It's been a while guys, and I do apologise. I'm not entirely sure about this chapter, but I hope it works. It was difficult to write, and perhaps a tad long, but... let me know what you think, and as always, enjoy.*

~ Twelfth Night ~

Aurel, an undead subordinate, escorted me silently through the castle, his sombre face highlighted eerily with every sconce we passed. I wondered faintly how long the guard had been with the coven. I assumed Mircea trusted him enough to chaperon me, and yet I couldn't help but feel that there was something untrustworthy lurking beneath that serene mask – a snake coiled to strike.

"Eyes down, human." He growled, noticing my interest, and directing me abruptly up a stone staircase.

I obliged, following him into a room I seldom got the opportunity to venture to. My gaze was instantly drawn up, the ceiling towering high above us, it's centre an oval of coloured glass. It allowed the sun to pour in, throwing rainbows of colour across the stone expanse. It was impressive, as no doubt the designer had always intended it to be, and yet, nothing was as awe inspiring, as the effect the steady stream of light had on the room's otherworldly occupants.

They were beautiful. Their skin, pale sheets of diamonds, casting dancing prisms into every corner. My breath faltered at the sight of them, my lips parting wordlessly, as I swallowed hard, my eyes finding Didyme as she briefly smiled in my direction. She turned back to the game she had been playing with Vladimir, and the others watched them eagerly, laughing as Vladimir was seemingly bested by one of the dark siren's moves.

He clapped her victory. "I must say Aro, your sister is a sneaky one. Wherever did she learn such insidious tricks?"

"She is entirely self-taught, I assure you." Aro murmured softly, earning a steady stream of giggles from his feminine counterpart.

Didyme brushed Vladimir's shoulder

"You indulged me, I'm sure." She replied gently, moving smoothly to her mate's side. Marcus pressed his lips lovingly against her neck, and she purred eagerly into the embrace.

Vladimir shook his head, watching her with dancing orbs. "I did no such thing, my dear. You are a force to be reckoned with."

Tittering lightly, his interest suddenly fell on us, and I awaited the patronising jibes that would no doubt follow.

"Ah, Aurel! I see you have delivered Liliana down to us safely." He noted proudly. Laughing, he turned to the darkest corner of the room, and grinned. "You see Mircea, I told you there would be no issues. Aurel's self-control has greatly improved of late."

My eyes narrowed at the revelation, but I said nothing. I wasn't surprised Vladimir would test his guard's blood lust on me, but I was taken aback by how complacent I was becoming with these creatures. I assumed Mircea's interest in me kept me safe. I should have known better.

"Do not be offended, Princess." Vladimir called, noting my distress, as he paced forward to take me from his guard. "I knew you would be in safe hands. My brother simply lacks trust."

"And with good cause." Mircea replied flatly, at my side before Vladimir could even take my arm. "The last human he was left with, had his heart carelessly ripped out."

"A minor set back." Vladimir crooned, his eyes moving slowly over his brother's vice-like hold on my wrist. "But we rally on, do we not?"

"Of course." Mircea replied darkly, glaring at his brother, his gaze flickering briefly to the others in the room. "Perhaps we should leave you to your games. I am certain you and Stefan can entertain our guests adequately enough."

"Mircea." Vladimir scolded playfully. "Liliana could use some mental stimulation. It must be a terrible bore for her, brother, with the way you like to hide her away from the rest of us. It's no way for a young lady to live."

Mircea scoffed. "Because you have her best interests at heart?"

Vladimir grinned. "I care for all the inhabitants of this castle."

They threw jibes back and forth, and I remained silent, trying to ignore the steady growl that was building deep in Mircea's chest. Over Vladimir's shoulder, I noticed Aro watching us. His ruby gaze trained solely on my profile, as I wondered what he could possibly be thinking, to stare so intensely. I worried it was the sweet call of my life's essence that secretly held his attention, and yet, despite that fear, it was difficult to look away. I had a sudden, curious urge to be closer to him still, to test whether that barely hidden curiosity, ran any deeper than the tempting crimson tides beneath my skin.

"What is it that you're playing?" I asked evenly, privately wondering what on earth it was I thought I was doing, and whether I perhaps had a death wish. I turned my gaze to Vladimir. "Would I have heard of it?"

"I would have thought not, Draga mea. The game came from friends, whose lands lay far away from here." He smiled, looking smugly at Mircea, before gesturing to the table. "Would you like to play?"

"I'd like to watch." I offered instead, not keen on the idea of making myself look a fool by losing. I turned to Mircea, mustering the most pleading gaze my ego would allow. "Could we stay? Just for a little while?"

His glare darkened considerably, but he consented, releasing me to the room, as Vladimir guided me into the seat he had recently vacated.

I frowned at the foreign object in front of me. It appeared to be a long board, sectioned crudely into squares. Two players had their pieces, and there were small sections of what looked like bone, but I couldn't see how these items could form any kind of enjoyable exercise, let alone the sort that would incite laughing, and clapping, as it had done so earlier. My frown deepened quizzically.

"It is a difficult thing to judge."

I started, Aro appearing at my side. He smiled warmly at my reaction, and drew his long slender fingers pointedly over the board.

"Would you like me to explain it to you?"

I nodded, and his smile widened, his face taking on a new excited interest. He gestured widely over the table.

"The game is called 'Twenty Squares', and is normally played by two players, who start off at opposite ends of the board. The aim of each player, is to get all of their pieces to the other side, using strategy and skill, and whatever luck is granted to them by the bones." He said, indicating a pair of rolling pieces. He tilted his head at me, his scarlet gaze glowing subtly. "You are with me so far?"

