Il mio Cantante
Aro was fascinated by Edward's relationship with his blood singer, Bella Swan. Now he has found his own blood singer, who happens to be completely willing to fulfill his desire to drink from her, on one condition.
Aro dei Volturi X female OC, with Sulpicia dei Volturi
I was going to make this feature Caius but someone asked for more Aro, so ask and ye shall receive.
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Diana Walker entered the old castle along with thirty or fourty other tourists, she hadn't counted. Her solo vacation in Italy was proving to be a bore. She had wanted to visit places off the beaten path, but so far, she'd found nothing much of interest. So when she received a free invitation to tour the Palazzo dei Priori in the city of Volterra, Diana thought what the hell. If nothing else, she might see some interesting architecture and blow an afternoon before stopping somewhere for supper.
The tour guide urged everyone to follow her closely, but Diana decided to linger in back of the crowd. She ran her hands over the old stone walls dotted with lit sconces, and wondered why in this modern age they were even needed, but it lent to the atmosphere. She admired the old style chairs and wooden tables that were sitting here and there along the walls of the long corridor. The air itself smelled old, with an underlying scent of rotting something. Diana pondered why that would be.
Her uncle had once brought her to a slaughterhouse to purchase a pig for a luau he was holding for his work staff. She recalled while she waited, the nearly overpowering scent of fresh blood. Old blood smelled worse. Maybe the kitchen wasn't far away. In old times, people slaughtered their own animals for food, right? But would anyone be doing that these days?
Realizing she was falling behind the group, Diana ran ahead and saw them being led through large carved wooden doors into a small room that harkened back to medieval times. Her eyes caught men and women dressed in black suits and dresses standing along the walls as if waiting for something, while others sat on chairs that were raised about the main floor. She was looking around when the group was told to stop. There wasn't really anything of interest here. Maybe a history of the castle talk had been prepared for them. Diana chose to stand near a marble pillar in the back of the group to watch the ensuing program.
It was past time for lunch, and Diana's stomach agreed, rumbling a little too loudly as the woman at her left noticed and said, "I hope this tour is over soon too. I'm dying for some real Italian pasta."
Diana gave her a courtesy smile and went back to scanning the room. Her eyes were drawn to a man sitting on the center chair that was on a dais. He was so different in appearance from any man she'd known. He had shoulder-length black hair, and was dressed in an expensive-looking black suit, right down to the shirt and tie. His pallid face was expressionless as he himself seemed to be scanning the room. His eyes fell on Diana, his gaze so intense, she had to look away from him. When she looked back, Diana noticed his chin raised and mouth slightly open. Was he sniffing the air?
It was at this moment that an unspoken order was given, and an attack began on the tourists, who started screaming in confusion. Diana had no idea what was going on, but something inside her yelled 'Run!'. She moved back to the doors they had come through but found them locked. Spying another set of doors across the room, she stayed close to the wall as she headed toward them. She had to dodge several of the attackers holding individual tourists in their arms like lovers, but she saw their mouths were smeared with blood. She grabbed the handles of one of the doors, only to have her hand yanked from it by someone else's icy cold hand.
Looking up, Diana saw it was the man who had momentarily intrigued her. He pulled her closer to him, close enough she could feel his oddly cold breath on her cheek. His eyes, which were impossibly red in colour, gazed at her unblinking.
"Going somewhere, my dear?" he whispered into her ear loud enough to overcome the din the room. "I'm afraid that is not possible. Come with me quickly, or die here."
His words sounded like a threat, and they frightened her. She started to struggle against his hold on her wrist when he spoke again, his words harsh but hypnotic.
"You are my gift, my bountiful wine-press, so stop struggling!" When he had first met Bella Swan, Aro had discovered her being Edward Cullen's blood singer. Now he had found his own singer in this American tourist.
Diana briefly forgot her fear in her momentary shock. This man knew the Bram Stoker novel "Dracula", quoting from it. She ceased struggling once she realized she couldn't free herself from his tight grip as he dragged her from the chaotic scene in the room.
So everyone in her tour group was being killed by these psychopaths, while one held her captive. "All right, all right, I'll follow you." She looked up to see her captor slowly smile. He let go of her wrist, grabbing her hand instead, and forced her to follow close behind him down the corridor, until she protested he was going too fast.
"Ah yes, you're just a human, after all." With that, Aro threw her over his shoulder and ran down the corridor.
