~ Twelfth Night ~

The sleep that followed Didyme and Marcus' departure, was heavy and dreamless, though there had been a point that I could have sworn I'd heard the howls of beasts in the night. However when I listened more carefully, there was nothing, only silence and the dying embers of the fire.

I had returned eagerly to my slumber.

When the first morning rays of the sun pricked my eyes, I grudgingly woke, my body stiffer than it had ever been, and my mind foggy. I groaned loudly, feebly trying to stretch out what aches and pains I could.

A wrongly placed movement brought a stifled hiss to my lips, and I moaned defeatedly into my pelts.

"Death would have been a kindness." I muttered darkly.

"But truly such a waste."

I blinked, my head whipping 'round, startled. Another wrong move.

"Aro!" I breathed, rubbing gingerly at my suddenly throbbing temple. "I did not realise you were there."

I froze, chastising myself inwardly.

The statement was clumsy, unneeded. I must have seemed so pathetic. A child. The idea bothered me, but not for the same reason it would have for Mircea and his ilk; the consequences of which I had no time to entertain. Yet despite my self-deprecating thoughts, he tilted his head curiously at me. A gentle smile playing lightly on his lips, as he finally rose from his position by the window, and met me by my bedside.

"I did not wish to disturb you." He said softly, his features a perfect mask of concern.

Something else lay there too, I realised, a hunger burning subtly beneath the layers upon layers of self-discipline.

I chose to ignore that too.

"I would not have seen it as a disturbance." I replied quietly, suddenly very aware of my unguarded nudity beneath the pelts.

The bed dipped as he settled beside me.

"Bad dreams." He murmured knowingly, his hand tenderly cradling my cheek. "Are these the troubles that have you throwing yourself from castle turrets?"

I simpered, the warmth in his voice undeniable, as was the playful glint in his ruby gaze. Rolling my eyes, I moved his hand down to the furs between us.

"Everybody speaks as though I purposely jumped from that window." I grumbled, swiping an untamed curl flippantly out of sight. "The circumstances at the time meant I had little choice in the matter."

"Yes." Aro agreed softly, a subtle darkness crossing his gaze. "Another consequence of my reckless actions, I feel."

He smiled suddenly, the gesture well practised. Aro reached for my hand once more, his slender fingers encircling it easily. He sighed. "It appears that I must ask for your forgiveness yet again, Liliana. I have caused you much pain these past few days, though I can assure you that was never my intention."

He fixed me with a look so pleading, so supplicating, that it could not have possibly been sincere.

So I stared at him, his features so beautiful and enticing, that I knew if I were to look for too long, I would surely and to my utter shame, weep. Such power these creatures held, I realised. I found myself wondering how many of their victims truly ran, or, like I would have in that moment, how many walked gladly into their arms, welcomed them like a lover. I leant forward, a sudden macabre curiosity to test his resolve. His gaze flickered briefly to the sweet spot of my throat, his dancing rubies shifting to a dark crimson. I focused on them, barely noticing the thick pelts slip tauntingly below my breasts.

"You accused me of being a lamb hiding behind the mask of a wolf." I reminded him softly, enjoying the fascination in his eyes, as I rolled carefully onto my knees, and slid my hand lightly from his own. "I would like to suggest that the opposite applies to you."

Aro smiled, but it was different somehow, taunting. I felt that it suited him more. "You think me a wolf, Princess?"

"I think you are many things." I murmured, tilting my head at him thoughtfully. "But apologetic is not one of them."

He chuckled low in his throat, his features approving as he leant in closer to my own. "Then tell me, exactly what is it, you think I am?"

My heart faltered slightly as his breath touched my cheek. There was no denying his icy coldness now, not when he was so close. I reached up, not really seeing as I touched my fingers lightly to his throat.

"I think you are playing a game." I said quietly, absorbed in the feel of his stone-like skin beneath my delicate fingertips. "Your interest in me is sincere, but to what extent I am not sure. You are not here to create ties, you are here for information." I hesitated, my searching fingers pausing thoughtfully at the edge of his collar bone, and boldly I met his gaze. "Is it war that you hope for?"

Aro's grin widened, became ecstatic.

"Such a prize." He breathed appreciatively, his perfect profile visibly in awe. His tone dropped an octave. "I would be a fool not to take you."

His head dipped slyly below my jawline, and I felt ice cold lips touch my throat, inciting an all too telling heat deep inside my belly. He smirked smugly against my neck, and my heart raced treacherously, as sudden skilful arms drew me pointedly into his lap.

"I do not care that you are a wolf." I confessed softly, knowing damnably that it was true, and instantly hating the hypocrisy of it. "I only ask that I do not see your masks."

My gaze dropped shyly, uncertain what was to happen next. A chuckle rumbled softly through his chest.

"Such a brave little lamb." Aro murmured, resting his forehead tenderly against my own. His knowing hands slid over my bare skin, long fingers dancing a slow and purposeful path over my thighs, and lingering tauntingly close to the growing heat between my legs. "What if I devour you?"

I gazed up at him, his darker nature making him appear only more inviting, as I found myself knowing without any kind of doubt, that I simply did not care. He knew this of course, somehow he knew, and suddenly those long fingers plunged into me, and I gasped, arching eagerly against them as they began an exquisite rhythm that was entirely their own.

"You will come with me?" He breathed against my ear.

I sighed. "Yes."

"You will give yourself to me entirely?"

"Yes."

"Become one of us?"

I arched, his rhythms picking up pace, enticing more gentle moans from my willing lips.

"Yes." I promised.

Aro continued his movements in silence after that, seemingly enjoying the sounds brought to my tongue, until suddenly the heat inside built to a waiting crescendo, and I found myself writhing under his touch. I cried out, my injuries forgotten as I finally collapsed back dutifully into Aro's arms.

I breathed.

"Aro..." I began softly, my mind slowly sharpening back to reason with each passing moment.

He pressed his lips lightly against my temple, the action silenced me. "Hush now, dear one. There will be plenty of time for questions. First however, I would like to deal with the very small matter of your brother – perhaps we could help each other, hm?"

Something in his voice made me shiver, and a coldness crept knowingly into my belly, telling me that whatever the matter was, I was not necessarily going to like it.

Despite this, I found myself nodding.

Aro smiled. "Good girl."

R&R!

Hi guys, I will reply to reviews! But it is very late, and I wanted to get the chapter up. Hopefully you enjoyed, and as always, more reviews are very much appreciated, lets me know I'm on the right track. Hopefully this chapter wasn't too much? I should be able to reply to my latest ones tomorrow. Sleep well chickens! xxx