1: Circles

The methodic, back and forth motion of the broom in my hands was soothing. Sweeping the front entrance was one of my few jobs that I actually enjoyed, and mostly because, well, it was one of the few times I could just shut down and not think. I could just loose myself in the gentile motion of my arms. I know it sounds weird to say, but thank God I was on housekeeping duty. I could have been put in what they so charmingly called the "dining room" and be forced to clean up after their "meal". I shuddered. Just think about the sweeping. Just the sweeping.

I was so out of it, that I didn't hear him come up behind me. Maybe I wouldn't have had anyway. They were all so damn quiet when they wanted to be. And invisible. Has anyone ever told you how hard it is to watch one of them walk from one end of a room to the other? It's damn near impossible! Either way, when I felt his icy hands grab me and spin me around, I screamed, shutting my eyes tightly.

"Ha! You do that every time!"

I didn't have to open my eyes to tell who my attacker was. "Damnit, Johnathain! Get your hands off me!"

I sensed him leaning in close, still holding my arms behind my back. I couldn't tell whether he was standing behind me or in front. It didn't really matter. "Why should I? Convince me."

I opened my eyes, glaring into his red ones. So he was in front. "Aro won't like it if I'm 'damaged goods' and he has to wait even longer to change me."

"Aro won't miss one pathetic human like you. At least, not for very long."

"You wouldn't."

"Ah, but that's just it, love. I would so enjoy killing you. I could so easily, too."

"Try it and see how long you live."

He leaned forward and licked my neck with his ice cold tongue. "You know, I think I just might." Johnathain bit down gently on my exposed vein.

"Stop it! Stop!" I screamed, struggling futiley to get away from him. He just laughed and bit down harder. Damnit! This was not how I was going to die!

"Johnathain, you lowlife, stop that this instant." Gianna stood there glaring at him. You go, girl! He backed away from me slowly. Gianna may have been nothing more than a pathetic human to him, but she had connections, and if she witnessed my death, she would ensure his. Or, at least, that's what I hoped. More likely, she couldn't care less if I lived or not, but she didn't want to get blamed for deaths on her watch. "Johnathain, Jane just called in to say that she's bringing a visitor. I will not clean up after you. Go. Get out of my sight."

"You'll pay for this, Gianna. Mark my words." He said as he scampered off, licking my neck one last time.

"Scum!" I called after him. Gianna slapped me across the face, hard enough to snap my head back.

"Do not insult him like that! You should be honnored to even stand in one of their presence." Man, this lady is screwed up. I think she actually wants the Voltouri to turn her. Sadistic freak. As if she guessed what I was thinking, she slapped me again. "Do not think that just because you are Aro's little favorite that I will not treat you exactly as you deserve. Finish this hall and then report back to me for your next set of duties."

I replyed, "Yes ma'am." Which earned me another slap. Jeez! What was with her and the violence?

"Do not be insolent to me!" she barked and stomped off. I stuck my tongue out at her, feeling like a five-year-old but still a little bit satisfyed.

I resumed the sweeping, easily clearing my head. I knew that some of them could read minds, or emotions, at least, and I prided myself on remaining invisible. After nearly three years of practice, I could, most of the time, block my thoughts from being read. It was usefull, and the ablity saved me a lot of troubble with Aro. If he wants to see what I'm thinking, go ahead. I won't stop him. He just won't find out anything that he doesn't already know. Hahaha.

As usuall, I finished the sweeping too soon. I had been extra carefull to sweep up every last bit of dirt I could find, and it still didn't take long enough. Sighing, I grabbed the woodden shaft of the broom and carried it with me back to Gianna. Her bedroom/office was the first thing in the hallway, so I didn't have far to go.

"Gianna!" I knocked lightly on her door. Didn't want to get in troubble for making too much noise, now, did I?

The door swung open, and a face popped out. But to my surprise, it wasn't Gianna who was now staring at me. It was Aro.

"Emily! How nice to see you!" He opened the door further, and I worked furriously to block my thoughts. Just in time, too, because he reached out and enfolded me in a hug, with his ancient, paper skin. That's the one thing I like about Aro. He isn't all hard and made of unbreakable marble like the rest of them. He's...I don't know, he's shale, I guess. Still a rock, but somehow softer. He broke away, his lips split into a grin. "Gianna and I were just talking about you! Don't just stand there like that! Come in! Come in!" He ushered me past him, excited as a kid at Christmas. Gianna was standing not far behind him, a look of utter pain and annoyance all over her face. This should be fun.

"Hello Aro, Gianna." I was carfull to keep my voice polite as I nodded at them respectfully. It was making me sick.

"Emily." Gianna said, glaring at me. Oooo, big, tough girl, are we now. My jaw was aching with the force of the biting remarks I was holding back. Aro turned to me and smiled again.

"Emily, dearest, I was just saying to Gianna how glad I am to have you here! Don't you agree, Gianna?" It looked like the last thing she would ever agree to, but she nodded anyway. "Anyway, you no doubt have heard that we have a guest coming to stay with us today. He really hasn't specified ho long his stay will be, but I'm sure it won't be too long." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Whatever the case may be, I would like to ask you a favor. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

Aro smiled like he had just won the lottery. "Wonderful! Emily, my darling, I would greatly appriciated it if you could remain inside your suite for the duration of our guest's stay. Can you do that?"

I shrugged. I would rather be in my suite anyway, than around all of you. But I didn't say that. Instead, I smiled, nodded my head politely and asked to be excused. Aren't I the greatest?

I made my way back to my room, or well, rooms actually, dodging the ocational passerby. They were all human, thank God. I don't know if I could survive another run-in with Johnathain.

I was in my room, a few hours later, fiddeling around on my computer, when it happened. Funny thing, actually. Aro denied me nothing except my freedom. He said I could have that after I was changed and no longer a threat to humans, but not now. I wonder why, exactly, he was so ancious to see me one of them. He couldn't know about that, could he? I sat for a minute, my brain heavier than usual, going around in circles trying to find the answer. No such luck. A thick fog of legarthy washed over me, and I found myself giving in, fading away into the sleep that so suddenly claimed me.

AN: Ok, so from here on is where it starts to relate to twilight. This story takes place during the end of New Moon, and also the end of Eclipse. I hope you keep reading and enjoying my work! Please review, it makes me so happy. (insert ditzy looking smilie here...) I don't own any of the characters, except for dear old Johnathain and Emmy! Enjoy!

-BMTW