A/N: Watch out for themes of torture in this chapter. Nothing too graphic but they aren't nice. If this bothers you the first five chapters probably aren't for you. Thanks so much to BreeTanner308 and r kelsey for reviewing the Prologue. I love hearing from you guys. I appreciate your support so much. Hope you guys like this chapter.

Year One

"Take care of that, Felix," Jane said indifferently, nodding at me. "I want to go home."

"Don't watch," the redheaded mind reader whispered.

I closed my eyes.

That was the last memory I had of Washington, that and the pain of my head being severed from my body. It had been quick, I would give that to him, and the one named Felix did not make me suffer like that one named Jane had wanted me to. Too bad they didn't let me stay dead, too bad they didn't toss me into the fire, too bad there were ways around the redhead's gift. And too bad I was now here, looking into the blood red eyes of their master, bowing to his wish.

Gritting my teeth, I bit the inside of my cheek, holding my tongue. I knew enough from my time with my coven to learn when it was best to keep quiet. Riley had taught me that. A choke worked its way up my throat before I could stop it, the memory of Diego flashing before my eyes. I could still see so vividly his bright eyes and soft hair. Just the thought of his lips upon mine made the chasm in my chest grow wider and deeper.

"Aro," Jane greeted, her voice was cool and as detached as it had been when sentencing me, her face emotionless. "This one was the last one alive; the Cullens wanted to keep her."

"Interesting," Aro mused, his milky red eyes moving over my face and I couldn't stop the hiss that worked its way up my throat. "Lively. Tell me, my dear, what made you so special that my dear Carlisle would spare you?"

I kept my lips shut, my eyes glaring up at the man who stood before my kneeling form. I didn't know why the yellow-eyes had been willing to keep me and I didn't care. I would offer them nothing; I would protect the yellow-eyes with everything I had. Out of the corner of my eye I watched Jane shift, her eyes darting to Aro, waiting for his order to force my hand. I gnashed my teeth, waiting for the fire to ignite my veins and render me helpless.

"Aw, so you refuse," he chuckled, his voice made my skin crawl and my eyes shifted from her to him and I realized then that he had to be more powerful and feared than even her. "There are ways, my dear, to get the information without your permission."

I balked, scooting back as far as the guards behind me would allow, which was not even an inch. I didn't know his gift, but the way he smiled and eyes lit up made me extremely nervous. Would he torture me as well? Could he force me to spill my guts without me even thinking about talking? Was he a mind-reader? I couldn't let him find out anything about the yellow-eyes, couldn't let him know that they knew the Volturi had been involved.

"I don't know," I said hurriedly, my breath racing as I stared into his deep eyes, shuddering in relief when he stood from his crouch. "I didn't want to fight; I wasn't interested in anything but escape. I could have cared less for any of them that died that day. He spared my life."

"Aw, so it was his compassion, it surely will be the end of him," Aro said pleasantly, his hand ghosting my head, and I suddenly had the strange realization that I didn't want him to touch me, that things would go horribly if I did. "But why put any more risk towards his illegal coven?"

"Il…Illegal?" I questioned, what they could have done that was illegal, they seemed good.

"But of course, humans are not to know of the existence of our kind and yet they kept a human amongst them, we haven't forgotten," he replied, his paper like skin brushing my shoulder, my teeth snapped in retaliation.

"Don't touch me," I snarled before the guards twisted me further, shoving my head down into the stone floor as the evil vampire chuckled from above.

"Oh, my dear, I have a feeling you are going to be quite a delight, quite a delight," he mused, as he circled about me, I watched his feet move unwilling to let him out of my sight. "Don't you agree, brothers?"

I hissed; fear racing through me as I was yanked up by my hair, my eyes immediately meeting the two he referred to as his brothers. They all had the same milky red eyes and the appearance of delicate skin; though I was sure as vampires it was as tough as mine. The taller of the two had long white hair, as pale as that of his skin, and a scowl permanently etched on his face. The other looked dead, his eyes held no light and his dark hair made his paper skin even more noticeable. For some reason I feared him the most.

"Aro, why do you insist on bringing these vermin into our home?" white-hair said, his steps were nearly soundless, his hair flowing behind him as he made his way over to us. "I grow tired of your games, brother, get rid of her."

Aro pouted beside him, a twisted turn of his mouth that made him look even more sinister than he had when he had been looking at me before. The dark-hair moved forward then, his demeanor morose and more silent than either of his companions. I was watching a living ghost, there was no other explanation.

