Chapter 3

Choice

The next few lazy weeks had passed since the confrontation with the Cullens, only they had been the slowest few weeks I had ever experienced; still only once did I expose myself to Corin's cravingly addictive gift but only once since I feared that if I exposed myself to her too much then she would overcome me.

But routines slowly began to fall back into place, though Caius's attitude was really starting to annoy, I only wished that he would behave a bit more civilized instead of carrying on like an adolescent child; but the remainder of coven managed to fall back into its usual ways, although I did notice that everyone was not exactly behaving the same... a growing tension had fallen over the Volturi.

Felix began to fret and question of the Volturi's authority and effectiveness over the world of vampires; sweet young Jane tiering her suffering in healthy outbursts, so to speak – hiding the anxiousness of this change by terrorising her victims more often – and poor Alec had fallen into a state of silence, only ever speaking when he was spoken to. Dear Marcus was the only one who was not fazed.

Something too began to happen in me; a hole of some sorts had begun to form and rot in my chest, it was so disorientated and it felt so strange having something form and grow inside me – this had never happened to me before and it was actually beginning to frightening me.

For days I hoped it would go away but it never did, my wife and a few of the other members began to notice the change in me too; somehow I had to escape from this, take my mind off it somehow – and thankfully, one particular special night had arrived.

Much to her surprise, I managed to sneak Sulpicia out of the palace; we strolled, arm in arm, around the town until we returned to the small fountain in the stone square, and in the still pool of the fountain, Sulpicia found little lit candles floating on pink, red, and purple flower candle-holders.

"Oh, Aro…" Gasping breathlessly. "Did you do this?" she asked happily.

Nodding, I replied. "You did not actually believe that my mind was so occupied that I would forget our own wedding anniversary, did you?"

She turned to me, with faint colours in her cheeks from the glow of the candles. "Aro, you remembered... but since when do we celebrate our anniversary?" she replied.

Tilting my head and smiling childishly, my palms comforted and brushed up and down her arms. "Since I wanted to remind my wife just how much I still loved her; this makes it three thousand, two hundred and forty-eight years… it is a long time, I realise, but time has not changed nor altered my opinion and affection for you. I still love you as strongly as I did the first time I laid eyes on you... la tua cantante."

She smiled slyly, and toyingly her fingers to pull on my necklace until her lips came only millimetres away from mine. "You know what else we haven't done in a long time… my prince of darkness." with her single finger from her free hand, she pulled me forward from the buckle on my belt.

Her hands came to my chest and unbuttoned my shirt, while my fingers began to unlace her dress; and I immediately took her in my arms and rushed out of the city to a nearby spot out of hearing range – for the sake of the other vampires in the city. That night had been one of the most pleasing I had had in the longest time; to me it equalled to the consumption of human blood, and together we lay in the grass outside the city by a small river, entwined in each other's arms.

Sulpicia chuckled and placed her hand on my cheek and she began a thoughtful conversation.

"Aro darling, I have been thinking about what you suggested... about what you asked of me all those nights ago, and well... maybe we could have a child. Bring a bit of life into the coven... maybe even an improvement towards Marcus's wellbeing?"

Grinning; I sat up with excitement – at first did I take notice of the small handfuls of upturned earth around us – but maintaining the contact as she continued.

"But I believe you would have to stay with the Cullens, perhaps they could teach you how to control your thirst around half breeds; but I think it would be best if I stayed here – for Athenodora's sake."

I half smiled to her. "So you want to have a baby?" I asked lightly.

She nodded. "My single regret is that I wish I could have given it to you in the first place... but yes, I do. I want to have a baby."

Overwhelmed I threw myself forward, kissing her fiercely but playfully. "My sweetling…" I panted. "My dearest one… my jewel…" I purred.

Sulpicia was enthusiastically persistent as she pushed down on my chest and pulled me closer as she now lay on top of me; clenching her thighs around my waist as she rocked back and forth, as I expressed my pleasure in a whispery rasp.

"I'll... travel to Forks," I breathed in her ear. "And of course find a woman who would be most suitable to host and grow the child; please tell the guard not to pursue after me, at least not for a month or two."

"I will but please just be careful," her blood ruby eyes were so full of joy, and then sweetly added. "And at least take someone with you for protection; I could not bear if something were to happen to you."

Only two leading constants instantly came to mind. "The twins; I'll take the twins and they too can learn how to control their thirst."

We dressed decently; I stood and ran a few yards towards the city to enter their hearing range. "Jane dear, Alec; please come hither."

And within four and a half seconds they were right by my side.

"Master?" whispered Jane.

I leaned down and kissed Sulpicia's forehead. "I promise, I will not fail us... Goodbye, my Love."

And we once again, Jane, Alec, and I began the swift journey return to Washington.