After the Darkness Settles
Chapter two
In a short period after her awakening, Snow learned who the Volturi where. Impressed as she was by their success in staying hidden from the world, learning of how they treated her kinsmen for breaking small rules, Snow was infuriated. She would not stand for her children abusing their power, like the Volturi happened to be. This did not sit well with the elder vampire. She had seen the consequences that came with acting like this first hand. In fact, her punishment and imprisonment had been just for that. But these... Volturi would not get let off so easily. Snow would see to that personally.
Leaning back in the leather seat, the immortal scowled. "This is taking too long," she grumbled to her stoic companion. Glaring out side her window, she watched the world go by at a decent road speed. The country side was beautiful, no doubting that, but Snow wasn't happy she had to stay cooped up for the ride to Volterra. But, then again, this was how most humans traveled now.
Snow had personally, never been fond of riding in carriages and the like back in her days. Riding in this limo however, gave her a new insight to the luxury the humans had developed in her absence. So this wasn't... Entirely awful. In fact, in the last month alone, the blonde immortal had taken a crash coarse in the evolution in the human world. Not that she didn't struggled with the technology, Snow did have a good idea of how things where working now. Still, some old habits took some smashing to get rid of.
Until now, her companion had been silent, watching the Tuscany country side fly by them. Turning his head, the younger immortal eyed his mother, lifting a brow. She didn't look comfortable, yet she wasn't complaining as much as he had thought. The plane ride had been interesting in itself; but for Snow to be silent in a moving car was strange. Yet welcoming as well. The plane ride had been filled with shrieks and whimpers. Minutely. Combined that with his mother clinging to him to the point of drawing blood, Ethan hadn't been a very happy camper.
Complaining hadn't been an option for him since the brunet had shared a similar fear, but since he had been watching humans grow for the last thousand years, Ethan hadn't been as fearful. Letting out a small chuckle, he turned back to his own window, a faint smirk on his face. "Until we reach the city, we should try to blend in," he murmured. She snorted, an unamused sound. "We should be there soon, Snow. Be patient." Ethan added as he looked at her.
He'd begun to notice being patient wasn't her strong point. Although, she had points for giving it a shot. Reaching up, Ethan turned the dial on the air conditioner, making it colder in their back part of the limo. Not that they needed it, but he liked to stay cold. It reminded him of the place he had called home for so long.
"I had a feeling they won't be reasoned with," she said softly, clenching her hands. She had already killed so many of her kin as it was. Her two prized sons; Stefan and Vladimir, the other priests that had guarded her. So far, Ethan was her only remaining family. The Volturi where far from that, at least from what Snow had learned through Ethan. Spawned off from different vampires through the ages, thinking they where better than everyone, royalty even. It made her wonder how they had snuck around under her for so long. Of course, once she was locked away for all time, they rose to power to make them selves look like the most ancient of creatures. To bad they where very off on that idea.
Ethan continued to watch Snow. The strain in her face was obvious, her clenched hands showing the stress she was trying to keep from bubbling over. Reaching out, he touched her hand, causing the woman to look at him. "If it comes down to that, so be it. They, on their own and by their ridiculous laws, have killed so many of our own people..." Here he paused, staring into her deep blue eyes. Wide and curious, Ethan was almost lost to continue, but he knew he needed too. "Losing them and gaining you is something we have needed for a long time." It was rare for him to show any kind of emotion, if that is what you would call this. Snow watched him stare at her with a soft encouragement in his eyes.
Sighing, she nodded, looking away from Ethan, pulling her hand with her. The touch was gentle and platonic enough, but she was still having trouble with being touched. Being alive again was strange. At least the brunet was being helpful. She had become rather fond of him, even if he was a cold bastard at times. What else could she do really? He was her only companion currently. And while he was an ass, Snow did, however, enjoyed his company. Resting her arm against the door, the blonde immortal sighed, resting her cheek on her small fist. "I suppose you have a point," she murmured, watching the scenery pass them by.
The closer they got to the city, Snow began to sense the Volturi better. She could feel their collective power. It was strong, the elder vampire would give them that much. But they where nothing compared to her. Flexing her free hand, Snow's eyes flashed for a moment. Smirking, she chuckled, leaning back in her seat as the city came into view head of them. "Can you feel that?" The blonde whispered, her eyes moving from the side window to the front window, a smile spread across her angelic face, making her face look even more inhumanly beautiful.
