2
ARO
The morning came too soon and Alice and the maid came bustling in and shooed me into the shower. They both bathed me and dried me off, and then Alice brushed my hair and left me to the mercy of the maid to massage me again and apply lotion to my skin. Edward left with Alice and then the maid chose a gown for me to wear, I had forgotten to ask about my underwear but the maid put the gown on me without any concern about what I should wear underneath.
"What about underwear?" I asked.
"You are not to ask questions or be concerned about anything milady,' she said, "My instructions are quite plain, what you have on is sufficient."
So this was planned, I thought to myself, is this to make me more appealing to Aro? Will he take off my gown as Edward liked to do? I thought not and was indignant, I would have to corner Alice or Edward at some point soon before they left, I decided.
Aro's assistant came for me and showed me back to Aro's office, Edward and Alice were already there and Edward stood up to greet me and sat me down near him, Aro was already present and he spoke to me.
"Bella, you are beautiful again and I can see why Edward cares for you so much, I also have a great affection for you, I'm deeply upset by how you were treated by my brother and his assistants and I feel they received their just reward."
"Thank you Aro," I said smiling, "I am grateful for your attention to me and your concern, it was a terrible ordeal and I was greatly abused, but I am recovering with my family's help." I tried to be as gracious as I could and I knew that Edward was pleased with my response.
"Well let's get down to business, I'm afraid I must tear my eyes from you temporarily but we have things which need to be said," Aro said and he smiled.
We discussed all the things which I needed to learn as a vampire, which included all that I had wondered about previously, such as how to disappear moving faster than the eye can see, and to travel through time and space etc. We also touched on my home study and how that was to be accomplished and why I must continue to be obedient and follow directions to the letter. I must ask only Aro to answer questions and he would choose whether or not to answer them, I couldn't discuss anything with anyone else and he might allow me to call Edward but not frequently. I could not wander around the castle unless I was escorted by whoever was designated by Aro and I couldn't leave the castle under any circumstance; most of the time I would be with Aro, and otherwise in my room studying. As far as sustaining me, a deer would be provided, and Aro would take me to where it would be, opening the doors in my room would provide plenty of fresh air and there was a pool in the castle for an opportunity to exercise; Aro would take me there too.
All this discussion took most of the time I had left with Edward and Alice and afterwards, Aro showed us through the castle; at least where I would be allowed to go. All the time Aro conversed with us but did most of the talking and then I was made to say goodbye without a chance for privacy and a chance to embrace Edward.
He kissed me briefly, "Goodbye my love I'll see you soon."
Then he was gone.
Aro put his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him and I walked with him.
"I know you're sad at this moment but I believe we will get along well," he kissed my cheek.
He took me to a room where there were several vampires and introduced me, not once letting me go, "These are my helpers, as far as your concerned Bella and they will assist me to instruct you, you will constantly be by my side and will attend me with any business except my sustenance; during that time you will remain in your room and you can study until I come for you or I send my assistant for you. My assistant's name is Vicente; he speaks only Italian with very few English words and that is why I chose him to help take care of you because you cannot communicate. I am who you must communicate with and as I can't read your thoughts you must tell me what they are in the same way you communicate your thoughts to Edward. The maid I provided has had strict instructions not to answer any questions you might have and she is human so she dares not defy me; don't put her in danger of her life; her name is Emma."
I shuddered to think I would be responsible for the death of someone so efficient, and he felt my shudder.
"Tell me what caused you to shudder, Bella please?"
He turned me towards him and studied my face and my eyes closely.
"I wouldn't want to be responsible for the death of a human, especially someone so efficient," I indicated.
"Ha, you are truthful, as well as beautiful, Edward taught you well, are you glad to be here?" he was suddenly enjoying having me say my thoughts.
"I am here because you want me to be, it doesn't matter what I think," I answered evasively.
"True," he enjoined, "But I still want to know your thoughts."
