Ashley sat in her cozy living room, engrossed in the pages of her mother's book. Each word seemed to pull her deeper into the intricate tapestry of her family's history. But as she turned the page, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her father's name staring back at her from the ancient text.
"Marcus Volturi," Ashley murmured to herself, her voice trembling with a mixture of awe and trepidation. "An ancient vampire, one of the first vampires to ever exist. Born in Greece around 1350 BC."
The realization of her father's age sent a shiver down Ashley's spine. Three thousand years old. The thought was both staggering and surreal.
Suddenly, Carlisle's voice broke through her reverie, pulling her back to the present. "Who is three thousand years old?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Ashley looked up from the book, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. "My father. Marcus Volturi. He lives in Volterra, Italy," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper.
Carlisle's expression shifted, a hint of worry clouding his features. "I want to visit him," Ashley declared, determination shining in her eyes.
But Carlisle's response was immediate. "You haven't read everything," he cautioned, his tone grave.
Confusion flickered across Ashley's face as she looked to Carlisle for clarification. "What do you mean? Please tell me," she implored, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Your father doesn't know that you exist. Your mother never told him," Carlisle revealed, his words heavy with the weight of the truth. "She got scared when she became pregnant by a vampire, so she ran. After she gave birth to you, she knew she was dying, so she left you at Chief Swan's doorstep."
Tears welled in Ashley's eyes as she grappled with the enormity of Carlisle's revelation. "But... we can tell Marcus that I am his daughter. We can show him the book. We have proof," she insisted, her voice trembling with emotion.
Carlisle's gaze softened, his heart breaking for the pain that Ashley was experiencing. "Ashley, the Volturi are dangerous. They would probably kill you before you even get the opportunity to speak," he warned, his voice laced with concern.
But Ashley's resolve was unshakeable. "Carlisle, please. I'm going to Volterra. I don't care if you like it or not. You can't change my mind. I'm going, and you can come with me or you can stay here, but I will go," she declared, her voice firm with determination.
For a moment, there was silence as Carlisle weighed his options. Then, with a resigned sigh, he met Ashley's gaze with unwavering resolve. "Then I will be coming with you," he vowed, his voice filled with a quiet determination.
As they shared a solemn nod of agreement, Ashley knew that the journey ahead would be fraught with challenges and danger. But with Carlisle by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope, knowing that together they would face whatever trials awaited them in Volterra.
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What will happen once they reach Volterra?
Will the Volturi believe Ashley? Or will they kill her?
How will Marcus react?
Will the Volturi even give them the chance to explain?