Ethan's hazle-green eyes snapped towards the windshield. Even from here, a feeling of warning washed over him. Their limo slowed as they approached the city. Tensing, Ethan sat forward, his eyes narrowed seeing a small group of hooded figures crowded there. The sight of them made the brunet tense. A welcoming part? Glancing at Snow, he saw the glee glinting in her eyes. She could feel something he couldn't, and that was a little worrisome.
As they pulled to a stop in front of the group, the driver looked nervously back at the two. "M-Madam, s-sir, we have arrived." He said nervously as he smiled slightly, panic obvious in his eyes. Snarling, Ethan grabbed for Snow, but he wasn't surprised to feel her already gone. Well, not completely. His head snapping in her previously occupied state, Ethan almost had a heart attack seeing her arm in arm with one of the Volturi guards.
Snow, on the other hand, jumped out the second the car stopped, she was out. Stepping out into the warm afternoon, she smiled sweetly, walking up to the biggest of the guard that had come to welcome them, giggling. "Hello there," she cooed, wrapping her arms around his bigger, more muscly arms. The male seemed taken back, yet from under his black hood, he grinned all the same. Looking back at the limo, Snow smiled dazzlingly at Ethan, waving him forward. "Come on, Ethan," she laughed as the guard began moving towards the city. She knew the brunet vampire was not pleased. Not one bit. Yet Snow didn't mind.
Humming a tune to herself as she walked along with, Felix she had found out, as well as the rest of the guard. And the seething Ethan. Though, what he didn't know was Snow's plan. The deeper they moved into Volterra, the more her plan unraveled. At least in her mind.
It didn't take them long to be lead to the chamber the heads of the clan nestled themselves into. Seeing as no one was human, why bother waiting? Smiling as the doors opened for her, like days long passed, Snow walked in confidently next to Felix, winking at him as he pulled away, taking his place in the guard near the three big boys.
Stepping up behind her protectively, Ethan glanced around the room. He was sure they could take them. They where older, faster and more experienced. However, taking out the main targets that would give them trouble was the problem. Like Jane and her brother, Alec. Ethan eyed them uncertainly, keeping his place firmly beside Snow.
The elder female smiled as she spread her arms wide, as if welcoming them into a hug. Ethan tensed, only to snicker slightly at what she said. "My, you are rather powerful little monsters, aren't you?" Aro seemed rather puzzled by her choice of words. Rising from his seat, the small dark haired immortal began moving towards Snow, curiosity written on his face. As well as confusion.
"Ah, I am sorry, sweet creature, but what do you mean?" He asked, smiling as he extended his hand to her. Snow looked between his hand and himself, still smiling as she folded her arms behind her, keeping herself away from his touch. She knew what he was capable of. And as long as she could avoid touching him right now, her plan would move along perfectly. Aro seemed to notice, chuckling as he lowered his hand. "I must say, I was not expecting my... Well, our mother to be so... Young looking." Aro smiled a little knowingly as he looked at her, but Snow could see he was grasping at straws. Spreading his hands in a welcoming gesture, Aro smiled. "Yet... I feel this enticing pull towards you, my dear."
Politely, Snow placed her hand over her mouth, giggling. He was a funny one. "That's because of how powerful I am." She said softly, stepping around Aro to look at the others in the Volturi, doing her own assessment. The room was tense as she casually moved closer to Marcus and Caius. While Marcus looked on at her with a bored, longing gaze, Caius on the other hand bared his newly formed fangs at her. He looked physically in pain at the sight of her. Snow smirked.
"You know who I am, don't you, Caius?" All eyes were suddenly on them. The attention made Caius fidget, looking around wearily before he looked back at Snow with a silent snarl of disgust.
"Aro, brother, there is no way in the 13 plains of Hell that she is," he paused to shudder, shaking his head, closing his burgundy eyes, "is our Mother." Opening his eyes, he glared at Snow, who simply smirked. Stepping up to him, the small blonde was aware of how the whole room moved with her, two large shapes on either side of her rather quickly. "But I will bet she's the reason we're like this now." He growled leaning down in her face.
