Strange thing, starting chapters are the hardest thing for me (it took ages for me to get this one started), but once I start I'm generally very good after that. And yes, I weakened Renata's shield, in the books/on the wiki it is actually said to be like Bella's shield (a bubble), but I changed it, sorry. Also, the length, yeah, I don't know what happened there. Don't expect it to happen again until maybe the second last chapter


Chapter 4

One thing I learned fairly quickly over the years as a vampire was that there was always going to be a war. Peace could not exist without war, just as light could not exist without dark and good with evil, death with life. I learned that as what had been World War II turned into the Cold War with the Korean War and the Vietnam War, which was still occurring.

We vampires were not exempt from feeling the effects of the wars that humans fought. I finally learned what Aro had been referencing with regard to Mussolini. He'd had a member of the guard posing as one of the man's advisors, sending some of the prisoners to Volterra where we ... dealt with them. Several of the guard also over saw various Nazi concentration camps, free meals. We'd also had members working with the Allies of course, it was always good to have a finger in all the pies, that way we knew we'd be safe. Not that we couldn't take care of ourselves.

Eventually though, that war ended. We had peace for a few short years then the Americans and the Soviets turned on each other, began amassing arms. During all that the Korean War began, again we had members on both sides. War breed great opportunities for free food. Shoot the person where you bit them and no one would know a vampire had gotten them.

Korea ended and then Vietnam began. The cycle was renewed.

For the most part, the wars never affected me. I still wasn't allowed out of Volterra, even after nearly two decades. I grew to mind my imprisonment less after Jane and Alec took me in, much as Athenodora had when I'd first arrived, though I knew enough that part of my acceptance could be a result of Corin and her contentment gift. When I first realized what was happening with the twins, despite my always having wanted to be a mother, I'd been scared. But perhaps all women experienced that fear as they realized they would have to care for another. Athenodora assured me of that when I expressed my fear to her.

Demetri hadn't been around when the twins first adopted me as their mother, he'd been dealing with a rogue vampire before he joined Felix in Korea. I'd been worried how he'd react when he came back - we'd developed an easy friendship over the years since Jane and Alec always wanted to play with us - I didn't want him to feel replaced. He'd laughed when I'd hesitantly told him about it saying that he'd have been surprised if it didn't happen. I'd hit him for that, and maybe I had been laughing as I did.

Right now, things weren't going as smoothly as the Volturi would like. Not because of the Vietnam war, but because the African covens had come together and were actively moving against the Volturi. Sulpicia figured they were attacking now because we had over half our guard away enjoying the fun of the human's war.

Neither Athenodora or I could dispute the fact. Nor could Aro or Caius, Marcus didn't seem to care. Just the other day I remember remarking to Athenodora that with how Marcus seems so removed from everything after Didyme's death permitting him death would be a kind mercy. She said that the Volturi needed him, despite his apathy towards life, his gift was too valuable to lose. I understand that, I really do, but what about his peace?

Sulpicia had laughed at that, "There's that heart of yours again." She'd commented before turning back to her book.

"Having a heart can be a good thing." I reminded her.

"It can make you very strong, but it must also be protected at all times as it is the most vulnerable." Athenodora stated calmly in her airy voice that always made me think of crisp white clouds in a perfect blue sky.

"Just look at Marcus." Sulpicia remarked mournfully. "Our husbands learned that truth the hard way, and now here we are."

The truth was a hard thing to accept sometimes, and that was one of them. I know that the Volturi and their wives still mourned Didyme, perhaps nowhere near the way Marcus did, but it was obvious in the way Aro and Caius acted with their wives and how Sulpicia and Athenodora acted around Marcus. Aro and Caius treated him no different, their way of trying to help him recover I figure, but Athenodora and Sulpicia were always quick to comfort him.

But all that was yesterday, today things were tense. One of the African coven leaders had been spotted in Volterra. Felix hadn't been sure which of the leaders it had been, and he had only spotted him for a few seconds, but everyone was on edge. Normally Aro would have had Demetri check on each of the leaders, given his ability to locate anyone, but he was in Africa dealing with the situation, and checking on his former coven who had so far refused to become involved.

Jane had gone with him, gleeful at the idea of causing their enemies pain. I worry about that, her joy at causing pain, but then I see her interacting with Alec or Demetri, and that worry evaporates because she is a normal six year old again. Then Aro needs her, and she becomes this other person. As her mother I keep a watchful eye, I want to know she is safe, physically and emotionally. If her gift inadvertently causes her pain I will act, I don't know how but as her mother I will protect her. It's what mothers do, protect their children.

