Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.

Hm...chapter was longer than I thought...but hey, you guys will enjoy that, right? Haha

Demetri had nothing left to hide. He had only his life and hers to defend. She had a right to know everything. After all he had done to her, after all he was about to do, he couldn't bear to leave her in the dark. He also couldn't ignore her; he secretly rejoiced whenever their eyes met. But his cool, impassive expression revealed nothing to her.

"Okay...so...where are we going?" she asked, her gray eyes stormy.

"The United States. I'm going to hunt down some...ah...acquaintances. It could prove to be troublesome. I'm not exactly welcome there, but due to the circumstances I think that's about to change." Autumn frowned.

"What do you mean 'troublesome?'"

"Well...I never really told you this. But...myself and a few others of my kind...we have rather unique abilities occasionally. Like, my extended tracking skill. I can pretty much hunt down anyone and anything on the planet. The only problems are their Seer, who can see into the future and is, no doubt, aware of my coming, and their Shield, who can block my tracking instincts from herself and others, I believe. Their mind-reader might come in handy, as he'll detect our thoughts when we're in a certain range. Just think desperate thoughts when I tell you to."

Autumn looked away, thinking. Demetri longed for Edward's ability, longed to be able to see into her head. But he, too, turned away. At this proximity, every second was a battle. He could feel the hot blood running through her veins, and he clenched his jaw. She turned back, a crease between her worried brows. She turned her face up towards his, a different kind of fear playing across her features. She rested a hand on her sleeping sister.

"And...are we...desperate?" she whispered softly, starting to tremble. Demetri's fierce scarlet eyes turned gentle, and he tenderly smoothed the crease with one cool finger. She shuddered slightly at his touch, but didn't pull away. He sighed. He would never be able to lie to her.

"Yes."

Sleep is a fascinating thing. Closer to death than anything else, it is an odd and unique refreshment of the mind and body. Demetri didn't understand the necessity of it. But he loved watching Autumn sleep, watching her unconscious take control and move her face and body for her. She murmured sometimes, quiet, usually confusing words and phrases. But her intentions were clear.

When she said 'Eve,' her face relaxed and even smiled a bit.

When she said 'Emily,' she stiffened slightly and frowned.

When she said 'Mom,' her face crumpled. He wondered vaguely what had happened to her parents. He had not detected anyone's scent but Autumn's and Eve's when he entered the small apartment. He wondered if they had died, if they had simply left her when she turned 18 to tend her little sister and herself. But all these thoughts were unimportant to him.

When she said 'Demetri,' she'd shudder and curl into a tighter ball in the chair.

Demetri had never thought of himself as repulsive. He'd been a proud being his whole life. He'd seen the reactions of the humans he crossed on the streets; it was always a wondering stare and a state of breathless adoration. Even on females of his own kind, he had similar reactions. He was tall and tan, even though he was a vampire. The scorching sun had brought a brown tint to his skin when he was human, and a trace of it still remained, even though he was a vampire who should, in all rights, be pale. But he wasn't.

His black hair was wavy and fell shoulder-height. It was shiny and soft and clean; it had always been like that. He had a nice nose, straight, not crooked or imperfect or disproportional in any way. His mouth was shaped well, though not full and cherubic like Alec's. His eyes, though flaming red, were intelligent and slightly slanted, completing the full Italian finish. His brows were arched and dark, but perfectly shaped.

And yet, when he saw Autumn flinch from him, he felt the first tremors of self-loathing. He didn't understand why she couldn't bear to be near him when he drew other humans like flies to honey, but it still bothered him. He tried to focus on other things; like how her breath moved her shoulders, how her eyes moved under her delicate, pale peach lids...how her throat flexed when she swallowed...

Demetri clenched his jaw again. Venom pooled into his mouth, and his knuckles were white against the dark gray first-class chairs as he gripped the armrests. Slowly, almost robotically, he leaned towards her. Her warm, delicious scent washed over him as he breathed her in. His hands squeezed the armrests tighter, his anchors against temptation. He knew it was dangerous, he knew it was foolish, but her impossibly wonderful fragrance drew him to her like nothing else ever had.

