AN: Guest, in answer to your review - yes, Atia will be playing a parental role in the future... but shall we put them all through hell first? I think so :D
REMINISCING
Having taken Eleazar's advice about moving family meet-ups to a more suitable venue, the three brothers, along with Aro's children, were gathered in the library.
Marcus was taking control of the throne room, at his own insistence, until he left for Greece. Aro was left wondering if it had been such a good idea taking him up on his offer, as rather than kicking back and relaxing for a few days he had ended up looking after the four most fearsome children on the planet whilst his dear wife swanned about showing Atia every nook and cranny of her new home.
Felix and Carlisle were discussing the younger's entry into the vampire world, though the conversation soon turned to Felix trying to remember his human life that preceded the transformation.
Eleazar put his book down and looked over to the newly inseparable pair seated next to Aro.
"What's with all the reminiscing? Are you unhappy with your life now?" he asked his nephew. His tone was gruffer than intended as he was still annoyed that Carlisle would be moving into his private ... no, no-longer private suite.
"No, of course not. I just hadn't tried to remember much of my human life before. I can remember my parents, a little. But no one else. I can't remember my grandparents."
Aro lightly pushed his boy away by his head. "Felix, for the last time, Atia is not your grandmother!"
Felix just smiled. Yeah Dad, she is, he thought with a smile.
"Can you remember much?" Felix asked his father. They had heard many tales from Aro's early years with Basileus but not a lot from before he was turned.
"Basileus found me nearly three thousand years ago ... " Aro began, though he was quickly interrupted by Felix.
"Man he's so old!" Crack! "Ow!" he exclaimed, rubbing his head. Worth it! he thought.
"As I was saying, it was a very long time ago." Aro offered the small group, as though he had nothing to say on the matter.
"But, do you remember your human life at all?" Demetri asked, also interested in hearing more about his father's youth.
"I remember the olive farm I grew up on. I remember working with my father and I can still smell my mother's cooking after those long days in the fields." Aro's smile over his memories was short lived. "I remember why I left," he added darkly, looking away from his sons.
"Why did you leave?" Demetri pushed, not realising the obvious upset Aro felt.
"Because my father was a cunt," he told him plainly.
"Ha! Which one?!" Carlisle jeered.
"Oooo you had better hope Basileus doesn't come across that in your thoughts, brother!" Eleazar mocked as he turned back to Aro. "If your human father was so bad, why would you leave your mother and Didyme with him? That doesn't seem like you." Eleazar asked, realizing they had never spoken about Aro's human life before.
"My mother was as bad as my father, they made quite a team! Didyme was safe ... he only whipped his sons bloody." Aro told them sadly. "One, to death." Aro felt all in attendance staring at him with that little revelation. "I left after that," he confirmed.
"And you think I'm bad, huh?" Aro joked to Demetri, though it didn't change his sorrowful expression. "It was a long time ago. Things were different then," he whispered to his fretful son.
Carlisle scoffed. "I think evil bastards span all of time."
Aro nodded sagely whilst biting on his lip. He had to agree. "I would drink to that, little brother."
"My father sold me." Eleazar announced, ending the short contemplative silence that had fallen.
"What?" Felix exclaimed, echoing thoughts of both Carlisle's and Demetri. Aro already knew his brother's story.
"Yes, sold me. He was a traveling merchant from Spain, as you know. Our family moved with him. When we came to England, the country was poor. Or rather, the common people were. A few years of famine had wiped out the working stock for the lords of the manors. My father sold me to a lord for my linguistic skills." Eleazar told his short tale with little feeling, it had happened so long ago. Not just long ago compared to his vampire life, but to his human life, also. As a man of 29 when Basileus turned him into a vampire, he had long since made peace with his father's callousness whilst he was still human.
"Did you have a mother? Did she not object?" Demetri probed.
"Yes, I did. And no, she did not. I was 14 years old, costing too much to feed and giving too much attitude in return. Apparently."
Aro smirked to his elder brother. "You! I would never believe such a thing."
Eleazar, in return, gave his brother a withering look.
"How did you get the twins?" Carlisle asked his brother.
