TWILIGHT : THE BLOOD INSIDE YOU IS THE BLOOD INSIDE ME
This is a fictional story based on the Twilight Series, of which I own neither part nor parcel. Just borrowing the Volturi temporarily. No references to the Cullen family, sorry. (I'm late to this fandom. I do research online since I haven't committed the films to memory, and hardly recall the books. So I'm sorry if canon is upended a little.)
Leaving America for her first ever vacation to Italy, Charlotte Wilson is driving alone at night and in unknown territory. After an auto accident that could have ended her vacation before it really started, she finds her death is forestalled by the quick action of a passing stranger. Her life will forever be changed, but for the better or the end?
Aro/OC
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Charlotte hated driving, especially in locales she had never been to before. On the other hand, being stuck in a bus for hours didn't appeal to her either, so she rented a small car to use while on vacation. It was an easy model to drive, but she was unfamiliar with the land. She had a map of Italy, and another of the Tuscan region in more detail, but she really wished she had GPS in this inexpensive, non-luxurious vehicle. She had just turned the corner on a road that led to Pisa, when she saw a bright light heading for her, then darkness enveloped her.
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Charlotte could not move. With it being night and her vision blurry, she was nearly blind. Jerking back when she felt a hand on her shoulder, restraining her movements, Charlotte tried to speak but failed.
"Be still, child," said a low male voice, soft and without animation. "You will only injure yourself more." Someone kneeling at her side was touching her forehead, lingering a moment, before she felt a cloth wiping it gently. Was she bleeding? She tried to move, but excruciating pain held her in place, as was the restraining hand.
The detached voice spoke more firmly. "I am sorry that my driver caused this. You are dying, child. There is only one way to save you. You must do as I say, and do not argue. Now drink."
Charlotte felt something cool placed against her lips. She licked at the moisture, but it wasn't water. It had a more acrid taste, medicine perhaps. Was this man a doctor? Her thoughts were suddenly cut off, interrupted by more pain, sharp and sudden, until she finally passed out.
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Opening her eyes, Charlotte found herself lying on a large bed in a dimly lit room. She tried to sit up, but her body was still not cooperating. All she remembered were the bright lights coming at her and later, the pain.
As if someone just knew she was awake, a young woman entered the room with a tray. She placed the tray on the small table that sat beside the bed. "Master Aro thought you might be hungry, miss. Nothing too heavy. Hot soup and bread, with some red wine, if you like wine. If not, I can get you something else."
Charlotte's mouth was so dry, she could hardly speak. "Thank you, but may I have some water?"
The woman, who had flawless skin Charlotte could be jealous of, handed her a filled glass, then helped her to sit up, propping up the cushions behind Charlotte's back. "When you are feeling better, Master Aro will see you."
"Where am I?" Charlotte asked. She wondered if this was some ornate Italian hospital. She had read that former palaces might be turned into hotels, so why not hospitals. "And who is Master Aro?"
"He is your host." With that, the woman left as silently as she had entered.
Charlotte sniffed at the broth in the bowl, then sipped the steaming soup. It felt warm going down. She bit into the bread, finding it warm as well. First things first, she decided. Eat, walk around some to get back her strength, then find out where she was. She also wanted to know the name of the man who had seemingly saved her.
Once she had finished eating, she rose from the bed, and picking up the wine glass, proceeded to walk around her room. It was large and a bit ornate for her taste, but this was Italy, after all. She saw the open doors, and walking through them, found herself on a balcony overlooking part of the city. It was all so old world and charming. Going back in, she saw a set of clothing lying over a chair in the corner, next to the door of the bathroom. Whoever this host was, he had seen to all her needs.
She drank back the remaining wine, setting the empty glass down on the tray, then grabbing the clothing, she went into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Charlotte looked into the mirror, assessing the damage from her accident. She knew she had to have an injury on her face, but it looked untouched. Her skin wasn't bruised or broken. Peering into her green eyes, she saw no bloodshot whites. Luckily, her blurred vision had cleared. She looked down at her hand, which she now recalled feeling as if her wrist had been broken. She wiggled it around and found it perfectly fine. In fact, except for some residual aches, she felt like she had merely taken a very long hike, and was not the victim of a horrendous car accident. The man who had helped her had told her that she was dying. Could he have been wrong?
The water in the shower was suitably hot. She enjoyed the toiletries left for her, washing her long auburn hair, then getting out to towel off. As she felt the fabric, she realized even the towels were of the highest quality. Someone here had money, she decided.
