PUSHED TOO FAR!
Aro's head spun around when he heard the tower door to his chambers open. "Where have you been my queen?"
Sulpicia came into the main quarters with her young vampire children following. She removed their cloaks and they went to their room to fetch their things. Sulpicia looked radiant with excitement, "we went for a hunt Aro - it was exhilarating!"
"What!" Aro shot up out of his chair, "what do you mean you went for a hunt? Where?"
"Aro calm down, you can see they are fine." Basileus' words were kind but his tone offered a warning to his son. Aro caught it - 'back down'.
Sulpicia smiled sweetly at her husband and brought his hand to her cheek.
Aro saw his dear wife and the twins leave the castle grounds, his stomach twisted as he watched them enter the tree line at the close woodland on the edge of the town. He was impressed seeing his delicate wife take down a wolf.
"My dear queen, you were magnificent!"
"Our little ones taught me what to do, they are quiet amazing you know, Aro." She smiled over to her twins who'd returned with their game.
"As are you, my queen."
Sulpici kissed him lightly and left for her bed chamber. "I'm going to read a while, my love," she called over her shoulder as she left. "Gentlemen," she added with a cute curtsy.
Retaking his seat with his brothers and father, Aro smiled to himself.
"Are you okay, Aro?" Basileus asked. He was curious as to his sons smile. A few months ago hearing his wife was out in public would have caused a vicious rage.
"I really am father. Sully, well, she's come alive these past few months. I am finding new things to love about her every day!"
The twins shared a relieved smile and returned to their game of jacks on the floor in front of the roaring fireplace.
"I'm proud of you son, you've come so far."
Aro's heart swelled a little. Taking up his cards he made his next move.
"El, if we are all here, where is Carmen?" Basileus asked, he had assumed she would be with Sulpicia.
"She is visiting with Marcus."
Aro smirked to Carlisle, who winked in return.
"And you aren't worried, brother?" Aro asked playfully. Eleazar rolled his eyes.
"Aro, stop it!" Basileus wanted to put this to rest before it started.
"What? I was only asking if he was worried at all, you know ... with his new mate ... alone with another man ... a recently widowed man ... "
Basileus had heard enough.
"OW!" Aro exclaimed as he received a crack around the head.
Carlisle burst out laughing. "OW!" He got one too.
Eleazar just shook his head, as it happened, he wasn't worried at all. He trusted Carmen entirely.
"Leave him alone!" Basileus ordered. They quietly returned to their game but Aro and Carlisle exchanged a knowing look, they would wind their brother up later when their father was out of the way.
Aro's eyes kept passing the grand clock by the cloak rack.
"Are we taking up too much of your time, Aro," Carlisle asked, sincerely.
"Of course not brother. Felix and Demetri should have returned by now, their patrol finished an hour ago."
Basileus used his gift to sense the thoughts of those in the castle, he caught onto Felix and Demetri quickly, "They are on their way back here, Aro. They've run into some trouble with Caius, by the sounds of it."
"What has Caius done?" Eleazar voiced Aro's concerns.
"Nothing," Basileus replied to Eleazar, "he's angry though, and intends to inform you of your boys insolence, Aro."
"What have they done then?" Aro was getting irritated now.
"Ask them yourself, they will be here momentarily." Basileus played his card and nudged Carlisle to continue their game.
Soon enough they heard Felix's booming laughter approaching. Demetri was telling him to 'shut the fuck up' rather loudly, too!
As they entered the room Aro addressed them without looking up from his cards. "These walls aren't as thick as you think, Demetri. You would do well to curb your language before entering this room." Aro spoke gently, but Demetri heard the warning.
Felix continued to laugh at his brother's expense whilst hanging his guard cloak next to Sulpicia's. Demetri was getting pissed off now. Felix had been mocking him since their little altercation with Caius.
"I cannot believe how stupid you were, what were you thinking?" Felix managed to ask through his laughter.
"Just shut up, will you! What am I going to do ... do you think Aro knows?" Demetri replied quietly.
Though the four playing cards were making enough noise to drown them out at this point, Eleazar was accusing Aro of trying to read his thoughts when they reached for the deck at the same time, and all were convinced Basileus' winning streak was due to his unfettered access to his sons' minds.
"You can't do anything, brother." Felix replied. Placing his hand on Demetri's shoulder he continued with a smile, "You're screwed!"
Demetri feigned hurt, "you're enjoying this far too much Felix!" Demetri steeled himself to walk around the corner and into the main room.
