a/n: This chapter has a few lines from languages other than English. The content isn't really important to the plot, but you can use Google-Translate to figure them out. I also used Google-Translate for some of it so if you speak that certain language please forgive me if I have made a terrible mistake. The translations can be found at the bottom.

Chapter 2: Departure

If I were to have one regret about being a vampire, it would undoubtedly be the inability to sleep. The state of harmless unconsciosness is the one thing I envy in humans. At times I did try to simulate sleep by closing my eyes, regulating my breathing and trying to stop the stream of consciousness, but if the last did not fail I could not endure doing the first two for a long time. The state of sleep has been lost, for good.

I spent the night in the Volturi castle and could only entertain myself with the many literature in the room they had spared me. Unfortunately I had already read most of the ones provided and had to pace all throughout the night in order to not focus on my sister.

It is said time passes quickly for immortals than humans, but we recieve time just as humans do; fast when occupied and unbearably slow when not. Seconds would not turn into minutes and neither would minutes into hours. But after an intolerable night of waiting, I had been summoned.

They had sent Renata from the high guard, who provided me with befitting guard wear. To my please it was colored lighter than hers which meant I would not be ranked at the top. As much as I prefered being in high places, being an indispensable member of the Volturi was not on my agenda. It was more than precarious than I cared for, for both me and my sister.

The situation did however make me contemplate why they had sent Renata, one of the highest ranked guard, to fetch me: a lackey's work. I suppose they thought she would be the most empathetic to my situation. During my studies on the Volturi I had learned that she descended from a pro-vampire family and was chosen to be the protector of her generation, that is of course until the Volturi recruited her. She was most likely to understand family bonds.

My first assumption did satisfy my curiosity, but I did not engage for a concrete answer. She was most likely not aware of the answer herself, and if she was it was very probable that she would not tell me the truth. Pondering now, I agree that she was the most reasonable person to escort me; she showed no signs of bloodlust or aggression. She did not threaten me, strictly on a subconscious level.

As I was about done with my stream of consciousness I wanted to ask her about my sister, but we had already come to a stop as she opened the great doors to the Volturi's chamber.

It seemed as if nothing had changed. The rest of the guard had not moved an inch, which was both impressive and disturbing at once. Renata swiftly took her spot behind Aro and I was once again standing in front them.

As my thoughts juggled between when to speak and if these century old clothes could be more uncomfortable, Aro spoke. "We have found your sister."

"How is she? Did she cause trouble?" I began with the older sister rouse.

"She is unharmed, but she was trouble, as I have heard," answered Aro.

"I apologize deeply."

"Nothing we could not handle. She is currently locked just above the foundation. Shackled I might add, but from what I've seen nothing you haven't done before." Aro gave me a questioning stare.

"I see you have read her. I do not attempt to hide anything."

"Au contraire, you have done a marvelous job at sealing parts of her memories, so well that even I could not access, Miss…"

"Just Giselle."

"Giselle, the extent of your ability and the control you have over it keeps baffling me. I will respect your secrets as long as our settlement is valid."

"May I see her?"

"All due in time, but first there is one thing you must do," said Aro, contrasting my nervousness with his calmness.

"Very well," I caved.

"Well three tasks actually," Aro corrected.

"I do not thrive on easy accomplishments."

"We want you to visit a coven, a quite unique one, to check up on the development of their… hybrid," explained Marcus.

"A hybrid?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, a very peculiar incident. The result of a human female and vampire male relation. The first one we have encountered, one that is still developing," explained Aro.

"I understand, but how will I document the hybrid's development? I haven't encountered one before nor have I seen this particular hybrid to compare it to its previous state?"

"One of the guard will accompany you," said Aro and I could see Marcus take an uncomfortable stance behind him.

"I see, and for the other tasks?"

"We want you to test your ability on the hybrid's mother, Bella Cullen," said Caius.

I could not yet comprehend the reason behind, but deducted that it had strong grounds. "Of course."

And now Aro motioned me to come closer. I did as he showed, and heard their last task.

As Aro had mentioned my sister had been shackled in a dungeon-like chamber, much more hygienic than an actual dungeon and much much better decorated. In retrospect the room looked more like a dungeon inspired suite than a real dungeon. Though the image of my sister's arms each being shackled by four reinforced chains added a lot more ambiance.

As much as I tried to be discreet with my entrance, she became aware of my presence as quickly as I had anticipated.

"You… You did this to me," she hissed at me.

