THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
Felix was hung over to hell. He dunked his head into the bowl of water again, hoping to find some relief for his aching head.
"Felix! Get a move on, we are late!"
Basileus was shouting from the bedroom, behind the closed, heavy door - it felt like he was screaming in the boy's ear and Felix whimpered at the booming voice reverberating around his head. He had already changed into his guard uniform. Thank god Sulpicia brought me clean clothes! Looking at the crumpled tunic he'd worn the night before, he was reminded of the evening's events, and all he had to face today because of them.
"FELIX!"
For fuck sake please stop shouting at me!
Basileus heard the boy's thoughts and opened the bathroom door ready to rebuke him for them, but on seeing the pitiful state of his grandson he decided to leave it - this time.
Much more kindly ... and quietly ... he told him, "We need to leave, come along, you won't make today go away by hiding in here."
Felix simply nodded, resigned to accepting his fate but still deeply unhappy about it. He trudged over to Basileus.
"Sorry," he said, sadly.
"Come along." Placing an arm around the boy, Basileus led them out of his quarters. Once in the castle halls he pushed the boy ahead of him, noting the stiffness in his step. Aro really did give you a good hiding last night, but I do wonder if it was enough.
"As you walk you should contemplate what it is to be given a chance and to waste it."
Felix's shoulders slunk even lower as he replied with a very small, "Yes, my lord."
The room was filled with guards, and of course the masters of the coven. Even the wives were present, though relations between Caius and Athenodora looked frosty; she stood next to his throne with her back to him. Basileus barely contained his laughter at the sight.
Aro was in his throne, looking bored already, Sulpicia standing at his side. The twins, along with Demetri, were at the front of the guards for a change. Felix joined them.
Carlisle, Eleazar, and Carmen were standing near Marcus. The man looks more and more vacant every time I see him, Basileus thought sadly.
Greeting his audience, Basileus began his address ...
"I've had reports of plague spreading across the continent; my travels confirm it. There is none in our country, yet. But it will come – it always comes. No one in this coven will drink from humans again until I decide it is safe to do so. Is that understood?"
Basileus addressed the gathered guards from his son's throne as Aro stood to the side, eying the guards, waiting for any objection.
From his own seat to the right of Basileus, Caius looked murderous. He understood the risk, but he still wasn't happy with the demand to feed from animal blood for the unforeseeable future.
Basileus had expected a grumble at least and he suspected there were unspoken questions.
"Aro, have you raised a flock of sheep?"
Aro smiled, slyly. They aren't sheep, they are respectful. You really don't know the effect you have on them, my lord, Aro thought to his father.
Basileus winked at his boy and addressed his congregation again, "Surely you would like to understand why you must refrain from feeding from humans, no?"
The whole guard stiffened and hurried whispers spread throughout the group. Renata was gradually being pushed toward the front of the guards. After last night's revelations she didn't feel she could resist, as she wanted her fellow guards back on side.
"My lord, surely we can distinguish between infected humans and those not affected?" Renata was a favoured guard, she was also a permanent member. Her gift, being able to block any physical threat by sending the attacker away, would be useful no matter how many other blockers they amassed ... so she had no fear of being replaced like other members of the guard. Even news of her infidelity wouldn't change that in the masters' eyes.
"Ah, Renata, that is a valid point, and yes, we could certainly discern between the healthy and otherwise," The guards began to smile at this news but Basileus quashed those smiles just as quickly as he'd raised them, "although, if we feed from the healthy humans, and the sick humans die, what would happen to our food source?" he asked the guard.
"We would deplete the human stock, my lord."
Basileus nodded sadly to Renata. "My dear, as the mouth piece for this rabble, please, do tell me of the whispers spreading through your ranks."
Renata wanted a hole to appear in the floor so she could curl up inside and avoid the gaze of their ultimate creator.
"Well, my lord, there are discussions about how much of a risk plagued humans could be to vampires ... " Renata knew she was effectively questioning Basileus' direct command with that line, but the guards were questioning the risk, and she knew Basileus could read all their thoughts at once if he so wished.
