Upon first glance, he could have spent the last week sleeping on the streets. On second glance, I determined that this newcomer was, at some point, a wealthy man that had been thrown down a well. The kind of handsome that older mums fawn over, a George Clooney type. Except he seemed to have abandoned the charisma at the bottom of his well.

A voice, hoarse and blended from various loose-tongued accents, crept forth from the man with a vulgar intent. "I shan't wait for your urges to be contented, so you best cut that out."

I am unsure how long it was before I was able to process Alec's fingers stroking my arm. He did it only twice more before letting me go and meeting the man halfway in a firm handshake.

The stranger was a good head taller than Alec, his form extended as a result of the long, thick, and muddy leather trench coat that hung over his shoulders. Just looking at it made me feel heavy, as if the item were weighing me down instead of him. Or perhaps this was a side effect of his clearly sparkling personality. One which held a stark contrast to the coven he was visiting.

Both men turned to me.

Alec extended his arm, but he sensed my skepticism, not that I was hiding it. "There is someone I wish to introduce you to." It made me no more eager to go any closer to the strange vampire, but I accepted his hand. And held on, just to be safe.

"So. This is your troublesome human?"

The man eyed me with a strange combination of disinterest and disillusionment. He had an oddly Roman, hooked nose, the only imperfection of an otherwise flawless bone structure. Locks of bleach blond hair were tugged tightly back into a bun, and despite the vampiric features of perfection, he appeared to be much older than the average vampires I'd encountered thus far. Or maybe he just belonged in a hole 6 feet under. "Good thing Aro turned you when he did. Women weren't quite as exotic as her in your day," he snorted as if he'd made a joke.

"Funny. What's it like smelling like lemons all the time?"

"Bit of a mouth on her."

I was actually willing to hold back the remark he had rightfully earned with that comment, but Alec was apparently unwilling to take any chances. His arm went around my waist, sending me a stern look that gave the impression he didn't much care if I verbally sparred with his associate, but we had better things to do. There had to be a reason we were meeting with him and the sooner we got to it, the sooner he left. The man's eyes narrowed at the interaction, judgemental as if he disapproved of Alec's behaviour.

Their auras clashed, individual bonds of control existing simultaneously was like a small bomb ready to go off if it so much as tilted to one side or the other. These two powers buzzed in an incompatible truce, patient and waiting for the moment they would need to put the other in its place. The weapons were different, like a sword and an axe, capable of great and deadly things and equally effective, unmatched, and yet parallel to one another. Their power did not search for a battle, but each would gladly fight to retain the glory. No handshake could change that.

"Saffiya, I would like to introduce you to John. He was one of Jane's and my instructors as newborns." Alec explained curtly, pretending as if the man and I had not just exchanged a rather unflattering back and forth. "He taught us how to expand our gifts."

"And how not to," the older man shot back. There was a natural growl to his timbre that made it sound as if he were entering the worst of a bad cough. He was accusatory, "which, based on your reputation, has been misspent."

With a familiar patience, the vampire beside me answered monotonously, "I assure you, John, your lessons are equally practiced and valued. Especially now."

It was clear that Alec's former mentor disagreed. To be fair, as far as I had observed, the twins were masterful with their gifts, but I had never seen them engage in any form of combat like the other guards.

Alec, again, paid no mind to the resentment, and I did not envy the static between the two. I had to stop myself from imagining what this conversation would look like if the other twin were present instead, or as well. Perhaps Jane's similar demeanour faired better in the man's presence.

They seemed caught in some kind of staging, so I went with my best guess to fill some gaps. "So, you're here to help track down Razin."

"No," he said plainly, offering himself a seat at the head of the table previously vacated. He leaned back, joining his hands in a steeple. It was then that I noticed his coat was far from muddy, but rather extremely worn. The leather had been beaten down, and fabric that was originally smooth to the touch had long since transfigured into a coarse texture. Various patches across the coat had been rubbed so far past rough that they developed a much thinner scale, almost suede-like to the touch. Suede that had been dunked, soaked, and smothered in rainwater. Then perhaps gone out for a salty swim in the ocean before being deposited back onto its owner. I tried to rationalize that it could have been rather in-fashion at one time. Like, a long time.

Alec cut in smoothly, "John is one of few vampires that regularly interacts with humans through his work. I've asked him to look into your father's passing." His work? What kind of work would a vampire do that could be associated with my father's forgery and art thefts? Nothing good.

