First I want to say Merry Christmas! I thought I would post a new chapter as a present for my faithful readers. Second I want to thank everyone that has taken time to review the last chapter. Sadly I have been a slacker and have not answered ANY of them. I am going to get to them next week, I promise!
As always it seems this chapter has not been beta'ed, so any errors are mine.
I own nothing, but the ADD that keeps me going.
Chapter 39
I landed just outside the Center. I could see through the windows that Felix had a 'class' going on inside with some of the probationary members, Jasper was being his assistant. I did not want to interrupt his class so I stayed out in the hall for a few moments. I know with Felix's training and instincts he would sense me thirty to fifty feet away, and Jasper being my mate would also sense me. As soon as I entered through the first double doors Felix's head turned toward me, winking at me and went back to his class. I saw Jasper in the back of the room working with a group of probationary members. Felix slowly worked his way to Jasper, whispered something in his ear then walked away. Jasper's head rose, looked straight at me, gave me a quick nod then went back to work too.
I took this time to watch the probie's work. Felix had them in pairs working on their hand to hand combat, something they defiantly needed help with. As I watched I noticed something was off. I understand that this was probably a surprise class for all the probie's that were off duty. I also understand that some of these probies's just got off duty, Jasper and Scott were jest a few. What I didn't understand was why they were not giving it their all. It was almost like while the cat, meaning me, was away the mice, meaning them, were going to play. I watched as they went fro the easy moves just to look as if they were really trying, most were not going for the 'kill' as they were trained. The longer I watched, the angrier I got. When I had enough I slid my card through the reader and pushed the door open.
"Mistress present," called Felix as soon as my feet passed the threshold to the center. The room froze and turned to me.
"Please I do not want to disturb everyone just yet, " I said trying to keep my irritation out of my voice. "I am going to borrow Felix and Jasper." I motioned for them to head for the back door. "Just because your instructors are going to be talking with me does not mean you can stop your sparing." The probies moved very slowly back into their groups, almost if they were afraid I was going to change my mind. "Good morning you two." I said making my way to them.
"Bella," said Jasper while after he saluted. He obviously remembered our tips from the other day, tip 3 to be exact.
"Morning Bella," replied Felix after his salute. "Did your business go as you wished this morning?"
"It went fine," I said. "It was not something I had planned on needing to do, but now I feel better that it is done."
"What did you need to do," asked Jasper?
"Just had to make a phone call that I wish I didn't need to make," I smiled up at him. "Did you finish what I asked you to do last night?"
"I did," he nodded. "There were only a few applications. I think I was able to make good notes for each want-a-be member."
"Good. I am sure they are on my desk correct?" Jasper nodded. "Speaking of want-a-be members," I turned to Felix. "I am guessing this was a surprise training today? I have racked my brain and don't remember scheduling training for anyone other then Jasper this morning."
"Well, it is plain as day that Jasper is well advanced over this class of probationary members. I thought it would be a better use of time to have him help work with them instead of slowing his progression to match theirs. Since he will also be instructing probies in the future this helps him see how I teach in a group." Felix must have thought I was upset with him, he was starting to get defensive.
"No need to defend yourself," I reached out and touched his arm trying to calm him. "I just was wondering that's all. That might be explain why they are so apathetic about training today. Have you not noticed?"I looked to Felix then to the members sparing in front of me. "What about you Jasper? Have you noticed?"
"They do seem to be a little lackadaisical. I just assumed that since this is just practice that it was the norm."
"No," I shook my head. "We train full out. Only thing different between now and real combat it in practice we don't take heads." I continued to watch the sparing in the room, my eyes scanning each group.
"Honestly Bella," Felix looked to the ground. "this group has variations of this almost all the time."
"Really?" I couldn't help but be astonished. "Were you hoping that I would not notice their sluggish movements? The careless ways that they go for an attack?"
It was not entirely Felix's fault that these probies were lacking in combat skills. Yes, Felix was the main instructor for the probationary members while I took control the whole guard. I usually still worked with the probationary members a few time to see for myself if they were truly up for the task of being in the guard, and I did it sooner then now. It just seemed that after Chanel and Apollo left it was becoming harder and harder for me to get the motivation to get some things done. Maybe it was sign that it was time to take a step back; maybe focusing only on being a Volturi Leader or just Leader or the Guard. I could also go the drastic route and just take a break from Italy all together. I was pulled from my thoughts by an angry snarl coming in front and to my right. It seemed that Scott didn't take being knocked down well. He was on a clear path to take vengeance on Casey. Vengeance he was not going to get, I was not going to let Casey get hurt for doing what he was suppose to be doing.
"Everybody freeze." I shouted to the room. I slowly walked toward a growling Scott with Jasper and Felix flanking me. "You are only upset that he got the better of you and made you look like a fool. If you were doing what you were suppose to be doing in the first place it would have never happened," I said after I grabbed him by the arm, pulling him forcefully from his crouch. "So tell me Scott," I paused, "what where you going to do to Casey if I hadn't called for you to stop?"
"Rip his head off," he snarled swallowing thickly his venom, at least he was not going to try and lie to me.
"Right." I pushed him away from me. "Okay so," I turned to the room at large, "I am now going to interrupt your class." I summoned my Leader of the Guard cloak, "Do I need to re-enter the room?" I asked as I put my cloak on and headed for the main door to the Center.
"Mistress present," Felix called for the second time as he headed for his position when attention was called. Jasper too knew his place, which happened to be behind me at all times both as my second and my probie. The only difference between the two was that as my second he was slightly behind me and to my right, as a probie it was a full step behind and to my left. Once I was in my spot for attention I turned hoping to see the other probationary members in their spots as well; I wanted to get this impromptu meeting done, I had other places to be today other then here. Not one of them had moved from their original positions. This was just freaking fantastic!
