Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight…I barely own my own sanity…lol

Chapter 10

Masen's POV

Where the heck was Matthew? One second he was by my side, almost giving me a bloody heart attack…well at least a crazy, huge scare since heart attacks aren't possible for a vampire. Now he was nowhere to be found.

I didn't bother to draw attention to it, but as always dad knew exactly what I was thinking. He remained calm, but I knew from his actions that he was agitated by my discovery. His eyes constantly darted to my mother, then around the courtyard taking in our surroundings. My mother rubbed the lower half of his back soothingly, sensing his discomfort, but I imagined she thought he was just uptight over the whole ' Coming to Voltera' situation. She wouldn't be very happy when she found out.

I glanced at Emma, who stood grinning with the sappiest smile on her face. While I wasn't sure how to feel about her finding her mate, I was far happier with her smiling than I was moments ago with her having been so incredibly upset. Maybe this was for the best?

I sure hope it didn't happen to me like that, but chances were it would. Smack, your world changes at a single glance. I wanted some freedom to be me first, to meet some of the fine looking women who were milling around watching everything take place.

With that thought, I noticed my father roll his eyes at me. He could be as upset as he liked that Matthew wasn't the top thought on my mind. Matthew was an adult for shits sake, and so was I. An adult, full grown, never left home man, who was currently surrounded by beauties that were also fully grown adults...and man, had the every grown up exceedingly well.

A sharp hit connected with my side and I glanced up, surprised once more. Only this time is was uncle Jasper.

"That shits gonna get old really fast." I hissed rubbing the spot where I assumed he had elbowed me to get my attention.

"Well that shit, as you say, wouldn't happen if you were watching your surroundings half as much as you were watching the ladies." Jasper snapped back with a grin.

I would have to watch out for that, I thought with a smile as I shrugged at my uncle. I gave him a quick nod to let him know that I got his drift. He seemed to accept that and walked off to stand with my auntie Alice, she smiled fondly at him and he wrapped his arms around her, his expression one of pure contentment. Was Emma ready for that devotion? Would I want that I pondered, unsure if it would actually be a bad thing if it happened.

I rolled my shoulders in an attempt to set my thoughts straight before I moved closer to join into the now flowing conversation. The talk was of changing rooms now that Emma and Alec had bonded as they would need space suitable for a couple, and increased privacy that being newly mated they would want. I glanced around to see that Alec and Emma were both looking slightly agitated.

"What's wrong with them?" I asked coming up beside my mom and dad, knowing that since we couldn't talk about Matthew, we should talk about something that was safe to chat about.

"They need time, alone…like yesterday." My aunt Rose commented dryly, as she smirked.

"So why don't they just go?" I asked, confused.

"Emma can't really go off and hunt or slip away with Alec their instincts tell them to. She could be in danger if she was somewhere that she could not be protected. No ones know if there are any threats to you and your siblings in the city walls, though there have been threats. The safest place is in the palace until we have reassessed the city." A woman standing close by commented in answer.

I didn't miss dad's brow as it furrowed. Was Matthew in danger where ever he had gotten off to?

"Thankfully a mates need to protect their beloved is even stronger than the need to…well…consummated the relationship. I suppose that is all that is keeping them from running." She added with a smile.

Eww…that was way too much information about my sister, but I guess I understood. I wasn't ignorant about the mating process either. I just hadn't witnessed what actually happened when mates found each other, but in theory I knew how it worked well enough to get the point.

Apparently everyone here did, as the crowd started to head inside to give the couple a place where they could be alone before they became any more aggravated. I followed along glancing backwards to see if Matthew had returned before I couldn't see the courtyard any longer. One last thought flew through my mind as I recalled the way the woman had spoken about the fact that there could be grave danger for us here.

Be safe little brother, be safe and come back to us.

Matthew's POV

I froze on the spot hearing the voice behind me. It was cold and angry. I started to turn, but found myself pinned, face first, against the stone wall before I could complete the action.

"I don't care to repeat myself, so listen closely." A voice hissed beside my ear. "What are you doing in my home?"

Before I answered, I took a moment to order my thoughts. Whoever it was behind me was far shorter than I was, but stronger. The fragrant aroma was foreign to me, but I inhaled its sweetness greedily. It was feminine, identifying that the being it was a female, and the potency of it informed me that it must be a full vampire, but there was little else to identify them aside from a slight accent that I had trouble identifying.

"Answer, now, before you no longer have the ability to speak." She snarled and I felt her hands press against the back of my neck. The only way to render me speechless would be to remove my head from my body, then to burn the remains, just as it was for a full vampire.

"I didn't mean to intrude…I was just exploring the ruins."

"Well as you can clearly see these rooms are not part of the ruins, you have no right to be here!" She said lowly, her words a subtle hiss, but not as angry as they were moments ago. I thought it best to continue talking.

"I realize that now, I was so taken with the skill of the restoration that I could not help myself from investigating it further, I didn't expect that someone resided here." I explained in a rush. There was no response and so I continued talking.

"The stone work, the details, someone knew their craft with incredible skill, it was beautiful and I wanted to see more. I meant no disrespect."

"You need to leave." She responded lowly, forget what you saw, erase it from your mind if you are able. Never show your face here again." She whispered. Her words obviously meant to be threatening, but if I was not mistaken I heard other emotions mixed in as well…fear perhaps, maybe even longing?

I did not have the chance to dwell on it for long as I was pulled away from the wall and pushed speedily towards the door. Only a moment before I would have crashed into the fine wood, it was opened and I found myself once more in the crumbling ruins of the passageway.

"If you care at all for your safety you will leave, go as far as you can. Escape before the Volturi drag you into their clutches. Do not linger here. Aro will surely try to use you to his advantage in some way. Flee before it is too late, and please forget what you saw here." She whispered so softly that I knew even had another vampire been close, no one else would have heard her words.

I was pushed forward. Just as I caught myself and I began to turn, I heard the unmistakable click of the door closing and a lock being thrown into place.

I turned and faced the impressive door that had drawn me into her home to begin with, my mind racing, curiosity flooding through me as a rush of unanswered questions flitted through my mind.

How did she get here?

What did she look like?

Why was she hiding out beneath the city, far from any other living or un dead beings?

How did she know about Aro and the Volturi?

Didn't she know Aro was dead?

What was here name?

I found myself drawn back to the door and I was unable to walk away. I placed my palm against the smooth surface and waited for a moment, listening for even the smallest of sounds from inside.

There was nothing.

I decided I was not going to leave without answers and so I turned and sat facing the door, leaning against a wall that was still half standing.

Now we just had to see who would give first.