Disclaimer: Not my characters.
AN: I had fun with this one. I hope you do to. Don't forget to fav and tell me what you think. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
xoxo
Rosalie
Dark Matter
Chapter 4
Athenodora rolled over the fur blanket that swathed around the large circular bed in her chamber. She touched her lips faintly, remembering a passionate kiss, and then roamed her hands down her naked body. It had been so long since Caius had touched her like that. He's been so busy with Aro. They've been locked into their meeting room for days at a time. Guards at the door. Always at the door. She was beginning to wonder if they were keeping others out, or if they were trapping them in.
But then he came in like a song, hungry, ready, impatient. The way she liked it. They were always so proper and polished, but in her chamber they could. . .
She shook her head dizzy with the fog of desire. It lingered in her room and she let it soak into her crystallized skin.
Corin always kept her and Sully company, especially when the boys were out for long periods of time. She knew why, of course. She wasn't stupid, there just wasn't anything she could do about it. She did love being royalty here. She did love Caius. She did love this life. Sometimes she thought, she was happy here on her own volition, believed it truly. But then Corin was there. And it made her doubt her own sense of belonging. Did she want this or was she made to think she wanted it. She's been seeing more and more of Corin. Especially after. . .well. After the incident, Corins been following their every footstep. Perhaps she could sense something they hadn't yet realized. Could she tell that a small light went out that day? That ever since, her thoughts had been elsewhere. Somewhere. Somewhere not here. Somewhere, wherever it was, where she is now.
Part of her was jealous, she and Sully were couped up like chickens. Forever prisoners of the underground corridors here. It didn't always feel like it, and they had several guards stationed with them, including Corin to make sure they were happy and never wanted for anything here. But it didn't change the fact that they never left. Though, she understood. Day after day, staring at Marcus, she understood it and she was grateful for the gesture. Aro's sister was her friend too. She missed her. And Athenodora always would, but her tragic death completely obliterated her husband Marcus. Looking at him now, it's hard to imagine a time-a time when he was so blissfully happy.
Morte dell'anima.
The soul death. Didyme was traveling, exploring the world, while Athenordora's husband and Aro and his brother in law were consumed with the war against the romanians. And they found her. The bastards. Old blooded scum. Athenodora snarled at the thought of the regime they vanquished to establish the Volturi as it is now. They almost took Marcus too in killing his mate. He tried to follow her into that bleak night, but Aro wouldn't allow it. Corin and Chelsea set to work on him. In the end, he is just as able as he always was to lead, to fight, to rule. But there was no appetite for life in him still. No enjoyment. No spark. Marcus was reduced to a shell of the man he once was, even though he would always be a formidable vampire.
Though there was a silver lining, if one could bare to find such a thing in the tragedy. His loss of Didyme sealed the fates of the Romanians. Her death meant their ultimate and final destruction and stabilization from their rule. It was the last fire in Marcus's eyes as he crushed their armies, hoping to find peace in killing her killers. He hurt them as they had hurt him. Where the pain doesn't end and the deepest of wounds are cut. How foolish they were to go after him in such a manner, given his abilities. To find their weak points and snuff them out.
But it didn't bring her back and it didn't restore Marcus. There was no coming back from Morte dell'anima. They've only seen it twice since Marcus. It's so rare to find a mate. And it's much rarer, nearly impossible, for that mate to be wrenched away into another life. It's horrible, but Aro loved Marcus and did everything, scoured the earth for those with gifts that would keep Marcus above water. Aro always cared for him like a brother. Aro cared for everyone and wanted everyone to succeed. But he was always closer to Caius, the bond of war, brothers of arms. Caius was a fighter and Aro was drawn to that.
And in so, Aro wanted the best for Caius, which meant protecting Athenodora as fiercely as he protected his own wife. Morte dell'anima was not a fate that Aro or Caius would ever risk for themselves.
