For the last three hours, I had been spending time in the guards' main hangout area. Most of the guards had stayed away from me, even when I had told them that I was friendly and joked that they had a worse bite than me. Even if it was slightly unnerving just how quickly they moved around the room, they did not seem as cruel or fierce as the Cullens had made them out to be.

From what I had been told of the Volturi, they were human-hating monsters. Now, I knew that this idea of them was just plain false. They did not hate me because I was human. Not one of the guards had made a comment about my humanity. Sometimes they would ask questions about being a human, but they did not act like they hated humans in general. Vampires were just higher up on the food chain. Humans are what they eat and it would be foolish to blindly hate your food without getting to know them.

"Queen Annalise, is it true that humans have to learn in the span of a 6 hour school day? Is that how it works all over the world, or is that just how it works in the Americas?" I laughed at Alec's question. Oh lord, he looks like a kid who would go to school. Maybe like 15 at the oldest. He would be in Freshman year or would still be in middle school.

"Yes, Alec, we are forced into classrooms for 6 to 7 hours every day of the workweek. We have about 1 hour per class and must do work for that class. We have different teachers in middle and high school in America. Honestly, I hated the place. Most kids hate it. We have so much unnecessary work that we have to do after the school day is over. You would think that we would only have work during school, but we have homework. It's the bane of every child's existence," I explain. Alec and Jane look shocked, probably curious about how I survived such a hell.

"Come on, Alec, did you seriously not know about school? Most vampires know about school!" Afton remarks. Alec frowns at the man and sticks out his tongue. "Oh, really mature. Who would know that a member of the elite guard would be so immature."

"Play nicely, Afton," a blonde woman says.

"Chels, you know that I have no capacity to play nicely with dear Alec. He's too easy to rile up," Afton smirks. Oh, so this is his true mate. The one who giggles at him like I giggle at Caius and Aro. I bet I'm going to end up giggling at Marcus and freak him out just like Chelsea freaks out Afton.

"Why do you have to rile up an elite guard member, Afton? Not only is Alec an elite guard member, but Jane scares the shit out of everyone she sees. Yeah, Jane, you're a scary bitch. One scary ass bitch," Santiago turns to Jane who was giving a rare smile. Santiago looked back and just whispered, "Please, for the love that is holy, never make me see that woman smile again. It's almost as scary as Caius'. Sadistic people have the same smiles."

"He never learns. Sister, don't scare poor Santiago, he has yet to do anything to warrant such a smile from you," Alec tries to diffuse his twin, who would often give off a scary vibe. I can't tell if powerful vampires give off a bad vibe or just use their power to scare the shit out of people. Either way, I would rather not find myself on Jane's bad side. I saw that torture power, it looks painful as hell.

"Fine, brother," Jane turns and runs out of the room, running off to somewhere else in the castle.

"Is she always this terrifying?" I ask the guards in the room. Every single one of them turns to me and nods. Most of them even let off a small shudder at the thought of Jane and her powers of torture.

A tall and slender woman walks through the door. Enclosed in one of her gloved hands was a letter. "I have a letter for the Queen," she simply stated, coming over to my side and handing me the letter. Hell, I never get mail. I have no goddamn family. The only friends that I had were the- I looked to who had written the letter. Bella, Alice, Edward, Rose, and Carlisle. This thing is heavier than a normal letter. Maybe they all wrote separate letters? I'll check the handwriting.

The first letter was clearly written by Carlisle, his handwriting perfect. Plus, he wrote my letter in Italian.

Dearest Annalise,

I hope that you are doing well during your stay in Italy. Alice did not foresee the mating bond that would be. I am overjoyed to hear that you are mated to a good friend of mine. While my family holds hate in their hearts when it comes to the Volturi Coven, I do not. I stayed with them for a few decades and know that they are good people. I think that you will fit in perfectly with them.

I know that you had a falling out with Bella and Edward. I hope that you will, in time, be able to mend your relationship. You were close with all of my children. I still consider you a part of my family.

While you are now my Queen, my superior in the vampire world, I still hope that we can remain as friends. You have always been a good person, opening yourself up to a species that you didn't know existed. You are a light in the dark of the vampire world. Know that I am always here for you and support you unconditionally.

With good regards,

Carlisle Cullen

The second letter had been written by Rose, who was the member of the Olympic Coven that didn't like my ex-friend Isabella Swan.

