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. I also made use of the site 'twilights wiki/Volturi' a fantastic site if I may say and well worth a read for twilight fans.
Chapter 31 – Strategy and Plots
Bella's POV
I hadn't seen Esme for more than a year and before I knew it she had her arms around me. After that Emmett came and gave me a bear hug, whirling me around. Then the rest of the Cullens started surrounding me. I was in my element and I realized that although I loved being with them, it would be difficult to include them in my future life without bringing them under the scrutiny of the Volturi.
After all the hugs and kisses I asked "Can someone please introduce me to the other vampires here?"
"Oh" said Alice "no problem, come with me"
She hesitated for a moment and asked "How are you and Caius getting along?"
"We are a couple now" I said explaining "I'll have to tell this to Edward and that weighs heavy on my heart. Could you please watch over him for me?"
Alice looked at me with her typically mysterious smile and said "Don't you worry about my brother he will come around. I still have hope for him"
Puzzled by her answer I was about to ask for an explanation when she said "you haven't really answered my question; How are things between you and Caius?"
I smiled "Our relationship is as it should be. He and I have come to an understanding and our affection for one another is growing. You don't need to worry."
"I am so relieved to hear that! I know your destiny was defined the moment you entered the Volturi castle but by then it was already too late." She looked at someone behind me and smile faded.
By seeing her facial expression I knew who was coming to join us and turned to look at Edward as he approached me saying "How are you Bella? I was worried when you left Italy so abruptly".
I looked at my old love and my heart broke when I saw the hope and fear in his eyes. "I'm alright Edward".
He wanted to hold me but I took a step back; it would hurt too much to feel his arms around me knowing it could lead to nothing. Instead I touched his cheek and looked into his eyes with all the compassion I could muster. Sorry Edward but that is no longer possible you see, I have acknowledged my position as Caius mate".
Seeing his sadness I asked "Who are the new vampires in your group?" but he didn't take the bait.
He whispered in my ear "I miss you Bella; it is so difficult to admit that I have lost you".
I whispered back "We lost each other the moment Marcus set eyes on me. You must accept it and move on; we had and have no choice. Your life and happiness is important to me; I will not lose you, your family or friends by his wrath for he is extremely jealous".
I then looked into his eyes with all the compassion I could muster saying "I am so sorry Edward! Now, will you please introduce me to the people here?"
Edward turned and walked away brushing past Caius who had a satisfied smirk on his face that made me furious. I turned my back to him so he would not be able to read my face and was surprised to see Rose in front of me.
She was very quiet and her facial expression was one of guilt as she muttered "It's all my fault Bella, I am so sorry I really thought you were dead. I know that there was no love lost between us but it was never my intention to hurt you."
With the pent up frustration of having to tell Edward of my decision I automatically vented my anger at Rose saying "I am now the mate of Caius of the Volturi and be glad that I have so much affection for your family, otherwise I would have my revenge".
I was almost ready to cry when I turned to Alice saying "How about your promise to introduce me to the others?"
She was cautious after having just seen my outburst so I explained "I'm sorry that I spoke like that to Rose; she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It broke my heart to say those things to Edward and when he left I saw Caius snickering which made me furious."
"You are not responsible for all of this so don't take it personal; How are you holding up?" She asked and I gave her my shy smile saying "I will survive"
Alice then introduced me to all the members of the Denali clan and the newborns that the Cullens had adopted. I was enjoying myself immensely with all the new vampires around me. Normally I wasn't a person to mingle but being locked up in the west wing of the castle made me appreciate the company. I asked the Cullens if they had heard anything about my parents and after they told me the last news Emmett and a couple of newborns came to talk to me, reenacting their fight with Victoria and her gangs.
After the excitement had died down I was telling Emmett that I didn't mean to be angry with Rose, when all of a sudden I saw a young woman walk by. I looked at Emmett and asked him "Who is she? She doesn't belong to your coven but she wasn't introduced as part of the Denali coven either."
Emmett turned around to look and said "Oh her, her name is Alexia and she's a bit of a loner".
I looked at Emmett my amazement showing "Oh her!? Since when are you blind to a pretty face?"
He just smirked and shrugged his shoulders and I began to peer at him suspiciously "Although you and Rose are a pair I know you're not blind to beautiful women so don't act as if you are!"
"She's alright" He said and then I heard Alice begin to laugh and I looked for an explanation of Emmett's attitude.
