Astrid kept to the trees her entire run back to the farm. She had grabbed a dress from the elderly lady and it hung at her knees and was tight in the shoulders but it would have to do as she didn't want to keep the same thing on incase the tracker came back. She knew that her scent was covered and there was no way for him to find her, but she'd rather be safe than sorry. She had tied her hair up as well, deciding that she should cut it when she returned. Her hair had always been a problem when fighting but the newborns were so focused on hurting that they never thought to use it against her. Now, she had a more experienced enemy on her hands, and she wouldn't let him catch her like before.
The farm reeked of blood. Astrid took in the pile of human bodies near the destroyed barn, eyes open and throats torn. Most of them barely had their limbs attached from the callous treatment. Astrid turned away and focused on the newborns fighting. Bethany stood to the side, arms crossed, and new scars on her face. She glanced at Astrid before focusing on the fights. A newborn yanked a head off, giving a war cry as he held up the head. The others fed off of his energy and cheered back, laughing at the fallen body.
"Astrid."
She turned to see Major. He too had gained more scars, bright and shining with venom as they healed. His hair was loose, covering his cheeks as he gazed at her. He didn't seem concerned to see her and she wondered if Charlotte had made it back.
"Major, I have a report."
He raised an eyebrow, "There shouldn't be a report until tomorrow."
"I was attacked and it wasn't from Benito or Santiago."
Major frowned and glanced at the farm house. She could see Maria's window lit. He looked back at Astrid and nodded for her to follow him away. She glanced once more at Bethany and the newborns before following him into the surrounding woods. It was refreshing to be back in familiar territory.
They stopped and Astrid told him what had happened. He nodded and took in her words, his eyes loosing focus as he thought. Astrid eventually stopped and looked at her hands, playing with them as she waited for his reply. She had done as was expected, to lead the enemy in the opposite direction, but it was clear that they would not stop searching for them. They had no names and only knew there were wars, if they were lucky perhaps they would find Santiago or Benito first.
"Volterra? I've never heard of it before." Major finally said.
Astrid shook her head, "Me either. They said Aro would take me in if I worked with them. I'm assuming that's the leader. The tracker didn't follow me back, I don't think we'll have a problem with them unless they catch another."
"Yes. They'll no doubt focus on the town they found you in. Three, you said? It doesn't sound like they're taking us serious."
"No, they kept calling me an animal and savage."
Major nodded, "Very well. The only one to go to that town will be you from now on. I want patrols to focus on finding Benito instead of keeping vampires out. If there is a vampire in our territory let them be, those three will probably deal with them."
"And if I run into them again?"
"That all depends on if we find Benito. I want you to lead them there, pretend that he is your leader. They will deal with him." Major stated.
"There's something else. Corin, she had a gift. She made me, how do I say this, happy? I saw pink and felt warm and she was asking me questions that I wanted to answer." Astrid reflected on the feeling, finding herself missing the warmth it gave.
"Interesting. Sounds like she lures you into a sense of comfort," He looked her up and down. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. I fed before coming back." She shrugged.
Major stepped forward and pushed her hair back, easily finding the spot on her head where the tracker had taken a chunk of hair. She sighed at the touch. It was rare she received a gentle touch, the last one having been Maria's hug. Major's hand felt warm against her scalp, his smell over bearing. She easily relaxed and felt the tension from the day leave her body. Was it just his touch or was he using his gift on her? She decided she didn't care and allowed her eyes to shut, enjoying this one small moment.
"You did well, Astrid." He murmured, his voice gravelly.
"Thank you, Major."
He chuckled and she opened her eyes, shocked at how close he was. His hand left her hair to land on her cheek, brushing his thumb under her eye. He gave her a small smile and stepped back, placing his hands behind his back. She wanted to follow him but convinced herself to stay back.
"Go check on the ten. I heard Charlotte shouting a while back."
She bowed her head before racing to the farm. She came from behind the barn and wasn't shocked to see an orgy happening. At least a dozen newborns were naked and eagerly licking at each other, groping at breasts and dicks, their naked bodies covered in blood. Tanner was tossing human bodies into a pile, shaking his head at how they were acting. Astrid ignored the orgy and walked past their moans, her nose curled at the act. That's how she was awakened into vampire life and had relished in the idea that it was all gone. It seemed that Maria wasn't too keen on letting it go.
Bethany stood at the farm house, leaned against a pillar as two vampires dueled in front of her. Maria had came out of her room to inspect the fights, grinning maliciously as a young girl ripped another's head off. She victoriously held it over her head, soaking in the glory of her fellows screaming.
Maria clapped her hands, "Well done! Oh, you get two humans all to yourself!"
The newborn cheered, throwing the head to into the fire that had been alit. Astrid kept her features calm as she walked past it, meeting Maria's eyes. She didn't say anything and allowed Astrid to head in the direction of the others.
Astrid made it to the clearing in time to see Charlotte screeching at Harriet and Charles. Peter was trying to hold her back but she spun and clawed at his eyes, not releasing her grip on him when he started to shout. Astrid darted forward and yanked the wild blonde off of Peter, watching as she rolled. She caught herself on her hands and knees, snarling viciously at her. When she realized it was Astrid she immediately stopped. Venom welled in her eyes and before Astrid knew it, Charlotte was hugging her.
"I thought you were dead! They wouldn't let me go find you!"
Astrid was confused by her reaction. Charlotte was worried for her?
"I'm fine, Charlotte." Astrid gave her a pat on the back, glancing at Peter. He wiped his face and shook his head, tucking his hands into his torn pockets. The others had surrounded them.
