ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪꜱ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ꜰɪʟʟᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ. ᴡᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀꜰᴛᴏɴ ʜᴏɴᴇꜱᴛʟʏ. ʟᴏᴠᴇᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀꜱꜱʜᴏʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏʟᴛᴜʀɪ. ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴅɪꜱɢᴜɪꜱᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴀᴍᴇꜱ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀᴍɴ ᴄᴏᴠᴇɴ ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴠᴀᴍᴘɪʀᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇʀᴇ.

ʙɪᴋɪɴɪ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ :)

So, that was a big fat lie. Things were in fact not going to settle down. In fact, things had never been more chaotic in the Volturi household. Not only was I waiting for letters back from the Cullens, but we had almost seven trials per day. This has been going on for the last two weeks. For some reason, these criminals had been harder to track than usual. Demetri was having a hard time finding their minds amidst the stress and their blocking of his senses with animal and human blood.

These guys must have known they were in deep shit. I mean, they would be right because Demetri would bring them in one at a time and have their trials separately due to this game they were playing. The Romanians were breaking all of the rules and would have to deal with the might of the Volturi.

Akila and Harb were getting used to being on the Elite guard already. I could sense the fear that came off of some of the members of the guard when Harb would use his gift during trials, causing immense pain and fear to come over the criminals of whom's mind he controlled. Akila was able to break the minor shields that would come in. They would never stand a chance against her. She was powerful, and she looked damn good while bursting their bubble.

Most of the guard had begun to make preparations for the abush of a Romanian site that was rumored to have immortal children inside. It was a shame that the children were forced to turn and live such a sad life, but it was even worse that they would have to die. They were just children and were being exploited by those who wished to gain power and status. In a way, they were the same as the people who used to take me in while in the foster care system. They did not care about me, just the money and the power that came with saying they took in a foster child with issues.

The Romanians didn't want the rules not only because they wished for more freedom, they also were clearly sick in the head if they did not agree with the rule about immortal children. Poor kids never got a chance to grow up, to make the choice. None of them are rumored to have gifts, so why? What was the reason? What was the reason?

While I questioned the sanity and motives of the Romanians, Aro was finishing up with the last trial of the day. It was just hard to watch and watch as so many vampires were put down together or one at a time. The guards that were ripping them apart were exhausted. Not physically, but mentally. They needed a break of sorts.

By now it was June and I had been a vampire for a few months. The guards and I have gotten close. Many of the guards have decided that they are going to call me mother instead of queen, which is just so much better for me. I hated feeling like I had so much power inside of my own family. The coven was not just a coven, it was a family of vampires that loved and respected each other.

The rest of the world just can't seem to understand how much we love each other.

"Aro, darling, we need to do something for the guards. We've worked them too much these past two weeks," It was more of a suggestion and less of an order on my part. Aro sighs and nods his head.

"Demetri, please call the rest of the guards to the throne room. Make sure that they know that there are no more trials and that they are not in trouble," Aro tells my personal guard, who smiles and leaves the room without another word.

Jane and Alec were in the corner chatting with Akila and Harb, their new best friends. I was happy that they were able to find their own small group of people. Before, they had only been hanging out with each other and did not have much experience talking to the other guards in a friendly manner, often sounding annoyed or prissy. Jane more than Alec, who was often just quiet and awkward when trying to talk to his fellow guard members.

I watch as Caius stares out of the open window right into the sun, his skin lighting up like a disco ball. While his skin was beautiful in its own right, I did not see how people could be so scared of a species that sparkled like he was some sort of diamond child. He is still hot though. Why does he have to be so hot? He makes these trials so difficult with his beauty. Caius, look ugly for one second so I can look away! Damn, it isn't possible, is it? Are you just going to sit there looking handsome? I know you can't hear me, but I know you would say yes because you're a cocky bastard.

After a few minutes, the guards come inside of the room with vacant expressions on their faces. It was not often that the entirety of the guard would be summoned into the room, even during feedings. Actually, this never really would happen. The guards and the other Volturi members feed together.

"Mother, why have you called us?" Felix asks, his lower voice slightly higher than usual when addressing me.

"I know that everyone has been super stressed during the past few days and that we have had zero free time, so I have taken it into my power to implement some fun. I know that everyone has seen the huge space in the gardens," Aro and Caius look at me, knowing what I was about to say. "And I think that since it is summer, a slip-in-slide is a perfect reward for your outstanding performance. My mates will be allowing this and I will be participating."

My word was seen as final as the guards cheered. Afton pumped his hands in the year and shouted, "40 years! I have been waiting for 40 years!"

Aro and Caius look dejectected that I would make such a decision alone, but make no further protest as Marcus tells the guards that they should get ready for some fun in a few hours. Marcus, who was sitting on his throne with me in his lap, was grinning as he kissed my hairline. I laughed and pulled him into a heated kiss. Afton wolf whistled as he left the room, being dragged by Chelsea, who didn't want to have him make a fool of himself.

________________________________________

The bikini that had been laid out for me by Heidi and Renata was absolutely stunning. It was my favorite color, purple, and also made me look like a mermaid. Not only that, but it also looked quite good with my red eyes. I had been having a hard time finding good things that would also match my red eyes.

"Heidi, what is it that you do for the Volturi? Also, is it true that you were brought into the world of vampires by those animal eaters, the Cullens? Did you ever consider eating animals as food?" Akila asks Renata and I, who was currently changing into her golden swimsuit.

