I have only one evidence that fear is a stronger emotion than love; war.

Chapter 1

Jane's steps over the stone floors of the Volterra castle resonated against the dark walls covered in the traditional red color of her family. She was thinking about the past two years, filled with dread when she thought about how wasted her time had been. If this wasn't the day on which Julio got his judgment, she swore there'd be no stopping her from going to Rome again.

She was far gone in her own thoughts when suddenly a hand grasped her arm, pulling her into an empty room of the dark castle.

She twisted around quickly to take a look at the vampire. "Julio," she breathed when she saw the pale face and golden eyes that belonged to about the only vampire she trusted.

It didn't take Julio long to capture her lips with his, grasping her hair and pushing her against a nearby wall while Jane's hands travelled behind his back and neck. Tongues intertwined and teeth made small noises as the two vampires' mouths locked together.

Jane moaned against his lips as she pushed at his shoulders, parting their lips so that she could talk.

"We have five minutes until the meeting starts."

Julio's lips were travelling down her neck. "And how many do you expect will be there timely?" he asked.

Jane had to admit that it was hard to stay focused in this moment, but still she said, "We need to set a good example."

Julio kissed her deeply once more, and for a moment he managed to wash away her ability to form thoughts, but then he pulled away, slowly.

"Come on, then." He took her hand in his, leading her out into the hallway. When they were out in public, Jane quickly let go of his hand and walked a little ahead of him.

When they reached the end of the hall, Jane pushed open a large set of double doors and entered into the court room.

This room was probably the most magnificent piece of architecture and design that the Volterra castle held; it had tall walls and a high ceiling, but in spite of this there were no pillars to support the weight. It would almost seem like magic to the average human of that time.

The Court almost looked like an arena; it was round with benches rising in each level along the walls. In the middle, one chair was placed, and across the room from the doors, three thrones were placed right in front of the first row of chairs.

The first of Alex's trials was the first trial to be held in this room for a long time; in fact, there had been a long discussion whether to remove Carlisle's old throne from the room, or if that would destroy the meaning of the room. That discussion had taken two entire months.

Jane was now looking forward to getting this hearing over and done with. Aro had promised her that this one would be the last. It had to obvious by now that not even Caius would be able to find any more reasons to keep Alec in Volterra.

Jane and Julio found their places on one of the front rows, right by the stool on which Julio would be seated. Jane began to fiddle a bit with her sleeves as she waited impatiently. In her mind, she went over her plan over and over again.

It didn't really matter what they said since there was no real danger for a severe punishment, but if she wanted to get out of Volterra and back to Rome she needed to charm herself out of whatever plans Caius had.

Jane was abruptly pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of the heavy door opening and closing again with a loud slamming noise. She looked up to find a large group of vampires in a deep conversation. She recognized only a few of them, and one of them more than the others. Carlisle.

His golden eyes - much more golden than Julio's - wandered over the rows of seats until they found what they'd been searching for. He smiled a brilliant smile and started towards the two young vampires.

"Jane. Julio." He nodded towards both of them. His clothes were fashionable and brighter than the cloaks that wore. It wasn't until now that Jane realized that someone had followed Carlisle.

"Let me present to you, my wife Esme." His hand found its way around the small of her back, resting right above her hip.

She was quite beautiful, this Esme, just like any other vampire. Her hair was a dark red and was pulled into a long braid that trailed down her back. A complicated hair piece, consisting of a golden metal ring that went around the top of her head and two pieces of silk that covered her ears and the sides of her head, crowned her harmonic face. She curtsied politely.

"What brings you here?" Jane looked from one to the other. Last she'd heard, they'd been spending time with the English king.

"Your brother's trial, of course. Nothing this exciting has happened in a century." Carlisle didn't seem too worried.

"I fear my brother lacks some of the joy that you seem to be showing, and so do I." She could feel Julio's hand hovering close to her own, trying his best to calm her.

Carlisle's smile faded a bit. "Oh, I am so sorry, I did not mean to…"

"I accept you apology, of course."

The silence that followed was awkward, but short. "You seem to have grown," Carlisle said. Jane noticed how his hand was now gripping Esme as if to calm her. It was probably her first time to be around real vampires.

"I have."

"You met the Pope?" Esme suddenly asked, as if to brighten the conversation.

"I did."

She smiled faintly as if she was embarrassed to say what she was about to say. "Is he as I've heard?"

"That depends on what you've heard." Both vampires laughed. "But, yes, he is the cunning genius and the handsome man that I believe you are referring to."

Esme looked down and would certainly have blushed, had she not been dead. "And Giulia la Bella?"

"Excuse my wife her curiosity, she is not used to talk to people who knows royalty," Carlisle explained.

