Chapter 22
You Can't Go Home
Our days and nights fall into a routine as we travel the coast of Greece on the Aegean. Every three or four days we dock so I can hunt, and that evening we sing songs we've been practicing for a surprisingly short time. One night Vladmir surprises me when he sings a song by someone called Billy Joel. I have to wonder that there is such a perfect song for his lost mate Sulpicia, but she is there in almost every word of She's Always A Woman. What surprises me most is the way the song is so open and honest in a way that Vladmir has rarely been where she is concerned.
I know how they ended, but he has never told me how they met or even how long they were together. She was his before we met, and I know from his choice of the song, she is still very much a part of his ancient memory.
Speaking of ancient memories, I am surprised at the different towns and cities of the coast. They are all unfamiliar to me, even though I know I have seem them all before. The modern buildings have completely replaced what I recalled so fondly. The tourism industry is hard at work corrupting the coastal towns with tall hotels, piers, and nightclubs. Each time we go ashore I am forced to see again and again how much my homeland has changed. Still when we near Thessaloniki I feel anticipation for my old home.
We dock the boat and travel inland, and the whole time I'm hoping to see something I remember, but it's all different! We travel through farming communities and the roads are all paved and the signs speak of names I've never heard of before. I thought I would always remember! I can't even guess within a ten mile radius where my family's home was or where my Tessa is buried. Summer seems captivated with the beauty of the land, but she has no idea that the place used to be wild and untamed and untouched by machines and concrete!
I ask that the driver turn around and take us back to the coast. Vladmir looks at me with concern, and Summer puts her arms around me comfortingly. I cannot stand the thought that my Tessa may have had her grave violated. That her bones may lie beneath a modern road or building is more than I can stand. Summer is perceptive and she slides her hand through my hair before she taps my temple with her delicate fingers. "She's here Stefan. It doesn't really matter where her remains are; the best of Tessa is always going to be with you." She kisses my cheek and snuggles against my side.
Once we're back on the boat we sail into the Mediterranean. I want so much to see the Greece I remember, but even when we go ashore for historic tours, most of the history is later than I remember. Even the language is different, with adaptations from the Islamic and Jewish inhabitants. Still along the coast there are enough English speaking tourists, we are still able to preform our music in the small clubs and lounges. It's one of the things I look forward to each time we come ashore since it helps me forget about the disappointment of losing my homeland. Perhaps in truth I am Romanian, as I have claimed that country as home far longer than I've ever lived in Greece.
I have been so preoccupied with mourning the loss of my home, it took me a while to see the bond that has formed between Summer and Vladmir. She is not afraid of being near him, and when I go to hunt I know that they spend time together. I might be jealous, but not only do I trust them, I can feel no change in the way she reacts to me. She tells me she loves me more as the days go by, and sometimes when we are alone she is so passionate I have a hard time restraining myself with her.
With the disappointment of my homecoming, we have to make decisions of where to go next. For about a week we sail aimlessly, following the reports of the best weather and seeking out the best beach resorts. It's in one of these resorts where we go to perform that I hear something that starts to make me feel wary. Two people in the audience are talking about us, commenting on our paleness in an area where the people are different shades of brown. "It's almost like those two who were in here last night asking questions."
Back on the boat I tell Vladmir and Summer what I overheard and I recommend we give up performing and try to stay hidden. She seems to think that I'm overreacting and it could be just some fans who have followed our route.
I don't think she understands the threat of the Volturi. "Summer, you may be right. But if there's even a chance that it's one of our kind it's not worth the risk. I love performing, you know I do. But I would have given anything to be able to undo my last speech before I was arrested and then changed. I'm not so arrogant as to think I can't be caught. We need to be far away from here." We changed our course and planned to find a smaller place next time we docked.
Fortunately the Mediterranean has many islands, both developed and private. We sail for the next two weeks and hear nothing about anyone who could be Volturi. We don't plot our course with any kind of reasoning, but pick random places and only go ashore when I or Vladmir need to hunt.
