Chapter 8

The Test

Three weeks had passed, occasionally we ventured out into Seattle; keeping within Sonja's range, at a distance so she would be safe, but at the same time was so I could get used to the strength of her overpowering aroma – which in my personal opinion was not getting any easier. Over such time our eyes began to form into a mesmerising bloodstained-amber; and I found it strangely beautiful. We began testing our resistance around the Cullen's pet shape-shifter, Jacob. Even with the aroma of his blood it was quiet easy to resist as it was nearly over masked by his wet-dog scent, which made it almost impossible to even be close to him; but there was a disturbing comfort as the more time we spent around the shape-shifters, the easier it was becoming to be around them.

But then came the day and challenge of being in the presences of Renesmee – something I don't think even Edward was yet comfortable with –Yes, under my regular diet I managed to resist her but the circumstances were severely different. But since I had gone for so long without the taste of human blood; my hunger was now more severe, more savage, and I now craved for it even more desperately.

As Alec, Jane, and I were waiting outside, I paced back and forth feeling a little nervous; never in the short time that I'd known Renesmee did I ever wish to harm her, nor could I ever forgive myself if I did. Rustling hovered in the house as they prepared themselves, the shape-shifter was hard-heartedly sent outside – after all it would not be a test if it was purposely made easy for us – Carlisle's face then came to the glass nodding to signal us in; breathing in slowly, I glided up the steps with the twins flanking me.

Carlisle opened the door with an encouraging face. "No need to rush, Aro. Just take it slow and easy."

I nodded evenly as I turn towards the Cullens and Jacob; Bella and Edward were standing almost moulded together with the child in between them. As I edged forward the aura of blood was not as overwhelming as I thought, for her blood was equally matched by the power of her natural fragrance; but it was well masked by the shape-shifter's own aroma. Extremely slowly Bella and Edward edged through the crowd with Jacob guarding in front of them as an extra precaution.

Carlisle opened the door with an encouraging face. "No need to rush, Aro. Just take it slow and easy."

I nodded evenly as I turn towards the Cullens and Jacob; Bella and Edward were standing almost moulded together with the child in between them. As I edged forward the aura of blood was not as overwhelming as I thought, for her blood was equally matched by the power of her natural fragrance; but it was almost completely masked by the background smell of the shape-shifter's own aroma. Extremely slowly Bella and Edward edged through the crowd with fair Rosalie guarding in front of them as an extra precaution.

"Stand aside, Rosalie." Assured Carlisle, though the girl did not seem assured by his words.

"Rose." Said Edward, firmly. "It's alright."

"I'm not comfortable with this. I don't trust him," Dear Rosalie's eyes never left me, even as Carlisle tried to correct her for her distrust.

"Rosalie."

"It's too soon!" she spat.

"Don't worry, Rosalie; I can read his mind. I'll know." Replied Edward,

I smiled, and remarked. "And how convenient it is too."

The darling rose snuffed and very reluctantly moved aside; Bella looked at Edward for support, while Renesmee's eyes never parted from mine, as she looked at me with both interest and fear. Sweet Edward took his daughter and carefully gave her to me; the child, even though she was only six months old, appeared beyond her age – about nearly four years older, possibly older by months in a human rate. But I smiled at the child encouragingly and she managed to reply a shy smirk behind her hand; I lowered her down to Jane and Alec, with Bella leaning forward very slightly. The entire crowd took a step forward sharply when I rested my lips upon her hair and took in a deep breath.

I sighed with such relief; the smell was so soothing, and did in fact help. "So calming… and so deliciously comforting." I commented.

Renesmee raised her head and placed her left hand to my cheek; inside my head she planted memories of our last coming, through her thoughts I saw just how intrigued and how afraid she was of me.

"Are you still going to take me away from my family?" she asked in her frightened wind chime voice.

A genuine child-like smile stretched across my lips as I gently brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. "No, my dearest heart; not ever." Then, I could not help myself; as I lightly kissed her forehead.

