Drink! Fight! Drink!
The twins remained seated, barely compressing their giggles at Athenodora's murderous expression.
"Shoo you brats, get down there where you belong!" The twins rose and bowed slightly to the conniving bitch before running through the guards to find their brothers and tell them how magnificent their mother was.
Basileus, of course, heard the entire conversation. His mind was hazy with the amount he drank, but knowing what Athenodora was like he'd made sure to listen closely. He didn't blame Sulpicia, but this would cause ructions in their coven, for sure.
He watched diligently over the twins as they moved through the crowd from where he stood near an almost happy Marcus. He saw them telling Felix, and in turn, Demetri. The little foursome were in hysterics, undoubtedly proud of Sully putting that miserable bitch Athenodora in her place! Basileus tutted to himself as he saw Felix give the twins each a few good swigs from his goblet. They looked every bit the real sibling group to Basileus, and a broad smile spread across his face seeing how far they had all come. Though seeing the way the boys were staggering, he thought they should be cut off from the bloodwine soon.
Demetri had his arms wrapped around Adrianna, a newborn reaching the end of her first year. This was the first time the girl had been in the throne room, though Demetri had been visiting her for months in the dungeon hold.
Felix boomed to Demetri, "I think Caius is going after our seconds, brother!"
Adrianna looked offended, "I would never have sex with Caius, my love," as her eyes filled with sadness she added, "not willingly anyway."
Demetri gave her a gentle squeeze. He knew Caius had the newborns submit to him, it wasn't within in Adrianna's control.
Felix laughed, "Not you, sweetheart - Ashanti!" He pointed out the two in the middle of the dance floor, wrapping their bodies around each other. Felix continued to laugh as the realization dawned on Adrianna's face that Demetri wasn't hers alone.
As Demetri felt Adrianna begin to shake with rage, he removed his arms from their embrace and held his hands up, submissively.
"Look, vampires are sexual beings Adrianna."
His words only increased her anger and truthfully sounded odd coming from a 14-year-old!
"Have you been having sex with us at the same time?!" she asked him, her raised voice drawing in a small crowd.
"Well, yes, but that doesn't make what we have any less special, my sweet!" Demetri tried in vain.
"Did she know we were together?" came Adrianna's reply.
Demetri thought about that. HE didn't know they were together, together, they were just fucking in his mind. Shit, she thinks we are mated! Fuck that!
"Well … "
"DID SHE KNOW?" she asked more forcefully.
"Yes, I did" replied Ashanti herself, having been drawn in by the growing crowd.
"YOU BITCH!" Adrianna screamed as she flew through the air at a smiling Ashanti. Caius pushed his dancing companion behind him but Adrianna already had a hold of Ashanti's hair, and with her increased newborn strength she pulled the curly redhead over Caius' shoulder and onto the floor between them. That was more than Ashanti was willing to take from this subordinate and a cat fight ensued between the two women, which Demetri mistakenly took as a fight over him.
"See that Caius, they fight at my feet for me. I'll have to give you a few tips!"
Caius looked ready to rip his head off. Luckily for Demetri, who still seemed none the wiser to his own situation, Aro intercepted Caius and told him to make good with his wife before she joined the fight.
Looking back to Athenodora, Caius could see she looked ready to blow and rushed to her side, whispering sweet nothings and putting her mind at ease.
Sulpicia stood with Carmen. She had told her of the little altercation with Athenodora and now the pair watched as Caius deftly lied to his wife.
"Dumb bitch is swallowing every word," Carmen said to Sully.
"My thoughts exactly!" Sulpicia replied, though she felt a pang of heartache wondering how many times she had been the 'dumb bitch' whilst Aro lied to her about his similar exploits.
Aro pulled apart the circle that had formed around the warring females and easily dragged them apart. Holding each by a fistful of hair, he dragged them to their feet, though they still reached for each other.
"Jane, if you please" Aro asked politely. Jane didn't enjoy burning her fellow guard members, but she would never deny Aro. She focused on the two women her father held and set them ablaze. They screamed in agony. She only held the gift for a moment, though. When Jane released them, they were far more compliant.
