"Ah, Edward. It has been some time." Aro smiled thinly, standing from his seat as I walked through the large open doors. The servants at the side bowed their heads, though I had paid no attention to them. "Won't you join me for dinner?" He asked. I tilted my head, grabbing the seat across the table just a young girl came in from the side door. She had a large silver plate, two goblets of blood on them.

She could have only been eleven…

I watched as she set one of the goblets down in front of me, bowing her head as her blue eyes casted down and away.

"Do you like her, Edward?" Aro asked, snapping me from the little girl. "She will be available when she is thirteen." He watched me carefully, his laced fingers dipping under his chin. "I would make an early exception with you, but your track record with young girls proves to me otherwise that you are rather… Incapable."

I did not say a word.

I lifted my goblet and took a sip, letting the blood trickle down my throat as if I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a matter of fact – it was repugnant. It was stale and bitter as if it came from an elder being. Not like Bella's. Bella's was light but heavy – sweet but salty. Young and fresh. Her blood was nothing but magnificent, the only thing that I would ever enjoy from now on.

"How is your donor doing?" He asked as he took a large gulp, a trickle of blood running down his chin just as his tongue swiped out to catch it.

"She is fine." My voice was hard.

"No problems? Not sick of her just yet, Edward?" Aro smirked.

"Not just yet." I tempted.

"Carlisle Cullen's new stock will be coming in. I will surely provide you with a new one. You can trade Victoria in if you would like." He said, setting the goblet down as his long fingernails raked against the unused plates at the table.

"I'm still satisfied with Victoria, at the current moment…" I trailed off. "Perhaps when another stock comes in?"

"Very well." He nodded.

Victoria.

I had not seen her for two months. Not since the night she tried to hurt Bella. Not since I had threatened her with death and handed her a stack of cash to get out of my sight. I had talked to her once last month. She had run out of money and she was somewhere in Florida. I sent her more, nearly half of a million. That should get her through several years. Years I would not have to see her. Years I would not have to worry about her coming to Aro.

I had hoped.

Only a handful of people knew of Bella's presence in my home. Aro was not one of them.

I was careful who I told. Irina would not say a word for she had no use to tell Aro. My full trust was in my workers. The only one I needed to worry about was Victoria. It would be known as blackmail for her. She would see it as a way to get back at me, but she has luckily not figured that out yet.

Another part of it is her fear. She knows what will happen if she says. I have of course threatened this to her multiple times.

If she says a word, she is dead.

I would hunt her down.

Kill her.

Slowly.

I would not give her the mercy that she would beg for.

Maybe it was risky. Maybe I should have ended her when I had the chance. But even I wasn't that heartless. If she keeps her lips tight, we will not have a problem. Aro was still hopelessly blind. He may have his men tracking Alec, or tapping into my home phone but for now he knew nothing. To him, I was still with Victoria. And Bella was still at the Cullen's.

"I hear you went to Ireland this past weekend." He murmured, running his fingers along the silk of his robe. "Did you know Alec De Luca was there as well?"

"I had ran into him, yes." I said with a nod, letting nothing slip through the cracks.

"He is being watched, you know." He told me.

"I know." I said with a nod.

"My men lost him in Romania. It wasn't until yesterday I found out he was in Ireland. So strange that you two were there at the same weekend, isn't it?" He asked, his eyebrow raising. He was baiting me. I knew this. It was something Aro did.

"I went with Victoria. Her roots are from Ireland. We were visiting her great grandmother's house for Thanksgiving. What Mr. De Luca does with his time, is not my problem." I had shrugged.

"It is just strange, is all." He said, but then let it go. "How is my dear Esme?"

Another lie.

"She is fine." I nodded, my answers short. He did not know that Esme was not in Hilo with me. He had no idea I had reunited her with Carlisle, something that was forbidden. Something that was worthy of death in Aro's eyes.

"Edward you seem to not be taken with the blood." He noticed as the goblet sat untouched. "Is it not enough for you?"

"It is rather trite." I said, standing from my seat. "If you don't mind, I have a call to make. May we finish this conversation tomorrow before the meeting?"

I knew I was being interrogated. He was attempting to pull me apart and dissect me. He knew nothing about Bella, nothing about Victoria, nothing about Esme, but he had suspicions. Aro always has suspicions. But I've come to learn he never acts unless he is a hundred percent sure. He watched me carefully but had nodded his head, waving me off with his thin white hand. I stepped away from the table but caught a glance back to the little girl who stood near the door. She watched me for a moment, our eyes meeting, until she looked back down in shame.

-TSIPWR-

"What is he checking up on?" Bella asked as I walked down the empty street. My phone was to my ear and I could hear her doing something. Cleaning, perhaps? I heard the running of water in the background and I had realized that it was the tub.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm about to take a bath, why?" She asked.

"Are you naked?" I smirked.

"Are you seriously asking me that over the phone?" She said, but I heard the playfulness in her tone.

"Yes."

"I haven't undressed… Yet." She trailed off.

"I wish I were there." I told her honestly, leaning against an old home. The fog was rolling in through the alleys, the moon setting down as the sun peaked just over the horizon.

"Come home." She whispered.

"Not just yet." I sighed. "Soon. Very soon, though."

"Why do you have to stay for the week? What is so important?" She asked as I could hear the sadness in her voice. It made me smile slightly, knowing she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. That she missed me…

"We have a meeting… A new set of donors are coming in. He likes me to be here. Things can get out of hand rather quickly with a room full of humans." I told her honestly. She was quiet for a moment, I could hear her biting her nails. "Bella? If I had a choice I would leave. But if I did, it would be suspicious."

