Ever since Eleazar had told Olivia she could potentially have a gift, she had been testing and trying it out. "She can make a person feel weaker," was all he said. It had been assumed that it meant she could mentally psych someone out from challenging her and deter them through lower personal self-moral. She had tried it on her siblings and she saw no difference. She felt no difference. Again she had asked Eleazar. He told her gifts could be developed over years and years of mastery. But it seemed like a bullshit response to her. It wasn't fair that everyone else had a gift but her.

Weeks had gone by since that December announcement of their gifts. Tired of Eleazar's attempt to butter up bad news, she tried asking the new half vampire Donovan. Maybe their kind's abilities worked different than vampires? Already she had watched from the sidelines as Marina was now able to track everything going on around her. Tiago who as well had a non-gifted father was nearly as strong as a vampire. Damien still reigned all-powerful and perfect in her masters' eyes, and even was allowed to skip class as he constantly got individual attention. Why wasn't her supposed gift getting stronger?

Donovan gave her a more hopeful answer, "Many gifts are not revealed until a dhampir is in danger. Adrenaline can act as a catalyst for gifts appearing and evolving." And so she contemplated this each and every day as she sat hoping to be included in the wives' circle. She loved watching them put on their make up each morning. The way Chelsea did her hair. The elegance in their dress. Even if she had nothing to contribute to their conversations about the daily life of the Building.

"I think it's scandalous that Jane is choosing to be mates with that thing. It's practically human and of common blood no less. They aren't even the same species. If I had the time I would have Aro write a law prohibiting such unions," Sulpicia sighed as she lounged on the bed in her chambers.

"Speaking of relationships, I heard that Felix and Demetri were talking about their own children to Marcus. It's practically decided that they will be mates," Athenodora chirped back before finally acknowledging Olivia, "I guess that means you and Damien are stuck together then."

"At least you know your children will be special," Sulpicia laughed.

Olivia felt her cheeks get hot as she looked at the ground. It was true. Even her own father barely looked at her anymore as he devoted all his time and love towards her adopted brother. She tried one night to play him a song she had just learned on the viola, thinking he would be proud and see that even though she wasn't super strong or super smart or super everything, she had a talent she was proud of. Instead he had brushed her off saying he was going to play with Tiago and to do her 'girly stuff' elsewhere.

"Don't listen to them," Chelsea cooed as she gave her a mothering look, "You are still my special star." Even when everyone seemed to be ignoring her, Chelsea oddly found time for her. She had introduced her to piano, to the violin, to singing. Together they would watch musicals and later be singing the show tunes together. That was how she found herself and found how she stood out. She would watch the glamorous stars of old Hollywood as she hung pictures of Marilyn Monroe in her room. She would learn and dance the routines to Broadway classics. She wanted to feel the rush of bowing before an applauding audience as they begged for an encore. She wanted to feel the warm caress of a spotlight on her face. Olivia dreamed of becoming an actress, but she knew she would always be confined to the walls of Volterra being diminished down to nothing but another wife of the Volturi.

That was why she needed to find her gift. And find herself.

Then the killings happened and she started watching bodies being left in the hallways. The hysteria as guard members began dropping like flies. Then their enemies the Cullens came and they were locked downstairs. Then the pipe burst and they were trapped in a flooding room. Then the boy promised to be her husband died leaving her alone as Tiago and Marina only became closer until there was no room for her.

The night they all almost drowned she had been secretly ecstatic. Maybe this life or death moment would spark something inside of her and reveal what her purpose was. But nothing changed. Now she served no purpose. But maybe this was her big break. Maybe this meant that if she was no longer needed she could leave and follow her dreams of being an actress.

They she woke up one morning, almost a week after Damien had died, to find one of the most startling sights of her life. The kitchen lay almost completely destroyed. There was blood sprayed everywhere. Chunks of raw meat lay littered around. And in a pool of blood lay Damien asleep on the floor, shaking uncontrollably. Deep scars now covered his chest and arms, surgical straight slices they seemed months old with some running from with collar bone to his waist. Heart beating, lunges breathing Damien on the floor with blood dripping down his chin, coating his hands, staining his clothes, caked in his hair. But he was miraculously alive.

