Marcus held a large, fragile hardback book in his hand as he read the gentle words out loud in Italian. I curled myself into left Caius' side, hugging his arm as my head rested on his shoulder, while Marcus had his right arm wrapped around my waist. The warmth the fireplace provided almost caused me to dose off, the daylight visible through the window now covered by a thick layer of grey storm clouds.
"Carissima" my muffled brain heard Caius whisper.
I sat up straight quickly, brushing my hair out of my face with my hand. "Hmm?"
"You were falling asleep" he murmured lightly.
"Why? What time is it?" The weather really threw off my awareness of the time, the sky darkening by the minute.
"It is only one o'clock in the afternoon, il mio amore" Marcus replied after glancing over at a small clock sat on one of the bookshelves in the corner of the room.
"Oh, really? Are you sure it isn't the evening?" I drew my eyebrows together and turned my head to gaze out of the window. Clearly Italy just didn't think I deserved warm weather.
"Are you questioning our time-keeping abilities?" Caius tilted his head down and raised an eyebrow at me.
"No, not at all" I laughed awkwardly, attempting to sit up straight but falling straight back into Caius' side.
"Are you hungry, tesoro?" Marcus asked, gently pulling my arms to help me sit up straight.
"Um, I guess I could eat" I smiled.
Before anyone had even had the chance to request any food, Jane was stood in front of us, quickly bowing to Caius and Marcus. Had she been listening to our whole conversation?
"Jane, please bring Eliana some lunch from the kitchens, my dear" Marcus ordered, before Jane nodded her head and left as quickly as she had come.
"How many languages do you speak?" I asked, staring at the complex-looking Italian book in awe.
"English, Italian, Greek, Spanish, French, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and many more" Caius stated simply.
"Well then, you've got to help me with my Chinese at some point. I have my final exam in a few months, and I'm failing epically" I laughed.
"You speak Mandarin Chinese?" he asked.
"Yes, well, no, well, not well." I stuttered.
"Oh…"
I didn't catch the rest of his sentence as he was speaking quick fluent Chinese. What's yes in Chinese? Can I just say that? Wow, I need to listen more in class. Caius turned to look at my blank, expressionless face and sighed.
"I am going to assume you did not understand a word of what I just said" he rested his head in his right hand.
"What did I tell you? I don't speak Chinese well at all" I answered.
"Try to say anything, tesoro, any sentence" Marcus gave me an encouraging nudge.
"Okay then, um, 每天 我吃炒面" I hesitated all the way through.
Both of them gave me the same bemused expression, making my face turn bright red. My teacher had always reminded me of my 'appalling pronunciation', and now I saw why.
"You eat fried noodles every day?" Caius asked. At least he was able to hear and translate that.
"You did tell me to say 'any sentence', so I did" I defended. Food was the last topic we had covered in class before spring break, so it was currently all I could remember.
Marcus chuckled and shook his head just as Jane walked in with a steaming bowl of tomato soup on a wooden tray.
"Thanks Jane" I smiled as she handed me the tray which I placed on my lap. She quickly bowed and nodded her head at me before dashing out of the door again.
"You have very close friendship bonds with the guard, Eliana" Marcus observed, staring into the distance as if studying something closely while I held the bowl of soup close to my chin.
"Really? I didn't think they liked me" I drew my eyebrows together.
"Not at all, they do seem to enjoy your company, Jane being a prime example"
Jane? As in the girl who reluctantly opened my window for me before rolling her eyes, and shushed us during the guards' movie night?
"Are you sure about that?" I questioned, my face lighting up slightly at the thought of actually having some friends around here.
"I am absolutely certain. You seem to have friendship bonds connecting you to many other guard members. Some are stronger than others, yours with Afton, Chelsea, and Santiago glowing the brightest" he responded, Caius growling slightly at their names.
"Something wrong?" I turned myself around to face him.
"Nothing, carissima" he stated. Was he…jealous?
"So, you can see all types of bonds between people?" I asked, swallowing a spoonful of soup.
"Yes, that is how I discovered the true mate bond between you and us" he replied.
