Not So Funny Now
Carlisle had been stomping around their quarters for the last hour - safe to say, he was driving Basileus crazy. "Could you tidy up without the complaining, please?" Basileus asked sternly. Carlisle released another disgruntled huff. "I didn't make this mess in the first place!" he said under his breath. Of course his father heard him. "Carlisle, you are lucky cleaning up is the total sum of your punishment, I wouldn't push for more if I were you." Ducking his head as he picking up some more ruined books and scattered papers, Carlisle decided to keep his mutinous mutterings in his head for now.
Thoughts of Aro weren't far from his mind. Cursing his newly perfect memory, Carlisle could hear the row between Aro and Basileus rolling through his head as though it were happening all over again - the shouting, the banging, the belting. It was horrendous. Eleazar had to stop him from going back down there to intervene. Carlisle couldn't understand why Eleazar wasn't intervening himself. He'd said if he did it would be worse for them all. Hearing his father's roars fresh in his head again Carlisle couldn't believe it would have been worse. Eleazar's chamber door to the tower stairwell was wide open and they all saw Basileus carrying Aro up the stone steps to his own suite when he was done with him. Aro was an impressive vampire, a great leader and skilled fighter… and now, as Carlisle replayed in his memories, their father carried his brother's broken body to his bed because he quite literally couldn't walk there himself.
Basileus listened to his sons raging thoughts. He felt bad enough about punishing Aro so harshly, not that he felt he had a choice. "Carlisle, can you just drop it." Spinning around to see his father looking tired and pissed off he replied, "I haven't said anything!" "I can hear your thoughts son. I am asking you to drop it. Aro knew what he had coming. I do not make empty threats - you should remember that, it will do you well in the future." That put Carlisle on the back foot.
The guilt he felt pushed him to reply regardless. "You didn't have to do that for me you know. I can take care of my own battles." Smile spreading wide across Basileus' face, he could barely contained his laughter! "No son, you can't, and besides, I didn't punish Aro for you." That was another punch in the face to my ego, thanks, father! "Then why? We were getting on so much better after that little hiccup and…" Basileus was done discussing this, "Carlisle, I have never relented on a promise. I explained well enough to Aro before I left, he knew what to expect on my return."
Carlisle was frustrated, dumping the pile of broken books he'd collected on the table, scattering the papers Basileus was working on far and wide, a low growl rumbled in his chest. "Does everything have to be so rigid with you!" He asked, a little more forcefully than he would usually dare. Basileus reached across the table and grabbed his son's wrist, pulling him close and squeezing him tightly he warned his boy, "watch it son, unless you want a round yourself!" Basileus growled as he put all his efforts into blocking Carlisle's thoughts from his own to provide some relieve to his guilt.
Carlisle was embarrassed, he knew he looked fearful when Basileus threatened to punish him and he hated himself for it, it went against everything he was taught as a human. If you are foolish enough to land yourself in trouble you should take it stoically, the good pastors words floated into his mind. Then something else crossed Carlisle's mind. What does he mean by 'round'? It this about making me submit to him, sexually. Is that what he did to Aro? Or at least partly? Aro said he would be taking me when he came home. Fuck. I really can't do it. Aro said I am supposed to be willing. HOW on earth can I be willing? What will happen if I am not? Carlisle was winding himself up again, it took so little in his newborn state. As Basileus released his tight grip, Carlisle let two words slip from his mouth and he wasn't really sure which one of his fathers was the intended recipient. "Miserable cunt!"
Basileus leaned back in his chair and watched Carlisle backing up with his hand across his mouth. Basileus was actually laughing in shock as he addressed his boy. "What in this world has made you think you would get away with calling me a cunt you wretched brat!" Basileus was so shocked at his relatively placid newborn addressing him in such a way that even he was surprised by the smile forming on his face! Coming to his senses, Carlisle saw it that he had two options - apologize profusely, or totally throw caution to the wind. The wind won. "You once told me to call you whatever I thought was appropriate!" okay, I'm over the shock now, Basileus thought. "Who the hell do you are think you are talking to! I am your father!" he raged at his boy as he stood up, pointing threateningly to Carlisle.
He should have backed off, he should have seen the warning in his father's words and tone. But Carlisle's newborn anger was taking over now and he was more scared of having to be fucked by Basileus than he was of being walloped by him. "Like hell you are! I know what you are going to do to me and no father would do that!" Genuine confusion crossed Basileus' face as his eyes shot open and his eyebrows disappeared into his hair line! "What in the name of god are you talking about?" Carlisle paced around the room, pulling at his hair to rid the memory of his conversation with his brothers from his mind. "You know what I'm talking about, oh it may be normal in your world to rape your underlings but in my world its perverse and criminal and you should have given me the choice because I would never have chosen THIS!" Carlisle gestured around the room with his hands as he spoke.