Alec scares me sometime just as much as his sister. He's calmer, I've seen it since the day I first met him, but in his own way he's just as cruel because he's a planner. His cunning makes him deadlier than even Jane could wish to be, and I worry about Alec perhaps more than I do Jane. He doesn't seem to change between moods, he is simply always that way. Calm, watchful, and scheming.

I'm in the throne room with Alec, playing checkers - I refuse to play chess with him, he's far to good - and listening to him moan about how Jane always gets to go with dad during troubled times while he stays behind like one of the wives. I can see the leaders on their thrones discussing the citing earlier, and see Marcus smile slightly at Alec's remark. It gives me hope for him when he does that, react to something, no matter how small a reaction. Sulpicia and Athenodora, let free from their tower for the day - under heavy guard and despite their husbands urgings given the danger, stop their conversation with their spouses to comfort Alec. Reminding him that it's not all bad.

I'm just about to win the game when we all hear shouting in the hall beyond the doors. Aro and Caius manoeuvre their wives behind the thrones, the only sign they show that they are worried. I keep an eye on the leaders and the other on the door as the noise outside grows closer and we can begin making out voices and what's being said.

Azibo, a leader from Senegal, had gotten past the walls and into the fortress. I jumped slightly as something crashed into the closed doors. Felix moved forward in an effort to block the path to the leaders while Renata drew herself up prepared to defend Aro as was her job. Marcus continued on seemingly unaware of what occurred just outside the chamber, or perhaps he was the one we should be most afraid of, I thought glancing briefly behind me to Alec who like Marcus seemed undisturbed by the impending attack.

I tensed as the door shook from another hit then watched as the wood splintered and five vampires rushed into the room. Azibo was not yet with his men, or perhaps these were the cannon fodder, as Felix and Afton made quick work of them. More kept spilling in though, and it only took long enough for the room to fill before Caius left Renata's repelling shield to join the carnage.

I knew Alec was a capable fighter, it was him that had insisted on and began teaching me to fight, but I still drew him with me as I moved to join the wives and Corin - who stood useless with them. Never before had anyone been so daring as to engage the Volturi in combat in their own home, and I could see why now, even with most of the guard away due either to the Vietnam War or the African conflict, our enemy was vastly outmatched.

Then I saw it, or rather him. At least I thought it was him since I never left the fortress or palace - more fortress, really - that was the Volturi's home within Volterra. Azibo stood not twenty feet away from me and he was moving closer. Closer to the wives. Somehow he had gotten into the room and behind Renata's shield without being seen.

If he was planning the attack I feared he was planning then this war would be over shortly with our defeat. It was easy enough, having seen Aro with Sulpicia and Caius with Athenodora to know that if Azibo managed to kill even one of the wives that the leaders would be crippled with grief as Marcus was now. And Azibo was still moving towards us with no one knowing because Aro, Marcus, Sulpicia, Athenodora, Corin, and Alec stood watching the fight in front of the thrones from behind Renata.

Alec moved out of my grip and I thought for a second he had seen Azibo himself, but instead he moved to get a clear shot at the battle in front of us and numb our enemy. That put him between Azibo and the wives yes, but it also made him a more immediate target for Azibo. Kill Alec and his army would again be free and he could still get the wives. I knew he thought that as soon as he had because I saw it in his eyes.

I'd never been a fighter, I always saw myself as far too delicate. The only time I can say that I fought someone was when Royce and his friends had attacked me, and that had been in an attempt to save my own life. When I was hunting them, I can't say I really attacked, it was more like I was playing with them. But now, knowing that that man intended to kill my son - I attacked.

There was nothing graceful about it. Alec had only given me a few short lessons and that had been a year ago when we began hearing about the Africans stirring. Demetri had put a stop to it since I wasn't to be leaving the city and no one was stupid enough to attack us in our own home. But I had seen Demetri train, and Felix, and Afton, and Santiago, all the guard really, so I knew how to fight in theory, I'd just never really done it.

Until now. I'd pushed Alec out of Azibo's path before, I think, anyone had realized I'd moved, before I'd even realized I'd moved to be perfectly honest. I took a single second to be sure Alec was safe before I meet Azibo's gaze, he was surprised by my move, but that didn't last as he launched himself at me. Again, I was no fighter, but I lunged for him myself, only to have him twist over me and advance on his original target.

By now at least, Marcus had turned and saw what was happening but I feared that since Didyme was already lost he was not going to be much aid. As well, Alec knew since I'd pushed him out of harm's way, he was helpful and he intercepted Azibo with a crash like thunder. But the enemy managed to get a hold of my son and threw his small form across the room causing me to see red, no one hurt my son and got away with it.

