ARRIVALS
Felix poked his head through Demetri's bedroom door. "Mom said its time to go."
No response. Demetri stayed sat on his bed, staring aimlessly out the window.
"Dem," Felix called again, flashing to his brother's side.
His sudden appearance startled Demetri and Felix received a thump in the chest for his efforts. Luckily for Demetri, his limp-wristed punch had no effect on Felix, who might have punched Demetri back regardless, but he could see his brother looked lost.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I'm absolutely fine and fucking dandy," Demetri muttered, leaving his bed and going to the long dresser mirror to study the 'V' on the chest of tunic. The emblem that made him Volturi and Aro's ... not Egyptian and Amun's.
Felix hadn't teased him about his 'faulty venom' or Amun for years, but Demetri had hardly thought about anything else, even after his brother's taunting had ended. With the Egyptian coven's arrival imminent, Demetri felt consumed with doubts over seeing the coven leader again.
In the ten years since Demetri had last seen Amun, the boy had thought of little else other than their very brief conversations at the last ball and in that time Demetri had overanalysed every word that had been spoken between them, typically adding a whole heap of teenage angst to what really occurred. He'd practised prefect responses to non-asked questions, come up with a hundred witty replies if Amun repeated any of the things he had said at the last ball (which Amun had never said in the first place - it was entirely a work of Demetri's overactive imagination!) and finally, he was ready to punch the goon in his stupid Egyptian face if he got too close.
Yes, Demetri had wound himself up so tightly that he was now ready to explode.
Felix watched his little brother through his refection in the mirror. He caught Demetri scowling and muttering and assumed his brother's ire was directed at him. "Is there a particular reason you are being an absolute cock, or is this just for shits and giggles?"
"I'm just stressed," Demetri huffed. He couldn't risk telling Felix the truth and setting him off on his relentless tormenting again.
"Stressed?" Felix repeated as though it were a foreign word. He rarely felt stressed ... until he was caught. He was pretty sure Demetri hadn't done anything to be stressed over. "Because you are with Caius today?!" he guessed.
"No, not Caius ... " Demetri drifted off without revealing the real reason. "Though that's hardly going to be fun!" he added, thinking of spending the weekend attached to the coven leader.
"Aww, do you think Amun is going to take you away?"
He just had to do it, didn't he? Being the big brother, Felix frequently stuck up for his younger siblings, he protected them, he would do almost anything for them, but, as their brother, he knew just what to say to wind them up when the opportunity presented itself.
"Fuck off," Demetri growled, barging his shoulder into Felix as he stalked passed him. It hurt Demetri more than Felix, but he wouldn't give his brother the satisfaction of seeing him rub out the sore spot.
"For fuck's sake, Dem!" Felix spat, shoving him away. "I was only joking."
"How about if I go and tell Mom and Dad?" Demetri asked spitefully.
Oh shit, no! "Demetri ... "
Demetri cut him off before he could say anything else. "I told you to fuck off!"
"Caius is going to have fun with you, isn't he?" Felix shook his head and tutted into the air.
"Boys!" Sulpicia called up the stairs. "Could you pull yourselves out of the mirror and get down here? We were expected in the throne room ten minutes ago!"
…
"The lands of Africa are a locked room, a room filled with unbridled treasures," Aro whispered to Caius as they made their way through to the throne room.
The African coven had arrived a little earlier than expected and the whole coven was a buzz of excitement to meet the two tribesmen that led the exotic lands.
"And, you think Tao will hand over the key?" Caius could see Aro was already gearing up for negotiations.
"He will pay us handsomely to be part of this alliance and he has the means to do so," Aro said, eyes glinting. Tao would be a challenge and it was a challenge he had been looking forward to for ten years.
"I am pleased to welcome you both," Aro crowed as he walked into the throne room.
He soon shut up and took a step back seeing a pair of huge lions in his great hall, one of which Marcus was petting, seemingly utterly enamoured with the creatures.
"What the fuck are they?" Caius whispered hurriedly to his co-master, neither taking a step forward.
Aro got himself together quickly and plastered on his game face. "They are lions, Caius," he said patronisingly, earning himself a shove from Caius as he walked slowly to his throne.
"Never seen a lion before, chief?" Xola asked, giving his beast a tug by its chain to have it lie down.
Caius smiled nervously. "I've seen plenty of lions," he scoffed. "What is one doing in our throne room?"
"Two," Xola said simply.
Tao shot his brother a withering glare as he took a step forward to take over, being the more diplomatic of the two. "As per our agreement, I return your guards."
Aro smiled kindly to the pair of women at the back of the throne room. Even after ten years away in god-only-knows-what circumstances, they slipped back into Volturi expectations seamlessly.
"Jen, Netty, you have been greatly missed." Flashing to their sides, giving the lions a wide berth, Aro spoke to them loud and clear so as not to cause any distrust with his new clientele listening in only a few meters away. "Please report to Freyr, she will update you on coven matters. I will speak with you both the moment I am free," he said, genuinely pleased that they both seemed to be well and fighting fit.
Aro squared his shoulders and approached the lions in his throne room. Despite his hesitations, it wouldn't do for the king of vampiric kind to show fear in his own coven. Encouraged by the apparent ease in which Marcus interacted with the lions, Aro reached out to stroke the mane of the one lying down. He was alright until the damn thing yawned and he saw the size of its mouth, but Aro was smooth with the way he withdrew from the creature and retook his throne.
"I'd keep your pets away from my brothers," Aro warned gently.
Caius immediately started laughing.
"They have the taste for animal blood," Aro explained, to cover Caius' response before any offence could be taken by the African leaders.
Xola returned Caius' laugh, though much louder in an attempt to covey his superiority. "These two are vampiric," he told them, smiling sinisterly.
"Really?" Marcus asked. "Our venom works on animals?"
"Mine does," Xola sneered, implying he was 'oh so special' somehow.
"Xola!" Tao hissed at his brother. "We are guests here."
