Aurora
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to claim Carlisle and the rest of the Cullen clan, they aren't. Caterina is but the universe she lives in isn't mine either.
Summary: Carlisle Cullen stumbled across Volterra in the late 17th c. What he found there made him leave all of the old world behind after only a couple of decades.
Author's Note: Oh my goodness! A review! Thank you! :-) And thank you for everyone who is reading this. It won't be too much longer until we get back to the post-BD storyline. And now, a little bit of fluff before the storm….
Chapter 23
Upon entrance to my chamber, after a good night of working along side Dr. Gagliardo, I found a suit of clothes upon my table in the center of my chambers along with a simple note in which the following was said:
Carlisle,
I hope that you will accept these fine clothes for our ball this evening prior to Carnival. I expect to see you in the courtyard by sunset.
Your friend,
Aro
Casting aside the note, I picked up the fine coat to examine in more thoroughly and found it far too rich for my comfort for it looked as if a suit in which a high noble or even a king might wear and not that of a lowly doctor such as myself. The brocade was of a fine light gold, wheat, and silver in its weave creating the latest designs of leaves and branches upon its face. Along the opening of the fine coat was true copper embroidery, handsomely done around the neckline to the base as well as upon the turned back cuffs and pockets, all done with matching copper buttons of which each was a pretty pence within themselves and couldst feed a family for a week upon the price of it. Such a treasure I knew not of what to do with.
The waistcoat was even more extraordinary, with its cut also done in the latest of styles and done with both the matching copper but also silver embroidery upon the blue brocaded front, done in such a way as to catch the light and have it shimmer greatly in the lights of candles and other incandescence. The breeches were of the same brocade as that of the justacorps and done with a button to each cuff in matching to the coat. To finish was a lace cravat that was done in a most excellent hand with a blue ribbon in which to tie about the neck. Overall, the suit was the spectacular and not befitting of my station, no matter what Caterina and Aro may think on such things.
Placing the pretty suit to the side, I went about my studies in medicine, furthering my curiosity that Caterina stirred many years ago in regards to the inoculation practices in Turkey and other areas to the East in regards to the smallpox. I was curious to test the practice upon some within Volterra and see if the process did work here as well. It would be a wondrous thing to have smallpox be not a disease that gripped all humans with fear for its deathly waves that came upon the many countries had taken countless amounts of people for which no hope was given. The inoculation wouldst bring back hope and prevent the disease from spreading as it hath done in the past.
I poured over my books and notes, looking for the latest in research and studies for which I might learn more of medicine and help those that are so in need. Not a day didst go by within the castle halls that some of my kind would bring me a journal or paper for which I was truly grateful. All did seem to grow accustom to my habits and did not vex me upon learning of my profession but rather had joined Aro, Marcus, and Catty in furthering my studies for all had become curious, or so it did seem. I now was the proud owner of several copies of this bit of research or that book, all of which lined my shelves and tables for I treasured each one if only for the beauty of the gift itself rather than its contents.
For many hours did I pour over the literature before me whence I didst hear a small rap upon my chamber door, and turned my head in response to speak unto the person who wished entrance and give them my permission. No more had I but to say "Enter" when Caterina blew into the room as if some great gale wind pushed her, beaming most radiantly whilst she held a bit of lace and ribbon in her hands in her excited state. Placing my quill to the side and pushing my books and journals away from me, I turned and smiled back at my sister noticing how terribly young she looked as she almost tittered in place upon her stance but a few feet away from myself. "And to what doth thy happiness lay, dear sister?" I asked her teasingly.
She scoffed at me but her humor only turned ill for so small an amount of time I dared to think a human would not have noticed its turn. "Tis Carnival tomorrow, Carlisle! And tonight the ball!" Caterina stated as if this were some dream and she were but a girl of Bianca's age. Reaching for my hand, to which I gladly gave, she pulled upon my arm and forced me upright though I had no mind of it, Catty spun around causing me to laugh for the sight of her was quite amusing.
