A/N
Surprise! I finished this faster than I expected—it's a five-day holiday in my country, so I had some extra time on my hands.
As I mentioned before, Aro is a bit OOC here, but there's a reason for it. I originally planned this as a separate one-shot, or maybe not to post it at all, but I managed to fit it into the Extra chapter as The Hybrids. It matches the theme, I think!
Somewhere in South America, a few months after Breaking Dawn
The Volturi did pay Joham a visit. And it didn't take long. Joham trembled in fear at the sight of the infamous Volturi, and Aro used that fear to extract all the information he wanted (though, truthfully, he didn't need to—his gift made it easy). In fact, even without the fear, Joham and his daughter Serena would have willingly provided everything. They were mad scientists, after all, and if their research on creating a 'new superhuman race' intrigued the vampire rulers, they couldn't care less.
"So," Aro asked, "is there really no way to save the mother after giving birth to a hybrid, other than through transformation?"
Joham looked surprised. "Wait, are you saying a mother could survive if she's turned into a vampire? Have you seen that happen?"
"Just once. But it doesn't concern you," Aro responded, withholding any further explanation. He'd already gathered all the information he needed. Caius was impatient to return to Europe, and Marcus, as usual, looked utterly bored.
The mothers died immediately after giving birth to the hybrids, and the children displayed intelligence surpassing that of humans. Given this, Aro concluded that there was minimal risk of humans discovering the existence of vampires, as long as Joham refrained from any further suspicious activities. Additionally, to justify what Aro was about to do, he couldn't execute Joham merely for conducting experiments to create hybrids. As always, he needed a legitimate reason for his actions. Consequently, Aro decided to let him live for now.
Volterra, a few months later
"Sulpicia, my dearest, may I ask something of you?" Aro inquired one day, just before mealtime. Despite his reputation as a ruler with absolute power, he was always exceptionally polite when it came to his mate. Of course, he had used Corin's gift to keep Sulpicia confined to the tower, but that had been out of fear of losing her, not as a means of exerting unjust control.
"Let's hear it first," Sulpicia replied, nodding as she waited for his request.
Aro hesitated, his voice careful. "Would it be all right... if I were to have a child with another woman?" He watched her intently, knowing the question was a gamble. He expected offense, anger, or even betrayal from his mate.
But Sulpicia didn't react immediately. Instead, she looked at him with calm curiosity. "There must be a reason you're asking something so unexpected, right?"
Relieved, Aro began to explain. When he had read Edward's thoughts during the near-battle, he had absorbed not only Edward's memories but also the thoughts of everyone Edward had ever read—most notably, Alice. Ah, Alice, Aro mused, so beautiful and talented. In doing so, he had learned the limitations of her gift. Alice couldn't see the future of werewolves—or rather, shapeshifters, as Edward had clarified. And more intriguingly, her visions were clouded when it came to hybrids (Although Alice later adjusted her abilities to include some of them, Aro had not known that at the time).
This revelation had sparked an idea: create a hybrid in Volterra to block the Cullens' prying eyes. It could be the perfect safeguard against their interference.
"In that case... do as you wish. But only for that purpose, understand?" Sulpicia warned him, though her tone was somewhat playful. She knew her mate was loyal only to her.
"Of course, my dear."
Later, at mealtime, Aro instructed Heidi to gather the women of childbearing age and set them aside. After finishing his meal, he went to the room where they were assembled. There were about ten women present.
"You have been chosen for a most noble purpose..."
And a few days passed.
Volterra, a few days later
Out of the ten women, only two survived, as they were pregnant. Even without complete medical knowledge (though he had absorbed some from Carlisle's memories), Aro could tell they were each carrying one child, although he didn't know the genders.
Surprisingly, Sulpicia seemed to relish this rare opportunity to see women pregnant with hybrids. She visited the humans' temporary lodgings in the tower almost every day, engaging in casual conversation before leaving. The human women, now aware that she was a vampire, were extremely fearful of her presence. However, as they became accustomed to her, they took pleasure in the brief moments they had to chat.
