Chapter 8: Break

The trip had taken longer than originally anticipated. After about three months of us being gone and with even more conflicting and misleading information, Aro finally called us home for a more 'thorough' report.

We had talked to several groups of people. All with the same basic information, but completely different at the same time. It has been very frustrating to say the least.

We had covered most of the states, even back tracking through some by the time we were called home, leaving some areas to return to at a later date.

Throughout our travels we heard some of the same things again and again, same story; different mouth. Some however were strange stories of collaboration between our race and children of the moon. We had yet to follow up on any of these accounts, dismissing them as ridiculous fabrications from some of our more creative members.

By the time we had made it home, it was yet another week later. Each of us had taken our private meeting with Aro, reporting to him silently and again vocally to all three elders, before finally reporting a third time as a group. This was the way it generally went with our debriefings, it seemed like over kill to me, but they felt as though it was the best way to get all the information, so much so they could almost attest to all events as if they had actually been there themselves if need be.

After they had all the information, they excused us for a private meeting of their own. During the short break we each split respectively to our private chambers before being called back to the bureau. After discussing the stranger parts of our informed dealings, they decided to send us out again to investigate further into the matter.

We left again immediately and followed leads that took us into Russia, Nepal, Angola, Argentina, Australia and then again to Canada, finishing up in the states before finally making it back to Italy. By the time it was all said and done we had been gone an additional three months.

Upon our arrival and after our promulgate, Aro informed us of his own material. During our course home he had received company; an old friend who had spent an ample amount of time with the Volturi many years ago, someone that Aro believed in enough to proclaim his information as proof.

His account would be that the race we were investigating were not children of the moon, but in fact something completely different, yet much the same. They were shape shifters, humans who could transform themselves into an animal appearance, and in this case; wolves, which would explain the stories that lead us to believe they had been children of the moon.

Aro's friend believed he could talk to and reason with the race of shape shifters, relaying that he had successfully negotiated a treaty with them in the past and thought of no reason they wouldn't be open to discussion now.

The whole of us were confused as to why Aro had agreed to let his friend embark on an emissary mission on behalf of the Volturi, and speak with a group that was set out to invade us, but Aro explained that his friend informed him the group was much larger than we had realized and that it would be in our best interest to engage them diplomatically, instead of as a threat. His friend believed he would be able to speak with the leader of the race and discuss the reasons behind there careful advance and hopefully find a peaceful solution instead, believing it all to be some sort of mistake or misunderstanding.

At one point during our meeting Aro had said "I know that with our talented guard members we have nothing to fear, but it would be such a shame if any of our supporters were to be harmed during a battle, when if instead we could come to some sort of peaceful resolution with the shape shifters. After all, we have done nothing to them to incite such a hasty war between our two races, I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to co-exist in the world and come to some sort of reasonable solution."

Aro, afterward, informed us that we would not being going out for further investigation, but instead wait to hear from his friend and of any news on the matter.

We all had been gone for so long at this point, that we were beyond disagreeing with the decision and happy to oblige.

Aro didn't expect his friend to be back with any new information for several weeks, which gave us at least that long of a guaranteed break.

We had all spent so much time together, that immediately after the meeting was adjourned, we again split off to our rooms for a much-needed break.

During our investigative travels we would sometimes stay in hotels to clean up before moving to another part of a county, but once I was alone in my room, I found myself longing for a nice hot shower; as if it had been months since I'd had one.

After soaking in a steaming bath for nearly an hour, I managed to convince myself to get out. I pick the most comfortable clothes I could find; old sweatpants and a ratty t-shirt, and threw my hair up in a messy bun.

Grabbing several books from my shelves and my iPod, I settled in my soft bed and let myself relax. I was blissfully happy, comfortable and content; nothing would have made me happier, except complete privacy.

I hadn't been settled or had gotten very far in my first book when I heard Athenodora's footsteps feathering down the hall.

Our private quarters in the castle were as sound proof as they could possibly be. A human would never hear anything, regardless if they were inside or out; but we were vampires, so although the volume was muted, it was hardly silent.

"Bella?" Athenadora knocked on the door.

"Go away Athena, I'm sleeping."

"Oh, come on! I haven't seen you in forever!" She whined.

"We saw each other three months ago and we've talked on the phone every week since, it's not as though we are strangers."

"That doesn't count!" She retorted, after I reluctantly let her in my room. "We couldn't really talk while you were gone, but you're back; so now we can." She smirked at me, throwing herself on the bed

"No." I told her firmly looking straight into her eyes. I knew what she was wanting to talk about, it was the same thing she had been trying to tell me since before the first time we had left on assignment. Her 'secret' was driving her crazy she wanted to tell me so bad, apparently it would 'blow my mind' if I'd just let her spill it.

"Why not! You don't even know what I'm going to say!"

Athena was a horrible gossip, and although what she had to say was always true, I've also found through experience that it's always better not to know.

"That's the point! I don't want to know!"

"Come on Ell! It SO good!" She begged. "Please, let me tell you already! It's killing me!" She grasped my hands, squeezing them with feigned desperation in her eyes. "Please?"

"No. Now stop!" I chuckled at her pitiful expression. "Just let it go already, whatever it is, I don't care!"

"UGH! You are SO boring!" she groaned, flipping herself over so she was lying flat on the bed. "It's about you for Christ sakes! Most people want to know when it involves them!"

"All the more reason not to." I told her dismissively.

I was curious, I'll admit, but I still didn't want to know; especially because it was about me. Obviously if it were really important, she would have told me right away, but this was gossip; so, I wanted nothing to do with it. Not to mention the fact that it also involved Demitri. She'd let that 'slip' over the phone during one of our conversations, hoping it would entice me to finally let her tell me, but much to her dismay it had to opposite effect, after that I'd began refusing her even more adamantly than before.

"Fine." She conceded and changed the subject. Athena was easily swayed that way, moving on from one thing to another. She'd never give up, but was too busy to dwell; she'd just save it to come back to another day.

After staying awhile longer, she moved herself from my bed telling me "After you've taken some quiet time for yourself, Sulpicia and I are still taking you shopping." I groaned.

She rolled her eyes and went to the door "You have three days." She said to me finally, and with a smirk shut the door behind her.

And three full days I did have...by myself, with NO interruptions. It. Was. Bliss.

(1/11/11)