1664, February - Relaxing?

"I can't believe you fell for your own joke, brother!"

Eleazar struggled to talk through his laughter. Aro's retelling of their father's cruel play had his small audience doubled over, howling!

"Shut up, El!" Aro returned. "I didn't fall for it!" He really wasn't enjoying being on centre stage in this way.

Much to everyone's surprise, even Sulpicia joined in. "Oh my love, you really did."

"Go on, Sully!" Carmen whispered in her ear as the two began giggling.

Aro was actually enjoying himself. Eleazar and Carmen were spending a lot of time in his quarters with Sulpicia; she liked the adult company and Aro was making more effort to be around, too. It was nice spending time with another couple. Marcus and Didyme were so wrapped up in each other that they rarely wanted company. The king and queen used to socialise with Caius and Athenodora - that ship had long since sailed. Aro and Caius struggled to run the coven together as they once had and Sulpicia flat out refused to spend as much time with Dora as she used to.

Sulpicia was changing. Little things, but Aro had noticed. She was far more relaxed than she used to be, less guarded with her feelings and emotions. He liked it. He really liked it. If you spend an eternity with someone, even if that someone is the love of your life, things can get a little stale. Seeing this new side of his wife opened Aro's eyes to just how lucky he was. They had stagnated for too long, and though he really, really really hated to admit it, Carlisle's moralising had stuck in his head.

For the longest time, Aro had ignored any feelings of wrong doing as he fucked his subordinates, he had forgot about how dear his wife was to him. He wouldn't lose her, he knew that much. Sulpicia didn't have a choice there. But that wasn't what worried him really - hurting her, that's what he worried about. Aro had forgotten for a while how important Sulpicia's feelings were to him.

"Are you going to tell them what happened or shall I?" Sulpicia asked her husband playfully.

"I would much rather you told us, Sully - we know he lies!" Eleazar chipped in, enjoying the good natured ribbing his brother was receiving.

"I do not lie!" Aro replied indignantly.

Eleazar simply raised his eyebrows until Aro relented and began his tale truthfully.

"Fine, fine. I'll tell you," he said, making a show of huffing about it. "About a week after our dear father dropped the submission bomb, he came to my quarters, asking how I was and to see if I was back on my feet yet."

Aro paused to collect a goblet of wine and took the chance to rub the stress away from the back of his neck. They were in his private chambers, and only his brother, wife, and new sister-in-law were in attendance, but he still felt a wave of shame wash over him. They all knew Basileus had beaten him severely but talking about it so openly was unusual to say the least.

"Anyway, I was in this very room," he said as he gestured around his living quarters. "And he grabs me up from my seat by the scruff of my neck and drags me into the bed chamber!"

Aro was outraged again recalling the events, but his dear wife could hardly breath for laughing, Eleazar and Carmen weren't fairing much better, crumpled up into into each other's laps, venom tears running down their cheeks!

"What did he do then?" Carmen managed to squeak out.

Aro shook his head and narrowed his eyes at their amusement, but he continued. "He threw me down face first on the bed and climbed on top of me! He had me pinned to the damn bed! I honestly thought he was going to go through with it! He was pulling at my clothes and telling me I must submit!"

That was it, the whole group were torn to pieces by their own laughter.

Aro watched them, tutting. "You're all a bunch of cunts you know!" he said, like a stroppy teen!

"Aw, come on, brother! I would have paid good money to see you fretting whilst Basileus was on top of you!" Eleazar managed to finish his sentence before falling about laughing again.

"Fretting? Fucking fretting, El! You know how strong he is! How big he is! I would have DIED!"

That didn't help at all. Sulpicia and Carmen exchanged cheeky looks, as Eleazar continued to double up at his brother's predicament.

"Just how big is Basileus?" Carmen asked, suggestively.

"Ha! Do you fancy trading up, Carmen? No one would blame you," Aro said with glee, happy to be able to turn the tables on his brother.

"Whoa! That is not for you to even ask! You are my woman!" Eleazar tried in mock bravado, it really didn't suit the placid vampire.

Poor Carmen tried to keep a straight face but soon burst into a sing song of laughter with Aro and Sulpicia joining in for the chorus.

Aro caught the grand clock from the corner of his eye. "Damn it, I need to be in the throne room." Standing he took Sulpicia's hand and kissed her gently. "I will return as soon as I am able my queen."

After exchanging good byes Aro left to take his turn in the great hall.

