Athenodora slowly began to accept that the twins were growing up so fast. She had watched Jane and Alec train with the guards almost every day, she would always watch in the corner. Waiting for the chance to reprimand guards if they had been too rough on the twins.

There was none at the moment.

The guards who were training did not seem to notice her. Athenodora hid by an alcove and was unnoticed by the guards.

The twins may have been stuck at the age of 14 or 15 but she could not deny that they matured quickly. Alec has been much quieter than usual and Jane's smiles were limited. The young blonde also absorbed a bit of her husband's personality which made her chuckle at the memory.

The Volturi wives were free to do whatever they please to pass time. Athenodora heard the sounds of the piano playing distantly. Didyme must be at the music chamber as the fair-haired wife knew that the raven-haired woman liked to play the piano.

Here she was, looking out for her charges. The guards were in no position to actually question what she was doing. One guard noticed her, and Athenodora briefly remembered that it was the one who was bothering Jane days ago.

Athenodora smirked inwardly as the tracker grew sharper in movement. He must have thought that she was sent by Caius to oversee the training. She could only snicker in silence.

Alec saw her in a distance and waved discreetly as she returned with a smile. The twins were angelic in the fair-haired vampire's eyes. She would have gladly taken them in as her children if the circumstances were different.

The Volturi already were informed of the twins since they were five years old. They were not in a hurry to change them but the unthinkable happened. She would not dare to admit Aro had shortcomings in his decisions. If only the three kings had listened to the pleas of the Wives who voiced out that they would retrieve the twins and raise them in their care.

Marcus disagreed because they could risk their secret. Caius objected because he feared that they would get attached to the twins. Aro did not voice out his reasons but Athenodora knew there was something that was not right.

If only they listened, the twins would not have gone through their hardships. Would it change their fate? If she shielded them from potential harm before?

She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a crash. Her eyes diverted to the guards in training as she witnessed Jane being flung to the pavement by a burly guard. If she had remembered clearly, it would be Felix. She stepped forward as she saw the chance to reprimand him.

The grip in her arm prevented her from doing so. Athenodora looked up and realized that it was her husband. Caius was looking at her intently and instantly knew what she was about to do.

"Don't," he says stiffly. "If you reprimand them, the twins will not learn. Jane and Alec will grow to be weak if you reprimand every single guard who trains with them. Jane needs to learn to stand at her own feet."

"Time really flew by fast, isn't it?" Athenodora softly remarks as both of them stared at the guards who were in training. A smile graced Athenodora's lips when the young blonde stood up and returned to fighting.

"I hope you understand..." Caius' gaze diverted towards her. His milky red eyes stared at her calculatingly. "Jane and Alec do not belong to the wives-" Athenodora cut him off.

"Yet you placed them in the Wives' care,"

"Until their powers manifested." He said rather stiffly. "I do not want to see you get attached to them and find it difficult for them to be put down,"

"You wouldn't dare to do that," Athenodora growls as her maternal instincts get the best of her. Caius just sighed and she elbowed him. He grunted in response.

"Get ahold of yourself, Athenodora! What is wrong with you?" he growls.

"I spent days convincing them that you would not give up on them." Her livid eyes met his. "That you would not replace them-"

"They are not your children," Caius said as animosity was between the two of them. All Athenodora could do is inhale sharply at her husband's actions. She was done, she was so done.

"A woman can be a mother when given a chance. You..." she stares at him angrily. "Gave me that chance and you dare to rip them away from me. I am sorry Caius but I would not let that happen."

If she were human, Jane would have been breathless with the training she had to do. She was sitting on the bench outside the training grounds after Felix had flung her in the training grounds. She must have been a laughing stock already.

She was starting to think if training with the guard is a bad idea after all.

Jane was trapped in her own thoughts so deeply that she did not notice a burly vampire who sat next to her. It was not until Felix broke the silence that she realized that he was there.

"I would like to apologize..." Felix trails off. "For earlier. Are you alright?" he asks in concern.

Jane just chuckles.

"I'm fine," she smiles at him. "If you are worried I will tell you on the wives, I won't. I'm not like that."

"How are you holding up?" he asks.

"It's definitely a challenge but I can say that it must take time. I have to get used to combat which is something I am not that great in," she confides in him.

It was something that Felix was not used to seeing in Jane. She did not confide in a random person, was he already a person of importance to her?

Did Jane see him more than a random and burly guard? Did he actually earn her favor?

