A/N I hope you enjoy, this is probably the last chapter with little action, from here on...well. Shit's going down. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four
Holly wrenched herself away from Aro, backing towards the door at a quicker pace. He was crazy, delusional, this entire place was. "I don't know who you think you are, but my home is in New York."
He sighed and clasped his hands in front of him. "Holly, nobody is going to hurt you here, especially not me or my brothers. It seems I have a lot to explain, and a lot of confusion to clear up. If you will calm down and listen, I will explain everything." His voice had a sort of numbing effect, and Holly found herself listening to him. With hesitance, she followed him to a table in the corner of the room; the two brothers discreetly left leaving the two beings to themselves.
Once she had sat down, he began to talk. "Holly, what I am about to tell you now is not what I had planned, not in any way. I was expected to just tell you of your duties and let you go off and be our secretary. However, you are something different, something much more worthy than a secretary. I'll begin at the start, my brothers and I, we are vampires and we lead the Volturi."
"What?" Holly stood up from her chair but Aro put his hand over hers.
"Please, dear one, listen."
And so Aro told her of vampires, of covens, of ruling the vampire world and his duties, of what the Volturi represented and all the members in it. He proved this to her, he showed her his strength, he read her mind, and all Holly could do was sit there in shock.
"I don't understand, why tell me any of this?"
Aro sighed, "Holly, why didn't you live with your parents?"
She stared at him and blinked before answering, "I was happy with my Auntie Kate, there isn't much more to it than that, shouldn't you know that?"
"I do know that, I wanted you to say it. And tell me, Holly, why wasn't you at least curious about the man and woman who created you?"
Holly's frustrations rose, "I don't know! Okay? They just never meant anything to me!"
"Yes. I know. That's because your true parents are not your human parents, but vampires. You have a bond, a vampire bond, that means it cannot break or be severed; it is eternal and much stronger than any human relationship." Aro took her hand, "Holly, my mate and I are your true parents; I sensed something when you walked in and Marcus confirmed it with his gift. Now you're only human and I don't expect you to feel the full extent, or understand it, but I beg you to stay in the castle. Here we can keep you safe, if word gets out of your bond to me people may try to hurt you. My dear wife cannot leave over that fear."
Holly stood up; she had come here for freedom, a fresh start. Not to be trapped in a castle with vampires claiming to be her parents because of some ludicrous bond. Then her mind thought of a plan, however it would only work if she could avoid Aro touching her again.
"Can...can I go back to the apartment? For one last night, I need to...gather my thoughts in peace." She pleaded her eyes with Aro, and it seemed to work.
"I will allow one night."
His tone left no room for arguing and even though Holly had gotten what she wanted, her heart still sank. He was granting her one night of freedom, one night away from this, one night to try and escape.
"I will walk you back to the main doors."
She stepped away from him, "Could somebody else not do that?"
Aro inclined his head before nodding, at a normal voice he said 'Jane' and a petite young blonde vampire was at his side. He spoke to her quietly and fast in Italian, so Holly had zero chance of hearing what he was saying.
The girl, Jane, looked at Holly with mild interest. "Follow me, principessa."
Holly took one last confused look at Aro, who was looking back at her with sadness, before following Jane out of the doors. The journey back with Jane was silent at first, and Holly was fighting back tears, after around a minute of walking Jane spoke.
"You're quite lucky; I don't understand your sorrow."
Holly choked back a bout of crying, "I'm going to lose everything I ever worked hard for."
"But you're going to gain a completely loyal coven of vampires who will tend to your every whim, you'll get a black cloak and you won't even have to earn it, it will be your right. The Guard here, they're really not so bad. Although if you keep crying they'll think your pathetic. Don't tell Master Aro I said that, I'm only giving you advice."
"What?" Holly was lost, not only physically but mentally. She felt like she was being spoken to like a child but she was twenty two!
Jane let out an exaggerated sigh, "Principessa, there is no need for tears and dramatics, be grateful Aro has allowed you to go home."
Holly's temper was rising; it had been a while since she had to have an approval if she wanted to do something. That man, her 'true' parent, had another thing coming if he thought he could get Holly to do something she had no desire to do.
They came to the main doors, or freedom in Holly's mind. Jane let her out and there was a sense of excitement and daring in Holly's chest. She walk across the beautiful fountain plaza, and continued on until she found herself back at her apartment.
Once there, she took her passport, purse and left behind all her belongings. She had no idea how long it would take the Volturi to discover she was leaving and she wasn't taking any chances. Her day had been turned upside down and she longed for home, even if a small part of her said she was making a mistake.
