A/N: Thank you to all those reviewed :)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything twilight SM does.

Previously,
"So how's the Caius thing coming along?" I ask after a short minute of silence. She sighs, her hand instantly fiddling with the necklace he gave her.

"Good, yeah good" she tells me her eyes sparkling with happiness for the first time tonight.

And I was happy too, things were coming to plan.

"Good baby girl" I tell her, pulling her to my side before returning to look at the stars. Everything was alright right now.

Bella POV

I was in the study, well Marcus's study with him and Peter. I was in love with all the books here and it has been the only thing keeping me from tearing everyone here to bits. I was getting anxious and I was starting to understand what the others meant by newborn emotions. I was twitchy, I could feel her getting closer, she was not far away now in the holds of the guards.

My hands twitched, crushing the book I was holding now into dust. Marcus's eyes shot to me, as did Peters as I stood cursing, brushing the dust away.

"Sorry Marcus" I utter to him apologetically, he waves his hand dismissively while placing down his own book.

"It is okay Bella, it happens." He chuckles before pulling a lever to one of the bookcases, causing it to swing open revealing a lot more books.

"Pride and Prejudice" Peter tells him, his eyes still glued to his civil war book.

"Hmmm… oh yes, here it is" Marcus's utters while pulling down a book from the shelf and walking to where I was standing. In his hands was another book of Pride and Prejudice, what?

"It happens a lot more than you think Bella" he chuckles to me, Peter smirks along with him.

"Who?" I ask him, but I already knew the answer. Caius.

"Caius of course baby girl" Peter chuckles at me, casually flipping the next page.

"Speaking of my brother, how are you too fairing?" Marcus asks as he sits by my side in the empty chair. I sigh, how could I reply to him? How could I tell him that there is something there, I feel the pull, but I can't, just can't be with someone who thinks the way he does, and has done such horrible things without offending him? Because I know Marcus has done things that are rarely spoken, but in some way it was justified, he had killed the beasts that took his mate, his Didyme.

While Caius, Caius loved to torture vampires and treats them like they are below him. He also is the reason that many of the children of the moon and shifters are eradicated upon this earth. He ordered that after Marcus came back so silent and destroyed from his hunt, but the fact still remains. He was a cruel man, and yet I have seen the softness in him, the tenderness and the person who cared for something other than himself.

"Ah yes, I know that look well" Marcus utters, knocking me from my thoughts, his hand patting my knee comfortingly while giving me a knowing look.

"You are worried about all of Caius's ways and views, you are worried that because he is a cold and cruel man he would not love you so honestly, so fully, and you are afraid of that." he whispers to me, I felt my breath hitch as it all came out.

"Oh Marcus, I don't know what to do. I said I would try, that I would try to see past it all but I don't know. I feel something, I have seen his kindness, how he can be so soft and sweet, but that is only once and I have not seen it since. I know he cannot change fully for me and I accept that, I wouldn't want that but I cannot take it constantly even if we are alone. I can't say I love him, because I don't yet. I need to see the real him, to be able to trust him Marcus" I choke out, standing I start to pace. Peter's book closes with a snap and he stands in front of me, stopping me with a soft grip to the shoulders. His eyes were sharp and the firelight flickered in his bright red eyes, calming me somewhat.

"Bella, I think you and Caius should have a little chat, he's in his study" he tells me softly while spinning me to face the door.

"Are you not going to stop him?" I ask exasperated to my maker. My reply from him was an opening of the door and a soft shove out, followed by their chuckles.

"Jerks" I utter to them, of course earning boisterous laughter from them both.

With a sigh I sought out Caius, it wasn't hard to find him, his scent lead a very strong trail to his office. His smell reminded me of home in a way, spices and freshly cooked bread mixed in with fresh rain, home. Another sigh escapes my lips as I stop in front of the thick black wooden door, it looked menacing and I'm sure that he requested it that way. Raising my hand slowly I knock on the door, lightly, almost non-existent.

"Come in Isabella" his voice calls me from behind the door, how he knew I was there was… oh, he could feel the mating bond, sense I was near, just like I could when he is near. Silly me.

