Chapter One

The pavement was loud with each step; I could barely concentrate on my thoughts enough as it was. Aro never wanted to speak with me during the day. I worked at this time, and he was often with the first guard. They'd just gotten back from their current problem in America. A coven by the name of the Cullens. I had heard by word of mouth that there were rumors of a blood child, and I was silently hoping for one. I know that I am used for bigger covens, but I would have liked to see a blood child first hand rather than hear it from Jane or Dimitri.

They assumed that because they worked more closely with the Volturi, that they were the better guard. Well, they were wrong. The Secondary Guard was far stronger than them. After all I only had the best gifted vampires. Albeit I had a few oafs on my guard, but they still had the best gifts and they worked to my advantage. Aro had handpicked this guard to work alongside me given that my talents were too far matched.

I should be with my guard right now actually. While they trained and worked on improving some minor mistakes from our last assignments, I had been keeping track of the Volturi's current one. It was good to know the current news. It kept me occupied from my vendettas. I can still remember when I saw him, standing there with bright red eyes. I thought I lost him forever…

Ephraim, you have a conversation to think of. Get your mind off of petty memories…

As petty as they were, they still packed a punch. I finally reached the end of the corridor, where the large doors to the Volturi's conference room lied. I held in my breath for a second, trying to find the rational thoughts. This always happened before I had my private meetings with Aro. If God existed, I'm sure he'd be having a hard laugh. A vampire afraid? It's was definitely madness.

I opened the doors, and I heard Aro's hushed conversation with one of the humans that worked around here. I'd been tempted on several occasions to have my way with her, but I never allowed myself to. Aro wouldn't be pleased with that.

I forced my smile as I walked over to him. He expected pleasantries from me, as always. He looked toward me and offered a smile back. "Ah, Ephraim." He was quick to be at my side, placing a hand on my arm. I didn't need to feel it to know that my thoughts were out in the open for him. A precaution before any conversation started. I pulled back, chuckling darkly to myself.

"Aro, you wished to have a conversation with me, in private?" I looked at the wary human just before she scuttled off.

"Ephraim, you seem to make them scurry off in fright. They are working here just like you, be nice to your co-workers…" Aro offered a chuckle.

I can't think of a human as being more than just food and toys. To me it felt like something barbaric and disgusting. I scoffed to myself, thinking of the other alternative. I'd heard of vegetarians, and it made me laugh. I know I shouldn't hold any prejudice, but I just couldn't help myself. Going against nature is perverse.

"I'm sorry, Aro." I looked towards a pillar, "Is there something in particular you wish to talk about or is this a personal topic?"

He nodded. He knew how I worked more than I did. "I wish to give you some news." He clasped his hands together, "I won't have you and your guard going to the Cullen coven after all. It seems that the blood child rumors are just that. Rumors…it seems that Edward and his vampire wife Isabella had created a vampire hybrid and—"

"Edward?" I asked, quickly. This was the first time he had been specific with the Cullens, and that name had hit my core and made me uneasy. My eyes searched him carefully, and with a poker face I nodded. "I see, so my guard is back on regular duty then."

He smiled, "Unfortunately, they will not. I wish for you to watch them carefully. This particular coven grows very fast, especially with the werewolves now being on their side. I have a special assignment for you and your guard."

"Yes Aro. We're at your disposal as always."

He placed his hand on my shoulder, "You will be going to the Americas. In Forks, Washington, you and your guard will make your stay as a family. Jethro and Sonia will act as your parents. You, Alaric, and Stephen will act as the children. I'm sorry to say that your food source is limited so until your assignment is over you will feed on animals only. No need to worry, that source is abundant."

"You just said that our services were no longer required." I replied. In all honesty I was a little confused.

"Ephraim," he placed a hand on my shoulder. "This is more than just an assignment for your team. I want you to get close to this coven, for an important reason. As an uncle, you should be in your niece's life."

