Disclaimer: All Characters of Twilight respectfully belong to Stephanie Meyer. Unless stated otherwise. This is a non-profit story. No copyrights infringements intended. Plot belongs to me.

A/N: My schedule has been hectic lately. I didn't have time to do one final revision to this chapter before posting it. So if the scenes don't blend well together, or if there are more grammar errors, then that's why.
Also, this story consists of seven chapters since Bella and Charlie are staying for seven days. Which is why I am trying to make them as long as possible but I can't update them as fast as I want to. Packing so many events in one chapter is a challenge.

Internally cursing is the only way I could blow off some steam.

Because I suddenly found myself reverting back to my childhood state, and my crippling fear of being left alone while I tried to put myself to sleep.

And because I needed at least 10 to 12 hours of sleep! Which I got none of, due to the jetlag and yesterday's bizarre series of encounters, followed by trying to get comfortable in a strange bed. Which I couldn't even do because of that creepy confrontation with Demetri and discovering that this mansion had a name that was plucked from the Devil's list of favorite spine-chilling words. I now remember that exact innocent feeling of fear when I was five years old, when monsters hid under the bed and creepy creatures tapped faintly on the window that I wasn't even sure if it was real or simply the figment of my over active imagination.

Needless to say, I got no sleep at all. I tossed and turned, and flinched every time I heard any faint noises. And I heard them all; creaking, rustling, wind blowing against the glass, my own panicked shallow breathing. Everything made me positively jump out of my own skin.

Around four in the morning – I don't know how – but my eyes miraculously closed and I managed to finally drift off. Except my dreams turned into nightmares. I couldn't remember what exactly they were, except for one thing; the color red. It seemed to have been painted on my vision like a filter. A bright red. Like the color of blood. I hated blood. The smell, the hue, everything about it. That was enough to jolt me out of my very brief slumber. I was sweating and panting, like I was running a marathon, like I had all the energy drained from me. After that, sleep was a lost cause.

Time passed relatively fast with me sprawled in bed and just staring at the canopied ceiling. Continuously replaying the events of the previous day like they were a reel of film behind my eyelids. Because I just couldn't think of anything else to use as a distraction.

The dark bedroom was soon filled with the blue light of dawn, I had assumed it was around six in the morning, but when I looked at the time on my phone it was actually eight. Then I remembered it was winter and daylight was much shorter.

I was startled and nearly had a heart attack when a rapid knocking came from behind the closed bedroom door during the peaceful silence. I didn't even hear any approaching footsteps.

"Y..yes." I spoke loud enough despite my heart getting stuck in my throat.

"Good morning, Madam. It's Armin."

"J-just …. One second please!" I jumped out of the bed.

I went to open the door. And as soon as the young man's emerald green gaze saw me, they widened, looking me up and down before he looked away.

"Forgive m-me for disturbing your sleep … I … I …" Armin's face was as bright as a cherry.

"It's not a problem. I was already awake." I assured the stuttering man.

He refused to meet my gaze. As though I had just pried the door open and stood in front of him naked as the day I was born. That would probably be scandalous and outrageous, but I was wearing loose, long sleeved flannel nightwear. Big enough to fit a whole other me inside it.

"Is something wrong, Armin?"

"No, Madam. Not at all ….." He replied, still refusing to meet my gaze.

"Then what?" I huffed as I crossed my arms.

The man's green eyes trailed to my bare feet yet refused to lift up. "Breakfast will be ready in thirty minutes. I shall return and escort you to the dining hall." Before I even had a chance to reply, he swiftly turned his back on me and practically speed-walked down the corridor. Leaving me standing there, stunned as I watched the flustered man disappear around the corner.

That was odd.

As he promised, precisely thirty minutes later, Armin returned and collected me from my rooms. Other than politely requesting me to follow him, he didn't utter another word as he walked ahead while I treaded behind him, watching his stiff shoulders as he guided me down the maze of corridors.

Between the duration it took us to walk from my room to the dining hall, I tried to start an innocent chat just like the one we had last night. But it seemed our little interaction this morning still left a sour undercurrent, as the young man wouldn't even falter in his steps, or turn around, or even emit a grunt to acknowledge that he heard me.

