AN: Hi! Here you have chapter 2, you'll meet the volturi in this one :) Hope you like it.

Thanks to my Beta: Danielle Salvatore! She the best beta I could imagine :)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer and L.J. Smith own all things Twilight / Vampire Diaries. I don't...

Leaving

Fell's Church, Elena's POV

That next morning Elena couldn't wait to get to school. She wanted something normal. But first she had to talk to Matt, and she wasn't looking forward to it.

He was waiting for her when she arrived at his house. Then a feeling hit her again. If it wouldn't have overcome any other thing she might have felt, she would've been seriously annoyed at the immense feeling of good that welled up in her when she saw Matt. The force of it almost made her stumble. Of course he was good, she already knew that, she didn't need a pushy feeling to tell her that.

She didn't know how to tell him that it was over, but when she looked at his face, she saw that he understood. She could see it in his eyes and in his smile.

"Matt…" she began, but he interrupted.

"I know what you're here for."

"You do?"

"I can take a hint, Elena. If I hadn't known by your messages, the lack of phone calls would've been a clue. It's okay." His smile was sad, but friendly.

Elena looked around, not wanting to meet his eyes. Matt didn't deserve this. Did he know he was really important to her, and not just any other boy she dumped because there was someone new? She tried to tell him that:

"I really like you Matt. I care about you, you're my best friend."

"I know"

"And that's what I realized we were… best friends."

He really was her best friend. She felt just as close to him as to Bonnie and Meredith. He had always been there for her, he'd always done what she asked, no matter how crazy her plans had been somtimes. She knew he was a better friend to her than she was to him, better than she deserved, but she wouldn't admit that.

"I know, Elena, I already said it was okay. It's not really a surprise."

"But we're still friends?" It sounded cliché but she really wanted it to be true.

He just hugged her and they walked to school together. Elena was thinking that it was only for the best. Matt wasn't what she was looking for, she had realized that when she was away. And it wouldn't be fair to lead him on. But what was she looking for, then?

When they saw Bonnie and Meredith, Elena told him he didn't have to wait, she had to tell them something.

When Elena reached her two friends, she felt the strange sense of 'good' again, but only vague, as if it was just reminding her. That's good, she thought, maybe it won't last forever and I won't almost fall over every time I see them.

They were smiling at her but didn't say anything. Elena realized they knew why she had been talking to Matt, and she was glad they didn't talk about it. Meredith didn't say anything about the night before. Bonnie had told her everything and she believed it.

"So what did your feeling say about Matt? We should test it on some people." Bonnie said.

"I'd be glad if it would just shut up." Elena answered.

Meredith raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"I don't like it" Elena explained. "Bonnie told you everything right?" Meredith nodded.

"well, if it hadn't made me gasp or run away, the guy wouldn't even have seen me. So it just gets me in trouble, and I don't like feeling scared. Normally, I don't even do scared."

Elena knew she was rambling but she didn't stop talking.

"Why does it have to be so pushy? It doesn't just tell me something, it throws something at me. It almost made me stumble when I saw Matt. It makes me feel weak." She stopped. That was exactly what was bothering her, it made her feel weak.

"Was it just as hard when you saw us today?" Meredith asked.

Now that Elena thought about it, it wasn't.

"No, it was more in the back of my mind this time."

"See? It'll get better, it's just the first time you see someone."

"But it'll be like the first time all day, I'll come near someone new every moment!"

"No, you won't. If it happens when you get near someone, It'll come all at once when you get near the school. 'Cause that's where everyone is." Meredith said.

That made Elena feel better. She would see people everywhere, but her first concern was school, and that would be okay, she thought.

When they were almost there, it hit Elena with such power she fell. Meredith caught her before she could hit the ground and helped her up with Bonnie.

It kept coming at her, she wasn't used to this, she made a squeaky sound and covered her ears. So many different kinds of good and bad swam around in her head, she felt dizzy. It was horrible, but at last it stopped.

If any of it had come alone, it would have been fine. Not everyone was as good as Meredith, Bonnie and Matt. She knew her friends were special. She did wonder about the guy from last night, he wasn't a real criminal, not like some people, and her feeling had told her he was terrible. She didn't even want to think about what she would feel when someone really dangerous crossed her path.

It had been really loud to Elena, but of course Bonnie and Meredith hadn't heard a thing. They had felt helpless when they saw Elena pressing her palms against her ears and all they could do was keep her standing upright. But now Elena was in control again, and they were relieved.

"Are you okay?" Bonnie and Meredith asked at the same time.

