Her human memories remained a blur after they were changed into vampires. It never bothered Jane and she simply went on without it. It has not bothered her, until now. The voices of the past came to haunt her in the form of the rain outside.
There was no rain when they were burned to stake. Yet it reminded her of what happened decades ago. The feeling of fire licking against her skin, and his pale hand reaching out towards her. Her memories haunted her once more.
Was it the price of immortality? To forget once and haunt you again?
Jane let out an anguished scream, yet she knew it was a scream of terror. No one would come to her anyway, most of the Volturi members despised her. The female witch twin knew it herself that she was alone, even if Alec was around. Her brother already put the past behind but it was always Jane who dwells in the past.
No matter how she could forget everything, the past will always come and haunt her. The rain hit the windows in such soft strokes. She could hear the pitter-patter of rain outside the walls of the castle. The skies were making such grumbling noise.
"Storms terrify me," a younger Jane whispers into Alec's ear. She was the eldest yet she was always vulnerable, always scared of so many things.
Alec faces her and held her closer. He was always the calmer and much more rational of the two of them.
"I'll protect you,"
He did keep his promise to her. Years later, he defended her against the village boys who harmed her. The village boys who dared to touch her, it did not matter now. They were long dead and buried to the ground.
Jane was triumphant, she was alive.
The rain bore significance in her human days. The rain bore witness to the horrifying things that the humans did to her.
"We don't want your kind living around here, but you can die here,"
One of the village boys tried to get his hand under her dress and she fought back in distress.
"Get your hands off me!" Jane said sharply.
Her livid eyes stared at him, rage fueled her body as they did not listen to her pleas. The boys staggered back, but she found herself losing her consciousness.
By the time she had woken up, the boys were lifeless already. Blood was smeared on the trees and Jane trembled upon the sight before her.
Her knees gave out as her mother found her disheveled in the woods. After a few moments later, they were tried for witchcraft eventually.
The burning began at once.
The rain intensified as her memories get the best of her. They sure know how to torment her. Her memories knew where she would be vulnerable. They would dare to bring out her weakest side, bringing her into the most vulnerable state.
"N-No no! Please!"
"My daughter did not do anything, she's innocent!"
She closed her eyes shut.
"Jane!"
"Alec!"
The door swung open, Jane had expected it to be Alec or even Aro himself. It was Caius who slipped inside her dark room in a defensive stance. He brought a lamp closer to her and her room was illuminated. The blond vampire must be nearby enough to hear her scream.
"Heavens, I thought you were abducted or something," he muttered under his breath but Jane was able to hear him. He sat down in her bed which was rarely used and to see her huddled up in the blankets was a first. His milky red eyes stared into hers.
They sat in silence as no one dared to make a sound. His milky red eyes stared into hers.
"Toughen up." he simply advises her. "If you let the darkest of thoughts get the best of you: you will never last long enough."
Conviction was in his eyes. Caius knew it himself that the Volturi could never afford to be weak. It was a chess game which was a matter of survival, in which they cannot afford to lose.
"Learn to crush your fear, we can never afford weakness. You must always be invincible. The Volturi must always be invincible, always keep that in mind, Jane."
The kings did not mind when Jane visits them in their study, unlike other guards who were unauthorized to enter the said room. The blonde vampire watched as how the three highest Volturi members work. Jane was observing them quietly, the book in her hands lay forgotten.
The three vampires had their duty as the judge, the jury, and the executioner.
Marcus was always the quiet one and speaks only when needed. He would often act as the jury who is responsible for finding the facts of the case, while the judge determines the law. Aro would be the judge who presides everything. It's the judge's job to act as some sort of referee, ruling on issues of law before and during the trial. Caius would be the disciplinarian and therefore act as the executioner. It would be the blond vampire who would enforce punishment severely.
They have differences, but Jane could not deny that the three kings made an exceptional team.
"Is there something wrong, Jane?" Marcus asks softly as she walked closer to them. Her presence caught the other two king's eyes. They stood quietly but it perked their attention.
