Chapter 28 - A Visiting Vegetarian

I go to my next "Vampire History" class a bit early, hoping I can talk to Rodrick beforehand, but once Marcus arrives, he immediately starts class. I hesitantly raise my hand, wondering if it's even appropriate to interrupt him about something so off-topic.

It seems like Marcus can sense the question I have, because he quickly says, "Rodrick will not be attending class today," before continuing on with the lesson. I lower my hand and figure it would be better to save the rest of the questions I have until the end.

In this lesson, Marcus focused on the evolution of Vampire Law after the Volturi came into power. I learned about the first laws, and why they were created, along with key historical events and rebellions that further influenced their system of enforcement and justice. It might sound boring, but everything about this secret world I've knowingly, yet unknowingly been a part of my whole life is just fascinating. Terrifying, in a way, the amount of things going on behind the scenes that most humans are blissfully ignorant to. If the book Marcus gave me is anything to go by, it looks like our next lesson will be about the the Volturi's diplomatic relations with both the human government, and other vampire covens.

"Marcus, there's something that has been on my mind that I was hoping to talk to you about, if you have time," I tell him as class finishes. He nods in response. "I heard you have the power to sense the relationships around you. I'm supposed to be Caius's blood-singer. Is that something you can see?" I ask.

"Being someone's blood-singer isn't necessarily a 'relationship'. So no, I didn't see that. I sensed that yours and Caius's fates were intertwined."

"What does that mean?" I ask. Even enemies have intertwined fates, after all.

"Anna, not everyone has the chance to meet their soulmate, in fact, most don't. I was one of the lucky ones, and now, so are you," he answers, with a small smile. Something about that answer hit me like a ton of bricks.

"When did you first sense it?" I ask.

"On your first day here, after all the commotion with Felix. When Aro, Caius, and I gathered around you, I detected your connection with Caius and showed Aro. Caius was the last to figure it out," he chuckled softly.

"That must have been why Aro's demeanor towards me changed so quickly from stunned, to hospitable. But what about Athenodora?" I ask, barely whispering in fear someone will hear us through the walls.

"Caius having a new relationship will be a big matter, both within and outside these walls, so this situation is being kept on a need to know basis with most, while we decide how to proceed."

"I understand." While Athenodora still worries me, I feel a big weight off my shoulders. Marcus's confirmation gives me all the proof I need about Caius's intentions.

I say goodbye to Marcus and head over to the kitchen, only to see that the doors are locked. Weird, I think, there isn't supposed to be another tour soon. I head back to my room to see my lunch already waiting for me, along with a note written in Italian.

Dear Piccola,

The kitchen will be busy for the next couple weeks, so I'll be sending your food directly to your room. We will have your Italian lessons in the library until things die down.

Buon appetito!

I wonder if there's a big event happening soon. I grab the food and immediately dig into what looks like pesto pasta with a light salad and focaccia bread on the side. Heavenly. Just as I finish it off, there's a knock on the door. I open it to reveal the older vampire woman, with an envelope, which she hands me.

"What's your name?" I ask in Italian.

"Rosa," she answers with a smile.

"I'm Anna, it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too, dear. Antonio's Italian lessons must be going well."

"It's difficult, but I feel more confident," I tell her, "When did you start working here?"

"A two hundred years ago. Compared to many, I'm actually quite young," she laughs, turning to go with a wave. I'm mentally cheering at the short, yet successful conversation I was able to have. There were a couple words I wasn't sure on, but given the context I was still able to piece everything together based on what I did know!

I open the letter to see an invitation to... a baby shower! It looks like Marie is having it next month! I stick the invite on my fridge and make a mental note to find her a gift soon.

* * *

The next couple weeks go by without much to report. I feel like I've been doing nothing but sleeping, eating, going to classes, and visiting Emily with the little free time I do have during the week. Everyone else has been pretty busy too, including Caius, making me wonder if it has something to do with whatever the kitchen is busy with. Although Marcus hasn't betrayed any clues as to what's going on, I get to my next vampire history class early and ready to ask.

When I enter the room I'm surprised to see Rodrick back in his seat. In hindsight, from the way Alois was talking when he apologized, I was starting to worry that Rodrick was kicked out, or killed since it's been so long since I've seen him. I'm relieved, but discreetly. If he wants the ice to remain intact, it's the least I can do.

"I apologize for lashing out at you, Anna," he says immediately as I sit down. Guilt settles in a bit more, knowing he was probably forced to stay on friendly terms with me if he wants a future here.

I shake my head, "No, no. You were right, and I never meant for you to get in any sort of trouble. I'm sorry too. And I'm more than happy to keep our interactions with each other completely professional."

Rodrick sighs, "It's not just you. I've been on my own for decades, so while I see the potential of a future for myself here, it's been difficult getting used to such a group-centered mindset, where I work for the group, yet the group doesn't necessarily work for all the individuals within it. The hierarchy also, while I understand the reasoning behind it, it gets to me in moments of frustration."