"Move, you pussy!" Felix shoved him forward and rather than passing through as a church mouse and hiding in his chambers as Demetri had hoped, he spilled flat out into the middle of the room - like an idiot. Felix, as usual, had underestimated his own strength and followed his brother and landed on top of the smaller vampire with an almighty "oomph!"
"Welcome home, boys!"
Both Felix and Demetri scrambled to their feet and nodded to Basileus. They made to leave but Aro's voice stopped them now, "and why are you so late returning from guard duties? I hope for your sakes you weren't in the guard hall again!"
Demetri looked frantically to his big brother, willing him to answer for them ... Felix was far more accustomed than Demetri with lying his way out of trouble.
"Of course not. We got caught up chatting with Caius." Felix breezed.
They both made to leave again, "and what did Caius want with you?"
Aro please leave it, please, Demetri's thoughts were plastered on his face, he looked like a squirming infant.
"Well, we're waiting ... " Aro stared them down. "You were on patrol, yes?" Aro continued, both nodded,
Felix had been in this position too many times, he knew Aro already knew full well what had happened. How does he always know! Damn vampire father!
Aro continued, "and you made your patrols, yes?"
"Yes sir," Felix answered immediately, Demetri searched the floor.
"I really hope you are not lying Felix ... and I strongly suggest you answer me soon, Demetri!"
Aro, your damn sing song voice isn't fooling me, Felix thought as he audibly gulped.
Demetri stuttered to his answer, "y, y, yes sir, I made my patrol."
Aro studied his two vampire boys. They were lying through their fangs and he knew it. What to do, what to do… should I end this now, or do I give you the rope to hang yourselves instead? Hmm. Aro decided to play with his boys, "wonderful. I'm, glad to see relations are improving between you and Caius."
Carlisle and Eleazar shared a knowing look and quiet smile. Teenagers!, came their unified thought.
Basileus, too, thought similarly to his sons. He was quite enjoying this - he was usually the one being lied to and having to deal with discipline. Being the amused bystander was a new one for him.
"What were you talking with Caius about boys?" He cruelly asked his 'grandsons' with a playful grin. They looked scared to death. Good. Naughty little vampires should be scared! Basileus thought to himself. Kicking out a chair he called to the boys to join the game.
"N, no thank you we really should go to our chamber and rest," Demetri stuttered out.
Felix scrubbed a hand across his face and made his way over. I haven't done anything wrong, well, I might have mouthed off with Caius a bit, but I wasn't the one caught mid-coitus with their latest conquest! Your scared shit-less stuttering has killed any chance you had of escaping from a hiding brother!
Demetri was left in the middle of the room, alone, abandoned by my own brother, with both his new father and grandfather scrutinizing him. Aro's been really slack with us since Didyme ... perhaps he'll let this slide? Though he and Caius are getting along better now. But still, he told Caius not to touch us, and he did grab me around the throat ... perhaps I should just tell him, he may even side with me?
"Aro I need to talk with you, please." Demetri gestured to the hallway leading to their chambers and the terrace.
Aro's smile widened and he tapped the seat next to him. "Go ahead."
"No, I mean, I need to talk with you in private. Please, Aro." Demetri responded, there was no way in hell he was saying anything while seated at that table!
"SIT!" All humour was gone from Aro's face.
Fuck fuck fuck! Demetri didn't want to piss him off right now ... he still hoped to get him on side.
Taking the seat, Demetri looked at his father, grandfather and uncles. They all stared at him intently, waiting.
"Share your news with us son." Aro sat back in his chair, he was so tempted to read the boys thoughts but waited to see if the lies would continue first. "If Caius has hurt you I will tear him apart - is that what happened?" Aro was lying now, he already knew from Basileus, and could see for himself that Caius hadn't laid much more than a finger on him.
Demetri saw this as his chance and took it. "Well, he has pulled me about a bit ... " Looking up at Aro with his puppy dog eyes, he continued, "he's the reason we are late, he wouldn't let us go. Caius was giving me a round of fucks ... Erm, ouch!"
Aro slapped his boy across the back of his head, hard!
"Sorry, Caius was lecturing me about being too close to the other guards, and Felix waited for him to finish with me before we came back. That's why we were late. Sorry, sir."
Aro looked his boy up and down, he didn't look as though Caius had pulled him around, "you do not appear harmed, your clothes are not torn ... " Aro was going to continue but the laughter Felix was stifling erupted from the boy, he had venom tears rolling down his face. Demetri shoved his oafish brother and with Felix too consumed with his own laughter he fell from his chair and crashed to the floor. Felix, forgetting where he was, or more importantly, who was around, lunged at Demetri. They were growling at each other and rolling around the floor within moments.
