It's time for the next chapter!
On a side note: I'm using the Marcus appearance from the book.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight in any way, I wish I did though.
Aro's POV
If anybody had told me that an innocent giggle from a one year old would be enough to melt my harden soul and bend me to its whim, I would have laughed in their face before ordering their execution for suggesting such a preposterous possibility.
I guess it's positive to say that it never happened, since that possibility has been made into a reality.
My brothers and I were informed by Demetri that our guests had arrived for their extended stay. Before another word could be uttered, my brothers and I hurried to our rooms to change into more acceptable wear for the occasion.
Our robes and suits were replaced with more casual wear: such as jeans and a simple shirt. The three of us met up once more before heading out to greet them.
The most trusted guards were all stationed around the playground that I had constructed within my private garden: slides, swings, sandbox- everything a child's heart could desire.
Once stepping out, my brothers and I separated, all going towards our respective child. Marcus went to sit in the sandbox with Angel while Caius went to Raina who was plucking out the flowers from their bushes.
It was unusual and amazing for the guards to see the three Kings in such a casual setting; well, shocking when it came to Caius. He does have a reputation as the ruthless one; and yet here he is, receiving a wild bouquet of flowers from a small child. On his face had to be the purest smile I've ever seen produced from him.
My sight returned to my one, my Siena; who was being pushed on the swing set by her father, Enzo.
Enzo did not come here alone; with him was also his wife, a stunning woman by the name of Selena. Enzo was not a bad looking man himself, the triplets will surely grow up to be the most beautiful creatures in existence.
At least, in our eyes they will be.
Selena was torn on where to stands, so she placed herself in the middle of the sandbox and the flowers, her eyes moving back and forth between her children. It's no secret that she did not trust us alone with the children.
No matter how hard I tried to explain that her children are in the safest place in the world, protected not only by the three Kings but also by the royal guard, she still would not budge in her decision to remain close.
Enzo was the same way as well.
Oh well, it's a small price to pay in order to be around my mate.
Siena's giggles became even louder as I got closer to her, her small body began to wiggle in his seat, causing her father to grab the chains to top the swing. Once I was in front of her, her small chubby arms reached up to me.
Of course, I happily obliged; taking the small child into my arms and pulling her close to my face.
"Master Aro." Enzo's face remained stoic, while still addressing me formally.
"Now how many times must I tell you that you are allowed to simply call me Aro? After all, we will one day be family."
Enzo's body tensed up; Renata was already by my side, ready to fight.
Siena wrapped her arms tight around my neck before hiding her face in it, obviously scared from Renata's sudden appearance. Renata was quick to figure this out, bowing slightly at the head.
"Forgive me." She mumbled. "I did not…"
"My dear, we all must remember that the children are still new to our world. Be more cautious around them." Even though it seemed my comment was aimed towards Renata, the other guards knew it was aimed towards them as well.
I began to rub soothing circles on Siena's back, sporadically patting her lightly. She soon relaxed in my head, her fingers now running themselves through my long raven locks. It was her favorite thing about me, often remarking on how my hair is 'pwetty'.
I was brought out from one of my few happy memories when the scream of the single woman in the middle of my courtroom got louder. Oh right, we are currently in the middle of a trial.
Oh well, must get back to work.
"Jane, that's enough." I held my hand out towards Jane, signaling for her to stop using her 'gift' on our unwilling guest, the insolent leader of a coven that resided in the Alps.
Even though Jane had stopped, the woman continued to spasm on the floor. Her limbs were twisted in odd angles, chunks of her hair were missing, only to be found in her own hands.
"Master." Jane continued to smirk down at the petty woman on the floor, her eyes travelled back to me, awaiting my next order.
Ah Jane, she's always so willing to serve for the greater good of our world.
"Please, Lord Aro, I beg your forgiveness." The woman crawled on the floor towards where I stood, at the steps that led up to my throne. My brothers, Caius and Marcus, sat on their respective thrones. It was necessary for the three Kings to be present when holding a trial; along with the rest of my close family coven members.
Alec, Jane, Felix, Demetri, Heidi, Afton, Santiago, Renata, and Chelsea. Corin is also eager to join but she is still assigned to keep the current 'Queens' of Volturi content for now.
"The Volturi does not give third chances, you were lucky to be given a second." I did not need to look back at my Cauis to know that he was scowling; it was quite a shock that his face never froze in that expression.
"But it was not I…"
"You are leader of your coven, are you not?" I cut her off before she could continue her statement.
When the woman hesitated to answer, I looked over at Felix; he knew what to do.
Felix was immediately by the woman's side, his foot placed firmly on her back; she gasped out in pain as he was pushing her further into the stone ground. Several cracks began to spread on the floor; and also, onto the woman's neck and face.
