An Unresolved Past
This story starts off five years after its prelude: 'Life is never what you expect it to be'. Bella is now Caius's mate and they are both very happily bonded. WARNING: This is an adult version of twilight and will have sexual submission and violence (after all; the story revolves around vampires). This is not for the faint of heart; it is very dark and has sexual content. 18+
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters but has nothing to do with this story.
Chapter 45 – "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." *
After boarding they all had settled in their chairs for their flight back to Volterra with Jasper and Alice in the cockpit. Their plan had been crystallized and they just had to wait to see how feasible it would be once it was set in motion. Everything was now up to the gods.
All were lost in their thoughts when Marcus asked the questions that others dared not. Looking at Caius he asked "Do you remember what happened the night you disappeared?"
All vampires present were curious and once the question was asked the silence was deafening; the only thing heard was the constant humming of the plane itself. Caius looked up to his friend and ally saying "The snow, as most of you know was blinding and that was when I lost Riley. I was about to look for a place to stay until the worst was over until I was confronted with the smell of the frangipani flower. I saw a figure in the distance and pursued it; once we were at the cliff he finally turned to face me. It was Dragus which I had fought with when we conquered Romanian coven; I thought he was killed along with the others but it seemed he had survived."
Confusion marked Marcus's expression as he asked "was it not his woman that you had taken for sport?"
"The same!" He acknowledged then his eyes once again focused on the scene that had played itself out so long ago. "I was prepared for battle when I saw his eyes focus on something behind me and a female slowly appeared in the distance".
All of a sudden I felt a searing pain and I realized that she was able to enter my mind and felt her drain me of my memories. Then the earthquakes began and Dragus told her to strike. She wouldn't; saying it wasn't her mission to kill. Once I was released by her gift my instincts kicked in and I attempted to strike Dragus.
Then, eyes in focus once again, he turned his head towards Marcus saying "It seems our old friend is gifted as well. He could attack my body's reactions with his mind and when I was powerless, he came in for the kill. The gods were then with me as the glacier broke sending me down and into the abyss and out of his hands".
It was at that moment that he felt the tension of the others as they listen to his explanation of the events of that fateful night. A second later he continued this time to all in the cabin "When the cliff of ice broke off he was able to get to safety but I went down in slow motion the wind circling around me as I plunged into the ice-cold water. Maybe I was instantly encased in Ice, maybe I sank; I don't know but the next thing I do remember is having to swimming under the ice and looking for a place to surface".
Carlisle, being a doctor had difficulty suppressing his curiosity asking "What happened after I gave you the medicine?"
"As you know, shortly after you gave me the medicine I feel asleep; it was the first time I had slept since I became immortal. In my dream I was looking into a clouded mirror stained by time. In some places the silver was no longer there and because of that I could see fragments of images pass me by. I was trying my best to focus on those visions because something told me they were important. Then suddenly the mirror shattered and a huge tidal wave of memories engulfed me. In the beginning it was overwhelming and I feared for my sanity. After a while the information gradually slowed down and levelled out. Then the images settled and they began colouring the blank pages in my mind".
Allowing the truth to sink in; the cabin was now silent. All present had been silenced by the insight Caius had given them of the events that had instigated the battle they were now preparing to launch.
An hour later Caius told Marcus "When we get there we have to free Edward; as a mind reader he is the only one who knows exactly what we can expect.
Marcus analyzed his words and cautiously answered "That may be so but Aro will, no doubt be waiting on us and expect us to come to him as soon as possible. It will be conspicuous enough not having the twins with us, let alone if we come much later".
Caius nodded his head in agreement but justified his point saying "Maybe so but I would rather have Edward with us, after all he can look into the minds and see any lurking danger.
Marcus, seeing the logic in his thinking nodded his head in approval then asked "How will we explain the absence of the twins".
Caius replied "I don't think you can; but I hope to be in the throne room with Edward by the time things escalate".
Bella had a gnawing feeling that something was different. She felt weak and yet strong; it was something she couldn't explain. It hit just after she and Aro had been making love and when she tried to stand she felt dizzy and quickly sat down. When Aro came back from his library he swiftly glanced at her while preparing to go to his office. Seeing her disorientation he was automatically on his guard and came beside her in the bed. He caressed her back and saw the tension in her body as she turned her head to look at him.
"What is wrong my dear?" he whispered
Bella was asking herself the same thing for she couldn't fathom what was going on; actually she didn't want to understand her restlessness. So trying not to spend too much time thinking about it she said "Nothing, maybe a bit stressful after your news of Caius; it seems I still have difficulty accepting his death"
Aro sat next to her and wrapping his arms around her he whispered "Try not to think of it; maybe it is better for you to stay in our room. After all you have finally come to terms with it and I don't want your emotional balance destroyed by any stressful confrontations. She leaned against his chest saying "Thank you! Your care has shown me another part of you; I'm grateful you understand". She then turned and covered his cheek with the palm of her hand and gave him an affectionate kiss.
