AN: I don't own the twi world, just playing with it :)

This is the last chapter in this section, and its... erm... yikes!

THE CREATOR'S WRATH

Aro managed to stay, recovering, inside his chambers for three days. On the fourth, with an obvious limp to his step and slight swelling to his cracked eye socket, he had to emerge and deal with Lucy.

Magnus sent word to Aro and Basileus that the girl seemed to be getting worse. The only feeling she'd had was the fear she felt when Magnus had attempted to jump start the girl using Demetri's overload. But that was gone now and though she had been talking a little, Lucy had suddenly turned mute and her behaviour appeared to have regressed to that of a primate.

By the time Aro and Basileus had made it to Magnus' chambers, Lucy wasn't even moving. Curled into a ball in the middle of Magnus and Freyr's bed, she repeated low, guttural noises over and over without any awareness of her surroundings.

Aro laid a hand on Lucy's ankle. She didn't move or react in any manner, even the odd noises she made continued.

"There's nothing there, Dad," he said.

Basileus laid a hand on the girl's head after sensing nothing coming through his usual channels. Even with contact, there was nothing. He rested his forehead on Lucy's and tried to force his own thoughts into her, managing to push them through, but Lucy didn't react in any way, not even when he said the names of those she had a connection to. Nothing for Demetri or even Magnus.

"I will have to talk with Atia, Magnus," Basileus said, though his voice betrayed the sadness he felt.

Magnus knew the creator felt hopeless ... he could feel it coming off the man in droves.

"Will Atia know what to do?" Magnus questioned.

"I hope so, my friend."

Aro held his hands together thinking just how close he could have come to losing Demetri to the same fate. There but for the grace of god, go I, he said to himself, suddenly finding some relevance in the scripture Carlisle went on about.

Magnus pulled Aro back before he could leave with his father. "What will happen Aro?" he asked in concern.

"I'm sorry Magnus ... we may lose her," he said.

Magnus looked askance that the king of vampire kind, the protector Magnus knew and loved, could let the girl go without a fight.

"You have done all you can, Magnus. Losing Lucy will be sad, but it may be necessary." Aro saw the master's temper flare and thought it best to remove himself from the juggernaut's path if he was going to blow.

Bidding Freyr good day, he told them to meet him in the library at three where he would have the other masters in attendance to decide on what must be done. With that he left whilst Atia's instruction's floated around his head.

'Be prepared', he repeated to himself.

Basileus had no joy with Atia. Though his mate had seen separated lovers before, she had never seen one recover after the loss, other than Marcus that is.

The five coven leaders plus Carlisle and Eleazar all met in the library, as Aro had promised. Felix and Demetri were there too, Sulpicia couldn't cope with their constant bickering when they were together.

When Aro broke the news to Magnus and Freyr that all hope for Lucy was now lost and she was to be put out of her misery … it didn't go well.

Magnus stalked away from the group and looked out the window. "And what if it had been the other way around, Aro? What if Demetri were the one with his head on the block and not Lucy? Would you think your decree, 'sad but necessary' then?" he asked without turning to face the gathering.

Magnus didn't wish the same fate on the boy, not at all, but he was curious to know if the same decree would have been called if the young prince of Volterra had lost his mind instead of the girl.

"I wouldn't want my son to suffer the life to which you wish to condemn the poor girl," Aro replied, gruffly.

Not calm, that's wasn't calm at all, he berated himself. He was still finding sitting to be particularly painful and it was making him agitated. Get it together Aro, manage the situation, he told himself sternly.

"Bullshit Aro! You would do everything in your power to bring him back!" Magnus replied, turning to look at the reactions of the group.

Marcus appeared sad. He had spent some time with Lucy whilst she had been in Magnus' care. Both Eleazar and Carlisle looked quite appalled that the poor girl would lose her life because Aro's idea had gone wrong. Demetri appeared the most conflicted. He really wanted to feel more than he did about Lucy, Magnus could sense that through his own gift. Sadly, or maybe not, Demetri didn't feel anything for the girl anymore.

Magnus started pacing back and forth between the seated group and the window. It wasn't far, but it was enough to keep him using some of his pent-up aggression. He really wanted to kill something and Aro and Caius looked set for the beating if they weren't careful.

