A/N: Well, well, well.
Chapter 2-8: Apocrypha
"Oh my, oh my."
Aro smiled and leaned a tiny bit forwards, pushing himself up a little from the carved throne he sat on.
"So, it's finally moving. Took a bit, but we're all set now."
He took a deep breath and smiled blissfully, like an overjoyed child.
"My apologies, sir. If we had been faster, this could have happened the very day after."
A woman with short brown hair and a frail, lanky build bowed before him, fumbling obsessively with her tie knot.
"No worries, Renata. The stage is set, the enemies are showing up, one by one... some old, some recent and some new ones altogether."
Aro stood up, brushed his hair back and gazed up at the vaulted ceiling of the Volterra castle.
"I am very impressed with what you have done. Now, after all this, our enemies might learn to fear the dreaded Renata the Stitcher again."
Renata pulled even more at her tie and fiddled with the sleeves of her black suit before speaking.
"Sir, I have never deserved that name. I am not the warrior I might have been seen as. I am simply an envoy, an employee and a servant, nothing else."
Aro's smile grew wider, baring the corner of one sharp tooth. He placed one hand on Renata's shoulder and appeared to ignore the shiver going through her.
"You might not have fought much, but now the ritual is gone. The Sibyl is dead by my hand, as was her punishment for holding on to the past. The one privilege her actions have granted you is now ash, just like she is. The only thing you have left is what made you known as the Stitcher, and it is a fearsome thing indeed. I look forward to seeing you act."
He ran his fingers down her shoulder, grabbing her tie and pulling her up from her bowing pose. The shadows of the two were cast around in the circular room like demons running from the light of the chandelier overhead.
"You, Renata. You are my creation, my favorite. If anyone can stand by my side and turn the tables on that filthy man's brood, it's you. Lady Luck truly was with me that day."
He let go of her tie, seemingly paying no attention to her shivering as she fell to the floor.
"Do you have anything more to say? If not, I am afraid you must leave at once."
Aro's smile broadened even further as Renata stood up straight, brushed off her pants and answered.
"O-of course, sir. The new Cullen woman's daughter - "
"Ah." The broad smile that had been on Aro's face shrank, until only a glimpse of his teeth was to be seen. "So, is it an anomaly, or has the revocation of that filthy witch's curse affected her too?"
"It has, sir. She is currently the sire of one newborn, who herself has sired another. The three seem to be pursuing a personal goal."
Aro licked his lips and chuckled under his breath.
"So, on paper, it has nothing to do with us, has it? Make sure they are made to meet Chelsea if the situation turns amusing."
"Yes, sir. Also, the Forgiven - "
All traces of Aro's smile vanished. He bit down hard on his lip and clenched his fists tightly. He took a deep breath and unclenched his hands, but the smile did not return.
"What about them? Have those worthless lowlifes gotten involved?"
"No, sir. Not yet. There has been an incident, and the mortal police is on the case. Intelligence tells us that disbelief will not be an aid here. The detective assigned, Frank Willis, seems conscious of the existence of other sentient creatures than humans."
Aro breathed out, a long, resounding sigh that seemed to wash away all the tension from inside him and spread it through the room. He sat down again, twisting a lock of hair around his finger for a minute and breathed in again.
"As he is just a mortal, keep him from harm until he has provided for an amusing distraction. If any of the Forgiven become involved, however, slaughter everyone related. I want you, personally, to take care of this should an unsafe situation arise."
Renata tugged at her tie once again and adjusted the buttons at her collar before answering.
"Ah. Y-yes, sir. If it is your order, I will teach them how hard it is to fight something they cannot kill. Your reunion will continue to approach, unobstructed, for as long as I live."
Aro rested his arms on the throne, running his fingers along the cold, grey-black granite.
"Nothing will stop the reunion. Not the Forgiven... not the Watching One... nor will you, Brother. Nor will you."