TwiTwitter's Writing Contest Finalist--B

Chapter One

Dawn breaks early over the city of Volterra. As the sun rises, shopkeepers begin to open their doors, readying their businesses for the day. On a quiet street, a butcher quietly chops his take, surveying the streets for activity. Nearby a baker pulls fresh breads out of his oven and places them on a cooling rack. A door slams, a woman emerging, towing children still wiping the sleep from their eyes.

Deep beneath the bustling streets of Volterra, a group continues about their daily business, having been awake through the night. Silent men and women glide through the hallways, nodding politely to each other as they pass, continuing on their assigned tasks. A beautiful girl walks towards the door leading to the streets, covered from head to toe in clothes befitting a fair maiden of the city. Her task set before her eyes, she opens the door and steps out into the day.

Deeper still in the hidden city, a chamber sits- occupied by fierce creatures with ruby red eyes. Three men sit in chairs fit for a throne, surveying the others in the room. Others surround them- some closely and some far apart. All attention is centered on a man, kneeling before the three throne bearers, his arms held tight by two other men, one large and bear like and the other thin, but with vicious beady eyes.

The thin, dark haired man in the center chair surveys the prisoner with curiosity. He tilts his head from one side to the other, seeming to debate an internal conversation. Slowly he stands, reaching his hand out to grasp the shoulder of the man. his eyes closed, he holds the position for seemingly minutes, but actually only mere seconds. He slowly opens his eyes and looks down at the man.
“Sir Charles, you surely know why you are here?” the thin vampire asks.
The man opens his eyes widely, knowing that he has been betrayed by his innermost thoughts, and this form of questioning was a mere formality.

“Lord Aro, you have seen my mind- you know the claims you have heard are true. Please let me state my case.”

Aro inclined his head, but gazed at his brothers, Caius and Marcus, who were seated in the other two chairs. Through a slight inclination of his head, the blonde Caius ascended to the increased questioning. Aro stretched out his arms in a welcoming gesture, inviting Charles to continue.

“The boy who saw me,” Charles began, “he was just a mere child- thinking he was seeing pretty lights or a fairy creature of some sort. He did not recognize me as someone he knew.”
“But you exposed yourself to him intentionally,” Aro stated calmly.

“It was a momentary lapse in judgment, Lord Aro,” he rebutted.

“However,” Aro said, beginning to walk up the stairs, “we are nothing without our fairness in enforcing the law. We do not make exceptions for anyone. You intentionally showed yourself to a human, and for that you deserve the maximum punishment which we deal.”

The man Caius, having watched this exchange with great pleasure, stood. He approached Aro, resting his hand on his shoulder.

“Brother, let me take care of this man,” he said.

Aro looked up- “very well brother.”

Caius approached the man, placing each hand on either side of the man’s head. The prisoner’s eyes began to bulge with the pressure being exerted on him. Suddenly, with a large crack, Sir Charles head split off of his neck, and his body crumpled.
Caius gestured to a guard standing in the corner.

“Eleazar, do clean this up, will you?”


Chapter 2
A stunning woman, tall and thin with rich violet eyes enters the chamber. She is leading a group of human men and women. “Lord Aro,” she says, inclining her head “those you requested are here.”

“Thank you Heidi,” he says, standing.

Aro, seemingly instantaneously, jumps down and stands in front of one of the human men. He strikes, immediately begins feeding off the man. The rest of the room, realizing what is happening, begins to shriek, but their cries are no use. The hungry guard and other vampires, not able to resist the smell of human blood, begin to feed off their own choices.

The cries become silent as the vampires finish feeding.

Aro stands and wipes his face, gesturing Heidi towards him.

“Good catch my dear,” he congratulates her. “Have you any news about our French neighbors as I had asked you to gather?”

“Yes my Lord,” she replies. “The man Robespierre has begun executing those that are found to be enemies of the French state. It has turned very bloody,” she says, her eyes lighting up.

“Good, good,” Aro replies. “I think I might have a plan on ‘testing’ our good friend Carlisle.”

Heidi retreated, instructing a pair of guards to clean up the human remains and take them to a disposal room in the castle. Aro stood and walked out of the room, down a corridor and into an office. There stood another beautiful man, golden haired, and seemingly absorbed in a number of books piled on a reading table. Hearing Aro enter the room he stood, and inclined his head.

“Aro, how may I help you this evening?” the man asked.

