-mate," Calandra said sitting so tall and proud in her seat. Her eyes almost closed matching the gay expression on her face. She waited expecting the recognition of her win from Alec. He sat looking at some random spot on the floor musing over something. The hand that was not propping up his head flicked out in a counting style. Calandra brushed away her side swept bangs and then covered her mouth clearing her throat a bit too loud to be polite.

Alec looked up at her in a half dazed state. Seemingly realizing her unasked question, he replied with an almost undetectable tone of sarcasm, "Oh sorry, I was just trying to calculate how long it took you to actually best me in a game."

Calandra's smug face fell immediately into a half-hearted frown. Alec continued, "It's been eleven years exactly hasn't it?"

Chapter 7: Teasing Memories

She did nothing to confirm his thoughts and only stared at him trying not to give into his teasing. Alec smiled releasing a light chuckle at Calandra. He leaned over clasping his hands together and stared her down with a boyish smile forming on his face.

"We played about three games a day didn't we?" he inquired again. Calandra sighed, and leaned forward.

"Alec, can you at least let me enjoy one victory?" Calandra said dully, but at the end of her sentence her accent surfaced. They both glanced at each other with contrasting looks. She looked so horrified at the drop in her defense, while Alec started to laugh at how easily he could annoy her with this.

"Oh we couldn't 'ave that, could we Mon petit chouchou?" Alec said mockingly. Her face was still, excluding the small twitch of her eyebrow. He continued his attack on her, keeping track of her little signals before she would go off on him. Next she would smile lightly in hopes of making him bored with her. As he predicted, a comment of how she might as well have cabbages in her cranium caused her to force a smile.

"Really, you been here for so long and you can't even hide your French that well." His remarks were uncalled for, but it was entertaining to pull at that long lost short-tempered nature.

She had change much from when she was a little child and her personality had evened out. He enjoyed her much more like this though, so much more controllable and easier to predict.

Her looks had improved with time. Maybe it was because of the fact that everyone finally got used to seeing that atrocious scar on her back. Heidi had also done her own magic in fixing Calandra up. Alec noted the presence of make up on her face. He personally did not feel she needed it, as what was the point of it? She had no one she needed to impress. Though it did bring out something appealing in her face…

Alec switched back to the chess game, not wanting to delve deeper into those thoughts. It took some time, but these daily chess games became something he enjoyed. Quite honestly, no one in this castle was very good opponents. Calandra was not very good skill wise but at least did not crush the pieces when she lost, like Jane. This time might have been an exception though.

He moved his attention back to the current situation. She looked down, her face out of view from behind her long atramentous locks. He checked off the last mark on the list and readied himself for a show. When she looked up she was smiling squeezing her eyes together in forced happiness.

"Alec do you really want to hear an accent?" she said with the most saccharine voice she could muster up. "Vous pensez que vous savez tout! Mais votre arrogance sera votre mort! Vous êtes méchant et stupide! N'avez-vous pas honte?"

Alec's French was rusty and could only pick up simple words like "but" or "you". But even with his lack of understanding he could feel like those sweet sounding words were being flung at him like spit. "Je suis désolé que ma voix jamais honoré vos oreilles, salaud. Au revoir." She got up in the rush only stopping at the corner. She turned around giving a sweeping overly dramatized curtsy.

Alec clapped laughing at her shouting out "Brava, Encore!" In return for his sarcastic cheering, Calandra shot an angry glare at him almost making an obscene gesture.

()()()()()()()()()()()

"I'm surprised, brother. I didn't know you have problems with soiling your clothes." Alec looked at Jane's reflection as she entered into his room. She plopped down on the bed looking more prim than usual.

"What are you talking about? I don't play in the mud." Alec said turning away from the mirror to face her. He continued to fumble around trying to tie his cravat. He was not in the mood.

"Don't be so dense, Alec," she said throwing back her head, with a wicked laugh. "Calandra so neatly informed us of your lack of bladder control. Of course it was hard to understand her with all the sporadic cursing…" Having no luck in tying his tie blind he returned to the mirror allowing his sister to ramble on of the other lies Calandra spouted.

Alec had been dreading this day ever since Aro had announced the ball. Balls were tiresome things for him. It was the same every year. Aro would invite covens and nomads to take part in the celebration. It was well-known that its main purpose was to reinforce and show off the Volturi's power, but it had a second purpose that was not as obvious. With so many vampires in a contained area it was easy to keep track of covens, scout potential members, and find and kill any thoughts of betrayal. They didn't even realize this and they came like bees to their queen.