The Volturi, his draw to them was nothing. Nothing in his life, no one he had ever killed, no one he had ever encountered, had ever had this powerful a pull. He moved until he was at her neck, almost touching her. His urge to kill was staggering; his arms shook with both the need to fly at her throat and to hold himself back. He opened his mouth and breathed her in, and though his own throat burned with thirst, he didn't pull away.

Curious and enchanted with this impossibly delectable fragrance, he kissed the thin skin on her slender neck. The heat of her blood scorched his lips, and they instinctively drew back from his teeth. He lowered them to her neck. A single drop of venom fell to her skin.

She stirred, and he was sitting calmly, watching the flight movie, in a fraction of a second. She sensed something was wrong, but couldn't determine what it was. Looking around, she saw her sister yawning and sitting up. She turned back to Demetri.

"What're they playing?" she murmured, her tired eyes trying to focus on the wide-screen. Eve was now leaning forward, staring at Demetri, but his attention was all for the screen. He caught the gist of the movie in time to answer her.

"'Snakes on a Plane.' Not their best choice," he chuckled, and Autumn couldn't stifle a laugh. She turned and stroked her sister's dark hair.

"Who's he?" she asked yet again. Autumn sighed and took Eve's face firmly in her hands. Their eyes met.

"This is Demetri. We're traveling with him because we can't live in Volterra anymore. It's dangerous." Eve's eyes widened. Then, they filled with tears. Demetri was still as a stone, puzzled by this overflow of emotion. Didn't the kid care if she lived?

"What about my friends? What about our apartment?" she whispered, her voice shaky. "I don't want to leave! We just moved here!" She burst into tears and Demetri was stunned. Did she really care so little for her own life? Autumn was comforting her, though, holding her sister close and rubbing her back.

"Shh, it's okay. You'll make new friends, and we'll get another apartment. Don't worry. As long as you're with me, you're going to be okay." Demetri scoffed and Autumn paused to cast him a glare. As long as she was with her? Autumn wouldn't last two seconds against the Volterra. But he didn't interfere. He'd couldn't recall his human family, so he didn't fully understand the bond. So, he merely watched. After the little girl calmed down, her sister pulled a little notepad from the girl's jeans. She turned to Demetri.

"Do you have a pen?" she asked quietly, and he held up a finger. Glancing around, he waved down a flight attendant. Her jaw went a little slack when he caught her eyes, but she managed to throw on a smile before the silence became too awkward.

"Could I get some water, please?" he purred, and she nodded quickly, her greedy blue eyes fixed upon his perfect features. As she turned, he slipped a pen from her back pocket without her even noticing. He turned back to Autumn with a grin, but his breath caught as her glare penetrated his composure.

"That's stealing." Demetri rolled his eyes.

"She had, like, five. Just take the stupid pen," he growled, pushing it into her hands. He pulled away quickly, though, when her skin touched his. The heat was intoxicating.

She frowned for a minute more before giving it to her sister, who began to write. Demetri leaned forward, curious, but she snapped it shut and smiled shyly, shaking her head.

"No boys allowed."

He'd caught the first page, though, before she had closed it. It was second-grade dribble, mostly, about the life of an eight-year-old girl. He was bored silly in the first paragraph. So, instead of protesting that he was not a 'boy' per se, he leaned back and closed his eyes. He wasn't tired (he never was), but it made it easier to concentrate on the threads, each of which led to a different mind.

It didn't help that Autumn's thread was about at appetizing as her scent; soft and luxurious, he was drawn to her trail, even though she sat right next to him. He worked hard to keep other threads in mind. The Cullens hadn't moved much; they were a few miles north, but not traveling fast and occasionally changing directions. They didn't seem to be fleeing from him, though. And they weren't working hard to hide their presence. Perhaps the female shield was saving her energy for when he was a little closer...

