Part 5 – Volterra, 1934.
The city of Rochester, New York was rocked by the news of yet another brutal slaying. This time it was Royce King II, the son of one of the most prominent banking families who had been killed, in a manner that the police deemed too gruesome to share publicly. How anyone had managed to break into his locked and guarded room was a mystery. Whispers and rumours abounded over the murders, which had begun a short time after the mysterious disappearance of Royce King's fiancée, the young and beautiful Rosalie Hale. No trace of her had been found, and as one by one her former fiancee's friends, and then finally her fiancée as well, were brutally killed whispers of a serial killer, and connections between the disappearance and the killers, were talked about in parlours and kitchens and gentlemen's clubs.
Speculation was rife, but no one came close to guessing the truth. No one who may have happened to observe the quiet doctor and his wife and young brother in law packing up their house and leaving in the dark of night would have thought to question them, or the veiled young lady who was accompanying them. No one would ever know what really happened.
Except us, of course. Carlisle and Esme and Edward all knew what I was doing, each night that I went out. They didn't know the details until they read them in the press, or Edward walked past one of the police involved in the investigation and heard their thoughts, but they knew where I was going. I knew that Carlisle hated it, I knew that Edward followed me every night in case I needed him, but I ignored both facts and went along my bloody path of revenge, refusing to speak of it to the monsters who had made me one of them.
It wasn't until I had massacred every single one of the men who had hurt me and led me to what I was now, that I spoke to them. I stood in front of Carlisle in my beautiful but blood spattered wedding dress and glared at him with my iridescent red eyes. "It's done," I spat. "Tonight I killed Royce and now they're all dead and I'm glad. I don't care what happens to me now."
I was just a newborn then, fresh from the burning fires of the transformation and full of the most uncontrollable rage and hatred. Carlisle and Esme and Edward tried to make it easier for me. They taught me to hunt, and then I used what they'd taught me to hunt down the men who had brutalised me. They taught me the rules that they lived by, and I screamed and smashed things and shouted at them because I didn't want this, didn't want any of this and I had no choice anymore.
I hated what had happened to me. I hated what I had become, I hated these strangers that I was now forced to rely on for everything. I hated myself, blaming myself for what had happened to me, hating the face and body and beauty that had first attracted the attention of Royce King and had only become more exquisite in my vampire transformation. I controlled my relentless burning thirst because it felt like the only thing I could control in this new world that I had been thrown into.
Once Royce King was dead I went to my room and didn't move. As the investigation into his death and the ones preceding him intensified and I refused to even speak Carlisle made the decision that we needed to leave New York and booked us tickets on the next boat to Europe.
It was a good idea, I grudgingly admitted that. Away from the familiar surroundings of New York I was not reminded every minute that I had been changed into something I found abhorrent. Esme and Carlisle and even Edward went out of their way to take me to places and show me things that would amuse and interest me, and they spent money like water if it was something that might bring a smile to my face. The poverty of the Depression and the political situation throughout Europe troubled Carlisle a great deal, but I was a spoiled and selfish baby and shut my eyes to anything but my own unhappiness.
We began in Spain, spending time there before moving slowly through France and up to Germany. We spent some time in Bavaria, for the hunting, before we travelled on through Austria and Switzerland, finally landing in Italy.
"I want to go outside," I said petulantly.
No one moved a muscle in response. Not that I really blamed them. We were in Rome and outside the midday sun shone down on the piazza, the heat reflecting off the stones. I was no more likely to go outside in that than I was to sit down to a steak dinner.
"I'm bored." I threw myself in a chair and scowled at them.
Edward didn't even look up from his book. He was very tired of me by that point. Esme smiled at me sympathetically. "We have tickets for the opera tonight Rosalie. You'll enjoy that."
"Would you like to go down to the hotel library?" Carlisle offered. "I'll go with you. I'm sure there would be some English language novels there."
I shrugged, and began pacing irritably around the room. I did not have the inner peace that enabled Carlisle, Esme and Edward to sit tranquilly for hours on end. I wanted to go outside and walk about in that crowd. I wanted to take a carriage ride through those fascinating streets. I wanted to get closer and examine the magnificent European cars I'd always had a completely unladylike interest in. I wanted…oh, always wanting! What was the point though?
I walked past Edward's chair and accidently-on-purpose kicked the leg of it to jolt his reading. He didn't say a word, until my third trip around the room when I kicked the chair leg again, only this time I misjudged my still new vampire strength and broke it underneath him. If it hadn't been for his preternatural reflexes he would have ended up on the floor, as it was he leaped to his feet and glared at me furiously.
"Do you mind?"
"Not at all," I glared back. Stupid know-it-all child.
"I'm older than you," he pointed out, answering my thoughts once again.
"You know I hate it when you do that," I hissed. "Stay out of my head!"
Edward rolled his eyes and turned away. "Gladly."
"Please children," Esme sighed. "This isn't necessary."
Edward pointedly ignored me as he sat down on the other end of the sofa to Carlisle, and I stood by the window, burning with frustration and misery. When the knock on the door sounded I was across the room and opening the door before anyone else had even blinked, so bored was I.
It was a hotel bellboy, bearing some letters in his hand. My sudden appearance startled him, and for a moment he was not able to hide the desire in his face as he looked at me. He covered it quickly and held out the letters to me, stuttering something in Italian as I stared him down.
Snatching the letters from his hand I slammed the door in his face and leaned against it, fighting down the feelings of revulsion that had arisen as the human man looked at me.
"Rosalie," Carlisle reprimanded mildly. "Your manners…"
"He looked at me," I muttered sulkily. "You know I hate it when they do that."
Carlisle diplomatically didn't point out the obvious- the whole world looked at me and I couldn't go around slamming doors in everyone's faces. With a sigh I flipped through the envelopes and then passed them over to him. "These are yours."
