I'm baaaaaaack! And I bring fresh, new fanfiction-y goodies! Sorry it took so long, I always struggle to start my stories, but I've finally got a solid story down ready - all I just have to do is get it out of my head and onto my computer!

Expect many surprises (for Beth, anyway), and ups and downs for Anna, as she adjusts to becoming a Volturi Queen.

So, here we go! Enjoy, and tell me what you think of it!

LookAliveSunshine03

Chapter 1:

The hunted hunter

January 4th, 2011

Snow fell in erratic spirals, sticking to her red hair and eyelashes, and Beth had to fight the childish impulse to stick her tongue out to catch flakes – because wasn't that just the thing to do in a storm such as this?

But the fire in her throat reminded her of her true purpose for staying out here. The pain was as constant and petulant as a whining toddler.

"Alright, alright," she grumbled to it, whilst relishing the white cloud that emanated, dragon-like, out of her mouth as she spoke.

She began to walk, her boots crunching scrumptiously underfoot. The snow seemed to glitter eerily in the dark all around her, almost as if it possessed its own ultra-violet light.

A fresh tongue of fire licked her throat, causing her to wince. Fortunately she knew of a herd of deer that often grazed nearby, just yards away from the cottage she shared with Anna, her sister. Beth very rarely fed from them, however, in case she permanently frightened them away, because (in a perverse way, she thought, guiltily), they were her emergency 'stash' for when she was in a hurry. And that was definitely the case tonight.

Lately, Beth did not like to leave Anna alone for too long, in case she got too lonely, and…well; there was no logical answer to that. It wasn't like Anna could do anything to herself, except draw more brilliant, melancholy sketches of Aro.

Would he be able to feel it if she tried anything? Beth decided she really did not want to think about that too much – and so was relieved when the distant scent of her herd snatched at her attention.

Ready or not, here I come!

Picking up unnatural speed with ease, the icy wind blasted past her, stinging at her cheeks. She barely noticed it; compared to her skin, it was almost warm, so it was quite pleasant, really.

However she definitely didn't enjoy the feel of disturbed snow falling on her from the naked branches of the trees.

Shivering in shock and disgust, she swallowed the curse that threatened to burst out of her.

I'm having a hot shower when I get back – but first, a little supper.

Their pungent and strangely woody smell incited her forward. One stag, three does, twenty metres away. Good. Beth flipped up her hood to hide her conspicuously scarlet hair, before choosing her victim in a single glance.

The smallest doe, which also appeared to have a slight limp in her right, back leg. Beth exhaled a small sigh, reluctantly reaching for the mental switch in her mind that would shut off all thought.

Sorry, Mrs Bambi…

After that, she was not upbeat, overly-sarcastic Beth Rhodes anymore. She was just like any other vampire during a hunt. She tensed, crouching down low –

The young doe didn't even have a chance to hear her coming. With a soft snarl, Beth sprang at her, sinking teeth and green-painted nails into her short, rough pelt.

The rest of the herd fled, scattering out of the firing-line of this unusual predator – something which Beth barely took notice of; she was too busy dealing with her latest kill. Squatting down to her haunches, she kept the doe up in a loose head-lock, forcing her weight across her to lessen the poor creature's frantic scrabbling.

Biting down, hot blood flooded her waiting mouth; her mind was soon hazy with the euphoria that only ever came from satisfying one's thirst. She gulped it down as quickly as she could without choking on it, till the sound of the doe's panicked heart rate weakened into nothing. Then she was still, flopping in Beth's arms, as death welcomed her home.

Huffing, Beth released the doe carefully, brushing her eyelids down with gentle fingers. She didn't like to see those glassy, brown eyes staring up at nothing, and it felt like the right thing to –

"How sweet. You truly are the most unusual vampire I have ever met."

Beth sighed. Great. Of course he would choose now to finally make himself known, just when she had her guard down. She almost preferred it when he had acted like the permanent shadow outside their home, keeping watch for Aro. Almost. She always kept her curtains firmly shut these days, just in case he might be looking.

"I consider that a compliment," she deadpanned, chucking back her hood. "So, thanks."

The storm was picking up, chucking up billowing clouds of white, so Beth was forced to squint against it. Demetri, on the other hand, appeared untroubled by it, dressed in a thick leather jacket, jeans and hiking boots. He came strolling through the tangle of dark trees as easily as mist.

He bowed his head, mockingly. "Elizabeth. I hope this isn't a bad time?"

She rolled her eyes. "No you don't."

She knew why he was here, just by the bright, impatient snap of his black eyes. And there was that sudden sinking, lurching feeling in her gut, like she was descending too fast in a lift. Her stomach cramped.

