Third Person POV

It had only been a week since Cheyenne and David's arrival, and Felix had quickly taken a liking to her. Apart from being the only lone supporter of her gift and her voice, he noticed her quirks, too. He thought she was funny, humble, quite mature for her age, with just a pinch of feisty; all things that he thought Alec needed in a female. Felix saw the future becoming bright with her joining the Volturi, even being equally accepting of her friend; it was just more friends for him to sing with. He, along with everyone else in the castle, knew that Alec and Cheyenne were mates, but that it would take some time for both to realize it.

It was the evening following Felix's book tour that he got the call. He sat, lounging in his own quarters, the fireplace roaring, a book in his lap. He was finishing his new book on Aretha Franklin, thinking that Cheyenne could very well hold the same soul as Aretha did. Though her voice was definitely modern, it was still a sound unlike any other: raw, emotional, a little rough, reverberating a bit lower than the typical popular female voices, yet still very much feminine. Felix had not yet found an artist to describe her voice, but he probably never would.

His rarely-used cell phone vibrated, long and steady, on his nightstand next to him. He easily flipped the book closed, glancing at the lit up screen. However, he wasn't prepared for the name staring back at him in white letters.

Cassandra

Surprise ran through him. He had not heard from her since she left them a century ago, unable to continue with their way of life. She, like Cheyenne, held compassion for human life, and could not bear to associate with a coven who was so insensitive, selfish, and uncaring for humans. She saw Aro for what he was; a greedy, selfish, God-playing vampire who held way too much power. However, that was not the only reason. Cassandra couldn't hold the guilt that consumed her when she was forced by Aro to use her gift. She knew, then, that she needed to escape the situation she had been put in. Cassandra insisted that she leave, making her claim of importance for human life. She reminded Aro that if Carlisle Cullen was allowed to leave freely, she should also be. Aro relented, as he saw no threat to her future plans to live peacefully on her own. She would never tell him what she really thought of him, for he would surely have killed her.

Felix had his phone in his hand in a sixteenth of a second, pressing the new iPhone to his ear. He had secretly held feelings for Cassandra when she dwelled with them, but he never risked telling her.

"Cassandra?"

"Felix," Cassandra answered urgently, her sweet but authoritative voice ringing in his ear, flowing smoothly like satin. "It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has," he answered quickly, sensing her tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?"

"Are you alone?" she asked, her voice becoming quieter. "I need you to go somewhere, private. Now."

"Why? Cassandra, what is-"

"Now, please, Felix," she urged. "There's not much time to explain. Please. I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important."

Felix listened for any sounds; Alec, Jane, and Demetri were out hunting, while the leaders remained in their chambers, floors below. He could hear Aro making plans for the ball, speaking loudly about the setup. Felix took his opportunity, and ran far into the trees, far enough away where he was sure Aro could not hear him.

"What is it?" he asked, matching her tone.

"I need you to listen," Cassandra spoke slowly. "I know about the human that you are holding there. I do not have much time to explain, but I need you to do something for me. Every one of our lives are at stake, and I cannot allow history to repeat itself. I need you to train her. Teach her to fight, in any way possible. You need to prepare her for whatever may come."

"Train her? For what? What are you talking about, Cassandra? How do you know about this? Are you telling me that this human is a danger to us all? To our species?" Felix replied gravely.

"It is a danger for her to be there. I know about her gift, Felix, and I partly blame myself for her entrapment. I know that not even you will allow her to leave so freely."

"How do you know this human?" Felix asked in a hard voice. "I know you, Cassandra. Certainly you are not telling me that you purposefully-"

"You of all people should know me better than that," she interrupted him sharply. "Of course I would never lead a human there."

"You are asking me to risk my own life for hers by betraying Aro," Felix told her. "I cannot do that. I won't tell Aro about this conversation, but I cannot fulfill your request, Cassandra. She is here with us for eternity, and that is how it will be. If she desires to leave after she has been given immortality, then I am sure Aro will not argue with her the way he did not with you."

There was a beat of silence, and then Cassandra's cutting reply that seemed to slice into some part of Felix's brain.

"If she is anything like me," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "She will refuse to use her gift once she knows what it can do, Felix. And if she refuses, Aro will kill her. Do you want that?"

Felix thought about how Cheyenne had refused to allow Aro to see into her mind, more than once. He remembered how hesitant Cassandra was on any mission, how hard she tried not to persuade anyone to make any choice that was not of their own free will. She hated control. She hated guilt. If Cassandra had it her way, she would have remained human and died long ago. However, she found a purpose in her immortality; if she could keep anyone from going into that dreaded castle, she would be saving millions of lives.

And this one in particular would make Aro much too powerful.

It ran through Felix's mind just how alike the two seemed to be, how different this new human was, and just how right for Alec she was. Who was Felix to take away his friend's mate? If Alec could have his one true love, perhaps things could be better for all of them, not worse. He didn't understand; he wasn't comprehending how trading one hurt for another could be right.

"Alec is her mate, Cassandra," Felix said strongly. "And once he realizes it, he will not allow anyone to hurt her. Not even Aro. I am sure of it."

He heard nothing but silence on the other end of the phone.

"Do you remember what happened to Didyme?" she whispered.

Felix returned her question with his own silence for a few minutes.

Could it really be possible for Aro to murder Cheyenne, when he was the one who was trying to put them together? It wasn't just Marcus that knew of the potential of their relationship. It was obvious, especially to Felix, just how unique the pair was. He was already beginning to see changes in Alec, but what would happen if Alec lost sight of his responsibilities? Would she only end up being a distraction to him?

But, Felix wondered, was Aro aware of that, too?

He was uncertain of where the small twinge inside of him came from, the questionable, dreadful feeling he got at the thought of Aro killing her. He only knew this human for one week, but Felix had already decided:

He was not going to let her or Alec die at the hand of Aro. She was too good, too pure, and, begrudgingly, too valuable. He knew of Aro's rules, and he would tread quietly with this. He was loyal to his coven, but something about this seemed to rub him the wrong way. He trusted Cassandra, and knew she would never have ill intentions. They had become close during her time with the Volturi, and he was certain that he knew her better than anyone. He did, in fact, know that she would never have reached out like this if it wasn't serious.

And he knew that she would never use her gift of persuasion on him.

And, if what Cassandra said was true, then something fatal must be in their future, unless he helped her. He understood, now, what Cassandra meant. He didn't ask for any other details, but he didn't need to. He would ask for them later, one day, when Cheyenne was safe.

"What do you need me to do?"

Just incase you were all wondering why Felix suddenly started training her out of the blue. 😉

This chappie named after Conspiracy by Paramore. I'm gonna be naming the chapters with song titles that reflect the theme of those chapters.