"Why did you bring her here?" he asked, his voice so detached it took me a moment to realize it was him who spoke, his voice hollow and level.

"I was going to have her killed," Jane said, her eyes moving to mine as she scowled, her face scrunched. "But Felix warned me against it, so I brought her here, for you."

"Aw, and do the Cullens know that we have her?" Aro asked as he rubbed his hands together, the eagerness in his face set me on edge.

"No, they think we destroyed her," Jane said, her eyes drifting towards her leaders, bored with the whole ordeal. "We thought only of throwing a body into the fire, not any specifics. They watched us throw a body into the flames. And we made the decision at the last moment, getting around Alice. They think she's dead."

"Good, good," Aro intoned, white-hair rolled his eyes as he kicked my knees, cracking them, pain raced through my body.

"Tell me, Felix, why did you decide to keep her?" white-hair intoned, his voice harsh and his cruel mouth twisted with utter hatred.

"She has a gift, a powerful one. I haven't seen her use it and she hasn't fought us at all until we arrived here, it really is quite strange," the one named Felix intoned, the one who had torn me apart.

"Curious," Aro said as he moved forward again, his cloak flowing behind him dramatically, like some Hollywood version of us.

"I say we get rid of it," white-hair intoned as he swept away from me, his shoulders brushing by his brother harshly, Aro only smiled.

"Your vote is noted, Caius," he said pleasantly, he seemed unconcerned with his brother's enthusiasm. "Marcus?"

I looked up at the other one, the silent one. His face gave nothing away on his feelings towards me, no hint of any emotion on my fate. His eyes bore into mine and I felt the chasm in my chest quake and stretch, doubling me over. If he noticed my struggle, he said nothing about it, but inclined his head only slightly before walking away. Caius scowled at him and Aro clapped his hands. I could only assume I had been spared. Disappointment shot through me.

"Good, good," Aro said quickly as his two brothers walked out of the hall, the door slamming behind them. "Well, we have much work to do, much to do. Jane, take her to the basement, she will need to be purified immediately, she has far too many scars from that army."

"Yes, Aro," Jane said, her crisp tone the only indication of her anger, she wanted me dead. "Guards, bring the girl."

I was yanked up, the two guards lifting me off my feet and dragging me along, I didn't fight. I could still hear Aro talking excitedly to some of the others, yet I heard none of it. Why were they keeping me alive? Because they thought I had a gift? Impossible, there wasn't anything special about me. I was broken, torn in two, my other half burned to dust on the other side of the world. And all I wanted to do was join Diego in the fire, taking me away from the pain that wouldn't cease.

"Oh, by the way, my dear," Aro called from across the room, my little procession stopping instantly, I felt my hope rise. "What's your name?"

"Bree," I whispered, the sound more choked than I realized, the last flicker of my wish dying in my chest, I was going to be spared. "Bree Tanner."

1111111

The door slammed behind us and even though I knew I was strong enough to rip it from its hinges, the finality of that sound set me on edge. Whatever was going to happen was not going to be good for me. The slight gleam in Jane's eyes only confirming that fact. I would suffer, I had no doubt.

"Well, since I can't kill you," she said, her ruby eyes flashing as she snapped her fingers and two more guards stepped forward. "I can at least enjoy your pain."

The two new guards grabbed a hold of my legs, pushing me down until I was laid flat on my back on the rough stone floor. The two guards from before held my arms up above my head as Jane circled, her eyes gleaming in anticipation.

"Do you know what's worse than burning?" Jane asked, and I glared refusing to give into her amusement. "Being purified."

I had no idea what she meant, only that it would be worse than death, worse than the ungodly hell that she put me through with her gift. And when she reached down to me, I knew I was right.

I clamped my jaw shut, trying desperately to keep the screams at bay; I didn't want to see her satisfaction. She smirked as she moved her mouth away from my neck, the venom she shot through me leaking out of the great hole she'd left behind. I felt other parts of my body being bitten, but I hardly noticed as fire licked me from the inside out. My change had been nothing compared to this, nothing compared to the inferno that now threatened to eat me slowly.

"As part of the Volturi," Jane said as she smiled, watching me twist and contort, pulling harshly at my restrainers, "you are required to look a certain way, behave a certain way. You are to be perfect in both looks and power. Only the oafs are allowed to have scars, so we must take care of that little inconvenience."

