A/N: For better or worse this chapter is a ramp up of the Rosalie plot line. However, there are still important details which impact Bella and Alice's story lines.

Amymorgan took time away from Cyber Monday to beta this chapter, and I thank her for it.

Chapter 37 - Threats

"And turning to other news, tonight the Kings are celebrating the recent public announcement that their eldest son, Royce King the Second, has decided to convert to vampirism. Of course, the Kings are well known for their social events, and this one promises to be no exception. A huge turn out is expected for the party, with scheduled performances by the Red Life Chorus, famed Tenor Carlo Gigli, and the Fangtastics. Millennium Park will be closed starting at eight p.m. tonight, with a fireworks display scheduled along the harbor at ten. Commuters should plan accordingly for street closures around the area. This is Rosalie Hale, wishing you all a wonderful day," I chirped brightly, freezing an exaggerated smile as I waited for the fade out.

"And we're clear!" The red light blinked out on the camera facing me.

I let the rehearsed smile fall away from my face and willed my eyes to a ruby color. As a human blue helped connect with the viewing audience, the red made it easier to get along with the vampires in the office. Most were traditionalists who would've found my amber hue to be unnatural.

While that was what most saw of my power publicly, it was not the full extent of it. Continuing my training began under Heidi's tutelage, I had been experimenting with my glamour more and more, pushing against the boundaries of what was possible. With enough concentration, I could even manifest full body projections, though I couldn't hold it for long and it would leave me drained and lethargic for hours afterward.

"Good show, Rosalie," a male's warm voice spoke up in the ear-bud tucked into my right ear, concealed by my hair. I pictured the speaker through the tinted window of the control room. Siren Dorian was the producer for all of Empire Network's news programs. He was a gifted painter, and created many masterpieces over the years under assumed names. But television was rapidly becoming his medium of choice.

My lips turned slightly upward and I gave a small nod to camera two, which was still active. I knew he would see my response to his praise through his station. I took out the small ear-bud and the clipped-on microphone concealed by my hair and laid them on the table. Pushing away from the desk, I got out of the chair and strolled off the stage as the overhead lights were dimmed.

I headed toward my office, where Eleanor was waiting while I finished the day's work. We were going back to my place to get ready for the Kings' party later tonight.

Clara, my PR assistant, appeared by my side. I swore the woman had a Bluetooth headset permanently attached to her ear and a Blackberry glued to her hand. For a human, she was amazingly apt at multitasking.

"Rosalie? You're wanted for a senior staff meeting that Tribune Chelsea is holding right now. Conference room 33A."

I searched my memory of my agenda for today. "I don't remember there being a staff meeting scheduled. Do you know what it's about?"

Clara shook her head. "That's because it wasn't on the itinerary. She just called it a couple of minutes ago. I checked with a couple of the admins, no one knows what it's about."

"Okay. There's someone waiting for me in my office. Could you go and tell her I'll be a little late and to wait for me there?"

"Of course," Clara responded. She spun and walked toward the direction of my office while typing furiously on her phone, impressively navigating without ever looking up.

I strode down the corridor toward the room Clara mentioned, bumping into a few others heading to the same destination. I asked whether they knew what the meeting was for, and they confessed they were in the dark as much as me.

We walked into the large conference room to find it already occupied. The crowd murmuring died down immediately when we saw who was waiting for us besides Chelsea.

Legate Jane sat at the head of the table with her petite arms folded across her chest. She had a look of barely contained fury on her face. Her expression marred her doll-like delicate features, and would have been humorous if it was anyone else. With Legate Jane it just made everyone uneasy.

What's even more unexpected was to see Legate Felix sitting beside her, lazily lounging in his chair with his fingers laced together on top of his broad chest. Unlike Jane, he had almost a bemused, carefree expression, like he knew a secret that the rest of us did not.

We slowly spread out and settled into our seats. I kept my own nervousness hidden under a stony mask. I noticed the same expression mirrored in the faces of those around me.

"I called this meeting on the request of Legate Jane," Chelsea explained with little preamble. "She delivered some unfortunate news this morning. Apparently the war criminal, Isabella Swan, has managed to escape to the safety of Insurgency occupied territory."

Well, that certainly solved the mystery of Jane's murderous mood. I genuinely thought Swan would end up captured or killed by this point. Maybe a part of me was even hoping for it. I figured that the Triumvirate's interest in Edward was almost certainly tied to Swan's escape. It was too much of a coincidence not to be. If the situation was resolved without my involvement, then all the better.

