"That guy was scarrryyyy." Travis words were starting to slur and I took note of the empty ounce shot glass in his hand that he exchanged for a full one as we returned to his group. "So…he your ex?"

"What? No, I'm sorry. He just gets on my freaking nerves." He offered me the shot glass and I contemplated taking the drink.

I shook my head. He shrugged and downed it. Over his shoulder, I caught the familiar gaze of the wounded pup we'd left behind. Only it seemed that his wounds had quickly found a healer in two older women. He flashed a smirk to one, while the other took the initiative to make an attempt to run her fingers through his hair. I turned my head, not eager to catch if he let her or not.

The instant I looked away, something unfamiliar overwhelmed me. It was like a roar of an emotion too impatient to be named and too eager to exist. Whatever it was had not consulted the part of my brain that made smart, rational decisions because I would have gladly continued the playfully innocent nature Travis and I had already successfully established.

But as Travis, now two more shots heavy, delicately spun me around on the dance floor, I made no move to stop him when he pulled my back flush against his chest. Despite the flow of alcohol in his veins, he stood solidly behind me. As his hips started to sway to the music, mine followed of their own accord. Our previously beginner lessons in dance now attempting to join the big leagues.

A mate of Travis' stood a few paces from us and upon seeing us, the man shouted, "güepa!". He pointed at me and raised a fist in congratulations to Travis, who returned the gesture.

I closed my eyes, shoving away how the moment could have made me feel. On one hand, it was slightly dehumanising and disrespectful. But, on the other, I'd never been so much as catcalled before tonight. There was something interesting about the conflicting emotions upon the reception of male attention, good and/or bad. Tonight alone, I had experienced it and witnessed it in different forms, with reactions ranging from an initiated kiss to splashed liquid. I had a feeling Heidi had a few theories on the topic if I ever got up the courage to talk about it.

Travis's fingertips brushed the skin of my neck, moving my hair to the side. The pads of his fingers were rough, worn from work and daily existence and they slid from the back of my neck back down to my hips. I noted that the friend was two steps ahead of us and I watched as he raised his head from his girl's neck, a small mark dotting her skin. As she tossed her head back with a drunken giggle, my own eyes widened. I stepped forward out of Travis' embrace and turned around to face him in an unusually graceful manner.

I gulped as my eyes flickered behind Travis once again. Alec was on the opposite side of the club, eyebrows narrowed and mouth slightly agape, but still keeping a heedful eye. Jane stood next to him, a frown prominently displayed on her face as her mouth moved at a ridiculous speed. He said nothing, so I guessed she was likely chastising him and assuming from how he only half faced her, she was probably right. He was too far away for me to tell for sure what he was feeling, but there was a guilt that manifested in me that decided to fill in its own blanks. We held eye contact for mere milliseconds before he looked away. I guess I was on my own.

Travis frowned, passing the empty glass in his hand unceremoniously to one of his nearby teammates who took it absentmindedly. I muttered something about the bathroom and darted off in that direction.

I chose the wrong side of the club however, as the door to the bathroom clearly indicated that it was the men's toilets. To back this up, even if I couldn't read the Italian, the alcove was entirely empty. Definitely, the men's side.

As I turned to step out of the hideout, I was instead joined by the man I had just left partnerless on the dance floor. His grin had grown sloppy over our time together and I questioned if he knew that he'd drunk past his limit. But beyond recognizing the physical signs, I had no knowledge of how to handle a drunk. Which was apparently, only half of my biggest problem at the moment as Travis' true objective became clear.

"Here, baby. I can help you forget all about the big bad ex."

There was a churning in my stomach, but the warning came too late. My mind flashed back to my arrival in Volterra as I found myself once again pressed against a wall by an unwelcome force. His close proximity allowed him to begin to feel up the side of my thighs and to barely graze my navel; automatically, I pushed him away from me.

I concentrated on keeping my voice still, as if it were armour that would break with the slightest falter of emotion. "No, thank you. We're done here."

