"That was quite a speech," Jane commented when I next saw her and Alec several days later. With Demetri and Felix gone, the twins spent most of their time working with Caius. I couldn't help but be a little jealous that they got to spend more time with him at present than I did.
"You think so?" I asked as we walked to the library.
"Yes. Not many people could so successfully bring the guard back together," Jane said.
I smiled at her. "Thank you, Jane."
"We were worried the pressure was getting to be too much for you," Alec said.
"What? Why?"
"This is a lot even for a vampire to deal with," Alec said. "Clearly, however, we were mistaken."
"Thanks for your vote of confidence, guys," I said drily.
"We have complete faith in you, Queen Rowan. Just not in your human condition," Jane said as Alec opened the library door for us.
"Trust me, I'm no happier than you are. But the last thing we need right now, on top of everything else, is me as a blood-crazed newborn," I said.
"Unfortunately true," Alec agreed.
"Still, I do what I can to make Caius' life easier. Even if it isn't much," I said.
"Uniting the guard has helped tremendously," Jane said. "You can't be in on trials, but the rift made it nearly impossible to truly execute justice. Things are now back to running smoothly again, at least in that respect."
"Good," I said, somewhat relieved. This was the first confirmation I had gotten that my actions were even making a difference. But I wasn't foolish enough to believe that uniting the guard, while helpful, was anything close to solving the root of the problem.
To truly fix anything, Aro and Marcus had to get along again. And before that could happen, Marcus needed to come back from within himself.
"We do have a shred of good news in the midst of chaos," Alec said.
I glanced at him. "Oh?"
"Yes. Demetri and Felix are supposed to return by this evening. Master Caius has been impatient for their return, but no doubt they wanted to gather as much intel as possible," he said with a nod.
I sat down in a chair without bothering to grab a book. "What was their mission? All Santiago was able to tell me was that they're investigating trouble up north."
"Well, yes," Alec said, looking uncertain. "It's all been kept rather quiet, so as to not raise alarm."
My stomach clenched. "Raise alarm?"
"Perhaps it is not our place to say," Jane interjected, giving her twin a sharp look.
"How am I to be any use to my mate if I don't even know the whole of what's going on, Jane?" I asked, not unkindly. "I believe, as queen, I have a right to know."
Alec nodded in agreement. "I can't say that Master Caius will be pleased that we told you, but you're right. We have reason to believe that the trouble up north is the Romanians. We received an anonymous tip a week ago that the Romanians are assembling an army. Master Caius is concerned that this may be tied to recent disappearances around the area."
"Tell me more about the Romanians," I requested. For someone who was supposed to rule over the vampire world someday, I didn't know a whole lot about vampire history.
"They ruled before the Volturi. This was well before our time, but all three of the masters fought in the original battle against them. I'm not romanticizing war - it's a nasty, dirty affair - but the battles waged between the Romanians and the Volturi are what legends are made of," Alec said.
"Quite literally," Jane added. "To give more details, the Romanians were a cutthroat, merciless group who did nothing to hide the truth of their natures. Humans were nothing more than mere cattle, to be used for their own amusement. The war between the Romanians and the Volturi lasted over a century before the Volturi finally triumphed. Around the 1500s, the Romanians created a newborn army, hoping that the sheer numbers would overwhelm the Volturi. However, they didn't gamble on the Masters' secret weapons: us."
"They haven't attempted to challenge us since. But we suspect that the recent unrest has them on the move," Alec said.
"The disappearances you mentioned, how long have they been going on?" I asked.
"See, we thought of that too," Alec stated, following my line of thinking. "But with the amount of humans that go missing on a normal basis makes it nearly impossible to track the true beginning. The disappearance rate has only gone up by half a percent, barely noticeable unless you're looking. Not exactly a monumental increase."
"When did it start rising?" I pushed.
Jane pursed her lips. "July. But the point still stands that, without further information, it's impossible to say whether it's Romanian activity or simply an increase because of the travel that commonly happens among humans during the summer months."
