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In this chapter we'll get a glimpse at Maria's camp! Are you ready?


CAIUS POV

We have been here for less than two minutes and we have already been attacked. Oh joy.

The Major growls, "This was done by Maria herself, I recognize the handiwork, but she must have ordered another vampire to throw it here, 'cause I don't recognize the scent."

I nod to him, then turn to the guards, "How come you didn't realize there was a vampire in the vicinities?" I bark, and several of them scramble to find an answer.

"Master—We, we checked the perimeter just before your arrival and there was no sign of another vampire!" a female lower guard says—Anna, I believe is her name. I narrow my eyes, "Well, it's not a coincidence that a head flies in our headquarters just as we arrive. With a message, nonetheless. Someone must be spying us."

I look back at the scene. Bella is still holding the message in one hand, but looking at the mangled head with a grimace. I'm quite impressed she hasn't fainted. I heard that she doesn't like the smell of blood, and yet here she stands.

"What is this awful smell?" she asks, covering her nose with her hand. I frown, and I notice the Major doing the same. What smell? The only unknown odour I can detect is the bloody head's one—apart from Bella's smell. Even when sweaty that woman has a delicious fragrance. She did well keeping up with us. But back to the point, "What smell?" I ask, turning to her fully.

She frowns, gesturing to the head. "This thing smells terrible. The stench is so potent that I can barely smell the blood" she says, scrunching her nose.

The Major places a scarred hand on her pale shoulder, "What do you smell, exactly, darlin'?"

She takes a sniff, nearly gagging on the smell she only can detect. "It smells like… like decay, fermented bacteria and the guy's locker room at Forks."

I have no idea what that means, but it mustn't be pleasant, as the Major's eyebrows fly up and he takes a sniff himself.

"I ain't smellin' anythin' wrong with this head, sug. But I might know why. Could you please follow me, Master? Bella, come here" he says, walking outside one of the many entrances of the house. He follows the smell of the head's blood as both me and Bella follow him wordlessly.

"Oh God, what the actual fuck!" Bella exclaims at one point, just as the smell of blood disappears. Probably the vampire put it into a bag or something else. She nearly vomits, and I pat her back, despite not knowing what ails her. She's a strange woman, this one, but I might like her.

"What is it, Bella?" I ask, helping her stay upright. She's covering her face with her hands and hair.

"The smell—dear God, it's terrible here! Shit, I-I might pass out! How the fuck can you not smell that?!" she shouts, and I raise a brow at her colourful language, smirking. But her greenish complexion makes my mirth vanish. She isn't about to throw up on my clothes, is she?

"Darlin' I think I might know why ya can smell whatcha do, and we cannot" the Major says, "I think it might be because ya a shield, sugar. A mental one, at least. This fella must've a gift, to mask his scent. But you can sense it 'cause not all gifts work on ya."

She grunts, "I wish this particular gift would work!" she says, and both me and the Major snicker.

"C'mon darlin', let's return to the headquarters. We now know ya can scent the unknown vampire, and he doesn't know. That's an advantage. Now we outghta figure out a plan."

FELIX POV

"So, you're telling me you can scent this vampire?" I ask Bella, who has taken a shower and demanded that everyone open the doors and windows to let the dude's scent out. The Major had initially complained that their scent could tell them how many people are here, but after a mighty intense staring contest he sighed and nodded.

Bella is now in front of me, wearing a grey tank top and black biker shorts, her wet hair trailing down her back. She nods at my question, and I sigh, "Well that could come as an advantage" I muse.

"There's no way in hell I'm going to spend my days searching for that dude. He seriously needs to take a shower" she cracks up. I snicker, but raise a brow when I see Jane glaring daggers at her back. "Something the problem, Jane?" I ask her, and her eyes snap to me. I'm not scared that she will zap me. I'm the Head of the Elite Guard, she is my inferior, and with Caius here she won't dare harm me.

Bella turns to her, too, and they stare at each other for a minute before Jane huffs, "I'll go up to see if the Major or Master Caius need me" she sneers. Nobody pays her any attention.

God, Jane has always been a little bitch, but since Bella has arrived she's become nearly unbearable.

