Chapter Eleven: A Family That Drinks Blood Together, Stays Together

Fantasy Writer: Ok, I love you, but I already knew from the start that I was going to make Sulpicia the blonde beauty. At first I imagined Scarlett Johanesson when she was Olivia in The Prestige, but then I felt like Sulpicia showed be more natural looking, so I saw Charlize Theron in Snow White and The Huntsman. BOOM! Pici is born! Sulpicia is going to be Helen's guardian angel until the end of the story. Fair warning, she is Aro's manipulative equal in every way.

mhatling: Thanks for your support!

Cutie Bunny: Cliffys are the bomb diggity, just clearing that up.

MissWisy: I know, but I feel like if I put a translation in the exact moment, it becomes unproffesional. Sorry.

dimiksgirl123: I enjoy making you shaken up and surprising you. That is why, like Helen, I am badass.

Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order -Samuel Beckett.

"I remember the day I met everyone apart of the Volturi, officially, I mean. God, how much I hated that day, and laughed at it too. That was the day I met the kindest mother I ever got, and that was the day I met a fascist, masochistic, cynical, sadistic, and toxic being known as Caius."

Helen had been ushered out of the plane with her bag, as fast as anyone had been. Aro had been a little too eager about getting her to Volterra, but from what he was telling her about his brothers, she really wished that she was going to wake up in St. Louis tomorrow.

"Are you paying attention, dear?" Aro asked as he quickly walked her towards another black Ferrari. It seemed that they would be riding alone, again.

"You have brothers." She replied snarkily.

"Caius and Marcus, it will be beneficial if you know who they are." He opened the door for her and slid her in, and then sped over to the driver's seat, which was now on the right side.

"What, you don't want me to get to know them on my on?" She teased.

"You may have some difficulty with that, my princess." Aro nervously bit his lip as he began to speed away from the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome. "For you see, my brothers do not have as much patience as I do. Not that I doubt you could win them over, but my brother Caius, he has a specific hatred towards humans."

"What does that mean?" Helen said cautiously also biting her lip.

"He has a keen desire towards pain and cruelty, he delights in torture. Helen, do please be on your best behavior." Aro's voice went into a soft assurance, "I promise that no harm shall ever befall you as long as I have a say, but Caius will threaten at your slightest comment. He will not hesitate to intimidate you or frighten you, Caius will want you to fight back, to give him a reason to hurt you.

"Please don't try his temper." He ordered kindly.

"So, he hates me for no other reason except that I'm human." Helen summed up, somewhat agitated. "That's comforting."

"Helen, I am telling you not to try his patience." Aro said irritably.

"Fine."

Aro continued to drive the car, time slowly passing by. Helen preceded to reach into her backpack and pull out her iPod, she was about to plug in with her headphones, until Aro sighed in frustration.

"Do not tell me that you also embrace the rude custom of anti-social electronics." He said with a pout.

"So I listen to music through headphones, big deal!" Helen replied annoyingly.

"Darling, it is not healthy for you to be doing that. Besides, why on earth would you want those silly little gadgets, when you have me to converse with?"

"It's not like we have anything else to talk about," Helen retorted.

"Fine, then I propose a new topic, why did you fail three classes before eighth grade?" Aro said sternly.

"Really? You want to talk about that?! For someone who claims to have read my every thought, I'd figured you'd know the answer to that." Helen snapped.

"I only pried into what I wanted to know about you, the basics. I stayed for two months to learn who you were, personally."

"Fine," she sighed. "I'm not the best student, and I skipped class a lot, mostly because I was depressed. I was in a bad place, I didn't feel like I belonged, and it didn't help that Allie was ostracizing me from everyone. She said ballet was more important than anything, including school. Finally, I snapped when Allie made Sydney weigh herself on a scale in front of every girl in the athletics locker room. I had an episode and shoved Allie towards the concrete wall, and I punched her in the face, ribs, and throat. I got suspended for two weeks and received zeros in every class until I returned. By then, I was on anti-depressants, and wanted to fix who I was. Aggie helped me through summer school, Sydney and I reconnected, and I got it together."

Aro looked at her with the utmost sadness, making her relive the pity her own father gave her. "Why were you depressed?"

