AN – Chapters 1-3 and the preface have been MAJORLY EDITED. And I squished 4 chapters into three, so they're all longer now. FYI.
Aro hadn't said much on the phone, just that he needed to see them immediately. He only really needed Esme, but accepted the fact that Carlisle would be coming as well. Esme and Carlisle had boarded a plane to Italy immediately afterwards, while the rest of the Cullens stayed home, rather than accompanying them. Carlisle hadn't seen Aro since the battle of the Wolves, when the vampires met in Canada to defeat them. They had been in Europe for the battle of the Flyers.
They arrived in Italy and were met by the cloaked figures of Demetri and Felix. The hoods were not drawn, no longer needed in this world. There was no reason to hide anymore. The colour had been changed from black to a deep gold, signifying their current reign of the world. Esme and Carlisle were led to a limousine, and transported to the castle. When they arrived the walk through the castle was short. They no longer needed to sneak through any winding underground tunnels hidden away from the humans. Esme smiled as she looked over the castle, unchanged since her last visit. In celebration of their victory in the human war, Aro had asked her to redesign it. She had done so happily. Designing and building was a talent and passion of hers.
"Ah! My beautiful Esme. How are you? And Carlisle! It's been too long." Aro greeted enthusiastically. Esme allowed him to kiss her hand before backing away, stepping beside her husband. Carlisle noticed how calm Aro was. He didn't look worried, only troubled. Carlisle wished Edward was with them so he could tell them Aro's thoughts.
"I have a task for you. It would need to be kept secret if you accept. Esme," He announced, turning towards her. "I have another project for you to build, a home I suppose. I would like to show you your client if you don't mind. It's easier than trying to explain." He gestured towards the door. He had gotten up off his throne and walked towards it. They followed Aro silently through the doorway. He led them down to an underground cavern. A new addition to the castle, Esme noticed. Brand new it seemed by the scents of freshly turned earth and rock around her.
At the end of the tavern there was a large metal cage, the scent of the metal was familiar to Carlisle, but he couldn't remember where he had smelt it before. The pair peered inside and gasped. Bella lay on the barred floor that kept her from digging through the raw earth and rock that lay underneath the cage. Her wings were slightly extended and bound behind her. Her hands were bound as well, though her feet were not. She was curled up in sleep, and though she noticed the vampire's entrance in her slumber, she did not awake.
After the pair had taken a good look at the girl Aro dragged them back up the tunnel, shutting the door behind him. The Cullens had not said a word. Too shocked and unsure of what they saw to find something to say. Aro began to speak.
"Yes, we've found a Flyer, hopefully the last one. We want her to trust us. We don't know of her intelligence yet, but we think she was orphaned. I ask you now Esme, to build her a more... Permanent home using this metal," He announced as he pulled a small piece of the metal out of a pocket in his cloak. Presumably used to build the cage where the girl was currently staying.
"Is that Titanium?" Carlisle asked, puzzled. It smelled like titanium, but the scent was off.
"A modified version of Titanium, yes. As far as we know, she cannot break through it before we moved her to the cage she's in now we kept her in a normal cell with her feet bound. We had to throw this one together quickly before she got too uncomfortable. Though she is young, she is still danger to others, so we must contain her." Just as he spoke, James and Victoria came through a door to their left and passed by silently. Their clothes had not been changed since their encounter, so the large gashes in their clothing were still visible, even when the actual wounds were nearly healed. Esme and Carlisle's eyes followed the couple as they took in the information.
Esme was undecided. He was asking her to create a new home where they would keep the poor girl. Though she knew how dangerous a flyer could be, Esme had seen a flyer shatter mass amounts of vampires with a quick flick. But she was still very young, as Aro had said.
She imagined this project would not look like other's she had created.
"So young." She muttered. Carlisle snuck a hand around her waist in support. She leaned into his side. She was still unsure, but visions started in her head of the challenge of building something for this creature. Aro was offering her the chance to make her a home, rather than leave her in that filthy cage where she currently was being held. It was unusually kind of Aro.
Esme expected ulterior motives to his decision to gain the girls trust, but finally agreed to the project. He left them in a private room of the castle, informing them that they could stay as long as they liked. They were silent for a while, and Carlisle decided to leave her to her thoughts, walking over to the bed to sit down.
"If I'm building this I want to know his motives with the girl. He won't just let her live in her little 'home' forever. He must want her to join him, but doesn't know enough about her to find something to threaten her with. She's too strong for his liking." She concluded. Carlisle nodded silently.
"It is out of character for him to be so kind. But it's something new and exciting. He hasn't had a challenge since the war." He rationed, moving her so she was sitting on his lap, her head resting on his shoulder.
"There's something about that girl Carlisle. We only got a short look at her, but she's different than the other flyers, but I can't pinpoint how." Esme said, pinching the bridge of her nose. She'd acquired the habit from Edward. He'd always pinched the bridge of his nose when he was frustrated or angry. She sighed in thought. The habit had only worsened when he'd left, and it was a constant reminder of him.
Carlisle sensed where her thoughts were and got up quickly, extending a hand towards her. She shook her head to clear it and grabbed Carlisle's hand, pulling herself up off the bed.
"We'll speak to Aro tomorrow. I will see that girl again."
"Aro, I'd like to see the girl once more." Esme spoke quietly. There was no reason for Aro not to let her see the Flyer again, but there wasn't any reason why he should. He thought for a moment.
"I suppose... I have no qualms with you seeing the girl again. All I ask is that you not cause any trouble for her or the guards, for their safety and yours. Though I wouldn't expect you'd do so Esme." He said politely, rising from his throne to escort her to the tunnel. Carlisle who had been standing further back silently came forward and followed as well.
They walked swiftly through the tunnel. They stopped as they entered the larger cavern. Finally the dirty metal cage and the lone flyer came into view.
~Thee Madd Hatt