Chapter Twenty One

The Major

So that was Esme Cullen, I'd heard the family were here in Volterra though I never expected to see any of them. Carlisle Cullen was Aro's friend so they were strictly off limits, not that it made the slightest difference to me. The only people I was interested in were those whose names were given to me. Once on my list their remaining life expectancy could be measured in days. Everyone I met was afraid of me, even Aro though he would never admit it, I owed allegiance to him only because he gave me the outlet I needed for my ever devouring anger.

Killing was easy, hunting my prey was stimulating, and the kill satisfying but the most interesting part of all was the fear I had them feeling before I ever laid a finger on my target. I'd found I had a certain talent once I became a vampire, I could force people to feel whatever I wanted them to feel and I could magnify it as much or as little as took my fancy. I'd learned over the decades just how far I could go before my target was paralyzed with fear. A petrified target was no good to me, I wanted to feel their fear as they ran, the terror as they saw me, it was all I ever needed, I fed on fear, became intoxicated by terror, I was The Major and all fell on their knees when they saw me.

I needn't have come to Volterra to receive my new orders, Aro would have preferred it if I hadn't in fact, but I'd heard rumors that there was a member of the guard who thought he was tougher than me and I saw that as a challenge. I would have been satisfied if it had been Felix, I wanted to prove I was better than him, but he was under Aro's personal protection.

Caius wanted to take me on but that too was forbidden, only because Aro knew I would rip him to pieces and enjoy doing so. Which meant I got my kicks where I could, at the moment in Volterra. I had been on my way to the exercise area when I bumped into Esme Cullen and was amused to see how terrified of me she was without any help from my gift. She didn't know who I was either but I was sure she would eventually.

The exercise area was filled to capacity and I knew word had gotten round that I was coming to meet my adversary. Santiago was almost as big as Felix but not so fast. He did have an enormous amount of experience and that's what made him think he could beat me. Well, now it was time to show the stupid fucker the error of his ways. As I strolled in an expectant silence fell over the area and everyone moved back, out of my way, none choosing to meet my gaze and I smiled, they knew better. I had a temper and when I allowed it didn't take much to spark it.

Santiago didn't look overly concerned to see me, the first sign he was a fool, nor did he back away as I closed the gap between us, the second sign.

"So, its true, the famous Major is here in Volterra. You don't look so tough."

I just smiled and felt everyone take a few more steps backwards leaving a fighting circle for me.

"I guess the cat got your tongue Major."

The scornful tone of his voice passed over my head as I stripped off my shirt and threw it to the closest guard.

"Back off, I don't want to get venom on it."

The guard hurried to move almost falling over his own feet and someone sniggered but it was low and cut short.

"Think I'll be cowed or impressed by those scars? They're just proof you aren't invincible. Each one of those represents a man who got through your guard Major."

He turned to smirk at his audience and I moved in catching him unaware, did he really think I would just stand there while he continued to vomit a load of crap? I grabbed him by the throat with one hand and his crotch with the other, then spoke in his ear,

"Each one of those scars was made by a man with more brain than you'll ever have ass hole."

He struggled to free himself as I twisted my hand and emasculated him, releasing my grip so he fell to the floor screaming and clutching his detached balls.

"See, that's your first lesson, don't make speeches, just fight."

As he stumbled to his feet still bent almost double I lifted him with a punch on the jaw which sent him flying across the open space to crash into the onlookers. He wanted to run, he knew he'd made a bad mistake and he looked up at me realizing it wasn't only bad but terminal. No one stood against The Major and lived, no one, not even a Volturi guard and I moved in for the kill. I didn't want it to be too quick though, the pain and fear of my opponent was as necessary to me as the air was for a human so I took my time, even when I knew someone had gone to fetch the brothers. I was still finished with Santiago before they arrived, his body spread over the open space still leaking venom and twitching though I had just burned his balls and his tongue in front of the disembodied head.

I turned then looking for the guard who had sniggered, he stood behind the guy holding my shirt. A guy who moved fast when he saw me headed in his direction holding out his hand with my shirt dangling from it. Shaking my head I motioned for him to move aside further so I could get a good look at my quarry. He was even now moving backwards as fast as he could but was trapped by the others pushing forward to see the fun. I locked eyes with him and sent him so much fear he froze, shaking violently and unable to speak. It amused me to see the others all looking so relieved, did they think I wouldn't take them all out if the mood took me?

I walked slowly up to him until we were toe to toe and smiled although I knew it wouldn't give him any sense of relief,

"Not so funny when you're on the receiving end is it?"

I waited but he was too scared to form a reply,

"Well?"

He tried to shake his head but I decided he'd been too slow, wasting my time and I picked him up and hurled him back to crash into the wall and before he could scramble to his feet I was on him again, this time tearing chunks from his face with my teeth until he looked like a half finished mosaic of a gargoyle then I heard Aro from behind me.

"Major please, losing one guard is bad enough please don't make it necessary to replace more."

I got up spitting contemptuously on the guard who now sported a new and horrifically scarred face and turned to the guy holding my shirt holding out my hand. He came forward and handed it to me almost dropping it in his haste to get away again and I shrugged it on before looking at Aro Volturi,

"You might want to recruit a better class of fighter, these are pathetic."

Then I turned on my heel and walked away knowing Aro would be unhappy at my attitude but not giving a fuck, he needed me more than I needed him. Having already been given my orders I was packed and ready to leave when he caught up with me, Caius at his side like a fucking lap dog.

"Major, please refrain from killing the guard, they are a necessary evil."

I ignored his words instead asking a question of my own,

"When do I get to visit the Cullen's?"

He looked as if I'd punched him in the gut,

"Why do you ask that?"

"I saw Esme Cullen earlier, they're guilty of something, everyone is, I just wondered how long you'll protect them."

Caius smiled coldly, I knew he was no friend of the Cullen family and would be only too pleased to see me given their names. Still I knew one day the word would come, but it wouldn't bear Aro Volturi's signature.