Chapter 23: The Temptress

1969 Volterra, Italy

The light bulb flickered to life in the center of the cell's ceiling, casting a harsh, unnatural glow that pierced the darkness like a knife. Sensing the change in his environment, Edward moved his arm away from where it had been covering his eyes and stared at the light, unaccustomed to the cell's sudden brightness. The guards didn't usually turn the light on, and he wondered idly why they had bothered.

He had been in the middle of a pleasant daydream, running through a sunlit meadow. Sometimes, he was alone, but more often these days, he was with another. Seldom was it Mindy anymore; instead, he pictured a faceless female vampire, her presence comforting. They frolicked in the sunlight, their skin sparkling like diamonds—a stark contrast to the grim reality of his eternal existence.

Four decades had gone by, and Edward often wondered if his memory of the sun and his sparkling skin was accurate, or if the years of confinement had warped his mind's visions. He clung to his memories, though, like lifelines in the darkness, desperate to believe in their truth.

In the silence of his cell, Edward often played the songs he had written in the background of his thoughts. The melodies were intricate; some were inspiring, some were happy, and some were haunting, each song a reflection of his innermost emotions. He felt the tunes were quite catchy, and he liked to imagine his songs being played beyond these stone walls, but he knew that was not his lot in life. His music, like his dreams, were destined to remain unheard. The cold, unyielding reality of his imprisonment pressed down on him like a weight, reminding him that he would never be getting out of this cage.

Edward heard footsteps echoing outside his cell, a sound that had become both familiar and loathsome over the years. His initial thought was that it might be feeding time, but he quickly dismissed the idea. They had fed him only last week, and the guards were strict about maintaining the two-week interval between feedings.

The footsteps grew louder, stopping just outside his cell. To Edward's surprise, he heard the jingle of keys and the scraping sound of the lock being turned. His cell door hadn't opened in so long. He sat up on his cot, his eyes fixed on the heavy, iron door as it creaked open.

To his astonishment, it wasn't one of his usual guards, and thankfully, it wasn't Aro. Instead, a figure stepped into the light of his cell. As he took in the sight before him, he found himself staring at an incredibly beautiful woman. Edward blinked, his mind struggling to process the unexpected vision before him. The sheer beauty of the woman left him momentarily speechless, and his thoughts felt muddled as he continued to gaze at her. He couldn't remember ever seeing such a beautiful woman before.

Her face looked like what he would consider an angel's to look like, not the face of a vampire. The delicate arch of her brows, the smooth curve of her cheekbones, and the fullness of her lips created a visage of ethereal beauty. Her long, wavy blonde hair cascaded down her back in shimmering waves, catching the dim light and adding an almost halo-like effect around her head. Her red eyes gleamed like the brightest rubies he had ever seen, glowing with an intensity that both captivated and unnerved him.

As his eyes moved down her body, Edward struggled to suppress the improper thoughts that sprang unbidden to his mind, but it was impossible. Her red outfit... he didn't really know how to describe it. It clung to her like a second skin, defying gravity. The bodice, intricately designed with delicate lace and satin, seemed to defy logic, staying up without visible support, her chest almost fully on display. Edward had never seen such a sight with his own two eyes. The dress ended abruptly just below her nether regions, leaving him bewildered. Where was the rest of it? How could she even sit down without exposing herself? Was this what women of today's time were wearing?

As his gaze continued its journey, he couldn't help but admire her long, shapely legs, further enhanced by the red high-heeled boots that climbed up to her thighs. The boots accentuated the perfect contours of her legs, adding to her already overwhelming allure. He felt a stirring in his body, an undeniable pull of desire that he had been denying himself since his capture. Her presence was a powerful mix of beauty and temptation, leaving him simultaneously entranced and conflicted.

Edward found himself unable to look away. As she stepped closer, the air around her seemed to shimmer with an almost tangible energy. Her movements were fluid, almost hypnotic, drawing him in further with each step. Edward's mind raced, torn between the primal urges her appearance invoked and the rational part of him that screamed to remain cautious. Her allure was undeniable, and in that moment, he felt the full force of her nature. An overwhelming desire to please her consumed him, a need to see her angelic face smile upon him. The rational part of his mind weakened, succumbing to the powerful pull she exuded, leaving him yearning for her approval and desperate to do anything to earn it.

"Hello there," she said in a soothing voice. Edward didn't think he had ever heard such a sweet and alluring voice before. It was like honey, smooth and irresistible, wrapping around his senses and drawing him in.

"Hello?" He responded, his voice unsure and shaky. He didn't know what was happening to him or why she was here. His eyes remained locked on her, unable to break free from her captivating presence.

