𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐎 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 | volturi kings

𝐢𝐢. eternal oblivion

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Marcus was the poster vampire for one that had spent far too long without his mate.

He had long been said to be the most melancholic of the kings of Volterra and he knew that to be true. But however much he missed the absence and perhaps fictitiousness of his mate, his brothers were affected by that as well.

Aro had become particularly sadistic over the years as the loneliness set in and Caius even more cruel than he had been earlier in their reign and at times Marcus wished fervently that he had given into the more feral and carnal sides of personality that came with lack of your other half but he had not.

He was merely, so to speak, depressed.

"You missed the trials today, brother." Aro stated simply, sweeping into what had been named Marcus' library, and setting his dark black cloak to the side as he took a seat in an opposite armchair. "We had been expecting you."

"I was not feeling up to it today, Aro." Marcus muttered, turning a page in his book without looking up at the telepath who was staring expectantly at him. 

"I'm afraid as king's we do not tend to have that luxury." Aro tsked but made no effort to reprimand Marcus, understanding fully the emotional and physical pain of absence that was burrowing its way through all three of their undead bodies. After a moment's silence, Aro spoke again. "When is Demetri returning with our Doctor?"

"He sent word they are travelling by carriage, something about Cullen's companion wishing for some rest. They should be here by tomorrow." Marcus stated, eyes flicking up to catch Aro's brow furrow in confusion. "Apparently she wanted to finish her book and could not do so while racing through the Italian countryside.

"She sounds just like you, brother." Aro jested and for a moment he looked as though he was going to make another comment but refrained from doing so, choosing instead to merely brush the fact off. "I was not aware of a companion."

"Yes, she was apparently turned just over a century ago." Marcus said, crossing his legs as he went to retrieve the letter Demetri sent just before making the journey. "From England."

"Ah so a Tudor, hm?" Aro hummed, raising a brow. "Do we know we know who she was as a human?"

"I suppose we shall discover that fact when she arrives." Marcus said, scanning the letter. "Demetri seems particularly fond of her."

"Perhaps she is his mate."

Neither mentioned nor took note of how that idea stirred a twist of anguish within the both of them at his statement.

"I'm not sure." Marcus said, his brow furrowing as he set the letter down in his lap. "The true mate bond is something that cannot be denied, it's instantaneous. I believe he would know and inform us of the fact. He speaks of her more as one would of a sister, I believe."

"Hm." Aro hummed and it went silent between the pair again for a moment and yet again, it was Aro who broke the quiet. "Caius is painting her again."

"Her?"

"Her." Aro stated, nodding grimly as Marcus' mouth twisted. "It must be some form of torture. the Gods have chosen to inflict upon us."

Ever since the Volturi coven had been instated, Caius had been painting the same woman who haunted the three brothers. A woman with dark hair, doe eyes and lips that curved into the most sinful smirk they had ever laid eyes on. She called to them and their hearts called back. She was their mate.

"We will find her one day." Marcus said with a sigh. "We must."

"Yes." Aro said, leaning back into his chair, his eyes flicking to the window. "Yes, we must."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It had been silent in the carriage for hours.

Carlisle had found some form of kinship in their driver and the two had been rapidly discussing something or other for a very long time, leaving both Demetri and Anna alone in the carriage itself. Anna had finished her book hours ago, Demetri watching with fascination as she scribbled in the margins and flicked back and forth through the pages. But he watched silently.

Until the towers of Volterra emerged through the darkness and he finally took note of the grim expression on the woman's face as she stared out into the shadows.

As he found that, he found his voice.

"What's the matter?" He questioned. "Is Volterra too modest for you?"

"Not at all, you Vampire's are all rather flamboyant aren't you?" Anna stated, smiling but that did not reach her eyes as she continued to stare out of the window. Demetri sighed.

"Truly, Anna." He said, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees as she turned her gaze to him now. "Why is your expression one of such... dejection."

"How kind of you." Anna said with an amused scoff before she returned her amber eyes to stare out of the window. It was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "Italy and I were never friends in my mortal life. It is merely strange to be here in my immortal one."

"Why is that?"

"Let's just say we had... differing religious outlooks." Anna stated, her jaw tensing very obviously at the mention as she reached her hand up to readjust the choker wound around her alabaster throat. "It did not serve me well."

"Hm." Demetrius hummed, brow furrowing. She was an enigma if there ever was one. "Is that how you met our doctor here?"

"You could say so." Anna said, smiling softly at the mention of her companion. "Carlisle was kind to me in a time where people were so rarely kind. He saved me from eternal oblivion."

"By providing you with eternal oblivion."

"I suppose you could say that." Anna muttered. "But it does not compare even slightly to the eternal oblivion that he took me from. I can never thank him enough for that. So if it means following him to Italy... I will."

Demetri was silent. He knew that whatever she meant by her own eternal oblivion, she did not mean death. She meant life.

"You are loyal, it seems." He said after a moment silence, leaning back in his chair as they neared the city and Anna laughed.

"I wouldn't go so far." She stated and Demetri saw the towers of Volterra reflected in her eyes. "I know where I'm meant to be is perhaps far more accurate."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.