Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.

Aro POV

The slamming of the door caused me to startle uncharacteristically. I couldn't remember a time that I'd been disturbed in this manner. Rising from the chair before the fireplace to determine who had made such an egregious mistake, I quickly backed up in response to the oncoming form of my wife. She was furious in a way that I had witnessed only once before in all our millennia together.

"What did you do?" she snarled at me.

She was the only person who would ever speak to me in this manner.

"Sulpicia…" I began in a placating tone

She growled at me. "Don't you dare try to make nice with me, Aro! I just came from Heidi's chambers. I want to know what you did to her."

For a moment, I worried that Isabella had fought them as they helped her wash away the grime of her first feeding. Possibly I should have sent some of the guards into the room. Isabella had been quiet when I went back into the adjoining room to check on her. I'd ordered the others to leave, and Felix, Demetri, and I had escorted her to Heidi's room ourselves. She'd avoided contact with my eyes and quickly walked into the open doorway. We'd all attempted to speak with her during our traverse through the hallways, but she'd remained mute. Felix had glared at me in response, bordering on insubordination. A calm mask replaced his anger when I raised my eyebrow in reprimand.

"What exactly is the problem, Sulpicia?"

Her hiss was her first response. "I believe you should answer my question, first," she demanded.

"You are fully aware that a forced feeding became necessary. She was determined to starve herself until we allowed her to feed on a filthy animal. After she had sufficiently eaten, we carried her back to the room. Her blood lust was strong, and I didn't want to leave her unattended. I had several of the junior guard members hold her, to keep from her injuring herself or others."

"YOU DID WHAT!" She screamed.

Even I wasn't happy with the way I'd had to handle the situation, but seeing Sulpicia's rage, I became even more apprehensive. In reaction to her clear abhorrence of my choice, one I was already questioning, my pride took control.

"I did the best thing for her at the time," I said haughtily.

"Your arrogance does not impress or alarm me, Aro. Save the posturing for your subjects. You made a mistake, and now you need to go rectify it."

"Would you like to clarify what I need to remedy?"

Sulpicia had turned away from me, and her body language increased my disquiet. Her hands were rigidly clenched, and she was trembling. I glided to her, and she spun around to face me.

"Luce mia?"

The endearment rapidly flew off my lips at the look on her face. Her eyes were bright with unshed venom, and anguish was written across her features.

"You humiliated her in her need, Aro. Something she could not control. Has she not suffered enough? You saw her face when she attempted to speak of Carlisle's son. Something unspeakable happened between them, and then she is brought here by that witch. She suffers an attack and is then turned without preparation. Whether or not you want to admit it, you were even impressed by her tenacity about her feeding choice. Then when all else has been taken from her, you leave her pinned to the floor to face one of the most overwhelming experiences of our nature with strangers. Couldn't you have left her Felix as a treat? What would it have hurt?"

Her words stung. The sincerity of her emotions made any attempt at reasonable explanation weaken in comparison.

"Sulpicia, Isabella may have met her physical needs through him, but the damage to her spirit would have been irreparable. Conceivably I could have stayed with her to hold her arms, and asked Felix and Demetri to aide me. However, then she would have to face her mortification every day as she looked into our faces. It was a better decision to place that responsibility on members that are expendable. She will never have to face them again, I will ensure it."

She was unconvinced by my words. It wasn't that they weren't sincere, but she knew even in my sincerity that there was always just a little more.

"You believe she is a virgin, do you not?" she intuitively surmised.

I slipped, and my slight smile was answer enough.

"Aro, I do not like this game you play. She is not a commodity to manipulate. The boy, even if he turns out to be an incredible talent, may not care for her enough to make this ploy of yours worthwhile. Felix has been loyal for many years; he is not an unknown."

"Isabella will be able to make the choice. I just ensured that when that time comes, she doesn't have anything to regret. I didn't like what I had to do, but I would do it over again if faced with the decision," I said.

"The decision you made, I know you believe it was right. However, it birthed a completely defeated young woman. She has no hope, Aro. The light is gone from her eyes. It is not how I want our child to feel. Even when she saw her glorious new appearance for the first time in the mirror, she barely responded to her image. I fear you went too far. Felix could have satisfied her in a myriad of ways, without robbing her of the precious virginity that you prize."

