Ignore any descriptions that don't exactly fit the book, I can't find mine.

Guarding Them

Chapter 2: Exposed

My sight was gone. After hitting my head, I could see nothing. And yet, I could feel everything. The seconds before my body hit the water's surface stretched into minutes, and the miniscule moment before I was submerged, hours. The liquid sheet surrounded me, clinging to my body, pulling me under. I kicked, tried to unravel my feet from the death bed that I didn't want to call my own, but I couldn't see which way was up. An invisible assassin saw fit to cover my head with the same material that entangled me, and my efforts turned to fight off my attacker. First, my hands clawed at my face, eager to rip away the murderous hand that dared to try suffocating me. When that seemed to be in vain, I began to clutch at my throat. The burning… air…

My arms started to go slack. My head felt fuzzy and pressurized all at the same time. I no longer needed to see. I closed my eyes.

The vampires led me through corridor after corridor, occasionally taking me through a door I wouldn't have even noticed was there. The first hallway was well lit though unoccupied, everything after that would've been pitch black if not for my enhanced senses. The farther along we went, the colder it got, and the less furnishings there were. Needless to say, if I needed a quick escape root, I really was shit outta luck.

The two remained silent, eyes always forward and determined but not a word was spoken. Finally, we came upon an elevator. After stepping inside and pushing the down button, both of the vampires removed the hoods they had previously dawned and they visibly relaxed, though I hadn't realized they'd been tense. The elevator music, cheery and calming, I could only expect to be a drum roll for those that were brought here for executions. To me, it was just an annoyance.

The elevator dinged, the doors slid opened, and I nearly hissed from the bright light that came through. I was dragged into the overly lit room, and when my eyes finally adjusted I noticed it reminded me of one of those nice hotel lobbies. Ironically, it was anything but.

There was a woman behind the desk to the right, and by the smell of her, human. The hell?

She greeted the two vampires warmly, and Felix returned the gesture, but Demetri complete ignored her. So she was either a prisoner who had been locked up there doing her job too long, or a wannabe. Or both.

From then on, the halls were rather brightly lit, though were still maze like. I hadn't a hope of escaping if they decided to deject my offer.

The smell, not to mention, only got stronger the farther down we went.

I started seeing blurs pass by. They were black, and with them brought on a wave of the scent I would need to get used to, one way or another. Seeing them, the vampires who were actually running, made be huff impatiently, kind of like Felix had been doing the whole way.

By the seventh or so blur that rushed by, I was fed up with it.

"Can't we go faster?" I asked, frustrated as another vampire ran passed us in the same direction we were going.

Felix laughed darkly. "We could, but I don't think Demetri feels like carrying you, and I know I don't."

"You don't have to. I may not be as fast as your kind, but I'm definitely faster than this," I said somewhat bitterly. It was starting to feel like every vampire that passed us was taunting me, and making fun of my sluggishness.

"Fine then, run," he replied humorously. I think he thought I was lying.

"I don't know where I'm going."

"We're going straight down this hallway and making a left at the end. There's a door, though I doubt you'll get that far."

Without hesitation, and with eagerness to prove myself early, I started my full sprint. The end of the hallways was probably as far away as two full lengths of the fountain outside, meaning it would have been a little longer than one of the running courses in the Olympics. It was just too easier to reach the end in record timing, and at the left there was another smaller hallway with the door Felix had mentioned. A large, glorified door.

The two vampires joined me a moment later, watching me intently.

"What are you, girl?" Demetri asked me again, his eyes blazing. I looked at him right back, keeping my face free of emotion.

"That's irrelevant to why I'm here, but I'll tell you soon enough."

His gaze became even more suspicious, and he looked torn between interrogating me further or carrying out the task he set out to do what felt like ages ago.

He seemed to decide. The vampire nodded towards the door.

We ran to it, but instead of going straight through, Demetri stood in front of it and turned to me.

"You are not to speak unless spoken to, and you are not to disobey what you are told to do. Go against these rules, and you will be shown no mercy. This is your only warning."

His smoldering eyes turned away and opened the great double doors, and I was pushed forward by Felix.

That is where the smell originated. The scent of vampire broke through the door like a damn broken by a flood of water. It almost made my eyes tear up from the sting it put in my nose, and I resisted the urge to cover my face to get away from the smell. Now was not the time to accidentally insult the most powerful group of vampires in their own territory.

Felix kept me from walking forward any further when we got to the middle of the room, but Demetri kept on until he reach the far end. The room was dome-like, large, and ornate. It reminded me of ballrooms I had seen in movies, and there were three thrones at the far end where Demetri was headed. Pale faces from every edge of the room turned to us as we entered, and their noses started scrunching up in disgust. I dearly hoped that the way I smelled towards them wouldn't affect my chances, because I'd set that obstacle aside on my own. I really hoped that they would do the same, seeing as there were dozens of them, and only one of me.

