Lena stood as Demetri came towards us. He looked his normal, slightly arrogant self.

"Demetri, for what do we owe this, annoying visit?"

Demetri smiled. How someone could smile normally and still show that many teeth I will never understand. He walked over to Lena, a glint in his eye.

"Lena, how nice to meet you finally."

Lena backed up a bit, and then went back to her normal self.

"I wish I could say the same. But then I'd be lying."

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. Yep, my Lena was back, even if she was going to rip me to pieces when and if we got back to the house.

"So, Tom, are you going to explain what really happened to her darling brother?"

I sighed, looking away from Lena, as I realised he was right. I should have told her from the very beginning.

"He wasn't killed Lena."

I heard her gasp as Demetri chuckled. What I'd give to burn him to ashes right that second.

"He... wasn't? Well, then what happened? Where is he? Why didn't he come to find me?"

I heard the panic set into her voice as the realisation of what had happened sunk in.

"He became one of us Lena. He joined the Volturi..."

"But not without protest Demetri, don't forget that!"

"Yes, but he still joined didn't he? That's the point at this point, don't you agree Tom?"

I let a snarl leave my chest as I turned back to face them both. I didn't want this life for Lena, I wanted her to grow up, get married and have kids. I wanted her to get old.

"After all, he and Lena knew too much about our kind. So becoming one of us or death were the only available choices."

I slumped down onto the nearest tree trunk, feeling thoroughly defeated. Everything was coming out now. And I had no idea how Lena would take it.

"Were you ever going to tell me any of this Tom? At any point of our existence?"

I looked up and saw the anger flashing in her eyes. She wasn't just angry, she was thoroughly pissed.

"Lena, I.."

I what? I'm sorry? I didn't know what I was going to say. I had no idea how to finish that sentence. If I could cry I would have done. I was losing her.

"Now you've completely ruined what was happy life Demetri, I guess you can go back to Aro and tell him the good news."

Demetri smiled smugly. He looked over at Lena, who was leaning against a tree. The boughs at the top were shaking with her.

"I will, once Lena tells me what I know Aro wants to hear."

She looked up at him, startled. He raised an eyebrow, and tilted his head, waiting for a reply. She looked over at me, her eyes still angry, but with a hint of betrayal in them too.

"Fine, I agree. Demetri, I solemnly swear to serve..."

"Lena no!"

I couldn't let her do this, never.

"... To serve the Volturi for as long as they wish me to. I swear to follow no other, and to abide by their rules. I pledge my allegiance, my body, and..."

"Lena, please, don't do this! You can't go to them!"

I looked at Lena, my eyes stinging with dry tears. A snarl left my throat as I lunged for Demetri, tackling him to the ground. He wouldn't be taking her anywhere. Not if I had anything to do with it.

Demetri's teeth snapped inches away from my neck, and next thing I knew he had me on my back.

"Bad move Tom, old boy!"

"Tom! Stop it! Demetri! Leave him alone!"

Lena tried to pull him off, grabbing at his shoulders and pulling as hard as she could. He pushed her away, hard enough to chuck her into a tree. That's when he knew he had me distracted.

I couldn't fight him anymore. Lena wasn't moving. I looked up at him, my heart sunk to the pit of my stomach. His face lit up when he saw that he'd won.

"You win Demetri. I give up."

I had given up, more than he knew. I had lost the battle between me and him. The Volturi had won. I had lost any respect that the Cullens ever had for me, I was sure. I'd lost what I respect I had for myself, not that there was much in the first place.

Demetri had his teeth next to my ear, just waiting. I looked over to Lena, she looked up; her eyes full of horror at the scene that was playing out in front of her.

The thing that hurt most was that I'd lost her. She had started to pledge her allegiance to the worst set of vampires in the world.

I'd lost her. The only thing that I lived, existed for. Nothing else mattered if she wasn't there, by my side.

I felt a searing pain in the side of my neck.

I heard her scream.

I saw only her.