Libra's Symphony (Alec Volturi x OC)

Revenge

 There was an astringent quality to the aftertaste on my tongue. It was an illusion, of course, but I knew better than most people just how powerful illusions can be. You don't feel anything any less just because, rationally, you know it's an illusion. The knowledge does not soothe the body and it rarely even calms the mind, destroying everything it can and driving one to madness in due time. There was an unpleasant, bitter flavour to every drop of blood I drank and it was Marina's fault. She made everything taste the sweetest she could before she ruined it all and left it to rot within me.

She was ruining everything and she didn't even care.

It pained me to watch as her carelessness cemented her bad reputation in Volterra. I could remember being targeted like her, along with Jane, as the new stress reliever. The newcomer, not yet cloaked, that looked frail and weak enough to accept any level of aggression without retaliating. Some of the temporary guards liked to exercise any form of power they could to compensate for their lower positions and the kings had more important matters to keep them occupied. Anything regarding our personal lives was our own problem and we were expected to deal with it ourselves.

I was sure that Marina would have done as we did - Jane and I - when we arrived. That she, like us, would have made sure that everyone knew that they were not on her level and she should be feared. That her appearance was misleading and she was powerful, and I was once sure that she would impose herself and earn their respect. No aid from me or anyone else needed, nothing but well-deserved merit.

I was disappointed and I was far from being the only one.

Master Caius had been very excited to have an addition to the offensive part of the permanent guard. He had been anxious to give Marina a dark cloak and have her assist him in his missions. Master Aro had thought she would fit right in and add to the power of the coven. I had been happy to find someone suitable for me, that could stand by my side as my equal.

She was not living up to expectations and the most infuriating aspect of her situation was that it was her own fault. The barrier that prevented her from using her gift to its full extent was an illusion, conjured up and arranged by her own mind. The only thing keeping her from putting her attackers in their rightful place, right by her feet, was herself.

It was ironic, how I circled back to find another disappointing Marina at the same place where I found the first one - the older, blonde Marina that was still in the castle trying to improve her own gift. I had believed that my Marina would be better than that, but so far she was as much of a disappointment.

The feelings it incited in me were horrid enough to make blood taste bad.

I could hardly force myself to stand and idly watch her bring herself down in such a way, but I didn't want her to need me. I didn't want her to need my help, I wanted to be with someone that was perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. The problem with Marina usually was, as I already knew by that point, that it took a lot to get an aggressive reaction from her. She would take a great deal of abuse before she acted out, and she would act in a sudden, extreme way. No graduality, no slow ascension and absolutely no careful consideration. She would take as much as she could and then she would simply explode.

I did not think she could afford to wait for her inevitable explosion. The longer she let the rumours about her docility travel through the castle, the worse was the damage they would cause.

Which was why I decided to speed things up a bit.

I did not worry for her well-being. I knew she could defend herself if she truly felt in danger and that was why I decided to force her to act by making her feel in real danger.