"This place definitely has a knack for shaking up lives," I let a small smile escape, "My situation was basically a case of Stockholm syndrome. After everything I've been though, the absolute last thing I ever imagined for myself was living here, being friendly with vampires, and heaven forbid being fated to become one. Young me's jaw would drop to the floor if she could see me here today."

At that moment, Marcus enters the room and we open to today's chapter, coven dynamics. "Today we'll be analyzing different vampire covens, their unique traits, and how their dynamics contributed to their downfall, or continued success today."

It definitely proves to be the perfect subject for Marcus, since he has first-hand knowledge of the relationships of many of the covens we cover in class today. It puts how long he's been alive into more perspective. It's still so hard to believe. We learn that vampires are naturally driven by competition, so that's why there are so many nomads and why most covens are small. Hearing that makes me sympathize a bit more with Rodrick too, since I had no idea that the Volturi's size is apparently completely against vampires' nature to such a large extent. Vampires' competitive natures are also why there were so many power struggles and battles for territory in the past. I was shocked to hear that even the U.S. was a massive battlefield for vampires' territorial conflicts using newborns, and that they used the American Civil War to cover up both their own casualties, and so no one would think twice about all the dead bodies that all the extra newborns needed to feed off of.

Then class transitioned to the most fascinating covens yet, "vegetarian" covens that empathize with humans, so they only feed off of animal blood. I had no idea that vampires could survive off of animal blood. Since I can't stomach taking a human's life myself, I'm happy to hear it's another option if I can't get donated blood. Marcus explains how vegetarian diets weaken a vampire's competitive drive, and allow for larger covens that can live in harmony, with fierce familial loyalty. They can be distinguished by their golden eyes, which is an added benefit to them since their empathy for humans tends to mean they live more intertwined in the human world. Humans are less likely to be freaked out by golden eyes than red eyes, after all.

After class, Marcus asks me to stay behind for a moment. Rodrick and I, in our newfound truce, give each other a small nod before he makes his way out.

"What's up?" I ask after the door shuts.

"We have a guest who we'd like you to meet. He arrived this morning," Marcus says, motioning for me to follow him out the door.

Okay then! I think, wondering if this guest has something to do with why everyone has seems so busy lately. When we get to the throne room I see that Aro, Caius, Felix, and another man are already there, waiting for us. I can't help but silently snicker at Caius's demeanor. I hardly ever see him looking so serious anymore. It's surely all for the guest.

"Anna, this is Eleazar. He has worked with us in the past. He'll be here for a couple weeks to help us understand your ability."

Eleazar takes Aro's introduction as permission to walk up to me with a cold outstretched hand. When he steps in front of me, my gaze immediately entraps itself into his bright gold eyes. Could he be...? I ask myself, immediately thinking back to the vegetarian vampires we learned about in class. Could it be a coincidence, or did Marcus just time things perfectly? Either way, my nerves instantly relax and I shake his hand happily.

"You're dismissed," Aro says giddily, shooing us off, but I'm not sure where he wants us to shoo off to.

"Let's go to the training room," Felix says, guiding my back out the doors with his hand. Eleazar follows. Training room? I wonder. How is this guy supposed to help them understand my ability?

When we get to the training room, I feel like a zoo animal. Felix is showcasing all the things I've learned, and how my indestructible-ness aids me. Eleazar, like a statue, watches silently until Felix is done throwing things at me, and throwing me at things.

"Anna has a very strong gift, even for a human" he concludes, walking up to us. He stares at me, but it almost seems like he's staring through me. "Her body is physically indestructible, as you know. That extends to her insides as well, which makes sense, since any pricking and prodding from doctors would not help her in the slightest."

I didn't even know that about myself. Then again, I've never been in a situation where a vampire tried killing me from the inside out. Like I said, Derek never even thought of killing me in non-physical ways, or at least he never tried to. How does this guy know all this stuff about me though? He continues.

"Her body has, what one might call, selective biological resilience. It's an enhanced defense mechanism that specifically protects against external and foreign threats, such as diseases, toxins, and poisons, but does not interfere with natural, internal processes like aging. Of course as a vampire this gift is bound to grow much stronger. Considering how strong she is now, and based on past humans I've seen similar gifts with, I have no doubt that she will be able to learn how to extend this ability to encompass those around her."

Okay, sensing abilities seems to be this guy's ability. "Does all that mean I could be immune to vampire venom?"

"Your body is only a shield. You do not have immediate healing abilities. If anything happens while your shield is down, you're stuck with it until it heals naturally, or kills you." Oof, pretty blunt, but I guess it's good news for the circumstances.

"Is it possible for her as a human to extend her shield long enough for someone to get through and change her?" Felix asks.

"Yes, but training latent abilities as a human will be mentally exhausting work for her," he starts, then finally turns to me, "If we are to see any success with this, you'll have to put your absolute all into it."

"I'll do whatever it takes," I assure them.