Hey guys! I am so flabbergasted with the reviews I had, thank you so much, they definitely made my day. Well, I'm on a small trip around Australia for about a month, so updating may be a problem, but I promise, wherever I find a internet connection I will update! Thanks so much for taking the time to read this story. Cheers

Alena's POV

The sun shone brightly in my eyes as I stretched and yawned. I blinked and rubbed my eyes tiredly. At first, it took me a few seconds to remember and realize where I was, Jane's room, Jane Volturi's room.

I rolled over on the bed, something crumpling under me. I frowned and pulled out the offending piece of paper. Oh, the itinerary. How kind of Aro to go through the trouble.

I checked the bedside clock next to me, 9:00am; everyone would have left on today's hunting trip already. Apparently, Aro had left one or two of the Guard behind, to… keep me safe? Sure…

I jumped off the bed and made way to the shower, as soon as I stepped into the hot water all my muscles seemed to momentarily collapse. It wasn't until then that I realized that I was now suffering from minor jetlag, well that just perfect.

I stood there in the water, unable to move for a second, my whole body felt like it had just shut down, I knew I could move if I really willed myself to, but for now, I preferred to stay like this.

I don't know how long I stood there, nor did I really care, but I estimated an hour before I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to turn off the water and step out. I pranced happily over to the wardrobe that held all my clothes. I pulled out some skinny jeans, a pale blue shirt with somewhat of a minor low hanging cut. I changed my underwear and put on a bra and slipped into the clothes, quickly drying my long brown hair so that they were dry and fell into wisps of waves around my head. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I found myself freezing up, unable to decide whether I wanted it to be the Jerk or wanted it to be a completely different person, well, vampire that is…

"Alena, can I come in?"

I relaxed as I realized it was the voice of the Alec, Jane's twin, came into view.

"You ready?" He asked with a ghost of a grin on his face.

I turned around, "Ready for…?"

He smiled, "Yeah, for the 'itinerary'"

I smiled, showing my teeth "Are you going to be with me?" I had taken a sort of liking to Alec; he was nice, sometimes even when he didn't mean to be.

He smiled and nodded, "Demetri and I are going to be your Guard today."

My smile faltered for a few seconds, but long enough for him to notice.

"What's wrong with Demetri?" He asked with an amused expression.

I shook my head trying to dismiss the subject, "Nothing, absolutely nothing at all."

He nodded in mock-agreement, "Sure, because I really do believe you right now."

I scowled which made him laugh, "He's alright, he's polite but he's very…"

"Impatient, makes you feel on edge, a little nerving to be around…?"

I laughed uneasily, "Yeah, that's exactly it."

He grinned, "Don't worry; he'll warm up to you… maybe."

With those words, he held out his hand which I took as he led me towards my first activity.

Just as we walked outside, laughing and talking we caught sight of Demetri, dressed in black, all black. He had nice fitting black jeans and a black button-up shirt and his cloak.

Alec smiled, let go of my hand and waved as Demetri neared us.

"Are you ready for looking after this one today?" Alec joked.

Demetri gave a sour look then turned the expression in an impassive one.

"I had no intentions of baby-sitting today."

Alec quieted down and cleared his throat, turning to look at me.

I smiled to him, "Archery?"

"No! Pull back harder! Grip a little tighter! More power! Let go!"

Those were the words of encouragement and advice I was receiving from Alec as I attempted to do archery.

I grabbed another arrow and hooked it to the notch in the bow. I wasn't that bad, I could hit the board three out of five times, on the blue part. But never in the middle, and that annoyed me. Taking a deep breath, I willed myself follow Alec's advice as he stood a good few paces away from me. That was wise.

I gripped the wire or whatever it was, tighter and pulled back hard, I took a deep breath so I could force more power into my shot.

Then, I let go.

I think my execution of the task at hand was perfect that time, except for the fact that I had shut my eyes as soon as I let go.

I opened my eyes a little eager to see where it went.

I watched the arrow as it whizzed past the board, whoops. I looked ahead to see where it was going, only to see Demetri coming into view, he needed to feed and so excused himself before. The bad part:

The arrow was heading right towards him.

It all happened quickly, the arrow struck Demetri in the stomach before he could comprehend anything. Of course, it shattered upon contact with Demetri's granite skin. I heard an 'ooft' from him and he stumbled back a little. At least I now knew that my shot contained a lot of power.

