[10] Flightless Bird, American Mouth

In a flash, the two vampires were swiftly fighting. It was like James against Edward in the ballet studio so long ago, the way and style they were fighting. They growled like savage dogs, fighting and hitting and flipping each other over. Caius bit Riley in the neck, tearing off part of his skin. Riley yelled. Caius had Riley pinned up against the tree, holding him by the neck in an extremely threatening manner. Knowing Caius, I was surprised when he didn't rip Riley to shreds for pleasure.

"Do you realize that she is of the Volturi? You threaten her, you threaten me. So I suggest you tell Victoria that if she wants to kill, she will have to fight the Volturi." Caius snapped, his eyes black and bruises formed underneath them and his cheek bones. The dark bruises made him look defeated against his pale skin. Riley nodded but glared at Caius, who let him loose of his grip. Riley fell to the ground, shot me a dark look, and vanished into the forest in a blur.

Caius turned around to face me. I stood farther away from him and he gazed at me. His eyes were troubled and sad, as was the expression on his beautiful face. His hair wasn't the way it normally was, straight; instead, it was lanky and messy. He wore a grey mock neck sweater, black skinny jeans, and his Volturi pendant. He did not look like the Caius I remembered, he looked tired, sad and defeated. His vulnerability scared me, for I'd never seen him so upset.

"Essence," He explained himself, his eyes pleading, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't live another day without you. I-I'm sorry." His eyebrows were arched, as if he was in pain, and he gave me a heartbreaking gaze.

I instantly came into him, his freezing arms clutching me possessively, and I breathed in his familiar scent. I felt the muscles in his arms tighten around me, his tendants tense under his pale skin. "Hush, Caius. Stop apologizing. Your non-sadist personality is freaking me out."

He laughed that masculine, musical, firm British laugh. "It's scaring me, too. I haven't fed in weeks. I have practically been killing myself."

His lips brushed my hair and the freezing, icy sensation rushed through my body like adrenaline, static and electricity. "Sempre tra le mie braccia voglio che tu rimanga. Hai capito?" Caius murmured firmly.

I glanced up at him and looked into his coal black eyes, like pools of ink. I reached up and touched the harsh bruises and kissed him eagerly. He took dominance and control of the kiss and pressed his icy lips on my upper lip, and it deepened and intensified. I put my arms around his freezing neck and he put his papery, icy hands on the back of my neck, brushing my hair out my face. The way he kissed me was dream-like, and nothing made me happier.

"Aren't Aro and Marcus angry you left Volterra? Isn't it that you only leave Volterra for extremely important matters?" I questioned. Caius shook his head. "No, Aro and Marcus encouraged me to come here. And yes, it is usually unlikely for the Volturi to leave Italy. But I have made an exception."

I hugged him tighter and he put his chin on my head. "Darling, dammi la tua assenza stasera, prendere l'ombra dalla tela e lasciare a me il bianco." He murmured the lines from my favorite song in Italian.

"If I could dream at all," He added and smiled so meekly, "It would be about you, and I'm proud of that. But, I'm dying, Essence. I can't stand you not being with me. I wanted Aro and Marcus to kill me if you didn't come back. My life, if that is what it is, has no meaning if you aren't by my side. Ti amo." He pleaded and our hands were entangled together. I hated seeing him this vulnerable. Even his appearance had changed. I hated myself for being such a bitch and leaving him. He was cruel, sadistic, mean, domiant.

"Stop saying that," I searched his defeated face, "You are a Volturi leader. I am nothing but one of the damned. You never would have met me if Heidi hadn't brought me to be killed by you. What if you had killed me? I would not be here for you. Your life would go on. Caius, do not concern yourself with me. You will always own my heart, please believe that."

Caius's eyes narrowed, and I felt small as he glared down at me, "I will stop saying that if you stop talking about me never meeting you. I might be a Volturi leader, but a Volturi leader is nothing without his mate. With the exception of Aro, that is. Come home, I've been waiting for you for so long." I kissed his pale lips as soon as he finished his sentance, and I grabbed his hand and we sprinted through the woods, leading him to the Cullen house.

My eyes were hazy and dreamy, as I came up and down on his bare chest as he breathed heavily from lack of energy from our previous contact. My arms were wrapped around his muscular yet lank torso, and it was freezing like new fallen snow. His scent was so familiar and comforting, I buried my face in his chest. He undid the hair tie that held my hair, untangling my hair with his icy hands. His freezing hands ruffled my hair and rubbed my bare back, his palm rubbing in a circular motion, as a lion would comfort its cub. The thin, sheet covers were drapped lazily, barely over my waist.

The bruises that were scattered over my body from Caius's contact cleared away as quick as they had came. Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine played through the stereo in my room in a low, dreamy manner. The windows that made up my walls searched out into the forest, giving the scene a mystic feel. Caius's icy palm rubbing my bare back made me tired, and for once, I wanted to drift off to sleep.

Have I found you
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping or lost you, american mouth
Big pill looming

Nursing my sore blunt tongue
Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks
Pissing on magazine photos
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold
And clean blood of Christ mountain stream

"One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun, ne'er saw her match since first the world begun. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight. For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. True, I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain, begot of nothing but vain fantasy. And for you and I are past our dancing days." Caius murmured as he continued to rub my freezing, bare back, and with his left hand reading from my Romeo and Juliet book.

I froze; the last two sentances I remember repeating in English class. Hearing his beautiful, masculine, firm, British-accented voice murmur the lines calmed me and I smiled modestly up at him, my head on his chest. He ruffled my hair, then continued to rub my back. My eyes shut, taking in the moment.

"What's going on?" Edward arched an eyebrow and entered the house with Bella, as I stood with my mate in the main family room. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice and Jasper were in the room with Caius and I. Edward froze and glanced at Caius's arm around my waist. Bella analyzed me with surprise and a slight hint of content on her already pale face, and I sensed she was happy I wasn't in a depression. Carlisle and Esme turned contently to Edward. Carlisle had a satisfied smile on his face.

"As the Volturi had me stay, it is only curtious to have Caius stay with Essence and our coven for a little while."

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