Chapter 19

This is a chapter I posted under "Beauty and the Lord" but I think since it is part of this story, I will also post their story (Aro's and Renesmee) here. If I decide to branch off and do more of their story later…I will.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters, that's all Stephenie Myer's department!

"In moments of pain, we seek revenge"—Ami Ayalon

Blast to the past:

Aro POV

I charted a course for Kelus, the realm of humans, at the head of my formidable army. Whispers abounded that the human world was stirring once more, its people rallying behind a leader claiming descent from King Newton himself. Such a notion bordered on the absurd. I killed King Newton. And on that fateful night of the assault, Carlisle and I had encountered King Newton's sole offspring—a baby girl.

I had commanded Carlisle to kill the child. Carlisle would never dare to defy me, not with his family's safety hanging in the balance. If he defied my orders, he knew I would banish him and family from our home planet, Novis.

He must have disposed of her. That is why I figured the claims that King Newton's offspring was trying to reassume the throne were untrue. That child died decades ago along with all the other humans I obliterated.

I was certain that this supposed uprising was the work of an impostor. Queen Victoria, King Newton's wife and my beloved, had borne only one successor... hadn't she? The notion that she gave birth to another and I remained oblivious to it seemed ludicrous. I loved Victoria, but she was betrayed by her people—humans. I avenged her by killing all those that turned against her—King Newton and the human race.

My gaze hardened with resolve as I contemplated the pretender's fate.

The era of humanity was over. No child, nor any rumored progeny of King Newton, would ever exist. And Kelus would remain forever desolate, never to repopulate. I would make this obliteration swift.

The element of surprise was crucial. I didn't mention my attack to anyone on my home planet. Though I was Lord of Novis, I didn't let my people know about my planned attack on the human uprising and rebellion.

I still suspected that there were traitors within the ranks of the people of Novis, otherwise kown as the Omna. I was aware that disagreement lingered over my methods of expelling humans from Novis. Some supported me, while others quietly disagreed. But I didn't care. If anyone had any disagreements, I would exile them. Novis was no place for humans. In fact, humans did not deserve life. So, my siege on the human rebellion was kept quiet.

The possibility that a warning might reach the rebel humans was a risk I could not afford. After the betrayal and atrocities, they inflicted upon Victoria and my father, I saw humans as nothing more than merciless parasites, utterly unworthy of existence. It was my goal to eradicate all humans. Never would they breathe the air that Victoria, my beloved, couldn't.

Victoria was submissive, gentle, and kind, with unmatched beauty—and she loved me. We never had the chance to consummate our bond of love before her life was snatched away. I would not allow the species that did that to Victoria to continue living. Not while she lay dead. I would avenge her. And I would keep avenging her.

We halted at Kelus's boundary, and there I instructed the armada to hold position, awaiting my signal before launching the assault. I took a singular ship the rest of the way. Understanding human nature as I did, I was careful not to underestimate their capabilities. I would not walk into a trap nor let my men be surprised by some unanticipated weaponry.

I made it unequivocally known that the blood of the rebellion's leader was mine to take. At least…after I was done making an example of them. Whoever was claiming to be the rightful heir to the human realm would pay for it with blood and tears.

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me as I approached King Newton's Castle, yet the sense of familiarity brought a wry smile to my face.

That night I stormed King Newton's castle and killed all in my path. This rebellion would be no different.

Moving through the deserted corridors, I treaded cautiously, peeking around corners into the oppressive silence. Initially, I had anticipated a bustling throng of humans—instead, thwere was nothing and no one around.

The aroma of the King's grand halls wrapped around me like an old, hauntingly familiar tapestry. As I ascended the weathered stone steps of the elevated corridors, memories of hunting for King Newton surged through me with a relentless fervor.

My veins had pulsed with a ravenous thirst for his blood that night, fueled by anger and revenge. Now, his would-be heir would have the same fate.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my neck.

With a growl, I swiped at the spot, extracting a small needle from between my scales. As I tossed it aside, poised to leap into action, a large cage plummeted from above, trapping me within its thick metal bars. Surprised, my gaze darted frantically, searching for my assailant.