"I don't like it," I said, frowning.
"None of us do," Alec said, scowling. "We should have ridded the world of the Romanian scum centuries ago. Truly, we should have known this would happen again."
I shook my head. "No, that's not what I'm saying. If the disappearance rate has been rising since July, however minutely, then that means that the Romanians have been building and training an army for the past seven or eight months at least. They've learned from their mistakes. They may be creating newborns, but they're training them, too, and they're being subtle about it. That makes them far more dangerous."
"You think they're following Aro's example? Making a guard, finding those with gifts?" Alec asked.
"Worst possible scenario, yeah," I said. "I feel like we're missing part of the story. If they did start building an army in July, why then? What happened in July that prompted this?"
"Hopefully Demetri and Felix will have answers," Jane said. "Speculating will do nothing except add to your stress, Queen Rowan. Perhaps you should put it out of your mind for now."
"Slim chance of that, I'm sure," Alec remarked, pulling a book off a shelf.
"You know me too well, Alec," I said, chuckling and wandering off into the shelves.
I could think of little else for the rest of the day. Felix and Demetri had not returned by the time I decided to finally tuck into bed around midnight. I toyed with the notion of calling for Aro to come stay with me, but exhaustion overcame me before I even had the chance to reach to the nightstand for my phone.
"Auntie Rowan, Auntie Rowan, let's explore!" Renesmee tugged at my hand, pulling me into the forest. I was familiar with these woods; the forests of Forks had always been green and inviting.
"What should we do, Ness?" I asked, laughing as she swung off of my left arm.
"Climb a tree! Bet I can beat you to the top!" She exclaimed, clamoring up the nearest tree.
"I'm still human, remember? No fair!" I said, laughing. She was just like her father. I hoisted myself up after her. I heard the branches above rustling but couldn't see her through the leaves. "Ness, slow down! I don't want you to get hurt! Ed and Bella would kill me!"
There was no answer apart from the shaking leaves. I climbed faster, skinning my palms on the rough bark as I spurred myself faster up the tree. There was a swift, terrified scream from above that was immediately cut off. "Ness!"
"There's no place for half-breeds in our empire." The voice was hazy and indistinct; I knew it but could not place it. Branches snapped and something fell behind me, landing with a heavy thump on the forest floor. I looked down, feeling as if I was much higher up than I ever remembered climbing. "Ness!" Her body, headless.
"Don't worry, the rest of your pathetic family can live," came the same voice as I screamed and lost my footing, plummeting downwards. I hit the ground so hard that my lungs seized. For a terrifying moment I suffocated before air came rushing into my lungs again. I screamed again when I saw where I landed, feet away from Ness' body.
"So weak. You're supposed to be queen? Please."
I blinked and found myself in a different forest. I recognized the trees above me. This is where I had laid as a teenager, just escaped from my father, waiting for death.
"C'mon, queenliness, what are you doing? You can't stay down there forever. Get up, huh?" Santiago loomed above me. I grabbed the offered hand and he hoisted me to my feet. I released his hand and looked to his face, but he was gone.
I stumbled back, breathing hard. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. "Santiago!"
"No Santiago. No kings. Just me, and you. As it always has been. As it always will be." I recognized that voice. I'd recognize it anywhere, in any lifetime. My hair was grabbed from behind and I was yanked backwards, forced to stare at my father's face. There was a wound, dripping blood, on his neck, and his eyes were hollow and dead.
"Let me go!" I screamed, clawing at him, blind with panic and rage.
"You're mine! Mine, mine, mine," he chanted. Blood dripped down my arm, and I wasn't sure if it was mine or his.
"No! Not again!" I pushed against him, my outstretched palm hitting his chest and sinking through spongey, decaying flesh. I screamed again as hands gripped my arms and my fingers closed around something slimy.
"-not real, kid!" My father spoke with Santiago's voice and everything seemed to swim and writhe. "Wake up! Wake up!"
