Chapter 5
My steps were hard and slow as we walked as bride and groom towards our demise, my hands clutched Carmen's softly, and the once homely castle we now stood before looked only threatening.
"You are the bravest person I have ever met" She lied to sugarcoat the situation
"Then you must not have met that many brave people"
She rolled her dark brown eyes. I sighed, the bravest person she knew was now cowering in front of his three pasty bosses worn down castle, well to my defense they weren't just any bosses. Every scenario flashed before my eyes and I prayed we would catch the masters in a charitable mood.
"Demitri! looks like Eleazar's back, and he's brought a woman." Felix roared making me put my body in front of Carmen's to shield her
"We need to speak with the masters"
"Why?" The less oafish of the two asked
"That is none of your concern, Demitri" I countered
Walking past the vicious guards without further ado I grabbed my darling's hand and entered the dreaded home. Even while walking to our death I couldn't help but search for my mate's kind gaze, it gave me strength and painted the illusion of hope.
"It will be alright" She whispered
The halls looked menacing and giant with Carmen in them, like a confused child's drawing where some aspects just looked out of place. Similarly to a French aristocrat walking to her meeting with the guillotine, my steps were excruciatingly slow and filled with thought. My hand felt clammy and foreign in hers and I was now more convinced than ever this would be the last time I met my darling.
The knocks on their port were timed to an imaginary rhythm and our background music was the sounds of screams and organ music.
Eleazar, please! Cyrus's screams echoed as I put him to bed for the last time, we'll join you soon enough and then I promise I will make it up to you, chico.
"Come in!" One of our executioners yelled, no doubt annoyed anyone would disturb them
"Eleazar," Aro spoke with fascination "Why have you come before us on this day?"
"I wish to take leave, Master Aro" I kneeled, my eyes tightly clenched
"And it has something to do with this young lady, I presume"
"yes master"
And as soon as the affirmation left my mouth Aro's eyes began twinkling, as they often did when something struck his fancy
"Where are your manners, Eleazar? Introduce us to your mate" He laughed
Straightening myself and taking a deep breath I gestured toward my companion
"This is Carmen, Carmen this is Master Aro, Master Caius, and Master Marcus" I spoke, my Spanish accent thick
Carmen, like the lady she was, bowed humbly in front of the three men. My sweet Carmen.
"Well, we have never mistreated you have we, Eleazar?" I shook my head in disagreement
"And this is no prison, even though Alec seems adamant on insisting it is, we would never keep anyone here against their will"
Freedom was close, so close I could almost taste its sweet flavor, we just needed to pray he wasn't in the mood for tricks.
"You have our blessing, go," Aro concluded
"You will be missed, Eleazar" Marcus added
"Thank you, Masters" Me and Carmen spoke in accidental unison
With nothing but hope in every inch of our figures we sprinted out of Volterra castle, happiness was our drug, and boy was it strong, every moment blurry and hazy as we ran through fields, picking flowers and making love at every moment possible. It wasn't until many hours later the high subsided and we found peace within each other ( pun intended, even though that was probably the only moment when we weren't in each other )
"How I adore you, El" She cooed
"Not as much as I adore you, madame"
"Let's get married" She whispered as she leaned her sweet face closer
"Of course, and get a house. We will build a beautiful future with each other, that I promise you"
"No! I mean right now, I know a priest, Father Giovanni is always available"
The proposal made me almost choke on the venom in my throat, she's gone crazy I thought as I turned to my mate with wide eyes
"Do you wanna know why he's always available" Her eyes twinkled with the same mischief
Aro's had earlier and she seemed almost drunk "Because he's a pervert"
Pulling me up by her dainty arm she led the way. The night sky shone because of her, every star only there to compliment her beauty. Even when arriving at the sanctuary of this perverted man of god I wasn't nervous for even a second, my padre had talked often of cold feet and stress when young men were faced with marriage but I couldn't relate, Carmen and I had already been married ever since the first moment we had met so I wasn't nervous in the least.
