A/N: Thanks to the readers for the reviews, favorites and follows. I hope you like this next chapter!

I drew in a deep breath as I followed Renata across the stone-paved floor along the path that opened up before us through the gray and black cloaks. When we reached the ten feet of open space before the dais, Renata held up a hand in an obvious command for me to stay where I was. She ascended the dais, bowed, and then took a position behind one of the seated men.

Once I no longer had her back to stare at, I forced my eyes to rise and take in the full sight before me. They were vampires, I was sure, but they were so different than those I had seen before. With skin so thin it was almost transparent and eyes like clouded rubies, these three men appeared to be the most fragile vampires in the room. Yet, I knew I must be missing something. Renata regarded these three with reverence, and the vampires I could see out of the corner of my eye seemed to as well.

After the first quick glance up, I forced my eyes to drop to the ground. I could die there, in that moment. I knew without a doubt that no matter how weak the Volturi leaders looked, they were strong enough to have me killed in an instant. Renata had told me so, over and over as she trained me. If I died, what would happen to the parents I could barely remember but whose lives still remained so precious to me?

"Well, dear one," a high-pitched voice called out. "It is lovely to see you so soon. Dear Renata has informed us that your training is proceeding most expeditiously indeed."

I kept my head bowed and responded as Renata had taught me. "Yes, Master."

The sound of rustling fabric, much smoother than my own clothing, echoed through the room. Quick footsteps rang out as one of the men from the dais approached me and others rushed to stand between us. From the corner of my eye I saw him raise a hand, halting his overprotective followers. I wondered what was so special about this man that such a large gathering of vampires jumped to defend him even against such a pitiful danger as me.

He extended his hand and reached out, grasping my own. I gasped at the unexpected touch. His skin felt as if it could be easily torn by a single twitch from my finger. I knew that wasn't the case, but the texture fascinated me anyway, a new experience even in this world of firsts. I lifted my eyes to his and read interest and amusement until his brow furrowed and frustration pulled down the corners of his mouth.

"I see that the transformation did strengthen you, just as my dear Alec predicted. How marvelous!" He was all smiles once more, but they struck me as sinister in a way I had never encountered, so I kept my mouth shut. "Shall we see if you continue to confound our other gifted members? Jane?"

My hand still in Aro's, I turned my eyes to the right until I met the cruel pair just behind the thrones. She raised an eyebrow at me, and I heard her whisper, "Pain."

There was a moment when I almost felt a prickle along my skin, but the ghost danced away as I stared at Jane. Her lips clamped together, and she let out a quick huff of unneeded air. Next to her, Alec laid his hand on her shoulder, in either comfort or restraint. He, too, began to stare at me. I felt as if a cool wave of air traveled over me, an impossibility in that enclosed and damp room.

"Interesting. That is enough, Alec." I could feel Aro's eyes boring into me, but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of looking at him.

"We are so happy to see that you are transitioning well to this new life, dear Isabella. Your ability to shield yourself has no doubt helped you in your endeavors." Aro's slimy voice made me want to pull my hand away, but I knew better. Instead, I let it rest passively in his while I dropped my gaze once more. "We expect you to begin training this miraculous ability of yours immediately. I am fascinated by it, I will admit. Perhaps in time you will be able to expand your shield to include others or even…take it down as required. I'm sure your parents would be proud if they knew what a talented girl you turned into."

I tried not to flinch at the sharp tone in his voice. "Yes, Master." My parents. I was bright enough to read between the lines on that. If I didn't figure out how to shield others or at least manipulate this ability so that other vampires could—what? access my mind?—my parents could be in danger.

Aro released my hand and clapped. "Fabulous! Felix, to me."

The rustle of cloth at my side marked the arrival of yet another vampire. His scent contained the same cloying undertones as all the others with the addition of sage and tobacco laced throughout. It was a little overpowering, much like the hulking figure I could see out of the corner of my eye. The silhouette was familiar, and I realized that he was one of the five who attacked James and allowed my change to continue.

"See that Isabella becomes familiar with the training rooms. She will be meeting with Jane to train her abilities, and at the appropriate times you will see to her physical training. We must not neglect to teach her to fight, even if her shield turns out to be as useful as I believe it will."

Felix nodded. "Yes, Master."

"Very well. You may go." Aro turned and resumed his seat next to the two silent figures on the dais.

