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 20 – Lost friends and new friends

Jacob's POV

Once I recovered from my initial shock my blood began to boil "I always had a gut feeling that you weren't being truthful about Bella's accident but decided to let it slide until we solved the 'Victoria problem'. After all, the last thing we needed was to have a whole bunch of leaches in Forks".

After having said this I stopped for a moment to catch my breath "Now I want the truth; why is Bella trapped in Italy and who the hell is this Caius?"

Edward sighed and told Rose to leave. When she left the room he said "Damn Rose, she's a pain in the ass; I didn't want you to know"

"What the hell did you do?" I demanded, my frustration growing.

"It's a long story" I reply hoping beyond hope that the answer would sufficient but knowing it wouldn't be.

"I have time" I said as I stubbornly watched him

His eyes were glazed over as he began to explain "I left Bella a year ago, not because I didn't love her but because I loved her too much. She was constantly in danger because of her association with us so I broke away in the hope that she could have a normal human life."

He looked up at me and asked "Do you remember the time she almost drowned and you pulled her out of the water?"

"Yeah" I said and remembering the moment and projecting it to him, I saw him wince "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well" he explained a tint of anger in his voice "Rose called me to tell me that she had died and when I called Bella and you answered telling me that Charlie was arranging a funeral I thought it was Bellas and was broken."

"I was a fool" he said his voice full of self-loathing. "I didn't take the time to confirm it. Thinking she was dead I decided to end my existence and went to our lawmakers with my request telling them why. To understand my request I allowed one of our lawmakers to read my mind and he was fascinated by Bella. When Alice came with Bella to save me I dared to believe that I was given a second chance. But my lawmakers wanted to meet her and when she arrived the oldest ruler predicted the bond between Bella and one of their rulers so she was given to him".

"Given to them?" I asked half sneering "It's the 21st century, people aren't given as slaves".

"You don't understand" he sighed "These rulers were created around 1000 BC so their life ethics are very different from ours. Bella is now a mate to one of these rulers; not a slave."

"A Mate?" I was now more than irritated. "What is that supposed to mean? "

"It is something similar to the imprint with wolves" he said trying his best to describe it to me.

"You mean she's in love with him?" I probed.

"No, our bonds are not love at first sight like yours, they grow with time but they usually become just as strong" he explained

I didn't understand and asked "Why can't she just leave then?"

He sighed and said "She is now physically bonded with her mate and that means that being separated from him for a long time will cause her physical and mental pain".

"There must be some way of getting her back?" I prodded

"No, even if Caius, her mate were to be destroyed, it would also take a part of her soul and she would be only a shell of herself".

The frustration and anger hit me and I exploded saying "How could you let this happen? You just destroyed her future and her life; this is even worse than death".

I saw him wince as he said "Don't you think I know it. I have to live every minute of every day knowing that she will never be free again. My only hope now is that she will find love beside Caius. I don't like him but he is powerful and can take care of her in ways I can't even imagine."

I crossed my arms and glared at him saying "So that's it, you just give up?"

"I have no choice" he said as he looked down at the ground and then he raised his eyes and said "the only thing I can do for her now is give her my help if she ever needs it; I will do anything I can to help her adjust".

He then looked at me his eyes full of concern "Do you understand why I didn't want to tell you? My heart is heavy knowing all this and I had hoped to save you the pain. It's horrible knowing that someone you love is dead but is it much better than knowing the bitter truth and being powerless to change it. Your father was right; Bella should have stayed away from me! We just fell in love and you know, just as much as I do, how difficult it is to block the feelings of the heart."

There wasn't much more to say so I left the room and Edward behind me and walked back to Sam. Carlisle was telling him that the Cullens would be leaving the area to help Riley and Bree adjust to their new life but I must say most of the conversation passed me by. While Sam was discussing the consequence of the move for the tribe I looked at Carlisle's face and saw compassion in his eyes that I never thought would be possible in a vampire. He was aware that I knew the truth and he was saddened knowing I would have to endure the pain.

Athenodora's POV

After a delightful afternoon with my husband's mate I left the room and almost fell over Caius who was waiting just outside the room.

He took me by the arm and rushed me up to his office. When we arrived he hissed "That was more than 'Just for a little while' ".

"Considering you were eavesdropping you know that there was no harm done. I find her stories fascinating. Do you know that the women of the New World are quite sheltered, are allowed to choose their mate and usually marry after the age of 20? We had quite a nice time discussing our lives with one another" I cheerfully told him.

