Track Me if you Can, Demetri and Emma

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

Emma left her meal next to a trash can, feeling fully satiated. It had been a small reward next to the money she received for finding the wayward newborn for the, what she can only assume, warlord that sought her services. It wasn't the first time she had been contracted by one, in fact they were her best business in America. They could be dangerous though and would often attempt to recruit her, it was not something she was interested in and sometimes things could get ugly when she refused. This one had went rather smoothly, and for this she was happy.

Now that she was well fed, she decided to leave the city. There was much to be seen in Washington's forests and she wanted to take a run through the trees and feel one with nature. Besides, she had time to waste. There was no current jobs on her roster and she would keep it that way until after the get together in Spain. So, she ran, letting her senses take hold and for the moment, get a sense of freedom from the stresses of her world.

It wasn't long before she caught a scent, her senses becoming alert. It wasn't odd for another vampire to be in the area, but this one was miles away from her. She just got off a job in Washington of all places and the area made her nervous. It wasn't a secret that the Volturi frequent this area due to the trouble making vegetarians that lived close by. This person, as she smelled the air again, was not familiar to her. It relaxed her a bit to know that, it was not a previous encounter. The person was now on her radar though and the urge to get a glimpse of the vampire was tempting her inner tracker. She figured it wouldn't hurt to see who was in the area, so she gave into the pull and began running in the direction she was pulled in.

Winding through the trees, she focused on the slow sound of approaching in her mind and chest. She felt herself nearing the vampire, but it was a slow nearing. Whoever this vampire was, they were fast, and she was gaining less than five feet every twenty minutes. At this rate, they could be playing this game for awhile. Worse yet, they could board a plane or a ship and she would have to chase this person all over the world. She didn’t have time for such selfish endeavors. There was work to be done and goals to be met. She had to see who this person was, had to.

Emma pushed herself as hard as her body would go, pushing to predict which way they would turn next, hoping they were just lucky in their trail. She was going to try to cut them off, if she could even gain a few more yards on them it would save time. If she could just get them to stop, she would show that she means no harm, that she just wants to talk. It was odd for her to want to talk to anyone, but a chase like this, it demanded her attention. This was the greatest game of cat and mouse she had ever been a part of and that was worth the chase, the capture. She must see them, talk to them... somehow.

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 569 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

Demetri looked with disdain upon the tall trees and lush greenery which surrounded him. Water dripped down from heights above him, and settled into murky pools on the forest floor at his feet, the canopy of trees providing no shelter whatsoever. He could feel the water soaking into the bottom of his cloak, slapping against his ankles and soaking into his pants. It wasn’t that it was cold; Demetri didn’t feel the chill, but running in wet clothing was still unpleasant. Plus, the wet cloak dragging on the ground behind him was one more trail he had to cover to hide his presence in these god-forsaken woods.

It wasn’t so much that Demetri hated Washington. No, it was more what Washington represented; the one place on earth where the laws which defined his existence did not apply. The Master’s had a soft spot for Washington and the family of vegetarian vampires which resided there and forged strange alliances with mutant canines. Take this mission, for example. Demetri and the guard had been sent to Washington State to check for the possibility that one such mutant canine had let his tongue slip and had revealed the existence of vampires before coming to Volterra to be slain by the guard. Under any other circumstance, against any other affront, Demetri’s orders would have been to arrive and clean house, ridding the land of any threat and any ally, slipping away without any trace of evidence left behind. But no. Demetri’s mission was solely to gather information, and take action only if necessary.

As Demetri had scoured the land, he’d found himself hoping that any member of the Cullen family or the despicable canines gave him a justifiable reason to take action. He wanted nothing more than to exterminate the Washington problem once and for all. The very existence of the Cullen family was an abomination. Vampires, living among humans, taking them to be their wives and mothers of their children, creating half-breeds…it was all too much for Demetri to take or attempt to understand.

Demetri shook the thought away with a quick turn of his head, focusing on branching his power out over the landscape, rapidly identifying all of the population around him. He groaned inwardly. There was one blip on his radar that had refused to go away. He’d first detected it several miles back, scanning it quickly. One vampire among thousands of humans. Not a threat, probably feeding. He’d written it off as a wandering nomad, since it didn’t match the tonality of any of the vampires he’d met previously. He moved onward…and then had notice the nomad change direction and head towards him. Without concern, he’d changed his path, finding it simply better to avoid any detection. He didn’t want to tip of any more of the vampire population that the Volturi was working in the area.

Only, the nomad had changed direction along with him. The logical side of Demetri’s brain told him that it was entirely coincidental. Then, the Volturi Guard side of his mind kicked in. There were no coincidences. Somehow, this nomad was following him, and that was never a good sign. Rapidly, Demetri shifted his pace, cutting across a river bed before climbing into the trees and travelling above the ground. It was a valuable skill; many vampires hadn’t learned to track prey in the treetops.

