When Ends Meet (Marcus & Aro Volturi)

Chapter 34: Misfortune & Opportunity.

              "Why—no, how are you here?" I chew out, immediately. There is no possible way that she is standing here in front of me...but then I remember the golden ring in her eyes. Of course...it is possible.

The woman wears a look of hurt, but I know her two-faced tactics. "I came to be here the same way you have...I thought you would be happy to be reunited."

"I highly doubt that we came to be vampires the same way." I continue to glare, making the woman stay firm in place.

"Anastasia..."

"Do not try to coax me with false affection, Renee." I warn with nostrils aflare.

"It's not fake. I truly—" She tries to approach with outstretched arms, but my patience will no longer be kept.

"Get the fuck away from me!" I shout. My body trembles with rising anger, but a cool and familiar hand on my shoulder pulls me away from the red of my vision.

"Anastasia." Aro's voice falls upon my ears like a blanket of comfort. "Are you alright?" He questions, as he is side eyeing the woman who has brought on my wrath.

"No...I am not alright. I want her out of my sight and out of Volterra—immediately." I order, bringing myself closer to him.

Aro does not immediately agree to my order, as his arms circle my body. "Renee...isn't it?"

"Ah, yes! Uhm...your highness?" Renee blurts out nervously as she makes a botched attempt at a curtsy.

"Aro is just fine. I see that you are newly turned by the orange tint in your irises. Who is your maker, and why have they left you to wander alone?" He interrogates.

"Ah..." Renee looks nervously towards Bella, who then steps forward.

"My mother was bitten by a nomad. He held her captive as a human and had used many inhumane methods of experimentation on her." Bella explains.

"Experimentation? For what reasons? And why out of all people would they choose you as their subject of choice?" Aro questions, his arms slowly coming loose around me as his intrigue and suspicion are dead locked on Renee.

"Fertility." Renee sputters nervously.

"Fertility?" Aro repeats with a curious tone. "Where is your hybrid child?"

Renee looked to Bella, hoping that she could take the brunt of Aro's harsh gaze. "She doesn't have one. The experiments failed." Bella says more confidently, but Aro seems unconvinced.

"Felix. Demetri." He summons, and just as though they were always here, the two guards immediately hold Bella and Renee in place. "I do not believe you." He declares as he beelines towards Renee.

"There is no hybrid!" Bella tries to assure while fighting against Demetri's hold.

"Yes...because your word mean so much to me, Isabella." Aro sneers, as he continues to approach Renee.

"She isn't lying—I...I'm not lying!" Renee urges against Felix's strength, but Aro will not let up.

Grabbing Renee's hands in his, he inhales almost immediately. His face twisting, and his jaw clenched to the point of hearing his molars screaming under the pressure. Once he had seen what he needed, he threw Renee's hands back towards her, his face smeared with disdain. "Filthy woman. How much pain and suffering you have inflicted on my mate...I should kill you where you stand."