Her blue eyes darkened slightly as she stared up at Caius. His fear was her gain. Looking over her shoulder, she flashed a brilliant smile to the hulking form of Felix. "Don't worry pet, I won't hurt him, the grown ups are just having a talk." Winking, she turned her attention back to Caius, smirking dangerously, her fangs lengthening a little. "Oh, I do have something to do with this, but you are a fool to deny what you know in that dried up husk that you call a soul. I am your mother, THE mother of everyone in here." Stepping back from him, Snow walked back up to Ethan, putting her hand on his chest, her eyes meeting Aro's as she smiled at him. "Where I may not be your direct sire, my blood still flows in your veins. It is my blood that created your people. Ethan here, is my direct son. One of the few remaining."
Ethan, who had no relaxed or moved an inch since she had moved away from him, watching Snow like a hawk. He looked down at her as she placed her hand on his chest, telling the Volturi his origin. For some reason, how all the eyes moved on him, made the brunet uncomfortable. But he was not about to back down in front of these bastards. Lifting his head, he stared down those who dared meet his gaze as he looked around the room.
Taking her cue, Snow smiled as she patted his chest, pulling her hand away. "I am the very reason you probably lost some of your newer guard recently." There was a hiss around the room. "I do apologize, but upon my release, you're bodies become of that like my own. Sturdy flesh, but you can still be harmed by wood and those like ourselves, or the rare occasion of a werewolf." Caius snarled from his place behind Aro, though it earned him a raised brow from Ethan, but nothing more followed. "When I was locked away, your bodies solidified and you never grew your fangs. A half transformative state, you could say. And to compensate, you had venom to infect others with.
"That was an interesting hiccup, but exchanging blood has always been more affective, darlings." Snow smiled as she leaned on Ethan, smiling lazily up at him as he draped his arm around her in a protective manner. "Yet, now that I am awake, fang bared and able to bleed, yet I can also last in the sun, you can as well." There she paused, chuckling a little. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a few shapes move awkwardly. "Newborns should stay out of the sun for at least a week or so, but I'm sure you know that by now..."
Aro stepped forward, his head tilted to the side as he tried to understand her meaning. Ethan sighed, smirking a little darkly, moving Snow behind him as he clapped his hands together. Oh this was going to be fun to explain. "What she means is that when she was locked away, we got trapped in a half transformed state. We solidified. Our blood freezing in our veins, never growing our fangs, shining in the sun and having a venom counter part to our blood exchange. All because she had been locked away out of fear." He glanced at Caius for emphasis. "Now that she has been released, we have fangs, a series sensitivity to sun light in our younger years and our blood is the base of creating other vampires like it had been back in the days of old. We are free to be what we had once been and walk the earth instead of hiding in the shadows."
This Aro seemed to understand now. Placing his hands together, the Italian immortal began to pace slowly in front of them, Snow peaking around Ethan, her big blue eyes curious. Pausing in front of them, Aro began laughing. Tensing, Ethan held his arm out in front of Snow, watching the room before looking at Aro as he calmed down, shaking his head as he touched his forehead, turning to the pair.
"Curious," he said, chuckling still, "You expect us to believe that she is the mother of all of us? That she is the cause for this pain? I don't believe it. Unless, of course, she allows me to see into her mind." Ethan tensed up. He had noticed Snow did not shake his hand before. She had a reason for not doing that, but Ethan honestly didn't know why. Unless she had something planned. Something she didn't want Aro seeing. And she didn't tell Ethan to ensure whatever it was would go off without a hitch.
Damn. She was far more intelligent than Ethan gave her credit for. There had been a rumor going around in hushed tones that she had actually planned for her own imprisonment. As of right now, Ethan wouldn't have been surprised.
Stepping around Ethan, Snow extended her hand to Aro. "I'm aware of what you can do, Aro, I'm just not sure you can handle what you'll see." She smiled as she spoke. Across the room, a small whimper sounded. Snow glanced at the source of the sound. It was a hooded female, though she'd be safe to assume the female was known as Chelsea. Snow had felt her presence in the room, but it had no affect on her. Nor would it Ethan. Snow was the original source of many of their powers, Chelsea's specially. Her blue eyes moved back to Aro, a mischievous glint in them. "Take a peak, dear Aro."