"There shall be dancing, music, games of all sorts!" she exclaimed happily, her eyes dancing themselves as she looked upon me as if a child looking upon an elder. It always amused me when Catty became excited at the masques and balls that were thrown twice a year as they would be in any other castle or manor of such esteem as that of Volterra for such events were expected in the fine courts of Europe and Volterra was to be no exception to such rule. Caterina, however, saw such folly as beauty and grace and would play her hand at cards or demand to dance with whomever she could get upon the floor – which did normally end up being myself, of which I did not mind- and fret upon her dress for a month prior to the event for she wished to be the most simple but the most elegant at the same time. I did not comprehend such a confusing paradox of simple and elegant till I didst see her dress at the first ball, about Christmas, in which the richness of the fabric set off her strand of pearls so perfectly that none could doubt her beauty and the rest of the ladies who spent their money upon the embroiders grew most jealous of Caterina's look. Few others could compare and I kept her close out of fear that some of our kind were less than gentlemanly to my sister.
"If there is to be dancing, I do hope that music shall accompany it," I teased her to which she growled lightly at me but did not look upon my visage for some other object had caught her eye. I watched as she picked up the suit that Aro had sent and her jaw did open a slight at the sight of it. She held it up before her and then moved it so she might gage how such a pretty piece of brocade might well look upon me.
"Carlisle, this is lovely! Such an expensive suit… Aro truly does like thee," Caterina breathed for she too was taken in by the beauty of the embroidery and brocade pinched between her fingers. Gently, I put my hand to the coat and forced it down so I might better see her face and force her to meet mine.
"Verily, but too much is it for a lowly doctor of no title and no linage," I told her softly so she might understand for I was not embarrassed by my roots but I knew better than to make more of me than what I was born into.
"Thou art my brother and thereby not just a lowly doctor. I care not that thou wert a preacher for the king's bastard when thou wert human. Thou art a vampire now and the same venom that doth flow through thine veins doth flow through mine making thee my brother and therefore none is too grand for thee," she stated to me in a most scolding manner as she placed the suit back upon the table and then placed her hands upon her hips while she did finish her vehement speech. I kissed her head and smiled upon my sister apologetically for I wished her not to be vexed at me.
Frowning at me she pointed to the suit again whilst looking on to me. "Thou shalt wear it for Aro did demand of it," she told me simply. I sighed and shook my head at her for I would feel the part of the fool in such pageantry that I was not deserving of.
"I am not made of the stuff to go against the wishes of both the Volturi and particularly not that of my sister," I gently teased her. At this she nodded with a smile and pulled the lace and ribbon that she had entered with back into her hands for she moved as if to leave my chambers again.
"It is but a couple of hours till the ball's start. I shall meet thee in my chambers?" she asked, her excitement from earlier returning into her humor.
"I shall be there," I told of her and to this did she turn to leave with but a kiss to my cheek in exiting. Prior to her leaving, did she quickly turn to me and smile most grandly.
"Thou shalt dance with Grede tonight for I do believe she fancies thee," Catty stated and, before I might get to interject, she left with only her laughter in her wake as I moved to close my chamber doors. Grede was lovely but not of any type of woman that I did find to be compatible for marriage for she seemed to not have any inner strength in her quite resolve that did not seem to make for a goodly vampire, if there was anything that did make for a goodly one at that! Too much of a wallflower was she without dreams and hopes of her own that she had expressed to either myself or to any that I had spoken with other than her hope to find a mate. Even others who held the same hope did have other pursuits and sports that kept them busy from time to time but none had Grede. I suppose I might spare a dance with her but there were others to whom I wished to take upon my card for I found Matilde far more intriguing in that she had lived her human life in Wales but fifty years pervious to my own birth and did love to hear of the country prior to my own time for I had traveled to Wales once but it was during my time as a vampire and not as a human.
A half hour prior to the start of the ball did I dress in the handsome suit and threw on my wig as was the fashion before setting out to escort Caterina as well. Along the hall were still many of our kind in their various groupings and I saw many a lady look upon me in such a way as to make me wish to blush if I still had such abilities given their flirtatious fan waving and eyes. I did my best to ignore most of them but a few of the females of our kind were far too lovely for me to ignore and I graciously nodded to them in greeting as I made my way to Catty's chambers.
