The Telekinetic and the Shield (Alyxander )

[Renata Irene Volturi]

Another day in Volterra was beginning, and Renata couldn't help but smile in satisfaction as she heard her family going about the Volturi castle finding ways to amuse themselves in the absence of any Volturi business to take care of. Renata herself was currently in one of their 'living rooms' having been told by Aro that he was going to spend time with his wife Sulpicia and that she could do as she liked in the mean time. She smiled as she thought of the couple. They went so well together, and it was clear they loved each other very much. She sighed softly. I wish I could find someone who loved me like that. She thought to herself.

Still, she had her family. Her large, wonderful family. Unfortunately, the Volturi had many enemies, as was to be expected when one family had been in power for centuries. Thankfully Renata, along with many of her siblings, had been graced with an ability to help protect their family. Working together they had managed to shield the Volturi from serious harm for many years. Until she came along. Isabella Cullen. She alone had rendered many of their abilities useless when they had met with the Cullen clan to investigate an informant's claim of an immortal child. If the Cullens decided to utilize the opportunity this presented them with, the Volturi would be in serious trouble. Renata frowned to herself as she considered this. The leader of the coven, Carlisle, had once been Master Aro's friend though, so perhaps that old, somewhat damaged friendship would convince him to not do so. She certainly hoped so.

Renata turned a page in her book, not really reading but wanting to keep up the appearance of it for some reason. It was a good book, but she had already read it many times. She smiled and hummed softly to herself as she thought of her family. Aro, Marcus, and Caius who led them, darling Jane and Alec, who terrified any lawbreakers, Chelsea, who kept their family close, Demetri, Felix, Heidi, Afton... Her smile grew as images of them flashed through her mind. Truly, she was a fortunate woman. She was startled out of her thoughts as she heard someone approaching the room. She glanced upward curiously, wondering if they had come to relax or to find her. No doubt it was one of her family members, the question was, which one?

[alyx]

Alyx stomped into her room with her bloody blouse halfway off her body. Forcing the door to slam with her mind she quickly chucked the blouse across the room, where it landed halfway on the dirty clothes bin. She growled at it and the blouse flipped into the bin. Before she could stop and wonder once again why none of the clothes she ever put in the dirty clothes bin were ever seen again, she disappeared into her bathroom. She figured a nice hot shower would calm her, and when she emerged, she was calmer. She quickly changed and started rummaging through her bookshelf for something to keep her occupied and to clear her mind. Avoiding the bottom shelf of her bookshelf, where she knew the romantic love stories and murder mystery novels she had received as gifts were placed, she started on her dragon section.

But finding a book that she knew would keep her attention, was hard, especially when she was looking in her own library. Therefore her mind began to wander. Alyx had been gone for three days with Felix and two other lower members of the guard. Some idiotic vampire had decided to create a bunch of newborns, unfortunately it was more then they'd thought. If Caterine ever gets in my way again, I'll slaughter her. Alyx thought viciously. Caterine was a low ranked member of the Volturi with too much ambition for Alyx's liking. Alyx would probably end up actually killing the girl if she got in her way again. Aro wouldn't mind, the girl didn't even have that great of a gift. Caterine had messed up Alyx's concentration and it had almost lost Felix an arm. All that vile newborn had to do was guard me and she still felt the need to chat up a conversation on charming Alec. So Caterine wasn't a newborn exactly, but she was barely a hundred years old and that was young to Alyx. Especially when the little prat could be so careless! Alyx let out a groan as she realized she had snapped one of her hardback books in half. She tossed it to the side and stood. She'd have to make a trip to the commons, or living rooms.

Alyx arrived at the closest common to her room. Sensing Renata inside, she quickly deducted that Aro had no need of her. Alyx liked Renata. This was rare as Alyx usually did not like spending time with lower members of the guard, but Alyx considered Renata higher because of her...almost constant contact with Aro. Renata was a good friend, and Alyx enjoyed her company. Opening the door she headed straight to the bookshelf in the back, placing a hand on Renata's shoulder in greeting as she passed. "Hello Renata." She acknowledged her before running her finger across the old book bindings. She doubted she'd find something she hadn't read, but she was eager for the small chance that she might, because she was still thinking about the stupid Caterine.