A diversity of wants, whether it be to live to see another day, or catching the attention of the handsomest of vampires, all of them squeezed into a little ball of hope. Even Alec had a want, a want for this ball to be over and never happen again.

He was appalled by the pettiness of the female sex, throwing themselves shamelessly at him. Each year their dresses seemed to become more gaudy and revealing. Last time he spent the whole ball trying not to be skewered by Phelicia Strunnerstraut, an Austrian vampire who had abysmal taste in masks.

He shuddered out loud remembering the extremely oversized and feathery beaked masks. She had a new one for each dance. She had hit him so many times with those stupid beaks he almost snapped them off not caring of her feelings.

That was not the most horrifying experience though, the prize for that went to the fair-haired Andromeda. She could hardly dance for her dress was cut so low her heavily endowed chest threatened to spill out at every turn. Even Heidi was not that shameless to wear something like a harlot. It became worse when she cornered him, and was not as careful as keeping her assets in. He was never happier to see Marcus and would be in debt to him forever thanks to his rescue.

Balls were never going to hold a special place in his heart period. Hopefully this year would be mask and… those things free.

"Brother? Are you listening?" Jane peered over his shoulder into the mirror hoping to catch his attention. Alec pulled the tie tight and looked at Jane.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready too?" She gave such a funny look he couldn't help but chuckle. He reached for her blonde hair and patted down the fly-aways. He leaned in looking in to his sister eyes. Jane pushed away receiving his message.

"Fine brother, I will see you later."

()()()()()()()

"Lift your arms, Calandra," Heidi commanded. Calandra did as she was told and lifted them straight out. Heidi gave an unamused look as she fixed the sheer overlay . "Over your head." Calandra blushed a little at her mistake and corrected the error. Chemise and muslin flashed by her eyes as the dress was put on her.

She was almost startled when she saw her reflection in the mirror. And it was not the good type of way. For one thing the neckline was too low in the back. Another thing it was just too low in the back.

"Heidi, didn't you say it wouldn't be too revealing?" Heidi looked up from her collection of sashes and hat pins. She had dragged Calandra from the hall earlier and put her into this room filled with dresses. Heidi immediately pushed her onto the tiny platform in front of the floor mirror not giving her any chances to wonder. Measuring tapes flew around her appendages and shoes smashed on to her "always too big" feet.

Demetri warned her that Heidi took these balls very seriously, but she didn't realize that he was not exaggerating with his outlandish descriptions.

"Don't be silly Calandra. In fact I think it needs to be lower. You need to show more cleavage"

"N-no, its fine!" Calandra exclaimed before Heidi could pin the front lower. "You have to let them think a bit." Heidi seemed satisfied by Calandra's save and returned to her bundle of cloth. Calandra looked over her shoulder at her reflection in the mirror.

The fact was the front half of the dress was not too bad really; she liked the way it exposed her shoulders and accentuated her waist. She looked taller and statuesque, like a goddess from the fresco of greek mythology in the library. The neckline in the back – if it was still the same thing- revealed too much of her scar. It was hard enough trying to hide it when she already had clothes on but now that it was exposed, even Calandra felt sick looking at it. How Heidi was able to keep down her blood seeing that gnarly mess of scar, she had no idea.

Calandra moved her hair around trying to see if there was any way to cover it. Every time she thought she found the solution, a red area stuck out. She accepted defeat and took a pair of long white silk gloves Heidi handed her.

"Those are one of my nicer pairs. Do not ruin them." Heidi glided back to her collection of dresses humming while she decided what to wear. Calandra noted how the beautiful vampire seemed to be surrounded by roses when around her favorite things. Calandra gazed at green eyed girl in the mirror. The natural features of her face were accentuated with very light makeup. Her usually straight hair was curled and pulled up in a more mature style. She mirrored a smile back at Calandra with vermillion lips.

"I can be pretty too" she pulling her quickly around her waist. This dress was tempting her too much. It's childish really to do what she wanted to do but, how could you not?

Calandra almost flew out of the room thanking Heidi, who complained again that the neckline should be lower and reminded her to do something about her eyes. She ran down the hallways with her long dress flying and flowing around her legs. Luckily, everyone was too busy taking care of the ball and Aro to be in the upper halls. She slipped into the library and began spinning around the large area in the middle.

It was so asinine really but she couldn't help it. The dress was so lovely. Calandra laughed obnoxiously at the fun she was having. Why couldn't this dress be perfect and not have a shallow back? She collapsed down onto the ground in a dizzy daze. Calandra picked at the delicate overlay that hanged from the high waist and enjoyed the feeling of the embroidered roses that decorated it passing under her fingers.