I tried apologizing if I had somehow offended him, but that only resulted in his already taut form to tense even further. And I was left with no other choice but to shut my mouth, because apparently all strives were proving to be futile.

We arrived at the dining hall and I saw my dad sitting alone at the table.

Perfect!

I had wanted a moment alone with him since yesterday. I needed to ask him some questions and they were mostly about our weirdly ebullient host. But somehow I didn't want to offend said host if he overheard my little interrogation. And I doubted Charlie would answer any of my questions at the cost of making his friend uncomfortable.

I went to Charlie's side and greeted him good morning and kissed him on the head. He grunted his greeting in return while I took the seat beside him.

"Dad, can I talk to you for a bit?"

Charlie lowered his fork and turned to give me his attention. It was one of those gestures he wasn't into but made much effort to express since I moved in with him, despite his pensive nature. "Sure, sweetheart. What about?"

I smiled and tilted my head. "I think it's pretty darn obvious. Dad, your frie …"

"I sincerely apologize! Had I kept you waiting for long?" I nearly bit my own tongue when Aro chose that perfectly wrong moment to walk in on us.

"Good morning, Charles. And Bella." He greeted. He took the seat at the head of the table beside my father.

His dark eyes lingered on me for a moment as he pressed his lips. I returned the stare and furrowed my brow in confusion. Wondering why was I suddenly garnering the man's scrutiny?

"Bella, I don't mean to trouble you. But may I request that you sit on my other side." Aro gestured to the empty seat on the other side of the table, the one opposite to Charlie's spot.

"Why?"

"Forgive me for I am embarrassed to admit, but I seem to have a certain compulsion for symmetry. I do feel quite at ease when I have two people sitting on either side of the table equally to balance the seating."

"Like an OCD?" I blurted.

"Bella!" My dad scolded.

"No, Charles – Your daughter is absolutely right. And I would hope that you would humor this old man's foibles, Bella."

"That won't be a problem. Right, Bells?" Charlie pressed expressing his embarrassment in his own patent way. Which of course made my cheeks burn with chagrin.

"Right." I replied. I tried not to grit my teeth. Because for someone who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Charlie's friend sure felt completely calm and de-stressed by a certain tick that he claimed made him uncomfortable.

If I didn't know any better, I would say he didn't want me sitting next to my dad for an entirely different reason.

I was quite piqued by the end of breakfast. As Aro took Charlie away to show him his weapons room. It seemed Aro shared a hobby for collecting knives and swords from historical eras.

Charlie was elated upon hearing of it. Since he enjoyed collecting guns himself and therefore seemed very interested that his 'friend' enjoyed the same passion but from a different perspective.

I, on the other hand, felt very vexed that I couldn't get a moment alone with Charlie. Let alone utter a word during breakfast, as Aro wanted to know all about Charlie's life back in Forks and what he has been up to since last they parted.

I found it very odd because it seemed Aro was firing a calculative line of questions towards my dad. And despite Charlie's clipped, and usually one worded answers, it did not discourage our host from asking follow up questions. Almost like he was extricating information from Charlie about his entire life back home.

The second Charlie was done eating, Aro whisked him away. It seemed that our illustrious host did not break bread with us and chose to conserve with my father instead, without so much as allowing me to get a word in edgewise.

Since I barely touched my plate, I was left behind with a strict order from my father to finish my breakfast.

Aro, with Charlie beside him, their feet already waltzing towards the door, told me to remain in the dining hall until Armin would come to collect me and grant me a tour of the mansion. He specifically stressed that I shouldn't gallivant in this grand palace alone.

And then I was left in the dining hall all by myself.

I tried not to protest. Besides, that man couldn't keep me away from my own father the entire time. Right?

Do you know that feeling you get in the back of your head? That weird tingling sensation that numbs a part of your scalp beyond any hint of sensation, and your brain simply refuses to work in its normal capacity, and causes the tips of your fingers and toes to prickle in the most unsettling way possible to the point where you lose nerve function in those areas? Yeah .. that feeling! Well multiply it by twenty folds and you get my exact sentiment at being caught in the certain predicament I was in.

