*Edward's POV

  When Aro revealed to everyone present that Beth was brought here for me, she gave me a resentful look. "Aro. It would seem the others confused Beth in my absence by her side. Maybe Chelsea could help a little?" I suggested, reaching around Beth's waist to pull her closer to me. I saw Chelsea by Marcus and knew that Aro was ready to use her but he didn't seem inclined to do so just yet. What is he waiting for?

  "How many times do I have to tell you? That's. Not. My. NAME!" Beth growled at me and lifted her fist, ready to strike me again.

  "Alec?" At that moment Aro spoke up, causing Beth to stiffen and turn to the boy in question. He was already sending his mist towards her. She moved away from me and it seemed that she was searching for an escape. Even as strong as she was since she was a newborn, she was inexperienced and couldn't hope to get out of the room. Beth must have realized it and thankfully didn't try to make a run for it.

  However, before I could tell her that there's no escape from Alec's power and that she should stay calm, she lunged at Felix. Does she...? When she only settled on his back, I realized that she wasn't attacking him. Why the fuck would she run from me and seek help from him?! "Hey, what are you doing?" He asked her nonchantly. "I told you to not do anything stupid." "Heh. So feisty, this little one. But she's handling herself fairly well." This won't help you by the way." Felix told her, looking over his shoulder at her. Nonetheless, he didn't seem too bothered by the fact that she was sitting on his back with her arms around his neck.

  Why he allowed her to get there in the first pce, was beyond me. If she wanted to, she could tear his head off in the blink of an eye. While most of the guards in the room along with me thought she was attacking him, it never crossed his mind. Aro made a barely noticeable motion with his hand to signal the others to not interfere for now, curious what she'd do. If she intended to do anything at all, before Alec would inevitably catch her.

  "And I told you that I won't if you'll keep Edward away from me, damn it!" She retorted and then clearly confused, stiffened. "What do you mean-" She failed to notice that the mist had risen and reached her because it didn't follow physical ws. Even though it took a physical form of a mist, Alec's, just like Jane's, was a mental ability. He could manipute it to go anywhere he desired.

  Before she could fall off his back, Felix caught her. "True." He mumbled, looking at the motionless girl in his arms. "Sorry 'bout that... Damn, training with you should be a lot of fun." He thought and I bit back a growl. Aro considered their small exchange and as he called Alec off, I stepped to him to take her because Aro ordered Alec to return all her senses but touch. Therefore she couldn't attack anyone but neither could she stand on her own. "Didn't you hear her?" Felix frowned at me. "No way I'm giving her to you."

  "Interesting..." Thought Aro and both me and Felix turned to him. "Master, I can prove that she behaves, unless he comes too close to her." "Very interesting." Aro was surprised that Felix would care about what must have been just a random newborn to him. After a moment of consideration he allowed Beth to be released from Alec's power completely.

  Felix's interest in Beth did surprise him, but he knew that Felix wouldn't dare to lie to him and deemed confirmation of his words unnecessary. "All for the love of a woman." He looked at me and then turned to Beth. "You are truly special, my dear. It's rare for Felix here to take interest in a youngling as yourself."

  Aro was curious about her silent mind and wondered how powerful her gift may be. He partially expected the result he got but it still amazed him when he saw nothing in Beth's mind. I knew what he'd do next and I was also aware how pointless any attempt to stop him would be. The only thing I'd earn by doing so would be another taste of Jane's power. So I clenched my jaw and hoped that Aro wouldn't let Jane enjoy herself too much. Since she wasn't immune to Alec's gift, Beth was sure to feel Jane's as well and Jane couldn't wait to hear her scream in agony.

  "He must know it will work, the girl doesn't need to suffer at Jane's hands." Thought Felix, moving to stand between Beth and Jane so she couldn't use her gift on her. "Master, you saw that Alec's power works. Is it ne-" Of course, it pissed Jane off. "Know your pce and don't get in my way!" Just as I expected, Jane used her power on him.

