Chapter 3: Training

(Scarlett's POV)

"You're in a hurry to leave today," Joy smiled at me as I packed my bag after a long day at work, "plans with your husband?"

"Yes," I replied with a smile not being able to contain my excitement, "I'll see you next week; enjoy your time off Joy." Joy laughed waving to me as I left the hospital as quickly as I could without using my vampire speed. Once in my car I took off the annoying contacts and drove home. I didn't even bother to grab my bag when I reached the castle and quickly walked through the back garden and towards the large training room the Volturi has. Suddenly I was being swept off my feet into someone's arms.

"Lesson one," Demetri smirked down at me when I yelped, "always be aware of your surroundings."

"Demetri!" I snapped, "You scared me half to death! Put me down!" Demetri laughed and gave me a quick kiss before setting me down in the large training room. Suddenly Demetri was tying a cloth over my eyes so I couldn't see anything.

"We are going to start with your most important sense," Demetri said after securing the cloth over my eyes; "hearing."

"Alright." I replied a little confused and heard him sigh.

"People can sneak up on you way too easily Scarlett," he said, "if you are not paying attention to your surrounding you will be in trouble."

"I get it," I huffed a little, "so what do I do?"

"Listen," he said and I could picture that smirk on his lips, "you pass when you can stop me."

"Huh?" I asked but there was no response.

"Demetri?" I moved my head around even though I couldn't see anything. Suddenly a hand was wrapped around my throat and my back was pressed against Demetri's chest.

"You're dead now Scarlett," Demetri whispered in my ear after nipping at it making me shiver.

"Th-That not fair," I stuttered completely frozen and he chuckled before releasing me.

"Then listen harder." He said before there was silence again. I calmed down before closing my eyes and focusing on the noises in the room.

Nothing…

"Dead again." Demetri whispered from my left making me jump. He placed a kiss on my neck.

"You're too quiet," I complained.

"Vampires don't need to breath," he replied, "so don't listen for breathing. Focus on something else Scarlett."

"What else?" I asked but again there was no answer. I sighed and once again listened as hard as I could.

'Don't listen for breathing.' I thought, 'What else is there?' That's when I heard it from my right; a small hiss like a breeze passing by. I turned my head a little to the noise and listened harder. After a minute I heard it again from behind me and quickly turned around.

'Movement,' it finally clicked in my head, 'It's the sound of him moving.'

The sound came again from behind me and I turn around quickly while raising my hand. My wrist was caught in a strong grip and Demetri pulled me to him.

"Perfect." He purred before planting a small kiss on my lips. My blindfold was suddenly removed and I was staring into Demetri's dark red eyes.

"So I passed?" I asked hopeful.

"Yes," he replied with a smirk, "but that was the easiest lesson." He laughed at my expressing before moving away from me.

"Sight is the next important lesson," he said moving a few more feet away; "Some vampires are faster than others; but you will always be able to block an attack once you see it coming."

"So watch your movements?" I asked and he smirked before vanishing.

"Precisely" he whispered from right behind me and I quickly jumped away. He disappeared again before grabbing my neck once again.

"Move your eyes Scarlett," he said, "and rely on you peripheral vision." He let me go and vanished once again. This time I looked around and dodged him when he appeared to my left.

"Fast learner." Demetri smiled and so did I.

"Ok what's next?" I asked with excitement. Demetri walked up to me before grabbing my arm, spinning me around, and pinning my arms behind my back.

"Breaking free," he said from behind me, "this can help you get away and avoid death."

"O-Ok," I stuttered, "so what do I do?"

"Surely you learned some of this when you were human." He said with slight surprise.

"Um," I said, "not really." Demetri sighed deeply from behind me; his breath brushing my neck.

"This is something that all woman should know Scarlett," he said in a disapproval tone, "basic defensive skills."

"Sorry." I muttered and pictured him shaking his head with that disapproving look.

"Alright," he sighed, "your arms and hands are of no use right now; so how else can you get away?"

"My legs," I replied.

"And?"

"Uh…my head?"

"Correct." He replied while releasing me. For the next several hours he taught me how to get out of different positions. I also learned how to block some basic attacks and avoid getting in bad situations. There were a few times where I did accidently hurt Demetri and his surprised look made me laugh more than being worried about him.

"Well it looks like you two are having fun." Aro smiled while walking into the training room about three hours after my lessons had started.

"Yes," I smiled at him, "Demetri is teaching me some basic fighting and defending skills."

"Oh?" a small frown appeared on Aro's lips for a brief second before he smiled, "well basic skills are a good thing to know. Just don't go getting into dangerous situations Scarlett." He said and I bit my lip. I wanted to tell him that I would be fine; but I knew he was just worried so I kept quiet.

"Is there something you needed sir?" Demetri asked.

"No nothing," Aro smiled while waving a hand in dismissal, "please continue on." He left with those words and Demetri and I shared a confused look.

