The search for Aro's perfect human began as an enigmatic yet relentless endeavor. Volterra, already infamous for its concealed darkness, now bore a more calculated edge. Heidi, as always, carried out her role impeccably, luring tourists to the castle with her irresistible allure. But now, the feeding process had become something more than simple sustenance—it was an experiment.

Jane and Alec stood at the forefront of this grim task. Their role was clear: to test each human in the tourist groups Heidi brought. The guards themselves were largely in the dark about what Aro was looking for, but it was evident he sought something extraordinary. Any human who showed no resistance to Jane's searing pain or Alec's sensory deprivation became nothing more than another meal for the guard. Those who did react in unusual ways, however, were spared—at least temporarily.

Months passed, the process repeating with mechanical precision. Jane, her sadistic tendencies masked as duty, would send her gift coursing through the group. She thrived on their screams, their writhing agony. Alec stood beside her, his calm demeanor a sharp contrast, cutting them off from sensation when Jane grew bored.

They cycled through fifteen feeding sessions like this. Each time, the results were the same: ordinary, forgettable humans, their responses predictable and their fate sealed. Yet, Aro's patience was unwavering. He trusted the system he had devised and the diligence of his most trusted guards.

But then came the sixteenth cycle.

Heidi led the next group of tourists into the grand feeding hall. The humans, as usual, were wide-eyed and awestruck by the gothic majesty of Volterra's castle. Among them was a young woman, no older than twenty-five, with an unassuming air. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her face, and her eyes darted nervously about the room, already uneasy in the shadow of the Volturi.

When Jane unleashed her power, the scene played out as it always did—humans screaming and collapsing to their knees, their faces contorted in terror. But the woman did something different. She flinched, her expression twisting in pain, yet her cries were subdued. Her body trembled, but she didn't fall. It was as though she felt Jane's assault, but not fully.

Jane's crimson eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a frown. She stepped closer, intensifying her gift. The woman clenched her fists, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she still didn't scream the way Jane expected. It was infuriating.

"She's different," Jane muttered, her voice low and thoughtful. She glanced at Alec. "Tell Aro. Now."

Alec nodded and vanished in an instant.

It didn't take long for Aro to arrive. His anticipation was palpable as he entered the hall, his robe flowing behind him like a shadow. His crimson gaze settled on the woman, who was now trembling and crying in the corner. The other humans had already been dispatched, their bodies removed to maintain the pristine appearance of the hall. She was alone, cornered by immortals who regarded her as both prey and curiosity.

Aro approached slowly, his expression warm yet predatory. He crouched before her, his hands folded neatly. "My dear, there is no need for tears," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "You are safe now."

The woman looked up, her eyes filled with fear and confusion. "What…what is happening?" she whispered, her voice cracking.

"Shh." Aro extended a hand, touching hers gently. It was a practiced motion, one he used to read the thoughts of countless others. But the moment their skin connected, his curiosity deepened. Her thoughts were fragmented—bits and pieces like scattered leaves in the wind. He couldn't fully grasp her memories or emotions, only flashes of vague impressions.

Fascination lit his crimson eyes. "How intriguing," he murmured, his tone almost reverent. "You are special, my dear. A gift hidden within the ordinary." He rose, his excitement barely contained, and addressed Jane and Alec. "Take her to one of the private rooms. Make her comfortable."

Jane raised a skeptical brow. "Comfortable?"

Aro turned, his gaze sharp but calm. "Yes. Explain to her, gently, that her cooperation will ensure her survival…and perhaps even her immortality."

Jane's lips twisted into a smirk, but she bowed her head. "As you wish."

The woman was escorted away, still trembling but too disoriented to resist. Aro remained in the hall, his mind racing. This human had survived Jane's gift in a way he'd never seen. Her potential, as an immortal, could be extraordinary. Her power, still hidden and mysterious, could shape the future of the Volturi in ways even he couldn't foresee.

He leaned back into the shadows, a smile playing at his lips. The search had been long, but at last, the game had truly begun.

Once the human was settled in the sleeping quarters, Heidi handed Jane a neatly organized file. The leather folder was embossed with the Volturi crest, as if to emphasize the importance of its contents. Jane opened it briskly, skimming the details.

