Cauis was quickly losing or his temper on his joyfully frustrating brother. Taking a quick look at the normally sulking Marcus, he could see that he was also rapidly approaching that stage as well.
"Do not speak in riddles Aro for I am losing my patience quite quickly."
"You are feeling the pull are you not?" Marcus spoke up while still staring at the painting that hung on the wall in front of him.
"The pull of what?!"
"He speaks of dearest Jennifer, Caius." Aro talked slowly to Cauis while looking at him with a bored but playful look on his face. "Marcus has discovered something very precious about our lovely accountant."
Marcus let out a deep but unneeded breath before turning to look at Cauis. "I have seen the bonds linking to her."
Cauis backed up and uncharacteristically feel into the deep chair behind him. "It can't be, that woman can't be my …"
"Ours actually .." Aro began as he curiously watched the "steam" release from his brother, causing him to flop in the chair behind him. He calmly started to count to 5 in his head before watching him collect himself and leap from his chair.
"You lie, it's not possible!" Cauis angrily shouted at the much older vampire sitting calmly in front of him with an amused yet serious look on his face.
"No, brother. I would not lie," Marcus started, causing Cauis to look at him slowly, "Not about this."
"And while highly unlikely, it is not unheard of to be in a situation such as this." Aro supplied, further seeming to annoy Cauis more. The two of them knew that the younger vampire would react this way, "You would think that after thousands of years, both living and unliving, there truly isn't much in the realm of possibility that can't be."
Aro and Marcus watched as the younger king came to back to his chair and sat down slowly. The two of them knew that years of anger mixed with curiosity would be difficult for the unforgiving king. He always took these things so seriously much like everything he took seriously.
Cauis stared into space as every year seemed to fit into place. From the connection to her daughter, to the harsh words he frequently spoke, he was pushing her away while keeping her close.
"Oh dear lord, he was right," Caius thought to himself while watching Aro, "He will never let us forget it either."
"It is not in our nature to share, brothers" Cauis finally spoke up with a tense sadness in his words, "She hates me."
"The bonds are there, building stronger every day." Marcus solemnly replied, while putting his hand on his shoulder, "Even between the two of you. All is never truly lost in love."
"Well said!" Aro happily exclaimed, breaking the quiet sadness sharply. "This is a joyous occasion! There are a great many things that must be discussed! We don't have much longer and the event is coming quickly. "
"You must all know that she will not be accepting of this. She will most likely think it wrong, we must be patient." Marcus spoke quietly.
"There will be things she, being a mortal will expect. She will want to be married! She will be turned! Who decides these things?!" Cauis started before watching Marcus smile softly while looking at them.
"I will take her as my wife," Marcus supplied with a warm smile on his face. Both Aro and Cauis nodded their heads agreeing fully with this decision. Marcus was the gentlest soul of the three and would happily take the role of her husband in the mortal sense. It would be quite a surprise when Marcus takes the woman seriously, she won't know what hit her.
After a few tense moments of watching Aro and Cauis stare each other down, Cauis closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Since it is expected of me, I will be the one to turn her when it is time. If anyone will rip her from her mortal life, I will be the one to do this."
Aro chuckled to himself gleefully, this was working out wondrously. He would be forced to take his time; it was bound to alarm the poor woman if he changed his demeanor too fast. However, after seeing into her mind as of late has shown him that it would not be unappreciated.
The night of the event would suit him nicely.
The three kings settled into their thoughts, all the while, a young mortal woman worked diligently in her office on the event that would unknowingly change the course of her life.
- PAGE BREAK -
"You work much too hard for a mortal." A deep voice called out into the soft light of her room.
Jennifer slowly looked up from the bookcase and turned her head to the sound of a new voice. The vampire in the doorframe of her office was a new addition to the coven, Damien. She had never fully met the newest addition to the Volturi. As she watched him size her up, she quickly came to the realization that she didn't particularly care for the vampire in front of her.
"Lots to do and never enough time to do it," She answered before she turned away from him and slightly into herself in order to shut down communication. She silently hoped that either he would take the hint and leave or if someone would come to her office, however she jumped slightly when her planner was picked up from her desk.
Damien's thoughts turned sour as he saw her turn from him. The woman in front of him was quite lovely and smelled of vanilla and jasmine. He could feel the venom start to pool in his mouth. He had to calm himself before beginning his elaborate web, there were many watching this one, always watching.
"It must be quite stressful to plan events such as this, always wondering what would trigger them, maybe if something went wrong." He continued in a low voice as he walked closer to her. He flicked through her planner before pressing it into her hands. He could hear the quick pounding of her heart. "Think of precious Olivia and Bianca."
