A/N: I will not give up on this story!
XVIII
Felicia
Marcus guided Didyme away kicking and heaving.
Athenodora was wrapped in her husband's arms, Caius was glaring towards Aro.
Aro was looking off into the direction his sister was being led to.
"I do not remember infancy being that way," Aro said.
"An oddity per usual," Caius scoffed, "That behavior is rather normal. What I do not understand is any conceivable reason to bring her here."
Solana met Aro's eyes, there was a glint as he looked down at her then back to Caius
"It was my idea to change her, and Solana volunteered to do the act," Aro said softly.
Volunteered?
"Do you recall our discussion earlier?" Aro asked
Caius gave a curt nod.
"Then we shall see," he finalized.
Solana was very confused because volunteering was not at all what she would call the feeling that urged her to drain Didyme dry, and she was certain that was what would have happened were Aro not to intercept her.
What had he and Caius discussed?
Why were they not concerned with the amount of hostility Didyme just directed towards her, or the absolutely ridiculous idea to bring another immortal into their coven during this sensitive time.
She felt Aro's arms circle her waist, "Don't you agree, my sweet?"
He was asking two different questions, despite not knowing exactly what she was agreeing to, she trusted him.
"Yes, I-I agree."
Aro pulled her closer.
Athenodora turned her head away from Caius's chest to look towards them.
"It would be wise to refrain from letting Didyme join us in Dacia," she said.
"We cannot leave her here alone," Solana voiced suddenly, everyone looked towards her, "She may destroy the garden," she said a bit lower.
"It just so happens that someone has already stepped forward to be the newborn's caretaker," Caius said.
Automatically she thought of Aro, it would only make sense he would choose to remain and mind over his sister.
A giggle came from Athenodora which made Caius smirk.
Aro unnecessarily cleared his throat.
"Why are you all acting so coy," Solana could not help but smile along with her friends despite not being in on the joke.
"It seems Marcus has decided to remain as my sister's guardian," Aro said.
"Ah, remain?" She asked.
"Yes, remain. It was he who remained with her during the burn… and it appears after as well."
"Ah," she repeated.
At least Aro will still be joining us.
There was no sign of Didyme or Marcus for the remainder of their time in the garden.
Once twilight ended, they departed north, away from the city.
Each mile they traveled the snow became more abundant and trees became dense.
Solana would have fun seeing how far she could jump from each tree, then when the branches were becoming more covered with snow crystals, she would find amusement with how the snow fell from the pressure of her jumps.
"Will you stop that!" Caius yelled from below, he had just been victim to one of Solana's forced avalanches.
The ice crystals blended seamlessly into his white hair.
She laughed and jumped up another branch which made more snowfall.
"Control your mate," Caius snarled.
"Pay her no mind, let her have this fun," Aro said, he too was covered in snow.
She could not run away from the shame, but she could play in the snow.
The Dacians practically lived in a fortress.
To Solana, it was rather condensed, very ugly, and a terrible attempt to copy structures she had encountered during her previous travels.
Holding a completely opposite opinion than her, Aro was in awe, his eyes alight.
"This is nothing," Solana said to Aro, "I must bring you to the many wonders our earth has to offer, The Dacians mock them with this fortress."
Aro's wide eyes looked down to her, "Wonder lies wherever you are," he said.
She playfully rolled her eyes and suppressed a smile.
He had been trying to make her feel better the whole way here.
"It looks as if we arrived at just the right time," Athenodora said. She was very giddy.
Dora stood between the couple with her hands clasped at her chest.
All four of them were wearing this bright red color that Solana simply knew would garner attention to their coven, she only hoped it would be more positive than negative.
Dora wore a bright red chiton that accentuated her waist and bosom. Part of her bright hair was pulled back with a golden headband. She effortlessly encapsulated the goddess of beauty.
"Ah! It is wonderful The Celts are here as well! It's been centuries!" Athenodora smiled, she was more than excited for this party.
Solana's chiton was more free flowing, drapes fell over her shoulders while her hair remained in a mess of spirals.
Before coming it was neatly secured up, but Solana's fun in the trees ruined that much to Athenodora's disapproval.
Aro and Caius wore drapes that exposed a part of their chest and arms.
The practicality of their garbs was a mystery to her, but she would not complain at how enticing it made her mate look especially with his midnight hair neatly tucked behind his ears.
From every direction different immortals were descending towards the fortress, some pointed towards them as their bright red clothing forced them to stand out in the white snow.
"Let us get this over with," Caius said.
As they entered the fortress many regarded them, Solana recognized none of these people.
The center of the party was full of immortals swaying with one another to the fast paced tunes of many flutes.
