AN: So could you tell my husband was doing my head in when I wrote that last chapter? :D he got a few coded words thrown at him. 'Fine', 'wow', and 'nothing' come to mind :D
Guest: Aro has serious ground to make up with the twins and I don't think he realises that yet. To him it's about ending the row with his mate rather than any real self-reflection. Don't worry, we'll drag him kicking and screaming into being a better father eventually.
And yeah, Felix the ultimate perpetual teenager who only engages his brain twenty minutes after he fucks up. Bless him. I can't wait until Emmett's in the story. I can see those two getting up to some seriously daft strife!
Guest: "I don't understand why you go into detail about tortures & stuff, but skip over perfectly good discipline scenes." Do you know what, I didn't realise I was doing that, I'm sorry. I do try to mix things up a bit, to keep myself interested as much as anyone else, but I will be more mindful of what I'm sending off screen. :)
Thank you all for your feedback
Last chapter for this set. We didn't get to see the first Christmas in Volterra, just the recovery, so here's a Merry Christmas for you all :)
CHRISTMAS
The guards had made good on their promises and the south tower's alterations had reached completion at the beginning of December.
It had taken Sulpicia another couple of weeks to redress their new home and she had insisted they all wait to move in until she had finished the job.
The first time the children set eyes on their new and improved quarters was Christmas Eve and they were ecstatic with the space given over solely to them.
Just as Aro had planned, the entire top floor, which was once their entire home, was now given over to the Volturi princes and princess. Each had their own room, walk in wardrobe, and bathroom. 'Finally, accommodation befitting their status', Felix had said.
Though Aro had immediately shut down his son's ego burst, he secretly agreed. It was right, in his mind, that they all as a family had such opulent chambers - they were the 'first' family of the vampiric world, after all.
It had been quite an ordeal to get their children to bed that night, and as Sulpicia had returned to her task of perfecting their improved quarters, Aro hadn't managed to get his mate into bed until close to dawn.
It was a shame for the coven king. Being only his second Christmas, he wasn't used to the idea that children wake exceptionally early on Christmas morning.
The four Volturi children burst into their parents' room hollering, "IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
Aro and Sulpicia flashed to either side of their ridiculously large bed, creating a gulf of space in the centre where all four children dived.
"You know we don't sleep," Aro said flicking Felix in the forehead.
"Yeah?" the boy replied, purposely missing the point.
"So what exactly do you think we were doing in bed?" Aro hissed.
"Eugh!" Felix grimaced, pulling away from his father to sit by his mother instead (though why that was 'better' under the circumstances, Aro didn't know). "Well you can stop now."
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" the four of them repeated at full volume.
"Funnily enough," Aro said slyly, reaching for his mate, "I thought we should carry on as its Christmas."
Felix shoved his father away from his mother. "Stop!" he said sharply.
Yeah, Aro's fun was over for that morning, at least.
"Dad," Demetri called, dragging out the single word for as long as possible in the sweetest of tones. "Carlisle told me that the humans turn their households' upside down for Christmas. They call it misrule."
Aro wasn't daft enough to get drawn into whatever his son was trying to suggest, but his mate was kindlier than he. "What do you mean, my darling?" Sulpicia asked.
Demetri beamed. "They let those at the bottom of the heap play lord of the manor and run the festivities."
"No chance in hell, son." Aro shook his head. "There's more chance of Saint Nicholas making an appearance."
Seeing her boy's shoulder flop, Sulpicia diverted his attention. "How was your first night in your new rooms?" she asked them all.
"Great!" Demetri had never, ever had his own room and he was so grateful to finally have a space his slovenly brother wouldn't ruin.
"You didn't feel lonely at all?" Sulpicia checked. She was mainly asking the twins, they all knew that.
"Are you kidding?!" Jane asked. "It's about time I had my own room. How many human princesses share their rooms?"
"Oh," Aro said, pulling his girl into a hug and tickling her sides. "Playing human are we, my dear one?"
"No!" Jane shot out between giggles. When Aro let her up for air, she added, "I should have luxuries far outstripping anything a human can dream of."
"There's my girl." Aro gave her a wink, pleased with her answer.
Felix and Demetri shared a knowing look - had they had said something so egotistical Aro wouldn't be winking at them ... and they both knew it!
"Are you happy to be home?" Aro asked his children generally. "Not missing Eleazar and Carmen too much?" he asked the twins. "Carlisle?" he added to the boys.
"It was nice while it lasted," Felix admitted. "But I'm glad we're all back together."
Aro was relieved to hear as such, particularly coming from Felix, out of all of them. He had feared his elder two would want to remain with their uncle permanently. He would never have allowed it, of course, but it would have caused hell in their home if he'd had to lay down the law on the matter. Naturally, Aro wouldn't say any of that out loud.
"Damn it," he said, feigning disappointment. "I was hoping you'd want to move in with them permanently."
Their children all groaned at their father's not-funny 'dad joke' but Sulpicia called him out.
"Liar, my love. You missed them all."
"Maybe a little," Aro admitted, though anyone who could see his face knew it was much more than a little. "Go and get ready, we might even be early for a change," he said thinking about the party they were hosting in the throne room that day.
Jane outright ignored her father's words and lay her head on the pillow.