"Look at her!" Aro called to his covenmate as he gestured to Lucy, curled up on a chair. "There's no bringing her back! You have tried, Magnus, but Lucy is gone." He spoke softly and gently but it only brought him a look of disgust from Magnus, and Freyr and Marcus and his brothers, actually.

"If you want another pet, take one from the guard pool," Caius said under his breath.

There was an audible gasp from every member of the room upon hearing Caius' cruel quip.

Magnus was in his face within a fraction of a second. "How dare you speak to me that way! You are a vicious little cunt and your actions ... along with that prick's actions ... have led directly to this situation!"

Caius blustered in his seat unable to go anywhere. Magnus had a fist full of his shirt and he threatened to garrotte him with it with the force of his pulling.

"I am a Volturi Master ... " Caius said as he tried to unpick Magnus' fingers to free himself.

"SO AM I!" Magnus yelled before throwing Caius across the room.

Everything that happened next, happened at vampiric speed and would have been a scurried blur to human eyes.

Aro sprang to his feet to protect Caius from harm, whilst Eleazar and Freyr rushed to pull Magnus back. Caius was all too soon back on his feet and baying for Magnus' blood and even with Aro's effort to hold him back he managed to land a few lucky punches on Magnus, with far more of them catching Eleazar and Aro.

Aro felt someone punch him in his broken eye socket and lashed out, realising too late that it was Eleazar he had hit. Not that Eleazar cared - he simply punched him back again.

Carlisle left his nephews alone when he saw his brothers now fighting each other and Marcus took his turn holding Caius back.

Freyr called for Felix to help her with Magnus; Eleazar and Aro were embroiled in their own fight to the side of the main action so neither could offer counsel or help.

"Fetch Basileus," Felix told his little brother, pushing him to leave.

"Are you sure?" Demetri questioned.

One look back to the brawl and yes, Felix was sure. "Hurry Demetri!"

Felix flashed to Magnus and managed to pull both arms behind his back and pin them there. Freyr worked from the front, pushing her mate back. She could feel Magnus relenting until Caius accidentally hit Freyr in his efforts to get to Magnus … then the juggernaut master found his strength renewed as he charged forward, knocking Marcus and Caius down and trampling them underfoot.

"Oh dear, oh dear." Basileus spoke loudly and clearly as he walked into the centre of the fight.

It took a moment for the masters and his sons to realise he was there. When they did, one by one, they quit their assault. Aro and Eleazar kept going at one another, however. It took Basileus physically separating them before they noticed he was in the room. Felix hopped down from Magnus' back, hoping the man wouldn't hold it against him that he'd tried to hold him back.

Basileus walked around the group of brawlers, picking through their thoughts. As he went, he swished his trusty new cane into the air, creating a pleasing swashing sound. Of course, that sound was only pleasing the one brandishing the implement. To the others, particularly Aro, it wasn't pleasing at all.

Basileus kept walking, moving in and out between the group who separated to clear a path for the creator. By the time he came to a standstill in the centre, he had read every thought and managed to ensure all seven of them were standing alone. All that could be heard was the sound of ragged breaths coming from around the room as they fought to regain their composure.

Demetri had stayed near the door and Felix desperately wanted to join his little brother - he had the safest spot in the room.

"Who would like to go first?" Basileus asked happily. The fake joy fell from his face when no one stepped forward. "WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FRIST? He tried again, this time bellowing ferociously.

Eleazar stepped forwards. "My lord," he began, freezing when his father turned to face him, "Aro has informed us that Lucy is to be put to death ... which obviously caused some distress."

"DISTRESS!" Basileus repeated. "The masters of this coven, my own sons, and my damn grandson, brawling in the library and you call it distress?!"

Eleazar stepped back and cast his eyes to the floor. Everyone thought him very brave to have stepped up in the first place and there were no offers for anyone to follow his lead.

"Magnus started it," Caius mumbled under his breath.

Basileus caught the comment as soon as it entered his head. "You are in no position to be casting blame," he accused, making sure to catch Aro's eye when he spoke.

"If it's my fault then it's yours, too!" Aro returned, not standing for that!

"I told you to divide the two of them," Basileus agreed. "You took Demetri to Chelsea," he added, reminding Aro that he was very much at the centre of events.

"You cannot pin this on me alone, Dad."

Basileus continued to pace, using the cane as a cane is intended to be used - to walk. "I don't. Caius' mishandling of the girl certainly had a part to play."

