A/N: I know that the guard is much larger than what is listed in the back of Breaking Dawn, but I'm having that be the complete guard. Enjoy!
Serefina's POV
"I wasn't sleeping, I was just resting my eyes," she said.
"Sure you were," he teased. They laughed. "How are you?"
"I'm all right," she answered.
"I raided your fridge before leaving," he said.
"Oh," she replied.
"I didn't want you getting hungry or thirsty, I mean it is a long flight and you seemed to lose your dinner. There's some water, milk and, I think it's called orange juice. There are also some apples and some other stuff," he responded.
"That's so thoughtful." Serefina got up and checked the mini fridge. Inside were a few bottles of water and some milk and orange. Suddenly she laughed.
"What?" Demetri asked.
Serefina pulled out a tomato. "Do you know what this is?"
"That's not an apple is it?"
"No, it's a tomato," she answered.
"Oh, I guess after 800 years of not eating has made me somewhat ignorant. In this day and time it's hard to know where your food really comes from, so it kind-of surprised me when I saw how fresh everything was, then again, what can I expect from a girl who thinks a job half-done isn't done at all? " he said.
"It's the thought that counts," she replied as she closed the fridge and returned to the bed.
"There are a few things I should tell you about the Volturi before we get there," Demetri said in all seriousness.
"Okay, like what?"
"Well, there are some people you'll want to stay away from, and some that you'll have to wait to come to you."
"All right, I'm listening," Serefina replied.
"Let's start with Jane and Alec, you've already met them. They are twins. Alec is pretty nice when you can get him alone, but when he's with his sister, forget it. Jane is the type of person you don't want mad at you, and for the most part she'll leave you alone if you leave her alone. Both of them have gifts, Jane's gift is to inflict pain on a person and Alec's gift is to take away your sense: sight, hearing, taste, feeling, everything," Demetri responded.
"They're twins, yet they have totally different gifts, that' strange," Serefina observed.
"Yes, now onto the female guard, other than Jane. First there's Renata, she's nice, but a bit odd."
"What do you mean by odd?" she questioned.
"She's not always with the program. She is a protective shield and quite honestly, I'm surprised she didn't come," he said.
"Why?" she wondered.
"Because she's always at Master Aro's side and her fingers seem to be sewn to his robe. She's Master Aro's personal body guard. Next is Chelsea, she's Afton's mate, but I'll get to him in a minute. She's nice and her gift is to strengthen or weaken bonds between people whether it's between two people or a person and a group of people. I'll have to ask her to stay away from us on a few things. Last is Heidi, I don't know how she's going to react to all this, she seemed happy enough when I told her, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
"Why?"
"Serefina, I like you, a lot, and right now, I'm willing to be just friends, if that's what you want. But Heidi likes me the way I like you, and she may hate you for this, but one day she may come up to you and want to be your best friend. I'm not sure; I'll let you two work it out. Her gift is tied to her beauty and although it's possible to resist her, it's really hard if she's trying to attract and that's why she's our lure."
Serefina tilted her head in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Our hook."
"I still don't understand," she said.
"It's rare that Master Aro, Master Caius and Master Marcus leave the castle, but they still have to eat. Heidi goes out to towns, preferably nearby ones, and rounds up people," Demetri replied.
"Oh."
"Then there is Corin, she's a bit shy, but she's really nice. She sees everyone as a brother or sister. She mainly services the wives, but she doesn't so much protect them so much as soothe them into complacency. There is a drug-like side-effect to her gift. Master Aro doesn't use her often, Master Marcus doesn't use her at all, and Mater Caius uses her a lot between battles and punishments. Well, that's it for the female guard. Afton, like I said, is Chelsea's mate. He has a minor shielding skill, but he can't project it outside of himself. He's usually quite nice; he does his duties and wants to spend all his free time with Chelsea. They are the only couple on the guard. If either of them tell you to back off, do it. Next is Santiago he's nice, and once it's made known you are a guest, which it will be as soon as we get there, he'll be friendly. He doesn't have a gift, only brute strength He sees everyone as a brother or sister."
"That's a good quality to have," Serefina commented.
"And then there's Felix, who has incredible strength. And last there is myself, I'm a tracking and I've never lost a kill."
Serefina moved away in fear and covered her neck with her hands.
"No, no, I'm not going to hurt you…That was probably the wrong choice of words I've never lost a target, that's why I was able to find you," he said.
"Oh,"she replied.
"And then there are the rulers: Master Aro, you've already met. His mate, Sulpicia, she may not like you at first, but she might come around. Next is Master Caius, well, let's just say, he's his own person, he'll probably want to kill you, but don't take it personally; he doesn't like humans at all. Don't expect him to be nice and you'll want to keep out of his way. His wife, Athenodora, is the complete opposite; she's very nice and will want to become friends with you right off. She's very merciful, and while most of the guard and Master Caius like to play with their food, she doesn't, she gives everyone a swift and painless death. It's a wonder that her and Master Caius get along at all."
"Well, it is said that opposites attract," she responded.
"Yes, that's true. Last is Master Marcus, whom you've also met, he's very quiet and sad, he doesn't talk or smile, but don't take that as he doesn't like you," he said.
"Why doesn't he smile or talk?" she inquired.
"Like I said, he's sad," he answered.
"Why is he sad?" she asked.
"He mate, wife, died about 3,000 years ago," he replied.
"How did she die?" she questioned.
"No one really knows, Master Marcus left her alone for a few minutes and when he went back all that remained was a pile of ashes that had her scent. Vampire's weakness is fire, but first you have to tear them limb from limb, and then set them on fire. So all that stuff you have read about garlic and wooden stakes is all false, even though the smell of garlic is repulsive," he said.