"In a minute," Demetri replied, settling down next to Jane.
Aro looked across their children and noticed Alec out for the count. "Is he asleep?"
"Shush!" Sulpicia said to her mate, wrapping an arm around Alec and pulling him into her chest. "Leave him be."
Aro shook his head and half sat up, supporting himself on one arm. "They can go to their own beds to sleep - I had plans for our bed …"
"Shush!" Sulpicia cut him off quickly before he could say 'what' he had planned.
"Sully," Aro whined. "You are kind of leaving me hanging here!" he added gesturing down his body with his free arm.
"Give it up, Dad, and move over." Felix gave Aro enough of a shove to clear himself some space to lie down.
"You're sixteen, you great lummox," Aro told his eldest, shaking him to keep him awake. "Far too old to be climbing into your parents' bed."
"Shush!" Felix said, repeating his mother's admonishment and nudging his elbow into his father's ribs before settling down to sleep at his side.
"Behave today," Aro whispered to his children as they walked through the halls two hours later. "I want to have a nice day with you guys."
Hooking his hand around his eldest son's neck, Aro gently pulled him in close. "Don't give me a reason to slap you today," he said pointedly.
For once, Felix didn't react with a sarcastic comment, nor any annoyance at Aro's back-handed threat. He wanted to have a nice day with his family, too.
Aro and his family had hardly made it through the throne room doors before Basileus presented himself before them.
"You're late," he told his son, as though Aro would be unaware of that fact.
"I know," Aro sighed, accepting the drink his father offered. "We were so close to being early, too."
He wasn't as annoyed about being late as he sounded - Aro had quite enjoyed his morning lounging on his bed with his mate, whispering their conversation to one another whilst their brood slept wrapped around them.
Carlisle clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We started drinking without you," he said, already a little giddy with the opium infused bloodwine he had supped.
Magnus had won his argument with Basileus to supply the coven with the gold banded bloodwine for the event. Basileus had eventually relented with the proviso that it would only be at Christmas that they would waste the good stuff on the guards. It was already making for a much calmer Christmas than their first attempt at the festivities. After the epic two-week event of the first Christmas, the coven masters had decided this one, and all future Christmases would be a single day only, mainly because it had taken another good week for everyone to recover from their overindulgence and paying the guards for a month's work ... when NO ONE worked ... really didn't sit right with the business dynamic of the coven.
Aro caught hold of his brother as he stumbled forwards. "So I can see, brother," he said, chinking cups with Carlisle.
"Do you think you should slow down a little, son?" Basileus asked his youngest with a concerned expression.
"Not at all!" Carlisle called out, his voice much louder than necessary with his drunkenness. "A little is good. More must be better!"
The throne room was the only room in the castle that had been decorated for the occasion. Evergreens had been brought inside and Phillipe, with his rather useful gift of levitation, had been tasked with fixing the foliage to the vaulted ceilings of the great hall. He had done a splendid job - the hall looked like a forest had grown overnight!
Rather than the usual host of torches lighting the throne room on such a gloomy day, a thousand candles had been arranged around the edges of the hall, creating a cosy glow.
The twins, seeing the decorations for the first time, took off around the room to get a closer look at some of the arrangements, skipping straight passed Eleazar and Carmen without so much as a 'Merry Christmas' for their aunt and uncle.
Eleazar seemed to hardly notice them but Carmen's eyes immediately teared up.
"Hey," he called, pulling his emotional mate in close. "What's this?"
Carmen wiped the stray tear from her eye and took a steadying breath to prevent anymore from coming.
"I just got used to having them around, El," she explained, melting into his hold. "I miss them."
Whilst he maintained the embrace, Eleazar made sure his mate couldn't see his face. Oh fuck no! he thought. Not kids, you don't want kids! Not really? Fuck.
Not that Eleazar would be foolish enough to voice such thoughts. "Well we will still see plenty of them, I am sure," he settled on saying. Please let that be enough!
Athenodora saw her mate reach for yet another flagon of bloodwine and sighed. She wasn't annoyed with him for drinking so much that morning, she knew why Caius felt he needed the coven brew. She decided to push Caius into action before he was too drunk to complete the simple task at hand.
"Have you spoken to Magnus yet?" she whispered into his ear.
Caius grimaced. "Not yet," he admitted just as quietly. "I feel awkward."
Dora tutted and rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly, Caius."
"I'm never that," Caius said, sneering 'that' in place of silly. "I'm not even that enough to say the word."
"It's other words you need to say, Caius, and they do need to be said."
Caius agreed.
"I will."
It didn't make him feel any less awkward, but he agreed that he needed to talk to the man. It was my bloody idea, he thought, why are you getting involved? He wasn't really annoyed with his mate, but it was always easier for Caius to direct his ire in Dora's direction - old habits die hard.
Watching Caius knock down his flagon in one, Dora was unconvinced that he would be able to talk at all if he left it much longer. Taking Caius by the hand, she led him out into the deserted masters office and closed the door behind them.
"You do understand what Freyr and Magnus have done for us, don't you?" she asked once she was sure they were alone. "What Magnus has done for you, in particular?"
He knew, alright! Even though Caius only knew the half of Magnus' interventions with Basileus, the ones he had witnessed were enough for him to forever be in the man's debt.