“Carlisle my friend, I find your studies are fulfilling you today? I noticed you were not at our feeding a minute ago,” Aro replied.

“My studies are always very rewarding,” Carlisle replied, his voice even. “As to the feeding, you know that Heidi’s catch is not exactly what I prefer to eat.”

Aro walked to the side of the room, sitting in a large arm chair and folding his fingers into a temple form in front of his face.

“Ah yes, your insistence on dining on dreadful animals. Why hunt an animal if the humans are so brought before you? And they are so much tastier?” Aro challenged Carlisle.

Carlisle shakes his head, looks at Aro inquisitively. “Aro you know it is more than the taste and the hunt. My morals and my upbringing find it hard for me to bear the thought of killing another human. I have survived over two centuries without robbing a human of life, and I intend to continue on that path.”

Aro sighs, and looks at Carlisle impatiently.

“That is fine Carlisle, and something that we find interesting about you. However, I did not come in here to argue the merits of animal versus human blood. I am interested in taking a trip to France, and was wondering if perhaps you would like to join me?”

Carlisle, being a learned and inquisitive man, knew of the events currently plaguing France. “You want to go to France? Surely you are aware of the Revolution currently taking place there?”

“Certainly, my friend, it would be a good study of human nature. Sometimes in our separate existence we lose touch with human feelings. Perhaps it would be a good idea to see first hand their complaints?”

Carlisle, though wary, was also interested in the current plight of French citizens and could see merit in the trip. “That sounds, interesting, Aro. I shall join you. When were you thinking of going?”

“We shall leave tonight, at first dark. Felix, Demetri, Jane, and Alec shall accompany you and I. Marcus and Caius have chosen to remain behind, with our wives.”
Carlisle nodded, assenting and feeling that the four fiercest members of the guard would be adequate company.

“Then we shall go, I will pack.”

Aro stood and left the library, nodding to Carlisle as he retreated. After closing the door he smiled an odd, almost evil smile. Carlisle didn’t know all that Aro had planned for him.

Chapter 3.
The carriage rolls up to a town square, deep in the heart of Paris, France. The passengers, odd to the average passerby, exit, and make their way to the hotel to the right of the square. The four men, one girl and one boy seemingly glide in their hooded riding gear towards the entrance of the hotel and walk in.

Aro approaches the inn keeper and requests three rooms. The inn keeper, staring but not quite believing his eyes, hands Aro the keys and the group ascends the stairs. They retreat to their rooms.

The next morning, as a gray mist rises on the square a crowd is forming, centered around a platform which has been erected in the middle. The crowd is murmuring to each other, interested, but appalled by the machine erected on the platform. A large blade, set high above and set to be released via a pully system attached to it hangs high. A small deck fit for a human neck and shoulders sits low. Its purpose is obvious, and the men and women surrounding the machine are appalled that they are to bear witness to its use.

The group which had settled at the inn the night previous emerged and began to filter their way to the platform. Aro led the group and Carlisle shortly behind them. Carlisle began to shift and avert his eyes from the platform. It was immediately apparent what Aro had come to France to witness.

“Surely, Aro, you are not going to leave us, six hungry vampires, facing a stage meant for a beheading? What shall these people think when they see us leap for the stage to catch the blood filled corpse?”

Aro smiled, sure that in this circumstance even Carlisle would not be able to avoid his thirst. “Carlisle my friend surely you can see that our guard can handle themselves, as can you and I? We work hard to avoid being found out to the humans. I am merely suggesting we observe from back here, I do not think the smell with bother us.”

Carlisle was unsure, but did not want to argue with the fierce elder vampire. The appearance of a group of men making their way to the stage, dragging a prisoner between them caused his attention to be diverted, and he watched in rapt fascination.

The men lead the prisoner to the platform and forced him to stand on a box. He was bound with his arms in the front, and a sack covered his head. His shoulders heaved with sobs.
“Gentlemen and ladies gathered here,” a short man, dressed in the finery expected of French nobility, began. “Here is Sir Frances Smyth, thus accused of treason against the French state. You are called here to bear witness to his execution and spread the word as to what happens to those who oppose and plot against our government.”

Aro and his guards began to walk on the edge of the crowd, a curious Carlisle following. He did not realize that Aro was drawing closer to the stage.

A man dressed all in black dealt a swift blow to the back of the prisoners knees and he fell to the stage, kneeling. The guillotine stood before him and the man forced his neck into the cradle waiting for it. A basket was placed in front, waiting for his head.

