The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide (41 page)

Only Stefan and Vladimir, who were planning to spring a trap for the expected Volturi retreat, escaped.

Unlike Stefan’s, Vladimir’s mate survived the initial overthrow of the Romanians. She was killed around 810
A.D.
, during the last of many attempts the Romanians made during the centuries to regroup, repopulate, and topple the Volturi. The Romanians had amassed an army of more than a hundred new recruits and were confident that the Volturi would fall. This ill-fated assault occurred a decade after Aro had acquired Jane and Alec. It was the first time Aro displayed their talents in battle. The Romanians were decimated. Only Stefan and Vladimir, who were planning to spring a trap for the expected Volturi retreat, escaped. After this, Vladimir and Stefan made no further attempt to create more vampires for their coven. They decided to disappear until the Volturi weakened or another power presented itself.

M
any vampires prefer to roam the world on their own or with a single partner. These vampires are known as nomads.

A
LISTAIR

Alistair grew up in England during the turbulent reign of Edward II, considered the weakest of the Plantagenet kings.
Alistair’s father was one of the barons who continually fought against Edward’s attempts to limit the power of the British Peerage. Throughout Alistair’s youth, his father and older brother were embroiled in conspiracy after conspiracy as they tried to protect the rights of the aristocracy while also trying to gain a place of preeminence over the other barons.

Alistair lived quietly at the family’s country estate with his mother and sisters. He had no interest in his father’s schemes. Alistair loved to hunt for sport and was considered the best hunter in the county. He was also an avid falconer. He kept many falcons, and training them was his favorite pursuit. He loved his birds and spent more time with them than with people.

Unknown to Alistair, his father formed an alliance with two other barons after the banishment of the king’s favorite counselor. Their object was to get Alistair’s older brother placed in that vacated position, and thereby control the weak king. Some of the other barons had the same idea, but with their own champions. After multiple betrayals on all sides, Alistair’s brother was implicated in a plot to overthrow the king, and he and a few others were executed for treason. The charges were mostly false, created by another powerful aristocrat with an agenda that differed from Alistair’s father’s.

Losing his precious heir pushed Alistair’s father over the edge. The baron’s anger against the king became deeply personal and slightly deranged.

Losing his precious heir pushed Alistair’s father over the edge. The baron’s anger against the king became deeply personal and slightly deranged. He began plotting to actually do what his son had been executed for. He felt he could no longer
trust his old allies. He began to explore ever darker sources of aid, becoming deeply involved with the occult.

Alistair knew nothing about his father’s designs. Of course he knew of his brother’s execution; he, his mother, and his sisters grieved privately and withdrew from society entirely. The mark of treason on the family was a hard blow for his sisters, who would have more difficulty making good matches. Alistair, who had never particularly wanted to inherit, was resigned to his duty, and planned to care for his sisters if they wished to remain unmarried.

Then, late one night, Alistair’s father came for him. Alistair obediently went with his father, though he was not allowed to bid his mother farewell and had no idea why he was needed. Alistair’s father told him nothing until they arrived in London. Alistair grew more and more concerned as his father led him through secret tunnels under the city, exchanging cryptic signs with masked men along the way. Finally, they reached a council room. Around a large round table were many minor aristocrats, some of whom Alistair knew. His father outranked them all and was clearly in charge. He sat Alistair at the head of the table, bolted the door, and explained his plan.

Alistair listened in horror, shocked at the change that had come over his father.

Alistair listened in horror, shocked at the change that had come over his father. It was apparent his father was mad. The baron had created a plan to set Alistair on the throne of
England, and swore Alistair would be the next Charlemagne. Alistair tried to leave but was restrained. The baron ranted that he had sold his soul and paid an unthinkable price to make Alistair invincible. Alistair tried to reason with his father, to no avail. He entreated the other men present for help, but they seemed to believe the baron’s story absolutely.

Shortly thereafter there was a quiet knock on the barred door. Every man in the room, including the baron, blanched. Some clutched at crosses. One man scurried to throw the door open. A man entirely enveloped in a dark red hooded cloak glided silently into the room. Everyone bowed to him. He was greeted as Astaroth by the baron. Quietly, Astaroth asked for the room to be emptied. The aristocrats ran to the exit. Only the baron stayed. Astaroth thanked the baron for his offering. The baron looked sick, but nodded and left, leaving Alistair alone with the hooded man.

Astaroth laughed casually and told Alistair that his father was certainly mad, but that it was true Alistair could be king if he wanted.

Astaroth, whose name was actually George, threw off his cloak. Alistair was surprised to see a very handsome man who had long blond curls and wore modern clothes. The man was not much older than Alistair. Astaroth laughed casually and told Alistair that his father was certainly mad, but that it was true Alistair could be king if he wanted. Astaroth would give him power to stand against any man—even an army. Alistair could do what he wished with the power, but he might think about honoring his father’s wishes, as his father had indeed paid a great price to buy this honor for his son.

Astaroth/George was a vampire not unlike Boris, the vampire who changed Laurent. George also enjoyed entertaining himself with humans; he just had a darker idea of fun than did Boris. He led on humans in love with the occult, asking them to sacrifice everything they held most dear in exchange for his supernatural assistance. He liked to see how far humans would go to get what they wanted. Of course, he could always have taken their sacrifices without their consent, but he liked to watch them struggle with the dilemma. He pretended to be one of the princes of hell because it impressed the mortals.

George gave Alistair a few pointers: Stay out of the sun, and don’t attract too much attention. Of course, Alistair had no idea what George was talking about. George then bit Alistair, wished him good luck, and disappeared.

Unable to restrain himself, Alistair slaughtered most of them.

When Alistair’s transformation was complete, he found himself surrounded by a large group of terrified peasants bound together with manacles. Unable to restrain himself, Alistair slaughtered most of them. When he was totally sated, there were still a few left living. It was then that his father entered the bloody council room; Astaroth had given him advice on how to stay alive when dealing with his indestructible new son.

The baron was prepared for Alistair’s thirst, but not for his anger. He tried to explain the next steps to Alistair, but Alistair was furious with him—horrified by what he’d just been through, followed by the murders he’d committed. He shoved his father out of his way, accidentally killing him.

Alistair was surprised by many things that night: his super strength, his sharp senses, his speed—none of which he expected. Escaping the underground maze was child’s play, as he quickly discovered he could break through the stone walls. He wasn’t able to ride a horse—he found his father’s and tried to mount it, but the poor beast broke its own neck trying to escape him—but once he tried running he found that horses were unnecessary. He raced home to find his house empty, his mother and sisters vanished. In a burst of insight, Alistair realized what his father’s offering to Astaroth must have been. Totally devastated, Alistair sought refuge with his falcons, only to find that they could bear his presence no more than the horse could.

Alistair left civilization that night. He avoided all contact with humans, except when he hunted. He mistrusted everyone from that point on, assumed conspiracies existed everywhere, and was paranoid about authority figures.

Alistair met Carlisle in the seventeenth century. Carlisle had already discovered a way to exist without the traditional vampire diet, but had not yet gone to Italy or met the Volturi. Alistair was a total recluse at that point, and had no interest in conversation. Carlisle was lonely, though, and so enthusiastic about finding someone to talk to that eventually he got Alistair to respond a little bit before he left. Carlisle was concerned about Alistair’s isolated life; every few decades, Carlisle would visit to see how Alistair was doing. Against Alistair’s wishes, they ended up as friends of a sort.

C
HARLES