Impressions of Three Men in Black - A Poly!Volturi Kings tale
Chapter Fifteen
Time to go back to the real world?
It's the final full day of the cruise, with Celeste giving her last but not least mate her attention. Vacations always meant living a fantasy life, but eventually you had to go back home and to reality, be it school or work. Celeste would be going back to Volterra and the Volturi castle, living among real-life vampires. But then what?
*Light smut alert as always between mates*
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By noon, the fog had dissipated and the sun was out, warm and inviting. The ocean waters remained calm, something that pleased Celeste, since so far, she had not been seasick once on this short cruise. She was dressed in the bikini Heidi had bought for her, lying on her stomach on the lounger while Marcus rubbed SPF lotion on her back and shoulders. He never seemed to mind helping her with this task, and she enjoyed it too. His hands would be cold, sending a shiver down her back, to which he would respond by kissing her shoulder. Once he had finished, she turned and reached up, hugging him and whispering, "Thank you, Marcus. Your touch never fails to give me goosebumps."
His crimson eyes locked onto hers, his expression one of love and desire. That would come later for them, and he was ever the patient one.
Seeing a flash out of the corner of her eye, Celeste's mouth fell open when she saw Aro standing on deck and quite without his swim trunks.
"Aro, what are you doing?" Celeste stared at the man who was now completely nude, pale skin shimmering in the sunlight. He stepped up onto the side railing, ready to enter the water.
"I'm going for a swim. Is there a problem, my dear?" Aro looked at his mate, a playful smile on his face.
Celeste smiled back at her mate, love for him swelling her very human heart. Aro was so different from any man she'd ever met. It was these differences that both attracted and intrigued her.
She suppressed her smile and said, "Not unless you enjoy flashing your sparkly behind to all the passing boa..." She looked around while she spoke, not seeing one boat anywhere in the area. "Never mind. Enjoy yourself," she said quickly while waving her hand.
Aro gave her a wink, then gracefully dove off the yacht and into the water with very little splash.
Celeste rose from the lounger and went to the railing to watch Aro while he easily swam strokes. She turned to Caius, who had moved behind her, a sly smile on her face. "Why don't we all go skinny dipping."
Caius kissed her neck just below her ear, whispering, "If you wish to, cara, I'm willing." His mouth formed a slow smile, his thoughts never far from his physical desires.
She turned to her other mate. "Marcus, will you join us?"
He gave her a small smile and nodded.
Pointing a finger at Aro, Celeste asked, "Does he always do that?"
"Do what, amore mio?" Caius questioned in return.
"Walk around naked in front of...you two?"
"Sometimes. Not often," Caius intoned while removing his swim trunks.
What 'sometimes', she wondered."Hmm, well I'd be more comfortable if he didn't." Celeste had wondered about vampire morals. Was this free expression and nothing to them? And what if they asked her to have a four way. Orgies weren't her thing. But these were her mates for life, something which could be endless. And perhaps she might have to agree to being with all three at the same time, just to keep things from getting dull for them. Perhaps by then she might find she had no objections to the idea.
Celeste, stop it! she told herself. Oh god, what if Aro reads her. He would know her imaginings of a four-way sexual interaction. How mortified would she feel, knowing he was so familiar with her deepest thoughts. Why in hell did he have to possess such a gift. She would never be able to hide anything from him.
"Are you all right, love?" Marcus interrupted her musings.
"Yes, Marcus, I'm fine. Everyone ready to jump in?"
"Caius already has. Didn't you notice?" He smiled, thinking he knew her distraction had something to do with all three of them. "Let's go on in," Marcus held out his hand to Celeste after she had shrugged off her swimsuit, helping her climb up and onto the railing.
She dove on in, sensing Marcus right behind her. This was their last full day on board the yacht, and tonight after supper, she wanted to have a talk with her more sensible mate before they returned to the villa.
Celeste floated on her back, the sun warming her exposed skin. How could she leave this behind. She hoped she could convince her mates to take such a vacation again next season.