"Suplicia, she should be able to make the decision as to which person touches her. It shouldn't be determined by the blood. I knew the human feeding would be difficult, but it is the natural order of things and needed to be quickly established with her. Carlisle's strange ideas had to be uprooted immediately…"

"Do not attempt to lay your miscalculation at another's feet," she interrupted.

I continued, stunned in part by her vehemence. " … She is a child of the Volturi now and must follow our practices. But I refuse to be responsible for making the decision of who will be her mate. If Felix had touched her at that moment, Isabella's fate would have been sealed. For once, she will have a choice, which is a commodity…" I emphasized her choice of words from before, "… that I believe will be more precious to her than the immediate gratification of her body. It is clear that Isabella hasn't been given the opportunity to make choices in the past. I will rectify that."

"Then go explain that to her, so that she understands. Inform her that she will have options because it is my conjecture that at this moment that she believes this life will be even more intolerable than her last."

Did Isabella really feel this way? I knew so little of her life from before, just a few words spoken in haste. I'd surmised more from the other vampire's thoughts. Her memories had been toxic, but I'd been able to filter out at least some impressions. From assimilating the two versions, I'd been able to construe that Isabella had wanted to be a vampire and that the Cullens had refused to change her. I'd also been able to ascertain that she'd run from her home, leaving her family and friends behind … not the action of someone who felt desired. The tattoos on her wrists had told me as much.

We'd known that the newborn period would be difficult for her, having witnessed the others I'd brought into our fold over the years. But the task of the acculturation of those individuals had always been delegated to members of the guard. My unprecedented involvement in this situation and her magnificent control had lulled me into believing it would all resolve easily. Sulpicia's fear and my unsettled feelings indicated I may have calculated wrong. My wife had patiently waited for me to contemplate the possibilities. When she saw me refocus, she gave me a gentle shove toward the door.

"Go fix her, my love," she ordered.

I started past her to travel down the hallway, and she reached out to capture my hand, stopping me. Her kiss provided absolution for my transgressions.

As I moved toward Isabella's room, my mind contemplated the tempest that awaited me. What could I know about this foreign concept of fatherhood? Having rarely desired to entertain anyone other than Sulpicia in my nuclear family, I'd settled on the kinship of Marcus and Caius. How this newborn had turned my life and perspective around, I didn't know. Her mind's silence had called to me; her loyalty to Carlisle and his family had endeared her to both myself and my mate. The why was superfluous at this point in time; it was the how that mattered, I thought, as I stood before her door.

Not a single sound came from within. Her quietness reminded me in part of Marcus…too still…too calm. Dead. An old pain…another miscalculation, my greatest…threatened to tear at me. No! Now was not the time to think of that.

I knocked quietly but received no answer. Unlatched, the door swung open a few inches, and I entered the room. No lights had been turned on against the approaching night, but none were truly needed with our eyes. The room remained undisturbed, exactly as I saw it in Sulpicia's thoughts. She and Heidi had delighted in arranging the room as I forced Isabella to eat, believing that she would be thrilled at the opulence. Sulpicia had been heartbroken by Isabella's lack of response, even though she understood why Isabella had seemed oblivious. She stood as still as a statue on the balcony, her body an outline against the darkening sky.

The small town that housed my seat of power came into view as I stepped to her side, and a slight breeze ruffling the strands of our hair. The bustle of the city just after the sun began to set was always the noisiest time of the day. Humans heading home to their families after the long day of work. What I wouldn't give to hear their thoughts from afar, to decipher the day to day struggles. Some would say I gave humans no thought, they would be wrong. Even humans watched their pets for hours, frolicking to and fro, guessing at their moods and reactions. Tonight, however, my focus was solely on the vampire at my side…a stunning vampire I realized, turning to see her for the first time without the filthy remnants of her attack, subsequent change, and feeding.

"Isabella, you are magnificent."

Not even an eyelash fluttered. What I wouldn't give to be able to see into that mind! Isabella's uniqueness was never more apparent than in this moment. This would not be easy because, for once, my skill couldn't provide an open window into her thoughts, requiring me to actually utilize conversation. I hypothesized that Marcus and Caius were mostly likely delighted at this turn of events, having accused me of growing indolent over the years at social niceties.

Taking a deep breath, I did something unparalleled.

"Isabella, I apologize for your abrupt entry into our world. The last few days have been unbearable for you, I imagine. Being nurturing isn't a skill that I possess in great quantity, and I believe that as such I have been negligent in my duties as your creator."

