Hey! I made it! I said I wanted to get a chapter out for the New Year or my Birthday (which is today) and I did it! Leaving it short and sweet today...I've got places to go, people to provoke.

As always I own nothing, but the candles on my plot cake.


Jasper and I made it to the Center arm in arm discussing some of the new changes for the guard. He made it clear that he wanted me to chose one persona or the other, be Mistress of the Guard or Volturi Leader; but he wasn't going to force me to do anything. He was right, of course. I had been pulling myself thin trying to everything; trying to be Leader, Mistress, and the human personas as well. I had no time to be myself; to be just Bella Swan. Of course nothing would change today, or in the near future; but he wanted to give me food for thought and for me to know that I had his support for whatever I chose. When we made it to the door, the rest of the Inner Circle was there waiting.

"Good morning, Mistress," Ethan said when he saw us walking down the hall. "Did you have a pleasant evening?"

"We did," I replied with a wide smile, "very pleasant indeed."

Jasper turned to Jane and asked, "Are they all present?"

"Yes," Jane said with a curt nod. "Demetri and I attempted to get them lined up by what we thought their usefulness, but we had some issues with a few of them."

"Couple thought they should have been higher, and Scott wouldn't move from the corner," Demetri finished for her.

"I don't think we have ever had a group that didn't value themselves higher than what they were," Felix added with a roll of his eyes.

Alec chimed in with, "All but Bella anyway, and maybe Jasper here."

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Then we are a good pair then aren't we?" Jasper gave my hand a reassuring squeeze as he kissed my hair. "Are we ready?" Everyone gave me a nod. "Then let's get this show on the road, I have have places to go, people to annoy," I said with a wave of my hand.

I couldn't have orchestrated our movements better if I had tried; one would have thought I had planned it out for more effect, but alas this time I hadn't. As one both Ethan and Alec pushed open the first set of doors, allowing Demetri and Felix to step through to the other set. Without pausing a step Demetri swiped his Id unlocking the doors so he and Felix could shove them open. As soon as they were open Jane stepped through announcing "Mistress present," before stepping to the side for Jasper and I. When we were through the others stepped into the room forming a formidable triangle behind us.

"Shut up everyone, I've let more then you go at one time," I snapped when they continued to mutter to each other. The reaction was instant, all eyes snapped to me and all mouths shut at once. I waited. No one in the room moved. "It is going to be one of those days, isn't it Jasper," I asked Jasper calmly when still none of the new recruits moved to stand in at least attention if not in the formation that they were shown earlier.

"I suppose it is, Mistress," Jasper replied as calm.

I scanned around the room again, my eyes landing on the form of Scott standing in the corner. I could not stop the slightly evil smirk that crossed my face as I thought. It appeared that it was going to be rough day for all new guard recruits, not just Scott.

"You really aren't making a good first impression," I said bringing my attention back to the rest of the room. "I'm sure Scott," my free hand swept in his direction as I spoke, "if he was allowed to speak right now, would tell you that not only am I big on first impressions, but that I am in not in the mood to Fuck around with any of you."

Still no one moved. So be it, the 'nice' gloves were off.

"Jane."

She stepped out of formation quickly and move to face my side knowing not to block my view of the others. "Mistress," she said fisting her arm over her heart and bowing.

She did not raise up until I spoke again. "Did you or didn't you place them in order of rank in their little band of merry men?"

"We did, yes," Jane answered as she stood at attention. "All but the one in the corner."

"Did you or didn't you instruct them on procedure when 'Attention' or 'Mistress Present' is called?"

"Yes, Mistress, we did."

"Very well," I said with a nod. "It's stupidity, not ignorance, that keeps them from moving. This is your one, and only, warning that I will give," I said raising one finger as I spoke, my eyes roaming each person in front of me. "'Mistress Present' was called. Last time I checked I was Mistress of the Guard," I looked down at my cloak wrapped around me still for effect. "Yup, still in charge, "I looked back at the doors we came through then back to the front, "and I came through the door. And yet you still mill around the room." I shook my head in mock sympathy. "Your day just got a Hell of a lot more painful."

"Move them into place," I sent through the mental link I had with my Inner Circle. My grip on Jasper's arm tightened fractionally as I quickly shook my head for him to stay with me while the others moved. "There's no need to be gentle."

