Chapter 19: Demonstration

I stood and Caius offered his arm, I smiled and accepted.

I spoke out for all to hear, "A competition may demonstrate my abilities most effectively, if the guard would be willing to take me on?"

Caius smiled widely in expectancy, his face looked so different than with his usual scowl, "I like the sound of this. What first?"

"Start with the easy stuff; strength, speed then some fighting practise. I've taken on four fighters but more might be fun. I can show you some of my other abilities after that. The Cullen's love making wagers if you are interested," at last I had the biggest part of telling done, I was ready to let off some steam.

Diplomacy may be Aro's arena but this is Caius's. We walked through the door at the far end of the garden, into a room, then down into a long tunnel. We ran to the end of the tunnel coming up in a folly at the edge of a huge field surrounded by forest.

Caius and I walked out, "We will need to wait to check the area is clear."

I smiled at him, "There are no thoughts other than those in our group for miles but follow your normal precautions."

He actually laughed at me, "I see things can be interesting with you about!"

I laughed with him, "I never got the hang of normal, why start now!"

The last of the guard just cleared the tunnel as the first runner came back to confirm the area was clear. She only just finished her report as a second runner collaborated her report.

I walked with Caius into the field as he started giving instructions. A muted cheer went up when he confirmed betting would be allowed.

They seem to have a set of tests that they use. The current champion for each would take me on. None of the guard would bet against each other so all the Cullen's were taking huge bets on me. I just stood and calmly waited for the fun to start.

The first four tests were jumps, two from arms and two from legs; standing long and high jumps.

I got to throw a few trees and boulders next. An obstacle course tested agility. Speed involved first laps of the field then a long distant race. One of the guard confirmed we reached the far point.

I won all these with ease.

Aro asked me, "Which of your powers did you use for these tests?"

I answered honestly, "I don't use any power other than my newborn speed and strength."

Emmett persuaded Felix to have an arm wrestling match against me. Even after the rest of the guard had seen me winning everything so far they still put their money on Felix. Felix didn't resort to cheating as obviously as Emmett had against me but he still tried. He lost all three rounds.

Felix was now suitably motivated for the fighting.

I hadn't taken on just one fighter since my first couple of days as a vampire, it was just too easy.

After I took Felix down for the third time I turned to Caius, "I need a bit more of a challenge. How about four of five of your best, give me a real test."

He stood chortling much to the amazement of the rest of the Volturi, "You heard her, four more go and join Felix. Surely five of you can take down one small girl."

I'll give it to them they are determined but the combined fighting experience and expertise of Jasper, Peter, Charlotte and Eleazar stood me in good stead. A combination of visions, risk assessments and mind reading along with experience helped me win.

I had to make use of the physical shield when they wouldn't stay down even after the agreed neck hold and surrenders.

I used the shield that could be seen so not to cause too much confusion. Caius called them off.

"If anyone is willing to tolerate the discomfort of losing an appendage I can demonstrate I don't need to fight. I can just use my shield," I had accidentally split a shield chopping Emmett's finger off. Emmett is always the one that takes things too far and I reacted before thinking.

Felix volunteered. I closed a shield through his finger slicing it cleanly off. Picking the detached finger up with another shield I put it back in place to heal. I walked across to check a clean reattachment, "I tried to make a clean cut, I hope it doesn't sting too much."

The finger knitted back quickly. Felix bowed to me, "I'm honoured to face a worthy opponent."

I explained I could also use the shield, "Using my shield I can block any approach mental or physical. I can dispatch enemies without them ever getting near me," I nodded to Emmett, he pulled a ball from a pocket and started bouncing it on my shield. I put a shield over a branch of a tree the split the shield to cut every leaf individually off the branch, I even coloured each adjacent shield differently so they could all be seen to be individual. I lifted the leaves into the air in a long line formation then let them flutter to the ground. Fear rippled in every member of the guard as they visualised a different scene, an army having their heads removed was the most prevalent mental image.