But now, if Swan was truly beyond our reach, would the Triumvirate renege on the deal for the Cullens' freedom? For Tanya? I fervently hoped that was not the case.

"Of course, as you can imagine, once this news gets out, this is really going to hurt our credibility with the public. Make no mistake, people, the Insurgency will definitely make sure to include this in their propaganda. We need to figure out how we should spin this in our own media coverage to minimize the damage. Ideas, people?" Chelsea's eyes pierced each of us in turn, emphasizing the command behind the question.

"Can we try to block the pirate broadcasts? Keep the news from the public?" One of the male Sirens piped up.

Chelsea shook her head. "We've never had success in keeping them out completely before; I doubt this time would be any different. And once it's out there, it will be impossible to quash."

"What if we claim it is all fabricated? It's not like Swan can physically come here and dispute that," another Siren weighed in.

"That approach has some merit, Agnes," Chelsea pondered out loud. "From what Legate Felix said," she acknowledged his presence, and he returned it with a smirk, "the Sword and Shield will be gearing up for a major operation soon. Swan probably won't survive long enough to matter by that point."

We brainstormed for a while longer, but it was clear a consensus wouldn't be reached in a single session. Some of the Sirens were due for scheduled program broadcasts, so Chelsea called an end to the meeting. She asked each of us to refine some of our ideas for a more formal presentation the next day.

As I rose to leave with the others, Chelsea called out to me.

"Rosalie, please stay back for a moment." Her tone was cordial but frosty. She was still angry at me for gallivanting off to Volterra to see Heidi without seeking permission.

I sat back down, watching the rest of the Sirens file out of the room. As the room emptied, I grew less and less comfortable. When the door closed behind me, I resisted the very human urge to squirm.

Remember your training, Rosalie. Perception of power is power. Illusion of control is control. I squared my shoulders to sit with a confidence that I didn't truly feel.

Surprisingly, Legate Felix was the one to speak first. His voice was strangely boyish for someone his size. It rather reminded me of Emmett. "Siren Rosalie, is it? It is a pleasure to meet you. I've heard of you in passing, but the descriptions do not do you justice. It's a shame we've never crossed paths before this."

I offered him a small smile at the thinly veiled flirtation. Luck had nothing to do with it. While I was in Volterra, Heidi had made every effort to keep me away whenever Felix was around. She truly despised him for some reason, and I trusted in her judgment. The city was large enough to make avoiding him an easy task.

"I understand you are quite close to the Cullen coven?"

"I guess I am?" I wasn't sure where he was going with this.

He gave a imperceptive nod. "You see, Rosalie, I have a problem. I have a friend, someone who is important to me. And I fear she may be in a great deal of trouble. I like to help her if I can. Her name is Alice, and she's an Oracle from Volterra."

I was surprised to hear Alice's name come up. I had continued to make subtle inquiries about Alice and Jasper whenever there was an opportunity, hoping to learn about their fates. I didn't have much luck with Alice, since Oracles were a notoriously close knit group. But I did manage to stay in contact with members of Jasper's cohort that I knew from the Bismarck interview, including two of Jasper's friends, Peter and Charlotte.

I learned that Jasper's desertion raised some serious concerns about the loyalties of the Legion. Many senior commanders, including even Maria, were being observed and questioned by Inquisitors, some have even been detained. It was playing havoc with the chain of command. The junior officers had their hands full maintaining discipline among the newborns. They had little experience with the strategic direction of the war.

I wondered if my recent inquiries had brought on this attention from on high.

Felix had been silent for a moment, probably to gauge my reaction on the subject of Alice. He continued. "Rumors are that she may be on this continent. It is my understanding that while the Cullens were visiting Volterra, they became quite close to Alice. She even accompanied them on a trip here quite recently." Felix leaned forward with his elbows on the desk, I sensed he was getting to the point.

"Now, I heard about your little deal with Aro." This time I couldn't keep the shock off my face. How could he have known? The only ones who knew were the Triumvirate, and of course, Legate Jane, since she was so personally invested in this case. Did she tell Legate Felix? Why would she do that?

"Don't worry," Felix raised one hand with an open palm facing me, "it'll stay your little secret." He smiled, but it was more a baring of teeth than anything remotely friendly. "All I ask is that if you can also keep an ear open in case Alice contacts the Cullens. I'll leave you with my direct line. Give me a call if you hear anything, or for any other reason." He winked at me.

