I wish theyâd made the Volturi scene in new moon more book accurate.
With the decor they used in BD, the underground stone passageways, and dropping Bella down the manhole
Aro gliding towards them in his cloak, Renata clinging to him
Rays of light from slits high up in the tower walls, landing on the wives, who sparkle in their sundresses
Demetri and Felix cornering Edward and Bella down a dark alleyway, about to fight until Jane stops them, and Felix later calling dibs on Bellaâs blood out loud
Making them stay for hours longer, with Gianna offering Bella water, Bella wrapped in a grey cloak
Caius much older, with straggly white hair and a near skeletal frame
Imagine how many times the Volturi guards roamed through the libraries of the castle found old books with no titles dating back centuries that caught their interest, took them to their chambers started reading only to find yet another book brimming end to end of yearning stories and pleads for Carlisle neatly written solely in Aro's handwriting.
"Today as the head of the vampire Felix executed landed on the marble floor I couldn't help but notice how the blonde hair splayed out had the same hue as yours my dear Carlisle, I only wish you could have been here to see it." -1802
Now Iâm thinking of how the volturi react if we did die but somehow came back from the dead in some way
Like maybe someone revised us or some shit
Would they be even more feral? (I need feral platonic volturi!!!!!)
Theyâd be wayyy more feral. Youâd be assigned at least two guards to protect you at all times. Even then, the kings wouldnât let you out of their sight.
Theyâd probably somehow make you out to be a sort of divine figure? đ
I can imagine Aro telling everyone that you rose from the dead and then expecting them to worship you. Heâd turn it into an excuse to paint the Volturi as superior to everyone else.
âLook at us, we have the only vampire in existence to ever rise from the dead. Sheâs ours because weâre the only ones worthy of keeping her. This is a sign from the ancient gods!!!â
(Aro would say all of this despite not believing in the gods anymore)
In short, yes, they would be absolutely unbearable.
How does santiago, afton, and heidi feel about readers escape??
Santiago is the least bothered. Sure, heâs angry that you left, but only because youâve embarrassed the coven. He knows how much you mean to Caius and thinks that youâre ungrateful for running away when so few people actually matter to his dominus.
Afton is more concerned about Chelsea than he is you running away. Sheâs lost a lot of respect from the others since you fled, so he resents you for that. Honestly, heâs secretly relieved that youâre gone because heâs worried that youâll use your gift on Chelsea again when you are brought back. Your absence also means that Demetri is too busy stressing about your safety to give Afton a hard time, so heâs enjoying the break.
Heidi is devastated. She really misses having you around and hates seeing Demetri and Felix so upset. Demetriâs worries would probably rub off on her a bit and sheâd end up panicking about your safety too. Sheâs scared that the Egyptians or Romanians will find you, or that her estranged broodmate, Victoria, will seek to harm you.
Which volturi member do you think would be the worst at driving lol?
If weâre talking about whoâs the most reckless driver, then it would definitely be Santiago. He doesnât give a fuck about road safety or anything like that.
Aro and Marcus would definitely be the worst in terms of skill though.
Aro just straight up refuses to even get in the driverâs seat. He thinks heâs above driving â thatâs what a chauffeur is for. He knows how to do it in theory because heâs seen other peopleâs memories of driving but heâs never actually done it himself.
Marcus is similar to Aro. He has no interest in driving or even leaving the castle for that matter. Doesnât learn because he has no interest in modern technology.
Caius collects cars so I think he would be a competent driver, but he doesnât do it that much. The Volturi have a lot of land so sometimes heâll take out one of his cars but theyâre mostly just there for show.
Please go into more detail about santiago and caius im interested..
Iâm so glad you asked because I have SO MUCH Santiago lore written in my notes app đ
Ok so in my AU Santiago is Spanish. I havenât got an exact date written down for when he was born but he was basically a high ranking soldier around the time of the Spanish Armada (1588).
At this time, some Italian states were involved in supplying Spain with resources, so Caius, who was keenly invested in the human conflict, heard about this well respected soldier, Santiago.
So he does a bit of searching, and ends up seeing him fighting in battle. Santiago, even as a human, is a literal killing machine.
Unfortunately, he ends up getting gravely injured so Caius turns him. He recognises Santiagoâs ruthlessness and decides that he would make a perfect vampire, regardless of whether heâs gifted or not. (I like to think that Caius also kind of had a soft spot for him because neither of them have a gift).
So anyways, Caius brings him back to Volterra to join the guard. This is before Felix has joined, so Santiago is physically the strongest vampire there.
Because Caius is his dominus, Santiago is more loyal to him than he is to Aro. Heâs also Caiusâs only progeny, his pride and joy, so Caius lets him get away with certain things. He loves that Santiagoâs priority is him and not his brothers.
Aro is initially irritated that Caius turned some random Spanish guy without conferring with him first, but eventually he learns to accept Santiagoâs presence. Santiago is allowed to terrorise the lower guards and act in a way that would usually be considered inappropriate because Caius is a sadist. He likes being feared, and he likes people fearing his feral son progeny.
But yeah, heâs the only vampire Caius has ever turned, so he benefits from favouritism.
Though whilst Aro has a kind of father-child relationship with the twins, Caius and Santiago are more like master and dog, except the dog only responds to him and tries to bite everyone because Caius refuses to âtrainâ him.
