Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, Stephanie Meyer does.
Author's Note:
The middle portion of this chapter is slightly kinky, so if you're not into that type of thing then I'd recommend skipping from the first "Time Skip" label to the second one.
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Last updated/edited on 09/27/2024.
First Person POV: Astrid
I woke up the next morning bright and early for my first day of training. I was scheduled to train every weekday morning for two hours; the first hour for combat with Jane and the second hour for learning to use my gift with Demetri. I could hardly contain my excitement. I ordered a big breakfast from Abigail when she arrived, I would need plenty of energy for the practice. While I waited for my meal, I picked out a sapphire blue tank top and black spandex leggings. Funny enough, there was only a single pair of athletic sneakers available despite the fact that every shoe cubby lining half of the right wall of my closet was full. I shook my head with a chuckle, of course they would give me 50 pairs of heels but nothing practical. I slipped the sneakers on and scarfed down my breakfast.
I left my suite and saw that Jane and Alec were guarding me again today. I owed them an apology for getting them in yelled at yesterday.
"Jane, Alec, I want you to know that I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. You nearly got in trouble for following my wishes and I hope you can forgive me for that." I said and the twins looked back at me dejectedly.
"No, my lady, you prevented our punishment when we deserved it. There is nothing to forgive." Alec responded.
"Deserved it?" I asked, taken back. "I was the reason we went to the training room and told you to join the sparring. You absolutely did not deserve to be reprimanded for doing as I asked."
The twins glanced at each other and then simultaneously replied with, "yes, my lady".
I frowned but I could see that I wasn't getting anywhere with the conversation and decided to drop it.
I started walking towards the training room with the twins following on either side behind me. When we arrived at the gym, Alec took a position guarding the door while Jane laid out a few practice mats. I noticed that there were no guards present in the gym, unlike the last time I had been here.
"Is there a guard meeting happening right now? Last time I was here there were a lot of other guards training." I asked.
"Aro reserved the gym during your morning training sessions." Jane informed me. I couldn't help but snicker; I really should have guessed. I didn't require an entire gymnasium to train, but I was also very relieved to not have any onlookers.
Jane guided me through some basic dynamic stretches to warm up.
I was a dancer and participated in long distance track for my high school. Although I was never an all-star in either activity, I was definitely in good shape.
Once we finished warming up, Jane led me over to a punching bag and had me practice punching drills as she circled around me correcting my form. Once she was satisfied, we moved on to kicking drills.
As the practice dragged on, I grew impatient. When would we get to the fun stuff?
"Jane?" I asked as I performed a side kick at the punching bag.
"Yes, my lady?" She responded.
"When will we get to spar?" I asked her.
"Once you've mastered the basics." she responded curtly.
I gave her my best puppy dog eyes and, shockingly enough, she caved.
"Fine, fine. We'll do some basic sparring for the last quarter of every practice until you're ready for the real thing." She told me.
True to her word, Jane led me back to the mats with 15 minutes left of the practice. She picked up a pair of boxing mitts, tossing a second pair to me. I caught the mitts and looked at her quizzically, was this really necessary?
"Aro said that I can't leave a mark on you so we're going to have to use these as a precaution until you're able to dodge basic attacks. Today I want you to come at me full force and I'll dodge your attacks at human speed." Jane instructed me and I nodded back.
I stepped forward, trying to remain conscious of my form and threw a jab at her. Logically, I knew that it wasn't possible for me to injure Jane, both because she was virtually indestructible and because she could easily dodge me with her enhanced speed. However, I still felt guilty trying to punch her in the face. My hesitation showed through my attack and Jane dodged easily, even at human speed.
"I said full force, Astrid. You won't hurt me, I promise." She assured me.
I sighed, I knew Jane was right, so I resolved to give a better effort. I lunged forward and turned, throwing a roundhouse kick at her side. Jane countered by grabbing my leg and turning it to the side. I was caught off balance and fell face first onto the mat. I stood back up with a disgruntled look. The fall hadn't actually hurt me given the thickness of mats we were practicing on. However, I was embarrassed about having my ass handed to me.
"I apologize my lady; I hope I didn't hurt you…" she began but I interjected.
"No, Jane, you didn't hurt me and I'm sorry about the attitude. That was good actually, I want you to be tough on me, it's the only way I'll learn." I assured her.
The last few minutes of sparring flew by and before I knew it, Jane was passing me off to Demetri. Demetri led me towards the back of the gym were there was more open space available.
"Before we begin, I need you to think back to the times you teleported in the past." Demetri told me and I cringed. Those weren't pleasant memories…
"What emotions were you feeling right before you teleported? What sensations did you experience?" He asked.
