This story starts off five years after its prelude: 'Life is never what you expect it to be'. Bella is now Caius's mate and they are both very happily bonded. WARNING: This is an adult version of twilight and will have sexual submission and violence (after all; the story revolves around vampires).
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters but has nothing to do with this story.
Chapter 37 - They've promised that dreams can come true – but forget to mention that nightmares are dreams too*
When Messalina arrived she stood face to face with an inquisitive Alec. After a long discussion she was able to convince him of Isabella's instability and Aro's devotion which she admittedly bordered on obsession.
After her explanation Alec's apprehension slowly ebbed away and Messalina was able to gradually change the subject in order to avoid inadvertently disclosing her own fears concerning Isabella. It took a little while but soon her words seemed to hypnotize him into a calmness he often found in her melodious voice. Once he was totally relaxed she was able to touch his conscience with her mind and slowly erase the memories of his discussions with both Marcus and Aro.
Then, leaving the room she finally allowed her own thoughts to seep in; her mind was in whirlwind after having spoken to Aro. She knew that secrecy was often a part of Aro's actions. However, instructing her to convince Alec of Isabella's wellbeing while she hadn't laid eyes on her; was even strange for Aro. That and this secrecy between him and Marcus seemed to have Aro on the verge of fury; so much so that she was sure that if Alec had pressed Aro for answers even he wouldn't be protected from Aro's anger.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds coming from their bedroom. Turning her attention to the noise Messalina she realized that it must be Alec so she walked to the door and quietly turned the doorknob. Peering into the shadows of their room she saw Alec turning to and fro on their bed as he mumbled something incoherent.
She had often been witness to these incidents the last few months and her fear returned as she was able to pick up a word or two. He was remembering his past, the past that he had shared with Isabella; the past that Aro had asked her to erase.
She only knew a fraction of her powers because she had only possessed them since her vampire birth at the hand of Victoria. Aro had thought that her power was irreversible but it seemed that the memories of a vampire were more complex than either she or Aro had expected.
She had repeated the selective memory loss scan with Alec but there were constant fragments that came to the surface when his unconscious mind was able to wander. It wouldn't be a problem if down time was like a dream for then it would be forgotten as soon as the person was conscious. No, it seemed that as soon as she was able to push away one memory, others surfaced to take their place. The memories became more and more compelling as they accumulated.
She had made her initial scan on Alec about nine years ago; long before she erased the memories of Alice and Jasper Cullens or even Dragus so at the moment only Alec presented a problem. However it seemed that was no safe guard for the future. The memories of the others could return in the same amount of time but it could also take a longer or shorter amount of time; it could even stay away permanently. At the moment she had no idea.
Alec suddenly sat up, his eyes slowly wandered towards the doorway. Seeing a ghost-like figure clad in white with blond hair flowing over her garment he realized that Messalina had been watching his movements.
"The same visions?" She wistfully asked.
"Yes, only it seems that my impressions of emotions and surroundings have evolved; yet the images themselves are still vague and just beyond my reach. I never had dreams before and thought vampires couldn't dream" Alec said in a speculative tone.
Gracefully gliding towards him, Messalina she sat on the edge of their bed her hand raised palm upwards and softly caressed his cheek.
Looking into her eyes he continued "I felt lust and frustration towards a female vampire, I don't know who this was but it must have been one of my victims in the period before I met you. Anyway she gradually surrendered to her fear and desperation. Once she succumbed to my dominance I felt warmth and exhilaration course through my body".
"You have been a vampire for such a long time. This must have been in the beginning of your second life you know our lust and senses are very confusing then; I wouldn't bother myself about it" She reassuringly counselled in her gentle voice.
As his mind wandered so did his eyes as he tried to recapture his dream "What I don't understand is that it's always the same memory and yet I know of all my victims and this one doesn't fit in. She seemed special in some way; a treasure that I had wanted and was finally able to claim. The temperature of the place we were in was tropical… humid and it felt like we were in a closed off bunker". Then turning his face his eyes recaptured hers as he explained "I have hardly ever been in the tropics; I love the warmth but hate humidity".
As Alec spoke Messalina retreated into her thoughts. She felt trapped; sure that once he saw Bella's face the truth would come back in full force. She knew that she no longer had a choice, she would have to leave; she cared for Alec but was afraid of him as well. Not only because he was the loyal protégé of Aro but also because of his suppressed feelings for Isabella. Before she had removed his memories of Isabella from his mind he had been obsessed by her, something so real that Aro saw them as a threat to his loyalty. Was it a wonder that Messalina felt threatened? She doubted their relationship would survive the return of those memories and the desires attached to them.
"Hello love! Are you still with me?" Alec asked rousing Messalina from her thoughts.