"I suppose a white dress like that would not get soiled on the clean floors here." Calandra quickly got on her feet brushing her dress off. She could feel her ears heat up from embarrassment.

An older vampire about Marcus's age stood holding a large stack of books and scrolls. He smiled, not in a cruel or teasing manner like Alec but, a very gregarious way.

"I'm sorry I did not realize someone was in here. Are you here for the ball?" The man put down his reading materials and walked over to Calandra.

"Somewhat. I plan to stay here for a bit to gather some knowledge from this treasure trove." He said admiring the library. "Though I think I have underestimated how much was in it. Now I long to stay longer," he chuckled and Calandra awkwardly joined in. She had not noticed before but now that he was closer he had unusually gold eyes that matched his hair and clothes. Wasn't he a vampire? Unless she was like him, another one with the humanification power.

"I'm sorry but may I ask you a question?" She inquired tentatively. He smiled again looking very fatherly. Definitely the exact opposite of Marcus.

"It is my eyes that you ask about? Is it not?" Calandra recoiled a bit surprised by his accurate guess. She nodded yes still curious about his eyes. "Would you mind to sit down for my tale?" He pulled out a near chair and Calandra sat down pushing her skirt against her legs. He continued to stand and cleared his throat ready to start.

"I grew up with an Anglican priest as a father. He always took me on his crusades against werewolves, vampires, and the like. Of course I never really liked these chases. My father always killed these innocent people. They did nothing to deserve being killed." He stopped covering his face trying to compose himself again. "Eventually I took over and was actually able to come across actual vampires. For short, I was attacked and changed. I was so disgusted with what I had become. I must have tried everything to kill off the monster in me. That deer, if I had not starved myself in an attempt to kill myself, was my answer to my troubles. You see, Vampires can drink animal blood and still have the same power, so it's unnecessary to take innocent human lives. That is why I have this color of eyes; it comes from a strict diet of animal blood only."

"Why is it so wrong?" He looked curiously at her wondering what she was referring to. "Humans."

"It's someone's life. They have family and friends. How can you rip that from them? He was entirely flabbergasted; it seemed, by her statement, though she was just as confused, if not irritated by his pompous conclusion.

"Did you eat meat as a human?" she asked in the most polite manner that she could procure.

"Yes," he replied carefully unsure of this subject change.

"And why did you do that?"

"I needed to eat in order to live."

"Then why is it so wrong for me to eat my food and try to live?" Calandra shot up letting the words cascade out of her mouth. "Animals have families too. A bird kills a worm to feed its babies in order for them to live. The cuckoo bird lays its eggs in other birds nest and the baby eventually drives the rightful offspring out and sometimes kills them. Are you going to tell the birds to find another way to survive? Are you going to tell the whale that it can't eat its krill?" Her words were close to becoming incomprehensible with her accent. There wasn't even a need for different stages leading up to her blow up.

"But those are animals-"she did not let him finish.

"Why is it that humans can massacre each other, lie, steal, sell their daughters for the price off a cow, use their sons as pawns, and make every single persons' life a miserable hell hole, but I can't survive like them killing others in order to live?" She started half scoffing half laughing. "It's insane why is the world so biased to them? I'm a vampire, those are animals, and those are humans. I have a friend and I have a father. We all need to eat to survive so why is it wrong when we feed on humans?" Calandra hand shook from her rage. Really what was so wrong?

"I apologize and I realize that not everyone is suited for this lifestyle. I think it would be best to end before things become too hostile. I will leave first. Goodbye…"

"Calandra." She said flatly, still not enchanted with their conversation. "I am sorry also for getting so heated about something so… 'trivial'" The man looked closely at Calandra for a second then smiled.

"It's good that you are willing to discuss morals unlike others, but you just need to remember that it is an opinion. Though we may not share the same ideals we do share a first letter. I am Carlisle. Carlisle Cullen." He bowed to her and turned around leaving.

()()()()()()()()()()

The musicians started another minuet at the pleading of the younger guests. Couples stood ready in their gaudy garb as the first notes of the minuet commenced. Ladies stepped lightly and delicately in their silk shoes, all trying to outshine others with their good breeding.

Calandra watched the flurry of dresses and elegant sways of the dancers from the shadows. She ensconced on an ornate couch placed in the side alcove of the circular ballroom. It was partially covered by the red velvet curtains that were pulled to the side. She knew that no one could see her, so she allowed her legs up on the couch exposing her ankles. Her arm had been supporting the weight of her head for so long she was sure the carving on the armrest was indented into her elbow. Her other arm was luckier only needing to hold her fan that rested in her lap.