"I'm not happy and I already miss Edward but I am pleased that you're taking an interest in me enough to teach me and I'm grateful for your consideration," I was determined not to offend.
"Well said, but Edward tells me that your thoughts are tumultuous and so I want to hear everything you are thinking from now on, if I don't hear your voice beside me speaking your thoughts I will want to know why."
"Yes Aro," I said and started speaking my thoughts.
"You edit," he said, "We will go to your room and talk."
I was very nervous because my thoughts were what Edward had told me about Aro's feelings for me and I didn't want to bring that up, I realized he could read faces as Edward could and I knew I had no choice.
He pulled me along to my room holding my hand and once there he sat me down on a chair and pulled another up very close to the front of me so he could study my face.
"Now tell me what I want to know," he said looking directly into my eyes but I looked down, "Look at me," he directed and I complied.
As I looked in his face I saw the longing he had for me and I knew that Edward was right.
"Edward told me he read your thoughts yesterday and he said what they were," I swallowed, "As I am looking at your face at this moment I know what he said to be true, he said you love me."
"Did he also say what my intentions are?" he pursued.
"He said they were honorable and you will not force yourself on me or hurt me," I swallowed again as he continued to look at me.
"What was your response to Edward?" he continued to look at me and me him.
"I said I couldn't love anyone else but him,"
"Is that still your response?" he asked.
I looked down but he took hold of my face and persisted in looking at me and forcing me to look deep in his eyes.
"I don't know," I said truthfully because this man was beginning to mesmerize me.
He kissed me hard on my lips and I didn't try to pull back.
"Does Edward mind that I love you?" he asked.
"He said that if someone could love me the same as him and I could love them, he would allow it, he's willing to share me with such a person," I said, and knew what he would say to me next.
"Will you allow me to make love to you now, or is this too early," he asked still looking in my eyes, "I believe you now have affection for me and if you, do you will also love me."
My body screamed for him to make love to me, I couldn't understand why I was so mesmerized; I tried to pull away but couldn't and then he kissed me again, this time I kissed him back. He stood me up and removed the chair he had used without taking his eyes off me and I continued to look at him, he removed his robe and released my gown so that it fell about my ankles then he lifted me and laid me on the bed, climbing on top of me.
"You're ready for me," he said as he caressed my body.
"No," I said, "I mean yes, I mean I don't know," I didn't know what I wanted or what I should do; he caressed me some more.
"I'm confused, I shouldn't, I love Edward, please don't make me do this," I said.
I made a half hearted attempt to push him away.
"You want me," he said seductively, "Tell me the truth, what are you thinking?"
His hands touched my breasts, brushing my nipples, and then he rained kisses on my neck, moving down my body to my breasts.
"I, I'm thinking…," I started to say.
His tongue touched my nipple and I gasped.
"Yes my dear, you're thinking what?"
"I'm thinking we shouldn't do this," I managed to get out.
"That's not really what your thinking, is it?"
He was suddenly looking into my eyes again.
"No," I admitted, I'm thinking you should make love to me Aro."
He did then and I responded to him much to his delight. He was forceful and yet gentle with me, I knew he loved me and wasn't just using me, I didn't believe I could love two men the same but I found myself loving Aro. He was not the same as Edward in his lovemaking but he pleased me almost as much and I didn't feel ashamed that I'd allowed it.
I groaned with pleasure at his caresses and while he was inside me, he examined my body.
"How many bites do you have, my dear one?" he asked.
"Three," I replied, the one on my neck is Edward's when he changed me and this one on my breast is from Caius when he used me. I also have one on my hand from James."
"Tell me about James," he said.
"James lured me to a room where he attacked me, breaking my leg and my ribs and cracking my scull. He bit me as Edward and his family came to rescue me," I explained.
"Were you still human then?" he asked.
"Yes, but Edward sucked out the venom so I wouldn't change, he wanted me to stay human at that time," I said.
"And this one?" he caressed my breast sending a thrill through my body.
