She had continued to thrive in the endless powerplay of the Volturi guards.
Throughout the centuries, Renata had deemed to prove herself worthy of a higher rank. She had found herself studying and improving in order to get the influence that Sulpicia needed. The shield had already penetrated the Elite Guard through years of proving herself to her master.
"What has gotten into your head to copy Jane?" Sulpicia berated her. "I did not raise a copycat. You are making yourself look like a fool with this act. Get over it!"
The shield hung her head low. Sulpicia had summoned her when her master had told her that she should not be trying so hard and using someone's success as a blueprint of her own. Renata's spirits immediately dropped with Aro's comment. She did not know how her mistress had found out about it.
All it took was a simple misstep in her actions.
"I'm sorry, madame." Renata said in a low tone. "I promise i shall do better."
"Do not promise!" Sulpicia remarks. "Do it! It is not only you who is on the line here. You are not doing this for yourself but for the both of us."
"Understood, madame." Renata meets her gaze. Sulpicia had left to her rooms as the vampire was left all alone. Renata had gone down to her quarters.
Once reaching the solitude of her chambers, the shield had thrown the vase towards the wall.
It was one of the traits that she hated. Renata had grown accustomed to breaking and throwing things when she was angry or upset. Her mind had been a storm of voices that failed to be pacified and now consuming her alive. Her mind was such a dark place and it was already beginning to seep through her calm facade.
She had been frustrated with the outcome of certain things.
Renata had been at the end of her shift when Aro had pulled her aside. The Volturi king bore a calm demeanor and the shield did not realize that it was not what it seems. She had let her guard down as she thought it was just a light conversation.
"Is there anything you need, Master?" Renata asks, projecting her tones.
Throughout the years, she had learned to modulate her voice in order to get rid of the childish tone that was so annoying to her ears. The shield had learned to copy the way the head of the guard speaks. She had perfected the art of speaking throughout the decades in order to prove herself towards her master.
"Oh nothing, Renata." Aro quickly dismisses her worries in a wave of a hand. "I would like to talk to you about something. It's best if we talk about it in my private study."
She had been so naive.
Renata could only groan in pent up frustration over her idiocy. She had been complacent enough to assure herself that everything was agoing according to plan until that conversation. No other words could be expressed in order to prepare her for the conversation that the raven-haired Volturi king had.
"I will be honest with you, Renata." Aro began. "I can see the changes you have possibly brought to yourself."
Her eyes shot up in his sudden conversation. Panic began to rise within the shield as she assessed the situation she was in. There could be no distractions as they were the only one in the study of the raven-haired vampire. Renata could only wait for the response of her master.
"I know everything, Renata. You do not have to copy someone in order to rise through the ranks. You can shine on your own without having the need to copy the route Jane took."
Renata stared into him with an expression of shock. She did not expect Aro to be straightforward with his words and he did not even filter it out. However, Renata stood her ground. She remained silent instead of defending herself. Opening her mouth may be one of the worst decisions she could ever make.
She reminded herself that she was in front of her master.
"I would be honest with you, Renata. Letting you in with the elite guard was some sort of risky decision. You were there, my dear yet not close enough."
Aro's words stung to her core.
The shield badly wanted to cry and sob like the old times yet she remembered that she could not shed tears anymore. Renata cannot deny that living her dream was a dream come true yet a part of her wished she was back in Malta instead. Life in Malta was not difficult and she did not constantly read between the lines.
Luca had found her ever since she was an infant in the doorsteps of their mansion. Since then, he had raised her to be part of a family that was friendly to vampires. They had hid her parentage as an orphaned child was not to be taken lightly in their society. She went on to live as one of the members of the prestigious family.
Her ability to repel other people had attracted the attention of the Volturi. In order to avoid conflict, Luca encouraged her to join the Volturi. He told her that it was Renata's destiny to join the ranks of the Volturi and conquer. She did not anticipate that it would be like fighting for tooth and nail.
If only she knew.
Then she could have prepared for it.
Renata stared at herself in the mirror. She had come to a conclusion that in order for her to survive, no tears shall be shed. Thev shield knew that what she had been accustomed back at Malta would not help here in Volterra. If everything was handed to her by Luca, her master was hesitant to give it to her.
She had to rise like a phoneix after betrayal.
Renata will prove them wrong, the shield thought.
She will not be a mere guard that will be disposable and a decoration in the ranks. The shield will make sure that she will stand high and proud in history.
Marcus may seem to be apathetic to his surroundings, however it does not change the fact that he knew a lot of things that were going on in the Volturi.