"Good question, my dear, and the truth is, we do not know. During the last plague, I personally saw vampires so weakened by infected blood that they were easily picked off by this coven. Indeed, it was quite useful to see vampire strength so depleted. I will not risk the safety of our coven and all we have built for the sake of drinking human blood. We are surrounded with woodland, an abundance of food waits for you in those woods. I expect you to feed ... and feed well ... but for now you WILL be feeding from animals. Plagues rarely last long, we are looking at a year, two at most. It is a small price to pay for maintaining our food source long term."
The guards knew Basileus already had an answer to every question.
Antonio stood forward to ask one question that would certainly sweeten the deal, "Will we have more barrels of bloodwine, my lord?"
Basileus boomed with laughter. "I wondered how long it would take for someone to ask that. I was starting to think you had not enjoyed my offerings for the celebrations!"
The guards visibly relaxed.
"Yes, my boy, there will be plenty more barrels. We will be held up in this town for quite a while and I think we will ALL need the light relief of a little alcohol!"
The guard's whispers were now happy ones.
Basileus continued, "That is, except for you, Antonio. You will not be drinking my 'special brew' again for quite some time. Neither will you, Felix, nor you Adrianna ... and Ashanti, that goes for you, too. Demetri, I think it goes without saying, and of course Afton. I think you six will have to spend some time convincing me that you are mature enough for the privilege!"
The six vampires Basileus had named grew stormy expressions whilst the other guards mocked them mercilessly. The elders joined in lightly, too.
Marcus, who had seemed disinterested until now, spoke quietly to Basileus.
"My lord, will we protect our town people? Volterra is protected with high walls, we could maintain the same patrols we do for the castle grounds but also place our guards around the outer walls to quarantine the town. My people will be expecting my protection, my lord."
"Of course, my dear friend. I'm sure Aro will arrange it."
"Ah, not me, my lord. Caius deals with the guard patrols now." Aro replied politely and turned to Caius.
"I will make the arrangements, Marcus." Caius didn't care for the people of Volterra, but as they were the sole source of comfort for their fallen co-master he would do all the man wished to defend them.
Basileus turned again to Marcus, "My dear friend, could you escort our good ladies to their quarters, I need to speak with Eleazar and Carlisle in private."
Basileus nodded curtly to Athenodora, Carmen and Sulpicia, who joined Marcus and took their leave. The twins followed their mother and Basileus took his two sons through the front of throne room and out to the castle grounds. The guards parted like the red sea to allow the trio their exit.
"Caius, I would like you to find some 'extra special' duties for those that brought our celebrations to an end yesterday." Aro told his brother in arms.
"All of them?" Caius asked, a little shocked. Is he really turning Felix and Demetri over to me?
"Yes, all of them. I'm sure there are many jobs around here that are no doubt beneath our guards ... I think that should do."
Aha, so I can't beat them. Shame. I will find something humiliating for the insolent brats, though.
"Consider it done!"
Aro clapped his hands together with a joyful smile, "Wonderful! Felix, step forward."
Oh no, please don't do this, don't make me apologise in front of everyone! Felix willed Aro with his whining thoughts to let him off this humiliation as he walked forward to the base of the throne steps.
"Yes, master," he replied, respectfully, with big puppy dog eyes.
Huh! If you think that's working with me you have another thing coming.
"I believe you have something to say to the coven, boy." Aro announced, loudly - far louder than necessary for a room full of vampires with impeccable hearing.
Felix cringed and dropped his face to the floor. Aro, you bastard.
"We are waiting, Felix." Aro encouraged with a knowing smile.
The guards were whispering behind him, there was no way out of this. Felix was fucked. His pride and those foolish teenage emotions were daring him to resist, refuse, run, something!
Aro could see his boy wavering and joined him on the main floor. Felix looked up just in time to see Aro approach, and ever hopeful, he thought Aro was going to save him. Wrong. Instead, Aro reached around and grabbed the boy by the scruff on his uniform and spun him around to the rest of the guard and pulled him in close.
"I meant every word I said last night. Apologise, or I will punish you where you stand and then you can apologise." Though he spoke quietly, the first line of guards heard every word and Aro was sure they would pass on the boy's scolding through the Volterra rumour mill.
Felix looked to Aro in astonishment, amazed that he was actually going through with his threat from the night before.
