Over in another part of Volterra...

Dassy sits in her small cottage house in a designer nightgown and she looks at the fire in the fireplace then goes to stir up the embers. Then she goes to sit in the stuffed chair in front of it and sits down.

She picks up a small diary and a pen and begins to write in it.

Today I have begun work at Volterra castle. It is a tourist attraction and I am the secretary there. It is run by a coven of vampires. Yes, I know that sounds crazy but it is true.

My grandfather told me stories all my life about the castle and how tourists disappear, my momma told me he told me these stories to frighten me. So I came here two years ago to find out the truth.

After this long a time and doing so much work into this, I have discovered the truth, my grandfather was right. But….I am not afraid. These are not the vampires we grew up with in stories, they do not have 'fangs', one inch long teeth. They have teeth sharp enough to bite human flesh. They do not go out in the sun, that is true but I do not think they will burn.

I met one today, a golden eyed vampire who I flat out asked if he was a vampire. He just stayed quiet then excused himself. I was worried that I might be crazy but as the day progressed I saw things that only made sense to my ideas. I saw strength in some that no human could even by the little girl named Jane.

She frightens me above all. Aro Voultri is the leader but he does not frighten me as much as creeping me out! I will w rite more as I find out about these creatures.

She puts down her pen and looks into the fire and the flames lull her to sleep.

She is unaware of what is going on outside.

At that moment, Jane, Felix, and Demetri are outside Dassy's cottage and the male vampires are throwing gasoline on Dassy's place and Felix asks:

"Why are we doing this?"

Jane shrugs her shoulders and says:

"Because Master Aro wants us to"

Alex comes around the corner and says:

"Not back there, that is where her bedroom is at"

Jane looks at the front of the house and says:

"Don't put any gas here, she's asleep here by the fireplace"

Felix steps back and looks at his handiwork then says:

"So…we are supposed to burn her house but keep her alive? And not burn her room?"

Jane rolls her eyes then says:

"That is Athendora's idea, you know how she is about clothes" "Sigh"

Felix then just casually throws a match on there and they stand back and watch the flames grow. They lick the roof and the smoke begins to seep into the house like silent snakes and at first, it is a think smoke but it doesn't take long to become thick. So thick that Dassy wakes up coughing.

She looks at the ceiling and she gives out a scream and automatically falls to the floor and she starts to crawl to the floor but then she looks back and sees her diary. She crawls back over and gets it then continues to the door, opens it and gets up and runs out. Jane orders her small group back into the shadows of the night and they smile at t heir handiwork.

Later, after Dassy watches her house burn halfway down, she wanders through the city with her journal in hand. She is almost in a daze but somehow she recognizes the beautiful garden of the Volterra castle.

Sulpicia and Athendora sit down around the fountain then they finally see her. They go over to the wrought iron gate and Athendora opens it and Dassy just walks in not even really acknowledging them; Athendora grabs her gently by the arm and says:

"Come in my dear"

They take her to the sundeck and sit down in some chairs and Athendora says:

"Go get her a coat or something sister"

Sulpicia goes and Athendora gently rubs Dassy's arm then Sulpicia comes back with a gray cloak then Dassy finally asks:

"Who, who are you?" "I am Sulpicia and this is my sister Athendora. We are the wives of Aro and Cauis Voultri"

Dassy really looks around for the first time and sees her beautiful, wonderful relaxing surroundings then she says softly:

"I didn't even realize where I was, how, how did you know who I was?"

Athendora answers:

"I thought I recognized you from Aro's description"

Dassy seems to settle for that answer then Sulpicia asks:

"What ever happened to you child?"

Still in a dense fog, Dassy answers:

"My, my home burned . I just woke up and smoke was in my l-living room and I got myself out then I watched the flames" "Oh you poor dear!" "I don't know where to go or what to do"

Sulpicia smiles and says:

"I do. Come with me"

Dassy and Athendora follow Sulpicia as she goes down the hall and through the castle until they get to the bedrooms and Sulpicia opens a door and if Emmett's room was decorated in a massive, handsome way this room is a direct opposite. A beautiful room that a princess could reside in, of coarse no windows but the room is filled with light from outstanding pictures and delicate lamps throughout.

