Alec nodded his greeting with his eyes, his gaze around the room shifted to staring me down, trying to make me feel weak and insignificant and I knew I shouldn't try and instigate anything, but I was getting tired of the treatment from the Volturi so I stared right back, he would not win this…I didn't care if it came to a tie.

Jane stepped closer, causing both of us to look away from each other, our eyes falling on her. She gave her brother a look of disproval before stepping even closer to me; I could feel the evilness radiating off of her…the cruelness, but when she looked at me, the feeling I got was even scarier… she had the same look in her eyes that Rosalie had when her and Emmett looked at one another…or when Esme and Carlisle did the same...it was the same look I had seen Tanya have for Edward, which he had ignored… love…joy…pure happiness.

She held her hand out to me

"It is a pleasure to meet you Christian," she said sweetly…I understood instantly what she wanted me to do and winced as I took her hand and kissed it, trying not to show my fear, she giggled as she pulled her hand back, covering her mouth like a little school girl.

Suddenly, I wanted to skip the chess match, forget it…reconsider…call a taxi, we're ready to fly home…

"I hope you don't mind Christian…" Aro said gesturing towards the table, upon which a chessboard had been set up. "I always play as black." He finished, sitting at his respective seat.

With Carlisle following close behind, I made my way over to the table and took my seat; he patted my shoulder gently, to reassure me.

Quickly I scanned the board and causally allowed my gaze to quickly read Aro… I hate playing white…because I hate going first… I think Aro had seen that in my mind and was taking full advantage of it, testing me…because I read his body language, he does not have a preference for the colour he plays as, either suits him just fine…he wanted to fully test my profiling to see how beneficial it truly is, if it is as useful as he believes it to be.

I looked over the board and was mesmerized by it. It was at least a thousand years old, the pieces were not wood like I was used to, but rather onyx stone for the black pieces, and what I can only guess was ivory for the white. It was a beautiful set, I had never seen one so beautiful. The board was made of stone marble I think, regardless the craftsmanship was exquisite on the board and each piece. It may have been my heightened vampire senses, but I could see each strand of the horse's mane which the knight rode exact detail.

I've never really wanted anything in my life and since becoming a vampire even with the unlimited resources my new parents had to buy us whatever we wanted, I've still never really asked for anything, new books on occasion, things of that nature, but suddenly I found myself wanting something…I wanted this chess set, it was calling to me begging me to become its owner.

Taking a deep breath, I moved one of my knights out first, the knight felt like it belonged in my hand…this move caught Aro by surprise as he played it safe and moved his pawn out. It's not illegal to move ones knight out first, it's just not usually done.

Every move that brought about the capture of one of my pieces brought a grin to Aro's face and a gleeful giggle from Jane…and each time I frowned with determination I would not lose this match…I couldn't lose…not to him, this was my game.

Finally it was down to the final few moves. I had three pawns, my knight, and a rook left from my army, two of the pawns protected my king standing guard, though I wasn't entirely out of the woods yet, I was reaching the end. Aro's army consisted of a bishop, two pawns both of which were blocked from my side of the board by my own pawns, his unprotected king nestled in the corner of A8 by my view of the board, and a third pawn which he had yet to bring out.

My rook meanwhile was acting as a bodyguard of sorts, distracting Aro's bishop from my true intention…by rules of the game, my pawn was going to reach his side of the board and be promoted to any sizable force on the board…naturally the queen was what I intended, she is after all the most powerful piece on the board.

Aro was keeping his eye on my knight, which had been slowly making it's way towards the king. He moved his bishop so he was diagonal to my knight, ready to take that piece which would hit the king, as much as I hated to sacrifice a piece, I allowed my knight to be taken… only because that move put his bishop directly in the path of my bodyguard rook, I swooped in and with a calm face claimed his bishop.

