Sunrise

Chapter 5: Fall Behind Me

Breakdown—Daughtry.

GUYS, if she was in love with Matt, then she'd be crazy. He ran her into a lake, suggested having sex in the middle of a parking lot, only jokingly though. But still. And he ran her over on her bike. And he has complete control over her. So, if she was in love with him, that would not be Cara. OK? Sure, she's attracted to him. Sure, she wants to know him. But that doesn't mean that she loves him. For the record, "LOVE" is a very loosely-used word these days. Neither of them are willing to put their life down for the other, nor willing to say it to each other, because they don't. well, I mean, just read.

OOO

I kicked a chair, sending it flying into the wall. JERK!

I gritted my teeth, stalking around the palace like a two-year-old following their mother around just to lie down in front of them and throw a tantrum. I didn't care about tantrums, though. I was a hurricane, destroying everything I could in my path. I was so pissed.

I sunk to the floor, holding my head in my hands. Everything I did was wrong. Everything I said was wrong. Even the things I frikken looked at was wrong.

I snarled a few explicit profanities under my breath, but a twinkle-like laugh cut me short.

I glanced up. Jane.

"Cara, right?" she asked politely. I didn't fall for it. I kept up my guard.

"Yes."

"Well, Cara," she continued, "I want to try a little bit of an… experiment. Actually, it's more Aro. He wants to see if you live up to his… expectations."

In other fantabulous words: He wants to torture you until you snap! Won't that be fun?

"Why do I need to live up to expectations? I don't belong to the Volturi. I belong to Matthias." I met her polite gaze evenly. It was a façade. I knew those things.

Her eyes flashed. "Matthias belongs to the Volturi by contract. Therefore, you belong to us, too."

"Bullshit."

Her eyes widened, but then her gaze became furious. "I suggest you accompany me to where Aro is at the moment," she commanded in a clipped tone.

"I'll be there soon," I replied, just as coldly. She turned on her heel and left, her face stony.

What a bitch, I thought. Boy, was I one for common courtesy.

I got up and followed her, dreading the pain that was going to follow. I had one of those damn hunches that Jane caused pain. My father had never talked about her, but…

How did I know?

I shook my head as Jane turned a corner. Oh well, I would ponder it later.

"Cara!"

I kept walking. Go away.

"Cara, stop!" Matt called. I felt my legs tumble and I hit the floor. I exhaled loudly, unsticking my legs and brushing back the hair from my face. I glanced up at Matt, who looked apologetic. "Oops?" he said, grimacing.

"Oops?" I asked. "Well your 'oops' just sent me crashing to the floor!"

He blinked a few times before holding out a hand. I deliberately ignored it, getting up on my own and straightening my blouse. He chuckled as I ran my hand through my hair.

"I really am sorry. I have to be careful about what I say," he admitted as I began walking. "I didn't know you were so clumsy."

I glared at him over my shoulder. "Oh yeah, tell a girl she's clumsy. Great way to make up for tripping somebody!" I continued sarcastically "I should add that to my book."

He ignored me. "Where are you going?" he asked as we turned a corner. Jane was long-gone.

I glanced at him warily, suddenly afraid of his reaction. "Jane said Aro wanted to… see me." I left out the parts about the experiments.

His eyes narrowed. "Why?" I slid away from him as if he were crazy. I was joking, but he grabbed my arm. "Why?" he repeated.

I mentally kicked myself. "Um… well…"

"Tell me why, Cara."

Right then, he scared me. I would never admit it, but he did. His eyes, usually a disturbing, but beautiful ruby, were now black ice. His face was stony, like Jane's, but instead there was also some slight panic.

I blurted out the word, "Experiments." His eyes widened a fraction before he grabbed my arms and spun me back to the place where I'd fallen.

"Experiments?" he hissed. "What the—"

"Matthias?" came Jane's sickly-sweet voice. "Not exceptionally polite to keep Aro waiting."

The glare he sent her was one of pure loathing, of pure hatred. It would have sent me running for cover, and I was usually good at stare-offs. But Jane just stood there calmly.

"This is not the time for your temper," she said smoothly. "It is not your place to defy Aro's wishes."

"Torture was not part of the deal, Jane." Matt's voice was ice-cold. Frigidly heated. Jane was still unfazed.

"Matthias," she warned, voice no longer pleasant. It was hard, matching his. I scooted away from the both of them as discreetly as possible. If I was still with my family, I doubted torture would be on their top-ten list. So much for Vampire Royalty. Psh.

"No," he growled. "We don't know if she's like Isabella."

"That is the purpose of the exercise," Jane sighed. She frowned slightly, a stone wrinkle appearing on her forehead. "It will only be a few moments. Nothing more."

Matt glanced at me, saw I was scooting away, but didn't try to stop me. He looked back at Jane. "It's barbaric," he insisted.

Jane raised an eyebrow. "You care about her? The measly newborn?"

"Hey!" I stomped my foot, cutting off whatever Matt had been about to say. "This measly newborn can kick your ass!"

"I'm sure," Jane remarked, sarcasm dripping from her tone. She looked back at Matt, who was glaring at me. I guessed I said something wrong… again. Shocker.

"Fine," I hissed. "I'll go." Matt glanced at me, disbelieving. Shocked. Angry. Oopsie?

"Spectacular." Jane flashed a smile, but I wasn't a warm, loving, or even pleased smile. It was a sadistic freak smile. Great…

She grabbed my wrist, and dragged me with her. As we passed by Matt, he glared at me. I mouthed, "It's for your own good, twot," but it just made him glare harder. I didn't know why he was so angry. I was the one getting tortured. Stupid boys.

"Cara," he called suddenly. I glanced back at him, and he mouthed so Jane could not hear:

"Don't give in. Don't let them know how much it pains you, no matter what."

