Ella shuddered at the vision that Aro had described and embraced her husband tightly. She buried her face in his chest and trembled with fear. Her mate smoothed her hair back gently and kissed her temple.
"It's okay my love, I promise you that. Everything has resolved itself." He smiled at her. Now that they were home, Ella felt that she could breath again. She went to her vanity mirror and began brushing her hair, melting copper. He went to his favorite chair and began reading one of his many books.
Ella looked at the picture sitting on the mahogany dressing table and smiled, a soft and gentle smile. It was the picture taken on her wedding day, 81 years ago. How the years seemed to pass like seconds, immortality had its downsides.
Chicago, Illinois - 1918
I can still remember the day that I was sent away. Edward, my rock, my only friend since Papa died, was sick.
"Eddie, please don't let Carlisle send me away...You need me!" I wailed, I knew that he was going to die. There was no point arguing with it. So many people who caught the influenza had died, including my papa and mama. Carlisle isn't a bad man, and sending me to Italy is a much better option than going to the local orphanage.
My sick brother looked up at me from his deathbed and smiled, though not without pain. He looked so fragile. So breakable. It tore my heart to shreds, the tears sliding down my pale cheeks.
"Hey squirt..." he mumbled weakly, even his voice sounded sick. "I'll be fine, it's only for a little bit. Think about everything you'll get to see in Italy. I promise, once I'm better, I'm coming to get you." Edward promised, eyes honest. I held his hand tightly in my small fifteen year old palm and Carlisle smiled sincerely.
"Edward, I love you." I whispered between my sobs. Suddenly, I felt cold hands encircle my arms and lift me out of my home. My screams filled the streets as I watched Carlisle bend over my brother, knowing that I'd never see him again.
I calmed down quickly and began the walk to the carriage lot, the tears still sliding down my face. As I walked, I spotted three men, all staring at me. I was used to the stares, but the stare from all three of them were different than anything I had ever seen before. The blonde one looked at me like he didn't know if he should kiss me or kill me. One of the dark haired ones looked at me with a look of reverance, as if the sight of me triggered the memory of someone lost so long ago.
The other dark haired man, the one in the middle, the by far handsomest one, stared at me in wonder. As if nothing else mattered, as if we were two music box figurines, forever in each other's company, and we'd be happy.
He smiled at me, and bowed like a gentleman. And like a teenaged girl, excited by the idea of danger, I smiled back and went on my way.
The family that I had been meant to live with were dead. The illness that had killed the father, killed the mother, killed the grandmother, and the two little kids was not unlike the disease that killed my family. Now I'm alone. In a house filled with the memories of death, and I was completely broke. I didn't know what to do...I'm only 18. I wasn't married, and probably won't be. I have no family, and schooling here means nothing for a woman.
I lived in the Italian town of Montepulciano. I walked around the town at night, it was the only way to shake the memories from my head. I walked a lot now a days. I also begged for money a lot more now, now that I was penniless, left with no inheritance, no pension-nothing.
After I spent the last of my money on a pitiful meal, I walked outside and began my walk home. My brother was dead. I knew it. I had been here for three years, and still he hadn't come. My adoptive family is dead, and just as I was beginning to heal. Maybe I wasn't meant to have a family.
I heard the soft whistling of a man, the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He had blonde hair, light soft down feathers and sea green eyes. Built like a greek statue, I wanted to know him.
"Pretty lady, I'd like to purchase you for the night." He whispered in my ear, his voice warm honey. The night air suddenly became icy when I realized the meaning behind his words. I couldn't believe it, rage fueled me.
"Signor I'm not-" For some reason, I stopped. My heart froze, staring at how beaufitul he was, and he was looking at me like I was an angel, not some penniless street urchin.
"I'll pay you..." He cooed. He was handsome, and perhaps he would marry me. I tried to imagine being the wife of such a man. Constantly feeling the envious glares from the jealous townswomen as we walked together, happy and wealthy.
I gulped and nodded, feeling his lips brush against the soft skin of my jaw, elliciting the only consent he needed with the nod of my head.
Suddenly, my double life began, my quest for survival intensified. Indeed, I'd never need to beg again. They would come to me with money, always wanting something.
Henry became my patron for the next seven years, and I was disgusted by him...and myself. He abused me relentlessly. My body became bruised often, and my soul too. It would never repair itself. He would sell me to his friends, and while the money was good, I could never escape the moral, emotional and physical beatings that I took. He removed me from my home and stuck me into a brothel with other whores.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. One night, as he washed his face in the sink full of water, I grabbed his neck and tried to drown him. I miscalculated his size-He was much too big for tiny, waiflike me and smacked me hard across the face, knocking me to the ground.
"Stupid girl!" He screamed obscenities at me and called for his other friends, regulars at the brothels. I ran and begged for help, but the other girls were frozen in fear. No one had ever tried to drown their patrons before.
The men, there were at least seven, quickly caught me and had their way. After they beat me, and left me for dead in the alley outside a park, I laughed weakly as they left, Edward, I'm coming. I blacked out into everlasting darkness.
I remember waking up in a strange man's arms, and it felt like we were flying. I smiled weakly and blacked out again. Positive that I was joining my family in Heaven. Finally.
When I awoke, I felt much better, but I knew this wasn't the brothel. I was surrounded by warm, red satin sheets. A fireplace roared at me from across the huge stone room. Was I in a castle? I quickly sat up in the huge canopy bed. Whoever saved me had dressed me in a soft cotton nightgown. I looked around and saw an elegant vanity set staring at me, inviting me. Once so proud, and a tiny bit vain, I had been avoiding mirrors since Edward died.
