A/N Hope you guys like the chapter! Disclaimer: I own nothing but Trina... sadly. All rights go to Stephanie Meyer
Chapter 9
"Caius? Caius is your uncle?" Emmett cried. I nodded, tears gathering I my eyes. "It makes sense in a way. She said that her uncle lived in Italy, and the Volturi live in Volterra. And she was drawn to that painting in particular." Edward said. "Alice, get my phone please. We need to call Volterra." Carlisle said. I could tell that he was looking at me, but I was starring at the painting of my uncle, who was my only father figure until I was adopted. And he was a freaking vampire. Not just any vampire, but a vampire king if I remember what Carman had said to Laurent. I looked away from the painting, tears finally falling. "Put it on speaker please, Carlisle if you can get him." I choked out. He nodded and put the phone on speaker even though it was still ringing. I hadn't even seen Alice give it to him.
A pleasant voice answered and Carlisle immediately asked for Caius, giving his name when he was asked who was calling. He was put on hold while the woman on the other end was doing something. "Don't tell him yet. Just ask if he has a relative named Katrina Johnson." I said, and Carlisle nodded again. Seconds later, Caius's voice came through, making my heart skip a beat. "What do you want Carlisle?" He demanded. "Just a question, Caius. Do you have a relative named Katrina Johnson?" He asked smoothly. There was a brief silence on the other end before his voice became angry. "How do you know about Katrina?" I haven't been able to get ahold of her for years, how do you even know her name?" He demanded.
Carlisle looked at me and I held my hand out for the phone. He handed it to me silently, with an encouraging smile. "Because I'm right here, Uncle Caius." I said, my voice cracking. I heard his intake of breath on the other end. "Katrina, is that really you sweetie?" He asked, his voice in the soft tone that I've always known him to have. Apparently though, it was a shock to the others. "Yeah. I've been trying to get ahold of you for twelve years. I needed to talk to you, but now it's too late." I rambled. "What do you mean it's too late honey? Talk to me, you sound like you're crying, what's wrong sweetheart?" He asked, and I couldn't hold back a sob. "Daddy, something happened to mom." I choked out. Calling him 'daddy' was a habit formed within an hour of knowing each other. "What happened, honey?" He demanded. "Are you sitting down?" I asked.
"I am now. Tell me what happened." He said. I took a deep breath, dreading this. "A month after we met, mom was going to go on a business trip to New York, the plane went down. Daddy, mom died twelve years ago and I just got adopted. We tried contacting you to see if you could take me in, but we never could." I spilled out. His voice sounded strangled when he spoke again. "Oh, Trina. The adoption, is that what you meant by it's too late?" He asked. "Yes. My new dad lives in Forks, and Bella is my new sister. I had encountered vampires before so I knew what they were and I was taken to Carlisle's study when I saw a painting of you looking over a balcony at chaos. Carlisle said it was painted in the 1700's so that means you're a vampire too. Why didn't you tell me, is it because you feed on humans?" I wailed, feeling betrayed. "No Katrina, it wasn't that! It was too dangerous to tell you when you were so young. You were only three sweetie, I was going to tell you when you were old enough to keep the secret. I started to try to contact you when you turned twelve, I never could though. I guess I know why now." He said.
I knew he was sad just by the tone of his voice. "So it isn't that you didn't trust me?" I asked, voicing my hidden fear. "No! No Katrina, how could you think that? When I left, I was ecstatic that you called me 'dad' after knowing me only about an hour and knowing that I was your uncle. You knew that and you still called me dad. Never think that it was because I didn't trust you!" He said. I smiled slightly, knowing he couldn't see it. "Did mom know what you are?" I asked after a minute. He sighed before answering. "Yes. I was to change you both after you reached 18. I promised her that I would change you both on the day after your birthday. My brothers were happy to know about that deal. I was to tell you what I am when you turned twelve, and tell you about the deal when your turned sixteen. After you were changed, I was to bring you both here to Volterra where you would become Princess of the Volturi. But I made that deal with your mother, if you do not wish to be turned then I won't force your hand. I just ask that you don't tell the secret." He said.