"People like me, they have issues sometimes. Angst, abandonment issues, aggression. Me, I got depression, PTSD, and episodes of psychotic rage. It was better when I was a kid, it didn't happen as much. Wesley said I had a 'Hulk-smash' mode. But, like everything else, it happened because of Kathleen. Richard had the Bar exam, so for six weeks, we-my brothers and I-went to live with Kathleen in France. She was trying to figure us out, and that's when my bio mother realized that I was her greatest disappointment, and she told me that. Every, single, day."

The Ferrari spun in a sharp turn, Aro spinning the wheel with a mad, manic anger. Quickly he thrust the vehicle towards the side of the road, panting as to control his temper. Helen reminded herself to never piss him off.

"You okay, big guy?" She said nervously and reached to pat his arm.

"Do not touch me!" He barked, "I am not in control!"

"Kay." She held up her arms in surrender.

"I should send a hunting party to France, and tear that woman limb from limb." He replied darkly.

"Okay, I don't know much about Italian law, but I'm pretty sure that's illegal." Helen said softly. Aro looked at her in annoyance and rolled his eyes at the thought that Helen assumed he cared about human laws. "Besides, she's not worth the effort. And, at my party, she apologized for everything, I think."

Aro inhaled deeply, to calm himself down. However, he exploded in anger again, and punched the horn with all his strength, crushing it with supreme effort. "I should have come for you sooner!" He cursed at himself. "I mean, by years, not weeks! I should have grabbed you the minute I saw you!"

"That's not creepy." Helen grumbled sarcastically.

"Shut up." He snorted, "I should have found you as a child. Here I am, swearing to protect you, and I can't even undo the damage that...bitch inflicted."

"I know that you're an all powerful vampire, Aro. As much as I cannot believe I just said that," she gently placed her hand on his arm, feeling the soft Italian fabric that composed his dark suit, the fibers reminding her of pure silk. "But no matter what you are, no one can change what happened. Believe me, I used to wish I could, I got over it and moved past it. And, if I could do it, then so can you."

"You have no idea the little patience I posses, sweet girl." He murmured, and Helen rubbed his arm, she saw him relax in content.

"I've seen, you know, snippets." She replied in assurance.

"Snippets?" He raised his eyebrow.

"Yeah, snippets."

"So, basically everything?"

"Basically everything." She shrugged. "But hey, life's a bitch, we might as well make sure that she doesn't annoy us too much."

"Thank-you." He smiled and touched her hand, his eyes never leaving hers. She noticed his eyes beginning to darken, just as they were before he advised her about Des. Wait, was he...manipulating her to give him empathy?!

"No problem." She dismissed defensively.

"I really mean that, Helen. Thank you." She removed her hand and watched him glance down towards the wheel.

"We shall need another method of transportation." He chuckled.

"Thank you, captain obvious."

In the end, the journey to Volterra occurred in a sleek and luxurious town car. Helen nervously twiddled her fingers as she sat a little too close to Aro. His mini-episode didn't make her feel that comfortable. Demetri sat next to Helen, who sensed her discomfort. Felix was driving the car, and would occasionally glance at the rear-view mirror and check Helen out. Making her even more uncomfortable.

"Helen, you need to know something." Aro told her with an uncharacteristic dry tone.

"Lemme guess, Caius enjoys making the bones of children, into hats?"

"Not since the Dark Ages." Felix snickered in amusement.

"Shut up, Felix," Demetri rolled his eyes.

"No." Aro replied, irritable at the two men's interruption. "Sulpicia, she will different for you. I know you may not believe me, but she wants you. Helen, she really wants you."

Helen shifted in even more discomfort. She really did not want to talk about mothers for the next hour.

The city of Volterra was glorious, even at night. Cobbled roads and old buildings reminded her that the city must have been as old as Aro himself. Hell, he was probably the one that created the blueprints! She had learned in school that the Italians were known for their architecture, and pasta. Lots and lots of pasta.

Helen could smell the mouthwatering scent of food from outside the car. Meanwhile, the people here probably looked appetizing to Aro, Demetri, and Felix.

Eventually, the car rolled down a secluded and cryptic looking hill, towards an even more cryptic looking garage. Helen thought at first that she was in a mall parking lot, what with all of the hundreds of cars and spaces. She noticed that each of them probably cost more than six years at an Ivy League. Her eyes landed on a simple, blue Honda Accord. The flashy cars made it stick out like a sore thumb.

What was a car that practical doing here?

"It's yours." Aro smirked in satisfaction.

"What?" She felt her eyes bulge in complete shock.

"I know that you like that maker and model, so I bought one for you." He giggled.