Then reader comes along of course, and Caiusâs focus shifts to her, which naturally pisses Santiago off (only child syndrome lowkey). Caius wants his two âkidsâ to get along but they do not đ
He sees Santiago purposely intimidating reader and just kind of brushes it off as them bonding. Secretly he wants her to be as close to his own progeny as she is to the twins.
Istg I love your yandere stories so much. You do such a great job at making them absolutely terrifying and I am always, always excited to see where your stories go. Also, the variety. Like. Its all really toxic and its all different versions of twisted. Volturi!Reader is in for a time. As you said, she lived with them for 10 years. The angst. Oh I really hope she gets to rediscover herself again with the Cullens and everything falls to shit đ
~ @pastaanon
Thank you so much đ„č
I love writing yandere characters because thereâs so many different directions you can take them in. Like with the Volturi itâs much more psychological because theyâre trying to force reader to become completely dependant on them. The lost boys, however, are more reckless and impulsive. They arenât above using brute force.
I am considering including either flashbacks of readerâs past with the Volturi or writing a whole chapter set during the 90s when she was with them, just to include some more details of her time with them <3
Yay, a new Yandere Volturi chapter! Your work is amazing as always! I'm really looking forward to the Yandere Cullens chapter! And I really hope the heroine makes some friends at school đâand for some reason, I thought she'd have trouble with math....
Realistically sheâs probs gonna have trouble with everything because sheâs too busy stressing about Demetri hunting her down đ
are the cullens gonna be yans and if so its gonna be an interesting dynamic thats for sure lol
When I originally wrote part 1 I wasnât actually planning on making them yanderes but Iâve had multiple people ask me this same question so I think they will be yes
I was thinking about how before Demetri the Volturi had another tracker right? Well what if once Demetri joined they kept the one he would replace but had them both working on the same missions, a way to test out which of them had the superior gift, and once Aro decided on Demetri he didn't want to just let the other tracker walk out but instead had them both fight to the death, not so much for the entertainment (for the most part) but also for an opportunity to prove that Demetri has greater combat skills and doesn't rely on strength and gift alone. And that's the reason why nothing is known about his whereabouts, because he never left (not alive at least).
I also like to think that Demetri ripped the Volturi's crest necklace off the "poor guy" and that it's the one he wears, for him it's kind of like a trophy.
What is the heroine's true personality in the Yandere Volnuri? It's just that when I was reading, she seemed very calm and quiet to me (because of the effect of her ability, I think), but man, to me it feels like she's a rebel deep down inside....(Sorry, English isn't my native language đ)
Youâre right, deep down she is a rebel and a bit of an anarchist. Both as a human and as a vampire (especially when with Victorâs coven).
However, being with the Volturi for a decade where every thought revolved around serving the kings has messed her up a bit. Sheâs kind of torn between craving the security that comes from being in a coven and wanting freedom.
The Volturi, whilst they are very cultish, provide a community and sense of belonging which she wants, but the price to pay for this is high, because serving them means going against her core beliefs.
Platonic yandere Volturi x fem!reader // Platonic Cullens x fem!reader
Warnings â animal death described in detail, Carlisle and Aro are implied to have a shared romantic/sexual history, mentions of polyamory and homosexuality (in case that triggers anyone??)
A/N â Sorry this took a while to write. I had a family member die and then my long distance boyfriend came down to visit for a week so I have been busy!! đ”âđ«
Word count â 6899
Divider credit â @cursed-carmine
Friday 12 December 2003
Demetri has never liked Washington. Maybe itâs the culture of the people here, or maybe itâs the constant downpour of rain, but either way, heâd much rather be elsewhere. The rain isnât an issue right now, but the snow is. He hadnât minded it back in Volterra, where the stuff danced like powder in the air, but here, it acts like an entirely different being.
In fact, it can hardly be called snow, for what falls from the sky isnât soft and delicate like what he is used to. It pelts down in large, icy chunks and nestles deep within his wet, tangled hair.
Beside him, Alec isnât faring much better. His charcoal cloak is completely soaked through, making it appear almost black. If it werenât for the boyâs shockingly white face, heâd completely blend into the night around them.
The pair of them have stopped atop a snowy mound, a few miles out from Forks. Demetri knows how far-reaching Edward Cullenâs mindreading is. They canât risk detection until Alec decides what their next course of action will be.
âAre you certain she is here?â He asks, so softly that the wind almost immediately steals his words. âI canât smell a thing â the weather makes it impossible.â
Demetri nods grimly in response. He canât smell anything either, but then again, he doesnât need to. Echoes of your presence still linger around the forest like distant memories. He can feel the essence left by your soul as youâve passed through here, melancholy and fearful, though tinged with a small streak of hope. Itâs distinctly you. Demetri trusts his gift more than he trusts anyone else on the guard, and you arenât at all difficult to track. Finding you was as easy as picking out a swan from a flock of ducks.
âYes, I am certain [Name] is here.â He replies calmly, squinting against the relentless snow. Through the dark flurry and mass of trees, he can just about make out the edge of the small city.
Alec shifts beside him, brushing off some chunks of ice from his sleeves. Demetri can tell that he isnât entirely convinced. âPerhaps she only passed through?â
He has to refrain from rolling his eyes at Alec. The boy is his superior, and has served the Volturi for around four centuries longer than he has, yet Alecâs faith in the rest of the guard is still sorely lacking.