I was quiet for a few minutes, taking this all in. I took a deep breath before I spoke again to steady myself. The silence was deafening, and the Cullens seemed to be in a state of complete shock. "I want to honor the deal. I've already been bitten but had the venom sucked out. I want to be turned at eighteen, but on a couple of conditions of my own." I said, my voice strong. "What are the conditions honey?" He asked, making me smile when he called me 'honey'. I sighed before stating them, I was scared that he wouldn't go with it. "One, I want you near until I turned eighteen. Granted, there's a coven of eight vampires close by, but we both know how much trouble I can attract." I stated, laughing slightly. He laughed for a minute as well. "I can get my brothers to agree to that. Is there anything else?" He asked. "I want to follow the Cullens diet. I don't feel comfortable taking a life, given my mother was ripped from mine. I can't do that to another child." I stated firmly.
Carlisle beamed with pride. "Okay, that is no problem. Given the knowledge you gave me, I'll switch diets as well. Anything else sweetie?" He asked. "Not unless you count me asking if I can call you dad when I'm not around Charlie a condition." I stated shyly. I was gifted with his light laugh after that. "I don't count that as a condition, I count that a privilege. I would be honored to gain that title again. I will keep you on the phone while I go talk to my brothers about me coming to you. I talk about you so often, I imagine they will want to speak with you." He said, chuckling. I giggled along with him and it felt good, it made me feel like a little girl again. A few minutes went by in a comfortable silence before I heard knocking on the other end. Next thing I heard was his greeting. "Brothers." Was all he said. Another voice spoke in the background, so I knew to remain silent for a few more minutes. "Caius, who are you speaking to?" The man's voice asked.
"My niece, Aro, the one the deal is regarding. There have been some new developments, see for yourself." Uncle Caius said. After a minute of silence, the second voice that I now put the name Aro to, spoke again. "My condolences for your loss Caius. I have no problems with young Katrina's conditions. May I speak with her?" Aro asked. "Of course brother." Caius replied, then Aro's voice was coming through the speaker the most prominent. "Hello, young Katrina." He said. "Hello, Aro. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but let's face it, we haven't met yet." I said, and was met with his childlike laugh. "Yes, that is true. How about nice to speak with you? Would that suffice?" He asked, and I laughed a little myself. "Yes, that's just perfect. It's nice to speak with you, Aro. Might I ask what I owe for the honor?" I asked, speaking as politely as I was taught. "You are quite a charming young lady. And the honor is all mine, I must say, I look forward to meeting you, or at least getting a photograph of the face to go with your lovely voice. That, and I would love to see the only person Caius has a soft spot for. My condolences for your mother, Caius spoke highly of her." Aro said.
"Thank you for your condolences, though they are not necessary. Might I ask why you said that I was the only one that my uncle has a soft spot for?" I asked, and Aro laughed again. "That, you will have to ask him yourself about. A charming young lady such as yourself should get the answer fairly quickly. It also helps that you appear to have my brother wrapped around your finger." Aro joked. I heard a growl in the background as I giggled. "Well, I've had the honor of bragging about that since I was three." I confessed, and there was an annoyed sigh to be heard. "Oh, I thank you for that Katrina. He will never live this down now, and you have even managed to get a smile out of Marcus with that. Something that has been deemed an impossible feat." He said, then seemed to speak away from the phone. "Marcus, would you like to speak with the delightful young Katrina?" He asked.
A monotone voice invaded the speaker then, telling me that this Marcus guy accepted the offer and had the phone now. "Hello, Katrina. It is nice to speak with you." Marcus said. "As with you, Marcus. Although, it seems that the three of you are now playing a small game of pass-the-phone. To an observer, it must be an interesting sight." I stated, earning a slight chuckle from Marcus, and several gasps on both ends of the line. "Katrina! Whatever you're doing, keep doing it!" I heard Aro shout. I was confused, but continued. "Aro sounds like he's on a sugar high, is he always this excited?" I asked Marcus, earning another laugh from him and a 'hey!' from Aro. "Unfortunately, dear Katrina, he is always this excited. Caius has explained your conditions for the agreement he held with your mother. I find myself impressed with your negotiation skills." He complimented. "Well, thank you Marcus. My mother was a lawyer, so I suppose I got it from her. I am also good at trapping people in their own words and finding loopholes." I confided.
