DPOV

I knew the moment Isabella figured out where we were. Besides the change in scent, her entire frame seemed to tense up. I didn't say anything to her, though. There was really nothing that I would have been able to that would have settled her down anyways. So, instead I simply led her around the last corner between us and the Gathering Room, a smirk pulling at my lips when I saw one of the servants standing at the door with a new shirt and a different jacket for me draped over her arm.

When we were closer, she dipped her head slightly and presented me my effects. "Master Demetri."

I nodded to her but responded to the sound of confusion that came from my human. Glancing down at her as I reached behind my neck to remove my crest, I grinned. "News travels fast around here." I then held my necklace out to her, "Would you mind?"

She shook her head and took the pendant, looking at it for a second before looking back as I was handing my blue jacket off to Luna. "I would say so."

I just winked at her as I unbuttoned my vest, removing and also handing it off. After taking the scarf from around my neck, I again glanced at Isabella with a snort when she squealed and looked away when I started to take off my ruined shirt. I shook my head and Luna giggled a little, her hand coming up and covering her mouth.

The noise still caught Isabella's attention though.

She looked over at the tiny vampire in front of us, her eyes wide and jaw lax, her head shaking. I just continued to change as Isabella squeaked out. "What's so funny?"

Luna just giggled a little again. "I am sorry, Mistress. I supposed there are vast differences between our kind and yours. Shirtless males are somewhat normal around here. Most of us don't even notice it anymore."

I rolled my eyes when Isabella whimpered a little and tucked in my new black shirt before taking my black, floor length jacket off Luna's arm. "Luna."

Luna smiled at Isabella once more before she turned back to me. "I will see to the cleaning of your vest and cloak, but I am pretty sure your shirt is a lost cause, Master Demetri."

I sighed as I shrugged on my Jacket, tugging it a few times to fix the lapels. "Aren't they always?"

Her face took on a sly little grin. "With you, more so than anyone Master Demetri."

I gave her a flat look, this time speaking with a clear warning in my voice. "Luna."

She cleared her throat and dipped her head. "Apologies. I'll have these sent to your chambers when they are clean."

With that, she dipped her knee and turned, strolling away and leaving me to shake my head. Silly little vampress. When I turned to Isabella to take back my necklace, she had a weird look on her face. "Something the matter, Gatáki?"

She shook her head as she held my crest out to me. "No. She seemed… nice, almost normal."

I hummed as I reclasped my necklace around my neck. "Luna is older than she looks, and acts, for that matter. She has been here for a very long time and has earned her place amongst the staff. She gets away with a lot more than most."

Isabella nodded and crossed her arms. "How long?"

I shrugged. "I have no earthly idea. She's been here longer than I have. Now," I set my hands on the wooden doors and looked down at her, "remember what I said in the car."

Isabella looked at me before turning to the doors, fear clear in her eyes and scent. Still, she nodded her head as she bit her lip. "This is going to be bad, isn't it?"

I snorted. "It will be over before you know it. Just stay quiet unless asked a question." When her brow drew down, I turned to face her, taking her chin between my thumb and forefinger, tilting her head back so she was looking at me. Once I had her attention, I lowered my voice a little. "Nothing untold is going to happen to you, Gatáki. I will not allow it. Besides, your fate has already been decided. This isn't about you; not anymore."

"Then what…"

I cut her off. "Evidentiary purposes and that is all you need to know." Then I shrugged as I let her go. "Besides that, in three days none of this is even going to matter."

She blinked at me. "What does that mean?"

I waved my hand in the air and turned back to the door. "Later. For now, the Masters are waiting."

Before another word was said, I pushed the doors open and took a step to one side, making sure she was visible to the three vampires within the room. Holding my hand to the room, I grinned at her. "After you, Gatáki."

Her heart stuttered for a moment, but she still passed me and walked into the room. I followed after her, a step behind, until we reached the center of the room. She crossed her arms and I clasped my hands behind my back. Her shoulders hunched slightly and I dipped my head. She looked to the floor and I held my head high.

The three masters looked at Isabella for a moment before Master Aro stood from his seat, a truly amused grin on his face as he clasped his hands together.

"Isabella. So nice to see you again… and," he turned to look at Master Caius, "human."

Isabella gulped as Master Caius smirked at her before he turned to Aro. "You owe me a thousand dollars."

Master Aro looked at him, one brow slightly raised. "I do not."

And, here we go. I glanced over at Marcus and he was just started shaking his head as Caius and Aro began to bicker over the terms of their wager. When Caius resorted to name calling when it became apparent that Aro wasn't going to pay him, I glanced down at Isabella. Her eyes were wide and her jaw lightly lax as she watched them. She was doing well until Caius called Aro a cum guzzling gutter slut. After that registered with her, I had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep her bark of laughter quiet.

She looked up at me when I did so, her eyes bright and grateful. Her body was trembling and breaths choppy as she tried to get her amusement under control. After a moment or two, she seemed to settle and I removed my hand, winking at her when she nodded in thanks. I returned to my previous position and Isabella went back to waiting.

She wasn't left to wait long. "Human."