"She beat him when they went hunting and his pride seems to have stuck in his throat." Both Alice and I began to laugh and Emmett just shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
"Alice" I asked "Where did she come from?"
"She was made by James just before we killed him and when he died Victoria threatened to kill her if she stayed in the area".
After a while we began to talk about the past and while we were talking I saw Alice suddenly freeze and at the same time I felt an arm around my waist.
Alice automatically began to back away saying "I'm sorry Bella I seem to have been monopolizing your time" but Caius raised his hand and stopped her by saying "Alice I hope you are not leaving because of me, I find your history with my Isabella very fascinating. You are part of her past and I haven't had the pleasure so please allow me to join you both".
My mouth fell open when he said that and as Caius clicked it shut with a chuckle. Alice looked at me as if she was about to blackout when Jasper came and joined us. He kissed Alice on the cheek as he looked into her eyes in an attempt to calm her down.
"Caius, this is my mate Jasper Whitlock" Alice said, her voice stammering a little even though Jasper used his powers to make us all relax.
"Yes of course" said Caius as he turned to face Jasper "I was never able to thank you or your lovely mate for helping Isabella develop her powers".
I was shocked and I knew I wasn't the only one when I looked into Alice's astonished face.
"As I was saying to your lovely mate here" Caius continued "I realize that I know very little of Isabella's past and I was captivated by their discussion".
"Well that's understandable" Jasper agreed and snickered "Bella has always been different, even when she was human she was different from any we had met before. I remember the first time I met her Alice told me not to be afraid; that I wouldn't attack her." He began to laugh and Caius was laughing right along with him "now what human hearing something like that would stay around for more?"
The laughter attracted Carlisle and Esme and they soon joined our group. Everyone talked about my time at the Cullens but thankfully avoiding the topic Edward and before I knew it a crowd began to form. After Alice told him how mauled I had been by James and how I had to go to the ball dance in a cast they all roared (at my expense!).
Caius then looked at me and said "From what I hear my Isabella had a knack for pushing her limits when she was a human; I understood she also was associated with shift-shapers".
Well… that got a reaction as the room automatically went silent!
I looked at Caius and said "They were very good friends of mine and without them I would not be here today." I then leaned against him and kissed his cheek and in doing so the others around us were able to relax.
We soon left the sitting room and were lead to my bedroom by Tanja, the head of the Denali coven.
"Caius, what just happened back there?" I asked as I began to take my dress off.
"What do you mean my love?" He said as he fought with his shirt
"Since when have you had any interest in any coven other that the Volturi" I asked hanging up my dress and looking for the comfortable jogging suit I had taken with me.
"I wish to know more about my mate and what better way to do that then to listen to the stories of your past. I will not bend or change what I am. I am however beginning to realize that the world around me is developing and I do not wish to be left behind. My mate is of the 21st century and through her and her friends, I might be able to get a grip on these new times. It is a means of self-preservation."
He then looked at me saying "Now my little vixen, come warm my bed!"
I giggled and said "First you have to catch me"
He was on me in a flash; I didn't have a chance but this time I didn't mind.
Caius's POV
As I sat beside Athenodora I finally realized how much I would miss my new found relationship with Isabella; three weeks was a long time and I had difficulty giving her into the care of Carlisle. Knowing how necessary it was for my Isabella to develop her new skills while she was with the Cullen and Denali coven was the only way I could accept it. I did not want Aro to interfere and I would not risk losing her to his special guard.
Edward had brought the girl Alexia up to date on our history during the first three hours of our flight and now they were sitting across from us as Athenodora wished to discuss her 'project' with Edward.
I looked at Edward Cullen and the girl sitting beside him. Would these two vampires really be able to help us uncover the perpetrator responsible for Didyme's untimely demise? If Aro's ambition to expand his power is as great as Athenodora suggested it may indeed become too dangerous for Athenodora and I to ignore.
Athenodora's mind was discussing the theory with Edward and I realized how efficient this kind of communication was. It was also very frustrating for outsiders as you only heard one side of the conversation and that was usually short, secretive and accompanied with undeniable glares from Edward. This boy's gifts are indeed very powerful.
He scowled at me as I thought this, saying "I am not a boy; I became a vampire at almost 18, you were in the beginning of your twenties so our mortal ages are not that different"
I quirked my eyebrow, shook my head and answered "maybe so but I am 3000 immortal years older".
I heard the girl gasp saying "are you that old?!"
I looked at her and said "Oh yes my dear, I was training for gladiator when I was changed". I then looked out of the window becoming bored with the conversation.