Chapter 20: Wives
~6 days Later~
(Scarlett's POV)
"It's so nice to see someone so young interested in Greek philosophy," I looked up from my seat in the library to see Aro taking a seat across from me, "Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle; you have excellent taste."
"Actually," I smiled a little, "I'm just working on a research paper. I have to compare and contrast the three philosophers."
"Ah yes," he smiled, "advanced Ethics; a very interesting class to be taking." I stared at him in shock.
"H-How did you know I'm taking that class?" I stuttered.
"Oh forgive me," he replied, "I thought you were aware of my gift."
"Gift?"
"I am able to read a person's mind by touch," he explained, "I can see every thought they've ever had." I felt my face get red. So that's why he grabbed my hand and just walked out when I met him. Well I'm embarrassed.
"Oh don't be embarrassed dear," Aro chuckled, "your thoughts are safe with me." I smiled not knowing what else to say and returned to my research.
"The Socratic method," I muttered to myself, "what is that again?" with everything that has been going on in my life recently I've forgotten a lot of things I learned in my studies.
"The Socratic method is a method Socrates used to solve a problem and gain information on a person's belief." Aro said not looking up from his book, "to determine one's beliefs, Socrates would ask a series of questions to determine the extent of their knowledge."
"Thanks." I replied and wrote that down in my notebook. A few hours later I looked up only to notice that Aro was gone. What I really that focused?
"Scarlett?" I jumped and looked over to see Gianna smiling at me.
"Oh, Hi." I smiled and gathered up my things then followed her to Demetri's room where my dinner was waiting for me.
"Thank you Gianna." I said and she nodded then left. After eating my dinner I took a shower and because I was no longer working, my mind started to drift.
"You look happier from when I last saw and talked to you," he said, "you must really like Demetri." I thought about what my brother said. Do I like Demetri? I shouldn't, I mean he kidnapped me.
"Demetri brought you here because he couldn't kill you." Heidi's words echoed through my head again as I got out of the shower and dressed. I dried my hair as I sat by the fireplace on the couch. Why couldn't he kill me? I never got my answer and no matter how many times I ask myself this; I couldn't find an answer. I closed my eyes and lay on the couch.
I remembered that small smile Demetri had after my brother said he approved of Demetri as my boyfriend. Is that why he was smiling? I didn't understand it because in the end I'm just a pet...right?
"My life just keeps getting complicated." I muttered to myself and let out a long breath. I jumped when a knock came at the door and sat up just in time to see Aro enter the room.
"I see that you've finally taken a break from your research." He said in that cheerful tone; I nodded as a response my mind still all scrambled with my issues and questions.
"Have I come at a bad time?" Aro asked while tilting his head and I smiled.
"No, I'm fine." I replied trying to push away my thoughts, "can I help you with something?" I asked and his eyes light up.
"It's a beautiful night," he said, "I was hoping you would accompany in a walk through the garden."
"A walk sounds nice." I replied and stood up. I grabbed one of Demetri's large jackets from the closet noticing that it was a winter jacket. I just don't understand why he has these when temperature doesn't bother him. I put on some warm gloves as well and met Aro in the hall who immediately offered me his arm.
Aro was right it was a beautiful night. It wasn't nice enough to walk around in a summer outfit, but it was still comfortable. I walked in silence next to Aro, my arm looped through his. I looked at our looped arms and the bracelet Alec got me caught my eye.
Who am I to Alec? What do I mean to everyone here?
Alec seems to go out of his way to watch me when Demetri's gone. He acts cold and emotionless, but for the past few weeks he's been there to listen to me when I need to talk. Was he being like this because Demetri asked him to?
And what about Caius? He went out of his way to tell me about the Volturi's history. While I enjoyed the history lesson, I didn't understand why he was telling me when I'm nothing but a pet. On top of it, he carried me back to Demetri's room without complaining. I came back to reality when I noticed that we stopped walking. We were standing in large gazebo that had a couple benches and a water fountain in the middle.
