Chapter Six
Victoria's POV:
I gazed out into the Cullen's garden as Twilight approached. Edward would be here soon with his beloved Bella. I was looking forward to meeting her. I caught Aro's scent and felt his strong arms encircle me as his long pale fingers spanned my slender waist.
"Hello my desirable one," he breathed in my ear.
I shivered as he moved his hands to lift my red curls away from the nape of my neck and he brought his cool lips down onto my skin, feather-light and teasingly seductive.
"Aro! Behave my dear husband! My 'brother' will be here soon with his sweetheart!" I exclaimed as I pretended to swat him away with annoyance.
I turned around to embrace him, my lips eagerly meeting his in a sweet kiss. He had been gone for a few hours, hunting with Noah in the mountains. Of course our 'son' would not try animal blood, but he loved to go with his 'father'. Aro had taken some blood bags for Noah. We still didn't like my family to see Noah drinking human blood. They were so refined! Plus, it was sensible for us vegetarians to stay away from human blood. Aro and I had become de-sensitised over the past year. However, Noah was Noah and we loved him exactly the way he was.
I had stayed behind to talk with Alice, Esme and Carlisle. I pulled away, not because his mouth failed to entice me, but because I had so much I wanted to tell him before Edward's imminent arrival. I gazed into his golden eyes, now glowing lighter after his hunting trip. No doubt a few mountain lions had succumbed to my graceful husband.
"Oh Aro! I was afraid that trouble had found us again when you told me of Noah's visions, but now I fear that was only the tip of the iceberg, compared to what Alice has divulged to me today!" I exclaimed, worry lacing my voice.
Why could Aro and I not have the happy peaceful life we craved? It seemed it wasn't to be! Not until all our enemies were thwarted anyways. Aro raised his perfectly formed black eyebrows at me and sighed.
"Come, little flame, walk with me in the garden. You must tell me what dear Alice has 'seen' now," he said as he held out a pale hand to me.
The breeze gusted through the garden, catching his silky raven black hair. As ever I was in awe of his sheer perfection and beauty. His dark long hair which flowed over his strong muscular shoulders and chest. His ruby red full lips set in that pale face, with the recent addition of those beautiful warm amber eyes. He was a wondrous sight indeed!
Pay attention Victoria! Aro must be told of recent events. Stop being dazzled by him! I chided myself silently.
I took his hand and we walked into the garden together as the sky began to turn bruised and purple above us as day gave way to night.
"I am afraid that Alice has had new visions of the Volturi, mainly Athenodora and Caius. They plot against us, my love! Athenodora plans to leave the desolate castle in Rome where she and Desiderius dwell. She wants to reclaim the position of Volturi leader with her old mate at her side. Caius seemingly welcomes this, rather than feeling any abhorrence to his partner deciding to be with her old flame! "I stated to my husband who was listening intently to me.
"Ah, Athenodora wants her power back! This does not surprise me, Victoria. Not in the slightest. I always knew she would come back to take control. She wanted Desiderius back where she could become his puppet master once more! I detest what the entire Volturi stand for now, I hate what they made me become. They kept me from you all these years with false power and promises. I do not wish to have anything to do with them, my love," he exclaimed with passion.
I squeezed his cool hand with a sigh. He was not going to like what I was about to tell him next.
"Apparently Athenodora has decided Noah must be destroyed for murdering Sulpicia. She has also declared that you and I must be punished for disrespecting the Volturi and your marriage. Oh Aro, she wants revenge and I am afraid, so very afraid! The woman is insane; she is dangerous, just like your dead wife!" I wailed, fear rising in me quickly.
Aro frowned at me, his smooth brow creased with worry.
"This is worrying news indeed. Alice is rarely wrong in her visions, although the future is constantly changing like quicksilver. Maybe she is seeing Athenodora's thoughts, which can flicker and switch in an instant, given that her mind is indeed unstable! What else did Alice see, my dearest?" he asked as he stroked my face, his amber eyes full of concern for my emotional state.
"Alice said that Athenodora planned to raise Sulpicia, just like Noah said! Though how she can manage to put together the particles of dust which remained of the evil monster I do not know! And…., oh Aro, wait until you hear this last part! Athenodora wants to seek out the creature that made her. Really it is the original vampire, not she. That's if it was a vampire? She wants to bring this thing to life, to help her rule over the vampire world with pure evil and absolute horror, so no-one will dare step out of line again! Alice was actually shaking when she related this part. This creature, whatever it is, is to vampires like the Devil is to humans! "I wailed with sorrow.
Aro looked really shaken now. We stared at each other in disbelief as we digested all Alice had told me. Carlisle and Esme had asked us not to say anything to the others just yet, but had said I could share the visions with my husband. Would we ever have a peaceful existence together? What if all Alice said was true? It didn't bear thinking about!
Aro held me close to him, his hands stroking my back soothingly. "Try not to worry so, my love. We will talk more with Carlisle and Esme later once we meet Bella. Athenodora does not know where we are does she? We have time to plan. Time to process all this information. We need to stay strong, Victoria. We are strong! Please don't forget it!" my husband exclaimed passionately.
I didn't reply, I just squeezed him tighter, revelling in his presence and strength.
Suddenly our embrace was interrupted by my 'brother' Edward's appearance. Slightly behind him stood a girl, shyly peering at us through large chocolate brown eyes. She was small and pale and awkward looking, but I had never seen a more powerful and bright aura surrounding a human than the one which enveloped her now. It was dazzling, as if she was supernatural herself. I stood gazing at her as she looked back shyly at Aro and I. This was no ordinary girl, Edward was right.
Edward's smile was as wide as the ocean and just as sparkling as he introduced the girl to us, "Bella, this is Victoria and Aro," he announced proudly.
"Hi," she smiled tentatively as she came slowly towards us.
Her aura enveloped her like a bubble of light, silver and violet, sapphire and gold. It was almost blinding me and it took all the strength of my eyes and mind not to look away. I was intrigued by this mysterious human.
Or was I using the wrong word to describe Bella Swan? Was she even human at all?
