AN: This may be my longest chapter to date, I had fun writing it, delving into the Volturi's history and traditions - a slightly slow chapter that may look like a filler but is actually key in setting up details for the story.
Thank you again for continuing to read and show your love. Just for when I come back to this, as of Dec 10th, 2023, 150 of you have put this in their favourites and 220 are following. This is both humbling and exciting!

Enjoy the chapter xx

Chapter 14: History lesson

BPOV

The days bled into one another, each filled with an immersion into the labyrinthine world of vampires. Marcus had become my guide, talking me through the intricate tapestry of vampire history, powers, and the nuanced rules that governed their existence.

Seated in the Cullens' expansive living room, the atmosphere crackled with Jasper's soothing presence that afternoon. His ability to regulate emotions was mesmerizing. "It's about control, Bella," he explained, his honeyed drawl resonating. "I feel the emotions around me, but I have had to learn to channel and manage them."

Alice, perched gracefully on the armrest of the couch, chimed in, her voice buoyant. "It's like tuning into different frequencies and I think your shield might work in the same way. You'll learn to filter what you sense around it and control it in some way."

Marcus, his stoic demeanor a calming force, added, "Your shield will grow stronger with practice, Mia Bella. It's a fundamental aspect of your unique talent."

I nodded, absorbing their teachings like a sponge. "So, how do I practice? What should I focus on?"

Jasper's golden eyes glinted with a soft predatorial gleam. "We'll start small, focus on one emotion at a time. Allow yourself to sense it, then try to detach from it. Picture yourself surrounded by a protective barrier. Visualize it as a colorful bubble or aura around you if it helps"

Alice grinned, her visions dancing in her mind. "You have a natural affinity for this, Bella. I can see you teaching a thing or two to Jasper too." She laughed and escaped Jasper's attempt at catching her. I laughed too as he launched after her and I relaxed in my mate's arms, enjoying the easiness of this moment in contrast to the facade I had to present to the outside world.

In the following days, I dedicated myself to Jasper's exercises, attempting to isolate and understand the emotions he was sending my way randomly throughout the day. It was a rollercoaster, feeling the intensity of each emotion swirling around me. Frustration, joy, anxiety—all entwined in a symphony of sensations. I was completely unable to stop them. However, I could definitely feel them in the sense that they had an artificial quality to them and Jasper admitted he was impressed that I could tell, given my current status as a mere mortal.

One evening, Alice whisked me away to Jasper's study, brimming with books and artifacts from centuries past. "You need a change of pace," she proclaimed, excitement dancing in her eyes.

Marcus joined us, his demeanor a perpetual reassuring presence. We kissed tenderly before he guided me to sit on a soft couch, Alice handing me a warm cup of chocolate. I sipped it, enjoying the soft warmth that spread through me as I marveled once more at how talented my vampires were at preparing human food.

'We'll delve deeper into the history of the Volturi, our origins, and the laws we uphold,' he intoned. 'I have had some things sent over from Volterra by my brothers, to illustrate our talk.' He smiled fondly as he unpacked several items to sit on the desk, each a portal to the rich history I was about to discover. I sat on the figurative edge of my seat as each item picked my curiosity a little more.

First, Marcus held an ancient scroll with reverence, its weathered surface revealing tales of ancient decrees." 'This scroll dates back centuries, outlining the foundation of our laws,' Marcus explained, unrolling it carefully. 'It tells of our earliest edicts, forged when our coven was still young and untested.' I put my cup down slowly on the little coffee table and got up. I let my fingers reverently hover just above the parchment, admiring the beautifully crafted words written in a language I could not read. If I could not understand the words though, I felt their weight and barely allowed myself to breathe near it in fear of damaging such an important historical item.

I was captivated as Marcus revealed an antique book next, its pages fragile yet teeming with secrets of the Volturi's past. As he delicately turned the time-worn pages, the book whispered tales of the Volturi's history, illuminating moments that shaped their legacy.

"These pages hold accounts of pivotal moments," Marcus said, his finger following the ancient text with reverence. "They speak of conflicts and victories, guiding our actions even now."

