"Carlisle, you've simply done a marvelous job, my friend," Aro's warm smile did not reach his muddy eyes as he stepped forward to greet Dr. Carlisle Cullen as he entered the Cullen house. "I never cease to be amazed."
"And just what is it that amazes you, Aro?" Carlisle's eyes reflected his skepticism. He removed his coat, which was really only one of the props he used in his life as a doctor. Of course, vampires never got cold. They defined cold. Esme came to stand next to him and placed her hand in his.
"Wasn't it nice of Aro to pay us a little visit, Carlisle?" Esme sensed the tension in Carlisle and sought to defuse it. The warmth of her personality spread through the room, wasted on the Italian vampire.
"Yes...yes, it was." He smiled at his wife, a silent message passing between them in their look. No need to read minds with Esme. She read his soul.
"What amazes me, Carlisle, is the control you have over your little coven here." Aro laughed his usual insincere laugh. "I'd like to know what your secret to maintaining such a hold over them for so long. It's exhausting for us in Italy, and we still manage to lose a few... rejects, I like to call them."
"Well, actually, Aro, it's really quite simple. We don't spend all our time hunting humans. Therefore, we have more time and ability and control to actually build relationships with one another. One of the many advantages to our "vegetarian" ways."
"Seems a lot of work, if you ask me." He turned to Esme. "So, where are all the lovely young Cullens?"
"Well, we're a bit spread out at the moment, Aro." Esme smiled. "As you probably already know."
"Yes, we are. Temporarily." Carlisle smiled slightly, feeling a bit exposed by the admission. The Cullens divided was an uncomfortable thought.
"Ah."
"So, Aro, where's your guard? I'm sure you're not alone on this trip."
"True." Aro turned to look out the windowed wall of the house. The day was coming to an end. It was twilight once again. "Alec and Jane stopped off in town..."
"What?!" Carlisle rushed forward as Aro raised his stand to stop him.
"They're simply checking out the town. Security is so very very important, you know."
"Aro- get them out of Forks NOW!"
"As you wish, Carlisle." Surprisingly, Aro slid a cell phone from the folds of his robe and dialed, in no hurry. "Jane – I want you and Alec to come to the Cullen home. Now, please."
Carlisle and Esme exchanged glances as they watched the ancient vampire. Esme could not suppress a shudder. Her husband squeezed her hand and they both gasped at Aro's next words.
"No….. I don't care how interesting you're finding the local wildlife, Jane, " Aro smiled broadly as he saw the Cullens' reaction. "Get here at once. I have business, and then we must move on."
"I sincerely hope they're not going to make things difficult for us here in Forks, Aro." Carlisle admonished mildly as Aros disconnected the call. The guard would do as he ordered. It was the nature of the Volturi. They had no choice.
"No, no, my friend. Jane is far smarter than that." Aro moved to place his hand on Carlisle's shoulder, gently laughing. "She's such a child still, in many ways. She cannot help playing with her food still from time to time. Not that they're dining in your little town….. please. They have so little opportunity to observe humans in their day to day lives. It is a novelty they cannot resist at times."
"And Alec?"
"Oh, no. In many ways, though Jane is more powerful in her gifts, Alec is the stronger of the two when it comes to… resistance. I assure you, Carlisle and Esme, you have nothing to worry about. Besides, I allowed them to feed before we entered your range here."
"Good." Carlisle smiled with a small sense of relief. "Alice and Jasper are about to arrive."
They all turned toward the door, expectantly, where in just a few seconds, Jasper appeared.
"Jasper." Carlisle exchanged glances with the younger vampire. "Where is Alice?"
"Oh," Jasper smiled warily, glancing toward the ancient vampire who stood so still in his enfolding gray robes. "She'll be along. She wanted to stop by Charlie's on the way in. It seems he's collected some things for Resnesmee, and with his having a cold, Sue won't let him out of the house."
"Ah," Aro sighed with extremely obviously disappointment. Alice was his very favorite among the Cullens. He coveted her and her powers. The young vampire before him sensed this so they each recognized the competition in each other. "Little Alice. I do so hope to see her before I have to return to Volterra."
"I'm sure she will be disappointed, as well, Aro." Jasper knew that Alice had seen Aro here, which was why she was not here herself. Stopping by Charlie's had been a convenient necessity. She had no desire to be in the same room as Aro.
"Young man, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you before." Aro watched Jasper closely.
"No." Jasper hesitated before going on. They both knew he was lying. "I am sorry that circumstances have prevented our meeting before now."
"Oh, well, better late than never." Aro's words were to the room. Jasper had his eyes turned to Carlisle and Esme, pretending not to see the hand that Aro had extended. The last thing he wanted was for Aro to read the truth about Alice's absence from his touch. "Ah, here are Jane and Alec."
The Cullens automatically stiffened and stepped away slightly as Jane and Alec entered the house.
"Jane, Alex, have you enjoyed your time in Forks?" Aro smiled, slyly.
"Oh, Master….. the humans here are so interesting." Jane exclaimed, clapping her hands in childish delight. "There truly is an advantage to being incognito around them. It's absolutely delicious the way they go on with their lives, as if we are not even there."
"Well, until Jane got carried away and wanted to stand in line at that McDonald's place." Alec chuckled. "They lost quite a few customers when she asked the man in front of her what his blood type was."
The Cullens gaped at the exchange that was taking place. Aro's eyes snapped and the younger vampires became silent.
"Well, let us get to the business at hand and we can be on our way." His teeth glittered as he glanced around the room.