The births were as brutal as expected with hybrids. Aro made no futile efforts to save the mothers. After weeks of observation, it was clear that the women had no hidden qualities that could develop into gifts. Keeping them alive and dealing with potential 'custody disputes' would have been more trouble than it was worth—though Aro had the power to 'resolve' such disputes, it was still a hassle. He planned to raise the hybrids as warriors for the Volturi, tailored to his liking.
That was until he saw the children.
Given the principles of genetics, it was no surprise that the children resembled Aro to some extent. They were one daughter and one son. Contrary to his usual demeanor, Aro instantly fell in love with them. The moment he realized this, the first emotion he felt was fear. Now, he had more to protect than just Sulpicia. People with many things to protect are both advantaged and disadvantaged in battles. It was an unchanging truth. But he couldn't shake his sudden paternal affection for the children. That was the most frightening part.
Volterra, a few months later
Everyone, whether they were guards or royalty, adored Arianna and Sergio. The two children grew up to be quite mischievous, but no one ever stopped them. After all, who could resist the children showered with unconditional love from their 'king'?
"Uncle Felix, one more!" Sergio called out with a playful laugh. Felix and Demetri were currently tossing Sergio and Arianna high into the air, competing to see who could throw them higher. It was, of course, the children's request.
Watching their game, Aro felt a mix of worry and amusement. According to Edward's memories, he thought, Emmett and Jasper used to have such silly contests all the time. He shook his head. The Volturi, rulers of the vampire world, should maintain a more dignified demeanor.
Arianna's high-pitched laughter filled the castle gardens. "Demetri, is that all you've got? What are those muscles for, if not for this?"
Demetri's competitive spirit flared instantly. "Ha! Just wait and see. The best fighter in the Guard is me, not Felix!"
The two children were shot high into the sky simultaneously. It was fortunate that it was nighttime and all the humans were asleep; otherwise, they might have been breaking their own principles. While hybrids don't sparkle in the sunlight, they do sleep during the day and stay awake at night to accommodate their fellow vampires who can't go out in the daylight.
'The Prince' and 'The Princess' primarily fed on prey brought into the castle, just like the other members of the Volturi. However, since they could also eat human food, especially sweets, the Guards took turns bringing the children into the city. With many stores open at night in modern times, finding snacks for the kids wasn't difficult. The children sometimes looked longingly at the shopkeepers, but humans generally assumed the kids were just craving the snacks in front of them and didn't pay much attention.
"Do you want that human, kids?" Heidi asked outside the store, pointing at the clerk. She was accompanying the young master and mistress today. "I can lure him out, you know."
"With your magic?" Arianna's eyes lit up. She always enjoyed seeing the Guards' gifts in action.
"Magic!" Sergio echoed, mimicking his sister's excitement.
"I'll take that as a yes." Heidi smirked. She checked the surrounding CCTV coverage and found a route back into the store that wasn't covered by cameras. Fortunately, the store was old and lacked CCTV. Perfect prey, she thought. This city was far enough from Volterra that losing one human wouldn't matter.
The children watched from a distance as Heidi demonstrated her 'magic.' Although the young human man would have been irresistibly drawn to a vampire even without her gift, they found it amusing to see him ensnared so quickly.
The midnight snack was far more satisfying than the sweets they had eaten earlier.
Volterra, many decades later, after the Epilogue
The first to notice the subtle change in Arianna was Sergio, who was always by her side. He mentioned that her scent had shifted ever so slightly. Arianna just shrugged, saying, "Really?"
A while later, both Aro and Sulpicia noticed it too. By then, Arianna's condition had already begun to worsen. She felt fatigued for no apparent reason, and her sleeping hours increased. She had to consume more blood than usual just to muster the energy to move around. A few days later, she developed a fever and body aches. At this point, Aro became deeply concerned. Even during the Hardening phase, she had ever experienced such a prolonged fever.