We start to feel confident we have lost any who would be hunting for us. We spend a lot of time practicing our music and even watching some of the movies Vladmir and Summer want me to see. I really do enjoy the movie Ladyhawke, mostly because the actress reminds me of Summer. It starts to sink in how difficult this existence is going to be for us if indeed we are being hunted. We start looking ahead to sailing on to the Atlantic and perhaps crossing the ocean to America. Vladmir likes the idea of being near the Cullen family, but Summer suggests that we could also lose pursuit in Africa.
When we get close to Athens we stop in a smaller port so that I can hunt in the less populated area. The animal diet isn't difficult for me like it might have been at one point. It also means we're tougher to track through mysterious deaths. I've left Summer behind with Vladmir since he fed the last time we came ashore. The place where we've docked the boat has little traffic. Ours is the largest, and it sits at the end of the pier.
As I return something feels off. I see two people fishing who don't look right. As soon as my senses tell me the truth I run. I have to pass the "fishermen" who are merely disguised as such and my command to "stop!" freezes them in place. I leap onto the boat and see a sight on the deck that horrifies me. Demetri holds my Summer in his arms while Felix watches over Vladmir. I can see signs of a struggle on the boat, including lines that have been snapped as if for a quick escape.
"Orator, you need to release the others or I'll be forced to do something horrible to your lovely companion." Demetri smiles as he runs his fingers over her throat. How many times must I see this woman at risk before I realize that I need to change her? I turn and give the word for the others to be free to move again. They're young and I don't recognize them.
They come aboard and we all stand looking at the only one among us whose heart is still beating. "No one can hurt the girl!" I put everything into the command, and Demetri smiles.
"Ah! I was wondering if I would get to experience the power of the Great Orator." He gives a signal and the two younger ones cast off the remaining lines from the dock. In minutes one of them starts the engine and we are moving away from our only hope of Summer's safety. "We're going to Athens where our plane is waiting. Who wants to introduce me to this beautiful..." He places his nose near her neck and inhales deeply. "...heavenly smelling woman?"
Vladmir moves forward before Felix can catch him. "Let go of my fiance' and maybe I'll tell you her name." We all hear her gasp, but I don't think anyone hears me. I have no idea what kind of game he's playing, but I have to trust him. "Please let her go, you can still threaten her with your mere presence, unless you fear we two can defeat you four before you can hurt her." He smirks as if he thinks we could do just that.
Demetri smiles and relaxes his grip on her, and Vladmir pulls her to him. She clearly looks terrified as he puts his arms protectively around her and presses her head against his shoulder so she can't look my way. "Her name is Summer Browning, and we're on our way to Monaco where we're getting married. I'm sure you can understand why I would want to marry the girl before I change her." He smiles as he runs his fingers through her hair. "I don't think you were there when my last wife ran off. She ran out on me in the middle of the Volturi attack on our coven. Perhaps that's why Aro hates me so much; I've had carnal knowledge of his wife because she was mine first!"
"Sulpicia? Oh that's priceless!" Demetri looks at the younger ones, who don't seem to get the joke. "This is Pietro and Vittore. If you can't tell it, they're newborns. Just in case you don't feel threatened enough by the two of us, you know what will happen if she springs even a tiny leak." I lean against the rail all but forgotten as he casually threatens the woman I love. I know I could take out one or two of them, but she is the target if there is an attack. There would be no contest if Summer was safe. My command would hold them, but I've never tried to command a newborn during a feeding frenzy; one scratch and the two of them could kill her in seconds.
Once we're in open ocean the one called Vittore pushes the engines to a high speed. Summer hasn't looked my way once, which is good since her reactions could easily give away the lie. When she turns to face Demetri her eyes flash my way for the briefest second. "Please, would it be okay for me to go and rest, or sit down; I don't have superhuman strength." She gives a small smile of apology.