A small figure descended from the shadows, eliciting a growl from me that quickly shifted to a gasp of surprise as I looked upon the figure. No. The woman. Familiar features struck me—auburn locks, piercing green eyes.

"Victoria?" The name escaped me in a hushed breath.

No, it couldn't be her. I'd watched her die, carried her lifeless body back to Novis, and laid her to rest with a solemn ceremony in my own realm—a sanctuary I let no one defile. This woman bore a mysterious resemblance to Victoria, but she could not possibly be her. Maybe she was her ghost?

"Try to escape, and I will shoot you again," she said with venom.

I glared at the woman and bared my teeth to her. "Who are you?"

"You are not in a position to ask questions, murderer."

The sting of her words should've angered me, but instead, a bemused chuckle escaped my lips. Her eyes narrowed, a mixture of confusion and frustration dancing across her face.

"Oh. You must be the so-called leader of these rebels," I said, my voice ripe with disdain. "Yes? Am I right?"

"I don't answer to you," she seethed out.

I smirked. "You claim to be King Newton's heir?" Her gun leveled at my chest, a silent promise of death resting on her slender finger.

"I warned you," she his voice hissed, icy and unyielding. "You've lost the privilege of asking questions. Shortly, the toxins now in your bloodstream will ensure your death."

Confusion marred my expression—poisons? My focus shifted to the weapon in her grip, a flicker of recognition in my eyes. "That gun," I murmured, my voice tinged with defiance. "I've encountered its lethal work before. I'm all too familiar with the poisons it discharges."

Her gaze met mine, determination flickering like a dying candle as she took in my unyielding stance.

A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. "You truly believe that weapon will work against me?" I asked, my voice laced with a cold amusement. "You're mistaken."

Defiance sparked in her eyes, reigniting her resolve. Without warning, she pressed the trigger once more. A grunt escaped my lips as I yanked the second needle from my flesh, the beast within me stirring, growling in protest.

"You will leave this place! I know what you came here for and I will not let you succeed. You will leave the way came," she commanded.

"And if I don't?" My whisper came out harsh, filled with barely contained fury.

"You will die," she sneered, her voice as cold as ice shards. "I'll make good on the blood debt for your past against me. Payment for killing my family."

I chuckled. "I did not murder your family, girl."

"Liar!" she hissed, venom dripping from her accusation. "You slaughtered them—my mother, my father. And now you stand above me, hungering for yet another soul to steal. You have come to kill me."

"You mother?" I asked.

"Queen Victoria. Queen of Kelus."

I grimaced at the sound of her name. It was a name I hadn't heard in a long time. My gaze drifted over the contours of her form.

Interesting.

She professed to be Victoria's offspring, her mirror image in flesh—a fact that was unmistakable—yet her demeanor bore none of Victoria's signature poise and grace. This girl was defiant, fiery, and bold.

"Victoria was your mother?" I asked.

"Queen Victoria was my mother. The woman you killed without mercy," she said.

My body tensed. "I did not kill your mother. I might have slit your father's throat, but I did not harm your mother."

Silence hung thick in the air before her defiant words sliced through it. "Be quiet you snake. I've heard the stories, the chilling tales of your exploits. You, Aro, are nothing more than a tyrant soaked in blood, a cold-hearted murderer. You came here to claim my life…but did you actually think I would just stand here and let you take it? If so, you're gravely mistaken. Your dark reign ends now. It was sheer folly for you to step foot here."

I laughed. "Folly? Is that what you call it? What power could you possibly have to stop me, human."

"I have an army. I knew you would come for me. Like you killed my parents."

I couldn't suppress a scoff, her fiery spirit amusing in its intensity. It was almost... endearing. "You cling to legends, yet if they held any truth, you'd know I was never an enemy to your mother—assuming, of course, you truly are her kin," I said.

I found my gaze drawn to her once more. It was fascinating. It was hard to deny...she looked just like Victoria. Yet, unlike Victoria, she exuded a spirit as untamed and fierce as a blazing inferno. Her gaze was captivating, sparkling with determination, and her piercing eyes seemed to flicker like flames. She held herself in a confident posture that exuded power. Fascinating. She was so weak, and yet, so confident.