"I would like to ask a favor, Master," Jane said as her tone was neutral but was certain she had their attention.
"Ask away, my dear..."
She looked to the side and saw Aro smiling genuinely. What she was about to ask them however will surely surprise the three of them.
"I want to train with the guards," she said rather flatly. Aro was about to interrupt when the blonde vampire cut him off. "I am very grateful that you took it to yourself to personally train my brother and me. I would want to strengthen my skills even more, as you know that I am not the best in combat."
The three remained silent as she had their attention. Her tone was casual yet respectful. The three kings shared a glance and she knew they were communicating.
"It would not hurt to be careful, brother," Marcus said cooly. The dark-haired vampire was also backed up by Caius who also agreed to the request Jane was asking. Aro already knew he was outnumbered.
The number three was a curse indeed. Jane's gaze diverted to Aro who sighed in defeat. The raven-haired vampire did not want to isolate his precious guard yet he believes it was not yet time. The Volturi king knew that the lower guards were hostile towards her.
"If that is what will make you happy, yet I personally believe that you do not cease your personal training with us."
"Of course not, Master," Jane replies cooly yet she was determined to prove herself to those around her. To those who believed in her and to those who do not. "Training with the guards will just be an additional precaution. I remember it is you who told us that we must remain in the best state possible."
"That was not me, it was Caius who told you that," Aro said in defense. His brother in all but blood just sniggers but he knew the situation was already dire.
As Jane was about to exit the chambers, Caius stopped the young blonde gently.
"It seems like I knocked some sense into you,"
She could have sworn there was a ghost of a smile on the blond king's lips.
Didyme knows that the most important thing for her brother was power. Aro grew up to be ambitious himself and her human years can attest to that. She also knew that he was disappointed when her powers were not valuable enough for him.
She may be kindhearted but she was certainly not daft.
"He could never ignore the pull of that bond," Her husband softly remarks.
"Aro is Aro," Didyme said as she diverted her gaze to her husband. "He is more interested in dominating the world rather than finding a mate,"
Marcus sighs deeply as he closes the book he was reading. Or was supposed to be reading.
"I do not mean to pry by looking into their bonds. Was he really foolish enough to think she would not be able to fall for him?"
Didyme chuckles softly and stood up. Her gaze drifted to the necklace that was on her table. It was the emblem of the dominion her brother would soon have. The Volturi crest reminded her of what she was entrapped here. She stayed for family, for her husband, and for her brother.
She once swore to always be at his side at all times.
"My brother can be a fool, sometimes gullible." The smile had left her face. Concern was evident in her eyes as she faced Marcus. "But that does not mean I would underestimate my brother. He is dangerously kind, who knows he might turn against anyone in a heartbeat?"
The sound of silence echoed inside the couple's chambers. Tension was in the air as the couple knew how dangerous Aro was. He may look angelic and friendly, but his own demons lurk in the shadows.
"I do not know if he showers her with affection because of her supposed powers. I am not in the place to tell if my brother has an ability to love or whatsoever,"
"He might be aware of the bond even if I do not approach him for the topic. He does not make a move about it. Aro just acts as if everything is normal," Marcus remarks.
"My brother can be pompous and prideful at some times. He has an unhealthy obsession with power, and I am sure you know that,"
They shared a brief laugh until Didyme's smile fell slowly. Her gaze traveled to the Volturi necklace. All she can do was let out a sigh. She would stay because of family, she would not let them fall apart. She would be the one to at least keep this place humane.
Didyme would stay in order to not let the twins be corrupted. They were precious to succumb to his powerful clutches. If such time should come that she needed to take the twins far from her brother.
She would.
"I've disagreed with him too many times to count. Who knows when he will be the one who will turn against me?"
AN:
And i am back. It has been awhile as i finished my finals, and i am totally back to update Desideratum. No moments for our OTP this chapter. Rest assured we will get there :)