She knelt down to get a closer look. Placing her hand on his face, she felt warmth, as she slowly stroked down to feel his pulse. The morning sunlight made his hair glow and the blood on his lips was driving her insane for some unknown reason. Despite him being weaker that Tiago, his bare chest was actually not just skin and bones like she expected but slight and slim muscle from her Father's harsh workouts. He was asleep anyway? Curious she leaned down and brushed a kiss on his lips, hoping maybe like the fairytales Chelsea had read to her when she was younger were true. Disappointed, she sat back.

Damien's eyes snapped open. Olivia gasped. They were a bold red like a vampire's. She had only seen this once before and that was when Tiago and Damien had gotten into a fight and his eyes had turned like this before. He blinked a couple times as they faded back to green. Transfixed she stroked his cheek again, as confusion clouded his face. She helped him sit up, hugging him closely. Damien was back. And despite all her teasing, she had deep down always hoped he would pay attention to her. She smiled as he hugged her back.

Then he bit her.

"OW! What the hell!" she shrieked as she tried to push him away. He held on to her tighter, growling like a wild animal as he dug his sharp teeth deeper. "Stop!" she begged growing scared as her vision swam and her eyes grew heavier. He was killing her.

"Stop," she breathed grasping his bare arms. This strange warm tingling feel seeped into her hands. It spread up her arms, waking her back up. Olivia tried pushing Damien away again. This time his eyes rolled back as he crumpled to the floor. His skin was now grey and clammy.

Olivia looked at her shaking hands. What had she done?

Kneeling next to him again, she lay her hands on his bare chest over his heart. "Come on, don't die on me again," she huffed. She felt the tingling flow back down her arms into her buzzing palms. Slowly this energy transferred back to him. With wide eyes she watched color return to his face. He opened his eyes to blush embarrassed by her touching his chest.

"Uh? Thank you?" he stammered confused and flustered.

"You are very welcome," her voice quivered. Was this her gift? "Welcome back to the world of the living."

"I must be lost because surly a castle full of vampires and death is not what you are referring to," he snorted feeling like himself again. Olivia laughed at his sarcasm.

"We should probably tell someone you are not dead," she suggested.

"Sure thing. But first I am going to have a little fun," Damien smiled mischievously.

EAST EUROPE

Things were going to shit. Alec was straining to keep the gaggle of wild children corralled. They kept trying to escape or would get distracted by the scent of blood. Some would just stop and throw tantrums refusing to move. One time Asya got so fed up with one kid who kept sitting down and pouting demanding his momma, she kicked him two towns over sending him flying through the air. Not to mention they only traveled at night not wanting to risk a mishap of a child exposing them into sunlight which only slowed their progress even more.

"Old Kings Court" was next on the prophetic list as they passed through Romania. Jane remembered the stories Aro had told her. How the Romanians use to rule the vampire world. How they were corrupt and used terror to force vampire and human subjects alike to worship them like gods during a dark era of lawlessness. How Aro, Marcus, and Caius with the help of Felix, Santiago, Renata, Chelsea, and several other guard members who were long dead before they had joined had faught valiantly and overthrew the dictators establishing a peace and secrecy that had yet to be broken. All that remained were two servants named Vladimir and Stefan who still held a millennia old grudge. They had seen the two of them last winter during the Cullen ordeal. It would not be below the two vampires to sabotage their mission. Jane even pondered if the Romanians had been behind the murders.

"Vampires," Roman cut through her thoughts as he sniffed the air. "We need to get out of sight now," Jane interjected urgently.

"There is a highway in a couple miles. We need to keep the kids clear of that so no humans see us," Asya reported.

Alec sniffed the air smelling the familiar stench of their enemies. And petrol mixed with diner grease and unwashed humans.

"I have an idea. It's mad, but it might solve both all three of our problems," Alec smiled, "There is a service stop up ahead. Jane and maybe one other person go and commandeer one of the lorries. One big enough to keep every single one of the children contained inside. Then we will keep to main roads all the way back home."