There were five vampires that were standing and conversing in front of the thrones, excluding Demetri who had only just joined them. Three of them looked quite a bit older than the other two, considering the others looked like they would have been around my age if not younger. Demetri walked up to them, and without saying anything offered his hand to one of the older, black haired vampires. The one being offered turned to look towards the door, and found me standing calmly in the middle of the floor. He took Demetri's hand, and a moment later his eyes snapped back up to me with a look full of wonder. He nodded to the vampire, and started to make his way over to Felix and me.

The disgusted looks I had been getting from the room had some added curiosity as the new vampire, I was assuming their leader, approached me. He glided over, like his graceful race does, and stopped two arm's reaches away. He said nothing as he looked me up and down, apparently studying me, though he himself seemed unaffected by the smell everyone else in the room was repulsed by. When he reached my eyes, I wanted to shrink away. To those who were used to him, I'm sure he looked like he was simply curious all the time, and fascinated by everything. To me, he held so much power in his gaze, even if his crimson irises and pupils were given a slightly milky color I could only guess came with age. Seemingly satisfied by my flinching, a sure sign that I acknowledge where she stood, he spoke.

"You have knowledge of someone who has broken our laws?" he asked his voice cheery despite the topic and his eyes wide as if stuck in a permanently surprised expression. His lips were pulled into a smile, but I couldn't really guess what he was smiling about. At the moment, I thought that maybe he was elated at the fact that he would get to put someone down, but I know better now. He always smiles, even at the strangest of times.

I nodded my head, and managed a two worded reply, "Yes, sir."

"And what is it that they have done?" he continued without missing a beat.

"They've revealed themselves to a mortal." He did not react as the others did, and in that room everyone actually seemed relaxed. There were no clenched jaws, angry eyes, or any outward appearances like Demetri and Felix had displayed outside.

"You mean yourself?" he said suddenly, his smile widening. I was confused; did he think I was a human that just smelt that bad?

"No, I mean a human –"

"Are you not?"

This is turning away from the point, get back to it…

"A coven of vampires in America has revealed the immortal's existence to a human teenager, and last I heard, they don't plan on turning her."

The vampire looked disappointed that I strayed from the line that he wanted me to walk, but he brought back his positive façade easily enough, and now he looked a little more serious and ready to talk business.

"And what coven do you speak of?"

I thought that a rather odd question to ask. Did he think he knew every coven there was? He might, he's most likely been around for ages. I remembered what Demetri told me though, and thought it best to not keep him waiting.

"The Cullens, in Forks, Washington."

The vampire stood back and once again took on a disappointed expression, though this time I didn't know why. He looked back at the group that he had walked away from, and then back to me.

"I'm afraid we don't believe you. The leader of the Cullen clan is a dear friend of mine, and I know him well. He would never break the law that he works hard to follow. Perhaps you speak of his profession? I hear he is a doctor, and reveals himself to mortals regularly."

His last sentence I found to sound teasing, and possible poking fun at my intelligence.

"I went to school with the 'children'. One of them is in a relationship with a human girl, and I have… overheard that they will not turn her, though she wants them to."

The leader cocked his head to the side and held his hands together in front of him, making him look like he was in some twisted sort of prayer. His forefingers came to rest at his lips, which were no longer smiling, as if he were shushing someone, and he once again turned back to the small group in the back.

"Where is your proof? Or did you expect us to charge in on your word?" one of the people in the group said icily. He was one of the older ones, the only one of the three to have blond hair.

Proof? Proof. They wanted proof. The only proof I had were the memories I kept safeguarded in my head. He stopped a car from making a pancake out of her; that was only a memory. That's all of him that I'd witnessed, but I'd overheard conversations that were even more revealing. How could I provide proof?

"What kind of proof is it that you need?" I asked the blond vampire, whose eyes, unlike the one who stood before me, could only be described at maleficent.

The smile returned to the vampire in front of me, and he let his arms drop, but his hands remained clasped in front.

"How much do you know of our kind, young one? It is obvious you are not a vampire, but you are not human either. So what do you know of vampires?"

Not nearly as much as I should have before coming here…

"Only a few things. Blood is your sustenance, your senses and physical abilities are enhanced, and your major law." I was starting to get a little anxious. Where was this going?

"Yes, true, very true. But do you know of our other abilities?"

My silence gave him his answer.

"Many of us," he started, gesturing to the occupants of the room, "have other abilities. Dear Demetri, for example, has the ability to track anyone, even if they are on the other side of the world," he finished, his voice coated with pride.

Definitely no escape.

"I, on the other hand, can read minds. With a single touch, I can read every thought that person's ever had. You have your proof with you. Do you offer it?" His smile widened again as he held out his hand. The little exchange between himself and Demetri now made sense.

I was relieved to be able to provide the proof they apparently needed, and I started to offer my hand. But with a realization, I withdrew and looked up into his curious eyes.

This wasn't just about the Cullens anymore. He'd seen Demetri's memories. He'd seen me run down the hallway, far faster than any mortal could. And I stood before him then, with a heartbeat, a fast one. He didn't see a mortal before him, but he didn't see a vampire either. He wasn't as curious for my 'proof' as he was for something else.

