A/N: Merry Christmas. It's officially Christmas Day in less than 1 hour... for me anyway, so I thought I would update :)

Also if anyone has any requests for the direction they want the story to go, hit me up, I'm literally making it up as I update so I can change things on the go.

Chapter 4

Guard

"Nysa," Carina spun her head searching innocent voice that called the name. Her eyesight was a little blurry and made her feel uneasy and disorientated but she could make out some of her surroundings.

There was a forest to her right, the large and overbearing trees casting a shadow over her small form. She could smell the heavy scent of pine and rotting wood on the crisp air as she continued to turn searching for the person calling.

"Nysa," the voice repeated and a brown-haired boy ran from the trees directly for her. He took her hand and began to drag her back in the direction he had come from. "There you are, come on." He tugged impatiently as Carina tried to pull away from the stranger in shock.

To her surprise, she couldn't. She had absolutely no control over her own body. She could feel her heart skip a beat in excitement as she stumbled after the boy.

Carina then realised she felt smaller, her arms were thinner, and she seemed to stand shorter than the boy who looked to be about eight.

His deep brown almost black eyes held a spark of childish mischief as she was dragged into the woods.

"Where are we going?" Carina found herself asking, her accent was more old fashioned and her voice held a lighter pitch.

"The lake." He said happily. "Nysa come on."

Carina could feel Nysa's excitement at the two words, and a grin spread across her lips.

The children ran over the old leaf foliage and moss in the direction of their favourite playground.

Carina spotted the log but unfortunately Nysa didn't. Having no way to stop the girl she winced internally as she suddenly fell plummeting towards the ground.

The vision flickered but Carina's heart rate was still beating fast with fear.

"Nysa!" It was the boy's voice shouting her name. "Carina!"

She took in her surroundings, her head aching as blood oozed down her temple. She tried to move but her hands were bound with chains. The flames were licking at her feet as she let out a terrified scream.

"Carina."

"Nysa."

"Carina."

"Nysa, no Nysa, not again please not again."

She could feel her heartbeat pounding violently in her chest jumping awake. Adrenaline was pulsing through her veins as she looked around taking in her surroundings.

"What the hell!?" She blurted out her eyes falling on where her hand was gripping onto the witches. Flinching she pulled away trying to get out of the seat she was in and as far away as possible. "What was that?" She demanded and looked around the room noting how her friend was gone. "Where is Abby?"

"Abigail is back with her family."

"What was that?" Carina bit out unsure how to handle the new emotions flowing through her.

"A vision, you were gone for about an hour."

"Why did I see that, why was I in her body?"

"Nysa, you must understand, most of what you saw has happened already."

"My name is not Nysa, it's Carina!" she growled.

"It's both. You are both."

"That's impossible."

"You're the same person, you are Nysa."

"Nysa burned. She lived and died over a thousand years ago,"

"That is true."

"This is too much," she said shaking her head trying to come to terms with her thoughts as she ran out through the dark hallway of the witch's home.

"Come back when you want to learn more. I'll be waiting!" the witch shouted as Carina's form vanished from site.

He was on a mission from his masters. The same mission that happened around this time every year. Not that he'd tell Heidi that, he found amusement in making the succubus jealous. He had to visit Lucinda for information, nothing more, nothing less. But he did enjoy his visits.

Demetri wandered the familiar path his senses honed into the surroundings like the perfect hunter he is. Though he heard her coming, he still wasn't that prepared to face the young female human that slammed directly into him.

Her small fragile body collided harshly with the concrete cutting open her palms. The scent of blood filled the air and his eyes turned black with hunger as he just looked at her.

"Sorry." The girl mumbles brushing her raven hair out of the way as her emerald eyes stared back at him.

Holding his breath Demetri offered a tight smile, "it's fine."

Carina pulled herself to her feet noting how a dangerous aura hung around the man she's slammed into and how he lingered in the shadows like he was a part of them. His eyes seemed to see right into the depths of her soul causing a shiver to travel up her spine.

"I got to go." Carina said looking back a Lucinda's door, an action that didn't go unnoticed by the vampire, "um, sorry." She said awkwardly and stepped around him walking quickly into the centre of the city.

Demetri watched as the small female left, her scent lingering in the air. He was old enough now to have the control needed to deal with a small scratch. Her blood wasn't unpleasant, quite the opposite. But the law was the law and he wouldn't hunt in Volterra. That would make his eight centuries of service a waste, and himself a hypocrite.

