AN: Sorry for the delay folks, here we go :)
A Very Un-Merry Christmas
Dora had already suffered through the Christmas address in the great hall. Standing alone in a room full of people had been heart wrenchingly hard. Of course, Caius, Magnus, and Freyr were in their thrones being their important selves whilst Dora stood around like a lemon without a soul to talk to.
Irina had refused to attend the coven's Christmas event, as she had all events since the Denali girls had been held captive in Volterra.
Dora hadn't attended any whilst her mate was away on the mission, either, choosing instead to stay in with Irina. No sooner than Dora had arrived in the great hall, she was wishing she'd gone to Irina's instead. It came as a huge relief when they finally left, though having to endure the afternoon in the south tower hardly seemed to be an improvement.
"Don't leave me alone in there," Dora whispered to Caius as they approached the south tower door.
"I promise I won't," Caius agreed, taking his mate's hand in his own and offering her a supportive squeeze.
Aro had only briefly seen Caius in the great hall that morning for the coven Christmas address. They had so much to catch up on, with Caius having been away for so long. As soon as Caius and Dora came in through the door, Aro accosted his co-master, drawing his attention away from his mate.
Dora clung on as Caius inched further and further away. Before she had said a word to anyone, their hands slipped apart, and she was alone again. You couldn't even keep your word for a minute, she thought, completely dissatisfied with her relationship.
Sulpicia, as she had been directed by Atia, greeted Dora and tried to engage her in conversation. It was stilted - the pair had so little to say to one another, but Dora was grateful that she'd made the effort. Naturally, that effort dissipated quickly when Carmen arrived with Eleazar and the Denali girls. No sooner had Irina joined Dora, Sulpicia made excuses to leave and join Carmen instead.
"I was hoping you would be here today," Irina said to Dora once Sully was out of the way. "Already swimming with the sharks, though?" she questioned snidely, looking to the coven queen.
"She doesn't have the gumption to be a shark," Dora whispered. "Out right bitch, that one."
The pair giggled feverishly together until Caius caught their eye. The awkward smile he offered Dora turned her stomach. Prick, she thought. Two-faced, double-crossing prick.
"He always leaves you, doesn't he?" Irina noted more than asked, winding Dora up further. "Never apologises."
"He doesn't have to," Dora replied. She felt like she was seeing her mate with true clarity for the very first time and she disliked what she saw. "I know I'm not worthy of his apologies," she added sardonically.
"That's good," Irina said, feeding her arm through Dora's so they were joined together. "Because he never will."
"How is it good?!" Dora asked, looking crushed.
Irina pulled Dora in close as they walked through the south towers grand living space to the back window where they could talk privately. "You had a life in mind when you met Caius, and you imagined a future in it, and that's great." She sat the two of them down on the window ledge, keeping Dora tight. "But if it didn't turn out to be a healthy and stable life for you, you're not obligated to stay in it."
What Irina had said was good advice for anyone, especially to another woman in an unhappy relationship. Unfortunately, Irina only said it to move Dora closer to her and further from her husband.
Still, Dora found truth in Irina's words and, importantly, for a woman feeling lost in the world, Irina offered her comfort, comfort that wasn't so forthcoming from anyone else. Even Freyr and Magnus played it cool in front of other coven members. Dora knew they did that to protect Caius' pride, but it hurt her greatly that no one had thought how that made her feel. But then why would they? she mused. My feelings are second best on a good day!
"You are a staging ground for his life, Dora," Irina added with a whisper. "You don't have to put up with it … unless you like being treated in such a way, of course."
Like it?! Who would like it?! Dora thought, glaring viciously at Caius who laughed and joked with Aro, completely unaware of his mate, her hurt, or the trap into which Irina was leading the pair of them.
Caius' good spirits only lasted until Magnus and Freyr arrived. He turned his back on the juggernaut as soon as he walked in.
Magnus sighed in response but did a good job of otherwise hiding his emotions. He'd already sat through the Christmas address with Caius avoiding his eye completely. You can't avoid me much longer, boy.
Freyr spent the whole night in the lower floor suite arguing with Caius about Odi. Magnus was fuming. Their conversation had started out well enough, Caius had even been apologetic over his treatment of Odi. His regret only lasted until Freyr said her piece on the matter, which is when Caius exploded and started ranting about the kid. When he ran out of things to complain about with Odi, he set in on Freyr, and then Dora … the list was endless once he got into the swing of his oration. Caius knew it was the dungeon blood, or rather, the come down from the dungeon blood. He only hoped Freyr hadn't told Magnus some of the things he'd said, mostly the things he'd called her.
With a sly glance over his shoulder, Caius caught the juggernaut's eye. It was only a brief moment, but it told Caius everything he needed to know - Freyr had told Magnus and Magnus was seriously pissed! Oh yes, you little cretin, Magnus thought, scowling at Caius. I have plenty I want to say to you. You'll be getting both barrels once Christmas is over.
Caius winced and turned back to Aro. "Fill it right up to the top," he said, holding out his glass.
Aro held the bottle hovering above the glass. "It's whiskey, not wine."
"I'm aware of that." Caius knocked the whole thing back with a gulp. It burned on the way down and he didn't try to hide it. It was almost as if he wanted to punish himself.
"How bad was the mission?" Aro asked sensing the awkwardness between Caius and Magnus. "Was it something Magnus did?"
"No," Caius heaved a heavy sigh. "I wish it was, but no. It was all me."
