CHAPTER TEN
(vivenne's past)

Vivienne sat on the log and looked at the snow, her voice a whisper as she spoke, "The snow is sticking." Everyone who had made the decision to confront the Volturi had gathered near the clearing where Alice had seen her vision. Bella had mentioned that it was the same clearing where the family and pack had fought against the newborns not too long ago.

Alice's vision, as always, was open to interpretation, so they could be waiting here for days until it came true. All they knew was that the day was nearing, confirmed by the sole indicator being "the snow sticking to the ground."

Benjamin approached Vivienne, his presence comforting as he stood behind the log, waiting for Jacob to finish stacking the firewood.

The sound of logs hitting the floor signaled Benjamin to bring forth his flames, setting the logs ablaze with a burst of heat. Although the immortals and wolves did not require the warmth of a fire, the flickering glow was a welcome gesture.

Jacob chimed in with a playful tone, "Now that's what I'm talking about—a pre-battle bonfire, where we can regale each other with tales." Benjamin, sitting next to Vivienne, had already wrapped his arm around her shoulder, creating a cozy and tight-knit circle around the fire.

"Or just standing there like statues," Jacob quipped, his gaze roaming around the campfire, a bemused expression on his face as he observed the vampires who seemed content to stand quietly by themselves.

Vivienne posed a challenge to Jacob, her gaze meeting his as she spoke, "Well, ask something then."

Jacob's attention shifted to her, and he took a moment to consider her question, before saying, "Alright, tell me about your life before you became a vampire."

Vivienne put on an exaggeratedly horrified expression and quipped, "Jacob Black, you dare ask a vampire such an intimate question?"

Jacob looked stricken for a moment, but Benjamin chuckled and shook his head. "It's just a joke," he clarified, a wry smile on his face.

Vivienne's eyebrow arched, her voice dripping with mock disappointment. "Not anything historical or life-changing?" The monotone delivery made her tone playfully sarcastic.

Garrett sauntered over to their little circle, a playful grin on his face. "Actually," he piped up, his gaze flickering between Vivienne and Jacob, "it's something I've always wondered about."

Kate and Tanya approached the fire and joined the group, with Kate chiming in, "He is right—you never mentioned it." Tanya nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Rosalie glanced at her sister, realizing that her knowledge of her past was limited to the brief moments just before she turned into a vampire—an incident that she had only mentioned to Edward once. The rest of the family remained ignorant of those details.

Vivienne's laughter echoed through the group, as she began to share her story. "I was born in 1790," she revealed. "Of course, I don't remember the exact day, as those details tend to fade over the many years of being alive." As soon as she started speaking, the vampires and Jacob turned their undivided attention towards her, listening intently as they gathered around the fire.

It made perfect sense that they were eager to learn about her life—after all, no one, including Carlisle, knew much about her existence. Many of them stood by Carlisle, and some had encountered her throughout the years, making her a pivotal figure in their lives. Given these circumstances, it was expected that they would be curious about her past. Unlike their own stories, hers held a greater allure and mystique to the group.

Vivienne continued her narrative, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia as she explained, "I lived on a small, isolated island that no longer exists today—it had a population of around 150 people, and the count tended to remain relatively stable." She paused for a moment before adding, "As for our history, memory may have faded, but I recall that my ancestors hailed from Spain."

Vivienne's voice carried a note of perplexity as she continued, "It may sound strange, but we barely spoke to one another, simply because my people believed in the sanctity of silence. They considered the disturbance of sound to be a violation of the peace and tranquility of their land."

Jacob's question broke the silence, "So how did you communicate?" Vivienne chuckled in response, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Her tone changed to a more reflective one as she continued her account, "Communication for us was through art. We lived in caves, and we would use the walls as our canvas to express ourselves. Interestingly enough, the subjects of our discussions were rather limited. We would inquire about each other's hunger or if someone felt unwell—that was pretty much it."

"How did you learn to speak?" Kate inquired, her curiosity piqued.

With a soft tone, Vivienne responded, "That's where things take a peculiar and slightly ominous turn." She glanced up, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy as she continued, "We were invaded, and well, that's when we were compelled to communicate through our mouths—for most of us, it was the first time we had spoken aloud in such a manner."

Vivienne's voice grew more somber as she recalled the difficult times, "It was a true nightmare—we were not treated as human beings. Many lives were cut short, and hope seemed to vanish. It was 1801, I was around eleven years old, and a few other children who were still healthy enough to move, escaped the island on one of the small boats, helped by our own people, who believed that survival and freedom were our best chances."

