Chapter Six
The first week with Caius was no problem. It was easy like Zondrea had predicted. But, their 'relationship' wasn't just behind closed doors. Everyone in the Volturi knew, and much to her surprise, they were not shocked. In fact, it was as if most of them had expected it. Aro had been thrilled, but Zondrea only knew he was happy about it because he thought that this meant she was staying with them permenently. Marcus was very passive about it, and she guessed he wasn't too happy because of the somewhat recent death of Caius's 'wife', Athenodora. The women had died far before Zondrea had arrived.
Still within the first week, Caius had been very intent on Demetri staying a guard to Zondrea. She tried her best to pretend having a guard didn't bother her, but she felt like maybe her plan was hopeless. Maybe he would guard her even more now, now that she was starting to mean more to him than before and he was possibly afraid to lose her.
No, that couldn't be it. Caius was ruthless, her death wouldn't mean much. And it would be next to impossible to kill her. She could always use her power on any vampire or human that wasn't a shield.
At the moment, Zondrea was standing near on a window. She was in the exact same room that she had been in the day Caius had assigned Demetri to be her guard. Boredom was starting to set in, she hated not doing anything, she felt like she should be doing something, anything really.
Demetri seemed to be starting to feel the same way. He was staring off into space, an open book laid out in front of him. She turned to him, her eyebrows arched. "Doesn't this ever get boring to you?" She questioned, keeping her voice as innocent as possible, leaking curiosity into it.
He ignored her for a second, before his eyes came into focus and he glanced at her. "You think I enjoy having to watch over you, when you clearly don't need anyone to?" He asked back and she shrugged.
"Well, the answer is no. But, I'm not about to say anything to Caius, maybe you should talk to him. You're the only one who can and he'll actually listen." Demetri said, slightly annoyed, turning back to his book with an aggravated sigh.
Zondrea sat there for a moment, trying to think of ways she could persuade Caius to let her be by herself. There had to be a way. He may be a stubborn, hateful, and selfish man, but he had to see some reason. And looking up two of the Volturi's most useful members was beyond ridiculous.
"Demetri, I'm going to talk to Caius, but I would like to do it alone." She spoke up, speaking in a soft and innocent voice, her eyes wide. Demetri looked up at her critically, his eyes scanning over hers, trying to find anything off about it.
"Really? Like I would go anywhere?" She asked with annoyance, swinging her legs off the window sill and standing up. She felt full of energy, after being locked up with no where to go, she felt stir crazy.
"I suppose not, but I really should at least walk with you." He said with a firm tone and Zondrea nodded, figuring this was as much freedom she would get for right now.
The two exited the room, Demetri shutting the door behind them before the pair went off to a lower level. She went first, her feet gliding down the worn stone steps. Thoughts were racing through her mind, ideas upon ideas. She had to be persuasive, but not give off suspicions.
But, what she really wanted to do was take a deep breath and just step back. Zondrea hated all this pretending, she hated having to be guarded, having no freedom, and being stuck doing nothing. She thought that joining the Volturi would put her in the right place, they would use her for good. But, so far, all she had done was murder and lie. It wasn't doing her any good. The sooner she left, the better.
"He's in here." Demetri noted and Zondrea had guessed he used his tracking ability to find Caius. The two had approached a small set of doors that led to another room. There were so many in this building. Zondrea had never actually been inside this one, but she was guessing it was the Volturi leader's private place because Demetri cautiously knocked, although both of them knew Caius could hear them outside the door.
Caius opened it anyways in a very formal gesture, his fair hair in a neat order as usual and his eyes dulled. He glanced at the two of them, his eyes lingering on Zondrea, before returning to Demetri. "Is something wrong?" He asked, and she shook her head.
"No, I just wished to have a word with you." Zondrea spoke up, crossing her arms across her chest. Caius turned back to her, narrowing his eyes a bit before nodding and opening the door more.
"You may go, Demetri." He said, not even thanking him, he closed the door tightly, the other Volturi member disappearing before it was even closed.
Zondrea entered the room with slight hesitation. It was definitely Caius'. There were no windows, it was very dark, only single candles lighting up the area every now and then. But, it didn't matter much when they all had perfect vision.
An, almost, useless bed stood elegantly in one corner of the room while a small study was in the other. The bed had a tall frame with burgundy covers. The desk for the study was a deep, expensive looking brown. Books upon books were lined neatly on the shelves.
"Go on and have a look if you like." He proposed and she did, making her way to the shelf and running a hand along the spines, reading the titles of all the ancient books. Some were in Greek, others in Latin, and some even in Russian. So much history in such a little place.
Zondrea felt him come to her side, his silent breath playing at her neck. "That one," He started, indicating a emerald spined one with gold letters. "is a biography on a man who traveled from Old Rome to go to Greece, he was trying to set peace, but instead became a monster himself. He still lives on today. That is the only copy." Caius explained, a hand idly picking up a curl of her hair.