Caius scoffed. "The damage was done before I laid a finger on her!" he said in his defence.

"Hardly!" Magnus spat and he, Aro, and Caius broke into a fresh argument.

"STOP!" Basileus shouted as he pushed his way into the centre of the three of them.

Turning first to Aro, he laid it out for his son. "If you had kept Demetri on a shorter leash this never would have happened."

Aro laughed hollowly. "How short a leash do you expect me to keep him on, for fuck sake?" he asked in defiance. Before the words had left his mouth, he knew it was the wrong thing to have said. Understatement!

CRACK!

Basileus whacked Aro's good leg with his cane, eliciting a deep guttural sound of pain from his son. "Aro, you don't want your children mating ... I agree with you, by the way. But, you allow that boy to fuck his way through the guard without restriction - this was always going to happen!"

Aro nodded as he rubbed out the burn in his leg. He saw Caius' smirk but he didn't care - it hurt too much to do nothing about it.

"And you!" Basileus said as he rounded on Caius.

"Me?!" Caius asked, shocked. "If you had been a little less aggressive towards the pair there would have been no need to divide them."

"I wasn't aggressive," Caius huffed, looking to the floor.

"What was that?" Basileus asked, getting dangerously close to his face. "You fucked the girl as she lay on top of Demetri, Caius! And threatened my grandson that he would be next to submit to you."

Caius' head shot up. "I didn't know that you knew about that," he said in disbelief.

"I KNOW EVERYTHING!" Basileus roared, giving Caius' leg a good whack of his cane, too.

"Are you so squeaky clean, my lord?" Magnus sneered to the creator. You started this, you could have stepped in, you should have stepped in! Magnus' thoughts rolled around his head.

Basileus shoved the oversized master in his chest. "I dare you to use that tone with me again, Magnus, I dare you," he ground out through gritted teeth.

Magnus had the sense to look to the floor but Freyr came to his defence. "Magnus has been the only one to help that girl since all this started!" she stated flatly.

"I agree with you Freyr," Basileus said genuinely, "and I appreciate his efforts very much. I am saddened that such valiant efforts to restore Lucy's health have proved fruitless. But we are where we are," he finished, extending his arms wide. "As monumental fuck ups go, this one is right up there."

Leaving the brawlers, Basileus went to Lucy and laid a hand on her head again. "I cannot reach the girl," he declared. "To keep her alive in this state is a greater cruelty than giving her a peaceful death."

"Dad, no!" Carlisle and Eleazar exclaimed in unison.

"Please, my lord," Freyr begged.

"I am sorry. Truly I am," the creator replied genuinely.

As he looked up, he spotted Aro and Caius sharing a smirk between them. Flashing to their sides, he slapped one and then the other, repeating over and over until they were both on the floor.

"If you think there is anything to smirk about you are mistaken," he spat to the pair who were defending themselves with flailing arms. "This could very easily have been Demetri," he reminded his son, hoping it would hurt Aro to hear and maybe shock him into some proper decorum.

"I know, my lord," Aro replied. He really did and the very idea shook him to the core.

Once he was sure they were submissive enough, he went back to Lucy and scooped her up from the floor. "I will take care of her," he said to Magnus and Freyr, adding softly, "it will be painless, my dear," when he saw Freyr wore a stricken expression.

As he looked around the sorry group, they all had their eyes fixed to the floor. "I will not have the masters of my coven brawling like bunch of ingrates! The covens convene soon, very soon, and I have never been more concerned about the state of our own house!" He sounded exasperated and so very angry.

All in attendance were concerned about the retribution the creator may seek.

"You will all go to your chambers and stay there until I release you," he commanded.

Only Carlisle and Felix looked up, both feeling it was a most unfair decree.

"All of us?" Carlisle questioned. I didn't do anything!

"YES!" Basileus yelled in reply. He was done with them all! With that, he left knowing they would obey him.

Basileus took Lucy to the edge of their lands. He was far enough away from the castle that even with vampiric vision the guards wouldn't be able to make out what he was doing. He was in sight of the north tower and he knew Magnus and Freyr would be watching. He did that on purpose; he wanted them to be able to watch, if that was what they wanted to do. Still, they wouldn't be able to see the act, which he hoped would lessen their distress.