"Hmm, that's pretty rad" I pointed out, placing my empty bowl on the coffee table in front of the sofa, which is kind of ironic considering vampires don't drink coffee.
Caius picked up the book that had been put down earlier and continued reading it out loud. I leant back against Marcus' chest, listening to the soft whistling of the wind outside. Curled up comfortably for a few hours, I hadn't even noticed Aro standing above me.
"You seem tired, cara mia" he pointed out, startling me as he circled around to the front of the sofa.
"Tired? Nah, I'm fine" I yawned, stretching my arms above me and arching my back as I sat up straight.
"If that is the case, how would you mind going for a stroll with me, Eliana?" he asked, offering his hand.
"Gladly" I giggled, tightly hugging Caius and then Marcus before placing my hand in Aro's larger one.
He led me out of the room and I waved awkwardly before closing the door behind us. The sky was still dark, an imminent storm brewing over the horizon. We strolled down the corridor virtually in silence before we arrived at the wooden door which led out to the castle gardens. Looking through the window beside it, I noticed the rain was steadily falling onto the pavement below.
"Aro, it's raining" I held back, not exactly in the mood to come back inside drenched.
With that, he pulled an umbrella out from an umbrella stand which I hadn't ever noticed was there before.
"That is not an issue, dear" he smiled, gently pulling me outside by the hand and opening up the umbrella.
The rain fell consistently as Aro held the umbrella above our heads, my hand still in his. I shivered, a sharp breeze freezing my skin, which made me realise I wasn't wearing a coat.
"Are you cold, cara mia?" he asked with genuine concern while I hugged myself closer to him in an attempt to warm myself up.
"Not too much, don't worry about me" I reassured, the shiver audible in my voice.
"I will never stop worrying about you" he chuckled lightly, steering us to a wooden bench near the tree I'd sat at earlier that day. I leant into him as he held me under his warm jacket, his arm around my shoulders.
"How has your day been?" he asked as I felt the soft hum in his chest.
"It's been good, yeah. You?"
"Uneventful. I had many vital meetings scheduled in for this morning, so unfortunately I was not allowed any time to spend with you" he smiled endearingly, gently rubbing my shoulder.
"You didn't miss much, although you did miss me running away from a wasp earlier" I laughed.
"I am sure that was very entertaining to witness" he chuckled.
"I didn't think so, but apparently it was"
"Almost as entertaining as the toothpaste you had around your mouth this morning" he added humorously, but I didn't respond.
"How did you know about the toothpaste around my mouth this morning?" I drew my eyebrows together. Did Afton tell him? What a snitch.
He went silent, staring down at the ground. I knew he was clearly refusing to tell me something, his guilt-ridden face hidden away from view.
"Aro?" I asked again, waiting for a response.
"Eliana, there is something I have been meaning to tell you. Something I should have informed you of a while ago" he turned himself around to me and gazed into my eyes, the umbrella still held above our heads.
"What is it?" I sat up and brushed his hand before he pulled it away, placing it in his pocket.
"When I was transformed," he breathed in sharply, "I developed the ability of tactile telepathy. This allows me to read and memorise every thought and memory a person has ever had with a single touch, as I have done with you"
I shuffled away from him in shock, turning away from his gaze. He'd been reading my mind this entire time?
"You w…what?" I gasped.
"I know what you're thinking-"
"No. No, you don't know what I'm thinking, and I wish you never knew. What made you think that it's okay to read and see all of my private thoughts and emotions without telling me?" my voice became increasingly angered, "If I wanted you to know anything you've apparently seen, I would've told you myself. But no, instead you decide it better to find out yourself, letting yourself in to every thought I've ever thought and every feeling I've ever felt"
I was now stood up away from him with my hands in tight angered fists, the rain soaking my hair and clothes.
"Eliana, I would never want to intrude on anything" he pleaded, stepping closer to me as I took a step further back.
"But you did. You now know everything about me, everything. Do you just not understand the idea of privacy? You decided to let yourself into my private life, learning and remembering everything tiny detail about me, every little secret I've ever had, every celebrity crush I've ever had, every single fucking emotion I've ever felt!" I yelled, tears beginning to pool in my eyes.