Marcus gave another light chuckle in response. "Once you are turned, you must tell me how you managed to wrap Caius around your finger at the age of three. That will be used against him for centuries to come, I imagine." He said, and I giggled. "Oh, believe me, Marcus. I have plenty of stories of Caius that you and Aro can use as blackmail with only about twelve hours of memories with him. The idiot left papers on our coffee table with me in reach of markers and crayons. I had heard the term color-coded from my mother one day and I decided to 'color-code' his papers. He was pissed, but didn't yell at me for it." I told him, earning sniggers from around the room and laughter from Marcus. It didn't seem too hard to make him laugh. It was easy, and I wondered why Aro said it was hard. I eventually heard Caius in the background. "I'm glad my misfortunes amuse you brother." He said, but he actually sounded like he meant it. "It sounds like your ruthless and cruel reputation will be no more when you return with Katrina in a few years brother." Aro said through his laughter.
That stunned me. "Ruthless? But he was never anything but nice and kind to me." I stated, confused. "Oh, that is how he is known. We all have reputations Katrina." Marcus said. "What are they?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. "Caius is the ruthless and cruel one, I am known as the eternally bored one, and Aro, can you guess his?" Marcus asked. "Let me know if I get this right. Aro is the one that needs to lay off the sugar? Or is the correct way to put it, the easily excited one?" I asked, giggling. Marcus began to laugh, and I heard Caius join in somewhere in the background making me feel good. "That is not funny!" I heard Aro yell. "Oh, but brother, she nailed it right on the head." Marcus said. "I will only allow this because she is managing to make you smile and laugh with it, otherwise I would be highly offended." Aro said, causing Marcus and Caius to laugh harder. Caius sobered up first and spoke, interrupting his brother's laughter. "My apologies brothers, but I must take my phone back so that I may bid my niece goodnight and pack and get the jet ready for me to leave." He said.
There were two groans, making me smile, and suddenly Caius was back on the phone. "Before you leave the room, here's my number, give it to both of them." I said, then relayed my phone number to him, who told Aro and Marcus. "Call whenever you like, just keep the time difference in mind because I actually do sleep unlike the two of you." I said, causing the two of them to laugh again. "We shall, Katrina. We look forward to speaking with you again." Aro said, and faded from the background. "I will have he jet prepared so that I depart tonight. I should be arriving sometime tomorrow, Katrina, is this okay with you?" Caius asked. I smiled at the thought of seeing him so soon. "I can't wait daddy. And I expect an answer to that soft spot question tomorrow." I stated. He laughed, even though he knew I was serious. "You will get an answer. I must let you go now, but I will call you before I take off so that you know I will be there soon." He said. "Okay. I look forward to it. I love you daddy." I said, smiling. "I love you as well Katrina. I will be there soon." He said, and hung up.
I sighed happily and turned to face eight stunned vampires. "I am not in the mood for questions at the moment. I will answer them with him tomorrow, right now, I would like to start on the painting. Now that he's coming, it's going to be a gift for him." I said, and watched as Alice zoned out for a minute. Once she snapped out of it, she started bouncing up and down. "That painting is going to be amazing Trina! It's so cute!" She practically yelled. I smiled, knowing that she had seen my change of the painting from a portrait of my mother, to a memory of the day I met him. "That's actually one of my memories with him. It's by far the best I have with him. Will he like it?" I asked, hoping he would. She nodded in time with her bouncing, and I smiled. "What are you waiting for, go change, get going!" She cried. My smile changed to a grin and I ran off to get changed. I gabbed my overnight bag from where I saw it and started running to the closest bathroom.
