Chapter 2 – Letting Go

While flying, Irina explained to me about the Volturi. They upheld the law of our kind. She told me about her family's run-in with them centuries ago. Also, she warned me of the most important laws. We had to remain inconspicuous, keep the secret and above all, do not create an immortal child. When we arrived at Volterra, we walked through the gates into a courtyard. It was very dark and few humans we out. "How can we help you?" a voice asked us. Irina turned and nodded, "Demetri." Two cloaked men approached us. The shorter thinner man greeted us, while a large man stood next to him. Both of them lowered their hoods. Demetri smiled at Irina, then appraised me, "Who is this?" he gestured to me. Irina held my hand, "This is Isabella. We've come to ask for Aro's help." Irina explained how she found me and that I could not remember my own past. "We were hoping that Aro could tell us about her." The taller of the two smiled, "I think Aro will be amenable to that. Please follow us." Irina smiled, "Thank you, Felix." We followed them into a large building and into an elevator.

I was very nervous, but excited. Finally, I would know who I was. Irina and I spent months trying to figure out where I came from. We followed Demetri and Felix followed. Irina never released my hand and we exchanged smiles. We followed Demetri into an antechamber. In the room, two men stood by three thrones, both of them with long dark hair. "Irina, my dear," one of them crooned. Irina released my hand and held out hers for the greeter. He took her hands and bowed his head. Remembering Irina's stories of her family's history with the Volturi, I knew she would be complaint with them. "Is that why you came today? I do hope you will stay on a little longer." Irina smiled, "Thank you for the invitation. Isabella and I will consider it. But, you know why we are here. Can you help her?" Irina gestured to me and the greeter looked at me, smiling. "Isabella?" he held out his hand for me. I stepped forward. "This is Aro's talent. He can hear every thought and memory you have ever had with one touch. He will be able to tell you everything about your past."

I tore my eyes from Irina to Aro. I took Aro's hand and he bowed his head. After a few long moments, Aro's head snapped up and he looked at me, "I do not see anything." My eyes widened, "What?" Aro held my hand tighter, taking my other hand, "Fascinating. I cannot see anything from this young one. That has never happened before." He released my hands, as I began to crumble. Irina held my shoulders, "Not anything?" "No," he whispered. "That is truly unusual." I breathed out a staggered breath. "Heidi, please show these ladies to a room." "Yes, Master." A statuesque woman gestured to us, "Please, follow me." Irina guided me behind Heidi into a large room, which held two twin size beds. "Thank you, Heidi." I stood in the middle of the room, breathing deeply. "Isabella, I am so sorry."

I tried to speak, but my breath hitched in my throat, "Don't be." I sighed and tried to compose myself to no avail. I was disappointed, even more than Irina could comprehend. "I promised you I will not give up until we find out everything." I nodded, "I know. Thank you. You don't have to do this for me." Irina sat by the window, "Isabella, I have to confess, I thought of the Volturi as a last resort. I honestly thought Aro could help you. Like he said, that has never happened before. Maybe that's your talent." I looked up, "Talent? Like the rest of the Guard?" She nodded, "And like Kate and Eleazar." I deliberated that, "Should we discuss that with Aro?" Irina and I went to the main chamber to talk with Aro. Aro was intrigued by my ability and offered a place for in his Guard. I declined, because I did not want to leave Irina alone. Though she said she would be fine with my decision to stay and that she would return to her sisters, I didn't want to leave Irina.

Aro offered that Irina and I stay at Volterra until we decide where we wanted to go. "Isabella, do you want to hunt?" Aro ordered Demetri and Felix to accompany us on our hunting trip. In the night, the four of us ran through the open fields until we found a heavily wooded area, where I caught the scent of a bear. After finishing my prey, Felix was leaning against a tree with his arms folded and smirking at me. "How do you stand it?" I folded my arms, "What are you talking about?" He shrugged off the tree, "I mean hunting these beasts." I shrugged, "I prefer. Besides, I don't want to harm humans." He laughed, "Please, these humans are nothing." I stood by him, "I can't agree with you. Being that I was human last year, though I cannot remember my life, I know my family is still out there." Felix down at me, "Huh, too bad Aro couldn't help you." I looked away and sighed, "I know. There is no need to remind me."

I caught her scent and ran to find Irina. Felix was behind me and I sped ahead leaving him behind. I found Irina speaking with Demetri. She was smiling brightly and I shook my head. Another conquest for Irina. That did not interest me. We ran back to the tower and I went to my room. Irina spoke with Demetri for the night. I knew her tactics; she was starting to breakdown his defenses. There was a knock on my door. "Come in." Felix entered the room, "Isabella?" "Yes." "I want to apologize." I looked at him, "For what?" "For what I said to you early about your human life. That was insensitive." I smirked, "Aro told you to apologize, didn't he?" He smiled, "Yes." I laughed, "Ok, I accept. Just don't make any reference to my choice of diet, then we can put it behind us." Felix and I spoke for the rest of the night. He told me how he became a member of the Guard. Felix explained that he has been with the Volturi for centuries and does not remember his human life.

