Chapter 2 The Mysterious Tour Guide

"What did you make of that waiter we had in that restaurant? Was it just me or did he overreact when we mentioned vampires?" Julianne said to Alexis as they were leaving the restaurant in which they just ate dinner. They had decided after a day of sightseeing to stop in a small café called "Gino's Italian Cuisine".

"Before we discuss that what did you think of that food?" Alexis said looking up at Julianne. Julianne shook her head, "It may have been Italian cuisine, but it tasted like dirty dishcloths. Now what did you make of that guy?"Alexis looked down at the pavement "I don't know, but it made me feel uneasy."After they had ordered their food Julianne trying to make conversation asked the waiter, "What do you know about the vampires who used to live here?" The waiter had said there was a legend of a saint named Marcus who drove the Volterra vampires out of the city. Alexis looked shocked when he said the name Marcus, but she and Julianne had decided not to discuss this bit of info until they were leaving the restaurant. "Wasn't one of the vampires in that very weird and strange vision you had named Marcus?"Julianne said to Alexis noticing her friend looked very worried. "Yes" Alexis said glancing up at Julianne. That's why I'm worried that there may have been some truth to that guys comments based on the vision I had before our trip began" Julianne's face became filled with disbelief, " You've got to be joking!" You know as well as I do vampires despite being cool, don't exist. That vision had to be one of those rare coincidences where the vision doesn't become reality. You said so yourself you never had a vision so vague before anyway."

Heidi had been walking back to where the group of tourists was waiting to go to the Volturi chamber. She had gone to see if she could find one or more people to add to the group going on the tour, but had not been successful in finding anymore people who wanted to go on the tour. Oh well, she thought she still had found plenty of food for the Volturi's next meal. She was almost back to where the group was waiting when she heard the word vampire. She looked and saw two girls that looked about college age talking outside a cafe. One was blond the other had red hair. She was shocked when the blond one mentioned the red haired girl having visions. Could the redhead have a latent power to see the future? Aro would be very interested in obtaining her if this was the case. She decided she would approach them and try to make conversation.

Alexis and Julianne were almost to their hotel when a young woman stepped in front of them. She had very pale skin, mahogany hair, and was wearing a red vinyl top with a miniskirt. She was very attractive and would put runaway models like Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks to shame with her looks. She looked at Julianne and Alexis and said, "Excuse me, but did I hear you two talking about the vampires of Volterra?"

"Uh, yes we were." Julianne said taken by surprise. The young women responded with, "My name is Heidi and I was getting ready to go give an exclusive tour of Volterra including the Volturi lair, an area of the city that most people don't see where the Volturi vampires used to hangout when I heard your conversation and thought maybe you two would like an exclusive tour around ten o'clock tonight.

Alexis glanced at Julianne, "I don't know it's getting dark and we really must get back to our hotel." Heidi said, "I just have a couple of questions to ask you and then I'll be on my way." Heidi started asking them a series of questions ranging from how long they had known each other, their age, where they were from, how long they were staying in Volterra, etc. She seemed more intrigued, by Alexis answering her questions even though Julianne was giving more detailed answers. Julianne, despite her initial shock of Heidi suddenly appearing started to really enjoy talking to her and gave more info about their lives than was probably necessary. Alexis started to feel uncomfortable around Heidi. Was it just her or did her eyes despite being blue look like they had a strange shade of violet within them? She was thinking about what the deal was with Heidi when Julianne said, "Sure we'd love to go an exclusive tour tomorrow after 8'o clock" Alexis pulled Julianne aside and said, "Are you insane, we don't even know Heidi that well! I just know going on an exclusive tour with her tomorrow won't end well. I don't trust her. Where did she go?" Heidi had seemed to vanish into thin air.

"Don't you remember she said she had to give a tour in about ten minutes? She obviously had to go back to be a tour guide. While you were standing there in deep thought I agreed to us going on a tour for just the two of us tomorrow night. Alexis, just relax, it will be fine! The most important thing is we'll be together. I know you get scared really easily, but this tour won't be that scary and if it is I'll be right beside you to just tell you to calm down and don't overreact."

"Okay, I trust you Julianne" Alexis said forcing a smile. Alexis and Julianne then went straight back to their hotel room and immediately went to bed. Alexis as she was sleeping had a very strange dream. Heidi was taking them to the Volturi hangout and had them take a shortcut through an alleyway. Suddenly eleven figures in black clocks hovered out of the darkness. They pulled their hoods back and revealed blood red eyes that seemed to glimmer with fire and hunger. Alexis and Julianne both looked around and realized there was no escape. Alexis looked at Heidi and screamed as she saw that her eyes had turned blood red as well. One of the taller vampires knocked Alexis and Julianne onto the pavement. Suddenly they felt several pairs of vampire fangs bite into their arms, necks, and legs. Even though they tried to fight them off it was no use, they were too strong and the venom! It was like fire running all through their bodies. Even though their screams were high-pitched they knew no one could hear them.

Alexis woke up screaming. Julianne woke up immediately and said, "Alexis you were having a nightmare! It's okay. You're sweating! I'll get you some water and a washcloth." Alexis slowly let out a breath. She realized that she desperately wanted this trip to be over with. Once she was home she probably would not have any more vampire nightmares. Heidi was probably harmless and Julianne was right how her vision had to be warped. Vampires did not exist. After Julianne had given her a glass of water and a washcloth to cool herself off and realized Alexis was fine they both went back to bed. Alexis was still shaken up by the nightmare, but pushed it aside. She slept soundly for the rest of the night. Little did both she and Julianne know this would be the last time they ever slept.