Aro bobbed his head, refilling Caius' glass. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not yet."
Caius knocked back the second glass.
Reluctantly, Aro filled his glass again. "You're going to owe me a bottle, brother."
Caius winced as he took the third glass in full. That was damn near half a bottle of whiskey in 30 seconds. "Take it out of my wages."
Aro handed the bottle over to his co-master. "Just don't get kicking off in here, Caius," he offered in friendly warning. "The kids …"
Caius dragged his hand down his face. "Yeah, I know," he muttered, knowing he was making things worse, but seemingly unable to stop himself.
Jane came stomping over to her father with a scowl on her face, elbowing her way in between the co-masters.
"Why aren't any of my presents barking?"
"Because you are not having a bloody dog!" Aro shot back. "You already have an Alec and you never play with him."
"Will one of these do for now, Jane?" Magnus asked the girl, handing over her werewolf pelt.
She would have liked to continue scowling at her father, but Jane couldn't hide the smile on her face when she rubbed it into the fluffy pelt.
Aro thanked the juggernaut on his girl's behalf as Jane, without a second thought, bolted to show Tanya what she'd received.
"Jane!" he snapped after her, not that she cared. You are picking up far too many tips from the Denali girls! Aro thought, annoyed by her rudeness.
That left Caius and Magnus alone.
"I expect you to come to my chambers when we are through with this," Magnus said sounding dangerously calm. "You should stop drinking, you'll want a clear head for what I have planned."
Caius shuddered. "I think I'd rather be drunk, if it's all the same to you."
Naturally Caius was thoroughly expecting another showdown with Magnus ... which would lead to a massive round of fucks for the younger master. That was on the cards, sure, but Magnus had other plans, too. One of which could well send Caius running for the hills - he planned on telling Odi the truth about their odd arrangement to explain why Caius had so suddenly started treating him like dirt.
"Where's mine?!" Tanya whined when she saw Jane with her wolf pelt.
Eleazar growled lightly and she didn't say anymore, though the impish scowl remained.
Hearing the girl, Magnus chuckled. "You might have met your match, Caius," he hissed. "The Denali girls are bigger brats than you! Who thought such a thing possible."
Yeah, funny. Twat. Caius took himself to a chair and gently lowered himself down. He was still suffering from Magnus' belt the day before, though with his abrasion continuing, it clearly hadn't made much of an impression on him.
Handing over the snowy white pelt Tanya had spotted in the great hall, Magnus flashed her a smile. "I believe this is the one you chose, my dear?"
"Oh thank you!" Tanya squealed, bouncing on the spot.
Typical! Aro sneered to himself. The one time that kid says thank you after my own didn't. Aro had become accustomed to the embarrassment his older boys brought. Feeling it through Jane's actions was a definite rarity and he wanted to keep it that way. At least no one else noticed … ah fuck! Aro soon stopped when he saw Eleazar with a big, goofy, self-satisfied grin on his face.
Since Eleazar had taken on the girls, the sibling rivalry between the two eldest Volturi brothers had reached a height never before seen. It displayed itself in a very peculiar way - one-upmanship through their children's actions.
Despite the general mischief Felix and Demetri caused, they had been on a good run since the girls arrived, much to Aro's delight and Eleazar's annoyance. Add to that, the Denali girls were still volatile little beings, and Eleazar barely had control over them on a good day - when those girls blew up, they took every ounce of his pride with them.
Overall, then, Eleazar should have given up his game with Aro and taken it on the chin, but, his darling niece and nephew were bringing the goods! Jane was really enjoying having a couple of similarly aged girls in the coven and she was taking her lead from Kate and Tanya. Alec, therefore, had lost his playmate. With Sulpicia growing annoyed with the boy's near constant whinging and whining over his boredom, Alec was left to follow his father around. Oh yes, the twins were providing Eleazar with many much-needed wins against his brother.
"Did you hear Tanya say thank you?" he asked his brother, still grinning.
Aro rolled his eyes. "A small win, brother," he said. "My daughter was perfect before your girls came along …"
Hence, another argument between the two brothers began.
"Irina, look!" Tanya swished the pelt around behind her shoulders, encasing herself in white fluff.
"Yeah, great, Tan," Irina sneered from her perch. Even at Christmas she couldn't be relied upon to be nice to anyone.
"Aww Tanya, you look adorable!" Carmen said quickly, covering the rest of Irina's sneering comments before Tanya could take them to heart.
Freyr adjusted the pelt for Tanya and stepped back to get a good look at her. "It must be nice to have a few more girls, Atia."
"They aren't her girls," Irina tutted and did that damn hair flick thing that riled Freyr to her core.
"It's nice to have some more girls, I agree," Atia replied to Freyr. "But not that one." On turning to greet Magnus she came face to face with a werewolf! "Why do they have heads?!" she shrieked, taking a step back.
"Special order." Magnus launched one of the headed pelts over the women's head to reach Felix.
"Magnus you are amazing!"
"See," Aro hissed to Eleazar. "Felix said thank you."
"Hardly," Eleazar hissed back.
Tanya was quick to notice Magnus still held onto a final pelt, another headed one at that. "That's not fair! Why does Felix get two?" she asked with a definite bratty whine to her tone.
"Tanya, don't be so rude," Carmen told the girl, offering a tight apologetic smile to Magnus.
Aro positively glowed!
"This one's Demetri's," Magnus explained, passing the final pelt to the boy in question.
