Chapter Fourteen

Although Chelsea had been executed for being the mastermind of my attempted assassination, and Renata had run off into the arms of her great uncle it didn't have to be dug into the side of my skull for me to know things were at an imbalance in the coven. There used to be no questioning within the coven, no one dared to assassinate one another or send an assassination. It had not happened in over a thousand years but with the arrival of me, their queen of prophet, it was obvious things were a lot more complicated than they had been. The only good thing was, the assassination had backfired, and I had become a vampire much faster than any of us expected but needed.

We wanted me to be trained better so my shield was unquestionable, for others to feel as though they were inferior to my superiority.

For others to fall onto their knees and keep their heads bowed down so the only thing they could see was the dirtied floor. They were as dirty and worthless as the floor.

I was clean and pure, no one would feel disgust when they would look upon my angelic face and feel the motherly essence rush out of me. It would warm around them like a heated blanket in the middle of a tundra setting and all would be well. It was to be contradicting, for those who were worthy of my purity they would feel the heated blanket but if they dared to disagree with my position, they would end up thrown out into the tundra.

I was currently in the training section of the castle, dressed in war robes that were more meant for dueling than anything else.

The skintight black cotton training bra rested right below my belly button, and I wore cotton leggings that fit me in a delicious, enticing manner.

My hair was tied up in a braided bun, there were stray pieces that still managed to come out of their pins. A robe was against my shoulder blades, pinned together by the Volturi Crest brooch given to me by Marcus. I was barefoot, there was no reason why a vampire like me needed to wear any shoes, given also the fact that I just so happened to not experience temperature like humans did. The cobblestone did not freeze the soles of my feet.

Only the highest guards of the Volturi were allowed to be in the room while I was training. Alec and Jane watched me as often as they could, still clingy to me even though I was a vampire now. I had to honestly say that I became clingier to them too, partly because of the fact I didn't have to worry about any human needs anymore.

At the moment I was learning normal combat, how to dodge and weave from one of the guards' friends from a nomadic coven in Japan. He had been a samurai when he had been attacked and turned into a vampire. He didn't care to join the Volturi but when his friend had asked him to come forward to help me train his friend he had come and accepted the position.

There was also the fact he was quite handsome, though no one could compare to my Marcus. His long obsidian hair was pulled up in a high bun and he was dressed in traditional Japanese training robes. Just like me he wasn't wearing any shoes. He was even teaching me Japanese and more of his culture since I had shown interest in all he could teach me.

"Your Highness…"

I stopped and turned my head, noting how Demetri was coming forward, his hands folded behind his back in a respectful manner. He bowed his head down and brought his attention back up from where he was looking at the stone floor. He brought his head up a moment later.

"Yes, Demetri?"

I was glad I didn't have to worry about sweat when I was training or else, I knew I would have needed to wipe it off. I didn't get sore muscles, there was nothing that made me feel human when it came to exercise.

Which was perfect in my opinion because I hated exercise when I was a human, partly because of my inability to walk without tripping or maiming someone by accident.

"The Olympic Peninsula Coven is here, along with Renata."

After bidding goodbye to my instructor, I went up to my bedroom and changed out of my training clothing. I put on a simple light weight baby blue dress; the skirts brushed against the floor. There were simple flats resting on my small feet and a simple diamond diadem that rested on the top of my head (I had to redo my bun because it was close to collapsing). A small Volturi Crest amulet necklace rested, showing off my position in the vampiric world.

Entering the parlor room closest to the throne room, I smiled brightly when I saw the Cullens standing in front of me. Esme and Carlisle were holding hands, their eyes having snapped towards me when the doors opened.

They rushed over and went to hug me, only for me to stiffen some. They weren't my children, and they weren't my mate, so of course the idea of them touching me was foreign. They gave me apologetic smiles, and I nodded to let them know I understood.

I looked over at everyone else, both surprised but not when I didn't see Rosalie or Emmett in the room. Jasper and Alice were here, and Jasper wasn't breathing.

