Aurora

Disclaimer: If Carlisle and all the Volturi were mine, Carlisle would have been Catholic. :-)

Summary: A grow darkness pulls over the civilized vampire world of Volterra in the 17th century. What does Carlisle Cullen discover in this age of awakening?

Author's Note: Thank you all so much! I'm totally loving the reviews, the favs, and the alerts! I really hope y'all like the next few chapters. Hopefully it will only be two more after this one and then on to Morning Star; the sequel to all this!

Chapter 24

The excitement of the activities associated with Carnival was palatable in the air around me for I walked briskly towards Dr. Gagliardo's and could already hear the starts of the celebrations durst this cloudy day. I watched as games were played and many people laughed loudly in the air around me for the anticipation of tonight's events and those of the rest of the week were indeed great. I did but smile and nod gently to those that I passed as was polite but kept up my brisk walk unto my destination of the Gagliardo residence.

Upon half way through my journey, I felt an arm wrap itself around my own and realized this was most strange until I looked over at the person to whom the arm be attached to and smiled slightly. "Good afternoon, Catty," I said unto her but did not receive one of her quick witted responses as I was often use to. Indeed, no response did come from her that held on to my arm for a long moment till we came within sight of another road that was less traveled than the one we were currently upon.

"This way," she spoke to me in her lightly accented English which sounded more of a mixture of the older higher class accent of my youth and that of a daughter of Venice. I felt her tug upon my arm and pull me deep into the street that was mostly deserted for most of the people had made their way to join their friends within the main road and not lingered in these side roads nor elsewhere. Once we were far from the main road, Catty released her arm from mine and pulled back her fashionable purple silk hood so that I might see her face more clearly.

Her face was one of a soldier at first, a face I recognized now easily upon her vestige for I had seen it more than my liking. Though I did not wish to cause injury upon any other sentient creature, I did understand the need for such actions in cases such as Anna's for when such a creature doth give up on every moral ground and seeks to destroy rather than to survive, they become more monster than creature and should by the very word of God be destroyed. Therefore, I needed to accompany my sister during such times as she wore her face thusly for I wouldst not allow her to go alone if for nothing more than my own sanity; for to me, though she be a vampire and be instilled with the gifts as such, she was still a woman and one that was dear to me. What brother wouldst let his sister go to fight monsters and not at least attempt to help her despite her clearly having the better skills for such fighting?

"What has happened?" I asked of her as I placed my hands upon her shoulders to calm her, to bring her out of her soldier like state, for such hath worked many times before over the years.

Caterina looked down for a moment as if to decide and then looked back up at me, her amber eyes pleading with my own golden eyes. "Occuli, promise me thou wilt not go to the Carnival tonight," she asked of me. To this I was shocked and dropped my hands from her shoulders as I did look upon her pleading face for till this moment did I trow that we should all go together to join in the festivities.

"Caterina, what has happened?" I asked of her again, a bit more forcefully then I wished but as sternly as I might. I watched as she bit her lip for a moment in though and glanced away in frustration before answering my question.

"I hath discovered a bit of intrigue that may cause complications tonight. I do not think that any involved mean to cause harm to the humans but would thou please keep the Gagliardo's in as well? It would keep my mind at ease," she told me though not truly answering the question.

"What trick is to be played that would cause thee to be so undone dear sister?" I asked lightly as I resumed holding my arm so she may take it to escort her to the Gagliardo's. I wouldst not keep them away from the festivities lest I knew why such action was indeed needed. For, though I trusted my sister implicitly, I would need more than such talk of intrigue to pull the Gagliardos from the Carnival opening celebrations.

Caterina took my arm but let out a bit of breath as if she did sigh for I knew she did not wish to answer. Lowly did she speak but for my ears alone to hear, as if she did not think speaking in my native tongue wouldst be enough to confuse any casual eavesdropper. "The werewolves that call Anna their mistress plan to attack this very night," Caterina told me. I stopped this time and looked upon her incredulously for how would the children of the moon even begin to hath such numbers to form any type of strategic move against us? As Catty didst not look up at me but rather kept her eyes forward it was then I realized that the move may not be against us specifically and they would not need many to force our hand.

