This chapter contains direct quotes from New Moon, Chapter 22. Stephenie Meyer owns it all. And some credit must also be given to Universal Pictures... I'll be very proud if anyone can guess which film gets quoted here!

Thank you to whilewewereyetsinners, and all others who helped me out with this one! Without further ado, get ready to feel sorry for our buddy Demetri...

Aro POV

As soon as Demetri left to claim his reward, I turned to Marcus and Caius.

"I must take my leave, brothers. I have a great deal of work to do today." They nodded, both catching my eye meaningfully – we would all be doing our best to occupy our minds until nightfall. I moved toward Heidi, who was just gathering together all of the wallets from the pile of valuables that Jane and Alec had removed from our prey. This was one of her regular duties, but I needed something to do.

"Allow me the pleasure, Heidi," I said, holding out my hand. She looked at me curiously, but handed me the bag. Our fingers touched as I took it, and I closed my eyes briefly as I took in her thoughts; it had been nearly seven months since I had taken her hand. In a matter of milliseconds, I raced through her memories of the intervening time. There was not much of interest, save a growing attraction to one of the newest Guards: a brute like Felix whom I had changed twenty years ago. He was, without a doubt, one of the stupidest vampires I had ever created. He was already slated for elimination, as soon as Caius managed to… but I should think about that later. Heidi was watching me carefully, wondering what I thought of her latest love interest.

"I couldn't be happier, my dear," I assured her. She dropped her eyes and smiled; I was sure she would be blushing, if she had the chance. I nodded my dismissal and she disappeared, no doubt to find her Guard. I shook my head, careful to keep my thoughts indulgent.

"Aro, what are you doing? Isn't that Heidi's responsibility?" I turned to find Sulpicia at my side, and I melted anew at the sight of her. She was wearing a white summer dress in raw silk, her hair elegantly swept up for feeding, and her eyes a sparkling crimson. She was magnificent, every inch a queen. I took her hand, pressing my lips against it.

"Heidi has another matter to attend to, my love. And I'm afraid I have quite a bit of work to do, as well. Why don't you return to your rooms?"

Her beautiful lips frowned slightly, her eyes searching mine. We usually spent the day together after feeding, but that would not do today. My lovely wife was quite capable of distracting me, but not to the level I needed at the moment. Before she could question me, I gently pulled her back towards the diminishing crowd.

"Corin, Sulpicia is ready to retire. You will attend her." Corin nodded, and they left together. Over in another corner of the room, Caius and Athenodora were having a similar conversation. I was careful not to look at, or think about Marcus at all. This was no time to be thinking about his condition.

I carried the bag out to my own chambers, emptying the wallets out onto my desk. I turned on the news, as well as an audiobook read in Swahili, as well as a CD of Mozart's symphonies. I sat down, breathing deeply and committing every corner of my mind to these stimuli before beginning my task.

This was the real reason I had touched Heidi's hand today: so that I could see how she usually did this, and so I could learn what I needed about each of our prey to complete the task. Heidi worked tirelessly to ensure that our prey knew as little as possible about their destination, so that they could not be traced. Today's catch was the annual exception, however. They had known that they were going to tour a castle that, according to local legend, had once been infested with vampires. Each person had been told a different city, at least, many of which were in other countries. I knew from Heidi's mind not only where each human was from, but all sorts of details about their personal lives.

I hacked into the databases of various shops and venues in their local towns, fabricating transactions supposedly made today by their credit cards. The finished product made it appear that these humans had been in all sorts of different countries in the hours preceding their disappearances. Just for good measure, I even created a few transactions taking place tomorrow. I then traced back each human's itinerary, deleting the electronic trail of their trek to Italy. My final task was to sweep through everyone's personal email and social media sites, deleting the records of their contact with Heidi, and any mention of their upcoming trip.

All this time I was also monitoring the video feed coming from the security cameras, particularly the one by Gianna's desk. Bella had drifted into a half-sleep while they waited, and Alice was spending a good deal of time staring at Edward. No doubt she was communicating silently, updating him on all that had passed during his absence – both at the Cullen residence and back in Forks, Washington. I was careful, though, to also keep my mind on all the other stimuli in my office.

When I was finished the cleanup, I destroyed the wallets and their contents, after making a few discreet deposits into our own accounts. Then I sat back with a book that had been found in one of our younger prey's backpack, while watching the local news and continuing to monitor Alice and Edward. It was just so convenient, the way they were able to share their thoughts and visions… but I would think about that later.