The other four nodded in agreement. "I have idea to steal one," Asya smirked. The girls waited for the road to be clear before darting towards the stop. Ducking in the shadows of the diner, Jane watched in confusion as Asya began taking off her parka despite the freezing temperatures. Then her shirt and trousers leaving her in just her combat boots, pants, and bra. Asya shook her tight French braid out letting her brown hair fall on her shoulders. "Hold," Asya ordered as she handed Jane her clothes. Jane could not stop staring at the girl. "Don't lose," the girl pointed to the knife that seemed to be welded to her calloused hand. "Look," she then gestured to the many skinny starving girls dressed in ripped skimpy clothing wafting around. Jane understood now. Asya was going to pretend to be a hooker and then once she got inside one of the lorries she was going to steal it somehow.

Asya felt exposed without her knife. She walked through the frozen night examining the different vehicles before finding one that would work. She spotted one that was used to transport meat that would have no gaps for sunlight, was more reinforced to block out noise and scent, and had a full tank. She had jump started cars, but never these. The keys were nowhere to be found. Noting the labeling, she looked to find the driver. Looking in the window she found the man whose uniform matched the truck. He was just finishing up his meal and would be back in less than ten minutes. In the meantime, she watched the news being broadcast on a small tv in the corner. It was stating that there was an amber alert for a girl in Italy. She had been taken by her father and step mother.

It was then changed to news about the war in Syria as the man finished his beer and put his coat on to leave. As he approached, fumbling with his keys, she emerged from the shadows.

"Give me a ride anywhere and I will give you the night of your life," she purred seductively. She could smell he was already aroused as he stared at her breasts in the frozen air. He reeked of alcohol and must have been drunk. She was doing the world a favour taking him off the road, especially at night in a brewing snowstorm. He smirked with yellow teeth as he walked forward to cup her butt cheeks. She noted his keys clipped to his belt as she reached her hands towards his face like she was going for a kiss. Instead, she quickly jerked his entire head to break his neck. Dragging the body, she threw it inside the back. Taking into account how none of them had fed in over a week, she grabbed the first three prostitutes she could find. Knocking them out, she threw them in the small back sleeping area of the cabin. Jane ran over with her clothes as both girls climbed into the cab and they rushed to meet the others.

They used the dead driver as bait as they herded all the immortal children into the large container. This gave Alec a break to turn off his Mist as he devoured one of the hookers as his eyes went from black to red. The three half vampires shared the second, not needing as much blood as the twins. They kept the third as a backup blood source in case someone got injured and needed it to heal.

Alec watched the Dhampir girl who now wore barely anything. It wasn't her bearskin that caught his eye like it would for most fifteen year old boys, it was the small black tattoo on her ribs. It was the same black star with markings on the inside that he had seen on his blood singer. A clue. "Where did you get that?" he asked startled. She only gave him a dirty look. He examined it more, memorizing every detail.

Their creator still fought them complaining that it had been all a misunderstanding and that he should be allowed to kept at least the oldest one. Jane sorted him right out again as Alec hopped in with Kotsya as back up in the back. If any of the Immortal Children got too out of hand even with Alec's Mist keeping them mainly at bay, he would not hesitate to rip an arm or a leg off the slow the child down. Plus Alec did not mind have the company even if he loomed silently like a ghost. Alec did not mind quiet as the entire roared to life.

Roman dug out two walkie talkies from his bag for them to communicate between the back and the front of there was an emergency.

Roman had darned the driver's uniform in case they ran into human authorizes with the stolen vehicle and to not arouse suspicion with the humans who shared the roadway with them. Asya climbed into the back cabin to put her clothes back on and tie up the last hooker as Jane took shotgun. As they rolled out onto the frozen street Jane sniffed the air catching the lingering scent of the Romanians. And werewolves, but it wasn't strong. Noting the lunar cycle, if they ran into any they would still be in their weaker human form. Not a problem. But there was also a new scent of other dhampirs. Wanting to be cautious, she checked the side mirror. A car was following behind them.

"How long until Italy?" Asya asked from the back. "If the storm persists, I reckon a full twenty four hours," Jane guessed. "Great," the other girl snorted, "In that case…" Asya reached between them fiddling with the dials of the radio. The first station moaned out some sad folk song, another rattled of a weather report of an incoming blizzard and informed them of road closures, before Jane stopped her on a station playing music in English.

"You are listening to Europa FM up next is Taylor Swift with Love Story," the host announced. Jane looked behind the find the car still following them an hour later.

