DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight and all of its recognizable characters, storylines, and plots. The original characters and plot are from my own imagination. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of the Twilight Saga media franchise. Copyright infringement is not intended.

Two Brothers - Two Masters

Chapter 1

Carefully keeping an eye on things in Romania, namely the two remaining Romanians left of the Dacian coven, Demetri came across a nomad vampire in Bulgaria on his return home to Italy. Sometimes, the best way to find out information was to ask locals or other vampires about recent activity. The Volturi had a reputation for being merciless in most cases when it came to breaking their laws, so information was usually forth coming or solicited and if it wasn't, they always had other ways of finding things out. Demetri was best known for his tracking ability and the Volturi always sent him out to search for people they wanted or to keep an eye on questionable activities or questionable people.

Demetri was enjoying running through the northern plains of Bulgaria when he met another vampire. He looked to be a nomad with his dark trousers and dark blue tunic. It was fall where he was and despite his natural tan he looked pale against the black coat and scarf he wore to fit in with the locals he might run into. Ludmil wanted to meet the ancient vampires of Volterra for quite some time and thought he would make himself known to the leader of the Volturi. When he saw Demetri, he approached him. Something had caught Demetri's eye as he slowed down. The human girl quickly disappeared from his sight when Ludmil had walked over to Demetri and made eye contact.

Ludmil had hoped to join the Volturi, but knew only the very gifted were chosen. As well as the fact there were some guards who were not gifted that served the Volturi and this piqued his interest since he had never been to Volterra. He brushed off his trousers and tried to straighten his short brown hair to look presentable.

"Hello, my name is Ludmil. I was told the Volturi are in Athens right now and I had hoped to meet your master, Aro. You are one of the guards, are you not?" He questioned, finally taking notice of the Volturi crest hanging from a chain around his neck. "Idiot." He thought to himself as he finally noticed it. Ludmil wanted to make the best impression. Not being observant didn't help.

Demetri stopped to answer the man and took in what he said as he cocked his head. "Yes. I am Demetri Volturi. Where did you hear we were in Athens?" His eyebrows knitted together.

"I have a friend that lives near there and someone had told him that they spotted Aro in the area and so I wondered if I should head that way or wait sometime before heading to Italy." Though Italy was much closer to him, Ludmil would make the trip no matter how far.

"May I ask what your business with Aro would be?" Demetri asked as he stood there and heard Ludmil's response and then proceeded with a barrage of questions. After a couple, he decided he would save most of them for later. "What is your friend's name and where might I find him?"

The sudden flurry of questions brought suspicion in the man and he began to wonder what he was getting at. "His name is Miroslav from the Kurdzahali coven of Bulgaria of course. I am most interested in joining your coven and besides that, I have never been to the home of the Volturi's." He paused momentarily before asking the next question. "Why exactly would you need to find my friend?" He asked in wonder.

"If you need to speak to my master, you must go to Volterra. I'm sure your friend was mistaken. He smiled politely and tried to ignore his question and appeal to him. The thought of his masters being pleased if he brought this nomad for a visit made him more than satisfied. "I am going to Volterra now. Would you like to accompany me?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed. "That would be wonderful!" He decided not to press the issue regarding his question about his friend and only wished he did not open his big mouth.

The two vampires made their way southwest towards the Bulgarian border and crossing into Serbia and Montenegro. Once they reached the Adriatic Sea they snuck aboard a ship that was docked and reached Italy shortly thereafter. During their time aboard the ship they hid on the deck below and kept to themselves which was plenty of time for the two men to think about each other and all the questions they would have to ask later. Ludmil had questions about the Volturi and Demetri had questions about Ludmil's interest in joining his coven.

Upon arriving in Italy, Ludmil started in with his questions. "I want to know more about the Volturi and find a coven of respect where I could be around others like me. I live by myself right now." He left out his friend's offer to join him, but Ludmil wanted to be in a coven that was powerful and where he would be protected no matter what. He would have that with the Volturi.

"There is much to know about my coven. It has been around for many centuries. Aro is the best one to answer all your questions. The ancients have been around longer than any known vampire and are greatly respected among us." He spoke softly and eloquently as they made their way through Volterra approaching the castle. This was not the first time someone was interested in joining, but not all were accepted into the elite guard. Only the ancient ones could decide if they were right for the coven.

"There are no vampires that you are aware of in your area?" he asked. Though it was not uncommon for vampires to travel alone, the nomad would know many vampires though. Demetri wondered what covens were nearby and why Ludmil had not joined up with them. He thought it was a bit strange unless the nomad was a loner, but he knew that nomads traveled and thought the man might not be too forthcoming. It wouldn't be the first time Demetri had encountered this trait.

"There is one, but he and his mate live alone and are closer east of where I live."

"And do these friends of yours say they've seen the Volturi in Greece as well?" he questioned out of curiosity.

"I don't know. I only heard about it when my friend was visiting from Kurdzahali."

"I see." They entered the castle now and made their way towards the elevator. There was a long pause as Demetri collected his thoughts to phrase the next question to ask as the elevator doors opened after his finger pressed the button. It was in the city of Pleven where Demetri found Ludmil. "You are so close to Romania. Have you traveled there before?"

Ludmil took notice of the elevator's opera music and smiled thinking how well off the Volturi's are and stepped inside, following Demetri's lead as he prepared to answer the next question. "I have indeed traveled there before." He said without waivering. There had been a long history and bad blood between the Volturi and the Romanians. "But I believe as you believe!" he said with all open honesty. "It is important that we continue to hide our existence from the humans and keep our existence a secret the way it was meant to be." Ludmil didn't want Demetri to know that he had met the Romanians. After all, that is how he learned of the Volturi.

As the elevator reached the intended floor and the doors opened, both men walked out and were greeted by a friendly secretary in front of them. This came as a shock to Ludmil as this was the last thing he expected. The scent of her blood filled his nostrils and burned his throat as they came closer to her. He wondered if she was a pet to them. "What else could she be?" He thought as his mouth continued to burn with desire to lunge forward and sink his teeth into her flesh; his fangs breaking the barrier of skin where hot blood flowed from its very surface as she let out a final scream. Ludmil imagined how it would play out in his mind. "Will you be saving her for later or is she a pet?" he finally asked curiously.

Demetri smirked liking the idea of a warm snack, but she was not to be touched yet. "She is neither at the moment. She is to become one of us soon." He said coolly

Ludmil looked back at the girl who was now typing away at her computer. He looked back to Demetri astonished. "Is she gifted?"

"We shall see." He looked back as the double doors of the throne room were opened by the hulking guards beside them.