Disclaimer: I do not own VA or Twilight or their characters.

Chapter 14

Rose POV

When we arrived at court, it was chaos. Lissa ordered that none of us were to be approached and the guardians reluctantly complied. As we were walking across the courtyard to the meeting room, the clouds gave way and the sun shone down on us. For the first time, I saw the changes to my body as my skin and the others shined and sparkled like tiny diamond. This proved to the Moroi that we were definitely not strigoi. As we entered the meeting room I noticed my mother standing against the wall of the room with some expression that I couldn't recognize. Caius and Marcus weren't present but gave me the authority to speak on their behalf. Lissa took her place at the head of the room and turned to the council that gave disgusted looks to our kind, but mainly me. I think most were put off by the red eyes I possessed. I ignored it as Lissa began to speak.

"I have been made aware as you have that there are other types of vampires in our world. They are unlike the strigoi in that they still maintain their emotions from their previous lives. They are stronger and faster than the strigoi and some still maintain the lifestyle if killing humans." Gasps erupted through the room. "Those that are before us today however do not as indicated by the softer color of their eyes." One of the council stood up.

"Then why does Miss Hathaway have Red eyes?" He asked. "And why is your Majesty associating with a traitor?"

"Rose isn't a traitor." Lissa fumed. "She was turned against her will after Guardian Janine Hathaway was held hostage by one of them to get her to turn." He sat down and she continued. "New vampires of their kind have red eyes like the others and it takes several months to dilute if they feed from animals constantly."

"So she has never taken a human life?" Someone asked and I cringed with guilt.

"Not willingly no. The one who turned her, cut a human in front of her soon after the change. Rose is a little different than most. When he attempted this before, she was exposed to some of the venom, making her have qualities like them, also causing her to need to feed. She chose to feed from animals but wasn't allowed that choice this time. She killed the vampire that turned her but the damage had been done. The blood lust took over after she fought it for as long as she could." Lissa said.

"So why are we all here today?" Another council member asked.

"The Volturi, rulers of their kind wish to form an alliance with us to rid us of the strigoi. There are three rulers and until recently, they had all ruled for centuries. They seek to change some of their ways and while not all of them can agree to cut human blood from their diet, most are willing to divert their practices to less innocent prey. The need for human blood is hard wired in them as it is in us, though their saliva contains venom that starts the conversion as soon as it enters the bloodstream. This is the reason that their prey are always killed, so that the venom doesn't spread and create more vampires." She answered

"So why are we entertaining a treaty with the Volturi if none of them are here?"

"Oh but one of them is here." I said with a smile. They all looked confused. "The three rulers were Aro, Cauis and Marcus Volturi. Aro was the one who wanted me and my power and after I killed him, I took his position as one of the three rulers. So now I am here to speak for the Volturi." I finished and the room erupted in laughter while I growled.

"Rosemarie Hathaway, blood whore extraordinaire…a queen?" One said and I growled. Jasper was doing his best to calm me, but these idiots were getting on my last nerve.

"Silence!" Lissa yelled and they froze while I smiled. Lissa has a backbone…look at that. I looked over at Edward to see him smiling widely at me and I poked my tongue out at him. "Rose is not a blood whore and even if she was, she is still visiting royalty here and you will all show some respect for our guests."

"It's okay Lissa. Let them think as they will, but when this process fails and the strigoi are at their doorstep, don't come crying to the Volturi." I said and turned to face the room. "We want what you all want, to put a stop to the strigoi. Do you think that this was the life we wanted for ourselves. Most of us in this room are what we are because the only other option was death. I was turned simply to gain the power I had, a possession. You think I wanted that? Aro was a collector of 'talents' and wanted my talents. I have come to terms with what I am because we are different from strigoi. We can choose how we live and though there are some of our kind who are more like the strigoi and are cruel and evil, most of us want nothing more than to live out our existence without being bothered or feared. What you all fail to realize is that in this agreement, our kind are the ones who sacrifice. Some of us have fed from humans for centuries, agreeing to change our habits so that the greater good can be accomplished here. We have a common goal and you are too blind to see it." I said.

