Demetri stood less than fifty feet away. He wasn't wearing the traditional hooded cape of the Volturi Guard but cast a stark contrast to the snow that glowed in the moonlight in a crisp black suit. He slid his hands into his pockets, not reacting at all to Christopher.

"Your companion would do well to remember his manners, Eleonora." One eyebrow arched upward as his eyes met mine from across the field.

I placed one hand firmly on Christopher's shoulder. He growled at Demetri once more before standing straight. When I moved to stand at his side, he put a protective arm around my waist, halting me from moving any closer to the intruder.

I glared at Demetri. "Happy now?"

He smirked in response. "It's an improvement."

"What are you doing here?" I tried to keep my voice even and unemotional, but I knew my heartbeat would give me away.

"Do not be anxious, child. There's no one else with me." He took several long strides forward, ice crunching beneath his feet as he moved closer. Christopher tensed at my side, and I covered his hand with my own as he gripped my hip. I hoped he understood my unspoken plea for him to keep himself calm. Now just a few feet from where we stood, Demetri paused, looking up at the starry sky. "What a glorious evening."

"It certainly was," Christopher snapped.

Demetri looked back at him with a strange smile, his head tilting to the side like a predator considering its prey. His lips twitched to the side, and he feigned as if he were about to lunge forward.

I realized his game a half-second too late. "Chris, don't!" Christopher launched forward, grabbing Demetri by the throat and slamming him into the ground. The earth shook beneath our feet. Demetri howled with laughter as he leaped back to his feet, shoving Christopher backward. Regaining his balance, Christopher leaned forward to spring toward Demetri again. This time, I blocked his path, holding my hand out and placing it against his chest.

"Christopher, stop it."

"I would listen to her," Demetri chided from behind me.

"You shut up," I shouted without taking my eyes off Christopher. His jaw was tight, but I could feel him relax slightly as I placed my other hand against his cheek. "Stay calm." His eyes stayed locked on mine, and he gave a sharp nod, turning his head toward my hand to kiss my palm. I moved my hand, holding my index finger over his lips for a second before facing Demetri.

"What do you want, Demetri?"

"Let's call this a welfare visit, Eleonora." He grinned, his white teeth taking on a garish glow in the moonlight. I felt Christopher inch closer, winding one arm around my waist as I held my position. Demetri, ignoring Christopher altogether, took a step closer. "I could sense that you had lingered near the Cullens; I decided to ensure you weren't being kept…under duress."

"You decided?" I snorted derisively. "You mean you were sent."

"Such sass. You've always had such a quick little mouth." Demetri eyed Christopher. "I suppose you will have your hands full taming her."

"I would never dare try," Christopher retorted calmly. His fingers tightened over my hip. "You've fulfilled your purpose here, Volturi. You can go now."

"Is that so?" Demetri took another few steps closer. He was taller than Christopher by a few inches, but Christopher had a more muscular build. My stomach turned in knots over the prospect of a fight between them, but Demetri halted his progress. His gaze returned to me. "You should come home to Volterra, Eleonora."

"Volterra isn't my home." And my father would have let me die to save himself, I added silently in my mind.

"Have it your way then." Demetri shrugged, looking almost bored — except for a flash behind his eyes that was so quick I might have imagined it. "I'll send your father your regards."

Demetri disappeared from the clearing as quickly and silently as he had appeared. I stood frozen for several seconds until I was sure he was gone, and then I stumbled backward, shaking. Christopher caught me, helping me to the ground and pulling me into his lap.

"He's gone, love," he whispered in my hair, rocking me like a child. "We're okay."

"Caius," was all I could manage as I gasped helplessly for air. I felt like I'd been buried under an avalanche like no oxygen was saturating my cells.

"It wasn't Caius," Christopher murmured.

"You don't know that."

When we arrived at the Cullen house, dawn hadn't yet broken over the horizon. It had only taken me a few minutes to collect myself in the clearing before we started back to Forks. The quicker we got back, the better. Christopher was nervous that we were alone and exposed as we ran through the northwestern wilderness.

We walked in the front door, and the entire family gathered in the living room, save for the tiny seer and her mate. Carlisle, seated in the same armchair as the other day, gestured for us to sit down. We quickly recapped our unexpected encounter with the Volturi tracker.

"Alice saw as well," Carlisle said, leaning forward with his elbows resting against his knees. "Well, sort of."

"She can't quite see you yet," Esme piped up as she entered the room. She sat on my other side, handing me a steaming cup of coffee. "She has trouble with Renesmee as well."

"It seems to be getting easier by the day, however," Carlisle added. "As it turns out, she could pinpoint almost exactly where you were when you encountered Demetri. We were considering sending out a search party when Christopher called to tell us you were on your way back."

Carlisle paused, his brow furrowing for a moment as his eyes cast a wary glance toward the front door.

"Alice left moments before you arrived," Esme said quietly. Her eyes were trained on Carlisle, her face mirroring whatever concern he wasn't speaking aloud.

"She won't be gone long," Edward said, speaking for the first time since we'd returned. I had almost forgotten anyone else was in the room. Carlisle set his mouth in a line but nodded and turned his attention back to us.

"Demetri didn't tell you whether or not he was sent?"

I shook my head. "He says he came of his own accord. A welfare visit, he called it." I rolled my eyes and sipped my coffee. "In case I was being held hostage or something."

"Ridiculous." Rosalie snorted in disgust, tossing her perfectly shaped blonde waves over her shoulder. "You showed up here. We would have been just fine if you hadn't. We've dealt with enough because of your family."

I flinched at the sarcasm in her voice. Clearing my throat, I sat up straighter, turning toward Rosalie and looking her directly in the eye.

"I'm sorry about that, Rosalie. Truly. But I don't think Demetri had any intention of coming here. He would have shown up when I was here if he wanted to make trouble with you all."

"She's right."

All heads turned toward the kitchen, and I felt Esme sigh with relief next to me. Alice had returned. She flitted into the room, perching herself on the edge of the coffee table in front of the sofa where we sat. "Demetri tracked Ellie when she was far away from the house intentionally." Repositioning herself on the table with her legs crisscrossed, she paused briefly, closing her eyes.

"Yes," she said after a moment, her wide eyes popping open and her gaze landing on me. "Demetri definitely got an eyeful of you and Christopher." She paused again to shoot a dirty look at Emmett, who snickered from the other side of the room. "He's trying to decide who to report to with this…development."

I groaned, dropping my head and shielding my face behind Christopher's shoulder. A few chuckles vibrated through the room. Looking up again, I could feel the blush reddening my cheeks.

"But there's something more."

The laughter stilled; her tone shifted as she once closed her eyes. I glanced at Edward, who stared intently at Alice, keeping his face emotionless as he previewed whatever she was about to reveal. The facade cracked suddenly, and I jumped as he shot to his feet.

"Alice, are you sure?"

Alice opened her eyes, but her face could have been carved out of marble, even as her mouth moved.

"Volterra will burn."