He quickened his steps, desperate to shake his follower. The nomad turned with him. It was at this point, Demetri realized that this was not mere coincidence; he was being deliberately tracked, and whomever was doing it was skilled. The average vampire, no, even the above average vampire would have been dissuaded long ago, but this one seemed determined to match him step for step. While his worry was increasing, so was his intrigue. How on earth was this vampire managing to track him; the most gifted tracker in the vampire community? He knew his skills weren’t slipping, rather, he’d simply found a worthy opponent.

He turned again, then rapidly shifted directions again, climbing up the face of a rock and leaping over to the opposite side of the cliff, knowing his scent would be lost in the air. All of his focus now focused squarely on the nomad moving behind him, Demetri found himself smiling slightly. He could face down whatever foe approached, he wasn’t concerned with a solitary vampire. However, he had to figure out who had been able to track him so well before he removed them from the face of the earth. In nearly five centuries of living, even his fellow Volturi guard, the most skilled and highly trained vampires in existence, couldn’t have matched his travels so equally. He had to meet this follower.

WORDS; 792 || TAGGING; Emma
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

The trees whistled by Emma as she picked up her speed. She cursed when a branch caught her coat and made a small tear at the seam. This was a new coat and already she was going to have to repair it. There was no slowing down now though. The strange vampire was so close she could hear the animals fleeing in the wake of its path. She smiled to herself. This was more fun than she’s had in a long time. There has never been a chase that had gone on this long, usually she would have caught up and out smarted the person she was chasing by now. The exhilaration she was feeling at this moment was indescribable and she wasn’t giving in any time soon, she had to meet this vampire, she didn’t care at what cost at this point.

She reached the cliff and paused. They stopped. The trail ended and she knew where they were. She felt it pull at her like a leash on an invisible collar. She was locked on her target. She began scaling the cliff, focusing on the pull of the target. Her excitement rose inside her, she felt alive. Every inch closer was a relief to the tug on the leash, the curiosity was constricting. It was at the top of the cliff that the reality of the chase hit her. What was she going to say? It was obvious that this person knew she was following them. No one with half a mind wouldn’t have known when she closed in and they had more than half a mind, they were beyond skill. Now they were stopped below her, a little to the left to be exact and they either think they lost her because she could no longer smell the scent or they were waiting for her. It’s possible they were waiting with a group; she was no match for a group. She took a short breath and loosened her focus for a moment to feel for anyone else in the area, no one. Now back to the first problem, what was she going to say?

Emma paced for a brief moment thinking the question over in her head. She looked at the setting sun on the horizon and let out another breath. Just explain her curiosity and meet the fate. She honestly has no need to be afraid. She is skilled. She is confident in her skill. The person below her may be skilled in running and quite probably tracking as well, but fighting… if they were this good at getting away, they may not know how to fight and may not be able to kill her before she can escape them. Either way she was ready to meet her fate.

She took a few steps back and leapt off the edge of the cliff, pushing off the side to land within yards of her target. She landed in a feline like crouch, the cloaked figure standing in front of her. She could have sworn to anyone who would ask her in the future that her heart just jumped. A robe, she could tell by the way they were standing it was a man or a very masculine woman, the shadows of the tall trees and rocks were hiding their face, but it was definitely a dark robe. There were only one kind of vampire that dresses like that still in this day and age, as much as she hoped she hadn’t just tracked and chased one, she was sure she had. A Volturi guard, she was frozen in her cat like pose, staring ahead like a deer caught in the headlights of a semi-truck. She was suddenly lost in the moment, wondering if her fate was about to be sealed by an innocent game of cat and mouse.

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 641 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

Demetri stared behind him, his eyes piercing through the heavy clouds which hung on the air. Mentally, he watched his follower creeping closer. He shook his head in amazement as the follower scaled the side of the cliff and took off into the air, chasing a trail that should have long since been lost. What skill did this follower possess that rivaled his own? Demetri felt a tension rising in his chest. If this were a gifted vampire, one with a talent, he knew this would not be their last meeting. Once Aro learned of its existence, Demetri knew that he would not rest until this vampire either resided within Aro’s collection of guard members or was removed from the face of existence as a threat.

Then again, perhaps this vampire wouldn’t live that long. Who on this earth chased a Volturi guard, unless they were either looking for a fight or begging for their own death? Clearly, sanity was not his follower’s strong suit. The follower didn’t honestly believe that it stood a chance against…Demetri laughed under his breath, the thrill of a fight exciting him nearly as much as the notion of meeting another tracker. The reputation of the Volturi had lessened somewhat as of late. While they were once feared on sight, known for their swift, decisive action and elite prowess, word of Aro’s leniency on the Washington coven had begun to spread. One lone coven of freaks had challenged the Volturi’s authority, and they had won. The guard struggled with reclaiming what was lost that day. Perhaps today’s challenge was in direct response to that lost challenge.