Demetri was still crowing about his conquests fighting for him, not realising how loud and cocky he was being in his alcohol induced state. Aro was glaring at his boy. Felix nudged his brother to get his attention and that's when Demetri caught his father's eye - it wasn't so funny anymore. Oh fuck. Aro looks furious. I haven't done anything wrong, I can't help women fighting over me!
Demetri's inflated ego needed to catch up with the realities of the scene in front of him before it caused him serious damage - unfortunately for the juvenile vampire, he really did believe his own hype.
Caius had returned to the main floor after placating his wife.
"I want him punished, Aro!" Caius spat dangerously, his arm extended toward Demetri.
Demetri gulped, guards near him took a step away, as if worried they'd be caught in the cross fire.
"He will be, Caius, I can assure you of that!"
Caius wasn't happy. He wanted to punish the insolent wretch himself for his disrespect! Now!
"Caius," Aro called him close and whispered in his ear, no one else hearing him.
The sadistic grin all the guards knew and feared spread across Caius' face.
He swaggered over to Demetri.
Felix, confused, eyed Aro. Are you really allowing him to hurt my brother, your son! What the hell is going on?
"How dare you speak so freely, so disrespectfully, to me! Caius accentuated each word by jabbing his long finger into Demetri's chest. "You are not my guard, so your full punishment rests with your master, but here," Caius took Demetri's left arm and turned him around so he was sideways, Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! "Aro wanted me to give you a preview!" Caius had released five strong vampire smacks to the errant youth's backside. "You had better watch your mouth, boy!"
Demetri could only stand there, dumbfounded. The alcohol absorbed some of the pain, but Demetri had still reacted embarrassingly to the swots. The public admonishment alone was torture for the boy.
Caius returned to Aro, "I will deal with these two!"
"As you wish, brother" Aro replied smoothly, knowing exactly how Caius would 'deal' with the female guards. He handed the two young women over to Caius, one for each hand and Caius disappeared from the throne room. Aro returned to his seat, beckoning Demetri to follow him.
By the time he was seated, the music had started back up and though a few of the guards had an ear on Aro and Demetri, most went back to their dancing and drunken sing-along.
Demetri complained the moment he'd reached his father, "I cannot believe you let him do that to me!" he said in an angry, hurried whisper.
Aro had been willing to handle Demetri's disrespect privately after the celebrations had ended, but his boy rearing up at him and showing no remorse changed his mind. The bloodwine may have not have helped either.
"Right then, come with me!" Aro stood and grabbed Demetri roughly by his wrist and started dragging him from the throne room.
Demetri panicked, this isn't how he thought things were going to go ... shit, every single guard is watching this - I know they are! He's going to punish me now, no way, Caius just spanked me in the middle of the fucking throne room, that must be enough? Perhaps he just wants to talk to me?
"No Demetri, I do not want to talk with you!" Aro answered his son's thoughts, to the boy's horror!
Once outside the throne room, Aro didn't stop. He found he couldn't flash to their quarters as he was too intoxicated, but managed to get them both there quickly enough. He shoved Demetri inside and slammed the door behind them. Aro looked at the stairs. He didn't fancy trying to go up them, he'd stumbled enough on the way to their tower, so he opened the door to Basileus' ground floor suite instead. Demetri just stood there, looking at his angry father, not daring to move.
"Get in there NOW!" That had him shift.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Aro was raging.
Demetri tried to formulate a witty reply but his brain was sluggish from all he'd drank.
"I allow you to join in with the rest of the guard, as you wished, and this is how you repay me! You are a damn fool if you think Caius will let your little comment go - I've half a mind to turn you over to him to deal with!"
Demetri was shocked, I wasn't that bad, was I? Okay I may have made out the Caius needed tips with the ladies of the coven ... in front of the entire guard ... and his wife ... fuck. But that bastard just spanked me in front of everyone! What could be more embarrassing than that! And you think I deserve more!
The drink had clearly made Demetri far bolder than he should have been, "Caius has already punished me! Surely that was enough! He humiliated me in there and you just stood and watched!" Demetri wasn't quite shouting at Aro, but he wasn't far off.
