Demetri POV

I have always been the quiet and observant type until I met and befriended Damon Salvatore, whom drew out an extroverted side I kept hidden. The strange vampire was never serious except for when he was, which was rare. Aro was fascinated with the different species and feigned friendship with Damon, though I knew it was a falsehood. Aro did not have friends – he had Chelsea. I believe Damon knew from the beginning Aro was not trustworthy, but Damon enjoyed provoking my king. Undeniably, I enjoyed watching it at times.

Over the past decade, Damon came and went within the Volturi palace, and Aro welcomed him warmly. I am unsure why Aro hid his intentions for so long, but once he felt Damon had something to lose, whether it was Bella, or his own life, I am not sure; Aro used the situation to his advantage. When the king covets something or someone, he will bide his time patiently.

Ever the perceptive creature that I am, I am able to ascertain hidden motives and behaviors others believe they have kept secret. Aro was obvious, but Damon wanted to turn the human girl and it threw me off at first, which is quite a feat. I watched the two of them, quietly scrutinizing the little things no one else seemed to notice. There was nothing obvious; Damon appeared to be his typical self around the mortal woman, though I saw something more. Minuscule actions like how he would surreptitiously glance at her, the hard lines set around his mouth, and the flicker of concern in his eyes. Bella stole brief moments when she likely thought no one noticed and watched Damon.

While the entire occupancy of the throne room seemed focused on the human woman, the Cullens, and Damon, I noticed Marcus. The depressed king read the bond between Edward and Bella, but what Aro did not realize and I did, Marcus also focused on Bella and Damon. If there were only a safe way to ask Marcus what he had felt without Aro's knowledge, some of my observations could have answers.

Admittedly, I would have liked to be there when he turned the human, though Aro kept us all away except the two Cullen coven members, which Damon requested. Aro offered more latitude than I would have thought possible, though when the king wanted something badly enough, he calculated the risks before allowing leniency.

What was most impressive, how well Damon could play my king. Aro had three thousand plus years of experience, and one would think that gave him an edge over most, but the truth was, Aro did not understand the ever-evolving outside world. He was happy in his gilded cage and saw the world outside of the Volterra walls through blinders. Because of this, Damon, who lived among the humans, possessed a cunning Aro severely lacked.

I had no idea how Damon escaped the Volturi, and Aro refused to enlighten his brothers, let alone the rest of us. I found myself hiding a grin full of appreciation for the strange vampire. Personally, I believe the abject humiliation my king suffered over Damon's escape was the reason for his chastened silence.

When my king commanded me, Jane and Felix to hunt down Damon, I was stunned that Caius volunteered to travel with us. I believe Caius did not want to see Damon handed over to Aro anymore than I did. I explained to Caius that I would scout the area and track Damon's whereabouts, and then report in before making a move. I believe Caius understood and perhaps he hoped that I had a plan, and the truth was, I didn't – not until I met Sheila Bennett; a very wise and powerful witch.

"Tell me about this Aro that wishes Mr. Salvatore's capture?" Sheila asked casually while preparing ingredients for a spell.

After I explained to her, how Aro's gift worked, Sheila gasped but recovered herself quickly. "That would mean," she said, and I realized her mind was reeling over the possible implications," this spell could endanger you, myself and Damon?"

"Yes," I admitted honestly. "I have no wish to place anyone in harm's way. Aro is not a forgiving ruler. The Volturi does not offer second chances."

Sheila measured out more ingredients and placed them in order on the table. She positioned a large bowl in the center of the table and sat heavily across from me. "Are you prepared to do whatever it takes so that your king remains unaware?"

"Yes," I said hastily, perhaps too quickly, though what choice did I have?

"I'm not sure the spell will work on your kind," she commented thoughtfully, and I waited for her to explain further. "I know my spell will work on a human, even another witch, but your kind, I can't know for sure."

I frowned with concern and then I asked, "Do your spells work on vampires like Damon?"