"So, what has crawled up her ass and died?" Bella says, not bothering to lower her voice. Everyone snickers, even Alec. He comes to sit beside us on the porch outside, Demetri on his tail.

"So, Bella," Alec starts, "Is this how you expected it to be?"

"Well, I most certainly didn't expect to find a severed head in the living room as soon as I came in, but otherwise it's actually much more relaxed than I would have thought" she says, shrugging, and Dem laughs. "Well, that's because we haven't yet started!"

We all stay outside, chatting a bit and simultaneously checking out for any movements near the base. Bella is already one of my friends, and Demetri quickly gained her affections also, while Alec is getting there. At first, he was a bit scared that his sister's behaviour would endanger his tentative friendship with Bella, but she assured him that as long as he doesn't act like her, they're good.

Suddenly we hear a throat clearing. I had already sensed her, as had Alec and Dem, but Bella hadn't, so she jumps up a bit and turns, staring at Jane right in the eye. Her crimson eyes are flashing as she says, "Master Caius requires your assistance and" she stops, gnashes her teeth and continues, with words that are obviously Caius', "and your assistance only."

Ha. He obviously heard her snide comment earlier. Karma is a bitch.

She smiles—do I detect a bit of smugness in it?—and waves at us before shouldering past Jane and running up the wood stairs that lead to the upper story, consisting entirely of the Masters' quarters. Jane makes to walk away, but she turns when she notices that her brother is still with us. "Alec" she raises a brow and looks pointedly at him. He mirrors her expression, "What? I was having a good time before you came here, I think I'm staying here" he says. She looks horrified, "All of this, just for a human" she hisses, low enough for the Master not to hear. But we do, and we all growl at her. She scurries away, fuming.

Tough luck, bitch.

BELLA POV

"Do you need me?" I ask, jogging up in front of the desk where Jas and Caius are sitting.

"Look at this" Caius says, pointing at a document on the desk as Jasper holds out a chair for me to sit on—ever the Southern gentleman. I also notice that his eyes have darkened, is that because he's angry, thirsty (although I doubt it since he hunted before the flight), our because he's merging with the Major even more? Who knows.

I take a look at the document, and my eyes widen. "Massive mind control?" I gasp.

They both nod, grim expressions on their faces. "It's one of Benito's creations, his second in command actually. He switched sides with Maria when he fell in love with her—obviously, she made him fall in love with her with the help of one of her own creations that can create bonds, maybe. He is the one that holds the entire army together, for sure" Caius says, as I read much the same thing on the report.

"So basically, if we get close enough we could all fall under his control?" I ask, dread filling my bones. Jasper sends me a wave of warmth and reassurance, and I smile at him. He smiles back, but the serious expression is soon back on his face, "Not everyone, no. All but ya, darlin'" he looks at me.

"This doesn't help" I say, laughing nervously.

"Of course it does. That's why Peter wanted ya ta be here."

I nod, albeit a bit sceptically. "So, now what do we do? If we send scouts too close he will have them under his control, if we don't we go in blind. Not a good situation either way. It's already a miracle nobody was caught by this dude" I point out.

"I already have a plan, I just need your cooperation, Major and Bella" Caius says. We look at each other worriedly, but nod. Why do I sense trouble?

"My plan is to go scouting ourselves."

Ah, that's why.

"As in you, me and Jasper? All alone?" I ask, slightly astonished. They both look a bit offended though. "Darlin', I'll have ya know that we ain't the weakest fuckers in the bunch. The vampire world sometimes is just like high school. Y'all have ranks for the prettiest ladies, but we have ranks for the strongest warriors. Ya know three of 'em."

I feel their stares burn my eyes. Oh, fuck. Why did I have to put myself on the spot like this?

"Um, so… Obviously… you and Caius… and" I try to think of another vampire that I know that could be one of the strongest. My mind goes to Emmett, but I discard him immediately . despite how much I love him he's no warrior material. "and… Felix?" it comes out more as a question.

The two men, however, nod and Caius adds, "There are also Captain Peter Whitlock and Garrett, known as the Patriot. This is our top 5. Marcus was a great warrior, better than Felix or Garrett, but in his misery he has given up fighting. A pity" he sighs.