"Felix, why don't you escort them down to their cabin and keep an eye on them." I watch them disappear below, fearing that her magnetism will pull one of them to her. I worry that Vladmir will change her, but the newborns make it too great a risk. I want desperately to be with her, but instead my best friend is in our cabin with her. I hear the springs of the bed as they lie down together, and I am focused on the sound of her heart beat. Demetri speaks Italian once Summer is away. "So Orator, if Vladmir is getting married, why are you here? Three's a crowd, don't you know."
I smile. "It's a big boat and she's not very strong, so I sail the boat when the two of them want to be... alone." Just saying the words is difficult as it brings up the image of Summer and Vladmir in an intimate embrace. Fortunately I know that Demetri's gift is for tracking and not lie detection; but I'm not sure about the newborns. "Besides, if my best friend is getting married, I want to be there." I smile like I mean it.
"Pity the nuptials will have to wait." He looks around him and smiles. "The boat wasn't a bad idea; you've been very difficult to track. Imagine how foolish we felt when we went to your home only to find it locked up and empty. It's taken a bit of time to go through your human contacts to track your movements. To be honest I didn't have as much to do with that as you might think. The new one Pietro was a bit of a computer genius in his lifetime. His talent has strengthened quite a bit with the change; the man has a mind like none I've ever experienced. Once we found out you'd been looking for a boat, it was simple to know where to look for you. Well, not exactly simple; your erratic course has left me weeks behind our schedule."
"Why?" I ask the question that has been bothering me since the first notion that they could be following us. "Why have the Volturi – I try not to snarl as I say the name – come to look for us?"
At first I don't think he will answer, but then he smiles. "You're going to find this amusing. It's part of the plan of the three leaders. After the visit to the Cullen family and the misinformation that nearly caused the destruction of that family, they want to reassure everyone that all is well with our kind. Many of us have been making contact with those of our kind who are known. The goal has been to renew friendships, strengthen ties, and reassure everyone that the Volturi can still be trusted to maintain order and keep us all safe."
My laughter startles him, and I feel he truly must believe the lie he's just tried to feed me. I forget he's young; only a few hundred years have passed since his creation. Not long enough to understand the depth of corruption within his chosen organization. It takes me several minutes to get my derisive laughter under control. "They sent their best hunters out after us merely to 'renew our friendship and strengthen our ties?' I don't think even Vladmir could make me swallow that lie!"
He smiles as he delivers the news that he knows will hurt the most. "They didn't send us. They originally sent the two new ones. To be honest they didn't think you would be that much trouble; two old recluses hardly warrant much attention. We were called in once they realized you'd set sail and were traveling along the coast as the Twilight Trio with a human girl. That's when we got the order to bring you in. I would think you understood the rules better."
"Oh please! Rules? As if any of us have ever given them the right to govern our lives! What is it we did that was so wrong? How is it a few songs in a beachfront hotel are supposed to threaten our kind? And since when is sailing on a boat against the rules?" I have to rein myself in to keep from using my influence on him.
"Stefan, it's about the attention. You were already gaining fans. How long do you think it would take you to become really good at what you're doing and have humans following you, paying to see you, looking to sign you to contracts and book engagements, and of course finding out who and what you really are? Our abilities could make us superstars in their world, but that would mean attention. We are not so numerous that we want them to know we exist. Which is of course your second problem – the human girl. You know of course that the human girl Bella was allowed almost two years before she was changed, but she still had some human milestones to reach. Vladmir's fiance is a bit older if I haven't missed my guess. As long as she is human she is a threat."
"Ridiculous! Summer is no more a threat to you than the birds flying overhead!" I glance up to see the gulls which mean we are nearing shore again.
"Still, you know we have the rules for a reason." He speaks like he is explaining something to a child.