He watched as the figure flew across the edge of the cliff and crouched before him. He straightened his shoulders, looking out from his lowered hood with flaming eyes. A woman. He groaned inwardly, the thrill of a fight rapidly dissipating. Though he would carry out the duties required, should it come to that, there was a huge part of his soul which remained in constant torment over the lives of women and children he had killed in the name of his coven. He stepped forward, body straight, voice low, bordering on the edge of cruel amusement.

“Congratulations.” He said in English, stepping forward, making a slow circle around her. A lion stalking a gazelle. He smirked. “I can see by the look in your eyes that you fully understand what you’ve done. You should feel honored. There are very few who have managed to track a Volturi guard and even fewer who lived to kneel before one afterwards.” He walked around her, drinking in everything he could from her appearance. She was not dressed for tracking, the shade of her jacket far too light to blend into the woods. She did not bear the mark of any coven, nor was this a tone he recognized from among the covens he monitored daily.

However misleading her appearance, she was still a threat. Demetri knew that threats took all shapes and forms, even those of a beautiful woman. Over the years, he had learned not to be swayed by outward appearances or lured into a false sense of security by pretty eyes and soft hair. Some of the cruelest acts of villainy he had witnessed had come from the minds of a female. No, she could not be trusted. She must be treated like every other threat to his existence, even though all he desperately wanted to do was question how she had managed to do what she did.

Demetri continued his slow pace around her. “You know what I am. You know on whose authority I speak. Now, answer me this: Who are you? What are your intentions here? And what did you mean by following me?”

WORDS; 634 || TAGGING; Emma
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

Emma remained frozen on the ground in her kneeled position. Without moving her eyes she assessed the situation of her surroundings. There was a possibility of distracting him and escaping through the trees towards a population a hundred miles away. She could feel the concentration there. To distract a Volturi guard though? She’d have a better chance at trying to talk her way out of it. She’s actually managed to get herself out of a lot of sticky situations in the past by talking, maybe she can do the same here, it’s not as if she was meaning to pose threat on him… right?

“Congratulations.” He said in English, stepping forward, making a slow circle around her. A lion stalking a gazelle. He smirked. “I can see by the look in your eyes that you fully understand what you’ve done. You should feel honored. There are very few who have managed to track a Volturi guard and even fewer who lived to kneel before one afterwards.”

Emma’s eyes followed him as he circled her. Volturi guard, he really was a guard…. a guard. She couldn’t help but smirk at his praise, lucky… honored? Definitely not the defining words of how she was feeling at the moment. Besides, there hasn’t been someone she hadn’t been able to track down yet, why should a guard be any different? Normally she wouldn’t track a guard, if she would have known this man was a guard, she wouldn’t have been tracking him either. Too late for these thoughts now however, she’d made her bed and she was going to lie in it.

Her eyes still watched him, she locked her hands behind her back and prepared herself to use them if the moment arose. She took in this man’s features, his robe, everything about him, taking it to memory. She could easily tell he was of an older generation, his Italian and unknown accent in his dialect were not of someone who had been around in her time. It was harder to prove innocence with older generations, she knew this well. The older you are in this life, the more you learn how untrustworthy vampires really can be. She shook the thought from her mind and focused back on him while he began to speak again.

“You know what I am. You know on whose authority I speak. Now, answer me this: Who are you? What are your intentions here? And what did you mean by following me?”

Emma listened to each question as if it were a quiz. She knew the answers instantly, but she did not know how she was going to answer him and not incriminate herself. Honesty was her thing, but there are some things in her line of work that are better not said… mostly being her line of work, occupation title, ability and who her clientele is. Her tongue ran across her lips, preparing herself to speak. She stands herself up straight and inhales slightly through her nose for support for herself.

“My name is Emma, I am in the area on a recent business trip which is now finished. I’ve been delaying for a few days until my plane leaves from Seattle-Tacoma airport.” She began to answer, her mixture of accents flowing, Polish prominent. “I sensed you near-by and call it pure curiosity, I decided, sir, that I would see who was in the area. I stayed for the, excuse my honesty, pleasure of the chase. I would like it to be known, I had no intention of violence nor did I know that you were part of the guard until the moment I landed before you. I apologize if I startled you or appeared to pose a threat, I suppose it did look a bit as if I was meaning harm.”

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 641 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

“My name is Emma, I am in the area on a recent business trip which is now finished. I’ve been delaying for a few days until my plane leaves from Seattle-Tacoma airport.” She began to answer, her mixture of accents flowing, Polish prominent. “I sensed you near-by and call it pure curiosity, I decided, sir, that I would see who was in the area. I stayed for the, excuse my honesty, pleasure of the chase. I would like it to be known, I had no intention of violence nor did I know that you were part of the guard until the moment I landed before you. I apologize if I startled you or appeared to pose a threat, I suppose it did look a bit as if I was meaning harm.”