I swallowed loudly. This wasn't how I'd planned it. I was going to make my offer to them, and explain out loud. He was going to see everything in my head. If he decided to reject it, that would be it. I wouldn't be able to make my case, and I wasn't going to be able to escape. Things were starting to look very bad for me.

"Come now, you want me to believe you, don't you?" he said, his eyes searching mine, as if they were already sifting through my thoughts. I couldn't deny him though. To say no then would be the death of me. So begrudgingly, I slowly edged my hand forward, and the distance we had between us closed instantaneously; he snatched it up lest I take it away again.

I watched him fearfully as his unblinking eyes stared at our hands, and he hovered over them, breathing deeply. I don't know how long we stood there; it could have been a few minutes, but for me it felt much, much longer. Rampant thoughts ran through my head out of fear that he would give the order to kill, and then even more thoughts came along with the realization that he would see that fearful thought, and the process continued, seemingly endless. At last, the slow motion everything had been in sped up when his head snapped up and his eyes bore into mine, only inches away.

"How interesting…" he said as he released my hand. I watched him cautiously as he stood to his full height and turned thoughtful. "Very interesting, indeed."

"Was she lying, brother?" the blond vampire, whom I had all but forgotten about, asked. He was smirking, as if hopeful that I was. The leader did not take his eyes off of me as he answered.

"No, all that she has said is quite true. It appears our dear friend Carlisle, and his family, has broken the law. We will need to send someone out to tell them their options; there is no need to be hasty. Demetri, go fetch one of the new members, I'm sure they are more than ready for a first assignment," he said, still watching me. Demetri nodded and made his way to who knows where, and the room became silent.

"There is no need to be afraid, young one. That was… quite the offer you had planned."

His sudden sentence brought the curiosity out of many of the people in the room, and those who had previously stopped paying attention turned back to see what was going on.

"I am… curious. You can control yourself in such a state?"

It was clear to me what he was referring to, but everyone else looked confused if not indifferent.

This is your chance, take it.

"I can, pretty well."

"And you can assume either form at will?" he no longer appeared curious, but he looked to have another air about him. At any other time, I would have been scared of that emotion, but right then it was just what I needed. A hunger for power, and an un quenchable greed.

"Yes."

His smile widened with eagerness.

"Show me," he said excitedly. Even though it was what I'd originally planned to do, I felt nervous. I looked at all the vampires in the room, and I knew I was completely vulnerable. How would they react?

"No need to worry about them, they will not attack," he told me. He said it a little louder than how he'd been talking, and I knew that it was a subtle order.

I nodded my understanding, and took a deep breath. The leader took a few steps back, as he was still rather close.

"Come away Felix, we'll want to give young Danielle some space," he said to the vampire behind me, though he never looked away. The coldness at my back hesitated before walking around me to join the other vampire.

Show him, show him. Show him your power, show him what he wants. Show him something unique, give him something no vampire will ever again possess.

I thought of my sorrows of losing so much in such a short amount of time, my anger that I had against everything around me. My frustrations, the pain of turning the first time. How almost everyone I knew and trusted was now against me. I thought how there was no going back.

My fists trembled first, and the tremors spread to my arms, down my spine and to my legs. My eyes were shut tight, concentrating on everything that had went wrong, everything that made me angry. Mom, the incident, the Cullens.

The Cullens.

My eyes snapped open, unseeing to the reality. It only saw the coven of vampires that I hated with my very being, the ones I held responsible for everything. The lies that they told, two of them in particular, that drove me to insanity. The lies that made me lose everything, and made me the monster that I could be.

The Cullens must pay!

The anger caused an explosion within my body, and it sent shockwaves across my skin like an earthquake.

Clothing ripped. Skin sprouted light grey, almost white, fur all over my body, and my bones shifted, grew, morphed. My face stretched and sharp teeth grew to great lengths from my gums, and claws sprouted where fingernails once were. A tail extended from my spine, and my back arched until I was forced to stand on all fours.

The tingling stopped. I settled there, in the middle of the room of vampires, an abomination to their eyes. My gaze held the leader's, and in the reflection of his milky depths I saw a monster glare back with one blue eye, and one iced over from disuse. Every vampire in the room, save for the one that asked the beast to come forward, crouched into a fighting stance awaiting the order to attack.

"At peace, dear ones," he said quietly, as if in awe. His words did little to calm the crowd, and he only excited them further when he strode forward to me.

I looked down at him, as I was much taller than he was when at my full height, and I lowered my head so that he was higher than I was when he came closer. I did not flinch back when he reached his hand out toward my muzzle, though several vampires showed their objections and a rain of hisses echoed through my ears.

"Peace," he repeated, and placed his hand on my lowered head. His eyes glazed over as he entered my mind for the second time that day, and as he withdrew he could only say one word.

"Magnificent."