Felicity could feel the throbbing in her temple as she tried to massage away the growing headache. She'd had another late night again, finishing the seemingly never ending pile of paperwork that Gianna had made mistakes with, and no amount of coffee could change the fact that she felt tired. Her mood had not been helped when she had been informed that Gianna had failed to show up for her shift that morning. No doubt she had over slept again. It was becoming beyond a joke with how useless that woman was.
She let a long sigh pass her lips as she made her way towards Caius' living quarters, turning the corner and feeling the frustration build higher at the sight before her. Not again. The throbbing in her head only seemed too get worse as she came to a halt only steps away from the door, watching as one of the lower guards hoisted a body bag over his shoulder and made too leave, stopping as her voice reached his ears.
"who was it this time?"
She could feel her eye beginning too twitch, turning her glare towards the shut door as Caius' laughter rang out from within. Whilst Marcus had always had a calming effect upon Felicity, the same could not be said for Caius. He seemed to have a special talent for bringing out the more feisty side of the personality she hid so well.
"I do not believe that Gianna will be causing you anymore issues, my beautiful Felicity"
There were some days that Felicity really had to question whether being raised by vampires had altered her mental state in any way. Yes, she felt a small twinge of guilt knowing that Gianna's fate had been brought about by her conversation with Marcus only days before, but that was all she felt. Over the course of her life, she had seen this too often now to really let it affect her. But that didn't mean she wasn't frustrated whenever it happened.
"you are a menace, Caius Volturi, a sadistic menace"
His laughter only grew louder at her angry tone as she pushed the door open and stepped inside, her head dropping in exasperation at the sight of the room. The bed was completely trashed, along with the set of draws, there were cracks in the walls and there were bloodstains in the carpet. It would seem that he had decided to have some fun with his food before finishing her off.
"good morning, Darling"
Caius was sat amongst the shambles that had once been his bed, his lower half covered by the silk bed sheets. Felicity pinched the bridge of her nose as he sent his most devilish smirk her way.
"Is it a good morning, Caius? you do realise how difficult it is too remove bloodstains from carpet... please tell me that you at least have some form of clothing on under there?"
His smirk only grew wider at her words
"would you like to see, my love? Perhaps have a little fun? I promise to be gentle"
She couldn't hold back the bark of laughter as she swept an eye over the room once more, returning her heated gaze too the ancient and folding her arms across her chest.
"gentle? oh please, clearly you are about as gentle as a brick too the face, Caius. Now go put some pants on, I'll meet you in your office"
She turned on her heels and left the room, Caius noticing the subtle sway of her hips as she walked away from him. She may have gained an iron-clad grip over the temper that had once ruled her teenage years, but Caius knew that, behind the mask of indifference she wore so well, Felicity was still just as fiery as she had ever been. And that was one of the many things he loved about her, seeing the burning passion within those dark blue eyes whenever he pushed all the right buttons in her mind to release the feistier side of her heart, relishing in how she wasn't scared to let him know her opinion in all its brutal glory. Too Caius, She was perfection.
Felicity was loathed too admit it, but she could never stay angry with Caius for long. Even when his overly affectionate hands got a little too bold for her liking or when his comments got a little too crude. Not even when, like he had done today, he decided to relinquish the life of one of her staff and throw her own work schedule into turmoil. There was just something about the way he would look at her, a mischievous glint in his eye and a playful smirk on his lips that made her forgive him every time. But she'd be damned if she didn't make him suffer for his behaviour before letting him off.
"come now, dearest, you cannot ignore me forever"
She narrowed her eyes in frustration as she took a quick glimpse at him from beneath her lashes. No, she couldn't ignore him forever, but she could damn well try. Thanks to his method of dealing with Gianna, Felicity now had double the amount of work she should have done. Just what she needed today. Not only were there documents all over her desk, but they were all over the coffee table as well and they all needed to be copied, checked through and signed. It was only thanks to her Telekinesis that she had managed to get this much done. Whilst she checked through each document or typed up the next one, she used her gift to keep the pen in motion so that she could sign each completed item at the same time.
Caius scowled as she continued her silent treatment. He didn't like it when she did this, the sound of her soft, sultry voice was like music too his ears and he always enjoyed the way it made his senses tingle with pleasure. He watched as she rose from her chair, moving towards the coffee table in order to collect the next document that needed her attention, seeing his chance to gain her attention once more.
He grinned at the little yelp of surprise she gave as he appeared behind her, arms wrapping around her waist as he brought his lips close to her ear. He couldn't resist taking a deep intake of breath as he pulled her towards his chest. Her scent was rich, sweet and fruity, like a mixture of summer berries drizzled with the finest Belgian chocolate, and he couldn't stop the contented purr that rumbled inside his chest at this little indulgence.
"are you angry with me for my methods of dealing with Gianna?"
