AN: (Chapter resubmitted with style edits only)

"Here!"

Basileus dropped the flailing pastor's boy at the feet of his sons. He was feisty. Carlisle had been fighting him the whole journey back to the castle. The boy had done some damage to himself on the way; his knuckles were split and bloodied where he'd lashed out in pain against Basileus' marble hard torso. Basileus had to hold the boy tightly as he raced through the night air, far too fast for humans to see him - and he'd travelled pretty close to a few once Carlisle's screams had sated into muffled moans.

He could resist the blood, but chanced a look to his two sons to see their reactions. Both Aro and Eleazar stood close by, watching, waiting. They appeared unmoved by the fresh blood at their feet. Even with their many years of experience, he was proud of their restraint - he'd seen many would-be newborns finished off before they turned at the hands of nearby vampires. Of course there was no telling yet whether this one would make it through the transformation; some never reached a vampric state, they remained tortured souls of who they once were, the writhing and fitting only ending when some other poor mortal took pity and finished them off. The unwanted attention brought on their race by 'failed-turns' had kept the Volturi busy before the new laws were finally cemented across vampiric kind. Turning humans was just so damn risky.

This one's turning, Basileus thought to himself.

That hard pensive glare was melting away and boyish features of a beautiful young man started to shine through. Eleazar and Aro are handsome, of course they are, they're mine, children of the gods ARE handsome, Basileus thought to himself. Carlisle looked very fair next to him and his sons. The three of them all sported dark, blackish hair, and even as vampires had retained their olive tone skin, though it had paled a significantly. Joining the ranks of the undead will do that. Carlisle's blond mop and white shining skin was in stark contrast. He looks like Zeus! Basileus knew he would do well to keep that thought to himself. Would Aro be jealous of that, would he be jealous of Carlisle? I really cannot deal with any more petulance, Eleazar had better be right about this one, I need things to calm down in Volterra - I'm getting too old for this shit! They look nervous, what are they worried about, we've done this before...

"We will not be disturbed here, Beeston Castle hasn't been in residence since the civil war and the village is too far away to hear any noise from this one." Basileus gestured to the near-vampire at their feet.

Carlisle's transformation was nearing completion! It was a little quicker than Basileus had expected. Turing to his eldest, who was crouched over the boy now he lay still, he asked, "What are you so worried about son?"

Eleazar didn't respond.

Basileus grew concerned, this did not look good, has something happened on their way here? "Aro, what is going on with you two?"

"Nothing, father, nothing. Should I get him a feed ready, my lord?" Aro's obvious attempt at distraction was not fooling Basileus, but he didn't have time right now to get to the bottom of whatever was going on with his sons.

"I will fetch him a meal, you two had better deal with whatever has you so unnerved whilst I am gone." Aro and Eleazar looked at each other for a moment, and then to their father who was already walking out of the castle, "And clean him up!" he called back over his shoulder, and then dropped from view as he stepped out of the doorway and jumped across the ditch surrounding the high keep. They didn't hear him land, Basileus' graceful movements were often indeterminable to even their highly trained senses.

"Eleazar you need to calm down brother, you are unravelling!" Aro's usually calm and cheerful façade had dropped and he spat his words to his brother.

"Me!" Eleazar's incredulous tone was unmistakable. "You were the one who nearly turned that girl on the way here, you were the one who nearly exposed us to the damn humans, YOU were the one that punched ME in the face for trying to pull you to your damn senses!" Eleazar crossed the small hall and retrieved a bucket, he stalked back passed his brother and headed for the same exit their father had just used. "You're damn lucky we made it back here before him, you may be on a path of self-destruction but you are not taking me down with you!"

With that Eleazar jumped across the ditch and headed for the well, hoping it was still operational so he could clean up his new 'brother', This one had better not be such a selfish, bull-headed brat, he thought, angrily - it was rare for Eleazar to be so pissed off.

