Chapter 47 - Event Planning

A couple weeks later, Caius and I sit side by side in one of the castle's smaller meeting rooms as the afternoon light spills through the windows high above us. I'm a bit anxious, but Caius, of course, sits perfectly composed with his arm resting casually on the back of my chair.

At 2:00 on the dot, there's a knock on the door.

"Come in," Caius calls. The door opens, revealing a guard member escorting a woman with flowing auburn hair, and an aura that shimmers gold under the sunlight coming in through the windows. You'd think I'd be used to the beauty of the Nephilim by now, but it still strikes me every time. The woman has an air of confidence that feels otherworldly, and she carries herself like she knows every detail of this meeting has already been planned in her mind.

"Caius, Anna, I'm Ariella. It's an honor to plan a wedding for the Volturi. I promise to make it unforgettable," she smiles, holding her hand out for both of us to shake.

Caius nods politely. "We were told your work is unparalleled."

"Weddings are a Nephilim specialty, I'm just one of the few who enjoys the business side of it too," she grins. I smile at the luck of it. There's no way Caius would ever hire another vampire to help make decisions on his behalf. "Now, let's begin. I'd like to start by hearing about your vision for the wedding."

I glance at Caius, who gestures for me to speak first. "Well, I don't know if we have a 'vision' yet exactly," I admit, "but I'd like it to reflect the both of us."

"It must also be grand. I don't want there to be a single event, past or future, that outshines it," he adds. The corner of my lips turn up at that.

Ariella nods thoughtfully, jotting down notes. "Do you have a specific theme in mind? Gothic elegance? Timeless romance? Perhaps something seasonal, given the winter date?"

"Timeless romance seems fitting," I say, glancing at Caius, "Something with classic and modern touches."

"That can absolutely be done," Ariella says. "What about colors? Do you have any preferences?"

"How about gold and black?" I suggest, looking down at my ring. I know Caius would probably be more comfortable surrounded by black, and the gold would bring a sense of warmth for me. For the added bonus, it would match my jewelry perfectly.

Caius nods, agreeing, "There should be no imitation gold. Anything gold should be made with real gold. Cost is no concern." My amusement grows. Of course all of Caius's input is to make sure everything looks like no expense was spared.

"That should be no issue. And the guest list? Do you have an idea of how many people you'll be inviting?" she asks.

"On my side, maybe around fifty? Then the Volturi of course, but I'm not sure how many guard members there are..." I trail off.

"In total there will be around three hundred in attendance. It will be an announcement to the world. Allied covens will need to see Anna as one of us, and neutral covens will need to be reminded of our power. Even the uninvited should understand what this event signifies. For this reason, we need things planned with extreme control to ensure that there's no trouble," Caius explains.

I gulp at the implication. The way he's talking, this will definitely feel more like a diplomatic event rather than our own personal celebration. But I mean, I remember seeing glimpses of William and Kate's wedding back in the day. It's just a consequence of status I guess. It really ramps up the pressure on me though... every guest will be judging me, and they'll be making speculations about my role here. Both of us will have to be at our best. There will be no room for showing vulnerability, which weddings naturally tend to bring out in people. At the very least, I'm quite glad I don't have the ability to cry tears of overwhelming joy anymore.

"Will it be held here at the castle?" Ariella asks.

"Yes," Caius answers immediately. "It's the most secure option."

I don't know that I'm satisfied with that. We already do everything at the castle, and surely if we ever have anniversary parties like Aro and Sulpicia's those will be here too. I want this to feel different.

"What if we had it at the Cathedral?" I ask. "The actual cathedral part of it is beautiful, and could hold all those people easily. Surely no one would risk getting on their bad side by causing issues, right?"

"And your sister?" Caius reminds me.

"She'll be living completely off the property soon. There's absolutely no way she'll be able to pick up the scent of any of the guests, and vice versa."

"I'll have to double check on that," Caius says, "We'll come back to this decision."

Ariella nods and continues writing. "Now, let's talk about attire. Anna, have you thought about your dress?"

"Not really," I admit, "There are a couple of styles I've seen here and there that I like, but I have no idea how they'd actually look on me."

"We can plan a showing here at the castle if you'd like. If you email me any styles you'd for sure like to take a look at, I'll work with my assistants to put together a selection for you to try on. If nothing fits your vision, I can help you sketch a new design based on the bits and pieces you like about the other dresses."

