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 47 - "Arm yourself, my heart: the thing that you must do is fearful, yet inevitable." *

Edward quickly made his way to the tower quickly joining Alec and Felix. He saw them both listening intently at the door, perplexed expressions coating their countenance. Once Edward arrived he understood; there were muffled sounds but further than that; nothing. Was Dragus here or not? To be sure of victory Edward nodded his head to Alec, a silent request to release his deadly gift.

After a few minutes Edward nodded his head as he knew that all behind the door would be paralyzed. It was then that all three rammed the reinforced door with the tools that Felix and Alec had brought with them.

Upon entering Alec quickly saw Messalina; her hands and legs chained and bound to the wall. Her face an impassive mask, her clothes torn and her eyes empty. Alec's first reaction was to release her from the chains and in doing so she collapsed in his arms and slowly sank to the ground.

"He's not here! Where the hell is he?" Edward shouted as his eyes scanned the room.

Alec was still on the ground cradling Messalina but Felix was on the alert.

"We need to find him before he escapes or does irreparable damage" Edward said while clasping Alec's shoulder adding "I need your help with this Alec"

Alec nodded his head and put the unconscious Messalina on the bed in the middle of the room

Dragus had sensed his chance when he heard the arrival of a plane. It didn't matter what happened, if Caius was dead or not, he would have his revenge and the arrival of the plane and all the chaos that it would bring would just help him to achieve his goal.

He left Messalina chained against the wall and took the chains and locks that he had used on both women with him as he swiftly strode the secret corridors to Aro's apartments letting his eyes scan the hallways to make sure no one saw him. He snickered as he though how easy this was, Aro in his stupidity had allowed him access so that they could have their secret meetings but now Dragus could use this information to get the prize he has always coveted.

When he arrived the apartment he left the chains behind and searched the rooms. They seemed to be empty and he was furious as he searched all the rooms for his prize. "Damn it" he murmured as he entered the last empty room; now he had no choice but to go back to Messalina or flee for he knew that one touch of Aro would reveal his motives.

Then his hearing detected someone coming his way and he quickly hid behind the heavy curtains. Was Aro back already? He hadn't expected that.

Then he heard crying and a female voice constantly repeating a mantra "he's alive, what have I done, he's alive" as the voice swiftly came his way.

He stayed behind the curtain until the steps stopped and then stealthily walked towards the voice. He peeked around the door frame and couldn't believe his luck, there she stood; Isabella.

She was upset and had her back to him as she kept mumbling to herself.

He immediately attacked, not with his body but with his gift. Putting his hand over her mouth he automatically stopped her screams and then whispered into her ear "Not yet dove, I will have you screaming but not quite yet".

He increased his gift until her body mercifully gave up it's fight and she passed out. Then he stuffed a cloth deep in her throat before he rolled her up in a carpet and bound the parcel incapacitating both arms in the process. Then picked it up and put it over his shoulders carrying her like a sack of flour out of the apartments and into the secret passageway.

Once entering the passageway he picked up the waiting chains and wound them around his victim securing her silence and allowing no chance for defiance.

Caius felt something shift in his mind. He didn't know what but something was wrong. At that moment Edward, Felix and Alec entered the room. Edward shouted "Dragus has escaped, we thought he was with Messalina but he wasn't"

Caius panicked and mumbled "Isabella" and ran towards Aro's apartments.

Edward, reading his thoughts swiftly shouted "Dragus is after Bella; we need to get him before he succeeds"

Dragus exited the castle as if the devil was on his heals, knowing that if he was found with his precious cargo it would be the cause of his final death. He now surmised by all the information that he had secured from Aro that both he and Bella could not be followed by Demetri. The van was not fast enough to get far away in a short time therefore he had made solid plans with a private airport in the area. The money Aro had given had given him had been put to good use; and now that the opportunity came, he took it.

The chaos caused by the arrival of the plane had all members of the coven to heading to the castle, their curiosity getting the better of them when rumours permeated the coven. This allowed Dragus to go undetected to the parking area.

Dragus had his van among them; he bought it with this in mind and Aro had allowed him to park it close to the grounds. He quickly entered and placed the carpet containing Bella on the ground. Then closed the doors and ran to sit in the drivers side. Closing the door he turned the engine on he laughed at the stupidity of Aro and the ease at which he was able to abduct Bella.

Still laughing he gave gas and went to the entry gates showing them the pass that Aro had given him. Once he got the OK he sped up and left for the airport.

The four vampires were at Aro's apartment and sped through them searching for Bella but she was no where to be found. Fear permeated the group as they couldn't find her.

Edward quickly pulled his cellphone out of his pocket shouting "Does anyone know the gatekeepers number?"

Seeing the blank faces he knew it was impossible so he dashed out of the apartment and ran towards the parking exit. At that moment he saw a van leaving the grounds and knew it was Dragus. He tried to catch up but Dragus was to far, he knew it was helpless and he had to have backup; fast.

Stopping he opened his cellphone once more and calling Caius he "He's got her and has left the grounds. He is too far, I couldn't catch him"

Caius roared his anguish and the panic was complete. Bella was at the mercy of Caius's fiercest enemy and considering his history with Dragus he knew Dragus would show no mercy.

Both Alec and Felix has never seen him this distressed and waited to hear the news.

Edward had ran to the gatekeeper and asked "the van that just left; do you know the plate numbers?"

The vampire fumed "Who are you; I only speak with members of the Volturi!"

