Chapter 2
"You are truly an astonishing creature. Immortality suits you my dear Bella."
Those were the first words I'd heard when my transformation was complete. I opened my eyes to only three pairs of eyes this time, only their eyes were black. No longer blood-red, which, from my experience with the Cullen's, it only meant that they were thirsty. I slowly lifted my body off of the table that I was on, and swung my legs around so that I was facing Aro, flanked by Caius and Marcus. My mind registered that it was only the four of us as soon as I even opened my eyes, though I couldn't help but look around anyway.
The room that I was in was beautiful. It was a circular room with a domed ceiling. There were paintings all along the wall and ceiling that seemed to tell a beautiful never ending story of angels, demons, and it looked like there was gold inlaid into the walls as well. There was no furniture in there, save for the table in the center that served as my temporary pyre.
As I took in the room, my attention never left Aro's face. "Beautiful is not the word I could use to describe you, my child. Are you thirsty?"
So that's what the annoying burning was on the back of my throat. I hadn't paid much attention to it, honestly, and I first noticed it when I saw their eyes. I shrugged and hopped off of the table. At some point during the transformation, someone had dressed me in a khaki skirt and a red blouse. Caius held out a black robe for me and I slid into it. It was quite comfortable as the hood was placed over me.
I followed the three vampires into another room where they sat on the thrones that were at the head of the area. I stood at the base of the steps that led to the stage where the three thrones were, but Aro waved me closer and had me stand next to his throne. Somewhere behind me I heard a violent hiss, which I could only assume came from Jane. I turned my head towards her so that she could see my crooked smile as I took my spot next to Aro.
"After dinner, we will get you settled into your accommodations. Gianna will bring over some catalogs for you to peruse through for your room. We already have a temporary room set up for you, but I am sure that you will want something with your touch. Ahh, here's Heidi with dinner now."
I looked away from Aro and at the long door that opened from the floor all the way to the ceiling. A gorgeous female walked through the door, and her beauty rivaled Rosalie's. She had long legs that never ended and her eyes were a strange color violet. I assumed she had blue contacts over her red eyes.
Behind her there was a group of thirty-five people that followed in amazement of their surroundings. I now understood why Aro was so excited to see Heidi. While the other vampires started calling which of the humans they wanted, I continued to stare off. There was no way I could take part in this.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Volterra, Italy. Let's eat." I gathered that was the usual greeting that was spoken since all of the vampires descended on the unsuspecting humans at the same time. They hardly had time to scream.
One by one the humans were drained and dropped to the floor. When Aro was done with his, a female tourist from the looks of her, he turned to look at me since I never moved an inch. I raised an eyebrow in response to his questioned look.
"I thought you were thirsty my child. Do you not like the human that was left for you?" I looked ever so slightly over to the tall man that was petrified into silence as he looked at the horror that befell the group he came in with.
I shook my head, with my arm still resting on Aro's throne. But before I got a chance to answer, Jane decided to answer for me.
"Humph. Look she's damaged goods; she hasn't spoken one word yet. She probably wants to dine off of animals like her precious Cullen's." The contempt that leaked out of her mouth sent a rage through my entire being.
Well that would be my choice now wouldn't it? I thought in anger. I mean really what difference did it make if I choose animal blood as my lifestyle? I opened my mouth to speak when I realized something was really wrong. Everyone was looking at me in disbelief and paranoia. Just because I thirsted for something different?
"What?" I demanded. No matter how polite Aro had been to me, staring was just plain rude. I resisted the urge to stomp my foot.
"Bella, my child how did you do that? We all heard you but not with our ears, in our minds." Aro seemed especially giddy. "I thought it would be a few days before your gift would manifest itself. But I can see in its glory."
"Brother, she's the first I've ever come across to have the ability to project her thoughts in others." Caius gleamed beside Aro. Marcus still looked bored and yet intrigued at the same time.
Aro held out his hand to me, and pulled it back almost as sudden as I laid my hand in his. "I still cannot read your thoughts." He laughed quietly to himself. "A prize indeed."