  "Stop her, please! He didn't do anything!" Beth panicked when Felix fell to his knees beside her, but Aro didn't pn on stopping Jane. He was intrigued by the fact that Felix tried to protect her as well as by Beth's reaction. She realized that he wouldn't lift a finger to help Felix and turned to Jane. "Don't worry, you're next." Jane thought, relishing that a big warrior like Felix was literally kneeling before her as he writhed in pain. Pleading with her would be in vain.

  But Beth didn't say anything. Suddenly, Jane blinked a few times, confused. "What... " Felix seemed to be released from the agony but Jane was furious now. "Who does she think she is, ordering me around?! But why the fuck I couldn't but comply? The only one who can order me to stop is Aro!" "What the hell did you do?!" Jane screamed at Beth.

  What? Could that be a part of Beth's power? I realized that Beth had a way different gift than me or Aro thought. Her thoughts are not only hidden from others but she can use them to bend those around her to her will. "What happened Jane?" Aro inquired.

  "Beth ordered Jane to stop and she couldn't resist the command. Even though she obviously didn't speak the order nor could I hear it in Jane's mind. However, Jane became aware of it afterwards." I expined and Beth turned to me with a shocked expression. Apparently, she was unaware of her own power.

  "Magnifica!" Aro cpped his hands, ecstatic. "Fascinating! Truly marvellous!" He was interested in Beth since he saw her in my thoughts. Because of her hidden thoughts, he thought she might be a shield like his bodyguard Renata. While Renata's shield was against physical attacks, he expected Beth's to be against mind ones which would make him practically untouchable, was she to join them. What she just demonstrated, however, exceeded all of his expectations and he was determined to keep her here whether she was with me or not. "Corin, darling." Aro spoke up again.

  I didn't notice her until then, she was standing behind one of the guards in the corner of the room. Like Chelsea, Corin was another one of Aro's secret weapons. Aro went over to the other dark haired leader Marcus. He wasn't much interested in anything transpiring before him, but he had the ability to sense bonds between people. Whether they were romantic, of loyalty or hate and he could sense how strong they were, as well as where their weakness was.

  Corin's gift was powerful and even though I now knew Aro's pn, I couldn't bring myself to do anything about it. I knew I didn't want him to proceed, yet I felt compcent. Once he learned from Marcus that Beth felt nothing more than fear and anger towards me but somewhat trusted and respected Felix, he had Chelsea to strengthen it and create a bond of loyalty between them to keep Beth from leaving.

  As I listened to Aro, I realized that he was already prepared for when we'd return. He had Chelsea make me loyal to himself the moment I stepped through the door and I didn't even notice. Not that I really cared. I intended to stay anyway, I only needed help to get Beth here too. However, she was supposed to be bound to me, not Felix.

  "This is not what we agreed on." I told Aro.

  "Really? Didn't you say that the decision lies with me?" Aro asked with a smile. "Well, I've decided. You are both welcome here." He announced, spreading his arms. "Young Elizabeth has a great potential but sadly for you, she really isn't your mate. No matter how much you want it, you cannot change that fact." "You were probably too rash in your actions and lost whatever sympathy she held for you while human too, so I cannot use you to tie her to us either."

  He looked at Beth. "How lucky that she caught the eye of one of our best fighters." Aro thought that Chelsea could make their bond strong thanks to Felix being interested in her and their mutual respect. So as an unmated vampire, there was nearly no chance for Beth to want to leave. He pnned that, in time, Chelsea could strengthen the bond between them even more, making it simir to the one between mates once they get closer. Just like he had her do it with his own wife Sulpicia. He found it too bothersome to search or wait for his mate, so he created one. "Elizabeth, would you like to join Felix here and stay with us?" Aro offered her.

  Beth looked around her. "Sure." Her eyes lingered on Felix for a moment before she turned to me. "But he has to stay away from me." There was no emotion. Did I do all of it for nothing?

