Aurora

Disclaimer: If Twilight was mine, I so wouldn't be sitting in this cubicle right now.

Summary: Carlisle Cullen arrived in Volterra hoping to learn how to be a doctor and share his ways with others of his kind. In turn, he learns that Vampires aren't the only creatures that go bump in the night.

Author's Note: Part two! I hope y'all like this one. It has gypsies! Of course, it gets all sick and twisted by the end. If you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip parts of this.

Chapter 16

There were many a question I did ask and did as lief answer hers as well; though in the back of my mind did I keep the knowledge that Aro had something he wished no others to know. This did not surprise me for I found it most interesting at first that he had want of all other's knowledge but rather shared no more than academic facts. He was quite personable, for this could not be denied, but little did I know of him nor did many else seem to know more than he were married and is the patriarch of the strange family. What secrets did he hide so dark that he wished none to know?

The way he acted around my sister, fearful and guarded, as if she were a threat to his very existence. Though, knowing this to be true, for indeed if her powers are such as she and Aro hath both said then any that gather near her are at risk but there was something far more to Aro's fear; he did seem to sense that she had the power to know of him. I, myself, had far littler problem with Caterina gathering all the thoughts and memories from my mind than I didst have of Aro knowing such. For your family to know of you – of your past humiliations and successes- was quite normal and as it should be, but for Aro to know as such, it was part of his power and no choice was given in truth.

Caterina said she would make it so that Aro wouldst never use his abilities on me again and I did hope that she could accomplish such for I now was of a mind that such power as Aro did wield was far too grand. But was this not the way of all Kings? Mayhaps there was still hope that he might see some others not by their class but as children of God and he might take to my style or at least no longer find my style worthy of such light mockery.

As we did walk through the woods and didst talk of many things, I learned that Caterina had fought with her brothers in the War of the League of Cambria against the French until the Pope did turn upon Venice. She stated that she had no wish to side with the vile "frogs" and wouldst not go against the Pope even to defend her own city. I laughed at her for such talk and discovered that it was her eldest brother, Emilio, that allowed her to fight for he did say that she had a good sword arm and he'd rather have a woman with passion upon his side than against him. Upon this did I smile for I knew what Emilio must have been thinking when it came to our sister, Caterina.

She asked of me many things, from where else I had studied to what did cause my interest in medicine, to what I did hope for. I told her of my plans to go to the Americas and this did peek her interest for she asked me where I did plan to stay upon my arrival and how I did plan to travel there. I told her how I wished to take my own small boat or mayhaps take off the side of the boat at night so I might take to some of the larger sea creatures, such as the shark, for my needs of blood and quickly take back to the boat in the night. Caterina's suggestion was to box me on up and not let me out till I was upon dry land. I did doubt of how that would work since I could easily break out of a coffin as any other vampire could not to mention how the thirst would take me and I wished not to dwell on that.

As she was to inquire of me further, Caterina suddenly stopped and held to my arm so that I might stop with her. Her face was guarded for a moment and then did light up as none I had ever seen it; for she did look as if a child upon the Christmas feast. "Oh, Carlisle, we must!" she said excitedly as she began to pull upon my arm. I was confused for a moment until I caught the slightest hint of humans in the air and the sounds of frivolity not far from us. I looked upon my sister for I did not understand her fervor at the small party that some humans must be having to which we were most decidedly not invited.

"We have not been called upon, Catty. We cannot simply barge…," I began but Caterina did stop me with her laughter.

"Such manners hath thee, occuli! Tis the travelers! Mummers, gypsies and the like! They shall have no qualm with us arriving most unannounced," she did state to me with laughter still in her voice.

"And how might we explain ourselves, Catty? Two people wandering about in the woods at night?" I did ask incredulously. To this did she roll her eyes and shake her head as if this was nothing of consequence!

"If it be the band that I think it must be of, they will not ask such questions," she said simply before pulling upon my arm again so that we may move further towards the sounds of laughter and drums. I couldst barely see the licks of flames far ahead betwixt the branches of the trees as we walked closer. As we do so, Caterina's visage grew more bright and such a sight was delightful for me to behold for the worries she did carry with her seemed to be quite gone for the moment.

I didst smile as she led the way to the small encampment. The music stopped quickly as the travelers heard our approach and became wary of what might lurk in the shadows. Caterina carefully took to the light of the fire and did not let go of me, a smile upon her lips as it did seem she recognized the gentleman who was the center of the small gathering.

The gentleman in question placed down his fiddle and greeted us warmly for it did seem he recognized Caterina easily. Many of the others relaxed and began to joke and laugh again around the warm fire. He hugged my sister tightly and then reached a hand to me in greeting. "I am Stefano," he informed me, clasping my elbow.