"Alright," Demetri said after a few minutes of silence, "how about we combine your lessons now?"

"Ok," I said in confusion taking his hand and following him out of the castle and into the forest.

"Then I'll teach you some basic tracking skills."

"Alright!" I smiled brightly as the full-moon rose into the sky; lighting up the dark city.

"Remember what I taught you," he said will kissing his mark on my neck, "now run." I picked up on what he was getting at and ran off into the forest.

'Ok keep eyes moving,' I thought as I ran 'and listen hard.' Right as I finished thinking that arms wrapped around me and I was pulled to the ground. Demetri smirked down from his spot right above me.

"Dead." He purred then kissed me deeply.

"I-I" I stuttered, "I wasn't ready."

"So?" he purred moving his lips down my neck.

"Hay this isn't training!" Demetri laughed and got up. The second I was free I took off running again. This continued on a couple more time before I finally dodge one of his attacks.

"Yes!" I cheered smiling brightly and Demetri laughed.

"Now tracking?" I asked and he smiled.

"Alright," he said, "tracking is simply picking up on scents;" he explained, "memorize the scent and follow it. Pay attention because anything someone touches will hold their scent for a while."

"Ok." I replied and he smirked.

"Then come find me." He said and vanished. I ran after him stopping every now and then to see if I could pick up on his scent. After about ten minutes I finally picked up on Demetri's scent and followed it deeper into the forest. Another thirty minutes went by before I finally found him.

"Found you!" I smiled running into his arms.

"Yes," he replied, "but you took a very long time." He teased and I rolled my eyes.

"This was my first time ok?" I replied with a huff. He chuckled then leaned down to kiss me. Right as our lips were about to touch Demetri froze and I felt him tense.

"What?" I asked and he placed a hand over my mouth; I watched as his eyes scanned the forest.

"Run," he hissed grabbing my hand and pulling me back towards the castle.

"What's wrong?" I asked worried running next to him.

"Wolves." He hissed and it was then I heard something huge running after us.

"Into the trees Scarlett!" Demetri growled and before I could react he was holding me bridal style and we were hiding up in a tree. Demetri set me down on the thick branch and pushed me against the trunk his arms on either side of me. I stood still as I held onto his jacket and buried my face in his chest. The wolves that were following us suddenly stopped and I could hear them sniffing around right below us. Based on Demetri's tense posture I could tell we were outnumbered and in a very bad situation.

Suddenly Demetri looked over to the left and when I noticed that movement I also hear several growls. Like a fight was going on down below. After a few minutes the sound of wolves whimpering and running off reached my ears. Right after Demetri relaxed his tense posture.

"Demetri! Scarlett!" I heard Felix's voice yell out and I breathed out in relief. I grabbed Demetri's hand and we jumped down from the tree. Felix, Jane, Alec and a couple other guards were there waiting for us.

"Thanks Felix." Demetri said with a sigh.

"Are you an idiot?!" Alec suddenly snapped, "what were you thinking coming all the way out here on the night of a full moon?!" Demetri rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"I would've been fine." Demetri lied and Alec rolled his eyes.

"I don't care about you," he snapped, "we came because we were worried about Scarlett."

"I'm fine." I spoke up and Alec glared at me.

"You two were outnumbered," Felix cut in clearly sensing the tension, "Scarlett you are nowhere near skilled enough to fight wolves and Demetri would not have been able to protect you." I opened my mouth to protest, but quickly shut it when I noticed the worry in everyone's eyes.

"Sorry," I muttered, "we were being careless."

"Clearly." Alec hissed and walked off followed by Jane who just shook her in in disapproval. I felt a hand being placed on my head and looked up to see Demetri smile down at me.

"Don't be upset little Scarlett," he said, "it was my mistake. Children of the moon are very difficult to fight even for the most skilled vampire; so don't get upset over this." We followed after the others with a few lower guard right behind us. When we reached the castle Demetri and the others went to report to Aro what had happened.

"Why the long face dear?" I looked behind me to see the wives walking towards me with a few guards.

"Oh hello again." I smiled. Sulpicia, Aro's wife, placed her hand on my shoulder in a comforting way.

"Why are you upset Scarlett?" she asked and I sighed.

"Well," I started and told her about what happened.

"I'm glad the two of you are safe." Sulpicia smiled and the other two nodded.

"But I just feel so useless," I sighed, "I mean I don't want to be a burden to everyone and I'm getting kind of tired of people always protecting me like I'm a child." Sulpicia smiled sadly and patted my head.

"But dear you are still a child to our world," she said kindly, "and also remember that you are precious to everyone here. You are not a burden because you are family; your feelings right now are natural for a young vampire."

"Ok." I sighed and watched the wives walk away with their guards.

"But I don't always want to be protected." I muttered to myself before walking back to my room as well.