25
I really fretted over how to appear to Aro for our 'date'. I wanted something that would leave him a bit confused. I decided to go with something artsy. I wore loud colors with torn stockings. It would appear a bit sexy but without trying.
A limousine arrived to pick me up and when I got inside Aro was waiting with some champagne. I wasn't about to drink something I hadn't witnessed being poured so I held the glass and struck up some conversation. The entire time he looked at me with an odd expression. I couldn't figure out what it was and it gave me the impression he wasn't completely in his right mind.
"I'm anxious to meet Jane," I told him. "Is her mother as involved in her life as you are?"
"I'm sorry to say her mother is no longer with us," he replied.
It sounded a bit vague for a man who may or may not have killed her so I asked, "Was she ill or was it an accident?"
He laughed in his high pitched way that gave me the chills. I didn't see anything funny about my question and my face showed my displeasure. "Oh, don't worry," he said to soothe me. "You are a delightful young woman."
I gave him a disgusted tisk and looked away. If he was trying to be charming he missed the mark. I began talking about the supposed art exhibit I had attended until we pulled up in front of a restaurant. The driver opened my door and when I got out Aro let his hand trail down my back and onto my ass. I ignored his gesture and walked into the establishment without looking back at him.
We sat in a secluded area and Aro sat next to me on my side of the booth. I felt trapped but maybe he was only trying to be romantic. He held out the menu and said, "Order whatever you like, my dear."
"Alicia," I corrected him. I noticed his jaw tighten and I added, "I would hate for Jane to hear you calling one of her teachers, my dear."
He nodded and replied, "Yes, I see your point."
"So what kind of art to you like?" I asked as I perused the menu.
"My newest acquisition is a sculpture by Turner," he said casually.
I turned to face him and asked, "The Left Hand and the Right Hand Have Abandoned One Another?"
He nodded arrogantly so I added, "You naughty boy. It was stolen from Christies."
He gave me a slight smile and then said nonchalantly, "Where it was acquired is no concern of mine, but I did pay handsomely for it."
"What a waste," I shrugged. "Obviously it could have been easily stolen for no money at all."
He smiled and when his hand moved to obliviously tinker with his ring he looked down in shock. He suddenly began moving around the booth as if trying to find something.
"Is something the matter?" I asked.
"I seemed to have lost a ring," he replied.
I pretended to look around but the waiter came to interrupt our search. I ordered caviar and a cheeseburger. Aro laughed loudly and then asked for the same. When our drinks arrived I held mine up and offered a toast. "Here's to Jane. May she learn many things this year."
For the rest of the evening we chatted about Jane and his love of art. It was actually a nice dinner and when it was time to go I scooted from the booth and then purposefully dropped my clutch. I bent over to pick it up and said, "Oh, is this the ring you lost?" I held up the jeweled circle and Aro's eyes widened.
He took it from my hand and looked at me suspiciously. "Maybe you should have it resized," I said, and then headed for the car.
When we pulled in front of the school Aro turned and placed his hand on my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. I wasn't sure if it was the way he kissed me that was disturbing or because it wasn't Edward but I felt sick to my stomach. His tongue ran over my lips several times as if he was licking me instead of kissing me. His hand held me firmly so I couldn't back away. When he finally let go I thanked him for the evening and quickly got out of the car. I shivered and not from the cold, but from the creepy feeling this man gave me.
"Alicia," he called out from the lowered window. I turned to look at him and he smiled. "We'll get together soon," he stated, not really a question but a command.
I forced myself to smile and shook my finger at him as I said, "I'm anxious to hear what piece of art you acquire next." He rolled up the window to the sound of his disturbing laugh and I headed to my room.
The next morning I dressed and went right to the art room. I introduced myself to Mr. Lemueller. He was a small stylish man who seemed to be a little scatterbrained. By the time our first class was over I was fully enthralled with my job. I loved working with the kids and began thinking about starting a school on the island if my mission here failed.
When Jane finally came for the third hour I actually gasped when she walked into the room. She was a beautiful child who appeared to be very shy. I approached her and knelt down to look directly into her amazing eyes. "Hello, I'm the new assistant teacher. My name is Miss Morgan."
She smiled and held out her tiny hand for me to shake. "Hello," she said softly.
"I met your father," I admitted, and noticed how she tensed. "I haven't met your mother yet," I added to see what her response would be.
She leaned in very close to me and whispered in my ear, "My daddy is a bad man."