"You have got to be kidding me!" I threw my hands into the air. "Please someone tell me this is a joke," I looked around the room. "Not one of you know where you are to stand when Attention is called if your mentor is not in the room?" I looked to the probie's waiting for an answer. "Jasper," I said shaking my head in sad resignation at how much more these members were going to have to come to be anywhere near leaving the shadows of their mentors.
"Mistress," Jasper said stepping forward and facing me.
"I know you are newer here but maybe you can shed some light on where they are suppose to go?"
"When attention is called all probationary member are to stand behind their mentor and to the left unless otherwise stated by the highest ranked active guard present." Jasper rattled off the a line from the guard books I had given the other night.
"What if their mentors are not present at the time Attention is called?"
"If the probationary member's mentor is expected to arrive soon the member should stand in their mentors place until they arrive, then step behind and to the left. If the member's mentor is not present and not expected to arrive then the probationary member will stand behind the last row of active guard facing the front of the Center in order of rank of their mentor." I smiled at him, he really had read through everything I asked. Maybe having him in the guard wasn't going to be so bad.
"Thank you Jasper," I said. "Please take your place as second."
"Yes Mistess," Jasper saluted and gave me a small nod before moving to my side.
"So," I turned back the other probie's in the room, "if you could pop your heads out of your asses and move," I waved my arm to where Felix was standing, "I can continue with my day." The now slightly scared vampires did not waste any time waiting for my to finish before they took off like a bat out of Hell to their places. I couldn't help the slight smug feeling when I saw that Casey was leading the line behind Felix, and that Scott was more in the middle. "Casey center," I said once they were all situated.
"Mistress," Casey came to a stop in front of me with a salute.
"Your mentor is who again?"
"Quinn is Mistress," Casey answered with a small stutter. That explained why he was a head of Scott. Quinn was my lead scout. He had a talent of finding any information on any topic, in fact that was his power which then lead him to be in Elite guard.
"Quinn left with the other scouts?" I just realized something, eighty percent of probationary members were now without their mentors now that I sent the scouts out.
"Aye Mistress he did," said Casey with a hint of his Irish accent slipping through.
"Jasper," I looked to my right. "Would you inform Ethan that until Quinn returns that he is in charge of Casey?"
"Of course Mistress," answered Jasper.
"Wait!" Casey said loudly, his eyes wide with shear panic. "Ethan is basically part of the Inner Circle, I can't intrude on his time."
"It is not intruding Casey," I shook my head at him, a smile on my lips. "You need a mentor until Quinn returns and what better the Ethan to fill his place? I only place people together if I think they will work well together. You will see that working with Ethan will be beneficial to you and your placement here in the guard."
"I don't want to be a burden on anyone Mistrss," said Casey looking down.
"It is not a burden Casey. There are other probationary members that need to be placed with temporary mentors," I smiled again at him. "Now, back to why I called for you in the first place. Can you tell me the point of why we train?"
"So that we can be ready for battle."
"Why do I want everyone to practice as if in actual combat situation?" I asked him.
"So we know what to expect during the real thing. We need to know that our opponent is not going to take at easy on us in battle so we should not get into the habit to so here."
"Very good Casey," I praised him. "I see I have another probie that has actually read the information given to him and listens. Back in line please Casey."
"Aye Mistress," he saluted before turning and heading back to his place in line.
"Would someone here like to explain to me why when I watched you today I saw the most lazy bunch of vampires I have ever seen? Only few of you were actually training as you should. The point of these classes or exercises are two fold. Not only do they teach you how to defend yourselves but they show you what to expect from your opponent."
"We are not fighting the enemy when we are in here," Scott interrupted.
"Your right Scott your not. But if you don't learn how to fully do a move with full strength how will you know when too mush is too much? Nighty percent of the time our goal is to keep the peace, or to get information. We no longer kill first and ask questions later. If you screw up a move and decapitate someone when trying to subdue a situation then we lose the reason we came. We go back to what we once were and I for one don't want that.
"The point of having you spar at your full strength is also so you know your limits. What happens if in an actual combat situation and you run out of energy? We are Vampires does that not mean we get worn down, or need breaks? I am not going to sacrifice myself because you used your energy to fast, nor am I going to put my brothers safety in your hands to have you need a time out!" I started to pace in front of them. Jasper was smart and stayed next to my original spot guessing that I would make it back there eventually.
"I want to make this crystal clear right here and right now. If I ever see any one of you not giving one hundred percent to anything ever again I will strip you of you rank and position so fast you won't realize your standing outside the castle walls until you hear the door slam. I won't make it a spectacle of it like I did for Steph and Tina. I will walk right up to you," I stepped in front of Scott, "and say you fucked up, pack your shit and get out. There will be no second chances, no discussion. Is that understood?"
"Yes Mistress," sounded the room in unison.
"Great I am happy that we understand each other." I walked back to my original spot before turning to Felix. "Let's see if this class can finish better then it started shall we? You have a half hour left of Jasper's time, use it well."
"Understood Mistress," replied Felix with a salute.
"Jasper I will be in my office waiting for you when you are finished here."
"Very good Mistress," Jasper too saluted.
"I am now finished with my lecture, enjoy the rest of your class. You are dismissed from Attention.
"Mistress," sounded the room in unison with a group salute. They remained in their positions until I was out of the room.
Okay so... I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas. Mine is a little crazy seeing as my real life has continued to get more and more hectic, with no rest in site. *hint* chapters are still going to be few and far between *hint*.
Also I wanted to let everyone know that I have started a blog... www. wordsrunrampant. wordpress. com (Take the spaces out). Here (along with twitter) you will get a glimpse of my life and what is going on. Also I have begun to post a new story up on the blog... Sovereign of Prophecy. Please give it a try and let me know what you think!