"Thank God! Those vampers had surrounded you when I turned around and I heard the building crumble. I tried to get Peter to go back but he wouldn't let me!" Charlotte glowered at the man."I'm happy that you're back!"
"Who were they? She said they were in cloaks." Peter asked.
"I have no idea. They said they were from Volterra."
He blinked, "There's a coven there. They call themselves the Volturi and consider themselves regulators of the vampire world." He frowned and shook his head. Astrid assumed that his gift had shown him.
"We must be breakin' some laws then, for them to come all the way out here." Harriet suggested.
Astrid had an idea that it could be related to all the dead humans in the farm and the missing thirty. She kept her thoughts to herself and watched as the others got comfortable again. Charlotte went to apologize to Peter, purring over his wounds and giving him kisses. He didn't seem thrilled over her coddling but allowed it. Astrid raised an eyebrow and he glared at her, daring her to mock him.
She heard a branch snap and spun on her heel. The others stood at the sight of Maria. Astrid took note of the five newborns standing defensively behind her, soaked in blood and barely any clothes. They leered at the ten, lips peeled back in a snarl. Astrid took a defensive stance before Maria and respectively bowed her head, showing that they had no intent to not behave.
"Darling Astrid, I haven't seen you in a day. What happened to you?" Maria asked, tilting her head to the side.
"I was on patrol when three cloaked vampires attacked me. I managed to lure them away." She reported.
"Cloaked, you say? Impossible," Maria snorted. "The only vampires who would attack are Benito's men."
"I am telling the truth. They claimed-" She was cut short as Maria grabbed her by the throat, holding her high above her. Astrid forced herself to not fight back and hung limply in Maria's hold.
The vampire snarled, "You know what I think, darling Astrid? I think that you have came out here to plot against me! The lot of you have taken yourselves from the farm and work together. Where were you?"
"I was patrolling, Maria!" She gasped.
Maria snarled and tossed her into a tree. Her body flew through it, cutting it in half, and it came crashing down. Astrid pushed herself out of the way and reappeared in front of Maria. She bowed once again. Maria stared down at her, eyes full of maniacal plans.
"I was patrolling, Maria." She repeated, keeping her gaze at Maria's boot clad feet.
"Is that so?" Her eyes shifted from Astrid to the ten huddled. "I believe you, Astrid. You have always been loyal to me, have always served well. However, these newborns have not. Who's say they haven't been planning to run? Why else would they be out here by their lonesome?" She walked forward, surveying the ten. Peter kept his mouth shut but Astrid could see the challenge in his face.
"You," She pointed to Harriet and the newborn whimpered. "What were you saying about breaking laws?"
"N-nothing, Maria. Just about the cloaked figures." She whispered, curling into herself. Charles stepped closer, eyes narrowed.
Maria hummed and stepped back, "I see. These cloaked figures you claimed to have seen would only associate themselves with the Volturi, a coven in Italy. Why would they come to Texas? Do you hear how ludicrous that is?" She laughed and shook her head, returning to look at Astrid who was still on her knees. "You saw Benito's men and are only imagining things."
"Yes, Maria." She whispered.
Maria was in denial. How could she be so blind to what they were saying? Astrid would have no way of possibly knowing who the Volturi was if she hadn't met them. Astrid realized just how far gone Maria actually was. All she could focus on was Benito.
"See! Even Astrid knows what she told were lies!" Maria shouted, making sure all newborns were looking at her. She grabbed Harriet by the arm and dragged her before Astrid. "She believes your lies, Astrid, she has been compromised. You began this, you must end it."
Harriet was sobbing, shaking her head. She stared straight into Astrid's eyes, begging for her life. How did it come to this? She had fallen into a sense of false security with these newborns, having been away from the farm and having their own section to themselves. Maria made sure it was ended and that she was in control.
Astrid didn't need Maria to tell her again. She grabbed Harriet by the mouth and yanked her head in half. Her scream was cut midway through only to be continued by Charles. He roared and lunged for Astrid, eyes wild. She felt remorse as she caught him, spinning him to the floor so that she could yank his head of as well. Within seconds she had taken away two good people.
She stood with her back to the rest, head down. Maria clapped her hands and applauded Astrid's quick moves, wrapping an arm around her and leading her past the five newborns. She heard the rest following, leaving behind Harriet and Charles. Their walk was full of silence ended by the screams at the farm. They entered chaos as newborns dueled and fucked, angry fire raging in the center. Major was sparring with a pair, easily dodging their moves. He stopped to stare as Maria led them into the center of the yard.
"All is well, my children!" Maria said, releasing her hold on Astrid. "Continue on with your training! We are closer each day to finding Benito and putting an end to his miserable existence!"
Maria returned to her room. Astrid stared blankly at the floor, listening as Peter led a grief stricken Charlotte towards the barn. The remaining eight followed. She looked up when new steps approached her.
"What happened?" Major asked, his eyes drifting between the distance of Peter and Astrid.
"She believes Benito's men attacked me last night," She said dully. "She overheard Harriet talking about it, made me kill her. Charles tried to avenge her. He died as well."
Major said nothing, standing close to her. She felt a wave of comfort cover her like an invisible hug, warming her insides with a tinge of affection. She glanced at him, taking in his emotionless eyes and scar covered face. She sighed and wished she could go to sleep, not for the first time. Instead, she squared her shoulders and took in the fights happening. Slowly Major's comfort wore off until she was left feeling guilt ridden once more.
"Tell me what to do, Major."