Master Aro is far too lenient with the twins. Demetri has held the belief for centuries, though he has never once voiced it. Only Masters Caius and Marcus hold the power to criticise Aro, and even then, they rarely do.
âNo, she is still here. She must have come seeking aid from the Olympic coven.â Demetri pauses with a perplexed frown, and then adds, âI donât understand how she couldâve known to come here. Sheâs never been in contact with the Cullens before.â
Alec turns his face away as if in shame. For a moment he stays quiet and simply stares out into the darkness, before finally speaking, âAfter the trial, she asked me why Alma and Joseph had amber eyes, so I explained their diet to her.â
Demetri grits his teeth to stop himself from growling in frustration. Of course this would be Alecâs fault. âAnd then you told her about the Cullens?â
Alec finally meets his eye, looking slightly offended, âNo, only Signor Cullen. [Name] had seen him in some of the paintings Master Aro had commissioned centuries ago. She asked if I had ever met a âvegetarianâ, as they call themselves, so I told her about him.â
âDottor Cullen â Carlisle is a doctor now.â Demetri corrects sharply. He immediately notices the irritation that flashes across Alecâs face at the technicality, and wisely decides to change the subject. âDid you not stop to question why she was asking about vampires outside of the Volturi?â
Alec shoots him a glare. His eyes, dark from lack of blood, glitter dangerously in the shallow moonlight. âShe was curious, Demetri, thatâs all there was to it. Master Aro told us that she likely made the decision to leave after Chelsea shattered her loyalty.â
Demetri remains undeterred. âEven so, [Name] wouldnât have fled here if you hadn't told her about the Cullens.â
âNo, youâre right, she wouldnât have. Instead, she might have ended up falling into the hands of an even more dangerous coven.â Alec replies coldly, turning back to scowl at the dark expanse before them. âIâm sure the Egyptian coven would love to have her for themselves. At least Master Aro trusts Carlisle, even if only a fraction more than he does Amun.â
Demetri stiffens at the mention of his dominus. That was a personal dig, subtle enough to be passed off as an innocent remark, but Demetri knows itâs anything but. Alec had always regarded himself as superior to him, not just because of his higher rank, but also because he is the progeny of a king.
In human terms, he and Jane would be the closest things Aro has to heirs. Or, they would be, if you hadn't come along. An heir created not from shared venom, but a deep rooted devotion felt by all three of the masters.
And strangely, that has never seemed to bother the twins. Perhaps because no one, not even Aro, knows which vampire turned you. Youâre a mystery, an enigma â an abandoned fledgling just waiting to be claimed. You have no natural master.
But Demetri does. Despite his disdain for Amun, the bond still remains unbroken, festering like an old wound that refuses to heal. Alecâs disregard for Demetriâs dominus brings to life a flicker of protectiveness, which he firmly ignores. He holds no concern for Amun â Chelsea promised him that all loyalty to his old master is gone. So why does he care?
Perhaps it isnât that he cares, but that the idea of Amun having you all to himself is utterly repulsive. Demetri realises with a sudden startling discomfort that if Amun did have you, then he would rejoin the Egyptian coven without hesitation.
âWell, sheâs clearly not with Amun, sheâs here.â He says briskly, âLetâs just go to the Cullens and order them to hand her over. Carlisle is reasonable â heâll comply.â
Alec turns back to look at him sharply, âDo not forget your place, Demetri. You are here to follow my command without question, not offer up ideas of your own.â
Demetri rolls his shoulders as if preparing to fight. His eyes burn into the faint buildings in the distance, where he knows youâre hiding from them. So close, just a few meagre miles away, and yet Alec still insists on waiting here. âI thought we shared the view that [Name] needs to be brought back immediately. That is why weâre here, no?â
He finally meets Alecâs piercing gaze. The boyâs face is difficult to read, but itâs clear that heâs unhappy. Perhaps not at Demetri this time, but at the situation they face. Does he care so much about Carlisleâs opinion that demanding they hand you over causes him distress? Or is it you heâs worried about upsetting?
âYes,â Alec finally replies, his expression hardening with a sudden decisiveness, âbut that was before we knew that she had sought refuge with the Cullens. We must return to Volterra and report this to the masters.â
Demetriâs gloved fingers curl into his palms, pressing against his firm, unforgiving flesh. He can feel his whole body itching to disobey Alec. Every christalised cell that makes up his being aches with a burning desire to hunt you down, even stronger than the constant, scorching need for blood.
âWe were ordered to bring [Name] home.â Demetri reminds him frostily. âMaster Caius will be furious if we do not comply, regardless of your judgment.â
Alec scoffs, âDonât hide behind such a weak excuse. We both know this has nothing to do with Master Caius.â
Demetri narrows his eyes impatiently. This conversation is a waste of time, and Alec is only prolonging it by lecturing him. âIf it is my honest opinion you desire, then fine. I do not fear punishment from any of our masters. If offending the Cullens warrants a negative consequence, then I will take that in my stead. As long as [Name] is safely returned to Volterra, I do not care what is done to me, as no torture will ever rival the terror that seizes my heart every second she is not with us.â
Alec stares at him through the relentless snowfall for a moment, as if Demetriâs speech has stunned him into silence. For a second, his eyes flicker with what could perhaps be mistaken for understanding, but then his expression hardens and the boy shakes his head. âCarlisle wonât let harm come to her, Demetri. We shall return to Volterra without disturbing his coven.â
âWhy are you so concerned with the Cullens?â Demetri fires back, taking an antagonistic step closer to Alec. A few white flakes fall from his hair as he moves, one landing on his lip and the rest clinging to his fur lined cape. Without breaking eye contact with the other guard, he brushes his knuckles across his mouth and scowls.
