Aurora

Disclaimer: They aren't mine, I just wanna play with 'em.

Summary: When Carlisle Cullen came to Volterra, he found civilization but he also found a seedy dark underworld of myths and legends.

Author's Note: Would anyone be interested in a little WWII Cullens and Catty? It would be pre-Jasper & Alice but everyone else would be there. Just leave a review with a yea or nay.

Chapter 19

I find myself often in the most difficult of times running towards a destination of hope and of salvation from the darkness I hath presently seen and this be no different. Though the hope I did count upon in this trouble was that of my own skills and that of Caterina's abilities to get Bianca back to the safety of her family's home. I knew not if Lavinia; if she, per chance, did escape Anna's wrath and was but upon her way or if she too was taken victim to the murderous hag of a vampire that did make all other vampires shutter at her very mention. I choose to believe that she was still but upon her way for such was easier upon my heart and upon my conscious than to think that she too was taken; for such would bring too much sorrow for one man if all did end badly.

Dr. Gagliardo was surely awaiting our return and held hope out that his children merely dallied near the gate, caught up in the fresh welcoming of their sister and did but forget the time; but I knew that no father could help but let some thoughts of dread enter into his mind for I heard oft heard Dr. Gagliardo quietly mention to me his fears regarding his beloved children over the years. His fears wouldst be confirmed upon the seeing of Andrea and his unconscious state and my only thought was at the very least he still had this one and this one I couldst save though it would mean very little to any goodly father for any child is as precious as the next in his eyes.

I didst try upon my best to keep care and not run overly quickly back to the house despite my nature demanding of me to simply run so that I might treat the young man in my arms and make him well again. I went at a hurriedly human pace though such was still much too slow to my eyes and I wish only that such restrictions were not in place; that all couldst live as I do so that humans would hath nothing of which to fear and that such peace would come. Though I knew this to be a foolish dream, one of which would never come, I still held to my hope and knew only to lead by my own example.

I held my breathe for the blood, though caking upon his brow, was still quite potent and nothing would make me more ill with myself than to hurt those that I did love for nothing was more despicable in my mind. By the very nature of love, you wish only the best for that individual and couldst never lend a finger in harm to them but only give what all you could in help and guidance for them. I loved my human family far more than I believed possible and hated every hurt thrust upon them over the years and did wish for a family such as this for myself some day perhaps; an immortal family in which death would never touch us. Though such a dream was far off for I did not think such was possible as of yet.

My eyes were trained upon the soft glow of the lanterns that hung about the various windows as I kept up my pace amongst the cobbled streets. By my focus upon such luminaries I was able to keep my thoughts away from the darker ones that threatened to creep into my conscious for I did not wish to think upon the fate of young Bianca as of yet and wouldst not think upon that night nearly ten years ago in which I last saw Anna. I refused to see my Bianca covered in blood or her blood covering another as I saw upon that ghoulish night for to think such things would distract me from my mission at present. Once Andrea was within the safety of his own home, within his father's house, and I had set the bone whilst Dr. Gagliardo takes care of his son, then shall I make my way to my sisters, both my beloved Caterina and young Bianca, so that I might help them both. I couldst only pray that Caterina wouldst get to Bianca in time and save the young girl from any that Anna might hath planned.

But then what of Bianca? For if Anna doth have her then surely she must know of our existence less Anna keeps such darkness to herself and hath come with a different reason as to why she were able to fight off a grown man such as Andrea and capture a quick young girl such as Bianca. Thusly, if Bianca does know, then what shall I tell her and what will the Volturi do to a human that most clearly knows far too much of us but is still quite young; too young in my opinion in which to be turned. How would such turning affect her father and her siblings for they would suffer a loss of their dear sister by either method that is chosen and the other alternative was not one I wish to dwell upon.

I could hear the young man's heartbeat as I hurried down the nearly empty streets through Volterra as it pumped his blood through his veins giving me a clear indication that Andrea was still much alive. The sounds of a dog barking far off in the distance, water falling from drop by drop into a cistern, people laughing boisterously near the inn, and the soft sounds of many footsteps echoed within my hearing for I couldst hear most all within the city if I so wished; but I did choose to block out most except for the sound of the beating heart nearest me for I wished hold to that. The sound of his heart gave me hope that, given that he was left alive, then so might his sister and so might my own sister for, though I knew her to be strong, I still worried over her given that she was lady. I held to such sound as my own feet found a quickened pace in it's marching and I went to the home of Dr. Gagliardo.

