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Edward Pov
Edward took a seat across from Stefan. The Romanian watched him with a satisfied smile, the kind that belonged to someone who believes they've just gotten exactly what they wanted. Some of the novices glanced up at them, curious, but a single look from Stefan—dry, barely tilted—was enough for everyone to return to their training without daring to question.
Edward noticed the gesture and, in an attempt to start a conversation, said in a neutral tone:
"I'm amazed at how well they respond… you'd think they'd be causing more trouble."
Stefan let out a short laugh. It wasn't a friendly laugh; to Edward, it sounded hollow, almost sinister, as if there was something behind it beyond amusement.
"We can't take all the credit," he replied, in that deliberately light tone. "Although Vladimir and I are the main babysitters for these kids, they aren't as loyal to us as you might think. We've tried to teach them to fear us, and we don't miss an opportunity to make them understand their place… but the effect we produce isn't that deep."
Edward frowned slightly. He turned his gaze back to the novices, extending his perception into their minds. They were all focused, concentrated on perfecting every movement, every strike. There was an anxious urgency in them, a need to prove themselves useful, not to fail. The devotion they emanated was unsettling, almost feverish.
Edward spoke in a low voice, more to himself than to Stefan:
"It's because of Nate, isn't it?"
Stefan smiled, pleased. That smile—calm, dangerous—reminded him of a teacher satisfied with a student's answer.
"Exactly," he said softly. "They know Vladimir and I could destroy them in seconds, that we have millennia of combat experience… but in reality, they hardly fear us. What they fear much more is that we might call him."
His voice lowered, becoming a whisper filled with dark delight.
"I wasn't there the day Nathaniel picked them up at that factory… but from what I've been told, it was shocking. They say seeing him once was enough to understand what kind of creature they were facing. He marked them. And yesterday, just by showing up, he managed to scare them more than Vladimir and I have in all these months. Some were starting to falter… look at them now—they almost seem fanatical."
Edward watched him silently. In Stefan's mind, the images were fragmented, but he could see him recalling his attempts at indoctrinating the novices: he and Vladimir tearing limbs and putting them back, measuring the novices' resistance like one sharpens a tool. Some screamed, others trembled… but what caught Edward's attention most was the shared expression that appeared at the mention of Nate's name: pure, almost instinctive panic, like prey recognizing the ultimate predator.
That kind of fear couldn't be taught. It was imprinted.
Edward couldn't help but nod at Stefan's comment. The novices' terror was too evident; he himself had read their minds when they stood before Nate. He remembered the mixture of submission and dread that swept through them, the way their thoughts froze the moment they saw him, as if Nate's mere presence was enough to erase all will.
With a hint of doubt—almost as if afraid to pry too deeply—Edward asked:
"And how much did you hear? What exactly happened at that factory to mark them so?"
Stefan smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile; it was the kind you give after catching someone trying to move on dangerous ground.
"In fact," he replied mockingly, "I was hoping you'd tell me in more detail. Since Nathaniel personally brought you yesterday, I imagined he trusted you."
Edward felt a slight sting of tension. In the Romanian's mind, thoughts swirled with dangerous precision.
I thought he was someone important… a new ally, or at least someone promising enough for Nathaniel to bring before the novices. But if he really mattered to their plans, he'd know more about what happened at the factory. So what is he? Just a pawn? An exception because he's related to his partner…?
Edward tried to hide his discomfort.
"You know, Nate," he said in a controlled tone. "He's not one to reveal too much."
That answer seemed to be enough—at least outwardly—to calm Stefan's thoughts slightly. The vampire nodded with a faint smile that contained a mix of acceptance and resignation.
"True… Nathaniel can be a very particular person," the Romanian murmured. "Sometimes I think neither Vladimir nor I fully understand what he's planning."
Edward caught the echo of that idea before it dissipated. Stefan's mind projected a clearer thought, laden with suspicion:
At first, I thought this army business was about revenge… soldiers to attack the Volturi. But he barely shows interest in them. He didn't even want to ambush the emissaries sent to D.C.… Maybe his parents' death isn't enough incentive… but his partner's family could be…
Edward opened his eyes slightly, processing the new information quickly.
Nate… is planning to eliminate the Volturi?
