It was like being held hostage, a gun pressed to my back. I felt like I was being marched to an appointment execution and wanted the people around us to see it. But instead, to everyone else I was walking into a high end hotel with a supermodel.

The minute we stepped out of the car, I recognized where we were. New York City. At first, I couldn't imagine why he would bring us here. But as we walked into the lobby, I noticed every pair of eyes glued to us. If Aro was going to find us, he couldn't do anything to Vladimir without being noticed. And remaining secret was law number one.

Vladimir was terrifying. The more time I spent near him, the more I recognized how calculated he was. He had planned for me to see him...but only at times I would assume it was something else. He gave me signs without leading me to any real conclusions therefore not truly alerting Aro who would have assumed things like human exhaustion and ignorance were at play. He had a car ready on the road for when he caught me to take me into the city.

He walked with me in such a way that he looked like a doting partner, his hand on my back or waist at all times though only I knew it was to remind me to watch myself. He had fake bags so we didn't look suspicious. And above all he had an understanding of Aro and how he worked.

By the time we entered our room, I all but wanted to shove Vladimir away from me. Something about him gave me the creeps and the fact that he found it funny only made it worse.

It wasn't until the door shut that Vladimir removed himself from my side, walking across the room and sitting in the office desk chair. I remained standing, as far away from him as I could get.

"So what now?" I asked him sharply, trying to sound in control and unimpressed.

He cracked a smile before shrugging "Now that, I haven't completely decided on." He admitted.

"Kind of silly to grab me, run, and have no plan." I countered.

"I have my reasons." He said casually. "You might as well relax. We are going to be here at least over night and I have no intention of killing you unless you give me a reason."

I eyed the bed for a moment before walking over to it and taking a seat on the corner furthest from him, never once breaking eye contact.

"If you kill me, you lose your leverage." I pointed out and he raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose in a way, but I don't lose anything. Because when all is said and done, my objective is to destroy Aro. So while killing you would in fact take away a bargaining chip, it would also put Aro in a weaker state for me to take advantage of."

I nodded. He was right. I wasn't even sure what he was trying to get from the Volturi, but even Aro had pointed out that this was to make him miserable.

"Here." He held out a book and to my surprise it was Notes From Underground. "I picked it up before we left. I will say the irony that you are reading it is not lost on me."

I looked at him suspiciously.

"What irony is that?" I questioned to which he smirked, standing up.

"Well given the theme and the author, they tie in perfectly with your darling Aro." He paced a bit as he explained

"A man having lived through the times of the enlightenment and the revolutions that followed writes his praise of said enlightenment...but also criticizes its weakness. It's lies and it's facade. All the while he also praises the solid hierarchy system that came before it...but also pointing out its cruel and unforgiving nature."

He landed in front of me, crouching so that his eyes were level with mine.

"And as you continue to read, you notice this man, this politically savvy outsider, praises whatever political philosophy that better suits his interests, depending on the ignorance of the reader to allow him to get his way." He raised an eyebrow and smirked "Ring a bell?"

I narrowed my eyes, trying my best to match the intimidation he gave off.

"You?" I asked, condescending, tilting my head.

"Most certainly not." He stood back up slowly "I was satisfied with the old world order. My coven and I controlled humans because we killed humans. We controlled vampires because we could kill vampires. We were strong and we controlled our world."

"Until Aro came in and kicked your ass." I interjected.

"Until your self righteous boyfriend used a fake cause to collect vampires with extra gifts to slaughter my coven and take what is ours." He corrected sharply.

"Stefan and I never once lied about our intentions. We knew what we were. But Aro dresses himself as a god controlling us all, Marcus as a saint to make us think they are good, and uses Caius as a weapon to keep us all in line." He spat. "And now he uses you to entice me to step out of line so he can finally do away with me."

I shot up, standing in front of him, clenching my jaw. Something about pretending to have any power in the presence of a vampire made me feel like a child but I didn't care.

"That is not how he sees me." I hissed.

"Right. Because he loves you, yes? Or so I've heard him say. And tell me, how do you know he is telling the truth?" He questioned, not backing away even an inch.

"Marcus saw it." I informed him but it only made him smirk.

"Of course he did. And I'm sure Aro confirmed it as did their closest friend's adopted son. How silly of me to think they could be tricking you."

I blinked a few times. I hadn't thought of all that.

"But for my purposes, I hope it is true. Because if it is, once Aro discovers that I have you, he will go mad."