You people are amazing and, again, sorry for the delay with getting new chapters up. Would be great to have more time to write and that is something I struggle with daily. I have plans for this story and I will continue to update when I can.
Now, let's see how Harry gets settled into Volterra!
Here is a disclaimer that unfortunately states that I do not own anything that I am writing about and am merely hoping to play in another author's sandbox for a short time and what follows is for entertainment purposes only.
Mate.
Harry now had a mate. A tall, strong, and dashingly handsome mate.
One that would be with him for the rest of eternity if what he had heard about vampires had been true.
He wanted to freak out, to rebel against the permanent situation that he had suddenly found himself in so soon after transitioning to an immortal life.
Only he couldn't; his body wouldn't let him.
What he felt when he was in Felix's presence was too right, too comfortable to be something that he should worry himself about. No matter how impulsive it may have appeared on the outside– and Harry certainly realized he had a horrible track record with rash decisions – this was different.
For the first time in his life he knew that this was the right path for him.
The only thing he didn't know was how to act around Felix now that they were alone.
Neither of them had spoken after they had left Aro's throne room, though that had more to do with Felix wanting to wait until they were in the relative privacy of his quarters.
Or as Harry realized as Felix finally began to ascend up a long flight of stairs after they had walked about a mile through an ancient tunnel that connected the Volturi compound – this was now his home too.
"Here, Harry," Felix said softly upon opening the door that the stairs had led them towards.
Harry's eyes darted around the stone villa that was comfortably furnished with pieces from just about every period of history that he could remember, and then some. It was quite literally like walking through a museum. There were wood accents around the walls and Harry could see what had to be a circular set of stone stairs in the corner that led to the floor above.
The room was both familiar and foreign to him, but it was the fireplace in the corner that made him feel at home.
"It's wonderful. In fact, it reminds me of… somewhere that I used to live."
Harry didn't expect the reminder of Gryffindor Tower in this particular moment, but it helped to center him oddly enough.
It helped him to remember the resolution that he had made to himself only a few weeks ago: he was going to embrace his vampire life and live the life that he never could have had as the wizard, Harry James Potter.
"You like it then?" Felix pressed.
The thousand year-old vampire had been waiting so long to share this moment and this space with someone that he missed the brief flash of contemplation that had run through Harry's green eyes.
"I really do."
Harry smiled at him.
"I can't tell you how long I have waited to have another live here with me, but before I give you the grand tour I have to thank you for what you did back there. Standing up to Jane is not something many people would willingly do."
"She was hurting you!" Harry suddenly growled with some of the same rage returning.
"I know," Felix hushed as he stepped forward and grabbed a hold of Harry's clenched fists.
Felix's hands were so much larger than Harry's that they were able to fully surround Harry's fists.
"But I wanted to thank you just the same, and not just because you are mine now. Though I am sure that has a lot to do with how I feel about you."
And just as quickly as it had come, all of that intense anger towards that vapid blond dissipated from Harry's veins, leaving a very dry feeling in the back of his throat.
His body was now flowing with lust for this perfect specimen of a man in front of him, but all of that want and hunger for Felix's undying flesh only served to remind him just how very thirsty he was.
It had been too long since he had fed and his vibrant green eyes instantly turned a dark forest green.
Something that this time Felix noticed immediately.
"Of course, my love; I promised you a feast, and a feast you shall have."
At once Felix led Harry down the stairs and through the ancient but well-preserved underground passageways until they finally left the vast Volturi compound.
They exited the tunnels on the outskirts of town and together they ran through the dark night towards one of the closest towns.
"Aro has forbade any hunting within the city limits of Volterra," Felix explained as they came upon the coastal city of Cecina.
"But here, we can hunt occasionally as long as we don't draw attention to ourselves."
Harry looked out over the buildings that were still reflecting the abundant moonlight despite signs that the sun was beginning to rise.
"A perfect time to hunt," Harry licked his lips in anticipation.
"There has to be someone deserving of a quick death still out there trying to cause trouble."
Just then Harry noticed Felix turning his head slightly to the side to gaze at him with a questioning look in his soft, red eyes.
"I lost too many people to unfortunate deaths in my human life to not consider whom my victims would be with greater care. The guilt was too much after the first few," Harry stated very matter-of-factly.
"I should like to hear about your mortal life sometime," Felix replied earnestly.
To be honest he was just thankful that Harry wasn't one of those vegetarians; though, in truth there was nothing that would make him think any less of Harry. His mate was worth a thousand-year wait and no dietary preferences could change that.