After that things went much smoother and we were able to
come to an agreement. I called Caius and Marcus with the news and they were thrilled. They told me that I needed to come back by the end of the week with the others to announce Aro's predecessor. I told the others and they all agreed to attend the gala. I went back home with the Cullens and I thought long and hard about how my life had changed. I still had the bond with Liss, but wasn't bothered by the ghosts anymore but could still detect strigoi. I sat outside the house that night wondering how my life had changes so much in such a short time. One question plagued me over and over. What will happen now with me and Dimitri? I was turning over that question in my head as I felt there were other vampires of our kind here and they were hostile. I stood on full alert and the other followed Edward outside to stand with me. I noticed the Romanians with several others that I didn't recognize. Just then I froze in fear as the door to the Moroi house opened and Eddie and Dimitri came out with Christian and Lissa. Adrian was just inside the doorway. I screamed at Lissa in my head but it was no use. Vladimir was at them like a bolt of lightning. I was right behind him and told the Moroi to get in the house. Eddie pushed them inside and followed but Vladimir already had Dimitri, biting his neck. The darkness took hold of me as Vladimir was forced to release Dimitri. Vladimir was off the ground several feet and I pulled him apart midair, leaving him alive, but where he couldn't get away from me. I would deal with him later. As he impacted with the ground I ran to Dimitri who was lying on the ground. I could feel the venom in my eyes and Carlisle came to check on him. He was alive, but turning. I didn't know what to do. I wanted him with me always, but only if he wanted it too.

"Roza, it's okay Love." He said and as the venom shot through his system, he writhed in pain. Using the power I had, I took all of the pain from him that I could. He had a very large dose of the venom and the pain he still felt was like what I had experienced only slightly worse. Edward, Emmet and Carlisle carried him to our home while the others burned the vampires that remained. Jasper collected Vladimir and carried him to the house as well. I told Eddie to stay with the others and I would send for them when it was safe. I went to where Dimitri was taken and stayed with him until the screaming and pain had stopped. Dimitri hadn't woken up yet but I wanted to be there when he did. I walked briefly out of the room and went to where Vladimir was being held. The others had already burned the other pieces, leaving him nothing but a torso and a head.

"You are a bastard and you will pay for trying to take my friends and family from me." I said and Eleazar and Jasper watched closely. I used my power on him, making him feel the worst pain imaginable. He screamed in pain and I kept it up for hours. When I felt the torture had gone long enough, I gripped his head, ripping it from what was left of his body. Jasper took him back outside where his remains were rendered to ash. Before I joined Dimitri again, I sat down in the living room with the others who looked at me with mixed expressions.

"I'm sorry that you guys had to see that. I guess I got a little carried away." I said.

"It's alright Rose. Dimitri is to you like Bella was to me before she was turned. I would have been the same way if it were Bella in Dimitri's place. In fact, I have been there and you handled it surprisingly well for a newborn." Edward said and I smiled at him.

"Damn you are one scary bloodsucker when you're mad Rose." Jake said and I smiled.

"Thanks Jake….I think" I said and we all laughed. I left then so I could be at Dimitri's side when he woke up. The others gave me plenty of space and I found myself very protective of him as he lay there. I could hear his heart as it beat faster than ever and eventually slowed to a stop. I watched as he slowly opened his eyes and scanned the room. His eyes reminded me so much of when he was strigoi and my heart clenched at that. His red eyes found mine and he smiled tentatively at me.

"I'm so sorry Dimitri. I just couldn't get to you fast enough to stop the attack on you or the venom." I said and he looked straight at me and smiled lightly.

"It's okay Roza. I'm still here with you and that is all that matters now." He said and kissed me hard on the lips, waking a part of me that I didn't know was still there. I could feel the love and lust rolling off of him, but he needed to feed first. It took all the willpower I could find to pull away.

"You need to feed Comrade." I said and smiled. We went downstairs to where the others were and we went hunting. We all fed well and I went over to get the others from the other house. As we entered the Cullen house, I could feel fear from Lissa as she saw Dimitri's eyes and I tried to calm her fear. I sat on Dimitri's lap as the others gathered around.

"Eddie, you are going to have to call for more guardians. You are good but you can't protect three Moroi all by yourself." I told Eddie.

"I already did Rose. Mikhail is coming and they are sending another for Adrian." He said and I nodded.

"Mikhail is a good guardian." I stated. There was a knock on the door and I got up to answer it. I was surprised to see Abe standing there in the door but ushered him inside.