Once her hair was dry enough, thanks to a hair dryer left on the sink, she twined it into one long braid that draped down her back. Taking one last look in the full length mirror in one corner of the room, she admired the dress she'd been given to wear. Charlotte was more comfortable in jeans and shirts, but this wasn't her party. She was just glad to be wearing anything other than blood stained clothes. In fact, she had no idea what had happened to her clothing or the car, for that matter. And where was her luggage?
Charlotte sat on a blue velveteen settee and waited. As if by magic, the same woman from earlier came back into the room and offered to bring her to Master Aro. "He's waiting. I'll take care of the tray for you. Come along now."
Did Charlotte detect a bit of fear in those words? Did this Master Aro not like being kept waiting? And what was the punishment for such a transgression?
Charlotte's eyes took in everything as they walked down a long corridor lined with paintings, then took several turns, to see walls and floors made of stone blocks. This might have been the original structure. Charlotte knew old buildings were not always demolished, but were rather added to with more modern materials. She also realized, without a guide, she could easily get lost in this place. Finally, the woman led Charlotte to a set of large wooden doors where she knocked and waited. After a few minutes, the doors swung open, and the two women entered a large round room that looked like something out of medieval times.
They walked over to stand before three carved wooden chairs, each occupied by a man, one older, the other two younger but complete opposites. The man in the middle had dark hair, longer than was the fashion these days, and pale skin. The one on the far right had a sneer on his otherwise flawless face, with shorter blonde hair. The older man on the far left seemed disinterested in anything going on around him. He too had hair much longer than the fad of the day.
The dark haired man who had been sitting in the middle chair, with the pale skin and strange eyes that Charlotte was sure was a trick of the light, stood and walked down the steps to stand before her. She tried to control her trembling, but found she couldn't.
Lifting her chin with a finger, Aro inspected her face and neck. "Ah, nicely healed, I see. Brother, how did you restrain yourself?"
The older man spoke. "I'm an old man, Aro. She was in need of help. There was nothing else to do, so the advantage was hers."
Charlotte had no idea what they were talking about. Aro held out his open hand to her and waited. Charlotte looked up at the man, who nodded imperceptibly. She lay a hand atop his, whereupon he closed his other hand tightly over hers. She was now caught, unsure as to what his plan was. Charlotte watched his expression to see if she could figure out what he was doing. After a minute, he released her hand and gave her that creepy smile that wasn't meant to convey pleasure or amusement, at least not to the one being examined.
"Charlotte Wilson...of America," he enthused. "So far from home and only 26 years old. You have no need to be afraid, my dear. You are under the protection of my brother Marcus, after all," he said, indicating the older man with a hand pointed in his direction. Aro touched her chin ever so lightly. "Because of that, no one here will hurt you, I promise. By the way, I am Aro, leader of the Volturi, as you may have guessed by now. I should say co-leader," he continued, feeling Caius' hard gaze on his back. The smile still on his pale face, Aro returned to his chair, leaving Charlotte to stand alone in the middle of the floor.
Charlotte noticed that her guide had gone to stand against the far wall. After her encounter with the strange man, she wondered why she felt like a book that had been opened and completely read in minutes. "Mr Volturi..."
"Just Aro, my dear," he corrected. He said nothing for a few minutes, making Charlotte increasingly uncomfortable. She hummed a favourite tune in her mind, a method she used when nervous about anything.
So it had been Marcus who had been her savior. And why was Aro reassuring her of her safety. What danger was she in? These people didn't look normal, but jokes had been made about the geeks in high school, the kids who never went outside, but preferred to stay inside with their computers. She never subscribed to the taunting, and refused to participate. Maybe these people hated the sun for some reason. She could sense nothing from them, which was unnerving. Only when she was with Marcus was the ennui palpable.
She started to head toward the man on the far left, sitting silent and looking alone even with people in the room. "I had hoped to find you so that I could thank you personally." A couple of the young men strode toward Charlotte, but Aro held up a hand, stopping them.
Marcus faced Charlotte, a look of pity on his face. He let her take his hand, squeezing it tightly, "There was something in you that made your life worth saving, my child."
"If I can do anything for you, please let me know. I'm in your debt."
Aro made sounds of impatience until Charlotte let go of the older man's hand to return to her place in the middle of the room. She began to silently hum in her mind, the nervousness returning.
As if knowing this, Aro spoke. "You like music."
"Yes, I do," Charlotte reacted in surprise. "Classical, even ancient music, like that played by the Egyptians and the Greeks. Well, just about anything except rap and country. I have a large collection downloaded to my i-pad..."
"Yes, we had to take that device away."
"What? You went through my luggage? That's my only tie to the rest of the world. My email, Facebook chat,..."