I couldn't explain to him the way I felt about people looking. I didn't fully understand it myself. I had learned, harshly and brutally, that sex could be used as a weapon. I understood now, in a way that I had not before, that a beautiful face and voluptuous body could be used to manipulate people and get what I wanted. And I wanted that power for myself; I wanted to control the desire and lust for me I saw in men's faces and use it for my own ends. But for me the control was so vital- when I dressed up and threw on my cloak of haughty arrogance I would make them look at me and I would feel powerful and still safe, but when I was just Rosalie and someone looked at me and wanted me all it brought was revulsion. Carlisle and Esme did not know how much time I spent in the bathroom, scrubbing that impervious vampire skin in a desperate attempt to feel clean.
I was back at the window when I became aware of an odd quality of silence in the room. I turned around to see Carlisle staring thoughtfully at the sheet of heavy cream stationary in his hand, Esme and Edward turned towards him in concern.
"What is it?" Esme asked uncertainly. "Is it bad news?"
"Not bad news exactly, no," Carlisle said slowly. "It's an invitation…Aro would like us to visit the Volturi."
"An invitation? Or a summons?" Edward said sharply.
Carlisle smiled wryly. "That's the question Edward, and I'm not entirely sure of the answer."
"Who is Aro and what is the Volturi?" I demanded.
"The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family of our kind," Carlisle answered. "They make their home in the city of Volterra, here in Italy. Aro, Caius and Marcus are the leaders and have set themselves up as arbiters of our vampire world. They've built around them a kind of…court, perhaps is the best way to describe it? I lived with them for a time in the past, before I went to America…"
I'd stopped listening. "You mean there are others? I've been traipsing around Europe for months with no one to talk to except him," with a contemptuous wave at Edward, "and all this time there were others like us?"
Carlisle and Esme exchanged glances. "Not exactly like us Rosalie, no."
"They drink human blood," Edward clarified, his eyes narrowed.
I barely paused. "Please can we go? I want…" I could not put in to words what I wanted, and as Edward looked at me a brief look of pity flashed across his face and once again my rage burned. "Stay out of my head!"
Edward buried his face in his hands. "I'm trying! It's not exactly pleasant…" He raised his head and looked imploringly at Carlisle. "I know what you're thinking. Obviously! But please, take her to Volterra. Leave her there, I don't care, but please for the love of my sanity do something!"
I picked up the closest thing, a crystal vase, and hurled it viciously at Edward. Naturally enough he caught it, and shook his head at me. "I hate you!" I hissed, and then turned on my heel and slammed into my bedroom. Behind me I heard Carlisle sigh.
The shadows were long outside when there was a gentle knock on my door and Esme entered, carrying one of my long, formal gowns. I looked up from where I was sitting on the window seat, my arms wrapped around my legs and my chin resting on my knees, but didn't say anything.
"The maids have cleaned your dress," Esme said cheerfully. "I thought you would want this one for the opera tonight. Come and I'll help you dress and fix your hair."
Dully, I did as she suggested. My rage had burned itself out, and now I felt once again as though I was drowning in misery. "How do you live with him?" I asked plaintively. "I hate him being in my head so much, I hate that I can have no secrets!"
Esme smiled softly at me. "He tries to give us privacy. It's not something he can help you know, and he does try not to use what he hears against us." She brushed my hair and began twisting it into a knot on the back of my head.
"He uses it against me," I muttered. "He's horrible to me!"
"The two of you just got off to an awkward start," Esme said diplomatically. "I can speak to Edward again about being more understanding, and perhaps you could try being kinder Rosalie." She pushed the final pins into my hair, and added the silver beaded combs from the dressing table. "There you go. You look beautiful darling, I'm sure you'll enjoy the theatre tonight. And Carlisle has decided to accept Aro's invitation, to tomorrow we shall travel to Volterra."
My eyes sparkled. Other people? Well…other vampires, anyway. Someone else besides Edward? "I can't wait!"
Esme laughed, and waited as I shimmied into the dress she'd bought in. It was beautiful, I did love all the pretty things that had been bought for me in our travels, and I looked at my reflection in satisfaction. She took my arm and led me back to the sitting room where I sat beside Carlisle, already dressed in his theatre going clothes.
"Esme told you we're going to Volterra?" he asked.
I nodded happily. "Thank you."
Carlisle's face wore a faint frown as he looked at me thoughtfully. "It may not be exactly what you're hoping for Rosalie. The Volturi are not like anything you've known before."
"I just want something new," I said honestly. "I just want…society, I suppose." I felt vaguely embarrassed, and angry at the same time for all of them making me feel foolish for wanting what I had always wanted. To be Rosalie Hale, pretty and popular and admired…what was so wrong with that?
Carlisle rose to his feet and offered me his arm with a rueful smile. "Well, I'm sure Aro and his cohorts will be delighted to make your acquaintance. Shall we see if Edward and Esme are ready? I have some business with a jeweller that I must deal with tonight if we are to leave tomorrow, and then we have the theatre. Some hunting too I think…it would be best not to be too thirsty when we are with the Volturi."
I didn't think to question further, but went along with Carlisle's plans willingly, surprised by how much I enjoyed the opera that evening, and smugly pleased with myself when I managed to bring down a meal without making a mess all over my clothes. We drank until we were almost uncomfortably full, and then returned to the hotel to pack up our things and make arrangements for travel to Volterra.
The city on the hill seemed extraordinary to me, as we drove into it. Carlisle seemed perfectly at ease and smiled at my excitement, but beside me Edward grew increasingly tense.
"They live underneath the city?" he asked.
"Yes, for the most part," Carlisle answered. "Aro, Marcus and Caius seldom leave- they have no need to- and while their guard goes out frequently they always return."