The twins passed him in the hallway, returning from guard rounds. Jane fetched her wool and spinning top from the table and joined Sulpicia. Alec moodily stalked to his bed chamber. He didn't stop to greet anyone, and he didn't return their greetings either.

"What's wrong with him?" Eleazar asked Jane, she seemed happy enough.

Jane smiled as she shrugged.

Yeah, like you don't know, Eleazar thought. How I wish I had my brothers gift sometimes.

"I should go check on him," Sulpicia explained as she followed her youngest guard.

"Shall we go out onto the terrace, my love?" Carmen asked Eleazar, who happily took her hand and led her out of the room.

Alone, Jane pulled around the side table to sit in front of her and laid out her spinning tools.

BANG!

The tower door slamming shut startled Jane. Oh, it's just the big oaf, what on earth is his problem now? "What's wrong with you?" Jane asked the bruin as he came into the large, open chamber.

"Women!" Felix grunted his reply to the girl.

"What would you know about women?" Jane said to herself, laughing lightly as she did so.

Felix heard her and narrowed his eyes, snarling, as he considered slapping her. God how I would love to wipe that privileged little smirk off your face! Aro would skin me alive if I touched his princess of darkness. So tempting, one of these days it will be worth the punishment. Felix' thoughts continued thinking up weird and wonderful ways of punishing Jane whist evading Aro's retribution. Walking up behind the girl, he took the spinning top out of her hands, dangling it just above her head, out of reach.

"Hey, give me that back!" Jane was pissed off! "Felix, don't be such a cock!"

Sulpicia returned from seeing to Alec to be presented with Felix tormenting her girl. She was not happy.

"Thank you, Felix," she said as she held out her hand for the spinner.

Felix obliged, but he didn't seem bothered being caught out. Sulpicia handed Jane back her spinning top and told her kindly that ladies do not use such language.

Felix scoffed at Sulpicia's words. "Lady? She's no lady - little witch is what she is!"

Sulpicia was shocked, winding each other up was common in these quarters but Felix wasn't playing with Jane, he was being purposefully hurtful. "Felix that is enough."

Felix simply shrugged. "What? She is a witch, that's why they burned her."

Jane's small pretty face flashed with pain. Sulpicia could see the internal battle she was struggling with; Jane wanted to see him burn, but knew her gift was forbidden in their quarters. Sully gestured to Jane to stay calm and let her deal with overgrown boy. The eldest guard was certainly full of himself that day and clearly edging for a fight, but hurting Sulpicia's girl was a dangerous game to play.

"Felix, go to your bedchamber and get a hold of yourself before Aro returns."

He knew what Sulpicia meant by that - Aro would have something to say about his attitude if she told him when he came back from his duties… Felix also knew Sully was unlikely to do that, she always covered for them, even when they really didn't deserve it.

Felix should have backed down whilst he had the chance. Trouble was, Felix was so stressed that he wasn't thinking rationally. I've only been guarding Didyme for three months and that damn witch of a woman is driving me around the bend. She's fucking with my head. I am so sick of bowing to the ladies of Volterra! His thoughts grew darker and darker as he thought about the position Marcus' wife was forcing him into on a near daily basis.

"You aren't my master, Sully, and I'm not one of your vampiric brats," he spat his reply to the coven matriarch.

To Sulpicia's shame she didn't rebuke him. She was hurt, angry too, but far more hurt.

The stand-off between Sulpicia and Felix ended quickly as both heard chairs scrape back across the stone floor on out on the terrace.

Felix didn't know anyone else was there, he knew Aro was in the throne room... Fuck. Eleazar! It wasn't long before the eldest brother turned up, he had flashed to the living chamber and was in front of Felix before the boy had chance to leave the tower.

Sulpicia was grateful for the backup and decided to take a seat with Jane and help her with her spinning. Of course, Jane didn't require any assistance, but she could see Sully needed distraction and offered her mother figure the pile of wool to tease. Sulpicia wasn't surprised Eleazar sought to intervene. He was a true gentleman who wouldn't approve of Felix' tone or words.

"What is going on?" Eleazar probed gently. "Sulpicia, my lady, are you alright?" He saw the venom pool in her eyes, and the single tear that ran down her cheek. There was no need for a verbal response.

