500 AD

On a hill stood two figures dressed entirely in black, side by side, viewing the chaos unfolding in the countryside beneath them. The usually beautiful Transylvanian landscape was cloaked in a brilliant orange, from the light of the fiery masses that once were, only a few hours before, castles. Beside the burning structures, a large group of individuals were on their knees, surrounded by an even larger amount of standing guards, clothed in colours ranging from a pale grey to an almost black. From the forests surrounding the castles, emerged three more persons; two with inky black hair, and one with a snowy white. They moved with superiority, and there was an air of leadership about them, their jet black cloaks billowing out with their stride . As they approached the group, one of them held up his hand, in which was a small silvery object with a flame. In an instant, the guards launched themselves at the kneeling group, and the sound of screaming filled the air.

Up on the hill, one of the two turned away, as if unable to watch, his face etched with grief. The other, continued to stare, as he watched the cloaked guards massacre the crowd. Bodies were ripped to shreds and flung into the fire, and a sickly sweet smell was aroused, as purple smoke began to rise. Finally, he too turned away, his face a picture of rage mixed with sorrow.

"Come Stefan," He addressed his dark haired companion in a strange tongue. "We must leave before those Italian scum realise that we have escaped." Stefan nodded in agreement, before disappearing into the trees behind him. The remaining viewer threw one last glance at the horror below.

"This is not over." He whispered softly, before he too ran into the trees, and let the darkness of the forest consume him...

2008

Vladimir sat on a lavish four poster bed, inside a dark room that was part of his personal quarters in the Tunnels. Only he Stefan one other Vampire had such luxurious living spaces, due to them being the joint coven leaders, and the rest had to make do with smaller, more basic areas. This didn't matter too much, however, as the Vampires had very little need for things like bedrooms, which were only useful as places to think quietly too themselves. The kitchens and the bathrooms they each had, held virtually no use, and were seen as a nuisance to maintain with them being underground.

The newly re-invented Romanian Coven was based in a series of underground tunnels that they had stumbled across, and decided to inhabit. As much as a bother it could be at times, to live underground, the Tunnels were an effective hideout from any enemies that might come searching. With only one main entrance, watched by four strong and gifted guards, they were next to impossible to break into. There were nearly fifty or so vampires living together, and despite having a few quarrels at times, they all managed to get along due to all of them having one common interest; Getting revenge on the Volturi. Vladimir and Stefan were the only two members that had actually been victims of the Italian attack all those centuries ago, but the rest of the coven agreed that the Volturi had reigned for far too long, and believed that Romania at least deserved to be the most powerful of something. Even if the human populace would never be aware of it being so.

Vladimir was staring at the rocky roof of his bedroom, when he heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside of his home entrance. He was up in a second and at the door in another, just in time to open it for his long time companion and 'brother', Stefan.

"What brings you to my door?" Vladimir spoke in Romanian, mild surprise colouring his tone, as not very many of the Vampires ever paid visits to other coven members during the day.

"Can I not merely seek out your presence without specific reasoning?" Stefan answered in the same language, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Not at this time, no. I do not like to be disturbed while I am thinking."

"That I am aware of, my friend, and you are right of course, I come with the news that a meeting will be taking place in three minutes."

Vladimir looked at Stefan in surprise.

"Why? We never hold discussions during the day Stefan, explain your actions?"

Stefan merely shrugged his shoulders before replying,

"It was not I that scheduled a meeting at this hour."

"But it was not I either, and only you and I have the right to do so, is that not right Stefan?"

Stefan shook his head, and then held up his hand before Vladimir could argue.

"My brother Vladimir, you and I are the only persons who can schedule a general meeting, but others could do so if there was an emergency, remember?"

"Of course I remember," Vladimir snapped. "It was I who made up the guidelines with you, after that fool, Nicolae Bescu 's meeting."

Stefan winced, remembering the time, only a few years before, when a silly new addition had held a meeting with the sole purpose of telling the rest of the Coven that he had successfully mastered the skill of using a remote controlled television when in the capital, Bucharest, on a scouting mission.