Before Caius could sneer something else in reply, Aro took control to get conversation on task. "If you want in on the treaty, we would be only too glad to have you. You will have to buy in, though. This is a costly operation," he said, stretching his arms wide.
"We know that, chief," Tao said with a nod. They had brought enough riches to fund their entry, he believed.
"I expect to be personally recompensed for the loss of my guards," Magnus chipped in. He was the only man on the masters' panel that could match Tao and Xola for size and strength. Scratch that, he outstripped them massively.
"Your guards are still standing are they not?" Xola spat. He was there under duress and he wasn't willing to be squeezed any more than necessary to join. "They were treated well in Africa."
"I am sure they were, Xola," Magnus replied. "But you still held them against my will for ten years."
"I thought this was your coven?!" Xola shot to Aro, attempting to ignore Magnus.
Magnus continued, regardless, and Aro let him get on with it - he wanted to see what the African leaders would do in response. "Guards are mine," the juggernaut growled.
Before Xola could really erupt, Freyr stepped in. "Ahem!" she coughed loudly. "Ours!"
Magnus may not have stood down to Xola, or Aro for that matter had he tried to intervene, but Freyr was a different story. "Of course, my dear."
"We can compensate you, chief," Tao said with a smirk.
"Wonderful." Aro clapped his hands together, ending any further complaints from Xola before they could form in his mouth. "In that case, why don't we go and deal with the paperwork and make this official?"
"Xola, perhaps you would see fit to accompanying me outside?" Marcus suggested, taking the chain from Tao to free him up for Aro. "I would very much like to hear more about your beasts."
Aro took Tao through the halls to the masters' office where the terms of the alliance were ready and waiting for them.
"You were a little presumptuous assuming that we would join so easily, chief," Tao said with a smirk upon seeing the documents for signing.
Aro returned the smirk and took a seat. "Let's not be coy. You wouldn't have come had you not wished to join, Tao."
Tao couldn't object to that. He found nothing to object to in the terms of the agreement, either. He did have some concerns thought. "It's no secret that my brother doesn't like you, Aro."
Aro laughed. "There's no accounting for taste."
He was used to people disliking him just for being king of their world, let alone the numerous individuals who got over that hurdle but disliked him for being, well, him!
"Will it be a problem?" Tao asked.
"Not for me, Tao," Aro said honestly. He knew he would win Xola round eventually, it would just take a little time to build up the trust. "I assume you can contain your brother when necessary?"
"I can't contain his mouth," Tao answered a little hesitantly, "but I can contain his actions."
"I can relate, my friend," Aro said, laughing again while thinking to the numerous coven members he had little control over - his brothers, Caius, Magnus, the odd guard like Lev, any of the women in his life, his children … yes, he could relate. "I think we will all rub along well enough. I don't expect total obedience from my friends, Tao, and that is what this agreement is," he said, pushing the paper towards the African leader. Handing him a quill and gesturing to the ink pot, he added, "this alliance is about formalising friendships for our mutual benefit."
Tao took the pen, but Aro stopped him from signing. It was all about control, quiet control, and Aro knew just how to do it. besides, they needed to talk a little first. "Amun wrote to me after he visited with you, he said you would be pleased to be a part of this treaty. I would like to know why?"
"Do you not want me in the alliance?" Tao asked, leaning back in his chair. He knew how Aro worked and he wasn't letting him inside his head.
"You wouldn't have received an invitation if I did not want you to be part of it, Tao," Aro said simply. "But I cannot offer you much. Your lands are impenetrable to werewolves and vampires alike. You run a tight ship, my friend. Why would you want to be part of the treaty?"
"Our lands are well controlled, for now," Tao admitted. "I am not so arrogant to believe we could subdue a large force. Even the Romanians, if they ever took an interest in Africa … I doubt I could defend my people against them."
Aro listened, encouraging Tao to divulge a little more through his relaxed manner.
"You are creating a vampiric army through this treaty - everyone knows that." Tao smiled coyly to the coven king. "We have a saying where I come from; an army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. You are a lion, chief, and vampires flock to your banner because of it."
"So you would rather be with us, than against us," Aro surmised, pleased with the analogy Tao had used to praise him.
He removed his hand covering the treaty document and pushed it back to Tao. "Are you pleased with the terms of the treaty?" Aro could see the hesitation in Tao's eyes. "Please, be honest now if there is an issue."
Tao clicked his tongue and shook his head as he read through the terms. "You show a fundamental lack of understanding of how the human world works where we come from, Aro."
"Our knowledge of your corner of the world is sadly lacking, I will admit," Aro said, though he wasn't entirely sure with what Tao could have issue.
"The humans where we live know we are not human. They believe us to be gods." Tao pointed out the very clear law at the top of the list - 'will not give knowledge of our kind to humans'. "I know this goes against your laws … but your laws do not travel well, chief."
Aro sat back in his chair, mimicking Tao, as he mulled over what he had been told. "I can appreciate that," he answered. "I have never had an issue with your coven, Tao. I know little about your ways other than neither foreign vampire nor werewolf can survive on your continent."
If he allowed a dispensation to Tao for revealing their nature to humans, how would he align them to Volturi rule? How would the other covens feel about such a blatant difference in their treatment?
"How many covens act under you, Tao?" he asked, thinking on his feet, as usual.
"Twenty-two mated pairs, chief." Tao even offered his hand to prove the truth of his words should Aro feel the need for confirmation.
Aro knew better than to accept. Such an act at that time would show distrust and he couldn't risk that under any circumstances. "And they stay in Africa ... and they mix with humans?" he asked, waving away Tao's hand.
When Tao merely nodded, Aro winced dramatically and took to his feet, pacing out his thoughts. "In accordance with our laws, you should all be killed. You realise that, yes?"
"I do," Tao agreed. He had never agreed to Volturi law, but he was wise enough to know that didn't count for much in the king's court.