  Aro ughed. "As you wish." "With a little practice you'll be able to take care of that on your own, little Elizabeth." Crossed his mind and with horror, I realized that he was right. I had to get her to forgive me before she learns to handle her gift and possibly orders me to stay away from her for good.

  *Elizabeth's POV

  'Chelsea? You know what to do, dear.' That's what Aro told the girl who was whispering with the other leader earlier. She, as the only one aside from the three leaders, had a pitch bck robe. The shade must have been a sign of power then. Why was Felix's gray though? However, I didn't notice anything that the girl would do. "This is not what we agreed on." Spoke up Edward.

  He had obviously made some deal with Aro prior to this meeting but it apparently didn't work out his way. Aro told him that I'm not his mate and that he can't do anything about it. I was even happier, hearing that. "Elizabeth." Aro turned to me, smiling. "Would you like to join Felix here and stay with us?" He asked hopefully.

  I didn't know why Aro was so sure about it but I was so relieved and happy to get another confirmation that Edward was not my mate. Looking around I felt like I belonged and when I met Felix's eyes, I couldn't think of a reason to leave his side. "Sure." I agreed, having just one condition. "But he has to stay away from me." Somehow I didn't feel any anger or fear like earlier while looking at Edward but I still didn't want to be near him.

  "As you wish." Aro ughed and dismissed everyone after ordering Felix to show me my room and to start my training as soon as possible to put my strength to good use while learning to handle my ability. I followed Felix's example and slightly bowed my head before turning to leave.

  Suddenly there was Edward in my way. "Beth please, I'm sorry-"

  My anger was coming back but before I could do anything, Felix's big hand pulled on my shoulder and he stepped in front of me. "Would you stop causing trouble for her, already? Leave her be." He warned Edward.

  I stepped out from behind Felix and continued towards the door. "For the st time, my name is Elizabeth." I told Edward as I walked past him, not bothering to look at him. At the door I paused, changing my mind and gnced back at him. "Or better yet, forget my name with me altogether." Then I let Felix lead me through the halls again.

  He stopped by a door that looked simir to those to the room we left. When he opened them, a huge space spread out before us. Since we were under ground, it wasn't open. Nevertheless, to call this a room didn't seem right. It was too big for that. "I guess this isn't my room...?" I turned questioningly to him, although the answer was obvious.

  "No. Your room can wait." Corner of his lips lifted into a smirk. "This is our training room. Let's see what you're made of." Felix challenged me, closing the door behind us.

  "Hey, umm... thank you. For earlier. You didn't need to get involved when it was Aro's order." I walked further into the room and turning to face him I assumed, what I considered a good fighting stance.

  "Wrong." He said and moved behind me. Huh? I looked at him over my shoulder but he put his hands on each side of my head, making me turn to face the front again. "It was a test." Felix kicked my foot to make me take a slightly wider stance. "Everyone saw Alec's power take you down. There was no doubt, Jane's power would work too." He continued while adjusting my arms position to keep my elbows closer to my body. "I suppose Aro wanted to see if that guy would do anything, since he tried to have a cim on you. But that bastard didn't move a finger for you."

  I felt his strong hands on my hips pushing down to lower my stance some more. "So, why did you?" What he said made sense but I couldn't help feeling like part of it was just an excuse he made up, which made me more curious as to why he interfered. "You must have known she'd hurt you instead."

  "Maybe I'd like to cim you myself." Felix suddenly spoke by my ear. I turned around but he quickly moved out of my reach, taking a fighting stance himself, smirking. Then his expression grew more serious. "I didn't see a reason you should burn for such a coward." He stated and motioned with his hand for me to come at him. "Show me what you've got."

  I tried my best to nd a hit on him but he caught my fist every time. And each time he'd kick the side I turned to him as I swung at him. "You're leaving your sides wide open." Felix commented. "Right now you'd do fine against any average vampire, as long as you manage to nd a hit because you are stronger. However this phase sts for only about a year, little one. You need to learn to compensate for what you ck in size with speed."

