1664, May - The Calm Before the Storm?

"What are you going to do about Felix tomorrow night?"

Carlisle lay stretched out in the grass as he asked his brother yet another question about the upcoming celebrations.

"Carlisle, will you give it a rest about tomorrow?!" Aro was growing bored of the questions now, Carlisle had asked everything from what he should wear, up to, and including, which women were fair game. "You are being as annoying as Felix about this damn party!" Aro continued as he threw a loose hunk of grass at his youngest brother.

"Prick!" Carlisle exclaimed, shaking the grass from his hair.

Carlisle was a tad particular about his appearance which was something Aro and Eleazar were finding highly amusing. They were taking any chance they had to mess up his clothes, or worse, his hair!

"Quit your preening Carlisle, you still look perfect," Eleazar called over to his brother as he rested on his elbows.

The three of them regularly lay in the grass together, chewing the fat.

"Are you going to allow the boys to attend Aro?" Eleazar asked, breaking the short silence that had fell between them.

Aro puffed the air from his cheeks and rolled on to his back. The sunlight bounced on his glittering skin, he soaked up the tingling sensation as he replied. "I have to bring them both, the twins too. I need Marcus to test their bonds."

Eleazar and Carlisle looked to each other with concern. "Why?" Eleazar spoke for them both.

"Felix is avoiding me, I want to be sure of why." Aro replied, managing to hide all emotion from his words.

Carlisle looked even more confused. "Why don't you just read his mind?"

Aro sighed. "Ny gift is useful, brother, I know that."

"Then why don't you use it?" Carlisle pushed.

Why don't I use it? Aro questioned himself, I have had to punish him more in the last twelve months than in the rest of his vampiric years combined, and now he is avoiding me at all costs. I don't want to find out that he hates me, or that our bond is forever broken.

"Call it self-preservation," Aro finally responded as he sprung to his feet. "This has been pleasant brothers, but I must return to my duties." He only offered a tight smile as he left them both in the grass and headed back towards the castle.

Carlisle waited until Aro was out of hearing range, "El, what did he mean by 'self-preservation'?"

Eleazar stood and pulled Carlisle up with him. "I'm not entirely sure, brother. I know Felix has been spending a lot of time in Marcus' quarters. I thought he was just guarding Didyme but perhaps there's more to it. I wonder if Felix is moving on…"

Eleazar voice trailed off, hoping he was very wrong. He knew his brother would be devastated to lose Felix, and Sulpicia's reaction would be even worse. Would she blame Aro if she lost her eldest guard?

"Come on Carlisle, I need to get back to Carmen and Basileus will be wondering where you are."

"I am hoping he will lighten his hold on me after today," Carlisle complained.

Eleazar burst into giggles. "If you think that, you really haven't been paying attention, brother!"

"What?! He said the newborn year I have to be accompanied, and that ends tomorrow! Surely Basileus won't be breathing down my neck anymore. Stop laughing at me!"

Eleazar tried to bring himself under control. "Carlisle, really? Basileus turned Aro over two thousand years ago - tell me, do you think Aro gets a free ride with our father?"

Carlisle's heart sank. He had been so sure tomorrow, the anniversary of his transformation, would lead to greater freedom. He felt stifled in the castle walls always having a chaperone following him around. "Well I won't be drinking from humans anymore. Our father promised me that I would only have to stick to his diet for the newborn year." Carlisle huffed as he spoke, he sounded like a stroppy child.

"That IS something in your control, brother. Basileus will leave you to feed how you wish. I will be joining you by the way. I haven't drank human blood in months now."

Carlisle was pleased to have his brother's support. Eleazar had a lot of sway with their father; Basileus thought him to be the most steadfast and sensible of his three sons and generally trusted his judgment.

Eleazar delivered Carlisle back to their father's quarters, and went straight to Aro's top suite to retrieve Carmen.

"It's quiet in here, where is everyone else?" he asked generally to the room, only Carmen, Sully, and the twins were in attendance.

"Aro is in the throne room, El. Yhe boys are guarding the wives," Sulpicia replied.

"Are the twins staying here?" he asked, they both smiled to him as they nodded. They knew he wanted to know if he could leave Carmen with them for longer.

"Wonderful, I have an errand to run, I will return shortly." With that he left, almost as quickly as he came and headed for Marcus' suite.

Entering the north tower, Eleazar passed Caius' door first. Hearing Athenodora bellowing at Demetri he considered intervening but knew he wouldn't have long with Felix as it was so continued up the stair case to the top floor suite. Knocking gently, he waited to be invited in. Nothing. Again, he knocked, this time much harder. Nothing. Eleazar knew Felix was in there with Didyme so he tried the door, it was unlocked. As he pushed lightly the door slammed back in his face!

"FELIX! What the hell are you doing?!" Eleazar was pissed off - if he wasn't suspicious before he certainly was now.

Felix didn't respond.

"Open this door now or I will break it down, and you can explain why to Marcus!"

Still no response. Eleazar didn't actually want to smash down Marcus' door. Shit, what the hell is going on in there! "Felix open the door or I am fetching Aro to deal with you and…."