"This one Caius did so he could own me and make sure none of the others had priority with me; they could use me at his bidding only," I told him.
"So these two bites, you would prefer not to have?" he asked.
"I would prefer it," I said and at that time he moved himself further inside me and made me gasp.
"Am I hurting you," he asked alarmed.
"No indeed, you are giving me pleasure," I said smiling at him.
"You are pleasing an old man so much, by accepting my love, even though you are so young and beautiful," he said
"You mesmerized me Aro, or I wouldn't have consented so soon, you became irresistible the way you looked at me, I found I couldn't refuse. I think Edward knew that I would give in easily," I said, and smiled again.
"What did he say to you?" Aro asked.
"He said, we'll see, and he has a knowing look which means it will happen." I replied.
"You love him very much, I can tell," he commented.
"I can't live without him, so please don't take me away from him or I'll pine," I said.
"I'm willing to share as he is," he said. I felt an overwhelming sense of love for him at that moment and pulled his face towards me and kissed him, "I love you Aro," I said. "I had a vision that I would be in this bed with someone other than Edward and I was so afraid of what you planned to do with me."
"This is exactly what I planned," he smiled.
"I didn't want to be used again, and I was afraid, that you would do that to me but Edward promised you would take care of me. You are so gentle and kind to me, so different than Caius and the others," I said meaningfully.
"The difference is that I love you and I want to own you too, do you mind if I make my mark on your other breast," I nodded and he held my breast and bit down enough to make me wince and causing it to sting greatly, he kept making love to me and he was proud to have his mark on me, he kissed me there and then on my mouth and I kissed him back, I felt very peaceful and happy.
He pulled me up off the bed then and helped me dress and he replaced his robe, he ran me through the castle telling any one we met that he had conquered me and I loved him. We both laughed, he kept kissing me and twirling me around and he kissed me wherever we happened to be, whenever he felt like it. As it turned out his bedroom was adjoining mine through the locked door, which now he unlocked and I was free to go between his room and mine.
"You are now my queen," he said.
He had business appointments to take care of and he kept me close to him in his office as he dealt with them, he then took me back to the room where the other vampires were and started teaching me; it was very difficult to comprehend what I had to learn but he was very patient with me.
Marcus came in to meet me and kissed my hand, "I see I'm meeting the girl who caused the demise of our brother, you are most definitely sexually alluring; Aro has chosen well are you pleased with him?"
"I love him," I replied simply.
"Our brother Caius took you but without the same effect as Aro's love making?" that was a question.
"He didn't love me, he used me and abused me along with his cronies," I said this with feeling.
"What did he do which was so revolting to you?" he pursued.
"It's hard for me to discuss," I said and looked at Aro for relief.
"Edward told me that Carlisle feels it would be better for you to talk about this, Carlisle will be here tomorrow to check on you and I will ask him at that time if we should pursue this line of questioning," Aro said, "I'm sure what Edward said was true, and therefore we will insist you open up your mind to these horrors with a minute by minute account but for now you are reprieved."
I sighed with relief but knew it would come eventually.
"Jane is greatly missed by one of us and it will be good for him to participate, when you relieve your mind," Marcus said.
"Carlisle's coming tomorrow?" I asked.
"Yes, he's your physician and you are still ill," Aro answered.
"Will he approve of you and me loving each other?" I wondered.
"Does it matter?" he asked.
"No, I suppose not, but I don't want to offend him, he's my father in law and I care."
"Bella, vampires have different rules than humans and it's normal for men and women to have more than one mate so long as there is approval by all parties concerned." Aro said smiling.
"Do you have another mate?" I asked with concern.
"Not for many years, but if I did would you deny me, you now have two?" he said smiling.
"I would be very jealous, I want you all to myself and don't want to share you with anyone, even though you must share me," I said in a small voice.
Aro and Marcus both laughed out loud.