The once fair beauty that lead the Alps clan was now just a broken shriveling mess at my feet. That's where she belonged.
"Your Master has asked you a question." Felix spoke down at her. "I recommend you answer it." The sole of his boot dug deeper into her back, with almost enough force to break her in half. Almost, he knew better than to end the agony so early.
"Yes!" She screamed out.
"From one leader to another, I am curious as to why is it that you allowed 4 members of your coven to venture out into surrounding villages? After all, it is rule that we must not hunt in the areas were our homes reside."
"They were but to feed, my Lord. That's all, there is no other way for us to get our nourishment. The other villages have begun disappearing and…"
"Do you take me for a fool?" I narrowed my eyes at her, my voice lowering down from its usual pitch. Earlier, when Alec had so graciously dragged her into our courtroom, I had grabbed her hand to see everything that had happened.
While she blubbered out that she was innocent and didn't know anything, what I saw revealed quite the opposite. She was the one who had devised the plan. She was the one that ordered those members to venture into the village and create an army of newborns. So unoriginal, it's been done before.
And it was dealt with in the same way as this will end.
"Be done with this charade, brother." Marcus spoke for the first time since our trial begun. In fact, it was the first he had spoken in weeks. While it was relieving to hear his voice, it was also quite depressing; since I am aware of what is causing this pain.
"I agree brother, the sight of this disgust me to my core." Caius was never one to let his opinion go unheard. "It's a disgrace to our kind to let this one live. Make haste brother, or I will be the one to end it."
"So be it." Demetri stepped forward, Felix removed his foot from her back before grabbing onto her arm and picking her up into a kneeling position. Demetri got in his usual position, on the other side, holding onto the opposite arm.
I stepped forward, placing my hands on both sides of her head.
"My family!" She screeched out.
Oh right, she is still unaware that her entire coven, including the newborns, had already been disposed of.
"Do not fret, you'll be joining them in 3…2…" Felix and Demitri pulled her arms apart, at the same time, I pulled her head off her boy. "1."
There was a satisfactory sigh that echoed across the room. All except from Marcus, Wasting no time, he stood from his seat and left the room, heading in the direction of our private library. Cauis soon followed, already reaching into his coat pocket.
"Burn her. " I tossed the head in some random area, preparing to follow after my brothers.
"Master Aro." Alec kicked the detached head off to the side to join my side, it must have landed right in front of him. "Will you be needing my powers tonight?"
He continued to walk with me until we were farther out from the others. Once stopped, I reached out to pat him on top of his head.
"My dear boy. I'm afraid that Marcus has caught onto our performance. It shall not work anymore." The rather indifferent face of Alec faltered for but a moment, the emotion that peeked through was a mixture of sadness and fear.
Sometimes I forget that I had turned him at such a young age. That on the inside, he was still just a young boy; shy of a man.
"Is he mad?" Virtue, a quality that not many carry. Not even Jane. He took my silence as a resounding positive to his question. "Then I must ask for his forgiveness. It was never my intention to anger Master Marcus."
"Do not fret, Alec. I've already taken care of the matter. It was, after all, my suggestion. Do not distress yourself over this matter. Now, return to the throne room and aid your family with that disposal. Felix and Demetri are probably already playing with the head."
"Thank you Master." Alec bowed his head before leaving me to myself.
Once I knew I was alone, I let my outside demeanor fall as well. I leaned back against the walls of my castle, running my hands along my scalp; letting strands of hair fall in between my fingers.
It was just a casual reminder of what my mate use to do, all while muttering that my hair was prettier than hers. I chuckled at the memory, it was such a sweet one.
The gods had deemed me worthy to bless me with such a sweet mate; but then they tore her away from me. Leaving not only I, but my brothers to wallow in sadness.
I quickly sensed an approaching figure, my original demeanor back on my face. Just like a silly romance book, Sulpicia appeared from the shadows, pushing her well-endowed body up against my chest.
Too bad for her that this does nothing for me now.
"Honey." Her honey laced voice whispered against my lips, her tongue peeking out to lick along the corners.
"You're suppose to be in your room, with Athenodora and Corin." She chuckled, all while untucking my shirt. Her hands slipped underneath the fabric, her nails running roughly up and down my abdomen.
"It got so boring up there. I thought that maybe…" Her hands slipped down into my pants, palming at my flaccid cock. "We could have some fun. After all, it's been so long since you've let me pleasure you."
"Sulpicia." She fell down to her knees, the button of my pants and zipper were undone.
"Yes, my love. Say my name as I suck you dry." I placed my hands on her shoulders and quickly pushed her away from me. She fell back onto her bottom.
"Must I remind you that you are not the one I want."
"It's truly baffling. After all, the last memory you have of her is as a child." Whenever she mentioned my mate, her voice growled. It was not a happy day when she was informed that the proper Queens and King were found.