[Renata Irene Volturi]

It was Alyx, or Alyxander if you cared to use her full name, one of the higher up members of the guard. Renata looked up and smiled warmly at her as the woman entered and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hello Alyx, how are you today? Did everything go well during your mission?" She asked the other guard curiously. The other girl seemed...vexed for some reason. Had something happened while she was on the mission? She knew Alyx had not gone alone, she'd been with Felix and Alec, who Renata highly doubted would have acted unprofessionally while on a mission, and one other person...Who was it? Some low ranked guard perhaps? That would explain why Renata did not noticed them missing, she hadn't spent much time with members of the lower guard while the four were out on their mission, preferring to spend her free time with Jane instead. She tilted her head slightly as she watched Alyx look for a good book. "I believe one of the lower guard members brought back some books when they returned from their last mission. They put them on the third shelf down if I remember correctly." She said helpfully. They didn't seem to be anything Renata was interested in, but perhaps Alyx would enjoy reading them.

"Is everything alright Alyx? You seem vexed for some reason. Did something happen? She inquired softly, closing her book and setting it on the small table beside her chair. Vaguely her thoughts drifted back to Aro. What was he doing? Was he safe? She shook her head slightly. Surely he wasn't in any danger. As she waited for an answer from her sister she thought about the upcoming ball the Volturi was throwing. She didn't quite know what to think of it. On one hand, it was sure to be a splendid gathering, and an excellent opportunity to recruit more members into their family, but on the other it presented an excellent opportunity for vampires who did not like them to get inside their home, their safe place, and attack them inside it. She would have to keep an eye on all her family members, to make sure nothing unfortunate happened. "What do you think of the upcoming ball? She asked Alyx softly. "It's been a while since we've thrown one hasn't it?" She commented, curious about Alyx's view of it.

[alyx]

Alyx tried not to snap at Renata. She really did. But mentioning the lower guard brought back the bite. "I'll be sure to avoid the third shelf then." Alyx told her. She froze and tried to calm down again. She stood up straight and stiffly spoke to Renata. "I apologize." Aro had been telling her to get her temper under control. Alyx placed her hand by her side before she ripped yet another book. She turned and moved to sit beside Renata. She decided she needed some decent company and Renata was perfect for the job. Sitting down on the couch she situated herself so she was facing the other guard member. "A young guard member decided to distract me and it nearly cost Felix his arm." Alyx gave her the other details of the mission, keeping it short and sweet. "We managed to kill all the newborns, of course and that is all that matters." Before Alyx asked what Renata had been up to the past three days, she stopped herself, realizing she already knew the answer. Instead Alyx glanced quickly around the room they were in. It was large and resembled an almost library except for the obvious unlibrary like sitting area she and Renata were currently in.

Alyx laughed lightly when asked of the ball. It had been a while since they'd had one. "You know as well as I the only reason we have not had one every year like we used to." Many of the guard had gotten in trouble for playing a harmless little prank on the guests by replacing the goblets of human blood with animal blood. Alyx may or may not have helped out on this little escapade however Aro had suspected Demetri and Felix so he had not read her memories and she escaped punishment. 30 years of fishing for a group of humans with non tainted blood. But Alyx liked the balls the Volturi threw. As a human she danced at two if her memory prevailed. The Volturi's balls were nothing like those. She had fun, but she soon disappeared with a suitor for an hour or so before returning, like most of the other Volturi members. "But still. It does sound like it will be fun. Will you remain with Aro the entire time?" She asked Renata, pulling away from her memories. Alyx could not recall seeing many of the Volturi members at any of the balls after an hour.

