Mind Reader

Chapter 45

"Darling Isla," Marcus says as he joins her in the gardens. "You appear to be saddened."

"Today is September 13th," Isla points out. "I'd have been twenty today."

"Oh!" Marcus places a hand on her forearm. "Happy birthday, Isla, even if you stopped aging last year before your nineteenth."

"There'd be no point in celebrating if I'm not aging," Isla says as she reads Marcus's mind. "Really."

"How about a day with me?" Marcus offers. "Would that be plenty?"

"Sure," Isla replies with a smile.

Marcus stands and he extends his hand to his new friend. He leads them out to the gardens first. They find Athenadora tending to a bed of daisies in the center. She looks up amd she flashes over.

"Isla, my darling," Athenadora coos. "Why so glum, sweetheart?"

"My birthday is today," Isla says, "and I've stopped aging before I could reach full adulthood,"

"Eighteen?"

Isla shakes her head. "I was eighteen when I was turned. I would have been twenty today."

Athenadora's eyes widen. "Oh, my! We must celebrate! I'll talk with Caius!" She rushes away before Isla can protest.

Marcus grins a little. "It appears a celebration is underway. Let us explore the gardens a moment longer and we will go to my chambers, I wish for you to see my Didyme."

Isla agrees and she follows Marcus through the gardens. They stop at a rose bush and Isla runs her finger across it and it jpgriens. Isla yanks her band back..

"It appears you are a rare kind," Marcus muses. "A vampire with two abilities. I must report this to Aro!"

And just likes that, he's gone. Isla sighs and she wanders the gardens alone until Athenadora comes back and she brings her straight to a bedroom, to get her ready. Aro, Caius, and Marcus are setting up for a party in the ballroom. Isla's second gift is some toys of plant kenesis or something. She can bring dead plant life back to life.

The dress Athenadora chose for Isla is long and it's a dark blue, to match Isla's pale skin. There is a black, decorative cape to go over the back. Athenadora Chris Isla's blond hair as Caius enters.

"The ballroom is prepped," Caius informs the vampires. "Hello, Isla. You look lovely."

"Thank you, father Caius," Isla replies. "I told Marcus I didn't wish to celebrate but mother Athenadora fled to find you and Aro before I could protest." 

"It is the day of your birth, Isla Hale," Caius muses. "The day alone is a reason to celebrate. Darling, bring her back to her chambers to speak with her husband for her birthday."

Athenadora nods as she finishes up on Isla's day of birth look, and she beams. Athenadora's smile is enough to plant a rare smile on Caius's face. Athenadora leads Isla down to her chambers and leaves her to her privacy. Isla opens her laptop and logs into her Skype and calls Jasper, who is out in a clearing.

"Happy birthday, darlin'," Jasper says as soon as his handsome face appears on the computer screen. "How are you?"

"I'm well!" Isla replies. "The kings are holding their version of a small celebration despite my protests."

"You seem happy," Jasper says as Emmett appears on the screen. "Much happier."

"I am, sort of," Isla says. "I miss you, Jas. And you too, Emmett."

"We miss you," Emmett says.

"Isla, darling," Marcus speaks as he looks in, he is in a black suit. "We await the guest of honor."

"I have to go, guys," Isla says. "My day of birth celebration awaits."

Isla hangs up after some 'I love yous' and he follows Marcus to the ballroom. It is only the kings, a few of their selected humans, and the guards. Plus Sulpicia and Athenadora. The room itself is absolutely stunning, the kings and their wives went all out just for a day.

A band Aro had brought in plays some upbeat Italian music. Isla begins to dance with Athenadora and Sulpicia when Athenadora drags Isla to the dance floor. Caius watches from the edge of the ballroom as his wife and 'adoptive child' dance to the Italian music, he's actually smiling. As is Marcus, and Aro. While Felix and Demitri keep guard, Alec joins the ladies on the dance floor. Even Jane losses up and dances, this is a relief to all three kings. Jane works hard and she is extremely loyal to them.

Caius and Aro take their wives as the band plays a slower Italian song. Alec takes the opportunity to slow dance with Isla as Jane and Marcus retreat to their seats. Marcus watches Alec and Isla, they're talking about Isla's wedding day. She tells him about getting married on a beach in Denali, Alaska as her mentor as a newborn was their minister. Marcus remembers Eleazar Denali from his stint with the Volturi, as do Aro and Caius. They're also aware Eleazar was the one to train Isla; they even sent him a message, thanking him for taking the time to make sure Isla knew they rules, followed them, and trained her to be the best immortsl being that she could.

The evening continues into the night, Jane and Alec soon take guard and Felix immediate hits the dance floor, alone. He dances wildly as the band plays an American hip hop song. Isla stands by Demitri and they watc Felix loosen your a bit as Jane and Alec play guard this time. Aro is being affectionate towaed Sulpicia; Caius and Athenadora are talking about Isla's second gift and how rare it is for a vampire to have two giftsm especially when one of the two come in this late into vampirism. It has been racking Caius's brain ever since Marcus told him and Aro. While it confused Caius, it appeared Aro, Aro was THRILLED. He was even more glad Isla in the castle now more than before. She's a telepath, with a second gift. He calls her his post priced vamoire on the guard, she having being a rarity, having two abilities.

Isla returns to her room for a shower and a change of clothes after the day of birth celebration. She had a blast. Isla knows she didn't want a party but she had a good time, regardless. She spent time with the people here. She wishes she could have spent it with Jasper but he said he'd come eventually, he was just pleased she was so happy.

Isla is happy in Volterra. She feels... wanted. The kings out her and the other guards as their priority, too. She feels accepted finally for her new human blood diet. Jasper might not be there, but Isla knows what happy thst she's happy. And that's all Isla had wished for when Athenadora made her blow out the candles on the pointless birthday cake she had the chefs bake.

Isla sits at her desk and she reads through a vampire history book in the darkened room, and she enjoys the quietness as the day of September the 13th comes to an end.