Then it hit me. Had Alec arranged this? He had not been particularly supportive of my theories surrounding my father's possible death. Particularly when I added the word, possible. But he listened and his warning critique for 'dwelling on the impossible' was never delivered maliciously. It was always more protective, as if he were worried about how the disregard of reality could effect me. After what had happened, maybe this was his way of putting that into action.

Alec was watching me with caution. John saw this as well, but I matched his attitude before he could make another quip.

"What can you do that I couldn't?"

He let out a single, demeaning bellow of a laugh. "I have certain connections–"

Alec sighed but didn't intercede as I threw back, "right. And those would be?"

"Your last chance, seeing as he's six feet underground. Unless you have any suggestions?" I sent him a dirty look, a hard ache of defiance building in my chest.

"Charming," I chirped, shoving aside the low-blow and answering rather than having a go at someone I had no material on. He clearly knew more about me than I did about him. I had a feeling he liked things that way.

John grinned at me, a cartoonish sparkle lighting up his teeth. "Thought so. I'll need everything you have on him."

I drawled with a lazy annoyance, "I haven't got much. He's dead, you see."

Alec nudged the small of my back, "Jane had you bring the journal?" I didn't answer, as he knew the answer. I wasn't exactly attached to the journal, seeing as I'd hardly been willing to open it. But I wasn't particularly eager to hand it over to this guy either.

Despite this, I took Alec's hint and retrieved the item. Alec had leaned up against the table crossing his arms as he observed the interaction. I held the book up as an obvious show and tell, and something slipped from inbetween the pages like a feather. John caught it.

"Give that back." He yanked it out of my reach and I clenched my fists, only reminding myself to breathe as Alec hand returned to my spine. He circled softly before trailing his hand up to the back of my neck. I glanced down at him while John was preoccupied and his fingers twirled in the hair at the base of my neck. He moved his head slowly to the left, then to the right as his hand weaved through my hair and left my body. I rolled my eyes, taking his advice and folding my arms.

John took his time examining the photo I'd taken from the pub in Volterra before he decided to acknowledge me. His eyes scanned over my tensed frame and no doubt, my physiological reactions were clueing him in on my frustration. This time, his gaze held a depth I hadn't taken the time to search for quite yet, considering the man had ambushed me rather impolitely. So when he asked, "you'll get it back." I trusted Alec's judgment and acquiesced.

He tucked the photo back in the journal, slipping it into his coat pocket. "So, kid. What do you want to know?"

My doubt required me to check in with Alec again, who nodded encouragingly. "Everything he did in the last three years." The information would be useless and unattainable to a literal definition. But quite frankly, I wanted every detail of my father's life from the moment he left me at the abbey.

"Steep order."

With a hmm, I reciprocated the degrading approach he'd used on me. "Not up to it?"

He ignored me, but a vein popped out in his neck as he turned his head to Alec and I called that a success. "I trust we do not need to discuss the overarching problem?"

My prying glance at Alec was also discounted. "Everything is under control and accounted for," Alec reassured him cooly.

The doors opened once again, "Alec." Prosper had returned, and he waved the male over to him. His face was grim and he hardly glanced at me or John, a single purpose on his mind.

Alec stood to his full height, moving inbetween me and John to leave, "I will return in a moment."

I grabbed his forearm. "No way–"

"Play nice, Saffiya." I could've hit him, fuming at how unconcerned he was about this guy.

John grunted, and Alec abandoning us was likely the only thing we would agree on. And when the door shut behind them, my jaw dropped. Alec barely left me alone around the Volturi Guard, but this guy was free to babysit me in under 20 minutes? What was he playing at?

"Alec says you met my friend, Vladimir."

I spat, "friend?" immediately giving my opinion away. He was giving me a smug look, so I iced myself down and put on my best poker-face. I examined him again with his rugged, vampire-cowboy act. He wasn't exactly threatening, and all he'd done was say a few insensitive comments so I let my shoulders fall and responded bitterly, "not that it's a surprising alliance."

I imagined a cigar in his hand, smug and mysterious. He shrugged, amused by my tone.

"Alec wouldn't associate–"

"I'm friends with everyone, little girl." As if hearing my previous thoughts, he dug into his pockets and pulled out a small silver box. He flicked the top open, exposing it to be a lighter. He kept it off, but flipped it back down before repeating the process again. "It's a job requirement."

