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Music:

Paint it black – Rolling Stones

Perfect – Intwine (Dutch group; lyrics are arrogant)

Everything about you – Ugly Kid Joe

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Chapter 33: Caius – Politics

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These past few months I've began to work for myself. Set up securities, so me and Athenodora have something to fall back on. This needed to be done, because rumours were starting to spread and they didn't bring good news. Vampires everywhere were on the move, coming together in groups. Deciding which side to choose.

Aro seemed vaguely aware of this, but didn't look bothered. His ego is so big, he's overconfident. The fact he thinks he's better than everybody else, the number one, it's starting to really piss me off! So I've formed my own agenda. Gathered some very useful information, especially about those pesky shapeshifters. It doesn't matter that they're not Children of the Moon, they're still our enemies and have killed some of our own.

They deserve to be exterminated! All of them!

Gentle arms hugging me from the back prevent me from punching a hole in the wall. "Calm down Caius, love, Dora says, I like our room the way it is." Her head falls on my back and I take a break from my thoughts. My hands hold hers automatically, sighing. "I know, my precious, I reply, but I so long to be the one in charge." Turning around I cup her face and claim her lips. My mate is the only one keeping me grounded, sane.

Also the only one I trust completely. Everyone else must be tested, show they're loyal to me, exclusively. Once they've proven themselves, I'll share my findings. Nobody can touch Aro's skin. Luckily that's become easier to do. We cover ourselves with Argus around, so our behaviour is inconspicuous. And my brother and I want avoid each other anyway. Works for me.

Hmm, yes, Argus, it's still not clear what he can do. Though I'm sure he's the reason for Marcus' change in demeanour. My other brother seems more animated these days, not so depressed. He's become more interested in Aro's plans, he helps him and has taken up studying the hybrids too. Always asking them questions, about every little thing.

Ugh, I find them annoying. Maysun is outside my quarters, waiting to follow me when I leave. Our new shadows. Serena is Aro's and young Jennifer is for Marcus. I don't know why Aro insisted on them being here, he certainly isn't studying them or testing them, like he said he would. The male Nahuel is forgotten completely.

It must be something else, some quality which makes them useful, I just can't figure it out. Time to dig up some more info, throw out some lines.

I walk towards the throne room and listen to the sounds around me. Maysun's breathing and rapid heartbeat stand out. They're strange and seem to slowly draw me in. My desire to taste her blood is growing every day. Soon I'll give in and see what happens. Her scent too is most alluring, an exquisite mix of Arabian spices and desert flowers. It's not like she's a singer or like my wife, but still, it tempts me.

The warmth from her body is another thing which distracts me sometimes. So close and then a memory hits me. The wolves, they have that too. My hate for them resurfaces. How revolting their scent is. How can the Cullens stand to be near them? And that hybrid girl sitting on top of one, like she's riding a horse. It makes me sick!

I wonder now about more similarities and differences between them. Yes, I'll test my theories this week. Arriving at my destination I sit down on my spot. Aro and Marcus are studying several papers, laid out on the table. They're silently communicating.

Once they stop, I notice something in Marcus, his body is slightly tense. As Aro turns his head, he too seems a bit … upset. They've disagreed on something. That doesn't surprise me really, as one is much gentler in nature than the other. Marcus left the room with Jennifer on his heals.

Ah, my mild mannered brother, I wonder what would've happened if Aro hadn't kept him here, tied down by the gifts of others. I guess he'd gotten himself killed. He's been lost and bored without Didyme, lifeless. Not caring for anything really. Now he seemed better, a flame rekindled inside him. But how that came to be, no, it felt unnatural. I wanted to ask him about his change, were it not for Aro finding out with one touch. Hmm, guess I'd have to stick to observing him some more, when he's alone.

"What have you been up to, brother?" Aro suddenly asked. I narrowed my eyes at his tone. "Not that it's any of your business, I replied, but I've been gathering information by talking to all of our contacts." He flashed to his seat beside me, a frown on his face. "You don't have to act so defensive, he stated sharply, I'm just curious, as always and want us to be civil again."

I huffed and crossed my arms. It was obvious he had alternative motives for speaking to me. His hand moving to try and touch me was proof. I made sure that didn't happen, never again.