  "Hey, big guy. Did you miss my name?" I pretended to swing my fist at him again but quickly crouched all the way to the ground and his leg swished over my head which left his side open to me. My fist finally connected as I lifted up. However, he was prepared for it and softened the blow by moving his body in the same direction. Then he spun around and his elbow under my chin sent me flying.

  "No I didn't." Felix grinned, trying to pin me down as I hit the floor but I grabbed him and using his momentum I threw him behind me, over my head. I jumped off the floor and he kicked my feet from underneath me the moment I stood up. Rolling away from him, I quickly got up again and as he came at me I tried to jump on his back like earlier. This time, however, he slightly turned his body and caught me mid air by my waist with his arm.

  It surprised me as I realized something and caught off guard, I got smmed into a wall. He pressed his hip against my body, keeping me there while he firmly held my hands, rendering me defenseless. I could probably get free if I really tried, but I was curious. "You let me jump on you earlier, didn't you?" My question seemed to have stun him for a second.

  It didn't occur to me at the time but when I nded on his back in the other room, there were few angry thoughts I heard. Some of them said just 'Stop her!' while one said 'She's attacking!'. In retrospect, my action then did look like an attack. "Others thought I was attacking you. Why didn't you defend yourself?"

  Felix's hold on me loosened a bit while his eyes bored into mine. "Your eyes... They told me you're not going for the kill. They were searching for safety." He said. I was shocked that he could tell what my intention was. Our eyes barely met before I made the jump. "Now you tell me something, little one. What made you think that out of all the people in the room, you can trust me?"

  That was a good question. Why did I? I thought about it for a bit. "I dunno. Maybe because I felt like I could depend on you. You helped me through the airport so I wouldn't attack anyone..." I shrugged but his eyes slightly widened before the corner of his mouth lifted again.

  "Heh, I knew you're not just pretty. Although, you were doing great on your own. I expected you to give me a much harder time there. Whoever helped you after your transition was good. Most newborns can't handle themselves half as well as you for at least a month." Felix praised me. Who helped me after transition?

  I thought about Jasper. In the short time he became a brother I never had. I probably wouldn't be here anymore if it wasn't for him. But there was someone else too. "You also kept Edward away from me. Well, at least for the most part." I reminded him.

  He ughed. "It was quite obvious that you wanted nothing to do with him. The only time you'd freak out was when he touched you. Even when you couldn't see. Loved that left hook by the way, little one."

  I sighed. "Elizabeth. Thank you very much."

  "Elizabeth is a big name for someone so small." He teased me with a smirk. "I think I'm going to call you Ellie." Felix continued as his smirk turned into a soft smile and he leaned closer to me. The way he just called me was familiar. Ellie... Someone else called me that way before.

  I recalled a gentle smile and warm golden eyes. Suddenly the thought of Felix kissing me felt wrong. His scent reminiscent of a heavy rain was pleasant to me but I was sure that I shouldn't let him kiss me. Felix's hold on me wasn't as tight as before and I easily freed my hands, pushing him from me to get off the wall. "So uhh... is my fighting any good?" I asked in hope to cover the awkwardness of the situation.

  Felix looked a little confused when I pushed him away. Didn't comment on it though. "There's a lot of space for improvements. But considering that this was probably your first real combat, you're not half bad and you learn fast." He praised me again. "Let's go, I'll show you where your room is. We'll continue tomorrow."

  My room wasn't too far from the training one. Even though my sense of orientation seemed to have improved together with the rest of my senses when I became a vampire, I was gd the rooms were close to each other. "Get settled in. We didn't bring any of your things but there should be everything you need prepared for you." He rested his big hand on the top of my head. "See you ter, Ellie." And then he turned to leave.

  "Felix!" I called out to him and he stopped, looking back. "Thank you." He just smiled and then he was gone.