SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW ➻ DEMETRI VOLTURI

D O D I C I

Cecilia had been dancing with Demetri for quite some time, when someone interrupted the two of them. They stopped, both raising their eyebrows high as they saw that out of all the people, it was Kyros. If there was anybody Cecilia didn't want to speak with, it was him and from the look on Demetri's face, she could tell that he was thinking the exact same.

"I was wondering if I could steal your mate for a dance," Kyros said. Though he was wearing an expensive suit and his hair was done nicely, his attitude ruined everything.

Demetri shrugged, but his arm around her waist tightened. "You'll have to ask her."

Kyros's eyes shifted from Demetri to her, his eyebrows raised in question. She didn't want to dance with Kyros. In fact, she didn't even want to look at him, but she could hardly say so. "I was actually thinking of a break," she said, trying to sound sorry.

"You're a newborn, you're supposed to be full of energy," Kyros said. He failed miserably at his attempt to lighten the mood as he started to sound like a child about to throw a tantrum. He looked the part as well. "Just one dance?"

"Cecilia, you're outshining us once again."

Danae and Odina had joined them and though Danae had probably wanted it to come across as a lighthearted comment, the jealousy was just as audible in her voice as it was visible on Odina's face. The blonde-haired girl instantly latched onto Kyros's arm, like she was an anchor trying to tie him down. She was wearing a beautiful red dress, with little gemstones making the body shine. Her tailor had certainly delivered an expensive dress.

Cecilia moved her weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably. "You're talking nonsense, Danae," she said, brushing her curls over her shoulders. "Everbody's eyes have been plastered on your dress ever since you entered the room, just look around."

The fact that Cecilia had entered later than the Markis' woman and that she hadn't spent a single second observing whether people were really watching her, slipped the other vampire in her act of vanity. Instead, she only smiled and raised her shoulders ever so lightly. "Oh, don't I know it."

"It's been nice seeing you again," Demetri said, nodding to them. "But I just saw a dear friend of mine enter the room and he hasn't had the pleasure of meeting my soulmate yet, so if you'll please excuse us."

Cecilia followed Demetri's direction willingly, wondering if he was telling the truth. She hadn't met a lot of people he knew, other than Felix, Alec and Jane obviously. She turned to him with curious eyes. "A friend?" she asked.

"Imaginary," he replied, smiling in an amused way.

She resisted the urge to chuckle and draw attention to her. "That's not very kind."

"Ten days with the Markis' is enough for the coming hundred years."

Just as Cecilia was about to reply, the sound of the music faded away until it was barely audible. The couples that had been dancing cleared from the floor and everybody watched the front of the ballroom with curious eyes. The Ancient Ones had been sitting on their thrones ever since all of them had gotten in and it was the first time Cecilia got to see their mates, the queens. Demetri had told her that ever since the kidnapping and murder of Marcus's mate, Aro and Caius had locked theirs away in one of the best-secured towers. The only Master without a mate looked oddly lonely and Cecilia felt for him.

"My dear friends, thank you all for travelling all the way to Volterra to attend this feast. Seeing all of your faces, old and young friends, brings me a pleasure all of you can't imagine," Aro said, standing up from his throne. His eyes scanned the crowd, landing on Cecilia shortly, before moving on. A childlike smile crept on his face. "It has been a long time since all of us have gotten together. Many events have happened, new alliances have been made, others have been reinforced."