"My name is Heidi. I wasn't present in Volterra when you arrived here all those years ago. I take it from the talk around the castle that you're Edward?" Her smile was warm and inviting, her eyes twinkling with a mix of curiosity and amusement. She had such a nice disposition, Edward thought, and he hesitantly returned her smile, feeling a strange warmth spread through him.

"Yes, I'm Edward. Why are you here?" It had been so long since Edward had actually had a conversation with a live person that he found he was a little rusty. His voice sounded foreign to his own ears, as if he were hearing it for the first time.

Heidi stepped closer, her movements graceful and deliberate, every step a calculated dance. The dim light of the cell highlighted her flawless skin, and her red eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire. Edward could see the delicate contours of her face more clearly now, the gentle curve of her lips, the slight arch of her eyebrows. She was breathtaking, a vision of beauty that seemed almost otherworldly.

Heidi smiled, revealing her gleaming white teeth. The perfection of her smile seemed to illuminate the dim cell, making everything around her diminish while she grew brighter. "Oh, I just thought I'd introduce myself. I heard you're staying in here of your own accord, and you could be let out whenever you wanted. It's so sad that you're voluntarily doing this to yourself, and I wanted to ask why."

Her words left Edward more confused than ever. The casualness of her tone contrasted sharply with his situation, and he found his thoughts jumbled, full of conflicting emotions. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog that seemed to have settled over his consciousness. "I don't want to join the Volturi. I won't serve Aro. He's evil."

Heidi's smile softened, but her eyes remained sharp, assessing him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. She took another step closer, her presence further dominating the small space. The scent of her perfume, something floral and intoxicating, filled his cell, pushing away the musty odor of stone and decay.

Heidi laughed, a light, tinkling sound that seemed to bounce off the stone walls, filling the cell with an unexpected warmth. "Come now, I don't think he's really evil." She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "Well, maybe just a little bit." She held two of her fingers about an inch apart, giggling at her own joke. Edward couldn't remember the last time he had heard laughter, especially not like this—so genuine, so carefree.

"You know, I had doubts about joining the Volturi too. Oh, it was so long ago now, roughly 500 years." Heidi's voice took on a nostalgic tone as she continued, her eyes distant as if recalling a fond memory. "I thought my life on the outside was fine, but they asked me to join, and I'll tell you what, the last 500 years have been better than I could ever have imagined. They like to send me out to bring back dinner for the castle."

Edward's ears perked up at the mention of food. His throat burned with a thirst he had suppressed for decades, a hunger he had forced himself to forget. "I hear you haven't been feeding properly. Wouldn't you like a nice meal, Edward? Where the blood is warm and rich, flowing down your throat as you swallow mouthful after mouthful." She licked her lips tantalizingly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Just thinking about it makes me want to go upstairs and grab a bite. I just brought a big batch into the castle, and they're all up there now, just waiting to be savored. I can see it in your eyes. Don't you want to join me?"

Her words painted a vivid picture in Edward's mind. He could almost taste the blood, feel its warmth spread through him, revitalizing his senses. The thought was intoxicating. He imagined following Heidi upstairs, the anticipation of a real meal, the first in 40 years, building inside him. The aroma, the taste, the satisfaction—it was all so tempting.

But as these thoughts swirled in his mind, Edward suddenly shook himself, trying to clear his head of the seductive images. "I won't join. I've done nothing wrong. Demetri framed me. I don't want to be here, Heidi," he said, his voice gaining strength and conviction with each word. The fog lifted slightly as he reaffirmed his stance. "I don't want to be here."

Heidi frowned but continued on, her voice soothing and melodic, wrapping around Edward like a comforting blanket. "I understand. You have convictions. I respect that... You know, today is a special day."

Edward looked at her with interest, a flicker of curiosity breaking through. It was so rare that he received any news from the outside world.

"It's hard to believe," Heidi began, her tone carrying the weight of something momentous, "but earlier today, humans actually walked on the moon for the very first time. We all watched it together in the entertainment room upstairs. Hmm. You've been down here for 40 years? I guess you don't know about television. Just imagine that we all watched a silent picture film that they filmed on the moon with the men walking on it. Their spaceship is on its way back to Earth right now."

Edward tried to picture what Heidi was saying, but all her words and notions seemed so foreign. Men walking on the moon? How would they even breathe? He had so many questions, his mind swirling as he tried to visualize what she was describing.

Heidi's eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched him grapple with this new information. She moved gracefully, sitting down beside him, her presence filling the small cell. The dim light cast soft shadows on her flawless face, highlighting her delicate features. As she placed her hand lightly on his leg, all of Edward's ruminations ceased. The touch was electric, sending a shiver through his body, awakening sensations he had long suppressed.

