Portrait of a Volturi mate - Demetri

First person POV

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I'm the human mate to a Volturi guard.

I lived in Italy for a long time, an expatriate from England. My parents moved here when I was 2 years old, they died when I was 23 years old. I am now 26 years old, alone save for a year old cat named Vixen. I had her fixed so she wouldn't prowl around, but she still does. Not for male cats, of course, but just to make her mother upset. She will vanish for 2 to 3 days, then return home, rubbing against my legs and meowing for lunch as if I had not been worried to death about her. I try to get angry with her, but end up picking her up and hugging her tightly, just happy she's back home again. And that is how I met Demetri.

Vixen had disappeared again. The sky looked ominous, and I worried she would be caught out of doors during a rain storm. I wandered the neighborhood, calling her name, when I saw a handsome darker blonde-haired man watching me, a smile on his face. He seemed to be wearing an expensive black suit, but I really found his gel-scrunched hair quite attractive. He noticed me staring at him, so I moved onward, calling for my errant cat.

The next thing I know, the man is standing at my side. "How did you do that?" I asked.

"Do what," he replied, the smile still on his face,

"Get over here so fast."

"Are you looking for someone?" he asked, clearly curious and ignoring my question.

"My cat, Vixen. She gets out all the time and doesn't come right home, but the weather looks like it may take a turn for the worse tonight."

"Let me help you then," he offered, much to my gratitude. "My name is Demetri."

We both looked for Vixen, me calling her out to her with threats of cheap dry cat food if she did not appear right now. I heard Demetri laugh low. He moved to stand behind me, very close behind me. I had the feeling he was smelling me or something. Or maybe he was just smelling Vixen on me. It was all very strange. He grabbed my hand and pulled me along until we reached a house.

I heard meowing and looked up. My silly cat was stuck on the roof of the house. I turned to look at Demetri. "She won't come down on her own. She may act brave as far as running all over the village, but she won't jump."

"I'll take care of this for you," Demetri said. He ran backwards about 15 feet, then ran back toward the house and jumped high, yet landed on the roof with very little noise. I stared, my mouth open in shock, as I watched the man pick up Vixen and then drop off the roof, handing my bad cat to my waiting arms.

"Thank you, Demetri," I said, absolutely stunned at what he had just done and his silent grace in doing it.

He reached up to pet Vixen's head, then looked at me, the same hand stroking my cheek. "We'd better get inside your house. The rain is nearly here."

I could smell it in the air as well. Before we reached my house, the downpour hit. Just as we got inside, lightning streaked across the night sky, thunder following close behind.

I wondered why Demetri had done what he did, saving my cat and revealing himself to me as the bionic man or whatever he was.

I put out a bowl of Vixen's favourite food, despite my threats. While she ate, I brought out two towels, tossing one to Demetri and using the other to dry my own wet hair.

"Take off your jacket and hang it on the chair by the fireplace. Thank you for lighting that, by the way." He gave me another warm smile and my heart melted. He removed his dress shirt, saying, "If it's alright with you, it's rather wet as well."

I couldn't help but stare, before I coughed and looked away.

After I had changed my clothes in the bedroom and then gone into the kitchen to boil water for tea, we sat on the floor by the fire. I noticed the flames of the fire reflecting in Demetri's eyes, making them appear red. I tried again not to stare.

I soon brought out a tray with a pot of herbal tea and two cups, and a small plate of cookies. "I'm sorry I have no men's clothes to offer you." The statement seemed to please Demetri, and I knew why. I currently had no men in my life. But why would he care.

"Want some tea and cookies? I made them myself." I poured tea and picked up one of the cookies, taking a bite. Demetri had politely refused both.

We spent the next two hours or so talking about our lives. In some respects, he was cagey with giving answers to my questions, and quite open with others. Vixen had curled up next to Demetri, and fallen asleep. Later, he took my hand and gazed into my eyes for so long, I felt a hot flush suffuse my cheeks. He said he had to go, but would I mind if he came back. I agreed, unable to move my gaze from his.

Demetri put on his nearly dry shirt, and still-damp jacket, then opened the front door. He cupped my cheek and gave me a deep kiss. I watched as he jumped over the stone wall of my yard and vanished into the darkness.

True to his word, he did come back, and we went out for dates, lots of dates, some a few hours, others an entire day. He finally revealed his secret to me. He was a vampire. And he said with such certainty, I was to be his mate for all time. It was strange, yet it felt so right. I easily agreed.

When Demetri introduced me to his coven leaders, it was Marcus who saved me from Aro by telling him I was Demetri's destined mate. Since then, the head Volturi Master has only ever been kind to me.

And as to my mate? He has been the light of my life. I will be like him soon, but I secretly wondered if animals could be changed. Vixen actually behaves when he's around, the traitorous feline. I can't be angry with her though. After all, it was she who had brought Demetri and me together.