Sophie's entire body stiffened. Jane was standing far too close, well beyond the bounds of ordinary personal space... assuming vampires even had such a concept.
A cool sensation brushed against the back of her neck as a metal clasp clicked shut against her skin.
The two-finger-wide choker now rested snugly around Sophie's neck. The black lace fit her skin so perfectly that it was more accurate than something made to measure.
For a moment, Sophie seriously suspected that someone had secretly taken her measurements.
Then she remembered.
If one insisted on being technical...
Jane had measured her.
With her own hands around Sophie's throat.
Jane admired the splash of color she had added to the girl's otherwise snow-white appearance. Her skin was flawless and pale, interrupted only by the red-streaked black choker encircling her neck. At last... she looked a little more like a vampire.
Pure, immaculate white could never survive in this world.
It had to be stained with darkness and blood.
"It suits you perfectly." Jane's tone was as commanding as ever. "You are not to take it off without my permission."
Sophie nodded obediently. Only then did she reach toward the neatly folded clothes once more. This time, Jane offered no objection.
….
The following evening, Caius's scheduled training began as planned.
As the sun disappeared beneath the horizon and the city lost the protection of daylight, the vampires lurking throughout Volterra emerged one after another, making their way toward the forest whose boundaries had recently been incorporated into the Volturi's temporary territory.
Caius had appointed a guard possessing a supervisory Gift to serve as the referee for the exercise.
Each of the four guard captains selected the members responsible for patrolling Volturi territory during the upcoming gathering of visiting covens.
Demetri, whose strengths lay in tracking and speed, brought five guards, the largest group. Felix selected four. Alec brought three. Jane also brought three—Sophie and two veteran guards.
Sophie's attire was almost identical to that of the ordinary guards, save for the inconspicuous choker around her neck. Before departing, Jane had also replaced her conspicuous red cloak with a gray one. The original stood out far too much to be useful for concealment.
Caius's expression remained as dark as ever.
The last time Sophie had seen him had been during the tribunal. As far as she could remember, his face had never once appeared approachable.
Jane had told her beforehand that Caius had always been the Volturi's greatest military commander. Even back when he was human, he had spent his life waging war. His hand-to-hand combat abilities were virtually unmatched.
The Volturi Guard itself had been founded by Caius.
Although he possessed none of the supernatural Gifts that many vampires coveted, his individual combat prowess remained terrifying enough to command absolute respect.
The four captains stood shoulder to shoulder in a single line, each with their chosen guards assembled behind them.
Caius had personally trained nearly every member of the Guard. Simply standing before them was enough to project overwhelming authority. Coupled with his perpetually grim expression, he appeared even more intimidating.
His gaze swept across Sophie before a cold sneer spread across his face.
"So you're still alive. What incredible luck."
Sophie immediately caught the sarcasm.
It felt exactly like Jane's usual way of mocking her.
The resemblance between the two was uncanny.
"Narrowly escaping death isn't the same as being valuable," Caius continued, turning toward Jane. "Have you figured out what she's worth yet? Don't waste too much time on useless trash."
Faced with such cutting ridicule, Sophie wisely lowered her head and kept her mouth shut.
Fortunately, Caius didn't consider someone of her status worth dwelling on. Instead, he moved down the line, mercilessly mocking several guards he knew much better. Wherever his tongue reached...
Not a blade of grass survived.
Only after thoroughly berating nearly everyone did Caius return to the front of the formation and call for the guard he had brought with him.
"Chino."
Chino stepped forward and began explaining the rules.
The objective of today's exercise was to simulate the pursuit of rogue vampires. It consisted of two aspects: pursuit and concealment. To accomplish this, everyone would be divided into hunters and prey.
"We'll begin by drawing lots. Red represents hunters. Black represents prey. During the first twenty minutes, the prey may move freely while the hunters pursue them. Beginning at the twenty-first minute, the prey must remain where they are. The hunters will continue searching. Each round lasts thirty minutes, though it ends immediately if every prey has been captured."
Since ordinary guards and Guard captains differed significantly in strength, each participant was assigned a different point value.
Demetri, Alec, Jane, and Felix were each worth ten points.
Every ordinary guard was worth one point.
This time, Caius himself would also participate...
Alone.
His value was forty-five points.
Altogether, everyone present totaled exactly one hundred points.
After glancing toward Caius, Chino added another rule.
"Master Caius will not participate in the hunter selection."
His authority alone guaranteed the fairness of the exercise.
If their commander personally competed for the hunter's role...
Who would dare oppose him?
Chino turned toward the four captains standing at the front.
"Jane, Alec, Demetri, and Felix will first draw lots separately. One of them will become a hunter. The remaining three will then mix with the ordinary guards for a second drawing."
In other words, if one of the four captains became the hunter, the remaining prey would be worth eighty points.
If one captain and one ordinary guard became hunters, the prey would total eighty-nine points.
Two ordinary guards could never become hunters together.
Since Caius alone accounted for forty-five points, the match could always produce a decisive winner regardless of whether he was captured.
Sophie had to admit...
Chino truly excelled at supervision and organization.
"Are Gifts allowed?" Alec asked. Since very few ordinary guards possessed offensive Gifts, the question clearly represented all four captains.
"They are," Chino answered, "but only for hunters. Prey are forbidden from using their Gifts. Once someone is captured, they immediately join the hunters' side. After becoming a hunter, they may use their Gift freely."
Caius added in his usual chilling tone, "Victory and defeat are determined by team results. Anyone who ends up on the losing side more than twice will be punished."
Sophie quietly leaned toward Jane and whispered, "What kind of punishment?"
Unfortunately...
She hadn't lowered her voice enough.
Caius immediately caught her whispering.
As for dealing with newcomers...
He had plenty of methods.
Before Jane could even turn around and order her to be quiet, Caius had already vanished from the front of the formation.
The next instant, he appeared directly behind Sophie.
Grabbing the back of her cloak...
He hurled her bodily out of the line.
Sophie flew through the air like a rag doll before crashing into a tree hard enough to snap its trunk in half.
Only then did she come to a stop, stars spinning before her eyes.
"Sophie." Caius slowly walked toward the shattered stump. "It's beneath me to personally punish those idiots."
His smile grew increasingly savage.
"But if you lose twie, I'll personally tear off....Your arms. Your legs. And your head."
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