"How do they eat?" I questioned. "If they don't leave?"
Carlisle didn't answer, but Edward threw me an unreadable look. "Perhaps you'll get to see."
"I want all three of you to be careful here," Carlisle said quietly. "The Volturi is complex, and you will not understand the nuances of society here quickly. Remember too, that Aro has a gift like Edward's- if he touches you he can read your thoughts, so do not lie to him, no matter how minor it seems. It can be pleasant here and they will no doubt be charming, but be wary because things in Volterra are not always what they seem."
I had been expecting dark, gothic horror with the idea of an underground lair of vampires, but it wasn't like that at all. A little dark perhaps, but with an imposing and ancient beauty in the intricate carvings and tiled mosaics adorning the walls.
I barely noticed the surroundings though, when I saw them. Vampires. Supernatural beauty and grace and elegance. Not as beautiful as me, not any of them (oh, yes, I was looking!) but I stared around me with an intense, almost frightened wonder.
"Carlisle, my old friend."
I was afraid, when I first saw him. Aro, the apparent leader, the ancient vampire with skin as pale and fragile as onion skin against his black hair, his red eyes overlaid with a milky film as he came towards us with his hands held out. "How wonderful to see you in Volterra once again! And you've brought a coven…three of them."
"Aro," Carlisle said courteously. He allowed Aro to take his hands, although rather than shaking them Aro merely held him for a long moment, and then nodded at Carlisle with a smile that I could not read. "I'd like to present my family. My wife, Esme, and Edward and Rosalie." I did notice the slight emphasis on the word family, and wondered what was behind it.
"Madame," Aro bent over Esme's hand and kissed it, then turned to Edward who, in an uncharacteristically rude gesture, kept his hands to himself rather than proffering them in greeting. Aro looked at him speculatively for a moment and then turned his gaze to me. "And Rosalie…why Carlisle, she's just a baby."
He took my hands and held them for a beat longer than necessary, as I stared mesmerised into his red eyes. "Lovely," he murmured. "My, my Carlisle, you have been busy! And all of you continue this fascinating quirk of only drinking from animals! I confess Carlisle, I did not think it possible to maintain, but you all seem in excellent health."
"Perfectly possible to maintain," Carlisle said, sounding relaxed. "I'd like to thank you for your kind offer of hospitality here in Volterra, although it won't be possible for us to stay long. We shall be returning to the States as soon as possible."
Edward's fingers, digging hard and unexpectedly into my back stilled my start of surprise, and I kept my face expressionless. Edward never touched me, he knew that I couldn't bear it, and for him to break this boundary between us indicated to me that something was not quite as it seemed.
"Nonsense, Carlisle! You must stay and allow us to get to know your delightful family. I've had your things taken to a suite. I'm sure Marcus and Caius will be fascinated to hear what you've made of your life in America, and we are having the Christmas ball…you'll all want to stay for that."
Carlisle gave in graciously. "Of course, we shall stay for the ball. Thank you." He took Esme's hand with a raised eyebrow. "If you'll excuse us then, perhaps we shall go and see to our things."
"Of course. Make yourselves at home!" Aro said expansively. "Your old rooms are available Carlisle, and your things have been placed in there. There shall be a…meal…later on, if any of you care to…"
"No thank you," Carlisle said, firmly but pleasantly. "We hunted before we came."
Aro's eyes held a gleam of amusement as Carlisle turned and began leading Esme and Edward away. I could feel eyes on my back and I hesitated a moment and looked over my shoulder, seeing Aro's smile widen as he looked at me and the gentlemanly bow of his head. I inclined my head in return and then stepped rapidly after the others.
"Christmas ball?" Esme questioned.
"It amuses them to celebrate the human occasions," Carlisle said lightly. "It will be very grand, quite splendid really, and something to see. Rosalie, you'll like it."
"I'd rather we turned around and left right now," Edward murmured. "Carlisle, he…"
"Oh, don't worry about that Edward," Carlisle interrupted, and so out of character was it for his impeccable manners to fail and allow an interruption that my ears pricked up. "I don't think we need to discuss anything now…always remember here at Volterra that the walls have ears. We'll stay for the party and until I can make arrangements for our return to America. That's all."
The suite Carlisle showed us too was enormous, and furnished with dark luxury. Brocade wall hangings, dark wooden furniture, enormous four poster beds hung with lace and velvet. As Carlisle and Esme spoke together in low voices I prowled about looking at everything. I was fingering a chess set whose pieces appeared to be carved from precious gemstones when Edward appeared at my shoulder.
"Play a game?" he suggested, picking up the queen and examining the carving.
I shrugged carelessly but sat down to play. He always won, but at least it filled in time. I hadn't realised at that point that Edward would always win, not only because he was a naturally superior chess player to me, but because he could read all my strategy straight out of my head and see the play several moves ahead.
We played in silence. It wasn't until Edward had most of my pieces and was removing my captured rook from the board that he spoke up. "Be careful here Rosalie."
I took a pawn. "What do you mean?"
"Just what I said," Edward murmured. "Be careful. These people are not like Carlisle and Esme." He took my queen. "Checkmate."
Game over, I rose from the table and wandered around the room again. Edward replaced the chess pieces and joined Carlisle and Esme's quiet conversation, and when I realised no one was looking at me I drifted closer to the door, until I could quietly slip out without notice. I didn't know for sure that they would not like me wandering around the underground maze of Volterra, but I suspected as much and I was tired of being treated like a child.
There was a girl stepping daintily along the hallway outside our rooms. She had long brown hair and a plumply voluptuous figure, and her red eyes gleamed as she smiled at me. She looked slightly older than I was, but I knew that physical age and vampire age were not the same things.