"You are fortunate at this time; I have desires for no one but you and since there has been no one as appealing as you for several hundred years, I think you are safe," he kissed me, pulling me close.
I sighed with relief and they both laughed again.
"I think, Aro, you have definitely won her heart, what's on this bracelet?" he asked as he saw it.
They both looked closely at it.
"Edward gave me this heart before we were married to represent him," I said.
"And the wolf, that is so finely made?" Marcus asked.
"My friend Jacob gave me that," I said not wanting to discuss werewolves.
"Is this Jacob a special friend," Aro asked.
"Edward left me for eight months, thinking it would be better for me not to live in the world of vampires and during that time, Jacob was there for me as a friend." I said.
"I suspect he was or is more than just a friend, Bella," Aro looked into my face.
"He loves me and I him, but we never made love together, Edward and I went to his wedding before we came here, his wife is already pregnant."
Edward allowed you to love him?" he questioned.
"Jacob loved me, but he forced me to kiss him in order for me to recognize that I loved him, it was to no avail because Edward was my only true love at that time, Edward is so unselfish, I don't deserve him but yes he is aware of my love for Jacob," I answered truthfully.
"May I ask why, Edward returned to you?" Marcus now asked.
While Edward was gone, I was very unhappy and did some stupid things, such as riding a motorcycle, and jumping off a cliff into the ocean," I said.
"Why would you do that?" Aro asked this time.
"I found that if I did something daring, as in extreme sports, I would hear Edward's voice and he would be angry with me. When I jumped off the cliff, I almost drowned and Alice saw what I did in her vision, and came to check on me, Edward thinking I had drowned came here to die and you know what happened then?" I said.
"Ahh, yes," Aro remembered, "The first time I saw you and smelled your scent; I was very sad that Caius wanted you dead and I was pleased we allowed you to live. You were very brave for a human girl and allowed me to touch you, your scent and your touch remained with me until now and I thought of you often; now at last you're mine," he said this triumphantly, "Edward and Alice sent your photograph to me recently to assure me you were no longer human, I was overwhelmed by your beauty and showed the picture to everyone, professing my desire for you; Caius and Felix were obviously affected by the photo and I believe Jane was jealous enough to want to harm you. She had always had my deepest affection but not enough to love her as I love you, they plotted together and I believe Jane had every intention to kill you when the others had had their fill; I thought Jane and Alec was a couple, but she must have lusted for me as well."
Marcus spoke next, "Is Jacob human?" he asked.
I hesitated before I replied.
Aro pulled me towards him and made me look at him, "What is it about Jacob, you don't wish us to know?" he asked.
I couldn't answer.
"He knows you're a vampire, doesn't he?" Marcus prodded.
"Please don't ask me?" I pleaded.
"Tell me something else about Jacob," Aro wanted me to tell him.
"He belongs to the Quilieute tribe of American Indians," I conceded.
"And they have their legends?" Aro asked.
"Yes, they do," I replied.
"Concerning wolves?" Marcus was putting the puzzle together.
I didn't answer again.
"So Jacob isn't completely human, then, an enemy of the vampire but he loves you, knowing what you are?" Aro finished the puzzle, "You are an amazing child, and you never cease to surprise us, you weave an intricate web of mystery around yourself and you become more desirable the more I learn about you. Let's see if I have this straight, you became a vampire of your own free will, correct?' I nodded, "You cannot stand to drink human blood because it makes you ill, correct?" I nodded again. "You interact well with humans and for the most part, they don't appeal to you except as friends, correct?' "Yes, I said. "You gallivant around with werewolves and even love one of them, correct?" I didn't answer. "Yes or no?" Aro persisted. "Yes," I conceded. "You intrigue me," he finished.
Marcus changed the subject with more questions.
"What of your parents?" he asked.
"They're both alive," I said.
"I assume they have no idea what you have become, is that correct?" Aro asked.
"Yes, Aro," I answered.
"How are you planning to explain you absence to them?" Marcus asked this time.