It was a command, and for once, I was glad he'd said it. Then his face disappeared around the corner, and I turned my stare ahead.

Jane opened a grand, tall door, and the pressure on my wrist increased. I almost cried out in pain—it felt like she was popping the bone out of place—but then the bracelet tightened, and so did my mouth.

Jane looked back up at me, as if surprised that I wasn't yelping. But then she looked back ahead, and kept dragging me down the hallway. Then she thrust open another door, and I saw the man I hated with every fiber of my being, no matter how polite he was.

Aro.

Man, why couldn't I punch royalty?

So I glared at him as Jane pushed me forward. God, she had such strength for a tiny little freak. Aro smiled at me. I didn't smile back.

"Cara!" he exclaimed, as if delighted I was there. I resisted rolling my eyes. Idiotic, freaky, twotty vampire… "Such a wonderful surprise!"

I blinked. "Surprise?" Okay, either Jane had been lying her sadistic butt off, or Aro was trying to confuse me. Either way wasn't that tempting.

Oh wow. There was that word again. It reminded me of the kiss. I wanted Matt to kiss me like that. I didn't love him, hell no. He was an ass. A jerk. But he was hot. I saw why American girls obsessed over the Italian guys now.

I wrenched my focus back on Aro. He was still smiling that dorky smile. I scowled, but it didn't slip off his face.

"You wanted to conduct a few experiments?" I asked, bored. I felt like a stinking gerbil.

"Oh, yes!" he chattered. I sighed, placing a hand on my hip. "Won't this be fun, Jane?"

"Extremely," she agreed. There was a double meaning to her words.

"Very well, Jane. If you will."

I turned to the evil little vampire as a malicious grin spread across her face. She flashed it gleefully, then the pain in my head exploded.

I thought I was dying. It was worse than the transformation—I was experiencing it tenfold. I couldn't move, though, and I was dimly aware of the bracelet tightening with all it strength, burning me. But I didn't feel it. The pain in my head was enough.

"You may stop now, dear," Aro commanded after what seemed like an eternity. His voice sounded a world away, but for once I was relieved to hear his sickly-polite tone.

The pain vanished. And Jane was glaring at me. I glanced up at Aro, whose expression remained thoughtful. "Interesting," he said at last. "May I have your hand for a moment, please?"

I clutched my hand to my chest. "I'd rather not."

He contemplated that. "Very well, then. I guess I should respect your boundaries. You are, after all, Carlisle's granddaughter." I blinked. I hadn't thought he'd let me. "But later, if you please, I would greatly enjoy hearing your thoughts. I do wonder how it would be like to be part vampire your whole life?"

I blinked again. "Um, interesting," I suggested. He nodded.

"Of course I understand your sensitivity. After all, you did live your life on the move."

I tried to keep my eyes from narrowing as I stared at him. It was his fault I'd been on the move! And he had the nerve to even bring it up? What. The. Hell?

"May I leave, please?" I asked, trying not to grind my teeth. He gracefully swept a hand towards the door and I sped as slowly as possible to the exit.

As soon as I was out of their sight and hearing, I collapsed, stomach clenching. Damn! What the hell was that about?

I pulled my knees into my chest and breathed deeply. The pain was no longer there, but the memory was haunting me. Not being able to move… Had that been Matt's doing, or Jane's? I shut my eyes tight, clenching my jaw.

I officially hated the Volturi.

OOO

I had stayed that way all day, wondering how I could get away from my fate before Aro decided it was time for a little handshake and tea. I grimaced. I really wished I could die.

I dragged my feet into the bedroom, and saw Matt folded in a chair to my left. He blinked when he saw me, then smiled. "Hey!" he began on a sarcastic note. "They're keeping you victims alive these days? Who knew?"

I ignored him, falling on the bed and curling up into a ball. I heard him curse under his breath.

"What the hell did they do?" he asked, his tone soft. I relaxed instantly, unbidden thoughts rushing through my head. "Did Jane get to you?"

"Sure," I said, my voice weary, "but she doesn't know it."

I could almost hear the gears working in his head as his weight settled on the mattress. "That's good," he allowed after a moment. I felt his hand on my shoulder, and didn't push it away. "Did you shake Aro's hand? Touch him at all?"

"No and no," I answered, feeling his hand brush over my arm. The touch sent a tingle through me.

"Good," he breathed. His hand went down my forearm, prying my hand away from my knees. He laced his fingers with mine, and brought my hand back to his face. I suppressed a shiver, my lust building.

He kissed my hand, and I tensed slightly. He must've had a multiple personality disorder, with his demands of this morning and then—now—he suddenly decided to—

He brushed his finger across my check, turning me to face him, and I sighed, "Why?"

As I opened my eyes I saw shock glitter across his face, but he merely replied in an even tone: "Because I know you want it. Me? Not necessarily so, I don't believe. But whether you want to admit it or not, it's not like you can just walk around dealing with torture all the time, then sit here and dwell on it. It could also be true that I don't want to be torn to pieces in my sleep. That, or," he smiled, "I could've seen the mashed up table that you kicked against the wall."

I leaned against his hand. He was right. Him? I could care less about him. But he was a really good kisser, and hey, I'm an American. He was hot, too. His fingers trailed across my lips, and I exhaled. Then his lips were on mine, moving quickly but unrushed. His hands trailed lower, then I gave in.

OOO

Okay, let me make one thing clear before you review. She still does not love him. If she loved him, that would be the end of the story, but I'm giving way too much away. –shmile-

Another thing: Julie wrote the more… UM, adultish parts. I don't do that, so yeah. –riminder, love and lust. NOT the same thing—.

Jamie