Chapter 30

Aro sat back and read the message Carlisle had sent in response to his own. He carefully studied each word and ran his hand along the pen marks, noticing how hard his old friend had pressed down while writing back to his initial letter. He knew, nearly for certain, that his views on their friendship had changed, though felt there was no need to make anything out of it.

"What's the verdict?" Caius asked, "I already sent the others out there to speak with him."

Aro glanced over at his brother.

"You said if the letter hadn't been received by today then I should send the twins and Felix."

He handed the letter to Caius, "It's been received." Aro knew he had a habit of taking orders and putting his personal spin them.

Marcus remained silent, though was eager to read what Carlisle had written to Aro. He arched his neck only slightly before waiting his turn for the letter.

"Do you believe this is true?" Caius asked him, "Was it just a misuse of the gift he was given?"

Aro sighed and took the letter back from Marcus with a smile as he finished reading it. "It's logical."

"Is it possible that it's something else? Something that can affect all of us?"

His eyes scanned the letter again before he responded, "I suppose, though I do believe it to be doubtful. We haven't had a problem in hundreds of years, do you really believe this would have been the first case of such an illness?"

"Masen was the first case of a born vampire," Caius said matter-of-factly.

"Renesme," Marcus chimed in quietly, "She was a born vampire, and Nahuel may have been the first, as they've suggested. He's over one hundred years old."

He sighed and changed his statement, "First born full vampire."

Aro placed his hands below his chin and thought for a moment. He was sure Carlisle's information was correct, and he knew him well enough to know he had done his own research. There was another part of him, however, that Aro knew to protect his family no matter what. He would surely lie to cover up for his son if the illness was something more than he was letting on.

"I need to speak with him myself," Aro concluded, "I don't want any doubts lingering in my mind. I want to make sure that Carlisle is giving me all the facts."

"Are you making a trip to Forks?" Marcus asked.

He looked at Caius, "I'd like to call back the others and figure this out for myself."

"You have also heard about the new Cullen child, I would assume."

Aro glanced at Marcus, then let a smile spread across his face, "It must have slipped Luciana's mind," his eyes drifted around the dark room, "She speaks to me so briefly these days."

"We have the eclipses marked. How is there a new Cullen child?" Caius asked, leaving his expression stern.

"A hybrid child?" Aro asked, almost angrily. He was displeased that he had not been informed prior to that moment.

Marcus shook his head slowly, and Aro's face was full of questions. Caius's jaw remained stern as he waited for answers of his own.

"Carlisle and Esme's child," Marcus explained.

"Born?" Caius asked before Aro could.

He nodded.

"Impossible. How do we know it's not an immortal child they're trying to care for?"

Aro nodded at the possibility, "How old?"

"A baby," Marcus explained, "I don't know anything more specifically."

"Hmm..." he said with a nonchalant ring to his voice, though both Caius and Marcus knew it was not an accurate reading of his thoughts. "I wonder why Carlisle didn't mention it in his response."

The three of them sat in silence for a moment.

"Do you want me to call Jane, Alec and Felix back now?" Caius asked him.

Aro sighed, "I suppose it doesn't make much of a difference. Let them go to keep the Cullens anxious. That's never a bad thing. I'll leave in the morning to find out what's going on across the world now." He looked at Marcus for a moment before standing up.

His two counterparts did the same and waited for him to let the know, as he usually did, where he was going.

"I feel like a good slaughter out on the streets, or maybe on the countryside." Aro stood with his hands behind his back, and faced away from them. "If either of you would care to join me, I may go out for a night time stroll."

Caius and Marcus looked at each other. Aro slowly turned around and waited for their responses. While neither of them said anything further, he took their slow strides toward him as a confirmation that they would be joining him for a meal.

"Oh, what are we going to do about our friends over in Washington?" he wondered aloud.

Caius smiled, "I have suggestions."