Demetri
She was so young and excitable but she had handled the Cullens with an older vampire's wits and her own personal flair. I was trying to decide whether to begin Bella's training when Felix found us in the feeding chamber.
"I'm sorry Dem but the Masters are insisting you start Bella's combat training and shield training immediately."
Bella was feeding but at that, she turned and looked at us. She ceased to drink for a moment before going back to her meal. It made a horrible mess.
"I was afraid you were going to say that," I admitted. "I'll never be able to keep her out of the guard now."
"I don't think you had a chance at that one before the mind reader threw his temper tantrum. Sorry Dem. On the positive side I think she will make one heck of a guard member."
Bella ran at me and pounced, kissing my lips with her bloody ones. My blood heated quickly.
"I'll just leave you to it," Felix muttered and disappeared.
"I want you to help me shower," Bella said, wiggling herself against me suggestively.
I carried her like this to the shower room and as both of our clothes were dirty I just ripped them off of us. Bella laughed as I turned on the shower and joined her under the spray. We made love passionately, feverishly until finally sated, we began to clean the blood from our skin.
After Bella was clean and we were both redressed we went up to the training rooms. Bella had surprised me by being excited about training. She wanted to learn how to defend herself and hadn't liked feeling helpless in the Cullens presence the previous day. I thought she'd seemed far from helpless myself using that shield to stop Edward cold in the air like that but I said nothing. It had been ordered, so it would be done.
I taught her how to stand, how to make a fist, how to hit and kick. Then we began a very light sparring session. Well, it was light to me, I thought Bella might have a different idea about it.
"You've got to hit me, Bella."
"I'm trying."
"Come on Bella, I know you can do this. Imagine I'm Edward."
She got that demonically evil little smile on her face and became a whirl of punches and kicks until finally, she punched me in the face.
"Oh, Demetri I'm so sorry." She cried as she saw the cracks in my jaw.
"Easy little love, you did exactly what I told you to do and I'm proud of you.
"Now I want you to put your shield around me."
"No Demetri I don't trust my shield." Bella insisted.
"Why not little one?"
"Because when it was around Edward I had such an urge to collapse it and I knew somehow that it could turn him into sparkly, lying, dust."
I choked back a laugh.
"But you're not mad at me."
"No, but what if I got mad, or did the wrong thing, I don't trust it. I won't do it, Demetri."
I looked at the determination on her face and knew that I wasn't going to budge her on this one. I sighed. "What if I brought something up here you wouldn't mind hurting for you to shield."
"What are you going to do, go collect Edward from the jail below? I'll be happy to turn him to powder but that's just a one-off."
I laughed at my fierce little warrior but I could see that she was serious. She really would be willing to show me she could turn him to dust. I'd not seen the ruthless side of her before yesterday and it was arousing.
I thought briefly about our options. Finally, I made a decision and got out my phone.
"Felix I need you to have the guard bring boulders up to the elite training room. Yes, I'll explain later."
"Okay, little one Felix is having the guard bring up rocks for you to practice your shield with. Worst case we have to sweep up after practice. It's something you can't hurt anyway. Is that better?"
She pounced on me and was kissing me hungrily when Alton opened the door. "Sorry for interrupting Captain but we have a load of rocks to deliver.
At the sight of the strange vampire, Bella had jumped off of me and gotten behind me so I could protect her if need be. She was coming along admirably well for one so young.
"Thank you for your quick work Alton, bring them in."
Alton's team each came in holding boulders of various shapes and sizes. They stacked them in the corner and formed into rows waiting for their next order.
"That is enough for now, please make sure this room has rocks in it every day until told otherwise."
He looked at me curiously but just said "Yes Sir."
"Dismissed," I ordered and they filed out of the room.
"See little one, you didn't have to hurt anyone to practice. We can work with these. I grabbed the top boulder and sat it on the ground in front of her. Now shield it.
"I don't know how really Demetri I just got so mad when Edward was running at me it just happened. I didn't even know I could do it before then. I was just so very mad."
I went to her and rubbed her arms soothingly. "You can do this Bella, I know you can and once you have control over your shield you won't have to be mad to use it. For now though I want you to remember what you felt when Edward was running toward you. Look at the rock and imagine it's him."
"Alright, Demetri. I trust you."
She stared at the rock and stared at it. After about an hour her light blue shield wrapped around it and it was pulverized into dust.
"Again," I said, getting another rock down from the stack.
It only took thirty minutes this time before the rock was in dust at my feet.
"Very good. Again." I ordered and got her another rock.
It was a matter of three hours before we were down to the very last rock.
This time Bella I want you to pay attention to what it feels like to find your shield. I want you to examine it, explore it, figure out where it comes from and how to put it back."
I could see that Bella was focusing very hard. This time her shield appeared and stayed around the rock. "I think...I've got it, Demetri."
"Very good now..."
The rock collapsed into powder and Bella said "Oops."
"Sorry, Demetri I didn't mean to turn that one to dust." She said regretfully.
"That's good Bella. You did exceptionally well. I'm proud of you. Now, do you want to spar more tonight?"
"I'm thirsty Demetri. Can we go feed early?"
I looked at my little mate then. Her eyes were dark. Using her gift must take a lot out of her.
"Feeding time it is, my love."
Bella
I felt much better after feeding. My strength returned and I was able to focus better.
Demetri made love to me while we were cleaning up and I felt absolutely happy.
