Falco di Signora

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight; I'm just taking it out for a test drive.

Ch. 1: History and Folklore

Eleazar Denali sat at his desk by the lectern and watched as students began to fill the lecture hall. The Spanish vampire glanced briefly at the attendance sheet but paused when he noticed a familiar name: Esme Cullen. The Dr. Carlisle Cullen and his brood was the only other coven of vampires, besides his own, that valued human life and only fed from animals. He and Carmen had first met Carlisle in the 17th Century, when he was still young to this life.

The blonde Englishman had been proud of the fact that he never tasted human blood and found an alternative. We found it an odd choice at the time but wished him well in his quest for knowledge and reluctantly directed him towards the Volturi. At the time, I prayed that the younger vampire would not get corrupted by Aro. He thanked us and explained he wanted to see Venice and Rome before continuing on to Volterra. Not two days later, he and his mate found their coven.

*Minsk – 1673*

Carmen and Eleazar had parted company with the strange vampire, Carlisle Cullen, and headed east. The Plague of Immortal Children that had threatened to expose the existence of vampires to the human world had all but ended. The couple had spent most of that turbulent time living in a secluded cottage and wanted to explore now that the brunt of the trouble was over. The main reason for their hermitage was that Eleazar had not wanted to cross paths with his former Master or members of the Guard.

A hawk's cry alerted them of trouble some thirteen miles from their destination of Minsk. They cautiously entered a clearing and found Aro and the majority of the Volturi Guard surrounding another coven. Eleazar noted that five of his former comrades held three of the coven to the side. Aro and the rest faced the raven haired female leader who held an unearthly child in her arms. He also mentally filed away the fact that the other members of the coven were female as well; one was reddish-blonde, another pale blonde and the third was a curly haired honey-blonde.

"Sasha of Minsk, you are guilty of creating an Immortal Child. You and your coven are sentenced to final death," Aro intoned without any emotion Sasha held her head high but the women gasped at the pronouncement.

"Kill me and my little one if you must but leave my daughters be, they knew nothing of the child," Sasha countered stoically.

Aro ignored her then gave the nod to Guards near her a nod. A loud groaning sound filled the clearing as they tore Sasha and the child to pieces then lit them on fire. Eleazar flashed down to the three captured vampires, sword in hand. It was the only thing from his time of service that he kept all these years. There was a time when every member of the Guard carried one. The blades had been tempered with vampire venom during the forging process. Several growls escaped from the assembled vampires.

"The one that was called Sasha said these three are innocent, Aro. Your power could prove that but know this, the first one to attempt to destroy these women without cause shall die by my hand," the former Captain of the Guard spoke with a voice filled with menace.

Eleazar watched as the members of the Guard crouched into fighting stances. Their eyes were filled with a longing to inflict pain and do violence. The Spaniard realized that in the centuries since he had served, the vaunted Volturi Guard had become nothing but pack of jackals. Only the current Captain, his protégé – Felix, still carried a sword. The other vampire drew his blade then gave a salute to his former mentor and smiled before sheathing the weapon.

"It is good to see you again, Captain," Felix called out merrily but before he could cross the distance and embrace Eleazar, the movement of two smaller figures in cloaks a shade lighter than the ancients made him stop.

"Yes, dear friend, it is good to see you again," Aro commented with false joy. The members of the Guard straightened when he walked over to stand in front of him.

Eleazar moved before his former master could touch his exposed flesh. Instead, the hand landed on one of the three remaining prisoners. The King's face blanked as his head was filled with every thought and memory of the girl. Aro's features returned to their normal state then he repeated the process with the other two. His disappointment was obvious when he turned back toward the others.

"It seems that the renegade had been correct. These three are innocent of any wrong doing my dear ones," he commented then turned to ask, "Katarina, your power would be an excellent addition to my Guard. Would you consider a place among us?"

"Never," the curly haired blonde hissed. Aro merely shrugged then motioned for the others to leave.

"Thank you for your help," the reddish-blonde vampire said to Eleazar when the last of the Volturi had vanished into the trees. Carmen had made her way over to stand by his side.

"I could do no less. My name is Eleazar and this is my mate, Carmen," the ex-soldier replied.