"Maybe there is an important matter at hand, that cannot wait until morn." Stefan spoke, before taking Vladimir's arm and leading him out of the door. "However, if we do not hurry we will be late, which is not a good look for the coven leaders, is it?"

"It is not," Vladimir agreed, breaking into a run. "But if this meeting turns out to be a pointless waste of my precious time I will have the holder ripped to pieces and burned in a public execution." Vladimir's tone was sinister, and Stefan glanced at him in amusement before replying,

"I do not doubt that you would, my brother."

*******************

Less than a minute later, Vladimir and Stefan entered a large, circular room, in which thirty or forty Vampires were already seated on a semicircular arrangement of seats, facing a round, raised podium. They were on the podium in a flash, standing next to an middle aged looking Vampire with long white hair partially concealed by his cloak. A gold medallion with a green stone set into it, hung around his neck, similar to the red stoned one of Vladimir, and the blue stoned one around Stefan's neck.

"Vladimir, Stefan." The Vampire spoke, a smile on his lips.

"Vasile." They both returned to the third coven leader. Behind Vasile stood a beautiful female Vampire, with long ,pale blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders and down her back, like a white waterfall. She had a similar, but more feminine medallion to Vasile's, also with a green stone set into gold, signifying that she was his wife. If Vladimir or Stefan were ever to marry, their wives would also receive a medallion like this, but with a gem the colour of their husbands set into it. The female's black cloak hood was pushed back onto her shoulders and unbuttoned, revealing the long, black dress with a puffed out skirt that she wore underneath.

"Good day, Mariana." Stefan greeted her, kissing her hand, before Vladimir repeated the gesture.

"Good day, Vladimir, Stefan." She said, addressing each one. Before assuming her position at her husband's side. When she and Vasile stood next to each other, the large age difference was very apparent, with her body being only eighteen years old, and his being approximately fifty. Neither Vampire seemed to mind the age gap, in fact quite the opposite, as when their romance had first kindled, Vladimir and Stefan found themselves in the uncomfortable position of being able to hear the couples 'private', sexual moments in their bedroom.

"Have you any idea the reasoning for a meeting at this hour?" Stefan addressed Vasile, noticing Vladimir pacing angrily out of the side of his vision.

"News has it that one of our Scouters returned, with important information." Vasile replied, raising an eyebrow in sceptism. "Whatever it is it better be good, or I fear that our friend Vladimir will be painfully punishing a coven member tonight."

Vladimir's answer was to swear colourfully in Romanian, and pick up the speed of his pacing, making it from one end of the podium to the other in less than a second. Vasile and Stefan shared an amused glance. The seats facing the podium were now full, and the great metal doors to the discussion room were pulled closed. Stefan stepped forwards on the podium before addressing the crowd.

"Fellow Coven Members."

The seated Vampires fell silent before standing up simultaneously, and placing their left fists over their hearts. Stefan continued.

"Today's meeting was at short notice, my coven, but this was through no fault of us." He gestured towards Vasile and Vladimir, who had stopped pacing, but still looked like he wanted to see someone's head on a plate.

"Could the Vampire who called for this meeting, please step forward, and explain their reasoning."

Half a second passed before a petite female vampire, with auburn hair curling at her shoulders, stepped forwards.

"Noble masters, and mistress," the Vampire began. "May I state my case?"

"Indeed, Anica." Stefan, Vasile, Vladimir and Mariana replied in unison.

Anica bowed her head in thanks, before beginning.

"Mistresses and Masters, as you know I have been away for the past six months, scouting for information regarding the Volturi, and their current position. While in the country of England, I caught a whisper or a revolution of sorts, in the New World. A revolution against the Volturi." Anica paused to allow this to sink in. Vladimir looked unimpressed.

"I travelled to America at once, and used my sources to discover that the location of this revolt of sorts was in the state of Washington, in the north. I travelled there, and kept watch for any Vampirical behaviour, and can confirm that there is a coven of eight to ten Vampires living in the town named Forks."

