The Volturi
Expecting to of plunged to her death, Adriane was rather surprised when seconds after jumping down a dark hole she landed on a pair of stony arms. She gave a small gasp as she fell on Demetri, knowing that her back would now carry bruises from such a hard impact. Might as well of let me fall on the ground, she thought grumpily.
Demetri set her down quickly and moved away from her. Adriane thought vaguely that he had quite a euphoric smell to him before she remembered that she was in a dark tunnel with a hungry vampire. She took another step away from him just to be sure. She heard the creek of the grate above her being lowered, followed by the soft thud of Heidi landing right next to her. "Move", said Heidi, turning her around in what apparently was the right direction.
Adriane was surprised when after about ten minutes of walking they were still headed downhill. Any light from the street had long faded and she was moving much slower than she usually would have even if she had still been walking to her death. She heard an exasperated sigh from behind her that sounded very much like Demetri. "Well, excuse me that I can't see anything", she growled at the big vampire behind her, "I was unaware that my slowness of pace was such a disturbance to your usual way of life".
She was surprised when she heard a throaty chuckle from behind her. "You may prove to be interesting yet", he remarked, "We aren't usually blessed with people as…vocal as you appear to be".
"Hmm", she said sarcastically, "God, I can't think why. You seem like a good natured kind of guy, level headed, pleasing to the eye. Oh wait, let me think, it might be the whole dead body thing that gets to people, or the red eyes, or the fact that you, you know, drink blood on occasion. But of course, apart from that, I think you're pretty much set".
"Ahh", he sighed dramatically, "you have guessed well. Pity. You're quite amusing, almost worth keeping around".
Heidi laughed lightly; it sounded like a chorus of chimes swaying in the wind. Jeeze, Adriane thought, as if they need anything else to make them more inviting, they have to have pleasant voices too. Don't mind that they're bringing you into a dark tunnel with no means of escape, just so long as they can lead you there with a voice as sweet as honey. She gave a mental snort just thinking about it.
They had finally reached the end of the tunnel, which was barred by an iron gate. Demetri moved forward and lifted it open, again, with a mere push of his arm. Adriane quickly ducked by him, walking into a brightly lit room with walls once again made of stone. This room was only about 20 feet across and they quickly made their way through the other door at the end of the hall. What Adriane saw next was definitely not what she'd expected of a typical vampire lair.
They were in an office type hallway with bright industrial- type lighting. Heidi led the way to an elevator shaft. Adriane rolled her eyes. Who knew hell had its own personal elevator? Of course, we're going down again. Would it kill them (no pun intended) to have something closer to street level?
The doors opened to a room more surprising than the last one. Adriane walked into something that felt very much like a lawyer's office to her. The walls were paneled with wood, and leather couches were decoratively assembled throughout the space. They even had a receptionist at a desk in the middle of the room. As she drew closer she noticed that said receptionist was staring at her with very human eyes. Adriane gave her a startled look. What's she doing just standing there?! Doesn't she see that they're going to kill me, Adriane mentally shouted.
"No luck today", the receptionist asked.
"Oh no, plenty of willing contestants, if not for this troublesome girl", Heidi said in a nonchalant voice.
Adriane could barely conceive her outrage. The woman in front of her had absolutely no care that she was about to be eaten by a bunch of evil vampires. "Traitor", she hissed at her as she walked by.
"Hmm", Adriane heard her say, "Quite the lively one isn't she?"
"You have no idea".
At last Adriane was shepherded into the last room on her guided tour of the underground. Well, she thought, at least it looks fitting for a vampire…or many, many vampires. The room she entered was circular in shape and made of stone. It's probably the huge turret. Looking around she counted thirty-two hungry vampires staring at her with looks ranging from anger to curiosity, though there were definitely more angry faces.
"What's this Heidi", asked a vampire who stood in the middle of the room. Adriane sized him up as she walked toward him, coming to a stop about six feet away from him. He appeared to be the leader of the group, so she assumed he was Caius. He looked…old in a way. His skin was almost translucently pale, and looked very delicate, unlike the others that stood around him. He had shoulder length, jet black hair and a whispery voice, barely more than a sigh. Two figures sitting in high-backed chairs, resembling thrones more than anything else, caught her eye.
They both looked similar to the one standing in front of her. Adriane took back her initial assessment of the dark-haired man being the leader of the group, for both of the men looked to be as old as he was. One had snowy white hair and a sour expression on his pallid face, while the other had black hair like the first man and looked extremely…bored.
"She figured out what I was", Heidi replied demurely, "I had to choose between her and the others. I chose to go after her. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow night to satisfy our needs. I assumed that being the reason for our inconvenience; she could serve as a kind of…amusement to Caius, as he was most looking forward to this evening's festivities. Or, if you wish…" she trailed off suggestively. Adriane tried not to think about what Heidi had in mind.
Heidi walked casually toward the man and touched him lightly on the hand. A mere second went by before she went to stand next to Demetri at the far wall. The man's eyes lit up when he touched the woman's hand, and he turned to look at her curiously.
What the hell???
"Why Heidi, my darling", exclaimed the vampire, "We must not be so rude to our guest! Is it her fault for being so perceptive?" He walked, or more glided, over to Adriane with a broad smile on his face, revealing his perfectly white, sharp teeth. "It is unfortunate to be true, that we cannot appease our thirst", here his voice was filled with sorrow, "but why not make the best of the situation?"
