Chapter 7: The Volturi Council.
The three girls, Alice, Rosalie and Tanya were downstairs in a flash. The two blondes went to sit next to their mates and Alice sat down in a lone chair by the sliding glass door leading out into the forest. Just as she got settled, Carlisle spoke. "We're moving back to Washington girls."
Rosalie smiled and Emmett just pumped his fist and said, "Yes! I'm never gonna get tired of hearing that." Rosalie hugged her husband's arm and rested her head on his strong shoulder. Esme was next to Carlisle and she smiled at her children's excitement.
The doctor held up his hand to silence the group. "But first we have to make a little trip." He looked directly at Alice as he said this. "Do we really have to inform them of our affairs Carlisle?" Edward spoke from beside his mate. Tanya squeezed the boys hand in response. "I mean I'm all for following the rules and such, but that's out of fear alone." Emmett tightened his arm around Rosalie and said, "Yeah dad. Let's face it those old cronies give all of us the creeps."
Jasper shoulders tensed as he began to feel all of the conflicting emotions. Fear, confusion, anger. It was all there in the room as well as his own emotions, but he still put in his two cents. "Yeah Aro and Jane especially." Jasper moved himself from the wall he was leaning against to the sliding glass door. He pressed his forehead against the glass and looked outside into the wilderness. It was one of the few things that really calmed the blonde empath when the emotions got to be too much for him.
Carlisle understood his children's concern, but still the issue of Alice still needed to be addressed. "To answer your question Edward, we don't need to inform them of anything. It's just out of respect that we go. It's to stay on the Volturi's good side." The group nodded and let the matter be.
Alice's chin wound up in her chest as she ducked her head sheepishly. Carlisle got up from his spot in the chair and went to kneel in front of his daughter. "Look at me Alice." The girl looked up into her father's eyes with frightened tears in them. She didn't know what to think now. Of course she heard a bunch of horror stories about the three brothers of the Volturi council. Aro, Caius, and Markus. The only one she knew that had an ability was the leader Aro. The ancient vampire had an ability similar to Edward's. Aro could see a person's thoughts with just one touch. She didn't really know if that was true or not but she just had to trust in Carlisle to keep her safe. "I trust you Carlisle." She spoke to the man kneeling in front of her.
She looked up to the crowd surrounding her and said, "I trust all of you. I know you'll keep me safe." Emmett walked up towards his little sister and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hell yeah. We'll tear anyone who comes near you into little tiny pieces." Emmett punched his open hand signifying that he was ready for a fight if the meeting should lead to one.
Carlisle looked up to his child and said, "Sorry Emmett, you're not going this time son, none of you are." The next thing the doctor knows, the whole room is filled with shouts and feelings of anger. He didn't need to be an empath to figure that out. "C'mon dad. Why can't we go?!" Rosalie yelled at her father. Tanya was next. "Yeah Carlisle, I wanna be there for Ali." Edward put a loving hand on her shoulder and Tanya hugged her husband burying her face in his chest. Edward rubbed his mates back and shoulders to try and sooth the girl.
Then a calming aura filled the room and Jasper stepped into the fray. "I understand your need to protect us Carlisle. I can tell you're nervous about this meeting. That's why we want to go. We have a need to protect Alice just as much as you do." Esme stepped forward and put a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder.
The man stood and faced his mate. She had a soft smile on her face and a look of confidence in her eyes. "I think it's best if we all go Carlisle. Alice needs our full support tomorrow." Everyone was silent and there was no sound in the room except for a lone gasp. Everyone's eyes turned to Alice. She ducked her head and spoke almost too quietly for anyone to hear. Even with their enhanced senses. "Sorry I'm just a little nervous I guess." Esme walked to her daughter and hugged her tightly. "It's alright darling. We'll be right there with you. All of us. Right Carlisle?" The man saw the stern look on his wife's face and he admitted defeat. Carlisle's shoulders sagged and he sighed before turning to his children. "Go pack your things everyone. We're going to Volterra"
All the children cheered before racing up to their rooms to pack their clothes. Alice got up out of her chair slowly and walked up the stairs to her room at human speed. Carlisle and Esme watched her go with concerned looks on their faces.
Esme rested her head on her husband's shoulder as she asked. "Do we really have to do this Carlisle?" The man kissed his wife's head and replied. "I don't want to just as much as you do darling, but if we don't go we'll be in very real danger from Aro and his brothers." Esme sighed and nodded before heading up the stairs. Carlisle sighed and ran his hand through his blonde hair and followed his wife upstairs to their room.