Almost as if my brain has seen something that made no sense it just refused to process information, while at the same time someone tossed a bolt into the gears that caused all the signals in my head to run sluggish at sending proper commands for my limbs to respond accordingly.

Or … or it could be the fact that my instincts are recognizing danger so foreign to me that I had no capacity of experience to work around it and resolve it accordingly without making a total ass of myself. Especially since I was in a large mansion in the middle of literal nowhere, with no dependable rescue line, in a country I have never been to before.

So it seems pretty stupid now, and I fully acknowledge that I probably shouldn't have wandered by myself, especially when I was told not to.

I could easily blame it on my rebellious teenage stubbornness. But there was a different between rebellion and disobedience towards others that winds up getting yourself shot in the foot – in the metaphorical sense of course.

Yes, I am very much aware of the insanity of my actions. But like the curious cat, I couldn't sit still without the need to discover that which I felt was a hidden secret about to unfold.

And when I sat in the dining hall for over an hour with no one to stumble upon my presence. I craftily deemed it a plausible excuse that I was left to my own devices. Without a second of hesitation I left the dining hall and proceeded among the many corridors that lead to the inner recesses of the mansion.

I only wandered for a few minutes but instantly a realization happened upon me as I carefully crept through each hallway. Minding the fact to ensure the path was unoccupied before I endeavored in my selected route.

While the entire place was beautiful in its mixture of classical baroque décor, paintings, and furnishings, it couldn't hide the ancient gothic high ceiling architecture that echoed the sound of my footsteps, or the suspiciously tinted windows that shielded the sunlight from penetrating the space.

Not to mention the heavy looming feeling of being watched from beyond the walls was nerve-wracking all own its own. But it could just be my own paranoia, though I highly doubt it, as I never pegged myself to be so paranoid. But it seemed like I was the only one feeling extremely uncomfortable in this castle that looked much more like a historical museum than some man's home.

And speaking of said man, I still can't believe Charlie knows someone like him. He so does not fit the suitable characteristics of the usual people Charlie befriends. And while he did say that he hasn't seen this friend for so many years. I just can't imagine a much younger Charlie sipping beers with this person who looks beyond refined in grooming. He could almost pass for a modern day nobility.

But that was beside the point …

As I seemed to have been walking for nearly an hour, something suddenly dawned on me. This twist and turns of corridors didn't seem to end. No matter how many turns I took, I had yet to come to an end for any of the hallways I ventured in.

Almost like I was walking in one long circle that looped on each other, making it impossible to come to an end. This realization was further confirmed when I felt a sense of repetition, and it was even truer when I confirmed that I had passed this very same hallway already because there was a large landscape painting of snow covered mountains that I was sure I passed by already. So that finally meant one thing; I was lost. And if I didn't find my way out of this loop soon, they would be discovering my body, leaning against one of the walls, dead from starvation.

I did the only thing I could do. I kept walking and came to the end of the passage once again, where the loop started, where I ventured to the left. But I had yet to take the right. So I proceeded there instead.

Perhaps I should have heeded the advice and didn't resolve to wander on my own. But what's done is done.

I kept walking, and the more I did the more I noticed something different with this corridor than the others. There were no doors in sight. Absolutely none. Like I was walking in a tunnel. If I wasn't claustrophobic before, then I was sure I was going to develop the fear in that very moment.

I started walking faster, hoping to reach another turn in the hall. But I didn't. I felt a sense of hysteria beginning to set in and walked faster.

And just when I was on the verge of a panic attack I finally found that dead end I was looking for. It was in the form of the largest set of doors I had yet to see. They practically reached from floor to ceiling. And they were wider than a book shelf, and possibly thicker than my body's width.

The handle of the door looked more like a door brass knocker. I had to use two hands to pull it, and since I lacked any upper body strength, I managed to pry it open only enough for me to slither through a small crack.

I honestly didn't know what I would be finding behind the door. And yet I had no certain expectations. This mansion didn't exactly set any prospect for anticipation. And what I saw as I stepped into the room couldn't fathom any sense of understanding.