"You bought me...a car?"

"Yes, darling. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?" Aro purred, impressed that he had shocked her.

"Well great." She sighed bitterly, "now I have a car."

"I'm also paying for fuel."

"I hate you." She mumbled with even more bitter sarcasm, causing him to smirk even more. Soon, the town car pulled into a space and parked. Helen gulped as Aro lead her out of the car, towards the steps, and into the labyrinth of the Volturi castle.

Medieval and gothic architecture was a well-made theme to describe the castle. It might have been the night's darkness, but Helen felt that the place seemed gloomy and intimidating, intentionally trying to scare her. Many cultured paintings and sculptures appeared every now and then, reminding her that at least Aro had class. Soon they reached a large, gargantuan, gothic door. Felix pushed it open with ease, and light blinded Helen's eyes, before revealing the main throne room.

Stunning and elegant marble floors, walls, and pillars decorated the room. A large and ornate marble statue of Poseidon holding his trident, appeared near the door to the right. A strange looking iron drain appeared at the center of the room, how peculiar.

A smooth, wooden desk with large and centuries old books appeared to the back, behind the thrones.

The thrones. Three, unevenly spaced, intimidating, and magnificently created works of black wood, satin seats, and ornate golden handles, the middle one was unoccupied and seemed more important than the rest. However, no matter how beautiful the furniture, the people in the room made it look dull. There were two men and a boy around Helen's age, and they had the same sculpted features as Aro. One with silky blonde hair, young and angry looking, and the two were dark haired and bored looking. One a teenager, the other a depressing old man.

"Ah, my brothers!" Aro sang softly, "how I have missed you."

"Aro, do not tell me that you have spent the past two months on that dratted continent, for that one." He sneered towards Helen, disgusted by her.

'It's nice to meet you too, Caius.'

"How could I lie about her, dear Caius? Isn't she lovely?"

"I guess she could appear worse than now." Caius said with an acid like voice. Helen felt an urge to bark out what she thought he looked like, and boy would it not be child appropriate. However, she remembered Aro's advice and bit her lower lip.

'No smart mouthing, Helen Hendricks. No smart mouthing.'

"Oh, how rude of me!" Aro laughed at himself, and walked with Helen towards the edge of the marble stairs leading up to the thrones. "Helen, darling these are your uncles, Caius and Marcus." He gestured to the mean-looking blonde one and the sullen brown-haired one.

"Hi." Helen said dryly, causing Caius to raise an eyebrow in annoyance.

"Hi?! That's all you have to say for yourself, after all of the trouble and time your father went through to get you here?! Do not address me so informaly, you little gnat!" Helen felt a small urge to speak up and fight back, making her clench her fists to suppress her anger. "I should expect no less from a dirty, foul American." Caius sneered and continued, "how I detest that country!"

'What did America ever do to you, asshat?!'

"Now, now Caius." Aro replied with a calm smile. "Don't be so hard on her, brother."

"How long must I indulge in seeing her unfortunate appearence? It is clear that she does not want to be in my prescence, either." Caius groaned and motioned for her to move closer. "You, come here."

Helen swallowed an insult and replied through gritted teeth, "my name is not 'you'."

Caius' eyes blared with anger as Aro and the other boy chuckled in amusement. Her so-called uncle, stood and walked over to Helen, staring her down with his intimidating burgundy eyes.

"What did you say, brat?" He snarled with rage.

"Look, I don't like you and you've definately made clear that you don't like me. You can call me ugly, stupid, dirty, foul, or whatever else you can think of in your foofy-haired head, but I will not let you refer to me in a gender neutral, first person, devil may care, way. Unfortunately, I have self-respect, Caius." Helen said boldly, very glad that she retorted back to him.

The blonde haired leader glared at her with the utmost loathing and hatred. "How dare you disrespect your elder! In my day, a woman who did not hold her tongue, lost it!"

"Well, luckily in my day, when we see an asshole we just call him out on it in the most disrespectful way possible." Helen was cut off by Aro tugging on her shoulder.

"Now, now, Helen. There is no need for foul language," he gave her a warning look as though she were a toddler, and then gave the look to Caius. "Brother, please do calm down, she means no harm. Besides, this is all she knows, growing up without knowing respect. No matter, I am sure that with time and care we can correct that."

She saw Caius devilishly grin at teaching her respect. Helen did not look foreward to his lessons.