Aro was left alone with his thoughts. His only companion now the raggedly dressed near-vampire. What will become of you? Aro took a seat on the cold stone floor next to Carlisle, nudging him as he did so, eliciting a murmur from the weak voice. The pain was dissipating from Carlisle's body, Aro could see the end of the transformation nearing. Are you to be the Saviour of my soul? You don't look like much - certainly no match for Caius. Though of course you are not to match Caius, or me, or even Marcus or Eleazar for that matter. "You are to balance us all," he announced to the silence in mock grandeur.

Aro studied the features developing on Carlisle's face, he looked soft, kind, - not your typical formidable vampire. Jane and Alec look soft and kind! Aro scoffed at his own thoughts. The twins were certainly his most powerful and valued weapons back at Volterra, their childlike façade told nothing of the wanton destruction they could unleash. Perhaps he shouldn't dismiss Carlisle so quickly. Basileus is going to hang me out to dry if I continue to buck against him... and if I keep pissing El off I will lose my only back-up! Aro loved Eleazar, he had chosen him to be turned in much the same way Carlisle had found his fate... Eleazar was supposed to temper Aro, he hadn't so much failed, neither Aro nor Basileus saw things that way, but he hadn't been enough. Aro knew the guilt Eleazar felt over this. Guilt wasn't a feeling Aro was too familiar with, he tended to always believe he was right!

He was being unfair to Eleazar though. Aro used his brother's guilt against him, making him agree to any wants or desires he had. It was an unusual case for Aro, generally vampires had to do as he instructed; there was no discussion on the matter. Even Marcus and Caius knew Aro held the crown in their leadership. Eleazar though, he didn't have to submit to Aro. He was as much Basileus' son as Aro was and the backing of Basileus, which held others accountable to the vampiric king, simply did not apply to Eleazar. Though Aro would like to believe he held a special place in their father's heart, he knew all too well that it was their father's heart, and not his alone. And now there will be another to share that with... another who is equal. Though this did not please Aro as such, his ever inquisitive nature couldn't help but wonder how this whole thing was going to play out; Aro certainly enjoyed poking at the proverbial hornet's nest!

Eleazar was pleasantly surprised to find the well bringing up fresh water, well, fresh enough. The Cheshire castle had fallen into disrepair since the civil war, and Basileus was right, it was no longer in use since the Ranulf family handed over the lands to the royalist successors.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts; eyes closed, and a few wholly unnecessary calming breaths later he opened his eyes to properly survey their very temporary residence. This place is pretty perfect actually. Set high above the surrounding country side, from various points of the grounds you could clearly see in all directions; on one side, the Welsh Marches, the other, with Eleazar's perfect vampire eyesight he could damn near make out the middle shires. Even if those foolhardy humans learn of our residence, we will see them in plenty of time to take our leave... there will be no need for any massacre's here. That thought gave him some well needed relief.

Eleazar was a vampire and he fed from humans, but he would only feed when necessary, every month or so. He was not like his brother, or the other Volturi leaders for that matter - they fed for fun. Eleazar valued life, (all life) far too highly to enjoy unnecessary death. He was happy to feed from a decent sized stag if the opportunity presented itself and actually quite enjoyed animal predators too. Aro knew of Eleazar's strange feeding habits, he didn't approve and had long since convinced Eleazar to keep this shameful practice secret. Oddly he had learned that animals were just as satisfying a feed as humans from Basileus, and who would dare question him?!

Basileus was above and beyond vampire law... he set it, he did not have to live by it - much more a 'do as I say, not as I do' kind of man... or rather, Demi God. Of course, Eleazar couldn't defend his feeding choices through Basileus as there were precious few vampires who still believed he existed... the ancient creator and god of their kind had fallen into vampric mythology. The very idea that Basileus, son of Zeus, had ever walked this earth seemed ridiculous to your average modern vampire. All at Volterra knew. The leaders, the guards, and any passing vampire who called in on the vampire royalty, they could chance a look at the legend himself stalking the halls. Basileus did not hide away, if an outsider was to enter as far as the throne room to address the royal trio, he would be there, in all his glory. He believed it was good to stoke the myth now and again; one all knowing all seeing vampire that could swoop and destroy should vampric law be broken.

