A sharply pointed crescent moon hung in the night sky over Volterra. It gleamed silver, competing with the stars to light the fields and forests of the country I loved so much and to which I had, for decades, longed to return. Now that I was finally home again, the stars seemed so close, and brighter than I ever remembered. Of course, I couldn't take time to fully appreciate the view, with the company I had following me. I'd noticed her first in the piazza in Firenze the week before, and then again a few days later in Lucca. The same mahogany haired woman was following me now, out into the countryside beyond Volterra. I knew she'd been following me and thought it best to lead her away from any crowds. She needed to speak with me, and she was growing impatient. She wasn't used to having to put forth so much effort during the hunt. This cat and mouse game was beginning to bore her.

I turned quickly. "What do you want?"

The tall woman who'd been following me smiled back at me. "Just a few words." She was dressed in an expensive blouse, short skirt and heels. Not necessarily what you would see anyone wearing this far out in the countryside, even in Italy.

"I seriously doubt that."

She pressed her hand into her hip and leaned into it impatiently. "We've been waiting for you."

"I think it's best if we part company now, as friends." I turned my back to the woman, and before I could take a step, she was suddenly in front of me.

"I don't think you quite understand. It would be rude of you to keep us waiting for much longer." She hissed the last word at me. As the last of her breath escaped two massive hooded figures approached us.

I glanced at the newcomers, then back at her. "So, I guess I really don't have a choice, do I?"

"Only one that I can think of." She smiled like a cat with a canary and her sparkling teeth shone in the moonlight.

***

The stone tunnel was dark and smelled slightly of rust and sulphur. I carefully followed the tall female who called herself Heidi as she led me down the passageway.

"It won't be long now; we're almost there," she said. I could hear the smile in her voice. She was pleased with her catch. The Master would be proud.

A small shaft of light appeared and disappeared at the end of the corridor. We walked briskly, and I continued to study her. I opened my mind to get a better read and, before I knew it, we were suddenly standing before a massive stone door. It slid open quickly for us, the initial shock of light temporarily blinding me, and I was hit with a roomful of emotions, desires, and personas. It overwhelmed me for a second and I hesitated.

"Heidi! You've returned! And what have you brought us this evening?" said a man in the center of the room.

The woman beside me smiled briefly, then replied, "remember the special treat I promised you, Aro?" The older gentleman eyed me curiously, not bothering to hide his excitement. He was obviously their leader.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to get a better feel for the room, and its occupants.

"Why don't you tell me?" he replied with a growing smile on his face.

"You're their leader, or one of them. Those two are also leaders but to a lesser degree. You've been keeping watch over our kind for centuries. It's becoming exhausting for you. There are so many newborns and so little time. You're..."

"She is a reader! I'd heard stories, but I never believed they could be true!" Surprise and excitement lit the old man's face as he cut me off mid-sentence. He stared at me as if I were a lost treasure, some infinite amount of gold. The room had gone silent at his exclamation, and everyone was watching us.

"So?"

"So, my dear, that means that you have an exceptional gift." I looked at him, still wondering if I had given him a thorough read. He motioned for me to come closer to him and I saw no reason not to oblige. He didn't intend to harm me. Collect me, maybe, but not harm me. The frail-looking man placed his hand gently on my shoulder and looked at me as he spoke. His eyes were slightly cloudy, but I knew he could see just fine.

"My dear, you possess a uniquely singular talent. Some of our kind can tell whether people are lying or telling the truth; they can see the future or read minds; but you my dear, you read people, as if they were books. You can tell with one look where they have been and exactly who they are. You know their talents, their passions, their desires, their fears..."

"That she is, Aro. I promised you a reader and I have brought you one." The woman smiled snidely beside me, still trying to gain acknowledgement for her find.

"Why was I brought here?" One of the other leaders stepped forward, bristling at my rudeness. He doubted my abilities.

"You're the reader, why do you think we've requested your presence?" He was younger looking, turned at an early age, with pale white-blonde hair. He would have been breath-taking as a human, I'm sure.

"You want me to join your...coven."

"Wonderful." Aro cried in excitement as if I'd already accepted. I searched his face and that of the other leaders to get a better understanding on their true desires.

"And if I don't?"

The young pale-blonde stepped towards me with a menacing smile, his lips curling over his perfect teeth. "We are the Volturi." He made it clear that there would be no other choice for me. I had made my choice the minute I'd agreed to come with her.

He said they were the Volturi. I'd heard of them before, of course. Who of our kind hadn't? For me, their name always elicited a shiver. I had never quite understood why. Until now. Their reputation had preceded them, and all the stories I'd heard had been true.

"So then it would seem that I really have no choice in the matter." I hissed out the words. I had come peaceably but they meant to keep me, by force if necessary.

"We could help you learn how to fully appreciate and realize your talent." Aro's voice rose out of the silence. He was trying to soothe me. He wanted me to stay.

"Thank you, but I've been managing fine on my own for quite some time now."

"Eleonora, it's not my intention to hurt you or confine you my dear." His use of my common name surprised me. It was hard to surprise me. "Whatever you desire you will have. I would just ask that, in return, you do a few favors for me when I ask. Does that seem like an unreasonable arrangement?" He wasn't lying. He really believed I would be an asset to them.

"May I have some time to consider it?"

"Take as long as you like my dear. Felix, will you show our guest to her rooms, please?" He motioned to a burly guard that was almost twice my size. Felix silently stepped forward and nodded his head, indicating that I should follow him. He led me out of the main hall and down a marble corridor. It was lit with torches and wound in a serpentine fashion through the labyrinth of other hallways, doorways, and stairwells that made up this palace. We climbed several flights of stairs and went down another corridor. He stopped short in front of me and I nearly ran into him. He opened the heavy bronze door as if it were made out of paper.

"Your room." His deep voice was quiet, but steady.

I walked into the vast sunlit room. It was stunning. It was decorated beautifully with rich furnishings, from the large dressing area in the corner to the massive four poster bed in the center of the room, covered in a mountain of silk brocades. The high walls were painted with frescoes of cherubs and satyrs and one wall was almost entirely windows. I walked towards the windows and my skin began to take on the same glow it always did in the sunlight. The view was spectacular. We were in the uppermost part of the palace, perched high above the city. The sun was setting, a fiery red so angry it bruised blue and purple shadows into the sky as it lowered itself into the surrounding hillside. I had not seen a sunset in so long. I was so amazed by it that I momentarily forgot where I was. The guard cleared his throat to remind me of his presence. I turned on my heel and raised an eyebrow at him.

"You didn't read me," he said, sounding annoyed.

"I try not to read those who seem like they could be a problem."

"A problem?" he smirked. "You just read the three leaders of the Volturi without a problem."

"I knew they wouldn't hurt me."

"I won't hurt you." His voice softened slightly as he said this. I stared at him for a moment. He was being sincere, at least for the moment.

"You want me to read you?" He opened his arms wide and bowed his head in deference. The span of his arms was taller than my height. I wasn't used to being asked for a reading. Most people didn't like to hear about what I saw. I closed my eyes and opened my mind to him. I tried to take a breath but the air caught in my throat. I felt like I was being suffocated, held back. I forced the words out of my mouth.

"Jealousy, rage. You don't have a talent. You think you're not a favorite, but you are, because your talent is in your strength. It surpasses even that of others like us. But you weren't aware of that. You remember your human life, and you have regrets." A beautiful face flashed before my eyes. Frightened green eyes. Desperation. Terror. I heard a scream, then everything suddenly went black.