One item on the news caught my eye: a new zoning official had been appointed for Volterra. I made a mental note to speak with Chelsea later about it. She was our liaison to the local authorities, and she would need to meet the new official and bind his loyalty to herself. She would instruct him to consult her before making any decisions that might affect our little establishment. We had this arrangement with several government employees, and it had never failed us.

As soon as the sun had set, I called for Alec to attend me. He appeared at my door in four seconds.

"Master?"

"You may dismiss the Americans, Alec. Ask them not to linger in the city."

"Yes, Master." He was gone. I watched on the screen, and he soon appeared in the lobby.

"You're free to leave now," he told Edward warmly. "We ask that you don't linger in the city."

"That won't be a problem," Edward replied coldly.

I smiled warmly at the screen. Farewell, young Edward, I thought. It has been a pleasure. I wish you all the happiness in the world, you and your lovely Bella. Just remember your promise.

His eyes flicked up to the camera, his expression inscrutable. I sighed wistfully, feeling powerless. I do hope we meet again someday. And give my best to Carlisle, please.

He nodded slightly, but his jaw seemed that it would break if it were clenched any harder. He helped Bella to her feet. Gianna gave them directions to the other lobby, and they left. I turned my attention back to my new book for the next hour, then went out in search of my brothers. They were already waiting for me in the Dining Room, which had already been cleaned up. Felix was in attendance.

"They're gone," he reported.

"Thank you, Felix," I said. "We'll call you if we need anything." He bowed and went out, closing the doors.

I finally relaxed my mind, letting the events of the day rush back into my conscious thought. It had been surprisingly difficult to keep my mind under control; I was the only one in Volterra who had never needed to do so. The challenge had been a delightful diversion. But now that I was able to think freely, the possibilities swirled around my brain in a vortex of color. I laughed out loud as I crossed the room in a flash, settling into my throne.

"I'm glad one of us finds this amusing," Caius snapped. "You've just made a complete mockery of our authority."

"Oh, Caius, do cheer up. This is the most exciting day we've had in centuries! Wouldn't you agree, Marcus?"

"Unequivocally."

"And on your holiday, no less! You've really outdone yourself this time, brother."

Marcus merely sighed, looking up at the ceiling; he had already used up his conversational energy for the day. I suspected he had had much less trouble than Caius and I, keeping his thoughts under control today. He offered me his hand frequently, so that he didn't have to speak too often, and I was always impressed with how little he bothered to think about anything. It really was quite an achievement, considering his species.

"Now," I said grandly. "We have much to discuss. Marcus, have you told our brother of your observation earlier?" He shook his head. "It's remarkable, Caius," I continued. "The bond between Bella and Edward is quite unbreakable, as you might expect. And so complex, considering their difference in species, and their recent separation. But the bond between Edward and Alice… oh, you explain it, Marcus! I wouldn't do it justice."

Marcus sighed dramatically, but his eyes glinted with a hint of interest; it wasn't often he got to use his gift anymore… at least not with strangers. "It's far stronger than I anticipated," he told Caius. "Far stronger, in fact, than any bond I've ever seen outside a mated pair. Their love for each other runs very deep. So does their loyalty to one another. " He paused. "It's possible that Chelsea would not be able to break it."

Caius sat up straighter. "Didn't she try?"

"She's not a fool," I said. "She knew he was watching her mind like a hawk. She did try, very briefly, to bind Edward to us. And he did feel the pull, but you know Chelsea cannot compel a vampire as long as his mate is opposed."

"She was unable to access Bella at all," Marcus added. "But that was to be expected."

"Demetri was unsuccessful, as well," I said happily. "Isn't it marvelous?"

"I fail to see why you're so enraptured with her," Caius scoffed. "She's just a shield- and only for herself."

"Ah, brother, you're not thinking fourth-dimensionally! If she's this powerful as a human, just imagine the possibilities when she is one of us!"

"If she becomes one of us," Marcus murmured.

"She will," Caius said darkly. "One way or another, her heart will stop beating by the time this year is out. I'll see to that."

"You're always too impatient, brother," I complained.

"And you're too crafty," he said with an admiring smile. "Are you going to enlighten us as to the reason for your absurd indulgence today?"