"No, you brought this upon yourself. I only tried my best to help you." I wanted to explain myself to her.

"Don't lie. If you truly wanted to help me you would have let me be."

"Ася, пойалуйста. Будь разумнаыя."

"Nu vorbi cu mine."

"Aslı, lütfen. Bunu seni sevdiğim için yapıyorum. Lütfen bana inan. Böyle giderse kendine zarar vereceksin."

She suddenly shifted her attention to something behind me. I looked back and when I could not see anything I assumed she had heard someone or something approach.

"What is it?" I asked, but she did not respond. "I will be away for some time, but I will return soon. I promise."

I heard her grunt as I left the room. It wounded me deeply to see her in that state and I could not stop thinking it was mostly, if not entirely, my fault.

"If you're done we do have places to be," I heard someone say. Ashleigh, what she called herself nowadays, was never wrong with sounds and I was keen on reading her facial expressions. I was already aware of another presence. Nevertheless the suddenness of the voice did catch me off guard.

"And who else is included in this we?" I asked as I turned to the person. As my gaze was fixated on him I deducted that he was Demetri, the tracker.

"Was that a rhetorical question?" he simply asked. In his defense it was quite obvious he was to be my escort during my visit to the Cullens. His ability made him the evident choice.

My lips started to separate in order to speak, but words would not escape my mouth. His intriguingly indifferent gaze seemed so very familiar. It made me feel something. It was as if I were seeing right through his eyes, and most probably vice versa.

At that instant I realized his were the eyes I wanted to trace so very deeply during my first hearing with the Volturi. The next moment I had become too self-conscious looking into his eyes for such a long time and felt glad to not have a circulatory system that would have caused various areas on my face to redden.

Reflexively I turned my gaze away from him, and as if mirroring me, he did as well. I felt obligated to terminate the silence, as courtesy dictated it was my turn to speak.

"Then do we leave now?" I asked, occupying my eyes a tad more with the floor before looking up to him again.

"Yes, Heidi has taken care of the means of transportation. We shall arrive at our destination in less than a day's travel," he told me and led with his hand the way.

"And where exactly is our destination?" I asked as I followed him.

"We will see," he said simply.

"Are you teasing me? I heard you were the most gifted tracker on the face of this planet."

"You've heard correct, but I can only track people, not pin-point where they are exactly," he explained.

"I see, but aren't the Cullens different?" I asked.

"They do have a different diet."

"Right, but not what I meant. Don't they settle?"

"More than nomads," he began.

"But less than the Volturi, I presume," I finished. He seemed either amused or irritated with me finishing for him, I could not tell, his facial features suited both equally.

"But they do interact with the nearby humans." I still could not tell whether he was smiling or frowning.

"And if they were to reside in one place too long, them not aging would raise questions." I said, and pondered whether I was finishing his thoughts too often. I thought about either stop doing it or bringing it up, though I did neither.

"Although you are correct, that is not why they have frequented their relocation. Ironic enough it's because the hybrid is growing too rapidly," he explained.

"Very interesting indeed," I thought audibly. "So, what of these Cullens? Until now I have only heard of two of them, three if you include the hybrid, by Aro. I have come to find the given information insufficient as I have heard they are a large coven."

"We do have a long journey ahead of us," he said turning his head from me to the front.

"And I have a lot to learn. I suggest you begin right away."

"If you insist…" I still could not tell whether he was smiling or frowning, but I could guess not knowing made me frown. "The first thing you should know about the Cullens is that you have to be prepared before confronting them. I hope you are not getting sleepy, you do have a lot to learn."

Now I was convinced he was not frowning.

END OF CHAPTER

a/n: Second chapter isn't that longer than the first one, but I had to finish it there or else I would have just added information about the Cullens that we all know. And after that the story will be told from another character's point of view. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the story so far.

And now I can categorize this story under Demetri because you know who has been staring at Giselle during the audience. Obviously he is going to be an important character in the story.

Please review.

Translations:

"Ася, пойалуйста. Будь разумнаыя." from Russian: "Asya, please. Be reasonable."

"Nu vorbi cu mine." from Romanian: "Do not speak to me."

"Aslı, lütfen. Bunu seni sevdiğim için yapıyorum. Lütfen bana inan. Böyle giderse kendine zarar vereceksin." from Turkish: "Aslı, please. I'm doing this because I love you. Please believe me. You're going to hurt yourself if you keep doing this."