A low guttural growl emerging from the keep brought Eleazar from his thoughts. Already? Oh fuck! With his full water bucket sloshing at the sudden movement, Eleazar made back to the hall to welcome his new brother into his vampire life. Welcome, feel that burn, yeah, go decimate the village, no, you won't be sated, that burn will last you a good year! Don't worry, you have an eternity to get over the horrors you will enact in that time. Eleazar rolled his eyes at his own thoughts, yes, there were horrors, but he never had appreciated the beauty of life before it was taken from him. He couldn't pretend that he wasn't happy with being a vampire... he was, he made peace with it long ago and being an almost indestructible immortal had its many plus points. But he knew what was coming for the pastors boy... his new brother - this next year was going to be raging hell for Carlisle.

Eleazar threw open the solid oak doors to the hall. A brief look of amusement crossed his brooding face at the scene before him. Carlisle had clearly made it through the transformation, he was now wrestling with Aro who appeared to have been taken off guard by the powerful newborn strength Carlisle now held. Carlisle's beautiful, god-like face contorted with rage, frustration, confusion. He was ready to take Aro's head off!

"For fuck sake El!" Aro called out, disbelieving his brothers clear amusement and apparent uselessness!

Eleazar quashed the chortle in his throat and taking his bucket of water, walked over to his, now two, brothers and quite unceremoniously dumped the full pale over their heads.

The small hall filled with tinkling laughter, Eleazar could barely contain himself from erupting into full belly laughs at the shocked look on his brothers faces. Perhaps this isn't going to be as bad as I thought!?

"Hello Carlisle, my name is Eleazar, this is Aro." Eleazar gestured to the dark heard vampire Carlisle held in a head lock. "You must have many questions, and you must be thirsty, we can help you both."

Eleazar's velvet voice floated through the air, the effect of calm on both irate vampires was magical. It wasn't a gift as such, more a skill he'd learned from their father. Eleazar helped Carlisle to stand. Aro stood with him and dusted down his sodden clothes whilst shooting daggers at Eleazar. They moved over to the discarded bench at the side of the room, Aro set it upright and the three sat together with Carlisle secure between them.

Let's get the basics covered. Eleazar started to talk his new brother through the things he was sensing... waking into vampiric life was a full assault to the senses. He talked in cool, soothing tones, addressing each heightened sense in turn and explaining casually what he could now hear; the distant conversation of the villagers, the rumbling stream a few miles away, the incessant clicking and scratching from various insects surrounding them. He talked him through focusing his vision, now so highly altered that seeing a hand in front of his face was difficult,

Eleazar told him he needs to get used to filtering things out, "Filter out the dust in the air, you don't need to focus on that, see through the distractions and look at what you want to see." It sounds so odd to hear someone explaining how to listen, or how to see, but Eleazar knew well how disconcerting his new heightened senses were when he came round from the transformation. If nothing else, focusing on your senses will distract you from wanting to attack us, little brother!

Aro took the chance now Carlisle was calming to read through his thoughts. His new little brother was concentrating very hard on what Eleazar was saying, following his instructions and trying to quell the blood thirsty thoughts racing through his mind. There were other thoughts though, memories of his human life, the pastor, his friends, a girl... Whoa! That was a clear memory! Juicy! Move on brother, those days will come again, though it may be a while before you can resist ripping her heart out at the pivotal point! Oh, she's already gone. The memories of Rebecca's demise were as clear in Aro's mind as they were in Carlisle's, he could feel his brother growing restless, both in his mind and beneath his touch. Then they all smelled it. The reason for Carlisle's restlessness, not the girl, not that girl anyway. Humans. Basileus was home, and he'd brought a meal for them all.

"My Boys!"

