual bubbly, airheaded idiot with her trademark of superficial flare.
But it's too late.
Her fingers pressed the ten digit codes on the number pads. She slid out of Gianna's chair onto the cold rock floor, back resting against the desk.
She heard two rings before it was picked up.
"Jessica?"
Hearing Bella's voice triggered her to choke with emotion, eyes watering and her lips trembled, unable to find the right words to start the conversation. Does she say 'Hi? How are you?' or 'Hey, Bella, good to speak to you again.'
"Yo…so I'm alive, ha ha."
The other end of the line went silent and Jessica had to check that the call was still connected.
"..Uh, Bella?"
"..I-ugh-I can't believe you!"
"Fair enough," Jessica shrugged, "I concur."
She swore she heard Bella sniffle, her voice audibly quivering.
"Thank God you're alive..thank god!"
"Me too." She muttered, "Which is shocking because, as you'd know, I'm the unluckiest person there is. Beside you."
"I still can't believe you're making jokes at this situation."
"It calms me." She told honestly, "I'm frightened and scared to death right now but humour makes things seem alright, even if it isn't."
"You're taking it better than I expected."
"I'm surprised too." Jessica agreed, "I thought I'd be in pieces and break down..I think all that Vampire Diaries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer prepared me for this situation."
Bella chuckled and Jessica smiled at the sign of her relaxing.
"Who knew all that TV watching would come in handy."
"I know right!" Jessica exclaimed proudly, "See, you do learn valuable life skills from TV shows."
They shared a hearty laugh, deadening down into prolonged stillness. It wasn't that they had no subjects to discuss or questions they wanted to ask, but a simple peaceful silence shared between the two friends, having confirmed each other's well-being seemed enough for now.
Jessica pursed her lips before forcing out, voice strained, "Bella do not come. I-I'll sort this out. I'll try to, this happened all because of me and my lousy mouth – let me take care of it, o-okay, at least let me try."
"What? No–"
"Bella," Jessica interrupted, her tone was leveled and calm, void of humour or fear – atypical of Jessica Stanley, "Please. Dr. Cullen already did so much. He didn't have to do that; I don't deserve that."
"…You're my friend. I had every reason to do this. They won't just ignore when someone they know is going to be killed. Besides, Dr. Cullen said you're his funniest patient."
She gulped and her sight blurred with wetness, "I…" Jessica took a gulp of air and tensely breathed out through her mouth, "I didn't really consider you as my friend." A pause of prepare, "Until recently, I..I never liked you..I'm gonna sound like a complete utter bitch, but I want to be honest from now on. I..moved to Forks when I was young, uh, my parents they were struggling with money–they still do and Forks is where you go when you've got no options. I hated it. I still hate it. I felt like an alien; I still do and I never fit in even if I seemed to. Gosh, do you know how tiring it is to act like Lauren 2.0? I don't know why everyone likes her but her bitchy attitude works and being a nerd doesn't. Mike was the first guy that seemed to like me for me you know? Like he gets it, at least around him I didn't had to be too much of Lauren 2.0. And Edward, yeah I had a crush on him, because he and his family seemed a bit like me – they never quite fit in and they seemed so proud of that and I loved that. Then you come along with your Arizona attitude and everyone just becomes completely obsessed with you when, no offence, you aren't that special! Maybe because you're a new face in that boring, dull town where everyone knows each other and what their dogs ate the night before, but you don't even make an effort and people still like you. And it took me so long to be a part of something and you just so easily come in and take that…" A tear slipped passed her defence, trailing down her cheek and she wiped it away with the back of her sleeve, "So yeah, I just needed to get that off the chest and you deserve to know why I've been shrugging you off."
The other end of the line was dead silent except for a slight shuffling suggesting changing the speaker to other side of the ear.
"..Thank you, Jess, for telling me this. But it still won't change anything. You're still my friend."
"I know." Jessica rolled her eyes, "You might have your own bitchy moments but you like giving second chances."
"Yeah, should I change?"