The crowd seemed to radiate light created by their euphoria. The ladies, all extremely beautiful, wore long dresses with as much decoration as possible. Though each lady bragged about their state of "undress" that was so popular, their dresses sagged under the weight of their jewels. The old exaggerated styles were hard to shed.

Peacock was a popular theme for the ladies' garments. Calandra covered her mouth, with her fan, stifling a laugh upon seeing one lady who had an actual peacock in her hair. The beast was surprisingly well behaved though once in a while it would puff its chest out and bury itself into her head looking a bit mad. Unfortunately the smell of its droppings deterred the "uniqueness" of it.

The ball was very interesting as it was the first one she was allowed to attend. All the years before she was placed in the tower to be a good girl and stay in Marcus's room, now she could see how the Volturi acted when they were trying to impress.

Her eyes found Demetri and Felix who were surrounded by a gaggle of girls. The two friends were very different in their Casanova ways.

Felix showed off to his followers by lifting three off them with just one hand. They all giggled and turned red at his bawdy jokes and innuendoes.

Demetri on the other hand had his girls turning red from his perfect gentleman demeanor. He kissed their hands and complimented them until Calandra thought the girls would burst from ecstasy.

"A true gentleman!" a girl, who had been over there, said to her friend as they gossiped against the column. Calandra herself felt truly lucky to be his friend.

Of course attention was not only focused on them. Heidi commanded the attention of everyone. So many men wanted to dance with her that she had to dance with each for only half a song. Adede was just as popular with the vampires around her age. They weaved and bobbed after the enchanting girl in her ruby dress, playing an intense game of tag.

She spotted her father sitting in his usual emotionless stupor in the balcony overlooking the room. She pretended that his tired scowl was him thinking intensely on how he could become more active not that he was just waiting for the minutes to pass.

The two other thrones had an unusual discrepancy in them. Aro's throne was empty. Aro always liked to be at the highest point because it gave him the best view of everything.

Caius's seat was occupied by a blonde haired man but it was not him. Carlisle Cullen was sitting in his seat. His face almost matched Marcus's but he was too disgusted; probably disgusted by all these barbaric bloodsuckers.

Ooooo we're so evil aren't we.

Shut up Cassandra

Wow do you say anything other than shut up?

Silence your mouth

That doesn't even make sense c-

Calandra whipped her hand around grabbing Alec's hand that had lunged for her throat. She almost fell off the couch with how much power she needed to use. He smiled looking particularly good in his clothes. Calandra also couldn't help but notice his tumbled dark hair had been pulled back like the other men at the ball. It didn't fit him as well.

"What is it Alec?" She released his hand slapping it down. Calandra turned away from him still annoyed.

"You shouldn't turn your back on someone you've been insulting." His hand grabbed her waist pulling her into him. The momentum of the pull caused her head to collide with his cheek. He looked straight ahead not moving except to compliment her teasingly, "You're looking very pretty tonight tough."

She tried to look at him but her forehead was stuck firmly against his cheek limiting her view. Her lips parted ready to spit out something clever or witty but her mind was inconveniently misplaced at the moment.

The smell of him smothered her senses making her feel sick and claustrophobic. Whatever he was looking at amused him enough to let her go. Of course he plopped her straight on the ground stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat. Calandra grabbed her fallen fan and brushed the dirt off of it. She picked herself off the ground heading in the opposite direction. A slight gagging sound could be heard from Alec as he followed her around that cramped hallway created by the columns.

"Not so pretty anymore am I," she scoffed. His footsteps stopped suddenly and Calandra gave in to her curiosity almost afraid to see why he stopped.

"It's a scar, it's not supposed to be pretty." He rolled his eyes not intentionally trying to show his repugnance for her idiotic and superficial specifications for a scar. "Just don't walk ahead of me anymore."

He placed his hand on her head pushing her back as he glided by. Calandra followed him dumbly, not wanting the conversation to end, now that he issued that contradictory request. They only made a quarter of the way around the column lined ring surrounding the ballroom floor, when Aro appeared from the crowd. He did not stay long and only gave a look with those ambitious red eyes in their direction. Like an invisible wall was placed in front of him, Alec about faced to Calandra grabbing her hand.

"You've come far with controlling your adapting power haven't you?" He said while pulling her into the crowd. They pushed, Alec leading the way, through the stationary conversers till they breached the sacred circle of the dancers. He pulled her around to occupy a spot next to the peacock lady and her escort. The musicians started a slow waltz and Alec bowed low then offered his hand to Calandra who followed suite accepting it. As soon as they were closer Calandra asked, "Why are you trying to gauge my skill now?"