My eyes shot open and I lashed out blindly at whoever was holding me down, pain jolting down my arm as my hand collided with stone.
"Kid, it's okay! It's just me. You're safe." Icy fingers curled around my wrists, preventing me from harming myself further, as Santiago's face came into focus, full of concern.
"Please tell me you're real," I begged.
"If I say yes, will you stop trying to hit me?" He asked.
"Yes," I said. Santiago released his hold and stepped back, giving me space.
I brushed back sweaty strands of hair from my face and hugged my knees to my chest. The light flicked on. Santiago sat on the side of the bed. "Are you alright? Should we call for one of the Masters?"
"No, I'm okay. It was just a nightmare," I muttered, pressing the palms of my hands into my eyes until colors flashed behind my eyelids.
"Just a nightmare? Kid, you were screaming like you were being murdered," he said. "That wasn't just some damn nightmare."
"It's the stress," I said.
"I should have Afton fetch Master Aro," Santiago said, not looking convinced.
"Please don't. I'll be fine after I shower. What time is it, anyway?"
"Just after two," he said, watching as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. "Are you sure you're alright, kid? You look like death."
"I'll be fine," I said, grabbing a fresh set of pajamas and shooing him out so I could shower in peace. The warm water washed away the sweat but couldn't remove the memories of what I had dreamt: Renesmee's body, my father's living corpse, the feel of his heart in my hand. I flexed my fingers. I couldn't stay here tonight.
Instead, I slipped on a pair of flip-flops and set off through the castle, where Santiago and Afton were wise enough to not interrupt my musings by asking where we were going. I arrived outside the door of the one person who, at present, would ask no questions.
"Can't run from your problems like this, queenliness," Santiago said with his uncanny ability to always pinpoint the reasoning behind my actions.
"Who says I'm running?" I retorted.
He raised an eyebrow. "I do. Nothing comes from running from your fears. You gotta face them head on."
"Not tonight, Santiago," I said, and left him and Afton standing outside the entrance to Marcus' quarters.
I turned on the lights inside, which chased away the shadows which had been swirling anxiously around my feet since I left my own quarters. "I'm going to stay in here tonight, if that's okay. I had a nightmare."
There was no response, but I'd like to believe he could hear me. Caius and I assumed Marcus' extreme reaction was some form of vampiric shock. When I had shared this theory with Edward, he had agreed. Apparently, the same thing had happened to him when Bella had discovered she was pregnant. It just hadn't lasted nearly so long.
I continued talking. "Jane and Alec told me about the mission Demetri and Felix are gone on up north. Caius is concerned the Romanians are on the move. They're supposed to be back tonight with their report."
A part of me hoped he would respond to that information, a threat to the safety of the Volturi and myself. After all, it was the realization of the threat to Bella's life that had snapped Edward from his stupor. I couldn't say I was surprised when nothing happened.
"It was a bad nightmare." I resumed my original line of thought. "So I'm just going to stay here tonight. Hopefully it'll keep any more at bay." I crawled under the covers of his bed but left the light on. Usually I preferred sleeping in pitch darkness, but after the images that had haunted my dreams, I figured it was okay to keep the lights on.
Just this once.
I woke around ten, made the bed, and bid goodbye to Marcus before leaving. Santiago and Afton stood on either side of the door.
"Alright, kid?" Santiago asked as I set off for the kitchen.
"Just fine. Thanks for waking me up last night," I said.
"Of course," he said easily.
"Demetri and Felix got back last night. We didn't see them, but Chelsea texted me to let me know," Afton said.
"I want to see them straight after breakfast then, if possible. Jane and Alec told me what they knew about their expedition up north and I want to hear their report firsthand."
"Didn't think the twins would be the ones to spill the beans," Santiago said.
I whipped around to give him an accusatory glare. "You knew?!"
