Aurora

Disclaimer: Still not mine. I own many pretty pretty things, like this cool new scarf, but not the rights to Twilight. I just want to play with the good doctor for a bit. Hehehehe….

Summary: Carlisle Cullen has been around the Volturi for a few months. As he wanders through the castle and the grounds, he learns that not all is as it seems and that there are scarier things than him that stalk through the night.

Author's Note: I might re-write a couple of the previous chapters. Nothing will change in terms of story line, it just sounded wrong in voice. I'm going to try and tone it down a bit so hopefully this will sound better.

Chapter 4

We walked quickly, even for our kind, back to the castle. Caterina did not speak less it be to quiet the fruitless aims of the wiggling child in her arms. I looked upon her visage to see if I might come to know the thoughts going through her head. Her face was a mask, showing neither anger nor any other emotion that I might expect given the ill humor she showed earlier in the forest.

A part of me was jovial at the idea of seeing another mythical creature. I had known not but our own kind and was enamored with the idea that I had seen with my own eyes evidence of another creature's existence. Another part of me was distraught given both the child's and Caterina's responses to the creature.

The child, Lettice, had been truly terrified. Prior to the creature's arrival, Lettice appeared to wish to fight me; a grown man who was easily three times her size in height alone. But to hear the werewolf, to see him, she immediately responded by wrapping her tiny arms around me and demand protection. This alone would tell me that there was some danger to them.

Caterina's response still perplexed me. Til that moment, I had seen her not. She willingly stood betwixt us; the werewolf and the vampires. Fear was not upon her face as much as concern. But neither emotion played it part upon her now. Presently, her face was still a mask. Insomuch that, she truly appeared to be nothing more than a statue, if it were not for her swift speed. More than that, she was a woman and yet, she did take a stand to protect me. If anything, it should have been I to protect Caterina.

I could see the now familiar walls that surrounded the ancient city. Caterina's guise remained unchanged. We slowed as we approached the city. "This way," Caterina said sternly in her native Italian tongue. I followed her to a seldom used trail that narrowed to the curves of the medieval walls. She gazed up at the tower before us and stopped directly beneath it. A window, maybe a full three yards above our heads, was open to the elements; and to us given Caterina's stance.

She motioned to me with her head in the direction of the window. "Go, it leads to my chambers," she informed me without the slightest hint of emotion.

I looked at the child who was now as if a large doll in a tattered dress due to her stillness. Caterina clutched Lettice tightly in her marble arms. I knew the child had to be returned to the castle and I was concerned that she may run again. "What of Lettice?" I questioned.

"I have the…child," she carefully responded. Lettice looked up at me at the sound of her name. A warning glance from Caterina prevented Lettice from saying anything at all.

I bounded into the open window and made way for Caterina. The next sound I heard was not one I was expecting. It was a high pitched, horrified scream. No less than a moment later did I see the child come through the window, her green silk dress barely clinging to her. Her petticoats and stays were visible under the remnants of the dress.

Lettice glared at the window whilst she stood next to a simple table and chair in the middle of the large stone room. I had not time to think over where I stood when Caterina gracefully entered. Her pink silk dress was hardly even crumbled. I know was able to notice the way her hair cascaded down her back in it's multi-colored hues that glistened in the moonlight. Her beauty was undeniable.

Catching my lingering eyes, she smiled slightly towards me. I returned the jester. Before I could speak, I saw Lettice move quickly from the corner of my eye. Both Caterina and I responded by moving towards the child but we were too late. I heard the shattering of glass and watched as a smile crept upon the child's lips.

"Lettice!" Caterina shouted taking in the position of the child and the broken glass. I believe it had been a pitcher of some sort.

"You bit me!" Lettice gave her insolent reply. I looked between the two questioningly.

"Carlisle, if you would, lock the window," Caterina instructed without glancing my way. She walked towards the child who went from an audacious temperament to cowering in fear. I did as Caterina asked. The latch was a simple one but closed the heavy glass and lead windows aptly.

"A small scar to remind you to not go against the wishes of your elders," Caterina informed her. I was shocked. Caterina, a mother by her own words, did bite a child?

"You are not my elder!" Lettice stomped. She turned her back to Caterina.

