Chapter 9: Unexpected
Felix, Alec, Santiago, Heidi and I were all returning from a weekend hunting trip a few weeks later. None of them particularly enjoyed the animal blood, but rather the sport of it. Over the years everyone had come along at some point, most of them a couple times only, but some of them more frequently.
This was my usual group of 'tag-a-longs'. The freedom and exhilaration of the hunt, as it turns out, was the biggest draw to the 'vegetarian diet'. Allowing yourself to succumb to the thrill of the hunt was an amazing release.
We had all come through the tunnels, like Felix and I had the last time I came home, and were greeted by Demitri.
It had been several weeks since our latest return and we were expecting news from Aro's friend any day now.
"We've received word" Demitri said vaguely. "When you've cleaned up, we are meeting in the gathering room." He said looking all us over with dismay before turning to leave.
We were all messy and a bit disheveled in our appearance. Evidently, we all had a really good time by the look of us.
We all quickly cleaned up and met in the conference room just as we had been told.
The room was crowded with the entire guard, a low murmur over the room as everyone conversed and speculated about the meeting and news.
I made my way to the front of the room to stand next to Felix just as Aro, Caius and Marcus came in. The room hushed at the sight of the elders as we waited for the meeting to start.
Marcus and Caius took their seats while Aro addressed the members.
"Welcome!" He enthused to the crowed. "We are so pleased that you all made it here today."
Most of the guard had been called back from duty to be at this meeting. There were well over one hundred guard members under the Volturi and close to that number were here in this room. Over the last several years the elders decided to increase the guard members, allowing for more opportunity to keep order within the race.
Once word got out that the Volturi were 'recruiting' the castle had been swarmed with potentials vying for their chance to serve. We have quite an eclectic group because of it, some amazing talents and gifts could be found throughout the guard now.
"We have called you all here today to join us in an important journey we must all take together. We have discovered a new race of people." He continued. "They call themselves shape shifters. As most of you know, this group had originally intended to move against us."
Upon saying this the room once again erupted in a low hiss, circulating around the room, just as it had the first time we heard this information.
Aro raised his hands, patting down the air to quiet the room so he could continue.
"I know that this is a distressing thought, but we have new hope in settling this matter. A dear and loyal friend of the Volturi has negotiated a peaceful meeting with the group and its leaders. After speaking with the shape shifters, it was discovered that they had been misinformed and given improper information about us. The shape shifters we acting to protect themselves, under the false assumption that we were moving against them." He paused for a brief moment.
"It has been arranged for us to meet in a central and neutral location so that we may discuss the matter and the possibility of a treaty."
"We have asked you all here, not to join us in battle, but to accompany us in a united front to meet new friends." He said to the group emphasizing the word friends before beginning to pace the room before continuing.
"This race is large and powerful. We do not wish to make enemies of them." He said very deliberately, making it clear that this was the mission and nothing else, but then added "Of course if we should have to, we will defend ourselves."
This was so different than anything we had ever experienced before and the first time the whole guard was called to one mission.
"We will leave for our journey in two days. You should use this time to prepare yourselves." He finished.
Marcus and Caius stood from their thrones once Aro had concluded, the three of them retired to their private study which was located just off the room we were currently in.
Several conversations erupted all at once, once the leaders had left the room. This was a fascinating time for our people and the Volturi. Meeting a race we didn't know existed, negotiating a peaceful treaty with said race and the largest Volturi gathering in the history of the guard. The excitement and anticipation were almost tangible.
Felix and I were chatting with Chelsea and Afton about our positions for the meeting when Demitri joined us.
Afton would be assisting my ability during our confrontation so I could keep the whole of the guard covered at all times. Demitri informed us that while we were gone, he had assigned positions to all the members based on their abilities and usefulness in defense and protection.
Our mind controllers would form the outer layer of our formation, followed by those with matter control. Our brute force and incapacitating members would round out last, with Afton, Chelsea, Alec and myself taking up in the center.
