Author's Note: Hello fair readers! So sorry for my prolonged absence from this story. Graduate school is a cruel mistress, and makes time for writing quite scarce around midterm season. I've also been quite nervous to begin going into the nature of Isabella's gifts, as it pertains to her past. The Isabella I've written is a depiction of myself, something I recently realized, so it's been more difficult to write. BUT I've created a longer chapter for everyone as penance. As always, I do not own the characters. I just play with them... consensually.

Last Time...

His voice lowered to a whisper, his nose skimming down the column of her throat, placing a single kiss to the mark from his bite. "Feeding can spur lustful frenzies, void of rational thought. I do not wish to take advantage, as tempting as you may be. I still desire to earn your trust and affections, the honorable way."

Isabella sighed, knowing he was right. Slowly, her reason was coming back to her as the high from feeding began to fade. She turned to him with a small smile. "And they say chivalry is dead."

"Never."

Chapter 12

Castle Grounds- Afternoon

Everyone seemed more cheery now that Isabella's transformation had happened; whether they knew it or not, Isabella was a protector, whose presence calmed and nurtured the positive qualities of others, it seemed. The Volturi also felt reassured now that she was awake that they were secure, and more prepared with such a talented vampire in their midst. The question was how her human abilities carried over to her vampire life.

Gifts were finicky things— some appearing right away, invasive and harsh, such as when Edward and Jasper awoke to their inhumanity. Countless thoughts and vile emotions were swirling, and overwhelmed the young vampire's senses. The vampiric instinct for survival was the only thing that kept them from going mad. Jane and Alec's gifts developed over time, showing themselves fully when they felt threatened some time after their change. These direct opposites of the gifted vampiric spectrum left a lot to be speculated regarding Isabella.

At this point, she wished that her gift would make itself known, as the fate of her world seemed to rest on her shoulders. Her mind was still cloudy, rapidly attempting to make sense of the vast sensory information that humans could not comprehend. Everything made insufferable noise. The air, each blade of grass, fibers within the mahogany flooring, soft music within the reception area, the sharp scratching of quills on parchment, the very clinks of the chains of the Volturi crest as the guard walked, footsteps guard on the perimeter of the castle. Each vampire had a distinct scent, ones she could pinpoint even if the vampire were no longer present in the spot they previously occupied, or the person they were with. Mates for instance, such as Alice and Jasper, had intermingled scents from spending so much time with the other; they only began to distinguish from the other when they spent time away for a couple hours.

Isabella soon understood what Aro had meant to have missed upon her turning— she missed the warmth of her humanity. She could only somewhat replicate the feeling of heat bathing in the sun, so it was something she did to occupy the time while she adjusted. The courtyard where Aro and herself first met, and Athendora and herself grew close was her favorite spot. The smells of the leaves and flowers within the garden nearby were pleasant, and held much more complexity now that made their existence entirely more beautiful.

Jasper was preparing the guard for advanced combat training in a near field— the distance allowed his gift not to influence others with his natural authority and aggression in war mode. With Jasper now occupied, Isabella's newborn emotions were swirling. She was frustrated that she still hadn't figured out what she should be doing in the last 12 hours. Everyone had been wracking their brains as to how a vampire could be drained of their venom completely, Carlisle especially as the medical professional of the group….

Aro was busy with Caius on the structure of battle training, and contacting various allies as she put it, with his outwardly charismatic nature. This made her discontent, somehow. She vowed not to mind it that much, if she could help it.

Marcus had suggested meditation rituals, which absolutely puzzled her on how finding her inner chakras would stop the impending doom…. though now she did just that in her own way. Her task was simple: stacking smooth river rocks on top of the other while in nature. While it wasn't a traditional form of meditation, her concentration eased her mind from her sensory overload. When the rocks would tip, she would start over, legs folded crisscross on the warm stones of the courtyard under the Italian sun.

After an indefinite amount of time, Isabella had stacked 15 stones from big to small at her spot. She froze, feeling a worrisome gust of air… and crash. Isabella sighed, looking up with an exasperated expression to see an apologetic Jasper.

"My apologies darlin'." He drawled, sitting across from her slowly, in case any newborn tendencies would flare up. "Judging from the frustration I'm feeling, I hope it's not all directed at me."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "You're in the clear. Just frustrated that I'm still pretty useless as a vampire as I started to be just a few days ago."

"Gifts take time to develop… some slower than others. At this rate, most of us didn't even know our own names, let alone our gifts right after we were changed. But, if you're really that impatient we can accelerate the process with a few tests. I have a theory."

"It's a good one too." Alice sing-songed, appearing next to her mate in a flash. Their newborn counterpart didn't flinch in the slightest, further confirming his theory. "Awesome." Isabella grinned, hopping up and starting towards the training field in the distance.

