32 | DAWN OF THE DEAD |

➖

JASPER DIDN'T HAVE TO IMAGINE to know how much Rory had to love being in Italy as Alice sped down the mountainside road leading to the city of Volterra.

Jasper regretted ever holding her back from accepting the internship. This was where she was meant to be—sans the mysterious fire of course. He couldn't wait to save Edward from his idiocy so he could find his girl.

Rory had always loved finding the beauty in the unsuspecting world around her and bringing it to life on canvas. It was one of the things he loved about her. She was an artist, through and through. There was nothing more she loved to do than spend hours with her canvas sketchbook in hand, painting or drawing.

It was worse to imagine Rory being dead—not that Jasper was convinced. The moment they all saved Edward from his suicide mission, Jasper was heading straight for Florence to find the woman he loved and tell her he never stopped loving her. They would kiss and make up for all the time they were apart. Then they would return home where he would marry her and adopt a child.

If only that was how this story went.

After Bella and Edward's seamless reunion under the clock tower, Jane, one of the most powerful members of the Guard, told them they were all expected to appear before the Volturi.

Jasper kept to the back of their group, completing the circle him, Alice, and Edward made around Bella. Fortunately, Aro was pleased Edward hadn't exposed himself and had brought two more powerful vampires—plus one potentially gifted human girl, the source of all the drama.

As Jasper, Alice, and Bella watched as Edward fight Felix—or attempt to—in the opulent throne room of the Volturi, an annoyed feminine voice rang through the air.

"This is ridiculous!" The hooded newborn stepped out of the shadows she had been watching the trial in. They were destroying the beautiful marble walls and flooring with their fight. She growled as Felix continued to throw Edward around like a rag doll. "Stop!"

Instantaneously, Felix and Edward stopped all movement. Completely. Edward was frozen in mid leap, Felix's neck was craned oddly as his torso twisted the other way. Both vampires were stuck in gravity defying positions. The entire antechamber was astonished by the display.

Aro squealed in delight at his newest member's directness. He loved when his children weren't afraid of showing off their power.

The vampire huffed at the unintended results of her power she was still learning to use. "I didn't mean to stop all movement—I meant stop fighting. Let each other go so we can discuss whatever situation this is like mature immortals."

In the next second, Felix and Edward crumpled to the marble flooring, both quickly gathering themselves and returning to their sides of the throne room.

When the melodic yet familiar tone met his ears, Jasper looked at the figure in alarm. As perfect and tuned as the voice had become, he could never forget who it belonged to.

The slender, porcelain skinned young woman glided towards the center of the throne room gracefully, inhumanly. Dark, almost black, waves reached her hour-glass waist. A shiny, ruby encrusted V shaped medallion hung between her revealed cleavage. Her pale, flawless marble hands peeled off her hood to reveal the annoyed expression of a newborn vampire.

Jasper, Alice, Edward and Bella all stared at the newborn vampire with shock.

The perfectly healthy and most importantly alive newborn, wearing a wrap dress under the black cloak of a bright shade, was none other than the girl they were looking for. The lack of recognition in her gaze wasn't the only thing that worried the trio though, for her eyes happened to match her crimson red dress.

"Rory?"

➖

When Aurora awoke from the flames that had engulfed her every molecule, the first thing she realized was that she could literally see every molecule.

Okay, it was an exaggeration but still. For someone who coveted painting every single detail on canvas, the enhanced vision of the world around her was truly epic. The dust notes spiraling in the air like a galaxy of stars, the thirty-two thousand, one hundred and forty-four painted threads that made up the tapestry hanging on one of the stone walls (she had counted them all in a fraction of a second), the minuscule crack in the ancient stain-glass window was as visible and clear to her as a fluorescent sign.

Not only could she see everything, but she could hear every sound within a three-mile radius—the bell-tower ringing suddenly shocked her into a high-pitched yelp of surprise at the loudness. The other thing she heard was the loud, mouth-watering sound of blood gushing through juicy veins. No longer was she entranced by the dust notes, now there was a whimpering person crouching against the stone wall farthest from the king-sized bed she had awoken on.