Basileus' confusion was turning to anger at the ungrateful boy growling at him. "This? This what? I took you from a worthless life, one you hated, where you were beaten and abused and dressed in wool and sack cloth. I set you up in a castle, you have been welcomed, you are respected, you enjoy fine clothes and a good life! You are immortal for god sake! And you think I should have checked if you would fancy it - most people in your position would bloody well welcome it you ignorant fool!"
Carlisle stopped dead and looked his father square in the eye. "Your abuse is far worse than any abuse I ever suffered in my human life!" Basileus roared in response. "Abuse? WHAT FUCKING ABUSE!" Carlisle backed away, his vampric instincts told him he was in danger. Fuck, he's going to do it to me now, Aro was right, it's coming, he's going to do it now. "Aro told me what you are going to do, he said I have to accept it and be willing." He mumbled. As Basileus approached he shouted, "I AM NOT WILLING!" Basileus was completely baffled by his boy's outburst. He tried reading his thoughts but they were no clearer than his words. "Willing? Going to do what? What the hell are you on about Carlisle?" he really tried to be calmer with his son who was obviously distressed. What else have you done Aro? He thought tiredly as he tried to pick through Carlisle's head. Nothing. Well, nothing of any use at any rate. "Fine. Follow me." He ordered as he left the room. Carlisle scuttled along behind him in trepidation.
Basileus threw open the door to Aro's suite. "ARO!" he boomed. "You don't have to shout father, it wasn't my hearing you broke!" Aro replied sarcastically from his bed chamber. Sulpicia stepped back as Basileus barrelled through her home following his son's voice. She tried to hide her bruised face but Basileus caught it and turned her to face him. Manipulating her delicate face gently, Basileus' heart sank at the damage his own son had done. "I am sorry, my lady." He told her genuinely as his anger towards Aro grew again. "I'm fine, my lord, just a scrape." she replied with tears in her eyes. Basileus closed his eyes willing himself to calm down and planted a light kiss on the woman's forehead. "I will bring an end to this behaviour, my lady." Basileus promised. Sulpicia wiped a stray tear from her cheek before leaving to sit out on the terrace.
A pang of guilt burst through the man's heart seeing the sorry state Aro was in. Basileus consciously pushed the emotion away thinking of what Aro had done to dear Sully, you little bastard I have half a mind to take you in hand again! he thought bitterly, no, not yet, but we will be having words about this son, I promise you that! Carlisle who had blindly followed his father was now confronted with the same sight. "I'm sorry Aro." He whispered to his big brother, thankfully Aro told him not to worry about it, though it didn't ease Carlisle's conscience one bit. "Right, Carlisle won't tell me what's going on, and his thoughts are so damn fast I can't work out what he's stressing about. What have you told him I am going to do to him?" Basileus accusingly asked his broken boy.
Aro rolled onto his side, though it took some effort he managed to prop himself up on his elbow, "What? I have no idea what he is…" Aro's voice trailed off as he realized what his father was talking about, oh no! "What is it? You clearly DO know!" Ignoring his fathers continued questioning, Aro turned to his brother instead, "Carlisle we were joking, he hasn't done that to me and El. I can't believe you bought that to be honest." Aro laughed despite the tense situation. "Done what?" Basileus ordered, you're being as useless as Carlisle, he thought, and he was getting pissed off about it. "One of you had better tell me what the hell is going on, NOW!"
Aro sighed, Carlisle was clearly struggling verbalizing what Aro had told him, gods be damned I can't take any more punishment yet! "Well, we were explaining how covens work. The sorts of things that are normal in vampire society. How the hierarchy works, that's all." Basileus wasn't letting him off that easily, "that is clearly not all - speak!" Carlisle was getting stressed again, he backed up to the wall, if I can't even cope with the conversation how the hell will I get through the act? "Don't even say it!" Carlisle implored. Aro was aware of his brother struggling with this, he didn't want him to suffer any more so he chose to use his words carefully. "Just about how coven leaders can 'take' anyone in their coven."
It took Basileus a few moments to catch on. When he did, it actually knocked him for six. He sat down next to Aro's head and tried to stroke his sons head but ended up grabbing a fist full of his hair in utter disgust. "Please, for you own sake, tell me you haven't told him that I have…" Carlisle shouted over his father, "DON'T SAY IT!" Basileus looked concerned, the boy is completely unravelling, I'll use Aro's term then, "that I have 'taken' you and Eleazar?" Basileus risked a look at Aro who though wincing at his hair being tugged on, eventually nodded. "For the love of the gods Aro!" He boomed as he took to his feet again.