"Exactly." That one word was supposed to placate her, apparently. It didn't. "As soon as we arrange to nullify those applications, we will return it to you."
"I could show you how to do that myself," she grumbled, not caring if the retort sounded rude. "It has all my music, and I need that. Listening to it calms me. I also dance to it. That relaxes me as well."
Aro looked at Caius and Marcus, then back to Charlotte, silently clapping his hands together. "You dance? Perhaps you would do us the honour of sharing your talent."
"Oh no, no. I dance in class and with other women. I've never danced in front of men. It's just a hobby and great exercise."
"Then do me the honour. It is a request." Aro's eyes locked with Charlotte's, never blinking once.
Why did she feel like it was more an order then? She bowed her head in acquiescence. Her "host" seemed used to being obeyed, so if she expected to be released, she had better cooperate. What had she fallen into, anyway? It was as if she had gone back in time to some age when kingdoms ruled by kings were the norm. This was not an example of a modern world.
When he turned away to speak with the blond man sitting on his left, Charlotte looked with pleading eyes to Marcus, who seemed to understand her dilemma, but knew there was nothing he could do to help her. If only he would at least speak on her behalf, but he remained silent, his eyes conveying deep sadness.
"Carlotta, will you be so kind as to follow Malia. Wait for me in your room. She will bring you to my chambers when I call for you. Malia, prepare her."
Charlotte looked up at Aro. Carlotta? She hated that name. She was going to have to tell him a few things if they were going to get along.
"Oh, and Aro, the name is Charlotte, Charlie to my very close friends, but never Carlotta. If you call me by that name, I won't respond." She turned around and followed Malia out of the room.
Caius was furious. "The bitch! She deserves punishment, Aro. Such impertinence..."
"Yes, isn't it though," he replied, his hands steepled, with his fingertips at his mouth. "Such spirit. I could break that spirit, dear brother, but I have no desire to do so, yet."
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Charlotte had been told to put on whatever it was she wore when she danced. Surprisingly, her luggage was in her room when she arrived there. Malia left her alone in the room to prepare, telling Charlotte she would be back to take her to Aro's chambers. The i-pad was now on the desk. She ran over to try to access her email, and found it had been disabled. So they had messed with it. She managed to access her song list though. And now, like some ancient slave girl, she had to dance for that man. He might even make her dance for his court. She paced the room, fury building up inside her. "Who does he think he is! It's 2022, for god's sake!"
Charlotte dressed in a home made gown that was basically nothing but sewn together scarves of various colours. It was with her whenever she traveled, because she liked to dance in her hotel room once she had finished a busy day of touring. She always loved it when she spun in a circle, the scarves flying out around her. She stopped, suddenly finding she couldn't catch her breath. She wasn't cut out for this type of display. The dreaded knock on the door pulled Charlotte from her mini panic attack. It was Malia.
"It's time, miss."
"Please call me Charlotte, Malia. It may be the last time you see me."
The young woman gave her an encouraging smile and led her to Aro's rooms.
Charlotte's tight grip on her i-pad was the only thing keeping her grounded. She felt like she was going to slaughter, or worse.
"Go on in, Charlotte. Master Aro is waiting for you." With that, Malia turned on her heel and proceeded down the corridor.
Aro was sitting at a desk, dressed in black slacks, but now wore a red velvet smoking jacket. His feet were bare, and he looked a little less than the king he seemed to think he was in the big round room where she had first met him. He set down his pen, and turned around to face the nervous woman.
"Ah, Carlotta, you look like an angel. A brightly coloured angel, but still. Oh, forgive me, I am remiss. Charlotte." He took her hand and drew her away from the doors and through the exterior room into the bedroom. "This is a rare treat. The feminine arts of old are long forgotten by today's women." He let go of her hand and went to lie back on the largest bed Charlotte had ever seen. It had to be one and a half times larger than a typical king bed. Several cushions were propped up behind him.
She walked over to the bed and handed him the i-pad. "If you see any genre or time period that interests you, please choose." She went back and stood at the ready, her heart pounding so hard, she knew he had to hear it.
After a few minutes, Aro chose a song and set the device on the bed.
When Charlotte heard the opening notes, she was relieved it was one of her favourites. This would be easy, if she could just keep from stumbling. She avoided Aro's eyes as the music began. Spinning to the tune, her arms above her head, she used the space in the bedroom to twirl on her feet, using some ballet movements she knew. Then she slowly lowered them as she caught the edges of the scarves, lifting them up and letting them fall, as she stood still and let her arms and hands do the dancing. She stretched out her arms, her hands seemingly reaching for Aro, before she turned her back on him. She brought her arms in close, then spread them out, her breasts reaching for the ceiling, as she stood on one leg.
