A/N: Was going to wait a whole week before posting this but I got a bit too excited. Again, please review if you liked it/hated it/are indifferent. I'm trying to be different with where I go with the plot, and I want to sort of see how you guys feel about it with each chapter. I treasure each and every review I get, and it only encourages me to write more and more often. :)
Disclaimer: SM owns all.
There's a still in the street outside your window
And you're keeping secrets on your pillow
Let me inside, no cause for alarm
I promise tonight not to do no harm
I promise you, babe, I won't do you no harm.
- Crossfire, by Brandon Flowers
This girl was one walking surprise. Most of their recruits by now would have been groveling at their feet in gratitude for taking them on. But, in reality, this was a different arrangement than previous ones. She had not volunteered, after all, she had been chosen. Demetri, in spite of himself, rolled his eyes at her question of who he was, not wanting to have to go through it again. Perhaps he had misjudged her intelligence. "As I've said before, my name is Dem-"
"I don't care what your name is!" She interrupted, cowering a little at the hiss he gave, harsher than that of Heidi's in the great hall.
"Well, perhaps you should, because you're going to be stuck with us for a very long time. That is, if you're careful enough." He immediately regretted his tone when he saw how dejected she looked, how afraid. "Forgive me, I've a terrible temper and though I've fed recently, you're very difficult to resist." His red eyes met hers and he felt the venom pool in his mouth as she exhaled. "Perhaps someone more suited should explain things to you. I'll see if I can fetch someone, Renata would do." He started for the door, but she stopped him, reaching out for his arm.
"Please." She started. "Don't leave me alone, at least not until I know what's going on. Why am I here?"
Reluctantly, her turned and dislodged her hands from his arm, gesturing towards one of the elegant chairs in her chambers. "I think you'd better sit down for this."
She silently obliged and took a seat, her eyes not leaving his form as she awaited for an answer. "After what you've witnessed, I'm sure you have an idea of... what we are. I'll just come right out and say it. We're vampires, Daphne." He admitted in a grave tone of voice. "And we feed off of tourists. Heidi, the one who readied this room for you, she's got a particular talent of persuading people to do her bidding and so they follow her here but we always keep a human secretary to maintain appearances before the feeding begins. It's very important in our world to keep our existence a sec-" He was interrupted by the sound of her uncontrolled laughter.
Demetri was not used to this reaction when humans were told of what they were. Fear, wonder, hope, even lust were common reactions but he had never been made to feel so humiliated. Demetri was from a different time, after all, one of propriety and to laugh in such a manner at such a time was very inappropriate indeed. He scolded her with his gaze, but she was far too busy laughing herself into a frenzy whilst he tried to maintain his composure.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "You know, you guys really had me going. Especially back there, that guy with the red contacts? I have to admit, this is good, this is really good. How much did they pay you for this?" She seemed so much more relaxed, Demetri wasn't sure whether he should play along or dispel any of her thoughts that he wasn't actually a vampire.
"I don't think I quite understand..." He started.
"Heather and Laura, surely they put you up to this. It's a really great business you've got going, though. Have to say, you scared the hell out of me before! But the acting was incredible. So, are they hiding in a corner somewhere? Is this being filmed?" She asked, looking behind him trying to find some sort of hidden camera.
His composure broke for a few moments as he realized what she was implying. "Daphne, forgive me, but if I were you, I would not let your thoughts wander so precariously. If you think this a ruse, you're mistaken."
"Yeah sure, alright, look - you got me. You had me fooled, but it's over, it's done. You can put off the act now. I knew there was something off about the way you all spoke." She smiled and stood up heading for the door. "Exit this way?" She asked, pointing to the door. "Oh, wait, one question - how are you guys so rock hard, you wearing plates under those cloaks or something?"
Demetri realized that he was indeed going to have to be more theatrical to prove his point. In a flash, Daphne went from being by the door to the other side of the room, his arms around her waist. "How- how did you do that?" She asked incredulously.
"Right." He said, letting go of her, and pushing her down onto the chaise lounge. "You're going to listen to me this time without interrupting and then you can ask your questions. This isn't some kind of performance, this is the real, hard world, my dear." He regained his composure, straightening his dark grey cloak, ensuring it was free from any creases. All the humor in her face was gone. Good, he thought, at least I'm getting somewhere. "Now, as I was saying, it is of the utmost importance to keep our kind a secret from humans. That is why we have you, to act as our public relations expert, so to speak. And, if you do well enough to please Aro and his brothers, then you will join us as an immortal."
"You mean... you turn your employees into vampires?" She asked, the whole idea still not sinking in. "You would turn me into one?" She continued, her face scrunching up in both intrigue and disgust.
He scoffed. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I said if you turned out to be of service, there is a possibility of that happening, yes."
"And how many have turned out to be of service in the past?" She asked, mocking his overly polite English accent.
He inwardly smiled at her. She certainly had a lot of fire in her, this Daphne. Had she really just took the piss out of him? One of the most lethal Volturi guards? "Few." He replied ominously.
"How few?" She pushed, determined to know her odds.