"I would be long gone by now if they hadn't intervened. Only the gods know where you would be."
That was the money shot - Caius knew exactly where Dora would be had Magnus not been there to stop him in his attacks on the two overdoses of dungeon blood - the first orchestrated by Lucius, the second in his torturing of Lucius. You would be dead, love, Caius thought.
Even with Magnus stopping him from killing his mate those nights, if Freyr hadn't convinced Dora to stay once Caius had come down from his drug induced state, she would have surely left him. Caius couldn't perform the mental gymnastics required to imagine a future without his mate at his side. For all his faults, he truly loved Athenodora and, without her, he couldn't 'see' himself at all.
"I know, Dora," he said quietly. "I do."
Athenodora nodded once, and opened the door to the guard hall. "Then you know what to do, love."
The moment Caius came through the door, he locked eyes with Magnus. He put his hand into his pocket and felt he gift he had concealed for the older master and smiled to himself. He could see the concern in Magnus' eyes from all the way across the hall and it had been a long time since Caius had anyone care about him, other than Dora, of course.
Having Freyr and Magnus in his corner, not just for his fuck ups, but because they cared, because they were interested in him, had taken some getting used to.
But, he liked it.
Basileus continued to chat with Magnus as they shared a drink - it was the quietest their table had been all day, just the two of them. Atia and Freyr had clearly bored of their company and were sitting with the other female elite.
It's now or never, Caius thought. Flashing to Magnus' table before he lost his nerve, Caius arrived before he knew what to say.
"I ... erm ... havesomethingforyou." Well that sounded stupid! Caius thought. He'd really had too much to drink already.
Basileus quit his conversation and eyed Caius curiously. "Did you understand that?" he asked Magnus.
Magnus assumed, correctly, that Caius was pissed, and he wasn't worried until he got a read of his emotional state.
"What's wrong with you, you feel off …" he said, appraising Caius with caring eyes. "Your emotions are bouncing all over the place."
Within a moment those caring eyes were replaced with furious ones as Magnus thought about what could have the younger master's emotions in such a state. Grabbing Caius roughly by the wrist he pulled him to sit at the bench.
"I hope you haven't brought dungeon blood to this party Caius, because if you have Christmas will be nothing but a bad memory for you when I'm through with …"
"Shut up!" Caius called out. He tried to make it sound breezy, but he failed. "Bloody hell. I said I have something for you," he added a little quieter.
Snatching back his wrist, Caius set to rubbing out the Chinese burn he'd been left with. He had grown used to Magnus' admonishments in private, but taking them in public wasn't something he could deal with.
Basileus stayed quiet, watching the unfolding exchange between the two men with distinct interest. You had him called to heel pretty damn fast, he thought to Magnus.
If he had done that to Caius he would have expected some aggression in return, at least, but Caius didn't do that with Magnus. He was clearly annoyed with the obvious threat, but more annoyed with the fact that Magnus would believe he had taken dungeon blood.
Magnus sat back in his seat, testing out Caius' emotional charge for the truth. Deciding that he hadn't taken dungeon blood after all, Magnus waited expectantly for whatever it was Caius wanted to give him - he would never have expected a gift!
Caius pulled a package from his pocket, a bundle of red velvet wrapping just a little larger than his hand, and gave it over to the juggernaut.
Magnus looked a little bemused at first - he really hadn't expected a gift. An admission of guilt of some kind, sure, maybe even the money to pay Caius' bar bill, but not a gift.
He untied the leather cord holding it all together and revealed a stunning silver pendant of artisan quality, adorned with the ancient runes of his homeland.
Caius was looking just about anywhere else at that point. Awkward, awkward, awkward!
Getting over his initial surprise, Magnus took to inspecting the gift he had received. The pendant was constructed by three interlocking drinking horns. He recognised it immediately as the Triskelion, a symbol of Odin, and each horn was named in runes, as they had been in Magnus' human days - Óðrœrir, Boðn and Són.
"Where did you find this, Caius?" Magnus asked.
His voice was a little distant. He was in awe of seeing something so reminiscent of his pre-vampiric life. Not just seeing it, but holding it in his hands, and such a fine piece of craftsmanship that Magnus couldn't imagine his people having the skills to create such a work of art.
"I didn't find it," Caius replied. "I made it."
Magnus barely registered that he had spoken. Instead he flipped the pendant over and started to read the runic inscription on the reverse. There, in miniature script, was the tale of Odin when he bargained three nights with the giantess Gunnlöð for three sips of the mead of poetry, where with each sip he drank a whole horn, and therefore all of the mead, fleeing in the shape of an eagle. The mead of poetry was a symbol of wisdom in Magnus' time.
"Do you know what this means, Caius?" Magnus asked.
The symbolism Caius had chosen to form his gift suggested Magnus was in some way Odin, and of course Caius knew. That was the whole bloody point! he thought.
"You made the design, the mould, everything?" Magnus checked. He had stopped folding the pendant and was watching Caius carefully.
Caius rolled his eyes, wondering why it would be such a surprise. "Yes." Stop asking me questions, you cock! He was feeling more and more awkward as the time went on and his mind was fixed on fleeing for the safety of the bar.
"The runes?"
