A/N: Thank you to all those reviewed, Fav'd and Alerted, it truely means alot. :) It's friday, 2:51 in the morning to be exact! So I hope you like it :D
BTW Alex Skarsgard is my Caius :)
Also thanks to my awesome BETA :D you are the BEST!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything twilight SM does.
Previously,
all migrating to where they have to go in one mass pile, huh now I see the reference of the meaning cattle by vampires.
Stepping out into the shining sun I couldn't help but close my eyes and breathe in deep. Who knows when I would be able to enjoy the sun next?
"Well Bella, Welcome to Italy" I mutter to myself before finding somewhere to take me to Volterra.
Bella POV
It was hot, really hot, that was the second thing I noticed as my shoes stuck to the ground as I walked along the path. My shoes making a horrible velcro like sound. You would think after living in Phoenix that I would be used to the heat? Well I'd assume so too, but no, here was a different type of heat.
I had found a bus shuttle that would take me to Volterra that leaves in half an hour. Though first I had decided to buy a new some new clothing to wear, after all I have been in these clothes for 16 hours now. There were little boutiques and large fashion stores close to the airport but only one caught my eye.
It was nestled in between two apartment blocks; it was rustic and drew you in. Little wooden hand carved antique furniture sat in the windows along with other nick knacks. It reminded me of the place Grandma Swan use to take me too when I was little, I loved exploring the little store for new things to find.
This left a pang in my chest as I thought of my family, of Charlie, of the people who I had placed at risk. Was he safe in the hands of the wolves? Or has that bitch gotten him already, was my sacrifice all for nothing?
I felt the need to enter as I stopped to stare at it, something was in there for me, I just knew it.
"Benvenuto, entrare!" my eyes went to a sweet old lady who had a twinkle in her eye, she was standing just in front of the counter polishing a little silver bracelet.
"Hello, I'm sorry I don't speak Italian" I tell her softly causing her to smile.
"It's okay dear, I speak English, come, come inside." She laughs as she gestures me to come forward. I was standing frozen in the doorway in awe of the little place, it had everything in here.
"I'm sorry, I just saw your store outside and just felt like I ne…" I start to tell her, a blush gracing my cheeks while she cut me off.
"Yes, yes, I have what you need, come, follow me!" she says grabbing my hand and tugging me along to the back of the store. She stopped in front of a red oak wood chest, her little arms digging deep into it. Soon she pulled out a beautiful summer dress of pastel red and soft lavender that flowed.
"Here try this child" she smiles before shoving me into the small change room, quickly stripping I slip the dress over my head and let it flow around me. It felt amazing, the softest cotton you would have ever felt in your life. My eyes turn to the mirror causing me to gasp shocked, there in front of me wasn't the shell of a girl I saw but someone beautiful. I still looked thin but the dress clung to me around my form before flowing out at the waist. I looked beautiful.
"Let me see child" the lady giggles and I step out, she smiles wide as I twirl for her.
"How much do you want for it?" I ask her as I look down at my feet, frowning.
"For you? Nothing" she tells me while handing me matching flats with purple tie up string.
"No I possibly couldn't" I try to protest, I felt bad for not paying. But once again she cut me off with a laugh and a wave of a hand.
"I have had that dress in this shop for a very long time; it was waiting for someone to come claim it. You don't need to pay me back child, I can sense some more business coming soon because of you" she tells me mysteriously.
"Now it is best you go child, your bus leaves soon" and with that she walked away. Cursing I grab my clothes and bag before racing out the door, the tour guide shot me a sour look as I made my way onto the bus.
Like the plane I had the seats to myself and I tuned out the guide as I watched the beautiful scenery that flew by. Like the sun I savoured the scenery, when would I be able to venture freely into the world, the sun again?
"You know you will be fine" I couldn't help but role my eyes; yes I may be fine but a vampire? The only time we can go out in a cloudless sky was if it was twilight. Not the same thing as laying on the beach, soaking up the rays, letting them warm you.
