Barely Acquainted
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Summary
While traveling around Italy, best friends Dahlia and Serena decide to make a detour to the old city of Volterra. Having heard so much about the city from the Twilight Saga, both young women are quickly disappointed when instead of finding a glamorous castle, they come across an old, abandoned ruin. That is until they enter and are suddenly faced with a group of Twilight cosplayers. However, once they try to leave, they quickly realise that the people around them are much more than they appear to be. The two friends are forced to come face to face with the three Volturi kings.
Chapter 1/8
“This is so anticlimactic!” The tall brunette whined under her breath as she turned away from the old building.
“I mean, it’s not that bad.” Her companion said, adjusting her sunglasses.
But even as she said that, she couldn’t help but feel like her words were the furthest thing from the truth. The entire purpose of the trip was the castle. The very same castle in the middle of the small Italian town that was very much abandoned, with no tours, visiting groups, or even a website.
One would consider that the Italian people would take advantage of the free advertisement that the Twilight series has done for them over the last few years, but apparently, someone put something in the pasta. There were multiple Twihearts that would pay good money to get close to any place that Edward Cullen and Bella Swan have been. Just look at Forks! The entire town was Twilight covered, from gift shops to museums. While Volterra wasn’t Forks, it was still an essential part of the story! Who wouldn’t want to visit the Volturi castle?
“Can we even get inside?” Serena asked, turning back to her friend. The twenty-two-year-old was annoyed. Their trip to Italy didn’t initially involve the small city, but since they were in Florence, they decided to hire a car for the day and drive down to where Edward Cullen got his ass whipped on a marble floor.
“I mean, we can try,” Dahlia answered, putting the town map back in her small purse. The twenty-year-old adjusted her ponytail and looked around the square. “We can ask the locals if people are allowed to go in.”
Serena scoffed, jamming her summer hat back on her head and crossing her arms under her breasts. The two girls have been friends for a few years, having first met when attending
the same college and finding out that they even lived in the same student dorm. From then, the two of them became as close as any other BFF duo out there. Having freshly graduated a few weeks ago, the two of them had decided on taking a road trip around a few European countries, with Italy being one of their primary focus.
“Are we sure that we are even in the right place? This castle looks nothing like in the movie. There isn’t even a fountain.” Serena asked, turning towards her bestie.
“Well, not really, because they used a different location for the movies. This is the book location.”
“You haven’t even read the books; how do you know this?” Lifting a thin eyebrow, she turned her attention back to the old building.
“The same way you do – fanfiction.” Dahlia grinned at her friend while moving down the square to the tables of one of the local cafes. Being the one who had some basic skills of the language, she started talking to the people, trying to figure out if they could actually go in.
In the meantime, Serena remained in her place and continued observing the castle. It just didn’t look right. She wasn’t sure exactly where that feeling was coming from or what it meant, but that, together with the unbearable summer heat, did nothing to brighten her mood.
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice her friend coming back or even talking to her.
“…a few times a-are you even listening? Serena? Serena?”
However, Serena ignored the shorter girl and moved towards the castle, heading directly to the front door.
“What the- hey wait for me!” Dahlia shouted from behind, running to catch up.
Without ceremony, Serena opened the front door, unquestioning why it was unlocked. The entrance to the old castle was just… well…old. There wasn’t any other word to describe it. There was a dark hallway with the faintest of light coming from the higher windows on the wall behind them. Taking a step forward, Serena could once again feel that something wasn’t quite as it should be. Something was missing. But what?
“Well, you were right. There isn’t much to see here.” Dahlia commented, moving next to her friend. “Let’s go get gelato. I need some sugar before I drive us back to Florence.”
She was about to turn around and leave when Serena moved forward instead.
“Where are you going?” She black hair, one asked.
“Throne room.” Was the answer that came. The older girl moved down the hallway, almost as if knowing where she was going.
“What?” Dahlia squeaked and hurried after her. “Girl, there is nothing to see in here. At most, maybe some addicts’ leftovers. Or used condoms. Probably both.”
“You’re no fun.” Serena chuckled, confidently stepping forward, her small heels clacking on the stone floor.
“People saw us coming inside. They may call the police.”
“And say what? Two tourist chicks entered the abandoned castle where no values are held, and homeless people most likely sleep at night. Please arrest them!” Serena stopped and turned back to the younger woman.
“It’s still a historical building.” Dahlia huffed.
“Yes, so it’s normal that tourists visit it. Come on, D, we came all the way here. At least let me see the throne room.” Not waiting for an answer, Serena once again continued walking forward.
Letting out a loud grunt, her friend had no other option than to follow, mumbling that if they got in trouble, it wouldn’t be her fault.
After a moment, the two girls came in front of a closed door.
“You think this is it?” Dahlia asked.
“One way to find out.” Serena grabbed the rusted handle and pushed.
Bright light invaded their forms as soon as the door was cracked. Both girls narrowed their eyes, adjusting to the brightness. Once they managed to focus, they took a step forward and just as quickly froze in place at the sight in front of them.
The hall was lit with natural light, reflecting on the marble floor and columns, making it look brighter than it probably was. There were a few paintings on the walls from different eras, probably priceless. There was a note of ancient history in the air, but it wasn’t what made the duo stop like deer caught in a headlight.
It was the other people in the room.
There was a short-haired woman dressed in a fashion from the mid-2000s being held by the throat by a man wearing a dark robe. Another brunette was collapsed on the floor, whaling in what sounded like fear. Two teens, a boy and a girl were not that far away from her, also dressed in the same dark robe. There was one more robbed man; bigger two were to the side, holding another teen to the ground.
And there were three more. All dressed in elegant black suits and mirror polished shoes. Two of them were seated on massive throne-looking chairs while the third one was standing up. One of the seated men had a bored look on his handsome face. His long coffee-colored hair was falling freely around him, making him seem frozen in time like a Michelangelo sculpture.
On the other throne was a silver blond man carrying a mask of fury on his face. His hands were gripping the handles of his seat while his jaw was moving back and forward in disdain.
And the last one, the one standing, had a slight trace of a smile on his face. His midnight-black hair was half lifted with a golden clip. His hands were clapped in one another, and there was a spark in his red eyes.
When they heard the door open, their gazes lifted to the two newcomers.
Still standing on the trespass, the girls were trying to process what they were seeing. However, knowing where they were, there was only one logical explanation as to what was happening.
They had stumbled upon a Twilight role play!
“Well,” Dahlia started, leaning to her friend. “Do you still think that it’s anticlimactic?”