"Oh crap! Alena, why the heck did you do that?" Alec was caught between a laugh and a gasp.

I whipped around to Alec with my hands in the air as an instinctive defense mechanism.

"I did not plan for that to happen, I swear."

I felt a rush of wind next to me and I slowly turned around to be face to face, well, shoulder to face, with Demetri.

"Nice shot." He spoke. Oh well, I guess his politeness came in handy at time, at lease he wouldn't yell at me.

"Hey Demetri, why don't you teach her how to do it properly, she wants to get the shot right in the middle."

My eyes opened wide as I whipped around to Alec who had said the offending comment. He just grinned at me. Oh I was going to kill him first chance I got.

I turned back to Demetri who was watching my every move like a hawk. With an amused expression and one eyebrow up he smiled.

"Sure."

Oh Alec was dead meat.

I held my bow the way Alec had told me and hooked another arrow in.

I received a cough from Demetri and I shot him an exasperated look, "What!"

He gave me another sour look, oh yeah; my relationship with Demetri was really improving… as if.

He strode forward and reached out to touch my arms, stopping himself before actually coming into contact with my skin.

"May I?"

I shrugged and nodded.

He reached out and touched my arms, the cool feeling hit my body like a wave, and as much as I wanted to deny it, I liked that feel, the cool touch of his skin on mine.

He shifted my hand that was gripping the arrow and wire closer to my face. With that same arm, he raised my elbow higher. With my other hand, he uncurled some of my fingers and positioned them in a more comfortable position and what I think was the right position.

"There." He said, satisfied.

I pulled back a little more and just as I was going to let go (convincing myself not to shut my eyes) I heard his voice whisper in my ear.

"Don't close your eyes again."

I gasped and let go, I'd lost my concentration last minute, but that didn't matter. He knew I'd shut my eyes before, oh how embarrassing. I looked up at him. He had a smirk on his face. I followed his line of vision and gasped again.

There, in what looked like the very middle of the archery board was an arrow. Straight and clear, there it was. The arrow, in the middle…

I yelped in surprise, "Wow!"

I looked back up at him, "Well done." He said with a smug look on his face and left.

I heard clapping and looked to Alec, who was grinning.

"Nice work."

My eyes narrowed until they were slits, "No! You aren't allowed to say anything, you traitor!"

He laughed, "You never told me you hated him, only that he was impatient, made you feel on edge etcetera..."

I crossed my arms, "I don't hate him... I just don't have the patience for him."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't hate him," I whined, "He just pisses me off!"

"How does he do that?"

I huffed, "Because, he is so... argh!"

"Great description..."

"Shut up."

The next few hours of my day were spent with trail rides with horses, well, myself with Alec and Demetri at a safe distance since my horse went a little skittish around them. I also immersed myself with reading in the giant library I discovered behind one of the thick mahogany doors in the Volturi castle. I finished Pride and Prejudice, The Beauty and the Beast, and Dracula. I can't tell you how many times I laughed reading that last book, now that I knew real vampires existed, they don't burn in the sunlight-- they sparkle.

Knock-Knock

I looked up from the big chair I was sitting in and whispered, "Come in," and then I went back to my reading, the door opened and shut again.

"Aro would like to have dinner with you."

"Okay."

I looked up to see Demetri and sighed, going back to reading.

"I said: Aro would like to have dinner with you." He growled, damn he was so impatient.

"Okay! I heard you damn it."

Silence

"Well..." He protested.

I put the book down and got up.

"What!" I almost yelled, well, more like hissed.

"I'm supposed to take you there." He sighed.

I picked up my bag from next to the chair and slung it over my shoulder; I walked towards the door and opened it wide, gesturing quickly with my hand to go out.

"Well...!" I huffed impatiently, hey; it was something we had in common.

He rolled his eyes and walked out, making no noise what-so-ever. Distinctly, under his breath, I heard him spit out the word 'humans' with disgust.

I groaned, he was so aggravating, why couldn't he be in the same attitude he was at archery? I swear his mood swings were so annoying and irritating.

"So, I trust that you are enjoying your time here?" Aro asked as he watched me spear a shred of lettuce from the salad that had been prepared.

I looked up and pursed my lips, I wanted to say yes and no, that I loved it here and the things I got to do, but I hated Demetri.