Shaking his thoughts, he continued to his destination entering the home in front of him.

"You haven't visited me in a while." He could hear her voice and followed her scent to a small sitting area lit by a couple of candles. "What brings you to my humble abode Demetri?"

"Do I need a reason to visit my friend?"

"Besides Felix, you don't have any friends." The witch smiled at him, her own obsidian eyes meeting his.

"You're right as always darling Lucinda."

"You flatter me," she replied pretending to be flustered.

"So, scare any children lately?" Demetri asked raising a brow.

"She has potential." Lucy shrugged, "I assume Aro sent you."

"The usual report and I'll head on my way."

"There is tension brewing in the witch communities. Something, or someone has them on edge."

"That's not good." Demetri frowned.

"There are light and dark witches, and then there are those who like to dabble in both, you know this."

"What's happening?"

"Imbalance." Lucinda replied. "Since her birth the light and dark have been eager to have her on their sides, her father tried to hide her from them."

"A child?"

"You've met her," Lucy informed. "She just ran from this building."

"What's so special about her, she's a child, and a terrified one at that?"

"Her name is Carina Black, she'll be around for quite some time. She is scared because she can feel the danger in the city but doesn't understand it." Lucy old him with a knowing glint in her eye. "Can you tell me where she is tracker?"

"Wandering aimlessly around the city." He said with a sigh.

"She is staying with my sister. Be a dear and walk her home."

"Aro will not be pleased by this development."

"This is not your fight. The Volturi are grey and will remain grey."

"And if Alec and Jane decide to choose a side? It is after all, their decision."

"It's early days and Carina is yet to discover herself. I will not worry about the coming conflict just yet." She told him watching his movements as he rose to his feet. "She's going to need protection."

"Alec should be good enough pro-"

"He may be good enough, but you're the best." Lucy said cutting him off causing him to sigh.

"I'll see what I can do." He says taking her hand and placing a polite kiss on it before leaving the building.

Demetri followed the young girl's mind to a damp little alley way. She was heading straight for a dead end.

"Lost puella?" He asked lingering near the exit to the little ally, but not too close as he tried not to scare her, the complete opposite of what he was used to doing. The fear was already there, it was innate. He just needed to show her he wasn't a threat somehow.

"Um no, this is a shortcut." Carina told the man her modern British accent hitting him full force.

"Sure," he replied sceptically trying not to laugh as she stubbornly searches trying to find a way out.

"I'm not lost." She states and he grins glancing up at the sky. He was in the shadows as a caution, it was the sunniest part of the day. Raising his hands, he lifted his hood to cover the rest of his skin.

"Right well, I'm just going to pay Lucinda's sister's a visit." He tells her smirking as he led the way.

Carina frowned knowing the pale man was mocking her. There was something off about him, but something pulling her to him as well.

She sighed as he went in the exact opposite direction she was going to go. Her shoulders slumped in defeat as her feet pulled her after him.

It took a total of five minutes before she started to feel more comfortable trailing after him. She had begun to recognise the surroundings and somehow discovered a little courage.

Picking up the pace she fell into step beside him as he walked.

"And the little bird has finally come to admit she was lost."

"Thank you." She whispered. "I'm Carina by the way."

"Mm, Lucinda told me. I'm Demetri." He introduced himself.

"She didn't send you to follow me, did she?"

"No, she was just concerned you wouldn't find your way back. I was there on business."

"What kind of business?" She asked her curiosity getting the better of her.

"My employer wanted some information from her, that's all." He replied leaving stuff out, but still being polite as he tried to earn a little bit of her trust.

"Why do you wear a hood? Are you afraid of getting sunburnt, you're so pale?"

"Something like that." He said a small grin tugging at his lips. "Here we are." He indicated to the house that Carina recognised instantly.

He walked her to the door and knocked politely with Carina to his right.

"Demetri," the elderly woman gasped in surprise and horror as she made eye contact with the man. Her eyes then fell on Carina and she reached out pulling the girl into the home behind her form.

"Hello Milana." He greeted politely. She didn't respond as he spoke to her in fluent Italian. Carina could make some words like, danger and child, but that was it. Once he finished Abby's grandmother nodded her head with acceptance.

"It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Black." He said turning to Carina a smirk on his lips, "do try to not get yourself lost again."

"Thanks Demetri." She replied, still a little scared but also thankful he didn't leave her to get lost in the city.