Aro winced. He knew Carlisle would ask but it wasn't a pleasant memory for anyone. "Basileus had word of a rise in witch activity in England - we have to be vigilant of such things, it could be vampires, or it could be Apatouria. Either way, when 'witches' are being called out we need to make the necessary checks."
Aro sighed sadly as he looked to his young children. They seemed apparently unfazed by the discussion, but he still felt awkward discussing such things in front of them. "When we arrived in England we told those we met that we were pontiffs sent by Pope Leo. They brought their afflicted to us, those they deemed to be 'witches'. It was all born of hysteria, naturally. Not a single vampire, witch or anything else between them. By the time we arrived at the twins' village, their mother had already been put to death for supposed witch activities."
Aro chanced another look to Jane and Alec. Their eyes were trained on the books in their laps, but he knew they had long since read a single word. They were listening intently to everything he was saying.
"Anyway, I knew the twins were special and wanted to turn them there and then. Caius wasn't happy about taking the twins so young, but I had to have them. We argued about it for a few days and by the time I had him convinced and we'd returned to collect them ... " Aro trailed off.
Jane stood up and placed her book on the shelf. Taking a new one and thumbing through aimlessly, she completed Aro's sentence. "We were already on fire," she said casually.
"Those deranged villagers had tied people to logs and made a pyre from bodies. Alec and I were at the top, thankfully, I suppose."
Aro grimaced hearing his young one speak of that day.
"So you saved them?" Carlisle asked, to which Aro nodded. "But I thought vampires were very flammable? Basileus said ... " Carlisle stopped talking as Aro revealed his lower left leg to his brother.
From his knee down, Aro's skin was puckered and grey with deep scaring of melted flesh traveling the length of his leg. "We are very flammable, brother. I was lucky," he stated plainly, redressing himself.
"How on earth did they survive?" Eleazar asked, looking in awe to his young vampiric niece and nephew.
Aro leaned back into his chair, arms stretched wide. "The fire had almost taken them, they were moments from death when I turned them."
Felix grew a mischievous grin. "I told you they were witches," he whispered to Carlisle, completely inappropriately, in a way only a sibling could.
"They were children, victims of flawed mob-mentality and they suffered horribly for no just cause - I don't find your remarks in the least bit humorous."
Felix slunk into his chair and turned away from his father as Jane smiled to herself happily.
"I don't remember anything from before I was turned." Demetri sulked. He wasn't upset about it, he just didn't like being left out.
"Nothing?" Carlisle asked. I wish I didn't remember anything, he thought glumly.
Demetri shook his head. "No. Amun said I was nearly dead when he found me washed up on the Nile. I have no idea how I got there, though."
"Can't you access his memories?" Carlisle asked Aro.
"There's nothing there, I have tried a hundred times for him but I can't find anything. Amun had seen him around the town, always up to no good by all accounts. A street rat."
Demetri looked offended. "Hey!" he tutted.
Eleazar smiled warmly to his brother. Aro may have only recently officialised the new relationships of his family, but as Eleazar had noted many times before, Aro had been looking after his children's best interest since they joined the coven.
"So how do you know he's 14 years old then?" Felix asked, wondering if his brother could be younger. He's tiny compared to me ... I would piss myself if he were as young as the twins!
"Amun." Aro declared. "He feeds the street rats of Egypt, or he used to. Sentimental old fool that he is. He struck up conversation with Demetri and learned a few things about him. Then the next time he saw Demetri, he was half drowned on the riverbank, sinking into the silt. Amun took him home and turned him."
"And then you took him?" Carlisle asked.
Aro nodded as he smiled to the young boy, who looked back to his father in appreciation.
"What are Amun and his mate like?" Carlisle asked, intrigued about vampires outside of the Volturi coven.
"Kebi. Amun's mate is named Kebi." Demetri began. "They were alright, I suppose. It wasn't like living here though. They didn't do anything with the coven members other than issue orders. They didn't care for us or protect us. They didn't even provide for us - we had to scavenge what we needed, make our own kills, and woe betide you break one of the coven's unknown rules!"
Carlisle looked confused. "Unknown rules?" he asked.
