A/N: Well Edward is dead and Jasper got in a few final blows before he met his end, and now they have to go to Italy, but they are not going alone. This will be the second time Caius is meeting Bella, but the first time since Bella knows about their relation to each other. What is going to happen there? Actually, a lot. Enjoy the new chapter!
PS… I have an account on Wattpad now. I am not abandoning Fanfiction, but I have posted my first story over there. It is a new Twilight story with a Seth/OC vamp pairing and set five years after the Volturi showed up in Forks. My author name over there is the same as here, mcangel1976.
Chapter 52 – Light and Darkness, Lost and Found
Christian watched as Bunta ran out of Alexias's room and punch the wall. Even he had to admit that the man was getting to be a little too much, but he was there to serve Alexias and as such, he had to put up with the quirks that went along with the older vampire. Sometimes he wondered if he was fighting on the right side of the fence though. He had been a nomad, a nobody, when Bunta found him and brought him into the fold. He couldn't remember his family, they were vague images in his mind, and he didn't have anyone important to him; so when he was asked to join an army fighting against the Volturi, he went along with the redhead without question.
Sighing, he walked up to his commander and asked, "What's wrong?"
Glancing up, Bunta should have known that Christian was close and chuckled, "Nothing. I am alright." He placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and walked off down the hall. He needed to be alone with his thoughts.
Bunta actually remembered his family, his siblings, and what happened the day he lost them all. He was convinced that it was the Volturi that had done it and based on what Christian had been told, he had to agree, but there was something that seemed off about the whole thing. Christian just wasn't sure what it was, and he wondered if his commander had not missed something vital that would lead to a different conclusion. The only problem with that thought… Bunta had already made his verdict and proclaimed the Volturi guilty of the crime, and there was probably nothing that would change his mind.
There were two reasons that Christian had stayed with Alexias through the years: he had become friends with Bunta and considered him a brother, and the only way to leave was to die. He would like to keep himself from turning into ash, at least for a while longer. Shaking his head, he went to check in with the guards to make sure everything was secure, but his mind was still on his friend. Something had happened between Bunta and Alexias… what was it?
As soon as Bunta had reached the sanctity of his own private quarters, he slammed the door closed and wanted to throw something, but there was nothing near him to hurl. Grabbing his hair, he groaned and once again had to remind himself that he was there for revenge; he was sticking through the abuse and the irritations because of revenge. However, this time it did nothing to calm himself as it had done so many times in the past.
Before his eyes, visions of his family swam, and he was once again reminded of how the Volturi took them from him. He had to remember that, he had to keep that in mind every time he wanted to kill the psychopath he called boss. Not that he could kill Alexias; that was impossible. The older vamp had strength that most vampires did not have, and he had some powers, but he could not leave the room he was ensnared in.
Bunta leaned against the wall behind him. He was a vampire and he felt exhausted, mentally and physically; he felt like a weight was settling around his neck and pulling tight. Today was just another layer to the shit that piled on him. According to Raver's last report, they made it to their destination two days ago, but since then there has been radio silence and thus far no one has been able to reach anyone on the team that went to capture Bella, not even Edward. Where were they all? Did the mission fail? Bunta didn't know, but Alexias seemed to find it in his heart to blame and almost decapitate him for the perceived failure.
He kept telling himself that he was biding his time, but for what? Revenge against the Volturi, yes, but what else? Before she died, the witch told him, "This is suicide to stay with him and the items you are missing are still out there to be found. Don't give up hope, you will find them soon." He wasn't looking for anything. What did he need to find? Sighing again, he ran his hands through his hair, "Alexias is just a means to an end. That's all. Then I can die and be with my family. That is all I want; there isn't anything for me to find. My parents and siblings are dead and buried, and the only thing that I want to find is the Volturi in ashes, and my hope died centuries ago. The only thing left now is hate."
Volterra, Italy…
Pacing in his room Caius had just received word that Jane and Alec would be bringing Bella back to Italy with them the next day. He was anxious and excited at seeing his many times over great niece again, but he would not let himself get caught up in the nostalgia of the past. Livana was dead and as much as Bella looked like his deceased sister, it wasn't her and never would be. He would not allow the girl to be his downfall. The only way she could be his light, was if she helped him destroy Aro and Alexias… and if she paid with her life, oh well; at least, that is what he told himself. There was still a part of him that didn't want to hurt Bella because a part of Livana lived in her, and the last thing he wanted to do was kill any part of his beloved sister.
"My lord, she will be here soon and she does not come alone," Mira announced as soon as she walked into Caius's chambers.
"Of course not, Alec and Jane are with her, and I am sure her mate comes as well," Caius scoffed.