Aro's anger renewed, incensed that the boy thought he could first talk to Caius the way he had, and then that he could do the same to him! He took Demetri by his small bicep and dragged him to the large table at the side of the room, practically throwing him over the top of it. The marble table was huge and solidly built, it's where Basileus often held meetings with his sons and Marcus and Caius when they were planning their missions.
Demetri knew this position too well, "No, no, you can't, I haven't done anything wrong!"
Aro began smacking his son's backside with as much force as he could muster, which luckily for Demetri, was considerably less than usual having been weakened by the alcohol! As he punished his son he explained exactly why he was so pissed off!
"You addressed Caius, a master of this coven, as though he were one of the lower god damn guard, then you had the audacity to complain about being punished in the throne room, which was your own damn fault and far, far less than you deserved boy! How dare you mouth off to me! Are you confused? Do you think we are equal? You shouldn't listen to all the hype about yourself, Demetri. You are NOT as untouchable in these walls as the guards believe!"
Demetri could only just hear what Aro was saying, his own cries drowning out his father's voice.
Aro had finally stopped his assault. Before Demetri could get himself together, Aro had him hauled up and spun to face him. "None of that would have occurred if you had stayed away from the newborns in the first place."
Demetri nodded, not trusting his voice just yet.
"Quit your sniveling, Demetri, you brought this all on yourself. Pull yourself together and get back to the throne room. I expect you to apologize to Caius - and you had better make it good!"
Demetri's head shot up, panic in his eyes, "I'm not going back in there! It's humiliating! I'll just go to our quarters instead!" Demetri wasn't asking, he was telling Aro what he was going to do.
Stupid boy!
"It is not up to you what you do! I have told you to go back to the throne room and apologize to Caius, so that is what you will do. I could care less how humiliating it is for you. YOU BEHAVING SO DISRESPECTFULLY IS PRETTY HUMILIATING FOR ME!"
Crack! Aro slapped his boy clean across the face at the end of his tirade. We need to get out of here, he's just making me more and more angry, Aro thought to himself.
Demetri wiped angrily at his face to clear his venom tears.
Aro saw the trace of his own hand on the young vampire's cheek. And there's your 'badge of honour', son, he thought. Aro didn't wait for Demetri to move, instead he pulled him back across the room and shoved him out the door into the hall - Demetri was getting pretty pissed off with all the pushing and pulling.
Aro stalked off in front of his son and was already seated by the time Demetri entered the throne room. Everyone stopped to gawp at him. Fucking morons! I hate you for this, Aro, Demetri thought, murderously! He ignored the questioning looks from the guard filled hall and tried to walk as normally as possible, but by god it hurt! Reaching Aro, who looked too pissed off to even face him, the reality of the situation started to dawn on Demetri. I've been a bit of a dick, he'd let us join in tonight and I've ruined it. Felix will kill me if this is the end to us drinking too! Fuck, why did I mouth off to Caius? It would have been bad enough having Adrianna fighting Ashanti because of me - she is a newborn and I have been punished so many times for having sex with them ... no one is supposed to do that.
"I'm sorry, Aro," he whispered to his father.
Aro scoffed dismissively and took another sip of his drink. He clearly didn't believe his boy.
Demetri felt like shit. With his head hung he decided to brave the guards in the hope of a better reception.
As he turned, Aro grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. Squeezing tightly, he said dangerously "You are not to drink another drop, understood?"
Demetri wasn't going to go against him now. He knew Aro wasn't playing with him and, under the circumstances, was actually grateful Aro had been so private with him.
"Yes sir," Demetri replied politely.
As he made his way to find his brother, Aro stood up, "Anyone who supplies him with bloodwine will be answering to me, is that clear?"
All eyes were on Demetri now, and the giggling only sated long enough for the guards to reply with a very audible and respectful 'yes master'.
Oh my fucking god, just kill me now, if there is anything up there could you please just kill me now? Demetri's prayers remained unanswered, so he forced himself to find his brother. Felix would be taking the piss like everyone else, but he felt safe with him, regardless.
