Aro Volturi: A Case in Anger Management
Author's Note: For formality's sake, I do not own Aro or any of the other Twilight characters. It is fair to warn you that this plot contains some dark humor. Enjoy!
I could hear Caius's footsteps after my retreating back as I made a beeline for my private office, the only place I can be unofficially myself. "Aro," he called, still not picking up my desire for personal space. "Edward Cullen will be here any minute now; this is no time for repast." I spun on my heel to face him.
"I am not hunting again, if that is what you inquire. It's a matter of…it's just—"
"Nerves, much? Fear he'll reject your invitation again?" Caius grinned, slightly teasing. But it was true…mainly. So many waves of misfortune have blown my optimistic attitude as of late that even smiling has become a formal pretense.
"Not in the least, brother. I have my methods of persuasion against him. If you really must know, I'm topping off." We shared a knowing grin before I beckoned him to my special stock of provisions. "Care for a goblet of O negative? A fresh bottle of this truly is a rarity." He nodded as I poured; the blood splashed inside the glass in a delicate swirl. Our goblets clinked softly when I detected voices in the foyer.
"Welcome back, Edward Cullen. The Leaders will be will you shortly." I drained my cup and traced Alec's voice to the other room with Caius at my side. Against the nagging frustrations swelling up in an internal grudge, I plastered on my usual welcoming façade.
"Ah, Edward. It really has been too long." The young vampire's auburn eyes glared quizzically at mine. I strode toward him down the steps leading up to the throne platform. For a reason I cannot fathom, he didn't return my greeting.
"What do you want, Aro? I left Bella with the child for this." The mention of his mate's name triggered my instant interest. I'd give a pretty pint to peer into his thoughts and see how his sweetheart was coming along. His hand was but an arm's length away, and with caution I reached for it. "You are NOT reading my mind," he said coldly. His words stung an inch, but as the undead king, I waved it away.
"At the very least, allow me to affirm that you are clean of hostility. A matter of security, mind you." Reluctantly, he offered his hand, palm upwards. I grasped it in my own and closed my eyes, taking in every moment of his past since the birth of the baby. I saw little Renesmee take her first steps, heard her first words, and nearly felt Bella's embrace around her tiny form. She was so new, so…innocent, two things that I was certain a vampire could never be. "AahahahaAAAhhahahaa!" I couldn't help but laugh giddily at how far she had grown as a vampire child.
"You," Edward growled, snatching his hand back. "You pedophile!" How could he possibly—"I know what you were imagining!" I froze in my tracks when I caught my mistake: Cullen's power is identical to mine. He must've read my every thought the same time I scrutinized his. "Unfortunately for you, you've wasted your time. I will never join your Volturi coven; you know that! And neither will Alice." I bit my lower lip and searched for a retort.
Then it occurred to me that I don't have to fight my own battles. "Caius?" I turned to him and signaled for him to take over. He acknowledged my wish and tackled Edward to the ground, hand poised on his throat. It is so much easier to negotiate with captivated company. "Comfortable? I don't have much to ask of you, Edward." He was still struggling on the floor, only encouraging Caius to push a little harder. Silly Cullen; I would have thought that he'd learn not to resist from the last time. "Really, it's more of a privilege than a request. You, Bella, and Renesmee come here to live in protection and comfort amongst the coven and I will appoint you an honorary member of the guard." Edward made some movements with his lips but unfortunately, not even I could read minds from a distance. "Brother, let him speak." Upon my word, the blonde one let up.
"A-Aro," Edward coughed, rising to his feet. "I don't want ANY part of the coven, EVER. I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can't be a guard on top of being a father and husband. Please understand this." With effort I suppressed my disappointment, but I could sympathize with the duties of a husband and proper mate. Come to think of it, I haven't given Sulpicia much attention lately.
"Very well, but I suggest you give it some thought. I'd hate to see such a gift as yours to pass up such an opportunity." He nodded and took his leave. A wave of yellow hair swept past my eyes.
"You let him go." I raised my gaze to face him.
"It's a lost cause; I'm beginning to see it now. All these years I've been after his power to no avail. It's time to close the curtain on Edward Cullen." I headed for my chamber door. For once, I had time to myself. No complications, no appointments, and absolutely no more worries.
"Your highness?" Alec's voice pierced the silence over my five second moment of peace.
"What is it, Alec?" I asked through a clenched smile, hoping he could take a hint.
"That's what I wanted to ask you. I've noticed you've been a bit…moody? Is there anything I can do?" Peace and quiet? I muttered to myself. No, it is something much deeper.
"Alec, how do you…relax?" He gave me a puzzled look before shrugging his shoulders.
