A day at the boardwalk with the Volturi masters
Summer Fun with the Volturi masters series
Volturi masters x Reader
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You are outside in the garden, enjoying the warmth of the day. The inside of the castle can be chilly since vampires don't notice temperature, hot or cold, and wearing sweaters inside is common for you. The fireplace in your room provides enough heat, when you're actually there. You look at your bare arms, wondering what they will look like in the sun once you're a vampire. Would you sparkle as prettily as you'd seen the Volturi sparkle? It seemed absurd that vampires would sparkle in any case. No TV or movie vampire did that. But these were genuine creatures of the night, only they weren't relegated to existing in the dark. Your entire belief system about beings that shouldn't even exist was thrown out the proverbial window when you had been saved by the Volturi masters. You were so happy they did exist, and that they'd granted you permission to stay with them.
The masters had been busy today with a few trials that involved errant newborns and their indiscreet sires. After judgement had been passed and punishment meted out, Aro was free to come outside to greet you and see how you were doing. You scoot over once you realize he intends to sit next to you on the bench. He generally does things without prelude, assuming everyone knows what he wants without his needing to say anything. The Guard usually do, but you're human and a newcomer.
"Good morning, Aro. Court all finished?" you ask, a smile on your face. The lead Volturi master is so utterly gorgeous, just being around him makes you smile. But your gratitude for everything he has done for you surpasses the appeal of his appearance. When you tell the masters you love them, you mean it wholeheartedly.
"Yes, the guilty have been punished, so I thought I would check on you."
"Aro, do you really have to determine if they're innocent or guilty, or do you make that decision ahead of time?"
"My dear, if they were innocent, they would not be standing before us. Do you understand?"
You pat his hand closest to you and nod. "I do. And you must do your job well, or the planet would have been in chaos long ago."
He's pleased you understand their importance in the vampire community, and bends over to kiss your cheek. "Now that we are free for a few days, have you anything you wish to do? It has been interesting seeing the human world through your eyes. Name it, anything you wish to do."
"Well...there is one thing. It means leaving Italy again."
"Where to this time?" he asks you, curious.
"There's this boardwalk I have always wanted to visit on the East Coast of America, and never had the chance. It's in Ocean City, Maryland."
"The ocean again?"
"I love the ocean, Aro. And it's fun, if you enjoy people watching, eating, walking, and oh yes, they have rides and games too."
"But, dear one, we have done these things already."
"It's not the same, Aro. We can't swim since it's so crowded, and therefore there'd be no privacy for us. This is more people oriented, and I thought you all might enjoy the prospect of mingling with my kind for a change, as long as you feed before we leave. We could stay one night at a beachfront hotel and just relax. You do know the concept of relaxation."
Aro nods and places cool fingers under your chin. He leans in and kisses your warm lips in his usual familiar manner. You sometimes wonder if Sulpicia knows about his ways and doesn't care. You'd hate to have her despise you for the liberties her mate takes for himself. "Very well, my dear. Make the necessary preparations, and let me know when we should be ready."
"Thank you, Aro. It'll be fun." You rise from the bench and look down at him. "You're making it possible for me to do the things I missed out on when I left America." You lean down and hug him, then run off. "Thank you again!" you shout as you leave the garden.
Later that day, you seek out Aro, who is in the library with Marcus and Caius.
Excited to be traveling again, you give the masters the details of this short trip. "We have a room booked at the Grand Hotel, direct ocean view with king and queen beds, and a kitchenette, which is important only to me. It's right on the beach too. There's a game room, and several pool tables and darts in the bar. They have an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool. And our room has a balcony for those of us who don't need sleep. You can sit outside and watch the ocean and the night sky. Its the best I could find on short notice, and since money is no object, I was able to reserve one of their remaining best rooms."
"It sounds lovely, my dear," Marcus says, noticing the pink rise in your cheeks. Your enthusiasm is bubbling over and it can at times be catching.
The next day, the coven awaits Heidi's arrival, their walking meals already approaching the throne room. You are always ordered to stay in your room during these times, for your safety. While the Volturi feed, you're looking up information on the boardwalk. Aro already made sure the jet was ready to go. It will land in Baltimore where you have a car waiting. Then in less than 3 hours, you should be in the city by the sea.
Without realizing, you've fallen asleep on the bed, your cell phone in your hand. You wake when you feel someone kissing your neck. Opening your eyes, you see Marcus bending over you. "Wake up, little human. We're getting ready to leave."
"Is everyone done eating?" you murmur with a yawn.
Marcus smiles when you ask. Feeding off humans is something that's so normal for them and should be just as grotesque to humans, yet you ask as if they had just eaten pizza and not human blood.