Despite her curiosity, Diana shut her eyes. When they stopped, she opened them as she was set down roughly to stand on the floor. What had he meant when he said she was "just a human", as if he were not.
The man pushed opened a set of wooden doors that led into a large ante-room. He pulled her inside and shut the doors. Glancing around, Diana noticed another room beyond this one.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on out there, and why you brought me here?" Diana took several steps backward until she felt a sofa up against the back of her legs, blocking her. She felt trapped, unable to run anywhere. Looking at the man who now had his back to her, ignoring her completely, she asked, "Who are you?"
After too many minutes, the dark-haired man turned back to face Diana. "I am Aro, leader of this coven, my dear. You arrived at meal time, unfortunately."
"Meal time," she echoed. Her mind recycled the images of the attack, the people in black holding onto the tourists, and the blood on their mouths. Vampires, she thought. Sitting down on the sofa, Diana felt safer with something behind her. This Aro could only attack her from one direction.
"So why did you pull me away and bring me here?"
"I sensed you out of all the others in the room." he said. "You are il mio cantante.
"Actually, I'm Diana Walker," she replied while making a face at Aro. "What does that mean anyway, mio cata...?"
"Il mio cantante. The truth is, you're my singer, the one whose blood calls to me. I brought you here to my chambers to enjoy you, privately."
"You what?" Enjoy her, he had said. Oh my god, was he actually talking about drinking her blood? Vampires didn't exist. These people were just a bunch of sicko murderers. She had to think of some way to stop him and his delusion. "You can't...please, let me go. I won't tell anyone, I swear." Her eyes widened as they searched the room for any weapon she could use.
Aro knew what she would be thinking, having read her already. "Don't consider fighting me. I'm too strong for you." He sat next to her on the sofa, his hand taking hers. "This is a special occasion, my dear. Don't spoil it. It's rare for us to find one's singer." He leaned into her, her blood scent filling his nostrils.
Diana put on a brave face, trying another tactic. She placed her free hand on his chest, leaning closer to him, and whispered as seductively as she could manage, "Aro, you can choose to kill me if you wish. But what if you could savor me, savor my blood, and more than once."
Curious, Aro asked, "What do you propose?"
She gazed into his now dark red eyes. "Keep me here with you, and every few days, take what you wish. Just keep me alive. I would only need time for my body to replenish itself. You can get what you need from other tourists. This would be like drinking a fine wine."
"What would you ask for in return?" Aro asked, leaning to within inches of her face.
Moving her head slowly away from Aro, she replied, "Nothing. I already owe you for saving my life from that massacre. Just let me stay here, with you, and in turn, you keep me entertained. That's all. I promise, I won't run away if you treat me well." It was a gamble she was taking, but would it work? Reaching up, Diana played with a strand of the vampire's silken black hair.
Aro was becoming more intrigued with this human female. It was true, he could drink his fill and kill her, or make use of her, as the infamous Bram Stoker Count Dracula had mentioned. A bountiful wine-press, taking his time enjoying her sweet life's blood. Prolonging the pleasure of sipping from her might be worth it.
"Why should I not just drink from you now?" he asked her, pondering whether having a human around who was not staff would be too much trouble.
Her eyes never wavered from his, her gaze a challenge. "Because then the story would be over, and we'd have nothing to look forward to."
Aro laughed. "You're right, my dear. Very well. You may stay here. I rarely use this room anyway. But do not leave without a guide to accompany you. Some of my people have little restraint."
Diana understood the warning. "Thanks," she replied, feeling a bit more confident that her life would not be drained away by this...vampire. At least not yet.
Aro reached out for Diana's hand, pulling her to him. "Before I leave you, one taste, my dear. Just to be sure."
Before she could utter one sound in protest, Aro was on her neck, his razor-sharp teeth in her flesh. She cried out in pain, the worst pain she had ever felt. So much for those vampire films that tell viewers, mostly women, that being bitten is an erotically pleasurable act.
Finally, the teeth were gone as quickly as they had bit. Aro sat up from his singer since she had fallen back on the bed in shock.
Diana reached up to touch her neck, seeing her fingertips a bit bloodied. "Why am I not bleeding more?"
Aro pulled her hand away from her neck. "Our venom can change you into what I am, once it enters your bloodstream."
Her eyes wide, Diana felt a sudden fight or flight feeling, mostly flight. Aro saw this.