I pounced at Azibo, landing on his back and throwing all my weight down, I crashed us into the floor. I spun off his back, keeping low, keeping as level with him as possible and making sure I held his gaze as soon as he looked up. As he jumped up, I jumped out at him, throwing him this time onto his back but he had his feet up and managed to kick me off him.

I sailed upward through the air before twisting and coming down somewhat painfully on my knees. He was already moving again for the wives, but thankfully Aro was there this time to intercept. He grabbed the thin, darkly tanned man and threw him towards the rest of the fighting. But Azibo grabbed the back of Marcus's empty throne and used it to redirect his momentum, spinning and flipping to remain with us on the raised dais, and still behind Renata's shield. Unfortunately she couldn't redirect it without allowing everyone else in to room the chance to reach us, she had explained as much to me. Her shield was an invisible force but much like a medieval piece of wood or metal with one sided protection rather than an encompassing bubble, a repelling force on one side like a knights insignia but nothing on the other.

Azibo landed between Aro and myself, with me between him and the wives. I knew how he was going to move before he even began. I was the obvious target, and with Aro aware of his plan, Sulpicia was his ultimate goal. He came at me trying to be as big as possible, and I quickly prepared for it. I let him ram into me but then I flipped over him, like I'd seen him do, only I kept a death grip on his shoulders as I did and pulled him with me, slamming him into the marble floor. He flipped up quicker than I expected but I grabbed his arm as he tried to punch me. I flipped and spun and twisted around his arm, around his back, down his front, through his legs, and up his back again before twisting hard on his neck and pushing us to the ground. We landed with me straddling his shoulders and his head dangling from my hands, I tossed the useless appendage - with mouth frozen open in shock - over my shoulder and looked up.

Everyone was watching me. Aro, Marcus, Caius, Sulpicia, Athenodora, Alec, Renata, Corin, Felix, Afton, Chelsea - who I don't remember entering the room - and the few vampires still standing of Azibo's force. They all surrendered quick enough when Aro turned from me to face them. Felix took them out soon after.

Alec raced to my side once I'd stood, and I held my son in a tight embrace, making sure that he was safe. Or perhaps he was making sure I was safe, after all I just killed another vampire, and not only that, the vampire that led an army into Volterra and had planned to kill the wives. I was pretty sure I was physically fine, but other than that - I know vampires couldn't pass out, it was physically impossible, but I was about ready to from the shock of what I had done.

I wasn't going to pass out, but my knees certainly gave out from under me and my hearing went off - like I was in a cloud or under water, or maybe both - and my vision blurred with things getting fuzzy with little black dots. Was this the vampire equivalent to passing out? I wasn't sure, maybe it was the vampire form of shock.

I don't quite know what happened but one second the world tilted on its dotted and fuzzy axel with the muted sound of Alec shouting and then I blinked up at Athenodora's surprised face. Caius stood behind her, a hand on her shoulder.

I licked my lips before I tried to speak, "Can vampires pass out?"

Caius laughed shocking me. Caius doesn't laugh unless cruelly, and there was nothing but genuine humour there. "No, we don't, but we can feel shock." He answered offering me his hand, and again what?

All the same I took it and allowed him to pull me back to my feet where Alec rushed my legs hugging me again. I realized Athenodora must have caught me when I fell because she laid a hand on my shoulder from behind me.

"Thank you." I didn't know who said that, not really, I knew the voice but the words didn't register until I turned to see Aro looking at me, holding his wife to his side and a grateful smile on his face. "It seems I may have been wrong when I first turned you away from our fair city."

Did Aro just admit he was wrong?

"I think I'm still in shock." I heard myself whisper not believing what I was hearing.

"Her heart is her strongest gift." Marcus rasped, "It always has been, and it is what saved us. Thank you, for letting me see the strength of your heart."

I smiled at Marcus, I always liked him. He was kind in his broken way. In truth all the Volturi's leaders were kind to me, even if more often than not they ignored me. Aro, it's true, never went out of his way for me, same with Sulpicia, but they were kind when I was around. Athenodora had been my first friend and ally in the city, and Caius I always felt indulged her by showing me a kindness I didn't see him show others. Marcus, he was broken, but he was kind when he could find himself enough to be present.

The guard was in some ways the same. They indulged me more than they included me. I was Athenodora's pet and the twin's mother to them. Nothing else. Not something to be protected like the wives, or followed like the leaders. I wasn't a member of the guard, I was just ... there; but now, looking at the guard in the room, I couldn't help feel like maybe that was going to change. I'd earned the Volturi's respect, at least I felt that way.