The True History of the Cullen Family

History Repeats Itself

Aro sighed as he learned of the results of the riot.

There were over 1,000 people killed, and many other people wounded. Not to mention the multitudes of innocent children who were left behind or forgotten. Buildings were torn down and the streets were littered with debris.

He, Caius, and Marcus had recently toured the damaged city; many of the children noticed the Volturi and followed them back to the castle. Among them was little Corey Stewart, whose mother was slain as she tried to protect him from Camille's wrath when the riot happened. He was standing at the front of the group when Aro noticed him.

He said, "My name is Corey Stewart and I'm three years old."

"Where's your mother?" said Marcus.

"The mean old witch killed her," little Corey said as he burst into tears.

Aro and Caius felt sorry for the little boy. Caius said, "Don't feel sad, little boy. We'll find the witch and we'll kill her. You have my word; it will be done."

They had also found a young woman wandering near the fountains leading to the castle. She had been beaten and raped multiple times. She was naked and bleeding when they got her into the castle. As Aro questioned the child survivors of the riot, he said to Caius, "These are six-year-old children. They do not deserve this fate. Where are their parents?"

"Who knows?" said Caius. "Right now, we have 50 children without parents. How are we going to take care of them?"

"Send them to the wives," said Marcus. The others stared at him. "The wives would love to have some little children around."

"Indeed they would," Aro said as he had Jane herd the children toward the tower where Sulpicia and Athenodora lived. When they had gone, he turned to the young woman they had found near the castle. Marcus said, "What happened to you?"

"I don't know," said the girl. "One minute, I was standing next to my mother and the next minute, several hands tore me away from her and..." she refused to speak of what had happened to her.

Aro saw what had happened to her. He said, "I want these men brought forward to me immediately; they will face the Volturi's justice. No woman deserves to be hurt like that and she certainly deserves better." Alec, Felix, Demetri, and several other vampires rushed out the throne room as Aro called for a servant and told them to wash the girl of the filth of the riot.

*****

As for Caroline Darkmoon, she was sure that she deserved her beating and rape; she had openly protested the killing of Petra Stewart, the mother of little Corey, and she refused to kill anyone who had gotten in her way. She was too nice to hurt anyone.

And then again, Caroline and Camille had never seen eye to eye, especially since they barely spoke to each other. Normal mothers and daughters love each other, not break away from each other, she told herself as the servants tore off the rags that were once an elegant dress and scrubbed away the blood and dirt. Why did my mother not care for me? What have I done wrong to make her hate me so? If I were a boy, I could have left her ages ago.

Little did she know that there was another girl suffering the loss of her mother living in the castle. But that girl's story had left much to be desired.

*****

Camille surveyed the damage that she had done: Henrik was dead; his throat slashed by an angry man who had rescued the kidnapped boy. Nichole had been separated from Caroline and was hiding in a garbage can when Camille had found her. She wasn't upset about Caroline at all.

"Miss Camille," said Nichole, "We are not safe here."

"Indeed we are no..." Camille glared around her. "What happened to Caroline?"

"Who knows?" said Nichole. "I just want to get out of here."

"Indeed," said Camille as she tried not to panic. Caroline was gone. She was gone. Camille gasped in horror as she realized that Caroline was gone. Something wasn't right there.

She thought back to that night over 300 years ago, when a young man she had loved was gone due to her stupidity. A young man who had hopes and dreams of wanting to help others no matter who they were was murdered at her own hands.

Carlisle Cullen.

How could I have done this to him, she thought to herself. Why did I kill him? I should have gotten rid of the father when I had the chance, not the son.

Camille wept for the first time in 300 years.