Prologue

The man in the shadows peered out and looked at the happy couple sitting on the bench. They were young, sixteen or seventeen at the most. But they looked so happy together that it was not possible not to imagine them getting married. But that's not the reason he was looking at them.

He turned to the other man sitting next to him. "Sebastian. Are you sure?"

The man named Sebastian nodded. "They would be very powerful. Maybe some of the most powerful in your coven."

"Then it is crucial that we get them before anyone else does." The man sounded determined.

"Are you sure? They are so young!"

"They are old enough."

Sebastian sighed. "Very well. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"Of course I do!" The man snapped. "I will have the most gifted coven in all the world! Nothing will be able to stop me! Not even the Volturi!"

The man chuckled softly, not loud enough for the couple on the bench to hear, but loud enough for Sebastian to hear, and look at him with concern and foreboding, seeing no mercy in the man's blood red eyes.