"Of course I knew! I may not be on the level of the elite guard, but I'm still of high rank. However, there was a silent… understanding to not tell you anything until Demetri and Felix returned with more definite news. Don't take it personal, queenliness, we were just acting in your best interests. You're under enough stress as it is without worrying about that," Santiago said, perfectly reading my offended expression.
"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't know anything until I bugged Chelsea to tell me," Afton said. "And that only happened yesterday, when the twins were on guard duty with you."
"At least someone here is on my side," I said, still vaguely annoyed with Santiago for keeping the information from me and even more annoyed that he had a valid reason for doing so.
"Oh, calm down. You found out, didn't you?" Santiago said, rolling his eyes.
"I guess. But you should have told me," I grumbled as we entered the kitchen.
"Forgive me for having your best interests at heart, then," he said drily. I shot him an irritated look and set about fixing breakfast for myself. After finishing the meal in record time, I set off in search of Demetri and Felix.
"Haven't seen them, sorry," Corin said apologetically, crossing the guard's lounge off my list of possible locations. "They're probably still in court. Without Master Aro's gift, they have to give their reports orally."
"Damn it," I groaned.
"I can check, if you'd like," Afton offered.
"Thanks, Afton," I said, and I made small talk with Corin and Santiago for several minutes while we waited for his return.
"Yep, they're still in court. Sorry I took so long, Caius caught me poking my head in and gave me an earful. He's in a mood," Afton said, grimacing.
"He's always in a mood nowadays. Not that I blame him," Santiago grumbled. "See you later, Corin."
"Bye," she said, waving and returning to her book.
"What are you planning on doing now?" Santiago asked as we returned to my quarters.
"Well, I'm going to start by brushing my teeth, and then I'll just have to wait, I suppose," I said, frowning as I entered my wing. "I hate this not knowing."
"We're in the same boat as you, remember," Santiago said. He looked at Afton. "What did you hear before you got caught?"
"Not much. Something about a border, but that was it," Afton said.
Fortunately, I did not have to wait for very long before Demetri and Felix knocked lightly and entered my quarters. "Figured Afton was checking in on your orders," Felix said, looking about as tired as a vampire could look.
"Didn't stop him from getting chewed out by Caius," I said, shooting Afton an apologetic look on my grumpy mate's behalf.
"Yeah, well, I can't say I blame him. Probably would have been different if we hadn't been bearers of bad news," Demetri said. "I expect someone told you what's going on?"
"Jane and Alec did, yeah," I said, dread curling in my stomach. "What do you mean, bearers of bad news?"
Demetri sighed. "Exactly what you're thinking."
"The Romanians are back," Felix said, folding his arms over his chest. "Which means, in a nutshell, that we are in deep, deep shit."
⊱ ────── {.⋅ V ⋅.} ────── ⊰
Hello, all! I'm back again with another update of Penance for you, so I hope you enjoyed it. Things are heating up for Rowan and crew - how will they get out of this one? I'd love to hear your theories about what's to come in the comments. Speaking of, a huge thanks to all who have reviewed so far, I read and appreciate every one! As always, here are some responses:
FriendlyNeighborhoodHufflepuff: Best trope there is, right? Now all that's left is the kings...
Havana739268: Thank you so much for your kind review! I'm so glad you're enjoying the plot and all that's happening. Interesting theories - I like the werewolf idea. However, I can't confirm or deny anything, as that would be giving out spoilers. So you'll just have to wait and see how everything plays out!
Iveya Jade's psycho mind 08: Oh wow! I'm thrilled that you liked my stories enough to binge read! You've shared several interesting theories, some closer to the mark than others, but they're all good ideas! Thank you for your kind words and I hope you continue to enjoy my story!
I'm working on Penance as my Camp NaNoWriMo story, so hopefully that means I'll be able to churn out chapters faster than I have been. The next chapter already has about 1k words so I'm hoping to have it out for you guys within the next couple of days. I know that you guys are just dying to find out what happens, so I'm doing my best to keep the wait times between chapters short. Thanks for your continued support and encouragement. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these strange days and I will catch you in the next update!