"You can keep your ways," Aro eventually agreed. "Though you are to allow no more than the current vampiric population to take residence in your lands."
Tao bobbed his head. "I have no desire to expand."
"And, you keep them in your land - they are not allowed to leave the continent unless on my orders."
"Under your banner?" Tao asked.
He knew coming wars would require his vampires to leave their lands, he had already prepared them all for such a call and they had all agreed. Tao and Xola were fair leaders, they worked with the vampires in their land, not against them, very much like Aro and his coven, really ... just spread out across an entire continent!
"I can do that."
"When you leave, to come here, for example, you live by my laws." Aro watched Tao carefully as he agreed to the terms. "You will keep your true nature from humans and you will feed discriminatingly."
Tao was pleased. He had expected much more objection from Aro, of all people. "I will agree to that, chief."
"This may have to change, as time goes on, Tao," Aro said, returning to his seat. "The human world's a dangerous one and as they develop, so do the risks to our kind. I cannot allow knowledge of your way of life to infect all I have built, my friend."
"Human life is very different where I come from, chief," Tao explained. "Humans do not fear us, they have no reason to. They believe us to be their gods, their chiefs, their leaders. We protect them, and they love us for it."
Love you? Really? Aro thought before adding something to upset the apple cart. "How do your humans support you when so many of their number are being captured and sold as slaves?"
Tao sighed. "You heard about that?" he said, sounding shamed.
"I will admit my interaction with humans lie largely within the confines of our food source, or for turning new recruits. But Marcus, and my brother actually, have a keener interest in human affairs and he has told me of the troubles in your land."
"Beyond those humans that serve me, I have no interest in them, either," Tao stated. He wasn't risking his place on the alliance for any damn human! "Humans really are the scum of the earth and the things they think of to do to one another, though abhorrent, are no 0concern of mine. My humans, I keep safe. Other humans, they are at the mercy of other humans."
"We operate similarly, protecting the town folk of Volterra. For their patronage, of course," Aro said. He was happy to find some common ground with the African coven. Any similarities he could find would make working with them easier. "The less I have to do with humans, the better. I only asked because I want to make clear that I will not involve my forces in mediating human issues."
"Neither will I, chief," Tao said forcefully - whether for the humans of Africa, or the humans from the countries of the rest of the alliance, Tao wasn't sending his vampires in to govern their practises. "When things change in Africa, we will go underground."
Wonderful, Aro thought. That was what he had been waiting to hear. "And the covens you govern … they will fall in line easily when the time comes?"
"I believe so, chief. If not, I will take them out." Tao sat to his full height in his chair. "Xola and I are unmatched for strength and prowess."
Aro thought to his coven, particularly his father and Magnus. If you are unmatched, we could take you out in one sitting, he thought happily.
"The beasts Xola controls can wipe out a village on his command," Tao continued. "They have taken out hostile vampires, too."
"They are safe to have in my coven?" Aro asked, trying to hide the extent of his concerns. "I have children out there."
Tao had to laugh at that idea. "I think vampiric children are a bigger risk than vampiric lions, chief!"
Aro laughed even louder. "Having spent the best part of a thousand years raising vampiric children, I would have to agree."
"I must say, even after Amun told me of your last meeting, I expected more abrasion than this. You appear quite tame."
Aro smiled quietly to himself. Tao was testing the water with him, not so much as an adversary, but to see how 'friendly' this new friendship could be.
"You know better than that, Tao," he answered, still smiling, but sternly enough to keep the man in check.
After staring the him down for a moment or two, just long enough for Tao to feel a little uncomfortable, Aro nodded, satisfied. He flicked the tap on the table barrel of bloodwine, filling two cups.
"You don't feed from humans, do you?" Aro asked, taking note of Tao's eyes.
"We have a lot of big game in Africa," Tao explained. He was aware that outside of his lands, it was looked down upon to feed on animals and he didn't want to lose face in front of the king. "Although," he said looking at Aro, "by the look of your eyes, I would say we keep the same diet."
Aro's eyes weren't as golden as they could be, but they certainly weren't as red as they could be, either.
"My coven is free to feed from humans if they wish, but the Creator's special brew is the preferred source," he explained, passing Tao a cup to toast their alliance. "It's made with animal blood, for convenience. Feel free to indulge."
"Are we in agreement?" Tao asked before he finally put pen to paper.
"We are," Aro said, chinking his cup against Tao's. "But don't test me. I have never had reason to intervene in your lands, but I could wipe out every vampire in Africa at will."
"I will ensure you have no reason to do so, chief," Tao responded, adding his name below his friend Amun's on the alliance declaration.
The pair of them stood together as Aro re-rolled the scroll.
"Tao," Aro called out quietly, grabbing the man's attention. "The next time I send envoys and request your audience, I expect you to come with haste."
His tone was deathly calm and voiced barely above a whisper. There was something sinister there that Tao couldn't quite put his finger on. Whatever hidden threat Aro had conveyed with his warning, it had Tao sitting up and called to heel.
"I understand, chief."
When Aro returned to the throne room with Tao at his side, the African leader was suddenly swarmed with Volturi guards hoping to speak with the man, or to at least get a look at him.
Jen and Netty had indeed been treated well with the pair who ruled Africa, so well in fact that they had been tempted not to return to their former life. Their briefly told tales of days basking in sunlight being served by willing humans had enchanted the Volturi guards who now wished to learn more of their new friends.
Tao may have maintained that attention had it not been stolen by the French coven's arrival. Henri swaggered into the great hall. Behind him, his simpering mate Yvette followed, flanked by four grotesquely deformed vampires.
Aro joined his father and Magnus, quickly followed by Caius, to greet Henri ... or rather, to ask what the fuck he was playing at!
Henri bowed politely to Basileus, missed Magnus, bowed to Aro and threw an arm around Caius, as though they were old friends meeting for a pleasant reunion of some kind.
