Marcus said he was surprised by the intensity of our relationship. I hoped he was lying because he cared about me, even if slightly.

I fought to keep my breathing even.

"Perhaps I was mistaken," said Aro in a voice that made clear he didn't believe himself capable of such a thing. He knew about me and Elijah. Marcus hadn't told him. Aro knew even before. And he hadn't told Marcus.

My eyes flickered to Klaus, and, though his face was composed, I thought he seemed a little smug.

Dear me.

Aro continued to drift into a thoughtful expression. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering between the two of us. "So you want my permission to stay in my eternal city?"

"If you'd be so kind," said Rebekah.

"Aro," Caius complained.

Aro shook his head. "Dear Caius, do not fret. These are our friends. Beautiful Renesmee needs to see the city at night. There is nothing more mesmerizing. You will enjoy your stay, I hope. And when you leave, send my regards to the Cullens. Your talented mother. The amazing Alice. My friend Carlisle."

I nodded eagerly. "They'll be delighted to hear from you," I lied.

"Felix, do show our guests to their rooms," Aro ordered and we were excused.

Felix gestured that we should follow him and then set off through a back exit and another maze of corridors. Klaus pulled me swiftly along beside him. Rebekah was close by my other side, her face hard.

Of course, I was expected to share a room with Klaus. I had mix feelings about that. On one hand, I thought it was completely improper and unfair to Elijah. On the other hand, I would sleep much better knowing he was in the room with me.

I threw myself on a gosh-to-goodness canopied four-poster and waited for him to say something. He didn't. I supposed his plan was working and I assumed he wouldn't dare say anything incriminating out loud; there were too many vampires around.

He lied next to me, but he didn't touch me. We both stared at the ceiling silently. It was painted to resemble the Sistine Chapel, full of haunted people laboring, paying for their sins. I didn't know much about art, but I knew the Volturi were big fans of it.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" whispered Klaus. I glanced at him. His eyes searched the ceiling as if he was trying hard to absorb every detail. "I painted something similar once. I suppose we all do, eventually."

I narrowed my eyes. "You paint?" I asked speaking as low as he did.

He didn't take his eyes off the ceiling. "Painting is a metaphor for control. Every choice is mine. The canvas, the color. Art told me that one's vision can be achieved by sheer force of will."

I wasn't sure why, but I laughed. "Of course you would say something like that."

"You disagree?"

"Most ardently. I think painting is for those who are afraid to speak truths. They don't know any other way to show what they feel. So they paint. Whether people understand what their paintings mean, is subjective. But it's a good try to put everything out there. I don't paint, so I could be wrong."

He chuckled. "I see why he likes you," he said so low I could've imagined it.

That got to me. "You see nothing." He raised an eyebrow. "What do you suppose Aro is doing to your brother?" I mouthed barely speaking the words.

Klaus seemed to thought about that. "Well, he cannot kill him, if that's what you're worried about, love. And everything will, of course, depend on what he wants from Elijah."

"You know what he wants. You're not telling me, but you know," I accused.

He shrugged. "Knowledge comes to us in due time."

"Screw that," I snapped and he signed for me to be silent. There was a knock on the door. Klaus asked whoever it was to come in. It was Rebekah. She sat on the bed looking her usual crossed self.

"Aro's having a party. In your honor, I might add," she waved toward me. "He probably wants to show you around to his other pet vampires. You should dress up nicely, Nessie. And when I say nicely, mind you, I mean hot as a pepper. Show off those perky little breasts of yours and do your best to seduce every vampire in the room. Is that clear?"

"I don't see how-"

"If they are busy lusting for the little hybrid, they won't notice us roaming about," she explained.

"That's not a very good plan," I told her. "And I don't like showing skin."

"We don't care what you like, love," said Klaus with a grin.

Since I had no choice in the matter I did as I was told, but I took my time in the process of looking... well, hot. It was easier than I supposed it would be since Aro sent me the dress he wanted me to wear. I was a doll and they could do with me as they pleased. How lovely.

