Chapter 81: The Guardian Returns

The vaults beneath the Palazzo dei Priori housed countless antiques and priceless jewels, though nearly all of them had become relics of ages long past. The newest addition to the collection was still the preserved corpse of a Child of the Moon that Caius had brought back from South Africa. After extensive preservation and treatment, the body had been turned into a specimen and placed on display at the entrance to the treasury, serving as both a trophy and a warning.

The Finnish coven had invited the Volturi to attend the wedding out of courtesy. Had Aro not been eager to strengthen ties with them, he could have simply instructed one of the human attendants at the front desk to mail an appropriate gift. Instead, it was obvious that Aro intended to personally choose the present, then personally deliver it alongside his brothers.

"My brother," Aro sighed as he searched through shelf after shelf of treasures, unable to find anything satisfactory. At last he looked toward Caius and complained, "I should have accompanied you on your journey to South Africa. In the future, you ought to bring home something that actually has value. We should always have worthy gifts on hand whenever we need to honor someone."

Caius rolled his eyes without the slightest hesitation. "Leave anything lying around for a hundred years, and every treasure turns into old junk."

"There is genuine philosophy in those words." Aro smiled in approval, thoughtfully stroking his chin. "Time changes everything. Only our lives remain eternal." He paused, another idea already taking shape. "Aurora is still a young woman. We should choose something worthy of someone her age."

Just last month, the Naples Museum of Art had borrowed one of Aro's prized sculptures, The Veiled Christ, for a three-month exhibition. Aro had even dispatched Fabio to protect the artwork throughout the event.

"I do hope this year's exhibition includes several pieces worthy of admiration." His red eyes gleamed with anticipation as he made his decision. "We'll leave for Naples." His return date remained deliberately unspecified. It had been many years since he had attended such an artistic gathering, and he clearly intended to enjoy himself thoroughly while taking the opportunity to discover promising works worthy of investment and inclusion in his ever-growing collection.

….

Demetri eventually found Sophie sitting atop one of the castle's corner towers, quietly enjoying the evening breeze. After informing her of the upcoming trip, he couldn't help adding a complaint of his own.

"You've been choosing more and more secluded places lately. It almost feels like you're deliberately hiding from everyone."

Sophie smiled faintly, her legs wrapped neatly in trousers, swinging back and forth over the edge of the tower.

"Finding people is your specialty anyway," she replied playfully. Then she pointed toward the horizon where clusters of clouds glowed beneath the setting sun. "Besides, this place isn't that remote. I simply discovered that the sunsets from this tower are especially beautiful."

Ever since Demetri had become her guardian, Sophie had grown accustomed to wearing trousers rather than dresses. Male guardians, unlike Jane, had never paid much attention to how she dressed.

Demetri followed her gaze toward the glowing clouds but saw nothing particularly remarkable about them. He had something far more important to discuss.

"Aro has assigned Felix and me to accompany him. We leave after midnight."

Sophie blinked.

"...Safe travels?"

She honestly wasn't sure how vampires normally said goodbye.

Assuming Demetri had only come to remind her to behave while he was gone, she quickly added another promise.

"I'll fetch my own blood from the storage room. Three bags every day, just like the newborns locked in the punishment chambers. I promise I won't cause any trouble."

Instead of responding immediately, Demetri looked toward a distant point beyond the walls of Volterra.

"There's no need to keep drinking that awful refrigerated blood much longer." His expression remained calm and utterly certain. "Heidi is almost back."

He was looking in the exact direction where Heidi currently was.

Every member of the Volturi existed within the reach of Demetri's extraordinary tracking gift, and he spoke with absolute confidence.

"Tomorrow morning and again at noon, her tour bus will arrive at the Palazzo dei Priori with two new groups of visitors."

Sophie frowned.

"What does that have to do with anything? Why bring up Heidi all of a sudden?" She tilted her head, then grinned mischievously. "Unless... you're disappointed you won't get to see her before leaving? If that's the case, I'd be happy to pass along your heartfelt farewell."

Demetri laughed softly before sitting beside her, mimicking the way she swung her legs over the edge of the tower.

"Then I'd appreciate that very much." He paused dramatically, a teasing smile spreading across his face. "In return, I'll tell you some good news."

"I'm listening."

"The entire time I'm accompanying Aro to Naples..." He deliberately drew out the sentence before delivering the final blow. "Your guardianship returns to Jane."

Sophie's swinging legs froze midair.

The smile disappeared from her face so completely it was as though it had never existed.

She didn't think that sounded like good news at all.

Ever since the day they had wounded each other, Jane had relinquished responsibility for supervising her. It hadn't even felt like cold indifference. It had been complete abandonment. After all, newborn vampires like her, ones who attracted little attention, were produced by the Volturi every single year.

To spare both of them unnecessary awkwardness, Sophie immediately tried to refuse.

"That would only burden Jane." She forced herself to sound reasonable. "She already has countless important matters concerning the Guard to deal with every day. Having to look after someone as insignificant as me would simply waste her time."

Determined to make her refusal more convincing, she hurriedly explained the schedule she had already arranged for herself.

"Aside from feeding, I'll stay in my room studying Italian. Surely you won't mind if I chat with some of the guards every now and then to practice speaking?"

Within Aro's guard were many vampires possessing remarkable gifts.

Sophie intended to use those language practice sessions as the perfect excuse to secretly replicate their abilities.

Over the past several days, she had wandered all over the castle, deliberately seeking out forgotten corners and hidden passages, forcing Demetri to track her down again and again. On the surface, it had seemed like idle curiosity.

In truth, she had been quietly testing the limits of her gift. There was no one left she could truly depend on. This secret had to remain hers alone.

Normally easygoing, Demetri unexpectedly refused without leaving any room for negotiation. "No." His answer came firmly. "Next, you'll begin learning how to hunt. Out in the real world, no one hands you endless bags of blood every day."

Sophie made one final attempt. "Does Jane know about this? Wouldn't she object?"

Demetri smiled knowingly. "I spoke to her before coming here. She's already agreed." He shrugged with obvious amusement. "If you want to refuse, you'll have to go tell her yourself." His expression practically screamed that he was looking forward to the spectacle.

Nowadays Jane wears a pair of emerald serpent-shaped bracelets almost every day. Very few people knew they existed solely to conceal the faint scar left on her wrist. The bite mark had faded until it was nearly invisible, yet Jane still covered it without fail.

As one of the few people aware of the truth, Demetri found it impossible not to anticipate whatever would happen next. Eternity was far too long, and far too boring. Everyone needed some form of entertainment to pass the endless years.

In the end, events unfolded exactly as Demetri had predicted. That very night, Aro departed for Naples accompanied by Demetri and Felix. According to the wedding invitation, Chino and Aurora's ceremony would take place sometime in July. Which meant Aro's journey would most likely conclude within a month's time.