I crossed one leg over the other, leaning back into the wood of my throne as I considered what to say. I certainly wasn't going to tell my brothers everything, at least not yet. I was terribly excited about the werewolves-if that was even what they were- but this was no time for Caius to go on one of his little rampages. And he would probably react just as violently if I told him that Carlisle had brought a veteran of the Southern Wars into his coven- and not just any veteran! Jasper was, no doubt, the legendary Immortal Terror who had suddenly vanished during World War II. His desertion had destabilized the balance of power in Mexico and Central America, and countless human deaths had resulted – not to mention one of Caius' purging expeditions. I had always wondered if the Terror actually existed, or was just a rumor circulated by the Mexican Coven. How delightful, to learn he was real! His talent was so versatile- and his power in battle was already proven. And then there was Zafrina! And Siobhan, if Carlisle's theory was correct. And to learn that Victoria was still alive! I could fill volumes with the information I had gathered today.

"Well? Caius asked, growing annoyed. "The plan? Or were you just feeling magnanimous today? Because if that's the case-"

"Dear brother," I sighed. "I'm always the magnanimous one, remember? It's your role to be the enforcer, the bad cop, as it were."

"Then why didn't you let me do my job?" he hissed. "Edward Cullen is a criminal, and that girl is a liability. You said last night that they've been separated for months already. Even if he keeps his word, how do we know she hasn't already betrayed our secret during those months?"

"She wouldn't do that," Marcus said confidently. "Her loyalty to him is absolute."

"I am rather jealous of you, Marcus," I said with a pout. "You appear to be the only one whose gift works on young Bella."

The tiniest hint of a smirk twitched at Marcus' lips, and then it was gone. He was being downright giddy today!

"Alice, also," Caius reminded me.

"Yes, yes. That's different, of course," I said thoughtfully. And Jasper's. "I wonder if Corin would be an exception as well," I added.

"Who cares? The point is, you let them waltz out of here without even a slap on the wrist. Other vampires are going to hear about this, Aro. They'll wonder if we're starting to lose control, if we're starting to weaken. You need to think about how our judgments appear to the others of our kind."

"I am thinking of our appearances, Caius," I said with equal impatience. "That's why I let them go… for now. How do you think it would appear if the Americans had been added to our ranks today, or executed? Carlisle is a powerful man, though he seems not to know it. He has friends scattered across the globe, some of whom would make dangerous enemies. And his coven is the most talented force in our world, second only to our own. I saw no evidence in young Edward's thoughts that his creator is entertaining any seditious ideas, but that could change if he were to feel threatened."

Caius shot to his feet, his eyes burning. "All the more reason not to return Edward and Alice to him! We could have cut his power by more than half today! We had them here! We had every reason to exact justice. Carlisle knows the law, and he would have understood how lucky he was not to have been executed, along with his son. The entire coven is guilty of the girl's knowledge!"

"I suppose you would like to execute them all, brother?" Marcus asked him, rolling his eyes at me tiredly.

"Don't be absurd," Caius spat. "I, too, see the value of keeping Edward and Alice alive for our own purposes. If any action is to be taken, it should be against Carlisle himself. He should be held responsible for his creations, and the crimes they commit. The coven could be scattered, and then we could-"

"I'm not so sure of that," Marcus interrupted. "If the bond between Edward and Alice- who are not even related by venom- was any indication, Chelsea might not be able to break any of their bonds. The entire coven would have to be executed, to prevent repercussions."

"And as I've said," I put in, "Carlisle has many friends. Not all vampires have complete faith in our manifest destiny; we must maintain the appearance of fair justice. The genocide or acquisition of an entire venomline, without provocation, is an action I do not believe we can afford to take. It's one thing to destroy a coven of nobodies, but this is completely different."

"And as I've said," Caius growled, "it's equally unwise to be seen doling out pardons such as this. Half of our power comes from our reputation, brother. And as you say, the Cullens are well connected; the rumors will spread quickly. If you leave this unresolved, you're inviting all sorts of trouble. We still have enemies, and more will arise if we are seen to be weakening in any way. The Guard can't be everywhere at once."

I let out a sigh, tapping my fingers on the arm of the throne; he was right.

"And if that sort of situation were to happen," Caius continued, "We need Alice to be here, not out playing human with Carlisle Cullen. And Bella, if her shield turns out to be useful. I know you enjoy playing the benevolent emperor, brother, but when talents like that come along, you take them. We didn't conquer the world just so we could ask politely."