Demetri listened as she spoke, his gaze unmoving. Her words held an accent, eastern European, to be certain, but the borderlines of those nations had been redrawn countless times over the centuries. It was nearly impossible for Demetri to place the accent perfectly, though he guessed it was somewhere in the region of Poland or the Czech Republic. His mind ran through the covens in the region. None raised any concern, at least, not as far north as her accent sounded. Romania, however, was another story. Yet, it was unlikely that this woman belonged to Vladimir or Stefan. Still, one could never be sure.

He continued to move around her, taking in every inch of her appearance. You could tell a lot about someone by how they dressed and how they carried themselves. Years of silent observation had shown him nearly every type of human and vampire the world had to offer. Very few could surprise him. He’d confronted thousands upon thousands in his time, each had met his appraisal with a variety of reactions. Most were smart enough to beg for their lives, pleading their cases before him. Women tended to take a different approach, attempting to talk or seduce their way out of trouble. A few of both gender were foolish enough to attempt to bribe him – which simply proved how little they knew of his lifestyle. He could have anything he desired without limitations; nothing offered in bribe could usurp his loyalty to his masters.

Demetri listened to the responses. On the surface, they sounded innocent enough. An error, a momentary lapse of judgement in pursuit of the unknown. But did they hold the truth, or was it merely a ruse to cover her true intentions?

Sensed…the moment the word left her lips, a light turned on in Demetri’s head. Of course. She was talented. It was the reason that she had been able to follow his actions so well. A slight relief rippled through him; it wasn’t his fault that he was able to be followed. The brief relief was followed immediately by dis-ease. There was another tracker in the world, one whose skills needed to be recognized and reported to his masters immediately.

“Your presence here did not startle me. Yet whether or not your intent was to harm remains to be seen." He cleared his throat, not giving her the opportunity to respond. Her denials meant little to him. What he sought was information and evidence. "You had business here.” His words remained disinterested to tone, though inside, he had mentally switched to interrogation mode. “Tell me about your business, though I have my suspicions as to what your intent was.” He paused in front of her, meeting her gaze head on, searching for an element of truth in her eyes.

WORDS; 460 || TAGGING; Emma
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

“Your presence here did not startle me. Yet whether or not your intent was to harm remains to be seen." He cleared his throat, not giving her the opportunity to respond. Her denials meant little to him. What he sought was information and evidence. "You had business here.” His words remained disinterested to tone, though inside, he had mentally switched to interrogation mode. “Tell me about your business, though I have my suspicions as to what your intent was.” He paused in front of her, meeting her gaze head on, searching for an element of truth in her eyes.

Emma’s gaze did not leave his as he spoke. The words illuminated answers in her mind in seconds. She didn’t want to jump the gun, however. It was obvious that he was assessing her from head to toe and she couldn’t risk one slip of the tongue. Her lips parted after his first statement, quickly pressing together as she was silenced by the next. The tone of his voice stabbed into her chest. Was he just playing a game? Lingering with an interrogation just to know who he was about to kill? The lack of interest she heard as he spoke made her wonder if it was even worth answering.

Her business, he had to ask about her business. This was the ink that would sign her death certificate. She was sure the Volturi didn’t look too kindly on mercenaries. It was their job to bring justice to vampire kind. She brought justice to covens, vampire warlords and various other clients who could afford her services. She has helped many an enemy of the Volturi. If she’s honest she’s dead, and if she’s dishonest… she’s dead. Decisions, decisions…

Emma took a deep, uncomforting breath before she spoke. “I was sent to track someone down for a client.” She paused, looking into the deep red eyes studying hers. “I’m a… mercenary. I do a number of things revolving around my tracking abilities for my clients.” She swallowed, looking into Demetri’s eyes. She wanted to know the exact moment he planned to kill her, she wanted to look at him as he did.

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 541 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

“I was sent to track someone down for a client…I’m a… mercenary. I do a number of things revolving around my tracking abilities for my clients.”

Demetri couldn’t help but scoff at her words. A mercenary. The lowest of the low. Mercenaries had no honor and no standards; there was no one they would not fight and nothing they would not do…if the price was right. At least members of the combating covens, Demetri could respect on some level. They believed in their way of lives and were willing to defend it. Mercenaries had no beliefs. One week they would fight for a cause, the next week they would fight against it.

This constant turncoating made mercenaries very dangerous opposition. Their loyalty could be bought, and even if you were the current high bidder, there was always the chance that someone could come in over your offer. Demetri held no respect for mercenaries. His entire life, he had been devoted to his beliefs. As a human, he was committed to his brotherhood of knights, as a vampire, to his coven.

