Chapter Sixteen: The Shock of Being Seen
I am so sorry with the delay, guys! I have had ACT prep, college visits, my niece was born, and major school stuff. Just a few weeks ago I competed in Chicago for the Louder Than A Bomb youth competition and that took so much time! Luckily I have recovered from writers' block and can assure that MPOV will be updated in April, with the finale taking place sometime before September. We are officially about to wind down for the next installment in the Helen Hendricks saga. Also, I need to hear from Fantasy Writer, your appreciation is always welcome. Finally, I'm pleased to say that MPOV has hit triple digits in reviews! Thank you all so much for the continued support!
Lilly Moonlight: Yeah, we see more Mother/Daughter bonding here. I love experimenting with those two. Helen hasn't had the easiest adjustment, not to mention how much she gets pissed off at Aro.
Ambrogio-smoonlight: So glad you reviewed my story! I appreciate all of your comments and your appreciation of Aro and Helen's bond.
anonymous: Sorry to keep you waiting! I promise I'm back!
Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance. Some will get angry when the rhythm changes. But life is changing all the time- Miguel Angel Ruiz.
"I'm going to be honest here, this moment really makes me want to tell Aro where to stick his Volturi crest. Despite how I feel about him, he really just needs to get over himself and realize I'm not five years old. Yeah, like that'll happpen."
"Master." Alec bent his knee and bowed towards Aro, "forgive me, please. I forgot whom she belonged to." Helen had never seen Alec so terrifed before, meanwhile she got to her feet and brushed off her dress. Why had she mentioned the Astronomy hour to Aro?
"Do not speak to me Alec," Aro said coldly while tucking the book inside his suit's jacket. "You will report to your common room and await my decision over your punishment, I am disappointed in you."
Alec nodded and quietly streaked downstairs, not even glancing at Helen. "How could you do this Helen?" Aro shook his head in disapproval, "we agreed that you are too young to have amorous relations with men. You know better than this."
"No, you manipulated me, and it's not like Alec and I are dating, it just happened." Helen said in annoyance, "you didn't need to chew him out for it. I kissed him as much as he kissed me."
Aro narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist, it seemed he reached his breaking point with everything Helen had done. "Young lady, I have put up with your remarks, eye rolls, sarcasm, silence, and your behavior. However, I will not tolerate this insolence and insubordination from you." He placed his hand to where his heart used to beat, "I have given you so much and ask for so little in return, but you have decided to be stubborn and take advantage of a helpless man who only wants your love. So, until you decide to behave and be the good girl I know you can be, I think I'll restrict how much time you decide to spend outside being a rude little child."
Helen widened her eyes in shock at him. Seriously? He asked for little? He's the reason she was stuck here in the first place. How dare he call her ungrateful?! How dare he do this to her?!
"Now get back to your room, before I drag you there." Aro ordered harshly, "and if you know what's good for you, you'll stay put." Helen thought about fighting back and telling him exactly where she wanted him to go. Unfortunately, she'd already pretty much seen how strong supernatural creatures were and just angrily stormed away. How could a man who clamed to love her so much, throw a fit just because she kissed a boy? It's not like she was giving him a lap dance or anything!
Helen trotted down a series of hallways and stairs and furiously shut her door, no intention of speaking to Aro even crossing her mind. Hot tears began spilling over her cheeks and she grabbed her laptop before storming into her bedroom
I swear, I've had it! I don't understand why I feel so angry at him, yet I can bring myself to hate him?! Why does he have to control me and everyone else?!'
After locking the door, she sat down on her futon and opened up her email account. Helen's eyes widened when she saw how many people tried to contact her, hell, she had seventy-five new messages.
Out of curiosity, she clicked on some emails, the first one she'd gotten since she dropped off the face of the earth.
To: nellielou1022 , From: aggiediamond0710
10/25/11 at 9:25 p.m.
Dear Helen,
So, Syd and I woke up this morning in the living room. We remember your Dad, Henry and Wes coming home and all of us going to bed after watching a movie. When I woke up at three a.m., you were nowhere to be seen. Not in your bedroom, not in the living room, gone.