"I had to ask Marcus for help with those," Caius admitted. Not that he was much help - he made me learn the damn things!
Magnus was impressed, very impressed. "But the only place you could have smelted the metal without me knowing about would be …" Magnus stalled for a moment. Surely you didn't go down there just for me? "The … playroom."
It was no secret that Caius couldn't go down to the dungeons still. It had been two long years since he had been down there slaughtering Lucius and the little cunt still haunted the walls, as far as Caius was concerned.
As Caius simply nodded in response, Magnus pushed on. "You went down there, just to make this for me?"
"Fucking hell!" Caius exploded. "Yes!"
With that he took Magnus' flagon and gulped down hard on the bloodwine to take the nervous burn from his throat.
Magnus wasn't just impressed, he was truly touched. "I don't know what to say."
"Have I actually worked out how to shut you up?!" Caius laughed in relief. "Praise your gods and mine."
Magnus didn't say anything else, he just pulled the younger, and much smaller, master into a side arm bear hug to show his gratitude. He knew Caius wasn't keen on public displays of … well, of anything, but definitely not affection, but Magnus didn't care. He was tactile by nature and if he wanted to hug someone, he would. Caius had to suck it up as far as Magnus was concerned. Truth was, Caius was glad of it, though he would never have said so.
Basileus had stayed quiet through the gift exchange and following inquisition, but he had been following the thoughts of both men and felt it a good time to interject.
"So, if you're Odin," he breezed to Magnus, "would that make him Thor?"
Oh no, Magnus wasn't going down that road. He and Caius may have teamed up, he was giving Caius guidance, he cared for him, but Magnus also knew the emotions that consumed Caius. He couldn't rely on anyone, not properly, or at least he couldn't be seen to rely on anyone. After millennia of having no one, having someone was almost an insult to Caius. And Magnus couldn't take the pain of being rejected by him, either.
"He's more of a Loki, wouldn't you say?" Don't, Basileus, he added in his mind. Please.
"I know enough about your gods to know I'm not Loki!" Caius spat. I'm not being Loki! "Thor, I'll be Thor," he added, agreeing with Basileus. "He's the one with the hammer, right?"
Magnus and Basileus laughed, like they were sharing a private joke. "He doesn't know much about your gods, does he?" Basileus commented.
"I'd say not," Magnus agreed.
When Caius looked on confused, Magnus felt compelled to explain what Caius was, he assumed, misguidedly suggesting. "Thor was Odin's son, Caius." Don't throw a fit! Magnus begged the man with his thoughts, though he knew Caius couldn't hear him.
"Who's Loki, then?" Caius asked, still considering who he would rather be aligned to.
Magnus could take that. A change of direction rather than an outright rejection ... yes, he could take that.
"Depending on the tale, Loki was sort of Odin's brother." That was why Magnus had suggested Loki to Basileus, as they were 'brothers in bond' with both being coven masters.
Caius didn't say anything for a moment. He wished with all his being that Basileus would fuck off so there were no witnesses to what he was about to say. He even considered lying for a moment, simply because the creator was there, but then what would be the point? Basileus would know his thoughts anyway and Magnus could spot a lie a mile away with his emphatic gift. Besides, Caius thought, he deserves more than lies from me.
"I'll stick with Thor if it's all the same to you."
Magnus had to take up his flagon to hide his mouth before anyone could see the gushing grin he wore. He hadn't spent the last few years helping Caius for any reward, that wasn't Magnus' style, but it sure was nice to feel so appreciated.
Basileus had to do the same, though his reasons weren't quite the same. He was simply chuffed that his ideas about bringing Magnus and Caius together were going to take even less effort than he originally thought.
I can't wait to tell Atia!
Caius sat there feeling like a lemon, wishing he had a drink to hide behind. He settled for continuing the conversation before he died of awkwardness! "I have something for Freyr, too."
"Go on then," Magnus said, gesturing to Freyr across the hall with a jutting chin.
Caius huffed. He couldn't go through another public conversation like the one he'd just had. "I thought you might pass it on for me."
"You thought wrong," Magnus said, a little sternness behind his tone. Freyr deserved to feel as good as he felt right then and that would only come from Caius doing something so … well, un-Caius-like as he had with Magnus. "Go on," he insisted, pushing Caius to stand.
With a final beseeching look that got him nowhere with Magnus, Caius downed the last of the juggernaut's drink and sought out Freyr from the crowd.
Basileus was impressed. "He really pays heed to you,"
"Aye, when it suits him to."
"He chose Thor," Basileus added.
Magnus chuckled to himself. "Because of the hammer."
Denial won't save you from my plans, my friend, but it seems I will have to do less than I thought.
Basileus decided to let things play out between Magnus and Caius, and to only involve himself if things between them started to move in a direction he wouldn't have chosen.
You're going to do all the hard work for me, he thought, thoroughly pleased that the relationship he had imagined for the pair of masters appeared to be organically forming of its own volition.
"I've never seen Caius be sentimental about anything before," Basileus said taking the pendant from Magnus' hand. "I should be annoyed," he mused, as he considered just how much effort it would have taken for Caius to craft such an item. "I have been looking out for him for centuries and I've never received so much as a thank you."
Magnus took the pendant back when offered and put it in his pocket for safe keeping. "Turk!" he called over to the bar and held up his empty cup. "Two more."
