A/N: Ok, so I got absolutely no feedback on this story and honestly, that's ok. I wrote this for me and I hope that whether you review or not, you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: SM owns all.
Pronunciation/Definitions:
Velathri- the name of the village that the present-day city of Volterra used to be called
fugere- to flee
sacred burial- when a Vestal was found not guarding the flame or sleeping with a man, since their blood was sacred and could not be spilled, were taken in a procession through the city and buried alive in a chamber with enough food and water for a few days. The entire city usually mourned them as it boded rather ill for the safety and prosperity of the people and was typically followed by times of turmoil.
"Were you able to convince her, dear brother?" Felicius asked Demetrios when he returned to their lodgings.
"I am giving her two weeks." He replied.
Felicius stood up. "Two weeks? That is far too long. Take me to her, I'll convince her myself."
Demetrios was surprised at the pang of jealousy that hit him. "You will go nowhere near her. We both know that two weeks is nothing to us."
Eleazar walked into the room, his eyes now bright red after having satiated himself with a few locals. "So, do you believe she will join us?"
"I do not doubt it. I intend to pester her until she agrees." A small smile graced his lips and Felicius caught on.
"Why so excited, Demetrios? Is the girl pretty?" He asked.
Demetrios blinked a few times before realizing that he did, in fact, think her beautiful. Her beauty rivaled that of Chelsea and other female vampires he'd met in the past. And she was but a human... Imagine what she would be like once she'd been transformed! "She has a name, you know."
"I did not know you were one for names, Demetrios." Eleazar said, laughing to himself.
Ignoring Eleazar's joke, he continued. "Renata has an unparalleled pulchritude. Does that answer your question, Felicius?"
"Oh, my, my, my. Someone has staked his claim on her, has he?" Felicius mocked.
"And if I have?" Demetrios asked
"Then best of luck to you, my friend." Felicius said, patting him on the back. "Best of luck."
Renata had been at the market looking for a new pair of sandals to match a dress that Flavia had recently given her. The sky was cloudy, as it had been for a good few days now and once again, she had the feeling she was being watched. Sure enough, as she turned one of the street corners, Demetrios was there.
"Ah!" She gasped in fright. "Not you again. Have I not already made myself clear enough?"
"Oh you have, dear, but I am persistent. I have to be." He replied, smiling graciously at her. "And how are you this fine day, Miss?"
"Better. Before you showed up. Can a woman not shop for sandals in peace?" She complained, smiling shyly.
"I could help you." He offered.
"You could?" Renata was taken aback. No man had ever offered to help her with anything in her life, not since she'd been taken away from her mother and father. "I mean... that would be nice."
He offered her his arm for her to take, which she did so promptly. "What if I told you that you need not give away any of those sesterces of yours to get some pretty sandals, hm?"
"Pardon me, Demetrios, but I am averse to stealing. Though, as a Greek, you've got more leeway than I." She replied.
His eyes bore into hers as he spoke. "I meant what I said last night, Renata. We... I would take care of you. I will take care of you. If you agree to join us, you will never spend your own money again. You'll have no need for money at all. It amuses me how you Romans think you're the rulers of the world. You've no idea what lies beyond humanity, my darling. We have power. More power than Caesar or any other ruler could ever hope to have."
She looked at him, frowning. "Power corrupts, Demetrios. And it's nice to see how highly you think of me." She scoffed. "And we Romans are not as bad as you make us seem."
"I know, I'm sorry." Shame crossed his face. "Truly, I am. I just want you to know what is in store for you, should you come with me."
"I said I'd think about it. You following me obnoxiously does not work in your favor." She told him.
"So you don't enjoy my presence?" When Renata saw his pout, it was enough to do her in.
She smiled at him, a small laugh escaping her. "I do, Demetrios. More than I should."
His smile fell at her words. "It's a shame we cannot act on it."
"What do you mean?" She inquired, curious.
"If I was to... if we were to be together, there's a great chance I could kill you so I'd rather not take the risk until you're indestructible." He explained, an apologetic smile gracing his lips. "May I take you somewhere?"
At her nod, he plucked her into his arms and sped to a nearby empty field. Carefully, he placed her on the soft grass at the base of a tree.
"Will you meet me tonight, Renata?" He asked her, resting his head in her lap, his onyx-colored eyes beaming up at her with hope.