"Carlisle," I introduced myself. Stefano smiled at that and then did wave for us to sit. We did take our place near an empty log that lined the fire circle while Stefano picked his fiddle back up to play.

"What brings you out tonight, Caterina? Does your husband know that you are in the company of such a handsome face?" Stefano teased her as he did play lightly upon his fiddle. Caterina laughed in response while I did shift slightly uncomfortably.

"My husband has no qualms when one of my brothers do escort me. You know well of that, Stefano," she informed him lightly. His eyes lit up at that.

"Brother?" he questioned and for this did I nod. Stefano and Caterina talked lightly for a few minutes and I simply did observe all of this for never had I been around such as this. My father would never have approved for me to go and even simply sit amongst the gypsies for he did find them to be the most base of sinners but as I did sit here I saw none but mothers with young babes at their breast and father's doting up their children who did sleep in their parent's arms. I did not see sin but rather love and life so perfectly placed in this microcosm.

What brought me out of my thoughts was but a sentence that Stefano spoke unto Caterina. "Your husband did come by earlier and sends his greetings if we did happen upon you," he said simply unto her. Caterina did laugh but it was a forced one and I noticed something in her eyes, nervousness perhaps, that forced her to quickly change the topic.

Husband. Stefano said he had spoken with her husband meaning that as such he was still alive. I had given up on such belief and thought that he had long since past but Caterina had not wished to deal with such a death but yet here did Stefano sit and say he had seen him, spoken with him, and all but this day! So she still did have a husband but then why did he not come to Volterra with the rest of our kind? Was he of the nomadic ways such as many others that I had seen and did not wish to interact greatly with others beyond what is necessary? This would make much sense for none had ever seen him but only heard whispers of his existence and yet here I held some fragile evidence of him. Once this small party was over, I shall ask of Caterina if I might meet the man that is my brother, and at this did I smile.

The music got louder and more boisterous and many of the older children as well as the adult got up and danced happily at such stuff. Beer and wine flowed freely and I couldst smell the stale stuff in my nostrils though I tried not to think upon that which I did so often drink whilst I was human for now it were foul in scent. All did laugh and sing as Stefano pulled into another tune. Caterina's eyes did light up and I saw her look longingly at the dancers not far from us as the ladies' skirts did twirl and the gentlemen did lightly dance with their partners. I stood and offered my hand to Catty, for though I couldst not dance well, I did not see any formal dancing here but that of which I oft did partake at my own church's festivals we had in the spring of my youth. Of this, couldst I do. "Caterina?" I asked of her as I held my hand out.

Such a smile had I never before seen upon her face for she as lief did place her hand upon my own and allow me to lead her to the other dancers. Lively was she upon her feet and graceful as she moved for such were all of our kind but she did seem to belong her, a lady amongst the peasants. I laughed happily at her as we did take to some of the older dances I knew of my youth in England and she had no misgivings on such for easily did she learn the one or two dances that she knew not. Happy was I to teach her as such for she was a willing student and did have a love of learning the dances. As I did tease her upon learning one of the many English Country Dances that I knew only from my times at the church festival, we both heard the sounds of howling and all music did quickly stop. Silence filled the air and we did hear it again. Though the humans may not have been able to detect it as such, both Caterina and I didst know it was not from any wolf or werewolf for that matter but one of own kind mirroring such.

Immediately did her face change from the happy, carefree sister I wish her to be always around me to that of the soldier. The mask upon her face she looked to Stefano. "Get them to the wagons, now!" she ordered. Chaos erupted as husbands pulled at their wives to get them to safety; children cried at the sudden change in atmosphere, and lovers clung to each other in fear.

"Carlisle, come with me," she said in such a manner that it was more of asking than of telling. I nodded and kept to her side as she went towards the woods edge again and peered into the shadows. She turned suddenly and look to Stefano who stood behind us with his wheel-lock rifle looking most stern, and did smile gently upon him. "It is not their kind, Stefano for the moon hath long since set. It be something far worse I am afraid," she said as she looked down for a moment and put mask back upon her face. "Keep fire with you. If any that come near are not myself or my brother, Carlisle, but have skin cold as ours and eyes of ruby red, do burn them for none else shall harm such as those," she informed him quietly. Stefano nodded once.

"Godspeed, Caterina," he told her sincerely prior to turning to me. "Keep her safe, if you would. I wish not to explain to her husband if she is injured in anyway," he did instruct me before grasping my arm in a firm hold. The same did I do onto him in parting.

"I shall make sure that she will come back to dance here again," I told to him with firm belief that I would do so if it took all my strength and more. He nodded and let us part ways for Caterina immediately took to the woods and we did head in the direction from which we heard the strange sounds.