"Not to worry, my dear. I removed the venom and healed your wound, sealing it when I licked your skin afterwards." Rising from the bed, Aro looked down at his human. "Get some rest now. You may feel weak for awhile. I will send someone with food later." He leaned over her, his hands on either side of her prone body, an enigmatuc smile on his face. "Thank you, Diana. You're right. This may be a most satisfactory arrangement. Sleep now." With that order given, Aro turned and left the human lying on his bed.
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Diana was sitting on Aro's sofa in the ante-room, a book on her lap. She had been about to read it, but her thoughts strayed to the trip Aro had taken her on three days ago. She looked over at the two bottles of very expensive wine sitting on the desk.
Aro had driven her to a very old family-owned winery, letting her choose what she wanted. When she asked if he wanted to taste something during their wine sipping, he had shaken his head. "I never drink...wine."
Diana laughed when she heard yet another quote of Count Dracula's. Show off, she had thought. He seemed to enjoy teasing her, and he was probably looking forward to his next taste of her blood.
Hearing the doors open, she looked up to see Aro entering, a beautiful, almost ethereal, woman at his side.
"Diana, I wanted to introduce you to my wife, Sulpicia. My dear, this is the human who apparently is my blood singer."
"You are so fortunate, Aro, to have found one after so long a time." Sulpicia floated over to a now-standing Diana and held out her hand.
Diana felt like she should curtsey, but merely shook the extended hand, finding it hard to the touch and very cold. The woman made her feel so inferior in her grace and appearance, she became tongue-tied. "I'm pleased to meet you...Lady Sulpicia."
Aro stood by while his wife examined the human. She reached out a hand to gently force Diana's chin upward.
"You're quite lovely, child."
"Thank you, but that isn't important. Aro isn't interested in me for anything but my blood." Diana didn't want Sulpicia to fear her husband might invite her to his bed for more than his periodic tasting. That was not in her own imaginings. Perhaps she should ask Aro for a separate room for as long as she would be remaining here.
"Of course, dear. I know what Aro wants from you since he told me about you," Sulpicia admitted.
"He told you?"
"Yes, we have no secrets between us, child. We've been together for many hundreds of years, so after so long a time, we know each other too well. There is no point in trying to hide anything." Her smile seemed to hold many pleasant memories, then she turned to Diana. "What do you plan to do as a distraction?"
Diana sat and shifted on the sofa to get comfortable. "Is there anything I can do for you, Lady Sulpicia? Do you play cards or chess? And of course, I love to read if you have anything to suggest. Aro said he'd let me use your vast library."
Sulpicia's face lit up. "I do love playing cards, just as my sister Athenodora does. So you will come visit us on occasion."
"Absolutely, and you have...a sister?"
"She's Caius' mate. I only call her sister because she is a vampire as well. We have a familial relationship here in the castle."
Diana shook her head slowly, saying, "I see. Well, anytime you and she wish to play games or just gossip, I would love to join you."
"That would be lovely. Enjoy your evening, child." With that, Sulpicia took Aro's extended hand, and the two left the room.
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Over the next few weeks, Diana's life settled into an easy routine. Once a week, Aro would visit her in a bedroom he had given her, where they would talk or perhaps play chess, before Aro would sink his teeth into his singer's neck, taking just enough to satisfy him.
Diana was given iron pills and lots of spinach salad, something that made her roll her eyes. At the same time, she thought on the arrangement she'd made with the vampires, giving her blood to her host and spending time with his wife. The other vampires in the castle had little to do with her. Human workers brought her meals and freshly washed clothing.
Aro would offer to take her out and away from the castle, or sit with her in the garden. His guest proved to be an adept chess player, so they often played together.
Diana noticed he never let her far from his eyesight, but he did seem willing to explain the history of the Volturi to his singer, so she asked him lots of questions. Even as he entertained her, Diana wondered how much longer she would be able to tolerate being here. Her freedom was important to her, and she felt she was about to lose it.
When visiting Sulpicia and Athendora, Diana would ask about their long lives, alone and with their mates. In turn, Sulpicia asked what her husband was doing to keep Diana occupied.
The three woman got along well, a pleasant surprise to Aro. The two vampires would let Diana try on some of their gowns, while Diana picked up a few fashion magazines when Aro had take her to Rome for a shopping trip, whereupon the three women would admire what they liked about modern wear and laughed at what they found horrid.