"I don't think it is such a good idea, Demetrios. You said yourself we cannot really do anything but-"
He cut her off. "I never said we cannot do anything. I said we cannot be one... at least not yet. But that does not mean I cannot show you how strongly I feel for you."
She gave him a half-smile. "I don't know how I will even leave the temple. It's much too difficult."
"Will you meet me tonight?" He asked her again, his eyes smoldering and his voice weakening her once so very strong resolve.
"I will be dooming Rome." She told him, his wisps of blond hair soft against her fingertips as she stroked his head. "Would you have such a thing?"
Demetrios paused and tilted his head back so he could look her in the eyes. "If not, you will be dooming me. Would you have such a thing?"
A laugh escaped her. "I suppose not. Flavia is watching my post for tonight. I have told her I am ill and cannot do it myself."
"And what do you plan to do with all of that free time?" He asked teasingly, a smirk on his face.
She smiled back at him. "Well, I'm never one to fail to meet my end of the bargain. When and where shall I find you?"
Renata carefully snuck out of the temple and made her way to the market. She was not wearing any garlands in her hair and put on the simplest garment she owned. Demetrios had told her to wait by one of the stalls and so she did, patiently, and soon enough, his figure entered her vision.
A look of surprise crossed over his face. "You came."
"I almost didn't but I could never doom you." She replied coyly.
"Never?" He asked her, a fiery burn in his eyes. "I do like the sound of that. Are you accepting my offer, then?"
"I have not made any decisions as of yet." Her eyes met his straight on. "I'm waiting for someone to persuade me."
He smiled cunningly. "I'll do more than that, pulchra. Are you ready to go?"
At her nod, he swooped her into his arms and sped with his full strength to his small villa in the woods. There was nothing much in it, a few modest chairs, a table, and a bed. A bed with blood red sheets. Renata's eyes widened as she fully realized how quickly they had gotten there.
"You're amazing." She told him, her hands timidly placed on his chest, reveling in his smooth, marble chest.
"No, Renata. You're amazing. I'm only eighteen years into this life." He leaned in and sniffed her hair, caressing her face with one hand and holding her hips with the other. "It is nearly impossible for our kind to resist the blood of humans. But with you... I am sure your blood is very satisfying but I find myself with no desire to taste it. Because tasting it means ending you and I could never live with that."
"What is this, Demetrios?" She asked him, concern in her soft voice. "What are we?"
"Two people. One striga, one human. Soon to be two strigae." His eyebrow creased. "I hope." He added as an afterthought.
Renata's eyes started to glow as she leaned her head into his chest and breathed in deep. "Are you trying to say that you care for me?"
"No, my Renata." He replied in a grave voice. "I am saying that I love you."
Unshed tears caused Renata to start sniffling. "I love you, too, Demetrios. I don't know how or why... You're everything I should run away from, you could ruin everything but I can't bring myself to be away from you." He slowly removed his Volturi necklace and used his nails, hard as stone, to carve their names in it and lovingly placed it on her neck. A physical token of his love, since he could not do much else to show her its intensity otherwise.
With that, Demetrios touched his lips to hers and showed her the magic that was love.
These escapades continued for a few weeks, Renata having agreed immediately after the kiss that she would happily become one of them, as long as he waited until the next festival before she had to disappear. She had no way of knowing what a mistake not leaving sooner would prove to be.
Vitellia had been forced to take Renata's spot quite a few times over the past few weeks and it began to frustrate her as she wanted more than anything to be able to go to sleep at nights, not guard the flame. That was Renata's job for a few months and then it would be her job, but not now.
So, one night, she heard the footsteps of someone sneaking out and followed Renata. What she saw caused her jaw to drop: a man kissing her. What? Had she not been the one to scold me on my affinity for men? Damn wench!
Quickly, Vitellia ran to the Pontifex Maximus.
Renata returned in the early morning before anyone had awoken. Things when she got back to her room, however, were quite different. It had been searched through, ransacked. What is the meaning of this?
She did not have to wait long until Flavia burst into her room and clutched her in her arms protectively. "Oh dear child. What have you done?"
"What is going on, Flavia?" Renata asked, fear clearly evident in her eyes.
"They know." She whispered. "They know about you and the man who came to visit the other night. Rufus is on his way now as we speak! You are going to be killed, Renata! All because you could not resist him!"