Making his way through the floor full of vampiric kids, Magnus headed to the open window where Marcus smoked his opium and Basileus, unusually, smoked Aro's hash.
"This isn't like you," Magnus commented, taking the creator's hash pipe and having a blast.
Basileus gestured to Irina who sat plotting with Dora. "It's the only way to keep that girl from getting stoned," he said. "She won't come within five feet of me."
"Irina hasn't settled in whilst I was away then?"
"Her abrasion grows daily," Marcus told him quietly, too low for anyone else to hear. "Kate and Tanya can be pleasant."
The 'can be' did not skip Magnus by. They seemed nice enough kids to him, just used to different expectations. "Eleazar appears to have gotten over his shock, at least," he noted. "How is he coping with them?"
"Better, but not brilliant." Basileus winced when he heard the girls shrieking laughter rising. "The noise they make, goddamn the noise!" They were making the creator a nervous wreck! "And that's the happy noise. The walls shake in my chambers from their arguments."
"You're telling me about arguments?!" Magnus chuckled. "I live above Caius and Dora!"
Marcus nodded along. Granted he lived yet another floor above Caius and Dora but their arguments could reach epic proportions. Or, at least, they used to ... before Magnus became involved in their lives. Marcus was very grateful for the juggernaut's intervention.
Magnus wasn't wining that one. Basileus shook his head. "At least Dora doesn't squeal her frustrations."
"No, that comes with an entirely different type of activity and it's even more disturbing, I assure you."
Again Marcus nodded along with Magnus.
From nowhere Irina dived into Caius' lap, forcing him to make full contact with the seat he had been half hovering above. It was all he could do to keep the obscenities in his head with the burn engulfing his backside. Burn may have been a little strong, Magnus hadn't been that hard on him and Caius had knocked back plenty of bloodwine to help with the issue. It was his pride that hurt the most and he desperately didn't want anyone to know what had happened. The single whimper he had released was bad enough.
"Has Dora had time to speak with you?" she asked, playing with the opening of his shirt.
Caius soon forgot his pain. "She mentioned something."
"You can have me, my lord. If you want me?"
Before Caius could answer he heard Freyr calling him from behind, "Are you alright, Caius?"
Nothing kills a turn on quicker than having your old dears in the room, he thought. Knowing he was already in for a round of hell from Magnus after the way he'd spoken to Freyr, he decided to save himself and not push any further.
"Oh, I want you," he told the girl. "But no, I cannot have you." Caius pushed Irina from his lap and went back to Aro ... and more whiskey.
Basileus raised an eyebrow to Magnus. He didn't have to say anything else.
"I've taken care of it already," Magnus assured. "Caius won't be going there with Irina, trust me."
Basileus was visibly relieved to hear such news. "Thank the gods for that."
"I think you mean, thank Magnus for that," Marcus quipped.
Magnus puffed out his chest, trying to match Basileus' size. To be fair, he was only an inch or so off. "Magnus/God - no difference, my friend."
"Alright, alright," Basileus knew how to bring the guy back down to earth. "Have you dealt with Caius for the mission yet?"
It worked. Magnus' shoulder sunk a little. "Aye, it didn't go down well ... but he took it. I think Freyr had a bigger effect on him, though. She really let rip when she found out." He left out how sour Freyr's turn with Caius had ended.
"Why is Caius so disgruntled?" Marcus asked. "I heard about the mission, but I assume there is something else?"
"Oh there is, Marcus." Magnus replied. "Caius is jealous of Odi, though only the gods know why!"
"Aha! Understood." Marcus and Basileus shared a knowing look that had Magnus confused.
"What do you understand?" Magnus asked. "Share it with me because I am baffled!"
Marcus looked to Basileus for the go ahead before he spoke. Receiving a nod from the creator, he explained, "Caius' bond with you and Freyr, particularly you, is very strong, my friend. He must see Odi as a threat to that."
Basileus couldn't keep his laughter quiet any longer. When he saw Magnus looking gormless and confused still, he let rip.
"I'm glad you find this so funny, Basileus," Magnus hissed, thumping his fist into the man's arm. "All of this started with your story telling!"
"I'm sorry, my friend," Basileus replied through his chuckles.
Magnus folded his arms, huffing in a most undignified way. "I might believe you if you stopped laughing!"
Basileus got himself under control. "I just find it funny to see someone else battling with sibling rivalry."
"Sibling rivalry?!" Magnus damn near choked on the words. "Odi's my son, yes, though he resists that fact when it suits him." He took a glance at Caius only to receive a scornful look in return. It hurt Magnus, it really did. He loved Caius like a son, but he doubted Caius would ever truly feel the same. "Caius isn't mine at all. How can this be sibling rivalry?"
"You can call them whatever you wish, Magnus, but those are the bonds." Marcus turned his hands to the air. "The bonds do not lie."
Basileus rested his hand on Magnus' shoulder. "You should have taken Odi with you when you took those private chambers."
"Odi didn't want to come with us," Magnus explained. "We asked him at the time."
"You should revisit that option now, my friend," Marcus suggested.
"He still wouldn't want to. Odi wants to be a guard." Magnus shrugged. "Caius wouldn't be happy with it, either."
"You're giving them both too much say in the matter."
Magnus expected Marcus to disagree with Basileus on that point, he could usually be relied upon to take a softer hand in proceedings. Seeing the man simply nod came as a surprise.
"You pair are screwing with my head!" Magnus said. He had too much to think about with Caius and Odi as it was without his best mates throwing in more things for him to consider.