Was that the reason for the army? Is that why he worked with the Romanians? Was he preparing them for an open war?
Questions crowded his mind, but Stefan, oblivious to Edward's internal conflict, continued speaking with apparent ease:
"But even if he's a particular individual, and perhaps overly reserved, his power is unquestionable. Not for nothing was he able to traumatize all these vampires in their first encounter."
The words brought him back to the present. Edward took a deep breath—a needless habit, but useful for organizing his thoughts—and responded, trying to keep his voice neutral:
"That's true… Nate can be terrifying. He's strong, fast… and I've heard he finds no rival in combat…"
Stefan let out a short, dry laugh, with no trace of humor.
"Then you've only seen a fraction of what he can do. What's truly impressive isn't his strength or speed… It's his mind. That, dear Jasper, is what's monstrous about him."
Edward didn't respond immediately. He didn't need to be told; he had firsthand experience of how shrewd Nate could be… and that was when he was still human. Now, transformed into something far deadlier, he could barely imagine what he was capable of.
After a brief silence, he feigned disinterest and commented lightly:
"That's true… he has a prodigious mind. And the fact that he inspires so much fear even in beings as volatile and aggressive as the novices says a lot about him… Is that why your coven works for him?"
Stefan narrowed his eyes. His smile twisted, slow and bitter, as if the question felt more like a reminder than an offense.
In his mind, Edward clearly heard the thought, filled with irony bordering on disdain:
Work for him…? I suppose this is what we've been reduced to, huh?
Stefan responded, though his tone was a mix of irony and self-criticism:
"Work for him, work with him, or just be his errand boys? Call it what you want—it's irrelevant. The only thing that matters is that Italian trash ends up in ashes."
Edward, this time, managed to keep his composure. He already understood how sharp the vampire's mind could be, so he chose his words carefully, trying to provoke another useful thought without seeming too inquisitive.
"I wasn't trying to insult you. Even though it was long ago, it's well known that you ruled much of the world. I just find it hard to understand how vampires who were at the top, with millennia of experience, are willing to follow a novice…"
Stefan watched him in silence. His gaze was piercing, calculating, as if trying to decipher every nuance behind Edward's words. For a few seconds, all that could be heard was the distant murmur of the novices' training. Finally, the Romanian let out a laugh—genuine this time, almost amused—before speaking:
"Precisely, Jasper… Vladimir and I have been on this earth longer than most of our kind. We've seen empires fall, covens rise, and watched the world change over and over while we remained above those changes. Unmoved. Eternal. And for a long time, that made us confident… arrogant."
His voice lowered, taking on a gravity that bordered on melancholy.
"But our fall forced us to change. To adapt. When things happen, you rarely understand them; only centuries later, when the wounds stop bleeding, can you look back and comprehend."
He fell silent for a few seconds before continuing, his gaze lost in a distant point.
"At first, our kind were simple predators. Like a tiger or a lion claiming a small territory and feeding on whatever passed by. When prey was scarce, we moved, without thinking too much. But humans… they changed. They began to gather, build villages, cities… and then we understood: we could rule them. We were superior—stronger, faster, fiercer—and for centuries, we reigned over them."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"We believed we were the pinnacle of all that walked the earth. But we were wrong. The Volturi understood it before anyone else."
Edward caught the thread of his thoughts, dark and precise, as if the memory still hurt.
They saw it coming… so lacking in power, and yet they found what we ignored. They found the monsters among monsters…
Stefan resumed speaking, his tone tinged with cold reverence.
"Among our kind, distinct beings began to emerge. At first, they were oddities, curiosities… nothing that couldn't be controlled by experience or numbers. But those oddities grew, intensified, and became something more. Aberrations. And the Volturi… the Volturi managed to acquire two particularly powerful ones. With them, they didn't just defeat us, Jasper. They changed the game entirely."
His gaze hardened.
"We dominated regions… a country, perhaps a continent. They, on the other hand, dominated the species. They imposed order, fear, and a power that transcended centuries. They turned our nature into a system, a structure. And the rest of the world bowed."
The silence that followed was thick, almost reverent. Stefan lifted his gaze, and a spark of fanaticism—or madness—crossed his eyes.