"However, that is for another discussion." Aro's retort made her exhale in relief. "Marcus, would you like to greet your niece?"

Helen turned to see the bored brunette, Marcus. He was obviously older than Aro, in both features and appearence. Marcus looked absolutely uninterested and careless. He had a glassy look in his milky red eyes, it reminded her of the look her own eyes used to have, but his clearly were worse. It was as if the world held no joy for him.

"I am sure she does not have much interest in me, Aro. Her bonds are elsewhere." Marcus' voice was slow and exhausted, he could have given Eeyore a run for his money on disinterest. "You forced the girl here, didn't you?"

Helen felt Aro's smile grow, and knew that there was no sweetness behind it. She gulped. "That is irrelevant, dear brother. Now, I am to take her to her room. I am sure that we will all be one big, happy family very soon!"

Helen examined her so-called 'uncles' again. Everyone here might as well be a scary and putrid version of The Munsters. Aro giggled and ushered her past the thrones and towards the back corridor, to another hall in the mystical labyrinth.

Aro lost his happiness once they left the room. He dragged her along by the sleeve of her dress, not caring if she tripped or wanted to slow down. Helen thought about asking why he was all in a fuss, and then she remembered what Marcus said.

"Her bonds are elsewhere."

Dear god. Was he going to kill her family? Was Aro taking her to some kind of dungeon? He couldn't possibly assume that twelve hours after she left that she would just switch to Team Aro and forget about them. This wasn't fair!

Aro lead her up several flights of grandiose marble stairs. A hallway with large and extravagent charcoal doors came into view, and Aro stopped at the second one on the right. He flicked his wrist and the doors opened.

Helen gasped at her room.

Burgundy paint covered the walls and complimented the golden and bronze theme for the royal and expensive looking couch. Large and intimidating bookshelves stood next to the many windows. The carpet was a bright beige and looked very soft. A simple desk sat in th right corner and had her backpack cushioned on top. On the back wall there was a large plasma TV with a media cabinet below that contained about a thousand DVDs.

"The bedroom, closet, and bathroom are through the doors." Aro pointed to the left of her. He left go of her arm, and she rubbed where the bruises were forming. "I will be leaving to take care of some business. I'd suggest you take a bath, because you reak. A servant will arrive later with dinner." He walked towards a nearby marble table, motioning for her to look.

"Before I forget, I must remind you that reprecussions are in order for your horrible behavior that has occured." Helen felt her heart stop in fear. "I have pondered how I would handle this, as Jane has already tortured you. So, I shall explain this through a demonstration."

Aro pushed against the table with his hand, within milliseconds it crumbled. "Killing you would take little effort. Even though I really would hate to end your life, I can. Last night, I allowed you to think you could restrain me, understand?"

Helen nodded her trembling head. "Good girl. Try to escape, do anything that comprimises my patience, and I swear I will repay it back to you tenfold." She bit her tongue as she held back tears. She didn't want to die!

"Wonderful!" Aro said with a chipper grin. "I am pleased we could work through this little snag! I knew you'd be more agreeable once you realized the truth. A little discipline never hurt anyone." He cradled her shuddering form, possessively kissing her forehead. Helen thought it weird, but she returned his hug with a tight grip. Why would she be hugging him? After all that he's done, she assumed she'd be sick if she touched him.

Then it hit her.

Aro was the only person she had left. He was going to be the only one to comfort her, care for her, and be attentive to her. No matter how much Helen would hate him, she would be forced to rely on him. She knew that her heart would succumb slowly, love him in return. Hell, maybe one day she'd even be grateful to Aro for taking her away.

The very thought made her want to puke.

As he released her and caressed her cheek, Aro gave her one last warning look. "Remember our bargain." With that, he streaked along out the door, leaving her alone.

Only when the door shut, did Helen finally burst into tears. She collapsed to the floor, burying her face in her tiny hands. So this was it, this was her new life. Aro had gone from loving to angry in seconds. He pretty much just said to suck it up and do what he said, or else.

But didn't he love her? Why would he threaten her?

After she collected herself, Helen sniffed her left sleeve and realized just how badly she stank. A nice, hot shower would be nice. She could relax and try to pull herself together.

Helen stumbled to her new bedroom and felt her heart stop.

