"So, that's it? You're just gonna run away again?" Piper screamed at her older sister Sophia in rage as she flitted around the tiny room in the old abandoned warehouse where their clan stayed.
"I'm not running." She stared at her for a while and Sophia turned her back to Piper.
"You're going to them, aren't you? You're going to the Volturi to die." Though she was right, Sophia spun around at the speed of light and glowered at her.
"What reason would I have to commit suicide, Piper? That's ridiculous. Plus, if I wanted to die, why wouldn't I just get Pierce to do it? You know he hates me."
"He doesn't hate you." Sophia ignored her naïve younger sister and moved to the window in the room. "Dad wouldn't want you to do this, Sophie." Raging, Sophia turned back to her quickly and slammed her into the wall, holding tight to her throat and hoisting her up.
"Don't call me that. My name is Sophia. Not Sophie." She dropped a shocked Piper then moved back to the window. "And we both know Pierce doesn't care what I do, as long as he doesn't lose anything important."
"Stop calling him that!"
"That's his name! He is not my father. A father couldn't do to his child the things he did to me." Then there was a bang and a loud scream followed by crashes and growls. The two girls glanced at each other briefly before walking out the room. It was utter chaos. There were about 8 scary unknown vampires, and all thirteen survivors of the clan were running scared from the fire the unknown vampires caused; the other thirty-two were dead. One of the unknown vampires grabbed Omar, a small newborn, and growled.
"Where is she?" he asked angrily.
"I don't know where she is! She's not here!" Piper stepped back and the floor creaked, causing the unknown vampires to look at them. The one holding Omar smiled maliciously and tossed Omar into the flames. They both flitted back into the room and locked the door. For once, both Sophia and Piper were glad their father (leader of their clan) was so protective of Sophia, because he had a door made of vampire bone installed. Sophia moved to the window as they banged on the door.
"Jump," she said. Piper's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Piper, it's the only way."
"Are you crazy? We are on the 56th floor. Do you know how far from the ground we are? I am not jumping."
"Would you rather stay here and find out who those bastards are and what they want?" She shook her head, but still looked scared. "Here, I'll jump out and catch you when you jump. Okay?" She glanced at the door, still being hit, then nodded.
"Okay." Sophia leaped out the window and as soon as her feet hit the ground, looked up for Piper.
"Piper!" she whispered. Then she heard the young girl scream. Someone grabbed her from behind and pressed her to the wall of the building, smashing her face a little. "Fuck! Look, do whatever you want to me, just don't hurt Piper. Take me instead."
"Oh, we don't want her. We want you, caro." The stubborn immortal struggled in the man's grip out of impulse, but he had her pretty good. And she couldn't use her power on him because she was subdued. The rest of the unknown vampires appeared and the one from earlier smiled deviously. Sophia narrowed her eyes as he walked forward to her slowly. He grabbed her face tight by her cheeks and raised an eyebrow.
"Aro will be so please we found you. He has been searching the world for you." Sophia growled and kicked him as hard as she could. He winced and closed his eyes before reopening them, the ruby irises a bright crimson now like they had been set ablaze. What happened next is un-comprehendible, but somehow Sophia ended up on the ground riveting and screaming in pain. "Jane," he said in a low voice, then the pain was gone and Sophia was left panting loudly. "Now, you're going to be a good girl, now aren't you, Sophia?" She hissed and glowered. "Good. Afton, get her up. Let's get her to Aro." The submissive guard grabbed the angry girl and hoisted her up, locking her arms behind her. She looked back up at the window and only saw flames bursting from it. She struggled in the hold and growled.
"What did you do to my sister?" she screeched angrily. The leader giving orders smirked.
"Don't worry. The young illegal will be fine. You just worry about being unharmed." He turned to the others and nodded once. "Let's go." Then the infantile immortal was hoisted up on Afton's shoulder and they began running with the immortal speed that she and everyone she personally knew had become quite accustomed to.
Pierce POV:
The older vampire had just returned to his home from Asia, hoping to find a well-organized clan and maybe even get some alone time with Sophia, but what he came back to was a burning home and clan and no Sophia. He heard a wistful sound from afar and turned to find his less expressive or special daughter, Piper. She was lying in the alleyway, her clothes tattered and her eyes wide and fearful. What the hell happened? The older man stepped to the young girl and she recoiled in response. That's not normal.
