A/N: Welcome, dear readers! Anyway, this is going to be a short series of vignettes starting from the early days of the Volturi and continuing on to the present-day as laid out in my other story, which I recommend you read before reading this, Crossfire. This is completely Demetri/Renata-oriented but goes through all of the events in their eyes.

Also, I would like to take the opportunity to thank my fabulous beta, Basta'sGirl, without whom the quality of this story would not be what it is now. Thank you!

Disclaimer: SM owns all.

Let your inhibitions go

Make every touch electrical

When you're feeling beautiful

Will you remember me?

Easily forgotten love

Easily forgotten love

It's not so easily...

~ Easily ~ MUSE

In the small settlement of Velathri, two of the three leaders of the Volturi coven were discussing the fate of their third member. "I am growing tired of people trying to leave, Caius. First Lorena, then Francisco, and now Marcus wishes to abandon us?" Aro said furiously, "All because of my blasted sister."

"What do you propose, brother?" Caius asked, an evil glint in his eyes.

Aro smiled. "Oh, I have given them permission to leave. But tonight, I shall have a small conversation with Didyme." The look in his eyes, however, suggested something far more sinister.

"Come in, my dear." Aro said, giving his sister a faint smile, "How are you, tonight?"

Didyme laughed, immediately brightening the room with her aura of happiness, "Dear Aro, could we put some flowers in here?" She asked naively.

"We have important business to discuss," he said resolutely.

Didyme's eyes continued to scan the throne room in wonderment, "I would put some roses and a few lilies there, perhaps. It would brighten up the room, I think."

"Didyme, do try to pay attention." Aro said, growing frustrated.

"Marcus' favorites are daisies. I can tell when we walk in the garden and he stops to smell them." she smiled brightly, "Yes, daisies would do."

"Didyme!" he shouted angrily, "Is it true that you wish to leave your home? Your family?"

A look of calm passiveness crossed over her features, "Aro, we are not planning to leave forever. I thought we were free to leave whenever we wished?" A laugh escaped her, "Do not worry yourself. We are coming back." She assured him.

But assurances were not enough for Aro of the Volturi, nor did he claim them to be.

"I am sorry, sister. Truly." he spoke softly, approaching her with outstretched arms.

Didyme did not even have the chance to inquire as to what exactly he was sorry for before he ripped her arms from her torso.

Loud, high-pitched screams were heard throughout the castle, interrupting Renata and Demetrios' conversation with Adalheid regarding another possible wedding.

Alarmed, they ran to the throne room and the scattered remains of a once beloved wife of the masters lay in pieces in the center on the floor. Adalheid fell back into Renata; Didyme had acted as a mother to her when she was first turned into a vampire and was frightened of her new life.

"What happened?" Adalheid asked in a whisper, terrified of the look in Aro's eyes.

Marcus came running into the room. When he saw the body of his love, his mate, shambled upon the floor, the pain in his face was heart-wrenching. The flames that were now devouring what remained of her left a musty scent in the air.

"I'll tell you what happened." he spoke in a gravelly voice, "Aro won't allow anyone to leave. Didyme wanted to for a while but the Volturi will not have that! So you killed her." He said, accusing Aro, "You murdered your own sister, my wife, to keep me prisoner here. You should be ashamed, brother!"

Aro smiled sadly, "It had to be done. Chelsea?" he called for the manipulator of relationships and such accusations were never heard from Marcus again.

When Renata and Demetrios had turned in for the night, enjoying each others' company in their bed, he noticed that she was rather distraught.

"Are you alright, love?" he asked, concerned.

She sighed and leaned into him. "No. Watching Marcus lose Didyme like that...It made me wonder what I would do if that ever happened to you and I." she paused, frowning, "I can only imagine how Marcus was feeling."

"We must ensure that we never put ourselves in such a situation, darling." Demetrios told her with a smile which did not reach his eyes.

Renata nodded and leaned into his embrace, reveling in the pure, simple comfort of his arms, "I love you, Demetrios. I'll not let anyone ever try to change that."

"I know, my love." he whispered, "I know."