Demetri nodded. "Yup. Amun wouldn't tell us what we could and couldn't do, just punished us severely if we acted in a way he didn't like ... and that could change from one day to the next."
Aro knew Carlisle would ask how Amun exacted coven discipline. He caught Carlisle's eye and shook his head discreetly before he could inquire.
"Don't get me wrong ... they were not unkind, generally. They just didn't seem very attached to any of their coven members." Demetri finished, looking quite sorry for himself thinking back to how emotionally void his life had been. "I'm young. I know I moan about being treated like a child sometimes, but truth is ... I like having parents. I need them." When Demetri finished, he went to sit with Aro, no longer caring if his father read his thoughts. He needed to be close to him.
Aro made space and pulled his son in closely.
Eleazar could see how emotional Aro had become hearing Demetri's admission but decided against drawing attention to it.
"He likes being able to hide behind Sully's skirt tails when he's in trouble more like." Felix jested.
"Like you don't?!" Aro answered for his younger son.
"Well, now and again." Felix confessed.
Eleazar chuckled. "And then some!" he added.
"I call it the 'mother buffer'," Aro told his brothers. "These pair," he said, gesturing to his two sons, "and the twins, too, at times" he added, whilst smiling at the youngest two children, who had barely made a sound since they selected their books, "will go running to Sulpicia whenever they may be in trouble ... in the hope that Sully will work her magic on me to deflect any punishment due."
Both Felix and Demetri tried to deny that's what they did, but Eleazar and Aro knew better.
"If you know what Sulpicia is doing, why don't you ignore her?" Carlisle asked, simply.
Aro and Eleazar guffawed at their little brother.
"You really do have zero experience with women, Carlisle!" Eleazar managed to blurt out between bouts of laughter.
"I wasn't being symbolic when I said she uses her magic on me, brother. I am no defence for Sully's womanly wiles and oddly I have little desire to enter into a war with my wife over dealing with our children." Aro told him, having regained his control. "Not that we haven't warred about how I punish them," he added looking to Felix, who had the good grace to look away in shame.
Carlisle bristled, wearing a furious expression. Being the only unmated adult, he already felt left out of the 'grown up' part of his family and having both brothers laughing at his situation hurt, it really hurt. Carlisle was busy turning that hurt into anger.
"Is Atia your mom now?" Demetri asked Aro, though the question easily extended to his uncles, too.
"Most certainly not!" Carlisle replied immediately.
Aro raised his eyebrows. "What's your problem with Atia?" he asked. "Are your mood swings really down to our father taking a mate?" Aro pushed, knowing he was winding Carlisle up and enjoying it just a little too much.
Eleazar knew what Aro was doing. "Leave him be, Aro. This will end badly," he warned his younger brother.
Aro shrugged. Like his sons, Aro firmly believed sometimes the punishment was worth the enjoyment of the crime.
"Fine, you keep pushing and we will see how funny you find it when Basileus takes you in hand ...or maybe he will use the situation as a chance to have Atia flex her metaphorical muscles and ask her to take you in hand!" Eleazar knew their father too well.
Fuck, that sounds exactly like something Basileus would do! Aro thought, swallowing hard as he did so.
"I won't let her lay a finger on me!" Carlisle appeared horrified by the suggestion.
"Well that won't be up to you, will it brother?" Aro reminded the stressed young man.
"You should give Atia a chance Carlisle. She could prove quite useful in sticky situations with Basileus if these two are anything to go by." Eleazar said as he gestured to his eldest two nephews.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Felix snapped.
"We all know you pair have gotten away with murder, literally!" Eleazar replied. "Sully tempers Aro without having to say a word. If it wasn't for your mother, you Felix, would be whipped bloody weekly, I recon."
Aro applauded his brother's assessment, much to his boy's dislike.
"I'm surprised you are so relaxed about Atia to be honest, Aro. You know Atia's gift is to prevent the gifts of vampires in close proximity. I would say you rely on yours most of all." Eleazar pointed out as he returned the now discarded books from their small gathering.
"Really? Is that how it works?" Felix asked, finding himself suddenly liking the woman even more.
"Don't get too excited, she won't be around all the time." Aro commented menacingly.