Basileus winced again, that time it was Irina and Dora shrieking their laughter.
"I'm not happy about that, either. Basileus," Magnus said darkly looking at the Denali girl with Dora.
Dora had never been particularly confident, at least, not in the time Magnus had known her. But seeing how easily Irina was worming her way into Dora's life concerned Magnus deeply. Seeing Dora mimicking the Denali girl in her mannerisms plain irritated him!
"None of us are, my friend," Basileus replied. "I'm concerned Irina will be undoing all of your good work with Dora."
Marcus agreed. "That truly would be a great shame."
Magnus felt a spike in annoyance. "Then why has no one else thought to stop them spending so much time together?"
"What can we do?" Basileus shrugged. "They are both adults …" The incredulous look he received from both men cut him short. "Well, Dora definitely is. I wouldn't tell Sulpicia who she can be friends with."
Magnus couldn't disagree, but he still wanted Irina away from his girl. "Could you ask Sulpicia to be friendlier with Dora?"
"It's been done," Marcus said sadly, knowing such efforts had already been tried, and failed. "Sulpicia has invited Athenodora to a lot of things whilst you were away, to my knowledge she only attended once, and she brought Irina with her."
Magnus ran his hand through his hair. He could feel that tight tension knot at the back of his neck again. He turned to Basileus, "Tell me what she is she thinking, my friend."
"Honestly?" Basileus grimaced. "Dora thinks Sully and Carmen are too 'old' for her to hang around with and she's quite glad to have Irina in the coven."
"But she's been following Freyr around the coven like a lost puppy for years," Magnus returned. "Freyr is much older than Sully and Carmen in every way."
Basileus coughed up the swing of bloodwine he'd swallowed! "That sort of thinking will see you castrated, my friend!"
"Dora doesn't see Freyr as a friend," Marcus explained. "Their bond isn't based on that, I think you know this already."
Magnus held up his hands quickly! "That's enough about bonds, Marcus. Ignorance is bliss."
With a wry smile, Marcus bobbed his head and caught Basileus' eye. The pair of them appeared to be conducting a private conversation in front of Magnus' very eyes. Just keep it to yourselves, fellas Magnus thought. He didn't need to hear anything else about bonds and labels - his head was swamped with them already!
Assuming he was still worrying about Dora, Marcus tried to offer some solace to his friend. "Dora is young, Magnus," he said, as though that were any help to the juggernaut.
Basileus knew that only too well. "She's only a year older than Carlisle and look how immature he can be!"
"That is partly because of the way you treat him, Basileus," Marcus noted, much to the creator's annoyance, before he turned back to Magnus. "Maybe have Freyr talk to her?"
Magnus didn't think Freyr would be much help. If anything, Freyr was doing her best to tolerate Irina in support of Dora's new friendship. Add to that, Freyr didn't believe it was her place - or Magnus' for that matter - to involve herself in Caius and Dora's life without request. 'They're not ours, Magnus,' she had told him.
Magnus rarely went against his wife, but he felt he had no choice. He had yet to admit it to Freyr, but he felt very much that Dora was 'his', Caius too. I have no intention of providing an easy way for folk to get themselves into trouble. Ignoring Dora falling into Irina's clutches would be doing just that.
"No …" Magnus shook his head. "I'll have to do it myself."
Basileus watched Magnus leave them and scowled. Before nightfall Atia will be comparing us again, he thought. Atia was very quick to point out how Magnus had no fear dealing with the women in the coven, much to Basileus' ire.
"I'm starting to think that one only exists to make me look bad."
"I have heard your sons complain of the same things about their brothers," Marcus chuckled.
Basileus' head had never moved so fast as he spun to face Marcus. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The bonds do not lie, my friend," Marcus replied, much the way he had to Magnus earlier.
Bonds?! As in my bonds with Magnus?! Basileus looked curiously to Marcus. My sons and their brothers?! What the hell?!
For his part, Marcus merely smiled watching the pieces slot into place in Basileus' mind.
Basileus wasn't ready to confront Marcus on what he'd implied. Instead he tried one of Aro's tactics - deflection. "Are you being purposely cryptic or is it the opium talking?"
"Always, my friend," Marcus chuckled, adding, "Merry Christmas," as he left for his own chambers and some peace and quiet.
Magnus flopped himself down next to Dora. "We haven't had chance to catch up since I got back."
"What's to catch up with?" Dora asked. "Nothing happens in my life."
Irina rolled her eyes, "I will assume this is about me," she huffed, stalking away to find her sisters.
"Is it?" Dora asked, looking none too impressed.
"Aye, it is." Magnus knew he had to tread carefully with Dora, so he started gently. "I have concerns …"
"You and everyone else in this damn place," Dora shot back at him before he could go any further. "What is everyone so concerned about? Is the idea of me having a friend in the coven so ghastly?"
"Not at all!" It upset Magnus to think Dora assumed he would be against such a thing. "I'm concerned because I love you, no other reason."
Dora softened hearing those words. There hadn't been much love in her life for a long time. "You're the only one that does," she said sadly, leaning into Magnus. She would have liked to been cuddlier with him, as they would be in their chambers, but too many prying eyes put rest to that idea. "I know I have Freyr and Caius, too, in his way, but it's not the same. I love Caius but he's my husband. I love you and Freyr but you're my … you're our … ours."