I followed Felix as he turned and hurried out of the room. To my surprise, Renata stayed behind. I felt oddly bereft. As the only person I had seen with any regularity since I became a vampire, it was strange to leave the room without her, my unwelcome and probably unwilling jailer. I was sure she was glad to be rid of me.

I kept my eyes trained on Felix's dark head as I matched my steps to his. A part of me marveled at his size, at least a foot and a half taller than me and with the shoulders of a linebacker, while another part of my mind worried over the bone that Aro had thrown me. What if I couldn't make my shield work for other people? What would the Volturi do to me then? Would I be allowed to leave on my own, or would they find a way to get rid of me-permanently? Did I want to continue this torturous existence? Wouldn't it be better to let them kill me? Would they do anything to my parents, or was it an empty threat to scare me? Somehow, I doubted Aro made empty threats. I doubted any of the Volturi did.

Felix wasn't much for small talk. He didn't say a word as we passed the human secretary once more and then made our way through a maze of corridors until we reached a worn wooden door. The door opened with a flick of his wrist, and he led me inside.

I was expecting something along the lines of a medieval torture chamber-cum-dojo. There were stone floors and walls here, of course, since stone seemed to withstand our strength just a little better than other materials. However, the walls were inset with panels of light wood, giving relief from the unchanging gray I'd grown accustomed to. Other than the two of us, the room was empty yet immaculate, brightened by fluorescent lights suspended from the high ceiling.

"Most of our talented are able to do their training here and the rooms to the left and right, if it is necessary," Felix's gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. "Fighting is practiced in the courtyard during storms, so we'll have to wait to introduce you to that. Jane will join you shortly to begin your instruction."

With a stiff nod he spun around and then left. I tried not to be intimidated by my isolation as well as the size of the room where I waited. It would be better if I could become comfortable here since it sounded like I'd be spending a lot of time with these four walls. I began to pace around the room, familiarizing myself with the scents of the vampires lingering there.

Approaching footsteps alerted me to the arrival of two vampires. I knew one must be Jane, so I faced the door in order to prepare myself. The sight of her superior sneer as she stared down at my weakened body in that alleyway was one of my clearest human memories. I didn't look forward to this training, although I hadn't dared tell anyone that.

Jane opened the door in a sharp, swift movement and swept in, the same perpetual look of disdain twisting her lips when our eyes met. Demetri, looking terrified, followed her. I wanted to crouch down and hiss at Jane, but something told me that these sessions would be reported to Aro in every detail. I didn't want to anger him. I was sure that he would take my lashing out at Jane as resistance to his plans.

"Oh, you're here." Jane's words sounded surprised, but her tone revealed her apathy and maybe even disappointment in my presence. Did she think I was going to try and run away at the first opportunity? Was she looking forward to what would follow?

I didn't bother with a response, and her eyes grew somehow colder. Raising her chin higher, she pronounced, "Your training will begin with attempts to keep Demetri from tracking me through the castle. Perhaps Renata has not mentioned his special ability. He can find anyone after experiencing their mental signature." I shook my head from side to side without taking my eyes off of her. "If we can't stimulate your shield to protect others by more peaceful methods, we will have to use stronger levels of persuasion."

That was a threat. Even a child would have recognized it. I ignored the instinct to growl at her and nodded my understanding. I wasn't going to waste words on her if I could help it.

A tireless five days of training followed. I could feel Demetri's ability as if eyes were staring at me, at least momentarily, and I could feel Jane's ability as those annoying prickles. But I couldn't keep either from affecting the other. It was the longest I had ever gone without feeding. My throat felt like charred cinders by the time the older vampires, able to go weeks between feeding, finally agreed to take a break. In a voice that revealed her frustration at our lack of progress, Jane instructed me to find Heidi, the provider of our meals.

When Demetri left, he avoided looking at either of us. Jane glared at me, but I could see a small bit of triumph in her bright red eyes as well. She wanted the other Volturi to be frightened of me. She wanted them to resent that I couldn't protect them. She wanted my failure. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of any way to prevent her from getting what she wanted most, and I was afraid it would cost not only my life but my parents' lives as well.

When no one came to find me after I finished feeding, I returned to my room. The small human remnant in me wanted to find comfort in curling up on the large bed, but I knew it would be hollow. Instead, I stood by the small window and looked out without registering what I was seeing.