Too fast. Too soon. It's barely been two months…

"Anna is at the house?" Demetri inquired, coolly.

Beth snorted out loud, wiping a fleck of scarlet off the corner of her mouth. "You tell me. You're the bloodhound."

A muscle in Demetri's cheek twitched. "My Master is growing…impatient over your long absence."

More like very horny. Or both.

He had been tracking them ever since they left Volterra. He was only showing his face, because Aro had asked him to, something which amused her greatly.

Good little doggie.

She shrugged, noncommittally. "I'm sure he is, but I don't make the decisions about it, do I?"

"Then may I speak with the one who does?"

He was getting as tired of the bullshit as she was, and it almost made her smile. Whipping out her phone, she muttered. "She's going to be quite happy to see you."

"Yes…she will, won't she?" As quick as his impatience had come, he was all sweetness again, happy to be getting his way.

Bastard. She glared at him, sending Anna a quick text at the same time:

Brace urself. The bloodhound cometh. B

Then she stomped off. "Come on, then."

Seeing how much this irritated her, Demetri grinned.

"I can tell that you are delighted to see me."

"Fuck off."

He laughed, loud and intrusive in the silent snowfall around them. "And as eloquent as ever. Marcus will be so pleased to know how little you have changed since last we met."

Marcus. Her heart lurched at that name, but she bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to hide her surprise. "We're vampires, Demetri. We don't change; look at you." She spared him a side-long glance. "How old are you? Nine hundred?"

"Much older than you, I assure you," he gave her a poignant look.

Bing! It was her phone, and in spite of her rapidly declining mood, Anna's reply made Beth smile.

Try to behave.

She texted back, her lip curling. No promises. We'll be home soon.

Stuffing her phone back in her pocket, she found Demetri looked at her, expectantly. "Well?"

"I suppose Aro asked you to pass on a message of some sort, huh?" she asked him, archly. "What a faithful pet you are."

"It is time for my Master's Queen to return to her rightful place –"

"Oh, don't play that tedious song again," Beth sighed, grouchily. "You made your point quite crystal-clear the last time Anna and I had the misfortune to be in your delightful excuse for company. And Anna quite spectacularly shot you down, if you recall."

He was staring at her, and for one glorious moment, she thought she had silenced him completely. Her lip quirked in victory.

It didn't last.

"Are you this impertinent with your sister?"

Beth stopped, and stared at him. "Don't be daft. Unlike you, I actually enjoy her company."

She had never been so glad to see the warm glow of home. The honeyed tones of Anna's favourite singer seemed to dance and sway on the wind. That was a relief; music meant Anna was in a better mood.

Abraham, Beth's beloved Punto, was parked cosily in the garage, throwing looming shadows across the slushy drive. She waited for Demetri to make some mocking comment about him, so was glad when he did not.

"Anna…has not left the house in some time," he murmured instead.

Beth sighed. "No. She hasn't wanted to, not even to hunt."

It slipped out without her permission, and she longed to take it back. Demetri looked at her with a frown.

"Well, haven't you tried to change her mind?"

"Of course I have!" She said, impatiently. "But there's only so much persuading I can do. I'm not about to drag her out by her hair."

"So, you let her starve!"

It took her a moment or two to swallow her anger. She turned to face him, fists clenched, but otherwise still. "No. Why do you always assume the worst of me, Demetri?!"

"Because it is all I've ever seen of you," he replied, calmly. It caused her temper to further flare.

Maybe if you quit trying to bring it out of me, you might see another side.

She set her jaw, defiantly."If you want to know, I have been borrowing from blood banks."

"You mean stealing?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well, what do you suggest I do? I will not let her starve, even if it was her choice to punish herself "– Her voice caught painfully in her throat, and Beth looked fiercely away.

Oh God, not now.

"…Then it is a good thing I am here, isn't it?" Demetri said, sombrely. She wasn't sure if he noticed how close to (not) crying she was then, but his voice had certainly lost its hard edge. She managed a stiff nod.

"I guess."

She let them inside with a purple key speckled with yellow smiley faces. Vanilla-scented warmth flooded out to greet them, and they hurried inside to stop anymore escaping out into the chill.

"Honey, I'm home!" Beth sang, much to Demetri's bewilderment. She stamped the snow out of her boots onto a damp welcome mat to the beat of the music, until it stopped, abruptly.

Then Anna appeared in the doorway of the lounge – or rather, she drifted in, as light and lost-looking as tumbleweed.

"Why, Demetri," she said. "This is a pleasant surprise."

Uh, oh. What's Anna's going to make of Demetri's unexpected arrival, I wonder? Only chapter 2 will tell...!