Magnus smiled to himself hearing her struggle to name their relationship. He felt the same. 'Ours' summed them all up quite nicely, he thought.
"I just want a friend."
Dora sounded so lost and alone. It suddenly hit Magnus just how badly she needed Irina. Why her, though? he cursed. "Sulpicia and Carmen …"
"Are not my friends," Dora hissed.
"The guards, then?" Magnus suggested.
Dora shook her head. "Being friends with the guards is … awkward."
"Because?" Magnus pushed. "I know Caius thinks being friends with the guards is beneath him, but I know you don't think that way."
"It's because I've had sex with most of the ones I could have seen as a friend."
"Good grief!" Magnus clutched his dead heart.
"Not all of the guards," Dora tagged on quickly, though it did amuse her how pious Magnus could be. "Just the ones …"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Magnus hushed her with a hand clamped over her mouth. "That's enough for this old man's ears," he said with a shudder. "Just watch yourself with Irina, okay?"
Dora settled back into his half hold. "There's really no need, but I do appreciate your concern."
"It's not just concern, Dora," Magnus whispered into her ear. "It's a warning."
Before Dora could respond, Sulpicia called over to Magnus. "Lev's here for you," she said from the door.
Magnus didn't think anything of it, assuming the guards needed a barrel of bloodwine bringing from the cellars, or similar, so he went without saying goodbye. He only expected to be gone ten minutes.
Basileus had heard what Lev wanted through his thoughts. You won't be back tonight, my friend.
"Caius!" he called from his window seat. "A word."
Aro and Caius shuddered. A word with Basileus was never nice. Caius handed Aro his glass and dutifully flashed to the creator.
"Is your temper in check now?" Basileus asked.
Caius wasn't sure how he'd pissed off Basileus as he hadn't even spoken to him that day beyond wishing him a Merry Christmas. Must be about the yesterday in the great hall, he presumed. "I apologise for …"
Basileus shook his head. No, Caius. Not the great hall. "I know you've been dealt with for your attitude, and I would normally say it's done with," Feeling his temper rising, Basileus took a deep breath to steady himself. "But …" and another deep breath - he was unnerving Caius! "You've caused trouble in the guard hall. I expect you to set things straight."
Oh shit! Caius wasn't sure whether Basileus knew about the way he'd treated Odi, but if he didn't, Caius didn't want to give too much away. "What things?" he asked, trying to play it cool.
Basileus smiled and wrapped an arm around Caius, bringing him in painfully close. "Don't play dumb with me, boy," he warned through gritted teeth. "I asked if your temper is in check."
Caius gulped. "It is."
"Then get your ass to the guard hall and sort this out."
Caius wasn't entirely sure what had happened, but he wasn't about to refuse the creator's direct order. He didn't see Dora's face when he left, but if he had, he might have noticed her desolate eyes following him out of the room.
Sitting completely alone in a room full of people, full of chatter that didn't include her, she was crushed. Caius had promised to stay with her. He broke that the second they walked through the door. That had been hurtful enough, but to actually leave without her, or even a glance in her direction?! Someone noticed, though … Irina.
You are all making this too easy for me, the Denali girl thought, leaping in to save Dora from her misery and twist the knife a little deeper.
With Basileus' cryptic, if forceful, suggestion in his head, Caius headed to the guard hall to find out what had happened. No sooner had he stepped through the doors from the masters' office, Caius was struck with the gloomy mood of the hall.
Since the coven had started hosting Christmas, it had been a happy day, one full of joy, life, laughter. Something bad must have happened, Caius assumed, correctly. The guards at the bar cleared the way to allow their coven leader to skip the queue, as was customary. At that moment, Caius saw the state of Turk's face.
"What the hell happened to you?" Caius asked, leaning across the bar.
Turk put his head down, but it was too late, Caius had already seen the black eye he sported.
"There was scuffle, Master," he said softly, putting a goblet of bloodwine on the bar.
"And you were involved?!"
Nothing had ever sounded quite so ludicrous to Caius' ear. Turk was not a fighter. There were a good many in the coven who had been trained for defence, only - Turk was definitely one of them. He could handle himself if he had to, but the coven bar keep never entered into the brawls of which some of the other guards were fond.
"Briefly, Master," Turk said quietly.
The way he looked at Caius gave the coven master cause for concern. Turk and Odi were best friends, and Caius had to wonder what Odi might have told the barman about the mission, or more poignantly, about the total jackass Caius had been towards him. A darker thought crossed Caius' mind. What if Odi's told Turk things about me and Magnus?!
How could Odi have done so when the kid knew nothing about the relationship between his father and Caius? Unfortunately, Caius didn't think long enough to ask himself such an important question. Instead he asked Turk where Magnus was, so he could check out the damage for himself. He should have asked about the fight, he should have asked who was involved, what it was over, anything, but Caius' mind was fixed on himself.
Caius knocked his drink down in two massive gulps to steady his nerves. "Where's Magnus?"
"Dealing with the others involved in the fight, Master."
"Where, Turk?!" Caius snapped impatiently.
"The dungeons, I believe."
Caius copped for another side eyed look from Turk before he left. The fact that he did nothing about such a thing said a lot to them both - Caius knew he'd been a cunt to Odi, and Turk knew he regretted it.
Caius descended the dungeon stairwell to the sound of Magnus' bellowing. Whoever had crossed him was no doubt wishing they hadn't from what Caius could hear. He had to gulp when he caught the jist of what had gone on with the guards.