"No matter. I refuse to decorate this year." Alyx spoke lightly.

[Renata Irene Volturi]

Renata was a little startled when Alyx snapped at her, before she remembered her dislike of the lower guards. Perhaps she shouldn't have mentioned that then. She smiled softly as Alyx apologized. "It's alright." She said easily, knowing the other woman was already in a bad mood. Her eyebrows raised as she heard what had happened on the mission. "Is that so? Well that would certainly have been unfortunate. If it happens again, you may want to speak to the masters. We can't have them distracting anyone in front of the other covens. We can't have them thinking we've grown weak, and we certainly can't afford any distractions in fights against more trained vampires." She said frowning thoughtfully. "Who was it, and what did she do to distract you, if you don't mind my asking?" She inquired curiously, wondering what had caused her to nearly separate Felix and his arm from each other. "You're right though, you got rid of all the newborns, so that's that." She said, not fully pleased with this conclusion.

If there was one thing that Renata hated, it was people who endangered the Volturi, whether they were outside forces or within the guard itself. It seemed that this person, whoever they were, was one of these people. She would have to watch them closely, and be brought into line if they committed more actions like this. Maybe Jane would help her? She tolerated threats to the Volturi about as much as Renata did. She would have to ask her after she found out just who this person was.

One of her lips twitched upward as Alyx mentioned the reason they no longer had a ball once a year anymore. "Ah yes, didn't Felix and Demetri switch the goblets of human blood with animal blood?" She asked, though she already knew the answer. Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she remembered their faces when they'd been admonished by Aro."I'm sure it will be wonderful. It will be nice to see everyone again. I do hope more talented vampires join our coven." She commented, relaxing in the chair. She nodded at Alyx's other question. "Most likely, yes. If not, I'll likely be at Master Caius or Master Marcus' side, or with Jane or Alec. And you? Will you be with another suitor this year? You do seem to attract quite a few of them." She asked, clearly amused.

[alyx]

Alyx smirked. "If it happens again, she will die." This should have come as no surprise to Renata, but many who have seen Alyx's good side, forget that she even has a cruel one. Alyx wished to skip over the matter. The girl was worth no more of her time then she had already spent on her. However as Alyx glanced at Renata, she knew the woman only wished to help. "It was Caterine or whatever her name is. The girl would not quit talking about how I could help her get close to Alec," She spoke his name fiercely. "So she could, romance him or however the younger generation puts it." Alyx refused to look at Renata, knowing the other girl would somehow find a way to secretly embarrass Alyx unknowingly. She had a way of doing that. Alyx didn't know what did it. The fact that she had warned the girl to only bother her with important troubles or the fact that Alyx had allowed herself to be distracted by the girl's blabbering. She needed more practice. Maybe she should go to Aro and have him work out more tests. She could only get better with her gift. She'd have to work on hand-to-hand combat also.

Alyx only smirked. "Of course they did." Demetri and Felix were quite the entertainment. She let out a groan at the thought of having to converse and pretend to enjoy other vampire's company. "Individuals bore me unless they have wronged or they fear me, but they all fear me. And anyways, I do not like conversing anymore then most of us do the Cullens." It was not that she didn't have the skills to, it was just that Alyx was bored easily. She found it hard not to be rude when she was bored. Alyx let out a loud laugh. "Suitors? For I? No, no, no Renata," Alyx chanted and suddenly smirked. "We can only tell as the night plays out, what may happen." Alyx stood and walked over to a bookshelf across from the two vampires and pulled out a book she had read so many times she had had to tape it back together in her room. Romeo and Juliet, the idiots, Alyx had always fancied them.

notes: I'm sorry it's short! I wanted to get it up before morning, but I'm super tired.