That pissed Magnus off even more than being snubbed by the cunt. Get your greasy paws off him, his thoughts screamed at the French leader.
Basileus narrowed his eyes to the juggernaut and shook his head surreptitiously. "Not the time, my friend," he whispered from the side of his mouth.
Aro barely registered his father and co-master as he took to inspecting the poor wretches who had trailed in with Henri. "What the hell are they?" he asked in wonder. Or should that be disgust?
"They are my new guards," Henri replied, delighting in himself as usual.
"They have no jaws, Henry!" Aro said, scowling at the creatures whose very presence sullied his throne room.
"I snapped them off," Henri explained, clearly proud of himself. "I give them back to feed occasionally."
Aro didn't understand. There were few things in life he didn't 'get', but Henri, repeatedly, was one of them. "Why would you do that to them?"
"So they are loyal to me, of course," Henri laughed aloud, looking around the gathering and expecting some support. He was most put out when none was forthcoming.
The children, Felix, Demetri, and Jane, who waited patiently at the sides of their assigned masters, all looked ready to throw up their last feed.
"You are as deluded as you are malevolent," Magnus spat, utterly disgusted. As a man who managed a large force of vampires, mostly singlehandedly, he knew there were better ways of ensuring loyalty. But, knowing Henri as he did, Magnus knew there was no way to teach such an evil cunt said ways.
Henri wouldn't even dignify Magnus with a response. Instead he turned to Caius for backup. "You understand, don't you Caius?"
"No, Henri," Caius said a little hesitantly. "That's a new one, even for me."
Basileus had wasted no time in searching the memories of the hideous beasts and he was appalled. "You have taken their cocks, too?!" he shot out, cursing his own volume upon seeing Jane look up to him as he spoke.
Henri shrugged. "Newborns are much easier to manage without sex getting in the way."
"Really?" Caius asked inquisitively.
Magnus nearly knocked him off his feet with the shove he gave him for showing such interest.
"It's an interesting idea," Caius said defensively. "Scientifically speaking."
Magnus oozed disappointment as he looked the younger coven leader up and down. "Thank the gods that the guards are my concern and not yours."
Basileus didn't look any more pleased than Magnus. "It's the guards that should be thanking the gods," he said, giving Caius a similarly filthy look.
"It works," Henri said, shrugging again.
"What does he do to the women?" Caius asked. He was bloody brave to even wonder that, let alone voice it.
Basileus visibly shook as he took in the memories of the two women in Henri's new guard. "You don't want to know."
"I did it whilst they were transforming so they didn't suffer," Henri explained in defence, as if that would make it okay. "Their appendages will be returned once I can be assured of their temperaments."
"They have healed, Henri," Basileus said gesturing to the jawless faces of the vampires before them. "You will have to open up those wounds to reattach, well, their appendages."
"Evil cunt," Demetri muttered, childishly voicing the thoughts of many of the adults around him.
Aro quickly landed a slap to the back of his boy's head for his outburst. Regardless of agreeing with Demetri's sentiment, it was still an unfortunate thing for a child to say before a guest.
The damage was done, however, as Henri had heard the insult. "What did you say to me, boy?!"
Caius tried to pull the feisty leader back. "Alright, Henri, settle down," he said, to no avail.
"He's offended me!" Henri roared, squaring up to the young, slight boy in the middle of men.
"So what?" Aro snapped, pushing Henri back and away from his boy. "Nothing happens when you are offended, it won't hurt you."
"I expect you to do something about it!" Henri bustled. Pushing past Aro to face off with the child, he growled at Demetri. "Actually, let me do it," he sneered, snatching the boy from the floor by his arm.
Every vampire in attendance stopped dead and growled at the French leader. They may have done more had Aro not reacted so quickly.
Aro's hand coiled around Henri's throat.
"Unhand my son or I will remove one of your appendages." Aro wasn't sneering, he appeared, for all intents and purposes, completely calm. He wasn't, of course, but he had a damn good game face for these situations. It took Basileus some effort to remove his son's hand, having to release one finger at a time as Henri choked and Aro smiled.
Magnus tucked Demetri into his side once he was free and growled at Henri. "I agree with Demetri, you are an evil cunt."
"Not helpful, Magnus!" Basileus shot over his shoulder, still trying to talk Aro off the ledge.
"Oh, do you?!" Henri sneered.
With Aro and Basileus taken up in their silent argument, Henri had a clear path to Magnus and he had wanted to knock the upstart down to size since he had heard of Magnus' promotion several decades ago.
"You want to stand against me, Henri?" Magnus asked with barely suppressed laughter infiltrating his voice. "I'm not so easy to push around as a child. Or those poor wretches in your coven."
Henri looked around the throne room. All eyes were on him to see what he would do next, but he didn't have any support. Even his own guards, who had their eyes fixed to the scene, seemed unlikely to support him in smashing the juggernaut. As if such a thing were possible?!
"You want to get your guards under control, Caius," he settled on saying to the coven master nearest to him.
"Magnus, don't!" Basileus boomed, having heard the man was moments from plunging his fist into Henri's face.
Deciding Aro was subdued, Basileus walked Magnus a few paces back from the centre of strife. "It's going to be a long weekend if you all so riled up already," he whispered.
"Killing the cunt would make it a shorter weekend," Magnus replied, purposefully loudly.
Basileus pulled his granddaughter in close and fixed her hand into the juggernaut's. The girl's ever calm nature flowed into Magnus through his gift.
"Jane, perhaps you could supervise your master for me, my dear one?" Basileus said, giving Magnus' shoulder a squeeze. He leaned in close, "Caius is more important that Henri, yes?"
Magnus' eyes cut across to Caius, who had stayed uncomfortably quiet during much of the disagreement but was now talking with Henri, seemingly calming the French leader. Magnus had felt a rage burning inside him since Basileus had told him Caius was preparing to take dungeon blood that weekend. Seeing the pair of idiots together, that rage flooded his veins. Oh, Caius is more important, alright, he thought. And before this weekend is over, I'll show him how important he is.
