Volterra, Italy
I wasn't certain going impulsively and alone to find the idiot of my brother was a good idea, but what I did know was that I didn't want to lose him.
It had been easy though. It also gave me the opportunity to practice even more my gift. I was glad that my confidence was shining through the fear of my powers.
I had myself compelled a plane ticket for the first fly over the Italian city.
Sunglasses adorned my face while I put on a scarf and a red hood to blend in within the people.
There was a festival. San Marcos Day Festival and while the fabric and the glasses helped myself to not expose my skin to the bright sun of the city, I didn't want to attract too much attention either, specially using alleys and streets that had small sunlight.
I was taking a big risk, walking through the sunny streets of where the Volturi lived. But my brother was more important. I couldn't loose him.
~8~
Finding Edward had been hard.
But I had the feeling that the first thing he'll do is trying to get an audience with the Volturi. Leave it to him to try and make a scene.
"Edward!" I exclaimed lowly when I saw him walking calmly, almost to the sunlight. He wasn't trying to hide his skin like I was.
He was going to expose himself.
I ran to him, forcing myself to not use vampire speed, carefully keeping my head down and away from any stray of light.
Edward snapped his head to where he heard me, barely catching me as I jumped into his arms in an embrace.
"Eliza?" Edward murmured in confusion as he loosely and tensely returned my embrace. "What are you doing here?"
"Stopping you from doing something stupid" I replied, pulling away, giving him a look. "Edward. You cannot attract their attention, please. It's the worst thing you can ever do"
Edward looked away, sounding pained, "There's no point to my life anymore"
"She's alive" I tried to pull his face to mine. Maybe, maybe he needed a little push?
Edward grabbed my wrists suddenly, pulling them down. A ray of sunshine illuminated the porcelain and diamond skin around my wrists. He pulled me closer to the shadows of the building.
"Don't you dare" Edward warned. I looked at him through my sunglasses defiantly. "This is not the time to be confident and fearless about your abilities, Liz"
"I'll use them if I have to" I warned.
Edward placed a hand in the crock of my neck, bending slightly, face scrunching in pain. I grabbed his wrist, "Please, Lizzy. I want this pain to stop" I didn't realize he was trying to distract me, slowly turning us around to step back into the sunlight, not until the skin of my fingers reflected the light. My eyes widened in horror under my glasses, "I'm sorry, Eliza"
Edward pushed back from me, and I covered my glowing skin, lowering my hand as he turned around, the sunlight too close to get to his pale skin, slowly starting to get people's attention.
"Edward" I called out in worry, panicking. He was now too far away from me to pull him into the safety of the shadows without risking exposure myself.
It wasn't until a small body clashed into Edward, returning him back to safety that I realized the back of my eyes were burning, but no tears ever came.
Edward stumbled back, stunned at the familiar scent and body shape curling into his body, hiding him from exposure.
Bella.
Bella came to the rescue and for once I was grateful for the human entering our lives.
Edward flickered his eyes to me, shocked. His eyes were tense and staring at me intently.
I told you she was alive.
Edward's lips twitched in a shocked smile, arms wrapping tightly but carefully around his little human. "They were right... Heaven"
I began to smile when he finally realized Bella was in his arms, both kissing each other.
My smile faded at the light grip on my forearm, slowly looking to the side. If I were human, and needed to breathe, my breath would have hitched in the back of my throat at the sight of the black cloaks.
The Volturi were here.
The youthful face of who looked like a young boy was who held my arm, red eyes staring at me.
I had heard of them. This had to be Alec... And where Alec was, his sister wasn't that far away.
Edward stiffened, pulling Bella behind him, protectively. He glanced at the Volturi holding me, looking at me in concern, a question on his eyes. Are you okay?
I didn't respond, my eyes on the two hooded figures making their way to us from a dark alley. As soon as they reached the safety of the shadows near us was when they took down their hoods.
The red eyes was what got our attention. One of the Volturi's was a huge and strong vampire, Felix and the other slender and elegant, Demetri.
Edward followed my gaze, tense, voice coming out polite, "I won't be needing your services after all, gentlemen"
Felix was the one to speak, "Aro wants to speak with you again"
I tensed.
Edward pursed his lips, "No rules were broken"
Demetri smiled, seemingly not agreeing. "We should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue"
Edward glanced between the three of them. Alec still had his hand lightly around my forearm, but we all knew it wasn't a polite gesture.
Edward sighed through his nose, seemingly finishing reading their thoughts and detecting they weren't suggesting but ordering, "Fine" he said reluctantly, then slowly looked at Bella, "Bella, why don't you stay enjoy the festival?"
The brief exchanged look between the Volturi wasn't hard to miss for us.
Alec's grip tightened slightly. I took it as a warning sign.
"The girl comes with us" Felix said, giving no room to discussion.
Something Edward didn't understand, "That's not going to happen-"
Alice walked closer through the alley, a light beat on her step as she pulled down the back of the hood of her white swing coat once on the shadows.
The smile she gave us was not her cheery one but, only Edward and I who knew her could tell, "Come on, guys, it's a festival"
Alice walked closer to the couple, her stance protective.
I looked up, deciding to speak up, "We wouldn't want to make a scene, right?"
I glanced at my side, towards Alec with a head tilt.
Alec gave me a sharp, amused look as he slowly let go of my arm, "There won't be any scene"
Alec placed his hands behind his back, taking a few smooth steps back to his companions, his posture suddenly relaxing.
Felix gave us a look, "And yet, we'd still win"
Edward glared lightly, "But not easily-"
"Enough"
A very tiny, blonde young woman walked closer suddenly from behind Alec, she also wore a dark cloak, stopping next to the relaxed boy.
The other two Volturi immediately stepped back.
Jane.
My mind supplied as Alice, Edward and I took a step back, clearly wary of the girl.
I had heard of her too.
Her gift was a dangerous and painful one.
"Jane" Edward greeted curly.
Bella should know better than to whisper between a group of vampires. "Who is she?"
Alice still was polite enough not to remind her of that, whispering back. "Just do as she says"
Jane tossed Edward a dark cloak.
Without protesting, Edward put it on. I took the moment to step closer to the human.
Jane gave us all a cold look. "Follow me"
She turned around without waiting for a response, heading to the alley, walking confidently. Alec followed closely behind, the girl slowing slightly as to let him catch up with her, both walking confidently.
Felix simply smirked at us, gesturing at us to walk after them.
Alice and I walked first, our shoulders lightly touching, sensing the rest walking behind us.