Chapter Ninety

Peter

Well, well, well, Felix Volturi, feared enforcer of the Volturi sent as a babysitter, quite literally in Skye's case. Of course that was just an excuse to finally get a Volturi spy inside the Cullen family. He was going to scare the crap out of them, possibly Kat too, but I decided to treat his presence as a rare opportunity to bait a caged lion. After all he could hardly rip my head off with the kids he was supposed to be guarding watching. I knew my response had not only surprised Carlisle but made him apprehensive and that was good too, I was beginning to feel like a street urchin in a fucking choir!

The main topic of conversation was still Bella and how much progress she was making but I wasn't as worried as the others. Sure she was only taking baby steps but she was moving forward and God knew there were enough sainted Cullens to help her along. I wasn't sure the latest extension to her changing limit was as set in stone as they were, with Felix here to watch her too Aro was giving himself an out to extend it once again. He seemed to be bending over backwards to help Carlisle which begged the question why? What was it that influenced his decisions so much? What hold did the Cullen patriarch have over the feared Volturi leader?

I decided to prepare Kat for his arrival, after all he was going to look intimidating but she'd gone shopping with Esme and Charlotte. I never could work out what the fascination was with shopping but it kept the women happy so I just held my tongue, maybe one day I'd ask. Instead I went out to the garage where Rose and I were building a motorised buggy for Kat. When we moved into the new house there were extensive grounds leading straight onto the forest and we thought it would be fun for Kat to be able to explore. She was still weak on her legs after so long chained up like a fucking dog so a buggy would help her along until she could run on her own.

Charlotte

We finished shopping, Esme wanted a few bits for the new house and Kat needed some new clothes, she was fast filling out now and becoming quite the teenager. She loved bright colours and glitter so we bought her some new tee shirts with neon pictures on the front and a brightly coloured skirt with different coloured tops to match. She needed shoes too although her feet, so used to being bare or merely wrapped in rags were soft and easily injured so slippers and soft pumps were all she could wear for now. I saw her look longingly at the strappy sandals and trainers with flashing lights in the welt but she would have to wait for those a little longer.

Peter had given her some money to buy herself some new books and a sketch pad and she spent almost an hour in an artists supply store choosing some paints and just the right sketch pad. I think she could have spent a fortune if allowed but we were trying hard not to spoil her too much. Esme did buy her a palette and a couple of brushes and as she spent all her money in here I took her to the bookstore to choose some new reading material. She had learned to read very quickly and was now devouring Tolkien and Terry Pratchett at speed. She loved the craziness of Pratchett but the intricacies of Tolkien fascinated her.

We drove back after Kat had her treat, a McDonald's with a huge milkshake and I thought if she kept eating like that she'd need new clothes every couple of weeks although she never seemed to put on much weight, she was growing upwards not out. As we pulled up a taxi drew in and a huge man dressed in a black suit got out complete with case and paid the driver. Esme gasped in shock and whispered to me,

"Its Felix Volturi, Carlisle text me to say he was on his way but we never expected him to get here so quickly."

He turned to look at us, his eyes merely grazing Esme and myself before settling on Kat who stood a little uncertain at my side. There was a strange look on his face as if he were puzzled and Esme took the initiative as the cab drove off to approach him hand outstretched,

"Felix, it's good to see you. Carlisle told me you were going to be staying with us for a while."

Felix looked at her hand as if it were an alien entity before engulfing it in his own huge one.

"Thank you Esme although I doubt you are in fact pleased to see me. But don't feel bad about it, this isnt my first choice of assignments either. Lets just try to make the most of it shall we?"

She nodded and invited him in to see Carlisle.

As they disappeared through the door Kat tugged on my sleeve,

"Who's that? He's huge."

"That is a friend of Carlisle's, he's coming to stay for a while and I want you to be very good when he's around."

She looked at me and I could tell she suspected I wasn't telling her the whole truth,

"OK, what's his name?"

"Felix, Felix Volturi."

Before I could stop her she ran after them into the house and all I could do was to follow. I found her facing Felix in the lounge her hand stuck out craning her neck to look up into his face,

"Hello Mr Volturi, I'm Kat and I live here."

I tensed wondering how Felix would react to this little human with the temerity to face him. He looked a little awkward and uncomfortable then squatted down to take her hand looking back at her,

"Felix is fine, Mr Volturi sounds so formal. It's good to meet you Kat. I see you have a sketch pad, do you draw or paint?"

Well, this was the last thing I expected, Felix Volturi making conversation with a human child but then perhaps he had decided if he had to be here then he might as well make an effort, I just wondered how long it would last, especially when he came face to face with my husband!

Kat beamed at his question,

"I do both but I like painting the best and now I have some real paints I want to try doing a painting for Peter. He's been really kind to me. He saved me from…..well….."

She trailed off unsure if this stranger knew her secret but he smoothed the way,

"Yes I heard about that cellar. It must have been a terrible place for a little girl. This.."

He gestured to the room,

"Is much nicer."

She smiled relieved and nodded,

"Yes it is and I have a room of my own, would you like to see it? I have some of my drawings and paintings on a big board Peter made for me."

He got up nodding,

"Yes I would like that very much, if it's OK with Esme that is."

Esme nodded dumbstruck like me as we watched Felix follow Kat upstairs to her room.

We looked at each other unsure what to do but then we heard Carlisle's voice at the top of the stairs.

"Felix, I'm sorry I wasn't downstairs to greet you personally but I see you have a guide."

"I'm taking Felix to see the pictures in my room."

"Oh yes, I forgot you are a connoisseur of art Felix. Perhaps when you've seen Kat's works of art you and I could talk in my study."

"Certainly Carlisle, after all I just want to blend in."

Esme looked at me as he said that and we both grinned despite our nerves, the thought of Felix blending in anywhere was quite comical