We walked a few more steps forward before we were once again at an opening, Caius standing there looking rather businesslike.

"I apologize for the interruption, brother. I am sure you know I would not do so if it were not urgent." He looked to me before taking a step forward, holding out his hand, palm up.

Aro moved forward, touching his hand to the other man's before calmly taking a step back, once more standing next to me.

"So it seems." He said coldly, his voice sounding much like it had when he heard my discovery in Carlisle's office.

Looking at him, I could barely believe this was the man who was so care free with me just moments earlier. His eyes became darker and his face, hard as stone. Just at that moment, Carlisle came out, worry etched on every feature. Only two milliseconds behind was Edward, his eyes panicked.

"They smell her." Edward said seriously, looking to Aro who now looked deadly.

"Keeping her away isn't an option anymore. They are going to feel like something is being hidden from them." Carlisle said calmly.

"Let them. It's none of their business." Caius spat back.

"Caius, that isn't exactly the best way to go about this especially considering the circumstances. Being upfront about her being here is the best way to keep things civil."

It was becoming clear to me what Carlisle's position here was years ago. Not just another body, but advising the most powerful vampires around. And rather strategically.

Aro looked as if he was doing a complicated math problem in his head, his eyes locking with Carlisle's who offered out his hand.

"You know I am right, Aro. We will have guards on her always. But hiding her will only start things off poorly and the conflict will escalate."

Aro looked at his hand, but did not take it. Rather he gave him a nod and turned to his brother.

"Caius, while I agree these barbarians are hardly entitled to our information, Carlisle is correct." Aro reasoned. "They have smelled her and she is clearly the only human there. They will be suspicious and paranoid as they are, they'll make some wild assumptions leading to further unwanted interactions. Regardless, I would feel better with her near me. Her safety is only assured in my hands."

That last sentence sounded deadly and I looked to Aro, silently begging him to explain what was going on.

"Caius, go on up to the hall, Carlisle and I will walk up shortly with Annabelle." Aro directed. "Edward, I would like to ask you to stand with us. Your gift will be useful with these snakes in the grass."

"Of course." Edward said looking at Aro sternly "Annabelle is here because of us. Anything that will add to her protection."

"Very well. I thank you." Aro nodded politely and with that Edward and Caius turned and left heading back to the entrance into the building.

"What's going on?" I managed to ask. I wasn't really sure who I was asking. Anyone. I was becoming uncomfortably used to being in the dark and that needed to stop.

We started walking and Aro and Carlisle started weaving the story of Stefan and Vladimir; the ancient vampires from Romania. With all the twists and turns, it sounded like an action movie. Two rival clans fighting for power until they united to become an even larger force.

"They are brutes." Aro scoffed "Flaunting about the likes of our kind, demanding humans to appease their wrath, selling off immortality for favors." With every word, he sounded more and more disgusted.

"For the good of our kind, Aro, Marcus, and Caius began a war to fight for dominance of our world." Carlisle explained. "They felt it was the only way to set the example of secrecy and a new order of rules. A whole separate existence rather than the interactions with humans that could lead to abuse on both ends."

I nodded in understanding.

"And now those two cockalorums are here to insist that we have intruded in their territory and come barging into my castle to address the issue." Aro added "they say that as if they have any right to territorial claims at this point."

Finally we reached the set of French doors I had entered what seemed like an eternity ago. Part of me wanted to ask the time, but I decided it was pointless and rather unimportant right now. No matter what time it was, this is what we were doing.

"Carlisle, do not leave her side." Aro instructed before turning to me. "My darling, please do as I ask and stay silent. Stay one step behind me at all times unless I give you a signal to do otherwise. These scoundrels cannot be trusted and will do anything in their self believed power to make my existence misery."

I nodded confidently, trying to not show any worry on my face. I couldn't think of anyone who could really pose a threat to Aro. He was so regal and strong and frankly...invincible in my mind. The idea of someone who he had running ins with made me nervous, not that I could afford to show it.

With that he bent down slightly and graced my cheek with a light but meaningful kiss. His lips were cold... just like they had felt on my hand and yet my cheek felt like it was on fire. His lips were firm but somehow were most gentle thing I had felt. He stood straight up before pushing both doors open with what appeared to be no effort at all.

