Into my hands.

Chapter 5 The questions.

(On the train ride back.)

"So what is a trial?"

Bella asked as the group walked to their seats.

"Think of it as a placement test, it determines your strength and natural abilities as a vampire"

Alice replied.

"Does everyone go through it?"

she asked.

"Oh for sure"

Alice said.

"But usually you are given six months to a year before you are even asked to be tested"

"Do you remember your trial?"

Bella asked as the party sat down in their seats.

"Yeah it was terrible...Alice replied as Carlisle cleared his throat interrupting the discussion as he glared at her, an indication that he wanted no more conversation, let alone where this was going.

(At the Cullen's House.)

Everyone went to their respected rooms to unwind.

Carlisle went to the study which doubled as a mini library,

Bella followed him.

"How could you do that to me?

Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

Bella raised her voice in anger and disappointment at being forced to her knees like a slave.

"Bella you must understand there are laws, rules, and regulations.

There are things that are part of the hierarchy that must be followed."

Carlisle said pleading with Bella.

"The King holds all the power,

you have barely even begun to live, and at a snap of his fingers he could end everything,

we must not incur his wrath."

"So what? am I supposed to just fall to my face and worship this guy?"

Bella replied.

"You don't have to worship him,

but you will show him respect and you will not question me again Bella, do you understand?"

Carlisle's tone changed and for a moment Bella did not recognize his voice.

A silence fell over the room and a coldness that neither one liked.

Carlisle looks sternly at Bella waiting for her reply.

"I am your sovereign, it is my responsibility to look after you, teach you and take care of you.

But I cannot protect you from the King, if he so ordered your death, believe it would be done at his word, and I could do nothing."

Carlisle clarified while also looking as though he had more choice words for Bella but chose not to say more.

"Yeah well I don't understand"

Bella said never imagining that a vampire's life could be filled with so many rules and regulations as Carlisle mentioned, not that she had signed up for any of this,

but here she was smack in the middle of this new world.

Another angry filled glance at one another and Bella stormed off to her room.

(Later, a knock at the door)

"Come in"

Bella said.

It was Alice now in comfy pajamas and bunny slippers.

"Someday, huh?" Alice asked.

"Yeah" Bella replied pausing for a moment before she continued.

"Crazy."

"So what is a Agni Kai?"

she asked as Alice sat next to her on a comfy sofa.

"Well do you want the long version or the short version?"

she replied.

"Yeah just sum it up for me"

Bella answered back.

"It's a duel to the death"

Bella's eyes widened.

"What? and I have to do this?"

"All vampires have to enter into an agni kai,

It's the only way you'll gain a rank, and it's the only way you'll be able to be in the presence of the king without having to have your face to the floor all of the time."

"So you went through one?"

Bella inquired.

"Of course"

Alice replied.

"We all did, Edward too,

even Carlisle but he doesn't talk about it."

"So the trial?"

"Like I said it's a placement test to determine where your strength level is and from there they'll match you with someone to fight in the agni kai."

"Can't I refuse?"

Bella asked.

"Yeah if you want to stay a servant forever.

without a rank you will always be treated as someone's property and you always have to take orders."

Alice replied as she shifted around on the sofa, trying to find a more comfortable placement.

"Once you have a rank established you will get more freedom, more say so and you can move up further by competing in more duals."

"But you're talking about battles and killing vampires."

"First of all; how can we be killed?

and second of all; how could I ever gain enough power to do such a thing?"

Bella asked while a nervousness creeped in her voice.

"Yeah well...when the trial rolls around you'll find out,

it's going to unlock what abilities you have and from that you'll know what you're working with."

Alice said while briefly drawing her attention to the window, curtains laid open, a bright full moon is on display.

"To answer your other question;

just because we're vampires doesn't mean that we are invincible, we can still die Bella"

(The next morning.)

Carlisle requested Bella outside a little ways behind the house,

in a courtyard stood an array of training equipment.

"In order for you to be prepared for the trial and what lies beyond it.

You must be prepared both physically and mentally"

Carlisle said,

his voice distant

his presence refrained to the point that he presented almost a coldness to Bella.

Was this about the argument last night? she pondered.

"Alice"

Carlisle called.

"I want you to use your sight ability and tell me what you see in Bella"

"Okie dokie"

she replied as she walked up to Bella and placed both of her hands over Bella's eyes.

Images began playing in her mind,

a smoke, a fire perhaps?

she thought.

But the smoke was red like blood and horns were appearing out of it.

A large stone sat inside a glass bowl with water in it,

and a tree stood broken in half by the wind.

None of the images made any sense, it all felt so random and Alice couldn't particularly see anything about Bella herself or anyone else.

Still she tried to explain what she saw to Carlisle the best she could.

Sure her sight ability wasn't a hundred percent reliable,

but most of the time she would see something about the vampire in question.

She could then determine their power and sometimes see their abilities, in rare events she could even see an outcome of a battle, therefore preventing a loss.

"Thank you Alice"

Carlisle said dismissing her.

"For today I think it is best we focus on control of the mind and balance of the body"

Carlisle said as he led Bella to a quiet shaded area in the garden.

They sat under a tree and began a meditation.

Although Bella thought it was just an excuse to not really talk to her for a while, perhaps he was still fuming over that argument they had.

