Here is the next chapter. If anyone has read Volturi Mistress, then you know I don't do the 'wimpy Bella', but fair warning here...the next few chapters will have 'scared, unure, and quiet Bella'. Once the story gets going and she calms, she will be more normal; at least for me anyway.

As always, I own nothing of importantance.


"Someone better catch me Alice, because if not this is royally going to suck." With that, Isabella pushed of the edge and fell into the darkness of the Tunnel.

With a huff Isabella landed in Demetri's stone arms knocking the breath out of her for a moment. Before she could get her wind back Demetri had shifted Isabella so her legs were around his waist and her arms were around his neck. "Hold on tight, Omorfos." As soon as he felt her muscles tightened around his neck Demetri took off at full speed.

Demetri did not slow until he was sure that they were out of anyone reach. As he took the next turn of the tunnel Demetri started to slow his pace and eventually he came to stop. Before he could inquire on his Mate there was sounds of a fight going on behind them.

"What was that," Isabella asked in a whisper against Demetri's neck where she had buried it when he had started to run.

"Well," Demetri started as shifted her weight onto one hand and then started to stroke her hair away from her face, "my best guess would be that young Edward has realized that his pet is not where he thinks she should be, so either Felix took him to the ground, or Jane did." Either worked for him really. "But," he smirked down at the girl in his arms, "since I am here with you and not with them, it is only a guess."

"Is he coming," she asked quickly as she tried to look around her.

Demetri chuckled and shook his head, "No, Omorfos, you are safe."

"I don't understand," she started, a little wrinkle forming between her eyes. "I thought that-"

"Be assured, Gataki, not only will no harm come to you while you are here, but I will answer all of your questions; however this is not the time or place for that. Not only is it dark and cold here in the tunnel, but," slowly Demetri ran his arm down Isabella's back, gently over her butt, and along the outside of her wet pant leg making her shiver slightly, "you are still dripping water; this combination cannot be good for your health."

Her head snapped down to look at her pants. "Yeah, I forgot; I ran through the fountain," she said as she blushed scarlet.

"It is no worries, Koritsáki , I will get you some dry things and something to drink once we get to our destination," Demetri said easily with a shrug. "Now, you can either walk on your own, or I can continue to carry you; it is your choice. Though I must warn you, there is still quite a distance for us to go."

As much as Demetri enjoyed having his Mate in his arms, he knew he had to give her a choice so not to frighten her. Depending on how much she was told by the Cullens, Isabella may not know the true effects of the Mating Pull. If she was a vampire it would be instant; the moment she was alone with Demetri, Isabella would know that he was for her. But she was human, and while she would still feel the Pull slightly, it was going to be very confusing to her.

"Ummm, I think it might be safer if you carry me; I tend to be a bit of a klutz at the best of times. I am pretty surprised that I have not hurt myself yet."

"Then let's not tempt fate any more today," Demetri said with a smirk. "We would not want something more to happen, plus there is the added perk that I move faster than you." Then with a quick adjustment of his Mate, Demetri once again set off on his path out of the tunnel. He wasn't going as fast as he was before, but still at a good clip; still Isabella held on tight and had her face turned toward the inside of his neck.

"Are you alright," Demetri asked slowing a bit when he felt Isabella shift and hold tighter.

She nodded quickly, "Yeah, the speed is something I need to get used to again." She paused for a moment then said, "That is, if I am permitted to get use to it again. I am pretty sure that there are not many humans that walk into where ever you are taking me and walk back out again."

"My word still stands, Gataki, you will not be harmed," he said with a sigh. "You must trust me, you will be safe."

"I don't even know your name, but somehow, even though it sounds completely insane, I do. I trust you," she ended in a whisper.

"It only feels insane because of the situation, Gataki. Once given all of the information, I assure you that you will understand," he said calmly as he came to a stop in front of a steel elevator door. Leaning down and nuzzling his cheek against the top of her head, he smiled before setting Isabella down on her own feet. "And my name is Demetri, the other gentleman before was Felix, and Jane was the one to come at the end," he said as he kept one hand on her waist and used the other to call for the elevator.