Upon my knocking of her chamber door, Marguerite answered and smiled upon me as she did look over my vestments in a way that reminded me of my discomfort upon wearing such garments, but did so let me into the living chambers before fetching her mistress. I sat in wait in one of the chairs that Caterina had lain about; wishing for my doctor's hood more than these silken slippers and brocaded justacorps for it would feel more natural upon my head and about my shoulders than these things of finery.
I stood when I heard the familiar laughter of my sister prior to her opening the door from her bedding chambers to that of the living chambers, and gazed in her direction. I saw not the manteau and fontange upon on her as was still currently the style but a full court gown in a reddish copper velvet with a sapphire about her neck. Upon her head was her hair curled and accented with the newest in court fashion known as guepes and papillons in which the jewels and silks brought out the copper and iron black colors of her hair in which to further match her gown and bring ones eyes to look up on her perfect features in her visage rather than at her clothing. But one blue ribbon, similar to the color of a turned copper, snaked through the curls upon her head and rested in a neat bow on top of the pile of hair and jewels to which only further served in showing her beauty. I did not wish to escort her, afraid that a man with less than kind thoughts might take her though I knew her to be far too strong for any such nonsense and not to be so innocent as to fall for any tricks that the male of our species might pull upon her. She twirled before me and smiled as her skirts fluttered back down to the floor. "Doth I look most pleasing?" she asked of me.
"I shall worry upon thee all of the night for I think many a man may have unbecoming thoughts upon seeing thee and I will but pray that such thought be not turned into actions," I told her sincerely to which she laughed again and quickly made her way to my side to take my arm.
"Then it is for good that thou art my escort and may beat away any that act improper towards a married woman," she sported back. I kissed her upon the cheek prior to our leaving her chambers and making our way to the courtyard for I had not time to properly greet my sister earlier and wished to make up for such a slight. She smiled on to me and began our journey through the halls of the castle to the courtyard in which the grand Ball would be held in a most magnificent fashion as it was each year. I could already hear the fireworks above the castle in celebration of Carnival which only made Caterina's steps all the more faster for she did love the colors and the lights of such things.
As soon as we burst through the archway and into the courtyard, Catty took a step to the right so we might be out of the way of any others that might wish to come this way and she gazed upon the sky tittering with delight when one of the rockets did explode in the air changing to golden sparkles above the courtyard. I smiled at the beauty of the sight and then did look about the open garden to see who else might have come as of yet to the ball. I noticed a great deal of our kind, all of whom I knew, walking or dancing within the confides of the walls to the softly playing music from a small group this time in one of the corners of the courtyard.
Many greeted us and after a half hour of such greetings did Catty push me to dance with one of the ladies in the courtyard to which I did oblige her for the lady she pushed me toward, forcefully, was quite lovely and I knew her to be a gentle soul as well so of this demand to dance did I take such duty lightly. For many hours did I spend my time either dancing or talking with others of my kind at this gay event that would last for a good fortnight if not longer and hence why I did hunt the other day so I would have no reason in which to leave.
"Carlisle!" I heard Aro cry and took notice of Sulpicia, his wife, by his side and quickly bowed to her though Aro did laugh at me. "That suit does do you well, my friend. I should have another made for you," Aro stated as he inspected me as if I were a statue or some other collectable. "In blue and silver, I think. Yes, those are your colors," he mused unto himself.
"Your gift is most generous, Aro but much too princely for one such as me," I quickly told him in the hopes that such thoughts as another suit of such caliber might be put out from his head. I knew such hopes were in vain as I was learning upon my many years here now in Volterra but it went against my nature not to try and dissuade him for, although I did have a liking for the finery, such embroidery and silks made me feel as if a peacock, put on for show, rather than a doctor. If he, and Catty for she is not innocent in this by any such means, would but allow me to wear finely cut tailored garments without all this ornamentation, I would be pleased but neither seemed to wish for anything short of pieces of artwork arranged about my shoulders.