"I've only teleported twice and passed out afterwards both times, so I'm a bit limited in what I remember… but fear was what they had in common. I was scared, time slowed, and I felt adrenaline in my veins. Then I closed my eyes and, bam, I was somewhere else." I told him.
"Okay, we can work with that. I want you to bring yourself back to one of those moments. Let yourself feel the fear, imagine those sensations." He instructed.
That sounded simple enough. I closed my eyes and thought back to the car accident. I tried to tap into how I felt right before the crash. But when I opened my eyes, I was disappointed to find myself exactly where I started.
Reasonably, I knew that this was my first try and it would take practice to control my gift just like any other skill. But I couldn't help the disappointment and doubt that followed my failed attempt. How could I possibly master my gift if I was starting from zero?
"Hey Astrid, don't look so sad! Most people don't get any results their first time around." Demitri told me.
"What do you mean? I didn't move an inch." I replied.
"Well yes, but I saw your body glitch for a second, and that's something. Didn't you feel it - what you described to me before?" He asked.
"I did… Well, that's better than nothing." I said with a small smile, maybe mastering my gift wouldn't be as impossible as I thought.
We continued to practice, testing out different strategies, but I kept glitching at best. I was starting to get frustrated and was forming a mild headache. Demetri seemed to notice my mood shift and called for a break.
"We're missing something…" He said.
"I know, but I have no idea what." I agreed as I drank from my water bottle.
"How about you give it one last try before we end practice?" He told me and I shrugged in agreement.
I took a few deep breaths to prepare myself, and suddenly, Demetri flashed forward directly at me. My fear spiked, time slowed, and I felt adrenaline in my veins. I closed my eyes and braced for impact.
I need to move, anywhere but here.
However, the impending collision never happened. I heard clapping from nearby and I opened my eyes. I was surprised to see that I was now standing a good couple of feet away from the mat I started on. I'd done it! Plus, I figured out what I had been missing, a destination. And apparently, even a vague destination was enough.
Demetri slowed his clapping. "You did it!" He congratulated me, giving me a high five.
"I did… with some help that is." I added, feeling jittery from the residual adrenaline rush.
"Did you figure out what you were missing?" He asked me.
"A destination." I told him.
"Of course! That seems obvious now. I'm so happy for you Astrid, you're off to a great start." He replied, smiling proudly.
"Thank you, Demetri" I said, returning his smile. "I'll see you again tomorrow for the next round?"
"I would say yes… but I think Aro's going to have me dismembered and thrown in the dungeon for at least a month after pulling that stunt." he said, laughing even though we both knew he was being completely serious.
"Absolutely not, you were helping me. I won't let Aro punish you for that." I promised him.
Time Skip
I returned to my room and found another black box with a red ribbon sitting in front of my door. I smiled, knowing it must have been another dress from Aro. I entered my suite and opened the box to find a floor-length, bold red silk dress with a low back and a long slit up to the thigh on the left side.
I ran myself a bath, scrubbed myself down, and lounged in the warm water for a while. Then I dried myself off with a plush towel and picked out a matching bra and pantie set from my closet. I was secretly hoping to spend more intimate time with Aro. Well, not so secretly since he would read my thoughts...
Once my hair had dried, I walked back over to the box, and I slipped the dress on. I picked out a pair of matching heels and put on a few mild touches of makeup. I twirled around in front of the floor length mirror, appreciating my full outfit. The dress hugged my curves like it was made for me, which knowing Aro, it was.
A knock sounded on my door, and I rushed over, throwing it open to find Aro, looking dashing as ever.
"Angelo mio, did you have fun today?" he asked me.
I smiled widely and held my hand out for him to take. He took my hand and when I saw his lips tighten, I knew that he had found the memory of Demetri rushing at me.
"I wish you had not promised him amnesty..." He told me.
"He was only trying to help Aro." I said with a pout, and he sighed in defeat.
"I will let it go at your request since you remain safe and happy, cara mia." He said and placed a lingering kiss on my lips.
We took a limo to an opera house in one of the larger cities near Volterra. When we arrived, I was handed a pamphlet by one of the ushers, we were seeing Madama Butterfly. The usher led Aro and I up to a private box with velvet curtains. When I took a seat next to Aro in the booth, he lifted me by the hips and placed me on his lap instead. I chuckled but didn't mind sitting on his lap in the least.
I snuggled against his chest and waited until the theater went dark. The opera was wonderful; however, I didn't understand much because of the language barrier.
I glanced at Aro. He was so beautiful… perfectly straight nose, strong jaw, silky raven hair, flawless marble skin. He interrupted my appreciation and met my gaze with a devilish smirk. I knew he could hear my thoughts through our skin, but it didn't bother me. So far, his gift had only been beneficial in keeping him in tune with my thoughts and emotions, and I was glad to not have to voice my desires.