Gold, silky wallpaper bounced against the blue trim. The floor was hard dark wood and very polished, giving it a shine. A gigantic bed mixed with teal pillows and creamy sheets. An ecru futon nestled near the bedframe with a plush-looking vanilla and aqua stripped throw on the arm. Lacy curtains hung over the large balcony windows and exquisite portraits in her...the room. An antique vanity was placed near a window, a satin-seat stool available to sit on when she did her hair and makeup.

Helen lazily walked toward her bed, rummaging her fingertips on the extremely comfy sheets.

The bathroom was gargantuan and marble, that was pretty much all she could sum it up as. Her bathtub might as well be considered a swimming pool, and a large mirror sat above another vanity. She curiously opened the drawers and found several combs, brushes, dryers, curlers, straighteners, expensive makeup, and facial care.

Helen shut the door and locked it. She inhaled a few times and slowly and cautiously undressed and took a bath.

The bath was very relaxing and assuaging. Her shampoo and conditioner smelled like passion fruit and crème, which was the same she used at home. Figures Aro would know that.

Helen felt better once she had gotten all cleaned up. She drained the 'pool' and grabbed a soft gold towel that felt like cashmere. She quickly dried off and covered herself with a bathrobe. From what Felix acted like on the plane, she didn't want any peeping vampires lurking about.

What Helen assumed was the door back to her bedroom, was accidently the door to her closet.

Closet. As if that word would fit! She might as well call it a Department Store! There must have been thousands of dresses, skirts, pants, tops, and shoes. Even if she lived as long as Aro did, she would never get through everything. Helen examined her mall and came across the section marked Sleepwear. That area was actually relatively small, compared to everything else. Hmm, maybe that didn't find a lot of pajamas in her size?

She pulled out pale pink, plain pajamas that reached her knees. The fabric felt light, like chiffon.

Helen took a moment to take in her surrounding, the room, the clothes and accessories. God, and Aro said that Richard had spoiled her! He was treating her like...like...a princess. It gave new meaning to his pet name, causing her to shudder.

Grabbing a blow dryer from the cabinet, Helen fixed up her hair. After that, she took out a large bottle of facial wash marked Neutrogena and cleaned up her face. She glanced at a nearby clock and saw the time, 10:45.

She scurried out of her...pardon, the bathroom. Standing before her was a tall, olive-toned, and a-little-too-comfortable woman. The woman was, in a way, pretty, but obviously human. Her dark hair was swooped up in a slick bun, and she wore a bright red cocktail dress and stilettos.

Some dress code they had here.

"Buona sera, signorina!" The woman said with a smile and thick Italian accent. "I am Lucita, the secretary of the maestros. I will be your personal attendant, so do call upon me if you need any help!"

Her English was understandable, so bonus points for her. But, what was she doing working for vampires?

"What are you doing here? It's dangerous!" Helen whispered deadly.

"To prove my worthiness. I want nothing more than to be a vampire, to be young and beautiful forever." Lucita replied with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Why would you want to live forever? It'd be so boring." Helen explained in sadness.

"Well, you're going to be a vampire sooner or later. By the way, could you put in a word for me with the boss? Maybe see what my odds look like right now?" Helen felt her lower lip quiver in disgust. Everyone here was either immortal or wanted to be. Actually, scratch that, everyone but her.

"Oh, scusa!" Lucita pleaded, "I shouldn't ask such things! How selfish of me!"

"It's okay, I just really hoped that the only other human here would at least understand." Helen shrugged.

"I am sorry!" Lucita replied calmly, "please do not take offense. The boss will not be happy if I upset you."

"I won't get you in trouble." Helen assured. Seconds later, a loud rumbling erupted from her tummy. "But, can I have some dinner?"

"Of course!" Lucita grinned, and revealed a large red velvet table with an enormous silver platter and a translucent silver goblet containing ice water. "Maestro sent out some food for you. There are no working kitchens in the castle, but he still has the sliverwear for parties. Like next week's All Hallow's Eve Ball. Anyway, here is some lasagna and a pastiera for dessert. I thought you might have a sweet tooth, I did when I was young. Also, something sweet might make you feel better."

"Thanks." Helen inhaled the delicious smell of food. "Wait, how old are you?"

"Twenty-six, and I hate every day that I get closer to looking twenty-seven." Lucita made a gagging sound. "You are so lucky to remain a teenager forever."

"Shouldn't you be waiting until you're thirty before you freak out? I mean, my Dad is fourty and he looks great." Helen shrugged.

"Maestro Aro is fourty?!" Lucita gasped, "he looks so young! He could pass for late twenties!"

