CHAPTER TEN
I looked up at the imposing gates before us, my eyes taking in the palatial villa behind the iron railings. The three story white-washed building was sixteenth century with beautiful arched windows all along the ground floor. A large fountain stood before the entranceway, the trickling water creating a peaceful ambience throughout the gardens. From our side of the gate though, we were halted by two large vampires, whose build resembled that of Emmett. I shivered at the sight of them, but Edward simply strode forwards, unfazed by them. Jacob took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze behind his back
"I need to see Caius immediately," said Edward. One of the vampires made the mistake of sneering. Edward's eyes blackened and he seized the man by the throat, his teeth bared. "Tell him that Edward Cullen is here." The man stumbled back when Edward released him and I watched as he hurried into the guard's hut and picked up a phone speaking rapidly into it in Italian. He came off and turned to us, speaking in heavily accented Italian.
"You two can go in, but your pet dog stays out here," he said. Jacob snarled, but I placed a hand on his arm.
"Wait here, Jake," I said, softly. "Please. We will be back soon. I'll shout if I need you; it's not as if they could stop you." I smiled up at him and he nodded curtly, stepping back to lean against the wall, folding his arms across his chest so that the muscles on his biceps bunched impressively. I carefully directed my gaze away before Edward caught me staring and got the wrong idea.
"Isabella," said Edward and I followed him, keeping my head bowed as I passed the guards.
"Edward, Isabella, what a pleasant surprise," said Caius, who was standing at the door when we came through the garden. He was dressed all in black; black shirt, black trousers and a black band at his nape to keep his hair from his face. As Edward approached him I took in their differences. Edward was dressed in a long sleeved white linen shirt and khaki combat trousers, with a pair of shades over his eyes. I was dressed in a white maxi-dress with a long sleeved lightweight cardigan, an oversized floppy hat and sunglasses.
"I doubt it's much of a surprise," said Edward, coldly. Caius smiled condescendingly.
"You were warned of what might happen," he replied, with a shrug. I chewed my lip nervously as I took in Edward's expression; his eyes were black and his body language tense.
"Your warning was vague at best," he growled. "I need to know exactly what has happened to us both and the way I see it, you are the best person to ask."
"What makes you think I would help you or your weak little pet?" demanded Caius, his voice sneering. Edward moved so quickly that I didn't see him go until I realised he had Caius by the throat, pinned to the wall of the house, lifted off of his feet. Caius struggled, but Edward was too strong.
"You will help us or I will rip your head off," he snarled. Leaning closer to Caius, he hissed directly into his ear. "And I will do it so quickly that your guards won't have time to take a breath never mind a step towards you; they would have no chance whatsoever of helping you."
"Fine," ground out Caius. "Let go of me and we will discuss this in a civilised manner."
He seemed unruffled by Edward's threats and led us into his villa. I stared around at the marbles pillars and floor; it was like something out of a movie set. Caius led us into a light and airy room where he took a seat and regarded us steadily
"James was a very unusual vampire," he said, once we were both settled. I bit back a retort and Caius looked across at me. "Unfortunately, he did not live out the potential we thought he might have; he turned out to be petty and weak at best. While the Volturi have no issue with vampires keeping humans as pets and even feeding on them, we object to abusive relationships or inappropriate use of power, as invariably this leads to discovery on a small scale. James was extremely arrogant; he believed himself to be special and therefore carried on as if nothing could touch him. Hence the killings in Seattle."
"I assume there was a reason he believed himself to be so special?" said Edward.
"James Witherdale is the most unusual vampire to have ever been created. Most vampires are given immortality by their makers because of lust, or even love. Occasionally because a maker spots a specific talent in a human that would translate well into a vampire. But with James it was a completely different story."
"Why? What made him so special?" I asked, icy fingers trailing up my spine, as a feeling of trepidation took over my senses.
"Three hundred years ago, I met a young woman. She was very beautiful; hair like spun gold and eyes that pierced into my soul," said Caius, softly. "I would watch her from a distance when she came into the city, buying her goods. She was English, but had married an Italian merchant who brought her to Rome. She was the reason I purchased this villa; so that I could remain close to her." He broke off, his eyes misting over, as if he were reliving the past.
"All very interesting, but we want to know about James," said Edward, impatiently. I glanced at him; my mind was already working in overdrive; my suspicions about what this story had to do with James just waiting to be confirmed.