Harry nodded at his companion and then focused his senses on the faint pulses of life still awake at this hour. It didn't take him long to find someone stumbling around the city drunk and looking to pick a fight with an unlucky soul still out at this hour.
Like before, Harry didn't need to actively think about the hunt; his body was efficient at racing through the alleyways as he followed the louder and louder beating of his would-be victim's heart.
The middle-aged drunk hadn't even seen what had grabbed him from behind and there was too much alcohol numbing his senses for him to feel the sharp teeth at his neck.
Felix watched Harry drain all of the blood from his victim, and not for the last time he was struck with Harry's indescribable beauty. Not a drop of that sweet nectar had been wasted and the way Harry held the man with such strength only made the immortal life agree with his features all the more.
Harry, his mate, looked like the dark prince of death, and Felix couldn't help the growing arousal start to form within his own body.
He needed to experience his mate and he needed it now.
Fortunately, Harry had just licked up the last of the man's blood and the drunk's body hadn't even hit the ground before Felix's lips were pressed against his own.
Harry felt his body being lifted and in the next moment his legs instinctively wrapped around Felix's hips.
The taste of Harry's recent meal still lingered in his mouth, and Felix's tongue lapped up the small droplets of blood that hadn't yet been swallowed.
It only made his arousal grow.
Harry, for his part, was just as turned on by the situation as Felix was. He may have held out against his urges before, but now that he had claimed Felix as his he was powerless against his burgeoning desire.
He needed his mate just as much as Felix needed him.
"Harry," Felix then breathed with some difficulty.
No matter how hard pulling away had been Felix knew that this wasn't the place for their first time together.
And they still had to dispose of the body.
"We should probably do a few things before we continue," he swallowed some of the venom building in his mouth and looked down at the body, "and I realize that I was the one that started this and for that I am sorry," he finished with his arms wrapped tightly around Harry's back.
It was harder for Harry to stop; he had never felt this much unbridled desire before and he was not altogether happy with being interrupted.
Without meaning to he hissed at Felix.
"I know," Felix lamented.
Luckily, Felix was quick with the body and in no time Harry found himself back in Felix's villa.
This time, there was nothing to prevent them from finishing what they had started.
Felix's lips were again quickly pressed against his own and Harry's hands found themselves deftly unbuttoning Felix's cloak. Venom began to pool in both of their mouths because they soon caught sight of the other's bare chest.
And Harry couldn't have been happier with Felix's chiseled physique, and his eager eyes traced over each and every defined muscle; he couldn't wait to explore the rest of his mate's body.
Meanwhile, Felix was appreciating just how lean Harry's frame was and how much it complemented his own when their bodies were soon pressed tightly up against one another.
Harry's lustful stare was matched by a protective and seductive growl that emanated from the back of Felix's throat. Soon, Harry felt Felix's hands slide down his back and over his bum. Felix's fingers squeezed around each cheek and Harry tightened his the grip his encircled legs had on Felix's hips as he tried to get as close to the other man as possible.
Their lips met again as impossibly strong hands ripped Harry's pants in two. Harry was left straddling Felix's hips in a very thin pair of briefs. Felix then carried Harry up the stairs and into the bedroom on the top floor.
Once there, Felix inched his way to the end of the bed, letting Harry fall onto his back. Their bodies separated briefly as Felix took in Harry's form. His own hand then fell to his sides and tore his own pants to shreds, leaving himself fully nude.
Harry moaned with want and in the next instant Felix was on top of him, the thin pair of briefs that Harry wore was the only thing that separated Felix's sizeable member from touching his willing bottom. Their mouths met furiously while Harry's legs instinctively wrapped around Felix once more. Unable to wait a second longer, Felix removed the last barrier to his mate and thrusted.
What happened for the next several hours was indescribable ecstasy for the pair of them, especially Felix. It didn't matter that he had literally slept with thousands of others during his many long years; none of them could compare to what being next to and inside of Harry's flesh made his own body feel.
This was his mate in every way and it just seemed to get better with every climax that Felix shared with Harry.
Eventually, however, their sexual escapades were put on hold, much to Harry's disappointment. Felix was a fantastic lover and Harry was at loss for words to describe what he felt in his very core when Felix was inside of him.
It was a feeling that made Harry feel more complete than he had ever felt and he knew that there would never come a time where he would take his new mate for granted.
Not after the abandonment and abuse of his previous life.
Later that day, and when they had finally decided to put some clothes back on, Felix showed Harry the rest of his small villa, beginning with the bottom floor.
