I'm so sorry I haven't been updating like I was before, I have just been so busy with classes and such, I'll try to make a better schedule so I can update more often. For this chapter I am leaving a you a previous passage so you can remember where Aro, Caius, and Athenodora are in the story (that way you don't have to go back a chapter and it saves time haha)

Here we go!

Previously:

It would take three days for Felix to turn, in this time Aro had already fed from his own donor and was now pacing in the woods nearby the barn. He wondered what he could do for Sulpicia.

"You could turn her." Caius suggested thoughtfully. "When they go to hang her, she'd live." A chuckle left his mouth and Aro growled a low warning.

"Do you not think I haven't thought of such a thing? You have ruined my plans."

Caius glared at Aro, but contained himself from showing any other emotion. "You best be thanking me. If it not for my instructions on the group, Sulpicia could have already been killed because of Aldo. I bought you and her time, Athen will be watching over her for now. We shall see how things go. But you must save her eventually."

"No, really? I was planning to let her die, Caius." Aro remarked in sarcasm, then continued. "I will not let filth destory my future mate. I need her as a wife, I need a Queen." Aro rubbed his hands together, he was thinking of the countless possibilities in which he could do to save her.

"Let us hope you needing a Queen isn't the only reason you chose this human." Caius remarked thoughtfully, but received no answer from Aro.

Athenodora had since left from seeing Sulpicia, this woman intrigued her. For now, she was at the door of Sulpicia's caretaker. She wanted to meet this 'cruel man' and see it for herself, she knocked on the doors, ordering her guards to stay outside.

When Aldo opened the door, his eyes lit up dramatically. In front of him stood a beautiful Queen, on his doorstep in all of her royal glory. He stuttered to speak, so shocked to see such a woman this close to him.

She looked flawless to him and when she smiled, his old heart began to race. "Hello Aldo..I wish to speak with you...alone." Athen showed him a smirk, watching his reaction.

He gulped loudly and stepped aside. "Please come in..."

Chapter Ten: Lies - (For this chapter I decided to use a song for it, which would be Lies by Marina And The Diamonds)

Athenodora smiled politely as she walked into the small home that Aldo was currently alone in, she gave a slow look around and couldn't hide the look of disgust from her face. How people could stand to live this way, she'd never understand. "Disgustoso..." Muttered Athenodora.

(Disgustoso - Disgusting)

She didn't make any kind of attempt to cover what she said, and whether if Aldo heard her or not didn't concern her, she heard him close the door and clear his throat, his heart was beating incredibly loudly and he was swallowing nervously.

She slowly turned and smiled at him, her hands in front of her to make her appear more lady like than what she actually was, more innocent towards an old man who's eyes still wondered over her like he was her age. It disgusted her, but she hid it perfectly.

"I've come here to speak with you about, Sulpicia." At the mere mention of Sulpicia's name, Aldo's expression turned dark and devious. He walked to the wooden table with cracks all through it, and pulled out a chair for Athenodora, she gladly walked over and took her seat, the wood creaking in protest under her light weight.

"Have you come to ask me to withdraw my accusations, my Lady?" His heavy Italian accept slipped through his lips as he gave a respectable bow to Athenodora and walked around the table, beginning to take a seat across from her. But he stopped and instead looked at her, carefully adding, "Would you like some water? I apologize, I have molto poco..."

(molto poco - very little)

Athenodora simply looked at him with an unpleased look but then smiled. "Water would be lovely, grazie." The smile that brightened Aldo's face at her accepting an offer from him looked at though it could crack his face from him smiling so big. He hurridly walked to the little area he had, getting them each a cup of water. He took it back to her, setting her wooden cup down in front of her and then finally took his seat.

(grazie - thank you)

Athenodora looked at the cup then at Aldo who was sipping from his at a careful pace. She nudged the table against him at a quick rate, causing him to cough on his water. She fought to control the smile that wanted to appear.

Aldo was coughing on his water, attempting to not choke. When he finally controlled himself and his coughing came to a stop, he rubbed the front of his throat. "Oh Sir!" Athenodora said in a shocked and crying tone, "Are you alright?" She let fake concern become heavy in her voice, standing up and going to his side where she pressed her cold hand against his throat as if to soothe the roughness that his choking caused.

He swallowed deeply when she touched his skin, noticing she was cold. But he didn't think anything of it, surely this woman must just be naturally colder than he was? He gently pushed her hand away and stood up, walking to the other room then returning with a thin blanket from Sulpicia's room. He simply draped it over her shoulders, for a moment Athen was confused then it hit her.

He thought she was freezing, how amusing! How amusing that this man could be so cruel to one woman, but in awe and sympathy for another! She gave a soft giggle and let him see her curtsey to him. "Grazie Aldo."

(Grazie - thank you)

"Di niente!" He said in an excited tone as they took their seats again. He looked at her and leaned forward, his arms resting on the table in an attempt to stay near her. The scent of Sulpicia washed over her in waves as she clinged the thin, faded green blanket around her. She copied Aldo, resting her arms on the table. She was aware that, as she leaned forward, her dress dipped down in the front to show more of herself.

