Chapter Three: Bella

Caius was so infuriating! If I was a vampire I'd have liked to tear out his guts. But then again, I'm not, and he could probably kill me with a twitch of his finger. He'd probably have fun doing so anyway.

But he can't. I reminded myself. Aro told him not to. I didn't know what kind of relationship there was between those two but it seemed like Caius had to follow Aro's lead.

He glared at me coldly. I held his gaze for as long as I could stand it, then stood up and grabbed my bag. I walked over to the bathroom, and then I heard him speak to me directly for the first time. "What are you doing?"

Was he really that stupid? I shot him a look. "I'm going to the bathroom, and then I'm going to take a shower. I feel disgusting." I slammed the door and the lock clicked into place.

I stripped, hoping that Caius wouldn't barge in- a locked door was useless against vampires, and turned on the shower, hopping in. The water was hot, and for that I was grateful. Above ground it was swelteringly hot, but down here in the tunnels it was freaking freezing.

Edward.

There were no shampoos or soaps in the shower, and I was glad I had prepared. I had packed some shampoo and soap with me, it would run out in a couple of days… Hmmm, I wondered whether I would be allowed to go out shopping. Alice would get a kick out of that.

Feeling somewhat refreshed, I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a fluffy towel that hung on a rack beside me.

My clothes that lay on a pile on the ground stank, and I did not want to be putting them back on. I went to my bag, but there were no clothes inside. I cursed inwardly. I should have prepared before.

Unlocking the bathroom door, I peeked my head out.

"Could you leave for a minute?" I asked him, trying to sound polite.

He didn't move.

Perhaps more persuasion was needed. "Could you leave for a minute, please?" I asked again. His face remained emotionless. "Fine, could you just turn around?"

He didn't move.

"Ok, then, just have it your way." I closed the door and made sure the towel was firmly wrapped around myself, then stepped out gingerly. Caius was eyeing me like I was a snack.

I made it to the closet and froze in horror. "You cannot be serious," I breathed. I yanked both doors open.

The huge wardrobe was filled entirely with silk and satin items and they were all dresses. I was about to die. " Freaking stupid feminist vampires!" I growled. Whoever filled this thing had better run for their lives. "Fine." Eventually after I had finished making sure there were absolutely no normal clothes in the closet, I selected a black plain one, then rummaged around for undergarments. I found them.

My breathing stopped. The mysterious wardrobe stocker could have been Alice. I straightened up holding a thin, lacy see through thong. I suddenly became very aware of the male vampire in the room. Heat flooded my cheeks as I saw he was indeed looking at me. He lowered his eyes quickly. Thank goodness he had some decency.

I sighed, and shoved the thong back in, grabbing more suitable undergarments and returned to the bathroom. I was no way in hell going to be wearing that dress, but I had a better alternative. I grabbed the penknife that Charlie had gotten me two years ago in the hopes I would go fishing with him someday- and cut off the bottom part of the dress. Vampires were damn stinking rich- they could live with one ruined dress.

I slipped the towel off and pulled on the undergarments and makeshift top. There was nothing for it, except to put on my old jeans.

I shoved the rest of the items back into my bag and stalked back out.

Caius was watching me again and he laughed when he saw my shirt. It was a pure sound and quite beautiful, it rang in the air and for some reason it made me feel like smiling. His face, without a glare of hatred on it, was stunning.

What was I doing?

I quickly sat down on the bed, avoiding his eyes. I glanced at the clock. ELEVEN PM! I had been passed out for almost seven hours? An even worse suspicion filled me. If Caius had been here all this time, goodness knows how much he could have heard me rambling on about. Edward had constantly told me how much I talk in my sleep after all. But I was tired, and no way was I going to go to sleep right next to a vampire lord.

"Um, could you leave?" I piped up, hoping he would say yes.

His response was politer than I would have expected. "No. But why?"

"I don't like people watching me while I sleep, except Edward."

"No."

I felt annoyed. Why couldn't he just leave? Was he really that loyal to orders? "You are a stubborn vampire."

He simply smirked, looking back at his book, as my eyes narrowed in aggravation. I still wasn't sleeping where he could see me. I went to the closet and dragged out all the dresses- there were so many of them, and the bras and panties, and dumped them on a chair. The closet was huge and went quite deep, so that would be fine.

I crossed over to the bed, partly wondering whether Caius would stop me, and grabbed a pillow and the blanket.

I stuffed the pillow and blanket into the closet before climbing in after them. It was a perfect fit. "Goodnight." I said as coldly as I could manage. Then I pulled the closet doors shut.