As one the Circle, minus Jasper, surged forward grabbing the want-to-be guard. I watched as one by one the young members were practically slammed into the floor in a straight line before me and Jasper. Once done, the Circle took their places behind me like nothing had just happened, this time Jasper took a step back even with Jane. This allowed me to be center of attention, to show I was incharge.

"Use that as your first lesson for the day," I said with a cant of head. "To do as you're told by those higher rank than you. Let me make it very clear now, this will not happen again," I pointed to them in the line. "If I believe us to be headed for a repeat, I will dismiss you with no questions and no explanation. You'll just be gone. Is that understood," I asked the mass in front of me.

No answer came, not even from those from the last 'class'.

"The correct answer is 'Yes, Mistress'," Jasper said lowly taking a half step out to be seen fully from behind me. "I would answer it now."

"Yes, Mistress," came the sporadic response allowing Jasper to step back into formation with the others.

I just sighed, this was going to be a long day and it had just really started. "From these two," I said pointing to two members smack in the center of the line, "I want you all to separate the line. Leave a gap for one person." When they all looked at each other then to me I'd had enough. "Move, or I'll move you myself!" Finally they all took a step to the side leaving just enough room for someone. "Scott, fill in the open slot."

He moved quickly, but I didn't wait for him. "You are now standing according to your use to the guard." My hand shot up before anyone could protest. "You don't like it? Tough Shit. This is my Guard, my playground, my rules. This is my Guard, my playground, my rules. Don't like it? There's the door," I pointed behind me. "Don't let it hit you on the way out." No one moved so I continued.

"Just because you stayed does not mean you made it this far does not mean you will make the Guard. If you finish this 'boot camp' of sorts still will not promise you a spot on the Guard. Again I say, if you don't like it," I pointed behind me again, "there's the door." Still no one left, but I could see a few eyeing the door before looking back at me. "Few more things to deal with before we get down to actual business. Those in the Guard prior today, please step forward." Six members stepped forward, three of which were wearing their guard cloaks. "As of last Friday your guard class had been disbanded. You are now part of a new class, and as such do not have rank in the current guard. The three of you without cloaks on, hand them to Ethan then step back in line. You other three," I turned slightly to them as Ethan moved to collect the cloaks. "Did you miss the instruction from Sora that the cloaks were not to be worn?"

There was no answer.

"Your Mistress has asked you a question," Jasper snapped. "She needs an answer."

"N...no, Mis...Mistress," came the shaky response from one of them. "She told us not to wear them, we just thought-"

"I wouldn't notice that you disregarded a direct order from me? Apparently you are stupider than I gave you credit for," I said with a snort. "Ethan," I called lightly.

"Mistress," he said coming to stand to the side of me. Giving me the best salute and bow he could with his arms full he waited

I reached for the cloaks and teleported them to my office chair before speaking. "Alec."

"Mistress," Alec replied coming to stand next to Ethan. "How may I be of service," he asked coming out of his own bow and salute.

"I no longer require their presence in my Center, please remove them from my sight," I said pointing to the three still standing out. "Make sure they know where the exit is, they are no longer welcome in the castle." The three started to protest, but Alec and Ethan just bowed before waking around them. Taking an arm of each member, with one in between them, they escorted the still yelling vampires out of the room.

"That is lesson number two for the day," I said holding up two fingers. "Orders that come from me, no matter who relays them, are to be followed to the letter. I only have few that I allow to speak for me; the six that walked in the room with me, Sora, my assistant, and the three other Leaders of the Volturi. For those that can't count, that is ten people; that's it folks. Any questions so far?" I waited for a few moments. "Good let's get started then."

"Welcome to instructional class of the Volturi Guard. Your only job from here on out is to listen, learn, and give us your all; give anything but one hundred percent and you're gone no matter what. We will be showing, and evaluating, everything you need to be successful not only in the Guard but in life. Between all of us," I gestured to the guard behind me, "we will get you up to our standings. It isn't going to be easy, but no Volturi backs down from a challenge; and we won't start now with you.

"If you are here just for the prestige of being know as Volturi Guard then get out; we don't need you, nor do we want you. I'm sure that you have noticed that there are guard members missing, it's hard not to notice that there are fewer roaming the halls. It is not common knowledge yet, but there is an active threat toward the Volturi. So I have sent certain scouts out to find out how far advanced the threat it. There is a good chance that if you make in into our ranks, that I am going to put you to work right away; and it's not going to be standing around the grounds somewhere.