Aurora felt all sense slip from her as the excruciatingly painful heat burning her throat took control over her instincts. Thirst took the forefront of her thoughts. She rushed to the body in a blur, so fast she beat the tick of the clock hanging on the wall. She was so thirsty, she felt like she hadn't had a drop of water in years. There was no time for pleasantries as she lifted the person up easily as a feather and sank her teeth into his jugular, instantly quenching the pain in her throat.

She was so thirsty and eager to drink blood that she accidentally ripped the man's head from his shoulder, as well as his arm. Oops. She continued to feast on shoulder until the fire in her throat dimmed to an ember.

It was only then that she realized she had killed someone.

Aurora looked from the severed pieces of the man to the ground soaked in blood. She felt bad—horrified and repulsed by her actions, yet a little annoyed she had wasted so much of the delicious red liquid. She realized she was also covered in it—she was halfway tempted to try and suck it off the designer dress she was wearing (and utterly ruined), but she hadn't lost complete control of herself.

She sped over to the door next to the mahogany dresser, hoping it was a bathroom, and successfully discovering that it indeed was. She also accidentally pulled the doorknob right off in her haste to open the door—another whoopsie and she had only been awake for ten minutes!

The crystal water flowed from the gold faucet, cleansing Aurora of her bloodstained fingers. She frowned as she stared at her hands—there were no old scars or callouses marring her skin anymore—she was flawless and paler than she had expected. She cupped her flawless hands and splashed it over her face, which was when she laid eyes on her reflection for the very first time.

It was eerie how alien-like but familiar the girl in the reflection was. Her hair was longer than she thought, dark, wavy, and full of volume and shine. Every acne scar and imperfection she used to hide under layers of concealer and foundation no longer existed only unmarked porcelain skin that was hard than anything in the bathroom. The features were beautifully defined, perfectly symmetrical and alluring. But the strangest part of the face, her face, was the pair of crimson red eyes staring right back at her.

"Holy fucking shit."

"You took your time waking up," A voice, smooth as chocolate and tanged with caution, came from the doorway. "You are quite messy, but I should have expected that."

She turned her head to look at the man eyeing her and the evident bloody mess she was. She felt a swell of incomprehensible anger and aggression erupt from this man's appearance.

He was undeniably beautiful like a painting of an angel done by the greats. Tousled golden brown hair, white, flawless skin, and hypnotic crimson eyes framed by lush dark lashes. He was taller than her by half a foot with a leaner physique—this was not a man who needed his fists to fight. The intelligent, cunning gleam in his eyes told Aurora all she needed to know about him. He was no Michael the archangel. He was Lucifer.

She couldn't help but attack him.

He rolled his eyes and stepped aside quickly, tripping her to take her out swiftly, but she was fast too, and she grabbed his arm as she fell into the main room.

They rolled away, he stayed away from her snapping teeth and she dodged his attempts to sedate her. She snarled as he pinned her down.

"I've missed you, luce mia," he smiled as if she wasn't attempting to bite him. "You're feistier, but you're still you." He looked at her endearingly.

"I'll show you how feisty I can be," Aurora growled and snapped at his exposed jugular.

Her new sharp teeth pieced his skin and he growled at the sting of her venom. No vampire had ever bit him before—this was a first.

He slammed her down to the marble floor, leaving a crack. "Don't make me take away your senses," he warned her in the same way a parent would speak to their misbehaving child.

Aurora blinked as he spoke—he had said that to her before, multiple times it felt like. She felt herself calm down as he relinquished his grasp. She couldn't put her finger on where she had remembered seeing this male, but she only knew his name was—"Alec."

"Welcome to the real world," Alec got to his feet in the next second. He offered her his hand and gave her a pointed look like he expected a specific response at his words.

She frowned as she stood to her feet. "Is that a reference to something I should know? Because I feel like it is but I cannot exactly recall it."

Alec raised a brow. "Seriously? You only forced me to watch seventeen different compilations of those idiotic vine videos on the internet, and you cannot recall it?"

She shrugged. "Um, no. I can't recall anything," Aurora's eyes widened as she realized she couldn't even remember the name of the city she was born in.

