When Gianna woke up, there was no sign of the newborn or the tracker even though the sun was shining outside. Even so, the human was careful not to make any noise, afraid that her perception was wrong and they were just lurking somewhere in the mansion. Gianna walked to the room that was being used as Elia's refuge and contemplated the mess and broken furniture for a moment. Living with a newborn under her own roof was making the human too stressed, and after Aro's visit she had to take a sleeping pill, so she didn't notice when Demetri left.
"If they've gone out, they won't be back until nightfall,"Gianna thought, already with her cell phone in her hand, sending a message to the mansion's servants. Without vampires around, Gianna could focus on the house and finally eat something, not to mention she could prepare the list of human employees who could return to work at Palazzo dei Priori, at least in the area open to the public.
Since the Volturi were about to go on a mission again, it would be the best time for the human staff to come back and that would take a huge weight off Gianna's shoulders. The human finished sending the texts and was walking down the stairs a little more excited to start the day before the madness started again.
She just didn't expect the madness to be sitting on her couch.
Alec was reading an old copy of Alice in Wonderland that Gianna kept in her library, an old gift from her father, and one of the many analogies he had used in her childhood to get her used to the new world that would be presented to her in the future. Alec innocent appearance could fool anyone who entered the house; he was just a handsome young reader.
- Did he take her? - Alec asked, without looking at Gianna.
The human finally realized that she had stopped breathing. Alec was too unpredictable and any wrong response could be the end of her.
- I think so, young master - Gianna hesitated. That was the wrong answer, and from the look on Alec's face, that wasn't what he wanted to hear.
- Sit down - Alec said, closing the book with violence - after all this is your house.
Gianna obeyed, hugging the satin robe she kept over her body and pushing her hair back. She wasn't used to being in the presence of the Volturi members looking so disheveled.
- I'm going to ask you something, Gianna, and I expect you to fulfill the task, otherwise you won't be able to live among us anymore.
He paused so the human could nod, and Gianna did so. She didn't know what the masters had talked about with Alec after they both left the mansion, but she deduced that it had to do with the Volturi's next mission and the fate of the newborn.
Whatever it was, Gianna just wanted her house back.
- You'll probably be alone with Elia for a few nights since Aro wants us all to be prepared for battle…
- Alone with Elia? - Gianna was taken by surprise. Alec didn't like her reaction, nor her tone of voice, so the human changed her words - With the signorina... Me? But she's a newborn, the young master put bars on her window so she wouldn't run away, Demetri stays at her door so she won't chase me, how can I be alone with her?
- The bars are just for show, Elia can rip them off if she wants - Alec replied, his expression was cold as ice, and he acted as if Gianna was saying the obvious - and Demetri can't stay here anymore now that we're leaving.
- Even so, I...
Alec raised his eyebrow and Gianna stopped talking at once. That was crazy, he knew that, but he didn't care, and Gianna soon realized it. Her life had no value to him, to any of them, Alec just didn't want Elia to spend any more time with Demetri, and that would be impossible to avoid in the castle.
- Elia will probably ask you questions, of course she will - Alec continued as if Gianna's concerns didn't exist - so I want you to think carefully about what you're going to answer.
- But what could I say? - Gianna replied - I barely know her, I just...
The human finally realized what Alec was referring to and felt a shiver down her spine.
- You know about Demetri's letters, young master.
Alec smiled. Gianna hated his smile even more than when he was expressionless. That wasn't a good sign.
- Please, young master, do not consider what I did as a sign of favoritism, I just... - Gianna took a deep breath, trying to make the words come out as Alec began to pace the room - I just serve the Volturi.
- I found out by chance, and I was disappointed to find out that you were helping the tracker... - he shook his index finger - If you really want to join the clan you should choose your masters better, and Demetri is not a master.
- No sir - Gianna replied - forgive me.
Alec nodded, he didn't seem aggressive, and Gianna didn't know if she should feel safe yet. There was something else he could ask.