[Renata Irene Volturi]

Renata smiled when Alyc said she'd girl the girl if it happened again. Good, that took care of that. She raised an eyebrow when Alyx told her what had happened. "Is that so? And what, exactly, made her think that Alec would give her the time of day I wonder? What made her think that Jane would allow some low level youngling so close to her dearest brother? I shall have to tell her about this, I'm sure she'd love to know." She pondered with a small smirk, imagining a confrontation between the small 'witch twin' and the unknown guard. Normally she thought of all the guard as her family, but this girl had already got on Alyx's bad side, and now she was trying to romance Alec? Alec, who she thought of as a little brother, and sometimes even a son if she was feeling particularly motherly. There was no way that this girl was good enough for him, and she needed to learn that. Fast. "Still, I'm a bit surprised she distracted you that much. You normally don't lose your concentration to that extent. What was it the bothered you so much? Was it the girl herself, or her desire to get closer to Alec?" She wondered out loud. She frowned slightly and looked at Alyx, could it be that she liked Alec as well? It would explain why she'd lost her concentration when the girl started talking about wanting to get closer to Alec, and it explained her anger too. She'd have to talk to Master Marcus later and see if he would tell her. That was pretty much the only thing she could convince him to talk about when she was guarding him, that and Lady Didyme when she could coax a few stories out of him.

"Individuals bore you do they? Do I bore you then my friend? Should I leave so you can read in peace?" She asked jokingly, making it clear through her posture that she had absolutely no intention of moving. She watched as Alyx pick Romeo and Juliet of the shelf. "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" She recited with a grin, longing clear in her voice. "I don't know how many times I've read that. I've heard people have been studying his works in school now. It doesn't exactly fill me with joy to know that I'm older than the things people study in school these days." She said shaking her head.

[alyx]

Alyx groaned at Renata's ponderings. The girl was not worth this much thought, let alone more. "Jane would be interested if only for a second."Alyx said to Renata. "Let us please speak of the girl again. I have better things to do." Alyx hoped that Aro would send her out on another mission. As much as she missed her home in the castle, her bloodlust for those that had wronged was greater. Alyx had been with the Volturi for several hundred years, but she still loved to roam outside of the castle. It had been a while since she'd traveled around outside of Volterra's walls. Alyx glanced over to the window at the other side of the room. Speaking of the city she currently resided in, she hadn't done her shifts in the city in a few weeks. Perhaps she could switch with Renata. Alyx felt she needed some time to appreciate the walls she lived within, before she could once again see the world with a different light. And the human practice, she knew she could use. She needed patience and she could only barely practice this at feeding time.

Alyx turned a sharp glare onto Renata. "It was the girl of course. Alec has had many adventures with women, it does not matter what he does with them and it does not bother me." Alyx informed her, before softening her eyes. Alec and her had often fought over small things. The entire castle was aware of this. "The girl is stupid."Alyx said childishly. But if there was one thing Alyx hated, was the lower guard's ignorance. But there is not one thing that she hates, there are many, too many. Alyx thought before casting away her deeper thoughts. Now was not the time to reflect on her life."I believe the high guard needs to re-establish their superiority with the newer lower guard. They seem to have forgotten that we are more important and we are to be respected."

Alyx laughed truly. "Renata you know you do not bore me. You are one of the few." She turned to smile at the other vampire. Alyx found it entertaining when vampires who feared her or the Volturi at the balls worshipped her or the other members. She used them as servants mostly for the night. Politely asking them to refill her cup once and then after they were like putty in her hands. Especially the men. When Alyx stopped to speak to a group of men from a coven or several, she did not miss the envious looks of the other vampiric women around her. Many hated her and a small few kissed the ground she walked on. The joys of being one of the most feared vampires around. Alyx laughed again and tossed the book to Renata. "You should read it again. I love the human portrayals of Juliet. A nineteen year old beautiful women, when in fact she was only thirteen."