"Mayhaps, if you consider our years on this Earth. But it matters not for Aro, Caius, and Marcus are your elders," Caterina responded to the girl. She did smile at me and then looked back to the girl. "As for your scar, you may well remember to not put your fingers near another vampire's mouth ever again," she stated. A new picture did take form in my mind given this bit of information. Lettice was most likely trying to escape from Caterina's arms; given the child's glower at this information as well. Lettice's scratches at Caterina's face may have happed to cause Caterina to bit the girl. It were not entirely on purpose as much as a kinderly response.

Caterina took the child's hand. "We will go to them, anon. You shall tell Aro of your adventure with but a single touch and I will have one of the guard deliver you to your room," she instructed the child. This forced a pout out of Lettice.

"Carlisle, if you would join us?" Caterina asked in such a way that I knew I was free to refuse. I nodded in response and took up Caterina's arm. Her face softened at my jester.

Slowly, we transversed the hallway outside of Caterina's room; one that I could not even begin to describe due to it's velvet interior. Such richness do I not have words for.

I began to recognize the tapestries along the walls as we reached Aro's library. He kept a large collection of manuscripts and the like as well as his own annals. I had read one or two in my efforts to not only learn Latin, being as it was the common tongue in Volterra, but also to learn all I can of our kind. The library he kept was magnificent.

Two guards watched over the wooden doors and nodded to our little group. "Caught again, little one?" one of the guards asked.

"I would have made it if not for the werewolves, Felix," Lettice replied. This Felix, a broad looking man, glanced curiously at Caterina. She smiled simply and walked in with Lettice when the doors did open. I kept my arm in escort for Caterina.

"Carlisle! Caterina! How wonderful for you to bring back Lettice for us," Aro exclaimed as he floated towards us. I witnessed Caius taking in the scene of the three of us before him. His gaze at Caterina worried me. Marcus looked as if he would rather do near anything else than be were he was.

"Salve, Aro," Caterina greeted him with a slight curtsey. She had release my arm but kept a firm grasp on the child's hand. Lettice tried to wiggle her way from Caterina but to no avail.

"Greetings, Aro," I said with a slight flourish as I bowed. Aro seemingly ignored me as he went to take the child from Caterina's grasp. She only relinquished the girl when Aro stood a few feet in front of the pair and the doors behind us had closed with a sudden thud.

"Come, Lettice. I wish to know of this adventure of yours," Aro smiled at the child as he bent to her level. Lettice appeared frightful and began to cling to Caterina's skirts. Caterina gently but firmly pushed the girl toward Aro.

Aro reached out his hand to touch the girl's face. I could not help but notice as Caterina took a step closer to me, a hint of worry in her eyes. I watched as the diaphanous looking hand touched the cool marble cheek of the child. Lettice's eyes grew as Aro kept a smile on his face until the last few moments. He drew away from the girl and regained his full height.

"Astonishing," Aro muttered as he began to pace the stone floor.

"What? Has the child caused a new problem?" Caius asked, his eyes narrowing at the girl. Lettice shrunk back and went to hide behind Caterina's skirts again.

"Hmm?" Aro asked as he was brought out of his musings. "Oh, no. I believe everything is quite well in that regard," he said. A smile came back to his face, "Felix?"

The broad man appeared once the door was opened slightly. He did not speak but looked at Aro awaiting his orders. "Take the child back to her room and call her another nurse. I believe I will need to speak with this one later," he chuckled. Aro waved his hand to Lettice dismissively and the girl looked as if she were to go to the stocks.

Felix took her but not before grinning at Caterina, "Vale!" She only shook her head in response and glared at Caius for a reason I did not know.

Once the doors were shut again, Aro stepped before us. "The werewolf?" he asked Caterina.

"Werewolf!?" Caius exclaimed whilst jumping from his chair. That caused Marcus to move slightly.

Caterina looked at Caius during his interruption. I could not explain the look on her face other than to mayhap describe it as exasperated. It took a fraction of a moment but a smile tugged at her rose colored lips. "Worry not, Caius. I shall not let them harm you," she teased prior to returning the gaze of Aro.

Her face became serious. I took notice of how straight she seemed to look, almost as if she were a soldier rather than a lady. I remembered Caius earlier calling to her and now with her comments… But she were but a woman! Why would they have such a soft looking creature as my sister be a guard?