"Ro, pull off to the side and see if they pass us," Asya suggested turning the radio down to listen for trouble. They pulled over to the shoulder and put their hazard lights on faking car trouble. The car stopped too pulling up behind them.

The walkie talkie crackled, "Hey guys, why are we stopping."

"Alec, someone has been trailing us. Get ready just in case," Jane responded as Asya started loading their weapons, putting a hand pistol under Jane's seat. Three men stepped out the car guns in hand.

"Three behind us," Asya whispered into the walkie talkie. "Kotsya is going to pop out of the back. Then we need to run," Alec responded. On cue, three gunshots were heard as Roman slammed his foot on the accelerator. The force of them jolting forward and the mistake of using the door as a shield caused Kotsya to be thrown from the back end of the vehicle. Alec grabbed his ankle out of reflex as Kotsya's bangs brushed against the frozen assault as they sped away. They children around them became wild from the scent of the fresh blood before the Mist overtook them leaving the two boys in silence. Alec pulled the stunned boy up. "My hero," Kotsya laughed as both leaned back against the far wall.

Jumbling was heard from behind them as the scent of blood from whatever was just shot drove the newborn vampires crazy with thirst. Jane looked back to see one body laying dead in the snow as they sped away. The other two were bleeding, but limping towards their car in pursuit. "They must be dhampirs. Wolf blood would not incite this reaction. Oh and we are still being followed since two are still bloody alive," Jane snapped. Gun shots were heard behind them coming from the car chasing them. "If they hit the tires, we are dead," Roman shouted, "Jane, take the wheel. Us two will hope out and finish them off. I recognize their faces. They are of another dhampir family. We must be in their territory."

Jane had never driven a vehicle like this, much less an articulated lorry which required gear shifting and non-traditional breaking. The wind howled as the storm picked up, ice making the windshield nearly impossible to see out of. The road slickened as they neared more mountains. Soon they would be driving through a valley with a ravine to their left and no room for error. But she didn't have much of a choice. Her entire life seemed like a trial by fire, why should it stop now? Gripping the wheel, she sat on the very edge of the seat trying to reach the pedals, not daring to lift her foot off the accelerator. The roof thumped as her two friends climbed out and onto the roof.

Roman ran, sword swinging, off the back, flying through the snowflakes before landing on the hood of the car. "Lay down your weapons and we will lay down ours. We just need passage through," he tried to quickly explained as they open fired.

"We heard that you no longer are in an alliance with the wolves. But they offered anyone an alliance if we kill you and your new Volturi friends," one of the men smirked. Roman read the emblem on their coats as Viktorov before jumping onto the roof of their car to avoid getting shot. Raising his sword, he stabbed through the roof directly through the skull of the driver as the sword point poked through his mouth, killing him instantly as the car swerved out of control on the icy roads. He pulled his sword back out as the first brother slumped over the steering wheel with his foot still on the accelerator. The second now distracted, fought to control the steering wheel. A sharp bend was coming up.

"Ro watch out!" Asya screamed as she unhooked the rope and axe from her belt. He say something silver glint in the car's head lights as she quickly swung it at her side. She released it just as they disappeared behind the bend. He didn't think, he just jumped reaching blindly. Everything seemed to slow around him as he felt the cold metal meet his hands, as he held on for dear life watching the car continue to drive straight. He heard a crush behind him as it broke through the metal guard rail. His momentum kept him swinging around as Asya anchored the rope. And by some miracle it whipped him around back to the truck as he smacked into the side, clawing to stay on. She pulled him up, adrenaline still pumping between them as the car exploded hitting the bottom of the ravine sending a flash of flames as both dhampirs burned to death.

In relief, both cheered whooping loudly before climbing back into the front with Jane. "All clear," they announced on the hand radio before turning the stereo to full blast in celebration. But Jane was not convinced. The scent of the Romanians still wafted in her nose not letting her put her guard down. They wouldn't be foolish enough to attack them on an open road, but then again the Viktrovos did. Rules were slowly becoming nothing more than guidelines. The radio station calmed her nerves as she continued to man the wheel, the vibrations of the open road soothing her. She checked on her little brother to make sure all was well in the back before upshifting. Jane smiled as she turned the radio up listening to a song in English.