"What's up Old Man?" I asked smiling.

"Just thought I would pay a visit to my only daughter seeing as she is about to go and be queen in another country." He smirked and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Dad there has been a new development and I want you to be aware of it. Dimitri was bitten by one of our kind. He can't guard anymore and will be with me in Volterra." I explained and we went to the living room where everyone was gathered.

"That is unfortunate Rose, but at least you two will finally be able to be together. He is the love of your life and I understand that." He said smiling at me and hugged me tightly.

"Thanks for understanding dad." I said into his chest and he chuckled a little. I looked up at him in confusion.

"We keep having these daddy/daughter moments and people are going to think I'm going soft." He said and I laughed.

"Mr. Mazur, I have a request if you can manage it for me." Dimitri said once we pulled away from each other.

"Of course, what can I do for you?" He said.

"Could you get messages to my family in Baia. I just want them to know that I am okay." Dimitri said and I both saw and felt the pain he was experiencing. I loved his family so much as well and I knew the pain he was dealing with to let them go.

"I will be happy to help you in any way Dimitri. Sure I have given you hell a few times, but you are who my daughter chooses and she is happy with you. Anything you need Dimitri let me know." He said smiling and hugged me again. "I also wanted to tell you that Caius and Marcus wanted me to attend the Gala as well so I'll be going to support my beautiful daughter."

After he left so did the Moroi and Dimitri went to get some of his things from the house. Lissa said the rest would be brought here to the house until it was sent to Volterra. The whole household picked up and packed up to go to the gala. Marcus and Caius had told me not to worry about a dress and I told them about the Romania that turned Dimitri. They made arrangements for him to be outfitted as well when we got there. Tomorrow we would leave here and I would be staying in Volterra as the new queen and Dimitri would be by my side. The others went to hunt again, giving Dimitri and I the privacy they knew we wanted and we made love. It was like the first time, only better and more intense after being unable to for so long. We didn't sleep anymore, but curled into each other and basked in each other's company.

The following morning we boarded a plane back to Volterra and my destiny. I hated how long the flights were and it took most of the day in travel time. Naturally, Caius and Marcus greeted us and led us to our rooms. Dimitri and I were lead to some of the more elegant rooms near Caius and Marcus' rooms. I heard some noise that I recognized coming from Marcus room and I swear if I could have blushed I would have. I could feel love and lust coming from the room and I looked to Dimitri who stood there in confusion. I lead him into our room and we took advantage of the room for a few hours until a knock came on the door. I went to answer the door after putting on my robe quickly. Dimitri retreated to the bathroom and I opened the door. Athenadora stood at the door with a large garment bag and several other women. I ushered her in as I heard the door to the next room open and was surprised at who I saw exiting Marcus' room. I smiled at her and her eyes widened at the realization she had been caught. I made a motion with my fingers, indicating I wouldn't say anything and she sighed in relief. Thankfully for her Athenadora didn't see her and she hurried down the hallway.

"Sulpicia should be here in a few moments with Dimitri's clothing but we can get started I guess." Athenadora said and sure enough, there was a knock moments later and I called for the person to come in. Sulpicia entered and I smiled at her while Athenadora was putting the finishing touches on my gown I was to wear tonight. Dimitri came out from the shower and the girls ushered me in to shower before I dressed. I had literally the quickest shower of my life and when I got out, the women were already getting Dimitri dresses and fitted. They finished with him quickly and started in on me. They wanted it to be a surprise, so I had one of the guards take him toward the Cullen's rooms. Dimitri was a little nervous but I smiled in encouragement. They did my hair and the dress was on. I looked in the mirror at the finished product and almost didn't recognize myself. The dress was floor length, sleek and yet had just the right amount of 'fluff'. It was gathered slightly at the sides and was wait for it….. Blood Red. My hair and makeup were done very light and it dulled down the still burgundy hue of my eyes that were just beginning to dilute a little.

Sulpicia and Athenadora left me so that they could get ready quickly and they promised to come and get me very soon. I was a little nervous. I never liked the royal parties that the Moroi threw, but being for all practical purposes the guest of honor was a little unnerving. I took several deep unneeded breaths and awaited the time when I would be announce to the rest of our world as queen.

So whatcha think guys? Who was coming out of Marcus' room? Please R&R. Thanks.