The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide (27 page)

Her primary duty is orchestrating elaborate ploys to bring human victims to Volterra.

Heidi became a key member in the day-to-day existence of the Volturi. Her primary duty is orchestrating elaborate ploys to bring human victims to Volterra for the sustenance of the coven. She is required to bring them from far away, without leaving a trail. Heidi might arrange for a contest where the prize is an all-expenses-paid vacation to Turkey (or another random location), or a job interview for a position with an amazing salary. The victims never hear the word
Volterra
, and usually are unaware that they are even being taken to Italy. She has more than one jet and other vehicles and props to use in her efforts to attract humans to the Volturi’s private city. Once an intended victim meets Heidi, it is difficult for him or her to refuse any invitation she extends.

J
ANE

Jane was chosen by Aro while she was still a human child. Aro’s plan to let Jane and her brother mature with their human family backfired when superstitious locals condemned them as witches and sentenced them to death by fire. Aro
arrived barely in time to save Jane and Alec from their accusers. While Alec focused his psychic powers on escaping his own pain, Jane was consumed with the desire to inflict her pain on those who were hurting her. This desire shaped her vampire talent into a very effective weapon.

While Alec—with his ability to use his gift on a great number of targets concurrently—is more advantageous in open battle, Jane’s talent is more often used. As evidenced during Edward, Alice, and Bella’s visit to Volterra, Jane’s talent is frequently utilized to control potentially aggressive vampires. Just having her on hand usually guarantees Aro a polite and compliant audience.

In the field Jane inspires a great deal of fear, which is helpful to the Volturi attack strategy, as well as to their reputation.

In the field Jane inspires a great deal of fear, which is helpful to the Volturi attack strategy, as well as to their reputation. Also, Caius enjoys using her talent to punish vampires before they are executed. Over the centuries, Jane has absorbed some of Caius’s sadistic enjoyment in the process.

R
ENATA

Renata was born into an unusual, vampire-friendly family that has produced several vampires over the centuries, including, many years after Renata, a nomad named Makenna. Renata was changed by her great-uncle Luca (with a few dozen
great
s added) on her twentieth birthday. She originally intended to help her uncle protect and perpetuate their family line, but Renata was very talented. She quickly caught the attention of the Volturi and was invited to join. Luca, wanting no trouble with the Volturi—the way he interacted with his human relatives was already a gray area—encouraged her to go.

Thanks to Chelsea, Renata became exceptionally loyal to the Volturi, particularly Aro. On Aro’s instructions, Chelsea
attached Renata to Aro alone, rather than to all the leading Volturi together. Renata is so tightly bound to Aro that she would rather die than see him harmed. When Aro leaves Volterra, she is always at his side. She is able to repel attackers from herself and anyone in close physical proximity to her. Her gift causes assailants to become confused as they approach her. They find themselves moving in a new direction, with a blurred memory as to what they were trying to accomplish. She is able to push her shield several meters out from herself. She will also shield Caius and Marcus if they are nearby, but her primary concern is to protect Aro.

O
THER
M
EMBERS OF THE
V
OLTURI
G
UARD

AFTON
: Chelsea’s mate

Afton has a minor shielding skill, but it is limited by the fact that he cannot project it outside of himself. He has the ability to make himself invisible to attackers, but someone with a strong focus can see through the illusion. A person standing directly behind him can be hidden, too, but this is not a very reliable safeguard. Afton is not gifted enough to earn a place with the Volturi on his own merits; he owes his inclusion to his much more talented mate, Chelsea.

CORIN
: A guard

Officially, Corin’s primary job in the Volturi is to protect the surviving wives, Sulpicia and Athenodora. In reality, she does not protect them so much as soothe them into complacency while other, more physically impressive vampires do the actual job of guarding the wives. The wives are so closely protected that they have become virtual prisoners in Volterra. However, Corin’s gift keeps them satisfied with life—even happy.

A person can become addicted to the feeling she produces, and be unable to feel well without it.

Corin is able to make anyone feel content in his or her circumstances. There is a druglike side effect to her skill, however. A person can become addicted to the feeling she produces, and be unable to feel well without it. Aro has been careful not to expose himself too greatly to Corin, while using Chelsea to keep her tied to the coven. Marcus has always refused to let her relieve his never-easing pain over Didyme’s death. Caius, on the other hand, frequently uses Corin’s gift to alleviate his boredom between battles and punishing expeditions.

SANTIAGO
: A guard

Like Felix, Santiago is a physical enforcer. He has no psychic gift, only tremendous physical strength.

O
THERS
W
HO
S
ERVE THE
V
OLTURI