First of all, I have never seen your Dad so freaked out. Second, where the hell are you?! Did Aro kidnap you? Did we all do something to make you leave? I know that these past couple of weeks have been hard, but still. Look, I'm not even sure if you'll ever read this, or if you're even okay. Helen, you need to know that we love you and want you back. My parents are pulling me out of the Academy, as they 'announced' as soon as I got home. You know, I always thought my parents were at least a little supportive, I was wrong.
Even if they make me go to some private school and force upon me the doctoral image, I'm not going to college for Pre-Med. They can't pick my major, and if I can't dance, I'm at least going to study it.
It's so strange not having you around, but, I have this feeling you're still okay. You wanna hear something strange? Allie walked up to us today and said she was sorry that you're gone, that she never wished anything bad to happen to you. Guess you never really know a person after all.
Well, it was nice talking to you.
XOXO,
Aggie
This was awful. Here she was finally enjoying Volterra, while Sydney and Aggie were having their lives ruined and it just wasn't fair. First Aggie was being yanked away by the dance hating Becker's, and if Sydney's Dad wins custody, she's off at Springfield.
Helen clicked on reply and began typing.
Dear Aggie,
You will never believe this! I
Before she continued, Helen remembered her deal with Aro. If she even attempted to remotely contact any of her friends or family, he would kill them and she would still be in Volterra, and a vampire.
Regardless of her care and concern for Aro or Sulpicia, Helen didn't want to be apart of their species. What was so bad about being human?
She scrolled over and deleted the draft, and realized that this would do nothing but stir up more trouble, and God knows she already had enough of that. However, a hidden thought seemed to emerge from the burrows of her mind. Her attempt to go back to Ruby lead to her nearly getting killed, yet, she felt comfortable with clicking on create draft.
Rubes,
I got caught and I'm still in Volterra. Everything is okay, but I need to get out of here, because I'm starting to actually feel like I fit in and belong. Sulpicia has been the greatest mother in the world, and I'm starting to replace Richard with Aro. Please help!
Helen clicked on send and gulped, hoping that Aro had no way of knowing what she just did. After inhaling to try and calm herself down, she jumped when she heard a knock at the door. Helen quickly closed her computer and nervously stuttered, "come in."
Sulpicia somberly opened the door, her face glazed with concern and sympathy, "are you alright? Did Alec force himself on you?" Helen rolled her eyes and clenched her fists in frustration. "No! Why does everyone think I'm some sort of innocent little girl who can't possibly have urges?!"
"Oh, that sentence relieves me from any worry I had!" Aro said bitterly from the sitting room.
"Seriously?" Helen grumbled, "he's here?!"
"Aro." Sulpicia addressed her husband with frustration, "you promised to remain silent, do not give me another reason to be angry with you!"
"Unbelievable!" Aro stormed over to the door way, nostrils flaring at his wife. "Between the two of you, I am absolutely at a loss!" Sulpicia scoffed at moved away from Aro, towards Helen.
'Wait, are they fighting?' Helen didn't hope that this whole thing with Alec brought up some marital problems with the two of them. She had a vague feeling in her gut from old memories of Richard and Kathleen, both drunk and louder than ambulance sirens.
"I told you to let me handle this," Sulpicia huffed in his direction.
"Absolutely not! Clearly we are not being strict enough with raising Helen, as her father, I will handle discipline!"
"Um, I'm not talking to you right now." Helen retorted bitterly.
"You just did!" Aro corrected with as much snark as Helen would have done. Sulpicia used her index finger and thumb to pinch the space between her eyes, clearly not in the mood.
"Honestly, the two of you could be related by blood." She replied, Aro's eyes seemed to momentarily glint with joy, replaced by the disappointing fact that the thought would never be.
Helen, however, had a sudden creepy image of a round faced girl with curly jet black hair, pale skin, and her baby blue eyes. She inwardly shuddered at the thought of Aro's genetics combined with hers and was brought back with Aro's sharp yell of "are you even listening to me, young lady?!"
"I haven't even started before, what about this situation will change that?" She snorted out.
"Well," Aro said with an annoyed smile, "I think you might start listening to me, when I make it a necessity, unless you want to be locked in here until Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever religion you affiliate yourself with!"
"I celebrate Christmas, Sydney celebrates Hanukkah." Helen shrugged.
