Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the creator of these intriguing characters. She and the filmmakers have made a fascinating and beautiful trilogy. I wish to borrow her background and add a plot twist of my own.
Chapter 10 – Wives and Lovers
Caius's POV
Having dismissed Carlisle I had one more thing to do and had avoided it far too long. I walked toward the tower and up the stairs thinking how she would react to the situation. When I came to my objective I knocked on the door and heard a quiet voice say "Enter".
I opened the door and saw Corin sitting graciously on a chair reading a novel. I let my eyes rove the room in search of Athenodora. She was standing in front of the fireplace speaking to Sulpicia.
"Athenodora my love, I wish to speak with you." I said and she turned to face me answering "I wondered when you would visit me".
"I have been very busy as late and I think it is time that we speak of the last developments" I explained and then bowed towards Sulpicia and Coria "would you please excuse us" and they bowed in answer.
I held out my hand and Athenodora gracefully put hers in mine. We then proceeded to leave the room and go down the stairs, my plan being to take her to the gardens. We talked about small things avoiding anything else.
When we arrived at the garden I noticed that she had a loving expression on her face that I hadn't seen for centuries. I asked "My love, when I look at you I remember when we first met; you looked the same as you do now. She smiled towards me and her blond hair glistened in the moonlight.
"I think I have reason to be happy" she explained
"Oh is that so?" I queried
"Yes, you have come to tell me of your chosen mate, am I wrong?" she giggled
"No, you are right in your assumption. Are you so happy to rid yourself of me?" I inquired.
"No my love" she said and her smile told me that she meant it "I am only happy that you were so lucky to find your fated mate but I have a question for you"
"Ask me anything my love" I said
"I wish to be allowed out of the tower. Now that you have a new mate I am no longer a Volturi wife so it will no longer be necessary for you to keep me there" She looked at me in anticipation of my answer but I felt hurt that she though me her jailor.
"We have only tried to keep you and Sulpicia safe" I said trying to justify the action.
"Oh Caius you must realize it is 'a golden cage' and without the company of Coria my sanity would have been gone long ago" she explained.
"I understand my love and will of course allow it, I wish only for your happiness" I told her hoping that she would believe I meant no harm.
"May I ask one more thing?" she said with a haunting smile
I nodded my head
"I wish to live in the west wing close to you and your mate" she announced
All of a sudden I became wary and looked at her not hiding the suspicion in my eyes
"Don't worry my love" she chuckled "our relationship has lasted so long that we are more brother and sister than lovers."
"Why do you wish it?" I inquired still wary of her reasons
"Because she is from outside and I have a thirst for knowledge. I have been cut off from the world for centuries and need a reason to live. When I saw her and that boy in the throne room I saw the fire of life that we once had. I wish to help you find that in her and in doing so I wish to find a meaning to my own life" she exclaimed her voice full of life.
"I will allow it but only when she has been changed" I told her. "You understand that now my bond is made, I will suffer deeply if she is destroyed. I do not wish to end up like Marcus".
She looked surprised "you have bonded?"
"Yes, it was not my intention to do it so swiftly but Carlisle had come here hoping to take her back to the New World and I couldn't allow it".
"Did Aro have anything to do with your decision?" she shrewdly asked.
"No, actually it was Marcus. When he discovered the bond between me and the human he gave me his advice. At first I mocked him but he seemed to have left a seed of doubt in my mind which slowly began to flower" I clarified.
"Good for Marcus!" she chuckled.
I laughed "Yes he is still in morning and he did not wish the same for me. Aro of course is only interested in her powers".
"Be careful my love she whispered so soft that only I could hear. I do not trust him and I still have doubts about the death of Didyme. We know that he collects gifted vampires to increase his power. Knowing that, I don't believe he was happy when Didyme tried to convince Marcus to leave".
"Don't be foolish" I whispered "Didyme was his human sister!"
"Aro will do anything for power and you know that just as much as I." she insisted
"What does Sulpicia think?" I probed.
"Do you think I would foolish enough to say this to her or any other? No, I have no wish to be destroyed but I want to warn you to be careful. I do not wish you to end up like Marcus either" and after having said that she kissed my cheek.
"I will take you back to the tower my love" I said while extending my hand.
"Thank you Caius" she grasped took my hand and we proceeded to the tower
After bringing Athenodora back to the tower I went in to check on Isabella all the time thinking about the strange conversation I had just had.
Quietly opening the door I saw her asleep as Carlisle has left her. I could see the spoor of her tears and couldn't help but be annoyed. As I came closer I noticed that her beauty had increased with the extra blood I had given her last night. That and the fact that she was slowly beginning to fill out might allow me to change her sooner that I had though. The fact that Athendora's help could make a world of difference in bending my Isabella's willpower I was anxious to change her. Having a human in my quarters was something alien and distasteful although her blood sang to me.
Once she was turned I could finally begin to form her; teach her Italian, French and a further appreciation of cultural arts. Another was that I hated bedding a fragile human; once she was turned I could be myself and enjoy the fruits she had to offer.
I watched and saw her stir and laid down beside her, enjoying the aroma of her blood and I felt her body go tense. She knew I was there, good; it was time that she recognized my scent.
"Don't play me for the fool Isabella I know you're awake" I said.
Her facial expression was blank as she slowly opened her eyes. She was staring at the ceiling and I saw the anger written in her eyes. I took hold of her chin and turned her face toward me noticing she was able to cover her hatred.
"Don't worry dear Isabella. Hatred is a good thing and being able to cover it as you do makes it an even stronger asset. Funny that Aro cannot read your mind but that is convenient as he has nothing to do with our bedroom games".
She tried to pull her face out of my grip with a huff.
I snickered "I love fights and bedroom fights are my favorite but if I were you I would wait until you are a newborn; for your own safety of course".
When I saw her reaction I laughed "Oh Isabella you know your fate now, have you not yet reconciled yourself with it? You know you have no choice".
"Why me?" she asked.
I laughed "Just lucky I guess! Oh yes I am here to tell you that Carlisle has left and I have offered him the services of our best tracker Demitri to help track and destroy Victoria".
At that moment she realized that I had listened to her conversation with Carlisle and I saw the shock of that knowledge glide over her face.
I then looked deep into her eyes and asked "Do you think you can keep things from me?"
She didn't answer so I smugly added "Remember this, my lovely Isabella: AS MY MATE YOU WILL NEVER KEEP ANYTHING FROM ME….!"
"Now," I said angered by her silence "You will answer my questions truthfully: who is Jacob and the Quileute tribe?"
I saw her face turn a ghostly white and felt her try to pull herself out of my grip saying "I can't tell you. Please don't make me tell you!"
"Have you been listening Isabella?" I sneered "I said 'You will never keep anything from me' and I warn you I do not compromise on anything!"
"I will not help destroy my friends" she shouted back.
I felt a flash of fury at her answer and raised my hand to slap some sense into her, but when I saw her body getting ready for my slap and knowing the fierceness of her loyalty I decided to try another tactic.
You know I could send the Volturi to the Forks and make sure that none of the Quileute tribe survives the attack.
At this I saw her eyes grow wide in fear and she said "Please, don't hurt them they are my friends and they have laid down their lives for me. Without them I would never have survived Victoria's attacks".