If Caius could have read Magnus' thoughts, like Basileus was doing, he might have been more nervous. As it was, Caius continued on his path of self-destruction and brazenly asked Basileus for the bottle of dungeon blood in front of Magnus!
Magnus flinched, briefly, before remembering the child's hand he held in his own. With nothing more than sharp look to Caius he stalked away, taking Jane with him to find the Irish coven. He'd never been too interested in Liam, the witless wonder, but at that moment the man's dull nature was just what Magnus needed to calm himself down.
Dora watched from across the room as Basileus handed over the bottle of dungeon blood to her mate. Time seemed to have slowed right down. She saw the look the Creator gave, a look to tell Caius the dirty blood was for controlling Henri, not for Caius to indulge in, but she knew it wouldn't be long before Caius was knocking back the shots.
Athenodora hadn't realised she was staring until Freyr arrived at her side to distract her.
"Isn't it sad when you've been hurt so much that you can finally say you're used to it?" she told the shield maiden, gesturing to Caius bouncing away with his bottle of grog and Henri in hot pursuit. "That's where I am now."
"Not if I've got anything to do with it," Freyr replied. Truthfully, she was more pissed off with Basileus than Caius and she planned on making that displeasure known before the night was out - to them both.
"Freyr, don't …" Dora pulled the woman back but Freyr cut her words short.
"You don't have to be worried about backlash from Caius, Dora." Freyr promised the younger woman her protection should she need it, and that she would have Magnus watch Caius, so he didn't go too far.
"I'm not worried about backlash," Dora said, looking to her mate across the room and thinking how far Caius had come. "He isn't like that anymore. Not often, anyway."
Freyr could tell Dora was speaking the truth. She really wasn't worried about Caius, but not because there would be no backlash from him getting wrecked - Dora would definitely suffer for that if the coven master's high went too far - but because, as she had said, she was so used to it that it barely registered as an issue anymore.
Dora had a bit of a reputation herself for her cold mannerisms and the spiteful way she had behaved towards certain coven members, but Freyr knew the woman behind the mask - the mask Athenodora had only worn in defence of her turbulent home life with Caius.
On the one hand, when the two of them were together, alone, they were mostly a fantastic couple, but Caius worked on a very much 'out of sight, out of mind' basis and he hadn't thought to protect his mate's status over the years like Aro had his, or Marcus did with Didyme whilst she was alive. Dora had suffered twice over - firstly with Caius' violent bouts brought on by the drug he used to complete his duties, and secondly by being completely isolated in coven life.
Freyr and Magnus had long since broken through the public face Caius and Dora still maintained to get to know the real couple, and they liked what they saw. Freyr and Atia had gone further and both worked hard to reintegrate Dora into coven life and it was working, though it would be a while yet before the younger Volturi women would be entirely comfortable in each other's presence. That didn't perturb Freyr. She had told Atia that Dora was firmly under her wing after that sorry business with Lucius and Caius' breakdown, so she wasn't going to leave her now.
Dora shook her head and sighed. "You don't have to trouble yourself for me."
"Well, with that silly comment you have lost your choice in the matter," Freyr said, smiling kindly. "When the ball ends, you will stay with me until we are sure Caius is okay. Let Magnus deal with him."
Aro, too, had followed his brother-in-arms with his eyes as he left with Henri, Demetri trailing behind. Unfortunately for Aro, he didn't end up with a supportive mother hen cooing over him protectively - he ended up with a fierce dragon breathing fire down his neck in warning.
"Aro, if I hear another thought in your head about that damn drug you won't be walking out of this room," Basileus growled, encroaching on his son's personal space.
"You can't police my thoughts," Aro breezed, taking a step back.
"Would you like to bet on that?"
Basileus' smile scared the shit out of Aro and had the coven king changing his thoughts pretty damn quickly. Hmmm, it would appear you can, my lord, he told his father in thought.
"Is there a reason the whelp is following you?" Henri asked, realising Demetri was tailing him and Caius to the back of the throne room.
"Demetri is with me for this event," Caius replied evenly.
He wasn't any happier about being with Henri than anyone else was, and Caius was pretty pissed off about the grief he was getting for managing the French leader, especially when no one else was jumping for the job. He poured a good glug of dungeon blood into his bloodwine. It had been a while since he'd taken the coven drug, six years in fact, and he didn't wish to be seen gagging on the forgotten taste so mixing his drinks was essential.
"Can't be trusted on your own, huh?" Henri said, taunting the boy now his protectors were far away.
Demetri may not have been overly keen on Caius, but as his father's best friend, even Caius wouldn't stand by and see Henri do him any harm - Demetri was sure of that. It's why he felt so confident in telling Henri to 'fuck off'.
"What did he say?" Henri growled, certain he'd misheard.
"Nothing," Caius replied, gasping a little on the taste off the putrefied blood. "Here," he said, adding a glug of dungeon blood to Henri's goblet. "Drink."
Caius waited whilst the dungeon blood did its work on Henri, who for his part turned momentarily glassy eyed whilst he acclimatised to the feeling. Caius, too, felt a little queer, which surprised him on just a single shot - even the large one he had poured himself. It used to take much more than that, he remembered.
In fact, Henri appeared to recover quicker than Caius did, which worried the coven master a little. It wouldn't do for Henri to notice; how would I explain that to him?! Caius panicked. The very last thing his pride could take at that moment was for Henri to have a hint of the breakdown he'd had, or the restrictions he'd placed upon himself in regard to his work or his drug taking. Of course, there was no way at all that Henri would have guessed any of that, not that it helped Caius' self-induced worries in anyway.
Being a man of action, Caius topped them both up with a second glug of the gloopy, tar like substance and knocked it back neat, just to prove he could. Whether he was proving as such to Henri or himself was anyone's guess.
"I have a barrel for you to take home," Caius crowed, averting his eyes so Henri wouldn't see the effect the dungeon blood already had on him.