"I do not wish her to remember her life outside of Volturi" Caius hissed

"Why is that?" I asked "do you feel threatened by it?"

"No" he said as he slammed his fist on the table "I am a warrior I fear nothing"

I looked at him my eyes full of compassion and whispered "Except to show your heart to a young girl".

"Do not say such foolish things" he snapped.

"Are they foolish?" I carefully asked "We may have lived for thousands of years and although time has not destroyed our bodies it has changed the world around us. We still live in our past and yet you deny her that"

"Be careful Athenodora, you know I have very little patience" he responded

She sighed "Yes, I know but I also remember the man I first met; the passionate one who had no choice but to be cruel and vicious. You did open up for me once and I was able to see the man behind the mask and by doing so you will always retain my loyalty. Why not give her a chance? It would help to have more loyal allies behind you and from what I see of this girl she is loyal to the ones she loves."

"She hates me and I will not allow her to flaunt that in my face" he countered

I just looked at his face and smiled as I caught his hand "Sometimes a soft hand will accomplish more than a hard one"

He looked up at me and sighed "I cannot let my guard down; you know our lives depend on that!"

I grinned and whispered "Does she not have the gift of blocking people from her mind?"

There was a knock on the door and Caius put on his mask as he said "Enter"

It was Demitri and he bowed to Caius saying "Aro has just gotten word from the Cullens saying that they have destroyed the vampire Victoria. Do you still wish me to go down there and investigate?"

"Do they have proof of her death" Caius shouted

"The Cullens have saved the head and are willing to come here with it." Demitri reported

"What does Aro say?" Caius inquired

"He leaves the decision up to you" Demitri stated

"I will call Carlisle back. You are dismissed; it seems that I will not need your services in the New World after all." Having said the Caius dismissed Demitri with a wave of his hand

When he left Caius looked at me with disbelief saying "Why did they do this on their own? I had offered them the services of Dimitri. I shall have Carlisle come with the head and while he is here I will demand answers"

I looked at him and said "Calm down my love. Do not be so surprised! They are loyal to Bella and they took care of her problem".

While he was thinking this over I asked "Would it be possible to ask the Cullen boy and his sister Alice to come with the evidence. I believe it would be a treat for Isabella".

He regarded me distaste as he sneered "I will not have either of them near my Isabella!"

"Why? She is bonded to you so she cannot leave you or even have physical contact with another. What is the danger?"

He looked at me, his mind in turmoil so I continued "If you are ever to win her heart, and I think it is in your interest to do so, you will have to show more kindness. Caius, in your heart you know I am right. Just….please think about it."

He sealed himself off from me as he said "I will think about it but do not wish to discuss it any further. I will bring you to your room".

Bella's POV

I heard the door open and knew it was Caius, who else could it be? So I tried to ignore him. I didn't want to go back to my room and I was damned if he would coerce me into going back.

When he forced me to look up I was pissed. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

I was surprised however by the woman who was with him. She had the same figure and small facial features that Alice had but that was where the comparison ended. She had golden blond hair down past her shoulders and a somewhat friendly face. She was undeniably beautiful and she knew it, I could see it in the elegance of her movement. Her complexion was the same white as that of Caius so I expected her to be of his age.

When he told me it was his former wife I was almost sure she would hate me and that the smile she held was a mask so I decided to try my luck. Who knows; if she were to kill me, than my friends or family won't be hurt and I, his plaything would finally find peace.

It didn't turn out that way. As soon as I said it Caius got into a rage but when he was about to strike this Athenodora was able to stop him. That tiny delicate woman was able to cool his rage.

It didn't make me trust her though and when she asked to be alone with me I thought, why not, I had nothing more to lose. When she asked about my old life I was surprised; Caius had never shown any interest in my past. I thought for a minute but already knew that Aro had told Caius about the people I loved so it couldn't do any harm to tell her about them. Actually I'd rather tell her myself, it was nice to be able to talk about them to relive my memories of them. It did make me sad but it was comforting sadness knowing that they would never have to know my fate. When I was unhappy and had difficulty continuing I looked up and for the first time ever I saw compassion in the eyes of a Volturi.

When she began to talk about her past I was fascinated. This wasn't the usual textbook information and before I knew it I was able to escape this castle and take a peak in a world I never knew existed. Oh yes, I had heard about myths in which the battles of old were described but many of the things she told were the real day to day routines of the normal people of that time.

After our discussion she said she had to go to her room and that it would be across from mine.

I was then left wondering; had I just made a friend?