Taking his hand, you get up off the bed and throw a few things into an overnight bag. You freshen up in the bathroom, then change into blue jeans and a red button up sleeveless shirt. Your long hair is pulled up into a ponytail and your favourite hoops are in your ears. You turn to Marcus, smiling, and slipping on your sunglasses, ask, "Does everyone have their contacts and sunglasses, Marcus?"
"Yes, dear one, so if you are ready..." He takes your bag and extends his free arm for you to take, and you both leave your room.
The flight is uneventful, and before long you're landed in the state of Maryland. The car is waiting, as expected, and you drive everyone to Ocean City in record time. The hotel is not quite ready for your check in, so you ask the masters if walking the boardwalk would be doable now. They agree and walk with you, dressed as casually as they had chosen, in black jeans and pullovers. They surround you in their usual formation, Aro in front, with Marcus and Caius on either side of you, protecting you even when there is no need.
The masters look around as they move gracefully along the boardwalk, finding the place a chaotic one of noise, light, voices over voices, and the smell human of blood mingling with sweat, suntan oil, and fried foods. You just see humanity at its most casual.
"Oh, isn't it wonderful," you say, dancing around the masters. "Listen to the ocean waves washing ashore, hear the seagulls flying overheard. And look at all the half-naked humans. All that bared skin, the blood coursing underneath it, just waiting to be savored like fine wine. A mass of foolish humans deserving to be bitten...and you can't do a thing about it." You laugh in an exaggerated tone, similar to the villains in old cartoons.
Caius grumbles low in his chest. "Why are you doing this," he asks you. "You're an evil little girl."
"I'm just getting back at you for all the teasing. And I'm not a little girl." You stand in front of Caius, your legs parted, your hands on your hips, glaring at him. The next thing you know, he's coming after you, his teeth bared.
You run and hide behind Marcus, who is tolerant of your behavior, finding himself amused. Using his body as a shield, you round him several times while Caius pretends to attack. God knows if he wanted to really hurt you, he could. Your shrieks fill the air, until Caius catches you and wraps his arms around your entire body, making it impossible for you to move. You feel his icy breath wash over your neck, his teeth gnashing in a threatening manner, but you just giggle until you're breathless.
Aro has kept his patience, but finally huffs at you both. "Children! Stop this nonsense," he says, emphasizing the word 'children'.
You stop struggling in Caius' arms, and tug your clothing back into place when he releases you.
Caius glares at Aro. "Brother, do not call me a child. We were just...playing." He turns to you, smirking.
You look up and point. "A T-shirt shop! Oh, we have to go in there and look for the perfect t-shirts to take home as souvenirs." The masters follow you into the store, their eyes perusing the wares hanging everywhere.
You look over the shirts with ocean theme images on them, something that would help you remember this short visit. "Oh no, look at these." You point out a wall displaying various supernatural logos, some vampiric in design.
The masters scan the shirts, finding them amusing. You show Aro one that says 'I'm a vampire. Don't let this human costume fool you'.
"I think I prefer this one," he says, showing you. It reads 'If I say "First of All", run away because I have prepared charts, data, research, and will destroy you'.
"Well, that's not very nice, Aro."
"Exactly, my dear."
"I have the perfect one." Caius shows you his choice which says, 'Once a King, always a King. But once a Knight is never enough!'
"Hmmm?" you suppress a smile.
"You do understand the play on words," Caius queries, one hand sliding up your arm, giving you goosebumps.
"Yes, Caius, I get it. Now behave, before Aro gives us another dressing down." You look for Marcus, who is looking over the display. "Find anything you like, Marcus?"
He picks out one that says 'Wear Black, Drink Blood', then looks down at you, his brows raised.
"Well, it's to the point. And very Volturi. I love it." He puts an arm around, asking you if you've found one to your liking. You point to a blue one that says 'Ocean City, Maryland. Summer paradise.' with an ocean, two palm trees and the sun imaged on it. It was typical tourist kitsch and you grab it.
Aro pays for all the t-shirts and you get to carry the bag. When you leave the store, you see a stand that sells buckets of fries. You've heard of this stand and run over to get a medium size bucket. You return to the masters, eating the hot fries one at a time. And as usual, Aro makes a face.
"Child, your health."
"Aro, it's one small medium-sized bucket, and besides, eventually I'll be changed and then it won't matter. I'll be in perfect health. Forever." You feel a hand tug playfully on your ponytail. but when you turn around, no one is there. "Caius," you mutter.
As you continue down the boardwalk, you find a gaming room loaded with all kinds of machines and a large sign that says "Prizes!" hanging overhead.