Renata was shell-shocked. She honestly had no idea what to say. She had just returned from the most amazing night with the man she was sure was her soul mate and now, someone was on their way to ruin it? She could not handle such a thing. "You mean... the sacred burial sacrifice."
Flavia nodded sadly as she saw unshed tears collecting in Renata's eyes. "My darling Renata... How could you let this happen?"
"Will you find him for me?" She pleaded to her caretaker, not even worrying about her fate.
"What? Have you not heard a word I've said to you, girl?" She huffed. "Absolutely not."
"Please, Flavia? You must. If you have ever cared for me, you must." Renata sat on the bed and her shoulders hunched forward. "I love him." The conviction in her voice proved it to be true.
Flavia looked unsure. "They will be watching me closely."
"Go to the Forum. Get lost in the crowd. I always met him at dusk near the outskirts of town. And he would take me to his quarters." A sob escaped her. "Oh, but it is so far away. How anyone could have discovered us, I've no idea."
"Do you wish to write him yourself and I'll deliver the letter?" She asked.
"No, no. I've no time. Tell him to leave, Flavia, before dawn. To flee wherever he can, fugere, as soon as he can and that all of the Romans are after him."
Male voices penetrated the halls and Renata started to panic. "Go!" She whispered, angrily. "You must go now!" And Flavia was able to leave before Rufus entered the room.
"Renata Drusilla." He clicked his tongue. "My, my, what a mistake my father made in taking you in. But, I think we can negotiate. Tell me where your lover is and we shall spare you. The city does not yet know, only Vitellia and I."
Renata's eyes flashed with recognition. "Vitellia?" She asked in disbelief. Her friend, someone she trusted and loved, had betrayed her?
"Jealousy does strange things to people. She wanted what you had. A man with whom to carry out the deeds of pleasure. Now, if you tell me where he is, you can keep your duties as a Vestal and no one will know." He smiled cruelly. "But the man will be severely punished. Tell me where he is."
"I..." Her voice broke. "I do not know."
"Fine, then, at the very least, give me his name. We shall find him ourselves." She shook her head. "No? Are you refusing my orders? Or did he not tell you his name and you simply let a stranger take you, desecrate your body?"
"He is not a stranger!" She shouted and soon realized her mistake when Rufus' hands gripped her neck tightly.
"You do not speak to me that way!" He replied viciously before finally letting go. Renata gasped for air. "You'd best get used to that, whore. Are you aware of how long it takes one to starve?"
"I don't care. You may do to me what you wish but you will never get him." She told him resolutely.
A smile returned to Rufus' face, one of confidence. "Oh? We shall see about that. Until your execution tomorrow, Renata."
Flavia covered herself with her tunic and made her way to a small stall at the far end of the city. Within a few moments, after feeling someone familiar's tenor, Demetrios arrived at the spot. "Flavia, is it not?"
The look of absolute horror on her face, however, was enough to dismiss his cheerful greeting. "I have the gravest of news."
"Is it about Renata?" She nodded. "What is wrong?" The concern in his voice was enough to convince her that the man truly did love her Renata.
"You have been discovered. Her execution is being planned at this very moment." It hurt Flavia to even think of uttering such a sentence, much less actually doing so. "She wished for me to come and inform you that they are looking for you and that you should leave. She does not want you to be implicated in any way."
A hiss escaped him and for the first time, Flavia believed that he truly was a creature of the supernatural and most certainly not human. "No one will touch her."
"I truly wish you could guarantee that, Demetrios. But the Pontifex Maximus has her under close guard. It will take place tomorrow, her execution. I trust you will heed her warning and leave before then." She told him.
His eyes narrowed. "You must be daft if you believe I'm going to leave her here to this fate. I love her." The ferocity of his admission very similar to the way Renata's had been earlier.
"I know. She loves you, as well, and dearly so. Which is why you should listen to her. You will be killed if you do not." Her tone was serious but Demetrios was not convinced.
"She is at the temple." He stated, his powers kicking in. "Thank you for coming, Flavia, but I must retrieve her. Rest assured, she will suffer no punishment."
Demetrios made his way swiftly to the Temple of Vesta and rushed to her room, his speed causing his presence to escape the guards' notice. When she caught sight of him, panic filled her once so calm orbs.
"What are you doing here?" She shouted. "You must leave. Now."
Demetrios saw red as he caught sight of the bright hand-prints made on her neck. Someone had forced themselves upon her in a violent manner. Someone had hurt her. "Why, I'll kill him for even touching you."