He walked tall and confident, as did Carlisle. I did my best to copy their attitudes, making sure I stood straight and my chin up. I could see them, two pale figures standing in the center of the room, but it wasn't until we got to the front of the room that I really got a good look at them.

Aro had taken my hand and guided me up the three stairs that led to the platform where his throne and brothers were, Carlisle staying by my side.

These Vampires were... striking. I wondered if I would ever get over the overwhelming beauty of their kind. They were two men, both pale and strong. Other than that, they were rather starkly contrasted. One had sharp features, his hair so blond it was nearly white and his face angular. The other had pitch black hair and a strong face that looked like your hand would shatter if you punched it.

"Stefan. Vladimir." Aro greeted curtly, nodding to each in turn. "To what do we owe the pleasure of having you in our home this evening?"

His voice echoed and I realized how deadly silent it was. There were more people in the lavish room than their had been earlier, every pair of eyes stuck on the two visitors, Jane and her brother standing just at the bottom of the platform stairs.

"I believe you know exactly what brings us here." The blonde one sneered, a thick accent in his voice "You sent your dog after us and entered our territory."

"Territory?" Aro asked, amused. "The last I had noticed, the two of you were nomads. You don't stay in one area particularly long."

The darker of the pair stepped forward angrily "Do not act as if you are innocent. We know the smell of your filth."

"The only filth in the room is you, Romanian." Caius now entered the conversation. "We have free range to go wherever we are conducting business or perhaps you forgot the last time we had to remind you."

With that, the blond haired man let out a deep throated growl.

"Please remember your head, Vladimir." Marcus finally spoke up. His voice was passive, almost bored.

"How can you defend them?" Vladimir hissed "You know as well as I how it feels to lose a mate. Look at you. Younger than both these so called 'brothers' of yours when you turned and now you look as if you lived a thousand years longer."

"Vladimir, I would like it if you kept Marcus' appearance out of this." Aro said, pleasantly...but with warning. "And I believe this is about land not previously fallen coven members."

"You know Romania belongs to our coven." The brunette , who must have been Stefan , redirected.

"Not really seeing as you don't own anything." Caius all but laughed.

With that Stefan lost his cool, snarling like an animal and stepping forward sharply. That is all the farther he got before he hit the ground, screaming in pain.

The sudden movements made me jump, moving instinctively back a step, my back hitting Carlisle's supportive hand. I looked to him and he gave me a reassuring nod.

My attention was called back to the Romanians as Stefan had stopped screaming and had managed back to his feet.

"Stop having that little girl protect you." he managed out.

"I'd rather not. She's extraordinarily good at it." Aro countered making even me smirk with amusement.

"And what about the human behind you, Aro? Is she another one you'll use to protect you? Or maybe we interrupted you on an extra feeding?" Vladimir questioned.

I didn't like the mention of my presence, but I disliked the reminder of what vampires ate even more. All of this was happening too fast...too in depth...and was too strange. I had accepted the existence of vampires. I understood the complexity of hierarchies and competing covens. I even had begun to embrace ever so slightly the idea of proven soulmates. Not to mention mind reading, shields, and a thousand other superpowers they apparently have.

But somehow in all of that...I failed to remember that vampires drank blood.

Human blood.

And I was very much human.

Seven million questions whirled around in my head and I had no chance at asking any of them.

"I do not believe it is any of your business." Caius said sternly, taking a step forward.

"She's the only one here, its simply curious." Vladimir reasoned, venom in his voice "Not only that but you've managed to have Carlisle return to you. Whatever did you threaten him with?"

"He is here as a guest, as is our darling friend here." Aro explained, shifting his weight so I was even more hidden behind him.

"I believe that's against one of your many laws." Stefan pointed out.

"I believe you're not in such a position to insinuate such things." Aro said, harsher even than Caius had been all night. "If our staying out of Romania will appease you, I am willing to make such an agreement, if only to get you to leave."

The two men looked at one another as if communicating through thoughts. For all I knew they were.

"All of Romania." Vladimir emphasized "And if your tracking dog comes even a step into it, we will take action."