"Your services are for hire, then." His voice carried the disdain he felt. "You take no pride or care in what you do. You’ll simply do whatever anyone asks, as long as the price is right. " He narrowed his gaze. He had seen the hesitancy in her eyes, watched her eyes flicker as she debated whether to tell him what she really was. She must have decided that he’d learn the truth sooner or later, since her eyes held only a minimum of secrecy in them.

Demetri debated for a moment. Following him was not a crime. Her career was not a violation of Volturi law, unless or until she chose to cross them. If he were to exterminate her on the spot, his decision would not be questioned. A threat based in ignorance is still a threat, after all. However, reporting a talented vampire who may eventually hold some value to Aro, Marcus, and Caius…that could benefit him. Her life could eventually benefit him. No, best not to kill her now. Better instead to gain information he could take home with him. Besides…she was quite lovely…

No. He shook the thought away. The world was full of lovely women, and not a single one had managed to charm Demetri’s heart. Nonetheless, though, he was fascinated by her use of her tracking ability. He’d met many trackers who were untalented, and frankly, unremarkable. He’d met a handful that possessed a form of intuition which helped them to locate individuals. What this woman seemed to possess was a form of remote detection, isolated, and homing tracking. Nearly similar to his own.

"Your tracking ability, who taught you to use it to this end? Where did you learn your skills? How long have you possessed the ability to track?" Never before had Demetri wished for the presence of the traitor, Eleazar, so strongly. Before he’d lost his mind and joined a cult coven in Denali, Eleazar had been a valuable tool in ascertaining other’s abilities.

WORDS; 465 || TAGGING; Emma
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

Your services are for hire, then. His voice carried the disdain he felt. You take no pride or care in what you do. You’ll simply do whatever anyone asks, as long as the price is right. He narrowed his gaze. He had seen the hesitancy in her eyes, watched her eyes flicker as she debated whether to tell him what she really was. She must have decided that he’d learn the truth sooner or later, since her eyes held only a minimum of secrecy in them.

Emma’s eyes narrowed and an instinctual growl formed in her throat. No pride? This man obviously lived up to the role of a Volturi guard, arrogant asshole. She had nothing but pride in her work. From a human to now, she worked hard for the money she made and was proud of every success in her book. Of course she took on a lot of cases, but she certainly did not do anything she was asked, that was insulting. The way he had just described it made her sound like some kind of a prostitute. She had always been careful and she left little room for mistake. Granted, there had been one or two times things went awry, but that happens in every profession.

Her mouth curled into a small snarl, “I certainly do not do whatever for the right price. My job is specific and I take much pride and care in the work I do, sir.” Her tone matched his purposefully, what did she care about attitude when death was the result either way? No, she would not tolerate anyone insulting her life’s work and dedication, anyone less than God. Tracking had become passionate to her, the chase and capture; it was all an intimate dance. She knew her targets well, their name, their faces, their history, their profession and even their favorite things. Emma put everything into her profession and for someone to tell her otherwise, sparked anger in her that had to be expressed.

A deep inhale through her nose and exhale through partially parted lips ended the flare of anger as quickly as it came. This man was not the first to accuse her of the associations that came with her position in the world. There were many mercenaries out there that did not care and did unexplainable things for the right kind of money. Emma was not one of these mercenaries. Yes, she has done some things that were less than moral, but that’s why she doesn’t ask and they don’t tell her what she is finding their wanted for, it all ends better that way. She wondered why she was still standing and not in pieces yet.

Your tracking ability, who taught you to use it to this end? Where did you learn your skills? How long have you possessed the ability to track?

The questions hit her fast. She looked over the handsome guard and his serious demeanor.“If you don’t mind, sir, I’d rather keep my talent to myself. I lead a life of secrecy and if you’re going to end it, there’s really no reason for me to end that with you, wouldn’t you agree.” She paused to catch her voice from faltering in tone “Why stall the inevitable any longer? I realize my mistake now in the chase, I apologize for it. Thank you for allowing me a good track, in Washington of all places. I just have request for a swift death, please? My will is in the hands of someone who will carry it through.” Her hopes laid on the fact that Axl knew when her job was done and that if he didn’t hear any word, that he would send the money she had saved to her remaining living relatives anonymously.

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 677 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

“I certainly do not do whatever for the right price. My job is specific and I take much pride and care in the work I do, sir.”

Demetri watched her jaw square off, and he knew that he’d hit a mark. No mercenary likes to be reminded that, no matter how meticulous they are with the job, they’re still just guns for hire. Or, in her case, tracker for hire. Her talent was tracking, there was no doubt about it, and she had to have an intense special ability, otherwise she would have never been able to track him. No, he knew that he had to report her ability to the Masters as soon as possible.

Demetri focused on her carefully, memorizing every aspect of the unique tone she cast on his internal radar. He had no doubt that he would be asked to track her once again, probably very soon. He already knew that she wouldn’t be leaving his internal sight, not for a long time. He told himself that he was doing his duty, watching over her actions and gathering information, but the truth was, there was more than a small amount of curiosity...perhaps fascination. She was intriguing, certainly. Why on earth would someone with an ability similar to his own, who could do anything in the world, why would they choose a life with such...a lack of purpose?