"Her name was Elizabeth Witherdale," said Caius, his eyes fixed on my face, waiting for my reaction. My hand flew to my mouth and I gasped. Edward looked across at me, confused.
"She was related to James?" he said. Caius grimaced.
"One night, I couldn't carry on watching and waiting. I am vampire after all and she was a mere human; an image of perfection wasted in mortal flesh. I changed her, because I lusted for her. She was too beautiful to be mortal; I could not tolerate the thought of her becoming aged or worse dying. But once I had changed her I made a very disconcerting discovery. Elizabeth had a son; he was only three years old..."
"James," I breathed. Caius nodded, a scowl marring his face.
"She insisted that he come with her, even though for the first month of her change I had to keep her locked away from him, least she tried to feed on her own child. I loved her; I could not risk her hating me. Once she was in control, she raised him; even loved him I suppose. I had no interest in a snivelling brat and my interest in both the mother and child waned after only a few years. I found Elizabeth a home within the city and occasionally I still made contact with her, but any feelings I once had for her were gone, as swiftly as they had come. As I explained before, vampires can be changed for sheer lust, though I doubt you would understand that, seeing as you are one of the noble Cullens." His tone became mocking, but Edward did not react; he was far too interested in this strange story. Caius sighed. "I did not know what she intended until it was too late. James was arrogant even as a human. It came to our attention that he had assaulted several girls and I had gone to warn Elizabeth that if she did not control her son he would be removed, because he was drawing too much attention to her. She promised she would sort him out and then the assaults stopped abruptly; only to be replaced with multiple corpses. Elizabeth had changed him; made him into a vampire."
I gasped, my ears ringing as I remembered how he had been; abusive, overpowering and arrogant; traits he had kept from his years of humanity.
"The Volturi took him in because of Elizabeth's relationship with me and we trained him. He had a natural skill as a hunter; a tracker and so we employed him as such. To a certain extent we were able to control him. He disappeared in the early twentieth century, leaving Elizabeth heartbroken. James cared nothing for anyone, least of all his mother. Shortly afterwards, she too vanished and I have never heard from her since."
"What makes you think she is responsible for this?" asked Edward, after a brief silence as we digested what Caius had told us.
"Elizabeth was what was known as a wise woman when I changed her; maybe even a witch. She possessed magical powers that were frightening even as a mortal; probably why I was so drawn to her in the first place. There was once a vampire who attacked James when he was mortal and hurt him quite badly. The boy had given him a torrent of abuse, which made him angry enough to lash out. Of course with his strength he knocked the boy out and Elizabeth was furious. Her whole aspect changed; she seemed to grow taller, impossibly so and we could hear chanting, as if many voices were joined to hers. The next thing we knew, the vampire was reduced to having mortal strength; so weak that the boy, who as fifteen at the time, was able to reciprocate the vampire's actions."
"He knocked the vampire out?" said Edward, incredulously. "While he was still mortal?"
"Yes," said Caius, with a shrug. "It seemed Elizabeth wholeheartedly upheld the biblical teaching of an eye for an eye."
"So what she has done to us?"
"Isabella killed her son, using vampire speed and strength and so those traits have been removed. And you, Edward, took James' lover from him in Elizabeth's eyes, because you were the opposite of what James was. Thus Elizabeth has made you as dark as her son was."
"C... can it be reversed?" I stammered. Caius looked at me, amusement in his red eyes.
"I have no idea. The only person that could tell you that is the one who cursed you; Elizabeth."
"Then where is she?" asked Edward. "We need to find her; ask her to take this curse away."
"Even if you were to find Elizabeth, there is no guarantee that she would help you," replied Caius. Edward got to his feet.
"Just tell us where to find her," he growled. Caius narrowed his eyes.
"Elizabeth was English. I would suggest that you go to the Volturi headquarters in London and ask them if they know her location. Look for a vampire by the name of Jonathan; he will assist you. Now, if that is all, I have a lot to do."
Edward glared at him and then turned on his heel, grabbing my hand as he passed me. I paused, looking back at Caius.
"Thank you," I said, softly, surprising him.
"For what?" he asked.
"For telling us your story and for at least giving us a starting point." For a brief moment, Caius smiled; a true, warm smile, but then his face restored its regular scowl and he waved us away. Edward squeezed my hand and we headed back out into the hot Roman sun.
"London it is then," said Edward, softly. I nodded, numbly, as Caius' story replayed itself in my mind. Even if we found Elizabeth, would she ever forgive us for killing her son?