SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW ➻ DEMETRI VOLTURI

D O D I C I

Cecilia looked over her shoulder to where her parents were standing. They looked every bit the way she remembered them, calm and loving and in each other's arms, where they belonged. Her heart burned with love for them, as well as for the man standing next to her. If only there was a way she could combine those worlds.

"Sadly, my friends, some friendships have been shattered as well. Everybody knows that we are fair and just rulers, but we cannot deny that the law is the law. Without it, we would simply be beasts, mere creatures led by our thirst for violence and blood," Aro continued. He wore a grave expression on his face, his shoulders slumped as if he was truly sad. Cecilia wondered if her gut feeling of what was about to happen was right. "It pains my heart, friends, it truly does, but recently, some dreadful news has come to my attention. There are people among us here who would want to see us gone. Not only me and my brothers, but all of you ruling justly and fairly in our absence."

Several gasps could be heard and Cecilia watched the nervous faces of the guests. It was no secret that probably everybody in the room harboured secret ambitions and wishes against the Volturi and all of them were wondering who it was Aro was talking about.

"Do not worry, friends, do not fret," Aro said, appearing calm once more. "We know exactly the treacherous among us. Guards, seize them and bring them forward."

Lower-tier guards appeared from all the dark corners of the room, flashing forward and grabbing all of the Markis'. They struggled, Vasyl even managed to pull off some guard's head before he was caught, but in the end, they were brought forward all the same. In the room, distressed whispers had broken out, but with one look from Aro, nothing except for the Markis' protesting could be heard. Cecilia watched in fascination, feeling like she was about to become a part of history.

"What is this, Aro?" Adras called out. He squirmed in the guard's hold, but to no avail. He looked like he would cry if he could. "Never have we had any trouble, never have we insulted you. The Volturi and the Markis have been good friends, always."

Sniggers and chuckles could be heard all over the room. Though Adras might not remember the earlier rebellions and quarrels thanks to Cecilia, other covens did.

Aro looked at Adras like the man had personally driven a stake through his heart. "You openly rebelled against me and my brothers, Adras. We treated you so very well, gave you lands to hold and profit from and restored your glory. We treated you as equals, but you've gone behind our backs and that is something I cannot forgive you, or your family," Aro said, looking very sorry indeed. The Markis started crying again, probably already feeling the way this was going to end. "I, Aro Volturi, one of the Ancient Ones and ruler of the Volturi, find the Markis coven guilty of treason and sentence you, all of you, to death."

Aro raised his hands and simultaneously, the odd sound of china breaking sounded through the room. Cecilia squeezed Demetri's hand hard, her eyes following the way Danae's beautiful body landed on the marble floor with a loud thud. It was an awful sight, one that would probably haunt her the rest of her days.

"Now that our enemy is destroyed, I have one other question left to be asked." Aro's eyes found Cecilia's and she let go of Demetri's hand. She raised her head high, straightened her spine and placed one foot carefully in front of the other. The crowd gave way to her, hundreds of eyes following her body with unparalleled curiosity. "Even when one gets betrayed by their closest friends, little joys can be found. We have always regarded the Cullen coven highly, a mutual feeling, but our bond is about to become stronger than ever."

Cecilia moved past the dead bodies of the Markis, ignoring them to the best of her abilities, and trailed up the stairs to Aro. She looked up at him, her face void of any emotion but her body filled with raging nerves. She couldn't fail or blunder, not now, not when she was about to become a part of history.

"Cecilia Roseanne Cullen, will you do us the greatest honour there is and become a member of the Volturi so that you may do your duty and protect our sacred and ancient world?"

It felt like thousands of pairs of eyes were watching her, but there were only three that mattered. Those of her soulmate and her parents. And she couldn't help but feel like she was betraying the latter. She wondered if she had it in her to make everybody forget about the whole night, to forget about her, and to just run away. She knew that wasn't possible, that it was just the nerves twisting her mind in ways she didn't hold imaginable, so instead, she simply draw in a large breath. "Yes, I will."

Aro got handed a necklace with the Volturi's crest and he put it around her neck ever so carefully. Afterwards, he grabbed her hand and pulled her next to him, her body facing the crowd. "I present to you, our newest member of the Guard."

The loud sound of cheering burst out in the room, along with the sound of hasted clapping. That wasn't what Cecilia was focused on, it was the piece of metal she could feel between her skin and Aro's. When he let go of her hand, she stared at the palm of it curiously. A heavy and old key laid in it and she looked up at Aro with raised eyebrows.

He gave her a knowing, crazy smile. "I promised it would be yours before the sun would rise again," he said, his voice barely audible. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Now join your soulmate again and have the happiest night of your life."

She nodded, curtseying before she left the platform and walked over to the marble dancing floor again. Congratulations were shouted at her, as well as gentle claps on her back, but her eyes were focused on Demetri, the only one capable of holding her together.