"There are a number of things one can try. Drinking tea?"
"Vampires have difficulty drinking liquid save blood," I reminded him. Sometimes it was hard to forget that Alec was forever twelve.
"Take a nap?"
"Where were you the last three thousand years? Vampires have no subconscious and therefore cannot sleep." I took a seat in my red and ebony study chair and selected a book I haven't read in a while from my collection.
"Shopping?" I met his eyes with disbelief.
"Now what kind of a sissy pastime is that?" I snapped a little harsher than intended. He recoiled a few steps and avoided my stare.
"I'm just trying to help, Master." I exhaled an empty breath and murmured a quick apology.
"Look, you haven't a clue what constant tension I am under every day of my undead life for the past seven hundred years! I organize all the events, keep track of our numbers, wage war on other covens, all without rest, sleep, or relaxation!" On top of everything else, Edward refused to join the Volturi. So much frustration has built up over the years, and I cannot do so much as to cry it out.
"Absolutely, my king. You deserve a break more than anyone." I felt my muscles slacken by themselves; Alec was using his power of sense numbing.
"Sometimes, I forget that I was once a man." A few centuries avoiding death can really turn a vampire mad. Alec laid a comforting hand on my shoulder. I could detect that he too missed his childhood friends and the mortal life he left behind. He bent down to my ear level and whispered something that I had never considered before. "This is…unheard of, Alec."
"Not if you give it a try. You did say you wanted a tension relief, and this really works too!" A possibility perhaps, but with unfathomable consequences.
"But what if something goes wrong and I conceive a child that turns out to be a half-vampire offspring?! For my own sanity, I cannot risk it." Alec raised an eyebrow.
"When a vampire is made, isn't everything dead inside?" I gave the affirmative. "So wouldn't that be impossible?"
"Edward Cullen did it," I argued. The boy flashed a knowing grin.
"But he's not as old as you." My imagination gave up.
"All right, I'll give it a try. But who? Sulpicia's been dead for ages and she'll never agree to it, much less feel anything."
"No worries, Your Highness, I thought of that too." Alec reached for a ruby red notebook I hadn't noticed before. He opened it up for me, revealing a list of female names and addresses.
"Did you steal this from Santa Clause or something?" Alec laughed at this and pointed to the first name: McKenna from Seattle. "Oh, that's not too far from where we are now. In fact, I can make the journey there and back in less than ten minutes." Truth be told, this was exciting! I've never considered my physical appearance as a weapon of persuasion. "If I do not return after half an hour, send for Jane."
"Yes, my king." In a clock tick or two, I raced through the Washington forest in the moonlight, not caring if any other vampire saw me. My flowing black hair never felt so weightless and free in the wind. McKenna's apartment was in my view. Adjusting my red and black cloak and flattening down my hair, I prepared for my succor hunt.
She didn't enter her room until I was in position. This felt so wrong, but the thrill of doing something new after nothing but tradition felt so right. It was like sensing Renesmee's hand inside my own again, knowing something half-dead and doomed to feast on a monster's diet was created out of pure love. She said something related to "pajamas" and "bed time" before her closet door swung open, exposing my person.
"Don't scream," I pleaded softly with a light smile. "That'll just generate problems." McKenna said nothing to my relief and backed away, covering her mouth with two hands.
"W-Who are you? W-What do you want with m-me?" she stammered. Gosh, I didn't think I looked my age at all. Alec was right: she was indeed a desirable beauty. Should I really go through with this?
"My dear, I am the answer to your forever-alone teenage crisis. Now if you'll do me the pleasure of hopping up on your bed…" I urged in my seductive voice. To my surprise, she fell right on it as if in a trance. So that's the effect I have on mortals. "…we can have a daydream to treasure forever."
Alec awaited my arrival with anticipating eyes like that of a puppy-dog's. "Well, didn't I tell you it would work?" I bobbed my head up and down, straining to fight down my laughter.
"It was impeccably easy. All I did was be myself and…" I mimicked a thunderclap. "…she was mine." Alec nudged my arm playfully and we shared a laugh.
"After all these years, you've still got it eh?" My modest shoulders rose and fell. All of my dynamic tension I've suppressed for as long as I could remember suddenly disappeared. It was great to feel like a man again.
Mrrrroooww! CityCat here with a special announcement: Shout out goes to my friend Karen who brainstormed this story with me once we left the theatre. To my readers enjoying it thus far, stay tuned for more! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think; encouragement is very inspiring.
Attention Aro fangirls: I am placing Alec's notebook in your hands to fill with names of the people you'd like Aro to visit next! Only a first name and a city are required for validation. Yes, you can even wish yourself under Volturi power. Au revoir!