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 26 – Revolt and Revelations _

Caius POV

My vixen lay beside me and last night she had been taught a good lesson in submission. I knew that Athenodora had been teaching her how to grow to her station but her position in my bed was determined by me. I seemed to be addicted to her body and while I lay beside her my hand started to caress her curves as my thoughts wandered back to yesterday.

Often when I picked Isabella up at the library I would find her in quiet conversation with the Cullens but when I entered the room the tone would increase as they discussed mundane things. Occasionally Athenodora was with them and other times she was not. I was wondering if Athenodora still had control over the situation.

Yesterday I tried to listen to their discussion before I entered the room and I had heard Edward Cullen sooth my Isabella by saying that she just had to be patient and that they had a plan. When I walked into the room I noticed my Isabella was literally surrounded by the Cullens, Edward Cullen in particular, and they were in a profound debate. This time I noticed excitement in the air and when I came in everything went silent for a moment. They all looked at me and Isabella was startled as she moved away from Edward. He had not touched her as far as I could see but looking at the alarmed expression on Isabella face made my anger rise. I automatically gave them all a vicious glare and asked Isabella to follow me. She hesitated and that only kindled my anger as I grabbed her arm and pulled her out excusing her from the group. On the way to our room I pulled her along as she tried to pull herself from my grasp.

"What were you doing in the library?" I questioned "I have been watching you and the Cullens the last couple of weeks and you are planning something, aren't you?"

"We are not planning anything! We were just talking" she countered.

My anger began to grow as I sneered "I wish to know what is going on! I have told you before 'As my mate you will never keep anything from me!' " and with this I let her feel the back of my hand.

She hissed exposing her fangs at me as her body bent in an attack stance "Do not touch me! I have done nothing wrong and will not tolerate this treatment!"

I then snarled at her "I heard Edward Cullen my love"

"What are you talking about?" she asked as she relaxed her body; her face a mask of confusion.

I laughed and heatedly said "I heard him tell you to be patient and that they had a plan"

She was baffled by the information and then I saw her smile as she explained "I think you have heard that incorrectly"

I roared "I will not be made a fool of" and before she could prepare herself for an attack I was on top of her.

She then bellowed "Believe me it was not what you may think. I cannot leave you; it would only make me and the Cullens fugitives for the Volturi. Do you think I would risk your vengeance and bring other lives in peril?"

There was logic in her words and I began to doubt my actions. I knew there was something going on but this was clearly not what I had thought it was. I then turned her around and when I saw the wild expression on her face and her black eyes, I was overwhelmed with lust. For me the best battle was that, done in the bedroom and I decided I was going to win this battle so I gave her a deep and passionate kiss.

She bit my tong and surprised me then she pulled back and arrogantly said "Forget it! I won't go to bed with someone that wrongfully accuses me of being unfaithful". She was about to turn her back on me when I grabbed her arm.

I spun her around and kept her arm behind her back as I snarled "Don't you dare turn your back to me! You are my mate and will do as I say!"

"No" She said as she pulled her arm out of my reach and looked at me with all the arrogance she could muster "You can no longer force me against my will"

I laughed at her as I grabbed both shoulders and shook her to her very core "In your anger you forget yourself my love; I have access to your friends the Cullens, if you do not do as you are told there may be dire consequences and you know I am not one to make idle threats. So come to me and put to use the excellent skills I have taught you." I said as I flung her onto the bed "It might help me forget and forgive your rebellious attitude".

She wished to retaliate but when she saw that it was impossible to do so, her arrogance crumbled.

Athenodora's POV

As I left his room I thought of the night we had just spent together. I relished the feel of Edwards's hands on my body. It had been so long since I had enjoyed the attentions of a man and I reveled in it. He too had kept his carnal desires pent-up as he never trusted himself to have a sexual relationship with Isabella. So we both allowed our monsters to surface and delighted in our long night together.

While walking the corridor my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of something shattering and I quickly realized that the crash had come from Caius's bedroom. Swiftly making my way to the room I knocked on the door and listened. Hearing the smashing of different objects against the door I realized that Caius was not present. If he was, he would have screamed at anyone daring to knock to 'disappear!'

I slowly and cautiously opened the door as a vase came crashing against it and then I glanced around the corner and asked "Is everything all right?"

Isabella was in a rage and momentarily stopped her search for new treasure to vent her anger on. Looking up at me she screamed "Does it look alright?"

I looked around the room taking in the chaos and asked "Where is Caius?"

Still furious she shouted "The bastard left! Let's hope he took a one-way ticket to hell" and then after a moment's hesitation she said "Oh wait, that's right I am in hell so it's no such luck that he has left me"

"What has he done to cause such anger?" I asked as I walked towards her.

She looked at me her eyes showing all the repressed fierceness as she said "Caius came into the library and overheard something Edward had told me; of course he misunderstood the message, accusing me of planning something romantic with Edward. I was able to convince him that I wouldn't dare do anything to bring the Cullens into danger".

"Then why are you so angry?" I asked as I walked towards her "Caius has always been very possessive, you actually did quite well".

You don't understand she snapped "I was so angry about his accusations that I refused his attentions. Then he blackmailed me saying that he would hurt the Cullens if I didn't please him. The bastard promised he would leave them alone and then he uses it as blackmail. He disgusts me!"