I nod a couple of times, "That's very interesting, but it doesn't really reassure me. how can you accompany me if there is the risk of you falling under this guy's influence. They would have two of the strongest in their midst. Which I suppose isn't part of the plan" I desperately try to make them see reason. We don't need any more problems, and two of the strongest vampires in existence in Maria's army definitely pose as a problem.

"No, it ain't part o' the plan. But we didn't say we would be with ya."

Wait what?

I get angry, "So you just plan on throwing me to the wolves?"

"No, sugar, no! We wanted ta come with ya and then let ya proceed a bit on yer own, but we will cover yer back. Don't worry" he says, patting my hand.

I admit it reassures me a bit, but it's still a crazy ass plan. When I tell them this—when did I become so comfortable with Caius?—they laugh. Caius says, "We are in the South, here there is no limit to what you do. In good or bad situations."

Yeah, I can see that.

"So, let' make a recap. You want to send human me scouting in a place swarming with vampires just because I can't be affected by weirdo's gift?"

They both nod. How noble, they let a lady do the dirty work.

"This is not the best plan, and probably it will get me killed."

As I say this, a ping alerts me to a message. I take a look at the text that popped out on the screen of my phone—the latest iPhone, provided by the Volturi—and I see a text by an unknown number.

PW: Ya ain't gonna die, an' it will work, pumpkin.

"Who the…" I murmur, and Jasper leans forward to see the screen. He chuckles and says, "Peter" shaking his head. Ah, so this is the infamous Captain.

PW: Nice ta meetcha, sug.

BS: I better not die.

PW: Ya won't, trust me. Have fun :)

This is strange, but another reassurance. I can't believe I'm really going to do this.

"Fine. When do we go?"

Two hours later

We departed a few minutes after defining every part of the plan. I was to follow the disgusting's vampire scent—Yay!—and, after we come close to the camp, I was to examine the situation and maybe pinpoint the most important people, and maybe even some gifted ones.

A bit impossible in my opinion but who am I to complain.

That's why I'm now squished on the ground, in between two lone half-withered bushes, trying to see something. My clothes are covered in dirt and my hair and neck are covered by a muddy scarf—to hide my smell a bit, Caius said. A poncho the same colour as the ground covers my torso and helps me blend in better.

I can't feel anything around me, but I cling on the hope that Caius and Jasper are fine. Please, God, let it be so.

Anyway, there is definitely something abnormal in this camp. Jasper told me about how uncontrolled newborns are, running on sexual and feeding instincts, but here it's all very quiet. Too quiet. The newborns are all either sitting down or training. No snarling, no growling, no shouting, no fights for blood or rapes. Nothing at all. The huge camp is filled with silence and the occasional grunt of pain from the training vampires.

My eyes train on a small woman that sparkles a little bit differently than the other vampires surrounding her. The newborns bow to her—so this must be Maria the Bitch. She looks a bit taller than me, has black hair and a olive complexion with the usual vampiric pallor. I can hear her shout from here.

"Kai, come here! And make sure to give your puta a lesson, she nearly came out of the tent yesterday" she growls haughtily. Her voice is acute but powerful, with a heavy Spanish accent, and I see some newborns scurrying away from her. My eyes flip in another direction when I hear the sound of a yelp of pain. It comes from a tent—one of the four present—on the other side of the huge camp.

A ginormous blonde man—seriously what the fuck—comes out of the tent, holding a much smaller, naked woman by her neck. "You wanted to get out, huh? Then go!" he growls lowly, before throwing her in the middle of a raging fire. Her shrill screams hurt my ears.

Well. Wow. What a piece of work, that man.

He slowly saunters toward Maria, slapping asses and groping titties along the way. I definitely don't like the man.

As he arrives she starts talking with him. She gestures to the entirety of the camp, and suddenly every vampire springs to life. I assume it's this Kai that is the mind controller.