- About the tunnel in the pantry...
- No one knows about that, I can assure you, sir! - Gianna was quick to answer.
The tunnel was as old as the city, made by Aro when the Volturi established the contract with the human's family.
- It was sealed until you opened it, and Master Aro didn't even use it during his visit, he must have forgotten.
- It makes sense - Alec assumed - I thought I could keep that close, but with the tracker here it's impossible.
Gianna stared at the floor, she didn't know what Alec was talking about, but she could imagine. She had first seen him emerge from the tunnel with the jar of blood, but of course she had refrained from asking. Whatever he kept, she didn't want to know.
Suddenly a cell phone rang and it wasn't Gianna's. Alec quickly took the phone out of his pocket and turned it off without even looking.
- I'll be back tonight to see Elia - Alec finally said, making the human sigh in relief - make yourself comfortable.
XXXXX
- What do you mean I can't go this time? - Jane asked Aro. He had an extra room a few chambers above the one he shared with his wife, but this was reserved for him alone, a place he used to think when he needed to and the place where he remained immobile for almost a year after the clan returned home.
- This time you will stay here, in Italy, protecting Marcus and the others - Aro looked at himself in the mirror, combing his long jet black hair with an old hairbrush decorated with precious stones. He had bathed and removed all the dust that covered his skin and eyes.
- But what others? If the ones who really matter will be on the battlefield!
- That's not how it works my dear - Aro returned the hairbrush to the vanity, adjusting his cufflinks - everyone is important.
- Stefan and Vladmir fear me as much as they fear Alec, the witch twins - Jane said that horrible nickname out loud, something she avoided doing - that's what they call us, I can go, I can help!
- Jane... - he finally turned around and put his hands gently on Jane's shoulders, calming her - From now on, you and Alec can no longer go on missions together, this is for your safety, and I worry about your safety.
Jane hated hearing that, and hated that she felt grateful to be loved by another person who wasn't her brother.
- But that's not the only reason you're angry - Aro guessed, he didn't need to read her thoughts to know what the girl was feeling - what happened? Is it because of Alec?
- Maybe - Jane replied, Aro walked away, turning his attention to the papers on his desk - I still haven't decided how I feel about what's happening.
- You should meet the girl while we're away - Aro said - after all, she'll end up coming to the castle one day, she must already know that Minos will come to examine her when the issue with Stefan and Vladmir is settled.
- Yes, master - Jane crossed her arms, she remembered Minos well - I know.
Jane left feeling defeated and irritated, it was the first time she had been left behind on a mission and she didn't like the feeling. She was different from Heidi and Renata, one wasn't made for the battlefield and the other felt comfortable being left behind, but not Jane, since she was born again, Jane had always been in the front line of attack.
- Oh, there you are - Alec ran to her as soon as he found her in the hallway.
That area was deep underground and there were only a few lights on the walls. Humans didn't set foot there.
- Have you already returned? - Jane asked, failing to hide her feelings - I thought you would spend the day with your favorite.
Alec smiled slightly and Jane felt her fury grow, quickly looking away from him so as not to cause any harm. Aro was right, she was angry about everything that was happening, but mainly because Alec had left her out. Jane just didn't want to say that out loud.
- I met Caius in the great hall, and he told me you won't be going with us - Alec put his arm around Jane's shoulders, but the girl pushed him away - that's perfect!
- Perfect? - Jane stopped walking, incredulous that her brother didn't realize how offensive that was to her - Alec, we haven't been apart since...
- Since a time that doesn't matter anymore - Alec interrupted her before she could start talking about the brief human existence they had - but now you can help me.
Alec took Jane by the hand and the girl noticed that he was wearing a worn backpack on his back.
- Come, I want you to see something.
Jane followed her brother, but only because she missed spending time with him, not because she had forgiven him. She didn't ask why he had come back early, or what was going on between him and the newborn he and Demetri had so carelessly decided to bring to the clan. She just wanted to know what his next move would be in this whole situation.