After my quickest change yet, I was darting back to Carlisle's study, changed and hair up in a sloppy bun. When I got there, she was smiling. "What was my time and where did you set me up?" I asked between pants. Her smile widened before she answered. "32 seconds and in Esme's office. Follow me." She said, and left the room with me hot on her heels. She lead me down a hallway and into another room that was absolutely beautiful. The walls were painted a gorgeous baby blue with white crown bolding at the top. A desk covered in blueprints was pushed off to the side to make room for the tarp on the floor holding a painting easel with a blank canvas on it. The canvas was the perfect size for the painting in mind and it would have been perfect for my mother's portrait as well. I squealed in excitement and ran over to the canvas to discover a small table next to it with all the supplies set out on it.
I had to admit, I was impressed with what Alice got. She had gotten me every color paint there was when I only needed a handful for this particular painting. I eagerly picked up the charcoal stub and started sketching the scene from memory. It was difficult to make it a view from a third party, but thankfully, it was manageable. Alice, bless her, brought in her iHome and plugged my iPod into it to surround me with music. I noticed that I wasn't alone, and everybody was watching me work, but I didn't care. I had worked in front of others before, so this was nothing new. And besides, they were interested in my talent, so maybe I could paint something for them soon. After ten minutes of me sketching, someone spoke and broke the silence filled only by my music. "What are you painting?" Emmett asked.
Without turning around, I smiled and answered. "One of the memories I have with my uncle. My mom was in the kitchen and it was in perfect view from the living room watching me and Uncle Caius. I had just come in from making a snowman in the front yard, so I was drinking hot chocolate. Uncle Caius had me on his lap and was looking down at me, smiling. Mom was watching us, smiling at seeing us together. It was while I was on his lap that I first called him 'daddy'. He smiled so big I thought his face would split and mom started crying with joy. She always hoped that I could have a father figure, and when I randomly announced that it was Caius, she about exploded with pride. They were really close and kept in contact over the phone. Mom had always told me that he was the most excited when he found out that she was pregnant with me. The man I know is the exact opposite of his reputation. He's kind, loving, and very protective of the ones he loves. That's why I'm painting this memory, he'll know the second he sees it." I explained, finishing the outline of the rooms in question.
Before I could start with the figures of my mother, Caius and myself, my phone rang. I paused the music and answered it. "Hello?" I answered. "Hey, sweetie, it's me. I'm getting ready to take off so I'll be there tomorrow around the time you get our of school, maybe sooner." He said. I smiled. "Okay, I'll see if one of the Cullen's can get you wile I'm in school and see you when I get out. I have a surprise for you when you get here though." I told him, hoping I would get the chance to drive him a bit nuts. "What's the surprise?" He asked, and I giggled at the question. "What kind of a surprise would it be if I told you?" I asked, being cryptic enough to annoy him. I proved successful, as he groaned. "You're cryptic enough to drive me insane, just like your mother you know that?" He asked, sounding rather annoyed. "Yep. Now turn your phone off, it's not safe to have it on during a flight." I said, and hung up laughing like a maniac afterwards.
I loved having this effect on him. I was going to get hell about it tomorrow, but it was still fun. I set my phone down and saw that the Cullen's just shaking their heads. "What?" I asked, honestly curious. "You are probably the only one who can talk to him like that and get out of it. It's truly amazing to see this side of Caius." Carlisle said. I shrugged and turned back to the canvas, resuming the sketch. "I've always known him like this. His reputation is the stranger, because that's only a mask. I know the real him." I stated, starting on my mom's outline. I heard a sigh, but didn't bother to see who was behind it. "Katrina, there's something you need to know." Edward started. I guessed he was the one behind the sigh.
He must have heard something in someone's thoughts. "What is it?" I asked, moving to work on my mother's face. "It's about Caius. He really is ruthless and cruel when he wants to be/ I saw in Emmett's thoughts that when the Denali's showed up, you asked about Irina and was told that she was killed." He stated, and I nodded, not turning away from my work. I was on Caius now. "I hate to tell you this, but Caius was the one to kill her, and he seemed to enjoy it rather well." He said. I was stunned, but this didn't sway me from my love for him. "I know him well enough to know that there must have been a reason. What was it?" I asked in defense of my Uncle. This time, it was Bella who spoke. "Irina thought that Renesmee was an immortal child. She said that she took full responsibility for her false accusation, but still, he didn't need to kill her." Bella said. I sighed, not turning away from the canvas.