He moved his hand to cradle the back of my neck, and my heart sped up when I saw his eyes had darkened. He leaned in and kissed me deeply; it was smooth, seductive, and everything I needed right now. His tongue twined with mine and he slid his hand up my calf revealed through the slit of my dress. He paused for a moment, and when I didn't object, he continued his path up to my thigh. I wiggled slightly on his lap, feeling impatient. I wanted him to pleasure me like he had before in his office. The illicitness of being intimate in the theater made me nervous but also turned me on. I felt Aro smile into the kiss and then move to whisper in my ear.
"Naughty girl" He playfully chided. "Do you think you can stay quiet for me?" I nodded eagerly; I would do my best.
He pinched the already damp fabric of my panties and tore them off, placing them in his back pocket. Then he slipped his hand back through slit in my dress to touch me. He cupped me and rubbed the heel of his palm against my clit, and my body jerked at the pressure. I gasped sharply but held back the moan that wanted to escape.
"Good girl" he purred, and I felt my core clench in response. I let out a shaky breath, growing wetter at his praise. He chuckled deeply.
"Oh, you like that angelo mio? You like it when I tell you what a good girl you are?" He continued to coo in my ear.
He began to rub my clit in circles, gradually increasing pressure. I was panting now, trying desperately to stay silent. I squeezed my eyes shut, nuzzling my face into his neck to dull the sound of my gasps and whimpers. I gripped tightly onto the satin lapels of his tuxedo.
Then Aro slid a long finger into my core. I squirmed a bit at the foreign feeling, but he increased the pressure against my clit and my attention was diverted. Then he curled his finger inside me... My hips bucked and Aro slammed his mouth against mine, swallowing my moan. Luckily the orchestra was also coming to a crescendo at that moment, which I realized was completely intentional on Aro's part.
Once he was satisfied that I was mostly quiet again, he broke from the kiss and began peppering the sensitive skin of my throat with kisses. He slipped a second finger inside me and continued pumping them, stroking that special spot. I grinded my hips urgently against his hand, as I chased my pleasure.
"That's it piccola, take what you need…" He encouraged me gruffly.
He picked up the pace of his fingers and thumb and I pushed my face into his neck, biting down on his marble skin as my orgasm hit me hard.
Once I came down from the waves of pleasure, Aro removed his fingers from my core and placed them in his mouth, sucking my juices off. He moved to kiss me after, and I hesitantly kissed him back, tasting myself on his lips and tongue. The taste was different but not bad, kind of sweet and salty.
Aro adjusted me so that I leaned back against his chest, and I felt his erection against my back. I wondered if he'd let me pleasure him too, I'd never given a blow job, but I'd heard enough from the girls at school to know what to do. Aro groaned behind me, clearly listening to my thoughts.
"As much as you tempt me, I won't have you on your knees in public. I want you to be comfortable before we take that step. Now, relax and enjoy the rest of the opera with me."
Time Skip
As the limo pulled up to the back entrance of the castle to drop us off, I noticed through the window that there was an unfamiliar individual giving the guards a hard time. Once the limo parked, Aro flashed around to my side to open my door and help me out. He weaved his fingers with mine as we walked towards the entrance where the guards were stationed. As we approached, I saw that the individual had red eyes, a vampire then. He had pale olive skin, and a lanky build. Aro guided me behind him as we came to stand in front of the unknown vampire, his tall form concealing me from view.
"Aro! Just the man I was looking for. Your guards were very evasive regarding my inquiries about where to find you. But I suppose I see can why now..." The vampire said with a smirk and lifted his chin to get a look at me standing behind Aro. Aro moved to block me from view before addressing the vampire.
"Sebastian, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Aro replied civilly.
"Oh, I was in the area and figured I would stop by early." he said dismissively.
"Very well, go see one of my brothers, I'm sure they can entertain you until the rest of your coven members arrive." Aro said attempting to end the conversation.
"Of course, of course. Now, why don't you introduce me to your lovely pet? I wasn't aware that the law on keeping mortal slave-"
Before Sebastian finished his statement, Aro signaled Jane.
Suddenly, Sebastian crumpled to the ground, writhing, and screaming in pain. Aro stepped away from me and approached Sebastian, looming over his contorting body.
"This mortal is your new queen, and my long-awaited mate, Astrid. I will give you a pass this once because of your ignorance. But let me make myself clear, you will learn your place beneath her, or I will see to it that Jane entertains you in the dungeon for the duration of your coven's visit." He informed Sebastian with calm fury.
Aro returned to scoop me up and then ran me back to my suite in silence, leaving Sebastian behind to endure his torture.