Arms came up from beneath her to pull her down into the water, her back pressed up against a hard body, leaving her head above the surface. "I hope I didn't frighten you, love. After all, sharks don't have arms."
"I'm getting used to your tricks, Caius," she replied, laughing.
"I'll just have to think harder then," he teased as he pulled her flush against him, his obvious erection pressing against her buttocks.
"Caius! Well, I see cold water doesn't affect vampires like it does human males."
"Hmm?" The blonde vampire nuzzled her neck below her ear.
Celeste tried swimming away from Caius, but his arm was locked around her waist.
Marcus swam up to Celeste. "Brother, let her go."
Caius scowled, but did as he was bid. "We are here if you need us, cara mia."
Surrounded by both men, she felt safe and protected. She wondered what kind of life she would have with them. Would boredom become an issue for her. Once she was bitten, and it would happen, she would have no choice but to adapt to her new existence.
For now, Celeste enjoyed having two of her mates with her. Still, she wondered, where was Aro and why was he ignoring her.
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Once the foursome had come back aboard, Celeste returned to her cabin to shower quickly, then donned another sundress chosen for her by Chelsea. She dug around the closet, trying to find her white sandals, when she came across a box. She left the cabin, taking the box with her.
"I don't know who rented this boat before you, but they obviously did not have vampires with them. Look what I found!" Celeste set the box down on the table where Aro, Marcus and Caius were sitting, enjoying the morning's warm and sunny weather. Being outside for so long a time was something Aro and Caius rarely allowed themselves in Volterra. Marcus had his garden, where he spent some time each day tending to the roses he had planted in Didyme's honour.
"What did you find, cara?" Aro asked, barely curious. Still, he wanted to please Celeste any way he could.
"It's a game, like chess. I found it at the back of my closet while I was dressing."
"Chess is a game of strategy, and not for children," Caius said, feeling insulted, considering himself a chess master.
"Excuse me, but I'm not a child." Celeste let Caius poke at her so easily. She gave him a glare and continued, "This can be a game of strategy too, sometimes, based on the cards you choose." She felt she was trying to convince herself as much as her mates, but it was a game she knew and she wanted to play.
She sat at the table, pulling out the playing board, the cards and pawns.
She frowned when Caius gave her a smirk, then a pat on her thigh. "Of course, my love."
"Do not be condescending to our mate, brother," Marcus warned.
Celeste winked at Marcus, and began to explain the rules until Aro said with some impatience in his voice, "All right, my dear, let's move along and begin the game."
Everyone picked the colour of the pawns they wanted. The first round, no one picked a "1" or "2" card. The next round, Aro's card was a "2", grinning while he moved a pawn out of the start box. He chose another card and moved his piece on the board.
Celeste's card was a "1" and she moved her pawn out.
The game progressed until at some point, Celeste found herself on a slide zone. She glanced at Caius, from beneath dark lashes, waiting for his next move.
He drew a "7" card, meaning he could move one of his pieces down the slide zone, sending Celeste back home.
And that was exactly what he did.
"Caius!" Celeste gave a heavy sigh, frowning at her blonde mate. "You're supposed to say "sorry" when you do that to another player."
"I play to win. I am decidely not sorry, cara mia," Caius said, grinning.
"You never are," Celeste replied, pouting.
He lifted Celeste's chin with one fingertip. "Didn't I apologise for those bruises I gave you last night," he replied, his eyes flashing dark for only a moment at the memories of last night with his mate.
"I was going to talk to you about that, brother..." Aro began, until he felt Celeste clasp her vocal mate's hand.
"Aro, it's alright. It isn't an issue, or it won't be much longer. Please. let's just play a bit longer?"
Aro brought his hand up, then kissed Celeste's while it lay on his. "Yes, my dear. Whatever brings you happiness."
The game eventually ended with Marcus the surprise winner. Celeste rose from her chair and walked around the table to his side. She bent to hug him tightly from behind, then kissed his cheek. She found herself looking to him more and more in the short time they'd been together. He was much quieter than either Aro or Caius, even pensive at times, but she felt she could depend on him in a pinch.