Henri hissed as the dungeon blood travelled down his gullet. The low burn igniting old senses. He had run out of supplies nearly a year ago and good god he missed the stuff. "Good man," he crowed happily, looking in a better state than Caius.
Demetri had watched the pair of vampires intently as they had gone through their charade. "Can I have some of that?" he asked, Caius.
Caius baulked at the very idea. He didn't really want to be taking it himself and there was no way in hell he was giving Demetri any. "Your grandfather would skin me."
"Is that a no?" Demetri asked cheekily. It only took a single raised eyebrow from Caius for the boy to shut his mouth.
"Make yourself useful and fetch us some drinks," Henri demanded of the boy, thrusting his empty goblet into Demetri's chest.
"I'm not here to serve you," Demetri said, thrusting it back and spilling a little of the remaining contents onto Henri's shirt. "Prick," he added, though only Caius heard him, luckily … or not.
Caius snatched the boy from the spot with his free hand, the other clutching his goblet and the bottle of black blood under his arm, and he stalked to Aro on the throne floor.
"Would you please put that away?" Aro asked and his eyes, seemingly beyond his control, travelled to the bottle of dungeon blood in Caius' grasp.
Caius tucked it into his cape and shoved Demetri in Aro's general direction. "You can have him back."
Aro shook his head and jabbed a thumb to Felix. "I have this one," he said. "If you can't handle Demetri you will have to put him in a cell, Caius."
"No, no, no!" Demetri called out quickly,
"Dungeon it is," Caius agreed.
"Caius, I'm sorry, please!" Demetri tried, promising better behaviour from there on out.
Felix creased up behind Aro, enjoying his brother's early downfall in a way that only a big brother could. He knew, naturally, that neither Aro nor Caius would be locking Demetri up for the weekend, they were just trying to scare him straight. Not that this helped Demetri, who looked truly terrified at the prospect of even a night in the cells.
"Henri's difficult enough to manage without you adding comments to piss him off," Caius complained to the boy. "You're mouthing off already, I'm not putting up with it for the entire ball."
"Neither should you, brother," Aro agreed, though he was far more interested in Caius' slightly slurred speech.
"Dad!" Demetri complained in a long drawn out whine.
"I warned you already," Aro told his boy. "You are damn lucky you were allowed to attend at all and you are ruining it for yourself, son."
Demetri continued to promise the earth along with better behaviour. Aro was used to his son's dramatics but it seemed to have the effect of nails on a chalkboard to Caius.
"Oh, good God, the whining!" he complained.
Aro was growing bored, too. Without warning he took his son by the arm, swung him out to the side, and landed a single sharp swat to his seat. The resounded crack was heard by all with a good many of those taking the chance to laugh at the embarrassed boy.
It may have only been a single smack and it wasn't even delivered with Aro's usual force, but being stood on the raised throne floor in front of the whole coven … yeah, that was pretty humiliating. Particularly so, given Demetri hadn't been entirely expecting it and gave a little shriek in response.
Aro delivered his son back to Caius. "Any more mouth from him, do that."
Caius watched Demetri for a moment. Truthfully he doubted he was steady enough to be able to smack the little sod, but as Demetri seemed much more contrite already perhaps he wouldn't have to do it too often? He agreed to take the boy back with him and they re-joined Henri … and had another shot.
"Do you want one?" Aro shot over his shoulder to Felix, who was giggling at his brother's misfortune.
Felix was sensible enough to take a step back and end his laughter immediately.
Aro had to wonder what was wrong with Demetri. He had been confident that his son would behave, particularly with Caius at his side. Demetri wasn't like Felix, he could generally be trusted to toe the line when it really mattered. He was insanely easily led, which is what brought the boy most of his strife - following Felix's bad example - but he seemed to be pissed off with the world, judging by the sullen scowl plastered across his face.
He didn't have too long to think on his son's change in temperament, nor Caius' dungeon blood intake, which he could hardly fail to notice with his co-master being so brazen with the bottle across the hall. Amun arrived with Kebi on his arm, both dressed in all their finery. It would appear that Amun felt far more comfortable for his second visit, now truly believing he was dining with friends, as could be garnered by the glittering gem encrusted gold jewelry that sparked about his person. Aro was glad to see it. He had identified the Egyptian coven as both his closest and most significant ally in the plans he had for the alliance.
"Amun!" Aro called, making sure to join the coven leader before either Caius or Magnus could.
They were both proving to be a little too testy to have around the most important visitors. Marcus would have been fine, of course, but no one had seen him since he'd taken Xola and his lions into the grounds. Marcus preferred easy company and away from the stress of having to be deferential to Aro, Xola was proving an amicable new friend. Marcus quite liked the lions, too, and so did Alec. The boy decided he had probably done better that his siblings in the 'accompanying a master' deal his father had come up with when he got to ride around the grounds on a vampiric lion for the morning.
"It is good to see you again, my friend," Amun said, shaking Aro's hand.
Aro turned to Kebi next. "My mate has been looking forward to your arrival, my dear."
Kebi bowed politely and clicked her fingers at Tia to follow. Aro noticed the difference in the woman immediately, compared to her last visit to the coven. Kebi seemed to carry an air of confidence that she lacked last time. Seeing Tia scuttle along behind her leader was new, too. Last time she had been stuck to Benjamin's side throughout the event, but the pair parted without concern.
"Aha," Aro said, realising what was going on. "It appears you have had the same ideas about your young ones as I, Amun."
"Tia is to stay with Kebi, Benjamin with me," Amun confirmed. His eyes cut across to Benjamin who took a step forward to face his king.
"I apologise for my foolish behaviour at the first ball, my lord," he said.
If he could blush, Benjamin would certainly have worn a scarlet colour to his cheeks, particularly as he'd had to make his apology in front of Felix, too. But he knew better than to try and resist - Amun had made it abundantly clear than he would be making apologies all around for his loutish behaviour the last time the covens met.
