Chapter 58: The Nordic Coven
The enormous werewolf corpse was eventually carried back into the Volturi vaults. It would remain there as a symbol, a grim reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows of the vampire world.
The existence of a common enemy rekindled every vampire's instinct to survive, binding the scattered covens together with fear far more effectively than diplomacy ever could. Once the announcement concerning the Blood Hunters concluded, the banquet gradually returned to its earlier atmosphere of elegant conversation, music, and carefully measured laughter.
Jane and Alec accompanied Aro as he moved effortlessly from one coven to another. Every clan leader before him was greeted as an old friend, yet each of those "friends" maintained the respectful caution due to the ruler of the Volturi.
More than once, Jane subtly extended her hand toward Aro, hoping he would take it, read her thoughts, and grant permission for her to leave early to hunt down the rat that had slipped into their home: Charles.
Although Aro clearly understood exactly what she wanted, he deliberately ignored her offered hand, smiling warmly as he led her onward, exchanging pleasantries with one family after another.
Just wait a little longer, Jane silently told herself. Before sunrise, everyone will have to leave.
Among all the visiting covens, the Finnish coven enjoyed an unusual amount of Aro's attention. Their newest member, Aurora, possessed the extraordinary Gift of manipulating plants.
Because Finland lay relatively close to Italy, they had arrived in Volterra earlier than most of the other guests, and during the past several days, Jane and Chino had personally overseen Aurora's Gift development at Aro's request.
Of course, Aro's generosity was never truly free. He was no selfless saint willing to dispatch two valuable Guards merely to assist another family. Free lunches, in his experience, always came with a bill that would eventually be collected.
It wasn't difficult to see how captivated Aro had become by Aurora's ability. Jane had personally witnessed every stage of the girl's training and understood better than anyone how extraordinary her gift truly was.
At first, they believed Aurora merely accelerated or manipulated plant growth, causing flowers to bloom instantly, trees to wither, or vines to obey her commands. But after repeated experiments, they discovered something astonishing.
The plants affected by Aurora's Gift acquired special properties of their own. More precisely, people who interacted with those plants found their actions constrained by whatever symbolic meaning those plants carried within their own culture.
Aurora's adoptive parents, who also led the Finnish coven, had been the first to recognize the phenomenon. Her father had demonstrated it himself.
"The red roses Aurora grows," he explained, "can only be given to the one you truly love."
Because red roses symbolized love.
In other words...
If Aurora mastered the cultural symbolism attached to every flower and every plant...
She could potentially manipulate the behavior of anyone.
Aro was utterly fascinated.
The hunger blazing behind his red eyes was almost impossible to conceal. Only centuries of impeccable self-control prevented him from reaching out and claiming Aurora outright. His carefully maintained inner order refused to permit theft. The Volturi accepted only those who joined willingly. They did not seize Gifts by force.
The Finnish family had traveled together to attend the banquet, demonstrating both respect and submission toward the Volturi. As host, Aro had every obligation to honor that trust. His reputation rested upon maintaining such appearances. Otherwise, how could he continue commanding the loyalty of vampire society?
The Finnish coven...
Every single member of it had to leave Volterra safely.
No matter how reluctant Aro might be to let them go.
Thus, as their departure approached, Aro found himself lingering near Aurora almost unconsciously. Jane quietly realized something during those few days. Sophie had gradually lost Aro's interest. Even the assignments reflected that shift.
Jane herself had been removed from Sophie's supervision and reassigned to developing Aurora's Gift instead. The realization left her feeling strangely uneasy.
"Chino." Aro smiled warmly as he spotted one of his Guards approaching. "Have you come to bid farewell to our lovely Aurora as well?"
Chino's Gift excelled at monitoring large areas, making him invaluable whenever Caius organized Guard training. He usually served as referee, calm, impartial, and impossible to deceive. His gentle temperament had also been deliberately chosen by Aro to balance Jane's intimidating personality, ensuring Aurora would leave Volterra with pleasant memories of the Volturi. Judging from the past few days, the arrangement had worked surprisingly well.
Stopping before Aro, Chino bowed respectfully.
"Master."
There was...
A trace of nervousness in his voice.
Aro detected it immediately.
An unpleasant feeling quietly settled into his heart.
At that very moment, Aurora, who had remained timid and soft-spoken throughout the banquet, suddenly radiated unmistakable joy. The tiny lily-of-the-valley flowers adorning her ears bloomed instantly, releasing a rich, fragrant perfume into the air.
Then...
To everyone's astonishment...
The ever-composed Chino stepped away from the Volturi side and crossed directly to the Finnish family's side. Without hesitation, he reached for Aurora's hand.
Their fingers intertwined.
Even Aurora's adoptive parents froze in shock.
"Master..." Chino inhaled slowly before continuing. "There is something I must report."