Isabella about jumped a mile out of her skin at the tone of his voice. Her back went ram-rod straight and she kinda squeaked. "Yes?"

Caius' smirk grew slightly as he turned to look at her. "I will give you one chance to explain your mortality because, if I remember correctly, you were told to have that fixed."

Isabella bit her lip hard and looked to the floor. "I was told that an invitation was sent to you for Edward and I's wedding in two months. The date for my change was set two days after that." It was then she looked up. "I was also told you got it two weeks ago."

Caius cocked a brow at her but it was Aro that spoke. "Hmm. Now that is interesting. We recently had to replace our last receptionist. Perhaps it was and it was simply misplaced when the new one took over." Then he sighed. "However, regardless of any indication that the order was GOING to be followed, it has yet to be so. You were, very clearly, told not to be seen human again. Yet, here you are, human as ever. You do of course see the problem here, yes?"

Isabella nodded but didn't say anything and Aro turned to me. "Demetri, where is the rest of your team?"

I smirked. "There was a… slight issue upon landing, Master Aro. They stayed behind to deal with it."

He nodded. "I see. Does that then explain your change in wardrobe?" I shook my head and he shrugged. "Well, perhaps the noise from a while ago is now explained. Either way, let's hear your report."

"During our time in the area of the Olympic Coven, we found no evidence of direct knowledge as to what they are. We did, however, find a startling and worrisome amount of rumors and stories about them, some of which are not too far off the mark. Also, there seems to be a den of shifters in the area as well."

Isabella gasped and turned to stare at me as Aro cocked a brow. "Shapeshifters?"

I ignored her and nodded to him. "Wolves."

Aro chuckled at that. "Ah, well, then we have very little to worry about. Those wolves will rip the Coven apart if given the chance."

I grinned a little with a chuckle. "Actually, Master, they seem to be on the same side of things. When we arrived, sadly moments too late to aid in dealing with the newborns we were sent to see to, the shifters had already left, though stayed close enough to interfere with our other job."

At that, Aro sat back down, his face flat and annoyed as he propped his chin in his palm. His voice was flat and hollow when he spoke. "So, you mean to tell me that Carlisle and his little cult followers have not only raised speculation as to their real nature but have also formed an alliance with a pack of Wolf Shape Shifters to aid in their protection. Do I have it about right, Demetri?"

I nodded once. "That is the way I saw it, Master Aro."

Isabella looked back and forth between myself and Aro, her eyes wide and bottom lip trembling. Finally, she shook her head and looked at Aro. "No, that's not what was going on." I looked at her and she had the most pathetic look on her face. When I cocked a brow at her, she shook her head. "Okay, I'll give you that is probably what it looked like, but I swear it wasn't. Jasper told us about newborns, told them that if they weren't stopped they would kill everyone in Forks. They weren't protecting the Cullens, they were protecting everyone else. Trust me, Jacob HATES them. He would never protect them without it being for a really good reason."

Master Aro turned to her with an amused look on his face. "Jacob?"

Isabella's eyes went wider as her jaw completely dropped before she groaned and dropped her face into her hand. "Oh, god damn it."

Aro chuckled deep in his throat. "You really should have just stayed silent, Isabella. Allow me to explain this to you. The Cullen coven has been given chance after chance to follow our laws, of which there are not many nor are they of a high difficulty. Every chance they have been given, they have blown, long before you were ever even ejected from your daddy's dick. Save your theatrics, Stella, because your heroics will not save the coven this time. Perhaps, instead of trying to save the damned, you should refocus your efforts on keeping me from being interested in Jacob."

Isabella whimpered a little, looking at him for a moment before she looked up at me, her eyes begging me to lend a hand. I considered a moment making her face the consequences of opening her mouth when I told her to keep it shut, but the way her eyes were glossing over with tears had me giving her a little glare before turning back to Aro. "Master Aro, if I may." When he looked over at me, I continued. "Reserve judgment on the dogs for the time being. This could have well been a onetime alliance that was forged out of necessity of the current situation and not a permanent one. Wait until you see for yourself which way the coin falls from the Coven. They would be the ones to have the actual answer on just how deep into the comrade the dogs are. Besides, they stink to high fucking heaven and I really don't want to chase them all over that damn peninsula if I do not have to. Once was plenty."

Aro tapped his cheekbone a few times before he sighed. "Very well, Demetri. I let it be for now." Then he glanced at my human. "Consider it a gift." I nodded slightly at that before Aro cocked his head to the side. "The only question left, is what to do with her. Are you still decided?" When I nodded again, Aro sighed and rolled his head on his shoulders and looked at Caius. "Do you have anything to add, Little Brother?"

Caius looked at Aro, a slight sneer on his face before he looked at Isabella. "If you are still completely alive come midnight, I will rip your heart from your chest myself." Then he turned to me, "Are we clear?"

My eyes narrowed and a growl rumbled my chest but I was unable to say anything before Marcus chimed in, too quiet for the human to hear. "Tread lightly, Caius. Threats, no matter how empty they are, are a currently a very, very bad idea."

