Disclaimer: This chapter contains direct quotes from New Moon, chapters 21 and 22. Stephenie Meyer owns it all.

"Not fast enough," Alice muttered. The lobby door opened and the glorious aroma of Heidi's catch filled the hall, followed a moment later by the first of them stepping inside. I pressed myself against the stones to let them pass, indicating that Edward and Alice should do the same. They pulled the human aside as the sea of humanity passed, and I heard Aro give his usual tour-guide welcome. I inhaled deeply, noticing one or two that spelled especially good. Edward clutched his mate to his chest, but as we began moving again, she began to cry, horror in her eyes: she understood.

We reached the main hallway just as the last human stragglers passed us by. Heidi was bringing up the rear as usual, and looking as lovely as ever. St. Marcus Day was always her favorite. She had many methods of bringing in our prey, but she especially enjoyed the ruse she employed every year on this day. This particular group had been told that they were getting a tour of the stronghold of the vampires that had once terrorized the city. The irony was just delicious... as was their superstitious fear. A quiet growl rumbled in Edward's chest as he heard my delight. But he did not turn around. No matter how much he disapproved of the fate of the humans he had just observed, he would not endanger his mate again. He had done that enough for one day.

"Welcome home, Heidi," I said, ignoring him.

"Demetri," she purred, looking curiously at our visitors. She seemed especially surprised to see Edward's cloak, no doubt wondering what had transpired while she had been out hunting.

"Nice fishing," I complimented her, nodding back toward the Dining Room.

She smiled, her violet eyes flicking back to mine. She had already fed, then: one of the benefits of her particular task. "Thanks. Aren't you coming?"

"In a minute. Save a few for me." She nodded and ducked inside the panel, sliding it shut behind herself. We continued on toward the lobby, Edward pulling the girl even faster now. The screaming began before we reached the door, though, and she flinched inside Edward's arms. He just pulled her along even more quickly, staring straight ahead with his jaw clenched. I paused at the soundproof door, stretching out with my gift to make sure there were no humans in the lobby to hear the sound of our prey dying back in the Dining Room. The sound was raking at my throat, and I was eager now to be rid of our visitors. Sensing only Gianna's presence, I pushed open the door and led them out into the lobby. The peaceful music playing through the speakers was at odds with the chorus of screams behind us- a dissonant symphony, but an appetizing one. Gianna tensed at the new sound, but made no other sign; she had heard it before. No doubt she was thinking about how lucky she was to escape such a fate.

As soon as everyone was out of the hallway, I turned to Edward. I hope you realize how fortunate you are, I told him silently. I, for one, cannot understand the pardon you are receiving. I just hope you have the sense to correct your error in the time allotted to you. He just stared back at me with unbridled hatred, holding his human tightly against his side. I supposed that for the rest of eternity, he would see me as the villain who had turned him in. I was only doing my duty, I thought angrily. But I suppose you don't understand what that means, do you?

He just clenched his jaw, the faintest hint of a growl vibrating deep inside of him. "Do not leave before dark," I warned him. And don't test Aro's kindness, Edward. We'll know if you try to leave before then. I glanced meaningfully up at the security camera perched near the ceiling.

He nodded, but stiffened again as he observed me turning my focus to Alice's mind. I couldn't help but feel smug as he watched me burn her essence into my eternal memory. Edward obviously hadn't wanted his "sister" to come to the attention of the Volturi, but he had practically brought her here himself. And now, she would never be able to hide from me again. Not that Aro would ever force anyone to join the Guard against their will, but I took some professional satisfaction in the knowledge that I was the key to Aro having future access to Alice and Edward… if not their human pet. I made one last futile attempt at the human girl's mind and reentered the hallway, pulling the door back onto its seal behind me.

I hurried back toward the Dining Room, Edward's foolishness forgotten as my venom began to flow in earnest. The screams were quickly disappearing, and I anxiously hoped Heidi had kept her word. I flew through the stone antechamber and into the Dining Room, taking my cloak off as I entered.