Aro lifted a snarling Demetri from the fight, with Basileus doing the same to Felix. Eleazar and Carlisle looked on, vaguely amused, as did the twins who had abandoned their game for the floor show their brothers were putting on. Before Aro could reprimand his sons, the main door to their private chambers came alive with hard knocking. Eleazar excused himself to answer the door and quickly returned with a furious Caius.
"I see they are being as much trouble for you as they were for me, Aro." Caius said pointedly.
The boys were dropped to the floor but quickly scrambled to their feet.
"Dear Caius, perhaps you could shed some light on what these two have been up to. According to Demetri, you have been, what was it Demetri? 'Pulling him about', though I do note there isn't a mark on either him or his clothes ... which apparently, according to Felix here, is an hysterical things to even say…" Aro winked at Caius who was relieved to see Aro hadn't believed the insolent brats - for a change.
"I suppose I have been pulling him about, he's telling you the truth, Aro. Perhaps you would like to expand on that, boy?" Caius directed to Demetri, who looked as though he was going to throw up his last feed!
Turning to his father he said, "He thinks I am too close to some of the other guards." Crack! That slap from Aro nearly took his head off, and looking up he was greeted with Caius' smug grin. Prick! Demetri thought to himself.
"Try again!" Aro simply sang out, denoting little of the seriousness of the scene.
"I, I was too close to other guards, sir." Crack! "Ahhhh!" That one landed on his backside with considerable force. Demetri was humiliated at being punished before so many onlookers. Caius' smug grin widened.
"Demetri, I do not believe for a moment that you were simply 'too close' to another guard. So do try again - we can do this all night if you wish?" Aro spoke coolly as he played with the rings on his hands and started taking them off one by one, placing them on the table for safe keeping.
"Why are you taking those off?" Demetri asked, fearfully.
"I don't want to damage them when I give you the thrashing you have coming." Aro replied with a sickly sweet smile.
Demetri was incensed! How could you do this to me, Aro. I had asked to speak to you in private, this is unnecessary and so embarrassing! "I, I, I may have missed the end of a patrol because I lost track of time chatting to some other guards, honestly that's all! Caius thought something else was happening but it ... Ahh, ah, AHH, ahhh, AHH!"
Aro listened to his son but watched for Caius' reaction. At the final incredulous scoff from his coven mate, he unleashed a harsh series of smacks to his young vampire's hide. The twins giggled from the far side of the room and a very quiet "idiot" was heard from Jane before Carlisle went and sat with them and suggested, unless they, too, wanted to join in fully, they should be very quiet.
"Caius, perhaps you could help the boy, he clearly cannot remember the events of the day!"
Aro smiled at Caius who was enjoying being 'on-side' again. His relationship with Aro had vexed him for some time, though he would never admit it. Since Aro regained his authority of the Volturi, things had improved between them immeasurably. These two though ... they are still swaggering around the castle like the untouchable heroes they believe themselves to be, Caius thought to himself. He even considered embellishing the tale a little, but realized quickly after he started there would be no need, "I was performing a spot check on the patrols this week ... we've had a few issues with some guards believing they were above my order, would you believe it Aro?"
Aro looked sideways at his errant sons who desperately tried to avoid his eye.
Caius continued, "so I thought it prudent to do these checks. Demetri was absent for the latter part of his final patrol. Again. When I found him, well, I found him in the dungeons with his latest newborn conquest. His insolence and blatant disrespect were totally unacceptable! I had to drag him off the girl, and no, his clothes wouldn't have suffered any damage - he was not wearing any! Whilst giving him a dressing down, Felix joined us and informed me that I had no power over them. I must say Aro, since we lost your dear sister I believe the coven has come together and improved, I have made no fuss about changes in duties and responsibilities, but, the way these two, and it is only these two, are behaving is deplorable and lacking the standard of a Volturi guard." Caius finished his tirade and offered his hand to Aro so he could read his thoughts.
Aro waved it away, "I believe you Caius, and may I thank you for speaking so openly."
Aro stalked around the room trying to release the frustration he felt. He knew Caius spoke the truth. His disappointment in his sons had gone past displeasure, now he was livid. But what to do? Should I punish them here, in this room, now? He wanted to. Should I calm down first ... I don't want to calm down, but should I? They have brought this on themselves… and they lied to me, repeatedly. Though he knew that he'd played with them a little whilst they tangled themselves up. Why didn't Basileus tell me before they came back up here? I assumed, as he wouldn't say what they had done, that it couldn't be anything too bad.
