Hello everyone,

I am extremely apologetic for being a horrendous uploader.

these past weeks has been quite hectic i had to overnight on WEEKENDS. which is quite torturous.

that's why i'm in dire need of a BETA. So please, if anyone is interested in being mine for this story, Message me. i would really really appreciate it :)

so thank you for everyone for the reviews, favourites and Alerts. GothChiq80, bad-princess400, 45JacobAndAlex45, Dark-phoenix-fire10, dragongirl423, loukritia, brankel1, Baylee143 and LoveRileyForeveerMariee24, you keep making me smile :)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is like Frank Gehry, i'm just a meaningless architect-in-the-making using her marvelous work as a base to build my creativity on.

while we're at it, we might as well have a glimpse on our favourite bad guys...

Alec's POV:

I was sleeping in my bed for what seemed like days. Not exactly sleeping but more like starring intently at the microscopic dust in the air, my mind blank just like a dead. Life is more than excruciatingly dull when the world is peacefully calm. Compared to the amount of opponents we managed to make with time, the world should have been a battlefield. I do miss having to watch some thoughtless vampire's trial and it ending up in the classical way.

I heard Jane's monotonous footsteps before she opened my door a fraction of a second later. "Aro's summoning us." She exclaimed. "And get up brother. You know how Aro hates to be kept waiting" she added in her usual authorative tone.

I don't mind her bossy attitude as much as I mind how fully dedicated to Aro she is. Always working to please her master. Don't get me wrong, I'm forever grateful to Aro for saving us from a bunch of parasites claiming prophecy. He has been our father-figure for four centuries now and it's obvious we were his favorites.

But I can't help but loathe his cynicism sometimes. Making Chelsea use her gift on us to strengthen our dedication to the Volturris was a concrete proof he pushed it too far. Seeing how we were highly ranked amongst the guards, we should be at least fully trusted.

I sighed before getting up and headed towards the main room within a heartbeat. I laughed internally at the irony of the expression.

Jane and I took our usual positions right next to Master Cauis' enormous chair facing everyone while Chelsea stood at the other end of the throne room next to Master Marcus. Within a few minutes, the whole guard party appeared and Aro started his meeting.

"Good Evening Everyone" he started in his high-pitched voice. He rubbed his hands together in mischief. I have been around enough to know this tic of Aro by heart. The last time he did it was last week at Loretta's execution. Whatever the aim of this meeting was, it was surely not to announce that he suddenly decided taking dancing lessons.

"My dear brethrens and beloved friends" he paused for effect "I am considerably over joyous to call this meeting to discuss the addition of a new individual to our guards"

No reaction from the crowd except for Jane who hissed. I took her hand in mine and squeezed it in warning.

His eyes danced around, making eye-contact with every member of the guards, lingering lastly on Jane. He seemed totally amused by her jealous reaction. He was absolutely beaming at our confusion. Knowing things when everybody else doesn't makes him completely pretentiously ecstatic.

Aro was always so fond of theatricality. I wonder if having witnessed the lives and read the minds of hundred thousands is what brought the Mad Hatter inside of him on. Every meaningless life is only a comedy night show born just for entertainment and boredom-killers.

Everyone waited patiently. Before Cauis lost his temper and asked spitefully "who is it, brother?"

Aro suddenly lost his childish aura and his poker face fell. He mustered an unfamiliar expression on. It might have been the vampires' translation of a frown. Aro never hesitates. Doubting Aro, thinking for a second he might have miscalculated his Machiavellian plan made me suddenly feel extremely uncomfortable. The light atmosphere strained. Whatever got Aro deliberating at the last minute must be huge.

Modesty was never Aro's companion. Master was well-aware of the power he held over all of us, including his brothers. And it was obvious. He never felt obliged to tell us about recruiting a new guard member. Except for Chelsea, Jane and I for obvious reasons. But for him to make a big fuss over it? Why did he feel the dire need to prepare us for the news?

I was suddenly mildly curious. Who is it? Is it someone who voluntarily decided to join? After the whole Cullens fiasco, unlikely. Is it some human that holds some potential when turned? Maybe. Or some extremely powerful vampire we need to snatch from a coven? I'm not sure.

"I can not help but be ashamed of the unfortunate turn of events that occurred half a decade ago. Our coven, dear friends, is still paying the price of such a disappointing visit. I=our credibility and reputation are on the hook. And what horrifies me the most, dear friends, is that the Volturris are loosing their tight grip on the world due to the birth of the hybrid child." Aro began in his well-known confident loud voice.

The Cullens were involved. The moment Aro mentioned the name; I clenched my fist with Jane's hand still in mine. The grip was tight enough to break a human's fragile hand. She shot me a death glare before hissing viciously "brother". I remained still before swiftly moving my eyes left then right before focusing on her. Jane seemed to pick up the warning in my "Don't" glare.

I glanced around. No one with a sane mind brought up the Cullens' subject around the castle. Our first epic failure. The topic remained a taboo after the humiliation we subjected ourselves to. Leading an exploitation trip based on the statement of a vengeful vampire was not considered one of the Volturris' brightest moves.