Didn't they tell us don't rush into things

Didn't you flash your green eyes at me

Haven't you heard what becomes [AD1] of curious minds

Jane sat back in the passenger seat as she stared out the window. She missed Donovan and was excited to finally be near home. She idly rubbed her lips with her thumbs, smiling and thinking about them kissing in the snow in New York, kissing in the library, kissing in the clock tower.

Didn't you calm my fears with a treacherous cat's smile

Ooh didn't it all seem new and exciting

I felt your arms twisting around me

It's all fun and games until somebody loses their mind

She was scared of the times when she could think. Impulsiveness was how she normally solved her problem and ignored what was actually going on in her life. But sitting still opened the dark door to thinking. She thought about how somehow their new friends seemed to have met Donovan and Moira, but they went by different names. Or maybe Donovan was lying to her. He claimed to only be a little more than a hundred to her, but he had met the Mishukovs a little under three hundred years ago. Why did he lie to her? Were there more lies? Could she really trust him? He was her first kiss, first love. She felt so guilty that amongst all the chaos and bloodshed of the Guard, she was obsessing over a boy. She felt shallow and fake, like she wasn't her normal self. Jane cursed the annoying hormones still forever in her. Cursed being fifteen. Cursed Taylor Swift for her songs that hit too close to home. Cursed how all she could think about was ripping his shirt off and kissing him again and again.

And in the end in wonderland we both went mad.

When dawn came apron them, Jane hid in the back of the cabin with the still tied up and gagged hooker. The snow around them was deceptive as sunlight bounced off and reflected revealing Jane's true nature. She would have to stay hidden until dusk. To pass the time, she listened to Asya and Roman chatter in Russian as she tried to pick up words that were becoming familiar.

"You think my father would be proud we are helping them?" he asked Asia as she responded sighing, "He wants to make an alliance with them. Helping them proves we are useful. Not to mention it is undecided if the Volturi will outlaw our kind like they did the wolves."

"Do you think all is well at home? I haven't gotten a single call or message since we left," he then asked. She knew what he was implying, if Anzor was dead yet. But also with the recent discovery that a bounty had been placed on their family by the werewolves for her killing their leader. Now that three of the sons of the Viktrovos, a family they had been friends with, now lay dead at their hands they no doubt had added another enemy to the growing list.

"I read the email that that future seer sent, Moira Sewick if that's even her name. It says that it's predicted that I will kill our father and take over."

"Your father," she corrected, she still had doubts that he was her biological father, "And you know he and I have never gotten along. If he were to die, metaphorically speaking, I would be free to track down my mother after all these years. She would like to see you too I assume. When I was little, on the run, she would tell me stories about you when you were her student. You are like a son to her."

Finally dusk fell covering the sun. "We need to fill up on petrol soon. We don't have enough to make it to Italy," Roman announced as they pulled off towards the next station. Asya knocked on the back door to let Kotsya and Alec know they could take a break from child guard duty and stretch their legs. Oddly both boys were trying to hide laughter under their hands and clothing and hair looked a little ruffled. Maybe they some of the children had been difficult?

As Roman filled up the tank, Jane wandered around cracking her back. The storm wind blew a scent that sent chills down her spine. The Romanians.

"Hello Witch Tw-"

Jane swung her fist out of instinct as they startled her. Vladimir crashed into the dumpster, breaking it like a piñata. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" she ordered, "You know damn bloody well what happens to those who anger the Volturi. I've been trapped in that lorry for way to fucking long and that damn radio has played Taylor Swift ten times. Ten I tell you!" The white haired vampire started screaming as she vented, using her power to relieve her stress. To keep him from attracting attention, she forced his mouth shut staring into his eyes that brought a smile to her face seeing how much agony was in them.

"Let him go," his dark haired friend gasped as he watched the small girl torture his only friend. "Or what," Jane laughed. These low lives didn't scare her. "I literally have a several undead children crammed on a box, battled werewolves, climbed the alps in Gucci, practically invaded Russia in the middle of bloody winter, and learned to drive in the last week. You don't exactly scare me."