The witch twins were known to stick to themselves and do not confide to others except the masters and the wives. He was seeing a side of Jane that was reserved for the people whom she trusts the most.

"I'm really sorry for earlier, it was not really my intention to go rough on you. I guess being animalistic is already my second nature,"

"You don't have to apologize, I really need to learn it. And I got it the hard way,"

The two share a brief laugh. Jane was not the cold and emotionless person he saw with other people. He was seeing a different Jane, the Jane that was lost when the witch twins were burned to stake.

"I'll be more offended if you go easy on me. I will go as far as not telling the wives, but to tell you on Master Caius himself." she smiles cheekily as he paled.

Felix pretended to be afraid in order to make her laugh. It was rare to see her smile, to make her laugh. He would make the most out of the pure happiness he saw in her eyes.

He would look into her eyes every day to see them cold and calculating. He would gaze into her eyes again and see them with a glint of happiness.

"You would not do that," he argues.

"Oh, touche? Try me." Jane teases as she broke out into a grin.

He leans to her closer and was faced to face with her milky red eyes. He once remembered that they were shades of blue when he was tasked to watch over the twins when they were human. Once again, she was a child she let go of. She was still the kid she used to be, nothing would hurt anymore.

She was already free.

"Are you not afraid of me?" Jane asks and he reverts back.

Why would he be? When Felix knows it in his self that she was not the monster the crowd claims her to be.

World domination was the least of their worries. It is what they will do in order to eradicate the Romanians they are worried about. The kings were planning every step of the way with much caution. One mishap will guarantee them losing the war they had fought so hard for.

"You had been quiet, brother," Aro's inquisitive eyes met Caius' who was silent throughout their whole endeavor. It was rather unusual for him to be silent in such important affairs. Aro held out his hand, in order to read the blond king's mind.

Caius reluctantly gave his hand. The raven-haired vampire was silent for a minute, then cocked his head to the side. Caius did not dare to admit that Aro was a dangerous man, it is his thoughts himself that will betray him. Aro did not have any reaction to the blond king's thoughts, which made Caius be on the edge.

"You are worried about the twins?" he asks indifferently. "Eleazar would not dare lie about their powers,"

"It has been decades." Caius counters. "The war is dangling right over our heads, are you not worried?" Caius's gaze shifts to Marcus who just looked away.

Marcus clearly did not want to be part of this conversation. He made it clear when he looked away. Aro sighed and attempted to rectify the situation. He was unable to speak as Caius pressed further about the topic.

"I thought everyone was disposable for you? Why keep them if they cannot aid during the war?" Caius presses further.

"It is their loyalty that matters," Aro said with venom in his voice. Marcus had paid aloof to the two kings arguing. He simply enjoyed the book he was reading.

Or rather what he was distracting himself. He will but in if things will get out of hand. If it was not for him, the two kings would have killed each other several centuries ago. Marcus had served as a mediator between Aro and Caius.

"Do not play that loyalty act with me, Aro." Caius seethed.

"I'm sure Athenodora would put up a fight if the twins were to be disposed of. I am sure you know that yourself," Aro states in a matter-of-factly voice. He was not the one to lie or blackmail the blond-haired king. It was simply facts falling into place, he had heard of the couple's squabble near the training grounds. The raven-haired vampire would have kept it to himself that he witnessed a lover's quarrel, but found the information highly valuable.

"We do not need a weak link, brother." Caius once again argues.

"I would gladly wait for their powers to manifest. I hope you trust my judgment, brother." Aro spat the word 'brother' with such animosity.

Tension was radiating between the two kings. Marcus stood up, he knew this may result in something they will not want. To be divided was their weakness, they could not afford to be divided during these times.

"Enough," Marcus said as his gaze traveled between Aro and Caius. Caius was already prepared to pounce. Anger also radiated from the raven-haired vampire. The two kings would be ready to kill each other with a heartbeat.

Caius being hostile was not new but Aro nearly losing control is something he saw once in a blue moon. The mediator did not want to witness that.

Marcus let out a not much-needed sigh. Caius stood up as he prepared to leave. Before opening the door he spoke:

"I will give them until the war for their powers to manifest. If proven they cannot..." Caius stares into Aro's milky red eyes with such boldness. Aro remained unwavering in his steel-like gaze."I will take such matters into my own hands. Whether Athenodora, Didyme, or even you shall like it or not