Sometime after 1100 B.C
The day was dreary, and the orphans were still asleep, but one. Sulpicia lay awake now nineteen years of age, she had lived in the orphanage since the age of eight. She helped out now, looking to do what she must. She helped teach the younger children what they needed. Though she had one thing no other had, she was engaged. She knew she would be leaving her home soon, and she knew what she had to do. Aro had warned her of what he asked, she still had agreed. She knew the risks that were with him transforming her. She just didn't mind. Dawn. Sulpicia got up and slipped out taking the only valuable thing she had, a ring her mother wore. She walked the town until she came to the place Aro had told her to meet. She waited. Her heart raced, she was excited and nervous. A quiet voice came from behind her.
"Calm down." Didyme spoke, smiling. Sulpicia jumped, unable to have heard the vampire approach.
"Don't do that! You'll make me die of fright!" Sulpicia laughed. Didyme gave her a sly smile. "Come on, Aro is inside. He just came back from hunting, he didn't want to hurt you." Didyme led her inside where the vampires had stayed. They had gone underground, and they were in a room. Didyme stood beside her mate, Marcus. Caius sighed,
"Do not think we will kill you. Aro would probably have our heads. Speaking of him where is Aro?" Didyme spoke up,
"I can hear him coming." Didyme nodded to Sulpicia,
"I'm sorry, I should leave, I cannot take the smell of human blood easy. Caius Marcus and I will be upstairs. Athenodora will help in case, but Aro's turned me and I'm standing here!" With that the ones who couldn't take the blood left. Sulpicia shook her head.
"She's always happy. Even at the morvid things in life."
"Yes, at least she can never make you upset." Aro entered the room. Sulpicia found herself smiling, she had missed him so much. It had been a month.
"Lay down on the bench, it'll be easier." He said, and she lay down. Athenodora followed Aro.
"Good luck." She said, "It'll hurt."
"I've been warned." Aro took his own place beside his soon to be wife.
"Will you be upset if I listened to what you were thinking through the transformation?" He asked, he knew he'd have hell to pay if he did not.
"Go for it." Sulpicia replied. She closed her eyes, not wanting to know when he bit her. He bit her wrists and neck, and she felt the pain come on strong, and like fire.
Sulpicia could hear things, she could hear footsteps. Pacing. The pain was ending her heart was on fire, it raced. She counted, and waited. Then, her heart finally gave in, and the pain ended. She opened her eyes.
"Good morning." Aro said, and Sulpicia smiles, her eyes focused on him, she never knew how handsome he was. Something was odd, how much her throat burned. Caius spoke,
"Calm. You're not going to be hurt." Sulpicia glanced at Caius, then stood and walked over to her mate. Aro didn't need to hear her thoughts to know what she was thinking.
"I will take you out hunting, we'll meet the others later." He decided.
Sometime in the future
That memory stuck with Sulpicia, human and vampire. She didn't know why, maybe because it was the happiest she felt. Corin was watching her. So much had changed, Didyme was dead, and things were quieter. She ran off and watched Jane and Alec train, she loved to watch them. They had gifts and she envied them. They had something cool, but she was lucky, she was with a loyal mate. Alec looked up,
"Sulpicia, come join us. Aro said we are allowed to." Sulpicia came over, laughing.
"You'll only win, I am not gifted."
"We will not use them against you." Jane promised, she usually was fair if the wives were fighting. Felix came over.
"I'll go with Sulpicia, you two fight together." He said.
"Hey! I'm able!" Sulpicia exclaimed. Felix smirked,
"No. Come on."
The fighting session lasted for a few hours. Sulpicia actually won.
"Alec, I've been curious, what is it like to have your gift used against me?"
"You're curious, Sulpicia?" He looked a bit uneasy, "I'll do it for you, I hope Aro will not be mad." The vapor came across towards Sulpicia, and it touched her, and her vision went dark, her smell was gone, and she couldn't feel anything. She could hear Alec's laughter, and then her senses returned.
"That is scary." She breathed. Jane smirked,
"I know. I find it interesting, Aro said the same thing when Alec did that
to him. You both are alike." Sulpicis smiled, and then went to the throne room. Aro was reading, but looked up when she entered.
