ɪ ᴀᴍ ꜱᴏ ꜱᴏʀʀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ꜱᴏ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ! ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ꜱᴏ ʙᴜꜱʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀɪɢɪɴᴀʟ ʜᴇʀᴇᴛɪᴄ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴅᴀʏ. ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴛʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇꜱ ɪꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ᴀᴍ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ 15 ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ʜɪɢʜꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ.

ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʜᴀʟꜰ ɪɴꜱᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ꜱᴏ ꜱᴏʀʀʏ ʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ. ꜱᴄʀᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴜʏꜱ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴍʏ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴀʙꜱᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ.

ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴇ ɴɪᴄᴇ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ. ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛᴇɴ ᴜᴘ ᴍʏ ᴅᴀʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴏᴛɪꜰɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ᴏʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ.

When the Volturi were away, the Romanians would commit crimes. It pained me to know that we would have to destroy an entire coven, but the threat of an eventual takeover was just too high. They had no respect for our laws or human life. Even if I didn't particularly like humans, I didn't think of them like they were just livestock to be slaughtered relentlessly. They had homes, families, and people they cared about just like vampires. Humanity deserved a chance to think they are at the top of the food chain, even if they really weren't and could be easily killed by any supernatural creature in the world.

The world around me was changing drastically. Vampires all around the world knew of me, of my power and my existence within the Volturi. Some rumors of my gift had gotten out, but most of them were highly wrong and straight up weird. In a way, I would be able to be the one at the sail, the master of the sea of the vampire world. I had to be able to work under pressure and be able to keep my coven's ship afloat.

My only fear was that I would be the one to let the ship sink.

Covens were a group effort, everyone having a different job within one. Nobody was replaceable, every person having their own uses and gifts, even if they weren't related to them becoming vampires in the first place. Relations within my coven were strong, Marcus telling me that all of the loyalty bonds were glowing bright yellow, all of them connected back to the four of us.

Our bonds were mixed, all of us having bright yellow for loyalty, but also magenta for platonic love and green for friendship. The Volturi had little to no blue, which was the sign of distaste or hatred. There was bound to be some blue, but Marcus assured me that it was outshadowed by all of the other colors.

While most of the vampire world feared us, they did not know just how much we loved and cared for one another. Before joining the Volturi, almost nobody really had a family. Before my coven, I had no real family at all. I was almost completely alone. Yes, I technically had the Cullens, my life was far from familial.

In the end, most of them did leave me behind for something I could not control.

______________________________________________________

During the next day or so after the afternoon filled with screaming mates and Volturi members goofing off, the guards spent more time in the training room than out. They would train all day and all night because they needed it and they also had the benefit of not needing to sleep like most creatures.

"No! Alec, you need to go to your left when Jane attacks!" Caius shouts at the boy, causing him to flinch and nod his head quickly. My blonde mate did not accept failures and the guard had been berated and beaten by him during their recent training.

"Caius, give the kid a break, he's been at this for an hour. Alec hasn't fed at all since the last feeding a week ago, he clearly needs some food in his system before he trains," I defend the brown haired boy.

Just as my mate was about to fight back, Aro came in through the doors. "What are you all doing here? Feeding time is in less than two minutes!"

"Blondie over here was beating everyone up for their failures, darling. We'll come out now." Aro nods and allows me to take his arm, Caius trailing us as we walk down the halls, which had become much more crowded during the past few days. More and more vampires were coming to our side in our battle against the Romanians. Even if they were scared of our coven and feared breaking any of our rules, they hated the Romanians and their way of ruling so much that they would back us over them anyday.

Now that so many more covens were residing in the walls of Volterra, Heidi would need to get much more food for all of us. Some of the covens had to bring their newest members, the newborn vampires of their family. Poor Heidi had worked her ass off during this last catch, likely having to draw in over 100 humans to feed us all.

No calls had come from the Cullen family about the supposed threat. From what I could gather, a newborn army was no small deal. It was messy and could result in multiple deaths on both sides. I was volatile and I was able to beat some of the elite guards during my first few training sessions, so who knew what a bigger army of newborns could do to a coven. Even if the Volturi knew about the resistance against the Cullens, it was not our place to interfere unless we thought that the newborns were causing too much news to fall on their feedings. Carlisle had to know that. The man had lived in the coven for at least a decade, he should know the procedures that came with a newborn army.