And that as soon as they were of age, she and Athenodora would be removed from their positions of the court.
Ever since, Sulpicia has made her advances on me even more obvious. Silly thing, she really thinks that I'll choose her over my own mate.
The only reason she and Athenodora are still here is because of appearances. The court needed Queens to stand along side the Kings.
"Please Aro." From her position on the floor, she reached into the bosom of her dress and slowly began to massage her own breasts, all while letting our small moans. "You have a woman right here in front of you, a willing slave that will do whatever is ordered by her master."
"Whatever is ordered?"
"Yes, anything."
"Then I order you to cease this ridiculous play and return to your room now." With that said, I left her on the floor and continued on towards the private library, where I knew my brothers were waiting for me.
Marcus was waiting for me right at the door.
"Is Alec with you?"
"No." Marcus nodded before letting me step through. "I have already apologized on his behalf and mine. Our intentions were pure, not malicious in anyway."
"I am aware of that brother, but I still do not appreciate being left in the dark. Literally." Marcus returned to his usually seat by the fire; his hands holding onto a small black and white photo of Angel.
It was the last picture that Enzo and Selena had sent him.
"No matter how many hours I spend pondering this, it still makes no sense." The black and grey photograph was odd, but still looked brand new from the way that Marcus cared for it.
He always carried the photo with him, like Caius and I did with our photos.
Whenever any of us are upset or desperate, we just reach into our coat pockets placed strategically over our once beating hearts, and pull out the photos.
We could often gaze upon them for hours, all imagining what life would be like if they never went missing.
"Are the ties still there?" Cauis questioned, his hand holding onto his photograph as well. Following the group, I pulled out my picture.
Cara mia, my Siena. My index finger traced along my beloved's cheek in the photograph. Here she is an adorable little girl; by now, she must have grown into a beautiful woman.
"Indeed, they are."
Our once united golden bonds that tied us to our mates have long since been severed. According to Marcus, that only happens when the true mate of a vampire is destroyed. Once that happens, the ties are supposed to automatically dissipate after severing.
But ours remain intact. They did not lead to anywhere, just floated against gravity; as Marcus liked to describe it.
Marcus informed us that it means our mates are still alive; but they are not longer tied to us.
We are still unsure how this has happened. As we are unsure of how our best tracker can't even find them.
"Aro, any words from…"
"There has been no word from any of our brethren." For years, those that were devoted to the Volturi received word of our true mates vanishing. To remain on our good sides, and in hopes of getting some of their members recruited into my coven, they made it their mission to locate our mates and return them to their rightful place.
Despite the large number of vampires searching, there has still been no sign of them.
"Then they will keep searching until they find them." Caius all but roared out in frustration. His hand that wasn't holding the photo formed a fist before smashing into an antique table that just happened to be there.
A sigh escaped my lips, I really liked that table.
"Knowing that Angel is still alive is the one thing that keeps me going." Marcus sank into one of the cushioned chair.
It certainly was a surprise to the coven when they learned that Marcus' true mate was a male. Some of them being from ancient times, much like myself, were not use to such relationships. That did not mean it never occurred in our history, there have been some instances where mates have been the same sex.
And Marcus did not care in the slightest. The second his eyes laid themselves on young Angel and that bond was formed, it was like Life was breathed back into him. For a few years, I had my brother back.
Life was breathed back into all of us.
Caius and I did not love Sulpicia and Athenodora; they were just in the right place at the right time. Being chosen among millions of women to stand at our sides, it helped that they were good friends with my sister, Didyme.
May she rest in peace.
I've still yet to forgive myself for killing her.
Siena was the ray of sunshine my heart needed, reminding me that even though I have done many wrong doings, I still did something right to have something as special as her. Her smile, her laughter, her kindness- it helped to balance me out.
"Caius and I feel the same way brother." I placed my hand on his shoulder, trying my hardest to be of some comfort. It was impossible; only one thing will bring him any comfort, and it is still out of our reach. "But we must remain strong. One day, Siena, Raina, and Angel will be back in our presence."
"And with luck, the one that has managed to hide them will be there as well." Caius placed his photo back into his coat pocket. "Swear to me, Aro. Once our mates are back with us, you will let me be the one to decide how we will punish their kidnappers. You will let me be the one who decides when to end their lives."
"Now brother…"
"Listen to me Aro. I want them to suffer, suffer for taking what is rightfully mine. What is rightfully ours."
Against my better judgement, I knew there was no use in arguing with Caius over this matter. He will keep insisting until I agree to his demands.
"Let us cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we will keep strong in our search; and we will keep strong as a family."
And that's chapter 2. I wanted to give you guys a quick peek into the Kings' lives. I hope you enjoyed it, look forwards to chapter 3.
Until next time readers!
Oh, and please leave me a review. I love those things.