ALICIANNA

ALI'S POV

The Vampire was out there. I felt them. But il due (the two) were also out there. I felt them as soon as they set foot on Italian soil. They had also brought their whole coven. It was strange how I felt them all as if they were already a part of me. I knew they were my destiny. My path had been chosen for me since childhood. I knew that one day il due would come to claim me. That was one reason why I had not chosen a mate from my caravan family. For il due I had vowed to stay pure. I know that the idea of purity is antiquated in today's society but for il due I was willing to make that sacrifice. The fact that they were vampires did not frighten me. I was aware that there were Vampires in the world. All of my family was aware of them and we had the assignment of watching them and making sure that they were of no threat to the royals. It has been this way for centuries and it will always be this way. I am not the one to condemn these creatures for the way they survive. They killed for food. In order to live. I and my family before me, killed by assignment. We were the royal assassins. We killed the enemies and traitors of my country.

I am Alicianna Giovani, great great great granddaughter of Victori Giovani. My ancestor was in the employ of the Medici Dynasty in the early 1500's. He was the royal assassin. He guarded the royal family and did their bidding when they had an enemy that had to be silenced or otherwise dealt with. I had inherited his position in modern day Italy.

For all intents and purposes I was a gypsy. I lived with my brothers and sisters of the caravan and moved all over Italy entertaining the crowds at festivals with our music and dance. It was a cover up for the real work of my tribe of assassins. We were in the employ of the royals. We went where no official government envoy could go and we dealt with traitors and enemies of the country as no other official envoy could.

I had no qualms about my life. My family history is cloaked in mystery because of the life we chose. It is the way it has been for centuries and I am proud to be of service to my country. But now the threat is not to my country but to me and to il due

The Volturi had always been a nuisance to the country. They are led by a creature that is full of pride and greed. Aro is his name and he and his brothers have set themselves up as the ruling party of all Vampires in existence. This was acceptable to the crown. If there was a coven that got out of hand then the rulers of my country would secretly contact Aro and ask his assistance in the matter. He readily agreed because he thought that the rulers of Italy were giving him respect as leader of his people. We held no respect for this immortal. He was foul and corrupt and I was surprised that he had not been overthrown just as he overthrew the Romanian coven who ruled before him. The first rule among his kind was secrecy. This was a rule that he chose to ignore when it came to the rulers of my country. It is an arraignment that has worked for centuries and would probably be in existence until his kind rid the world of him.

And then there were the dall'occhio giallo (yellow eyes) these are the vampires who did not drink the blood of humans. They made their meals on animals only. It seems strange, this denying of their nature, but it was very commendable and it meant that no human had to worry when they were around. Well maybe they should worry but not quiet as much as if one of the Volturi happened to be around. il due and their family were among the members of the dall'occhio giallo. This was a fact that I was very proud of.

As I said il due were my destiny. I have always known this because besides being an assassin I was also Strega or an Italian witch. I was blessed with the gift of vision. I had seen il due, Alice and Jasper Whitlock Cullen. I have watched them for the last 10 years. They are true soul mates. But they are also destined to be my mates. Even in today's age this is a little unconventional but it is my destiny so I do not question it. Piccola mia (my little one) (Alice) was also born with the sight so I knew when she saw me. She was upset because of the presence of the Volturi. I felt bad that I could not tell her that her panic was unnecessary. I have had dealings with the Volturi before and I knew how to deal with them. Aro had made it known that he wished to bring me into his coven. He coveted my power of sight. I was lucky enough to stay unnoticed by him until recently. He had tried to convince Alice and her brother to join his coven just last year. When they refused him he tried to force them to join by threatening their coven. I "watched" as they and others of their kind "convinced" Aro to leave them in peace. It gave me great pleasure to see this vile being denied that which he most coveted but then somehow he became aware of me and since then I have been hunted by his minions. The few that had gotten too close no longer exist. But today I sensed was different. Today he had sent his tracker and his witches to find me. I would need the help of il due and their coven if I expected to escape his clutches again.

Today was the celebration of La Festa delle morto or festival of the dead. It is a time that we remember our ancestors and those we love who have passed over the veil into the summer lands. The day is celebrated with song and dance. As gypsies we were always asked to come and dance for the crowds. I enjoyed dancing the dances of my people. They were wild and full of energy and passion. I had been trained in the dance by the women of my family and I had been a very good student. I closed my eyes and listened as the music started and then I just moved to that music. I let the energy and passion grow in me until it consumed my entire being. I never really knew how I was going to perform. I sort of lost touch with reality when I danced. My grandmother once told me that is why my dancing was always in demand. It was wild and uncontrolled and left any male within seeing distance wanting more than I was willing to give. I never really thought of it as passionate. It was just another weapon at my disposal. One which I used whenever the need required. I have been told I was beautiful. This, again, is something that I never really thought about. Just another weapon. I had long dark hair that hung in waves to my waist. Since dancing was very aerobic in nature I never worried about my figure. I was told that it was alluring. I was about 5'8" and had long strong legs. Again, just another weapon. I did not consider myself as anything more than I was, a killer. If my appearance or my performance was needed to distract a target then I used it. I know that sounds hard but I have learned to be hard. I considered myself to be just about as bad as the monsters that lived in Voltera. They drank blood. I just spilled it. This is why I was so nervous and excited about meeting il due. Would they like me? Would they accept me or be repulsed by me? As I said before, I was not ashamed of what I was. I served my country as best I could. But for il due I wanted to be more than just a killer.

The main square was crowded all day today. People had come from all the outlying towns to celebrate. The square was crowded with venders selling everything from religious icons to pagan jewelry, food and clothing was also offered to the tourists who always came into town on this date. There were people from all around the world and the noise of their different languages lent to the atmosphere.

We had set up in the middle of the square as was our custom. The musicians were ready with their drums and guitars and violins. I was dressed in my costume and I had already received the blessing of my grandmother. We would not perform until the sun set and the fires were lit. This always lent an air of mystery to the music and dance. The tourists loved it and it always helped if we were on assignment. The darkness of night was an assassin's best friend. But there was no assignment for today. We were here because I knew that il due and their coven would be here today. I would finally meet them and fulfill my destiny. But the vile ones were here also. The tracker Demetri was hovering at the edge of the crowd just waiting for the small demon witch to give him the command to attack. I knew that it would be an attack because my brothers and sisters would not allow me to be taken against my will. And because of this I was nervous. I did not want them or il due or any of their coven harmed by the Volturi. If it meant that I would have to surrender to keep them safe then I would go gladly.

The sun was setting and the crowds were gathering around us. It was time for the dance to begin. To the tourists it was just a bunch of gypsies doing their thing, something to take pictures of and send back to their families. "Having fun, wish you were here". Well this is one time that if they had a clue of the true nature of the dance they would not wish to be here. Actually I think they would go screaming into the night. No; I don't think it, I know it.

The music started and as I listened I felt the eyes of the Vampiro upon me. Oh well I thought, if this is going to be my last dance then it would be one to remember. Give the tourists really something to talk to the folks at home about.

With my eyes closed I listened. I listened to the words of the song as my brothers sang and played. I chose this song because they were going to be here. I wanted them to know that I would dance through the fires of hell for them. I wanted them to dance with me into the night. Lo guerriero (the warrior) Jasper had to know that I would help him in his struggle to be good. Alice, piccola mia, my little one, and I would be there to help sooth his soul and assure him that he was a good man. I wanted them to know that I could be so much more than a killer. I could be their cantante (song). My soul sang out to them. I only hoped that they would hear the song in time.