His ruby eyes narrowed. "How did you remember my name then?"

Aurora crossed her arms defensively at his accusatory tone. She had to think really hard to remember she was...eighteen? Simple things came to her like Alec's name or that they were in Italy; it was like her brain was on autopilot, but she didn't know how to actually steer. "I don't know how! I don't remember anything specifically, but I just know you're Alec," Aurora huffed. "You're a familiar stranger to me."

"Like we met once upon a dream?" Alec paused, waiting for her to reprimand him as usual when he made fun of her Disney namesake, but she just stared at him. Shit. Aurora really lost her memory.

She narrowed her red eyes pointedly. "Was that another reference? I have a feeling I should probably be annoyed at you for it."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Never mind Aurora."

She sighed deeply. It kind of hurt her brain to keep thinking past the surface of thought. Also she was feeling thirsty again. "Fine, well it's more like all I know is that we knew each other before...whatever happened to me..."

Alec was a little crestfallen at her lack of memories despite knowing it was opportune for him to start over with her, but it also meant she had forgotten him. "You don't remember anything? Not even your name?"

"Of course I remember my own damn name!" she growled, feeling more than annoyed at his relentless questions.

He leaned against the wall. "Then what is it?"

"Aurora Elena Reyes Aden," she recalled proudly while Alec smirked. She had hid her full name from him when she was human so he wouldn't research her further. "My friends call me Rory for short—you don't." She tilted her head as she eyed the other immortal accusatorially. "Are we not friends?"

Alec's mouth was set firmly. "Aurora, you're dead."

"Dead?" She raised her brows. "Obviously. Neither of us have a heartbeat, but why? What did you do to me?" Aurora bit her lip trying to think beyond the dark, smoke like haze that blocked her thoughts from her memories but she couldn't get past it.

"Most human memories become dull and irrelevant after the transformation, but not usually to this extent." Alec eyed the newborn up and down. Aurora appeared more than fine—she was beyond gorgeous—but Alec worried for her state of mind. "Perhaps I shouldn't have kept you sedated throughout it all."

"So you're at fault?" Aurora bared her teeth at him, feeling she might have to be angry at him. Rationally, Aurora knew Alec wasn't the enemy. He was...something more.

"Calm down, Aurora," Alec rolled his eyes. "I forget how irritating newborns are. So emotional."

"I'm a newborn?"

"A newborn vampire," he clarified just in case she didn't know what it meant. He met her confused gaze. "I saved you."

"You did?"

"Don't sound so surprised," Alec rolled his eyes, but he couldn't hide the ghost of a smile that quirked up.

She tucked her thick wavy hair behind her ear. It was becoming cumbersome. "Well, thank you for saving me."

"Now that you are awake and...somewhat cleaned up, I shall bring our masters to meet you," Alec declared as he began to walk to the door. "They were certainly surprised when I brought you here three days ago. Nonetheless, they'd like to meet you formally. Perhaps Aro could read your thoughts."

Aurora attempted to follow behind him. He turned around to shake his head. "You can't go out in the castle freely yet. It's still daytime and there are humans here."

"Do not leave me in here, Alec," Aurora growled as they made eye contact.

He rolled his eyes and continued his way to the door, "I'll be only a second. Do you remember your manners at least?"

"Alec."

He opened the door and took one step out in the corridor. Or at least he tried. Alec stared at his foot in confusion as it refused to move past the threshold of the doorway. He tried to extend his arm out and it only slammed against the invisible force that kept him from leaving the room like impenetrable glass.

Alec ran his tongue over his teeth in annoyance and then looked behind him at the only sensible cause of his inability to leave the room. "You're kidding me."

"What, forget how to walk, Alec?" Aurora sneered mockingly.

He glared at her sharply. "No, it appears I cannot step out of this room," Alec gritted his teeth.

Aurora snickered at his expense and his accusatory tone. "And that's supposed to be my fault?" She crossed her arms as she stepped closer to him.

"Yes because now I physically cannot leave the room," Alec cursed in italian and backed away from the doorway, staring at Aurora with interest. He had known she was special, but if his hunch was correct, he had created a shining star out of his little moon.