And thus, like a princess trapped in her tower, Athenodora lounged on her bed, waiting again for Caius to make a brazen appearance. Though no one ever seemed concerned about what she would do without Caius. How she would feel. She wanted to wrap him up and chain himself to her as well, and never let him go. But that's not what could be. She sighed and gently pat the bed, combing through the fur once more before she got up and dressed herself in a silk robe.
She stared at herself in the mirror. Her long hair, impossible shiny cascaded over her perfect shoulders, sculpting around her breasts, grazing her stomach, barren for centuries. Even after Caius's visit, a frown still perched on her lips, dragging at the corners. She was made to be content here, but that didn't mean she had to smile. She thought again about Didyme's hole she left in Marcus. In all of them. Didyme could make people smile. She could make people happy. Without her, there were few smiles to go around. And none at all in Marcus.
And the first smile that she ever saw out of him since. . . Remembering it herself, she smiled too. In the mirror, she watched the corners of her lips lift at the memory, perfect in her mind nearly fourteen years ago. A short snap in her lifetime, but it felt like another lifetime. She stared at the door that led up to her tower. The true princess locked away in a keep. She dared not travel up the staircase now.
She blinked and rose to her full height, tightened the robe around her waist and stepped out of her room.
"Madame." Chelsea was waiting for her at the door. She whisked past her and knocked on the adjacent room where Corin was standing. She stepped aside for her. It had been awhile since she had asked Sulpicia for something. For years they had competed against one another, sizing each other up constantly. But things were different now.
Sulpicia opened the door. Her long dark strands blowing behind her with the draft, and ruffled her feathery robe. Aro was here recently. The same activity written on her face. The two, Aro and Caius were so in sync, apparently they even wanted their wives at the same time.
"Sully." Athenodora said in a whispering tone and she hastily wiggled into her room, away from Chelsea. The door shut behind her.
"What's going on? Is something wrong?" Sulpicia grabbed her chest, holding her breath for horrible news. Athenodora smiled suspiciously.
"No. No. Everything's fine. Only. . ." She grinned like a school girl. "Do you remember the gadget that she was trying to teach us to use?"
Sully knew instantly who she meant by that. "Oh. Yes. Why?"
"Well. Do you have it?" Athenodora's energy was spreading.
"No. I don't. Demi took off with it. I didn't want it anymore." Sully bit her lip. Felix and Demetri were on a special look out mission. Somewhere in the Baltic's perhaps? They should be finishing up by now. "Corin!" She called and in a moment the small cheerful vampire was at the door. "Fetch Demetri, for me." She ordered and then grabbed Athenodora's hand. Squeezed it, like a sister does.
Jessica twirled around in front of Angela and Bella. Angela had liked the first dress she tried on so much, she was happy to call it quits, much to the greatest relief of Bella. But then she realized that gave more air time to Jessica, who had something negative to say about every single dress. Honestly, Bella didn't quite understand the hoopla. It wasn't prom. It was just a spring dance. The idea of going to one absolutely nauseated her. While watching Jessica point out the bad lace work on another dress, Bella fantasized about showing up to the spring dance after all. People being excited that she came, perhaps she would wear a scandalously revealing dress. they would all stare at her in wonder, until she lifted her head to reveal dark black eyes. She would smile and then that smile would widen into a face of horror. And then as the song changed to a slow classical number, she would pick them all off one by one. Who would she kill first? Mike perhaps? Or save him and Jessica for last. Yes, yes, that's it. Angela first, a mercy killing-
"What's so funny?" Angela leaned over.
"Hm?" Bella was yanked out of her reverie.
"You're smiling like an idiot." Jessica crossed her arms, upset that she had taken attention away. "There's gotta be a reason?"
"Oh." Bella blushed and shook her head. "Nothing." She laughed and waved it off.
"What?" Angela pushed. She'd never seen Bella so happy.
"I-" Bella started. "I was thinking about how silly all the guys are going to look next to you two knock outs."
Angela blushed. Jessica grinned.