He traced the first chapter, recounting the moment when Aro, Caius, and himself forged an unbreakable alliance, binding their destinies in a vow to uphold order in the vampire world. "This alliance marked the foundation of our coven," Marcus explained, his voice carrying the weight of ages. "It solidified our commitment to maintain balance and ensure our existence remained veiled from human knowledge."

He turned to another section, revealing an illustration of a formidable showdown—the Volturi quelling a rebellion led by ambitious covens seeking dominance. "This event," Marcus continued, "was a testament to our resolve in upholding our laws. It reinforced the supremacy of our coven and established a standard for those who dared challenge our authority."

Lastly, he pointed to a chapter detailing a historic pact formed with a powerful clan of werewolves, a rare instance of cooperation between the species. "This alliance brought an era of peace between our kind," Marcus narrated, "showing that even amidst differences, unity can prevail."

"These accounts provide an overview," Marcus remarked, his gaze lingering on the book's faded pages. "In Volterra, there exists a library containing exhaustive details, chronicling our history across millennia—a treasury of our triumphs, trials, and transformations."

I was hanging on to his every word and the smile on his face showed that he understood my thoughts at that moment. I would be raiding the entire library once we were back in Volterra.

As the night deepened, Marcus's tales transported me through time. 'Our history is woven with sacrifices and triumphs,' he spoke, his words painting vivid images of bygone eras. 'It's a testament to our resilience and the laws that define our existence.'

Amidst stories of grandeur and trials, Alice joined in, adding her experiences of her travels with Jasper. 'Our culture evolves but our core remains,' she said, echoing Marcus's sentiments.

Beside the items lay an ornate dagger, its hilt adorned with intricate patterns that spoke of a bygone era. Marcus lifted it with care, his fingers tracing the elegant designs. "This dagger," he began, his voice measured, "is an artifact from our history, a relic that embodies the strength and sovereignty of our coven." He turned the dagger, revealing the elaborate engravings along the blade. "It dates back to a millennium ago, a time when blood was revered and used in ancient rituals."

"The blade," Marcus continued, his eyes reflecting the weight of history, "was used not to kill but to draw blood, a symbolic offering made in times of great need. It symbolized trust and exchange, blood for protection, a covenant binding us to our sworn duties." His fingers grazed the edge, the metal holding echoes of past ceremonies and sacrifices. "It's a testament to the enduring nature of our traditions and the significance we attach to our commitments."

Beside it lay a silver pendant, intricately carved with the Volturi crest. 'This pendant belonged to my late mate, Didyme,' Marcus revealed, pained nostalgia in his voice that was now but a whisper to me. 'It is the only remnant that survived after her tragic end.' He held it delicately, a solemn acknowledgment of the past. 'Aro brought it back and entrusted it to me, as a keepsake of her memory and our enduring bond.'

As he spoke of Didyme, his eyes held a mix of sorrow and reverence. 'She was a beacon of light in our coven, a testament to love in a world often shrouded in darkness,' he reflected, the pendant gleaming with both age and sentiment. 'This pendant symbolizes more than unity and strength; it embodies her spirit, a symbol of our enduring legacy and that even in the darkest of times, there is happiness to be found.' He had looked at me with so much love as he said those words that I hadn't been able to let a word out. My throat was tight with emotion and we simply held each other for a long while before we moved on to other stories.

By the end of the night, as Marcus bid me goodnight, his hand lingering in mine, I felt as though I had glimpsed into a world both ancient and enduring. The artifacts had become windows to an intricate past, guiding my quest to understand the complex world I was now a part of.

MPOV

The sun cast long shadows across the Cullen estate as I sat with Bella on the veranda, the serene silence embracing us as they had once again shown respect in making themselves scarce to allow us time to be between mates. Bella's curiosity about our kind was insatiable, her eyes reflecting a fervent thirst for knowledge as she seemed to never run out of questions. Her gaze, fixed on me with a blend of curiosity and apprehension, spurred my attempt to reveal the complexities of our world while guarding her fragile human sensibilities.

"Mia Bella," I began, choosing my words meticulously. "The Volturi, our way of life, often baffles those uninitiated in our world. Our existence, while rich in history, holds peculiar customs, one of which concerns our wives and mates—the treasured companions residing in the Tower."