The dress was white with a neckline that went down to my navel. That was it. I was going to die tonight. If the hungry vampires didn't attack me and suck all my blood, no problemo, I would die of shame. But I would not be living to see the sun rise.

The dress had no back either and I felt cold just looking at it. But I was going to do as Klaus and Rebekah had instructed me. I would keep my head high and let my 'jolly human scent do the rest' as Klaus had so nicely put. As a death wish, I arranged my hair in a bun leaving my neck completely bare making sure everyone in the room would have a clear view of the veins pulsing with my blood.

I'm not surviving this.

I was late but that had the effect desired. I entered the room and immediately everyone stopped to stare at me. I tried to keep my heart steady. Aro bowed to me and offered to kiss my hand. I knew this was a bad idea, but I also knew I had no choice. It would be rude to refuse. Luckily I had been raised with a mind reader and I'd learned a few tricks of my own. There were ways to stop him from seeing the truth. I could lock some thoughts deep into my mind and show him only what I wanted him to see.

When he touched me I directed my thoughts to Klaus. I thought about his mouth on mine. I manipulated my own memories and I did such a good job that when it was over I had trouble reminding myself of who Elijah was. What had been true and what hadn't.

"You look delicious," Aro told me.

Ew.

Then Rebekah was by my side. She guided me through the crowd of vampires and handed me a drink. Thank god for Rebekah and her booze. "You do look delicious," she whispered.

"I think she means stunning," said Klaus approaching and kissing my cheek.

"You clean up pretty well yourself," I praised him. The smile on his face was comical. Boy, did this man liked to be praised.

"Don't be fool, love," he said. "I am the devil in disguise."

It was my turn to smile. "That I believe."

"Why don't you two dance?" advised Rebekah. That had been their plan all along. Move me around the room, sway me around so everyone could smell me. Oh, joy.

"Shall we?" Klaus took my hand and I had to fight to block his thoughts. It was really hard. His entire being was so imposing. He liked touching me. He knew he was enjoying this more than it was wise. But he was considering kissing me again, if not for the charade than for his own pleasure.

I blushed.

"Now, now, love. This much blood'll make the best of us lose our minds."

I closed my eyes as he guided me along. I tried to go to my happy place, but it was impossible. He had a hand on my bare back and that was making me lose it. He wasn't like a regular vampire. His skin was strangely warm and as I leaned closer to him I could hear his heart. It didn't beat like mine, but there was some life in there.

I was so used to the emptiness of the vampires that I never knew until now how brilliant that sound was.

My body relaxed and I drowned in memories that weren't mine. A saw the girl, that same girl from Elijah's memories, Tatia, but she was with Klaus now. They teased and seemed so at easy with each other I couldn't believe it at first. That anyone had ever loved him, that he had ever loved anyone. But then she changed her mind.

She chose Elijah for all he was worth and the hurt of the bad brother was such that made my heart ache. Then his thoughts turned cloudy. I saw him at night, on the ground, wailing in pain. His arms and legs were bent awkwardly and the noise made me want to puke.

"What am I?" he begged looking up. Elijah stood before him. There was pain and shock in his beautiful features.

Another man appeared. "He's a beast," he declared.

The memory changed. Klaus sat on the ground, naked, covered in blood. There were bodies all around him. Elijah approached carefully and handed his brother a blanket. "How many?" asked Klaus. He had tears in his eyes.

"Six," answered Elijah. "You slaughtered six villagers, Niklaus."

The memory changed once more. The man from before tied Klaus to a cross. Klaus shouted and asked for help, but nobody helped him. The man called Elijah and commanded him to hold Klaus still.

"Help me, brother," Klaus pleaded.

I was so sure Elijah was going to help him that I gasped when he didn't. My eyes opened and I stepped away from Klaus. He pulled me back before anyone noticed. "What? What is it? Are you okay?"

I nodded but it was a lie. Maybe the biggest lie I told. I wasn't okay. Far from it. I didn't know that Elijah

I had seen in Klaus' memories. He looked exactly like the one I loved, but that couldn't be him. He wouldn't have let his brother, his own flesh and blood be treated thus.

And if he did... who was this man I was giving my life to save?