She sighed at his words and turned to face him, blushing slightly at the proximity of his face too her own. He had that gleam in his eye and that wicked smirk on his lips, the same look that he knew would always seal her forgiveness. She huffed in annoyance as she answered him, the look of triumph on his face that he had broken her silence was clear
"and why would that make me angry, Caius? perhaps because I now have that woman's work as well as my own too deal with. Or maybe it's that I now have to find a replacement for her, a tedious task considering how naive and dull-witted the applicants tend to be"
He frowned as she turned away from him once more, trying to continue with her work. He may have liked to tease her, but he did not like it when she was genuinely upset with him.
"you know that I and my brothers do not take kindly to others giving you difficulty, Felicity"
"yes, but I wish that you would give me fair warning before disposing of my staff, I could have found a replacement by now if you had"
As much as she wished her tone had been angry, it came out as nothing more than a tired sigh. Caius' chuckle drifted too her ears as he placed a gentle kiss against her head
"then, would it please you to know that Aro has already found a replacement?"
"that depends, is it another incompetent pain in the backside?"
She was still pressed firmly against Caius' chest as he turned her too face him once more, enjoying how close her body was too his, he had a knowing look in his eye as he spoke
"would you care to meet her, darling? She is waiting in the lobby"
She nodded her head slowly, watching as he pulled out his mobile and dialled in a number. Why did Felicity get the feeling this new recruit was going to be a little different?
"yes. Bring Miss. Valerious to my office"
She detached herself from Caius' arms as he put his mobile away once more, it would not do if the new girl thought that something was going on with herself and Caius. She sent him a fond smile before setting her face back into its stony expression, empty of any readable emotion as the door pushed open and a young woman was escorted into the room.
The first thing that Felicity noticed about the woman had to be her attire. She was so accustomed to the applicants turning up dressed in smart little suits that showed too much cleavage, all trying to attract the attention of the beautiful immortals they hoped to serve. The woman wore tight fitting, fashionably ripped, black jeans that were tucked neatly into New Rock boots and a simple black T-shirt with the words 'Bite me' written across the breast. Clearly the woman had a sense of humour. Her hair was held back in a loose pony tail, wisps of those flaming red locks hanging free as they framed her lightly tanned face.
But it was the smile on the woman's face as she looked at Felicity that startled her the most. They never dared to look Felicity in the eye, terrified that one false look would lead to death at the hands of the three kings, and they never smiled at her. Miss. Valerious seemed fearless as she met Felicity's empty eyes with her own that sparkled with warmth and, for some unknown reason, Felicity wanted to smile back. But she didn't.
"good day, Miss. Valerious"
"good day too you also, Miss. Jenkins... Could I be honest with you?"
Felicity quirked a single eyebrow at the woman. The applicants were usually so timid, stuttering as they spoke to her. Even the added intimidation of Caius being in the room did not make the woman flinch, didn't lessen the bright smile on her lips and, for the first time in her life, Felicity felt herself warming too another human.
"If you must"
"you're nothing like what I was expecting. The way the others were describing you, I thought you would be some sort of demonic, monstrous creature"
There were few things that could ever truly shock Felicity anymore. But, at the woman's words, she felt her jaw drop slightly and her eyes widen by a fraction. No one had ever spoken too her with such honesty, only the three kings. It was strangely refreshing she thought as she recomposed herself. Caius, however, didn't quite see it the same way as a snarl ripped from his chest and he took an intimidating step towards the woman.
"you would be wise to show proper respect towards her or hold your tongue, girl. I have killed others for far less"
"Caius, please... She has not offended me"
There were few things that could calm Caius when he had been angered, but one of these had always been his darling Felicity. He could never hold his rage for long when in her company. Her voice was soft as she placed a gentle hand against his arm, making Caius look down at her. He would be lying if he said that he wasn't shocked as he looked upon the expression on her face. she was smiling with content, a flicker of amusement dancing within her eyes as she turned back towards Miss. Valerious.
"have any of the others shown you around the castle yet, Miss. Valerious?"
"please Miss Jenkins, Just call me Roxanne. And no, not yet"
Felicity took a few steps closer too Roxanne, letting her smile widen slightly. She'd never dropped her harsh facade around anyone other than the kings, Felix and Demetri, Jane and Alec before, never wanted to befriend any other human for fear of the pain she would feel when they were relieved of their lives and position in the castle. But something about Roxanne made her want to take the risk.
"then allow me... and please, my name is Felicity"
Caius watched as she led the woman from the room, surprised at how relaxed she seemed with this human.
The life expectancy of the humans within the castle, with the exception of Felicity, was often only a year at most. But perhaps, if his precious one liked her, he would suggest to his brothers too allow this mortal too live a while longer.
Sorry this update took so long guys, hope you enjoyed it and let me know what you think of the new character of Roxanne. I've got a number of ideas running through my head for this story and I promise to update as soon as possible with a new chapter. Tthanks guys and happy reading! :)