Afton and Alex, choosing not to beat the crap out of each other, had instead turned on Odi when they caught the kid returning from Magnus and Freyr's. Lev broke up the fight after Turk had taken a slug and gone running to him for help.
Shit, shit, shit, Caius cursed, knowing the only solitary reason Afton and Alexander would turn on Odi would be down to the things he had said about the young guard and the preferential treatment he received from some of the coven masters. Half of him wanted to flee the dungeons and hide so he could save his shame, but Caius knew damn well Basileus would catch up with him for doing so. Or maybe it would be Magnus? Caius wondered, tossing the idea around in his head over who would be worse … facing Magnus is worse, Caius reasoned, as he could still feel the effects from the man's belt from the day before, but still who he'd choose. It took real effort for Caius to put one foot in front of the other and make it down those stairs.
He slid up to Magnus in front of the two closed cell doors. "I have guests for Christmas?" Caius' attempt at cool and nonchalant only proved to show his nervous state.
"They're here for a month, and if they touch Odi again it will be a year." Magnus banged on the cell doors. "Do you hear me?!"
Alex and Afton answered together with haste, "Yes, Master," the latter following up with a whimper. Afton was all hot air - he was easy to rile up, but quick to repent, too.
"Are you satisfied now?" Magnus ground out.
It took Caius a moment to realise he was talking to him! "I don't know what you're talking about," Caius shrugged, lying through his fangs.
Magnus smiled, but there was no humour to it - no happiness either. It was an odd look for Magnus to wear and it sent a shiver down Caius' spine.
"Come with me and I'll show you what I'm talking about," Magnus said through gritted teeth, false smile still in place. He didn't give Caius time to object, ripping the younger coven master from the spot and hauling him up the stairs.
Magnus didn't let up his pushing and shoving until he had Caius in the middle floor suite of the north tower, and all the way into the 'spare room', which was, of course, Odi's.
"There, are you satisfied?" Magnus boomed into Caius' ear, giving him a shake for good measure.
Odi cuddled into his blanket, his face battered and bloody, one arm looking limp.
Putting two and two together, it was clear to Caius that Afton and Alexander had beat the shit out of him, or at the very least given it a damn good go.
"Not my fault," Caius grunted. "It's got nothing to do with me if your guards are fighting between themselves." He might have sounded like a heartless bastard, but Caius felt horrendously guilty seeing the state Odi was in.
"Afton and Alex have ten years on him," Magnus raged. "He's just a kid. He's the youngest guard in that hall." Seeing Caius was looking just about anywhere than at Odi and the mess he'd created, Magnus grabbed the younger master by the back of his neck and forced him to face his fuck up head on. "Look at him!" he bellowed down Caius' ear. "They set about him in his own dorm!"
"Like I said," Caius winced at the force of the juggernauts grip. "Your guards …
Magnus shoved the man away roughly, disgusted at the way Caius tried to evade blame. It was gutless, cowardly even. "Thing is, Caius, I know you feel guilty, I can feel it. You feel regretful, too."
"Stop telling me what I feel," Caius raged back, squaring up to Magnus.
Magnus could usually be relied upon to defuse a situation, but he went right over to the other side that day. "What are you going to do about it?" he asked, shoving Caius back another step. "Afton and Alexander have it in their heads that Odi receives 'special attention' from me. Do you know what they think that means, you sick little fuck?!"
Caius had been all ready to go in for a fight with the juggernaut until he heard that last part. Oh fuck! His whole demeanour had changed in an instant when he thought about the shit he'd fed Alexander in particular about Odi's charmed life. It could have been taken many ways, he realised then, but then was a little too late - the damage had been done.
"What are the guard thinking? Submission or something?" he asked quietly.
"More like 'and something'," Magnus replied, shaking his head before looking away, crushed that his guards could think such a thing of him.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Caius called out. Shit, fuck, shit! "It's Alexander's fault …"
Magnus spun back to Caius hearing the brat still deflecting blame. "Well that's the rumour spreading around my hall like fucking wildfire!"
"I'll talk to Afton and Alex, so they understand what I meant," Caius offered. "And I'll get them to back off."
"You'd better ... before I give you some of this 'special attention' I am now so famed for!"
Magnus forced himself to calm down and sat on Odi's bed. Pulling the kid's hand away from his face, Caius got a good look at the state he was in.
His cheek bone is definitely broken, Caius thought, wincing at the sticky venomous blood that came away when Magnus wiped at his son's face. It was amazing that Caius' thoughts weren't focused on himself - Odi had witnessed Magnus pushing him about and threatening him without much recourse from Caius. Under any other circumstance Caius would have caused a major ruckus with both Magnus and Odi for his pride alone. But as he watched Magnus tend to his son, it wasn't pride on Caius' mind, it was fear. I'm going to lose him for this, he thought, eyes fixed on the juggernaut. I'll lose them both! There's no way Freyr will forgive me this time.
Fighting back the tears, it was a very small voice that Caius called out with, "Can I do anything?"
"You've done enough," Magnus spat back, cold and angry.
Caius gulped down the bile rising in his throat and walked slowly to the door. He had such a good thing going with Magnus and Freyr and he'd fucked it all up with his jealousy. The regret floored him. Perhaps I can talk my way out of this if I can get Magnus alone?
"Are you coming back to the south tower?"
Magnus was utterly flabbergasted by the young master's ineptitude. "Think about the states you have been in here in my chambers, which unlike Odi, were of your own making. Have I EVER left you?" He didn't give Caius time to answer before adding, "Merry Christmas, Caius. Merry fucking Christmas!"
