Chapter 35 – Over the River and Through the Woods

I hear a knock on the door and open it to see Rosa there, with an envelope in her hand.

"Grazie" I tell her. She smiles and gives me a small wave goodbye. I freeze when I see the Cathedral's address in my grandma's handwriting. Someone there must have forwarded the letter to me here.

Dear Anna,

I can't tell you how much it means to finally hear from you, especially after all these months of wondering where you were. You have no idea how worried I've been. But I'm so relieved to know that you're alive and well, even though I wish I could hug you right now. I hope you know that you've been in my thoughts every single day since you've left.

It was hard not knowing if you were safe, and I've been thinking about you every night. Please promise me that you'll stay safe over there, no matter what. I understand your reason for leaving, just know that I would always welcome a visit.

I'm sending this Christmas card with all my love, hoping you'll feel it over the many miles between us. It's not the same without you here, but I hope that we can celebrate the holidays together again.

Merry Christmas, my dear. Take care of yourself, and please, please keep in touch.

With all my love,

Grandma

My heart sinks. I told Grandma I had hoped to visit before the end of the year, and here it's already December. Things with my training, and now learning about Athenodora's attack really put such a strain on my free time. But I don't have much time as a human left, just a little over a month if all goes according to plan. Do I visit now, or risk waiting until after Athenodora's attack? I sigh, feeling like it would be too risky to wait. I'm in a good place now, and anything could happen during the attack, from injuries, to death. If Heaven forbid someone I care about dies, that would put a huge damper on things. Grandma deserves to see me happy, not mourning... again. I don't want to give her any reason to worry about me because after my transition, it will definitely be hard to see her again for a while. With that in mind, I figure I might as well talk to Caius about it now. With time ticking, the quicker I can talk to him about it, the better.

On my way to Caius's room, I see Heidi walking down the hall with two other women. One is unfamiliar, one is the woman who I saw made Jane act strange during their training session. Along with Heidi, both of them are wearing the high level guard robes, so I'm kind of surprised I haven't met them yet.

"Anna, it's been a while!" Heidi greets, pulling me in for a hug. "This is Chelsea," she introduces, gesturing toward the taller woman with light hair, "And this is Renata," she says, gesturing toward the woman I recognize from the throne room.

"After your little show earlier, we figured it was time to meet you," Chelsea smiles, holding a hand up for me to shake.

"I must say we underestimated you," Renata greets.

"Well, apparently my little show wasn't as helpful as I expected it to be, but thank you," I laugh, "I'm dying to know what you did to Jane by the way," I tell Renata, "I've never seen anything like it."

Renata grins, "My gift is similar to yours in that I also have a type of shield—"

"To a lesser extent," Chelsea interrupts, earning her a glare from Renata.

"Instead of being a solid barrier, it's a repellent. When someone tries to get close to whoever I'm shielding, usually Aro, they get disoriented and lose track of what they're doing without realizing what happened."

"Unlike your gift, hers only works if the attacker is in close enough range though," Chelsea teases, "So Aro's usually the only one who gets to benefit from it. We're taking bets on whether or not you're going to replace her," she laughs.

"Replace?" I question.

"Any one of us is replaceable if a stronger power comes along," Chelsea explains. Renata elbows her. My eyes widen.

"I can't imagine Aro would give up his personal body guard though, I mean, he'll know that if it came down to protecting either him and Caius he knows I'd want to protect Caius, right?"

"So you're betting pro-Renata then, I'll mark you down for that," Chelsea jokes, "Hmm, if the girl who's replacing you believes in you, maybe I'll change my bet."

"Oh, thanks," Renata rolls her eyes.

"You'll get used to it," Heidi whispers, smirking after seeing my confused expression, "I promise they're best friends." They really have quite a brash friendship don't they?

"Well, we'll let you get back to where you were going," Renata says, looking like she's ready to escape the conversation. It was nice meeting you."

"It was nice meeting you both," I wave as the three continue their way down the hall.

* * *

"Do you guys really replace Volturi members?" I ask Caius once I finally make it to his room. He puts his book down and looks at me curiously.

"It's not unheard of," he admits, making me widen my eyes.

"It sounds like some others are thinking Renata might be replaced... by me," I start, "I just met her in the hallway. Is that true?"

"That's up to Aro to decide. While your power is similar, and has the potential of being much stronger, Aro's a collector. Her gift is different enough, and she's been loyal enough to him that he will likely want her to stay." Okay, that's what I figured too. I'm relieved.

"Is that all you came here for?" Caius smiles. I walk over to his desk and sit on his lap, throwing my arms around his neck for support.

"I need to visit my grandma before the attack, if that's possible," I start, leaning my head on his, "You said Athenodora wants me around during the battle. That means if I were to leave and come back before the end of the year there'd be no risk of her attacking early while I'm gone, right?"

"In theory," Caius considers, nodding, "We'd have to go as soon as possible then."

"We?" I ask, turning to face him.

"I don't want you going alone. It would be interesting to meet more of your family anyway," he smiles, planting a kiss on my lips. I smile at the prospect of my grandma seeing him as extra proof of the normalcy I've been able to find... even though my new normal is anything but. Her biggest worry when I was in high school was that I was always alone. "Pack your bags, we'll leave tonight at 8," he tells me.