Now it was my turn to laugh as Jane stomped out of the room, her black robe trailing behind her. 'Act like the perpetual child you are Jane,' I thought, somewhat eager to try out my ability. And it didn't disappoint. Mid step, Jane stopped walking and let out a scream that would have chilled blood, before stomping out.
"Splendid. We must try this out one day. Though I am curious as to why I can't get a read off of her. Maybe we shall pay a visit to Denali and visit with our old friend Eleazar."
"Someone can have the human over there, Demetri go with Bella so that she may hunt." There wasn't a complete lack of disdain in his voice, but I appreciated his attempt. From what Carlisle and Edward had told me of the Volturi, they spent centuries trying to convince Carlisle to change his diet. No doubt they would eventually try the same thing with me. But for now I wanted something good. Watching the others eat their dinner only made the thirst less bearable. Demetri led me to a series of tunnels and I was beginning to think that if I was ever alone down here I'd get lost.
Outside the confines of the building, as I could make out was slightly bigger than a palace, I could see the tunnels led us a mile away so no lingering eye could see us. The mouth of the tunnel also opened up into a very lush forest. I looked at Demetri.
"Aro doesn't want us to hunt while in Volterra, it's pretty much the safest place in the world from vampire activity. But I'm sure that only applies to humans. It's nature for animals to die in their habitat." I turned my lips into a smile and threw my robe at Demetri.
Running was like second nature to me and I couldn't remember why I never ran. Oh yes I did, I vaguely remembered clumsy Bella, who couldn't even walk over a flat surface without tripping. Let alone running. Well look at me now, I was gracefully sprinting through the dense forest. No wonder Edward was never afraid of hitting trees.
I heard Demetri following after me, not quite keeping up, when I caught the scent of something very meaty, and very hungry. It was a predator. I let nature consume me and followed the scent to a pack of wolves that were about to pounce on a family of boar. I leaped for the biggest wolf and bit into his neck. The wolf that was closest to him jumped up to defend him, but I swatted him away. He landed on the ground with a thud but didn't give up. He tried to make another pass at me but I manage to grab and snap his neck, all with one hand. I finished the one wolf and dropped him alongside the other wolf. I walked back to Demetri, satisfied with my conquest.
"You're done? You don't want more?" He eyed me cautiously. I wished everyone would quit doing that! "Sorry." He said ashamed.
"No, I'm the one that's sorry, I'll try to control my thoughts better. And yes I am done drinking. My throat doesn't burn."
"Is that because of the animal blood? Because I have to tell you, you're a hundred times more rational than a newborn should. And just as in control as a vampire that's been around a century or two."
"I don't know what it is to be honest. But that was also the first time I've hunted, so it can't be that." Since I was finished, Demetri signaled that we'd run back to the compound. Once inside he passed me off to Gianna, who was instructed to give me a tour of the palace. With my new memory skills, I easily remembered the layout of the place, and Gianna finally showed me my room.
She opened the door, and I walked into a space of wonder and amazement. I looked back at her and asked, "Are you serious? This is my room?" She nodded and smiled and I detected a hint of sadness. Maybe I'd ask Demetri about that later. There was something about him that I couldn't place, but I had a feeling that we'd be friends. That would be nice I guess to have one friend here. But my room, I would love to be shut up in here forever. I wouldn't even call it a room, it was more like a lofted suite. Two of the five walls were covered with books, full collections of some of my favorite authors, and some that I've never even heard of. A few of them were in Italian, and Spanish and other languages. There was a bed that was in the center of the room against a wall of windows. I took a look at my view and saw a gorgeous landscape the Italian city streets leading into the countryside. My room was high enough off the ground, that I knew anyone on the street would never be able to catch a glimpse of me, even on a sunny day.
I walked up the winding steps and once on the landing, I saw the bathroom that was probably as big as the Cullen's living room. It was huge! I opened the French doors to my right and walked into my closet. Alice would have been proud of the closet that my room boasted; I could probably park a car in there. Thinking of her just now made me just as sad as I had been in the forest. I shook her and him and the entire family out of mind, and prayed that I never thought of them again.