According to the accounts shared by Joham and Serena, hybrids could fall ill due to their human side, but their vampire side would heal them quickly, making recovery much faster than a human's, with milder symptoms. As far as Aro knew, no hybrid's illness had ever become life-threatening.
If this is so severe for a hybrid, it must be catastrophic for a human, Aro thought, consumed by a rare and overwhelming fear. It had been so long since he'd felt such human emotions, and the intensity of his concern surprised him. But now wasn't the time for reflection. If he didn't act quickly, there was a very real chance his daughter could die. There was no reliable data on the limits of a hybrid's vampire healing abilities. He possessed secondhand medical knowledge—enough to realize the gravity of the situation but not enough to diagnose it accurately. He suspected something was wrong with Arianna's liver, but he had no way of determining how severe the issue was.
He sighed. "In the end, there's only one option." Now wasn't the time to let pride stand in the way. His thoughts turned to the one being who knew the hybrid's secrets and might be able to resolve this crisis.
Aro turned to the human staff at the castle entrance and issued his command.
"Prepare the private jet immediately. We leave in an hour."
Cullen Residence, a few hours later
Before Aro could bring himself to knock on the front door of his old friend's home, countless thoughts raced through his mind. What if he refuses? What if he agrees but can't find a solution? What if, out of some lingering resentment, he pretends it's a medical accident and kills her? Deep down, Aro knew Carlisle wasn't capable of such malice, but no amount of logic could ease his anxiety.
Noticing her mate's hesitation, Sulpicia stepped forward and knocked on the door for him. When Carlisle opened it, he looked utterly stunned—and for good reason. Alice hadn't foreseen their arrival. Her vision could only adapt to shapeshifters and hybrids she had already encountered, and since she had never met Arianna or Sergio, their presence had escaped her sight. Moreover, the unexpected group that arrived was unusual. Aro had brought Renata, his personal bodyguard, as an only Guard.
"Aro...?" Carlisle asked cautiously. "What's going on?"
"My old friend," Aro said with a trembling voice—a rare occurrence for a vampire. "Please… please save my daughter. I'll admit, at first, I created the hybrids to evade Alice's gift. But… but…" He glanced at Arianna, who was weakly draped over Sergio's back. "I ended up… loving them. I know I'm being shameless, but I beg you. I'll do anything if you can just save her. Please, just save her…" He was rambling, his words lacking coherence.
Carlisle interrupted him, his expression unusually stern and showing rare anger. "Aro," he said, "I'm not as calculating as you. In moments like these, none of that matters. Whatever you've done to my family in the past… and whoever her father is… if there's a patient in front of me, I'll treat them. That's all there is to it."
Aro's expression brightened ever so slightly. "Does that mean…?"
"Come in," Carlisle said firmly. He then turned to Sergio. "Son, lay her down on the bed."
Contrary to the initial expectation that diagnosing the problem would be difficult, Carlisle's assessment was swift and the solution was promptly provided. As Aro had suspected, Arianna had a liver problem. If she were human, it might have been too late, but her vampire side was somehow helping her hold on.
"An operation can solve this," Carlisle concluded. "Fortunately, a liver transplant isn't necessary. The liver is an organ that recovers very quickly, even in humans. Since Arianna is a hybrid, if we just remove the cause of the illness, she should be back to health in less than a week."
Outside the room, which had been converted into a makeshift operating room from one of the many rooms in the vast mansion, Aro anxiously awaited the end of the surgery. Sulpicia and Sergio held his hands, offering warmth and comfort through their touch. Even Renata squeezed his shoulder in a show of support.
It will be alright, Sulpicia conveyed with her thoughts. Our daughter is strong.
