I wasn't sure what Aro had in mind for this new proposition of his, so when he asked, I was slightly confused with the question. It wasn't anything too crazy, but at the same time, I didn't know how to do what he had asked me to do. Aro also considered it a proposition, but I was wondering, if like anything else, I would really have a choice in the matter.

"But I don't know how to control it," I replied quietly. "It just happens. And it's new. I haven't always had weird dreams like that or see things like I did back in the theater. I don't know why that happened at all. I don't know why I'm so messed up."

At my words, Aro frowned, his eyes drawn in disappointment. "You are not messed up, my dear. What you have is a wonderful gift, an opportunity for me to gain some answers, and perhaps one day for more. But now isn't the time for such talk." I sighed as Aro took my hand in his as he continued to speak. "I do wonder if you focus your mind if then your gift can bend more to your will. Of course, you are a human, so perhaps I am asking too much."

It was my turn to frown. The vampires had a way of reminding me that I was nothing but a human and practically worthless in some regard. Aro treated me like a pet. Caius treated me like an interesting research subject. Chelsea treated me like a doll. Demetri treated me like… well, a child, which said something about him anyway. I was still his master's pet, and like the ones he had in the past, Aro would find something new to entertain him at some point. That much I was sure of.

I glanced up as Aro chuckled, and then I realized that he was still holding my hand and probably had heard everything I was thinking. In some ways, it made me so mad. No matter what, I was just being used by everyone, and I hated it. I hated it so much, but at least with Aro, I mean, here we were in Paris and he was showing me all of these things that I never thought I would be able to see. At least I got something in return, right?

"Ariana?"

He was looking at me curiously now, patient beyond fault with me, another thing that I hated. As terrified of him as I was, sometimes I wish he would just lash out or say something or get angry or do something besides laugh and smile. It was so fake. All of this was fake, and yet, I didn't care. "Okay, I'll try, but what if I can't read into Yevgeni's past? Then what?"

Aro shrugged as he finally released me. "Then you can't, and I will have to find another way to figure out what is going on."

"You won't be upset with me if I can't?"

He sighed as he turned and walked up to the railing to look out on the city lights. I followed, even though I felt slightly sick at being up so high. It was beautiful, but he could so easily break through the protective cage and toss me over the side. That wasn't exactly a death I was interested in. "Would you want me to get upset with you if you cannot do as I have asked?"

I didn't reply. I couldn't. But still, Aro waited for an answer. I peered over at Renata, who hadn't moved a muscle it appeared. Why did vampires have to be so strange? When I looked back at Aro, his eyes were studying me, and I swallowed. Instead of telling him what he wanted to hear, I asked, "Can we go back down now?"

The ride back to the airport was quiet, though this time, I was back between Aro and Renata. Alec had been waiting at the bottom of the tower, a small, rectangular box in his hand. I watched as Aro grinned and nodded at Alec, who opened the box for Aro to see what was inside. It was an expensive-looking gold necklace with a heart pendant, but unexpected was the fact that most jewelry contained diamonds. This one had none. The pendant was more of milky color, not quite a pearl. It looked as if a rainbow was imprinted on it.

"A precious opal, the unlucky jewel of France. I do think your sister will appreciate it. Though it begs the question of where you found it," Aro responded.

Alec grinned as he put his hand into Aro's, and the corner of Aro's lips lifted as he took in what Alec was showing him. "Yes, yes," Aro finally said. "An unlucky jewel indeed."

.

I fell asleep on the plane, grateful that Aro hadn't insisted on us getting dinner before we left as I didn't think I had it in me to eat anything after everything that had happened. I woke up as Aro was carrying me back to his quarters, but just as soon as my eyes had opened, I had shut them once more.

.

The next morning, I woke up slowly. I heard talking in the study, so I lied there, trying not to listen. Even if I had, their voices were too soft to understand any of the words. All I knew was that Yevgeni had returned to Aro's study, and he sounded upset about something. I sighed. I didn't want to get involved in family affairs or whatever Yevgeni was to Aro. He did at least seem to care about him as his wife's son.

I had finally sat up by the time the door to the bedroom opened and Aro peeked in. "Little one, why don't you get dressed and come out to say hello?"