"You know, Edward, you might want to rethink your stance. The outside world is so much more pleasurable than this dreary cell," Heidi said, her voice like a soft caress. She leaned closer, her presence overwhelming the small space with a mix of floral perfume and something uniquely her.

"Just yesterday, I went to some hot springs up in the mountains. The water was so warm. I was alone and feeling quite daring, so I went au naturel. Oh, the water against my bare skin felt so good." Her words painted vivid pictures in Edward's mind, each one more tantalizing than the last. He couldn't help but imagine Heidi, her flawless skin glistening as she slipped into the steaming water, the curve of her breasts just breaking over the surface of the bubbling water. The thought of her, completely bare in the hot springs, further muddled his mind, and he could almost feel the heat of the water, the steam rising around her, creating an intimate, secluded paradise.

"You know, if you ever decide to leave this place, I would be happy to take you there. We could have such fun together. I could show you all the things you've been missing." Her tone was seductive, each word dripping with promise. "The world has changed so much in the last 40 years. Does that interest you at all, Edward?"

Edward's mind raced. The stark contrast between the cold, unyielding stone walls of his cell and the world Heidi painted was almost too much to bear. He imagined the feel of the hot spring water, the freedom of the open air, the thrill of new experiences. His throat burned with thirst, his body ached with desire, and he had to admit he wanted it, he wanted her, he wanted everything.

Edward was lost in his daydreams and desires while Heidi talked to him. He watched, entranced, as Heidi slowly took off his jacket, her movements deliberate and sensual. The feeling of her delicate hands touching his arms and chest sent shivers down his spine, a sensation so foreign to him. No one had touched him in any way… really no one had touched him before his imprisonment either and oh how he wanted that to change. "Ahh…"

Heidi slid closer to Edward on his cot, her proximity overwhelming his senses. "Truthfully, I like you, Edward. I think we could have so much fun together. Wouldn't you want to have fun with me?" Her voice was a seductive whisper, her breath warm against his ear. Edward looked into Heidi's eyes, which sparkled with an innocence that belied the temptation she was offering.

Heidi began to unbutton his shirt slowly, each movement drawing him deeper under her spell. He stared into her ruby eyes, feeling a sense of relaxation and yearning he had never experienced before. As she slipped off his shirt, her hands roamed over his bare chest, sending electric sparks through his body. Her touch was gentle yet possessive, igniting a fire within him.

As Heidi leaned in closer, her eyes glittering like ruby orbs, her hand slid down, gliding past his stomach until she stopped on his… Oh god… Edward didn't know what he was feeling as Heidi rubbed his long hard…

"Nooo!" Edward suddenly cried, jumping away from Heidi as if her touch had burned him. "What are you doing to me?" He shook his head, trying desperately to clear the fog that had clouded his thoughts. The realization hit him like a jolt—she must have some form of mind control gift. "I said I won't join the Volturi." His voice was firm, and as the tendrils of Heidi's influence left his mind, he felt his free will returning to him.

Heidi's kind smile vanished, and the beautiful woman who had so enraptured him moments ago now wore a sneer that repulsed him. Her ruby eyes, once alluring, now glinted with malice. "You little shit!" she spat venomously, standing up abruptly. "You think you can rebuff me? You? You're pathetic!"

Edward's mind cleared further, and the realization of what had been happening dawned on him. The warmth and seduction Heidi had projected melted away, revealing a cold, manipulative core. The change in her demeanor was jarring, a stark contrast to the honeyed words and gentle touches she had used to cloud his mind.

"What is this?" Edward demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Are you Aro's private whore or something? Is that why you're here?"

Heidi looked infuriated, her flawless face twisted with rage. Clearly, she was used to getting whatever she wanted. "Guards!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the cell. Before Edward's eyes, three guards materialized in front of her, their expressions cold and unyielding.

"Rip this asshole's arms off. No one insults me or calls me a whore." Her tone was icy, each word dripping with venom. She regarded Edward with contempt, her eyes blazing with fury. "You could have had everything, Edward. You could have even had me. But no, you choose to waste away in this cell. Well, try doing it for a year without your arms."

Her smirk of satisfaction burned into Edward's retinas as the guards advanced on him.

Well, shit! That certainly didn't end well for Edward. In my other stories, a much nicer Heidi had the ability to influence anyone (other than Bella, of course) with her words. It's nice to see that Edward was finally able to resist... but it was a close call. We'll skip over the year he spent without arms—I certainly don't want to write about that. The next time we see Edward, it will be 1975, and it's my favorite Edward chapter I wrote before he meets Bella. It's very different, and I hope you all like it too. It's titled "Escape from Castle Volturi." Comments are always welcome—I enjoy reading your feedback.