Training Grounds— Morning

Once word circulated that Jasper was intending to uncover Isabella's gift, an audience of elite and lower guard members, as well as the Cullens and kings formed a circle around Isabella and Jasper.

Alice was bouncing with excitement, a near mirror image of Carlisle's elated expression. At long last, the mystery of the human girl he had come to love as a daughter might be somewhat clearer. He hoped she might find relief in reason behind her gifts…

Isabella's emotions were a mixture of nervous anticipation. Jasper sent gentle waves of calm together, as they faced each other in the middle of the field. "Ready?"

"Hell yeah!" Emmett bellowed a few yards away, causing many vampires to laugh, even more so when Rose smacked him lightly on the arm. "Ow… Rose…. fine, sorry."

"It's okay Em." Isabella called, smiling softly in his direction before turning to face Jasper again, her chin held high. "I'm ready." She said with confidence, causing Aro's dead heart to swell with pride as he watched alongside Carlisle, Marcus, and Caius.

"Isabella, you showed immense promise in your human life with many qualities that enhanced your survival… and now ours. Many may not know that I could not initially influence Bella's emotions. Alice could not see her future, either. What is curious is that Edward has never been able to read your mind… have you wondered why that might be?"

"Obviously." Came an impatient growl from Edward, who had seemingly adopted Caius' trademark sour expression since coming to Volterra.

Isabella ignored him, remaining focused on Jasper. "What's your theory?"

"Your human talents gave a small glimpse at the promise of a protective gift in your vampire life. The reason for it may lie in your basic instinct to protect yourself, and others. Alice was the first to be able to use her gift on you, as she met you and got to know you first darlin. Then myself, but never Edward. Why might that be?"

Isabella glanced over to Edward with distaste before looking back to Jasper. "I trust you and Alice. Edward… not so much."

Jasper nodded. "Exactly. You let Alice and I in. You let down your guard, so to speak. When you first arrived in Volterra, the guard here could not affect you either. That part of your gift is very much clear… though the other practical components need some testing, if I may."

Isabella nodded eagerly. "What's first?"

"Reflexes." Jasper stated simply. "Alice is going to be approaching you from different directions, out of sight and earshot, even to us. If and when you sense her presence, simply point to the corresponding direction."

"Sounds simple enough."

"Try ten miles out starting off, sugar."

"Sure thing, Jazzy." The pixie gave him a quick peck on the cheek before darting off, quickly vanishing from sight. A minute later, a small chime from Jasper's cellphone rang out.

"Alice is ready. Oh and close your eyes, Isabella. No cheating." Jasper quipped. "Alright, go."

A few seconds of nothing passed slowly before a twinge pulled at Isabella's subconscious. The only way she could describe it was a faint poking sensation within a large void of space, specifically from the northwest. Outstretching her right hand, she pointed in the direction that Alice was coming. "There."

Twenty seconds later, her vampiric hearing picked up the sound of Alice running from that very direction. More time elapsed until she was wrapped in a hug from the happy little sprite. "See, told you Jazz." Alice giggled.

"Mhmm. Timing given, I'd say you picked up Alice's approach at five miles away. It's impressive, considering vampire hearing picks up anything within a mile radius."

Demitri spoke up then. "Could you tell who was approaching?"

Isabella looked thoughtful before nodding. "Yes."

"By smell?"

"No, a feeling of familiarity, though not attached to a specific person. I knew she wouldn't hurt me."

Demitri pondered this before turning to the kings standing to his right. "Masters, might we test Jasper's theory with a guard member Isabella has not met?"

Caius nodded. "It seems appropriate. Find an unoccupied guard member and replicate what Alice has just done."

Demitri bowed his head before blurring off towards the tree line of the clearing. Two minutes later, another chime from Jasper's phone signaled that the next test was ready.

"Just as before, Isabella. Go."

Isabella breathed unecessarily, though it soothed her nerves just as well as in her mortal life. Her lips quirked as she felt the familiar sensation within her personal bubble of space. "There." She raised a pale arm to the southeast section of the field. Her head cocked to the side before she raised her other arm, pointing to the west. "Tricky bastard, I assume Demitri is coming that way in an effort to throw me off."

Sure enough, one unfamiliar vampire and Demitri ran into the clearing nearly a minute later. Demitri pouted, while Isabella crossed her arms and glared at him in a mockingly scathing manner. She might have stuck her tongue out at him too if she wasn't in such esteemed company. Turning to the unfamiliar vampire, she gave him a small smile and walked over to him, extending her hand. "Pleased to meet you…"

"Alexander." Came his deep baritone voice, his cool hand encompassing hers briefly before he retracted quickly, and resumed his position beside Demitri. He looked at her warily, seeming to be much more cautious than she, which was a surprise to many as she was the newborn.

