A/N: I just wanted to say this is a whole new chapter originally this chapter was Marcus and Aaliyah; however, I am going to change a few things up. One section of the story is a memory that I originally had in Chapter 8 Slowly Surely; however, it felt right being in the second chapter. I think its proper to have a solo chapter about Aaliyah's ability and background flusher out. So don't be weirded out if you read the older chapters—I haven't gotten to them yet.
2 | power
Behind every great man there is a great woman | Gary Martin
Aaliyah
Assumptions and speculations were not unheard of in vampire society—just like mortal political figures, the Volturi were not spare from neither gossip nor criticism.
What was the undeniable truth and what was exaggerated lies about the Volturi coven?
Was it true they scheme themselves into power?
Yes.
Was it true that their methods of keeping the peace underhanded at times?
Yes.
Did the mortals benefit?
Very much so.
Were the laws unreasonable or cruel?
Absolutely not.
The punishment in association with the crime might be cruel but it was never on the line of sadism.
Was the coven corrupted?
Will…what central power you know that did not have a taint of corruption—but compared to former ruling covens before them, the Volturi was damn near saints.
The gossip that circulated amongst the immortal about the coven or the separate members at time were often lay within the sphere of truth or absolute absurdity.
However, the absurd stories were a great source of entertainment.
Aro particularly found the idea of him being label a megalomaniacal great source of mirth. While Caius was unphased that many thought him envious he did not particularly have a gift or that he was the sadist and masochistic brother. Marcus paid little to no attention of the stories revolve him due to them being dull.
The problem was many believe they understood the power dynamics of the Volturi; the family was made up of three members and the guards were a sperate entity. The humans that work for them wanted to either become a vampire or were simply the next meal.
That was simply the baseline of a far more complex and organized system that was the Volturi coven.
Each member in the family had a role; Marcus power allow him to see the truth of a soul connecting with another soul—the advantage of seeing how strong a person loyalty was, he was the advisor. Caius, although he did not hold any power,he was most definitely gifted with a strategic mind—the advantage was obvious he was the enforcer. Then there was Aro, whose power allow him to read every single thought a person ever had—the advantage he was the mastermind.
The trio created a force of central power—a perfect balance of intellect, determination, ambition, and ethics. However, like any central power you need the enforcers…the guards.
The guard system was multifaceted there was a total of four classes that were broke down by power, skill, and authority.
The first class of guards were the widely regarded within vampire society—they handle special missions, guarded specific members of the family, and held strict assigned positions.
The second class of guards protected the surrounding areas of the city and castle—making sure no immortal tries to encroach on the territory.
The third class of guards handle the mundane—they were the ones that were sent to back up the first class for certain missions or squash any territory disrupts.
The fourth class was the elite guards—this section was Aro's extensive spy network, surveillance, and special forces. These are the guards that were only sent out when compromises were not an option. This class of guards only listen to Aro and just one other…Aaliyah.
Like the guard system, the humans that serve the coven also had their own multilayered system that kept the coven running smoothly.
The first class of mortals are the ones that show special or resourceful abilities that could be use by the coven. These mortals were monitored if they showed signs of gifts—in that case they will be turn where they would be categorized again within the class of guards.
The second class of mortals were the ones that served the coven for generations—this class kept everything in order in the castle.
The third class of mortals were a part of the elite class, this class were a part of Aro's spy network and special force—they infiltrated the world's government using whatever means to uphold the secret of vampire existence.
The fourth class of mortals were simple the next meal or means for entertainment, sadly these were the mortals who foolishly thought that they were going to be turned despite not having a gift that could be useful. They were likely to survive long till Heidi brought in the next meal or boredom.
Then there was the ultra-elite class of mortal, unlike the others, these were the human families that served and gained the respect/trust of the coven. There were only two families in this class—the first being the Deluca family, their family were the keepers of the city of Volterra. They held the political power within the city for several generations enacting on the authority of the Volturi.