"Piper, what happened?" he asked in a low calm, voice. She shook her head, staring off into space, her crimson eyes almost completely dilated by her black pupils. Her bleach blonde hair was a stringy mess all over her head and clung to her wet face. She looked like she'd gone swimming or something.
"There was so much fire. They all burned. And screamed. Their screams…" she mumbled, looking awfully crazed as she spoke. He crouched down to the scared girl's level and folded his hands.
"Piper, what happened?"
"They attacked. And they won. She jumped out the window, and they gr─grabbed me and tortured me and…and…" The immortal grabbed the young girl's face tight, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Where is Sophia?"
"They took her." That set the stage for everything.
Sophia POV:
My name is Sophia Ryder and I am a vampire. Short, sweet and simple. I'm normally a social butterfly, but I'm awkwardly quiet at the moment. This would explain why Demetri, whose name I'd found out earlier, was having such a hard time getting me to explain what I knew of my parents. Is he crazy? I don't talk to anyone about my real parents. I glared down at my wrist which was covered in bite marks from centuries of abuse from Pierce, or as Piper preferred me to call him, my "father". I didn't refer to him as "my father" because 1) he didn't help conceive me. I don't have his DNA and we are in no way, shape or form related and 2) he destroyed every aspect of happiness and peace I had in me right down to a true smile or laugh. I rarely genuinely smile or laugh or even giggle. Now a sarcastic laugh, sure, a mocking smile, definitely. But very rarely a true, genuine sign of happiness. Now, don't take this as me being conceited or self-centered or even arrogant, but I honestly can't blame him for wanting me. I have the usual pale skin, big bright red eyes and unbelievable strength and beauty, but I was already beautiful before being changed, which only enhanced me. Like…Rosalie Cullen from the North American clan…I mean family. Gorgeous girl turned vampire. Now she's the incarnate of Aphrodite. Now, I'm not as drop dead gorgeous as Rosalie, but I can dabble a mind here and there. I have glossy ebony hair that hangs down my back that I keep straight─ free of its natural curl─ and in a ponytail or bun out of my face, unusually long ebony eyelashes and a 5'7'' hourglass figure. At the moment, though, I looked like a completely different person. My hair was down, dripping and clinging to my wet face due to the rain outside, my eyes were dark due to my need for blood since I hadn't hunted in three days and my simple jeans and v -neck sweater were soaking wet and clinging to me. Felix, the joker guy that I already didn't like, was watching me intensely, like he was afraid that I'd try to run. Yeah right. I may be adventurous, stubborn and hate being forced to do something, but I'm not stupid. I'm very fond of my life, thank you, Mr. Felix.
"Do you know anything about your biological family, Sophia?" Demetri tried again. I remained silent, not even looking up. He sighed and I hoped that was his sign of giving up. "Well, we do. And I have a feeling you remember something about your parents. Don't you remember their names, at least?"
"Marcus and Didyme." Did I just say that? Did I just actually talk and answer him. I glanced up at him and, from the smile on his face, I guess I had said it. Where did that come from?
"Good! You remember them. Well, your father, Marcus, is one of our masters. He's a leader of the Volturi. Have you heard of us?" I glared at him. If looks could kill. Actually, mine can. I am pure destruction. I'm like that Jane chick from the Volturi─ who seemed pretty…"anxious" to have me around. She looks at someone and makes them think they're in pain. I just look at someone or something and they instantly catch on fire. But not conspicuously; only if I want it to happen. Pierce used to use me to do his dirty work. I'd kill anyone he asked in .2 seconds easily without question. This Demetri guy is lucky I kinda like him. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. Were you aware that your father was a leader of the Volturi?" My eyes widened as what he'd said set in and registered. All these years, my parents could easily have been found because my father is the leader of all vampires and have been stationed in the same place for centuries? Of course I didn't know this. Pierce didn't want me to know. He didn't want to share me; he wanted me all to himself. He knew that if I knew where my parents were, then I would have left a long time ago.