"I'm fine, it's over. Let's go." Elena was still a bit shaken and her voice wasn't very strong.

"Are you sure? People won't know what to do if that happens again in a school hall…" Meredith said.

"It'll be okay, you said it yourself, I just felt it all at once now." She shuddered.

"And I have a theory. Most people aren't immensely good or bad, that's just you two and Matt." Meredith rolled her eyes when Elena said that. "If I come near anyone who's just normal, I'm sure it won't knock me off my feet like it just did."

"I really hope you're right." Bonnie said. She really hadn't liked the sight of Elena trembling. She was the one everybody had to look after, she was frail and small. Elena was strong.

The girls hurried to class and arrived just in time.

Volterra, Italy, Eleazar POV

"Have you talked to him yet?" Carmen whispered, looking up at Eleazar.

"I'll ask him today." he muttered.

Carmen had been asking him that same question for days now. She wanted to leave Italy as soon as possible. They could have left by now, the only problem was his cowardice. He didn't know how to tell Aro. He knew that if he said one thing wrong, every plan he and Carmen had made could fall to pieces.

He hadn't seen Aro for quite some time now. It was because of something that happened in the south, and Eleazar had been needed there. Since he was back now, he couldn't put it off much longer. Carmen was getting more anxious every day, and he didn't like seeing her like that. They had met some time ago, and had decided to go live their own lives, away from the Volturi Guard.

She was sitting on his lap, running her fingers through his hair. They'd been sitting there for more than a day now, Carmen had said that they needed to recover the time they had lost when he had been in the south. And that was fine with him, he would be happy if he would never have to move again. Sadly, he had promised Aro to inform him on the talented newborns they had brought with them.

"I really have to go now…" he said reluctantly. "It would be best if Aro is in a good mood today, so making him wait wouldn't be the smartest thing."

"Hmm…"Carmen grumbled, and pulled his head down to kiss him. He smiled against her lips and stroked her hair. Then he carefully twisted out from under his mate, saying goodbye with a kiss on her forehead, and left the room.

As Eleazar walked through the halls on his way to the tower chamber, he wondered what Aro's reaction would be. His wanting to leave with Carmen wouldn't exactly come unexpected, but he was sure Aro wouldn't have thought it to be this soon. Maybe the work he had done in the south would please him enough to let him go easily.

He did believe in the Volturi's work, he was sure they were for a great deal responsible for the peace they lived in. Only lately he had come to have doubts about his place among them, the power didn't interest him. This wasn't the right place for him, and Carmen had made him see that.

He reached the chamber and went in, feeling more and more relaxed. Before asking Aro about leaving, he would tell him what he had found in the south. And he knew Aro would be pleased.

"Come closer, my friend. You have a lot to talk to me about, I'm sure." Aro said, while motioning Eleazar closer.

"I have, Master. We brought back three talented newborns from the south, if we can prove them innocent, they could be a useful addition to the guard."

"I'm very glad about that. Tell me what you found."

"There is one who would be classified as a tracker, though his talent is different from what we have in the guard. He's not able to find someone by tracking them, but he knows exactly where one is. The easiest way to explain how it works, is by imagining a map inside his head, and on that map he has dots for everyone he has met. He was useful in the newborn armies because he could tell how close the enemy was at every moment, and he knew if they sent a scout to investigate and where that scout was. I'm sure you can see the potential, Master."

"I certainly can, Eleazar. Would this particular vampire be interested in joining the guard, you think?"

"I'm not absolutely sure. He didn't handle not being in charge very well, but maybe he can change that attitude."

"That would be a necessity, of course. What else did you find?"

"The next one we found was easy to identify. She has the ability to create the illusion of being lost. Her talent has a different effect on vampires and humans. If she uses it on a human, this person will be entirely lost and feel like walking in circles. It will last as long as she uses her talent, and on a human she can use it without a limit. Our kind will be disoriented and won't find the right way immediately. I think it's because we don't recognize a scent as something we should follow, anymore. She can't hold it very long, but it fades very slowly when she stops using it, so it does last some time."

"That sounds really interesting. Tell me more about her."

"When we found her, she was on her own. She ran away from the army right after she was changed and has been wandering alone ever since. She was afraid of walking into anyone, so she never went far and stayed in the south."

"We could definitely prove her innocent, since she never fought. Would she want to join us?"

"I believe she would. She's already older than year, so she's quite in control of herself."

"Excellent! The last one?"

Eleazar was telling Aro about the third newborn they had found –Julian, who could immobilize humans and make vampires move amazingly slow, just by looking at them –When Demetri interrupted.