Vampires start training, and apparently it's my lucky day because some are practicing their gifts! Thankfully there aren't many. It try to take in as much as I can with my eyes, but then I realise it's better to write things down than to forget something. I take out my iPhone—obviously in silent mode—and I start typing a note I name The Gifted:

Kai, huge with blonde hair and a God complex: mind control; red-haired lanky guy: ice control; bald black man: seconds long paralysis (with touch); woman with a blonde bob and bangs: invisibility (I think? Since I can see her but the opponent seems confused); long haired Chinese man: hides smell (the one that threw the head); curly brunette woman, very tall: banshee; burly albino man: can make your skin burn at his touch. The others are just fighters.

I also snap a couple of pics to give an idea to the others. My heart almost gives up on me when Kai turns to stare at me. Literally, at where I'm hiding. I flatten to the ground, praying to whatever deities that he doesn't spot me. with shaky hands I manage to send the notes and pics to Jasper's phone—if I'm getting caught, at least they'll have the info they need.

I let go of my breath when I see him turn away, but I decide that I risked enough heart attacks for one day. I slowly crawl backwards, never taking my eyes off the mass of vampires, and when I'm sure that nobody can see me, I spring on my feet and run—as silently as possible—behind a rock, panting heavily. As soon as my breath is under control, I roll in the dirt as get as much of it as I can on my clothes as to hide my scent and then I run back to the base.

Jasper and Caius assured me they would be keeping an eye on me from afar and would know when I left and would follow me. I just hope they didn't run into any problems.

After a two-hour long run back to the base I crash inside. Felix and Demetri jump on their feet, coming to see if I'm alright. They quickly divest me of my poncho and scarf, checking me for injuries. I reassure them of my safety and ask about Caius and Jasper.

Just ad I finish to utter their names, they walk inside the house. They look so different: Jasper's eyes are black and his hair are mussed, most of his scars on display due to the black wife-beater he wears; Caius instead looks still dangerous but younger without his black cloak, sporting just an airy linen white shirt and brown pants.

They immediately come to me. "Are you alright?" Caius asks. I nod and look in their eyes, "I've got the info" I breathe out, and their eyes brighten a bit. Is that pride I see in their eyes?

"Good job, sugar. Let's go" Jasper says, before leading us to my quarters—which are Caius' basically, since they're the only off-limits area in the house and the only rooms to have a bed. I remove my shoes and leave them beside the stairs. My feet are killing me right now.

The second floor is basically one big room, divided by the rest of the house by a door, with a small bathroom. The majority of the room is a big study, with many books and maps and a big oak table with some cushioned chairs. A queen sized bed is in a corner of the room, and I can tell that they only added that for me—same with the bathroom. Mine, Caius' and Jasper's things are in three chests, all pushed against the wall with less windows.

I plop down on a chair and take out my iPhone. The guys—damn, seriously, when did I become so friendly with them?—seat themselves at my sides, Jasper on my left and Caius on my right. I take a deep breath and speak, "So, I managed to collect some valuable info on the camp. I identified the mind controller and several other gifted ones. I also snapped a few pics to give you an idea on the situation."

I power up my phone and show them the pics. I point to the tent on the left. "This is Maria's, and this" I point to the one on the right of the camp, "This is Kai's, the mind controller."

They look surprised, "Ya managed ta get his name?" Jasper asks. I nod, "Yeah, he and Maria talked—well, more like she shouted for him—and I heard his name. He's a man-whore and very cocky. There are also other gifted ones" I say, showing them my notes.

"You did a great job, Bella. They didn't see you, right?" Caius asks.

"Kai looked right at where I was hiding at one point, but I don't think he saw me. He probably relies on his gift to tell him when someone is close, he must feel some kind of mind tenor like Demetri does or something else, I don't know" I say.

They both nod, "Ya a great scout, darlin'. Good job. We'll discuss more tomorrow. Now take a shower, ya stink, and the go ta sleep" Jasper says, grinning. I stuck out my tongue at him and see Caius smiling warmly at our antics.

I get up—a few of my joints creaking—and grab some clothes from my chest.

As soon as I'm clean and tidy, I swear I'm going to sleep until I die.


What do you think? Bella did a good job, and most certainly her sight is much better than mine! Let me know in the reviews what you think of Kai, or of Caius' growing bond with Bella and the Major, or whatever you want!

PS: puta means slut in Spanish!