"No. Pierce never told me." Demetri looked confused and I answered the question I already knew he would ask. "Because he's stingy. He didn't want to let me go." He closed his mouth and looked a little uncomfortable then touched my arm in comfort. Bad idea. He jumped back quickly, my skin having sent a flicker of fire to his palm as soon as it rested on my arm. I don't like being touched.
"Okay. Don't touch the princess," Felix said. I cast an angry glare at him as the car stopped suddenly. "Let's go," he said before climbing out the car, pulling me along by my arm.
"That's unnecessary, Felix," one girl said. I think her name is Chelsea. She to stand beside us and touched his hand which was tightly secured around my arm. "Let her go. I have her." He obeyed and stormed forward towards the private jet that awaited us. Chelsea and I walked side by side and she occasionally said something to me. I climbed the steps and entered the jet, soaking the red lush carpet with my wet clothes. "Here, let's go dry you off and get you in some dry clothes," Heidi said, another girl named Corin who was about 4'11'' with long pale blonde hair and a pretty child-like face stood and joined us to some room in the back of the jet. It was a tiny room with a book shelf full of millions of books, a shelf full of CDs, a CD player, a small bed, a black leather couch a small glass table with magazines, a tiny bathroom with a shower and a closet bigger than the room itself with sliding doors filled with every clothing and shoe known to man.
"I'll shower first," I said in a quiet voice as I moved my hair from my face and walked to the tiny bathroom. Yes, it's unnecessary for vampires to bathe anymore, but I find it soothing. I shut the door and turned on the shower. I peeled off the wet clothes and hung them on the back of the door before stepping in the shower. Twenty minutes later, I was stepping back out, smelling like citrus and honey, my hair free of the scent of smoke and squeaky clean and fresh. I dried off and slipped on a matching pair of fancy black lacey undergarments that somehow ended up on the counter and a silk red robe before picking up a brush and untangling my curly hair until it was a wavy midnight waterfall, deciding to leave my hair natural for my parents' sake. I walked out of the tiny foggy room and into the now empty bedroom where there was an outfit laid out on the bed. I walked over to the bed slowly and eyed the outfit. It was a simple knee-length, satin, black dress with spaghetti straps and a skirt that flowed when I would spin. It was paired with a metallic silver torso belt and a pair of silver metallic pumps. I was surprised. Piper always complained about how over-the-top the Volturi were. I dressed in the outfit and also added the tiny silver locket I'd secretly had since I was little with my name engraved on it with swirls and flowers. Inside of it held a picture of my mother on one side and my father on the other. It was the only memory I had of them. I walked out of the room and found everyone all seated doing one thing or another. Every eye set on me as I entered and I found who I was looking for and walked over to him, needing more knowledge of my parents, though he'd only talked about my father. I sat in front of Demetri and curled up on the chair in front of him. He smiled up from his book and raised an eyebrow. "Tell me more about my parents."
"What do you wish to know, principesa?"
"Everything. What are they like?"
"Your father, he is very nonchalant and tired. Boring, many could say. He used to be a warrior, a very dangerous man, but…things changed after a drastic accident. And, now, Aro hopes to make him happy and alive again by bringing you to him. We have searched long for you."
"Wow. You came all this way for such a long time just to find me for my father. You all must really love him." He smiled and Corin with a glass of what could be nothing but blood. She handed it to me before taking a sip of her own glass.
"Felix sent this over for you," she said with a smile. I took the glass and drank the blood in one gulp, already craving for more. I looked over at him and found him standing in the corner alone. I looked back at Demetri and moved my hair behind my ear. "He doesn't like me, does he?" I asked in a quiet voice.
"Oh, nonsense. He adores you. That's why he won't talk to you or come near you. He's scared to," Corin said before standing and walking away. Demetri handed me a book and I took it and read the title. It was a book on the history of my father. He has his own day. St. Marcus' day, when humans dress in red cloaks to celebrate his decision in banning the vampire feeding of humans in Voltera. So, if you wanted to hunt, you had to go out of the city. There was usually a parade and other weird human festivities. But, where was my mother? She must not be a social butterfly.
"Sophia." I looked up at Demetri who was walking towards the door. "We're here." Huh? I hadn't noticed we'd landed. I stood and took a deep breath. Time to go meet my father for the first time in over a dozen centuries. No pressure. No pressure at all.