The leading vampire entered with the calm poise of a king attending his own coronation. He wore an exquisitely tailored robe of black velvet, embroidered with silver thread that shimmered subtly under the chandelier light. His long dark hair was swept back, cascading over his shoulders in gentle waves, each strand perfectly in place. His hands, pale and slender, were lightly clasped in front of him, and his silent footsteps glided across the marble floor as if gravity itself had no hold on him.
Every movement he made was deliberate, measured—like a man who had mastered not only etiquette, but perception. His smile was delicate and unchanging, so symmetrical it could have been programmed by a machine. Coldly charming. Effortlessly superior.
This was Aro, the enigmatic and powerful leader of the Volturi.
Behind him followed two younger figures—his left and right hands. One was a young man with silver-streaked hair and a dark coat that flickered like smoke at the edges. His name was Eric, and he possessed the ability to control dark energy, stripping his enemies of every sense—sight, sound, touch, everything—leaving them adrift in a living death.
The other was a petite girl with porcelain skin and cruel, intelligent eyes—Jane, known and feared for her unique mental ability: the Burning. With nothing but a look, she could make others feel like their bodies were being consumed by fire.
Together, they moved through the grand hall, the weight of their presence pressing down on every vampire in attendance like a sudden drop in air pressure. Conversations ceased. Movements stilled. Even the most arrogant of clans fell respectfully silent.
"Supreme One, Leader Aro has arrived."
Marcus stood taller beside Alex, his voice formal and restrained, his expression settling into solemnity. The temperature in the room seemed to shift—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of expectation.
Alex offered a small nod, acknowledging the arrival.
Then, accompanied by Marcus, Victor, and Amelia, he stepped forward to greet the Volturi delegation.
As the newly appointed Supreme of Marcus's lineage, and the host of this historic gathering, it was Alex's role to receive their most distinguished guest with the respect expected of his station.
"Leader Aro, you've finally arrived."
Marcus's words were spoken with care. Even for someone as proud and powerful as he was, his tone carried the weight of courtesy one extended only to equals—or threats.
"Marcus!"
Aro's smile widened ever so slightly as he nodded in acknowledgment. His voice was smooth, rich, and laced with timeless familiarity. "I had thought it would be decades before I saw you again."
Clearly, Aro was aware of Marcus's clan traditions—specifically that Marcus himself wasn't due to awaken or take power until the next century.
"The Progenitor has blessed us with a new Supreme," Marcus replied, his voice steady. "So I was awakened early."
Aro's eyes gleamed with interest as they shifted to Alex.
"Then this must be your new Supreme?" he mused, letting the words linger in the air. "How… unusual. A mortal."
Even Jane and Eric, stoic as they were, shared a glance. Surprise flickered in their expressions—brief, but telling.
"Yes, Leader Aro. This is our new Supreme—Supreme Alex," Marcus introduced formally.
"Leader Aro."
Alex inclined his head slightly—calm, measured.
"Supreme Alex!"
Aro returned the greeting with equal decorum, though his eyes never left Alex's face.
Then, without warning, his smile took on a note of mischief.
"I'm quite curious—how did a mortal manage to win over someone as proud as Marcus?" His voice was light, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath the charm. "Many Supremes aren't even worthy of his attention. May I?"
He extended both hands—pale and open—clearly asking to take Alex's hand in his own.
It was no ordinary gesture.
"Supreme One," Marcus leaned in and whispered just loud enough for Alex to hear, "Leader Aro can read memories through touch."
The implication was clear: Aro wanted to see for himself what made Alex so exceptional.
Most would've given in. Aro was a figure who inspired awe, caution—even obedience. Among vampires, his ability was a thing of legend. For a new Supreme—especially a mortal one—this kind of scrutiny was expected, if not feared.
But Alex?
Sorry, who the hell is Aro?
"Apologies, Leader Aro. I have a habit of disliking being touched by men."
His refusal was flat, firm, and delivered without even the courtesy of a smile.
The hall held its collective breath.
Aro's practiced smile didn't falter… but his eyelid twitched. Barely, but unmistakably. The small crack in his perfect façade revealed what the gesture meant to him.
Disrespect.
Beside him, Eric's expression turned frosty. Without a word, he raised his hand. Coiling around his fingers like living shadows, strands of black energy emerged—deadly, formless tendrils of nullification ready to erase every sensation from Alex's body.
But Aro raised a single finger.
Eric halted immediately.
The tendrils of energy vanished into the air, but the hostility in his eyes remained sharp as daggers.
"Such defiance," Aro said softly, as if amused. He chuckled, the sound echoing faintly in the tense silence. "Now I'm beginning to understand why."
His voice was still polite. His tone still light.
But Alex saw it—the flicker of cold fury burning behind the man's eyes. The Volturi leader had not forgotten the slight. He had simply filed it away.
"Leader Aro, please, come inside!" Marcus stepped forward, the perfect host. His voice was smooth but urgent, moving to defuse the tension.
"I have a feeling today's inauguration will be… quite eventful."
Aro's parting words were soft, yet heavy with layered meaning. He turned and led his entourage to their seats, each step as graceful as before—as if the confrontation had been nothing more than a polite exchange.
But the atmosphere in the hall had changed.
Vampires were creatures of heightened perception. Even across the hall, where whispers should've been lost to distance, everyone had felt the shift. Everyone had seen.
The boy had just refused Aro—openly, unapologetically.
And he was still standing.
Now, many of the onlookers watched Alex with renewed amusement.
That kid's got guts. Slapping Aro in the face like that?
This Supreme ceremony just got a hell of a lot more entertaining.
Among immortals, pride was currency. And among ancient clans, disrespect—especially public—did not go unanswered.
No one believed Aro would let this pass.
The more exalted the family, the more vicious their retaliation.
This ceremony was no longer a peaceful gathering.
It had become a powder keg.
But if Alex noticed the shift in tone, he didn't show it.
To him, Aro was just another name in a world he didn't fear. If the man could act with civility, fine. If not?
Then he'd be dealt with.
Simple.
With the same calm, Alex turned and returned to his seat, his demeanor as composed as ever. Elder Amelia personally attended to him, her presence both protective and deferential.
Under normal circumstances, other clans would have already begun approaching him with warm congratulations, prepared speeches, and carefully packaged gifts to curry favor.
But now?
Not a single representative moved.
The hall remained respectfully distant, as if Alex had suddenly grown fangs sharper than their own.
No one wanted to be the first to approach a man who had just disrespected Aro—and lived.
No one wanted to be next in line should the Volturi retaliate.
And so, Alex—the guest of honor, the newly anointed Supreme—found himself sitting alone.
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