"Nonsense, dear Carlisle. You were made to wear such elegant garments," Aro said wistfully and finished is appraisal of my vestments upon my form. "I do hope that you are enjoying yourself this evening. I saw you dancing with Matilde earlier," he chuckled and indicated subtly that he wished to know if I had any affections towards Matilde other than those of friendship. Although I was greatly affected by the beauty of many of the ladies that had passed through Volterra over the years, none touched me as I believed to be needed in choosing a mate and was slowly giving up the hope that I would ever find such a person. Instead, my thoughts sometimes drifted to the very far reaching possibility of creating my own family someday since I was raised by a single father I saw no harm in such things, particularly in regards to the possibilities of a teenage vampire. However, any such turning would I only do if the person in question had no chance to life and I knew myself in control. My control over the bloodlust was not to a degree that I would think myself able to turn anyone in any near time; but when one has forever; such thoughts of fancy are easily put aside for another time.
"The ball is quite a lavish and grand affair," I answered him truthfully for I knew not how else to answer the unspoken question that lay between us. To my delight, Grede of all vampires was my savior in her odd colored manteua and overly done hair, for she came over and bowed to Aro as well as Sulpicia who had kept her silence during the short conversation, and instructed Aro that Caius had called for him.
"Ah, then I shall see of what he may need. Please enjoy yourself, Carlisle," he told me as he glided past us along with his wife and went in the direction of where Caius was sitting in the courtyard. In thanks, did I dance with the girl before setting out to find others that I wished to speak with. It was not long before I was pulled aside by Felix who grinned suspiciously at me for I knew not what one of the guard might want with one such as myself; a mere visitor still within the halls of the heart of our vampire world.
"How are you at cards?" he asked in his native Italian to which I was most surprised.
"I have been known to play a hand or two," I answered curiously for I knew not his reasoning.
"Come. Caterina said you'd join us," he chuckled before leading the way to the halls for which I followed since it had been a good few hours now since I had seen my sister. I saw in one of the rooms, set up with hundred of candles all flickering and light cascading out of the doorway from which laughter also exited. Upon our entrance, I saw my sister's beaming face as well as the faces of some of the other guards for whom were never truly off of duty. Catty patted the chair near her to which I took and gazed about the room which glistened as if it were made of gold from all the candles that lay about giving us more light than even a human could need to see about. Another lady sat across from Catty while Felix took his seat across from me and two other gentlemen sat at our table.
"The opening bet is fifty," I heard one of the gentlemen state to which I raised an eyebrow for such a price was quite dear and I began to wonder what I had gotten into. Catty leaned over gently and whispered so lightly that I could barely hear her and knew that none of the others could. "Do not worry, little brother, for I shall cover thee if any dept thou doth incur," she told me before straightening her posture and watching as the hands were dealt.
It was not long before the bets became so high that I was in doubt as to whether I even had such amounts saved for I was not altogether worried over such monetary issues but did not wish to be indebted to anyone over a game of such sport so I was to fold and not worry upon my losses of current though it was a grand sum, such a lesson it should teach me as well. For gambling was a vice though harmless went done purely for sport and not for greed but such sport did cost me and I feared that my plans for the Americas would be put on hold for a few more years given that some of that money was to pay for my passage. Before I could fold however, I noticed one of the gentlemen eyeing my justacorps most readily.
"How much for you to place that into the pot?" he did ask indicating my coat.
"All you have already bet plus another 100," Caterina answered for me easily. The gentleman did consider this, much to my surprise, for already a handsome sum lay within the pot and with all the bets together, the pot was now worth enough in which to gain me passage tomorrow if I so wished it with enough left over to purchase whatever I might need in the small cities that now lay upon the coast. I wouldst not be surprised if enough lay there in which to buy a home in the new world within such a city rather than traveling about the country as a nomad; such as I did prior to my existence here.