"What? All I said was for you to not leave me in here," Aurora snorted gracefully at Alec's contemptuous look on his face.

"I believe we've just discovered you possess a very powerful gift," Alec smirked widely, his angelic features glinting with hellish delight.

"Vampires have superpowers?"

➖

"Rory?"

Everyone in the throne room of the Volturi immediately turned to the quiet honey blond who had spoken. Jasper Hale stared at Aurora with a glimmer of relief and horror.

Jasper was beyond elated to discover Rory was alive, but to find her in the bosom of the ruling vampire coven was shocking. He was caught off guard to find her a part of the Volturi guard, which, once upon a time ago, she had referred to as the "vampire police". She had never wanted to become a vampire in the first place, so to see her like him, a full-fledge newborn vampire, was astonishing. It was like Jasper was about to have a heart attack seeing her again—and his heart hadn't beat in a hundred and seventy years!

The other three were just as shocked as Jasper. Bella was barely holding in her tears at finding Rory, the only thing keeping Alice from running to the girl was the two Volturi guards holding her back, and Edward openly gaped at her.

Aro clapped his hands together loudly, the slap echoing in the hushed throne room. "Cullens? You recognize our dearest new member, Aurora?" The manipulative leader was giddy with anticipation of the information he was about to receive. Newborn Aurora's thoughts surrounding her human past were all murky and hard to read.

Meanwhile, Aurora felt incredibly awkward as the entire room kept switching between staring from her to the Cullens. The human girl with them smelled especially mouthwatering and Aurora was having trouble staying in place. She looked to Alec, the only person who had been there for her since she awakened, for comfort. He nodded at her slightly, which gave her all the will she needed to not scamper away to join the rest of the guards again and regret ever speaking out.

Bella Swan took a cautious step forward, her brown eyes trained on Aurora in happiness and concern. However, the male vampire beside her, Jane's brother Alec, kept Bella from getting too close to the newborn. "Yes, Rory's from Forks," Bella confirmed to the Volturi leader's awaiting a response. "She was my neighbor."

Aurora tensed up. The longer she looked at the human, the more familiar the brunette was; at the same time, she also grew thirstier.

"You've been missing for almost a month now," Bella added, her eyes never wavering from the face of her best friend she believed dead.

Aurora didn't speak, the hunger worsening. The newborn didn't want to hurt the girl—she clearly knew her from whatever past Aurora couldn't recall.

Caius's red eyes slanted as he regarded the human girl. "And you didn't search for your supposed friend beforehand?" he questioned her critically, suspecting it might be a ruse the Cullens were attempting to play to better their odds. It was entirely possible the mind reader Edward Cullen figured out Aurora's value and now desired to use it to his advantage.

Edward groaned at Caius's thought process. He shook his head, "No. They discovered Rory was missing in the same night Alice had a vision of me coming here."

Alice nodded sadly. "After stopping Edward, we planned to search for her in Florence before leaving." The pixie-like vampire met Aurora gaze full of befuddlement, "I promised you that we would see each other again, Rory."

Alice waited for Rory to respond with any type of response, but the newborn simply looked at her with wide crimson eyes filled with incognizance.

Something was wrong, Alice realized horrifically.

Marcus roved his gaze over the four American visitors shocked into silence. "Anything else?"

"She's my mate," Jasper murmured, his gold eyes hadn't left Rory for a single second since laying them on her.

"Your mate?" Aurora and the vampire standing next to Bella simultaneously repeated the claim, one in absolute confusion and the other in revulsion.

Alec glared at the honey blond vegetarian vampire in fury. He was so irritated by the bold statement, his paralyzing mist spread outwards, causing Bella to fall to the ground.

Edward growled at Alec.

"Alec, calm down, my son," Aro extended his hand towards the male twin placatingly and Alec inhaled deeply, withdrawing his paralyzing mist back to himself. He walked towards his sister instead.

Jane stared at her twin piercingly. Alec had never lost control like that before, not in their eight-hundred year lifespan together. She was the unhinged, volatile twin, while he was the silent but deadly twin. She glided towards him until they were shoulder to shoulder. He relaxed slightly at her close presence.

