I glanced up seeing her standing there timidly in the doorway; of course I knew she was standing there I could hear the beat of her heart. I place my book on the desktop and motion for her to come inside. “Nessie, is there something I may assist you with?” I asked keeping my tone low.
She may look to the world to be a child of 8 or 9 years but in fact she’s less than 2. In all the ways that count this little being standing before me is my grandchild. Her birth a union between a Vampire father and a Human mother turns out to be not quite as unique as we first thought. Her mother, Bella Swan-Cullen, against all odds and with the help of my son, Edward, survived the birth of Renesmee her one and only child. Who is standing patiently in front of me now, her father had already prepared me for her line of questioning.
“Come here” I say as I motion for her to sit in my lap. She dances toward me pausing, bowing like a tiny ballerina and leaps into my lap. I set her sideways so that we may look face to face. She prefers this method. “Will you speak to me? Or will you show me? I ask as I playfully tug on her shirt.
“I will show you, grandfather.” She stated, her little voice going deep as she tried to imitate her father. I lean my head down toward her as she puts her little hand on the side of face. It’s a bit disorientating every time she uses her little gift. She shows me scenes from just months after her birth. It’s just as Edward warned me. She wants to know about the Volturi, the three who have appointed themselves guardians of our Vampire World. The vision changed to earlier today when her father had responded to her questioning with, “Carlisle lived with them for a time. They are old friends.”
She removes her hand confident she made her point clear. I know better than to dumb my narrative down for her. She’ll see right through it and will call me out on it. I pull her closer to me so that I can play with her curls as I try to decide where to start.
It was 1720; I had left my native land of Britain, studied medicine in France and had decided to travel. Although I was raised a protestant ministers son, I had a desire to see the world renowned Vatican. The Great Northern War was in its last year Sweden would soon fall to Peter the Great of Russia. It was a bad time economically for the humans with robbery and murders a real threat when traveling. There were no hospitals as we know them back then, a doctor of medicine would be employed by a nobleman or rich merchant.
As I made my way into Rome, I became aware I was being followed it was the first time I had been deliberately stalked by one of our kind. I carried on as if I were unaware of my companion as I toured the town. I would take peeks of him where I could from behind statuary as I rounded corners or from the windows of my room. While in a rented room I first noticed there were two of them. One was a very large individual, clearly a muscle man this one I was warily of encountering alone. The second however, had a sharp look an olive complexion with a chalky pallor, and dark hair pulled back as was the style.
She wiggled in my lap excitedly, “Oh, I know grandfather. The big one is Felix. Daddy says he’s all muscle and not so bright.” She said clearly imitating Edwards tone. “And, uhm the other one is Demetri, only his hair is short now! Daddy says he’s a blood hound. Does he track blood?” She looked at me so seriously it was difficult to not smile at her.
Matching my tone to her serious one I answer her, “No, dear. I actuality all of our kind would be blood hounds. Demetri tracks using one’s mind, similar to your Fathers ability, only once he gets the feel of a mind he can track it anywhere in the world.” He can be a very dangerous foe. “Shall I continue?” I asked her. She nods crossing her hands in her lap looking eagerly at me.
Of course you were correct, it was indeed Felix and Demetri one morning I left the room I was staying in and they were no longer following me. I was a bit disappointed. I was starving for intelligent conversation; I had not yet perfected the ability to remain in the company of humans for long periods of time. I left the city in search of larger prey the moment I was disposing of the carcass they chose to approach me. It was Demetri; he had arrived this time with a young female. Anticipating her reaction I answered, “Yes, it was Jane.” She motioned for me to carry on my story.
Demetri approached me as Jane stayed back a look of curiosity on her petite face as she watched me dispose of my meal. “Allow me to introduce us. My name is Demetri and my companion here is Jane, we represent nobility from Volterra and have been requested to escort you to our Masters primary residence.” No matter how polite this couple appeared it was no request. I curious of course followed them without another word. It’s not as if I were unaware of the danger the smaller one represented. My natural survival instincts were screaming at me that she was deadly. Such menace behind a pretty little face, I was curious and like a cat it was always my undoing. She appeared to be the youngest turned vampire I had ever seen. Demetri bantered lightly asking me how I was enjoying my visit to Rome, bragging of the artistic ability of the humans in this area compared to the dark scribbling of the English. He was making it clear he knew my background. It was only later that I realized he knew all there was to know about me before that meeting in the countryside.
