Demetri

Back in the training room I gave everyone their assignments. Jasper and Alec were to get away from Volterra and push the limits of their respective gifts as far as they would go for as long as they would go. Bella and Jane were to explore the castle under Bella's shield and find out how fast they could move and how long Bella could keep up her shields. Felix was to practice acting as a guard for Bella, in case any enemies came for Bella and Didyme. They needed to learn to move together as a team. I would be going back and forth between groups, checking progress. We would meet back to compare notes at eight am the next morning.

Felix, Jane, and Bella took off first. Jane and Bella were already under her shield. I smiled at them as they passed. I wished I could act as Bella's guard but I was needed to manage the entire guard, not just the elites. The rest made their way out of the castle.

Felix

Bella learned quickly to keep pace with me, no matter how slow or fast I moved. We made progress with that quickly, but Bella's shields needed work. On our first trial, she only managed to hold both shields in place for thirty minutes before they dropped. It was an hour on the second try. She improved quickly and I learned the pace Bella could best move and hold her shield. We traversed the catacombs on all levels and in all directions.

Bella steadily increased how long she could move with us with her shields out. She learned to walk single file and side by side with Jane, manipulating her shield to fit the size of the opening we had to go through.

The biggest problem was that Bella's gift was draining. By the time eight am came, her eyes were black and she was severely weakened.

Demetri was seriously concerned when he got a glimpse at Bella's eyes. He sent her to feed before the meeting. She ran to the feeding room.

"She did well, Demetri. We're going to need to simulate battle for her though so she can get an idea on working with distractions." I said.

"I'll go set it up now," Demetri said and exited the room as well.

It was eight-thirty by the time we were ready to discuss our successes and failures.

I thought it was likely that Jasper and Alec could disable most of the castle so we would be free to search for Didyme. I just didn't want to count on it.

After the Elite's meeting, I was called to the throne room with Jane, Demetri, and Bella. The room was full of the vampires that were set to stay and guard the castle.

"Thank you all for coming. Demetri, the floor is yours,"

The point of this mission is for Bella and Felix to protect Jane from being captured by any of you. Your mission is to get your hands on Jane. Jane you are not allowed to use your gift or fight. Didyme doesn't have either skill to depend on.

I want you to deliver Jane to me if you can. Felix, Bella, your task is to travel through the catacombs and deliver Jane to Marcus. Training touches only. Teeth at the throat is a kill. If you're killed return to the throne room. You all know me, I don't tolerate lies, so no cheating. Felix, Jane, and Bella go take your place in front of Bella's feeding room. That will give you the entire catacombs to travel. Go through each floor.

Once Bella, Jane, and Felix were in front of Bella's feeding room, the rest of the guard disbursed themselves to cover the catacombs.

In the first three attempts, Jane was delivered to me by various guards. Bella's shield failed and they were able to get her. After that Bella adapted better to being surrounded by combat and was successful. We ran this exercise for the six days remaining before the mission's start. By the end of it, we were all feeling hopeful. Bella's shield was allowing Bella to return Jane to Marcus every time.

The wives were ready to manage Volterra in the King's absence on the sixth day. We had been briefed on the layout of the castle and where Didyme was being held at last report. All of the arrangements that could be made had been made. The Volturi were going to war.

Bella

I was ready. I could do this. I'd met many vampires in the last week and Jane, Felix, and I moved together like a well-oiled machine. We were ready.

The castle was closed down and on high alert when we left. The plane trip was only four and a half hours. We traveled at vampire speeds to the castle, another two hours. When we arrived Alec and Jasper took opposite ends of the castle, using their gifts to put the entire population to sleep. With any luck, they would stay that way. Demetri kissed me quickly.

When Jasper and Alec had done what they could, Felix, Jane, and I entered the castle. The rest of the troops would wait until sounds of battle were heard, or Didyme was rescued.

I was proud that Marcus trusted me to retrieve Didyme for him. I was to stay with Didyme until the battle ended, protecting her. We were taking no risks.

We moved quickly through the castle and to the last place Didyme had been seen.

I spotted her. She was collapsed on the ground. Her black eyes looked at me. I didn't think she could walk. We hadn't practiced with me carrying Jane but that was what I was going to have to do. My hands would not be free, but I didn't think that mattered.

"Didyme," I said, then I noticed it. There was a shackle around her ankle, connecting her to the wall. Felix tried to break it, it was no use. We went searching for someone who held the keys. It took us a while, but we finally found the dungeon's keys on one of the men.

After the shackle was removed I pulled Didyme into my arms, whispering "Marcus is here. We're taking you to him."

Didyme nodded and held herself still in my arms. We were almost at the entryway when Alec's gift failed. We'd taken too long to fetch Didyme.

"NOW!" Felix shouted and the Volturi rushed into the castle. I moved through the combatants as quickly as I could. One vampire almost got Felix but Jane used her gift to subdue the attacker.

I couldn't help. I had to remind myself that my task was to protect Didyme. I got her to Marcus and then covered all the Kings, myself, and Didyme in my shield. I wasn't a second too late, a second wave of Romanian soldiers came over the mountains and attacked the King's guards.

There was chaos. That was when Jasper could no longer hold his gift. I took him under my shield so he didn't get injured in his weakened state and waited. My shield was draining me quickly but I had to hold strong. I could do it. I would do it.

Marcus held Didyme as if she were both precious and fragile. I supposed she was.