Fighting through the crowd of jeering guards all waving their full goblets, Demetri suddenly felt very small.
"Demetri!" Felix called for his brother, seeing him looking around as if he were feeling a little lost.
Relieved at seeing Felix, Demetri moved quickly to retake his place at his side. Felix threw an arm over his shoulder and brought him in close.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Demetri didn't trust his voice not to betray him, so he simply nodded at his brother, wishing he could drink to dull the pain in his rear end!
"Do you want some of mine?" Felix asked him.
Oh brother, you are as stupid as me! "No thanks, I'm not fucking with Aro's orders."
Afton, standing nearby, heard Demetri. He shouted over to the youth in mock disbelief, "You mean to tell me you have any orders, Demetri, the little prince of Volterra! I thought you had free rein around here!" Afton's laughter boomed loudly, as did those of the guards who'd heard the exchange.
"Fuck you, Afton!" Felix replied on his brother's behalf, whilst griping Demetri to his side. He was holding his brother pretty tightly and with his drunken swaying Demetri was being dragged all over the place.
"Felix don't start anything with him, please, Aro ... just don't!"
"I'm not starting anything, that jealous prick is!"
Demetri scrubbed a hand across his face. This is not going to end well at all!
"Seriously, Felix ..."
Demetri was cut off by Afton, "You should listen to the little prince, Felix. Don't go picking fights with the big boys. You can't handle it, mate."
Afton turned to walk away. Felix saw red ... he wasn't drunk enough to start a fight in the throne room, but he knew how to hit Afton where it really hurt.
"You know what, Demetri," Felix said loud and proud, "I really wish you hadn't stopped me from fucking Chelsea now! She was gagging for it, after all! She deserved a round with a real man after being shacked up with that prick for so long!"
Afton stopped dead, and the entire guard gasped at the news. Chelsea moved backwards through the crowd, not wanting to be in reaching distance of her mate.
Felix was telling the truth, she'd been after him for a while but Demetri talked him out of going there with another guard's mate, again.
She needed to defend herself, quickly. "Well, we didn't, I didn't, nothing ever happened!"
"Only because I turned you down, sweetheart!" Felix scoffed.
Chelsea needed to deflect the attention she was receiving from the rest of the guard, they looked repulsed by her. Mates being disloyal to their partners was a heinous crime in the vampire world.
"Unfortunately for Antonio you didn't do the same with Renata, hey!" Chelsea regretted the revelation before it had even finished leaving her mouth, but hoped that it would be enough to save her relationship with Afton.
"WHAT!" Antonio had been watching the scene mildly amused, his mate Renata in his lap.
She dived to her feet to create some distance between them, and promptly fell down to the floor with how drunk she was. "Antonio, please, I, I,"
He wasn't interested in her excuses. "Have you fucked him? Seriously? Him! That insufferable little cock!"
Felix, in his drunken idiocy, replied for her, "'Little cock, ha! She said it was bigger than yours, mate! And she fucking loved it!"
The guards laughed hysterically at Felix's mocking retort. Antonio was not a popular guard member; he was too conceited and though it could be argued Felix was too, Antonio had few redeeming features whereas Felix's good humour helped him carry favour.
Antonio roared in rage and flew at Felix. Felix, shoved Demetri out the way, wanting his little brother safe from this overgrown idiot. Felix was drunk, and the amount they'd all consumed as a guard affected Felix more strongly as he was so much younger than the rest of them. Aro had been right on that one. Felix fell back, pulling Antonio down with him. Antonio got a few good punches in whilst they scrambled on the floor but Felix managed to break free enough to get to his feet. Antonio did, too, but this time when he went for Felix, Felix was ready.
He was much stronger, and certainly more adept at fighting than Antonio, though the older guard had never believed it. Felix landed one punch, square in the middle of his attacker's face, knocking the older vampire brusquely on his ass!
"Prick!" Felix spat at the guard on the floor before turning to leave ... and he turned straight into Aro, thumping into his father's chest. "I can explain!" Felix said, desperately.
Aro just glared at him.