As I spoke, I watched Bella's expressions, a delicate dance between fascination and a flicker of concern that played upon her features. Her eyes, so expressive and alive, reflected a keen desire to comprehend, yet I sensed a hint of apprehension mingled with the eagerness.

"The Tower," I continued, carefully outlining the secluded abode of the wives, "is a sanctuary, a realm set apart from our tumultuous existence. My brothers' wives, revered and cherished, dwell there away from the machinations of our kind's politics."

Bella absorbed the information, her features portraying a symphony of emotions—curiosity, a touch of trepidation, and a yearning to fathom our world's intricacies. Her humanity, a fragile veil over a resilient spirit, begged to understand the nuances of our atypical customs.

Yet, in her eyes, I glimpsed a fleeting uncertainty, a tremor of disquiet at the idea of such seclusion. I hesitated, contemplating how to navigate the delicate balance between revealing our truths and sheltering her from the disquieting aspects of our existence.

"When I lost my Didyme, it affected all our coven in a way that is still palpable today. Losing one's mate is indescribable. Only through experiencing it can you understand the agony of it." I stopped, communicating my love for her in a way that did not require words. She stayed sheltered in my arms as I started my tale again, taking in the reassuring scent of her presence. "Aro might be the only unmated vampire able to say he can understand. In the first few years after Didyme's destruction, I did not speak. I had become feral at times and totally effaced at others. Aro was there through it all, reading my thoughts, sharing in my torment. But refusing to put an end to it."

Bella turned at this, placing her burning hand on my cheeks, encouraging me to look down at her. She placed a chaste kiss on my lips, which I allowed to turn deeper for an instant before resting my forehead against hers, savoring the feeling of fullness that having her by my side gave me once more. She frowned.

"What is it, beloved?"

"You said that Aro is unmated? What about Sulpicia?" She asked in fair confusion.

"Sulpicia and Aro chose each other millenia ago, they were a perfect match then and she remains a cherished companion by his side, even today."

Bella let out a noncommittal sound at that statement, but before I could ask what she thought, she added; "What about Caius? Are he and Athenodora mated?"

"Yes, and still very much as passionate as they were when they first set eyes on each other. What are you thinking, beloved?" I added as I could see something was still very much on her mind.

"So fear is the reason why Sulpicia and Athenadora have rarely been seen in centuries?" Her voice would not have sounded raised to human ears, however my own could perceive the anger starting to rise in my passionate young mate. "It sounds like they are in a golden prison, lacking nothing but… well, freedom."

I nodded, indicating I was listening but unwilling to stop her.

"Marcus, amore, will you force me into that Tower as well? Is that what's to happen to me once we return home?"

"Mia Bella," I said, soothing. "Everything in me screams to protect you at least as much as I cherish you. Understand that my brothers and I are from very different times, we lived through millennia of evolving history and shifting beliefs. The way my sisters live has never been questioned but…" I hesitated, warring instincts to cherish and protect, indeed fighting in me. I knew deep down what felt right. "I assure you, mia cara, it is not my intention to confine you to any place against your will," I reassured her, emphasizing each word. "The Tower, while a significant part of our history and culture, isn't a destiny you're bound to. Your freedom is paramount to me."

Bella's searching gaze met mine, uncertainty clouding her expression. "But when I become a vampire, won't I be subject to these customs?"

"Your transformation, mia Bella, is your choice, a decision solely yours to make," I affirmed, holding her gaze. "And once a vampire, you will have the freedom to shape your existence as you see fit." I decreeted, knowing that I would do anything to preserve her happiness.

Her features relaxed slightly, a glimmer of relief amidst her lingering uncertainty. I reached for her hand, intertwining our fingers, and brought it to my lips, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles.

"Know this, mia cara," I continued, my voice gentle yet resolute. "I will stand by your side, guiding and supporting you, ensuring that your choices and desires take precedence in our journey together."

Bella's eyes conveyed a profound gratitude, her trust in me a poignant testament to our bond. I held her close, enveloping her in an embrace, silently vowing to safeguard her autonomy, whatever path she chose.

AN: So, dearest readers, did you catch some hints as to what might happen in the future of this story?

This part (Part 2: Forks) is almost over, one or two chapter at most and we will move to Part 3: Immortal - can you guess what could be the catalyst to this rather sudden change of pace?

Until next time,

Ada Xx