"Well then," Bella started once she got her balance back, "it is a pleasure to meet you, Demetri. My name is Isabella," she said sticking her hand out, "but I prefer Bella instead."

Demetri smiled down at her as he grasped her outstretched hand and brought it to his lips as if to kiss the back before saying, "The pleasure is all mine, Gataki." He then proceeded to flip her hand over and kiss the pulse point on her wrist. He could not help the grin that spread over his face at the tell tale signs of Isabella's reactions to him. The way her heart sped up, her breath hitch in her chest, and her pupils blow wide as they started to glaze over.

Not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable for a reaction that she may not understand, at least not yet, Demetri made to move Isabella to the waiting elevator. "After you, Kopltoakl," he said as spun her around, then pushed her slightly, by a hand at the small of her back, into the elevator car.

"Where... where ar...are we going," she said as she started shiver from the cold.

Demetri sighed as he slipped off his cloak and shook it out. He turned to face her and as he spoke Demetri wrapped his cloak around her shaking shoulders. "Somewhere warm and safe."

"I'm not going with Edward and Alice," she asked as she bit her lower lip and looked worriedly up at him.

Shaking his head Demetri replied, "No." He paused, his fingers gently adjusting the fabric over her shoulders as his mind thought on what to say. "Right now that would not be a wise thing and, unless I have to, I want to keep you far away from there."

"Because it's not safe," she stated with a quick jerk of her head before her eyes fell to the ground and her lip went back between her teeth.

Slowly Demetri's hand rose from her shoulder and cupped her cheek, carefully he lifted her head so that he could see her eyes. "My word still stands," he said as his thumb pulled the lip from her teeth, "you are safe with me." His thumb took a few passes over her lower lip as he soothed the marks that her teeth, his eyes continued to hold hers as he went back to clasping his cloak around her.

"Think of things like this," Demetri started when the elevator doors opened and Isabella had put her hand in his offered arm, "the situation they have found themselves is difficult, emotions are running a little high; one wrong word or movement could be explosive," he continued as he carefully lead them through the halls toward his Sire's office.

"While I can assure you that you would be safe, I cannot guarantee that you would come out unharmed," he looked down at her catching her eyes again. "You being alive, but harmed in some way is not something that I willing to handle."

Isabella nodded slowly before allowing her eyes to roam the hall they were in, taking in the art that was hanging on the walls. "So, where are we going then?"

Demetri smiled as he brought them to a stop in front of an ornately carved wood door. "To the one person that I would not only trust my life, but with my greatest treasure," he said as he knocked though the occupant already knew they were there; but for pretenses, and Isabella's comfort he did anyway.

As soon as his hand stopped against the door, "Enter," came from within the room.

Calmly Demetri opened the door and then, with a hand seated at the small of his Mate's back, he escorted her into the room. To his wonder and surprise once they were in the room Demetri saw that there was already a fire ablaze in the fireplace and two overstuffed arm chairs looked to be closer to the warmth then they were before. Quickly Demetri diverted his eyes to his Maker who was still sitting at ease behind his desk, his hand calmly folded in his lap and an amused, but gentle, smile on his face.

Clearing his throat softly Demetri looked to the quiet girl beside him, to find her agape as her wide eyes took in the details of the room. "Isabella," he said softly trying to get her attention. Her head spun quickly to look at him, so fast that Demetri was afraid she would harm herself. Reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, "I would like you to meet my father," his hand gestured in front of him, "this is-"

"Holy Crap, you're Marcus," Isabella gasped out interrupting Demetri. "You're one of the Volturi Leaders."


I guess another warning is needed... Demetri will slip into (what I've chosen as) his original language, which is Greek. And eventually the others will do the same thing to...

ómorfos=beautiful
Gataki=Kitten