"How did you obtain it?" She asked curiously, feeling the need to keep the conversation light for now.
"Through some slight persuasion." Caius answered after a moment.
Zondrea turned to face him, glancing up at his darkened eyes. "And by that you mean through force and demand." She didn't ask it, she already knew she was right. And by the way he slightly smirked at that it only confirmed her suspicions.
"You're starting to read me like a book." He stated, brushing her cheek softly. Zondrea stared into his eyes, trying to get a feel for his mood. But, the thing was, he wasn't easy to read like a book. He hid his emotions well, almost too well.
Before she could start the conversation that she had came for, he leaned into her lips. She didn't fight, just went along with it like she always did. His hand crept to the small of her back, pressing her closer. She didn't mind this either, and it was starting to frighten her. What if these little things started to not become enough? What if Caius started pushing for more? She didn't know if she could pretend with that. Or maybe, what if she didn't have to pretend, what if she actually started to feel something for Caius?
But, that couldn't happen, she thought as her hand wrapped itself around his neck through habit. Zondrea knew what he was capable of, knew he had immense power and enjoyed others pain. She had seen it in his eyes many times. But, when they were alone like this, it wasn't honestly bad. She sometimes found herself enjoying it.
Before they could get too caught up, she pulled back and she knew by the way his hand lingered that he didn't like that. But, she had to talk to him before she lost her nerve. "Caius," She started in a soft voice. "I came down here to talk to you for a reason." He nodded before leading the way to the bed at the other side of the room, gesturing for her to sit down as he stood in front of her.
"Go on," He insisted, keeping eye contact and she assumed her was trying to measure up what she was thinking.
"I think that keeping me guarded is ridiculous." She said quite bluntly. He didn't say anything, keeping a blank face, so she went on. "It's wasting Demetri's time and my own. I'm not useless and I don't like being with someone all the time. I enjoy being by myself at times, which I'm sure you understand. But, it's one thing keeping me locked in, but Demetri also? That's something else, especially when he is as powerful as he is." She finished and he seemed to consider for a moment, his eyes blank as he thought.
"Did he put you up to this?" He questioned, something Zondrea had not been expecting.
"Why would someone as loyal as him put me up to this?" She asked right back and Caius shook his head.
"That's not a direct answer, Zondrea." He spoke back and she fought the urge to roll her eyes at how ridiculous he was being.
"No, of course he didn't." She answered with sincerity, apparently enough to make her believe him.
He didn't speak for a while, as if planning out many different things in his mind at once. She sat there, her hands neatly folded onto her lap. Her eyes focused on the black fiber of her jeans.
Finally, after a good couple minutes of silence he spoke. "I don't think your request is completely out of line. But, I do want to set some...rules." He seemed to consider the word, as if not sure of a better way to put it.
She nodded and he continued. "You may be by yourself as long as your inside. If you leave to hunt, you bring someone with, and yes that someone should be a shield, or a shield and guard. I know how unreasonable and manipulative you can get. I'd prefer that when you leave you come to me. And you may not leave farther than our territory." He finished and she thought that the rules were fairly reasonable and at least a footstep in the right direction.
"Are you satisfied?" He asked, and she nodded in a sure way. Her plan was working, it wasn't hopeless and that did make her happy.
Caius smiled lightly, "Well, good." And then her surprised her, jumping in a very cat-like and hungry way. He moved her further onto the bed, pinning her beneath him. She felt his weight pushed against her, but it didn't bother her, she lay still, a smirk placing itself on her lips as it did with Caius.
"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into." He spoke to her in a very quite whisper, but in a very intimidating tone that even sent a shock through her.
"Do I really even have a choice?" She asked, her eyes searching his. They were full of hunger, demand, power and something else. Want.
"No." He simply responded before silencing any response from her with his lips. They were demanding, and lustful as he pushed further. If her heat was still beating, it would have been pounding as fast as hummingbird's wings. She fought to keep up with Caius, as his hand slid to her hip, his thumb gliding over the jutting bone.
Zondrea was lucky, Caius didn't push much further. Eventually he settled down, slowly the kisses to almost nothing before letting her go. The two of them lay on the bed, each lost in their own minds.
(A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I've just been busy with holiday stuff and I had a show on Saturday (I saw Never Shout Never and it was so great), but I promise that won't happen again. And to LadyAroVolturi, I did see Breaking Dawn Part Two. I thought it was great and I loved how they put the Volturi in it a lot. Of course, Jamie (who plays Caius) was beautiful as usual. I can't wait till The Mortal Instruments movie comes out because those are my favorite books and he plays Jace :) Anyways, I'll update again for sure tomorrow. Remember to review and tell me what you think!)