The room was large, long, and looked grand enough to be a ballroom. Except the mosaic windows were casting huge rays of colored sunbeams from the tinted glass. The floor was indoor cobblestone, dusty and wet from the leaking moisture from the ceiling. Large black iron chandeliers hung from above. They looked old enough to be around before light bulbs were even invented, which meant candles were used instead.

The room was empty except for a row of columns. At least that is what I thought. But as my curious eyes searched the distanced into the other side of the room, I noticed through the filter of weak sunlight and the dancing specks of dust in the air, that there was two object on the other side of the room.

Careful not to slip on the wet stone, I walked across the room. As I approached the other side, I saw two chairs. Carved out of stones and nothing else. When I walked closer I noticed they were placed on a step, like a platform.

I came at a stop between the two chairs and turned around to face the direction they were positioned in, facing the entire room.

That is when it suddenly dawned on me. There weren't just plain anachronistic, stone chairs. They were thrones!

They were nothing fancy, not like how royalty sat as depicted in paintings of monarchs or the like. They were humble. Inferior to their meant status. And it made me wonder what kind of sovereign regulated from such unpretentious vantage point.

"You aren't meant to be here." A voice echoed from one of the columns to my right.

"Oh my GOD!" I shrieked and jumped as though I was struck with lighting down my back. Clutching hands to my chest and trying to stop my heart from exploding.

I searched for the source of the voice. And from behind one of the pillars emerged a young girl, probably in her early teens. Her hair was styled in a Dutch braid. Her clothes were dark, strict, conservative, and a little outdated for a girl her age in this modern time.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I got lost and just kept walking. I hoped I may find my way back to my room, but instead I ended up here." I spoke with a matter of fact voice and a deadpan expression. Hoping that my act of playing dumb would save me from the fact that I was lying through my teeth, and that I had actually intended on snooping around.

The girl stared at me for the longest of time. It was unsettling how she refused to approach me, and instead lingered beside the large pillar that shielded her from the light so that I wasn't able to have a better look at her. The only thing I could make out of her face from the shadows was that she had light brown hair and extremely whitish skin.

She started tapping her kitten heel incessantly. "Wandering about unescorted in a stranger's home is most unwise. Were you not assigned a staff to assist you during your stay?" The girl stated in sharp tone that was a rough juxtapose to her soft lullaby voice.

Caught off guard by the hostility of her attitude I became rattled. "I was … but …"

"What is his name?" She practically hissed at me.

"What?"

She snorted impatiently. "The chap that was assigned to be your cortège."

"Why? What are you going to do?" Just because I acted foolish doesn't mean I was going to drag an innocent young man down with me.

"Incompetence is not acceptable. We intend to see to that." The way this little girl spoke, if I hadn't seen what she looked like I would have assumed I was talking with an adult.

I sighed. "Look, it was my fault. Don't blame it on the staff if the guests are being difficult – I decided to venture on my own without an escort. It is all my blame, ok?" I confessed.

"Madam! There you are! I had been looking everywhere for you!" Armin emerged from the large doorway I came through a while ago, and rushed towards me.

He only stopped when he spotted the girl behind the column and his face instantly paled.

"You," the girl directed her attention at the young man. "The next time you decide to leave one of the Master's guests unattended like this, you will be out of a job so fast you will not even have time to search for another occupation before you realize your name within the Northern Hemisphere has been blacklisted from every employment agency for the duration of your lifespan."

I'm not one to excessively curse but holy shit! Did all of that just come out of a little girl's mouth?!

Even from this distance I could see Armin's Adams apple bopping in panic. His green eyes wide and petrified.

"Well, don't just stand there." The girl snapped.

Armin jumped. "Yes, right away!" he walked over to me and held his arm out to me. His emerald eyes imploring me to take it.

Heck, even I wanted to leave and be away from that little devil child. I tucked my hand in the crease of Armin's elbow and he practically sprinting towards the door, dragging me with him as we left the little nefarious girl behind in that arcane room.