Adriane raised her eyebrow and gave the man an unbelieving look. His mood seemed to carry from moment to moment, following a chaotic array of thoughts. Perhaps you get a bit flighty when you've lived as long as he has? She pondered the thought until his question roused her back into the present.
"Tell me dear, what is your name?" Yes, he's definitely mental.
"Adriane", Adriane replied questioningly.
"Adriane", he cried, "what a splendid name. And tell me Adriane, what be your age?"
"I'm eighteen, not that it should be any concern of yours".
The man went on as if she hadn't said anything at all. "Please excuse me Adriane, I haven't been very proper, let me introduce myself. My name is Aro. Let's see, let's see", he gazed about the room, "you obviously know the ones who brought you in. Ahh", he gestured to the two men sitting behind him, the white haired man looking at him in with an expression as incredulous as Adriane felt, the other looking as unperturbed as ever, "the one with the white hair is Caius, and the other is Marcus".
Aro continued about the room, telling her pointless names that she had no interest in trying to memorize. At last he ran out of vampires, and settled his gaze back on Adriane. "There, now we all know each other".
"Splendid", she said, "Now I can identify the one who kills me. I definitely feel better".
"Kill you!" exclaimed Aro, "why do you think we would want to kill you?"
"Because you're vampires and that's what you…do?" ventured Adriane.
"Well yes, that's what we may do to a guest of lesser standard than yourself, however I must say you have sparked an interest in me, my dear. There are very few people who would come to us in such a defiant manner and with such a lucid vocabulary". Aro paused and laughed, a look of delight filling his papery face.
"Oh, well, happy to of been of service then. It's not every day you get compliments from one as…dead as you". Adriane heard a couple of low chuckles from around the room.
"Awfully full of herself isn't she", someone hissed.
"Mind making yourself known, whoever just said that?"
What Adriane thought was a child stepped forward from beside Caius's chair. She came to stand beside Aro, just barely reaching his shoulder. Now that she was closer, Adriane could see that her face looked older than her body did, though not by much.
"And what are you, ten?" she scoffed. "If someone's going to insult me, I'd at least rather them be my height".
Jane snarled and started to move toward her. "Jane", Aro warned.
"Master, she is of no use to you. Let me kill her". Her red eyes bored into Adriane's blue ones.
"I said no. There is something…interesting about her. I wish to know more about her before I make my decision. Go back to your place".
Jane did as she was told, backing up to stand by Caius's chair, never once taking her eyes off of Adriane.
"Aro, what is the meaning of this!" demanded Caius. He had a disgusted look on his face. "I grow weary of your fanciful ideals".
"I simply wish to know more. Do you deny her appeal?" Aro questioned.
"No human holds any appeal to me" he spat.
"No wonder you all are a somber lot. I'd be depressed too if I was stuck with him for eternity", mused Adriane. "In fact, the only one here that's even halfway tolerable is Marcus".
Aro gave her a surprised look, his eyes wide. He turned towards Marcus, who was staring in the opposite direction. "Do you hear that Marcus?" Aro asked delightedly, "you seem to have won over our guest".
Marcus slowly turned his head to look at Adriane, who gazed back with a look mixed between fascination and disdain. His milky eyes appraised Adriane for half of a heartbeat, before he turned his head back to the wall. "You are mistaken Aro", breathed Marcus, his voice even lighter than that of his brethren, "I doubt any could win over one such as her, and I have no interest in attempting such a feat".
Aro was gazing at Marcus with a look of wonder, apparently unused to hearing Marcus voice his opinions. Adriane was beginning to think that he didn't talk at all. She was just about to ask him this when she was interrupted by Caius.
"If you want to keep her, keep her. But perhaps we could postpone this discussion until after we've all eaten. If you keep her here much longer you won't have anyone to question".
Adriane looked about the room. Everyone was beginning to get restless; even the ever welcoming Aro was hovering closer to her than necessary. The only person who didn't seem affected by her presence was the standoffish vampire sitting next to Caius. Aro seemed to be thinking the same thing as Adriane for he went over to stand next to Marcus.
"Brother", he ventured, "since you seem the least affected by Miss Adriane here, and though you may think otherwise you appear to be the most…welcoming of the whole, would you care to take her to the guest rooms. She shall of course have the best of our selection, and if you would please inform Gianna to have meals brought up to her, and perhaps a fresh change of clothes".
Marcus seemed neither thrilled nor displeased by the prospects of bringing Adriane to her room. He merely stood up and began walking toward the door. He is very tall, much bigger than he looks sitting down.
"Adriane", Aro called, "we will of course have your bags brought to you later tomorrow evening, though we really should grab a bit of breakfast ourselves first!" He paused to laugh at his little joke. "Do not be so sour my dear, you will find that we are quite hospitable to our guests!"
"Great", she muttered, turning to follow Marcus. He was waiting for her at the door, looking more like a wraith than a vampire. When she was little more than a foot away he turned around and walked out the door into what Adriane assumed was their lobby, not pausing to see if she was following. With an exasperated sigh, Adriane made her way through the door, not knowing what awaited her on the other side.