A muddle look was given in reply but that was when she saw it. A tiny orb, which could be mistaken as part of the shimmering chandeliers, floated above Alec's head. Calandra tightened her grip of his shoulder and hand excited by this realization.

Aro had enthusiastically encouraged her to perfect her abilities. Begrudged at first when she was a child, she learned to find it exciting after being able to call the simple skill of levitating herself an inch off the ground. Now at this time, she was able to immediately read the minds of those who opened themselves to her.

Hey, whoa stop pushing there's not enou- Calandra can you hear me?

Alec's inner voice unknowingly pushed away Calandra's own resident voices silencing their complaints. Such a contrast was his steady words from the high pitched and somber voices that quarreled in her consciousness. Calandra nodded as they continued to waltz along with the other dancers.

She closed her eyes imagining the orb growing bigger, allowing his voice to come in clearer. For a split second she thought she saw something but her eyelids jolted open.

Do you see the man with the silver clothes and black hair?

Calandra's eyes skipped around searching for the color combination. She stopped at a man who had such a strong handsome face that she didn't know why she didn't see him in the first place.

That one?

She pushed the sentenced into his mind.

Yes, now Aro wants you to do a simple task. Kill that man as discreetly as possible. Do whatever it takes to kill him off silently and without anybody even saying that you were around him.

Calandra almost stopped right in the middle of the ballroom at hearing this. She looked at the man who stood holding his blood wine mingling with the crowd. Possibly he was only five years older than her. What would lure him away from the crowd? Most likely by his looks and his carriage, he was confident and eager for more interesting pursuit.

Why?

I'm just here to tell you what you need to know, but you probably need to show you're actually worth the liability. Everyone has their worth. Felix the strength, Adede the speed, my sister the interrogator…etc.

Everyone had their certain small little jobs in the guard. Calandra had seen the most obvious example from Jane who was always called for when a vampire was not talking even when threatened with death. They could experience pain worse than death but still be alive to spill their guts. That's when it sunk in. what her abilities were, her appearance, even her goldfish memory they all pointed to an obvious direction.

She kept this thought to herself, for she still did not trust anybody with this knowledge. What if Aro didn't want her to know?

Do you understand?

Calandra ripped herself from the thoughts and started to concentrate on the task at hand. The waltz ended and Alec bowed and then slipped away in the crowd reappearing next to Jane on the seconnd floor. Calandra headed off back into the shadows with her plan completely formed. A humming energy built up in her fingertips waiting to be used. It wasn't long before an unfortunate girl passed by alone. Her energy filled hand covered the girls face stooping her completely. Calandra pulled her hands away revealing the girl's now vacant looking expression. A simple flick of Calandra fingers mimicking a walking motion sent the girl off.

She, herself, bounded up the large staircase up to her father who torpidly sighed in his seat. Marcus barely looked at her when she approached him, still moping like a puppy who had been hit by a carriage.

"Hello Papa," she said cheerfully trying to counterbalance his gloom. Not even a moan could be given to his daughter for his grief was too thick. "Maybe another day papa," she wistfully reassured him of a day where he could move on from her deceased adoptive mother.

While she continued to fuss over her father, she kept track of her puppet and target in her peripherals. Just a few more minutes and she could successfully distance herself from the scene of the crime.

Carlisle had been watching her since she first started up the stairs. He stayed silent not wanting to incite her into anther debate. Her hands tucked neatly behind her back trying to hide the miniscule thread of energy that flowed from each of her fingertips. A frosty arctic wind sent in his direction by a glare caused him to a look away.

The puppet was only a few feet away from the target and enough time had passed. Calandra looked up at the second level where Alec stared at her seeing what she would do. Jane who stood next to him was watching the target. Her already pale knuckles had turned white from gripping the balcony in excitement. But the most important person stood behind them. Aro, looking so regal and proud of himself, was waiting for the show.

Calandra stepped behind Marcus obscuring everyone's view of her hands. While her top half pretended to be enamored with the glass ceiling, her hands moved like a puppet master controlling every movement of the puppets.

Now the black-haired man was only inches from her puppet. Calandra blinked but instead of darkness she saw what her puppet saw. The man moved forward like he was looking for something but it was a deadly mistake. Calandra pushed her hands forward suddenly changing her ability to a small charge of fire. She was unsure if the strings had lingered long enough for the fire to travel to her puppet and then to the target.

But reassurance came in the sound of shrieks.

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