She didn't even move a muscle, as if she didn't even hear what I was saying. Her eyes gazed out into the twilight, as if there was something of great importance in this moment for her. Her disregard at my magnanimous gesture smarted. I wasn't accustomed to being noble, much less not receiving praise for the momentous occasion on which I did dabble in the practice. Had she been standing here this whole time? I moved my body into her line of sight in an effort to force her to look at me. Eerily, she continued to stare directly forward, and it was in that moment that the realization that she was focusing inward hit me. Her brain was most likely awash with memories.

"Continue to relive the memories over and over, and it will help you to store them forever in your mind."

She flinched at this advice, spurring my curiosity.

"So the key to forgetting is to quit thinking about them," was her hopeful response and my only guidance to what was occurring.

I was astounded. Isabella did not want to remember anything, it would seem, desiring only to wipe out all that came before us. I would have to send for Carlisle quickly. I needed just a few brief weeks to bind this amazing child to me first, but it was clear in that moment that my actions couldn't be put off long. Chelsea's services may need to be utilized, my thoughts reasoned.

Just like I'd had to do with Marcus.

"Isabella, it cannot be that horrendous."

The rigidity was back in her countenance.

"Do you require something of me, Master Aro?"

Master Aro? It was my turn then to flinch, at the coldness in her voice. The subservient tone strangely displeased me. Her voice sounded disembodied, hollow, even to my ears. Who had informed her to address me in such a manner? Pulling her chin up with my finger allowed me to see the hopelessness that Sulpicia had warned me about. It was also evident from her eyes that she was hungry again … her newborn body demanding attention. One need was easy to fix; the other might take time, I reasoned, walking to the door.

"Bring Isabella something to eat and have a fire lit in the hearth," I instructed the guard who stood at the end of the hallway and then turned back to speak with her.

She was gone.

There was only one possibility, and when I reached the balcony, I could hear her scrambling across the rooftop.

"Get Demetri and Felix," I snarled to the guard, before following her up the wall. "Tell them to follow me."

Her newborn strength gave her the advantage as she flew across the roof of the expansive castle. Even in my anger, I could appreciate her grace. What had I said to engender this response? Then, the reason became apparent. She'd been resigned until I'd mentioned eating. She leapt to the ground and began running toward the city's edge. A certain sense of freedom and exhilaration flowed through my veins during the chase, in recognition of the fact, that it had been hundred of years since I'd been out of the castle without a contingent of guards around me. Renata had been a constant shadow except for my private moments.

Isabella was breathtaking, and my attention was ensnared by her, causing me to be careless. So it shouldn't have come to as a surprise, when rounding a corner; I came into contact with two rogue vampires. They were most likely sent by the Romanians to spy. Their eyes, however, lit in pleasure at finding me alone. I wasn't too concerned, knowing that Demetri and Felix would be directly behind me. In addition, my daily training with Felix kept my skills finely honed. Ruler I may be, but it was never wise to forget that, in the end, the demise of kingdoms usually came down to a life and death fight.

"Well, well, well … what do we have here?" the taller one said, with considerable pleasure.

"I do believe that we will be rewarded greatly for this prize. I suggest we just take his head back with us. Perhaps our contacts would enjoy seeing it spitting and hissing on their table," the other taunted.

Readying myself to attack, I was perplexed when a blur came from the opposite direction. The first vampire's head rolled from his body and the building beside me shuddered from an impact. Isabella had the other vampire pinned against the wall and slashed at his throat utilizing her teeth with little finesse. Her newborn strength won in the end. His body fell as well and began grasping frantically in an attempt to find its head. Felix and Demetri ran onto the scene at that point, and Isabella stood, heaving in her aggression, as Demetri disposed quickly of the bodies with the lightweight torch he always carried.

My mind contemplated the next step. She deserved punishment for running from the castle, but when I saw her interest in the flame, my thoughts stopped. She was eagerly watching the process, having deduced a way to die. She took a step toward Demetri. Thankfully, Felix utilized the opportunity to get behind her and grabbed her body. Her strength made it an equal battle, but when Demetri handed me the torch and helped his friend, she was quickly pinned.

"Please take care of my father; find some way to give him peace about my death," her voice rang clear for the first time.

Even battle hardened Felix's eyes closed, at the relief, the prospect of ceasing to live, bred into her voice.

