Chapter 109: Drawing the Line

Both Aro and Caius remained tied down in England, each occupied by matters that could not be postponed. With neither leader returning to Volterra anytime soon, Marcus reluctantly abandoned his usual detached attitude and resumed the role of acting overseer. 

Even so, the palace was, in practice, being managed almost entirely by Alec and Jane. The two twins had become the true authority within the Volturi's headquarters.

"You promised you wouldn't use your pain gift on me, right, Jane?" Sophie poked her head out from behind the chair, her red eyes peering cautiously around the backrest. There was obvious suspicion in her voice, as though she feared Jane might change her mind at any second. Even now, she refused to move until she heard the answer herself.

Jane gave a reserved nod without turning around. "I won't."

The instant she received that promise, Sophie straightened up and stepped out from behind the chair without the slightest hesitation. She circled around to stand directly in front of Jane, meeting her gaze openly. Their heights were nearly identical, but because Jane remained seated, Sophie found herself looking down at her for perhaps the first time. Resting one hand on the back of the chair, she slowly leaned closer until their matching red eyes locked onto one another in the darkness.

She leaned in...

Closer.

Their foreheads were nearly touching now, separated only by Jane's soft fringe.

Sophie silently confirmed her suspicion.

Even at such an outrageously intimate distance...

Jane remained completely unmoved.

The air between them gradually grew strange.

Heavy.

Charged with something neither of them seemed willing to acknowledge.

"If..." Sophie finally spoke, breaking the delicate silence. Her eyes never left Jane's face, watching every tiny change in expression.

Jane's attention was immediately captured.

"If what?" she asked instinctively.

Her voice had become astonishingly quiet, almost as though she were afraid someone else might overhear them, despite the fact that the Black Room contained only two conscious vampires.

Lowering her own voice to match Jane's, Sophie whispered conspiratorially, "If I kidnap you and use you to threaten Heidi... do you think she'd fly us across the border in the helicopter?"

Before Jane could react...

Sophie made her move.

The hand resting on the chair slipped around Jane's slender waist, while her other arm slid neatly beneath the bend of her knees. With effortless strength, Sophie lifted her straight off the chair and rose smoothly to her feet. Jane, whose injured leg prevented any resistance, suddenly found herself suspended in midair.

She let out a startled gasp, staring wide-eyed at the audacious newborn in utter disbelief.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jane demanded. "Do you want to experience what it's feels like to burn to dea—"

"You promised."

"...What?"

"You promised you wouldn't use your gift on me." Sophie couldn't stop the sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She quickly pressed them together, desperately trying to hide it before Jane became angry enough to retract her promise. "Now hurry up and put your arms around my neck. That's how princess carry work in the movies."

Without the terrifying aura created by her supernatural gift, Jane suddenly looked far more like an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl than the ruthless woman everyone feared.

Naturally...

She had no intention whatsoever of wrapping her arms obediently around Sophie' neck.

Instead, she grabbed the nearest thing available, Sophie' jacket collar, paying no attention to the lingering earthy smell left behind by the muddy river where Sophie had fallen.

"Don't struggle." Sophie deliberately bounced her slightly as she adjusted her grip. Startled, Jane instinctively tightened her hold on Sophie' collar to steady herself. "If I lose my balance, I'll use you as my cushion. We're tied to the same rope now."

Every single person who usually obeyed Jane without question had already left the Black Room.

And now...

She had somehow ended up being carried around by an insignificant newborn.

Powerless.

Unable even to free herself.

Oddly enough, Sophie wasn't worried that Jane would complain afterward.

Complaining meant showing weakness.

And who exactly could Jane complain to?

She was already the Captain of the Guard.

Before the leaders, she had to remain dependable.

Before the ordinary guards, she had to remain the unbreakable blade of the Volturi.

To admit, Sophie picked me up and carried me around however she pleased, would require enough mental preparation to last Jane three days and three nights.

Besides...

Thanks to Sophie recovering the Moonheart Grass, Alec would never become angry over something this trivial.

The furious girl in her arms glared daggers at her.

Jane's red eyes burned so fiercely they almost looked capable of producing real flames.

"Sophie." Her voice turned dangerously cold. "My patience has limits."

Unfortunately...

Sophie deliberately misunderstood her.

Without slowing her pace, she strode confidently toward the entrance, every step perfectly steady despite carrying another vampire in her arms.

With an expression of complete seriousness, she nodded and said, "Understood. I'll ask Heidi for the helicopter immediately. Has Aro already filed the paperwork for crossing the border?"

"No! And besides..." Jane snapped. "The helicopter's already been sent away for repairs!"

For once...

She was telling the complete truth.

After being thoroughly abused by both Caius and Sophie, the aircraft had only managed to land safely because of Heidi's exceptional piloting skills. Thankfully, everyone and everything important had already been transported before Aro hurriedly ordered it sent back to its manufacturer for extensive repairs.

"I see."

Sophie paused for only a brief moment.

Jane quietly released the breath she'd been holding.

Unfortunately...

If she thought a broken helicopter would stop Sophie' determination...

She had gravely underestimated her.

"Then we'll drive instead."

Sophie had earned her driver's license years ago.

At twenty-two, she considered herself a perfectly competent driver.

"No." Jane immediately objected, seizing upon the last excuse she could find. "I have to stay here and watch over the newborns."

She glanced toward the cages.

Every newborn inside remained sprawled motionless across the floor, still recovering from the overwhelming pain inflicted by her gift. Even with her injured leg, Jane couldn't simply abandon her responsibility.

Carrying an exceptionally uncooperative passenger, Sophie nevertheless walked steadily all the way to the stone entrance. She lifted one foot and pressed it against the hidden section of the wall before speaking calmly.

"Alec promised me one favor."

Her smile returned.

"Asking him to send another guard to take over this shift shouldn't be too unreasonable, don't you think?"

With that...

She pushed harder against the stone wall with her foot.

Nothing happened.

The massive stone door didn't move an inch.