"That's precisely what I am. She was my mother. And I will avenge her," she retorted with unwavering conviction. "You're the reason she's no longer here. Why both my parents are dead. You seek to eradicate humans, but I won't let you. Your reign stops here!"

"You think you can stop me?" My voice was a low hiss, heavy with mockery as I raked her with a scathing look. "You can not stand against me. No one can, least of all a human. When I set my mind to something, consider it done. I want you dead, and you will be."

Her eyes crackled with bitter triumph. "You also set your mind to claiming my mother's affection," she taunted, "but you couldn't sway my mother from my father, could you? She loved him more than you. That's one grand undertaking you failed," she sneered. "Instead, you killed her when she rejected your advances."

A primal growl tore from me, my control fraying. "I'm going to rip out your tongue for that." The sour truth clawed at my throat, desperate to be released — it was her father's sins that ensnared Victoria, not mine. But this woman bathed in denial, blind to the fatal flaws of a man she called father. "Your father was the one who destroyed her–never I."

Her hand trembled, yet the gun she held remained as steady as stone. "I will not be fed lies," she declared, her voice piercing the silence of the standoff. "Do you think I'm naive enough to fall for your deceit? It's deeply ironic—now that your end is near—you dare to tarnish my father's name. A father who cherished my mother, and yet you," she hissed with disdain, "tried to tear her from his embrace. Consumed by twisted desires, you couldn't endure her rejection and slaughtered them in cold blood. You're a monster that preys on the innocent."

I uttered a mirthless chuckle that echoed off the stark walls. "Is that the story they've crafted about me? What inventive fiction they've spun. Did they also convince you could stand against me? That your weapons would be my undoing?" I tilted my head, a grin tinged with malice. "How naïve indeed. Before I slaughter you and your little army, you should know that your poisons and weapons are useless. Haven't you noticed that they have no effect on me?"

Her face faulted but she quickly hardened her face again. "I have been preparing for this day for a long time," she said. "I have army. You are just one Omna against my men" she pronounced with defiance. "I might have embarked on this fight with you alone, but underestimate me at your own risk. Even if the poison in your veins is slow to act, know this: I will ensure you do not leave here alive. This ends today."

A smirk curled at the corner of my mouth. Her bravery was certainly admirable, but it was a gem I was ready to crush. "You are correct about that, wild one. Tell me, are expecting reinforcements to save you? You said you have an army." I scoffed, the word 'army' soaked in scorn.

Her steadfast stare met mine, a wordless defiance, as the tension between us crackled with the promise of our impending confrontation.

"So silent now" I said, my voice low and steady, "tell me, princess, where are they hiding?" My eyes locked onto hers, searching for the flicker of fear beneath her defiant glare. "Could it possibly be..." I tilted my head, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth, "down below? In the labyrinth of tunnels?"

I watched the mask of her confidence waver, her eyes betraying a spark of fear.

"Oh dear, did you assume your secrets were safe from me? You think I do not know this planet inside and out? I eradicated humans once from this planet, and today I will do it again. Oh, and another little oversight—did you actually believe I'd come unaccompanied, without my own army?"

I grasped the metal bars and wrenched them apart, snapping them in two. The woman's eyes widened with sudden fear as she retreated a step. I could hear her heartbeat accelerate. That was the reaction I was aiming for. I smiled. Finally I could watch my prey squirm.

"Scared, are we? Does the princess want to go back into hiding? Good. Led me to your den, so that I can kill you and your little army."

She said nothing as she took small steps back.

"The one truthful thing you said, is that I killed your father and that I have come for your life as well." I approached her slowly as she took several steps back. "And I will not allow an offspring of his to live." I bared my teeth to her.

She hurled something to the ground, and it erupted into a smokescreen that momentarily blinded me. Quickly, I dispersed the smoke, as I listened to the sound of her faint footsteps descending the castle's staircase.

An alarm pierced the air, likely her signal to her army.

A grin spread across my face—a fight I was more than ready for. With a decisive roar, I too commanded my forces to engage. This would be a quick and easy slaughter. "Begin with the underground tunnels. That's where they are hiding. Spare none." I instructed, while pursuing the young woman down the castle's stony descent.

