Dear reader.

I'm so sorry I didn't post anything yesterday. I think that as a rule I will continue to take the weekends off, so you can expect updates during the weekdays. It's better this way, and besides, I write mostly at work and just finish or clean up the chapters once I'm back at home anyway. This weekend was the proof that if I want to keep updating you several times a week without burning out, I need a day off or two.

Anyways, I was really glad to read your reactions about last chapter. I really like Aro as a character, and Michael Sheen is just perfect for him so we can keep him in the cast. This next chapter is about a character that is in the books but not in the movies: Corin.

As a reminder, Corin is a vampire who can create a sort of mental drug that gives you a feeling of contentment and ease, and is highly addictive. Her power is used to keep Athenodora and Sulpicia satisfied of their lives as prisoners of their own homes. I imagine Corin as a short and plump brunette who would bake cookies if she wasn't a vampire.

Chapter 7: Corin

Bella's letter in his hand, Caius stopped a moment in front the gate of Athenodora's quarters, and knocked. Corin went to open. He felt a secondhand ease calm him for a moment, and the short and plump brunette gave him an apologetic half smile as she cut her power off a second later. No harm done, Caius's gaze told her, though she was supposed to know he didn't accept her mental anesthesia. "How is she doing?"

Corin looked over her shoulder, before stepping outside and closing the door behind her back. She cast her eyes down and shook her head. "Master, I'm afraid, I have less effect of her Ladyship with each try. It seems that it would take all my strength to effectively dose her, and then it would affect my influence on Lady Sulpicia."

Caius sighed "And I thought that twelve years ago Dolores might have been the solution."

"Dolores affected her mind, but now we are certain that it is the body that my powers influence."

He nodded. "We are heading to an impasse. Soon you alone won't be enough for both Sulpicia and Athena, and we both know who Aro would choose to keep under." Corin cast her eyes down "I have failed you master."

"Do not say that. You have been loyal for 30 centuries." Caius said, patting her shoulder. "I guess we both underestimated how strong willed my mate really was." he added with a joyless smile. Did he even deserve to call her 'mate' anymore? "I fear what is to come, Corin. As you are no longer going to be enough, the withdrawal will start to show. We might as well try to wean her clean off your influence… But… "

"But… " Corin continued "After 3000 years of exposure, the withdrawal could be devastating."

"Quite so. It might test her limit, even for an Immortal."

"This has never been attempted before " she whispered. They were both aware that this was uncharted territory.

"Still, Corin, we have to try. Whether we like it or not, things are headed in that direction. You cannot sustain her and we have nothing even close to what you can offer."

"May I suggest an increase in her feeding then, master?"

They exchanged a long look. Caius shifted his weight slightly, away from Corin, and studied her face "You know she barely feeds."

"Yes," Corin answered with an appreciative nod, "And I think maybe insisting that she feeds more regularly could dimmer the withdrawal symptoms. One shouldn't underestimate the...satiation fresh blood can offer."

To that, Caius couldn't argue. Besides, immortals didn't usually lose weight or appear to waste away, unless they refuse to feed. He remembers how Carlisle had once attempted to starve himself until he had looked like a proper corpse. Once he started to notice the physical change in Athenodora twenty years ago, he knew she was not feeding as much as she should be. Now she was in such a state of physical weakness that no one could pretend they didn't know something was utterly wrong with her. If her treatment included an increase in blood, did that mean that he would have to force her to partake? Hold her head down until her teeth scraped a human's neck? Would he have to be so cruel, again?

Corin suddenly seemed to notice the letter in his hand, and Caius waved it toward her with a smile. "It's silly. When I received that, the first thing I thought was 'Athena is going to be so happy!'" His laugh didn't quite reach his eyes "And then of course I remembered…that…" He looked down. "That she wouldn't know who she is." Dolores's work had been thorough.

The plump woman gave him a gentle smile "It's because she's your mate, master. She's the first person you want to talk to, about anything."

Caius nodded, still not quite confident to look up, although he knew there would be no tears in his eyes. "Do you think that the Young Lady Isabella...do you think she will eventually come here?"

"I don't know, I have yet to contact her. The letter arrived this morning, and... well...I'm still thinking it over." He paced away and went to the nearest window. It had a view of the fields, the green landscape coated in cold light that pierced through the windows and onto his face. He placed a hand on his chest. "I am…" he chuckled "so happy. and terrified."

Corin came to stand next to him. "Master, you have prepared for that time. You knew it was a possibility that she would reach out for you. You have been...expectant." Caius turned to study her expression, and she gave an apologetic smile. "We noticed that you no longer feast with us all, at it is the custom." his eyes widened "We thought that, maybe you had taken the habit of only feeding alone; but…"

"Who is we?" He said sharply.

Corin blinked and moved a step away. "Everyone, master. After centuries of feasting together, we all noticed your sudden absence"

"I expected that you would notice. Not that you would talk of it." there was an iciness in his voice that forced her eyes down.

"I'm sorry master. I only meant...that it is my personal belief that you have changed your habit to accommodate the Young Lady Isabella's presence, should she ever return." Caius went back to stare at the landscape. The sun was setting. Corin ventured "You mean to say I am mistaken?"

Caius smirked at the window. "You are insightful."

Corin allowed herself a satisfied smile, and knew it was time to take her leave, so she said "If you need me for anything, I'll be tending to Lady Sulpicia." and turned her heels and walked away.

Caius's eyes waited patiently until the sun was completely under the horizon before he allowed himself another look at the letter. In the course of day, he had read it a thousand time, and yet his studies of it always seemed to unearth new gems. How one stroke to write the letter T could show assertiveness, how the curve of a coma evoked gentleness, how the tilt of a word revealed emotion.

Though the biggest mystery of the letter was certainly the phone number inscribed at the very end.

So, two chapters in a row in Volterra, what do you think? And since l had you wait an extra day for this update, I'll give you a little preview: next chapter is also in Volterra…and it has to do with Caius trying to make a phone call.

See you tomorrow for your Monday Update.