On his way to HIS OFFICE Aro was confronted by Santiago who said "The plane from Denmark has arrived AT THE AIRPORT THEY WILL BE TAKING A HELICOPTER FROM THERE" AND WILL ARRIVE SHORTLY.
"Excellent, I WILL BE ON my way to the throne room SHORTLY. Would you to send my personal guards down there? Once that is done I want you to welcome the guests and bring them to the throne room"
When he had arrived in the throne room he was surprised to find only his guards present; his guests had not yet arrived. Aro then gracefully took his throne waiting. He had anticipated that this would happen considering the situation Marcus and the Cullens found themselves in. He snickered to himself as the thought 'how can you explain the discovery and even quicker loss of a king'?
Just as he had become impatient a confused Santiago came in with Marcus and Demetri. Aro, perplexed by the absence of the twins resolutely demanded "Where are Alec, Jane and the Cullens?"
Marcus calmly told him "They will be coming shortly, we arrived in two helicopters".
It was then that Aro became suspicious for he knew that the twins would never leave Marcus of their own accord. Almost automatically he responded by answering "I demand to know more".
"You seem to have many demands of late but I will tell you why; I asked them to come in the second helicopter. I am also a king or have you forgotten?" Marcus said in an icy tone.
"Actually, I thought you had forgotten". Aro angrily retorted "After all we haven't seen or heard from you for more than a half year and now you show up ordering my personal guards about". Then looking around with a smug face he added "You said you had found Caius but I do not see him among you: did you tell him to stay in Denmark as well?"
"No, I doubt Caius would have listened to anything I or anyone else would have said" Marcus deliberately replied.
Caius, Felix and the Cullen coven walked towards the dungeons to look for and release Edward. Caius had taken the twins with him hoping that Edward would be able to determine the loyalty of the two. His mind was already calling Edward and asking for his assumption.
Once Edward hearing the question shouted "I'm here in the last cell of the west wing dungeon". Caius leading the rescue group swiftly dashed through the corridors and turning the last corner they found a desolate cell in which Edward was standing, his arms chained to the wall and his head bent as if in a trance. When they opened the Prison door he opened his eyes and looked straight at Jane saying "She is unpredictable; she must stay here and away from Aro."
"Is she a traitor?" Caius asked.
"No but we still cannot trust her; her hart is with Aro as it has always been" Edward replied.
Jane quickly backed-up ready to attack any that touched her.
Caius, fearing treachery, was about to strike when Alec swiftly came between the two pulling Jane out of his reach.
Wrapping his arms around Jane he softly said "Please sister I wish to enjoy your company in the future; to lose you as well as Messalina and Aro would be my downfall".
In the meantime Edward had been freed and putting his hand on Caius's shoulder he said "The coven will need her in the future; to kill her would be a mistake"
Begrudgingly Caius nodded his acceptance and pointing his chin to the two he asked "And Alec?"
His eyes turned to the second twin "He tried to find Isabella and help her as Marcus had requested but no longer remembers this."
Alec automatically turned when he heard the explanation, the perplexed look on his face confirming Edward's words.
Caius looked at Alec saying "We must put her in chains until this coup is over".
Alec nodded his head and led his sister to the cell. While he binding her hands in chains Caius mind reached out to Edward asking 'are you sure you can trust him?'
Edward smiled "If Alec wants Messalina to stay alive; it will be in his interest to help us"
Alec just finished binding his sister swiftly turned and his eyes became dark as he asked "What is going on? What do you know about Messalina?"
"I think I know more about her than you do" Edward said a lopsided smile gracing his lips.
Although his face was calm Edward detected Alec's fury. Realizing Alec thought that he had and his clan had something to do with her disappearance he swiftly explained "No, none of us has anything to do with her absence; it seems that Aro has her in the tower".
"What do you mean?" Alec asked.
"She also tried to help Bella escape but was too late; Bella had been totally indoctrinated. When Aro found her with Bella he locked her in the tower with Caius's old adversary. Aro wants obedience from all his subjects so he has asked a man called Dragus to ensure it. She is now the new subject of his mind manipulation" Edward softly said.
The others muttered their surprise as Caius softly sneered "so Marcus and I are not the only ones he has betrayed"
Edward listened to the chaotic thoughts surging through Alec's mind; doubt fear and anger. When he turned to face his sister Edward said "she had no knowledge of it".
Alec then turned his fierce eyes toward Edward asking "What do you want me to do?"
We need to go to the throne room and support Marcus; he and Demetri are alone with Aro and his guards.
As they passed the corridors their steady steps alerted the coven members they passed. The sight of a restored Caius after all these years had heightened their curiosity so they silently followed him and his group to the throne room.
* John F. Kennedy