I slowly open the door, just enough to stick my head through. His office wasn't like Marcus's, no, it was nearly bare of all things only some paintings and weapons littering the wall. My eyes widened when I saw the claws of a wolf above the mantle of the fireplace.

"You can come in fully Isabella" he tells me from his desk, piles of parchments sat to the side.

"Can we talk Caius?" I ask him, my voice quiet but strong. He placed the quill down on his desk and stood, gesturing me to come in.

"Is something wrong?" he asks concerned coming to my side. His eyes alight with worry as they flick all over me, his hands twitching to touch me.

"No Caius, I came to talk. To… to get to know you more, I want to know the man behind the hate, the anger." I tell him softly, the worry was instantly gone, replaced by an emotion I couldn't believe. Surprise, hope, adoration.

"What would you like to know?" he asks, sitting on the large plush chair near the fire. What is it with these men and the huge chairs near the fire?

"Where are you from? Better yet, when?" I ask seriously trying not to seem embarrassed about asking such a question.

"Hmm I have lost time on when it was, but it was long ago. My name is famous over the lands, even today. But now and sine I have been changed, I am Caius Volturi." He sighs sadly. "I am Gaius Julius Caesar."

"Sweet Baby Jesus in a whore house" it flew out of my mouth like a whisper, his boisterous laughter filling the room. I swear I've been around Peter too much, his weird curses.

"I haven't heard that before, that's an interesting way to show surprise" Caius chuckles, his face moving in a way that just didn't seem right for him.

"How... How were you changed?" I had to know.

"I was... uh hem" he cleared his throat, which I found suspicious since we didn't need to. "I was with two women when Marcus came in and changed me" he mumbled embarrassed. I couldn't help but let out a laugh and a slight choke of shock.

"Marcus changed you too?" I managed to get out after I recovered. He stiffens slightly, like he did something wrong and didn't know it.

"Yes, Marcus changed myself and Aro. He's a few hundred years older than us, but not many people bar the immediate family know that" Ah so now I understood, Marcus being the eldest of them all and the true sire is little known and it wanted to stay that way.

"It's okay, I won't tell" I sooth him.

"I burnt for 3 days, Marcus spoke to me telling me why he changed me, what it was like to be a vampire" he chuckled out, looking down with a smile.

"What did he say?" I had to know, I needed to know the Marcus of then.

"It's okay Julius; you will be stronger, immortal and fearful. I wanted you as my brother, as my sword in this life. When you wake, don't slaughter the village" he told me, a faraway look in his eyes. He finally looked like the man I saw not long ago, not overruled by his anger.

"Of course I didn't slaughter the town, I tried. My newborn lust and my anger at everything caused my beast to take control. Marcus has a scar from his collar bone to his sternum of where my teeth caused damage" he told me sheepishly. I couldn't help but shake my head, I could never picture Marcus with scars, surely he has them but with his long sleeves and robe it is hard to tell. There is one right above his left eye, a bite I think.

"Have you been married?" I blurt out, I needed to know.

"I have yes. Her name was Athenodora. She's still alive; she lives with her brothers in Romania, the coven who wants to destroy us. We decided to divorce though, she found her mate in someone else." He explained to me, I couldn't help the envy and hate that flared at me until he explained that she had found her mate.

"After that, Didyme died, I loved her like a sister. I took my anger and loss out on everyone, not caring who I hurt or what. That's how I got my reputation, that and I am a natural fighter, warrior." He sighs out.

"That's good and all, but I want to know you, the real you. What's your favourite colour? Do you like to read? Do you have a hobby of sorts?" I rattle off to him; they were ordinary things but needed to know questions.

"Curious thing, I like a certain shade of red, and has a tint of purple much like your dress. Yes I like to read, I don't have certain favourites, what you call classics I call books. And yes I do have a hobby, you have seen it quite a lot." He tells me a smirk playing on his lips at the end, I leant forward curious, my brows rose as I stare at him.

"Are you going to tell me?" I ask slightly annoyed, causing him to smirk.

"Not yet, tell me what your favourite colour is?" he asks me, leaning back in his chair.

Oh so he wants to play this game...