"No, I mean my other Dad." Helen replied in annoyance, did everyone really think Aro was her real father?

"You have no other father," Lucita smiled. "You have Aro."

"Can I, um, eat now?" Helen really wanted to be alone before she blew her lid.

"Sì, Signorina." Lucita giggled and clicked her heels before exiting the room. "Just send for me if you need anything!"

Helen exhaled deeply over and over again as she tried not to burst into more tears. She flushed the toilet after she threw up in horror. How could a human like Lucita want this?! How could she want to throw everything away for Immortality?! No one should live forever! Hell, look at how insane Aro was!

She slowly stumbled up from the bathroom floor and towards the table. She slowly gulped down some water, not wanting to upset her stomach again. Helen knew she could eat the cake because of the ricotta cheese, and reluctantly ate the lasagna as she picked apart the mozarella.

Her food was consumed slowly and carelessly, not paying much attention to the mouth-watering taste. She really didn't want Aro to drop in unexpectedly and catch her getting sick.

And speak of the devil, he just opened the door to her bedroom. Shockingly, his appearence was much different. His long black hair had been pulled back with a ribbon, which made him look, in Helen's opinion, more handsome. He was wearing a billowy white shirt, like a colonial person. He still had his black pants though, but no shoes.

Aro looked kind of like a rockstar.

"Hello darling." He smiled. "Have you eaten at all?"

"A little bit." Helen replied sheepishly, not wanting to accidently upset him.

"Well, I think you will like the cake. I had a whole package imported from Naples, just for you." Helen found her left hand shaking as she held the fork. "Thank you, but I don't think I should eat it."

"Don't tell me you are like the many girls your age who believe that if they eat they will look aborrhent." He caressed her hair, "you are gorgeous."

"I threw up." Helen finally admitted, "I didn't want to upset my stomach again, but I knew I had to eat something." She thought he would yell at her for having a panic attack about her situation.

However, he kissed her cheek and dismissed it with his hand. "Ah, well. Tomorrow then." He touched his artic feeling hand to her forehead, "you don't feel unusually warm, but I hope you didn't catch a bug before we left. Do you want to lie upon your bed?"

"I'm not tired." Helen assured.

"You should still rest. Do you want to watch TV or a film? I have many DVDs in the cabinet." Aro smiled lovingly at her. What happened to the man who threated her hours ago?

"Why don't you pick something?" Helen suggested.

"I am afraid I do not watch much films in the modern era. I've only seen a few talkies." Aro's shy comment made her blush. "Talkies? People haven't used that word since my Great Uncle Boris was born. I though you saw Rosemary's Baby?"

"That is the most recent film I have watched."

"You've never seen Star Wars or Star Trek? Or even The Godfather?" Helen asked in astonishment.

"Is that some sort of comedy?"

"You. In the Sitting Room. Now." Helen ordered.

"Do you like science fiction?" She asked as she configured the television and turned on the DVD player.

"I am a fan of Bradbury and Orwell. They analyze dysotopian futures, alternate realties, and such with poltical connections and historical accuracy." Aro mused.

"Did you read The Hunger Games?" If Aro had ever seen the Coliseum back in his glory days as a human, he'd surely connect to that.

"I've caught Heidi reading the series, but I have yet to ask her about it." He confessed as he lazily sat down on the couch. "Is it worth the time?"

"You want my opinion on books?" Helen said surprisingly.

"I value your opinion with the highest regard, sweetheart."

'Yeah, of course you do! I so remember telling you that I want you to threaten me and everyone I care about, and drag me to some foreign country to become a vampire! That's exactly what happened, you jackass!' Helen thought to herself with the utmost sarcasm and snark.

"It's a good read. It's about a girl who saves her sister's life by volunteering to participate in a fight to the death, along with some romance and some other shit." Helen shrugged.

"Is it appropriate for your age? I do not want you defiling your thoughts with scandalous print," Aro sighed.

"It's not Fifty Shades or anything." Helen assured with an eye roll, "I'm sure I'd have to present an ID to the store to even buy stuff like that."

"Good." He giggled, "now come sit beside me." Helen finished programming the set and walked over to the luxurious couch. The cushions were nice and soft, and no sooner than she had sat down, Aro draped an arm around her to hold her close. Loving her like he really was her father.

"So, what is this one called?" He purred, pressing his lips to her hair.

"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." Helen replied uneasily, "it's basically the sequel to an episode in the original series."