(Di niente - You're welcome)

Not that she cared, but Aldo did and that was the point. For a man, he would be interested no matter the age, she tilted her head at him as he glanced down from her eyes and then back up quickly. "I am simply here to speak about why you would turn her in, Aldo."

He simply smiled at her. "I was not aware dear Sulpicia had such friends in luoghi alti." He remarked simply and leaned back in his chair, looking Athen up and down. She fought the urge to roll her eyes at him. This man easily disgusted her, she looked forward to when he'd be killed. She'd have to speak to Aro about giving him as a gift to Sulpicia as a gift after she was turned.

(luoghi alti - high places)

"She is a very charming woman, but I find her caretaker even more so. But I urge you to think of what you are doing, she is your only famiglia left. I ask you to rethink for your sake, not for hers." She faked a good Italian accent so her true Greek accent would not show through, he seemed to enjoy that as he watched her closely.

(famiglia - family)

She moved from her seat and sat carefully on her knees, next to his chair. He looked surprised towards her and tilted his head. "Famiglia or not, the safety of the village is also important..." He looked down at her with a sigh, and began running his fingers through her blonde hair.

"Besides...there are some things more important than famiglia.." He remarked.

Aro had since returned to the village to see Sulpica, Caius offered to stay behind with Felix while he finished turning. Aro didn't have much else to say to Caius for the rest of the time he spent with him in the last village. He sighed heavily and followed Sulpicia's scent to the barn that she was being held in, he spoke to the two men guarding outside the doors.

They allowed him to walk in, giving him a warning to not get so close to which he offered his thanks, but had no intention of that. Aro was sure his eyes weren't too red, he hadn't taken too much blood before.

He walked inside the barn and stopped when he saw Sulpicia, tied against the wooden pillar and how defeated she looked. He frowned when he saw her, he knew he should have stayed gone longer but he couldn't stand to do so. He walked over to her, purposely making noise as he walked so he wouldn't frighten her suddenly.

When Sulpicia looked at him, the first thing he noticed was her eyes were glassed over, slightly puffy, and a bit red. It was obvious that she had been crying and upon seeing this, he frowned.

"Sulpicia..." He began softly, but she began to sob. He was over to her in a moment, not caring at that moment if she saw his enhanced speed or how cold he was when he touched her skin, all he could care about at that moment was how she was feeling.

"Sulpicia..darling please.." He spoke softly to her and put his hands against her face, making her look at him. "It'll be alright, its going to end Sulpicia..." Aro spoke, meaning it as a promise, but the expression on her face made it clear that she didn't believe him.

Sulpicia calmed down her sobbing, taking deep breaths as she sniffled and said to him, "What's the point in saying it's never gonna end?"

He had to hide a scowl on his face. But he could see it from her perspective, his promise was empty unless he actually did something more to help her. "I know...you believe I'm a coward now, do you not? And be honest to me Sulpicia."

Sulpicia glanced away from him briefly, gaining chill bumps across her neck from his touch. "A coward to the end." She nodded briefly, confirming his suspicion. He showed her a gentle smile from that as he leaned forward to her. "Then by all means, you are correct. I am a coward when it comes to you Sulpicia, I become afraid for you, and afraid of what could happen to you."

She said nothing, looking down from his gaze. He become tired of the ropes the were binding her, and ripped them away from the wood pillar behind her. The ropes loosened completely and fell around her, laying in her lap and behind her as she blinked in shock. How was he so strong to do this?

"I can't let you go...Sulpicia, I can't let you go." He leaned forward to her again and tilted her head gently up, placing kisses across her neck and shoulder. "I don't plan to be letting you go..." He trailed his lips across the front of her neck, feeling her sigh from the contact.

"Only in the evening could you give yourself to me?" She asked him softly, closing her eyes as she began to shake from how open he was being about his feelings to her so suddenly.

"Perhaps...but, why don't we just pretend, Sulpicia?" He hesitated when he reached to her lips, pausing briefly as he watched her. There was silence between them before she spoke by asking him, "Pretend what?..."

"Pretend that we're not here, that we're alone and that it is all Lies.."

In that moment she opened her eyes to see him there in front of her. "Aro..." She was cut off from speaking as he leaned forward, kissing her lips with his deeply. His arm slipped behind her back to hold her close, and in that brief moment, she could just pretend.

The council in the village had gathered in the house near the barn, they were all deciding on what type of trial would be fit for Sulpicia. They noticed one of their important members were missing, but thought nothing of it.

"How shall we do this?" Asked one man.

Another, who was called Ben, stood up at the head of the table and placed his hands against it, looking at all the men with a fury of seriousness. "We will test her. But either way, the woman will die. It is only up to fate and God if she dies an innocent woman, or a woman of darkness."

I hope you all liked this chapter! Sorry it took so long! I added the translations higher so it would be easier to go along with the story, let me know what you thought :)

The song I used was Lies by Marina And The Diamonds. There are two versions to it, you can decide which you like best for this chapter.

Lies - Marina And The Diamonds

or

Lies - Marina And The Diamonds ACOUSTIC