There were many people on board who were stopping in Volterra while the others were staying on the whole tour, after Volterra it goes to another small town for the night and then back to Florence.
Three hours passed by and we were finally here, the sun was high in the sky so I decided to do the touristy thing and look around, have some lunch and buy a few books.
Volterra was a beautiful place, its streets and paths a different type of cobble stone, its people were kind and welcoming as you walk pass. This was a place that I could have enjoyed living in, being a part of.
Soon I found myself in a court yard, the clock tower casting a shadow as it looms over it. I could feel eyes one me as I sat on the ground, my back to the edge of the fountain, my neck was prickled by the sensation, but I knew that it was the eyes of a vampire. Pulling out my new trashy romance novel I read until it was twilight, the safest time for them to come to me. By then though I was half way through the book, it was horrible and I laughed mostly all the way through at the absurdity of it.
Standing I swing my bag over my shoulder and looked around, there were some people on the streets that would save me from a quick death, but I had a feeling the Volturi didn't hunt locals. That and the locals knew somewhat that monsters creep in the shadows.
"I'm looking for the Volturi, I have news of a psychotic vampire almost about to expose your kind" I say softly, my eyes watching the shadows. Smirking when a flicker of darkness moves and then suddenly appears by my side, he was a big brute, smaller then Emmett but bigger then Jasper.
The dark grey robe caused his eyes to stand out more; they looked like glittering rubies as he stared down at me.
"Tell me human, how do you know of our kind?" he asks, his eyes looking around, spotting humans nearby.
"I have come to see your kings, what I have to say is for them only" I answer in a semi clipped tone. He cocks his head to the side, his eyes piercing through me, the same sensation from before. He had been watching me all day, this strange brute in front of me.
"Really now?" he asks, his voice deep and curious, dangerous.
"Demitri, the masters wish to see her. Alive and unharmed" I turn my head to see a blonde child, no she was no child, her features yes, but her eyes show wisdom and age. She was staring at me intently, curiously. Her voice was cold and detached as she spoke; I turn back to Demitri with a smirk.
"Jane" he answers back with a nod as a greeting and understanding.
"Come human" she beckons before leading me down an alley way. We stopped at a dead end; well I thought so till she opened a sewer drain. My nose scrunched in disgust and my eyes watched as she dropped down, telling us to hurry. My eyes look over the edge to see nothing but a swallowing amount of darkness.
"You go down and catch me, wouldn't want me to break my leg and or kill myself do you? I'm sure your kings would be very pleased to hear about that" I snark with a smirk at Demitri, I could have sworn that he paled a little as I threw his masters displeasure about something like that. He looks at me oddly, a look I have seen before, a one that comes with the thought 'what a strange human' before dropping down into the darkness.
"You better catch me brute" I whisper pointedly before closing my eyes, gripping my dress and dropping into the darkness.
A sound of pain escaped my lips as my back and legs came in contact with his arms, sure he moved with my momentum but it still hurt like a bitch. He quickly places me on my feet with a sigh, before moving forwards. Jane stood a few feet away, her eyes sparkling with open curiosity.
"Hey brute!" I sigh out exasperated, my fingers clicking to gain his attention. He turns back around, his eyes wide, brows raised in shock.
"It's best you carry me, wouldn't want to walk a human pace no? Because I know how much you love to move slowly." I tell him sarcastically, causing him to crack a grin. He quickly picks me up as soon as I blink, I expected as such and his smile falls ever so slightly when I don't react the way he wanted.
"Mush!" I cackle causing Jane to smirk and dash a head. Soon the walls were swirling into, ah who am I kidding, it was just black, every now and again there was a flicker of yellow from probably a torch or lantern.
Soon enough we were in a reception area, Jane stood in front of the receptionist, a very human receptionist. Poor girl thinks she might get changed, there is a fifty fifty chance that she will, but that depends on one vampire who has yet to consider her fate. Selfish bastard.
