Glad u like it so far, just might take some time for the next few chapters ok? But don't worry I won't give up like others would think I would. Anyway this chapter's where Sulpicia and Alicia meet so expect sparks flying, not in a good way. Please tell me what you think and thanks again for the other reviews it's greatly appreciated.

Enjoy!!

Jane led Alicia into the corridors where they met Alec again and they continued into the main library, still getting Alicia as nervous as ever.

"Is anyone in there?" she thought to Alec.

"Probably just Athenodora and Sulpicia, they love being in there. Especially in the gardens…"

"Are they nice?"

"They can be…but they do have their points where they'll become complete drama queens."

"Oh…"

"It's actually very funny to watch, especially Sulpicia." Jane thought that time.

They continued walking until they came across two extremely large doors and Alec pushed them open and Alicia gasped at the huge room. She was completely dazed at the enormous shelves covered in books and the elegant furniture everywhere; nothing like her master's library.

"It's amazing…"

"Glad you like it; you said you liked to read right? Well you'll definitely love coming here when you're bored." Alicia smiled at Jane and Alec, this was the first time anyone had been so nice to her.

"Just one more question Alicia, how old are you?" Jane asked that time.

"A hundred and sixteen…I think…"

"Ah…now let's just…" before Jane could finish Alicia spotted two beautiful blonde women striding over to meet them.

"Hello Alec, Jane. Are we needed?" the one in royal purple spoke up.

"No Athenodora, we were just showing our new friend the library." Jane pointed at Alicia and Athenodora smiled but the other one just glowered at her.

"A pleasure to meet you young one, what's your name?"

"A-A…Al…" Alicia tried to speak but her throat still hurt.

"Her name is Ali; we just rescued her from a pair of wolves."

"Wolves? Giant wolves?"

"Yes."

"Poor child, you're very lucky Jane and Alec found you. I'm Athenodora, Caius's wife." Athenodora held out her hand and Alicia reluctantly shook it. "And this is my cousin Sulpicia…" the other woman just smiled slightly.

"Aro's wife." She stated calmly. Alicia just stayed silent. "Jane why is she wearing my dress?"

"Oh…I thought you didn't want it anymore so I just…"

"I was going to wear that tonight at the ball!! I just sent it off to be cleaned." Sulpicia growled and Alicia hovered behind Alec.

"Sorry Sulpicia…"

"Just burn it when you're done with it." Sulpicia growled again and stormed out the room with Athenodora who mouthed 'Sorry', to them.

"Don't worry, she'll learn to like you. Once you're on her good side…"

"That won't happen."

"Alec!!"

"It's true, the only people Sulpicia's nice to are Aro and Athenodora. The woman's a complete psycho for nothing."

"Maybe she wouldn't be so mean if you'd stop insulting her, and you'd better hope Aro doesn't find out otherwise we're both goners." Alec nodded and they left the room back into the throne room. The three leaders and the rest of the guard practically gaped at Alicia's appearance, except for Sulpicia of course.

"My dear girl, you look absolutely stunning. Well done Jane…" Aro smiled at Alicia but she still looked uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"

"I think she's still a bit scared sir, but she did tell us a little about herself." Jane spoke up but Aro still had his eyes locked on Alicia. "Her name is Ali and she's a hundred and sixteen years old. That's about all we got out of her that she wanted to tell us."

"Where is she from?" the one called Caius spoke up eyeing Alicia creeping her out.

"We don't know, she still can't talk."

"Then how did she tell you her name and age?"

"She can write…but I'm sure you already saw what she's been through so…"

"She can write down where she's from and we'll decide if she's a threat or not." Caius got sharp that time glaring at Alicia.

"Now now dear Caius, I think it's only fair that we let young Ali heal and wait until she's ready to tell us more about herself. As far as I'm concerned I see no reason why she shouldn't stay here as a guest."

"You haven't read her Aro, you don't know if she's really a victim."