The second family were the Amir family who held control over the castle and business of the coven. They control everything within the castle from all classes of the immortal and mortal groups. While dealing with the business side of the coven collectively or separately.
The Amir family have served the Volturi ever since the days when the Moors controlled the south of Italy—their loyalty have always been unparalleled when it came to the coven which earned the respect and trust of the leaders (a fleet that only a very rare amount of people held).
Since birth, Aaliyah understood the gravity of her family's position and power within the coven and being the last surviving member—she took her family legacy and duty seriously. However, unlike her fore parents before her she was the first member of her family to hold an ability (there was some speculations that a West African ancestor might have the ability of sight, but it was something that her family kept secret).
When she was young, she always had the ability to know the outcome of something before it happen—she could know a person's whole life without even speaking with them. Her parents and grandma had never known about her abilities for she had always kept it a secret. The only person who knew of her ability at the time was her best friend, Annalisa.
"Okay, if you guess his next move I will never doubt your powers again," said a girl of eight years of age, the child was that of a parceling doll in features and was in human expectations of pretty. Wearing a light pink jumper with a white shirt underneath that held three embroider pink flowers at the center her soft fair hair was in two pigtails with large pink ribbon on each.
The girl next to her was the opposite; her features were striking, here ebony locks could mock a raven, as coils cascaded down her back like a waterfall. A navy headband with a large bow rested on the side of her head keeping her hair away from her face. She wore navy shorts and a sleeveless blouse with fine lace detailing.
They were in the main hallway, a place they were forbidden to be without adult supervision, but Annalisa had been curious about Aaliyah's special power and the best view of the square was in this hallway. Plus, this was their little secret after all no one was supposed to know about Aaliyah's ability.
Aaliyah eyes scanned the person her friend was pointing at; he was on his cellphone, telling be the way he bumps into people and missing steps he was not paying attention to his surroundings. She took notice that the man cloths were disheveled, and his face was flush, which meant he was heavily drunk.
She looked at the people and the surroundings—chairs were set out all over the plaza and around the fountain. The plaza was bursting with energy—someone was selling ice treats, which caused a succession of energetic children to run around the vendor. The tingly sensation started to come forth like so many times when she simply watched people and their actions, she could see everything, and she saw what was about to happen.
With her finger she pointed to a small group of rumbustious boys that were receiving their shaved ice.
"Those boys are going to run past the man, and as he tries to avoid them, he's going to slip on the chairs and land in the fountain dropping his phone in the water," she said.
The little girls looked out the window, they watch as the last of the boys received his treat and the small group started to run in the direction of the drunk man.
As they got close, he moved to the side only to slip on a series of chairs, his body wobble with his arms outstretched but heavily drunk he ended up falling in the water. A series of giggles took place with the girls who mocked the man by reenacting his movements.
The day she had shown her friend how advance her ability had become was also the day she had caught the attention of the three brothers—specifically Aro Volturi.
Caught in their giggles the two little girls did not know that they were being watched by the three leaders and five of their guards. The one in the center held the look of fascination and curiosity.
"That was great Aaliyah! I promise to never doubt your powers again," Annalisa said as she held out her pinky to her best friend, Aaliyah took her pinky within as they swore.
After they started to reenact the drunk man's movement again which cause another series of giggles between the pair.
The giggles ended when the sound of someone cleared their throat causing the girls to jump in fright knowing they had been caught. Their eyes were glued to the Volturi Leaders and their guards. Annalisa had been warned by her mother on how to act in front of them whenever she was in their presence by herself. This was the first time she was in front of them without her mother and she was petrified.
Aaliyah sensing her friends' discomfort and fear step in front to cover her despite her little heart beating wildly; however, it was not from fear like her best friend. The feeling of familiarity of a different sort—she knew they were her Masters, but she had this feeling od security and warmth that flowed within her something like that of family.
Her powers had taken over her—absorbing everything about these men before her,
"That was a very marvelous trick you did their dear child," came the commanding soft voice of Aro, "Are you Omar and Nefara Amir little one? Makeda's granddaughter?"
