"Mirror—Mirror on the wall…" a husky chuckle shaking his motionless torso, "show me the fairest of them all." Eyes forward addressing the pathetic human cowering before him.
The human knew better than to speak—his starved and beaten body retained the pains of disobedience. He quaked but silently submitted to the whims of his sadistic masters wishes.
After all it was his gifts that kept him alive this long. His rare ability was the capability to conjure the active actions of any person that he came into contact with—one look and he could peek in on said persons every day actions. With the added ability to materialize those images so that others could see he lived a pretty debase life. He used his gifts for his own debauch amusement. That was until the Dark King of Italy (as some called him) caught wind of his gift—within the week the human man was captured and enslaved.
Materializing the image of a dark-skinned child around the age of eight appeared before the Dark King of Italy. When he had first shown him, the image was so realistic that he once believed that he could reach out and touch the child.
Observing the child, her face was confused and down cast, he took in account her surroundings—she was at a funeral. The image before him was so cliché that all was needed was a downpour for the added effect.
The image had slightly faded for a millisecond too long for him and dire for the human—cutting a cynical eye towards the human, who was now recoiling within himself.
An eyebrow raised at the sputtering mess before him.
"I'm sorry Master I-I-I'm just so hungry. A lack of food makes my ability weak," he choked out, cracked lips shaking as he watched to see what the immortal would do.
He cocked his head, in a show of contemplation on the pathetic creature request, his eyes unblinking with no sign of emotions. Minutes passed when he mutely reached down into a bucket that rested by his seat. Retracting his arm he revealed a chunk of ham that caused the human to swallow thickly.
A tender smile softened the immortals face, deceptive, but effective. The man's eyes glazed over with hunger and love—a false warped feeling of love that came from being locked away for so long with only one man in control of ones life.
His master could be savior or his end.
"You've earned this meal,," he murmured, long lashes fluttering against his cheek as he chuckled once again, "you've been such a good boy,"
With that said he tossed the meat to the ground a few inches from the human with century old patience he waited until the human choked down the food.
"All better now?" he cooed in a mocking tone that was lost upon the male.
Instead of answering he dutifully materialized the image that came to be much more detailed and clear now that he had food in his belly.
Crimson eyes turned back towards the child. The service was now over and two caskets were being lowered into the ground. He noticed with piqued interest that as every human in attendance cried with a mixture of sadness and pity the girl held no such emotion. She didn't cry as a child should in such circumstances—the lack of grief was clear and her face held the air of indifference.
She was completely unbothered by the events around her the only word to described her behavior was serene.
Approaching the graves that held her loved ones the rose that she had clutched throughout the whole service—reaching her arm out dropping it into the graves.
Just then she raised her eyes and stared straight ahead; the position of the image gave the illusion that she was staring at him. He inhaled a slow unneeded breath as he stared at the gray-blue iris of his mate—a young human who wasn't even close to puberty, yet already held otherworldly beauty like his own.
His emotions for the human child was that of contradiction—she was his source of curiosity and his internal aversion.
"Dismiss the image," he stated sharply, the image instantly faded, though those piercing eyes was held in memory.
The human slumped to the floor, completely spent after holding the images for so long—his body sagged into a comatose like sleep, which was natural of humans who used abilities that demanded more energy then they possessed.
His thoughts filled with abhorrence and deep disgrace—he was not a man to regret any decision he made it was why he was so feared and respected; however, there was only one incident that he regretted the most and that was the day he stumbled upon the girl.
He had the misfortune of having to travel to a small insignificant town right off the sea to see about a new recruit. It was rumored that this person had the ability to control an element and rightfully it captured his attention immediately.
With a small reserved group of immortal guards, he traveled to investigate for himself, instead all he found was a small child no older than six playing on the beach; even though he was mildly curious as to why the child would be out this late he was rather disappointed.
The child didn't seem unique at all and was far too young to possess any gift that would be developed enough for his use; coming to the conclusion to execute the vampire that gave him the false information on his return to Italy.
Before his cloaked body could turn—the child turned towards him. His body froze as childish eyes sparkled at his figure. She smiled and waved; fearless of the figures that stood mere feet from her even though the sun had long since set.
Neither did he wave nor respond in anyway other than staring.
Fighting the primal instincts that told him to whisk the child away and keep her locked away forever; to stake his claim on the girl and keep her away from all other life until she was old enough to be possessed fully by himself…and yet he knew better.
He was many things; cruel, sadistic, masochistic, and malevolent, but a fool he was not. Spontaneous was not a definition of his character—he did not make rash decisions on emotions—he was a man of logic and carefully planning. As a result, he instantly rejected the primal urges and left the area promptly; however, he did request his guard to get all matter of information he could on the child—only for future research on a potential gift of course or so he told himself.
Months passed and his body pained and craved the image of the child the desire to see the child was too great—he had to see her. The weakness within himself fueled his animosity and determination to resist. It wasn't until his brother approached him; never one to mince words, the immortal seemed to have no time for anything except brooding in his own wretchedness.
"Rejecting the mating bond does nothing but drain you…very unwise on your part."
He was furious deep within, but to the outside world he was the picture of composed. Merely questioning the source of his brother's information a ghost of a smile touched the mans face before disappearing in thin air.
"I have a gift," he mocked grating on his brother pride and feeding the fire of his temper, "You are connected to the girl…"
He remembers watching his brother turn his back on him—the ill fitted suit that hung from his crooked body was all that he could see.
"We all are," he added before disappearing.
After that incident he knew that he had to act wisely, his brother was right of course, denying himself was doing nothing for him. In addition, he wasn't in the habit of denying himself anything; however, the new bit of information that they, his brothers and himself, were apparently all mated to the human child sent a flare of possessive obsession into his veins. The forbidden fruit just became that much more desired. He decided to keep the existence silent from his other brother.
