Chapter 11: friends and foes
Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. I just toy with them.
Author's note: Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far, sorry for the late update. Thanks if you review/favourite/followed! You guys are awesome! ;)
3 MONTHS LATER
Caius's POV
It has been over three months since I laid eyes on Isabella. I have felt our bond grow into a relationship in those few months. I was overjoyed that she had accepted me into her life, though Marcus and Aro had reassured me that she would not have had a choice. The mating bond would over ride her negative feelings towards me though Marcus had added that she may still be resentful towards me for the things that I have said and done. I had not experienced that from her yet, but I had noticed her change in behaviour. She has been quite down the past month or so more so after the Cullen's had departed. I stopped in my tracks, getting lost in my thoughts and redirected myself to the dungeons towards my now ex wife. Though she was not capable of talking just yet she was shall we say a little isolated from the rest of her body. I smirked. I was going to have a lot of fun. I smiled my trademark smirk as I walked into the cell that held Athenodora. I looked down on her.
Bella's POV
The garden was so beautiful at this time of the year. Today I was alone, Sulpicia was with Aro and Caius had excused himself which was very unusual. What made me suspicious was his facial expression. It was distant and somewhat detached, obviously he was hiding something from me, and there was a glint in his eyes that I had never seen before, though I didn't really want to find out.
I missed the Cullen's. They promised to visit again soon. Mysteriously Edward was not with them when they left. I remember showing Alice and Esme the garden; we spent most of the day catching up. Apparently Victoria has been looking for me during my continued absence and that I have been reported missing. I felt guilt wash through me and settle at the pit of my stomach. I quickly thought of something else instead of going down that road. Thinking of the lengths that Charlie had probably gone through to find me. My stomach twisted in guilt at that. I've grown depressed and I felt strangely homesick.
I felt a presence behind me I turned to find Jane and Alec. I smiled in greeting and both of their faces lit up. Jane had considerably warmed up to me in the past few weeks. The twins usually came to find me with the excuse that they were to guard me. Of course I didn't believe them, they gave me the cheekiest smiles making them look younger.
"Sure sure. Like I'm going to be attacked any second." I said sarcastically. They laughed.
"Oh alright! Fine, Aro wanted us to test you to see what abilities that you would have." Jane explained.
"Not that you will be fighting or any of the sort but just out of curiosity." Alec added. I smiled enthusiastically.
"Ok. When do we start?" I asked genuinely curious. I had been wondering if I had a gift since I opened my eyes.
"Tomorrow, if you like?" Alec said while I nodded. We walked around the garden a few times; just talking to one another about nothing really I always seemed to be laughing when around them. We then started wondering around the castle randomly. It was two or three hours that Jane and Alec grudgingly admitted that they have guard duty to return to. I bid them farewell and kept wondering the castle until I came across a room. The door was open so I glided inside. There, I was met with sight that cracked me up laughing. Felix was on top of Demetri, wrestling by the looks of it. But it looked wrong because Felix was so much bigger and broader than Demetri that it made me double over laughing. They looked up with sheepish half smiles.
"It's not what it looks like!" Demetri explained; embarrassed by what they must look like from another's point of view. Felix smiled up at me and Demetri took the distraction to then flip Felix over and get him in a head lock. But Felix using his strength simply chucked him off of him. I laughed.
"Yep! That looked really wrong and awkward." I said. They both laughed out of embarrassment. Demetri kicked an imaginary rock.
"I'm just going to go." I said awkwardly. They both started up laughing again.
"OK!" Felix said escorting me out. I noticed he placed his hand on the small of my back. It made me just a little uncomfortable. I turned in the opposite direction, he didn't move his hand and as I turned away it felt like a caress. Due to my heightened senses I could feel the soft fabric of my light summer dress move as his finders left. I quickly ran down the corridor. Only looking over my shoulder once. Felix wasn't looking at me but I could tell he was listening to my footsteps. He had a small smile on his face, then Demetri appeared from out of the room, he looked towards me as I turned away and I quickened my pace toward Caius's study. I shut the door quietly and turned to find Caius looking at me.
"Are you well, darling?" he asked concerned. 'Darling' that's a new one, but I liked it.
"Yes."My voice cracked and gave a sheepish smile. He was in front of me that seemed to be no time at all.
"Something is wrong..." he said observing me. He brushed a stray strand of hair from my face behind my ear. I didn't answer him, though I was glad he didn't press the subject.
"Come." He said abruptly, crooking his arm around my elbow and leading me outside. I immediately felt comfortable and relaxed.
"Where are we going?" I asked him curiously. He looked at me and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back.
"I want to show you something..."