Eleazar didn't have chance to finish his threat, the door opened with a sheepish looking Felix standing to one side to allow Eleazar to enter.

"What are you playing at?" Eleazar asked as he slapped the youth across his bowed head. Felix hissed at the sting but didn't respond. "Where's Didyme?" Eleazar pressed as he noticed she wasn't in the room.

Felix looked nervous. "She's on the terrace, not to be disturbed," he said quickly. "Why are you here anyway?"

Eleazar was put out at the attitude the young guard was displaying. "You will do well to remember who you are talking to, boy!"

Felix bit his bottom lip, he knew better than to fuck with Eleazar but he was nervous having the guy in Didyme's apartment. "I'm sorry. But why are you here?" he asked more sedately.

"I came to see how you are, Felix. I have hardly seen you recently - you are either here with Didyme or hiding in your room." Eleazar rested a hand on the boy's shoulder, with his free hand he hooked a finger under his chin and brought his face up to enable eye contact. "What's going on with you? Do you need to talk to someone?"

Eleazar was kind, he sounded so concerned, Felix wanted to cry. Of course he couldn't let Eleazar see that so he shrugged and tried to pull himself free.

Eleazar held him in position. "No, don't turn away from me, Felix." He could see the boy's eyes fill with tears. "What has happened? Nothing could be that bad!"

Felix scoffed and wiped angrily at his traitorous tears, pissed off with his own body for even producing them! Not that bad? Really, believe me, El, I have fucked up beyond belief!

"Nothing, it's nothing," he finally mumbled out, contrary to his thoughts.

Not that he fooled Eleazar. You can't even hold my eye, and yet it's nothing? "I have enough experience with having to bring you to tears to know how much force it takes Felix, and I only asked if you were okay… whatever trouble you have gotten yourself into, it really isn't worth all this stress."

Felix pulled away again, this time Eleazar let him. "You don't know Aro," Felix said under his breath, not really intending it to reach Eleazar's ear, though, of course, it did.

"Oh, I do. I know him very well."

Felix took a seat, Eleazar followed and sat next to him as he continued, "I know he is worried about you, and I know how much you mean to him, Felix."

That just made the young guard feel worse, his stomach twisted into a knot.

"Why are you avoiding Aro?" Eleazar asked gently.

"I'm not." Felix lied.

"Mhmm… if you don't want to talk me I won't force you, but trust me on this, there is nothing you could possibly have done that Aro wouldn't forgive you for."

Felix stared ahead vacant, he heard Eleazar's words, he just didn't believe them. "He hasn't finished forgiving me for my last fuck up yet," he said, resentment dripping from his tongue.

Eleazar shook his head, black curls grazing his forehead as he did so. "Oh really? Well he just told me you would be attending the celebrations tonight, so I think he may be part way there at least."

Felix smiled for what felt like the first time in months. "Really? He really said I could go?" Suddenly the boy was animated again, though he still looked a shadow of the usually jovial youth.

"Yes, he did. So cut Aro some slack, will you?"

Felix nodded to the elder vampire as he smiled to himself, he had been sure Aro would make him stay home for Carlisle's party, I can't believe he is letting me go, he must have forgiven me for killing the humans in Volterra. Perhaps Eleazar is right, maybe he will forgive me for Didyme, too? Felix thought hopefully.

"I have to go, I will see you tonight, yes?" Eleazar asked.

Felix nodded happily.

"Felix, I…" Didyme slipped through the tower door, cutting herself off as she saw Eleazar sitting with her personal guard.

Eleazar flashed to her side. "Didyme, my dear, how are you?" he asked as he bowed his head respectfully. "Felix told me you were on the terrace and not to be disturbed?" Eleazar asked questioningly, eying a very uncomfortable looking Felix as he did so.

"Oh, no, no, no. I was earlier on the terrace, I had to pop down to Athenodora just now. Silly Felix, and they say vampires have perfect memory huh!" Didyme replied, looking almost as nervous as Felix.

"You were with Athenodora, then?" Eleazar pushed, something was going on here and he wanted to know what. Didyme nodded so Eleazar continued, "Tell me, how is she with Demetri?"

Didyme wasn't sure what Eleazar was asking. "Fine, oh, fine. She likes him I believe."

"She treats him well? Doesn't shout at him or anything like that?"

Didyme giggled lightly. "No, of course not."

Eleazar narrowed his eyes, looking first at Felix and then at Didyme. He knew they were lying, he just wasn't sure why. Deciding to keep it to himself until he had more information, Eleazar bid them both farewell and returned to Aro's quarters to join Carmen.

As soon as they were alone, Eleazar told Carmen of his concerns.

"What do you think is going on though El?" Carmen asked as she stretched out in her window seat; she loved how the sunlight tickled her skin. "I don't understand. So what if Didyme wasn't on the terrace?"

Eleazar brought two large bottles of blood over to his new mate. "Here, its wolf," he said as he passed her the flask, keeping one for himself. Lifting her legs, he sat and placed them carefully over his lap. "The problem is, they both lied to me… why would they lie?"