Individual males and females were dancing on columns around the area, adorned with little to no garb besides the head of a wolf on their heads, the fur skin flowing past their backs. Paints covered their eyes, lips, and chin.
Solana found herself gazing at one of the dancers, their almost bare body seemed to move gracefully to the music.
They must have felt her stare because soon their burgundy eyes opened to look down at her.
A light smile came across their face, and before Solana could look away from the entrancing sight, they winked.
"We must find Felicia," Caius said while having no interest in the bodies which surrounded them.
"Who is this Felicia," Solana asked.
"The one in charge," Caius stated.
Athenodora was attempting to go off and reconnect with some immortals she knew, but Caius insisted they needed to meet Felicia first.
Uncharacteristically, Aro was not asking any questions. Instead, he was absorbed by the festivities around them, he had never seen this many of their kind at once.
"How will we know who Felicia is?" Solana was looking around for an authoritative type figure.
Athenodora giggled, "My dear, it will be very obvious who Felicia is."
And so it was.
Surrounded by many, a woman with long brown hair sat on a dais with several other chairs, but she was the only one occupying a seat.
Her face was friendly.
A long sleeved white garb hugged her body while purposely leaving her chest exposed.
One of her legs was up and a hand laid on her cheek as she sat comfortably in the chair.
"That is Felicia, the so called leader of this disgusting coven," Caius hissed lowly.
Athenodora hushed him.
Once near the leader, Solana noticed there were not only immortals at this function but also humans.
The humans wore collars around their necks and held goblets in their hands. From what she could smell there was blood in these cups and definitely not for their own consumption.
It was a disappointment to enslave these weaker creatures. In Solana's eyes, the practice held consequences.
Felicia had her eyes closed, the human beside her chair was uneased as they clung to the goblet.
The immortals surrounding her turned their eyes to the newcomers, distracted by their colorful garbs.
"Felicia," Caius practically growled.
The woman in question paid no mind, and instead, her lips parted to let out a sinful sound.
Solana thought this was strange.
Caius almost stepped forward to the leader in anger.
Athenodora stopped him by cupping his face in her hands.
A collared human appeared from underneath Felicia's dress, their lips were shiny.
It couldn't be.
Once they stood beside the other human who had the goblet Felicia's finally opened her eyes.
The leader threw her head back with a laugh and after a while, the immortals surrounding her did so as well.
Aro raised a brow at that.
Felicia began to speak, "Caius," her voice sounded smooth and amused.
Solana did not understand a word of it, but her older companions must have since Caius snarled after she spoke.
Felicia seemed to scold Caius, which led to another snarl and a nervous laugh from Athenodora.
Solana looked up to see if Aro was understanding any of the conversations, she held his hand and he shook his head.
"Introduce me to the other members," Felicia said in a heavily accented form of Hellēnikḗ. Something else was also said, but Solana did not understand.
"Of course! You already know of my mate and myself but you have yet to meet our sweet Solana and her mate Aro." Athenodora chimed in.
Now in the spotlight, the leader looked over her and Aro with mild curiosity.
She suddenly pointed towards them and said something Solana could not comprehend.
"Greek is too dreary," she said once realizing the couple did not understand her, "You."
Felicia's dark eyes zeroed in on Solana.
"Me?" she asked.
The brunette did a single nod, "You. I have heard of you. This… Solana."
That could not be possible since Solana had never heard of this woman, so how could she have heard of her.
"How is that?" Solana watched as a wide smile stretched across the leader's face.
Felicia leaned back more into the chair before briefly looking up.
"We have," a pause, "mutual friend."
Solana did not know what to say at that, she knew no one.
All her friends were on the Nile, and would never come here.
"This is the Coven of Athens?" Felicia gestured towards them.
They looked between one another.
Solana confirmed her inquiry.
"When Rholes told me the number of immortals which were living together I almost ripped out his tongue. A lie, it must be. But here you are! It must be tiresome living so close to one another?"
Again they looked between one another.
"At times, yes, but we enjoy each other's company for the most part," Aro said.
"It must be hard dealing with Caius, hmm? I've always assumed a stick was shoved rather far up his rear to elicit such raw behavior," Felica smiled.
Caius growled in protest.
"Your establishment is rather lively," Aro said, bringing the leader's attention back to him.
"As are you," Felicia trailed Aro's form.
"It is as this all of the time," Felicia snapped her fingers, the timid human holding the goblet brought the cup to her lips, "and the libations are always fresh."
"Why did you summon us, you filthy property burning whore," Caius growled in anger.
Felicia seemed perplexed at how Caius addressed her, the other immortals gasped, but quickly Felicia became unfazed and placed her propped foot down.
