Aro practically collapsed onto his throne. It had been an exasperating day. First, in walks one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever laid eyes on wanting his help. A siren or a goddess, perhaps. The sight of those amazing blue eyes had lent weight against the argument his other senses made that she was indeed a vampire. Could this vision truly be one of his kind? Remarkable.
Then, to have such a power. A shield that neither he nor Jane could penetrate. If only he could convince her to join the guard. What an advantage she would be. Only then to find out she is mortally depressed because of that fool Carlisle considers a son.
And to top it all, his dear, if not wayward, friend seemed to be in violation of the most basic of laws by allowing his pathetic, self-loathing child to take, and then abandon, a human pet! It was utterly outrageous.
"Brother, you know this must be dealt with. The Cullens are not above our laws," Caius pulled Aro from his silent musing with his sneering remark.
"I am aware. We will deal with that in due time. There are more pressing matters to discuss first," Aro responded as calmly as he could. His patience with his snide brother was wearing thin as of late.
"Like what?" Caius snapped back.
"Like," Marcus responded in an attempt to keep the peace, "Our dear brother's immediate and powerful connection to this new blue-eyed visitor, for one."
"You cannot be serious, Aro! She just arrived. She's a complete wreck and her ideals have been obviously corrupted by that silly Cullen boy. A vegetarian, of all things!" Caius was beyond disgusted with Aro at this point. He would never understand why the Cullens were allowed to live as they did. It was unnatural and something should have been done to correct the oversight long ago.
"Please calm yourself, Caius. I am afraid that our dear Marcus may be overestimating or misconstruing my interest. I will not deny her beauty but you must see that the tactical advantages of keeping her here and happy are worth the trouble she may be."
"You are always collecting," Caius shot back, making the word sound like an extremely offensive vulgarity.
Before the brothers could argue further, Jane slipped back into the throne room and Aro stood to meet her.
"How is our guest settling in, my dear little one?" he asked, although he didn't need to as he grasped her hand.
"She is bathing," Jane responded unnecessarily.
"Ah, you do not care for young Isabella. Do you, my dear?"
"I can't say that I am particularly interested in her one way or another, Master," Jane responded in an attempt to be noncommittal, but her voice betrayed her annoyance. She wasn't fooling anyone.
"Still... perhaps you would prefer I send someone else with her to hunt?" Aro asked.
"You can't mean... animals? That's disgusting!" Jane made a face befitting of her apparent age.
"As I thought," Aro sighed letting his disappointment show in his tone. "Alec, if you would?"
"Yes, Master," Alec responded as if he were bored before heading out to find Isabella.
"Now, Jane. My dearest. Why can you not be more open to her? What is really bothering you?" Aro asked, kneeling down to speak to his favorite.
He really wanted her to feel his fondness for her. As much as he found himself drawn to Isabella, Jane had been his favorite for centuries and that fact was not changing now. He needed her to know that.
"She is just so unworthy..." Jane began before Aro interrupted her.
"You know there is no need to be jealous. You are and always will be my favorite." He had not really meant to admit it aloud in the middle of court in front of the others, but it was really no secret and there was no taking it back. No one seemed particularly surprised to hear him say it anyway.
"It's not that, Master. Thank you. I am loyal to you as always and for forever. Whatever you command of me, whether I like it or not, I will always do. But that is not what I mean about Isabella. She obviously has great power and she is so beautiful and all she wants to do is throw it all away! And for what? Because Edward the idiot Cullen doesn't love her? Could she have possibly fallen for a more pathetic excuse for a vampire?"
"Well, my dear, you should remember that even that depressed, self-hating excuse for an immortal would be appealing to a simple human. She has not yet seen him with her new eyes."
"I suppose that is true. He must really have done a number on her for her to doubt herself so. They call us monsters for feeding on humans, but we do not destroy them the way he has this one."
"It is true. She does not see herself. Jane, will you help me? Help me to help her see that she is worthy?"