"I'll shift now, if you have seen enough of my basic fighting style? I can fight in shifted form if anyone wants to face me but I am just as experienced in different shapes using the advantage each gives me," I thought a change in speed might be advisable.

I darkened the shield so I could strip in privacy, then drew it in so they could see my head, hands and feet. I shifted to a lion first releasing the privacy screen as soon as I was decent. I added wings and flew a circuit of the field. I changed into different animals and combinations of creatures. The guard got into it and started calling out different animals for me to shift to.

Caius called an end to it but everyone was laughing by now, which was ideal, "Shall we go back to the gardens and discuss what we have seen."

"Just one last thing then we can go," I called as I dressed inside a privacy shield.

"Always something else with you isn't it," he responded amused.

"This is worth the wait," I teased him.

"I don't doubt," he laughed at me.

"You all may want to move to one side for this one," I called out to Caius, he nodded for the guard to move back to the passageway.

I held my hand out flat towards them and produced a flame. I let the flame grow until it covered me from the ankles up. Pulling it back I made a few balls, juggling for a few moments. I absorbed all but one ball of fire, throwing it to the middle of the meadow. The fire took, the grass flaring up, smoke billowing into the sky. I used a visible shield to suffocate the fire.

I turned to see slack jawed horror. I smiled and skipped back. I grasped Caius's elbow, linking my arm with his in the same manner we had travelled here.

"I hadn't realised the risk I took walking with you like this, on our way here," I had earned his respect.

"I never want to intentionally hurt or harm anyone, apart from in defence of me and mine," I told him sincerity ringing in my words.

He tilted his head in consideration, "I don't doubt that, only a fool would cross you."

"I hope there are no fools here that will cross me or try and control me, I won't be manipulated by anyone. Friends, I will fight to the death for. I truly hope we can be friends," I hope my words aren't taken as a threat.

He looked directly at me, "I would be honoured to be your friend, I hope I can prove my candour in this matter."

"As always actions speak louder than words. I look forward to getting to know you better," we didn't speak again until we reached the garden.

The guard were sent off in there separate direction under Caius's orders. We sat back in the gardens and I filled them in on the way my powers work. I told them of the abilities to remove memories and the human like skin temperature, a useful and quirky ability.

I showed them how I see my tracking ability and some examples of how it worked.

"Demetri is an exceptional tracker, he can track across the world but he can only follow one target at a time, he was the most powerful in the world. Your ability to know the location of every scent you have ever come across is in a different league," Aro admitted.

They were most impressed with the shield and it's versatility.

"Just one more thing, it's related to my human self but I was less than honest with you when we first met," I looked at Aro as he frowned at my words, "You met me as an employee of Black Swan Designs."

"Yes, but you had more respect and responsibility than someone of your age should have had. That along with your ability to block me had me intrigued," he admitted.

"It's my company, I'm the designer Immi. I kept it secret because, well, honestly who would have taken a girl as young as me seriously," I laughed

"You misled me as a mere human but your work has impressed many vampires, that in it's self is no mean feat. We pride ourselves as 'patrons of the arts', hearing of the quality of your work from other vampires was sufficient to get me to leave my beloved Volterra and get me to travel to America just to find out more about you, that speaks more than you are aware," he told me, in wry amusement.

"I was never a mere human! I also had the advantage of knowing about vampires by our second meeting," I smiled cheekily at him.

Aro read each of the Cullen's memories concentrating just on memories of me as a vampire, "She learnt so quickly, I wouldn't have believed if I hadn't seen it in all you memories. I still find it hard to believe."

I had a combined link open between all the Cullen's and the three leaders. Marcus and Caius had never experienced Aro's mind link and the volume of information he accumulated. There was no doubt or questions about my vampire abilities in any of their minds after seeing the combined memories.

Aro ran out of questions eventually, "I have had rooms set up for you all, if you would like to wind down. Our forests are teaming with game if you want to hunt. Can we meet again at ten a.m. tomorrow when we have had time to discuss matters."

"Is there anything else we should know?" Caius asked me entertained by revelations.

