I'll keep this AN short today and just say:
I'm so happy with all the reviews I've been getting on the sequel.
Thank you so much for them!
Lights! Camera! …Read!
"I would like you all to meet Christopher, the boy I sired three days ago."
A tall muscular boy with blonde hair walked into the grand hall, coming in from the private meeting room.
Aro motioned for him to stand next to him.
"Christopher has decided to stay with us and join the guard."
Poor boy, he probably didn't even have a choice.
"Isabella."
I stiffened.
"Yes, Aro?" I said as I hesitantly stepped forward.
"I would like to ask if you could train with Christopher on his abilities. Bethany says Christopher is capable of a very interesting ability that will be very useful for the guard."
I furrowed my brows and stepped back next to Edward.
"I understand you're not part of the guard anymore, but I hear you're the best. I would love to train with you. I would be honored." Christopher spoke for the first time. His voice was melodic but deep. He smiled and waited for me to speak.
I turned to glance at Edward.
What should I do?
It's up to you, love.
I sighed.
"Christopher, what is your gift?" I asked in barely a whisper.
Aro smirked.
"It appears that dear Christopher has the ability to control elements."
"What elements?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.
"We're not completely sure, that's where you come in, Isabella. You can help me discover what exactly my gift entails and to the extent of which I can use it."
"So, Isabella, are you up for the challenge?" Aro asked with a sheepish smile.
Something tells me Aro is probably up to something.
Hmm, the boy can control elements?
If Aro has such high hopes for Christopher's gift, it must be extremely powerful.
He barely just met the boy and already he's asked him to stay at the castle and join the guard.
His power must be of great value to Aro.
One thing is for sure.
If this Christopher is good enough to join the guard, I'll need to keep a close watch on him.
"Isabella?" Aro pressed.
I just simply nodded in his direction.
Aro's devious smile broke in to a wide grin.
"Wonderful! We shall start the training as soon as possible."
He turned and whispered something to Felix, probably about having him set things up for us to train later today.
"Oh and Isabella?" Aro called his attention back to me, with his grin still in place. "Christopher isn't the only one who will be trained. There will be two others to join you as well."
Great.
How is it that I always end up being Aro's personal pet trainer every time I return to Volterra?
December.
Finally.
I can't wait to see the family again. It's been too long since our last visit.
We desperately need to get away for awhile.
The last few months have been strange, though.
The training sessions didn't last very long, only a few short weeks.
Along with training Christopher, I trained with Liam and Jason.
Apparently, Liam and Jason were rogues from Ireland.
They had heard of the Volturi and have come to join the guard.
All three were very young and all newborns, which made me quite uneasy to begin with.
The training with the three was quite interesting to say the least.
All three have extremely powerful gifts.
I can see now why Aro was so interested in them.
Liam, like Kate, produced an electric current. His gift, however, could shock anyone with a hundred or so feet. What was interesting about his ability was that he could build up the strength of the electric charge by absorbing electric currents from nearby power outlets.
Jason has the power of distraction, a shield of sorts. His mind's defense mechanism is to change one's thoughts to something completely different and irrelevant, in order to distract them so he can attack or get away without notice. He was quite a character with his powers. Always playing tricks on everyone. Of course, he knew better than to mess with me too much.
Christopher was much more powerful, and that much more deadly that the others.
He can manipulate the elements of nature: earth, fire, air, and water.
Chris was a walking, talking, deadly Volturi weapon.
His manipulation of fire alone could easily kill a vampire.
It was hard to believe that such a sweet guy would be caught up in the wrath of the Volturi.
His gift was nothing safe for the Volturi to posses.
Chris still mostly remained a mystery to me, though.
I was only able to have a few sessions with him.
Two weeks after his change, he just left the castle without a trace.
What I never understood is how Aro would let such a powerful vampire just up and leave.
The day before Chris left, I had caught a brief conversation between him and Aro in his study.
Training was done for the day and I was walking back up to my room to wait for Edward.
I had to pass by Aro's study to reach the elevator.
As I turned the corner I could faintly hear whispers coming from the other side of the hall way.
I tried to tune in and listen but it was just a few slurs of sound.
I used Anthony's power to heighten the sound of the voices enough so that I could pick up the words.
The change in sound would be unnoticeable to their own ears.
"I can't take this anymore, Aro."
"Patience Christopher. You will see. Everything will fine."
"No, I hate lying. I can't."
"They are not lies. You shall not speak of this to anyone."
"If I cannot speak of it, than I will leave. I don't want to be a part of this, Aro!"
I knew it.
He really didn't have a choice to join the guard, did he?
Was Aro really going to force Chris to stay if he truly didn't want to be here?
There was silence for a few moments and then Aro cleared his throat.
"Well then, I guess I can't force you to stay. You will be greatly missed. I wish things would have turned out different. I'm sure it would be better if you…"
"No. I just want to make my own life. I wasn't made for this…I don't think it's right…"
"Enough. Leave now." Aro said sternly.
I quickly changed their sound tones back and rushed to the elevator.
A few seconds later Chris was next to me waiting for the elevator as well.
We stepped in and I pushed the buttons for both of our floors.
As soon as the doors closed Chris broke the silence.
