IMPORTANT AN: Hello fair readers. I want to provide you with a Trigger Warning: This chapter discusses the effects of sexual trauma in 2 sections. Please be warned that if you do not want to read that specific section, I have noted which part for you to skip it without loosing too much of important plot/dialogue. I encourage any persons affected by this chapter to seek support that you deserve through anyone applicable to you- friends, family, a counselor, etc. RAINN is a website that hosts a 24/7 hotline via phone and computer if you need additional, confidential support.

Chapter 13

Northern Italy Woods— Early Afternoon

Aro followed Isabella's path for many miles, any notion of protecting himself away from the castle grounds banished from his mind as his heart ached with Isabella's pain. It resembled the ever so sacred bond they shared, rarely discussed but known many who were lucky enough to change a person into a vampire that they loved. The bond was indescribable— though its facets let Aro into Isabella's heart and mind. He often felt what she felt. Her anger at him following her transformation was earth shattering, as he felt each sour note of the feelings betrayal he had wrought by his selfishness. Though it could not be explained in sensible terms, the truth was that she would only reciprocate the effects of this bond if she loved him in return.

Though he was far, he could hear the echoes of her anguished, tearless cries. He would always find her, no matter how far she fled. He swore upon her transformation that he would always protect her… guilt overtook Aro as the gravity of his failure became apparent.

Still, he pressed on as he approached where Isabella.. his Isabella… had retreated.

Northern Italy provided many breathtaking sights, this dense pine forest serving as no exception. Framed by vast mountains with a glittering turquoise lake within its valleys, golden hued pine trees densely populated the rocky terrain. Whether she had willed it or not, Isabella's newborn strength indicated her path through the forest, the strength of her steps crumbling the rocks beneath her feet in several places.

Morbidly, the sky had become overcast and somewhat foggy, obscuring Isabella from view in the treetops above. Aro understood why she had come here. Within the first days of their meeting, she had described the town she had met the Cullens… Forks, Washington— small and unbecoming in status, but an entirely beautiful snapshot of the Pacific Northwest. With a melancholic, strained smile, Aro thought of how this environment— thousands of miles from where she had once called home— might comfort her with its familiar charms.

Aro had slowed his pace to a slow walk, nearing the periphery of her gift's radius. Soon, she would detect him coming, and judging by her emotions he would know if he was welcome. He would never inflict more harm on her by carelessness and oversight again…

He cursed himself, his hands balling into fists as the scene played again in his mind. How could he have allowed Isabella, just days old, to be under such public scrutiny? And for what? To advance the Volturi's power against their enemies? His power, he seethed.

From the beginning of his immortal life, Aro had craved all that an insignificant human life had failed to give him. Power. Unbelievable power that the world had never beheld at his fingertips. Weakness and sentiment were not an option. The transparent thoughts of his maker to use Aro as a pawn in his own craving for heightened praise in the vampire world were all too good reasons to kill him the first moment he could.

Countless figures, immortal and human alike met their ends at his hands. Empires fell. Civilizations burned. All to Aro's crazed glee, Caius' satisfaction, and Marcus' then acceptance. Each action by Aro's hand was calculated and cold… even the turning of his then sister, Didyme.

Through their relation, Didyme was thought to have had potential for a powerful gift. When it did not turn out as such, Marcus found love… and Aro was thoroughly miffed. Through the years, however, Aro had come to deeply care for his sister. It was a vulnerability he showed very few that he trusted, though the Volturi had esteemed themselves in status as practically untouchable after few centuries.

Weakness, he had decided, was the bane of any leader's rule following the death of Didyme by the hands of Sulpicia. Her execution was quick. Caluculated. Devoid of any emotion. Aro had reestablished himself as the feared, ruthless, and tactical ruler that many spoke of across the vampire world.

All remained the same with nothing amiss, or remotely threatening to the empire the Volutri had built until the fateful night Isabella had stepped into Volterra. Unlike many storybooks, Aro's dead heart had not instantly melted. It was not love at first sight.

The girl was a threat to everything Aro had built… including his thick, misleadingly jovial exterior. When her death or entrapment was not a feasible option with an impending battle and her vital use to the Volturi's protection, he sought to control her. First, he needed to fully understand her. Understand her motivations, characteristics, weak points. Like many women he had encountered, she would feel a false sense of trust and respect between the two. She might even become complicit, or begin to have feelings for him…. His subtle distancing and control with someone in such an emotionally vulnerable state.