The last person to even mention our humiliation was slaughtered and burned. By Jane of all the guards. Of course Jane was more than happy to oblige. Even if, hypothetically speaking, there was still a fraction of hope she might actually see the light of day, Loretta's dumbness lead her straight to her eternal death. The heroic smile she shot Jane while under her influence was of a warrior yet of goddess which made Jane quicken her death in frustration.

The Volturris does not believe in the Florence Nightingale's effect. Second chances by no means are to be given. But never did I saw Aro's mood darkening because of the recalling of a failure. Loretta's foolishness is what triggered Aro's resolution then. Interesting.

"As saddening and disappointing as was our last encounter with the Cullens, due to our high expectations, I can't help but be fascinated by the company they hold" commenced Aro.

Tension at this moment could have been cut with a knife. No one even moved a muscle at the news. Everyone was working so hard not to burst out and argue with Master knowing it would be fatale move. I gazed at Jane from the corner of my eye. Her wrath might have caused the death of an entire agglomeration's population. My grip on her hand was still solid and I whispered lowly "Janey". She froze at her human nickname and calmed down a bit.

Unlike someone who couldn't contain his snarl any longer.

"Brother!" Cauis growled "how could you even imply such a thing? Have you forgotten our lethal past concerning those creatures?

Silence remained for a while. If Cauis didn't know better, he would have pretty much taken it upon himself to try to kill Aro. But that would be extremely irrational knowing whose side the guards would take.

Aro turned to face his brother and held his hand up solemnly "No dear Cauis, I have not. The Children Of the Moon shall eternally remain our enemy. Their vindictiveness seeded terror in many villages that they exposed our supernatural world many times obliging us to clean after the chaos they inflicted. But Justice served them fairly, has it not now?"

His eyes roamed to set on Chelsea, Demitri and Felix and finally settled on Cauis. A smirk was tugging at Felix's and Demitri's lips at the reminiscence.

Aro continued before Cauis can interrupt "at first I was more than flabbergasted that such predators still exist seeing that dear brother made sure of their extinction. These werewolves were too much a nuisance incapable of resisting temptation. However,"

Some of the guardsmen here have been part of the werewolves' extinction mission like Chelsea who made them turn against each others and Demitri who tracked every single one of them down. Felix during one of the guards "Fun Nights" made sure to hammer every excruciating detail about the fight that occurred in our heads. It made me envious that they got to freely kill some disgusting wolves without their gift being ineffective during the offense and I must admit, it was extremely torturous not to beat him senseless that night. Pun Fully Intended.

"I was able through Edward's gift to penetrate their minds. And if I shall say, their functioning is absolutely fascinating. Above all one little grey wolf caught my interest. The smallest yet the bitterest. She has something to her that would make her fit in with the Volturris perfectly. So what do you think, dear Marcus, dear Cauis about bringing her here so we could have a decent talk with her?

Her. So the grey wolf is a she. I quite remember her eagerness of jumping on one of us during the hybrid's fiasco.

I know someone wouldn't be too happy about Aro's future pet.

Cauis' next words mirrored our silent reaction."Please clarify your intentions concerning the dog, brother" he spat the last words.

If the joker truly existed it would be Aro with his poker face on. Ignoring the vicious tone, Aro was more than ecstatic to retort applauding his hands together loudly. "Indeed. Brother Marcus has noticed some relationships issues concerning the she-wolf towards her fellows. Have you not now, brother?"

Master Marcus looked up and gave a faint nod in answer.

"While her fellows are usually the calculating type, she is the most stubborn one of them. She's not afraid of challenges but is always working to impress that former lover of hers. Her bond issues with the rest of the pack caused her to detach herself from them even though she is obliged to constantly share their minds. She is overprotective of her brother who she would basically do anything to insure his safety and happiness. Regardless of being the only shape-shifter in the world, she ought to be the easiest target yet the most precious indeed. The intervention must be quick and agile. I am quite positive Leah would falter in her decision. Chelsea would make sure of that since Bella will not be capable of following her around. I'm pretty sure the she-wolf can not tolerate it. That by itself should be enough to trigger a tension in the truce between the Cullens and the pack and a quarrel between her pack and her former lover's"

Even though Chelsea much to Aro's dismay can not be inflicted on them, loosening the bonds that the Cullens has with its entourage is surely Aro's style. Chelsea is the highest ranked guard for not reason.

After some minutes of contemplation and silence, Aro exclaimed:

"Jane darling?"

Jane's face lightened up like a child on Christmas Eve. She had the same expression she wore looking at the village's fiasco four-hundred years ago. I sighed faintly.

"Alec. Demitri. Felix. Santiago and Chelsea dear. You will leave in two days. And remember, no mistakes are allowed."

Jane flinched in insult "We will not fail you, Master" she curtsied and left the room.

An execution or enduring a guard dog. That should be… Fun.

Note: Demitri is still the main character, but i just wanted to introduce Aro from one of HIS personal favourites' point of view. Plus, Alec is awesome so... ^.^

Anyway, the good news is that i was working on chapter 2 and 3 simultaneously, so Chapter 3 mustn't take long to be updated. you'd finally be able to know who was knocking at Leah's door *meschievous smile*

hint hint: it's not who you think it is. whoever you think it is *even wider mischievous smile*

thank you for reading.

~G