It was obvious due to him being the one who was newest to the diet of animal blood he wouldn't want to be around human drinkers. He wasn't like me, where I had learnt I didn't have the desire to drink human blood.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm glad that you're here. I'm obviously still in the Newborn Stage, as you can tell but I'm glad nonetheless that you took the time out of your schedule to come and visit me. Marcus is currently away at the moment, checking in on an assignment that he decided he should take care of than the normal assigned person."

In other words, the original person who had the assignment ended up being killed.

The newly turned vampires ended up having someone who was Gifted, a dangerous Gift in which we knew would result in an attempted coup if allowed to flourish. Marcus had gone off, deciding he needed to get away from the castle. My mentor and my quick learning of my Gift was the only thing that kept him from having me come along with him.

Edward was behind his parents, his hands folded together behind his back.

He had his head craned to the side, studying me. I lifted my chin upwards to let him know he shouldn't be looking at me like that. I was gaining confidence and I wouldn't allow him to look at me without showing absolute respect towards his future queen.

I was certain someone must have hissed this to him in their mind, because all of them bowed their heads and the women curtseyed. I nodded my head, pleased, and raised my hand up so they could rise up from their positions of submission. I didn't think I was the most important person in the world but I was about to become a queen. So that meant they needed to show the proper etiquette.

"I can only spare so much time with you. I have someone else waiting for me. If you wish to stay for a while we have a manor not too far from the town, closer to the woods for you. Marcus and I along with the children–"

"Children?"

I turned my head, noting that there was horror in Edward's voice along with his eyes. He clenched his jaw and glared at me, disappointment and disgust creeping up on him like crawling ivy on an abandoned manor. He shook his head at me, before he turned and looked at me.

"They aren't–"

"Don't you fucking dare finish that sentence!" I roared, surprising everyone when they went stumbling backwards as though some invisible force went forward and shoved them further from me. "They are my children; I drank my blood and their venom as a human! I made sure to have them bite me along with Marcus in order for the immortal bond to be complete."

"They killed an infant before!"

"I know that, an immortal child. Created by the aunt of your current leading cousin of the Denali. She had known she shouldn't have done that. The baby didn't feel anything, Alec made sure to use his Gift upon the baby in order for it to not suffer. They know they were wrong for it and have repented for it multiple times."

Carlisle turned and looked at Edward, nodding his head slowly in agreement with me. He turned and looked at me after giving a long look at Edward, sending me a look to let me know he was on my side.

He stepped forward and came over to me, his hand reaching out so he could place it on my shoulder. A haze from Jasper came over me to calm me down and I took it, along with Carlisle placing his hand on my shoulder. He wasn't doing anything that I was against doing, like trying to crowd me when I first entered the parlor room.

"I'm glad the children found a mother that cares about them. The other queens aren't motherly in the ways that are needed for them. I had them ask me if I could become their father when I stayed here, hoping I would decide to stay here after two decades. I had left them, but I know now that God had you and Marcus destined to be their parents, not Esme and me."

Well, there was also the fact that Aro would have probably had Chelsea use her power in order to have him stay captive. It would be depressing, because he wouldn't end up meeting Esme at the right moment and she wouldn't have been able to become his mate and the adoptive mother of their vampiric surrogate children.

"Well, you and Esme along with Alice and Jasper are allowed to come and go if you please. Edward on the other hand, with the inability to show the proper respect towards the Crown Prince and Princess of the Volturi, is not allowed in the castle. He may stay in the manor we have provided for you. I hope that you can understand and respect this ruling."

Esme slumped some at what she was hearing, on how Edward wasn't allowed to stay here. She agreed a moment later, and I bid them goodbye before I spun on my heels. I left the parlor room and went to the other one that was on the other side of the hallway where the throne room was. I barely paid attention to the human secretary, one who happened to be trying to seduce herself into becoming a vampire. She reminded me too much of a potential lover of Sulpicia and Aro.

I opened the parlor door after knocking on it, earning a soft "hello", on the other end.

Renata was sitting on the loveseat with her great-uncle sitting next to her.

A handsome man, Luca, exhibited nothing more than the most paternal essence I had ever seen.

Esme was the maternal instinct, but Luca was the paternal instinct.

He was middle-aged and had soft caramel hair that fell a few inches above his armpits. He had on a dress shirt that was white, dark dress pants and some dress shoes.