Caius' eyes shot to Marcus a split second before they returned to me, a brow lifting on his forehead. My growl hadn't the chance to cut off so it was in my voice when I answered. "Crystal, Boreíte Gami̱méno Tsimpí̱ste." The Greek language isn't so pointless to know now, is it? Have fun translating that, you son of a bitch.

Caius narrowed his eyes at me and Aro shot out of his seat. Only one of the two of them had any idea what I just said and he didn't have a firm enough grasp of my native tongue to know exactly what it was. "I believe we're done here, Demetri. You two are free to go."

I snorted but dipped my head and turned to the side. "Gatáki." She looked back and forth between myself and the masters a few times before following after me, asking in a hushed tone what it was I said as the same time Caius asked Aro. I smirked down at my human and chuckled, answering her the same way Aro answered Caius. "It's not important."

We left the main hall and I pulled the doors closed behind us, cutting off Caius' complaints. I did hear him call me an asshole though and I just shrugged it off. It wasn't the first time, nor was it going to be the last, so it didn't really matter. I cussed him out all the time in my native tongue and the stupid bastard still didn't want to take the time to learn what I was saying. I've been doing it for over a thousand years and he wouldn't take a weekend to learn the language. So really, it was his own fault.

When we got what she deemed enough distance between us and the main hall, Isabella looked up at me. "So, you know Greek?"

I chuckled and nodded. "I am of Greek human decent, so yes, I know Greek." Grinning down at her, "How did you know what language that was? Not many other than my Countrymen know it these days."

She scratched her temple. "I know the numbers. I figured it out during the… when you…uh." I clicked my tongue with a hum, telling her I knew what she was talking about, and she bit her lip before clearing her throat. "So, what did you say to him?"

I debated for a moment on answering that before I just shrugged. "I called him a fucking prick." She seemed to choke on her tongue at that and I just shrugged again, my voice flat. "What? He was being a prick. How is it my fault I happen to know a language he deems unnecessary to know?"

There was a snort behind us before Felix's booming laughter rang out in the halls. Isabella, who hadn't heard him come up behind us, shrieked like a banshee before latching onto my arm and twisting around, hiding in front of my chest from the monster behind us. I looked down at her with a cocked brow but said nothing to her. After the last time a vampire snuck up behind us, she got the scare of her human life.

I just chuckled lightly. "Relax, Gatáki." Glaring over my shoulder, "It is only Felix." Well, the identification didn't seem to help if her whimper was anything to by. Marvelous. When he was mostly caught up, I snorted. "How does someone as monstrous as you make no noise when moving about? I swear will start calling you 'twinkle toes'."

He grinned when he came to stand by us on the opposite side that my human was taking refuge. "Awe, come on, man. Gotta give the little human one last good scare before she can hear a pin drop a mile away." I snorted, he chuckled and crossed his arms as we started walking again. "So, Master Caius getting under your skin again, Dem?"

My lip curled in the corner. "Gee, how'd you guess?"

He shrugged. "Call it vampire intuition."

I rolled my eyes and gave him a flat look. "How about I call you an idiot?" He scoffed and I spoke before he could. "Besides, you missed her last scare by about twenty minutes. Speaking of, do me a favor and let Afton know that I want to see him it the training field in four days."

A rumbling chuckle came from his chest and his shoulders shook. "Uh oh. What did he do?"

I cocked my head slightly. "It wasn't him so much as his underlings. If he will not control his little bastards, I will find someone else that can. I have maimed, if not killed, three of his squad today and I am going to beat the shit out of him when next I see him."

He hummed in his throat as he moved his arms to clasp his hands behind his back. "Or, you can sic the soon to be newborn on him." Then he leaned forward and grinned at Isabella. "You are a lot shorter than I remember."

She whimpered again and slid slightly behind my arm. "You're not."

He snorted and shook his head before speeding up a little, getting in front of us and turning to walk backwards. "Unlike you, there was no chance I could have grown. Maybe the difference is you standing next to a full grown man and not an eternal child that just thinks he's one. Either way, if Demetri grants you a last meal, you should get this thing called a "Sinlate'. I have no idea what the fuck it is, but the humans around here rave about it." I grunted a little groan and shook my head and Isabella made some sort of noise the caused Felix to snicker. "Well, you two have fun and I'll see you in a few days. I got the southwest tower to keep an eye on."

I blinked at him. "No, you don't."

He shrugged. "That little pest Santiago came crying to Jane, Alec and I the second we walking through the door, begging one of us to take over the watch because he had 'different orders'. Well, that makes a little more sense now. Anyways, after Alec told him to go fuck himself and Jane punched him in the stomach, I took pity on the bastard since there is nothing going on around here right now anyways. That, and it kills part of my unused soul to see a man cry. It's just wrong." Then he grinned at Isabella once more. "And, hey, thanks for the snack. I was starving."

She made another unidentifiable noise and I glared at him. "Walk away." He gave a little salute and darted down the opposite hall we were about to take. Stopping in the crossway, I looked after him a moment before I looked down at Isabella. "When you wake up, remind me to have you bring him down a peg or two."