The pair of them watched Caius as he went through a similar dance with Freyr to the one he'd gone through with Magnus. The couldn't hear a word of what was said, but Caius' continued awkwardness was clear, as was Freyr's emotion to be presented with such a thoughtful gift.
Basileus waited until Turk was clear of the table before he spoke. "You've clearly achieved the impossible there, my friend."
Magnus didn't say anything. He didn't want to jinx it. But he couldn't stop the swelling in his heart.
"Your attention, my friends," Aro called, walking through the sea of guards towards his throne.
By the time he got there at human speed, the other masters had seated themselves at vampiric speed. Aro didn't sit. Instead he collected the mysterious golden, wildly over-sized goblet from his throne and stood at the front of the throne floor steps.
"We have decided to install a system to recognise good work within the coven. This Christmas Honours Cup," he said, holding the goblet aloft. "is open to all coven members and will come with a hefty monetary reward, too."
"Going forward we will be looking for opportunities to nominate any coven member who goes above and beyond in their line of duty," Freyr added from her seat. She wanted her guards to know they would have a say in things, too. "We will welcome your thoughts on the matter as we go forward. But we only consider truly remarkable actions."
"Heroes," Aro said, giving a nod to the shield maiden. "A hero is someone who has given their life to something bigger than themselves."
He took a moment to look around his assembled coven. Seeing they were suitably intrigued as to who would be receiving the newly coveted award, he went on,
"After much discussion, we are all agreed on who we believe should be remembered for receiving the very first of these honours we will give."
Aro took the bag of gold from his seat and slowly made his way down the throne floor steps.
"One coven member who not only surpassed all expected duty, but single-handedly, and without seeking any glory, saved our coven from the Romanian infiltration."
Aro walked through the guards, circling the odd one before he continued on his path until he came to a halt in front of one coven member.
"Renata," he said, placing the bag of gold into one hand and the cup into the other, "for your gift, for your loyalty, and your sacrifice."
The masters began clapping and soon the whole coven joined.
Renata, for her part, stood stunned to the spot. Only a single tear rolling down her cheek showed she had heard anything at all.
Aro wiped the tear away with his forefinger. "Thank you, my dear," he told her sincerely.
Aro had argued Renata's case valiantly for the first of their honours, truly believing she had saved their coven by protecting him through rather arduous circumstances. Her silence since Lucius' time in the coven only further proved the woman's loyalty.
Getting a grip of herself and returning to her usual state, Renata stood tall and hugged the cup to her chest.
"You're welcome, master," she said, also sincerely.
Renata didn't see anything special in what she had done that long year of Lucius' hold over the coven. Volturi guards weren't just loyal for the perks - they knew they were special. From the training the coven masters invested in them, from the respect they received from everyone in the vampiric world, from the faith that was shown in them - they were special and any one of them would have protected their king if they had the ability. She had felt honoured to have the gift that could best serve her master, and to be honoured by that same master meant the world to her.
The rest of the guards, though in agreement with the masters' choice and none of them begrudging Renata her award, all set to making plans to prove their own worth, just as Freyr hoped they would.
A little healthy competition will do them wonders, she had told the other masters. Being the only women in the rank of master, Freyr occasionally had to shout a little louder for her ideas to be heard, but she always got her way when she felt it worth the fight. She could tell just by looking at her green-eyed guards that this trophy would be wanted by all.
"You are going away again?!" Basileus shot out, overhearing the conversation between Marcus and Carlisle.
Marcus smiled kindly to Carlisle before he turned to the creator to give his answer. "I will be leaving after the festivities" he explained, and then he put his hand on Carlisle's shoulder. "I would like to take him with me, if you will allow it."
"Carlisle?" Basileus checked, brow furrowed deeply.
"Carlisle has done well this year, my friend," Marcus said simply. He was glad Carlisle was staying quiet, as he had instructed him to.
Basileus appraised his son with his eyes. He couldn't find cause to disagree with Marcus. It wasn't so much that he wanted to pick fault with his youngest son, more that he was a little surprised by Carlisle's winning streak.
"I suppose he has, all things considered."
There was something else that occurred to Basileus, a horrible thought. Has he expressed an interest to leave? he wondered briefly. I'm not worried, he quickly assured himself, falsely.
"Are you sure you would want to take Carlisle with you, Marcus?" Basileus asked his old friend.
Basileus spoke as quietly as possible, and though Carlisle didn't hear, he knew what his father would be doing. Show some faith in me, for fuck sake!
"He has the tendency to go off the rails when he doesn't get his own way," Basileus continued. "Overly emotional, even," he added, seeing his boy rise to the bait.
Marcus wasn't about to let Basileus win so easily. He put a supportive hand on Carlisle's shoulder and patted the man gently. "Your son has an insatiable desire to learn and I enjoy his company. I want to take him on a Grand Tour."
Carlisle beamed with Marcus standing up for him.
Basileus rolled his tongue around his cheek, decidedly less pleased with Marcus standing up for Carlisle. "And what is a Grand Tour?" he asked. No doubt it would be something unsuitable, somehow, he hoped.
Handing his father the booklet on the Grand Tour that Marcus had recently presented him with, Carlisle started pointing out the parts that really interested him, the towns the would visit, the thing they would see.