My screams filled the room, the once unbearable anguish growing. It felt as if each piece of flesh was torn from my body and being burned, slowly going up in flames and then pieced back together. My back arched as a fresh wave of heat hit my stomach, my muscles twisting. I couldn't stop the sobs that tore from my throat or the screams of agony that only made Jane's smile widen.

"When venom is injected into the skin of a vampire in great quantities it does the same as what it does to a human. It perfects you. You will essentially be one giant scar, paler than most other vampires. It's why our masters look as they do. They have been purified numerous times over. Your pain is greater this time, isn't it?" she chuckled, her boot connecting to my side, though I didn't feel it. Nothing mattered but the soul consuming lava that raced through me, charring me until there was nothing left. "Do you know why?"

I didn't answer, even if I had wanted to, I was unable to speak, unable to do anything but scream. I knew if I had still been human my voice would have long since given out.

"It's because as vampires we have better senses, including more adept nerves. We feel things deeper and rawer than humans, and so when we are hurt, we hurt so much worse. Comes in handy sometimes," she laughed before walking towards the door.

It slammed behind her, ringing in my ears before another wave of fire took me, contorting my frame in such away I was sure some of my skin had cracked. I begged for the guards who held me to end it, to just rip my head off and be done with it all. The real flames of burning flesh could not be worse than this, this all consuming pain that had no end. They merely blinked and held me harder, refusing to let me rise and take my own life like I so desperately wanted to do. I just wanted it to end. No more physical suffering, no more missing Diego, just a sweet oblivion that I could escape to and never feel the harshness of this world again.

1111111

"Is she still carrying on?" Jane asked as she entered my hell again, I didn't know how long it had been, time meant nothing to me and everything. This could have been going on for years or only a couple moments and I wouldn't have known the difference. "Pathetic."

I twitched madly as a spasm worked its way down my spine, the pain so great now that I could no longer scream. I could feel that my mouth was open wide, but I could hear no sound. My guards had long ago switched off, the one refusing to continue when I had ripped off his arm from my struggles alone. I had almost got my wish then, for sweet death. But instead Jane had reappeared and sent him writhing on the floor beside me. He had quickly crawled away only to be replaced with a bigger brute. I hated them.

"Oh be quiet, you are starting to annoy me," she snarled, her face contorting before she took her usual place in her corner, watching. "As much as I enjoy your pain, this is getting tedious. If only I had given you more venom, this could have been so much faster."

Sadistic bitch, I chanted in my mind, my mind reacting to her words even if my body was incapable. It didn't matter that this could have been over before, that she could have made my suffering less. All that mattered was the storm of heat that refused to lessen, that swelled in my breast until I felt I might internally combust.

"Shouldn't be too much longer," she remarked as she gazed at her fingers, bored, before she sighed dramatically and glared at me pointedly. "Really, you'd think after a week she'd be use to it. Worthless."

I gasped as part of the heat receded, my fingers clenching in relief as I flexed them, a hysterical laugh working its way up my throat. Any relief was welcomed, even if only minute, it was enough.

"How are you supposed to be a Volturi elite, if you can't even take a little torture?" she went on, no one answering her question, though I doubted she expected anyone to. "And why did they leave you with me? I would be so much happier to just end you and be done with it."

I choked in shock as the burning moved rapidly down my arm, leaving behind a trail of sweet ice. A small tingle itched my now normal skin, a reminder of where the flames had just been. Relief washed through me; if I had to live at least I would not have to live in the middle Satan's inferno for the rest of my existence. Instead I was just stuck with his living counterparts.

"Oh good, it seems to be receding," she snipped as if this was my entire fault, not her venom that left me trembling on the stone floor. "Took it long enough."

I sighed in relief as the fire moved away faster and faster, quickly leaving my feet and then my legs. My muscles clenched in relief as my struggles lessened, the only ungodly fire left in me circling around my midsection.

Like a bolt of lightning it struck fast and unexpected. Pain like never before hit me, circling around my stomach and forgotten heart, tearing me apart from the inside. I was sure if I would look down that flames would be shooting up, blazing with blue intensity. All the fire from before was now intensified, gathering rapidly into one point, burning ferociously. Crying out, my back arched off the floor, the guards straining as they tried to contain my movements.

Screaming, I twisted, one of their fingers snapping in the process as I threw a guard away from me and up against the opposite wall. My body twisting in on itself as I cried and yelled, begging for anyone to end this torture, to make it stop. No one listened, no one ever did, no mercy in these blood-thirsty bastards.

