Chapter 5: Developments

Actually, I'm not sure what I was expecting to find. The first search result was a Wikipedia stub, with a few mentions of "Aro Volturus" as one of the traditional founders of the city of Volterra, Italy. It also mentioned that, possibly because of this, it was one of the more popular names in the Tuscany region.

The second listing is what caught my attention: VAMPIRES AMONG US!

Clicking on it brought me to an obviously questionable conspiracy-laden site about vampires. From what I could tell, it was sort of a compendium of all relevant and recent vampire conspiracy rumors, with the normal "ominous" black background, compounded with irritating blue-and red-alternating text, which created an almost un-readable flashing effect for my now super-sensitive eyes. If they wanted to keep the vampires out, they couldn't have picked an better way, I irritatedly thought. There were literally hundreds of "theories" listed. As I began skimming through the page contents, I found some interesting tidbits, such as an argument that Masonic lodges were actually a cover for vampire covens, proved in part by the ritualistic drinking of blood - claimed to be wine, but which WAS actually blood. And what does this say about the Christians? I idly wondered. Vampirism was also really what the dollar bill meant with its phrase about a "new world order." Well, I guess I'm ahead of the curve - go, me! I rolled my eyes - this was not looking promising.

There was also a link that alleged there were vampires on one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center, and if you watched a certain video that showed the second plane hitting from just the right angle, you could see a part of the plane punch out, and several figures drop from it, seconds before it impacted the building. I wasn't sure what to think of this one, since the video clearly DID show something happening. I watched it over and over again, trying to ferret out where it had been manipulated, but there was nothing out of place, as far as I could tell. It was pretty fascinating, actually.

Finally, about three-quarters of the way down the page was a bit on Volterra, Italy. I clicked on the link, and was taken to a page that included the myth of the stregoni benefici. An echo of sorrow struck me as I had a brief flashback to the night I first researched vampires, during my early days of getting to know Edward. However, this page went further than the simple definition, as the author had apparently done a lot of research into the origin of that myth, and actually alleged that there were real vampires in Volterra that were the basis for the legend. The names of Aro, Caius, and Marcus appeared among others in a list of possible identities for these vampires. It also claimed that on March 19th, St. Marcus day was celebrated - the day on which St. Marcus had driven out the vampires from Volterra. But, since Marcus was a possible vampire that still existed in Volterra, the author speculated on the reasons for this festival - everything from reassuring the residents that there were no vampires, to acting as a warning to vampires who might want to come and hunt there.

Fascinating, I thought. I wonder if this person knows how close to the mark they are ... and how much danger they've put themselves in. I knew that it wouldn't take much for a vampire to find the author and silence them. In a way, I guess the conspiracy theory approach IS the most accurate. Luckily for this person, most old-world vampires must not be up to speed on the latest technology.

I looked at the screen for awhile, thoughtful. Meeting the Volturi might be a step that I should take, after the whole Victoria thing was taken care of. I had no other vampire contacts, and although I loved Jacob, and the wolf pack, ultimately, I knew that I was not like them, and would always be an outsider to some extent. And, after awhile, I won't be able to go back home anyway, I sadly added. My experiences in college so far were only solidifying my belief that although interacting with humans was possible, I was very different from them as well. I'm lonely, I thought, and was surprised that it rang true.

So how do I get there? was my next thought, since Volterra seemed very, very far away. I did not want to drop out of school, but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of waiting years, either. I decided that there must be a way to get there as part of my educational process. I had a meeting with my advisor the next week, so I would spend the time until then brainstorming some reasons that I needed to go specifically to Volterra, or somewhere close by in Tuscany. I mean, there has to be some sort of school-year abroad program or something that I could take advantage of, that would allow me to keep doing my school work, keep my parents from worrying about my disappearance, and let me find the Volturi. It was a big stretch, but I hoped it was possible.

I assumed that meeting the Volturi was the logical thing to do, although part of me warned that I should find out more about them before I went blithely traipsing into their city. My focus snapped back to the webpage still in front of me. This guy obviously has some sources of information that aren't totally wacko. I was a little nervous about contacting someone actually convinced of the existence of exactly what I was trying to keep hidden, but I figured that I would never actually meet him, so email contact only, plus my ivy-league student email address, would hopefully be enough to keep his suspicions off of me as well.