Fortunately enough, it had not worked that way. Isabella was a force to reckon with— full of passionate fervor, much stubborness, and absolutely no fear in putting Aro, a millenias-old vampire in his "place" as the youth might say.

Though he struggled against it, Isabella had bewitched him. He was madly in love with her while every fiber of his being screamed to refute it. Closing his eyes, he sighed. As his younger guard, Aro was completely fucked.

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Treetops— Afternoon

As her strangled sobs continued, she swore to whatever it was above that was unrelenting in this personal hell. Could she not escape for one moment? Even immortality seemed to fail in granting her peace. Vulnerability was weakness— a mistake she would not allow herself to make again, everyone be dammed if they thought differently. Her talon like fingers pulled at her hair painfully as Isabella willed herself to forget. Please… make it go away. I'll do anything.

Could vampires have panic attacks? If so, this was damn near close.

- TW- Skip Section if Needed-

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Unnecessary breaths filled her lungs quickly as her head spun, feeling the weight of invisible eyes and hands all over her body. Whispers filled her ears. Isabella was losing her fucking mind.

Had a little too much to drink there, Bella?

Woah, easy honey.

Don't worry, I've got her.

Shhhh, you're safe with me.

"NO!" An inhuman scream burst from her lips, causing the large pine to shake and groan. Bark cracked and splintered, partially littering the mossy mulch ground far below her position.

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- End of TW Section -

A probe to her mental space stilled her, before she reflexively adopted a defensive stance. She willed her staggered breaths to still as she growled, realization dawning that it was Aro.

Isabella was so tired. So tired of fighting. She allowed his presence, though she might regret it in the near future. Let her perfect facade of strength be dammed. Let's see if he could handle her now, she thought bitterly. She was aware that he was near. A small creak from a neighboring pine confirmed the position her gift had previously indicated.

Though it was a small gesture as many things came crashing down around her, Aro's distance was appreciated. Laying reclined along one sturdy limb just below the fog line of the treetops surrounding them, Isabella let out a human breath— pained and uneven as her eyes remained closed. "If you've come for an explanation of my actions, you will be sorely disappointed." Came her monotone voice.

Aro considered his next response carefully, speaking as softly as he could to her now heightened senses. It was something Jasper had done previously in the day, in hopes to mitigate any sense of threat he might pose. "I've come for no such thing, I assure you." He paused, feeling quite out of place. "Isabella… I came to see if you were… ah… okay."

"Do I seem fucking okay to you?" She snarled, eyeing him critically. Her eyes were deep onyx and feral.

Aro cursed himself for his poor choice of words. He was very obviously bad at this, like most things when it came to her.

Minutes passed in tense silence. Isabella seethed as Aro floundered. "How did you find me?"

Aro considered this response thoughtfully, as it broached a tender subject with Isabella's current state. "As the vampire who made you, I will always be able to find you."

Isabella groaned, covering her face with her hands before her fingers wove into her scalp once more, pulling in agitation. "Great."

"If you wish to be alone, I will go… so long as you promise not to hurt yourself any longer."

A look of confusion crossed Isabella's features. "What?"

Aro sighed deeply, his expression pained as he slowly approached her. His movements were lithe and graceful as he seemed to dance from tree limb to limb until he was next to her. When he reached her, marble fingers ghosted across her jaw, reminding her of that night in the library. Vulnerable. Trusting. His fingers flitted upwards to the cracks spanning across the top of her forehead and scalp. "The world has given you so much pain, la mia preziosa ragazza… please do not turn it on yourself."

Isabella averted her eyes shamefully after catching sight of herself within his crimson orbs. With a ragged breath, she turned back to Aro, moving forward to rest her forehead against his chest as sobs threatened to overcome her once again. "It didn't work. Why didn't it work?"

Aro paused at her contact before gently wrapping his arms around her, one hand brushing her hair back and rubbings circles into the back of her skull soothingly. "What, tesoro?"

"It wasn't supposed to be like this… Immortality was supposed to make it go away. I can't do it, Aro. I can't." Sobs wracked her chest once again as she gripped at his cloaks.

"Shhhhh…. you don't have to do anything. Everything will be alright, I will make sure of it."

An hour passed between them in that embrace. They only broke apart as the wind shifted, bringing rain and thunder. Though being soaked through was not remotely cold for vampires, the feeling of damp clothing was not a preferable one. Observing her depleted mental and emotional energy, Aro took the liberty of carrying Isabella as they headed back to the castle; she did not protest— to her, it was a silent acceptance of Aro's presence in her life… something she pushed away but now craved, needed, and most of all wanted as she began to pick up the broken pieces of her soul.