Close one. Bella stood on her feet. "Hey, I'm gonna go. . ." She breathed. "Do something else." She finished lamely. "Find a bookstore. I'm running out of bedtime reading material." It was true. She'd already read three books waiting up until Edward came in through the window each night. Now seemed like a good time to go. She stepped outside and enjoyed the crisp chilly air. Not too cold, but the wind, when it blew still nipped her nose. She meandered her way in the direction most likely to have a bookstore. A few shops with large round light bulbs dotting the sidewalks, connecting the strip malls together like popcorn on a string. There was literally nothing but a closed antic store, several coffee shops, a travel place that Bella didn't think existed anymore, and two Chinese restaurants.
She heard a noise to her left. Men dragging themselves out of a bar, leaning on each other for support. Bella scowled. It was far too early for that. "Lightweights," she tutted and circled back around. She counted the streetlights, continuing on after the friendly bulbs changed into economic street lamps, flicking white blue light onto the asphalt.
She was used to this. Being alone. Separating herself from everyone. It's what she was used to. She had always been set apart. Wanted, yes, but separated. She heard water somewhere in the distance and her feet seemed to follow in the direction while she tried to wrestle with the contradictions in her life. Orphaned, with family. Human in a supernatural world. Powerless against those without power. Unable to touch the ones she loves, and unable to love the ones she can. And then Edward. She sighed. What to do with him? Why in all the places. . . she was still astounded at the coincedence.
"Hey." A voice called out, and for wild second she thought she had summoned Edward, but she would have known he was coming. No this voice belonged to one of the drunk men outside the bar.
"Ugh." Bella rolled her eyes and kept walking.
"I'm talking to you." He heckled. Bella ignored him, marching on. "Ah, come here, sweet thing. Are you lost? Daddy's here. He can get you home. Get you in bed, tuck you in. Fold you over." He barked out an obnoxious laugh. The two men he were with laughed too. He nodded to them and pointed the side street. He darted off into it.
Bella's face turned icy and she balled both of her hands into fist. Still she walked forward, but changed her gait.
"I don't mind, honey. You can keep walking that way. Your ass is fine." He was getting closer. The other man close behind and the third man somewhere off to the side. "If you don't want me staring at your ass, you can always swing yourself around. I promise, I can handle the front side just as nice."
Bella winced. Now he's just being gross. The third man emerged on the other side of the building. He stopped there, daring her to continue on towards him. Two men behind her, one in front. Nowhere to go. Instead she crossed the street and ducked into the alley of the next building.
The first man made a "tsk - tsk" sound. "Ms. Booty, where do you think you're going? You know that alley ways are dangerous at night for pretty little ladies like you." He sneered and Bella could almost taste his breath in the air around her.
She stopped suddenly. "It looks like you have me cornered." She said matter of factly, no sign of fear at all in her tone. Then she turned around and lifted her face up, staring directly into the first man's eyes. "Like a mouse in a trap." She smiled. It wasn't a regular smile. It was the one she had taught herself, years of seeing it in the face of the one she most admired. The smile of the fox successfully manipulating it's prey. The smile of one who has so many secrets. The smile of the one who knows that they will always win.
In the distance, tires were screeched on the asphalt. But no one could hear it, because before any of them could react Bella jammed her foot on his toes, uppercut into his groin then elbowed his clavicle into next Tuesday. He crumpled beneath her, like a sovereign bow.
"Hey!" The one who came around the side shouted at her and came at her with a punch. She was ready for it and made herself into a table, throwing him over her back, then tossing him to the ground. While she kicked his groin, Bella pulled and then twisted his arm out of socket.
The third one was barreling towards her, too dumb to realize he would end up just the same. A sloppy fist came down towards her, that she easily dodged under from. She grabbed his wrist, then twisted it around and in on itself, bringing him to his knees. She threw his arm down then came for the back of his head, gripping his hair between her fingers, and leaning it back before she slammed it against her raised knee.
The first one began to move again. Bella laughed as he stumbled to his feet.
"EH! Fuck you!" He screamed and charged towards her. She stuck her foot out and he tripped over her, falling face first on top of the second guy. They both groaned, almost comically. The other one got to his hands and knees. Looked at the other two and then back at Bella who stood fists up and waiting. Her eyebrow was cocked, as if asking "you really sure, dude?"