"The masters are expecting you, you may go in" she says in English as her eyes caught mine. They were wide and a hazel colour, full of pity as Jane monitored me to follow. The hall way was long and wide, paintings and tapestries, a few sculptures here and there graced the walls. I didn't bother to admire them, if I had my way I would have forever to see them, to study their beauty.
We came to a stop in front of two huge wooden doors, with two hands on each door; Jane just gave a gentle push. They flew open with a loud creaking noise before softly banging on the wall.
"Ah, Jane! You brought her, thank you. You and Demitri may leave" my eyes go to the voice instantly; it was Aro the face and voice of the Volturi.
"Yes master," they bow, and were instantly gone, the doors closing loudly in their wake. My eyes take in the three rulers, my eyes staying longer on the blonde one, Caius, before turning back to Aro.
"Now who may you be?" he asks curious. His right leg over left, hands clasped together, as he smiles at me.
"My name is Isabella Swan; I came here from Forks Washington to ask for help…" I trail off as Caius's piercing eyes lock onto me. But mainly, my eyes focused on Marcus, who had a familiar spark in them, one I had not long ago, and the one I saw when mom left and Gran died. He had lost someone so close to him, someone he loved dearly.
"You lost someone, someone you loved." I utter softly causing his eyes to widen ever so widely.
"Yes, I lost my mate long ago" he utters, his voice detached, but emotion hidden behind it. "it was by the children of the moon."
"I would apologise but I know that would not help, there are no words to say to make it feel okay" I tell him, his lips twitch a little as he turns his head back to the wall.
"Yes... Hm, now how do you know of our kind?" he asks, there was honest curiosity there, but also a hard edge to it.
"I was a part of the coven, but they left me" I told them somewhat bitterly causing Caius to chuckle.
"A pet then?" he laughs out. I turn to him my face hard, my voice angry.
"Yes, by your standards I was a pet, tossed aside after the novelty wore off" I snark back to him, causing him to growl in return.
"What coven do you speak of?" Aro asked leaning forward, shooting a look of anger at his snarling brother.
"The Cullen's" I spit their name out like garbage, causing his eyes to shoot up in shock. A murmuring filled the silence, one I knew all too well, it was the buzz of talking, of immortals talking.
"Interesting, tell me how you came to know what we are?" he asks, eyes a little darker than before.
"There is a legend with one of the tribes, I had placed them together, all the signs were there, the rumours." I told him somewhat truthfully, leaving out the fact that some men in the tribe turn into big balls of fur.
This of course caused me to delve into the whole fiasco, how I met the Cullen's, dating Edward, and finding out the secret, the hunter and so forth. Ending with the Cullen's leaving me and the harsh words Edward spoke, and my zombie stage.
Aro's smile disappeared at the death of the hunter and his mate chasing me, his face darkened further as did Marcus's at the mention of the words, those blasphemous words he spoke, breaking me.
"Please, I need help, I don't want innocent people to die and suffer because of me. I'm not worth such pain." I plead to the kings, dropping to my knees as I did so.
"It doesn't matter what this pathetic human wants. I say we end her life now." Caius growled, leaning forward in his chair as if to pounce. I freeze, waiting for his impending attack, only to look up at Aro's gasp.
"CAIUS!" he snaps shocked, only to cause said brother to smirk slowly, his teeth gleaming in the light.
"Yes… I say we start with a slow torture." He snarks at me, somewhat hopeful yet unsure. This man confused me, terrified me and attracted me all at the same time.
"Caius, silence yourself." Aro warns before looking back at me.
"May I?" he asks hand extended as he walks towards me, I knew, just knew that his power would not work. It gave me a slight chance at getting help from our rulers.
I hold out my hand, letting him grasp it in both of his. He hums slightly before his eyes pop open, a look of interest passed his features before a big grin appears.
"Very interesting" He utters before sitting back on his throne.
"What is interesting?" Caius utters frustrated as he sulks in his throne.