Still, something inside of me still said that the Cullens would use this against me, that they would take my lack of a response as me throwing them out. In the end, I had a coven that was on the brink of war with another coven, we had to protect our own before we began to use our guard members as negotiators for people.

When the time came, the room filled with hundreds of humans and at least 100 vampires. Heidi really had outdone herself with this one.

I could hear the newborns in the room growling, ready to feed already. Their sires and covenmates held them back so Aro could address the people before calling us to our well deserved and waited meal for the week.

"It seems that you have come to the end of your tour," Aro turns to the people before looking at the poor vampires who had to hold back their friends, "Bon appétit!"

______________________________________________________

It was about time for the sun to set when I was given letters in my room by Demetri, who had previously gone to check on the mail for me. During the week, I had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of mail from the Cullens, who I had written some nice letters for.

The first letter was sealed with wax. So fancy, Carlisle.

To my Queen Annalise,

While I am overjoyed to find out that you have taken the great step to dive off the edge that is often immortality, I am afraid that some members of my coven are not. My opinions on an animal based food source seem to have rubbed off in a way that I did not intend for them to. All that I care about is that you are happy and living the best life that you can, whether that means that you eat an animal for blood or a human does not matter much to me. You have and will always be a good woman of your own morals, which I can respect and understand. Friends do not have to agree on everything and this is something that we can debate in a better setting.

Edward and Bella refuse to speak your name. I am saddened that they show such disrespect to people that I once called my own family. You and Aro will always be good friends of mine as long as you stay true to your nature as good people and good vampires of your own morals and ways of being. Recalling my memories from my time in the Volturi, I can safely say that Edward and Bella are misguided in their perceptions of your family. While often seen as frightening and as having an iron fist when dealing with crime, the Volturi are just like any other coven on this great planet. Just because they are the ones handing out the punishments does not make them villains in any regard. If I can do anything to change their views, I will, as any further disrespect will show poorly on my duty as Edward's father and the leader of the Olympic Coven.

As I do not have a gift, I hate to say that I can not share my own experiences on the matter as someone like Jasper or Alice would be able to. Unfortunately, I find myself blinded by the lack of a gift when it comes to reliable knowledge that can be passed over to you. The gift that you possess does sound quite like Aro's, but it most definitely is more powerful. While he can turn it on and off, the fact that you can see it from a glance will make you one of the most impressive vampires I have ever had the good pleasure of knowing.

Even from the time that I first met you, I knew that you were a dutiful person who looked for the good in everything that you find. You give those who even I would not give a chance, and give them that push to improve yourself. As a queen, this will likely become your greatest strength and my favorite value that you have brought to the table. In many ways, I wish to be more like you, to give without question and to give that second chance.

Control will be your most needed talent when being a vampire. I hope that you will be able to come back to Forks sometime so that we can chat. Esme sends her regards. While she does not show it, I know that she misses having you around. Just know that she loves you just like she loves any one of her own vampire children. Our arms and hearts will always be open to when you need us.

Always warm regards,

Carlisle Cullen

While Carlisle's letter had been uplifting, almost reassuring due to the fact that I did know him before I was a vampire, it lacked a piece of knowledge that I so desired.

I stared at the piece of paper, calling upon my gift to give me something.

Carlisle Cullen wrote this letter to you. All information enclosed is honest and true. The wax used was given to him as a Christmas present many years ago from Aro. He wants to tell you about the newborn army, but Alice and Edward are holding him back. He feels torn between his friendship with you and what they think will be best for the Olympic Coven. The people on your side are Esme, Jasper, and Rosalie. Emmett has decided to stay out of this one, knowing that taking a side during this time could do more harm than good.

The helpful bit of information was noted in my mind, allowing some sense of ease to flow through me. I had people on my side and that was what mattered. Carlisle always did what was best for the most people in his coven and if he wanted to take on the newborns alone, the Volturi would not need to interfere just yet.

My next letter sounded much less formal and much more Rosalie.

Dear Anna,

I know that you may expect me to be angry that you turned because of what happened to me, but know that I am not and that I really am happy for you. Human life was not what you were meant to be. If immortals could be born, you would have been born one of us.

Nothing about your ADHD would make you any weaker, if that is what was bugging you. I love you the way that you are, and if you're an ADHD ridden newborn, so be it! No matter what, you have my love and loyalty. I plan to be texting you soon. Please know that ########## is my number and if I call you, it's important.