âWhy are they more important to you than [Name] is? I thought you considered her your sister. Gods â she might as well be your broodmate, yet you still fret more for Carlisle than you do her!â
Alec finally snaps back at him, âI will not sabotage Master Aroâs plans. He wants Carlisleâs boy to join the guard, so we are under strict orders to maintain good relations with the whole coven. Until we speak to Master Aro directly, we will not make contact with any of them.â
Demetri groans in frustration and runs his fingers through his wet, spiky hair. âYouâre prioritising Edward Cullenâs potential future with us over [Name]âs safety.â
âDonât be ridiculous.â Alec growls, turning his back on the distant city. Demetri watches as he crosses his arms over his chest and stares darkly at the forest from which they came. âI want to bring her back just as much as you do, but letâs not lie to ourselves. She is perfectly safe here with them.â
Demetri hisses through his teeth. âYou canât know that for certain! Anything could happen, Alec.â
He can already feel his thoughts beginning to spiral. Images of you being torn apart by vicious rogues flash through his mind. What if the Romanians discover youâve fled from the Volturi? Would they kill you? Turn you against your family? Demetri knows how easy you are to manipulate. Too young, too trusting. Such qualities are endearing, but they make him constantly fear for your safety.
How could he not?
How could Alec not?
âIf anything were to happen,â Alec begins, his tone laced with impatience, âthen [Name] is perfectly capable of looking after herself. Your job isnât to protect her, Demetri, she can do that herself. All you need to do is track her down â which you have done adequately, so stop fussing.â
Demetri glares at him, but doesnât argue any further. Heâs served the Volturi for so long now that disobeying a direct order from a superior doesnât even occur to him as an option. To go against Alecâs word would be to go against his own nature. It would be a betrayal of the many lifetimes of service he has dedicated to his masters.
The irritation on Demetriâs face relaxes into something more subdued. He sighs in defeat, trying to ignore the aching need to follow your tenors, and then replies, âThere is nothing I can say to make you consider the alternative?â
âNo.â Alec answers without hesitation. âNothing at all. This is a matter that should be brought to the kings.â
It seems like a waste of time to Demetri, for he already knows what they will say. Master Aro is the only one of the three who may actually agree with Alecâs initial judgment that for now you will be safe with the Olympic coven. Neither Masters Caius nor Marcus will likely care about maintaining a cordial relationship with them.
There must be more to Master Aroâs history with Carlisle than Demetri knows; a history that Alec would, by default, be more privy to than him.
Something personal, perhaps.
Demetri isnât blind, nor is he stupid. He had sensed the strange tension that lingered between his master and their distinguished guest all those centuries ago, but never assumed it transcended physical desire.
To vampires, polyamory isnât the same unspeakable taboo it is among many mortal communities, and neither is homosexuality. No one had batted an eye at whatever was going on between Master Aro and Carlisle, despite Aro having a mate. Of course, they had been subtle, but there was really no need when the only witnesses were the guards, who would never think to disapprove of their masterâs private business.
Demetri had been a witness, but perhaps not to everything. Whatever bond Alec seems to believe still exists between Master Aro and Carlisle cannot be good, especially if it may cloud his judgment.
âYou donât worry that Master Aroâs feeling for Carlisle could⊠affect his decision?â Demetri asks cautiously, trying to keep his voice as inoffensive as possible.
Alec eyes him suspiciously, âAre you doubting our masterâs ability to rule?â
Demetri hesitates, choosing his next words carefully. Alec is close enough to Aro to be able to theoretically influence decisions if he desired to, but he could just as easily rat out any perceived disobedience. âOf course not. All I am suggesting is that I am concerned that his priorities may not lie completely with [Name].â
Alecâs brows furrow as he listens, but he doesnât interpret, so Demetri takes that as a sign to continue. âYou were given the authority to make decisions for this mission. I know you want her home just as much as I do, so why not take her back now? You have the freedom to act as you see fit, why are you making decisions according to Aroâs vision of the future?â
Alecâs face turns incredulous. âHe is my dominus, my objectives should always be aligned with his.â
âEven if his objectives jeopardise [Name]âs safety?â Demetri challenges, no longer able to keep the desperation out of his voice.
âThey wonât.â Alec replies firmly. âNow I suggest you stop arguing with me, or Iâll have to report you to the masters for insubordination.â
Demetri grinds his teeth together to stop himself from retorting back. He knows that Alec isnât one to make empty threats, so it would do him good to heed the warning.
âForgive me, Alec, it would be inconsiderate to drag them into such a minor dispute. I shouldnât have let my personal feelings interfere with our task.â
After a few seconds of heavy silence, the boyâs posture relaxes a fraction and he nods to himself, clearly pleased with Demetriâs submission. Alec doesnât acknowledge the apology, which is to be expected, but he doesnât repeat the threat either. âWeâll leave now then, before any of the Cullens notice our presence.â
Demetri responds with a brisk, wordless nod. The sooner they return to Volterra the better. He can admit that, even if he still doesnât agree that this is the best course of action.