Aro laid a hand on Felix's neck and read his thoughts. Seeing the altercation with Caius where Felix, in his arrogance and to Aro's disgust, cursed at Caius and pushed him backwards by his chest whilst insisting he couldn't do anything to them, or he'd be decapitated. Felix hung his head, ashamed. Aro could feel his boy shaking under his grasp. "Do you want to repeat that!" Aro spoke loudly and darkly to Felix now.
"W, w, what, sir?" Felix was genuinely baffled as to what Aro was reading inside his head.
Giving his boy a rough shake so he cowered a little, "Repeat what you said to Caius, a master of the Volturi, when you, you arrogant wretch, thought you could tell my brother not only how to do his job, but that his orders WERE BELOW YOU!" Aro roared at his boy. "SPEAK!" he growled out as his forced Felix down to his knees.
"I, I, erm, I mean, well, I said something like Caius was an evil cunt and, erm, that if, erm, he touched us you'd throw him from the wall yourself, Aahhh! HISS!"
The two rapid slaps to the back of his head made him dizzy. "Continue!" Aro ordered.
Fuck, thought Felix, but he continued, he didn't dare not, though he knew this next part was certain doom, "I might have said that Basileus was looking for a reason to rip Caius to pieces and laying a finger on us would be enough ... hiiiiissss," Aro dragged his son to his feet by the scruff of his neck and threw him towards his own father. Basileus deftly caught the boy who looked up, wide eyed and terrified.
Basileus grinned menacingly at the errant youth in his clutches, but chose to speak to Caius, "Caius, your restraint is impressive, well done. Believe me they will suffer much more this way."
Basileus was genuinely quite proud of Caius. A few months ago he would have attempted to tear the boys in two, witnessing him turning them over to Aro as he had - he was pleased. It showed Caius was sure not only of his own position, he knew Aro would deal with the brats, but also of Aro's position, and didn't overstep that invisible line in the sand. He was still going to belt Felix, but he was pleased to see an end to the troublesome power struggle between the Volturi masters.
"Thank you, my lord," Caius bowed his head respectfully towards Basileus, and continued to Aro, "I assume I can be assured their insolence will be brought to an end, Aro?"
Aro smiled at Caius, "Of course," brother, I will send them to you at sunrise. Perhaps you can find some cleaning duties to keep them occupied for me?"
Both boys, clearly forgetting themselves, 'huffed' in disgust to such menial work - receiving a clout from Aro and Basileus. Caius said his goodbyes and left, beaming smugly - and for once, all adults in the room thought him justified.
"You two should go see your mother," Carlisle whispered to the twins, giving a little nudge to get them going. They wanted to stay so badly but they weren't the disrespectful type - they did as they were told, generally. They went to Sulpicia's bed chamber and closed the door behind them. Sulpicia was pacing the room; hearing what her dear Demetri had done, and how disrespectful Felix had been, tensions are only just easing and those boys have to go stir up a holy hell of troubles! Yes, she was annoyed with her boys.
Jane sat on the over-sized, high posted bed and held Sulpicia's discarded copy of Chaucer out to her mother. "Will you read to us?" she asked sweetly. Alec joined Jane on the bed and waited eagerly to be entertained. Sulpicia could see they all still had an ear on the door and some distraction was definitely needed. She climbed to the middle of her two 'good' children and began reading, hoping to drown out any sounds from her 'naughty' vampires in the main room. It wasn't long before they were lost in the pilgrims' tales, but were all too soon disturbed when Aro flung open the door.
"My queen." He spoke a little more sternly than he'd intended, but the rage was flowing through him now and like a man on a mission he stalked to the large dresser. Ripping the bottom drawer from the unit entirely and leaving it on the ground, he retrieved the strap and just as quickly left the room - slamming the heavy door behind him.
Throwing the strap to Demetri's feet, Aro ordered him darkly, "take that to your chamber and wait."
The boy vanished from the room, strap in hand. Reaching the chamber he shared with Felix, he placed the dreaded implement at the foot of his bed and sat beside it. I should enjoy sitting, it won't happen again for a while, he thought gloomily. He was grateful for the privacy though, something Felix apparently wasn't going to be afforded by Basileus. The first smack Demetri heard from his room shook the floor. Is that just his hand? Demetri felt bad for his brother. Felix only had the opportunity to mouth off at Caius because I was down there in the dungeons in the first place. The repeated strikes Demetri heard coming from their main living room were as strong as the first. I'm so sorry brother, he thought as he cringed with each booming slap.
Felix desperately tried to hold it together; Aro was pacing scarily close and looked beyond pissed with his boys. Yeah, but you sent your little Lothario off so now you can just be pissed off at me, great! I'm going to cut your cock off for this Demetri - it lands me in more trouble than it does you!
