Twilight: Darling of Volturi (YURI/GL)

It was Jane's knee pressing firmly against the small of Sophie's back, pinning her to the ground. The position felt strangely familiar, and only a moment later did Sophie realize why. It was exactly the same hold she had used to restrain Felix.

As expected, Jane's arm curved around her neck in the next instant, locking her throat in place. A suffocating pressure immediately washed over her.

"Why?"

Jane's voice whispered beside her ear, her icy breath brushing across Sophie's earlobe.

Cold. Almost unnaturally so.

"Mm..."

With her throat pinned, Sophie could manage only a muffled sound. She wasn't trying to answer, but rather to understand what Jane was asking.

Or perhaps Jane had suddenly decided she was too useless to train? Was that why she had brought her back to this secluded territory? To execute her in secret?

That would make sense. A condemned prisoner doesn't need to wash or change into clean clothes before dying.

"This angle is perfect," Jane continued in the same calm voice. "Your knee pins the body. Your elbow provides leverage. With a single twist..." Her grip tightened slightly. "Even a vampire's head comes off easily."

She paused before continuing. "When you had Felix in exactly this position, why did you stop?"

Jane maintained just enough strength to suffocate Sophie without actually tearing off her head. Sophie had the distinct feeling there were still more questions coming, so she only needed to be patient. If she answered them, Jane would probably let her go.

"Now you've caught me," Jane continued. "So why aren't you finishing what you started? Do what Felix did to you. Tear off my arm. Break free from my hold."

Her tone remained maddeningly calm. "You've already copied Alec's techniques. You've already learned Demetri's. So why not steal Felix's methods as well?"

She leaned even closer. "So... why?"

At that final word, Sophie could almost swear Jane's lips brushed lightly against her ear.

Why ask something like that?

Jane maintained her grip around Sophie's throat. The sensation of suffocation made speaking difficult, but unlike a human, Sophie wouldn't actually die from lack of oxygen.

Jane was waiting patiently. She had specifically mentioned Felix, and that reminded Sophie of something important.

Physically, I'm stronger than Jane. I need to answer quickly. Otherwise, I might genuinely anger her.

Then, all at once, understanding struck her.

Jane wasn't simply asking a question. She was telling Sophie what she should have done.

The vampire world was far crueler than modern human society. Jane's thousand years had been filled with blood, severed limbs, slaughter, and death, while Jane herself had long since become the embodiment of fear. Countless vampires trembled at the mere mention of her name.

The image of the Judgement Hall surfaced in Sophie's mind. Fabio. Demetri. Felix. Their agonized screams echoed vividly through her memory.

This time, Sophie stopped suppressing herself.

The hand gripping Jane's forearm finally exerted its full strength. Almost effortlessly, she pushed Jane's arm away, and the crushing pressure vanished as air flowed once more into her windpipe, filling her lungs.

"Jane..." Sophie chose every word carefully. "I've already learned how to tear off an enemy's head." She looked directly into Jane's red eyes. "And you approved of the way I fought, didn't you?"

"Then why didn't you twist off Felix's head?" Jane demanded immediately. "What was that hesitation at the last second?" She frowned. "Mercy? Don't tell me you're afraid of someone's head."

The truth was, Sophie was afraid. The thought of ripping another person's head from their body still horrified her, but Jane had already warned her not to give that answer.

So she chose her words carefully. "Jane, Felix wasn't my real enemy. If I want to prove my worth, what would tearing off Felix's head actually accomplish?"

Jane released Sophie's throat. At the same time, the knee pressing against her lower back lifted away.

That's a good sign. It means Jane is willing to hear my explanation.

The moment control of her body returned, Sophie immediately rolled over and sat upright. Trying to hold a serious conversation while lying face-down was simply too uncomfortable.

Tilting her head upward, she looked at Jane. Their eyes met, and two pairs of nearly identical red eyes stared into one another without blinking.

Both were utterly serious.

Sophie knew she needed to give Jane an answer that would satisfy her, an answer proving she was still worth keeping alive.

"Excessive displays of aggression..." she spoke slowly, "...are often a sign of weakness. The truly strong don't need to prove themselves by constantly oppressing others."

She paused briefly before continuing. "Intimidation is far more effective than outright brutality when it comes to controlling people's hearts."

Jane's gift could not directly kill, yet everyone feared her. That alone proved Sophie's point.

Aro himself had once taught Jane the same lesson.

The goal was never extermination. It was fear.

As the ruler of the vampire world, Aro commanded countless guards whose supernatural gifts surpassed even his own. He understood every one of those terrifying abilities, balanced them against one another, manipulated people's hearts, and orchestrated campaign after campaign like carefully written plays, using each victory to draw even more power into his hands.

During a thousand years at Aro's side, Jane had always stood closer to him than almost anyone else. She had faithfully protected her master, watched his performances before outsiders, and listened quietly to every lesson he gave.

She remembered that Aro had once spoken words remarkably similar to what Sophie was saying now. At first, Jane hadn't truly understood them.

She had simply accepted that Aro liked those principles, so she adopted them as her own. She learned restraint, composure, and dignity, burying her own cruel impulses beneath perfect self-control.

"I possess the power to kill another vampire," Sophie's voice rang out with quiet certainty. "The fact that everyone knows that is already enough."

"When I finally face a real enemy, when my life truly depends on victory, then I'll use everything I have. And only then..."

"I'll twist off that head."

For a fleeting moment, Jane saw a familiar shadow reflected in Sophie.

Aro.

How could that be?

She had only been transformed a few days ago. She stood unimaginably far from Aro, and she wasn't even qualified to stand beside him and listen to his teachings.

And yet, Jane had no choice but to admit it.

Sophie genuinely understood the meaning behind those words.

Far better than Jane herself ever had.

Jealousy rose within Jane like a tidal wave.

It swallowed her whole.

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