Have a Little Faith
Chapter Five: Volterra & The Volturi
Demetri took Addison's hand, and led her quickly through the remaining shadows into the city. He manoeuvered his way through the city deftly, and with mounting excite. Addison took in her surrounding, and the beauty of this city in which she would, apparently, be offered a home. Her eyes fell upon all that they could see as Demetri pulled her along. They flew quickly across the Main Plaza under the safety of the shadows as the sun breached the horizon upon it's rise back into the sky. He led her through to a dead end alley, clutching her hand all the while as she gazed upon the ancient city with rapt attention. Finally, they reached the end of the alley, where there was a small grate. Demetri reached down, and moved the grate aside. He glanced down it, and then he turned to Addison, smiling.
"Ladies first," he said, gesturing to the hole. Addison hesitated momentarily, and then she hopped down with fluid grace. Not a moment later, Demetri joined her. He reached up to close the heavy grate back over the hole they had entered through. Then he placed his hand between her shoulder blades and guided her forward gently. The stone surface was uneven, and very wide. There was barely any light, but the two could see perfectly. They moved through the long, damp, subterranean tunnel quickly. It slanted downward, leading them further underneath the city. Finally they reached another grate with rusting iron bars. Demetri unlocked it quickly, and when they were through, he relocked it just as fast. They went through a door made of thinner interlaced bars. They ducked through and hurried on to a larger, brighter stone room. Addison took in the scenery with great interest as Demetri led her to a low, heavy, thick wooden door. He opened it casually, and gestured for her to enter first.
Addison stepped into the brightly lit, unremarkable hallway. She took in the off-white walls, the gray carpeted floor. There were common rectangular fluorescent lights that were spaced evenly along the ceiling. It was warmer in this room then in the tunnel, Addison noted as she observed this new room while Demetri closed the door behind them. He continued to guide her down the long hallway. Soon they arrived at an elevator that took them on a short ride further beneath the city. When they stepped off, Addison observed the new room, which resembled a posh office reception area. The carpet was thick, and a deep green. The walls were a paneled wood. Large, brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung on the walls, serving as replacements for the lack of windows. Pale leather couches were arranged in cozy groupings, and there were glossy tables which held crystal vases full of vibrantly colored bouquets. In the middle of the room was a high, polished mahogany counter with a woman standing behind it. It only took one quick glance and an even quicker sniff of the air for Addison to realize that this was not a vampire, but a human.
"Welcome home, Demetri," the human woman said warmly.
"It's good to be back," he replied with a smile. Demetri glanced down at Addison's bemused expression, and introduced the two.
"Addison, Gianna; Gianna, Addison," he gestured in introduction.
"Welcome, Addison," Gianna said with a kind smile.
"Nice to meet you," Addison murmured in response, still bemused, but she kept her face impassive.
He led Addison through a set of double doors in the back of the room. From there, he led her down yet another wide, ornate hallway and the two entered a room through doors at the end of the hallway that were sheathed entirely in gold. He opened one of the doors, gesturing once more for Addison to enter before him.
"Ah, Demetri, you've returned at last!" Came a voice that sounded like a weary sigh. Addison took in this... throneroom... in her numbered seconds of invisibility.
"Yes, Master," he said, leading Addison up to where Aro sat with two other ancients. One wore a bored, half-dead expression, and the other's face was impassive, as was Addison's.
"And Addison! How wonderful!" The ancient vampire cried. He held out his hand eagerly. Addison considered it, her face betraying none of the confusion nor wariness she felt, and then she moved forward swiftly to grip Aro's hand. He leaned over their hands in concentration, while Addison stood rigidly, her eyes never leaving Aro. Finally, Aro straightened and released her hand.
"What a joy it is to meet someone with such a powerful talent!"
"Thank you, sir, but I can assure you the joy is mine." She said quietly, resorting to her standard level of modesty, respect, and charm; as she always did in times of uncertainty.
"You're too sweet," Aro said in his sugary voice. Addison smiled an easy smile.
"Demetri's told you why I requested your presence, I see." It wasn't a question, so Addison just nodded.
"Will you join us?" Aro asked with an excited air.
With these words, Addison felt a strange pull in her being. Suddenly, there was an overwhelming need within her to join the Volturi. To serve them. To want to please them... The feeling was slightly familiar. It was strangely remniscent of the one she'd felt when she'd abbandoned Adriano and the Russian Twins.
With that thought, she sighed internally. Addison glanced once at the floor, once at Demetri, and then back at Aro. Then, she gave the response that would change the course of her entire existence, just as Alice saw Addison's response flash before her eyes in a passing vision.
.oOo.
Addison sat in a tree high above the ground. Her eyes wondered along the rolling hills, and the grazing animals. She leaned back, closing her eyes as she breathed in the scent of grass, tree sap, moss, and water in a river far away. Floral scents became a part of this mixture with a passing breeze. Addison's leg dangled over the edge as she stared at the ground far bellow her. Home, she thought to herself. This is home.
It was a strange thing to get used to; having a home. Especially since the last time she'd had one, she'd been 16, with her 17th birthday drawing closer with each second that ticked by. Sixteen and a half years had passed since then, and she still regretted it each time she thought about it; being changed before her body and mind reached the height of her maturity. She'd been close to that point, but not quite there yet.
What would Adriano say? Her thoughts sighed.
This question had popped up a thousand times since she'd made her desicion. Addison knew the answer of course. She'd known Adriano and his half-crazed, obsessive nature. She'd known his hatred of the Volturi well, and how it had almost gotten her killed. Addison shook her head, trying to free herself from these binding truths that brought about a sudden sharp pain in her chest.
She'd loved Adriano. Sure he had been absolutely mad, and sure he'd only changed her for her gift, and his own gain. However, without him, she'd never have known this life. She'd never have known immortality, and the true wonders around her because, as a human, she'd hadn't been able to see clearly. Not to mention he was gone now; she couldn't hate a dead man, despite his failures. Of course, she'd never been entirely devoted to him. That's why Chelsea was able to sever her bond to him. Perhaps it was simply never meant to be, Addison mused internally. Except, if her and Adriano were never meant to be, then who was she meant to be with? There had to be someone...
Maybe she just hadn't found him yet. Maybe he was a human, not yet born nor thought of. Or maybe he was simply awaiting her arrival in his life without being aware of this. Perhaps she would change him, and they would spend eternity together...
Just then, Addison heard a rustling below her. She glanced over the edge of her branch to see Demetri below her, scanning the towering treetops for her.
Or perhaps... Just maybe... I have already met him. She thought serenely, grinning up at the sky and the birds flying above her head and out of reach before she leapt down to see the beautiful immortal below her feet.
"Yes?" She asked calmly upon her arrival on a lower branch.
"Nothing," he said with a smile. "Just thought you might like some company."
Addison tilted her head to the side, and then her face lit up in a dazzling grin in response to his own.
"You thought right," she said quietly, hopping down from where she sat, and taking his outstreched hand without a second thought.