Barely ten minutes passed between the time Caius left and when Basileus and Freyr arrived, Freyr understandably frantic. The creator waited in the main living chamber whilst Freyr ploughed ahead to check on her boy. She soon sent Magnus out so she could tend Odi without him interfering.
"I thought you might have use for me?" Basileus wiggled his wrist in the air offering his blood when Magnus came into view.
"You didn't have to come, I know you won't feed the guards," Magnus grimaced to his own tone. It was harsh and accusing, not how he'd intended to sound at all. "No judgement," he added. "I don't blame you. They'd all be running to you with every scrape if they thought they'd get away with it."
Basileus let Magnus run out of steam but the look on his face spoke volumes.
"What?" Magnus asked when he noticed Basileus looking at him like he had two heads.
"That kid isn't a guard, is he?"
"Not to us, no," Magnus agreed. "But to the coven …"
"To the coven, Odi is whatever you tell them he is. You have that authority as a master of this coven."
Basileus placed a heavy hand on the juggernaut's shoulder. Poor bastard looks wrecked, he thought. Magnus had been through a tough few months and with recent events that tough time seemed like it would continue for a while yet.
"It's your authority to use as you see fit, I just want to make sure you are aware that it's up to you how you play this."
Magnus didn't have a clue how to play anything! His life seemed to be imploding in every direction. No sooner had he sorted one drama out, another erupted! But still, he appreciated Basileus' effort to reassure him.
"Where's my patient?" Basileus asked, snapping Magnus' thoughts from his troubles.
The juggernaut led the way through to Odi's room where the boy lay with his head cradled in Freyr's lap.
Basileus was taken aback by the sight of the kid's battered face. "They made a mess of you, didn't they?" he said rolling up his sleeve.
"He's lucky Lev arrived when he did," Magnus said, anger present in his voice. "Though Turk took a slug from Alex before he managed to get help."
"Fucker," Odi muttered, thinking of Alex. "Him and Afton …"
Basileus took a seat on Odi's bed and turned the boy's face gently to see the damage. "They'll get theirs, don't worry about that," he told the kid as he took in the damage.
The break in Odi's arm would heal fine with a feed of the creator's blood, but the busted cheek bone needed resetting before Odi could take the magical offering or he would end up looking deformed. With an apologetic smile, Basileus pressed his thumbs into Odi's cheek bone until he felt the bones sit level. Odi wailed in response to the pain and soon returned his head to his mother's lap for comfort.
Basileus noticed Magnus wince, too, as the juggernaut quickly absorbed his boy's pain for him in full. "You know you're going to have to whip Alex and Afton, I assume?"
"You can't!" Odi called out, trying to sit up. "It's bad enough already!"
Freyr pulled Odi back down. "Hush up, grownups talking."
"I'll do it at the coven meeting Friday," Magnus agreed. "If I do it now I'll fucking kill them."
Basileus nodded, he had fully expected Magnus to feel such a way. That's one thing dealt with, he thought. Now for the other matter…
"You should know," he started, feeling more than a little awkward. "Caius asked me to come and help Odi. I would have anyway, of course, but the fact that he plucked up the courage to tell me about all of this and ask me to come … I think that says something about his priorities, wouldn't you say?"
Magnus looked away from Basileus and glared at the wall. Freyr did similarly. Basileus hadn't expected such a reaction. Anger, argument, something like that, sure, but not silent stares. He couldn't even gauge their feeling about Caius from their thoughts, both were thinking of the guards, the rumours, Odi, how to fix things. Basileus started to panic, taking their lack of acknowledgement of Caius to mean they were done with him.
"He even told me about the rumour he started," he added, trying to big Caius up a little. "It was unintentional, but still, he knows he's to blame."
Still nothing from either Freyr or Magnus. The only noise in the room came from Odi's quiet, pained whimpering.
Basileus sighed deeply. "I didn't want to have to do this," he said, sad for the offer he was about to make. "I hoped I could help you fix things with Caius somehow, but, if you want me to take him back off your hands …"
Freyr's head spun around to face the creator. "That's not what we want, is it, love?"
"No, not at all," Magnus agreed. It was the opposite of what Magnus wanted, in fact.
Basileus released a shaky breath, visibly relieved! "If you want a break from Caius I could find him a mission to head up."
"Caius isn't leaving this coven without me," Magnus stated firmly. "He will think himself lucky to move around this coven without me looking over his shoulder."
Odi had watched the conversation play out in front of him in the same manor he had with Caius and Magnus only an hour before - with complete confusion. "What are you talking about?" he asked, reminding the three of them of his presence.
Basileus looked sheepishly to Magnus for dropping him in the proverbial once again, but Magnus waved his friends apology away.
"I'll explain everything when you wake, son," Magnus told the boy.
Wake? Odi thought to himself. When will I sleep?! Even if he had the ability there was no way on earth Odi could sleep through the pain he felt, even with Magnus drawing so much of it away.
Basileus bit into his wrist. "Drink."
"Me?!" Odi gasped. "But …" he said no more, his mouth filling with the creator's blood that fixed his battered body and sent his head to slumber.
Basileus left the middle floor suite once Odi had drank his fill. He didn't get very far, however, as Caius waited nervously outside his own chambers in the hope of catching the creator as he passed.
"How is he?" he shot out as the man descended the stairs.