After casting a final, longing look back at Forks, Demetri turns around and starts to run. His feet barely touch the thick blanket of snow beneath him, leaving no print and making no sound as he forces himself to leave you. He doesnât check to make sure Alec is following, for fear that even a quick glance will be enough to send him running back to that mound. Back to where your distant presence feels strongest.
No, he will return to Volterra. He will follow orders as he has been trained, even if it makes his whole chest ache with something that feels uncomfortably close to human pain. For now, he will leave you be.
Wednesday 28 January 2004
The air around you quivers with every quiet heartbeat of the prey you stalk. It vibrates through the silent forest, occasionally interrupted by the soft crunch of snow beneath hooves. Youâve been tailing the doe for a few minutes now, watching the way each individual hair bristles in the wind, admiring the plethora of browns that would go unnoticed by a human eye. Itâs a shame youâll have to kill such a beautiful creature â something so pure and free from sin.
The Cullens frown upon your former diet, as if their own doesnât directly contradict the nature of your species, as if killing an animal is any different from killing a human. At least animals arenât capable of the same cruelty man is.
You exhale softly through your nose, trying to focus on the task at hand. Carlisle will be disappointed if you return without having fed, and despite what you keep trying to tell yourself, you canât stand disappointing anyone. Not even this strange coven of âvegetariansâ, as they call themselves.
The doe wanders slightly closer to where youâre hidden, crouched in a snowy ditch beneath a few naked branches. Her nose twitches, but she still shows no sign of noticing your presence. Itâs almost sad how defenceless she is, how utterly unprepared she is for your attack. How many predators has she evaded to survive up until this point? Many, youâre sure. Her species have perfected the art of fleeing, yet all those millions of years of evolution will amount to nothing when faced with a vampire.
Itâs cruel, really.
A faint, bleating squeal sounds in the distance, a few miles away, you think. One of the others has made their kill â thatâs probably a good indication that you should too.
With a quiet grunt, you slowly emerge from the ditch, locking eyes with the doe. She stares back at you for a moment, frozen, and then bolts. You watch with rapt attention as she darts eloquently through the snow, moving with eerie grace.
As soon as the last flash of brown fur disappears behind a cluster of fir trees, you begin your pursuit. It takes less than a second to reach the doe, but you donât immediately go for the kill. Instead, you carefully lunge from the side, wrapping your arms around her midsection and sending the two of you tumbling to the ground.
The doe screams and bucks beneath you, though not from pain. You made sure to cushion the fall and avoided landing on any delicate limbs. Sheâs just scared, as all animals are of vampires. Itâs strange, considering most members of your kind wouldnât even think to feed from anything other than a human.
Animals just arenât the same. They arenât rich or sweet; their blood tastes like dirt â earthy and bitter. If it werenât for the scorching pain in your throat, you certainly wouldnât have the appetite for a deer. To kill one now feels like a waste, but you know that if you donât, itâll be a human you prey on instead.
And that canât, under any circumstances, happen. Not if you want to stay with the Cullens.
Fighting back your disgust, you dip down and sink your teeth into the warm fur, feeling the struggling beneath your increase as the animalâs panic worsens. Her blood rushes into your mouth, soothing the ache in your throat. It tastes unpleasant, like raw foliage, but right now you donât care. The rapid pounding of the doeâs heart spurs you to continue, awakening the predator within, and you become completely absorbed in the draining of both blood and life from your prey.
Only when the fur starts to cool and the blood pressure drops, do you finally pull back. You can feel the warm liquid already starting to stick to your mouth and chin. Thin wisps of steam rise from the corpse and a few crimson droplets drip onto the snow.
Caius would be furious if he saw the mess.
The thought of your old master makes you frown. Itâs been more than a month since you fled the Volturi, and yet they still consume your every thought, still dictate the way you feed, act and speak.
You are a guard, a soldier, and being here with the Cullens hasnât erased that the way you thought it would. Your time within the guard has made the outside world feel strange and foreign. It has twisted your sense of community â of family â into something only the Volturi can provide.
Aro must have done that on purpose.
Perhaps that is why you still havenât had any word from your former coven; they know how lost you are without them. Aro thinks youâll come crawling back, begging for forgiveness as if what youâve done is comparable to all of the atrocities they have committed themselves.
He doesnât deserve the satisfaction.
You grimace, and then stiffen as the wind picks up and blows a familiar scent closer â Jasper. Without even meaning to, you let out a low growl and turn around to glare at where heâs standing a few metres away, lips red and eyes a bright, glowing amber. He raises his hands placatingly and takes a few, cautious steps closer.
âItâs only me,â Jasper murmurs, looking between you and the dead doe. âFeeling better now?â
You open your mouth to answer, only for an unexpected sense of calm to wash over you, masking the primordial need to defend your kill. You want to snap at him for using his gift on you, still wary after Chelseaâs betrayal, but itâs impossible to muster up enough anger to even care.
