Here's the next chapter. I know it's kinda long...sorry :/ I was lost in my own little world. lol. Thanks for all the sweet comments and support! I hope you love it as much as I do ^.^ Much love and appreciation to each of you, from me! :]
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kidnapped
“Does that fit well, Chloe?” Summer asked her three year old princess. Chloe was in her mother and father’s bedroom trying on a dry, sky blue dress with layers of white frills on the skirt. Thankfully, while she was pregnant, Summer stocked up on enough sizes in outfits for Chloe till she reached age five. Aro changed out of his wet clothing and went to see about some business with his fellow elders, so it was only Summer and Chloe in the room. Chloe grinned shyly, twirling around in the striking dress, “It fits, mommy, and I love it!” Summer leaned back and smiled, contemplating her daughter’s graceful movements. “You, my dear, may well become a dancer someday.” Chloe gasped and ran to embrace her mother at the knees, “Do you really think so, mommy?” Summer placed Chloe in her lap and turned Chloe’s chin to face her, “I have no doubt about it.” She touched her nose to Chloe’s and laughed. Summer felt like a true housewife. She enjoyed sharing time with Chloe, but how long would Aro be “doing business?” Many times in the past, she wouldn’t see him until he came into the bedroom at night. Summer was anticipating for things to no longer remain that way. Well, at least Aro wasn’t roughly as bad as Caius when it came to making time for his wife. It was bad enough that anyone had to be married to that half-hearted, brutish imbecile. But, to top it all off, he paid a very minute amount of time acknowledging Athenodora’s, his wife’s, presence. Speaking of which, Summer hadn’t gotten the chance to say hello to her old friend.

“Chloe, dear,” Chloe looked up a Summer from the fairytale book she was reading on the floor, “Would you like to go see Aunt Athe?” Chloe giggled and yanked Summer by the hand into the long hallway. “Okay, okay, slow down, miss!” Summer begged her scurrying daughter. The memory of a three year old half vampire was astounding to her. She and Chloe left Volterra when Chloe was only six months old, yet she remembered who Aunt Athe was. Summer and Chloe skipped down to the end of the darkened hallway until they reached Athenodora’s room. Summer allowed Chloe to knock by herself on the closed door. They heard light footsteps approach rapidly. The door swung open; Summer was overjoyed to see her beautiful “sister” with mouth agape, standing calmly. “This can’t be real…” Athe barely muttered, “Summer?” Summer rolled her eyes, “Oh, come now, Athe. It’s only been three years!” Summer gave her old friend a compassionate hug. They crazily giggled, “Three long years and you’ve suddenly returned! Life has been dragging without you here!” Athe swayed Summer in her arms. Chloe stomped her foot and frowned, “Aunt Athe? What about me?” Athe let go of Summer and placed her hands on her chest as she took in Chloe’s appearance. “Oh, sweetie,” Athe scooped up Chloe and cuddled her closely, “look how much you’ve grown, dolci!”

Chloe beamed back at her, taking her aunt’s face between her soft hands. Gently, Chloe kissed Athe’s pale nose, “Yay! You remember me!” Athe threw her head back in laughter, “How could I forget my favorite angel?” Summer covered her smiling mouth with her hand. Athe had always been there for her and Chloe. Next to Aro, she was Summer’s ray of hope in the despairing Volturi. Summer had no trouble with Volterra itself. The trouble lay within the Volturi’s actions and abuses. Athe, similar to Summer, disagreed with the majority of the elders’ choices. Summer guessed that was half the reason why she and Athe never quarreled. “Come, Come,” Athe called to Summer, still holding precious Chloe in her arms, “you must tell me where you’ve been and why you’ve recently decided to come back, dear.” Athe took a seat next to the bedroom window, motioning for Summer to take a seat also. Summer sat down and stared into Athe’s sharp red eyes, “I’ve missed chatting with you after all these years, Athe.” She patted Summer’s knee, “So have I, hun. You have forever been my escape from this place.” Athe glanced out the window, her eyes saddened. Summer broke the stressful pause, “Has Caius changed any?” Athe didn’t look at her, “I suppose.” Her voice sounded distraught. “That man…” Summer sighed, “doesn’t even deserve to be called a man. I wish I could smack him for you.” Athe grinned faintly, “You’ve done it before.” Summer chuckled, “Yes, but I wish I could do it till he gains some sense.” Athe stood Chloe onto her feet, “I’ve kept all your favorite toys in that corner there, sweetie.”