"Please, Eliana" he stood two or so feet from me with a desperate expression, his hands still in his pockets.
"Get away from me!" I attempted to push him back, but he didn't move an inch while I stumbled back from the momentum. He seemed to be angered at my response, the corner of his lip twitching as he towered above me.
"Eliana, listen to me right now-"
"No, you listen!" I interrupted, deathly glaring at him, "I've been nothing but compliant here. I agreed to stay in this goddamn castle with you, I broke up with my boyfriend to be with you, I even promised to move here after school! And this whole time, this whole entire fucking time, you thought it best not to tell me that you've invaded all of my personal thoughts. What the hell is wrong with you Aro?! Did you honestly think, even for a second, that I would be okay with this?! That I would gladly agree to you knowing absolutely every detail, every embarrassing detail, about me?! I can't believe I was ever stupid enough to want to be with you!"
Silence hung in the air between us, Aro left completely lost for words. I didn't want to face him anymore, didn't want to be anywhere near him or his ability. With that, I turned around and ran indoors, hot tears streaming down my face as I flung the door to the castle open and slammed it behind me. I ran down the corridors confusedly, my tears clouding up my vision. Fortunately, I did remember where my room was, running at full speed and avoiding any sign of anyone nearby. After a few metres however, I bumped into Felix, his grip on my arm stopping me in my tracks.
"Eli, where are you going?" he asked worriedly, noticing the mascara that now ran down my face and my wet hair that clung to my skin.
"Just let me go" I yanked myself away from him and he removed his hold of me, turning around to watch me as I ran back down the corridor and dived into my bedroom, loudly slamming the door closed.
I slid down the door, melting down into a pool of tears as I sobbed hysterically. My throat felt dry throughout my loud cries, my face hidden in my arms. Eventually gathering enough willpower, I stood up, heading over to my bathroom before a sharp pain shot out from my heart through my entire body, causing me to collapse in the middle of the floor. It was a pain I'd never felt before, as if all of the blood in my body had been drained out of me. I cried out in agony, but the pain left as quickly as it came, allowing me to achingly crawl back onto my feet and stumble to the bathroom.
I leant against the sink to support my exhausted body, looking up at the mirror to see the state I'd left myself in. My red-rimmed eyes were full of tears, my clothes soaked through to my skin, my hair sat in a tangled mess. Running the warm water out of the tap, I cleaned my face, the warmth causing pins and needles across my skin. I removed my jeans, changing out of my wet t-shirt into a dry one, and climbed into my bed and under the covers.
Never had I felt such a feeling of self-loathing in my entire life. I'd just irrationally screamed at someone who only ever wanted the best for me, who only kept his ability from me in fear of my reaction. And for good reason; I blamed him for everything, I made his entire ability, his entire being, seem his fault. His ability can't be helped, he can't help knowing what he knows, but I convinced myself that he is the only one to blame, the only one at fault. My tears had now dried, leaving me shaking in the eerie silence.
A gentle knock sounded on the door, and Jane opened it to let herself in.
"Master Aro has requested to come in" she spoke softly, a subtle feeling of sympathy in her voice.
I shook my head, turning over and pulling my duvet closer to me. It went against every gut instinct to reject him, everything within me wanting to give in to him, to hold him close to me. A few minutes later, Jane reappeared again, leaning against the door.
"Master Aro would very much like to come in" she murmured quietly.
"No." I spoke, before biting my lip in pain. A similar pain to before, but not quite as excruciating, shot through my chest.
Jane nodded disappointedly before disappearing again, gently closing the door behind her. She came in again one last time a few minutes later, the tone of her voice becoming slightly more desperate.
"Master Aro would like to come in, Eli"
I turned my head to face the ceiling, taking in a sharp breath.
"Tell Aro I said no" I whispered, my throat still dry from my tears.
The shooting pain returned for a split second, causing me to dig my nails into the palms of my hands to avoid crying out. Jane sighed, leaving again and closing the door. I turned over to face away from the door, my bare legs curled up underneath me. I gently closed my eyes, my body begging for rest, but my mind wouldn't let me sleep, insomnia ruling through my head. The same thoughts continuously ran over my conscience. Why had I lost my temper like that? Why had I blamed, screamed at, Aro, who only ever wanted the best for me? I felt my heartbeat throbbing in my head and longed for the pain to be over.
