Chapter 49

Aro sat with Caius, preparing for the lunar eclipse far in advance.

"Does she know?" Caius asked, referring to Sulpicia.

Aro laughed, choosing not to answer the question out right.

"Why Gianna? Why not Sulpicia?"

"My reasons have been well thought out, I assure you," Aro explained. He knew Gianna was far from their underground lair and could not hear their conversation. "I'm well aware that the results of this could differ from that of the Cullens. If it does, and we need to take care of the problem, I'll have no concerns with getting rid of both Gianna and the child."

Caius was listening intently, beginning to understand.

"You see, I could never destroy Sulpicia, unless of course she should try to destroy me. Gianna, regardless of how beautiful, is nothing more than a figurine in my experimentation."

"But you called her your mate," Caius said, "And what if there is nothing disasterous about the outcome? What will you do with Gianna then?"

Aro smiled, "Whatever I see fit."

"And you'll keep the fact that you have a love child with her from Sulpicia for all of eternity?"

"As far as Sulpicia knows, and as far as the rest of our kind are concerned, this sort of thing is quite impossible. We know, and the Cullens know."

"You don't think the Cullens will spread the word?" Caius asked, "What if they-"

Aro raised a hand to stop him, and shook his head, "Carlisle is far to reserved to make his business everyone else's. He and Esme believe that knowledge of baby Masen may put him danger, or all of them actually."

"You saw this? In his thoughts?"

"Yes. And they are a coven that truly stands together. I consider them our more angelic equals on the other side of the world," he smiled to himself, "Good cop, bad cop I believe is the slang terminology."

Caius wasn't pleased, or amused. He liked how things had been for them over the centuries. No one had been even close to being considered their equals. They ruled the earth's underworld, and that's how he intended to keep it. Though, he did know that their comparable coven would never feel comfortable enforcing the laws, as the Volturi did.

"You must wish for us to have this child, Caius," Aro told him, "That was something the werewolf decided to keep from me, though I saw it in Carlisle's thought processes last time we met."

"And who wished for he and Esme?"

"Bella. Though it was all a happy coincidence I suppose."

"They didn't suspect it would happen?"

"No," Aro said with certainty, "But they know now." He could tell Caius was still not entertained by the idea of it all.

"Should we chance this, Aro?" Caius asked, "Once the deed is done, there would be no turning back. We could be made a mockery of for allowing it in the first place."

"It will not leave our coven."

"And if it does?"

Aro smiled calmly, "Have we not discussed this? Then we will destroy it."

"Why chance bringing the attention?"

"Do you like feeling equal in power to the Cullens?"

Caius's face turned to a scowl, "No. And I do not feel-"

"If this turns out positively, we could create an army. An army of us over time. There would be no comparisons to our coven, and the loyalty of family would be unbreakable."

"Family." Caius stated flatly.

"Our own... bloodline."

"What would keep the Cullens from continuing to reproduce?"

"We keep our visits to Forks regular. They were already concerned the first time. I doubt they would do anything like this on purpose again. Especially if we discourage it."

"They know you want a child of your own."

"We'll tell them it was a bad experience and from here on out the reproduction of children will be banned."

"How will we keep it from Edward and Alice?"

Aro smiled, "We've got time. I'll think of a way."

The scents of Gianna and Jane grew near and the two Volturi men cut their chat short. Jane picked up on this as they entered, but was sure it was about Gianna, as Aro had already confided in her about the situation.

"She's satisfied her thirst for now," Jane told Aro.

He nodded, "Splendid."

Gianna smiled seductively at Aro. "Did you find out the information?"

"Indeed," he answered, "We'll talk more about it later. I'm starving. Caius and I need to eat."

Jane couldn't help but smile, knowing she might be able to put her powers to good use in the near future. Sure, she somewhat liked Gianna, and it wasn't a terrible thing to have another female in their lair, but the darker side of her always took over, and the thought of potentially destroying her new acquaintance was even more enjoyable.

Aro kissed Gianna's hand and left with Marcus to feed. Jane smiled, all to pleased with Aro's true intentions. It may not be tomorrow, but there would be a day soon enough where the Volturi would reign again as the sole powers in the supernatural world.