Athe pointed to the left hand corner beside the bed, “You may play if you want.” Chloe kissed her aunt on the cheek and ran off to have fun. Athe’s full attention was focused on Summer now, “Enough about me, love. Tell me everything you got yourself into when you left.” Summer explained in a nutshell her various jobs and travels. What extremely caught Athe’s attention, though, was the fact the Summer met Carlisle and his family. “You saw Carlisle? How is he? Has he changed any?” “He’s doing fine, and he hasn’t changed at all from when he was with us here. His family is incredible. I’ve never known such loving, nurturing vampires.” Athe beamed, “I would love to meet them. Carlisle always stood out from the rest of the Volturi. I would have endeavored to follow his feeding habits, if Caius hadn’t given me such heavy restrictions.” Summer’s eyes saturated with rage, “It’s about time you’ve fended for yourself. He doesn’t need to be controlling your every move. Ugh…” Summer crossed her arms. Athe tried to calm her, “It doesn’t matter, dear. I’ve put up with him for years, and I will continue to do so for eternity. I become more numb towards him every passing day.” Immediately, Athe’s bedroom door burst open, and in stepped Dominique, her eyes blazing. She pointed at Summer sternly, “I need her to come with me.” Athe eyed Dominique, “Why?”

“Aro wishes to speak to her.” Dominique replied through her teeth. Chloe looked at her mother fearfully, but she didn’t say a word. Summer stood and smoothed back Athe’s snowy hair, “It’s alright. I’ll be back shortly. Keep an eye on Chloe for me, sweets?” Athe kissed Summer’s cheek, “Of course. She and I will be here waiting for you.” Unspoken gratitude gleamed in Summer’s eyes, “Thank you, Athe.” “Be safe, Summer.” Athe added before Dominique slammed the door. Dominique didn’t say a word. She simply grabbed Summer by the arm and jerked her down the hall. Instead of making a left at the end of the corridor, Dominique made a right. Summer knew this wasn’t the way to where the elders resided. She didn’t bother to ask Dominique any questions, until she flipped open a hidden hatch door laying on the floor. “Get in.” Dominique hostilely commanded. Summer stepped back, “I’ve never seen this door here before.” Dominique smirked, “Exactly.” When she realized Summer wasn’t moving an inch, she ran behind her and pushed her inside. Luckily, Summer landed on her two feet. Dominique climbed down the ladder and quietly locked the door. Summer scowled, “I appreciated that.” “Good.” Dominique tugged her down the new pathway.

Lanterns lit up the red brick walls and poorly tiled floor. Summer tried to pull free from her grip, “Why don’t you let me go?” “Ha, you’ll try to run. I’m no fool.” Summer knitted her eyebrows together. “Why are you doing this?” Dominique kicked open another door, but this time it led to a dead end. She shoved Summer into a musty, unsanitary room that resembled an old prison cell. There was a broken chair sitting under the minimal amount of sunlight shining through the barred window. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and walls, creating a dusty feeling. Summer analyzed the room, “What is this place?” She spun on her heels to face Dominique, who had bolted the door shut using a plank of splintery wood. She began walking in circles around Summer, “So, you’re the beautiful spoiled brat Aro must put up with for all eternity?” She jeered. Summer was certain Dominique didn’t know she was a shield, or else she would have planned this differently. Summer kept her scowl, “What is that to you?” She was attempting to delay Dominique so she could mentally contact the guard and the elders. While Dominique was rambling about how Summer was a traitor to Aro and the Volturi, she caught hold of everyone’s thoughts, “Dominique’s missing.” She whispered to them through their thoughts, “She’s dragged me down underground somewhere through a hatch door in the floor. If you walked straight down the hall that leads to your meeting place and take a right, you’ll find it. She’s locked me inside some old prison cell with her. I’m not positi—“

