Her Majesty (Volturi Kings)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Throughout the next few weeks, things had changed drastically. Aro had declared that Volterra was closed to outsiders and that even members of the coven couldn't go outside of Volterra's walls and if they wanted to go outside of the castle's walls, they had to have permission which granted rarely. The only people that could go outside without permission was Heidi and the Guards of Volterra. The reason for the ban was one that shocked us all. One of our own had been killed.

"Aro, why did you call us here?" I asked. Even I was surprised I was let out of the tower. It wasn't often Aro called a coven meeting.

Aro motioned to me with a "come hither" and I obliged, walking up the stairs to stand next to Marcus' throne. I looked at Aro, waiting for his reasoning.

"My dear friends and my mate," he looked at me smiling before turning back to the others with a scowl on his face. "Some of you already know" only then did I realize that the members of the elite guard had venom in their eyes. They were sad. "But for those who don't, I come with depressing news. There was an attack on our own today." Gasps filled the room and my eyes widened. "I am saddened to relay the news of our dear Chelsea's passing. She was killed today while shopping for my mate in Volterra. Because of this, I am banning outsiders from coming in Volterra. For those here who would like to step outside of the castle's walls, you must have permission from me only. I will tell you now that permission will be unlikely. Only Heidi and the Guards of Volterra can go outside without permission."

I felt numb. I felt like a shell. "No.." I breathed, falling to the ground on my knees. "NO!"

Aro turned around to me and came towards me with vampiric speed before taking my face in his hands. Caius and Marcus followed, sitting on their knees beside me taking my hands. "Shh...It's going to be okay." Aro tried to console.

I shook my head repeatedly. "It's not okay. I'm the reason she died."

"Don't say that, mia cara. It's not your fault." Marcus said.

"But it is! I sent her out to shop and..and...now look! She's dead! All because of me." I cried. "It's all my fault."

Aro shook his head. "It's not your fault. It's no one's fault except for death's. None of us knew this would happen."

"Amore, please stop blaming yourself." Caius begged.

"But--"

"No. Hush, little one." Aro said before softly singing a song in Greek.

Since then, the tower became more lonelier. I missed Chelsea's visits. I missed her smile. I missed her laugh. I missed her carrying in lots of ridiculous clothes to try on. I missed everything about her. I couldn't let anyone else get killed. I was the enemy's target. I had to leave if I wanted to save my coven. I had to give myself up.

"Corin?" I ask for her.

"Yes, my Lady?" she says from the door.

"Can you get me a blood bag? I'm incredibly thirsty. I don't think I'll be able to stand it 'till Friday." I request.

"Of course, my Lady. I'll go right away." she leaves the room.

Immediately, I rush over to my closet and take the suitcase out before filling it with clothes. Next, I go to the desk and take out my makeup before placing it into my suitcase, before zipping it closed. I then go over to the door and listen for a few seconds to make sure no one was coming. Silence. Good, I think to myself. It's my chance, now or never.

I slam my hand down onto the lock, breaking it after multiple attempts. I pull the handle and the door opens. I grab the suitcase's handle before rushing down the multiple stories of stairs before I make it to the east wing of the castle. I stand against the wall, listening and watching for anyone. It's completely silent. I run over to the window and open it before swinging myself over, flying through the air before landing on the ground. I run through the many plants before climbing up the castle's walls, before going over them. I was out.

I look at the castle for the last time. It was incredibly beautiful.

I'll miss this place.

I turn away from the castle and run to Florence, stopping outside of the airport. I knew that even though Demetri most likely would try to track me, my mates would also be tracking the private jet. I had to go on a public plane. I pay for my ticket and show my passport before getting on the plane in first class. I watch the outside as the plane takes off and the last thing I see of Italy is the specks of buildings before my view is blocked by many clouds.

This was it.

I had to save my coven, no matter what.

Even if it meant death.

To Romania.

-The Romanian Coven's hideout-

Vampires in complete black walked throughout the streets of a reconstructing Refugiul lui Vladimir, a destroyed human village that was rampaged by a newborn vampire with silver hair, each of them dragging a human pet into the village's City Hall, where their masters sat. These humans would be determined as either food or a new recruit to the Romanian ranks. By the time the determining was done, only ten humans were selected to join the Romanian ranks. The whole village could hear their screams as venom was injected into their skin.

The leaders of the Romanian Coven, Stefan and Vladimir, along with their wives, Athenodora and Sulpicia, sat in their thrones, each holding a human body in their arms as they drained them dry. The queens moaned as they lapped up the blood from the human bodies before they were interrupted by the grand door opening.

"Ah, Georgia!" Vladimir exclaimed.

"Georgia has returned to us, brother." Stefan said.

"Clearly," his brother rolled his eyes. "What news do you have for us from the Volturi?"

Georgia looked at them in a trance state, a sign that she was influenced. "Volterra has been shut down. It's been put in a lockdown. No one can get in, and no one can get out."

Vladimir sighed. "Ah, shame. I so hoped to have more of their members destroyed. We've already destroyed an elite guard."

"Yes. Chelsea. I never liked her." Sulpicia laughed.

"Too cheery." Athenodora agreed.

"That's not all." Georgia said.

"Oh?" Stefan perked up from his throne.

"Before I left, I heard three screams of distress. Each scream coming from the kings. Their mate, Amity, has disappeared. Vanished. Gone. The kings have ordered a search for her." she said.

Vladimir looked at his brother. "Well, this just got interesting."

"Indeed."

Translation(s):

Mia cara - my dear.

Amore - love.

Refugiul lui Vladimir - Vladimir's Refuge.