My work kept me calm enough to answer without yelling, though I was sure Jasper felt my anger under the surface. "Everyone makes poor choices, Bella. Killing Irina was one of his. It's not like she could've mentioned my name to get out of it. She couldn't have known that he was family. It's a sad consequence for a poor choice, and I'll make sure to give him hell for it." I told them. "Aro could've. He can read every thought you've ever had with one touch. He could have told Caius that Irina knew you. He would have seen you in Irina's memories, it could have been stopped." Edward argued. My hand was moving faster on the canvas, a sure sign I was getting pissed. "Aro could not have stopped it. He doesn't know what I look like except for what he's seen in my Uncle's memories of me. And even still, I was twelve when I met Irina, so he couldn't have known it was me without help. I will talk to my Uncle and let him know that I knew her and don't approve of how he handled the situation, but what's done is done so quit trying to turn me against the only living blood family I have!" I yelled, finally snapping.
Finished with the sketch, I dropped the charcoal and faced him full on. "There may have been a mind reader and an empath present at the time killed her, but that doesn't mean he enjoyed it. He is nothing like his reputation, he could have hidden his guilt from Jasper and only thought that he enjoyed it for the benefit of the fact he knew your gifts. You want to know what he's really like? Take a look!" I shouted and dropped the shield to let my memories of my Uncle and I flood to the surface. He seemed stunned to see that the man he insisted was heartless was the exact opposite. Once I was done showing him what I wanted him to see, I let the shield surround me again. Edward was slack jawed at the images he had just seen. I returned to my canvas, satisfied that I shut him up, and began to open the paints. "What did she show you son?" Carlisle asked, sounding curious. "She showed me a gentle Caius. I think it really is a mask, Carlisle. She had hit her head on a coffee table and he looked pained to see her cry. He actually picked her up and kissed her head where she hit it. He was tender and loving with her." Edward said, sounding incredulous, yet awed.
I ignored the insult to my Uncle's personality and began painting the room to exact memory. After a few minutes of painting, I heard the door to the room shut. I turned around and saw that the room was now empty except for myself. I smiled slightly, knowing that they left me alone not only to leave me to my work, but to discuss what I had shown Edward about the real person my Uncle is. I began to mix paints to form the color I needed for the shade of my hair while I sat on my Uncle's lap. As I neared the point of being halfway done, I glanced at the clock. I was shocked to see that it read past midnight. I shrugged it off and continued my work. Minutes later, the door opened and Jasper walked in the room, closing the door behind him. "I'm shocked to see you're still awake." He stated. I shrugged as if it was nothing, as to me, it was. "When I get going on a painting, I refuse to leave it unfinished. If I were to sleep now, I'd be tossing and turning and unable to sleep no matter what until I finish. If it was a bigger painting, I might be able to stop, but since it's this size, I wouldn't be able to stop. I love this too much." I stated.
He smiled at me when I said that. "So was there something you needed, or did you just want to try to sneak a peek at my newest masterpiece?" I asked him jokingly. He laughed a little. "Actually, I came to sneak a look. Edward told us everything he saw in your memories about Caius. I wanted to see your fondest memory of him. The painting is really amazing." He complimented. I blushed a bit at the compliment. "You know, if you want me to, I could do something for you. You could tell me what you want, I'd do a rough draft of the sketch in my sketch book, and if you liked it, I'd transfer it to canvas. That's my normal process, and I'd be glad to do it for free for you." I offered, continuing my work.
He seemed to consider it. "Would you be willing to do a portrait of me in my Confederate uniform as an anniversary gift for Alice?" He asked. I stopped painting for a second to face him, a grin on my face. "It would take a while to complete, but I could do it. I could even put the Confederate flag in the background." I told him. He smiled at that. "I'd love that. Our anniversary is in about a month, could you get the painting done in time?" He asked. I scoffed as I continued with my current job. "I could get it done in about two weeks, depending on if you like the first sketch. I can block Alice from seeing me doing this as well so it could be a surprise. I'd only need to figure out what size you want it to be, then try to buy the canvas." I explained, glad to see that as I was talking, I had put myself at almost done. "If you do that, then I'd have to insist on paying you." Jasper told me.