Renee Harper. Age: 25. Born and raised in Arizona, a recent graduate from an art school. She was an enthusiast of architecture and paintings, which explained her visit to Volterra. Her curiosity and love of adventure had led her here, and now, it seemed, directly into the hands of the Volturi.

Jane closed the file with a snap and made her way to Renee's room. The woman was sitting on the edge of the bed, her knees pulled to her chest, her face blotchy from crying. Her eyes darted toward Jane as she entered, fear and confusion mingling in their depths.

Jane leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed. "Stop crying," she said flatly. "It won't help you here."

Renee wiped her face with trembling hands, her breath hitching. "What's happening? Who are you? What do you want from me?"

Jane's crimson eyes narrowed, a hint of impatience flashing across her face. "I suppose it's time for your education." She walked into the room, her heels clicking against the stone floor. "We are not human, as I'm sure you've guessed by now. We are vampires."

The word hung in the air like a stone dropped into water, rippling through Renee's mind. Her breath quickened, her heart pounding audibly.

Jane smirked. "Yes, vampires. Not the romanticized kind you've read about in books. We are predators. Superior beings. And you…" She tilted her head, studying Renee. "…have caught the attention of our leader, Master Aro."

Renee's lips quivered as she whispered, "Why? What do you want from me?"

"That," Jane said with a cruel smile, "is for Master Aro to decide. Until then, you'll stay here. Behave, and you'll be treated well. Resist, and…well…" She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.

Renee's world became a blur of time marked by routine and dread. Days stretched into weeks. She was fed regularly—lavish meals served on fine china, the kind she had only seen in high-end restaurants. Yet the care with which they treated her felt unnerving, like she was a valuable artifact they were preserving.

But the isolation was maddening. There were no windows in her room, only the dim light of an ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The walls were lined with heavy tapestries, their intricate designs doing little to mask the room's ominous atmosphere. The only people she saw were the silent guards who brought her food and Jane, who would occasionally check in with a smirk and a sharp word.

Renee tried to distract herself, pacing the room or examining the antiques scattered about, but her thoughts always circled back to the same questions. What did these creatures want from her? Why had she been spared when the others had not? She had seen the tourists from her group led away, their faces pale with terror. Were they dead now, their bodies drained and discarded?

And yet, as terrified as she was, Renee couldn't help but marvel at the perfection of her captors. Their flawless skin, their inhuman beauty, their hypnotic grace—it was impossible not to be both awed and horrified.

The monotony of her days was broken one evening when the door to her room opened, and a man stepped inside. Renee froze, her breath catching in her throat.

He was unlike anyone she had seen before—tall, with long, jet-black hair that fell past his shoulders, framing a face that seemed sculpted by the gods. His crimson eyes sparkled with amusement, and his lips curved into a sly smile as he took in the sight of her. His movements were slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey.

"Good evening, my dear," he said, his voice smooth and rich, like velvet. "I trust you've been treated well?"

Renee could only nod, her throat too dry to speak.

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Forgive me, where are my manners? I am Aro, the leader of the Volturi."

Renee's heart pounded as she whispered, "W-what do you want from me?"

Aro approached her slowly, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Ah, such a curious mind," he mused. "So full of questions, so brimming with fear. And yet…there's something more, isn't there? A spark of defiance. A will to survive."

He extended a hand toward her, his palm upturned. "May I?"

Renee hesitated, unsure of what he meant, but something in his eyes compelled her to comply. She reached out, her fingers trembling as they brushed his.

The moment they touched, Aro's expression changed. His eyes flickered with surprise, then intrigue, as if he had glimpsed something unexpected. He released her hand and stepped back, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.

"Fascinating," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "You are indeed special, my dear. Your potential…is limitless."

Renee's stomach twisted in knots. She wanted to demand answers, to scream and cry and beg, but she knew it would be futile. This man—this creature—held her life in his hands, and she could feel the weight of his power pressing down on her like a vice.

Aro turned to leave, pausing at the door to glance back at her. "Rest well, Renee. Your future with us has only just begun."

And with that, he was gone, leaving her alone in the suffocating silence of her gilded cage.

Yup, it's Renee. Though Bella acquired her shielding gift from Charlie in canon (as Edward couldn't read Charlie clearly), I made it seem like Renee was the one with a slight shield.

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