Demetri decided there was no point lying to her, and so he looked her straight in the eyes. "None have quite gotten there so far. We had one, Gianna... She almost made it but she got too nosy. Poked around in our business and was far too confident things would work out in her favor. Aro had us take care of the problem." His eyes glinted dangerously and for the first time, Daphne started to believe he might actually be telling the truth. "Bianca was a close second, but as you heard before, she couldn't spell for the life of her. If there's anything we don't tolerate, it's bad grammar. You must understand, this is a very prestigious position and should you do as you're told, your fate could be different from theirs."
It was her turn to scoff. "I'm sure you say that to all your new recruits. Tell me, is it company policy to drag your future employees from the street into the castle? If so, you guys are in serious need of some internal changes."
"No, we usually do not have to be so forceful. There are rumors of our existence, of course, all over the world. Even here, in Volterra." He smiled slyly. "They come to us, seeking immortality for one reason or another, and they know all of the risks when they sign on. It's just that most of them have failed to meet the requirements to be given such a precious gift."
"You mean all of them." She corrected, her voice devoid of any emotion, save bitterness.
He nodded. "Precisely. But as I said, if they'd listened and done their job right, perhaps they would be here before you now instead of me, guiding you into the position."
"What exactly is the job, then?" She asked, her voice still steely.
Demetri's eyes flashed with hope. "Does this mean you accept? Aro will be so pleased!" He exclaimed, trying to mask his own pleasure.
"That's another thing, who does that guy think he is?" She asked vehemently. "And what was that all about with the hand-holding? That's not typical job interview etiquette."
"Ah yes, I thought you might be wondering about that." Perhaps she was intelligent, after all, having taken notice of such an insignificant detail in what was likely a time of stress for her. "Some of us have special talents, apart from being attractive to our prey-"
"Prey meaning humans." She clarified.
He frowned at having been interrupted again. "Yes. Apart from being fast, strong, and immortal, we-"
"If you're immortal, how old are you?" She asked, completely disregarding his frustration. Or perhaps she was enjoying it, riling him up.
"Will you please let me finish?!" He asked, and she faked a sweet smile, urging him to go on. "Now, some of us have special powers. Aro, for instance, can read every thought you've ever had by touching you. It's how he keeps tabs on us and interrogates those on trial." He paused, for he could tell there was a question lingering in her mind. "Yes?"
"Just that you said trial. Do vampires get sued? Are there petty arguments, like, oh my vampire husband took my coffin in the divorce! I vant it back!" She said, putting on a ridiculously stereotypical Eastern European accent.
He gave her a stern look and explained, as if it were the most absurd notion in the world. "We do not sleep in coffins, Daphne. In fact, we do not sleep at all."
She made a mental note of that. "So what, is it, he took my stash of humans when we divorced? It was meant to be half and half, or something?" She asked, curious as to how his world worked.
"No... not exactly." He paused, beginning to question the sanity of their new recruit. "But we do bring rogue vampires to justice, if they break the law. They, of course, try to evade us, which is where I come in."
"Of course." She repeated, mocking him yet again.
Ignoring her comment, he continued. "I'm what they call a tracker, I can find anyone anywhere in the world, vampire or human, if I've met them before."
"So you're like a GPS for criminals." She said with a smile and he took that as a compliment. "And how long have you been doing that for?"
His eyes narrowed. "You know, it's quite rude to ask someone how old they are twice."
She raised her eyebrows in a challenge. "It's also rude to kidnap people and threaten them with death. So, out with it."
"Over a thousand." He replied honestly and she looked at him skeptically. "But I am forever frozen at twenty-seven, as that is when I was changed."
"Changed." She repeated. "Like bitten and stuff?" He nodded. "Did it hurt?"
What peculiar question, Demetri thought. "Yes, very much. But it was worth it. I've been a part of this family ever since."
"Been through your fair share of secretaries, then." She said.
"Indeed." Demetri could sense that Felix was coming towards the room and decided to cut their conversation short. "Someone will leave a tray of food for you outside the door in case you get hungry. Tomorrow, I will go into town and purchase you some new clothes."
"What's wrong with my clothes?" She asked, almost offended.
"Nothing, it's just we have a reputation to uphold, and we like our staff, even the human ones, to look presentable. I'll try and find things about your size." He started towards the door but before he left, turned around and bowed ever so slightly, out of habit, she assumed. "Now I'll say goodnight. And please, don't try to run - you'll only get lost and likely run into trouble. Not all of us who live under this roof are as controlled as I am. And I'd be able to follow you anyway, so there's no point in trying to escape."
"Yes, sir." She retorted sarcastically, even bothering to salute him as he left the room.
Now Daphne had no intention of going down without a fight but everything she had just learned had taken its toll on her and the sight of that giant bed made sleep seem like just what she needed. It looked so comfortable, after all, and it would be a shame to waste it. Surely if he'd wanted to hurt her he would have done so already?
Without giving it another thought, Daphne took off her shoes and got under the covers, blowing out the candle that had been carefully placed on the nightstand. A few moments later, sleep overtook her, with dreams of that strange, red-eyed man.