"Of course I understand why the Volturi have rules. How else could they control and subjugate our kind if not by rules? How else could they continue to hold dominion over the most powerful beings on the planet if not by rules? And how else could they make any who would oppose them believe it is for our own good that they are in charge, except through the very rules they have decreed? "Have you ever asked yourself why they are in charge? Who elected them? Who appointed them? Who has given them their godlike authority to rule over us all? I'm here to tell you if you look below the surface you will find they are not followed out of respect, but out of fear! They have carefully built an empire based on keeping them powerful and protected. Every bit of talent in Volterra is there for their protection, not for the protection of our kind!" I feel the touch of influence in my words even though I am not trying.
The sight of an Athens resort gives me hope. Perhaps on land we can escape with Summer; now that I don't have to fear her drowning. Vladmir comes up from the cabins with Summer and three of our bags as well as a large garment bag. If they allow her baggage, I have hope that she will live long enough to need clothes. Someone must have called ahead because there is a car waiting for us. I feel sadness at leaving the boat behind. It feels like a small chapter of my life is being closed; one of the few happy times in my memory. This is the fourth time the Volturi have interfered in my life, and I have no doubt there is pain in my future.
In the car Summer is seated between Felix and the newborn Vittore, and it doesn't take long for her magnetism to start pulling at them. Felix is powerful and could likely destroy us all in a fight. But it is Vittore who touches her first, brushing his fingers down her face and neck before putting his arm around her shoulders. Felix takes hold of her arm and pulls her roughly to him, and I can see the mark on her arm! I'm seconds away from watching them destroy her in a macabre tug of war. "That's enough!" I again command them and Vladmir pulls her from between them and I push at Demetri to take her place. Once she is between the two of us I pat her shoulder reassuringly, careful not to touch the bruises evident on her arm. I fight the desire to kill him for what he's done. Vladmir makes all the appropriate comforting words as he puts his arm around her, and I have to allow him to pull her against him. At the airport we are seated in a chartered plane and we make sure she is between us again. Demetri doesn't like this but Felix surprisingly backs us up
"Keep her away from me, è una strega!" He calls her a witch, but Vittore looks at her with open lust. She is both the carrot and the stick to get us to comply with their demands. Demetri is smart enough not to let her out of their reach, knowing that we will follow wherever she is lead. He also knows that continuing to threaten her will keep us from attacking them. Felix may be starting to understand that she's not normal, but Demetri hasn't been close enough to her yet.
Once we're in the air I bide my time and keep my eyes open for any weakness in the group. Vittore worries me, as he rarely takes his eyes off of the woman I love. I notice he swallows an inordinate number of times; clearing his mouth of the venom, which is a clear indicator of his desire to take her. Demetri and Felix notice as well, and send him to sit further away from us.
Summer opens her bag and pulls out a notepad and begins to write. For a few minutes we are all frozen and watching her. When she finishes she looks at Demetri and smiles her beautiful innocent smile. "I know we don't have any music, but can we sing? There's a song I want to hear from them before I die." Her words shock me. With all the threats and danger she has gotten the clear message that they are going to kill her. I want to hold her and comfort her and assure her that she is safe – but she is right. And she is so calm, even her heartbeat is normal as she gives me the paper with what she's written on it. It's song lyrics or a poem, and it's beautiful.
Demetri waves dismissively and she starts to sing the tune, substituting da da de for the words. She doesn't realize how lovely her voice is, even in its human weakness. I have the words memorized and hand the paper to Vladmir. When we sing I can almost hear what the music should sound like, and I wish that we had our instruments. Our voices blend as we sing the words: "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now."
They are listening to us and I can feel the tension on the plane come down just a bit. Even as she sings she begins to write again. Vladmir recognizes the next one and smiles. She hums the tune for me and we sing a song I wish I had heard before. The refrain of From a Distance is so reminiscent of peace and brotherhood, I can feel the sentiment given life as we sing.