Bella blinked as her body tingled. She slowly got up with the help of Alice. The two girls held hands tightly, needing to support each other in the unfolding mess.

"You must be mistaken," Aurora stated in a clear and crisp voice. She eyed the attractive wavy-haired blond vampire with strange eyes like gold honey. Like with Alec and the human girl, he seemed familiar to her, but she still couldn't remember him. "You're not my mate. I don't know you."

Alec smirked smugly.

"You don't...know me?" Jasper felt his world stop.

"Don't take it personally, Aurora doesn't remember her human life." Aro turned to the black haired newborn who now stood beside him, his ruby eyes twinkling in concern and excitement. "Dear one, I did not realize you were the 'Rory Aden' I had briefly seen in Edward's thoughts. I apologize for not realizing myself."

"It is not your fault, master," Aurora bowed her head slightly. She turned to look at the group of four with a deep frown. "I am sorry, but I truly don't remember you. Any of you."

Bella shrugged off Aurora's amnesic aloofness without a care. She met the crimson gaze of her dearest friend. "I just can't believe you're alive—well, undead at least. What happened to you? How did you forget us? Did you take away Rory's memories?" Bella's last question was pointed to the Volturi.

Alice shook her head at Bella, so not the time.

"She barely knew her own name when she awakened," Alec scoffed at the girl's impudence. "I saved Aurora."

Jasper was growing decidedly more annoyed with the witch twin. Alec was with Rory when she was reborn when it should have been him. He also didn't like where Alec's emotions were towards Rory.

"I can speak for myself, Alec," Aurora snapped. She squinted at Bella. "But it's true. If I concentrate more, I think I recognize you, but I don't know where from."

"If this little reunion is over, can we continue this trial? I grow tired of this drama," Caius interrupted with an authoritative sneer.

"Heidi will be here soon," Marcus added passively. The rest of the guard perked up, knowing what that meant, their eyes blackening in thirst.

"My apologies, masters," Aurora bowed her head again and joined Jane and Alec's side this time, adjusting her pitch black cloak and her expression to formality.

Other members of the guard were highly intrigued by the turn of events—as immortals with way too much time on their hands, they sniffed out drama like the smoke of a fire. And now the new shining jewel of the guard had history with the visitors on trial? It was truly a memorable St. Marcus Day festival for sure.

"It's quite alright, Aurora," Aro gestured at her benevolently. "Now, back to our discussion."

"The revelation that Bella Swan was not the only human your family allowed to know our secret incriminates you further," Caius declared.

Aro stroked his chin. "Yes, that does change things." He looked at the visitors curiously. "So, what we do with you now?" The long-haired vampire turned to his co-leaders.

Marcus was as emotionless as ever as he met Aro's stare. "You already know what you're going to do, Aro."

"She knows too much, she's a liability," Caius stated coldly.

The decision was made.

"That's true." Aro tilted his head towards the guards holding the visitors in place. "Felix?"

As the head executioner, the brawny vampire grabbed Edward, forcing him to his knees and holding his head for Aro to rip off. Alice and Jasper were held back from interfering by Demetri and another guard. Aro moved to decapitate the bronze-haired vampire.

"Please! Stop! No, no! Please!" Bella shouted, causing Aro to raise his hands, halting Felix from proceeding. Everyone's eyes were back on the human, but Bella was fearless. "Kill me...kill me. Not him."

Aro gasped lightly at the turn of events. "How extraordinary. You would give up your life...for someone like us. A vampire. A soulless monster."

"Just get away from him!" Bella demanded angrily, her eyes only on Edward, "You don't know a thing about his soul."

Caius inwardly sighed. This was becoming pointless. Both should die then. "Maybe it's one or the other."

"This is a sadness," Marcus said, reading the strong bond between the human and vampire. It reminded him of the one he shared with his wife Didyme, even if she was no longer with him.

Aro frowned sadly at the star-crossed lovers. He shook his head at Edward, "If only it be your intention to give her immortality." Aro's eyes snapped to Felix. "The rest of them as well." Aro turned to join his brothers at their thrones.

