Chapter Text
January 17th, 2005
It was past midnight as I continued reading about Beau Swan's life. I should have gone to sleep hours ago, but his story, his writing was so alluring that I was incapable of putting the journal down.
He recounted tales of his training with his fellow Guard members. His exploits into politics with his patron, Sulpicia. From what he wrote, Sulpicia was the leader of the Volturi. She had two other lords rule and council with her. But she had the final day in everything.
As I flipped the page there was a pencil sketch above the next line of text.
I gazed at the intricate design in awe. It was so lifelike. It was then I realized that it was a sketch of a tattoo.
Beau had written about the experience and inspiration below the picture. I adjusted myself comfortably as I read on.
For Beau's words seemed to lift off the paper and become real as I read on…
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December 19th, 1943
“ Come on Beau, just like I showed you!” Felix yelled as he launched himself at me. “Strike high! Left hook, block, duck, right hook, lunge!” He shouted each instruction a millisecond before attacking.
I followed each move to a T as we got faster and faster. Felix eventually stopped reciting the steps as we kept at this dance of open palm strikes.
“Counter!” he shouted as he caught my arm. He lifted my body over his shoulder as he was about to slam me down to the floor. Thinking fast, I locked my arm around his neck as I used his own momentum to drive him down with me, his head made contact with the hard floor, cracking it with a thunderous crash.
“Argh, Ha! Well done, kid.” He tapped my shoulder as I let go of him. The sounds of clapping caught my attention as Alexia and Desdimona with a few other Guard members cheered me on.
“Way to go Beau!” Alexia called out. Desdimona smiled coyly as she nodded. “A splendid counter.”
As I stood up I outstretched my arm to Felix who was just sitting up. He gave me a toothy grin as he grabbed hold of it; I lifted him up to his feet as he gave me a nod.
“Well done, keep at that and you’ll be leading your own squad in no time.” I scoffed as I waved him off. “As if. I’m only doing so well because you’re teaching me.” He shook his head. “Beau, you already had the heart of a warrior before you were even with us. Don’t think lowly of yourself. We wouldn’t have made you Master Assassin if we didn’t think you were ready, or worthy.”
I inhaled deeply as I nodded. “Well I appreciate it none the less.” He nodded as he held his arm outstretched, his arm flexed. I mimicked the motion as we dapped our forearms together, before bringing our fists to our chests at the same time.
A warrior salute he calls it. All of the Guard brought their own customs from the various time periods and places they came from before joining the Volturi.
As we walked over to our comrades Felix reached down and slipped off his shirt. He tossed it across the way as it neatly plopped down on a bench. Felix walked over to a basin of water which he dipped his hands into, he scrubbed his face thoroughly as he then reached for a towel from a storage shelf above the bench. He gingerly soaked the towel before straining the excess water. I watched as he carefully cleaned himself off.
I couldn’t help but stare as I looked at the rippling muscles in his back and arms. The way his waist contoured so finely and perfectly, like a marble statue. I felt the tip of my tongue slide along the edges of my lips as I couldn’t look away.
“Kid?” I broke from my trance as I looked up at him as he raised his eyebrow. “Uh…Why-why are you washing yourself? We don’t sweat…” It was the closest excuse I could think of rather than admitting to gawking at the man…I couldn’t even explain to myself why I did it…only that I rather enjoyed it. He was quite handsome…
“No we don't, but it's proper etiquette to wash oneself after a fight.” I got closer and noticed the fragrance coming from the water. Rose petals floated within the lukewarm water as hints of honey and lavender made it all the more fragrant.
“It does not benefit the Guard to appear shabby and unkempt. Here, join me.”
I didn't hesitate as I reached down and tugged my shirt off. I rolled my shoulders as I grabbed a towel and rinsed it like Felix did. Straining it carefully I slowly begin wiping the damp cloth along my chest and arms.
The sweet scent clung to my skin as I felt immediately relaxed. “Wow…I didn't think we could be perfumed. We already smell sweet enough.” Felix chuckled as he raised his arm and got his sides and armpit.
Again I ogled the Captain as I quickly looked away to continue to clean myself off.
“I got to say, you boys being all shirtless and muscly is really doing something to me…” Alexis said as she bit her lip impishly.
Desdimona chuckled behind her hand as Felix rolled his eyes.
“This isn't a show ladies.” He remarked. “Oh but you two are performing anyway. Flex your arms again Beau…” she said giggling devilishly.
“No, I don't think I will.” I said as everyone broke out laughing. Another pair of the Guard began to start their sparing as I sat down on the bench and began wiping my hands. Felix sat beside me; I turned to look at him as he was about to put his shirt on.
I noticed that he had a tattoo on his right bicep.
Four letters written in a small script; SPQR. Above the letters was a Large V with a crest between the strokes. A vulture in flight and a withered tree made up the crest.
The Volturi’s insignia.
“You were a legionary?” I asked curiously. Felix’s eyes widened as he noticed me looking at his arm. He glanced down and touched the tattoo as he smiled. “Indeed. I was with the Legio IX Hispania.”
“My God…the lost Legion?” He nodded. “That is what they called us when we disappeared into Britain.” I turned towards him as I laid the towel on my thigh. “What happened to the Legion? It was theorized you disappeared without a trace in a campaign against the Pict.” He inhaled deeply as he knelt forward and stared down at his feet.