"We can finally test out Felix - see if his strength is a gift or natural ability." Eleazar added, giving the lad a wink.
"He has no natural ability!" Demetri interjected with a smirk.
"We can do the same with your speed." Felix returned the same smirk his brother had offered.
"No need, that's all me, no gift at work there." Demetri crowed.
"No gifts, period!" Felix replied, sounding more spiteful this time.
Aro fixed them both with a glare. "Settle down," he warned.
"Does Atia's gift block our father's, too?" Carlisle asked his brothers eagerly.
Before Aro could answer, Eleazar jumped in, "Yes, I believe so," he replied, shaking his head curtly to Aro who looked confused.
I am sure Basileus said Atia couldn't block his gifts, Aro thought. I wonder if he wants to keep such information from Carlisle for now?
Carlisle positively glowed hearing his father no longer had unfettered access to his thoughts. Felix, too, and Demetri seemed to find relief in the knowledge, also.
Aro and Eleazar shared a knowing look.
Hearing the church bells chiming in the town reminded Eleazar of the time. "I thought Magnus was coming? Where is he?" he asked Aro.
Aro nodded. He had arranged to meet Magnus and Freyr today. "Go and find him," he ordered Demetri.
"Why me?" the young guard whined. Magnus is the very last person I want to find, for fuck sake.
"Why you? My gifted tracker? Erm ... let me think!" Aro pretended to contemplate his reasoning.
"Fine." Demetri replied as he hauled himself out of his chair and flashed from the room.
"Erm, why is Magnus coming?" Carlisle asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.
"I asked him to come. We need to run through the last week." Aro said easily, before noting how uncomfortable Felix and Carlisle suddenly looked as they threw nervous glances to each other.
"Why, would you like to admit to anything before he arrives?" Eleazar pressed, having recognised the same change in demeanour.
"No, no, nothing." Felix replied.
Guilty as hell! Aro thought whilst beckoning his son closer so he could read his thoughts. "Come here."
Felix shook his head and pressed himself into his seat. "I said there was nothing!"
"Leave him be, Aro. It will be more fun if we wait for Magnus." Eleazar told his brother whilst shaking his head to Carlisle and Felix.
"I like your style, brother." Aro relented as he withdrew his own hand.
"Why do you look so agitated?" Eleazar asked Carlisle as he took the seat opposite him.
"Please tell me you two didn't cause any trouble last night? Please!" Aro sighed. He knew Basileus' idea to go along with Felix being dragged into his brother's mess was a bad idea, but one night! He thought, how can you have fucked up in one night, you were only gone three hours! Aro scoffed whilst quickly reminding himself of all the other occasions since Felix had joined him where he had created monumental fuck ups in far less than three hours.
"We went out, we had a good night, and we came home. Nothing happened." Felix confirmed confidently. He was a much better liar than Carlisle, having been well prepared through the many and various scrapes he'd had to lie his way out of in the past.
"Though I'm still pretty pissed off with being treated like a child!" Carlisle added, sounding like a child!
"Tell me about it." Felix agreed, though he was used to it, and technically a child - Carlisle had been humiliated by Basileus in Felix's opinion.
Eleazar also agreed that his father had been unnecessarily harsh. "I did think it was a bit off Basileus telling you to be home by midnight."
"Well thanks a lot for standing up for me, brother!" Carlisle shot back, wishing that someone, anyone had backed him up the night before.
"Hey, I'm not one for throwing myself into the firing line unless it's important. I thought it was off, but if you have done something ... " Eleazar let his voice trail off as he looked again between Felix and Carlisle.
"I haven't" Carlisle argued back.
"So Felix has?" Aro asked, hoping to catch his brother out.
"I didn't say that." Carlisle replied quickly. Too quickly.
"Would you like to run to Sully and Atia now? Or do you think you will have time to seek your reprieve after Magnus informs us of last night's shenanigans?"
"Fuck off, Eleazar. You aren't my father." Carlisle replied hatefully.
"This is going to be interesting." Eleazar commented to Aro, choosing to ignore Carlisle for now.
"Indeed, El." Aro agreed.