Chapter 10


Caius never got rid of that picture. He kept it at the side of his desk; away from the papers he wrote each day. Every time I glanced up at him, his eyes were on the picture, his expression completely blank. I couldn't believe it was true…but I was beginning to think Caius actually liked the gift. I paused my gameboy and started our regular screwed up conversation for the day.

"So how did you take care of the newborns?"

Caius quickly tore his eyes off the picture to me. "In truth, I only managed to slaughter one filthy savage. The other three ran off."

I gulped. If they got away…

"None of them have determined your hiding here," Caius added, and I guess that made me feel a tad better.

"So…will there be more?"

"Most likely."

"Well, maybe you should bring Felix and Demetri with you next time," I suggested innocently. "Then you'll actually slaughter them all."

Caius scowled. "Your concern is touching."

"Oh, I know."

"I am not weak," Caius growled, even though I didn't remember calling him 'weak' anyway. "I have not fought in centuries. Do you expect me to still have my touch after all that time??"

"Um, no?"

"That's what I thought," Caius leaned back in his seat, and dipped his quill neatly into some ink to begin writing once more.

"I'm going to write too," I pulled out an extra piece of paper, and slid it on top of a Shakespeare book. "To Edward."

Caius huffed. "How very considerate of you for letting me know."

"No problem," I muttered, and scanned the room for my pencil I had drawn the picture with. "Hey, where's my pencil? Is it by your desk?"

"Pencils," Caius scoffed in disgust. "Nothing more than a mockery of true physical publishing tools. No, I do not see it here."

"Damn it. Well…can I use one of your quills or something?"

Caius's eyes burned. "Absolutely not. They are only for my personal use."

"Gee. Didn't they ever teach you how to share in preschool?"

"Preschool-?"

"Never mind! Come on, I'll give it right back."

Caius scowled at me for several agonizing seconds. "Very well."

I stroked the feather part of the quill Caius had given me, and tapped on the very sharp end. Who knew? Maybe this would be easier to use than a pencil. After I carefully dipped the end in Caius's little ink container, I started to print. But it didn't look like printing at all. The ink made a big, sloppy, black ink spot. Caius seemed to be watching my progress because he yanked the quill out of my grasp. "No, no, no! You are doing it incorrectly! Foolish human! You used way to much ink at a time!"

I stared at him, annoyed. "Okay, okay, whatever. I'll use less ink next time. Now…can I have that back?"

"Very well," Caius growled, and handed it back to me. "Less ink."

Then, I dipped the quill back into the ink, ever so slightly. Barely any ink had stuck on. Just as I was about to print and think about how good I did, Caius once again grabbed the quill. "You are not writing it at the right angle!"

"Oh my God!" I snarled. "Who cares about the god-damn angle! Give it back!"

"The proper way to write with this utensil is to keep the elbow off the desk," Caius showed me himself, in a very annoyed fashion. I bet I looked even more annoyed. Caius continued, "All ancient aged vampires know this technique."

"Well, I'm not an ancient aged vampire, okay?"

"Write it properly, or not at all."

"Ugh. Fine."

Finally, I properly managed to print: DEAR EDWARD. Caius hadn't complained yet, so I guess that meant I was doing it correctly. But of course my luck always ruined everything. My elbow knocked the ink container sideways, and black liquid was splattered all over Caius's robes. He jerked up and let out a screech that sounded like the time there was a tiny spot of mustard on his sleeve.

"Whoops," I actually felt kind of bad. "Sorry about that."

"You clumsy mortal!!" Caius screamed at me.

"Hey, hey, calm down," I tried to grab his arm but he was too busy panicking. "Just sit down. I'll wash it off for you."

"It is impossible to wash ink!!" Caius informed me in a harsh tone. "They will remain in this demolished state for all eternity!"

"Um, ever heard of a napkin?"

"You will be punished for these damages!!"

"Sit down. God. I'm going to go ask Felix for some water and a washcloth, okay? Wait here."

Caius looked absolutely murderous, but he sat down, and waited for my return as ordered.

I set the bucket of soapy water next to the desk, and rung out the washcloth. Luckily, Charlie had spilled on lots of his shirts, so I was familiar with stains. Caius had gone off to change his robes. He returned momentarily, in a new dark blue outfit, and roughly handed me his stained ones. He seated himself back in the chair, and watched me venomously.

I shook my head at him. "Put your fangs away, will you?"

"No," he said flatly.

"I'll get the stain out," I promised and added. "Thanks for trying to teach me how to properly use a quill. Though I would recommend not teaching me it again."

"You do not need to tell me that twice."

I continued scrubbing the stain out, the water going from it's pink bubbly color to dark from the ink. I examined the robes closer. It was already almost out. "Almost done."

Caius raised one perfect eyebrow. "As in almost finished?"

"Uh, yea."