Darkness enveloped me.

~~~(O.o)~~~

I woke up.

I didn't know how long I had been asleep, but the stiffness in my limbs told me it was for more than a few hours. I was dimly aware of voices outside my closet. Who was there?

Shaking the sleep from my eyes, I cracked open the door.

The onslaught of light blinded me momentarily- there was a window in the room- I just hadn't seen it before- and light was streaming in, hot and warm. It just occurred to me then where I was. Volterra. No Edward.

I was going to collapse back into bed, when a friendly voice called out, "Ah, dear Bella. Did you sleep well?"

Aro was beaming at me, standing in the room along with Caius, Marcus and Felix and Demetri.

"Um, It could have been better," I replied, glancing at Caius. His expression was blank.

Aro seemed to think it was an acceptable response and darted over to my side, yanking me out of the closet. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror above the desk, and was horrified at the state of my hair. It was a bird's nest.

"Dear Caius was just informing me of your stay last night. Did you find him a good host?" Aro continued. I didn't know why he was standing here talking to me. Touch Caius's hand and you'd know everything. "Uh, yes?" I answered, casting a sideways look at Caius again. Aro didn't miss that, but seemed to ignore it.

I caught Demetri and Felix smirking at my hair and ripped dress/shirt. I glared at them. Aro noticed that too.

"So… I thought I'd lay down a few ground rules, seeing at you will probably become part of our family here at Volterra." Aro went on. Caius snarled.

"Manners brother," Aro reminded him, retuning to me.

Inwardly I was reeling. Part of their family? I was part of Edward's family dammit, sides most- if not all of the vampires here were probably itching to sink their fangs into my throat, judging by Felix's hungry expression.

"Caius will be with you at all times as your guard, by my order, and you may go wherever you wish to in his company, as long it does not extend past the city's walls, am I to be understood?" Caius was glowering at me. I nodded quickly. "Have fun! Oh, and dear Bella, don't be afraid to come and tell me when Caius isn't fulfilling his obligation to you!" Aro swept out of the room cheerfully, only pausing by Caius's side to mutter a string of Italian words. "Non farle del male, ho bisogno di lei potrebbe in futuro. Fratello venire." (Do not hurt her, she may be needed in the future. Brother come.)

Marcus followed him out along with Demetri and Felix, who whispered in my ear as he passed "you look sexy baby." Before ghosting off.

I was left alone with an angry vampire, Aro's words still ringing in my ears. I had been hoping that last night had been a nightmare and Caius wasn't really going to be my 'escort'. Now there was no backing out of it.

When I couldn't stand the silence any longer, I piped up, "So… What do you want to do?"

He turned to me with a look of disbelief. "Well we can't stay in here forever? What do you usually do around now?" I glanced at the clock…. "At one o'clock in the afternoon…" I had slept the whole day through.

"Usually, I am in the neighboring town hunting." He finally replied. Okay- not what I wanted to hear. But it was the beginning of a conversation and I'd take that.

"Why? Doesn't Heidi lure in tasty snacks for all you vampires? So you don't need to you know, get off your backsides and go out." Why was I taunting him? He could kill me! Unfortunately I couldn't stop.

Caius unexpectedly did not get mad. "No. She only brings in humans for the guard, Aro, Marcus and Sculpia, Aro's wife. I prefer to hunt for myself."

"Okay." I paused, wondering whether or not I should ask why.

He answered my unasked question. "I dislike the image of having everything done for me."

Silence.

He turned away to face the wall and then…. Just stopped moving. I'd seen Jasper do it a lot- forget to move. It was kind of cool. It made them look like statues. Unfortunately I couldn't do the same. I decided to sit.

I sat.

Silence.

I was starting to get bored. I began humming.

Humming.

Humming.

Humming.

Humming.

Humming.

"Would you please, for the sake of anything you value- be silent?" Hissed Caius.

"Fine!" I said, holding up both my hands in surrender.

Silence.

Was it just me or was the clock ticking slower than usual?

Silence.

What should I do? Should I ask Caius to show me around? Unlikely.

Silence.

There was a bookcase full of books right next to Caius. Should I risk it and go get one? I could see Wuthering Heights right there.

Silence.

Yeah. I'm going to risk it. I got up and walked slowly over to where Caius stood. I reached right past him, and almost hand my fingers on it when….

"What are you doing human?" This 'human' business was pissing me off.

"I'm getting a book." I said, gesturing to Wuthering Heights.

"They why are you skulking around like a ladro?"

"What?"

I heard him mutter something that sounded vaguely like, "Cursed Americans," before saying, "Thief."

"Ok. Well I didn't learn Italian in school, I learnt French and took Spanish for two years, I didn't know I was going to be staying here for half a year ok? So next time if you want me to come to Italy fully prepared with a PHD in Languages and a Masters and Bachelors in a double degree, then WARN ME!" I exploded.

Caius looked at me like I had just crawled out from under his shoe. "You will be staying here for half a year?" He said in horror.