I knelt beside her. "Isabella, you are not going to be destroyed. We are going back to the castle, and we will act as if this never happened. By now a fire has warmed your room, and there will be something for your thirst."

"NO!" she adamantly swore.

I jerked my body back toward the castle, and Demetri and Felix followed with her between them. Sulpicia stood in Isabella's room wringing her hands, but when she saw us enter back through the balcony, she gently smiled and left the room. I knew that look. It was the "I have faith you will do the right thing … or else" look.

Felix reluctantly let go of her, leaving her by the bed. He then joined Demetri to stand in defense of the balcony and fire in the hearth.

"Why did you come back?" I asked the question foremost on my mind.

Her breath hitched, and I saw Felix start toward her. I froze his progress with one look. Secretly, I smiled at his struggle, but that grin increased, hearing Isabella's answer. I had to turn away so that she did not see me. It would not do for her to see my softness toward her.

"I heard what they said. They were going to hurt you."

Demetri's snort clearly indicated his belief of what would have happened, had the two actually attempted to touch me. He'd also been my sparring partner on occasion. She had no way to know, though, that the two would have been no match for me. Even in her flight to freedom, her need to protect had taken over, effectively robbing her of her chance. The revelation of Isabella's character continued to delight me. She was a priceless treasure, and I would not discard her as the Cullens had done. I knew in that moment that I could never let her go.

"It would be better for you to destroy me now. I have no intention of feeding off another human. I can't stand the possibility."

"Please," she begged, seeing the determination on my face, and I felt a tug at my conscience at the sincerity of the plea. Soft spot or not, there were lines she could not cross with me.

"You will do as you are told," I spoke, enunciating each syllable precisely and authoritatively.

I hated to speak in such a manner, but this was not a point that was going to be considered. She sank to the floor at my tone, wrapping her arms around her legs and groaning. "They are people with lives that mean something. At least when Edward fed on humans, he chose individuals he knew were evil…menaces to society."

My eyes widened at the implications of the information she had inadvertently disseminated. So…one of Carlisle's children had gone against his beliefs...interesting, perhaps worth asking Carlisle about when he arrived. Feasting on those determined to be unsavory. He would only know such information by being gifted. Victory raced through my body. I'd heard about the vampire in Carlisle's coven who shared my gift. It was a stroke of good fortune that this was the one my Isabella loved and whom I suspected loved her as well. His emotions were too clear from the witch's memories. An incredible gift lay at my feet. The need to handle this situation delicately had just amplified to immeasurable proportions.

A compromise perhaps. "Would that make your diet more palatable for you? To know that when you feed, you are doing so off humans that this world would be better without? I can supply that for you, Isabella."

I nodded to Demetri, and he quickly exited, knowing full well what I desired. Then, turning back to her, to ensure my success, I also honed in on her weakness. "I grow weary with this battle, my dear. I sense that a conversation with Carlisle has become necessary, to understand this compunction of his to instill his foreign ideas into others."

I carefully laced implied threat into the words. As expected, her head popped up, and her red eyes assessed me carefully. Then, incredibly, she smirked. I deduced that she had detected the ploy, and I was thrilled to think that she'd already picked up on my mannerisms.

"An agreement," she capitulated.

Felix's eyes widened perceptibly, hearing these words spoken towards me. She had no way of knowing that I did not bargain. Others, that had been naïve enough to believe they held that sort of power over me, had paid the ultimate price for their fallacies. This was not the case today.

"I'm amenable to compromise," I indicated, placing my arms behind my back, linking them, as I walked toward the fire.

"I will do whatever you say, and you will never harm the Cullens …"

"Agreed," I interrupted with my answer before she could dictate any further limitations.

I'd not agreed to limit contact with them, nor forgo the pleasure of their company. My haste in answering was preemptive, knowing that I had a missive which I'd personally prepared ready to be sent along with the lock of her hair that I'd taken. It would be dispatched as soon as I knew it was safe, that my hold on her was unbreakable. Carlisle was coming home. The thought almost fueled frenzy in me. In addition, he would be bringing his exceptional family with him.

She stood and gazed directly into my face. "You have made me a promise, on your honor," she strategically reemphasized the nature of our agreement. It delighted me, this maneuvering that she was attempting. What a fine princess she was going to make!

A smile broke through my control in response, as I replied, "As you have as well."

