Proving Your Worth

"Concentrate Leona, you can do it sweetheart." Aro encouraged me as I struggled to keep the boulder in the air with the green vines wrapped around it.

It was a lot harder to control mother nature than one might think. She does not simply bend to one's will, no matter how much I willed it.

We were practicing my power in the gardens.

Ever since the Cullen's came back into my life to try and take me away, I wanted to prove to myself that I belonged here with the Volturi and that I wasn't useless...especially to Aro.

I wanted to show him I was strong and I could protect him.

I whimpered as I strained myself to keep it up.

The vines around it started to snap as the boulder began to slip. My legs gave out as the boulder and myself went crashing to the ground.

My eyes rolled into the back of my head but I was still conscious for the most part.

"Leona!" I heard Aro call to me in panic. I felt his hands on me as he swept me up.

"Sweetheart are you okay? Leona, Leona please, darling, speak to me!" he cried growing more and more panicked as I remained silent.

A whine escaped me as I cracked my eyes open, staring right into Aro's panicked face.

"Can I go again?" I muttered giving him a weak smile.

"That's it, no more for today little one." Aro picked up my physically looking teenage body and carried me into the castle up the flight of stairs and into the library.

No one knew why but I had a major growth spurt since my little 'visit' with the Cullen's. In just a few months I had grown from my pathetic stance of 3'7 to an outstanding 5'1.

I was delighted I was growing so fast. Aro however was more worried than happy. He was worried about my health as my body continued to grow, but Demetri had assured him I was fine.

My head lazily turned and I saw Marcus and Caius in the library, reading in silence by the fireplace. They both looked up at us when the double doors opened up.

Marcus was on his feet in an instant.

"What happened piccolo?" he cooed to me while soothing stroking back my black curls away from my face.

"I had a fight with a boulder. The boulder won." Caius snorted at my sarcastic comment. I knew he secretly enjoyed my sarcasm as it did match up to his.

Aro gently placed me on the couch with strict orders not to move. He left after a few minutes to get me a bottle of blood to consume.

"So, I'm take it your session with mother nature was unsuccessful?"

"Ha, ha, ha. No." I laughed dryly at Caius' sarcastic comment.

To everyone else he was a heartless, cold, ruthless, monster who only craved power, but I knew him better then that. Even if he denied it every time I could see in his eyes he cared about me. He was just not the type of person that was going to express it...or even admit it to himself.

"How shocking,"

"One of these days Caius, I am so gonna kick your ass."

He looked up from his book and raised an eyebrow at me. If anyone else had said that to him, they would most certainly be dead right now, but not me.

Why? I can say with the utmost certainty...I have no fucking clue why he lets me get away from speaking to him like that.

"The day you beat me in a match is the day I switch my diet of human blood to animal."

I blinked when an image of Caius in the forest and the look of utter disgust covering his face as he bit into a bunny rabbit was just too funny.

I laughed so hard I almost fell of the couch. I looked up to see it was Aro who had caught me, and was also holding a bottle of blood for me to drink.

Once his hand touched my skin all my thoughts drifted into his mind. He chuckled at me when he saw the image of Caius drinking animal blood, before setting me back down on the couch and handing me the bottle of red liquid.

"Here mia cara. Drink this and when you're feeling better you can start your violin lessons with Chelsea." Aro told me.

My eyes widened at the thought of playing with my beloved violin. I loved forcing out the sweet melody of the fine instrument. It was also handy at getting out my emotions too.

Playing the violin was my one safe outlet.

~4~

I happily skipped down the halls. I had just finished my session with Chelsea and I had learned a new song. I was so excited to show Marcus. He loved it when I played the violin for him.

Just as I had reached the door to the library I heard their voices.

"We can't let this go on any longer Aro! We have to deal with him now," I heard Caius angry muffled voice through the door. "His army is growing stronger with ever new member he adds!"

I heard a sigh.

"I suppose your right. He is creating too much of a problem. I'll send Jane and Alec up to dispose of Joham and his little army of hybrids..." I was no longer paying attention to the conversation at hand.

This was my chance to prove to everyone that I belonged here!

I ripped the door open in my eagerness.

"I can do it!" I cheered looking at the three startled vampire kings. "Let me take of Joham."

"Leona," Aro said, "How ling have you been standing there?"

I ignored his question, skipping up to him.

"I can do it! Send me up there with Jane and Alec, I can take them!"

"No,"

I froze.

"What?"