My days became routine after this. I fed, I practiced. I fed again, I hung out with the group in the recreation room for a while, sometimes watching a movie sometimes watching them play poker or video games after a while Demetri would get a certain look in his eye and we would go back to our rooms and make love for hours. I fed again and the day started over.
Everything changed after about a month of bliss. Of course, it started with a phone call. When he got off the phone Demetri just said we were needed down in the throne room.
When we got there I was surprised. The entire guard was there, squeezed into corners and nooks along the walls. So many vampires I didn't know. I kept my hand on Demetri as he led me through the throng. When we got to the front of the room, where we could see the thrones, there stood Jasper Hale. And Emmett Cullen.
Before I could say anything Aro started to speak.
"I think we are all here now my dear ones. We have a potential attack coming. The Cullens are rounding up an army to come to collect our dear Bella and our prisoner Edward Cullen." There were growls and hisses from the crowd. "Though we will try to keep the confrontation peaceable I want you to all start training for battle. These will be mature vampires. Fighters. Carlisle is gathering all of his friends in our world to come against us.
Begin working at six am tomorrow in the main guard training area. We will be coming around to see your progress periodically. All but the elite guard is dismissed."
The room emptied more quickly than I expected. When only the Elite guard were present along with Emmett and Jasper Aro spoke again.
"Dear ones, please meet the newest additions to your number. They came to warn us about the Cullens and as such are not responsible for their treasonous actions. Demetri, I'm sorry my son but you must resume your duties as Captain of my guard until this crisis has passed. Alec has been recalled from his mission and will be here tomorrow. Bella, my dear, please focus on your shield and see if you can shield Caius, Marcus, and me during the confrontation. We have a week to prepare and I expect you to work your teams hard. I won't have usurpers coming in and taking Volterra from us. This is our home and we protect ourselves. That is all."
"Masters," we all said in unison.
"Team," Demetri said. I saw him take on the mantle of authority and it made me hot. I wanted to jump him and take him right there on the stone pavers but I restrained myself somehow. "Felix, make sure Alton's team has rocks for Bella to work within the training area. Jane, See to Bella's feeding times. Tell Alec to oversee Chelsea and Renita's combat training personally. Jasper, Emmett go with Bella. The first two suites are open Bella give them those rooms and all of you report immediately after you've completed your tasks to the Elite Guard training area. Dismissed."
They all said yes Captain. I was just a little too slow. As I led Emmett and Jasper to their new rooms I stopped to kiss Demetri quickly and he gave me a blinding smile. "Later," he whispered and Jasper chuckled.
"Emmett, Jasper, this way," I said as I led them up the stairs.
"Bella, I didn't want to leave you." Emmett started. "I argued for us staying but I lost. I should have stayed anyway. I'm sorry. little bear."
I sighed. I guess we were going to talk now and work through this.
"You hurt me, Emmett. You called me your sister and then you just abandoned me with the rest of them."
"I thought I had to go with my mate. I thought Rose was my mate now I'm not so sure. Can you forgive me little bear?"
"It might take time Emmett, Jasper. I know you didn't want to go but you went and that hurt. You're here now and I guess that's what matters. Jasper didn't hurt me so much because he tried to stay away from me when he could. It didn't hurt so bad when he left. Let's show you to your rooms and get to the training area before you get my mate mad."
Jasper chucked. "Alright, Darlin lead the way."
We arrived on the fourth floor and I took them to the first two rooms. "Demetri says these are both empty so you can take them both. Go look around and see what you need. Then I'll show you to the Elite training room." Emmett took the first room jasper took the second and they were soon exploring.
They were soon back out and followed me to the training room where the guard was already sparring feverishly.
We walked in and everyone stopped to look at Jasper and Emmett.
"We're going to be working closely together now so I guess we should make introductions. This is Jasper..."
"Whitlock," Jasper said.
"And Emmet," Demetri introduced.
"McArthy." Emmett finished.
"Jasper, Emmett, this is Jane, Chelsea, Renita, and Felix. You know I'm Demetri and I believe you know my mate, Bella."
"Demetri, if I might make a request?" Jasper spoke up.
"I've trained shields before and I know how the Cullens fight. Might I be the one to train your little darlin for ya so I know she'll get through the battle if it comes down to one?"
"If you can beat me you can train her," Demetri said.
There were mumbles all around and the guard fanned out in a circle around Demetri and Jasper.
I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. "Felix, hold Bella so she doesn't interrupt us."
"Sorry," he said as Felix came up behind me and grabbed both of my arms. There was no pressure, he didn't hurt me but I knew I'd be hard-pressed to get out of the hold.
Jasper and Demetri circled each other and all of a sudden they were a blurred tangle of arms and legs. They were moving too fast for me to keep up on what was happening I watched closely and I could almost make it out but it was difficult. I struggled but Felix held me firmly, without enough pressure that I doubt he would have marred my skin when I was a human.
They sparred for a full hour, neither one getting the upper hand that I could see. I was biting my lip so hard I almost drew venom. I didn't dare make a noise or interrupt and everyone else stood with rapt attention on the fight.
After two hours Demetri said, "Enough" and Jasper stepped back out of the fight. They both stood there winded and panting. "Train her," Demetri ordered. Jasper just nodded and came to my side. Felix released me and I pounced on Demetri kissing all over his face. The relief of seeing him whole and unhurt was physical.
"I'm okay little one, go back to Jasper and get busy," Demetri told me.
So, Jasper started teaching me how to fight.