It was a pleasant trip to the walled city of Volterra. I didn’t know what to expect. I believe at the time I was expecting the ‘nobility’ to be human sponsors unaware of my companions’ true nature. One step through the front gates I was amazed, Demetri sensing my shock turned to me, “It’s quite beautiful isn’t it. The Volturi have a great love for the Arts. They love to encourage the humans with talents.” He motioned in front of us at rows and rows of open store front each with a human working on their art forms. Potters, painters, sculptures, seamstress all were working their magic in a bohemian paradise. Only this was no paradise, as the burgundy eyes of my companions made it clear, they were potential meals. We walked past all the humans to the castle that was the main structure of this town.
It was clear this was a fortress. I had never encountered any of our kind that had settled in one place. I know dear your only encounter with the Volturi was an unpleasant one but it was not so for me. I found each of them fascinating in their own right. I wasn’t taken to the formal ‘throne’ room but to another side of the castle completely to open living quarters. Guards stood silently along the way making no threatening gestures toward me. It was like any human palace if not more luxuriously furnished. The banned Chinoiserie style displayed along the walls and nooks, clearly a sophisticated clan occupied this castle unafraid of any ban put in place by Rome.
Demetri introduced me first to the wives; Sulpicia and Athenodora both lovely fair haired petite women. They clung together, I guess from their similar features they must have been related in their previous human lives. Sulpicia was the more bold of the pair, having been raised in a time when woman were to look at not to speak, it was refreshing to be in her company. She just may be the first of the so called modern woman. Demetri had left our company but Jane had stayed, reminding I was a guest and not yet trusted.
The door at far end of the room opened up and I could hear Demetri speaking, “He is very well behaved even if I don’t understand his food preferences.” A low sharp voice, Caius in fact, growled “Aro, must you always bring in strays? When has any one civilized come from Britannia? Back me up on this Marcus.” Marcus who’s voice barely rose above a whisper “Caius, why must you fuss? You know how Aro is with his toys.”
Aro coming through the door first barely turned barely acknowledging the other two was saying “My toys make life more interesting gentlemen.” He glided over to his bride, Sulpicia “My dear, your shipment from the orient has arrived the guards have your purchases ready for your inspection.” He gently kisses her cheek touching her arm in a way that suggested more than a simple gesture of affection. “Yes,” he answered an unspoken question, “I knew you would be excited, you are excused.” During their conversation the other, Athenodora had moved to the side of Caius, melting the sharp features of his otherwise sour face. This was the first time I had witness the bond between mates and I was fascinated and hope began to sprout within me. Until that moment I had thought there was no other life afforded to myself but one of a lonely nomad wonder the world unable to sleep unable to die.
Aro was watching me with curious eyes, as he approached me, fearless, Demetri and Jane both flashed to my sides. Aro chuckled at the pair, “this is unnecessary. I can tell Carlisle here is a thoughtful, man.” He paused on the word ‘man.’ “We are being rude, Carlisle is our guest. Come.” He motioned me to the couches arranged to one side of the room. As we sat down, he reached out to take my hand only he took my whole arm instead; I was locked in his hold. In a very few short moments he had read every thought I had ever had, it was a bit disorientating. “Ah, you see gentlemen. I was correct. He is very enlightened.” He turned to me, “your quite the compassionate one, Carlisle,” saying my name once again proving he did in fact know all about me.
I enjoyed my time in Volterra. I learned so much from them but I could not bring myself to partake in the destruction of human life. Aro, you see is a historian of our kind. We spent many hours studying together. He is quite the teacher and his library has no rival in this whole world. If he has a flaw it is his need to collect things. Although he is thousands of years old he has not lost his eagerness to learn. It was not until many years in their company that I learned they considered themselves the judges of our kind. At the same time I learned how deadly my new companions could be when so inclined.
News travels slower in those days, young one but news did travel. A certain vampire in France, Louis Stanislas revealed his true nature to the royal court in a ploy to control France. In September of 1824 the Volturi made their move after months of careful planning. Their judgments were precise; all the humans involved in the secret were killed in what the humans believed was the result of a revolution. Louis was personal dragged back to Volterra to be judged in their throne room. Until that moment, I did not know we could die.
I looked at Renesmee and decided to not go into any great details and hoped she didn’t press me for any. I was saved as her mother appeared in the doorway. “Renesmee, sweetie, Carlisle needs to go to the hospital now. He has patients to see.” She gives me a nod making it abundantly clear she was rescuing me from her daughter. Nessie smiles up at me her eyes shining, “Thank you, Grandfather. You were most helpful.” Sounding just like her father she bounds off my lap and leaps into the arms of her mother. As they leave chatting happily, my thoughts return back to the day when I saw my first Vampire execution at the hands of the Volturi. If I was a human I’m sure I would have shuddered at the thought. However, I am not. I will always remember my time in Volterra as a time of youthful exploration. I will always count the three as among my friends, no matter how they may view me and my family.
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