The warmth gradually faded from Aro's expression, though the polite smile remained perfectly intact. His red eyes moved back and forth between Chino and Aurora several times. It took only moments for him to realize that whatever they intended to tell him...
Would almost certainly not be to his liking.
"I can already see that," Aro replied after a thoughtful pause. "This certainly deserves a proper discussion." He no longer appeared interested in continuing polite conversation with the departing guests. Turning toward the Finnish family, he added courteously, "Since this concerns one of my Guards, may I trouble our friends from Finland to remain a little longer?"
The atmosphere stiffened.
No one spoke.
For several long seconds, neither side seemed willing to move.
Finally, Aro broke the silence himself.
"Chino," he said gently, "please escort dear Aurora and her family somewhere comfortable to rest. Once the banquet concludes and the remaining guests have departed..." His smile deepened ever so slightly. "...we shall sit down and discuss everything properly. Shall we?"
Only then did Chino and the three members of the Finnish family visibly relax.
At two o'clock in the morning on May 16, 2005, the visiting covens gradually began taking their leave. They would carry the Volturi's decree back to their own territories, spreading news of the Blood Hunters throughout vampire society. The Guards escorted every departing family beyond Volterra's borders, carefully ensuring that no one hunted humans or accidentally exposed vampire existence along the way.
When the great bell tower in the city center rang three solemn chimes, every guest had departed...
Except...
The Finnish family, whom Aro had personally asked to remain.
Everyone understood why.
When the bell rang a fourth time...
The first rays of dawn would appear beyond the eastern horizon.
The brilliant Italian sunlight was unforgiving.
Large groups of vampires simply could not travel beneath it.
Only after the final guests departed...
Did Jane finally free herself.
Aurora's Gift truly was extraordinary. In over three thousand years of existence, Aro had never encountered anything remotely similar. Such an ability could only emerge from countless generations of accumulated culture and symbolism. Italy, birthplace of the Renaissance and cradle of modern Western civilization, had long appealed to Aro precisely because of his passion for culture, art, and science.
Aurora's Gift...
Might as well have been crafted specifically to match Aro's personal tastes.
It fit his ambitions perfectly.
To ensure the upcoming discussion appeared peaceful rather than coercive, Aro deliberately chose not to summon Jane and Alec. The twins possessed far too intimidating a presence. Standing silently on either side of a conversation transformed even friendly negotiations into what looked suspiciously like an interrogation.
"My dear girl," Aro said at last, finally taking Jane's outstretched hand after ignoring it throughout the evening. Instantly, her thoughts flowed into his mind.
"You've been distracted all night." His voice remained gentle. "Yes... I noticed Charles's absence as well. The Volturi treated him well when he belonged to us. I had believed..." He sighed softly. "...that gratitude would have remained in his heart."
Jane pressed her lips together, unable to hide her irritation.
"Some people," she said coldly, "simply don't know how to appreciate kindness."
Behind that innocent remark stood the man who had orchestrated everything.
Aro gently stroked Jane's angelic face in reassurance.
Originally, he had selected Charles for one simple reason.
After leaving the Volturi, Charles had failed to integrate into any other coven. Manipulating an isolated individual carried virtually no consequences. Even if Charles died after violating Volturi law, no family would seek revenge.
Far preferable than sacrificing someone whose death might provoke another coven.
Tonight's carefully arranged test had only two possible endings.
Either Sophie would successfully kill Charles or Charles would kill Sophie...
Only to be executed moments later by Jane.
Either way...
The instant Charles chose to act...
He had already forfeited his right to leave Palazzo dei Priori alive.
"Go, Jane," Aro said softly, releasing her hand. "Find that little rat on behalf of the Volturi." After a brief pause, his smile warmed. "And be careful."
He watched Jane and Alec disappear through the palace doors before turning away. Only after they were completely out of sight did Aro lead Demetri and Felix toward the meeting room where Chino and the Finnish family were waiting.
Something felt wrong to Demetri.
Finding people was his specialty.
Why send Jane and Alec instead?
Almost instinctively, he activated his tracking gift.
Within moments...
He found Charles and standing beside him...
Sophie.
"Demetri."
Without turning around, Aro continued walking gracefully down the corridor.
His calm voice carried unmistakable authority.
"Do not interfere." He paused. "Your responsibility lies elsewhere." Only then did he glance back over one shoulder. "I need you to bring Chelsea."
Chelsea possessed the ability to sever or strengthen every emotional bond except true romantic love.
Aro intended to make one final attempt.
He had never imagined Chino and Aurora's feelings would progress so quickly. Once genuine love had taken root, nothing could simply erase it. If even Chelsea proved powerless...
Then...
Aro would have no choice but to accept reality.
Demetri immediately obeyed without another word.
After serving Aro for so many centuries, he understood one truth better than most. Keeping secrets is among a Volturi Guard's most essential duties.