"It's something the young princes of Europe are engaging in," Marcus explained. "An educational rite of passage, if you will."
As Basileus didn't object outright, (though his knitted eyebrows and furrowed brow suggested he wasn't enamoured with the idea) Marcus continued. "We will travel the continent. Not far at all. It will give him the chance to mix with humans on a regular basis."
"Hmmm." Basileus didn't see that as the positive Marcus was making it out to be. "Perhaps it will bring an end to his torrid fascination with the bloody things."
"Perhaps," Marcus laughed, though I doubt it. "But I am more interested in introducing him to the great art of our world, music, literature, culture. I will be collecting some new pieces for the coven."
"How long will you be gone?" Basileus could see this was likely going to go ahead.
This would be the tricky bit. Marcus umm'd and ahh'd for a moment, trying to lessen the sound of what he would say. "It will take a few years ... two," he eventually said softly.
"Years?!" Basileus boomed, grabbing the attention of every member of the guard hall. "No. No way. That's too long."
"We will return intermittently in that time before heading off again," Marcus added. They were going - Basileus would agree, he knew it.
"You know, Marcus, it sounds like you are telling me this is happening, rather than asking me."
"What can I tell you, my friend," Marcus said, shrugging his shoulders and the ghost of a smirk appearing on his face. "When you're right, you're right." There were precious few on the planet who could talk to Basileus in such a way, but Marcus was a privileged member of that small group. "I am going regardless, and I believe it would be an enriching experience for your son.
Basileus looked over his son. He didn't want to be away from him for years, that would be too long. What if he decided to never come back? Basileus thought. The idea that he could lose one of his sons was torturous. He liked them all in Volterra, all in one place. Nice and safe. Still, he thought, watching Carlisle's hopeful expression become almost begging, if it's what he wants, if it will make him happy …
"I want Carlisle back here every six months, at the most," he said to Marcus, before turning to his son. "And I will be checking on your conduct when you get here so I would advise you not to disappoint me if you wish to be allowed to continue on this folly."
"Perfect," Marcus said quickly, pulling Carlisle back to keep his mouth closed. "Merry Christmas, my friend."
Aro was quick to take his father's place at Marcus' side. "You know, Marcus," he crooned, sounding ever so sweet, "that sounds like something Felix and Demetri would get a lot out of, too"
"It does, doesn't it," Marcus agreed. "You should consider taking them yourself."
Aro felt a spike of annoyance. Marcus always did that to him - pretended he didn't know what Aro was asking until he outright asked for it. "I have no objections if you want to …"
Marcus held up his hand to silence his co-master. "Not for every piece of gold in your vaults, Aro." With that he walked away, chuckling lightly to himself and sipping at his cup.
"Nice try, brother," Carlisle said, before following Marcus.
Carlisle didn't make it to Marcus, his nephew intersected his path and pulled him to a quiet corner.
"You're going away!" Felix spat in hurried whispers.
"For years?!" Demetri added. He sounded more upset whereas Felix was angry at being left behind.
"I'll be popping back every six months, lads," Carlisle said smiling to his young pair of partners in crime. "It will fly by. I'll bring you back presents." He hoped that might sweeten the deal
"I should hope you will, at the very least!" Felix huffed, still annoyed. "Couldn't we come with you?"
"Aro tried to get Marcus to agree to that already," Carlisle explained. "Marcus said no."
Felix felt incensed. "He tried to send us away?!" Bastard!
Carlisle had to laugh. "You wanted to come."
"That's not the point," Felix rolled his eyes. Why do you never 'get' these things?
"Listen," Carlisle said softly, pulling his nephews in close with his arms around their shoulders. "This could work out to your advantage."
Carlisle really was thinking on his feet - anything that would pull Felix out of his funk so he didn't ruin their second Christmas for the whole coven.
"Like how?" Demetri asked, he was far more willing to reason than Felix.
Carlisle reached into his pocket and pulled out the door key to his apartment and gave them to Felix.
"You're giving me your keys?!" Felix asked, quickly hushing himself in case anyone over heard.
"No," Carlisle said forcefully. "I am giving them to you both, understood?"
Felix nodded. As if I would leave my little brother out? he thought. That boy had such a short memory.
"You have to be careful that you don't get caught," Carlisle explained, instructing Felix to conceal the key and keep it hidden. "And don't use my bed!" he added hurriedly. "But other than that, make the most of a free apartment."
Demetri and Felix nodded along. They planned to ignore the 'don't use my bed' thing, but they wouldn't ruin the moment by telling him so.
"You're totally my favourite uncle, Carlisle," Felix crowed. Demetri might have said the same, but he was too busy making eyes at Adrianna across the hall.
Eleazar and Carmen retired from the party first, choosing to shut out the coven for the evening and make love. Lying in bed together in exhaustion from their passionate display, Eleazar decided then would be a good moment to bring up this children idea he worried his mate was considering and put an end to it before it gained speed.
Carmen, my love …" he paused, unsure how to proceed. "You don't really want to bring young vampires into our life, do you?"
Carmen didn't respond. She didn't even breathe. Her whole body froze for a moment. Yes, bringing children into their relationship was exactly what she wanted, and she sensed that Eleazar was about to attempt to draw a line under that idea.