Time seemed to stand still for the drunken juvenile delinquent. Felix hadn't noticed the elders all gathering around during the fight. Caius had only just returned from dealing with Adrianna and Ashanti as the two males kicked off with each other. He was now ranting at Antonio who was being held by Carlisle and Eleazar. Afton was still mouthing off about Felix, Felix could hear him some where behind him ... he and Antonio were good friends and the two couples often made up a foursome for dates and things.
"I want him out of the coven!" Afton roared.
Basileus had been happy to allow his sons and Caius to deal with things so far, but he wasn't risking the chance of Caius agreeing with Afton.
"Oh really, come here Afton!"
Basileus left Marcus' side and walked to the bottom off the throne steps to greet a very daring Afton.
"You want WHO out of MY coven?" Basileus asked him, calmly.
"That little cock, Felix! He walks around here like god's gift, who the hell does he think he is? And he's trying to have sex with our mates!" Afton was ranting at Basileus. The drink had clearly gone to his head - Afton was usually so agreeable. A visible cringe went through the guard as they heard him raging in front of their creator.
Basileus considered the young man's request. "Are you saying Felix attempted to rape your mate?"
Afton didn't see the trap Basileus was leading him into, "Well, no, not really,"
Basileus took over again, "Because the way I heard it, Chelsea was the one going after Felix – she didn't deny this fact, the only comment she made was that 'nothing happened' so I assume Felix didn't fuck her at all! And Renata too, she went after Felix, she didn't deny it!"
Basileus hadn't finished, but Afton began speaking over him. Bad move! "You honestly expect us to believe they wanted to have sex with that little prick?"
A gasp went around the guard like a Mexican wave as they heard Afton speaking out so carelessly.
Basileus was done with Afton. Crack! He slapped Afton so hard across his disrespectful mouth that cracks appeared in his marble skin all along his jawline. Afton clutched his throbbing face and dropped to his knees, suddenly coming to his senses. What the hell was I thinking, I just spoke back to our ancient creator, I will lose my head for this, damn stupid fool, and all over Felix Volturi! They will kill me, what was I thinking, Afton continued to berate himself.
"If you would like to lay the blame for this at anyone's door, Afton, it should be your own for picking a fight with Demetri or with your mates for their disloyalty." Basileus spoke soothingly to the man at his feet ... he understood the vampire's argument, he wasn't having it, but he understood it.
Antonio, who was still receiving a thorough dressing down from Caius, heard Basileus' comment on his mate's disloyalty. The anger, which was sating and turning to shame before Caius, suddenly reignited afresh and he growled again. His struggling had long since dissipated, so Carlisle and Eleazar had already released the man. With his anger and freedom combined, Antonio made a lunge for Felix who was standing silently at Aro's side. Caius caught him mid lunge and threw the guard to the floor, diving on top of him and landing with his knees digging into Antonio's back. Without addressing the errant vampire beneath him, Caius took hold of each of Antonio's arms and with a strong pounce backwards he ripped them clean from the shoulders. Antonio screamed in agony at the assault, writhing in pain on the throne room's blood splattered floor.
Caius walked casually over to Afton, "Here," he threw Antonio's arms to the vampire, still on his knees, "you are so concerned about your friend, take him to the guard dorm and re-attach those for him."
Afton scrambled to his feet and scooped up the seeping arms. They were heavier than he expected. Renata and Chelsea helped Antonio to his feet and they followed Afton out of the throne room whilst every other guard tried to distance themselves from all guilty vampires at the scene.
Sulpicia caught Demetri's eye and pointed at the spot in front of her. He went to her immediately, grateful to escape the tension. When he was close, she turned him to face the rest of the room and pulled him close, his back to her chest. Sulpicia was only slightly taller than Demetri so her chin rested comfortably on her son's shoulder. She whispered in his ear, "I think it would be best if you stay up here with me for the rest of the party, hmm."
Demetri nodded his agreement.
Stroking her boy's brown cropped hair, she continued, "We will stay a little while longer, then I am taking you and the twins back to our quarters so you can rest. Sit with Jane and Alec."