You got so lucky. Scoring three mates, getting to be a queen, and being a gifted vampire? Yeah, could never be me. This gift of yours sounds cool. We'll have to talk about it later.

Life around here is hectic, but if your gift is what you say it is, you likely already know enough to know that we are in some shit. Don't come over if that's what you are coming over for. Carlisle and Edward will kill me if they find out I slipped anything. I wish that you could be here to help us through this, even if it meant that you had to deal with Edward and Bella. It sounds selfish, but having you around here just makes everything go better. Things don't go as bad when you have a friend like you around.

Gosh, I hate Bella right now. I don't even care if Edward likes her and calls her his mate, they aren't mates and I hate her stupid butt. She's insulting you without even using your name. I know that Carlisle won't tell you that, but you're my friend and you deserve to know. It's like her whole life revolves around Edward being a vampire and her being a human. If that didn't exist, her world would revolve around the fact that you left and now you're a pretty vampire queen sitting up on a throne with your three evil mates. Evil my butt, I bet they treat you like the queen you are.

I swear I hate my life right now,

Rose

My blonde friend always did have a flair for the dramatics. Rose must have been pretty dramatic in her human life to become this dramatic in her immortal life. Emmett and her were the most dramatic people I had ever come to know. Emmett sends his love in this letter as well. He tried to draw on one of the pages but Rose yelled at him to stop.

I turned to the final letter, written by my favorite southern boy. Jazzy my man.

Dear Queen Anna of the Volturi,

I am sorry that I was unable to send you a letter the first time like most of the group did. I think you know that I don't really do letters and everyone's emotions just messed with me.

The newborn stage sucks. There, I said it. It just actually sucks. I remember when I was a newborn. I couldn't control my gift and all of the war and violence really took a toll on my mental health. Training newborns is something that I do have experience with, so if you need any tips, just write to me. I'm always here for you.

I never had to resist your blood because I don't have to deal with you being anyone's singer. I never really said that, but I think that's what's going on with Bella. She's Edward's singer and since I can feel and manipulate everyone's emotions, I can feel his hunger. I used to love going to school with everyone, but now I have to control myself if I were a newborn again.

Having such a voice inside of your head must be terrifying. I tried to ask Edward about it, to see if he had any knowledge on what it could be, but he wrote it off and told me to never talk about you in front of him. He never even used your name. I think I nearly tore his head off right then and there. The only thing that kept me from doing it was Alice. She doesn't hate you, but she doesn't like the fact that you're with the Volturi. Nobody will listen to us when we say that you're doing well and that the vampire world will be better with you in charge with your mate and your coven. We need laws and your gift will help get the truth, even when you are from afar. Don't ask, Rose and Carlisle told me about the range.

What is it with you and your rolling? You used to roll all over me when you didn't get enough food and now you do it with blood. Clearly you are way too innocent if you don't know why they don't like it. Since I am a southern gentleman, I will not be the one to explain such a topic. Ask your mates, I bet that they think you know why it makes them uncomfortable. Maybe just Aro would know, but you know what I'm getting at.

Since everything is so weird around here with Bella and everything, I think I should be the one to tell you that Edward proposed to Bella. It happened yesterday and it's all that everyone is talking about. We have many things we need to deal with before a wedding can take place, but it is bringing some light to our current predicament. They seem happy with each other, even if they don't give off the mate emotions I know come from Esme and Carlisle. It annoys me that the two of them call each other their mate when Edward knows, deep down, that they are not. Alice is not my mate and I know that, we both know that. It just hurts to know that one of them could reject their one and only for each other when push comes to shove.

I hope that the Volturi will do better with you. Your name pops up with other covens, mainly the Denalis. They don't really like the Volturi, but they sound happy about the kings finding their mate. A nice one at that. You could have been a terror and the world could have fallen into a tyrannical dictatorship. Right now, it's more of a monarchy. A really odd monarchy with no real lines of succession

I shouldn't take up any more of your time, but I do really hope that you are living your best life and being the best version of yourself that you can be. I'll always stand by you.

Dealing with stuff,

Jasper W. :)

I smile up at the smiley face and close the letter, returning it to its envelope. Things were going to change, and I would make sure that it would be for the better. We would win the battle and I would get to see the Cullens. No Isabella or Edward would be able to stand in the way of my friendships.