The fighting went on for hours. I watched for any sign of Demetri but saw none. After Jasper was rested, he said, "Let me out of your shield, Bella. I can help them now."

Jasper mowed through the Romanian soldiers. Felix started to move after him but then steadied. His task was to protect us if my shield fell.

In another hour, the battle was over. Demetri came to find me. He kissed me gently and then made his way back in to gather our soldiers and see how many we had lost. I finally dropped my shield. I knew my eyes were black. I was weak from holding my shield, but we had succeeded. Alec joined us. Jasper made his way to us as well.

The Romanian faction was all gone. Demetri found the remains of Stephan and Vladimir. After all the soldiers cleared the area Caius and Demetri began burning the remains of the Romanians, eventually catching the castle on fire. Once it was ablaze, Demetri joined me, holding my hand while we watched the castle burn. We made our way back to the plane, with the elites circling the Masters.

The fighters boarded the planes, most sporting rips in clothing and a few new bite marks.

I curled up on Demetri's lap after filling up on blood bags. The taste wasn't very desirable but they filled the need and strengthened me.

I watched as Marcus tended to Didyme carefully. Her eyes didn't show all the blood she'd drunk. They must have starved her. She stayed in Marcus's embrace resting peacefully.

"Good job little one," Felix said. "You carried her through the castle and got her back to him. It's been centuries since they've been able to look at each other."

"Congratulations on your first mission my love," Demetri whispered into my ear.

When we landed in Volterra Aro said, "Debriefing in two hours in the throne room"

We all went to feed. Demetri made sure I was well-fed before going to the group feeding chamber. That was my next task, to learn to feed with the others.

In two hours everyone who had participated in the battle gathered in the throne room. We had taken the time to feed, clean up, and change clothes. Didyme was on Marcus's lap and the other wives stood behind their husband's thrones. I hadn't met them before. They usually stayed in the tower. I didn't know whether it was by their own choosing or the King's. I was pleased to see them standing with the Kings. Life in a tower would be boring.

Aro read the team leaders' minds and said, "We fought fiercely and we succeeded in our mission. Didyme was saved."

The cheers were deafening.

"We fought a mighty battle," Aro said when the cheers died down, "and disposed of an enemy that has hounded us for centuries. Didyme is with us again."

The cheers started again and Aro smiled.

"In one month we will celebrate the return of my sister to us with a ball. I want all of you to put in an appearance. We will send out invitations to every coven in the world."

"I want to thank our allies for joining us in this battle," Aro said and applause filled the air. "You are all welcome in our home at any time. Thank you for playing such a part in this mission."

"You all have tomorrow off," Marcus said. "Celebrate, relax, enjoy the camaraderie with your brothers and sisters," Marcus said.

When the cheers had died down the guard began to disperse. Demetri and I made our way home.

"I'm so proud of you my love," Demetri said. "You moved through the crowd like you'd done it a thousand times in the castle. You saved Didyme. I watched over you the best I could, but ultimately I had to trust Felix. There were just too many opponents."

"And I'm proud of you. You led the guard with Caius, making sure our losses were as minimal as possible. How many did you lose Demetri,"

"Only five, but it's five too many," Demetri said.

I curled into Demetri's lap and we held each other tightly for hours. After my not-so-well-hidden fear that I might lose Demetri in the fight faded, we made love.

The next afternoon we finally got ourselves dressed and went to check on the rest of the elites. Everyone was there. Felix had even brought Heidi with him. The boys decided on a poker night, while Jane insisted we go shopping in town, taking advantage of an overcast day. Demetri smiled at me gently when I left, handing me his credit card and telling me to have fun.

Walking around town was more fun for me than the actual shopping. It was my first time out among humans and Jane stuck by my side, just in case I had trouble. I didn't have any but it made me feel good that Jane and the elites were still watching over me.

"You haven't bought anything, Bella. We need to teach you to shop," she said as we all made our way into a lingerie shop.

"I just don't need very much, Demetri has gotten me everything I could want but I think it's time to get him some presents, don't you think?" I said, looking pointedly around the store.

Jane laughed and Heidi joined us on our search for the perfect lingerie that Demetri would love. After that we made our way to a shoe store. I bought some heels that would match my new lingerie. I thought Demetri would like me in heels. He'd been so careful to only get me flats but with my new grace, I could wear heels for him.

We decided, on our way back to the castle, that we would go to the dance club tonight. I made my way home putting on a very revealing blue bra and panty set covering them with a blue tank and black skirt. After I completed the outfit with black heels I went to Jane's room. After Jane was dressed we made

our way to Heidi and Felix's room. Heidi joined us as well as Renata and Chelsea.

I went into the recreation room, sat on Demetri's lap, and asked, "Take me dancing, handsome?"

Demetri smiled widely at me and folded his cards. All the other girls came in. The men laughed and went to change, poker temporarily forgotten.

We arrived at the dance club at ten pm.

Demetri ordered shots for the table. We all took our shot and got out on the dance floor. We danced together in a circle to the fast songs but danced with our partners on the slow songs.

I moved sinuously against my Demetri all night taking brief breaks for more shots. I tried ordering my favorite drink, sex on the beach, but it tasted horrible now. Demetri chuckled at the face I made after I ordered it. I kissed him.

When the club closed for the night we made our way back to the castle. I had so much fun! I was relieved I didn't have any problem being surrounded by humans.