"I don't have to, it's clear she's been abused you saw the scars and how she reacted when I asked her what happened. She's not a threat and it looks like she's bonded rather quickly with Jane and Alec so she will be kept under watch. What do you think Marcus?" Aro looked at the other dark haired man.

"I agree with Aro, she should recover here until she's ready."

"Very well, now let's begin the preparations our guests will arrive in an hour. Felix get Gianna to finish the decorating, Demetri please escort our wives to the market for their gowns, Jane and Alec….stay with Ali for the time being, keep an eye on her." Jane and Alec nodded but Sulpicia didn't seem satisfied.

"I think we should put her to work. It's the only way she can repay us for our hospitality." Aro looked at Sulpicia as if he'd been slapped.

"My dear Sulpicia, the time will come when we decide what to do with her. For now she's a guest and will be treated as such." Aro stated calmly putting his arm around Sulpicia's waste and kissing her neck.

"Disgusting…" Alicia thought getting a glance from Jane. She'd only been there for a few hours and already she didn't like Sulpicia.

"Now then Ali, why don't you and Jane get ready, time's a-wasting." Alicia nodded and followed Jane into the corridor.

"You don't have to get mad you know."

"I don't care, I don't like Sulpicia and she obviously doesn't like me."

"She might if she finds out you're her stepdaughter."

"Doubt it."

"You know something Alicia?"

"What?"

"You may have a lot of secrets caved up but you don't seem to have a problem with me or Alec."

"I trust you and Alec, you mainly."

"You sure don't have a problem talking to us."

"That's because you haven't badgered me about my past. Frankly I'd like to forget it…"

"I know how that feels, when Aro rescued me and Alec I practically clung to him more than anyone else around here. Does your throat still hurt?"

"Yes…I won't be able to speak until I have more blood."

"Well you'll have plenty at the ball, and don't worry about Sulpicia just stick with me and Heidi."

"Ok. Where're we going?"

"My room, I gotta put on a good ensemble for tonight." Alicia followed Jane to her room and gazed out at all the little ornament figures in the room.

"I like collecting things…hey help me pick out a dress would you?"

"Sure…" Jane pulled out five dresses from her closet, a red with a black sash, a green with silver flowers on the skirt, a light blue v-neck with a dark-blue trim, a deep purple with a shawl, and a snazzy silver v-neck; all good colors on her.

"I like the silver one…" she pointed at it. Jane thought for a minute and nodded. She put up the other four and took out some silver shoes. Jane put on the ensemble, did her hair up in curls, put on some better makeup and finished out her jewelry. Jane turned at Alicia and Alicia could almost drop dead at the sight of Jane's beauty.

"Fantastic!"

"Thanks Alicia, you want to borrow a dress of mine or do you want to wear that?"

"I just put this on though…but I don't want Sulpicia glaring at me all night."

"Well here, you can borrow my gold dress. Hell you can keep it if you want..it doesn't fit me much more anyway." Jane pulled a golden v-neck with long sleeves and a long skirt. It had a copper trim to it and some pretty brown shoes to match. Alicia put on the dress and let Jane curl her long hair like hers but half up and half down.

"We look great don't we?"

"Yeah we do."

"Well come on let's move into the throne I can hear the guests arriving." Alicia nodded and followed Jane into the throne room where the place was full of vampires. The tall masculine guard came up to them and winked at Jane.

"You look lovely girls, Heidi's looking for you." Jane nodded and took Alicia by the hand spotting Heidi just a few feet away. Heidi hugged them both and beamed.

"You look absolutely beautiful!"

"What's happening so far?"

"Well the guests have been welcomed and the feast will be ready soon so right now we're all just mingling."

"Great, Alec out here yet?"

"Yes he's over there." Heidi pointed at Alec talking to one of the Russian vampires looking about as old as him. Jane walked over to him and kissed him on both cheeks. Alicia followed and Alec smiled at her; she smiled back and the Russian boy looked as if he were smirking.

"Andrei this is my sister Jane, and our new member Ali." The boy named Andrei took both Alicia and Jane's hands kissing their palms making Alicia feel sick. She pulled her hand back and turned to walk back to Heidi.