But to my dismay, there were no humans left alive. A few of my comrades were still kneeling over their last prey, but most were already standing upright with bright red eyes, and refastening their cloaks. Santiago and Felix were tossing the corpses into a pile over the drain, preparing them for disposal. Jane and Alec were rooting through the pockets and purses of the dead. My throat burned hotter as Afton shot me one of his smirks. But for once, he was not the one I wanted to tear apart.

"Heidi," I growled, stalking towards her. "I told you-"

"Peace, Demetri," Aro said, his ruby eyes sparkling as he approached me. "I told Heidi not to trouble herself on your account."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. Withholding blood was one of Caius' favorite punishments, but I could not imagine Aro doing such a thing. And he had been so pleased with me earlier! What could I have done wrong to deserve this?! It was terrible to imagine waiting another week to feed- but it was far more painful to think that I had failed my Master, that I had hurt him so badly that he felt the need to do this. I shoved my hand forward, anxious to understand his sudden disfavor. He took it.

What have I done, Master? Was it my delay in the alley? I assure you, I was only trying to keep the humans' attention from-

Aro laughed, releasing my hand. "You misunderstand me, old friend! I am not upset with you. No, in fact, I have never been so… relieved to have you in my service!" His eyes darted to the door, where he had watched our strange visitors depart only minutes ago. "And so you will not be feeding with us today, Demetri. I have a special reward for you."

The buzz of conversation in the room ceased as all eyes fell on me, and I stood taller as I waited, unbreathing. "The internet is a marvelous thing!" Aro laughed. "While you and Felix were out watching Edward this morning, I found what I needed to ensure that your waitress does, indeed, live far enough away. And she even has two roommates! You'll need to use the car, of course, and I know I can trust you to clean up after yourself. I have her address... but you don't want it, do you?" He smiled knowingly.

I grinned, my throat aching in anticipation. "No, Master, I don't. Your generosity is, is-"

Aro waved his hand. "Think nothing of it. You have been with us long enough to know that I delight in indulging my children now and then." He waved his hand again, this time toward the door.

I bowed deeply, and was unable to hold back a superior smirk as I tossed my cloak to Felix. He needed one, after all. He bared his teeth at me and a jealous growl rumbled in his chest. Afton was livid. I spun on my heel and flew out of the castle, eager to begin the hunt. Aro knew me so well! Feeding alone was a generous reward, and a rare one- but this! My Master had given me the greatest reward of all: a chance to stretch my gift, to use it for my own ends at my own leisure. I drove straight to the café: the hunt would begin there.

.

.

.

I didn't even slow down as I drove by the café; as I had hoped, she wasn't there. I opened my mind then, finding her trail instantly. I would have preferred to hunt on foot, but the sun was bright. No matter; this wasn't the sort of hunt where I needed my nose. I followed her trail out of town, and through the green country outside Montaione. I slowed down as I entered the town, winding through the streets as my mind resonated with her growing proximity. She led me on a delightful chase. Her mental trail crossed itself more than once, and I even had to backtrack a few times as I stalked her path without the help of her scent. She had stopped today at a produce stand, at the local post office, and at a gas station. But she could not elude me. I finally parked next to an average-looking apartment building, glancing up at the sky before cracking open the door. I caught a whiff of her scent, but it was too sunny to get out yet. I glanced up at the building through the windshield, feeling her presence right in front of me. My gift was thrumming with success now, and my throat was a wasteland. At least there was a promising cloud floating on the horizon: fifteen minutes, judging by the wind.

While I waited, I reflected on the events of the past day and night. I was, honestly, at a loss to see why Aro hadn't killed the girl Bella. She was undeniably dangerous, with her knowledge of our world... doubly so, with her immunity to my gift, and to Aro's. Wasn't it our job to protect our world from liabilities like this? Wasn't that the whole reason that the Guard existed? Wasn't it important for vampires everywhere to fear punishment enough to deter crimes like the one Edward had committed? Was it wise for us to be showing weakness like this?

Not weakness, I chided myself. Mercy. Reprieve.

It was not my place to question the judgments of the Three. And although Caius had, at first, pushed for execution, it was Aro who had stayed his hand. This had been Aro's choice then- and I couldn't question my Master. I literally couldn't form the thought in my mind. He had his reasons, and they were no doubt too great for me to understand. I was happy for him, at least: it seemed that Alice had managed to offer some kind of evidence – through her gift, I assumed- that the human would be turned. Aro had clearly been hoping for anything that would give him the chance to spare the defendants. He had said that he liked happy endings, and it appeared that he had found a way to make one. At least he had taken precautions: he had not protested when Caius threatened to visit the Cullens, and make sure the girl had been turned. A wise plan.