"I didn't say we would never acquire them," I protested. "I'm just saying that we need to do so strategically. You will have your visit, Caius, though I think you should wait a bit. If the Cullens defy us again, we will have a better excuse to take punitive action. When we do step in, I want our right to do so to be undisputed."

"Wait? How Long?"

"Long enough for them to dig themselves in deeper. For the evidence against them to build."

Caius frowned, and even Marcus's eyes lit again with interest. I waited for their curiosity to grow, while I decided how much to tell them. As it stood now, exterminating Carlisle and his coven was the only way that I was ever going to acquire Edward and Alice. And Bella. And I supposed Jasper would have to be "found repentant" as well, otherwise Alice would be useless. Bringing four new Guards in at once was a major operation, and would require no small amount of tact, if we didn't want to appear gluttonous. If there was any way to add either of the pairs before the other, I would find it.

I needed time to think, and I also wanted to give the Cullens time to decide how they were going to deal with the werewolves. It could be argued that allowing them to survive back in the thirties was a crime… though perhaps not one worthy of execution. Still, if I gave them enough time to repeat the crime again, it could be added to the current case against them. And every day that Edward delayed was a strike against him- also in our favor. It would help if the Cullens would commit an even larger crime. But they would be careful, now that they knew they were being monitored. And the biggest obstacle was also my greatest goal: Alice. Alice. I sighed again in wonder, dizzy with the possibilities.

"Meaning?" Caius finally asked.

"Meaning I don't think Edward is going to change young Bella anytime soon. Let him compound his crime for a while. The more he tears down his own image, the better ours will fare."

His eyes narrowed. "Define 'a while'."

"I can't."

A strange sound filled the room- a single burst of beautiful, angelic song. I jerked in my throne, my eyes wide.

"Marcus, did you just laugh?"

He sniffed, embarrassed by his outburst. "Forgive me. It's just that I don't believe I've ever heard you utter the words 'I can't' before."

I closed my eyes, searching the millennia. "You know, I believe you're right! This is truly a remarkable day, Saint Marcus!" I laughed aloud in satisfaction, filling the room with my own music. Marcus did not join me again, however. Caius was looking murderous.

"I don't have time for games," he hissed. "Surely you have more to your plan than waiting 'a while'."

My smile faded instantly; this was no laughing matter. "Caius, planning is the one thing we cannot do. It is imperative that we make no firm decisions on the matter, until the opportunity presents itself."

Caius's shoulders drooped a little; he finally understood. "Alice."

"Yes, Alice," I sighed. "Her talent is so interesting. And what a conundrum for us, brothers! Here is the greatest prize we have ever stumbled upon, and yet her very talent thwarts us from acquiring it!"

"We will never move against them, then," Marcus said, looking bored. He probably didn't care either way.

I sank deeper into the folds of my cloak, rubbing my chin in thought. "Mmmm… I didn't say that, either. I said until the opportunity presents itself. Or… until we can be assured of victory. Until Edward has truly waited too long, or one of them does something even more horrid. Until we can be assured that there will be no unpleasant repercussions in our reputation."

Caius snorted. "Entirely too passive."

I sighed again. "Yes, it is rather irksome, isn't it? If we take no action, we run the risk of appearing weak. If we persecute the Cullens, we run the risk of appearing too power-hungry. If only there was a way to affect the public opinion on our own terms…" I started tapping on the arm of my throne again, lost in thought.

"We've done it before."

My fingers stilled. "What was that, Marcus?"

Marcus sighed, tiring of speech again. He gave me his hand, and mentally replayed one of our earliest achievements: creating vampires specifically for the purpose of indoctrinating them and releasing them into the world. Their only instructions: be fruitful and multiply… and tell everyone you meet how wonderful the Volturi are. How powerful, how relevant… how worthy to rule.

"An interesting idea, Marcus, if a little excessive. But may I take it in a new direction? I propose that when we do strike…" I frowned, thinking of Alice. If she was watching my future closely today, it was possible that she was still able to hear me. "I propose that if the time does come for us to take action, that we do so in public."

Caius sucked in his breath. "In front of humans?! Aro-"

"Don't be an idiot, Caius! I meant the vampire public. We simply bring the public opinion with us. We gather witnesses, explain the situation ahead of time-"

"All of which Alice will see," Caius said impatiently. "It would take too long to assemble. They'll either gather their own allies in self-defense, or they'll run."

"To the first, Caius, our witnesses will double our strength. To the second, we have Demetri."