"Please... Please Demetrios, you have to go. They'll kill you!" He could have laughed at the thought if not for the desperation in her voice. In his mate's voice. "They know about me and think I've lain with a man, but they don't know you! They're scouring the city to find you so that you can be punished."
"And you think I'll just go without you?" He asked, hurt.
More tears escaped her eyes only this time, she did nothing to stop them. "You have to! I don't even know you got in here without being seen, there's guards all around the temple. And I don't know how you'll get out but that's something else entirely. I will not let you be killed. I know you say you cannot be, that you're stronger than they are, but they'll find a way." She gasped for breath as the tears flowed harder, grasping his shirt in her hands. "I will be given an honorable death, Demetrios. You needn't worry about me. And if the gods I've learnt to disbelieve in really aren't real, then it will be just like sleeping. But I will not go with a clear conscience if I do not know that you are safe."
"Renata, my love." Demetrios pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her forehead fiercely. "If you think for one moment that you are actually going to be buried alive and slowly die as they wish, you are gravely mistaken."
A small, devious smile creeped onto her lips. "I know. That's why I'm taking this." She told him, reaching under her bed to pull out a gladius. "I will let them think that I am suffering but I intend to end this as quickly as I can."
If tears could flow from his eyes, Demetrios would be flooding the room. "No, no, no, my Renata. No." He shook his head. "That is not what I mean. Come away with me."
Her breath hitched. "What?"
"Come away with me. There's a place for you in my world by my side. You will never have to worry about trivialities like death again." He whispered. "Be a creature of the night with me, Renata"
"And Flavia? She will be blamed for my escape and take the punishment for me. I cannot let that happen." The tears recommenced. "Demetrios, I want nothing more than to be what you are but I have a duty to those that raised me. I could never forgive myself if Flavia died because of me."
"You're too good a woman, my dear, and you've got too good a heart." He closed his eyes and Renata found herself missing the ruby pools she loved. "She will not be punished, I will make sure of it. My Master, Aro, has close ties with all of the important people in Rome. One word from him and she'll be treated like a queen."
"I am to just disappear? They will write of me in books as the one Vestal who did not meet her punishment. I'll be called a coward, a fool, a whore..." One look into his eyes, however, was all it took. "But all of that is worth it if we're still alive to laugh about it in centuries to come."
"Right. Time to take you away from this awful place. Come on, climb on my back." She did so, her face fitting perfectly on the crook of his neck near his shoulder. "I love you, Renata. Please, don't ever doubt that."
"I won't, my striga." She whispered into his ear. "Take us away."
Demetrios ran, using his full speed while holding desperately onto his Renata as they left the temple, the guards feeling nothing but a breeze as they passed them. He took her out into the countryside in a matter of seconds and lay her on the soft grass. "We are away from everyone. I need to know that you are alright with this."
"Do you intend to transform me now?" She asked, no fear in her voice.
"Perhaps. I am anxious to have you, my Renata. The sooner I do, the sooner I can." He paused, twirling a tendril of her dark locks between his fingers. "And then I'll take you to Velathri, to our new home."
She smiled and leaned in for a kiss. "And you believe that this Aro and his brothers will take me?"
"If they do not, we will leave and become nomads. Start a clan of our own. But I have every reason to think that they will love you." He kissed her again. "A friend of mine is coming, one of the guards of the Volturi. His name is Eleazar. He went away to inform the brothers of our delay and should be back by morning. He was able to sense that you shall have a power and that will make Aro more willing to agree to this."
"Power?" She asked quietly. "What's your power, striga?"
"I am what they call a tracker. I can find anyone if I've felt their tenor before. That is how I found you, my darling." Demetrios' mind was reeling with happiness. He had her. Finally, he had his mate. "It takes some of us centuries to find our mates. We only ever have one, so it is difficult to be whole... complete without one. I am fortunate to have found you, Renata. We were both very fortunate."
A smile broke across her features. "Oh, Demetrios. This idea of being your mate excites me. I stop to think sometimes what would have happened had I not been at the forum that day. You'd be dead." Her voice broke.
"Don't think of such things." He shushed her, cradling her in his cold, strong arms. The night was warm and so his temperature was welcoming to her. "We don't have to worry about that anymore."
"I love you." Renata told him as her eyes started to close and he simply watched her, his one love, his mate, as she slept peacefully.