Don't worry, Dad, Sergio also sent. He was already thinking about the future after the surgery. When Arianna recovers, let's visit all the tourist spots in America!
"Aah…" Aro tried to force a bright expression. "Sergio, it's a wonderful idea, but even if she recovers, she'll need to rest for a few more days… Sightseeing can wait." He was again overtaken by pessimistic thoughts. "Of course… if she recovers, that is..."
Alice snorted from a distance, probably from the living room. "You," she said, darting toward the four Italian vampires at top speed, "you come here in such a pathetic state and still can't trust your friend?" She was clearly irritated by Aro's attempt to evade her gift.
"No, no, that's not it," Aro quickly protested. "I'm... worried. Damn, none of the people here, aside from my coven members, would believe me. But... it's not like that. Of course, I had no other choice, but even if I did..." He glanced back at the operating room door again. "I would have made the same choice."
He had to admit it now. Carlisle was not a 'political rival' threatening his throne. As he had always said, Aro's long-time friend was simply someone who wanted to live peacefully with his family. Despite being so cruelly tormented, doubted, and nearly executed by Aro, Carlisle had forgiven him far too easily—though Aro wasn't sure if he had actually been forgiven; perhaps it was just out of pity. Carlisle had done something Aro could never repay, no matter what he did. He felt an unfamiliar emotion, one he had never experienced before, due to his immense gratitude and debt to Carlisle. Was my answer to Alice enough? Will she still see me as an enemy? He remained uncertain.
But surprisingly, Alice gave him a slight smile. "Is that your decision?" She turned and slowly walked back toward the living room. "I can't believe you're just now realizing that." Her tone was cynical, but Aro saw in her demeanor the unmistakable air of a victor.
Aro realized he had been utterly defeated, even before the fight had started. He didn't know what Alice had seen just now—oh, how he wished he could hold her hand and find out! But the moment he had entered the house, Bella must have been shielding everyone, and as someone in debt, he didn't want to pry into others' thoughts—but this future was undoubtedly one where the Cullens lived peacefully without any interference.
Somewhere in North America, two weeks later
"Look at this! This is amazing!" Arianna exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "We should leave Volterra more often—other continents are wild!"
"...Yes, perhaps we should," Aro replied, somewhat hesitant. "I think I can make that happen." It wasn't that he didn't want to fulfill his daughter's wish; he was simply worried that frequent trips could expose the children to unnecessary risks.
Just as Carlisle had promised, Arianna regained her health in less than a week. However, she and Sergio, fascinated by the Cullens, whom they had just met, asked to stay a little longer. They were especially curious about Renesmee, another hybrid like them, and bombarded her with questions. Wanting to prevent Arianna from overexerting herself after her recovery, Aro and Sulpicia agreed to extend their visit. It wasn't until two weeks later that Sergio's spontaneously planned "family trip" finally took place.
"Dad, you're too overprotective," Sergio said, lounging next to his sister and rolling his eyes. "We can handle ourselves."
"Unfortunately, your father has made quite a few enemies among vampires across the globe," Sulpicia teased, shaking her head with a playful smile. "I'm not in favor of the two of you venturing out alone either. But if you travel with a reliable group of Guards... it might be alright." She lay down beside them, gazing up at the night sky. The stars looked almost the same as they did from the tower, but somehow, being on this trip made them feel different.
"Still, ever since Master Aro's children were born, he has become much more fair and just in conducting trials," Renata remarked. Aro flinched slightly, as if the comment touched a nerve.
Renata, of all people, hitting me with the truth like that, he thought. We must have been away from Chelsea for too long...
Yet, oddly enough, it didn't bother him as much as it once would have. Lately, Aro had been reflecting a lot on happiness. When Arianna and Sergio were born, he had felt a deep, undeniable shift—one that made him realize he could never return to the way he once was. And he had been right. It was supposed to be just a simple experiment, he mused.
In the end, Aro's experiment had failed—but it had also been his greatest success.