"This is beautiful." I said looking around and Aro pulled me over to one of the benches.
"Yes my sister has excellent taste when it comes to decor." He responded as we sat down.
"She decorated all this?" I asked and he nodded.
"She and the other wives decorated the whole castle," he replied looking at the far tower where the wives stayed, "but my sister is the one who designed the garden."
"Well she has great taste." I replied and his eyes light up with joy.
"She does." He laughed, "she loves this garden. Marcus brings her here every night."
"They must really be in love." I said and he smiled.
"A vampire's love lasts an eternity," he replied, "if we lose our mates we will live forever in despair."
"So is that why the wives are kept in that tower?" I asked and he sighed.
"Unfortunately yes," he replied with a hint of sadness, "we have so many enemies that over the years it became necessary to keep them there."
"Of course," he continued, "they do come out a lot to visit us."
"Well that's good." I replied with a smile and looked at the tower. I wonder what the wives are like. The wind picked up and I blushed when my hair blew in Aro's face.
"Sorry." I said holding my hair in my hand and he smiled.
"You smell like a Plumeria," he said with a bright smile, "that just happens to be Demetri's favorite flower."
"He told me that." I replied after the wind died down. I bit my lip and look out at the dark garden which was being light up by the full moon.
"Speaking of Demetri," Aro said, "he and the others are returning tonight."
"Great!" I said happy that Demetri will be back. I'm going to ask him to take me to town or else I'll go crazy from being locked here for a week. Aro's laugh brought me from my thoughts.
"It sounds like you've missed him." He said and I felt my face get red. I quickly looked away and let my hair cover my face.
"Well he's the only one that takes me out of the castle." I replied and went deep into thought again.
"You seem to be very distracted tonight," Aro said and I looked at him to see a hint of concern in his eyes.
"I've just been very confused lately." I replied and he tilted his head.
"Would you like to share?"
"Oh," I said with a fake smiled, "no I'm fine. I don't want to bother you when you have the problems of your world to deal with."
"While that is true," he replied, "my top priority is my family here in Volterra and you are now a part of that family Scarlett."
"Huh?" was all I could say, but he didn't respond. Instead he looked at the fountain as if giving me time to think. After a minute I bit my lip and took off one of my gloves. I placed my hand on his and he tensed for a second, before relaxing and closing his eyes.
"Ah." He smiled, "you are very confused." I put my glove back on and looked into the distance
"I just don't know what to think anymore." I said feeling relieved that he can understand exactly what I'm saying.
"Your life has really changed in the past few months," Aro replied, "you certainly have a lot to think about."
"I'm just upset that no one is giving me a straight answer."
"Ah," he replied with a smile, "but life is about findings answers on your own. There's no journey when you are just given the answers."
"That's true," I replied, "it's just frustrating."
"That my dear is called life." I laughed and looked at him.
"True." I replied and was about to speak, but was cut off when Aro stood up looking at something. A few seconds later the vampire Santiago came into view and I hid behind Aro.
"Master Aro!" he said sounding panicked, "something has happened please come to the throne room now." Aro nodded and looked at me.
"I do not have time to take you to Demetri's room," he said, "please come with me but stay by my side and stay silent."
"Ok." I said and gave a small yelp when he quickly picked me up and a few seconds later we were in a large open room that had three chairs in the middle at the top of some stairs. Caius was sitting in the far right chair while Marcus was in the far left. Aro set me down on the stairs and it was then that I noticed Alec and Jane. I looked around for Demetri, but he wasn't there. My eyes focused back on Alec and Jane and it was then I noticed that they were covered in dirt and their cloths were torn.
"What has happened?" Aro asked walking up to the them.
"We were attacked by wolves master," Jane said, "Demetri and Felix stayed behind and covered our escape." I was instantly worried about Demetri and jumped a little when both Marcus and Caius stood up at the same time.
"Where at Jane?" Marcus asked in a calm, but commanding tone.