âI suppose so,â you answer begrudgingly, âthough I canât say that I enjoy the taste of deer.â
He laughs softly, seemingly more at ease now that you arenât showing any signs of aggression. âCanât say that I do either. Maybe next time you and I can go hunt some wolves instead.â
Your lips quirk into a slight smile. Jasper is your usual hunting partner, so he knows exactly which animals you find more⊠tolerable to feed on. âThat would certainly be preferable to another deer.â
âMost creatures are preferable to deer,â he agrees, moving closer to where youâre crouched over your meal. Thereâs a beat of silence as he looks you up and down, taking in the drying blood that paints your maw and stains the collar of your shirt. Youâre certainly a sight to behold, practically feral in both your stance and state. Any human that might be unfortunate enough to stray this far into the wilderness would be in for a shock.
You clear your throat and stand up, suddenly feeling self-conscious. âI believe I heard a goat earlier â was that yours?â
Jasperâs face scrunches with disgust and he quickly shakes his head. âIâd rather feed from a rat. It mustâve been Carlisleâs kill you heard.â
You hum quietly in amusement and dip your head, trying to hide your growing smile. The kings were always strict about appearances, you were never to show emotion during trials, so expressing joy so freely now feels wrong. In fact, even just experiencing the emotion itself doesnât feel right. Youâre supposed to look down on all other vampires, for they are inferior to the Volturi, yet the Cullens, for the most part, seem remarkably similar to you. Then again, you donât consider yourself to be part of the Volturi anymore, so perhaps that is why.
âWhere is Carlisle?â You wonder, glancing around the forest. âHas he gone back with the others?â
âAh, no.â Jasper replies, straightening up. He swings his head back in the direction he came, blonde locks dancing like tassels with the movement. âThatâs why I came for you. Carlisle wants a word.â
You stiffen, the smile instantly dropping from your face. âHave I upset him?â
âUpset him?â Jasper looks back at you wryly, âNo, I doubt it. Think he just wants to talk without the rest of us eavesdropping.â
The tension in your body eases slightly, though your face remains stern. âYou mean without Edward eavesdropping.â
Jasperâs head tilts in mock contemplation, âDoes it count as eavesdropping if he isnât using his ears?â
You scoff quietly and walk over to him, trying to wipe away some of the blood that sticks to your skin. Itâs become flaky and dry now, chilled by the winter breeze. Youâll have to have a shower when you return to the Cullensâ home.
Your home.
âI suppose not, though the principle remains.â
âI guess it does,â Jasper muses, his lips twitching into a strange smile, âYou know he canât control it, though. His gift doesnât work the same way yours does.â
You avert your eyes with a guilty sigh, suddenly very interested in the glistening snow at your feet. Even after six weeks here in Forks, youâre still struggling with Edwardâs mind reading. Knowing that he can hear your every thought feels just as violating as knowing that Aro can access every single one of your memories, and no doubt will when you next see him.
Whenever that may be.
âI know. I donât mean to be standoffish towards him, but itâs difficult for me. His gift is so similar to AroâsâŠâ
Jasper rests a gentle hand on your shoulder, âEdward is nothing like Aro.â
You grimace and nod. Heâs right â you know that, but it doesnât change the way you feel. Every person you meet and every thing you do reminds you of your time with the Volturi. âYes, I know. Iâm just constantly worried Iâll think the wrong thing.â
He smiles down at you sadly. âThereâs no such thing. Your thoughts are your own, you can think whatever you want.â
Somehow, you donât find that entirely believable. Every day since arriving in Forks, youâve been terrified that theyâll cast you out of their home. You still think about your old family often, more than someone in your position should. Whatâs stopping Carlisle from handing you right back to Aro? Theyâre friends, arenât they?
Donât friends help each other out?
Jasperâs hand leaves your shoulder and he takes a respectful step back. âIâll see you at home then. Do you know how to get to Hoh Lake from here? I think thatâs where Carlisle is waiting for you.â
âYes, Esme took me there a couple of weeks ago,â you confirm with a slight incline of your head. âItâs a few miles south from here, isnât it?â
Jasper hums, pointing towards a cluster of tall firs a few hundred feet away, âYeah, over in that direction. Youâll catch his scent soon enough, and then heâll be easy to pinpoint.â
You nod in thanks before swiftly making your leave. The sensation of Jasperâs eyes burning into you doesnât go away until youâve travelled at least a mile. Heâs watching you, but why? The thought makes your skin prick with unease, but you try to brush it off. Jasper has always been an unsettling presence, which is probably why he uses his gift on you so often. Itâs already beginning to wear off, and you can feel yourself growing anxious as you get closer to Hoh Lake.
It only takes around ten minutes of running through mountainous terrain to find Carlisle waiting for you at the lakeshore. The wind is blowing towards you, so he doesnât immediately catch your scent, however the sound of your boots racing across frozen snow soon alerts him of your arrival.
Within seconds youâre standing beside him just before the frozen water, staring ahead so as to avoid eye contact. From your peripheral vision, you can see that Carlisleâs posture is relaxed: arms at his sides and face sporting a mild expression. He doesnât seem upset with you, so why bother summoning you so far out in the wilderness?
âThereâs no need to be so skittish â you arenât in any trouble.â He finally says in a gentle voice.
