Dark Blood - A. Volturi

Chapter 7

Each went to their rooms upon arriving back at the castle, and they knew that there would be training the next day, with Felix, Demetri and Jane.

Aro knew that this was fitting together perfectly, and if gone as planned, he would soon have Shadow and her abilities within his elite ranks as well. Perfect. Soon, no coven would be able to destroy them. But the problem was, Jade hated Alec with every single cell in her body. He would have to talk to Chelsea about that. Because if they fell apart, the whole plan was ruined. And he certainly couldn't have that.

Shadow sat on the edge of her bed, staring out at the moonlit garden. The cool silver light didn't calm her racing thoughts; instead, it only seemed to amplify the storm brewing within her.

She drew her knees to her chest, resting her head against them. Alec's bond was with Jade. Alec, the quiet danger who had unexpectedly found his way into Shadow's guarded heart, was tied to someone who detested him. And Jade—her friend, her ally—hated him more than Shadow could even fathom.

Shadow's chest tightened at the memory of Jade's scream echoing in the throne room, the venom in her voice when she declared her hatred for Alec. How could Aro expect this to work? How could Alec possibly want a bond with someone like Jade? And what did that mean for her—Shadow, the misfit hybrid caught between worlds? And between her friend and her imprint?

A knock on the door broke through her thoughts.

"Shadow, it's Alice," came the familiar voice. "Can we come in?"

Shadow hesitated, but after a moment, she stood and opened the door. Alice and Rosalie slipped inside, their expressions mirroring the concern Shadow felt.

"You don't look okay," Rosalie said bluntly, scanning her face.

"Because I'm not," Shadow admitted, her voice shaking.

Alice guided her to sit down. "We know this is overwhelming," she began gently, "but we're here for you. You don't have to figure this out alone."

Shadow let out a bitter laugh. "How am I supposed to figure anything out? Aro's orchestrating everything, like a twisted puppeteer. Jade hates Alec, Alec's stuck in this bond, and somehow, I feel like I'm losing control of everything."

Rosalie's eyes softened, a rare show of sympathy. "Sometimes, things have to fall apart first," she said. "Sometimes, that's the only way to rebuild something better."

Shadow bit her lip, willing the tears to stay back. "I'm scared, Rosalie. I don't know how to face either of them tomorrow. I feel like I'm trapped in something so much bigger than me."

Alice placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll get through this. Together."

In his room, Alec stood by the fireplace, staring into the burning flames as they danced and flickered around. The room was dark except for its soft amber glow, which cast long shadows on the floors, reaching the walls.

A bond. With Jade.

The thought made him clench his fists until cracks appeared. He didn't understand it. He didn't want to understand it. Jade's disdain for him was no secret; her words dripped with venom and hatred whenever they spoke. The idea of being bound to someone who despised him was almost laughable.

But this wasn't a joke. Aro had declared it, Marcus had declared it, and Alec knew better than to question them.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts drifted unconsciously to Jade. Her sharp remarks from earlier echoed in his mind,each one a knife to his unbeating heart. He had always prided himself on his composure, his ability to remain detached. But Jade was different. Her words had a way of cutting through his defenses, leaving him raw and exposed.

And now, because of this bond with Shadow as well, Alec felt like he'd betrayed her somehow.

A sharp knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts.

"What?" he snapped, his voice colder than he intended.

"It's me," came Jane's voice.

Alec sighed and opened the door. Jane stepped inside, her piercing red eyes scanning his face, as well as clouded with worry. Her brother never yelled at her.

"You're quiet," she remarked, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

"Go away, Jane."

She ignored him and stepped closer. "You're going to have to pull yourself together. Aro is counting on you, and you know how he gets when things don't go as planned."

Alec glared at her, his patience wearing thin. "Do you ever stop being his lapdog?"

Jane's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered. "This isn't about Aro," she said, her tone sharper. "This is about survival. You think I like this any more than you do? None of us have a choice. We had only each other. Aro is offering you a chance"

Alec turned away, his jaw tightening.

Jane's voice softened, just slightly. "Listen, I don't care what you think about the bond, or about Jade. But tomorrow, you need to show up. For all our sakes. We can't be seen as weak."

With that, she turned and left, leaving Alec alone with his thoughts once more.

In another part of the castle, Aro sat in his private chambers, a satisfied smile on his face. Everything was falling into place. Shadow's powers, Alec's bond, Jade's turmoil—it was all working perfectly. Soon, he would have Shadow within his elite ranks, her abilities at his disposal.

And if Chelsea could influence Jade's feelings toward Alec, all the better. Aro tapped his fingers together thoughtfully. The girl's hatred was a problem, yes, but it was a problem he could fix. If Jade and Alec fell apart, so did the plan. And that simply wasn't an option.

There was no way he would let Shadow be the one attached to Alec. He needed to keep her in his ranks, for she was much more valuable than Shadow. If he had to, he would force.

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter! What do you think will happen next? Also Merry Christmas!

Love,

Jade