At that, Jennifer could see red and looked up at the horrible vampire, determined to give him a piece of her mind. However, as she began doubt filled her mind. The loneliness caused her to shake as she looked up at the vampire in front of her with dazed eyes, "The next time I wish for your helpful advice on the manner to which I complete the tasks assigned to me, I will most definitely NOT ask for yours. You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Ah, but you don't know either. You fear that you will be cut down next, think of young Emaline, would she last once you are gone? Always fearful of making a mistake, all it takes is just once." Damien continued to press his body into her much smaller one, his hands still gripping the planner in her hands. He raised a hand to touch her shoulder softly, "You don't have to fear alone …"
Jennifer knew she should pull away from him but her heart just felt so lonely. He was offering her companionship and something was compelling her to move closer to him.
"Ah, there you are little one!" A booming voice called out, quickly breaking Damien's concentration. The voice caused her to shiver and look over towards Felix. He merely stood beside the girl when the hulking form of Felix entered the room and reached for the hands of his charge. Felix stared at Damien, not breaking eye contact as she slowly accepted his hand in a daze and was pulled away from him. "Come let's get you to the ballroom! There is something you must see!"
Before Felix left the room, he turned to address the vampire in front of him, "Good Day Damien."
Damien stood in the now empty room with clenched fists, it was quickly becoming clear to him that she was watched too carefully. Jennifer was strong, it would take much to change her mind.
"Now don't be shy! You must come and meet everyone my dear girl!" begin the happy voice of Master Aro, as he led the latest lamb to the slaughter. She was pale with green eyes and curly red hair that flowed below her shoulders. "Ah Damien, meet our newest addition! Alexandria!"
She looked up at him with wide eyes and he could feel a grin come to his lips, "The pleasure is mine."
- PAGE BREAK -
The pair walked until Felix felt they were out of hearing range for unwanted ears. When he stopped, he noticed that she stopped also and looked up at him, puzzled.
"There are many dangers in the castle, and those who would wish you harm, little one. Please leave this one alone." Felix said while looking down at Jennifer.
Jennifer, who never heard Felix speak to her with such sincerity, could only nod her head slowly. Satisfied, he broke into his normal Felix smile. When the two of them finally reached the ballroom, they could hear Heidi screeching like a harpy.
When the doors opened, Jennifer gasped and looked at the disarray that was now the ballroom. Crates and boxes were stacked everywhere; there were packing peanuts and bubble wrap lining the floors. She could see the delicate lights she ordered strung about everywhere. She stepped towards the stairs on put down her planner with a huff while looking at the two vampires in front of her.
"What in the hell happened here?!" She yelled, causing Heidi and Demetri to stop and look slightly uncomfortable, "I don't even want to know! All I would like to know is what is going to be done to right all this! I would hate to be the one who has to explain this too …"
"Oh my goodness." A cheery voice rang out in the grand ballroom. Aro focused his sight on the woman in front of him. When Felix, Heidi and Demetri began to move towards her for protection, he internally scowled. A withering look stopped them sharply. "You are dismissed."
The three of them bowed and left, leaving him alone with the pretty mortal in front of him. He could hear her little heart beat quickly while her scent slightly changed to one of fear? He came to stand in front of Jennifer who was looking down at the floor. He was surprised and worried when he saw her flinch slightly away from him when he began to reach for her.
"You are frightened." Aro stated in slight bewilderment, while looking at the lowered crown of her head. "You have never been frightened of my touch."
He slowly reached for her hands once more and was pleased when she didn't pull away but still sad when he felt her tiny arms freeze when he touched her. The events of the day flowed like water, and then, in her office, there was nothing. It was almost as if the time didn't occur, the flow returned to her walk to the ballroom.
"How odd" Aro thought
A much deeper voice rumbled from him when he hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her head up to see him, "Non mi temere mai." (Never fear me)
Thankfully, the young woman had not pulled from him and the once fearful stance seemed to relax a small bit at his words. Jennifer opened her eyes to look into the serious face of Aro and sighed before chuckling and giving him a dazzling smile, "It would seem that they have made a mess of the ballroom and you just ran them off with your inflection Master Aro."
"Well then Mia Cara, we must get to work now don't we?"
Jennifer watched his back as he walked away from her towards the many boxes that needed to be opened and arranged. The events in her office still lingered in the back of her mind, but as she watched his eyes light up as he opened the crates, she grinned. All while two kings watched in silence.
"It would seem that you will have much work cut out for you." Marcus said softly to Cauis, while walking away, leaving him to watch the two.
AUTHOR NOTE: Rewrite!