Basileus checked Lucy's thoughts for a final time, and again, tried to reach her through his gift of placing thoughts into her head to see if there was even the slightest of reactions. There were none. In one swift movement, he tore the girl's head from her body and placed it on her chest. Taking the torch he had carried with him, he set her body alight and stood back as the purple smoke carried whatever was left of Lucy away from their world.

"Caius," Basileus called out as he stalked into the man's chambers.

Athenodora and Heidi sat together in the window seat whilst Caius stood nervously by the unlit fireplace.

"Could you excuse us, my ladies?" Basileus asked politely whilst holding the door open for them. It was clearly not a request.

Both Athenodora and Heidi left without word. Caius had still to look up from the floor. He wasn't stupid, he knew what would be expected of him.

"I'm glad you gave me this, Caius," Basileus said, clunking the cane on the floor as he strolled around Caius' quarters. "It's come in handy."

Caius felt his stomach turn over. He had used that particular implement to brake the bones of his victims in his torture chamber - he knew the damage it could do if wielded appropriately. He was sure a man like Basileus could inflict far more damage with such a thing than he ever could. That said, he was aware of how Basileus worked and how to lessen the likelihood of pissing him off.

Don't argue, keep your mouth shut, accept whatever he gives! Caius repeated to himself in his mind.

If that had been all Basileus heard he would have been harder on Caius for trying to play him, however, he could also hear that Caius knew he was to blame, at least partly, for the events leading to Lucy's death and most importantly, the fraction between the coven leaders. Caius would be the only one to think in such a way, Basileus knew that. It was one of the reasons Basileus had put up with Caius for all these years - he was a slave to the rules and running of the Volturi and he accepted, even if he didn't like it, that the Volturi was run by the creator first and foremost and that the masters had to be one force, even if they didn't agree.

Basileus had heard enough in Caius' thoughts to know he didn't have to say anything to the man. Instead, he took the master and spun him around to face the fireplace.

"I assume you can guess the rest," he said quietly.

Causing nodded. "Yes, my lord," he breathed in shaky, ragged breaths as he gripped onto the wooden fire surround.

"No objections?" Basileus asked as he took position.

"No, my lord."

Very sensible, Basileus thought. He took hold of Caius by the scruff of his neck, just in case his senses took leave at some point and he tried to move.

"Very well," Basileus said before releasing thunderous crack after thunderous crack to Caius' hide.

Caius couldn't remain as stoic as he would have liked, but he took all Basileus gave him without daring to move. It was the fear of reprisal that kept him in place.

Basileus knew that, not that he cared. When he was done with the master, Basileus spun him around so he could look into his eyes.

"You are to remain in these chambers until I send word that you may leave," he ground out, inches from Caius' face.

Caius didn't trust himself to talk. He simply nodded his acceptance and fell to the floor as soon as Basileus released him.

"You have pleased me, Caius," Basileus said, glad to have received none of Caius' usual spite.

"Thank you, my lord," Caius replied quietly as he watched the creator leave his quarters.

Next, he went to Magnus and Freyr's chambers. He stalled at the door. This is going to be awkward, he said to himself before walking in. Magnus and Freyr were fairly old for vampires, around the same age as Marcus and Atia and they all looked the same age as Basileus, though of course, he was 'ageless'. Marcus had never given Basileus cause to rebuke him, even slightly, and to date, neither had Magnus. Yes, this will be awkward.

Freyr immediately launched into a defence of her mate, pleading with the creator to spare his life.

"His life?" Basileus questioned in confusion. "My dear, there is no reason for you to make such a request," he dismissed, much to Freyr's relief.

Magnus, too, seemed to relax slightly from where he stood by the bookcase.

"Freyr, I can understand your complaints but you must also understand mine. Regardless of the circumstances, I cannot permit the masters of this coven to brawl like common fools."

Basileus heard Magnus release a shaky breath as he thought of just how stupid he had been to throw Caius across the room.

Freyr still appeared distressed. Basileus knew who had fought and who had helped to hold the fighters back - Freyr was in the clear.

"It may be a good time to tend the guard hall, my dear," he said as he gestured to the door.

Freyr didn't speak as she left. She and Magnus talked through sending their emotions to one another as often as they used words and Basileus waited for their private emphatic conversation to play out and for the door to close quietly before he turned to Magnus.