"you have a choice either you speak to me now or face Caius's fury

"Caius is no longer amongst us"

"He has just arrived and you and a minute ago you allowed someone to take possession of his mate and leave these grounds with her. Do you have any idea what he will do to you or anyone that comes between his mate and himself

He quickly evaluated his situation stammering "I had no idea. I was a bit preoccupied but will look it up the system takes pictures of all cars coming and going.

While they looked together at the picture Edward called Carlisle "Bella is gone; Dragus got a hold of her and just left the premises. Do the Voltera have connections with the police maybe we can trace the car, we know the plates"

Before Edward could speak further Carlisle said "Alice just arrived and it seems she has had a vision of an airport. Do you know an airport in the area? I think he's heading there."

Twilight had set in and while Edward was on the phone he noticed Caius had caught up with him. "I've got Carlisle on the phone; it seems Alice has seen an airport in her visions, do you know which ones are in the area?"

"This is like looking for a needle in a haystack" Caius viciously snarled.

Edward looked at him saying "Do you have a better idea? I think it would be a logical move for him to go to an airport. He knows he can't outrun us with a car especially if we know the plate numbers. He also knows that once he is gone Demetri can't track either his or Bella's presence. He can go anywhere and it will be almost impossible to find him".

"Shit" Caius growled then added "It must be Peretola! It has a discreet area in the back that we can use when we need it".

Felix and Alec had just arrived and Edward probed "Has the Volturi got any people around the Peretola airport, we think he's heading there?"

Felix nodded and pulled his cellphone as he and Alec headed for the limo.

Felix drove and stopped in front of Caius and Edward allowing them to take the back seat. Then with screeching wheels they past the gatekeeper and Alec filled them in "we got a hold of our people and they are on their way to the airport and will stop at our usual meeting point. We also reported Dragus's car as stolen to one of our connections in the police force; if they find him they will call. That way we will be able to find out if he is going to the airport or not".

Edward "Good idea! Although I am almost sure he is going to Peretola, but by following his licence plate we will be able to see if he's contemplating any other strategy".

The trip via limo was about an hour and a half along the highway but all felt that it was too long so once out of Voltura they ran north west hiding in the green and avoiding small villages. Thankfully both Felix and Alec knew their way through the area. Dragus may have left earlier but with Bella he was either forced to carry her or forced to drive; either way he was at a disadvantage.

Once they arrived at the airport they were met up by Alec's connections who reported having not seen anyone yet. They were subsequently sent to the parking area with the licence plate number to see if they could spot the van while Felix and Alec combed the private area to see if their were any suspicious aircraft.

The atmosphere was tense while Caius and Edward waited for new when Caius abruptly inquired "Are your sister's visions accurate?"

"They often are; especially if she has a bond with the person, that helps makes the vision more accurate". Then added "She save Bella's life once with her gift. I'm hoping she will do it now".

A second later Edwards cellphone hummed, it was Alec and he held the phone between him and Caius "It seems your sister was right, the police have spotted a van going in the direction of the Peretola airport. We are hiding between the private aircraft; he must have some sort of transport here, after all he can't very well take a commercial airline".

Both Edward and Caius nodded their head in unison and Edward answered "We are coming your way"

They swiftly joined Alec and Felix and all four hid in the shadows when all of a sudden a van came their way. The lights of the van were off as Dragus wanted no witnesses and could easily see in the dark, avoiding any obstacles he may meet.

There was a banging and all realized that Bella was smashing her feet against the side of the van in an attempt to free herself.

As Dragus left the car you could see he was furious and preoccupied as his priority was to stop Bella. The group used this and the noise Bella was making to their advantage as they raced towards the van.

Dragus opened the back door and pulling Bella's feet away from the side he wrapped them with yet another chain saying "It will be a pleasure to break you!"

Caius was ferocious and attacked releasing all his pent-up fury on his enemy.

While Caius and Dragus fought Edward and Felix took it upon themselves to remove Bella from the van and when they were a good distance away they removed the chains. Edward gently picked her up and giving her to Felix went to join Alec.

The fight was a vicious one and Caius was winning until Dragus used his gift in an effort to slow him down and kill him. It was at that moment that Alec released his gift on Dragus and just as he was about to strike he felt the paralyzing grip.

Caius was temporarily dazed and slowly his mind cleared as he stood looking down at his enemy. He held his sword high and was about to decapitate him but Edward swiftly put his hand on his arm saying "We must know the truth; all of it! If we don't, Aro has a chance to contest it and we can't afford that."

Caius was still fuming but seeing the wisdom of his words he stood down. It was at that moment that he saw Isabella and heard a slight sound like a small intake of breath.

Caius hesitantly made his way towards her for fear that she would reject him. Then a small voice inside him said 'she is mine and I have claimed her as I will reclaim her now'.

Caius cautiously stretched out his arm but she was hesitant to go to him. Did she no longer love him? Has she fallen under Aro's charms? As he got closer his fears melted as he saw her fragile body. The fears were soon replaced by anger as he saw the pain and later distress stain her features.

She slowly looked up and whispered "I waited so long but Aro keep saying you were dead and I was deceiving myself to believe otherwise. I was going mad and Aro saved me from myself"

He softly smiled and said "After your kidnapping I promised you I would always stay at your side and protect you; I am so sorry I could not keep my word"

Seeing that these words had no effect on Bella he asked "Has your bond to me been destroyed; do you no longer want me at your side?"

Her eyes speared open as she asked "Do you still harbour any desire for me?"

Upon which he gruffly answered "Damn woman, you know I will never readily set you free of your bond with me"

Bella carefully walked towards Caius and as soon as he had her in his arms he bent to whisper softly in her ear "Let us go home my love" and led her to the limousine.

* Euripides