He kept tabs on the girl with the use of technology and discreetly sending out trusted guards to inquire over her progress and health daily; his animosity and curiosity for the child grew after each report. It wasn't until he received information about a man that held the ability of conjuring and materializing a constant feed of someone's daily activities after being in their presence for a few minutes. Capturing the man was easy, bending him to his will was even more simple, and enslaving him was done within a matter of months.
Everything was going according to plan, his constant need for visual assurance of his mate was sated, and he never had to be within her presence.
He was even more shocked to realized that his mate was indeed gifted!
Her powers developing at a young age increased everyday—her gift could be of great use to the Volturi and increase their power momentously. However, her presence could weaken him emotionally and publicly, she could possibly begin to influence him and his decisions, that could not be allowed.
Years passed and so his secret remained such; nonetheless, as the saying goes, nothing good last forever.
"Mirror—mirror…" the image of his mate appeared, his slave had become quicker these pass years, after all a decent lashing can be a very strong motivating force.
Today was a rare day, his mate was exercising her gift again, he gazed at her tentative expression. At the age of fifteen she was at the awkward phase of her bodies growth; with long legs, a flat chest, eyes and lips to big for her face. He knew enough about aging to know that she'd grow into her features, so absorbed in watching the girl that he missed the slight shift in air.
"Your into little girls now, Aro?" Caius inquired a few feet from his chair.
Aro was shocked to say the least, but remained cool, he refused to allow the other immortal to realize that he was able to enter with him being unaware. He cursed internally, the girl was already making a mock of him and she wasn't even there.
His lips parted to tell his slave to stop the image, unfortunately, he wasn't fast enough before his brothers sharp eyes caught sight of the child using her gift.
"Stop the image!" he snapped, again the image faded, but the damage was done.
"Ah, the girl has a gift, a useful one too. You will bring her here?" Caius stated, casually walking around to face him.
Caius knew how familiar and easy dishonesty was for his brother, yet he could always spot a lie, so he stared at his brother's face looking for any hint of deception.
Aro schooled his features, eyes flickering towards Caius, he knew that his brother didn't feel the mating bond. One had to be in the literal presence of their intended, before the bond official formed. But Aro knew that if Caius grew curious enough he would bring the child to Italy and they'd all be doomed. She'd warp their thinking and beliefs into hers; she'd change them; make them see the good in themselves. Aro has seen some of the most ruthless immortals fall onto their knees becoming disgusting shells of themselves that live to please and gain the approval of their mate.
Never would Aro become such a being; it took over three thousand years to hone his skills and body into that of a ruler that demanded respect. He would not lose that because of some lesser life form that the Gods deemed his mate. He'd rather dispose of her than let that happen; however, the situation has not reached the point for that train of thought.
"No brother, she will not be recruited."
Caius face twisted up into a look of accusation and confusion, "Why is that?"
Smiling softly, he stood from his chair and laid his hands upon his brother's shoulders, "Truly brother I've watched the child, she would only be a hindrance to the Volturi not an asset."
Aro knew that half truths were the only way to invade his brother's knack for spotting lies—true she would be a hindrance to the Volturi, specifically himself.
Caius narrowed his eyes until they were nothing, but black slits hidden deep within his eyes socket, "You've come to this conclusion all from watching the child."
"Yes," he answered simply.
He stepped away from Aro's gentle hands and leisurely walked around him towards the human. He tried to crawl away but the chains kept him place, Caius kneeled down ignoring the whimpering of the human.
The man knew of this blond haired immortal's reputation for extreme torture and savagery; grasping the chains that held the man in place he pulled the man a hairs breath away from himself.
The chains were unneeded; the man couldn't fight even if he wanted to, the chains were another form of mental manipulation.
"Is what you master speaks true or is he trying to deceive me?" Caius questioned in a low tone. His eyes bore into the man until the pungent odor or urine permeated the air. Caius nose wrinkled, but he persisted, "You've seen the girl? Is she really a hindrance?"
Caius really didn't care what the human had to say he was using his own mental warfare against his brother, he smirked, he could almost feel the ire coming off Aro.
"You're asking my pet what he thinks?" Aro tutted, clicking his tongue, "disappointing."
Dropping the human Caius stood turning towards his brother, "I ask your pet, because his owner isn't being truthful."
"I told you…"
Caius pointed to the spot where the girl stood not moments ago before fading, "I watched her for a few seconds and saw her gift! We always receive hindrances, but we've broken them and molded them as we saw fit," huffing, he continued growling more irked the more he spoke.
He couldn't understand why Aro was acting so foolish and skittish about a small child, "If you aren't up to the task of breaking in a new human than give her to me. I'll have her ready in a month," he spat a bit of venom flickering on the floor.
Aro scoffed, "She'd be dead in three days."
"So be it."
He thought for a bit—it disturbed him that he feared for the child's life.
"I will handle this situation."
"You will bring her in?" Caius persisted like a petulant child.
"I will not, but I will handle the child," his resolve remained.
Caius opened his mouth preparing to repeat his earlier words; however, Aro was done with the debate.
"I will not discuss this any further. This is my catch and I shall choose to do what I please with it! Plus…" to lighten the air, he inclined his head towards the human, who now laid in his own urine curled into a small ball, "…our discussion is upsetting my pet."
His brother was undeterred; analyzing him in the search of a lie within his words…a minute passed before he walked passed him towards the door.
"This isn't over Aro, you're not the only one that gets what they want," with that he shut the door behind him.
"We shall see," a smirk pulled at his features revealing the wickedness of his soul—he slowly turned to the creature on the floor and with a false perplexed expression voiced, "Now what are we to do with you."