"What's wrong Ali?" Alicia just looked at Andrei and shook her head. "Oh…well it's ok, you can sit with me at the feast. Our guests will sit on the left side, we sit on the right. The head of the coven is over there with Aro…" Heidi pointed at a tall pale red-eyed man with shoulder length blonde hair and a red-eye woman with waist long fiery red hair talking to a smiling Aro. "His name is Artur, and his wife's name is Rozalina or Roz for short but only he calls her that." Alicia gave Heidi a questioning look. "I'm good at fishing for information, one of my special talents."

"How surprising…" Alicia kept her thoughts to herself throughout the mingling part; the tricky part would be during the feast, especially with Andrei eyeing her all over.

"Dinner everyone!" Caius called out and they left for the main dining hall, rarely used from the look of things. Alicia sat between Jane and Heidi, right across from Andrei but just two seats down from Aro.

"A toast to our guests! To Artur and his mate Rozalina, his children Andrei, Malvina, Natalya, Valentina, Nika, Alphonse, Anton, Zakhar, and Ivan. Enjoy your time here my friends, for I hope we will be seeing you more in the future." Everyone toasted with Aro and the meals soon came in, bowls of human blood and really rare meat. Alicia felt the venom in her fangs come to life as it nearly stung her tongue at the smell of the blood; but she had to control herself otherwise she'd be an embarrassment. Once the plates were set everyone started taking bits and pieces, Alicia took about the same amount as Jane but all the while kept her eyes on Aro every chance she got.

"You ok Ali?" Heidi asked and Alicia nodded taking a bite of her meat. She felt Sulpicia's glare on her but paid no mind. Andrei kept staring at Alicia so she just kept her eyes off him to prevent his satisfaction.

"He keeps staring at me." She thought to Jane.

"Don't mind him, if he bugs you I'll deal with him."

"And risk Aro screaming at you for ruining this party?"

"I can handle him don't worry."

"Ok."

Alicia kept eating until some of the guests got up and the maids began cleaning the table. Andrei left with another vampire while Alicia followed Jane and Heidi into another room. There Alec, Demetri, and Felix were just chatting among other things and all three spotted the girls.

"Hey Jane, you want to dance?" Demetri asked and Jane nodded taking his hand. Felix took Heidi's and Alec held out his to Alicia.

"Would you like to dance with me?" Alicia just looked at him.

"I can't dance."

"It's ok, just follow my lead and you'll be fine." Alicia nodded and took his hand reluctantly; he led her into the ballroom where all the couples were dancing except a few others. Alec took her by the waist carefully and they began waltzing to the music swiftly and smoothly.

"You're a good dancer." Alec thought to her.

"Beginner's luck I guess."

"It runs in your family, Aro's one of the best dancers here." Alec pointed at Aro and Alicia saw it was almost as if he were swimming on foot. Sulpicia was just as good if not better.

"He's good…"

"Mind if I cut in?" a deep voice spoke up and there was Andrei.

"Of course." Alec let go of Alicia and she ended up twirling with Andrei across the floor rather fast. "You're a very lovely girl, better than the ones back home in Russia." Alicia stayed silent. "What's wrong, cat got your tongue?" Alicia pointed to her throat and shook her head. "Ah…still a beautiful girl. You're new here right?" Alicia nodded. "Nice, why don't we step outside for a bit? Just for a chat?" Alicia stopped cold on the spot; moved away from Andrei and walked back into the hall away from all the commotion. She hid behind a large pillar and took some deep breaths until something grabbed her and pushed her against the wall.

"How cute, little girl can't help herself by saying no but walks off leaving her date in the middle of the dance floor. Ooh this will be so delicious…." He started kissing her neck roughly and she tried pushing him off but he was a bit stronger than her. Andrei's teeth grazed across her stone flesh and his hands started ripping her dress in half showing her undergarments. She tried to scream but all that came out were grunts. "Still can't talk? I like that…" he started groping her chest and his mouth went to her collar bone but when his hands grazed over her thighs she gave off a loud roar and Andrei was suddenly thrown across the hall and into the stone wall. Her eyes flashed angrily but when she realized what happened her hands covered her mouth and her eyes went frantic. Soon the hall was flooded with other vampires and Alicia tried covering her scars with her torn dress.