[Renata Irene Volturi]

"I am so glad Jane and Alec joined us. They make such a perfect addition to our little family, don't you think? I'm quite fond of most of the higher level guards, including you of course." Renata said folding her hands together with a content smile on her face. She tried to keep a knowing smirk off her face when Alyx called the girl stupid and said Alec's many misadventures with women didn't bother her. "Of course it was the girl, how silly of me. I should have known, you don't tolerate dimwits after all." She acquiesced readily, not wholly believing that was the only reason Alyx was so angry with her.

She merely nodded when Alyx mentioned that the high guard needed to reestablish their superiority with the new members of the lower guard. She was right after all, it needed to be done. Some of the lower guard who joined recently could be downright disrespectful to those above them, that had to change. "How do you suggest we go about reminding them my friend?" She asked the other girl, wondering what she would come up with.

"You honor me." Renata chuckled when Alyx told her she was one of the few people who didn't bore her. She smirked softly and caught the book as Alyx tossed it to her. "That doesn't exactly fit in with what people think of when they imagine a tragic love story does it?" She pondered. Most people probably didn't even know Juliet's age in the play and thought she was older than she was. She wondered what people taught about the play nowadays.

[alyx]

Alyx didn't deny that, as long as you were not on their bad side, the high guard were some of the favourites of the Volturi. Alec and Jane, more for the fear the ensued in all who could not defend themselves. Demetri and Felix because although they could be strictly business, they could also be rather fun. (_____) was fine once you got to know him. Alyx, she realized, must have something about herself that others liked. Besides the facts that, like Jane and Alec, she enticed fear within the other guard members and she was extremely awkward when it came to jokes, unlike Demetri and Felix. Alyx considered asking Renata, but decided against it. Alyx glared at Renata. "I see that smirk. Make it disappear before I wipe it off." She threatened focusing on raising a rather large book behind Renata, preparing herself to drop it on the other's head.

Alyx dropped the book as her mind began concentrating on medieval and outdated ways of torturing a vampire. She knew she could recruit Jane and Alec to help her. Aro used to be so creative with his ways of torture, but now, just like the human world, he had gotten rid of all the medieval torture devices and ideas. He's more civilized. Alyx thought bitterly and ironically, not believing so at all. It was an ignorant thought, and she soon forgot it.

"Tragic love story." Alyx laughed and threw a devilish smile at Renata. "That reminds me of the glorious moment when I thought we would finally rid ourselves of Isabella Cullen and her Edward would be left broken. It was like a comedy." Alyx stated and suddenly the book riped itself out of Renata's hand and Alyx carefully deposited it on the shelf with her mind before moving to sit next to Renata once again. "What do you imagine as a tragic love story, Renata?" Alyx asked Renata slowly, curious on her ideas of love and the stories that came of them.

[Renata Irene Volturi]

Renata sat up a little straighter when Alyx told her to stop smirking and tried to assume an innocent expression, knowing that if she didn't Alyx was likely to try and hit her with something. She snickered quietly to herself. Even if Alyx really wasn't in love with Alec, she was definitely going to keep teasing her about it. She'd just need to make sure Jane wasn't around to hear them first. After all, there was no telling how the other girl would take it if she heard someone was in love with her twin brother.

She resisted the urge to look behind her when she heard something drop onto the floor. Most likely, it was whatever Alyx had been planning to hit her with. She couldn't stop her lips from quirking upward slightly when Alyx spoke of ridding the world of Isabella Cullen. She knew it was cruel, especially when Isabella and Edward Cullen were so obviously in love, but she couldn't feel safe with the Cullen family out there constantly adding to their coven's numbers. If they kept this up, they would eventually be strong enough to challenge the Volturi. If they weren't already. She thought remembering all the covens who had backed them up at that gathering in the clearing. She didn't like this one bit. Hopefully none of them would show up at the ball. She doubted they would, unless their coven leader made them come because of his old friendship with Master Aro. "What a pity we did not just get rid of her when we had the chance." She mused out loud, clearly unhappy at the thought. "I do hope Carlisle does not bring his coven to the ball. That would really take all the enjoyment out of the event, especially since we can't end them, because Master Aro wants many of them to join our coven." She said in a rare show of blood thirst. She had liked Carlisle when he had innitially stayed with them, even if he was a bit strange. Now though, his coven was much too large, and full of people that hated the Volturi. They were undeniably a threat, and if there was one coven she wanted annihilated, it was the Cullens.