Anna was cruel but she was a cunning monster than knew of our rules and the bounty upon her head. I thought on Catty's words, both that the humans wouldst not intended to be harmed and that the werewolves would attack this night; for if anything would not bring harm to the humans but it be some intrigue that bring us out into the open… For what could do such thing in the night or upon a cloudy day? What action would cause our kind to reveal themselves?

"Doth thou know their plans?" I asked as quietly as I might though my voice did betray my fears that I held for I couldst not fathom any such means of attack nor did I wish to in truth but only needed such information so as to keep my human family as safe as I might.

Caterina nodded but did not say more. Rather, she looked at me with one of her softer glares so that I knew not to ask anymore. The next few strides that we took were met with silence of an uneasy nature for I would have the information as I needed it. Upon the threshold of the Gagliardo residence, I watched as Caterina's face went from a somber one to that of an easy smile. I often wondered how she could do such a quick change in her visage but found that if one doth think upon something that one hath thought in the past to be of an amusement, that such a change can occur upon thy face with ease. My current focus switched from the questions regarding the werewolves to that of the library I heard about in Rome of which I would have the pleasure of going to after the Easter celebrations in nearly two months time. Thinking about all the knowledge contained within those walls was exhilarating within itself.

Upon her rapping but twice, the door flew open and we both soon found ourselves with Bianca's arms about us as best as she could do. I laughed as Bianca, smiling, stood back and looked upon us. "Oh please tell me that you are going to the party tonight! The opening celebrations are to be grand. They are to have more fireworks this night!" Bianca said in such a hurried pace that I almost did not have the ability to understand her. I watched as she stood there before us, hands clasped in anticipation while her eyes did dance in her exited state.

"That is why I have come today, piccolina," Caterina answered. The expression Catty's face was enough to make Bianca's own visage change to one of whom had lost hope for she knew in that moment that she would not go. Caterina and I both moved further into the house in which I took off my cap and helped Catty to rid herself of her light red cloak before venturing into the living spaces. Dr. Gagliardo sat upon his chair in the living chamber with a book of some sort when he did see us and motion us to come and join him. Upon taking our seats, Bianca sat nearby with a slight frown upon her face though she said nothing all. Dr. Gagliardo took in our expressions and placed the book he had been reading upon a table nearby for it was clear that he his curiosity at the sudden change in humor through out the room was to form a question. However, before he might begin to find his words, Caterina spoke again.

"I will ask of you something that I know that Bianca may not like nor do I think Andrea will be most hospitable to either," Catty started into her pleading with the Gagliardos to stay within the confides of their home for danger would be within the walls of Volterra this night. I was not one for speculation unless such came from a source such as my sister for not all things are to be so trusted.

"We shall not go, will we?" Bianca stated with her arms crossed in a vexed position for she had been looking forward to such a delight as the start of Carnival for a good many weeks. I turned to her and tried to offer a comforting smile for I would much rather have vexed Bianca than one that was gravely injured.

"I fear not, piccolina," Catty began again. I watched as she did try to find her words and I thought to take such a task upon myself hoping to bring some comfort.

"Catty has told me that the… bad witch may be there this night and neither of us wish for her to come into your presence again," I explained to both the goodly doctor and his youngest daughter. Bianca shivered under my words and her eyes went wide with surprise as well as that of worry for both were her response to such events as those that had taken place lately.

"Stay within your home. Carlisle will stay with you and that should help to guard against any danger she may possess," Caterina quickly added. I looked upon her quickly realizing that I was to play the part of a guardsman, for though I did not mind such a task –it being one I would have taken upon my own instruction-, I realized I knew not what to do if faced with any true danger. I did not wish to cause harm to another but I would fight for my human family if it did come to such.

Looking back towards the Gagliardos that were assembled in the small living chambers, I spoke but few words. "I will protect you with all that I possess," I swore unto them for, with such words, did I mean to take action. None would harm the Gagliardos again.