"I assume you mean to use that?" Magnus said, gesturing to the cane in Basileus' hand.

"I do."

"Will there be anything else?" Magnus asked nervously.

"What do you mean?" Basileus questioned, hoping there wouldn't have to be anything else. This is bad enough, he said to himself.

Magnus looked at the creator. "Am I to lose my position?" he asked.

"Good god no!" Basileus dismissed before laughing lightly. "If it were so easy to revoke the status of master I would have had Caius out centuries ago."

Magnus breathed easily for the first time in some hours.

"Your position is safe," Basileus confirmed.

Magnus was relieved - he could take the punishment Basileus intended to mete out, he knew it was deserved. His position as master of the coven was something he couldn't stand to lose. He wasn't interested in the power it gave him, nor the money for that matter. He truly tended his guards like a shepherd watched their sheep and he didn't want to have to desert his flock.

Without waiting for instruction, Magnus removed his dress coat and laid it over the table. Bending slightly at the waist and bracing his hands on the wall in front of him, he apologised a final time for his thoughtless actions in the library which caused the fight between the masters of the coven.

Once again, Basileus didn't speak. He simply began the task at hand. He hit Magnus with far more force than he had Caius, their difference in statue was huge and, Basileus reasoned, he could take it.

Take it he did! To begin, he hissed and gasped, but by the finish his grunts had turned to shrieks in response to the pain.

Basileus finished and handed Magnus back his coat. "Grieve for your loss, my friend. But you must end your quarry with Aro and Caius. Our world needs strong and even leadership, it needs you all. You are no use to anyone if you work alone."

Magnus nodded and wiped at his face. He wasn't sure what he had expected from the creator when he'd walked into his chambers, but he was shocked at the reaction it had elicited in him.

Magnus had broken enough bones over the years in coven attacks to know pain, but there was something very different about standing there and taking such an assault without being able to defend one's self.

Humbling, definitely, and fucking painful! "I understand, my lord," he answered.

"Caius and Aro will be out of coven life for a short time so you will have space to come to peace with recent events. After which, I expect this whole ugly mess to be forgotten."

"That is not necessary, my lord. I will cause no further ructions," Magnus offered sincerely.

"I know that Magnus," Basileus agreed, "but still, I want to give you the space. Marcus will take care of the throne room but he will need your assistance in receiving any visitors."

Magnus thanked Basileus gratefully before he left his quarters.

"Marcus how have you put up with them all these years?" Basileus called out as he entered the top floor suite. Flopping down into the seat beside his old friend, he threw his cane to the floor.

"I ask myself that with some regularity, my lord," Marcus admitted with light laughter. He gestured to the side table near Basileus where a goblet of wine awaited him.

Sipping from the welcomed cup, Basileus allowed Marcus' easy company to help him relax a little. "I am sorry to have included you in such a childish decree ... "

Marcus waved away Basileus' apologies. He understood that the creator couldn't have asked the entire library to go to their chambers without including him, too. "Nonsense, Basileus. Compromises are required by us all from time to time."

Basileus smiled, grateful for one level headed master, at least. "Thank you for your understanding ... I have just come from an awkward 'conversation' with Magnus," he admitted.

"Oh," Marcus reacted, before refilling both of their goblets. "He did throw the first punch," Marcus said as he poured into Basileus' glass.

"Indeed, although I can completely understand his reasoning," Basileus replied, mulling over his own involvement in Lucy's demise.

"As can I," Marcus agreed, retaking his seat. "Have you sought retribution?" he asked.

"Mildly ... " Basileus claimed. Magnus may claim otherwise, he thought with a smirk. "It's Caius and Aro I am intending to drag over the coals," he said forcefully, before adding, "well, Caius is done."

Marcus sighed. "I don't believe either of them thought such a fate could await the girl, Basileus."

Always the peace maker, Basileus thought. "Neither did I," he admitted his own failings in foresight. "I should have intervened earlier, done something else."

Marcus shook his head. "What is done, is done, my lord," he told the creator.

"We cannot change the past?" Basileus questioned, though he knew it to be true.

"I am starting to realise that. It's been a painful lesson to learn," Marcus agreed, hurt clear in his eyes.

Basileus could hear him thinking of his lost mate. "I'm sorry, my friend."

"Not at all." Marcus again waved away Basileus' concern but it was clear he wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

"I should be going," Basileus said as he put down his cup and thanked Marcus for his hospitality.

