The setting sun stilled on the horizon, painting the clouds in fantastic hues of oranges and pinks. The crumbling buildings bathed in the fading lights that made the structures look as new as the day they were built. The wind blew carrying the sweet aroma of the sweets from the bakery down the street mixed with the heavenly fragrances of the flowers below in the gardens. Aria sat in the bay window of the lounge, a book sat untouched in front of her crossed legs, as her attention stayed fixated on the outside world.

People moved between the buildings going to dinner with friends and family or simply heading home after their day elsewhere. Bits and pieces of their conversations she managed to catch from her perch. Tearing her eyes away from the scenery, Aria faced her friends.

Demetri and Felix had positioned themselves at a sturdy mahogany table with matching high backed chairs. Both men bore looks of concentration, their brows knitted together and one hand resting on their chin. Demetri's fingers lingered on his rook as he analyzed the chessboard, looking for any move that would result in him losing more pieces than he would have liked to depart with. Felix looked more relax than his counterpart, with his jacket thrown over the arm of his chair and his sleeves rolled up revealing the many scars he held from past battles, yet still in deep thought. The wheels in his head turned, calculating each move he could make and each reaction it would draw from his friend. With a nod and sigh, the Casanova lifted his fingers from the piece and sat back only for Felix to move his knight claiming his friends bishop.

Jane sat in a plush crimson red armchair, her legs crossed at the knee and one on her heels hanging off of her big toe swinging ever so slightly as she read a leather bound book in a language foreign to Aria. Even now and then the mistress of pain would slowly turn a page with her ruby red nails before returning to her statue like state as she read silently. On the coffee table in front of the teen sat a wine glass filled with blood that would be sipped before placed right back in its original spot next to the other three gigantic books that awaited their turn to be read.

Aria's eyes drifted around the lounge, taking note of the bar on the far wall to her left that held dark green bottles containing the substance that could quench the burning in her throat. The creme colored walls rose high to an arched ceiling. On the walls rested priceless artworks that were gifts to the Volturi from only the elite of artist. Suits of armor from different eras in time rested nearby and a grand piano sat near the fireplace, the flames reflecting off the glossed finish of the instrument. Many pieces of furniture were positioned throughout the room, each a deep red in pigmentation surrounded by a dark wood. The crown molding around the walls and floors were laced with gold, highlighting the swirled design.

Aria sighed. "Where did Alec go?"

Demetri chuckled while he moved another piece. "Miss him already?"

Aria rolled her eyes. "No."

Felix looked over his shoulder at his young friend. "He'll be back soon. The masters probably just needed him for something."

Aria nodded. Alec was giving her a tour of the castle when one of the other guards, Afton, found the pair and informed Alec that the masters needed to have a word with him. Aria was escorted by the unknown man to the lounge shortly thereafter. She normally wouldn't be worried, after all she trusted Marcus and Caius, and if they said they just needed to talk to the high ranked guard then that was it. But Aria detected an unease in Afton. It easily could've been because of Alec's powers or the fact that right now Aria was unpredictable as a newborn, but a nagging feeling told her that wasn't the case.  As if it was because of something he knew that the other two didn't.

Aria's unease continued to build until the lounge doors opened revealing her other half. "Alec!" Aria shouted overjoyed to see him. She rushed forward throwing her small arms around him.

"Hello honeybee," Alec murmured into her hair as he returned her hug, "missed me?"

Aria hummed in response and nuzzled into her boyfriends chest. "Did the masters give us another mission?" Jane asked, placing her bookmark between the pages and closing it.

Alec shook his head, "No."

Felix looked over perplexed, unaware that Demetri was switching the chess pieces. "Then what did they want?"

Alec sighed and looked down at his girlfriend. Aria could feel the unease that swirled inside her love's body and see it in his eyes. Absentmindedly, Alec tucked a strand of curls behind her ear, his hand lingering for a moment on her jaw before falling to his side again.

"I broke a rule," Alec answered before moving to the couch next of his sisters side.

Jane and Felix shared a look of bewilderment as Aria took her spot next to Alec. "What rule, you've been with me all day!" Aria shouted.

Demetri looked over to the newborn and his younger friends. "A long time ago, guards were allowed to turn others. It was a quick way to gain numbers and kept the guard supplied with strength, especially since Chelsea and I were the only gifted ones at the time. As time continued though, Master Aro started to rise to power and quickly saw the dilemma that was occurring."

"What dilemma?" Felix asked, his head tilted to the side like a puppy.

Demetri sighed. "When a vampire is created they belong to their maker. Not only because of our laws but because the venom that courses through their veins, it creates a bond that is nearly impossible to break," Demetri explained his eyes growing dim for a moment and vacant, "Chelsea can manipulate the bond to the point that they will hate each other, maybe even leave one and other but the bond is never truly broken. The created will always have a show of fidelity to their maker."

"Aro couldn't control the newborns," Aria concluded earning a nod from Demetri, "he made it that he was the only one to turn the humans to vampires didn't he?"

Demetri nodded. "But," Aria started again, her brows scrunched together as she turned to her boyfriend, "what does that have to do with ya?"

Alec peered into her crimson orbs, choosing his words carefully. "I made you."

For a moment Alec's words hung in the air as Aria processed them. She didn't give much thought to who had turned her, possibly because she assumed it was either Carlisle or her uncle that bite her, maybe even Aro, but never did she suspect Alec was behind her transformation. Slowly, fear seeped into her body as the gravity of the situation weighed down.

Aro had a problem, a problem he couldn't solve nonetheless. From what she knew of the mad king, he never liked a situation that he couldn't manipulate to his benefit. In his own twisted mind that would only leave him with one solution. One outcome that didn't sit well with her.

Quietly Aria said, "He wouldn't kill ya....you're to valuable for him to lose. He wouldn't destroy me, he wouldn't do anythin' to weaken ya."

"Your point honeybee?"

"So what's da punishment?"

Alec sighed again, "I am on watch for now, just to make sure I'm not forcing you to start a rebellion or anything. Oh, and no missions."

Aria nodded, falling back into silence as her mind raced. Amidst the silence, Alec took Aria's hand into his, intertwining their fingers. He leaned over, his cool breath fanning her ear as he whispered lower enough for only her ears to detect. "Don't worry, everything will be ok."

Aria turned to her boyfriend. Gently, she touched his face before giving him a quick peck on the lips. She knew they would find a way out of this mess but something still burden her. Against her better judgement she pushed it down, choosing to ignore it and to listen to her mates words of encouragement.
"I know."