Aro, naturally, accepted the boy's apology graciously.
"I don't want a repeat of their insolence at the last ball," Amun said pointedly. He addressed Aro, but it was obvious his words were for his young ward, really. Benjamin took a half step back to remove himself from Aro and Amun's direct presence.
"Neither do I," Aro said, glaring at Felix.
Felix wasn't perturbed. He didn't believe they had been so bad as to warrant all of the fuss the grownups were making. "I wouldn't mind risking it," he said cheekily.
Aro gave the boy a lazy swipe. "That's because you have no sense."
For better or worse, Felix's comment helped Benjamin relax a little.
Amun's attention was thoroughly taken up by the disastrous vampires across the room. "What in damnation are they?!" he asked, aghast at such creatures in the royal house.
Aro didn't even need to look around to see who Amun would be referring to. "Henri's new members."
"Good God, Aro," Amun hissed in disgust. "That is obscene."
Amun may have been a hard task master with his coven, but he wasn't cruel. Aloof sometimes, definitely, but not cruel. Demetri with his childlike view of his old coven may have argued differently, but that wasn't because Amun had ever mistreated the boy, more that he treated Demetri exactly the same way he treated all his coven members. The issue where Demetri was concerned was that he was a young teen in a coven full of adults, and would have benefited from a much kinder hand than Amun had offered him.
Watching the poor creatures standing silently to the side of the hall, avoided by all for the horror they invoked, Amun visibly recoiled. "The sooner he is out of this alliance the better."
Aro certainly agreed. It was a shame they needed a coven in France at all, but the werewolf presence in the country demanded a watchful eye and Henri held the only coven of note who could provide such a thing.
"I have envoys in France as we speak looking for a new coven," he whispered to the Egyptian leader in confidence. "It seemed prudent to make sure Henri was out of the country."
"So this ball needs to last as long as possible?" Amun asked, just as quietly.
"That would prove beneficial to us all, my friend," Aro replied tapping his nose for confidentiality. "Though," Aro added, looking across the hall to Magnus who glared to Henri and Caius nearby, "Henri is pissing everyone off already. I might just let Magnus have the bastard."
Amun chuckled thinking of the state Magnus would leave the repugnant French leader in if he were to be let loose on the man. Amun had only been in the throne room ten minutes and he could already see that the Juggernaut was struggling to hold himself back.
"You have no new members yourself?" Aro asked. He had expected Amun to make good use of the new coven member limit.
"I do," Amun smiled, offering Aro his hand. "See for yourself."
Aro delved into the Egyptian leader's memories and saw that Amun had indeed taken on new members. He'd turned four himself and taken in another two who came to his door hoping to join the prestigious coven.
"I am glad you took my advice on their ages, Amun," Aro said, pleased by what he had seen.
He didn't mention their treatment - Amun was still a little more forceful than Aro would have been, but then it had been so long since Aro had to involve himself in the day-to-day life of his guards that he felt he had almost lost the right to express concerns over such things. That said, Amun was being far less forceful than he used to be. You did learn something on your last visit here, at least, Aro thought to himself.
"They are all adults," Amun replied confidently. "Twenty or there abouts. None of them sleep so they are fully mature."
"Why did you not bring them?" Aro asked. Even though he had double-checked there were only six new members, he assumed there would be a good reason for their absence.
"Kebi's request," Amun explained.
Aro nearly choked on his bloodwine! "And you listened?!"
Amun smirked in return and sent Benjamin to the bar to fetch them some drinks. Aro sent Felix, too, in case it was privacy the Egyptian leader needed to explain his change in demeanour.
"Your mate has given mine some grandiose ideas about marriage," Amun explained. "I am trying to be sensitive."
Aro wanted more than that and waited expectantly for Amun to explain a little more fully. He soon got the hint when Aro spread his arms with a questioning expression.
"We are trying to formalise a family-like status above the guards we have taken on," Amun whispered quickly before the boys could return with fresh goblets.
Aro nodded to himself and smiled. "I am impressed, my friend," he said, taking his cup from Felix. "Sensitivity has never been your strong suit," he added with a coy smile.
"I have some help." Amun took from his pocket a small velvet pouch. Unfastening the tie, he held the contents out to Aro.
Aro peered inside. "Hashish?" he checked, looking at the green herb. "I have seen it in Marcus' memories from his time with you."
"Would you like some?" Amun offered, taking a pinch for himself. "I brought enough for all." He explained the sacks full of the calming drug left in his appointed guest chambers.
"You are going to be popular, Amun." Aro mimicked the leader, taking a generous pinch for himself. "I hope you have brought your tribute along with those sacks?"
"Your mother took it from me at the gates," Amun said, smirking to the vampire King who would have to ask mommy for his money.
"Of course she did." Bloody women and my bloody money, Aro grumbled.
"Chew it, right?" Aro asked, popping his pinch of hash into his mouth. "And do we swallow?"
"That's what she said!" Felix guffawed, nudging Benjamin to join in.
The Egyptian boy smiled, and couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips, though he watched Amun carefully. Amun might have reacted to the uncouth behaviour but when Aro only tutted at Felix he stopped himself from admonishing his own ward. He really was trying to be less coven leader and more guardian with Benjamin and Tia.
"Swallowing it won't do you any harm," Amun explained to Aro.
"And that was my reply!" Felix boomed, hysterically laughing at his own joke. Even Aro and Amun laughed that time, Benjamin soon followed, relaxing his stance a little.
Aro ground the herb between his teeth, releasing the essence of the drug into his system. It was mild, very mild, but he felt a slight haze pass over him. "Oh, I like that!"
"It takes quite a bit to reach the full effects," Amun said, happy to please his king, and offered Aro a little more.
Aro waved the bag away, he needed to stay on the ball, he knew that. "We have a whole weekend, my friend."
"That we do." Amun put the pouch away. "Maybe I should offer Magnus some?"