Our voices blend effortlessly without having to worry about the instruments. I wonder what affect the mention of God will have on our captors, but considering their association with the Catholic church, it is more profound than I expect. Her next song makes it clear to me what she's doing. She scrawls the words to a song called Peace Train, and we're making our approach for landing as we sing the song about coming out of the darkness to live in peace. She remembers what I told her about the music having power, and how it feels similar to when I speak. She has guided me to a subtle way of influencing our captors. I only hope it's enough, because there is a limo waiting for us on the ground and we are mere hours from the meeting I've dreaded for so long.
We sing as the car takes us to Volterra; songs of peace, love and good will. Summer then sings one she obviously doesn't want me to sing with her. The words are negative, but the message is so beautiful I wish I could cry as her lovely voice is raised in a song called One Tin Soldier.
We fall silent as we pass through the gate in the wall. Of all the places I've seen in the past two weeks, why does it have to be that this one is unchanged? It is painfully familiar, and Summer takes my hand unconsciously as we travel over the cobbled roads past ancient stone buildings. The driver lets us out at the modern facade of the ancient headquarters. Demetri pulls her from us as Felix guards us to prevent our escape.
We follow Demetri as he takes Summer through a labyrinth of cold hallways both modern and ancient. Too soon we are ushered into a room I recognize. It is their throne room and it has changed little in the past fifteen hundred years. My feet want to stop, but I'm drawn in because he has pulled her inside to stand before those I despise. They are all there and I feel my nails digging into my invulnerable skin. I want to go to her, but it is Vladmir who stands at her side, with his arm protectively around her.
As if he has been waiting for us, he stands at our approach. Aro, completely unchanged from the last time I saw him, except he is dressed in an ornate black costume, and his hair is shorter.
"Oh how wonderful to see our old friends!" He smiles, with his arms flung wide to take us all in. I stand beside Vladmir glaring at our captors – our judges. Caius watches alertly from his chair, and Marcus slouches, trying to look bored and uninterested. I know better. "Please, Demetri, introduce us to our human guest, for I am certain we are all most anxious to meet her!" He smiles and Summer's heartbeat races.
"This is Summer Browning; Vladmir's human fiance'." His words are simple, but they bring a movement to my attention. A beautiful blonde woman steps from the shadows to peer around Aro's chair. Still as lovely as I remember, Sulpicia looks at the woman I love with hostility and jealousy, before her face falls into its mask of impassive perfection. I don't need to read minds to know there are several in this room who want to kill her; who are simply looking for an excuse, and topping the list now is Sulpicia.
"Vladmir's human fiance'?" Aro questions loudly. "Come here my dear and let me read your thoughts." He holds out his hand for hers.
"No!" Vladmir steps forward protectively. "You're not touching her! You've stolen one woman from me, you'll not take another! Read my thoughts, if you dare!" He holds his hand out to Aro whose face registers surprise, anger, and amusement in quick succession.
I take his place beside her as Aro beckons him forward. Their eyes lock onto one another as Vladmir grasps his hand in a firm grip. Aro is forced to pull his away as Vladmir sneers at him before turning to take his place at Summer's side. "So, you're planning on turning her as soon as you are married? Why Monaco? I would imagine you would rather stay in your own country."
"She wants to marry where Princess Grace was married. I want to give her everything she wants." He turns and tips her face up to his, and kisses her on her lips. I know we can all hear her heart beating faster, but I hope they don't know why. I look away from them and catch a slight grin from Marcus. He knows! If he can sense relationships, I wonder what he's feeling; that Vladmir is being fooled, or that Vladmir has stolen her from me. If there's anyone here who has reason to hate me, it would be Marcus. He must think I'm losing her to my friend, or surely he would say something.
Aro seems to accept his answer. "Monaco is a lovely place. So how soon after the wedding will she be changed?"
I can't look as he kisses her again. He smiles wickedly and says, "it will happen on the honeymoon, of course." I close my eyes, and try to keep the image from intruding into my mind.