Particularly his blond brother and his wife.
The dark-haired vampire had been present when Caius had found his mate. He had in fact watch them fall in love together since the rise of their coven. He had been a witness to the bond of Caius and Athenodora possessed throughout the centuries they had been together. To see it slowly crumbling was a sight he did not want to see.
His gift may be considered a blessing however it was also a curse.
Marcus did not want to be told what was the reason behind it yet he already had an inkling on what that was. he could not blame the two for their bonds were slipping away. The seclusion of the wives due to Didyme's demise had played a major role in their bonds loosening.
"It's been a while since i saw you here in the library." Marcus stated as the fair-haired woman had entered the Volturi Library. It had already been decades since she had step foot in the library of the castle. The wives would only go out of their tower if they were to feed.
"It's been a century since Didyme's death and 5 decades since i had step foot in this library." Athenodora chuckles as she attempted to have a light conversation with the one who can see the bonds.
"Athenodora..."
"Hmm?" She asks, never taking her eyes off the titles of the books she had been pulling off the shelves.
She had come down to the main library as she had read every book that was in her collection. Decades of boredom were too much as she had obtained permission to go down and get a few books she could get her hands on. However, it was just an excuse to see her husband from afar.
Athenodora could not deny that she had missed her husband.
"Nothing..." Marcus said. He had thought if breaching the topic about her bonds with her husband but decided not to. The one who can see the bonds figured out that it was not yet the time to reveal such information to the fair-haired woman. "It's nice to see a familiar face."
The fair-haired woman met his gaze.
"Everything seems tiring isn't it?" She asks. "We do the same thing isn't it? To the point we are just tired of every motion repeating."
"I guess you are correct." The dark-haired vampire said in agreement. "It makes me want to go back to the times where everything felt right. I may sound like an idiot if i told you i preferred the times where the twins did not yet possess their powers."
Those were the days of happiness. Jane and Alec would be still under the tutelage of the wives and the masters. Nonetheless, Didyme was there. Athenodora knew that was what mattered to the dark-haired vampire the most. She did not want to experience the pain he had gone through.
"I found a woman." Caius simply tells him.
The dark-haired vampire's brows furrowed at the blond king's revelation. Marcus had thought that the blond king was happily married to his wife. For his blond brother to be unfaithful was something he did not expect.
"Why are you telling me this?" He asks in a low tone.
"Because it is driving me crazy!" Caius exclaims. "She's nothing like Athenodora. She's naive and i do not need to worry about her."
"Or are you simply frustrated that Athenodora will not bend to your will?" Marcus challenges him. "You do know that you two are certainly a match made in heaven. Both of you are hardheaded."
Marcus could merely chuckle at the parallelism of the situations. How is it that it was the same words that Caius had told him when he had met Athenodora? Was it just a coincidence then? The dark-haired Volturi king could clearly remember it like it was just yesterday. Caius was temperamental yet it was one of the times where he had run to his study, a grin plastered in his face.
"Goodness, what got you in a good mood?" he asks as he never took his eyes off his book.
Caius had stormed in their shared study with a grin plastered to his face. The occupants of the room deduced that their blond brother was in a very good mood. They let him be, as they preferred this Caius over an enraged Caius. Didyme did not fail to tease him as always.
"You look like an idiot when you run, Caius." Didyme remarks as she glared at the blond king.
"Oh forget about that!" Caius brushes her off as he had sank into his chair. "I found a lady. She's beautiful, alluring and smart. I did not reveal myself as she was still human."
The kings and Didyme were shocked to see the behavior exhibited by Caius. The raven-haired king had simply told them that it was pssible that Caius had already found his mate. Marcus could only chuckle to see the normally batttle driven Caius be lovesick over a girl.
"Marcus." Athenodora said, preparing to leave the huge library. Her back was turned against him as he was unable to read the situation.
"What is it?" He asks in a monotone voice.
"Don't bother to hide it." The fair-haired woman speaks in low tones. "I know about it, so don't bother to hide it."
Marcus stopped in his tracks as he spun around. Athenodora had already left to go back to the tower and was nowhere in sight. The fair-haired woman's actions intrigued him as it was not Athenodora's character to hide something. Her silence was something that the dark-haired king could not understand.
He had known that she was quite vocal about everything during the years the dark-haired Volturi king had spent with her. To be silent about her husband's infidelity was something unheard of. Athenodora's silence about the issue was unsettling as he could not decipher what she was about to do next.
He had hoped she would not do something idiotic.