I reflected, as well, on the choices young Edward had made. I didn't understand a single one of them. I supposed he had been trained by Carlisle to feed on animals in the beginning, but I could not understand why he still continued on that path, now that he had sampled both types of blood. And to come upon one's singer, and not feed… but he had done more than that. He had fallen in love with her! It was the most absurd idea I had ever heard, and I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes.

I knew that some vampires – Felix, for one- had a liking for human females that I considered distasteful. At least those types of dalliances always ran through to their natural conclusion! But perhaps I was being unfair. Aro himself, after all, had found his mate in the human world. But he had taken the obvious path, once he had found a suitable girl: he had turned her. What was Edward thinking, hovering in this impossible – not to mention illegal- middle ground? The girl was going to die one way or the other- whether by his own thirst, or by execution at Caius' hand, or by old age. And she obviously wanted to be turned, like Sulpicia had. What was he waiting for?

But the choice that truly baffled me was his refusal to join the Guard. I supposed, in retrospect, that I could understand his reluctance to come with me back in '26. He had been young, naïve. And he had mentioned that Jane and I were the first normal vampires he had ever met… so I supposed that he had been afraid of the unknown, reluctant to leave his creator's side. I could understand that. I, too, had been reluctant to leave my creator at first. I, too, had declined the invitation, determined to stay loyal to Amun. Loyal! As if that word had any meaning apart from the purpose, the meaning my life held now! But it had only taken a few minutes for me to see that I was on the wrong path; Aro just shone too brightly for me to follow anyone else. It was the best decision I had ever made in my life. I suppose Edward couldn't be blamed for staying with Carlisle, when Aro himself was not present to inspire his new allegiance.

But now! He had been right in Aro's presence today, and still he had refused! And not just refused, but had made it abundantly clear how distasteful the idea was. Last night was understandable; he had been deep in his grief, and could not bear remaining on the earth without his mate. But what had stopped him today, once he knew the girl was alive? What about my Master could possibly preclude Edward's loyalty? There was nothing. The only possible explanation was that the animal diet must have rotted his mind. His failure to feed properly was blunting the expanded intellect that our kind were marked with. He was thinking like a human, and a stupid one at that.

I only hoped that he would not waste any time in turning the girl. It was unlikely that Aro himself would accompany Caius, when the visit was made. If Edward had not fulfilled the law by then, Caius would not be merciful- I knew he would not. It was a miracle that Aro had convinced his brother to withhold judgment this time. And as pitiful as Edward Cullen was, I didn't want to see him die. Because right or wrong, his little romance was a thing of beauty. It certainly didn't make any sense, but that only added to the mystery. And I supposed, if one wanted to think like a human, that his lifestyle was peaceable, moral. It might even be said that he was noble- having tasted human blood, and yet still choosing to eschew "murder", as he no doubt saw it. And I supposed his stubborn loyalty to his eccentric creator was admirable, in its own way. I just hoped, for his sake, that he really did get his happy ending.

But there was no more time for reflection- the cloud had arrived, and I slipped out of the car. I entered the building, looking around to make sure there were no surveillance devices. The waitress' scent was thicker up the stairs, and so was her mental trail. I silently ascended to the third floor and down the hall, where her scent ended abruptly at a door labeled "317". I checked again for surveillance equipment, and I knocked on the door.

There was music coming from inside, and I recognized the voice that abruptly ceased its off-key singing upon hearing my knock. There were footsteps, and the door opened a crack: it was her. She gave a little gasp and opened the door as wide as the little chain allowed, blushing.

Delicious.

"I'm sorry," she stammered, staring up into my eyes, "I know we've met, but I can't quite… oh, the café! Last night!"

I switched my thinking to Italian. "Yes," I murmured. "It was last night. Forgive me… it's just that I haven't been able to think of anything except you, since then. I had to see you again. My name is Demetri." I leaned closer, letting my breath waft over her face.

