A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list. It truly means a lot to me.

Chapter 32-

Aro's POV-

'My dearest friend and almost brother, Carlisle,'

.

.

.

No.

He would go into a coma from all the sugar added.

Can't take that risk!

'Listen, you, Carlisle,'

.

.

.

No.

Too rude and direct to the point.

'Friend, Carlisle,'

.

.

.

Would have to do now; it isn't a complete lie, at least!

I nodded my head in agreement, continuing to write the elaborate essay…um…soul-touching note I was writing to one of my closest friends, with hope in my mind that he would come to my aid.

He had to.

Er, I mean, I would be grateful if he did.

'Friend, Carlisle,

I hope my note finds you in good health…'

He is a vampire; of course, he is in good health.

Idiot!

Start again, you, dumbass!

I tore and roughly threw away the sheet of paper I had been writing on, tearing another sheet from the pad lying on my desk in my office, a sigh emitted off my mouth as I began again.

'Friend, Carlisle,

How is Esme doing? Does she still look as sexy and completely edible as she had when you had brought her here to meet us back in the last century? Does she often wear the mini-skirt I had sent for her back when it was worn commonly? Can you send a photo of her in it?'

No…

Now, that would be too much to ask for?

'Cross that out. I understand your hesitance. Can you send any photo of hers- you can select the clothing?'

"What are you doing, brother?"

I waved Marcus off, too occupied in my quest to convince Carlisle to join my guard. He wouldn't be one of the leaders, of course.

But he could be our advisor?

Also, it definitely helped that he had this positive image and thousand plus vampire friends in this world, or so it seemed at the moment.

"Can I see?"

Marcus leaned into my personal space before I could object, reading the lines written, an amusement filled smirk covering his face by the next second.

"Are you trying to hit on his wife?"

"Of course not. What even gave you that bizarre idea?"

Was he out his mind?

The mere idea of that was preposterous!

He was married to her!

"Well, let's see," he smirked wide, "you have asked for a photo of his wife in revealing clothing…"

"A mini-skirt isn't as revealing." I scoffed in disagreement. "Heidi used to wear it all the time with those fancy short tops of hers…"

"And then she would come and sit on your lap."

"Yeah, good old days." I fondly reminisced. "These days she is into covering herself as much as possible. Some new fad, sadly?"

"Anyhow," Marcus, our not-a-virgin-yet-a-virgin, brother let out a sigh, quick to change the topic. What a prude? Heidi had often offered him her services, too, but he had constantly declined, something Caius and I could never truly understand.

What was the big deal if he did take Heidi up on her offer?

Our wives never took offense to our philandering ways.

Just like it was supposed to be.

It was a common thing to have several mistresses on the side!

We did not even give it a spare thought after the first two decades!

"Why are you writing to Carlisle? To enquire about Caius?"

"Yes, of course."

Crap.

That thought hadn't even crossed my mind. Not even in passing.

I would need to add one short line asking about his health and mental recovery.

Or else it would look bad on my part…

"Also, I wanted to check if he would join the guard."

"Oh?"

"Yes." I confirmed. "We are out of allies, Marcus. If Carlisle joins us, we would have no shortage of friends in the vampire world again."

"You…you think he will join?" He looked unsure for some strange reason.

"Of course, he will. He loves and respects me too much to say no."

Or at least so I hoped.

Marcus hummed in agreement. "Will he be one of the brothers?"

I scoffed at that, a humorless laugh escaping my lips, "You are older than me, Marcus. At least act mature enough to represent your age." I continued speaking before he could cite offense. "He will be our…my…junior."

With Marcus no longer a leader, and Caius in whatever state he currently was, it was time for my grand plan to come into fruition.

I would be the sole leader of the Volturi! The vampire world beneath my feet.

They would call me 'The Great Aro'!

It would be just like I had always imagined it to be.

All of those nameless creatures my slaves. They would have to bow down to me, letting their head rest under the sole of my feet. If they objected, direct death.

Sure, it would be slightly difficult to obtain such harsh levels of obedience without Jane and Alec on my side- sigh- but I would have to do.

Once Carlisle agreed, I would employ that Jasper for my guard. Even he had had a name in his good days.

And even better, Carlisle had more talented people around him. All of them would be forced into the guard. I had special plans for each one of them.

Especially, Esme.

She could sit on my lap and look pretty while I handled official business…

Maybe, Carlisle would be open to…you know…

"Er…Aro,"

I rolled my eyes in annoyance, facing my disappointment of a brother.

What now?

I was dreaming of beautiful things, and did not wish to be disturbed.

"You were talking about Carlisle joining the guard?"

"Yes, of course."

Back to work it seemed!

"I am writing to him. Let us see when he agrees to move into the castle."

"Some confidence you have, brother."

I waved him off.

I was 'The Great Aro'; those mere ants on the ground could not say no to me!

"I will see you then." He still looked unsure, but decided to, thankfully, keep his unsurety to himself, walking in the direction of his chambers, leaving me alone to handle official business.

Hmm. What order should I pass now?

I was the king; I could do whatever I wanted.

Nobody could stop me.

NOBODY.

They all were my slaves…my servants.

I commanded over them.

Even more so than before.

Back when we had first formed the Volturi, Marcus had been my senior. I could not have rudely kicked him out, and adding Caius was for my benefit more than our world's. I needed someone completely on my side, too.

But now things were different.

I no longer needed Marcus and Caius around.

I was sufficient enough.

Maybe…that could be my first issued order…to send them packing off this world…

'How dare you?'

I looked up, frightened.

Where had that voice come from?

I could not see anyone around me…but maybe I should call Renata?

She was brave.

Seriously, the woman was not scared of anything!

'You killed me!'

Okay, now that narrowed it down.

Who all had I killed?

Hmm.

Still the number was pretty mighty to figure out one single person of them.

I needed more clues.

'You took my life away from me! I wanted to live. I had a family. You will suffer, Aro! I will make you suffer.'

Okay…

This seemed serious.

"Renata?" I instantly called out, obviously afraid for my life. "Come in here now!"

No response.

Where was she?

'Have you forgotten me, Aro? Your dearest sister? A part of your heart?'

No…

I took a step back in fear, nearly falling on my ass as my legs banged into the wall behind.

'You guessed it right. It is me!'

The words were boldly muttered, just as one word appeared on the wall facing me, written in the blood of some innocent human, a shriek escaping my lips as I screamed for my very life.

'Didyme!'