"How in the name of heaven and earth does that even pertain to this discussion?!" Aro shouted obstreperously. "Now explain to me why you decided to disregard your honor!"
"I don't even get why you're even so pissed about this!" Helen snapped back, "where you're from girls start popping out kids when they're like twelve!"
"Do not lecture me on my culture!" He snarled, "that is all the more reason why your indiscretion is a problem. If you want to revert to Greek principles, then I am entitled to control you until marriage, which you should not even bother to consider."
"Modern America for the win, then."
Sulpicia could take no more of this and stepped in. "She has a point, it is not like you walked in and found them half naked and preparing to fornicate."
"Seriously, does everyone think I'm just some sex-crazed ho' bag?" Helen muttered, not that they even bothered to listen.
"That is beside the issue, Sulpicia, she is mine, and she needs to accept that, because I will share her with no one, not even Alec!" Aro, tired of fighting with the two of them, began to storm away, but turned back and walked over to Helen's bed, snatching her computer.
"You are not allowed to use this in your bedroom." He stated frigidly, finally leaving the room. Sulpicia, out of pity for Aro yelling at her, hugged Helen, making her feel much better.
Helen felt a longing to stay in the blonde vampire's arms, eager for her affection. While being pressed against Sulpicia, she hoped to hear a heartbeat or something that would allow her to be disassociated from Aro's species.
"He's not angry." Sulpicia assured, "I know you don't believe me, but he is a very jealous man when it comes to his women. He doesn't like it when I pay attention to others, just as he hates fathoming the idea of you loving another man." She rubbed Helen's back in comfort.
"I hate this. Why does he feel like he has to control me?"
"That is just his sharpest trait, my little bird." Sulpicia kissed her hair, making her flutter with happiness. "Aro wants everyone on earth to obey him, it has nothing to do with you."
"Are you guys fighting?" Helen asked sadly.
"We are in the middle of a spat, which he has not apologized for." She said simply, "you know Chelsea used her gift on you, right?"
Helen nodded, remembering how much she loved Aro and had to fight the urge to say she was sorry and regain his approval once more. "I had a feeling, but I didn't want to believe it."
"I didn't want you to love me that way, I wanted something natural." Sulpicia confessed. "Aro doesn't really care if he has to manipulate you, as long as you belong to him, but he has good intentions. His execution of them is lacking, though."
"Sulpicia." Helen choked out.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"I don't want to be a vampire." She finally admitted, causing Sulpicia to cease stroking her hair, and Helen started to tear up. "You have no idea how much I wish I could change my mind, but I can't, it's not what I want for myself."
Helen looked up and saw Sulpicia's face glaze over with a broken heart. She started to sob, but could not cry tears, another burden of being a vampire.
"It's not because of you," Helen responded in assurance.
"Helen, I cannot lose you." She choked out, "please, just take the benefits of immortality into consideration."
"I like being human, why is that so terrible?"
"You are fragile, anyone could easily kill you, as evidence of two days ago. Not to mention that you will age and be too old to be considered our daughter. Aro also wants to see how your gift evolves." Sulpicia said sweetly, trying to hide her pain. "Eleazar has the ability to see talents in others."
"So, what's the verdict?" Helen asked nervously.
"We want to surprise you, but it's not precognition, much to Aro's disappointment."
"Why do you call me little bird?" She asked the vampire queen. Sulpicia kissed her cheek and began to walk away, "because I know you want to fly. I'm taking you to the spa tomorrow afternoon, so do not worry about seeing Aro. Goodnight."
Helen fell asleep in her clothes, not caring enough to change into pajamas. As soon she rolled out of bed, her body felt like she was being pelted with ice. Shoot! The windows were open and she had forgotten to light a fire to keep warm! Helen quickly ran over to the balcony, shutting the door firmly, locking it.
Helen noticed the temperature in Volterra was getting colder, and hoped that soon the first snow would fall. She loved nothing more about winter, than snow. It meant that it was time for ice skating, Starbucks would be serving holiday drinks (all hail Gingerbread Latte!), and soon she'd be counting the days until Christmas. Then the thought hit her. This would be her first Christmas without Richard, Henry and Wesley. Heck, soon she'd miss a Hendricks family Thanksgiving. No one-year exception of her vegetarian diet to eat a non-processed turkey.