As Basileus collected his cane from the floor, Marcus asked with a smile, "am I released?"

Basileus threw the master a withering look. "Very droll, my friend," he said, "though you will be losing Caius and Aro from royal duties for awhile, so the throne room is yours."

Marcus sighed dramatically. "I think I would rather be confined to my quarters, my lord."

Basileus laughed to himself as he left the man's chambers, but his foreboding soon returned now that he was about to deal with his sons.

"Aro, go to my chambers," Basileus ordered as soon as he opened the door to the top suite.

"Really?" Aro questioned in annoyance.

"GO!" Basileus boomed, ignoring his son shoving into his shoulder as he passed. "Felix, Demetri." He called his grandsons to him.

Felix left his mother's side, who had been tending his wounds, to sit by the fire with Basileus.

"I am very pleased with you both," he told them gratefully.

"Is this a trick?" Felix asked, unsure of where the man was going with this.

"Coming to find me was the right thing to do," he told Demetri before turning to Felix, "and it would have been much worse had you not been there to contend with Magnus."

The boys shared a goofy smile.

"Cool," Demetri said. He had been nervous as hell about finding Basileus and asking for help on the masters' behalf. Aro hadn't seemed as pleased as Basileus clearly was.

"Have you seen his face, Basileus?!" Sulpicia complained, wiping at the blood dried on her boy's neck. The blood had come from his ear after a particularly nasty blow from person unknown.

"Who did that to you?" Basileus asked the boy, checking him over for any damage.

"I don't really know, to be honest. It was a bit of a blur... " Felix admitted, letting himself trail off as Sulpicia took over.

"Felix, if you know ... " she started.

"I said I don't, stop fussing!" Felix complained as she babied him.

"Don't shame yourself now when you have done so well," Basileus said pointedly to the boy.

Felix sighed and nodded, though he rolled his eyes to Basileus when his mother began cleaning him up again.

"He will heal," Basileus told his daughter-in-law kindly.

"Will Aro?" she asked, worried about her mate.

"Eventually," he said sadly. He wasn't looking forward to what he was about to do. But do it, I must.

"We weren't fighting," Carlisle complained the second his father entered the middle chambers.

"You weren't. He was," Basileus replied to his son, jabbing an angry finger towards Eleazar. "When I walked in you and Aro were rolling around the floor, knocking seven shades of shit out of each other," he spat to Eleazar.

Truthfully, of all he saw in the library, it was Eleazar that had surprised him the most.

"Then why did you send me to my room?" Carlisle ordered, sounding like a spoilt brat.

"Carlisle, calm down," Basileus ordered in annoyance. "I sent everyone, it was easier," he explained.

"Oh." Carlisle hadn't realised that was what his father had done, he was worried he was in trouble, too.

His relief was to be short lived, although Carlisle had only acted to hold Magnus back, Basileus was still a little disappointed with his son. "I wonder though," Basileus broached.

Here it comes, Carlisle said to himself.

"Why was it Felix and not either of you that had the sense to send Demetri to fetch me?" the creator asked generally.

"We were a little busy holding Magnus back!" Eleazar spat, glaring at his father and holding his arm awkwardly across his body. It was dislocated, he was sure of it. Fucking Aro, he thought to himself.

"It was a three-man job ... " Carlisle said, "and one woman," he added, thinking Freyr had done more than her share of the work in stopping the juggernaut.

"I hope that was the reason," Basileus said with little surety.

"What else do you think it could be?" Eleazar accused in a hateful tone.

"Watch it, El." Basileus shook his head. "You don't think, you don't foresee, you are always waiting to be told what to do."

Eleazar sprang to his feet. "I don't think that's fair," he argued.

"Don't you?" Basileus replied. "You've gotten lazy Eleazar."

Basileus thought of all the complaints from Aro about his brothers' easy ride ... it was true. The pair of you ride through life on Aro's coat tails!

"We will address this soon," he told his sons.

"In what way?" Eleazar spat.

Basileus was growing tired of his son's tone. "There's no such thing as a free lunch," he ground out to his eldest.

"What does that mean?" Carlisle asked, looking to his brother for some sort of explanation.

"Fuck knows. He's a prick," Eleazar replied, loud and proud.

