A/N: Now you know who Alice's mate is, and hopefully they will get their time together eventually. You also know who the other vampire is that wants Bella dead and his connection to Caius. You also now know Caius's connection to Bella. Here is the new chapter. Sorry about the delay, I got a bit of writers block. I know where the story is going, but this chapter decided to give me fits. LOL. Enjoy.

Chapter 37 – Secrets Kept

Caius was having his meal and he thought he heard someone calling his name. Looking up he could see everyone else was busy with their own humans, sucking them dry. So if none of them were calling him, who was it? Was he just hearing things? He finished the human he was drinking from and moved to grab another one when he heard his name again and looked around to see… no, it couldn't be. His eyes had to be deceiving him, but he blinked and she was still there smiling at him like she always did, Livana his sister.

Looking as beautiful as he remembered and so much like Bella, Caius walked towards his sister. She looked angelic and even though the smile was on her face, he could see the sadness in her eyes. Why was she sad? As he reached her, she disappeared and even though he looked around the room, she was gone and it was like she was never there. Was he seeing things? Could he be going crazy? Livana was dead and there was no way she had been there. He was imagining her because of everything that had been going on. At least that is what he told himself, but part of him hoped that it had been her and that after all this time, she was still looking out for her little brother.

Caius snapped himself out of his reverie and grabbed another human that had been huddled in a corner and continued with his meal. He wasn't about to admit that the visage of his dead sister had shaken him to the core. Finishing his meal, he threw the body into the growing pile in the middle of the chamber. He would only have to pretend a few more minutes and then he could leave his brothers for a while in order to gather his thoughts.

Narrowing his eyes on his coven mate, Aro knew something was wrong with Caius, but his brother was not giving up his secrets. His brother was even making sure Aro could not touch him. It was truly strange behavior. He would allow it to continue for now; however, he was not the most patient man and Caius needed to start talking soon. He had tried to get information from those closest to Caius to no avail. Something was going on and he didn't like secrets, not even from those closest to him. "Are you alright my brother?" He probed noticing that Caius kept looking at one spot in the room. There was nothing there but a blank wall though.

"No, I am fine," Caius responded in a clipped tone.

"Are you sure?" Aro pressed.

Lifting an eyebrow, Caius knew his brother wanted answers for many things. He didn't have to have Aro's gift to know that, but it wasn't time just yet, "I have just been doing some thinking lately. I am perfectly fine."

"About Livana?" The leader asked still trying to get answers.

Marcus sucked in a breath. That was not the name you muttered in Caius's presence. "Aro!" He exclaimed shocked that his brother could be so callus.

Aro looked at Marcus with the most innocent look upon his face, "What? I am just concerned for our dear brother and we know how melancholy he gets about this time of year when the anniversary of her death approaches."

Shaking his head, Caius thought, "He is never as innocent as he appears or acts. He is the most ruthless out of all of us. Others may think it is me, but he has them fooled." He measured his words carefully before he spoke, "If you must know, I have been thinking about her a lot lately, yes."

"The way you have described her and the portrait that you have, I am sure she was a lovely woman," Marcus smiled trying to break the tension and remind Aro not to say anything unwise, but this was Aro and he always watched his words… to a point.

"Yes and it was a travesty that she was taken so young," the leader plastered on a sympathetic face.

Caius wasn't fooled. He knew Aro believed that it had been thousands of years and he should be over the loss of his sister by now, but how could he be when the last memory of her still haunts him, when there are other things that are still hung over his head, and when Bella is alive and is a descendent. His brother didn't understand because Livana had decided to remain human and that meant she would have died anyway. Dying of old age was better than what she had to endure though, and he blamed himself. If he had been there, if he had found her sooner, if he hadn't become what he had maybe she would still be alive; and maybe Alexias wouldn't be in the prison of his own making his hatred growing for Caius with each passing day. So many things happened that day and he has learned so much since, but it wasn't time to reveal everything just yet. Clearing his throat, he nodded, "Yes, she was, and the travesty was in how she died."

"Yes," Aro sighed.

"If you will excuse me, I am going to go and find my wife," Caius stated leaving the room and his fellow rulers behind. He felt the pressure building and knew that time was running short, but he still needed to come up with a plan that would take down all of his enemies. Just a little more time was all he needed.

Maine…

Bella trudged into the cabin laughing with Jasper right behind her. Her clothes looked like she had been in a catfight, and that wasn't too far from the truth since it had been a bobcat. She was covered in dirt and grass and her clothes were ripped and covered in blood, but she was smiling which meant that it hadn't been too bad.

"How did it go?" Alice giggled from the couch as she got a good look at her best friend.

Closing the door behind him, Jasper chuckled, "It was interestin', but she is a fast learner and did real well. I knew she would do good and I had every faith in her."

Bella started to laugh and couldn't help but tease her mate a bit, "Oh is that why you came running up to me in a panic after I killed the bobcat?"

"I was just seeing if you needed help darlin'," Jasper grinned and sent her a wink.

Rolling her eyes, Bella smirked, "Oh is that what you call it?"

"That is exactly what I call it. Why don't you hop in the shower and get cleaned up. You look like you were pig wrestlin' and the pig won," Jasper joked.

The girl in question looked down at herself and it finally dawned on her how bad it really was. Her shirt was barely hanging on her and it was shredded in several places. Her jeans looked like they had been put through the ringer and she wondered how they were still attached to her. She was covered with blood and mud and could barely see her porcelain skin, "I guess I am a little dirty."

Alice and Jasper snickered together, "A little?"

"Ok, I am going to go take a shower," Bella assented as she walked up to Jasper and gave him a little kiss before leaving the exes in the room together. She really did need a shower because she was starting to feel nasty.

Smiling at Jasper as he took a seat in one of the chairs, Alice told him, "You look happy. She brings out something in you."

"She does," he agreed and gave her his crooked smile. He turned serious for a moment, "I hope that one day you are able to have that too."

"We will. I am not sure what all will happen, but we are going to be together in the end," Alice's smile was full of hope and promise.

Jasper smiled and prayed Alice found happiness with her mate like he had with Bella. He knew that there were still trials to go through, but he felt like he could conquer the world if she was by his side. Now if only they knew more about why Caius wanted her and who wanted her dead, he would feel better. He hated things shrouded in shadows and secrecy. Glancing at Alice, he asked, "Have you gotten anything else?"

"No, I am watching, but nothing is coming up right now. I get the feeling that everything will come to a head sooner rather than later though," she spoke softly.

Running his hand through his hair, he sighed, "Me to Alice, me too."