I didst not bother with such as the door given that many years ago I was told to simply open as such and that this was my home as well by Dr. Gagliardo's late wife, Elizabetta. I managed to hold the boy close, fearful of causing more injury to his arm or any other part of him, I opened the door most carefully and didst enter the hall soundlessly to any human ear. I rushed back to the medical office towards the back of the home in which Dr. Gagliardo did see me pass by his living room and thereby followed quickly behind. I did not speak to him but took the young man to the room and laid him upon the bed where I had seen so many other lives and die over the past ten years.

"Per Dio!" Dr. Gagliardo cried as his eyes managed to catch the glimpse of his son more fully now that I went to grab the small bag near the desk, leaving the young man fully within his view. I couldst still not yet breathe for I worried too much regarding the stale blood upon Andrea's head and wouldst not risk caving unto my nature whilst around those that I did love. Rather, I went straight to work and grabbed at the water basin so that I might wash his head and arm and then tend to them.

"How? Bianca?" Dr. Gagliardo demanded of me, grasping about the shoulders so I might look at him and these were not questions I wished to answer. I took a quick breath before answering so I might have enough air in which to do so and felt that all too familiar burn occupy my throat though it was not as bad as I thought it might be. I took another and my face twisted in pain; I hoped that Dr. Gagliardo might see as such as the pain of one whom had seen his loved ones so badly hurt and not the physical pain I was truly in but yet both pains coursed through my body. As Dr. Gagliardo's face fell along with his hands which had gripped my shoulders and now fell limply to his side, I did so answer him

"We were unsure," I stated slowly, fearful of breathing and my nature taking me over but I noticed that rather than such getting harder, that my nature was more in control with every breath I did so take. "We found Andrea near the gate. Caterina went to get others and I am soon to join them," I told him before turning to make good upon my work and mend the man's arm and head as best I could.

Dr. Gagliardo put his hand upon me and forced me to look upon him, though I could easily over power him, I chose not to. His eyes were pleading and did beseech me for a reason yet unknown to me but such pain they held that I hoped never to see such pain again.

"Go. Find my daughter, please," he asked of me and as such I could not refuse my mentor in the medical arts. "Bring her back. I can tend to my boy," he whispered softly as he pushed me with as much force as the old man could muster towards the door and out. I had only one small phrase for him as I took my leave in which to find Bianca and my own sister; "I'm sorry."

Again I ran, but towards what, I did not know for I had previously seen what Anna was capable of and knew of her devilish pursuits through the stories that Aro, Caius, or Caterina would impart upon me over the years. However, given that the young girl, Bianca, now be apart of Anna's latest plan and I still was unknowing as to the fate of Lavinia as well, I knew not of what to expect other than to secretly prepare myself for the most horrid and hold hope that Bianca might still have a beating heart.

I passed through Volterra via the underground passages that no human eye hath seen and to which I didst not bring Andrea out of fear of him awakening and asking many questions of to the answers I could not give him. Here, I was free to run at the speed of my nature, as if Mercury himself hath given me my speed and did help me upon my mission unto which I would find my sisters and bring them home. Through these passages did lead to outside the gates and through a grate I rose into the night's air. I quickly took in the scent, carefully guarding my nature so I might not attack any human, and found the trail Caterina had taken into the woods just southwest of Volterra; so near to the same trail that we had taken all those years ago when it was Paulo that Lettice had kidnapped that my heart did break in it's frozen form at the memory of such pain.

Quickly I followed the trail my sister did leave so I might find her and Bianca and thusly I prayed that I would be able to bring both back safely in my arms for such was my wish. I slowed only when I smelled that of blood and quickly stopped so I might control the monster within me and not let him dictate my nature from that which I wanted. The smell was weak but there and I grew accustom to it. I went back to holding my breath for no mistakes could I afford in my being given that every life was precious and should be protected, and Bianca's life, for I believed it to be her blood, was most precious to me. I thought not on the smell or that the blood belonged to that which I held as my own for either thought would cause me too much pain; one in a most physical form another in my very humor.

I now walked in the direction in which I thought that such did come from, opening my ears to any sound that might give me a proper direction rather than relaying on my sense of smell since I would not allow myself to breathe. I heard the mumbles of people talking and hoped that the voices were those of Caterina and Bianca, so thusly did I take off in such a direction for my hopes and fears were now pinned to my hearing rather than my far more effective sense of smell since I would not let the monster that roared within me loose.

As the voices became clearer it was not Bianca's voice I heard nor Catty's but that of Lavinia and my heart did both break and swell at the same time for though she be here, her voice meant that she was still alive. I went quickly towards her voice and my eyes beheld the young woman with her swollen stomach near a man of whom I had not seen before. His face was an olive complexion and quite handsome by most regards with his shoulder length black hair making him very Spanish rather than Italian in his ancestry. He spoke lowly to the young woman who did not look fearful of him but looked distressed none the less. As her eyes did managed to see my figure in the moonless night, she became aghast and jumped back against the man that was near her till she took in my pale face and blond hair, in which time she through her arms about my form and cried.