I took pleasure in the chase as I quickly followed the long-lost princess down the castle's stone stairs. It was easy to catch up to her. Humans where slow and weak when it came to fighting. But I was amused by her futile attempts to impede me. She did everything to deter me.

She hurled smoke bombs and knives and even shut gates in her wake—barriers that I shattered with ease. Her breaths, heavy with panic, excited and spurred me on.

It wasn't that I couldn't catch her. No. I could have easily captured her at any moment, but it was the thrill of the chase and the smell of her fear that made excited me. To witness her unwavering belief in possible escape. Her eventual capture would be all the sweeter for it. She was so sure that I would be the one to die on this day, but now with death was breathing down her neck, she could feel her defeat approaching.

On the outside, the humans were effortlessly vanquished—it was almost laughable how easily they succumbed to defeat. I felt a tinge of regret for unnecessarily pulling so many Omna from their families for such a straightforward victory.

As I suspected, the humans were concealing themselves in the underground caves and tunnels, patterns of their ancestors. Just like the ancient humans, these humans believed that being underground would grant them safety. Ironically, in seeking refuge underground, they had ensnared themselves. They never learned.

Finally bored from the chase, I lunged forward and captured the girl, both of us falling to the ground. Quickly, she managed to strike my jaw once with a vehement kick of her boot.

When I reached for her , she deftly rolled to evade my grasp. I snorted at her tenacity as she tried to kick out at me again. But I seized her foot, flipped her onto her stomach, and dragged her back toward me. Her nails against the stone pavement as she grasped a stone and flung it at me.

A smile crept across my face—she was a true battler, so unlike her mother. Victoria would have never fought; she would have surrendered; she lacked the inclination for violence. Her daughter, however, did not share that sentiment. Obviously.

Observing the sweat glistening on her forehead as she lashed out again, I tightened my hold on her ankle, eliciting a piercing scream from her. "Give up, and it will be less painful for you," I said baring my teeth at her. She was ripe for my bite.

"Never!" She drew another knife and thrust it at my hand. However, her wrist contorted, the blade meeting my iron-hard scales. Her screams echoed against the stone walls.

Did she not realize that our scales were like armor, impervious to human weaponry?

She clutched her wrist, moaning in agony.

"Princess," I murmured. "That wasn't smart." My chuckle was low and taunting.

She bit her lip to stifle a groan as I pinned her down and hovered above her. And there, with her beneath my body, I felt a surge of electricity. Her cheeks, a soft tan now flushed pink with exertion, her hair disheveled, and those piercing green eyes—all of it captivated me as she looked up at me with anger.

I locked eyes with her lips as I slowly lowered my body onto her. She yelled in protest, and I tensed my muscles as she pressed against my chest, trying to avoid being crushed under my weight. If I just let myself fall onto her, I could easily crush the air from her lungs.

In a panic, she withdrew something from her pants pocket and pressed a button. A sudden explosion went off and suddenly, the floor gave way beneath us fell through. I put my arms out to counter the fall, my body only half landing on the human. Her groan was loud as my weight forced most of the breath out of her. But before I could return my attention to her something impaled and pushed me off of her.

Instantly, I felt the impact of a battering ram tipped with a spike thrust against me as my back hit the stone wall. The humans wielding it pressed hard, intending to pierce my scales and impale my flesh. In defiance, I pushed back against the force of nearly ten men trying to pin me to the wall.

An ear-piercing roar escaped me, echoing through the chaos. Some of the men covered their ears in pain. The sound of my army's claws on the approach filled the air. With rapid movements, my army showed and quickly overpowered the humans, prompting them to drop the battering ram and completely free me.

Shaking off the soreness in my abdomen, I exhaled in relief. My gaze quickly swept the area for the girl. Where was the girl? When my eyes found her she was up and wielding a sharp weapon.

Impressively, she stood firm, assisting the men in tackling an Omna warrior. Fight to the bitter end, I suppose. I smirked. However, as my reinforcements swarmed in, the humans found themselves grossly outnumbered. I gripped the girl by the back of the neck and pulled her away from the fight. I could easily snap her neck, but I wanted her to face me. I wanted her to see the terror that awaited her. Hell, I wanted her to beg for her life—the way Victoria did. If she cried, it would be even better.