"Should I tell the Masters about your sordid little obsession, Felix?" Legate Jane snapped suddenly. I supposed her foul mood needed an outlet. Legate Felix seemed completely unfazed by her outburst.

"Relax Jane, it's not like I'm obstructing anything vital here. Wouldn't you say Rosalie's original mission is a bit moot at this point? We're not going to get anywhere until we fully mobilize against the humans. Besides, I thought you didn't believe in this black swan theory* of Master Aro's."

I was intrigued by Legate Felix's words, especially the part at the end. Black Swan. I have heard the words used by some of the older vampires. It was in the context of a Latin expression. Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno. I pondered the translation in my mind.

A rare bird in the lands, and very like a black swan.

The expression conveyed the idea of the possible impossibility. A black swan was a symbol used to challenge the status quo. It carried the meaning that the lack of proof of something's existence was not the same as proof of it's nonexistence.

But how did that apply here? What exactly was this black swan alluded to by Felix?

"I don't, Felix." Jane's face was contorted by rage, completely unaware of my confusion. "That's not the reason I want her captured alive. I don't just want her dead. I want her to suffer! She doesn't deserve a quick death on the battlefield." Something clicked in my mind. This black swan theory had something to do with Isabella Swan.

"And I don't need your consult on this matter. Last time I checked, North America is mine to govern, not yours," Jane growled.

Felix rolled his eyes. "I'm not trying to muscle in on your territory, Jane. Since we were heading to the same destination after this, I figure I just seize an opportunity to talk to Rosalie." His eyes surveyed me once again, and I somehow doubted his intentions were strictly professional.

He continued. "I wouldn't even be here if you didn't detain half of my Priors for interrogation. Are you really surprised the Triumvirate asked me to come and oversee the military operation? As it is, your stunt is going to put us back several weeks on our original timeline."

"Well, pardon me when I'm just a little cautious after a high ranking Prior goes awol and, by the way, remains at large," Jane snapped. "And what a disaster that situation with the Hunters turned out to be! Well, at least some good came out of it. Demetri has asked permission to send the Furies here to take down this traitor."

I didn't know much about the Furies, but what I knew made me fear for Jasper. Eleazar once told me the Furies were the most skilled assassins within the Order of Hunters. They were a trio of sisters who took the names of the old Greek myths - Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. I never met them, but anyone who identified with demonic creatures of vengeance wasn't someone I wanted to tangle with. Jasper must have done something to piss off Demetri enough to send his best after him.

"There you go, problem solved if Demetri's unleashing those crazy bitches," Felix said dismissively.

"Knew we should've never given amnesty to those rebels," Jane grumbled. I was rather surprised that they were having such a heated and candid discussion in front of me. But I suppose I was a mere peon in their eyes, not even worth considering. They probably figured I was either too stupid to figure out what they were talking about, or smart enough to understand the consequences if I ever repeated what was said here.

"I think you're jumping at shadows, Jane. Master Aro vetted Maria personally. There's been no sign that this was part of some big conspiracy. But hey, your region, your call. I'm here to make sure there are no more delays than absolutely necessary."

"Master Aro is not omniscient," Jane muttered cryptically. Her lips thinned, as if she realized she's said too much.

We sat in awkward silence for a beat, then Chelsea cleared her throat. "There's another reason I asked you to stay, Rosalie. Royce King made an official request through the channels. He's requested that you be the one to turn him."

I snapped out of my internal thoughts. "Wait, what?"

Chelsea rolled her eyes. Like all Sirens, she was very good at mimicking human expressions, to the point that it was nearly subconscious. "The Kings? It's been approved. You will be announced as Royce's maker at his party tonight." She placed an index finger against her chin in a thoughtful gesture, "I think we'll do a special on it. Sort of a before and after. With the Kings involved, this definitely has potential for big ratings."

"B-but I can't. I don't have any experience turning someone." I blurted out. Turning someone was always a tricky thing. You had to administer just the right quantity of venom. Too little or too much, and they might come back as feral newborns, mindless and violent until their nearly insatiable bloodlust was quenched. They can be tamed and returned to sanity, but only with great difficulty.

That was why even now, years after the Awakening, the Volturi didn't simply overwhelm the human resistance by rushing to create a huge number of newborns. They had learned their lessons well from the Blood Wars. During the height of the First Blood War, out of desperation, both sides began recklessly biting people to boost their armies. They found out at great cost that feral vampires were just as dangerous to their allies as they were to everyone else.

