5th February 2004
Wrinkled fingers slipped in between weak, limp, smooth skinned ones. They gave a gentle squeeze, and deep coloured eyes answered with a small shine that hadn't been seen in a long time. "I assume you made contact then, and everything went how I saw it would do?" The words floated in the air, no louder than a whisper, but the aging man heard them loud and clear. "I did indeed, Miss Georgina. The man whose name I believe is Aro is most excited to meet you," he glanced at the silent teenage boy who was standing against the wall. "Both of you."
William's features tightened ever so slightly. "Did they say they were going to kill you?" He demanded and Albert shook his head. "No, Master William, they didn't. I believe they wish to keep me around to care for you and your sister. I only have a few years left in me regardless, my boy. I'll not live to see my seventieth birthday, we both know that. That's only four years off. What with the blocked arteries and the almost heart attack I had six months ago, we both know I don't have long, Will." He stated quietly before he looked back to the copper haired girl who was now fast asleep, her breathing nasal cannula now askew on her face.
He motioned for the tape, and Will reached down into the drawers beside him, pulling it out and handing it over. He crouched beside his sister and his parent of all intents and purposes. "I just don't want this all to be for nothing. I don't want them to just come in and determine we're no good to them and kill us all, including you, for nothing. I don't want that. I want Georgie better again, like she should have been." He murmured, staring at his sleeping, younger twin sister, watching as Albert reattached the cannula to where it needed to be.
Albert gave him a warm smile, reaching over and gently patting his cheek before resting a hand on his head of dark hair. "All will be well, Master William, I promise."
Five days passed. A storm came and settled above them, plastering a thick, heavy coating of white snow on the ground, blanketing the estate grounds in a creamy white. It was untouched on the fifth night, until, when the sky was blacker than coal, and the grand clock reached through half of the eleventh hour, did shadows begin to move across the grounds from the east, leaving the first marks on white in the form of footprints that were few and far between.
Mere minutes later, a knock struck at the grand oak wooden doors that shielded the inner home from the cold elements outside. Albert stilled as he exited the door to Georgina's bedroom, William still inside, watching over her as he usually did until midnight, each and every night, an hour after she had her medication, in order to make sure she made it through the first hour of the night fine without complications.
The aged man headed down the wooden, carpeted staircase towards the oak doors, peering through the peephole to be safe before he pulled them both open.
Aro gave him a wide smile before he strode inside. "Ah, Mr Samuels!" He exclaimed cheerily. "I apologise for the unsocial hour, but we couldn't very well come here during sunlight," he stated, six other individuals following him inside -three women and three men. He pushed the hood of his cloak off. "You do have a beautiful home," he commented, staring around at the old, English manor house inside, the old wooden walls no doubt harbouring many a secret or a few thousand over the four centuries in which it'd been standing.
Albert gave a nod. "Its belonged to William and Georgina's bloodline since it was constructed in 1581." He answered. Milky red eyes brightened at the mention of one of the twins which he'd come over an ocean to see. "Ah, I see. Who is it I hear still awake upstairs?" He commented breezily, a bright smile on his face as his eyes drifted upwards on Georgina's door.
The physically older man gave a wry smile. "That would be Master William. He does it every night. He remains with his sister until midnight, an hour after she's been given her sleeping medication. He makes sure she survives the first hour of each night," he answered smoothly and Aro made a noise under his breath, breathing it out softly. "I see. I assume Miss Harris is asleep then?"
A nod answered him. "I believe so. She was when I left her room to come and answer the door." He stated quietly.
As if on cue, the door to the room in question creaked open as the grand old clock chimed twelve, the stocky build of the fourteen year old male exiting the room. He pulled the door shut with a soft click, turning around before he noticed the gathering of individuals in the entrance hall downstairs. He frowned, his hand tightening on the doorknob ever so slightly. "Albert?" He asked, dark eyes locked onto his elderly caregiver.
The man in question nodded, motioning for him to come downstairs. "Its alright, Will. Come down, there's someone you should meet." He reassured, the dark haired teenager letting go of the doorknob before beginning to make his way down the carpeted staircase. He came to a stop beside Albert, milky red eyes watching him with ill-concealed fascination.