She slowly made her way to the couch. Looking shattered she sat down and her voice then broke saying "I will no longer work on my gift; not under these circumstances. I am going to ask the Cullens to leave today; it is necessary for their own safety and my conscience"

I then sat next to her and took her hand asking "Have you spoken to the Cullens about this?"

"No" she sighed "Caius just left so I haven't seen them today"

I held on to her hand and tiled her chin with the other so that I could look into her eyes asking "Would you please wait until I speak with Caius?"

"What good would that do?" she asked "He lives on cruelty and malice you and can't change him, no one can".

As I looked in her sad and despairing eyes I said "Please trust me dear Isabella, I will handle this. If I can't I will promise to help you get the Cullens away from here as soon as possible".

I then left the room and went to Caius's studio thinking 'How could he be so foolish; I should have known he would do something like this!'

I knocked on the door and then entered as he looked up from his work with a smile "Caius I wish to talk to you" I said, my anger influencing my voice.

"Oh Athenodora, why so gloomy?" He asked, his face beaming with delight "your expression is that of a thunder cloud and I am in too good a mood to tolerate it"

I felt like slapping the grin off his face but kept my anger at check "You must listen to me, I have something important to tell you".

Seeing that I would not leave he walked towards the couch and motioned me to sit "What is so important that cannot wait?"

I looked at him and began "I was walking through the corridor when I heard the crashing of various objects in your room".

He then interrupted me laughing "Yes that would be my Isabella; you see we had a difference of opinion last night and I straitened her out. She is delightful when she is angry!"

With his last remark I could no longer hide my anger as I shouted "This has to stop!"

Caius turned his face and gave me a menacing glare as he pulled me up from the couch "You have nothing to do with what goes on between me and my mate. I command what happens in the bedroom; how dare you speak of this to me."

He was about to slap me when I said "She did it for you, you fool!"

That stopped him in his tracks as he said "What the hell do you mean?"

"Please Caius" I said as I sat down again "let us be seated, maybe then you can listen to me for a minute".

He hesitated for a moment and then came to sit on the couch next to me.

I tried to speak softly so that the discussion would stay inside the room "Caius Isabella has been secretly working with the Cullens to develop her skills"

"What! But why?" He asked "She only has to ask and she will get all the help she needs from the special guard. They have experience with these things; something that the Cullens do not".

"Think of it Caius" I explained "If she works with them, Aro will always be aware of her progress. If her gift is as strong as Aro thinks, who is to say that he won't take her into his guard. Is that what you really want? She will always be around Aro if and when he needs her. She is yours; do you not wish to keep her and her skills under your wing?"

He was still in a daze as he repeated "What did you mean, she did it for me? She has never done anything for me without force." He then argued.

I sighed and told him "When I told her she would probably have to choose between you or Aro; she chose you" I then added "This morning however she told me she will send the Cullens away so that you can no longer blackmail her. She also says she has changed her mind and will no longer work on her gift. How long do you think it will take before Aro insists that she does? Is that what you wish?"

He looked perplexed and agitated "No, but why didn't she tell me".

I shrugged my shoulders and said "Loyalty to me and the Cullens I think; she is very loyal, you must know that by now".

"She should be loyal to me!" He said feeling insulted by Isabella's choice "I am her mate"

I looked him in the face and softly said "Why should she my love? You haven't allowed her any freedom and you discipline her for things she has no hand in. Mate or not, you have done her an injustice."

After a moment of silence I said "Look Caius, to be kind now will give you much more in the future. She is loyal and true to those she cares for, make her love you!"

"She won't, she has already told me that" he said his face full of anger and frustration. "I refuse to beg for something I have a right to by law"

Seeing his frustration I explained "She is a woman of these times and these women will not be bullied into submission they will only protest and their anger will grow".

He looked into my eyes and asked "What would you have me do?"

I knew he would not be pleased with my answer but it was for his own good "Caius, for this once, put your pride aside and apologize!"

"But I have done nothing wrong!" he shouted "I have only demanded what is rightfully mine!"

I took his hand in mine saying "She hasn't done anything wrong either and yet you punished her".

I put my hand on his cheek and softly caressed it as I whispered "I know your desires Caius. Give her room to grow! Allow her to keep her pride! If you wish her love and respect you will have to earn it; only then will she be able to fill your needs".

I then looked at him through my eyelashes saying "By the way, talking about room to grow; why did you have me followed last night?"

He looked perplexed and said "You are getting paranoid my love"

"No I know what I saw; after all I was taught by the best" I said as I patted his chest

"Well it wasn't me" he argued dismissing the discussion with a small gesture of his hand.

I froze and looked into Caius's eyes "It must have been Aro! He is already beginning to stretch out his tentacles".

"He wouldn't dare!" he said in his arrogance.

I huffed saying "Knowing Aro, he would say it is for the better good of the Volturi". I then contemplated this saying to myself "I will just have to be more careful in the future".

When I came back from my thoughts I looked at Caius saying "I wish to ask for your help Caius"

With an agitated voice he said "Tell me what you want so that we can settle this as soon as possible, I wish to see Isabella".