Carmen sipped at her bottle, Eleazar marvelled at the restraint she had already, most vampires would gulp down fresh blood, they rarely sipped anything! He had to force himself to do the same.

"Maybe Felix had forgot where she was?" Carmen really didn't see the big deal.

"Carmen, my love, Felix is a vampire, yes? We don't forget anything! And besides, he was guarding her so he should know where she bloody well is. You didn't see him, he was a mess. He's so stressed. Something is going on and he is worried Aro will find out. Whatever it is, it must be big."

Carmen leaned up, allowing her elbows to rest on the seat and support her weight. "Worse than killing the humans a few months ago?" she questioned.

Eleazar was surprised - he hadn't told Carmen about that. "How do you know about…"

Carmen cut him off with a sly smile. "Sully told me. She needed to talk about the whole affair."

Eleazar nodded, feeling a little guilty that he hadn't shared this information with his mate. "I'm sorry, my love. I should have told you."

Carmen waved off his apology. "I am sure there is much you keep from me, El. I understand your position, for now."

Eleazar bit his lip as he considered Carmen's tone. He knew how Aro would react to such a tone but that wasn't Eleazar's way, besides, he loved how feisty she was; Carmen wouldn't take shit from anyone. He smiled to himself but tried to keep it hidden.

"Perhaps you should talk to Aro about your concerns?" Carmen ended the silence between them.

Eleazar shook his head. "No, not yet. I don't want to increase his worry when I don't know exactly what I am worried about. Felix has lied to me before, usually covering his own back. This feels different and Didyme is definitely involved, I just don't know how."

Carmen nodded along as Eleazar spoke. "Demetri, then? He could confirm if Didyme had visited with Athenodora today."

"And if he confirms she didn't?" Eleazar threw back.

"Then you know they are lying for sure, rather than assuming."

Eleazar held a pensive look as the whole situation played heavily on his mind.

Carmen had another idea. "You don't think they are having an affair, do you?"

"What?! Felix and Didyme?" Eleazar scoffed.

"Well, he is a good looking boy. He's kind and fun to be around…" Carmen tried to find reason for her assertion.

"Yes, he is. But he is still a child and Didyme knows Marcus would kill him. And Aro would kill Marcus - no, she would never risk such a thing."

Carmen still thought it was a possibility. "You said yourself Felix is spending lots of time with Didyme - she has stopped going into the town with Marcus when he visits his humans, preferring to stay in the tower - she calls this place a prison, El. Why would she choose to stay locked up with Felix guarding her every move when she could be out in the town with her husband?" Carmen felt her mate stiffen at her words.

"You have a good point there, my love, but I hope to god you are wrong."

Aro stoked the fire with an iron rod waiting for the rest of his household to join him. He was always ready first, he couldn't really understand what took them all so long. Felix barrelled into the room from the tower door.

"I was wondering where you had gotten to, you should have returned an hour ago," Aro stated without looking around, he knew it was Felix.

"Er, yeah, I was waiting for Didyme to get back and…"

Aro spun around and "Didyme? Where had she gone without you?"

Felix looked horrified by his gaff. "Erm, no, I mean Marcus, I was with Didyme. Marcus had been into town again."

Aro nodded as he raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Felix with a stern look.

Felix couldn't take the silence. "Eleazar said I can go to the party…" his voice trailed off and he avoided Aro's eye contact.

"Did he?" Aro asked. "And Eleazar gave you this permission? Is it Eleazar's permission you seek now?"

Felix chuckled softly. "No, it's yours, always yours," he replied. "He told me you said I could go."

"Mhmm… I did." Aro replied, looking at his boy, he missed him.

"So, may I come?" Felix asked hopefully.

Aro nodded. "Go get ready, quickly!"

Felix smiled as he bounded across the room towards his bed chamber but stopped in the archway, "Aro, can I…"

Aro cut him off, "Do not ask if you can drink!" he said sternly.

Felix slunk off. Dammit, I knew that was pushing my luck. Eleazar will sneak me some anyway, he always does, he thought with a slight smile.

"Where the hell have you been?" Demetri almost accused as his brother entered their shared room.

"Stuck with Didyme!" he retorted, annoyed at his situation.

"Are you coming tonight?" Demetri asked quietly, as if Aro may be listening.

Felix beamed his broad smile as he started to change his clothes.

Demetri laughed. "You really do walk on water brother, I cannot believe he is letting you come!"

Demetri was pleased Felix was going, he didn't fancy braving Antonio's clan without his backing! Felix just laughed. He knew he was damn lucky Aro had relented -Aro going back on his word was a very rare occurrence and he was determined to be the model guard at the party to repay him.

"I am leaving in 5 minutes!"

The boys heard Aro call out and hurried out of their room, bumping into Alec and Jane doing the same.

"You're coming?" Alec asked in surprise.

"Yep!" Felix replied

The twins were relieved, too, no doubt for the same reasons as Demetri.