The nights in Volterra had taken on a peculiar rhythm for Aro. By day, he remained the composed, omnipotent leader of the Volturi, commanding the respect of his guard and carefully executing plans for the future of his kind. By night, however, he found himself visiting the human, Renee Harper, a young woman who had unknowingly become the center of his latest experiment.
For Aro, these visits were a calculated necessity, not a source of pleasure. He moved with practiced grace, entering her quarters under the pretense of care and affection. When he gazed upon Renee, he felt nothing beyond duty. Her wide, hopeful eyes betrayed her growing attachment, her naive belief that he might truly care for her. For Aro, it was nothing more than another step in his grand plan to secure the future of the vampire race through the creation of a hybrid.
Renee, however, saw his visits in a vastly different light. She had grown deeply attached to him, mistaking his calculated charm for genuine affection. She yearned for his company, waking each morning with a hope she knew she wasn't supposed to indulge. Aro was always gone by sunrise, leaving her room empty and cold, yet her heart fluttered when she recalled the sound of his voice, the way he addressed her with an air of reverence that made her feel like a queen.
During the days, Renee's life in Volterra was one of quiet curiosity and adaptation. She was provided every comfort: the finest meals, luxurious furnishings, and an endless supply of books. Her fascination with vampires deepened as she consumed stories and myths, eagerly provided by Heidi, who had become something of a companion.
Renee often sought Heidi out, asking endless questions about the creatures she now lived among. "What is immortality like?" she asked one evening as Heidi brought her another volume about ancient vampires.
Heidi smirked, though her eyes held no warmth. "It is a gift, but also a burden. One must be careful what they wish for, Renee."
Renee dismissed the warning with a wave of her hand. "I'm ready for anything. I'd give anything to be like you—to be by his side forever."
Heidi's smile faltered. She, like the rest of the guard, knew the truth of Aro's plans but had been sworn to silence. No one was permitted to mention Sulpicia, the true queen of Volterra. Renee's ignorance was essential to the success of Aro's scheme.
To Aro, each encounter with Renee was a test of his resolve. Though he played the role of a caring partner, whispering promises and feigning tenderness, his true feelings remained cold and detached. He despised the physical aspect of his plan; it repulsed him to lay with a human after centuries of devotion to Sulpicia. But his mind, always calculating, reminded him of the greater purpose.
Aro's ultimate loyalty was to his vision of the vampire race. Renee was a means to an end, a vessel for what he hoped would be a powerful hybrid child, an heir to his legacy. Yet, he knew he had to tread carefully. The human had grown attached, and trust was a fragile thing. He could not afford to lose her cooperation.
Three months into her stay, Renee's routine began to shift. She felt unwell, plagued by bouts of nausea and sudden fatigue. At first, she dismissed it as a consequence of stress, the lingering fear of her situation catching up to her. But soon, the signs became undeniable.
One morning, as she sat by the window with a cup of tea, a wave of dizziness overtook her. The tea slipped from her grasp, shattering on the floor. Heidi rushed in moments later, concern flickering across her otherwise composed face.
"Are you all right?" Heidi asked, helping Renee to her feet.
Renee nodded weakly. "I don't know. I've been feeling… strange."
That evening, as she lay in bed, Renee allowed a startling thought to surface. Could she be pregnant? The idea filled her with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. If it were true, it meant that she had succeeded in giving Aro what he desired most. It meant that she might truly become his queen, the mother of his heir.
When Aro visited that night, she could hardly contain herself. "I think… I think I might be pregnant," she whispered, her voice trembling with both hope and fear.
Aro stilled, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied her face. Her heartbeat thundered in his ears, erratic and desperate. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a practiced tenderness that masked his inner thoughts.
"This is… significant news," he said, his voice smooth and measured.
For Aro, the revelation marked a pivotal moment. If Renee truly carried his child, the experiment had succeeded. He would have to tread even more carefully now, ensuring her health and cooperation until the child was born.
For Renee, it was the confirmation of her deepest desires. She clung to the hope that this child would solidify her place at Aro's side, granting her the immortality she longed for and a future filled with love.
Little did she know, Aro's mind was already working through the next steps of his plan, his true feelings hidden beneath the mask of affection he wore so well.
Aro is so cunning, love that for him. Poor Renee though.