The head of guard happened to come across Renata as she was headed to the Wives Tower.
Jane found it odd that Renata had been treating her with a cold shoulder. She had been cordial to the head of guard whether the raven-haired king was around. To see this side of Renata was shocking as she was known to be sweet and lovely. Jane deduced they were headed towards the same direction.
The blonde vampire kept her mouth on her way to the tower.
Jane had paid aloof to the actions of the shield, yet she could her burning stare even if the head of guard did not look right through her. She had heard the rumors of Renata's sudden changes yet Jane paid no mind to it. Her head was already clouded enough and to add another problem was enough to drive her to insanity.
"It's been ages since i last saw you." Athenodora's disappointed voice greeted her as Jane opened the door to the tower where the wives of the Volturi kings resided.
Jane scanned her eyes across the room in order to take in the atmosphere of the tower. She had not been here ever since the death of Didyme as the blonde vampire's fear of the past haunting her would lead to her downfall. Trapped in her thoughts' she did not notice Athenodora was already standing next to her.
"You've grown taller since the last time i saw you. I swear that you've grown half an inch." Athenodora's voice pulls her out of her trance-like state. Jane's brow rose in confusion with the words that the fair-haired vampire had said towards her. Has she really grown?
That was quite impossible for them.
"You must have been delusional, Athenodora." Jane's gaze diverts behind the fair-haired woman. Sulpicia had come out of her chambers and greeted the shield with open arms. "It's quite impossible for a vampire to grow as we are frozen in time."
Jane scanned her master's wife from head to toe. Their clothing had changed yet Sulpicia remained the same: brazen as she was before. The head of guard avoided the tower at all costs as she did not want an altercation between them. Sulpicia was known to be territorial specially towards her husband.
The head of guard reminded herself that she was here for the fair-haired vampire who she had considered to be her mother in all but blood.
Athenodora had pulled her charge towards her study. Once the door was closed, the fair haired woman had the blonde vampire in an embrace. Jane willingly sunk into her mistress' arms as she knew that the years Athenodora had spent was lonesome and bleak.
"What brings you here?" Athenodora asks with a smile.
"I had an inkling that you missed me." Jane replies as a grin was plastered in her face.
It was a lie after all.
Jane had heard the rumors of the blond king's infidelity. The head of guard was not the one to listen or believe in such gossips until Marcus had her summoned. The one who sees the bonds asked if how long has it been since she had visited the tower. Jane immediately understood the underlying message that Marcus was trying to tell her.
So the rumors were true.
"Oh my dear!" Athenodora had buried her face in the crook of the blonde haired vampire's neck. Jane could only trace circles in the back of her mistress in order to soothe her. "I thought you had forgotten about me! You have not visited the tower in centuries. I thought you abandoned me."
"How could i abandon the woman who cared for me here?" Jane's voice softens, which was used in rare occasions. "Forgive me, Mistress. I promise i'll visit quite often so you won't feel lonely."
"Hmmm, i would like that." The fair-haired woman smiles.
"Are you alright?" Jane voices out. She had been treading lightly about the topic of what she had really came for. The blonde vampire was careful with her words as she was clueless if Athenodora knew a thing about her husband's infidélités. Besides, the head of guard did not want to upset the fair haired Volturi wife either.
"What makes you say that?" Athenodora asks confidently. The head of guard saw underneath her mask of confidence that she was desperately trying to put up.
Jane eventually realized she could not prolong this any longer.
"You cannot fool me, Athenodora..." Jane said with such straightforwardness she could muster. It was clear to her that Athenodora was avoiding the question. "I've known you for centuries as we've been through a lot together. Something is definitely amiss."
"So you knew about the rumors as well..." Athenodora said as she spun around and faced her blonde charge.
"The issue was recently brought up and you know i do not listen to the rumor mill of the Volturi. Why the silence, Athenodora? Why are you sitting here doing nothing?" Jane asks, confusion laced in her tone.
"If i addressed the issue, it would put me in a difficult position. I do not wish to make rash decisions that can endanger me and my position. I'm not going to risk it, Jane. Not when i have someone to protect."
"I can handle myself, Athenodora." Jane said in defense.
"I know!" Athenodora bursts out. "It's much better if i can provide you and your twin assurance when everything else fails. How are you sure that Aro can protect you both? Didyme entrusted you and Alec's welfare in my hands. I do not want to disappoint her."
Athenodora's voice mellowed with the mention of Didyme. The topic of Aro's sister was a sore topic within the fair-haired Volturi wife and the head of the guard. Jane sighed in defeat, merely accepting the fact that Athenodora was persistent on looking after her and Alec. The blonde vampire knew far too well that Athenodora's decisions could never be challenged by anyone.
