RATING; Teen for a bit of suggestive words and swearing

DISCLAIMER; I, of course, don't own anything except for Valeria and the story plot ;D


XI

Caius sneered down at the guard and reached down to grab hold of his collar to yank him upright forcefully. "Would you be so kind to entertain us by elaborating?" He snapped, his perfect lips curled back to expose his sharp venom-coated fangs. Valeria rolled her eyes and shoved the king off of the terrified guard. Caius glared at the vampiress "What—"

"Hush up and let Santiago speak at his own will." Valeria growled, elbowing him. Santiago opened his mouth but no sound came out until he cleared his throat. Even then, it took him several minutes to find the words needed to explain the situation.

"Speak, boy!" Aro finally commanded, his patience long gone.

"He," Santiago started before licking his lips. "came when I started to escort Lady Athenodora up the stairs. She attacked me while another vampire came up from behind me. As you can see, he decapitated me. I could not see my assailant's face, masters, but by the scent... I knew it was Claude."

Caius suddenly let out a low growl that shook everyone, except Aro, to the core. "That wicked, back-stabbing vampire!" Valeria crossed her arms and sighed, shaking her head as her mate continued to argue with his brother. "I told you he was no good, Aro. Look what he has done. He beheaded one of our elite guards just to save his beloved."

"Wait. What?" Valeria interjected. The two chose to ignore her. Aro was expected to be rational and mature at these times, but he took up the challenge his brother had presented him.

"He had great potential, brother. You cannot deny that before all of this, he was a fine member of the Volturi."

"Yes, but look at what he has become! I knew we should have just executed him when we had the chance."

"Shut the fuck up, both of you!" Valeria bellowed angrily. For the past few minutes, she had been ignored for far too long and her irritation only worsened. Aro and Santiago flinched and looked over at the vampiress with a slightly raised brow. Caius growled impatiently, his scowl deepening. "Now. Tell me. Claude was in love with Athenodora?"

"Yes. Which was why I mentioned that he decapitated—" Caius started to answer, but he was interrupted by Valeria.

"Yes, Yes, I heard all of that. No need to repeat yourself." She smirked. "Did you know of this?" When her mate nodded, she rolled her eyes. "Lord, save me from his ignorant actions." Valeria muttered under her breath.

Caius snarled, clearly offended. Aro sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Hold on for just a moment. I just saw Claude in the corridors before I departed from my chambers. Are you sure it was him, Santiago?"

Santiago nodded an affirmative. "I swear it was him, Master Aro. I even saw his cross pendant."

"This is a massive problem." Valeria sighed, shaking her head.


"I do not see the problem in this..." Marcus wheezed as he leaned his head back onto the chair, closing his tired eyes. "Athenodora is gone from the castle. What more could you possibly want?"

Caius bared his teeth in a snarl. "You do not understand! Athenodora is out there, perhaps plotting against my mate!"

Marcus' eyes opened so fast that it almost seemed impossible. "I do understand, brother. My precious Didyme was in the predicament as Valeria!" He snapped. Stepping forward from the shadows, Valeria gently rested her hand on Caius's shoulder.

"Caius, what harm can Athenodora do? She has no special gift. Marcus is right and I do not believe that we should press him on the matter." She murmured softly so her words that were for his ears only. Growling, the King swiveled around and stomped out of the room. Valeria's eyes followed her mate's form exit the room before she sighed and sank down into a chair beside Marcus. "He's too temperamental."

The dark-haired vampire looked at her with dead eyes before turning away to look into the fire. "Is he not always?"

Valeria chuckled and placed her forehead on the tips of her fingers, closing her eyes. "You are correct..."


Very late update.

Very short chapter.

Very crappy chapter.

Very rushed.

All in all this chapter is a piece of sh*t :D