Hello again! Another chapter for this sinister story!

I love reading your ruminations! Always a pleasure! And some of you are deviously good at predicting what will happen, it's almost scary. Lol!

I am still sick, and I have a corona test scheduled later this morning. Hopefully it is negative, even though I still feel like sh*t!

Please be advised, Aro is quite dark in this story! Non consensual touching ahead! Be careful if that upsets you!

"How are you feeling?"

"How do you think I'm feeling?"

Aro could feel her defiance, and his anger bubbled to the surface at her words. He took a deep breath, trying to control himself.

He stepped into the cell, and closed the door. He wanted to try and reason with her and so he had gone to the dungeon and visited her.

She had been sitting on her bunk bed when he opened the door, but she immediately got to her feet when he entered. She was now standing in the middle of the cell, glaring at him.

She shifted somewhat when he moved closer, but otherwise stood her ground.

"Are you hungry? Do you require sustenance?"

She didn't answer. Aro's jaw tensed. She was testing him. He stepped closer still, his eyes roaming her figure briefly.

"You can talk to me, Isabella," he said, noting the tick in her jaw as she glared at him.

Her glower darkened. Another step and he was now right in front of her. Her breathing was rapid, and he could sense her tremble.

"What do you want with me?" She finally asked, not entirely able to hide the shaking in her voice.

"I want us to get along, my dear," he said softly.

"Really?" She managed just as he leaned in.

He couldn't help it, he had to breathe her in. She was quite irresistible to him, despite her defiance, he had a painful need for her affection. He desperately wanted her to respond to his advances. His hot gaze lingered on her throat, and he barely resisted the urge to touch her.

"Do you really not feel anything?" He asked softly, watching her reaction intently.

"What should I be feeling?" She asked, voice a little stronger now.

He didn't know how to respond. He lifted a hand and let a finger ghost her cheek, her jaw. Her body tensed at his touch. He watched her eyes as he allowed the digit to travel down her throat. He could feel the blood beat just beneath the surface, pushing against his finger.

She took a step back from him, and he felt that frustration surface again. She was glaring at him as she backed away. Oh, how she could trigger his instinct. He followed her in a sinister dance that all too soon left her in the corner of the cell, trapped. She licked her dry lips, as Aro once more leaned in.

"I will not hurt you, Isabella," he hissed in a low voice, his mouth hovering just above her pulse.

"I long for you, do you not see that? I have been waiting for you for so long."

She turned her face away from him, closing her eyes. It almost felt like an invitation.

"You don't know me," she whispered, gulping.

"But I do," he crooned, swallowing thickly. He knew he was playing with fire. His self control was barely keeping him in check.

"How?" She turned her head to face him, and their noses nearly collided.

He considered her for a long time.

"I have seen you in visions that were not my own."

"What do you mean?" She asked, a desperate tone to her voice.

"I mean, that you have been a part of my future for many years," he responded.

Her breathing exploded from her at his words.

"Why am I a part of your future?" She asked hastily.

"Why are you dreaming of me?" He countered softly.

She gulped.

"I don't know." She was looking directly into his eyes now.

"There you have it," he said in a low voice.

"All I know is that you are important to me, and I have this burning need for you." His breath hissed through his teeth as he once more leaned in.

She kept completely still, and he could barely restrain the soft growl that escaped him as his lips sealed on her throat as he kissed her skin softly. At the contact, her dreams flooded his mind again, and he momentarily got lost in them. He didn't notice when he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer while simultaneously pushing her flat against the wall. He peppered her throat with gentle kisses, as he coasted through every single dream.

One dream surfaced that nearly became his undoing. She had been seeing them together in passion. He groaned as he saw how she had dreamed of kissing him while sitting on what he assumed must be his desk. His pelvis was between her soft thighs, holding her close as he ardently took her lips over and over again in a passionate kiss, his hands roaming her back. He felt her desire as he awoke something in her. The dream was lucid and he felt his body jerk somewhat against her as he watched it unfold.

"Isabella," he whispered. He opened his mouth and suckled at her throat, crooning as he felt her desire through the dream, how heat had pooled at her core. He breathed in her personal scent, and felt how it intoxicated his senses, almost blinding him. He allowed his teeth to scrape her skin in his passion, his need for her.

She whimpered softly, her eyes squeezed shut, her face turned away from him. The sound made him freeze as he realised it wasn't from pleasure, but fear.

"Please, let me go," she whispered, desperately.