"Vat happened in here?" Artur spoke up angrily glaring at Alicia and Andrei. Alicia's eyes were flooded with tears but no one but Jane seemed to notice.

"F-forgive me Artur…I just vanted to talk to her b-but she freaked!" Andrei claimed pointing at her.

"Then how did her dress get torn and her hair a mess?" Jane spoke up standing in front of her while Heidi tried helping her up.

"Calm down everyone, I'm sure there's an explanation for all this."

"Yes, that you should take better control of your guard Aro." Artur helped Andrei up but Aro walked over to them and took Andrei's hand.

"I think it's you who should control your family Artur. Andrei here was the one who started this mess…"

"How can you…?"

"I can read every thought ever made in one's mind with just one touch, and Andrei's thoughts are quite vulgar." Artur looked at Andrei shocked; who just growled at Aro. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave now Artur, you and your family." Artur just nodded and they immediately exited the palace with Andrei limping slightly. When the room was cleared except for the rest of the Volturi Aro went up to Alicia and looked her over.

"Are you alright Ali?" Alicia nodded and Heidi placed a heavy red cloak over her shoulders. "Take her to her room; make sure she's cared for." Heidi and Jane nodded leading Alicia away from all the others and into a large red and gold room with a bed, drawers, a vanity & mirror, a closet, and a large window covered by heavy drapes.

"I'll bring some fresh clothes..." Heidi left the room quickly. They walked to the bed and Jane looked at Alicia who started crying; Jane put her arm around Alicia's shoulders trying to sooth her.

"It's ok; you had every right to defend yourself." Alicia looked at Jane and shook her head but Jane wouldn't hear it. "He attacked you, it was self defense; if it were me I would've tortured him to death." Alicia gave off a small laugh and leaned into Jane.

"T-Thanks…" Alicia managed to say clutching her throat afterwards.

"I'll get you some more blood wait here." Jane patted her back and left the room. Alicia looked around and peeked out the large window seeing the sun set over the city.

"Beautiful…" some footsteps caught Alicia's ears and she turned to see her stepmom Sulpicia standing there with a glare.

"Glad to see the situation earlier hasn't affected you." She growled. Alicia just pretended to ignore her and turned back to the window. "I saw the way you looked at my husband." Alicia didn't move. "Ignore me if you want, but if you make one move on my Aro your days will be numbered here." Fading footsteps were the only thing Alicia heard until another sound of feet came in the door.

"Here's your clothes Ali…" it was Heidi but Alicia didn't move. "You alright?"

"N-no…" her throat was still slightly sore still hard to speak. Heidi was silent until Jane suddenly walked in the room with cups of blood. "Here Ali…" Alicia took the cups and gulped down the blood quickly. When she finished she wiped her mouth clean and stared at Jane.

"Thanks Jane…" her voice was clear now; the parched throat was finally quenched.

"Wow your voice is so…angelic." Heidi was surprised at how pure Alicia's voice sounded, soft like a melody but deep like bass; almost exactly like Aro's.

"Thank you Heidi, it's nice to have my voice back. Thanks for cleaning me up too but do you think we can relax on the dolling me up a bit?" Heidi laughed and Jane giggled. Alicia took the clothes and changed into a long red velvet dress and shoes; she smiled at her reflection and noticed thanks to the blood most of her scars and bruises healed almost completely. "Sorry about the dress Jane."

"Again don't worry about it, it was an old dress anyway." There was a knock on the door. "Come in." Jane called and Alec poked his head inside.

"Sorry to intrude Jane, but Aro wants to see us all in the throne room. You too Ali…"

"Yes…" Alicia spoke up and Alec smiled at her. Alicia pulled her messy hair into a bun and followed them out. When they came to the doors outside the room she stopped on the spot while Jane and Heidi walked inside. Alec stayed behind and looked at Alicia.