Soon, she'd miss making christmas cookies with Aggie, or helping Sydney make custard filled sufganiyah, the best doughnuts in the world.
With a sigh, she remembered that Sulpicia was taking her to the spa today. It was nice that she was getting to do mother/daughter bonding with her. Maybe they could get a facial and a massage? Or she could finally see what a mud bath was like? Helen didn't even know what spas in Tuscany were like.
A sharp knock on her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts, and she really hoped it wasn't Aro coming to yell at her some more. Instead, a woman only a few years older than Helen, with black hair, green eyes, and beautiful olive skin.
"Hello, I'm Gianna." She said brightly, "I am your new personal attendant and the new secretary for the masters." Her accent was not nearly as pronounced as Lucita's, and much more lighter. Lucita! Helen had almost forgotten what had happened to her! She thought that Aro had done something devious to her for helping her escape, but wasn't exactly sure.
"I was told to bring you breakfast." Gianna pointed towards the table and silver tray, "mini frittatas with some hazelnut cinnamon rolls. There is also some coffee and some fruit. Please let me know if you need anything else."
"Thanks." Helen said quietly. Gianna nodded and smiled, eagerly walking towards the door. Feeling a sudden urge in her stomach, Helen picked up a roll and felt such sweet satisfaction after taking a bite, cream staining her lips. The frittatas were good, but she didn't like the ham. Coffee with a grapefruit was never to be passed up, and she finished with another cinnamon roll.
After breakfast, Helen took a bath and found one of the few pairs of blue jeans in her entire closet, and matched it with an over-sized, beige cable-knit tunic. She grabbed a pair of light brown ankle boots and french braided her hair. Helen figured since they were going to a spa, she should dress pretty casual.
A sharp knock lightly tapped the door, and Sulpicia appreared with her hair half up and dressed in an aqua cashmere turtleneck, and a pair of black slacks. Sulpicia rolled in a small designer suitcase, and beamed. "Change of plans, Aro is leaving with Felix and Jane to take care of some business in Hong Kong and then London, so we will be heading to Castel Monastero in Siena for the next few days."
"Why the occasion?" Helen asked, confused.
"I think we should spend some more time together. You are such an independent child, and I love that about you, but I feel like we should be doing more activities with each other." Sulpicia said happily.
"You don't want me to see Alec." She replied, figuring out her scheme.
"He is on prohibition for not treading lightly, according to Aro, I am only trying to make the situation easier." Sulpicia said calmly, not wanting to fight with her. Helen exhaled in frustration, "is Aro still mad at me?"
"He was never angry, just upset. Remember, he is very jealous, he becomes frigid when I pay attention to Marcus or another male for longer than he'd like." Sulpicia admitted.
"Why do you seem so okay with that?" She stated with confusion. Sulpicia, however, smiled dreamily, "because I love him, and he's my husband." Helen nodded, hoping she understood, "so, you're not fighting anymore?"
"No, he is using his responsibilities to leave for the moment. He wishes I had sided with him, regardless of the case." Sulpicia explained softly, "he won't apologize directly, little bird. He will do something, however, that represents his remorse. Aro will never admit that he has made a mistake."
"Gee, isn't that great?" Helen rolled her eyes and began packing with her vampiric mother.
After hopping into Sulpicia's bright red Porsche Cayenne, Helen eased up a bit. The blonde vampire was wearing the same pitch black sunglasses as her husband did, only much more fashionable.
"Can you see with those?" She wondered out loud. Sulpicia smiled in amusement, "my vision is impeccable, dear. One of immortality's many perks, I could be standing in the dark and see clear as day."
"So, what up with the Versache lens?"
"A vampire's eyes can unnerve some folk, better to be concealed around those who do not understand. I also brought some colored contacts to help our dining situations." She explained while the car roared across the country fields. As Helen peered out the window, she looked in awe at their destination. Castel Monastero was nestled in an ancient village almost an hour away from Volterra, right near a magnificent lake and surrounded by cobbled steps.
"Here we are." Sulpicia beamed brightly as she pulled into the driveway, valets stepping back and gazing at the beautiful vehicle and all its shinyness. However, nothing prepared them for the woman who stepped out and caught the eyes of everyone around her.