"There are three floors, Harry. Of course, the first floor has no windows or doors since Aro has very strict rules on making our homes inaccessible to mortals."
"Well, I suppose that makes sense," Harry said as Felix led him up the stairs to the second floor.
"I could just see how tempting it would be to have someone come to the door. Even from inside I can still smell those who walk beyond these walls."
"Yes, I know what you mean but you get used to them. However, this measure was set soon after the Volturi began to live together to keep the locals from noticing anything preternatural about owners that never aged."
They reached the second floor and Felix led Harry by their joined hands across the expansive and open-floor design towards the largest of what looked to be several dozen bookcases.
"Here is where I collect things that interest me. Each vampire passes the decades differently, and in my case I have a deep appreciation for understanding how conflict has played out over the years."
"You mean wars and fighting?" Harry pressed when they came to stand in front of some of the oldest of Felix's texts.
In fact, some of the books were so ancient that they were preserved in glass.
"Not all conflict ends up on the battlefield. A great deal of what I find interesting is the buildup to war, and how people prepare for that. If you study it long enough you begin to see certain patterns emerge and then you start being able to predict how others will act in similar situations. I suppose that is what makes me such a good fighter since the decisions one makes in battle are very similar to the ones that individuals make behind closed doors as they try to put their schemes into action."
"Where were you last year?" Harry joked as he ran his fingers along the edge of the spines of one of the newer books.
"What happened to you before I… before we met?"
Felix then pulled Harry close to him and angled his eyes downward to stare into Harry's.
"It's a long story," Harry said simply.
"I have the time whenever you want to tell it; I just need to know whether you are happy here."
"Of course I'm happy here!" Harry blurted out.
"No one is actively trying to kill me that I know of, and I have you. Which, and trust me when I say this, is a lot more than I can say about the life I left behind before you found me."
"Even with Aro's rules, there was no chance for me in my old life. Not really, anyways. In fact, I made a promise to myself to not even think about those times again."
The green in Harry's eyes was as vibrant as it had ever been.
And that emerald color only became more so as he finished his statement to Felix.
"But that was before I met you," Harry smiled affectionately.
His eyes then lost some of their spark since he knew his vow to never think of those times again would soon be broken.
Felix drew Harry in for what was supposed to be a short kiss; however, from the moment that their lips touched again the both of them were slaves to the intimate desires that burned in their groins.
It wasn't until several hours later – and well after sunset – that Harry was in a place of mind to continue their previous discussion.
To make it even easier to open his mind to the events of the best, Harry was resting comfortable atop of Felix's naked body. And not that they needed it since their bodies were untroubled by the silly mortal notion of hot and cold but Felix had them wrapped in a soft fir blanket that felt exquisite against Harry's vampiric skin.
"This is just all so very different from the life I lived before," Harry started.
"I was raised by my mother's sister and basically was a slave to them until I turned eleven. I even slept in the cupboard underneath the stairs while my cousin had two bedrooms: one for him and one for his toys."
Harry could feel the change immediately in Felix from the way his body stiffened; still, his mate kept silent and let Harry continue to open up about his past. One that Felix had become extremely interested in with every new piece of information that he was learning about his mate's human life.
Harry was grateful for him not reacting to something that he really never had come to terms with; he didn't like to admit just how much abuse he had suffered at the Dursley's hands.
"On my eleventh birthday I discovered that I was a wizard and I was invited to a school of magic. In fact, it was a humorous series of events for a few days and ended with the Dursley's getting a rude awakening from Hagrid, the man who had been sent to make sure I was okay."
For Felix, once he had heard the word magic he began to kick himself. He knew that magic existed but had never associated that kind with Harry when he had met him in the forest. It didn't matter that the signs were there – like the piece of wood that had been the boy's wand – magical mortals were apparently very rare and Felix had only come across a few in his long years.
Of course, one of Aro's standing decries was that vampires stay as far away from everyone extraordinary species except their own kind – which also explained why he never sought them out.
But Harry didn't know any of what Felix was thinking and continued on with his tale.
"My whole life changed that day and I discovered this entire world that was so fantastical I honestly felt like I was in a dream for several weeks. However, I did discover the real reason why my Aunt raised me when Hagrid took me to purchase my school supplies. You see, my parents were murdered when I just over a year old by an evil man who sought to take control over our world."
Felix noticed the pause that Harry took before he continued.
"I didn't find out, however, until just recently that my parents were killed that night because that wizard had really come to kill me instead. Apparently, there had been a prophecy that foretold a child would be born with the power to defeat this Lord Voldemort."
Whatever Felix could have expected to hear, it wasn't this.