"Such a tease." His hand landed sharply on my bum, holding its place there and pulling me flush against his chest. His hands remained on my backside, keeping me in a firm hold. I realized I was more annoyed than worried, and I was getting tired of being manhandled by…well, men. "I love a tease." I bit back a snarky reply.

I balled up my fist, ready to punch the shiz out of him but he was torn away from me.

Alec's porcelain hand gripped the neck of the young man, holding him up in the air. The exposure of his superhuman gifts didn't seem to matter, and it took me a second to realise why. Travis was raised just high enough for the front toes of his shoes to desperately attempt to regain the support of the ground below. And just like that, his role had switched.

"Alec," I breathed out for the second time that night. It seemed that any time he appeared, 'hi' was an unsatisfactory greeting or recognition. Did he purposefully choose to be dramatic, or had I suddenly gained a penchant for placing myself in damsel situations?

The déjà vu of my saviour was sending me into the Twilight's Zone's version of Animal Kingdom. Once again, I was privy to the hunt of the predator, his prey trapped and defenceless. Fully capable and a more then willing predator, Alec was free to play with his food. And Travis was his food. It was the circle of life that humans passed off as scary stories and greedy, slightly unhinged people in history. I'd seen a man have his blood drained from his body, yet this moment put my entire situation into an even deeper perspective.

The scuffling sounds of Travis' shoes scampering on the tile became more pronounced the longer the vampire held him up there. It wasn't a deliberate method of torture, but nonsensical whimpers hadn't ceased from falling out of his mouth for more than a few seconds.

In a gravelly darkness, Alec sneered at the man. "You were warned. Yet, you dared to put your hands on her."

There was no doubt that Alec cared nothing for the complications arising out of the situation. I fully believed that Alec would kill him and the rest of the party would be collateral damage. If I did nothing, there was a good chance that this kid would not make it home tonight and a part of me was indifferent to the dark thought. And for some reason…it didn't bother me.

"Pathetic human. Can you not beg for your life?"

Wheezing, Travis managed to do just this, "I'm sorry man, just let me go!"

"When I am through with you, there will not be a woman alive who won't scream in horror of your very existence."

While I should have acted out of a desire to save Travis' life, consideration for his survival played no role in my following decisions. There was a driving force deep in my chest that declared that there was something much more important at stake. However, until I could figure what that was, I had to keep him alive.

Pulling myself together, I dashed to Alec's side and made to loosen his hold on the drunk man's neck. The only thing I could come up with to stop him was, "It's okay, I'm okay."

Incredulously, he demanded, "you defend this filth?"

"No. But, you don't have to do this." Alec growled, but still, he wouldn't face me. Frustrated, I moved closer and his eyes flickered to mine and back to the other man. Timidly, I raised my palm to his opposite cheek and he let me gently turned his face towards me. His eyes softened as he took me in, before quickly looking over my body for any evidence that would allow him to crucify the man without my protests. Even though he was already convinced and I had no intent to deny what had happened, my objective hadn't changed. I was still prompted by for an unknown reason to delay his punishment. "Alec, please. Let's go home." The word slipped from my lips before I could think it through. The Volturi's castle…did I somehow consider it to be home?

His eyes flickered to the slouched man one more time, before he looked at me and nodded. I took my hand from his cheek, allowing his fingers to unclench. He took a genuine pleasure in destroying the man's previously arrogant composure. He'd been dying to put the man in his place; he simply needed a reason. The fear that rolled off of the centuries younger man fuelled Alec's grandiose behaviour and not quite ready to let it go, Alec used the moment to shove Travis. The man stumbled two steps backwards and hit the wall head first. He collapsed to the ground, landing roughly on the tile floor.

Allowing the violent action, I took the opportunity to deliberately walk Alec backwards a few steps and to place myself in-between the two. My palm firmly placed on his chest, his focus had shifted back to me. I twisted my fingers around a button on his shirt as if to get a better grip and keep him in place.