"I'm sorry." Felix announced, not really sure what he was supposed to say. He chanced a look to Aro. Shit, okay, that wasn't enough.
Aro's face turned thunderous as he plunged his son to his knees. "You can do better than that!" he sang out as he squeezed tightly on Felix's neck.
Felix hissed at the force of Aro's hold. How am I supposed to talk while you do that, it hurts too much!
Felix's thoughts were obviously heard by Aro this time.
"If you are struggling through this pain, just imagine how much worse it will be if I whip you, my boy."
Felix's breath hitched in his throat and his face was hot with the phantom burning of shame he was feeling.
Okay, okay! He thought to Aro, and then he finally addressed the coven.
"I have committed a crime against vampire law. I beg for your forgiveness and that I am allowed to keep my head. I assure all of you, I will never again flout our laws and will, in future, behave in a manner befitting my station in this coven." Felix was whimpering by the end of his speech, with Aro's nails digging into his neck.
"Master, Aro," Magnus, a loyal and original member of the Volturi stepped forward. Everybody liked him, he and his human wife Freyr were turned together by Marcus 800 years earlier when the Viking pair were captured in a raid on Irish covens.
"Magnus, my friend, please speak freely."
Magnus bowed politely and asked what many of the coven were wondering, "I am sure we all do forgive Felix, my lord. I don't believe Felix chased Renata, or Chelsea. None of us do." Magnus looked around the room for back up, he knew he didn't need it as such, but he was glad to hear murmurings of agreement coming from the crowd.
Aro was pleased, too; he had hoped the majority of the guard would see sense on the matter.
"But, my lord," Magnus continued, "I am confused about Felix's status? I, for one, want to be assured that Felix and Demetri will not be enjoying the same status as coven leaders ... particularly over our mates."
Magnus' eyes flickered to Caius as he spoke. Aro understood him perfectly well. So, you are worried I will be allowing my sons to have your mates submit to them. Hmm. Most definitely not! Aro thought to himself.
"You have no need to worry, my friend. My high guard are still guards; they have no rights over or above you – any of you." Aro said pointedly as he made eye contact with as many women in the guard as possible. Aro knew what he was doing, the guards had to agree to spare Felix his life and if they could enjoy his punishment, they more than likely would.
"I can assure you all that in exchange for keeping his head on his shoulders, Felix has been and will continue to be suitably punished for his crimes and his movements around this castle will be both restricted and monitored for the unforeseeable future."
Hearing Aro's decree to the guard, Felix shot his head up. He caught a good many of them smirking at his predicament.
Seeing that the guards were happy now, Aro finalised the meeting, "I believe Caius has additional duties to issue to some of you - you know who you are." Aro looked to Antonio and Afton, and searched out Adrianna and Ashanti in the crowd. His sons knew they were to stay behind. "The rest of you are dismissed to your posts."
Afton, Antonio, Ashanti and Adrianna walked to the bottom of the throne steps with their heads bowed. They showed their submission, but their hidden faces were murderous! Felix and Demetri stayed where they were ... in disbelief.
Once the other guards had exited the throne room, Aro pulled Felix off his knees and beckoned Demetri over. "I expect you to carry out the tasks Caius assigns, woe betide you fail!" he told them at a volume only they would hear.
Demetri's face sank even further, but he offered a slight nod before casting his eyes to the floor.
Felix was less easy to convince, "But you punished us already, I'm still on fire!" It was slightly louder than he'd intended and he heard Antonio snicker a little. Cunt, I haven't finished with you yet! Felix thought dangerously.
"I know that, Felix, which is why I suggest you don't force the same fate for this evening!" Aro pushed his boys towards Caius.
"Antonio, you and Afton will be clearing the grounds outside." Caius began instructing the young men of the required tasks. Antonio rubbed his sore shoulders. Caius had ripped both his arms off last night, and though he'd had them reattached by Afton pretty quickly, they were obviously still aching today.
Afton's jaw felt out of place still. Basileus had slapped him so hard across the face that his jaw fractured for a few moments. He had no intention of objecting, in fact he had decided to never speak again in front of their creator. I wasn't even in the damn fight and I've been dragged into this shit, he thought gloomily.