"I can ask you the same thing," I snapped. He put his hand back in his lap and said nothing. "What were those papers for?" I pressed on. "And what did you disagree on with Marcus?" With a cold look he gave me a short answer; "We were discussing battlefield strategies, if you must know." He sighed when he noticed my unsatisfied stare. "I want to crush them all, he added reluctantly, he doesn't." That was enough of a reply for me, for now.

In silence we just sat there for hours, thinking. I realised we were getting divided and that wasn't good. It made us weaker. Working together completely however, wasn't so easy anymore, because we didn't trust each other. So we found some common ground and talked about that only.

Such things as who to leave behind, if any and what to do with the hybrids. Aro wanted to take them with us, I thought they would just be in the way. Leaving the castle empty didn't feel right, but Aro wasn't worried. We felt more relaxed, but kept our guard up non the less.

One week later I got dressed after some private time with Dora. I'd sent everyone away, ordered them to leave all the hallways and corridors around our quarters empty. We had a good night together, loving each other on several different places, ending in the bathtub. She was still there among the bubbles. I wanted to go for a walk outside and maybe have a feed. But the moment I reached my door and focused, I detected Maysun's scent.

What was she doing here?! I cornered her immediately and hissed the question at her. Fear took over right away, her pupils dilating, heart racing and breathing heavy. She stammered that she's been pressured by Aro to come. I barely heard her as I went into predatory mode.

The signs her body was giving off, they triggered the same reaction in me now as a human would. My hand locked around her throat, pressing her against the wall hard. Her eyes opened wide as she tried to speak. She clawed uselessly at my arm. I tilted her head to the side, found her pulse and sank my teeth in.

For a second she screamed in pain, but my free hand covered her mouth quickly. She squirmed harder in my hold than any prey ever did. Choking sounds escaped her lips. Her blood, it tasted so different from anything I knew. Her vampire side made it bitter, but also seemed to give me more strength. I liked it and thought of draining her. That wasn't going to happen however, because soon we weren't alone anymore.

With a growl I was yanked off of her. It was Marcus and he was furious. It shocked me, I've never seen him like this. Out of the blue, his fist sent me to the ground. With a flaming stare he warned me not to get up. The corridor started to become crowded as the girl's sisters had come in. They hovered over their unconscious sibling anxiously. Marcus picked her up and carried her away with them following closely behind.

Standing up, I caught a glimpse of Ulrich, whose nostrils flared at the scent of Maysun's blood. He roared while being restrained by Alec and Felix, before they dragged him out. Well, I didn't expect to cause such a commotion, but regretted nothing. Aro gave me a disappointed look; "We'll talk later."

We did discuss every detail, learning a lot. My experience intrigued him. And the girl's recovery too. She was out for twelve hours until we got some blood into her system. A day later she was moving around again, almost back to normal. Of course she hated me now and refused to come near me ever. Internally I grinned at that, not minding at all if that annoying little twit stayed away. My bite left a scar.

Marcus demanded some sort of punishment for me, but got no support and couldn't think of something. So he resorted to avoiding me as much as possible. When that wasn't an option, he would glare at me once in a while (if looks could kill …), before ignoring me some more. Though his behaviour should upset me, I actually thought it to be highly amusing. A change from the other emotions he showed recently.

We changed the hybrids routines. They would no longer have to follow us around. * Thank heavens! * Aro only required them to attend our meetings about the war. Allowing them to stick together. They were wary of everyone and flocked towards my disgruntled brother whenever visitors came by to lend their support.

It felt good to know we were still respected. We gained some more gifted allies, which we needed. Among them were a lightning fast one, a lie-detector and another with a shield of invisibility. (which was much stronger then the one that worm Afton ever had) This would be an epic battle, bigger than the war with the Romanians. Yes, the politics of our rule exited me at this point.

This would be a new defining moment in vampire history. Where we, The Volturi, reasserted ourselves as the supreme rulers.

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Not a long chapter, but I was in doubt about what to put in it.

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What did you think about Caius? Was he like you expected?

And Marcus, what's going on with him? Answers from me will have to wait until the battle. (sorry)