Now with a plan, I opened my email. Hmmmm ... word this carefully, Bella. I decided the best place to start was sending an email to the person who ran the VAMPIRES AMONG US! page, and ask to be forwarded on to the person who wrote specifically about Volterra, assuming there was more than one person, of course. There was no name given, only an info email address.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a student at Dartmouth University, and I am doing a paper on contemporary vampire myths for my -

Crap. What class would have something like this? Better make it something real ... I thought. I jumped over to the online Course Bulletin and quickly skimmed through. A-ha! Thank you, liberal arts education!

- Comparative Religions class, and I stumbled across your page. I am particularly interested in the myths about the Volterra Vampires, and wondered if you could put me in contact with the author of that section, as I would be interested in learning more, and perhaps finding some new source materials.

Thank you,

Isabella Swan

I reread the email for a second, decided it seemed innocent enough, and clicked "Send" ... and hoped I hadn't just gotten myself into trouble.

...

The next day was overcast, making my trip back to the Art Museum after class less worrisome. I was done with my paper, but I felt this almost uncontrollable urge to visit the painting - my painting, as I was beginning to think of it - again. I was so focused on seeing it that I almost didn't turn when the docent tried to get my attention. I briefly remembered that I had asked her for information, and turned - not too quickly - towards her.

"I did some digging after we spoke yesterday, and I have some more information on the painting and its donor," she began. "We have had this piece since the late 1970s. The loan is long-term, with no defined end-date. It is guaranteed to be here for 50 years, and after that point its presence would be at the discretion of the donor or his estate. As for how it actually came here, I'm sure you read the wall label that mentioned the Simon Cullen Foundation -"

I felt a phantom lurch in my chest, as if my heart was trying to stutter back to life.

"- who were instrumental in arranging the whole thing. We had been trying to build our European Baroque holdings, and this particular painting was a fortuitous surprise. I asked the Museum Director about it yesterday before I left, and he recalled that the timing of it all had been lucky, indeed, as it just so happened that one of the Cullen family was a student at that time, and had overheard one of the museum curators discussing the very topic. And, when you are a member of such a family, I guess, it's not too hard to pull some strings."

I wondered who had previously been a student here - Edward, or Alice, perhaps? I thought of Rosalie or Emmett fitting into this quiet academic setting, and shuddered. Jasper wouldn't have been comfortable around so many humans, either.

"So, as for the donor himself, he's a descendant of the original founders of Volterra, Italy -"

I avoided coughing at this remark.

"-and has quite a remarkable art collection. It seems that his family has been collecting art for a very long time."

You have no idea, lady.

"They actually have too much art to display, and so were happy to lend a piece to us, where it could be publically appreciated. They have their own gallery in Volterra, apparently - the Palazzo Volturi. Much of their collection is displayed there."

"The last of the great art patron families, huh?" I quietly mused.

I froze at her next statement.

"We actually have had a special relationship with this family, ever since the loan was given. Each year, one or two Art History majors are allowed to study there for a quarter. It's really a remarkable chance to work close-up with some amazingly important and beautiful objects. They collect all periods of art, from ancient to contemporary, so almost all of the Art History majors try and go at some point. You must not be in the Art History department if you didn't know about this?" she finished with a question.

"Ah, no - I mean, not yet - I'm just a freshman."

"Well, if you think you might be majoring in Art History, you should go talk to the department chair - I'm sure she'd be able to get you on the right track."

The docent kept speaking, but I was in a daze. This was too easy ... was it fate? It sure seemed like I was meant to meet the Volturi. The more I thought about it, the more I was determined to snag one of those study-abroad opportunities. If I was prepared enough, I bet I could try and do it before I was "officially" a major in the department - which would have been at the end of my Sophomore year. The thought of having to wait that long was terrifying, and made me all the more determined to put together the most persuasive argument I could. Thank god I don't need sleep, I thought, I can get this done ASAP.

Focusing back on what was in front of me, I realized that the docent was looking at me with a strange expression. Uh, oh ... how long was I been standing there, frozen like a statue? I knew firsthand how unsettling - and unnatural - that stillness could be. I quickly spoke, "Thanks for all the information - it was really helpful. And thanks also for the advice about seeing the Volturi collection - I just might do that." Before she could respond, I turned, my current plans suddenly averted, and ran back towards my dorm.