Calista | Demetri Volturi

Adonis

50 A.D.

A figure, clad in grey, dashed into a nearby alleyway, melding into the gloom like a ghost. With a graceful bound, they pushed off the dirt, latching onto an over-hanging beam with practised ease; they pulled themselves up, before bouncing onto the next beam, clambering onto the roof.

The figure giggled gleefully, reaching into their deep pockets, pulling out a coin purse – then another – and another. At the sound of voices below, they quickly pocketed their treasures, crouching as they scampered across the rooftop, before ducking down through a hole in the ceiling.

Their feet landed on the worn wood planks with a dull thud, lowering into a crouch on impact. The candles were long-since blown out, leaving the room in relative darkness. The figure flipped back their hood with a sigh, before a voice piped up, almost making their heart leap out their mouth: "You promised you wouldn't steal anymore..."

"I don't know what you –"

"Don't lie to me, Calista, I'm not an idiot."

Callie sighed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, becoming sheepish under her brother's judgemental gaze. His hazel eyes were unrelenting, as he fixed her with a stern glare in the low light," If I don't steal, we don't eat."

"And if you get caught? What will we do then?"

The brunette didn't reply, instead emptying the contents of her pockets onto a small table: three coin purses, stuffed with coins, and a heavy brass pendant, set with a ruby gemstone. Her brother came to stand by her side, picking up the necklace, letting it dangle from his fingers.

"I won't, I never have been," Calista replied simply in an attempt to quell her sibling's worries. He pursed his lips into a straight line," And, on the very slim chance that I am caught, which I won't be, I can be very persuasive."

He rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to smile," Oh yees, I forgot about that – your marvellous negotiation skills; last time, you almost started a fight with the son of one of the city guards."

Callie opened her mouth in faux shock, bumping her brother's shoulder playfully," I think you'll find, he was the one who was being argumentative – he tried to woo me into his bed with nothing more than a lewd comment, I merely told him where to go..."

"Yes, yes..." His face suddenly turned serious," Just promise me...that you won't do this again – please."

Callie bit her tongue, brows furrowing,"...Okay."

Her brother smiled small, taking both ends of the necklace in his hands, gesturing for her to turn around. She did so, as he situated the jewellery around her neck, clasping it at the back. Calista thumbed the pendant appreciatively.

" Now, I may be named after Adonis, but I'm no fool," Her brother began, brow quirking in amusement," Who was the boy you were with this morning?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Calista retorted, a little to quickly to truly disguise her innocence. Adonis simply stared at her, a teasing smile toying at his lips. After a pregnant pause, she sighed, a slight blush tinting her cheeks," He's...a friend."

"Oh, a friend, I see, I see," He teased, letting out a laugh as she sent him an embarrassed glare," I understand – will you be meeting him again?"

She rolled her eyes, choosing to not reply as she walked past, heading to her bed. Adonis bit the inside of his cheek," Tell me, did he give you a kiss goodbye? Did he serenade you, or is he not the type? When am I meeting him –"

"Adonis!"

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Present Day;

Demetri's P.O.V.

Demetri gritted his teeth in frustration, hands balling into fists at his sides. His eyes screwed closed, trying to will his gift to focus; it seemed to flicker, as if struggling to lock-on to his target – something that had never happened before. It was as if Calista was toying with him, from a great distance.

Felix's brows furrowed as he rested a friendly hand on the Tracker's shoulder. The blond took in a sharp breath through his nose, as Jane's sharp voice cut through the still air," What's going on?"

"I'm trying to find her exact location, but – it's as if she's blocking me out."

Jane's expression wrinkled in irritation," You mean, you can't find her."

Demetri chose not to reply, inwardly cursing her existence and her condescending words. Despite physically being a child, she was wise beyond her years; but her temperament was a dead giveaway of her mental age. They had been following Calista's tenor for days – or rather, nights - on end and seemed no closer than when they started.

"Or, you're not as good as you think you are," Jane retorted, peering down her nose at the blond male. Demetri's head snapped round, meeting her bland gaze heatedly; undeterred, she continued: "It is clear that this...mate of yours is your superior – I wouldn't be surprised if Aro chooses to relieve you of your post, as soon as he meets her."

"Jane, enough," Felix grunted gruffly, noting how Demetri seemed ready to blow a gasket at the drop of a hat. They all were becoming rather testy, as it had been days since they last fed, but tearing each other limb from limb would solve nothing. The taller vampire raised his head, noting the slight changes in the sky, the inky black turning a blueish shade," The sun will be coming up in a few hours, we can feed and then find shelter until we're able to move on again."

Jane paused, as if mulling over his words, before drawing her eyes away from Demetri's livid form with a small huff," Fine."

Demetri turned away in a wordless reply. The winds changed, carrying a mixture of scents towards the group; a small campsite was just downstream. Humans. Almost in unison, the four began to stalk towards their prey, jacket tails streaming behind them like a sea of black cloaks.

To be continued...