She peered into his crimson eyes and saw something that threatened to bring tears to her eyes. The deep sadness she had seen only recently was not there. Instead, Celeste noticed a sparkle in them, and wondered if she had anything to do with it. She hoped so. This was her night with Marcus, and she felt anticipation in being able to talk with him, among other things.
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Supper was extra special this last night of the cruise. Chef Emilio made roast stuffed quail marinated in wine. They were on the small side, so he made two for her, along with some roasted vegetables. For dessert, he had prepared a simple but exquisite raspberry mousse cup.
Celeste ate beside her mates, talking with them while she enjoyed her meal. Once she had finished, she thanked Emilo for the delicious supper. She was going to miss his creations and his solicitous behavior with her. She never imagined before coming to Volterra that creatures like these surrounding her existed, and that they were not the monsters legend pictured them.
Seeing the staff lined up, Celeste took a few moments to thank each one, for everything from keeping her cabin and clothing clean to providing her with snacks and drinks while out on deck.
Marcus took his place at her side as they left the dining room. As always, Celeste gave her other mates a hug and kiss. She wondered if this ritual would continue once they were back at the castle. As the leaders of the Volturi, she knew they would be busy with whatever vampire duties they had. Perhaps Felix could introduce her to the guards he felt might be beneficial to know.
Soon, she felt Marcus' hand resting on the small of her back, the couple heading for Celeste's cabin. Once there, they embraced, savoring the taste and smell of each other. Both removed their clothing, then stood before one another. Marcus moved the three steps it took to reach Celeste and picked her up in his arms. He lay her on the bed and sat next to her, one hand tracing her breast, tickling his fingers down to her belly.
Celeste slid her arms around his neck, pulling him down over her. "Love, me, Marcus," she whispered, her eyes begging.
Marcus kissed the mortal woman who was his life now. Gently, he pleasured her with his hands and mouth, bringing her to several orgasms, before thrusting deeply into her wet heat. He growled his own release, his hips moving forward but not as fiercely as he might, had he not been holding back.
Both lay still, Marcus quiet compared to Celeste's pants as she tried to get her breath back. "You are such a wonderful lover, Marcus, but I am sorry you can't be yourself with me just yet."
"Soon, my love. You will see and appreciate the difference, I am sure of that," he said, smiling.
Celeste was lying across the bed, her head on Marcus' stomach. They had spent time talking about the history of the Volturi and his time with them.
"So do you identify yourself as Greek or Italian?"
While Marcus was caressing Celeste's head and playing with her hair, he realized he never really cared after Didyme had been destroyed. "I have not thought about that for many centuries, dear heart. I know the history of both Greece and Italy, although my mortal life is a blur of half-forgotten memories. I speak many languages. Greek, Latin, Italian, French, English..."
Celeste smiled. "Ok, ok, I already feel humbled. I'll never catch up with your educational level."
Marcus laughed heartily, something Celeste heard from him only rarely. "My dear one, you will have all of eternity to learn."
"Marcus, I know you loved Didyme very much. If you can love me half as much, I know we will be happy."
"All of us have lost our mates over time, my dear. And we will all love you. Our emotional connections will get stronger as the years pass." His fingertips brushed over her flushed cheek.
Celeste lay contentedly in her mate's arms once he'd pulled her against his body. When she felt his cold lips kiss her forehead, a tear slipped from one eye to roll over her cheek to her ear. It tickled as it slid in, forcing her to raise her hand to wipe it away.
The tear and Celeste's action to hide it was not missed by Marcus. "What is it, dear heart? Why do you weep?"
"It's nothing, Marcus. I can never know what it is to lose one's mate after so long. I guess it makes me sad for you. All of you. But I swear on my human heart that I will be loyal to you, to be there for you whenever you need me, and to love and support you always."
Marcus knew the relationships he and his brothers had with this mortal were pre-ordained, yet on a personal level, he would cherish Celeste forever. He planned on making sure Aro and Caius regarded her as the treasure he knew her to be.