He sensed that she meant the words in more ways than one. He gulped a few times, doing his best to stomp down his rampant desire for her. He released her from his grasp and stepped back, not looking at her, but she remained huddled in the corner, her eyes closed, her breathing erratic.

His jaw tensed at the thought that she was still fighting him. How on earth was he to make her his, when she was so unwilling? He took a deep breath, trying to gather himself.

"I will have food brought to you immediately," he managed shortly before leaving the cell, needing to be gone before he made any more mistakes.

He stormed through the corridors, his anger bursting forth again. He was at a loss as to what to do with her. She was like a treasure chest to him. He had her right where he wanted her, but she refused to give him a key.

Her dream flashed through him again, and he groaned. She would be his eventually, he would make sure of that!

Aro was in a foul mood. He had remained in his study for hours after the latest confrontation with the girl. He could not make sense from any of it. He had seen the future from the nomad. It clearly showed her in his life. It must mean that she was meant for him, would it not? If that was the case, then why did she resist him? He had thought that her dreams, and him being able to read them was enough. Her choosing to come back meant that she wanted to be in the Volturi. To be his. Her uncertainty, her profession of love towards the Cullen boy had infuriated him to a point where he could not see reason. On top of that he had to fight his painful desire for her as well. He ran his hands down his face in frustration.

"Marcus, will you join me, please?"

It took less than five seconds for his brother to appear.

He said nothing, but merely regarded Aro with the penetrating stare that he only ever reserved for his brothers.

"I believe I may have… Acted rashly…" Aro began slowly. He was leaning his elbows on his desk, his fingers interlaced beneath his chin.

"How so?" Marcus enquired, his eyebrows raised slightly.

Aro tried to collect his thoughts for a minute.

"The girl," he said slowly, observing Marcus's reaction closely. "She's not responding to me the way I thought she would."

He had a hard time putting the situation into words. Marcus pondered his words for a moment.

"How did you expect her to react?" He then asked, frowning.

Aro almost scowled, recalling her screams and pleadings, then her fear of him.

"She is weak, Marcus. She is resisting my advances. She pleaded for me to let her go. But she is meant to be here! With me! She is supposed to want it. Not crumble at my feet!"

Marcus said nothing for a moment.

"She cannot be weak if she is resisting you, dear brother," he said, hesitating as he thought. "She is human, it is hard sometimes to understand their reactions," he added slowly, and Aro nodded thoughtfully.

"However..." Marcus continued. "She is also young. You are the most powerful vampire in the world, Aro. Can you not understand her apprehension with you?"

Aro scowled.

"She professed her love for the Cullen boy! I tried to persuade her-"

"How exactly did you try and persuade her?" Marcus interrupted sternly.

Aro paused, allowing a finger to trace his lips. He could still taste her, smell her. He leaned back in his chair, glancing down at his hands.

"I kissed her," he said finally.

Marcus did not exactly do a facepalm, but it was close. He closed his eyes, taking a deep, patient breath.

"My dear brother," he began, sounding as if he was explaining that fire was hot to a toddler.

"You cannot just kiss her and expect her to swoon at your feet. That is not how things work. Humans have feelings."

Aro was silent as he listened, allowing Marcus to finish.

"But she was destined to be here," he finally said, frustration filling his voice.

"That may be so, but the laws of attraction do not work like that. You need to be patient with her, Aro."

Aro made an impatient noise, but Marcus interrupted him.

"I know you are used to getting your way all the time, but you need to build the relationship up."

Aro regarded his brother. He did not like being told he was wrong, and his brothers were the only ones who could ever get away with it.

"Why did she return here, if she did not want this?" He finally asked sourly.

"If she is what I think she is, she would have felt compelled to come back to you. But a bond can only do so much, Aro. It requires work. Think of it as a flower. You need to be patient for it to grow, to blossom, and as it does, it has to be watered and fed. It requires compromises. Otherwise it will wilt. You must have scared her, which is easy, considering that she is human and you are so much more powerful than her. Where is she now?" He asked as an afterthought.

"I got so angry with her. She had the audacity to call me by my name. I told Jane to take her to the dungeon." Aro said offhandedly.

Marcus gave him a blank stare.

"You did what? Please tell me you did not tell her to call you master…" Marcus said in a tired voice, already knowing the answer. He rubbed the bridge of his nose warily.

A long silence stretched out between them. Aro scratched his chin uncomfortably.

