Hey my readers! So I hope this chapter is tons better than the last. I think I've figured out the next few, so I should post a few more in the next week or so. That said, enjoy! -Max

Disclaimer: I don't own the Maximum Ride and Twilight rights, though I do own the books... Well, my sister owns the Twilight Saga but still. ^-^

Claimer: My characters, plot, etc...

Just then, a group of vampires clad in dark cloaks emerged from the trees. This was it.

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*Dylan POV*

Everyone froze. I could smell them. They were cold, lifeless. No heartbeat. Unnatural.

Sort of like me.

Fang moved slightly, reappearing beside Edward. Alice, restless, danced around our little group. Esme reached out a hand to settle her. Vanish became visible once more, reaching for my hand. I let him hold it.

The Volturi came out of the woods, stopping one hundred sixty-four and a half feet from us. No one spoke for a full three minutes.

So these are the avians! Marvelous!

Their hearts are different. Faster, smoother beats. Movement more graceful than a human, not as fluid as vampire. They may be a good addition… I wonder if they have any powers? The report never said…

Oh, Carlisle, please hurry!

I can't see what's going to happen! AGH! Why? Is the Pack coming? Oh, I hope not! Maybe when we're done here I can take Nudge and Angel to the mall… Seattle has such wonderful stores!

"Aro, Caius, Marcus," Esme called out. "How nice to see you! What brings you by?"

Aro grinned. "I think you know, Esme. It would appear that you have more humans in your mix. Was Bella not enough for you?"

Edward spoke up. "I bed your pardon, Aro, but these are not humans. Well, not completely. They are two percent avian. We have not broken your laws."

Aro laughed. "When we made these laws, humans were not being turned into avians, Edward. We are not here to destroy, as you can plainly see. We are merely here to observe and learn."

The old vampire turned to Fang and I. "Fang, I believe we have already met. It appears that there are more of you now, though."

Fang sighed and stepped forward. Aro placed a cloaked hand on Fang's shoulder.

Cages, needles, pain, darkness, Max, running, tests, flying, Jeb, Angel, Gazzy, a gang, fighting, sunset, the School, Itex, a castle, a blog, a computer, vampires, school, teachers, friends.

I blinked and shook my head. Aro was reading every thought that Fang had ever had, at an unbelievable speed. I was overwhelmed.

"Ah. I see."

Fang and Aro both turned to me after a few seconds of silent communication. I knew what they wanted.

"Dylan?"

I shook my head, taking a step back. I barely trusted the vampires who lived in this house. From what I've heard about the Volturi, I had no reason to trust them. I feared them, and rightly so.

Fang sighed, annoyed. "Just let him touch your arm."

I stepped back again. Fang growled, a low warning sound. Aro took two steps forward, closing the distance between us immensely. I loosened my shoulders, preparing to fly away if necessary.

"I will not harm you," Aro called out. This child fears me. Excellent. I can use that to my advantage.

Why doesn't he just do as he's asked? He's just like Max!

I don't understand… What's happening?

This will not end good…

I still can't see! Why? Why?

This is bad! Alice still is not able to tell the future….

I took five steps back. Vani and Jordan came with me. Aro moved forward again. Fang followed him, glaring at me, silently ordering me to obey.

I didn't.

Aro moved at me at vampire-speed now. I dodged out of the way, easily reading his mind, able to tell where he was going before he even knew himself. It was one of the few things that kept me alive at the School.

"Dylan!" Fang cried. "Just let him touch your arm!"

Aro came at me again. I dodged away once more.

"Partirlo solo!"

Everyone froze, turning to look at who called out. It was Max, to our surprise. She was leaning against the doorframe, pale and in pain.

I rushed over to Max and put most of her weight on my shoulder. I helped her down to the group of vampires and bird-kids.

Dylan, what's going on? Max demanded.

I'll leave the whole explanations to Tyler. In short, all those people are vampires. The ones in the dark capes are the Volturi, Italian vampires. They're basically the royal vampires. They've come to see if we're a threat to their secret or not.

I see, Max replied. And the head one, Aro?, wants to touch your arm so he can read your mind, then?

If he makes contact with my skin he'll know every thought I've ever head, and everything I've known, I explained.

And we don't want that, now do we? Max teased. I'll let him touch my arm. I'll only let him see what I want him to see, not what he wants to see. Remind me to teach you that sometime.

Max looked up at Aro. In a low, raspy voice she said, "Tocchi il mio braccio." Aro nodded once and planed a hand on her arm. He removed it in half a minute, a frown on his face.

She went through all that? I now understand these creatures are no threat to our secret. They are a threat to our existence, though. Unless I can pull one or more of them into the Guard.

Aro turned to his companions. "I do not believe we will need to remain here any longer. Come, let us depart." He turned to Max, a thoughtful look on his aged face. "Woud I come voi per unirlo. Avrò un posto pronto per voi. Pensi a questo proposito."

The Volturi left then. Max closed her eyes, leaning against me more. She shouldn't have even been able to sit up, let alone walk all the way out here.

I quickly looked through Fang's mind, checking to see if he could understand Spanish. Luckily he couldn't.

"¿Qué era eso?" I asked. I knew Max would be too exhausted to mind-speak.

"Nada," Max replied too softly for the Vampires to hear. Necesito hablar con usted en privado. No sé qué está sucediendo."

¿Ahora?" I wondered. Max nodded.

"Si," she said. "Ahora es buena."

Max took off into the sky. I followed instantly. Everyone watched us leave, confused and still mostly in shock.

I had a lot to tell Max.

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Italian:

Partirlo solo- Leave him alone!

Tocchi il mio braccio- Touch my arm.

Woud I come voi per unirlo- I would like you to join us.

Avrò un posto pronto per voi- I will have a place ready for you.

Pensi a questo proposito- Think about it.

Spanish

¿Qué era eso? - What was that?

Necesito hablar con usted en privado - I need to talk to you in private.

No sé qué está seceded - I do not know what is happening.

¿Ahora? - Now?

Si - Yes.

Ahora es buena - Now is good.

Yay! Another chapter! I'm even more busy now than ever, but I will still try to update more often. Please review this chapter! I didn't get any last time :( But that's ok because I presonally didn't like that chapter. OK, have an awesome week! God bless y'all! -Max-