"Done," the other vampire stated easily as he pushed the money for the justacorps to me. I was so surprised by his action that it took me a moment to collect myself and remove the coat, showing nothing but my shirt, waistcoat, and breeches which was rather unnerving. I placed the justacorps upon the table and Catty further pushed the payment for the addition to the pot towards myself. With such funds, I could easily buy a new coat every day for the rest of the year and still have a good bit left over but I knew I would instead spend what I could in my profession for the money would be better spent in helping rather than on material goods that were only meant for pure vanity.
Again we went around the table until one of the gentleman called for the cards to which we all showed them. In this hand, did my own sister best us all, and she greedily hoarded the pot with such abandon that I laughed at her and no longer cared about any funds I might have lost for the look upon her face was well worth any price I might have paid. Rather than taking the money, she stood and placed on my coat about her shoulders and gently swept the rest of the coins to the side once she had the justacorps on. It went well with her own robes of court and I did hear some grumbling from across the table regarding her win but chose to ignore it.
"Congratulations, Catty," I told her to which she smiled happily at me. Only a couple more hands did we play before Caterina asked me to escort her back to her room so she might finish her masque gown for the evening that was coming. We said our goodbyes though the gentleman that had wished for my coat was still disgruntled over its loss to my sister from whom I was assured to get it back, and I escorted her back up to her chambers.
"Good day, Carlisle! I think thou shalt go to the Gagliardo's for a bit this early morn and then back to the castle?" she asked of me. I shook my head in answer to her as I pulled my wig off, no longer wishing to wear the insanity of such fashion though I could see no end to it.
"Nay, but prior to the Carnival this evening shall I go. For now, I shall study if thou wilt give me my coat back," I asked of her.
"Tis my justacorps anon for thou did lose it in the bet," she said haughtily as she fingered the fine embroidery of the cuff. To her answer was I shocked for, though the coat was much to fine for me, it was a pretty piece and a part of me was loathed to have lost it. I had held hope that I was to win it back from the game but was relieved when Caterina won it for I thought surely my sister would hand such back to me since she had no petticoat of which to match it with and wear in a formal hunting style as many of the ladies had taken to the more masculine fashions. But to her, I knew I had no answer for she was correct in her assessment that she did win such and that it now being hers.
"It does better suit thee but what shall I tell Aro of such a fine frock now gone?" I asked more of myself than of her. To this didst she laugh.
"Thou should have thought of that before loosing it to a bet. If thou didst not wish to place it upon the pot then thou should hath stated as such prior to taking off the coat and allowing such a bargain to be had for now it is mine and not of thine," she told me.
"Catty!" I exclaimed for I knew not of how to take her sporting of me when I was greatly troubled now over what I thought to be my own vanity for love of such a material object and the guilt over committing such a sin as to loose a precious gift in nothing more than mere sport. I sighed, wishing only to better myself and thinking that just punishment was seeing my own sister parade around in what was my own coat prior to my misdeeds.
Caterina laughed at me and kissed me upon the cheek as she watched my facial expressions as I mulled over my mistakes this night and would force myself to be more careful than carefree in a future time. "Go, study, dear brother and let this be a lesson unto thee," she said with such cheer and I was momentarily brought out of my thoughts and managed to smile at her for I would take her at her word and take such lesson to heart for it was not the loss of the coat that bothered me as much as the loss of the gift. If I had bought such finery for myself, though never would I do such a thing, and lost it within the card game, not near the guilt would I feel for no explanation would be needed as to its loss but with it being a gift, I did so dread any ill humor I might cause in Aro for I valued his friendship.
Bowing, I took my leave and went to my chambers to further mull over my actions this evening. I cannot deny that I did enjoy myself for the music, the laughter, and seeing that expression upon Catty's face were all enchanting within this evening and I was glad, for one, to be a vampire so I might never forget any of this.
Author's Note: The coat/justacorps will be something Catty and Carlisle will argue over forever. Honestly, you need to have siblings fight over something and what's more popular than one siblings favorite outfit that the other one took? :-) So this was the calm before the storm. I hope y'all liked it. It was a long chapter!