"I am not going to sugar coat anything for you. There is a chance that you will die by working with Guard. I take all precautions that I can, I plan and plot, I look at every strategy, but still something could happen. No mission, no matter how simple and mundane, is foolproof. I tell you this now, that I will weep for your death; but that will not stop me from sending you.

"After hearing that, does anyone want to leave? I will not think any less of you if you do." I looked at each one of them in the eye, I wanted them to know I meant what I had said. Working for the guard was not alway roses and lollipops, it also was death and destruction. "Alright then," I said. "Today we are going to test you all on your skill set for combat. From hand to hand, using a weapon. Felix and Jasper will be your main taskmasters today. At the end of the day I'll warn you on what to expect for the marrow."

I turned to the side so that I could look at the members of the Circle while still keeping an eye on the recruits; it appeared that Ethan and Alec had returned sometime during my speech. "Jasper and Felix, you are in charge now. I do still need to see each one of them one on one this morning, but I can do that while they are working; I don't want to be a bother. Yes?"

Both men nodded, but it was Jasper that answered. "Of course, Mistress, it won't be a bother at all."

"Good, Ethan," he took a step out of formation with a quick nod, "I will need you to assist me in my office.

"Yes, Mistress," he said bowing again before stepping back in the group.

"The rest of you are free until further notice," I pointed to Jane, Demetri, and Alec. "If I need you, I'll call."

"Yes Mistress," they said in unison with bows and salutes before pivoting on their heels and leaving the room.

"Jasper, Felix, the class is yours," I said with a small nod in their direction before turning back to the new recruits. With just a little power I moved Scott out of the way and walked through their line and headed to my office with Ethan following close behind.

"That went well," Ethan said once he shut the door behind us. "I thought there might be more whining when you stripped some of their rank."

I gave a little laugh as I grabbed the cloaks that I had ported into my chair earlier and tossed them onto the couch. "I think it went easier because I had already had it out with Scott before hand."

"He is an instigator. I'm surprised that he is trying for the guard again," Ethan replied sitting in front of my desk.

I gave a little shrug as I sat in my chair and logged onto the computer. "I think he knows this is the last time he can try. He's going to give it all he can now. Though I'm not sure how he is going to like the new stricter probationary time is going to be. There is a good chance it will weed a lot of them out before we get too far."

"That might be a good thing, let them see that it is not all fun and games, let them see what they are getting themselves into," he said with a nod.

"I suppose," I said with another shrug. "Now, I would have had you stay and help Jasper and Felix, but I needed someone to be a witness to the pledges and everything."

"Why not ask Jane, or Dem? They are the higher rank."

" A couple of reasons," I said reading through my email. "Jane and Alec are working tomorrow with them, and I wanted them to have the day to center themselves or feed or whatever. Jane is used to being the person that I call on, almost to the point where she is my other second; after this weekend she needs to see that she can be replaced. Also, now that Jasper is in the picture, and the maybe the reappearance of Apollo, I'm thinking of allowing Sora to become more of an 'everyone' assistant and not just mine."

"Why give up Sora," Ethan said his eyebrows raised in surprise. "She has always been working with you."

"I'm not evicting her, Ethan," I said pushing my keyboard away. "I'm going to giver her a chance to do other things besides wait for my call all the time; though I'm sure she will continue to help me on some things. But she really hasn't left the castle since she came after her coven was killed. I just think it would leave her up to find more of herself. With Jasper, possibly Apollo, and you, who for some ungodly reason, enjoys being helpful, I'm going to have assistants up the ass."

"I'm sure you have thought that completely through," Ethan said with a shrug. "What do you need me to do?"

"You're just need to stand behind me in silent support while they answer my questions and offer their pledge."

"Same questions that you ask all of us before?"

"Yes," I said with a nod. "I might give them a heads up on what they need to work on, or why particularly they were chosen for the recruit class."

"Whatever you feel is best," he said easily. "Can I ask a question?"

I shrugged, "Sure."

"Why was Scott standing in the corner," he asked thumbing over his shoulder.

I couldn't help the snort, that then lead to laugh. "He decided to act like a spoiled little brat, and I thought if he was going to act like a child, then I was going to punish him like one."

"That's priceless," Ethan said with a wide grin.

"Think I got my point across?"

He lifted one shoulder, "He's pretty thick headed, so who really knows. Though I think you made an impression with the others."

"Good, I live to entertain." I said with a quick nod. "Now, go get me Keith, he is first up."