"Well, the Kings want you. So there's a first time for everything," Chelsea said dismissively. "I don't care either way. If you wish to dissuade the Kings, go discuss it with them directly."

And I prepared myself to do just that. Even if Royce willingly chose this, I didn't know if I could do it. It was such a heavy burden of responsibility, one that I was not ready to shoulder. I didn't want to be the instrument used to bring anyone into this life. And that's not even considering the dangers of my inexperience. I had to speak to the Kings before it's too late. I must convince them to choose someone else before they made the announcement in public tonight.

##################

"Something's been bothering you all afternoon. Do you want to talk about it?"

I turned away from the limo window and smiled sadly at Eleanor, who looked resplendent in my knee-length red satin dress. She opted for contacts rather than wear her glasses. Her hazel eyes seem to glow against the darker color of her eyeshadow. Ellie was definitely growing into her looks.

I had spent the rest of the afternoon between getting ready and trying to reach Royce. After leaving the umpteenth message with his various lackeys and voicemail, I decided to give up. He was probably tied up in last minute party preparations. The timing sucked, but I was going to have to do this at the party since I was sure to run into him there.

Instead of answering, I deflected. "You look very beautiful tonight, Ellie. The dress really suits you. I better make sure to keep an eye on you lest some boy snatches you away."

She blushed, just a slight tint to her cheeks. "Oh stop it! Like anyone's going to notice me with you around." There was no resentment in her tone.

"You would be surprised," I murmured softly, mostly to myself. We were mingling with a human crowd tonight. I knew from experience that many humans found my appearance to be intimidating. Ellie had an aura of friendliness that made her far more approachable.

We pulled up to the park and made the requisite walk down the line of photographers. I made small talk with some of my colleagues covering this event as I moved steadily down the line. Eleanor stayed close to my side with a wide-eye look of bewilderment at the whole thing.

After making it past the red carpet relatively unscathed, I searched the crowd for Esme and Carlisle. The Kings certainly didn't disappoint. There were several large white silk tents scattered across the park. I could see the air ripple from the portable heaters working hard to keep the humans warm. People were congregating around the many bar and food stations in or around the tents. There was a massive concert stage at one end, with a stadium sized tv hanging overhead. Closer to the water edge, rows of chairs were set up for the light show later in the evening. Soft music was being pumped through hidden speakers across the park grounds, mingling with the din of conversation sprouting up all around me.

A flash of white blond and caramel drew my attention to one of the big tents, I spotted them just as they disappeared into the interior. I moved to follow when I caught sight of the Kings making the rounds to greet their guests. I decided speaking with Royce took precedent and made a beeline for them.

The Kings were decked out in their finest for the night. Royce wore a tailored designer tux that fit him handsomely. His father, Royce Senior, had on a similar suit in a lighter gray that matched the coloring in his hair. His mother, Margaret King, had an almost regal air about her. She wore an elegant lavender dress that showed off her figure without being too crass. Her hair was swept up in a complicated style to call attention to the expensive jewelry glittering against her ears and neck. I had encountered both of them several times in charity and social events.

"Ah, Rosalie," Royce said pleasantly, "I was getting a bit worried. Traffic?" He didn't wait for a reply as turned to his parents. "Mother, Father, you remember Rosalie."

"Of course, lovely to see you again, Rosalie," Margaret greeted. Royce Senior just sort of half grunted in acknowledgment. He didn't look nearly as happy to see me as his wife and son. I didn't miss how they completely ignored Eleanor, who was still standing beside me.

"I like to introduce my guest, Eleanor Falcon," I said with a smooth formality. "She's graduating from Volterra Academy soon and has been visiting schools to continue her education."

A spark of recognition lit up in Margaret's eyes. "Falcon, you say?" She now focused her attention to Eleanor, disguising her interest behind a practiced smile. "Well, you are most welcome, dear."

I stifled a laugh at the shift in her demeanor once I announced Eleanor's family ties. The Falcon family had as much of an illustrious history as the Kings. Whereas the Kings focused on finance and politics, the Falcons had a tradition steeped in academics. Often than not, they pursued advancements in science and engineering. The ancient but ingenious irrigation and heating systems in Volterra could largely be accredited to the Falcon family designs. Their influences could be seen in much of the layout of the underground city as well. Humans might be the weaker species in certain aspects, but not when it came to creativity and inspiration.

