The three kings often marvelled at the way a single child could change the hearts of so many, how her endless exuberance brought life back too the once bleak corridors of their castle. Her laughter as she played with Felix and Demetri seeming too light up their days. It did not go un-noticed that both men seemed too become more gentle in their personalities around the little girl.

In the three years she'd been with them, she had wormed her way into the hearts of even the coldest vampires within the coven. Jane and Alec had not been present when she had first been taken in by the coven, away on a mission too hunt down and destroy a renegade vampire hiding within the black forest, returning three weeks later. To say the two were a little startled too see a human child astride the shoulders of Felix as he carried her through the corridors was a vast understatement. But, just like she had done with the three kings, she smiled and giggled, asking Felix too put her down and wondering if they would play with her. It had been a turning point for both vampires, so accustomed too being treated with fear and mistrust because of their gifts, only too have a fragile human child take their hands within her own and wish nothing more than too know them. The change had been clear as Jane began too smile more often, not her usual malicious smile, but one of happiness whenever she was with Felicity, enjoying their games of hide and seek, feeling free to act the age she had been turned at. Alec found that he felt at peace with the girl, relishing the short time he would spend reading too her at night as she fell too sleep, clutching the stuffed toy too her chest that he had made not long after they had met.

She didn't seem too care that she lived amongst vampires, beings that could kill her if they lost control for even a moment, her questions about the whereabouts of her mother having been satisfied long ago with Aro's promise that the woman was safe and she had entrusted her daughter too their care. A necessary lie he thought if he wanted his little angel too be happy in her life with them. She trusted them with all her heart and never once doubted that they cared for her. Yes, the little girl had changed many things about the lives of the Volturi members. But, with her seemingly never ending supply of energy, so too came her talent for mischief.

Felicity enjoyed playing with her big brothers and sister, loving how high up she was when ever Felix carried her on his shoulders, how Demetri would show her little magic tricks that had her gasping in wonder and asking how he had done it. She loved playing her games with Jane, happy too see the other girl so alive in those rare moments that coven business didn't call her away. The stories Alec told her of the adventures he and the rest of the coven had been on always fuelling her imagination, although she got the impression that he toned them down quite a lot, and making her dreams so much more wonderful as she hugged the teddy he had made for her. But there was nothing that she loved more than the time she spent with the three kings, sitting on one of their laps as she listened too their conversations, pretending too read her book whilst trying too understand what they were talking about. Unfortunately, today was different as she stood opposite the three, scuffing her shoes against the marble floor and avoiding their stern gazes, knowing full well that she was in deep trouble.

"look at us, Felicity"

She felt her bottom lip shake at the tone of Marcus' voice. Out of all three, he was the one she didn't like too be angry with her the most. He was always so calm and kind towards her. But when she was bad, he became strict and rather intimidating, making it clear that she had disappointed him with her behaviour. She raised her head, wide and watery eyes looking between the three, hoping that the stern gazes would vanish. no such luck, she began too fidget with her hands

"do you know why we are displeased with you, child?"

She felt the tears pooling in her eyes at Aro's words. She hated it when they told her off, and when he referred too her as 'child' rather than her name, then she knew that she'd definitely done something wrong. She nodded her head, not feeling quite so brave at this moment in time too form words. However, a single raised eyebrow from Caius motivated her too supply an answer, not wishing to make her situation any worse.

"because I ran out of Ms. Carson's history lesson"

Aro rubbed his temples in frustration. The personal Tutor, hired only six months ago, had come storming through to the main lobby demanding too speak with either himself or one of his brothers, ranting about the deplorable behaviour of her student. It was made clear early on that Felicity had taken a disliking too the woman, not seeming to conform well with how harsh she could be. It had been Caius that had been subjected too the whining of the woman, coming too the conclusion that the reason for the girls great escape from the classroom was not just on a whim, but rather she had been caught staring out of the window in boredom and received quite the verbal onslaught for it. And Caius had not taken kindly too that. Yes, she had needed reprimanding but she had not needed humiliating, being told she was a stupid girl and that she was a waste of time. Felicity was neither of these things in his opinion, it just took a little more too engage her interest than sitting with a text book and listening too the woman's monotone voice drone on. The tutor had gone too far, and Caius had snapped her neck in his rage of how she had treated his little treasure.
But the matter still stood that Felicity needed to be disciplined. It would not be proper too leave her unpunished, giving the impression that she could run out on her teacher's and get away with it. She had too learn what behaviour was acceptable and what wasn't.

"come here"

She trembled at the angry tone of Caius' voice, taking the necessary steps too close the distance between herself and the three kings, lowering her gaze once more. She kept her head bowed as each placed a firm swat against her thigh, letting the tears run free at the stinging sensation as Marcus landed the final one

"shush little one, it is done now"

She sobbed harder at the soothing words he whispered, lifting her onto his lap as his brothers moved too comfort the crying child also, her face firmly buried in the lapels of Marcus' suit jacket. It would not do if they did not calm her now, after her punishment, and prove that they were no longer angry and that they still loved her dearly, it would never sit well with Marcus too think his precious one held such thoughts in her heart. They took no joy in ever having too punish her, but she needed too learn respect and discipline at an early age if they wanted her too flourish later on in her adulthood. It hurt them too see her cry, not liking too see her so upset. But perhaps that was the nature of their bond too her, Marcus had confirmed from the beginning that none of them shared a paternal bond with her, and she had never tried too request such a thing from them, unable too accept the idea of any of them as her father figure. Aro stroked her hair gently as he crouched down too her level, smiling in reassurance when she turned her gaze back too him.

"have you learned your lesson, my sweet?"

a soft hiccup as her tears subsided and she rubbed her eyes, a whispered 'yes, Aro' as she moved her gaze up to meet the fond smile of Caius as he took her from his brothers arms and held her too his side, placing a gentle kiss too her forehead.

"good. then perhaps, whilst there is no matters that need our attention, we could spend some time with you, playing in the gardens"

Her smile was dazzling to the three as she nodded enthusiastically, hugging her arms around Caius' neck before resting her head too his shoulder as the four of them made their way too the gardens. Perhaps it would be better for he and his brothers too take the matter of her education more personally? there were none that knew better than they how too handle their mischievous little human.

So, what do you think? Hopefully I've not disappointed with this update. Coming up next, The teenage years :)