It was seldom that Aro would find free time to himself, especially since he was so keen on staying on top of his tasks as one of the kings of the vampiric world, yet here he was with nothing to do. He had already gone over his files and debriefings of the problems the guards ad already been sent out to dispatch. He even took the time to burn the paperwork to ensure no human could stumble across them by accident and reveal the secret world of vampires. He had already overlooked the candidates that Heidi had selected to be the newest secretary and selected the one that seemed the most promising although the never did live up to the expectations he held. The plans for the meeting of the coven heads had been gone through five times already by Aro in order to catch mistakes that were never found. He looked over his planner to see what time he would be having his meeting with the German Chancellor and discuss plans that were to be put in action years ago yet had not come to be yet.

His meeting was to be at eleven later that day.

He sighed as he gathered the last debriefing he had from Chelsea and disposed of it in his fireplace. He took a moment to look around his office. Everything was perfectly organized, books color coded, folders in the correct bins, his portrait sitting at the perfect 90 degrees right about the mantle of the fireplace. Not even a spec of dust could be found.

He thought for a moment, debating what he could do. The thought crossed his mind of visiting his wife in the North Tower but he pushed aside the thought. He didn't have time to hear her complain that he hardly visited or that she was to be by his side instead of locked away like some terrible secret. He grabbed his sketch book and pencils before taking a seat in his favorite chair. He mindlessly flipped through the pages, looking for a clean one to make a mess on when he stopped. 

Long black hair with a flower tucked behind her ear, welcoming smile, gentle features, and mischievous eyes that always gave away too much of how their owner felt. Aro couldn't look away from one of the last drawings he made of his sister. Emotions swirled inside, but none stood out more than regret.

"If only you would have listened to reason," he whispered as he stroked the drawing.

Aro tore the drawing from his book, crumpling it and tossing it into the fire. If only he was paying enough attention to see the page had landed on the other side of the flames, far enough away that it wouldn't burn except for the corner that sat closer to the fire. 

Aro found his blank page and began drawing. His hands worked on autopilot as his thoughts became consumed with thoughts of his sister and their last meeting. She had always followed Aro, ever since they were children and he would find her hiding behind the olive trees in their mothers garden as he would practice swordsmanship with their elder brothers. She was always there when Aro needed a shoulder to cry on, something he came to appreciate in time. After becoming a vampire and finding his gift, he knew he had to go back home. So he did, his brothers were nothing extraordinary, not like he or Didyme. So it was at night he had snuck into her room and gave her the choice he was never given. Of course she accepted, not because she wanted immortality and eternal youth, but to escape a marriage that she was forced into to benefit their fathers hold politically. 

Aro gave her what she wanted and in return she vowed to stay by his side. He would be lying if he said he didn't go back to his family in hopes of having another mind reader like him but he had also wanted to have his sister back by his side. Eternity would be a long time with no one by his side, so what harm would it be if he had one selfish thought of keeping his sister to himself? He never meant for his sister to meet Marcus but when they did, sparks flew and soon enough Didyme had found herself a new man to care for. 

The two grew to be inseparable but it was slowly eating Aro alive. He tried to stomach it as much as possible, especially since Marcus was so useful to him in his fight against the Romanians and Egyptians, but things were brewing under the surface that Aro had never accounted for. 

His sisters growing dissatisfaction with her brothers quest for power. She wished to leave, to have a peaceful life, and Marcus would go with her knowing him. Aro was just on the edge of winning and couldn't afford to lose Marcus. So, as much as it pained him, he did what need to be done. 

It was all for the greater good, he told himself as he disposed of his sisters remains and let Marcus believe some Romanian had killed his beloved. 

"Master?"

Aro blinked, focusing on the drawing of him being set on fire before closing the book and looking at the guard who had disturbed him.

"Alec, what a pleasant surprise," Aro stood, tucking the book under his arm, "What can I do for you?"

Alec stood a little straighter as Aro rounded his desk and took his seat. "I would like to be reunited with Aria."

Aro raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Alec nodded. "This is an unfair treatment to her and to me. We are still in the early stages of our relationship and mate bond, for us to be separated for so long is detrimental to the both of us."

"So," Aro began, crossing his legs and resting his back against the chair. "More than you already do?"

Aro watched as Alec stiffened ever so slightly. Centuries of being a guard had trained the boy to hide his emotions well but not well enough. "Did you truly believe I had not noticed?" Aro chuckled, "Alexander, you know better than anyone that I always know what goes on under this roof."

Aro continued, "For about five weeks now you have been sneaking her out of the castle to hunt."

"I am afraid you-"

"-Do not lie to me, Alexander."

Aro crossed his arms. "Everyone in this castle has the understanding of how dangerous a newborn can be, especially an unfed one."

"Master-"

Aro held up a finger silencing the boy. "So you and Marcus took matters into your own hands," Aro chulcked his tongue, "feeding young Aria after I gave the orders for her to starve." 

Alec waiting for Aro's explosive temper to flare, his anxiety growing by the second. "I wanted her to come around to the notion of feeding from humans-"

"-Aria could never, you saw her that day in the Throne Room!"

Something flashed in Aro's eyes before vanishing just as quickly. "I saw her nearly kill a woman before her conscious got in the way."

"And she also tried to save her before you ended that woman's life!"

Aro shrugged and stood. "So? Every Newborn struggles with the duality of man. It is always just a matter of time before they realize they are something more."

Alec whispered, "Aria would never." He growled, "she isn't like that."

Aro laughed, his head thrown back. "Surely you are not that blind my son."

Aro made his way to Alec's side, "You have already noticed changes in her behavior."

Alec averted his eyes to the ground. "I won't let her become..."

"Like you?" Aro finished. 

Aro chuckled once more before moving to the window over looking the town of Volterra. "You may be with her again, but don't be surprised when she finally acknowledges her new nature." 

Alec paused at the door as Aro called out. "Who knows you may even like the new Aria better than the one you are used to!"