A boy of Eleanor's age walked up to our gathering. I immediately noticed the strong resemblance he bore to both Royce and his father. The boy had unkempt shaggy hair, dyed a light blond. He held himself with a carefree slouch in direct contrast to the haughty stance of the Kings. His bow was untied and his dress shirt was untucked under his jacket. He had a beer bottle in one hand and a champagne flute in the other.

"Greetings all," he said brightly, unaffected by the glares the Kings leveled in his direction. He shifted his focus to Eleanor and me. Interestingly enough, his eyes lingered on Eleanor. "Well, aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Yes, " I could hear a touch of disapproval in Margaret's voice. "Rosalie, Eleanor, this is my younger son, Riley." He offered a half-hearted salute with a tip of the beer bottle at the mention of his name. "Pardon his appearance; he's just tired from having flown back from Australia to attend his brother's party."

"Yep, can't miss my bro's big goodbye," Riley said. He shifted the bottle to his other hand and clapped Royce hard on his back with the free one.

"Riley," There was an edge in Margaret's tone, "this is Siren Rosalie and her friend, Eleanor Falcon. Eleanor is visiting from the Volterra Academy." She turned her attention back to us. "Riley attended the Academy for a few years, you know."

Eleanor's eyes suddenly grew wide, and I could almost see the proverbial light bulb being switched on above her head. "Riley King! Of course! I can't believe I didn't make that connection sooner," she said excitedly, her shyness seemed to evaporate with her epiphany. "You're like a legend with the upperclassman. You know that they still haven't been able to completely fix what you did to the lower east wing library? I can't believe you did that!"

Riley's smile grew impossibly larger. His chest puffed out a bit. "Glad to hear my little memento made such a big impression."

"Are you kidding? How were you able to sneak those pheromones into the building without the professors detecting them?" Ellie asked with astonishment.

"A magician never reveals his secrets," Riley proclaimed dramatically. "However, I'm willing to make an exception for a fellow soon-to-be alumnus, especially one so lovely." He winked at Eleanor.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at the obvious pick-up line, but was shocked when I heard Eleanor giggle. She never giggled.

"Well folks, it's been fun. I'm heading down to the concert area. Killed by Death is scheduled to be on any minute and I want to get a good seat." Riley started to walk away, then hesitated. "Say, would you like to come with me?" He offered the crook of his arm expectantly to Eleanor.

"Um...er. S-sure," Ellie fumbled. She moved forward only to freeze mid-step, seeming to gain a sudden awareness of her surroundings. "That is, if you don't mind, Rosalie?" She asked sheepishly.

I wasn't too keen to have Eleanor go off with Riley King. I felt a certain responsibility for her given that I was the one to invite her here. There was a roguish quality to him that I did not like. But I could see the excitement in Ellie's eyes. Plus this was a perfect opportunity to pull Royce aside for a little private chat about his plans.

"Of course not, Ellie. You go have fun," I said amicably. Despite my reservations, I couldn't help but be inwardly amused as I watched her eyes light up.

As Eleanor headed off with her hand firmly tucked in the arm of the Riley boy, I focused on my original mission.

"Royce, may I have a word...in private?"

"Perhaps later. There are still many guests I have not yet greeted," Royce said, his eyes already scanning the crowd beyond my shoulder. I reached out and gently squeezed his arm to get his attention back on me.

"Please, it's important. I won't be long."

He looked into my eyes for a moment, then consented. "A few minutes."

Royce and I took our leave from his parents and entered one of the large trailers parked along the perimeter. Set up to provide restrooms for the guests, the spacious interior was more like a luxurious mobile home. There was even a tv and couch. The air was heavily circulated and perfumed, for which I was extremely grateful.

Royce looked to me for confirmation, and I nodded that there were no one else in here at the moment. He leaned against one of the vanities and waited. I went straight to the point.

"Listen, Royce. I heard about your intention to have me as your maker."

Royce smiled. "Ah yes, sorry for playing this one so close to the vest. There's been a lot of speculation from the tabloids, and I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Royce, as much as I'm...flattered," I lied, "by your selection, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to decline."

"Excuse me?" His smile evaporated. "I don't understand." He genuinely looked confused. Obviously he was a man not used to any sort of rejection. Well, as Chelsea said, there's a first time for everything.

"Look Royce, I just don't feel comfortable with this," I spoke more plainly. "I'm sure you can find someone more qualified to assist you with your transition."

"Everyone is expecting an announcement tonight," he said coldly. His entire bearing shifted to something darker. I bristled at his tone, whatever sympathy I may have had was dissipating rapidly. He was the one who didn't have the foresight to consult with me about this. He put himself into this position, not me.