"I will ask Jane to bring her to another, more comfortable room," Aro finally said, capitulating.

"No, brother. You need to do it yourself. Otherwise she will think she is going to her execution. And Aro... Be gentle with her. She is only human. Do not miss out on something that could be great, just because it is also difficult."

Aro walked at human speed to the dungeon. He needed the extra time to think. Marcus had put his actions to shame in a way only he could. He had reminded Aro that his power may be a gift, but it had the unfortunate side effect of him being used to doing things his way. And when things went pear shaped, he had a right tantrum. Aro felt uneasy. How could he make amends to the girl? She was now terrified of him. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Patience. He needed to find it.

He reached the dungeon and halted at the door that led to her cell. He took a deep breath, collecting himself.

Think of the flower, gentle handling, he told himself sternly.

He carefully opened the door, finding her sitting on the bunk bed. She grew instantly rigid as she saw him. She scooted to the head of the bed, wrapping her arms around her knees, taking up as little space as possible. She watched him with shiny, alert eyes.

Aro remained by the door.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, aware of the silly nature of his question. She had not answered him the first time, he was a fool to think she would do so this time.

She didn't answer him, and he reminded himself that she was most likely too scared to speak.

"I realise I may have made a mistake, my dear." He stepped forward slowly.

"I want to apologise for scaring you. I made too many assumptions about you, about us."

He took another step closer. Her silence unnerved him. He felt a strong urge to touch her, to try and see what she was thinking, fruitless though it would be. She regarded him from behind a dark curtain of hair. The cell was not big, and his next step had him by the bed. He could hear her tremble. He slowly sat down, their bodies almost touching.

"I have come to escort you to another room," he said softly.

She just looked at him.

"If you would please follow me," he said after a long silence, getting up to allow her space.

"I just want to go home," she said in a low voice.

He regarded her solemnly for a long time.

"I can't allow that, Isabella," he finally said neutrally.

She closed her eyes and hung her head. A small sob escaped her and she shook her head.

"I can't believe I thought you could be kind," she whispered.

He barely controlled his scowl. She had no right to judge him like this. He took a deep breath.

Actually, she does.

The voice in his head sounded much like Marcus. He sat down beside her again, and she shrank back from him.

"The world has turned me into this-" he began in a solemn voice.

"Bullshit! You have a choice! We all have a choice!" She spat angrily.

He considered her words, not able to concede that she was right.

"I am trying to make the right choices now. I wish for you to leave this cell and come live in a better room."

"What difference does it make, I am still your prisoner!" She cried, a strangled sob mingling with her words.

Aro kept his temper at bay.

"You are not a prisoner, Isabella. I am merely trying to figure out what is going on," he said softly.

"You said I couldn't leave," she countered.

"I was angry with you," he explained curtly.

"Well, can I leave, then?" She asked, accusation in her voice, defiance in her eyes.

He sighed.

"No."

She shook her head.

"So, I am your prisoner!" She confirmed.

He nearly turned his eyes to the heavens. Merlin, she was testing him again. He regarded her silently for a couple of minutes, thinking hard. Marcus entered his mind again.

Compromises.

"I have a suggestion, if you will be willing to listen," he said.

She kept silent, and gave a guarded nod.

"I will set you free in time, but I need you to stay with us for now. How does that sound?"

She glanced at her tightly knotted hands.

"How much time?" She demanded, her chin trembling somewhat.

He pondered it for a moment.

"Give me three months. If the situation remains the same, I will let you go."

She shook her head vehemently.

"No, you will let me go, regardless." She said, leaning forward, her legs falling apart as she bargained for her life. Aro said nothing, peering intently into her face.

Compromises.

A lot could change in three months. And she knew it. So did he.

"Alright," he agreed.

"You will be free regardless."

Her soft brown eyes flickered between his as if trying to see a lie. She bit her lip as it wobbled gently again. A single tear fell from her eyes, landing on the rough cover between her splayed thighs. She gave a sniffle, and then nodded once.

"Now, please follow me. I will show you to a much more comfortable room." He got up and elegantly offered her his hand.

She remained seated a moment longer, then got to her feet without his help.

He almost sighed. She was so stubborn. Then he chided himself silently.

It was not as if he could talk.

Welcome to the end of this chapter. I don't know if you see where I am going with this story. I barely see it myself. Lol!

Right, I am really dizzy, so I'm heading back to bed. Just wanted to post this for you. I don't know if there will be anymore updates today. Hang tight!

-Pancakes