Cloaks. Black cloaks all around and Cara was one of them. There seemed over a hundred guards meant to protect only three men but that never stops the Volturi from searching for more; for they will never be satisfied until they have an army of guards to protect them. And protect them they did, with all the proper training, of course.

Cara received her training from many mentors. First Chelsea, since Cara was undoubtedly her responsibility, who proved to be a devoted teacher but much too distracted by her mate. Second, by a small, temperamental, as Cara often put it, child of her early teens called Jane. Jane, although well-qualified, easily bored of the task and moved on. Her third and permanent teacher used to be a charming Greco, although now he is known as the Volturi's best tracker. His name was Demetri. Tall with olive skin and inky hair, he subconsciously reminded Cara of Edward. Only subconsciously so. Consciously, she studied his swift movements and quick thought in combat. She soaked up his teachings like a studious sponge.

"If someone comes up from behind you, what is the first action you take?" Demetri asked, turning his back to her.

"Turn around?"

"Wrong."

"How?"

He turned to her and held her cheeks with both hands, "Close your eyes." He put a finger on each eyebrow and slowly slid them down, forcing her eyelids shut, "Good, now, I want you to pay very close attention to what I say." He walked behind her and took a few steps back, "when you close your eyes, your ears make up for the lost information." He circled her slowly like a shark with careful step, her head remained facing forward, "Although your senses are high enough, cutting off one will increase the others." There was a pause. He traced the outline of her body with his eyes. Everything about her enticed him, mainly because she was, after all, fresh blood, "You can hear everything. You can hear a drop of water, ten miles away, a human's heartbeat." He got close to her, "you can hear someone's breath." The two wore no cloaks, of course no one did whilst training, tight black clothes took their place as uniform; this only added to Cara's allure, "What I want you to do is tune out everything and only listen to the sound of air moving as your opponent moves to attack you. And block accordingly." She made no movement or sound. She was still. He mustered all his strength and moved his hand towards the nape of her neck. The fatal blow was interrupted by a harsh grab and in a following moment, the heel of Cara's boot met his jaw. Demetri slid to the other side of the room, inertia acting on his blow, only to be stopped by the marble steps.

Yes, Cara was quite a learnéd pupil. However; not once, did she ever see Demetri as anything other than a mentor.

And he knew.

And he hated it.

And he was determined to change it.

Whatever the cost.

"Why must we wear the cloaks?"

"For many reasons." Chelsea said calmly as they sat in the study, awaiting the hunters to return with the day's feed, "Aro likes the way that we all look dressed the same." Every army wears a uniform, "But mostly, it's for protection."

"From what?" Cara asked wide-eyed.

"The sun." Chelsea said shortly. Cara thought for a moment. She never did spend any time in the day since her change.

"What happens?" A large grin blossomed on Chelsea's face.

"Let me show you." Among the numerous hidden doors and winding staircases within the Volturi castle, there was only one passage leading to the dormant watch room. Chelsea walked to the window and tugged the curtain a little. She rolled up the sleeve of her cloak and placed it under the strip of sunlight.

"Wow." Cara gazed at Chelsea's white arm which sparkled with the jewel-shine of a thousand diamonds blanketing her forearm, "Why would we need protection from this? It's beautiful."

"Apparently it alerts humans that we are vampires. It shows our true nature." She shrugged, "I like it."

"Try!" Chelsea pressed, poking her sleeve. Cara rolled it up with haste and held her arm under the band of light.

"What?" They both stared at her arm flabbergasted. Her pale skin was illuminated, but not shimmering. In a moment, Cara felt a tingling sensation.

"What is that?" A small strand of grey snaked into the air, "Ahh... Ow... Ow! OWW!" She ripped her hand away quickly and slinked back into the shadows of the room. She held her wrist in horror before looking at it. The moon-shaped scar of her second birth singed red, lower down were second and third degree burns along her forearm. The pain was unbearable, "Wh- why?"

Chelsea shook her head as she looked down at the burns, her mouth gaped open. I've never seen that... Not even with Aro..." She looked sternly at Cara, "you're different... More powerful than the others."

"What should I do?"

"Don't tell anyone... They're not very pleased with differences around here..." She spied an old swatch of fabric tucked in the rocks. It came from an old red-orange flag, although Chelsea saw it as a scarf, "Wear this to hide the burn... We won't tell anyone about this." A breath, "we'll keep it a secret." Beneath the pain, Cara was happy to be in a friendship that kept secrets between each other again.

...

Finally I get to update early in the day which is very good considering I have a slightly busier day than normal. The joys of writing chapters on Saturdays. So, Demetri isn't in love with Cara, its really more of a carnal desire. Is this important for later chapters? I believe so. I think, more so, is the revelation that Cara can't be in sunlight at all. I didn't want her to be the ridiculous, sparkly vampire that was described in the series. I feel its quite daft to add that bit in. So I took it out. She's so different from the others and it seems to show more and more as she matures as a vampire. You'll see it in her powers, her sensitivity to light, everything. So stay tuned. Thanks for reading, cheers!