Eleazar foolishly took his mate's non-committal response for a sort of disinterest in the subject, rather than the paralysing emotion that had over taken her senses and he carried on with trying to cut off the idea before it had chance to germinate.
"I just don't see us as the parenting types, my love," he said softly. "They have wrecked Aro's relationship with his mate … they do nothing but argue about the kids."
Carmen knew better than that. She knew, actually, that Sulpicia might have left Aro long ago if it weren't for their children binding them together through times of marital strife. But she had to wonder from where Eleazar was getting his information.
Carmen knew how much Aro loved his kids. He wasn't going to win 'Dad of the Year' any time soon, but he loved them. From all she knew about the trouble they brought him, particularly Felix, there was no way the kids would still be breathing if he didn't truly love them unconditionally, as a father should.
"I think we are better off as we are, don't you?" Eleazar concluded his position by kissing Carmen on the head and breathing a contented sigh with another disaster averted. Oh, how wrong he was.
Finding her voice, Carmen pulled out of her mate's hold and sat up in the bed. Whatever solace Eleazar had momentarily felt suddenly disappeared when he looked into his mate's fiery eyes.
"And you thought this was a good thing to bring up after sex?" she snapped.
Well I sure as hell wasn't going to risk it before sex, Eleazar thought.
"You know exactly how I feel about children already, Eleazar Volturi!"
Full name treatment was only supposed to scare kids, Eleazar was sure of that. But he had to admit Carmen calling him by his full name sent a shiver down his spine.
"I just love you so much, my love," Eleazar crooned, hoping to rescue the situation. "I couldn't imagine sharing you with other people."
Carmen narrowed her eyes. She had never lost an argument with her mate yet and she sure as hell wasn't going to lose this one.
"It won't be 'other people' it will be our children," she explained as though the deal was done in her mind.
It was Eleazar's turn to freeze. That sounded far too much like children were happening whether he wanted them or not. "Kids cause trouble, lots of trouble …"
"They will, I am sure," Carmen agreed, cutting him off. "But they will bring love and happiness, too. A different kind of love and happiness that mates cannot provide for each other."
Eleazar shook his head. No way. Not kids. No. He sat up and matched Carmen's stance.
They looked quite the pair - both naked with their arms folded tightly, glaring daggers at each other. It would have been comical if not for the serious subject matter.
"I don't want children," Eleazar stated. That was it, he'd said it out loud. Done.
But then Carmen broke into a hysterical, feverish wail and Eleazar's resolve shattered with her sobs.
"Will you not at least think about it?" Carmen asked through her tears.
I have thought about it, Eleazar thought. I know I don't want children! He didn't voice those thoughts, however, instead he told her he would, of course he would, think about it.
"I am telling you now that I will not suffer teenage newborns, Carmen," Eleazar insisted. He wasn't going to completely roll over. But when the sternness to his tone set Carmen off crying again, he made a compromise. "We could offer a home to the next young vampire that strays into Volterra."
Throwing her arms around Eleazar's neck, Carmen nuzzled her face into his shoulder.
You should never trust a hug. It's just a way to hide your face, and that's exactly what Carmen was doing right then. It may have been underhanded to turn on the waterworks to win the argument, but the matter was simply too important to Carmen for her not to pull out the age-old trick.
She would have used every trick, in fact, to see her dreams come true. She had lost so many babies in her human life ... but a vampiric child, one that would live forever, one that would be with her forever. She didn't want to lose Eleazar, but then there was no need to in Carmen's mind. Not when she could manipulate the situation to have both her husband and children.
Carmen wasn't naturally manipulative, no more than any other married women, really. She was fiery as hell, sure, but honest with it. One might have expected her to feel conflicted, then, for going against her nature in this way and manipulating her mate, but she was desperate and felt nothing more than quiet contentment in that moment.
He'll come around, she thought, once we have our own he'll love them.
Eleazar and Carmen may have been early to leave the party that night, but Aro and Sulpicia hadn't stayed long after them. They heard their home calling them when they realised how bleary eyed their sons were on the coven's very special brew.
Aro flopped into the sofa, pulling Sulpicia with him before she could escape his clutches doing more of the pointless things she had been doing since they moved into their revamped home - the fluffing of cushions and wiping of clean surfaces was doing his head in already and they had only been in the place a day!
It's all new, she had told him, excitedly and repeatedly, as though that was a good reason to cluck like a mother hen over her nest.
"So …" Felix breezed, standing in front of his parents and scuffing his foot on the floor looking 'oh so innocent'. "You gave the guards a present."
Demetri soon caught onto where his brother was going. "Everyone got a bag of gold," he added helpfully.
"A small bag," Aro replied. He was only half paying attention - most of his efforts went into suggestively kissing his mate's neck.
"Renata's bag was heaving," Alec noted, sidling up to his brothers.
Jane knew what her brothers were doing - trying to wheedle some sort of gift from their parents. Aro had been very clear that Christmas gifts were beyond what they should hope for in the seasonal celebrations, but if the boys were going to badger their way into a present she wasn't going to be left behind.
"You gave mom jewels," the girl said. She took a seat on her mother's lap, thus diverting Sulpicia's attention from her mate to her daughter.
