Part 2 - Chapter 3: Tender Theories

I was given my own "room" to place my stuff in. Unlike my home with the Cullens', this one was damp and overall not comfortable. I kept my bag on my back at all times so as to keep my valuables from unknown death. Then Felix retrieved me to talk with Aro, Caius, Marcus, and Diomedes.
I tromped down the ancient hallways beside Felix. That showed I refused to be led. I had a feeling that the disappointment in finding anything would soon overcome them and they'd either kill me or let me go. I was hoping for the latter, but you know how that goes.
They were waiting patiently for me to walk in. I was a bit shocked that the entire guard was gathered to meet me. Aro was the first to acknowledge my presence. "Ah! Our own little Cullen. It is nice to see you my dear." He held out his hand once more before redrawing it in realization. I had a theory, but it would need more practice without them here.
"We've seen that you've got exceptional powers, but we would like to test that. If you would, state any you are sure of." I shrugged. "There isn't much." I saw Caius's eyes narrowed dangerously at me. "I see. If we could just...experiment."
He snapped his fingers and every person in the room directs their attention at me. I could feel their power pounding against the shield I put up. Every little piece of power they place against me. I decided go test my theory and glanced momentarily at the four leaders pretending to appear anxious.
I let one aspect go ad I felt something swell in my brain. A temporary twitch as I felt the pain. Everyone smiled. They thought my shield was weakening. Maybe they'd release me. I kept that thought as I did it thirty-three more times. Each time I experienced a different type of pain or pleasure. I absorbed it all whether it hurt or not. I sure made it seem as if it hurt.
It was exhausting mostly. When so was done dipping my feet into everyone's powers, I was out of breath. I let my shield weaken in the slightest even though I could handle it as if I had just started. I let the pain dance across my pain until Diomedes finally shouted, "Enough!" My shield immediately felt a loss of weight. I sighed half pretending and half real. I was so glad he'd stopped them. I just wondered why.
"I believe that we've proven the point we had to make. Miss..." "I don't have a name," I stated simply. He scrunched his eyebrows. "You don't have a name?" I shook my head. "I have no recollection of my human life and have been going by a nickname since I was born." Caius interjected, "Who created you? Was it Edward's newborn?"
Ah, they thought Bella had given me a piece of her shield. Gotcha. "Nah, Carlisle bit me. Never seen me till I was drowning in the ocean almost dying. Strange, huh? Did I mention it took two weeks for me to transform?" I was too busy trying to get them riled up to pay attention to the burning in my veins, the powers being use against me, the stared from all three leaders especially Caius, and the fact I wanted them to see me as insignificant and to let me to home. Oh well.
They all gasped at my revelation. "Truly a jewel! Such a strange concoction. And you're sure Aro that..." Caius's words stopped abruptly when he realized no one knew the truth about me. Only I did. I could be lying. I could be stretching the truth. I saw Diomedes whisper something under his breath so that I couldn't hear. But I had enhanced senses beyond the common vampire, so I heard him say, "Truly a gift. We need to keep her."
Aro looked about at us before announcing, "We would like time with our guest alone." Everyone rushed out with the exception of Felix and another guard. "Utterly alone." They scampered away looking quite confused. I wondered if they trusted me or thought that four to one were odds that worked in their favor. Probably the latter.
"Come child. Touch my hand once more." I did so and put my hand in Aro's. I had a sudden thought. If I wanted to get home, I could send him a fake life. But did I really want to get home to Forks, Washington where I had only two people in my coven that enjoyed my company? The answer was no. So I resisted Aro. And he developed a sudden twitch.
"A shield. Hmm...just like young Bella. So very peculiar." Marcus whispered something to Diomedes along the lines of, "One more vampire to fight for the lead, huh?" I snorted and they realized my sudden skill. Diomedes mentioned it to Aro in a voice loud enough for the average vampire to hear. "Even more unique."
I turned to Diomedes and the burning continued. I cocked my head and examined him. He looked too new to be a Volturi, but what did I know when we all looked alike. He seemed go set his feet up in a way that I might. I looked down and noticed that our feet and distribution of weight mirrored each other. Interesting.
He caught me looking, but that didn't faze other of us. He began taking profile of me. No need to change my appearance for him. Aro and Caius were still looking intently at me as Marcus gazed longingly at Diomedes. Strange. I would have thought that to add a new leader they would have gotten rid of another, but Marcus - the weakest link - stood before me living. I took a mental note to seek him out to converse sometime. Wisdom seeped through his facade.
Diomedes and I finally finished our detection and both turned to the contemplating leaders. "I think we should discuss it as leaders," Aro said. "Miss, please retire to your rooms. It may be a while, but alert someone if thirst meets you." I smirked a bit before trimming out. It was easy to rush to my room and listen in on their conversation.