He wasn't wearing a tux or suit like others would, but he was still showing he was respecting us being the monarchic coven. He was wearing a medallion around his neck with his own family crest in the middle of it. He was of the Maltese, and his family crest must have gone back hundreds of years ago in Maltese culture.

Renata was leaning up against him, her head nuzzled against his shoulder and nape of his neck in a daughterly manner. She was in a white dress, which fell a few inches above her ankles when it came to the skirts and sleeves that were covering her arms. She had a similar family crest that was resting around her neck, something I didn't know if she always wore or was only allowed to wear the Volturi crest.

"Your Highness, thank you for meeting with us. My niece and I knew you wished to talk to her, and I came along for moral support."

I went over to where one of the drawing room chairs were and sat down. The storm outside was a contrast to the peacefulness I usually felt in the castle. At the moment I couldn't say that was the case. It was tense, and full of trouble.

"It is true. I do not hold her responsible for the incident. In the end it would have had the same results if we had gone the other route. I am instead asking you to come back, Renata. There is a vampire that has hidden themselves in the coven, able to take away Gifts from others and give them to those that deserve it. Her name is Mele and although she is fifteen in appearance, she is actually five hundred."

Luca cleared his throat, even though that wasn't a necessity that was needed.

There was thunder that was rumbling outside and lightning that was flashing up the sky. It almost as though the man had the power to control the weather but that could have been a stretch. Then again vampires existed, who was to say that they couldn't control the weather?

"Why do you bring up Mele? She is of no interest to me, to our family. She is not kin. Unless she wore my niece's mate then she is no use for us."

I let my hands fall together upon my lap, fingers gently wrapping themselves together. I showed no anger at him claiming this, and I knew I would have been the same as he was if it were my children or kin that had this happen to them.

It was the right reaction for him, and he nodded his head a moment, leaning down and giving a small fatherly kiss upon his niece's head. "Very well, I shall hear out what your proposition is. My decision shall be final, and it will not be changed in the end."

"Of course, Luca. I understand. I would do the same thing for my children. Alec and Jane mean the world to me. They were a part of my transition. I drank their venom and my blood when I was human, I can tell where they are exactly at this moment. I would never question your decision since it would be in the best interest and heart for Renata."

The lightning and thunder calmed down some, and I turned my attention away from the handsome caramel haired man to the fragile woman next to him. The weather was still pretty rough outside, and it just still reaffirmed the idea of Luca having a secret Gift.

"I and the others have decided that it would be in Aro's best interest in having his Gift taken from him. Even Aro himself decided to have a silent retreat to one of our many manors in order to come to terms with his inability. I and the others have also decided that the Gift could be given to you, Renata so that you may take the throne instead of Aro. Your current Gift will be taken away so that Aro's Gift can be used. I, personally, am more content with staying in the tower for the majority of the time with my sisters but will come out and be with you."

Luca straightened up; his eyes shocked.

He narrowed his eyes at me, opening his mouth to have his piece of mind.

Yet Renata sat upright this time, taking her uncle's hand in hers with a gentle squeeze to let him know she was actually intrigued with this proposition. There was a crimson glimmer in her eyes, nothing more than true hope.

"I…I accept."

Luca gave a distressed sound, one that was not entirely human.

A unique sound but one that was not scary or disturbing.

He reached his hands out and took her hands in his. "My anglu (my angel), please think this through. I cannot bear the thought of losing you again."

Renata took his hands in hers and reached them up, kissing his hands to let him know she understood his concerns. She shot a look over at me, one that was weary but warm. She trusted me, there was no reason why I would lie to her.

It was a promise I had made myself anyway, right before I had turned into a vampire, that I would be an honest and fair queen that never lied to the vampiric community. I wanted the best at heart for my people. I did not want to toy with justice, everyone had a side of a story to listen to. It was important to look at it through different angels but not too many or else you would end up becoming like Aro.

She began to mumble in their natural dialect, telling him how she loved him. I couldn't help but have my heart pang at the sight before me, as my mind went towards Charlie. I tried to imagine him and I sitting here like this, with another queen in place than me. I couldn't though, just the thought of Charlie being a vampire was a nightmare. It was too terrifying.

Eventually they seemed to reach an agreement.