Carmen hung in the arch way. She looked a little agitated, but was in control. Having newborns around was always risky, but somehow Eleazar was keeping his new mate calm and easy going. There were many explanations offered by the castle rumour mill as to how Carmen's fiery tongue didn't tally with how well she controlled her actions. Eleazar enjoyed the rumours so felt no need to set anyone straight just yet.

"Felix, you were told to go to your chambers - I heard from the other room. I assume your hearing is at least as advanced as mine?"

Felix had stayed quiet until then, but he was pissed off! Yeah okay I was picking on Jane, she's an easy target in our quarters, and she's dying to use her gift on me but knows Aro will wear her out if she does so she just bubbles up, seething. I enjoy that little rise out of her. She gets enough special treatment from Aro and Sulpicia being their favourite so I'm just balancing things up a bit, that's all. He reasoned with his actions, making them logical, though he knew they were anything but. That's how Felix allowed his mind to work - he'd work things out so he was right, and then he'd stick to that reasoning.

Such a bull headed boy, Eleazar thought. So like Aro!

Felix continued his mental war with himself, justifying his actions; I shouldn't have mouthed off to Sulpicia, though. Aro will be pissed about that. But he was done taking orders from the Ladies of Volterra - Didyme and her 'requests' had driven him crazy with stress for the last few months. Few? It's been three months, and I have a lifetime of this ahead! And she's told Marcus she likes having me guard her so I'm stuck with her wicked trickery forever. Who the fuck does Eleazar think he is anyway? Felix paused his thoughts to look the man in quesiton up and down in disgust. I'm not taking orders from you - you are lower down the food chain than Sully and I told her where to go. I'm not backing down to the damn Spaniard, that's for sure!

"Yeah I heard you, El. And I replied already. Why are you even getting involved?"

Felix looked every bit the petulant sixteen-year-old boy he was at his change. Eleazar thought it curious that in the 400 years since his own change, and all the wonders of the world that had advanced in that time, teenagers were still exactly the same as when he had been a boy… oh yes, the topics may change, but the wild nature, and sometimes damn stupidity of their emotions, that is just as it always has been. Basileus had told him it had forever been so.

"Felix, you will do well to mind your mouth in my presence, and if I were you, I would be making my apologies quickly."

Eleazar spoke calmly - he saw no benefit in antagonising the boy further. He knew Felix struggled with the idea that he, who was so much younger in vampiric age, was above him in any way. But he was. And though Eleazar was considerate of Felix' feelings, he wouldn't be dismissed by this boy. Felix began a hateful reply, but before he had chance Eleazar silenced him with a raised hand.

"Do not continue on this path, boy. Make your apologies and leave."

Felix was incensed! "Boy? Fucking boy! I've been in the guard longer that you've been alive! You're the youth here, you and your fucking pet! I'll take you both on!"

Carmen started hissing from the arch way, Eleazar didn't turn to face her, he simply held up a hand in his mate's direction and she stopped.

Sulpicia was impressed with that, she'd never seen a newborn controlled in such a way. What the hell is Eleazar doing with her that makes her obey him so easily? Sulpicia made a mental note to get Carmen on her own soon and find out what exactly was going on between the two of them.

Eleazar took a step toward Felix. If the fool wants to take me on, he can try.

Felix assessed his situation. I am stronger than Eleazar, I am well-trained, a fighter and… that's it. Eleazar is Aro's brother, Basileus' son, and a stupidly high trained warrior. Fuck, I will not get out of this alive!

Felix backed away, slowly. He kept backing up until he thought it safe to turn and leave through the tower door. As he made the turn, he walked straight into Aro.

Sulpicia was visibly relieved Aro had returned. Oh, my dear husband, you are always where I need you.

Aro didn't speak, although he'd been listening to the scene unfold from near the doorway and he'd heard enough. He walked towards Felix, and Felix stepped back with every advancement Aro made.

Oh, shit. He looks pissed. Why did I say that to Sulpicia? She didn't deserve it. Felix' thoughts berated him. Jane didn't deserve his annoyance either, she hadn't done anything, she was just an easy target - he felt so stressed and he was desperate to tell Aro why - he willed his master to read his thoughts. He wanted a release from his turmoil but he was scared, yes, scared of telling the king what was really going on with Didyme… and he was ashamed of his fear.

Aro had no intention of reading his boy's thoughts, there was no need as he'd heard the altercation for himself. He was livid when he finally spoke to his wide eyed whelp.