"They told me you were beautiful," she said happily. "And so you are! I was so hoping to see you." She took my hands and smiled angelically. "I am Liliana."
"I'm Rosalie," I couldn't but respond to her cheerful friendliness. "Who told you?"
"Oh, everyone's talking about you being here! Carlisle of course, many of them remember him, but that he brought three others with him. There haven't been any new vampires here in some time, you know."
"I didn't know. Who is 'they'?" I asked, struggling to understand what was happening here. I glanced behind me uneasily, hoping that Edward and Carlisle and Esme would not hear her and come out.
Liliana smiled again. "Come. You were going to go for a walk? Let me take you. I can show you things, the library and the ladies' rooms and the ballroom. You'll be staying for the ball?"
I nodded. "Aro asked Carlisle to stay."
Liliana led me down the hallway, her soprano voice chattering away as she told me about the Volturi. I learned about the three central figures, Aro and Marcus and Caius, and about the wives and the guard. I learned about those like Liliana, who lived here in a shifting population of people there for the diversion, or because they wanted to be part of the guard, or needed favours from those in power. She introduced me to the vampires we passed, and I learned that those in the dark cloaks were the guards and therefore important, and those dressed in ordinary clothes like Liliana were merely ordinary vampires, and thus less important. She showed me their library, the beautifully decorated ladies' rooms, the hot baths. Their underground home was a space of extraordinary beauty and riches, a far cry from the simplicity of the life I had been living with Carlisle and Esme and Edward, and I was quite bemused and almost dazzled with all I saw around me.
We ended up in a grand reception area, the walls and arching ceiling inlaid with gold, reflecting the thousands of candles that lit the space. There were three chairs, almost thrones, at one end, occupied by three vampires. Aro I recognised, and I guessed that the other two vampires were Caius and Marcus. Before then stood Carlisle, talking easily, although when he saw me standing in the doorway with Liliana a brief frown flashed across his face.
"Liliana," Aro cried. "Come here my dear, and bring Rosalie with you. I'm so glad to see the two of you together. Rosalie, lovely one, how are you enjoying the amenities here in Volterra?"
Liliana seemed less sure of herself in Aro's presence, but I merely raised my head a little higher and stepped gracefully towards them. "It's beautiful," I told him sincerely. "I've never been to a place so lovely."
He seemed pleased with my answer. "You'll enjoy the ball tonight then, I'm sure."
"Oh yes!" Nothing could obscure my enthusiasm. "I can't wait. I haven't been…I mean, since I…" I didn't know how to finish. What language to use to refer to my human death and vampire change here? The vicious words I'd hurled at Carlisle in fits of rage were definitely not appropriate, but I did not have words that were less inflammatory.
Aro shook his head. "Shame on you, Carlisle, keeping such a lovely baby out of the spotlight and away from all the fun! Never mind dear one, tonight shall be glorious for you."
There was a noise over to the side, and Aro's face broke into a grin. "Splendid. I believe the meal has arrived. Carlisle, are you sure I cannot tempt you?"
"Quite sure, thank you," Carlisle said smoothly. He took my arm with a grip like iron. "Rosalie and I will be going back to our rooms now."
Aro nodded. "Of course, of course. Plenty more at the ball later."
Carlisle turned and headed for the exit. I gave Liliana an apologetic smile and wave as he towed me along with him.
"I'll see you tonight Rosalie!" she called in her high voice, and I saw Aro's head bend towards her as he spoke in a voice too low for me to hear.
"You've been exploring Volterra then?" Carlisle asked lightly.
I tugged against his grip, but it wasn't until we reached the hallway, out of sight of the reception room, that he released me.
"Yes. That was Liliana, she's been showing me around." I nearly had to trot to keep up with Carlisle's rapid pace. "She wasn't here when you were here before."
"No, I didn't recognise her," Carlisle said. "The guard tend to be constant, but the others…much more variable."
"She said some of them know you," I told him. "They're talking about us…there haven't been any new vampires come here to stay for some time."
"We're not staying either," Carlisle said shortly. He pushed me ahead of him into our room, where Edward and Esme were both still sitting.
"Is everything well?" Esme asked anxiously. "Rosalie, we weren't sure where you had gone."
"It's fine," Carlisle said reassuringly. "Rosalie had just gone for a walk and was making some friends."
I frowned at Esme. "I'm not a child," I said crossly. "I don't need a chaperone everywhere I go."
Edward's mouth opened to say something, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle shake his head with a cautionary frown. I rolled my eyes and turned away from them all, rebellion flaring in my heart. How dare they all treat me like a mindless child!
Edward answered the knock at the door when it came, later on. I didn't see who it was, but a moment looked up to see Edward holding a large box and staring at me questioningly.
"It's for Rosalie," he said slowly, bringing it over to where I sat on the bed. Carlisle and Esme came over, curiosity clear on their faces as I began to open it.
I tore off the lid and gasped. Inside was a dress, but no ordinary dress. Blood red silk, decorated all over with what I first took to be beads, but as I raised the dress from the box and felt the weight and saw the light catch them, I realised were actually diamonds and rubies, small but flawless in their cut and shine.
"Oh my," Esme breathed.
Carlisle reached into the box and drew out a flat, carved wood jewellery box that had been under the dress. At my nod he opened it, exposing the dull gleam of the filigreed gold necklace, set with even more rubies, large and ornate in their settings lying against black velvet. There was a note, which Carlisle scanned quickly.
"It's from Aro," he said quietly, then read the brief lines. "For Rosalie. Something to adorn the newest and most beautiful vampire in Volterra."
I reached out to touch the necklace, hardly daring to lay a finger on it. I had grown up with trinkets and jewels, and Carlisle had bought me many more, finer and more valuable than anything I'd had before, but all of it dwindled into insignificance in the face of Aro's gift.