Once we gained some distance, without stopping I turned my head towards Armin and asked him; "Who was that?!"

"That, Madam, was Lady Jane. The Master's darling niece." And that was all the information I got about that frightening girl.

A lady she may have been, but she was far from a "darling". And Charlie wanted me to spend my time with her?! Honestly, I'd rather be boiled alive.

For the rest of the noon and after, Armin took me to the extensive garden at the back of the mansion. Since the cold weather didn't allow us to linger for long as I appreciated the beauty of the man-made landscape, we took a brisk stroll instead, before I was shown the two-story massive greenhouse at the end of the garden.

Inside the greenhouse it was much warmer. The temperature was artificially adjusted to simulate a warmer climate. It was so warm in fact that I had to take off my coat for I would have otherwise sweated from the heat.

And once I saw what was inside the enormous greenhouse I understood why. It was quite literally a Shangri-La of floral paradise. Speechless. I was utterly speechless by the beauty of the entire space. There were so many flowers, I wouldn't be surprised if there was literally every breed of flower brought here from all across the world.

"Wow …" was the only word I could articulate.

A place this beautiful could only have been seen in illustrations of a fairytale book – Or if I wanted to get technical, a billion-dollar budget CGI affect. Because again; oh my god, I had no words to even begin to describe this Eden on earth, except for one; perfection.

Armin then led me towards a small bridge over a pond, where there were water lilies floating on the surface. It looked like a stunning vision from a Monet painting.

"Who made this place?" I asked in wonder.

"The Master is quite the botanical savant. It is one of his many leisure interests." Armin replied.

Huh. Apparently there was more to Aro than the surface that meets the eye.

At the end of our path we came to a gazebo canopy. Under it there was a table setting with a meal arranged on it.

"What …"

The young man beside me was quick to explain. "The Master thought you might like to enjoy your lunch in here."

I frowned. "Weren't we supposed to be having lunch together, with my dad?"

"I'm afraid not. The Master and your father have left the estate for the day. They shan't be back until supper."

I tried not to show how much that sparked an anger in me. On the outside I looked like a stunned shell, but on the inside a volcano just erupted.

As Armin mentioned, my dad and his 'friend' returned just in time for supper. I was in the sitting room in my suite reading when Armin came to fetch me, and escort me to the dining hall.

The only words that came out of my mouth was a greeting to my dad and our host. But beyond that I was as quiet as a mouse all through the meal.

While our elusive host was conversing away about the surprise fishing trip he setup for Charlie on a luxury small fishing boat at a lake not too far from the estate. I noticed that, said host, kept looking at me at non-sporadic intervals even when I was blatantly attempting to not join the conversation.

My anger fizzled to annoyance by that point.

One thing that caught my eye though, was that our host shuffled his food around the plate but never took one single bite. In fact, just when he lifted the fork to his mouth, he immediately lowered it when Charlie wasn't looking and I pretended to be focused on my own plate. But I was keenly concentrating through my peripheral vision on the man's every movement.

After supper, we moved to the parlor room where Aro offered my dad a nightcap. And I was served a cup of tea with milk.

For a while we settled into a comfortable silence as the only sound that filled the room was the crackling wood from the hearth we sat in front of.

I took the opportunity and finally spilled what I have been dying to say since yesterday.

"So … how did you meet?" I blurted the question unwaveringly.

Beneath my lashes I carefully peered at the two men sitting before me.

I initially wanted to build up to that question, making it completely innocent that I was even inquiring on the bizarre start of this friendship Charlie shared with the dark nobleman.

But lack of sleep foiled my carefully calculated attempt at espionage while dampening my mood. And that did not even include the spectacular way I was figuratively left on my own during the previous meal – Because that final incident was the nail to the coffin that sealed my current despicable disposition.

The pale man shot me a look from the corner of his eye. But then looked to my father, when Charlie cleared his throat and sat up straight before speaking.

"I suppose I should've expected you to be asking this, Bells. It was probably – what? Thirteen, fourteen years ago?" Charlie answered while looking to Aro for sanction.

Aro gave a slight, leisure nod of his head. "Something along those lines." He established with amusement while verbally retreating to allow Charlie to continue.