Basileus' wide grin lit up the dank surroundings as he entered the hall. His arms spread wide, holding two waif like women in each. The women, very young women, looked so taken with Basileus and whatever yarn he'd spun to get them there, no doubt showing them a few party tricks on the way. They clung to him with gazing wonder. A gift of the gab was a standard vampire trait, but Basileus, son of Zeus no less, could have any audience fall under his command. And how he loved to command humans! Unlike the wider vampire society, Basileus had never been human so he had no reason not to enjoy his food in any way he wished... he understood those that struggled, however. He understood Eleazar's issues with 'wanton murder' as he called it, but he couldn't claim to feel the same.

"Humans don't seem to fret over a vegetable's loss of life when providing their sustenance," he would say with a smirk.

No, there was no love lost between Basileus and humans, or animals for that matter - food was food. He only concerned himself with either when there was a risk to his food source.

The Romanian's blatant disregard for protecting the food source had led to his first major intervention in vampiric society since his creation. The Volturi had been a genius idea, and for the most part, their world was a safer place for vampire and human alike now 'The Laws' were concrete and understood. Still, they were kept busy. The guard totalled around 30 members back in Volterra, with numerous outposts stationed across the globe. No coven, or out post for that matter, was allowed more than the sanctioned four members. The outposts were a pretty good way to keep valued guard members in line back in Volterra, too. Gifted guards knew too well they were far less likely to be dispatched than others, but the threat of being sent to an outpost for a decade or so would be enough, usually, to bring them back in line. There were other ways of course...

The giggling gaggle of young women Basileus had brought with him stilled as they took in the other three beautiful men before them. Two beautiful men rather, and one whose face had once again contorted in blind blood rage. Make that, two struggling men trying to contain the third who was chomping into the air, striking bright white teeth emerging slightly pointed, fang like. The women tried to retreat. They were met with Basileus' strong arms bringing them forward, their complaints turned to shrieks as they realized now what was to become of them - the crazed man was going to be their doom!

Basileus shushed them, and though their mouths still moved and their eyes wide with terror, no sound could be heard. Noticing their own silence they clutched at their own throats, scratching away, trying to release the cries held within. One pierced their skin, slightly, inadmissible to another human, but it was enough to alert a vampire. The blood in her throat rising to the surface a little more.

Carlisle's eyes blackened and a ferocious roar erupted from deep within him. Braking free from Aro and Eleazar's grasp, lunging towards the pretty young woman whose frantic scratching and now slight trickle of blood had allured him to her. Teeth moments from her neck, this wild newborn could almost taste the blood already. Chancing a look around to room to ensure this kill was his and there would be no competition, the newborn was met with grinning, he was being willed to make this kill, safe then. The women though, they looked terrified, they were terrified, of him! They reminded him of someone, he couldn't think who, but he was supposed to protect them, why were they so scared of him? NO!

The newborn dropped to the floor. NO! What was happening to him? NO! His head was screaming at him. NO! What the hell had happened to him?

Carlisle grabbed fistfuls of his hair as he curled into a ball on the stone floor. Pulling tightly on his short blond locks, as if to pull the very thoughts from his mind. He saw a girl, he knew her, she was his friend, more than that... why was she burning?! She was bound to a tall log standing upright with fire lapping at her feet from the surrounding pyre. Why wasn't anyone helping her? Why wasn't he helping her? He could remember the struggle as he tried to free himself from strong arms. Now head down in the dirt, he could taste it, someone turned his head so he was again facing the pyre. The screaming as the girl, Rebecca, that was her name, was engulfed in flames echoed around his head. Loosing grip on his hair the strength behind his pulling arms made them crash, one into his thigh, the other into the floor. The crack in the stone floor was accompanied by an almighty sound, like a thunder clap. The noise and slight pain in his fist forced Carlisle to open his eyes. Black shiny orbs scanned the room.