“That part is true enough, but history would never know what happened during that doomed campaign; Deep within the forests of Caledonia we were beset by an army of Pict warriors. But they were unlike any for we ever fought. They were not men. They were Cù-Sìth. Skin changers. One moment they were men. The other they took on the visage of wolves.”
I couldn't help but lean in as Felix seemed lost in a trance. He was staring at his hands as he had a somber look on his face.
“They were…werewolves?” I asked in disbelief. He nodded. “That's the word for them now. We normally call them the Children of the Moon.”
I was astonished at this revelation. How deep did the secrets of this world go? Vampires, werewolves…what else lurked in the shadows of this world that I had yet to even glimpse ar yet?
“We fought back; rallying to the banner. Set in our ways to fight to the last man. It was all folly in the end. They shrugged off our swords and spears as though it were nothing. Men were devoured alive...only I was spared, because Lady Sulpicia was there with the Guard.” He sighed as he patted the tattoo affectionately.
“I barely remember any of the faces of my comrades. Only the blood soaked battlefield and the sound of crunching bones and meat.” I reached over and patted his shoulder.
“That's awful, Captain. I'm sorry.” He smiled softly as he shook his head. “Thank you Beau. I found redemption with Sulpicia. She allowed me to avenge my brother's. We wiped out Caledonia of the Children of the Moon. Though all history of the legion passed down to myth. I am the sole survivor left to retell what happened. Sadly with each decade or so, I forget details but by bit. In a hundred more years, I may not remember all.”
He touched the tattoo as he hummed. “This is why I added the Volturi insignia above the preexisting brand. To solidify my duty and loyalty to the Guard; whilst acknowledging where I came from. Each of the inner circles have something similar. Desdimona aids us in the tattooing, she has quite the knack for it.”
I glanced over at Desdemona as she and Alexia walked up to us. I quickly shimmied my shirt back on as Felix did the same. “Talking about your tattoos again Felix?” She said with a grin. He pointed at her as he looked at me. “ Show him, Desi. Your work you’ve done.” She pursed her lips as she gazed at me.
“Very well.” She reached down as she took the hem of her tunic and slowly pulled it up. My eyes widened as I immediately looked away. “Oh, God. Desdimona you don’t have to do that…” she chuckled. Alexia’s footsteps came up as I felt her ruffle my hair. “Awww, have you not seen a naked woman before, Beau.” I grumbled. “Shut up, that's not it…” It was true though…
“Look, Beau. I’m decent.” I slowly glanced over at her out the corner of my eye as I saw that Desdimona hid a portrait of tattoos under her top.
Her entire torso consisted with tattoos ranging fro roses on her shoulders. Animals like cheetahs, lions and tigers along her side. All of it connected by geometric patterns and abstract swashes of color. Just below her sternum was the same ornate V of the Volturi.
She modestly covered her breasts as she grinned at my astonishment. “Woah…it’s beautiful.” I whispered. She chuckled as she turned her back to me as she readied to put her shirt back on. Her back was just as tattooed as her front. From shoulder blade to shoulder blade she had the Last Supper painted on her. Below that was a depiction of angels and demons engaging in a climatic battle. A light separating them.
“Where did you get all these?” she slipped her shirt back on as she turned around. “I was a noblewoman in Victorian England. Tattooing was all the rage back then. I had the money to cover my entire body with them. And as a vampire I was able to keep them and show a bit of my history. I even dabbled in doing tattoos myself. It’s how I added the Volturi insignia to Felix, and myself.” Alexia lifted her shirt just a bit as she showed she also had a V just to the left of her abdomen. It was far simpler than Felix’s and Desdimona. The insignia encased in ivy and laurels. “Desdimona made mine and Jon’s as well. His’ is cute, he’ll never show it to you though.”
I took a deep breath as I suddenly felt very much left out. “Does…everyone have one of these tattoos?” Desdimona shook her head. “Just the inner circle…you want one don’t you?” I stammered as Felix grinned.
“I mean, they look awesome, some of the guys in my platoon had tattoos of the Big Red One on their arms…but I just guess I never thought of getting one. I guess I’ll have to wait until I become a part of the inner circle then.” I let out a mirthless chuckle as I suddenly felt like leaving.
“What the hell are you saying, kid. You are a part of the inner circle.” Felix said annoyed. I shrugged my shoulders as I pointed to the three of them. “Come on…you three plus Jon…you’ve been with the Volturi for centuries now…I just joined four months ago…sure I’m the Master Assassin, but I haven’t even done any...assassinating yet…”
Alexia walked over and plopped down beside me as she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Beau, you funny brained moron. You fought with us.” she said with a stern look.
“You killed with us, spilt blood, with us. Correct me if I’m wrong, you are the one who roared Death to traitors, in Lady Sulpicia’s name.” I groaned as I suddenly felt embarrassed at the blood lust I was drunk on during Fabrizio’s coup. I never behaved as such before, even in battle in Africa or Sicily.
“And if none of that ever happened, you would still be one of us for single-handedly killing that traitor. Beau, you have done what no newborn has in the Volturi. You are special, kid. And again, and you better damn well believe it; you’re one of us.”
I rubbed my cheeks as I couldn’t help but smile.
“Do you have an idea for what you’d like for your tattoo?”
I shrugged as I thought of all the unique designs they had. If I got one, I’d want it to be just as interesting.
It was going to be a permanent mark on me. A permanent reminder of who I was.
A loyal servant of the Volturi. Now, forever, and always.