"I'm sure you can think of something, you're good at that. Let them speculate until you find a replacement."

"You are not going to embarrass me like this, Rosalie," he stated darkly. He pushed off the vanity rather violently and stood ramrod straight, glaring at me. I looked at him incredulously. Me? Embarrass him? Of all the arrogance, the presumption.

"Or what, Royce?" I responded, letting my own growing anger seep into my voice.

His breath quickened. A vein in his neck bulged and pulsated visibility. His hands were balled into fists so tight that the knuckles turned white. For a second I thought he was about to do something extremely foolish, like attacking me. Then just as quickly, a calm seemed to settle over him. There was a triumphant gleam in his eyes that I did not like at all.

"Do you like all those little brats being taken care of through Hale House, Rosalie?" He said. He smirked when he no doubt saw the anger in my eyes at his insult. "See, at first I thought you were just doing this for good publicity, but it seemed strange how much time you spent at the homes when you didn't need to. You really care about them, don't you?"

I said nothing, having no clue where he was going with this line of thought.

"Sure you do. You genuinely love those kids. You wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize their well being, would you?"

"What are you -" I started indignantly, but he interrupted.

"How tragic would it be if a story were to leak out about allegations of fraud and embezzlement committed by key members of Hale House? Why, all those sponsors and donors would just disappear in a heartbeat."

"Fraud? Embezzlement?" I said hotly, "You think you could get away with lies like that?"

"Lies?" Royce said with mock innocence. "Why, I would never do such a thing. Now, if someone were tipped off to follow the money trail, I can't be responsible for the conclusions they reach."

It only took a second to understand why he was so confident, and I felt my rage soar to even greater heights. "Y-you've been stealing from the charity?"

"I like to think of it as compensation," he said conversationally.

I was stunned at the admission. I thought I understood the depth of Royce's greed and amorality. Evidently I barely scratched the surface.

"Why?" I asked, the shock was momentarily numbing my rage. Royce King had more money than he could spend in several lifetimes. Even though the money flowing through the charity was substantial, it paled compared to the income he made through the Kings' numerous enterprises.

"It's not about the money, Rosalie," Royce explained, as if the answer was obvious. "It's the principle. Do you realize how much money I have made for Hale House since I took over the finances? My time and efforts are costly, but you wouldn't be able to support even half of those brats without my help. None of this traces back to me, of course. I made sure of that."

"Y-you..." I couldn't even think I was so angry. My body moved forward, closing the distance between us.

Royce held his ground. "Now, now, Rosalie. You wouldn't want to do anything rash. See, I learned long ago the key to success is knowledge. Knowledge of your friends and your enemies. Knowledge of weaknesses and strengths. Knowledge of when to retreat and when to strike. And I've been studying you for some time, Hale."

"Did you know that the majority of the projects Esme and Emmett Cullen oversee are King Construction contracts? Demolition can be a dangerous job, and accidents can happen to any -"

I lifted him off the floor and pinned him to the wall with my hand around his throat before he could finish speaking. The only thing that stopped me from popping his head off like a zit was the complete absence of fear in his eyes. He anticipated this. I knew it then with horrible certainty that he did not make idle threats. If I ended him here, I would destroy all that I hold dear. Reluctantly, I lowered him to the floor and released him.

He rubbed his neck. "I'll forgive that little tantrum for now. But make no mistake, Rosalie, I always get what I want. I've had it with your sanctimonious attitude. Tonight, things are going to change. This is just the beginning."

He circled around me and turned on the faucet. He washed his hands and scrutinized his appearance, checking his neck to make sure there were no visible marks.

I stood facing the wall, staring sightlessly at the wood grain. How did a man like Royce King manage to hammer his way past my defenses? How did I misjudge how big of a monster he truly was? I realized my arrogance was my downfall. I had mistakenly thought my physical strength meant a mere human man could never again threaten me with harm.

I was wrong.

Royce King straightened his bow-tie and smoothed out his jacket. He opened the door, letting the cooler air outside flood into the room. He looked over his shoulder at me. "Enjoy the rest of the party, Rosalie. It will certainly be a night to remember."

A/N: *Disclaimer - Black Swan is a theory developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his 2007 book, The Black Swan. He defines a black swan event as something unexpected that has a major impact, which in hindsight appeared foreseeable. Examples given include September 11 and various financial crisis in recent history. I make no claims to originality or ownership of the theory. I made use of the concept because it so eloquently suited my needs.