"He left due to the numbers, I believe," she informed him. Her eyes watched for a bit as Caius retook his chair. Once he was properly seated, Caterina's attention returned to Aro. "Based upon his actions and expression, I think he only wanted the child and nothing more," she continued with her report. Aro nodded thoughtfully in response. A part of me did wonder as to why Aro did not simply touch Caterina to get her thoughts on the matter. He had done so with Lettice just now. I had seen him do so before with many other; including myself when I first came.

"Only wanted the child?" Caius asked, his voice filled with ill humor. "You speak as if you believe those creatures are more than rapid curs!" he quarreled as he gripped the arms of his chair.

Aro sighed at his brother while Caterina tried hard to keep her mask upon her face. "Caius," Aro began but was quickly interrupted.

"Do not lecture me on those vile mutts, Aro. They have caused us enough problems!" Caius retorted. I think I saw Caterina bite her lip but her eyes were filled with such anger that I could not explain it.

"They have caused you such problems, Caius," Aro countered. He raised his hand to hold Caius so he could finish his response. "We need not cause the destruction of an entire species due to the actions of a few feckless," Aro started.

"Feckless?!?" Caius shouted, once again jumping from his sedate position. At this, Caterina did glare.

"You need not get rid of an entire population because you lost a battle long ago," Caterina answered angrily.

Caius walked towards her. "How many others have lost their battles? How many others have managed to survive?" he replied with such venom that I was moved to come behind my sister and place my hands on her shoulders protectively. Caius eyed me and moved to go back his chair.

Aro shook his head and gave me a small smile. "This is not the question of the night," he informed us all. "The question," he began as he resumed his pacing. "Is whether or not we should do something in regards to both Lettice and Aylwin," he finished. The room felt a bit lighter in a way with the question, as if the anger had dissipated. I slowly removed my hands from their protective jester over Caterina.

"It also seems that we may have a bit of intrigue in our mist," Aro said, his eye going to Caterina with a bit of a smile. Caterina went perfectly still. "You were right my dear," he told her. "Anna is a problem."

I could almost feel her become relaxed again and did not need hear her small sigh. "Anna?" Marcus and Caius both questioned. Aro nodded in response. "Indeed. Our dear Caterina was right. She is afoot," he said with almost a hint of praise.

"Anna? Your Anna?" Caius asked incredulously at Caterina.

Caterina shook her head. "She's hardly my Anna," she responded with annoyance. "She did not create me nor did I her. We share no common connection other than she thought to make me something into what I am not."

Whoever this Anna was, Caterina was not well pleased with her. It was plain to me that this Anna had met Caterina a long time ago from the tone of her voice. How long, I knew not. But Anna was the one that let Lettice out, I remembered from earlier.

"Be that as it may, Caterina," Caius mused, "You do know her best." Caterina scowled but did not reply.

"Have you much luck in finding her?" Aro asked.

"No," Caterina answered. "I have looked were I might but I am afraid that Anna is keeping her trail well hidden." The Volturi all seemed to go back into thought. After a few moments, my sister spoke again, "I do believe that, as long as I am allowed to hunt her, she will not cause anything such as the …earlier problems."

Aro looked please with this. "That would be well but if she is our walls and lets the immortal children out like she has this night," he gently informed her.

"Yes, I do understand. I may be of use to have more than one nurse to each of the children," she said. "If you do not plan on destroying them," she amended.

Aro sighed at this. "Indeed, I believe it obvious now that none of them could be tamed, can they?" he asked. "It would be for not to keep them much longer," he said sullenly.

"You've had them for a few hundred years now, Aro," Caterina told him with a hint of humor in her voice.

"Indeed, indeed," Aro muttered. All was quiet for a few minutes as I took in the scene. I stood behind Caterina still. Aro paced in front of us, thinking. Caius looked grave while Marcus looked lost.

"Carlisle?" Aro did ask after a long silence.

"Yes?" I responded. He smiled at me.

"Would you be so kind as to escort our dear Caterina back to her quarters?" he asked.

"Yes, Aro," and with that I retook her arm and lead her to whence we came.

Author's Note: I hope that sounds better. Feel free to ask questions!