"This is the second film?" Aro said in surprise. "Darling, I have never seen the first."

"It's horrible!" Helen assured, "you'd never want to watch the series if you saw the first film. The second one is much, much better. Khan is the best villain, and I think you'll like him. He's wickedly cultured as well."

"So I am 'wickedly cultured'?" Aro smirked in a teasing manner.

"He quotes Moby Dick and Paradise Lost, but I think the second quote was in the series. I don't know, I haven't watched it in a while."

"Do you remember the line? I know John Milton's work to no fault." Aro said proudly.

"Um, it was something like...'it is better to rule in hell'." Helen stumbled to recall the final words, until Aro finished with "than to serve in Heaven. Lucifer's fall from grace would make an interesting reference."

"What's your favorite book?" Helen felt like she barely knew anything about Aro's interests at all. He spent so much time getting to know her- no matter for what creepy reason-and she felt like she hadn't tried to find out anything about him.

"What is your favorite ballet?" Aro counteracted with.

"I could never decide that, it's too hard." Helen retorted in assurance. Aro smiled with a teasing grin and playfully ruffled her ginger curls, "exactly. Not to mention that I have read the written works in numerous languages. The spectrum is too broad for me, my dear."

"What's your favorite book from the twentieth century?" Helen suggested, at least it would probably be something she's read.

"In the English language, it would probably be To Kill A Mockingbird."

"Did you watch the film version of that? Gregory Peck did a great job as Atticus Finch." Helen shuddered as she felt him inhale the scent of her hair. God he was scaring her.

"No dear, but now we have something else we can see." Aro said with a bright smile.

'Yay.' Helen said to herself in a timid voice. The opening credits were beginning and she slowly calmed herself down as Aro gently placed his lips to her forehead. He had reverted back to his kind state no sooner than he threatened to kill her.

The movie was nearly done, with Aro not showing much emotion towards the screen. Not even Khan's eloquent lines had even brought out a giggle or smile, neither did Kirk's famous angry and long shout KHAAAAANNN!

As Helen kept still in his arms, she remembered something important. Aro's wife, Sulpicia. Where was she? Wouldn't Aro present her to the woman as well? He hadn't shut up about giving her a better mother (then again, a crack whore would probably be a step up from Kathleen Danton), so where was the Vampiress hiding?

"Space...the final frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds...to seek out new life forms, and new civilizations...to boldly go where no man has gone...before." The closing words of the film made her reluctant to hear Aro's criticism.

"That was magnificent." Aro stated as he kissed Helen's cheeks, pleased.

"You really liked it? You don't have to lie if you hated it." Helen replied.

"It was not my favorite, but I enjoyed it. Mostly, I enjoyed us finally getting to spend time together, without interruption or inconvenience." Aro smiled brightly at her. "Now that the flim is over, I have a present for you."

Helen rolled her eyes as he released her and walked out the door. What was it this time? More clothes? Her own private island? Or did he have enough money to buy her a country? She didn't want him buying this much crap for her.

Aro never returned back to the room that night, but nothing could have prepared Helen for what stood in his place.

An inhumanly beautiful woman, with creamy blonde waves and warm and loving features, appeared into the room. Her red eyes made Helen uneasy about the beautiful woman. She seamed to be holding herself down to the floor, as if gravity was not on good terms with her. But when she smiled, with the sweetest smile that any adult female ever gave her, Helen knew.

Sulpicia.

"My goodness," Sulpicia said with an etherel voice. "you are gorgeous." Helen felt like she was going to cry, but was not said. Then again, for fifteen years Kathleen had constantly made her feel horrible about herself.

"Thank-you." Helen replied kindly.

"It's so nice to finally meet you." Sulpicia smiled with a maternalistic glow, "I've looked foreward to this day since I found out you were alive and well. I know about everything that happened in the past, so I was hoping we could start by becoming friends first."

"Oh," Helen was surprised by this. Sulpicia was taking a healthy and more lax approach to a mother/daughter relationship. Meanwhile, Aro demanded that Helen love him or else. "Um, if you want to. I'm sorry, I really don't know how to do this."

"It alright, little bird, we can figure it out together. We have eons of time." She joked.

Eons was right. But Helen, who never had a true mother, wanted to make this work. However, little did she realize at the time, that making it work would be something that might take eons. Because, Helen knew from the past that no one mostly got a happy ending.

LOVE YOU GUYS! SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!