I wanted to douse that fire in her.

I declared that King Newton's lineage would end—and it would!

As her hands fought to remove mine from her throat, I turned her to face me. I gazed into her eyes—eyes that mirrored Victoria's. They held Victoria's innocence tainted with the viciousness as her father's.

"Let me go!" she screamed.

"It's over princess," I said looking at her.

She kicked out at me.

I chuckled. "Is this it then? Is this all of the army you prepared to counter my attack? It's pitiful. You scarified these men's lives for nothing." I couldn't help but let a playful grin tug at the corners of my mouth.

"Fuck you," she gritted out. I smiled. That damn mouth.

"Let's not draw this out. I'll admit the floor falling through was surprise, but I'm done wasting time. Where are the others? If you tell me, I will give them a quick death."

Her eyes blazed, nostrils flared, as she summoned all the scorn she could muster. With a venomous hiss, each word dripping with contempt, she unleashed her fury. "Go to hell!"

"If you make me find them, I will take my time. And you will watch."

A glob of spit struck my cheek, her venomous contempt wet against my skin. "I won't tell you anything," she snarled through clenched teeth, the bitterness in her voice as palpable as the disregard she showed me.

I wiped the spit off my face, while her eyes were steel, unyielding. Wow. She was a viper. I tightened my grip around her neck, causing her eyes to water and her breath to wheeze. "I know you're not of this planet. You came to this planet from another. Tell me where you came from. Where have you been hiding all this time?" I prodded, my curiosity piquing despite the hostility hanging thick in the air between us.

Her lips twisted into a scornful smirk. "You think I'd betray Endis by giving up its coordinates? I'd die first."

My eyes snapped wide in disbelief, a surge of excitement mingling within me. Endis? Did she say...Endis? I stuttered, barely above a whisper, "Endis?" The planet I had once discovered and lost the coordinates to?

My gaze hardened as I intercepted my men's advance, halting the massacre of the remaining humans with a swift gesture. "Stop!" My men halted. Clasping the woman securely, I pivoted her so that her back was against my chest. With one hand I secured her arms behind her back, while the other encircled her neck in a vice-like grip.

I put my lips to the shell of her ear. "Endis, you say?" I rubbed her delicate pulse with my finger. "Reveal the coordinates to Endis, now" I murmured, my breath a ghost on her ear, "and your men's lives will be spared."

Her futile struggles only brought her scent closer, intoxicatingly sweet; I found myself wanting to savor it. Some of the men implored her with desperate gazes, others silently pleaded her with their fear-laden eyes.

"Can't you see the fear in your men's eyes?" I whispered in her ear. "They don't want to die. You can save them...tell me where this Endis is."

Reluctance etched her features; she shook her head in defiance. A signal from me, a slight nod, and my men executed one of the captives. Her outcry tore through the stale air, a blend of fury and sorrow—angry tears carved streaks through the grime on her face. "Stop!" she wailed. "Please." I held tightened my grip on her.

"I will stop," I replied calmly, "when you provide what I want," my thumb caressing her pulsing vein. "Provide the coordinates, and this ends."

Her resistance held, punctuated by a plea from one of her men. "No, Renesmee. If you yield, he'll end us all," the human's voice broke through the tension. "We have families. Protect them."

Renesmee. So that was her name…

With cold precision, I ordered the demise of the outspoken human. She cried out, in anguish, "No! Please—" but her protest stopped as I squeezed her throat silencing her. I nodded at one of my men, and the man was punctured with a spike from one of my men's tales.

More tears streamed down her face as I loosened my hold to let her breath again. The moment she got air she abruptly uttered a commanded to one of her men "Do it! Do it now!"

Suddenly, a human produced a device and pressed a button with resolve. Explosions tore through the chamber. As the structure buckled and crumbled, stones started to collapse upon us. One large stone hurled down and I quickly spun Renesmee toward me, using my body as a shield from the onslaught of stones and debris that fell. Several hit my back and I grunted from the weight of the stones.

When the dust settled, amidst the rubble, there were human casualties: several among my Omna wounded. Yet, the death toll of dead humans was unexpectedly light. Too light. Weren't there more humans? I narrowed my eyes and growled as I spotted a hidden passage beneath the floor. The explosion was obviously a distraction—one last ditch effort to escape.