I asked no questions of her and she did not seem to be willing to speak either for she did not take even a single backwards glance to me as we ran. Our running was cut short for their in the middle of the darkness of the woods was a woman who I did gauge to be of in her late 40's at the time of her change. Her hair was long and held only a hint of the color black she might have had in her youth for now it be mostly silver and grey. A smile cracked across her faces and her eyes were murderous red with a crazed look to them. But, above all, what I did notice was the human woman next to her carving into what was once a human being.

"Stop breathing, occuli," Caterina whispered as we slowed our approach. How the other vampire could stand the horrible sight and the smell of all that blood was beyond me for the scene itself did make me most nauseous. I held my breath and thought on who the poor soul might have been and why this human woman did seem to be enjoying herself with the blood and organs of the victim. I looked away and kept my eyes upon the vampire and my sister for I could not stand to see such vileness.

Caterina was stiff and glanced only once as the human laughed, splashing in the blood and drawing upon her skin as if it were but paint. I could see the horror and pain in my sister's eyes that must mirror my own. She walked carefully to the crazed vampire who hissed at Caterina and lowered herself into a crouch as if to make ready to pounce upon her. I turned my head so I might not see none but the crazed vampire for just beyond Caterina the human woman placed the entrails of the deceased around her neck as if they were a necklace. I knew not what to do in a situation such as this for what I wanted most was to get away from such madness but I would never leave my sister amongst this, the heart of hell.

"Anna," Caterina uttered and I did realize it to be in greeting. I was shocked; so this was the very creature that she had been hunting these long weeks. Anna hissed at her again and Caterina approached her slowly, myself always by her side.

"You have taken two of my favorite creatures away from me this time, Caterina so I do make a new one!" Anna stated in a voice that sounded like something of a nightmare for it was too sweet to belong to eyes such as hers.

"This one shall be dealt with too, Anna. Your monsters do threaten us all and Aro is none to pleased with such," Caterina answered easily as we began to circle Anna. I quickly to the opposite side so that Anna would have trouble escaping both of us. Anna didst look betwixt us and hiss again for she was cornered easily and had little means of escape. The human woman looked up, dripping in blood that was not her own and became worried for her mistress, I did presume. I did not relish the thought of destroying another creature but I had already seen that no other way was there for Anna given what I knew and what I currently did see. We did not need another mass murderer at the call of a vampire upon the loose.

"Carlisle," Caterina whispered and I did acknowledge with a slight tilt of my head. "I want of thee to run to the castle. I shall meet thee upon there in a few minutes time," she stated in English. I thought upon this but before I had time to answer I did see another vampire come out of the woods and head straight for my sister. I dove, pushing Anna to the ground and pulling Caterina out of the way. The vampire, a male, dove towards where Caterina had been and then glanced at her with eyes of black before getting a whiff of the blood and the human nearby.

"Claudio!" Caterina screamed as he pulled the human woman to his lips and drank thirstily. I knew not on whether to be horrified or not for this woman still had human remains draped around her and covered in blood not her own. She was clearly ill and a threat to all other life. Still, I did not wish to see such a seen. Barely couldst I make out the multitude of scars upon Claudio's skin that I didst not recall upon my brief meeting of him prior to his capture. I noticed how oddly he held the human as she vainly struggled for it took me a moment to realize one of his arms was indeed missing. Sickened was I at the scene and brought out of my internal disgust by a low oath from Caterina. I looked to her, shocked by her words, till I did follow her gaze. Anna was gone.

Caterina went to pick up Claudio once he had finished his feeding and spoke softly to him. She had warned me not to approach and I did as she ordered. Slowly, she brought the clearly broken vampire with her and held him in support before her eyes met mine, so full of sadness they were. "Come," she whispered to me and I did nod only briefly registering the fires that she had set to destroy the human remains behind us. "We shall to the castle, anon," she mentioned and I moved to take Claudio from him for he was clearly weak from hunger still though he had just fed. Caterina let me take him and led the way home.

In silence the three of us did walk towards the castle, staying far away from the human encampment from which we knew such happiness just hours before. I could just make out the light of daybreak creeping upon the sky as we neared the castle walls. Before I could voice my fears I saw something most unexpected; purple smoke coming from the Volterra Castle courtyard. One of our own kind had been killed this night and I knew not who so I did look to Caterina in question. She looked down and then slowly back up to meet my eyes with such piercing depression I knew not that such could exist. "Lettice and Aylwin," she whispered so low I almost did not hear her. At that did I stop and let the shock overtake me.

Author's Note: Scary enough? Like it? Hate it? Tell me please!