"They do," she disclosed and seemed to latch on to my train of thought. "I believe it is worth trying. You will not be able to contact Damon once you part ways, or you will both be in danger. "

The thought of saying goodbye to a true friend forever left a sour taste in my mouth, although, all three of us losing our lives by Aro's decree would be far worse an outcome. "I'm prepared to do what must be done," I told her with all honesty. "If it is the only way, then so be it."

"Do you wear something important to you and are able to keep it on your person all the time?"

I ran a finger over my Volturi pendant, something we wore with our standard uniforms. "Will this do?" I asked as I pulled the chain over my head and handed it to her.

"As long as you always wear it, then yes," Sheila cupped the necklace and I believe she was sensing something from my coven trinket. When she frowned, I could see pity in her eyes, which rankled at me. "You live a very systematic life. Don't you ever just live for yourself?"

Even while the witch was scrutinizing me, her southern American accent sounded melodic, yet stern. It reminded me of a mother patiently scolding her child. "Our life is not an easy one – the choices are a nomadic existence in hiding, or a structured life, also in hiding."

"I see," she offered while keeping her gaze locked firmly on mine.

I had nothing further to offer on the subject and she held up my pendant, lowered it onto an old clay plate, and methodically placed several herbs around the chain. "I need you to think of a believable altercation between yourself and Damon. Do not skimp on the details, and be sure to envision chopping his head off, even the weapon you would have used. All memories beyond arriving here and the battle will be lost and locked within the amulet. Understood?"

"And my own memories," I hedged hopefully. "Will I lose them or am I simply protected while wearing the pendant?"

"Scrambling your brain is never a good option," Sheila explained to me, the reasons why memory tampering could have long term affects, with unknown consequences.

"One last thing, I need a piece of your hair, since you do not have blood and I will need a few drops of my own blood, and if this will be a problem for you, then go sit in my house until I complete the casting of the spell."

"I have venom," I offered, while not sure if that would be any better than a lock of my hair.

"Will it eat away at my casting plate?" she asked almost teasingly. "I like this plate. It's over two hundred years old."

"It is a venom," I replied dryly. "Not acid." Sheila smirked at me, and I was unable to hide my amused grin. "Also, as long as you are not planning on slicing open an artery, I have good control over my blood lust."

"Good to know," she teased. "Okay, so how do you, er, extract the venom?"

"Add the blood, and it will naturally produce in my mouth," I explained and she looked at me queerly, which made me chuckle.

Sheila pricked her finger and added a few drops of blood over my pendant, and my mouth watered instantaneously. I crudely spat, and my venom blended with her blood. She began a chant and I will admit, I was hoping for more of a show. A tendril of mist raised off the plate along with a strange scent, and the spell was complete. The witch cleaned off my amulet and handed it back to me. "Now remember, you cannot tell Damon what we've done here, nor can you see him, or contact him in any way once you two have parted ways."

"Understood," I agreed sadly.

"Now," Sheila drawled with a mischievous tone," I want to see you sparkle."

I groaned, but slowly removed my robes and my button down shirt. I walked over to a large set of blinds and manipulated the pulley, lifting them and the sun rays broke through. "The things I must endure," I muttered.

"That is…" Sheila stumbled over her words and stared at me, her eyes raked over my chest, face and arms. "Well, ain't you a sight to see, and so darn pretty!"

I rolled my eyes while shaking my head. Only a super-powerful witch would dare tease a creature like myself, and she was obviously amused with my discomfiture. "You are an evil—wicked—witch."

"I've been called worse," she said with a shrug and continued to grin at me while I slipped back into my shirt.

We sat together and played a game of checkers. Damon returned shortly after and I had to hide how I felt inside, though I could not waver. Too many lives depended on my secrecy.

A/N Now you know what happened on Demetri's end. My next posting will be the main story! Hope you all had an amazing weekend! xoxox