You glance up at him, and then back at the lake, uncomfortable with how easily he read your mood. âIâm not skittish, Iâm just⊠confused as to why youâd want to speak here, away from all the others.â
Carlisle stays silent for a moment before replying. âIâm sorry, I hadnât meant to make you anxious. I suppose I forget your past, youâve settled in so wellââ
âIâm not anxious.â You interrupt sharply, shooting him a glare. âI served the Volturi for over a decade, I donât fear anything or anyone.â
Carlisleâs expression falters for a fraction of a second. âSorry, thatâs not what I was implying. I only mean that this sort of meeting probably wouldnât usually be indicative of good news in the Volturi, would it?â
You shrug uncomfortably â an old habit youâve forced yourself to pick back up after years of âproperâ mannerisms. The surge of defensiveness you feel towards your old coven is an unwelcome surprise. âNot necessarily. Perhaps for the lower guards, that might be true, but the kings favoured me. If I hadnât done anything inherently wrong, then Iâd have nothing to fear. Oftentimes Iâd be summoned merely to keep one of them company.â
The snow crunches as Carlisle shuffles close enough to gently pat your back. It feels unnatural, like he hasnât yet discovered what works to soothe you and what doesnât. âWell, you havenât done anything to get yourself into trouble, and even if you had, Iâm not some evil dictator, [Name].â His lips quirk into a smile, as if his own words amuse him. âIf youâve made a mistake, then I â and the rest of the coven â completely understand that. With that being said, Iâm not sure you have made a mistake, so thereâs nothing to be concerned about.â
You shift your weight between your feet impatiently. Not only does he obviously not understand your worries, but he also still hasnât revealed what the two of you are doing here. âYes, but⊠my thoughts. Edward can hear them and sometimes I worry Iâm not thinking the way I should.â
âThereâs no right way of thinking,â Carlisle replies softly. His hand, which still lingers against your back, begins to rub circles into the fabric of your shirt. Heâs trying to soothe you the way someone would a child. The action should irritate you, but strangely it reminds you of home. Or, what was your home. âYou served the Volturi for many years, so itâs completely natural to still be on high alert. All that training wonât just disappear within a few weeks.â
You groan and tug at the roots of your hair in frustration â the unfairness of your existence finally settling in. Why did it have to be you? Why was it you who survived the vampire attack? Why was it you who stumbled across Victorâs coven? Why was it you who Aro set his sights on, and you who realised Chelseaâs manipulation?
âTheyâve ruined me.â You hiss through gritted teeth. âI shouldnât be like this. They trained me like a dog, so that I can only find purpose and comfort serving them.â
âYouâre not ruined,â Carlisle says firmly. His hand retreats from your back and he turns to face you with a serious expression. âYour past doesnât dictate your present, you donât have to be what they created.â
âI donât know how to be anything other than a soldier,â you admit quietly. âItâs been so long since Iâve had this much freedom. Even before the Volturi, I still had a duty to my old coven. I donâtâ I donât feel that way here.â
Carlisleâs solemnity doesnât change. He listens raptly to your confession, as if your words themselves hold divine weight, and then gently cups your face. âI understand, you feel restless, donât you? Thatâs why I wanted to speak to you alone, without the others listening in.â
He smiles fondly at the thought of his progenies, though stops when you donât share the sentiment. âI know you havenât been with us for very long, but I think it would do you good to attend high school with the others.â
It takes a second for Carlisleâs words to register. He canât surely mean that. Attend school? Exist among the very creatures youâve been slaughtering for the past fifty years? The thought almost makes you laugh. What a foolish suggestion! He might as well encourage you to stand on a stage and announce to the whole town that youâre a creature of the night â that you consume blood as they do water and exist as a being that defies what every human believes to be true.
But the way Carlisle stares down at you suggests otherwise. The astronomical trust lingering in his golden eyes reveals that he genuinely believes it to be a good idea.
âUm, Iâm not sure,â you reply carefully, stepping back so that his hands fall from your face. âIâm not great at controlling myself around blood, and Iâm worried that all of the smells and lights will overwhelm me.â
His lips slide into a sympathetic smile, âIâve considered that. Alice and Edward are currently posing as sophomores, so I can speak to the school and see if we can get you put into their grade. That way they can keep an eye on you and make sure no accidents happen.â
You scratch the back of your neck with a confused frown, âHow old are sophomores supposed to be? I donât exactly look the same age as those two.â
Carlisle laughs quietly. âSophomores are typically fifteen or sixteen years old, so youâll look a little younger than the rest, but I can tell them that youâre exceptionally bright for your age and would benefit from being put in a higher grade.â
His enthusiasm for the idea makes it near impossible to disagree, so you have to be careful with your words. âI havenât been in education since I was a human, and even then, I believe I dropped out early. The teachers there wonât believe that Iâm âbright for my ageâ if I donât know any of what theyâre teaching me.â
âYou and I both know that wonât be a problem.â Carlisleâs voice turns slightly condescending now, and you canât help but feel as though youâre being spoken to like a child. âIt wonât take long to catch up, and Iâm sure you have a good foundation of knowledge already. The Volturi have always valued science and art, were you given any lessons? Iâm sure Aro wouldâve taken great pleasure in teaching you.â
A quiet scoff slips from your lips, earning you a confused frown from Carlisle.