Finally, when I thought my body could take no more, the flames were instantly extinguished, leaving me in a heap on the floor, breathing heavily. My muscles ached, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. I didn't want to move, didn't want to see their faces and let them see my weakness. I had to be strong, I couldn't let them win.

"Well, that was interesting," Jane commented, her tone bored as she walked forward and kicked me, forcing me to look up into her neutral face. "Weak."

I snarled, hating that for once she was right. I wasn't a fighter, I wasn't meant for battle like they wanted me to be. But I also knew that they would make me become one, one way or another.

"Get up," she snarled, looking at me with an intensity that nearly sent me to my feet…nearly.

I gritted my teeth against the pain of her fingers through my shoulder as she lifted me up, face to face with her ugly mug. I scowled, shrugging off her hand before taking a few steps back, bracing myself for an attack. Nothing came, but the look of pure delight that raced across her face made my stomach revolt. My torture wasn't over, would never be over. I was stuck in a hell that I could never hope of escaping.

"Come, its time you start your training," she said dryly as she turned on her heels and walked towards the door, never looking back to see if I followed.

As I stood there, refusing to move, I felt myself once again raised from my own two feet and escorted out of the room. The door swinging shut behind us.

1111111

I hit the wall for the billionth time, my side aching as I pried myself off the floor. We had been going at this for what seemed like forever, my opponent never tiring or relenting. He was huge and imposing and I felt myself quake at even the thought of taking him on again. But from the look on Jane's face I would either have to get up and fight or pay with more pain.

Crouching down, I breathed out; studying Demetri's every move, his every breath, praying for some weakness. But of course, like all the times before, I found none. And with a twinge up my spine and an evil smile from Jane, I attacked. Blurring across the chamber, I ran directly at him, hoping that my superior speed would disorient him. Of course, it didn't.

Dodging his swing, I rounded off behind him, jumping on his back more than ready to rip off his miserable head. Grinning I grasped his neck, squeezing, only to find ourselves flipped over and I now squished between the unmoving floor and his marble weight. Coughing, I struggled to regain my senses, searching for my opponent who was already at the other end of the room, smirking.

"Pathetic," Jane intoned her voice the most bored yet, her scarlet eyes gleaming at me with a hatred that made my gut clench. "Demetri, she is obviously useless. Get rid of her."

I bit my lip, fear racing through me before a peace came over me like never before. I wouldn't be without Diego anymore, I wouldn't be forced to train for a group that I hated or live in a world that I detested. Sighing, I closed my eyes and waited, imagining his wondrous face and his deep playful eyes. I wanted to die with this last wonderful memory I had, his lips on mine as we traveled together back to the house.

"Demetri! End her!" Jane yelled startling me out of my dreams as I sat up quickly, watching Demetri as he stood frozen at the other end.

His eyes were wide and frightened, something that was really funny on his ugly face, a strange shot of happiness hitting me at his discomfort. I didn't know why he was acting so weird, or why he was ignoring her order, but I found it the funniest thing I had ever seen. He just stood there, gaping, as his eyes dashed about like some cartoon I could almost remember watching in my previous life.

Jane's face suddenly changed, the rage disappearing to blankness, before sadistic glee. Looking over, the pain etched in Demetri's eyes shot my mood straight to hell. I didn't like the guy; he had been beating me up like some pathetic bouncy ball, draining me of my strength by refusing me blood. But even through my torture I knew that pain and didn't wish that on anyone. Yes I wanted him to die, but not slowly, quickly was alright.

"Stop," I called as I rushed up, a hiss ripping through my throat as I turned on Jane, my eyes locked on her before I stumbled.

She too had a look of amazement on her face, her face scrunched up as she slowly turned and locked eyes with me, her gaze full of hatred. I gulped, waiting for the pain to shoot through me, but it never came.

"What have you done?" she hissed as she moved my way, her body practically vibrating with her anger as I took a step back, fear racing through me.

"What…what do you mean?" I asked, I hated the way my voice trembled and the terror that ripped through me.

"I can't use my gift, Demetri over there is like a fucking statue; what have you done?" she cried as she raced towards me, her face only centimeters from my own.

"I…I didn't do anything," I replied as I stepped back, her hand grasping my wrist, the skin cracking under the pressure.

Her snarl shook my frame as I stumbled as she yanked me again, bringing me closer to her, her blood red eyes shining on me. The room was suddenly quiet, our eyes locked as her hold grew in intensity. Demetri's stumble was the only thing that diverted her attention and that lasted only a moment. Her haunting eyes turning back to me before shoving me away, my butt hitting the floor with a resounding crack and hiss of pain.

