SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW ➻ DEMETRI VOLTURI

N O V E

The trip back to Volterra was one Cecilia didn't have a single problem with. After spending a week and a half at the Markis' she felt like she could take on the entire world. She wasn't looking forward to facing the Ancient Ones, especially not Aro, but she knew it had to happen. Besides, after that, she would be in a position to negotiate some of her own terms.

"I'm so glad we survived that madhouse," Cecilia muttered as she opened her eyes. They were flying once more, but fortunately for her, they were almost back in Italy. "I don't think I could have endured it another minute."

"They're a lot," Demetri agreed. He was seated across from her, his eyes focused on some ancient book in front of him. She had a book of her own in her lap, occasionally calling out a word she didn't know, to which he responded with the translation. The whole trip was full of deja-vu moments for Cecilia and she enjoyed it, even if it caused her a massive headache.

The rest of the way back, they didn't talk. The two of them were either lost in translating an ancient book or thought, or both at the same time. Cecilia liked the silence, since it allowed her to order her thoughts. She had made up several plans, all depending on Aro's reaction. Bella's protective shield had been lifted, which meant that the ancient vampire once more could violate her thoughts. She would show him the whole ordeal with the Markis and how she'd tried out her gift on Demetri afterwards and after that, it was up to him.

If he would decide to kill her straight away, then that would be it. That was probably the simplest option, but also the least likely. She knew Aro's lust for power and gaining more than the world actually had to offer, which meant that he would probably do everything in his power for her to join his side. She would, of course, after agreeing on some terms. That was how she hoped it would be, though she had no way of knowing for sure.

Still, even if her family had given her the green light, the thought alone of actually joining the Volturi, the same group that had threatened her family on several occasions, left her feeling conflicted. She knew she wasn't betraying her family, but it felt like it.

"Hey," Demetri said softly, gaining her attention. He was looking at her with a compassionate expression on his face. "It's going to be alright."

They had arrived at the castle and a sudden explosion of nerves overtook Cecilia. If she wanted to have a chance, she had to at least appear like she was certain of herself. Taking a deep and unnecessary breath, she nodded and grabbed his hand. Together they found their way to the throne room, where the rest of the Guard and the Masters were already waiting for them.

"My young friends," Aro said happily upon their arrival. He stood up from his throne, his eyes shifting from Cecilia to Demetri with a strange glint in his eyes. "How was your mission?"

"Quite successful," Cecilia said, sounding a lot more confident than she was feeling. She forced a polite smile on her face while she let go of Demetri's hand, holding it out for Aro instead. Instantly, she missed the contact with her soulmate, but as soon as Aro neared her and took her hand between his, all her thoughts disappeared.

She resisted the urge to bite on the inside of her cheek, her eyes gliding over the rest of the vampires instead. Marcus seemed a little less dead than he usually looked and even Caius was sitting on the edge of his seat, though he was still glaring. The witch twins looked their calm selves and Felix appeared to have a full-out conversation with Demetri, simply by looking at him.

It took minutes before Aro finally let go, seemingly in shock. Cecilia instantly fixated her eyes on his frame. Though he wasn't moving, probably still processing the things he had just seen, she could see it in his eyes. It was his hunger for power in the form of a little twinkle, growing with every passing second.