The concept confused Demetri.Though he did not welcome his life as a vampire, didn’t seek out his special ability, he considered both of them to be unique challenges given to him to see what he could make of them. Even as he struggled to learn what was happening to him, struggled to gain control and train his abilities, he knew that he’d just been handed a new opportunity to protect others - both human and vampire alike. Turning his talent into a mere ends for personal gain, without regards for the people he was tracking and condemning, or those whom he was serving, was never even a consideration. True, the rewards for working for the Volturi were plentiful, and Demetri wanted for nothing, he was comforted by the fact that his work ultimately was to protect, even when that involved removing threats.

“Why stall the inevitable any longer? I realize my mistake now in the chase, I apologize for it. Thank you for allowing me a good track, in Washington of all places. I just have request for a swift death, please? My will is in the hands of someone who will carry it through.”

Demetri chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Death is rarely offered swiftly." He inhaled deeply, taking in all of the scents in his surroundings. A quick scan of the area confirmed that the two of them were along. A good thing; if the others who had traveled to Washington with him had located him, this would escalate quickly, and there would be no further opportunity for conversation. He had to learn about this woman, this mysterious tracker he’d stumbled upon. Both for professional and personal reasons.

"But, you can relax." He continued. "Your death will not be at my hands today. I assume that you’ve learned to be a little more careful whom you use your talents on? "He smiled, slightly, stepping back. "Besides, I already have enough paperwork to complete when I return to Italy. I’d rather not add to it. " He allowed the stone-guard expression to fall from his face, and the fierceness to fade from his eyes. She would never relax if she thought her death was impending, and she’d never talk to him if she wasn’t relaxed. "I am Demetri. And you are?"

WORDS; XXX || TAGGING; Emma
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

Demetri’s chuckle stung Emma’s ears, her body tensed and she prepared her mind for the words that began to leave his mouth.

”Death is rarely offered swiftly."

The snarl that rose in Emma’s throat was a foreign sound. It was not the first time she had snarled, or growled, it was quite a common trait in her work to show dominance, but this sound was new. A hand rose to her throat in surprise for a fraction of a second before moving back to her side. Reality had hit her and the words he spoke caused dread to flow through the mind and into her body. Inwardly, she prayed she didn't tremble, to show weakness would only have made things worse on her. Her eyes moved from the man, and looked off into the trees. Suddenly she regretted that her partner in crime wasn’t along for this job. Then there would've been someone there in the end. The downfall to such a secluded lifestyle meant that, inevitably, death would just as secluded.

“But, you can relax." He continued. "Your death will not be at my hands today. I assume that you’ve learned to be a little more careful whom you use your talents on?" He smiled, slightly, stepping back. Besides, I already have enough paperwork to complete when I return to Italy. I’d rather not add to it

In the middle of deciding whether she would go out fighting or take her fate quietly, with pride, the last words Emma thought she would hear, were to relax. She went over his words again, watched him step back and his lips form some shape she couldn't register in the moment. Is he smiling? He was smiling, slightly. Is this some sadistic form of torture? Emma had heard many things about the Volturi guard and their masters, torture was rumored as a fun pastime amongst the tales. Her eyes squinted with skepticism, his words repeated in her head, allowing time to be analyzed thoroughly.

The stone began to melt from his face, and Emma could see a sense of humanity had formed in his features. The words repeated in her head again, and she gave up. There was no doubt in her mind that it may end in her death, but either way, she wasn’t going to try to fight it. Her light battle skills would not shine light on the skills of a trained Volturi senior guard. The only hope she would have was to evade, but that idea was thrown out of the equation half way through their chase, he was a tracker far more skilled than her. Her stance began to soften with each hopeless thought, and almost all at once she fell back against the rocks behind her, her expression crossed with relief and defeat.

“I am Demetri. And you are?"

The relief that poured through her body had an overwhelming peaceful effect on Emma. Her eyes closed when she heard the guard offer her an introduction. His voice, it had turned almost calming and welcoming. She couldn’t help but wonder if she managed to slip into some form of close encountered death insanity. She opened her eyes and let the thought shake from her mind. This wasn't the first time she thought death was her conclusion, it was just the first time she had chosen not to fight it. Her lips pursed, her eyes wandered up and down her grim reaper.

Emma knew that if she were to be on the verge of killing someone, she would want to know their name, as well. In fact, before she took any job, she liked to know a little about the person she was being sent to track down. It’s easier to get a feel for them, but it also allows her to judge whether or not she wanted to take the job. There may not be many mercenaries that still say they conducted their work with a basis of morals, but Emma was one that could. This man, though he may kill her, had gained a bit of respect for wanting to know something about her. Even if it was just for a name on a death toll ledger back in Volterra.

