TAINTED BLOOD (Aro Volturi X Reader)

Getting Ready

In the dim recesses of the secluded cave, Y/N stirred from slumber, her heart pounding with an ominous unease. The warmth that had enveloped her throughout the night was gone, leaving behind a chilling void. Aro, her beloved, was nowhere to be found.

Panic surged through her veins as she frantically scanned the cave's interior. He was far too weak to be venturing outside its protective confines. Y/N's mind raced, conjuring up horrifying possibilities. Had he been taken? Or worse, had his weakened state made him vulnerable to the threats that lurked beyond?

Summoning all her strength, Y/N stumbled to her feet and stumbled towards the cave entrance. As she approached the opening, a faint sound reached her ears. It was the soft rustling of leaves and the creak of branches underfoot.

With trembling hands, Y/N cautiously peered outside. The morning sun was just breaking through the dense canopy, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding forest. And there, standing at the edge of the clearing, was Aro.

Relief washed over Y/N as she saw him, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of concern. Aro's form was hunched, and his movements were labored. Blood stained his pale lips, and his eyes held a haunted expression.

"Aro"' Y/N called out in anguish. She then left the threshold of the cave and marched up to where he was standing.

Aro turned slowly, his gaze meeting hers. A weak smile flickered across his lips. "Y/N," he whispered.

"What are you doing?" She questioned him. Her voice like a scolding parent.

"I was checking our surroundings; I believe I found a safe path" Aro explained as he pointed his hand in a certain direction.

"Safe path to where?" Y/N narrowed her eyes and tilted her head slightly.

"Rivendell" Aro plainly said.

"Rivendell? Why are we going to Rivendell?" She asked

"I need to speak with Elrond" Aro continued.

"Aro, you need to rest. You haven't the energy to journey to Rivendell" Y/N explained with kind concern in her voice.

"We have to get to Rivendell. When I awoke this morning, I followed the clearing" He pointed in the direction he took with a weak hand. " And the small village, it was attacked. There were drained bodies everywhere and there was no sign of life left." Aro explained. He held a weak authority in his voice. This was the Volturi leader speaking.

"You think Marcus has to do with it?" Y/N asked. She already knew the answer. But she wanted to know what was going on in Aro's head.

Aro gave a soft nod. "I know he does; they are beginning to attack the towns nearby. We need to leave now" Aro looked into her eyes.

"Ok, first I need to look at your mouth" Y/N then grabbed his arm and led him back into the cave. Aro followed graciously at her pull.

The feeling of Y/N's hand upon his arm felt like ecstasy. It was a gentle reminder that there was yet mortality within him. He could sense a small recovery within himself. His senses were becoming heightened once again as he could scent the sweet essence within her veins.

The vanilla - lavender of her tainted blood.

Y/N made Aro sit down and lean his body against the caved wall.

"Sit here" she commanded him as she turned and left the cave. Aro couldn't help but feel curious.

The dense, emerald canopy of the woods pressed in on Y/N, filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. A damp, earthy scent filled her nostrils. She moved with a quiet determination, her eyes scanning the undergrowth, searching for a glimmer of green that would signal her success.

She was on a mission, driven by a desperate hope. Aro's gums were inflamed from his fangs being pulled out.

Boswellia plant, rumored to possess potent healing properties, might offer a chance at recovery.

Y/N used to spend countless days scouring the ancient texts, poring over faded illustrations, memorizing the plant's description. This is what she did on her free time in the north. It was said to grow only in the deepest parts of the woods, under the shade of certain trees. She knew the search was perilous, the woods teeming with unseen dangers, but the thought of Aro's suffering fueled her onward. They would not make it far if he was in pain.

Finally, after what felt like a short eternity, she spotted it. A small, unassuming shrub, its delicate leaves a vibrant shade of green, nestled beneath the sprawling branches of a gnarled oak. Her heart leaped with a mixture of relief and cautious joy. She carefully plucked a couple of leaves, their surface smooth and slightly fragrant, and tucked them into her palm.

The return journey to the cave was a blur, her steps light with newfound hope. Aro, still sat up where she left him. Y/N knelt beside him, her heart aching at the sight of his suffering. his clouded crimsons followed her every move. With trembling hands, she crushed the Boswellia leaves with a nearby rock, releasing a subtle, almost medicinal aroma. She then carefully applied the chopped leaves to his inflamed gums, Aro following her exact orders.

Open your mouth and hold still

Y/N and Aro stayed in the cave for a week. Y/N tended to Aro constantly, her vigil unwavering. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, a change began to occur. Aro's mouth was not as painful as before. Yet, he still suffered the consequences of them being taken. He was able to help Y/N capture food. But he had no fangs to feed. Instead, he helped Y/N the best he could when gutting the creatures and draining their blood. Though, Aro's breaths were shallow. He was weak and still tainted with his illness. The Boswellia, the plant of hope, had worked its magic. But, only for his inflamed gums.

After they spent a week in the secluded abyss. It was eventually time for them to leave. Y/N had a mixture of feelings. She was worried about Aro's health, she was scared that they would be found once they left the secluded walls of the cave. But she knew the time was coming. Particularly in the morning.

The damp chill of the cave, usually a comforting constant, felt like a cold fist around Aro's chest as he stirred. The day had finally arrived. The day they would leave the sanctuary of their rocky haven and venture forth towards Rivendell, a place whispered of in hushed tones, a haven of healing and hope.

Aro's hand gently shook Y/N awake. The soft morning light, filtering through the cave mouth, illuminated Y/N's face, etched with worry lines that mirrored Aro's own.

"We have to go, Y/N," Aro rasped, his voice strained and weak. He staggered as he pushed himself up, a wave of dizziness threatening to pull him back down. A racking cough seized him, a harsh, dry sound that echoed through the silent cave. Y/N's hand flew to his back, a silent plea for the coughing to cease, the pain to subside.

Y/N's heart ached with a mixture of fear. Aro's sickness, a lingering shadow since a time before their escape from the clutches of Marcus, had plagued him relentlessly. It seemed to cling to him like a stubborn vine, refusing to loosen its grip. Days bled into weeks, weeks into months, and still, the cough wracked his body, sapping his strength. But the fear gnawed at her, the fear that his sickness would never truly relent, that it would consume him entirely before they even reached Rivendell.

"Are you sure you're strong enough, Aro?" Y/N asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and apprehension.

Aro forced a weak smile, a flicker of his usual warmth amidst the shadows of his illness. "We have to try. We have no other choice. Rivendell... is a safe place. You are almost due, Y/N" his clouded crimsons shifted down to her stomach.

Y/N nodded and helped him to his feet, her arm a steady support against his trembling frame. As they stepped out of the cave, the bright sunlight momentarily blinding, Y/N felt a tremor of fear, but also a surge of determination. Y/N did not know the path to Rivendell. but they would walk it together, hand in hand, fueled by hope and the unshakeable bond that had sustained them through the darkest of times.

Their journey to Rivendell finally began.