I froze and watched her walk away and sit at a drawing table. My heart ached for this poor child. Her father obviously didn't have her fooled. She was his prized possession and nothing more. I had to admit she threw me with her comment. I expected a spoiled, indulgent child. Instead I found her scared and disconnected.
I admit I spent most of the class concentrating on Jane. By the end of the hour she was much more open with me and thanked me for my time. I knew in my heart she missed her mother and it saddened me more.
I realized Aro couldn't love her as a normal father loves his child. He never would have taken away her mother if he did. I was angry and feeling a bit guilty for taking my own mother for granted. She may have been spacey and irresponsible, but at least she never left me. I had always assumed it was because my father refused to be the custodial parent, but maybe I was wrong.
When school ended I found Jane waiting for me outside the class. She spoke so softly I had to bend down to hear her. "May I show you something?" she asked.
"Certainly," I replied, and she held out her hand for me to take. We walked together to the dormitory and entered her room. It was a private room with immaculate furnishings. Dolls lined every shelf but they weren't the kind you played with, they were collectable dolls.
She walked to her desk and pulled out a picture drawn in the hands of a child. She held it up for me to see and said, "This is my mother."
"Did you draw this?" I asked her.
She nodded and I placed my hand on my heart. "What a beautiful picture. I'm sure your mother would love it." I felt awful for pushing her for more information. This child had been through enough.
She shook her head and said in a terrified voice, "No, don't tell anyone I drew this."
I ran my hand down her hair and assured her it would be our secret. I looked back at the picture and noticed something strange. The drawing showed a woman with black hair and black eyes…just like Aro's. I wondered if Jane made the changes or if that was how the woman actually looked. I walked over to look at the photographs on her wall. They were all of her with Aro. Even as a toddler she had blonde hair. I looked back at Jane and noticed she looked nothing like her father. I began to wonder if that was why Mrs. Volturi had been killed.
Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door and a man yelled for Jane. She looked guilty and walked over to open the door. A man stood there with an angry look on his face. He said harshly, "If you skip out on me again I will tell your father."
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
The man glared at me and then informed me he was Jane's bodyguard. She had asked to use the restroom and then came to meet me instead. I pretended to go along with the bodyguard and told Jane it was a very naughty thing to do. It actually warmed my heart that she was playing right into my plan.
I excused myself and left her room, but at dinner I managed to sit right across from her. She smiled happily and I noticed how the other children seemed to exclude her. Maybe they had been warned by their parents to steer clear of Aro's child. Or maybe the large bodyguard standing behind her at all times scared them away.
During dinner the bodyguard got a phone call. He walked forward and held it out for me. "Mr. Volturi would like to speak with you."
Jane's eyes grew wide and I could tell she was terrified that I was one of her father's employees. I winked at her and answered the phone.
"Alicia, how was your first day?" he asked.
"Wonderful," I replied. "All of the students are so eager to learn. It was a very rewarding day."
"And you met Jane?"
"Yes, Jane is pretty quiet so I didn't get to interact much with her," I added, causing Jane to smile.
"Can we get together tonight?" he pushed.
I looked right at Jane and said, "I'm so sorry, I have a teachers meeting tonight, maybe another time."
I hung up and handed the phone back to the body guard before saying, "So Jane, what shall we do tonight?"
Her entire face lit up and she bounced in her seat as she said, "I would love to see a movie."
Her body guard gave me a warning stare and said, "She isn't allowed to leave campus."
I gave him a roll of my eyes and said, "Of course we won't leave campus. I have a computer in my room."
He nodded his approval and I told Jane to put on her pajamas and I would come pick her up in an hour. I rushed to the commissary and purchased popcorn and cookies before checking out the movie, Charlotte's Web. I then changed into some sweats and brought Jane to my room. The bodyguard sat in a chair outside my door.
I was surprised when Jane snuggled up next to me with a huge smile on her face as the movie began. I played with her hair and unwittingly kissed her head a couple of times. I missed Edward terribly and wondered what our child would look like.
When the movie ended Jane looked up at me and said, "My room scares me."
"Why?" I asked softly.
"The dolls are creepy," she said, causing me to smile.
"If you would like I can get a box and we can put them away," I offered.
She nodded enthusiastically and then whispered very quietly. "I wish you were my mommy."
I glanced at the door and then whispered back, "What happened to your mommy?"
She cupped my ear and leaned in to place her lips against it. Just as she began to speak there was a loud knock at the door. We both jumped and she quickly moved away from me.
"It's time for all students to be in their rooms," her bodyguard called through the door.
I walked over to open it and gave Jane a hug before she walked off, followed by the large man.