"Actually, there was a whole series of horrible events, five years worth in fact, from me first stepping inside of Hogwarts to learning of that prophecy. Five years worth of lies and betrayals that made me realize I was never really living my own life, and so I decided to leave that world and escaped."
Just then Harry chuckled and lifted his head from the crook of Felix's neck and turned to look in his mate's eyes.
"Of course, not even a week after I made that decision you found me in the forest and killed me."
The look on Felix's face was priceless, but what Harry said next made it all okay.
"And I am glad you were there that night; I'm glad it was you. You gave me the ability to have a truly new existence."
For the first time Harry was able to lean in and kiss his mate's lips without getting lost in the carnal desires of the flesh.
"Thank you, truly," Harry smiled when their lips separated.
"I was prepared to regret that night for the rest of my unending existence, Harry. I can't tell you how grateful I will always be to have you by my side. I should be the one thanking you."
This time it was Felix who initiated the kiss.
"And I can't say that I fully understand what your life was truly like – and hopefully in time I will learn everything – but I will try and make this life from here on out as opposite from your previous one in every way that I can."
Harry could only nod before adding.
"And I would like to hear about your human life – if you can still remember it that is. The longer I am a vampire the more my previous life escapes me. I can't even imagine what it's like for you."
Felix brushed the side of Harry's face with his hand.
"Yes, there are only bits and pieces that I've managed to hold onto. The rest have been lost to time but I will endeavor to pull what I can. But first, there is something you should see."
With that, Felix shot to his feet, pulling Harry up with him.
"You've been here a day already and have seen very little of Volterra; though, I don't think there are any complaints with how we have spent our time."
"Not at all," Harry smirked as they climbed the stairs.
At the top, Harry was greeted to a view of the ancient city that had once been a fortress.
"There is Aro's Tower," Felix pointed to the tallest spire in the heart of the city.
"It overlooks the throne room and from there he can see the rest of the Volturi's villas spread out around the city. It gives us some semblance of privacy; otherwise what we did today would have been heard by everyone," he explained in a no-nonsense sort of way.
"And to the side of Aro's Keep," he continued, "those are the other towers of Marcus and Caius. You have yet to meet Aro's and Cauis' wives because they rarely leave the central tower."
"Why is that?" Harry asked.
"Years ago Marcus' mate was killed and with her gone he lost the will to live. So Caius and Aro keep their mates as safe they can be kept to prevent the same thing from happening to them."
"That doesn't seem like a worthwhile existence."
Harry shook his head and nestled into Felix's shoulder, taking comfort in the feel of his mate's arm around him.
"By all accounts it isn't, but I see where they are coming from. I can't imagine how Marcus continues on everyday. We may have only just become mates but I know for a fact I would rather end it than live a second without you."
Felix had said it with such conviction that Harry didn't doubt him for a moment.
It helped that an uncomfortable sensation grew within his own center at the thought of not having Felix next to him. Harry didn't even want to entertain the idea of what losing Felix would do to him. He was sure it would have been far worse than losing Sirius.
As it was, just the thought of vampires dying gave Harry something else to focus on and he grew curious.
"What does kill our kind?" He pressed softly from Felix's side, drawing the fir blanket around his naked frame more so out of an old sense of security than anything else.
"Incidentally there are a few things. Most involve some iteration of having our heads severed from our body by another vampire and then burned."
"Note to self: always keep your head close."
Felix couldn't help but let a few chuckles loose at that.
"What?"
"How can you talk about such things and jest?"
Harry paused for a minute to consider the comment.
"I don't know – I think I have just gotten so used to near-death experiences that nothing really shocks me anymore."
"Just how many encounters have you had?"
"At least one per year, and that includes my time with the Dursleys. My Aunt had a mean swing with her frying pan."
"How can you not hate them or try to seek revenge now that you're a vampire? For that matter, how could you not get back at them with magic?"
Harry turned to face his mate and shrugged.
"It's like I said before. That was my old life and this is my new one. I survived that and I intend to survive this."
"Well, this time you won't be alone, and I hope that we do more than just survive."
"That would be a nice change of pace," Harry agreed before sending his mate a lascivious smile.
"In the meantime, I can think of something that takes two people."
And with that Harry dropped the fir blanket and sank to his knees.
He just couldn't get enough of his mate.
So that is about as sexual as I think I will get. Or rather, as sexual as I will describe but I'm sure you can fill in the more sordid details that I have left out.
Next chapter establishes Harry's new life as a member of the Volturi. Something tells me he won't be remaining in the city for long.
Until next time!