Carlisle saw Basileus stand and wrongly interpreted it as coming for him! "I can't do it, please, I can't do it. It may be normal in your world but in my world it just isn't right!" Basileus reached out for his panic stricken son, "Carlisle, please, calm down." He was petrified and forced himself into the wall behind him. "No!" Carlisle screamed in response. Basileus held his hands up, trying to calm his boy. "Carlisle, I have NEVER done what he's said, ignore him." He spoke so kindly that Carlisle started to calm down and his breathing returned to a normal rate. Seeing how distressed his new son was refreshed Basileus' earlier rage towards Aro again. I can't punish him again; I went too far this morning.
Looking at Aro with near repulsion his spat his next words in a quiet, furious whisper. "What the hell were you thinking?" "We were joking!" Aro replied, guilty.At least he has the good grace to be sorry for being such an insufferable prick I suppose. Hang on, "we? So Eleazar was in on this too then, yes?" Aro squirmed under his father's angry gaze, "well, it may have been me who said it, El tried to stop me, it was funny!"
Basileus took a step towards him, hand on the new belt around his waist since the last one had been worn out on his son that very morning. Aro audibly gulped and pushed himself backwards across the bed. I really won't survive another round with him, fuck! "Father please, Carlisle didn't mention it again, I thought he understood it was a joke, I didn't think he took it seriously." Basileus quit his approach, Aro could see the man willing himself to stay in control. At least Carlisle was starting to look less frazzled. Basileus' face started to soften, Aro chanced a final plea, "Father please, I was just winding him up." Basileus ignored him completely and turned to Carlisle.
His youngest son allowed him to approach this time. Basileus placed his hand lightly on Carlisle's forehead and transferred his thoughts directly into Carlisle's mind. 'I have never, and would never do that to you. You are safe with me, you have to trust me. Nod if you understand.' Carlisle nodded, somewhat in wonder how Basileus was doing this? His lips aren't even moving! This is amazing! He thought. Basileus had the power to inject his thoughts and memories into others, but as he found it tiring and generally unnecessary he rarely used it. 'Now,' Basileus continued, 'I think it's time we wind Aro up a little.' Basileus removed his hand and winked at Carlisle whilst smiling mischievously.
Basileus turned so quickly he startled Aro. "You see Aro, it's hardly something to joke about son. Especially when I could, if I wished." Aro was confused. "Could what?" he asked tentatively. "Coven leaders," Basileus said as he retook his seat on Aro's bed, "they 'take' their members as a way to force submission, and it works. Perhaps I should have thought about this before… Carlisle is pretty submissive, generally. Especially for a newborn. Eleazar has always been very reliable…" stroking a hand through his sons hair, Basileus allowed his words to sink in a little before he continued. "YOU on the other hand. Well. You've caused me the most trouble over the years. Perhaps I should consider this?"
The look of sheer horror on Aro's face nearly set Basileus off laughing, it was all he could do to keep a straight, stern face. "Whoa, whoa, no. NO! Just no." "Relax son. Aro, you said yourself, it's totally normal in vampire society after all." Aro pulled his father's hand from his head, it was his turn to look repulsed now! "Father. We are not normal members of vampire society! You cannot be serious!" Basileus was enjoying this, and a quick look to Carlisle he could see his youngest was revelling in the moment a little too.
Basileus continued twisting the knife. "Oh I am. And don't forget how the hierarchy works; Eleazar is my eldest son - he could 'take' you too." Aro tried to sit up, forgetting the searing pain from his earlier hiding for a moment as stress overtook his body, "What the hell! I am not talking about this! We are not doing this!" Wagging his finger as though he was talking to a naught child, Basileus continued, he really should have stopped, and he had no intention of ever doing as he was suggesting, but it would be nice for Aro to see how unkind he had been to his brother. "Ah, ah, ah, Aro, it really isn't up to you, I am your coven leader, I am in charge around here, not you." Aro didn't really have a response to that. "But, but, NO! You are my father, it's different!"
Basileus stood up and moved over to Carlisle, placing a protective arm around the young mans shoulders. "Is it different Aro? I don't think so, not in vampire society after all." Aro was so flabbergasted at what his father was saying that he totally missed the smirks on both their faces. "Carlisle, we are going back to our quarters, I'll need to think about this for a while." Basileus told his son as he led him out of Aro's bed chamber. "Father please! My lord!" Aro called out in a final hope. Basileus looked back and before he closed the door smiled kindly and said, "shush son, rest. This isn't something for you to worry about. I will wait until you are recovered. And it is totally normal after all." Aro didn't have time to reply as his door closed leaving him all alone, unable to move from his bed with his head reeling "FUCK!" he screamed out. That seemed about the most reasonable thing to say right now!