Mira shook her head, "It is as I predicted, two left and eleven will return. They are ready for battle. Alexias's plan failed in Maine and he will not be happy. At this moment he is trying to figure out what happened and why no one is contacting him. There is discord in his ranks and it will soon be time to destroy him, but not yet. Bella can't die, she mustn't."
Rolling his eyes, he was tired of riddles and prophecies, "She mustn't because it will free Alexias, I know."
"She isn't meant to die. Remember my lord, she is either your light or your downfall; which will you choose?"
"Will you stop speaking in riddles?" Caius bellowed.
"Only you can figure out the prophecy for yourself. You have much hate in your life, but you never let your darkness completely consume you. Alexias was the opposite; the darkness took over his whole being and engulfed him. He is no longer the brother you once thought he was… he will never be."
"I knew that the day I retrieved my sister's babe from the gypsy camp."
Mira nodded in agreement, "I know. I can tell you this, Bella can save you if you let her and she can be your light, but if you embrace the darkness, she can be your downfall."
"What does that mean?"
"You will figure it out. I will also tell you that we will find allies in your enemy's camp."
"That isn't possible. If they serve Alexias, they need to die."
"Not everything is as it seems and you need to remember what your sister taught you, what she believed, and what she hoped for you," Mira said softly as she left the room, leaving Caius to think about what she said.
There were times like these that Caius really hated the way the witches had always talked in circles. What did it all mean and why would no one give him a straight answer? It was enough to drive a sane man insane. He was above all that though and he would figure it out sooner or later. Darkness? He scoffed at that notion. He didn't have any darkness in him, at least no more than other men; he wasn't Alexias and he never would be. He wanted to purge their world of evil and punish those who did wrong; he didn't want to destroy it. There was a difference, and when both Aro and Alexias were both gone, it would mean he could start to set things right for people Aro tried to destroy or captured, and he could clean house, purging the Volturi of any evil. He would be judge and executioner, but that is how it has always been.
Shaking his head, he couldn't figure out what Mira was trying to tell him and for now, he was going to brush it to the side. It appeared they had a small company to welcome into Volterra soon. He had been expecting four, and now they were getting seven he had not planned on. This could make things difficult, but not impossible. In the end, Caius knew he would get what he wanted and if Bella was still alive afterward, she and Jasper could take Aro's place if she so desired; however, first they would need to cross a few items off of the agenda as quickly as possible.
Maine…
"Do you think he is going to try to separate us when we arrive?" Bella questioned Jasper as they sat in a meadow following their hunt.
Breathing in and exhaling loudly, Jasper answered, "I wish I knew Darlin', but I can tell you that if he tries anything, he isn't gonna succeed."
Bella snuggled into Jasper's side a little more, "I will admit this to you and you alone, but I'm scared. Not that it is much of an admission since you probably sensed that anyway."
"I did, but I still like it when you confide in me. I would be lyin' if I said I wasn't a little worried myself, but as long as we stick together, we can and will get through this."
"I know."
Jasper lifted her and settled her in his lap, breathing in her scent and relished the fact that his mate was in his arms, the only place he wanted her to be, "No matter what happens in Italy or wherever else we have to go, we are going to come out of this side by side. I love you and no one can rip us apart. Edward tried and failed, Caius will fail as well."
There was something in his words and the conviction with which he spoke that always made her feel better and more assured, "I love you too, Jasper." Leaning back slightly, she looked into his eyes before allowing her gaze to rove lower and settle on his lips before she claimed them for her own. Talk ceased after that as they basked in the feeling of complete solitude for the last time in what she was sure would be a longer period of time than she really wanted to face.
Back at the cabin, Alice gave Alec a strange look, "Have you lost something?"
Shaking his head and laughing, her mate answered, "Not that I know of."
"Odd."
"What do you see Alice?" Carlisle questioned. He knew she had seen something and that meant it was time to ask questions. Alec still had some things to learn about being with Alice it seemed.
"Alec and Jane finding something they lost," Alice replied.
"Do you know what it is?" The Cullen patriarch asked.
Alice concentrated for a moment before she frowned, "No, I don't know. Caius will be waiting for us before we enter the city gates. Marcus and Aro won't know we are coming and will not know we are there. He is expecting all of us."
"If he has a witch working for him, she could have told him the news," Carlisle stated.
Nodding, the seer continued, "A redhead and a brunette will be joining us after our stop in Italy."
Carlisle was a bit worried about that, "From where?"
"The other side," Alice looked up with a shocked face and glanced at Jane. There were more things coming in the future that they needed to be prepared for, and Jane was about to get a surprise of epic proportions.