"Excuse me, Master, they need you in the Top Chamber."

"Is it important? I planned to come after I had talked to Eleazar."

"It's the newborn, Julian, he escaped a few minutes ago."

"Tell me what happened."

"He was in a room, guarded by Felix who was told to bring him to the Top Chamber. On his way there, he used his talent on Felix and got away before anyone could stop him. Jane was on her way, too. And she took care of him the moment she saw him running around alone."

Aro smiled at the mention of Jane and told Demetri to bring the three newborns to the Top Chamber, and since Julian's talent didn't seem to slow down other talents –as they had seen when Jane roasted him alive –Alec should guard them all.

"You can come with me to the Top Chamber, I'll talk to you afterwards." Aro said, and Eleazar nodded.

When they entered the Top Chamber, he saw the three newborns standing in the middle of the room, in front of the three thrones, all three under Alec's control.

Aro walked over to the first and took his hand. After a few seconds he said:

"He doesn't clean up after himself, very rebellious. Even if he did deserve a second chance, it would be bad for our reputation to give him one. Such a waste."

Eleazar knew that Aro really was disappointed. Not because the vampire in front of him was soon to be burned, but because of the talent he wouldn't have in his guard if that happened. It wasn't extremely rare, though, and they had Demetri.

He then went to hold the female's hand. "She didn't do anything wrong. Let me speak to her please, Alec."

"Her name is Mona." Alec informed him, and released her from his grasp.

Mona blinked and focused her eyes on Aro, who stood in front of her, still touching her hand.

She yanked it back and looked up at him, not seeming intimated.

"So, young one, I have heard you are talented. Has someone explained to you about the Volturi?"

"Yes. You keep the peace and enforce the laws. And punish the ones who expose us." She said, a little bit hesitant.

"That's right, have you exposed us?"

"No. I haven't. No one ever saw me." This time she spoke confident, but Aro already knew she spoke the truth.

"Very good. Would you care to join our guard? It's an honour to be asked, I hope you realize that."

"I do. Thank you for asking me, I would like to join you."

"That's perfect, someone will take you to your room when we're finished here." Aro said, looking around for someone who might volunteer. Alec nodded and Aro went on with the next newborn.

He touched Julian's hand and let it fall back. "Alec?" he asked. Julian blinked and looked around the room. When he saw Jane, he launched himself at her, screaming:

"You! You witch!"

In less than a second he was laying on the floor, Jane's eyes on him. While she was smiling brightly, Julian was screaming and trashing around.

"I don't think he has what it takes to be an addition to the guard. Self-Control, for example. He fought in a newborn army, anyway." Aro said lightly, barely understandable because of Julian's screaming.

"Felix, Demetri. Take care of them, please." He said, waving at the newborn who was still desensitized and Julian. In a few seconds, the two were torn to shreds and set on fire. Mona, who was now standing between two burning fires, gasped in horror. Alec signalled at her to come closer, and together they left the room.

"You can all go now, thank you for your time." Aro said to the remaining vampires in the room.

Once everyone left, he turned to Eleazar. "Now, what do you want to talk about?"

Eleazar offered Aro his hand. Aro held it for a moment.

"Ah, I see. Carmen is not happy amongst us. It's not very surprising, Marcus has warned me."

"Oh, of course. I wanted to ask you if we could leave." Eleazar thought that since Aro knew, he might as well just get it over with.

"Well, my dear friend, you must realize that you are of great value to us. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have gotten a useful addition to our guard today."

"I understand."

"I don't know if you do, Eleazar. You are one of the most important members of the Volturi."

"So I can't leave?" Aro can't force us to stay, Eleazar thought, he has to let me leave eventually.

"Of course you can! I would hate to see you go, but I can't hold you here against your will! But you have to do something for me first, to compensate your leaving, you must see that."

"I do. What do you want?" he thought it was best to do what Aro asked, he didn't want any problems.

"I want a replacement. Bring me someone who can take your place, and you're free to leave."

"But Master! That will take a really long time! I have never heard of a talent that resembles mine!"

"I know, my friend. That's why it's so hard for me to watch you leave."

"I will do what you ask of me." Eleazar sighed.

Carmen wouldn't be happy about this. But at least they could leave Italy. If he were to search for such a rare talent, he couldn't just stay in one place. Aro had him search all over the world if he wanted a particular talent, and even then it took a long time.

"Excellent! I hope you succeed. You can go now."

"Thank you." Eleazar left the room and headed to find his mate. No, he thought, she won't like this... At all.

AN: Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated :) they make my day.