Aro had no choice…he had to move that pawn. He moved it out the legal two spaces and I counted the moves until it would reach my side of the board, I couldn't allow that. Since pawns can only travel in a straight line unless they are attacking, I simply backed my king out of his position, on my second move I moved the piece down the board, it would take Aro two moves to reach my side of the board, it would take me two as well to reach C1 where Aro's pawn was heading, I wouldn't be able to stop him from claiming the spot nor the awarded promotion, but my move would allow for total conquer, my pawn would have to wait.

To my surprise and confusion, Aro promoted his piece to a knight. At first I could only stare at the board, trying desperately to figure out what he was up too. Then I realized it, by reading his body language…he was trying to determine my will to win, he was testing my character, my humanity…even my sense of mercy, he was testing my maturity.

Would I allow the knight to remain and therefore give him a fighting chance in an inevitable defeat in which he could resign on his own accord, or would I cruelly take out all of his useful pieces and leave him with two pawns unable to move from their spots, thereby forcing him into checkmate?

I frowned, and allowed my mind to read the board, checking my course of action. I was not cruel like him nor did I want to win by complete slaughter.

As long as my pawn made it to the two moves to H8 before his king did the same, I could win by checkmate I could win honorably, win like an Scotsman…a true gentleman.

My rook and queen would be all I needed and for now my pawns were safely preventing anymore promotions.

Aro caught onto my pawns move and tried to get his king down there, but he knew it was to late, instead, he kept the king where it would be safe…for now.

My pawn became a queen, and with the rook I began to enclose the king. The knight was coming to the rescue, but it would be to late.

"Check," I said softly, as my rook entered directly across from the king. Aro frowned and I stole a glance at Jane, her eyes were burning with disappointment. Another point there… I would not stay here with…her….

Aro moved the king back, away from my rook.

"Interesting move young Christian." He said, impressed.

My pieces were closing in, not in check yet. He moved his knight so it would be in check in two moves against my king.

Carefully I pushed the weak piece closer to the offending knight, protecting it. I scanned the board again and grinned wide…I had him…I moved my queen two spaces…

"Check," I said as Jane's disappointment shifted to anger, I took a deep breath and scanned the board once again…just to be sure I always make sure 'fore announcing checkmate, it's habit and has kept me out of trouble many a chess games. "checkmate in three moves." I finished.

Aro also scanned the board, he may not have the ability to read his opponent and the board as well as I can, but I'll give him this, he's one of the most challenging chess players I have ever gone up against (Edward does not count, he cheats remember?) and under different circumstances, I would happily ask for a rematch just to enjoy such a challenger again…

Aro studied the board, he could read the board and see the moves as I could, any true chess player can do this.

"Why…you are correct." Aro replied, his long white finger reached up and gently knocked his king down, an honorable way of accepting defeat. "Christian I have not had the pleasure of a formidable chess opponent in quite a while. You my young friend are quite the master. And I do hope you accept the invitation of a rematch next time you are in Volterra." He finished holding out his hand, timidly I took it and we shook on the matter. I saw Aro smile at my thought of wanting the chess board, he seemed amused by that, but it wasn't a sadistic amused, it was an amused that someone he saw as young, admired not only something so old, but something he admired himself. I could tell this wasn't something Aro was used to and he admired me for it.

For the first time since learning about the Volturi a few days ago, which felt like years ago…I felt like I was finally meeting the man Carlisle calls his friend.

"It was an honor playing you sir." I replied dropping his hand quickly without appearing to do so as I backed up to Carlisle.

"The hour grows late." Caius spoke up, more to Carlisle then to I. "I trust you do not mind remaining until a more appropriate time for you to leave comes up."

I glanced at my watch…it was nearly midnight, surely it was still dark enough for us to leave, but then I realized I no longer heard the ticking of my wristwatch…at some point it had stopped, I glanced at the windows and saw the stars fading.

"Of course," Carlisle replied his hand firmly on my shoulder, there was tension in his voice and I wondered why and I found myself for once wishing I could read my father's mind, to know exactly what he was worried about.