His hand moved to lift my chin up. I didn't fight the direction, giving in to the desire to observe the emotions hidden in his eyes. Unconsciously, I bit my lip and Alec moved a thumb to stop me.

In less of an order and more of a smoky request, "do not do that…" The moment felt like forever, but I quickly remembered our surroundings and how contrasting our actions were.

Forcing Alec to join me, I attempted to convince him, "I think he's learned his lesson." But, an unexpected interruption made this pointless.

From the floor, a hiccup and a disturbing chuckle echoed from my attacker. "Come on, man. Why don't we share?" Surely, this man had a death wish. In an abhorrently thick voice, he continued, "little minx like her, I bet she can handle the both of us just fine."

A snarl ripped from Alec's chest and the buttons of his shirt disappeared from under my fingertips. Pivoting around, I was struck by the scene before me.

Truly, I must admit that the stillness of Alec's figure would haunt me for days to come. His head was tilted as if in contemplation while a hazy mist began to engulf our captive. Travis gasped before he was sucked into a strangled silence.

I could only stare on, frozen and wide-eyed at the body of his victim. An empty shell of a disturbed man on the outside. On the inside, suffering numbly, losing himself in a state of madness that caused even vampires to plead for death. Wondering if it would ever end, terrified that I never would.

I had experienced Alec's gift of sensory deprivation and its value had been made clear to me through stories of the Volturi's missions. Seeing it play out before me, however, was something different. I couldn't bring myself to pity the recipient as I began to recall my own encounter with the paralysing ability. I couldn't speak, and I thanked all the clocks in the world as it was no longer necessary for me to do so.

"Brother." Jane appeared in the doorway of the small hallway and I could feel a small weight drop from my shoulders. He would listen to Jane, allow her to ground him and expel the fury that had overtaken him. Gradually, the mist pulled away from Travis' body and he returned to the physical world that had been lost to him.

"Sister." He acknowledged her before commenting in amusement, "such excellent timing."

Jane examined the scene with dulled eyes which landed on me, then returned to her sibling. Neither responded to the moan that came from the back wall. Instead, Jane directed Alec to reorganise his responses to the elements around him. "Perhaps your ma…Saffiya should currently be your priority."

Immediately, Alec refocused on me and the deteriorating effect witnessing his gift had started to have. He stepped towards me and I blinked, finding the control that had escaped me. And just like that, I recovered from the intrusive memory. Alec released a deep breath from his chest. The exposure of his ability had backfired in a way he wasn't prepared to handle. Yet, a lack of remorse framed his face, his eagerness to follow through with his threats was undeniable. Despite the short repercussion it had forced on me.

A silent understanding passed between the twins and Alec relinquished his control of the situation, and of Travis, to Jane. "Let this be done with."

Upon hearing the finality of her decree, sealing his fate, Travis cowered away from her gaze. Her nostrils were flared and as disorienting as it was to see the merciless execution of Alec's gift, I could see how Jane's apathetically false, innocent persona had defined their reputation. Without Alec to reign her in, she was guided by the deadly sin of wrath in its purest form.

I'd be lying if I said it hadn't bothered me that not a single vampire in all the Volturi's centuries of existence had floated the idea that if they treated Jane and Alec as they did everyone else, then maybe they wouldn't present as weapons of mass destruction all of the time. Stoking the feared reputation of the twins was more important to Aro than a well-balanced and healthy environment for the youngest members of his guard. So, for as long as this remained Aro's position, neither of the twins would ever be just another member of the guard.

As much as I felt the personal need to demonise the stereotype, every time I had to remind myself that maybe they didn't need anyone but each other. The twins revelled in their sordid reputation. A fact that was clearer than ever right now and though I desired better for them, I was having trouble vilify their direct performances.

But while I still struggled to come up with an appropriate alternative, I continued to prolong the enactment of this particular plan

"Wait!" I reached out for Jane's shoulder, physically distracting her from her task. "Don't kill him."