She watched as he grinned, taking her hand. Closing his eyes, he seemed to focus, then within seconds of touching her hand, he recoiled. Staring at her with wide eyes, Aro walked backwards, stumbling almost. Snow smiled as she looked at him. "That's right. There's no doubt now." Snow spread her arms, holding them up to the ceiling of the room, smiling as she did a little twirl. "Born from the blood of man, changed into a beautiful walker of immortality, cursed to drink blood to live, I am your Mother." Her voice echoed around the room, her words hanging in the air as she lowered her arms, smiling at the Volturi. "And you're mother has come to punish you for abusing your power." All sweetness and kindness had left her voice as he looked at Aro, smirking dangerously as she began walking towards him. "I know what you saw, you know what I am, and I'm here to bring the peace that should be here, not a tired dictatorship spread three immortals long, not to mention your brainwashed followers." Feeling pressure being blasted towards her, Snow looked over at the small blonde, glaring at her with bright red eyes, a snarl parting her cherub like lips.
Smiling, Snow began walking towards her, feeling repetitive attacks against her psyche. The little immortal was strong, the blonde was giving her that. The blonde noted the two hulking forms flanking her now, tense and ready to grab her at a given moment as she stopped before the small girl. "I do not believe I know you. Who are you?" Snow asked gently as she bent slightly to the girls level, grinning as she looked into the hate filled eyes of the small vampire.
"Jane." The hiss came from her parted lips. Snow's grin widened as she reached out, stroking Jane's cheek, tilting the girls chin up gently. Jane continued to glare at Snow however, the room tense as the two females stared at each other.
Quick as a flash of lightning, Jane's body slumped to the floor as Snow tossed the girls head over her shoulder. Alec, who had been standing silently beside Jane cried out too late, reaching for his sister. Snow turned to him, smirking as she stabbed her hand into his chest, coming out of his back, his heart in her hand as he slumped forward on her.
Pushing the boy off of her, Snow turned to the room, tossing his heart over her shoulder. Snow looked at the two hulking forms, frozen in shock, the room silent as a crypt. Smirking, she touched Felix and Demetri's arms, tilting her head back as she sighed. "Now boys." She purred, her eyes turned red, looking at each of their faces. Turning from her, the two vampires began the attack.
Others charged at Snow, screaming in fury. Very few managed to get to her, let alone lay a hand on her as she stepped back up to Aro, smiling at him, covered in the blood of his most prized possessions. "You have nothing now, Aro." Touching his cheek, she laughed softly as his eyes widened in fear, then watched as they turned black the moment she sliced his head from his shoulders. Tossing his head somewhere into the fight, Snow looked around. Caius was gone, probably cowering somewhere, but he wouldn't get far. Since Ethan was nowhere to be found, she assumed he went after Caius. Stepping around the thrones that the pervious Volturi had occupied, Snow found Marcus staring out one of their picturesque windows in a chamber just behind the wall.
The room on it's own was beautiful. Medieval, heavy accents of the renaissance, a roaring fire in the fireplace and the room was filled with books. Two comfortable couches sat on either side of the fireplace, a chair set here and there, and a rather large, comfortable looking desk just behind Marcus. Stepping up behind the Italian immortal, Snow watched him curiously. "No tears for you fallen brothers? Sister?" She asked softly, turning to look out the window with him. Marcus did not speak just, he blinked, a faint smile crossing his face in his reflection. The screams of the fallen and the falling echoed into them before it all stopped. After that, there where two quick shouts, the sounds of two heavy bodies falling to the floor, then nothing more. It was after that did Marcus turn to her.
"You freed me. From what, I was never entirely sure. The second Felix ripped Chelsea' throat out, I felt... Released." Marcus murmured as he looked down at Snow. Looking up at him, she smiled softly, nodding. "I have lived a long time, losing my mate some time in my early years with Aro and Caius. I loved her, and right as we drifted a little, she was taken." Sighing, the immortal moved away from the window, walking over to the fireplace, resting his arm against the mantle. "I could have left, many times, but... Aro wanted me here always. But I want to go. I want to die." Snow turned from the window, looking at Marcus, tilting her head to the side. Watching Marcus, she saw the defeat in his shoulders. He had nothing to live for; That had been taking him centuries ago and from then on he had been forced to live with it.