Releasing her hold, she was pleased to see Demetri take a seat on the steps between her two youngest children. Caius returned to his throne and Athenodora retook her seat in his lap. Sulpicia filled her goblet from the cask near Caius' feet and listened as Athenodora asked her husband what he had done with 'that whore' – Ashanti, Sulpicia assumed. He told her he'd locked them both in a dungeon cell together and would see who was standing come morning.
Lying bastard, Sulpicia thought.
Caius adored Ashanti, he would never allow her to be hurt in such a way. More likely you've exchanged sex for escaping punishment again, dear Caius, she thought spitefully. She didn't entirely trust her own husband, she knew he had sex with other women on occasion. But she had to admit, she was happy the only guards Aro bothered himself with at any regularity were their very young high guard, so his path rarely crossed with the little vixen Ashanti! She looked down at Demetri, little tart has had her hands on him too, she thought, though Demetri is hardly any less of a tart, in all honesty.
Aro still stood with Felix in the middle of the throne room. The music had restarted, on his orders, but he had yet to address his son. The guards who had gone back to their drinking were still standing close enough to hear whatever he would say, and indeed, they were waiting to see exactly what Aro would do to the highly privileged Felix.
"Aro, I..."
"Shut up, Felix!" Aro cut his son off, he'd no interest in anything the boy had to say.
Felix, as Aro expected, tried to continue pleading his innocence.
"Seriously Felix, shut up!" Aro continued to glare, he was shaking he was so pissed off.
Should I deal with you now? Giving you a hiding in the throne room would certainly bring you back down to earth with a bump. You are too full of yourself ... and far too prideful. I don't want to do that to you though. I want to enjoy the rest of my night off like everyone else.
That's when it dawned on Aro, there were no nights off from his guards - Caius dumped Ashanti and Adrianna in their dorms, or perhaps the dungeons. He could deal with them tomorrow if he preferred. Can I do that with Felix? It feels like I have to be on the ball all the time, there is no break. Aro felt exhausted by it all, he decided to talk with Basileus about that soon. Is this how it is supposed to be? He wondered before he addressed Felix.
"I'm not going back to my quarters yet, and I do not trust you to stay there alone. You have clearly had enough to drink," Felix tried to butt in, but Aro stepped toward him, invading his personal space menacingly! Aro continued in his faux calm voice, "and I can't have you stirring up any more drama tonight, so what shall I do with you?"
Aro acted as though he was considering his thoughts. He started to circle Felix, who was becoming more and more nervous with each lap Aro completed.
"Aro, please, let me explain."
Aro stopped dead in his tracks, "NO! I require no explanation from you, boy. I will be the one explaining things, but like I said, later, when we are in my quarters."
Aro had an idea, "Come with me."
Felix huffed in irritation - that pissed Aro off.
Aro walked up the steps to the thrones and waited at the top for Felix to follow. When the two were again face to face, Aro guided his son behind his own throne.
"Sit!"
Felix looked at the floor where Aro pointed, "Seriously?" he asked, adding a 'for fuck sake, fucking prick' under his breath.
Aro was done with the boy's insolence, he pushed his son roughly to the floor. "Seriously!" he replied, mocking Felix's tone of voice.
"Aro," Basileus called his son over, "I thought you said you had a handle on those two now! You had better get them in check, Aro. They cannot keep parading around this place like they own the damn castle! Felix has been having sex with the mated females, for god sake! I thought Demetri and his newborn fetish was bad enough! Antonio has every right to fight Felix over this, you know that, don't you? The guards are dividing, Aro ... those who support your sons versus those who resent them! Up until now your boys were most popular, but there are more mated pairs here than not and they will feel threatened if Felix has a free ride with their women! I want them dealt with. Properly!"
Aro took the lecture, he had expected it, though it galled him to be in such a situation because of his sons' behaviour.
"I have no excuses father, I don't know what's going on with the two of them. I will deal with it though. I will get them under control."