Then, he turned to the Volturi, back in Italy. No one was following him yet, and he had a good idea as to why. They realized the futility of an immediate search. He was the one that they typically exercised in search missions, and now that he was gone, they weren't sure as to how to go about the process of finding their Tracker. Also, Aro had incredible insight on how Demetri's powers worked, and knew that Demetri would be tracking them as they tracked him, and he would be much more efficient.

So, they were safe for now. But he knew it was only a matter of time before the Volturi came and fetched him. Hopefully he would have some backup by then. He wondered vaguely what his quite suspecting hosts were up to...

Eight vampires, a half-human vampire, and a werewolf stood in a small clearing somewhere in the thick woods of lower Canada.

"Well? What are we going to do?" snarled Bella Cullen, shaking her thick, dark hair agitatedly. Alice shrugged, trying to find a solution. It wasn't easy being the only Seer in the family, and so relied upon.

"We can run. Bella's shield will cover us, and Demetri won't be able to pick up our tracks. I'm sure he has other tracking methods, but he's not going to be near as adept, since he's never had to deal with opposition to his powers before," suggested Edward, holding his wife closer. Married for almost six years, they were inseparable. Despite how she liked the idea of keeping her family safe and running, Bella shook her head. But Carlisle, her adopted 'father,' beat her to the punch.

"Yes, Bella can shield us, but she can't keep it up forever. And if he is looking for us, then he's not going to stop. I'm sure he can chase us a lot faster than Bella can rejuvenate her mind." Renesmee, Bella's immortal half-human half-vampire daughter, cut in. Her melodious voice was higher, but also quieter. She was new to these sorts of worries, and knew she was inexperienced. But that didn't mean that she didn't have good input.

"We don't even know what he's after. All Alice saw was him coaxing a flight ticket out of some salesgirl in an airport. Then, she saw our woods. But has she seen the Volturi follow-up?" They all looked at each other and sighed.

"Yeah, we don't know what he's after, but do we want to stick around and find out? He's dangerous, Nessie," said the werewolf lowly, his black eyes shadowed with worry. He tucked the girl under his arm, as if to shield her from the oncoming danger. She couldn't stop the small smile from tucking up her mouth.

"Well, like Carlisle said, he's not going to stop anyways. Why not deal with him sooner than later?" Renesmee had never been comfortable with using such formal terms as 'Dad' and 'Mom' and 'Grandfather.' They were all just Edward and Bella and Carlisle to her. They were all around her age, anyways, as vampires remained the same age as their transformation age. They were like family, but much, much closer than siblings. It was a very unique bond.

"Well, yes we're going to deal with him," murmured Edward, his golden eyes glowing eerily in the moonlight, "but you're not. Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Jacob, and Nessie will have to leave. Bella, Jasper, Alice and I will stay behind to find out what he's after." Emmett, Jacob, and Renesmee snarled simultaneously.

"What? Why do I have to run? Why can't I stay behind and kick ass?" howled Emmett angrily, flexing his bulging muscles. Renesmee and Jacob were no less angry.

"I'm not leaving my parents!" shouted Renesmee, and Jacob paused in his breathless growling to glare at her. He really was too protective, sometimes; he reminded Bella rather of how Edward had been when she was human. He wanted to stay, but he didn't want Renesmee to stay, too. He valued her life so much more than his own that it was almost frightening.

"I'm staying! I left my pack with Sam to come with you, and my only job is to run away? I came to make sure Nessie stayed safe! And you are not staying," he added, the last statement directed towards the beautiful, bronze-haired girl beside him. Renesmee bared her teeth at him. Edward waited for absolute silence before he went on.

"No, Jacob. You came because you couldn't bear to be without Renesmee. And you won't be. Nessie, we're not risking your life over this. You're not experienced enough to fight Demetri. Emmett, you are experienced, but you are weak at points were Demetri is strong. You are powerful physically, but you don't have the speed, patience, or endurance of Demetri, and therefore you will lose against him.