"So, are you in agreement with him Summer? Are you ready to become like us?" His eyes fix onto her as she looks his way. I glance around the room at the others, and wonder which of them can tell the truth from a lie.
"Of course she is, haven't I said as much already!" Vladmir answers for her, but Aro is still fixated on Summer.
"I want to hear it from her." His eyes flash angrily at Vladmir before he turns his forced smile on her again. "I'm still waiting for your answer, Summer."
She holds tightly to him as she speaks. "I have many reservation about being changed. But I love him, and I haven't been able to deny him anything. I'll do whatever it takes to be with him." She didn't lie! Even I could tell her answer was completely truthful.
"Wonderful!" Aro seems pleased with her answer. "So, what other business do we have to discuss?"
Caius speaks up. "The law; specifically the ones they've broken!"
"We haven't broken any laws!" Vladmir speaks with confidence, and I am convinced that he is right; we haven't broken any laws.
Felix steps forward. "There is another matter than may be of some concern." If it would protect Summer, I would gladly kill him, but instead I watch helplessly as he touches Aro's hand, sharing with him all his thoughts and experiences, including her strange attraction.
"Oh my, yes I can see where that might be of some concern. Take them to a holding area until we can further discuss the matter." He waves us away with a hand, as if we are a nuisance. They usher us down several more hallways and we are put into small rooms, which could be considered cells or waiting rooms, depending on which side of the bars you were on. They lock me into one, and Vladmir and Summer are in another across from me. We are left alone, but Vladmir gives us a quiet warning that we may be observed. Summer looks longingly at me from where she sits, and I test the bars of the cell to make sure they're strong enough to hold us – they are. A noise makes us all look up. The door opens and a woman comes gliding in, and stops to look into the cell across from me. Sulpicia.
"You forget I can tell when you're lying." She accuses Vladmir as Summer moves to wrap her arms around him. "You don't love this... human girl. It's not possible; you're still in love with me. A woman knows these things, I see it in the way you still look at me."
He laughs, loud and bitter. "Sully, you are truly more in love with yourself than I could ever be. I couldn't take the competition!" He locks eyes with her, and his voice is calm and cold. "I am over you."
She laughs, and the sound is so enchanting, it matches her beauty. "You can't lie to me, don't you remember? I can see through you Vladmir. If you're over me, come and kiss me – prove it." She steps closer to the bars and beckons him enticingly.
"Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you; give Aro an excuse to kill me. Or is it that you haven't gotten over me? No Sully, I'm all for Summer now." He turns and pulls her close. His kiss is intense and I can't stand to watch. I hope this plan of protecting her doesn't backfire because it's hard enough being apart from her, let along watching him behave as if they are passionately in love.
"Vladmir, I have missed you." Her voice is soft and sultry. "I do remember what we had together. Chelsea is good at what she does, but it doesn't last forever; eventually I remembered everything. It did come back,Vladmir. Are you going to tell me you don't feel anything for me?" I can't help but look, but he hasn't turned her way. Instead he has his back to her with his arms around the woman I love. I see Summers eyes over his shoulder and the fear and uncertainty gazing at me is killing me! I turn to pace the width of the cell. "Vladmir, do you still want me?" Sulpicia tries once more to entice him.
I hear her heartbeat and her breathing telling me something is wrong. A tiny sound escapes her as Vladmir kisses her with an intensity reserved for lovers. His hands are on her possessively and I can see her trying to push away from him.
"Vladmir!" I call out loudly, but he ignores me. "Vladmir please! You're going to hurt her!" I can hear the panic in my voice and Sulpicia looks my way suspiciously. "STOP!" I command.
A/N: More music to look up.
She's Always a Woman, 1977 by Billy Joel. From a Distance, 1990 by Bette Midler. Get Together, 1967 by The Youngbloods. Peace Train, 1971 by Cat Stevens. One Tin Soldier, by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter.