Chapter 26
Dum Dum Da Dum
I never knew sheep could taste so good. It wasn't as if I had been permitted to hunt, they were provided for me, but after so long thirsting they were heavenly. At least that's what I try to tell myself as I wait alone in my room. Heavenly... that would be the taste of Summer's blood. Just when I thought I was fading from life, the sweetest honey touched my lips. Barely enough to bring me back from the brink, but enough to create in me a craving – a need that sheep will never satisfy. I only wish I had more time. Tomorrow I have to face her, and once again conquer my thirst. She had no idea such a small taste would magnify the need as it has, but Aro knew.
I can't believe today I will be getting married, and yet I feel more like a puppet in Aro's show. I will do it for her. I will do all I can to make the day exactly what she never dreamed she could have. That of course means restraining myself, which should be no problem during the ceremony. It's when I can finally be alone with her that I will be tested like never before. How will I control my craving when she is alone with me, and expects me to be her husband in every way?
I wonder why I ever thought I could join with her in unholy matrimony, when the only other to do so killed his precious wife. Should it matter that he brought her to our side afterward? That very act of saving her could make me lose my Summer forever.
The day is full of preparations, since we will be getting married in the evening. The outfit I'm expected to wear looks more like that of a mid-century prince than a wedding tuxedo, but I'm told it is befitting my rank. As if we worry about such things among our kind. My hair is trimmed and my nails are manicured, and I insist they stop as they are about to add perfume and make-up. If they are attending to me in such a way, I can only imagine what Summer is having done.
Of course it was my idea to observe the tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding. But that was before we were put through our two weeks of confinement and torment. I am desperate to assure myself that she is alright, even though everyone tells me that she is doing well.
"Today's the day brother. How are you feeling?" Vladmir slips into my room with a genuine smile. He of course is my best man, and I think he is looking forward to the wedding more than I am. "Your bride is going to look stunning! I never knew there were so many things they could do to one girl. I finally had to leave when they brought in all of her human girlfriends. There is so much activity and preparation, you'd think instead of a wedding they were going to sacrifice her."
He's joking, but I groan and fall into a chair. "It could very well be that they are." His concern is touching, and it reminds me that he too loves her. "I've tasted her blood!" I feel sadness and shame as I look up at him. "You know what that has done to me, old friend. All the time we've had together, I have gotten used to her. I have even starved rather than feed on her... but this... how do I get past this?"
"Why would you do such a thing? I heard she wanted to give you her blood, but I didn't realize you accepted her donation!" He can't understand why I would do something so dangerous. He understands how unnatural it is for us. It's one of the reasons we don't drink donated blood, aside from the chemicals. We are made for all or nothing feeding. In Volterra, several often feed from one victim, but the victim never survives. It's one way to keep from accidentally creating another of us, if they should escape. A part of us can sense the life of the victim and it calls to us. Aro has turned Summer into my singer.
"I was too far gone to know what it was. She thought she was helping me, and Aro - he helped her do this. He wants her to be one of us, and he doesn't care about her life."
"Careful old friend, you don't know the whole truth. He wants her turned, but he also wants her for himself, and not just for her ability. I can't read his mind, but I know he and Sulpicia are not happy together. She's as jealous of Summer as a woman can be, since it seems Aro is so fascinated with her. We've spent a lot of time together in the past two weeks, and Aro has been completely unconcerned. She's actually a little heartsick over his lack of interest." He too seems upset.
"Are you trying to win her back?" I set aside my own troubles and pay attention to his.
"I don't think so. I've enjoyed spending time with her, she is such an amazingly interesting and complicated woman. And of course there are none more beautiful, and she truly sees right through me. But just when I start to feel like there could be more between us, she'll do something so cold or uncaring it will remind me that she's the same girl who ran from me when I needed her most." He looks me in the eyes. "Be very wary around Aro my friend. Summer has many qualities Sulpicia has, but she also has selfless compassion."
"I know – I love that about her. Unfortunately her innocent donation puts her at risk. Even now I feel her drawing me." I turn and point. "She's up one more floor, and to the northeast. If my door wasn't guarded, I would go to her."
"You won't hurt her. I know you. I mean look at all you've already withstood. I would have fed on her the first moment I saw her, but you've resisted all this time. And you make love with her, and never hurt her. And during your captivity you starved yourself to keep from killing her. No one has ever seen that accomplished before." He smiles then as he pats my shoulder. "You and I also know it's been done before. Edward Cullen resisted his singer for almost two years. And I know you're stronger; he's practically a newborn next to you."
I groan again and shake my head. "He had fifty years of denial before he met her. He hadn't fed on humans for so long he wasn't as tempted. But I have not had that kind of a diet. I know exactly what I'm missing. She's up there Vladmir." I point again. "I could tear through this ceiling and be on her floor before my guards could catch me. I know I could have her - I can still taste her! But it's not protecting her that keeps me here instead of changing her. It's that I would break so many rules of Volterra they would have no choice but to destroy me. That would leave my newborn bride completely at their mercy. And you old friend, I couldn't do that to you either."
"See, I told you you can do this. You fear you can't resist her, but you are resisting her. Those reasons are not going to change, no matter how close she is. You're going to marry that girl, and then we're going to get the hell out of Volterra! And by that time you'll be getting used to her and you'll know you could never hurt her, and she'll be your wife." His words give me a bit more confidence. I only wish they were enough to drown out the sound of her blood gushing through her veins.
He stays with me most of the time, but there's one thing I forgot about – feeding time at Volterra. I should have known that they would want to feed before the wedding, and I can hear the commotion of the "tour group" coming through the building, being lead up to the circular room where death awaits. It's then Vladmir leaves, and I'm not sure if he's going to feed, or to protect Summer and her guests, in case someone mistakenly thinks she's on the menu. I don't ask. I'm not there, but I can hear it. The beating hearts, the adrenaline infused blood, and then the screams. It's the silence afterward that is the most horrifying. Where once there was life, now there is nothing. Even though I know the room is full of my kind, they are nothing. It's why I left Volterra in the first place. Some can feel elevated and superior to the humans while they're here. But it always reduced me to feeling somehow worthless. Useless eater is the term that comes to my mind.
I hear the preparations going on and I almost wish I could be more involved. I'm sure this ceremony will be a far cry from the simple wedding I would have preferred, but it's too late to worry about it now. Soon I dress and someone comes in to attend me and make sure I look the part.
They lead me from the room and it's a short drive to the the cathedral. Because Volterra has become sort of the vampiric Vatican, they long ago had an impressive cathedral built where the visiting humans could go to worship the god the Volturi pretend to represent. It's a beautiful replica of what it should be, and we go inside by a side entrance. Vladmir joins me in the small room where I'm to wait. I glance in the mirror on the wall and it startles me to see myself.
They have me dressed as some sort of prince in black military style regalia, complete with a red sash, gold buttons, medals, and epaulettes. I have held military rank, but it was before pants were worn by men. But for the first time I see what Summer will see as she comes down the aisle. My coloring has changed from what it has been in years past, even after two weeks without feeding, and my hair is dark and lustrous. It's my eyes that catch my attention. The iris's are golden, but there is a thin red circle around them caused by Summer's blood.
I hear her enter the cathedral. She's on the other side of the building, but I can feel her presence and hear her heartbeat. When they come for us we are lead through dark narrow hallways. Vladmir separates from me, and I emerge at the front of the sanctuary and I step to my place to wait on the entrance of the bride and her attendants. I am stunned as I look around and see the whole place is bathed in candlelight, both real and electric. There are more flowers than I've seen even in a garden, all gathered into bouquets and placed throughout the sanctuary. I am free to look out over the guests as ushers are still helping people to find seats in the overflowing pews.
The grooms side of the church holds so many of our kind I am shocked. Not since the Volturi visited the Cullen's have I seen so many in one place. They are all dressed elegantly, and they present as a beautiful still life portrait when compared to the other side. It's as if there's a divide, and only humans populate the bride's side, though only the handful in the front are actually friends. The others are tourists, each one granted permission to attend, contingent upon their good behavior. I stand placidly while I imagine what would happen if one side were released to feed upon the other. In the loft behind me a small orchestra begins to play. I listen to the violins, flutes, cello and piano, but the beating of her heart underscores every note.
Behind me I hear movement and I turn to see Vladmir and Sulpicia moving to the front of the musicians. They meet in the middle and sing a song I've heard only once before, and it's perfect for our wedding. With the musical ensemble backing them they raise their perfect voices to "One Hand, One Heart," It has been centuries since I've heard them sing together and their voices blend so beautifully it makes me sad that this is likely the last time I will hear them sing together.
They then sing a song that I've never heard, and I wonder if it's for me and Summer, or for both of them. They look more like a couple than a duet when they sing "Endless Love." The way they look at each other makes me glad Aro isn't there to see. They leave, and the ensemble plays again. I can hear her moving, slipping down hidden hallways until she's at the back of the sanctuary . Her heart is racing, and I feel the anticipation in the air as everyone seems to be holding their breath.
When the organ plays, it almost startles me. The sound is loud enough to match the cathedral, and as I hear the first beats of the wedding march I can hear Summer's heart beating nervously. I'm surprised to see the first two to come down the aisle, smiling proudly at me. Jane, being escorted by her brother Alec since they're both small enough to represent the flower girl and ring bearer. I want to be angry, but all I can feel is relief that there are no children involved.
The first bridesmaid is a friend of Summers, dressed in a lovely red gown. The usher on her arm isn't a friend of mine, but he's one of us. He escorts her in proper fashion, but she looks nervous. There are three more such couples, each with a human girl and one of the Volturi escorting her. Vladmir escorts Summer's friend Emma, and it seems she's charmed by my friend – at least until she looks ahead and sees me. They fan out in neat lines flanking me, and we all wait expectantly.
The notes of Trumpet Voluntary ring out in the cathedral, and we all hold our breath. A human would have to wait for her to get closer to actually see her, but my eyesight is much better. She is beautiful! Aro escorts her, and I hate that he's touching her, likely reading her every thought and reaction. But I can't take my eyes off of her. It's all I can do not to rush down the aisle and snatch her away from him. She is so stunning, it's as if she has been changed into one of us, but I know she has not since I can hear her, indeed, I can smell her.
She is more than I could have imagined a bride could be. Instead of a veil, she has her hair loosely piled onto her head in curls, with flowers and strings of pearls woven throughout. Her face is radiant, and her incredible blue eyes haven't left me yet. Her gown is old fashioned by today's standards, with a high collar, lace sleeves, and a full skirt with glittering embellishments. But to me it's perfect. I can now see why they wanted me to look the part of a prince because she is truly a princess.
The aisle of the cathedral is long, and it seems to take forever for her to reach me. But when Aro places her hand on my arm I'm so overcome for a few seconds I can only stare at her. Her smile melts me and I can finally move, and we step up onto the platform. The priest who will perform the service takes his place, and begins the ceremony with a prayer, and we kneel. When we are again standing he lets everyone know that we will be singing to each other, as well as together. I don't know what song she has chosen, but she uses a tiny mic since her voice doesn't carry like ours.
She gazes at my face and holds my hands as she sings "The Rose." Her voice is beautiful, and as she sings the last line she reaches up and lays her hand on my cheek. I feel the warmth, and I hear her heartbeat, and feel her blood rushing through her veins. But I love her more. The idea that I could feed on her is beyond ludicrous.
When it's my turn, I sing to her the same way she sang to me. I of course don't need a mic, but I soften my voice so it's more for her. The song "If" feels like it was written for us.
Even before I finish singing, she's crying. With a smile on her face, the tears trickle down her cheeks, and I can't help but reach up and wipe them away. I look down the row at her bridesmaids, and they are weeping too. It takes a minute for her to regain control of her voice, before the music for our duet starts. It's from a musical I actually did see because Vladmir insisted. I had so enjoyed the Phantom of the Opera, that I was singing the music for weeks. Vladmir insisted it was the last time he would ever recommend a musical for me to see. As much as I love the song "Music of the Night," Summer insisted we would do better with "All I Ask of You." We've arranged the parts to better fit us, regardless of whose part it is.
We're holding hands as we finish singing, and the instruments continue to play. She is everything in the song and more. I have to release her hands as her maid of honor hands back her bouquet. We turn to face the priest, who begins a traditional Catholic ceremony, though we have not been asked of our preferences. Much of it is to put on a show for the tourists who would know the difference. The priest reads aloud from the Bible, speaking in Latin, Italian, and English, to suit those who have come to watch. There is another long prayer with us kneeling, and more scripture reading.
When it comes to the vows, we'd thought about writing our own, but I enjoy the simplicity of the traditional words. Anything we could write ourselves would likely have to take into account our differences, which would not work well with our audience. Still we had to modify it slightly. Instead of promising "until death do us part," we promise "for as long as we both shall live."
We have chosen to memorize the vows, so we don't have to repeat them after the priest, whose human voice doesn't carry far. I take her hand first and I know my voice carries as I make my vow. The ring I slide onto her finger is a simple gold band, though I might have chosen something more elaborate if we'd been given the chance. When it's her turn, she looks into my eyes as she makes her promise, and I can sense the solemnity behind her words. She is mine. The ring she slides onto my finger is a heavy gold band, and it startles me. Out of the three women I've loved, this is the first time I've made such a commitment, and it is suddenly very real to me. I am hers.
We are pronounced husband and wife, and I am given permission to kiss my bride. It feels like forever since I've been able to hold her and kiss her. But I have to restrain myself as my mouth touches hers. The urge to feed on her is strong, but this is my Summer. More importantly, she is now my wife. I caress her cheek as our lips meet, and her arms circle around my neck For a second, feeding on her is not the most inappropriate thought that passes through my mind. I want to scoop her up in my arms and flee with her; skipping the receiving line, reception, and anything else that promises to get in the way of making love to her.
Instead, I play the part, and we turn as the priest presents us to the watching crowd. She's decided to take my last name, and we are now Mr. and Mrs. Vasilakis. We smile as the congregation stands for us, then we process to the back of the cathedral with the rest of the wedding party. We stand in a proper line as people file out and greet us. The Volterra tourists gush over the musical ability of those who sang, and Summer's friends have kind words and warm wishes for us. The Volturi and others of my kind are formal, and they look at Summer and her attendants sometimes with barely concealed hunger.
There is rice thrown as we hurry to a car waiting to take us to the reception. It is being held at a banquet hall, which was built for human visitors. The room is elegantly decorated, with flowers on the tables and candles everywhere. I can smell that there will be food served to our human guests. We are guided to a table for the wedding party,and I can hear music being played. We are seated together where we can easily be observed. She holds my hand with a strength that tells me she is nervous. There are speeches and toasts, and Vladmir has everyone laughing at the stories that poke fun at me.
When the music starts, we are expected to lead the first dance. I escort her onto the dance floor as a waltz is played. She laughs and admits she doesn't know how to waltz. I tell her quickly where to put her hands, and talk her through the basic box step. She relaxes, and in minutes she is following my lead as we move across the dance floor. She has a natural grace, and dancing comes easily to her.
As soon as the music ends I'm surprised when someone cuts in, and Vladmir takes my place for the next dance. I instead ask her maid of honor to dance. It gives me the chance to apologize for my behavior at the party when we met. She seems embarrassed over her own negative response. "Summer has had such horrible luck with men, I confess I thought the worst. She's crazy about you, and I just want her to be happy."
"That's all I want as well. She is my life." I think my words have made her introspective.
"Will you still be staying with your friend Vladmir?" She again sounds worried, and I have to laugh, as it seems Summer has found another mother.
"That will be up to her. If you saw where we lived you would understand, it's a very big place. It's more like we live in the same apartment building, and sometimes we can go for days and not see one another. But there will be plenty of time to decide where we live after the honeymoon."
"Any chance you'll be moving to California?" I can see she clearly misses her friend, and I feel sympathy for her.
"I'm sure no matter what we decide, you'll be more than welcome to visit any time you like." The music ends and I take my turn dancing with each of her attendants. I worry as she is partnered with different members of the Volturi. When the song ends, it signals that we have danced with each one of the other's attendants, I am looking forward to reclaiming my bride. Instead Sulpicia takes my hand for the next dance. I feel apprehensive as I locate Summer, in the arms of Aro.
My low growl wouldn't have been heard by a human, but Sulpicia laughs at my irritation. "It's a little early to be jealous. Trust me, even Aro wouldn't be so bold as to make a move on her, in public." She whispers, for my ears only. I'm beginning to think the goal is to keep her away from me as the next dance finds her in the arms of Marcus, as Jane pulls me into a dance. The petite woman doesn't even try to talk with me, but instead shows off her amazing dance moves. I'm forced to pay more attention to her than I like, to keep her from either falling on her face, or giving away the fact that she's so strong she could easily perform each move without someone to hold her hand or catch her.
The music seems to go on forever, as do many classical pieces, and I am resolved to claim my wife for the next one no matter who cuts in. At the end of the dance, there is actual applause, and Jane forces me to take a bow with her. When I let her go, I scan the floor for Summer, but I can't see her. Someone tries to take my hand, but I easily lose them. She's not at our table, and she's not with her friends. I tune out the music and the noise, and listen... she's not in the room! For a minute I wonder if she's just being human and using the bathroom, but as I listen again, her heart is racing.
I follow the sound – the sound of her blood calling out to me. In the hallway outside the banquet hall, I hear her scream; one wail cut short, drifting through the doors leading outside. I'm fast enough I can see the car pulling away in a hurry, with part of her white dress caught in the door and trailing the ground. I'm fast, but I'm not as fast as the car speeding off, expertly dodging pedestrian traffic as it maneuvers down the narrow, twisting streets. Humans don't drive that well, and I am horrified to realize that Summer; my wife, the woman I love more than my own existence, has been taken by one of our kind.
I rush back inside and with all the power of my voice I announce that she has been taken. "If you have information or if you can help me find her, I'll speak with you.. Everyone else should go home or stay out of my way!" In minutes I'm surrounded by several who offer me their cars, two Volturi trackers, and Vladmir trying to reassure me that she'll be found. Aro joins the group as I'm deciding whose car to take.
Aro gives me the bad news. "Marcus is missing, and so is Demetri." I feel as if someone has tied a weight around my neck and pushed me over a cliff. If anyone has a reason to hate me, it's Marcus. I'm the reason his wife is dead, and now he has my wife, and the only tracker who could find them quickly. I collapse into a chair, suddenly overwhelmed. There's no doubt in my mind he intends to kill her. "He must be leaving the area around Volterra; he'll be destroyed if he harms her within our borders." Aro seems to be a step ahead, and I am sure he either knew or had an idea this was going to happen.
Vladmir pulls me up by my arm. "Don't give up, we can still find her! Aro, tell us where he would take her!" We both look at him as he tries to pretend innocence.
"How should I know where he would go, he is here all the time." I catch sight of one of the Volturi who can detect lies. It's the way he looks away that lets me know Aro is lying.
"He has a villa three hours to the north." I hardly notice the woman who skulks at the edge of the group. As soon as I look at her I realize she's one of the ancient ones. I knew her when she was much younger, and I'm not sure I should trust her. "He sometimes takes people there so he can play with them. It's far enough away from Volterra he isn't breaking the law."
Vladmir catches Chelsea by the arm as we hurry from the building. She obviously doesn't want to go with us, but he hasn't exactly given her a choice. Outside there are three cars to choose from, and Vladmir passes by the fastest one in favor of one with more seats. I shake my head and take Chelsea to the fastest one, and strap her into the passenger seat. "Stay." I take the keys offered, and Vladmir gets into the other car with two of the trackers to follow. I hope no one's on the road as I race off in the direction she's gone.
Chelsea looks almost terrified beside me as I push the limits of the Lamborghini. "Tell me what you know." I don't even look her way as the headlights don't show far enough ahead for normal human reflexes.
"He wanted me to tell you. I'll tell you which way to go, but it will be too late. He's going to turn her first. He wants you to watch her die, just like Didyme." She sounds almost distraught.
"So, he's forgiven you, but he's held a grudge against me for all these years. I should have known."
"He didn't forgive me." Her voice is timid. "He hates me even more than he hates you. Part of me wanted to kill her; I loved him, and he loved her. I keep trying to make it up to him. I've been his puppet for so long, I don't even think I could move without him pulling the strings. But it's never enough! I was supposed to stay behind, so he would have enough time to let her go through the change. He plans on making Demetri kill her, since he knows how to handle newborns."
She is quiet as we fly around a curve with the tires screaming. "I hope we make it in time." She doesn't sound confident that we will. Something about my iron grip on the steering wheel becomes uncomfortable. I look down and see the gold band cutting into my finger as I'm holding on so tight. I know without a doubt that there will be no recovering from this loss. Marcus now has the power to end me; he's got my wife.
A/N: One Hand One Heart, 1956 by Leonard Bernstein. Endless Love, 1981 by Lionel Richie. The Rose, 1979 by Bette Midler. If, 1971 by Bread. All I Ask of You, Andrew Lloyd Webber