"And your read on him?" Demitri questioned.

"Unfamiliar, but not a threat." Isabella spoke with confidence, not sporting a shit eating grin. "You, however, are familiar but equally annoying in your attempts to fool me."

Demitri huffed in mild disappointment his eyes before dismissing Alexander to his duties.

The gravity of the eyes on her, watching, calculating, and even judging was beginning to take its toll. None wished her any harm, but Isabella felt as invincible as she felt vulnerable in understanding her gift. Still, she would persist to be of as much use as she could in the coming weeks….

"I wonder how her defensive talents might show themselves in different circumstances." Mused Carlisle.

"How do you mean?" Aro responded, looking to his old time friend to his left.

"We have seen her gift's range from afar, but how might her defensive skills work up close?"

Jasper looked thoughtful before he responded. "It's an interesting question, but Bella hasn't been trained in fighting, yet."

Isabella growled in frustration, cueing Jasper to back up a few steps.

"Bella I don't-"

"We don't have enough time! Test me!" She cried, her eyes darkening to black. It appeared some newborn tendencies hadn't disappeared… including unstable emotions.

"Okay, darlin." Jasper soothed, his palms raised in a sign that showed he was not a threat to diffuse the explosion of frustration from his newborn counterpart. "We'll start off easy. I'm going to come at you, and you will have to defend yourself against my attack. Rely on your instinct, and remember I am not a threat to you… understood?" He asked her seriously.

"Understood." Isabella squared her shoulders, looking at Jasper expectantly from his position across the clearing.

Vampire vision allowed her to comprehend what her human eyes could not as Jasper appeared to move in slow motion towards her, his body contorting to a crouched position before he pounced at her. As if running on autopilot, Isabella's legs kicked up against Jasper's torso, the impact sending her flying backwards, and him in the other direction. Choosing a more graceful landing, she manuvered her body backwards to complete a small flip before her feet landed softly on the grass. Jasper, on the other hand, was a bit worse for wear and he brushed dirt from the front of his shirt before standing from the small Jasper-sized indent in the grass. "That was pretty good there, darlin. Again."

With a smirk, Isabella faced off with Jasper again from across the field, rocking gingerly from foot to foot with unabated anticipation. "Come at me bro." She grinned, extending a palm in a mocking "come here" motion before resuming her more neutral pose.

Jasper darted back and forth this time, a sure effort to confuse her she assumed. Her eyes drifted close as she anticipated his movements, feeling him change course to come around behind her. Stifling a giggle, she widened her stance to brace for impact, her arms coming up at the perfect time to wrap around Jasper's neck before flipping him over her body and to the ground in front of her.

"AWESOME!" Felix and Emmett cried in unison, causing Isabella to open her eyes to meet Jasper's eyes.

"You okay?" She offered him a hand, which he took as he got to his feet.

"Never better." He grinned. "We've got one talented vampire here… I would even be wary to face you once we've got you trained for combat."

Alice joined her mate, flicking a piece of earthy debris off his covered shoulder blade. "She did it with her eyes closed, too." She winked.

"How did you do it?" Came Caius' voice, causing Isabella to turn.

"I didn't do anything. It was automatic… a reflex almost." She shrugged.

"Hm." Caius' eyes clouded with a far away look before refocusing on her. "Might we also test your reflexes further, without the use of your vampiric senses? Alec has the ability of taking away individualized senses— in this case your hearing, sight, and touch."

"My ability does not work on Isabella, master." Alec replied cooly.

"Precisely." Caius continued impatiently. "Isabella will need to drop her defenses to allow the use of his gift. As she has said, we have limited time."

All eyes were on Isabella now, watching and waiting. It was nearly unbearable. An invasive sense of panic overcame her, causing her body to freeze entirely. If she were human still, her breath would have become shallow, her heart racing uncontrollably. She found it difficult to focus while she was completely on edge.

"Isabella?" Aro spoke, concern lacing his tone. He observed her eyes darting back and forth, seeming to pinpoint pathways and exits from their current place. She was within flight or flight mode, an instinct well know to him through the survival instincts of vampires.

"I can't." Isabella whispered, though those in proximity would undoubtedly hear her before she fled, leaving each vampire stunned.

Every vampire except Alice. Her gaze rested in a faraway place as her body remained stoic. Moments later she blinked, locking eyes with Aro before extending her hand, which he immediately moved to take.

A minute later he nodded, looking to Alice's left to Jasper. "Begin combat training. No one is to leave."

Jasper inclined his head in understanding, feeling the raven haired King quickly depart the space with swirling emotions of worry, longing, and contempt. From his wife, he was soothed with reassurance and confidence that he would take care of her.