chapter eight
minho

I've been thinking about this for years, imagining how it'd go down. I thought I'd be afraid, I thought I'd second guess myself, that I'd want to walk away. However brave Jisung thinks I am, the Volturi are ancient and strong beyond belief. I don't think there's enough room in my body for that kind of fear.

One thing I didn't think I'd feel, though, is anger. A kind of petulance. As I see the building that conceals the Volturi's lair, I want to kick it. Just kick it. Knock over a flower pot or something. It isn't smart to go in feeling like this, it would only hurt our case. But I don't know how to manufacture respect for something I only see with disgust and hatred.

Shouldn't have thought that either.

Felix, Seungmin and I stop in front of the building, staring up at it. We exchange glances.

"For the record," says Seungmin, "it's been kinda fun. Maybe we can go to see the Triangle for real after this."

"I'm never getting in a boat again," I say.

"The boat was a total success," says Felix. "But you're right. The journey wasn't as miserable as I thought it would be." He slings his arms over our shoulders. "You two are fuckin' extraordinary, you know that?"

Abruptly the tall doors in front of us split open, and two guards in long black cloaks look down at us.

"State your business," one says.

I take a step forward. "We're here to see the Volturi."

"For what reason?"

"To report a breach of the law."

They move robotically to the sides, staying out of the glare of the sun. We step inside and take off our disguises. It's just a hallway, high regal ceilings but otherwise normal. One of the guards opens a door and disappears down a dark flight of stairs. The other waits for us to go ahead, and then walks on our heels like we're a group of preschoolers.

The staircase is unlit and claustrophobic. It descends for what feels like miles, and then shifts into another hallway. And then a staircase up. I just stare at the guard's back and mock his stupid underground labyrinth in my head.

The guards go ahead and crank a hulking lever on a wide, medieval-looking door. Felix has fallen to the back of the pack, gravitating farther away from us. His hand is in his pocket, I can hear his thumb tapping against the screen of his phone.

I give him a look. He winks as he pulls his hand out of his pocket.

The guards heave the door open, and a bright, lavish corridor appears in front of us. Blue and white checkered tiles on the floor, the busts of past and present Volturi members carved into the creamy walls. The ceiling is a high arch, crystal chandeliers glittering above our heads.

The hall ends in a massive, circular room with guards to all sides. The ceiling is made entirely of stained glass, each pane telling the creation story in pictographs. It fills the space with muted colours, just enough sun that every vampire in the room is shining specks of silver.

On a raised portion of the floor sits a long wooden desk. Marcus is on the left, Caius on the right, and Aro is in the middle, facing us. He looks up from his book and his old burgundy eyes focus on mine. He's only confused for a second, and then his lips split in a wide smile, folding creases into his papery white skin.

"What is this?" he wonders. "Lee Felix and Kim Seungmin, I've not seen your faces for over a decade."

"Two," says Seungmin.

"Well. Always such a pleasure. I suppose I should be thanking you. You've come all this way so that my colleagues and I would not have to make the strenuous journey to your charming locale. Wherever are you staying these days?"

"South America." Felix leaves it at that. "I'm afraid we're not here for hellos."

"Oh is that so? I must confess I am curious." His eyes switch to me. "What is your name, stranger?"

"My name is Lee Minho. I'm the newest member of their coven."

He seems rapt by that. "Then congratulations are in order. When were you turned?"

"2005."

"How enlivening! A newborn added to your ranks, hm? I was so sure your coven had finished growing. Minho, have you developed a gift by any chance?"

I'm hesitant to answer. "Um. Yes. I can make electricity."

He's lost in thought for a moment, smile dreamy and twisted. "Psychic electric shock. I knew a vampire like you in the 1600s. Very powerful." His eyes snap back to me. He gently closes the book in front of him and stands, fingers splayed on the table. "Show us. If you would indulge me so."

The room shifts. The guard are watching with sharp, careful eyes. Marcus looks me up and down, uninterested, and Caius squints at me with a sneer.

I hold my hand up. A flash of hot electricity blasts from my fingertips, stronger than I mean it to. Anger tends to make it flare up. I try to play it cool though I flinched a bit.

"Intriguing," Aro says. "Have you tried it on a human yet?"

"No, not once."

"Hm. Of course. You are Dr. Bang and Mr. Bak's newest charge." He sits back down, opens his book. "I pray for your improvement."

I swallow, take a step forward. "There are other matters to discuss."

"Are there?"

"I'm here to confess to something I've done."

He's suddenly interested again. "Go on."

"I've broken a rule, in a way. I'm still in contact with humans from my past life. That technically breaks your laws."

"You've exposed us?" His voice is not accusatory or outraged, purely entertained.

"No, I haven't. I didn't tell them what I am, just that I'm different. I've never said the word, used my abilities or shown myself in the sun—"

"But you are in contact with them," he interrupts. "You were turned fifteen years ago — do you think your immortality has escaped their notice? What about your eyes?"

"I'm sure they've noticed, but I don't think that's an issue."

Marcus's croaking laugh echoes in the quiet room. Aro joins in, lightly, his lips a condescending simper.

"You don't think it's an issue?"

"I made it clear that they couldn't ask questions, it was a prerequisite. They've seen my eyes, but all they know is that they're gold, not what makes them that way. Jisung — Han Jisung — has read their minds, he says they have no clue, they haven't thought the word 'vampire' even once."

"But is that significant?" Aro's voice rises above the usual pillowy murmur. The guards bordering the room are suddenly witnesses in my trial. "What if you were to kill a human — or, in your case, a boar, for example — and then drain its life in their presence? Would you presume that, though they are not allowed to ask questions, they don't have suspicions?"

"I-I guess not, but I would never—"

"Then may I raise the problem of containment as a followup? Picture this: Mr. Lee's human cohorts decide to take a photograph all together, they show one person — just one — and that person steals the information and sells it to the media."

"The humans wouldn't do that," Seungmin cuts in, "they've promised to keep it a secret—"

"What weight does the promise of a human carry? You would be a fool to trust such capricious, simpleminded creatures."

"So they're smart enough to figure out I'm a vampire," I say, "but at the same time stupid enough to give it away?"

Aro's eyes blaze. "Do you understand, Mr. Lee, what we do to those who expose our secret?"

I bite my tongue, squaring my shoulders. "Yes."

"Then you're aware that all must abide by the law. A breach is a betrayal and a threat, and we have sworn—"

A sound from behind me. Everybody turns to see the door at the end of the hall opening.

Jisung steps into the light of the chandelier.

"Minho!"