Aro quickly looked over just as the Juggernaut stormed from the hall, purposely walking through Caius and Henri as he went, and headed outside for some fresh air. Aro shook his head. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on between Caius and Magnus, but whatever it was, Aro knew it would end badly for Caius if the two of them came to a head. We'll be mopping Caius off the floor, he thought.
Felix sidled up to his father. "Can I have some?" he asked, sickly sweetly.
Aro burst out laughing in his boy's face. "Not on your life, son."
Before Felix could respond, Basileus broke into the group with a firm hand on his son's arm. "Welcome, Amun," he said to the Egyptian leader, immediately turning his focus to Aro. "A word with you," he said sternly.
"Marcus is out in the grounds with Xola and his lions," Aro breezed to Amun. He could tell his father was pissed with him and he wanted to deflect attention before Amun guessed it, too.
Once Amun and Benjamin were clear, Basileus sent Felix to the bar to fetch him a drink. The boy chuntered on his way about being treated like a fucking waiter, but he went.
"It's only hash, Dad," Aro hissed, removing his father's vice like grip on his forearm. "It's no worse than drinking, surely?"
"You tell me," Basileus said, getting a good look into his son's eyes to see what effect the herb had had on him. "This is still a potentially dangerous situation to be in and I would rather you, of all people, had your wits about you."
Aro huffed in a very Felix like fashion. "I will restrict myself to sociable amounts," he offered, hoping that would be enough.
He planned to partake in the drug once the event got into the swing of things and he didn't want Basileus breathing down his neck whilst he was doing it. Unfortunately for Aro, Basileus had already read as much in his mind.
"I will be watching," Basileus said sternly, taking the wind out of Aro's sails. "And for the sake of us all, keep that boy away from it," he added, glancing over at his grandson.
Felix had only been sent to the bar for a drink, but of course he was making the most of his time out of his father's control and chatting with the guards.
"I don't suppose you would like to take Felix off my hands for a while?" Aro asked. It was going to be difficult for him to have any meaningful conversations with the coven leaders with the boy in tow, but he'd found no one willing to take on 'Felix watch', even when he offered his covenmates good money!
"You suppose right," Basileus said. He didn't want to get stuck minding 'Captain Calamity, either.
"How about you, El?" Aro called, bringing his big brother in close. "Will you keep Felix with you?"
"Will I fuck!" Eleazar blurted out. He wasn't usually so coarse, but the idea of minding his nephew at a multi-coven event with drink, drugs, and women in the mix - not a chance in hell would he agree to that!
Aro looked back to his father. Basileus, thankfully, did recognise that Aro had work to do and hearing his grandson already winding up Afton across the room, decided to help his son a little. "I'll put some fear into him to bring down his exuberance," he offered with a wink.
Before Basileus could fulfill his offer, the deafening sound of screeching girls pierced his eardrums.
Aro winced at the row. "I see Sasha and her brats are here."
"How you can denote anyone else's children to be brats, I will never know," Eleazar quipped.
"My kids aren't brats …" Aro started in defence of his brood but soon fell flat. "Maybe a little," he conceded.
"Their voices are like drills through my brain," Eleazar complained. "What does my mate see in them?"
That confused Aro. Neither Eleazar or Carmen had expressed any joy in having the Denali clan join their quarters at the last ball - quite the opposite in fact - they had both espoused their utter contempt for the constant squabbling and squawking.
"I hadn't realised Carmen was so taken with the Denali girls," Aro said. Though as he watched his sister-in-law make a bee-line for the girls, he had to wonder if he had been way off base with such assumptions.
"She found them infuriating when they were here last time, but they are all she's talked about since our first Easter." Eleazar shook his head to his father, briskly. "You can lower that eyebrow, Dad, I know what you are thinking."
"What is he thinking?" Aro asked, looking between the two of them.
"That Carmen wants some kids of her own," Basileus explained.
"Do you think she does?" Aro asked his brother. That was news on him! Sulpicia hasn't said anything, he thought. The last thing Aro wanted was more kids in the coven! The four they had were more than enough in his opinion.
"I know she does!" Eleazar snapped, thinking back to the very many conversations he and his mate already had on the matter.
Eleazar had promised Carmen he would talk to Aro and the other masters about taking in the next bunch of kids that came through the coven doors. Eleazar, naturally, had only made such a promise because he knew how rare it was to have unaccompanied children in the coven, but Carmen saw the lack of progression as Eleazar purposely making sure she wouldn't get her hands on any young vampires. It had caused many a row between the couple.
"And you don't, I take it?" Aro asked. Please say no!
"It's too much like hard work for El," Basileus said dismissively.
That was another argument Eleazar was finding himself embroiled in on a regular basis - his father wanting his eldest son to take on some sort, ANY sort of active duty within the coven.
"I appreciate my relatively easy life," Eleazar replied, "I see no reason to create work for myself." It was the same line he had been saying to his father, and thinking to Carmen, for the last couple of years.
"The reason is," Basileus said sharply, "your mate wants them!"
"She can live with wanting, Dad," Eleazar snapped. And so can you, he thought to his father. If you're getting clucky for more grandkids, you can focus your efforts on Carlisle, not me!
Basileus was so taken aback at the suggestion of his youngest son in charge of a young vampire that he didn't even rebuke Eleazar for his snarky thoughts as he might have done.
Eleazar barely registered his good fortune as he clapped his hands to his ears, cursing his enhanced hearing. "Good god, the noise from those three!" he complained, giving the death stare to Sasha's brats.
"Are you suddenly appreciative of the guest chambers I built?" Aro laughed.
"You are the best little brother in the world," Eleazar said dramatically, grateful that the girls wouldn't be in his quarters.
Aro grinned triumphantly to himself. "I'll be sure to let Carlisle know."
Basileus merely sighed at his sons and decided to make the most of Atia being at the gate house seeing in the guests by having a chat with Sasha, his old love interest.