(Later back at the training courtyard)

Bella stands on a log supported by two boulders.

Carlisle shows her a series of poses and movements to do,

"Copy me" he said while she was standing on the log trying to balance herself, she of course continues to fall off.

"You're not really focusing"

Carlisle accused.

"Oh really!?"

Bella said.

"Because I think I'm doing pretty good considering that I don't know what I'm doing, it's hot and I never signed up for any of this."

"You must learn to focus, relax and control your emotions,

it is the only way you are going to tap into your power,

without balance you won't be able to control any abilities you do possess"

Bella sighed too tired to continue arguing with Carlisle, so she complies with his instructions, trying to focus more.

The day moves quickly and before long it is evening.

"That was a good first day of training, let us call it a night"

Carlisle said dismissing Bella.

So now she had her freedom to do with what she wanted for the evening, although she was so tired she would probably just hit the pillow and that would be it.

As Bella prepares for bed

there is a knock at her door,

she answers it to see Edward.

"Can I come in?"

He asked.

"Sure"

Bella answered.

"So how did the training go?"

Edward asked.

"Well it went... that's for sure."

she replied with a displeased tone as if that was the last thing she wanted to talk about.

"and how's your memory coming along?"

Edward inquired about how much she remembered of her human life and them, and to the extent of the amnesia he wondered.

"Everything is still pretty foggy"

she replied, although she remembered thier friendship, she couldn't recall their romantic relationship.

"The other night when I went to tell Carlisle about the red letter,

why was he in your room?"

He asked.

"Well um..."

she paused

"He was just checking up on me and wondering why I didn't go with you to the lake"

"Why didn't you?

He asked.

Bella paused again this time not really having an answer.

"You know I see it, right?"

"See what?"

Bella inquired.

"The way you look at him."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"I think you know Bella"

He replied.

"Well if I did...would I be asking?"

Bella fired back

"You will never look at me,

the way you look at him.

I just don't have a place in your heart anymore."

Bella tried to reply but he interrupted her before she could form a word in response.

"You can't deny it, the way you light up whenever he is around."

"He is my sovereign Edward, that is all"

She finally managed to reply back, unsure why they were even having this conversation in the first place.

"He is more than that Bella, and I know that you know it, whether you want to admit it or not."

with that Edward left the room without saying another word, while Bella was left with her thoughts.

(The next day in the courtyard.)

The training started all over again,

only this time Carlisle was teaching proper stances and how to hold weapons such as a two handed sword.

There was a test dummy set up for weapon practice, Carlisle begin demonstrating how to hit an opponent and how to block.

"You must learn how to wield a weapon properly,

if you don't know how to control your weapon,

it will control you"

"So who is Jane?"

Bella asked.

"Someone you don't want to underestimate"

A voice said from behind the bushes.

"Jacob!"

Bella called out while running to him happily inviting a hug.

"Hey Yellow Bell"

he said, calling her by a nickname that he gave her for her foneness of the color yellow,

and the story of Beauty and the beast.

"It's nice to see you"

she said.

"You too,

wow so you really went ahead with the whole vampire thing huh?"

Jacob looks surprised now noticing Bella's vampirc eyes.

"Are you mad?"

she asked.

"No, I just thought you were thinking about it some more, I also kinda wanted to be there."

Jacob was always pretty understanding, after all he came from a warewolf pack, so he had a unique perspective.

Most of the time warewolves and vampires didn't mingle, but the Cullen house had much respect among several communities.

"So do you want to help with the training?"

Carlisle asked.

"Sure! I'm up for a little spar"

Jacob said as he picked up a sword and Carlisle did the same.

The two went at it, blocking well but also demonstrating good balance, control and defense.

Both Jacob and Bella were eager learners, having both been through foster care, jumping from one home to the other easily makes one long for stability, and something they can hold onto.

As the evening came the three retired inside to the living room.

"Would you like anything to eat Jacob?"

Carlisle asked.

"Wait...you actually have food?"

he asked in his usual comical way,

always poking fun at the vamps any chance he got.

"Yes in case we have visitors."

"I could go for a BLT"

"Okay, let me see if we have any bacon"

Carlisle replies as he walks over to the kitchen.

"So who did it?"

Jacob inquired about Bella's turning.

"It um...it was Edward,

I mean he started it but Carlisle turned me, I don't really remember much"

"But you wanted this right Bella?"

Jacob asked looking confused at her confusion.

"We're all out of bacon, but I have some roast beef"

Carlisle called from the kitchen.

"Sounds good"

Jacob replied back while staring at Bella.

"So what...it wasn't planned for?"

He asked.

"It's complicated..."

She replied as Carlisle walks back into the living room with a sandwich and a glass of lemonade.

"Thanks.

So when is the trial?"

Jacob asked.

"Five days from now"

"What? Why so soon?"

"I just don't know"

Carlisle replied.

(At the King's palace)

A slender blonde haired young woman walks to the King's chainbers, her eyes a bright red glow.

"You asked for me my king?"

"Ah yes Jane, how are the preparations going?"

"Everything is set your majesty, I am simply awaiting the appointed hour."

She replied.

"Good, if she wants to be one of us, you make sure she walks through hell"

King Ozai said while laughing hysterically.