Chapter 6

We made sure to cover every inch of our skin before we left for the city. The afternoon sun beat down on Volterra with a light that made it very difficult to be discrete, but we managed with the clothes we had. Well, as long as we kept our hands in our pockets.

Tanya was being quite difficult, insisting that she stay to watch over Carmen and Eleazer… and Marcello. I finally convinced her to come with me and Kate with my puppy-dog eyes and a slight guilt trip. I wasn't about to leave with just one family member if I had to meet Aro, and she was the most clear-headed of the three of us- Kate and I were lovesick.

We snuck through the side streets of the city, avoiding human contact and the sun at all costs. This was mostly my fault; I was nervous, and didn't want anything to go wrong before we even got to our destination. Steering clear of humans just seemed like a good idea; I wanted no one to see me.

We paused to check ourselves one last time before we went into the main square, where Jane, Felix, and Demetri were bound to be waiting. I glanced at a reflective window near me to see how much of my skin was showing. Then I did a double-take. My hood was down right now, but other than that I was completely covered. If my head wasn't hidden, though, why couldn't I see it?

I blinked a few times and looked back into the glass. My normal reflection was staring back at me. I pulled up my hood and hurried back over to Tanya and Kate.

"Um, Tanya, vampires can see their reflections just like humans, right?"

"Of course," she replied, looking at me strangely. "You know that whole ne-reflection thing is a myth." I nodded.

"Just making sure," I mumbled, tugging at my sleeves.

We hurried across the square at a normal human speed, ducking our heads to avoid the sunlight. As I predicted, there were three vampire scents wafting over to us from the alley beyond, where three cloaked figures waited. I wanted to shrink back into the shadows we came from now more than ever, but I knew this encounter would happen eventually. Might as well get it over with.

"The Denali sisters," the smallest one said unemotionally. "Well, what's left of them." The figure smiled sweetly as Tanya and Kate hissed. I almost responded the same way myself- she had no right to treat my family like that- but I resisted; getting on Jane's bad side was the last thing I wanted to do. Besides, a little voice in the back of my head reasoned that she wanted us to act that way, and it would irritate her more if our response was the opposite of what she wanted. So, I gave her a big, bright smile.

Her eyes dulled a bit when she looked at me, and I had to hold my breath to keep from laughing at her obvious disappointment.

"And this must be the plant-eater," she continued dryly. "Aro is waiting. Follow me." We glided farther into the alley, the only sound the rustling of fabric on skin and padding of feet as we made our way further into the darkness. We soon reached the dead end, but our guide didn't hesitate as she strode towards the wall, jumping down into a large drain just in front of it. Tanya followed after her, then me, then Kate and the guards. No backing out now.

We twisted and turned through the corridors, making our way ever deeper into the compound until finally, we were there. The room was very large, with a marble floor and creamy white walls painted with perfectly detailed inscriptions and patterns. The ceiling was a bright sky blue with little cupids flitting around an enormous skylight, which brightened the room impossibly and giving it a strange peacefulness. How ironic.

There was a raised platform at the far wall, with three large wooden chairs lining the front; thrones, and they were currently in use.

"Jane, you've returned!" Aro said joyously, beckoning her over to kiss her cheeks.

"Yes, master," she replied sweetly. "I brought the others, just as you asked." He looked up from her face and gave us a bright- and slightly menacing- smile.

"Wonderful!" he cried, standing slowly and moving toward us. "Simply wonderful." He eyed my company rather sadly. "It is truly an honor to see you and Katrina again, Tanya. I do apologize for Caius's actions… the last time we met. I hope there are no hard feelings."

"Of course not," Tanya replied, her tone sweet and syrupy and completely fake. "We could never stay mad at you, Aro."

"Excellent!" he said, signaling for the guards to close the doors behind us. Then he turned to face me.