"I saw my father at Jacob's wedding, he was a little drunk so he didn't notice any change in me. I'm more concerned about my mother, she's much more observant." I said.
"Did your parents meet your in laws when you married Edward?" Aro asked.
"Yes but they didn't suspect what they were, my father knew the Cullen's before I did and my mother was enthralled with Carlisle's wife, Esme. She would notice even a slight change in me, especially if she touched my skin," I explained.
"So, I ask again…," Marcus started to say but I interrupted.
"We're planning a skiing get together at Christmas with Edward's family and mine, we'll be wearing sweaters etc. most of the time and I'm sure Edward will keep me to himself otherwise, she'll be amazed at my change in appearance somewhat but hopefully she won't touch my skin; we sent her the same picture you received and so she will be more used to my appearance when she sees me," I concluded.
"And who devised that little plot?" Aro smiled in a knowing way.
"It was me," I said simply.
"Amazing as I said before," Aro said shaking his head.
Marcus wasn't finished, "Did your parents learn of your abduction?" he asked.
"Yes of course, it was in the newspapers and my father is a police chief."
"So everyone knows that you were abducted by vampires?" he asked.
"Of course not, the Cullen's involved the police because I was gone for so long, but they had some help finding me from another source, and then they are used to covering up where I'm concerned." I said.
"Another source, hmm," Marcus said, "That wouldn't have involved Jacob by chance?" he questioned.
I didn't answer, so they obviously determined that to be in the affirmative.
"So explain this cover up operation," Aro was interested.
"The three vampires were disposed of by the Cullen's etc. and then there was a dead hiker." I said, not wanting to be reminded.
"How was a hiker involved?" Aro asked.
"Hikers were what the vampires used for food," I said, they refused to allow me to have deer and so I became weak and couldn't perform as well for them. They decided that I should partake of human blood too, so this hiker was for me. All the hikers were made to have sex with me before they died and this one was in the act, when I was told to bite him; he was for some reason mesmerized by me and pleaded with me to bite him too, I refused and so Caius had Jane bite him while he was still inside me and they made me swallow some of his blood. The blood made me sick and I cried out for Alice before I blacked out; the blood was covering me. The Cullen's made the cover up to suggest that the hiker was one of my abductors who had been shot by the others, who had escaped. It was decided that I was blindfolded and even though that wasn't actually true, it made sense for me to be unable to describe my abductors to the police. Somehow they made the bite look like a gunshot and traces of semen from all the dead hikers was found on the floor of the cabin, even though it had been washed away with snow by the abductors. Carlisle examined me and told the police, he only found semen inside me from the dead hiker and they wondered why there was no other, I told them they had put snow in my vagina, which melted and washed me out; they did put snow there but of course it didn't melt." I broke off, unable to continue.
Aro and Marcus both frowned deeper as I had continued my story. I know they were both disgusted.
"These three vampires did all this to you?" Aro spoke slowly and deliberately.
"And much more," I said, "They had several weeks of horror for me which was continuous, without a break for me," I said quietly, wondering if Aro would be unable to make love with me now.
Marcus spoke, "I didn't think our brother was capable of such torture," he said and sounded stunned, "Why would they do this to her, an innocent child?" he shook his head.
"If you don't want me now…?" I began, speaking to Aro.
"Why wouldn't I want you?" he frowned at me.
"Because I'm unclean; damaged goods etc." I said sadly.
"There was nothing unclean about the way you allowed me to make love to you my dear and I'm sure Edward feels the same way, I feel honored that you allowed me inside you, not just once but again and again. I look forward to that opportunity many times more, not to abuse you but because I love you." He pulled me to him and kissed me fervently, I kissed him back, wanting him.
Marcus smiled, "I think she's had enough interrogation for one day Aro, she needs a well deserved break don't you think?"
"I think a break might be in order but we still have things to do, we'll spend a short time in our apartment but you still have school study and there is a deer we need to catch," he said.