I nodded as Aro shut the door again, and that was when I realized that I was not wearing what I had been wearing the previous day. The dress Chelsea had put me in was off, and I was in some sort of nightgown instead. Had Aro changed me while I was asleep? Biting my lip, I kept myself from shuddering as I stood and found something new to put on before going out and seeing what the arguing was about. I wondered if it had to do with what Aro had asked me to do the previous day. Finding out what was going on with Yevgeni was not going to be easy, especially when I had no idea what I was doing.

Finding a pair of denim and a sweater, I threw them on before going to the bathroom and brushing my teeth. I really did not want to do this. What if I couldn't? Maybe Aro wouldn't ask me to do it right now. Maybe he just wanted us all to talk about it, or maybe he wanted me to be in the same room with Yevgeni and focusing on him so I would have another one of those strange dreams or flashbacks or something.

I finally left the bedroom and stepped into Aro's study where Yevgeni was sitting down in the chair across from the door staring at me intently. I glanced at Aro, and he nodded towards the sofa where I gratefully sat as far away from Yevgeni as I could manage. He had always seemed okay the few times he had decided to send Chelsea or Demetri away and stay himself instead, but the unease with his presence never let up. He was not like the others. And as much as I saw the resemblance between him and Caius, he was more dangerous than Caius was. This much I could feel, and it didn't feel right.

"Ariana," Aro began, and I glanced over to him. "I have informed Yevgeni of what I asked you to try to do. Neither of us is expecting you to be able to tell us anything right away. You are merely a human. We can't expect perfection with something so delicate after all."

Every time Aro said human, it sounded degrading, and a part of me wanted to prove him wrong. I wanted this weird dream and flashback thing to work, as long as it wasn't more memories of my past. I didn't mind the past of others. I just didn't want mine. I sighed, as I turned my head to study the floor and nodded.

"Well, is she going to do anything or not?"

Yevgeni's voice shot through me, and I shuddered. I peered back up and his stare was piercing, but I didn't look away. I held it as steady as I could without freaking out. Aro said that I needed to focus. I would focus. But then the world went black.

.

I woke up on the floor, Aro holding me, and I shoved away from him hard. I fell back, confused, and Aro frowned. Yevgeni was still in the chair where I had seen him last, acting as if whatever had just happened was boring him to death, as if vampires could actually die of boredom. I wasn't even sure if they could be killed at all.

I felt so weak. Not weak because I was a human, but my body felt limp and tired as if I could go back to sleep right then and there. My eyes were heavy, and I shut them for only a moment as I tried to recall anything that had just occurred. But I couldn't. I opened my eyes again and met Aro's, silently asking him for some answers. He seemed to have an answer for just about everything except Yevgeni it would seem.

"The human brain is wonderfully fascinating," were Aro's only words.

I had no control over what came out of my mouth next, but somehow, when I spoke the words, I knew them to be true, even if I didn't know how I knew. "He didn't do it."

"What do you mean, my dear?"

I faced Yevgeni and took a deep breath, getting my breathing back under control. Even that felt weak and like a chore. His eyes narrowed, and I quickly turned back to Aro. "He didn't do it. It was him, but it wasn't at the same time. I don't know how to explain it or how I know that. I just know it wasn't him." But the whole idea of not knowing was beginning to freak me out as the confusion became overwhelming, and I nearly had a panic attack right there. "How do I know that?"

Aro immediately moved back over to me and took me in his arms, holding me close to him as he pet my hair. "An interesting question, indeed. How curious."

I didn't know what had just happened to me. I didn't know what had happened when I blacked out. Did I lose time? Why was Aro holding me on the floor? Had I fallen? Did I have some sort of seizure or something? I didn't have a flashback, did I? If I had, I didn't… I couldn't remember it. And now this voice in my head saying that Yevgeni hadn't done whatever it was that he was supposed to have done. What was it? What was it that he was supposed to have done? What was going on? What was wrong with me?

"Hush," Aro whispered. And my thoughts calmed.

A/N: Hey y'all! Thanks for sticking these past few weeks out. I didn't realize how much of a "break" I really needed. I should be back to updating every Monday, but always check my profile for any changes.