"I'm who they call when they get hungry. We eat humans, so what. Humans eat animals. Same thing, different species. It is what it is. Vampires are at the very top of the food chain. Animals are going extinct and humans are overpopulated. In a way, we're better than the animal eaters. They are preying on animals when it not only destroys the planet, but makes them weak," Renata tells the beautiful vampire.

"No, I never considered eating animals. I love animals, even if I used to eat meat. I was brought into the world when Edward slipped up in front of me. That's the telepathic one. He hates the Volturi and now he hates me. The rest of them are respectful enough, except for his human blood singer girlfriend, Isabella Swan. She's a shield and acts like she's better than the Volturi because she says she would never even think of eating a human. It's ridiculous. I love Carlisle like a father, but I would never take on that diet. He respects that and knows that as long as I am happy that he should be happy for me as well," I answer.

"Hah! Well I'll just break her shield then. I bet that since she's a human she thinks that having that gift makes her all that," I groan and nod my head. Good lord, if only you knew Akila, if only you knew. Hey, she should have to see me at some point in the future. I have to go back to Forks at some point in the near future to see Jasper and Carlisle. Rose as well.

There is a newborn army coming after the Cullen Coven I shiver at the sudden bit of information before I realize what I just got told. The Cullen Coven is being attacked by a vampire named Victoria. The Cullens killed her true mate, James. Well shit, I already knew Victoria was a problem, but a newborn army? Damn, I can't deal with this right now. Eddie boy isn't going to accept help from us human eaters anyways. If they don't ask for help, I'm not giving it. As long as they don't cause too much of a ruckus, we will be fine. The law is the law. If she has a vendetta against the Cullens, they are going to have to either ask me to help them or they are going to fight it off themselves.

"Is something wrong, Mother?" Jane asks from the other side of the room, having gotten her pure black one piece on already.

"Yes, Jane, everything is fine. Just a bit of information that we will need to check in on later," I reassure her. Jane nods and speeds out of the room. Heidi squeals as the door is opened and closed at the speed of fucking light. I smile at the three girls left in the room and speed out in my swimsuit and shades, running down the hallways to find my way to the gardens.

The slip-in-slide was mostly being used by many of the male guards, who were throwing each other down the slide with ease. Some were being forced, but it was all in good fun. Many of the ladies were taking this time to hang out in some of the large ponds that the gardens held. We didn't have many pools per se, but the pools of water in the gardens were fresh and safe to be in. I mean, it wasn't like we could catch any diseases as immortals anyways.

I had no time to process what was happening as Caius came up behind me and threw me over his shoulder. I screamed and accidentally kicked Caius in the back, causing cracks to form and him to groan in pain.

"Cara mia, are you trying to kill me?" I hiss at the thought and playfully hit his head with an open palm, causing some giggles to erupt from the guards in and around the pool. Some of the mates of the guards had decided that they would join in as well, taking some time to spend with their overworked mates.

"You don't throw your newborn mate over your shoulder and expect to be praised, darling," I say to him. Caius laughs and throws me across the room, allowing me to be caught by Marcus, who didn't know that he would have to catch me. "Marcus, Caius is throwing me over his shoulder and tossing me around like a toy. I am not a toy!"

Marcus gave Caius a glare as he patted my head. I let out fits of giggles as I wrap my arms around his waist. "Caius, do not harass our mate while everyone watches. If you wish to play around with her, save it for later."

Some of the guards around us choke on their own venom as they hear Marcus' comment. Caius growls deeply and starts to walk towards the two of us at a human pace. Marcus shakes his head and runs off with me in his arms still. Caius shouts and starts to run after the two of us. I laugh as Caius chases us all the way to the other side of the gardens where Aro is talking to Aaron and Harb. I could hear Aro let out a what the hell and started to run after us as well.

The perfect game of tag was then started.

Jane and Alec started to chase after each other while two teams had now been formed. One was with Caius and Aro and one was with Marcus and I. We would run and some people would chase us. Harb and Jabir chased after their new covenmates while Aaron and Akila joined Marcus and I in running away.

It was chaos in the gardens, but it was a good kind of chaos.

"Marcus! Let go of my mate!" Caius shouts at his brother, who just laughs and continues to run away from his brothers, who had yet to grow tired from all of the running. Some of the guards tried to corner the two of us, but Marcus managed to actually jump over them. "Marcus you damned fool!"

"Caius, you blithering idiot!" Marcus shouts back at him. Caius growls and some of the guards laugh at the exchange.

It was only when Jane and Alec decided to team up that we were going to have a problem. Those two had some amazing battle strategy. Other covens would claim that Caius was the battle person, but honestly I think that the twins could beat any battle against Caius, even without the use of their gifts.

Alec rushed in front of Marcus and managed to pull me out of his arms and down into a pond. "I caught mother!" Alec cheered as he held me in his arms. All of the guards cheered and Caius picked me up in his arms, stealing me away from my adoptive son. "Caius, let me have this one victory."

"No, son," Caius retorts, taking me back to Aro. "Cara mia, did you have to start a war like the one we just played a part in?"

"I did not start a war! Marcus started this with his running with me! Anyways, even if I had started this, it was fun, was it not?" Caius groaned and nodded, watching as the guards began to stop chasing each other and their mates. "The guards needed this."

"I know, I know."