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I am so sorry for not posting on sunday. But here it is: My new chapter. Still going slow, but you know why.

By the time I left the hotel it was late in the afternoon, not yet twilight even. I began to wander aimlessly through the – still quite lively- streets of Volterra. You could see a variety of people. The most obvious were the many tourists. There were people from a large number of countries: USA, France, Britain, Spain and there were those I was not yet sure, as I was not familiar with the language that they spoke: I think Germany and perhaps Poland? Who knows. And then there was – of course- a group of tourists from an Asian country.

Then there were Italians, inhabitants of Volterra. At that point I sat down as I began to feel dizzy again. My mind began to wander: Did some people of Volterra know in what kind of danger they were living; raising their children? I did not think so, as who in the right frame of mind would come here then on their own? Let alone live here?-At that thought I had to laugh out loud and earned myself a look of a man passing by, that clearly said I was crazy. I was asking who would come here willingly? Seriously, Bella! Here I was knowing, and sitting in the middle of town. Proof of my insanity?

But you have to admit. It was comically ironic. The Theme of my life: Irony.

The dizziness had left me by then and I decided to go and get a little something to eat.

All the while I was on high alert. If there were any Vampires roaming the town now -the sun was just setting- then I did not want to miss them.

It would make things so much easier and I would not have to search any more. I would just walk up to them and then I would…. Erm.. what would I do then? Hmm...

There had to be something I could do to force action? But how do you force a vampire into action?

After a few more moments - tormenting my heart and soul by going through memories of THEM in order to find the weak spot – it hit me:

I only had to bleed, my blood would make them lose control. If it could cause THEM to falter in their hold of themselves, then it would certainly do the same to a traditional, human drinking vampire? After all everyone of THEIR kind I ever came in contact with, had told me I smelled delicious! But what if it was like a local delicacy? If I only smelled good to American Vampires and not to those living here?

My train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted by a flash of white in my peripheral vision. But by the time I turned my head in that direction, there was nothing there any more.

I was a little disappointed. At least now I knew they were here.

I stopped my aimless stroll to go into a little "Osteria". I had a pizza and some water. Only after the first nip at the drink did I realize how parched I was. I drained it and ordered another straight away. Luckily the waitress understood English well enough. The pizza was different from those I tasted at home. It was so much better! But I could not eat much of it. I was full so fast. A shame, really.

When I left the small restaurant it had gotten dark and – naturally – colder. I cursed myself for not bringing my my parka on this tour, but at that time it really had not been necessary. I tried to keep myself warm by rubbing my hands over my arms and thighs – it made almost no difference.

Anyway, I kept strolling through the narrow alleys and eyeing dark corners with morbid fascination and curiosity. I expected to run into one of them. But no such luck. Once I felt like being observed although I never found the source of the stare I was so sure that lay on me. Around 11 pm I gave up.

I was bitter cold, tired and the pain medication must have worn off, too.

As soon as I had found my way back to the hotel, I went up to my room and drew myself a hot bath.

I did not stay in the water for too long, just long enough to warm up.

As always these days I avoided looking into the mirror. But I could not but notice, that one of the slashes on my torso was itching and had a reddish tint around it. I knew it was not how it was supposed to be - in the hospital they even warned me of a situation like this. It had gotten infected. How, I had no idea. To me it was not important either as I fully intended to find a "cold one" within the next two days.

I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. But I did not sleep well. The nightmares that had spared me the previous night were back full blast. I saw it all again: HIM leaving, the time after, my father's concerned face, the argument I had with my mother, Laurent almost killing me in the meadow and finally the day Victoria came for me. I awoke with a scream. First, I did not know where I was; It took a few deep breaths and some light for me to recognize my surroundings.

I did not want to fall asleep again, when I had calmed down, so I switched the TV on. There was not really anything that would keep my interest on and so I started channel switching. After a few stations I found one - probably for the guests – where they told the town's history and showed pictures of buildings and stuff. I watched that. Again and again. The languages varied.

During the third repetition - currently in Italian – I had that feeling again, as if someone was watching me... I got up and switched off the light. Not that who ever was out there would need the illumination if he or she was a vampire but it made it easier for me to see out into the dark from the window. I mean I did not really expect to see him or her- in case the person existed at all – but I tried anyway. No result came off of my action so I decided to just ignore it. I shut the window and its shutters as well as the drapes and went to sit in the bed again. My back resting against some pillows and the soft headboard, I restored to staring at the telly again.

I must have fallen asleep once more, as at around 5 am I awoke again, panting and covered in cold sweat - the nightmare the same as before.

At that point I decided that I might as well get up and begin my search anew. I could well do without another one of my dreams.

That day I started with a quick shower, brushing my teeth and getting some more pain medication into my system. Then I concentratedly watched that tourist channel again and after that left for the town.

By 11 am- I had had a "Madeleine" and some cappuccino as breakfast around 9 am- I had already seen the "Arco Etrusco", the "Baptistery", the "Cathedral" and the "Museo Etrusco Guarnacci". Those were really interesting but not what I was looking for...

The day was overcast and I had really been hoping to get a hold of one of them or at least sneak a look at one of them...

I had that feeling of someone watching me again, though.

Namely ever since I had been standing in front of the Tourist information and reading an announcement for a " St. Marcus festival" , which included a festival procession to celebrate the expulsion of all vampires from Volterra, by a certain St. Marcus. As soon as I read this I had to laugh- and hard. So hard that I almost had tears running down my cheeks.

The reason for this was that I did remember a certain conversation with a certain bronze haired vampire very clearly. When I had first been to THEIR house, when I had first met THEM officially. Back then, HE told me about the Volturi, pointing them out in a picture in Carlisle's office: Aro, Marcus and Caius – "Vampire Royalty" HE had called them. A coincidence? I did not think so.

So one of them was supposed to be a Saint and the source, that caused good riddance to the vampires in this town? Hilarious!

When I had calmed down I began to promenade again. During my venture through town I came upon a group of children and youths. I followed them, my interest being piqued. They came to a stop in front of the orphanage. That fact got me thinking.

I was an orphan now; With Charlie and Renee dead, that was what I was. An orphan.

They looked so cute, though: They had little uniforms on in blue and white. The coloursof the wind and air: "Volaterrae"(Roman) or "Velathri"(Etruscan): "The one who flies over the earth" . How matching.

I caught one little girl ogling the window of a bookshop, while passing by. In that bookshop there were the Classics to be seen: Shakespeare, Austen, Goethe and so on. I could sympathize with her on that topic, being one of my favourites as well.

Then and There I made my decision: I would donate my money to their cause.

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I hope to update once or perhaps even twice a week!