"It's a very beautiful gift," Esme said uncertainly. "But a dress…I'm not sure it's quite the proper thing, Rosalie."
"Indeed," Edward said sceptically. "It is a very beautiful gift. And when Rosalie allows him to dress her up and bedeck her with jewels, what will Aro want in return?"
"I'm not sure you should accept it," Esme counselled. "Such an expensive present! Carlisle, you know their ways best, is this appropriate? Or is it something else?"
"It's a gift, not an obligation," Carlisle said brusquely. He seemed almost angry. "The Volturi's wealth makes the rest of the world look like paupers, this is likely little more than a trinket to Aro." He frowned down at it. "It does bear their mark though, which is interesting. It would be impolite to do anything other than accept it in the circumstances, but it's up to Rosalie what she does with it. Wear what you like, Rose."
"I want to wear it," I said possessively. "It's mine and it's beautiful." To be honest I didn't care about the politics of the gift. Didn't care, and was too stupid and selfish to even consider them anyway. I wanted to wear that exquisite dress and incomparable necklace, wanted to offset the beauty of my face and body with that sparkling richness. I want to be the most beautiful vampire here. I want to be something other than Carlisle and Esme and Edward's burden and regret. I want them to look at me and feel envy. The vampires here don't know what made me this way…there will be no pity and no disgust. I am not powerless, not dirty, not worthless…I am Rosalie and I am beautiful and I will make Volterra mine.
I gathered up my new treasures and looked at the three concerned faces mutinously. "I want to wear it," I repeated. "I want to and I will." I swept into the adjoining dressing room and slammed the door behind me.
I didn't ask for Esme's help to dress, but when the time to prepare for the ball approached I slipped into the new gown alone. Thin straps left my arms and most of my shoulders bare, all the better to display the ornate necklace. It was the most daring dress I'd ever worn, cut low enough in the back to hint at the curve of my rear and with an equal amount of generous cleavage on display at the front. The fabric was cut on the bias and clung to every curve down my body before flaring out into a ruffled train at the bottom, the jewels stitched to it catching the light every time I moved. Yet the dress did not overpower me. On the contrary it seemed as though it was perfectly designed to draw attention to me, to my face and body and hair and beauty, to complement instead of overshadow it. Truly, I was breathtaking, and for a long time I sat in front of the mirror running a brush slowly through my hair as I stared at my own reflection and wondered what the night would bring.
I took Edward's arm to walk into the ball, because that was the thing to do, but almost immediately one of the vampires I had met earlier with Liliana asked me to dance, and whirled me away. After that, it really was my night. I laughed and flirted and danced, and in return was petted and cossetted and admired as the enchanting music played and the beautiful vampires all around me made this world seem nothing short of magical.
I didn't know how long it had been before Liliana came up to me and extracted me from my current dancing partner. I giggled as she led me from the dance floor, and she hugged me exuberantly. "Rosalie, you are adorable! I'm so glad you came to Volterra. But now Aro wants you, and that is not a request you can ignore!"
I glanced over to where Aro sat on his throne, watching the festivities with an amused air. Catching my eye he beckoned to me, and smoothing my hair back in place I glided over to him.
"Little one, it's so delightful to see you enjoying yourself!" he said cheerfully. "And wearing my gifts…but of course I knew you would! Indulge me now dear one, sit a while and let me get to know you."
There was a padded seat beside his and I sank on to it gracefully, slightly disconcerted to be seated so close to him, and so much lower than the height of his chair. I glanced up at him through lowered eyelashes.
"Thank you for the gifts," I said. "They're very beautiful."
Aro waved an elegant hand. "Just what a beautiful one like you should be wearing, my dear. Now tell me, are you quite content with Carlisle and his coven, and their funny little ways?"
I hesitated for a moment, searching the room for the Cullens. I saw them standing over by the door, in earnest discussion. Edward gestured towards me and I saw Carlisle frown and shake his head. Esme covered her mouth with her hand, and a few seconds later they turned and left. I wondered what was going on.
"They've been good to me," I said at last.
"Well, Carlisle is indeed very…good," Aro agreed. "However I'm not sure that you belong with them, pretty one. We do appreciate beauty here in Volterra, and if you would care to stay with us I'm sure we could keep you amused." He didn't wait for an answer, but instead half rose in his chair to wave at someone I couldn't see, before he sat down and gave me a satisfied smile. "Now Rosalie, the meal is here. I don't know if you would prefer to leave, as Carlisle and his lovely wife and the boy have done…?"
My mind whirling, thoughts scattering in all directions, I shook my head in confusion. Stay here in Volterra? Leave Carlisle and Esme and their pity? Leave Edward's exasperation and dislike?
I looked back towards Aro, but my attention was distracted and I didn't say anything but only stared in fascinated horror at the procession of humanity being led towards the three ruling vampires on their thrones. These people, roped together and walking with glazed eyes…the meal?
Aro was watching me. "This is the life of the vampire Rosalie. We are not like Carlisle with his queer ideas and human affectations."
"But they…" I couldn't finish. These people were walking towards their death! They must know that! I remembered the men I had killed, the cowering terror and the wretched screaming as they faced their fate...why were these people walking straight into the lair of the monsters with not even a blink?
"They're glamoured," Aro said quietly. "Quite willing to lay down their lives for their superiors. Sometimes we bring them in and there is sport, oh that can be fun, but for a ball we prefer the more…civilised method of glamouring them." He indicated one of the prisoners, and a dark vampire presented him to Aro with a bow.
It was a young man Aro took onto his lap, scarcely past boyhood. He wore breeches but nothing else and although his chest was broad, the tanned skin was smooth and hairless. He made no effort to move or speak as Aro laid him gently across his arm, his head tipped backwards to expose his neck. I could hear his heartbeat and see the artery pulsing just below his skin.