In my confusion, Renesmee squirmed free from my grip and lunged for the hidden passage, but one of my men acted rashly, his tail lifting and flinging her against the unforgiving stonewall with brutal force.

All I heard was her quick cry of pain piercing the air before her body thudded against the hard wall and then crumpled to the ground, her side leaking blood from one of his spikes.

I roared, "Halt!" My fury burned, directed at the overzealous Omna soldier; I had claimed her fate as mine. The soldier recoiled, chastened. Eyes fixed on the escape route, I commanded, "Follow the fleeing humans, but don't attack. Track them. Wait until they chart their path. Those coordinates are what I seek."

My command had barely echoed in the air before my men dispersed. My eyes laid on the fallen princess and the look of pain on her face beckoned my attention. I couldn't hear her pulse. I reached down and gripped her neck, searching for a pulse. I lingered, until a felt a soft slow beat. It was weak but it was there. I observed her motionless form stretched out before me, her breath coming in labored, shallow gasps. It was amazing she was still alive after a hit like that.

The impact against the unforgiving wall had left its mark; her bottom lip was busted, a crimson trickle seeping from the split skin, and there was an accompanying cut below her eye which oozed blood.

Gently, I tilted her head, revealing a patchwork of bruises blossoming across her dirt-streaked cheek.

I should kill her. End her life. The anticipation of a kill sent my tongue flicking across my lips—it was the moment I had longed for, the pivotal opportunity for retribution. To wipe out King Newton's seed.

In all fairness, she should have already been dead…

Thoughts of Carlisle crossed my mind, causing anger to arise in me. My eyes narrowed into slits. It was his duty to end her life years ago. His failure to obey was baffling, and maddening.

Now it was my turn to end her life. It would be so easy…just a little pressure on her neck and she would pass quickly.

My gaze swept over the young girl's military outfit, taking in the rugged combat boots, the utilitarian black trousers, and the stiff resilience of her bulletproof vest. A disdainful smirk graced my lips.

What on earth made her think she could take me on? My size alone was enough to strike fear into any human. But she stood her ground against me. She had the audacity to challenge and fight me.

A fleeting twinge of pity gnawed at me. She believed her father, King Newton, to be the saint, while painting me as the tyrant. She accused me of murdering her mother, not knowing that I was the one that actually cherished her mother more than life itself. My love was so profound that I vowed to never let King Newton's lineage survive. I was determined to prevent his descendants from ever thriving.

No progeny of his would ever claim the human throne.

I glared down at the woman. The lost princess. How fitting...

I wanted to kill her. Make her scream. Taste her blood. But something held me back. Perhaps it was hearing her spew lies about me and Victoria that irked me. She deserved to confront the harsh reality, the unembellished truth, before she died. The other thing that irked me to no end, was how she managed to survive all this time under my nose. No human got to live, unless I said so. And that was law. My law. Who the hell did she think she was?

Additionally, locating the coordinates to Endis, intricately woven into her memories, was crucial. If my men failed to gain the coordinates to Endis, then I would need to extract them from Renesmee myself. I would gain access to her mind, and rip them from her. Yes, she was a fighter, but I could easily bring her to her knees. She would answer my questions, whether she wanted to or not. If not...there would be pain. Lots of it.

A sinister plan began to take shape at the fringe of my consciousness. I could force Renesmee to answer my questions and in time use her as an irresistible bait to draw out her hidden allies from Endis. That victory would be sweet bliss. Two wins for the price of one loan princess. I'd get to wipe out Newton's bloodline, and finish what I started-the erratication of humans. Yes. I could see how I might use her. Bend her to my wants. And then, eventually, break her. She was no queen. She was not her mother. She was an annoying weed. I smirked. And now...my prisoner.

I lifted Renesmee slightly and she stirred within my arms. "No," she mumbled, brows furrowing in distress. "Please. My men," she mumbled out. Her tried to flutter open, but even I could see she was too weak to even crawl, let alone put up any sort of fight. I snorted. Well, a fight in her mind that is. She was an easy kill for me, but her spirit was...admirable.