"Father Giovanni!" Carmen's silk voice sounded through the worn-down halls
"Carmen! How are you? It's been too long, my child. What can I do for you at this late hour?" The man of about fifty asked
Father Giovanni seemed like every other man of his age, with a five o'clock shadow, a badly shaven beard, and soft eyes he really wasn't extraordinary. As I would come to find out later Father Giovanni had become a friend of Carmen's through the casual Sunday masses she attended, even though he never laid a finger on her he had a reputation for charming the sisters and young ladies who he then discarded to protect his priesthood, with such a reputation it wasn't a surprise to me that he was left on the church's backburner.
"We are urgently looking to be wed, right this moment, do you think you could be of service to us Father?" Her voice was angelic and whatever resolve Father Giovanni had had before
it was surely gone by now
"Well the chapel is certainly free but do you not wish to have your family present?" He laughed
"If it is not a problem with you we wish to do it now" I spoke up
He grumbled over my request for a moment before taking my darling by the hand, whispering something in her ear, and leading us to the empty church chapel.
"Do you wish to begin?" He asked, his voice laced with uncertainty
We both nodded.
"Alright. Carmen Francisca… What is your last name dear?"
"I do not have one"
"Huh, Carmen Francisca do you take thee Eleazar Volturi to be your lawfully wedded husband to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live?"
I inwardly cringed at the surname my wife had picked for me, obviously, we needed a last name but Volturi?
"I do"
"And, Eleazar Volturi, do you take thee, Carmen Francisca to be your lawfully wedded wife to love and to cherish for as long as you both shall live"
"yes, I do"
A coy smile crept its way onto my beloved's face while her amber eyes eyed me carefully.
"Then, by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, til death do you part" Giovanni declared, much to my amusement
How un-modern, get with the times' father. Death doesn't just part people, it can just as well bring people together
Carmen must have sensed my amusement as I felt her jab me in the side with her elbow, giving me a warning look.
"Thank you Mrs Volturi" I emphasized
"It was the only name I could come up with, consider it revenge" She teased
After giving the priest a couple of my sloppy signatures we were officially husband and wife. Instead of venom, it felt as if ecstasy was flowing through my veins, after being so lost for so long, committing heinous acts after heinous acts, I was finally free. I didn't deserve it, they did. Cyrus's voice spoke from the beyond and I wished with every ounce of my being that he forgave me, wherever he may be.
Carmen's hand felt soft and forgiving in mine as I looked at the city one last time, pretending I could see Volterra castle I blinked its image away with every shake of the carriage. Maybe one day I could return, perhaps with companions, and then maybe I would tell them, maybe I'd speak of this day or the day I led that young Dutch boy to his demise, or maybe we wouldn't speak at all, everyone in silent understanding that I couldn't talk about it.
As my eyes drifted from the distant hills they made their way back home onto my mate's brilliant eyes.
"Is it difficult for you to leave, my love?" She asked thoughtfully
"...Did you mean what you said?" My voice was low and somber with new beginnings
"I would never lie to you"
"Did you mean what you said, what you said about forgiving me? Would you be able to, at some point?" I stuttered
"You are already forgiven. I forgive you, Eleazar. And by the power invested in me, you are now absolved of your crimes."
Acidic venom tears flowed from my eyes and I hid my tear-stained face in the nape of her
neck.
EPILOGUE
"Oh she'll love this" I spoke to my companion as we raced through the front door
"Who will love what?" Carmen questioned
Perfect. Carmen's soft voice rang through the room and with her delicate hands placed on her hips, it took everything in me not to jump her in my excitement.
A sneaky smile painted my face.
"Carmen! I have met the most amazing man, I must tell you- oh but if I tell you you won't believe me!" My hand made its way around my new friend's shoulders
"Where are your manners? Why don't you introduce your friend then?" Her dark curls shook as she laughed
"I'm Carlisle Cullen, ma'am" Carlisle spoke, always the gentleman
"Hello, Carlisle. I'm Carmen, Eleazar's mate"
"And tell her what you have discovered" I pushed, in a calmer fashion this time
"I have figured out vampires can be nourished by animal blood just as they would be with human blood," He said bashfully
Shock colored my wife and I nodded in agreement. What a marvelous man! And with that, my Carmen and I forever on the same page, she turned and gestured for him to step in.
"Welcome to our home Carlisle."
A/N: This is sadly the last chapter, I had so much fun writing this and as always I'm just a little sad it's over, but every story must come to an end! Hope you enjoyed and please, please, please, feel free to check out my other stories ( and stay tuned as there is certainly more to come).