The air within the Volturi castle grew heavy with tension. A storm loomed within the marble walls, not born of thunder or rain, but of Caius's wrath—a fury that seemed to ripple outward, leaving even the guards on edge. The ancient vampire stormed through the hallways, his white-gold hair catching the dim torchlight as his robes swirled behind him like a warning.
"This carelessness is intolerable!" Caius's voice echoed sharply through the chamber as he slammed his hand against the ornate stone table in the council chamber. Aro and Marcus sat silently, exchanging brief glances but not interrupting the tirade. "Humans, drained and discarded in plain sight! It is an insult to our laws! To the Volturi!"
The air vibrated with the intensity of his voice, yet Aro remained unnervingly calm, his fingers steepled in thought. "Indeed, it is unacceptable," Aro said, his voice smooth and deliberate. "But let us be cautious, Caius. There may be a purpose behind this recklessness—one we cannot yet see."
"I do not care about purpose. This risks everything!" Caius shot back. His blue eyes burned with cold fury, yet his anger wasn't merely directed at the violations. Beneath his icy exterior lay a lingering unease—a fear for the fragile order they maintained. "Demetri will look into this. If there is a culprit, they will regret defying the Volturi."
As soon as Caius uttered the hunter's name, the castle grew quieter. Aro gave a small nod of approval, but Caius made no attempt to wait for formalities. He turned briskly toward the hallway, his fury still palpable as his steps echoed away, leaving tension in his wake.
Far from the castle, Demetri prowled the streets of a quiet European town. The sky above was dark and foreboding, with only a few stars visible between heavy clouds. His gift guided him through the narrow streets, tugging his senses toward faint traces of the culprit's movements.
Whoever was behind these killings was no amateur. They had concealed their tracks well. Still, it wasn't enough to evade Demetri's unparalleled talent.
As he stepped into a shadowy alley, his eyes caught sight of something peculiar. A scrap of cloth hung loosely from a jagged metal fence—a subtle trace, but enough to match the report of the scene of the crime. He picked it up, his gloved fingers turning it over briefly before stashing it.
He was about to continue when a sound stopped him. A faint noise—a mewl—emerged from a corner of the darkened alley. Demetri straightened, his instincts sharpening. Turning toward the sound, he walked cautiously, his sharp eyes scanning every detail until he found it.
A tiny black-and-white kitten sat huddled against the base of a garbage bin. Its wide green eyes met Demetri's without fear, which struck him as unusual. Most animals instinctively feared vampires; their cold scent was enough to unsettle even the most docile of creatures. Yet this kitten remained, staring up at him curiously, as if it didn't sense the predator before it.
It took a step closer to him, its little tail flicking behind it, and Demetri was briefly frozen, surprised by the boldness of such a tiny creature. His mind flicked back to another pair of fearless eyes—not green, but warm and brown, shining with the same curiosity.
"Bold little thing," Demetri muttered, crouching to pick it up. Its small body was cold from the night air, but it seemed unharmed.
As he held the kitten in his hands, he couldn't help the fleeting smile that crossed his lips. It reminded him of Isabella—Aro's precocious, ever-curious daughter. She had the same unyielding boldness, the same ability to disarm others with her innocence.
Demetri straightened, his momentary distraction giving way to a practical thought. He had no interest in pets, yet leaving the tiny creature behind felt strangely… wrong.
"You're lucky I'm feeling indulgent," he said quietly before tucking the kitten into his jacket, where it nestled against the cool fabric for warmth. With that, he turned on his heel, resuming his journey back to the castle.
When Demetri arrived at the Volturi castle hours later, he walked briskly toward the grand hall, where Caius and the others awaited his report. His boots clicked against the polished floors, the sound steady but unhurried.
Before stepping into the chamber, he paused, adjusting his jacket slightly. The kitten, still bundled inside, peeked out, letting out a tiny, curious meow. Demetri sighed.
"This is not part of my job description," he murmured under his breath, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
Inside the hall, Caius's irritation had not subsided. He paced the length of the room like a restless predator, Marcus observing quietly while Aro appeared deeply lost in thought. Demetri entered smoothly, bowing his head in respect as he approached.
"I've gathered substantial information," he began, his voice steady as he held out the scrap of cloth. "The pattern of the killings suggests they may not be random. Whoever is behind this has extensive knowledge of both human habits and our kind. But I have yet to fully identify them."
"Then why are you here without answers?" Caius barked, his impatience evident. His sharp gaze narrowed on Demetri, who remained unflinching.
"Patience, brother," Aro interjected, rising from his seat. His calm presence quickly diffused the sharp edges of Caius's anger. "We will piece this puzzle together in time."
As they turned back to Demetri, a soft sound broke the tension—a high-pitched mewl. Caius froze, his irritation briefly replaced with confusion, as Demetri adjusted his jacket. The kitten poked its small head out, earning a rare laugh from Felix, who had entered moments earlier.
"Demetri," Aro began, clearly intrigued, "do enlighten us. What… is that?"
"A momentary distraction," Demetri said dryly, though he held the kitten with surprising gentleness as he lifted it from his jacket. "It reminded me of Isabella."
At that moment, Sulpicia entered the room, her warm expression quickly softening as she spotted the kitten.
"Oh, she'll adore it," Sulpicia said, her voice laced with affection. She turned to Aro. "Perhaps another birthday present for your daughter?"
The irritation in Caius's expression deepened, but Aro only chuckled, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "It seems our hunter has an eye for meaningful gifts," Aro mused.
Demetri handed the kitten off to Sulpicia, who cradled it gently in her arms.
"She needs a companion," Aro said after a pause, his voice carrying a tinge of warmth. "If she's to be an only child, Luna will do nicely."
"Luna?" Sulpicia echoed with a smile.
"Something tells me she'll call it that," Aro said.
As the kitten let out another soft meow, even Caius couldn't entirely suppress his irritation. Though the mood was far from celebratory, the tiny creature had momentarily shifted the weight of their concerns. The Volturi had bigger matters to address, but for now, the kitten would bring a flicker of joy to their youngest member.
Cats and the volturi. Filler chapter but with a sneak peak of what's about to come.