The women... they are terrified. Silent horror plaguing their faces. One seemed to call to him, he could see her shock, and he could see she was scared - he knew she felt those things because of him. Why do I want to rip her throat out? The men, all three of them looked at him curiously. Why are they looking at me like that? Carlisle stayed close to the floor. He started to retreat, slowly. Without taking his eyes from the men he moved backwards crawling across the floor. Within a moment he hit a wall. What the hell is going on, how in damnation did I get here? His wild eyes darted from one to another in the hall. Carlisle was out of ideas, he was out of space, and little did he know, but he was also out of time.

Basileus, Aro and Eleazar took in the scene before them. None of them, not even Basileus with his millennia's of experience had ever witnessed a newborn resist their first feed. Basileus was baffled. Even those depressing ones who chose to be decapitated shortly after they discover what they now are... even those take their first feed.

"My lord, what is happening to him?" Eleazar questioned his father. He had seen humans fail to transform, and he had heard of newborns not taking well to their transformation - but he didn't understand this!

Aro's thoughts matched his brothers, "I've seen newborns rip each other apart to get their first kill, I have never seen one resist a feed for the taking," though Aro, being Aro was far more inquisitive than concerned.

They turned to their father. Basileus seemed pleased by Carlisle, "Eleazar you were right my boy, his self-control is outstanding." Basileus beamed in delight. "Though he needs to feed if he is to complete his transformation. Show him how it's done!" He tossed the two girls in his left arm over to his eldest sons, each crashing clumsily to the floor.

The poor things had little time to worry over injuries, Aro and Eleazar had already decided on which one they each should take. Eleazar, not one for playing with his food helped the skittish brunette to stand by taking her hand and guiding her up, he then flashed behind her, taking her neck with his right hand and running a calming stroke down her torso with his left. Tilting her head slightly, he allowed his teeth to sink deep into her neck and forced his paralyzing, deadly venom through the punctured wounds. She was dead before he had finished his meal, draining every last trace of blood from her veins and allowing her to hit the ground with a graceless thump.

Aro had allowed his meal to witness her companion's demise. He liked them scared. He told Eleazar it made their blood race. Eleazar told him that he was a lazy little scrotum and should suck the damn blood so there was no reason for it to race - no, Eleazar did not approve of Aro torturing his food.

Basileus interrupted before Aro could begin his usual torment, "Aro, get on with it."

Aro didn't miss the pointed glare from his father, not wishing to add to the drama of the evening any more (even Aro had his limits!) he grabbed his meal by a tangle of scruffy, dirty blond hair and dragged her to stand before him. Raising his hand higher, she now dangled slightly, twisting as she did so with her bare feet searching for the floor. Aro, ever the showman, thrust his hand into the fragile human torso and up into the chest cavity. Blood pumped out of the woman's mouth and Aro lapped at the plentiful fountain with gusto. As he withdrew his arm from the mangled insides of the poor retched woman, he dragged her heart out with him. Disregarding the remains of his meal on top of Eleazar's leftovers, he took the warm, bloodied heart in both hands. Locking eyes with Carlisle, he tore through the pulsing muscle with his fangs allowing the blood to coat his face as it was released from the organs chambers.

Evil fucker, Eleazar thought as he wiped stray droplets of blood from his chin.

Basileus shook his head, smiling slightly despite himself. Releasing the hold he had on the two remaining women he crossed the hall slowly towards his new, youngest son. Carlisle hissed and a low rumbling warning growl emitted from his throat. Is that me? He was still struggling with his heightened senses and the battering his psyche was taking; his memories were so at odds with the scenes unfolding before him.

"Calm young one, there is much you do not understand I am sure, but we are here to help you. You need to trust us if you are to survive this night." Or year, he thought, but decided against voicing that to the scared newborn. Basileus spoke sternly now, but simply, as if to a child "Do you know what we are... what you are?"

Carlisle gave a curt nod.

"Then you know you must feed, to complete the transformation you must feed on human blood." No reaction. Great. "You can either feed freely, or I will feed you, but either way you will feed soon, understood?"

Carlisle processed the information, but his response surprised Basileus almost as much as the gravelly hateful tone that delivered it.

"You are an abomination! Fuck yourself to hell vampire, I will not take a life!"