Hugging her, Marcus peered into Celeste's eyes. "Ti amerò sempre, tesoro mio. Faremo nostra questa vita, per tutta l'eternità ."
Celeste smiled. "First thing when we get back home, I need to start learning Italian."
"I will love you always, my darling. We will make this life our own, for all eternity," Marcus said, translating for her. He bent to capture her lips, kissing her deeply. When he heard her moan, he pushed her onto her back, hovering over her.
Celeste let Marcus fill the space between her parted legs, eager to feel him inside her again. "Take me, love."
She thought briefly, comparing the three vampire masters, Aro was a lover who commanded the moments they were together. Celeste knew he cared for her, but with the slightest arrogance on his part. Caius lit a fiery desire within her, as he had once said, only he could quench. But when she was with Marcus, she felt he was a true lover to her, as if his existence centered around her and only her.
When Marcus moved lower to allow his tongue to lave at her nipples, Celeste stopped thinking, and merely enjoyed pleasure at his hands.
Unike Caius, who could keep Celeste awake all night, Marcus allowed his mate to rest. He enjoyed hearing the steady beat of her heart while she slept. She didn't seem to mind his cold naked body lying next to her, but he would leave a few inches between them even while holding her.
Feeling her shift as if to get more comfortable, Marcus bent to kiss her warm forehead. He felt such happiness that had been unknown to him for so long, Marcus whispered, "I will do all in my power to make you happy, dear heart."
When morning arrived, and Celeste rolled over to give Marcus a kiss, he told her to shower and dress while he would get her breakfast. By the time he returned, Celeste was in one of the sundresses, trying to brush a few knots from her wet hair.
Marcus set the tray down, where Celeste could see chocolate-filled croissants lying on a small platter. The smell of hot coffee filled the cabin. Her solicitous mate poured her a cup, and after adding sugar and creme, handed it to her.
"Chef Emilio thought you might enjoy something sweeter this morning." He sat on the bed against the headboard, waiting for her to sit beside him so she could eat.
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After Marcus had left to dress in his own cabin, Celeste had returned the tray to the kitchen, thanking Chef Emilio for the delicious croissants. Then she went out onto the aft deck to breathe in the cool morning air. She noticed Aro sitting alone on the cushioned bench. She walked to the end of the deck and sat beside him.
Aro gave Celeste a welcoming smile. "Good morning, my dear." He leaned over and kissed her.
Celeste looked over her handsome mate. "So now everything is back to businesss normal, even before the boat has docked? Black suit, black shirt, black tie."
"Is there something wrong with our attire, my dear?"
"No, I actually find it quite attractive." Celeste's eyes told Aro what he needed to know. His tactile telepathy told him the rest. "I mean, you're my three men in black." She assumed none of them would know the movie reference. "I just think you don't want the Guard to see you in swim trunks and a t-shirt. It might take away from your established authority."
Celeste had her hand resting on Aro's chest. The pendant he wore was touching the tips of her fingers. She picked it up off his chest, looking it over. "Where did you get this?"
"All Volturi wear them," Aro replied, his eyes on her hand while she caressed the metal jewelry. "As the ruling coven of the vampire world, I decided many centuries ago we needed something to distinguish us from all other covens. This crest does just that. It sets us apart. Several designs were created by a craftsman many, many centuries ago, the finished product made of gold, although some of the guards wear silver pendants."
"Will I get one as well, once I'm...once I've been changed?"
"Of course, my dear. As our mate, you will always be one of us."
"Is there any significance in the design? It looks like there are trees and birds." Her fingertip traced over the design of the crest, noticing the large "V", obviously referring to the Volturi. "These things here on top, are they leaves?" Celeste wished she had a magnifying glass with her.
"Laurel leaves to be precise. Marcus, Caius, and I, along with our mates, came from Greece, and to the Greeks, leaves represent rebirth and new beginnings. For a human to become a vampire after they have been brought to the point of death, is for them a rebirth, from the weak life of a mortal to the superior existence of our kind."
Celeste listened with interest. There was so much she wanted to know, not only about Aro, but vampires in general, and the Volturi specifically.