The guard stopped behind Aro and found Carlisle to push him forward to stand next to the master. They were now about two rows back to the side of the stage, a full view of the blade and basket not five feet from them. Carlisle tensed, knowing now he was mislead as to the purpose of their visit. Aro smiled at him and gestured that he should watch the show. He fixed his eyes back on the stage.

“On this day, we execute Sir Frances. May God have peace on his soul,” the small man proclaimed. Another large man in black stood next to the guillotine, the rope holding the blade in his hand. Suddenly he released the rope, and blade slid down its holder quickly, slicing a neat cut through Sir Frances’ head and removing his head whole from his shoulders.

The guard, having grown accustomed to restraining themselves in the presence of fresh human blood, held their ground. Aro too held back, watching Carlisle’s eyes for a sign of weakness.

Carlisle typically avoided situations where he would be in the presence of human blood. When the Volturi fed on the meals Heidi caught for them he retreated to the library to study. He alone hunted in the woods surrounding Volterra for animals, and avoided humans when there was a chance they might start to bleed. Though he hoped to train as a doctor, he did not feel ready to be directly effected by blood. The sight of human blood spilling from a neck closer than five feet from him was a horrible, and incredibly tasty sight to bear.

His eyes began to flare and he leans towards the stage, walking subconsciously toward the body. His brain gone to reason, his senses and hunger filling his thoughts, Carlisle nearly reaches the stage.

Aro was not the only one watching Carlisle’s approach to the decapitated body. A young woman, eyes red and face wet with tears, examined the man walking slowly toward the stage, his golden eyes fixated on the corpse. She was not sure what was with the man who seemed to want the body, but she did not want her Uncle’s corpse coming into contact with anyone but family. She reached out and touched Carlisle’s shoulder. “Sir, did you know my Uncle,” she asked of him.

Carlisle, his concentration broken, turned toward the young woman. He lets his eyes regain focus and answers. “No sorry dear, I didn’t know him.” He thinks, trying to come up with an explanation for his actions. “I am a scholar, and was merely interested in the proceedings here. Please excuse my inappropriateness.” She stares, fascinated by his golden hued eyes. Satisfied with his explanation, she walks away, back towards her mother to grieve with her family.

Carlisle, having gathered his wits, walks quickly across the square and back towards the inn. Aro stares off behind him, glowering and angry that his attempt at tempting the steadfast human lover has failed. He beckons to the guard and they follow him back towards the inn, following in Carlisle’s wake. Arriving at the inn, Carlisle goes to Aro’s door and waits for him. Aro approaches and can see the anger in Carlisle’s face.

“Carlisle my friend, lets take this surely to be passionate argument inside the door so we don’t gather spectators. Guard, you may go to your room.”

Carlisle and Aro enter Aro’s room and the guard retreat to theirs. Carlisle closes the door and faces Aro, his eyes flaring. “How dare you put me in that situation Aro? It was dangerous, not just for me and the humans in the square, but for our race as a whole? What if I had attached the body? What would that have alerted those people to?”

Aro, not used to being questioned, took a naturally defensed stance. “Carlisle, I merely wanted to test your resolve,” he said honestly. “It is odd and against the vampire way how you feed. You surely must want to join your brethren and feed correctly? I only assumed that once you had tasted the pure blood of a human you would change your mind and join us.”

Carlisle, put off for the last time by Aro’s bold and irreprehensible tactics, glowered, angry at what this elder had done to him. “Aro, I have explained time and time again the reason for how I feed. I do not wish to be a demon. I wish to help humans. If this is going to continue, I cannot remain a member of your coven.”

Aro rose, anger in his face. “Carlisle, I do not want to lose you, but members of the Volturi are expected to feed on humans. It is what makes us strong. If you feel that you cannot do this, then maybe you should leave.”

Carlisle hung his head, aware that leaving Volterra would leave behind the expansive library and access he had grown there. However, he was tired of the ruthless tactics that the Volturi employed. “Perhaps it is time then, my old friend.” he said. “I shall return with you tomorrow, and will leave the following evening.”

Aro nodded his head, assenting to Carlisle’s wishes. “I am sad that we could not come to this agreement,” he said. “Know that you are always welcome to return, given that you have changed your feeding habits.”

With that Carlisle left the room and returned to his own. He closed the door and set on the bed. Reaching in his traveling sack, he drew out a map of the land across the ocean.
“America,” he said to himself. “I shall see what opportunities lie for me there.”

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