Again, I nodded, and then, feeling brave, I questioned him further. "What are these?" I asked, indicating the marked squares on the board.

"Those are safe houses. When a player has pieces in them, they are safe from attack."

"I see."

I frowned lightly, half smiling, thinking what a strange thing it was indeed, as Aro's hand gestured once again to the board.

"Can I tempt you?" He murmured playfully.

I quickly shook my head. "Oh, I don't think – "

"Nonsense!" He laughed, waving off my hesitation. "You will best us all. Come, play with me."

Aro's hands blurred unseen across the pieces, a look of almost child-like determination on his face, and I couldn't help but wonder how much of the demon within, could really lay behind that serene mask. I leaned forward for a closer look at the board, and an icy hand appeared on my shoulder.

"She does not wish to play your game."

My head snapped up. Mircea. He looked enraged, his grasp suddenly encircled around my arm. He pulled me to my feet, glancing down with what could only be described as a look of betrayal. "Come, you have seen enough."

"Mircea." Stefan sighed loudly. He had been quiet up until now. "Aro meant no harm. Do not spoil things."

Vladimir tittered in agreement. "Yes brother, we were just beginning to enjoy ourselves. We seldom have time for such frivolities. Let Aro play his game with her."

"You are so blind." Mircea growled. "Have you even asked yourselves once what game exactly it is, he is playing?" He glared at Aro with open dislike. "You may have the others fooled, but not I."

I winced as his grip on my arm tightened, and I looked up at him in fear that he might actually break it. He was ranting, barely making sense. The others seemed to pick up on it too, their stances no longer relaxed, as they got to their feet. Didyme reached protectively for her brother, and I swallowed nervously.

Aro himself merely gazed calmly up at Mircea, still residing happily in his chair beside the table. He did not seem to notice my keeper's fury, either that or he was not bothered by it. In fact, if I hadn't known any better, I would have said he looked amused.

"Forgive me," Aro said softy, clasping his hands together thoughtfully over the table. "It was never my intention to offend." His gaze flickered briefly to me, and he appeared to choose his next words very carefully. "She is still human. I thought her nothing more than a trinket of yours. Had I known you had intentions for her, I would have never been so bold."

I stared at him, my lips parting silently into a small 'O' of confusion. I looked up at Mircea.

"What does he mean?" I asked quietly, the pain in my arm suddenly forgotten. My keeper remained uncharacteristically silent, and so I asked again. "Mircea, what does he mean?"

Mircea said nothing, but somehow managed to look only more enraged. He shook his head almost imperceptibly, and glared at Aro with a new hatred that I didn't quite understand.

Vladimir laughed. "Come brother, you might as well tell the girl. It has been long enough for her to have become used to you, surely?"

I looked around at them all, feeling suddenly very small, as my heart rose painfully to my throat.

"Tell me what?" I questioned softly, unable to keep my voice entirely steady.

Mircea again shook his head, the target of his rage now his brother. "Vladimir, I'm warning you."

"Warning me?" Vladimir repeated, leaning casually against the table. "You know such threats only serve to tempt me, brother."

"She is not ready."

"If she is not ready now, then she will never be." Vladimir grinned. "We might as well get everything out in the open."

No one spoke, and I narrowed my eyes at both of them, knowing that whatever it was, I wasn't going to like it.

"Tell me." I demanded quietly, finding Mircea's silence more unsettling than if he had roared in anger. "Mircea?"

To my annoyance, it was Vladimir that answered.

"I'm afraid, Princess, that you were bought here under a slight ruse, isn't that right, brother?" He turned to Mircea, who said nothing, and smirked. "You were told that you were bought here in order to keep your father compliant with our wishes, and that if all goes as well, you would be allowed to return to him after twelve full moons had passed. That is correct, yes?"

My mouth went dry, and his crimson orbs found mine. "I was, but – "

He held up his hand, and I allowed him to continue.

"I'm afraid," Vladimir pressed his hands together, "those words were not entirely true."

My heart sank. "What do you mean?"

He laughed lightly, straightening the cuff of his jacket. "Your father served us a great insult when he attacked, I know you understand this, and some of us were not so keen to forgive. A heavy price would have to be paid in order to move pass such a transgression."

"And did we not settle it?" I questioned harshly, a little desperate now. "My father paid with his son's lives!"

"Yes." Vladimir inclined his head slowly. "And his daughter's."

I blinked, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Come now, Princess, don't be so naïve." Vladimir scolded gently. "Mircea here has been watching you for a long time, Liliana. Long before your father took up arms against us. Watching, and dreaming about what a beautiful bride you would make, once you were to reach full maturity." He grinned, clapping Mircea hard on the shoulder. "Your father was only too happy to trade you away, Liliana, especially if it meant saving the life of his youngest son. And of course, it would be easier keeping you here, if your were to be agreeable. The idea of the twelfth moon just seemed so poetic, do you not agree? Like a tale your kind might tell their young?"

Vladimir smiled that awful smile of his, and I faltered. I opened my mouth, but no words came, the rivers that stained my cheeks the only reaction I was able to grant my audience, and yet I had barely noticed them falling. I wasn't going home. I wasn't ever going to leave. My father had traded me away like some kind of dog, and I was to suffer for it until my dying day.

My dark wells found Aro's, and the pity I saw there only destroyed me more.