"You ok?"

"I don't know what if Caius wants me to explain myself? I don't want to relive the past."

"Just tell them the truth, but if Aro reads your mind…"

"I can block out the main parts, it's part of my telepathy. Something my mother was good at…"

"That's good then, you won't have much to worry about." Alicia still didn't feel eased. "I know it's hard facing the past, but the only way for them to know you would be to tell more about yourself. If it's Sulpicia you're worried about…"

"Not her…I'll just show them what they want to see." Alec nodded and walked Alicia into the throne room where everyone was waiting. All but the wives were there, and all eyes were on Alicia.

"How are you Ali?" Marcus spoke up.

"Yes thank you." Alicia talked timidly.

"Oh you can speak now, so you won't mind…"

"Caius that's enough!" Aro spoke sharply. "Ali, now that you can speak are you ready to tell us more about yourself. I know you haven't been here more than a few days but it would be a lot easier for us to trust you if you were willing to let me read you."

"I can show you what you want to see. All of you…" Alicia suddenly felt a wave of courage swipe over her, no idea what caused it.

"Really?"

"Yes, if it's not too much could I ask you all to join hands?" Everyone did as she asked and joined in a circle. Alicia took both Jane and Alec's hands, closed her eyes and started showing her visions of her horrid past. There were flinches, gasping, and poor Alec's grip tightened so hard Alicia felt her hand cracking. She pulled away stopped the visions and everyone had sick looks on their faces. They were all silent for several minutes.

"Someone please say something." Alicia looked at the floor when no one spoke, until someone came up and hugged her tight.

"H-Heidi…" she managed to gasp out even if she didn't need to breathe.

"It's awful, just awful…" that sounded like Demetri's voice; Heidi let go of Alicia and stared at her with tear-filled eyes.

"You poor girl, no wonder you were so quiet…"

"Please don't pity me…I just gave you the answers you wanted that's all. Hope you won't think of me as dead weight sir Caius." Alicia turned and walked out of the throne room and back into her room. She took a chair, peeked out the curtains again, pulled them open slightly and sat in front of the window looking at the starry sky.

Two hours later:

Alicia hadn't moved from her spot in two hours; by that time the whole city of Italy was sleeping soundly and the stars just lit up the sky with the moon. She kept sitting that way until she heard a knock on the door.

"Ali?" that was Aro's voice, now this was really making Alicia feel nervous. "May I come in?"

"Yes." She answered him back. She didn't bother to turn and look at him; just kept quiet in her special spot.

"You've been in here for two hours, the others are worried."

"Worried?"

"They're all scared for you; they want to make sure you're alright."

"I'm fine sir Aro."

"No you're not; it's not hard to see you're afraid as well."

"You can read me."

"Yes, but I think I saw enough for now. Would you please look at me? It's no fun talking to someone's back." Alicia turned and faced Aro.

"Is there something you need?"

"I wanted to apologize to you about my wife's behavior earlier today. She does have quite a jealousy streak; and for Caius's, he's just perpetually angry in most cases."

"Especially when enforcing the vampire law."

"Yes." Aro looked at Alicia for a few seconds before closing in on her; he took her by the chin with two fingers and looked directly into her eyes.

"Something wrong?"

"No, you just remind me of someone I knew a long time ago."

"May I ask who?"

"It's not important…" Alicia felt a nerve twitch at that; he meant her mother. "Not trying to insult anyone, it's just that it was a long time ago."

"I see…" Aro let go of her chin and headed back to the door.

"If you need anything then please just let the guard or me and my brothers know. Don't be afraid to ask Ali."

"Thank you sir Aro."

"You're welcome, oh and leave out the sir part." Alicia smiled slightly and Aro left. Her smile turned into a frown and she turned back to the window.

"Goodnight mommy."

Glad you guys like it so far, just might need a while before the next chapter since I have other stories to update. Please leave a good review and be patient for the next one, later and enjoy!