"Odi ... or Magnus?"
"Both," Caius said, looking up the stairs, hoping Magnus and Freyr weren't coming.
"Odi will recover, and Magnus …" Basileus drifted off as he thought of what to say. Magnus was livid with Caius, he'd heard that much in the man's thoughts when he'd first arrived, but he really did love the guy and that would override for Magnus, Basileus was sure of it. "He will forgive you." Caius tutted at such an idea. "He will, Caius," Basileus affirmed.
Caius leaned his back against the wall. "Any idea when that will be?"
"When you deserve to be forgiven," Basileus replied. He could hear Caius feared it would be a lifetime before he would deserve such forgiveness. "You're lucky Magnus is the man that he is. If Aro was ever the reason I was having to restore Carlisle to health after an attack he caused, I would have whipped him bloody before I came to my senses. Be grateful he didn't do something you would have both regretted."
"Completely different," Caius huffed. "They are your sons."
Basileus smiled despite the situation. "No, Caius. It's not different at all."
Caius wasn't too sure what Basileus was trying to imply, or rather, he was sure, and it made him uncomfortable. "How long am I to stay away?" he asked, deflecting his real thoughts. "Forever?"
"You are destroying yourself with these questions, Caius. And for what?" Basileus took Caius by the shoulders and fixed him in position. Looking deep into the young man's eyes, he continued, "Because of Odi? What about him?!"
Caius tried to look anywhere but at the creator - an impossible task being so close.
"I expect an answer from you," Basileus told him with a shake. "What is your problem with Odi? What is your problem with Magnus and Odi? What is your …"
"I can't match up!" Caius just wanted to end the interrogation but once he'd blurted out the answer he couldn't close the floodgates. "I can't match up to Odi. I can't match up to the bond they have. I'll always be second. I'll always be in his shadow. I'll always be waiting for …"
"Rejection?" Basileus finished for him when Caius stalled. Getting a single nod from the man, he continued. "You aren't talking about your relationship with Magnus and Odi. You're talking about your relationship with me and Aro." Or possibly your own father and Helios, Basileus thought to himself.
Caius pulled out of Basileus' grasp and turned his back on the creator. He needed a little space. "It doesn't feel so different to me," he muttered quietly.
"Yes it does, that's what scares you." Basileus was sure as the sky is blue that he heard Caius sniffing, as though he was crying. Surely not?!
In all their years together he could count on one hand the times he'd seen Caius emotional enough to cry. "Caius, I know I let you down, I know I ignored you when you needed me, needed someone."
"You don't owe me anything. Neither does Magnus." Caius wiped at his eyes quickly, keeping his back to Basileus the whole time.
"And yet he has been there to help you without you even having to ask."
Caius scoffed. It was true enough, but that ship had sailed. "Has being the operative word," he said believing, despite Basileus assuring him otherwise, that he had lost Magnus forever by getting his son a kicking.
Before Basileus could reassure Caius further, their privacy was disturbed by Dora entering the north tower stairwell with Irina on her arm.
"What are you doing here?" Basileus directed at Irina, who barely gave him a second glance.
Dora answered on Irina's behalf without giving her mate the time of day. "I'm not being alone with him when he's so clearly still on a come down, so I've brought Irina home for the night."
Caius didn't even blink. He'd expected Dora to turn on him, everyone else that mattered had. From what Basileus could hear, Caius was dangerously close to ending up on a depressive spiral if something didn't change!
"Erm …" he started, ready to send Irina home.
"Good night, my lord," Dora chipped in quickly before he could do so, ushering Irina inside.
Basileus put his arm out to block Caius when he tried to follow. "I don't think so," he said, taking hold of Caius' bicep.
"No, Basileus," Caius whined, seeing where the creator was taking him. "Not yet, they don't want me here."
"Magnus!" Basileus thumped on the juggernaut's door with Caius still in his hold. When Magnus answered, he explained, "Dora has Irina to play with and he's not invited."
Magnus looked down his nose at Caius, making sure the younger master knew exactly what he thought of him.
Caius tried to break free so he could flee to somewhere less depressing. Like hell! "I'll just go to the dungeons …"
"With all those barrels of dungeon blood and bloodwine at your disposal whilst you're in this mood?" Magnus asked, taking over Basileus' hold of the man. "Not a chance. Get in here."
If Caius wasn't already aware of what Magnus thought of him, the pinching grip on his arm soon told him. "You told me to leave," he snapped, pulling away.
Magnus clouted the little sod across his bullish head. "No I didn't," he thundered. "I told you I wasn't leaving Odi, you left on your own accord."
Caius had to stop and think about that. He had it in his head that Magnus had thrown him out. A complete invention of his own mind, actually, as Magnus had done no such thing. That was the problem with Caius' head - it made the situation fit his feelings so when he felt rejected, feared rejection, he experienced it - whether it happened or not!
"I thought you wanted me to leave."
"You thought wrong," Magnus told him. He was pissed off with Caius, sure he was, but he would never turn him away. Caius started to wish his fucked-up head had been right when Magnus dragged him inside and flung him towards a chair. "Sit," he commanded. "We have much to discuss!"
Basileus watched Caius squirm for a moment before checking the man's thoughts. Even though he was receiving both barrels from Freyr, Caius' thoughts were grateful for the reprieve he'd been offered with being allowed back into their home. They will be okay, Basileus thought, feeling a similar relief to Caius.
"I'll leave you to it," he told them all, closing the door behind him.