"Not at all, Carlisle. And yes, I have met the Pope's lover and she is just as beautiful as you have heard, and much kinder than she is fair."

Esme smiled a sweet smile and Jane had a sense that Carlisle had found her in the lower classes. Then, the leaders of the clan entered, Alec walking behind them, handcuffed in silver. Jane let out a lifeless breath when she saw her brother, her dead heart warmed with deep affection for him.

During the past years there had been periods of time where she had not been allowed to see him – long periods, and now, every time she saw him, memories would wash over her and bring her back to the old days.

On this day it had been almost four months since she had seen or heard from him last. Involuntary separation, she had found, was nothing like the separation that they had suffered while she was living with the Borgias. Standing so closely to two so almost-living vampires as Esme and Julio, the memories became more powerful than usual; she could almost feel a live beating heart in her chest, smell the wheat on the fields, feel the sun's warmth on her bare skin, under which blood still rushed out to deliver air for her still living cells.

Jane opened her eyes, only then realizing that she had closed them, and found Alec's eyes trying to catch her gaze. A pain entered her, her heart wrenching as she thought of those bright, happy days of her childhood, days that were lost, never to be found again. She remembered how dead she was.

How can you be so selfish? She thought to herself. Had she not been granted eternal life, vampirism, then she would have been dead now – she would never have met Julio – her fingers touched his lightly – never met Lucrezia or Giulia, the Pope or his sons, never have met Aro, never have had a red-headed stranger pray for her soul.

Jane hoped she was still praying. A prayer was very much needed if Jane's soul was to have any chance for survival.

The three leaders had found there places and some of the many, many seats had been occupied. Most vampires, though, had gotten tired of this case and its outcome was pretty much decided beforehand. Alec had found his seat as well.

"Alec Garthside, member of the Volturi clan, you have been brought to trial today for the accusations of treachery by withholding information concerning the development of vampires, which is against the rules settled between the clans of-" Aro was definitely becoming bored of this procedure and his voice turned into a slight mumble until he reached a more interesting part of this speech. Caius didn't seem pleased by this at all. "-in this incident, detaining information about a potion used for sunwalking. Do you understand all of these charges?"

"I do."

"And do you plead guilty?"

"No."

"Interesting." The entire room laughed – those were the exact words that Alec had repeated each and every time that he had been brought to court, and even Aro's nearly infinite patience was straining.

"May I remind you that these are serious matters?" Caius' voice was like a snake, cold, slithering though the air making everyone silent. "Thank you."

Aro cleared his throat. "These are the decisions that the judges have made until now: the potion will be forbidden any vampire and may only be used by vampires who have received permission from one of the Volturi leaders. Jane Garthside, member of the Volturi clan, has been charged with complicity – as we all know – but has been freed of all charges and is free to go as soon as her brother has received his penalty."

Aro took a break from talking and looked around the room. "The judges have spent the last three weeks debating the answer to the last question: What will this penalty be? Caius, will you please?"

Caius rose from his seat dramatically and Jane could feel her stomach freeze.

"In regards to the charges of treachery, a fine of 1000 florins is to be paid. Furthermore you will have to spend one entire month, thirty days and nights, imprisoned in this very castle without blood."

Instantly, fifteen or more vampires stood up and started shouting at the judge. Surely this couldn't be? Jane stood up herself and stayed on her feet even after the rest of the courtroom had become silent once more.

"Surely this cannot be your true opinion?" Her voice was light as if she was really startled. Manipulation was a thing that she had learned a thing or two about while in Rome. "An entire month as punishment for such little harm? If there was any harm at all?"

"This will be our final decision." Caius turned to face her. She knew that tone; there would be no discussion.

"The ruling has been settled."

Those were the final words that Aro uttered and after one second's silence, the room was filled with noises of vampires standing up and leaving.

"A month without blood?" Esme's voice seemed far-away to Jane. "I can barely take a day!"

Jane returned to her surrounding to find the group laughing at the newborn's joke.

"If you will excuse me, I will go pack my things. I have business in Rome that I need to attend to." Jane curtseyed to the handsome man and his wife before leaving with quick steps.

She had made it some twenty meters down some hallway when she heard running steps behind her. When she turned around she saw that Julio had followed her.

"It is unbelievable!" she exclaimed when he had reached her side.

"You shouldn't worry yourself." Julio smiled reassuringly at her, putting the tip of his index finger under her chin to lift her face. "You will be in Rome soon enough, ready to startle every man or woman with your genius and beauty."

Jane let out a small laughter before turning and continuing her walk. "I do look forward to getting back there. Terribly."

Julio laughed faintly as well. "You will be there soon enough, love."