"I cannot read her" he answers causing an uproar of the blonde king, which stopped as Aro sighs, and looks towards the door.
"Jane" it only took a blink and she was in front of Aro, bowing low. He sat in his chair, feet apart and both elbows resting on his knees, holding his head.
"Yes master?" Her voice was still detached, cold, but hidden emotion lay beneath.
"Would you be so kind" he says softly before gesturing to me. Her eyes flick to me, the unknown emotion flickering before she nods sharply.
I wait, watching as her head lowers a fraction, her eyes vibrating ever so slightly. I braced myself for what was to come, but I knew, just knew, it wouldn't work. Then her teeth bore, but she did not growl out. I could tell she was angry, not because she could not hurt me, but because of the thought of failing her masters.
Aro laughs out in glee, his hands clapping excitedly, reminding me of Alice. Caius stood his form tense and ready to attack, or holding back an attack. He was sleek, his form though covered with robes I could see his defined muscles, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles jutting out sharply.
"Sit Caius. Jane, take Bella to my office. My brothers and I have much to discuss" Aro orders, his voice sharp but still joyful.
"Yes Master" she bows once more before beckoning me to follow. This time we didn't exit the large wooden doors, but to the side, through a metal one.
With my bag swung over my back, I exited and waiting for my judgement.
Caius POV
There was something about that human, which brought out things in me I didn't know how to explain or even begin to understand. This one measly human, one ordinary human at that, had begun something that couldn't be stopped.
And that DRESS, that pastel red with a hint of purple, it clung tight to her human frame at the bodice to the hips before flaring out. I stood, anger building in the pit of my stomach as I hear her walk further away from the room and the thoughts she has caused me, Aro's all-seeing eyes glancing at me, piercing through to my very blackened soul.
"WHAT?" I snarl, spinning to face him, my hands clenching. His brows rose in amusement, his hands folding beneath his chin as a smirk reached his lips.
"What has gotten into you Caius? Never have I seen you so undone" he asks curiously, causing me to snarl in rage. My hands shook now, hissing as my nails pierce through my palm in my fury.
"That human, what is so special about her? She should be in the dungeons suffering for her knowledge and paying for the Cullen's crimes!" I growl lowly, my hand flying out to point at the door, in the direction the human left.
"And what was THAT?" I roar furious, gesturing to the ground where she stood. "She stood immune to Jane's gift"
"All in due time Caius, you must be patient brother." My eyes zeroed in on Marcus with a glowering glare.
"What is it you see brother" I sneer at him, his eyes darkening in anger, but his face remaining calm. I loved to taunt him, try to get a rise out of him and for the first time it is working.
"You better watch yourself brother she is important to us, to you" he states, this causes my brows and the brows of Aro to rise.
"That human? Have you forgotten that they are just nothing more than cattle? They are pawns to us, meat bags full of sustenance" I yell exasperated, my hands tugging at my hair. He quickly rises to his feet and slams me into the stone ground, my body embedded an inch. With a roar I kick him off of me, sending him flying into the wall. He dusts himself off quickly before crouching, hands curled in claws, eyes black as night.
"She will be changed, and I will be the one to do it! So help me Caius, I WILL END YOU if you hurt one hair on her head!" he growls lowly, threatening, intimidatingly. For once in my long life I was actually afraid of my impassive brother.
"Marcus?" Was Aro's very surprised gasp, it held so much unasked hidden questions.
"I will finally have my progeny; she is to be under my protection. We will help her family, and protect them." He snarls before leaving the room swiftly, the doors banging open with a swift flick of his wrist.
Furious and shaken I sit back on my throne, my elbow resting on the arm supporting my chin. The dynamics of this coven has been shaken; this human had brought out a side of my brother that has not been seen since Didyme was murdered.
This humanthat scared me, and infuriated me beyond all words.
The humanthat would be changed, and would be our equal.
The human, the human, the human Isabella Swan.
A/N: So what do you think of Caius? :D
Please Review
Ellie