Diana told Sulpicia about the day trips she and the vampire's mate took, sure to make it sound as innocuous as it was. Only once had Diana even thought of what a sexual relationship with Aro would be like. She immediately booted that idea from her mind. She liked Sulpicia, and would never entertain tempting her mate to cheat on her. But as the outings and talks with Aro become more frequent, Diana noticed a chilliness in the beautiful vampire's attitude toward her.
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Hearing the doors to Aro's ante-room open and close, Diana, who was sitting on a sofa, looked up to see her host's wife standing at her side. "Hello, Sulpicia. I'm still amazed at how gracefully you move," she said in admiration. "You're so beautiful."
"Thank you, dear. I just wanted to visit with you for awhile. How are you today?" the elegant vampire asked, her ruby eyes taking in the human female. She sat on the opposite end of the velvet sofa Diana was seated on. She noticed a small stack of books sitting next to her on the floor.
"It's fine," Diana explained. "Aro let me choose these books to look through. We must have been in the library for over two hours."
Sulpicia's eyes flashed angry briefly, too briefly for Diana to notice. "That's sweet," she said with no sincerity whatsoever. "So you are enjoying your time here with us?"
"It's been very interesting, I mean considering I never knew vampires really existed. And you're nothing like legend. No coffins, fear of garlic or sunlight burning you. No stench of the tomb. In fact, you all smell wonderful. That natural attractant Aro explained to me."
Sulpicia had wanted to speak to her mate about either drinking from Diana and ending this charade, or letting her leave. She genuinely liked the mortal woman, so never brought that subject up.
"Aro is nothing like what I imagined a vampire would be like."
"Oh? And how is that, child?" Sulpicia asked, her voice honeyed.
"He has been so generous. And in our many discussions, he has shown himself to be intelligent, creative, a true patron of the arts."
Diana didn't realize by praising the leader of the vampires, she was only making his mate more upset.
Flashing suddenly to Diana's side, Sulpicia's hand reached out, grabbing the human by the throat.
"Sulpicia..." Diana could barely squeak out the name. Her eyes wide in disbelief, she wondered in fear why the vampire was doing this to her. Had she not previously been kind to her? Hadn't they been having fun with the visits? "I thought we...were friends. Why would you...attack me? I've...never slept with Aro, I...swear." It was becoming too difficult to breathe now.
"I know that, dear. I just want what you took away from me. My husband's attentions."
"Are you...going to suck me...dry?" Diana felt it harder to breathe now, her words just sounds in the air, but Sulpicia understood her..
"No, Diana. Your blood belongs to Aro." With that, Sulpicia barely twisted her hand to hear the crack of the human's neck breaking.
Rising from the sofa, Sulpicia glanced at the human who now lay dead. She reached down for the book sitting on top of the stack, taking it in her hands. She flashed from Aro's rooms to return to her sanctuary in the tower. Perhaps the book would be of interest, diverting her at least until Aro came to visit her...once he found his little human lying dead in the library. He would be furious with his wife, of course, but he could never remain angry at her for long.
"He loves me, after all," Sulpicia said aloud, then opened the book and began to read.
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When he found out that Sulpicia had killed his singer, Aro was indeed angry with Sulpicia for what she had done, but she was his wife after all. It could be centuries before he would find another singer, but it had taken time for him to find and cultivate the perfect mate. And to him, she was perfect. But at the moment, his temper would express his anger at her.
When he found her in her chambers, Aro was beside himself. She stood, waiting for him to speak. But he didn't. He knew why she had killed the woman. Jealousy, not for his love and loyalty to her, but for his time. She had missed him since the human had been here. It had been wrong of him to spend so much time with the human.
Glaring at Sulpicia, Aro paced the space of her sitting room. He hoped his expression let Sulpicia know how disappointed he was with her. After a moment of silence, he reached up to caress his mate's smooth flawless cheek. "I do love you, wife."
"I know, my husband. And I am sorry."
Aro pulled Sulpicia to him, hugging her within the embrace of his arms. He kissed her deeply, remembering how he had come to love her in the first place. Aro would tell Felix to immediately dispose of Diana's body. Then the leader of the Volturi and his mate would head to the garden where he would choose the perfect bloom for his perfect mate. There would be other singers in the world, and he would wait patiently as he always had.
A/N : I had this story idea, thinking about Aro's jealousy over Edward having found a singer, Bella. Thank you for reading!