"Brown, now what is your hobby" I answer, ending with a question and taunting smirk. Oh yes, two can play at this game.

"I paint, sculpt, every art work you have seen in the castle is mine… Why brown?" he says so casually that it shocks me to the core. All the amazing artworks that I can't help but admire are his? He captures the beauty and life in every single thing; I'm shocked to my core.

"Brown is warm, warm I miss. In Forks everything was green, too green that I missed the warmth but I like purple too, pastel purple… I never would have pegged you for an artist, but the more I sit here, the more I believe it. Do you miss being human?" I explain to him, once again finishing with a question as I lean back in the chair. He frowns, not mad but deep in thought.

"Yes and no, I don't miss the sickness, the pain. But I think I miss sleeping and eating the most, that and being able to walk freely among others in the daylight. I miss the sun caressing my skin like fires warmth in the winter, being able to tilt my head back and soak it in." he sighs outs, his eyes fluttering close as a soft smile graces his lips as he remembers.

Seeing him like this, it stirred many things within me. He was open, no walls, he was vulnerable and I could see myself with him, see him loving me and me loving him. I know it would take a while for that to happen, but I can see it and I didn't mind that at all.

"I miss the sun too, wriggling my toes in the sand." I tell him after a few seconds of silence, I just didn't want to disturb him.

"You are a strange hu… Vampire" he tells me, cutting of the word human. I raise my brow at his little slip but chose not to ask.

"Do you like music?" I had to ask, as per usual.

"Believe it or not I do, I like the blues. Such soulful music, you?" he tells me, a little smirk playing on his lips as he takes in my dumbfound expression.

"Yeah, I like country, it's my secret addiction. Johnny Cash was amazing..." I tell him, a soft smile on my face as I remember listening to Johnny cash with gran… "But I love Elvis" I sigh out with a smile.

"I've met them both, on trips to America, they were quite odd" Caius chuckles out.

"Oh…" there wasn't much I could really say, I didn't want to ask, I didn't want to ruin my memories with my family about the real men who helped create them.

We spent the next few minutes in silence, he was staring in the fire intently, his brows scrunched together. I shook my head, I felt like I was thinking in a loop, always wondering the same thing… How could a man like him be so cruel? Have they not seen his tenderness? Have they not seen how lonely and longing he seems to be? And yet I have seen the man people have explained to me.

"I don't get you" I whisper, my eyes now locked onto the fire. I could still see him though, frowning at me.

"I… I don't quite understand?" he asks confused, leaning slightly forward.

"First you're so cold towards me, you hated me and then you show up with a necklace, now you're so friendly… Why?" I ask, now fully looking at him. He stands, his face a blank mask, his eyes showing all his emotions.

"You make me feel… things. Things I haven't felt in such a long time, or if ever. You waltz into the room, dressed in my favourite colour, brave. It brought out things in me I didn't know how to explain or even begin to understand" He stresses, hands clenched.

"I felt vulnerable, so much confused me, and I defaulted to anger. I wanted you to hate me; I still can't explain it all. But that dress, that dress. When you woke in your vampire form, it clung to you, defined you." His eyes were wide and desire filled, so much passion was there.

I have had that dress in this shop for a very long time; it was waiting for someone to claim it. The old lady's knowing smile flashes in my mind, as do her words.

"That strange old lady…" I whisper his head snapping back to me instantly, his brows high.

"Excuse me?" He asks slightly hurt and angry.

I stood moving to stand closer to him, letting my body, my heart and soul guide me for once. I was almost flushed against him, the electricity sparking between us. I grasp his hand into mine, not once looking from his eyes.

"I went to this shop in Florence when I got here, this woman pulled me into her shop and showed me that dress, claiming that it had been waiting for me." I explain to him, a smile breaks out on his face as he lets out a deep chuckle.

"She gave me your necklace" he tells me once more, now with a tone of understanding.

"It must have meant to be" I whisper to him, giggling softly.

"You're so beautiful you know that?" he whispers, his breath fanning across my face. I knew if I were human I would have swooned, but this was different, my whole head swirled, basked in it. But I still kept somewhat clear headed.

"It's been said" I say casually.

