FRANKENSTEIN
15 | Crocodile Rock.

"GOOD morning, my sweet!" Aro's perky, feathery voice floated into my ear.

I was wrapped in his arms, and my head was lying on his chest. "Is it already morning?" I complained, yawning.

"Yes, it is 'already morning'." He laughed in amusement his cool breath tickling my ear.

"Can't we just stay like for a few more hours," I mumbled nuzzling into his chest falling back asleep.

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm only in court for half the day, and then I get to spend the rest with you! Now, let us get up!" Aro said a bit more forcefully.

I let out a noise of protest before rolling out of his arms and onto the other side of the comfy bed. It was moments like these where I was glad that Aro had no windows in his room, and no efficient light bulbs either.

"Oh now, don't be like that," Aro stated.

I felt a slight breeze and suddenly I was in Aro's arms. I squeaked eyes flying open at the sudden movement. My hands gripped the jacket of his suit not wanting to be dropped

"I won't drop you, do not worry." Aro laughed at my frantic movements. "Though, I do want you to start getting ready."

~

I gazed at the beautiful portrait which was hanging in a long corridor. The women in the picture was no doubt Athenodora, truly beautiful woman. I could tell by the slight cracks on the masonite that the painting was extremely old.

The thing that really stuck out to me was Athenodora's eye color, it was blue, not red. Not only that but her cheeks were flushed pink, was she not a vampire when this was painted?

"Caius imagines this is how I looked like a human." I jumped snapping my head to the right.

Stood next to me was the very woman in the painting; Athenodora. She was a few inches shorter than myself, causing me to believe she was around 5'2. Her beautiful snowy hair was made up into an intricate fashion, some of it braided - but other parts were simply curled.

An ancient looking blue dress fell down her body going so far as to cover her feet. Contrary to the painting, her skin was deathly pale with no sign of flush to her cheeks, and her eyes were no longer a sparkling blue - but a blood red.

"I told him around two-thousand years ago that my eyes were blue when I was human, then he decided to paint what he envisioned myself to look like as a human." Athenodora smiled at the portrait.

"Caius painted this?" I couldn't keep the awe out of my voice.

I watched Athenodora smirk slightly, at the awe astonishment I held toward her husband. "Yes, my husband is quite the artist - I would consider him one of the best in history." Athenodora paused a smile lighting up her pretty features. "Though Aro has his talents too, such as his love for the fine arts."

"Fine arts?" I turned to face her fully.

"Yes, Aro has always held a certain favor toward the instrumental side of the arts." She turned to face me a bell-like laugh leaving her. "I don't think I've come across an instrument he can't play, he also paints, but leaves that more to Caius. He loves to gain knowledge by reading, and he tends to 'collect' stuff - though I would describe it more as hoarding."

"Really." I was slightly shocked at this newfound information.

"Yes, I've been fairly eager to make your acquaintance, young Frankie." Athenodora held out a dainty hand. I grasped her hand with my own - not shocked by the cold, nor hardness of her. "I am Athenodora."

After shaking hands with her the two of us decided to begin walking around the castle. "Is that the fashion of this generation, it's quite nice." She asked referring to the jeans and sweater I wore. "And I like the hair as well." She complimented looking at my hair.

My hair was only in a pony-tail causing an odd grin to fall on my face. "How long has it been since you left the castle?" I couldn't stop myself from questioning.

"Oh, not since we went to see that darling little Renesmee just eleven years ago, and before that, it had probably been a good five-hundred years or so? But for the past fifteen years we've seen the opera, so I suppose that counts as well." She got a thoughtful look on her face.

"What? And you're just okay with that." My mouth fell open.

"Yes, there's plenty to do around the castle which you'll soon find the longer you're here." She smiled. "But anyway, are the rumors about you true?" 

"What rumors?" I hesitantly asked.

"That you were dead, yet the modern human technology brought you back to life!" She stopped walking eagerly awaiting an answer. 

"Yeah, I can't remember anything from before they brought me back though." I shifted uncomfortably.

"How curious! I'm sure this has put Aro in quite the position." She shook her head beginning to walk again as if amused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Aro always has, and always will enjoy gaining new information. You, seem to be the most curious specimen of all. It's no wonder you're mates, you continuously find ways to give him a new revelation."