I stuck my face in his exquisitely beautiful one. "Yes. So get used to hating me ok? Because I feel exactly the same way." I whirled around, clutching the book and flounced down in the chair. I opened the book, trying to read, but the page blurred before my eyes. I couldn't focus. Damn Caius. Damn Aro. Damn Jane. Damn Edward. Damn Victoria. Damn EVERY SINGLE FRICKING VAMPIRE IN THIS WORLD!

"That is an interesting speech." I looked up, too shocked to be rude, Caius could read my mind?

"No I can't." His expression was just as cold as ever, but it seemed slightly amused. "But I can when you talk aloud."

I had been saying all of that aloud?

"Yes well I get kind of bored sitting here, and right now my only method of entertainment is annoying you ok? Suck it up."

He turned back to the wall.

I wanted to scream in frustration! I mean I was glad that he wasn't hell bent on killing me, like I thought he would be, but this was even worse! He was boring! He hardly said anything argh!

"You should smile more often."

Caius turned. He had a bemused expression on his face and I grateful that he could actually look somewhat human. He shot me a questioning look.

"Before when you laughed. You are kind of hot for a two thousand year old vampire."

"Hot?" He asked me.

Glad we were actually talking for a change, I replied. "Yeah, hot. You know, cute, sexy, really want to sleep with kind of guy. You really need to get up to speed. For someone who rules the modern day vampire world- you really need to catch up."

His expression was to laugh at. "Geez, you really are a drag." I knew he wouldn't know what I meant.

"You know!" I prompted him, this was funny. "Slang! Drag-boring, shut up- be quiet, idiot-stupid person, moron-same meaning, damn-cursed, pissed-angry, hot-really really sexy…" I shook my head at his ignorance. "What did they teach you in the past two thousand years?" He was getting pissed. I could tell. "Please don't tell me you still use quills!" I joked.

His expression stopped me. "Oh gosh you do don't you?" I groaned inwardly. "What happened to pencils! Pens!"

Caius finally regained his ability to speak. "Not two thousand years- exactly two thousand and ninety eight."

Wow. But that was totally of subject. I was really having fun now. It was probably dangerous to provoke a vampire- but this was strangely fun. The expression of wanting to yell at me- but not because of the fear of sounding stupid was truly a sweet sensation. But… It I was getting bored again and I had a feeling not to push my luck too far.

"Didn't Aro say that I was allowed outside?" Anything to escape this room.

"Yes."

"Then come on, let's go!"

"Go where?"

"Go out! Duh!"

He trailed behind me. The difference between the angry 'I will kill you if you anger me' Caius and the now 'Oh no. What do I do next' Caius was astronomical.

"So, where is your favorite spot in this place?"

"I am not some slave catering to your will. I have no desire to lead you anywhere. My duty is to remain by your side, but that does not infer that I am to entertain you, do you understand girl?" he thundered, towering over me. O-kay. Not as changed as I thought.

I nodded silently. "What about an alternative deal?"

Caius looked at me impatiently. "What deal?"

I rolled my eyes. I seemed to be doing it a lot lately. "Do you vampires always answer a question with a question?"

He snarled. I hurried on. "Ok, so I go wherever, and you just follow me. I don't talk to you, you don't talk to me, everyone's happy. Ok?"

Caius seemed to consider it. "Very well." He replied.

"Ok."

I started walking again. Trying to ignore the skulking vampire behind me, I wandered down several halls until Caius sighed behind me breaking the silence. "If you continue that way you're going to die girl."

Privately I was glad that he had broken the silence. "Why?"

"Because that way is the way to the throne room, and right now my brothers and the guards are feeding. I doubt that in their state they would have any problem with draining you dry human."

"You know, I do have a name."

"Very well, Isabella."

"Actually, it's Be-" I sighed, "Ok, you know
what, even Isabella's better than 'human' or 'girl'."

I whirled around and stomped past Caius in the opposite direction.

I walked for several more corridors tripping over every single cobblestone in the ground, before I heard him sigh impatiently. "What?"

"Is this clumsiness a particular trait of yours or is it something that you do just to annoy me?"

I really hated Caius. "Well I'm sorry if I don't have your vampire grace. I am, as you keep reminding me- a human."

He huffed impatiently.

"Ok, so if I wasn't here, ruining your drab boring life, what would you be doing, right now, apart from hunting?"

"Filing reports from other covens."

"Cool! Let's do that!"

"Cool?"

"Yes cool! It's a current slang word that teenagers use. Can we go now? "

Caius smirked. "Yes we can." Then set off down the hallway.

Updates on future twilight egyptian fanfiction story: I have changed all of the egyptian names I had before to Twilight names and deleted some characters so I could write it better.

I still need any information about the ancient egyptian "festival of Opet" because I am wondering if there is more to it than what I have.

Also, I was looking at it, and thinking, 'I need to put more fillers in it'. I have trouble with details if it's not poetry. After all, there is so much to put in as far as major details.