"Ah. Did you train?"
"Yes." She gave him her hand, showing him the memory of Alec's gift.
"You think like I do." He murmured. He kept her hand, letting her show him what she was up to, a much easier task now. Caius came over, looking annoyed.
"I want to investigate. There is a sighting of a vampire in America. Near the Cullen coven." Sulpicia looked stunned, she always had wanted to go back, but Aro never wanted her to go. Aro nodded.
"Very well. Take Jane, Alec and Dimitri." Sulpicia kept her thoughts about wanting to go. Caius turned and went to retrieve the guard. Aro called his name, Caius would hear.
"Take Sulpicia with you." Caius came back looking stunned.
"You never...the wives...Marcus...." It was apparent Caius lacked the thought to simply show Aro his thoughts.
"She survived going to Forks once, I have faith she can do so again. She can fight, and perhaps with her you will find the Cullens less hostile. Sulpicia, wear your cloak." She nodded taking her cloak off the chair it was on. She put it on, and looked up at Aro.
"I'll stay safe." She promised. Caius left to get the chosen guard members, leaving Aro with his wife.
"Do not do anything rash." He told her, taking her hand. He was coming with of course, leaving Marcus in charge. She nodded.
The trip was quick, and then they were in Washington. They found Carlisle.
"We have looked into the situation, I assure you it is not a threat."
"Then you will allow us to be shown proof?" Aro asked. Carlisle nodded.
"Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, you may want to come back with us. You will not make it out of the sun in time." After a moment Aro nodded, and they went to the place where the Cullens lived.
The family waited, and by the smell, that wolf. Sulpicia kept close to Aro, unused to this many vampires, not entirely friendly. They looked stunned to see Sulpicia of all, one of the wives. She remembered Edward could read her thoughts, which did not bother her. It was Rosalie who asked the question, once everyone had relaxed.
"How did you come with them?" She asked genuinely interested. Sulpicia grinned,
"I asked. I proved I could handle it." Then Renesme came over,
"Are you Aro's wife?" Sulpicia nodded.
"What's it like living in Italy?"
"A lot more sun." Sulpicia laughed, "I don't hunt either, my prey is brought to us and we feast. I also mostly stay within the tower. We have sunlight come in, and it is nice. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, Aro is very nice." She said. Alice came over,
"I thought I would ask you, would you like to come hunting with us? If Aro doesn't mind." Alice glanced at Aro who heard her. He gave Sulpicia a nod.
"Sure. I'll come. I've never hunted animals." Jasper came with Alice and then Alec came beside Sulpicia, it was obvious she was going with a guard. They went out into the woods, Sulpicia unused to this.
"Try for mountain lions, deer, any animal. You'll want meat eaters more." She said casually, while they ran. The two vegetarians easily found their meal. Sulpicia stood beside Alec, scenting a mountain lion. Alec watched, more interested. The lion didn't appeal that much to her, but she found it and quickly drained it, confused by the taste. The others waited for her, Alice grinning.
"Hard?"
"Extremely. I am used to the scent of a human, not animal. It must be difficult to simply ignore the scent."
"For me it was, I turned vegetarian after I was created and used to human blood." Jasper answered. The four ran back to the house, Sulpicia racing them, Alec keeping a close eye.
The day passed on, sunny. When night came the group left, Aro had the evidence from Edward that the problem was fixed. The way back to Volterra was quick, Sulpicia found herself in the city quickly. They slipped to the tower, and they went where they needed. Aro beckoned his wife and they went up to where they kept their belongings. They had their own room, which was where they hid. Sulpicia took her cloak off, not used to having been out. Aro grabbed her hand, and she looked stunned.
"I am sorry, I forgot you are still trying to relax." He said, letting go. She moved closer to him, not afraid.
"I am fine." She said, and stayed where she was. They hadn't been alone at all. This was the first time since they had left for America. Aro sighed happily, taking her hand. He loved to do that, despite being able to hear her thoughts. Sulpicia didn't mind, why should she?