A collective gasp followed immediately by hushed whispering filled the room. It was unheard of for such a large amount of Vampires to live together, unless they were planning something big, like the Romanians were.

"SILENCE!" Vladimir roared, and the room fell silent again. All of the Vampires were wary of Vladimir's infamous temper, and did not wish to provoke him. When a complete quiet had settled, he turned back to Anica and snapped,

"Is that all that you have? That is most unimpressive. Coven sizes are growing nowadays, and how could a coven of eight to ten take on the Volturi, I ask? That would be a suicide mission." Anica replied hastily.

"Noble Master, I thought not but the same thing at first, but then I discovered that they are not alone."

"How do you mean." Vladimir snapped again.

"I mean," Anica began, "That I spotted several groups of Vampires enter the town of Forks, and they were all heading to one destination, which must be the base of the large coven."

Vladimir was about to protest again but Stefan put a restraining hand on his arm.

"Brother, I feel that this is worth discussing."

Vasile nodded and said,

"As do I."

The three coven leaders huddled together and spoke in soft whispers.

"This is a pointless meeting." Vladimir snarled quietly. "It's just coincidence that is all."

Stefan looked thoughtfull.

"Do you not think that it is maybe just a little too coincidental, my brother." He asked quietly. "Us Vampires are not known for getting together with no purpose whatsoever, are we?" Vladimir glared at him, and was about to say something cutting, when Vasile interrupted.

"Before you disagree, Vladimir, I would like to inform that I feel that the situation in this Forks town, is worth an investigation. If the rumours turn out to be false, nothing is lost, and nothing is gained."

"Time is." Vladimir argued angrily.

"Ah, but with all the time in the world ahead of us, what are a few months, dear Vladimir?" Vasile said gently.

Vladimir looked grumpy, but looked as if he were giving the suggestion of an investigation some thought. After a few seconds had passed he spoke.

"Fine, we will investigate into the situation, but if this turns out to be fuel fed rumours, I will be very, VERY angry."

Stefan sighed and said quietly,

"Are you not always?" Vladimir shot him a dark look, and Stefan just smiled affectionately. "Do not worry, my brother, your anger is why we are all so fond of you." He said patting Vladimir's arm.

"So it is decided." Vasile spoke. "We shall leave to the New World, and travel to the town of Forks as soon as possible."

"Hold your thoughts." Stefan frowned. "If all of us leave the Tunnels, who will stay to remain in charge? We cannot possibly just abandon our coven."

"Indeed we cannot, and we shall not. I will stay, and you and Vladimir will go." Vasile said. Behind him, Mariana looked relieved.

"Agreed." Said Stefan

"Agreed."Joined Vladimir.

"We shall depart tomorrow." Stefan informed the others, and turned to leave.

"Hold brother." Vladimir stopped him. "How will we get to the United States? It will take too long if we run and swim from here."

Stefan frowned again, but the answer came from Mariana.

"Why do you not take one of those giant metal birds that the Humans use?" She inquired helpfully.

"You mean an...Aeroplane, I think it is called." Vladimir answered. "Why would we use one of those? I do not trust contraptions of this generation. Least of all ones that can fly."

"It would take you less of your precious time to reach the destination, if you were to do so, Vladimir." Mariana answered, grinning slyly.

Vladimir snorted in disbelief. "How so?" he asked

"It is said that those aero..aeroplanes, can fly to entire different countries in merely a few hours. That is quicker than if you were to run." Mariana answered, saying the new word slowly.

"Impossible!" Stefan cut in. "Not even we can travel that fast!" Vladimir and Vasile also looked sceptical.

"It is true." Mariana retaliated. "I hear this from another Vampire who has used such a thing."

Stefan and Vladimir shared a glance.

"I do not like the idea very much, my brother, but I feel as if we do not have another choice but to use one of these Aeroplane contraptions." Stefan said dubiously.

"I feel as if you are right, Stefan." Vladimir replied, before taking Stefan's arm. "Come, we will make plans for our departure tomorrow. But for now, let us hunt."