I need to stay to read his mind and intentions. Bella will stay so she can shield us and provide for a surprise attack. Alice will need to watch our immediate future, and Jasper is talented in bringing out the most painful of emotions, thus able to apprehend him well. We will not lose all the Cullens when we meet him."

Renesmee growled softly, but didn't have anything more to say. Esme, who stood in the background with Jasper, suddenly spoke up.

"Not to sound selfish...but why bring Bella with you? What about keeping Nessie and Bella safe?" she whispered, snaking an arm around the young girl. Renesmee rolled her eyes but said nothing. Edward smiled, but it felt hollow.

"We don't plan on leaving Demetri alive, if his intentions prove dangerous. You'll be safe, I swear on my...existence." They all stood silently for a moment, trying to root out any holes in the plan. Of course, it was riddled with holes; why was Demetri coming alone? Would the Volturi be quick to follow? What if he got past Edward and the others? What if he killed Edward and the others? What was he after?

But it was the best that they could come up with. He would either follow the fleeing members of the family, or make a beeline straight for the ones that stayed; either way, they'd soon know what he was up to and who he was after.

The plane landed in Ottawa, the closest flight Demeti could get to his destination. It was still a hell of a run; the Cullens were somewhere near Vancouver, in the Rocky Mountains, as far as he could tell. He pulled carefully at the Volturi trails; they were all still in Volterra, trying to figure out what to do. Undoubtedly, they knew where he was going, but there was no way that they could find him. But, no...a few had followed his trail to the airport, and were now questioning some people, he assumed. But it didn't worry him. They knew that he would be aware of their flight the instant that they began to track him. He had time.

He stole another car under the disapproving glare of Autumn, but he ignored her. It wasn't stealing if he planned on bringing it back...or, you know, just leaving it somewhere to be found.

"Would you rather we ran?" he asked in a bored monotone, disliking the slow pace of the car. Autumn sighed and leaned back in the chair. No, she didn't. Demetri's keen ears caught her stomach growling, but he didn't need sharp hearing to catch that. She must be starving, as there hadn't been a meal on the long flight. He'd forgotten how often humans needed to be fed. Three times a day; ridiculous! But then, as his temptation to drink her blood stabbed at his throat the thirstier he got, he seriously considered taking a leaf from her book.

"Sorry," he muttered, searching for an exit he could pull off onto. Autumn yawned widely, unable to stop herself. Demetri felt terrible; he was doing an awful job of taking care of her. So much for being her protector, she'd probably starve to death within the week.

"Sorry for what? Not that you don't have stuff to be sorry for, I just don't know what this specific one is about," murmured Autumn, her eyelids fluttering shut. Demetri couldn't resist smiling a little, even though he felt pretty bad.

"Sorry for not feeding you. I forget how often you humans need to eat," he admitted, and Autumn laughed. She shook her head, but a smile played about her mouth and eyes. Eve was asleep again. How often did human children sleep? It seemed that she was asleep all the time!

"It's okay. But while we're on the subject, how often do you...eat?" she asked hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer. Demetri grinned. She was no coward.

"Maybe once every two weeks or so. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It sort of depends," he added, but stopped talking abruptly. If Autumn knew that he was killing more often because he kept company with her, she'd be out there in no time. Or, at least, a little less willing to travel with him, as there was no way he'd leave her to the Volturi to be killed. She was really too good of a soul.

He pulled into a hotel. It was enormous and fancy and first-class, and he enjoyed the shock and reluctant delight in Autumn's face. So, she appreciated a few luxuries like any other creature. This might be fun, then.

He'd picked up quite a fortune in all kinds of currency, due to international travels and such missions. He had a few accounts in all countries, just in case something might come up in his missions. Canada was no exception; he pulled out a credit card and strolled up to the front desk.