Antonio listened to the growing list of duties with horror.
"Master, I don't want to fail you ... but my arms, I don't think they are strong enough ... "
Caius held up a hand to the complaining delinquent.
"Your arms were strong enough to brawl with a member of this coven, they will be strong enough to fulfill your punishment ... unless you believe your arms now useless? I will, of course, relieve you of them if this is the case. Well, Antonio?"
Antonio's mouth fell open in shock, "N, n, no, master, I spoke out of turn, please forgive me." I am going to rip your fucking head off for this, Felix. He dared not chance a look at the cause for his situation, but he was going to repay the favour, that was for damn sure.
Ashanti and Adrianna had formed an unlikely union. They had to be separated yesterday when Adrianna realized they had both been sleeping with Demetri, but now they united against the little Lothario, deciding they would prevent him from treating any other women in this coven with such disrespect.
"You two, are you to be trusted together?" Caius asked the young women.
Adrianna was an older newborn, reaching the end of her first year. Ashanti had decided during the night that she would take her under her wing. Ashanti held some sway with Caius, as she did with most men, and she'd managed to convince him last night that there was no need to physically punish either one of them. Adrianna was so grateful to Ashanti that she, quite literally, fell to her feet in the guard quarters after they were dismissed.
"Yes master, we have settled our differences," Ashanti informed Caius casually, while both of them shot a looks of revulsion to Demetri, who squirmed under their gaze ... particularly with Aro watching everything so closely.
"Good." Caius replied, "The two of you are confined to the guard room until further notice."
Caius looked shyly to Aro, whop raised his eyebrows in return. Caius rarely resisted punishing the guard, male or female, but Ashanti ... Ashanti could wrap any man around her little finger. Before Aro could object, Ashanti took Adrianna's hand and the two flashed out of the room.
"What about these two, Caius?" Aro asked.
Caius considered all the things he would like to do to them. He thought about having them clear out his private dungeon, but thought better of it. Aro would never go for it.
"Do you have anything in mind, Aro?" Caius asked him with a sly smile.
Aro circled his sons slowly. Felix was very uncomfortable having Aro so close to his rear right now, he was still suffering from his belting. Neither were particularly pleased at being offered up to Caius for more punishment, let alone it being dragged out in this way.
"Well, the floors in this place need freshening - ALL of them."
Caius smiled, "Perfect, brother." Moving uncomfortably close to the boys, Caius instructed them purposefully, "Fetch buckets and scrubbing brushes, I want the two of you on your knees cleaning every inch of this castle." Demetri rolled his eyes dramatically and luckily, as his head was still bowed, no one caught it.
Felix, however, released an irritated huff.
Crack!
Caius slapped the boy roughly across his head. Being slapped by Caius was the final insult for Felix. He spun around to face his father behind him.
"Aro!"
Crack!
Aro slapped his face even harder than Caius had.
Felix hissed loudly, his ears ringing from the blow.
Aro grabbed Felix roughly by the front of his black guard tunic, pulling the fabric tightly around his neck.
"You will learn your place in this coven, Felix. So we are clear, you will always be below ALL masters of Volterra. You should make your apologies and get to work."
Felix wanted to resist so badly, but knew he was on a hiding to nothing.
"Yes, master. Master Caius, I apologize." With his disingenuous apologies made, Felix began to bubble up again.
Aro looked at Caius, he seemed sated with Felix's apology but Aro knew his boy, and he didn't mean it.
"Hmm, brother, may I make a suggestion?" Aro asked, whilst glaring at Felix.
"Of course. Would you prefer they were given a different task?" Caius replied, hoping to god that Aro wasn't going to let them off the hook AGAIN!
"No, the tasks are perfect in keeping with the lowly depths they all sank to last night. I would just rather Felix and Demetri were separated. I believe they would achieve far more if they weren't together."
Caius looked quizzically to his brother in arms, unsure of where this was going.
"I suggest Demetri and Afton clear the grounds, and Antonio and Felix scrub the castle." Aro smiled, feeling delighted with himself and the displeasure he had caused to the four vampires before him.
Caius looked incredulously to Aro, "Are you losing your mind? They will kill each other!" he shot back.
Aro smiled at Caius and approached the younger guards.