"Trees are also associated with life renewal after death, or immortality, if you will," he continued. "The ruby stone at the top of the crest represents a drop of blood, that precious elixir we must drink to survive."
Celeste dropped the pendant at those words. Aro had reminded her she would have to drink human blood too, once she had been changed. She smiled at him to let him know she was ok, just in case he wondered.
"The hawk was a favourite of the god Apollo, and served as his messenger. But did you know, although they are solitary birds, they are monogamous, and will seek out their own mate each mating season." Aro took Celeste's hand in his, holding it while he continued his exposition on the meaning of the crest.
"Hawks represent leadership, and are highly intelligent and adaptable."
Celeste questioned her mate, "Do you equate them with vampires then, Aro?"
"Of course, my dear. We have had to be adaptable in this world. The smarter humans became, and with their greater numbers, the more dangerous they've become to us. By our intellect and adaptabilty have we been able to survive for so many thousands of years." He noticed the expression on Celeste's face. "What is it, dear one?"
"I would think you'd be more a danger to humans," she said.
"There are eight billion humans on this planet, and only a few thousand of us at best. We have never done a complete census of our kind, but there are often wars between factions that reduce the population. Even as armies of newborns are created, others are destroyed."
"Like during the Egyptian and Romanian wars? Marcus told me."
Aro wondered how the Volturi appeared to Celeste during that conversation. He hoped Marcus realized there were some things Aro wanted to keep from their mate for the time being.
"Lastly, there is the tree. It is not leafing, as you can see. The roots symbolise our leadership, keeping the coven firmly grounded, while the limbs symbolise our Guard, the protectors of the coven." Aro brushed his fingertips over his mate's cheek. "A leafing tree is essential to the environment, while a leafless one displays a static existence. It can be the one weakness we have. Perhaps you will help us change that, my dear."
Celeste removed her hand from Aro's and placed both her hands on his chest. "I have so much to learn, my love." She leaned into the inexplicable creature in front of her, and kissed him with all the passion she felt for him. "Thank you for sharing with me some of your history, but I wish to know more."
"And in time, you will know more," Aro said, pleased in her interest in the coven.
A few hours had passed, and the three vampires had spoken with the yacht's captain who would take care of paying the staff. Since vampires used money for things like housing, transportation, and clothing, they worked if they were not as independently wealthy as the Volturi were. And the Volturi had a reputation for paying those who worked for them very well.
Celeste took the time to bid Chef Emilio good bye. "I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of my stomach, Chef. I have never been treated to such a varied and delightful menu."
He took her hand and bending over it, placed a kiss on top. "You're very welcome, Miss Celeste. I am happy for the opportunity to create dishes for a very kind and lovely human. I hope to see you again sometime."
Just then, they heard a voice behind them. "It's time to go on deck, my dear." It was Aro, who smiled at his mate, then the vampire who kept her happily fed. His eyes shined for Celeste, but they glared at the talented chef. He hoped she would not ask for him again in the future. He had promised her he would not feel jealousy for his brothers, but he had not made such a promise about anyone else, and he knew she would want Emilio safe.
Celeste smiled at her friend. "Yes, Aro, I'm coming. Thank you again, Emilio." She turned and took Aro's extended hand, letting him lead her outside.
The shoreline was now visible in the distance, with the marina off to the left.
"I will miss this, Aro, but I am eager to get home. I'm sure there are plans that need to be made."
He peered at her with no guile in his expression. "Just so, Celeste. Just so."
Aro, Marcus, Caius would discuss with Celeste the requirements for her transformation. But first there was another matter Aro wanted to discuss with his brothers, once they returned to the villa.
A/N : I did research on the Volturi pendant, and there is little canon information out there, so as someone suggested, I made up my own back story for the history of the pendant. I found one piece about the meaning of the symbols on the crest, but I disagreed with them all, so I give my own interpretation of the symbols. I hope it's acceptable.
PS-my laptop was doing weird things, so I will be coming back to check for missing words, misspellings, etc...I just wanted to get this posted.