Wordlessly, Aro deposited Isabella in front of the fireplace in one of the oversized chairs that resided there. It coals still glowed with the embers of the blaze she sat by this morning, contemplating her mystifying new identity… the warmth gave her comfort, as the heat made her feel surprisingly human. Her humanity had been fragile, though in the end she had become sure of herself. She had been in control. Now…

Aro withdrew from her regretfully Isabella did not notice this, but heard his drawing of a bath in the next room. Once the water had stopped, she mentally tracked his soft footsteps back to her side, though he allowed a few feet of space for her comfort. "I will take my leave for your privacy, cara. If you require anything, I will be here in but a moment." A kiss was pressed to her forehead before she heard his retreat.

Isabella stood immediately, catching his hand quickly. "Stay with me." She spoke faintly, eyes downcast.

Aro nodded and allowed her to lead him by the hand to the bathroom. Though he had seen all of her, he remained a gentleman averted his eyes as she undressed and got into the bath. The various scented bubbles maintained her modesty, though Isabella looked at him with an expression of discontentment. Cocking his head to the side, Isabella looked to the spot behind her before meeting his eyes again.

Though he hesitated at first, Aro soon joined her in the steaming water. Had it been a more appropriate time with better circumstances, he would have purred in contentment when Isabella relaxed against his chest. Let it be known that there was nothing was sexual about it… rather it was an intimate moment of companionship, vulnerability, and acceptance for both vampires. His fingers worked expertly through her locks as he smoothed it away from her face and massaged her scalp with care.

Such careful actions helped Isabella begin to relax and emotionally regulate— her breaths slowly returning to normal.

- TW: Skip Section if Needed -

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Fixated on nowhere in particular in the beautiful white marble room, her eyes were distant. "I haven't told anyone why I am the way I am…. this protective gift. I was in college when it happened." She began, her voice withdrawn. "We had grown up together… Jacob and I. Our mothers were inseparable since Renee had moved to Phoenix. I mean, we did everything together. Each birthday, class, activity…. together. Renee joked about us getting married one day. But, marrying someone you saw as your brother halted any romantic feelings at the get go… Uh… Things changed in high school. He became someone else, and so did I… People change, interests change. I couldn't blame him. Still, I knew I had someone I could trust, no matter what."

Isabella paused, taking shallow breaths to muster her continued courage. She wanted someone to know. "I moved to Forks later that year to spend time with Charlie after Renee got married. Jacob and I kept in contact here and there, but we didn't see one another again until college at UW. I… didn't usually accept invitations to the weekend parties, but my friends all wanted to go, and Jacob would be there. I let loose— I drank with my friends. It was fun. The music was up and the liquor was free flowing… Jake was pouring the drinks. I couldn't taste the alcohol. Pieces are still missing…. between that last drink and…" Her hands balled into fists as she warred with herself. Instinct told her to protect herself, though she equally desired the freedom of the truth.

"Isabella you don't…"

"I want to." She cut in. "I… Jake was telling me I needed to sit down. Clear my head a little. The drinks were too strong. He was going to take care of me. I trusted him. The next thing I remember, I was upstairs and he was on top of me. He told me how much he loved me… how he had waited for me to reciprocate these feelings inside him while he…"

Aro could barely contain his anger and anguish as the nature of what had happened to her unfolded before his eyes. He felt everything as she spoke… he betrayal, her pain, her guilt and shame.

"When I woke up the next morning, Jake was there…. He made it seem like what had happened was normal…. That I wanted it, or I had initiated it, even. If I hadn't been there that night… drank less… it wouldn't have happened."

"It was not your fault."

"It was, Aro…. I could have protected myself. I was stupid."

Aro growled, turning her sharply to look at him. "Don't you dare, Isabella. That pathetic excuse for a man betrayed your trust and took advantage of you… please, do not blame yourself any longer."

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- TW Section Over-

Aro paused, his expression softening, though it was serious as he gently lifted her chin so she met his gaze. "Even before my venom ran through your veins, I vowed to myself that no harm would come to you. I will protect you with everything that I am and guard you with my life. This I promise you."

Isabella met his eyes then, any strength she clung to crumbling visibly as she shook, heart wrenching sobs spilling from her lips. As she clung to him, his arms just as fervently wrapped around her, it became clear that each equally needed the other with the belief they might, for once, allow themselves to let someone in so wholly. Each had opened their hearts and let another in and it felt… right.