You challenge the masters to play the bowling game, asking them to give any tickets they win to you. You don't do too badly, but vampire skills win the day, and your hands are soon full of tickets. You sort them out and stuff them in your pockets. then challenge them to air hockey. Caius is always up to a challenge that feels like a battle, and offers to play with you once he understands how. Aro and Marcus watch with curiosity and are soon cheering you on. Of course Caius wins but he does give you all his tickets. After a while you add up them up and redeem them for another stuffed animal.
"What is this, my dear?" Aro asks, turning the toy over in his hands.
"You claim to have read more books than any human in the world, and you don't know Winnie the Pooh?"
He gives you back the bear and states imperiously, "We don't read children's stories, dear one."
"Hmmm. Well, maybe we should get to the hotel. Our room may be ready by now." And it is. Once in your upper level suite, you look around, smiling when you see the large balcony. You go out and look over the entire boardwalk, the beach and the ocean beyond. "It's perfect," you whisper.
The masters are not impressed, feeling there is no grandeur, but if it makes you happy, they are happy.
"I'm hungry. Can we go downstairs and get something to eat, and maybe get a drink and play pool?"
In the bar, you find one pool table not in use and claim it. You persuade Marcus to play against you first. With a mai tai in your hand, you choose your pool stick and wait for Marcus to do likewise. He watches you break, and in no time he understands the concept of the game. You love pool and have not done too poorly, but Marcus easily beats you three out of three. You put your sticks away, but before he walks away, you stand on tiptoe and kiss him. He watches you silently while you go pick up your drink.
After several games of darts, in which both Aro and Caius defeat you, you finish your drink and say, "If my ego was in constant need of boosting, I'd be very depressed by now." But you realize, you don't need to think about your ego. You have the best companions in the world.
You fetch a supper from a local eatery and then return to the room. The masters go sit outside on the balcony while you eat, then you join them. You stand behind Marcus, your hands on his shoulders. The sun is now setting, and the crowds have thinned considerably. You inhale deeply of the salt-sea air, so different from the air in Volterra.
You feel Marcus rest his cold hand on yours, drawing you down. He seems to enjoy the warmth of your skin. The sweet scent of warm cinnamon milk, with a dollop of whipped creme, fills your nose. His soft hair tickles your cheek.
When you ready for bed, tired from your full day, he is the one who tucks you in. You ask him to lie with you awhile, whereupon you both talk about the day, and you even dare ask a couple of questions about being a vampire. As you fade off to sleep, you feel Marcus kiss you, gently at first, then with a bit more passion. You determine you need to speak to him about things, things...and then you're out.
The next morning, you feel hands shaking you. It's Caius. "Wake up, little human. Time to get ready to go."
"No, please, just three more hours." Then hands start to tickle you, making you shriek, "No fair! You're not ticklish. Stop! ARO!"
"Brother, she is awake. My dear, get ready please. Caius, take her things downstairs and we will be down in a moment."
No matter how much fun the masters seem to have when you travel, they also seem just as eager to go home.
Aro looks at you, then takes your hand in his and begins to read your most recent memories. After a couple seconds, you suddenly pull your hand from his.
"I'm not finished," Aro says, a frown on his face.
"Oh yes, you are," you retort. "I think I deserve some privacy where...uhem, my thoughts are my own, Aro."
He nods once, but then he gives you a smile of understanding. "I'll wait until you've had the chance to discuss the issue with our brother."
As if you plan to let him read you then. You huff quietly, and leave the room, Aro right behind you.
You meet up with patiently waiting Marcus and Caius, then leave the hotel lobby together.
"Let's ride the tram back to the parking lot," you suggest.
"Tram? What is a tram?" Aro asked.
You point at the conga line of open cars being pulled by a lead car. "That is the tram."
"Why take the tram, my dear?"
"Because I'm tired, Aro. And it would allow me one last look at everything before we go home. Hello, it's your little human here. You could run the length of the boardwalk in the time it takes to say 'run the length of the boardwalk'. I can't."
Aro bends to whisper in your ear. "All the more reason to change as soon as possible."
His whisper tickles. "I know," you say simply.
"She must be tired to offer no argument to that proposition, brother. Let's take the tram," Marcus says.
Everyone climbs onto the next tram, and rides it the length of the boardwalk to the parking lot. You take one more look around at the ocean, the shops, rides, then watch the masters while they do the same. You feel a hand take your own and look up at Marcus. He leans over to kiss your temple, then looks straight ahead. You lower your head and smile. You have a feeling Volterra will become your permanent home sooner than you thought. But for now, you're enjoying showing the Volturi masters a world they don't know as they prepare you for a world you never knew existed.