I crossed my arms over my chest again. "What are you, a pirate?"

He let out another single, mocking "ha!" before leaning towards me. I refrained from stepping back.

"The kid also says you don't feel pain."

I pressed my tongue into my cheek. "That's right."

He waved his hand to the chair behind me, suggesting that I sit. I refused but he didn't care much. "Real dangerous life. No wonder he's got so many guards on you." I didn't correct him, but apparently I didn't need to. "And you snuck past 'em!" This fact seemed to entertain him far more than it should have as he flipped the lighter lid again. It was an odd habit and an odd prop for a vampire to carry around. Unless he was going around and eradicating vampires at will. I bit my lip, considering this conclusion might not be too far from the truth.

There was no way Alec told him all this. No matter how close they were. "Guess Alec has you all caught up."

"Alec doesn't like to kiss and tell." I scrunched up my face, breaking my facade to show my childish reaction to his phrase of choice. He was difficult to read, not giving me a chance to do so as every word he chose was like he wanted to get a reaction out of me. I did my best to stay stoic, with a hint of disdain at his existence. "Caius, however," he trailed off purposefully. "He had a lot to say about you."

He flicked the lighter open and ignited the fire for the first time. The flame bent and obeyed the natural atmosphere in the room, but it added no additional lighting.

Abruptly, he snapped it shut and tossed it towards me, letting me fumble before catching it.

"Prove it." I looked up, bewildered by the demand.

What the hell…oh.

Fire, or rather heat, is unique from a cut in that it stops blood from flowing. This would only be a concern for me if it reached a second-degree burn, as it would reach through the first layer of skin. With what John was asking me, I doubted he expected his requested experiment to reach such a point. I assumed I could satisfy him with the initial response most people had to fire. If one were to hold their hand over a flame, eventually, it would become too hot and they would remove it. The key for me – and for my demonstration, would be satisfying his curiosity before reaching that point. I gave it a minute.

I threw the lighter back at him, and before he could make another pointless comment, I shoved my hand forward. I let it hover, palm down, in the space between us.

He lifted his eyebrows, and I returned the expression, confirming the challenge. The wild curiosity and excitement in his swollen, red eyes was a warning sign all its own.

I'm not sure if I was banking on him realizing I was telling the truth. Expecting that he'd give in before actually engaging in an activity that would harm 'Alec's mate'. But I really knew nothing about this man, and this was definitely about more than a human experiment.

He lit the lighter again, and held it under my palm, a mere few inches away. John watched with an arsonist's wonder as my hand stayed steady above the flame. About ten seconds in, his eyes jumped to mine with curiosity and I rolled my eyes pointedly, lowering my hand a little but enough to make an impression.

"Get it away from her."

They weren't even afforded a glance. "Just an experiment, boy–"

Alec snarled, the sound pulsating with the agitation of a caged tiger.

John smirked, ignoring his command, and turned to inspect the owner of the menacing warning. It was not my appraisal, but Alec's. This wasn't about me at all. I was the pawn.

The fire still burned warm under my palm, but I hardly noticed. I was too focused on Alec, Prosper just behind him with eyes directed at me, unblinking. But neither took a step towards us. I switched back to Alec, stone-faced and ravenous, but not emotionless. There was one emotion, but I had never seen anything like it in Alec's eyes, nor had I ever imagined he might feel something as debilitating and vulnerable as the feeling compelled. Dread.

"Your mate does not appear to mind the flames."

Was that the issue? Alec didn't answer him, but this situation was too familiar. I pulled my hand back anyways and raised it up to show them.

"It didn't even touch me," I swore. "I'm okay."

John closed the lighter and my palm was in Alec's hand the millisecond it shut. He let his skin serve as an ice pack to soothe the slight irritation that had reddened from the experiment. His back was to the other man, but he directed a dangerous promise over his shoulder.

"Try that again and I'll tear you apart."

Alec's threat may as well have been from a child to the man, who proved this in an instant.

With a snap, John's hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist. The harsh action yanked me from Alec, who flinched as if automatically prepared to protect me, but he held back. Again. Despite his threat. I, however, did not share the same apparent confidence in this man as John's thumb intentionally pressed on my pulse, red eyes piercing me with a stare that made my stomach churn. I glared defiantly back.