"Demetri," she echoed weakly. "I'm Bianca."

"Bianca," I breathed. "What a beautiful name." I inhaled her scent again, relishing the burn as it crept down my throat. "Aren't you going to invite me in, Bianca?"

She hesitated then, and the door began to close again. I leaned forward, piercing her eyes with my own. And then I smiled, the "trust me" kind. She swallowed, and her fingers scrambled to undo the chain. I slipped inside, sniffing the air and smiling genuinely: she was alone. I was thirsty enough for three, but one at a time was more enjoyable anyway.

As I turned to face her again, my eyes swept over the contents of the apartment. Bianca and her roommates must be college students, like I had thought; there were textbooks everywhere, and a red backpack lay ready by the door where Bianca was still standing. Her black apron was draped over the backpack in readiness for her shift at the café tonight. I was especially pleased to note that the small kitchen was equipped with an ancient-looking gas stove. An easy cleanup, then: after I had fed on all three of them, I would simulate a gas leak and burn the whole place out.

"Ah, Bianca," I sighed in satisfaction, smiling down at her. She blushed again, and my thirst sang in response. So accommodating.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" she asked shyly, tucking a black curl behind one ear. She turned toward a dilapidated liquor cabinet.

"I thought you'd never ask."

As she busied herself with the drinks, I took one last look around her habitat. The textbooks were strewn about in three distinct piles, and the pile with Bianca's scent indicated that she was studying art history. There was a laptop perched on the couch, its screen glowing with some half-written term paper. There was a half-empty bowl of instant noodles on the coffee table, and a half-drunk coffee next to it.

A half-finished life. A life about to end, at my hand. No doubt someone like Edward Cullen would see this as a tragedy, or perhaps even an opportunity: a chance for a vampire to rise above his nature and allow this intelligent, promising human to continue her half-finished life. One might even wonder what achievements this girl might make in the future, were she to continue living. Or her children, or her grandchildren. An entire genealogy of possibilities, in my hands. A chance for redemption, to borrow a phrase from a young, golden-eyed idealist who had visited Volterra in the eighteenth century. What was it Carlisle had said, all those years ago?

This living death need not be a death sentence to our mortal neighbors. We have ascended beyond their species, Aro, as you say. But does not this greater power give us greater responsibility? I, too, thirst for their blood. But I do not consume it, for it is not mine to consume. Rather, I will take this frozen immortality to spend unlimited time in the practice of mercy, of kindness … and of healing, if I can manage it. It gives me happiness… and, yes, relief from the guilty burden of the darkness within me. If I can save lives, instead of take them- as I confess I desire to do- then perhaps I can reclaim some portion of my lost humanity. Perhaps I can prove myself still worthy, through this thirsty atonement, to call myself a man. I believe that each of us has this chance for redemption, for goodness. And I hope – no, I believe- that someday, I will not be alone in my efforts.

Noble words. But I was not Carlisle Cullen, and I most certainly was not Edward Cullen. These men led small lives- faithful to their own ideals, perhaps, but of no account to the greater vampire world. I was leading a life that held a far greater purpose, and reaped far greater rewards. Reclaiming my so-called humanity held no attraction for me- not when I was already at the center of civilization, a favorite servant of the greatest man who had ever ruled our kind. And on days like this, when Aro looked upon me with tender approval and thanks, I knew that I was even more than that. I was his trusted colleague, his friend… his son, if that was not too bold. I didn't need this reward to remind me that I was favored. But Aro had seen fit to give me this gift, and I would accept it with gratitude- not with disloyal consideration of the eccentricities of the Cullens. How could I offer him any less? He deserved my devotion, not my questions.

Bianca was blushing again – I supposed I had been staring at her during my ruminations. My throat flamed in response, and I smiled at her one last time as she handed me a tiny glass of alcohol. It would come in handy later, when I started the fire. She was so thoughtful. And even though I would end her half-finished life, I would give her a gift that a rogue like Felix would never have given her.

"Thank you for the drink, Bianca."

I killed her with a single sweep of my hand. As I bit and drowned myself in the paradise of her blood, one final thought swept through my evaporating consciousness: Edward Cullen was a fool in more ways than one.