"Oh, is that a bad thing?" I questioned.

"No, it's a very good thing. You see before, he and Sulpicia loved each other they really did, but as the years went on that love began wearing away until it was almost a platonic relationship. That's why we have mates you see, because unlike humans we live infinitely, and without the mate bond I'm sure lovers would eventually get tired of each other." She explained to me. "Take me and Caius, for example, we're true mates, alike to you and Aro - our love has never faded at all over the long years. Sulpicia and Aro were not true mates, though at first, they loved each other more than anything - then as the years went on their love faded and became more platonic. I mean the two only had sex when they really needed it for God's sake!" Athenodora cried as if it was the most absurd thing ever. "Of course when she died Aro was greatly saddened, though I feel like it was more like him losing a friend than anything." She finished with a sad smile.

"Oh," I said unsure how to respond. "Does Caius visit you often?" I asked trying to make more conversation.

"Yes, ever since the attack he only leaves my side when he must. It's almost funny, he drags me around with him everywhere." She smiled. "Oh, goodness look at the time! The court is almost over, I must meet up with Caius soon. That was a nice chat we had, I really do hope we may do it again!" Is all Athenodora spoke before suddenly disappearing from my view.

Quickly I began walking back to Aro's chambers in quick steps. After a few minutes, I had gotten into the room but was greeted with no Aro.

With a sigh, I grabbed the book 'Of Mice and Men' off of Aro's desk and walked into his private library. My gaze moved to the small table which was set up just across the fireplace. Lazily I slumped onto one of the chairs and cracked open the book I had yet to read.

However, before I could get through the first sentence the bedroom door was opened and closed. In an instant, Aro was sat across from me his fingers lightly tapping on the wood. His posture was straight and he did not breathe.

"How has your day been, Frankie?" He purred a seductive undertone lining his voice.

I sent a nervous smile back. "Good, I met Athenodora just a few minutes ago," I answered closing the book.

"You did?" Aro raised a surprised brow.

"Yeah, it was funny because I was actually looking at a painting Caius had done of her when she appeared. She told me that 'this is how Caius imagines I looked like a human.'" I explained with a smile.

"That's good, I was going to take you to meet her at some point - but now I suppose I don't have to. It's odd though, Athenodora doesn't usually leave the tower without Caius." He spoke, pondering on thought.

"What about your day? How has it been." I questioned looking at him eagerly awaiting a response.

Aro let out a loud laugh at the look I was giving him. "It has gone well, we executed one vampire because he revealed himself to a human - I've sent Demetri out to find and rid of said human. We received a letter informing us that the Irish coven has added a new member, and we let a nomad off with a warning as he killed an entire family leaving the bodies for the police to find." Aro finished his explanation.

A lot of killing was obviously involved.

"Interesting, have you read this before?" I questioned holding up the book 'Of Mice and Men'.

His eyes narrowed at the cover. "Hand it here would you, I don't believe I have." He stated, looking at the book incredulously.

Without a word, I slid the book across the table and watched as Aro grabbed it. He examined the book flipping through a few pages before bringing his attention back to me.

"It was a gift from Felix back in 1939. He told me it was a considerable read, but I forgot about it. I'm surprised I haven't noticed it sooner, wherever did you find it?" He asked shaking his head in amused disbelief.

"It was just on that shelf, and that's from 1939! It looks like you just bought it!" I exclaimed pointing to a shelf.

"Yes, like I said no one's touched it since 1939." He laughed picking up the book once more. "I'll read it once you're finished with it. I don't like having an unread book on my shelf."

"Well, why don't we just read it together? You could read to me?" I shyly suggested shrugging my shoulders bit.

"Wonderful idea, my sweet." He threw me a wide grin while opening the book to its first page. "And by the way those trousers make your bottom look absolutely delectable." Aro purred eyes wandering down my body.

His eyes once again were dark, making me believe that he was hungry - but this time I didn't question him about it. I simply blushed beet red my eyes looking to where my jeans tightly fit my legs. "Thanks," I whispered my face still red.

I earned a laugh from him in reply as well as a string of words in Italian - which I didn't understand. "Oh, la tua innocenza è molto attraente, amore mio."

"A few miles South of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green." Aro began reading the book in a low tone.