"Anyway – you were turning four that year, I think. Renee and I were just coming to an agreement that you were old enough to be put on a plane by yourself, so we can manage your visits with me more often." Charlie was mildly grinning up to this point, but the look of contentment darkened to a sobering state as he continued. "It was also around the time your grandma and grandpa were not doing so well."

I instantly perked up to sit a little straighter in my seat and leaned toward my dad. Stunned that Charlie was even talking about such a sensitive subject, which he shied away since as long as I have known him. The only information I ever knew of my grandparents, his parents, were from the photo albums he had tucked away in one of the cupboards in the living room.

I found them one day while I was cleaning, and he caught me looking through them. Charlie only sat down with me as we flipped through the pages, never uttering a single word – beyond what they looked like; I never knew anything about my grandparents.

So the fact that I am hearing for the first time something related to the time they were alive, even in their final days was like a shock to my conscious. Even as Charlie was speaking, he looked like he was in a trance, like he was seeing scenes playing in front of him as he was talking. "I spent a significant duration of my time at their place more than I did at my own home – eventually I moved back with them because I knew they didn't have much time left. Every moment counted. Every day was precious." He suddenly begun to blink rapidly and the hazy look in his eyes cleared away as he was transported back in the present. He fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, as he cleared his throat again. This wasn't easy on him.

I glanced briefly in Aro's general area to find his head turned away from us, gazing at the burning flames. Yet, his eyes didn't look focused on anything in particular, instead they looked haunted.

"Renee and I postponed starting your visits because we both agreed that it was no environment fit for a child to be in. Even though I wanted them to see you one last time – your grandma's Alzheimers was getting worse by the day. Half the time she didn't even know who I was." As Charlie said those last words I saw Aro press his lips into a thin line. Which indicated he was listening, and his expression was that of empathy to my father.

"And your grandpa, he eventually had to be hospitalized as his liver was failing. So even then I was running between their house and the hospital. Until the doctor recommended your grandma should be checked as an inn-patient also." Charlie lifted his free hand and wiped his face.

It was hard keeping my emotions in check, especially after finally knowing something about my grandparents. Only to realize how devastating it was on my dad.

I turned to Charlie to see him looking down at his own hands, resting on his lap, still swirling the long forgotten drink.

"I just recently graduated from the academy but I put starting work on hold. The long hours would have kept me away from my parents – at that point the hospital became my second home. I spent so much time there that I greeted the staff on first-name basis."

Suddenly, my dad smirked and looked toward the dark man lounging on the seat beside him. "Now I remember … I ran into you the first time at the hospital." Charlie stated.

Aro raised a brow. "That took you long enough to recall." He mused.

Charlie lifted the crystal glass. "It's probably this cheap wine."

"How dare you – I'll have you know a vintage, that is!" Aro replied, appalled, though his lips curved into a half-smile, and his eyes twinkled with humor.

"It tastes like prunes rather than grapes." Charlie grunted.

Aro placed a hand on his chest. "You are wounding my vulnerable heart, Charles."

"Said the damsel resting on a fainting couch." Charlie grunted, lifting the goblet to his mouth to hide the growing smile.

"No appreciation … Vintage finery .." Aro muttered.

Suddenly something occurred to me in Charlie's story that didn't make sense. "What were you doing in a hospital all the way in Washington?"

Aro seemed to somber from his jubilant state as he met my gaze. "I heard that … an acquaintance of mine … was last seen there. However, I did not find him and instead had the pleasure of meeting your father."

"Who were you looking for there?" I asked.

I wasn't a genius at reading facial expressions. But I knew a fake smile when I saw one. And right now, Aro was doing his best to plaster on his most artificial congeniality. "A doctor who used to work there." He responded vaguely.

Charlie suddenly released a loud yawn and Aro took that as cue to rise from his seat fluidly. "Well ... it seems we should retire for the night. Don't you agree, Charles?"

My dad looked up at the man through lethargic eyes. "Yes, you're right." He agreed and placed the chalice on the table and stood up as well.