"What is he so suspicious about? Me? About us? We will put on a show. He can come and see…"

"No, Bella. That is something neither you nor I am ready for." I told her sternly. She scoffed as I heard her running her hand through the water, feeling for the warmth, my chest aching as I wish I could be there with her.

"I am ready." She said.

But she wasn't.

Because she didn't know.

She only thought Aro was suspicious. She had no idea that he didn't know that she was living with me, sleeping with me, kissing me… That I wanted to mate with her. He had no idea because I gave him no indication.

If he knew…

If he found out…

We would be dead within twenty four hours. It was something I had hid from her, something I had lied about. I was not proud of it. In fact, I hated it. But I was protecting her. I knew what she would do if she knew. She would worry, she would fear. I didn't want her to be afraid.

"Bella, you are treading into dark waters. Again. I'll be home soon. And I won't have to leave again for quite some time." I promised, leaning from the building as I went up the ladder, now at the edge of the roof, watching as the sun rose into the sky.

"Don't be gone for too long." She whispered. She was worried about my hunger. The sip of blood in the goblet did nothing for me as my mouth salivated. I wasn't too hungry, having just left her a few days ago after feeding. But the farther I was from her, made it a little more unbearable.

"I'll be back before you know it." I said. "Take your bath. I'll call you tomorrow."

"I miss you." She piped just before we ended the conversation. I smiled and knew she was smiling too, undoubtedly biting her lip.

"I miss you more." I said.

"Not true." She said sternly.

"I miss you infinitely more, sweetheart. Trust me." I laughed.

"Not even possible." She was incredibly cute even over the phone when she tried to argue with me.

"Goodnight Isabella." I said, just before hanging up. There was an ache in my chest and I missed her terribly. I was so attached to her, hung up on her scent, consumed by every heartbeat. She had me in her little hands and I hoped she never let me go.

-TSIPWR-

"Quarter of a million!" Roman stood up, Stefan hissing from the side as they fought over a bid war over the young black haired girl Marcus held by the back of her neck.

"Money is useless!" Stefan hissed, throwing a chair against the wall as the group of humans screamed, crowding around each other for protection. I rolled my eyes, looking to Aro who was enjoying the dispute. The men went after each other, snarling and snapping, pushing and grabbing. Roman came out on top, Stefan losing an arm in the battle as he backed away.

It was gruesome and vile.

It was normal for me.

It was a Donor Auction.

The human girls cried on the stage, the men watching in horror as the voices began carrying through the room. Roman came up to the young girl who hid back behind Marcus. He cursed under his breath, grabbing her shirt and yanking her forward, ripping the fabric in the process. She was bra-less, her breasts showing as the men in the audience began hissing, riling up at the sight of a mortal woman.

Roman growled, the rest reacting.

"Silence!" Aro shouted, all vampires staring up to him on the podium. "Next, please." He said in annoyance, waving his hands.

A young boy, around fifteen with bright green eyes was next up. Marcus grabbed his arm, yanking him forward, the chains scratching along the stage as Marcus grabbed the bracelet on his wrist, reading off his name.

"Tyler Benson." Marcus said. Sasha, a female vampire, rubbed her tongue along her teeth. She stood tall, her brown hair waving behind he shoulders as no other takers stood. She was next to him in an instant, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she kissed the side of his neck. The boy was confused; he did not know whether to be aroused or scared.

She took him off, the two leaving within an instant.

Up next was a young girl. She was tiny, only eight it had seemed. She was African American, her skin a slight shade of brown. Her name would be place with a master, but she would not be able to go until she is of age. Unless whoever wants her, persuades Aro. But the way she moved, the way she looked… She reminded me of someone… Of a time… Her dark hair was matted around her head, her big brown eyes bright and wet. Her lips trembled and I watched in horror as Marcus grabbed her wrist.

"Isabella Swan…"

I wanted her before I even saw her.

She was pure beauty.

She was angelic.

She was only four, but I wanted her.

I wanted her so badly.

Her scent overwhelmed me, her big brown eyes calling out for me to help. I stood from my seat, watching as the young girl with curly brown hair cried soft tears. She brought her thumb into her mouth, sniffling as Marcus dropped her arm, the chains moving as she took a small step to the side.

Men stood.

They growled at each other.

I would not let them have her.

I blinked back into reality, watching as Simon and Michael showed their dominance. They both wanted her, only one could have her. And not until she was old enough. The girl cried as the men went after each other, marble skin breaking as teeth severed limbs. The fight lasted no longer than thirty seconds as Simon crushed Michael's skull. The humans were crying in fear and I watched as Simon pleaded to Aro.

"I will get a new stock. New humans." He begged. He wanted this little girl, for something other than love. He wanted her blood. He would kill her. I had no say. I was only an observant. Aro looked to me, but I was motionless. He smiled and looked back to Simon who was on his knees, his mouth salivating with venom.

"A new stock by the end of next month, then you may have her." Aro nodded, Simon grinning acidly as he looked back to the girl. She had no idea what to expect, but Felix came in, grabbing her by the waist and taking her to the basement, where she would be locked in for a month, until Simon could get her.

She was still small. He wouldn't know what to do. He would be too powerful. He wouldn't be able to stop. Her blood is too fresh. He would drink her dry.

She would be dead before the next morning.

And no one would stop it.

So yes, we have learned several things in this chapter. Aro does not know that Bella is Edward's donor, and there is obviously more to E and B's past then we thought. I know you may be confused, and that is okay. If you have questions, ask! But I can only give you so much without spoiling.

Until next time little does.

ii