Aro watched entranced. She was perfect. It had been far too long since he had been so entertained. He unconsciously licked his lips while one hand tapped the beat out on the bed.
Feeling a bit more emboldened, Charlotte lifted her leg, turning on her other leg slowly, seductively. If she had to dance for this man, she would make him want something he would never have, if she had anything to say about it.
For his part, Aro was enjoying the dance, the music now changed to Egyptian. As she moved closer to the bed, he reached out to grab at the swirling scarves. Suddenly, the woman had jumped up on the bed, and continued swaying her hips, her arms moving gracefully above her shoulders. Finally, she jumped off the bed, and stopped. She was breathing harder, but Aro noticed the sparkle in her eyes and the pink in her cheeks. Her eyes never wavered from his. The music changed to Greek.
Charlotte reached out to Aro, her hand waiting for his to takes hers. He smiled and complied. Rising off the bed, he stood beside her. Together they moved to the music. It had been a long while, but the steps came back to him. He moved around Charlotte, then they touched hands and moved around each other.
Charlotte was surprised at how graceful Aro was. His hair would flare out a little when he turned around, then moved next to her. His eyes locked with hers as they circled one another, fingertips barely touching. When the music stopped for good, they were facing one another. Charlotte saw he was not breathing heavily at all, while she had to inhale more to catch her breath. She looked down shyly, tearing her eyes away from his intense gaze. She felt fingertips lift her chin up. She was staring up into red eyes filled with a hunger that frightened her. She gasped, and tore herself from Aro, fleeing his bedroom.
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A day later, Aro entered Charlotte's room. She glared at him for not knocking. His smile vanished when he told her, "I happen to know it's 2022, and I do know who I am. I am lord here. Do not forget that."
How did he know what she had been thinking yesterday? Had he heard her thoughts? The longer she was here, the stranger things seemed. His eyes, which yesterday were blood red, were now an ordinary brown. She had to have been hallucinating, perhaps from the strenuous exercise after so recent an injury to her head.
Aro sat on the settee, patting the spot beside him. Once Charlotte had sat down, he spoke. "Your car has been towed and all costs taken care of. Your luggage has already been returned to you. Yes, we did have to check everything. Mustn't have anything you can use against us."
"Why would I do that...?"
Aro cut her off. "You're interrupting, my dear." When he saw her close her mouth and sit quietly, not happy about it either, it seemed, he continued. "We have your money, credit cards and passport. You have no use for them for now. It will all be returned to you, once we have decided you may leave."
Decided she may leave? Charlotte didn't now whether to be furious or scared. "Aro, sir, I cannot stay here for too much longer. I was supposed to be here no more than two weeks. I had no plans. I was going to drive where ever I wanted, stop where ever I wanted. Completely footloose. My first day here..." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I have a job to get back to." She noticed Aro was listening to everything she was saying, but reacted to none of it. "You're not going to let me leave, are you?"
Ignoring the question, Aro said, "Charlotte, you will go live with my brother, Marcus. For awhile anyway." Aro gave her the news without preamble, and he didn't expect to be challenged in the matter. Aro knew she would not refuse, whether out of fear or obligation, he didn't care. There were important matters to be discussed. Marcus had already indicated to him and Caius he wanted no part of it.
"What? Why?" she asked. This seemed so sudden. Had she done something wrong? Maybe not. She waited to see if Aro had an explanation for this sudden decision.
"I thought you said you owed him your life, and would do anything to repay that debt. Now you balk?" He gave her a look that expressed his disappointment.
"No, you're right. I do owe him. Will he want me there? He seems like a very solitary person."
Aro paced the room. "He is that. But never mistake that he will let you escape. If you try, we will find you. And the consequences will not be pleasant. Remember, I always keep my word."
"Alright, if he allows me to stay, I'll do as you say." Charlotte did want to help the old man. Maybe a little companionship would be good for Marcus.
"Just be yourself. Talk with him. Ask him questions about his life. Try to draw him out. What he did for you was unprecedented, and there has to be a reason."
"I know the look. He's tired of living, isn't he?" Charlotte guessed. Empathy, feeling the emotions of others, was a gift she'd had her entire life. "Perhaps seeing me dying, and that was what he told me, made him do all he could to save me. It obviously worked. So what do you want me to do?"
Aro gave her a chilling stare, his eyes narrowed. "Do what you do best, girl. Entertain him." With that, Aro left the room.
A/N : I adore the Volturi, even if I am late to the game as a fan. And Aro seems to be like an onion, the more layers you peel back, the more interesting he becomes. Thanks for reading. Comments are always welcome.