The Collateral Lust Quartet: Tainted Love

Hello, people. I've taken time out from writing 'Siren of the Twilight' just to get this pain of a plotline out of my head, otherwise I'm just not going to be able to update that one.

Ok, this is the first in a series of four stories, all four chapters long, spanning different pairings, all non-canon of course. The first will be Aro/Bella, the second Beckabeth, the third and the fourth will be by popular vote.

This is also inspired by the Aro/Bella video set to Tainted Love on Youtube, by ArianaClip. Check it out!

The chapters will be in dual perspective, for this one at least.

Let the games begin!

First Sight

Bella

Edward led me into a side corridor of the house, and towards a grand painting in a gilt frame on the wall. At my questioning look, he shrugged.

"The Volturi."

Ah, I thought as I gazed up at the painting. That afternoon in English we had been talking, and he had mentioned the Volturi. I shuddered away from the rest of the conversation, of Edward talking about suicide. I didn't want to think about that.

"The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family," he told me. He was stood beside me in a smart grey suit and shirt, perfectly tailored. I wore Alice's gift, an emerald green dress covered in floral black lace overlay, which I'd teamed with a black bolero to cover my shoulders and arms. "I guess they're the closest thing to royalty my world has."

I gazed at the picture. It was ornate, painted in cool, clean colours. It depicted a balcony scene, everything made of white marble. Below the balcony debauchery and a bacchanalian party reigned, as half-clothed men and women lolled on chaises and divans, drinking and frolicking. Above them, like Gods on high, stood four men. Two of the men who stood in the background possessed the same eerie beauty as all vampires did.

One, the oldest looking of the three; although that told me nothing since I knew biological age in vampires meant next to nothing, had shoulder length burnished brown hair which fell in tight waves. His face was sculptured-looking, but an innate sadness was ingrained there, in his strong jaw line and red eyes.

The second was younger looking, and possessed light blonde hair, so light it was almost platinum, which just grazed his collar. His features were more aquiline, more severe, and his gaze was haughty as he looked down on the people below.

Both wore similar garments, but with key differences in colour and pattern of the fabric. The older of the two was clothed in a deep bronze fabric, with ornate, swirling patterns embroidered on in a deep amber tone. The blonde's clothes were a creamy gold, with no patterning on the fitted jacket, melding with his pale skin and hair.

But my eyes were drawn forward, to the man standing at the forefront of the portrait, his hands resting ever-so-gently on the marble balustrade, as if his long white fingers were caressing a lover's skin, resting possessively. He was dressed similarly to the others, but again his clothes were lighter coloured, of shining ivories and golds and creams. All three wore a 'V' shaped pendant around their necks, nestling against the fluffy white lace of their cravats. It was obvious who the leader was.

He possessed long raven hair, ruler straight and the sides tied back, so his face was visible. It was a strong face, well-chiselled, not as obviously handsome as perhaps the blonde behind him, or Edward standing beside me, but it was attractive.

It spoke of strength and command, power and wisdom, cunning and sensuality so alive I could almost breathe it in, feeling it caress my skin, my blood like a living hand. My eyes rose to his crimson ones, feeling myself sucked in.

Entrancingly deadly. This man…vampire was like a Venus fly trap, able to lure his victims in until they were so close they could do nothing to escape his coils when they closed about them.

Pulling myself away, my gaze slid to the right and I frowned. "Is that Carlisle?" I asked, pointing.

"Yeah," Edward replied, his eyes fixed on the painting. "He lived with them for a few decades…."

At Edward's words, it was like the painting came to life before my eyes, playing out like a tableau in my mind.

"Described them as very refined. No respect for human life, of course…"

I saw him, looking down amusedly on the foolish, drunken humans below, as the brunette behind him gestured dismissively, turning away. He turned away, looking laughingly towards the blonde who merely sneered at the scene before him before he followed his brother. Taking one last look at the grand hall, I saw him turn around and follow them out.

"..But a respect for the arts and the sciences at least. And the law, above all the law…"

"Vampires have laws?"

"…Not very many, and only one that's regularly enforced…"

I saw the three brothers again, followed by Carlisle, standing respectfully a few feet away as they went into a cavernous hall, strange words in Latin I couldn't decipher carved into the very walls. A shorter man appeared who came with a shapeless black object slung over his arm. He held out his arms imperiously, allowing the other to slide it over his suit, and it became a robe, almost like a judicial robe. The others were already robed and seated, and he glided forward with that supernatural grace to his towering ebony and gilt throne, looking down on a doomed vampire, dishevelled and filthy, his clothes torn. He was held at the arms by two other vampires, brute strength and obedience evident in their every mien.

"What is it?" I asked, tremblingly, as I stared unseeing at the painting, lost in my own imagination.

"That we keep the existence of our kind a secret. We don't make spectacles of ourselves, and we don't kill…conspicuously…"

In my mind's eye, the doomed vampire was forced to his knees, as the leader stood and walked down the stepped dais to halt in front of his prey.

"Unless of course, you want to die…"

I watched, almost breathless now as he reached out with those long, clever fingers and tilted the doomed vampire's head up ever-so-gently, almost as if he were caressing the face of a beloved child. He closed his eyes for one moment, before I saw his face contort and the decision to kill already made in his crimson eyes.