Also a fireplace with the mantel painted white. A thick, luxurious rug in front with a beautiful wing chair on top. The room fairly seems to sparkle with beauty. The bed is made of beautiful white oak with a princess canopy on top. Dassy gasps and says:

"This is wonderful!"

Both Athendora and Sulpicia smile then Sulpicia says in her silky laden voice,

"Sleep well my child"

Athendora says:

"We'll see you in the morning"

Dassy nods her head and looks around the room but then she realizes how her bones seem to ache so she goes over to the bed and pulls back the covers and realizes the sheets are made of a luxurious pink material that almost feels silk to the touch She smiles and lays her head down on the pillow then thinks,

'Was I just taken care of by vampires?'

She doesn't think anymore, just goes into a deep sleep.

When Athendora and Sulpicia come out of Dassy's room, they see Aro at the end of the hall, smiling his common smile and lurking like a spider over it's web full of victims. They straighten their shoulders and go to him Sulpicia going over to her husband to greet him with a passionate kiss then when they finish, he asks,

"How is our guest?"

Athendora says:

"She's resting, the drama of the night has really taken its toll. Couldn't you have come up with another way of destroying her home?"

He contemplates that then finally says:

"I could but I felt time was of the essence. She is fine and here where she belongs, that's all that matters"

Athendora gives a dissatisfied look but says nothing and Aro says:

"Perhaps I shall go see to our guest"

This time Sulpicia speaks up as a wife should and says:

"Oh, leave her alone dear Aro. Let her get a good night's sleep before you invade her thoughts"

He slowly nods his head in agreement and the two women that are truly in charge of the castle, glide off to their rooms.

Just as Dassy's head hits the pillow to sleep, Emmett's nostrils are filled with the scent of her. His golden eyes widen and he sits up and thinks then goes to get up and put on his pants and shirt and shoes. Heidi looks at him in silent with her ruby red eyes, she starts to say something but she doesn't, she just lays under the tangled sheets and watches him leave without a word.

Emmett stands outside his door and he doesn't even really acknowledge Aro's presence at the end of the hall. He just walks straight for the doors leading outside, Aro grabs him and he asks:

"Emmett! Where are you going?" "Don't stop me Aro, I need to do something"

Aro sees and hears what Emmett is thinking and he works hard within himself to keep his smile to himself then says:

"My boy, you don't need to do that. Please reconsider, it would break Carlisle's heart to hear of you doing that" "But….no, I don't want to do that but…" "It is a perplexing situation you are in, I am not making light of that but why do you think you should fight it in such a way?"

Guilt overcomes Emmett and he sighs heavily then sits in the nearest chair and says:

"Rosalie"

Aro goes to stand beside him and says in a most understanding, almost fatherly fashion manner:

"Rosalie was a special creature and she was understanding wasn't she?"

Emmett tells him:

"More than anyone"

Aro shakes his head then says:

"She would understand this. You can't bury yourself my boy. Rosalie would want you to….exist and I think she knew it would have to be with someone else when she…."

No more words are spoken there for awhile then Aro asks:

"You do know she is your singer?"

Emmett shakes his head then Aro continues:

"Do not make the mistakes of your brother and run away. It caused a avalanche of epic portions….in our fragile world for a vampire to run away from his/her singer causes….problems so my dear friend, please don't do anything drastic. Just take things as they come"

Emmett shakes his head then asks:

"What is she doing here?" "Our poor dear secretary's home burned down tonight and she was wondering around and Athendora and Sulpicia found her and we had to take her in"

Emmett shakes his head and Aro says:

"Go back to your room and sit and think about all of this, I'm sure you will think more clearly as the day dawns"

Emmett rises and walks silently down while Aro smiles of evil plans.