I had a feeling that Renata was just as stubborn as her great uncle if the annoyed but sweet look she had received from him revealed anything. I smiled at the sight, my lips turning upwards a little bit. They would always have this sweet familial bond that would never disintegrate.

"My uncle and I have agreed! I will accept this great honor. I only ask when I am homesick, I am allowed to come and see them. I also will not accept the idea of being in the tower with you and the other queens. Those are my terms, with an acceptance to the position."

I nodded my head, agreeing with her immediately.

"Of course, you are not a captive here. You won't have to worry about not seeing them again. If you are more comfortable going to see them instead of them coming here, then that's it. You go and see them. I also understand if you wish not to stay in the tower. You are not mated, and you can always come up to see us when you wish."

Clapping my hands, to signal for Mele to come into the parlor room.

The teenager entered the room, her dark tan skin in her human life was pale and almost sickly. She was all elbows and pointed joints, there weren't that many curves to her. Her hair fell down to her ankles and she was wearing a dress cloak with the hood down. Her large crimson eyes went from looking at me to the niece and uncle, noting they were waiting with bated breath.

"Has she agreed to the transition, my queen?"

"Yes. You have already harvested the Gift from Aro before you came to me, correct?"

Mele gave a slight nod of the head, one that for someone who was human wouldn't be able to see. She turned her head over to where Luca and Renata were. She came forward, her essence and body language that of someone who was older than she really was. She showed no emotion towards either the uncle or the niece, they weren't important to her.

Well Renata wouldn't be important to her until after she would learn how to become a proper queen and have her coronation. Until then she was just another vampire that had a Gift, one who she would give it to. So, she showed no true respect towards her.

"I ask that you do not touch her until after the transition. It will make things more painful for her," Mele informed the uncle, which in return made another distressed sound come from him. He really didn't want to upset his niece, but his protective fatherly instincts were heightened.

Renata took a deep breath before she turned and looked at the younger vampire. Mele closed her eyes and a faint glow came across the palms of her hands, one that was barely detectable. She placed her hands into Renata's and allowed Aro's Gift to transfer from her temporary placement of herself to the woman in front of her.

Both of them stumbled when the glow of the power left, enough for Luca to reach out and wrap his arms around his niece. She was shaking, her eyes widened as she turned and looked at her uncle. She reached her hands up and placed them on the sides of his temple, before gasping and pulling her hands away from his skin.

"Renata and I need to have blood to strengthen our bodies. A transfer takes a lot out of me, and a vampire needs to become accustomed to the change. It takes a full day for me and the said transfer person to feel better."

"This is the perfect opportunity for you to meet a friend of mine. The leader of the Olympic Peninsula Coven. His family and him drink animal blood instead of human blood. He also happens to be a doctor. I am certain that he can happily have some blood drawn by the secretary safely, if that is what you prefer," I stated, earning a nod from both Renata and Luca.

"Mele, you may go and hunt now if you wish to do that instead or wait for Carlisle."

Mele twitched one side of her face, at the very thought of the humane way of getting blood. She shot a respectful smile towards me nonetheless. "I believe I will go hunting instead, my queen. Thank you for an alternative."

Mele swept out of the room and without even needing to get up or ask one of the guards to bring Carlisle into the room the said vampire doctor came into the room. He already had two blood bags in his gloved latex hands. He bowed his head towards me and then turned his attention away from me so he could look at both Renata and Luca.

"Apologizes but my daughter is a Seer and sensed that this would need to happen. I went ahead and drew the blood from your secretary. I am also glad to meet other vampires that prefer a more humane manner of obtaining blood."

Luca turned his head to the side, studying Carlisle and if it were possible, I would have guessed that he seemed to form a slight crush at the sight of Carlisle. I almost giggled but retained myself from doing so, because Carlisle had that effect on people.

"Yes, well I would like to hear more about your dietary, if you don't mind, Carlisle. Perhaps my family and I might try your style."

As Carlisle sat down and handed the blood bags to Renata, he soon turned his attention towards Luca. I was glad things were going better now than they were when I was still human.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: UPDATE 1 OF 2.

AS ALWAYS: TWILIGHT DOESN'T BELONG TO ME