Nothing stopped me from searching for Elijah in my dreams. I must have rolled over three times, reaching out to see if he'd slid into bed with me. But every time, the other side of the bed was empty and cold.

Guess that was better than finding Klaus there instead.

Klaus showed up at my house and basically ordered my family to let me go to Italy with him. Vampires growled and I feared war was upon us, but Klaus handled the situation quite well. He threw intimidation, threats, seduction, an appeal for Elijah's life, an appeal for my life, along with other factors like him being the Vampire King.

In the end, there wasn't much the Cullens could do. All of them volunteered to accompany me which I was thankful for, but I couldn't vouch for their safety and that made me anxious. I thought I'd better go alone. Nevertheless, I knew they would be watching out for me and that they would show up in Italy if danger dawned upon me.

Volterra was a beautiful place but I was too tortured with anxiety to really see the hills or the walled towns that looked like castles in the distance. The sun was high in the pale blue sky.

I thought I'd be able to feel him once we were in the same continent again, but as I stared at the castle city atop the closest hill I felt nothing but dread. This was my first time here. I'd never wanted to come. And Marcus had invited me several times.

I studied the ancient sienna walls and towers crowning the peak of the steep hill. Rebekah and Klaus both stood beside me wearing black. Their skin shimmered in the sunlight. I should've felt better being here with them. But they were just as old and just as beautiful as the city. It absolutely terrified me.

We began the steep climb, and the road grew congested. It was very windy but I didn't feel the cold. The streets were narrow, cobbled with the same color stones as the faded cinnamon brown buildings that darkened the street with their shade. We headed for the Palazzo dei Priori or The Clock Tower. But we didn't go in. Instead, we went straight into the alley way behind it.

Two figures met us there, as Klaus predicted they would. Klaus and Rebekah stepped forward, his arms spread wide, protectively, in front of me. "Greetings, gentlemen," he said, his voice calm and pleasant, on the surface. "We're here to see your King."

"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?" a smooth voice whispered menacingly.

"Certainly," Klaus said dryly. "Let us seek better cover. We'll be right behind you, Felix."

Felix was very big, tall and thick through the shoulders. I remembered him well from that day they all went to kill me while I was little. I remembered the other one too, though not as much, and I was almost sure his name was Demetri.

Rebekah went ahead with a smile. "Let's all behave ourselves, shall we? There are ladies present." Her stance was casual, there was no hint of any underlying tension.

We all followed her into the darkness. A little further on, we met the one I feared the most. Her size was insignificant, but everyone stiffened at her presence. She had lank, pale brown hair, wide eyes and full lips. But the cruelness in her erased her beauty.

"Jane," said Klaus in recognition. He didn't seem tense at all. Maybe even amused.

We kept going. There was a loose curve to the alley and a squared-off dead end. They were all sliding gracefully down an open hole in the street. I followed. I made more noise than they did, but no one seemed to care.

It was dim, but not black at the bottom. The light from the hole above provided a faint glow, reflection wetly from the stones under my feet. The path slant downward, taking us deeper into the ground.

At the end of the tunnel was a grate – the iron bars were rustling, but thick as my arm. A small door made of thinner interlaced bars was standing open. We ducked through and hurried on to a larger, brighter stoner room where we found a low, heavy wooden door.

The only furniture in the room were several massive wooden chairs, like thrones, that were spaced unevenly, flush with the curving stone walls. The room was not empty. A handful of people were convened in seemingly relaxed conversation. The murmur of low, smooth voices was a gentle hum in the air.

The exquisite faces all turned toward our party as we entered the room. Most of the immortals were dressed in inconspicuous pants and shirts, but Aro wore one of the long robes. It was pitch-black, and brushed against the floor.

"Renesmee Cullen!" he cried in evident delight. "This is a happy surprise! Wonderful! Marcus, Caius, look! Our dear Renesmee came to see us. Isn't she fabulous?"

I glanced at Marcus. He was staring at me in awe. He didn't expect to see me again, I realized. I hoped and hoped he hadn't told Aro about his last visit.

"And Rebekah and Niklaus Mikaelson," continued Aro. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Klaus walked around the room like he owned the place. "I just thought it was time to show dear Nessie the eternal city."

"Did you now?" Aro raised his eyebrows. "In my last visit, Niklaus, you did not show any hints that you knew her well."

"That's because it was none of your business, Aro," Klaus said with ease. I saw a lot of vampires stiffen up, but Aro laughed delighted.

"Of course not. But I was under the impression your brother-"

"Oh, my brothers were always fighting for their toys," said Rebekah brightly. "But they do know how to share."

I felt my face reddening. I was not liking this plan.

"Indeed," said Aro. "So, dear Miss Cullen-"

"Is mine," declared Klaus with such authority I almost believed him. He stopped beside me and wrapped his arm around my neck. I tried to look comfortable as I leaned toward him. It was not easy.

"Marcus?"

I raised my eyes and stared at Marcus pleading. I had assured Klaus and Rebekah that Marcus would not have told Aro about me and Elijah. Now, before him, I wasn't so sure. My heart raced and the noise attracted the attention of every immortal in the room. I saw Klaus rolling his eyes, then his mouth found mine and he kissed me in earnest, pretending he was the cause of my restlessness.

There was really no excuse for my behavior. This was Elijah's brother. His brother, goddamn it! And yet I reacted like a mad person. Blood boiled under my skin, burned in my lips. My breath came in a wild gasp. My arms reached up to twine tightly around his neck, and I clutched him to me. That was precisely what convinced the vampires that we were together, what saved our lives. But that didn't stop me from feeling like shit when it was over.

Klaus looked at me like he couldn't believe what had just happened. Well, I couldn't either. Then he smiled a surprisingly impish grin.