Violet Forsythe has been through hell.
Her entire family is dead, her daywalker best friend hates her guts, and her vampire boyfriend is giving her the silent treatment all the way from Italy.
But Violet is anything but a quitter, and she has a few...
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The twins strolled down the hallway, chatting happily as I trailed slowly behind them, focused on committing my surroundings to memory.
"You should refrain from wandering around the halls after sunset," Alec said over his shoulder. "It gets unbearably cold during this time of year."
"For a human," Jane added without looking back.
"Thanks," I said, too tired to be sarcastic. We'd been wandering the halls for hours and I still felt just as lost as when we started. I was starting to realize that I probably needed to find a chaperone - or at least a better tour guide.
"You should be careful around the castle, anyway," Alec continued. "We receive visitors from all corners of the world. You should try to stay with someone within the guard."
Chaperone it was, then.
"Can we take a break, please?" I asked. "My feet hurt and I'm hungry."
Jane sighed loudly.
"I would ask Bria for help, but she's not available anymore," I said pointedly.
"We have to get another secretary. Now," Jane complained.
"We're close to the library. We can drop you off there and go get food for you," Alec offered.
"Wait -- what? Why can't I go with you?" I asked. I perked up at the prospect of some sunlight.
"Because we need to move quickly at this time of day," Alec explained, still talking to me over his shoulder.
"Okay," I gave in. I didn't like being the odd one out, but I really wanted to sit down. I was looking forward to spending some time actually enjoying the library, anyway, so at least there was that.
"We'll be back before you know it," Alec said, giving me a peck on the lips after we came to a stop in front of the massive library doors.
"No rush," I said with a tepid smile as he pushed one of the doors open for me.
Jane gave me a big, syrupy smile as she and Alec left, their footsteps echoing through the grand foyer as they walked away.
I sighed and entered the library. I hoped I could find an interesting book or two, since there didn't seem to be many human-friendly activities available for me to partake in.
The library was so vast that I didn't know where to begin looking. I shuffled around the perimeter of the room, trying my best to discern the rows of unlabeled shelves, when I spotted Afton sitting at a table, reading.
"Hi, Afton!" I said brightly as I approached. I was excited to see a familiar face.
"Oh. Hello, Violet," he greeted me after abruptly looking up from his book. He seemed somewhat concerned and surprised.
"Do you mind if I join you?" I asked as I hovered by the chair opposite of him.
"Not at all."
"Thanks," I said as I sunk into the plush seat.
"Where are the twins?" Afton asked, keeping his eyes down on his book.
"Out," I said curtly. "They dumped me here while they go get me food, though knowing Jane, they'll come back in five hours with a can of tomato soup and a raw carrot."
Afton glanced up at me apprehensively.
"Don't worry about them," I insisted. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. And you?"
"I'm hanging in here," I exhaled.
"Getting any better at navigating the halls?" he asked politely.
"Not really. Maybe I'll have better luck after a few years. Or decades," I joked.
Afton cracked a smile, though his eyes were still careful.
"I'm sorry about your maid," he said after a moment.
"Who? Bria?" I asked, puzzled. "She's not my maid. She was the secretary."
"Oh. Right."
Afton and I sat quietly for a moment.
"So, you heard about that, huh? About Bria?" I asked, refusing to give up on our failing conversation.
"No. I heard you."
"Oh, right. Vampire hearing," I nodded.
"Well, that, but...you're...loud," Afton hedged.
"Normal loud? Or loud, loud?"
"Hmm. It depends. Most of the time you sound normal, but...sometimes you go silent and then abruptly burst into screams. It's bizarre," he explained.
"Sorry. I'm a freak of nature. I can't help it," I frowned.
"You're talented. You'll do well here after you turn."
"What about you? Do you have a gift?" I asked, thrilled that I'd managed to get more than five words out of him at once. "I guess you would, if you're here in the coven."
"Not necessarily," Afton said. "The higher ranking members have gifts - very useful ones, at that - but most of the lower ranking members don't."
"Then why are they in the coven? Human shields? Or, vampire shields, rather."
"Essentially," he smiled grimly. "But even so, a position in the Volturi is highly coveted by many of our kind. The leaders are very selective about who they allow to stay."
"I kinda noticed that. I assume that's why I'm still human. Aro and the others want to meet me before I turn. Whatever that entails..." I trailed off gloomily.
"You're incredibly gifted, even as a human, and your resilience speaks for itself," he said, gesturing to my scar. "You'll do just fine."
"Thank you. I think I really needed to hear that," I said with sincerity.
"Of course," he said with a small smile. "As for me, my gift is mental invisibility."
"Oh, wow!" I gushed. "That's super helpful!"
"You're probably the only one who thinks so," Afton said sheepishly.
"Really? Why?" I asked earnestly.
"Well, occasionally someone with particularly keen senses can still pick up on my presence, plus I can only use my ability on myself," he explained.
"Yeah, but you're still in the coven, right? That has to count for something," I shrugged.
"No," he said glumly. "My mate, Chelsea, is the only reason I'm allowed in the coven. It's not a secret."
"Chelsea? I don't think I'm familiar," I said politely. "But I don't know much around here, in all honesty."
"My Chelsea is one of the most talented and influential vampires in the coven," Afton said. His voice warmed with pride and his eyes danced when he spoke of her.
"I would love to meet her one day. She sounds lovely," I smiled encouragingly. In reality, I was skeptical about meeting other high ranking members of the coven - I could hardly tolerate the ones I already knew - but it warmed my heart to see Afton smile.
"Yes. I would like that, too," Afton agreed. He seemed like he was starting to relax around me. I was thankful. It felt nice to actually have a friend.