"No you really are, not just on the outside but in here too" he says laying his hand on my chest, not my heart.

"Not my heart?" I asked with a raised brow.

"I can't say, I have yet to get the chance to know it. But you are a strong, brave woman. You came into here, snarks and pleas, against some of the toughest creatures and royals. You stood up to me, me, where all others cower at a glance. There is more to you that leaves me guessing, wondering." He whispers so soft I knew if I were human I would have not heard it.

"I've seen another side of you, a side that is caring, funny, so much more. I could see us together, I could see our future. But there is still this thing about you that makes me wary, I don't know if it's because of what happened or because of how you were to me, or are to others…" I trail off slightly confused by my words, by my thoughts.

"Maybe if you give me a chance, I can prove to you what type of man I am" he whispers "I can't say that I love you, because I don't believe in love at first sight, but there is electricity between us. I do hope I can get a chance to know you more, to get the chance at that." He tells me honestly, causing me to smile as he rests his forehead on mine.

"I would like that. I too don't believe in love at first sight, but I cannot deny the electricity between us." I tell him, a soft smile still on my face.

"May I kiss you? It sounds so boyish but I do not want to step over boundaries as some would say" he asks, his eyes smouldering, darkening. With one soft nod, his lips were on mine.

They were soft, almost like the rose petals in the garden. I could tell this was new to him, like it was new to me. I wasn't stupid to not think that he had been with other woman, but I meant the softness, intimacy of it all.

My hands snake their way up to his back, one into his hair as he pulls me tightly against him in a lovers embrace. His tongue flicking my bottom lip for entrance, it was a slow dance at first, before both our tongues were fighting for dominance. A moan escapes me as he nibbles on my lip softly, pulling back to once more rest his forehead on mine, his eyes closed with an air of awe and something else around him.

I felt it too, the sensation that I was complete, that I belonged here right in his arms. I was safe and would be loved, cherished and desired by this man.

A sharp rapping of knuckles on the door causes us to split apart quickly, straightening out our rumpled clothes and hair.

"En..Enter" Caius calls out, his eyes wide as he clears his throat. Looking down quickly with a familiar pose, I couldn't believe my eyes. Caius would be blushing if he were human.

"M-Master?" It was a vampire I had yet to meet, sticks her head through the gap of the door. Scars littered her face and flesh, hair shaved on the sides, long in the middle.

"Come in Corin…" he sighs out, the door slides open more, just enough to show her whole body.

"Master, I was sent back a head by Chelsea. She has the red head in captive and is en route." She reports nervously, her eyes flickering to me and widening. "M-Mistress, I am sorry I didn't see you… M-Master M-Marcus has also been informed by Jane, Alec, Demitri and Felix that they have the-the Cullen's and the D-Denali's. They will arrive just after Ch-Chelsea is here with her prisoner." She stutters out, I never knew a vampire to stutter.

"Thank you for informing us Corin, how far away are they both?" still the blank tone and mask.

"They will be here within the day Master" she replies timidly.

My heart clenches though, I curse my inner self for not informing me of this, and the bitch usually pops up all fucking snarks and taunts to inform me. I had to face the family who had caused me so much pain now?

"I didn't want to interrupt you" I turn my head to where Caius was sitting before he walked back to his desk. Speak of the devil and she shall arrive, I narrow my yes down at her.

"What you were" she sighs out with an eye roll, standing.

"You will be fine, they won't hurt you anymore" she whispers to me knowingly, her hands resting on my shoulders as she glances at Caius. "We have a family now, Peter, Charlotte, the Volturi and Jane will be next to you the whole time. You are strong now Bella."

This made me feel a little better, she was right; they couldn't hurt me any more now. My coven, my family won't allow it. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, my inner self was right.

With the new thoughts in mind, I walked over to where Caius was waiting for me at the door, Corin was gone by now, she must have left when Izzy was here.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asks me, his face softer now.

"Yes… I think I will be" I tell him with a smile, my arm looping through his as we make our way towards the throne room.

A/N: Did anyone Aww? And I realised I had to update early due to many reasons, but i'll just say I wont be in any condition to crawl from my bed tomorrow :D

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Ellie