Ember shivered under the cloak she had been given by one of the guards. The look of hopelessness on the young man's face, she knew what that was like. To have some piece of them ripped away and not able to find out any answers. She stayed close to Ben and Tia after that, giving her children the permission to mingle although they were now old enough to do whatever they wanted. When Ben and Tia left her alone, she sought out the solace of the terrace. A few minutes passed before she realized she was not alone. The young man from before had followed her out there.
"I don't mean to intrude, but it seems like you're not enjoying yourself." He said softly, studying her quietly. "What's your name?"
"Ember." She answered in a hoarse whisper. He cocked his head to one side.
"Where are you from, Ember?"
"Egypt." He nodded to himself, tucking the information away for later use.
"Is there a reason you're not enjoying the party?" He asked.
"Is there a reason you're not enjoying the party?" She retorted quickly, covering her mouth up in embarrassment.
"Nein, nein, it's ok. My mother, she's been missing for quite some time. I miss her dearly, as does the rest of our family. You just seemed so quiet; I couldn't help but notice how much we are similar."
"Who are you?" She asked softly. He chuckled.
"You must truly be new to our world. I am Gabriel, Gabriel Vaughn Starling. My sisters are Calypso Gabriella Starling and Hazel Sophia Starling. We are the son and daughters of Aristeo Gabriel Starling, or Aro, High King of the East territories." Ember backed away quickly, nearly toppling over the balcony.
Gabriel caught her arm, swinging her to his side safely. "There's no need to run. My curiosity often gets the better of me and I'm sorry to have frightened you. I'm afraid I am much like my father. So please excuse my behavior." Didyme had tipped him off earlier that a woman who looked like his mother exceedingly so was in attendance of the ball, and it might do him good to inquire about it. Like Didyme, he had hoped for the longest of time that his mother might still be alive. But with no knowledge of the Volturi, that tiny strand of hope was slowly slipping away.
He let go of her arm and sighed softly to himself. "I'm sorry to have interrupted your time." He murmured, returning to the party. Ember couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow familiar, that they were somehow connected but his mother? No way in hell that she was married to a Volturi king, especially not the High King. She sneaked in the throne room to grab a glass of animal blood and returned to the terrace. The coronation was in midst but she was wandering the halls, finding herself in the library and setting down with a good book.
She must have dozed off because hours later she was awoken to the sound of bitter crying, screams tearing from the throat of a man in agony. Curiosity drew her to the room, where she stood and listened for the longest time until she heard the slump of a body against the floor. She opened the door, surprised that it wasn't locked and saw the body of the young prince lying on the floor, blood streaming from deep wounds on his wrists. Knowing what her venom could do, she licked at the wounds to seal the blood stream, keeping an eye on his pallid face, and bringing him up into his bed, tucking him in softly.
She turned to leave, but in the doorway stood a raven haired vampire. His eyes were bloodshot and darkened considerably at the sight of her. She quickly pushed past him, his eyes continuing to haunt her even after she had left. Pure, raw agony bled out through his eyes. He was a tired man, one that longed for death even as she did. Ember looked to her arms as she returned to her room and to the warmth that stayed under her skin. Ben and Tia had taken good care of her, but there was something that even they couldn't replace. Ember didn't know who or how, but she knew that in her human life, she had had a mate, a mate that had come searching for her and failed miserably.
Aro couldn't shake the feeling that a stranger, a strange vampire no less had been in his son's quarters. But for the reason she had, he was grateful, looking to the scars on his son's arms. He frowned. Both of them were caught up in such awful, miserable states of being. He understood where Gabriel had been coming from, but to take his own life? Aro stopped hiding the scars on his wrists a long time ago, but that didn't take away the ones on his thighs or stomach. He needed, he craved some reminder that part of him was still human, which meant part of him could still die.
And the woman, she had reminded him so deeply of Marissa that looking at her was almost painful. He would have to remind himself to thank her later. His body was suddenly wracked with a terrible aching pain and he collapsed to the floor quickly, writhing under the pressure. He saw her out of the corner of his eye and she was in no better state than he. Could she be?
Ember gasped as sharp shooting pains worked their way through her chest and she leaned against the wall for support, nearly doubling over as they came once again. She fled the room, gasping for air as they became more and more intense. Aro quickly picked himself up, running after her, catching up in no time. He caught her wrist and pulled her against his body, ignoring her protests of surprise and burying his head against her neck.
She literally mewled in protest as his teeth found her neck. There was no mistaking it. She was his blood singer and there was no other like her. "Issa love." He murmured, biting down hard, finding the stream of blood and opening it. Ember blushed in embarrassment as he moved his body against hers, pressing her up against a wall firmly.