I pushed myself back. Edward…dammit. "This coven, the Cullens." I could barely speak, my body had begun to tremble. After nearly 90 years I'd finally heard news about Edward Mason, my brother. But this, well this was certainly unexpected. I wasn't an idiot, so I understood Aro entirely.

"Edward is a member of their coven, isn't he?"

He nodded, quietly. "It is time that you visit your brother, and embrace what you are with him."

"You've met him, Aro. What is he like, at least?"

"Nothing like you, sadly. He fell for a human. Just last year he tried to off himself when he thought she died."

He's everything I hate! A human lover, certainly not a law-abiding vampire. Not only that, but a vegetarian from my knowledge of the Cullens. I should expect that, though. Unlike me, Edward was selfless and cared about everyone. He would never want a life like this. From the last official memory of him, before he had gone missing for a decade, he was ready for death. And he wasn't given death.

I shook my head. This was an assignment more than anything. Just a simple assignment for me and my guard. I'd do just that.

"I will do as you ask, including—including introducing myself to his family." I bowed my head, "For you, Aro."

He smiled happily. I'd pleased him well. "Oh, and Ephraim."

"Yes?"

His body changed entirely, into that I secretly feared. It was when he had a treacherous mind, and had a plan that I didn't know of. "Your talents…keep them hidden from him well. He's a mind reader, a better one than I am."

I nodded, leaving the room as he waved me away. So this was my newest task. To watch Edward Cullen and his coven, as well as immerse myself in their life as his brother. He didn't even know what I'd become, and how different I am from him. Surely he wouldn't remember me, though. I barely remember my old life, so he must too.

This is just an assignment.

[Silent~Brother]

"We're not idiots, what's the real reason to ship us away?"

So much for making this look like an easy assignment. I shoved my hands into my pockets and stared at the ceiling. I've just announced the task to my guard, and it's only Alaric who doesn't like the sound of it. He's ill-tempered, so I expected this. Alaric was busy sharpening a dagger. He was the skilled swordsman even though they didn't have that much affect on us. I have reason to believe that he did this to show off the other guard.

I never confided in Alaric, so why would I choose now to tell him about Aro's plan for me and the Cullens? But he was the only one I could speak to at the moment. My past life wasn't shrouded in mystery like Jethro's, but there wasn't much that they knew about me. "My brother is a part of the Cullen coven."

Alaric dropped his dagger to look at me. I guess it does shock people that there might be someone else of blood relations to me. He snorted, "Your brother? Since when has Aro become a counselor for families?"

When did he ever become a comedian, I wonder? I finally moved from my spot, picking up the dagger from the floor. Like I said, I wasn't the swordsman. That was all Alaric. But I was an excellent juggler so I threw it in the air a few times before handing it back to him. "I can see where that question would arise from. It's true though. He wishes for me to become a part of his life, immerse myself in his life."

He leaned against the table. I watched as his eyes narrowed into slits before he touched his lips. "He's plotting something." He murmured, "I may not be as close to Aro as you, but even I know that there has to be some hidden meaning behind your surprise reunion."

"I gathered that much." I took a breath, "I've been told to keep my talents to myself. Apparently my long lost brother is a mind reader like Aro, but much more powerful."

"He's using you to get to him, isn't he?"

I shook my head, "Aro wouldn't use me that coyly."

Alaric stepped forward, "As your colleague, I'm by your side. But on a personal note: I could be working with Jane you know."

I laughed. That was always what he told me. But we both know that he would have left Jane's guard in a heartbeat. She was relentless in her punishments. I just a limb or two during the first initial training. Just like Aro did to me. I patted his shoulder, "I'd gladly hand you over to Jane if that were the case. We should begin packing. We have an assignment after all."

Alaric went back to his workout and I left to tell the others to prepare. There wasn't much to tell them. Only the first and second in command are to know the full details of any task, assignment, and assignment. Alaric and I were the heads, so what we had just spoken about will be between us.

Only us.