"Just outside of town." She replied.
"Gather some lower guard and go back for them now." Caius commanded. Jane and Alec nodded then quickly left with Aro and Caius right behind him.
"Demetri will be ok right?" I asked looking at Marcus who gave me a small smile.
"Come with me child," he said taking my hand, "you should not be alone at a time like this." He pulled me down a few halls then up lord knows how many stairs. He stopped in front of a door that had four vampires standing in front of it.
"Wait here Scarlett." Marcus said before walking into the room and I bit my lip feeling uncomfortable with the unknown vampires. After a few minutes the door opened again and Marcus appeared.
"Come in Scarlett." He said holding the door open for me. I entered a large circular room that was decorated in old looking furniture. There were a lot of musical instruments along with an area with painting supplies. There were several book shelves and a table with a large incomplete puzzle on it. There was also a large fireplace that had a four person couch in front of it. The windows were covered with dark red black out curtains and the room was dimly light by some lights that were purposely dimmed. My eyes then landed on three women that were in the room.
"Scarlett," Marcus said when the door closed, "I'd like you to meet our wives." The three women smiled at me and I bit my lip.
"Hello child." The woman in the center stepped forward, "my name is Didyme. I'm Marcus's wife." She looked a lot like Aro. She had black hair and her smile and eyes were warm and kind looking. She looked to be in her early twenties.
"Hello." I said a little shyly, "I'm Scarlett."
"Nice to meet you," Didyme smiled brightly and I just felt really happy in her presence. She turned to the woman on her left, "this is Athenodora; she is Caius's wife." Athenodora stepped forward with a smile and a nod at me. She had long blonde hair and looked to be in her early twenties as well.
"And this," Didyme continued gesturing to the woman on her right, "is Sulpicia; my brother's wife." Sulpicia had dark brown hair and looked to be in her mid twenties and closer to Aro's age. All three women gave me kind looks and I'm feeling really shy just standing here.
"I will come and get Scarlett soon." Marcus said then kissed Didyme on the cheek and left the room.
Well hello awkward silence... After another few seconds Didyme spoke up again.
"Come and take a seat child," she said pulling me over to the couch by the lit fire, "you must be tired seeing how late it is."
'It's only nine in the evening.' I thought and smiled at her.
"Thank you," I replied sitting down, "but I'm more worried than tired." She patted my hand.
"Everything will be fine." She said and then other two joined us. Sulpicia sat on my other side on the couch while Athenodora sat on the chair next to the couch with a book in hand.
"Well Demetri wasn't exaggerating when he told us how beautiful you are." Didyme said and I stared at her in shock.
"He told you about me?" I asked still in shock.
"Oh you're the only thing he talks about now." Didyme replied with a laugh. I'm pretty sure my face is bright red right now.
"Alec has also mentioned you a few times," Athenodora said not looking up from her book.
"Yes," Sulpicia said, "it sounds like he's fond of you as well."
"Oh." Was all I could say. I looked down at my lap and played with my hair.
"Oh I just remembered," Didyme spoke suddenly making me jump, "Alec told us that you are an amazing singer."
"I wouldn't say amazing." I replied feeling embarrassed. Didyme grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the piano.
"Do you play?" she asked as we sat on the bench.
"A little." I replied and she smiled.
"Then play a duet with me dear." She said looking excited. I smiled and follower her lead as we played the piano. After a while Sulpicia came up to me and pulled me away.
"It's my turn with Scarlett." She said pulling me over to the art supplies. For the next hour she gave me an art lesson. Didyme continued to play the piano while Athenodora didn't move from her spot on the couch. She showed no interest in me being here; she's defiantly Caius's wife.
As time went on I started to get very tired. Eventually I walked over to the large couch and lay down. It was Athenodora that put a blanked on me and gave me a pillow. Didyme sat by me on the couch and gently stroked my hair. After another few minutes I fell asleep. The wives are everything I imagined they would be.