My reflection was drastically different from the fifteen year old girl from Chicago. My blue eyes held indefinite volumes of sadness. My once glowing skin was dull, my full pouty lips that I was so proud of were bruised and bitten. Were those bruises on my cheeks, or was that how hollow my face had gotten? My savior had braided my long copper hair back and it was significantly shorter now. They must've cut out the knots.
I walked around the round stone room. It was huge! There were long red curtains holding the sun back. There was a huge bookshelf, holding every book I could ever imagine. Drawn to the familiar and safe sanctuary of books I pulled out a copy of The Raven. I flipped open the cover and saw a handwritten note from...Edgar Allan Poe?
Dearest Aro,
Thank you ever so much for becoming my friend, and my only supporter. You've been true to me for as long as I can remember. For this, I'm giving you the first ever copy of The Raven.
I hope that someday you'll find your Annabel Lee, or your Virginia.
Your eternal friend,
Edgar Poe
"Impressive, is it not?" a voice behind me questioned, sending me into shock. The book flew out of my hand but before it could hit the ground, the man had the book in his hand. I almost screamed but I realized that this was the man who saved me and collected myself.
"Very." I replied hoarsely. My throat was itchy and burning, like a hot burning knife repeatedly stabbing itself into my neck. He gently placed a cool finger on my throat.
"Shhh...you were in horrid condition when I found you. I shall keep you safe. I promise that I shall explain everything to you when you awake. Please rest." He whispered, picking me up as if I weigh nothing. "You do almost weigh nothing. You were extremely emaciated when I found you."
If I looked surprised that he could hear my thoughts, he didn't say anything. The mystery man, or Aro, if that is his name, laid me back on the bed. It was sweltering in the room, and a bead of sweat appeared on my forehead. Aro put the blanket around me and offered to wrap his arm around me.
"I am...very cool. And you are feverish." He said with a smile. I nodded, any relief would be welcome. It wasn't long before I was asleep in this strange man's arms.
Ella stopped in her reverie and looked at Aro's reflection in the mirror, how handsome he looked. She smiled and sat in his lap while he read his book.
"Aro, my dear..." She mused kissing his throat softly, her lips grazing the soft skin. He remained enticed by his book, eyes still scanning the pages rapidl. Ella sighed.
"Hmm...?"
"Perhaps we should-" Ella began suggestively, running her hand through his hair.
"Later..." Her mate responded not looking up from his book. Ella grumbled in frustration and left the room, taking her long black cloak. She decided to take a walk in the hidden garden, and surely she'd be left alone. Snow was dusted across the garden and Ella sat on the old marble bench, the bench from so long ago. She was just running her hand through the snow when she realized that she wasn't alone.
"Marcus...? Why are you out here?" She asked the tall, dark, hooded figure. The elder sighed and sat next to her. "This was Didyme's favorite spot. It was our spot until..." He trailed off sadly. "I often come out here when it's quiet in the castle...I miss her everyday." Ella put her hand over his hand and smiled reassuringly. "You know, you remind me of her some days." He said looking into her eyes. She blinked in surprise. "It's your total devotion to your mate, your beauty, your strength." How out of character it was for him to admit anything so personal.
Ella smiled at him and kissed him on his cheek. "Marcus, you're one of my only friends here." The elder vampire smiled smally. "So why is your loveliness sitting out here in the garden? Alone?" He questioned. Ella rolled her eyes.
"You know Aro...once he picks up a book, he's gone." She grumbled, exasperated. He chuckled, a rare occurrence. It hasn't been the first time that she's felt neglected. It's been like this for a decade now. "You, my dear, have officially become a domestic. The honeymoon decades are over." He commented. Ella snorted sarcastically.
"I might just have to spice things up...I could dress up like Caius..." Ella mumbled bitterly. "Perhaps you could try talking to him. Force him into a conversation. Didyme and I went through what she called a 'dry spell' too." Marcus suggested. Ella smiled and nodded.
"I will. Thank you Marcus." She said kissing his cheek, returning to her room. She looked at her husband and sighed. "Aro, you and I need to talk."
"Hmm...?" He said, once again not looking up. Ella snatched the book up, tossing it restlessly at the wall. He looked at her in surprise. "I'm not happy." She said seriously.
"What do you mean?" Aro questioned, reaching to grab her hand, when she snatched it out of his reach. "Oh no. You and I are actually going to talk about this, you aren't going to read my thoughts and try to please me." Ella hissed angrily.
"How should I have known that you weren't happy?" Aro asked, in sincere confusion. Ella laughed sarcastically.
"You can read my every thought through touch! Oh, now there lies the problem! The problem is you'd much rather listen to Caius than your wife! Or read a book that you've read over a million times! Or train Jane and Alec when they've been trained enough! Anything but be with your wife!" Ella yelled. Her fists were clenched and her golden eyes were quickly turning to a glinting onyx. "I have a job to do. You will never understand how hard-" Aro began calmly, until Ella snorted and interrupted.
"I do understand! Aro, that's not the point! You don't even talk to me unless I get angry. Or if we're about to exterminate my family!" She said defeatedly, sitting on the edge of the huge canopy bed. "It's as if I'm merely a member of the guard." He frowned and sat next to her.
"You know that you're not 'merely a guard'. You're mine. Never forget that." He said, lifting her chin with his finger and kissed her softly. "Perhaps you're right...I'll try to spend more time with you. Starting now..." Ella giggled.