Author's note: Hello world :) I won't start with a lenghty speech, just a couple trifles. As you'll all probably quickly guess, english is not my native language. I also don't know how often I will manage to publish new chapters, but I hope it won't be once a year. Comments are most welcome, as they are best reward to an author. Criticism is fine, as long as it is constructive.

This story adheres to canon. It is not AroxOC romance, as he is married to Sulpicia. Story starts 4 years after the events from "Breaking Dawn".

Full description: One cannot live on Volterra streets with a peculiar gift and remain unnoticed for long. And a new life, which Alesya struggles to start after running from abusive father, might be more new than she ever imagined.
Unintentionally intrigued by new citizen, Aro starts unusual relationship with her, which shall soon blossom into strong bond between father and daughter. When Alesya's attachment to Volturi clan leader gives a begin to a series of unpredicted events, she must make a decision that might put in danger not only her life. With new foe preparing to strike, Alesya's ingrained independence put her in front of probably the hardest choice she has to make: choice between family and freedom...

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize, I don't own.

Prologue

Somehow I've ended back in the same place: curled up on the windowsill in my room, on the north side of the castle. With chin resting on my knees, I looked at Volterra, deep in sleep, enveloped in complicated music of shiny drops drumming on the roofs. I sobbed, and dark sky shed tears in my name. Sympathizing or mocking me? Both reasons were repulsive.

I hated to cry. And I hated myself for crying. My mind rebuked me for each sob I was unable to suppress. Weak. Helpless. Worthless. Each sound escaping my mouth was adding to long list of my failures. I knew that everyone in the castle heard me perfectly, and I felt even worse.

I took deep breath tried hard to fight the feeling of betrayal and humiliation, to think clearly. Decision I was going to make was to be the hardest in my entire life and define my future. I should not make it out of emotion. But it was emotions that forced me to decide in the first place, and vampire mind prevented any distraction.

What my father did to me, to my sister. What she has done, forced or not.

Should I be surprised? No one else in the world would be. Words once spoken by a friend I lost - also because of my father - came rushing back and I banged my head against my knees. Idiot! Stupid, fucking idiot. As memories, crystal clear, run before my eyes like a movie, I realized something that hurt. I didn't have any alternatives. Everything was already decided.

I got up, feeling slightly sick. As I began my preparations, somewhere in the back of my mind a single thought demanded attention: am I signing my own death sentence…