Dear Anna,

I am saddened to hear that you will not be coming back to Forks anytime soon. When I heard that you were leaving, I can not say that I was not angry. That anger subsided when I heard of the reason why.

To find your true mate during your human lifetime is rare. To have more than one true mate is one of the most rare occurrences in the vampire world. While I do not know who to believe, Edward or Carlisle, when it comes to the goodness of the Volturi, I hope that you will be happy there. I know just how much true mates mean to people. Emmett is my true mate and before him I felt hopeless, like I would never find love again.

Carlisle assures us that the three kings of the Volturi will treat you right. I know that a true mate can not do any harm to their mate, as our instincts barr us from even considering it. It was stupid for Edward and Bella to think that you would reject your soulmate for them. Your happiness matters. You should be allowed to be happy, even if it means that you eat humans and become queen of the vampires.

Always your friend,

Rosalie Cullen

Rose's letter had calmed my nerves. At least two members of the Cullens still like me. Well, four, since Esme will side with Carlisle and Emmett with Rose. Still, I wonder if Alice will make Jasper go against me. Jasper was always a good friend.

The third letter was from Edward. Well, here we go, Annalise, be ready for this.

Dear Annalise,

I can't believe that you would do this to us. I don't understand why you would go with the Volturi. I don't understand why you would think about eating humans. Does your own species mean nothing to you?

When I saw you after looking at them, it was like you didn't care about us anymore. Do you have no heart for the people that they kill on a weekly basis? They kill, they murder, and they have no respect for morality. Carlisle tried to get them to switch their diets, it never worked. That shows you just how little they are willing to change.

We were your friends. Yes, we did drag you into this vampire mess in the first place, but you could have joined us. You could have been good, but you chose power. No wonder, you always wanted control. Isn't that how you put it? "I want to be in control of my own life. I want to make changes in my life and others."

Well, you are doing what you said that you wanted to do. Although, you should note, you are not making a positive change. I do not know when you will be turned, but when you do, I will not be able to look at you without seeing those monsters you have as mates.

With good intentions,

Edward Cullen

I shook my head at the letter before throwing it with the others. There must have been tears in my eyes because my vision had gotten blurry as I looked to the last one. The girl who was human with me, the girl who was my friend. Isabella Swan, I hope that you do not have such piercing words as your boyfriend.

Dear Annalise Monroe,

While Edward might be able to control himself, I can not. How dare you? How dare you side with the people who tried to kill me? Mates or not, we were like family. I know that you think that your mates are good, but they are not.

Your mates are evil people who kill whomever they please! Is that what you wish to become, the queen of the vampires? Is it worth the slaughter? The Cullens have a way of living that spares humans! The guards inside of the castle will want you dead. They want you for a snack! They don't respect you, they fear their kings.

Aro is a master manipulator. He's a sleazy and slimy man who has gained power from killing those he opposes. The only reason he is in power is because he has a woman that keeps the Volturi from turning on each other. Chelsea can strengthen bonds and break the bonds from other covens. I bet that you're under her influence right now. They all are. He's a sociopath!

Caius is a sadistic killer. He doesn't care about human life. He hates humans and Children of the Moon. He hunted a species to near extinction! Why would he ever love a human like you? The people back home love you, so why are settling for an unloving psychopath?

I don't know much about Marcus, but from what Carlisle says he is still stuck on the death of his late wife. He will always love her more than he loves you. Rumor has it that Aro allowed her to be killed in front of him. Do you really want a man who has dead wife issues and depression? You need someone who will put you before anything!

Oh yeah, and Aro and Caius have wives. Their names are Sulpicia and Athenodora. I bet they're going to love you. Note the sarcasm. You're becoming a homewrecker as well as a murderer and wife of three different men. How the hell are they all going to share you anyways? Take turns? God, Annalise, you are demented.

Never speak to me again,

Isabella Swan

By the time that I had read her ending regards, tears were streaming down my face. I threw the letters on the floor and ran out of the guards' room. I didn't care that a vampire could find me and kill me in the hallways. The fact that they had a few newborns in their guard didn't matter in the moment. No, I needed to be somewhere that I knew, somewhere safe.

Tears still coming down my face, I found myself opening the door to Marcus' room. It was the only room that I had been in and the only place that I felt truly safe. Inside, Marcus was sitting at his study.

He turned to see me in my pitiful state. Immediately, he ran over to me and held me in his arms as I sobbed into his chest. "Il mio amore, what happened?"