Caius snorted his disapproval. "Ah, yes, the faithful hound. He's hardly one to lead a search for the disloyal, don't you think?"

"He is now," I said smugly. "I had Chelsea work her magic last night. Couldn't you tell?"

"How could I miss it? It's disgusting, the way he fawns over you when she has to refresh him like that. I normally don't appreciate your little plots to set the Guards against each other, but I was relieved when you sent him off on that silly reward today."

I laughed, remembering Demetri's puppy-like devotion. He always made such a fool of himself in the beginning. "It was the only way to get him away from me, Caius," I admitted freely. "He wouldn't have been able to tear himself away, if I didn't give him something to do. Besides, Afton was due to be put in his place again. And if young Edward overheard me kindly rewarding a Guard for his exemplary service, so much the better."

"He'll be impossible after this," Caius complained. "Couldn't Chelsea have been a little more subtle?"

"Demetri believes that Chelsea is an offensive empath, like Corin," I answered. "He knows that she did something last night, but only that he feels more content now. And that the last time he noticed her doing it was back in the 1980s."

"He shouldn't know anything at all," Caius growled. "She should have been more discreet."

"She could have been, if you had listened to me earlier," Marcus said. "I told you two years ago that he needed to be bound again. Why do you torment him like this?"

"I can't help it! You know how he fascinates me. His loyalty is like... like… it's a phenomenon, Marcus. A thousand years with us, and he still hasn't managed to muster any loyalty of his own free will. And you know I can't resist a good experiment. I like to let him go just a little too long, to see what happens."

Marcus rolled his eyes, but Caius snickered; he appreciated all forms of cruelty. "Did he get the claustrophobia again this time?" he asked. I nodded, grinning, and his snicker turned into a sadistic laugh. It was rather funny.

"It's a shame you can't order Chelsea to bed him anymore," he said cheekily. "We didn't have this sort of trouble with him back then, when he was getting constant doses of her gift."

"Yes, that is a shame," I sighed. "That did backfire rather badly, didn't it? They still avoid each other like the plague. You would think he would get over it, after a few centuries. What a sentimental idiot."

"Beware, brother," Marcus said quietly.

"Oh, now what?" I moaned. Marcus was a regular chatterbox today. I had forgotten how tiresome he could be.

"Chelsea's power is transient, and she's had to bind him more and more often over the centuries. His resistance is increasing."

"That isn't possible," Caius scoffed.

"It is," Marcus said with conviction. "Demetri is the only Guard whose loyalty is completely artificial. It always has been, and it always will be. No amount of compulsion can erase an independent spirit- it can only subdue it for a time. And those times are growing shorter with each dose. Your little games aren't helping, Aro. Demetri has a perfect memory, like all of us. Even after he has been rebound, he's going to remember the thoughts he had while he was partially out of the fog."

"I suppose you're right," I sighed. "We'd better have Chelsea start spending more time with him."

Marcus shook his head. "It's a losing battle. Ever since Carlisle was here in the eighteenth century, Demetri's subconscious has been fighting the bond with increasing tenacity. Even with Chelsea's intervention last night, I noticed a slight deterioration today, after…" He paused, closing his eyes in concentration.

"What?"

"He's back."

Marcus was no tracker. But when two people with whom he was familiar came within proximity of each other, he was able to sense their bond, a growing aura of connection that brightened as the two moved closer together. If he could see Demetri's bonds, that meant he was in the building; we needed to be more careful with our conversation. Of course, if I had Edward at my side, I would have had an even earlier warning.

"Felix!" I called. "Bring Demetri to us immediately."

Felix opened the door. "He is still out, Master."

"No, he just arrived. Bring him."

Felix bowed slightly and vanished, reappearing in two seconds with the Guard in question. I glanced at Marcus, who was frowning slightly. His fingers brushed my hand. It's already deteriorated further, since this morning.

"Demetri!" I cried joyfully, extending my hand. "I trust you enjoyed your little vacation?"

He was in my face in a flash, his knees trembling with the desire to kneel at my feet. Caius rolled his eyes and I held my other hand to my lips, trying not to laugh. Surely Marcus was exaggerating!

"I did, Master," Demetri said, and gave me his hand. Now I had to fight to keep my smile plastered on as I received the evidence of Marcus' warning. Demetri had, indeed, been entertaining thoughts this afternoon that might lead in a dangerous direction. It was remarkable, considering he had just been rebound.

"I see you took great care in covering your tracks tonight," I praised him. "Well done."