"Yes." She felt unsure in this moment for her parents and grandma had no idea about her ability—she did not want her parents to be punish.
They both stared at each other with the same equally amount of wonder and curiosity. He walked towards her holding his hand out for her to take hold—hoping that he had discovered another jewel like Jane and Alec.
"You do not have to see my thoughts," she said, Aro stopped in his tracks and looked at the little girl.
"You want to see all my thoughts and memories—more importantly to see if my gift truly a wonder or not. My gift is real, for there are no coincidence. My family are not aware of my ability for they would never think of betraying the coven with withholding such important information. After all, Master Marcus is noticing the bond that at this second is forming between us all, while Master Caius is annoyed for being left out in the dark…or that a human child is wasting crucial time."
The expression on the three immortals was the affirmative she needed to continue, "No time has been wasted Masters, your guards are on their way to speak with you about their mission and everything has gone to plan."
Aro looked at the child hard with a critical look—more importantly the child's ability; it seemed as if she possessed physic abilities making him curious how advance they truly were. His musing was cut short when the silent sounds of footsteps walking in their direction. His eyes moved from the child towards the direction she was staring at, only for him to face the very guards his brothers and himself awaited to hear of their mission in the north.
Shock was the only word to describe the emotion he felt.
He turned to his brothers who also masked the same emotion on their stoic faces—his eyes turn back to the young one before him.
In a generation the Amir family had yet to produce a child of any ability only for them to produce this child of spectacular ability. The excitement raised within him as he found a new obsession. The ability that she has thus far shown were incredible; just imagine as she grew older her abilities could become even more powerful.
That thought alone on the growing power that the Volturi would gain with his child's ability to see the future. Aro was going to have to keep a very sharp eye on the girl.
Aaliyah power had only advance by strides as she grew older and once, she took over her birthright the coven had truly prosper. With her power and fully having access to Aro's extensive spy network and special forces—she had truly elevated the coven by putting out small resistance that attempted to form, confiscating important information before others saw it, and backing certain political groups. It was a silent knowledge that Aaliyah was truly the might behind the Volturi Leaders.
"How do you want us to handle the Olympic coven?"
"We shall simply watch for the time being—the fools have their hands tied dealing with the nomadic vampire Victoria."
"Do you want us to keep tabs on her as well Ms. Amir?"
"Yes, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
The voice on the other end chuckle.
"Speaking of grieving vampiric women—do you still have eyes on the Denali coven?"
"As of now, yes until you say otherwise."
"Keep watch on them—Master Aro and Caius are of the opinion that the Denali coven will be loyal to Carlisle family. While Master Marcus feels that they hold no immediate threat."
"You think otherwise?"
"Have I ever been wrong before?" she teased.
"No ma'am."
"Are there anymore concerns you have captain?"
"Yes, are we to inform the Masters of the existence of the wolves at the La Push reservation?"
"Master Aro is already aware of the existence of the two nature ones—I believe he is waiting for his dearest friend to inform him of their existence. However, I say keep an eye on the Clearwater siblings with their potential we can figure out a beneficial relationship that can have them change allegiance."
"Are you calling for a unification of the supernatural world?" the captain jest.
"I see a much bigger picture than petty disputes."
"Are those all my orders Ms. Amir?"
"Yes, alert me of any changes but we are to only watch—do not interfere unless you have too."
"Affirmative," the line ended.
Aaliyah looked back at the files she had created on the foolish Cullen clan—how could so much disruption has been sowed all because a reckless immortal obsession over his singer. When she had told the simple girl, she was going to have an eventful year she also meant herself.
"Loyalty—highly overrated," she thought as she took a sip of her drink.
Playlist
Introduction (The Count of Monte Cristo Soundtrack)
As the World Falls Down (covered version) by Karliene
Harry & Hermione by Nicholas Hooper
I wanted to end this chapter with Aaliyah having the same opinion about loyalty like Aro. The next chapter will be a updated and revamp of Aaliyah and Marcus interacting.