A/N: All rights go to Stephanie Meyers. I do not own anything except for any characters not originally in the Twilight Saga.
Chapter Thirteen: Leandra
I am cleaning the library when I hear a shout and then the doors to the room are slammed open. Someone knocks over a few bookcases as they come in and they stop not too far from me. I peek around the bookcase I am working at to see Sulpicia fuming about something and she has flaming anger in her eyes. Like a little confused puppy, I tilt my head to the wide as I watch her storm back out and slam the doors behind her. I shrug and go back to cleaning the library before going to fix the mess Sulpicia just made like a small child. The door leading the secret passage for the guards open and Heidi comes in with our usual group.
"Hey, are you doing the training today?" Heidi asks. Demetri walks over and he stands close behind me. I can feel the smile on his face as he breathes down my neck.
"I heard you were a virgin, angel," Demetri purrs. I roll my eyes, knowing he was listening in to my conversation with either Felix or Heidi recently. Besides Marcus, they are the only two I have been honest about that stuff.
"Step back from my sister, Demetri," Felix growls, as he walks over. Demetri surrenders and he goes to flip through a book in defeat. I turn to see that Felix has Edward with him.
"What are you doing here?" I ask quickly. Edward smiles a little and he looks around.
"I have to be watched by Felix, so I decided to tag along to wherever he is needed at. Is that okay with you, Felix's little sister?" Edward says. I growl and turn away from him.
"So, who is doing the training today?" Heidi asks.
"I am, Marcus does not need me and has not for the past few days. I am able to do it and I am sure Demetri and Felix would like to see me beat up the wannabes anyways," I say. Demetri and Felix chuckle at the thought and then give each other a high five. "Besides, Felix has babysitting duty and Demetri does not play fair with the newborns."
"What is this training for?" Edward asks.
"Leandra asked the masters to start a program for the newborns that do not have a teacher to show them the ways of our world and have them be brought here to find potential new guards or to learn and then leave to be nomads or go find a coven somewhere. We are not forming an army, just teaching them so they do not go and slaughter thousands of humans," Demetri says and looks at me.
"Shut up, Demetri," Heidi says and punches his arm. "You know we are not allowed to bring that back up."
"Bring what up?" Edward asks. I slam the books onto the shelf and turn to him.
"You sure do ask many questions, Cullen, questions that you should be asking and on things that you have no business poking your nose in," I growl.
"Lea, calm down," Felix warns. I close my eyes and think about nice things before my temper flares even higher. "Edward, there are things that you do not need to know. You only can know about the training we are doing, nothing else."
"Why did you guys decide to do something like that for newborn vampires?" Edward asks. I turn to him and give him my best smile.
"When I was created, I was not taught many things about the vampire world by my father. Of which is the same vmpire that the wolves killed not too long ago. I asked to have this be training be created so we could keep the killing of innocent and ignorant vampires down to a small number. Also, to help the master find potential gifted ones to join our ranks in the guard. You would do well in joining us someday because you could be of great use to us someday," I say. The doors to the library are pushed open and Renata walks into the room. I raise a brow at her rushing over once she sees us.
"The masters have called for a meeting about Edward's request," Renata says. She freezes when she sees Edward with us and her jaw drops open.
"Renata," I say and she looks at me. "Tell the masters that we will be there in a few minutes."
"Uh huh," Renata says and then runs out of the room. I look at Edward and roll my eyes, as I walk away.
The guards remain near the doors as we wait for the masters to arrive. Edward stands in the middle of the room and he seems a little nervous about something. Aro, Caius, and Marcus walk into the room and sit in their thrones. Marcus' eyes wander around the room and I suddenly know that he is looking for me. I am standing in the shadows of one of the doors and watch him as his face becomes sad in not being able to find me. He knows I am there, but he wants to be able to see me with his eyes. My heart aches at the sudden wanting to be at his side and to see his smile once more. Aro stands up and he smiles at Edward.
"We have thought about your request and we have decided not to end your life, but instead grant you the chance to stay with us as part of our guard. Your gift would be useful for us and we would like to be able to use that gift of yours someday," Aro says. Edward stiffens and his shoulders slump a little at the masters' decisions.
"I am honoured for the offer, but I am going to pass," Edward says and then turns to leave. Caius looks at me in the shadows and he nods his head. I quietly open my door and walk out into the hallway to go and find one of the lower guards. They nod when they see me and then go to keep an eye on Edward until he leaves the city. I return to find Aro sitting and waiting for something.
"Marcus, where is our darling Leandra? I was wondering if she do something entertaining for us since she is full of entertainment, according to our wives," Aro says. Caius and Marcus stiffen at the comment and look around in search of me. No one moves to look for me and I remain in the shadows like always. "Well, someone go and search for her so we can be entertained."
"I am here, master," I say and step forward. Aro smiles widely when he sees me and then claps his hands like a child. "What is it that you would like for me to do for you, master?"
"Well, I was wondering if you could entertain us with your gifts by fighting a few of the trainees that you have in the little training program you had us create. Or maybe you can fight somone in here since you are in charge of battle training," Aro says. I bow to Aro and then look at Felix.
"I am able to do anything that you want me to do. I am at your command, master," I say. Aro chuckles and looks at Marcus, almost as if he is triumphant over something.
"Marcus, what shall she do for us?" Aro asks with a wicked grin on his face. I turn to look at Marcus and see the hurt in his eyes.
"Leandra, I want you to fight someone of Aro's choosing," Marcus says with pain in his voice.
"Felix and Demetri can be first and then, if she wins that fight, she can go against Jane or Alec or even both," Aro says. I suddenly realise what it is he is doing, it is another form of punishment for something. But, I did not misbehave today and have not since the incident with Edward. Why am I being punished?
"As you wish, master," I say and bow low to them. Felix and Demetri walk over and they circle around me like predators preparing to attack their prey. I curl my toes in my boots and listen to the movements of the two around me. I sense Felix's hesitation, but know he has been wanting to have a fight with me for some time for training. Demetri is being his usual self as he stalks around me. Felix is the first ot move and I jump up and over him. He snarls when he sees my smirk and then spin to kick him in the back. But, Demetri is quicker than usual and jumps at me in the air. That only gives me a split second to block him and we go tumbling on the floor. I plant the heel of my boot into the ground when I get to my feet and use my gift to rocket myself at Demetri first to pin him into the wall. Felix roars as he runs at me, I turn to charge back at him, but I am stopped when I sense something else. Alec's black smoke is coming at me and it is moving quicker than I am used to. I kick up a piece of the floor and throw it at him, just seconds before Felix tackles me into the ground and tries to pin me. He smirks, thinking he is triumphant, but I use my gift and push him up with my chest into the ceiling. With both opponents pinned and unable to move, I get to my feet and bow to the masters. Aro stands up and claps his hands, as he walks over to me. I look at his feet as he gets closer and he caresses my cheek.
"A treasure that is ours forever," Aro whispers. "Marcus, you are lucky to have this beautiful jewel as your guard."
"Thank you, brother," Marcus says. I look up to see that Aro has a similar desire that Marcus did that one day in my room.
"That will be all for now. Leandra, please come to my room after you are done with the training program," Aro says. He leaves the room first and I turn to leave to be far from Marcus. What is going on with Aro and Marcus? Is there something I did to put the two of them in the middle?