The twins knew all the tunnels, but Alec was better at memorizing them and keeping them safe, especially finding routes that an unsuspecting or overly curious human could enter. Apparently that was how he and Elia had met, and Jane immediately regretted having thought of the girl's name.
They had already come a long way and seemed to have reached the surface, as Jane could see the sunlight penetrating the stone, creating small flashes of light. Even so, there was no sound of cars, or footsteps; they were far from the city.
- I know where we are - Jane said after she recognized the route, marking the walls with the nails of her left hand - but it's been a long time since we've used this place.
Jane then opened the backpack that Alec was carrying, finding human food, sandwiches and fruits that now the vampire could hardly think about eating. Alec didn't mind her going through his things, he never did, and he already knew that Jane had guessed what was going on.
They stopped walking before Jane could reach the cell, but she glanced over her brother's shoulder for a moment, spotting a human lying on the floor. He was alive, for Jane could hear his heartbeat and see his chest move as he breathed.
Aside from the human's breathing, all Jane could hear was the sound of birds outside on the rocks.
Alec placed the human food on an old mahogany piece of furniture with flower paintings that Jane remembered collecting on some old mission. Other than that, all that was there were syringes and glass jars.
- How much blood are you draining for her? - Jane asked, holding one of the jars.
- Enough - Alec replied - but when I go on a mission he'll be alone and might end up starving to death, so since you're staying behind I thought you could help me.
- Of course I can help - Jane replied, peeking again at the human who was sleeping soundly, ragged and exhausted. - But I won't take his blood.
- Jane...
- He'll die if you keep doing this any longer - Jane sighed, excited to have something to do, once again disappointed to be the last to know about her brother's plans - I know your Elia is a newborn now, but she needs to learn to control herself, the sooner the better.
- That's not exactly how it works with this type of blood - Alec said.
From his expression, Jane once again guessed what was happening, but not all the details. And Alec knew the cruelty was in the details.
- What are the chances of that happening?
- I don't know, we never tested enough and I don't care - Alec took the food and walked to the cell, throwing it over the human, who finally woke up. The sleeves of his shirt were stained with dried blood, he must have been there for weeks.
- How curious - Jane held the cell bars.
The vampire looked at her brother, who didn't seem to feel any remorse or regret for what he was doing. He must love that newborn so much that the idea of her loving or wanting something else terrified him, in other words, it was almost as if Alec had finally descended into madness.
- What would she say if she saw him trapped here? - Jane said, thinking of the girl whose name she didn't want to say out loud.
That was enough for Alec's expression to change, from confident to angry.
- She can't know, understand? She can't come here, even if she doesn't remember him!
Jane nodded and refrained from asking any more questions. She caressed her brother's face for a moment before he tossed more food to the human, feeling sorry for what he was likely to face.
XXXXX
- So the masters are Aro, Caius, Marcus and their wives, Sulpicia, Athenodora and Didyme...
- Yes, but Lady Didyme passed away a long time ago - Demetri quickly reminded her - long before me or Alec were born, Master Marcus doesn't like us to talk about her.
Elia nodded, she was writing the names in the soil of the winter garden that was in the house where they sought refuge. A beautiful, isolated and empty cabin whose porch was strategically connected to the winter garden, with large windows to the beautiful landscape outside. The only living being was a black and white cat that kept running away every time Elia tried to get close, and Demetri had to stop the chase so that she wouldn't destroy the house.
As the cat refused to be sociable Elia would probably be wandering in her mind listening to music if Demetri hadn't decided to teach her about the Volturi hierarchy. In fact, he was surprised that Alec hadn't taught her before, but deep down he believed that Alec wanted to make her dependent on him.