"Don't be so dramatic, brother. They won't kill each other, though I dare them to try – I for one will look forward to punishing them if they even think of defying us on this." Aro looked back to Caius - he looked ready to dance with glee.
"Genius idea, Aro!" Caius crooned, already imagining giving Felix a walloping. "Go to your posts!" Caius told the four thunderous looking guards who burst into action at his command.
"Good luck!" Aro called after them. "Feel free to slap them all back into line if they dare to step out of it, brother. And often as it necessary." Aro said to Caius in his fake calm, sing song tone.
Felix stood still for a moment hearing that Caius now had permission to be physical with them and he was infuriated that Aro was going through with his promise from the night before. He soon flashed out of the room, hearing Caius' and Aro's shared laughter at the stiffness in his step.
"Aro, you know Felix and Antonio are going to end up brawling." Caius said plainly once they were alone.
Aro smiled, "I expect you will be keeping a close eye on them, will you not?" Aro asked.
Caius nodded. Of course I will be. The damn ingrates will end up smashing the castle to smithereens if I leave them to their own devices, he thought.
"Wonderful, you dealt with Felix and Antonio successfully on your last mission, I suggest you employ the same techniques when dealing with them here in Volterra." Aro waited for Caius to catch up on his meaning.
"Are you saying you want me to belt them both if they fight today?" Caius asked, hardly keeping the delight from his face.
"No brother, WHEN they fight. There is no IF in the equation."
Caius wore his evil grin upon hearing Aro's confirmation.
There was something else Aro wanted to clear up. "Are you really allowing Ashanti to manipulate you so, brother?"
"I certainly am not! We came to a 'private' arrangement which suited us both better."
Aro knew what that meant, and he made a mental note to warn both his sons from going anywhere near Ashanti in the future.
"Well, we won't be dispatching her when Athenodora finds out. I have already taken an earfull from Basileus for allowing her to continue in the guard after she went sniffing around Carlisle. You're making your bed brother, you will be the one laying in it!"
Caiua smiled coyly. "That I will brother, but I won't be laying in it alone!"
They both laughed heartily before Aro left to find Basileus; being out of the loop didn't suit Aro's mode of leading.
Walking out into the blazing morning sun, Aro's skin sparkled brightly, the heat made his face tingle pleasantly. Aro listened carefully for the sounds of his brothers and father and he soon caught on to Basileus' growling. They sounded to be outside the castle walls, perhaps towards the woods. Aro began walking at a human pace once he was through the castle gates. Humans of the town were milling about, but they were used to the sparkling guards of Saint Marcus, as they believed them all to be. Aro nodded to those he passed and made his way to the woodland.
Basileus saw Aro approaching. "You really need to get those two in check, our coven is under threat! I fear that the guards will revolt against the temporary feeding orders, and I won't have those two undermining authority! Either you deal with them, PROPERLY, or I WILL."
Basileus wasn't so much pissed off with Aro, he was feeling the strain of the last few years mounting up; introducing Carlisle to the coven, raising another newborn, Eleazar taking a mate and being far less available, the change of dynamics in Aro's household, the damn Romanians still rearing their ugly heads. It had been one drama after another and for a man that enjoyed an easygoing life, the vampire world was seriously pissing him off.
Aro threw up his hands defensively, "I know, I know! I am dealing with them, there have been some major events around here recently, but it will settle, my lord!"
Basileus spun to face his son, "Will it, Aro? Will it really? Because from where I am standing, every time I return to this godforsaken place SOMETHING ELSE HAS HAPPENED!"
Aro was a little blown away at the dramatics. Yes, there had been things to deal with recently, and fair enough, quite a few of those things revolved around his own two sons. But Basileus seemed to be falling apart!
Basileus moved a few paces away, trying to calm himself. Aro didn't really deserve his wrath. Without facing his sons he addressed them. "I'm sorry Aro, that was uncalled for. I know you are getting them under control. I have to go away again, and I'm taking Carlisle with me."
This was news to Carlisle! "Me? Why? I like it here!"
Basileus approached his youngest but Carlisle continued, "If this is about the opium, I won't ever be doing that again, I can be trusted!"