"Impressive," Caius seemed upset to admit it. "Maybe you are not as worthless at the situation as I assumed."

I looked at him. "I know it's surprising for you, but us humans do have lives."

Caius mumbled something I didn't catch. He sat in silence until the stain was completely out. And just because I was a nice person, I cleaned out the mustard stain in his sleeve. I showed him the finished product with a smile. "Look. Now it won't have to remain in a demolished state for all eternity after all."

Caius's expression changed. His narrowed eyebrows softened. The muscles that made him frown relaxed. His lips twisted into a very sly smile. I couldn't believe it. Caius was actually smiling!!

But no sooner that soft smile came; it twisted back into permanent frustration when the door knocked twice.

"Enter."

Demetri stepped in. "Forgive me for the interruption, master. Aro and Marcus request your presence. There has been a problem."

Caius stood, and motioned me to follow. "Very well."

I jogged to keep up with both vampires until we entered the throne room. Only Aro and Marcus were there. All the other Volturi guards had vanished. Besides Alec and a vampress with amazing beauty, who were both firmly grasping the arms of a human. His eyes were grey and sad, dirt splotched all over his forehead and cheeks. He had a decent sized beard that was dirt brown with the rest of hair in tangled brown curls. When he saw me, his eyes lit up with hope, like he thought I would be able to help him in some way. It looked like he was going to say something, but instead he let out a throaty cough.

"Sit over there," Caius motioned towards the benches in the back of the room. Quietly, I obeyed, and tried to not to make eye contact with the man again.

"Thank you for joining us," Aro said delightfully, and then turned to Alec and the vampress. "Alec. Chelsea. What seems to be the problem?"

"We caught the mortal sneaking in the palace," Alec hissed. "He was trying to steal that ancient vase in the common room."

The vampress, Chelsea, seemed to be going to add on to what Alec was saying, but the man said in a scruff voice, "…No food…five days…family… needed…(another cough)…family starving…needed…money…"

"Let me clarify this, my friend," Aro told the mortal. "You wanted the vase so you could sell it, and use the money to buy food for you and your starving family?"

The man coughed a series of times, but nodded.

Wow. That was a pretty noble thing to do. Steal to keep his family alive. Unfortunately, this was the wrong place to steal. Aro smiled sweetly, but everyone knew that smile was not a good sign. He turned back to Marcus and Caius. "Well, my brothers. Do you not agree that this man's act was very disrespectful and punishable?"

Caius didn't answer for some reason. Marcus nodded, but he didn't look like he cared. Aro turned pleasantly back to the man.

"Please…!" The man gasped, trying to lurch forward but Alec and Chelsea kept him firmly on the ground. "…My two children…starving! Have mercy my lord…please-"

"Alec? Chelsea?" Aro cocked his head to the side. "Name the punishment for the man, my friends. Your choice, of course."

"Death," both vampires spat at the same time.

The man weakly tried to struggle and cry, but all the vampires ignored him. I suddenly had the urge to rush forward and stop what was going to happen. Aro shrugged innocently. "The case has been decided. Who will do the honor of executing this man?"

Both Alec and Chelsea raised their hands. Aro cocked his head away from them. "Caius? I believe I got the last one. It is your turn."

Caius stood up without hesitation and nodded once. Alec and Chelsea both forced the man to the center of the room on his knees. His screams echoed through the walls of the palace. Why wasn't I stopping this!? My legs were frozen. My voice was gone. It felt as if a huge force was keeping me locked to the bench.

Caius slowly walked forward, his eyes glinting with evil and hatred as he stared at the helpless man. He was actually going to kill this innocent human. I didn't know how that shocked me. Caius had always been the one with no mercy. He loved to kill mortals. But somehow…that didn't seem like the Caius I knew these past two weeks.

The man stared up at the blonde leader, trembling. Caius stared back at him, with absolute rage, like he had been in love with that vase. His long, pale hands reached slowly towards the man's neck.

And suddenly, the all-powerful no-mercy Caius, hesitated.

His anger melted into an expression of absolute horror. He stared at the man, and then at his own hands. Then he looked at me.

I didn't know what made him hesitate like that. He looked at the identical, terrified faces both the man and I had currently. His eyes looked pained, like he couldn't believe what he was about to do. Aro, and even Marcus looked stunned at Caius's hesitation. They probably had never seen Caius wait to execute a human.

But then Caius's eyes narrowed, and he snapped out of his mercy state. He grabbed the man's neck with two hands and twisted it once to the right, and once to the left.

The horrifying sound of the crack echoed through the Volturi palace.

Hmm. Seems like Caius was having a bit of emotions going through him.

As for the Volturi deciding to kill the man, I had to remind everyone that the Volturi aren't all that good. Hope you liked the chapter. I NEED REVIEWS!! Please? For me?

Review ^^