I smiled at her and hoisted her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes, her body hanging limp as I exited the underground tunnels. As I carried her, she moaned, breaths staggered and uneven. She might be the long lost princess, but I was not going to carry her like one.

Once I was back on Novis, I brought the princess into my private realm. If was going to get her to talk, I would need to tend to her wounds first. She was in sore need of antibiotics and medical attention. Melxa. He was good with humans and knew better than I on how to heal them. He would help if he knew what was good for him.

Despite my disdain for Melxa, his expertise was indispensable every time I considered severing ties. I knew that Melxa's knowledge was crucial to Renesmee's recovery. I wasn't ready for her to die just yet. I wanted to explore her mind and figure out the missing pieces to the puzzle. Like, how the hell she escaped my notice for so long. How did she get to Endis? I had my suspicions about the that one...my dear old sentimental friend. If he allowed her to live, it was possible he found a way to Endis. I was sure there were more rebels there lying in wait there.

I burst into Melxa's lab, halting his work. "I have a job for you," My voice was icy.

Melxa assessed me uncertainly. "My Lord. What an...unexpected surprise. Uh...what assistance do you require, my Lord?" Although before he could finish speaking he eyed the small body draped over my shoulder.

"Make room on an examination table." He quickly did so, and I placed her limp form on the table. Melxa gave me a puzzled look.

"You are familar with humans. Heal her," I commanded.

He examined her briefly. "Um, I'm not sure I—"

"I don't care how you do it, but do it. Attend to her injuries. I'll return for her this evening, and do not breath a word about her to anyone. These are simple orders Melxa. But, should you fail to follow my orders, consider yourself banished. Her life, for yours."

Melxa hesitated, glancing between Renesmee and my cold stare. But he did not dare refuse a direct order. "As you command, my Lord. I will do everything within my power to help her."

"Good," I said, leaving him to his work. Once back in my secluded realm, away from the heart of Novis, I pondered over what I would actually do with Renesmee after Melxa was finished with her.

She better survive. Or else he was will have wrath to deal with.

She would need a room. And she sure as fuck wasn't staying in mine.

Perhaps...I paused. Perhaps I should give her the room her mother would have loved. When I brought Victoria's ashes back to Novis I had constructed a room in her remembrance. It was unique. Flower scented, bright, spacious-she hated feeling trapped. The room also contained all of her possessions and even her memories. If Victoria was alive, she would have loved the room I created for her. I smiled as I pictured her full lips smiling at me, her green eyes sparking with desire-the way they always did when I was near her.

The same damn eyes that Renesmee had. Why couldn't she have inherited the devious blue ones from her father? I hated that she had Victoria's eyes. She was nothing like her, so did certainly didn't deserve to look like her. Victoria was kind, calm, and warm. She was loyal, strong, and could bring any man to his knees with her beauty. Her daughter on the other hand, was impulsive, native, and had too much fire for her own good. She was daring, rebellious, and...simply wild. She would most likely be annoyance to me in a short time.

On a second thought, I reasoned, it was best she stay away from Victoria's room.

As night descended, I found myself pacing the castle, consumed by thoughts of Melxa's work. When patience escaped me and I could no longer withstand the anticipation, I ventured toward the laboratories.

When I arrived at the lab to claim my prize, Melxa had just completed his task. I gave him a sharp look before turning my attention to Renesmee to inspect his work.

Her clothes were cut in places, and there were bandages wrapped around her arms. A brace supported her wrist, and it was evident that he had carefully cleaned the blood from her lips and the area beneath her eye. Despite the lingering dark bruises on her cheek, all traces of dirt had been removed. I nodded, expressing my approval of his work.

"That will do," I said sliding my hands beneath her small body to pick her up.

"Careful," Melxa said. I turned toward him with a glare.

"What?"

"Careful," he repeated. "She has stiches on her side. I sedated her as well, so she wouldn't be in pain. The effects will wear off in a couple of hours."

I nodded once in understanding. Despite my aversion to Melxa, I was in his debt for saving my life. Nevertheless, I couldn't wrap my head around his affection for humans, which was something I neither shared nor endorsed.