"Thank you, Master," he murmured, his ruby eyes searching my own, hungry for approval. "And I am humbled by this gift. If there is anything I can do to show my gratitude, anything at all…"

"You can take a shower," Caius interrupted rudely. "You stink of propane and smoke."

Demetri's smile faded. "Of course, Master," he said quietly. His eyes darted back to mine, waiting for dismissal.

"Don't let us keep you," I said kindly. "And I believe you also are in need of a new cloak, my old friend."

Demetri started in shock, his hands brushing the empty air as his back. "My… my apologies," he stammered. "I did not intend to appear before you so. I…" He would have blushed, if he could; as it was, he was doing an admirable impression of a dog who had just been kicked.

"Don't let it trouble you, my boy," I sighed, growing impatient. "Just go get a new one, as soon as you're cleaned up."

He bowed deeply and disappeared. As soon as the door closed, Caius snorted in disgust, but I waited another moment to speak. "I see what you mean, Marcus," I said gravely. "I should never have let him near the Americans today."

"His bond is already weakening?" Caius asked incredulously. "But you saw how he was falling all over you!"

"His thoughts are already wandering too much," I said sadly. "Far too much."

"Imagine how much trouble we're going to have, if you do add any of the Cullens to the Guard," Marcus warned. "Even if their new bond precludes any verbal disloyalty, Demetri will be constantly reminded of their former independence. And I predict that we are going to have a similar problem with Edward- you saw how stubborn and disrespectful he is. Demetri doesn't need any more help to inch toward treason. If his resistance is this strong now…"

"He'll need constant attention from Chelsea," Caius sighed. "And then he'll always be in this moronic puppy-dog phase. You know I hate taking him out when he's like that."

"Or worse," Marcus said darkly. "It's possible he may eventually build up complete resistance, if today is any indication."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration: a mannerism I had picked up from young Edward's memories today. Not only were we between a rock and a hard place in terms of acquiring Edward and Alice; now I had to deal with this.

"I suppose we had better eliminate him," Caius said quietly. "We don't want this to get out of hand."

"We can't," I protested. "At least not until we have found a suitable replacement. Demetri is the greatest tracker this world has ever seen."

"Couldn't Alice be trained to replace him?" Marcus asked. "She could use a person's future to predict their location."

"No, her gift is far too subjective for that. We need a real tracker. I've learned of two new ones through Edward's memories. But one is dead and other is far too weak." It really was too bad the Cullen's had killed James- he might have been worth evaluating.

"I'll start looking for possible candidates," Caius said, an eager gleam in his eye. "And then we'll have a little bonfire, a la Demetri."

"No, let me look in the human world," I decided aloud. "I want to create him myself this time. We'll gather and change a few likely to be gifted- stalkers and private eyes and snipers and such- and see how they turn out. In the meantime, Caius, you'll need to keep Demetri occupied so he doesn't see us working on trackers."

"That shouldn't be too difficult," he answered. "I have a great deal for him to do, anyway. If you want to have these 'witnesses' ready to go on a moment's notice, I'll need to map out where they all are currently."

"Demetri will love that," I agreed. Then I allowed myself an indulgent laugh. "And it'll keep him out of my sight for a while."

"You're welcome," Caius muttered. "I just hope you can find a replacement before too many decades pass. If we're going to keep Demetri freshly bound all the time, he's going to be intolerable."

"Spare me," Marcus sighed.

"This would go a lot faster if you would let me bring Eleazar back in the game, Aro," Caius said hopefully. "We could have him sweep the whole world for potential trackers, and Demetri could be ash sooner than later."

"Perhaps in a while. This is no time for us to take on the appearance of gluttonous dictators. Eleazar's retirement is one of those token examples that I do not care to rescind… at least not until Edward and Alice are safely brought into the fold." Caius huffed his annoyance, but he would not defy me; Chelsea was far subtler with his loyalty, but it kept him under my heel, just barely. "Patience, Caius. I will start searching immediately. I, too, am eager to be rid of the hound. His thoughts are either dangerously independent, or disgustingly sycophantic. I can barely stand to take his hand anymore, and now I have to do it more often. Ugh!"

"I just hope a replacement can be found, period," Caius growled. "We've kept him alive this long because he is the best."

"It may take a few centuries," I admitted. "Though the process will be quite diverting. But we'll find one- or make one, through human breeding, if necessary. And then, my dear brother, I will happily attend your bonfire!"