He smiled once, a tiny one, dry, blank before it twisted in a snarl, his teeth bared; as a ripping, keening sound I had heard once before reverberated in my ears. I watched, entranced by the power and the grace of murder in his hands as he ripped apart that doomed vampire.

The tableau snapped back to its frozen splendour as Edward's voice faded, but still I was entranced by the power and seductive beauty of the raven-haired man.

Aro…

Aro

I sat with my brothers in eager patience, awaiting the arrival of my servants. And Edward.

Never had I encountered such a gift in any vampire before. My long-dead heart thirsted for such a great gift, to hear a person's thoughts without touch, anywhere and at any time…

Such a waste, for it to have come to this boy, who would throw his life away for some puny mortal. I grieved for his loss, for the reason behind his desire for death of course, but I could not understand it. I inwardly hoped I would not have to kill him today.

Abruptly, I was pulled from my innermost thoughts, as the sound of a human heartbeat echoed along the corridor, in which I could hear the footsteps of my three most trusted servants, Jane, Demetri and Felix; but they were accompanied by three more. One had to be Edward, but who were the others?

At last the doors opened, and Jane walked in, gracefully meeting my gaze and nodding once before joining her brother. The human heartbeat solidified into the shape of a young woman, as the forms of Edward and his…sister, Alice walked into the hall beside her.

This had to be Bella Swan. The young woman who had ensnared the heart of a vampire.

I stood from my throne just as Alec glided down the steps to meet his sister.

"Sister, they send you out for one and you bring back two. And a half. Such a clever girl," I dimly heard him purr, but I was focussed on the delicious scent now pervading the room. The scent emanating from Bella Swan.

"What a happy surprise! Bella is alive after all! Isn't that wonderful?" I began jovially, holding out my arms in benediction. I walked down to meet them, sending Edward and Alice a fatherly glance before focussing on Bella Swan once more. "I love a happy ending, but they are so rare."

I reached them, and noticed the human clinging to Edward's right hand. I could smell the fear coming from her, but also the curiosity as she watched me approach. She knew who we were.

I untwined her hand from Edward's, clasping it in mine as I read his thoughts.

Oh so many. I saw her, smelt her divine scent, and it made me thirsty for her. But this close, sensing the very human warmth of her, the human softness of her I began to hunger for her as well. This close I could see her fragile beauty, nothing to that of the vampires who surrounded us but lovely in her own way.

Soft brown hair, of the deepest reds and chestnuts fell gracefully around her heart-shaped face, where two deep brown eyes watched me quizzically, yet still with a hint of fear. Her skin was like the finest ivory, so pale she might have been one of us, yet I could sense her strong, racing heartbeat and the thrum of blood in her veins.

Abruptly, I forced myself to focus on the thoughts rushing through Edward's mind and into my own…

He couldn't read her mind…

"You're asking me about the weather…?"

"You should put your seatbelt on!"

"I'm here, I trust you,"

"I feel like you're gonna disappear…"

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb…", "What a stupid lamb!", "What a sick, masochistic lion!"

"You are my life now."

"I'm not gonna end your life for you, Bella!"

"I know what I want."

"Isn't it enough to have a long, happy life with me?"

"Yes. For now."

"I could protect you, if you change me."

"You already do protect me."

"You don't belong in my world, Bella,"

"I belong with you,"

"I don't want you."

I've failed her. Bella, how could you do this!?"I had to lie. You believed me so easily,"

"It never made sense for you to love me. I'm nothing…human…nothing!"

"Bella, you're everything to me."

And so it went on, thoughts, memories, sensations of the flesh as he touched her, kissed her, fought to retain control. Fought to protect her against what seemed inevitable.

"La tua Cantante," I breathed, and with it I inhaled her scent. So delicious.

Edward gasped and snarled as he guessed what was in my mind. I smiled, coming to a decision, but I would play first as I stared down at the little human was watching me.

"The blood appeals to you so much…it makes me thirsty," I murmured, holding her gaze. I felt her breath hitch. "How can you stand to be so close to her?"

"It's not without difficulty," Edward replied, a snarl ingrained in his tone. I chuckled, amused by his tenacity.

"Yes, I can see that," I muttered, still taking in all his thoughts.

"Aro can read every thought I've ever had, with one touch," Edward suddenly said quietly, and I realised he was explaining to the human who was staring at our joined hands.

Such refreshing curiosity!

I almost drew nearer, to inhale her scent but Edward's cold words stopped me.

"And now you know everything so get on with it," he growled, and I felt my smile falter. My Guard shifted uneasily around us at such apparent rudeness, but they would not move until I gave the signal.

"You are quite a soul reader yourself, Edward. But you can't read Bella's thoughts. Fascinating!" I murmured, releasing his hand and stepping back, clasping my hands back together as I regarded the human.

"I would love to see if you are an exception to my gifts as well. Would you do me the honour?" I asked her, holding out my hand to her invitingly. I sensed the surge of uncertainty as she looked up at Edward before looking back at me. I almost thought she would not come, but then her jaw firmed and she stepped forward tentatively.

It only made my decision all the more crystal clear. It stoked my desire, my curiosity, my thirst.

I heard Alice's gasp and guessed the little psychic must have seen the future as I would build it. Edward tensed.

But still Bella, soon to be my Bella, walked steadily towards me, hand outstretched.