She looked thoughtful when Alyx asked her what she thought of when she imagined a tragic love story. "Well...I don't know. There are so many ways a love story could turn tragic. I suppose though, that if I were to set myself to writing one it would be a story were something horrible happens to one of the two lovers, and the other is forced to watch, not able to do anything to help the one they love." She said thoughtfully as the characters began to take shape in her head. "What about you Alyx? What is your idea of a tragic love story?" She asked her fellow guard, wondering what the other woman would come up with.

[alyx]

Alyx let out a soft mocking laugh directed towards Renata. "Oh dear Renata, your ignorance surprises me!" She exclaimed. "Of course Carlisle will bring his lovely coven. Aro has written each of them personal invitations for them to join the...celebrations." When Aro had stayed with them, she'd like him well enough. He was decent with conversations and didn't bore her to death. He was curious about her and her gift. Alyx's arrogant side liked when someone was interested in her. She adored the attention even if she wouldn't admit to it. Because Alyx was still a 15 year old at heart, though she knew better then to act as such. Especially under the scruitinizing eye of her fellow guard members. Always put up a front. Never be yourself. Always wear a mask. Alyx had one duty in her life as a vampire, and that was to protect the Volturi and all that it stood for. Carlisle understood this, and while Alyx was pretty confident he would never raise an army to destroy the Volturi, she wasn't 100%. She knew his loyalty to his family, was above that of any sane man's.

"Renata, you have a truly cruel mind." Alyx laughed. Renata's ideas were onces of torture for information. A story repeated many times throughout history but never written down. Alyx's idea of a tragic love story. Did she have one? She'd never thought of love as anything but a silly emotion, completely useless and absolutley impossible. However it was the perfect weapon, and the biggest weakness. "I do not believe in love, I think the stories are all ones of confused humans attempting to make use of their useless emotions. So I have no idea, of a true tragic love story, Renata." She did not wish to dwell on this subject, so she changed it. "I suppose Aro will send me out to collect the number of people expected to arrive at the ball. I know most every coven dedicated to one area."

[Renata Irene Volturi]

Renata sighed when Alyx said that the Cullens would definitely be at the ball. "Well, I can hope can't I? Even if it is a vain hope." She said unhappily. She didn't think she had ever desired one coven's destruction so much. It wasn't that they weren't good people, they were probably quite wonderful once you got to know them, but many of them were sure to hate the Volturi, and they held a great deal of power in the vampire community. That was not a good combination as far as Renata was concerned. They posed far too much of a threat to her family. Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe they won't try anything, Carlisle is the head of their coven after all. She thought to herself. She trusted Carlisle, though she had not seen him on friendly terms in many decades. He was not a violent person by nature, and she could not believe that he would condone his coven causing trouble at the ball. Whether or not they listened to him however, was another question entirely. "Still, it will be nice to see Carlisle again." She thought out loud.

She looked a bit surprised when Alyx told her she had a cruel mind. It was not something she normally heard about herself, though she supposed she had been delving into the darker side of her personality as the ball approached and they prepared to welcome many people who clearly hated them into their own home. It was not an idea that made her particularly happy. She smiled, a little amused when Alyx said she had no idea what a true tragic love story would be like. "Well when you fall in love, you'll no doubt have an idea of the absolute worst thing that you think could happen to the two of you, and then you can tell me." She said, smiling at the idea of Alyx in love. She couldn't wait for that to happen, she'd tease the other girl endlessly. She nodded when Alyx said that she was in charge of collecting the people coming to the ball and escorting them here. "That sounds interesting. I'll be by Master Aro's side, as usual. You should come visit me when you're done with your job.