"Oh, that's so sad," she responded.
"Mistress Didyme was loved by everyone in the Volturi and she was Master Aro's biological sister. Everyone saw her as a mother, well whatever guard there was at the time. Her death affected everyone, but especially Master Marcus. I've heard that there were no two people more in love than the two of them, so. She was his other half. Her gift was to make everyone around her happy, and I can look you straight in the eye and say even if her gift was to make everyone sad, Master Marcus would still love her," he replied.
"Wow, that's so sad," she said.
"Master Marcus loves to read, and he has a library in his wing that is larger than any book store," he replied.
"Really?" she inquired.
"Yes, and if you promise to behave, I'm sure he'll let you in. I'll ask once we get back. He has everything in there, even original manuscripts and writings that no one has ever seen," he said.
"That's amazing," she responded.
"Yep, that's pretty much it for the Volturi," he replied.
Demetri held out his hand, and she didn't know why. She titled her head in confusion, suddenly; there were a pair of her pajamas in Demetri's hand. Serefina giggled.
"I'll be right back." Demetri kissed her and then left.
Demetri's POV
When Demetri walked out into the cabin he was smiling.
"What are you so happy about?" Felix asked.
"Oh, nothing," Demetri answered casually.
"Is it about Serefina?" Felix teased.
"So what if it is?"
"Demetri and Serefina sitting in a tree…." Felix muttered under his breath.
"Felix, shut up!" Demetri exclaimed.
Aro began to chuckle.
"Master, it's not funny," Demetri said.
"It's not, but the tune is catchy," Aro replied.
Aro then began humming the tune along with Felix. For a bit Demetri ignored it, but finally he couldn't take it anymore.
"Just stop it, both of you!" Demetri yelled.
Aro and Felix fell silent and Aro stood up. Only then did Demetri realize what he said.
"Felix," said Aro.
"Yes Master," Felix responded.
"Restrain him," Aro replied.
"Felix, no, no…."
"Sorry Demetri," Felix said.
Felix grabbed Demetri and forced him onto his knees.
"Master, please, it was a slip of the tongue. My anger was directed at Felix, not at you," Demetri pleaded.
"Demetri, you have to be taught to how think before you speak and hopeful by the time you are all put back together you will remember that," Aro replied as he cupped Demetri's face in his hands.
"No!" came Serefina's voice from behind Aro.
Aro turned around and saw Serefina standing there. She ran over and tried to pull Aro away from Demetri, but to no avail.
"Please, don't hurt him!" Serefina begged.
"Ah, but my dear, he needs to be taught a lesson," Aro said.
"Please, I'm begging you, don't hurt him!" she beseeched.
"All right, just for you." Aro turned to Felix. "Let him go."
Felix let Demetri go and Demetri stood up. "Serefina, what are you doing out here?"
"Bathroom?" she asked sheepishly.
Felix laughed. "Humans are so pathetic!"
"Over there," Demetri answered as he pointed to where they were.
Serefina walked off and Demetri returned to her bedroom. He sat down on the bed and rubbed his neck.
Serefina's POV
A few minutes later she returned to the bedroom and found Demetri sitting on the bed, rubbing his neck. A dazed look was on his face. She went over and laid a hand on his shoulder. Demetri hissed and she backed away. Demetri shook his head and looked at her.
Serefina, I'm sorry, I didn't even hear you come in," he apologized.
"I didn't mean to startle you," she said.
"I must have been so deep in thought," he responded. Suddenly Demetri stood up and gave Serefina a hug.
"What was that…"
"Serefina, you saved me, either from a lot of pain or certain death."
"How?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it, but thank you," he answered
"You're welcome," she replied.
Suddenly, Demetri leaned in and gave her a kiss. After a moment Demetri pulled back "I am so sorry, I don't know what came over me."
"It's all right, I just wasn't expecting it," she responded.
"I'm going to be honest and say l kind-of liked it," he replied.
"Me too," she agreed.
"Lie down," he said.
Serefina looked at him suspiciously. She was not going to allow him to take her virginity.
"I'm not going to do anything."
Serefina went and lied down on the bed. Demetri came over and got over her.
"Demetri, what are you doing?" she asked.
"I want to see how much self-control I have," he answered.
"I trust you," she replied, but there was a hint of doubt in her voice.
"Just stay calm and stay still," he said.
Serefina nodded. Demetri kissed her and then moved so his nose was right behind her ear.
"Demetri."
"Shh, don't talk."
Demetri ran his nose down Serefina's neck to where the collar of her shirt was. Then he moved across the shirt collar to the base of her neck and then up to where her chin and neck met. He ran his nose back down her neck and then moved to behind her other ear. Last he moved across her cheek to her lips and then he kissed her again. After a moment Demetri got up. Serefina sat up and noticed Demetri's eyes were much darker.
"Well…."
"We passed, I have incredible self-control around you, and you stayed calm even though I knew you were scared," he said.
"Your eyes are darker," she commented.
"I'm sure they are, your blood sings to me like a siren's song, la tua cantante" he responded.
"Oh, is that a good thing?" she asked.
"Well, it depends on how you look at it," he answered.
"Oh," she replied.
"I'll be right back," he said. A few moments later Demetri came back and in his hands were a deck of cards. "Want to play a few rounds?"
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I hope you all have a Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who has read this story so far. Please remember to review.
Special thanks to:
Kykxstandler: Thanks for agreeing with me about the Volturi having a private jet, it's just something I could see them having. Thanks for reviewing. Happy New Year!
Until next time!
~Cassi