I widen my eyes at the thought of a custom dress. I'll definitely need Jane's help deciding, and maybe this can be something I can include Emily in too.

"Next, do you envision live music, a performance, or something curated?"

"Live music would be best for the ceremony," Caius suggests. I nod. It would fit the vibe of the Cathedral if we have it there.

"I'm sure my family will be expecting to do the 'Cha Cha Slide', so maybe a DJ for the reception," I suggest. I doubt I'll be able to let loose as much with all eyes on me, but I don't want it to be too stuffy for my family.

"Great," Ariella nods, "I'll arrange for both. They should have basic song lists for weddings already, but if you check over them and want to add or remove anything, be sure to let me know. As for food and drink, will there be a mix of vampire and non-vampire guests?"

"Yes, but there should be enough food so that any humans won't be suspicious," Caius says.

Ariella nods, "So in this case I might recommend setting up food stations at the reception venue. We could set up separate spots for appetizers, a pasta bar, a bar, and a dessert table with tables lining them so the focus is on mingling, rather than the food. The vampires in attendance would be able to blend in more naturally by standing around the stations with a small plate they can discard later, without being expected to eat on the spot. How do you want to handle the food itself?"

"We'll leave all the tasting and food decisions to Chef Lavitto," Caius says.

"In that case, I'll get his contact information and assure we get that handled. Now, before I overwhelm you with details, let's finalize our next steps. I'll draft a plan with options for each of the things we talked about and meet with you again in a few weeks," Ariella says.

"Thank you," I smile as she gathers her things.

"Thank you both," she says, standing up to shake our hands goodbye, "it's an absolute privilege to be working with you."

After the guard member returns to escort her out, I turn my attention to Caius. "This might be more fun than I expected," I say.

Caius takes my hand. "While there are expectations that the wedding itself must be held to, I still want to assure you that I will try my best make sure it lives up to your expectations in every way possible."

"Thank you," I smile, pulling him in for a hug.

"And..." Caius starts again, "I spoke with Aro and Marcus. Together we've agreed to allow you and Sulpicia to go to the event at Harlington Manor." Excitement bursts in my chest before he holds up a hand to show he's not done. "However," he says carefully, "you'll be going with strict precautions. Sulpicia will serve as the senior presence. You'll shadow her throughout the evening. You've been taking diplomacy classes, so you'll have to keep what you've learned in mind if someone speaks to you. But, since this is your first time outside of the castle for business-related purposes, we ask you to speak as little as possible, and only when spoken to. A lack of friendliness should be expected on both sides."

"Of course," I nod.

"To ensure both your safety and the strength of our appearance, you'll be accompanied by Felix, Jane, Alec, Santiago, and Renata."

"That's quite the entourage. I don't think I've met Santiago before."

"Like Felix, his skills include his strength, and battle strategy. He'll be the one to scout Harlington Manor in advance to make sure their security is sufficient, and he'll be making sure the party goes according to plan. The Volturi will not risk losing either you or Sulpicia for a meaningless social obligation. If we send you beyond our walls, we will ensure that you return."

I hold back a grin, even as the reality of it sets in. I expected Felix and maybe one other, not a small army, especially when I have my shield. The magnitude of it hits me that I'm not just another vampire. I'm Volturi. Every movement I make now has weight behind it. I'll be seen by others, and judged by others. Caius continues.

"I know you're friendly with the other guard members accompanying you, but for this night you will act as their superior. You should have no need to speak to them."

"Of course," I nod again.

Caius's mouth twitches like he can't tell if he should still be worried or not. I can't say I blame him. The hierarchy here really is the toughest part for me. The others will surely know it's nothing personal though, so I'll be fine.

"Remember, Anna. This is not just a celebration for them, it's a stage for both you, and the Volturi as a whole. Be prepared for them to take a significant interest in you, especially after recent events. The main focus of your diplomacy lessons will be adjusted over the next few weeks to prepare you for this party." He takes both my hands in his, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I know you'll do well, just stay alert."

"Thank you Caius," I smile, letting out a breath of relief. This is my biggest step yet toward building the position I want for myself here, and I'm determined to prove I can be trusted with more.