Carlisle and Esme's faces lit up with happiness; and every other being sighed in relief as their defences slightly dropped.

Until Jane then asked, "If I may, Master?"

Bella stiffened in her defence as I passed the child to Jane. Jane took her firmly in her arms just like an older sister, though her face remained serious; Alec came to her side and stroked Renesmee's head but Bella, finally felt comfortable, when she quickly got her daughter back into her own hands.

"I think that went well." Sighed Carlisle, as he shook my hand and congratulated me. "You did it, Aro. You did it."

I turned to the twins. "Alec, Jane, I am so proud of both of you."

"Master," Replied Alec, with a bow of his head; while Jane grinned at her self-confidence.

But then something terribly unexpected happened when we all heard a vehicle pull into the drive way.

Dear Bella then shrieked under her breath. "Charlie!"

Carlisle grabbed my arm. "Quickly, get behind us."

The three of us hurried to the back of the room, Jane and Alec stood on either side of me with Jasper and Emmett standing quite close to us but within a comfortable range; we each took in as much clean oxygen as possible as Carlisle opened the door.

"Hello, Charlie." he welcomed.

"Hi Carlisle," he replied with Jacob sprinting in behind him, "Edward, Bella." Charlie nodded.

"Grandpa!" cheerfully gurgled Renesmee, much like a child her own age, as I saw that she was purposely hobbling into her grandfather's arms.

"Nessie!" The man fondly spun her above his head but then his eyes found us amongst the Cullens. "Oh I didn't realise you guys had company."

"That's alright, Charlie. You know you're always still welcomed here regardless," assured Carlisle, and then he turned to us. "This is an old friend of mine, Aro Voltago, and these are his twin children, Alec and Jane. They've just arrived here from their residence in Italy."

Judging from Carlisle's face, as well as everyone else's; I could tell that he had just invented his alibi only momentarily ago.

But I smiled kindly and bowed my head with acknowledgment to the human. "How do you do, Chief Swan?" I greeted.

"Italy huh? So are you a doctor there, too?" Charlie asked drolly.

Nearly all faces turned to me in an odd, anxious way; wondering what my reply was going to be but it only took moments to conjure up my response.

"No. I am a care-taker of the palace of Volterra, for I am the only remaining heir of the last king of Italy; but I am also a private collector." I panicked a little as I had used up a bit of my oxygen supply but looking at the response on Charlie's face, I could not help but be slightly amused as I felt that my feathery voice might have startled him a bit.

"Wow, Italian royalty, huh? And a collector, what do you collect?" he asked.

Placing my hands on Alec and Jane's shoulder, I replied, "I collect priceless treasures." My eyes immediately darted over to Edward's stare and my mind began to plead. "Edward, as proud as I am with Jane and Alec's restraint, as well as my own; I fear I cannot endure this much longer."

Instantly Edward went to Carlisle's side and whispered in his ear too quietly for human ears to hear, Carlisle then nodded.

"Um, Charlie if you want to stay with Bella and Renesmee; Aro and I were just going to go for a walk in the woods – we haven't seen each other for a while and we were just going to catch up."

Charlie nodded, and I gestured to my 'children' to head for the door; Alec took three steps ahead of us as I lightly clutched onto Jane's hand, and then Carlisle escorted us out the door.

"It was very nice to make your acquaintance, Charlie. Renesmee, my sweetling, you behave now."

When we were out of sight, we heisted into the woods to hunt, though Carlisle was most fearfully pleased with us.

"That was a bit too close for comfort." Pressed Carlisle; but he and I managed to get a few laughs out of our little charade.

"Old friend?" I chuckled to Carlisle.

He smiled. "Well what of your side of the story – Prince Aro Voltago." He mocked kindly.

We enjoyed ourselves for a while as we hunted; I still found the taste of animal blood to be disgusting but what was important was that the three of us had proven we were capable of restraining ourselves. Even though, as we had just witnessed, that in our absence of drinking human blood; it only made it more tempting for us to be in the presence of a human – but now had come the hardest part of the journey.