"Carlisle!" she muttered into my waistcoat and I held the weeping form of Lavinia close to me, glancing only once at the man that stayed near her. He had seen apprehensive at my approach, as if willing to fight me, until he saw Lavinia fling herself towards me with all her might despite her being with child impeding any sudden movements. At such movement, and at my very name, did he relax visibly allowing the young woman into my arms so I might comfort her. I dared not breathe yet out of fear of any blood that might have been spilt about though I saw none.

"That horrid witch took her! She took Bianca! Antonio managed free me and Caterina took after her," Lavinia told me through her sobs and by her words did I guess that this was Antonio that hath stayed with her.

"My thanks," I managed to utter without using all my air and not tasting the air about me either. The man nodded his head but once and took a step closer as I still held Lavinia's form.

"She took to the trees west of here and most likely is heading to the nearby village. My will is to go after Caterina but given this night, I think it might be best if you brought back Bianca to this place," Antonio stated to me, his voice was deep and held a tenor that I couldst not place. I nodded to him and then looked down to Lavinia as she sobbed into my waistcoat; I held her about her shoulders.

"Lavinia? Stay here, please," I told her, handing her gently back to Antonio and using most all of my oxygen supply, not allowing myself to speak again. Antonio took her and Lavinia turned to me, only reaching for my arm before I took my leave of them so I might bring Bianca back.

"Find them, Carlisle. Do not let that devil's witch have them," she begged of me. I kissed her outstretched hand as a promise of my word to bring both Caterina and Bianca back to this slight bit of hope that lay hidden in the woods though I felt apprehensive at leaving Lavinia behind with whom I did not know. Currently, Anna was a far more pressing matter and given the movement of both Antonio and Lavinia, I knew no harm would come to her here though how a human such as he could protect her from a force as Anna I knew not.

Again, I ran; this time deeper into the foreboding woods with each step I took and made my way to the village of which Antonio, praying that he did not mislead me. As I did so approach it, I took a tentative breath and held to a tree quickly given the smell of many bloods took over; nearly letting my nature overtake me. I calmed myself as best as I might given the anger that boiled within me for how many lives were sacrificed due to Anna's sick desires and what if one of those lives was that of my dear sweet Bianca? Of this, I couldst not think upon less a new wave of pain hit me for I wouldst not stand as such if Bianca too was lost to us after such regard with Paulo those many years ago.

I took my tentative steps towards the village, preparing myself as best I could for what I might see though none couldst prepare me for this. Tornados, earthquakes, and floods had nothing upon this site for body parts lay strewn around the walk towards the village's main center as if someone had placed them there in ornamentation. The ground was blackened and slick with blood as it ran down hill around the village in such a way that could only be described as if someone watered the many pieces as if a garden. My stomach was ill at the sight and I thanked God for the simple fact that I was not human at this moment for I would not hath been able to take in such a sight and I prayed that Bianca did not see this nor was she amongst the victims.

Slowly, I took my way to the village center, hearing the voices there and holding back thoughts of revenge upon Anna made by myself and only hoping I held the strength to take her to the Volturi for justice. To this did I hold so that I could live with my own conscious and not be as judge, jury and executioner all within my own being for such would be to play the part of God and none should hold such a role here upon Earth other than God himself.

My eyes beheld Anna crouching before Caterina and a scared bundle of fabric, covered in blood, behind my sister. All eyes, three sets, were upon me as I entered. Anna laughed and Caterina quickly turned her attention back to the horrible harpy whilst she spoke unto me. "Take Bianca and leave! Now, Carlisle!" she shouted her order unto me and, though I wished to comply, I knew not how to leave my sister in such a predicament as Anna did pounce upon her. Caterina threw her off masterfully, mercifully, without the slightest tatter to her dress or visage. "Now!" she shouted again, louder and I willed my feet to comply, grabbing at the scared bit of fabric that was in the corner. My heart was eased when I felt two arms around my neck and saw the soft curls pool beneath my chin for I knew Bianca was alive by these simply motions and needed not to hear her heart so that I might know of such. "Close your eyes and look not," I told her, again, depleting my air. And with that, I quickly went off, praying and hoping that Caterina would soon follow but that her abilities wouldst save her.

Author's Note: Sorry it's late! Easter and all that. I hope y'all like it. Tell me if you do or if you didn't. Also, don't forget to tell me if you want a bit of the WWII drama!