Basileus looked his son over. He knew Aro was struggling with balancing the two young vampires as members of his guard, and as members of his family. Basileus had walked a similar line for a long time, he understood the troubles it could cause. Releasing a frustrated sigh, Basileus pulled Aro in closely and whispered to his son, "I don't want things falling apart with Caius again already over their bad behaviour - get him back on side!"
Aro nodded his understanding.
Aro left his pissed off father to play the role of pissed off father himself. Walking the length of the higher platform the thrones sat on, Aro reached his 3 youngest children. Crouching down low behind Demetri, who was still sitting between Jane and Alec, Aro leaned in closely and asked, "Have you spoken to Caius?"
Demetri felt his venom run cold. "I'm so sorry, I forgot with everything kicking off again and ... "
Aro cut him off, "Get up and do it now!"
Demetri rose immediately and, with his hands on his shoulders, Aro guided him over to Caius.
"Master, I apologize for speaking with such disrespect towards you." Demetri bowed his head submissively and sounded genuine enough. Aro knew he wasn't, but he sounded right.
"Are you really, Demetri?" It was Athenodora who answered the boy, "You made out my husband to be a philanderer! And a bad one at that! Is this really an appropriate way to think about a master of this coven, let alone to say so out loud! Really Aro, you should throw their sorry behinds back into the guard dorms and take another couple, who would treat the position with the respect it deserves, in their place."
From Aro's throne, Sulpicia listened closely to Athenodora. You're as arrogant as your husband, stupid bitch, she thought. Sully wanted to jump in and rescue her son but knew she had already probably said too much to Athenodora tonight.
Aro wanted to rip the shit stirring bitch's throat out. But with Basileus listening in to make sure relations with Caius were being improved, not worsened, Aro thought a little more diplomacy may be required instead.
"Brother, forgive his sorry hide and include him in your clean up rota for tomorrow. Felix too, for that matter. We have a cask to finish off ... I suggest we send the guards to their hall with the last of theirs, get rid of the wives and take our bloodwine to Basileus' place to discuss matters of war - what do you think?"
Caius' smile rose. He was happy with that idea ... it would get him out of having to discuss the night's events and revelations with Athenodora, too! He looked to his wife, she looked mutinous! Definitely a good idea, Caius thought to himself.
"Well, I haven't really had chance to go through all the details of the last mission yet, and we need to formulate our next move," he said to Aro, and followed to Athenodora, "it's just work my dear, for the good of the coven and to keep you safe, my love!"
Althenodora rose from her husband's lap, "I shall retire to my quarters, then!" With that she stalked out of the room.
"I hope I haven't upset her, brother?" Aro asked, with his sickly sweet tone.
"Nonsense brother, she should know her place by now," Caius chortled to himself.
Aro caught the raised eyebrow Sulpicia was offering to her husband and compressed any thought of joining Caius in laughter.
"I will take my guard back now, I need to deal with Felix ... " Aro said as he moved to tell Basileus the new plan.
Basileus had heard Aro's offer to Caius and approved. "I'll wrap things up here. Come down to my suite when you are ready, son."
Sulpicia had already collected the twins and Demetri and was waiting for Aro near the exit to their side of the castle. Aro went back to his throne and looked down at the disgruntled teen at his feet. You really aren't helping my mood, Felix. I hope you show some remorse when we are in the tower or I will throw you in the bloody dungeons for the night! He thought angrily to the boy as he pulled him to his feet.
Felix walked stiffly along with Aro to join the rest of their family. He wasn't resisting, but he was moving as slowly as possible to piss Aro off.
"I know what you are doing, and you are only making things worse for yourself!" Aro told him sternly.
Felix huffed again in reply as Aro felt his blood boil.
As they joined Sulpicia, she linked her arm in her husband's and they led their four young vampires to their private quarters. Aro apologized to Sulpicia about how he'd referred the 'ridding themselves of the wives' for the rest of the night as she assured him she understood. He loved that about her, she would never disrespect him the way Athenodora did with Caius. My queen would never be so brash, he thought proudly. They continued to walk at a human pace and as Aro and Sulpicia discussed the party as if nothing had gone awry, Felix and Demetri held a glimmer of hope they may escape further punishment.