"A few month's taste of your sister's gift will hardly make a dent in the pain she'll experience." His eyes flickered to Alec before he released me like a snap. My status as a human already lowered the man's expectations, and so I was only slightly embarrassed when I retreated immediately back into Alec for some remnant of safety. My spine made contact with his chest and automatically, his hand went to my abdomen, keeping me there. His muscles were tensed and though he wasn't breathing, his chest shifted as if he were. As if trying to soothe the rising turmoil inside him. "She either survives the transformation, or she does not."

My breath caught. Did he know? He'd said Caius had had a lot to say about me, but surely, if the Masters wanted Jane and I to keep it to ourselves then there was no way they'd tell anyone else. There was no reason to. Especially not this man.

Another warning growl ripped through Alec's chest, sending alarm bells to my nerves. But the sound never left his body.

"All due respect," Alec replied coolly, "your speculation is as unfounded as ours."

The austere man raised his eyebrows, his gaze dogging back to me before he straightened his posture. I lifted my head up to Alec, who had not dropped the cold exterior his old friend's statement raised. But his eyes never left the man's motions.

"These things take time."

Alec's head tilted down to me, and I realized John was addressing me. "I understand." Part of me was surprised he was taking the job Alec had offered him, and vice versa. I wondered what payment sufficed for a man like him. I swallowed dryly, "you might want to start with the Interpol investigation."

The vampire scrutinized me another second longer before giving a gruff mutter in return. He bowed his head slightly to Alec, a mannerism that was returned with begrudging respect, and left the room with the dramatic billowing cloak whirling at his heels.

I scrunched my nose and, not even caring that John could still hear us, stated, "your friend sucks."

With him and Prosper gone, Alec's arms tightened around me and his head dropped to my neck. His breath tickled my shoulders as he released a deep exhale. My chin lowered, tilting my head against his as he nuzzled into my neck. Nerves raced in my stomach with the position, but I only sank deeper into the safety of his arms.

The anger had not faded, but he tried to keep his tone light. "What he lacks in social skills, he makes up for with various specialties."

"Like training newborns?" Alec didn't say anything, but breathed out harshly when I asked, "will I have to work with him?"

Without hesitation, "no." He pressed his lips to my temple, before elaborating softly against my skin. "His methods are a tad medieval for you." I couldn't hide the small escape of air at the words.

"Are we–do you want to talk about what just happened?"

He tensed once more, placing a kiss behind my ear and releasing me. "Later," he pleaded when I'd turned and it had been ages since I'd seen those wide puppy dog eyes. They had been so endearing the first time he'd given me such a look, and I adored the purity in the natural response. I'd never tell him, as he'd undoubtedly attempt to abstain from the association, but it made me sentimental.

To avoid delving deeper into the topic he wanted to avoid, I offered a nonspecific apology, but tried to acknowledge my role. "I know that was stupid. But maybe a heads up, you know, the next time your friend's a psychopath?" I had a feeling there might be a few vampires that met the rare diagnosis.

Dark locks of hair shook on his head, falling across his forehead. Adamantly, he assured, "it is not your fault. I should not have left you alone."

"You should be able to leave me alone without thinking I'm gonna chance bodily harm."

A low chuckle sounded from him as he leaned back against the table. "Tesoro, that is nothing new, nor anything you can control. I was referring to the company. John is no longer my tutor, he had no right to evaluate me for any reason."

The sentence sent a chill down my spine, because it suggested that while John had been his instructor, something like this would be deemed appropriate. To be frank, it felt more like emotional warfare. And if he had worked with the twins soon after they'd become vampires, they would have been closer to their biological age. It was probably one of the more important questions I could ever ask him, but the answer terrified me into silent submission.

"However, if anyone can find information on your father, I believe it will be him."

"Thank you." I reached for his hand, squeezing it. He smiled softly and the sight made me giddy. "I know it's a long shot," I trailed off but it was more than enough. He knew.

Alec pulled me between his legs, his free hand falling to my hip. "Someone helped me realize what closure with your father's life could do for you."

I snorted, not thinking too seriously as I began to play with his fingers. "Someone? That's specific."

"Demetri and I made a stop on our return to Volterra." I tilted my head up, curious and slightly wary that he was sharing this mission in particular – and how my father was connected. "There's something you should know."