Chapter 10

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Author's note: hey guys glad to see some people are enjoying the story. I'm sorry if my updates aren't as regular as you'd like but I have school and yada yada. In another words I have other things to do outside if the fandom world, unfortunately. And remember if you want something specific about a character/s or whatever don't hesitate to ask, I'm open for suggestions.

Alicia's POV

3 weeks had passed

3 weeks had flown by and I hardly remembered what day it was most times I woke up. I haven't seen Caius since I was in the garden. My bruises had healed from his man-handling. To be honest I don't think I've left this room since then. I just can't bring myself to get out of bed most days.

Nothing much eventful had happened except for finding out about the 'mystery man' in the garden. Turns out his coven was convicted of a crime which according to Aro he had nothing to with. The twins told me his name was Silas and that he's now a part of the guard. Alec and Jane certainly had my attention when they let it slip that he might be my new 'body guard' not that I was complaining only the fact that Alec and Jane no longer looked after me. He did. When he met me in the gardens he was actually running from the Volturi. Or should I say escaping.

3 months later

3 months had passed though I barely noticed, but I have been here almost four months! Caius and I have not seen much of each other let alone meet each other's eyes. I think he fully realised what he had done to me and didn't know how to approach me. On the rare occasions that I did see the twins, Jane continuously told me told me that time was different for immortals. I think she's just hiding behind that excuse, so she doesn't have to tell me what's really going on. I seriously doubt it but what is it they knew?

It scared me because I felt distant with myself and I just didn't care about anything anymore.

Something was changing in me and I don't think it's for the best. I rarely slept because of the horrors that plagued my dreams; the sleepless nights were starting to have their toll on me. I faintly had dark rings around my eyes.

I can't remember the last time I was happy. Actually happy. It felt like there was this suffocating feeling in my chest constantly. Jane and Alec rarely came anymore and Silaswas always sent out on missions either with Demetri and Felix or the twins, which left me alone most of the time aside from the occasional visits from Aro and Marcus. I had met Aro's wife, Sulpicia, she seemed an unusually optimistic person and very calm. Though I couldn't help but see after a little while that she wasn't quite as innocent as she seemed. Sulpicia was maybe just a tad manipulative but nowhere near as much as Aro, but him I could understand he was naturally an ambitious man.

I missed Elspeth. I missed her so much. It hurt to even think her name, to think of her face and her beautiful smile. I felt a boiling hatred for myself. I let her die, I left her. I should have been by her side…

One week later

It was colder now. It was cold enough for snow, well it was December, and it got closer to Christmas every day. My birthday was tomorrow, I couldn't feel any excitement. I usually spent my birthdays with my uncle and Elspeth.

I lay in bed; it was early hours of the morning before I fell into a dreamless sleep.

Third person's view

"So, why are you avoiding Alicia?" Aro asked casually, smirking. Caius gave a quiet sign.

"You already know what the answer is! You have been in contact with my skin so much lately." Caius said tiredly. Aro snickered. Marcus' lips turned upwards in what was meant to be a smile but looked more like a grimace. It seemed even Marcus was in on it.

"Go talk to her then or do we need to shove you back into a room with her and barricade the door?" Marcus said and Aro laughed hysterically at their own little joke. Caius grumbled unintelligible curses and profanities under his breath. This just made things worse for him as Aro was already having hard time breathing and keeping himself upright.

"Excellent idea, Marcus!" Aro said touching his palm. They didn't share his thoughts with Caius. Which he clearly deduced were about him. Caius scoffed at their childishness and left the room and headed towards his own. No one was going to be ever dragging him anywhere again. Ever.

Alicia's POV

I was half asleep and something was on me. Literally I felt someone on top of me it felt like they were straddling me, constricting my movement. It didn't hurt but I wanted to stretch and roll around. I let my eyes open slightly cautious of the bright room blaring into my eyes and peeked at the figure who was in fact straddling me. Unusual way to wake up, I thought to myself. My eyes adjusted to see who the figure was. Argh I groaned inwardly. Caius. What did he want? I tried to move away from under him but to no avail. He had me exactly where he wanted me.

"Ah can I get up?" I grumbled tiredly, he was making me uncomfortable. I saw that he schooled his features to be serious but his eyes were teasing.

"Hmm that depends…" he said semi seriously, tapping his chin with a finger. Oh there was definitely humour there. Suddenly he had my wrist gently pinned to the sides of my body.

"On what?!" I asked incredulously. Sleep long forgotten.

"Well if you kiss me, you can get up. If not we can stay here all day and night if we have to…" he said, I just stared. Was he serious or was this some ploy. Suddenly an idea came to me and I couldn't resist smiling.

"Ok." I agreed. He seemed suspicious because of my smile as it widened but otherwise didn't question. He leaned down, just a few centimetres away from my lips, his cool breath blowing across my face. I turned my face the tiniest bit sideways and quickly leaned in to kiss his cheek. I could feel the disappointment and a little frustration coming off him in vibes. I laughed.

"You can get off now." I said giggling. I knew he didn't mean being kissed on the cheek, no he meant on the lips but he never said that.

"Oh can I now?" he asked mockingly. I wagged my eyebrows.

"Yep."

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I meant to say you have to kiss me on the lips to be able to be free. It seems a fair proposition."I scoffed at his words and tried to wriggle out from under him even though I knew it was futile. He laughed the sound was so pure it was like a baby's first laugh. I was momentarily stunned by the sound and ceased struggling. Caius let one of my hands go and gently prodded me in the ribs I jolted to the side. The action left me breathless.

"It seems I have found one of your weaknesses." He said condescendingly. He tickled me until I couldn't breathe and when I could I was half laughing and squealing.

"O-Ok ok." I said breathlessly.

"You win." I continued after I could breathe. He let go of my other wrist and leaned a little tiny bit closer to me. Obviously waiting for me to make the next move. I rolled my eyes and pulled him closer. To be completely honest I've only ever kissed someone once and that was him. His lips were cold and hard as they moved against mine. My hands voluntarily went to his hair. But I snapped out of it and pulled away. He pouted the tiniest bit and as promised got off me.

He helped me off the bed and pulled me into a hug.

"Happy Birthday, Alicia." He said and stroked the back of my shoulders. Funny how did he know it was my birthday?...

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