The guards moved forwards to seize Alice, Jasper, and Bella.

"—Wait."

The trio of leaders stared at their newest, most powerful member once more.

Aurora glanced from the four strangers who claimed to know her past to the ancient trio who led the vampire world she lived in now. In the month she had been a vampire, she had watched many trials and deaths and killed herself. But something about the Cullens and Bella Swan was different. She couldn't stand beside Alec and Jane and watch them die.

"I don't think they should be killed, masters. I may not remember them, but if it weren't for the Cullens then I assume I wouldn't be in this guard today. Where I belong," Aurora said carefully, meeting each leader's stare.

Marcus frowned deeply. "Aurora, we must abide by the law."

Jane smiled triumphantly.

"Bella always had intentions of becoming one of us and I am clearly a vampire now, so I don't see any harm done," Aurora defended the Cullens for reasons she couldn't quite understand. It went unsaid that she was their most valuable asset on the guard, with her gift, the Volturi were invincible. They had no choice but to listen to her—literally. "We cannot kill them for this."

Aro, Caius, and Marcus stared at the newborn's once more unexpected interference. Aurora was the tipping point in the scales of the game. With her power over the mind, Aurora was untouchable. She was impervious to Chelsea, the Volturi member who kept the other guards loyal to the Volturi. The Volturi, especially Aro, wanted to ensure Aurora was loyal out of all the other members.

"You remembered something," Bella breathed out in relief and glee.

"Oh." Aurora blinked. "I suppose I did." She stepped back in line, ignoring the way Bella, Alice, and Jasper stared at her.

With the crack in the Volturi's decision more obvious by Aurora standing up for them, Alice found the encouragement to speak up. "Bella will be one of us. I've seen it. I'll change her myself."

With Aro's nod, Demetri released Alice from the chokehold he had her in. Alice ignored Edward and Jasper's concerned looks as she pulled off the chic red leather glove and offered her hand to Aro for the first time.

The leader smiled as he held Alice's hand. He gasped in wonder. "Mesmerizing! To see what you have seen before it is happened."

Alice pulled her hand away and stepped back. Jasper and Edward were alarmed at the way Aro stared at Alice like she was the biggest prize in the world. It was clear he was a collector of trophies with the way Aurora, Alec and Jane stood beside each other in a line.

Aro turned to Bella with a belligerent, creepy smile. His hand caressed her trembling face, "Your gifts will make for an intriguing immortal, Isabella." He stood up straight.

"Go now," Aro declared suddenly and Edward and Jasper were released at once. "Make your preparations."

"Let us be done with this," Marcus agreed, standing from his throne. "Heidi will arrive any moment. Thank you...for your visit," Marcus nodded as Demetri guided the four out.

"We'll return the favor," Caius said warningly as the group exited the throne room. "I would advise that you follow through on your promise soon. We do not offer second chances."

The four looked back warily, prepared for the Volturi to change their minds once more and strike unexpectedly. They were also hesitant to leave Rory behind, but they had no choice.

Aro stared after them with a wide smile. "Goodbye...my young friends."

Aurora looked away from the three leaders subtly. Her head stung from the concentration of changing their minds. And they had no clue of what she had done. She felt someone intertwine their hand with hers, distracting her from her fading headache and confused thoughts.

Jasper glanced back at Rory one last time as he filed out behind Alice, Edward, and Bella.

He had found her, but he didn't expect to lose Rory for good.

Alec held Jasper's stare with a victorious smirk.

➖

A.N ugh rory's mind...so powerful

she got big dick energy ngl

if u were confused, rory has the ability of mind control so she can control peoples wills, ive lowkey been working that in the entire story first she controlled her mind through controlling her emotions which helped her get through all her tragic past, and then convincing vampires not to kill her,  jasper, james, and alec

also on a personal irrelevant note but imma rant ab it here bc idc im turning 18 next week and all my party plans have fallen apart and im really upset bc im filipino and im supposed to have a big 18th bday party but ig im not having it anymore bc my parents r being difficult : ((( so i keep writing to deal w stress