The following morning, the Cullen's gathered their things and blurred downstairs. They gathered in the garage before heading into their perspective cars. Emmett and Rosalie stood by a rather large Jeep, Tanya and Edward stood by his sleek silver Volvo, Esme and Carlisle stood by a black Lincoln town car, and Jasper and Alice were standing in front of a beautiful canary yellow Porsche.
One thing about Alice is that she loved speed. She loved running fast and driving fast. It was a passion of hers since she was a newborn. Alice was the fastest out of all of them, even Edward. She believes it's her size but she can't really be sure. She didn't want to question it though so she counted her blessings. When Alice first saw Rosalie driving up in the Porsche 911 a few couple months after Edward and Tanya's wedding, she fell in love.
The group stood by their cars waiting for Carlisle's orders. The man put an arm around his wife and spoke up. "Alright. There's a private jet waiting for us at the airport. We'll leave the cars there, fly the plane and run to the Volturi compound when we arrive." The children nodded and got into their cars. Carlisle and Esme lead the way to the airport followed closely by Edward and Tanya then Emmett and Rosalie and finally Jasper and Alice. Jasper was driving the car just in case Alice were to have a vision on the way there.
About an hour in to the drive to the airport, Alice blanked out with a vision. It was the one where the girl was standing in the parking by her truck in the winter and the ground was riddled with ice. The van was swerving out of control heading for the girl. There was no way in hell she could get there in time to save her without revealing her families secret. The girl quickly turned and saw the van coming toward her and squeezed her eyes shut. She was waiting for the crushing sensation to come over her but what she felt was something completely different. The girl felt an arm cradling her around her back and a body loomed over her. When she opened her eyes she saw a pair of amber gold eyes looking down on her, and a hand wedged in to the frame of the van.
Alice shook herself out of the vision and looked at Jasper. "Another vision?" He asked. Alice only nodded. "It was one of the same ones I had before. The one where she's about to get hit by the van in the parking lot. Someone saves her. Someone like us. The same speed, strength, even the eyes were the same amber color as our own." Jasper had a thoughtful look on his face as he contemplated the possibility of other 'vegetarian' vampires living in the vicinity. "I don't know Ali. Maybe there are some other vampires like us already there." Alice shrugged her shoulders and looked out the window to see the wilderness passing by. She wasn't really looking forward to this meeting with the council of vampires, but she really didn't have a choice in the matter so she just went along with the ride.
Five hours later, the Cullen's were landing in the beautiful country of Verona Italy. When they walked out of the airplane, Alice had to admit, it was beautiful country here. The sunlight made her skin shine like a thousand tiny diamonds along with her family's. Alice was grateful that there weren't any mortals around to see because she didn't know if it would be a welcomed reaction.
Rosalie was coming out right after her and she out a hand on Alice's shoulder and gave her a sweet smile before running off into the distance. Emmett followed her but not before giving Alice a thumbs up first. The pixie then ran off after her siblings. She welcomed the breeze against her skin. The road was so barren and deserted that the vampire family didn't need to worry about passerby's seeing them running faster than the speed of a normal human in the nearby fields.
They were at the Volturi compound in a matter of seconds, and as the family walked toward the church building in their hoodies, scarves and sunglasses-it seemed kind of ironic that the Volturi family was shacked up in a church-Alice began to feel more nervous with every step. Then she felt a calm wave fall over her and she smiled over at Jasper.
Carlisle knocked on the large wooden door and awaited a response. A small panel in the door opened to reveal a pair of blood red eyes. "Who calls upon the Volturi council?" Carlisle replied as soon as the question left the man's mouth. "Carlisle Cullen. I'm here to see Lord Aro about an addition to my family."
The small panel slammed shut and the door was opened by a rather large vampire. He had the same build as Emmett and shaggy hair. As soon as the Cullen's walked through the door they were greeted by a small pale skin blonde child. "Welcome Carlisle," the girl spoke softly to the grown man. "So good to see you again". Carlisle bowed his head to the child and replied, "Good to see you also Jane. Is Lord Aro ready to receive us?" Jane thought for a moment before replying. "Why yes I believe he is. He just finished his meal and is ready to see you and your family."