For six months, Irina and I lived in Volterra. During our time, several members of the Guard helped me develop my shield. Aro praised me often and that angered Jane. She and I did not get along. I could feel it on my shield when she tried to attack me. Felix saw my irritation and often provided me a distraction. Running through the night, speaking to each other and laughing, I was beginning to like Felix, but I noticed that the way he felt about me was stronger. Somehow, this felt oddly familiar. When I had these feelings, I wrote them in a journal. I deduced that these feelings were attached to repressed memories of my human life. My journal was my only connection to the life I had.

Four years has past since Irina and I came to Volterra. She had her conquest over Demetri. When he was away, she gloated about it. "He was hard to break, but it was fun." I noticed changes within myself while I was with Irina. I became more confident and more aware of the power my physical body held. I saw how Felix would watch me as I walked past him. Though my relationship with Felix was nothing like Irina's and Demetri's relationship, Felix and I were still close. He has made it obvious that he wanted a more physical relationship, but I was not interested in that. There were plenty of times when we had stolen kisses, but I knew that was not enough for Felix. He always said that he would not pressure me into anything I didn't want to, but he was still a man.

Aro has asked me on several occasions if I would join his Guard, but I always declined. Some days, I would see Irina was always sad. "What's the matter?" I asked her after we hunted. "I miss my sisters. I speak to them from time to time, but I really miss them." I scoffed, "Then why didn't you say something sooner. I would love to meet your sisters. Let's go." She looked at me, "What about Felix?" I made a face, "What about him? He'll live." She laughed, "Ok. I'll call Tanya and tell her we're coming." "Personally, I would make it a surprise but that's just me." We ran back to the tower and began packing our clothes. While I finished packing, Irina went to inform Aro about our decision to return home. Someone knocked on my door, "Come in." It was Felix, "You're leaving?" I nodded, "Yes. Irina wanted to go home and I wanted to meet her family." His eyes widened, "And you weren't going to tell me." I looked back, "Of course I was, Felix. This is just not easy." He sighed, "And I cannot convince you to stay." I looked back and rolled my eyes, "Felix," I looked back at him with large eyes, "I'm sorry, Felix. But, Irina is my sister." I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head into his vast chest, "I'll miss you. And I will try and come to see you soon." I smiled, "Besides, your best friend is the world's best tracker. I'm sure he can find Irina and me in no time." He smiled at me, "I am going to miss you so much." He kissed my hair, placed one finger under my chin and lifted my face so that he could kiss me.

His arms tightened around me, lifting my feet off the floor. I ended the kiss, "I'm not leaving right away," I whispered. He chuckled and put me down. "I'll see you later." He closed the door and I made a face. I was glad we were leaving, because I was tired of trying to maintain a non-physical relationship with Felix. Even though I would miss him, I wanted to get away from his watchful eye. If any other man would even look at me, Felix would keep them away from me. Soon, Irina came to my room and had our clothing mailed to her home in Denali. Felix and Demetri offered to take us to the airport. Demetri felt the same way as Felix did. And Irina felt the same way as I did, except she wanted more conquests. She enjoyed Demetri, but she wanted something new. Felix held me as his side for as far as he could. At the security check, he final released me. He kissed me again and this time I teased him. I hitched my leg around his leg, "Bye Felix," I whispered against his lips. Irina and I waved and then we were on our way to Denali.

"Are you really going to miss Demetri?" She smiled, "Not that much. I've had my fill of him. What about you and Felix?" I smiled coyly, "I can honestly say, he'll never forget me." Irina and I talked for the rest of our flights. Soon, we were in Denali, where two blond women met us at the airport. "Tanya! Kate!" Irina hugged the two women. They looked at me and the taller of the two approached me, "You must be Isabella. I'm Tanya and this is Kate." Tanya and Kate hugged me and we drove to their home. There, I met Carmen and Eleazar. Carmen laughed, "Finally, we are evenly matched." I smiled, "How do you mean?" "Three brunettes to three blonds." I giggled as Carmen showed me the room, which they designated for me. Soon I was settled in; I was welcomed into the family. Carmen helped me hang up my clothes from Volterra. This was another oddly familiar feeling. I wrote this out in my journal.

Everyone wanted to know about Irina and my life with the Volturi. She bragged about Demetri and she said that I would have to be taught to close the "deal" with men. "Irina, I'm not interested in making conquest over men. That works for you not me." This wasn't that last time this topic was discussed. Tanya was more interested in finding out who I was. "Thank you, Tanya, but no thank you. I have made my peace with me not knowing my human life. I wasn't easy, but it is easier for me to move on." She nodded, "All right." Eleazar and I become close; he was so much like a brother to me, as Carmen, Tanya and Kate became sisters to me. The six of us lived together, having a long life together. I learned to let go of my desires of knowing my human life, because I knew as I got older in this life, I would have forgotten it either way. So, I moved on and focused on my future.