Cradling Renesmee in my arms bridal-style, I proceeded out of the lab. Her head slouched against my chest as I transported her to my castle.

Hidden corridors branched from Novis, offering me a covert route from Novis to my private domain. These passages remained a mystery to all; and even if their existence were known, entry to my secret realm was forbidden without my express consent.

Through the thick cover of night, I carried Renesmee through the twisting passageways. I hurried up the steps of my castle and once at the top, I nudged open a great oak door with my boot. I strode across the marble floors, and then gently, I laid her down upon the covers of a large king-sized bed.

Her clothes were filthy and stained with blood. I should have told Mexla to change her into something else, but the thought never crossed my mind. The only feminine clothing I had on hand were the clothes that belonged to Victoria. I went to the chest of drawers and pulled out a long white lace nightgown that belonged to Victoria.

I carefully lifted Renesmee's sleeping body, and placed her on my lap, thankful that the drugs Melxa had administered were still working. Placing the nightgown next to me, I began to undress her. I worked gently and with care, so as not to wake her.

Her soft, tan-colored skin complemented her full, appealing breasts. I brushed across the swell of her breasts and ran my hand over the soft black fabric that resembled a bra. Leaving her naked might not be a bad idea, I mused. It's not like anyone besides me would see her. Or hear her. Her nipples instantly hardened when I ran my hands across them, and I couldn't help but smile at her immediate reaction to pleasure. She moaned a little, which caused me to lick my lips.

I could have stripped her completely and used her for my pleasure. Afterall, she was still human, and that was the purpose humans served on my planet. It wouldn't have taken long to bed her, and the drugs would have kept her incapacitated. She just looked too much like Victoria. Looking at her brought back so many memories.

I brushed her cheek with the back of my hand, noting the delicate features she inherited from her mother. Running my fingers through her soft brown curls, I sighed.

Why the fuck did she have to look so similar to Victoria?

I leaned forward, burying my nose in her hair and taking in her scent. While it wasn't Victoria's aroma, it was equally sweet. So sweet...I could devour her. I bit the inside of my mouth and willed myself to fetch one of Victoria's nightgowns and dress her properly.

I pulled her into my lap and proceeded to change her. If I continued to look her at body, there was no telling what I might do with her. Once done, I tucked her into the sheets comfortably. I could see she was cold, her skin felt chilled and was littered with goosebumps. Maybe it was the medications. Or maybe it was just Novis. Novis always did run cold colder than Earth. Even Endis wasn't as cold as Novis.

I stoked the dying fire in the hearth, sending showers of sparks up the chimney. The crackling flames cast dancing shadows across the room, creating a comforting and warm ambiance.

As I gazed my prize once more watching her chest rise and fall gently with each breath, her lips slightly parted in peaceful slumber. A pang of guilt surged through my chest. Victoria must have loved Renesmee very much. She gifted her the same necklace that I gave to her as a symbol of my love and promise to always return to her. I was torn between my love and justice for Victoria. I vowed to wipe out the seed of the man that caused her so much pain and eventually killed her. But, in doing so, I would also take the one thing she created. If was honest with myself, Victoria would never want her child harmed. But I hated what Renesmee represented. The line between Victoria and King Newton.

That bloodline, that legacy, could not be ignored. And if given the chance, with her strength back, I was sure Renesmee would attempt to kill me. It was almost expected, since she truly believed me to be the one that stole everything from her. She didn't know the truth about her mother and I. And I was sure she didn't know the truth about her father. In some way, she seemed to idolize him. As if he was some noble king and it was her duty to assume his throne and bring justice back to the human race.

I smirked. I would not let that happen. She was no match for me-even with an army. But I could keep her as my muse for a time. By confining her within my castle walls, I could probe for the answers I sought. Perhaps she may even learn a thing or two about her real history.

She had a right to know. Whoever raised her obviously didn't take the time to hit her with the hard truth. But I wouldn't be the one to spare her.

There was also no escape from my castle. Not for a human. And should she attempt to flee, she would find her efforts fruitless. But it would be amusing to watch her try…

Whether she liked it or not, she would remain my captive, until I deemed it time to release her.

Like father and mother, it was only right that she taste death too.

Welcome to the world of Renesmee and Aro. Thoughts?