But before she could finish, Dominique clutched her throat and hammered her petite body to the ground. “You think you deserve Aro, you impudent seducer? I should be the one married to him. I deserve his unconditional love! He’s mine, and you won’t live to spend another moment with him. He’ll be mine the moment your life ends.” Summer glowered at Dominique’s demonic red eyes, “Do you have the slightest clue what it means when a vampire has found their mate? Their bond is unbrea—“ Dominique kicked her forcefully against the wall, “I know what it means!” She screamed, “and I know Aro loves ME because I’m HIS mate!” Summer slowly sat up, “They’ll find you and I soon.” Dominique grinned, “No, they won’t. I masked our scents.” So the saying was true, Summer thought. Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn. Summer shook her head, “You’re such a juvenile girl.” That did it; Dominique crouched down low, ready to pounce on Summer and end her life so she could have her selfish “happily ever after” with Aro. Summer knew this was the moment. She swiftly encompassed Dominique in her shield and, in an instant, pinned her against the opposite wall with a vigorous force. Dominique squirmed and growled, “Who’s doing this?” Summer put on a smug smile, “Me.” Dominique bared her teeth, “No one told me you had any powers.” Summer casually shrugged, “An arrogant person such as yourself should have known.” She tearlessly wailed, “Let me go! Let me go!” Aro barged through the door a moment later, breaking it in two. He ran to hold his Summer, “Are you hurt, love?” He scanned over every inch of her, panic rising on his face. Summer soothingly touched his face, “No. Don’t worry, honey.” Summer retracted her shield from Dominique. Demetri and Felix seized her by the arms. Aro helped Summer off the rigid floor, but when she tried to stand, she yelped in pain.

She clutched her side and slightly lifted her blouse to see what was wrong. There was an unusual, silver bruise that ran down the right side of her stomach. “This must have happened when she thrust me toward the wall.” Unfortunately, human vampire skin was not completely impenetrable. The venom in her veins clotted where she had been hit, resulting in a large silver discoloration. Although he was an elder of the Volturi, Aro’s most precious possessions were his wife and daughter. That is why they were always under such heavy protection. When someone dared to hurt them, it meant a death sentence. Aro rested Summer’s head on his shoulder and tenderly touched her exposed, bruised side, “You did this?” He coldly addressed to Dominique. Dominique’s devotion to Aro was evident in her eyes, “Master, she left you and the Volturi without a care. Why do you pretend to love her? I belong to you! It’s me you should be holding in your arms!” “You ignorant child!” He yelled at her in disgust, making Dominique cringe to the floor, “You think I could love you? You are not my wife, and if you were in your right mind, you would have understood that you would never become my wife. Look at the mess you’ve created!” Wow, Aro is so loyal to me, Summer thought, and I’m the one who kissed another person. Some wife I’ve turned out to be. “Shhh,” Summer laid her hand on Aro’s arm, “she doesn’t understand. She’s been blinded.” He withheld his contempt, “I’m afraid there’s only one consequence for your treachery.” He nodded to Demetri and Felix. They escorted her out of the room and into the main hall. “Treachery?” Dominique was alarmed, “It’s that Summer of yours who is the traitor! She should be murdered! Kill her, Aro!”

Demetri slapped Dominique across the face, “Enough. You heard the master.” Aro delicately lifted Summer into his arms, “I take full responsibility for this. I should have kept eyes on her.” Summer wasn’t fond of being treated like a damsel in distress by anyone, but, sadly, she couldn’t walk on her own. Why did she let Dominique kick her so harshly? That would probably remain a mystery to her. “Aro, this isn’t your fault. It was mine for not stopping her sooner. I could have handled her quite easily.” He remorsefully smiled down at her, “I have no doubt about that, dear. But, nonetheless, you’re still hurt.” The shame never left his musical voice. Summer rolled her eyes and giggled, “Put me down and I’ll try to heal myself.” Aro joined in her laughter, “Alright then.” He approached their room and laid her down on the bed. She brushed back his hair, “Don’t blame yourself for this. It really is not your fault, Aro.” He remained silent, answering her with an indulgent kiss. She pulled him closer, though she knew that he wouldn’t be able to stay with her at the moment. “I’ll be back shortly, sweetheart.” He whispered. Summer sighed. She knew the business he must attend to. He was going to make Dominique suffer through her death. “Go on, love,” she faked a smile, “I’ll be here, obviously.” He kissed her cheek, “Get better by the time I come back.” She chuckled, “I’ll try.” He untwined their fingers and strode out of the room, leaving Summer alone to heal…and think. She had only been back in Volterra for four hours, and still chaos managed to ensue. She felt as if she was a burden here. She didn’t seem to fit into the mix of things. Back with the Cullens, she was accepted and loved by all. Here, the only love she received was from Aro, Chloe, and Athe. Then her mind crossed over to Jake. How was he handling her absence? He was such a loving guy, and she had just broken his heart twice. Did she actually belong to the Volturi, despite belonging to Aro? If she did honestly belonged here, would this have occurred? She craned her neck backwards and stared motionlessly out the window, wrapping her shield around her bruise. She concentrated on healing it slowly, while the thoughts of Aro, Jake, and Dominique bombarded her mind.
Was she technically a traitor as Dominique seemed to think? Perhaps she was...to everyone she held dear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thankies for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! <3