"I'm sure there is, but I can't think of anything at the moment! If you don't mind I would like to take advantage of your hospitality and retire to our rooms," I requested.

"There should be someone waiting inside to show you to your rooms," Aro dismissed us.

"Felix," I said with a grin.

Caius laughed, "You impressed him, he would never wait to show anyone around otherwise."

I stood and Caius took my hand, "Until tomorrow," he bought my hand to his lips and placed a feathery kiss on the back of my hand.

I nodded and smiled at each of them, "Until tomorrow, Dear Sirs."

We walked back towards the flight of steps leading into the main wing of the castle. I opened a connection between all the Cullen's, "We can discuss today's events like this once we are back in the rooms."

Poor Edward had to restrain his natural possessive tendencies again as we entered the doors. Felix took a leaf from Caius and linked his arm with mine to guide us to our rooms, unfortunately his thoughts drifted towards me in a manner that annoyed Edward immensely. I had to keep sending him waves of calm.

Our rooms consisted of two suites, one suite opposite the other off the corridor. Each suite had a sitting room in the centre and king size rooms to each side. Alice and Jasper got stuck with Rose and Emmett; I promised I would give each room a sound-proof shield.

As soon as Felix had gone we all convened in our sitting room. Esme, Carlisle, Edward and I sat waiting for Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett. I ran a quick sweep for any electric signals; the Volturi keep up with the times with some things, the rooms are bugged!

I contacted Eleazar and asked if he wanted to join our meeting. I laughed as I mentally heard him telling Carmen that he was going to his study and not to disturb him.

I informed everyone of my findings and I recovered the memories of plan B. The memories I remove don't exist to Aro, I checked his thoughts as he read everyone's memories. Plan B is make meaningless conversation out loud while using the link to discuss how the day has gone; using a separate connection keep an ear on Aro, Marcus and Caius. Thank goodness for brains that can work on more than one level!

I now had a hook for every member that had been present today. Using the link I could listen in at will. The guard had plenty of time to talk while we were in the garden, speculation was rife how Aro would try and take me out or use the rest of the Cullen's as bargaining chips to ensure my loyalty. I scared them as I'm so powerful.

Carlisle and Eleazar were both totally flabbergasted at Caius's behaviour. They had never heard of him taking to someone at all, never mind as friendly as he is to me.

I explained about my readings on each of them.

I told how a veil lifted from Caius's mind, he had been bored for so long using his darkest impulses to stimulate him for short periods. He had truly enjoyed his day and hoped for more.

Marcus is just in a state of loss and grieving, he has no interest in anything. All his thoughts revolve around his late mate Didyme. When our minds were open to each other I watched his memories to see the links of all the guard. He has a forced tie to Aro which keeps him going day to day but no spark.

Aro is unbalanced, I'm not sure he is still sane, he has so many thoughts and memories conflicting in his mind, the original personality only makes brief appearances.

Most of the guard have forced ties to the Volturi, some enjoy being given purpose, others act out in boredom in the same way as Caius. Some want to leave but don't know how to get free or where to go. Some don't know of any other way.

We talked backwards and forwards for hours but didn't shed any more light on things. I searched the future but details are still fuzzy, to many decisions yet to be made. I don't think Aro's state of mind helps clear the visions. I have a bad feeling, something big is going to happen and it's not good, arghh what use are visions if you can't see anything.

We all decided to relax in our rooms. I kept the link to Aro, Marcus and Caius open, Carlisle, Edward and I all listened in, the others opted for updates if we heard anything of interest.

Eleazar had found a few more bits about the Prophesy but nothing concrete.

Aro, Marcus and Caius all retired to their rooms so Carlisle and Eleazar asked to drop out of the link. I continued to monitor their thoughts in the background, it didn't consciously monitor what they were thinking but my brain could hold a memory of it if I needed to check on it at a later stage.

At last time with Edward. Neither of us could relax fully considering our location and the potential threat but time just for the two of us refreshes my soul.