Aro placed a hand on my dad's shoulder and gently spoke. "Demetri will escort you to your rooms. Do get a good rest, my friend. We have a fully planned day tomorrow."

Out of nowhere Demetri suddenly approached my dad. I didn't even hear him come in.

"And Bella, I hope you don't mind if I escort you to your room." Aro held his elbow to me.

I frowned. "Where is Armin?"

Aro held a knowing smile. "Armin is otherwise preoccupied for the evening with his duties. I hope you don't mind my company for a brief time?"

An ominous feeling settled into the pit of my stomach. And when the darkly clothed man realized I wasn't going to take his proffered arm, he reached out and deliberately twined my hand around his elbow.

The walk to the suite was silent. Anxiety was emitting out of me in waves. And the hand clutching the dark, mysterious, and handsome man hung limp. Even when the soft material of his jacket was begging to be felt and caressed. I would be utterly mortified if our host caught me feeling his arm. Even if my intention was innocent.

Instead of focusing on the presence of the male beside me, I pondered on what my father revealed back in the parlor room.

He seemed very relaxed and open around this man. I never even seen him unwind to that degree even when he would come home, and it was just me and him.

And those details about my grandparents. I don't know how many times I dropped hints about them to Charlie but he never seemed to be able to spill their story no matter how painfully obvious I was showing my curiosity.

I tried once to find out about them from Renee. But she hardly ever mentioned her former in-laws. Apparently they despised her for being reckless with their son and getting irresponsibly pregnant at a young age. They believed that Charlie had a bright future and a career but she weighed him down with a child when he should have been discovering himself. Renee wasn't also shy to admit to me that the cold treatment Charlie's parents gave her was the final straw that got her to just leave my dad.

Oh god, I can't even imagine what Charlie must have been through. His wife walking out on him with his child. And then no sooner than that, his parents falling ill. And there was no one there for him.

And then my dad met Aro.

I don't know who this guy is, or what he is. But he was there for my dad when no one else was. And even though I believed they had nothing in common, their personality just seemed to make them laugh, joke, and get along like they were best friends all this time.

I hated to admit it, but it makes me see this mysterious man in a whole different light. And now that he is so very close to me as he escorted me to my room for the night, makes this entire situation morph onto a completely different atmosphere.

Oh god … why am I suddenly blushing?

We reached the door to my rooms, I released Aro's arm and turned to face him. He surprised me by gathering my hands in his leather encased grip. I looked down and I was momentarily transfixed on my hands held in his large palms. He gently squeezed my hands and ran his thumb over my knuckles.

I looked up at him and he suddenly smiled at me. My face got redder and my pulse began to quicken as I took a moment to simply gaze up at him. There was no denying that he was handsome. His long nose, square jaw and defined cheeks would be the envy of any model or actor that would throw endless wealth at plastic surgeons to obtain such well sculpted features.

For a second, I froze. This entire situation, it felt very familiar. Those features look familiar, as well. Like all this has happened before. My hands touching dark leather, being delicately caressed in a show of fondness. Those same features that I looked up at as I gazed at a man as unbelievably tall as Aro was.

It unsettled me even more when Aro lifted his brow as though he can literally hear every reaction within me.

And the next thing he did completely verified my intuition – Aro leaned down, and completely without warning, placed a kiss on the top of my head. If I was skeptical before, I can confirm now that I was experiencing a very strong déjà vu.

"It's not nice to pry in matters that should be buried in the past, my dear." He gently whispered over my head.

I stood there, practically paralyzed. While the darkly clothed man stepped back, with that genial smile still across his face.

"Sleep well, Bella." Aro gave a curt nod before he strolled away.

I watched him disappear down the hall until I could no longer see his form, before I went into my own room and closed the door securely behind me.

I didn't know if that was a word of caution for me, or a warning against me. I didn't know if he was referring to something specific, but based on what had transpired today, I would take it as a general statement.

However, clearly Aro didn't know me well enough. And I am not one to be so stubborn. But when I put my mind toward a task, I do not give up.

Today I have stumbled upon several vital discoveries. And I won't rest until I have the answers!