The journey to the airport was quick, although to Holly each second felt like an hour, and the taxi drivers cheerful talk could do nothing to ease the nagging sensation in her heart. Once there, Holly had to hold herself back from sprinting to the ticket sales office, all she wanted was a flight to anywhere but this god awful place.
The male ticket office worker was English, and didn't seem to notice Holly's panic. "Can I help you, Miss?"
"Yes, I need a flight, to North America, preferably JFK."
The man frowned, "I have on leaving at six am tomorrow to JFK." He saw Holly's expression and looked back at his computer. "Or I can get you on a last minute flight to Port Angeles, Washington. You'll have just enough time to board if you buy the ticket now. It's business class." He rattled off the price and time, Holly paid on her credit card and had the flight booked in five minutes.
She picked up the ticket, and took her passport back, making her way through the crowds, lines and security. Eventually she got to the flight and got onto the plane straight away, she was nearly late as it was. She'd travelled to Port Angeles airport several times; it was the closest to Forks that she knew of. Once she was there, she didn't have a plan, she would just have to think of one.
She could go to Charlie's, spend a couple of nights on his couch then emigrate maybe. She knew the Volturi were dangerous, but she didn't think they'd put that much effort into trying to find her. After a few years she would be safe to go home.
Holly slept through most of the flight, trying to take her mind off the situation. There were no dreams this time, although when she awoke, she felt no more awake than before. Her neck was stiff, her throat parched, and her legs sore. Looking around at the other people, she knew she wasn't the only restless one.
Two hours later and she was speeding down the freeway in an Audi rental to the small town of Forks, she hated the place with a passion. It was cloudy, wet and miserable, nothing like the bright sun of California and the mild temperament of New York. She couldn't get hold of Charlie, and decided to try Bella; she might as well give them some notice.
"Holly, can I help?" Bella voice sounded; in the back she could hear several voices.
Holly laughed, "Yes, I'm about ten minutes off the border of Forks."
"What? Why the hell would you be in Forks?" Bella's tone surprised Holly, although Holly had probably equally surprised Bella.
"I wanted to see my little sister of course."
"What...never mind. I'm at Edwards, you'll have to come there Charlie's at work."
Holly put the address into the navigation system; it came up immediately, although it wasn't really in Forks. She began the drive, the smooth purr of the Audi could have lulled her to sleep, was she not trying to focus on driving. It was a while since she'd actually been behind the wheel of a car and not being driven by someone else.
She pulled up what she assumed and hoped was their driveway; by this point her directions were gone. Sure enough, a large glass house appeared; clearly Bella had won with this Edward fellow.
Exiting the car, Holly became painfully aware that she was still dressed in the same clothes she had interviewed in, and that she had no way of changing. Still, she was Holly Swan; she was more than just a pretty dress.
As she walked up to the door, a blonde man opened the door; he was handsome, pale with bright golden eyes. He smiled at her, although it didn't seem very natural.
"You must be Holly," He closed the door, "I'm Carlisle Cullen, Edward's father."She must have looked nervous for he spoke again, "I'll take you through to the living room, that's where your sister and my family are."
As she walked through the perfect, clean house she noticed how quiet it was for a home with what she assumed several people were living in. And as far as her eyes could see, there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere.
As she entered the living room she noticed her sister sat in between a golden haired man, and a small brown haired girl. The man, Holly assumed, was Edward. On another chair sat a stunning blonde haired woman and what must be the largest man Holly had ever laid eyes on, she probably couldn't have fit both her hands around one of his biceps.
A woman with light brown hair approached, she had a motherly face and a warm smile gracing her lips. She reached out and pulled the taller Holly into a loose hug.
"Hello, Holly, welcome to my home. I'm Esme, these are my sons, Edward, Emmet and Jasper, and my daughters Rosalie and Alice. It's a pleasure to meet any of Bella's family."
Holly smiled as she spoke, "The pleasure's all mine."
Bella interrupted, "Why are you really here, Holly?"
There was a shocked look cross Esme's face and Holly turned to glare at Bella, "If you don't want me here I can leave. I'll find a bed and breakfast somewhere and be out of your way."
"See that's what I don't get, you're not a turning up out of the blue person, Holly." It was true, Bella was irritatingly right.
"Fine, I had an interview go very wrong in Europe and wanted to get back to America as soon as I could. This was the only flight they could get me on till the next day. I don't see the problem."
Bella smirked, "So you didn't come to see me."
Holly rolled her eyes, "You already knew that."
In her hand her phone buzzed, Holly took a quick glance at it and her heart dropped.
That really wasn't a smart move. Don't make any plans. We're not far of Forks. – Aro
A/N I can't wait for the next chapter. All will be revealed! Please favourite, follow and review.