"What. . . are you?" He held his hands up in surrender.
Bella grinned, ear to ear. "Just a pretty little lady with a fine ass." She backed away to the opening of the alleyway. Lights flooded in the scene and tires screeched again as a Silver Volvo stopped a few feet behind her. She felt for the door behind her, already swung open.
"Get in." Edward hissed. Bella did so, always keeping her eye on the men who were steadily trying to get back on their feet, nursing their shoulders and arms, and groins. As she slammed the door shut, she laughed.
"Oh, god. I needed that." She chuckled to herself.
"Seatbelt." Edward said in low tones. Not starting to leave until she did so. "Are you hurt?" He asked once he had fishtailed around in the alleyway, nearly knocking the men over again like bowling pins. "Did they touch you."
"Nope." Bella shrugged. "Why are you worried?" Clearly, he was. "It's fine, Edward. I'm fine. They didn't get a single punch on me." She flipped down the passenger side mirror and checked out her face, just to make sure.
"Are you sure?" He said pained.
She laughed again. "Edward, I've been trained how to fight since. . . for a while. In literally all kinds, karate, jujitsu, hand to hand, olympics wrestling, boxing, mixed martial arts." She listed off. "They were never going to hurt me."
Edward seemed to calm down, always soaking up anything Bella said about herself like a sponge. He took a moment to digest the new information. She's been trained to fight. And from the mangled men in the alleyway, she was good at it. "Why?"
Bella sighed. "You're killing my buzz. Did you see what I did? Man, they were dumb and drunk. But I took on three still. One of them had to be 250. I gotta tell-" She cut off. "Why are you here?" She turned to face Edward.
"I was looking out for you. And then I saw what was in their minds." He scowled and shifted the car's gear, going faster. "They were going to-"
"They weren't."
"But they wanted to-"
"They didn't." Bella comforted him, but then she stopped herself. "Why do you care so much?"
He noticed that she didn't seem surprised that he just confessed he could read their minds. He moved past that. "Because if you're important to the Volturi then I think it's in the best interest of everyone involved that I . . . make sure you aren't harmed. By vampire or human." He said quickly, coming up with the excuse already a week ago.
"Ah, because the Volturi." Bella nodded, her smile fading. "I see. In that case, you better kill them." She leaned back in her seat. "I would if I could, but frankly, as I am, that would take far too long, and as much as I know about using weight against others, I'm not strong enough to do that with my bare hands." She turned to Edward again. "But you are."
Edward stopped the car. He looked into Bella's eyes, searchingly, trying to find something there. As soon as he heard those men's thoughts, he had dreamed of ripping into them, ending them, no one who would hurt her should be allowed to live. They shouldn't be allowed to breath. It took everything in him to even turn the car around in the alley. His first concern was that she was safe. But now. . . its as if she's giving him permission, ordering him to even. . but would she would feel safe with him knowing that he. . . would he feel safe from himself. . .
"I know what monsters are." Bella whispered, a grin rising on her lips. "I'm looking at one."
"Stay in the car." Edward ordered. In the dark, she couldn't even trace his projection out of the seat and into the dark night. The only evidence that he had moved was his absence and the ringing of the door being slammed shut. He left the car running and Bella messed with the temperature dials and then waited.
When he returned, Bella was curled up in the passenger seat blasting the CD he had in the car.
"It's done." He muttered. And Bella broke out of her curled up position, like a flower blooming. She stared at his face, and he stared back. Finally, after several moments of reflection she spoke.
"You didn't do it." She said. It wasn't a question. "You didn't kill them." She looked puzzled.
"They're tied up and knocked out. I called the police and they're on the way to their location to be picked up, one of them is wanted for raping 4 women. The others for petty crime and theft. The police will take care of them. They will pay the price of their actions under their laws."
Bella opened her mouth, an objection or question on her breath.
"I'm not the kind of monster you think I am." Edward stated. "Now put you're seatbelt on. I'm taking you home."