Basileus held him by his left bicep. Felix's muscles usually rippled but they felt like putty in Basileus' strong hands. With his right hand he tore the clothes from the boy's backside. Holding little back and affording the boy no privacy what'soever, he rained down terror on the Felix's insolent hide.
"You dare to treat your elders in such a way, you are a disrespectful child and you will do well to mind your mouth in future, and don't you dare EVER use my name to save your shame again!" Basileus roared at Felix, who was squirming in his grasp - every single word was punctuated with a sharp smack to the back of the boy's legs.
Felix wailed in pain and Basileus roared in anger. After he finally stopped, Basileus turned Felix to face him. "Will I need to do that again?" he asked simply.
Felix desperately tried to respond through his ragged breathes but his damn voice wouldn't work.
"He really does have very little control over that mouth of his!" Basileus said to his sons.
Eleazar and Carlisle released a nervous laugh, even Aro smiled a little. They all added to Felix's shame.
"Try again boy, do I need to repeat myself?"
"N, n, no, no sir, I, I am" Felix tried again to answer but Basileus raised his hand to signal him to stop.
Looking at the tear stained vampire, he decided nothing more vocal would be gained from him at present. He pulled Felix close and rested his chin on his head. "You either lose your arrogance, or we will take it from you." He spoke quietly, but everyone in the room could make it out.
Releasing Felix from his hold, Basileus lightly slapped his cheek as he looked deep into the boys eyes. I would rip Caius to shreds if he touched you, but you don't need to know that right now, Basileus thought to himself. Then he left Felix standing there in the middle of the room to re-join Eleazar and Carlisle in the game of cards.
"Do you want dealing in, Aro?" Eleazar called to his stressed little brother.
"No, El, I'll miss this round. Do not touch my coins!" he called back, and then added, "I will know!" as he tapped his temple. Aro started walking to his son's bedchamber. Realizing Felix hadn't moved, he called to him to follow. He did. All that hissing and gasping is nearly on par with Demetri's theatrics! Aro thought.
Aro held the door open for Felix who walked past him tentatively, fearing further spanking. Aro laughed to himself as he closed the door.
"Felix sit!" Aro pointed to the hard wooden rocking chair near the heavily dressed window.
Oh man that's going to hurt ... Felix looked longingly to his bed as he took his seat with a predicted hiss.
"Sit still!" Aro warned. Felix froze.
Assuring himself that his eldest was going to obey him, Aro turned to Demetri. Walking to the end of his bed he collected the strap he sent with his son when he'd dismissed him. Flipping it over in his palm he walked slowly to his boy who had retreated as far up the head board as possible.
"Please, I can explain…"
Aro held his hand up to the boys apologies. "No son, let me explain things to you! YOU are not to have sex with the damn newborns. YOU are to show respect to ALL your elders at ALL times. YOU WILL NOT LIE TO ME!"
Aro caught Demetri's ankle, pulled him down the bed and flipped him over in one swift movement. Once he was close enough, he took his son's arm and pinned him with it to the bed. Demetri fought and struggled but he couldn't go far in this position.
"I won't do it again! I promise you I won't do it again, please…"
Hearing the tirade of false promises spewing forth from his boy, Aro's anger was renewed. With as much strength as he dared, Aro brought his harsh leather strap down on his son's backside. Demetri wailed from the first strike, he always did. If he thinks I'm going to go easier on him because he's throwing a fit he has another thing coming! Aro thought as he gave his little Lothario a damn good hiding.
When he'd finished, Aro set the strap down on Demetri's table. "I'll leave this with you lads, you will no doubt need it again soon enough!"
Both Felix and Demetri shook their heads vigorously with shock and horror merging in their youthful features.
Aro simply smiled knowingly in response. "I think you two should get into your beds and try for some sleep." Felix looked ready to start his protestations; 'we're not children', 'it's not fair', which Aro generally found amusing but he wasn't in the mood for it today. Aro fixed his boy with a look that told him he was better to keep his mouth shut and get into his bed! He did, though Aro heard the dramatic sighs of his sons when he closed their door.
"I guess the free ride has ended then?" Felix whispered to his brother.
Demetri was just getting himself under control. "You think!" Demetri propped himself up on his elbow, "I'm sorry you got in trouble, brother." He said sadly to Felix.
Felix looked at the sorry state Demetri was in, "Don't worry about it," he said easily with a shrug, "I shouldn't have mouthed off to Caius, and besides, I got away with it last night!" Felix wiggled his eyebrows at Demetri and Demetri couldn't help but laugh.