The woman at the desk sneered for half a second. Her eyes landed immediately on their clothes, and she judged quickly. Demetri wasn't dressed too well. He'd been wearing the same clothes that he had left Volterra in, and they were now wrinkled, a little dirty, and slightly torn from running, traveling, and fighting. Autumn and Eve were no better. They wore ratty jeans and oversized T-shirts, the clothes of sleep. When her eyes traveled up to Demetri's face, she paled, but there were still traces of a sneer.

That is, until he slipped the Platinum card into her hand. Then she was all smiles and winks. Well, except with Autumn. She glared resentfully at the poor girl until she slipped behind Demetri.

He rented the top floor, the Royal Suite, under one of his many fake names. It wouldn't do for his old friends to find his information here. They had no bags, so it didn't take any time at all for them to reach their floor. Demetri murmured something into a busboy's ear before they entered the room.

Demetri carried the drowsy little human as Autumn opened the door. She marveled at the size, the elegance, of the suite, as he darted to one of the rooms to lay the girl into the soft twin bed. Autumn had discovered a fatal flaw, though, when he came back to her side.

"There's only one other bed," she huffed in an accusatory tone. Demetri smiled serenely, a little enchanted by her human forgetfulness. He tapped his temple with his index finger.

"No sleep, remember?" he said laughingly, and Autumn's anxious expression relaxed. She looked relieved and a bit...disappointed? No, his mind was playing with him. He knew quite well how Autumn truly felt about him. But he couldn't resist an opportunity to tease her. "That is, unless you want me to."

They were suddenly aware of how close they were standing. Autumn blushed deeply and pushed his chest. He didn't budge an inch, but she did. She stepped away, rolling her eyes. A knock on the door, and Demetri was gone. He opened it and saw the busboy that he had called earlier. Something small and coiled was in his hand, and Demetri took it and thanked him. He flew back to Autumn.

"Arms up and feet together," he ordered, and she stiffened. But then she saw what he held; a measuring tape. She scowled.

"What? Are you planning on sewing me a sweater?" she scoffed, but held her arms out anyways. He quickly took her measurements. Leg length, arm length, hips, waist...breasts...the scent of her skin, even through her dirty clothes, clutched his breath in its iron grip.

He chuckled lightly, rather uncharacteristic of himself, to hide his discomfort. His throat flamed in thirst.

"No. How am I supposed to get you clothes when I don't know what will fit you?" he snapped the measuring tape back into the case and flicked her pert nose gently. Her surprise and indignation was delicious.

"Be right back," he promised, and dashed away to Eve's room. He took her measurements while she slept, lifting the necessary body parts with perfect pressure. She didn't bat an eye, and he was done before a second had passed. He had their measurements memorized, and he was good to go. Autumn was waiting for him as he came back out.

"No, I really don't need new clothes. And you're not buying clothes for me without my opinion! You don't even know what I like!" she yelped as he reached for the suite keys. He laughed again. He really was in a good mood, for whatever reason. It might be due to the fact that everything was safe and fine so far, and his plan wasn't failing miserably. They were all still alive.

"I'll get a little of everything. Or a lot," he tacked on at the end, just in case. He enjoyed dressing well and looking good, she might as well be prepared to do the same. Autumn darted forward to catch the door. Bless her, she thought she could hold it open; but she was clever, and slipped her fingers between the door and the wall. He would never intentionally hurt her, so he kept it open and leaned forward through the door, his scarlet eyes smouldering.

"I'm coming with you," she insisted, her gray eyes hard. Demetri smiled as her stomach growled. As much as he would like to go shopping with Autumn, he still felt bad for letting her go without food for so long.

"No. Order room service, get something to eat for yourself and Eve. I'll be back late anyways, don't wait up," he grinned and gently pried her fingers from the door. He heard her grumble and head for the phone as he left.

The night was young, and his humans were safe, warm, and fed. He bared his teeth and breathed in the deliciously smooth night air; he had other matters to handle.