a/n: Obviously I don't own anything except for the main character and her sister. The rest of the people in this story you've never seen in the book are actual people from history, look them up. Can't really say I'm a fan of Twilight, but I do enjoy history and Twilight is a perfect medium to play with history.

More importantly each chapter may be written in a different character's POV, but to keep things interesting and challenging I won't tell which character's POV it is (mostly because sometimes it's a spoiler and some POV characters name multiple names and that would make it even more confusing).

But enjoy and please review.

Chapter 1: Prologue

I could hear them clearly. The secretary had informed them of my request for an audience. She must be new to the position. She seemed much too eager and... fresh. I was not able to sense anything special about her, she was merely better looking than an average human. If I was correct in my assumption –which I usually am– then they were going to make a meal out of her before long.

Her heartbeat became louder and clearer. She exited the room and said they were ready to see me.

The chamber was nothing less than I had expected. The guard, very strategically placed around the room and it was quite unchallenging to predict who was responsible for what. The three were regally seated in the middle of them all.

As I continued forward I could sense all stares on myself. Nothing I was not expecting... except I could feel a pair with different intent than others. As much as I wished to trace those eyes I wouldn't dare attempt such frivolous action at this moment.

"You requested an audience..." began Aro as he asked with his eyes.

"I go by Giselle," I said.

"Giselle. What is it that you wish?" Aro finished.

"I would like to request my sister to be put under the protection of the Volturi," I answered.

Aro very slightly arched an eyebrow. Caius rose higher in his seat and Marcus leaned closer. "And what do you offer us in return?"

"Only thing I can that has the slightest chance of making you consider. My services and loyalty," I put my hand under my breasts and bowed slightly.

"Your services?" hinted Aro at me to continue.

"You are puzzled. You must think I am too young, too unaware, too naive. Or too unrefined and ordinary. If I were older with a gift to your interest you would have already be aware of my existence. While you do not wish to underestimate me, you do not think highly of me either. I understand your doubts perfectly in trusting me."

"Do you read people?" asked Aro.

"No, it is simply an acquired skill," I said. "I have been dwelling this earth long enough to perfect it."

"It is quite peculiar that we have never heard of you, or your sister." Aro seemed more interested as the conversation developed. "Is that what you are able to do?"

"No, it was an uncalculated series of events that has kept us in the dark all this time. By the time everything was under control it had already become a state we did not wish to alter."

"Understood. So what is it that you can do?" asked Aro. I could see neither he nor Caius was as patient as earlier.

"Why stop now. I believed this little game of guess amused you," I said as tried to shape my lips into a small grin.

"You dare mock us!" Caius became furious. "Seize her!"

Before even a second passed I felt two sets of hands on either of my arms. Felt relieved that I could finally break my lips out of the forced grin I spoke. "Unhand me."

The two guards –from whose physiques I assumed were Felix and Santiago– instantly let go of their holds on me.

I did not feel especially glad, but seeing the somewhat bewildered, amused and uneasy faces of the Volturi leaders did contribute to the feeling.

"Pardon my previous behavior. As the situation is dire to me I had to use my gift in a way it would do more than just impress you. I did not mean any disrespect." I bowed again with my hand under my chest.

As Caius twitched in his seat to speak, Aro held a hand before him to stop him before he began. "Impressive. Truly, I have never seen anything quite like it."

"I am glad to have pleased you."

"Are there limitations to your..."

"Compulsion. There really is not a better word for it."

"Very well. Are there any limitations?"

"I have cultivated my gift to near perfection throughout the passing centuries and I prefer to limit my use of it. There is no meaning to being in power if the power is controlling you as you might understand. But the physical limits which you refer to are quite more specific. Only the ones who hear my voice can be compelled and while I can compel without the use of my voice, mental compulsion is only limited to one person at a time and I have to be in the proximity of the target, though the maximum distance can be as far as the outskirts of the city from this very room," I explained as clearly as I could.

"Very sufficient indeed," said Aro as Marcus nodded in agreement.

"What is the predicament your sister is in?" asked Marcus.

"My sister is very dear to me. She has been through a lot which was not entirely or at all her own fault. She has made some mistakes and lousy decisions, yet she is but a girl. She is the only blood family I have left, it is my responsibility to make sure she is safe. She is still a child."

"Is she?" Marcus suddenly asked.

"Goodness, no! An immortal child? I wouldn't dare. I transformed her the day she turned eighteen." I realized I reacted more than I had intended, but I was not going to risk being misunderstood by the Volturi. I was no fool.

"What seems to be the problem then?"

"Like I said, she has not made very good decisions; she has gotten herself in quite a predicament. If it is alright I wish not to expose the details, it is caused by something very personal, though the results are not. She is in dispute with the Romanians. She attempts to hunt them to extinction, but she does not realize they have prepared for her attack. Please, she will get herself killed." This was my only hope in saving her; I was ready to beg on my knees if it came to that.

"Do not fret. We will protect you sister. If she is a threat to the Romanians, she may prove useful. And if the Romanians are taking precautions for battle we shall see into it," Aro assured.

"I shall go fetch her," I said as I got ready to leave.

"No. You will stay here, leave your sister to the guards," Caius ordered.

"And where is your sister?" asked Marcus.

I hesitated for what may be the very first time. "She is in Romania, Wallachia. She responds to Ashleigh. She resides currently in the former home of Vlad the Impaler; Castle Dracula."

END OF CHAPTER

a/n: Not exactly a prologue, but for the rest of this story it holds an explanation. I hope you enjoyed the story so far. I will try to update regularly or frequently if not.

There are already a few mysteries from the prologue. I won't categorize this story under a character until the person who was watching Giselle has been revealed. I like to keep people on their toes.

Please review.