Her lips parted and she brought her eyes from their fixated place staring past him, to his eyes. She cleared her throat, and stated with pride hinted with rebellion:

“I’m Emma Zielinski…., sir.”

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 677 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

“I’m Emma Zielinski…., sir.”

Demetri nodded his head in greeting, formality preventing him from being anything other than courteous. "I would say that it is a pleasure to meet you, but then you might distrust my words." He smiled gently. "Instead, I will say that is is a pleasure to learn the name of one who offered me a tracking adventure unlike any I have experienced in recent centuries." He shifted his weight slightly, surveying her. He noted the slight edge to her tone. The woman had spirit. Courage. She had yet to crumble before him like so many had. Even if she posed a threat, she had earned a modicum of his respect.

In his mind's eye, he surveyed the area again, looking intently for his fellow Volturi siblings. An arrival of any of them would cut this meeting short, and Demetri had to admit, in spite of his best efforts, he was enjoying himself. Slightly. Minutely. Yes...he told himself... only slightly. It was only natural, after all, when in the presence of someone with exceptional ability.

Wrapped in that package.

Again, Demetri forced himself to shake the thought away. The particular beauty of her form could not sway his judgement in this matter. He had to learn what he could, and let her go. There was no use in thinking that he would ever see her again beyond this night, therefore there was no use in admiring the person who possessed skills that rivaled his own.

"Zielinski?" He played the last name on his tongue. "It is a unique name, though not uncommon in certain regions of the world. Poland, in particular. I take it that you are Polish, then?" He raised an eyebrow. "You are a long way from home. But then, the same could be said for me." He allowed, with a quick shrug of his shoulders.

WORDS; No idea || TAGGING; Emma
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

"I would say that it is a pleasure to meet you, but then you might distrust my words." He smiled gently. "Instead, I will say that is is a pleasure to learn the name of one who offered me a tracking adventure unlike any I have experienced in recent centuries."

Emma looked at Demetri with skeptical eyes, he was right she would distrust his words. Only a few minutes previous she had been in fear for her life, she wasn’t going to fall for charm now. She couldn’t hold back a small smirk from his second statement, though. She held back her remarks, still weary of saying any more than she had to in front of this man. She had refused to show weakness, she was not weak. Humor could often be interpreted as a form of weakness or just a start to a downward spiral of getting too close to an enemy. Instead, she acknowledged his statement with a slight nod of agreement.

Emma found her mind wandering in the moments between Demetri’s speaking. He was very interesting. She hadn’t felt so good after a chase in years and she’s never been matched, by anyone. Her eyes wandered over his features again, he was handsome, too handsome. His kind eyes and smooth toned voice would probably make most girls turn into giggling mush around him. Emma was thankful she wasn’t most girls.

But… she figured there was no harm in indulging in a nice view, a nice, talented view. Emma licked her lips and quickly shook the thought from her head, reminding herself to focus again.

If she got away from this encounter unscathed, she would make sure not to meet up with him again. Emma had little time in her life for silly things like romance. The closest thing she had to a friend was an assassin named Axl and he was just as messed up as her. She needed to give Demetri the least possible information she could and leave.

"Zielinski?" He played the last name on his tongue. "It is a unique name, though not uncommon in certain regions of the world. Poland, in particular. I take it that you are Polish, then?" He raised an eyebrow. "You are a long way from home. But then, the same could be said for me." He allowed, with a quick shrug of his shoulders.

Emma nodded again, she was surprised he recognized her demographic. “Yes, Poland is where I originated.” She laughed short through her nose, “I guess we don’t get to pick where the jobs are, huh?” Emma was aware of the extra rules in Washington and the rumor of vegetarian vampires with pet dogs. Emma also noted another strange thing about the man who questioned her, she decided to question back “Your accent is rather strange as well, for an Italian.”

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 368 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.

[Demetri]

I WILL DEFEND, I WILL FIGHT. I'LL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

WHEN HONOUR'S AT STAKE, THIS VOW I WILL MAKE.

“Your accent is rather strange as well, for an Italian.
Demetri had heard it before. Born and raised on the island of Malta, his first language was Maltese. His native tongue was a combination of Italian, English, Sicilian, and Arabic. Transitioning to Italian after he joined the Volturi wasn't much of a challenge; he'd always had a good ear for languages, and Italian comprised a good portion of his vocabulary. In service in Volterra, he'd learned several other languages, but his speech had always held the slight edge of his original accent.

"That would be be, perhaps, because I am not Italian. I am only Italian by sake of residence and immigration. However, I'm originally from Malta." He saw no harm in revealing a bit of information about himself to her. She'd already known where he lived by whom he represented. There was little she could do with a slight amount of additional information. "I'm told that my accent has become muddled over the years with the amount of fluent languages I've accumulated, almost to the point where it's difficult to ascertain my origin." He smirked slightly. "When I am not in my robes, that is."

