Epilogue

I always loved visiting Italy.

I was born here, and spent the first three years of my life here. Fluent in the language, having picked it up from the locals, but I kept the accent to a minimum.

It really was no surprise I knew the Volturi, and I knew them well. My dad worked closely with them for as long as I could remember. His gift came in great handy for them, mentioned several times by Aro himself.

I loved seeing all the ways the place had changed, and stayed the same, despite being away for quite some time.

Of course, we were allowed right in, but had to wait on Aro to come from wherever he was at that point.

"How did they not know what you've been up to?" I finally asked the one question that had been bugging me for quite some time.

"I don't fucking know." He replied, his chuckle echoing in the stone room, "Maybe they just weren't paying attention."

"I wonder if they are now?" I mused quietly, "I wonder if they'll figure out I was lying."

"Probably already have." He muttered, and I looked down. He noticed, "What is your deal?"

"I like them." I replied quietly, "They're different."

"I'll have to do something about that." He grumbled.

"Your own fault for leaving me there." I sniffed.

"Yeah, yeah." He replied, "I get it."

We both looked toward the set of double doors as they opened. Announcing Aro's arrival, but it was only him. Caius or Marcus didn't follow him into the room.

"Jack." He greeted happily, "I was beginning to wonder about you."

"Where's Caius?" I frowned.

"He's tending to some business." Aro replied easily, "I'm afraid he's a bit preoccupied at the moment."

"Aw." I muttered, disappointed. I liked seeing him even if he was almost never as happy to see me. He was fun to irritate. Aro made it to our side, and smiled at me.

"Avery." He officially greeted me, "How you've grown." It'd been at least a year since I last saw him. Last he remembered of me, I was much smaller, scrawnier than I was now. Roughly the size of a human ten-year-old.

I'd always fascinated Aro, and I didn't mind that in the least. I never understood why, but he always treated me like I was something special. Unique, interesting. He never frowned at my human half like I did, but thought it was something to be appreciated.

Someone as important as him taking an interest in me made me feel important too, and he knew this.

From the time I met him as a very new infant, weeks old and before I could even speak, I was always more than happy to give him my thoughts. I admired him for his ability and his power.

He knew my thoughts and opinions before I could even effectively express them. He knew my thoughts and opinions before my dad even did. Aro was actually the first one to tell my father that I hated my first name, even if he still used it himself.

He was a lot of the reason why I loved coming here.

"Thank you." I smiled a little at him, "But it's involuntary."

He gave me a smile, before turning to my dad.

"I'm told you have some information for me?" Aro prompted, and he sighed, but didn't hesitate in offering his hand. I knew this process, so I stayed quiet. Minding myself while they did their thing.

I was curious to know what he would say, so I waited silently, watching the emotions cross Aro's features. By the time he finally released my dad's hand, he was surprised. Very surprised as he glanced to me. I knew better than to believe that was a good thing, though. Not until he said something.

"I see." He finally murmured, "My goodness, you've been busy." He looked to me again, "May I?" He held his hand out, and I immediately placed mine in his. He wanted my side of things too. He was seeing everything. Everything I'd done, everything I'd said, every thought I'd had. I was mroe than willing to give him everything. Eager, actually. I wanted him to understand.

He gently released my hand with a more thoughtful look on his face. Almost frowning as he turned, slowly pacing away. I glanced to my dad, worried I'd somehow pissed Aro off.

"Well done, Jack." Aro murmured gently, "Very, very well done. Your ability to manipulate others never fails to amaze me." That was a good thing, right? "But I see they still have their group." He sighed, "And I do find it interesting that Leandra still has her ability."

"You knew about her gift?" I asked, surprised. She never told me that.

"Of course." Aro replied, "It was meant to be mine." For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what his tone was telling me. Was he pissed or was he not pissed? Aro was sometimes someone very hard to understand.

"You're not gonna bother them, are you?" I asked quieter, "I kind of like them."

"Oh no." He replied, "No, no. You have my sincerest word. They've done nothing wrong yet. I only wished to.. Catch up, so to speak. I like to stay informed of what the larger covens are up to."

I nodded a little. I believed him.

"The amount of manipulation you accomplished is simply astounding." He turned, looking to us again, "Truly."

"Thanks." I grinned before my dad could respond.

"Both of you." He clarified, "You've outdone yourselves." My dad gave him a nod. I turned away then, as he looked to my dad again. I found interest in the wall of books. It reminded me a lot of Carlisle's office. A lot of books I'd probably have trouble understanding if I ever tried reading them.

"Jack," Aro murmured, his quiet tone echoing in the large room, "From the moment you've come to us, you've been a valuable asset. A very loyal friend, indeed. However, I must ask. Why have you yet to join us?"

"You've seen every thought of mine." Dad replied, "You tell me."

"You have many thoughts on the subject, my friend." Aro chuckled in response.

"I don't want to be tied down." Dad answered, "I help who it suits me."

"You and your wonderful daughter would both be welcome here." Aro offered again, "And quite comfortable, I assure you."

"I'm sure." Dad replied simply, "But I'd prefer to keep my freedom. To come and go as I please."

"I understand." Aro allowed, "Despite the assurance of your thoughts, however, there are those that would question your amount of.. Loyalty. I'm certain you understand."

"It's Caius, right?" I asked, turning. They both looked to me, "He'd doubt his own shadow if it looked at him wrong."

"What she's getting at," Dad muttered, "Is I'm loyal to those that are loyal to me. You've given me no reason not to be loyal to you, so why doubt it now?"

"I suppose you're right." Aro sighed, "Though I do wish you'd reconsider my offer."

"Don't worry about it." I spoke up again, "We don't belong to anyone. Do we, dad?" He chuckled, shaking his head. Not in agreement with me, but as if I were talking too much.

"But, despite the digression, I must say." Aro spoke after a moment longer of silence, "As astounded as I am, I am also quite disappointed in you, Avery." I looked over, surprised.

"Me?" I asked, "What'd I do?"

"It isn't what you've done," Aro shook his head, looking my way, "It is what you failed to use your ability to do. You did a magnificent job with the humans. I've ensured that through your thoughts. However.."

"What was left?" I frowned.

"You failed to make Carlisle or his coven forget about said humans."

I'd fibbed before about what my ability could do. Rather than it only involving me, I could pick and choose what someone would forget about. It involved anything I knew they knew about, and everything involving said subject.

I could make a whole group of people forget about seeing me, or seeing my dad, or both if I chose. I could make them forget about just a single moment, or the entire subject. I could make them forget seeing anything I knew they saw. I'd tested my gift rather thoroughly, and though Darren hadn't been wrong about my own gift intimidating me, I did appreciate it to some extent. There weren't many people out there that could do what I could do. If any.

So Aro was right in being disappointed in me. I hadn't made them forget about Heather and her family. I hadn't thought that far ahead.

Oops.

"Now," He mused regretfully, "We can only hope Leandra doesn't decide to go looking for them again. If she does, she exposes us all, and I'd be forced to take action."

I glanced to my dad as he glanced to me.

Aro sighed deeply, "How truly unfortunate that would be."

END

A/N: What on Earth did I just do?
I apologize for how short this is, but in my defense, it was never meant to be a chapter. Short, sweet, and to the point. :D
I hope you enjoyed this little experiment. It's been fun.
THANK YOU to those that reviewed last chapter! :D You're amazing! I think I need more than just cookies, though, to get the other readers to join the review club of wonders. :D
Gina's story is coming up soon, so stay tuned! :D
Until then, my friends!