* Aurora*

The sun had set a good hour ago and inside the house were Bianca, Andrea, Dr. Gagliardo, as well as myself kept. Seeing as both Lavinia and Sabina now lived outside the city walls, neither myself nor Caterina saw any reason in which to call them to the crowded city only to stay huddled within the chambers of their father's house. I kept a fire burning in the simple fireplace to provide warmth and light for the humans but also to have an easy weapon on hand, for fire doth harm all creatures 'cept one according to Caterina. When I asked for the exception to such rule, she but smiled and did not answer for she had many secrets that even with myself, her brother, she did not share; though many more did she share with me than any other in Volterra's walls.

I watched the fearful and yet exasperated expressions of which the family gathered before me did make. Andrea and Bianca were mixed into playing cards for such a game did bide their time whilst we all could hear the sounds of celebration far into the night. At such sounds even I did have trouble in wishing that I could attend and watch the pageantry that was sure to be in full regalia at the opening ceremonies rather than stuck betwixt four walls that the Gagliardos' called home but with one thought to the probable attack and the human lives that might get mixed in the way, then clearly was I brought back to my senses.

The sounds of something off, for no other words could explain what I heard, hit my ears first for the sounds were as if all celebration suddenly ceased but no cries didst I hear at first. Bianca stopped her game of cards as did Andrea; for the latter stood and the sound of such silence, once it had registered upon his human ears, and forced all others into silence around him. "Shh," he quickly whispered when Bianca's mouth did form a small o but no sound came from it other than a rush of air before she was to speak.

Quiet were all for a moment, fixated on the doors and windows to the front of the house as if one might see through the hardwood of the door or the fabric of the curtains in which to gain knowledge of the world outside. It was then I heard such a large explosion that I ran to the window at my own speed, for I no longer took the care I once did in that the Gagliardos knew that I was not of the same substance as they were, and thereby threw back the curtains. I couldst see but a patch of sky in the distance and the start of many sparks within it as well as hear a scream of delight followed by a knock upon the door. At first, I did not move to answer it till both Bianca and Andrea were by my side to see what they wilt. Dr. Gagliardo began to lecture both his children to stay away from the breakable glass for it would not be wise to be near such when the witch did come.

"God's teeth, Carlisle! I pray of thee, open the door," I heard Caterina utter and knew instantly that it was but her knocking upon it. I moved from my position at the window and answered the door only to see my sister in splendid brocade silks made into a coat such as many of the Turkish woman wear, fastened with gold buttons down the front and blue silk pants about her legs with shoes of such quality that the velvet slippers were not ones that should be worn upon the dirty streets of Volterra. About her head was a velvet hat with a red sash and beads flowing down it which did make her look as if a Queen and not an assassin. She gave me but a weary smile before coming through the door and looking upon the assembled humans.

"It is safe. She shall not come tonight," she told them in Italian to which both Andrea and Bianca easily rejoiced.

"Then we may attend the festivities anon?" Bianca asked excitedly. With but a nod from both Catty and Dr. Gagliardo, Bianca pulled at her brother to drag him to the world outside and watch the fireworks with the rest of Volterra.

Once the younger ones had left, Dr. Gagliardo looked upon my sister and addressed her, "What has happened?"

Caterina sighed and motioned for us all to be seated. "The bad witch cannot attack now and I am unsure if her plans truly involved Volterra at all, currently," Catty answered. I pondered what she meant but could not find the words to express my curiosity at her meaning. Under her breath, so that the goodly doctor might not hear, did she answer my unspoken question. "The moon is set and therefore the younger wolves are useless to her. More shall I explain later, if thou doth wish," she whispered softly before turning back to Dr. Gagliardo.

"So she shall not come for my children again?" he asked.

Caterina smiled at him and only offered two words in response, "Not tonight."

Author's Note: Big fight scene in the next chapter. I really hope it will be as good as I hope because it's rather pivotal to the sequel.