William's dark eyes glanced over the group, watching them all with barely concealed suspicion. Aro watched his actions with a small curved smirk on his mouth. "Don't mind them, William." He stated cheerily as he motioned to the guard members behind them. "They travel with me for my protection, and to see the two who'll eventually join them as coven mates." He glanced to the hands that were folded across a muscular chest. "May I?" He hinted, holding a hand out.
A look of understanding crossed dark eyes. "You're the one who can read minds with mere skin to skin contact."
Aro gave a pealing laugh. "Ah, that would be correct!" He took the hand offered to him almost greedily cradling it in his own as fourteen years of memories flashed by his milky red orbs of knowledge. He sighed softly. "Such sadness for one to go through at such a young age. To lose the ones who you love at such a young age, I cannot understand how that impacted you both."
William hummed as he took his hand back, already feeling violated and invaded. He shrugged. "Georgie took it worse than I did, I guess. I take it you saw her violent meltdowns she used to have through Alberts thoughts?" He stated back and the raven haired man tittered, amused. "I did indeed. To say it was a waste of such priceless artefacts would be an understatement." He sighed then smiled widely, amused once more. "I must say, I was rather delighted when news of you both was brought to my attention, if not a little struck with confusion." He chuckled, more to himself. "We don't get many humans contacting us themselves about being gifted; we usually seek them out, not the other way around."
Dark eyes shone with mirth. "We're nothing if not out of the ordinary here." He commented dryly, folding his arms back across his chest. "I doubt you get many humans exploding pottery at a mere decade old."
The raven haired man laughed loudly, the sound echoing around the high vaulted ceiling room. "Ah yes, her penchant for making things explode. I must admit, though, I was a little perplexed by what your gift was. I saw that you managed to subdue your sister, make her go unconscious as to stop her rampage." He pressed his hand together, eyes shining. "Would you mind giving me a demonstration? Without, of course, making anything explode," he added.
A wry smile tugged at his mouth as he gave a short nod, sweeping his eyes over the group, landing on a small, dark haired boy who was stood behind Aro. He could feel the power from within this small group of people, some more powerful than others, two not gifted at all.
His fingers twitched at his sides as he grimaced, already feeling the pull of the dark haired boy ability, and as his fingers clenched, dark smoke began billowing out of the boys dark leather gloved hands, falling to the floor like a coiled snake of smoky vapour, ready to strike at any moment.
The boy was taken aback, brows furrowing and scowling ever so slightly when he realised he had no control of his own supernatural ability. His jaw clenched but he took no further actions, his twin sisters brows furrowing ever so slightly before she connected the pieces and turned her glare to William.
William grimaced further as he released his clenched fist, a strained gasp releasing from his lips as he relinquished his hold over the dark haired boys ability. It rushed back into the leather gloved hand of its owner, vanishing into thin air, never to be seen again.
A sharp laugh of utter delight shrieked from Aro's lips as he clapped his hands together in excitement, pressing the tips of his fingers against his mouth as he clasped them together. "Oh my!" He exclaimed. "I do believe my suspicions were right! Magnifico! I do believe I've never seen a human child possess such raw, focussed talent."
Will gave a shaky swallow, pain resonating through his limbs. "Its been focussed since we were ten years old," he murmured, Albert smoothing a hand down his back, well aware of the agony his ward was now experiencing.
Aro hummed from behind his clasped hands. "Ah yes, when Georgina and yourselves parents died. Tragedy and pain does have a lasting impact in defining ones supernatural talents," he murmured back, glancing to the other set of twins that stood at his right flank, guarding him as they always did so.
Milky red eyes observed the fourteen year old in front of them silently for a mere heartbeat before their owner spoke. "William, if I were to ask you what you would be willing to do for your sister, what would your answer be?" He asked, the beginnings of a sly smile on his face as he watched the teenager across from him.
Will didn't hesitate to answer one moment. "I would do anything, and I truly mean anything. She's my best friend, my sister," he gave a small shrug of his shoulders. "She's my twin," he finished.
His last words caused an incline in the heads of the two immortals beside their leader, but no further movement, and Aro nodded with a satisfactory smile. "Excellent."
He gave a tittering sigh. "Go and rest, William. My dear ones and I will go and hunt in the capital and we will return come daylight, when yourself and the lovely Georgina have both awoken. We will converse more on the matter at hand when you are both present and coherent enough to have such an important discussion." He stated with a bright smile, red eyes gleaming at the chance to witness such power in a matter of hours.