"I do enjoy the young men," Aro said conversationally, his eyes never leaving mine. Those eyes, his voice…I was nearly hypnotised and could not have looked away even had I wanted to. "The flavour is so distinct, and most satisfying…perhaps you will learn for yourself, pretty one." Eyes still locked on mine he lowered his head, and I saw the teeth enter the young man's neck. He drank deeply as I stared, barely breathing, the smell of blood heavy in the air as around me others chose their victims and fed. Aro took his mouth from the man's neck and smiled at me, and as I saw the blood on his lips the monster of my own thirst howled and my throat burned.
"You would like to try, pretty baby?" he crooned. "Come, share…"
I couldn't think. I moved towards the youth lying across Aro's arm, and I sometimes shudder to think how differently it might have happened if Aro had not shifted the human towards me and in doing so let one of the limp arms fall, the human's hand landing heavily on my thigh. He may have been little more than a boy but the hand was big and masculine and touched me, and suddenly it wasn't Volterra and I wasn't safe…I was back in that filthy alley with brutal masculine hands touching me and causing such agony, and all the blood I could smell in the air was my own.
"No!" I physically recoiled. "I don't want it! Take him away!"
Aro raised his eyebrows. "Fascinating," he murmured. He lowered his head and drank again, making even the kill seem elegant as he drained the boy and dropped the body down onto the other side of his seat. "Such control for a baby! I am impressed. Perhaps Carlisle has had more of a plan in his creation of children than he believes…"
I sat beside him, my hands in fists and my fingers digging into my palms, wanting desperately to run, to find someplace quiet and alone and free of all this smell of blood – oh god, I want it so much- so that I could just think….
Aro laid a hand on my head, almost like a benediction. "Run along then my dear, enjoy the party…remember my offer. We would be delighted to keep you here at Volterra pretty one, if you would like that…"
I nodded and mumbled thanks, all my social graces lost in my desperate desire to escape. I wove through the crowd, feeling dizzy and lost amongst the frenzy of feeding going on, and at last made my way into the deserted hall, where I hurried towards our rooms breathing deep gulps of the cold underground air.
"Rosalie!" Carlisle crossed the room to me in a bound and took my arm. Without meaning too I jerked away from his touch and backed against the wall, my eyes wide. He held up his hands so I could see them and approached more slowly. "We've been worried."
I could tell he was trying to look at my eyes, and I realised that they all thought I had joined in the feeding. He thought my eyes would be red now. I raised them to stare at him defiantly, knowing that my eyes would be black but with no trace of red.
"I didn't drink," I said flatly. "I wanted to, but I didn't."
I don't know which emotion was greater on Carlisle's face, shock or relief.
"Those poor people," Esme whispered. "This place is barbaric! Carlisle, please…let's just leave!"
He turned and took her in his arms. "Of course, my love. I'm so sorry to have brought you here and had you see that…"
"Aro asked me to stay." My voice was quiet, but I knew they all heard. "He wants me to stay here in Volterra."
"Oh please," Edward rose from where he had been half hidden in the shadows and sneered. "He doesn't want you."
"Edward," Carlisle said warningly, but Edward just shook his head at him.
"No Carlisle, she should know. If she's going to make a choice…he doesn't want you," he repeated to me contemptuously. "You must realise that! He wants your pretty face, and what you've had out on display in that dress all night, so that he can whore you out as a prize to the people he really wants, the ones who can be useful to him…"
He got no further, because I screamed in pure fury and flew at him. "Don't! How dare you say such things to me…"
Edward fought back tooth and nail, but my newborn strength was formidable and it took both Carlisle and Esme using all their strength to haul me away from him. They held me back, still snarling and hissing, as Edward stood panting. As I watched the scratches I'd gouged into his face filled themselves in and disappeared, and he grimaced and shook himself out as the ribs and shoulder I'd crushed and mangled in my fury began to knit themselves back together.
"I hate you," I whispered, almost too angry to speak. "I hate you…I'm not a whore! Not ever! Just because you think that's all I'm good for…" My voice choked off, and Edward, no longer angry, gave me an odd look of pity.
"I'm not the one who thinks that, Rosalie," he said quietly. "Goodness knows I'm not your biggest fan, but you can't accuse me of not being able to see past your face." Without saying more he left the room.
Esme tried to comfort me, but I pushed her away. "Don't. I don't want…" I sank down onto the sofa and put my head in my hands. How much more confusing could this night become? Or was it even still night? Down here in the vaults of the Volturi it was almost impossible to tell how much time was passing.
"Rosalie," Carlisle said gently. "I would like to talk to you."
Numbly I raised my head, both surprised and then reassured to see him smile at me.
"I have something for you," he continued, holding out to me a small blue drawstring pouch. "It might seem like an odd moment for gift giving, but Esme and I want you to have it."
Slowly, I took the pouch and opened it. Into my hand dropped a large, heavy pendant, black onyx set in silver and bearing the Cullen crest I had seen a thousand times on Carlisle's ring and Esme's bracelet and Edward's wristband.
Carlisle was watching me carefully. "I had it made for you by a jeweller I know in Rome. I want you to keep it Rosalie, whether you choose to wear it or not. Whatever your choices in this life Rosalie, you will always have a place with the Cullens. Always. Do you understand?"
I nodded slowly.
"We will not try to influence your choice here," Carlisle said softly. "You can choose to stay in Volterra with our blessing, or you can return home with us. Even if you stay Rosalie, know that you will always be welcome in my home if you wish to come."
"What Edward said…" I said, looking down at the pendant rather than at Carlisle and Esme. "About what Aro wants…" Whore you out as a prize…the humiliation burned through me.