"Such anger… tell Snow Empress, were you to agree from the beginning and reside here at my home, there would be no need to set any property on fire," Felicia said.
The Dacains had wanted Caius to join them?
Why?
Did they not severely despise him?
"Instead I hear of these new inhabitants of Athens and one of their members so happens to be the Snow Empress himself," She glanced at Solana, "The leader is apparently from over the sea but I did not believe it!"
This woman was crazy.
She pointed to Caius,"While you try to be leader," then Solana, "You apparently are the leader. However, this one is the real leader!" All of them turned their heads to Aro.
"Why would you say that?" Aro asked with a calming smile.
"You observe quietly, and it seems each question I ask your coven members glances at you before answering."
"Oh?" Aro responded.
"Oh?" She mocked, "You have come to talk Athenian coven! We shall talk, but I will only talk with the dark haired one, the pretty male one. Everyone else can enjoy the party!" She said.
Felicia extended her arm towards Aro, a thin bracelet was wrapped around her wrist, it resembled a snake.
Solana's hand was still being held by Aro, they looked at one another.
Let me go with you, she thought.
Aro contemplated something.
"Am I allowed a companion?" he asked Felicia.
With her arm still extended, "Sure," she replied, "will your mate be joining us?"
Aro squeezed her hand before letting go, "No."
Solana's eyes widened.
"Caius will join me in this discussion," Aro said.
"You worry too much. Let loose and enjoy yourself!" Athenodora exclaimed as she swayed to the tune.
"I cannot help it," Solana replied.
Her eyes kept deviating to the dark hallway Aro and Caius were led into.
Athenodora grabbed her hands.
"Do try, they will be fine. Now tell me, after all that time in Egypt will you pass on a dance?" Athenodora asked as she made them both twirl.
"This is not the Nile, I think it has been some time," Solana sighed.
"My dear, do not think! Just dance!"
The tune was rapidly picking up, the immortals around them quickened their movements in response.
Solana was hesitant at first, still thinking of her two missing companions, but looking around her she could not deny the familiarity and neither did her body.
Without much effort, she moved herself to the tune, then emphasized her movements with the drapes that cascaded from her arms.
The room began to spin as Athenodora and herself twirled with the crowd to the music, soon her eyes closed.
Her waist, arms, and shoulders became one with the music as her body swayed.
"If it isn't Aphrodite herself."
Athenodora became wrapped in a conversation with an acquaintance.
Solana kept her eyes closed and continued to dance as they chatted beside her.
Suddenly a new presence was in front of her matching the movements she made.
Solana ignored this person, she was imagining a time before Greece, on the Nile. Many restless nights and bright days.
A hand slid into her moving one and encouraged her to twirl, she did just that while also opening her eyes.
All she could see was a wolf head.
They continued to twirl but each time Solana tried to catch a glimpse of their face the wolf head would be in the way.
So it was one of those dancers.
The tune began to return to normal, the room stopped turning, and Solana's drapes slowed their movements.
There was a large smile on her face from the exhilarating dance.
Athenodora was not beside her anymore, even that did not waver her smile.
The dancer with the wolf fur finally lifted their head to meet her gaze, a smile was on their face as well.
Upon closer inspection of this person, Solana's smile began to fall, her hands turned into clenched fists.
"The flower surely has bloomed," the dancer said.
Behind the paint and wolf head lay a sweet round face with prominent burgundy eyes.
The two women stared intently at one another.
"Azar."
"Majority of my colleagues see no problem with letting you keep that city," Felicia said while running her fingers over a helmet which was attached to the wall.
"Obviously with certain… assurances," said the person behind them, a short male with a permanent smirk; Vladimir was the name he gave them.
"Of course! We will remain forever loyal to our Dacian neighbors," Aro maintained a smile during the whole encounter while Caius had his usual frown.
At first, the trademark scowl irritated Aro, and he genuinely thought Solana had a questionable choice of friend.
However, the more he spent time in the presence of Caius, he began to understand the reason for such rage and started to overlook it.
Oh no, the temperamental one was not angry without reason.
He supposed having a talent such as he does allow better insight into the internal explanations which define one's character, their wants, regrets, revulsions, and needs.
Caius was chosen to join him for a reason, his outward disgust for Felicia generated enough of a distraction which allowed Aro to think and decide.
Felicia laughed, "Yes that, loyalty! While that is a great suggestion, my thoughts differ from my colleagues a little bit," Felicia said.
Aro knew this, but he feigned ignorance, "Enlighten me, please, our fair Felicia."
Felicia looked behind them to Vladimir and said something he could not understand.
The two Dacians began to laugh at her statement.
