In Another Life

Chapter 1: These Troubled Times

~ Chapter One ~

Every single night the same arrangement

I go out and fight the fight.

Still I always feel the strangest strangement

Nothing here is real, nothing here is right.

I've been making shows of trading blows

Just hoping no one knows

That I've been going through the motions

Walking through the part.

Nothing seems to penetrate my heart

The curved hallway was already clear as the cloaked and hooded figure stalked through it, her very presence intimidating. Her posture, the tilt of her shoulders, and her aggressive gait made it clear that she had neither the time nor inclination to stop and talk with anyone. This was one of the reasons why no one even attempted to get in the way, the other was her reputation, which was such that the guard knew better than to bother her in the slightest. In the past three quarters of a century, she had been the cause of many of their number having to literally be pieced back together, when training sessions got a little too intense, they made the mistake of outright challenging her, or worst of all on those rare occasions that one of them was foolish enough to actually anger her. Her violent temper had made most feel the need to dance on egg shells around her. It didn't help that the ancient hallways were barely wide enough to accommodate a single person going in each direction if they hugged to the wall. She didn't even notice that she took up the entire space, since no one had gotten in her way in a long time.

"I'm hoping for Australia, I'm *so* done with winter right now. Where do you think we're going to end up this time? I'm guessing the States are a problem again, cause I know Jane and Alec just took off not too long ago. That place seems like it needs visits regularly. Wanna place bets on where Aro sends us?" Eliza sent Isabella with a touch of playfulness through their peculiar connection, which was one part telepathy and one part physical bond.

They shared thoughts, memories, and sensations effortlessly along an ethereal tether. To them it was as natural as feeding. Eliza had desperately wanted to go along for the summons, but Isabella had refused since Eliza's mood at the moment was bordering on insolent. When she got like that, it was best to keep her away from Caius, who's impatience was legendary.

Eliza sighed outwardly, resting her chin on her hands which were balanced on the big windowsill of their shared room. The sharply angled rooftops of Volterra were always a welcome sight to her, but a tiresome one. She had been staring at the same view for nearly three-quarters of a century. Isabella tried to ignore her daughter's melancholy mood, and instead focused on the situation ahead of her. She didn't even acknowledge the secretary as she strode by, although she did glance at her once as she pulled back her hood. The exquisitely beautiful, short, raven haired woman stood up respectfully at her passing. Isabella flinched inwardly, she looked too much like someone she didn't want to think about from her human past. And the passing resemblance made her scowl. She was half tempted to mention her displeasure to Aro, but she had no doubt that another would soon take her place, since she was just the latest in a very long line of secretaries, a position that mostly ended up ending when they were used as meals.

"Does it matter Eliza? It's not exactly like we need to worry about parkas except for show, and you don't tan so what's the difference? Would you prefer it if we stayed here, with nothing to do for months on end?" Isabella's slightly playful response was a positive sign, at least to Eliza. It meant her mother was ready to get out again, which meant she would have a measure of patience this time around. If she had been emotionless like normal, they would go, kill, and come back without so much as a shopping trip.