"Felix!" Jane yelled, her voice bouncing off the stone walls, knowing that there was no way that Felix couldn't hear her.

Steps echoed from the walls outside the chamber and I felt myself grow cold. What were they planning? More torture? My hope of death had been whisked away as soon as Jane turned her attention back on to me. My voice cracked as I tried to protest, weak and unsure, for that I hated myself all the more.

"What is it, Jane?" Felix asked, his stance relaxed and his face bored, his gaze briefly flicking over to me before returning back to her.

"Bring it down, she hasn't fed in three weeks, she must be getting hungry," Jane said as she turned around on the balls of her feet, storming away.

My mouth watered, venom flooding me as I tried to fight back the insanity that was threatening to take me. I couldn't believe it, the thought of three weeks having gone by without my realizing. I had been hungry, becoming weak, but I never would have guessed I had been stuck down here for three agonizing weeks without any sustenance.

As soon as the terrified human entered the chamber I attacked, the scent so agonizingly sweet that my throat felt like it was going through the purifying process all over again. The young man screamed, terror ripping through his eyes as his body spasmed in his last moments, seizing stiff until he fell limp in my arms. The blood that covered my tongue and throat felt like ice thrown on a raging fire. Instantly cooling and healing, taking away the ache of my body and the sluggishness of my limbs.

Too soon the body ran dry and the great burn roared to life again, I needed more, lots more. Fighting on my control, I stepped away, dropping the body as I fought tooth and nail to keep myself from attacking Felix. I needed more; it was almost all consuming, the thirst and need to do anything to quench the burn. Turning my back I ran to the corner and held my breath, turning away from the unmoving body. If I even saw one more speck of blood I knew I would lose it, start licking the floor for a drop and I would not let them see me that low.

I could hear the body being drug across the floor away from me and I couldn't help the snarl that tore from my throat, my muscles flexing as my body tried to lunge for it. I felt relief when the door slammed behind them, the thought of it being between me and the evil one's guard helping immensely. The thirst still burned.

Demetri scurried around, mumbling under his breath before departing himself, leaving me to my own devices for the moment. I felt myself relax slightly, my ears trained on the sound above my head, of screams and the metallic scent of blood. The fired roared to life twisting me as I fell to the ground refusing to give into its call. They would be up there, my tormentors, the ones I despised above all others. This was their hunting grounds and despite my need to leave this world behind I couldn't stop my instincts reacting to the 'danger keep away' signals.

Moments lasted for eons, seconds dragging on for the rest of forever until the sweet scent of blood turned stale and metallic. The feeding was over and I breathed a sigh of relief, the danger of me racing upstairs was over. I didn't know my way, knew I would get lost, and knew they would find me. I also knew, that when they found me, it would not mean death, only more pain and suffering. And I was not masochistic in the slightest.

The door banged open, feet stepping through as I quickly rose and turned around, my back to the corner. Baring my teeth I watched as three males entered and then stopped by the door. Felix and Demetri regarded me with cool neutral expression while the smaller one reminded me of Jane. The sadistic delight that spread over his face made me tremble, almost wishing for the little blonde to return.

"Hello, pet," the new one murmured as his eyes roamed my body before meeting my eyes, my breath hitched in my throat. "My name is Alec, Jane's brother. Unfortunately Jane is unable to continue with your training, it seems she just doesn't have the patience, so I will be taking you on. I'm afraid Jane has just been too easy on you, she always did have a soft spot for a pretty face."

My mouth went dry, fear racing through me as I backed myself as far as I could, my head cracking against the wall. If Jane had been nice I didn't even want to imagine what this guy would put me through. Perhaps I would annoy him enough that he would have me killed, though I seriously doubted it. Unlike his sister who seemed annoyed with the whole ordeal, he seemed to fine all of my reactions highly amusing.

"Felix, Demetri, I want her battle ready in three weeks," he intoned, his voice cracking like he was stuck in puberty. "She has a mission then and our leaders would be sorely upset if she were to die."

Felix and Demetri nodded their heads, their great lumbering bodies moving towards me, trapping me. I had nowhere to go, I would have to fight or let them bounce me around like their new favorite toy. Neither option sounded like a lot of fun.

"Alright," Alec called, the two guards stopping as they turned to look at him, my fear tripling at the large smile that spread across his face. "Begin."

A/N: R&R please! Ja!