"You have a way with words, boy. I'll admit," Vladimir commented.
From the corner of his eye, Aro could see Caius trembling.
"We should let you return to your precious city with assurances that in the wake of any conflict against our rivals your efforts would benefit us and not them," Felicia began.
"Of course-" Aro tried.
"Then the issue of traveling in and out of your territory uninterrupted, now that I think of it!"
The small woman turned away from them.
"Vladimir! Sibyl no longer resides in Crete, correct?"
"Correct," the short blonde responded.
"I wonder why that is," Caius said with sarcastic malice.
Felicia turned herself towards them again, she stared at Caius in amusement.
"As you've reminded me, empress, my thoughts differ from my colleagues. I will extend my invitation from Caius to you Aro," she said.
Aro made his eyes widen with interest, "An invitation?"
"Join us here, in Dacia. I recognize a fellow ambitious soul when I see one. Just leading one coven will bore you! Honestly Aro, think of it. How would it make you feel to have an immortal and mortal alike look at you for guidance? For approval?" Felicia was attempting to convince him, "Obviously that exotic mate of yours is more than welcome to join as well."
Aro had to fight to keep the smile on his face, he was aware just how welcome she was, and he would turn over this fortress with his bare hands before allowing any of Felicia's questionable thoughts of his beloved to come true.
"Join us and it will all be there for you. I do not offer this simply to anyone."
Caius stopped his trembling and spat at her feet.
"Join Dacian scum? Become loyal to Dacian filth? Burn me before I commit to that, I command it!"
"My patience is running out quickly for you snow empress, thankfully your opinion is not being called upon. I want to hear from the coven leader himself."
Caius snarled before running his fingers through his hair, he met Aro's gaze.
"What if I were to decline?" Aro asked.
The woman sighed, "I will be very honest with you, Aro. We have ruled for almost a millennia and I have found joining forces with fellow ambitious vampires works itself out much better than having that ambition turn on us."
The term vampire was not one he heard either of his coven members use to describe their kind, possibly Marcus mentioned it once, no matter.
"I understand," now was the moment for his proposition, "what if I could guarantee you something greater than any of our assurances?"
Caius looked at him in question as Felicia became interested.
"You have a better idea?" She asked.
"I do, and it involves my mate, Solana."
As I said, I will not give up on this story!
Up until a few hours ago, I was not planning on updating today (Thursday), but during the day I realized how I really cannot escape from this story or these characters and the ancient world they currently reside in.
I'll be at work trying to finish whatever I need to and my mind will drift off and begin thinking of different conversations and scenarios for this story, either completely new ideas or building off of old ones.
The same thing happens while I shower (which is the location I came up with this story in the first place.)
I literally live and breath this story, and I have so so so many ideas for Garden which is weird because I've never been this committed to a fic. Any other time I try to write I quickly lose interest or have nothing to work with, but not with this story.
If you saw the 'update' I had of this story last Friday, I'm sorry.
That morning I was so upset and sad to the point I almost deleted Garden.
What?
Yes. I almost did.
I'm going to be honest with you guys and admit that recently I've felt very discouraged about my writing to the point that I've questioned if I'm doing something wrong, what can I do better?
Am I not getting a certain amount of responses because my story is too boring?
How do I make it unboring?
Is the story moving too slow?
Is it not historically accurate enough?
Should I completely change the plot? Why Ancient Greece?
Maybe I should have based it in the modern world because the past is too intimidating?
Are my ideas dumb? Is the dialogue awful? Is the setting terrible?
Are the chapters too long?
Very insecure thoughts that made me hate this story, hate writing, and want to quit. (Doesn't help that I switched majors, AGAIN. Chemistry didn't work out at all lmaooo. Help me omg.)
These are the same reasons why I never finished my Bellice story.
Screw that because it's ancient city style baby!
I love this story, I love writing it, and I won't quit. My mind won't let me.
This week has honestly felt like a really weird breakup.
Besides this rant which is all over the place, my point is to apologize, pls forgive me :'(
I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Something I wanted to comment on the last chapter regarding Didyme, she's a newborn. I know Smeyer has broken the rules a bit with the placid newborn trope that only applied to one character (oops) and yeah I kinda sorta cheated with Aro as well... but no, okay. Didyme is not sweet at all right now, she is traumatized because her apparently not so dead brother's girlfriend tried to eat her, high on vampy emotion, and completely and totally over it. But at least she has a friend to help her along the way.
(also End of Line by Daft Punk is what I listened to while writing the party stuff, it's not what the characters are dancing to at all, but it put me in the mood and that party scene from Tron: Legacy is literally everything, give it a listen)