I rolled my eyes, though I knew he didn't see it as my back was facing him. "Jasper, I can't let you pay me for two reasons. First, I can't charge if I don't have a business permit, and second, you're family now. I couldn't accept money without feeling bag. I can accept gifts because I know it's pointless to argue with vampires, but I will not accept any form of payment for any of my art." I stated stubbornly. The tiredness was starting to attack me, so I began to rush as fast as I dared to finish the painting. I couldn't take the chance of trying to finish it tomorrow and having Uncle Caius see it before it was done. "Besides." I said, trying to keep myself awake. "If you absolutely wanted to pay me, you could do so in the form of knowledge. I've always been interested in the Civil War. You can pay me by telling me what really happened." I told him, finally beginning on the smaller details that as soon as I finished, I would be done.
I heard Jasper laugh. "Okay, so you paint a picture for Alice for our anniversary, and I pay you with knowledge of the war? Seems like a good deal to me, we can start working on this in a few days. You, however, need to sleep. I can feel your exhaustion weighing pretty heavy on you." He said. I shook my head in defiance. 'Jasper, I'm almost done. I just need to add the smaller details, which there aren't a lot of, and then I'll be done. Five more minutes tops." I argued, putting the freckles on my three year old self's face. He sighed, obviously irritated. "Trina, I'm only saying that because I care about you. I don't want Emmett laughing because you fell asleep in class." He said. "You sound like Seth, he told me the same thing last night. OH MY GOSH, SETH! I totally forgot to tell Uncle Caius about Seth! I've heard that he hates werewolves, he's going to hurt Seth, what am I going to do?!" I cried.
I started to feel panicked, but Jasper sent me some calming emotions. "Focus, Trina. You'll be fine, you got a bit too overwhelmed talking to him to bring up your love life. And besides, he'd probably blow up if you told him that you met your mate in a werewolf over the phone. What you do is tell him tomorrow in person. Tell him you met your mate, talk him up a bit, then tell him that he's a werewolf. Now, are you done with the painting? You haven't done anything with it for a few minutes." He said. I took a deep breath and scanned the painting, looking to see if I had missed anything. I was relieved to find that I actually was, finally done. "Yeah, I'm done. What do you think?" I asked, putting the brush on the pallet, and turned to face him once again. "It's truly amazing. I'm sure Caius will love it, I'll be the one picking him up, so I will make sure that if he gets here while you're still in school, I'll keep him away from this room. Now, let's get you cleaned up and in bed. You're dead on your feet." he said, putting a hand on my back.
I nodded, knowing that I was exhausted and that he could feel it. I let him lead me out of the room and down the hall. He stopped and opened up another door and pulled me through it. I looked around, and even in my tired state, I was amazed. The room was stylishly decorated, and held a queen size bed with black and white covers. "Your overnight bag is on the bed, as you can see. This is the guest room, there is a bathroom right through there." He said, pointing to a door off to the left. "You can use it to get cleaned up. There's fresh towels in there for you. I think that's all, so I'll leave it to you and see you in the morning." He said, leaving the room. I smiled as the door shut. "Thank you, Jasper." I whispered, knowing he could hear.
With that, I took a deep breath and walked over to my bag and pulled out my pajamas and bathroom necessities and walked over to the bathroom and shut the door. I was impressed with its size, but I didn't care too much at the moment. I quickly started a shower and scrubbed paint off my arms and hands before washing my hair and body. It was calming to be under the hot water of a shower, but I needed to finish and get to sleep. With that thought, I sighed and shut off the water. I quickly changed into my pajamas and ran my brush through my tangled, wet hair and threw it back into my bag of toiletries, then grabbed my clothes and the bag and went back into the bedroom. I put my stuff back into the overnight bag and climbed into bed.
A/N: Okay guys, hope you liked the little "who's her Uncle?" cliffy. I know how annoying they are though, so I tried to hurry and update, but I couldn't get to a computer. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! R&R guys. love ya!