Carlisle's eyes widened to such a degree that it hurt! Oh my god, he said to himself. You've lost your mind!

CRACK

Basileus hit Eleazar hard with the cane, landing it on squarely on his dislocated shoulder.

"Would you like to say that again?" he asked venomously.

CRACK

"How about now?" he asked with another stroke where the first had landed.

Eleazar grunted with each blow but remained resolute and returned his father's glare.

"Are you challenging me?" he boomed to his boy.

"Are you threatening me?" Eleazar asked. He wanted to sound dangerous, but to Basileus he simply sounded like an arrogant brat.

"Yes!" he said, raising the cane ready for another strike. "You believe yourself to be above reproach, son. Allow me to deprive you of that belief now."

CRACK

Again Basileus hit his son. "Your fight with Aro was for nothing, I've been in your head, there was no reason for it - either of you! You thought you would get away with that?" he asked, laughing humourlessly.

"Fuck you," Eleazar said quietly.

"Fuck me?" Basileus asked, rearing up.

"Yes, fuck you!" Eleazar spat back.

"Carlisle go down to your mother and wait there."

Carlisle didn't need telling twice, he was gone, leaving the door swinging on its hinge in his haste.

"What is this about?" Basileus asked Eleazar, wanting to calm his boy who looked ready to fight! "You won't win, son. Be warned," he said sternly.

"Aro's ripped my arm from its socket and you blame me for being inactive!" Eleazar replied, still reeling from all that had occurred in the last few hours.

"No, I am concerned that you felt the need to fight with your brother when you should have been fetching me!"

Eleazar shook his head and laughed. "I made a judgement call! If I hadn't gone to hold Magnus back, Aro and Caius would be dead by now."

"So you were looking out for your brother? How then did you end up FIGHTING HIM?" Basileus was erupting, the floor shook with his booming voice.

That had Eleazar stepping back, finally coming to his senses. "He hit me, I hit him back ... it went on from there," he said meekly, knowing how it sounded.

Basileus didn't want to hear any more. "Pathetic," he spat.

Stalking toward his son, he grabbed him roughly by his hair and dragged him into his own bed chamber. Carmen stood frozen to the spot.

"OUT!" Basileus commanded, immediately regretting the harshness with which he spoke to her but not giving himself any time to repent before he threw Eleazar across his bed.

Carmen flew past the pair of them and left her chambers all together, in much the way Carlisle had. Eleazar grunted from the force with which he landed on the bed, and with the use of only one arm, he couldn't easily move himself out of the Basileus' path, either. Not that he had time to try. Basileus unleashed hell on his son. Having dropped the cane in the living room to collect Eleazar, he used his hand leaving Eleazar to wonder if the cane would have been the lighter option as Basileus set him on fire with each smack.

It didn't take long for Basileus to bring his son to an apologetic state. He knew Eleazar was disingenuous, but at that point, Basileus didn't care. Eleazar deserved the hiding he was getting for his attitude alone. But he knew when enough was enough. Eleazar would have said about half of what he had received was enough, but as he was currently a sobbing mess on his bed he didn't have the ability to suggest as such.

Basileus stood back, questioning himself. What the hell am I doing? I am complaining about my son's lack of foresight and I am managing things as badly as they are.

Eleazar didn't move when his father took a seat next to him on the bed, but he allowed himself to be pulled about so Basileus could get to his damaged arm.

"Stay still!" Basileus commanded, and with a tug and a crack his put his boy's arm back in its socket.

Eleazar winced but he was grateful to have his arm reset.

"What's going on with you?" Basileus asked.

"What's going on with you?!" Eleazar repeated the question back to his father.

Basileus sighed sadly. "Fair point," he said quietly.

"Once you are recovered you can leave your chambers," Basileus said, rising from the bed.

"That will be in a few years time then," Eleazar said, mainly to himself.

"You should pull yourself together quicker than that, you need to find Carmen," Basileus reminded his son, thinking about how vile he had been to his son's mate. "Please pass on my apologies," he added.

Eleazar nodded, staying on his bed as he watched his father leave.

When Basileus stood outside his own door, he could here Atia grilling their problem child - which, for a nice change, wasn't Carlisle.

"I warned you this would happen, Aro. I told you to be prepared," she told him sternly. "Is this what prepared looks like to you?"