"And very beautiful you look in them too, my queen," Aro said to his wife. He had enjoyed sharing their alone time with their children that morning, but after missing that opportunity to ravish his mate he wasn't going to let another one pass. Go to bed! he thought, glaring at his children.
"They are beautiful," Jane said wistfully, pawing at her mother's new diamonds around her neck.
Felix had played long enough - he wanted answers. "Where's ours?"
"We've just plunged a small fortune into giving you four your own rooms, and they are dressed to excess," Aro huffed. He had lost his mate to his daughter and sat sullenly at their side. "You have bed and board, what more do you want?"
"Speaking of bed …" Sulpicia glanced at the clock. "It's late."
All four Volturi children whined hearing that. 'It's late' has forever been code for 'it's time children were in bed'.
"It's not that late," Alec complained. Which was odd, as he was the least likely to be allowed to stay up anyway, having always needed more sleep than his siblings.
"It's been a long day, go to your rooms," Aro suggested, pushing Jane to stand and taking Sulpicia back in his arms.
"But …"
Aro's eyes cut across Felix and shut him up before he could start. "Don't do it, son. Not today," he warned.
Sulpicia shook her head to her sons. The last thing she wanted after a rare successful day was for any of them to end up going to their beds crying. "Goodnight, my darlings," she said pointedly.
With deflated shoulders, the four of them left the main living chamber and headed up the stairs. The moment Sulpicia settled back into her mate's arms, squeals of excitement filled their quarters.
Turning in Aro's hold so she could see if he knew what had caused their children such joy, she asked, "What's that about?"
A playful smile tugged at Aro's lips. "No idea, my queen," he lied, badly.
Sulpicia nodded to herself. You know, I know you know, she thought as the two of them went to join their brood on the top floor.
Before they had landed on the top step, Felix's voice came ringing through from his room. "Oh my god, I fucking love you!"
"Language, Felix!" Aro admonished their boy as he came bounding into the lobby where the children's rooms divided, quickly joined by Demetri.
Sulpicia hadn't been prepared to see her two boys brandishing swords, putting on a theatrical demonstration before her. She was even less prepared for an arrow to come flying at her with full vampiric (though a child's) force. Thankfully Aro caught the steel tipped arrowhead in mid-air!
"You bought them weapons?!" she asked in shock. At least, that was what Aro thought she had asked - Sulpicia's voice was so high that only dogs would have caught the pitch.
"Don't look at me," Aro breezed, sensibly stepping away from his irate mate. "It must have been their mate, Saint Nic."
He was so very grateful that Jane came out clutching her gift to her chest with wide, excited eyes.
"Besides," he added quickly pulling his daughter in front of him so Sulpicia couldn't attack. "Jane has jewels."
He took them from her hands, a matching set to her mother's, and concentrated on fastening his daughter's necklace to avoid his mate's frosty glare. When he looked up, Sulpicia was still glaring at him.
"What can I tell you, my queen?" he shrugged, laughing to himself. "It's a Christmas miracle."
Hearing the crashing metal behind her, Sulpicia took Felix's sword from him to check it over. "I hope these blades aren't silver?"
"Steel," Aro confirmed, taking it from Sully and giving it back to his son with a wink. "They can't hurt themselves, not unless they really, really try."
"And the arrows?" Sulpicia asked with a raised eyebrow. She still wasn't happy, though hearing how pleased her children were was certainly helping.
Aro smiled. "They aren't silver, either."
Sulpicia sighed, relenting, and was about to say as much before Aro caught another stray arrow as it whistled between them.
"ALEC!" Aro roared. That one had been damn close to their faces. "Not inside, son," he said, replacing the arrow in Alec's quill. "Your mother's ready to kill me already," he whispered. "I'll take you hunting tomorrow."
Take me hunting?! Alec repeated to himself. That was even stranger than Aro buying them gifts! "Really?" Alec asked. "You will take me yourself?" he cocked his head to one side looking at his father. "Just me and you?"
"You make it sound like I don't do anything with you, Alec!" Aro looked to his mate for support only to receive a knowing smirk in return.
"Well," Alec thought about it for a moment. "You don't, much."
Sulpicia's entire resolve crumbled as she burst into tinkling laughter. Well done, son, she thought.
"Tomorrow morning," Aro said, squaring his shoulders. "Me and you, a couple of horses, and hunting."
Alec threw his arms around his father's waist. "I love you, Dad."
Aro's first offer of hunting had only been half hearted. His second offer had been to prove a point to his mate. Feeling the appreciation coming from his youngest and through his gift hearing Alec's excitement over spending some time with his dad, Aro said, "We're going hunting," and that time it was just for Alec with no other motive at all. "Merry Christmas, son."
It took some time to pry the new gifts from their children and get them into bed. As Aro and Sulpicia made their way down to their bedroom they were sure they heard the clang of metal again but chose to ignore it.
"So …" Aro said to Sulpicia, making sure to close the door, and this time, remembering to fix the lock. "Do you have anything that needs unwrapping?"
AN: I'm taking a little break to catch my own tail, but the next set will be ready for January. Happy holidays everyone and thank you for all your support reading and reviewing this this year and a huge THANK YOU to my lovely, long suffering Beta reader DOCCOOPPER :)