"That's why we follow Nathaniel, Jasper. That's why we support him. Because he can do what we could not: fulfill our dream. Even if it costs us pride… or life, times have changed, and now this—" he smiled faintly, with a dark air—"is the era of monsters. And whoever is behind the most powerful… can even change the world."
Edward, upon hearing Stefan's words, froze. He was beginning to understand why Nate worked with the Romanians. Although the conversation had been brief, it had deeply marked him. It was easy to imagine the Romanians approaching Nate in a moment of weakness, taking advantage of him, using him for their own ends. A feeling of urgency seized Edward: somehow, he had to divert the Romanians' attention from Nate… or things could end very badly.
With great effort, Edward relaxed his expression, almost as if Stefan's words seemed ridiculous. He took on an ironic tone and replied:
"Don't you think you're exaggerating? The gifts can be incredible, I'll give you that… but they're not as astonishing as you make them seem. Even the Volturi, with Jane and Alec… those monsters you speak of, never actually ruled or governed as such. Sure, they set rules, but they aren't kings… They don't impose their will or force vampires into wars. They don't even rule over humans. Their rules are simple: don't draw attention, don't reveal the existence of vampires… nothing more."
Stefan shook his head slightly, almost disappointed, and clarified in a serious tone:
"I think you don't grasp things fully, Jasper… Even those 'simple rules,' as you call them, are unnatural. We are chaotic beings by nature… savage. And the fact that a group of unremarkable vampires, with barely two monsters, can force the majority of our kind to go against their nature… that's already improbable."
He then paused briefly, his face contorting as if smelling something repulsive.
"I think that's what I despise most about those Italians: even with all that power, they chose comfort. They created a fancy throne over our species and sat back to indulge, barely acquiring a few promising vampires when they appeared…"
Then his gaze became fiercer, almost somber:
"You say I exaggerate… but what if others had that power over our species? What if, instead of forcing them to bow, they incited and coordinated them? Humans aren't as weak as they were centuries ago… even with enough preparation, they could kill us. But what if we caught them by surprise? We'd increase our numbers with their own people… attacking key places with the coordination and speed that their own technology provides?"
Edward stood with a quick movement, his eyes wide as he imagined that scenario. A hell on earth, where demons like himself massacred innocent souls at will… and no one had the power to stop them. The possibility that such a thing could be feasible lodged a cold, painful thorn in his conscience, and a shiver ran down his spine.
He quickly shook his head, as if that movement could erase the scene from his mind. Almost in panic, he argued:
"And what makes you think Nate can take on the twins? If they're as monstrous as you say and can overpower our species… how is Nate supposed to destroy them!?"
Stefan didn't flinch at his companion's outburst. Instead, in a relaxed tone, he replied:
"Because we've seen something that perhaps not even Nathaniel himself has noticed… his gift… his ability… is more powerful than you could imagine. It's not just moving well and knowing how to attack… his ability disarms everything… deciphers it… Maybe he'll need a few tries… maybe we'll lose some assets in the process… but I've seen the darkness and determination in Nathaniel's eyes… I saw it when he fought the werewolf who killed his father… a mere human… cornering a superior being… It's like a blade… a blade that can cut anything… even the greatest pride of the Volturi…"
Edward took a couple of steps back, wanting to deny Stefan's claim… but he couldn't. Nate had already deciphered him… he himself had seen Nate stab James… he had been present when Nate orchestrated his plans… and they always went exactly as he wanted… all when Nate was still human. In his heart, he could not deny what Stefan said.
In a gloomy tone, Edward barely whispered:
"So that's what this is all about… You're using Nate to crush your enemies and rule over everyone…"
Stefan, even in the face of Edward's accusatory tone, was not offended. He simply looked toward the novices, as if his mind drifted elsewhere, and calmly replied:
"Are we really using him? Or is he using us? At this point, I don't know… but I don't care… I don't know what Nathaniel plans, nor will I bother asking… The only thing I'm sure of is that, when the time comes, Nathaniel himself will burn the remains of all those Volturi… and for me, that's enough… What comes next, for better or worse… couldn't care less…"
Edward frowned for a moment, almost as if searching for a crack in Stefan's facade, but he couldn't help but remain confused. No matter how much he listened to the vampire's thoughts, one thing was clear: Stefan was telling the truth…