"Nah," Jessica giggled, "You're fine the way you are."
"So are you."
Checking her watch and realizing that she had been on the phone for half an hour and racking up a hefty phone bill, she decided to end the call.
"…Well, I got to go now, Bella." Jessica sadly informed, "But I'll speak to you later. Bella, do not come."
"..Call me soon, okay? Promise me you'll call me whenever you can."
"Okay," She smiled, "Promise."
"Take care. Be careful. Please. Don't use that sarcasm with them."
"Can't promise you that."
"Jess!"
"Don't worry, I'll be careful, okay, bye."
"Bye. Speak to you soon."
"Okay." Jessica returned the speaker onto the headset, letting out a deep sigh and standing up, composed.
Few minutes later, Gianna returned with a cup of coffee in hand and asked, smiling, "Are you done with the phone?"
"Yes. thank you. Do you think I can use the phone more often?" She tentatively asked.
"Of course." She nodded, taking her seat and setting the Styrofoam beside her thick notebook, "Do you not have a phone?"
"It got broken when Demetri brought me here." She explained then added, "Well, Demetri stepped on it and crushed it into pieces."
"Oh." Gianna said, blinking, "That's unfortunate, I'll place an order for a replacement, is there any particular model you want?"
"Oh, no! It's fine – uh, I only need the phone to call my parents and friends, nothing urgent or anything..I think."
Gianna shook her head, writing it down on her diary, probably on her to-do list, "It would be comfortable for you to call your loved ones with your own phone than making frequent journeys down here. Beside, Demetri was the one who broke it and it is my responsibility to make sure anything that needs to be sorted out is done."
"Well, it makes a nice exercise since I'm staying here now," Jessica reasoned, "I'm not too in a hurry so you can get it to me when I leave here."
Gianna stilled then glanced up at her, expression almost melancholic, "Jessica…"
"I know." She interjected, "I know I might not get out of here, alive or dead..or undead, but I stand by my words."
She nodded, "Okay, phone on the day you leave. What model?"
"Same as what I had before, iPhone."
"Got it."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Standing in front of a three-storey, linear-style house, she took a gulp of air and raised her curled fist, hovering over the wooden door. Then suddenly, click was heard from the other side as the familiar old woman stepped outside with a warm smile.
"Ah, I was wondering when you will be back." She said with a low chuckle, turning toward the house and glanced over her shoulder, "Come in, piccolo. I'm sure you have many questions."
Briefly scanning her surrounding, she cautiously strode inside to the living room.
"Coffee? Juice? Tea?" She asked.
"Uh, just water please."
Giada brought out two cups, one filled with coffee and other water, and plate of biscuits and slices of cakes.
"Thank you." She took a sip and a bite of a delicious looking vanilla cake.
Giada patiently waited as Jessica mulled over her questions inwardly.
"Um…" Jessica started, "..How much do you think the legend is true?"
"I believe it's true. All of it."
"Have you..ever met them?"
"No." She shook her head; gazing toward the bookcase she stored the notebook, "But it would be a blessing to see them before this old lady die."
"Blessing..?" Jessica frowned and before she could say anything, Giada interjected.
"Oh, you should have seen this town before they came here." Giada paused, eyes soaked with memories, "My mother used to tell me they had nothing but poverty and war, and when the vampires took over, they promised peace and prosperity. And they delivered."
"..So everything in this town..they built all this?" Jessica suggested.
Giada nodded, "To us, it was very fortunate to have them."
Jessica stood up from the couch, approaching the large painting of a beautiful red-eyed woman that hung on the wall. She didn't know why but there was something alluring and magical about the way she seemed to pierce through the canvas to those who was privileged enough to bear witness to its beauty and the ghost of a smile suggesting a gentle, kind demeanour; breath-taking.
"It was said that this was given as a gift by one of the leader to Francesco who gave it to Valeria." Giada told her, "It has been passed down the family for as long as I can remember."
"Who painted it?" She asked.
"Caius."
"How close was Francesco to them?"