"I will always work to help you, Master. If you want her, I promise to get her for you. No matter what," Jane vowed.
"I knew I could count on you, my dearest. And who knows? Perhaps you will benefit as well."
Aro's cryptic response made Jane a little uncomfortable. She could not imagine any benefit to her for helping this girl except for pleasing Aro and that was enough for her.
"Aro," Caius called the leader's attention back to the thrones. "Now may we discuss Carlisle's indiscretion?"
"Yes, brother. Of course. Let's call Carlisle here to explain his side of things. I do not want Edward here, however. We will have enough difficulty with Isabella without that one making things worse."
The outer chamber door opened and Gianna stepped gingerly through, a phone in her hand.
"Please forgive me, Masters, but Dr. Cullen is on the line." Her fear was palpable in the air. It was quite unlike her to enter the throne room at all despite her protected status among the court.
"Calm yourself, Gianna, and bring me the phone," Aro encouraged her.
She slipped slowly and carefully toward Aro. The moment the phone was in his hand, she turned and fled the room. She knew better than most that not many humans ever leave this room alive and she was less than confident in her place among the immortals.
Aro chuckled as he watched her go. The girl's fear might not be misplaced. She had shown little promise in her time here.
"Carlisle, I was just thinking of you my friend," Aro spoke into the phone.
Every immortal in the room could easily hear his response, "Yes, Aro. Alice informed me that you wished for me to come to Italy but she didn't seem to know the specific reason for your request. What is it that you need of me?"
"Ah, of course, young Alice. But she did not see why we are requesting your presence?"
"No, and she is a bit concerned. Something seems to be interfering with her gift."
"I can sympathize," Aro mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"Another time, my friend. Please come to Volterra for a short visit, won't you?" Aro's tone made it clear that this was not the request it might have sounded like. There would be no choice for Carlisle to make. He would come, whether he wanted to or not.
"I believe I can manage some time off work. We will catch the first flight out."
"Please forgive this rudeness but the invitation is only for you, Carlisle. There are things we need to discuss. Afterward, perhaps some of your family might be able to join us."
"I can't imagine why you would bar my family from your city. Have we offended you in some way?"
"They may come to the city but until we have spoken, they will not be permitted in the castle. My reasons will be clear to you soon." Aro's tone left no room for discussion.
"I am anxious to find out what this is all about, Aro. I trust all will turn out well in the end?" Carlisle could not hide a hint of worry from his voice.
"All will be as it should be, my old friend." With that, Aro hung up the phone. He'd comforted Carlisle more than he already should have in his brothers' presence. He could not afford to show favoritism in this matter. He felt bad for making Carlisle so nervous but mostly he was fascinated in Alice's apparent blind spot.
"It must be Isabella," Caius answered Aro's silent musing. "Nothing else has changed. I wonder if she could see her when she was still human. Isabella said she was immune to Edward's power while she was still human."
"There was no way to ask without giving her away. I'm afraid we have already made them quite nervous."
"I am not concerned with Carlisle Cullen's comfort level," Caius sneered.
"Yes, but perhaps we would do well to begin exploring Isabella's talent as soon as she returns from her hunt," Marcus added.
"I agree. Jane dear, please go wait for your brother and Isabella to return and bring them straight here. Do not mention the Cullens. I want to see how she reacts to that news personally."
"Yes, Master," Jane replied before taking her leave.
"I think it is wise to be a bit circumnavigational with that information. It may be that she would want revenge, if we play things right," Caius advised.
"I do not believe that will be the case. For Edward, perhaps, she might be manipulated to hate, but Isabella is truly a light. I do not believe vengeance will ever be something she will seek," Marcus added.
"I believe you are wise in that assumption, brother. Though it would be easier..." Aro trailed off.
"Yes, it would," Caius agreed and decided it would not hurt to try to bring the girl around to his way of thinking.