"Oh my, what a fit Aro would be having right now." Sulpicia sighed. She walked over to the nearest valet and dropped her keys in his shaking hand, smiling. "Lei parla inglese?" Her italian was crisp and clever, Helen wondered if she spoke any other languages that well.
"Y-yes, Signorina." He collected himself, hoping to impress her.
"Signora Arvolto," she corrected coldly, suddenly bored with teasing the valet. "My reservation is under my husband's name. I trust there will be no issues in my bags being delivered to our villa?"
"Not at all, simply check in with the concierge." He grumbled, "I'll send for a bellhop."
"Grazie, signore!" Sulpicia giggled as though he completed an amazing feat, "come, Helen. I'll check us in."
Helen could only nod and do as she was told, it was strange that her so-called mother had decided to manipulate this poor man and tease him like that. She knew it was all good fun, but still strange.
The villa stood on the edge of the spa, but was easily the most impressive building on the entire lot. A grandiose house with elegant and intimidating architecture, clearly the oldest villa there.
"We had this built when the village was constructed, once the spa was formed, we simply kept it as a private household." Sulpicia said as she led her through the parlor. Glorious marble floors with alabaster tiles paired with dark gold wallpaper. "Now, my room is on the second floor, your's is right down that hallway on the left. After we unpack, I have arranged for us to take a swim."
"It's like, fifty-four degrees outside," Helen reminded her.
Sulpicia gave her a funny look, "well, luckily the spa is in possession of an indoor pool. There are several bathing suits in the bag, as well as some cover-ups, choose which ever you'd like."
"Okay." She replied while grabbing her beige suitcase, following Sulpicia up the stairs. Helen's room was a soft lilac with white roses on the wallpaper. A simple lavender bed and white dresser took up most the furniture. This was probably a guest room, her bedroom at the castle was much more personalized.
Helen threw her suitcase on the bed and rummaged through several cardigans and skirts before finding a blue and green bikini, a green hoodie, and black converse. She changed and saw Sulpicia standing outside the bedroom in a black one-piece and wrap set, fiddling through her shiny purse.
"Just looking for my sunglasses, little bird, we'll be off in a minute." She gasped in happiness, "there you are!" After placing them over her eyes, the two walked downstairs and outside of the villa, towards the main building.
"Are you alright, Helen?" Sulpicia asked kindly, "you've been awfully silent today."
"I really just don't have much to say, I honestly don't think there is anything to say." Helen said dryly. In a very abrupt manner, Sulpicia turned around and frowned at her with intensity.
"Will you please stop being so passive aggressive?" She said coldly, "whatever resentment you have towards Aro is not a fault of myself."
"I just don't understand why you both have these stupid games and mess with other people!" Helen snapped, not wanting to fight.
"Really, Helen?" She rolled her eyes in frustration, "this is about something as petty as my little joke with the valet?"
"No, it's about how you both enjoy manipulating other people for your own personal fun. I mean, seriously, it's not cool."
"Humans are fun to toy with, sweetheart. They have the strangest of reactions to befuddlement." Sulpicia tried to explain, hoping to make the situation better. "I understand how youth can affect your judgement."
"Well, until further notice, I am human, and I don't like these things you and Aro do to people like me. So, if you think that valet is a toy, then you think that I'm one, too." Helen shuffled past the stunned women, who began to desperately chase after her angry daughter.
"Honey, that's not what I meant!" Sulpicia called out, not understanding how badly she'd hurt her feelings.
Helen had managed to find the pool while ignoring Sulpicia, who alternated from pleasing in both English and French, trying to get her to talk.
Now, unfortunately for Helen's desire to be alone, Sulpicia had booked the pool for a private session, at least two hours. So, there was only so much she could do without looking like a stupid kid.
"You know I don't see you that way." The blonde vampire said sweetly, "Aro and I don't consider you apart of that lot, anymore."
"Well, that's actually pretty stupid, because my lot as you call it, is who made me who I am today. That's like me saying that just because you've been, so far, a pretty good mom, that you get a free pass for being a vampire." Helen huffed as she unlaced her shoes and slid into the pool.