"Aro will be pleased that you like your room." Gianna said as I walked back down the steps. I gave her a polite smile when she handed me a few catalogs for me to look through. "If you need anything, just dial extension 200 on the phone. It's over on the table, by your bed.
"Oh wait Gianna, before you go. Do you know if there is any way I'd be able to know what is going on in Forks? The way I had to leave must have left my father distraught, and I want to be able to check on him."
"I'll ask Aro." She said before slipping out the door. What use was she going to be for me.
'Aro, might I speak with you a moment? I'm in my room.'I figured I might as well test out y new abilities. Before I had a chance to even look at my new surroundings again, I heard a light rapping at my door. 'Come in.'
"My dear, I am well pleased that you are gaining control of your gifts. Do you like your room?" He grabbed my hand but somehow I knew that he was no longer trying to read my thoughts. Aro seemed to care about what I felt.
"Aro, yes, I love the room very much. Would you please tell Gianna I do not request anything further for my room." I took a quick pause. "The request that I do have cannot come from Gianna, but from you." He wrinkled his brow, but I continued, "I would like there to be some way to keep tabs on Renee and Charlie. I don't want to contact them, I know that's impossible considering the way, well the way things were left. Please?"
"Why yes Bella, there is. Afton, one of our guard, has the special ability to teleport himself. If at any time you want to know what's going on, he can be in Forks and back within minutes ." He patted my hair as if I was a pet. Maybe to him I was, he did call me a prize earlier. However, I wish that you would put meeting Afton off for a spell. I've made arrangements for the plane to fly us out to Alaska to visit an old friend. He will be able to tell us exactly what gifts you possess and he will be able to train you with them. We leave in a half hour." It was as if he floated out of the room.
I walked back upstairs and pulled a large suitcase down from one of the many shelves in my closet. I thought I was taking my time but I was done packing in only five minutes. When I rolled my suitcase out of my room, Demetri and Felix were walking down the hallway as well, towards me. "Hey guys. Are ya'll going to Alaska as well?"
"Demetri is, I'm not. I'm staying behind with Jane and Alec. I believe it'll just be you two, Aro, Renata. Aro hardly goes anywhere without being shadowed by Renata." Felix continued walking ahead, while Demetri stayed behind with me.
"Here you go." Demetri said as he grabbed my suitcase out of my hand. I started to object, but he gave me a stern look to show that he insisted.
"Thanks." I said, letting the silence suffocate the air around us. We were walking now towards the tunnels again, but they no longer confused me. Instead of going to the tunnels, we passed them and entered a garage. The garage was about the size of a football field. There were a ridiculous amount of cars of varying sizes and colors in the dimly lit room. I followed Demetri to a black Escalade as he threw our bags in the back along with other bags. I climbed into the middle seat of the truck and for the moment I was in the truck alone Renata and Aro. Aro was in the passenger seat, while Renata was sitting next to me. But soon, Demetri and another vampire climbed into the vehicle as well. Demetri sat in the backseat by himself. I couldn't be sure but it looked as though he was disappointed at something. The other vampire was our driver.
"Ahh Bella, I'd like you to meet Corin, Corin this is our newest member, Bella. Renata, I know you've seen with me earlier. "
And with the introductions completed, we pulled off into the darkness towards the airport.
A/N: Okay I hope you guys like the new power that I've given Bella, along with being a shield. I was going back and forth with another power that I thought would match a shield, but I think I chose the right one. (I hope) In the future when her thoughts are being projected, they will be in bold italics. The first couple of times that her gift manifested, I didn't use the bold italics because it wasn't yet revealed that they were her thoughts. (I so hope that makes sense.)So we'll see how it'll develop. Also a side note, Afton and Corin are members of the guard as SM saw them, however I've made up their powers are made up since they weren't revealed in the books. (Don't worry I know I haven't said what Corin's was, but that one is going to be a surprise. If you enjoyed the chapter, review. If you absolutely hated it and thought it was garbage, I really won't know unless you review. So don't forget to review!!!