During one of my endless attempts at sleeping, Aro's voice whispered from behind me.
"Eliana?"
I refused to turn around, my guilt taking over all of my actions. He placed his hand gently on my bare arm, and I almost pulled away, before I realised there was fabric between our skins. He gently ran a gloved hand through my slightly damp hair, his other hand on my shoulder as he whispered in my ear.
"I am so incredibly sorry. I should have told you sooner. I never should have violated you like that. Please forgive me, il mio amore"
I couldn't bear to hear him like that, to listen to him blame himself for my own temper, for my own fuck up. A single warm tear ran down my cheek, quietly landing on my pillow. Aro gently placed his hands on my shoulders and rolled me onto my back, carefully wiping another tear away with his thumb.
"Please do not cry, Eliana"
"It's all my fault" I whispered, staring at the ceiling rather than making eye contact with him as another tear ran down my face.
"Do not blame yourself"
"But it is. I should've never blamed you. I should never have lost my temper at you, made you feel like somehow you are the one to blame for all of this" my gaze returned to his crimson eyes as he shook his head and quietly hushed me, his finger tracing delicately down my collar bone.
"Nothing I said was true," I insisted, "none of it. I haven't been here for long at all but I've loved every moment of it. Being here with you, I felt a feeling of joy I've never felt before. You're honestly my world and I don't know what I'd do without you-"
My sentence was interrupted when Aro captured my lips with his, kissing me delicately. I was slightly taken aback at first, which he seemed to instantly notice as he carefully pulled away, but instead I placed my hands on the back of his head and pulled him closer, pressing my lips against his while running my fingers through his still rain-soaked hair. He kissed me back gently, taking his time as he ran his hand carefully along the side of my face. Once I eventually had to pull away for air, I took Aro's hands and held them in mine, now noticing that he was on top of me, his weight rested on his elbows. I carefully took off the black leather gloves he'd decided to wear, not that it mattered in any way as he'd already seen my recent thoughts through our kiss.
"It is okay, cara mia, you don't have to" he whispered.
"Jesus, please don't wear these anymore"
I studied them quickly before tossing them across the room where they landed by the door. Aro glanced at them over his shoulder before gazing back at me, a smile playing on his lips as he chuckled lightly slipped under the duvet beside me. His cool hands rested on my back while I pressed the side of my face against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry Aro" I whispered, my voice still raspy as I blinked back another tear.
He shushed me quietly, pressing kisses to the top of my head, "Stop apologising, cara mia"
We laid in silence, the only sound in the room was our breathing as Aro rubbed circles on my back and rocked me gently.
"So," I tilted my head up to look at him, "were you the one who decided on getting me a new iPod then?"
"Of course, my brothers would not have ever thought of it," he chuckled, "but you tossing your previous one out of your bedroom window was quite entertaining to see"
"I didn't toss it, it fell!" I insisted, which he didn't seem to believe.
"If you say so" he grinned, his cold hands landing on the exposed skin on my back.
"But you left off the song 'My Neck, My Back'" I added humorously.
"I did list it down, however Caius crossed it out and refused to let you listen to it" he shrugged.
"I wonder how he's even heard that song before" I laughed at the thought of Caius secretly dancing to pop music in his quarters when no one is around, which Aro chuckled at too.
"Considering I was, in fact, your very first kiss," he began, while I shuffled upwards to rest my head on the pillow beside him, "does that render me your favourite mate?"
Of course he was going to use a moment like this to boost his own ego, but instead of giving him any response, I rolled my eyes and buried my head in the crook of his neck as he ran his fingers through my hair, humming in contentment and… purring?
Author's note: Kinda an angsty chapter here, but I felt that the subject of Aro's ability needed to be brought up at some point, considering Eli doesn't have a shield or anything. It's really weird but I swear whenever I write fight scenes etc. I always feel really depressed and upset, idk why lmao. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this, be sure to leave a review/comment/whatever, stay safe, and ily!