This was something Snow could understand. She had loved someone once, long, long before his conception, and the blonde immortal had lost him. He had been her everything, gone within a flash. Walking up behind Marcus, she put her hand on his shoulder. "Something I, too, understand. I will not kill you, I'm sure you will take care of that yourself." She said softly, rubbing his shoulder. Marcus lifted his head with a small smile, nodding. He was free to do as he wanted.
Marcus turned to Snow, cupping her bloody face in his hands, the former Volturi kissed her forehead before resting his against hers. Blinking, she smiled softly, patting his hands with a gentle touch. "Thank you, mother." He whispered before he released her, turning from her, leaving the room in a casual stride.
For a time, Snow stared at the door, just smiling. As dark as everything had been, she felt rather relieved. It wasn't long before Ethan returned to the room, bloody and alert. Catching sight of Snow, he rushed to her, embracing her hard. Surprised for a moment, the blonde recovered, hugging him hard back, burying her face into his chest, smiling. And they stood there like that for a time, just holding each other. "I can't believe their gone..." Ethan murmured at least, loosening his hold on Snow, laughing softly.
"Did you catch him?" She asked walking up beside the couch, stroking the brunet male's hair softly for a moment before moving towards the desk. She had noticed upon arriving, some paper work spread out, and left there, like someone was going to return to it.
Ethan nodded from the couch, as he sat up, unbuttoning the shirt he had been wearing, tossing it into the fire. "He had just reached the tower. Taking out the guards there had been a little hard, but I did your little thrall on one and I got to Caius easily." Ethan smirked as he tossed his undershirt into the fire, after wiping his face clean. "The wives got away, but none of them looked vengeful. Accept for Caius' wife, but my little thrallie got in the way of that and I took care of the rest." Ethan turned to Snow, who was shuffling through the papers, lifting a brow as she looked over the files on the desk. Walking up beside her, the brunet raised an brow as well. "Did you... Find something?" He asked before looking over her shoulder.
Not answering him just yet, Snow continued to look over the files, frowning heavily as she shifted through the crap and into the interesting things. Apparently there was a family named the 'Cullen's' that had been giving the Volturi a run for their money of the last decade or so. Smirking to herself, Snow paused on a folder named "Rensemee". It was a name she hadn't heard before, and it sounded like a mouth full. Whoever the girls mother was, Snow hoped she was paying for all the mean jokes or strange nicknames the girl was getting. Sitting in the arm chair at the desk, the blonde kicked her feet up on the desk, reading the folder. She had to hand it to Aro's obsessions ran deep and he knew every little detail about this little coven.
"This is... Rather interesting. These... Cullen's." Ethan muttered, setting down a file named "Edward". "They're powers are unique, in a sense. I have met many telepathic vampires, and even some vision having ones, but seems Aro knew very little about our people. And only focused on what he saw as a rarity. Shame really." Chuckling, he pawed around on the desk, grinning has he found a call button. Seconds after hitting it, a small group of human females filed into the room, all looking scared and unsure. "And it seemed he believed in slavery still..." The brunet muttered to himself, looking over the females before looking back at Snow.
The said immortal lifted her head, smirking a little. "Apparently so, but order them to clean and prepare some things for us, we're going on an adventure." She watched Ethan raise a brow in question. Tossing him the file, Snow stripped out of the bloody clothes, tossing them into the fire. Looking to her left, Snow smirked, knowing she was being watched by a certain Cullen. "We're coming to meet you."
From the lovely author -
So... Here's part two. I've been waiting to upload it for awhile. And no where it is.
Part one did a decent job in my opinion. Not many comments, a good amount of views. So here's part two, and I'm pretty much leaving this where it happens to be laying. I believe I mentioned in the first one that it was a plot for a roleplay of mine. Which it is. I'm not sure if I'll continue these two plots as a full on story. If I do, it'll mostly center around a romance with Snow and Jacob, but also some minor pairings and probably bring in OC's from my thread. We'll see.
So there you have it. For right now, this story is officially done. I hope you enjoyed the crazy ride.