Carlisle hesitated. "Edward spoke out of turn," he said finally. "But he does have some insight into Aro's motives Rosalie, and you would do well to be careful here and think hard about what it is you want."
Abruptly I stood up and strode from the room. I needed to get away. I headed down the halls until I found a small nook containing a marble statue of an ancient god, where I sat quietly huddled, my chin on my knees and my head resting against the hard marble legs of the statue.
Stay with the Cullens? I was not under any illusions that they particularly liked me. Carlisle felt responsible, and Esme felt sorry for me, and Edward plainly disliked me. Stay with that? But they had been kind, they had tried to make me happy and had asked nothing in return.
Volterra…oh, it was beautiful and fascinating and promised so much fun and amusement! And yet the hidden layers that I knew nothing of, the politics and rules of it that I had yet to learn…could I really stay here? If what Edward said was true?
"Rosalie!" It was Liliana, like me still in her ball gown, smiling as she squeezed in beside me. "I wondered where you had disappeared to! My darling, Aro says you may stay here in Volterra?"
"I'm not sure," I said. "Carlisle has been very kind to me, and I'm not sure what Aro really wants me here for."
"It's not because you want to stay with that delectable Edward?"
"Ugh, no!" I shuddered. "Never!"
"Do you not like the men?" Liliana's face was alight with interest. "Here in Volterra that's not such a troubling thing at all, in the ladies' rooms sometimes…"
I shook my head. "No! Not that either. It's just, I haven't…I don't…" Once again my words failed me.
Liliana giggled, and kissed me on the cheek. "Rosalie, my sweet virgin baby, you are too, too delicious! Never mind pet, Aro will make sure it's someone lovely and the girls will teach you all kind of tricks."
I leaned away from her. So Edward had been right. "So that's what it is here then?"
Liliana looked surprised. "Of course. Isn't it everywhere? Unless you have a mate, that makes it all different again." She patted my arm. "My mate is returning today, he's been away on business for Aro. Now come on my darling, don't sit here all alone and pouting…let's go to the baths."
Dumbly I allowed her to lead me through the twisting maze of hallways and down to the bathhouse. I had never been naked or bathed with other people before, but I was learning that in the world of Volterra most of the things I knew or believed did not hold true. So I slipped out of the jewelled dress and stepped into the steaming water beside Liliana and wondered bleakly if I would ever find a place in the world that was right for me.
Liliana seemed quite happy to take charge of my aimless self though. She chatted away about Volterra, and the vampires and her mate until it all jumbled together in my mind and all I heard was noise. I let her pull me out of the water and I dressed again in my beautiful beaded gown that suddenly seemed less pretty now that I knew the price I would have to pay for it.
She brushed my hair out until it gleamed in golden ripples down my back, and then I brushed and braided hers. I enjoyed that girlish friendliness and wished for more; but could I stay here for this companionship? I was torn, and the misery settled like a physical weight on my chest.
Liliana took me back up another level and into an unfamiliar area. Her mate, Philippe, would be back very soon and she was more than anxious to be reunited with him. I learned he worked for Aro. "Acquiring things," Liliana said vaguely. I would have asked more, but there were rapidly approaching footsteps and I looked up to see a new vampire, tall and burly with long fair hair hurrying towards us.
"Lily, thank the gods I've found you."
"Philippe!" she exclaimed happily. "I'm so happy you're back! You missed the ball, and Rosalie here…"
I may as well have not existed for all the notice he took of me, as he seized her hands.
"Liliana, we have to go. Now! Things went wrong…they don't know I'm back, I only needed to find you." His voice was low and desperate, and there was more than a flicker of fear on Liliana's face as he crushed her to him in a hug. "We cannot wait Lily, I'm sorry but we have to go…"
"Go where?" The voice behind me sent an icy thrill of fear along my spine, and I turned around and then backed hastily out of the way as I saw a terrifying Aro, accompanied by the black cloaked guards approaching.
Philippe froze. "Master Aro."
"You've returned, but it would seem you don't bring with you what I requested?" Aro's voice was light. "Disappointing, Philippe." He held out his hands, and Philippe threw a hunted, frightened look at Liliana.
"It was not possible, Master Aro…"
"Your hands." Aro's voice was a cold and inflexible as ice, and as Liliana whimpered Philippe stepped forward like one going to the gallows and laid his hands in Aro's.
Aro's face changed, and I bit back a scream as I looked at him and realised exactly what Edward meant when he told me that as a vampire I was not human, not in the least little bit.
"You destroyed it?" Aro said quietly. "You went out to get something I wanted and you destroyed it?" He released Philippe's hands and the look he gave him was something beyond rage. "We have been watching her for years, I had such plans, and you…" He appeared unable to finish, but pressed his hand to his face. "Jane," he whispered.
One of the black cloaked guard stepped forward and a moment later Philippe was on the ground, contorted with agony and screaming. I had not believed vampires could feel the kind of pain he was suffering and clapped my hands over my mouth to stop my own scream. Liliana threw herself down on her mate's writhing body.
"No, oh Aro please don't! Philippe!"
"Enough," Aro said said quietly, and as the black cloaked figure turned her face away from Philippe I caught a glimpse of a small, fair girl, almost a child, and my eyes widened. She had caused that pain?
"Please," Liliana whimpered, looking pleadingly up at Aro. "Please don't hurt him."
"Lily," Philippe put a gentle hand on hers, and looked her with eyes full of love. "Please my darling, don't…I love you."
Aro glanced from Liliana's distraught face to the resigned face of her lover. "You took something from me that I wanted," he said, his voice like flint. "You destroyed it…I will not tolerate that Philippe, you know that."
Philippe bowed his head. "I know that Master Aro. But I beg you…"
"No. You took something from me I wanted very much, and now I will take something from you that you want very much. Felix?"