"One of few favorites." She said, "Favoured enough to not be killed as long as he maintained that fondness. As naïve as he seemed to be about what they were, I doubted he was that oblivious. He was simply clever enough to know what to say and when to be keep his mouth shut. I was told it was Caius who liked him the most out of the two. You see Caius hold absolute respect for art and sciences and he respected those who shared his love for the two. Luckily, Francesco was in love with them. More than he was in love with Valeria."
"Who is the woman in the painting?"
"Caius' wife, Athenodora." She revealed.
"What happened to Francesco..? And Valeria?"
"They never got married." She said, "I believe Valeria was heartbroken by it and never got quite over him."
"And Francesco?"
"Oh he died by natural causes." She revealed blatantly, then added, "He wasn't turned, if that is what you're wondering."
Jessica knew the woman was aware the true reason why she revisited and what must have happened to her from the beginning which was why she didn't bother with lies or cover up. It would be an insult for this woman, who, for a long time sought the truth about what she saw as their saviour; their Gods. "My knowledge is limited, forgive me, but my mother told me they are very picky about who they turn." She apologized then turned to Jessica with a grin, "I'm glad they let you live."
"Not for long." Jessica muttered, finishing her cake.
"And may I ask, why?"
"I rather die than be turned."
Giada nodded in understanding, "Good. Don't change your mind. Eternal life is something one should not take light of for it would demand the greatest sacrifice one could ever give, if they can."
Jessica smiled sadly, she knew but she feared the inevitable discovery of the extent to which she was required to forfeit in the future.
"..Thank you for your time." Jessica gratefully said, signaling the end of their long meeting. The watch on her wrist pointed to an hour gone from when she looked at it last.
"No worries, piccolo." Giada stood up with a wrinkled smile, "I'm glad to have met you." She accompanied Jessica to the entrance, opening the door for her. Jessica nodded in farewell.
"Best of luck to you." She said, "Whenever happens, for better or worse, if you can, come and see me one more time."
"I will, Giada." Jessica swallowed the swell of grief in her chest, waving her what could be a last good bye, "Good luck to you too."
Jessica wondered whether she was more happy to have Gianna, a fellow human talk buddy or Gianna was of her. The woman seemed awfully isolated, even for a workaholic. No family, no friends and she didn't seem know many except a neighbour that she briefly sees few times a week and the bakeries and café shop workers that she frequents to. Even then, those little relationships she had were fragile – Jessica noticed how Giana would often alternate between different coffee and bakeries throughout the week, never visiting the same shop more than twice
It bothered her. For someone who seemed socially dependent and convivial in hail-fellow-well-met way; how strange to believe such person had trouble forming or maintaining bonds with others. She chatted in a way that suggest she had no one to ventilate her thoughts or emotions to and all those years of silence made her difficult to stop once she began. This meant, many times, Jessica was the listener to someone who sought out a person where she didn't had to hide many things, like working for an ancient clan of vampires and all that entails.
"So..why don't you want to become a vampire?" Gianna suddenly ask, stopping abrupt in midst of her dialogue about a creepy, stalks-ish guy she met in the bar.
Jessica blinked, caught off guard by the question, "Oh.."
"I heard few guards talking about you. How you'd rather choose death than become a vampire."
Jessica thought back to how many people would not want to become a vampire, "I like being human." Was her simple, thought-out answer.
"Why do you want to become a vampire, Gianna?" Jessica returned her with the question.
"I want to live forever with this face.." Gianna replied adamantly, caressing her face as though she could feel rotting away with each second, disgusted by the new forming lines of wrinkles, the sagging skin of her eyes and the corner of her lips, "I don't want to waste away."
"I don't want to waste away as a vampire," Jessica said, thinking back to Alec, "I'd rather be a firework you know? It shines so brightly for a moment then fade away the next…I think I'd be happier with that."
Gianna blinked slowly then smile stretched across her face, "If you're a firework…maybe I can be the moonlight that always shines in the night sky."
Jessica replied with a small smile of her own.
Edited by YanaTG and updated on 11/05/2020