"You tease my girl. You disrespect my wife. You curse in my quarters. And you threaten my brother!" Aro spoke slowly, with purpose. He couldn't hide the anger with his usual sing song voice.

Thump!

Felix had backed up, right into Eleazar's chest. Trapped. Fuck!

"What do you think, brother? How do you fancy his chances against you?" Whilst Aro directed his questions to Eleazar, he continued to stare Felix down.

Coming to his senses now Felix dropped his eyes to the floor, he wanted to show his submission, quickly!

Eleazar laughed, placing a hand on each of the boy's shoulders, giving Felix a gentle shake, "I think the fight has left him Aro!"

More laughter, Aro joining in with his brother. They weren't laughing at Felix as such, more at the typical scene they were so used to between them and their own father.

Aro isn't this boy's father though, well, he is, but he isn't. Eleazar realized he had never really thought about that properly before.

Basileus had been pushing Aro in such a direction for a while now but Eleazar hadn't considered the whole family thing to be something that was already happening, more something their father wanted to create. Eleazar did see Aro as responsible for Felix, and Demetri, Jane and Alec. They shared his quarters, he took them everywhere with him. He protected them. How have I never realized this before? Why has Aro never talked about this? Why has he not put Basileus out of his misery and just told him they are living as a family? Eleazar decided to discuss this with his brother soon.

"Do you want to fight, Felix? Is that what you want?" Aro used his calm tone to mock Felix.

"No, no, that's not what I want." Thinking more of his impending doom now all bravado disappeared and Felix was left feeling like the boy he was. "I apologize my lady I had no reason to say such hateful things to you, I will go to my chambers now..."

Felix made to leave, but Eleazar held him in place by the shoulders and increased his grip.

"No, no, no, my boy," Aro almost sang, before adding darkly, "You are not going anywhere." He turned to his brother and said, "I believe, El, had I not returned when I did, that you would have punished his petulant hide for his blatant disrespect to my queen, and of course to yourself and your new mate, no less, yes?" Aro took a seat with his wife. Taking her hand he kissed her kindly, and then pulled Jane into his lap and nuzzled his face into her blonde locks.

Eleazar didn't enjoy punishing anyone, but he saw it as his duty, and there was a little bit of self-preservation in there too - he was above Felix and the rest of the guard, he had to maintain that position for his own safety. Plus Basileus would be outraged to find him allowing other vampires to set themselves above him. It was made clear from the time of his transformation that he, like Aro, and now Carlisle, too, were the chosen sons of the original vampire - and they would do well to avoid any show of weakness.

"Do so then," Aro prompted, nudging his brother from his thoughts.

Stealing himself for what he must do, Eleazar guided Felix over to the marble 'dining' table at the side of the room. He didn't need his brother's gift to know that the boy would be begging for leniency through his mind. You've pushed me into this, he silently replied to the unspoken words.

Once at the table, Felix stood nervously at Eleazar's side, as though he didn't know what to do. Who are you kidding?! Eleazar wondered. It wasn't their dance, after all. He had punished the young guard numerous times since he had joined the coven. Too many times for Eleazar to count. It's just nerves, the man convinced himself. He isn't being defiant. Eleazar guided the boy over, bending him at the waist to lean his chest on the ornate table.

Felix felt his backside being quite literally presented to the room. If I live through this, I will die of shame, he thought to himself, glad he couldn't blush.

Eleazar made short work of bringing the bruin to tears with sharp smacks to the boy's rear end. He wasn't using his full strength, but was prepared to if he felt Felix needed it.

He didn't need to.

Felix proffered his apologies to everyone in the room before Eleazar relented and ended his assault. It took a moment or two for Felix to realize his punishment had ended. As soon as he did he forced himself to quit his snivelling quickly and wiped all traces of his venomous tears away roughly, as though their very presence offended him.

Eleazar surprised Felix by taking his hand away from his face. Then with a firm grip he shook the boys tear soaked hand and leaned into his ear, "I'm not sure what's going on with you, Felix, but I am not your enemy. Please remember that."

Felix appreciated the gesture, and the words, he wanted to spill his guts to Eleazar there and then but all he could do was thank the man, with his voice hitching humiliatingly.

"My turn!" Aro's voice sang out again as he rose from his seat and crossed the room to enter the bed chamber he shared with his wife.

Felix' sense of foreboding grew as he realized why Aro had gone in there. Jane knew too, and the smile danced on her pretty little face. Fucking witch, Felix thought when she caught his eye, looking far too pleased with his embarrassment. She will tell Alec and Demetri, no doubt. Witch. Felix prayed for Aro to beckon him to the bedroom. Please call me in there, please!

