Aro
I paced around the hall, thinking. I glanced out of the city of Volterra. I was fairly certain that now the hybrids were directly involved in my plans, that Alice wouldn't be able to see. But what if she did by some accident? I had decided to train them for their own protection. There was ten of them all together now. Demetri had taken some real persuasion for him to impregnate four other women. He stayed away from them until the job was done. Felix had three sons and two daughters; Nero, Claude, Bartholomew, Evie and Odette. Demetri had fathered me a daughter and four sons; Mei, Joshua, Nicholas, Arlo and Rocco. Marcus had been adamant that I should tell them who they were related to, he was terrified that they would fall in love. Most of them were now fully grown. If my predictions were correct it would be another four months until the youngest ones, Odette and Rocco, would be fully matured. Nero and Mei had began looking after the younger ones, showing them right and wrong. There would be 'captains' if anything would ever happen.
Felix and Demetri had been forbidden to reveal their paternity, Demetri often resigned himself to his room, refusing to see the fruits of his loins. The hybrids were as quick as vampires, their skin was as impenetrable as ours was, they still required blood, some were gifted (Claude, Rocco, Nero and Evie), they were just as strong but they could easily pass as humans. This made them deadly. Nero was the gem in my crown, so-to-speak, he believed me to be his birth father. He was beautiful; he had Felix's strength, but a gift of his own. Nero could manipulate water and air, and the weather. His brother, Claude, was also beautiful, he could transform shape. He could be any animal he wanted to be. Their sister, Evie, was a problem to me. She was much like the Irish vampire, Maggie. She knew when people were lying. Caius was worried about this as well. Rocco was the only one of Demetri's children that was gifted. He had a similar ability to his father, he could locate anything. Not just vampires and humans, but anything.
I was still pacing the hall when Mei came close. She waited for my attention. I turned towards her and smiled kindly. She smiled back. "How can I help you, my darling Mei?" Her eyes fell to the floor shyly. She curtsied and allowed her eyes to meet mine. "Master, I would like to ask your permission for something. Would I be allowed to be in a relationship, with Nero?" This didn't shock me. Nero's thoughts were very Mei orientated recently. I could see no problem with this. If we were to succeed in our many missions, they would be free to go wherever they wanted. It shouldn't compromise anything, if anything it would make them want to stay here longer, if they were indeed mates. "Of course you can, Mei." I held her hand in two of mine. Nero had accidentally confessed his feelings for her the previous evening, she wanted to kiss him tonight. "Be gone now, Mei. Heidi will be here soon. Please ready your brothers." She nodded once and left. I listened to the noises of my home. Everything was oddly quiet.
I decided to discuss tactics with Caius for the final time. Marcus wasn't interested in our scheming. He wasn't interested in anything. I walked into our chamber room, to find it was empty. Caius must be with Athenodora, but Marcus's absence was a mystery to me. I listened to the sounds of the castle harder. Caius was indeed with his wife, they were talking about their last feeding. My throat burned at the memory of the strong smelling human blood. I heard Marcus speaking with Demetri. They had bonded in the last six years. I heard Carrie speaking with Anthony. He was telling her about his past. Although I already knew, I found it interesting how he spoke very little of it. He was helping Felix train the Hybrids very effectively. They wouldn't go in for the 'easy kills' has would be expected. I smiled sardonically.
I decided to take my place in the thrown room, and listen to the castle some more. I heard Nero and Mei. Nero shuffled nervously. "Mei, I think I'm falling in love with you. Father will think I am weak. A disappointment to him." Nero's voice was saddened. Mei placed a kiss on his cheek. "He's gave us his blessing. I spoke with him today." Mei confessed. Caius and Athenodora were having an argument, forcing me to listen harder to my 'son' and his mate discuss their relationship. "Then, we can be together then?" I heard the excitement creep into my favourite hybrid's voice. Mei didn't speak, I assumed she nodded. They began to kiss and I listened into Caius's conversation. "You should not ask that of me, Athenodora. I've told you before I will not betray my brothers." I was suddenly as perpetuated as Caius seemed to be. What did Athenodora want from him?
She sighed heavily. "You choose your brothers over your wife?" Caius took a seat beside her, making the bed springs squeak. "I'm choosing no one. Why do you even ask this of me?" What was she even asking of him? "For Sulpicia! She is like a dear sister to me, Caius." The mention of my wife's name had made me see red. Venom pooled in my mouth out of pure anger. "What has Sulpicia got to do with this? If she wanted to know then she would surely ask Aro. He is her husband after all." I knew that this conversation was vital for me to listen to now. I was stood up, lingering near the door. If Caius told Athenodora the thought process of my plan, the Cullen's would know something was coming for them at some point. "Sulpicia barely sees Aro now. He spends all of his time with the creations. She's lost her husband to his 'children'. None of us understand what his happening." This was close to the mark. My hand crumbled the door knob into dust. "You all should stop speculating! Aro has warned you of this! You know he will not take kindly to going against his orders…" Caius warned.
Their room went silent for awhile, but I knew I couldn't trust the silence. Caius moved from sitting next to his wife. The floor boards creaked so I gathered that he was walking towards the window. "I know why Aro doesn't want me to speculate…" Athenodora gasped. Caius flew over to her. "NO! Athenodora, don't say it. Don't even make a decision to say it." Caius almost screamed at her. I heard Sulpicia's breathing spike, three rooms over as she heard. "Aro wanted the Hybrids creating to destroy the Cullen's once and for all. The hybrids are his army!" Athenodora speculated. I shoved my way through the door and flew up the stairs. I was outside Caius and Athenodora's room within the second. I pushed the door open. "What did you say?" Venom coloured my words. Athenodora backed away. Caius pushed her behind him. The only loving action I had ever seen him do through my own eyes. "Aro, calm down, Alice can't see the hybrids, we're still protected…" Caius breathed. I continued to stalk towards her.
My vision was clouded in red mist. I wanted to destroy the traitor. My fist hit her hard in the neck, shoving her towards the wall. The wall crumbled a little as the tiny vampire hit it. Caius leapt forward pushing me down. "NO, BROTHER!" He growled. Something dragged Caius from on top of me. I sprung up and looked over at Athenodora. She was perfectly fine, just shaken up. Caius was seething with anger, Felix was holding him back. I heard movement behind me and saw Sulpicia standing there shocked and wide eyed. "How could you?" My wife sobbed as she fled the room. I just stood there, emotionless. I prayed that the Cullen's couldn't see the hybrids now. If Alice could, that meant they would know there was some threat from us. I had created such a feeling of animosity in my home. Who knew what the future would entail for my coven? We were crumbling.
Let me know what you all think, please. Expect a chapter from Nero soon as well. I have ideas :)