Hello Darlings,

Next chapter is up - I've actually been writing quite a lot lately so I'm a little before the schedule. ;D

Do not own Twilight - crap.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWO

~Castle~

After a long pause, he spoke, "You are very stubborn, just like you were when you were little - I never stopped thinking about you, you were always so fascinating" he said and chuckled. He said it almost defensively as if he were challenging me to deny it or argue it with him. I think my jaw dropped - when I had been thinking on my siblings, I had been angry, thinking they had forgotten about me and daddy.

"But not stupid." I snapped with more bravado than I felt. I knew my life was in my siblings hands and it was best not to annoy them but we were after all siblings, and what didn't you do with your siblings?

He shook his head, "No, not stupid, never stupid." he agreed. "Does it frighten you - that I'm a vampire?" he asked casually, all defensiveness gone.

I had to hold back a manic laugh. Was that a stupid question? I smiled humorlessly and nodded as I looked up, "Alec, it terrifies me."

Something flickered in his fiery eyes and I couldn't be sure but I either it was sorrow or regret, "Good." I tried to think of something to change the subject to but he made it before I did.

"If you would like to wash up, that door,"— he gestured to a door on the east side of the room –"leads to a private bathroom. You will be undisturbed."

"Thank you." I said lightly and happened to looked down at what I was currently dressed in. I was a mess.. "Do you, by chance, think, I could get a change of clothing?"

I watched as his eyes wandered over me.

My shirt was stained from yesterdays school lunch, something that today felt only like a good dream, and my jeans were wrinkled from having to be slept in. I think I had been wearing them for twenty-four hours by now. And I think I was beginning to smell pretty bad, too. My hair was a tangled mess and would take an eternity to fix.

"I think that can be arranged - if it makes you feel better, sis" he rose more quickly then I thought possible and I gasped before I had a chance to stifle it. His eyes flicked to mine, "Sorry, haven't grasped the vampire thing yet"

He moved to the dresser at a more human speed and pulled out a folded piece of cloth, "If you want to, you can wear this after your shower until I have a chance to get you a new set of clothing."

He approached me slowly and laid the cloth, it was a white dress, perfect of course. "I got to borrow it from Chelsea - everything you need should be in the bathroom."

I didn't waste time wondering of who Cheslea could be - I took the dress and got up. "Thanks." I said with a small smile as I passed him and crossed to the bathroom, "I trust you, Alec." I told him, but it was yet a relief to shut the door behind me, I leaned back on the door for a moment, just catching the breath I felt I hadn't tak en since entering this accursed place.

I took my time cleaning up. The bathroom was as sparse as the bedroom. It was strictly there to be useful – there were no extra thing. One towel, that was very old, and probably not used, but not dusty, was hanging on the hanger. I found everything else I needed easily enough - then I walked into the hot water.

As I watched the water and soap swirl down the drain, I thought about daddy. What was he doing? Was he waiting for me to come home? Was he calling around to all my friend, who I probably would never meet again? Was he looking for me? Was he worried? Of course he was - I was probably never going to see him again. I was probably going to die in this old place - without anyones knowing.

I shook off my depressive thoughts as I stepped out of the shower and dried off. It wasn't helpful and only muddled my thinking. I took the old towel and dried my hair, then found a comb to run through it. I sat down and combed my hair until I could run my finger's through it without getting stuck. Then I took the dress and pulled it on.

It was an inoffensive piece of cloth, softer really then anything I had ever owned and it smelled so fabulous I could hardly break the contact with my nose long enough to slip it over my head, but the fact that I would be wearing something that belonged to a vampire, who I for that matter didn't know, next to my skin caused me to involuntarily shudder and I almost climbed back into my old clothes. I knew Alec would understand if I did so, but I had it on anyway - if I was going to die anyway, did it matter?

I opened the door.

The room was empty and I let out the breath I was holding. I didn't dare try the door. I didn't want to know if they had locked me in or not, and even if they hadn't there was no chance that I was going to creep around while who knew how many vampires roamed the place. I was quite content to stay in the small room out of sight and hopefully out of mind. I laid my dirty clothes down on the desk chair and sat down on the bed.

"You're alright?" I heard Jane said, but I hadn't expected her so I jumped in surprisment - terrified, and looked around at her sitting in the chair, "Take it easy, Katie"

"Sorry, you know, next time you're sitting here, make some noice, or say hello, and let me know that you're there - 'cause it really freaks me out when you just appear out of thin air!" I told her, "Could you do that?" I asked her, "Please?!"

She laughed, clearly amused, "Sure - but it's just that... it's so funny to scare you"

"Ha, ha, ha" I said and shook my head, "Really funny."

"You know what surprised me?" she said and stood up, holding my eyes in hers.

"What?" I asked, curious.

"That you weren't even trying to escape" she mumbled, "You were always so brave when you were little, and even if you would not have suceeded - I thought you would at least try!"

"Well - maybe I'm brave, but I'm not stupid." I said and smiled, "I know that there is lots of other... vampires here, and I'm smart enough to know that it wouldn't be such a good idea meeting any of them."

"You're right - it wouldn't be such a good idea" she said but then grinned, "But it would be a nice fight - and Aro wouldn't blame me"

"Where's Alec?" I wondered.

"Hunting - he stayed with you from the moment we took you here until just now." she said and shook her head, "I don't understand how - I sort of envy him, he has more selfcontrol then I do" she said and looked at me with a strange look, "... but of course,he couldn't make it any longer - he said he would be back soon"

I nodded, "So what is there to do?"

"We have to wait until Aro tells us to come to him, things that you could do is... I don't know actually, what does humans want to do - I can't remember?"

"Who is this Aro - describe him for me, please"

"Well - he's one of the leaders of the Volturi and when he touches your skin, he can read every thought you have ever had. His hair is long and black and when he moves it is as if he's floating. He's very powerful, so please don't do anything stupid that would make him want to kill you."

I held up my hand swiftly, "Promise, I won't!" The last thing I would want is to be killed.

"Good." she said, nodding, "You look pretty - Aro will like it" she took a deep breath and grinned, "I see Alec stole it from Chelsea's wardrobe, I would like to be there and see her face later - anyway, just so you know Eleazar will check and see if you got some sort of power, he was a member in the Volturi before, so he's doing this as an old time favor."

Ok, this is probably the shortest chapter I will ever write again, so don't comment on that! Sorry if you really didn't like this - I'll do the next chapter longer.

REVIEW - ;D