"There were ten of us on the minuscule boat when we arrived on American shores. Only four of us remained alive—all of us were teetering on the edge of death," Vivienne recalled, her voice tinged with pain. "It was the first time I truly felt that my life was nearing an end. Fortunately, the kind souls who discovered us took us in and nursed us back to health, allowing us to regain our lives and thrive."

Vivienne couldn't help but chuckle softly at her own words, her voice tinged with nostalgia and a hint of self-deprecation, "Ah, yes, my youthful foolishness at the tender age of fifteen. I set out on a journey, armed with just a small bag containing a spare outfit and barely a week's worth of money to tide me over."

As Vivienne reminisced, her gaze flicked towards Benjamin, a warm smile playing on her lips. She confessed, "I lost my life in Cairo because there was something about the place that just drew me in—and, as it turned out, it ended up being a turning point for the better, although it took me many years to fully accept it." Her eyes twinkled as she added, "And, I'm happy to say that I have found true happiness once more—a loving family, incredible friends, and eternal life."

Vivienne's voice turned dark and filled with hatred as she revealed her realization after two years in captivity. Her eyes took on a dull hue as she continued, "It wasn't until two years later, when I discovered the shocking truth—the Volturi were responsible for the invasion of my land. I was just a child; I didn't suspect their involvement. It turns out it was Aro and Caius who had devised the plan, and not all Volturi were privy to the scheme—there are still some who remain oblivious to this very day."

The memories came flooding back to Vivienne, their faces burned into her mind, haunting her with their presence. The realization struck her with a chilling force, as she remembered their brutality and the devastating loss they had inflicted upon her people. She spoke with a mix of anger and confusion, her voice tinged with bitterness. "I had forgotten their faces for years, but once the image burned back into my mind, I remembered. They had torn through my people, leaving destruction in their wake. I wondered—why had they come to my land? Why had they killed so many? And then, the answer became clear."

Emmett posed the question, "What was their reason?"

In response, Vivienne let out a dark chuckle, her voice filled with irony. "It turns out that every single one of my people possessed special abilities, a trait Aro labeled as 'venomous.' We were all gifted humans, each bearing a power that made us a threat to their rule while being an asset they couldn't afford to lose." Her tone darkened further as she continued, "To awaken our powers, we had to experience a profound pain, a trial that not all survived."

Vivienne's voice turned flat and matter-of-fact as she declared, "If we had successfully awakened our power, we were spared, but if not...we died." She paused before continuing, "When Aro discovered me, he was beyond ecstatic. I had not only become immortal but also awoken my power, making me his prized 'venomous treasure.'"

Vivienne's voice was filled with defiance as she declared, "Nothing they did or said would ever convince me to join them. Hence, I rebelled, and they attempted to starve me into submission. After years of struggling, I finally managed an escape. If it weren't for Jasper and Alice discovering me, I would have been foolish enough to attempt a one-woman assault on the Volturi myself."

Vivienne sighed deeply before continuing, "As paradoxical as it may seem, I actually do not desire a conflict. Despite the havoc they wreaked upon my life, there will come a day when the Volturi's rule will inevitably end. However, whether it will be tomorrow or in the far distant future, we can never truly predict with absolute certainty."

As Benjamin wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tender embrace, it was clear that he was well-acquainted with Vivienne's painful history. She had confided in him one night in the privacy of their bed, revealing the extent of the Volturi's cruel nature. He, having never met them personally, still possessed a profound understanding of their malevolent and warped character.

Vladimir continued with a thoughtful hum, "When we were in power, everything was handed to us on a silver platter—our prey, diplomats, and those seeking our favor. Our power was immense. But we never pretended to be saints, don't ever accuse us of that." Stefan nodded in agreement, adding, "We were utterly transparent about who we were and what we represented to the world."

The spectators regarded the Romanians with unwavering stares, their true nature evident to all. There was no mistaking their brutish demeanor, a result of the immense losses they had endured at the hands of the Volturi.

Vladimir's eyes gleamed as he reflected upon the years past, his voice carrying a hint of irony. "We sat still for far too long, not realizing that we were slowly turning to stone," he confessed. Stefan chuckled softly in agreement, adding, "Perhaps the Volturi did us a favor in burning our castles to ashes. It jolted us out of our indolence."

Vladimir smirked confidently, his voice brimming with anticipation. "We have waited a staggering 1,500 years for the chance to repay that favor. We have been more than ready to engage in battle for countless years."

Vivienne's eyes gleamed with determination as she declared, "It doesn't matter if it happens today, tomorrow, or days from now—we must be prepared to face whatever comes our way, be it for the betterment or the detriment of all. Not for my own family alone, but for each and every one of us."