SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW ➻ DEMETRI VOLTURI

U N O

Cecilia stared at Demetri in amazement. Of course, she'd noticed his beauty before, admired it even, but now, with her sight improved hundredfold, he looked even more breathtaking. She noticed the different shades of brown in his hair, the way he seemed to raise his left eyebrow almost permanently. It completely fascinated her, but also made her fear for what she was about to see in the mirror.

The second thing she noticed was the unfamiliar burning sensation in the back of her throat. Shifting her eyes from Demetri to her own form, she pushed herself up from the bed and wrapped a single hand around her neck as if that was going to do anything about the pain.

"It's uncomfortable, isn't it?"

Even the way his voice sounded was different. It was more raw and even more pleasant to her ears.

Cecilia cleared her throat. "That might be the understatement of the year."

Her voice had changed as well, something she didn't want to spend too much thought on.

She forced her legs over the edge of the bed and after she had straightened out her dress, she let her hands trail the skin of her face. The urge to slump and lean her elbows on her knees had disappeared and instead, she sat up so straight a spirit level could be perfectly balanced against it. Cecilia found it felt natural and unnatural at the same time.

Feeling another hand caress her cheek, her eyes fluttered to the vampire sitting in front of her. His hand felt no longer icy cold and she supposed her skin didn't harbour its usual heat anymore either. They were equals now.

Demetri smiled softly. "You are absolutely beautiful."

Smiling nervously, she looked down at her folded hands in her lap. She didn't want to go up to mirror, not quite yet. Afraid that she wouldn't recognize the person in front of it, she decided to put it off for a later moment. Her eyes found those of her soulmate again, the colours matching this time. "I suppose the Masters want to see mee."

Demetri nodded and held out his hand. She grabbed it gratefully, allowing him to pull her up. Though his skin didn't feel longer icy in comparison to hers, it still lit up a show of fireworks inside her body, warming her from the inside out. Holding onto Demetri's hand with an unknown strength, she tried not to get overwhelmed by the amount of detail her brain was suddenly able to take in.

"It's so weird," she whispered softly, knowing very well that Demetri would be able to catch it with ease.

He chuckled, causing a shiver to crawl down her spine. "You'll get used to it in no time."

She supposed he was right, but for now, it felt weird. Following her soulmate's movements as he threw open the doors to the throne room, she was confronted with the sight of the Masters and the Guard. She forced a polite smile on her face, not letting go of Demetri as the two of them walked to the middle of the room.

"Cara mia," Aro exclaimed as soon as his milky red eyes fell on Cecilia's figure. He smiled giddily, rushing forward. "Immortality agrees with you, dear Cecilia."

Her smile didn't falter as she nodded. "I'm still getting used to it."

"As all of us did once," Aro replied, smiling uncannily. "I will take it you are going to follow the restrictions of your family?"

Cecilia thought it was odd to call the saving of human lives "restrictions", though she supposed she could understand Aro couldn't let an opportunity to insult her family slip. "Surely I have to try."

"Of course," Aro said, the tone of his voice implying the complete opposite. He turned his back on her, walking back to his throne lazily. "Though I have always questioned why your family feels the need to suppress our natural tendencies. It's only the order of life after all. Natural selection, if you will."