Alec placed his hands on my upper arms and Jane raised an eyebrow at the gesture. In an attempt to sooth me, he claimed, "He deserves nothing less."

Weakly, knowing that it was a terribly understated argument and one that I had no support for, I tossed in, "but he didn't actually hurt me."

Jane spoke up, "this time." Simultaneously, the three of us turned our heads to look at the mewling form on the ground. Clearly, the twins felt that even a taste of Alec's gift was not yet enough suffering for him. Additionally, it was likely that Jane's gift would attract too much attention, especially if timed incorrectly with the shuffling of the music. The ominous statement was likely resurrected from the same hatred her brother displayed for humans. Yet, Jane's words triggered a collection of evidence in my mind.

I thought of the girl in his friend's arms and how his friend supported the bulk of her weight. I thought of how smooth Travis had been all night and contrasted it with their indelicate declarations of jubilance as we danced. Of how Alec had claimed falsities in the man's behaviour. I considered the delight on Travis' face when we talked about his dancing and his team. Recalling the importance conveyed on his competition being his last chance to prove himself.

In the interest of reparations, I could think of only one punishment that would prove suitable while also satisfying Jane and Alec's quest for a righteous justice. A permanent consequence that I may once have deemed too harsh. But that was before I discovered vampires. The ruthlessness I had been introduced to in the last few weeks had not yet effected my choices. Until I was put in a similar position of control. And suddenly, the explanation for my interference in the twins' chosen act of retribution made sense to me.

My sentencing brought a smile to Jane's face, the innocence of her appearance in direct conflict with the verdict. Though I lacked the underlying sadistic design, I supported her with a confident look of my own. A new, unrecognisable muscle movement in my face that had been absent for many years. Had I always believed in such violent standards?

I separated from in-between her and Alec and crossed the floor's distance to stand over Travis. He stared up at me with eyes full of fear and his body folded in as if to protect himself from further harm. But I saw no regret, and so I felt none. With an empty intent, I performed the sign of the cross over his chest. The hint of my humanity revealing itself in the act, as if reminding me that it was still there despite my cruel creativity.

The twins observed my process, muttering to each other. Pausing in my return to them, I picked up the end of their limited conversation.

Jane's eyes flickered to me, "Aro will be pleased."

They were talking about me. I looked up just in time to catch Alec's eyes and they burned with warring emotions.

"Aye," he agreed silently, his eyes never leaving mine.

~•~•~•~

Hmm, I wonder what Saffiya came up with. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. ;)

Your comments on the last chapter were so sweet, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. Every review posted makes me just want to keep writing, so I did, and I couldn't resist waiting any longer to post this.

I wanted to answer a question KaitFrench asked in the last chapter, in case others were curious as well.

Question/Comment: So I didn't know not sweating could be a thing with CIP. How did you get this idea of writing Saffiya having CIP?:

Yeah, so people with CIP(A) don't sweat because their body flat out cannot recognize when something is too hot or too cold. They can tell the difference between the two, but not the extent to which they interact. (Which is actually super hard to write for. I never realized how much I relied on those experiences until I started writing this.) Saffiya has CIP, that is, without anhidrosis, but I've taken a few creative liberties w/combining some aspects of the symptoms from anhidrosis, like overheating.

The addition of CIP was inspired by a friend of mine with CIPA (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis), whom Saffiya's general character and backstory is based on. I came up with the idea and we had a sit down (via zoom cause corona) to talk about how it would manifest in Saffiya. Considering Alec (and Jane's) gifts, I thought it was a fascinating way to explore what I love and find so unique about the twins. A topic I could rant for days on, by the way.

Also, FuriouslyRaging: I'm so glad you like the twins and Saffiya and Alec's relationship so far! I'm trying really hard for that exact result, so hopefully I can keep it up for ya :)

Also, anyone who is curious and wants to know or read more into CIP(A), feel free to message me for sources or to clarify anything you've read here so far :)

Until next we meet,

Ro