"I know that, son, that is not why I want to take you with me. This plague has spread to England. I want to take you back there. This may be the last chance you will have to say goodbye to your human life. I missed the chance with Eleazar," he looked sadly to his eldest son.
Eleazar had expressed a wish to see his family one last time, but Basileus left too late. The black death of the 1300s had wiped out everyone Eleazar knew before they'd returned to the English village Basileus had taken him from.
Eleazar didn't hold it against his father, he understood, and he wasn't the type to complain loudly anyway.
"I left my human life when you turned me, I have no interest in seeing any of those I left behind there." Carlisle was genuine. He'd hated his father and felt nothing but relief at the idea he wouldn't have to see him again.
"I'm sure you think you know how you feel about this, and if we arrive and you do not want to speak to anyone, that will be your choice. But I will give you the opportunity to see your old village with your own eyes one last time ... before it's too late."
Carlisle was a compassionate man, he could sense Basileus needed to do this for him to alleviate the guilt he felt with failing to do the same for Eleazar. He would go along with it, but it would be for Basileus' sake rather than his own.
"Okay. I'm not sure I want to see the pastor, though."
Basileus put a comforting arm around his son's shoulder, "Well, we shall see, son. You will have the opportunity either way."
Basileus addressed his two older sons with concern, "Will you be able to hold things together here? We will be gone for weeks, maybe months. I haven't been away for that long in a while, and with everything that's happening around here ... "
Aro and Eleazar smiled at their father's worry and Aro interrupted him, "We will be fine, I have been running this coven for a millennia, after all."
Basileus stopped, slightly annoyed at the interruption, "Yes, Aro, but I know your heart's no longer in it, so to speak,"
Aro looked offended at that, "It may not be, but it is still my job, father!" Aro spat in response.
"Mind your mouth, Aro!" Basileus wasn't impressed with the condescending tone his boy directed at him.
Before Aro could get himself into any more trouble, Eleazar came to his rescue.
"My lord, things are a little tense around here, but no more than usual. Aro is an excellent leader, he has the respect of the entire coven - all is well in his hands." Eleazar put a protective arm around his brother, who was touched by Eleazar's vote of confidence. Eleazar continued, "Besides, I will be here to keep him in line." He finished with a cocky smile, earning an elbow in the ribs from Aro.
Basileus laughed at his sons, and though Eleazar was joking, Basileus knew Eleazar would keep his brother in check ... and more importantly, he'd keep Caius in check.
Basileus spoke gently to Aro now, with most of his fears allayed.
"You do need to get your own house in order, Aro."
Aro nodded, looking pensive. He knew that. Felix and Demetri were well on their way to driving him insane ... and it had to end.
"They are prideful, and dare I say it, incredibly arrogant ... I will be talking to them before I go," Basileus continued.
Aro's head shot up, "You do not need to do that, I can deal with them!"
"I don't doubt it son, but you are only one man and you have an entire coven to lead ... and we are in the throes of a very stressful period. It will do them no harm to know I will be catching up with the two of them upon my return. I understand why you feel your hands are tied with them sometimes, you don't want them to appear weak to the rest of the coven so your discipline must be in private unless you are to start ripping their limbs off."
Aro shook his head. That will not be happening.
"Calm yourself, son. I have no intention of doing so myself, either. But I am in the 'privileged' position of being able to punish who I chose, where I chose, how I chose, without it affecting the status of any individual ... perhaps if the little Volturi princes knew they would be subjected to a public hiding on my return they would be easier to keep in check during my absence, that is all."
Aro considered his father's words. It was true Basileus regularly punished guard members in the throne room, as and when he felt the need - and he's never been one for ripping off limbs like the average coven leader. It would certainly take the heat off me for a while. I can concentrate on running the coven if I don't have to worry what those two are up to all the time ... actually,
"You could take them with you?!" Aro thought it was a genius idea!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, no! Not a chance in hell am I taking them with me to England! I may be gone for months, MONTHS! They act like perpetual newborns! I would kill them!"
All three of his sons laughed at their usually steadfast father expressing anything but his perfect ability to take on ANY task.
"No, I will scare them straight before I leave, that's all the help you are getting with them!"
His sons continued to laugh at their father's expense on their way back to the castle.