"So, I'll be saying goodbye to everyone tonight. I will be leaving. It was nice to meet you, Isabella. You are truly a remarkable woman." His feelings were sincere and caring.
I smiled.
"Like I've said before, call me Bella. And it was nice meeting you too Chris. But honestly, I think you're better off."
"What?" he asked with furrowed brows.
"The Volturi are powerful enough as it is. Your gift is extraordinary. But your gift in the grasp of the Volturi could cause quite a problem…" I said cautiously. "I really do hope the best for you, though. Here." I took out a pen and wrote my cell phone number on his palm. "Give me a call if you ever need anything. And even if you don't need anything…if you just need to talk to someone. I'll be here."
He grinned.
The bell on the elevator went off signaling our stop.
"Well this is my floor. I guess this is goodbye." He said.
"No, not goodbye. Just farewell." I smiled.
"I promise I'll call you once I get settled somewhere else. You've been nothing but great to me, Is—Bella."
He turned and walked away.
The elevator doors closed and that was the last I ever saw or heard of him.
I wasn't that close to him, but I did expect to at least hear from him by now.
It's been about three months since then, and no one has heard anything from him.
I hope I get to see him one day though, he really was a decent guy.
He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I looked down at the clock of my cell phone and sighed.
"You're going to be late, Edward!" I called up from downstairs.
"I know! I know. I'm almost done."
Edward was getting ready for his last day of classes before winter break.
A blur tackled me to the couch, and then the rush of Edward's warm touch enveloped me.
We kissed in the moment, forgetting again that Edward would be late if he didn't hurry.
"Edward…"
"Ugh! I know!" he grinned and laid one more kiss on my lips before blurring out the door.
I rushed out and opened the door behind him.
"And don't forget the plane leaves at 6!"
"I know!" he laughed as he ran to the elevator.
"See you later." I called after him as he entered.
I walked back in my room and into my library to pick out a book for the day.
I picked out the copy of Wuthering Heights Jasper gave me and made my way out to the gardens.
The day was beautiful, the sun was out but hiding behind a few clouds, birds were flying around singing. The air filled with the smells of dozens of different flower scents.
And today I'd be leaving for two whole weeks, escaping away to my family paradise.
Yes, today was beautiful.
I walked along a path taking me deeper into the gardens.
I came across a labyrinth of sorts.
I weaved through the passage ways of tall trees and bushes, making my way through to the center of the labyrinth.
In the center of the clearing stood a huge three tiered fountain, with flowing crystal clear water with pebbles at the bases letting the water cascade down.
It was always peaceful coming out here.
It would be the perfect place to sit and read today.
I sat on the rim of the lower tier of the fountain and sat up, crossing my legs.
I picked up the book and laughed at myself.
I had a flash in my mind of The Beauty and The Beast scene where Belle reads her book about the prince as she sits along the side of a fountain in the center of the town.
Silly me and my obsession with Disney films.
I opened the book to start reading, when all of a sudden a small humming bird flew by.
I bit my lip and set the book down next to me.
I followed the humming bird with my eyes around the clearing, such a beautiful creature it is.
The bird flew by my once more and then hovered over the water of the fountain.
I leaned in to face my own reflection behind the tiny little bird figure in the water.
"What you looking at little guy?" I said out loud, amusing myself talking to the bird who would never speak back.
The tip of his needle nose dipped in the water sending our reflections to ripple.
The bird rapidly flew away, disappearing into the sky.
I looked back down at the water, and as the ripples subsided I noticed a pattern carved into a small pebble at the bottom of the fountain.
I reached in and took the pebble out.
I gasped as I instantly realized what it was.
I reached in to my shirt and pulled over the chain with the key attached.
The symbols matched.
The sun and moon.
But what did it mean?
I looked back down at the fountain, desperately trying to make sense of what I had just found.
And just as I was about to give up, I saw it.
Another matching symbol.
Only this time it was on one of the bricks used to hold together the tiers of the fountain.
On the side of the brick was a small crack. I pushed my fingers slightly in through it and with a small nudge the brick came loose.
Behind the brick was a hollowed out space.
I kneeled before the fountain to take a better look in the space. There was definitely something in there.
I reached in, and grabbed a hold of something sturdy and pulled it out.
It was a small, elegant wooden box.
It was sort of reminiscent of a jewelry box.
The same symbols were carved at the sides of it and at the front was a small key hole.
But what really caught my eye was the engraving at the top.
"Soltanto Per I Relativi Occhi"
For Your Eyes Only
I quickly picked up the brick and placed it back where it was.
I placed the box on the ridge of the fountain where I sat and pulled off the necklace.
Slowly I placed the key at the key hole and slide it into place. When I turned it I heard a small click, and let out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding.
I carefully began lifting the lid to finally reveal the mystery it held inside.
Eek! Don't hate me!
I know, a major cliffy!
Sorry Guys But I want to try and make as many chapters as possible, and I felt that this is where it would have to stop for now.
Sorry if I bored you, or if you thought I was silly on how I had her find the box lol
I thought it was silly, but at the same time cute. ^-^
Hope you guys liked the chapter! Review! ;D
-Jan
Oh and by the way, if any of you are Italian and I translated "For your eyes only" wrong. Please let me know so I could change it! =D
Thanks!