Like a soccer mom, she dragged both over the one of the petrol stalls. "Move and I will break your fucking legs off," Jane seethed. Roman leaned his head over confused as he saw the small blonde girl drag the two vampires. "Need help?" he asked only to get a death glare from the child. He shook his head watching the number grow on the litres. Kotsya had run inside the small store to get supplies and dropped the plastic bags at the sight. Alec just leaned against the wall admiring his sister's work, crossing his arms proud.

He watched as she put a bank note in the machine and grab the nozzle. The air soon was filled with fumes as she doused them in petrol. "Any last words?" she laughed a little unhinged.

"You witch," Stefan spat on her feet as she lit the match.

"It's BITCH. With a b," as she dropped the match as her child like eyes basked in the glorious scene lf the burning vampires, "B as in 'burn in hell'".

And on that note, they piled back in and got back on the road.

Volterra

Marcus sensed Chelsea losing her grip on Demetri the night Damien and died. Now his daughter was placed on danger. This was why he mentioned nothing to Aro. He himself had tried to escape once with the love of his life, only to find her murdered. Demetri had the chance to save the two people he cared most about and he took it. The Volturi preached family and protecting each other, but it was rarely practiced. And so he let them escape. They would come back eventually, Demetri was not doing this because he hated the Volturi, he was doing this out of the love for his daughter.

Aro ripped the closet door off and threw it across the room splintering two of the bed posts as the canopy can crashing down. He was beyond livid. Subject Two, one of the most talented creatures he had ever encountered had slipped through his fingers and was gone forever. Drowning on dry land! A freak accident at a freak time creating a freakish death. And that's not all, Corin, a key component needed to keep his subjects content with all he ordered was now dead as well. The one thing securing his hold on Chelsea, who could flip his Guards on him in a second. And on the wall bad been written another message for him

Want to play a game AROgance?

This killer was personally victimizing him, attacking what he cared most about, threatening him. Aro could not think back to when he ever did anything to incite such a violent wrath. He only worked to bring order to this chaotic immortal world. To be an inspiration. A lighthouse for those who lost unable to see. He had been the best father any of the Guard could ask for. He should be worshipped, not this.

Joham reported to him three times a day. The bafoon still hadn't figured out what had made Damien so special and what exactly was hiding inside him that formed such an ability. He needed to create more like him, except maybe ones that were more loyal and did what he told them too. He had hopes that Subject two would create a lineage that would raise the Volturi into a new era of power. Now those lay shattered. There was only one option left. He would have Alec created more offspring. If they tried enough times they were bound to get the same result. They could start over and reshape this child's mind to worship and adore his good old granddad. Maybe luck with have it and they would get a mild mannered girl, maybe one that looked just like Jane. One that would do everything he desired.

Another knock was at the door. Hopefully it was Johan saying he found the exact gene that held Subject Two's gift. It was Afton. "My lord, I have terrible news. Three of the Guard members have left."

"Left as in went out to walk around the plaza?"

Afton backed away seeing the crazed look in Aro's eyes.

"Left as in left the outer wall with bags packed," Afton whispered.

"Who. Left." Aro snarled through his venomous teeth.

"Demetri and Heidi, with Subject Five," Afton was ready to run he had never seen his master so furious. Caius yes, but not Aro.

His master began laughing with long drawn out 'ha's shaking his head.

"Those fools. I want every tracker in the world on their heels. A million each for reward. Double it if you have too. Call the human authorities if you have to. Issue an amber alert so their passports will be flagged if they try to fly to the United States," Aro giggled madly, "I want what is rightly mine returned by tomorrow at the latest!"

"Yes, my lord," Afton said waiting for his boss to rip his head off.

"Oh and one other thing, I want at least twenty girls locked into the different guest rooms. Have Eleazar find ones preferably that hold potential for abilities, but if not no bother. We will keep trying. As soon as Alec gets back have him impreganate as many as possible. And if he resists, tell Chelsea to convince him otherwise by any means necessary. She worked splendidly the last two times," Aro seemed to no longer be making logical sense to Afton, but orders were orders.

Once alone, Aro bellowed in rage. His world was crumbling apart. He threw the bed side lamp into his wife's vanity shattering the mirror with the rest of him sanity. His red eyes caught the sight of something refracting and reflecting off the pieces that made him go cold, freezing him in his heated fury.

Green eyes and an angelic smile that now haunted him.

"Boo!"