- Aro, Caius, Marcus, Sulpicia, Athenodora, Chelsea, Alec, Jane... - Elia recited each name at least tenth times a minute, then moved on to the lowest caste - Renata, Demetri, Heidi, Felix, Santiago, Afton...
When she seemed to have memorized enough, Elia erased the names in the soil. The house cat only hissed in response to her sudden movement.
- Why doesn't he like me? - Elia asked, pointing to the animal that Demetri always forgot was there if it weren't for the little beating heart. He was more focused on Elia and the fact that they were finally forming a bond.
- We are hunters, animals don't like hunters - Demetri replied, helping her cover the names, fluffing the soil in the garden.
- Are the others like this too? I mean, the humans?
Demetri smiled, as this was a process by which every newborn needed to go through.
- They fear us, but at the same time they want to find out more about us, that's how you and Alec became friends, you kept asking questions trying to find out what we were.
The girl seemed to reflect, and Demetri did not know if she understood everything he said, because soon she changed the subject:
- What is it like to live in the castle? The owners of these names, will they like me?
He didn't expect that question, and he soon felt afraid that anxiety would take over the girl. Demetri was afraid of seeing her act like she used to.
- The Volturi have a lot of rules - Demetri replied - but in the end we are a family, and we protect our family.
Elia sighed, sometimes her eyes would shake, almost as if she were thinking so fast that it caused physical reactions. Demetri held her hands, and that seemed to calm her down. She no longer trembled in his presence, nor did she look away, that was a good sign, but at the same time it left Demetri confused about what to do, how to act.
He had opened his heart to her, revealed that he loved her at last, but Elia said nothing in response. She felt nothing, or else she was still picking up pieces of the puzzle that her mind had become and trying to figure out what she felt. It would be selfish of him to demand anything from her.
If he tried something now, he knew Elia would push him away, then everything he had done so far would have been in vain.
"It's better to wait for this year to pass," Demetri thought, "we are complicated when we are newborns and Elia might form the wrong impression about me after her emotions return to normal. I should wait for this year to pass, and finally she will be able to decide what she wants."
Demetri then looked away first, not realizing that he had left the girl as confused as he was.
- Look - Elia said, happy to find something else to focus on - there are drawings here.
She ran to the desk near the windows, where there were drawings of animals and nature. Elia quickly found new papers and drawing materials, and before Demetri could say anything she began to sketch.
- Stay still - Elia said before Demetri could run to her side. The vampire stopped at once, then looked left and right, then at the floor, and soon his hands began to move on their own.
- I said stay still - Elia repeated, she didn't take her eyes off the paper, even so, she knew where Demetri was and what he was doing. Demetri finally sat down on the floor again before he had another ridiculous idea, resting his face on one of his hands. Part of the day had already passed, soon the sun would be low enough for them to return home, so he just watched Elia work and for a moment it was as if he had returned to the months when he had watched her without her knowing, over the café window.
Elia ended up tearing up three sketches before finally finishing one that she was satisfied with. She looked at what she had done for a moment and then finally beckoned Demetri over with her hands.
- It's still not good enough - Elia said while handing the work to the vampire - but it's a gift for today, since we are friends.
The drawing showed Demetri looking at Elia, his hand cupping his face, just as he had been moments before. There were marks on the paper, from graphite and dirt, but that didn't make the gift any less special to Demetri. Elia wrote the word "friend" below it, as if to remind herself of who he was.
- Are you going to cry? - Elia asked suddenly because of the expression on the vampire's face.
- What? Of course not, vampires don't cry, didn't Alec teach you that?
- I learned that by myself - Elia laughed, putting the drawing materials back on the desk and picking up the sketches she had thrown on the floor, putting them in her pocket.
Demetri didn't want that day to end, but he knew it was time for them to clean up the mess and return home. He didn't need to rush anything regarding Elia now, not after she had turned. Now Elia was his equal, nothing could hurt her while she was safe in Volterra and the relationship he wanted to build with her would need time. And now they had all the time in the world.