Demetri came through the door; Isabella's selected meal in his arms. She visibly cringed. I knew that the idea would be theoretically easier for her than the reality, so I took pity on her.

"Isabella, this man's name is not even worth the breath utilized to say it. He has been involved in various drug deals throughout the area, notably targeting young children. His life was only spared as he was once a member of an associate's alliance. He attempted to branch out on his own, encroaching on my territory. I just received notification they have no interest in his life."

The man had been kept in the dungeons by our human workers and thought he was being set free when he was taken out of the cell. His fear at our appearances transformed into terror at my words. His adrenaline made the blood pound through his veins, perfuming the air with the smell. Isabella's eyes slanted in her hunger, but against all odds, she held herself rigid, warring with herself. Her control was extraordinary. I turned and touched the man. The blackness in him was overwhelming … and my enemies called me a monster!

I closed the distance between us so that she stood by my side, at this point quivering in her need. I spoke softly into her ear. "We have come to an accord." I said quickly, reminding her.

This moment was critical to the illusion that she had some control over her life. "I will continue to place suitable candidates before you, until you feed. Your choice … he will die at your hand or mine. He has abused a child. I will not allow such filth to live."

I scarcely heard her growl as she lunged at him. It had been a calculated move on my part, revealing his abominable behavior, but it was the only thing that I believed could break through her final resistance. The sound of her tearing through the skin of his neck was one of the most gratifying experiences of my existence. Barrier number one had fallen.

Felix glanced at me as I walked to the fireplace. He pleaded silently with his eyes. "Tonight is my night with her, Felix. I won't deny you after this. My need to make amends supersedes your attempts at romance, at this moment. Dispose of the body, when she is done," I said lowly, Isabella's instinctual snarls, as she fed, covering my soft direction to the towering vampire.

I kept my back to the room, allowing her what little privacy could be afforded. He watched her with hungry eyes, finally looking at me and murmuring "Master?" when the man's heartbeat stopped. I nodded quickly, and he disappeared. The sounds of her distress, as I'd expected, began almost immediately.

In a moment, I sat in one of the chairs with her cradled in my arms. The feel of her skin against mine was disconcerting, yet oddly comforting. I'd never held anyone without being barraged by their thoughts; her silence was soothing for me. Yet, I was unclear about exactly what to do to help her. It was apparent to me at that moment that Isabella was as uncomfortable with physical touch as I was. I thought about moments with Sulpicia and softly placed one of my hands on her hair, smoothing it against her head and down her back. She jumped at the contact and then slowly relaxed into my chest, her body shaking in tearless grief.

"My dear, there is so much of this world that I cannot wait to share with you. Wonders the likes of which you've never seen. Let go of this unnecessary guilt. I made a promise to search out humans that you will find acceptable, and I will hold to my word."

Awkwardly, I continued to soothe her over the next several hours. Just before dawn, Sulpicia's hand ran across my shoulder, and she smiled upon seeing Isabella curled up in my arms. Through my wife's touch, I heard her stray thought…that we had been robbed of children, but now it seemed that by some strange twist of fate … we of all people had been granted a great gift.

"I hate to disturb you, but there are matters that demand your attention. Caius asked for your presence."

Sensing my hesitancy, Isabella murmured softly to me, "I made a promise as well. I won't go anywhere…truly, I have nowhere else to go."

Turning, just before exiting the room, my eyes were treated to a precious gift. Sulpicia had coaxed Isabella over to the ornate dressing table and was beginning to brush out her long, dark hair. In response, the child offered a brief but glorious smile.

I would love to know what you think! Unlike my other story where I couldn't ask for reviews, I'm soliciting your thoughts here. Please!

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hopeforastalemate – A better name for this woman would be Volturi Girl. I'd started this story months ago, during short breaks from Harvest Moon. So… in response to her love of the 'Italian scum' and her personal invitation for me to write something a little darker, my planned sweet, angsty story between Bella, Edward, and Jacob took a dramatic turn. Hence the ten other chapters now residing in my recycle bin. I hope I make you proud. See the link to her profile below:

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Crmcneill – For his patience with me (contrary to how he presents himself on his FF profile) and his incomparable editing skills. Male twilight fans are not a myth – they do exist, and I am so glad I was able to connect with him. I've called many men friends, but I've never called one master until now. "Strong is the power of the comma. Mind what you have learned. Save you it can." See the link to his profile below:

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