After all, she had no one else but her twin and the person who she considers as a maternal figure.
To live with the Volturi was an endless power struggle.
Heidi realized that after spending a few decades with them. She had been observing every person in the coven. The alluring woman had studied every person and how well they fit in the perfect puzzle piece of the coven Aro had built. Was it all a game within each member? Each one had their own powers
She had noticed the power shifting within the guards. Heidi was aware of the power struggle between Jane and Renata even if it was a silent battle. Jane had paid aloof to them and Heidi could not see a trace of jealousy within the blonde vampire. Renata had been desperate to turn power into her favor.
Yet the true power lies in the hands of Jane. Heidi sees that now.
The alluring woman had been observant enough to find out that the blonde vampire had all the masters in her favor. Aro was willing to give everything for the petite vampire. Heidi could not deny that the raven-haired king had his favorites and did not bother to hide it. The blonde king's relationship with the head of guard was sort of a love-hate relationship. Heidi deduced that things were salty between the two vampires because of the stint Jane had pulled decades ago. Yet he stood as a mentor to guide the blonde vampire with her position. Marcus was something else, as Heidi could not judge his character as the dark-haired king was a shell of who he was.
The alluring woman had only heard the rumors that the master's wife died centuries ago. She was not the one to delve into private matters of the Volturi kings. Heidi did not want to lose her head for some useless gossip after all.
Renata, on the other hand, was Aro's personal bodyguard. The shield was nothing more or less than what she was. There was no particular connection with the other masters like Jane had. If Heidi were to speak freely, she could tell that the shield was merely a knock-off copy of the head of the guard. She had not been daft to see Renata's actions mirroring Jane's.
Heidi could see every inch of Jane being copied by Aro's bodyguard. The alluring woman had been curious on how Renata was staying at the ranks of the Elite guards despite the mere power of a shield. It was not until she found out that she was backed up by Sulpicia, the wife of the master Renata had been serving.
Hence she was called "Renata the nobody." The guards had not taken kindly of her sudden rise to power. They had deemed her to be a coward since every action she took required her to cower behind her mistress. Jane as well was backed by Athenodora, however the guards knew that she could function without that support.
The guards had hid their bullying well. Every single guard treated her with animosity besides the elite guard. The elite guard's treatment was far worse than the bullying Renata had obtained. Heidi saw the elite guards as a tight knit group. Renata was treated with silence as she was the supposed 5th member of the prestigious group. The group did not take kind to strangers. Their silent treatment and their aloofness towards her was far worse than the bullying she endured by the junior and senior guards. The silence Jane, Alec, Felix and Demetri was just deafening.
Or perhaps they knew she did not deserve to be there?
Her loyalty would be down those two vampires. It was between Jane and Renata of whom she shall trust. Heidi had been weighing every single option to see what would work for her. The alluring woman had not wished for a high rank, but rather safety and assurance that one could impose to her. Heidi was not after the power a high ranking member would have. All she wanted was assurance on her survival.
"Jane..." Heidi had come across Jane in the library of the castle.
The blonde vampire looked ethereal as her ruby-red gaze on the alluring woman. The alluring woman had the chance to look at the head of guard from head to toe. The blonde vampire had looked regal and timeless, like the aura the wives had possessed. There was no hair out of place and everything was done with perfection.
"I propose an alliance..."Heidi said in a low voice.
"What can you offer? In exchange for your safety?"Jane asks quietly as her steel gaze met the alluring woman's gaze.
"I can be your eyes and ears within the guards."Heidi suggests in order to convince the blonde vampire. "I can blend well, as the rest of the elite guard cannot force the information out of the junior and senior guards. I can give you the intel you needed."
"Very well then..." Jane said with a monotone voice, yet a glint was seen in her eyes. "Hey! Did i tell you not to bother me? Don't you dare show your face again."
Heidi had left the room with a smirk. The alluring woman had looked back to meet Jane's gaze and a ghost of a smile was seen in her face. Their alliance was underground and unspoken. She shall take care of Jane as the blonde vampire would take care of her security. In the Volturi, she needed to take precautions in order to survive just like everyone else.
It was an endless power struggle indeed.
AN:
It's been a while so here is Chapter 26. I was supposed to upload Chapter 27 today however my mind cannot function properly already since i was busy with my thesis. I'll have it up by Sunday so do not worry. Dont forget to read and review. I would love to hear it from you.