Too bad I didn't, it may have been funny.

"Yeah, it's enjoyable."

He smiled cheerily and I found myself drawn to those milky red eyes.

"So, please don't be offended by this question, but, do you want to die or do you want to become a vampire."

I have to say, that took me by surprise, why was he asking me if I wanted to die... or if I wanted to be a vampire?

"Why do you ask?" I tried to probe his question as politely as possible.

He smiled, "We have rules, everyone has rules, and you, my dear, are human. We have a rule that any human that knows too much about our...'species' or world, well, we have no choice but to condemn them to death, unless they were planning into turning into one of us... a monster, as some put it."

I gulped.

"What?"

He smiled reassuringly, "I simply ask the question, would you like to become a vampire?"

I nodded, flabbergasted.

He clasped his hands together in delight, "Oh that is wonderful, did you have a date set or something?"

I coughed involuntarily, "I would, but I have family members who would not approve of my decision to do such a thing..."

He frowned, "Ah yes, Edward and Rosalie, I presume."

I nodded, "Apparently, I have a soul that they would much rather for me to keep, to grow old and have a family and so on."

He nodded, "But is this what you want?"

I shook my head slowly, "I hate the feeling that they all have to be careful because of me. If I were a vampire, it would all make life so much easier; they could relax and not worry about hurting me or even killing my every second."

He nodded, "So be it, remember that this is your decision, the moment you want to be a vampire, do please tell me."

I smiled and yawned.

He smiled back and waved a hand, "You're tired, go to sleep, rest."

I nodded and got up. I started to walk out, and just as my hand touch the door-handle of the giant door, it swung open and I jumped back with a yelp. Another vampire I'd never seen before came through the door, he had black hair and was tall, his pale skin had a hint of olive complexion and his golden eyes gleamed at me as we caught eye contact.

I raised my eyebrows as he walked past me and slightly stiffened in his flowing walk towards Aro who had outstretched arms towards him.

I meekly walked out the door and fell in step with Demetri as he walked with me back to Jane's room.
"So, why do you also come to get me to and from places, like a messenger...?" I asked, in a small attempt at small talk.

He wheeled around so we were face to shoulder, well; you know what I mean...

"For the record, I am no messenger," He hissed, "And thanks to Aro's likes in you, which I will never see, I have been put as a 'guard' for you. Oh, and believe me, I have a million better things that I could be doing."

I narrowed my eyes and I had a sudden impulse and urge to hit him, lucky I didn't, I'd done that to Emmett one so hard that I'd broken my hand and injured my whole arm from the vibrating impact. So instead, I used verbal come back.

"What is your problem!? Geez, all I've tried to do is be civil to you and all I get back is your stupid attitude! I hate this, I hate you! I hate the way I get treated! Just because I'm human! I don't give a rat's ass if you want to be here or not, and if you didn't want to be here, why are you still here?"

I shrieked in anger and stalked off, not caring whether or not anyone was following me. I head through one door to another, suddenly ending up in the receptionist area where Gianna was.

As I glanced at her, she raised and eyebrow and asked if I needed anything, I shook my head and discarded the elevator, choosing to use the stairs instead.

As soon as I was out of the building I screamed.

"I hate him." I mumbled over and over again as I made my way out of the gates. I travelled the city, making my way to the city square. For a second, I sat on the edge of a fountain trying to recollect my thoughts. I don't know why I blew up like that, usually, I was calm and calculated. Alec was right; Demetri really did have me on my very edge. I rubbed my eyes, deciding that I wanted to get some fresh air and just be alone for a little. I walked around a little, observing the Italian life around the busy square. Many people were arriving at the restaurants coming in for dinner. I smiled, I wish my life was as simple as theirs, I sighed, all this started the very second I'd decided to stay with the Cullens.

I walked around some more, up and down random streets. Suddenly, I heard the gentle sounds of a stream. I found that I had walked out of the city and that I was next to a small canal and the sweet smell of dew hit me. I was in a deserted alley, it was dark and the wind was howling in my eyes. I shivered, shit. I should have brought my jacket with me, why don't I ever think rationally? Suddenly, there was a noise. Like a pebble gently scrapped across stone or something like that.

It was the smallest of noises, smaller than a cricket chirping, but a noise nevertheless. Shadows crept close to me, the moon came into full view and suddenly, I saw two figures in front of me.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"