She looked over to the small pixie and said, "I see you have a new addition Carlisle. May I know your name girl?" The family looked shocked but was still cautious as Jane asked Alice her name. Most of the time Jane never bothered to know other vampires names. Alice walked up to the small vampire slowly and took her outstretched hand. "My name is Alice, my lady." Jane laughed heartily at the title. "No need for the whole 'my lady' part Alice. Just call me Jane." She looked at Carlisle with a raised eyebrow. "I like this one Carlisle." She said before she turned and lead the family of vampires to the main room where her lord was surely waiting for his guests.
Jane walked up to the two double doors and opened them to reveal three men sitting in very regal looking chairs-not thrones but more like a mansions dining room chairs. The room was nothing but white and it reminded Alice of her time at the asylum, making her shiver uncomfortably.
The man at the center had long brown hair down to his chest, and blood red eyes. That was the only similarity the brothers shared. One had a childish looking face and straight bleach blonde hair. It almost looked white. The last one looked a couple years older than the man in the center. He had curly brown hair that went down to his shoulders.
Alice took a look at him and he kind of reminded her of the lords back during the French revolution period. The man in the center got up out of his chair and walked down the three steps to get to Carlisle. "Carlisle Cullen. My dear friend, how are you?" The lord said as he embraced the doctor tightly. "I'm well Aro." Carlisle replied as he returned the hug. "Thank you for receiving my family and I on such short notice." Aro broke the hug and put an arm around his friends shoulder. "Don't be ridiculous my friend. You and your family are always welcome in my home."
Most of the children looked at him with cautious stares. Alice on the other hand stood around looking at the place in absolute awe. After the initial shock of seeing all of the white, it was really such a beautiful place. It was so perfect and pristine nothing was out of place.
Aro saw the new addition to the family and stepped forward. "Who might this be Carlisle? A new addition to your family I see." He said as he took the pixies hand in his own and kissed the back. "Yes Aro. This is Alice. She came to us while we were still living in Washington. She had no family to speak of and her sire was killed by a hunter long ago. We took her in and raised her as our own."
The lord smiled and said, "Wonderful to meet you Alice. Does she have a gift my friend?" Alice spoke for her father. "Yes my lord. I have the ability to see into the future." Aro nodded his head and replied, "Aw I see. An ability we'd love to have among us. Tell me though Alice. How are your visions fueled?" Alice looked at the man confused. He decided to elaborate. "For instance, I'm sure you've heard of my ability and I can see one person's mind just by touching them." Alice wondered if he truly used his ability and saw hers when he kissed her hand.
"I believe it's the choices people make, my lord. I don't have the ability to read minds like my brother but I've noticed when people make certain decisions my visions come true." She paused and tried searching through her memories to see if she could find a particular memory that fit her description. "For instance, when the hunter killed my creator, he made the decision to come after me. I'm sure if he decided to just ignore the kill that vision would not have come to pass."
Aro thought on this for a moment and nodded his head. "Yes I believe that would be the case. This is extraordinary Carlisle. I must say with little Alice on our side here, we may have an advantage against our enemies." The family gasped at the lord's statement. "Of course it would be a huge advantage my lord but that was not the reason my family and I brought her here." Carlisle stated as he put an arm around his daughter. "Of course my friend, but let me ask your daughter first before we jump to any conclusions."
Aro took Alice's hand once more and closed his eyes. What he saw confused him but, as the vision progressed it made him happy for his friend. Alice was running through the woods, lined with trees and upturned roots, with a huge smile on her face. Her family close behind her. It was like they were going home. Aro knew what the girls answer would be before he even asked, so he kept silent. He released Alice's hand and spoke. "Take your family home my friend. They long to go back I'm sure. You have my blessing to return to your forest."
Emmett screamed, "YES! Sweet!" And ran out the door. Rosalie at least bowed her head in thanks and followed her husband. The rest followed suit and bowed their heads before running out the door. Alice whispered, "Thank you my lord." She turned and the leader replied. "Call me Aro, Alice. The whole 'my lord' thing is only for the ones who I feel need to know respect for their elders."
He laughed before returning to Carlisle and hugging him once more. "Take care of your family my friend. I know how much they mean to you." He patted the man on the back before sending him on his way after his children and his wife. The elder smiled before sitting back down in his seat.
Aro rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and place his chin on his fist. 'Be well Cullen's. You have a challenge ahead of you. You'll need all your strength to overcome it.' He thought about Alice and how difficult it must be to control her power. 'Never fear little Alice. You'll come to control your gift soon.' He smiled as he looked back on the vision of the Cullen's he saw while holding Alice's hand. "Oh this should be very interesting indeed."