Another cloaked figure stepped forward, a large and imposing man, and I watched in helpless, mounting horror as he kicked at Philippe, sending him skidding across the hall and crashing into the wall, and then grabbed for Liliana. I did not believe what I was seeing as his big hands took hold of my bright and sweet new friend and tore her, literally, limb from limb. It was not until the flames flickered that I understood, and that was when I started screaming.
The pain came seconds later, and as the world turned black my screams became soundless and I fell. This was an agony beyond the men in the alleyway, beyond the burning fires of transformation, beyond anything I had believed possible and, for both seconds and an eternity, I felt it through my whole body and wished to die.
Just as suddenly as it had started, the pain vanished. I opened my eyes, cringing on the floor before Aro, the blond child in her dark cloak standing beside him and looking down at me, her mouth curved in a smile. I could smell the flames, and hear Philippe keening as he mourned his lost love, but nothing registered to me but Aro's pitiless red eyes on me.
"Take this as a lesson, little one," he said dispassionately. "The Volturi offer much, and ask little, but you would be wise not to cross those higher than you. I am not a demanding vampire Rosalie, and those who earn my favour are well rewarded…but there will be no mercy for those who break my rules." He turned away.
I scrambled to my feet and backed away, unable to tear my eyes away from the gruesome sight of the pyre. When I felt a strong hand take mine I nearly screamed again, but then I smelled the familiar scent and heard Edward, whispering hoarsely. "It's just me, Rosalie. For goodness' sake, come with me now!"
I looked at him, unable to speak, and as he stared into my eyes I knew he was seeing it all in my mind. His jaw clenched. "Damn it all, I told Carlisle…Rosalie, you have to come with me. Now." His voice was gentler than I'd ever heard it, and he held my hand almost tenderly. "Please, come away now."
Once I forced my feet to move I could not get away fast enough, and for once I was even able to keep up with Edward as we flew along the richly ornate hallways of Volterra. I did not see the beauty any longer, and felt only the fear. It was not until we were far, far away from Aro and his guard and those horrible flames that I stopped and, as all the remembered horror came crashing down on me, I opened my mouth in a wordless scream. Edward did not speak then, but simply held me tight in his strong embrace while I shook, and for the first time in a long time I found comfort rather than revulsion in the touch of another.
"I heard you screaming," he told me quietly, when I was finally still. He did not release me, and from inches away his golden eyes met mine. "We were ready to leave Volterra, Carlisle and Esme and I. We believed you had chosen otherwise and would not come with us, but then I heard you, in my head, I heard you screaming... You must come with us, Rosalie this is not the place for you. Come home with us."
Numbly, I nodded. Home. Make my home with the Cullens, who had been so kind and shown such forgiveness to me. Not here, not with…I wrenched my mind away from the thought.
Edward pressed his forehead against mine. "We will never be to each other what Carlisle and Esme hoped."
I shook my head. No, Edward and I would never be that to each other. I could feel his body pressed against mine, one hand against my bare back and the other holding my own hand in his, and it just wasn't…no. Edward and I would never be together.
"We won't be to each other what they hoped," Edward repeated slowly. "But Rosalie…it doesn't have to be like it has been. We can be something else."
I met his eyes squarely, and this time there was no judgement or scorn or defensiveness in them, only kindness and even friendliness, and I nodded. "You'll be my brother…and I'll be your sister."
His face creased into a smile. "And we'll be friends, Rosalie. Friends will be good."
I smiled back, and for once I let him in to my mind as best I could. Friends would be good…we would try for that.
Carlisle and Esme were waiting in the room, things packed and ready. There was a rush of questions when I appeared, still holding Edward's hand, but Edward shook his head at them and then they looked at my face and were quiet. Instead they gathered up our belongings and the four of us left Volterra, following Carlisle through the rabbit warren of the underground lair until we emerged in the starlit Italian night. Even then I clung to Edward's hand, and it was not until we were in a hired auto and leaving the walled city on the hill far behind us that I relaxed enough to let him go.
As I sat back in my seat I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror, and realised I was still wearing Aro's necklace. With a shudder I tore it off and stuffed it down into the bag at my feet.
"I never want to go back there," I whispered. "Not ever."
Carlisle shook his head. "You don't have to." He reached into his pocket and withdrew the small pouch he had given me earlier, proffering it towards me. "Rosalie? I meant what I said, and meant it on behalf of all of us. You will always have a place in this family, for as long as you want it."
This time when I took the pouch from him, I withdrew the jewellery and slipped the silver chain around my neck, letting the pendant fall heavy between my breasts. It was beautiful in its own right, but the meaning behind it made it even more precious to me, and I looked from the pendant to the faces around me, Carlisle and Esme and Edward, with a heart too full for words. A place for me, here with them…my family.
Okay, I hope that worked! I didn't have any of my books with me, so I was working purely from memory in regards to anything about the Volturi and Volterra- hopefully nothing too glaringly out of place.
I really hope people like this section, because I really loved writing it. I love baby Rosalie, and I loved writing her antagonistic relationship with Edward, without Emmett and Alice and Jasper there to smooth things down.
I also thought that going back like this shows that Rosalie has grown and changed at least a little bit in the seventy years since she was born a vampire- she's not a hopeless bitch, she is maturing and learning to be a bit nicer, even if it is a slow process. I also think that never really gave Rosalie enough credit for moving past her human death, as that must have been a completely traumatic and gruesome way to go out and has to have influenced her vampire personality in a major way. To be honest, I never really got 's apparent hate for the pretty girls anyway.
As always, these are not my characters (although I suppose the plot actually is sort of mine this time) and I'm just playing with them, with great thanks to Stephenie Meyer for sharing them.