[Silent~Brother]

The drive was done. This was the first time that I'd ever actually been outside of Volterra for anything other than work. With my pea coat gathered tightly around me I stood just along the edge of the wood, looking at my guard. It consisted of Alaric, Stephen, Sonia, and Jethro. They looked unsettled by what I brought them out here for. As Aro had said, we had to maintain a low profile. In order to do this, we had to maintain a diet consisting of animals. I knew my guard was taken by the rule, just like I did.

I can already tell that this one would be the most difficult part of our assignment which is why I decided to start early. When I felt it was ready to speak, I cleared my throat.

"I know that some of you aren't exactly enthused about this part of our assignment, but what Aro says we have no choice but to follow. So," I looked behind me before looking back at them. "Go for what's most abundant. Nothing that's about to go extinct, are we clear?"

Stephen, the only blond in my guard, held up his hand. "I'd rather have a supple blond than a stinking bear. Can you talk to Aro about this?"

Typical Stephen response. He was the only one in my guard that had picky tastes, but even that wasn't going to change the rules. I shook my head.

"Stephen, lead the way. I tell you what. If we find an albino deer we'll alert you. Perhaps that will be supple enough for you?"

The others laughed (excluding Jethro as always), at my joke. I knew that Stephen would follow the rules either way. He's never gone against someone's orders, so he wouldn't start now. Stephen rolled up his sleeves, looking at me as he passed quietly. "Yes, Epphie."

"Stephen, dear, that's my nickname for him." Sonia called out while setting her jacket in the car. For the most civilized out of all of us, being from nobility, she was the most vicious when feeding. I could understand why she didn't want to get her jacket dirty.

Jethro didn't speak to us as he made himself disappear into the forest. Sometimes I wondered what my brother would hear inside his head. I imagine that he had a very strange mind. I had already hunted the night before, with Alaric, so we stayed behind as they all disappeared. I should be hunting as much as possible, but I could handle the burning throat. It never hurt me all that much. Not as much as it used to.

I just didn't care that much for hunting. It's a necessity, much like humans need to breathe, but I never really acquired a taste for doing it. I guess being Aro's number one guard apart from Jane made me grow accustomed to having my meals served to me on a silver platter. With one of guidelines for this assignment being we lead a vegetarian life, it's going to be a difficult one to follow.

"Have we decided who will be the older brother and who will be the youngest?" Alaric laughed, "What am I saying you're the sixteen year old, of course you'll be the younger brother. Jethro and Sonia have decided that you will play Jethro's true son."

I laughed at that joke. I can't see me being anything more than Jethro's adoptive son, seeing as the man and I just don't mix when it comes to any aspects of our personality. We were just to different to even pull off a biological relation. That and my hair color would cancel that our entirely.

"We're just a misfit family, that's our plan. Jethro and Sonia will act as our guardians; you, Stephen, and I will act as their sons. It's as simple as that."

Alaric nodded, "I'm no psychic, but something tells me that you'll be the prettiest boy in the school."

I eyed him as I turned to face the forest, the sounds of Sonia's growling and Stephen's boyish antics ringing through my ears. "We will not interact with any of the humans. We monitor the Cullens at a close but safe distance, and that is all."

"We will monitor them at a safe distance. You will be up close and personal." He stepped to stand beside me, "Does your brother even know about you being a vampire?"

I shook my head, "As far as he's concerned, I'm dead. I've been dead for quite some time now."

Alaric placed a hand on my shoulder again, and I closed my eyes. What would go through his mind when he first caught glimpse of his supposed-to-be-dead younger brother? I admit that I acted differently, I was mortified while at the same time angered that mother had worried so much about him living instead of me…but Edward was always the different one. He was more complacent with things than I was.

I sucked in a rather tasteless breath and looked at Alaric. "We should go hunt. We have to make sure our impression is flawless, don't we?"

I walked away before I could say much of anything else to him. As much as I tried to keep my past hidden from Alaric, he always found out in the end anyway. It's much worse than when Sonia or Stephen pried into my personal life.

Thank God that Jethro kept to himself and worked hard.