Basileus sighed as he shoved the door. "If he had been properly punished for his stint in the dungeons, I dare he say he would have been more focused," Basileus muttered.

Naturally, Atia heard him. "How dare you!" she shot to her mate.

"What happened in the dungeons?" Carlisle asked. He was glad that he wasn't in the same trouble as his brothers but he felt a bit of a fool as he hardly had a clue what was going on!

His parents and Aro shared a nervous look. "Nothing!" they answered in unison.

"You are as bad as him! I dare say that's where he gets it from!" Atia accused her mate, furious that he had tried to turn the blame on her.

Basileus reared up. "Gets what from me?" he shot back.

Though Aro was glad Atia was turning some of the blame on his father, he was worried that getting him riled up would have disastrous consequences for his hide later on.

"Avoiding being blamed for his mistakes," Atia confirmed. As though it needs stating, she huffed to herself.

"I do not avoid being blamed for my mistakes." Basileus laughed off the comment.

Atia felt enraged seeing Basileus laugh to her complaint. "Oh really?" she asked. "This was as much your fault as Aro's," she pointed out.

Carlisle's head had been springing side to side as he watched the verbal tennis match between his parents.

"Carlisle, go upstairs," Basileus ordered when he realised his youngest was still in the room.

Carlisle huffed, but he went. He hoped Eleazar could shed some light on Aro's dungeon goings-on.

"You really are on the war path aren't you!" Atia shot at Basileus, flinging her hands into the air over how he had commanded Carlisle - who had done no wrong. "What exactly had Eleazar done to deserve such viciousness, by the way?"

Basileus shook his head and seethed under his breath.

"What have you done to Eleazar?" Aro wondered. He knew there would be some repercussions for his brother as they were both fighting, but Eleazar usually avoided real punishment as he was so damn good at talking Basileus round.

"It isn't Eleazar you should be worried about," Basileus ground out to Aro. "But that's so typical of you. Anytime you are to blame you look around to deflect," he added, instantly regretting his accusation as Atia burst into laughter at the hypocrisy of his claim.

"What the fuck have I done?" Aro asked. He wasn't being blamed for Lucy - again!

"You were fighting in the fucking library!" Basileus roared.

"I was defending myself!" Aro retorted.

"You should have managed the situation better to begin with," Atia told her boy, turning her glare on him now. I had given you fair warning of the situation, she thought.

Aro looked askance. He had no rebuttal for Atia but he had one ready for his father. "You can blame me all you like but we both know you're as much to blame as I am - you didn't see this coming either."

"I agree with him," Atia added, now siding with Aro against Basileus.

Basileus released his frustrations as a ferocious growl. "Okay, so I didn't see it coming. But it's happened now - dealing with the fallout is my job," he declared.

Aro stood back. "So, you aren't going to hit me with that thing?" he asked, gesturing to the cane his father was wafting around.

"Oh, I am," Basileus replied dangerously.

"Why?" Aro whined. "You have just admitted you share the blame."

"I'm not punishing you for what has happened to Lucy," Basileus explained, "this is for your actions in the library when you could have managed the whole situation much better. You are more than capable, Aro."

"This is about the dungeon blood - you couldn't beat me then so you are going to beat me now." Aro glared at his father. "This has nothing to do with that fight."

Basileus kept his thoughts clear, e knew Atia would be listening to them and he didn't want to agree with Aro in front of his mate. He couldn't take the nagging or the objections. "You are being ridiculous." he replied to his son, though the look on his face confirmed Aro's accusation. "You need to be able to handle the masters, you failed."

Aro's mouth dropped open. "Magnus went fucking crazy!" he complained.

"If you can't manage Magnus how will you cope with the outside covens?" Atia asked.

Oh great, you're on his side again! "That's different."

Aro couldn't see the connection at all - for one the visiting coven leaders didn't have Magnus' strength and he knew he was capable of bringing any of them down if he had to.

"Is it?" Atia asked, with Basileus smiling menacingly behind her.

Aro knew he was on his own now. Fuck, he thought in defeat. "You can't cane me," he said with little hope.

"I can," Basileus told him as he dragged his son to the sofa, throwing over the back of it.

"I am still bruised," Aro complained, bitterly resenting the fact that his mother was still in the room.

Basileus laughed hollowly and held Aro by the back of his neck to keep him still. "That's a shame, because this is really going to hurt."