"Excuse me if I want to see you as something more than my food supply." Sulpicia snarled, finally upset with her. "You know, I would be a little sweeter, considering I am the parent who isn't mad at you for fraternizing with a guard member."
"Wow." Helen said icily, "two cheap shots in ten minutes, you are good at this."
"I'm sorry, that was highly out of line." Sulpicia responded, entering the water. "Let's not fight, this is supposed to be a vacation for us."
"Yeah." Helen agreed, "I shouldn't have gotten on you for that, I just met you, I can't ask you to change on the spot."
"It's fine," she cooed softly, glad to have made amends with her daughter. Sulpicia dove down deep into the water, and in a split second, appeared in front of Helen. "Do you want to still swim?" Helen nodded and hopped onto Sulpicia's back, before she dove down once more, the two ready to enjoy the spa.
After hours of splashing, Marco Polo and underwater handstands, the two women exited the water, both smelling of chlorine and and air-conditioning. The sun had already coasted shadow and Sulpicia told Helen that they would shower before heading off to dinner.
Castel Monastero was renown for having some of the world's top gourmet chefs run the restaurant, including Gordon Ramsey. Around seven-thirty, the crowd drifted towards the bar and tables, nightlife beginning for the rich and famous.
"Order whatever you wish, I have no objections to the menu, even vegetarian food." Sulpicia insisted happily. Both women were decked out in fancy cocktail dresses and shiny hairstyles.
"Well I'd be lying if I said I didn't like the sound of that." Helen giggled. Sulpicia called for the waiter and whispered something towards him, making him sullen and nod in understanding.
"Che cosa si ordina, Signorina?" He asked her rather coldly, as if he assumed her to be something horrible. "Um, okay, I'll have lobster risotto please." Sulpicia began to translate, but the man nodded at her to assure he heard Helen. After some small talk, he returned with water for her and an ornate glass of something too red to be wine for the blonde woman.
"Secret restaurant code?" Helen joked.
"Only for certain places Aro enjoys, it's to help appear normal." Sulpicia winked at her, bringing more attention to her brown colored contacts.
Soon, the waiter returned with Helen's plate as well as a cocktail with a lime wedge that he set down for Sulpicia. "Dall'uomo al banco."
They both glanced over to the bar where two rugged italian men were waving and blowing kisses at the mother/daughter duo.
"It seems you have an admirer." Helen teased, earning a snicker from Sulpicia. Once the blonde had finished her drink, she walked over to the bar instead of having the waiter refill her drink. Helen watched as the two men walked over and no doubt made advances, only for her to simply brush them off. Perhaps they offered to buy her another drink, or throw some cheesy line to get into her dress. Once they failed and Sulpicia still had to wait for her drink, the two men walked over to her table, smiling at Helen.
"Hello, there." The taller one said with an adorable accent, "I am Franco and this is Lorenzo. We couldn't help but notice that you are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman here."
If it weren't for the fact that she'd had a bite of food in her mouth, Helen would've burst out laughing. These two were using the exact same lines they'd used on Sulpicia, and they had no idea she wasn't even legal! Okay, now this was funny.
"I'm Helen," she replied nervously. "It's my first time here."
"Same for us," Franco replied. "We've never been here before."
"Oh," Sulpicia appeared behind them, making Lorenzo jump. "Well, that's just not true."
"Hello!" Franco replied in sheepishness, remembering his failure.
"Hello." Sulpicia replied with a sickly sweet grin, "you certainly enjoy persistent attempts."
"Well, I was just..." Franco trailed while Sulpicia abruptly cut in, "getting to know my daughter?" The two men froze in absolute shock, faces turning four shades of pink. Helen could barely hide her laughter, and realized how much more she wanted to poke at them. "Are you my new Daddy?" She smiled at Franco, who looked as though he'd just been to hell. Sulpicia covered her mouth as she giggled at Helen's joke.
"So...daughter?" Franco stuttered, "you know, Lorenzo and I are traveling together."
"She's fifteen." Sulpicia cleared her throat, Franco and Lorenzo exhaled in embarrassment and bid them goodbye, leaving them to laugh amongst their own personal game. Helen didn't even realize how far in she had gotten with losing herself to mind tricks.