We discussed our strategy a bit more and once the details had been decided on, I excused myself to my room. My nerves felt like they had been lit up with a match and I needed space from all the powerful emotions that were surrounding me in the room.
I had just gotten out of the shower and had dressed down in my sweats again when I heard a knock at the door. I hadn't heard the approach so I knew who it must have been.
I had just finished towel drying my hair, so I quickly ran a brush through the locks before going to open the door.
Demitri stood on the other side, he had his head down and as he began to look up at me, I was immediately embarrassed by my appearance because of the look on his face. He had never seen me so casual. For Demitri it was all business all the time. I was mortified and regretted not changing before answering the door.
His eyes widened in shock before taking on a look I had never seen before.
"Demitri..." I began to stutter out "I had no idea you were coming, or I would have put something more appropriate on."
When he didn't immediately respond, I began again, trying to apologize for appearance.
"I'm sorry," I said to him "If you can give me just a minute, I will change..."
"No." He said cutting me off before I could even finish.
He then stepped into my room, causing me to take a step back at his sudden approach and closed the door behind him with one hand, while the other reached out towards me.
Demitri wrapped his hand around the side of my face, pulling me to him as he bent down, pressing his lips to mine.
His kiss was hungry; his lips strong and decided as they moved against mine. He wrapped his hand firmly around my head, while his other hand pressed solidly against my back as he pulled me to him, his big body heavily closing in around mine.
I was surprised by the kiss; dazed by the urgency and greed of passion and shocked by my response. I found myself reaching up to wrap myself around him, pulling us that much closer together.
When we finally looked at each other, still wrapped around one another, we just stared into each other's eyes before finally breaking, and splitting apart, putting a huge gap between us.
I was across the room and had turned my back to him, facing the window as I fingered my lips, the taste of him still on my tongue.
"Bella..." He started to say and then stopped.
I turned around to face him after a few moments when nothing else was said. As soon as I looked at him, he instantly crossed the room, placing himself in front of me again.
"I didn't mean to force myself on you like that." He said when I looked up at him and into his eyes.
"You didn't." I assured him; my response was evident of that.
He raised his hand to my face, brushing away a wayward strand of hair from my eyes. "I came here tonight to speak with you, I didn't intend for that to happen." He said to me, letting his hand linger.
"Of course." I told him, beginning to feel embarrassed. I lowered my eyes, ashamed of my reaction, shaking my head as I brushed past him.
"Don't misunderstand Bella." He said turning around reaching out to me, grabbing me to turn me back around to face him. "I've wanted to do that for quite some time now, I just didn't intend for it to happen like it did."
"What?" I asked, letting the confusion I felt out with the word.
He smiled at my obvious bewilderment before explaining. "I'm not surprised that you didn't know, but I've been interested in you for a while now."
"Demitri, I didn't even think you liked me." I told him honestly.
He chuckled at my admission, but continued "Bella, I came here tonight so that you would know of my interest in you. I've wanted to tell you for so long now, but have never found the right time. And with our assignment coming up, I needed you to know, I couldn't put it off any longer. I wanted to wait for the appropriate time to tell you, but I realized that with our jobs, there never would be and I wanted you to know before we left."
He paused for a moment, while looking in my eyes "I would like very much if you would consider seeing me as someone more than just your working partner."
I was looking at him, waiting for him to say anything more before understanding that he was waiting for me to answer. I didn't know what to think, and I didn't want to say anything is haste so I told him "I'll need some time to think, this is all so sudden."
"I know, and I apologize for that, take whatever time you need." He nodded in agreement.
We were still standing close together, his hands holding around my arms. This time when he bent to kiss me, he did it slow and deliberate. It wasn't as fueled as the first, but still powerful, his lips heavy against mine.
He pulled away slightly and whispered "But not too long." He said with a smile, his cool breath tickling against my face.
Demitri then walked back to the door and turned to say "Goodnight Bella." before disappearing out the door.
(1/16/11)
Please Review