âYou speak of him as if youâre still friends.â
He grimaces and shoves his hands into his pockets. âI⊠Well, Aro was hospitable to me when I resided with his coven. I donât agree with what he did to you, but I can still appreciate certain aspects of his character.â
âLike what?â You challenge quietly, âWhat do you actually like about him? Heâs a tyrant and a snake. I thought you of all people would be smart enough to see that.â
Carlisle just stares down at you with a pitying expression, âHe means well, he just has an unconventional way of doing things.â
âUnconventional?â You gawk, âIâd say murdering my previous coven for personal gain is a little more than just âunconventionalâ. And then on top of that, he had Chelsea scramble my brain so that Iâd be blindly loyal to the very people who stole my life away from me!â
Carlisleâs brows furrow and his body shifts to the left, as if pushed by the unobstructed alpine wind. âYou see things in black and white. Aro may have wronged you, but his existence is imperative for the stability of our kind. The Volturi may be flawed in many ways, but they are a necessary force.â
âWhat he did was entirely unnecessary,â you snap back. âThey didnât need my gift â Aro just saw me as a shiny new toy to play with. He takes whatever he wants because he believes, as a self-appointed king, that he has the right to. Heâs not serving some âgreater goodâ, heâs just fulfilling his own selfish desires.â
Carlisle sighs deeply, a troubled look crossing his face. His golden eyes seem to glisten with venom, though youâre certain that he isnât crying. He canât be, it must be a trick of the light.
âIâm sorry, [Name]. Youâre right, I may consider him a friend, but what he and his brothers did to you is inexcusable.â
The apology comes as a surprise, so much so that you donât immediately know what to say in response. Stranger still, Carlisle appears to be genuinely remorseful, an emotion rarely seen from the vampires of your past. You arenât sure how to approach the situation.
âIâ I just donât understand why you consider him a friend, knowing everything that you do. He hides his true nature behind false smiles and meaningless words, surely you are able to see through that!â
âI am,â Carlisle admits, âbut you must understand, it isnât as simple as that. The Volturi were the first civilised vampires I met, and they gave me a home for twenty years. Aro was a⊠stimulating companion. He was, and still is, unlike anyone I have ever met before.â
Carlisle pauses, as if in search of how to explain himself most clearly. âI value him as an old friend who provided me sanctuary and knowledge when I was at my most vulnerable. It pains me to see him commit acts of cruelty after showing such kindness to me, though unfortunately I find that, despite my own morals, I cannot help but value the connection we have.â
You feel yourself deflate slightly, your previous anger reducing to a quieter confusion. âBut you know what Chelsea is capable of. Arenât you worried that this âconnectionâ you speak so highly of is merely a fabrication?â
Carlisle seems oddly surprised by the question, as if he hadnât expected your thoughts to move in the direction they have. âIâm not gifted,â he reminds you gently, âAro has no need to force any kind of friendship or camaraderie between us. Perhaps if we had met at a later time, after I had turned Edward, things may have been different.â
The casual way he speaks about Aro desiring Edwardâs gift makes you grimace. âYou seem strangely at peace with the knowledge that he might do to your coven what he did to mine in order to obtain your own progeny. I thought you considered Edward a son. Would you give him up if push comes to shove, or would you stand by and allow him to slaughter the grade of your coven?â
âWe are not a coven,â Carlisle replies firmly, âwe are a family. And I like to think that he would not do that.â
âWell, Iâve seen him do it first hand,â you argue back, âwe both know what heâs capable of. All Iâm saying is that you should be more careful about who you decide to befriend.â
Carlisleâs brows knit together into what would be a frown, if it werenât for the close-lipped smile he bears. You arenât sure what emotion he is trying to convey, but it probably isnât a positive one.
âI appreciate your concern. It pleases me to see that you care enough to worry about our wellbeing, but you have nothing to fear. Despite the pain he has caused you, Aro isnât the heartless monster you believe him to be. No one is entirely good or bad, and our actions are just as significant as our motives behind them.â
Carlisleâs insistence on defending Aro is alarming, to say the least, but by now youâve given up trying to change his mind. Either he has a frighteningly distorted view on what kind of a person Aro is, or he simply doesnât care that the man is a power-hungry tyrant. You canât decide which would be worse.
âWeâve gotten quite off topic here, havenât we?â Carlisle suddenly says with a light chuckle. Itâs clearly forced, but you can appreciate the effort.
âYeah, I guess we have.â
âHow about we go home, then?â He suggests in a much gentler tone than before. âWe can discuss the finer details of your enrolment with the others, to make sure that everyoneâs on the same page.â
You wrap your arms around your midsection and glance down at the dark, fur-lined boots Alice bought you last week. The Cullens have been very kind to you, all things considered, so you arenât in much of a position to deny Carlisleâs wishes. All the same though, spending seven hours in a building thatâs swarming with humans doesnât sound like a particularly good idea.
âAre you sure this is wise? I mean⊠anything could happen, I donât want to mess up the life youâve built for yourselves here.â
Carlisle removes a hand from his pocket to give your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. âYou have more control than you give yourself credit for, and the others will be there in case of an emergency. I really do think this will be good for you, [Name]. Itâll give you the purpose youâve been missing since leaving the Volturi and youâll finally have the chance to live a somewhat normal life. Donât you see? You can be human again.â
Which volturi member is hardest to write, Like the most difficult to understand?
I find Alec and Jane difficult to write, because despite being born centuries before Demetri (and presumably Felix), they have the maturity of fourteen year olds.
They have authority over most of the other guards and are older than a lot of them too, but theyâre still children at the end of the day, so itâs hard to write them in a way that accurately portrays their characters.
Especially Alec, because I feel like he gets less attention than his sister in both the books and movies.