The vampire smiled as he remembered how his lovely wife eventually convinced the three sisters to join them in their travels. His smile broadened when Esme walked shyly into the hall and take a seat in the front row. A few minutes later, all the seats were filled and Eleazar got up from his chair and took up a position behind the lectern.

"Good evening, class. I'm Professor Denali and this is Myth and Folklore in Anthropology," the Spaniard greeted his students. He picked up a stack of syllabi from his desk then handed them to one of the students to pass out.

"As most of you already know, unlike Archeology – which examines the physical remains of a people, or Sociology – which studies the societies they create, Anthropology is the study of the evolution of a people's culture. Myth and folklore play an important role in that process…," Eleazar continued then for the remainder of the class let his mind drift through various legends of his own race and how they started. In particular, the legend of the Falco di Signora, which was of special importance to his family.

*Volterra, Italy – 1040 A.D.*

Aro sat on his throne, eyes dancing with cruel delight, while the girl screamed as she was forced to watch her love burned at the stake. Never, in all the years the Volturi had ruled the vampire race and the night, had such cruelty been tolerated within the city walls – let alone the castle itself. The usually indifferent Marcus gazed sadly at the still screaming girl; Caius looked on with his usual disdain. The wives, Sulpicia and Athenadora, along with all but one member of the fabled Volturi Guard watched the scene with horror. Only the Spaniard, Eleazar, Captain of the Guard and Aro's right hand, knew the truth of the matter and viewed the travesty through a haze of shame.

The raising of Aro's hand had been the silent command to douse the flames and remove the charred remains they held. Another gesture and the human girl that replaced screams with sobs was dragged before the dais that held the thrones of the three Kings. The girl never once begged for her life but stood defiantly before the Ancients when her arms were released. Aro flashed down to her and slapped her with enough force to snap her head back but not break any bones. Her mouth was bloody when she looked back at the monster that was responsible for her pain then spit the precious fluid in his face.

Aro smacked her a second time then called upon the long forgotten blood magic of his ancestors to lay a terrible curse on the human. The air filled with eldritch power then after it settled on its intended victim, the young one was dragged from the castle and tossed outside the City Gates. Any vampires that had been unfortunate enough to be visiting were summarily executed so that news of Aro's actions never left the castle walls.

Eleazar paced back and forth in his private chambers while his new mate, Carmen, watched him with concern. It was obvious to her that he was struggling with something but chose to wait until he was ready to talk instead of prying. She knew her mate had been agitated for more than a month but the events of earlier acerbated the situation. He stopped midstride then ordered her to pack up their belongings then fled from the room in search of his Masters. He found them in the recently cleaned throne room.

"Eleazar, why are you not enjoying the company of your mate," Aro enquired the second his senses registered the other vampire's presence.

"I came to inform you that Carmen and I are leaving," he informed the three vampires that lounged upon their thrones.

"That is understandable, your mate has not been happy in our home for some time. You have served me… us well. Go in peace," the central figure replied and Eleazar spun on his heel then started toward the door.

"So much for your precious honor," Caius sneered before the retreating vampire could exit.

"I have no honor, it was destroyed this morning. There will come a time when the sins of this day will revisit Aro. When they do, my sword will not be there to protect him. May God have mercy upon his soul for I never shall? Farewell, my lords," Eleazar retorted over his shoulder never breaking his stride. The ash grey cloak fell from him and there was a small clank as the Volturi Crest that held it place hit the floor. The show of disrespect for the two badges of honor was not lost on the three kings.

Carmen had finished packing the few things that mattered and waited for her mate to return. She heard the rhythm of his footsteps half a second before his scent reached her and she had the door open before he arrived. Eleazar kissed her tenderly then, without a word, the two vampires gathered their things and left the castle. Three miles from the city walls, the two Spanish vampires found the human girl curled into a ball on the forest floor sobbing. Their undead hearts went out to the younger woman and the comforted her as best they could. The maelstrom of emotions had been too much for her and she drifted into an exhausted but uneasy sleep while her benefactors puzzled over the minor aspects of the curse that had be laid upon her. As the first light of the rising sun glimmered on the horizon, the full effect became evident.