He straightened slightly. "I cannot choose where my jobs are, this is true, but you surely can. I'm curious why anyone unaffiliated with the strange coven which resides here would want to come to Washington." A slight wrinkle of disgust creased the bridge of his nose. "The smell in the air alone would be enough to deter most visitors."

Thanks to a steady onshore wind and the Quileute Tribe's proximity to the ocean, the entire Olympic Peninsula was tainted with the heavy, pungent, musky aroma of shapeshifters. It burned the back of Demetri's throat, and stung the venom in his eyes as he got too close. Washington was on no one's vacation list, even if Demetri had the luxury of living above the additional laws in the state. Only nomadic vampires were permitted, assuming they were only passing through and didn't remain.

Only the Vampires of the Cullen family were permitted permanent residence in Washington, which meant that Emma, as a mercenary, was either competing a hit on the Cullen family, or was tracking a nomad through the state. A quick mental scan of the peninsula confirmed what Demetri already knew; every member of the Cullen family was undead and functioning. That left a nomad of no importance. Demetri wasn't concerned with the fate of a random nomad. They were persons of little consequence, and erasing one more of them from the landscape simply meant one less person on Demetri's mental radar.

He felt his shoulders relax slightly with this realization. It meant that it was unlikely he would be chasing Emma for her crimes in the near future, though he would forever know her location.

WORDS; HOW LONG IT IS || TAGGING; WHO YOU RPING WITH?
MADE BY BELLUS VITA * (LISEY) OF CAUTION

[Emma Zielinski]

it was always you

i don't know when things changed from my solid hate to something... different. I can't tell you why it happened. Only that it did. I told myself i'd take it to the grave with me but apparently that was a lie. It's so much easier to bend the truth and tell you we have nothing. To tell the truth would be to bare my soul and pray that you don't kill it. Run away with me.

but please. don't make me say it.

Malta, Malta… Emma repeated the name of the country in her head. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the map materialize into an image, pin-pointing its exact location. “Malta, I know where it is. I have only been near there though. It’s a bit crowded there for my taste.” It was true, Emma hated densely populated areas. Her head felt like it would explode from all of the incoming information she would absorb and it resulted in confusion, agitation, and/or bad headaches. She avoided overly crowded places when she could, like India, China, Mauritius, etc. She didn’t need to risk weakness when her job already entailed a demand for extreme detail and precise focus. His last words made her eyes narrow and voice gain a pointed tone ”Yes, the robes are a dead giveaway to where your current loyalty lies.”

He straightened slightly. "I cannot choose where my jobs are, this is true, but you surely can. I'm curious why anyone unaffiliated with the strange coven which resides here would want to come to Washington." A slight wrinkle of disgust creased the bridge of his nose. "The smell in the air alone would be enough to deter most visitors.

Emma let out a short, nasal laugh. The smell was quite atrocious in Washington, no one could detest that. She had heard rumors of the Olympic Coven and their beast-like neighbors. None of the rumors had a positive tone to them. She kept her distance from the coast as much as possible. In fact, she kept her distance from any creature that wasn’t a meal or a target, for the most part. Socializing was not one of Emma’s favorite past times. She enjoyed solitude, it prevented complication or the need to invoke feeling.

”I did not wish for my target to lead me here. They were content in Canada until something spooked them down here. Perhaps they wished to claim sanctuary with the strange coven that occupies this state. I did not ask them, I just finished my job.” Her nose twitched, agreeing with the disgust on his face. ”The smell is atrocious, I agree. I cannot imagine why anyone in the right state of mind would want to take up a permanent residence here. I do not plan to come back anytime soon, that is for certain.”

Most of Emma’s jobs didn’t lead her to this far northwest in the United States of America. Her targets normally fled to areas where there were plenty of humans and a small population of vampires. The Midwest and many of the northern states were common for this. She enjoyed getting to visit a place she had not been before. She had been so many locations, entering a new one had become sort of a game for her. She kept a special travel journal which marked such occasions. The lists of cities, coordinates, and landmarks were endless within its pages.

Emma watched Demetri’s shoulders relax. Her eyes looked to the ground where her shoes had dug themselves into a firm grip within the earth. She wondered why she hadn’t asked to leave yet. Curiosity was most likely the biggest reason. It was what started this situation. It was also what was going to continue it. Possibly the greatest tracker in the world stood only a few, mere yards away and this excited her in ways she could not explain. She wanted to know how he did it, how he had gotten so good, but she dare not ask. It was no doubt that she would remember this day, forever.

I’m already vulnerable enough.

Words: 600 Outfit: Black sheer tank top, green patterned coat, jeans and boots. Tag: Demetri Notes: n/a Credit: STALK ME REDNECK! for the lovely template.