No, Aro came out clutching his chosen instrument of torture instead. The dreaded leather strap.

Both Felix and Demetri, even Alec once, had felt the sting of that strap. Me more than most, he thought gloomily. Why can't we do this in your room, or my room? Why in this room!? Felix didn't want to beg, he wanted to be the strong fearsome vampire the rest of the vampiric world believed him to be.

Aro wanted that too - that's why he only punished his guard in private, he needed to protect their image for them to be feared and respected. He no longer applied that to those he allowed into his quarters, though; Aro had worked hard over the last few months to be more relaxed with his guard in his tower home. The theory was, as Aro saw it, that only those he trusted with his life entered these rooms, and he also trusted those few with his secrets. This didn't help Felix right now though.

"Please, Master..."

"Don't 'MASTER' me in here, boy!"

Felix recoiled for the harsh tone. "Please Aro," he tried again. "Could we go to…"

"Shut up, Felix!" Aro had told the four young guards to stop calling him 'master' in their private chambers, but he wasn't overly impresed with them calling him by his name, either. he didn't have an alternative to offer, but he still didn't like it. That will have to wait, he thought, directing Felix with the strap in his hand. "Get back over that table - if you break this one I will break you!" Aro was done playing with him now.

Felix looked around the room for help: Eleazar was looking at the floor, Jane, little witch, still smiling. Sulpicia!

"Sully?" he called in a very small voice. Is that even my voice, I sound like a scared little boy! I feel like a scare little boy, he thought, sadly.

Sulpicia could see Felix was stressed and scared. She was hurt by how he'd spoken to her but she would always fight his corner. Aro was angry, however, so she had to be careful.

"Aro, my love... maybe you could take him to his room? My poor table will be ruined by this - we've had it less than a year, and well…" She trailed off having said what she dared on Felix' behalf.

Aro began to question himself seeing his sad, dear wife. He looked to his boy who looked so scared. Good! he thought. Hearing the distant church bells chime in the town Aro realized his time here was growing short. He had much to deal with - they were making plans to attack a rogue coven who were creating newborns at an alarming, and illegal rate.

Aro roared to release his anger as he stormed over to Felix and took him roughly by the scruff of his neck. He threw his boy back towards the bed chamber that he had only just vacated. Reaching Felix before he'd gotten to his feet he grabbed the boy again by his neck and dragged him into the room. He left the door open though, much to Felix' shame.

Why can't we use my room, the one down the hall separated by stone walls! Why your room, straight off the main living room where every fucker is listening! He thought it, but didn't dare say it. He knew he was lucky to be offered any privacy at all.

The four left behind in the main room sat, or stood, in silence. They listened as Aro half roared, half lectured at his petulant youth, they heard every biting strike he landed on Felix' already tender backside, they heard the boy hissing and crying out with the pain of his punishment. They heard Felix curse, and the high pitched wail that followed as Aro sought retribution for persisting errors. Then the strikes ceased and they heard Aro talking quietly to his boy. They couldn't hear his words, but as Felix' sobs quietened, Aro walked out of his room. He passed them all with his head hung low and left through the tower door, closing it quietly behind him.

Oh, my dear husband. Why can't we leave this place and all the pressures it provides? Sulpicia thought after him as more venom rolled down her tear stained face.

Once he was sure Aro had gone, Eleazar slipped into his brother's bed chamber to check on Felix. The well punished boy was still snivelling, curled up on his master's bed.

"Felix," Eleazar spoke softly as he approached and sat on the bed next to the boy. "Do you need to talk? I could help you. I will help you - just tell me what's going on?"

Felix wiped the last of his tears away as he tried to get him breathing under control. "You can't help me, no one can." Felix sounded so final that Eleazar didn't want to push.

"Well if that's how you feel, I'll accept it, but I am here I you need me."

Felix nodded but made no comment. He was still a little pissed Eleazar had spanked him truth be known.

"I need to find Aro and I will be leaving Carmen here so I need you to listen out. Now I know you don't want to take orders from me, Felix…" Eleazar was cut off with Felix interrupting.

"That's not what I meant, El. I'm sorry, I will listen out."

Eleazar left the boy to his suffering and bid Sulpicia and Carmen good day as he went to seek out his brother.