I failed. I couldn't extend my shield to keep Demetri from Jane. I couldn't protect Demetri when Jane attacked him using her "gift" for hours at the end of our practice time. It was the most horrible thing I had seen in this place of daily terror. Demetri's pale face twisted in a rictus of pain, his screams echoing through the practice room after we returned from yet another fruitless attempt to play our strange version of hide and seek. My damned perfect memory wouldn't allow me to forget. Thinking about it made me grateful and scared at the same time. I was grateful that my shield had protected me from Jane even as a human. Jane's zealous pursuit of the answer to the puzzle of my mind would drive away any allies I might create here, though.

I took a deep but unnecessary breath in the vain hope that it would help settle my nerves. Perhaps if I demonstrated willingness to work with Jane unprompted, Aro wouldn't be as upset with me. With that thought, I sped out the door in search of the one creature in Volterra I wanted to see the least.

Felix stopped me several minutes into my quest by stepping into my path and refusing to budge. I stopped, trying not to let him see how much his size intimidated me. His red eyes bore into mine steadily when I dared lift my gaze to his.

"It is time to begin your physical training." His words drew my attention to the sound of far off thunder. I didn't know if I should bless or curse the sudden change in weather.

Felix spun on his heel and led me through several twisting corridors. With each step, I had to fight down the worry welling up inside. Given my lack of coordination as a human and my struggles to control my strength, there didn't seem to be much chance that I would do well. Finally we approached an archway glowing in the weak light of the cloudy sky. I could just see the courtyard beyond his shoulder. It appeared deserted.

Felix began my lesson as soon as I stepped through the graceful arch onto the flagstones beyond. He lunged for me, his hands stretched for my throat. Something made me move to the side just enough that he flew past me to land on his feet in the hallway. I crouched low as I turned and hissed. He stared back at me, surprise and approval mixing in his eyes although the rest of his face remained impassive, his body relaxed as if he had never even though of taking a step towards me.

"Well, well. A newborn who knows how to move!"

I had no idea what he meant, but I obeyed his gesture to move further into the open air, relishing the feeling for the first time in months. Everything was more vivid out there to my heightened senses. Small flowers lining the short steps down to the empty dirt ground shone in shades of blue and red I had never imagined possible. Specks of dust glistened in the air, swirling thanks to the increasing winds. I wasn't sure how to handle the sensory overload at first. Was this why the interior of Volterra was so dark and gloomy? Did the vampires there consider it a sanctuary away from the too-bright world beyond?

Felix gestured again, indicating that we were going to the open ring of dirt at the center of the courtyard. As long as two football fields, it took up more space than I thought would be possible in an area the size of Volterra, at least the way that Renata had described it to me. Maybe it no longer seemed large to her, though, after centuries living there.

My new trainer faced off against me, less hostile than my previous one but far more intense somehow. To my surprise, he started with a lecture, not another attack.

"Vampires are stronger, faster, and more coordinated than even the most perfect human athlete. That often causes newborns to believe that they are invincible, and they are—if they are going up against a human. Most newborns, and even many older vampires, forget that in a fight with another vampire those advantages are canceled out. If you survive your newborn year, you are more likely to be fighting someone whose abilities in the physical realm match your own. There are few who are gifted with extra physical talents. Mental abilities, which you are protected against naturally, are much more common. Survival depends on knowing how to counter the physical, not on overwhelming the opponent."

Suddenly he sprang at me once more, this time lashing out with a foot towards my left thigh. I tried to counter him with my leg, and although I was fast I still ended up on one knee with Felix behind me, my head and neck in his hands and his teeth pressed against the skin of my throat but not penetrating. For a small fraction of a second my body tried to react, to shrug him off, but that same instinct from earlier stopped me. I remained as still as possible, and I heard his grunt of satisfaction before he stood in front of me once more.

"A good fighter has control over their bodies, their emotions. They use both their instincts and brains as much as they do their strength. That is why newborns usually make pitiful fighters. Their control is non-existent. You, on the other hand, are an unusual one in many ways. You have the emotional control of a vampire decades older combined with the strength of the human blood still coursing in your veins and tissues, slowing being consumed by the venom. I believe that, in time, you will be a formidable fighter."

And so began my time of training with the Volturi, a mixture of failure and success that would haunt me the entire time I stayed there.