She smiled back at him saying "I'm sorry Alec, I was just trying to analyse the situation but for the life of me can't understand what is going on".
"It doesn't matter; every time I get a little closer. Someday soon I will know the answer" then bending forward to kiss her on the nose he said "It will all work itself out.
Then looking at the clock he hastily added "I cannot linger in my thoughts; I must get back to my office. There is more than enough work to do now that Marcus has gone".
Once Alec left the room Messalina decided to leave for the gardens in an effort to soothe her fears.
All of a sudden she realized that her feet had unconsciously brought her to Aro's office and was about to turn back when she heard Aro close behind. She automatically recognized the deadly restraint lacing his voice as he spoke. It seemed however that the person in question was not as perceptive and a moment later Aro thundered "What do you not understand? I want you to lock on that signal and send me the coordinates as soon as possible".
Whoever he was speaking to had quickly departed and a moment later Aro resumed his path; coming closer with every step and angrily mumbling to himself. Fearing that by confrontation her facial expression would betray her anxiety; she opted to hide. Having been concealed by Aro for so long, she knew the entire hidden passageway system.
Quickly opening the outside door of his office she feverishly sought the hidden compartment which she had often used in the past and quickly entered. A moment after she softly closed the door she heard him come in.
He strode forward and Messalina feared he had seen her as his footsteps stopped not far from where she was hiding. A second later he was tapping on the wall and feared she had been discovered.
Just before she opted to reveal herself she heard a metal latch scrapped back and a door open; not far from where she had hidden.
It shouldn't have surprised her; after all, the entire castle was riddled with hidden rooms; what did surprise her however, was to hear Drago's voice.
When their footsteps traveled further into the room her curiosity got the best of her and she dragged her body out of the shadows and put her ear against the door. She heard the creak of the leather chairs and knew they sat across from the hearth.
"I think that the first phase has been accomplished". Drago arrogantly said.
Messalina pondered his words but couldn't grasp their significance. Thankfully after a few moments Aro enquired "please explain yourself".
Dragus smugly chuckled saying "She finally broke asking, even begging for her death so that her misguided behaviour could be forgiven. Your Isabella has said she no longer wants to be a burden to this coven or her mate".
"Is that what she said?"Aro asked, overwhelming relief permeating his words.
"Her exact words; I swear" Drago answered, his voice brusque.
"But how can we be sure that it is no act?"
"Do you doubt my expertise?" Drago grumbled
"No; only her tenacity" Aro quickly answered.
Hearing the two, Messalina finally realized what was going, why Aro had kept Isabella away from the others and why he had been so preoccupied of late.
The fact that Dragus was part of the equation made it all the more terrifying. She had heard the reasons for his twisted vengeance toward Caius. Having heard of the treatment his former mate had suffered at Caius's hand had made her in some way sympathetic to his cause. She was however furious that Isabella, being innocent of any crime, was now at Dragus's mercy.
She knew Isabella's history. She had come to the Volturi coven as a young woman in order to save the Cullen boy and was forced to stay as Caius's mate. It was never her choice it was her fate. After finally accepting the bond Aro's put the fear of the outside world in her by having her kidnapped by Alec.
Messalina had then helped Aro and Dragus to kill Caius but seeing the two of them discuss their manipulation of Isabella made her disgusted with her own role in Isabella's tragedy. She had seen Isabella's initial rebellion and when she and the other coven members heard her speech about a half year later accepting her place beside Aro she had been equally amazed. Many whispered that he had forced their bond and Messalina was now sure of that.
Messalina had looked into Alec's mind and came to the conclusion that although Caius had been a vicious adversary, his love for Isabella had moderated him. Aro however was a powerful and deceptive vampire who collected precious things. Her own life was proof of that; the only reason that she was still alive was because Aro could make good use of her services. From what she understood Isabella also possessed a power that Aro wished to control.
"Tomorrow morning" Dragus mocked "I will show her the path which will lead her away from self-destruction and into your arms".
When Aro gave him no response he continued "I will give her a day to rest and the next day I will continue with her treatment and will slowly mix the blood I have been giving her with healthy blood".
She heard the irritation in Aro's voice as he said "I wish to have her at my side as soon as possible, from what I hear this will be a long-term process". And she knew he frustrated by his need of Dragus's services.
Dragus sighed "Just leave her to me. Next week you will be reintroduced into her life; she will be weak and impressionable. You should bring her back to your apartments; Sulpica's room has been tainted by these last weeks. You will become the pillar upon which she can build her future. To gain her trust and love, you must be gentle and considerate. Once she is dependent on you; loyalty will follow.
The rest of the evening Messalina listened to the two carefully deliberate how they would proceed with Isabella's indoctrination. They hammered out the details and after hours of discussion they finally left the room.
* Oscar Wilde