"Tonight!" I exclaim, shocked. I knew we'd have to leave soon, but waves of excitement flood into my heart at soon being today. "I'll see you then!" I smile, hopping up to get ready.

As I get my suitcase packed, I can't help but feel bad that Emily can't go along with us to see grandma too. After the initial shock Grandma would have seeing she's still "alive", I'm sure they'd love seeing each other. The Cathedral keeps her well-fed, and she never loses control when she smells me, but they haven't risked taking her outside to really walk amongst humans again yet. Not to mention it would probably be difficult for us to get enough of her daily blood in a way that doesn't involve killing. The Cathedral has her on a very strict schedule so she never has to wonder when her next meal will be. The instability that opposite time zones might cause could hinder her progress. I have hope that maybe she'll gain enough control in the future to be able to go outside freely, but I know it might not be a possibility yet for a long while.

* * *

We stand at the edge of the castle's entrance where the cold stone walls are casting shadows across the courtyard. The sun has already set, but the sky is so overcast that the moon is impossible to see. Instead, the world is just a dense blanket of gray that somehow matches the heaviness in my chest. In a way, this could be a goodbye trip. I'm just glad that Caius understands that it's a trip I need to take.

"You're quiet," he says, his voice low as he stands next to me.

I nod, pulling my winter coat tighter around me. It's useless in Italy, a little too hot even, but it brings me a sense of comfort. "I'm just grateful," I say softly. Despite all that's going on, I'm grateful to be here, and grateful for this chance to see my grandma again before everything changes. Caius doesn't respond, but he takes and gives me a comforting squeeze. I'm glad I'm not going alone.

We head toward the car waiting for us. As we slide inside, the driver nods at Caius and pulls away. After a few moments the castle disappears behind us as we weave through the narrow streets of Volterra. I watch the town pass by and realize it feels a bit strange to know that I'll be back halfway around the world tomorrow.

The rest of the drive to the private airstrip is quiet. Caius keeps his gaze steadily out the front window, but he glances at me occasionally. It's weird to think about how when I first got here I was probably a massive disruption in his carefully constructed world. Now he's here for me in ways I never imagined I'd need.

At the airstrip, the engines of the Volturi's private plane are already humming and ready to go. Caius ushers me up the stairs and a mix of nervousness and anticipation settles over me. I haven't been back to the U.S. in so long. While I feel nostalgic for it, it almost feels like I'm going back to a past life.

Once we're settled inside, the flight attendants close the door and the plane immediately begins its ascent. The view of Italy falls away beneath us, letting the fields and towns shrink until they're nothing more than a patchwork of colors. I rest my head against the seat, letting out a slow breath.

"Are you nervous?" Caius's voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

"A little," I admit, glancing at him, "I haven't seen my grandma since I left in July. I wrote to her, but it's not the same."

"She'll be glad to see you," he smiles, placing his hand on mine. While the flight is long, and I drift in and out of sleep multiple times, Caius's hand keeps me steady.

After a long twelve hours, an announcement comes on over the intercom: "We're preparing for landing." I sit up, peeking out the window at the dark stretches of snow-covered pine trees, starkly contrasting the rolling hills and warm streets of Italy. The sky is a bright wintery white.

A gust of icy wind hits me when the doors open. It's the kind of cold that seeps into your bones, something I definitely didn't miss. I shiver, pulling my now-useful coat tighter as Caius steps beside me, completely unaffected by the weather.

"Must be nice," I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes at his exposed arms, "Although unless you want to be perceived as a crazy drunk guy you might wanna put a jacket on in this weather."

He laughs, pulling a black wool trench coat out of his bag. "How's this?" he asks, giving me a spin.

"Probably not warm enough for the average Joe, but you're stylish enough that people will just think you're a 'pain is beauty' kind of guy," I smirk.

When we exit the airport I'm surprised to see that a car is already waiting for us. After putting all our luggage in the trunk, Caius walks toward the driver's seat, but I beat him to it.

"I miss driving," I say pleadingly, refusing to take my hand off the door handle. Caius shakes his head smiling.

"Okay, go for it," he gestures before going around to the other seat. As I drive toward my grandma's house, familiar landmarks begin to appear. Eventually I pull up to the small single-story home with its faded gray paint and sagging porch toting a new surge of nerves.

"Are you ready?" Caius asks with an encouraging smile. I nod, taking a deep breath before stepping out of the car. As we walk up the driveway, my heart is pounding, but before I can knock, the door swings open.

"Anna?" Grandma's voice trembles with a look of shock on her face.

"Hi, Grandma," I say softly, stepping into her embrace. She holds me tightly with the kind of warmth I didn't realize I needed. When she finally pulls back, her gaze shifts to Caius, who is standing a few steps behind me.

"And who's this?" she asks, eyeing him curiously.

"This is Caius," I say, glancing at him, "He's my... friend." I say hesitating, since we've never actually put a label on our relationship other than "soulmate," which might sound a bit weird to Grandma.

She raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but she doesn't press. Instead she nods and gestures for us to come inside, "Well, come in before you freeze to death," she jokes.

We step into the warm living room. The familiar scent of cinnamon and wood smoke wraps around me like a blanket. I look around, taking in the worn furniture, the photos on the walls, and the small Christmas tree set up in the corner. The familiarity of it all makes my eyes sting a bit, but I blink the tears away.

Grandma brings us mugs of tea after we settle onto the couch. "I'm glad you're back," she smiles, bringing me in for another hug.

"Me too. I'm sorry I left the way I did. I just really didn't know how to explain."

"You're here now," she smiles, reaching out to take my hand.

We spend the morning catching up, talking about everything that's been happening since I've been gone. She tells me about the neighbors, the latest gossip, and she catches me up on random tidbits of news. "Make sure you're registered to vote," she scolds me, "You can do that from Italy, you know!" For those few hours, I let myself forget about all the turmoil that'll be waiting for us back at the castle. At some point, Caius and I secretly switch tea cups to give the appearance that Caius drank all his tea.

As the afternoon drifts into evening, the house fills with the smell of dinner. My grandma refused to let us help in the kitchen, but it looks like her homemade tomato soup, along with something else in the oven is on the menu tonight. Caius is still sitting silently beside me, observing everything calmly, but I can catch a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Well, your room is still the same, Anna," Grandma says, wiping her hands on a towel as she steps back into the living room. She gives Caius an assessing look. "And I can set up some extra blankets for you on the couch."

Caius nods, a slight smile touching his lips. "Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality,"

I smirk at his formality, but grandma looks pleased, giving him an approving nod before turning to me. "Come on now, let's get you settled."

I follow her down the narrow hallway, passing the photographs lining the walls. There are old photos of family gatherings, holidays, birthdays, all good times. She opens the door to my old room and I see that like she said, everything is still exactly the way I left it.

"Thank you," I tell her, needing another hug.

Grandma smiles, rubbing by back, "Of course sweetie, you're always welcome here."

When we return to the living room, Grandma notices Caius studying every single knick-knack lining her shelves. With a slight grin, Grandma steps over to him.

"Well, would you like a tour?" To my surprise, Caius inclines his head, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"I'd be honored."

I stifle a laugh as she leads him around, explaining the stories behind each photograph, showing off all her favorite trinkets, including her collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers. Caius is listening intently, nodding with what appears to be genuine interest. She pauses by a framed photo on the wall of her and my grandpa when they were young, standing in front of a cabin by a lake. She points to a small boy. "We spent every summer here, and this was my son, Anna's father," she explains to Caius before looking at me. "He would be so proud of you," she says with a sad smile. I swallow, my throat tight as she squeezes my hand reassuringly.

As we finish the tour, Grandma turns to Caius with a sly look. "Now I'm sure you're used to all that fancy fine dining over there in Italy, but I bet you've never had a true Minnesota hotdish. We'll see if you can handle it," she winks.

Caius raises an eyebrow and I catch a flash of amusement in his eyes as he glances at me, clearly aware of the predicament.

"Um, grandma?" I start, thinking quickly, "Caius actually has a... very specific diet. He's allergic to like a hundred different things and always has to bring his own food. Even I've had to completely give up trying to cook for him," I laugh.

Grandma looks surprised, her eyebrows furrowing. "Oh, is that so? Poor dear." She waves her hand, completely undeterred. "Well, you can at least sit with us while we eat."

"Of course," Caius replies smoothly, a smile tugging at his lips as he gives me a subtle nod of gratitude. "I appreciate the invitation. It has been such a pleasure to learn more about Anna today."

I exhale, relieved, as I help grandma set the soup, salad, and hotdish onto the table. As we begin eating, Caius effortlessly plays the part of a gentleman, feigning sips of water as he asks grandma questions about her life. She seems charmed by his attention, happily rehashing stories that both include, and predate me. Even without joining in on the meal, Caius's presence turns out to be a perfect addition to our small little family.

After dinner, Grandma leads us back into the living room, where she insists we sit down for a round of card games. I teach Caius the rules of Hearts, and he catches on quickly, his competitive nature coming out as he gets a hang of the different strategies Grandma and I put to use. Grandma's laughter fills the room as Caius pretends to be utterly perplexed about miserably failing round five, but he continues shooting me playful looks every so often.

The night eventually creeps up on us and Grandma starts to nod off in her chair, her head dropping as she murmurs something about having "shown him who's boss," in the card game. Caius and I exchange a soft laugh as I gently help her up, guiding her to her room. "I got it, I got it," Grandma laughs, shooing us away jokingly.

"Goodnight Grandma," I giggle.

"Goodnight dear," she responds, kissing my forehead before shutting the door behind her.

When I step back into the living room, Caius is standing by the window, gazing out into the snowy lawn. He turns as I approach, his eyes softening as they meet mine. "She's very welcoming," he says gently.

"She is," I smile. Caius slides his arms around me. We stand there enjoying the calm. The weight of the future still hangs silently between us, but the desire to enjoy the current moment feels even stronger. When we go back, we'll deal with whatever comes, but tonight, I feel at peace.