Two Months Later

I crumpled onto my knees as a terrible ripple of anguish ran through my nervous system.

I growled, "Knock it off!"

Jane, as usual, did not listen to me.

She only smiled, and the pain got even worse.

I felt my limbs twitching and my body spasamed.

Alec instructed calmly, "You must fight it off, Leo. You don't have your power to aid you, you must be strong in other ways."

I whimpered, "How?"

Alec hinted, "Use your head."

Then it clicked.

I've been told that Jane's power doesn't actually hurt you.

We only think it does.

So was he saying I had to over-come the idea of pain? I had to be stronger then her?

Hah, like that would happen! She's had three hundred years to practice.

I had to try though, she was hurting me.

This isn't real, Leo! Just stop feeling it.

.....

That didn't work.

I growled and Alec sighed patiently, "Jane, that's enough for today."

She ignored him. Her vibrant red eyes narrowed and the pain just got worse.

It felt like little daggers, hundreds of thousands of them, were slicing through my body.

I couldn't help but scream, and that made the bitch smirk.

Mild tempered Alec actually snarled, and Jane's concentration broke.

She glanced at him with wide, overly innocent eyes. "What? The more it hurts the harder he'll try."

I shakily stood up and glared at her, hissing angrily, "You're lucky your brother is here, Jane, or your ashes would be joining Aro's by the end of the hour."

With a screech of fury the girl sprang on me, biting the arm I had raised defensively.

I snarled back and thrust my knee into her stomach, knocking her off of me, and she toppled sideways.

Alec was standing in between in a moment later, his eyes flashing with irritation. "Enough! You two are acting like children."

I sourly pointed out, "I am only eleven, Alec."

He glared at me and I crossed my arms, huffing in annoyance.

Jane straightened her robe and coldly announced, "Same time tomorrow."

She stalked sharply out of the room and I stood quietly as my dulled scenes began to sharpen, because Alec was letting his mist fade.

He pointed out, in a mild defense for his sister, "You know, it would have been a lot worse if I wasn't here. You know you can't spark her temper."

I glared at him, "That sadistic little demon was enjoying herself way too much."

I could barely imagine it being worse. I nearly shuttered at the very thought!

Alec shrugged, "That's just how she is. Come, you should hunt."

I pulled up my hood, rubbing my arm as I followed him out into the upper world. I have gotten used to being under ground.

I was still trying to stick to the animal diet. I've had a ton of accidents but I personally think I am doing pretty well.

Alec, surprisingly, was trying it out too. He said he remembers when Carlisle was first in Italy, and he remembers watching him struggling through it alone.

He says he doesn't want me to have to do that, too, so we can struggle together.

He's a great friend.

Once outside Alec asked excitably, "Alright, where's today's destination. The Etruscan ruins, or are we going after some farm cows?"

I frowned, domestic animals tasted so… Bland. It was the wilder ones that were sweeter.

I decided, "Let's look for deer at the ruins."

We slipped through the back allies of the town until we were at the ruins.

Alec took a deep breath, pinpointing the scent immediately, "There's one north east."

I glanced at him in surprise. We barely got here! His sense of smell was incredible.

I took the lead as he ran silently through the fields, taking cover in a thick cluster of trees. The deer in question was a young roe, a buck.

As it wandered closer, it lifted its head suddenly.

I flashed forward and tackled it, snapping its neck.

Alec bounced beside me and praised, "Nice catch!"

I sank my teeth into the throat, and Alec bit down on its flank. We silently shared the animal until its blood was completely drained.

When we were finished, we sat on either side of the carcass.

For whatever reason, Marcus honestly cares about the people of Volterra, and he told me to give all of the animals to the local butcher when it was no longer of use to me. He said that the people appreciate extra meat, and it's better then letting it rot.

I suppose that makes sense, so Alec and I will drop it off in the morning.

My friend lay back in the grass, his face sparkling as the fading sun shined down on it.

He suddenly asked, "You wouldn't kill Jane, would you, Leo?"

I frowned and flopped onto my back, sighing.

I actually had to consider that, but I finally answered, "I suppose not. It would upset you."

I would do it, without hesitation, if it weren't for Alec. He'd be crushed. I don't want to be the one who does that to him, not if it's possible for me to prevent it.

Alec smiled at me, but he didn't say anything more. We weren't big on talking.

Instead, we just lay in a comfortable silence and watched the brilliant orange sunset fade into twilight.